Free Spirit

By Tim Hall

Tim Hall is an elder on session at Community Church and one of the featured blog writers for Peak Reflections. Tim’s messages help us think theologically about our faith.

The Freedom of the Spirit

The last time I saw my friend Don, he was winking at me out the rear-view mirror of his Harley-Davidson as he headed north on Kansas Highway 7, waist-length blond hair whipping behind him—the very image of freedom. Don threw himself into everything and pretty much did whatever he pleased. He worked hard, played hard, rode hard, and partied hard. He enjoyed many female admirers. He experimented with a wide range of illegal substances and dealt in a number of them. He seemed a free spirit and, by some measures, a man’s man.

Less evident to many of Don’s friends were the chains he forged from his choices: increasing addictions, entanglements with shady and ruthless people, and deepening fear, desperation, and depression. About a month after that fall day in 1976 when I watched him ride off, word came that Don’s body had been found in an apartment a couple of hundred miles away, victim of a shotgun blast. The police ruled it suicide. Some who knew him best suspected a setup—he’d become drawn too deeply into a drug smuggling ring.

Don’s tragic death repeats a pattern commonly found in human experience. Too often, our apparently free choices lead to an ironic enslavement of our appetites and will. A man makes one visit to a porn site and finds himself driven back to the page every time he logs onto the internet. A first year college student tests her newfound independence by overindulging at a keg party and finds herself a victim of date rape. A young couple grasps for the good life and finds themselves torn apart as they moonlight to keep up credit card and mortgage payments. Our wills, bound as they are in service to our corrupt desires, turn out not to be as free as we like to believe. Indeed, the Bible declares that we are born “slaves to sin” (Rom. 6:16-20, cf. chs 1-3).

The Holy Spirit, by contrast, is freedom himself. Jesus compared the Spirit’s activity to the wind, which “blows wherever it pleases” (John 3:8). The apostle Paul declared, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (II Cor. 3:17). The Spirit freely lavishes on all Creation the gifts of the Father and Son and returns all splendor and glory back to the Father and Son in an eternal song of love.

The Spirit also freely ministers the Father’s promise of life to humankind through his Son, fulfilling Jesus’ declaration that “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Jesus shared our humanity “so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who are held in slavery by their fear of death” (Heb. 2:14-15). Through the work of regeneration or New Birth, the Spirit makes this benefit of Jesus’ victory over death a reality in our lives, the truest thing about us. The Spirit frees us from fear. The Spirit frees us from spiritual death. The Spirit frees us from bondage to our own corrupt appetites and desires. The Spirit frees us from the condemnation passed upon all humankind by the holy and righteous laws of God.

So what does the Spirit set us free for? Certainly neither to indulge ourselves once again in the very choices that bound us in the first place (see Rom. 6:15-23; Gal. 5:13-21), nor to lock ourselves into a box of rules as if our own efforts could make us worthy of God’s love (Rom. 7-8; Gal. 5:1-12). Rather, we are set free to become what God intended at Creation: glorious, perfect, beautiful, radically free children of God Himself.

Contrary to how our culture defines and lives it, true freedom is not merely doing whatever we want. Our common experience exposes the irony of that notion in the shattered lives and tragic ends of those who live by it. The freedom given by God’s Spirit is the empowerment, in the words of the great St. Augustine, to “love God and do as you please.” As we learn to live out the new life implanted in us by the Spirit, the love of God transforms our desires to echo his own heart. In so doing, our choices and behaviors come freely to reflect the beauty, truth, and goodness that come to constitute in us the image of God as we see it in Jesus Christ.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

By Eric Tworek

Eric Tworek is a worship leader at Community Church and one of the featured blog writers for Peak Reflections. Eric encourages us to connect with God through praise and worship

A few years ago, I was talking to a friend at church who had started a Christian-based Alcoholics Anonymous group. He told me the group started every meeting with prayer, praise, and worship. He explained that those struggling with addiction spent so much time focused on themselves, their problems, and their failures that they needed an opportunity to focus on Someone bigger than their situation. I also find this to be true for myself. When facing problems in my own life – especially ones I have struggled with for years – it’s easy to fall back into familiar patterns and listen to the voice of the accuser say things like “see, you’re still a big loser” or “you’ll never beat this thing” or “just give up and give in.” I know it’s not the voice of God speaking, but it’s easy to believe what I’m hearing because it feels so true.

So much of my life is focused on my wants, my needs, and my feelings. I wonder if there is anything I do that Jesus would do if He were me? Once a month I volunteer to lead praise and worship at the Isabella County Medical Care Facility. It’s only a half hour a month, but it seems like such a struggle to make it there because I’m too busy or I just don’t feel like it. And yet I’m always struck by the joy and gratitude of the residents that take part and I always find myself wondering why I didn’t want to go. I am blessed and encouraged – probably more than they are.

We live in a world that shouts “ME FIRST!!!” and it’s hard not to follow that lifestyle. Taking time to praise and worship God is a great way to get the focus off ourselves. When we focus on God, our own wants, needs, and feelings become secondary. “Me first” becomes Jesus first and Christ in us grows stronger.

