K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple………Simplify

We are going to end this series on Redeeming Time by talking about simplifying our lives.

When we think about simplifying our lives we usually think about outward change. We want to sort of organize the stuff on the outside of our lives. Jesus likes to work from the inside out. Four simple things we ca do to keep it simple…..simplify.

1. K – Know what you believe

We tend to make our beliefs a very complicated thing. We also generally try and define our beliefs by rules. Do this but don’t do that. Go here but not there. How do we simplify what we believe? It is all about humility. We can’t figure it all out and so we have to come to Jesus and trust Him. It’s like the disciples who came to Jesus asking who was the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?

Matthew 18:1-4 (NIV)
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

They wanted some sort of hierarchy. Who is in charge of who? Our adult thinking wants to have everything ordered so we can figure out all the rules. Jesus response, you must become like little children. Rather than always trying to figure out every detail we have to trust. We have to depend on Jesus. We have to depend on what He did on the cross and we need to continue to depend on Him to embrace life.

Here is my simplified summary of what I believe……It’s all about Jesus!

2. Integrate the Golden Rule

Relationships can get really complicated. What am I supposed to do, what I think they are supposed to do. How I feel when they don’t do what I think they are supposed to do. How they feel when I don’t do what they think I was supposed to do.

Jesus gives us a simple principle for relationships.

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

It is not do one to others before they do one to you. It is not treat people the way they have treated you. It is, treat people the way you would like to be treated. You do your part, what they do is on them. Isn’t that simple?

Culturally the question we ask is, “What is in it for me?” Jesus answered that question this way:

Matthew 23:11-12 (MSG)
11 “Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant.
12 If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.

3. Spend some time with God every day

With our cell phones and our high speed computer access we live life constantly connected. Unfortunately, this constant connection often keeps us from connecting with the One who matters most. I can’t say it often enough, you need to spend some time with God every day. You need to spend some time reading His word, praying, worshipping, remembering who He is and what matters most. If you don’t, life is going to pass you by. For a little while every day you need to disconnect so that you can connect.

Jesus models this for us in His life.

Mark 6:31 (NIV)
31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

There are three things I want to point out in this verse, and no a chance to eat isn’t one of them.

a. Come with me – You need time with Jesus

c. A quiet place – You need to be free from distractions

Just a few minutes with God everyday will make a huge difference in you life. What do you do? Read a few verses in the Bible. Tell Jesus what is going on in your life. Listen for what He has to tell you. Thank Him for who He is. A few minutes can change the day and your life.

4. Speak the truth in love

Sometimes the things that we say cause us a lot of problems in life. Being critical, gossiping…..how many times have you thought, I wish I never said that?

Matthew 5:37. “Simply let your ‘Yes” be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’, ‘No’.”

There’s something deeper that’s at the center of what He’s saying when He says “Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no’.” He’s talking about being honest and having integrity with our words.

So many problems in our lives start with a single lie or a little juice gossip and then we have to move in to cover up and spin.

You want your life to be simpler? Just be honest with people. It is amazing how much more simple life is when we stick to the truth. Even though it seems hard sometimes to be honest with your words, it will simplify things.

The Top Ten from this series:

The most important thing in life is love
The best way to demonstrate love is with time
The best time to do it is now
Come – Go to Jesus
Take – Let Go
Learn – Let God
Know what you believe
Integrate the Golden Rule
Spend time with God every day
Speak the Truth in love

Come back often to see the latest sermons or bible studies on your Online Pastor site. We are blessed to be your Pastor Online!

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Matthew 7:1-29 (NKJV)
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” 28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

As Jesus continues the sermon on the mount in Matthew Chapter 7 He is continuing to teach about what a true relationship with God looks like. In Matthew 7:1-6 Jesus takes on the last of the Pharisaical practices He was setting straight.

