Pastor Don's Devo Thoughts

Healing Hands Testimony

2012-02-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

Healing Hands Testimony

We are giving God glory for working in us and through us in a new and deeper way. The exciting part of the story happened on Sunday, February 05, 2012. On our way home from church, my wife Nikki starting having a sharp aching pain in her right hand with a feeling that her hand was swollen really big. I noticed that she was in pain so I started to pray for her, but she was certain that her body had no reason for the pain and believed it occurred so we would intercede for someone else. After I prayed, she felt the pain subside a bit, but move to her wrist. I prayed a second time and again it subsided but this time moved to her elbow as a dull ache. I suggested that Nikki lead the prayer and as we prayed the third time and the pain left. We praised God and continued to ask for revelation as to who specifically this was for. We called one of our friends to ask if it was her but she told us she hadn’t been having trouble with her hand.

Later in the day, my cousin called – she rarely calls. She was looking for her mom, my aunt, who is living with my other aunt. I found the number and called them and right away she returned the phone call to her daughter. After her conversation with her daughter, my aunt began to talk about my cousin. She had been suffering with terrible pain in her hands and especially the right hand which felt swollen. As she described what her daughter, my cousin, had been feeling we were amazed at how closely her symptoms matched the person we had prayed for. So afterward I called my cousin back and told her what had happened and how we had interceded for someone not knowing who it was. She immediately started to cry and thank God. She had been at work the night before and her right hand was getting so swollen and she had been in so much pain all she could do was cry to God. She said that earlier, before she called us, the pain had gone away. She knew that God had begun her healing. We rejoiced with her and began to write down the testimony of what God had done.

As Nikki began to write it out on the computer, our friend called us back and shared with us that she had gone to talk to some of her neighbors and they began to tell of some of their pains. Our friend started to pray healing over them and one of them specifically described the symptoms we had interceded for: a swollen right hand and this lady too proclaimed God’s healing.

All of this is very new and exciting for us, but we are praising God for leading us to go to a conference that taught us some very practical ways that God still moves today in prophecy and healing. If we had not heard that God would actually work this way at that conference we would not even have thought to intercede for someone else. Thank you, God for using my wife and I to touch others and experience Your willingness to heal those who are hurting.

The Spirit Led Life (Part One)

2011-06-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

Ever been in the place where you felt, “If I could only speak to Jesus face to face I know that He would have compassion and answer my need?” Jesus, why did you have to go away? If You were only here on this earth I would go to wherever you were at and plead my cause to You! How is it possible that Jesus could say:

“It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you...” John 16:7

Try to imagine what it must have been like to have the Master guiding your ministry – correcting, teaching, and encouraging you every day for three years. Then you are told that He is going away. Who is going to solve our disputes? Who is going to reveal the secrets of the kingdom to us? Can you imagine all your insecurities and fears of failure bombarding your mind? Yet, Jesus told them that it was to their advantage not to have a person endlessly telling them what to do but rather to become led from within!

This subject of being led by the Holy Spirit from within is the game changing and power restoring truth that the people of God have missed because they haven’t really understood how absolutely necessary it is for EVERY aspect of our Christian walk. How many years are we willing to wander without refreshing in the desert before we realize that we need God’s direct and personal guidance?

Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years; to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deut 8:2-3

Israel went without food and water various times during the period they spent in the desert. They would have died if the Lord had not given them specific instructions as to what to do to obtain these things. If you will remember His instructions weren’t consistent as if He was teaching them to just live by principles. No, one time to provide water Moses was told to hit a rock, another time he was told to throw a specific piece of wood in some bitter water to make it drinkable, and another time He was told to just speak to a rock and water would come out. God did this so that they might look to Him continually for direction. After all it was He who led them by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. He was trying to teach His people that if they followed Him they would be protected and provided for.

In the proceeding passage, God said He withheld necessities and then provided what they needed so that they would all understand that they didn’t live by bread (food) but by every word that proceeds or comes from the mouth of the Lord. Now, often times we are told that this refers to God’s written word, but in reality He never pointed them to a scripture passage to tell His people what to do. He told them prophetically through Moses and this word had just as much authority as the written word. Just like we need to eat everyday so also was Israel instructed to gather fresh manna (or word) everyday.

The children of Israel didn’t get their manna or bread in one great supply. Instead, it was given every morning and if it wasn’t picked up, it was unfit for consumption by the next day (c.f. Ex.16:20-22). If this manna symbolically represents God’s word – can you see that it cannot be the written, unchangeable word of God? It has to be referring to specific direction given by God on a daily basis. Perhaps this really is the intended meaning of “give us this day our daily bread.” Consider the fact that in just a few subsequent verses Jesus states:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" Matt 6:25

Jesus is teaching us not to worry about what we are going to eat or the things of this life, but rather we are to focus on things that are eternal – the kingdom and righteousness (v. 33). If this is true, why in what we call the Lord’s Prayer, would He be teaching us to ask for food every day? Wouldn’t it make more sense that we should expect when we pray this for Him to lead us by speaking to us every day?

This concept of being Spirit led is not some “far out” and wacky doctrine. What I am going to endeavor to prove is that according to the Bible (God’s written Word) we must be led by the Spirit or we cannot be saved or victorious.

It is the Holy Spirit who convicts of our need for a Savior

When He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8).

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:14).

Unless the Spirit of God convicts someone of their sin they will not see their need for a Savior. This is because the message of the gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing (c.f. 1 Cor. 1:18). An unbeliever cannot understand the gospel because it is spiritually discerned. Consider this: No matter how much we can try to show someone from a logical set of facts derived from the Bible they will not be convinced merely because of the information. The Holy Spirit speaks to their hearts, He tells them the message is true, He lets them know they are not right with Him and that they need to repent and trust Jesus. When we accept the Spirit’s witness we are saved and without it we cannot be.

It is the Holy Spirit who changes our hearts and teaches us truth

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Heb 10:15-16

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

Notice what the passage in Hebrews tells us: I will put my laws in a book for everyone to study. Is that correct? No, what He tells us is that He is going to put His laws into our hearts and help us remember them by engraving (writing) them on our minds. This is symbolically shown by the two sets of tablets of the Law. the first set Moses broke when the people disobeyed God. The second set was placed IN the ark of the covenant. The promised New Covenant teaches us that God is going to lead us from within not from some external source.

"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:12-13

We cannot understand truth by way of our own reasoning and intelligence; we need the Holy Spirit’s continual guidance. The personal guidance of the Holy Spirit opens our understanding and reveals deep things about God. It prompts us to search for understanding about the deep (hard to be understood) things about God as the Scirpture says:

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"— but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 1 Cor. 2:9-12

It is the Holy Spirit who testifies we belong to God

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Rom 8:16

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Rom 8:14

Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 1 John 5:10

Again this testimony is not just from the written word because it the passage reads “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.”God speaks through His spirit to our spirit that we are His children. Are you beginning to see that we NEED the inner guidance of the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit gives wisdom to direct His people

I could have chosen Solomon as an example of this but Moses is a better example to me because he presents a problem and the solution which is later answered by God in a much more workable manner. Here Moses presents his problem as the sole leader of God’s people:

I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. Num 11:14 NKJV

So the Lord said to Moses: "Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. v.v.16-17

Then the Lord came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again. v.25

So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, "Moses my lord, forbid them!" Then Moses said to him, "Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!" v.v. 28-29

Joshua is concerned that Moses maintains his ability to lead the people of God – but much like the time to come when Israel would seek a King – God’s more perfect desire is that His people see Him as their sole leader. Moses wisely recognizes that this comes as a result of God’s Spirit working alongside of someone.

This is fulfilled in the New Testament:

The new and more perfect covenant includes this Spirit guidance and power for all who will believe and become His people by faith. Notice how it is prophesied in the Old Testament and applied by Peter on the day of Pentecost:

"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Acts 2:17-18

Who is not included to be able to receive God’s Spirit? The Word includes “all people,” referring to those present, their “sons and daughters” – not just for men, “old and young” – not dependent upon someone’s age, and even upon “servants” or slaves – both men and women. Peter clarifies that this promise Spirit is for everyone:

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:39

It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. John 6:45

The Scriptures do not teach that it will be necessary for us to have some final authority from men to teach us what we need to learn about God (as is taught by Roman Catholicism). Paul was an example of this. He was not taught by Peter or the other apostles what to believe, he was taught by God (c.f. Gal. 1:16-17). This is also confirmed by the apostle John who states:

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him. 1 John 2:27

It is not that we should neglect the equipping ministries that the Lord has given His people to combat false teachers (c.f. Eph. 4:11-14). I believe what this is teaching is that the Lord gifts and wants to utilize every believer in the Church. Each person has works marked out ahead of time for them to fulfill (c.f. Eph. 2:10). As such the Lord is able to speak to and guide each person in the way of righteousness.

If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Gal 5:18

If one thinks about this it makes total sense. If God is not directing you personally you will revert to man taught laws and tradition. As a leader we need to see God’s leading Spirit not as the loss of control but actually more effective control – not by man but by God Himself.

The Bible is a collection of accounts of men and women who did two things:

    1. They obeyed or disobeyed the written Word and its principles

    2. The obeyed or disobeyed the specific spoken words give to them

Examples are Adam and Eve; Noah; Abraham; Joseph; Moses; Joshua; David; etc.

The Holy Spirit’s Two Part Job Description

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26

    1. He will teach you all things. (Personal spoken words)

    2. He will help you remember what the Lord said. (Basic commands)

If the Holy Spirit is not teaching and leading we will miss the intimate, life-giving, relationship the Lord really wants to have with us. Take a look at how Jesus responded to a mere “scripture-driven” relationship with God:

You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 5:39-40

Can you see that the purpose of the Scriptures is to lead us to a personal relationship with Christ? Truth is not mere information. It is a person! Jesus said, “I am the Truth.” This is the truth that if a person will continue in His teaching they will know and who will set them free (c.f. John 8:31). Who the Son sets free is free indeed! v. 36

We have believed the lie that the only way God speaks to His people is through the Bible. It is not that we don’t discern His voice by what is said being in total agreement with the written word, but if we have lost the leading, guiding, teaching, directing voice of the Spirit it is no wonder we are powerless. The Bible prophesies of a time like this when it says:

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord God, "That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Amos 8:11

Should we be in a famine when we are in the period of His grace and the covenant that is far better than the old? No! because Jesus taught:

“…the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.” and “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.” John 10:4, 27

If a person believes in the dispensational teaching in regard to the seven churches of Revelation that they resemble seven different historical church ages, it is to this final church age that believes it has need of nothing that Jesus says:

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev 3:20

Notice a few things about this passage, even if we look at it in mere principle. Jesus initiates the conversation. He says, “Here I am! or, “Behold.” I think this is representative of the fact that Jesus wants to speak to His Church, to guide His Church, and to be in the midst of His Church. But He wants a Church that hears - (he that has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches).

Jesus tells us there is a barrier (a door) between us and Him. This barrier is preventing a more intimate relationship – represented by eating together. He tells His people what they need to do is to begin to listen…listen for His voice. If anyone will hear it and respond by removing the barrier, He will come in.

Some possible barriers to hearing the Lord’s voice

    • Unawareness: Some would believe that God only speaks to pastors and ministers

    • Guilt: a sense of unworthiness

    • Fear: Who’s speaking … God, me or the devil?

In my next message I will deal with these barriers and more so that our ears will be unstopped. I believe the Lord is teaching that He is speaking and wants to direct our lives but we are not recognizing His voice. Notice what Proverbs 3:4-5 teaches:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

We are told to acknowledge Him in all our ways. In other words, recognize Him in all we do. Like others who have taught we need to “practice the presence of God” or hear the call to “Come Away My Beloved,” we should not merely follow our own understanding but expect the Lord’s leading, especially in the major decisions of our lives!

I will be including some “exercises” to help each of us learn to discern the Lord’s voice. There are four basic parts to these exercises:

    1. Pray

    2. Read the words of Jesus.

    3. Question: Why did Jesus said this? (Consider the context and true meaning of the passage first).

    4. Question: What are you saying to me personally, Lord? (How does what you said apply to my life in application?)

What if nothing seems to happen? If you don’t receive anything immediately, don’t get worried. Simply read the Scripture again and pray in the Spirit. If no thoughts come within a few minutes, just relax and believe God will speak to your heart later that day.

SAFEGUARDS

To ensure we don’t go ‘off track’; there are a couple of basic principles to follow:

1. Everything Must Agree with Scripture

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

Whatever we feel God is speaking to us cannot contradict His eternal word or the principles taught by His word. When the Lord truly speaks to us, it will be confirmed by the truth of His word.

2. Seek Godly Counsel

For our own protection and guidance, we need to submit to other more mature believers.

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 1 Cor 14:29

This is not uncommon at all in other areas of Christian living. For example: Someone may feel called by God to a particular ministry, God uses others in the Church to confirm this calling. A man and a woman may feel called to marry one another but the minister and the Church confirm and witness to the union. What we believe we hear from the Lord will be confirmed by those who are spiritually more mature. This is part of the ministry of pastors and elders. You may be able to think of other examples like the pastor's sermon from week to week confirmed by the congregation.

3. Don’t Follow the Pattern of our Selfish Thoughts

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isa 55:8-9

We need to avoid saying, “God said” presumptuously. There is a promised correction for those who will “pull the God card” to try to avoid submitting to godly leadership. It is this presumption that Satan has used to deceive God’s people into thinking God no longer wants to direct the day to day lives of His people. We have all heard some who claim to hear God speaking to them about things that are both selfish and foolish. This is NOT what I am claiming the Bible teaches.

OUR FIRST EXERCISE

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15

First pray along this line. If God’s child asks for bread will He give him a stone? Jesus, you said that your sheep will hear your voice and be able to follow it. Speak to me now. Holy Spirit guide me into truth. Do not allow me to go astray.

Why did Jesus say this? What was the context of this passage? Who was Jesus speaking to? Only after establishing the original intent of this passage, can we now ask:

What are You saying to me personally from this passage? Listen to your intuitive thoughts and journal the thought(s) that come to you. If you know someone who is mature and able to discern God’s voice let them read what came to you. They should be able to confirm and encourage you to as you learn to understand God’s voice from your own thoughts. If you have no one who you can trust you may respond back to me and I will be willing to help you on your journey to recognizing His voice. God bless!

Power-filled Evangelism

2011-06-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

Frustrated by the fact that the church that I was called to start had only seen sporadic growth and was now even struggling for its very existence, I began to call out to the Lord with more earnest. I felt like Israel in captivity hearing about the mighty works of God and wondering where that God went. I began to compare what I have seen in our churches with what was evident in the book of Acts and the stories of the early church. I noticed a glaring contradiction! When I began to look for this contradiction mentioned in other places in the Bible, such as the epistles, it was there too!

What am I referring to? The fact that in church today when we talk about preaching the gospel we are referring to passing along information, by word, this was not the case in the early church! In the early church there was a promise of power that was meant to accompany the preaching of the Gospel. This power manifested itself in different ways, but if one looks for the activity of God in miraculous signs, in healings, the specific direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit, the involvement of angels, and casting out of demonic spirits, one can see that this was common place for the early church. Power and the Word were inseparable but we will never be powerful unless we become power filled.

Why do we not see the Gospel preached with accompanying manifestations of God’s power in the church today? I believe that the reason is that we have ignored one of the most important works of the Holy Spirit taught by Jesus and His apostles, which is the promise of the Spirit led life.

The church today is being led only by half of what it has been given. We have followed the teachings laid out in God’s Word, the Bible but we have ignored the promised leading of the Holy Spirit. In a manner of speaking, the modern church has become like the disciples in Acts 19 who hadn’t even heard about the Holy Spirit. As Pentecostals, we claim evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives by our fruit and by our speaking in tongues. That is the problem of the modern church; we think we will be heard by our much speaking when what we need to do is to begin listening! I believe that we need to equip our members to discern the voice of God in everyday life and especially in evangelism.

One such example is the following passage:

Acts 8:26-29 NKJV - Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."

Philip had previously been involved with the great revival that had taken place with the Samaritans. Crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did (notice the word was accompanied with a manifestation of power), they saw demons cast out and people healed as a result people paid attention to the message! The apostles came from Jerusalem to make sure that EVERYONE had received the Holy Spirit. The manifestation of the Spirit’s power was not meant for just a specified few.

In the midst of this revival, began by Philip, an angel speaks to Philip and tells him to leave and go to a specific place, the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza where there is a dessert. The Lord speaking through this angel did not freak Philip out! What Philip does is to respond in obedience and go.

Have you ever experienced anything like this? I have. One morning a few years ago I was praying and I had this odd thought come to me. “Go to George Webb’s.” One thing that I have learned about the Lord’s leading is that it often comes as a thought that you wouldn’t normally think. If anyone knows me, they could tell you that it would NOT be my idea to go to a George Webb’s restaurant! I do not like their food and I don’t like the smoke from the people that sit at the counter.

So I recognized right away that this was not a thought coming from me and I concluded that it must be from the Lord. So I figured what was the harm in continuing my devotion time there and I grabbed my Bible and began to leave. As I reached for my door, another thought came to my mind, “Take some tracts with you, you are going to need them.” So I did.

When I got to the restaurant, I ordered a cup of coffee (because I didn’t want to order any of their food) and sat down in a booth and began to read my Bible. In my peripheral vision, I spotted someone smoking a cigarette staring at me. My immediate reaction was to believe that he was going to mock me because I brought a Bible into the restaurant. Continuing to puff on his cigarette, he got up and began to walk towards the restroom. Then seemingly overcome with curiosity he turned back toward me and exclaimed, “That’s a Bible!”

I responded sarcastically (I am such a sinner), “That is correct genius!” With that he came and sat down across me at my booth! He said, “I have a Bible somewhere.”

I inquired, “So, do you have a church background?”

With that he began to tell me all about his life and the current struggles he was facing. I eventually led him in the sinner’s prayer right there in the restaurant! He was later baptized and went through our church’s discipleship program and is still following the Lord to this day.

It was miraculous, hey? But I didn’t even recognize it at the time. In fact, I had barely been saved myself. The Lord placed this prepared soul right in my lap! Isn’t that what happened in the story about Philip?

So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth" (Acts 8:30-33).

The guy is reading Isaiah 53, one of the most clear prophesies about Jesus in the Old Testament! This is akin to someone reading John 3:16 and asking you, “Who is this Son the author is talking about that gives everlasting life?” Could we tell someone the gospel at this point? Of course we could!

I believe there is a reason that Jesus commanded His disciples to “wait” for the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:4-5). It is because – although they knew the information about the good news of Jesus they needed to be filled with power that was meant to accompany that message (Acts 1:8).

In John 7:37-39, Jesus speaks in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." In other words, believing the message should be accompanied by a manifestation of the Spirit’s power – life giving water flowing out from within him. The following verse lets us know that specifically He was referring to the Holy Spirit.

Later Paul would confirm this by telling those at Thessalonica, “our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (1 Thess. 1:5). In fact, those who preached a message without power were even questioned by Paul as to the validity of their calling especially when they attempted to contest his calling as an apostle. Paul said to those at Corinth, “I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have, for the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power (1 Cor 4:19-20 emphasis mine).

