Rhythm

Freedom In Christ

Posted July 16, 2010 by brandonwilson in Blog

Freedom. We’ve craved it since elementary school, always wanting to make that next step into the next phase of our lives so that we can have more freedom. And when we get to that next phase, it’s never all we thought it would be, so we start craving the next phase and hope that more freedom comes with each new phase of our lives. We could go from elementary school all the way into being married with children in the blink of an eye in our search for more freedom, but for some reason, we can’t find the freedom we seek in the phases of our lives.

This week at Rhythm, Tom Maxwell brought a super strong message about our freedom in Christ and how “not all free acts lead to freedom”. Jesus is quoted in John 8:31-32, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” So for Jesus, truth leads to freedom. Not that awesome car, or what we think will come in the next phase of our lives. Truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. So because A=B and B=C then A=C (or some other math problem – sorry, I was an English major for a reason) Jesus is freedom!

Unfortunately, we tend to try to walk in this strange middle ground where we can have one foot on the narrow way with Jesus and one on the wide road so that we can follow the world and Jesus at the same time. But those two roads are going in different directions and if we continue to try to keep one foot on each road, we’ll split in two (and that’s just not a pretty sight)! Tom encouraged us to stop trying to be a friend of the world and a friend of God.

True freedom comes from God alone and He deserves our complete focus. Sure, there are times when sin is just plain fun, but what benefit has it ever brought that lasted for more than a little while? Sure, it may seem like a good idea at the time, but what’s the benefit? Obedience isn’t always a word we like because it seems that to be obedient to God means that we do not have the control and when we don’t have control, we feel like we have no freedom. But if we are to be free from the slavery of sin and become slaves to righteousness, obedience to God is pretty much the only way to achieve freedom. It’s not easy. If it was easy, everyone would do it. But the rewards are heavenly and eternal!

Someone I was talking to today has the joy of the Lord literally shining out of her face. She said that she feels like such a dork because she’s smiling all the time. I encouraged her to go with it! Be the dork! Go ahead and grin like an idiot because you have found a freedom in Christ that many people have been searching for their whole lives! Are you grinning today? Have you obeyed and found freedom in Christ? Are you being the dork?

Rock on,
Shanna

Scandalous

Posted July 9, 2010 by brandonwilson in Blog

Last night Rhythm was blessed to have the talented Sam Spangler to deliver a message he appropriately entitled “Scandalous”, based on the book of Matthew’s telling of his own calling to discipleship (chapter 9, verses 9-13). Sam noted that Matthew is the only disciple to have his story told in three of the gospels (Matt, Mark & Luke)… which means it must be pretty significant.

Jesus did a few things here that the Pharisees would have considered absolutely unacceptable – and we often miss the importance of. First off, in verse 9, Jesus sees Matthew, a tax-collector (certainly no one anyone wanted to be associated with in those days). How often do we simply overlook those around us who we deem unworthy of our time? How often do we miss opportunities to share God’s love because we fail to take the time to look? Jesus recognized an opportunity for ministry. Secondly, Jesus spoke to Matthew. He acted. Acknowledging an opportunity isn’t enough. If we’re following in Jesus’ footsteps, we have to act.

In verse 10, Matthew invites Jesus and his disciples to a feast… along with many notorious “disreputable sinners” (NLT). And Jesus went. He wasn’t intimidated; He didn’t care what everyone else would think or say. More importantly, He wasn’t intimidating; Matthew and the other people at the feast were eager to talk to Him and learn from Him. (Can you imagine a Pharisee sitting in Jesus’ place at that party? Doubt that would have went over well!)

Jesus caused people to question his motives. Why? He wasn’t focusing on people who thought they could handle life themselves. He was interested in helping those who needed help (and those who didn’t think they had the right to be helped). These people still exist today – we are these people – broken, lonely, empty people in desperate need of a loving God. Are we, the church, like the Pharisees, treating people as if they aren’t worth our time and effort… or are we like Jesus, seeking and talking to and spending time with anyone and everyone to show God’s love (letting Him speak through our actions)? Sometimes being effective requires breaking the rules of tradition and expectations. After all, we can’t be scandalous like Jesus if we just sit back and let things happen – our motivation has to be love; love for Jesus & love for each other.

Love,

PJ

P.S. – Special thanks to Stephanie Painter who led us in worship!

