We need to live lives that demand an explanation. Paul lived this life that didn’t make any sense. In Philippians 4, he is talking about joy and contentment while chained to a prison guard in jail. If you could write a letter to your loved ones in prison, would you write about happiness or complain? In  Philippians 4:13  we have the most misquoted verse in the Bible. Evander Holyfield had it on his robe “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me…” and I am going to pulverize Mike Tyson. He wore the same robe to fight Lenox Lewis, and he bit the dust. Maybe you use this verse as a promise to ace a test in class when you didn’t study. “I can do all things through Christ.” We need to look at the context of the verse. This is what  Philippians 4:10-12  says: “ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Have you learned Paul’s secret? “No matter what the economy does, I don’t care.” How many people have you met that have that attitude? They are suffering and others say to them, “You should be stressed out, you should panic.” In contrast, Paul says “be content.” Christ is enough. You can have nothing and can be content. You can be rich and be content. I really encourage you to read the Bible with an open mind. Voltaire once said, “God created man in his own image and now man is returning the favor.” We want to recreate God in the way we want to be. I want a God okay with me sleeping with my girlfriend, I want a God who says, “my body, my choice.” One author wrote, “The American church has created a middle-class Jesus.” For example, they say that it’s okay to make your nuclear family an idol. When it comes to you and your kids, take care of them first even before your relationship with Jesus. You never find that in the Bible. Christ taught us to be willing to hate father, mother, wife, kids. He said my true brothers, sisters and mother obey my words. I’m not saying we shouldn’t love our family. It’s just that following Jesus comes first. We need a radical Jesus, the Christ of the Bible. We must not settle for a middle-class Jesus. Sometimes the words of Christ seem crazy. Like, “Quit storing things up on earth. See the birds of the air. God provides for them, He will provide for you.” If you want to find a radical Jesus, read through one of the Gospels. Life is a lot shorter than you realize. I don’t believe I’m crazy . All of Jesus is enough. Anything we give to the Lord is totally worth it. Don’t let your desires color your perspective. There are things about Jesus I don’t like. I prefer He didn’t say those things. When I read what Jesus says, I’m going to try to tweak , to conform to Jesus, even when it’s hard to do. As I’ve followed, I have found I understand why He said it. When He said it, I know He’s right. Even things on which you disagree, I would encourage you to ask the question, “What have you made Jesus to be?” You will find that a middle-class Jesus never existed. Jesus said, don’t worry about the future, God will provide.” You can know contentment today by surrendering to Jesus and His Word. Excerpt from Philippians Sermon Series Part Four, Cornerstone Church, Simi Valley.

These are hard days for minorities. I have also asked several African American friends what it’s like to see so much tension and a rise in racial profiling and violence. They respond with words like scary, sad, alarming, and fear for their kidsI asked one of my Chinese friends what it’s like to constantly be hearing about a China versus US trade battle. He immediately said he was scared for his kids and how they are treated at school. I asked several Hispanic friends what it’s like after the El Paso shooting, and they immediately said that they and their friends were scared to go to public places. I asked a Jewish friend what it’s like to see synagogues threatened, and he said he thinks about it every day. I have also asked several African American friends what it’s like to see so much tension and a rise in white supremacy news. They respond with words like scary, sad, alarming, and fear for their kids. The individuals I listed above are our neighbors. They are people just like us. They go to school with our kids; they play on soccer teams with our children. They long for connection like everyone else. If you are a white citizen of the US, as I am, it is easy to conclude that the above-mentioned individuals are overreacting. I often hear people say that. However, we are not in the position to draw that conclusion. We don’t know what it’s like to experience these types of situations. So, what can we do about this? What can we do to calm fears and create communities where all people can feel accepted, welcomed, cared for, and comfortable to assemble and shop and eat and send their kids to the bus stop? We Can’t Wait for Others. I know what we can’t do. We can’t wait for the next election or wait for Congress to legislate civility or expect someone to just rise-up and change this. I know this is a complex issue, but we must do something, and we must do it now. If you are reading this and you follow Christ, would you join me in looking for ways daily to show some unexpected love and kindness to those who wake up every day in fear?  Ways to Show Unexpected Kindness and Love A friendly smile or holding the door for a person is a start. Asking a person what it’s like to see their culture talked about or targeted can create a great opportunity for empathy. Buying a person’s coffee can make a person feel loved and welcomed. Having a neighbor who experiences these fears over for dinner can create a powerful connection. Just practicing “old school” friendliness and greeting people as they pass you in the grocery store isle or in any public place can change a person’s outlook. I beg all of us in these days of racial tension, immigrant fears, mass shootings, trade wars, and white supremacy boldness to do the unexpected for people who live with heightened fear. Love does the unexpected and I am naive enough to think that I can change a person’s fears for a moment or an hour or for a day by doing something unexpected for them. Let’s combat the evil with simple acts of kindness for all minorities in these days of fearfulness. Chase Oaks Church. Written by Jack Warren, executive pastor.