As Pentecostals we know this, and as a part of our heritage many even saw what I talking about. We expected that the Lord would work with us and confirm His word by the signs that accompanied it (Mark 16:20). But in recent years we have lost this kind of expectancy. Instead we have replaced the miraculous with our accomplishments, cleverness, and programs. An almost endless stream of “How to” books are being written by those pastors who are describing how they personally achieved success and growth in their church.

But, Paul had a completely different attitude about his success in ministry when he said, “I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit (Rom 15:18-19). See, he couldn’t take the credit for success – it was the Lord’s leading and the power of the Holy Spirit!

Notice though what Paul lists first: Christ’s leading. I believe the Bible teaches that this “leading” is meant for everyone who is a believer! Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27). Jesus did not say, “Some of my sheep hear my voice,” no, it is part and parcel of becoming a child of God. Paul said, “those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (Rom 8:14).

The Spirit guides us where to go and where not to go

Acts 16:6-7 gives us an example of Spirit’s guidance in regard to evangelism. “Having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” We know historically that other apostles eventually went and preached the gospel to these areas, so we can conclude that unlike our previous example in Acts 8 with the Ethiopian eunuch they had not been adequately prepared by the Spirit to receive the gospel. If one thinks about it, the Lord is always working to prepare hearts to repent and receive Him, but is it possible that the Lord actually can lead us to those hearts and souls He has already prepared and who are ready to receive? That is what happened in this instance:

“During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them (Acts 16:9-10). There Paul would eventually meet a jailer who would recognize the power of God shaking the prison and then listen to and receive the message about faith in Christ. As a result, not only he, but his complete household would put their faith in Jesus.

The Spirit Guides Us As To What We Say

Over and over I have heard of those who were “caught off guard” not knowing exactly what to say to their unsaved friend who out of the blue asks about salvation. The believer begins to speak what they know and then the Spirit begins to remind them of scripture passages, of specific things to say, sometimes even things that are even a word of knowledge. At the end of the conversation is this wonderful sense that the Lord led the conversation and gave us the words to say.

This really shouldn’t be surprising because the word does say that there are times when we can speak to an unbeliever and actually reveal the secrets of their heart (miraculous) and actually begin to worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!" (c.f. 1 Cor 14:24-25). Or at other instances of having to bear witness to the Lord that we need not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit (Mark 13:11). This tells me that it is not an uncommon thing for the Holy Spirit to speak to us specifically about what to say or what to do.
Consider the well known passage, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20). There are some very interesting things about this passage that I want to point out. First of all, Jesus is the person taking the initiative by being at the door, knocking, and calling out, “Here I am.” What I take from this is that Jesus wants to speak to us. That He wants to speak to us like a friend (there is a whole lesson just in that point) because He wants to speak to us over a meal. Secondly, there is a barrier restricting this conversation He wants to have (there is a door between us). This barrier is something that we have been given the control over. We can open the door and expect that when we do He will come in. And lastly, all of this is dependent upon us “hearing His voice.” Because He says, “If anyone.” We can assume that hearing His voice is possible for anyone not just a select few. Because He says, “If anyone hears,” we can assume that not all people are discerning that the voice of the Lord is calling out. Now it is obvious that the Lord is calling out for this church to repent and be hot for the Lord in the context of this passage, but is it possible that the Lord is actually speaking, and calling to us now but we have not discerned his voice?
In upcoming posts I will be discussing this further. I want to help equip God’s people to hear His voice because it seems obvious to me that we should all be able to “hear what the Spirit is saying to the church,” that hearing His voice is the key to the miraculous power meant to accompany the gospel, and that not being led by the Spirit is evidence that there is something deficient in our relationship with the Lord according to the Bible.

Jesus Loves You!

2011-06-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

Perhaps to those who read this post, since many of you already profess faith in Jesus as Lord, this topic may seem inconsequential and even over stated. This because you have seen the “John 3:16” signs at sporting events, you have been told that God loves you, and you probably even give mental ascent to the truth that God does love you. But if you are like me, when no one else is around and you come face to face with the pain of this life and the tragedy we often are confronted with . . . the thought enters your mind. If God really loves me why has He allowed this circumstance in my life?

Rather than this being a trite and overly simplistic topic, it was Dr. Karl Barth, a prolific writer who wrote volumes on the meaning of life and faith and who was considered by many scholars to be one of the most brilliant theologians of the 20th Century, when he was lecturing at Princeton Theological Seminary was asked by a student what was the greatest truth he had ever learned. Dr. Barth thought for a moment and then said: “The greatest truth that I have ever learned was at my mother’s knee, ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.’"

There is no doubt that “Jesus Loves Me” is one of the best known children’s songs in the world. But how could it be that such a renowned biblical scholar would say that the “greatest truth” that he had ever learned was the fact that Jesus loved him?

I can think of four reasons that I think can lead us to question or even doubt that God loves us and this because I struggle with each of these.

1. Lack of godly examples

2. Our inadequacies

3. Our sin

4. Our circumstances

It seems that when we do not have a loving earthly father we struggle with many of the concepts of a loving heavenly Father. If we have struggled to please our earthly father then we will have a tendency to be “works” minded when it comes to God. When this happens we feel condemned by our failures and deserving when we seem to have performed well. The concept of a god that loves us “unconditionally” and not based upon anything that we have done “does not compute” if our parents did not show us unconditional love.

Often times we believe that we are more loveable when we are sucessful or do a good job at something. But whether we want to admit it or not, we all have short-comings and inadequacies. These short-comings often humble us allow an area in our lives where God can reveal our need for Him. If these inadequacies are what God used to draw us to Himself we often question why they remain after we have surrendered our lives to Him. It is often even more difficult if these areas of weakness lead to sin and its consequences.

Sin still brings about death and separation in spite of Satan’s lie to Eve. We can feel the separation and loss if our hearts have not been hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. This is good because it causes us to feel “godly sorrow that leads to repentance” or change in our lives. But often Satan wants to keep us hiding from God by way of feelings of condemnation and unworthiness. If we have a propensity toward a particular sin in our lives we can question, “How can God love me when I keep failing Him over and over?”

Whether brought about by the consequences of sin in our lives or as a result of someone else’s sin, or even situations in which we can find no one to blame often our circumstances cause us to question God’s love for us. How many times have you heard something similar to this statement, “How can a loving God allow this to happen to me or someone I love?” We equate love as being free from difficult or hurtful situations. Someone who loves me most certainly not allow something hurtful or difficult in my life.

My wife recently brought our daughter in to receive her immunization shots. For a full day afterward my daughter who is now 4 months old was very upset! She would not lay down in her crib but cried and cried until she was held. My wife and I took turns throughout the night holding her as we slept. I am sure she questioned in her little mind how could mommy and daddy take me to someone who hurt me and gave me a bit of a fever? It was beyond her comprehension to understand that our motivation for doing so was really out of love and our desire for her to continue to be with us.

So if all these things cannot be trusted to reveal God’s love for us what witnesses has God left us as a proof of His love?

There are three eternal witnesses that I can think of:

1. His Word

2. Jesus’ death and resurrection

3. His Spirit

The children’s song, “Jesus Loves Me” tells us we know it because the “Bible tells me so.” So I think that it is appropriate for us to look at what the Bible mentions about the four reasons we question His love for us.

A Lack of Godly Examples

The Bible asks this question, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?” And then gives the following response, “Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands (Isa. 49:15-16). God tells us that in most situations a mother will love and have compassion for her children. In another place the Bible states this as natural affection. Yet in the absence of a loving mother, God declares, “I will not forget you!” The scars left by the nails from the cross serve as an everlasting reminder of His love. Every time He sees those scars He remembers you. In the Psalms He tells us, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me” (Ps. 27:10).

The Bible declares, “God is love” and He is unchanging in His nature (c.f. 1Jn. 4:8,16; James 1:17). He wants us to understand that He is the example given to the world including our parents, spouses, friends, and children, not the other way around. That is why the Bible further tells us, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us …” (Eph. 5:1-2).

Our Inadequacies

The majority of times when we struggle with inadequacy, it is because we are comparing ourselves to others. If everyone had the same weakness we would consider it normal and therefore have no recognition of any insufficiency on our part. The Bible teaches that it is unwise to compare ourselves with others (2 Cor. 10:12). Further the Bible teaches that it is God who made us to differ from one another (c.f. 1 Cor. 4:7) and that in the church – the body of Christ – He has placed us right where He wanted us to be (c.f. 1 Cor. 12:18-22).

For those weaknesses that are contrary to God’s will, the Bible teaches that both the Spirit and the Son intercede for us on behalf of them (c.f. Rom 8:26, 34). So the fact is that God is aware of the way in which He created us with both our strengths and weaknesses and in all these things He accepts us in Christ and intercedes for our welfare according to the mind of God.

Our Sin

In regard to our sin, God tells us that sin brings about both separation and death (c.f. Isa. 59:2; Rom. 6:23). But herein lies the beautiful truth of the Gospel that God showed His love for us while we were still in sin and did not withhold that love from us because of our sin. Here is how it is stated, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:6-8).

God tells us that He demonstrated His kind of love which is very different than the kind of love that we normally experience in this world. Christ died on our behalf in spite of our sin and rejection of Him. This tells me two things, first of all that His love is available to everyone. “For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died” (2 Cor. 5:14). You see how this is stated? The presupposition is that Christ died for all therefore the assumption can be made that all were dead. Since we know that in fact all have sinned and are spiritually dead (Rom. 3:23 Eccl. 7:20) we can be certain that Jesus died on your behalf – all our behalf. It is “because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved” (Eph 2:4-5).

Further the Bible teaches that this grace of God is appropriated by faith not by works we have done (Rom. 5:2; Eph. 2:8-9). Unlike some have been known to teach faith is not a work. Here is how the Bible says it: “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:4-5).

Our Circumstances

Perhaps the most difficult times that we find ourselves struggling with the fact that Jesus loves us is when our circumstances don’t seem to feel like they are orchestrated by someone who really loves us. How often have you heard someone say, “If God really loved me then why did He allow this to happen to me?” I have seen this be the point at which many felt it was easier to believe there is no God and walk away from Him rather than asking the question, why?

In reality, there is more than one thing at play in our circumstances. First of all, it is God who gives you a life in the first place. This gift of life has been poisoned by sin, both ours and that of others. Because of that, this world is not our home or our hope. We should never be mistaken by the fact that “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men (1 Cor. 15:19).

Since in this life our faith in Christ is what reconciles us to God, we should expect that faith to be tested. Not so that we would possibly fail, but God controls each test and temptation to what level we gain overcome with His strength (c.f. 1 Cor. 10:13).

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:6-7). The purpose of these trials is to prove that our faith is genuine and real.

Finally, Rom 8:28 affirms, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Because God is holy, just and faithful and cannot lie we know that He is attempted to turn every difficult situation in life to something that has an eternal good. We may never understand what He is doing or why He has allowed us to face what we are going through but we also know that He is right there with us in the trial. He has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. So you can boldly say, ‘God is my helper…’”

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Rom 8:35, 37).

We Must Follow the Promises

Rather than having a relationship that is based upon our performance or lack thereof, we need to have a relationship with God that is based upon faith in His promises. We know He loves us based upon the information that has been given to us, but each one of us must personally take hold of that promise of love and believe that He does love us not based upon anything that we have done but because He is love.

We have known and believed the love that God has for us (1 John 4:16).

Slaves In Christ?

2011-05-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

Recently John MacArthur released his conspiracy accusing book entitled, Slave. The book is supposed to describe “the hidden truth about our identity in Christ.” If someone would simply read the book you would find that even the author realizes that we have a greater identity and that there is a more predominant metaphor for our relationship with God and that is one of a son, daughter, or child.

MacArthur spends much of the beginning of his book setting forth his conspiracy theory in regard to the translation of a particular Greek word, “doulos.” The Greek word doulos is translated “servant” in the KJV and other popular translations but is used in many other Greek writings to refer specifically to a slave. It is for this reason the Holman Study Bible translates doulos as “slave” and other translations as a “bondslave.”

Not unaware of the treatment of first century slaves or the more recent mistreatment of Africans and others with dark skin tones, MacArthur believes the conspiracy is the result of our more modern sensitivities. While the case can be made for the NT writers use of the word “doulos” (servant or slave) as a metaphor for aspects of our Christian life, but as with most metaphors, if carried beyond their context they reveal many contradictions. As previously mentioned, even MacArthur struggles with these contradictions toward the latter half of his book, which makes the book noticeably disjointed.

There is a much more important and practical reason for contesting the concept that slavery reflects our identity in Christ than refuting John MacArthur’s book, Slave. I think that it is absolutely necessary and God’s will for us to see ourselves not as slaves but as sons. As I describe the characteristics of each, I want you to think about which covenant, Law or Grace, each aspect more readily lends itself to.

• A slave has a master or lord while a child has a father and/or mother

• A slave is purchased at a cost to the master while a child is the product of a relationship

• A slave is the ‘property’ of the master while a child is a “gift” from God and shares in all the resources of the family (cf. Mt. 15:26; Luke 15:31)

• A slave is bound to involuntary service while a child is taught to obey their parents and trained in the way they should go

• A slave only pleases his master by way of working well and working hard while with a child the parents care more about time spent rather than the things done for them

• A slave has no possessions but a child receives an inheritance

• While both a slave and child are protected and provided for, the motivation for doing so differs greatly. The slave is provided for and protected so that they may produce - a child is provided for and protected out of love and so they may carry on a legacy.

• A slave is motivated by fear but a child should be motivated by relationship, right and wrong, and a sense of calling.

Did you see that the characteristics of slaves more accurately describe those under law? The slave must obey his master.

“Slaves know no law but their master’s word; they have no rights of their own; they are absolute possessions of their master; and they are bound to give their master unquestioning obedience.” - William Barclay

So also must those who are under the Law must continue to be obedient to the whole Law or be punished (cf. Gal. 3:10-12).

Slaves receive no inheritance or lasting legacy. Jesus said, “Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (Jn 8:35-36). And Galatians 3:26-29 teaches, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Do you recognize that if we see ourselves as slaves to our Lord we actually miss out on the very reason we are eternally saved? We are saved not out of obedience but out of our relationship as sons and daughters in Christ. We must be born again or born from above (cf. Eph. 2:8-9 and John 3:5).

Obedience follows our relationship to Christ. That is why Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). The preeminent description of followers of Jesus is that of God’s children and we are each brothers and sisters.

Paul describes our former relationship to God under the Law as slavery saying:

“What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir (Gal. 4:1-7).

Did you get that? We were slaves but now having received the Spirit of His Son we now call God, “Abba, Father.” He did this so that we might receive the full rights of sons. This is confirmed by the apostle John who says, “He (Jesus) came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:11-12). The inheritance is our right as sons but if we think that we must earn it by working for it we will never receive it because God gives it to us for one reason and one reason only – we are Christ’s and as such we are fellow heirs (see also Rom. 8:15-17).

So the real application of this is that we must realize that all that we obtain from God we receive by way of His loving, and fatherly grace. We see ourselves as blessed, accepted, chosen as adopted children, and forgiven because we are God’s children by faith in Christ Jesus. We have the right to come boldly, with confidence, before God’s throne of Grace solely on the basis of Christ’s priestly work on the cross (cf. Heb. 4:15). If we do not see ourselves as God’s children we will think that it is by self-effort and good works that we may present our requests to God. To those who see themselves as unworthy (which we truly are) they will not see God as a loving Father who gives good gifts to those who ask (Mt. 7:9-12). This hurts us because James tells us that if we want to receive anything from God we must ask in faith without wavering and without this kind of faith we should not expect to receive anything from God (Jas.1:6-7).

Love Hunger – The Search For Significance

2011-04-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

   This message begins a series that I have entitled “Relationships God’s Way.” The Bible has a lot to say about relationships. Some of what is declared is taught in principle, some is taught via the narratives in the Bible, and still others are like nuggets of wisdom that are plainly stated.
   This week we are going to discuss one of the strongest emotions and motivating forces known to man – love. But as with nearly all things, the world twists the meaning and takes what God designed for good and makes it filthy and dishonorable. As we will see, the purpose of the enemy is to use this false love to hurt and destroy lives. Here is how God describes what love really is:
   “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Cor 13:4-7 NLT).

The Meaning of Life – Two Views:

   The world says, “The meaning for life is to love and be loved.”
   Gods says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:30-31).
   “Why be like the (unbelievers) who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern” (Matt 6:32-33 NLT).
   Notice that although God’s greatest command is to love, God says to love Him first and make living for Him your primary concern and He will provide all that you really need. In fact it was God who first recognized our need for love.
   I have jokingly paraphrased Genesis 2:18 to say, “The Lord God said, 'the man shouldn’t be left alone, he needs some real help!'” But what God says in reality is enlightening. To show some of the depth of what was said in this passage here is how it is translated in the Amplified version of the Bible:
   “Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him” (Gen 2:18 AMP).

Pets don’t meet the need

Right after God determines that it is not good for the man to be alone; He does this strange thing of bringing all the animals to Adam to see what he would call them. Interestingly the animals were created from the same source as Adam, the ground. But the Bible declares of none of them did Adam call helper or partner. Perhaps this was God’s way to show that no pet could be found to be a suitable companion for mankind in life – we long, or hunger, for someone to love like us. In spite of the wonderful companionship pets provide God is letting us know that He understands we need more.