We hear the Holy Spirit encouraging us, telling us there is hope, have faith, and fight the good fight! Change becomes a possibility instead of a guilty feeling. So, through praise and worship, let’s get our eyes off ourselves and focus on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). As we focus on Him the cares of this world will fade away.

Do you remember this hymn chorus?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of this earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Helen H. Lemmel

Keep praising the Lord!

Jesus Calls Us to be Humble

By Sue Wroblewski

Sue Wroblewski serves as the Director of Compassion Ministries for Community Church and as an assistant to Pastor Brian. She is a featured blog writer for Peak Reflections and helps open our eyes to God’s merciful, compassionate and loving heart.

Just before Easter, my small group started a study on the book of Matthew. In Matthew, chapter 6, and Matthew chapter 7, a number of Jesus’ teachings are quoted. As with many of his teachings, they are not hard to comprehend. His explanations are so vivid that the reader cannot help but understand what is being taught.

Jesus gives simple instructions for day-to-day life. He tells us how to pray, how to give, how to ask, how to fast, how to avoid making judgments of others, and finally He reminds us why we give to those in need. The key message that threads itself through this entire section is that we ought not to do these things for the glory of ourselves, but for God’s glory in heaven. When we serve and give of ourselves in this way, we store up treasures for ourselves in heaven.

Take a minute to read through a few excerpts from this much read, much loved Gospel!

Matthew 6
Giving to the Needy
1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Treasures in Heaven
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Matthew 7
Ask, Seek, Knock
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

EPIC Daily Reading

EPIC: The Story of God
Weekend
April 11-12

Ahab Wins Battle, Rejects Warning, Dies
1 Kings 20-22

Summary
In this passage, God extends his grace to King Ahab three times. First, Ben-Hadad, the King of Samaria, raises a large army with 32 other kings against Israel. King Ahab, bows to their first demands and gave them his silver, gold, wives and children, but refuses their second demand to give up his kingdom. A prophet comes to Ahab and tells him that God would defeat Ben-Hadad so that Ahab would know that He is God. The defeat happens as was prophesied. Ahab gives no credit to God. Again God extends his grace to Ahab. This time the prophet tells Ahab that Ben-Hadad will attack again, so he needs to ready his army. Ben-Hadad does attack and Ahab is prepared. Again the prophet assures Ben-Hadad of victory so that Ahab will know that He is God. Again, Ahab is victorious, but gives no credit to God. Instead, Ahab spares the life of the idol-worshiping Ben-Hadad. Sometime later Ahab sees and covets a nearby vineyard, but the owner refuses to sell. Jezebel loathes her husband’s weakness and orders the owner to be killed. While Ahab is on his way to claim the land, Elijah meets him with a new prophecy in response to the murder of the vineyard owner: Ahab’s entire family will all die and Jezebel will experience a particularly gruesome death. At hearing this, Ahab shows signs of repentance and God in his mercy and grace postpones Ahab’s previous sentence to take place after his dies. Ahab’ demise transpires when he joins Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, to fight against a common enemy. A summoned prophet foretells their defeat. The kings choose to believe the more favorable prophecies and die in battle. Then the rest of the foretold events unfold.

Sample of Today's Reading:
I Kings 20:13: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the LORD.”

To read today's full reading click here: 1 Kings 20-22

Question of the Day
Why would God extend his grace to Ahab who kept ignoring him? Do I ignore God? What is God trying to show me about himself?

Prayer Focus
Thank you for your grace that comes to me each and everyday. Open my eyes and my heart to see what I may be missing.

EPIC Daily Reading

EPIC: The Story of God

Friday, April 10

Test on Mount Carmel

1 Kings 18-19

Summary

While Elijah was away, King Ahab is looking for him and Queen Jezebel, a Baal worshiper, is killing off the prophets of God. Then after three years of drought, God commands Elijah to go back to King Ahab to tell him that he would send rain. Elijah presented himself to the Ahab and told the king that he had abandoned God’s commands and followed the Baals (false gods). He commanded the king to assemble the people of Israel and prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. Elijah spoke before the assembly confronting the people about their wavering between serving the true God and Baal. To prove to the people of Israel who the true God is, Elijah challenged them to a contest. The 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah would call upon their gods to consume a sacrifice that they offered. Elijah would call upon his God to do the same. Elijah said that the God who answered is the true God which the people should follow. The 850 prophets call out all day while Elijah taunts them. They finally give up and Elijah raises the stakes by pouring water on the sacrifice and calls upon the LORD. God answers by burning the sacrifice, the water, and the stones the sacrifice lies on. Once the people see this they fall down and proclaim the LORD to be God and then they kill all the prophets. Elijah proclaims to King Ahab that rain will come and then flees for his life. He knows Jezebel will be really angry with him. At this time, God tells Elijah to anoint a prophet, Elisha.

Sample of today's reading:
I Kings 18:36-37 “At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: ’O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you are turning their hearts back again.’”

