Author: David Griffith

God sent His only Son (John 3:16), not to judge the world (John 3:17), but to save the nations from an eternity of separation from Him. This process is called being born again. So what does God the Father expect from His newborns? Is it perfection from day one? If the metaphor holds true (and it does), then the only thing God expects from His new creations is belief, and dirty diapers. Pretty simple, really. It is also pretty natural. I have never met anyone who did not believe that their father was actually their father and did not have a desire to please him. I have also not met anyone who did not mess up during the growing and maturing process and was not subjected to the loving correction of that good father. And good fathers love spending time with their children, just as children can’t wait to spend time with their fathers. It is the father and son, and daddy and daughter, relationship that continues to grow throughout our lives.

Another two-dollar word for this process of maturation is called progressive sanctification (okay, two two-dollar words).

It is no different in the spiritual realm of this Father and child relationship we now find ourselves in. Our Father wants to spend time with us so that He can impart His love and His wisdom and understanding into our lives. Why? So that we can impact a lost and dying world, so that the world we live in can see the Father in us. And as we spend more time with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we experience God’s loving care more and more deeply, and that makes us want to spend more and more time with Him. God loves when we do that, versus when we do spiritual stuff out of obligation or duty. He wants our presence, not our sacrifice. (Read Luke 10:38-42 about Mary and Martha.)

After we are born again, our lives are a long-term maturation process in which God is molding us into the image of His Son (read the first three chapters of Ephesians). We are literally becoming like Jesus. And we will mess up, just like all kids do. But my mistakes cannot outpace God’s mercy. His grace is always sufficient to overcome my sin. After all, God sent His Son into the world as a Savior of my soul… and yours too (John 3:17).

Have a glorious Christmas, Northstar Family!

This is perhaps the most misunderstood and controversial question in the “big C” Church. Whole denominations are started over this question. So where do we find the answer? One answer is found in John chapter 3. Yes, that John chapter 3 where verse 16 is found. But I submit to you that verses 1 through 15 and verse 17 are far more important and relevant to this question than the more famous verse 16. Let’s read some highlight verses:

Verse 3
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

This is the answer to the question that the teacher of the law, the Pharisee Nicodemus, has not even asked yet. Basically, Nicodemus was saying, “Jesus, I know you are God inspired, God sent, God something. But I can’t understand what is happening right now, and you scare me. Help me understand.”

So Jesus explains the unexplainable to a finite mind. “Nicodemus, you must be born again. New birth must be provided for you. You must be recreated, but not physically; spiritually. And the only way for this to happen is through a Savior who will bring about the rebirthing process so you can see the kingdom of God (Luke 2 passage above). This is good news, Nicodemus. You do not have the ability to birth yourself spiritually. You need Me. You need the Spirit to accomplish this for you. There is nothing for you to do. There is nothing that you can do. No different than a human birth. The baby has no role until after the birth is complete.”

And Nicodemus was amazed and confused. You see, he came from a world of do’s and don’ts. There had to be something for him to do. Why? Because in a world of accomplishment and hard work (sound familiar?), success in everything only comes from effort, including salvation and holiness. Jesus is telling him, no. Salvation only comes from a Savior. Saviors save. Victims get saved. It is simple and unknowable at the same time.

And then Jesus drives the point home in verse 17:
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.”

The word “world” is the word used for “nations” or “people groups,” showing that this salvation was open to not just the Jews.

So how does God change the heart of man? He just does. Again, from yesterday: if you are struggling with Jesus, then the chances are good that you are being born again. It is not comfortable for the baby in the birth canal. But eventually the childbirth process completes itself and the baby comes out of the darkness of the womb and into the light of life. Do not struggle against the pressure being exerted on you. And do not be afraid. You are not being judged; you are being redeemed by the Savior.

Tomorrow we will look at what is expected of the newborn.

Have you ever heard the comment, “Trust your heart”? Cute, isn’t it? It looks good on a coffee mug or in a picture frame in the den. But more deceitful words were never spoken, at least according to Scripture. Let’s look at some of the words of God, shall we?

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?

1 Corinthians 2:14
But a natural man (an unsaved man) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

You see, our hearts are not to be trusted when it comes to the big decisions of life. Why? Because the heart will lead us to do what feels good in the moment but is not good in light of eternity.

But God’s Spirit, which resides in our hearts after salvation, is to be trusted. I mean, let’s get real about the heart when it comes to decision making. Is it really the heart that makes decisions? I do not believe so. It is the mind that makes decisions, and those decisions are often influenced by hormones released in the moment. Dopamine or adrenaline makes us feel a certain way, which leads to choices that may or may not be productive.

