Farming & Fishing for Men

How did Jesus connect with the lost?

 

He related with people through leisurely conversations and compassionate responses. Jesus looked for “echoes of a Voice” that pointed back to our Eden-design to connect others with His Father’s love through presence, power, and proclamation evangelism (1 Thess. 1:4-5). The NT uses the pictures of farming and fishing to convey this patient process. No pressure. No coercion. We can all patiently farm and fish today. In Colossians 4:2-6, Paul provided his window into how to touch our world of people around us with the life of Jesus. Touch the world with God’s heart in these three ways.

1. The Touch of our Prayer (4:2-4): Devote our lives to prayer because prayer knows no bounds of either time or place. This prayer is warfare prayer and takes intense effort and focus. With “one foot raised” in anticipation, pray relentlessly for God to open doors into hearts and give us words to share. Look for God’s fingerprints on the lives of the lost with tiptoe expectancy since God is here (John 5:17+19).

 

2. The Touch of our Lives (4:5): Although the touch of our prayer reaches the ends of the world in an instant, nothing impacts people more powerfully than our ministry of presence empowered by the Spirit. First, live wisely in all our responses, at work and at play, as we shop and do life. When we stand for Christ, people watch, especially when tough times hit. Second, make the most of our opportunities. These are the same ones for which we prayed in the “touch of prayer.” God has placed us in the exact right place. Think of our normal week. Where do we rub elbows with those who need Christ? Also, keep alert for key transition events like early marriage, pregnancy, raising children, a layoff or marital tensions. God often uses these to open the hearts of the lost.

 

3. The Touch of our Words (4:6): How do we answer those who ask about our faith (“answer everyone”)? First, initiate conversations with others, even strangers (this stretches me!) Second, learn to graciously turn conversations to spiritual connections with winsome words. Third, season our conversations with “salt” so they become thirsty for more spiritual Reality. Put a comma in every relationship, not a full stop.

 

God has given you a unique life-story to share with others. So truthfully tell those around you what has happened in you (develop your three-minute testimony using “Telling My Story” in the Appendix). Depend on the Holy Spirit to touch a sense of need in people, needs like an eagerness for caring relationship, longing for significant purpose, yearning for their intrinsic beauty to be noticed, and crying out for justice (all “echoes of God’s Voice,” God’s image, marred but not destroyed).

This is Reflection #26 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

Equality, Diversity & Unity in Community

One of the channels through which we experience God’s strong grace (His action-love) is koinonia in community. Koinonia is more than socialization. It’s a partnership, a sharing in common of the very life of Jesus, like the interaction within the Trinity as His image-bearers. That is why we are called to a New Testament (which means covenant). In a covenant, people have become one with each other in Christ. The world trumpets our differences; the Bible our equality, than celebrate diversity supporting unity. Eph. 4:1-16 begins with our equality as image-bearers, while valuing all three, leading to mutual ministry, like the Trinity.

1. Embrace Equality (4:2): Paul describes two pairs of transforming responses flowing from an equality as image-bearers (4:2). Since we are equal, approaching others from equality connects. Ephesians 1-3 remove any need for self-protective responses to prove we are equal. We are all image-bearers with equal worth, all still in-process. Now we are free to serve the highest good of others, which promotes trust, the essential soil for community relationships. (1) We know who we are (humility) and respond more like God does (gentle, considering others, not rough or self-assertive). We are strong enough to use our strength for others. If we experience insult or injury in community, (2) we are able to be patient, extending space to unpleasant people. We forbear foolishness in others without whining (when wronged, forgive and do them good).

2. Maintain Unity (4:3-6): Paul then describes a God-birthed, seven-fold unity in 4:3-6. No external uniformity, but rather a foundational unity in which all are aligned with the Lord and so are also aligned with each other. We embrace this seven-fold treasure of unity, and also battle to keep it. Great power has always been released through unity since the Trinity is the most basic element in the universe. Our enemy also knows the power in unity full well. Satan’s primary weapons erode unity by sowing “community breakers” so keep working hard to preserve unity.

