Acts 1

Again I'm going to start this with explanation of why I chose this book.  I'm going through Acts because it gives us a picture of 2 things 1. The early unamericanized church. And 2. Revival.

I've studied Acts and parts of Acts quite a bit in last few months.  I (along with the other leaders at Under1 and Connection Church) believe that our youth ministry is in a season of revival.  I think Acts is a great book because it shows us true genuine revival.

When I talk about revival I'm not talking about a huge growth in numbers (although that goes along with it), I'm talking about God moving the hearts of people like never before. A church experiences a true revival when it's number one purpose is to glorify Jesus Christ.

Ok so, here we go!

Acts 1:1-5 (NIV84)

"1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”"

Ok so, after Jesus rose again he appeared to many people for forty days.  On one occasion, he gives them pretty a pretty specific command.  They are not allowed to leave Jerusalem until they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I can not take credit for the point I'm about to make.  Bryan said a while ago that "Revival begins with obedience."  I see evidence of this here in the first chapter of Acts.  There are also a few interesting points here.

1. They were never told exactly how long it would take.  They were just told to wait for a few days.
When God is going to do something big He rarely tells us how long it will take.  True obedience means being patient for as long as you need to be.  True obedience means you're not doing it for a reward.

2. They weren't' told exactly what to do while they were waiting.  The disciples weren't told to pray they did it because they were seeking after God.

I hear people say that they want to get closer to God but they don't know how.  Many people (I used to be like this until Unceasing) think that once they get closer to God they will start reading their Bible more or they will start praying more or they will start giving more.  In reality, they have it backwards.  When you seek after God, that's when you feel closer.

It's like any relationship.  I have friends that say "Dude we should hang out!" and then I text or call them and they tell me that their busy.  I'll see them a while later and they'll say something like "How come we never hang out?"

I feel like I do that to God sometimes.  I say to God "I want to be closer to You." Yet I spend my free time playing video games or watching movies or doing something other than spending time with God. Just like any relationship, it takes initiative on my part.

So, in other words.

Revival begins with obedience.  True obedience requires us to earnestly seek God with pure motives and intentions. Obedience also requires patience and a desire to change.

That's it tonight!  I'm really excited about Acts and the things God has laid on my heart.

Goodnight and thanks for reading.
-JDwayt

Romans 16

Romans 16:17-19

"17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil."


OK so we should always be on our guard.  We need to keep in mind the fact that the Bible is the #1 source for information about God.

It's easy to believe some of the stuff out there today.  A lot of 'preachers' twist the Bible to make it easier for people to hear.  They twist things to make it sound like God wants to bless everyone with millions of dollars. Their only purpose is to gain followers who are naive enough to give them money.  Just because it sounds good doesn't always make it true.

There are also 'preachers' that claim that there is no hell.  Again, they say this because it sits well with people.

The truth is, we're not always going to hear things we like.  However, we must be willing to be open to conviction from the Holy Spirit.  Iit's not always pleasant, but it is eternally beneficial.

I know I need to be more open to things I need to hear rather than just be open to the things I like to hear.

That's it tonight, tomorrow I start Acts.

Thanks for reading
-JDWayt

Romans 15

Romans 15:1-3 (NIV84)

"1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”"

Basically we are to help each other in our salvation.  We all need encouragement from time to time and it's important to encourage others.  We should desire to see our brothers and sisters in Christ succeed.
We should also be deeply hurt when others fall. 

Anyways there really isn't much tonight. Tomorrow is Romans 16 and then I'm going to start going through Acts!

That's it I guess, sorry there isn't more but thanks for reading anyway.

-JDWayt

Romans 14

Romans 14:13-23

"13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.  19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.  22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."

Ok so I know I shared a huge chunk of scripture here but I underlined the two verse that really stuck out to me.

Paul is addressing an issue in the early church.  Some believers believed that it was ok to eat meat from unclean animals (such as pigs) while other believers believed that it wasn't.  Paul's said that the people who did eat meat shouldn't do it if it causes those who didn't eat to stumble.

What I got out of it was this:
Other people's salvation should be more important than our personal convictions.

If a friend of mine only listens to Christian music, I'm not going to get into a huge theological debate and then force them to listen to John Mayer.

Paul says that we should be respectful of other peoples personal convictions, also, causing them to compromise would be a sin.

Verse 22 says that we should keep our personal convictions PERSONAL.  Now that doesn't meant I can't let people know what they are, it means I can't hold everyone else to that standard.

well that's it tonight

I'm going to bed now, g'night and thanks for reading
-JDWayt

Romans 13

Romans 13:8-9

'8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”'

This blog is probably going to be super short tonight so sorry in advance lol.

Paul is saying that we should our love for others should be a continuing debt.

