Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Wisdom over pride

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. Proverbs 3:7
 
Humble wisdom does not hint at a holier-than-thou attitude. On the contrary, it is contrite before Christ and modest before men. Humble wisdom is very grateful to God for His blessing of insight and understanding into eternal matters. Wisdom is not a badge of superiority to be worn with pride, but a blanket of security that humbles the heart.
 
Wisdom without humility becomes conceited and accompanies a condescending attitude. It is like star athletes who are so full of themselves they fail to reach their potential for lack of team support. However, humble wisdom says, “I am a fellow learner of the Lord’s ways; I am a work in progress just like you.” It is to a heart of humility that God entrusts His wisdom and revelation, so stay desperate for His direction.
 
The more wisdom increases in your heart and mind, the more pride needs to decrease in you. It is the fear of the Lord that keeps you from thinking you can be anything special outside of Jesus. The fear of God does not forget that wisdom comes from above. Yes, your experiences enhance wisdom, and your pain can produce wisdom, but ultimately wisdom resides with God and His Word.
 
This is why in humility you hunker down and pray:
 
Heavenly Father, I bow in awe before you and ask for insight and direction. You are the giver of all wisdom.
 
It is submission to Christ and His command that squeezes out selfish, worldly wisdom and replaces it with the humble wisdom of heaven. Therefore, request wisdom for His glory, and never cease to learn from those whom the Lord sends daily into your life.

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Pastor Todd A. Brown
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"
Mission: Exalting, Evangelizing, Equipping, and Encouraging every soul in Christ
Listen to "Life Notes" & "Kingdom Impact with Pastor Brown
Mon-Fri at noon and Sundays at 9am and Wednesdays at 9pm on WBGRonline.com
www.fbcc-va.org

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Value of No

There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God, and did not respect man. And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ And for a while he was unwilling… Luke 18:2-4a (NASB)

The power of someone saying ‘no’ need not be discouraging, rather use it as a lesson in determination. ‘No’ is sometimes necessary to get our attention and give us the perspective we would have missed rushing through life. If everything were a ‘yes’ we could certainly take people and things for granted,  running the risk of our faith becoming flabby. It is when we exercise discipline, creativity and prayer that we encounter and experience God.
 
For example, you may want to spend money right now, but your budget shouts back ‘no’, because money is tight. Instead of circumventing your circumstances with credit, become creative. Perhaps you can help someone steward one of their assets better by allowing you to use their beach or mountain home. Or as a parent your ‘no’ to your child is for their protection. It is better for them to suffer a minor pain of disappointment now than significant life altering harm in the future. Furthermore, and most importantly, a ‘no’ is meant to move you toward knowing God more deeply. His ‘no’ is your heavenly attention getter.

This is Jesus’ point. He said one verse earlier, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). So negotiate God’s ‘no’ with persistent prayer. It is in prayer that you prevail and your character changes. Constant prayer over familiar issues like finances, relationships, work, health and family transforms your trust/faith in God.
 
A ‘no’ is preparation so you can handle what God has in store in the future. Your boss may have said ‘no’, but you will gain skills and confidence in the interim as you persevere and innovate. Go back and pray about creative and cost effective ways to do an even more incredible job at half the cost. Your spouse may have said ‘no’, but don’t go behind their back and do it anyway. Honor them by accepting  the ‘check in their spirit’. At the very least you have expressed to them value and trust.
 
It is humbling to your heart, but it brings clarity to your head. It is inconvenient to your schedule, but it saves you time in the long run. There is some suffering for a season, but nothing compared to the hassle of grinding it out your own way without wisdom from above. So, stay in the fray of faith building. ‘No’ today is access to a better ‘yes’ tomorrow.

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Pastor Todd A. Brown
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"
Mission: Exalting, Evangelizing, Equipping, and Encouraging every soul in Christ
Listen to "Life Notes" & "Kingdom Impact with Pastor Brown
Mon-Fri at noon and Sundays at 9am and Wednesdays at 9pm on WBGRonline.com
www.fbcc-va.org

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

The value of mentoring

Then Paul said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.” Acts 22:2–3

What does it mean to be trained and mentored in the ways of Jesus? Over the years their have been individuals who have invested in me by being my mentor. We steeped in the Scripture, and like the effects of a potent tea bag, Christ colored my heart. We prayed on our knees before the start of the day and walked with our Savior throughout the rest of the day. My mentor made time for me.

How can we be mentored or how can we train and mentor others? It may be a role model from a distance; however, virtual mentors have their limitations. We only see them at their best and rarely learn how to handle struggles and disappointments. Some others have influenced us through their writings and inspired us by their insightful biographies.

Do you have a seasoned saint up close and personal, one who can pray with you, instruct you, challenge you, encourage you, and give you wisdom for wise decision making?

Moreover, mentors alert you to sin crouching at the door of your heart and mind. Perhaps they nearly lost their marriage to avoidance of responsibility. They can instruct you in what to do and not to do. Paul, Moses, and David’s murderous mistakes did not disqualify them from mentoring and training others out of their repentant hearts. Brokenness and transparency is required to mentor well.

However, it is not enough for us to just enjoy the benefits of mentoring without seeking out men and women to mentor. Jesus told His mentees, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10:2).