But the Holy Spirit’s work in my saved heart is to be trusted. If you are not yet a believer but you are interested in finding out more about this Jesus fellow, or the church, or Christianity in general, that is probably the Holy Spirit drawing you to Jesus, changing your heart. And it may have been happening for quite some time in your life.

In our Luke passage, the shepherds were just going about their business. Shepherding sheep is a pretty mundane existence, after all. And who knows what consumed their thoughts on that night or any night. But suddenly the angel of the Lord appears and they are filled with fear and awe. I personally do not think it is possible not to be filled with some fear when the Holy Spirit comes into your life to reveal the truth about Jesus.

God can change your heart (your mind) right now, today.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart (your whole inner being, trust Him completely), and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

If God is drawing you through the power of His Spirit to embrace the truth of the Gospel, the Good News, please do not resist. Jesus loves you and paid the ultimate price to save you. Embrace Him!

THE MESSIAH (Christ) HAS BEEN BORN TODAY.

Today we will be looking at how Jesus can secure our future.

Yesterday we looked at the doctrine of salvation through the lens of Jesus as our Savior. Today we look at Jesus as our Messiah, the Christ. After all, what makes Jesus worthy to save us? What gives Him the authority to redeem me as His own possession and to secure my everlasting life with Him in heaven? I am glad you asked. Here is another two-dollar word from the doctrine of Christ: Christology.

So here is the question: Is Jesus the Messiah? Is Jesus the Christ? If He is not, then He cannot be our Savior. But if He is (and He is!), then what kind of Christ would He be if He allowed those He came to save to perish in the future?

Again, let’s take a look at the Book and see what it has to say on the subject of eternal security.

Philippians 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (Christ’s return).

Ephesians 2:4-6
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus…

Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

John 10:27-30
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.

Here, at the end of this John passage, Jesus claims to be one with His Father. This is Christology.

So you see, God saved us through His Son, Jesus the Christ, because He has a plan for our lives. That plan cannot be thwarted by anyone. And Jesus is, in fact, worthy because He is one with the Father.

Once your life is changed by the love of Jesus, you are put on a collision course with eternity of the best kind: eternal life with Jesus. Do not let the enemy deceive you into thinking that God has forsaken you. When He is quiet in our lives, it is because He is working silently to make us (His workmanship) into who He wants us to be for His glory and our good. Jesus secures our future for His purposes. Walk in them!

Tomorrow we will look at God’s timing for our salvation.

THE SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN TODAY.

First, let’s take a minute to talk about the doctrine of soteriology. This is a two-dollar word that simply means the doctrine of salvation. There are many opinions on how we are saved, all thoroughly reasoned from Scripture, and we won’t get into them here. But something supernatural has to happen in the heart of God’s human creation for them to be able to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, and is even able to save in the first place (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Romans 3:23 tells us that all of human creation has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In Romans 6:23 Paul tells us that because of our sinful nature we deserve to die (spiritually die). And then in Romans 5:8 Paul gives us the good news that Jesus chose to come to earth in the form of a dependent baby, grow up, live a sinless life, and die on a cross to pay the penalty for that sinful life we lived.

This is the doctrine of another two-dollar word called propitiation. It means to substitute on behalf of another. In this case, Jesus’ substitutionary death at Calvary was sufficient for the sins of the whole world, including mine… and including yours.

Don’t believe me? Do you think you have done too many bad things for God to forgive you?

God forgave King David. Murderer! Adulterer! Horrible father! But God called David a man after His own heart (1 Sam. 13:14).

God forgave the Apostle Paul. Killer and persecutor of Christians. Paul called himself the worst of all sinners (1 Timothy 1:15-16). God saved Paul after he was responsible for the deaths of countless Christians throughout Jerusalem, Samaria, and the Middle East.

Still don’t believe me? Let’s look at God’s Word for proof texts, shall we?

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:12
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (read on through verse 21).

Romans 3:25
…this (Jesus’ death) was to demonstrate His righteousness because in the forbearance of God He passed over (laid aside, disregarded, bypassed) the sins previously committed.

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.

There are so many more, but I believe that is enough. Jesus paid a price that we could not pay, for a debt that He did not owe, in order to redeem the very people He created for His own possession. Rest in that truth, will you? Your Savior was born to pay your debt… and mine!

Tomorrow we will look at how Jesus secures our future!

God did not intend for us to do life alone. That is why He sent His Son as our example. That is why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to give us power from on high (Acts 1:8). That is why the Holy Spirit formed us into congregations called churches and encouraged us to meet together often (Hebrews 10:25). That is why the Spirit assigned various gifts to each of us, so that no one person would be responsible for carrying the entire load of the church. We are one body with many parts, all working together to bring about God’s purpose of making Him known to a lost and dying world.

