"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day." (Gen 1: 1-3)
This passage of scripture, probably one of the most widely quoted and referenced yet the depth of which so least understood. As I contemplate the work and suffering and beauty of Jesus on the cross, I am drawn to Him and the depth of love and intimacy he desires to have with us. God looked at an amorphous ball of gas, dark and empty (void) of any material that would distinguish it as a planet and His Spirit, His Essence, hovered over its surface and it somehow entered into its essence and gave it light and life.
At that very moment of creation, God breathed life into our earth and its form began to emerge from the emptiness of its previous existence. Just like when the Holy Spirit does a work in one who believes and he is born of water and the Spirit; new life had begun in the ball of gas now called Earth.
He also did something that would take even more time to realize, He "...separated the light from the darkness." The emptiness and void which had been the soul of the ball of gas and debris was now filled with God's Essence, God's Creative Force, His Holy Spirit and now (only now) would the darkness stand separately from the light. No longer would it keep the material dead and lifeless. Light had invaded the emptiness separating the darkness from it forever.
As we contemplate the death of Jesus this week, let us consider this creation event. God’s Spirit in the person of Jesus Christ hanging on a cross yet his healing Spirit hovering over our own dark souls, our emptiness, our formless lives. Consider the transformation we experienced as we put our trust in the gift of salvation in Christ; how our lives began to shed the darkness, the emptiness became full and our lives began to transform into the image of Jesus. The recreation of our lives being reborn in Christ Jesus is an image of how all things began and also an image of a beaten and bloodied body hanging on a cross that would rise from the grave in three days fully alive and available to transform you and me into His image.
Praise God for our Savior and the power of His creativity and his infinite mercy!
Happy Resurrection Day!
Friday, April 18, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Holy unto God!
“He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.” Deut 26:19
Moses spoke to the people a little while before they would enter into the Promised Land 40 years after leaving Egypt set-free by the LORD yet wandering all those years because of their own disobedience. He reminded them of what the LORD first told them. He reiterated the details of the sacrifices and festivals and of God’s requirements for personal and moral conduct, reminding them what was good and pleasing to God and what He abhorred. Moses declared in their hearing to follow all that God had commanded through him, saying to them, “You have declared…that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him…”
All of this is familiar territory to most who read the Bible on a regular basis and to the wandering people of God, Moses words must have seemed a formality to them like another sermon on another day of worship. But the last thought in the chapter, caught my eye like it never did before as I drank slowly from the days first cup of coffee. God spoke with such awesome words this most precious of promises, “…he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.” Take a moment dear reader and prayerfully digest what God declared, what the Creator of all things just promised to those who are obedient to Him – I will set you in praise, fame and honor above all nations….AND I will consider you holy to Myself! AMAZING!
If we are zealous in our obedience to God, he will hold us in higher esteem than any nation he has previously honored. To be considered Holy and set apart for God first demands our desire to completely give ourselves in obedience to the Father. The rewards are great and the sacrifice is only giving up selfish desires in favor of serving the One who has done so much to save us from eternal darkness and separation from Him. As we come to understand how much God wants us to be holy to Him, it will become clear that if we make an effort to move toward God in obedience, he will draw us to Him making it ever easier to be obedient and receive the Father’s reward. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!
Moses spoke to the people a little while before they would enter into the Promised Land 40 years after leaving Egypt set-free by the LORD yet wandering all those years because of their own disobedience. He reminded them of what the LORD first told them. He reiterated the details of the sacrifices and festivals and of God’s requirements for personal and moral conduct, reminding them what was good and pleasing to God and what He abhorred. Moses declared in their hearing to follow all that God had commanded through him, saying to them, “You have declared…that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him…”
All of this is familiar territory to most who read the Bible on a regular basis and to the wandering people of God, Moses words must have seemed a formality to them like another sermon on another day of worship. But the last thought in the chapter, caught my eye like it never did before as I drank slowly from the days first cup of coffee. God spoke with such awesome words this most precious of promises, “…he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.” Take a moment dear reader and prayerfully digest what God declared, what the Creator of all things just promised to those who are obedient to Him – I will set you in praise, fame and honor above all nations….AND I will consider you holy to Myself! AMAZING!