Friends don’t meet the need

   Then when God does bring a suitable helper to Adam He brings a “kanegadow” literally in the Hebrew an “opposite counterpart,” not one of the same. It has been said that when God made man, He made Adam and Eve and not Adam and Steve. Beyond the sexual ramifications of this, by God creating a counterpart, this reveals that a copy of Adam, as in friendship, doesn’t meet that need either. Friends are wonderful and it is important that we each have some but the true longing of the heart required something more. The need was met by a complementary counterpart, who was both different and yet harmonizing.
   When God said that it is not good that man should be alone, He lets us know that He already recognized the need! This He said even before Adam is quoted as having been lonely. What did God do? He brought to him a counterpart companion that was suitable to Adam. And was Adam was pleased by God’s choice? Yes, in fact he was exstatic by it and broke out into song! We need to trust His choice for a companion for us in our lives.
   In reality, the world is setting us up for failure and disillusionment. The Bible describes the world’s solutions to this love hunger within us. The Bible describes the way of the world in 1 John 2:15-17 which reads:
   “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
   The world’s solutions to love hunger are revealed in three ways according to this passage: 1) the lust of the flesh, 2) the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Lust, or the desire of the flesh, makes itself known by being self-focused, impatient, and a lack of self-control which leads to promiscuity. When this lust is feed in our thoughts and unable to be satisfied it can lead to pornography or an abuse of food, drink, or even drugs to try to fill the need.
   Our culture in the U.S. and other places is driven by the lust of the eyes or by desiring others based upon their appearance and physical fitness, their style, provocative clothing, and jewelry. Advertising constantly blasts images designed to feed our desires. Desiring what we see and cannot or should not have is in reality covetousness – which is idolatry according to the Bible (Col. 3:5).
   Finally, the pride of life is used to attract a mate by boasting in our achievements and possessions. This is the idea that marrying someone who is well off financially or has a prestigious career can bring real happiness. Another aspect of this devalues people to mere possessions and conquests, neither of which are God’s will for our lives.
   The Bible says concerning outward beauty that: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful” (1 Peter 3:3-5).
   The Bible is not teaching that women should not wear jewelry, nice clothes, or braid their hair; what it is saying is that the focus of what truly makes someone beautiful is in our heart and in our spirit. In other words, God says true beauty is found in our character. I love how the Message paraphrase renders 1 Samuel 16:7, “God told Samuel, ‘Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.’” This is true for both women and men.
   This is because God recognizes, as we should that beauty is fleeting (cf. Prov 31:30) as He told the prophet Isaiah, “A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isa 40:6-8).
   James applies this same metaphor to a man and his riches in James 1:10-11, that just like a flower in the sun it will soon wither and die. The Bible further teaches that riches take wings and are deceptive.
   What God really wants is for us to be holy and pure and to keep clear of all sexual sin so that each of us will marry in holiness and honor- not in lustful passion as the heathen do, in their ignorance of God and his ways. And this also is God's will: that you never cheat in this matter by taking another man's wife because the Lord will punish you terribly for this, as we have solemnly told you before. For God has not called us to be dirty-minded and full of lust but to be holy and clean. If anyone refuses to live by these rules, he is not disobeying the rules of men but of God who gives his Holy Spirit to you (1 Thess 4:3-8).
   God is not saying this because He is a ‘prude’ but rather God loves us so much that He doesn’t want to see us hurt! Marrying because of lustful passion like unbelievers do will lead to disallusionment and often times divorce. The world has taught, even Christians, a false concept of love and a false method to find love. This is exemplified by Hollywood media. How many Hollywood marriages last and are truly successful, loving relationships? The whole focus of Hollywood love is backward!

Look at what Hollywood says makes a successful relationship:

Step 1: Find the right person – they say the key to love is finding that one special person that was made just for you; so you date, you search, and you may even pray until you find that one special person.

Step 2: Fall in love – they say when you find that right person something inside of you will click and you will instantly know they are the one for you. In the movies you can fall in love with strangers more often called “love at first sight.” That is because Hollywood love is based on that “oooey gooey” feeling that makes you crazy, and causes you to do wild and impetuous things.

Step 3: Fix your hopes and dreams on that person for you future fulfillment – in the movies love trumps every other decision whether it is career, schooling, previous dreams, the love of your parents, financial stability, or ministry calling. Because the purpose of living (the meaning of life) is to love and be loved – Hollywood (and the music industry) teaches “How can I live without you?” “If I can’t have you I don’t want nobody baby.” Yet, if someone doesn’t meet those expectations or you fall out of love, drop them and fly to Seattle to meet a stranger. Which leads to:

Step 4: If Failure occurs, repeat steps 1-3 – because Hollywood’s formula naturally leads to failure in relationships we see those in the public eye of Hollywood divorcing and remarrying over and over again. We hear of illicit sex, promiscuity and divorce battles time and again. They should get a clue – that it doesn’t work as a formula for a successful marriage and relationship. At the very least the Church should get a clue.

Here is God’s prescription for lasting relationships:

Step 1: Become the right person – Joshua Harris in his book, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” teaches that we first need to get our lives in order and to the place where we are the right person for the person God has for us. That is why in the Bible a man betrothed to a woman would first prepare a house then take a woman to become his wife. Too many times we are looking for love when we should be focusing on accomplishing God’s will and plan for our lives. Do you remember that God recognized the need in Adam for love and companionship and when the time was right, he brought his wife and Adam was pleased with God’s choice? Believe me; you don’t want someone that is out of God’s will for you! You will be extremely hurt by the results. We need to see relationships before we are ready for marriage as distractions to the destiny God has for us.

Step 2: Walk in love – instead of falling in love we need to learn to walk in love – the love that is described in 1 Cor. 13. See, the first responsibility for any Godly relationship does not fall upon them but first upon you. The Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do to you) focuses the primary responsibility for how others treat us on how we first treat them. That is why the Bible also teaches that he who wants friends, should show himself first to be friendly. Walking in love means giving the other person what he or she needs most when it is least deserved. That is how God treated us. Walking in love is much different than “falling in love.” When someone falls in love they can’t help how they feel, how they act and what they are driven to do. Why? Because falling means you have lost control but the fruit of the spirit is self-control (cf. 2 Tim. 1:7; Gal 5:23). Walking requires purpose, balance, and self-control.

Step 3: Fix your eyes and hope on Jesus and seek to please Him through your relationships – God needs to be the most important person in your life (not the person you marry or are dating). When we make our personal fulfillment the goal of every relationship it never works out. We need to break the self-centered focus of our lives. Neither can we make a flaw filled sinner the hope of our life’s fulfillment. And that is what any human is – a sinner. We must remember that the other person is always going to need forgiveness as well as you. If we focus our eyes and hope on Jesus we cannot fail. The Bible says, “Those that put their trust in Him will never be ashamed.”

Step 4: If failure occurs, repeat steps 1-3 – if we fail we must always go back to the beginning and get right. This process is called repentance and acknowledges that we have failed and that we need to change some things in our life. The beautiful thing about repentance and this humbling process is that most often it will save relationships – not destroy them. As humans we often fall into to role playing in our relationships. One person dominates while the other person is a doormat. One person is addicted and the other person enables them by being codependent. To break the cycle we must take responsibility for our actions and work on ourselves becoming godly in our character.

   So what does God want us to do from this point? First of all, God wants to be trusted that He recognizes the need, in fact, He saw it long ago and He has someone in mind for you that is better than you could ever imagine if you will seek to become the person He wants you to become. In reality, unless you change and become like Christ that person will not be attracted to you.
   Secondly, God wants us to learn from His word what love really is and to begin by walking in love. This is especially true if you are already married and you want your marriage to be fulfilling and happy. God places the emphasis of a godly relationship not on the other person but upon us first. I heard a message years ago called, “Changing your husband’s wife!” given to a group of ministers wives. The title could just as well be changed to “Changing your wife’s husband!” for the men. The idea is that the responsibility for a good relationship begins with you changing not on our spouses.
   "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2).
   We must cease to be first concerned about the externals of our appearances as priority and become more concerned with changing our heart and pleasing God. Just as we prepare our appearance before we walk out of the door in the mornings, so we should be concerned to prepare our hearts to please God and serve others as His representatives in this world.
   Does God love you? Yes, of course He does! “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: (Ps 37:4-5).

Be Afraid...Be VERY Afraid!

2011-03-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

Perhaps one of the most difficult things for Christians to reconcile in the Bible to what is most often taught about the love of God and grace is the fear of God. There is almost a conspiracy to remove fear from the minds of Christians with respect to the character of God. A popular example of this would be the changing of the definition of the word fear to only mean to revere, have in awe, or to respect. It is not that we should not have awe and respect (see Heb. 12:28) but even that passage goes on to say, “for our God is a consuming fire.”

It is both obvious and found in the Scriptures that the wicked do not fear God. But in lieu of whom God is and the consequences of rejecting God’s salvation in Christ, is this wise and more importantly are Christians partially to blame?

Let’s take a look at what the Bible teaches on this subject and I would like to offer six reasons a Christian should seriously fear God. First of all should anyone every be afraid of God? I would suppose the first objection would be that:

God has not given us a Spirit of Fear:

2 Tim 1:7 NKJV - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (a spirit of timidity NIV)

The context of this passage though is expressly speaking about the fear of men. Paul was trying to encourage his son in the faith to stand boldly for Christ, not speak to his relationship to God in this passage.

Prov 29:25 – Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Jesus speaks about our fear of man versus our fear of God and says:

Luke 12:4-5 – "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him."

Considering the consequence of what man can do versus what God will do to those who fail to receive His grace and salvation, Jesus tells us we should not fear men who can only kill us but we should fear the One who can throw us into hell.

Isa 8:13 – The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.

The problem is that the Wicked Do Not Fear God as the Bible teaches.

Ps 36:1-4 NASU – Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For it flatters him in his own eyes concerning the discovery of his iniquity and the hatred of it. The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good. He plans wickedness upon his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not despise evil.

Rom 3:18 – "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

The Greek word used in the NT for fear is the word: phobos it is from this word that we get the word phobia. The word means “to be put in fear; alarm or fright” and the KJV translates the word “be afraid, exceedingly, fear, terror.” This seems to me to be quite different than just revering or reverencing God.

Rev 15:4 – Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.

Jer 5:22 – Should you not fear me?" declares the Lord. "Should you not tremble in my presence?

Ps 76:7 – You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry?

Ps 90:11 NLT – Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.

Did you notice that in these passages God actually deserves to be feared and expects it from those who will bring Him glory? It is true what the Bible teaches:

Ps 111:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

That leads me to my first reason as to why we should fear the Lord: SO WE WILL HATE SIN.

Prov 8:13 – To fear the Lord is to hate evil.

Job 28:28 NASU – "And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'"

Prov 16:6 NKJV – In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.

We are to be so afraid of God, who is holy, that we want to avoid sin at all costs because we understand what it does to us, to those around us, and to our relationship with God. This I believe is why Jesus taught:

Mark 9:43-48 – If your hand causes you to sin cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'

Consider the following passage, what emotion is God trying to illicit from us? God want us to fear Him so much that He wants us not to deliberately keep on sinning by rejecting Christ as the only sacrifice for sin.

Heb 10:26-31 – If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the Law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

In Deut 5:22-29, Moses is recounting the story of when God spoke to the nation of Israel when He proclaimed His Law to them. In this passage He describes how the people were so overcome with fear that they actually feared death. As a result they asked Moses to hear God for them and “whatever the Lord our God tells you. (They said,) We will listen and obey.” What was God’s response? Moses tell the people not to fear me? No. God said, “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!”

The second reason I believe that we should all fear God is SO THAT WE WILL COME TO CHRIST FOR FORGIVENESS AND SALVATION. In Acts 13:7-12, the proconsul, who is described as an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished/amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

When the proconsul saw the power and the results of that power against wickedness he believed. Remember Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)? “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard.” I am sure after that no one else lied about their giving to the church. God has used fear to awaken men’s hearts time and time again.

Reason number three to fear God is SO WE WILL REMAIN FAITHFUL. In the letter to the Romans, Paul, through the Holy Spirit, warns believers not to be proud of their salvation but to fear if they don’t continue in faith because they too will be rejected as were the Jews.

Rom 11:20-22 NKJV – Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

We must also be faithful to preserving God’s word and be afraid not to add or take away from Scripture. The Bible warns:

Rev 22:18-19 – I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

Along with this passage, Deuteronomy 4:2 and Proverbs 30:6 give similar warnings about adding to or taking away from God’s word. Considering the consequences, we would all do well to heed this warning. Furthermore this carries into the actual message that is being preached.

We must also be faithful to the message of the gospel. If we would turn and preach another gospel we will be eternally condemned! I wonder how many preachers take this warning seriously.

Gal 1:8-10 – But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

We must not be seeking to please men in regard to proclaiming the gospel and yet that is what many churches really are trying to do. It is like they are trying to convince God what His word says rather than God convincing them of the truth. Does God in His gospel demand obedience, or has that passed away with the Law?

Eph 5:3-12 – But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

Yes God demands obedience and anyone who tells you different is a deceiver. The Bible teaches that in the Lord we CAN produce the fruit of righteousness and we can overcome sin – sin no longer has dominion over us. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and those works are called sin. As children of God we are to emulate the characteristics of our heavenly Father. He is holy and as a result of Him living inside of us we should be holy. This requires effort that is based in our faith in Christ and His strength.

Heb 12:14-17 – Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

If we do not learn how to receive the promised gift of righteousness now we will regret it later. Paul warns us to “see to it” that we do not miss the grace of God and as a result be rejected as Esau was. Understanding our sinful tendencies, our hearts that are prone to wander, knowing the consequences for our sin, and receiving Christ’s sacrificial death as an atonement for our sins brings me to the fourth reason to fear God which is SO THAT WE WILL LOVE HIM MUCH.

Luke 7:41-43 - "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Luke 7:47 – Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven — for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

If we don’t fear God we will have the tendency to not take our sins seriously. We will not see ourselves as truly needing salvation and power over sin. The outcome will be that we will not be as thankful or love God very much. That is why we need to look at the Law and the punishments directed toward those who disobey that Law. We will find ourselves as wretched and our sin exceedingly sinful.

Rom 7:9-14 NKJV – I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

What was the reaction of men who saw or heard God? Did they not plead for God to speak no more to them as the Israelites in Deut 5? Did they not fall like dead men and need to be strengthened to stand in God’s presence? Did they not exclaim they were sinners as Peter and Isaiah did?

1 Cor 6:9-11 - Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

How can those who understand the wretchedness of their sinful condition who have now come to Christ and have received His salvation not love Him? We love Him because He first loved us and sent Jesus to die for us while we were ungodly. If we don’t understand what God saved us from how can we expect the world to recognize their need? If we don’t fear God and the consequences for our sin, how can those in the world be convinced they need Christ? So the fifth reason is SO THAT OTHERS WILL FEAR.

Prov 13:19 NKJV – it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Since it is an abomination for them to depart from evil they “think that it is strange” and insult you now because they are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of wild living ( 1 Peter 4:4).

This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish (2 Peter 2:10-12).

If we live lives that are a contradiction to what we say the world should not do will not the world blaspheme God because of our hypocrisy? Many unbelievers become emboldened to speak and act against God because we don’t fear Him. How do they know we don’t fear Him? Because we do the things we condemn in others. As a result

If you … "brag about your relationship to God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles (or unbelievers also) because of you" (Rom 2:17-24).

See? Our hypocrisy and inability to lead godly lives does not honor God. What it does do is give occasion to sinful men to blaspheme. We see it all the time after a spiritual leader falls. The world is quick to pick up on this and they blaspheme that worthy name by which we are called.

The book of Revelation was not given to unbelievers, rather it was given to the Church so that they being moved with fear and compassion would diligently seek the lost. This is my sixth reason for fearing God; SO WE WILL SHARE CHRIST.

2 Cor 5:10-11 NKJV - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.

This passage lets me know that if we truly understood the fear of the Lord it would motivate us to persuade men and women to Christ. It is true that not everyone will come to faith if we give good reason to fear God but our job is to fully relate the message of God’s word and this is most certainly part of it. Be afraid…Be very afraid of the consequences of rejecting God’s salvation in Christ.

I am aware a message like this is not very popular. I do also believe that God wants us to move beyond fear and be motivated by love (perfect love casts out fear), but we should always have a godly fear of Him in the back of our minds. After all, didn't the Serpent esentially tell Eve not to fear God when he told her, "You shall not surely die?" Look in the Bible for yourself and you will see that this message merely scratches the surface.

Father help each of us to truly fear the consequences of sin and let that fear so motivate us as to seek your strength to overcome sin in our lives. May we gain greater love for you by understanding more of what you have saved us from and let our understanding of why You should be feared motivate us to seek those who are lost so that they too will be saved. In Jesus name.

You SHALL Be A Blessing

2011-03-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the following statements?

“Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”
      - T.H. Thompson and John Watson

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
      - Plato

So my question is. . . Is it true?

Every time I have asked this question the answer has always come back, “Yes, it is true.”

As a minister was addressing a group of men, he took a large piece of paper and made a black dot in the center of it with a marking pen. Then he held the paper up before the group and asked them what they saw. One person quickly replied, "I see a black mark." "Right," the preacher replied. "What else do you see?" Complete silence prevailed. "Don't you see anything other than the dot?" he asked. A chorus of “No” came from the audience. "I'm really surprised," the speaker commented. "You have completely overlooked the most important thing of all – the sheet of paper." Then he made the application. He said that in life we are often distracted by small, dot-like disappointments or painful experiences, and we are prone to forget the innumerable blessings we receive from the hand of the Lord. But like the sheet of paper, the good things are far more important than the adversities that monopolize our attention.

So if it is true that we all struggle in many ways and as a result we tend to focus our attention on our personal struggles, how do we as Christians live “the blessed life” or receive blessings from the Lord – especially since we expect God to hear and to answer our prayers?

The Bible says:

         Gal 3:14 - He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus.

So how are we supposed to receive this blessing? Here was the original promise given to Abraham:

       Gen 12:2 NKJV - I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.

It is interesting to note that grammatically the word “shall” is an imperative – which means it is a command. God is setting forth His way of blessing His people which is “You SHALL be a blessing.” Which is precisely what the rest of the Scriptures teach:

        Prov 11:25 MSG - The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.

        Prov 11:24-25 ERV - Some people give freely and gain more; others refuse to give and end up with less. Give freely, and you will profit. Help others, and you will gain more for yourself.

       Luke 6:35-38 – But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.

It is a principle within the kingdom of God that His people initiate being a blessing to others and in return they are blessed themselves. The passage in Luke shows us that it doesn’t just work with giving financially, but in every area of our lives we are told to “do to others what you would have them do for you” (c.f. Luke 6:31).

But the teaching demands more than just a desire to be blessed. There is a command to be sincerely caring about the struggles of others.

       Phil 2:3-4 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

       1 Cor 10:24 - Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

As Christians, I think most of us would agree that we have a responsibility to care about the needs of others and to show that concern in tangible ways, the problem is that our struggles are often the focus of our lives right now. We have dreams about making a difference in this world or in the lives of others as soon as our problems have gone away or at least subsided. But I am going to share with you an important truth:

          Eccl 11:4 TEV - If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything.

It is true in principle that if you are waiting for the conditions of your life to be just right before you begin to obey God’s command to be a blessing to others – you will never do it and as a result you will not have a very blessed life. Look for it in the Scriptures whether it has to do with tithing (Mal 3:8-12); caring for the poor (Matt 25:31-40); having God hear our prayers (Isa. 58); each of these commands that result in us being abundantly blessed all have to do with us meeting the needs of others. We are responsible to those who we are aware of that are in need:

          Prov 28:27 - He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

         Isa 32:8 NKJV - But a generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand.

In fact, the Bible asks, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18).

Notice that the Bible teaches that it cannot just be something we desire to do and just give lip service to doing we are expected to actually do it! Just as James states:

      James 1:26-27 - If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Now someone may question, are you trying to teach a “works” orientated salvation? Notice what the Scriptures teach:

          Eph 2:8-10 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Notice we are not saved BY works but being saved in Christ Jesus means we will do good works. If we do not understand this we miss the focus of what Scripture is trying to teach us:

           2 Tim 3:16-17 NKJV – All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The end result of our Bible study should be that we are equipped to do good works. In fact, this is the primary focus of the teaching of a godly leader:

            Eph 4:11-12 - It was he (Jesus) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

          Titus 2:13-15 NKJV - Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

         Titus 3:8 NKJV - This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

        Titus 3:14 NKJV - And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

It is the reason that we gather together – to provoke each other to do good works:

        Heb 10:24-25 NKJV - And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

It is how we are to win the world to Christ:

        1 Peter 2:12 - Live such good lives among the unbelievers that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

        Matt 5:14-16 - "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Tavis Smiley, TV talk show host, recounts, “Dr. Cornell West has this really powerful definition of leadership that he told me one day. So, we're sitting around literally eating hot dogs one day and Doc says to me, "You know, it's true Brother Tavis, that you really can't lead people if you don't love people, and you can't save people if you don't serve people."”