The last thing we want someone to say about us is that we are “super needy.” We want to be independent, self-sufficient, strong individuals. The idea of needing people and having to depend on others can make us cringe. I have been consulting with a leadership coach lately, and she recently said that the sooner I accept that I have needs, the more effective I will be as a leader. I hated hearing this. Being needy can feel like being weak and fragile. As I argued with the coach, I was proving to her and to myself that I had a need to be heard, understood, and respected. She proved her point as she quietly listened to my strong reaction. If you are reading this and are a human being (I think that covers most of us), you have needs. God actually created us with needs . He said that it wasn’t good that man was “alone.” Scripture is full of imperatives that help us address our needs. It tells us to love one another, encourage one another, pray for one another, spur one another on, forgive one another, exhort one another, and more. It is a fact that we all have needs. John Townsend, author of  Boundaries  and other books, says that human beings have twenty- two relational needs. I have a friend who says that he only has two relational needs: “Be nice to him and leave him the hell alone.” He truly told me that those were his only two needs. While I knew what he was intending to say, he and I knew that there were a number of needs wrapped up in those two requests. Sometimes he needed acceptance. Sometimes he just wanted to be heard and understood. Sometimes he needed someone to simply be present but quiet while other times he wanted to be respected. Here is a list of the 22 relational needs: Acceptance Containment Empathy Validation Identification Comfort Affirmation Encouragement Forgiveness Celebration Prayer Respect Clarification Understanding Perspective Feedback Wisdom Confrontation Advice Structure Exhortation Altruism The sooner we can begin to identify our needs and determine how to address them, the healthier we will be.  If we continue to move along without identifying them and meeting them, we can move into areas of loneliness, fear, depression, anger, resentment, and isolation. We will be disconnected from ourselves and from other people. When we take the time to identify our needs and see that they are met, we experience connection, satisfaction, joy, fulfillment, and comfort. We have the privilege and responsibility of leading ourselves well and addressing our needs. Think of yourself as a finely tuned sports car. As a sports car (unless it is a Tesla), you need oil, gas, service, filters, air, and more to perform at your highest level. That requires attention, effort, and intentionality. The fact is you and I are much more valuable and complex than any sports car. We need to be well cared for in order for us to function at our highest level.  When we identify our needs and address them, we are taking good care of ourselves. Let me ask you,” What are your current needs?” Notice I am not asking if you have any. I am assuming you do and asking you to take the time to pay attention to them. Let me encourage you to identify two needs from the list above and identify a couple of people who you can talk to about those needs. If you can start building this into your regular rhythms, you will be a better leader.  Embrace your needs, and you will enhance your leadership.

Brother Lawrence (1614–1691) wrote  The Practice of the Presence of God  about his constant, conscious rehearsal of God’s presence. He saw his relationship with God not as a mountaintop experience that fades in memory as years pass but as a moment-by-moment lifestyle. His service to God involved contentment with what he called little things: Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do. . . . We can do little things for God. I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for the love of Him. When that is done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before Him, who has given me grace to work—afterwards, I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God. The simple, daily cultivation of God-consciousness has had a central role in the increasing happiness I’ve experienced over the years. I often have coffee with God, and sometimes I have a meal alone with Him. Occasionally when I’m praying, I pull out a chair for Him and think of Jesus occupying it (not only did He sit in chairs; He also built them!). I talk to Him. I’m not pretending Jesus is with me at lunch or when I pray; I simply believe His promise that He really is with me and I act in keeping with it. If you want to be happy, put meaning to the sometimes empty phrase “spending time with God.” A king’s advisers hesitate to interrupt him, but his children are always welcome. God tells us, “Whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help” ( Hebrews 4:16, CEV ). We can’t spend time with many of the world’s famous people, but I have a hunch we’d often be disappointed if we could. We can, however, spend time with God daily—hour by hour. To “pray without ceasing” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ) is not an impossible chore but an ongoing delight. Imagine if we came to God as dogs come to their masters—with tail-wagging enthusiasm, overflowing joy, and complete vulnerability. What if we came bounding into His presence, conveying with everything in us, “I just want to be with you!”? God wants us to recognize His constant presence and goodness, and thank Him not only when things go our way but “in all circumstances” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ). This is as close as Scripture gets to a formula for happiness. But it’s more than a prescription; it’s a happiness-permeated reality for those who live it out. Brother Lawrence, “Pursuing the Sense of the Presence of God,”  The Practice of the Presence of God , ed. Harold J. Chadwick (Alachua, FL: Bridge-Logos, 1999). epm.org.