In Heaven’s math 5 - 1 = 0.  That is to say when you read the beginning of 1 Corinthians 13, you see 5 amazing qualities listed, but without love, the Bible says they are meaningless.  This is a thought from the book Leading With Love, which also gives the following modern paraphrase of the first three versus of 1 Corinthians 13.

Picturing himself as the most extraordinary teacher or leader to ever live, Paul would say:

“If I were the most gifted communicator to ever preach,

so that millions of people were moved by my oratory,

but didn’t have love, I would be an annoying, empty wind-bag before God and people.

If I had the most charismatic personality, so that

everyone was drawn to me like a powerful magnet, but

didn’t have Christlike love, I would be a phony, a dud.

If I were the greatest visionary leader the church has ever heard, but didn’t have love, I would be misguided and lost.

If I were the bestselling author on theology and church growth, but didn’t have love, I would be an empty-headed failure.

If I sacrificially gave all my waking hours to discipling

future leaders, but did it without love, 

I would be a false guide and model.”

Here is 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV):

“1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 

2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 

3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

Application: Love is not a quality that we posses as much as a way or attitude that we display all of our other qualities.  You may “love” God or “love” someone, but that does not mean that you are necessarily walking in love as leader.  Love is the platform that elevates all of our other good intentions and qualities.  Meditate on each verse of 1 Corinthians 13, and ask God to speak to you about how you can grow in love.

We will all face trials in this life at varying degrees, but the reality of Jesus with us in the midst of tribulation is the difference between peace and despair.  That is why I am so glad that Pastor Joel’s unique story of overcoming is being told.  His testimony of walking with Jesus in the midst of some of the most unimaginable pain and disappointment has been an inspiring example to me and my family.  Whether you are presently in a storm or not, I hope as you read this book you are encouraged to draw closer to Jesus.

Some quotes from the Book:

“Life is many times about contrast. If you don’t know bad, then you can’t appreciate good. If you’ve never had lack, then you find it hard to appreciate prosperity.”

“The attitude of faith is to continue to believe for good even in the midst of real adversity. This hope will be attractive. It will cause others to be inspired by your hardship instead of turned off by your attitude.”

“Oh, valley, how we easily disdain, 

The hurt, disappointment, and pain, 

Don’t stop your work now or refrain,

The bitter food you serve will forever train.”

Find the book at this link: Faith That Endures: A Story of Hope and Perseverance.

Find out more about Pastor Joel at this link: JoelStockstill.com 

One of the masterpieces of the ministry of Jesus on earth was transforming a Son of Thunder into an Apostle of Love.  While he walked with Jesus John was called a Son of Thunder, because of evangelistic zeal, passionate personality, and driven demeanor.  

Here is a description from John MacArthur of John as a son of Thunder:

“He’s wired like that. Yeah, burn up the Samaritans. Yeah, we want to be in the chief seats. Yeah, buddy, you’re not in our group, shut up! This is John. He had a real competitive spirit.  It showed up in condemning this man who was trying to minister in the name of Jesus, whether he was actually doing it or not, he was trying to do it. John shut him down. Jesus rebukes John for that sectarian attitude.” *

The Apostle of Love

After the resurrection we see the Apostle whom Jesus loved become the Apostle who loved like Jesus. John was passionate about truth, and that is exactly why God chose him to become passionate about love.  He was transformed by the love of God, not in a way that made him week, but in a way that God could use to explain the truth of His love in a way no one else ever could. 

“So John has the ability to be narrow. He has the ability to be dogmatic. He has the ability to be exclusive. He has the ability to be prejudice. He has the ability to isolate himself and draw a hard line. He has the ability to be black and white. You want to know something? That’s usable if it’s for the right things. Why would God choose a man like that? Why would the Lord Jesus make him an Apostle? Because this is the kind of man that can be shaped into strength. He had the potential to be hard for the truth. What the Lord had to do was make him loving.” *

Truth and Love

From John we read some of the most adamant proclamations of truth, as well as the most inspiring declarations of love in all of scripture.  I think of John recording the words of Jesus in John 3:16 as well as John 14:6 are great examples of a man who both understood the vastness of God’s love, and the importance of adhering to God’s truth.