In this passage, we see the establishment of a new and dynamic church that was instrumental in sharing the gospel, discipling new believers, giving to the needs of others, and eventually becoming the launching pad for the spread of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. All of this was possible because the church members learned to—and were willing to—work together in partnership.

Evangelists (ordinary people who loved Jesus) spread the gospel. The Jerusalem church noticed and sent help through Barnabas, who in turn brought Paul to instill vision and passion in the church. Then Agabus delivered a word from the Lord about needs that could be met by a sister church. God’s plan does not work as a solo act—it works when everyone uses their spiritual gifts as instruments, playing in harmony with one another, writing songs of praise on the hearts of the lost. God intended us to be a choir, bringing forth worship and service before the throne of grace in love. Alone, we may be effective for a moment, but not for the marathon called life.

If you are a member of NSC and already playing your instrument in the worship band of the saints—bless you! Play on! If you have not yet begun to play (serve) at NorthStar, then discover which “instrument” we are missing (we’ve been waiting for you—we sound a little “tinny” without you) and plug in. You will be welcomed with open arms. I know there is much need in children’s ministry. Go make a kid’s day!

The church is born out of persecution, as it meets the needs around us. It takes people, in a place, with the proper perspective of purpose, working in partnership to accomplish God’s plan of glorifying His Son. We do this by Loving God, Loving People, and Living Sent!

PURPOSE! Everyone is searching for their purpose in life. What does God want me to do with my life? What is my purpose?

May I propose a perspective? God only has one purpose for all His children: to know Him and to make Him known. That’s it! Simple, though not always easy. With the demands of life, it can feel complicated, but the truth is clear: grow in your knowledge of God every day, and share Him with those He places in your path.

The believers who made up the church (see Tuesday’s devotional) understood this. They probably had different professions and family dynamics, but they all shared the same purpose: to know Jesus intimately and to make Him known—whether to unbelievers or to those who needed to know Him better.

When we live with clarity of purpose, it attracts both the Spirit and the body of Christ to come alongside us. That’s exactly what happened in Antioch:

• “The Lord was with them” (v. 21).

• “The news reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch” (v. 22).

The Spirit was present, the church rallied, and Barnabas brought Paul to help. The result? Antioch became one of the most effective congregations of the first century. They strengthened the church in Jerusalem, sent Paul and Barnabas on missionary journeys, and later supported both as they went out separately. Antioch thrived because its people knew their purpose.

Have you been wrestling with God’s purpose for your life? Struggle no more! Seasons change. Circumstances shift. But the overarching call remains the same: Know God, and make Him known.

Every decision in life can be viewed through this lens:

• Marriage: Will this relationship deepen my walk with Jesus? Will we make Him known together?

• Career: Will this job help me know Christ more and create opportunities to share Him?

• Education: Will this choice of college or training strengthen my faith and platform for ministry?

Too often, we make decisions based on temporal knowledge rather than eternal outcomes:

• “This job offers more money and perks—surely it must be God’s will! Yes, it means constant travel and less time with family, but think of the benefits…”

• “He treats me so well. He’s not a believer yet, but maybe one day…”

• “All my friends are going to this university—I’ll find a ministry there… eventually.”

God’s call remains steady: PURPOSE—Know Him and make Him known! Simple.

Tomorrow we’ll look at the last essential element: Partnership.

We all know that the church is not a building, but is made up of the body of believers who may gather in that building. I am not even sure whether the church at Antioch had a physical building or whether it met house to house in small groups. What I do know is that in this passage, Luke calls it “the church at Antioch” (v. 26).

What was the significance of the church at Antioch?

1. It was shelter from the storms of life—“a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord” (v. 21).

2. It was a place to be encouraged to keep Jesus the main thing (v. 23).

3. It was a place to be taught and to grow as disciples (v. 26).

4. It was a place to gain an identity that set them apart from the world (v. 26b).

5. It was a place to learn to give and to meet the needs of others (vv. 29–30).

An “Antioch-style” church is one that becomes a place of refuge when we, and those around us, are battered by the tempests of life. NorthStar Church is used by our community more than 250 times a year for things that have nothing to do with “church.” NorthStar exists to be an answer to people’s problems and needs. We are a refuge in the storms of everyday life.

But let’s remember what the church is—and what it is not. The church is the people. It is you and it is me! It is not just the leadership or staff—it is the congregation who become the refuge.

When we see a couple in our neighborhood struggling with a difficult trial, it is up to us to come alongside them first, and then involve other, more gifted members of the body if necessary to help them secure their boat during the storm. When the church building is made available to the community, we point them to Jesus not only through the facility itself but also through the loving hearts that serve them during their events.