To read today's full reading click here: 1 Kings 18-19

Question of the Day

How can you be like Elijah to your world today by showing them your God?

Prayer Focus

O LORD, Savior of the World, let it be known today that you are God of Mount Pleasant, Isabella County, and the world and that I am your servant. May these people know that you, O LORD, are God and turn their hearts to you.

EPIC Daily Reading

EPIC: The Story of God

Thursday, April 9

Elijah and the Widow

1 Kings 17

Summary:

At the beginning of this chapter Elijah, a prophet of God, proclaims the word of God to Ahab, the new king of Israel who “did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him.” Elijah tells Ahab that as God’s judgment on Israel, there will be no rain in the next couple years until he says so. Elijah then leaves, probably to save his own skin. God miraculously commands ravens to bring food to Elijah and then God tells him to go to Sidon, a land where Baal and not God is worshiped. There a widow is to take care of him. Elijah does as God commands and asks the woman for food promising her that, if she does make bread for him neither the flour nor the oil will run out until it rains. She reluctantly bakes the bread and discovers that the oil and flour have not been used up. After some time the woman’s son dies and God, through Elijah, restores him to life. The widow makes a beautiful statement of faith.

Sample of Today's Reading
1 Kings 17:24: “Then the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.’”

To read today's full reading click here: 1 Kings 17

Question of the Day

When God asks you for your all as He did the woman, what keeps you from giving it? What does it take for you to say that you believe God? Who will benefit from your sacrifice: God, yourself, someone else or all the above?

Prayer Focus

I am but a human, Father. Please give me your eyes to see and your faith to trust you with whatever you ask of me.

The Fragrance of Christ

By Barb Tousley

Barb Tousley is a charter member of Community Church and one of the featured blog writers for Peak Reflections. Barb has a heart for discipleship and posts messages that help us cultivate spiritual maturity and intimacy with God.

Have you ever noticed how a certain fragrance can trigger memories of a particular event or experience in your life? The sweet, warm fragrance of Easter lilies stirs my heart that way.

In the church of my childhood, the Maundy Thursday evening service was a somber remembrance of Jesus' last supper with His disciples…the foot washing, the serving of the bread and the wine, the heart-rending prayer in Gethsemane, and Jesus' arrest. As each Scripture was read, one candle after another was extinguished.

Finally, the "Christ candle" was carried out, and we exited the dark sanctuary in silence. The Good Friday community worship immersed us in the horror of the crucifixion. And then… Easter Sunday morning! All ages joined the triumphant procession, as the "Christ candle" was carried back into a sanctuary now flooded with light, and countless Easter lilies were placed around the altar by families of the church. The unforgettable fragrance of those lilies dimmed the agony of the previous days, and wakened us to "a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 1:3).

We can savor the sweet fragrance of rejoicing in our resurrected Lord (in memory or in present reality), or we can be that sweet fragrance to a world desperate for hope. "Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and through us, spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ” (II Corinthians 2:14-15).

A young missionary, preparing to go to China, embarked on her first day in language school. She entered the classroom and took her seat, brimming with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Conversation ceased as the teacher entered. She uttered no word of greeting, but slowly and silently walked up and down the aisles, and then left as she had come. The students were stunned. But a few minutes later, she returned and addressed the class. "As I walked around this classroom a few moments ago, did you notice anything special about me?" Her students were hesitant to reply, until one courageous young lady spoke up: "I did notice that you were wearing a lovely fragrance."

"Exactly!" the teacher replied. "And so it will be when you set out to share the Gospel with people in another land. It is your life lived out before them that will bless them with the fragrance of Christ, long before you are able to speak one word in their language about faith in Jesus."

The fragrance of our Christian faith, lived out before a watching world (including those of our own household) will speak volumes about the transforming power of a life "hid with Christ in God."

From the pen of Mother Teresa: “Dear Jesus, Help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with Thy spirit and love. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Thine...."

EPIC Daily Reading

EPIC: The Story of God

Wednesday, April 8

Bad Kings

1 Kings 15-16

Summary:
The Scriptures record the evil deeds and sins of the kings of Israel after Jeroboam in Israel and Rehoboam in Judah. Only one king in these chapters did what was good in the eyes of God. Yet, none of the kings’ political or economic accomplishments are recorded in the Bible. I Kings was written to record how each king’s obedience to God affected the welfare of his people as prescribed by their covenant with God. The kings’ great deeds are not important here, but were written about elsewhere. The statement “As for the other events of (king’s name)’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings” occurs in each account of each king. What were these “other events”? One example is that of Omri, who according to historians, was one of the most important rulers of the northern kingdom. He ruled a powerful dynasty which subjugated his enemies, the Moabites, established Samaria as its capital city, and was spoken of highly in Assyrian annals.

Sample of today's reading:
I Kings 15:11, 14b: “Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done. Asa’s heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life.”

To read today's full reading click here: 1 Kings 15-16

Question of the Day

If someone were to write a book about you, what would you want them to say about you? What would God write about you?

Prayer Focus

My Heavenly King, teach me what is important to you and then may I keep that as my focus.