For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11 (ESV)

Among other things announced by the angel of the Lord is that a Savior had been born. A Savior.

Before His birth an angel of the Lord told Joseph that this Child would be named Jesus, which means the Lord saves. Why the name Jesus? For He will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Therefore, Jesus had a unique mission – to save His people from their sins. It was unique not because it was new. For centuries God’s people had longed for salvation.

Consider the Israelites at Mount Sinai. As God was giving the Law to Moses, the people committed a great sin by making a golden calf and worshipping it. In the aftermath of this incredible scene Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD, perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” But Moses couldn’t make atonement for the people – he couldn’t save them – because Moses had his own sins. He also needed a Savior.

Also consider the Day of Atonement. In the Law, God gave a detailed system of sacrifices precisely because God knew His people would sin, and God had to deal with their sin. The Day of Atonement was a major part of the sacrificial system. One day a year the high priest entered the Holy of Holies – the room in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple) that represented God’s presence on earth – to atone for his own sins and the sins of the people. But the people were constantly reminded that their sacrifices were not enough. Hebrews 10:11 says, “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.”

And so, through the years, God’s people longed for salvation. But God had a plan in motion from before the foundation of the world, before we had sinned, before we would need salvation. God had a plan to save His people from their sins. Therefore, Jesus had a unique mission, because He, God, was the only One who could save.

We are led to Jesus, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. He saved through His sacrifice. Although the priests repeatedly offered sacrifices that could never take away sins, Hebrews 10:12 and following says, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God … For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put My Law on their hearts, and write them on their minds,’ then He adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”
Jesus. A Savior – the only Savior. Christ the Lord.
Once again, we are led to Jesus. We are led to Jesus as Savior. We are led away from sin and led toward becoming like Jesus. We are led to a life of purpose, joy, hope, freedom, peace, and so much more.

Posted on December 23, 2013 by cliffordsuddeth | Leave a comment

The Discovery of Joy

Posted on December 11, 2013 by cliffordsuddeth

I’ve been looking at John 15 and surprised with wonder at the words of Jesus in verse 7:

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

My response was, at first, amazement at the potential power of prayer. And yes, there is a great power in prayer available to God’s people. In fact, I’d already started to plan to teach about prayer from this passage. But verse 7 is one verse in a bigger context. I didn’t want to miss anything. (I never want to be guilty of finding a passage of Scripture to go along with my thoughts. I want to know what God is saying in the passage.)

So I began to study John 15:1-11. Yes, I have discovered that Jesus has made an incredible promise about the power of prayer,  but I also discovered something else.

I discovered (or maybe re-discovered) that my joy is found in the pursuit of God’s glory.

God actively works in His people (He prunes), so that we will bear more fruit. In bearing fruit, we glorify God and prove to be Jesus’ disciples. Therefore, God is actively working for His own glory. But Jesus also said that He was saying these things so that we would have His joy, and that our joy would be full. In other words, our greatest joy is found in the pursuit of God’s glory. God’s glory and our joy are not opposed to each other.

When we commit to make much of God in all things we are discovering the greatest joy that can be found. I don’t want to miss that joy!

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Growing Strong in Your Faith

Posted on September 30, 2013 by cliffordsuddeth

We have several groups at church that are going through Multiply by Francis Chan. I was taken to Romans 4 as I was reading the chapter about God’s covenant with Abraham. One particular statement stood out to me from verse 20:

he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God…

I imagine that every true follower of Christ craves a strong faith. Here are a few observations:

  • Faith is important – it counts as our righteousness (4:5) and justification (5:1)
  • Faith is always active (4:12)
  • A person of faith doesn’t ignore his or her circumstances. Life is often difficult, if not impossible (4:19)
  • A person of faith is focused on God through his or her circumstances (4:20)
  • Faith grows stronger as you give glory to God (4:20b)

So, if my faith is strengthened as I give glory to God, how do I give glory to God? Here are a few more observations:

  • Confess sin (Joshua 7:19-20)
  • Know God (through His Word)
  • Trust God’s promises
  • Worship God
  • Obey God
  • Find satisfaction/joy in God

Here is what I conclude from this passage – growing strong in your faith is inevitable when your life is consumed with Jesus.

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What Does the Holy Spirit Do?

Posted on March 14, 2013 by cliffordsuddeth

In my Bible study this week I was amazed at how much the Holy Spirit does. The study was so encouraging to me! I’d just like to share a list of some of the things the Holy Spirit does. I hope you find it encouraging.