To Judge or not to Judge (Matthew 7:1-6)

Jesus talks about judging others. His illustration is interesting, a speck and a log. It is so amazingly accurate. It is so much easier to see and judge sin in someone else’s life than it is in our own. Even more amazing, is that it is often the most critical and judgmental people who have the biggest logs in their own eyes. A healthy realization of our own need for forgiveness and grace should go a long way in making us less judgmental and critical. True repentance should help us not only to deal with our own issues but also to see other people’s issues as specks while we deal with ours as logs. Doing otherwise makes you a hypocrite. Does this passage mean that sin is never to be confronted? No. There is a difference. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:12

1 Corinthians 5:12 (NIV)
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?

In this instance there was a situation in the church that needed to be addressed. This judgment would be made in order to restore the person in sin back to a right relationship with God. The other type of judgment is not about restoring other people, it is about our own self-righteousness, which is Pharisaical to the core.

The dogs and pigs reference is interesting. Dogs and pigs were despised in those days. The verse is about being careful not to entrust holy things with unholy people. Some people aren’t safe and we need to be able to know the difference. This is not a practicing of the judgment Jesus was talking about, this is more about discerning where people are coming from.

Pray, Pray, Pray (Matthew 7:7-11)

Jesus had given His disciples a model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. He now is assuring them that God welcomes and answers prayer. The ask, seek, and knock, part of the verses are given in the present tense, so they would be best translated “keep on asking”, “keep on seeking”, and “keep on knocking”.

The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)

Matthew 7:12 is what is commonly referred o as the “Golden Rule”. We should live life treating people the way that we want to be treated. Living this way fulfills the law and the prophets. However, this is not something that we can do without God’s help. Living this way consistently can only happen as we walk with Jesus.

The Narrow and Wide Gate (Matthew 7:13 –14)

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Narrow is the gate and “difficult” is the way which leads to life. That doesn’t sound like your normal Gospel presentation. It is the truth, however. It is difficult to against the flow of this fallen world. Perhaps the most shocking part of that verse is this part, “there are few who find it”.

Who are you listening to? Matthew 7:15-20

With the shock of verse 14 still ringing in our ears, Jesus then tells us to be careful who we listen to. There are a lot of false prophets out there who are leading people astray for their own personal gain. You will know them by their fruit. It is not judgmental to be a fruit inspector.

Be DOERS and not just HEARERS Matthew 7:21-29

In order to find real life, we need to not only hear what Jesus says, we need to do what He says. Jesus taught as one who had authority, His teaching impacted people to respond. It still does.

Come back often to see the latest sermons or bible studies on your Online Pastor site. We are blessed to be your Pastor Online!

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There are a lot of sayings about life. One of the most famous is probably Forrest Gump’s…Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.

I did a search on the Internet for life sayings. Here is a partial list:

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.
- Soren Kierkegaard

If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it – Now quiet, they’re about to announce the lottery numbers!
- Homer Simpson

Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually you find a hair stylist you like. ~Author Unknown

Life is like a taxi. The meter just keeps a-ticking whether you are getting somewhere or just standing still. — Lou Erickso

Life is a long process of getting tired. ~Samuel Butler

Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use. ~Charles Schulz

Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us. — Thomas L. Holdcroft

Life… is like a box of chocolates – a cheap, thoughtless, perfunctory gift that no one ever asks for, un-returnable because all you get back is another box of chocolates. So, you’re stuck with mostly un-definable whipped mint stuff, mindlessly wolfed down when there’s nothing else to eat while you’re watching the game. Sure, once is a while you get a peanut butter cup or an English toffee but it’s gone too fast and the taste is fleeting. In the end, you are left with nothing but broken bits filled with hardened jelly and teeth-shattering nuts, which, if you are desperate enough to eat, leaves nothing but an empty box of useless brown paper. ~The X-Files

Here is my life saying for this series:

Life is a Prize

I have developed it from James 1:12

James 1:12 (NIV)
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

The word for crown denotes a badge of royalty or a symbol of honor or a prize in the public games. Life is a prize that God has promised to those who love Him. It is more than eternal life. It is the promise of a fullness of life here and now.