If we are zealous in our obedience to God, he will hold us in higher esteem than any nation he has previously honored. To be considered Holy and set apart for God first demands our desire to completely give ourselves in obedience to the Father. The rewards are great and the sacrifice is only giving up selfish desires in favor of serving the One who has done so much to save us from eternal darkness and separation from Him. As we come to understand how much God wants us to be holy to Him, it will become clear that if we make an effort to move toward God in obedience, he will draw us to Him making it ever easier to be obedient and receive the Father’s reward. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!
Thursday, March 20, 2014
God's favor for those who listen
“… to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Luke 4:19)
Jesus after, reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” The crowd amazed by the confidence and authority of Jesus’ words knowing fully that when Isaiah wrote these things it was a prophecy of a coming King who would lead the Jewish people out from under the captivity of the Babylonians and give them liberty lost through years of worshipping false gods and neglecting the word of God. But, “what now,” is this amazing man telling us when he claims, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (v21) They must have been confused in their amazement, knowing their history so well, how could Jesus tell us this Scripture is only now being fulfilled? Bestowed, however, with the gift of hindsight, we can look back on Isaiah 61:1-3 and see its double meaning as the Great Expositor reveals this second prophecy of God’s son, “the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus declared two very important things in verse 21. First, "THIS DAY” (Isaiah 61) “… is fulfilled." But equally important he elaborated with the three word phrase “in your hearing.” Jesus made a declaration that on that very day He was the Messiah! He was telling an awestruck audience who had heard this scroll read many times before the synagogue priests that today, the promised “Anointed One” was standing in their midst. Their reaction, however, solidified the caveat, “in your hearing.” The words still reverberating in their ears, several (likely most) immediately began to question Jesus. Despite what they had seen him do, the miracles he performed and the sinless life he had demonstrated, many doubted Him. “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.” (v 22) Jesus defended himself quoting scripture and explaining their spiritual blindness. The conversation ending as the crowd erupted in anger driving Jesus to the outskirts of town and the edge of a cliff and cast Him to his death. (v 28-29)
Clearly the message of God through Jesus Christ is as dependent today on hearing ears as it was then. Almost 2000 years later, "the acceptable year of the Lord," continues as good news goes out to the spiritually poor; healing for the brokenhearted; deliverance for those enslaved by sin; restoration of the spiritually blind; and liberation for those oppressed by darkness. But, where His presence is rejected, and the Jesus of man’s creation does not fulfill expectations, Jesus cannot show God’s favor. While the season of God’s favor remains there is time to hear but Jesus will not force Himself upon the spiritually deaf. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door (to your heart) and knock…” He is ready to release God’s favor in your life and set you free. Open your ears to His call, before Jesus completes Isaiah’s prophecy and proclaims, “the day of vengeance of our God.” (Is 61: 2) On that day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is LORD, (Phi 2:10) and no one will be hard of hearing!
Jesus after, reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” The crowd amazed by the confidence and authority of Jesus’ words knowing fully that when Isaiah wrote these things it was a prophecy of a coming King who would lead the Jewish people out from under the captivity of the Babylonians and give them liberty lost through years of worshipping false gods and neglecting the word of God. But, “what now,” is this amazing man telling us when he claims, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (v21) They must have been confused in their amazement, knowing their history so well, how could Jesus tell us this Scripture is only now being fulfilled? Bestowed, however, with the gift of hindsight, we can look back on Isaiah 61:1-3 and see its double meaning as the Great Expositor reveals this second prophecy of God’s son, “the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus declared two very important things in verse 21. First, "THIS DAY” (Isaiah 61) “… is fulfilled." But equally important he elaborated with the three word phrase “in your hearing.” Jesus made a declaration that on that very day He was the Messiah! He was telling an awestruck audience who had heard this scroll read many times before the synagogue priests that today, the promised “Anointed One” was standing in their midst. Their reaction, however, solidified the caveat, “in your hearing.” The words still reverberating in their ears, several (likely most) immediately began to question Jesus. Despite what they had seen him do, the miracles he performed and the sinless life he had demonstrated, many doubted Him. “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.” (v 22) Jesus defended himself quoting scripture and explaining their spiritual blindness. The conversation ending as the crowd erupted in anger driving Jesus to the outskirts of town and the edge of a cliff and cast Him to his death. (v 28-29)
Clearly the message of God through Jesus Christ is as dependent today on hearing ears as it was then. Almost 2000 years later, "the acceptable year of the Lord," continues as good news goes out to the spiritually poor; healing for the brokenhearted; deliverance for those enslaved by sin; restoration of the spiritually blind; and liberation for those oppressed by darkness. But, where His presence is rejected, and the Jesus of man’s creation does not fulfill expectations, Jesus cannot show God’s favor. While the season of God’s favor remains there is time to hear but Jesus will not force Himself upon the spiritually deaf. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door (to your heart) and knock…” He is ready to release God’s favor in your life and set you free. Open your ears to His call, before Jesus completes Isaiah’s prophecy and proclaims, “the day of vengeance of our God.” (Is 61: 2) On that day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is LORD, (Phi 2:10) and no one will be hard of hearing!
