I've never wanted this blog to be one of those "hey-guess-what-I'm-up-to" pages that invite people with empty lives to ride off the fumes of others' lives; having said that I'm entering my second blog in a row that has no instruction, no Scripture and very little to feed the soul. Understand this: family time can actually be the most spiritual of times. Investing in each other did more for us than 1,000 blog entries, 2,000 sermons listened to or 50 family devotional times. We loved on each other and enjoyed one another ln a condensed time period like rarely before. It was super-duper wonderfully great. We are sad to see it end but there is much work left to be done at home with these precious few years that God has entrusted to us. All work and no play makes us piles of dust. All play and no work makes us puddles of goo. A decent balance between the two makes us...smile.
Hello to all who might be checking in. Nothing remotely sublime to report from Myrtle Beach - just good old enjoyment of leisure. We've relished three full days of rest and relaxation: driving go karts, preventing Landon from drowning in the cold Atlantic Ocean waves, eating waaaaayyyyy too much, and enjoying some purposed reconnection as a family. The highlight for me has been the consistent laughter of my children - laughing at me, laughing at each other and laughing at the fun in the water. The low light has been some really bad bacon at a restaurant known for its pancakes (always buy what they bill as their best, leave the marginal menu items for the ravenously hungry). Amy and I have enjoyed being a husband and wife without the interference of life's demands. It has been a well timed departure from the norm for the Lyles.
It's been a great time away and we still have three more full days left before leaving Sunday afternoon to head back home. Hope you are having as good of days as we are - no matte where you happen to be!
Psalm 119:125 – “I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.”
Today is a day of two extremes for me – one light and easy, the other intimidating and heavy.On the one hand my heart is carefree and excited and, on the other, I am nervous, sensing extreme inadequacy and a rather intense internal pressure.Life is often like this for us – a paradox, an irony, a study in contrasts.The Lord uses times like these in my life to remind me that nothing in existence is truly stabilizing except His presence and promises.This is a good lesson for me to learn over and over. Here is my unique undertaking for this day:
I leave this afternoon for nine days of vacation with my family.We have been graciously afforded the opportunity to spend some time at the beach and we are heading out today at the conclusion of the morning worship times.The Lyles have been hungering for this day for many months with Alicia counting down the individual days for us over the last three weeks.Everyone as ben relaxed around the house – borderline, giddy – and we are excited for the chance to get away and reconnect as a family.No cell phones, laundry, dishes, carpool or administrative meetings for mom and dad.No textbooks, year-end exams or getting up early for the kiddies.We are free for nine days – whouda thunk it?
Ah, yes, vacation is upon us…but not before I stand to teach some of the most amazing doctrine in the New Testament.Of all Sundays for me to approach Ephesians 1:1-7, why did it end up being on the same day where half my total conciousness is several hundred miles down the road sitting by a pool and drinking a root beer?!Take a look at what I am to address this morning to the dear folks who will gather in Meadow’s auditorium:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.” – Eph. 3:1-7 ESV
“Hey, Jeff, before you hit the waves and play poolside games with your kids and drive go-karts with Amy…could you spend some time explaining to us the mysteries of predestination, election, sovereign grace, spiritual endowments from God Almighty, the doctrine of adoption, positional righteousness, God’s sovereign/holy prerogative and the intentional self glorification of the Creator of the universe?”
Suddenly I feel more called to the pool and less called to the pulpit.
