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"Restless" Week 2

Restless 03-22-09 from Barefoot Church on Vimeo.

Plant the Seed

"Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow..." -Mark 4:3

Who is the sower in this parable? That's you and me as leaders. There are some huge principles that come from this parable in Mark 4 that I believe God would have us see. As bearer's of God's Word, as people of influence, we never need to lose sight of the weight and urgency of our role as sowers. I know there are times that we feel that we are planting seeds on stone filled, dry hearts but be encouraged and don't lose hope. As you plant seeds into the lives around you, remember:

1.) A lot of seed must be scattered to produce a crop.

2.) Not all soils produce, but we cannot and will not reap if we don't sow.

3.) We must continue sowing, because one day we will reap a harvest. (You may not see that harvest in its fullness here and now, but keep sowing, remember God's in the business of changing hearts)

4.) The soil that produces will multiply; we will reap more than we ever sowed.

5.) We must believe in the seed we sow, knowing that some will produce fruit.

No Weapon

Isaiah 54:17
“No weapon turned against you will succeed,
and you will silence every voice raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD;
their vindication will come from me.  I the LORD have spoken!"

This verse promises that no weapon formed against the child of God will prosper.
But that doesn’t mean the weapon won’t be formed against you.
In fact, it almost certifies that it will.
Every accusation leveled at God’s servants will be refuted in the end.
But that won’t stop accusations from coming.
It assumes that they will.

God is our healer…but that doesn’t mean you’ll never battle sickness.
God is our comfort…but that doesn’t mean you’ll never contend with loneliness.
God is our provider….but that doesn’t exempt you from trials or tribulation.

David said the Lord was a shield (Psalm 3:3) for him.
And you don’t need a shield unless you’re under attack.

The struggles you’re facing don’t disprove God’s promises.
They’re the very reason He made the promises to begin with.

Feel the Weight

"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."                                                                                                                                                  -James 5:17

We are currently in a series dealing with heart change and I can honestly say that I have felt the weight of  this series probably more than any other topic we have discussed with our students.  A couple of night's ago, I had this awakening as to where I was in my life when it came to be transparent and the fear I have so many times of being transparent before the very group I challenge every week to be real and transparent.  There is this scary stereotype that we as pastors have it all together, figured out, and don't struggle...we all know that's not the case, we are humans born with sinful hearts and weak flesh and the only thing good that comes out of us is the overflow of God's mercy and love.  So, I felt the weight of the fear that many students feel when they walk into our church every week, scared to expose who they are past the fronts and masks, because of the judgement and rejection that may follow from their peers.  I certainly know if I feel that fear or apprehension, then the students in our ministry probably feel it on a grander scale.  Yesterday, I had one of the most freeing conversations with my wife and we sat for about an hour and just talked openly about our hearts, our inner-most struggles and suddenly James 5:17 became so real and alive in that very room.  How can I begin to ask students to go to one another with their struggles if I don't lead first in that area with my own life?  

I seriously believe that one of the largest things that stifles growth in our ministries, not necessarily numerical growth, is the environments we create for students to walk into.  Are we intentionally, or unintentionally setting up barriers that scream "only perfect people allowed," or are we receiving students with open arms and being so very intentional to create a place where students can come just as they are, baggage and all. Imagine a place where students were in love with God's word and were so real and open that they didn't feel this judgement in our church but felt the freedom to be transparent and real with another, and true healing began to take place in their life.  For some, this may sound like a fairy tale wonderland, but I honestly believe in my heart that this is a real door that must be open if we are going to see students take their next steps in their journey with Christ.  As a leader, I want to challenge you as leaders, don't carry the weight of your struggles alone, find that person(s) that you can be real with, that person who loves you unconditionally and doesn't judge you by past mistakes or current struggles.  This is so vital for us to get and the freedom that stems from living out James 5:17 is priceless.

Familiar

"If it's not broken, why fix it?"

"We've never done it that way before!"

"We've always done it this way."

"Why does it need to be changed?"

Sound familiar? The familiar is comfortable.  In Numbers 20, Moses dealt with this issue of accepting change.  God instructed him to speak to the rock and the water would flow.  The Israelites were thirsty and complaining.  Instead, Moses did what he had done in the past when he was in similar situations---he struck the rock with his staff.  Even though he had direct orders from God, is actions communicated, "We've never done it that way before.  I've struck the rock in the past, and I was successful  I don't want to try getting water in a new way."  His disobedience had sever consequences.  He didn't get to lead the people into the land God was giving them.

The people who typically resist  change are the ones most deeply rooted in the past, those who believe there's only one way to get water.  They'd rather disobey than try a new way.  But, if hearts are right, these people can be more easily moved toward accepting change than people with impure or hardened hearts.  Our growth in our relationship with Jesus corresponds with a willingness to accept change; even though we would love to repeat the familiar, a right heart is open to change.

Unlearn

I once hear a pastor say, "you are only a risk away from a breakthrough."  When I think about times in my life that I have risked, I am reminded of the fear that was involved in taking those risks, the fear that came before the risk, during the risk, and after the risk. 

The more my wife and I continue on our faith journey, the more we realize that the the greatest breakthroughs in our life happen when we push through our fear.  I love the way Mark Batterson puts it in his book "In the Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day," "the defining moments will double as the scariest decisions, you've got to face those fears and begin the process of UNLEARNING them."  

I can think of times my computer (PC that is) has been infected with a virus; our minds have infected files.  Irrational fears and misconceptions keep us from operating the way we were designed to.  If we don't uninstall or UNLEARN those fears and misconceptions, they will determine everything we do.  Jesus spent a great deal of His earthly ministry "UNLEARNING" the Old Testament concepts that totally were consuming people in their religious/legalistic minds.  It is so much harder to get old thoughts out of your mind than it is to get new thoughts into your mind.  What are things in our minds that we need to UNLEARN so we can LEARN what it is God is trying to reveal to us?