Working Together

A series on Pauls’ prayers
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 

[Paul was a controversial figure in the first century church. But it could also be argued that he was the most dynamic and influential apostle. In this series we’ll be looking at Paul’s prayers and what he has to say to us today.]

  

Coaches are not good at giving praise. What they are good at is yelling at you in front of the whole team while pointing out what you did wrong.

 

I remember a high school coach saying that if he quit yelling at us, that’s when we should be worried because that meant he’d given up on us. I could never separate being yelled at from feeling rejected. No wonder I never liked any of my coaches.

 

In the New Testament, the Corinthian church is well-known for their many struggles. In Paul’s first letter to them, he wrote about their problems of division, sexual sin, lawsuits, marriage, idol worship and spiritual gifts. It’s a virtual laundry list of what not to do.

 

Despite this, he started off on a positive note by giving thanks for how God was at work in their lives. In other words, he praised them.

 

⁴ I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵ For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—            NIV

 

Speech and knowledge were two gifts that would have been highly desirable to the mostly Greek Corinthian church. For them, there was nothing more important than the telling of truth (speech) and the grasping of truth (knowledge). Because of this, Paul’s words would have been high praise.

 

Despite their many problems, Paul was also thankful that the Corinthian believers would finish well because of God’s work in their lives.

 

⁸ He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.      NIV

 

With his prayer of thanksgiving, Paul wasn’t just buttering the Corinthians up so that he could lay the hammer down later. He was letting them know that even though they were not perfect, that God was still at work in their lives; that He was faithful no matter what; and that He would be with them through the end.

 

Like my high school coaches, Paul could easily have started his letter by “yelling” at the Corinthians. “YOU SHOULDN’T BE DOING THAT!” Or, he could have told them that they were so messed up that he was going to invest his time in other churches. But he didn’t do either of these.

 

Instead, Paul’s prayer gave the Corinthian church hope that helped them to persevere and grow in their faith. He was working together with them. He was committed to them for the long haul.

 

The same is true for you and me. Only for us, it’s the Lord that is working together with us. 

He is committed to us for the long haul. He is faithful and will help us through the difficult times to give us hope to persevere and grow in our faith.

 

 

Feel free to share this blog with others.

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Thy Will be Done

A series on Pauls’ prayers
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Colossians 1:3-14 

[Paul was a controversial figure in the first century church. But it could also be argued that he was the most dynamic and influential apostle. In this series we’ll be looking at Paul’s prayers and what he has to say to us today.]

 

We pray the Lord’s Prayer every Sunday at my church. I have to confess that it’s easy to recite with very little thought or meaning. But the Lord’s Prayer does have profound meaning for our lives. None more than the phrase, ‘Thy will be done’.

 

For Hillary Scott, these words mean a great deal. In 2016, she released a song titled “Thy Will” which she wrote after having a miscarriage. The lyrics reflect her struggle with trying to understand why God would allow such a loss in her life. During this difficult time, she frequently prayed ‘Thy will be done’.

 

Paul understood how important it was for the Colossian believers to know God’s will. False teaching had infiltrated the church. The teaching combined several religious beliefs and valued the accumulation of knowledge for the sake of knowledge alone.

 

In his letter to the Colossian church, Paul addressed this heresy. He pointed out that knowledge in itself was empty. To be worth anything, it must lead to knowing God and following His will.

 

To this end, Paul wrote to the Colossian believers that he had been praying for them. First, he prayed for them to receive knowledge and understanding. Not just any knowledge, but to know God’s will.

 

⁹ So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.        NLT

 

The second part of his prayer was for the Colossian believers to follow God’s will. In other words, don’t just seek head knowledge about God, but also know Him in your heart and show that through your actions.

 

¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.    NLT

 

Finally, Paul prayed for the Colossians to receive the strength to do God’s will. He realized that this is not something that comes naturally. But it would require the Holy Spirit to be at work in their lives.

 

¹¹ We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.         NLT

 

Sometimes in life, it takes a painful experience to bring us to that point of turning to the Lord and crying out, “Thy will be done’. For Hillary Scott, this happened when she approached the Lord in faith like a child on her knees.

 

I know you see me
I know you hear me, Lord
Your plans are for me
Goodness you have in store

 

May ‘Thy will be done’ in your life and in mine.

