Despite it’s naming history, “Good Friday” is really Hard Friday. Only God’s might and mercy make it different. So for this weekend, I offer you three images and thoughts about the grace of our God and the gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The first image is all about hard Friday. Let it remind you that the King of Glory faced what endured because of His love for you and His desire to set you free from “the law of sin and death.”

Click on the Image for a Full Size Free Downloadable Image.

The second image is a reminder why Sundays are so important. On the first day of the week, especially the Sunday after Hard Friday, Jesus was raised from the dead. Resurrection Sunday changes everything. We get to celebrate it in each weekly cycle on each successive Sunday and once a year on Easter. These cycles, one tied to the week and the other tied to Jewish Passover, remind us of the Lord’s victory over death and His commitment to be with His people. He is with us, Immanuel, whether they are opening his word and remembering His story (Matthew 1:23), living in genuine community and worship (Matthew 18:20), sharing and serving others with compassion (Matthew 25:40), or crossing cultural boundaries to walk along side people and see Jesus come alive in them as disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). So look for the Lord among the living, not the dead!

Click on the Image for a Full Size Free Downloadable Image.

The challenge is to remind ourselves that what Jesus did, He still does. Hard Friday and Resurrection Sunday are not something long ago and far away, but they can be real for us, now.  We mustn’t forget the sacrificial grace and the glorious triumph are still within our reach!

Click Here for Direct Link to Video at WorshipHouseMedia.com!

]]> http://www.thephilfiles.com/2010/04/02/hard-friday/feed/ 2 http://www.thephilfiles.com/2010/02/18/witnesses/ http://www.thephilfiles.com/2010/02/18/witnesses/#comments Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:01:13 +0000 phil http://www.thephilfiles.com/?p=1200 When we look at ourselves and the people we know who follow Jesus, we have to admit some things. Most of us don’t look like world-changers. Most of us don’t fit the caricature of a “soul winner” who changes the world for Jesus. Most of us are ordinary folks doing ordinary things in whom Jesus wants to do something extraordinary.

But rather than Jesus making us into some weird version of ourselves so we can be useful, the Lord wants to redeem us — to take how we are wired by God to be who we are and how we are wired into relationships — and use us to touch those in our circle of influence.

The following video, called Rethink Church, captures the concept pretty well. I hope you like it. Then what follows are some questions to think about that go with this blog post and with this week’s Heartlight.org article, Catch and Release: Witnesses. Hope you are blessed by the thoughts in the article, this post, and the video. I’d love to hear from you and get your take on all of this!

You can find this video for viewing or purchase by clicking this link.

Read through Ephesians 2:1-10 and think about how the movement from “dead” to “grace” to “handiwork” is the story of the life of Peter … Mary Magdalene … of yourself.

How did that movement help the early followers of Jesus live as his witnesses to others?

How can this realization help you be a witness to Jesus?

Why do you think it was important for Jesus to choose “ordinary” people to be with him and then go out and be witneeses to others of the difference that he made in their lives? (Acts 4:13)

What are some of the things the devil places in your head and heart to try to keep you from believing you have anything to share with others about Jesus?

How could Peter have used the same excuse in his life?

How could Mary Magdalene used the same excuse in her life?

How does it make you feel to know that you are Jesus’ plan to touch the world with his grace?

How do you think that early bunch of Jesus’ followers felt when they realized that they were his only plan?

This is a great compilation of what the Bible says about love and then applies it. It’s simple, but clear, and true. Plus, the last image in the video takes you back to the “No Greater Love” graphic set two posts ago. So, more than getting revved up for Valentines Day, how about getting amped up to be God’s subversive agent that loves … against the grain … no matter what … in all sorts of practical ways … and sacrificial ways … like Jesus!

View or Purchase Video on Worship House Media Site

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

To think that the Creator of the universe has chosen to live inside me and make me His place of residence stuns me. Compared to the ancient temples of the Greeks, my life span in this physical form will be quite short and not nearly so picturesque. Yet you and I are told that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Like so many other biblical truths, I try to find ways to visually remind me of this truth. This is my humble offering on this front:

You can find the full size of this image (1024 x 768) and a whole set of PowerPoint backgrounds revolving around this theme on Heartlight.org and you can use them on personal websites or in churches or groups. (The image cannot be used on a commercial website or in print copy.) Check the links below for the other images.

This Image |  Title Image |  Image with Text |  Plain Image

This morning, this understanding means two very important things to me (I will actually have a third part that I will share Sunday in Heartlight.org and on my blog as we look at LIFE week.):

First, it matters to God what we do about the devastation in Haiti. Emotion and sorrow for the devastation that happens to others isn’t compassion until we do something. So here are some ways to help with the devastation in Haiti:

• Christian Relief Fund, PO Box 19670, Amarillo, TX 79114. This group already has people on the ground helping in Haiti with more help on the way. They are in need of funds to continue their operation. This ministry is led by a personal friend, Milton Jones. See http://www.christianrelieffund.org/web/index.php?page=kenya-relief-update
• Compassion International — http://www.compassion.com — we personally support Compassion Children and know people in this proven organization
• Healing Hands International — http://www.hhi.org/donate.php#donate-online
• Global Samaritan Resources — http://www.globalsamaritan.org/contact-us

Second, as believers in Jesus, we are precious to God because He lives in us through His Holy Spirit. My Heartlight.org article this week, “God’s Dwelling Place,” is about this and has several questions for discussion that I would love to get your input on.

