Thursday, April 3 at 6:00 in the CAC.  Christian humorist Joey Hancock will provide entertainment.  Tickets are $5 for adults.  18 and under are free.

Men’s Basketball  Nights

All men of FBC & their guests are invited to participate in the weekly basketball night held in the CAC each Tuesday from 7:00 – 8:00 pm. No “Pros” just “Joes” allowed for this weekly time to unwind, fellowship with other men, and play some basketball.

 Often times Christians do one of 2 things when it comes to “worship styles”: 1) we only feel comfortable worshipping in a particular style, often “traditional” or “contemporary”, or 2) think one particular style is the “better” or more godly way to worhsip.  However, the differences are really differences in how we express ourselves. It’s interesting to me that David could express himself to God in very physical emotional ways and in very humble, quiet, and reverent ways. God had worked in his heart in such a way that David could find God and express his worhsip to God in a variety of ways.

 I pray that God would enlarge our hearts to worship Him in more than just one style of music or style of “worship”. It’s not a matter of what I’m comfortable doing. I think it’s a matter of allowing God to change and stretch us to worship Him in ways that may be beyond our current capabilities.  God is pleased with both….it’s always a matter of the heart with God. Is worship authentic, genuine, out of love for Him, and to Him for His glory?  I pray that God would bring me to a place where I can worship Him in all variety of expressions.

 I’m learning that it is daily prayer and honest seeking of God in my life that is most needed for me. It is through the seeking and asking and searching WITH God that He leads, directs, and reveals His plans for my life and my family. And yes, most often, it is different than what I thought it would or should be.  In fact, I’m coming to believe that in everything in my life, God desires to give to us in ways that are “exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

1.  Desire is conceived  =  Child is conceived

[So it grows unseen to all except God. All along its alive and growing for 9 months! The first step toward problems is when unchecked desires are allowed to roam around in our heart and minds for a long while. As a result, our hear is “drawn away” from closeness to God or from obedience to Him. Check out Hebrews 2:1 and Psalm 119:9-11!]

2. Desire gives birth to sin = Child is born

[A baby doesn’t just appear over night from the stork. Likewise, sin doesn’t just spring on us. Just like a child that’s born and makes its presence known, desire in our heart will produce acts of sin in our lives.]

3. Full grown sin produces death = Full grown child

[A child is considered full grown by the age of 18 or older. In short, only after years of growth. Likewise, if sin is allowed to grow and be alive in our lives for periods of years, it will kill the things in our lives we hold most dear: relationships, spiritual vitality, jobs, joy, etc. We become entangled and ensnared by sin (Heb 12:1).]

So what can we do to keep these things in check? I’m drawn to these verses:

Matt 26:41, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Hebrews 2:1, “We must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”

Luke 21:34, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with…the cares of this life.”

Psalm 119:9-11, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word….let me not wander from Your commandments.  I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

Hebrews 12:2-3, “looking to Jesus….and considering Him lest we become discouraged and weary in our souls.”

1 John 2:14, “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.”

I definitely know that God’s desire is for us to overcome and not be overtaken in our daily lives.

The verse from last Sunday has stuck with me all week:

Galatians 6:1, “If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourselves lest you also be tempted.”

The first thought is the contrast of two types of men…one who is overtaken vs. one who is spiritual. In trying to understand this, I read chapter 5 to get some context and saw the contrast between walking in the flesh vs. walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:17).  The flesh: you know that part of us that says me, I, wants it now, wants what feels good, wants more of a good thing, etc. The Spirit: that part of God that dwells in us to draw our attention, prompt our thoughts, to stir our desires for the things of God.  The flesh always bends us away from God, and the Spirit always bends us toward God.  Paul says that the two are contrary and against to one another so that we don’t do the things we want to do. 

What does that mean to me? Well, in everyday life as a man, I feel this struggle and tug that comes from natural desires we all have….appetites for food, sleep, sex, attention, recognition, respect, etc. There is nothing wrong with these, except only in how I respond to them. If I let these “appetites” run wild like a preschooler overdosed on Kool-Aid, then I put myself on a path toward the things Paul describes in 5:19-21….what Paul calls works of the flesh: selfish ambition, outburst of anger, arguments, envy, and  idolatry (which is anything to takes my heart’s affection and mind’s attention away from God!).  Jesus said it this way, “Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:41; His commentary on the disciples falling asleep when He had asked them to pray with Him).  [Some other verses to hammer home the point: James 1:14-15; Romans 7:18,22-25; 8:5,13-14]

So I find this struggle everyday of responding the way I “naturally” would vs. responding the way God’s Spirit is trying to lead me. And so often, I give into responding to what feels easy or good.  I think this is what Paul is talking about….do I live everyday based on my flesh, my desires, my “natural” way. Or do I live by trying to ask, listen, and follow God’s Spirit that dwells in me…that still small voice that is always there prompting me and pointing me to do what is right.

So where and how does this play out for us men? Just a few I can think of:

Living with and responding to our wives; parenting our children; conversations at work, or even choosing our work/career; thoughts throughout the day; what we watch on TV/movies; what we choose to do with our spare time/hobbies; how we respond when we’re stressed, frustrated, angry, or disappointed;  pushing away from the table to stop gorging on supper; getting up early or staying up later to spend time praying; dealing with sexual frustration when our spouse is on a different page; wanting respect from bosses, co-workers, friends, and family; providing for our families.

To be honest and real, I think these are things most men deal with regularly.

In the sermon this morning, Bill talked about how life is full of struggles, temptations, and trials. The rub is that we’re naturally bent to respond one way, and God is changing us/transforming us to live another way.   I pray that God would change us even today, so that we can be accepting of His leading within us everyday all day….that in every moment of the day, “I” would decrease and He would increase…that He would win the battle for us as we fight against ourselves. He knew that was the real battle…that’s why He says, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself….” (Luke 9:23).