Author: Rob Collins
“Celebrate Diversity”
Love Demonstrated
2 Minute Take Away – “A Father’s Love”
The prodigal son is a familiar story to most of us. Luke calls him a lost son with a “prodigal” (wasteful) lifestyle. It is the story of two sons and a Father. The one son appears to be logical, sensible, obedient and faithful while the other son appears to be foolish and rebellious. The one son stays and faithfully works for his Father whereas the other son asks for his inheritance, leaves home spending every last penny of what was rightfully his on a rebelliously lavish lifestyle. The prodigal returned home, falling into the arms of a Father that ran to him. The Father ran toward his son, kissed him on the neck, receiving him back as his son. I preached this familiar story on Father’s day entitling the message: “A Father’s Love.” This video clip is the last sixty seconds of that message. Here are a few things that became revelation as I shared the message:
1. The story tells us the son “came to his senses” and desired to return home. It reveals there was a famine in the land and the lost son was in want. No one gave him anything. My feelings are if the boy wasn’t in want and there wasn’t a famine that had come on the land he might not have came to his senses and desired to return home. If there would have been plenty or someone would have provided for him he might have stayed in the current state of mind that he had been in; but instead he came to his senses and returned home. Lesson: Don’t despise the things that God might use. There are times when things could turn bad so one would seek what’s better and return home. He said, “My Father’s servants have it better than I do.”
2. One translation says, “He began thinking clearly again.” When he did, He said, “I will get up and go to my Father’ house. I will say, “I have sinned against heaven and I have sinned against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son, make me one of your servants.” The most amazing thing about what he had rehearsed out loud to say to his father was, he never got to finish what he was going to say. He said, “I have sinned against heaven and earth and I have sinned against you.” He also said, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But before he could get the last words out of his mouth, which would have been, “make me one of your servants.” The Father said, “Quick, bring the robe and put it on him!” “Put the ring on his finger and the sandals on his feet, my son has returned home!” Lesson: Sin doesn’t change God it changes us. Before the son could ever get the words out of his mouth, ” make one of your servants” the Father called him son. God has made us worthy through the works of Christ. The works of God’s grace redeems us. The love of God in us produces “good works” that glorify Him and edifies one another. Grace is not a “free ticket” to do what we please, it is an empowering work that enables us to do what pleases the Father. Note: It says the servant “put” the robe, the ring and the sandals “on” the son. In order for that to happen the son had to lift his foot, extend his arms and open his hand. You can’t stand in rebellion with stiff arms and a closed hand and receive the provisions of grace. God in Christ has made us worthy.
3. The Ring, The Robe, The Sandals and The “Fatted Calf”. The passage says. “bring the “best” robe, and put it on him.” A robe would have brought warmth and comfort. It would have been a new covering. The ring would have represented family and identity, it would have probably been a family heirloom and might have even had a family crest engraved on it. The sandals would have represented sure footing and walking in the new things which were ahead of him; walking into the promises of God and out of the mess of man. The “fatted” calf would have spoken of the “abundance” of God’s provision. Lesson: God in Christ clothes us in His righteousness, gives us His identity, and empowers us to walk in His love and grace while receiving the provision of His promises all along the way.
The Father’s love never changed. He loved His son who stayed, and He loved His son who returned Home. The son who had been faithful didn’t rejoice in his brother’s return home. The passage says the Father tells the angry son that what He was doing was the right thing to do. God is righteous. Sometimes what we view as not being fair might be a “matter of the heart” and an overflow of our attitude. You might need to learn to extend grace. Not because you agree or understand, but because you might need it extended in your time of need as well. The Father says, “my son was lost but now he is found, he was dead and now he is alive again!” Anyone who has experienced the “Father’s Love” can say, “I once was lost but now I’m found, I was blind, but now I see!”
The 2 Minute TakeAway – “Build Up Don’t Tear Down”
The 2 Minute TakeAway – “Take the Lid Off”
I Know “You Are” But What Am I?
When I was a kid growing up we played this game. Well I’m not even sure if it was a game? Nevertheless this is what we would do; When someone said something that we didn’t like or didn’t know how to respond. We would say, “I know You Are But What Am I? For example if someone would say, “you are ugly.” You would say, “I know You Are But What Am I?” Not always the nicest response but it was a response to defer a negative comment. This phrase became the title of a message I recently shared at our church. (A message inspired and developed while listening to a message by pastor Steven Furtick). This is a powerful and impacting message of truth that needs to be both heard and received. The reason I say we need to receive it is because I know how most of us grew up. We were instructed to never think of ourselves more highly than we should. And we still shouldn’t. That is not in arrogance and pride. I believe there is difference in arrogance and confidence. Arrogance points to self and confidence points to God. Someone said, “we need to have GODCONFIDENCE.” Regardless of your view we must all realize that we are part of the equation in regards to the plans of God. God chooses to use people to accomplish His plans. So if we are always looking to self and making excuses for ourselves we will do more debating than doing. We must also remember this is not about “who you are?” or “who I am.” Its about who He is and He is the “I Am.” Let’s pick up the story of Moses in Exodus 3….
