Why We Rejoice

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

One of the great blessings in life is to celebrate the ways that God works and moves. Sometimes, in our bid to stay humble, we can forget to give testimony to what God has done. Now, we do want to be careful, making sure that God gets the glory for whatever good happens in life, but we need to stop and realize what God has done.

It says in Revelation 12:11 the devil is defeated by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. In our lives, we should, as often as we can, stop and testify and thank God for what He has done and is doing.

So today in our text, something surprising happens. Listen to what we see in Luke 10: 17-20:

The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus said, yes, all these great things happen. You have authority to do so many things.

But don’t rejoice because of that. Rejoice because your name is written in heaven. We don’t rejoice today because of what we’ve done. Or what God has done through us. We don’t rejoice because of any of these things.

We rejoice because we are His. We rejoice because He has given us life, life now, and life for all eternity. We rejoice because we know the source of our life and our hope.

We rejoice because God has made us His very own.

Our identity is not found in what we do. Our identity is found in who we are. We are His. That’s where our joy comes from.

May we never forget that!

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Who We Are

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

As we walk together through this season of Lent, it’s very important for us to remember who we are, and whose we are. We are the people of God. That’s our identity, that’s our purpose, that’s our calling.

We have to remember that. We belong to God. We are His.

Seriously. We are His. And that means this. We are not our own. We don’t live our lives the way that we want to live (or at least we shouldn’t), we don’t chase after our purposes, our plans, our goals, our stuff.

We are called to chase after God’s. That’s where life is found. In Him, and through Him.

But, why are we God’s people? Is it because of our perfection, our goodness, our righteousness, our stuff? Is God lucky to have us on His team? No, in fact, it’s quite the opposite. Listen to what we are told today in Deuteronomy 7: 6-8:

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Today we are told yes – we belong to God. But we aren’t God’s because of our worth or our might, but we are God’s so that He can show His power through us. We are God’s because He wants to use us to show His strength. In the Old Testament, He didn’t choose Israel because they were the greatest. He chose them because they were the weakest. And in their weakness, when they were faithful and did great things, that just shows the power of God.

It’s the same for us today. You aren’t perfect. You don’t have it all figured out. You don’t have it all figured out.

And you know what?

That’s ok.

God still wants you. He still desires you. He still desires to be in relationship with you.

Not because of you. Because of Him.

Today, you belong to God. Live for Him. Live by His strength. Live in His power. Live for His purpose.

And if it goes wrong, remember this. You aren’t His because you are perfect. You are His because He is perfect.

Rest in that.

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God’s Plan for You

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

Ever feel like your life doesn’t have a plan? Like you are drifting with no purpose or even reason for being around? I know that we can all feel that way sometimes. We can be in a place, at a point, where just aren’t sure what it is that we are to do, we can be unsure of even God’s plans for us.

And that feeling can gnaw at us. It can make us question ourselves, our worth, our ideas, our dreams, everything. It can make everything seem wrong, it can make everything seem pointless.

It can make us seem like there is no reason for any of this.

When we feel like that, let’s not live just where we feel. Let’s take those feelings and compare them to what God’s Word says. Listen to what we are told today in Isaiah 49: 1-3:

Listen to me, O coastlands,
and give attention, you peoples from afar.
The Lord called me from the womb,
from the body of my mother he named my name.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow;
in his quiver he hid me away.
And he said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

God tells Isaiah – before you were born, I knew you. Before you were born, while you were still in the womb, I call you. You have a purpose. You have a cause. You have a reason.

You do. Now, the specifics of your life, I don’t know. I’m not sure of that. But I know God’s plan for you. I really do. I am 100% certain of God’s plan for you.

Want to know? It’s right there in verse 3. You are God’s servant. And He will receive glory through you. That’s God’s plan for you. That’s your purpose. That’s your reason for existing.

To bring glory to God. Now how does this happen? By living the way that God would want.

And what does that look like? Jesus tells us – to love God and love our neighbor with all that we. That’s the entire point of it all. That’s what you are here for. That’s what I am here for. All of us. To love God and love our neighbor. That’s your purpose. That’s God’s plan.

Now the specifics, I don’t know. But you know how you’ll find out? Live out your purpose. Love God. Love your neighbor. And God will show you the specifics.

God has amazing things in store for you today and through your life. Amazing. He has a plan for you. May we be faithful to the plan that He has shown us. And in doing that, may He shows us the specifics of our life!

Focus on What Counts

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Andy Stoddard

Be careful what you wish far. What you wish for may look good. May look great. But, it can be dangerous. We need to always examine ourselves for what it is that we desire, and just what we are willing to do to get that.

Listen to what Jesus says today in Luke 9:23-25

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

Jesus tells us this – what is it worth to have the entire world, to have everything you could want, everything you could dream of, if you lose your soul. If you lose yourself. What is that worth?