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Examine yourself
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Cor 13:5
Each new year most of us take a look in the mirror or the numbers on the scale and turn immediately toward the gym to shed those holiday pounds. However, most of us neglect what is most important our spiritual health. Let us consider the condition of our spiritual fitness and meditate together on the words of Paul, writing to the Corinthian church as we “examine (ourselves) to see (if we) are in the faith…”
When I read this and considered what it said I was troubled in my spirit as I understood the gravity of the apostle’s words. Is Paul really challenging our salvation here? Is he saying that salvation is more than saying a prayer and believing in Jesus? What does the evidence of our commitment to faith in Jesus look like? How do we know we are saved?
How can "we" examine ourselves?
I believe Paul is talking directly to believers who have grown comfortable in our decision to follow Christ. We may have been convicted of our sins perhaps during a sermon at church or by the words of an evangelist at a conference. We may have publically prayed the “Sinner’s prayer,” but since then perhaps our lives have not changed since making our decision to believe in Christ.
Today’s church is filled with men and women who consider themselves believers but who’s lives look like the secular world. The divorce rate among Christians is just as high as the rest of society, Men in the church still struggle with pornography and infidelity while the women continue to gossip under the popular excuse “we have to know so that we can pray for you.” Teen believers continue to struggle with sexual sin, drug and alcohol abuse, and class consciousness.
Sadly most American Christians, do not know the gospel, do not study the bible on a consistent basis and do not regularly pray. Often it seems our decision to follow Christ has not positively impacted our lives, leaving us ineffective “kings and priests” powerless to tell others the good news. Perhaps we should reflect upon Paul’s advice and examine our commitment to Christ first in the light of our personal conduct.
John’s first letter to his disciples and followers, provides some excellent “test questions” for believers who desire to examine their faith.
• “If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth….” (1 John 1:6) Are you walking in darkness (sin) yet claim to follow Christ who is light? What sins that you know are wrong do you regularly (perhaps deliberately) commit? True faith in Christ actually changes your heart such that you “hate” sin. Therefore, a vital component of our receiving Christ is genuine repentance (turning away from your life’s direction) as we are convicted of sinfulness. A new believer begins an iterative transformation process as he draws closer to God through prayer, daily study of His word and repentance of sin as God reveals it.
• “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”(1 John 1:8) “There is no one righteous, not even one...” (Rom 3:10), we are all guilty of sin. If you think you are innocent you’re wrong. Repent and confess your faults one to another and be healed (James 5:16)
• “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar and the truth is not in him.”(1 John 2: 3-4) John states it simply, if we are followers of Jesus, we must read, understand and obey what God commands. If we are deliberately disobeying God, we are walking in darkness.
• “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.”(1 John 2:9) Are you holding a grudge against a fellow brother or sister in Christ? Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Jesus raised the bar from physical murder to hatred in the heart. If you are gossiping or holding something against a fellow believer, you are hurting him or her and you are murdering them in the eyes of the Lord. We must love one another as Christ loved us.
• “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”(1 John 2:15) Is your bank account, IRA, house, car, girlfriend, television, or favorite sports team more important to you than God? Do you spend more time waxing your car each week than you do studying the bible or having fellowship with other believers? Do you put watching television over going to church? If you answered yes to any of these, you may want to reconsider the health of your relationship with Christ. If we love Him, put Him first even above family relationships.
Soon the end will be upon us and like the “thief in the night,” Jesus’ return will be upon us and the rapture of the church will leave us behind. Brothers and sisters when the master returns be sure that you are honoring him with your life and not be found doing something in secret that you would be ashamed of being discovered.