In all seriousness I am truly looking forward to the opportunity to approach this doctrinal gold mine this morning.I feel like a man trying to enjoy a fillet of steak with a toothpick and a butter knife but I’m trusting God to fulfill the verse above (Psalm 119:125) for me this morning as I humbly seek to share what I can from these inexhaustible verses.The greatest theological minds of all time have scarcely clarified these infinite mysteries.Pride would scramble to presume that I might be the first to reconcile the infinitude of God with the limitations of humankind.Interestingly, these verses which bring GREAT personal comfort to me are a source of caution to me in my role as pastor-teacher. Fretful hearts can struggle with these immensities and, because I care for the ones I lead, I want to ensure that the teaching does not leave them staggering without direction. Mind you, these are completely staggering truths, but the direction is clear: the effulgence of the glory of God! Humility instructs me to stick to the text, tell what is being said (and why it is being said) and then to allow the tension to remain as it has for nearly 2,000 years of study and instruction by others.I am gently reminded of something important and seek to do the same for you:“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” - Deuteronomy 29:29.
I hope to blog a little (although very little, likely) while I’m gone.Writing here is not work to me.It is one of the rare places where there are no presumptive expectations on what I do.No deadlines, no restrictions, no hounding inspections…just an opportunity for a believer to process some thought concerning His God.I always hope it is a blessing to the reader because it is most often a blessing to me.Kind of like sharing a morning cup of coffee with you…except without the coffee.
I want to take a moment to express my deep thanks to all of you who support the Transforming Truth Ministry.Not a week goes by when I do not receive an email or a card or a phone call from someone who is encouraging me by letting me know that they are praying for this ministry.Quite honestly, I’m unsure what would happen if we did not have a family of Christians interceding on behalf of Transforming Truth.You may not always understand what a difference you are making so let me give you an example of how your prayers and financial support are making a lasting impact.For privacy’s sake, I’ve changed the names of the people in the account below.
Several weeks ago, at the end of one of the Sunday morning services at Meadow, God moved in some visible ways.I was overwhelmed with gratitude as I saw a contrite young man – tears streaming down his face - leave the sanctuary with one of our altar counselors.A few minutes later a young lady in her twenties approached me with a radiant countenance and an obvious level of heightened emotion.She described to me how that the week before she had surrendered some things to God at the end of one of our worship times.She proceeded to briefly describe her amazement at some inner changes which had taken place and told me that she felt like a brand new person.After listening to her I risked asking her “The Question”:
“Rachel, do you think that perhaps you’ve been born-again?”
“I guess that I have!All I know is that everything is different now!”
We rejoiced together for a little bit before her face turned serious as she pleaded with me to pray for her husband, Scott.She shared with me that he had been attending with her but had yet to experience what she was now immersed in.Her burden for Scott was great and I agreed to pray for him.She looked around to introduce me to him but he was nowhere to be found.Rachel stepped away and I proceeded to speak with a few other people as the service dismissed.During that time, the altar counselor returned to the sanctuary with the young man who had left crying.It was then that I saw the young man embrace Rachel as the altar counselor shared with me that Scott had just accepted Christ as His Lord.The reason why Rachel had not been able to find her husband was because he was the young man who had left the service to receive help with receiving Christ!Rachel and Scott had begun a completely new phase of life together as husband and wife as they were now committed Christians learning what it means to be free…together!
These two precious folks were baptized last night at Meadow.I had the privilege of meeting some in their family.When Rachel’s mother, Linda, introduced herself to me, I immediately recognized her name as belonging to a faithful Transforming Truth viewer and supporter.We had finally met in person after corresponding by an occasional email.Linda had recommended her daughter and son in law to come to Meadow after watching the broadcast on television.Long story short, God chose to use the Transforming Truth broadcast as the specific means through which He brought Rachel and Scott to Himself.Hallelujah!
I could tell so many other stories about what God is doing through His work at Transforming Truth.I am consistently amazed to look back and think of how He brought us here.From the humble beginnings of three Christian ladies in Blue Ridge, Georgia requesting CD’s of sermons to – nearly five years later – a fruitful TV ministry and international web ministry.God has done great things and He alone must receive every ounce of glory.God has initiated, His people have responded and Kingdom work has been furthered!The financial funding of Transforming Truth is also nothing short of an amazing testimony of God’s gracious faithfulness.Many are unaware but the entirety of this ministry is funded by freewill offerings.Meadow Baptist is a completely separate entity and does not have the ability to budget for the Transforming Truth ministry.About 95% of the funding for the television station fees, the website expenses and the materials and labor expenses are provided for by faithful donors.The leadership team and volunteers at Transforming Truth have agreed to keep expenses at a bare-bones minimum so as not to be an encumbrance to those who are benefited by the ministry.When all is said and done our weekly budget is right at $2400.00.That may not sound like much to many but you have to realize that the annual need is almost $125,000.00 – and it all must arrive by freewill donors.