Is there anything on the earth that you can think of that would be worth having, if it would cost soul? It may be tempting to say, sure yes, this thing. Sure that’d be great.

And then you gain it. You can gain it all. Wealth, power, status, fame, everything. But if you lose yourself. If lose your faith, your family, your relationships, your friends, your life, what is that thing worth?

Nothing.

Life is not made up of the stuff that we think we desire. Life is made up of those relationships. With God. With others. And yes, even with ourselves. These relationships, they define us. They give us life. They give us purpose. They really define for us what it means to live.

Don’t loose that today. Focus on what counts. Focus on what matters. Focus on what is truly life. Not “the world” not the things that you think you could desire to make you happen.

Not thing things of this world.

Relationships. With God. With others. That’s what counts. That’s living. That’s purpose. That’s what it’s all about.

Today, and each day, focus on what counts. Don’t gain the world but lose your soul. Because if you were to do that, you really aren’t even living.

Today, let’s live. Let’s focus on what counts.

Jesus Demands a Choice

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Andy Stoddard

We have made a mistake with Jesus. We have made a major one. I don’t know that it’s on purpose, but I do know that it has happened over time.

It’s a mistake in understanding exactly who He is. We have made someone He is not. We have made Jesus something He is not.

What is this thing we have done? What is this mistake we have made about Jesus? What have we made Jesus, that He isn’t?

We have made Jesus safe.

Jesus is a lot of things. But one of those things is not safe.

We have made Jesus to be a safe little kitty cat, instead of being the roaring lion of Judah. We have made Jesus someone who is primarily concerned with our happiness and our fulfillment, instead of being the very Son of God, God Himself, creator of all.

We have made Him the one thing He is not. Safe.

Listen to what it says today in Luke 12: 49-53:

“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Jesus basically says this – you have to make a choice. You have to make a choice about me. Follow me, or not. But you have to make a choice. You can follow me as Lord. Or you can walk away from me. But you have to choose.

And we don’t like to think about Jesus like that do we? We like to see Him someone who only wants us to be happy. But that is not who Jesus is. Jesus is not as concerned with our happiness as we are.

He is concerned with our life.

He don’t offers us happiness. He offers us abundant life. He offers something so much more than just simple happiness. He offers us life, today, each day, and for all eternity.

Happiness is fleeting. Life is eternal.

But the only way that we will know that life is we have to make a choice. Jesus wants us to make a choice. Choose to follow. Or not. It’s your choice.

It’s my choice.

It’s our choice.

Jesus demands a choice. What will we choose today?

The Church is Bigger Than Me

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Andy Stoddard

The Church is bigger than me. It is bigger than my church. It is bigger than the denomination that I’m a part of. It’s bigger than the churches that I’m in partnership with here locally.

The Church is bigger than me.

It’s made of people (and churches) that are different than me. It’s made of up of people (and churches) that are like me. They may worship like we do; they may worship differently than we do. They may have disagreements on lots of things.

And that’s ok. Because the church is bigger than me. It’s bigger than my church. It’s made up of all of those that profess the name of Jesus Christ.

Listen to what happens today in Luke 9: 49-50:

John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

Jesus said; it’s bigger than just us. While they may not be “part”
of us, they are part of us.

So, today, if we are working for the same God, have the same purpose, the same salvation, the same calling, the same reason, we are on the same team.

We are. In spite of differences, in spite of preferences, in spite of all these things we are part of the same team.

And we as Christians, we’ve got to live like that. Seriously. We’ve got to live with that truth in our lives. We’ve got to live with that purpose.

The church is bigger than me. It’s bigger than my church. It’s bigger than my style of worship. It’s bigger than my theology.

It’s bigger that all of these. It’s about Jesus. And His will and His purpose.

Let’s live like that today. Me and you. We can do it.

And I know if we all do, each of us together. We can change the world.

Hey Jealousy

Posted on June 18, 2014 by Andy Stoddard

One of the things that can really trip us up in life is jealousy. That can be a very, very dangerous thing. And we are all prone to it. It can have material elements – oh they have that, I want that!

It can have elements of money. It can have elements of relationships – we can be jealous of others families, or friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, spouses, whatever. We can be jealous of other’s jobs, or success or reputation, or a million different things that can plague us with jealousy.

We can be jealous of spiritual things. Churches. Ministry. Gifts. Lots of things. Today, in Numbers 11: 28-30, we see Moses be tempted with jealousy:

Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

Moses was the prophet for the people at this time, he was the one that the Lord spoke through. Now here are these others, that are beginning to prophecy and Joshua gets jealousy for him. He says, make them stop, that’s your job. You’re the prophet not them! It’s not right, you are the one that God speaks through.

Joshua loved Moses and respected Moses and was jealous for him. We can all understand that. But Moses didn’t play along in that same way. Moses understood.

