Rev. Jim Hollis

May 24, 2012

If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward.  If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:14-15

What’s all the talk about rewards?

 Today we will get through this section of I Corinthians where we will see that there will be rewards for good works, works that are deemed eternal in value.  This is profound, because we know that as Christians we receive salvation through grace which God secures. 

The works that are being discussed here are those things that we do for Christ, in the name of Christ that bring spiritual ministry to the lives of others or glory to God the Father.  Some of these are done in purity of heart and in fullness of Spirit and others are done for show. 

The authentic works – those that truly glorified Christ – will be rewarded on this Day.  Those that were built for the wrong reasons or on a poor foundation will be burned up by the fire that consumes. There will be Christians with rewards for good works and others who will have no rewards.  This is something that many Christians have never ever considered.  Have you? 

It translates into simple ministry principles.  We go out and do evangelism, not to produce numbers for increasing the membership of the church, but because God has asked us to go out and love unconditionally.  The world says if we don’t have certain numbers we are not being successful.  God says if we faithfully go to love unconditionally, we have the victory!  

 Counting on God’s Grace,

 Jim

 Lord Jesus, may we build our lives in excellent ways spiritually before you that the sincerity and motivation for our works may prove good in your sight.  We want to live our lives in ways that honor you and reach others.  In your holy name we pray. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.

May 23, 2012

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—  the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. 1 Corinthians 3:12-13

 Is our building fire resistant? 

 Yesterday we covered the first part of this section of Corinthians, where Paul declares we are all called to be builders for God. Today we see the next part of this plan.  We are called to build carefully, with the best of materials, that our building may be solid and secure. 

 Every one of us will have our building become visible before God and everyone else, for the Day (the Great White Throne Judgment) will be the time when it will come to light.  Every Christian will then have his or her works to be revealed in their fullness, or lack thereof.  And on that day the spiritual fire of the Lord will test all our works to see how we have done – are our works really fireproof?  I pray we are building with that in mind.  

 Celebrating the Joy of Building,

 Jim

 Lord Jesus, may we build our lives in excellent ways spiritually before you that they may bring glory and honor to you in all we do.  We look forward to the great Day, where we will all celebrate the works that you have used us to do while here on this earth.  Amen.

May 22, 2012

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

How is the building going? 

Today’s text identifies us all as builders.  Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are called to build a holy life.  How are we doing?

Sometimes we feel we are our own – completely in charge.  While free choice is fully operational, so is the reality of spiritual accountability.  We may make bad choices.  Yet, there is grace.  Making good choices of how we build our lives bring us joy, fulfillment and a life of peace with God.  That is what we all want, right?   Let’s live it out daily.   

Building on the Rock of Our Salvation,

 Jim

Lord Jesus, praise you today for trusting life to us and allowing us the privilege to build our bodies into a spiritual structure that serves you, that you may use us in service and love.  Amen.

May 21, 2012

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. Luke 4:14-15

Ever wonder if they know?

In today’s text we have a clear picture of Jesus in mission, filled with the power of the Spirit. Perhaps it is strange to speak of our Lord that way, after all, was he not always filled with the power of the Spirit?

We must always be careful when we reflect upon the life of our Lord while on this earth – he was fully Divine, but also fully human. Therefore, he operated with the same temptations, doubts, fears and struggles that we encounter. It was through his leaning into the Father’s power (filled with the Spirit) that he was able to live a sinless life, fully obedient to the Father’s will.

What about our lives today? Perhaps we have confessed to God that we are a sinner, in need of the saving Grace that Jesus alone supplies. We have asked for forgiveness of sin, and have invited Jesus into our heart as Savior and Lord of our lives. We have transferred our trust to Christ alone. Therefore, we know we are redeemed – born again – forgiven and set free from the defeat of sin.

But are we growing daily in the passion we have for our Lord? Are we praying for a new blessing of the power of the Spirit that we may be used by God to be effective witnesses? We see what happens when we are filled with the power of the Spirit. We discover the joy of ministry with Christ. We go where we are sent and the light of Christ’s love shines around us. We want to teach and share with others about the Lord. And God will use us to reach others in the unconditional love of Jesus.

It is my prayer that for each of us as a Christian, we will never have to wonder who we are living for and what brings us the greatest joy. I love you all.

Praying Daily for the Filling of the Spirit,

Jim

Lord Jesus, may you so fill us with the Spirit that our hearts will be on fire for serving others in your name. Continue to cause others to come into our path that you would have us love unconditionally. In your holy name we pray. Amen.

May 17, 2012

But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

Loving others before they get all cleaned up…

We all have so many people around us who are struggling in life.  I know we all have our challenges and pains.  But I am talking about those who are in our presence who are really low, hurting and maybe up to their eyeballs in sin.  Will be still reach out to them and love them before they get all cleaned up?

That is exactly what Jesus Christ has done for each of us!  He modeled this for us and Paul in the text today is reminding us of that truth in the Word.  Lets love others who have not yet come to the Lord.  Let’s witness to them with caring and joy, let’s be their friend and let’s love them in spite of their shortcomings and struggles.  Let’s remember the text for today and live it out.  I love you all. 

Promoting Real Evangelism That Risks,

Jim

Lord Jesus, help us to love You enough and to allow Your Power to flow in our lives enough that we will initiate and pursue new relationships with those who are not in relationship with you yet.
In Your Holy Name We Pray.   Amen and Amen.

May 16, 2012

"What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,  and ye shall have them.  And when ye stand praying, forgive,  if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  But if ye do not forgive,  neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."  Mark 11:24-26

The text today is for all you who may be fans of the old, classic, King James Version, which as you notice, I rarely use in teaching.  But EVEN in the KJV translation the point is crystal clear - forgiveness is conditional.