Do you believe that life is a prize? A gift? A joy? A blessing? A wonder? An adventure? Or is it to you somehow more of a punishment, something to be endured, until something better comes along? Unfortunately, most people don’t see life as a prize until something threatens it or tries to take it away.

Life is a prize and it is a prize worth winning. How do we get to the prize? We stand the test and persevere under trial (problems). We learn to turn our problems around.

James 1:2

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…”

The Truth about Trials (Problems)

I want to introduce to you my new little acrostic about truth.

To
Really
Understand
Truth
Hurts/heals

The word of God is truth

John 17:17b (NIV)
your word is truth.

and it is a two edged sword

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Truth hurts and heals.

True that or “true dat” – we tend to think that things we agree with are true and things we don’t agree with are false…what if we are wrong?

Is it possible that some of the things we think are true aren’t?
Is it possible that some the things we think are false aren’t?

We have this underlying idea that life should be easy. It is one of the false beliefs that most of us hang on to. Life should be easy; everything should work out the way I want it to. The truth is that life is difficult. Instead of embracing the truth that life is difficult, we choose to complain about our problems, as if they represent some unique kind of affliction that is only visited upon us or our families. Life is difficult. We live in a fallen world on a broken planet. Life in a fallen world presents us with a series of problems. Sometimes we think that experiencing problems means we are being punished. God isn’t happy with us and therefore He is causing us problems. He isn’t. He uses problems but He isn’t causing them. Problems come from living in a fallen world, from being an imperfect human being and living with other imperfect human beings, and sometimes from a very real enemy.

Here is the amazing thing, once you reject the false belief that life should be easy, and accept the truth that life is difficult, then, life is no longer difficult. Because you are no longer struggling against the false belief, the reality that life is difficult isn’t such a huge issue.

With that in mind, here is some truth about problems

1. Problems are inevitable

The Bible doesn’t say “If you encounter problems consider it joy” but when . Problems are not an elective in life. They are a required course.

2. Problems are unpredictable.

“…whenever you face problems …” The word “face” in Greek is “peripipto”. It literally means “to fall into unexpectedly”. Problems are not planned. We don’t plan to have a flat tire, or a crisis. They are unplanned and unpredictable — when we least expect them. That’s what makes a problem a problem.

3. Problems come in all shapes and sizes

Problems are never boring. There are big ones, little ones, short ones, long ones. There are a wide variety of them.

4. Problems are purposeful

1) Problems show who/what I really trust in. It is in the midst of problems that we see where we have placed our trust, our faith. Do we trust in God or are we trusting in our own man made institutions. The big three man made institutions we trust in instead of God; economics, politics, religion.

2) Problems teach us perseverance “…the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” The ability to keep on keeping on, the ability to hang in there. The Greek here is literally “the ability to stay under pressure.” We don’t like pressure and we do everything we can to avoid it. We run from it, turn to all sorts of things to avoid it, to get away from the pressure. But God uses problems in our lives to teach us how to handle pressure, how to never give up, how to persevere. How does God teach us about patience? By everything going your way and always working out? No. God teaches you patience in traffic jams, in always choosing the longest and slowest check out line at the grocery store, the times and places in life where we have to wait.

We live in a fast and convenient society. Everybody wants it now. If I can’t have it now, forget it. I won’t wait in a drive thru if the there are more than a few cars. Forget it, I can’t wait. Perseverance, today, is a rare quality.

3) Problems develop my character. They make me more like Jesus. They help me mature. They help me to grow. “The testing of your faith produces perseverance that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” God’s long range goal and plan for you is to develop your character. He wants you to mature and grow up. In this Christian walk and life, character is the bottom line. As believers, if we don’t realize that God is able to use our problems to help us grow, we will soon be overwhelmed by our problems. Our problems have purpose and therefore we can know that no matter what God will be with us. God’s ultimate purpose is to make you more like Jesus. Not a Messiah, not a Savior, but to develop the character of Jesus which displayed humanity as God intended it to be.