3. Celebrate our Diversity (4:7-11): God wants what we willingly give. So Paul calls us to go all-in with God and others with our unique, one-of-a-kind diversity. He has given unique resources to all His image-bearers (represented in part here by spiritual gifts, 4:7+11). Now, this is crucial. In this diversity, Paul includes the same people as in the unity. In other words, the same buy-in is expected of every one of God’s people, not just the smaller number of positional leaders. As one new man, Jesus Christ eliminates the barrier of distinction and creates a community of equals (2:12-22). The passage then points to full participation of each part (4:16) so we dare not hold back whatever part God has given us.

This is Reflection #25 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

WORSHIP

At the core of worship is living all-in towards the Father, Son and Spirit in all aspects of life. This is our only sane response as we grow in comprehending what God is like (Romans 12:1). We give back to Him the love and honor He deserves since He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

God deserves worship for His sake since He is worthy. As His Bride, He only wants from us what we willingly give, yet also woos us toward our best to be all-in. So relentlessly respond to pursue this love-relationship with the most incredible person. We are most fully human when we freely and gladly live in intimacy with Him, even in our routine in life. Intimate worship is first and foremost for God and about God. Only then for us as a byproduct. Take care then not to evaluate a worship experience by asking, “What did I get out of it?” This takes what is a secondary byproduct (although wonderful!) and makes it primary.

When you hear the word “worship,” is your first thought “worship songs,” like me, because of the many wonderful worship songs? Yes, this can be breath-taking (if our hearts are engaged as all-in to do what God says). Please don’t narrow your worship to songs of worship. We also worship with our prayers and the praise of our lips, through the ordinances (baptism and communion), by giving financially to support God’s plans, as well as songs of adoration, as long as our hearts follow.

Long before creation, God intended us to be worshipers, drawn to become more like whatever we behold (2 Corinthians 3:18). The proof of our authentic worship is not so much our ecstasy, but our changed lives, immediately and over time. Fill our minds with what is pure, admirable and excellent. Make Jesus the focal point of our lives and become more like Him. This lifestyle is at the heart of all worship experiences.

Like me, I suspect you will find it important to set aside a specific time to be alone with God each day in prayer and quietness with God. Also scatter short “One-Minute Sabbaths” throughout our day as we invest in intimate worship, even in the routine. God designed us to give full allegiance to something that gives significance to our lives, something bigger and better than we are. We will never discover genuine purpose and meaning separate from worshipping Jesus as Lord with our whole being. Read Philippians 3:7-8 several times to grasp the core of true worship. One exercise that has helped me make this concrete is to develop a “longing statement.” Then I pray my longing statement daily into my life. The following is my longing statement for this season: “I long to enjoy Your presence as my highest good” (Psalm 16:11).

What is your present longing statement?

This is Reflection #24 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

Embrace God’s Word: BIG-small-BIG Approach

How can we engage the Bible in a way so we will continue to be a lifelong life-learner and doer?

Reading consecutively through the NT and OT is good. So is memorizing Scripture verses in key areas. However, the best way I have discovered to really get one book after another under our belt is to soak in one book at a time through BIG-small-BIG learning.

When my family pulls out a jigsaw puzzle, we first focus on the corner pieces and outside border to lay the framework. Second, we then fill in the details of the inside pieces, one key color after another. Finally, we look at the puzzle again as a whole in light of the picture on the box to be sure the parts fits together with the whole.“BIG-small-BIG.”

“BIG” – Survey (grasping the panoramic view of the interconnected whole). Survey the book by reading it rapidly and repeatedly regardless of verse or chapter, as you would any book. When the church received a book of the NT, for instance, Philippians, what do you think they did? Gathered the believers together to read it aloud, probably repeatedly. Our first shift in thinking must be to begin with the whole, rather than with isolated parts. Without the big-picture, our minds dislike bits and scraps.