Then these reluctant and unproven disciples of Christ were empowered by the Holy Spirit to become workers for God. Pray to the Lord for a mentor, and He will lead and equip you to be an answered prayer.

Make today a day of impact for the kingdom

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Pastor Todd A. Brown
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"
Mission: Exalting, Evangelizing, Equipping, and Encouraging every soul in Christ
Listen to "Life Notes" & "Kingdom Impact with Pastor Brown
Mon-Fri at noon and Sundays at 9am and Wednesdays at 9pm on WBGRonline.com
www.fbcc-va.org

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Consistency Champion

Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. Psalm 106:3

Consistent behavior brings the blessing of God and incurs the favor of man.  Yes, there will be those who snarl at your good works, but this is to be expected. Not everyone is interested in integrity and honor, but most people do respect what is right. Proud men punished Daniel because he did what was right with his persistent prayers (Daniel 6:10-12).

Indeed, it is better to constantly pray to Christ and receive clarity, than to stay confused with inconsistent intercession. Constant prayer keeps you aware of the Lord’s agenda, for it is your ‘check and balance’ to good behavior. Be constantly in the presence of Christ and you can conform to the truth that you are wholly His. The Lord’s ownership requires holiness; embrace this principle and it will bring happiness to your heart. Christ blesses your regular right living.

Secondly, constantly do right and you will grow the equity of your integrity. Consistent character gives you the ‘card’ of creditability, respect and influence. For instance, follow through with your word, especially when circumstances change. If you quoted someone a price or made a generous promise to a friend, follow through even though the facts may have shifted out of your favor. Relationships are more important than a few dollars, even when you deserve more.

Your consistent behavior may be what wins them over to Christ. It is costly to constantly do what is right, but it can bankrupt your robust reputation if you submit to inconsistency. Your children need your behavior to be consistent so they can feel secure. Your team expects consistency so they are not derailed or discouraged by your ever-changing character. Integrity is not inconsistent but double mindedness is a deterrent from the devil. Single-mindedness brings stability.

Lastly, define and do right as outlined by God. Christ’s concordance of right is laid out in the Holy scriptures. “It is written” (Matthew 4:4) was a constant phrase that from the lips of Jesus. He quoted Scripture in teaching and conversation because it was His baseline for belief and behavior.

Therefore, appeal to your detractors by humbly deferring to the Bible as the motive behind your consistent behavior as it is and has the final say on all matters. Adhere to the Lord’s words and you will effectively do His work. Beware of treating the Lord’s principles like a cafeteria buffet, by only selecting what’s convenient.

Conform to Christ’s character, not to the world’s wishy-washy way of living. Constantly doing right is not always fun but it is freeing when you look into the face of Jesus with no regrets. Act justly at all times and you will see Jesus smile. By God’s grace, constantly do what is right and people will see Jesus in you. Your consistent behavior brings about blessing and joy.

Make today a day of impact for the Kingdom

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Pastor Todd A. Brown
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"
Mission: Exalting, Evangelizing, Equipping, and Encouraging every soul in Christ
Listen to "Life Notes" & "Kingdom Impact with Pastor Brown
Mon-Fri at noon and Sundays at 9am and Wednesdays at 9pm on WBGRonline.com
www.fbcc-va.org

Monday, June 1, 2015

Fruit bearing faith

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:8

How do I know my faith is fruitful? Am I producing fruit that is pleasing to my heavenly Father? I ask these questions often, as fruit is a reflection of a vibrant faith. So what is this fresh fruit of faith, and where does it germinate? It begins with the seed of God’s Word being planted in the soil of a teachable heart. So I ask myself, “Am I regularly receiving the Lord’s truth and allowing it to deeply root in my soul?”

Our faith is like a field in constant need of clearing, plowing, planting, weeding, watering, and fertilizing. Our Lord is the faithful farmer who is always ready to work the soil of our hearts with His loving care. So we are wise when we invite Him to break up the hardened areas of our hearts, to pull out the thorns of worry, and to remove the rocks of unbelief. Our Savior’s seeds of truth transform fallow faith into faith of fruitful abundance. 

Fruitful faith grows out of the ground where God has rained down righteousness.  How is the soil of your heart? Is it good and soft, full of the needed nutrients of honesty and humility? Have you replaced the old dirt from your past with the new ground of gratitude to God? If seeds of truth remain on the surface of your heart, they may very well be snatched away by demonic distractions. Thus, daily invite God’s Word to sink down deep into your soul, so the roots of righteousness are not threatened but blossom in belief.  

The regular discipline of watering with God’s Word produces the fruit of faith.
Therefore, look to the Lord of the harvest in faith and perseverance. The fruit of character does not come overnight. There are no shortcuts in your Savior’s ecosystem; so stay true to His process of prayer, study, and service that over time grows you into your Lord’s likeness and image. Like a diligent farmer, see your soul sweat from spiritual discipline. Our Lord is the gardener over the grounds of your life. His harvest is huge and plentiful.

Make today a day of Kingdom Impact

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Pastor Todd A. Brown
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"
Mission: Exalting, Evangelizing, Equipping, and Encouraging every soul in Christ
Listen to "Life Notes" & "Kingdom Impact with Pastor Brown
Mon-Fri at noon and Sundays at 9am and Wednesdays at 9pm on WBGRonline.com
www.fbcc-va.org