What Does the Holy Spirit Do?

  • He helps us (John 14:16, 26; John 16:7; Romans 8:26)
  • He teaches us (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13)
  • He instructs us (Nehemiah 9:20)
  • He guides us into truth (John 16:13)
  • He glorifies Jesus (John 16:14)
  • He appoints pastors to care for the church (Acts 20:28)
  • He enables our preaching (Isaiah 61:1-3)
  • He intercedes to God for us (Romans 8:27)
  • He reveals the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 2:7-10)
  • He searches everything, even the depths of God (1 Corinthians 2:10)
  • He helps us understand what God has given us (1 Corinthians 2:12)
  • He gives life (John 3:8)
  • He gives life and peace (Romans 8:6-11)
  • He reveals Christ to us (Ephesians 3:4-6)
  • He regenerates and renews us so that we are saved (Titus 3:4-7)
  • He gives us assurances of salvation (1 John 4:13; Romans 8:16-17)
  • He dwells in us (1 Corinthians 6:19)
  • He leads us (Psalm 143:10; Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18)
  • He strengthens us (Ephesians 3:16)
  • He sanctifies us (1 Peter 1:2)
  • He produces fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23)
  • He is the ultimate answer to our prayers (Luke 11:13)
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What Does it Mean to Seek the Kingdom of God?

Posted on January 28, 2013 by cliffordsuddeth

In Matthew 6 we see that Jesus has told us not to waste our lives going after the wrong stuff, but that we should go after the best.  We lay up treasures in heaven by loving and serving God and loving and serving others.  When we commit to doing that, we don’t have to be worried about all the things we think we have to worry about, because God is trustworthy and we are very important to Him.

Jesus clearly tells us to seek, above all else, the kingdom of God. But what does that mean?

What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God?

In our world today, we don’t really think about kingdoms.  Very few countries would officially be considered a kingdom, or at least a true kingdom.  So, what is a kingdom?  A kingdom is “a state or government having a king or queen as its head.”  The dictionary also gave as a definition of kingdom as “the domain over which the spiritual sovereignty of God or Christ extends, whether in heaven or on earth.”

In Luke 9, it starts to become clear what it means to seek the kingdom of God.

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.  And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.  (Luke 9:1-2; 6 ESV)

In these verses, there is a close connection between the kingdom of God and the gospel.  So, what is the gospel?  Gospel means good news.  The good news is that we, people who have hearts that are so bent to evil and rebellion against God, have hope.  God, in His mercy, sent His Son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice for our sins.  So that, in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, we see the just wrath of a holy God and the infinite love of a gracious God and the unlimited power of an omnipotent God meet together to give us hope.  On top of that, God, who knew we would never want to be right with Him on our own, gives His people new hearts so that we will believe in what Jesus did for us and give our lives to Him.

Therefore, to seek the kingdom of God is to acknowledge Jesus as King.  It is to work to advance His Name among all peoples, so that He is honored, respected, loved, obeyed, feared, and praised as a King deserves.  Basically, to seek first the kingdom of God is to exalt Jesus to His rightful place in every area our lives.

How do we seek first the kingdom of God?

If we are going to exalt Jesus to His rightful place as King in every area of our lives, it will take supreme devotion.  We see this in Luke 9:23-27:

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 9:23-27 ESV)

We can also see that it cannot be a half-hearted devotion.  In Luke 9:57-62:

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 9:57-62 ESV)

The Example of Paul

Paul gives us a great example of what it looks like to seek first the kingdom of God.

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”  (Acts 20:24 ESV)

Conclusion

These are just a few of the important things for us to understand about the kingdom of God.  Basically, we need to know that it is only possible for us to have a part in the kingdom of God because of Jesus.  We are able to enjoy God as rightful King not just in the future but now.  We may pay a high price as we seek the kingdom of God, but our King is worth the price!

When we commit to laying up treasures in heaven by loving and serving God, there is no reason for us to be worried about anything, BECAUSE He have promised to provide for us, sustain us, satisfy us, and reward us – even in the midst of suffering.  Therefore, we have every reason to seek first the kingdom of God by exalting Jesus to His rightful place as King in every area of our lives.

WE REALLY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE AND EVERYTHING TO GAIN!