God is generous and we have tenaciously held to the principle of “If God wants us to continue, He will undoubtedly continue to fund this ministry.”I work very hard at not constantly asking for donations so as not to appear to be yet another TV preacher begging the public for funds.Having said that, I must acknowledge that part of my role at Transforming Truth is to communicate our needs and trust God with the results.For any of you who might be interested in partnering with us financially or simply sending a one-time donation, please consider the information below.
We stand in need of raising $30,000.00 for broadcast fees between now and the end of August.This will help to enable us to sign a pre-paid contract for 2011.We did this for 2010 and the prepayment saved us close to $12,000 for the year.
We have some equipment needs which will total somewhere around $25,000-$35,000.00.Some of our technology is dated and we have encountered equipment failures twice in the last week which kept us from airing those services on the broadcast.These are issues that we have patched up over the last two years but we need to make some permanent changes when we can.
Finally, we have been contacted by the Inspiration Network with an opportunity to go international with the broadcast.Their representative did some statistic work and indicated that we had the highest viewer retention rate of any Christian ministry he had ever seen.To God be the glory for this encouraging news, however one statement he made sobered me greatly.He said to me, ‘Pastor Lyle, to not consider going beyond your local area is, in my opinion, tantamount to hiding your light under a bushel.”He shared with me the costs of such an endeavor and I recognized immediately that it is beyond our current means.To go international would cost us about six times what it costs us to broadcast locally.I chuckle because I remember assuming we could never afford to do what we have been doing for three years on TV.I’ve learned that God is able when His people are willing.
So I leave you all that information so that, if you are thinking about donating, you can know the practical needs in addition to the confidence that you are helping to fund a far-reaching proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.If you wish to donate today you can click on the Donations button in the left hand column and find instructions about how to give a tax-deductible gift.We need some consistently given smaller donations…and the occasional mind-blowing whopper of a donation!God uses those two types and anything in between.
“And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.” - 2 Kings 23:2-3
For many years I have desired to do a sermon series on the life of King Josiah. He stands as a refreshing breeze during a long and stagnant season in Israel’s history. When I was newly saved and came across the description of Josiah’s heartbreak over the sins of his nation (Read all of 2nd Kings 23), I immediately connected with how I felt when God awakened me to my own culpability before Him. The young king displays personal grief and then goes on to lead the people in national repentance before God. Bible students know that this reformation in Israel did last long beyond Josiah’s death, but our instruction-hungry souls will enjoy any and all morels afforded them.
In the passage I submitted above we find that part of the repentance which took place occurred as all Israel gathered in the temple area. It must have been a massive throng that day who witnessed their leader make a covenant with their offended God. Interestingly it centered around a copy of God’s Word which had been discovered after a long season of dismissal. It was the rediscovered word which brought Josiah to his knees. What that word had done to him, he assumed it would do to others. The word of God revealed their transgressions to them - it also revealed the remedy for their sin. Josiah had experienced an inner change of heart towards God and sin and he was like a freight train rushing through the landscape of Israel, uprooting sin, tearing down altars, realigning the leaders and initiating national repentance. If he was ever to lead the nation forward, he understood that he must first lead them downward. Pride had hamstrung the chosen people of God and there needed to be some drastic changes. God honored the young king’s decisions and actions as the nation followed Josiah’s leadership.