*Copyright 2007, Grace to You. All rights reserved.  Used by permission.

A couple of horrific events this week have me praying more and differently than normal.  Which also has me wondering should I normally be praying differently, and how do I pray for and during terrible tragedies?

This passage came to mind: 

“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” - Luke 13:1-5

God’s great plan in everything is to bring us closer to Him and make us more like him through Jesus Christ.  God does not cause great tragedies, but in His sovereignty He allows them them to happen.  He has a good purpose for things that He does not see as good.  That purpose to bring people to Him.

• Pray that through every tragedy that people would put their hope in God. That the lost would be saved.
• Pray that God would get the glory despite the present hurt and confusion.
• Pray for justice for the victims.
• Pray for wisdom and guidance of our leaders involved in the tragedies.
• Pray for healing and hope for our brothers and sisters that are suffering

Joseph was raised in a tent, refined through trials, and now will rule from a throne.  We have followed him from His parents to a pit, then from Potiphar’s house to a prison, and now we find him in the palace.

“You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:40-41

It would be easy to say that God had abandoned Joseph at any point during his journey, except the end.  Joseph’s suffering was not a result of God forgetting him in his disappointments, but rather God forging him for his destiny.

“See, I have refined you, though not as silver;  I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” - Isaiah 48:10

In order to make it from the prison to the palace you must learn the lesson of keeping your eyes on God instead of people.  It is very common to look for someone to blame when suffering comes into your life.  Whether it is that person’s fault or not, the blame game will get you no where.  The answers you need are found by focusing on your Redeemer, not your painful past or the person who caused it.  

We can see Joseph learned this lesson when his brothers arrived asking for grain, but did not realize it was their brother they had sold as a slave they were speaking to.  As the person who was in charge of the entire land of Egypt Joseph certainly could have used his power to exact revenge on His brothers, and no one would have second guessed him.  Instead, look how he handled the situation with a healed heart:

“Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”” - Genesis 45:4-5

Joseph was able to keep his heart pure in the midst of betrayal, disappointment, and heartbreak, by not focusing on what others had done to him, but on what God was doing in him.  The battle is the Lord’s, and trying to settle accounts before his timing only leads to bitterness.  When you desire reconciliation more than to be proven right you will know forgiveness has completed it’s work in you.  Don’t allow a bitter heart to stifle God blessing!  Let go, and let God!

The Beautiful Prison: What we can learn from the difficult seasons of life.

Genesis 39:20-21 - “Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.”

Joseph is not where he thought he would be when he began to dream.  He has been betrayed multiple times with more disappointments yet to come.  Still he sits in prison and dares to hope.  How do I know this?  Because when the warden puts Joseph in charge it is clear that his attitude and works are consistent, even in prison, with a person whose faith is in his Creator and not his circumstances.

Psalm 105 says that it is God who sent Joseph to Egypt, and chose motel captivity as his place of residence before elevating him to his destiny.  It was God who allowed Joseph to become chained so that a nation could be free.  He starved so others could be fed. Joseph’s prison teaches that the more significant the calling, the more intense the training.  Brain surgeons do not attend weekend seminars in order to be approved for operation, but instead spend many years in school, training, and practice before being licensed.  You want to know how important you calling is?  Look at two things: 1) How much is God preparing you, and 2) How much is the enemy trying to stop you. 

Your difficulty is not God forgetting you, it is Him forming you.

While in prison, not only is it Joseph’s administrative gifts that shine, but it is his supernatural ones as well.  The only problem is that after interpreting two dreams correctly for the cupbearer and the baker, Joseph is forgotten again.  The story is not over, but Joseph doesn’t know that.  

Here is how a prison can become beautiful:

When we wait on God it re-establishes who is in charge (Hint: not you).

