Confessions

"How shall we say that we are dead to sin live any longer in sin?"(Rom 6:2)"God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with the Lord and walk in darkness, we lie and do not tell the truth." (1 John 1: 5-6)The bible is quite clear that we are fooling ourselves and are lying to God when we continue to practice deliberate sin. This may seem obvious but many including me discount even the slightest of transgression because we do not want to admit that our sin is "as serious" as the other guys. How wicked we are!
Consider, 1 Peter 1: 13- 2: 19. "…You were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ…see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: laying aside all malice and guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speakings."Yes even these "harmless sins, malice, guile, evil speech and envy ( like you see on E! and Entertainment Tonight). No matter the sin, it is all disgusting in God's eye and we are all GUILTY!

"How can I put such obedience to work in my life? What am I doing that displeases God? What work of my hands brings dishonor to His name? Am I setting a good example of Christ for my family? Is my walk with the Lord a good example for a non-believer? Does my life look any different than it did before I believed that Jesus died on a cross for my sins? Does my faith have evidence? (James 1:22; 2: 20)

I am too busy to pray; too confident in my own understanding to hear God. I believe others have to live their relationship with God like I do. Worried about the splinter in my brothers eye rather than the log in mine. My life in Christ is different and improved but I have room for growth. My faith has evidence, but I lack grace.

Prayer: Lord, I am growing in you-thank you for your grace while I stumble. Father please forgive me for my arrogance and my lack of grace, thinking that my life is a model for others. Help me please, help me humble myself and learn to draw my strength to be obedient from you and please help me extend grace to others as you have poured your grace upon me. Jesus help me!

Yielding: Always give grace when someone's action bothers me. Three times before I react and three more opportunities to change before I walk away and yet three more before I ask God to continue to be patient with me. May I never give up on anyone, just as my Father never gave up on me!

Blessings

The Response

“Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Luke 7:22-23)

Last week, nine men and women were brutally murdered while attending a bible study in their downtown Charleston, SC church. Immediately, the country was, once again, thrown into another “racially motivated,” incident as the national media trucks rolled into our small town by the sea. Sensing blood in the water the “usual suspects,” began to circle the Holy City to make a buck on the emotions of a group of people who were hurt and angry at the senseless violence perpetrated upon them over the color of their skin. The world was ready for another month of violence in the streets, burning building, endless talking heads espousing every opinion under the sun, while the listening public tuned out and dug deeper into the holes they had dug for themselves to silence the endless chatter. But this time, the “victims,” were different, the unfolding story was fresh, and the reaction miraculous.

I awoke Thursday morning after the shooting, made coffee and prepared myself for another work day. Our daughter called to give her mom an update as usual, but this time she asked, if we had heard of what happened the night before. We quickly turned on the local news and soon became entranced in the unfolding story the brought back memories of Ferguson and Baltimore. “Could this be happening in our little corner of the world,” we thought.

This time, however, we soon would discover, the violence would not spill over like it did in those other places. The darkness that came to Charleston on June 17, 2015 came to the wrong place. The victims in this case were children of God and the darkness could not extinguish their light. The brothers and sisters of Emanuel AME churches and thousands like them in Charleston knew that their Shepherd would never leave them nor forsake them. We (the true Body of Christ) understood, what the Enemy had meant for an evil purpose God would use for his good purposes.

It was not surprising, that ten dour days before this tragedy, South Carolina held a statewide call to prayer called The Response. It was not surprising that our omniscient Father would have seen Rev. Clementa Pinckney (a Response leader and participant) gunned down along with eight of his parishioners. It was not surprising that our God would hear the prayers of his people and strengthen those left in the wake of the violence, giving us the courage and the protection of God’s armor to resist the “wiles of the Devil.” (Ephesians 6:11).

Just as Jesus sent comforting words back to John the Baptist who would soon lose his head at the hands of his jealous captors, the Father sent comfort ahead of this tragedy as thousands of praying Christians obediently reached out to God to “heal our land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) The Response, in Charleston was, in God’s timing, made in advance of the tragedy! Those who prayed on June 13 were led by the Holy Spirit to return our country to the greatness lost because many in our church family have turned their backs on God in favor of worldly pursuits (I include myself). However, God had another purpose, to strengthen the faith of the believers in Charleston, who would soon face tragedy, to show the world how the love of God trumps the schemes of the devil and the violence perpetrated in the hearts of men.

As I watched more than ten thousand people from all walks of life, tourists and locals, men and women, black and white, stream across the Ravenel Bridge to form a human chain of unity in ninety degree heat, I was amazed how God worked out all of these events in advance to show the world His love. The next time you feel compelled to pray or to do something kind for another, remember Charleston and remember God’s response may be coming in the future to your act of obedience in the present.

