"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." Rom. 8:1
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:38-39
The first verse and the last verses of Romans chapter 8 kind of say the same thing: Once you become a child of God/an heir with Jesus Christ/a member of His family, you are His son or daughter. Your DNA becomes linked with Jesus' DNA. When we enter into a relationship with Jesus and maintain that relationship, just as you would a family member, then we should fear none of those things that frighten those in the world or who walk in the ways of the world.
Are you living out your life "in Christ?" Then there is "no condemnation." That is a significant promise! I think I forget that sometimes. I often condemn myself for lacking certain skills or gifts. There are times I really get down on myself for doing something I shouldn't have done or for not doing something I should have done. Since I know I am in constant spiritual warfare, I get to a point where I realize Satan must be thrilled to have one of God's children swirling the drain in discouragement. Here's a hint, the more I hang out with Jesus (in my mind and every day life) the less likely I will be condeming myself. When I am "in Christ" there is no condemnation. I love it!
Conversely, the scripture goes on to say that "those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh . . " and that this kind of mind is "enmity (hatred) against God." That kind of mind has to continually connive, contrive and stress and work so hard at living in this world. Because as you continue to walk in the flesh the more flesh Satan takes from you. This world, as it is presently, belongs to Satan. It goes without saying that being a friend of this world is being a friend of Satan.
The only way to walk confidently without a care of this world is to walk "according to the Spirit . . . the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." In doing so, you can become "more than a conqueror," as it tells us toward the end of Romans chapter 8. Why does Paul call us "more than conquerors?" Because the battle is done. Imagine going into a fight knowing before it even begins that you have won it. That's what life in Christ is like. This world is nothing compared life in Jesus Christ. When you follow the ways of the flesh (this world), the end of the road is an eternity in misery. Not only that, but every day is a dog-eat-dog battle in this world. In this world, there are no rules for trust, integrity, compassion, mercy or grace.
Every good and perfect thing is of God. The end of the road in a life devoted to Jesus Christ is not just good; it is beyond anything wonderful you can imagine. Think of the best thing ever, then go way past that. You can't!
Live your life as a conqueror. Live your life as the best friend of Jesus Christ.
Sal
Friday, October 23, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Getting Comfortable on This Side of Heaven
"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world." Romans 1:8
There is a story in the Old Testament about a king of Judah. His name was Jesoshaphat (that's P-H-A-T). For the most part, Jehoshaphat did his best to follow God. At one point in his reign over Judah, a huge army from three different factions came to make war against Judah. It way outnumbered and out-weaponed Judah. There was no humanly possible way of defeating this army.
As this army was assembling to attack, Jehoshaphat and the entire nation of Judah came together and complained about why this could be happening to them . . . No, they "came together to seek help from the Lord." (2 Chron. 20:4) Jehoshaphat, in front of this united body of believers, prayed to God. It wasn't a flowery, pretty prayer; just a prayer from the heart of him and the people who were faithful to God for help in time of trouble.
The Spirit of God spoke through one of the people, saying, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chron. 20:15)
Can we ever acheive this kind of faith? As a country? Don't bet on it. As a church body? It is imperative. In John, chapter 16:33, Jesus tells His disciples, "I have told you thise things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." The emphasis on "in me" is important because it is only in Jesus Christ and faith in His overcoming power over sin and death that we can experience true peace . . . even in the face of unparalleled "trouble," which is bound to come. It certainly came to the disciples, yet they had complete peace.
In this world we do have trouble. So many of us have experienced "trouble" because we are in this world. And in the midst of it, it is very difficult to feel that peace that Jesus was talking about. And it's not "trouble" like breaking a high heel or a rained out softball game kind of trouble. Jesus is talking about traumatic, life-altering, faith-shaking trouble: the unexpected death of a family member or close friend, a divorce or unfaithful spouse, bankruptcy, the discovery of a terminal illness kind of trouble.
Yes, even as followers of Jesus Christ, we will expereince troubles just like other people in this world. Being a Christian does not guarantee immunity from the troubles of this world (in some cases, your faith may bring on troubles). The significant difference we have over those who are not "in Christ" is that peace that comes from knowing the creator of the world; the one who holds it all together. The only way we can be comfortable on this side of heaven is to make Jesus Christ our best friend, personal advisor and all around rock on which we stand. Only He can offer us the peace this world is looking for.
Sal
There is a story in the Old Testament about a king of Judah. His name was Jesoshaphat (that's P-H-A-T). For the most part, Jehoshaphat did his best to follow God. At one point in his reign over Judah, a huge army from three different factions came to make war against Judah. It way outnumbered and out-weaponed Judah. There was no humanly possible way of defeating this army.
As this army was assembling to attack, Jehoshaphat and the entire nation of Judah came together and complained about why this could be happening to them . . . No, they "came together to seek help from the Lord." (2 Chron. 20:4) Jehoshaphat, in front of this united body of believers, prayed to God. It wasn't a flowery, pretty prayer; just a prayer from the heart of him and the people who were faithful to God for help in time of trouble.