“small” – Analyze (understanding the nuances of the individual parts). Then analyze the chapters, one after another. Many ways exist to study. From my study of a number of books on how to study the Bible, I blended the best and simplest ways to study in five-week long “DiscipleMaking Companions,” very user friendly, yet effective (free download at www.JimFredericks.com). Read the passage daily and soak in it. As we inquire into the details of the parts, we recognize that this part participates in the whole, of this book and also of the entire Scripture.

 

Like with the Trinity (one God, and three distinct persons), we keep the indivisible whole firmly in mind, even while we explore the uniqueness of each member. Each Christian not only has the right, but the ability and responsibility to interpret Scripture for ourselves. We are able because our Resident Tudor, the Holy Spirit, lives within.

“BIG” – Synthesize (re-connecting individual parts into the dynamic whole). Finally, synthesize by rapidly reading the whole again as we reassemble the parts. Modify your view of the whole or the individual parts where necessary since they mutually unpack each other.

This interconnectedness between “BIG” and “small” is a force releasing life. A failure to see this simple plan leads to much of the failure to understand Scripture today. As we bring our study of Scripture into alignment with this natural sense of BIG-small-BIG learning, much of the weariness of studying this Book of books will disappear.

This is Reflection #23 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

John 15

The analogy of a fruitful grapevine in John 15 has stirred me from early-on to practically draw on His marvelous sufficiency day by day in order to live life from Him and for Him and to Him (Romans 11:36).

God the Father is the Vintner. This vintner works with vines as a passion, not just as an occupation. He sets each vine and branch exactly where He wants, crossbreeding and growing prize grapes. When the vintner finishes, he stands back, delighted at the work of his hands. This is a picture of the Father’s passionate heart delighting in His children and working with us for our best. He’s so far beyond what we can conceive.

God the Son is the Vine. The very life of the vine surging through the branches provides all that is needed for life and delectable fruit. Get in touch with Jesus’ generous heart for His branches. Are you amazed and overwhelmed yet by the profuse outpouring of the fully satisfying provision of Jesus in your life? He’s the Vine; we’re the branches. He supplies; we open ourselves to receive. Jesus is “for” us…always!

We are the branches. The world tries to define people based on what they do or have or what others think of them. Instead, Jesus calls us branches, little sticks of wood, not very impressive in ourselves. The power and life of the Vine, however, is perfected through the weakness and interdependence of the branch. This Big God created us as His image-bearers (Genesis 1:26-28). Through faith in Christ, He now re-creates us in Christ for the one purpose of fruit-bearing flowing out of intimacy. Fruit is always for others, and God changes us in the process.

Our one response is to abide. Abide (“remain” NIV) means to make our permanent home in Jesus. As branches, we receive everything we need for life and for godliness as we burrow the roots of our lives deeply into Him (2 Pt 1:2-3). We are “in Christ” and “Christ in us” (Jn 15:4).

The process of fruit, more fruit and much fruit. Our all-in connection with the True Vine channels the life-giving nutrients of the sap into us. Fruit grows through us so we can pass it along (an allusion to the Spirit).

1.      Fruit of LifeChange through God’s Word and prayer. Notice the organic union between abiding in the Word and growing (7-8, and Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit).

2.      Fruit of abiding in His love (9-10). Again, God inseparably links obedience with love so we make our home in His first-love.

3.      Fruit of joy. Joy authenticates our true abiding (11).

Ironically, every generation attempts in its own way to dim the dazzling brightness of the Good News of grace. It simply seems too good to be true. Courageously embrace all that God has freely provided.

This is Reflection #22 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

We Become What We Behold

Early in my Christian life I identified what needed to be changed inside me, and prayed that these weak areas would be changed. The more I prayed, though, the worse they seemed to get! For instance, as I prayed for God to take impatience away from me, it seemed that my impatience increased. I also realized that as I prayed against the faults of others, I began to take on their bad traits. Plus our relationship deteriorated.

Gradually God taught me that we “become what we behold.” And I’m one grateful man! Instead of praying for what needed change, I identified and prayed for the positive trait God could grow in my life to push out the negative (often relating to the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23). Philippians 4:8 taught me to focus on positive traits in others. What a change! Much later I realized the basis. When God created humanity in Genesis 1 and 2, He designed us as worshippers. God’s good design draws us toward whatever we fix the affections of our hearts on. God originally designed us to become more like Him as we beheld Him in awe and worship (2 Corinthians 2:17-18).