Can I ask the reader today about a couple of things? Initially I think it is good for us to consider what impact God’s word is having on us. Is it possible that it has become tucked away somewhere undisturbed in our lives? Israel had gone so long in ignorance and disobedience to God’s word that they no longer remembered that He gave it to them. As awful as it sounds the copy of God's Word had only been discovered when a Spring-cleaning of sorts was taking place in the temple. The lamp had been long extinguished but Israel had learned to see in the dark. I know that something similar can occur in our lives if we do not regularly refresh our commitment to have our bibles open before our eyes and layered within our hearts. There was nothing fancy for Israel to do once they realized that they had devalued God’s word to them - they simply began to reverence His revelation anew. They made the law of God a priority for them once again. let us be similarly instructed today. Secondly, might I ask you to consider your commitment to the local place of worship? I know that there is no interpretive parallel between the Temple in Israel and the local church today; truly, our bodies are now the temple of God, not our church houses. Having acknowledged that, however, can we not see some practical similarities ? Are you committed to a local assembly where there exists mature, Spirit-filled leadership? Is the Word of God prioritized? Do you find yourself standing with other gathered saints to receive instruction and offer sacrifice? This is a clever generation that we live in and I am finding more and more that cleverness being employed by professing Christians who de-necessitate the call to gather with other believers. The internet and television can offer instruction...but not fellowship and service.
The last thing I would consider from this Sunday morning passage of Scripture is the attitude of the young king, Josiah. He was a privileged leader who had never known anything but royalty. his whole life He was wealthy, materially secure and granted constant access to things which would have bettered his own causes. Yet the man had a spiritual appetite affected by God and fueled by Josiah’s own cooperation with his God. Simply put, he was not enamored with the perks of power and privilege. He was a follower of God above all things. He was not so royal that he neglected to bow before his own King. He was not so rich that he forgot how to make himself poor before God. He did not find his own throne so accommodating that he failed to evacuate it when given the opportunity to bow before the Other’s seat of rule. Josiah was a humble believer before he was a human ruler. He embraced a life of repentance. He beat his own breast and tore his own royal garments when he became convicted of his own sin. His faith was not theoretical but, rather, binding in all areas of his life. He still had fresh tears of sanctified salt which coursed down his cheeks. His repentance and re-formation in the land was appropriately hardcore because his heart would never be such. This is a man after whom we should model our lives. He was given the privilege to be better than his fathers and he rose to the occasion one altar-toppling moment after another. He did what he could and then bowed before a gracious, sin-forgiving God whose mercy Josiah craved. This man made a difference in Israel during his life.
His example is making a difference in me today. May God so orient my own heart, along with yours, that our testimonies welcome His smile and leave a legacy which inspires those coming behind us.
“Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” – Jeremiah 8:22
I’ve noticed that a lot of us seem very tired.If you’re interested in the details, I would want you to know that I’ve been discerning this widespread weariness among Christians for close to ten years.We seem like a very worn-out pile of folks.The King’s business is important – supremely so – and it is certainly worthy of our diligence.But does God intend for us to live perpetually tired lives?I recall that we are commanded not to allow ourselves to become weary in well-doing (Gal. 6:9, 2 Thess. 3:13) and the writer of Hebrews indicated for us that we must never lose our focus on Christ Himself if we are to overcome weariness of the mind (Heb. 12:3).Tired bodies can be sustained by the spirit but a weary spirit becomes the bane of our existence.Let me tell you what has occurred within me this week.I only share what I can discern and pray that it makes a little sense, especially if you have entered the gray room of weariness where there is little ambient light, no surround sound, and not a picture on the wall.