God & Moses are having a dialogue & Moses is trying to convince God of why he couldn’t do what it was that God was asking him to do, the very thing that God was sure he could do. Moses was saying, “I Know You Are But Who Am I?” I don’t think we give it much consideration but I believe we often try to persuade the “I Am” with the “who am I?” When in reality what God wants us to do and expects us to accomplish has more to do with Him than it does us, but we still play a vital part. How we view ourselves determines the outcome of what is to follow. God puts His confidence in us & we put our confidence in Him but very little happens because we spend the rest of time debating what He has put His confidence in, (us). It’s hard to believe isn’t it? God puts His confidence in us. He knows you. He made you. He designed you for a purpose and He is desiring for you to fulfill His plan and accomplish your purpose in life. That’s unbelievable isn’t? Especially knowing yourself the way you do, right? But remember God knows you better than anyone. He created you!
I think we all can relate to Moses on so many different levels. Moses went from saying, “Here am I!” to “Who am I?” in a matter of moments. When Moses felt the weight of who God is, he remembered who he was. And what is so amazing about all of this is in the presence of God Moses opinion of himself changed, however God’s opinion of Moses never changed. Some how we feel we have to change our selves, or be more, or be better than we are, and all the while God is saying, “I know who you are, I made you.” The Bible tells us that we are “fearfully” and “wonderfully” made. Its says that we are made in the image of God. You don’t need to tell God what He already knows. Before you were, He knew you. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. If God is calling you to do something He will equip you. If there is something you don’t have you must not need it! Trust God to do what it is He wants to do through you.
You don’t need to give Him a check list of your shortcomings or a resume of your strengths. He already knows! We spend more time talking about what we are, or what we aren’t then we do talking about who He is. We say, “Yeah but Im shy,” He already knows that. Moses was trying to tell God He wasn’t qualified for the job and why, but God was saying, “I know, but “I Am!” and I will be with you. Its not who you are in and of yourself; it is who you are because he is with you. He knows your capabilities, and short comings. He knows what side of the tracks you grew up on and He know your family’s history. (remember Gideon? Oh yeah, thats another story.) He knows your education level and your communication capabilities. He knows you are not consistent, faithful, patient. He is aware that you are not organized and knows that you are a procrastinator, yet He still chooses to use you, Wow!
Like Moses most of us don’t doubt God. We doubt ourselves. But when we doubt ourselves we are doubting what He created and the purpose He created us for. Most of us would say, I am never ___________ enough. Thats because our confession and God’s *confession are not always the same. God says. “we can.” We say, “we can’t.” Confession means many things, but it also means saying what God is saying. You don’t have to prove or disprove what God has already spoken. You just have to be obedient by believing it and doing it. Moses spent more time convincing God why He couldn’t do it then he did believing that if God was with him he could do it.
Andy Stanley says, “we should be more worried about making a difference then we are about making a point.” We all have a point and we feel it is valid. But the question we should ask is does our point make a difference. What point are you trying to make? Especially to God. We try to make a point that we are inadequate and God is saying, “I know but if you could do it on your own you wouldn’t have to depend on me. And I want you to depend on me to see it accomplished.” What would happen if we would surrender ourselves to God and say, “Maybe I can’t? But you can. And I trust you to be with me, and to accomplish your plan while I fulfill my purpose in you.” God simply told Moses, “I will be with you.” God is saying, “I Am” and Moses is saying, “but who am I?” Creation debating with the creator. The clay questioning the potter. And yet we do the same thing today. And yet like Moses, God chooses to use us.
When God speaks truth He wants us to receive there is always an inner voice that will come against that truth. Moses doesn’t doubt God He doubts himself but in dong so he is doubting the very thing God wanted to use, (himself). The voice of the inner enemy always speaks in 1st person. The devil internalizes the argument so we are saying whatever it is to ourselves. (“I’m so ________.” “I never will _________.”) It’s not just the things in our past that comes up. It’s also the those things in the present that we have never got right or haven’t had the courage to deal with yet. We need to hear God’s voice above all other voices. He knows you, He created you, He loves you! If you needed it to accomplish what it is you need to do then you would have it, if you don’t have it you don’t need it. You need Him. Believe Him and trust Him and see what happens. Insecurity is the ultimate insult to God. When we debate our short comings with God we are insulting His judgment. *(quit trying to convince God of what He already knows).