Do you think much about what Jesus was like? People really liked Jesus. They were drawn to Him. He lived out life as God had always intended it. He wasn’t a ruthless taskmaster. In fact, His yoke (rabbinical teaching was easy) and His burden light. He didn’t come to be served but to serve. He loved with such extravagance that people were completely caught off guard. He always made the right decisions based on what was true. This is how God intends for us to live. Selflessly and rightly.

It is often through the circumstances of life that what we read about Jesus in the Word becomes real. The words were always true, they just weren’t real yet. I know people who are convinced that because they have problems in their life, somehow God doesn’t really love them. The truth is that you are exactly where God wants you. You’re in a character course. He’s making you like Jesus. Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. The secret of Romans 8:28 is 8:29 “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers” Why do all things work together for good? In order to make us more like Jesus.

As we work through this series together we are going to develop some attitudes we need to have to see life as a prize. That is where the SMELBORP comes in. We are going to turn our problems around by learning:

Secret of Life
Mastering Complaining
Enjoying People
Living Successfully
Beating Stress
Optimizing Expectations
Reducing Conflict
Persevering

For today, I want to leave you with what I believe is the most fundamental truth you will need to have to begin to enjoy life. This truth applies to all phases of your life, your relationships, your job, your hobbies, and your passions.

The Golden Rule

It is a little rule that goes like this:

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.

It seems so simple, it was something we were all taught as kids, but this little rule has the power to make amazing changes in your attitude toward life. It is the foundation on which we will build all the rest of the attitudes we need to really enjoy life.

Our culture has slowly been chipping away at this rule so that now for most people it is more like:

Do one to others before they do one to you.

If that is your prevailing attitude, you will never really enjoy life.

Get ready, SMELBORP is coming. Come back often to see the latest sermons or bible studies on your Online Pastor site. We are blessed to be your Pastor Online!

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Dear Internet Pastor,

What do you do if one of your managers at work treats you really badly? Do you complain to his superior? Do you do nothing and pray about it? Do you pray blessings upon him? Actually I got a lift in my spirit at that last one. Anyway I have this situation, and basically everythings good apart from this one person. Can you point me to any scriptures?

signed

Dealing with a difficult manager

Dear Dealing,

It is a difficult situation when we work with people who don’t know how to treat other people. One of the best strategies for dealing with difficult people at work is to realize that they act that way because of other issues in their life. Perhaps they have a bad home life, or are under some other stresses. Maybe they are struggling in their relationships or with some bad habits or hangups. Unfortunately, the mess sometimes comes out at work and the wat they treat others.

As a believer, one of the places where our Christianity really shows up is in the workplace. As representatives of Christ we should always be an example of giving an honest days work. We need to realize that what we do is ultimately given to God, not just our employer. We also need to grasp that out primary job is also our ministry field. We need to see ourselves not as workers, teachers, professionals, salespeople who happen to be Christians but rather as Christians who happen to be workers, salespeople, accountants, teachers, etc. This will make a difference in the way we approach our jobs.

Perhaps the best scripture for this situation is known as the Golden Rule.

Luke 6:27-31 (NIV)
27 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. (In our culture we usually want to change that to do one to others before they do one to you).

Treat your manager with kindness and respect. Perhaps this will help in changing their attitude. Remember this person regularly in prayer. That God would move into whatever is causing this “ugliness” at work. Also know that you do not have to stay in any environment that remains overly unhealthy or abusive. Perhaps there is a Human Resource person at work or a manager with more authority than the one you have trouble with who you could talk to. If the situation persists and there is no way to ultimately rectify it maybe it is time to look for a new situation. Sometimes God uses a difficult situation to give us new direction. Read 1 Kings 17. The brook dried up and Elijah had to move along. I will be praying for you!

Pastor Online

(Internet Pastor Online Ministry is provided for education and entertainment purposes. This site is in no way a substitute for a relationship with a local church/pastor or with a licensed counselor when necessary.)

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