We should love others like we're paying a bill.  I pay my credit card payments regularly, and (when I can) I pay more than the minimum payment.  I do this to keep my build my credit score and as a result I can get approved for more credit (although it would be extremely unwise for me to take advantage of that).

I'll admit my financial habits aren't necessarily 'Dave Ramsey' approved but I guess loving others should be similar in some areas.  We shouldn't love others out of obligation but we should love others regularly.  I don't pay my credit cards whenever I feel like it, I pay them regularly.  Also, just as there are benefits to paying my debts faithfully, there are benefits to 'paying' our love debt as well.

When we exceed the minimum payment by loving others more than they deserve, we become known for our ability to love others. And just like paying my bills gives me the ability to carry a larger balance and thus pay a larger debt, loving others faithfully gives us the ability to carry a bigger burden and love more people.

So, although digging myself deeper in financial debt would be stupid, digging my self deeper in my debt of loving others is a great idea.

This blog was short but I really enjoyed it.  Thanks for reading.

-JDWayt

Romans 12

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV84)

"1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.

2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. "

This blog is probably going to be a bit longer because this is my favorite chapter in Romans.

Paul is saying that everything we do should be done with God in mind.  Since Jesus was merciful enough to give his life for us, it's only right that we would give ours back to him.

Verse 2 is one of my favorites.  A lot of times I get so get caught up in American-Christian culture that I forget why I'm doing it.  On Sunday's it's the same routine:  Go to church, sing songs, eat lunch.  I get so stuck in the routine of ministry that I forget why I'm serving in the first place.

I guess the biggest thing here is that we should be just as focused on God during our everyday activities as we are when we are doing things for Him.

I love the way The Message translation puts these two verses

Romans 12:1-2 (MSG)

"1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking."

I think I'm going to have to work on this for a long time.

Romans 12:3-8 (NIV84)

" For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;

8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. "

Basically we can't do it alone.  I love the leaders in Under1.  We all have different strengths and weaknesses.  We all have different roles and tasks used to advance the Kingdom of God.

But I think these verses go beyond the local church setting.  I believe that as the body of Christ we need to work together.  I think churches themselves play different roles in God's plan.

Romans 12:9-21 (NIV84)

"9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord.

20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."


We should sincerely love one another.  Not because we have to but because the Holy Spirit has given us a love for people.

I love verse 16 "Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position."
We shouldn't be so concerned about our reputation that we stop loving the unloving.

It's easy to love our friends and our families and even people at our church.  It's not as easy to love complete strangers, and it's even harder to love our enemies.

Probably the hardest thing for me to learn is that my enemies need Jesus too.

When I first got saved there was a volunteer in my youth group who I looked up to a lot.  He got caught up in some stuff and ended up causing some pretty significant damage to our youth group.

I was let down and offended.  I honestly hated him.  I literally wanted him to die.

I held on to this hatred for years, until I brought it before God.  God said this to me "No! You carry my righteousness now, you are my son and my children don't harbor hatred."

I had to let it go, I had to somehow forgive someone who the world would say was unforgivable.

Through a series of obvious acts of God I was actually able to talk to this guy again.  It wasn't a long conversation but it contained the words that cut through my heart.

"I'm sorry"

The next day at church we played a song that contained a chorus that was just the words "There must be more".  I kept thinking about his life and how much he was missing out.  I began to cry and I started to pray fervently for someone who was my enemy.

I'm looking forward to a day when we get to talk again, I wan't him to know there's so much more.

I've already planned to go to Unceasing after I get off work tomorrow and I think I'm going to spend some time praying for those people who I find hard to love.

Well, there was a bit more openness in this blog than I had intended, but I think it's a good thing.

Thanks for reading!
-JDWayt

Romans 11

Romans 11:16-20 (NIV84)

"16 

If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. 

17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid."

Basically Paul was talking to the Gentiles about how they shouldn't brag to the Jews that they now have the same salvation. 

I really like what Paul says in verse 18.  "You do not support the root, but the root supports you."  This can be both humbling and reassuring.  

It's humbling because God doesn't need my help.  God doesn't need me to pursue youth ministry.  Revival will happen even if I'm not obedient.  Really my calling is a gift and a privilege.  


The thing that makes it reassuring is the fact that I can't mess anything up.  The fact that God allows me to use my gifts and abilities for Him is amazing.  


I also like what Paul says in verse 20. "Do not be arrogant, but be afraid."  Wow.  


I guess I can be guilty of arrogant faith at times.  When I do something for God it's easy to brag because I feel good about it.  And there's nothing wrong with feeling good about being obedient, but when we do things to make ourselves look good it becomes a problem.  


Well that's it tonight, I should probably get some sleep.  


Tomorrow night is Romans 12!  


Goodnight and thanks for reading,
-JDWayt