This is really true, we cannot save people – reach them with the gospel of Jesus Christ – unless we are willing to do what Jesus did, which is to serve others in love (Gal 5:13). Until we feel debtors to serving others we will not be walking in the will of the Lord for our lives and we will not know what it is to truly be blessed (c.f. Acts 20:35).

            2 Cor 9:6-8 - Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

The beautiful thing is that once we are committed to serving others God promises to provide all that we need to do His will (Heb 13:21). So as difficult as it may seem, let us all turn our eyes away from the storms of our lives and focus on Jesus’ will – the result will be miraculous.

Lord God, it is so difficult for us at times to do the things that are in our hearts to do. Sometimes we even say to You and others our intention to do well, but find we let the struggles of this life choke the word and keep us from becoming fruitful and actually doing the good work. Forgive us and give us a renewed commitment to be a blessing to others both in the church and also in the world that they may see our good works and glorify You. Let us not become weary in doing well and let us receive the harvest of righteousness that You have promised to those who obey You. In Jesus name, we ask it. Amen.

The God of the Cinderella Story

2010-11-15T08:15:00.000-08:00

She was a mere servant, bound to fulfill the selfish desires of those who were supposed to treat her like family. Day after day she served faithfully without protest. Rather than complaining, within her heart was a song of hope that someday her life would radically be changed. When her life’s situation seemed to be at its worst, that’s when an unexpected opportunity came and she captured the attention of the prince of her country. She showed up at a ball (a party) that was designed for the prince to choose his bride. Beyond her physical beauty was the beauty of holiness and exemplary character. The crowd watched and complained as the prince chose her alone to dance with. With disdain and jealousy they asked, “Where did she come from? We have never seen her before.” She eventually married the prince and would become a queen. Those who mocked her and abused her were punished.

Lord, let those who read this hear with spiritual ears the symbolism of this story because this is your story and it is our story. You are the God of the Cinderella Story.

This was the fable that has inspired the phrase, “a Cinderella Story,” meaning that someone came out of obscurity and immense difficulty to achieve something great. But long before this story were the stories of the Bible that actually reveal the God of the Cinderella Story. In fact, Scripture teaches that this is God’s modus operandi.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God (1 Cor 1:26-29).

This passage tells us that God deliberately chose those who were weak, those who were abused, despised, and rejected by those more powerful. He chose those who, in comparison to the well educated and wise of this world, seem foolish. God did it then and continues to do it to shame those who think they are wise and important so no one can EVER boast in God’s presence.

The Bible is replete with stories of the insignificant accomplishing great things. The old having children; a Hebrew slave becoming a ruler of the greatest nation of that time; a nation of wanderers displacing ten nations with giants, walled cities, and huge populations; a child defeating the largest giant of all recorded time; the timid that became brave and the weak that became victors like Gideon’s army of 300 that defeated an army of thousands; or like Jehoshaphat who defeated three armies that joined to destroy Judah a single tribe left in Israel. Or Hezekiah who trusted in the Lord in spite of the king of Assyria destroying every other nation it had attacked. The Lord caused the armies of Sennacherib of Assyria to be defeated by an angel. Time limits me of speaking of Daniel, Jeremiah, and the countless others.

Were ANY of these success stories a result of their own ability to become victorious over their situation? No, in fact in most cases, what they accomplished was impossible and unattainable through natural means. That is what I believe God is trying to get us to understand and why the Apostle Paul prayed that the eyes of our understanding might be opened that we would know what is the exceeding greatness of His power that works in those who believe (Eph. 1:19).

Sometimes we get it in our heads that only the strong survive. Or that only the educated are wise or that success is measured by how many possessions someone has. Sadly, this belief is found even in the church where it is believed that being financially endued is equated with godliness, or where a relationship with God is measured by how many degrees one has rather than a lifestyle that reflects godly behavior.

I think many of us buy into a naturalistic concept of the identity of God because we really fail to seek Him passionately enough to see His hand working in our lives. We substitute pragmatism for a legitimate move or revelation of God. We replace Spiritual gifts and God’s anointing with natural talents. We lean on our own understanding rather than believing for the miraculous and as a result we limit Him. To many of us, Christianity is a mere crutch that we lean on only when we need to. True Christianity on the contrary is a stretcher in which we lay our lives down, cease to do our own will, and rely solely upon the promises of God for strength and deliverance. God promises, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness," and that when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12:9…10).

Do we really believe that? Do we really seek and rely on God’s strength, His anointing, His wisdom, and His way over what we can accomplish on our own? How many of us seek to be weak, rejoice in our weaknesses, believing that in them is the greatest opportunity for God to show His power and control over all the situations of our lives?

How many of us “lean on our own understanding” instead of acknowledging Him (Prov 3:5-6)? We struggle so often to be in control of the situations of our lives and to live our lives in whatever way we think is right because we believe, “It is my life and my right to do what I want.” When problems come into our lives, we often question God’s faithfulness and love for us. But, God doesn’t want the difficulties, trials or temptations of life to cause us to fall under the weight of them; He wants us to come to Him to receive the way of escape (1 Cor 10:13). His plan is to use us as instruments of righteousness to accomplish something great, something unique, or something that reveals His presence (Mt 5:16).

In all the Cinderella Stories of the Bible, each one of them learned that the way to receive victory over whatever situation they faced was to go to God, explain the circumstance, confess their own weakness and inability to handle the situation, do whatever He said (even if it made no logical sense) and then put their trust in God to deliver them. I am persuaded that Jesus is the same today as yesterday and He still wants to do great things in our lives that testify of His presence. The Bible declares that God desires to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we can ask or think (Eph. 3:20).

Perhaps we need to be reminded that the greatest Cinderella Story in the Bible concerned a boy born to a poor family and was raised in a small town. He had to work hard to make a living. The Bible describes him as plain without the sort of attractiveness that would draw people to him. But he loved people and sought to do good for them with God’s help. When he was in his thirties, he dedicated his life to full time ministry. Out of nowhere he began to do the miraculous, healed the sick, and taught with great authority. Surprisingly, those around him began to question his teaching and claims. “How did he get these things?” They all asked and became offended with him (Mt.13:56-57). Out of jealousy they had him killed, but when a happy ending seemed impossible, he was miraculously raised from the dead and was exalted to the Father’s own right hand far above every ruler and all creation. Of course this is the story of Jesus Christ the greatest of all Cinderella stories.

If we are His, we will share in His ministry of weakness so that the power of God may manifest itself in us. He must increase and we must decrease (Jn 3:30, Zech 4:6).

What are we Thankful For? A Paradigm Shift

2010-11-11T07:04:00.000-08:00

Are you part of a family that has each person give thanks for something in their lives as part of their Thanksgiving celebration? Typically there are thanks given for our lives, our families and the things we possess. It is only natural for us to be thankful for all the things that we perceive to be good. After all we would think that who in their right mind would be thankful for things that were unpleasant or difficult? Which begs the question, what if it seemed that there was nothing to be thankful for, could we still give thanks to God?

If we are Christians, but we are going through difficult times, have we lost the reason to give thanks? No, the Bible teaches that God’s will for us is that we would give thanks in every circumstance in our lives (1 Thess 5:18). Therefore what we need is a new paradigm for Thanksgiving. In other words, we need a new focus for the reason to give thanks.

Roget’s Thesaurus lists, as synonyms for the word thankful, the words contented and satisfied. The first step to giving thanks in every circumstance is contentment. What is contentment? Contentment is the knowledge that we possess all that we need. Discontentment is defined as dissatisfaction. We cannot be thankful if we are dissatisfied. The Apostle Paul said that he had learned the secret of being content in every situation (Phil 4:12).

Psalm 100 is specifically called a psalm for giving thanks. As we read this psalm, we can notice that the focus is on the Lord our God. We are His, not that He is ours. This tells us that we are subject to His will and not that He is subject to our wills. While some may balk at His sovereignty, the psalm goes on to reassure us that we need not fear His control because “the Lord is good and his love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” His plan for us is ultimately a good one when we love Him and respond to His call and purposes (Rom 8:28).

While the Lord is good and His goodness and love faithfully endure throughout all time, we are sporadic at being good and loving at best and therefore we are not faithful. Because we are not always good, not always loving, and not faithful in every situation how can we be content? Is it not true that much of the world’s problems and even our own are caused by sin?

The Bible teaches that God understands who we are and remembers our character in dealing with us (Psalms 103:14). The Apostle Paul taught, “We are not fit, meaning qualified and sufficient in ability, of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God. It is He who has qualified us making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient” (2 Cor 3:5-6). More simply stated, we are flawed creatures in our thinking and actions but God has made us worthy and acceptable in Christ Jesus who died for us. Our worthiness is not based upon our personal goodness or on what we possess; our worthiness is based upon what Christ alone has done.

And so we have found the secret of Paul’s contentment as he stated in his epistle to the Philippians. He said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Phil 4:11b-13).

The secret to Paul’s contentment was that he possessed Christ in his life and he realized that in Him he could do everything – that is whether it was to be in plenty or in want, or to be well fed or hungry. He found that in Christ Jesus were hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3).

The Bible makes this statement: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21). In this new paradigm for giving thanks, I would like us to understand that it is not only WHERE our treasure is, but also WHAT our treasure is that reveals the condition of our hearts. If our treasures are things like wealth, health, family, and possessions do we realize that eventually we shall lose all of these? It is not that these things are not valuable because if they are used to bring God glory they are. But if they are the focus of our desire and the reason for our thanks then dissatisfaction is inevitable because not only do thieves steal and things decay, but our health fades and our families leave us and eventually pass into eternity.

Paul realized this paradigm shift in his own life when he said, “Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ” (Phil 3:7-8). Paul came to the realization that his treasure was Christ Jesus, both knowing Him and possessing Him. Paul tell us in another place, “God has chosen to make known . . . the glorious riches (treasure) of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27).

If we, like Paul, focus our desire and our praise on Christ and all that comes with Him, then it doesn’t matter if we suffer lack or we have this world’s good. We rejoice that our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). Like both Moses and Paul we can regard disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt (or this world), because we are looking ahead to our reward (Heb 11:26).

Like Paul, Moses and other Biblical examples, we have to choose to change our perspectives. The Bible tells us that “since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:1-4). This “setting” of our hearts and minds is a purposeful action.

As the old song says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus . . . and the things of this world will grow strangely dim.” We can be content with what we have if we possess Christ because, God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb 13:5).

There is so much more to this paradigm. A Bible study on contentment and giving thanks will help fill in the blanks. This Thanksgiving holyday, be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (be your treasure) as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Let us give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever. In Him we have all that we will ever need.

What If...?

2010-10-06T19:47:00.001-07:00

• What if I told you that unless you attended our religious affiliation, you cannot be saved but are going to hell?

• What if I told you that unless your children participate in a certain ritual done in our organization they are lost and going to hell unless God’s mercy would somehow intervene?

• What if I told you that you should pray to the dead to intervene in your life and your life’s circumstances?

• What if I told you that our religious leaders can make Jesus appear over and over again at will?

• What if I told you that it would be a sin that could cause you to lose your salvation if you took part in even similar religious ceremonies at another religious institution?

• What if I told you that you should not allow yourself or anyone else to question the beliefs our religion because our leaders alone speak for God?

• And what if I told you that in spite of many of our religious leaders committing crimes against children and that other leaders in our organization attempted to cover it up, ours is still the only way to heaven?

Would you still want to attend and financially support our organization? And would you make sure that your family members attended?

Wouldn’t you rather call such a religious organization a cult and want you and your family to be out from under these cultish practices as soon as possible? Oddly enough, many people make sure to attend this kind of religious organization every Sunday and special holidays fearing to question what they are being taught.

What I described to you in just some of the false teachings of the Catholic church. And while I think that it might be possible for individuals to be saved in that church organization (mainly because they love, believe and trust Jesus for salvation and are unaware of the specific teachings of the Catholic faith), it is obvious that these teachings contradict Scripture on many levels.

As a church that is called to bring the true Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in our community, we must attempt to share the truth with those who believe false teachings because we love them and are concerned for their souls.

We believe in what is called “Sola Scriptura” that on the stage of truth the preeminent infallible truth is the Word of God – the Bible. Our stage contains truth that is not found in the Scriptures, such as: Science; Tradition; Culture; and Emotions.

You can see that if we adjust the position of these things on the stage of truth we can understand the perspectives of other belief systems. For example, the Catholic church believes what is called, “Dual Source” or more negatively “Sola Ecclesia” meaning they place Church Tradition or Papal authority alongside Scripture. It is said:

“Evangelicals believe that their personal interpretation of the Bible is more authoritative than tradition and Catholics believe that their traditions are more authoritative than the Bible.”

In reality neither would agree. Evangelicals would say that with proper exegesis, Scripture is more authoritative than tradition not their personal interpretation.

Catholics would say that Scripture and tradition are taught side by side in passages such as:

2 Thessalonians 2:15 - So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

But what this passage in reality is speaking of is that the Scriptural truths taught either in word or in letter they are to hold on to - NOT that any tradition can set itself up as equally true especially when it contradicts the teachings clearly set forth in Scripture.

Evangelicals do not believe in "Solo Scriptura" that the only truth able to be accepted is found in the Bible, rather "Sola Scriptura" means that where science, philosophy, or culture would contradict the Scriptures - we would reject such teachings but allow for anything accurate found in science, mathematics, history, etc. as in deed truth. We understand the Bible is not a science book for example.

In the community that I pastor 70% of the people attend church and 55% of this same community is Catholic. That tells me that over half of the people in my community do not have a proper understanding of even the basics of salvation and even worse they are being taught that their religious institution is the sole source of salvation - the only Church and the sole minister's of God's grace. Somehow as Evangelical Pentecostals we must reach out to this group of people in our community with love, with truth, and lift up the gospel and the Word of God above the teachings of men through tradition and the papacy. I don’t think we should ignore them.

Do you agree?

THE IDEAL CHURCH?

2010-08-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

Here it is . . . the church that many of you have been waiting for. The sign on the outside of this church In North Jersey reads, “COMING SOON – A CHURCH THAT IS NOT AFTER YOUR MONEY – NO OFFERING TAKEN – FEATURING: BASIC CHRISTIANITY, SINCERE WALK WITH GOD, HYMNS.”

Those of us who have had bad experiences with churches or pastors that were only focused on taking advantage of the congregation financially most certainly can leave us embittered against the church taking offerings. The congregation gets upset when the pastor, staff, and building are the priority rather than the people both inside the church and in the community. The congregation and even the community in which the church is located get upset when such a church demands a percentage of the members’ income, when it promises wealth in return for giving, and when the pastor is living extravagantly at the expense of its members and their sacrifice.

The Scriptures warn church leaders not to be greedy or to take advantage of the people in their care. An example of such a warning is found in 1 Peter 5:2-3 which reads, “Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” Among the qualifiers for church leaders is that they must not be a lover of money and greedy of filthy lucre (see 1 Tim 3:3,8 and Titus 1:7).

Does this warning mean that the noble and right thing to do is to no longer ask for the congregation under their care to support the church in which they are a part of? While to some it may seem noble to attempt to run a church without money, I doubt that have not really considered what a church like that would look like. Such a church would not have a meeting place. Even if the meeting place was donated, look at the picture of the building closer – it needs maintenance and paint – not just for aesthetics, but also to prevent the much greater expense of replacing rotted wood and siding. Such a church would have to sing hymns that are rights free and use the King James Version or similar rights free versions. This church would have zero evangelism and impact on the community in which it is located. This church would not have a children’s program because it couldn’t pay for even the most miniscule items such as paper and crayons, children’s Bibles, it wouldn’t be a place that children would want to attend. It wouldn’t pay its pastor or have any support staff. The pastor would have to work outside of the church fulltime as a result he would not offer pastoral care, he would always struggle with preparing sermons for Sunday services and never be have the time to equip others for works of service. Such a church wouldn’t have a phone or way for people to contact the church if there is a need. They would not be able to help the poor in their community. Perhaps they would have a few financial backers who would control the purse strings of the church thus telling everyone else what it could do or what doesn’t meet their approval. I could go on, but I am sure that if one would only think about what kind of church this would be they would realize they would not want to be a member of such a church.

This kind of church would not give to missions and the spread of the gospel, this church would be self-focused and become arrogant. This church could never teach financial responsibilities to its people. This church would be afraid of its members and only cater to what they want to hear and do. No, this church would not be a good church at all.

Most of all, this church would be a disobedient church. The Bible teaches the body of Christ to give to the needs of others saying, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:6-7). And, “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else” (2 Cor 9:10-13). The Lord will divide sheep and goats on the very issue of giving to those in need (see Mt 25:31-46).

Some may say, “There is no specific command to give towards a building or meeting place!” Okay, in the New Testament there is not such a command – but in the Old Testament there most certainly was. Question about this may arise from the passage where Peter is asked if Jesus paid the temple tax. Here is the passage:

After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes, he does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes — from their own sons or from others?" "From others," Peter answered. "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours." (Matt 17:24-27).

Noteworthy first of all is that Jesus did pay the tax for himself and for Peter. The second thing is that Jesus’ main complaint seems to be that it was considered “duty or tax” imposed upon people. Lastly, it interpreted only in a couple of translations that this is the tax called for in Ex 30:13-16 and Neh 10:32-33 for maintenance of the temple. It seems more logical to me that when Jesus mentions the “kings of the earth” taking tribute he is not talking about the priests in the Temple. This maybe the event that was later misinterpreted by others who tried to trick Jesus into saying it was not right to pay taxes to Caesar (Mt 22:17). While it is true the early church often met in homes, it is also just as true that they continued to meet at the Temple till its destruction. Further, while it is true that during the persecution of the church the church also met in catacombs; once persecution subsided, the church did begin to build places of worship for the purpose of gathering, convenience, and evangelism.

Concerning the pastor the Bible teaches, “Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel” (1 Cor 9:13-14). Again, “Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?” (1 Cor 9:7-12).

Who would go to a church that didn’t receive offerings? Would not those that attend be selfish, personally greedy, and uncaring about the needs of others? Wouldn’t they be unconcerned about the spread of the gospel, reaching their community, and making sure their children have the gospel presented to them in a way that they would be understand it? Wouldn’t they most likely be unwilling to invest their time and talents to this church?

What at first glance may seem attractive and noble would end up proving to be dishonoring to God.

The Holy Trifecta

2010-04-19T18:09:00.001-07:00

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love (1 Cor 13:12-13).

Trifecta is defined as a series of three things, factors, or influences. The Holy Influences the Bible lists are faith, hope, and love. While the greatest of these is love, the root is hope.

There is a story from Our Daily Bread, December 19, 1996, that reads:

The English poet Alexander Pope wrote, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always to be blest.” But where does man turn when hope dries up?

The director of a medical clinic told of a terminally ill young man who came in for his usual treatment. A new doctor who was on duty said to him casually and cruelly, “You know, don’t you, that you won’t live out the year?”

