Just Ask

As I read through the gospel of John, I notice Jesus mentioning a few times in a very short section to ask God whatever you want and he (God) will give it to you.  This came at a very critical point in Jesus' life.  These were some of the last words of instruction he would give to his followers.  Ask and he will give (John 14:13; 15:7; 15:16). 

Now, this isn't the "name it and claim it" prosperity message.  There are caveats ... there are conditions.  Jesus puts it in context of "doing his work."  Is it possible that as we are doing God's work: love, care, compassion, testimony, worshiping, teaching, preaching, etc., that we would just need to ask God for what we need and we'd have it?

It's an asking that is rooted in Jesus name (14:13).  Not in our name, in our effort, in the name of our church or the name of a denomination.  It's in Jesus name so that the "Son may bring glory to the Father."  We receive because the Son (Jesus) wants to bring glory to the Father.

It's an asking that is rooted in Abiding in God (15:7).  If we are not connected to God, how will we receive what we ask for.  There is a relational connection to asking and receiving.  It's interesting how the the impetus is on US remaining in Him.  God never leaves us ... but we are so prone to wonder from him.  If we remain in him, through the good, the bad, and the ugly we can receive what we ask for.

It's an asking that is rooted in proven faithfulness; Jesus calls it "bearing fruit (15:16)."  It's related to remaining in Him.  Using a vineyard metaphor Jesus claims that by remaining in him we bear His kind of fruit.  When that is evidenced in our lives, then we ask and we receive.

I know that for me, I often get lost in the mania of life and I really forget to just ask, in Jesus name, for that which I desire.  It can sound a bit self-serving too ... but as we remain in/stay connected with God we develop an affinity for Godly things, behaviors, and lifestyles that then influence our asking.  But we just forget to ask.

How about you?  Have you remembered to ask of God today?  Are you connected to him, does your life display his values, do you ask in Christ's authority?

Take time this week and just ask of him.  At the same time measure your own life with the verses above and see where there's room for improvement.  I have a feeling you will begin receiving what you ask for ... in God's timeline.

Hope to see you Sunday at Christ Church of West County.

Sunday 10am @ Fairview Middle School.

In Christ,
Ben DiStefano

SHAKE IT OUT

* Colossians 4:2-3: ² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

Phew!!! What a crazy two weeks ... I've really been putting our value of investing in the community to the test.  As most of you know, I am an assistant football coach at Fairview Middle School and these past two weeks have been consumed with the opening practices of the new school year season.  In addition, I volunteered to help my son's "little gridders" football team.  So I've had 2-a-day practices myself for much of the past two weeks. 

Some may think I'm a glutton for punishment but the reality is that "leadership leads" and if we value investing in the community I need to model that and be in the community, doing what I do well, with the gifts I've been given.  For me that means that for two weeks out of the year my world gets really hectic.  Many of you can relate as you invest yourselves in other areas in our community or abroad.

While I love coaching football, many of you will understand when I say that I don't do it for football sake, but to build relationships with people and share the love and grace of Christ through my normal everyday living.  This is one way (among others) that I can practically be "salt and light" (Matthew 5:13-16) in my community and outside the parameters of the church.

I'm not sure where your influence is in the community (neighborhood, schools, workplace, gym, or your favorite coffee shop) but I know that there is a space that you can influence for Christ.  Through your actions, decisions, and values you are model - people are watching.  For those of us who call ourselves Christian we have an opportunity to "shake out" and "shine out" our faith; and with eyes that are open wide, see the opportunities and open doors* to speak God's truth into the lives of those who are not yet Christ followers.

Come Sunday, let's celebrate what we've seen and heard this week as God's been moving in our lives and in our community.

See you Sunday at 10am at Fairview Middle School.

Don't Ask for Too Little

Yesterday was a great day of worship at Christ Church.  We began a new series on the person and the power of the Holy Spirit. I hope that as we experience the rest of this week we would tap into the person and power of God to work through us and sustain us.  Too often we settle for too little of God because we simply don't ask for more of him in our lives.  Ask for more and see what he does for you this week.


