Rejoice!

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4

"..as a cure for disagreements, the apostle says, 'Rejoice in the Lord always.' People who are very happy, especially those who are very happy in the Lord, are not apt either to give offense or to take offense. Their minds are so sweetly occupied with higher things, that they are not easily distracted by the little troubles which naturally arise among such imperfect creatures as we are. Joy in the Lord is the cure for all discord." - Spurgeon

    I don't think a lot needs to be said about this quote.  I can get so caught up in all the things of "life" and get offended or bothered or angry, etc.  If I truly put all my focus on God, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith," I will be able to rejoice in all circumstances.  I want to be one of those people that others look at and wonder what's different, question why I'm happy all the time.
  
  And it really is that simple.  Rejoice!  We have reason to: "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19).  He is all we need and we can rejoice in that.  So here's my challenge:  Rejoice!

-Sean Fryer

Open Up

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't 

they come from your desires that battle within you?"

James 4:1

     I used to have anger management problems.  I'd get angry, frustrated, upset, mad and then after a while, these emotions overcame me and led to screaming, fighting, throwing stuff, punching whatever I could get my hands on, etc.  I'd get to the point where I literally would use my older brother as a punching bag, and even when he fought back, I couldn't feel any of the pain.  As I grew in my relationship with the LORD, I started to realize I couldn't hold my emotions in like this anymore and I had to start opening up about stuff.

     I like to think I've gotten over that behavior (I haven't beaten up my brother in years, hahaha), but I realized it's not so much the behavior I needed to worry about, it was everything that was going on inside of me.  I've never been good about opening up, about sharing my emotions, being vulnerable, letting people know I'm human.  And even though I don't become a crazed psychopath anymore, I still let this get the best of me.  I sometimes outwardly will snap at people, but it's more of all the stuff going on inwardly.  

   I begin to get angry at a person, something they do or say, or upset with a situation, or whatever it may be.  And I keep it to myself.  Then I start getting prideful inside thinking I'm better than them, that I wouldn't do that, or I know a better way.  It's very easy for me to blame all this on someone else, but what the LORD has been showing me is James 4:1, "what causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?"  I've realized it doesn't matter what other people do or say, any anger or resentment inside of me that leads to this is my fault.  I have to open up to that person, be honest about how I feel and don't allow whatever it is, no matter how big or small, to cause me to sin.

     It's nothing too profound, but I challenge you to think of that person you're upset with, that person you're holding a grudge against.  And then look inside yourself.  What is it in you that is causing these feelings?  You'll be amazed at what God shows you about yourself and how much you can grow and change from this.

-Sean Fryer

The Way Of Cain

"Woe to them!  They have taken the way of Cain..." - Jude 11     

     So this weekend God blessed me with the opportunity to teach in Six78 on the story of Cain and Abel.  It's such a common story that everyone knows, but I felt led to teach it in a different way.  More so focusing on the fact that Cain actually brought something to The Lord, making him better than so many of us who never bring an offering to Him.  And then looking at why his offering was rejected (hint: not because of what it was, but the "why" Cain brought it).  God doesn't care what's in our hands, but what's in our hearts.

     Ok, so what am I trying to say?  Well just this weekend I taught a message on not being spiritually prideful, arrogant, jealous of others, harboring bitterness, etc, etc, etc, yet I found myself today doing the same exact thing I had just said NOT to do.  I started thinking of all the things I don't have, all the stuff we "lack" in Six78, all the great things other ministries have and I felt bitterness and jealousy growing in me.  

   Why do I tell you this?  Well one, to show you that contrary to popular belief (my own belief that is), I'm not perfect.  But two, shortly after this I opened up my email to see our weekly Six78 newsletter and the "God Story of the Week" stating that 35+ students accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior for the first time ever this weekend and I quickly realized how stupid I was.  I was so quick to go the "Way of Cain", harboring all these negative thoughts in my mind and heart, yet God was working in spite of me and all that we "lack".

     God doesn't need "stuff" to get His work done.  He just wants people who are willing and able (Abel?), people that LOVE GOD and LOVE PEOPLE, people who bring something to offer.  I happened to be one of these people this weekend, but quickly went the "way of Cain".  Guard yourself from this, or you could miss out greatly.  His work will be done.  The only question is, will you be a part of it?

- Sean Fryer

Own It

       Do you ever feel like you read the same Bible verse over and over within a few days time?  Or maybe hear several teachings on the same topic?  Or just see a common theme in stuff you see or hear in a short time?  Coincidence?  I think not.  I find when this happens, God is trying to tell me something.