I love you, but…

Posted July 2, 2010 by brandonwilson in Blog

As we progress further along into John’s letters to the seven churches, it’s interesting to notice a pattern developing. Jesus is quick to praise each church for the good they are doing, then letting loose on the things they need to change. It seems that churches haven’t really changed that much… we all only want to focus on what we’re doing right and sweep our failures and mistakes under the rug. If we’re as right with Jesus as we often lead others to believe, we should be willing to listen to His corrections in our lives. We, just like the church at Thyatira (Acts 2:18-29), are full of Christian arrogance.

Yes, God gives “authority over all nations” to those who hold tight and obey ‘til Jesus returns, but we tend to overlook those verses that chastise us. The Thyatirans showed great love, faith, service, and patience – all awesome characteristics – but also embraced the current culture of their day, which happened to be filled with idol worship and extensive sexual immorality. Sound familiar? It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the things in our surroundings that appear trivial… but as much as we justify our actions, these seemingly harmless things inevitably lead to actions that aren’t so trivial. Here, we see Jesus blatantly calling people (and us) out.

One of the greatest things to notice here is that though He calls us out, He does it with immense and incomprehensible love and mercy. Verse 21 even goes to tell how He gave the not-so-lovingly-called Jezebel of the city (who claimed to be a prophetess and was openly trying to entice people to join her in her “embrace” of the culture, all in the name of God) plenty of time and opportunities to turn from her immorality. If Jesus punishes her only after she completely refuses to accept His offer for forgiveness, how much more grace will He offer us who admit that we’re not always going to make the right choices, yet accept His offer of forgiveness?

Temptation is called temptation for a reason… none of us are immune; we all fall short and make mistakes. The question is, do we love God enough to call sin, sin?

Grace and peace, friends!

PJ

Is it hot?

Posted June 25, 2010 by brandonwilson in Blog

Let’s start out with the obvious…tonight Rhythm got a little heated. Both the spiritual level and the temperature level were at a somewhat uncomfortable place for many of us. I have to admit that when I showed up to set up tonight, I was ready to call it on account of the heat. But nonetheless, 145 people braved the temperate conditions to hear the word of God preached. Little did we know it was gonna heat up even more.

In talking about the church in Pergamum, we see that God is calling us to be something different. At times we all fall into the traps and the world has a hard time differentiating those who love God from those who could care less because we justify our actions and behaviors sometimes even associating them with a gallant cause. It’s hard to stay committed many times when the world around you seems to be going the opposite way, but blending in is not what God has called us to. He says to those who run the race and stand firm, He will give them the white stone, the stone that says by His grace and mercy ALONE, we are acquitted of all of the charges against us.

My prayer this week is for all of those that are finding it somewhat difficult to be a Christian today, that they would be lifted up and know that struggles were promised to us, but if we continue to live faithful to the cause of Jesus Christ, set apart for Him and Him alone, we will find abundant joy and grace and the white stone that says we are free because the price has already been paid.

Blessings,
Brandon

The Water’s Kind of Rough, But Come on In

Posted June 18, 2010 by brandonwilson in Blog

How would you react if Jesus came up to you and introduced Himself in this way, “Hello. I am the beginning and the end. I died and came back to life and I know you.” Are you relieved or worried? Have you lived your life in such a way that you are pleased that Jesus knows you or are you concerned because He sees your life?

I imagine the church at Smyrna breathed a sigh of relief because they had a clue about what it meant to be persecuted and remain faithful. The people of Smyrna didn’t join the church without being completely aware of what they were getting into. They suffered. They suffered a lot, even to their deaths. But Jesus introduced Himself by claiming power over death and encouraged them to remain faithful because their persecution would only last for a set amount of time. At the end of that time, they would receive a crown, but not just any crown of plain old gold; a “stephanos”, a crown of joy and victory! They were willing to die for their faith and were promised a reward of complete joy!

Are we willing to die for our faith? Here in Roanoke, Va, we have little opportunity to physically die for our faith in Christ, but what about socially? Are we ready to take our social life and give it to Jesus? Are we ready to stand out in a crowd of our peers and be completely sold out for God? What would that cost us? A few friends, perhaps a social status. But what will your silence about the love of God cost them?

What if we were sold out, all in, with nothing left to give because we have given everything we have, everything we are to the cause of Christ? What would this valley look like? What would Rhythm look like? What would you/I look like?

Just Wondering,
Shanna