Each new year most of us take a look in the mirror or the numbers on the scale and turn immediately toward the gym to shed those holiday pounds. However, most of us neglect what is most important our spiritual health. Let us consider the condition of our spiritual fitness and meditate together on the words of Paul, writing to the Corinthian church as we “examine (ourselves) to see (if we) are in the faith…”
When I read this and considered what it said I was troubled in my spirit as I understood the gravity of the apostle’s words. Is Paul really challenging our salvation here? Is he saying that salvation is more than saying a prayer and believing in Jesus? What does the evidence of our commitment to faith in Jesus look like? How do we know we are saved?
How can "we" examine ourselves?
I believe Paul is talking directly to believers who have grown comfortable in our decision to follow Christ. We may have been convicted of our sins perhaps during a sermon at church or by the words of an evangelist at a conference. We may have publically prayed the “Sinner’s prayer,” but since then perhaps our lives have not changed since making our decision to believe in Christ.
Today’s church is filled with men and women who consider themselves believers but who’s lives look like the secular world. The divorce rate among Christians is just as high as the rest of society, Men in the church still struggle with pornography and infidelity while the women continue to gossip under the popular excuse “we have to know so that we can pray for you.” Teen believers continue to struggle with sexual sin, drug and alcohol abuse, and class consciousness.
Sadly most American Christians, do not know the gospel, do not study the bible on a consistent basis and do not regularly pray. Often it seems our decision to follow Christ has not positively impacted our lives, leaving us ineffective “kings and priests” powerless to tell others the good news. Perhaps we should reflect upon Paul’s advice and examine our commitment to Christ first in the light of our personal conduct.
John’s first letter to his disciples and followers, provides some excellent “test questions” for believers who desire to examine their faith.
• “If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth….” (1 John 1:6) Are you walking in darkness (sin) yet claim to follow Christ who is light? What sins that you know are wrong do you regularly (perhaps deliberately) commit? True faith in Christ actually changes your heart such that you “hate” sin. Therefore, a vital component of our receiving Christ is genuine repentance (turning away from your life’s direction) as we are convicted of sinfulness. A new believer begins an iterative transformation process as he draws closer to God through prayer, daily study of His word and repentance of sin as God reveals it.
• “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”(1 John 1:8) “There is no one righteous, not even one...” (Rom 3:10), we are all guilty of sin. If you think you are innocent you’re wrong. Repent and confess your faults one to another and be healed (James 5:16)
• “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar and the truth is not in him.”(1 John 2: 3-4) John states it simply, if we are followers of Jesus, we must read, understand and obey what God commands. If we are deliberately disobeying God, we are walking in darkness.
• “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.”(1 John 2:9) Are you holding a grudge against a fellow brother or sister in Christ? Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Jesus raised the bar from physical murder to hatred in the heart. If you are gossiping or holding something against a fellow believer, you are hurting him or her and you are murdering them in the eyes of the Lord. We must love one another as Christ loved us.
• “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”(1 John 2:15) Is your bank account, IRA, house, car, girlfriend, television, or favorite sports team more important to you than God? Do you spend more time waxing your car each week than you do studying the bible or having fellowship with other believers? Do you put watching television over going to church? If you answered yes to any of these, you may want to reconsider the health of your relationship with Christ. If we love Him, put Him first even above family relationships.
Soon the end will be upon us and like the “thief in the night,” Jesus’ return will be upon us and the rapture of the church will leave us behind. Brothers and sisters when the master returns be sure that you are honoring him with your life and not be found doing something in secret that you would be ashamed of being discovered.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?
“He went down with them and stood on a level place.” (Luke 6:17)
Jesus, Emanuel (God with us), walked the dusty roads and climbed the hills of Judea and tended to the hurting and the broken, to the sick and the lame. Not from on high did he minister as an overlord, but rather eye to eye and heart to heart on a level place. Unlike the gods of this world, Jesus meets us in our valley. As he stood on that level place, “those troubled by impure spirits were cured,” and those who were sick received healing. (Luke 6: 18-19)
Jesus Christ came for all mankind, atheist or priest, free or slave, Muslim or Buddhist. He came that we may have life and have it abundantly but more than that he came because without him we are destined to spend eternity without him in a place where the bible says that are everlasting tears and anger at the thought of a lost opportunity forever!. Our God wants to meet all of us on level ground, no matter where we stand. Please reach out to Him and touch his garment, He is standing next to you.
This season when someone wishes you “Happy Holidays,” respond with joy “Merry Christmas!” Why? Because it is for our politically correct neighbor who unknowingly hides the free gift of salvation as he falls in line with the mantra designed to keep people in darkness. Christmas is a gift that should be shared with everyone because when it is opened reveals “God with us,” ready to take us to an eternity of joy and peace and rescue us from “weeping and gnashing of teeth forever.”