What mattered wasn’t him or his pride, it was God being at work. So Moses, instead of getting jealous, focused upon how great it would be if all God’s people had that gift.

He wasn’t worried about himself, he was worried about what God could in people and through people.

Jealousy isn’t just about earthy things it can also be about spiritual things. We as believers can be jealous of others. We as preachers can be jealous of other preachers. We as churches can be jealous of other churches.

You want to battle jealousy in your life? Take the focus off yourself, and place it upon God. When we are looking at others and comparing them to ourselves, we will always be lacking or jealous. When we focus on God and what He wants, we see that I have what I have for purpose and so do you.

And I’m not going to worry about me, or you, or any of this. I’m going to focus on God. And He’ll take care of us.

The key to jealousy is our focus. Where is our focus today?

Don’t Settle

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Andy Stoddard

There are lots of things in life that are good. Things that are fun, things that we really enjoy. We have lots of things in life that really are pretty cool.

But, in this life, what are our lives really built around. Are they built around things that will last, that have purpose that are truly life giving? Or, in our lives, are we building them around things that are nice and fun, but truly, truly don’t last.

Listen to how Peter describes this choice today in 1 Peter 2: 1-3:

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Peter reminds us – long for that spiritual milk that we will grow deeper in faith, if we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. Taste and see.

What does that mean. Let me ask you a question. Have you ever really felt God? I mean, really felt Him? Felt His peace, felt His purpose, felt His grace upon you, felt that mercy? Have you really ever felt that that?

If so, let me ask you another question. What can compare to that? Seriously? What’s as good as that? What is better than that feeling of joy; of peace; of purpose. Of knowing that you are smack dab in the middle of where God is and where God wants you.

If you’ve ever felt that, let me ask you final question. What would you ever settle for less than that? That’s the best moment of our lives, the best thing we’ll ever experience. Why would we settle for less than that? You were made for that purpose and that plan and that peace.

You were. That is exactly what you were made for. Taste and see that God is good. Remember that.

And don’t settle for less.

Yay Monday! Right?

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Andy Stoddard

It’s Monday! Yay! That’s how we all feel right? How awesome is Monday!

Yeah, I’m not sure that’s exactly how we all feel today, or really any Monday. Mondays can really be a challenge sometimes, especially after a busy and good weekend. So then, what do we do? How do we handle a Monday? How do we beat a Monday? How do we make it through today?

The thing is, sometimes we are defeated before we even leave the house. We’ve already accepted the defeat of a Monday before we even start. Listen to what it says today in 1 Peter 1:13-16:

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Peter reminds this morning – keep your mind clear, and set your hope on grace.

So often we walk out of the house defeated on Monday because that’s where our mind is. We’ve got our mind focused on how bad Monday is, or on the fact that the weekend is over, or on the thoughts of all that we have to do today or this week.

Peter says – no. Set you minds for action. Be clear. Focus on God’s grace and mercy. Be obedient.

Is this a Monday? Yeah. It’s a precious creation by God that He has given us today. Is is Monday? Yeah. But it’s a gift. It’s a gift given from God to me and you today. Wow! What a blessing is it. That’s right. I said this Monday is a blessing. Because it’s another day we have, it’s a gift from God, and it’s chance to know Him, love Him, and show His grace to others.

Yes, it’s a Monday. And this Monday is a gift. Remember that. Focus on that. Live in that. Set your mind on grace. And then even Mondays are awesome.

The Secret to Life

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Andy Stoddard

One of the relentless commands Jesus gives to His disciples in Gospel of John is this – Follow Me.

Over, and over at the end of John He gives this command, they are leave behind all that have, all that they are, and they are to follow Him. He has a plan, He has a purpose, He has a goal, He knows what He is going to accomplish in them, and through them. Listen to what He says in John 21: 18-19:

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

He is talking to Peter in this passage, and He tells him that He is to follow. But, before, He tells Peter – it won’t always be easy. There’s going to be some tough times, you will be lead to places that you don’t want to go, and have to do things that you don’t want to do, and yes, Peter, you will even die a way that you don’t want to die.

And it’s ok.

Because in all the places that Peter will go – it will glorify God.

You want to know the secret to life? You want to know how to live a life, truly worth living, a life that is full, and abundant, and full of joy? An amazing life?

The secret to life is to understand this. It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s not about any of us. It’s about God. It’s about living for Him, His glory, His purpose, His plan. That’s where life is found. That’s where purpose is found. That’s where it is all found. Not in our stuff, but in His stuff.

And so Jesus tells Peter, it’s not going to always be easy. Follow me anyway. Because when you follow me, you’ll actually find a life worth living.

That’s the secret to life. To understand that it’s not about us; it’s about Him. When we understand that, then we actually, actually get to live. And that’s when the fun really starts!

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