Shipwrecks and Snakebites

Based on Acts 27-28

Shipwrecks and snakebites…can leave you disoriented. They tend to occur (as does the subsequent disorientation) when things don’t go as planned, or as we planned, at any rate.

Skim Acts 27:1 – 28:10 with the following questions in mind:

• How many course corrections did Paul and his travelling companions have to make?
• What kind of obstacles did they have to overcome?
• How did God show up along the way to encourage and protect Paul?
• How did God use Paul throughout his journey?
• When all was said and done, what do you think stood out most to Paul from his experience?

Now it’s your turn:

How many course corrections have you had to make recently?

Maybe you feel like you’ve been struggling to make headway, fighting to stay on course. Paul certainly experienced that.

Listen to some of the words Luke recorded:

• · The winds were against us
• · We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty
• · The wind did not allow us to hold our course
• · We moved along the coast with difficulty
• · Much time had been lost
• · Sailing had already become dangerous
• · Paul warned them, ‘Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous’
• · A wind of hurricane force
• · The ship was caught in the storm
• · So we gave way to it and were driven along
• · We took such a violent battering from the storm
• · Neither the sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging…

What kind of obstacles are you trying to overcome?

In addition to the seemingly unending, violent weather, don’t forget that Paul started out on this journey as a prisoner, bound for his trial in Rome. And that was just the start.

His warnings of danger were ignored by those in charge.

A change of wind turned out NOT to be the good news they had hoped for. The lifeboat, and even the ship itself, were in danger of capsizing. The cargo had to be thrown overboard to help them survive, along with the equipment for sailing the ship. They had to destroy the lifeboat to keep the experienced sailors from abandoning them.

They were all in constant suspense, to the point that they didn’t eat for 14 days. The soldiers guarding them planned to kill them. The ship began to break up and they had to abandon it to save their lives.

The storm continued as they reached land, and when they built a fire to warm themselves, a deadly viper was in the branches! People judged him wrongly, condemned him, and ignored him.

Have you ever had a stretch like that?

How is God showing up to encourage and protect you along the way? How is He using you in other people’s lives during these times?

God caused Paul’s Roman guard to show kindness to Paul. God allowed Paul to reconnect with friends, friends who cared for his needs. God used Paul to warn the crew of the difficulties ahead.

When they went ahead anyway, God sent an angel to encourage Paul and to offer words of hope, courage, and a promise that they would be safe. The Roman guard listened to Paul’s warning when the sailors were going to abandon them. Paul ministered to the sailors, feeding them, and encouraging them to stay strong and not give up hope. God preserved their lives when the ship wrecked on the sandbar.

God kept the Roman guards from carrying out a plan to kill Paul, and he supernaturally protected him from the viper’s poisonous bite. God provided a home and a warm welcome with the island’s leader.

Finally, God gave Paul a platform for ministry. He opened the door for Paul to heal many people in Jesus’ name.

When the time came to leave, the bedraggled prisoner who first arrived on the island left in high honor, with all his needs supplied for the journey ahead.

What an amazing story of an underdog battling against the odds of circumstance, nature, and man, yet being used by God in the midst of the struggle. In the midst of it all, God protected Paul, preserving him for the purposes God had in mind for him. He guided Paul through the storm, encouraging Paul, and using Paul to pass on the wisdom and encouragement he received from God.

What about you? Where is God calling you to keep focused on Him in the midst of the storm? How are you passing that encouragement along to others?

When all is said and done, what will you focus on—the hardships along the way, or the grace of God that carries you through, gives you opportunities to minister to others, and opens new doors to reveal His grace as a direct result of the journey you’ve taken?

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.—Paul, writing to the Corinthian believers in 2 Corinthians, chapter 1, verses 3-11

To view the worship celebration Bible study on which this Next Step is based, visit

http://www.touchandchange.com/artman/publish/article_1591.shtml

Crowing Over Failure

January 25, 2009

Based on Luke 22:54-62

Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."

But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.

A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them.”

"Man, I am not!" Peter replied.

About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."

Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!”

Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Crowing over failure. Peter certainly was not crowing over failure at this particular moment. Failure was crowing over Peter.

Perhaps you know the rest of the story. Perhaps you know that Jesus restores Peter, perhaps you know the patterns of Peter’s life, perhaps you know his successes as well as his failures, perhaps you know how God used him.

Perhaps, though, you (or someone you know) are struggling with the word failure, like Peter was at that moment. When knowing that he had just let down his best friend, his God, and all of his other friends, was the overwhelming reality of his life. And he wept. Bitterly.

Some people shrug off failure like the proverbial water on a duck’s back. Others allow it to define them…or others. They seem to want to live in the failure, to be perpetual screw-ups, reliving the moment(s) of their failure, forcing others to relive failure, bowing down before failure as if it is the only thing that matters, as if failure is God’s last word to us.

For those of who don’t live in rural settings, the image of crowing over something relates more to Peter Pan than to roosters. We think of crowing over something as boastful, arrogant, brash, a mark of immaturity.

Yet Jeff painted an incredible picture of Jesus redeeming even the rooster’s crow in Peter’s life, infusing that daily sound with grace, replacing memories of failure with memories of restoration, renewed hope, and purpose, as a way of reminding Peter that each new day is a new opportunity to live for God. A picture for us of how Jesus wants to restore even the very reminders of our failures.

So…

Where have you failed?