Then the Fall in Genesis 3 fundamentally changed us (compare Genesis 1:26-28 w 5:3, in God’s image vs in Adam’s image). However, God’s built-in design that “we become what we behold” remained intact. It’s just as sure as gravity that we become more like whatever we focus our heart on. The bottom side of a quilt is a jumble of knots, but what beauty from the top side. Which side do we behold? Add to this: when we come to Christ, the world has already squeezed our minds into its mold and our minds must be transformed (Romans 12:2). The world since the Fall is upside down, and often values what has little true value.

Jesus taught His followers that the way up is to descend; the way to live is to die; the way to have is to give; we save our lives by losing them. Jesus turned the world right side up (God’s perspective in Isaiah 55:8-9). No wonder such a crucial aspect of our growth depends on devouring God’s Word so our minds are transformed.

Keep this firmly in mind and a number of confusing issues will find a resting spot…but not all. That’s why I have a “Deuteronomy 29:29 Bucket.” After wrestling with these paradoxes of Scripture (appear to be a contradiction), I throw them in my “bucket,” waiting for further insight. Because God is the unlimited Creator and we are His created, it makes sense to me that God could not reveal everything to me. When I see what is beyond the ability of my pea-brain to decipher, I worship (Romans 11:33-36)! I’m thrilled. My God is beyond my ability to fully comprehend. If I understood it all, God would be no wiser than me, not big enough to handle my problems.

This is Reflection #21 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

A Loving Presence

For some who have been Christians for a while, God may have become more of a deduction from evidence they feel is adequate, an inference. These people attend church and may even consider themselves pillars in the church. Their ideas of God are brain-deep, not life-deep.

By contrast, a loving Personality dominates the Bible, walking in the Garden and breathing fragrance over every event. We can know these Three-Persons with at least the same degree of immediacy as we know any other person. God designed us as image-bearers, so as born again Christians we have in our hearts what is necessary to know God through our five senses.

 

God’s presence surrounds us, embracing us, within our reach, waiting for us to recognize Him. The divide between a nominal Christian life and a life radiating God’s light, life and love occurs at the point of spiritual awareness as we acquire the lifelong habit of willing response. Are we aware of a presence surrounding us? Do we respond?

The Bible calls this lifelong spiritual response faith. Christians are often called “believers” because faith (belief) is at the core of our responses. As you read the Bible, keep a sharp lookout for faith in Scripture. Let these few sample verses below whet your appetite.

• Hebrews 11:6a: Without faith, it’s impossible to please God.
• Romans 10:17: True faith must be based solely on Scriptural truth, Reality, or else it’s merely conjecture or presumption.
• 2 Corinthians 5:7: Faith is contrasted to sight, and therefore calls us away from self-dependence to God-dependence.
• Hebrews 11:1: Essentially, faith is having the confidence (“the assurance”) that things yet future and unseen (“hoped for”) happen just as God has revealed them. Faith anchored in God’s Word substantiates and gives evidence of things not yet seen.
• James 2:17-20: Faith always calls for a response. Without a response, our faith is dormant. This is the active faith by which we are to stand firm (1 Cor. 16:13) and live (Galatians 2:20b).

A song invites us to turn our eyes upon Jesus and the “things of this world will become strangely dim.” Paul encourages us to set our hearts and minds on things above (Col. 3:1-2). Shift our initial focus from the seen to the unseen. As we begin to focus upon God, He will come alive all around us, in creation, in people, in events. We will experience this loving presence (John 14:21-23).

 

“A new God-consciousness will seize upon us and we shall begin [to] hear and inwardly feel God, who is our life and our all….God will become to us the great All, and His presence the glory and wonder of our lives” (A.W. Tozer, “The Pursuit of God”).   

 

What is your response?  

“Take my life, Lord, and use it!”

This is Reflection #20 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com