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? - 1 John 5:4-5 Our study today is about independence. I call it spiritual independence. If you have named the name of Christ as your only God and Savior, you have declared independence from the rule of sin and Satan over your life. You have been set free. As Colossians 1:13 tells us, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” Even though you have been legally set free from the reign of sin in your life, Satan does not want you to be experientially set free. See, it’s one thing to have a status of freedom; it’s another thing entirely to experience it. Our focus over the next few weeks will be on walking you into the full realization and experience of spiritual freedom. Jesus Christ, through the apostle John, wrote a message to the seven churches of Asia Minor where He addresses this concept in multiple ways. Throughout the book of Revelation, the number seven comes up regularly. We read there are: • Seven churches (1:4, 11, 20) • Seven golden lampstands (1:12-13, 20; 2:1) • Seven stars (1:16, 20; 2:1; 3:1) • Seven spirits (1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6) • Seven lamps (4:5) • Seven seals (5:1, 5) • Seven horns (5:6) These are just a few of the mentions of seven in Revelation. There are many more. The number seven in the Bible is the number of completeness and fullness. When the number seven is used, it often means things have reached their full expression. It is also the number often used to signify perfection. When we see Jesus writing to these seven churches, we can infer that He wants them to be complete, fulfilled and not lacking. Therefore, He gives them a series of messages cumulatively arriving at the number seven as though to say if you overcome in these seven areas, you will have overcome completely and perfectly. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son." Colossians 1:13. Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.” - Isaiah 44:6 As Believers in Christ, we are overcomers, but we need to adopt the right perspective on Satan’s attempts to harm and test us. Satan may be telling us that he plans to steal from us, kill us and destroy us (John 10:10)—but when he does, remember that God is greater than our enemy. The beautiful thing about being a Believer in Christ is that God is crafty enough to allow Satan to believe he is throwing you to your demise, but he is actually throwing you straight into God’s hands—even in the midst of your suffering. Believers in Christ will also need to adopt the right perspective on what it means to embrace the life of an overcomer. Namely, an overcomer is someone who takes their position in Christ and makes it their practice in Christ. It is not someone who is trying to overcome. It is someone who recognizes that they have already overcome—they are only in a process of working the overcoming out in their day-to-day life. It is not someone who is trying to overcome. It is someone who recognizes that they have already overcome. Invite God’s Spirit to manifest Himself fully in you, to soften your heart and open your ears to His Word as well as to guard your lips—seasoning your speech as with salt. 1. Read Revelation 2:8-9. What does Jesus say He knows about the people of the church of Smyrna? 2. Based on Revelation 2:10, What does Jesus urge them not to do in light of their pending suffering? And how difficult is His request, if you know you are about to face suffering? Do spiritual tests, and understanding suffering, help you in any way? Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it. - Revelation 2:17 The next church we are going to look at this week is the church at Pergamum. By the time Jesus gets to this church, He has some very graphic things to say. He states that Pergamum is located smack dab in the center of Satan’s throne room itself (Revelation 2:13). It is within this dire predicament, Jesus has a message about overcoming through determination not compromise. He gives a message about how to live above the culture, chaos, and quagmire around you. Jesus says the key to experiencing eternal victory in the midst of earthly experience that is not ideal comes in one word; Conviction. He says if the people of the church at Pergamum, as well as, us through the reading of Scripture want to overcome, then we must be an uncompromising Christian. We cannot compromise. This is because compromise is the antithesis of conviction; they cannot exist together. We cannot compromise. This is because compromise is the antithesis of conviction; they cannot exist together. 1. Read Revelation 2:12-17. Describe the cultural surroundings that the members of the church of Pergamum must have lived in. Contrast that with the culture we live in today. 2. Why do you think Antipas lost his life (verse 13)? Are we at the point in our culture where loss of life for being a Christian can be expected? 3. Jesus is calling the church to repent and become people of conviction. Name some convictions that have become compromised in our Christian culture today and how we could return to living in light of their full conviction. Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. - 1 John 4:4 There was a concern years ago that Japanese made vehicles would out-sell American made vehicles due to the concept of zero tolerance—little or no room for error. As a result, American car manufacturers began to raise the standard back home in order to become more competitive. In other words, to maximize business productivity, decrease your level of tolerance for error. In being human, we will never perfectly reach that but if it is the goal, it will set your business and product apart. This is due to the fact that when mediocrity is the standard, people will simply shop elsewhere. And if this is true in business or even basketball, manufacturing or flying—why do we question it when it comes to the God who made it all? Is God to expect less from you and me, and from His church? That’s the message that Jesus brings to the church of Thyatira. He wants them to know that in order for them to live as overcomers both on earth and for eternity, they will need to have a zero tolerance mindset toward sin. They will need to never settle for their own sins or the sins of others. In being human, we will never perfectly reach that but if it is the goal, it will set your business and product apart. 