Love is UNCONDITIONAL, forgiveness is CONDITIONAL.  Many people today confuse these two truths.  Jesus loves everyone, no matter who they are or what they have ever done.  For nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ Jesus. 

However, forgiveness is another issue entirely.  We can be forgiven through repentance for sin and IF we are willing to forgive those who have sinned against us, no matter what the sin may be or include.  IF we are not willing to do that with authenticity, then we JEOPRADIZE our own forgiveness with God.  Pretty simple, and very serious.  Just think of the Lord's Prayer - "forgive us our trespasses AS WE forgive those who trespass against us..."

Let's always be willing to come to the prayer closet knowing that we have forgiven all those who have offended us.  In so doing, we adequately prepare for true repentance and forgiveness that our own standing with God is based upon.

Blessings on each of you as we practice forgiveness with others and God. 

In Christ,

Jim

Dear Father, Please help me prepare my heart as clean and pure.  Give me strength to wash away the memory of those who have sinned against me, so I can fully focus my heart and mind on You.  Forgive me, Father, for my sins against you, as well.  Help me remove all barriers between us, so that I can truly serve you with a pure heart.  In Christ’s Name, Amen.

May 15, 2012

I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.  Ephesians 3:16-17

An excellent prayer for us all…

Paul knew the essentials necessary for living the victorious life in Christ.  He made his prayer accordingly.  First he focused on what he referred to as “the riches of his glory” as a starting point for connecting with the power that will bring the strength SO DIVINE. 

The riches Paul mentioned were those that include how Jesus loved us, while we were yet sinners.  We focus on the riches that caused Jesus to tell about leaving the ninety-nine in the wilderness and going after the ONE.  We are that ONE, you know.  Jesus would have died on the Cross even IF we had been the ONLY one.  He loves us that much.

It is our inner being that needs to be strengthened and renewed, that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith AS we are being rooted and grounded in love. 

Let’s pause today and pray this prayer for our lives, our families and all those who have tasted of the blessing of entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ.  I love  you all.

In Celebration of God’s Presence,

Jim

Jesus, hear our prayer today as we pray the text above for our own lives, our family and our friends.  In Your Holy Name we pray.  Amen and Amen.

May 14, 2012

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.  Psalm 51:12

HITTING THE RESET BUTTON…

Just the other day I was in a long conversation with a Pastor who was serving a church in one of the most beautiful locations in America.  The setting was one that many would covet.  The average attendance had been relatively steady, but not really growing.  He said to me, “They are good people, but they just don’t want to do anything here.  They don’t feel anything.  We get along fine, but that’s all.”

Would we recognize how hard this is?  Could it be that this very circumstance is tougher than dealing with passionate agnostics or even authentic pagans?  Apathy is a disease that is striking the heart of many churches today.  There is little “wrong” in terms of a “church that’s doing OK” check list.  They are paying the bills, paying the apportionments, having a few members join from time to time and even having an ongoing Bible study with more than 7 people in it.  But the MAIN THING is terribly absent.  And today’s text reminds us of what’s missing – the JOY of our salvation.

The joy of salvation inspires our faith to ACT and GROW.  It inspires us to risk and dare to live for Christ, especially when it would be impossible on our own power.  We can PRAY and SEEK again the JOY of our salvation.  The Lord wants to restore it to us more than ever before! Let’s pray and ask Jesus to HIT THE RESET BUTTON IN OUR LIVES SPIRITUALLY!   I love you all.

In Prayer for Renewed Joy of Salvation,

Jim

Lord Jesus, we need the JOY again in our walk with You.  We have drifted far from the center of Your Agape Love.  We desire to FEEL again Your working in our hearts and lives.  In Your Holy Name we pray.  Amen and Amen.

May 10, 2012

My child, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Proverbs 6:20

We Love You Moms…

Our text today gives us a great picture of Christian Mothers.  We honor our Mothers on Mother’s Day, but we also want to honor them every other day of the year as well.  Mothers are partners with God in many ways.

One of the primary ways that Mothers are partners with God is that they teach the ways and will of God to their children – and – often other people’s children as well. 

Teaching is one of the greatest and most important ministries that exists in the Christian life.  Without it, the Gospel would not easily go on.  Mothers are trusted by children and often have the ear of the children as well.  What enormous opportunities exist for Mothers to share the love, grace and ways of Jesus with little ones. 

Keep it up Mothers.  We are praying and praising you all today.  Keep the faith, love others with Christ’s love and accept our thanks for all that you are.  I love you all.  

Thanking God for Our Mothers, 

Jim

Dear God, thank You for calling Mothers to share Your Love, Grace and Joy with little ones and big ones as well.  May Mothers be empowered to be effective witnesses even more in the coming days.   In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

May 9, 2012

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.  James 4:7-8

 Excellent Counsel

Riding down the highway the other day I saw an old bumper sticker which stated, “The devil made me do it.”  While Satan is definitely into causing people to fall into sin and eventually destruction, there are certainly ways to avoid getting to that level of temptation. 

Today’s text speaks to this in a excellent way.  We submit ourselves to God and RESIST the devil.  When we do this, the devil will flee from us.  The key to this is to resist him in the Name of Jesus Christ, NOT our own strength.  Satan always flees at the Name of Jesus Christ! 

Likewise, if we draw near to God, God WILL draw near to us.  What an awesome promise in Scripture for us to lock on and utilize every day.  Let’s resist evil and draw near to God, even now.  I love you all.

In Celebration of God’s Love,

Jim

Lord, we want to draw closer to You right now.  Accept us as we love You more dearly, follow You more nearly and serve You in our actions, relying on Your Love and forgiveness.   In Your Holy Name we pray.  Amen and Amen.