As the young man left, he stopped by the director’s desk and wept. “That man took away my hope,” he blurted out.

“I guess he did,” replied the director. “Maybe it’s time to find a new one.”

What was this young man hoping in? . . . The treatment? . . . His body’s ability to heal? . . . The skill of the doctors? . . ., Perhaps the Clinic’s reputation? . . .

Commenting on this incident, Lewis Smedes (professor of theology and ethics for twenty-five years at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California) wrote, “Is there a hope when hope is taken away? Is there hope when the situation is hopeless? That question leads us to Christian hope, for in the Bible, HOPE IS NO LONGER A PASSION FOR THE POSSIBLE. It becomes a passion for the promise.”

The fact is that man’s hope does not spring up eternally. There are all sorts of times that we lose hope or feel hopeless. That is why medication for depression is on the rise. That is why the number two reason teenagers die is suicide. There is a reason why:

OUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IS BASED UPON THE FAITH THAT WE HAVE NOW.

Thomas Aquinas said, “Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.” Restating this, hope deals with things in the future and faith is our beliefs in spite of our current circumstances. The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for (Heb 11:1). In other words, the substance of our hope is our faith or, what you believe is the tangible reason for whatever hope that you possess.

WE NEED AN ETERNAL HOPE

Job rightly said, “If the only home I hope for is the grave … where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?” (Job 17:13-15).

Job had lost everything and he was extremely sick and in pain. He was saying that if we believe that this life is all there is then what kind of hope for the future is there for him? Do you see how what we believe now affects what hope we have for the future?

Leo Tolstoy shares his testimony that when he was fifty years old, he found no purpose in life being a “fortuitous concatenation of atoms,” meaning an accidental compilation of matter. If one would think on this they would agree that life’s purpose needs to be more than living and dying.

When you come to hear a sermon, I believe you come to find that there is hope for your life and your circumstances beyond what you would normally see. So it is my job to show you where that hope that springs eternal can be found.

BIBLICAL FAITH IS THE ONLY PROPER BASIS FOR OUR HOPES

Five different times in Psalms 119 David says, “I have put my hope in your word.” Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life (Ps 119:49-50).

Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Rom 15:4).

A working definition of hope is - to desire with expectation of obtainment or to expect with confidence. The basis for our hope and expectations is found in God’s Word, the Bible. That is why the Bible teaches faith comes from the hope found in God’s Word:

So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ [the Messiah Himself] (Rom 10:17 AMP).

How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him (Hebrews 2:3).

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth (Colossians 1:3-6).

WHY, CAN WE HAVE HOPE?

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:17-19).

A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, [i.e. cannot lie – most other translations] promised before the beginning of time (Titus 1:2).

We take hold of the hope that is offered to us. In other words, we believe what God has said that that gives us hope. What can we hope for in this passage?

Since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants" (Hebrews 6:13-14)

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit (Gal 3:14).

“I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David” (Acts 13:34).

NO LONGER A PASSION FOR THE POSSIBLE BUT PASSION FOR THE PROMISES

You see; we can have great confidence for our hope when it is based upon God’s Word because He cannot lie and He has the power to bring about what He has promised. His Word is guaranteed. That is why God said:

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matt 24:35).

My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand” (Isa 14:24).

THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF FALSE BELIEFS WILL BE FALSE HOPES.

If we have hope that is not based in God’s word when conflicting circumstances come to us we will fall into despair and lose hope.

Notice the story from Luke 24:13-27:

Now that same day two of them [referring to the disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things [what had happened that resurrection day] with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

Notice, because they believed the wrong thing their hope for the future was dashed.

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! …And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Do you see their problem was a faith problem? The problem was they did not believe what the Scriptures had said. Without Biblical faith that comes from the Scriptures we will lose our hope.

Some of us are only “hoping” for salvation because we have yet to find ourselves in the Bible. We have no security that way. The Bible says, all have sinned (Rom 3:23). That’s me and you; Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15). Since we are all sinners, Jesus came to save us! It is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast (Eph 2:8-9). We have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand (Rom 5:2).

Some of us only hope for God to hear our prayers without understanding when God listens or why He refuses to do what we request.

The LORD said to me, "…, I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled" (Jeremiah 1:12).

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him (1 John 5:14-15).

The phrase “hope against hope” is often defined as – having hope when there is no basis for that hope. But that is NOT what the Bible teaches about the subject.

Romans 4:18-25 says: Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Just as much as our faith is not baseless but there exist tangible reasons for what we believe so our hope is not baseless, it is based upon our faith in the promises of God. We have hope because God has given us hope in His Word.

WHAT COMPLETES THE TRIFECTA IS LOVE

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3).

Since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

LOVE MAKES OUR FAITH EFFECTIVE

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2-3).

You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:4-6).

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers (Ephesians 1:15-16).

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Tim 1:5).

Let me challenge you today to find some substance for your hopes by searching the Scriptures for the basis for your faith that your hope is built upon. Let love prompt your faith to do good works because “faith without works is dead” (Jas 2:26).

FROM THE FAMILIAR INTO FAITH

2010-04-14T07:38:00.001-07:00

Mark 6:45-54 - Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.
Eph 3:20-21 - Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
The Fourth Watch: The Jewish night is divided into four watches. The fourth or final watch is that time just before dawn, in the darkest hours. It was during the fourth watch that Jesus came to the apostles as they struggled against the storm in their boat on the Sea of Galilee. It will be in those darkest hours when Jesus returns for His people. Matthew 24:29 says, "The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;" But, just when things are at their darkest, we know that "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky," (Matthew 24:30).Jesus will return. We do not know when, so we must keep watch (Matthew 24:42).
Romans 13:12 - The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
PETER WAS A FISHERMAN AND JESUS MADE HIM A FISHER OF MEN!
At least Peter took a step of faith, the rest of them were just Boat people!
Boat people just sit
Boat people just watch
Boat people just wait
Boat people just wonder
Why might people want to stay in the boat?
Fear – Storms are scary
Failure – this seems inevitable
Friends – Peer pressure; no one else is doing it
Fanaticism – Jesus told us to get into the boat originally
Familiarity – Even when things are not working often times we are more comfortable to stay where we are at then to step out in faith to do something new.
God calls us to leave the familiar – to the strange that He might use us for something great.
I can imagine the look in your eyes-that look caused by unimaginable pressure and grief; that look caused by helplessness and hopelessness; that look caused by incessantly rowing of a boat that isn't going anywhere. I see the look because I know the feeling.

Get out of the boat.
Granted, there is a sense of security in the boat. After all, it seems solid, gives at least some protection at times, and seems to be moving, even if only in a circle
But what I thought was security was actually an anchor pulling me to the depths, robbing me of confidence and beauty and love and health.
We may appear to be sinking at first, we get out of the boat and it seems like things are getting worse. What do you think was the reaction of those who stayed on the boat when they saw Peter begin to sink? I am glad that I stayed here. Peter, you misunderstood the voice of God. Peter, you are always so impetuous. The boat seems to always have naysayers.
Teddy Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat.”
We are not told how far away Jesus was from the boat, but when Peter stepped out of the boat to walk to the Lord, even when he was sinking, he was closer to Jesus than the rest of them.
Neither are we told how deep the water is, but the fact is if you are already in over your head it does matter how much deeper the water is.
We are not told that Jesus carried Peter back to the boat. I believe that once Peter got himself righted, with the storm still raging, he and Jesus walked back together. We all have to walk to Jesus before we can walk with Jesus.
The rest were content to sit in the boat and wait for Him to get there. In v. 32 we read that the wind ceased once Jesus and Peter got into the boat, but what they missed out on was the opportunity to experience divine. Walking with Jesus allows us to do things that we could never accomplish on our own.
We need not fear because His arm is not too short that it cannot save us.
Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
He holds us by our hand
Here is what God does - even in the midst of a storm:
Ps 94:13 MSG - Providing a circle of quiet within the clamor of evil,
Ps 94:13 AMP - That You may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity.
Are you a risk taker or a comfort seeker?
Do you have any unopened gifts?
Goethe said, “Hell begins the day God grants you the vision to see all that you could have done, should have done, and would have done, but did not do.”
Unless someone gets out of the boat we will never get out of the storm. If everyone stayed in the boat they would have died because Jesus would have passed them according to the Scripture.
When God bids us to come into a place that is not in our comfort zone, He is already in that place. He would not tell us to go to a place that he is not present. In fact He is present everywhere but he bids us to get out of our comfort zones so that He can reveal Himself to us. He not only reveals Himself to us but He reveals what is in our hearts. Many of us have hidden fears that God wants to replace with faith.
Many might say that God does not take us to stormy places but that is not true, for Jesus himself was led into the wilderness by the Spirit of God to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12-13). It was a place of revelation for Jesus, for he was tempted to replace his trust in God in order to ease his flesh. In other words he was tempted to take the easy way out, but he stood firm on the word of God. He stood firm on what he knew about God. Luke 4:1 tells us that Jesus was full of the Spirit but from that place Jesus left with POWER of the Holy Spirit.
Do we fixate on sins of commission? Things that we do that we are not supposed to do. Do we never really consider sins of omission? Things that we should have done.
In the Seinfeld show finale, Jerry and the gang have to make an emergency plane landing in the small, fictional town of Latham, Massachusetts. While killing time in Latham, waiting for the plane to be repaired, they witness an overweight man getting carjacked at gunpoint. Instead of helping him, they crack jokes about his size while Kramer films it all on his camcorder, then they proceed to walk away. The victim notices this, and tells the reporting officer. The four main characters are then taken into custody for violating the Good Samaritan law that requires bystanders to help out in such a situation. Good Samaritan laws describe a legal requirement for citizens to assist people in distress, unless doing so would put themselves in harm's way. Citizens are often required to, at minimum, call the local emergency number, unless doing so would be harmful, in which case, the authorities should be contacted when the harmful situation has been removed. Almost a portent of the future judgment, they are all cast into jail.
I am convinced that the greatest regrets in life will come from regrets of inaction.
Cornell sociologists named Tom Gilovich and Vicki Medvec. Their research found that time is a key factor in what we regret. Over the short term, we tend to regret our actions. But over the long haul, we tend to regret inactions. They did a study and found that over the course of an average week, action regrets outnumber inaction regrets 53% to 47%. But when people look at their lives as a whole, inaction regrets outnumber action regrets 84% to 16%.
We need to be able to discern between faith and foolishness. Here is the easiest way: You can say I am going to step out in faith and do this or that which is foolishness, but faith is doing what Jesus has given you permission to do.
Gen 12:1 - Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:
Mark 6:4 KJV - A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
God asked Abram to remove himself from the things that would prevent him from fully following after God. We will have to be willing to do the same. Jesus said, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matt 10:37-39

Against Limited Atonement

2010-02-16T06:25:00.000-08:00

I recently had a lengthy conversation with a man about Calvinism. In our conversation he made the following statement, “’Just looking at John 3:16 for example, where just recently I posted a Greek study on my (fb) wall on the word “world,” that showed that the word “world,” doesn’t refer to the “whole world.”’ Vine’s Greek dictionary disagrees with his interpretation. So while I know this post is quite long, I think that it provides a strong scriptural teaching that one can copy and use against this error.

Calvinists teach that Christ’s atoning sacrifice was limited to just an elect chosen group. In their teaching this must be true because God couldn’t love the “whole world” because it is clear that some reject Christ and in their belief if Jesus died for someone’s sins those sins must be eradicated as a result, or the only other option is universal salvation.

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the WORLD that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The word used in the Greek is the word “kosmos” from which we get the English word, “cosmos.” Having studied Greek, I know that there is nothing in the Greek that infers that kosmos doesn’t refer to the whole world. Their teaching consists of what they believe has to be the context of the word in light of their belief that atonement is limited to those whom God has elected out of the world. Yet this contradicts 1 John 2:2 which says, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the WHOLE world.” His response was that WHOLE WORLD didn’t really mean “the entire world.” Yet if you would do a word study on the Greek word “holos” which was translated “whole,” you would quickly see there is no other possible meaning to the word. For example: Matt 5:29 says, "It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your “whole”(the Gk word “holos”) body to be thrown into hell."

His response was to send me links to a couple of commentaries yet even in the commentaries they made statements like, “The writer believes,” “It is the writer's position,” and “it is this writer's conclusion.” That means they are exercising their opinion in view of their bias. The Bible says in a very popular verse, “ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” ( 2 Tim 3:16-17 NKJV). Why can the man of God be completely equipped in regard to instruction in righteousness? It is because who better to tell us what they meant then the author’s themselves. Not all commentaries are reliable.

So I will give you some scriptures that prove that “kosmos” DOES refer to the every person in the world and NOT as some commentaries teach that it means the elect out of the Gentiles and that I am not merely relying upon 1 John 2:2 as a solo proof text for unlimited atonement. 1 Timothy 2:1-6 - I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for EVERYONE— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants ALL men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for ALL men — the testimony given in its proper time.

Heb 2:9: We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for EVERYONE. 2 Cor 5:14-15: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for ALL, then were ALL dead: And that he died for ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. This last verse is significant because the assumption that one died for all is the basis for proving that “all were dead.” The proof that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God is that Christ died for all according to this passage.

The following is a list of the passages that tell us that Christ Jesus sacrifice was once for ALL:

Rom 6:10: The death he died, he died to sin once for ALL; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

Heb 7:27: Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for ALL when he offered himself.

Heb 9:12: He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for ALL by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

Heb 9:25-26: Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for ALL at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Heb 10:9-10: He said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for ALL.

1 Peter 3:18: For Christ died for sins once for ALL, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, Christ’s atoning death was NOT limited to just an “elect” group but for ALL. Notice in the following passages that the Cross cleansed all things:

Eph 1:9-10: He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

Col 1:19-20: For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

The significance of these two verses is that through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross ALL things whether in heaven or on earth were reconciled and brought together under one head. Again the point is that God does love all because Christ’s sacrifice was made for all and it is appropriated to all who believe.

Remember the story in the book of Acts where God in a vision to Peter let down a sheet full of all sorts of unclean animals? Peter refused to eat because he had never eaten anything impure or unclean. Then the voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean" (Acts 10:15). Was this merely a change in diet that God was making? No, notice what Peter said that he learned from this event, “God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean” (Acts 10:28). In other words, just as God cleansed all meats so God cleansed all men. Men are no longer condemned on the basis of their disobedience to God’s Law, but rather because they refuse to place their faith in Christ’s sacrifice for their sins. Jesus taught about the Holy Spirit: “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me (John 16:8-9).

The only basis in which men (mankind) are rejected is because of their unbelief. The scriptures that I have quoted here are very plain as to their meaning, on the other side of the debate, there are no passages that say that Christ wasn’t the atoning sacrifice for everyone. There are no scriptures that say God ordained some to heaven and others he ordained to hell. They must depart from scripture or else apply an interpretation to passages that are not clearly stated.

One of the passages that is used by Calvinists is that of John chapter 10 and I will include the focal verses emphasized and then an explanation:

(v. 11) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

(v.v. 14-16) "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

(v.v. 24-28) "If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."

It is taught from this passage that Jesus is therefore only laying down his life for the sheep and not for all. The discerning factor of whether or not these were His sheep was either their acceptance or rejection of Christ’s word. Remember this passage follows the statement made by Jesus at the end of chapter 9:

John 9:35-41 - Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man (God - some versions)?" 36 "Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him." 37 Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, HE IS THE ONE SPEAKING WITH YOU." 38 Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?" 41 Jesus said, "IF YOU WERE BLIND, YOU WOULD NOT BE GUILTY OF SIN; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

The Pharisees were present when Jesus openly revealed himself as the Christ the special “Son of Man” or the “Son of God” as some versions like the KJV state. The Pharisees refused to believed Jesus’ word – as they also rejected the rest of the scriptures. The Biblical pattern is faith follows hearing the word (e.g., Acts, Rom 10:14-17; Eph 1:13, and many more too numerous to list). That the revelation of who Jesus was at one time hid from the majority of the Jewish leaders but later revealed through the preaching of the gospel is taught in the following verses:

"Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, (Acts 3:17-19). None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Cor 2:8). Their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away (2 Cor 3:14; 16-17).

The mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus (Eph 3:3-6).

Jesus had taught, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you THINK that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to COME TO ME to have life (John 5:39-40). God’s word is supposed to lead us to faith in Christ (Rom 10:17) we are not merely to believe a set of doctrines. Jesus saves us and not a particular teaching.

Isa 8:20 warns us to, “Look to God's instructions and teachings! People who contradict His Word are completely in the dark.” We must take heed that no one deceives us and the only way that will happen is if we have a love for the truth. May I encourage you today to make sure that what you believe is exactly what the Bible teaches.

Offended

2010-02-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

I recently watched the YouTube video of the pastor of an AME church get slapped and attempt to slap back a member of his church. The report mentions that there were long standing problems between this pastor, who was appointed by his denomination’s leadership. One member is quoted as saying that the pastor had poor people skills – this became obvious as he swung back at the woman who slapped him.

In dismay I watched a Hispanic video of an infant baptism where a relative becomes upset with the priest. In response the priest actually publically calls her an idiot! She throws her purse at the priest and he retaliates by attempting to punch the woman out!

Jesus said, “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matt 18:7 NKJV). The word that is used in the Greek that is translated, “offences” pictures a snare made from a bent branch. This shows the deception behind an offence; it is a trap set for unsuspecting victims. Once a person is caught by a trap, they cannot get themselves out, especially without much difficulty. That is the power of offence, it so embitters people that they cannot be released from their animosity towards that other person.

I believe that Satan is behind trapping men and women in offences. The only way to avoid being taken in such a snare is to always be aware that traps have been set and we must deliberately keep our eyes open and be cautious to not be taken. The Bible teaches, “If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven — if there was anything to forgive — I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Cor 2:10-11 NIV). Sadly, I think many Christians are completely unaware of Satan’s schemes and snares.

The videos are extreme examples of this. They are a total shame and contradiction to what Christ taught which is that if we do not forgive we ourselves will not be forgiven; that we are to always act in love – even to our enemies; that if someone slaps us on one cheek we should turn to them the other. We are never taught to return evil for evil, insult for insult, rather we are to entrust all things to God who alone is the Judge and Lawgiver.

There is the story of a man who was trapped on an uncharted island. When he was finally found, it was noticed that there were three hand-made huts on the island. When the man was questioned about the purpose of each of the huts he responded, “Well, the first hut was the one I made for my home. The second hut is my church.” “What about the third hut?” they inquired. “Well that was the church I used to attend!” he said.

Some people seem to be looking for a reason to be offended and to break fellowship with others. There was obviously a recognized need for unity in the Church otherwise Jesus would not have felt it necessary to pray for our unity before he was taken to be crucified for our sins. Here is how Jesus said it, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:22-23). It is no wonder that the world struggles to believe that God so loved the world that He sent His Son when we are not in complete unity and are constantly being offended with each other.

We must “bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col 3:13). If we do not love those we see, how can we say we love God? Because God commanded us to love and forgive each other. I beseech you in Christ’s name if you are offended with someone, especially in the Church, go to them and be reconciled.

Needing Help?

