Dan Gould

Tag: From the Inside Out by Hillsong United

  • Bible Challenge – Philemon

    I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. v. 4-5 (NLT)

    There are two things that stand out to me when I read this passage! One is probably more obvious than the other but they are both challenging.

    First, you see the commitment and testimony of Philemon. Paul says he hears about Philemon from time to time and how the Lord is using him in the lives of other.  Philemons reputation is going before him and his influence is gaining because people are talking about him in positive ways.  This encourages not only Paul, but all the others that are carrying the name of Christ.

    Second, you see the commitment Paul has as a mentor.  This is not only a letter asking for help with some instructions, this is a letter of encouragement.  Paul was stating the things that sometimes never get said or leave people wondering if they are making a difference.  He was able to do this because he kept up with what was going on in Philemons life even tho they were in different areas serving.

    It’s a short book with 2 great challenges for each of us to question. First, has to deal with our reputation, testimony, and influence.  Could others say the things Paul says about Philemon about us? Why or Why not?

    The second challenge for each of us to question is this, Do we have someone we are mentoring? Is there someone we are challenging to be more like Christ, serving with, and capable of passing the baton to if God calls us somewhere else or something happens to us.

    These are the things that challenge me, and I hope they challenge you also. Let’s not just talk about it, Lets be About it!

    Today, ask yourself these two questions, “What type of reputation is my lifestyle producing?” and “Who am I mentoring and challenging to be more like Christ?”

  • Mark 5:1-20

    “When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. 7 With a shriek, he screamed, ‘Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!’ 8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, ‘Come out of the man, you evil spirit.‘” v. 6-8 (NLT)

    There is a powerful and interesting thing that happens when people meet Jesus.  This particular encounter is one of my favorites because it shows the Radical Life Changing power of Jesus.  This man, a social outcast, who cannot be restrained by chains any longer, walks around the burial caves and hills howling and cutting himself.  This guy was scary, I don’t see him being invited to many social gatherings.

    However, this man has an encounter with Jesus!  Jesus looks beyond the physical and see the spiritual and transforms this man from the inside out.  The people didn’t know how to respond to this.  In, fact:

    “the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.”  v. 17 (NLT)

    It’s interesting to me that people respond to Jesus in such different ways.  Many times people, hear about Jesus, see how He changes others from the inside out, but still want nothing to do with Him.  While others respond to what they have heard and seen and are willing to allow Him to change them from the inside out.

    Today, how do you respond to Jesus? Are you letting Him transform you from the inside out?

    Prayer: Father, help us see the spiritual not only the physical.  Help us to see our need for you first, so we can see how much others need you also.  Let us respond in faith, instead of fear so we can experience the radical life changing power of Jesus. Let our story and life be a testimony so others can see the power of Jesus and be open to what He could do in theirs also!