 

Feel free to share this blog with others.

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

If you would like to listen to it, here is a link to the song “Thy Will”.

 Thy Will

 

 

 

Heart, Mind and Character

A series on Pauls’ prayers
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Philippians1:3-11 

[Paul was a controversial figure in the first century church. But it could also be argued that he was the most dynamic and influential apostle. In this series we’ll be looking at Paul’s prayers and what he has to say to us today.]

  

I recently spent the day with an old friend who is very dear to me. When we were in college at Michigan Tech, Ken shared the gospel with me one night. My life was changed forever! The rest of that summer Ken was my best friend, mentor and teacher. Wherever Ken went, I followed.

 

And it didn’t end there. The next summer, I followed him to participate in an intensive discipleship program in East Lansing, Michigan. It was another life changing experience.

 

When Paul wrote his letter to the Philippian church, he felt the same kind of love that I have for Ken.

 

^7a So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. ⁸ God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.            NLT

 

It was because of the love that Paul had for the Philippian believers, that he prayed the following prayer.

 

⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.                 NLT

 

Pauls’ prayer for the Philippian believers was for love, knowledge and right living. In other words, for their heart, mind and character. Scripture tells us that Paul stayed in Philippi for only “several days”. However many days it was, he had a lasting impact on the people there.

 

Like my friend Ken, Paul invested himself into their lives. He shared the Gospel, taught them and lived out his beliefs. Then he prayed for them. For their heart, mind and character.

 

That’s a pretty good prayer don’t you think.

 

Feel free to share this blog with others.

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Diff EQ

A series on Pauls’ prayers
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Ephesians 1:15-23 

[Paul was a controversial figure in the first century church. But it could also be argued that he was not only a dynamic and influential apostle, but also a prayer warrior. In this series we’ll be looking at Paul’s prayers and what he has to say to us today.]

  

In order to take a college class in “Differential Equations”, you have to build a foundation of knowledge. You have to understand basic math, algebra, and calculus. Only then would you be ready for Diff EQ, as it was called when I was in school.

 

Paul understood the importance of having a foundation of knowledge. He spent almost three years in Ephesus teaching the new converts. He also discipled the believers to prepare them to stand on their own in a mostly pagan city.

 

Ephesus was a major commercial center and port, as well as the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor. It was also the home of the temple of the goddess Artemis, which was regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. People came from far and wide to see it.

 

Despite this pagan and cultic influence, the Ephesian church was solid. As a result, Paul wrote his letter, not because of any heresy or improper behavior, but to encourage and build them up.

 

Pauls’ prayers for the Ephesian believers are both articulate and eloquent.

 

¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.    NIV

 

¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people…            NIV

 

^19a I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.  NLT

 

What more could a follower of Christ ask for than to know God better; hold more firmly to the hope to which you’ve been called; and be assured that God’s power is available to you.

 

In 2001, Michael W Smith released a song titled “Open the Eyes of my Heart”. The lyrics are actually based on Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians.

 

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shining in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

 

To open the eyes of your heart doesn’t require taking Diff EQ or even a foundation of knowledge. It only requires a childlike belief and faith to trust in the Lord who loves you and has a plan for your life.

 

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”                                      NLT     Matthew 19

 

Please feel free to share this blog with others.

 Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

Fresh Start

A series on Pauls’ prayers
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 

[Paul was a controversial figure in the first century church. But it could also be argued that he was the most dynamic and influential apostle. In this series we’ll be looking at Paul’s prayers and what he has to say to us today.]

 

 As I’m writing this, my grandkids are heading off for their first day of school.

 

My grandson will be in the fifth grade, which translates into being the top dog in elementary school. My oldest, is starting her first day of high school, a freshman; which means not being the top dog. The youngest will be in first grade. She’s in a category of her own.

 

It’s exciting to see them grow and start this new year of their life. Each day will bring new experiences; new adventures; new challenges. Each day will be a new day with a fresh start. Paul understood the significance of a fresh start.

 

When he originally came on the scene, Paul was notorious for persecuting the Christian church. He was there approving the stoning of Stephen. He went door to door in Jerusalem to find believers and have them arrested and jailed. He was on his way to Damascus to do the same thing when he came face to face with Jesus.