2009-12-29T10:49:00.000-08:00

Recently I was sledding with my niece, nephew, my wife and another family from our church. We were sledding down a short but steep hill. At one point in the hill, you couldn’t help but scream or hold your breath because you were no longer able to maintain control. You had no other choice than to ride it out. Sometimes you crashed and other times you slid gracefully till you came to a stop. My last time down the hill I decided to ride down with my wife, I was in back and my feet hung out the front of the plastic sled. Ideally, I was supposed to keep my legs up but the steepness of the hill caused first my left foot to catch into the snow and pulled the hamstring in my left leg. My right foot caught and twisted my knee, which I heard snap. Needless to say, that hurt!

I couldn’t walk anymore in my own strength. My right knee could no longer support me and whenever it gave out I was in extreme pain. The hamstring muscle in my left leg made moving it almost impossible. I needed help. I could no longer rely upon my own will and determination to make it back up the hill and eventually to our car.

Now it wasn’t that I didn’t have to exert some effort, in fact it took quite a bit of effort on my part but I now had to rely on the support of those around me. Thank God they came to my aid, with their help and support I was able to lean upon them and make it up the hill and to our car. At home I had a knee brace and crutches waiting. We don’t have insurance so I could not go to a doctor.

My wife’s grandmother recently had a heart attack that caused her to go into a hospital and she is now in a rehabilitation facility. When asked how long she expected to be in the facility, she said, “about a week.” She is a strong-willed woman who doesn’t like to rely on others to take care of her. She is 89 and her husband has a similar character trait.

This past week, I listened to the family’s banter about her unwillingness to look to others for help, but I understand. It is difficult to believe that others are really willing to help. Many of our cries for help seem to fall on deaf ears. It seems like people only help because they have to help and so it is easier to just continue to carry the burden alone. It seems that we always respect those that “pull themselves up by their own bootstraps,” maybe that is because it doesn’t cost us any time, energy or expense when someone does.

Which is right? To only tell your burdens to God and pray that He alone will move heaven and earth to provide help, or is it better to let your needs be made known and appear weak? People say that fending for yourself is a pride thing, but then we immortalize great men of silent faith like George Mueller who never told anyone a need but only prayed to God to meet the need. Hudson Taylor, a contemporary to Mueller, believed that his needs and needs of China should be made known. Who was right? Even then it was a controversy.

Personally, I dislike asking for help. Personally, I am a bit wounded by the concept that the modern day church really cares. I have seen very little caring for the needs of others in the modern church. I have grown to believe that people, even in the church, only want to be blessed – not to be a blessing. While I could teach a Bible study as to why this is wrong, I have to admit that I have often let the focus on my own needs distract me from being a blessing to others. This is wrong and it is my determined goal for the upcoming year to change this about myself. I sincerely believe that God didn’t call us merely to be blessed but to be a blessing.

I have come to believe that I will always be in need, so maybe my life can be an example for others. God help us as the church to be who He has called us to be. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Gal 6:10). Are you needing help? Let me know and I will do all I can till your need is met.

Phil 2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Who Speaks For God?

2009-12-01T06:06:00.000-08:00

Did you ever wonder how some people speak like God tells them what to do in almost every situation; while you struggle to understand His voice and His will? As a pastor, I have heard far too many times, “God is telling me that I need to _____” (fill in the blank with some ridiculous statement that you KNOW is just what THEY want and not really what God wants).

I call this “pulling the God-card.” When people pull the “God-card” it is meant to trump anything that anyone (especially the pastor) might say to them to give advice in opposition. After all, who can speak against God? I have heard of individuals who so believed that everything they did was a result of a direct pipeline from heaven that they could no longer be spoken to about their attitude, the needs of the congregation, the wisdom and leading of the Sr. Pastor, or if what they did was actually in truth of God.

What is the real problem behind letting every whim of your heart have God’s divine stamp of approval? Is it not essentially the same when prophets speak out in the church? Don’t they merely follow the promptings of their heart and add, “Thus says the Lord?” Indeed the greatest problem from those who say that God tells them to _____; comes from those who speak for God in the church. Out of order, they use their “gift” to trump what the pastor says, what the person who has irked them has done, or to get others to do their bidding-whatever it may be.

What is at the heart of the problem? I would say it is that these people have grown too familiar with God. We teach and sing so much, “I am a friend of God,” and that we have bold access to the throne of grace, that we are no longer afraid to touch the ark of God to give Him a “helping hand.”

This is polar opposite of Isaiah’s reaction when he entered God’s presence. “Yo, yo. G-man waaaaasssup?” didn’t dare be uttered in the presence of the Holy King (who by the way was Jesus according to John 12:41). No, the more common reaction of those who were God’s prophets was that of fear (e.g., Moses, Daniel, Ezekiel, Habakkuk, John, etc.).

There should be a fear of attaching God’s name falsely to our own plans. In the Old Testament, false prophets were to be killed and God spoke very harshly when His people allowed them to speak without rebuke. Here are some examples: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way (Jer 5:31). Then the Lord said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds (Jer 14:14). This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord (Jer 23:16).

Jesus, our friend, tells us that men will be judged for every careless word spoken (Mt 12:36), and that there will be some who prophesied in His name, to whom He will say, “Depart from me, I never knew you (Mt 7:22-23).” My advice as a pastor and one who has heard God speak; don’t be so quick to say, “God told me…,” without fear of what our Holy God would actually say to you in response.

The Greatest Gift

2009-11-13T06:57:00.000-08:00

As we near the Christmas season, our attention begins to focus on gift giving. When we search for gifts we are most generally trying to find a gift that will be appreciated and one that touches the heart of the recipient. We make lists, but we are not trying to just check them off a list.
So I believe it is with God. God didn’t just try to win our affections by a wonderful gift; He gave us the greatest gift He could give us. This gift will be truly appreciated by those who receive it. Notwithstanding listing His Son as the greatest gift – I want to reveal the more personal aspect of this gift.

If you ask people why Jesus came, I think they will respond in the manner that others have spoken to me as to the reason. They generally say, “Jesus came to forgive us by being the sacrifice for our sins.” The promise of the forgiveness of our sins is truly an awesome gift I too admit and I don’t want to negate how truly important it is that God “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us,” (Ps 103:12). The letter to the Hebrews mentions how important it is to have our conscience cleansed from the guilt of our sin (Heb 10:22).

But consider this: If we went to the closest prison and we told them, “You are all forgiven. You may now all go free.” What do you think will be the eventual outcome of the majority of those prisoners? In other words, will the majority go on to live good and godly lives or will they become repeat offenders and eventually find themselves back in prison? Statistically the latter is true. Why? The reason is because they had no real change of heart and thinking. That is why an understanding of the fullness of God’s gift to us (His grace) is really necessary.

Jesus had a real problem with the religious leaders of His day because, in His words, they were “white-washed graves full of dead men’s bones.” Continuing He declared, “On the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness,” (Matt 23:28). Can you see that forgiveness of sins doesn’t answer the real problem – their hearts were full of sin?

The Bible teaches, “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:17). The greatest gift promised to us is that God says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezek 36:26-27). It is the very promise of the New Covenant (Heb 8:8-10):

“The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant …It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant…This is the covenant I will make…I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.”

When we live by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature (Gal 5:16). That is God’s promise to us. He works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose (Phil 2:13). When we yield ourselves to His Spirit by our continual faith (“daily reckoning upon” – as stated in the 16 fundamentals) we are set free from the dominion of sin and actually preempt the need for forgiveness and deliverance from the consequences of sin.

Which is greater? To say “Your sins are forgiven.” Or to say, “Rise up and walk” free from sins desires in your heart? We are told that we can now walk in “newness of life” sin has no more dominion over us. How do we receive this newness? The Bible says, “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith," (Rom 1:17). And again, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,” (Col 2:6).

p.s. At Hope Springs Church we will begin a series on how to overcome sin and temptation following our current series on resolving conflicts biblically. If you would like more information, you may contact me at (262) 716-1376.

Missing Heaven’s Nudge

2009-11-05T11:21:00.000-08:00

Currently I am reading the latest book by Bruce Wilkinson titled, “You Were Born For This.” It has inspired many thoughts and examples in my own life in regard to partnering with God for miracles. I would like to share some of those thoughts, but first I want to outline the premise of Bruce’s book, (which I recommend highly).
The first premise follows the popular concept mentioned in Henry Blackaby’s book, “Experiencing God,” namely that God is always at work according to Jesus in John chapter 5. Bruce describes heaven’s agenda as constantly looking to work on the behalf of those whose heart is faithful toward Him (2 Chron 16:9). The belief is that God sees, God cares, and that God wants to answer in miraculous ways in the lives of those whom He loves. How many of have needs? How many of us question if God really cares? How many of us are trying to convince God to act on our behalf?
The second concept is that there are 3 ways in which God performs the miraculous: 1. God acts solely to perform the miracle (e.g., the creation). 2. God sends an angel or angels to provide the miracle (e.g., God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer). 3. God uses humans (us) to deliver the miracle to others (e.g., we lay hands on the sick and they recover – we are His body so I believe God's first desire is to "co-labor" with us. See 1 Cor 3:9 and 2 Cor 6:1).
There is another concept he teaches that I want to mention. That is that our good deeds or acts of service are necessary but NOT miraculous. Acts of service are more appropriately called ministry (to serve is at the heart of the meaning for the word “ministry). Our ministry added to God’s supernatural power results in miracles.
Understanding these things, recently I went through the passage in Numbers where God tells Moses to send heads from each of the tribes of Israel into the Promised Land to spy, or scout out the land. What Moses tells them to look for reminded me of our modern demographic reports when we look at an area we hope to possess for the Lord by planting a church. “Look the land over, see what it is like. Assess the people: Are they strong or weak? Are there few or many? Observe the land: Is it pleasant or harsh? Describe the towns where they live: Are they open camps or fortified with walls? And the soil: Is it fertile or barren? Are there forests? And try to bring back a sample of the produce that grows there — this is the season for the first ripe grapes."(Num 13:18-20 Message).
My paraphrased result of this assessment to the majority was, “We cannot do it. If we try we will fail miserably. It will result in much loss to our assembly (denomination), our families, and our witness.” Notice how the whole congregation missed God using them to perform the miraculous because they only looked naturally. This affirms in my mind the scripture that says, the world by human wisdom cannot know God (1 Cor 1:21). I think it would be fair to also say our wisdom prevents us from experiencing God at times. How many miracles do we miss because in our own logic we are afraid to step out and respond to God’s heart revealed in scripture, or heaven’s nudge upon our hearts?
The Bible teaches there is an exceeding great power that is available to work in us who believe it (Eph 1:19). What happens when we do not believe that God wants us to act? What happens to the prayers of those who have stepped out in faith when God wants to use someone and their ministry gifts to be used to answer that prayer but they doubt?
I think the interaction is similar to that found in the story of Ananias found in Acts chapter 9. God says, “Ananias I want you to go and pray for a man that is praying named Saul so that he can receive his sight.” Ananias responds, “I have heard about this man – he is a bad man who hurts your people and he has come here to do the same.” God again tells him, “Go!”
What if Ananias refused to go? What if God prompted others and they refused to go? What happens to Saul? What happens to his eternal soul? What happens to everyone he was meant to reach by his preaching? You may say, “I would never refuse God. I wouldn’t have even argued with God.” But…let me ask you … is that really so?
How many believe in reaching the world with the gospel? What have you done to accomplish that?
How many believe in church planting? Yet how many of you pastors actually initiate a church plant or support church plants within our fellowship?
How many people believe they have been gifted by God to serve? Yet, how have you used those gifts and resources that God has given you? (I have met many prophets, teachers, and leaders who are merely judges of what another person is doing for God).
How did Phillip feel the nudge of heaven to leave an existing work to minister to a culturally different man leaving his city in a chariot? What if he missed heaven’s nudge?
One morning as I was praying, I felt a nudge, “Go to George Webb’s (restaurant).” I don’t like George Webb’s for a number of reasons: the food, the cigarette smoke, the atmosphere, etc. So when I felt this nudge I pondered if it might be God. So I went to grab my things and continue my devotions at the restaurant. I felt another nudge, “Grab some tracts also, you are going to need them.”
I sat at a table and ordered a cup of coffee and began to read my Bible placed on the table in front of me. I kept my head in the book so to speak, in spite of seeing a man smoking a cigarette at the counter looking at me. He approached my table and declared, “That’s a Bible!” In a somewhat sarcastic tone I responded, “Good job. You’re right!” But then I felt heaven’s nudge again so I changed my tone and asked the man, “Have you any experience reading the Bible?” That opened up a long conversation which resulted in me leading the man in prayer to the Lord for forgiveness and salvation. This man agreed to be discipled and is still in the church today.
Recently I felt the nudge to plant a church in the Oconomowoc area so my wife and I began to reach out into the area. One minister offered to create signs for the church, as a result the signs sat unused during the week at our home just southwest of Oconomowoc. One day I felt the nudge to just stand them out in the yard for the traffic to see. As a result, a man stopped at the house and inquired about the church. He told us how his past experience with churches had made him bitter. But as he drove by going to work day by day, he felt prompted to stop and ask about the church. He was obviously hurting from the lack of concern showed to him by a previous church. We took the time to answer his questions in spite of him seeming antagonistic. We invited him to a study/worship time in our home and a meal afterward and now he is helping to get the word out about our church plant. He believes we are a miracle for his family.
There are many other stories that I have experienced since that time; many involve the church plant where I pastor now. But my question is not just, “what if I had missed heaven’s nudge?” rather, “how many other nudges have I missed?”

The Origin of Faith and Love

2009-09-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

At Hope Springs Christian Church, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, our message is one of Hope. It doesn’t matter where you came from or where you are at, if you don’t have hope for the future you will lose your confidence in the now. Hope affects your confidence because what you hope for affects what you believe now. The Bible says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see,” (Heb 11:1). You can see how our present confidence is affected by what we hope for.

The word “confidence” comes from two root words -“con” - meaning ‘with’ and “fide” - meaning ‘faith.’ The instability of our current world can cause us to loose confidence in our government, the financial system, our health care system, and large corporations if we have place our faith with them. We can easily loose hope that things will change. That is why faith in the God of Hope is so important. He never changes, His word is an immovable rock, and His promises are a sworn truth so that we can lay hold of the hope that is set before us as and anchor for our souls (Heb. 6:18-19). We only have faith or live life with confidence if we have hope. The Bible says that ‘faith and love’ spring from the hope that is given to us in the word of God (Rom 10:17 and Col 1:5).

Because what we believe affects the way in which we act, we see love comes from faith in God’s word. In fact, our faith is dead if it is not expressing itself by love (Gal 5:6). The Bible goes on to teach that our works of faith are prompted by our love (1 Thes 1:3).

This is the message of hope: “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast,” (Eph 2:4-5; 8-9).

The future is bright because God has already caused us to triumph in Christ Jesus, if we will receive it. I challenge you to begin looking at how the Bible teaches what Christ has already done. It is said, "All other religions can be summed up in a single word - 'do.' While Christianity can alone be summed up in the single word - 'done.'"

My Darling

2009-09-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

A large seminar was held for ministers in training. Among the guests were many well-known motivational speakers. One such boldly approached the pulpit and, gathering the entire crowd's attention, said, "The best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman that wasn't my wife!" The crowd was shocked! He followed up by saying, "And that woman was my mother!" The crowd burst into laughter and he gave his speech, which went over well. About a week later one of the ministers who had attended the seminar decided to use that joke in his sermon. As he shyly approached the pulpit one sunny Sunday, he tried to rehearse the joke in his head. It seemed a bit foggy to him this morning. Getting to the microphone he said loudly, "The greatest years of my life were spent in the arms of another woman that was not my wife!" His congregation sat shocked. After standing there for almost 10 seconds trying to recall the second half of the joke, the pastor finally blurted out,"...and I can't remember who she was!"

A couple of nice songs in the past sang about how their love was still the one they turned to, still the one they loved, and the one they longed to be with. Love is not really romantic if it can be replaced by a fling with someone else. In fact, that infidelity betrays the very concept of love and devotion. It was in my parent’s era that husbands and wives would call each other, “darling.” Darling is an interesting word that is actually used in the Bible to refer to God. The meaning of the word darling is “only one.” You can see why the translators used the word to refer to God. He is the “only one” in so many ways: He is the only one who truly loves us; the only one who saves, the only one that is due our devotion, the only one from whom came all things, etc. You can only have one “only one,” only one darling.

When I first came to faith in Christ, I searched churches for pastors and people that truly knew God and were really Christ-like in their character. To my disappointment, after I got to know them better, I realized that they all came up short in some area of their life. I would pray, “God if there is someone I should follow show them to me and I will follow them.” No matter how sincere I believed them to be there was always some weakness in them. It didn’t matter if it was big or small they all failed and they all were at times oblivious to what seemed to be a huge contradiction. They would act rudely, like invite me to lunch and talk on the phone the whole time. They would miss appointments. They would contradict themselves while preaching. I even heard one pastor preach on the importance of forgiving others who met a man after church that he told, “I will never forgive you, that sermon was not meant for you.”

So what does all of this have to do with finding someone to follow, or what your expectations of a pastor should be? I think the point is that only one should have our full devotion and expectation of never failing – that is Jesus. Every true man of God points away from himself to Christ. Like John the baptizer, a man after God’s own heart proclaims, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” A minister that focuses on his ability to preach and minister will not only fall and hurt himself, but he will fall on others and hurt them.

It is not the oratory skills of a minister that makes a great man of God, rather his or her ability to point others away from themselves to Christ. When the apostles prayed for individuals in the Bible who subsequently were miraculously healed, they didn’t go and begin booking speaking engagements in all the cities for healing revivals. They were quick to say things like, “Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. (Acts 3:12; 16). I am afraid that many preachers are only trying to make a name for themselves and not make much of the name of Jesus.

Paul said, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power,” (1 Cor 2:4-5). Yes, it is important to be “apt to teach,” as it mentions in another place in the Bible, but if that is all one is relying on to see lives changed for Christ they are really doing a disservice to the gospel. When we get people to follow us we are in error. We need people to follow Christ. If people are determined to follow Jesus, they will be more apt to accept the failures of a pastor who says, “I am not the one you need to be devoted to, be devoted to the ‘Darling of Heaven;’ The only Holy One, Jesus Christ.”

How Can We See God?

2009-09-01T21:10:00.000-07:00

“How many people believe in prayer? How many actually pray? Huh, more than I thought. How many believe that God actually hears your prayers? …About the same number. And how many people believe that God answers your prayers? Okay you all got this great belief and obviously God isn’t too busy to answer you individually. Let’s get him up here. Alright, you ready? Everybody start praying. One, two, three – God come on down; let’s show it to us. (pause as nothing appears on the stage) Surprise, surprise… Why do you believe this? Why didn’t He come down here? That would be my first question to Cliffe (Pastor Cliffe Knechtle). Why didn’t He come up, right? He did it for St. Thomas…why doesn’t He do it for us now?” Michael Newdow, the well known atheist, mocked in what was touted as The Great Debate – Atheism versus Christianity in 2002.