I’ve been running non-stop at breakneck speed for over three years.It started out with exhilaration – serving God, planting seed, watering sprouts, bringing in harvests…it was so incredibly fulfilling.God kept blessing, I kept doing.Prayer times in my office were full, my homelife was joyous (still is, praise God), the presence of God owned me while I preached and the church where I serve was nothing short of holy, gratifying delight.Then I started finding my schedule getting a little cumbersome.No worries, I’ll just get up earlier.Another nine months flies by and I’m still standing…though slightly liltingat this point. Fifty hour work weeks were now sixty five to seventy. Yes, needs are multiplying but my resolve was unshaken - I am a Christian minister after all.I’ll just get up a little more early.TV ministry, internet ministry, private counseling, sermonic preparation, conflict resolution, visits to the sick, weddings, funerals, budget planning, real estate negotiations, leadership meeting. I forgot to ask God how much of what I was doing was from Him. Life became a series of endless flies to be swatted. The schedule-tornado kept on twisting while I clung to anything I could to help me hold my ground.
Six months ago the funnel cloud sucked me up.I became weary like never before and realized that I was doing everyone a major disservice including myself. It came to a head one morning when God sent a man to my office that cared about me and he told me in gentle but unyielding terms, “Jeff, you’ve taken on too much.I’m here to help.”I heard his words and didn't even notice the tears trickling down my cheeks until they dropped onto my tired hands. It was on that day when I made a decision to become more by doing less.What a difficult place for a do-er like me to arrive; I’m not happy sitting idle, but I failed to realize that I was becoming unhappy racing about.Jeremiah asked the question “Isn’t there a cure?Isn’t there a healer?Why then are God’s people struggling?” (paraphrase of 8:22 above).
Interestingly enough I had no quick solution to restructure some of my life and work. Amy has been a steadfast delight as she waited (and prayed) that God would initiate some changes for me.Meadow's leadership team has now begun the behind-the-scenes work of changing our leadership structure at the church.We will be looking for God to raise up new people who will eagerly take on new responsibilities.They are already emerging before our very eyes now that I'm getting out of their way.This week, by a set of circumstances which I now see to be coordinated by the Lord, I have had the lightest load I’ve had in many years.I had no videos to edit for the broadcast, only one or two counseling appointments, no fires to put out among the sweet people of Meadow and only one sermon to prepare for.There have been plenty of other demands but God is using others to complete those demands. Do you know what I rediscovered this week by God’s providence?TIME.I’ve had time!I’ve awakened without the imaginary starting gun going off in my mind.I’ve prayed in sweet abandon and been able to listen intently for my King’s strongs voice.I’ve read my Bible at greater lengths than any other time in recent memory.By Jove – I’ve become acquainted with what it means to be…a Christian!What an awesome reintroduction to the foundational stones that have supported me all these years with Jesus.Prayer, study, enjoying the presence of God and (unless something changes) I’m even scheduled to spend an uninterrupted Friday with my favorite human, Amy Samples Lyle.Yes, there is indeed a balm in Lawrenceville and a Great Physician on duty.
In closing, let me simply say that I’m committed to doing less in the future.Less activity, more accomplishment.Less frenzy, more fruit.Less minutiae, more ministering. Your own time is no less precious.You can spend and lose money and make it back again; with time there is no do over – once it’s spent or lost time cannot be regained.Please take some subtle counsel from a Type-A Christian who will never volunteer to sit on the sidelines:find out what you are to do from God.Don’t let need dictate life.Need will always exceed ability and I pray that it doesn’t take you three exhausting years to come to terms with that.God is not desperate and reaching the point where you are essential to His plan for the ages; you can carry the acorn but you can’t grow the tree no matter how hard you try.You may have to face the facts and eliminate some of the causes for the weariness in your life.I’ve chosen to fulfill my calling and allow anything else to fall way down my list of potential occupiers of my time and energy.Here is my focus:my personal interrelating with God; my call to excel with my wife and children; my specific calling to proclaim the word of God.These are the three untouchables in my life and I’ve chosen to guard them according to their preciousness.
What are your untouchables?Do you have the courage to restructure yourself?When you’re tired of being tired you will find yourself raising a white flag of surrender which welcomes the renewed activity of God in and through you.A white flag denotes surrender…it may be the bravest thing you’ve done in a long time.