Why? Because the storms of life will come. And when they do, people will remember who stood by them during calm seas. Our hope is that they will turn to our “port” for help and safety when that time arrives. Then, we can continue to serve them in the very purpose for which we were created (see #1–5 above).

The new improvements to our campus are almost complete. On October 5, we will be able to “launch” our newer, more seaworthy vessel into the sea of humanity that surrounds us here in NW Atlanta. It will be ALL HANDS ON DECK as we set sail on our mission of mercy to a lost and dying world. May we man our positions with joy and resolve to do all that God has created us to do (see Ephesians 2:10).

Tomorrow we will look at the 4th necessary element: Perspective.

In this passage, we are introduced to the “characters” in the story of the birth of the church at Antioch. They include:

• Christians who were scattered and preached Jesus

• Jews and Greeks who received the Lord as a result of that preaching

• The church in Jerusalem

• Barnabas

• A considerable number of new believers

• Saul (Paul)

• Prophets (specifically Agabus)

• The brethren living in Judea

Now that we know the cast, what role did each play in establishing the church?

First, it takes evangelists to share the truth about our Savior! Apart from those saints who are willing to share the love of Christ with a lost and hurting world, there would be no church; there would be no NorthStar.

Second, it takes those who receive the good news and become disciples of Jesus Christ. The word “disciple” in Greek means student. In verse 29, the word “believers” is also translated “disciples” in other versions. These disciples—students of the Word—sent a gift back to Judea.

Third, an established church needs a Barnabas, doesn’t it? Someone who is a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. Someone who can preach and teach, but who also has the wisdom to see what the church needs beyond his own strengths. A servant-leader marked by discernment.

Fourth, the modern-day “Antioch” church needs a Paul. A zealot. A visionary who is undeterred by obstacles, fully committed to the mission God has entrusted to them.

Fifth, the church needs prophets—those who hear from the Lord and help move the body into action on behalf of the church and the world.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of the gifts in the church, but it is a pretty effective one for a Christ-honoring body. So, the question is: Who are you?

• Are you an evangelist, passionate about making Jesus known? Amen!

• Are you new in your faith, sitting at His feet as a disciple, eager to learn your role in His kingdom? Amen!

• Are you a Barnabas, a servant-leader who encourages and strengthens others? Amen!

• Are you a Paul, brimming with vision and drive to expand the church’s influence? Amen!

• Are you an Agabus, attuned to the needs of the church and calling others to action? Amen!

The primary truth is this: God uses everyone in the church to grow the church. Each of us has been given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s purpose—to know Him, and to make Him known.

Read 1 Corinthians 12 in its entirety to discern your spiritual gift. You’ll recognize it as the gift that comes most naturally to you. Then, look for ways to exercise that gift within the body of Christ—within NorthStar. The church cannot operate effectively without you!

Tomorrow we will look at the third necessary element: Place.

North Star is experiencing some pretty impressive growth at the moment. In many ways, NSC mirrors the church at Antioch we just read about. For a church to grow—and not just numerically—it must have several key elements fueling that growth. This week, let’s take a look at what, and who, it takes to sustain a healthy “Antioch-like” church.

These elements include: Persecution (or trials), People, Place, Perspective, and Partnership.

Today’s Focus: Persecution

In the NW Cobb area of Atlanta, we do not experience the kind of persecution described in Acts 11—at least not yet. There has not been an all-out attack on Christians like the one that followed Stephen’s stoning. But that doesn’t mean our neighbors aren’t feeling the weight of life in ways that can feel like persecution.

Whether it’s job difficulties, marriage stress, physical infirmities, or psychological struggles, we live in a world filled with detours and difficulties. In reality, many in our own church family are walking through these very trials.

What did the believers who fled persecution do? They fled—and they shared. They sought safety, but they also shared the good news of Jesus wherever they went.

It sounds simple, doesn’t it? Yet we know it’s not always possible—or even biblical—to escape the heat of a fiery trial. More often than not, God’s will is for us to walk through the fire so our souls may be purified. Jesus promised we would have peace in trials because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Even so, we can flee spiritually. We can run to Jesus, our refuge, who offers rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28–30). But that rest is not an escape from mission. Those who fled Jerusalem went on to share the message of Christ. Some even crossed cultural lines, speaking to the Greeks—and revival broke out.

These persecuted believers didn’t hunker down in safety. They shared the hope within them—and God showed up.

So, when trials come, when persecution persists:

• Flee to the One who is our peace.

• Persevere through the storm.

• When you see others suffering, come alongside them and point them to Jesus.

That is why we are in our own “Antioch” today.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at the second necessary element: People!