The physical presence of God is described as being so awesome in its brilliance that the Bible calls it “unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see” (1 Tim 6:16). And that God is described as so holy that (His) “eyes are too pure to look on evil” (Hab 1:13). There is most certainly a veil that separates us from God (see Heb. 10:20) at this time – our flesh.

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Cor 13:12). “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

…“Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer” (2 Cor 5:16). Because Jesus is in the heaven making intercession for us, we are now in the day of the Lord’s favor – the day of Grace, or the Day of Atonement when God’s people put their faith and trust in the actions of the High Priest, who alone is able to work. This is the day that the Lord hath made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. To see God will mean certain judgment of ALL sin as the Scripture has said, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief” (2 Peter 3:9-10a).

So how can we see God? Jesus said, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working” (John 5:17). Since the Father is always working, if we learn to understand the character and desire of God, we should be able to recognize His work.

Which leads me to why I think that people don’t see or recognize God’s work; they misunderstand His agenda. This is why people rejected Jesus in the days of His flesh; they misunderstood and at times disagreed with Jesus’ agenda. Certain of the disciples only expected the agenda of Christ to be that of one who would restore the kingdom to Israel. Therefore they couldn’t see Him on the road to Emmaus. Some people only saw Christ only as the son of David so they rejected His claims to be the divine “Son of God” – eternally pre-existing before Abraham, Lord of the Sabbath, able to forgive sin, etc. Others saw Him as one who went about doing good and healing the sick and heard no demand for repentance or live change (Mt 11:21). Pilate proclaimed, “Behold the man,” as Jesus stood before the crowd in a crown of thorns and a purple robe. The crowd rejected what appeared to be a man too weak to be the King.

How many miss seeing God’s works for the very same reason – they don’t recognize His agenda. They see Jesus only as one who cares for our needs and do not see Him as the one who teaches us to care for the needs of others. They only see Jesus as a revolutionary, one who overthrew the then established religion and do not see Him as the peace giver who teaches us the blessing in being a peacemaker. They see Him only as loving full of grace and don’t want to see His wrath. Some people only see Jesus in a manner that is similar to them selves and do not see the man from Galilee who had no form or beauty that we should desire Him, who was despised and rejected of men.

How many see Jesus as the western emasculate image and refuse to see Him as one who was a Middle Eastern Jew, much less as the apostle John saw Him with eyes of fire and hair white as snow with a face brighter than the noon day’s sun? Our preconceptions often lead us into misconceptions that blind us from what God is doing.

Michael Newdow further asked, “What level of evidence do we need to believe in God?” Do we need to see God visibly to know He exists? What would one do with that knowledge? How would it affect our behavior? I would suggest that the greatest evidence for God is found in the Bible by way of learning what God is doing and what God is not doing. Proverbs 2:5 tells us that finding the knowledge of God is linked to our desire to cry out for understanding and the wisdom that comes from God alone. If we assume God do be doing something but we find it to be contrary to His word, we will miss God.

Some how our faith has to move beyond our faith to conviction as Josh McDowell teaches. That we must move from believing about God to believing God as Beth Moore teaches. Notice how Jesus teaches that someone will understand God and have Him reveal Himself to them:

“If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17).

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:22-23).

Jesus taught that if we will first choose to do God’s will, we will be taught of God. Second, He taught that obedience to His teaching results in a revelation of God in their lives – He will love them and live within that person. Christ in us is the hope of glory. Glory is the manifest presence of God. Too many people miss God because they follow their ever changing feelings and circumstances instead of God's unchanging Word. We are not taught to follow our hearts as the world teaches (our heart's are deceitful and wicked - we don't even know them); we are taught to follow Jesus (who is called the Word of God) because He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

A NEWd Morality

2009-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Everyday, it seems our culture attempts to bombard us and our children with images that are meant to arouse us sexually. Images on television and in the movies push the limits and boundaries of what is proper and inappropriate merely by virtue of their constant use. TV shows catered toward teenagers frequently promote premarital sex as long as the two individuals "know in their heart it is time." Children's cartoons are increasingly alluding to issues of sex. The common Christian response has been one of expurgation and attempting to redeem the valuable morals and lessons recognized within its culture, media, and literature.

Wikipedia defines expurgation as: "a form of censorship by way of purging anything noxious, offensive, or erroneous, usually from an artistic work. It has also been called bowdlerization, after Thomas Bowdler, who in 1818 published an expurgated edition of William Shakespeare's work that he considered to be more appropriate for women and children. He similarly edited Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

"Clear Play" technology lets you watch regular DVD's and SKIP the VIOLENCE, NUDITY, and PROFANITY (so) you and your family can safely watch current films is an example of expurgation. The fact is that those outside of the Christian faith or without any religious scruples sees expurgation as censorship. They see freedom as the release from any boundaries and do not see freedom as the release from those things that can bind you. In reality there is no freedom apart from law (parameters that guide our behavior).

Recently we were in the home of a younger couple that we just met. While in their home, my wife noticed in the magazine rack some Playboy magazines. When we discussed this later, we realized that within our culture there is a real change in attitude about morality. That this young man would openly display a magazine that reduces the value of a woman to a mere image to provoke sexual desire surprised me. That his wife would allow such an open display would seem to imply that she has resigned her struggle for sole devotion from her husband, not realizing that he has reduced her value to that of her physical beauty. Neither is love. Love is not selfish; it is not lust (1Cor. 13:5).

Eroticism is certainly a motivational force in this world, but this twist on love based upon physical beauty is not a method of truly building each other up. It debases people, it changes the focus of desire to one's self and away from the other, and it devalues a person by allowing for competing images of desire (whether printed or in the flesh). The paradigm shift in our culture in regard to provocative images should not merely be dismissed as wrong without explaining the real reason for why this behavior is destructive. Yet, the desire for sex is so strong within mankind that Christians also must understand why it is so critical to not only expurgate them from the things we see and allow to influence us and our families (because they can truly tempt us to do things that would harm us and others), but also to explain why it is so harmful to our relationships and our understanding of the value of an individual.

By merely judging by the appearance, we will misjudge the value of people and their gifts. An example of this was seen on Britain's Got Talent. Watch this link: www.metacafe.com/watch/2696263/susan_boyle_singer_britains_got_talent_2009 /

I would like each of us to truly pray how we can really convince people who see the sexual drive in mankind as an opportunity to make money at the expense of people and their relationships that this is really wrong and harmful. Let us agree together in prayer for those who use social networks like "twitter" and "MySpace," etc. inappropriately to find the true unselfish love of Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for their sin.

You Belong

2009-06-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

Recently I received a letter from the General Council of the Assemblies of God confirming the recommendation by the WNMD that Hope Springs Christian Church is now officially listed as an A/G church. Along with this letter came a brochure that stated in large font: "You Belong!" Those words reminded me of a conversation that I had with a friend from church after the service; the gist of which was, "thank you for making me feel like I belong." He gave me a "man hug" and fought off tears as he expressed how much he valued my friendship and ministry.

There is always the thought as a pastor that numbers of attenders validate a ministry. While this has an element of truth, the fact is that churches are built by relationships that are nurtured one person at a time. It is not that you cannot nurture quantities of people over a period of time, but for a relationship to grow it must have moments of solitary focus on one person and draw them out of the crowd.

That is what Jesus did when he focused on Zacchaeus and called him out of the crowd (Luke 19). The importance of the story wasn't the stature of Zacchaeus, but rather that Jesus made him feel like he belonged. I want to be friends with you, I want to spend time with you, I am not distracted by others that might seem more important in this world's eyes, and all of these statements do the exact thing. These statements say, "You belong."

Statistically we are told that unless someone feels like they "belong" at a church they will eventually leave. Saying, "You belong," validates and affirms that person. If we can teach the value of individuals as a concept to each person in our church, we will grow.

The most valuable things on earth are not things, but people. What can (anyone) give in exchange for their soul? Of greater value than all this world possesses is a soul. What does it profit a man (or woman) if he/she gains the whole world? When God sent His Son, He sent the Worthy One and in essence told us, "You belong." He chose us in Christ before the world began and surprises us by calling us His children. Let us each reach out in love and make those God brings in our path feel they belong. If you or a family member do not belong to a church, we invite you to come and be a part of Hope Springs. You belong!

Why Water Into Wine?

2009-05-14T18:10:00.000-07:00

The Bible tells us that this was the first time that Jesus revealed His glory.[1] Was there some special significance to this miracle? John further explains that “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which (were) not recorded... But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”[2] This tells me that the apostle John attached some significance to this miracle that would help us in our faith.

I have pondered this passage for a long time and I have noticed some interesting things about this miracle, especially in light of other passages of Scripture. First of all, I don’t believe the significance of this miracle has anything to do with what we should or should not drink. I think its importance is much deeper.

The story implies that this wedding event was one that was kept religiously sacred. The implication of this comes from the fact that there were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing.[3] Commentaries agree that these jars were used so that guests could ceremonially wash their hands before eating.[4] That this was done religiously and not just for cleansing is implied by the descriptive word translated “Jewish.” This does not refer to people coming from Judea, but rather referring to those that observed the Jewish religion – thus the word ceremonial is supplied.

There was another time when “an argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.”[5] This passage referred to baptism and the fact that Jesus’ disciples were now baptizing more people than John. John preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.[6] I mention this because all these ceremonial washings never really cleansed the hearts of those that partook in them, just as they neither do today.

Back to the event in Cana, Jesus has the servants use these six ceremonial jars and tells them to have them filled with water. This is the typical contents for these vessels and there is an allegory in regard to this ritual cleansing. The water is usually applied to the outside of the pious person to cleanse them. Jesus changes THIS water into wine! I believe this is the true significance of this passage.

We use water on the outside of our bodies to cleanse ourselves, but Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit (the new wine) who cleanses and controls us from the inside out.[7] The scriptures teach, “Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.”[8] One translation tells us, “to ever be filled with the Holy Spirit.” You see the real baptism of the Holy Spirit is His cleansing of our hearts from the inside out. We are to be under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit just as wine brings the partaker under its influence.

I think that this is the reason Jesus chose to do this miracle first. It prefigures his ministry of being the one who would come and baptize us with the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches the Jesus’ blood keeps on cleansing us from our sins[9] as we continue to walk in the Spirit.[10] May each of us give ourselves to Jesus to be made new vessels able to receive His new wine.
[1] John 2:11
[2] John 20:30-31
[3] John 2:6
[4] Matt 15:2
[5] John 3:25
[6] Mark 1:4
[7] Acts 2:13
[8] Eph 5:18
[9] 1 John 1:7
[10] Gal 5:16

The Lord is with You, Mighty Warriors

2009-05-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

I was recently thinking again about how much we have seen our culture attack faith in Jesus. Many areas we have surrendered and just have begun to accept that is just the way it is. It reminds me of the story of Gideon. (You can read the whole store beginning at Judges chapter 6). Gideon was in a winepress threshing wheat to keep it from the Midianites. The reason Gideon was in a winepress was he didn’t want to fight the Midianites. At the time the Midianites seemed like an unstoppable force, but he didn’t realize the LORD wanted Gideon and Israel to fight for what was right. The LORD wanted Gideon to fight with the strength that HE would provide.

We are no different then the many examples of people who have made compromises trying to avoid fighting for what is right. In the Preamble to the Declaration there is an explanation, “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

There are many examples of our willingness to compromise from modern times to Biblical examples. There was another time in Israel’s history when fear overtook their ability to fight for what is right. Goliath, the Philistine, cursed God and defied the armies of Israel. When a shepherd boy questioned Israel’s fear, he was rebuked. But David said, “What have I done now?
Is there not a cause?”

It is our tendency to suffer for a while before we rise up and say enough is enough and we begin to fight for what is right. It is our right – yes it is our duty! The position of the church is always to be attacking the gates of hell. Our enemy is not with flesh and blood but with spiritual wickedness. We need not fear, but trust in God’s strength to provide for His purposes.
2 Thess 1:11 says, “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by HIS power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.”

We limit God. We determine much of what we experience of God’s power. We set parameters on the depth of our relationship with God. In spite of limitless possibilities – we choose to impede what God does in our lives. The Bible says of Israel, “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy (Ps 78:40-42).

We must remember that Jesus has promised, “I am with you always…” Dwight L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. The Lord is with us, mighty warriors so let us trust in His strength and go forth and do the will of God. I don't believe the Gospel is no longer the power of God unto salvation.

We Are The Church

2009-04-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

I want to talk to you about our church plant in Oconomowoc. To do that effectively, in my mind, I want to share my heart in regard to what the Lord has shown me about church planting. When Peter spoke to the church, he said the reason he wrote was to “stir up their pure minds by way of remembrance” “though they knew (those things) and were firmly established in the truth.” Many of the things I am writing serve that purpose, I want to stir them up again and bring them to your attention.

Jesus said, “I will build my church…” and yet we also are told from the Scriptures, “God has committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation.” Jesus affirmed this by saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

You see, I believe that Jesus is saying He is with us as we go and make disciples and thus build the church. When we go to build His church, we go with His authority and therefore His blessing. I am writing you because I believe that you also know how important it is for each of us to obey the great commission. Experience has taught the church at large that the most effective way to make disciples is church planting.

Why do many church plant attempts fail if Jesus is involved in building His church? One may blame the faith or skill of the church planter, but I believe no person is called to do the work of ministry on their own. Eph 4:16 tells us that “From Him the whole body… grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” That means we each have a part to do and share responsibility for the work. The Holy Spirit has told us that we cannot say that we do not need each other; each member is essential and necessary not only to the growth of the local church but also to the Church at large.

In the past there have been individual planters whose primary resource from the body of Christ was finances. Because they lacked the other elements of support necessary in planting a church, they failed. This has resulted in a move towards satellite churches where one local church provides almost all the necessary elements.

While these churches are more successful, they still do not reflect the image of the full body of Christ working together for growth and edification. The body of Christ shouldn’t have a sink or swim pragmatic attitude toward church planting success or failure. Rather the Bible says, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Cor 12:26). That tells me that for every church plant that has failed, the whole body has suffered and every success should be shared amongst the whole body (because the whole body contributed in some way toward that success).

What does a successful church plant need? I have grouped the needs into four categories:
1) Prayer – church planting is met with spiritual resistance according to Jesus (Mt 16:18). The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Cor 10:4).
2) People – The lead pastor is called of God to equip/prepare these people to do the work of the ministry (Eph 4:12) and entrusting the same to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others (2 Tim 2:2).
3) Provisions – finances are needed for start up costs, to purchase necessary equipment, and to provide for the lead pastor whom God has ordained or commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel (1 Cor 9:14 KJV/NIV).
4) Peers – these are those individuals and organizations willing to provide supervision, guidance, wisdom, and even accountability for the church plant’s leadership team.

Since you are my friends, I am making my plea to you to join with us to help plant Hope Springs Christian Church in Oconomowoc, WI. Pray seriously about what function God is calling you to do in this work. Friends, we do share responsibility and as such we share the success or failure of this church plant. Each one of us can do something, however great or small, however trivial or significant in our own eyes, the point is to have a good conscience before God that we did something and that something is all that Jesus has told us to do.

I am available to share my vision for Oconomowoc to you and your church if you like. Meanwhile check out our website at www.hopespringschristianchurch.org to see our specific plans and view a needs list.

God's Duty of Care

2009-04-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

As a Christian, often times I have struggled to understand seemingly contradictory concepts in regard to our faith, but because “to whom would I go? I believe and am sure that Jesus has the words of eternal life…”[1] I have held those questions in my heart and continued to pray about them until God gave me some answer that would make sense to me. One such struggle centered on the justice of God and the vicarious or substitutionary death of Jesus for mankind.

As a person who evangelizes fairly often, I came across a tract that illustrates the reason for my struggle. In this tract, a bully grows up to eventually become a murderer. Because there are witnesses, he is arrested, found guilty of murder, and sentenced to death. All his life his mother loves him and pleads for him to live right, yet her son continually spews out hatred toward her. Even while in jail, his mother comes with cookies and declares her unconditional love for her son, yet still he rejects her love. Eventually he is told the day of his execution will be the following day and he proclaims, “I’m too young to die!” The next day the guards come to lead him away, but to his surprise he is set free and informed that his mother bore his sentence and died on his behalf. From this tract an analogy is drawn of how Jesus died on our behalf.

I don’t know if you ever thought about it, or if you have just accepted this kind of analogy, but I am asking you to think about it now. Would this truly satisfy the justice of God who is holy? Think about it. If a righteous person approached the bench of a judge in the sentencing portion of a convicted murderer and said, “Judge, you and I know that this man is worthy of death. Since the law demands death as the penalty for his crime and I can prove I am a person of impeccable character, I request that you allow me to die in his place. The death sentence that the law requires will be satisfied so you may set him free.”

What do you really think the judge will say? “Hmmm…kill a righteous man so that a criminal can go free to commit the same, or worse, crime again!” You and I both know that a good and just judge would never allow the criminal to go free and a good person take their punishment. How could that ever be considered justice?

So do you now see the dilemma and the contradiction in regard to Jesus’ death being the righteous dying for the ungodly. How could a completely holy, just, and good God accept as payment for our wickedness the death of one righteous? In fact, contrary to popular belief, the more righteous Jesus was the more unjust His substitutionary death would become.

So I prayed, “God I do not understand. It doesn’t make any logical or right sense that just because Jesus was the only one without sin that he could ever legally be accepted as a payment for our sin. Help me to understand.” I prayed over and over till finally the answer came when I was watching a PBS program about tort law.

The word “tort” refers to injury and the dominant action in tort is negligence. The tort of negligence provides a cause of action leading to damages, or to injunctive relief, in each case designed to protect legal rights, including those of personal safety, property, and, in some cases, intangible economic interests. Negligence actions include claims arising primarily from automobile accidents and personal injury accidents of many kinds, including clinical negligence.[2] In tort law, the standard of care is the degree of prudence and caution required of an individual who is under a duty of care. A breach of the standard is necessary for a successful action in negligence.[3] What does this all have to do with Jesus and justice you ask?

Well, I think it could be argued to a Trier of fact that God had a breach of the standard and a duty of care in regard to Adam and Eve, who were His sole creation. By reason of God’s ability to foresee the consequences of giving them a free will to choose or reject obedience, by virtue of Him being in all places present and failing to prevent them from eating of the deadly fruit, and allowing another member of His creation to so deceive Eve that it led to her actions that resulted in the spiritual death and subsequent physical death of all mankind, God failed to act with prudence and caution with those individuals who were under His duty of care.

It could be thus argued although God is not held in direct liability for the actions of His creation, but indirectly by virtue of creating Adam and Eve with a manufacturing defect called, “Choice.” Because God allowed Adam and Eve to exercise their choice and did not prevent them from doing so, which resulted in tort to not only themselves but all mankind. Much like the manufacturer of an automobile who is held liable for damages resulting from foreseeable defects that result in injury, so it could be said that God is liable for our injuries resulting from our defects (called our weaknesses or the weakness of our flesh in the Bible). Consider also the fact that God hid from mankind His wisdom - which it was He who came in the flesh, for if they had known they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.[4]

This is why the Bible in John chapter one and Colossians chapter one tells us that the one that took responsibility for our sins and redeemed us by paying our sin penalty was the same One who created us.[5] The fact is the only one that could have purchased us back was the Creator because He is the only one who could be held liable for our sin. This is why the Bible teaches that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.[6] God through Christ willingly accepted responsibility for His creation, although it could also be argued that God should not be held liable.