   

        Recently, I've heard many variations of "owning your faith".  I even taught somewhat on this not too long ago.  So of course I tell myself that God is trying to tell me something.  I remember the first time I was forced to learn this lesson.  It was about 6 years ago, when two Jehovah's Witnesses came to my door.  They started questioning me about what I believed and it was then that I realized my knowledge was lacking. I wasn't able "to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15).  

        We live in a time where everyone thinks they know everything.  People are a lot more intellectual.  To say "I just know, I just have faith, I have a feeling, etc..." is not enough to explain why we believe what we believe.  We need to KNOW our faith.  We need to ANSWER the tough questions.  How can I believe the Bible is true?  How can I know Jesus is who He claimed to be?  

         My challenge to you: own your faith! It's not your parents' faith, it's not your pastor's faith, it's not your friend's faith. It's yours. Know it, learn it and understand it. "Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15).

- Sean Fryer

Don't Learn The Hard Way

My step-grandpa passed away recently and his funeral was this past Saturday. Every time someone I'm close to, or even just someone I know in some way, shape or form passes on, it really makes me look at how I treat those closest to me. Do I neglect time with my family? Do I take them for granted?

I had to learn the hard way about all these things just over three years ago in North Dakota. It was at that time, during a family reunion, that my grandma had a brain aneurism and died. It was at this time that I realized that I took for granted the time I had with her. I was filled with remorse and regret, wishing I had just a little more time. The Lord revealed to me a few things during this time that I thought I would share with you:

1) Don't take your loved ones for granted

2) If there is someone you need to tell you love them, do it now

3) If there is a change you need to make in your life, do it now

Here's the thing: None of us know when our time is up, or when a loved one's time is up. So cherish the time you have with your family and friends. Let them know you love them, that they're important to you. And even in your own life, if something is holding you back from God, get rid of it! Make that change! You may never have the opportunity to if you don't do it now.

It's all really simple. Since this happened, I've tried little things just to spend more time with my family. I do my best to go to my other grandma's every Monday and just spend a few hours with her. Nothing too exciting, watching tv and eating lunch, but it's time WITH her. Find those ways you can cherish your loved ones and be with them. Don't wait until it's too late and you are filled with regret.

- Sean Fryer

Self Check-Up

Almost 1 1/2 years ago I had the incredible opportunity to go on a missions trip to North Africa to share the Gospel in an Islamic country through the game of basketball. On the way up there, our trip leader Trent Gamble gave us 5 questions to pray and consider about our spiritual walk. I was just looking through some of my journal entries and came across them along with my answers and noticed that through praying about these and realizing some of my shortcomings, God has since done a work in my life and my answers are different now.

Why do I bring that up? Not to say that I'm this unholy, ungodly person who needs so much work (even though I do), BUT to say that we never really stop growing in our faith and that we always have something else to work on. My hope and prayer for my own life, along with any other believer, is that I can truly say "Today I am closer to God than I was yesterday!" And I don't want to say this in an ashamed way, but in a way that I know day by day I am growing in Him.

So here are those 5 questions that I was asked. I would challenge you to look at these every few months, weeks, or even days, and see where you can grow in your walk with our Lord.

1.Where do I need to grow in my Spiritual character? Galatians 5:22, 1 Thessalonians 1:5
2. What Spiritual discipline do I want to develop more?
3. What has the Lord been speaking to me in the Word?
4. What area in my life do I need to focus more on?
5. What is the biggest hindrance to my growth or to the witness of God's power?

- Sean Fryer

Let Them Know!

So I just got back from Liquid Summer Camp and I heard a really cool story from Jeremy Kingsley, the camp speaker.  He went back and traced his salvation (this guy told this guy, who told this guy, who told this guy, who spoke when his dad got saved, who then shared the Gospel with him) and said how excited he is to one day run in to that first guy in Heaven and to thank him for sharing Christ's love.

This got me thinking about all the people who have had an impact on my walk with the Lord and the people who had an impact on them.  I have a lot of people that I really need to thank, because I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for their boldness, or kindness, or love that they showed me. I personally was challenged to share this with those who have had that impact, and hopefully I will actually talk to most of them and let them know.

So I'd like to throw that same challenge out to you.  Who is it that has had an impact on your walk with Jesus?  Have you ever thanked them?  If not, why?  Let them know!  It's such a small thing, but it is great knowing that God used you to impact someone, and I'm sure it would encourage those who have encouraged you.

- Sean Fryer