When we encounter pain we reevaluate how to move forward in the future. 

When people disappoint it reminds us that our hope is not in others but in God.

When our strength’s are hindered it gives the chance for our weaknesses to grow.

When we are forced to slow down we discover what we’re missing by going too fast.

When we find we are limited it humbles us and leads us to express our need for God.

When we suffer in this temporary home it causes us to look forward to our eternal one.

Joseph is being prepared for destiny.  This journey starts with a dream at his parent’s house, then takes an unexpected turn when his brother’s toss him in a pit, and we now pick up with him working as a slave in Potiphar’s House (Genesis 39:1-18).

At this stage of of his life the experience of his brother’s betrayal is very much behind him, but still not forgotten.  He is prospering and experiencing promotion while working in Potiphar’s house.  Many in his position would have let go of the dream he once had, and put their efforts into trying to get the most out of the present situation.

While Joseph’s character was tested in the pit, it will be tempted at Potiphar’s house.  It is when Potiphar’s wife attempts to seduce Joseph that his real focus is revealed.  Instead of indulging himself, and excusing this brief moment of pleasure in the midst of all his pain, Joseph says, “How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God.”  His trials had not hardened him to God, but had softened him to His ways.

When Potiphar’s wife refuses to take no for answer, Joseph takes off running and leaves a second robe behind, just as he had left the robe his father had given him at his parent’s house.  What was his reward for his honor and integrity?  He is cast into prison and forgotten about.

What can we learn from Joseph’s time at Potiphar’s House?

1. Never allow your circumstances to determine your convictions -   One of my favorite quotes is from Howard Hendricks, “others may, I cannot.”  If all Joseph was hoping for was to be a “really great slave” then maybe it doesn’t matter if he gives into temptation, but his standards weren’t set according to his situation but to his aspiration.
2. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is run - Proverbs 4:26 says to make “level paths for your feet.”  This means that you know how strong your purity is not by how much temptation that you can overcome, but by how much you plan to avoid.
3. Your purity and your purpose are connected - You cannot separate your calling and your character.  God may have given you a vision of an elevated purpose, but it is up to you to promote your character to the same level as that calling.

I remembering trying out for my high school basketball team and there not being enough jersey’s for everyone that showed up.  Instead of cutting someone (none of us were any good), our coach decided to see who wanted it the most by making everyone run until someone gave up.  The others would be on the team.  

While all we need to receive God’s approval and favor is found at the cross, in order to fulfill our calling we must be willing to allow God to work on our character. The question is not how much do we want to go to heaven, that is taken care of when we accept Christ.  The question is how much do we want to see heaven on earth?  Are you going to keep running?

We are following Joseph’s story of perseverance as God prepares Him for eventual leadership.  The cliff notes of this Journey can be found in Psalm 105:16-22.  So far we have covered Joseph’s dreaming at his parent’s house (Genesis 37:1-12), and now we will talk about his time in the pit (Genesis 37:12-36).

After sharing his dream of his entire family bowing down before him, Joseph’s already jealous brothers become wild with rage.  He is given special treatment and a dazzling robe that reminds all of his brothers who their father values most.  Now Joseph’s arrogance has become too much, and his brothers decide to fake his death by bloodying his robe and make a little profit by selling him as slave.

Maybe you have heard the old cliche… P.I.T. stands for Preacher In Training.  In Joseph’s case it is true.  His comfort has been removed so that his character can be formed.  God has given Joseph a dream of being a ruler over all, but now he is forced to become the least of all.  

At this point things seem completely hopeless, and Joseph’s dream is totally out of his hands.  Sometimes it is when we sense God the least that He is intervening the most (Romans 8:28).  Joseph would have most likely never chosen to be sold as a slave, but God was unveiling His plan to bring Him to Egypt to fulfill his dream and save a nation.

The plan to stop Joseph’s dream is the very thing that activated it.  God uses the pit to prepare the common man for an uncommon task.