At the risk of airing our dirty laundry in the presence of those who are not followers of Christ, I submit the following answer to the question of why Christians fight with each other.You may wonder why I’m even bringing it up; well, it’s because I’ve been involved in more quarrels with fellow believers than I had ever thought was possible.It doesn’t happen often, but it does occur with enough of a frequency that I believe it merits some focus.Here we go… 1. The Christian does not know who he or she is
2. The person that the Christian is at odds with does not know who he or she, personally, is
3.The two opposing Christians think they know who the other one is…but they are mistaken
Do you know why I usually do not exit a quarrel on time?It is because I am a defensive person.My flesh still retains the scent of pride and I want, to the best of my ability, to be known to be right…especially if I know that I am.In moments like these I have lost connection with my understanding of who I am in Christ (Col. 2:10, Eph 1:6, Philippians 3:9).Proud hearts cannot bear the weight of being misunderstood or misrepresented so we endeavor to set the record straight (usually when doing so leaves us in a particularly good favor).It is only the Spirit of Christ that will empower us to allow others to believe wrongly about us.Knowing who we are in Christ is the key for each of us to be able to love the one who is wrong about us, allow them to remain so unless it brings non-selfish negative impact, and move forward in glad rejoicing that Christ has affirmed us, accepted us and completed us through His grace.When you are convinced of who you are in Christ it will allow for you to relinquish your right to be validated before the fallen eyes of others.
Have you stopped to realize that the person with whom you may be upset and feuding is likely in the same ship you are in?By the way, both ships are taking on water when we are jostling for position.Not only have you forgotten who you are when you are fighting a fellow believer, but you are opposing one who is equally handicapped.Would you – in your able body – ever think to strike someone in a wheelchair?Would you raise your fists to one who has no arms?These are absurd questions but no less absurd than the notion of quarreling with a spiritually lame person.Where did your mercy leave you?How dire of straits would we be in if God Himself dealt this way with us!Could you imagine how deadly our standing would be if God did not look at us with the great measure of pity that we need?I have no arms but often strut like one who has several!God might well flick an omnipotent finger against me to send me to the heap-of-humility where I belong…yet He sometimes allows me the grace to strut myself into broken weariness before He ever speaks a word to me about my error.What am I saying?I’m suggesting that you are fighting a person who is not going to “get it” until God makes it abundantly clear to them.It takes two to fight but only one to end a fight.Since your opponent doesn’t know his or her own self, why don’t you bow out of the contest and welcome sufficient time for them to be instructed about who they are.Chances are, once they discover who they are in Christ, they will lose interest in trying to tell you who they think you really are.
Finally, we fight because we have our opponents all sized up, packaged neatly into our own boxed-in brand of justice.That’s right, I said it, we are a thoroughly judgmental lot of people.Let me prove it to you:there’s someone in your life that frustrates, aggravates and irritates you.There was a time when you were open to having some form of a relationship with this person but they failed you, hurt you or disappointed you.You kept your distance for a bit, rehearsed their failure of you in your mind, turned the situation over and over again until it stained every inch of their whole personhood.Now, when you see that person or think of them, they are 100% colored with the hue of how they failed you.From this point they never stand a chance with you.You’ve subtly begun to interpret their actions and ascribe motive to them.We tell ourselves, “Uh-huh, that’s just _______acting like they always do!”We smugly pat ourselves on the back when we can fit their latest round of annoying ways under the bold classification we’ve hung over their heads.They are easily marked in our hearts and we feel really spiritual about how we have honed our gift of discernment.
Pardon me but is that a two-by-four protruding from your eye?
