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Fight Greed this Christmas

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Pretty good post over on GirlTalk about 10 Ideas to Help Children Fight Greed at Christmastime.  What’s the big deal?  Well, greed is something that is easily stoked, especially at a time when we ask (and are asked) “What do you want (for Christmas)?”  So, these are helpful tips:

1) Be intentional.
2) Talk a lot.
3) Make Christmas memories.
4) Make Christmas giving lists.
5) Read Christmas giving stories.
6) Give to people in need.
7) Give the gift of experience.
8) Minimize temptation.
9) Develop a gift opening strategy.
10) Cultivate Christ-like character.

I commend the entire article and hope it helps you serve your children and their hearts this holiday season.

Fallin’ by Trip Lee

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I’ve had this song, Fallin’, by Trip Lee on repeat today because I resonate so much with this fight for sin he highlights.  Here’s a link his latest album, The Good Life: Amazon or iTunes.

If you feel condemned in your sin, know that God sent His Son, Jesus, to the cross and your sin can be forgiven in Him.  You can be set free from this.  You can go from being mastered by sin to mastering it through the amazing power of the Gospel.  This is reflected in these lyrics.

The lyrics go like this:
I don’t really want it but it’s calling my name 
“William come and get me I can take away the pain 
Come a little closer you got everything to gain” 
But I got too much to lose I’m bout to go insane 
I been here too many times got my head low 
If I gave a dime for every time I’d be dead broke 
I feel that battle in my soul the pressure closing in 
My passions askin for a passing I can’t hold it in 
There I go again no self control again I’m too good at givin in 
Feelin like throwin in the towel the guilt is closin in 
Sometimes I climb the heights but I’m at my lowest sin 
Cloaked in deception and overdosin on potent sin 
I’m so gone baby wanna be home again 
Wanna feel whole again come feel this hole again 
Now I’m doubled over with my face in my knees 
At Your side is where I wanna be 


But there I go again fallin’ 
Face to the pavement 
Once again faced with the same sin 
(There I go again fallin’) 
I don’t think Ima make it 
Don’t know how much longer I can take it 
(There I go again fallin’) 
I’m caught up in this sin 
I wonder if I’ll see Your face again 
(There I go again fallin’) 
Fallin’ (3x) 
(But there I go) 


Trying to keep it cool I don’t wanna lead em playin 
But it’s hard to block out everything that she be sayin 
Look like it keep coming baby just reach out and take my hand 
There’s no need to fear me all I wanna do is dance 
I believe the lie now I’m headed for my doom 
They finally got me locked and now I’m bout to be there soon 
Feeling like I’m watched by everybody in the room 
Cause they know Ima fake and if not they will soon 
Have you ever felt like the walls finna close in 
Shackles on your hands and your feet and your dozin 
Sleep to the logic you possessed before all of the mess 
So beheaded mess with the rest what’s left 
Is a schizophrenic still what a man once was? 
Now you get to see the damage your lust does 
So now I’m doubled over with my face in the knees 
At Your side is where I wanna be 


But there I go again fallin’ 
Face to the pavement 
Once again faced with the same sin 
(There I go again fallin’) 
I don’t think Ima make it 
Don’t know how much longer I can take it 
(There I go again fallin’) 
I’m caught up in this sin 
I wonder if I’ll see Your face again 
(There I go again fallin’) 
Falling (3x) 
(But there I go) 


Everytime I fall He go’n pick me up 
The Lord is my shepherd homie He go’n pick me up 
I fell into the trap again but He go’n pick me up 
Remind me of His promises in Him I put my trust 
I don’t never have to give into the lies 
I’m feasting on His word all my sin I do despise 
So now I’m down before His throne praying on my knees 
Asking Lord give me grace please 


I don’t wanna be fallin’ 
So I gotta face this but I know there’s nothing that He can’t fix 
(I don’t wanna be fallin’) 
Looking to the cross where they place Him 
Cause I know His grace is amazing 
(I don’t wanna be fallin’) 
He’s covered all my sin 
It’s gone never to be seen again 
So we’re callin’ 
Callin’ (3x) 
(Unto You)


Here’s the music video recently released:



Help When Sin Is Confessed…

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…from The Blazing Center…
Do Respond Humbly

Do Identify With Their Struggle

Don’t Act Shocked

Don’t Blow It Off

Do Follow Up Later

Do Remember the Gospel

The post gives additional insight on each of these. I have found that I do well at some of these, but don’t do a good job of following up later. So, we need to be inviting those who are struggling with sin, but we can’t be satisfied with mere confession (as important as it is). We must be an instrument in God’s hands for their sanctification. So, let’s pursue this…

Killa by Lecrae

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Lecrae‘s song Killa from Rehab is one of the best descriptions of the fight with sin I’ve seen in a while. Here’s the lyrics:Uh, I know it’s going to kill me but I just can’t let it go
And the, taste so appealing it’s got a grip upon my soul
These honey dip lies mesmerize me
Pride’s got its crooked fingers twisted all inside in me
Fools walk the path I’m on, never to be seen again
Sipping on seduction while we eating on some secret sin
(No one will ever know) says the whisper in my ear
And I know I should be over this, but I ain’t seeing clear
And I ain’t leaving here, unless somebody save me
Walking to my grave letting evilness enslave me
Evil looks so lovely covered in her lace of lies
And the silky smooth seduction just manipulates my mind
Her fabric of fabrication is fueling my fascination
While I’m intoxicated she starts her assassination
I’m losing all my honor and my years to the merciless
Giving all my life away but I’m just so immersed in this (Killa)