1. Read Revelation 2:18-28. Had everyone in the church at Thyatira committed rebellion in tolerating the deeds of Jezebel? What was the message to those who had not been tolerant? 2. Jezebel was able to get away with so much immoral behavior and enticement. Position does not trump standards. How does a position of spiritual authority sometimes impact whether or not we will choose to hold someone accountable within the body of Christ? Should things be this way and if not, what can be done to address it? 3. One of the things Jezebel did in the church was to encourage people to eat things sacrificed to idols. Idolatry as any person, place, thought or thing that usurps God’s rightful rule in your life. We do not typically have idols in today’s culture that are made from wood carvings or set upon our mantles, as in days past or other cultures. What are some of the idols we have in our contemporary American culture – such as materialism and narcissism. Discuss some common ones you might have. Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel, “Seek Me that you may live.” - Amos 5:4 The Christians in Sardis had gotten so self-sufficient in their own minds that they didn’t feel they needed the Holy Spirit anymore. They were educated, affluent and at ease. They believed they could do everything on their own, which is a very dangerous place to be. The Holy Spirit does not do His work apart from your connection and cooperation to Him and with Him. A life devoid of the Spirit of God is a life open to defeat in every area. It’s just a matter of time. A life devoid of the Spirit of God is a life open to defeat in every area. 1. Read Revelation 3:1-6 The church of Sardis had a great reputation, but what was lacking? Is it possible to have notoriety for being spiritual but simultaneously be spiritually dead in God’s economy? What can lead to this? 2. What is the primary role of the Holy Spirit? What happens if the Holy Spirit is not engaged in your life and the life of the church? 3. The members of the church of Sardis were told to “wake up.” What were they to do once they woke up? 4. The spiritual had become secondary to the secular for the people of the church at Sardis. Give some examples on how this might be happening today in the overall body of Christ? 3. When we find ourselves spiritually “asleep” what can we do to “wake up”? The Bible instructs us to encourage one another. Yet in this message to the church at Sardis, we discover that too many compliments may lead to complacency. Discuss the tension between offering encouragement and going overboard? Is there such a thing as too much attention on any one person, activity or church? Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them. - Psalm 44:3 The church at Philadelphia was not wealthy, powerful or even significant. Yet in the message to this church, we discover another key to living with earthly success. When by the world’s standards you lack authority, recognition or notoriety, if you have access to Christ’s keys you can accomplish anything He desires for you to do! ... if you have access to Christ’s keys you can accomplish anything He desires for you to do! 1. Read Revelation 3:7-13 Why does God promise to put before the church at Philadelphia an “open door”? What is the open door? 2. Read Psalm 110:1 What does it mean for your enemies to be made as your footstool? 3. According to verse 9, how will Jesus vindicate these believers? 4. What is the special recognition Jesus says He will give to those at the church of Philadelphia if they “hold fast” to what they have? What role does faithfulness, obedience and perseverance play in overcoming? Have you witnessed God promote you or someone you know who had “little power” by the world’s standards and yet God continued to open the doors of influence and impact for them? What do you think set this person, or yourself, apart to receive this favor? Based upon the testimony of the church at Philadelphia, how can you position yourself for God to open more doors for you? Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. - Luke 9:24 We are now coming to our final church – the Church of Laodicea. Laodicea can best be described as an inauthentic church. It was comprised of people who were in it for themselves. The wealth in this community flowed, clothing was made and hospitals thrived with the latest techniques and advances in medicine, but true spirituality languished in the background of so-called more important material pursuits. This church wore a façade of what it meant to be a Christian authentically committed to Jesus Christ. They had the right externals-looked good, spoke well and raised their hands in worship, but they had the wrong internal motivation, conviction and authenticity. This neither hot nor cold church didn’t make our Savior shrug His shoulders or turn His head in disappointment. The church of Laodicea made Him want to “spew” them right out of His mouth. Laodecia looked good, spoke well and raised their hands in worship, but they had the wrong internal motivation, conviction and authenticity. 1. Read Revelation 3:14-22 What stands out to you as some of the worst things this church was doing? 2. Was there time for the church of Laodicea to repent? What would happen as a result of them repenting? 3. According to Revelation 3:18, what three things were these church members encouraged to do. What do you think these three things represent spiritually? 4. Based on Revelation 3:19, what does God do to those whom He loves? How have you experienced God’s chastening in your life? Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.