Blessings!

Be of Good Courage – The fight continues

“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life:…I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Joshua 1: 5)

The storms of life are all around us especially in these days. One need only turn on the evening news or search the news feeds from around the world to see chaos and trouble around every corner. One can easily be overwhelmed without a firm foundation in the Truth. Like Moses successor, Joshua, we are called into a land that is dangerous and full of darkness that is designed to overwhelm us with fear. God knows the Enemy and he knows our fears. The comforting and inspiring words He gave to Joshua before crossing the Jordan and into the Promised Land can be a comfort to us as we enter into life challenges that bring us anxiety and fear.

A careful reading of the Book of Genesis describes the migration of the forces of darkness from the post flood period to the land of Canaan as a supernatural army that would oppose the God’s plan for the nation of Israel and ultimately the plan of salvation. The story told in the Book of Joshua, describes the obedience and victory of the Jewish people over the demon-influenced inhabitants and of the land God gave them across the Jordan River. The promises of the Lord were clearly demonstrated to his people and were not lost on those to whom God gave victory (read Joshua 2: 9-11); Rahab the Gentile harlot who helped Joshua’s men declaring, “the Lord your God, ‘he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath’.” Not only were the promises of God for the nation of Israel, they were clearly influencing and recognized by the Gentile world.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews establishes mankind’s place in God’s hierarchy, “You have made him (mankind) for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And have appointed him over the works of Your hands; You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.” (Hebrews 2: 7-8) This fact was not lost on the fallen angels that ruled the geography surrounding Jerusalem. The spiritual battle that began in the Garden was on display as God lead Joshua and his followers into battle after battle set forth to completely destroy all who opposed them, not because God was bloodthirsty as many who oppose the faith proclaim, but intent on wiping out the darkness in the land. God, as did Rahab, knew Joshua was fighting in the spirit realm the very battle that continues in ever-increasing intensity today.

Brothers and sisters, in these last days, the same darkness faced by Joshua and the Jewish people continues. The war of our LORD against Satan and his fallen angels intensifies as the time of the end draws nearer. The consequence of the watering down of the Truth by an apostate church serves only to encourage the Enemy and his forces to increase the intensity of their fight. But, “be of good courage,” God has already won this victory in Christ Jesus and we must declare that victory in our hearts and with our voices especially now.

Praise Him always!

Falling Away

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” (2 Thes 2:3)

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” (1 Tim 4:1)

My wife and I spent Christmas visiting family in Asheville, NC. Away from our traditional surroundings, we took the opportunity to try a different church to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I searched the web for a place of worship that looked as if it was Spirit-filled and honored Jesus Christ and we readied ourselves, put the address in our Garmin and headed out. What we discovered in the next two hours opened our eyes to the truth of God’s word in these last days.

After returning to the hotel, stunned, my wife and I agreed that the two hour talent show filled with professional musicians, comedians and a husband - wife pastor team was entertaining but devoid of the reason we were led to go to church on a cold mid-week evening. Jesus Christ was not celebrated nor was the Holy Spirit, present in that place. The time when many unbelievers find themselves in a church was in this place a missed opportunity to tell a lost person why the Son of God came and why he or she needed to receive the gift he brought.

Since that day I have been thinking about the sad state of the American Church and wondering, if we were witnessing the “falling away,” spoken of by Paul in his letter to the church at Thessalonica?

“Ye adulterer and adulteresses, know ye not the friendship of the world is emnity with God? Whosoever, therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

A.W. Tozer in his marvelous book, God’s Pursuit of Man,” strongly declares, “(God’s words) are not for us for consideration; they are for our obedience and we have no right to claim the title of Christian unless we follow them.” The 21st century church has (at large) turned its attention to “world friendship,” in an effort to attract the masses and attract donors willing to be entertained in exchange for “tithes and offerings,” to make pastor payroll and cover overhead expenses of massive church “campuses.” Churches of a few hundred are closing their doors as their aging congregants, are left behind by fleeting millennials, seeking to find a different “experience.”
New Age philosophies, eastern religious practices such as yoga, contemplative prayer, chants and the like have infiltrated many churches and blended with worship services pushing out the bible as the single source of Truth. Musically gifted “worship leaders,” empowered by high tech sound, video, and lighting produce a multimedia experience designed entertain and attract young people and those looking for “a feeling” from their “worship experience.” Combine this sensory deluge with widespread bible illiteracy, and the congregation finds itself being led to the slaughter like a heard of bewildered cattle. Years of attending church on Sunday without any effort to go deeper in prayer and bible study has emasculated church members and prepared them to be deceived by anything that stimulates their emotions. When the Holy Spirit prompted John to warn his flock to “try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world,” (1 John 4:1) he was warning them of this very deception that has befallen the twenty-first century church.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, Tozer is right; we have no right to claim the title of Christian unless we obey God’s word. If we call ourselves Christians (God’s children), and deliberately disobey His Word, it is sin and we are taking God’s name in vain. Whether through ignorance, defiance, or fear unchecked leaves us open to further deception and eternal separation from God in hell. Sadly, many who believe they are saved will die and go to hell because they did not follow Christ.