Hook:
Baby this is innocent (Killa) it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa)
I’m only here for your benefit (Killa) I’m your every wish (Killa)
Come on and let me in (Killa), baby this is innocent (Killa)
And it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa) Close your eyes and let’s get lost tonight
(Killa) It’ll be alright(Killa), You’ll see I’m not a (Killa)

Her feet go down to DEATH, so don’t let her consume you
Even though her heart is black, her exterior’s beautiful
She’ll take your life away, strip away your joy
Pretends that she gon build you up but she’s just gon destroy you
My friends fell low, when they was so high
Got me running scared of myself, no lie
And I know I’m gon die, I tried cold turkey
But when I’m feeling worthy, Satan’s sure trying to merk me
I’m doing myself dirty, flirting with what’s perverted
I should follow the word but I guess I’d rather be murdered
(Eh-hreehmm) —Excuse me I mean martyred ‘cause I’m killing myself
My sin conceived a baby, and we gon name her death, breath
(Gasps) —Taken, she take my breath away
Replaces it with poison and I’m so swept away
I need some PRAYER today hope I wake up
Before they start my wake up somebody make me break up
I’m dating a (Killa)

Hook:
Baby this is innocent (Killa) it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa)
I’m only here for your benefit (Killa) I’m your every wish (Killa)
Come on and let me in (Killa), baby this is innocent (Killa)
And it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa) Close your eyes and let’s get lost tonight
(Killa) It’ll be alright(Killa), You’ll see I’m not a (Killa)

Killing Sin?…Good…Remember the next verses…

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I hope you were encouraged and moved to action by the Holy Spirit as you heard yesterday’s sermon, Kill Sin, from Colossians 3:5-7. I’ve already gotten some emails from people this morning demonstrating fruit from yesterday’s emphasis. They realize their weakness and want to make headway in pursuing godliness.

It’s so easy, though, to drift into self-righteousness when we are putting our killing sin into practice. How do I know this is a tendency? Because of what comes out of my mouth. Paul must have realized this too, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he continues in Colossians 3:8-10:

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

It is out of the heart that the mouth speaks. And what comes out of our mouth (or emails, twitter feeds, voicemails, blogs) can either demonstrate what we are putting away or putting on. Therefore, as you speak this week, remember to speak in a way that is not full of anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk, or lying to one another. These things are incompatible with someone killing sin. But let’s be characterized by speaking truth to one another in ways that build up for edification. This will show that we are putting on the new self and, indeed, being renewed in knowledge after the image of our Creator. He’s the One we want to live for anyway. Remember this, then, as you seek to put into practice killing sin: put away speaking in a way that’s not helpful.

Weekend Recap – Kill Sin

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Today’s sermon, Kill Sin, from Colossians 3:5-7 is online. I felt refreshed in the pulpit with much liberty and thought we had a great morning. We sang songs that boasted in what God has done to save us. We looked into God’s Word and found that our hope must be in nothing other than Jesus. Our position in Him enables us to kill sin.

The applications for believers were:
1) Remember your position – we can’t fight sin apart from who we are in Christ
2) Remember your calling – we are called to kill sin, not delay its execution
3) Get help – We have both the Holy Spirit and the local church to help us in killing the sin in our lives. Let’s avail ourselves to them.

Weekend Preview – Kill Sin!

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This coming Lord’s Day, we hope to gather and look at Colossians 3:5-7. The call is to put to death what is earthly among you. Here’s a quote for Sinclair Ferguson in his excellent book, The Christian Life:

“What then is the killing of sin? It is the constant battle against sin which we fight daily – the refusal to allow the eye to wander, the mind to contemplate, the affections to run after anything which will draw us from Christ. It is the deliberate rejection of any sinful thought, suggestion, desire, aspiration, deed, circumstance or provocation at the moment we become conscious of its existence. It is the consistent endeavor to do all in our powers to weaken the grip which sin in general, and its manifestations in our lives in particular, has. It is not accomplished only by saying ‘no’ to what is wrong, but by a determined acceptance of all the good and spiritually-nourishing disciplines of the gospel. It is by resolutely weeding the garden of the heart, and also by planting, watering and nurturing Christian graces there, that putting sin to death will take place. Not only must we slay the noxious weeds of sin, but we must see that the flowers of grace are sucking up the nourishment of the Spirit’s presence in our hearts. Only when those hearts are so full of grace will less room exist for sin to breathe and flourish.”

Let’s come this Lord’s Day anticipating God’s movement among us to glorify Himself in our killing sin.

Tri Perspectival Leadership…

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I found this chart by Leon Chingcuangco helpful. It is called “Triperspectival Leadership – Fulfilling the Offices of Christ“. The basic premise is that as Christ exhibits the offices of prophet, priest and king, so leaders in the local church will manifest those qualities. Specifically in this tool, the offices of Prophet, Priest and King are contrasted to examine Characteristics, Positive Tendencies, Negative Tendencies, Eventual Outworking, Errors of Uni-Perspectival Leadership, Possible Idols and Reductionism.

What was so helpful was seeing the apparent weaknesses that exist in my leadership, so that, by God’s grace, I can repent and believe the Gospel and see victory in these areas. Excellent tool.