“We’ve conditioned ourselves to hear messages without responding. Sermons have become Christian entertainment. We go to church to hear a well-developed sermon and a convicting thought. We’ve trained ourselves to believe that if we’re not convicted, our job is done. If you’re just hearing the Word and not actually doing something with it, you’re deceiving yourself."
"A person who is obsessed is characterised by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being. Such a person isn't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Such a person cares more about God’s kingdom coming down to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress."
"We need to live lives that demand an explanation" - Lives that do not make sense to others such that they want to know why and how we live that way, like Paul's life. Lives that demonstrate holiness (not self-righteousness), humility, pure and generous love, joy, hope and peace that transcends all understanding.
Philippians 4: 13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" - said by Paul but often misquoted. We need to look at the context of Paul's statement. The purpose of the verse is not to tell us we can be successful by the world's standards, but to tell us we are already rich in Christ no matter our circumstances.
Paul learnt the secret of how to be content in all situations and at all times, whether he had nothing to live on, was in prison, was being persecuted and tortured, was shipwrecked, or was recognised and approved by others. Paul realised that God cares for all our needs. He knows what we require so we need not worry about these things, and can be free to focus on seeking God and His kingdom (the things that are dear to His heart) and His righteousness.
Are we getting the message? Nothing else should matter to us but what is right, and what is right is digging deep into the Word and going out to spread that Word whether people receive us or receive the Word or not. I'm not talking about bible bashing but leaving our comfort zone to reach out to others by loving them and sharing honestly about Christ. It's not about spewing theology to sound knowledgeable and win debates, but about living out the truth.
How much of this life are we still holding onto? Do we really get that Jesus is enough? There may be principles (not referring to specific practices) in the Bible that we do not like, that we prefer did not exist. But the key is not rejecting these things or trying to change Jesus or His teaching so we can be happy, but tweaking ourselves so we are aligned with the way He lived.
God created us in His image but we are not to be returning the favour. We should not be re-creating God according to our preferred image or, in other words, making Him the way we want Him to be. Examples of false understanding - I believe God is fine with me being filthy rich and lapping up the luxury without caring about the needs of others. Or, I believe God is okay with me sleeping with my boyfriend or girlfriend because we love each other.
The reason is, if we alter the truth to suit us, we will get to the end and realise how wrong we were and we have to live with the consequences of that for eternity. Why not get it right now? We can experience Him as our provider, as everything we could ever need or even want.
Quotes and teaching by Francis Chan (from his book titled 'Crazy Love' and sermon titled 'What do you need in order to be happy').
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