This morning I spent a lot of time working on an article about the foundations of our faith as Jesus Followers. It was going to be a summary article but I need to spend more than two hours on a friday morning to look into it.

I will post an article regarding my thoughts on this next week (God willing) until then keep looking up and persuing Him. Thanks for your patience on this one.

If you any insights on what the core foundational beliefs of a Jesus follower should be please post a comment with your thoughts. This is an investigation we all should seriously think about and have a good grasp on.

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. – I Peter 3:15-16

Thanks until later

We do not talk about miracles too much in this day and age, but I believe that they still occur. From the amazing birth of a baby to a doctor’s inability to explain why someone is healed from a affliction, I often hear of ways that God works in and through those He has created.

A different type of miracle is the miracle of friends. What is so amazing about friends? The power a good friend has to make a positive difference in your life. I began to really think about this after going to a movie with my wife and two older kids. We had the opportunity to see a live action version of Charlotte’s Web.

Based on the book by E.B. White, the movie does a great job conveying the important messages of the book. Kathy Bledsoe, a reviewer over at Past The Popcorn.com, explains the messages this way,

The important messages of Charlotte’s Web are intact and strong in this new movie version. When I read this book to my son years ago, it opened the door to all kinds of discussions: the nature of friendship; life and death; what it means to give selflessly; returning kindness for mistreatment; turning the other cheek; how little size matters; how everyone has a purpose in life.

Here is a movie about the life of an adorable pig named Wilbur who just wants to be every one’s friend. He sees beyond the public opinion of other barnyard animals (who don’t like spiders) and becomes friends with Charlotte (the spider) and a reluctant Templeton (the rat). In turn, both Charlotte and Templeton risk their lives to help save the pig who is destine for the smokehouse.

The nature of friendship definitely comes through the clearest. Several of the other messages Kathy states in her review seem to be a part of that friendship. A true friend is one who gives selflessly, is willing to forgive, is kind even when we don’t deserve it, and helps us stay focused on our purpose in life.

These same messages along with powerful examples of true friendship can be found all throughout the Bible as well. Here is just a sampling of some of those passages.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother – Proverbs 18:24

A friend loves at all times – Proverbs 17:17

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. – Proverbs 27:6

“[Jesus Speaking] But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” – Matthew 5:39

“[Jesus Speaking] But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” – Matthew 5:44

I can also point to examples of this type of true friendship in my own life. For the past 10 years, I have had a group of friends in my life who have been there for me. In my deepest struggles and my greatest joys they have been there and walked through life with me and my family. It has been an incredible blessing to have all of them be there to speak truth into our lives, to laugh with and to hold us accountable to our desire to truly follow Jesus. I can honestly say that without those friends – and you know who you are – I would not be the man I am today.

True, Honest, friends who are willing to speak truth into your life are essential for truly understanding who Jesus is. After all, that is the example he set with His life. He had 12 individuals that He called friends and Jesus was not afraid to speak truth into their lives even though it was not easy to hear at times.

If you do not have at least 1 or 2 true friends in your life, then I would say you are missing a key piece to understanding who Jesus is and truly following His example.

The miracle of friendship is:

• the willingness of one person to care so much for another that he/she sacrifices his/her own comfort or desires to see the other person succeed.
• displaying kindness and concern for a friend all the time – even when they do not return it
• the ability of one person to forgive another person for wrong doing
• one person’s willingness to speak truth into the lives of those he/she calls friends
• the loyalty, bond, and love between two people who honestly want the best for each other

Personal revival in our lives can not happen without being filled with the Holy Spirit. We all struggle in our pursuit of following Jesus. The important thing to remember is that during those times of struggle, we have an ally in the Holy Spirit.

I recently had the opportunity to hear a sermon on Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. Pastor Jeff Manion, of Ada Bible Church, talk about the process of rebuilding people and how that parallels the struggle Israel faced in rebuilding the walls.

First We Need To Greive – Something Is Missing
Nehemiah was deeply greived about the fact that the capital of his homeland lied in ruins and that after several years no one had even started to rebuild.

In the same way, after a period of struggling in our lives we need to first greive the fact that we have drifted away from Jesus. Jesus, in Matthew 5:3-4, says that the “spiritually poor” and those who mourn that fact will be blessed. Why? Because they are at the beginning of a very important process of personal revival.

Pastor James MacDonald, of Harvest Bible Chapel, describes this first step as a time of confession. A time when we humble ourselves (Jesus agrees in Matthew 5:5) before an incredible awesome and holy God and let Him know that we are truly sorry for our falling away and truly want a heart change back to following Jesus.

Second, We Need To See The Honest Picture
After getting assistance from the King of Persa and traveling back to Jerusalem from Babylon, Nehemiah’s next step was to assess the situation. He went out to see with his own eyes what the situation looked like. He wanted to know what he had to work with.

In the same way, we need to take an honest assessment of where we are at in our turn back to Him. What bad ways or habits need to change in our lives? Do we truly desire to follow Jesus with our whole heart? Is our committment going to be different, stronger this time?

Third, We Need To Get Started
Nehemiah experienced what we all experience in life. It is hard to get started. The job of rebuilding the walls was no small task. Taking the honest picture of where things are at can be enough to cause even the strongest of us to back away.

So where do we start rebuilding?

In Matthew 5:6, Jesus continues saying those who truly desire to hunger after Him and want to know more will be blessed. Those who are serious about making a change in their hearts and lives will be given the strength to do so. That strength comes in the form of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit is what gives us the strength and guidence to move forward in following Jesus at all costs. We receive the Holy Spirit at the time we accept the gift of grace that God gives us through the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. But we truly experience the benefit of the Holy Spirit in us when we allow ourselves to “be filled with the Spirit.”

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit (Epheshians 5:18)

Pastor James MacDonald describes filled here as “being overcome by a power greater that your own.” Paul, in this passage, compares it to being drunk. The idea of not being in control of your own actions. “Being filled” is something that requires you to let go of the steering wheel and let the Holy Spirit guide you.

Carrie Underwood, of American Idol fame, sings a song that talks of this very idea of letting go and trusting Jesus.

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can’t do this on my own
I’m letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I’m on
Jesus take the wheel

This process of seeking to be filled with the Spirit needs to become a daily ritual consisting of a time of confession to God followed by asking the Holy Spirit to guide us (handing control over to Him) through that day and finally believing with confidence that it will be done as you have asked.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. – James 1:5-8

Fourth, We Need To Keep Going
The army of builders that assisted Nehemiah face many different and difficult trials but in the face of these adversities, they pressed on to accomplish the goal. Sometimes in the rebuilding our lives we hit a point where we have worked so hard but can not yet see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s at that point that we need to ask the Holy Spirit for strength to keep pressing on.

Remember God is in control of everything. Rest in that fact and trust the Holy Spirit’s leading your life.

[Jesus Speaking] God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right – Matthew 5:10

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.- Phillipians 3:14