Who would not want to give such a gift?
Merry Christmas!
Jesus, Emanuel (God with us), walked the dusty roads and climbed the hills of Judea and tended to the hurting and the broken, to the sick and the lame. Not from on high did he minister as an overlord, but rather eye to eye and heart to heart on a level place. Unlike the gods of this world, Jesus meets us in our valley. As he stood on that level place, “those troubled by impure spirits were cured,” and those who were sick received healing. (Luke 6: 18-19)
Jesus Christ came for all mankind, atheist or priest, free or slave, Muslim or Buddhist. He came that we may have life and have it abundantly but more than that he came because without him we are destined to spend eternity without him in a place where the bible says that are everlasting tears and anger at the thought of a lost opportunity forever!. Our God wants to meet all of us on level ground, no matter where we stand. Please reach out to Him and touch his garment, He is standing next to you.
This season when someone wishes you “Happy Holidays,” respond with joy “Merry Christmas!” Why? Because it is for our politically correct neighbor who unknowingly hides the free gift of salvation as he falls in line with the mantra designed to keep people in darkness. Christmas is a gift that should be shared with everyone because when it is opened reveals “God with us,” ready to take us to an eternity of joy and peace and rescue us from “weeping and gnashing of teeth forever.”
Who would not want to give such a gift?
Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 20, 2013
Be Merciful this Holiday Season
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6: 27-31)
As we look to the last week of 2013 the anticipation of Christmas, the start of a new year, and the accompanying thoughts of family gatherings begin to stir memories of past circumstances good and unfortunately, bad. Getting together with family and friends not usually around most of the year often creates anxiety and tension. In the midst of the holiday stress, inevitably old personal wounds will be exposed resulting in potentially angry words and hurt feelings. What we choose to do in Christ when these events overwhelm our holiday gatherings is critical to quelling potential arguments and showing the love of Jesus Christ to an unbeliever watching from the sidelines “how Christians conduct themselves.”
Jesus’s words in Luke Chapter 6, like much of what He demonstrated and demanded from us are easier said than done. “If you love those who love you, Jesus said, what credit is that to you?” (Luke 6: 32) In other words, He understands it is not easy and I feel certain that it will only be in His power that we can have success. “And,” He continues, “If you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.” (6:33)
No, this year when tensions get high in those family gatherings Jesus has a higher standard for you to meet. “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 children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
(6: 34-36)
Bearing in mind however, that when you fail, (His) grace is sufficient for you and His power is made perfect in our weakness,” (2 Cor 12:9) and that crazy uncle may see Christ in you and perhaps next year, he will be living a higher standard helping you make the family gathering more pleasant. Merry Christmas!
As we look to the last week of 2013 the anticipation of Christmas, the start of a new year, and the accompanying thoughts of family gatherings begin to stir memories of past circumstances good and unfortunately, bad. Getting together with family and friends not usually around most of the year often creates anxiety and tension. In the midst of the holiday stress, inevitably old personal wounds will be exposed resulting in potentially angry words and hurt feelings. What we choose to do in Christ when these events overwhelm our holiday gatherings is critical to quelling potential arguments and showing the love of Jesus Christ to an unbeliever watching from the sidelines “how Christians conduct themselves.”
Jesus’s words in Luke Chapter 6, like much of what He demonstrated and demanded from us are easier said than done. “If you love those who love you, Jesus said, what credit is that to you?” (Luke 6: 32) In other words, He understands it is not easy and I feel certain that it will only be in His power that we can have success. “And,” He continues, “If you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.” (6:33)
No, this year when tensions get high in those family gatherings Jesus has a higher standard for you to meet. “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 children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
(6: 34-36)
Bearing in mind however, that when you fail, (His) grace is sufficient for you and His power is made perfect in our weakness,” (2 Cor 12:9) and that crazy uncle may see Christ in you and perhaps next year, he will be living a higher standard helping you make the family gathering more pleasant. Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Revival Starts with Me
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron 7:14) NIV
It is no secret that America is in trouble. The foundations of this once great country are collapsing around us; with each passing day the outlook is worse with no solution in sight. The moral fabric of a land first settled by European Christians seeking religious freedom is now in decay. Churches are largely corrupted through the preaching of a false gospel that promises “Your Best Life Now,” while enriching the “shepherds” at the expense of the sheep.