Deficiency is lacking something that is needed. Here’s the deal. We are all lacking something in some area of our lives or the other. We are never strong enough, decisive enough, patient enough, loving enough, or good enough. God is saying whatever you don’t have I will give you. (the words, the strength, the courage). God wants you to believe in yourself and lean on Him at the same time! He said to Moses, “I made you.” *(when you doubt the product you insult the manufacturer) God is saying, “I am.” (Moses is Saying I know you are but “who am I?). And God could say, “you are who I created, and you are the one I am putting my confidence in. It’s not about who you are its about who “I am.” You see this passage tells us that God heard the cries of His people and He was now choosing Moses to answer their cry for help. Who needs your help? Who has been crying out for God to send someone or to do something? Quit debating with God and allow Him to use you! Believe in yourself and lean on God.
God tells Moses He will be with him. Moses says, “suppose I do decide to do this who do I say sent me? God answers, “I Am.” He says, I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the God who was, and is, and who will be. He is the God of your grandparents. He is God in your present state and He will be God in your tomorrow and the next day. He is the God of the past that is full of failures and disappointments. He is the God in the present that is full of difficulties and decisions. and He is the God of the future that is full of the unknown. He is the “I Am.” He has and is, and always will be. And He told Moses, “I will be with you.” And He will be with you too!
It’s not who you are it’s who He is in you… He is “I AM!”
Moses said, “I’m not clever with words” and God said, “I know but I Am!”
We say things like this:
– We say, “I’m not good enough”, and God says, “I know but “I Am.”
– We say, “I’m not patient enough” and God says, “I know but I Am!”
– We say, “I’m not sufficient enough” and God says, “I know but I Am!”
– We say, “I’m not faithful enough” and God says, “I know but I Am!”
– We say I’m not______ enough. But God says, “I know, but I AM!”
He made you! He knows you! He loves you! He is with you! He is “I Am!” And you can. Not because you know you can, but because you know “I Am!”
“I’m Just Sayin”
“I’m Just Sayin” has become a popular phrase that accents what someone is trying to say, especially when it comes to making a point. For those of you who know me or have heard me speak know I love to know the meaning and origin of words. I use Google. my dictionary and thesaurus to find those meanings. Here is the Web definition for “Just Sayin”: Sometimes used in place of punctuation; is also used to create emphasis on whatever was just said.
My first thought was,”that will preach!” My second thought was you could say, “I’m just sayin” about most everything in the Bible. Then I thought of a scripture that will be familiar to most. It is found in Romans 8:31 and says, What then shall we “say” to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? I think what Paul might have been trying to say is: “If God be for us then who can be against us? …I’m Just Sayin!”
When we use the phrase “I’m Just Sayin” we are trying to make a point by reminding someone of what it was that had just been said. When it comes to the promises of God and the reality of His character and faithfulness we may need to remind ourselves and others that God is with us… He is faithful… and He is more than enough… “I’m Just Syain!”
I want to remind you of some promises… because sometimes we have to be reminded… I’m Just Sayin!
1. Jesus is With You, and He Has All Power.
– He said He will never leave you or forsake you. In Isaiah 43 it says, “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, and who formed you, Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, neither will the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; you were precious in My sight.” Psalm 139 says, “where can you go that He is not there?” Wherever you are or wherever you go He will be there. Whatever you go through He will be there. When you go through the fire He will be with you. The story of the 3 Hebrew children reminds us that we don’t go through fires and trails of life alone. They through 3 in the fire but when they looked in there was 4. You have a God who doesn’t stand on the outside looking in, He is in it with you. You have to tell yourself, “He is with me!”… I’m Just Sayin!
2. God is Above You and He is Below You.
– God is high above and He sees everything.God is high above but He is also underneath. Duet. 33:26-27 says, “There is none like God, O who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you.” Duet. 31:8 says, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you.Do not fear or be dismayed.” When you are the mountain top God is still above you. When you hit rock bottom God is below you. You have to tell yourself, “God is above me watching over me and He is also underneath me holding me up!” … I’m Just Sayin!
3. You Have the Faith for Whatever You are faced With. (Romans 12:3)
– There is nothing God will require of you that you don’t have the faith. There is nothing you will face that is greater than God. Is. 46:10 tells us that God has and is establishing you. It says, “Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” We start at the beginning and grapple with the end. But this scripture tells us that God establishes our end from our beginning. God has established your end from your beginning. He knows how the story ends and He inviting you through faith to walk with Him and trust Him to accomplish His plan and purpose. God establishes your end and then goes back to your beginning and says to you, “if you stay in faith, you will walk in my plans I for you because it is already established”… He says, “I have established your end from the beginning. You have to tell yourself, “whatever challenge I may be facing I have the faith for this!” (my hope is built on nothing less then Jesus blood and righteousness…) … I’m Just Sayin!
God is always with you. He is all powerful and has all authority. He will never leave you or forsake you. He is high above you and He is underneath you. You have to believe it! That’s faith. God has given you the measure of faith you need to make it through whatever you face. He has established your end from your beginning What can we say of these things? If God is for us then who can be against us? … I’m Just Sayin!