Too often, I fear, we forget that our bodies are the dwelling place of God in the Holy Spirit. I want to encourage you to think about the following questions, discuss them with others, and even share your thoughts on them with me in the comments section:

What difference should it make realizing that God lives in us through the Holy Spirit?

• How should this affect us in our sexual ethics? (1 Corinthians 6:9-20)
• What other areas of our body image and bodily behavior should be changed by realizing that God lives in us?

If God lives in us through the Holy Spirit, what impact does this have on our understanding of worship as a way of life and not just a place centered religious activity? (John 4:19-24;Romans 12:1-2)

• Why do you think it is so easy for us to segment our lives into secular and sacred, allowing us one set of “worship” behaviors and another set of work, play, and private behaviors?

Recognizing that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” from conception (Psalm 139:13-16) in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27; James 3:9) and we are the dwelling place of God in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), how should we view our own value to God?

• How should we view the value of others?

Since our bodies are the dwelling of God in the Holy Spirit, what do we — what do you and what do I — need to do to honor God with our bodies?

• Is there a physical discipline that you need to commit to doing to honor God?
• To whom will you be accountable to do this?
• How will you remind yourself each day that what you do in and with your body is part of your way of honoring and welcoming God?
• How can we do this in a way that is a joyful act of worship and not a daily drudgery?

Here’s one that is especially close to my heart because we have Congolese refugees as part of our church family. This young man lives as a refugee in another African country:

Hi, I’m Freddy, a young Congolese student in the south, living for Christ no matter all winds that I’m going through, but thank God through what I’ve read about Heaven’s Fresh Air (the Holy Spirit) …

This was a response from a sister in Christ, and this challenges me today on my birthday as I look at finishing strong for the Lord!

Please include me on your mailing list. I do want to go above and beyond where I have been. I do more today that I did 5 years ago and I fully intend to head out beyond that. The Lord has graciously given me open doors and I want to pass through those doors with the passion required.

Too often we forget that we are part of a world-wide Kingdom that knows no genders or races and transcends cultures and languages. Receiving emails from all over the world, it has been a joy to see the variety of names and countries and know that while “blood is thicker than water,” the Spirit that binds us together in the Body of Christ is thicker than blood!

Over the next year, I’m committed to focus throughout the year to reminding us that God wants us to be …

* Spirit-cleansed

* Spirit-filled

* Spirit-led

* Spirit-equipped

* Spirit-empowered

Please pray for me as I try to share God’s great and gracious promises given to us through the Holy Spirit. No one is really sufficient for such a task. But I am pumped about the interest and passion I’ve seen in others. Let’s pray for Holy Spirit revival to sweep like wildfire through the people of God all over the world!

Grace to you for a great New Year as we serve the King of Glory and serve the world as the Body of Christ!

Here are the questions that go with today’s Heartlight.org article entitled, ASK!

When is the last time you have prayed for God to release his powerful presence in your life through the Holy Spirit?

When is the last time you have prayed that God release his powerful presence into the life of a believing friend or family member?

Why do you think so many believers have neglected or don’t even know that God has promised the Holy Spirit to believers who ask for him?

Who is someone you can get together with regularly to help you stay on track in your daily prayer for the Spirit of God to be released into your life and the lives of those you love?

What are some Scriptures that speak to you about the five ways God wants us to be blessed by the Holy Spirit?

* Spirit-cleansed

* Spirit-filled

* Spirit-led

* Spirit-equipped

* Spirit-empowered

We had a great visit with our kids in Lexington, Kentucky who are caring for an emergency situation with a foster baby and couldn’t leave town to come see us and so we packed up and went to see them for the week of Thanksgiving. Last week I was south of Fort Stockton stalking Mule Deer in the cold, wind, sleet, snow, and rain in an open jeep. Like most crazy outdoor loving dudes, I loved every minute of it!

I’m excited about a couple of things coming up.

Our church is hosting the second Community Christmas Celebration at the Abilene Civic Center on December 20th at 10:00 a.m. We had folks from the Abilene community and the surrounding Big Country come last year. Brandon Scott Thomas, of Zoe, will be leading our worship time. We will be making a special presentation to our Habitat for Humanity family as well as remembering the incarnation of God in human flesh.

The big thing I’m working on and very excited about is the SpiritFire email list for 2010. It will be a daily devotional focusing on the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It will be added to the Heartlight devotional offerings and we will be offering to everyone in our church. If you are interested, just send an email to spiritfire@heartlight.org and say, “Add me to the list!” We’ll be working on the details next week, but so far, the response has been very good!