The Spirit of God spoke through one of the people, saying, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chron. 20:15)
Can we ever acheive this kind of faith? As a country? Don't bet on it. As a church body? It is imperative. In John, chapter 16:33, Jesus tells His disciples, "I have told you thise things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." The emphasis on "in me" is important because it is only in Jesus Christ and faith in His overcoming power over sin and death that we can experience true peace . . . even in the face of unparalleled "trouble," which is bound to come. It certainly came to the disciples, yet they had complete peace.
In this world we do have trouble. So many of us have experienced "trouble" because we are in this world. And in the midst of it, it is very difficult to feel that peace that Jesus was talking about. And it's not "trouble" like breaking a high heel or a rained out softball game kind of trouble. Jesus is talking about traumatic, life-altering, faith-shaking trouble: the unexpected death of a family member or close friend, a divorce or unfaithful spouse, bankruptcy, the discovery of a terminal illness kind of trouble.
Yes, even as followers of Jesus Christ, we will expereince troubles just like other people in this world. Being a Christian does not guarantee immunity from the troubles of this world (in some cases, your faith may bring on troubles). The significant difference we have over those who are not "in Christ" is that peace that comes from knowing the creator of the world; the one who holds it all together. The only way we can be comfortable on this side of heaven is to make Jesus Christ our best friend, personal advisor and all around rock on which we stand. Only He can offer us the peace this world is looking for.
Sal
Monday, May 18, 2009
To What Do You Give Your "First"?
"And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." Colossians 1:17
As I watch and listen to the news commentators, I reach a point of saturation when I think to myself, I can't listen to this anymore. Conservative and Liberal pundits and opinionated "experts" go nose to nose in an effort to have those who are watching or listening to hear their point. It seems anymore just about anything can be politicized which creates a great division of people.
We cannot even have a beauty pageant without politics becoming the headliner rather than the winner of the event. As far as Miss America, 2009 goes I will always remember Miss California; don't even ask me which young lady won the contest. Everyone from both sides of the political spectrum are in a frenzy about all sorts of topics. And they are extremely important to each person.
In itself, these politcally and socially heated battles have only been white noise in the background for me. However, as I observe followers of Christ jumping into these arguments and becoming part of the melee, I get discouraged. I get a sense that the prince of this world, Satan, derives a certain sense of pleasure from how distracted God's children have become through this latest mass of confusion.
As I watch and listen to the news commentators, I reach a point of saturation when I think to myself, I can't listen to this anymore. Conservative and Liberal pundits and opinionated "experts" go nose to nose in an effort to have those who are watching or listening to hear their point. It seems anymore just about anything can be politicized which creates a great division of people.
We cannot even have a beauty pageant without politics becoming the headliner rather than the winner of the event. As far as Miss America, 2009 goes I will always remember Miss California; don't even ask me which young lady won the contest. Everyone from both sides of the political spectrum are in a frenzy about all sorts of topics. And they are extremely important to each person.
In itself, these politcally and socially heated battles have only been white noise in the background for me. However, as I observe followers of Christ jumping into these arguments and becoming part of the melee, I get discouraged. I get a sense that the prince of this world, Satan, derives a certain sense of pleasure from how distracted God's children have become through this latest mass of confusion.
Colossians1 reminds us where we as Christians should land on all issues of this world. In the end, it really is vanity (meaningless) to expend our energy on such things. Colossians tells us that Jesus Christ is first in everything: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him . . . that in all things He may have preeminence." Col. 1:15-18 (emphasis mine)
When Christians get into heavy debates over the direction we think our country is going, it is all right to have an opinion; Jesus always had an opinion. (His opinions were always in light of the joy which awaited Him in heaven). But quite often we hold so tightly to our opinion that the resulting argument becomes a liability to the cause of Jesus Christ. We only need to remember that no matter how vehemently we espouse our wisdom, Christ "is before all things, and in Him all things consist." Nothing happens in the world without His knowledge. Jesus had many opportunities to change the events on the day of His crucifixion. But God's will is perfect and it happened as God directed. Likewise, Paul is saying that we not only trust that God is in control, but that in everything we are to understand that He is to be first in every aspect of our lives. None of us live that way, but can you acknowledge that you try to make Him preeminent (first)?
Sal Ippolito
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
"But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; . . . so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:12,13 & 20b, 21
Have you ever watched how someone handles an extremely stressful situation? I think one of the best ways to know a person's character and personality comes from watching them handle a situation completely out of their control.