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How to Handle Problems

Posted on October 9, 2012 by cliffordsuddeth

This past Sunday evening in the youth meeting I shared with the students some biblical steps to deal with problems, and I told them I would put the points on my blog. Before I share the steps, let me set them up with a few points.

  1. There are basically two types of problems – those that just happen to us (like getting a flat tire) and those that we cause (like failing a test for cheating).
  2. These steps are not a way to get rid of problems (Jesus has promised us that in this world we will have problems), but they are a way to handle the problems we do have.
  3. I came up with these steps by looking at Nehemiah, especially chapters 1-2.

So, here they are:

  1. Figure out what the problem is. Don’t ignore it. (1:1-3)
  2. Take the problem to God and be honest about it. (1:4-11)
  3. Trust God. Delight to fear His Name. Ask Him for success. (1:11)
  4. Be willing to take some risks when necessary. (2:1-3)
  5. Get a plan from God by following His Word. (2:4-6)
  6. Get godly people involved. (2:17-18)
  7. Expect opposition and respond in truth. (2:19-20)

One final thing. After the youth meeting, one of the students, Jared, suggested that in order to handle a problem a person didn’t necessarily have to follow these steps exactly in order. He’s absolutely right! (Thanks Jared!) For instance, it’s always good to get godly people involved as early as possible. Also, depending on the problem, not every step will fit in the situation.

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25: Christians Are Christ-Centered, Part 2

Posted on July 27, 2012 by cliffordsuddeth

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

(Philippians 1:15-17 ESV)

Christians realize that motives matter.

Paul was referring to two groups of people – both who were proclaiming Christ. Proclaiming Christ is a good thing. The first group of people was trying to hurt Paul. For some reason, they were envious of Paul and saw him as their competition.

The second group of people was trying to help Paul. They were motivated out of love and the defense of the gospel. That’s a great combination.

What can we learn? I think there are a few things:

  1. What we do matters. We need to make sure that we’re doing the right things.
  2. It’s possible to do the right things for the wrong reasons. Is it okay to say that it’s not as bad as doing the wrong things for the wrong reasons? But it’s still not the best way to live.
  3. Our motivation for what we do should be love – love for God and love for others.

We learn that motives matter.

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24: Christians are Christ-Centered

Posted on July 25, 2012 by cliffordsuddeth

As I’ve been reading through Philippians I came to one simple and obvious conclusion this week – Christians are Christ-centered. That seems so basic, but it’s so important to understand. We’re not Christians because we say we’re Christians or because we prayed a certain prayer. We’re Christians because we’ve been changed by God. We give evidence that we’re Christians because our lives are centered on Christ. Consider one of the evidences of a Christ-centered life.

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14 ESV)

Christians will realize that any situation can advance the gospel.

I can imagine that if Paul had been able to map out his own life he would not have chosen prison. Surely there were better and more effective ways to spread the gospel. He could have offered Mediterranean cruises where he would have had a captive audience while they were aboard ship, or he could have offered tours of the Holy Land, where people could walked where Jesus walked. However, because he understood he was a servant of Jesus, and Jesus gave him the duty of advancing the gospel, he was fine with his situation.

We realize that people have all sorts of problems and unwanted situations. Things we would not have chosen if it were up to us. Things we want to be over. Things we pray individually and together to end. However, when our lives are centered on Christ, we begin to realize every situation can be used to advance the gospel. Therefore, there is joy to be found in every situation – even in the midst of the deepest, darkest pain. How is that possible? If nothing else, we show God to be so satisfying and glorious in the middle of problems that people have to wonder what’s different about us.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not talking about a happy-go-lucky approach to life. I’m talking about being able to say, “Yes, I’m hurting. I don’t like what I’m going through. I want things to change. BUT Jesus has called me to advance His good news, and I know He will eventually make everything right. So I will trust Him and live for Him no matter what happens.”

Paul understood that his imprisonment advanced the gospel. It was known to the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that he was in prison for Christ. AND most, not all, but most of the believers became much more bold to speak the word without fear.

We realize that any situation can advance the gospel.

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23: Jesus Makes Us Right With God

Posted on July 23, 2012 by cliffordsuddeth

Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV)

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

THE POINT

We don’t, and we can’t, work hard enough and do enough good things to be right with God. We are right with God because Jesus makes us right with God. One proof that we have been changed by Jesus is that we have a growing love.