Jesus said plainly, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) Clearly, Jesus demands action from us. Christianity is not a spectator sport. If we are not actively growing in your faith, we are not following Christ and are being deceived into falling away from the faith. Please repent and ask the Holy Spirit to help you before it’s too late.

We cannot go it alone (Ephesians 4:11-16)

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Everyone in the Body of Christ is to have a role according the gifts and grace God has given to us. Paul clearly spells out that we are to learn and grow within the roles and according to the skills God has granted to our members. This order is provided to “perfect us” in order that the work of the ministry is performed properly and effectively ( giving due glory to God) and in such a manner as to benefit the entire Church along the way.
‘Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

We are to continue Paul writes, until all of us are unified in our faith and in our understanding of who Jesus Christ is and what he has done for us and in us. Continuing in our apprenticeship according to this learning structure until such time as we emulate Christ in all our ways! (In other words until we see Him face to face).

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

Once the Holy Spirit convicts us to make a statement of faith and declare Christ the victor over sin and death and receive his free gift of salvation because we know that we are sinful and on a path to eternal separation in hell without His death and resurrection; once we have this understanding and accept our need for it, our journey of growing from childhood to maturity begins. Our faith demands that we grow. If we do not Paul writes we are subject to “the sleight of men,” (deception and trickery – “think magician”), false doctrine (so many to count) and those who “lie in wait to deceive.” How many have been deceived by false doctrine, accepting a twisting of scripture as the truth because it came from a favorite preacher without discernment and self-study (consider Act 17 and the Bereans who were diligent in their study so as not to be deceived). Believers must learn to learn using their own intellect, prayer, wise counsel and the Word of God to guide them from infancy to adulthood in the faith or face eternal separation from God because they were deceived by one they trusted but did not take the time to verify what he/she said. Our walk with Christ is personal and our responsibility. Remember, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME…” (Matthew 7: 21-23)

“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

The Church will grow and sustain itself as each member begins to pray for wisdom and understanding and diligently pursues a relationship with Jesus Christ using the members of the body so gifted and matured in their faith as support. Together we will grow in Christ and as we do our Body will flourish and attract others to Christ as they see our example.

Father, we have gone it alone for so long and we have not matured as imitators of Christ as you have provided for us to do. We are truly sorry for our sin and desire to change. Lead us in your ways Lord and help us to develop the discipline to pick up our crosses and follow you using the resources you have given us. In Jesus name I pray.

The death of a friend and the sovereignty of God

“…in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” Ephesians 1: 10-12)

Last week I gave a testimony for a longtime close friend who died after a year-long battle with cancer. His death brought me face to face with the reality that God is sovereign and that his purposes on earth will be fulfilled no matter how much we pray against it and no matter how it often hurts. “Your ways are not My ways," says the Lord,” comes to mind. (Is. 55:8)

There is a popular worship song that reminds us, “Who am I that you are mindful of me?” The song declares a friendship between God and the believer exists that to me seems unfathomable. When I consider the creation account in Genesis 1 or the fear and awe that overcame Isaiah when he encountered God (Is 6: 1-6) and the words of this song burn in my soul. Job captured the experience of confronting the power and sovereignty of God saying, “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1-6)

Paul reminds us in his letter to the Ephesians that we are believers because God gave us the faith to believe. We live, move, and breathe at his command and according to His purposes and for His pleasure. Everything that happens to us, every illness, accident, birth, relationship works together for the good for those of us who love Him. God did not take my friend from me, he allowed him to come into my life for His purposes and to enrich my life in Christ and now he is home with the Lord.

Today is not a day to weep; rather it is a day to celebrate life in Christ and the Sovereign King who is both mindful of me and big enough to use all things together for the good of we who believe and to bring the whole world to its knees in worship. God allowed my friend to have cancer and gave him the faith to say he was thankful that God allowed him to have cancer! Why? Because he knew that God would use this terrible disease to bring another man closer by increasing his faith.

“Praise God from who all blessings flow!”

"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!