Pastor's Page

Dallas Willard defined humility in his description of the discipline of secrecy when he wrote that "one of the greatest fallacies of our faith, and actually one of greatest acts of unbelief, is the thought that our spiritual acts and virtues need to be advertised to be known."

As human beings, we long to be recognized for doing something.  However, it gets distorted when we are serving God and seeking recognition from people.  It is important to remember that God's acceptance and recognition is all that we should need.  May God empower us as Christians to please Him by not seeking human recognition for serving Him in different areas of our lives.

Willard, Dallas.  The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives.  HarperCollins Publishers.  New York: 1988.  page 173.

"Not every Christian is called to major leadership in the church, but every Christian is a leader, for we all influence others.  All of us should strive to improve our leadership potential."  This is another great quote by J. Oswald Sanders which basically sums up the way that a Christian life should be.

The Christian life should be one that influences people with a behavioral lifestyle that would be best for the progression of the gospel of Christ.  The Christian life should be lived holy and pure.  It should be a life that is willing to share the good news of Jesus Christ by word and lifestyle.  This requires influential leadership that God gives and the Christian can develop.  May we strive to improve our leadership potentials for other people to know about Jesus' provision for salvation which is the greatest gift that they could ever receive!

Sanders, J. Oswald.  Spiritual Leadership.  Moody Press.  Chicago: 1967, 1980, 1994.  page 109.

J. Oswald Sanders wrote: "What makes heaven heaven for the Christian is the perpetual presence of God as Sovereign Ruler of the universe, and yet at the same time as our loving heavenly Father, and the reality of enjoying forever the companionship of our Redeemer and Lord."

For Christians, there is hope and anticipation of experiencing heaven some day.  There is no need to fear the afterlife.  Yes, we may not want to experience the pain of dying; but, that pain will be temporary as there will not be any pain in heaven (Rev. 21:4).  The pain experienced now and upon death stems from this fallen world; however, death means being with Christ (Phil. 1:21-23).  Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ means that someday we will see his face (Rev. 22:4) and be in awe of His glory!

Sanders, J. Oswald.  Heaven: Better by Far.  Discovery House Publishers.  Grand Rapids: 1993, 1994.  page 60.

"A marriage lives, paradoxically, upon those almost impossible times when it is perfectly clear to the two partners that nothing else but pure sacrificial love can hold them together."  This is a phenomenal quote by Mike Mason which explains how important sacrificial love is in a marriage union.

The importance of sacrificial love in a marriage makes sense when we consider that the marriage is a picture of Christ and His church.  He gave of Himself sacrificially for people to be able to be reconciled or put in a right relationship with God!  If He did this for us, we should do no less for our spouses.

Mason, Mike.  The Mystery of Marriage.  Multnomah Books.  Sisters: 1985.  page 39.

A. W. Tozer wrote that "there is the sweet theology of the heart which can be learned only in the school of renunciation."  Are we willing to die to ourselves and this world and all that it has to offer? 

In 1 Corinthians 6:19, Paul shares that the Christian's body is God's temple.  Does God the Holy Spirit feel comfortable indwelling in us?  Or, have we made Him uncomfortable and not safe due to what we do with our lives and what we fill our lives with?

May we choose to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is our spiritual duty (Romans 12:1-2). 

 Tozer, A.W.  The Pursuit of God.  Christian Publications, Inc.  Camp Hill: 1982, 1993.  page 27.

There are many times in life in which God asks Christians to wait upon Him.  However, we may tell someone that we are waiting on God, but our hearts say that we are doing it grudgingly.  Yet, our hearts say what type of people we really are.  This is why Andrew Murray wrote: "It is with the heart that we must wait upon God."

For this reason, it is important that believers in Jesus Christ trust God with our hearts.  To trust God with our hearts is to say that we know that God knows what is best for our lives and we are going to rest in that knowledge.  Our hearts will be willing to wait for whatever God wants to do in our lives.

Murray, Andrew.  Waiting on God.  Whitaker House.  New Kensington: 1981.  page 43.

A. B. Simpson, who is the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, wrote that "the expression 'the very God of peace' further suggests that sanctification is the pathway to a deeper peace, even the 'peace of God which passeth all understanding.'"

As followers of Jesus Christ, we believe that God sanctifies us and makes us holy.  However, Romans 12:1 urges believers to present themselves holy which is their reasonable duty.  These statements may explain times when we are lacking peace.  Are we letting God conform us and transform us?  If we are not, we may be anxious and restless.  May we let Him sanctify us!

Simpson, A. B.  Wholly Sanctified.  Christian Publications, Inc.  Harrisburg: 1925.  page 9.

"Anything that does not result in God's getting the glory ought to be enough to restrain our own might and power so His Spirit can do the job, which includes removing the obstacles."  (written by Charles Swindoll)

Our purpose in life is to give God the glory; however, so many times we get in the way or let obstacles get in the way.  Yet, as Christians, we need to submit to God, letting the Holy Spirit's power work in our lives to keep us on a path that gives God the glory!

Charles R. Swindoll.  The Grace Awakening.  Word Publishing.  Dallas: 1990.  page 222.

"Followers know when to fold their own agendas into bigger better agendas for Christ.  That is how we contribute to unity."  This is an incredbile statement written by Joseph Stowell.

In beginning the preaching series of 1 Corinthians, Calvary Alliance Church has seen how God used Paul to stress unity to the church in Corinth.  Being followers of Christ means that we are called to unity.  We are to have the same mind and opinion for the cross of Christ.  Yes, there is diversity in the church; but, we are called to have unity within diversity for the cross of Christ. 

May we step out of the way in regard to our preferences and agendas and let God' agenda be our purpose!

Joseph M. Stowell.  Following Christ.  Zondervan.  Grand Rapids: 1996.  page 192.

Warren Wiersbe wrote: "Where there is life, there is growth; and the church ought to increase in both quality and quantity.  But churches do not grow by addition; they grow by nutrition.  True growth is from the inside out -- at least the kind of growth that lasts."

The book of 1 Corinthians is filled with nutrition that God has for Calvary Alliance Church.  As this preaching series continues, let us pray that God will make our hearts soft and tender toward His word.  May we ask Him to grow us to where our love and unity are a testimony of the grace that God has given to us.

Warren Wiersbe.  God Isn't in a Hurry.   Baker Book House Co.  Grand Rapids: 1994.  page 13.