 

Paul needed a fresh start and despite persecuting Jesus, he was shown grace by him. As a result of God’s love and grace given to Paul, he went on three missionary trips throughout the Roman Empire establishing churches in strategic cities.

 

Thessalonica was one of those churches. It was the capital city of Macedonia, and a bustling seaport as well as an important communication and trade center. There was a Jewish community there and a synagogue. However, the largest number of people were Gentiles, and the church reflected that.

 

Unfortunately, after only a brief stay, Paul was forced to leave abruptly when some jealous Jews formed a mob and started looking for him. As a result, the Thessalonian church didn’t receive all the teaching that Paul would normally have given. Exasperating this was the persecution they received for their beliefs.

 

Paul’s purpose in writing both of his Thessalonian letters was to praise them for their “perseverance and faith” in the face of difficult circumstances. He also corrected their beliefs regarding when Jesus was expected to return. To this end, he encouraged them to stand firm in their faith and prayed this prayer.

 

¹⁶ Our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father loves us. Through His loving grace He gives us comfort and hope that lasts forever. ¹⁷ May He give your hearts comfort and strength to say and do every good thing.        NLV

 

In this prayer, Paul seems to be telling them that every day brings a fresh start. Every day begins with a clean slate. Every day offers a new opportunity to say and do the right thing; to stand firm.

 

Like my grandkids, we all need a fresh start. For me, Paul’s prayer is saying that God’s love, grace and hope will strengthen me each day in everything I do and say. 

 

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.   ESV

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

The Wilds

A Series on Living in the Wilderness
Saul
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Acts 7:54-8:3 

[In this series we’ll be looking at people who lived in the wilderness of life. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is faithful, that He loves you and is always with you.]

  

Our youngest granddaughter Josie loves animals. Recently, my wife and I took her to a wildlife and safari park called The Wilds. They have 10,000 acres of rolling hills where wild animals from around the world are free to roam.

 

As your safari bus navigates the bumpy washboard dirt roads, the animals can walk right up to you. We had both camels and rhinoceros come within a few feet of us. My granddaughter thought the rhinos were “so adorable”.

 

Although the animals are wild, as the name of the park indicates, we didn’t observe any wild behavior per se. There was certainly nothing like the wild animal behavior that Stephen experienced from the Sanhedrin and Saul.

 

Beginning with Pentecost, the first century church was very visible. They met every day in public in the temple courts where the Apostles would perform signs and wonders and teach about Jesus. They even went from house to house proclaiming the good news that Jesus was the Messiah.

 

Crowds of people gathered from towns around Jerusalem bringing their sick to be healed. The movement was spreading like wildfire. Literally, thousands of people had believed in the Lord.

 

The Christian church was so noticeable that the religious leaders couldn’t ignore them. In fact, they were furious with the apostles’ teaching to the point of wanting to put them to death. Instead, they bided their time which came quickly.

 

While in the temple, Stephen got into a heated argument with some religious leaders. As a result, they took him before the Sanhedrin having made false accusations of blasphemy. During his defense, Stephen said something that infuriated the Sanhedrin so much that they gnashed their teeth at him.

 

Then in a blind rage, they dragged him out to the edge of the city and stoned him to death with Saul’s approved. Their illegal act of capital punishment triggered more hatred for the church. It was like blood in the water attracting sharks.

 

^1b and on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ³ But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.      NASB

 

According to the New Bible Commentary, the word ravaging can be expounded to mean “like a wild beast does to the body of its victim”. In other words, Saul was so full of venomous hatred that he acted like a wild animal. That is, until he came face to face with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

 

We all have that wild animal instinct within us. It’s in our nature to rebel against the Lord. Thankfully, Jesus wants to show us his grace and mercy to bring us out of the wilderness; out of the wilds. Like he did with Saul.

 

Paul himself said it like this when he wrote to the church in Ephesus.

 

⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.            NIV

 

So, come meet Jesus… face to face.

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

Lod Arahbull Box

A Series on Living in the Wilderness
Peter
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Matthew 26:31-35; 69-75 

[In this series we’ll be looking at people who lived in the wilderness of life. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is faithful, that He loves you and is always with you.]