Friend, you don’t have a certificate of omniscience do you?None of us have the full awareness of what is going on with the person we are in conflict with.We assume it’s all about us and I’ve learned that it rarely is.Frankly, I’m not that significant that a person should be constantly preoccupied with me.When do we slow down and prayerfully consider what’s happening in our opponent’s life?If we could get past the sense of personal violation maybe we could hear the whispered counsel of God edging us toward risking it with that person and seeking to help?Maybe your enemy is really hurting.Maybe she’s sick.Perhaps that fellow who drives you mad is afraid of something that is hindering him greatly.
But we just think they are annoying and should butt out of our little world.
If I am concerned about anything as regards my final evaluation before Christ it is this:I’m not as prone to give mercy and grace as I am to ask for it.I crave to receive it from God but my spiritual arteries seemed clog when it’s time for the lifeblood of mercy and grace to flow freely through me.At the core sometimes I’m just a selfish fighter.Quite honestly, I’ve learned to not let it out anymore; rarely do I allow for division to linger or to break forth on the surface.Instead, I find myself slightly smoldering, reasoning that I most certainly am in the right.The problem must be with my opponent and yours, right?Certainly it’s not you or me, right? Right?
Maybe we should think on this one.Jesus came, lived, died and rose to make us all one in Him.He prayed to His Father that this would be so.I often wonder what He thinks when two of His blood-bought ones might declare their own right-ness at the expense of His selfless sacrifice.Now I’m convicted…really convicted.
Did you just hear that soft double-thud?That was me dropping my boxing gloves.I won’t be needing them anymore. The fight is over - Jesus won. And so did everyone who believes in Him.
I want to take a moment and wish all the moms out there a very special day. Few people who are not mothers themselves really comprehend your heart. Men and dads certainly are able to love and nourish children, but those who are wise will acknowledge that there is surely a difference. between their skill-set and that of a mother. Mothers shape the children who will eventually shape the world. Motherhood = Influence...so a hearty thank you is owed to those of you who influence well.
I'm going to direct you to my mother-in-law's blog today for your edification. She had a godly mom. She grew up and became a godly mom. Her daughter is my wonderful wife who is a third-generation woman of God. My daughter has the opportunity to be the 4th generation in Amy's family. Thank the Lord for the women of God who are wise to invest in those who call them Mom.
Amy well knows the look on my face. I'm in her presence physically but she knows my thoughts are elsewhere at the moment. Sometimes I'm thinking on troubles and challenges. Sometimes its deadlines and duties. There are other times when I sense something great on the horizon and I'm hungering to receive it. This is such a time for me. I’m locked in, friends.
In just a couple of weeks I will begin (Lord permitting) leading Meadow through the book of Ephesians.For any preacher, this is a great undertaking and I’m so grateful to God for allowing me this opportunity.Seven years ago I did a less-than-thorough exposition of this same book at Meadow.My desire then was to lead the assembly in the discipline of going through entire books of the New Testament together as we realigned ourselves as a church guided solely by Scripture.It was not my intention then to exhaustively/methodically deal with the precious doctrines of grace in Ephesians.This time I intend to approach this inspired masterpiece with greater zeal and also greater precision.
Along with the book of Romans, the book of Ephesians helps us to understand the sublimity and security of who we are in Christ.Only Romans mentions the word grace more often than the book of Ephesians. While Romans, perhaps, is more exhaustive in its content, Ephesians is a compact treasure chest filled with practical and doctrinal jewels.My desire will be to pour my whole heart into this study which will likely take us into the early part of Autumn.I’m asking God to do some mighty work in the Meadow family and to also help those who listen on the internet or watch on television to revel in the awesome treasure of salvation by grace through faith.Meadow has historically been a church which has focused on “man’s part” in the salvation process (the exercising of personal faith).We will seek to couple that clear component of individual salvation by exalting the Lord Jesus Christ as God is established to be sovereign over the entire “process” of redemption.Salvation is clearly the greatest treasure mankind can experience and my desire is that the saints of God will be freed up to redefine themselves in grace, experience the fullness of what God has granted them in Jesus Christ, become inwardly humbled as they better understand the doctrine of election, and prevail in holy living as the saints of God.We are titling the entire study in Ephesians “Treasure Quest – Higher, Deeper, Farther”.