George Barna, Focus on the Family and other religious culture researchers note a great departure from organized religion primarily because most “30 something’s” raising children consider religious people “hypocritical, judgmental or insincere.” And while I can agree with their assessment, abandoning a relationship with a sinless and faithful God because a brother or sister is imperfect is bad decision.
The situation in which we find ourselves is not a surprise to God; He warned us clearly in 2 Chronicles this would come, and He gave us a solution to the problem. Recall these words, “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people….. “My people…repent and I will heal your land.” As you read this, the locusts and plagues are invading our land and your Heavenly Father is prompting us (Christians and Jews – “called by His name”) to repentance. Herein lies the problem and the lesson I pray the Holy Spirit will convey in the next couple paragraphs.
When God gave us (the people called by His name) the Ten Commandments, He included a command NOT to misuse (take in vain) the Lord’s name. However, I believe most who call themselves “people of Jehovah,” (Christians and Jews) take His name in vain! By that I mean to misuse or to take lightly that we are associating ourselves with the Creator of all things who is sinless and above all reproach, without any consideration of how we obey his commands! Jesus warned us clearly about this when he said, “if you love me, obey my commands,” yet despite many reminders and reprimands, we continue misusing God’s name through our hypocritical behavior, our church posturing and false worship!
We deceive ourselves in our religious circles by blaming the atheists, the homosexuals and other religions for our country’s problems, when, in God’s eyes, our problems lie squarely at our feet; the result of us turning our collective backs on God in favor of our own desires and worldly pleasure.
The Church behaves, as God describes, like Gomer, the prostitute whom God commanded Hosea to marry. (Hosea 1:2) We have chosen to sell ourselves to the pleasures of our flesh and to use God’s grace and mercy to make us feel better on Sunday as the moral fiber of our once great land slowly erodes and the mantle of our world leadership status is removed. Our current situation is not the result of a political, financial, or security problem, it is completely a spiritual one. We are seeing the result of years of spiritual decay brought about by our propensity to sin and or drive to satisfy our selfish desires under the veneer of religion.
Consider a few issues:
With the exception of the Catholic Church most Christians and Jews have ignored and some sadly agreed with the abortion of 50 million over the past 40 years.
On the issue of pre-marital sex and divorce for that matter the Church has turned its head; the congregation’s statistics look like the world.
On the issues of Christian persecution and human trafficking we hear mostly silence from the pulpits with only a few groups bringing the issue to light on the internet.
Pornography continues to be a huge problem among Christian men and young people while being ignored by the leadership in the churches.
Most of the outreach to the nation’s poor and hungry still comes from the government; widows and orphans left as wards of the welfare system rather than the “hands and feet” of the Church.
Revival Starts with Me
It is not hard to see why the researchers find so many leaving churches citing “hypocritical, judgmental or insincere” behavior in the pews. While I am not claiming perfection here, what I am saying is that we must look at ourselves with unbiased eyes and recognize our sinfulness. (2 Cor 13:5) Jesus came that we may have life and “have it abundantly” and if we confess our sins, he is our Advocate with the Father and is “faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (John 10:10; 1 John 1:9) Denial that we have taken the Lord’s name in vain is no longer acceptable; we must be honest with ourselves, be humble before His throne crying out to our Father in repentance if our land is to be healed. Neither the President, Congress nor anyone inside the beltway can solve our nation’s problems, only God’s chosen, on our knees turning away from hypocrisy and insincere behavior will capture the Father’s ear, and urge Him to begin changing our situation.
Revival starts with me and you, right now….
Let us pray: Father, we have sinned against you in so many ways in our thoughts, in our words and in our deeds. We have clothed ourselves in your name but we have not followed your commands and lived like Jesus demonstrated. We have allowed our land to be corrupted by worshiping the idols of money, luxury, and excess and have neglected to love you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We have put our personal interests before our neighbors and we have tarnished Your Name in the process. Forgive us please as we humble ourselves before your throne in repentance from our wickedness and asking once again for your mercy. Heal our land Father as we prostrate our hearts before your authority and love. Change us and heal us making us less like us and more like Jesus. Fill us now with your Holy Spirit and send us out into the world to proclaim the gospel and make disciples. In Jesus mighty name I pray!