Have you faced the reality of your failure, as Peter did? Owning responsibility for our behavior, for our failures, opens the door to forgiveness. (Luke 22:52-64)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.—1 John 1:9

Have you spent time with Jesus, reconciling your relationship with Him? (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:4; John 21)

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.—Psalm 103:11-13

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.—Hebrews 4:15, 16

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.—Revelations 3:20

Have you been reconciled to those who were impacted by your actions? Are there steps you need to take to be reconciled with others who have been wounded by your failure? (Peter reconnected with the other disciples. See John 20 and 21.)

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God….Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”—Matthew 5:9, 23, 24

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.—James 5:16

Are you ready? Ready to move on? Ready for God to redeem your failures? To restore your life? To recast even the memory of your failure?

"Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.”—Isaiah 43:18, 19

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.—Lamentations 3:22, 23

Are you willing to offer the same forgiveness, reconciliation, human encouragement, restoration, and hope to others who have failed?

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”—Matthew 18:21, 22

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."—Mark 11:25

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.—Philippians 2:1-4

To view the worship celebration related to this Next Step, visit http://www.touchandchange.com/artman/publish/article_1588.shtml

Life's Too Short...To Be Envious! - Mean, Green, Soul-Rotting Machine

Envy: “a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.”
--"envy." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 07 Oct. 2008. .

Envy is an ugly word. Short. Abrupt. Say it aloud. “Envy.” It doesn’t flow smoothly off the tongue; it sort of hangs there, suspended in midair, exposing an inner ugliness that we can’t hide. It almost sounds like a curse word. Come to think of it, envy ends up as a curse for those who indulge in it, short-circuiting the ability to live a life of gratitude and fulfillment.

What does Scripture say about envy?

As you read through these passages, ask God to show you which one you need to take to heart today.

First, notice how envy show up in Paul’s description of love:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.—1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Look at the effect of envy on the person who indulges in it:

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.—Proverbs 14:30

Envy motivated the religious leaders to turn against Jesus:

So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.—Matthew 27:17, 18

Envy is listed among the acts of the sinful nature against which we are cautioned, in contrast to the characteristics of a Spirit-led life:

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.—Galatians 5:19-26

James warns about denying or harboring the presence of envy in our lives, and points us to the characteristics of wisdom that come from heaven:

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.—James 3:13-18

Peter directs believers to rid themselves of envy and to grow up in their salvation:

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart…Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.—1 Peter 1:22, 2:1-3

Entitlement is a close friend of envy, and is a prevalent mindset today. Unlike envy, entitlement has a sense of intellectualism, justice, and righteousness about it. It doesn’t seem to bother us as much to admit to feeling entitled.

What do you feel entitled to have or entitled to do, regardless of the impact it has on others?

Remember the line from Disney’s The Kid, when the psychologist tells Russ Duritz that he is “entitled to a 50 minute hour, just like everyone else”? Always makes me laugh! Yet, having an attitude of entitlement isn’t a laughing matter.

Entitlement: “qualified for by right according to law; ‘we are all entitled to equal protection under the law’."
--"entitled." WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 07 Oct. 2008. .

Governments define the rights that their citizens are qualified to receive. But many of us have taken entitlement to a new level. Forget what the government says we’re entitled to, we think we’re entitled to have it all!

We think the world owes us…something, whatever we need, whatever we want, whatever others have—in short, everything the world has to offer.

In Philippians 3:20, Paul tells us that we are citizens of heaven. This is good news, yet we may be tempted to live a lifestyle of entitlement when it comes to spiritual matters, too. While most of us wouldn’t be so bold as to blurt it out in front of others, the basic attitude that drives both envy and entitlement is pretty straightforward:

“God owes me!”

Have you ever uttered those words, or thought them? Maybe it’s more subtle for you, maybe you’re not even aware that a tendency to envy or entitlement lurks in your unconscious, until things go wrong and you find yourself wondering how this, whatever “this” is, could happen to you!

Have you ever found yourself acting like you deserve more than what you have, thinking that life is unfair? What do you think you deserve?

What does Scripture say that we are entitled to?

All that we have as believers is through Christ, because of His sacrifice on our behalf. The New Testament is filled with the benefits that we reap through coming to God through Jesus. Try looking up Romans 5 and highlight the things we have received through Christ. Here are a few things to get you started:

1 peace with God
3-5 hope in suffering
10-11 reconciliation to God...

Moving on to other books in the New Testament, we find that we are free to:

“approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”—Hebrews 4:16

We can be confident that God will finish what He started in us:

“that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 1:6

We can be confident that God hears and answers our prayers:

“…if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”—1 John 5:14, 15

We can be confident that God is for us and that nothing that happens to us, as bad as it might be, can separate us from His love:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose….If God is for us, who can be against us?...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."—Romans 8:28, 31, 35, 37-39

These blessings through Christ, the things we are entitled to spiritually, are just the tip of the iceberg! Yet envy and a sense of entitlement trip up many who claim to know Christ.

Envy and entitlement destroy our ability to enjoy the life that God has given us, to receive His blessings, to appreciate His grace, and to experience the encouragement and support of Christian community.

Envy causes us to grasp after things that belong only to God—judgment, control, position, power, authority—and to blame Him and others instead of taking responsibility for our own lives and choices. It turns us from worship and gratitude to complaining, bitterness, resentment and grasping. It separates us from God and others, destroying the very relationships that God designed to sustain us.

Where is envy destroying your relationship with God? With others?

What blessings sustain you as a Christ-follower?

What changes do you need to make to destroy envy’s power and receive the blessings Christ has for you?