I want to invite you to pray for the power of God in this series which will begin here at Meadow on Sunday morning May 16th (Lord willing!).Below is a chapter outline summarizing the content in each chapter.There will be several messages under each chapter and I’m committed to take my time with His precious word.I hope you will listen in on the podcast if you don’t attend Meadow personally.Open your bible and follow along with the sermon videos on Redeemed Tube when we post them there.Let’s prepare our hearts to go higher, deeper and farther than we ever have before as we sit still at the feet of Jesus, feasting on the riches of His grace as He feeds us verse by verse from His treasure trove.
I’m sharing from Colossians 3 on the family this morning.It seems lately that my thoughts have been lingering on this massively important facet of the Christian life.Our interrelation with our spouses, children and parents is a huge hinge upon which the door of contentment often swings.Whether I am counseling a hurting couple in my office, hearing news of an upcoming wedding, rejoicing with parents whose prodigal has returned or analyzing the crestfallen countenance of a little boy who no longer has a mother…the importance of FAMILY is with me always.
Have you pondered recently why God brought you into the world among the people who you call Family?Why did He choose your parents?He sovereignly wrapped souls in flesh and gave them to specific parents to call them sons and daughters.I’m confident that you would say that you had a part in choosing your spouse but I trust that you also see the ordaining hand of God in bringing you two together.God forms and fashions us to a great extent with the people with whom we are the closest in life.My children will be a reflection of the man I am and continue to become.The quality of Amy’s life is attached, in part, to me.The converse is also true concerning their impact on me.Our parents shaped us without us even being aware of it and I am convinced that God pairs children and parents together discriminately in order to achieve His purposes through them.Yes, God is at work in every family and I must confess that I scarcely comprehend why He does as He does.
This week I will meet with representatives of at least three families who are hurting.I’ve referred at least five others to some of God’s choice servants who serve in counseling ministries.I reluctantly admit that, as a pastor, I hear more troubling news about families than encouraging.Satan will never give up this device of assault upon Christians who alone can purpose to bring God glory.He wants you bitter, unforgiving, selfish, fatalistic and hurt.He would have you exalt your rights in the home and forego the meeting of the needs of the others under your roof.Satan will encourage you to look after numero uno since nobody else will.He will tell you that you are most definitely wrestling against flesh and blood and that certain someone in your family is the blockade to your true happiness.‘Why don’t you consider moving on?’ he suggests.
It’s getting quiet in here.
My friends, Family is hard work.If it’s going to be good, it’s hard work.If it remains bad, it is hard work.For better or for worse, thriving or pining away, flourishing or drying up on the vine…it is going to reach to the deepest parts of you.To see my wife smile, my children laugh and my own heart soothed is an experience which no price tag can equate.I would deny myself a larger house if only I can keep my happy home. I will lay many things on the altar of a fruitful ministry but you will never find my closest three sacrificed there.By the grace of God the Lyles have cultivated a happy family through some atrocious failings and some peaks of victory.It has been sometimes hard and it has been DELIBERATE because we have learned that family-victory would never happen on its own.I have wept and trembled more times than I can remember when realizing afresh that my own leadership will set the tone.Amy knows the weight she must carry in order to allow for our daily pressures to seep out before they enter our home.The children are used to the order that we protect and we seek to reward them regularly with the delights that make childhood memorable.The enemy certainly attacks…but the Shepherd defends.
I’ll close by encouraging each of you to consider how you might – today- better your home.Serve somebody selflessly who lives under your roof.Call a mom or dad in a distant city and thank them for something.Maybe somebody needs your apology – today’s a great day for it to happen.Throw some fertilizer on those with whom you are knit.Fertilizer not only grows greenery, it can prevent weeds.I say that you should go for it.God will smile on you in doing so.
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