As a police officer, I often had the opportunity to see many police officers in out-of-control situations. These situations would immediately strip away any "tough guy" pretenses. It exposed them for who and what they were beneath their facades. Some officers remained completey composed and, though visibly stressed, handled themselves well. Many officers, though, lost control. This would be displayed by yelling, being rude, challenging and sometimes through physical force (not to imply that physical force never necessary. It often was necessary). The point is that the officers displayed the kind of mental and physical preparation they had for such situations. Likewise, how we behave in stressful situations exposes us for what is in our hearts; how we have prepared mentally and spiritually during our non-stressful moments.
Where is your heart and mind? What do you look like in such a situation? What do you look like when you find out your boyfriend (or girlfriend) is stepping out on you? How about when the deadline is 30 minutes away and you have 3 more hours of work to do? What is your response to someone who attacks your pride? your work? your decisions? your beliefs?
The apostle Paul wrote the passage above from a Roman prison. He was chained to a Roman guard. His future was very uncertain and he was staring a death sentence in the face. Christians were not popular, especially outspoken ones; and Paul was especially outspoken! Paul's circumstances were out of his control. This was indeed a stressful situation; yet the Holy Spirit leads Paul to write this epistle to this church in Philippi. In this first chapter of Philippians, Paul makes it clear that he is praying for his beloved brothers and sisters in Christ and, as this passage states, he is also preaching and converting the guards to whom he is chained! Paul responds to stress and personal attacks not by lashing out, stressing out or bailing out; but by never changing what he claims his character to be. His character is not a facade or a pretense; and more importantly, it is not his own! It belongs to Jesus Christ. His character is secured in his eternity with Jesus Christ, and whether he lives or dies, his approach to life and others will not change. Paul prepared for this. He worked at his relationship with Christ much like an athlete would prepare for the contest of his life (1Cor. 9:27).
Are you so confident in your eternity that you do not sweat the small stuff? How about the big stuff? You see, God wants you to treat this world, and the things of this world, as what they are; opportunities to bring glory to God. And that kind of behavior will not come out at crunch time when you need it, unless it is something you practice daily. Living for Christ is a daily discipline, because we live in this fallen world where 99% of everything is trying to steer you away from righteous living.
So, whether in good circumstances or bad (even really bad) circumstances, our calling is to magnify Christ. Do you want to know your life's purpose? That's it! Magnify Christ in everything. Then we, like Paul, can also say with complete sincerity, "For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain!"
Sal Ippolito
Have you ever watched how someone handles an extremely stressful situation? I think one of the best ways to know a person's character and personality comes from watching them handle a situation completely out of their control.
As a police officer, I often had the opportunity to see many police officers in out-of-control situations. These situations would immediately strip away any "tough guy" pretenses. It exposed them for who and what they were beneath their facades. Some officers remained completey composed and, though visibly stressed, handled themselves well. Many officers, though, lost control. This would be displayed by yelling, being rude, challenging and sometimes through physical force (not to imply that physical force never necessary. It often was necessary). The point is that the officers displayed the kind of mental and physical preparation they had for such situations. Likewise, how we behave in stressful situations exposes us for what is in our hearts; how we have prepared mentally and spiritually during our non-stressful moments.
Where is your heart and mind? What do you look like in such a situation? What do you look like when you find out your boyfriend (or girlfriend) is stepping out on you? How about when the deadline is 30 minutes away and you have 3 more hours of work to do? What is your response to someone who attacks your pride? your work? your decisions? your beliefs?
The apostle Paul wrote the passage above from a Roman prison. He was chained to a Roman guard. His future was very uncertain and he was staring a death sentence in the face. Christians were not popular, especially outspoken ones; and Paul was especially outspoken! Paul's circumstances were out of his control. This was indeed a stressful situation; yet the Holy Spirit leads Paul to write this epistle to this church in Philippi. In this first chapter of Philippians, Paul makes it clear that he is praying for his beloved brothers and sisters in Christ and, as this passage states, he is also preaching and converting the guards to whom he is chained! Paul responds to stress and personal attacks not by lashing out, stressing out or bailing out; but by never changing what he claims his character to be. His character is not a facade or a pretense; and more importantly, it is not his own! It belongs to Jesus Christ. His character is secured in his eternity with Jesus Christ, and whether he lives or dies, his approach to life and others will not change. Paul prepared for this. He worked at his relationship with Christ much like an athlete would prepare for the contest of his life (1Cor. 9:27).
Are you so confident in your eternity that you do not sweat the small stuff? How about the big stuff? You see, God wants you to treat this world, and the things of this world, as what they are; opportunities to bring glory to God. And that kind of behavior will not come out at crunch time when you need it, unless it is something you practice daily. Living for Christ is a daily discipline, because we live in this fallen world where 99% of everything is trying to steer you away from righteous living.
So, whether in good circumstances or bad (even really bad) circumstances, our calling is to magnify Christ. Do you want to know your life's purpose? That's it! Magnify Christ in everything. Then we, like Paul, can also say with complete sincerity, "For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain!"
Sal Ippolito
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