It is no secret that America is in trouble. The foundations of this once great country are collapsing around us; with each passing day the outlook is worse with no solution in sight. The moral fabric of a land first settled by European Christians seeking religious freedom is now in decay. Churches are largely corrupted through the preaching of a false gospel that promises “Your Best Life Now,” while enriching the “shepherds” at the expense of the sheep.
George Barna, Focus on the Family and other religious culture researchers note a great departure from organized religion primarily because most “30 something’s” raising children consider religious people “hypocritical, judgmental or insincere.” And while I can agree with their assessment, abandoning a relationship with a sinless and faithful God because a brother or sister is imperfect is bad decision.
The situation in which we find ourselves is not a surprise to God; He warned us clearly in 2 Chronicles this would come, and He gave us a solution to the problem. Recall these words, “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people….. “My people…repent and I will heal your land.” As you read this, the locusts and plagues are invading our land and your Heavenly Father is prompting us (Christians and Jews – “called by His name”) to repentance. Herein lies the problem and the lesson I pray the Holy Spirit will convey in the next couple paragraphs.
When God gave us (the people called by His name) the Ten Commandments, He included a command NOT to misuse (take in vain) the Lord’s name. However, I believe most who call themselves “people of Jehovah,” (Christians and Jews) take His name in vain! By that I mean to misuse or to take lightly that we are associating ourselves with the Creator of all things who is sinless and above all reproach, without any consideration of how we obey his commands! Jesus warned us clearly about this when he said, “if you love me, obey my commands,” yet despite many reminders and reprimands, we continue misusing God’s name through our hypocritical behavior, our church posturing and false worship!
We deceive ourselves in our religious circles by blaming the atheists, the homosexuals and other religions for our country’s problems, when, in God’s eyes, our problems lie squarely at our feet; the result of us turning our collective backs on God in favor of our own desires and worldly pleasure.
The Church behaves, as God describes, like Gomer, the prostitute whom God commanded Hosea to marry. (Hosea 1:2) We have chosen to sell ourselves to the pleasures of our flesh and to use God’s grace and mercy to make us feel better on Sunday as the moral fiber of our once great land slowly erodes and the mantle of our world leadership status is removed. Our current situation is not the result of a political, financial, or security problem, it is completely a spiritual one. We are seeing the result of years of spiritual decay brought about by our propensity to sin and or drive to satisfy our selfish desires under the veneer of religion.
Consider a few issues:
With the exception of the Catholic Church most Christians and Jews have ignored and some sadly agreed with the abortion of 50 million over the past 40 years.
On the issue of pre-marital sex and divorce for that matter the Church has turned its head; the congregation’s statistics look like the world.
On the issues of Christian persecution and human trafficking we hear mostly silence from the pulpits with only a few groups bringing the issue to light on the internet.
Pornography continues to be a huge problem among Christian men and young people while being ignored by the leadership in the churches.
Most of the outreach to the nation’s poor and hungry still comes from the government; widows and orphans left as wards of the welfare system rather than the “hands and feet” of the Church.
Revival Starts with Me
It is not hard to see why the researchers find so many leaving churches citing “hypocritical, judgmental or insincere” behavior in the pews. While I am not claiming perfection here, what I am saying is that we must look at ourselves with unbiased eyes and recognize our sinfulness. (2 Cor 13:5) Jesus came that we may have life and “have it abundantly” and if we confess our sins, he is our Advocate with the Father and is “faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (John 10:10; 1 John 1:9) Denial that we have taken the Lord’s name in vain is no longer acceptable; we must be honest with ourselves, be humble before His throne crying out to our Father in repentance if our land is to be healed. Neither the President, Congress nor anyone inside the beltway can solve our nation’s problems, only God’s chosen, on our knees turning away from hypocrisy and insincere behavior will capture the Father’s ear, and urge Him to begin changing our situation.
Revival starts with me and you, right now….
Let us pray: Father, we have sinned against you in so many ways in our thoughts, in our words and in our deeds. We have clothed ourselves in your name but we have not followed your commands and lived like Jesus demonstrated. We have allowed our land to be corrupted by worshiping the idols of money, luxury, and excess and have neglected to love you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We have put our personal interests before our neighbors and we have tarnished Your Name in the process. Forgive us please as we humble ourselves before your throne in repentance from our wickedness and asking once again for your mercy. Heal our land Father as we prostrate our hearts before your authority and love. Change us and heal us making us less like us and more like Jesus. Fill us now with your Holy Spirit and send us out into the world to proclaim the gospel and make disciples. In Jesus mighty name I pray!
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