Today I want to share a message from a friend of mine that came through his recent weekly update.  From Dr. David Aderholdt, international worker in Macedonia:

Leadership Corner - Authentic Church, True Spirituality in a Culture of Counterfeits

In a world of consumerism, seduction, sexuality and self-indulgence, what should Church look like?  These competing values to the Cross, which we say is central to our lives, how does that work out in 2012?  Obviously we are gonna have to make choices that other's are not making.  We cannot rely on human wisdom, but instead make the Cross central to our lives.  It is the only way to moral purity in a world gone mad with moral permissiveness.  Some gems from this book:

"In a world that regards the message of Christ crucified as weak and foolish, it will always be tempting for Christians to look elsewhere for the power and wisdom we feel we need to impress others. Our attention can so easily shift from the message of the Bible, with its focus on the saving work of Christ through the cross, to other preoccupations." (p. 18)

"We too have done many terrible things, but now, if we trust in Christ, we are completely clean in God's sight, washed by the blood of the one who died for us. We have been 'sanctified', set apart from the wickedness of the world to live godly lives as God's people. We are under God's condemnation, but now we have been 'justified' and are completely in the right with him.... This glorious truth was underlined for a friend of mine when he was given a book called The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner. When he looked inside, he found the pages were completely blank. God has wiped the slate clean for all who trust in Christ." (pp. 70-71) 

"Christ's headship over Christians does not demean us, but rather enables us to flourish into the people we long to be. He was so committed to our welfare that he was willing to go to the cross so that we might enter into the relationship with God for which we were made. In the same way, a wife will blossom if she is married to a husband who exercises his headship not to please himself, but in the interests of what is best for his wife, even if it kills him." (p. 141) 

"Teaching which promises material and spiritual prosperity now is much more attractive to us than any reminder that, wonderful as the blessings God has already given us in Christ undoubtedly are, the Christian life in this present world still requires self-discipline and suffering. Talk of discipline is not popular in a self-indulgent world which always tends to opt for the easy life; and teaching that points us to the future leaves many cold in a generation that lives for the moment and is frustrated by having to wait even a few seconds for an Internet connection." (p. 194) 

 

"A good test, therefore, of any movement or message that claims to be spiritual is to ask, 'Does this point me to the crucified Christ and encourage me to grow in knowledge and love of him, to serve him and imitate him?' If not, it does not come from the Holy Spirit, however impressive it may appear." (p. 19)

 

The story is told of a bear that bumped into a hunter with a loaded gun. The bear put up his hands and said to the hunter, 'Come on, let's be reasonable - let's light a fire and chat a bit; you can tell me what you want and I'll tell you what I want.' 'All right,' said the hunter, 'I'm hunting bear because I want a great big fur coat.' 'That's fine,' said the bear, 'I'm looking for hunters because I want a great big square meal.' Fifteen minutes later the bear got up, patting his stomach contentedly. He had had his meal, and the hunter had got his fur coat on. (Illustrating the point that in some situations, wisdom demands that we flee, not negotiate, especially when we are tempted sexually). (p. 76)

Everyone is Welcome

Over the past couple of weeks the issue of acceptance has crossed my radar a couple of times.  One has been the very public Chick-fil-A controversy and the other one came through a private conversation with a friend of mine.  Somewhere at the heart of both issues is the idea of acceptance and tolerance in its truest sense.

As we begin Christ Church we are taking the position that everyone is welcome at our church ... and we mean everyone.  We desire and want to be a place where all people feel welcome and honored.  As a protestant church we hold to the values and teachings presented in the Bible.  But those values and teachings are not to condemn people (John 3:17) but to love and honor each other, encouraging them to live out Christ's priorities and become people of his character (Romans 12:1-2). 

We realize that people at times will feel uncomfortable, challenged, and confronted by God's word.  This doesn't mean they are not welcomed or loved.  It means that we are all people trying to be more like Christ in a world that works against us.  It means that in our disagreements we show grace; we honor each other; and we value a person more than their behavior (John 8:7).  

This is how we parent our children.  We love them, honor them, and value who they are ... but there are some things they do that are outside the character and priorities we are trying to invest in them.  At those times we don't banish them from the home; we don't tell them they are not welcome here; we don't stop loving them; we don't stop being with them; and we certainly don't go to their schools and hold signs in the hallways claiming how terrible they are as children.

We love them; we honor them; we value them and we stay close to them.  We teach, model, instruct, and guide them with love according to our values and priorities (Ephesians 4:15).

As a church we will welcome all people.  We won't change our position on our values - and quite honestly I don't think anyone would expect us to - but we will live with respect and love towards each other.  This is good news to all of us liars, thieves, gossips, over-eaters, excessive drinkers, short tempered parents, speeders, and the like.

We meet on Sundays at 10:00am at the Fairview Middle School on Avonia Road/Rt 98 in Fairview.  Everyone is welcome. 

Church Should Be Simple:  Love God and Love People

See you soon!
~Ben