It Can Be Frustrating

I suppose, at some point in our lives, we have all tried harder to do better only to become very frustrated because we failed miserably. Once we became frustrated, we started to wonder how God could really love us, so we try harder only to fail again and become even more frustrated. The whole thing just leads to more and more frustration. It seems like the cycle never ends.

Love or Like

Maybe for those of us who really do believe that God loves us no matter what we do, we started to wonder how God could like us. Here’s what I mean about love and like.

When I was growing up my sister and I would get into arguments (sometimes fights). I remember there were times my mom would ask me, “don’t you love your sister?” My response was always, “yes, mom, I love Julie, I just don’t like her.” (For the record, now I both love and like my sister.) I think sometimes we truly believe that God loves us, we just can’t imagine how He likes us.

Jesus Changed Everything

Paul makes it clear that we are right with God because of Jesus. He makes the difference for us! In the verses above Paul says that the fruit of our righteousness comes through Jesus Christ. In other words, we don’t get right with God by what we do but by what Jesus has done for us. This reality is a big deal for those who think they have to earn God’s love or work hard to keep His love! God loves us and likes us, because He loves and likes Jesus.

How Can We Know?

How can we know if we’re right with God because of Jesus? Another way to ask the same thing is – how do we know if we’re saved? That’s a great question and an important one.
One way our lives show we’re saved is that we have a love for other believers that is growing. It’s kind of like going from “I love her, but I just don’t lik her” to “I love her, and I like her.” There’s a big difference between the two! It is a growing love.

Paul said he was praying the Christians in Philippi would have a love that abounded more and more. Why? First of all, so they could approve what is excellent. In other words, so they would know what really matters. (Godly love has a way of showing us what’s important.) Second, so they could be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. To be pure is to be clean and spotless, and to be blameless is to be free from guilt. In Christ, we have no guilt!

It’s A Big Deal!

In these verses we see that an increasing love is one way our lives show that we are guiltless before God because of Jesus. It’s not what we do but what Jesus has done for us. It’s all done in a way that God is made much of because of the difference Jesus makes in our lives.

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22: Thoughts from a Mission Trip, Part 2

Posted on July 17, 2012 by cliffordsuddeth

I want to continue with some thoughts I’ve had from the mission trip that I just finished last week. Really, they may not be thoughts so much as they are lessons. In the last post, Part 1, I shared that I learned (again) that God answers prayer, and God desires His name to be known throughout the earth. I want to share two more lessons.

First, the gospel unites believers. As a group of 14 people from my church we were partnered with a group of 15 from a church in Wilmington, NC. When we arrived, we didn’t know each other from Adam. We knew another group would be there with us, but we had no idea where they were from, what they were like, or anything. There was the awkwardness of meeting new people, learning new names, and trying to figure out each other. That was on Saturday evening. By Sunday afternoon, as we were training for the ministries we would begin on Monday, we began to realize that we were there for a common purpose – the gospel. Then, as we actually prayed and served together, a strong bond was built. A common bond in Jesus.

The gospel has the power to unite people. As an example, Paul wrote,

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. (Philippians 1:3-7 ESV)

Second, mission trips can be productive. I’ve taken several mission trips to different places around the world. I have to admit that some of those trips were more of a “missions vacation” than a productive trip. That’s a danger we need to be very careful to avoid. Should Churches Abandon Travel-Intensive Short-Term Missions in Favor of Local Projects? is one thought-provoking article that deals with this issue. At the same time, mission trips can be productive – for both those going to serve and those being served. I think our trip last week was proof of a productive trip. (I’ve also heard very good things from another group in our church that was in Costa Rica while we were in Georgia.) I think our trip was productive for those who went, because we partnered with others in the gospel, we spent a lot of time in prayer (a lot!), we were taught God’s Word (a lot!), and we worked to advance the gospel. I think our trip was productive for those whom we went to serve, because physical needs were met, spiritual needs were met, relationships were established, and the gospel was central to all that was done.

Personally, this particular trip had a different feel. I had been in that context several times, and it almost seemed that the shock, or the novelty, had worn off. It was truly about the ministry. (Don’t get me wrong – I had my selfish moments.) I guess what I’m trying to say is that I really think a good foundation for effective long-term ministry was laid last week, and it seems that short-term trips should ultimately serve long-term ministry. The point is that short-term mission trips can be valuable, but they have to be prayed over and planned very strategically, so that long-term ministry can flourish.

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