• God placed him in a pit to remove his pride.
• God sold him as a slave to teach him how to serve.
• God bound his feet with iron to show him how to walk in integrity. 
• God tied his hands with rope to exchange his works for God’s rest.
• God stripped him of his robe of favor to take his eyes off of pleasing man. 
• God put a chain on his neck to prepare him for the responsibility of the crown.  

It is in this part of the story that the parallels to Jesus are most evident.  Joseph becomes a sacrifice that is mistreated in order that others may be saved.  He is put in a pit as a slave, but he comes out of it as a ruler.  Everything Joseph is suffering seems so unfair, but not only is he being prepared to save a nation, but his life is painting a picture of Christ that will last for eternity.

You will never make it through unfair treatment by focusing on others.  Comparing, complaining, and criticizing will only extend your time in the pit.  Your eyes must be on Jesus in order to discover how you can become more like Him and draw closer to Him.

I have heard a wide range of recommendations when it comes to the advice of whether you should follow your heart or not. While the best teaching on the will of God I have ever heard came with the encouragement to “follow your heart,” I cannot help but notice that some of the poorest judgment calls that have I ever seen have been blamed on “following my heart.”

Don’t Have a Heart Attack

Many have been taught that the heart is wicked and cannot be trusted; that your flesh and feelings will deceive you, and that you should ignore the impulses of your heart. While it is true that your emotions can be deceiving, and that your flesh is always at war with your spirit, when the whole counsel of scripture is invited to the table, wisdom will make herself known when it comes to whether you should “follow your heart.”

God speaks to you through your heart

• It is at the door of your heart where you are introduced to Jesus:

Luke 24:32 - “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”

Revelation 3:20  - Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

• God has given you a new heart:

Romans 2:29 - “No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit…”

Romans 10:9-10 - “9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 - “26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.[b] 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations

• God wants to give you the desires of your heart:

Psalm 37:4 - “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”

Heart Monitors (Tips to Follow Your Heart):

• Does this line up with the Word of God? While some things are not clearly stated in the Bible (i.e. “who should I marry”), if it is explicitly stated (i.e. “do not commit adultery”), then to “follow your heart” and violate the direct command of scripture is in fact sinful and wrong.
• Does it line up with the fruit of the Spirit? Many things that appear to be wisdom or seem like a good idea can be ruled out by going through each of the fruit of the Spirit, and testing your motives. Pause at each fruit and be truly open to God’s guidance.
• What does your conscience say? I know this may sound silly, but “give a little whistle, and let your conscience be your guide” (my apologies to Jiminy Cricket). Fear, Guilt, and Shame will always remind you of failures, past and present, and do not represent your conscience. Fear will paralyze you, but your faith will strengthen you when you respond to your conscience to either wait or step out in obedience. Your conscience is your compass (1 Timothy 1:18-19, Romans 2:15).
• What does your counsel say? Do not be like Rehoboam who followed the advice of his peers, and rejected the wisdom of the elders. If someone with gray hair is not a part of your counsel, then you may not have the best possible team of advisors. What do those who have invested the most in you (your parents and family) say? I can think of many times that it was not someone’s “special ability” or “unique closeness to God” that caused them to point me in the right direction, but simply their special and unique investment in me that led them to give me the best advice.
• Judgment Day: One day you will stand before God, and there will not be anyone else there with you. Though people may have good intentions to help you or guide you, if God has spoken to your heart, on that day you will be made accountable for your obedience. When you stand before God alone, with no one else to blame for your decisions, will you be full of joy or regret that you followed your heart?

You should follow your heart as long as your desire is to honor God. You may say, ”What if I’m not 100% it is God that has spoken to my heart?” Well I say, unless it is clearly spelled out in scripture, be careful of anyone who is. They are probably not being honest with themselves, much less you. Following your heart is not a tightrope with judgment on each side if you fall, but a relationship with Jesus who wants His will for you more than you ever could.