  

Quite a few years ago we were on our way to meet some friends for a vacation in Kentucky. Unfortunately, we were running late so I called the lodging office to let them know that we wouldn’t make it before they closed.

 

The lady who answered sounded very nice and proceeded to tell me that the key would be available in the “lod arahbull box”. I asked her to repeat that, which she did. But I still had no idea what she’d said. It took me a minute before it hit me that she had said “late arrival box”. She had a distinctive Kentucky accent.

 

Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. There was a lot happening during their Passover meal. Judas had already decided to betray Jesus. Some of the disciples argued about who was the greatest. Meanwhile, Jesus washed their feet and served them bread and wine.

 

At the end of the meal, Jesus told his disciples that they would desert him that same night. Proud and impulsive as always, Peter declared that he would never desert Jesus. Even if he had to die with him, he wouldn’t deny him.

 

Jesus told a different story.

 

³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”           NLT

 

Following this, Jesus and the disciples went to Gethsemane where he was arrested and taken to the chief priests’ home. Peter followed him there but remained outside with others which included servants who recognized him as a follower of Jesus.

 

He denied it! In fact, he denied even knowing Jesus! On the third time he was identified by his Galilean accent. This time, Peter not only swore that he didn’t know Jesus, but he also called down a curse upon himself.

 

As he said this, a rooster crowed and the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. It was then that he remembered the prediction that Jesus had made earlier that night. Scripture tells us that “Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly”. He was living in the wilderness.

 

His public betrayal of friendship and loyalty was devastating. For all of Peter’s bluster, he had failed far beyond what anyone could have imagined. He had failed his rabbi, his close friend and the man who he had proclaimed was the Messiah.

 

Despite his failure, Jesus gave Peter a second chance. He saw Peter’s potential as a leader of the church; as the Rock that he could build upon. He knew that Peter was a work in progress.

 

¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.             NIV    Ephesians 2

 

Like the “lod arahbull box” lady, Peter was identified by his accent. As Paul wrote, we are the Lord’s handiwork, and he has created us to do something special. Hopefully, our good works will be our accent that identifies us as a follower of Jesus.

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Fat Man’s Misery

A Series on Living in the Wilderness
Rich young ruler
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Mark 10:17-31 

[In this series we’ll be looking at people who lived in the wilderness of life. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is faithful, that He loves you and is always with you.]

 

In one of the tours at Mammoth Cave National Park, there’s a passageway that is officially named “Fat Man’s Misery”. 

It’s called this because at one point you have to bend over and turn sideways in order to get through it. For some, it might appear impossible to navigate.

 

Towards the end of Jesus’ ministry, he was heading to Jerusalem. Crowds of people were following him, so he was teaching and healing as he went along. Normally, when people approached Jesus, they wanted something from him. There was some pain in their life. But not so much with the rich young ruler.

 

He ran up to Jesus, fell on his knees and asked, “Good teacher. What must I do to inherit eternal life”? On the one hand it appeared that he was eager and sincere. However, he didn’t understand who Jesus really was. Nor did he understand that faith was essential for eternal life.

 

Like the Pharisees, he believed that eternal life was something that he could earn. 

After all, he was a rich young ruler and had everything that the world had to offer - wealth, the confidence of youth and power. He was a person of means and status. Someone who had become self-sufficient.

 

As Jesus did with others, he interacted with the young man at his level of spiritual understanding. It needed to be something that he could relate to and comprehend. Therefore, Jesus answered him by quoting some of the commandments.

 

When the man told Jesus that he had followed the law since he was a boy, Jesus lovingly responded that he needed to sell everything he had, give it to the poor and follow him. In other words, make Jesus the most important thing in his life.

 

But he couldn’t do it. The man’s face fell, and he walked away in despair. As it turned out, his riches were more important to him than eternal life.

 

Seeing a teachable moment, Jesus turned to his disciples and told them how hard it was for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.

 

²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”           NIV

 

Like those on the tour at Mammoth Cave when they encounter “Fat Man’s Misery”, the disciples thought this was impossible. They couldn’t believe what Jesus had told them and wondered out loud if anyone could be saved.

 

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”                  NIV

 

Follow by faith, not rules or riches.

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com