Grace to you for a great weekend.

Phil

Other Thanksgiving celebrations have been filled with other things. Misunderstandings, unexpected deaths, difficult illnesses, hard travel, and hurt feelings. Like you, I’m sure, the travel season of the holidays is a wondrous and sometimes worrisome time. In response to both, I will begin a short series of messages on Heartlight.org called Traveling Mercies about some of the more famous journeys made by God’s people of faith. Next week (December 3), I hope to look  Moses, the following will be Ruth (December 10), then we will focus on Joseph and Mary and their trip to Bethlehem (December 17). The final week of the year, we will look at Saul’s trip to Damascus on the final day of the year, we will anticipate where God is going to take us this next year.

As you travel, I hope you will think about the following questions and pray that God will fill your season with His presence and that your joy will bless others. This Thanksgiving, I hope you will think about the following (these go with the week Heartlight.org article called, “The Long Wait”):

What is your most memorable Thanksgiving for good reasons?

What is your most regrettable Thanksgiving?

Most of the time, we talk about Thanksgiving as the holiday that is good and Christmas as the one that is commercialized.

* Why do think this is so?

* Which holiday do you like better and why?

* How can you make Thanksgiving more full of the joy of Jesus’ coming and Christmas more full of thanksgiving for what God has done for us?

* Why are both celebrations important for us as God’s people?

What can you do to prepare your heart and your family for a more proper approach to the Christmas season?

Do not read that as an emphasis on ego. Think of it as a question you ask to God … as a recognition that you are not good enough, equipped enough, smart enough, or whatever enough you feel you lack.

“ME?”

That was Moses’ question to God in Exodus 3. In fact, Moses made a whole lot of excuses about why it couldn’t be “ME?”

Moses was thrilled God had heard, seen, and understood His people’s sufferings. After all, those sufferings are what got Moses run out of Egypt and sent him chasing woolies in the wilderness for 40 years. So when God said He was coming to deliver His people, Moses’ heart must have skipped a beat or two with excitement. But when God said the way He was coming down to deliver His people was through Moses, well, let’s just say Moses’ heart stopped and his stuttering began.

“ME? No way!” And then the questions and excuses began.

• “Who am I that I should go?” (3:11)
• “What is Your name? Who should I say has sent me?” (3:13)
• “Why would the people believe you sent me to deliver them?” (4:1)
• “Where will I get the ability to lead since I can’t speak very well?” (4:10)
• “Why don’t you just pick someone else?” (4:13)

So what is God asking you to do?

Why do you keep answering, “ME?”

Admit it: you’ve been wondering, “Why doesn’t somebody do something?” So maybe you are that “somebody” — for more on this see my Heartlight.org piece this week and also look at Rubel Shelly’s article called “Mercy”!

And for those who are church leaders, let’s quit saying “ME?” and get back to building churches the way Jesus wanted them built. See Frances Chan’s convicting article, “The Comfortable Substitute!”

“ME?” To which God says, “Absolutely, you betcha, get on with it!”

That’s a much more important question than you might imagine. When Jesus gave the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), the Lord wasn’t laying down a plan for evangelism. No, Jesus’ words push us much deeper than simply sharing the Good News of the Kingdom. Look more closely and you will see the key verb can literally be translated “disciple” — it’s nearly always translated “make disciples” but the focus is on going to people, leading them to the point of baptism, and then walking beside them until the truth of Jesus comes alive in them. This is far more than sharing a gospel presentation. This is a commitment to pass on our our passion and it is a passion to pass on our commitment!

In my post in Heartlight.org this week, “The Greatest Glory,” I emphasize that a leader — parent, teacher, coach, counselor, manager, boss, friend, etc. — finds his or her greatest joy in seeing someone he or she has trained investing and forming others. Take a look at that post and then I’d really like to hear from you about the questions at the end of the post:

Who is someone who has invested in you to help you become the woman or man of God that you are today?

• What would you like to say about them to thank them for their investment?
• When was the last time you said it?
• Why not write them a note and thank them now if they are still living and if they have gone to be with the Lord, then thank one of their children or grandchildren telling them about this person who made such a difference in your life?

Who is someone in whom you are investing — or should be investing — your passion, values, and goals?

• What skills and character qualities do you see in them?
• How can they bless the Kingdom of God?
• When was the last time you told them these things?
• How are you going to share these things with them in the near future?

A friend once said, “We can’t live for our children, that’s too limited a horizon. We must live for our grandchildren! That means we’ve got to help our children pass on to our grandchildren what we hold as most valuable to us.”

What do you think about this thought?

• How does this more accurately reflect what Paul taught to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:1-2)?
• How did Jesus embody this principle of passing on faith to multiple generations?
• How can you embody this principle in your relationships?

What is your greatest glory and joy in your influence and leadership of others?