So it could be said that there is a class action lawsuit against God for damages resulting from His tort liability for those under His duty of care. All those who wish to receive compensation must have their names added to the suit and be listed in the Lamb’s book of Life. As a result, all those who do cannot have their sins held against them.

God is both the judge and the defendant. Jesus is both the payment and our attorney. We are the plaintiffs and we truly have an opportunity to benefit for all eternity. Won't you come to God, not only to receive compensation but the fix to our resulting injuries caused by the exercise of our freewill - a new heart and a new Spirit.

“God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”[7]

[1] John 6:68-69
[2] Wikipedia etymology of tort
[3] Wikipedia standard of care
[4] 1 Cor. 2:7-8; Acts 3:17
[5] John 1:1-4, 10-14; Col 1:12-20
[6] 2 Cor. 5:19
[7] Rom 3:25-26

Misunderstood Worship

2009-04-08T05:51:00.000-07:00

Rom 11:36b-12:1 To him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.

As a young Christian, I met many individuals who had a profound impact on me - some for good and many by virtue of them being so wrong. One such individual, told me the story of how they went to a pentecostal service that the praise and worship was so exuberant that many were "dancing in the spirit" along with the praise music. Their group was led by a self-proclaimed judge of the move of the Spirit. When this man saw a woman praising God in a red dress (because they believed that wearing red was sinful like the whore in the book of Revelation), he proclaimed, "That woman's praise is unacceptable!" He believed that God did indeed look at the outward and refused her praise on the basis the color of her dress!!

It is interesting to me that, in both the Old and Testaments, the words used that are translated "worship" mean to bow or to prostrate one's self in the presence of another. In this definition I see what Paul mentioned as our spiritual act of worship. It is first ascribing glory to another and second to sacrifice ourselves.

The Greek word translated "glory" means to "make very apparent." The idea is that whatever we glory gets bigger in our eyes. In other words, whatever we esteem, value, or focus more attention on we ascribe glory to. Paul, in the passage above, tells us that to Jesus should be the glory. He must increase in our eyes. He should be the focus of our lives.

The second aspect of worship is that of prostrating or sacrificing. John the baptist said of Jesus, "He must increase and I must decrease." Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." The idea is that we sacrifice other things for whatever we worship. We lay down our wills and deny ourself. We humble ourselves with contrite and broken hearts.

You can see that THIS is the reason Jesus so hottly rebuked the Pharisees, they refused to prostrate their hearts and humble themselves. Whenever we refuse to humble ourselves and decrease in God's presence we are not worshiping in the literal sense.

So often in church during the "praise and worship" portion of the service we stand or are told to stand. It is not often we are told to bow or to fall to our knees. Yet this is what the figure or analogy is for worship. Let us bow our hearts, let us deny ourselves next time we praise Jesus and glorify Him, remembering that if we fail to humble ourselves we fail to worship. And MOST importantly...let us not judge others as they worship!! As the song says, "Down at Your feet, oh Lord, is the most high praise."

In the Hands of God - a mini church planting lesson

2009-03-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

At our last Hope Springs staff meeting, Ben led us in devotions and brought out some very interesting points from Nehemiah about church planting. Since I cannot remember for sure which was the Holy Spirit speaking to me or that which Ben mentioned, I am just going to mention some of the things that I have noticed from the book of Nehemiah – to God be the glory!

The Call (Neh 1:2-3)
Henry Blackaby in his popular book “Experiencing God” mentions that God’s revelation of a need is His invitation (or call) to join Him in the work He plans to do. In this passage, Nehemiah inquires about the city Hanani and some of his friends come from. He is made aware of the need and his heart is filled with compassion – so much so it drives him to prayer about that city. In that prayer, he accepts responsibility for the sin that has taken place. In closing, he asks for divine favor from those who he works for.

I see this as the first initial call to plant a church or do anything for the Lord, it begins with revelation of needs, followed by compassion, that leads to intercessory prayer, and permission from superiors to do something about it. Nehemiah recognized that permission is a result of God’s divine favor.

The Ministry Plan (Neh 2:4-8)
The king responds to Nehemiah’s request by inquiring, “What is it you want?” (v. 4). Nehemiah doesn’t have time to go into his prayer closet and pray a lengthy prayer, instead he prays – what I would imagine is – a prayer of desperation. “Oh God, what do I say?!”

Nehemiah asks, “Send me to the city…” His leadership naturally asks for his ministry plan (How long will it take…? etc.) Nehemiah then presents his list of needs: a letter of approval to empower him to do the work; a request for resources for both the ministry and his residence (v.8). And because God’s hand was upon him, leadership granted his request. Along with these things, leadership sent with him a leadership team (v. 9). What is interesting about this is that king Artaxerxes gave without asking for anything in return. What was Artaxerxes motivation? You know what? I don't know, but what if Nehemiah didn't have the boldness to ask? We have to give people the opportunity to give to God's work and entrust them to the promises of God that He rewards those who give generously.

Opposition to the Plan (Neh 2:10, 19; 4:2-3)
Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” That tells me that whenever Jesus is building His church there is opposition against it. In fact Jesus warns us if all men speak well of us (Luke 6:26). We must have a holy boldness and determination as a church planter or minister of Christ to finish the race marked out before us.

The Plan is Delegated (2:17; 3:1-32)
If at first you don't succeed, delegate it. In reality, the work God calls us to is designed to be too great for human hands. Again, Henry Blackaby brings this out in “Experiencing God.” God’s desire is for us to personally know Him as the God of – whatever it is you need. if you need healing – He is the God who heals us; if we need provision – He is Jehovah Jireh…etc. He is the One who plants and grows His church. God’s representation of Himself on earth is not a single person but it is a body of many members whose head is Christ. Nehemiah divides the work to be done and establishes leaders over each area. This is God’s plan for work in His kingdom to be accomplished – the effectual working of every member brings increase to the body (Eph 4:16).

Three factors for success involve effort on our part according to the “Life in the Spirit” study notes: the people put their whole heart into the work (4:6); the people were prayerful and watchful as they did the work (4:9); and the people demonstrated courage, determination, and faith when confronted with opposition (4:14).

The Workers Weary (Neh 4:6-12)
It is interesting that the laborers tire at the half way mark (v.6). It is to be expected that weariness will set in even when doing a great work for God. Part of the problem was that there was “so much” garbage in the way. Nehemiah listened to and validated the workers concerns and took appropriate measures. The other part of the problem was with those who “lived near” told them ten times over they needed to be afraid. Nehemiah had to both encourage and respond (v. 14) to their fears. Interestingly when the enemy realized that they were aware of Satan’s schemes (2 Cor 2:11) they left and allowed the work to continue. The Bible says they recognized “God had frustrated” their plan.

Conclusion
Church planting is not promised to be easy work but in it we each have the privilege of seeing God’s hands at work. We willingly place ourselves in the activity of God who is seeking to save that which is lost. Whatever it is that we are called to do; we must seek first His kingdom – I believe that means for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. So, let us go into all nations and make disciples.

Can God Create a Rock He Cannot Move? Or One Reason Reformed Theology is in Error

2009-03-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

In my previous blog on this subject, I mentioned that the answer that was given to me in prayer, was, “Yes, and He did. The rock is the Word of God.”

The Scriptures truly bear this out:

Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus describes His word as a rock that, if men will build their lives upon, what they build will endure whatever devastating storms may come. Jesus said, “… on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matt 16:18); which is commonly interpreted to mean that Jesus will build His Church upon that same word, or confession of faith, uttered by Peter – “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God.”

In fact Jesus himself is so closely related to the Word of God – this rock – He is Himself referred to as that “spiritual rock,” (1 Cor 10:4); the “foundation” of our faith (1 Cor 3:11); the cornerstone (Isa 28:16), and the Word of God (John 1:1; Rev 19:13).

That the Word of God is unmovable and eternal is shown by the following passages: The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever (Isa 40:8). Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words (said Jesus) will never pass away (Matt 24:35). The word of the Lord stands forever. And this is the word that was preached to you (1 Peter 1:25).

This is by no means an exhaustive list so if you have time to study it out I think that it will be a blessing to you.

So why would this be significant in view of the question, “Can God create a rock that He cannot move?”

First of all, I believe there is significance to the fact that God is unchanging and His word is unchanging. Whatever God says He fully stands behind in order to bring it to pass. If God is unchanging there are some things that He cannot do. For example: God cannot change, there is no shifting shadows from God changing (James 1:17); God cannot lie (Titus 1:2); in fact it is impossible for Him to lie (Heb 6:18); His promises are unchangeable.

The seeming contradiction to the nature of God is applied when one looks at the term “omnipotent.” When we say that God is omnipotent and that with God “all things are possible;” neither we nor the Bible implies that God can contradict Himself. The Bible teaches that God cannot deny (Gk.: arneomai) or contradict Himself (2 Tim 2:13). God does not create anything that is contradiction to His character (Rom 1:20). God can create what is eternal, (for example heaven, hell, angels, and humans) but all of these things reflect an aspect of God’s character or are made in His image.

When we are referring to God’s omnipotence we are saying that God is fully capable of doing what is faithful to His nature regardless of opposition. In other words, nothing can obstruct or prevent God from His fully being able to be Himself. What He has said He will do, He is fully able to bring it to pass (Isa 14:27, 46:11).

This is where those of the Reformed Theology persuasion make an error in regard to God’s “sovereign will.” They would say that God imputes faith to some and holds it back from others based upon “His sovereign will.” The phrase they use is "unconditional election;" as if to say that God’s sovereign will is an unknowable will that is somehow able to contradict His Word.

Yet the Bible says, He has made known the mystery of His will (Eph 1:9, 3:3-9; Rom 16:25-26; 1 Cor 2:10). God is holy. That means that it is impossible that God makes any judgment based upon an arbitrary reason. Unconditional election is false. The judgment of God is according to truth and will be righteousness (Rom 2:2, 5). In regard to imputation, the Bible never says that God imputes “faith.” The Bible says that what is imputed and what is the free gift – it is righteousness (Rom 4:11, 21-24, 5:17; James 2:23).

Because God is unchanging and always acts in accordance to ways that are holy, just, good, and loving, as the Bible states, does that mean that He is no longer sovereign and omnipotent? No, God is still the supreme power and presides over all external control.

Can God create a rock that even He cannot move? Most certainly! What this says about God is that He is faithful to His character, to His word, and cannot act outside the realm of either (just like those decrees made by kings in the Bible that cannot be reversed). God has absolutes. Therefore when God says, “I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame (Rom 9:33), He means it. How do you not stumble or fall? Rom 10:8-11 tells us that “the word of faith we are proclaiming (is): That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

The Point of the Plan

2009-02-21T12:20:00.000-08:00

Jer 29:11NIV - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

As Christians, most of us are familiar with this scripture passage and from it we teach an important truth: God has a plan for each of our lives. As a result of that plan God promises to prosper us and give us hope and a future. Therefore we conclude this plan for our lives is a good plan because it is given to us by a good God. A holy God who cannot do anything but good. As the scripture says, "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:16-17 NIV).

Here is a thought: Does this plan of God for our lives automatically take place apart from anything that we do? Well, of course not - correct? In other words, the plan of God is the call of God on our lives to which we must seek and respond to it. For instance, it would do us no good to know that God called us to overseas missions where He planned to prosper us if we failed to respond to that call and become a missionary and go.

The point of God having a plan for your life and mine is the "call." The "call" is different for each person's life and one person may be "called" to do many different things in their lifetime. The point is that we must become aware of what God is "calling" each of us to do and then for us to adjust our lives to obey and follow that "call."

What is God calling you to do? Has He told you to do something like enter full time ministry? or has He called you to help a church grow by contributing your time, gifts, and resources? "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Col 3:23-24 NIV).

How will you recognize God's calling? Look for the opportunities to do good that God places in your life and respond to them. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Gal 6:10 NIV). Like the story of the good Samaritan, we are responsible for those God places in our path not outside of it.

Father bless your children as they listen and respond to your call and bring about the good purpose and plan that you have for their lives, in Jesus name. amen.

Can God Create A Rock He Cannot Move?

2009-02-10T10:18:00.000-08:00

“I have a question for you…,” one of the two obviously college students proceeded to ask me, “Can God create a rock that He cannot move?”

It was a few years ago that I was standing on a corner in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin on a Saturday evening with a friend of mine from the church where I was attending at the time. We had a sidewalk sign that read, “Read the Bible, it’s for you and concerns you.” I had only come to receive God’s grace through Jesus Christ a year or so earlier and I was quite nervous to return to my home town to “street witness.”

The person that I was with was a much more experienced Christian who engaged passers by with ease while I secretly hoped that everyone would ignore me. While the person I was with from the church spoke to a man who had been walking down this busy street, suddenly two guys approached me.

I was nervous, I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, or how God could use me to “witness” about Him, but sure enough, one of them spoke to me. “I have a question for you…,” one of the two obviously college students proceeded to ask me, “Can God create a rock that He cannot move?”

I had known that this was a trick question used in philosophy classes to show the impossibility of an “all powerful creator God.” The idea is this: If God couldn’t create such a rock; it would be proven that there is something that God couldn’t do, who supposedly by definition, could do all things. As a result, you couldn’t answer, “No,” without disproving God. On the other hand, If someone would answer, “Yes,” then the result would be a God was not all-powerful because there is now something He cannot do. Either reply supposedly disproved God’s existence as being irrational to the logical mind.

As all of this flashed across my mind, I felt like I would soon become a failure as a witness for Jesus. Admittedly I replied, “I don’t know the answer,” but I continued, “Let me pray and ask God if He will give me an answer to your question.” So, I bowed my head to pray right there on the sidewalk in front of them. As I prayed silently suddenly I knew the answer.

I raised my head and looked the young man in the eyes and said, “The answer is: Yes and God did! The rock is the Word of God! The Bible says, Heaven and Earth will pass away but my Word will never pass away. Jesus said, upon this rock I will build my church. God has established His Word forever.”

At this, the young man’s friend slapped him on the back and shouted, “He got you!” In disbelief, the young men walked away.

There are some very important reasons why this answer is significant and why I believe this answer was in deed from God. In subsequent posts I will go on to explain the ramifications of this immoveable rock and the Scriptural reason for our God who willingly limits Himself so that He cannot do all things (e.g., it is impossible for God to lie). I will also explain the hidden agenda of philosophers who ask the question, “Can God create a rock that He cannot move.”

Having an Eternal Hope that Springs up in You

2009-02-04T05:15:00.000-08:00

There is a story from Our Daily Bread, December 19, 1996, that reads:
The English poet Alexander Pope wrote, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always to be blest.” But where does man turn when hope dries up?
The director of a medical clinic told of a terminally ill young man who came in for his usual treatment. A new doctor who was on duty said to him casually and cruelly, “You know, don’t you, that you won’t live out the year?”
As the young man left, he stopped by the director’s desk and wept. “That man took away my hope,” he blurted out.
“I guess he did,” replied the director. “Maybe it’s time to find a new one.”
Commenting on this incident, Lewis Smedes wrote, “Is there a hope when hope is taken away? Is there hope when the situation is hopeless? That question leads us to Christian hope, for in the Bible, hope is no longer a passion for the possible. It becomes a passion for the promise.”
The fact is that man’s hope does not spring up eternally. There are all sorts of times that we lose hope or feel hopeless. There is a reason why:

Hope for the future is based upon the faith that you have now. Thomas Aquinas said, “Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.” Until there is substance for your hope, whatever hope you have for the future is fleeting. The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for (Heb 11:1). In other words, the substance of our hope is our faith or, what you believe is the tangible reason for whatever hope that you possess.

WE NEED HOPE
Job rightly said, “If the only home I hope for is the grave … where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?” (Job 17:13-15).

Job had lost everything and he was extremely sick and in pain. He was saying that if we believe that this life is all there is then what hope for the future is there for him? Do you see how what we believe now affects what hope we have for the future?

When you come to hear a sermon, I believe you come to find that there is hope for your life and your circumstances from the Bible. A working definition of hope is - to desire with expectation of obtainment or to expect with confidence.

WHAT ARE WE HOPING FOR?
What is it that you expect to receive from God? The forgiveness of your sins? Help in time of your need? Healing for your body? Provision for your financial needs? Deliverance from your sinful or addictive behavior? A fresh start? A ministry? Eternal life? Spiritual gifts? Justice?

WHAT ARE YOU TRUSTING IN?
The fact is that there is hope, but for what reason do you have hope? Is it because I or someone else said that you should not feel hopeless? Is it because you have some warm fuzzy feeling of hope because you are an optimistic person? How can you hope against hope? How can you have hope when the circumstances of your life look hopeless?

We have hope that springs up in us and lasts, or is eternal, when it is not based upon merely our experiences (because not every circumstance works out the same way); when it is not based merely upon our feelings (because our feelings change and are too often subject to our circumstances); when it is not based upon what we see (because we walk by faith, not by sight).

The natural consequence of false beliefs will be false hopes.

BIBLICAL FAITH IS THE ONLY PROPER BASIS FOR OUR HOPES
Five different times in Psalms 119 David says, “I have put my hope in your word.”

Ps 119:49-50
Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

Rom 15:4
Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

The basis for our hope and expectations is found in God’s Word, the Bible. Why?

Titus 1:2
A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, [i.e. cannot lie – most other translations] promised before the beginning of time.

Heb 6:17-19
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

PASSION FOR THE PROMISES
You see; we can have great confidence for our hope when it is based upon God’s Word because He cannot lie and He has the power to bring about what He has promised. His Word is guaranteed.

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matt 24:35).

Isaiah 55:11
My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Jeremiah 1:12
The LORD said to me, "…, I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."

Rom 3:4
Let God be true, and every man a liar.

Isa 14:24
The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.”

If we have hope that is not based in God’s word when conflicting circumstances come to us we will fall into despair and lose hope.

Notice the story from Luke 24:13-27:

Now that same day two of them [referring to the disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things [what had happened that resurrection day] with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" "What things?" he asked.

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

Notice, because they believed the wrong thing their hope for the future was dashed.

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! …And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Do you recognize that without Biblical faith that comes from the Word we will lose our hope? Some of us are only “hoping” for salvation because we have yet to find in the Bible faith that is unshakeable because it is based on God’s Word. We have no security that way. Some of us only hope for God to hear our prayers without understanding when God listens or why He refuses to answer our requests.

The phrase “hope against hope” is defined as – having hope when there is no basis for that hope. But that is NOT what the Bible teaches about the subject.

Rom 4:18-25
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Just as much as our faith is not baseless but there exist tangible reasons for what we believe, so our hope is not baseless, it is based upon our faith in the promises of God. We have hope because God has given us hope in His Word.

Let me challenge you today to find some substance for your hopes by searching the Scriptures for the basis for your faith that your hope is built upon.

Gal 5:5
By faith we eagerly await -through the Spirit the righteousness - for which we hope.