The Fight is Real

You have an enemy today.  That enemy is not your brother, sister, Mother, Father, daughter, son, friend, a moral-less society, or that person who purposely has tried to damage your life.  Your enemy is the enemy of God.  He wants to do so much more than just ruin your life.  He wants to destroy in as painful way as he can do it and to take as many people with you when you go and leave as much damage as possible behind while you go.  Make no mistake regarding the clear purposeful enemy you have today.  I urge you, again, make no mistake regarding this enemy's purpose for you.

I find that at this time I see many families who are hit hard by the enemy.  In those families are those who are trying to stand on the Words of God and those who want to do their own will.  Two families, in particular, are on my mind as they struggle to hold their position with regards to their own daughters, who have decided to live how they want to live.  Their reward for their efforts is to lose contact with their daughters and to be ridiculed by them and those they convince at how judgmental and cruel their parents are.  Yet, the fight is not against their daughters, but against the common enemy that seeks to enslave us all.

"If you're a follower of Jesus and you find yourself doing things differently from the ways of the world, rejoice!  It's because you've been born again and are learning a new - and better - way to live." - David Jeremiah

Too often, we doubt our actions.  We wonder what is wrong with us.  We worry and fret over taking a stand because we look at others and so many do not.  Then when those who have a foot on each side of the fence scorn us and ridicule us, when those whom we have spent our lives with turn away from us, and when we feel we are all alone, we fight not to be consumed with pain and anxiety. ... This is the battle for faith.  This is where we are to decide how deeply and truly we trust and know that Jesus is our Savior.

"Jesus invited us not to a picnic, but to a pilgrimage; not to a frolic, but to a fight." - Billy Graham

Stand Christian, on the Holy Words of God!  Fight Christian, to know you faith is in the One True Living God!

The Lord, who is above all things, fights for you!!

Spirit of Jesus Christ

I woke up singing this song this morning.  It's "One Thing Remains" by Jesus Culture.

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. - Philippians 1:19-20

What is the "this" in your life?  Can you confidently say as Paul did, "For I KNOW that "this" WILL turn out for my deliverance"?  If you cannot say it, why not?  Everyone has a "this" in their life.  Is "this" more than your Lord?  Is "this" above the one and only living God?  Take some time and gain some perspective about your God.

How was Paul confident that he'd be delivered?  From the prayers of other Christians.  In order for these other Christians to pray for him, they had to know his needs, his problems.  Why don't more people pray for us?  It's because we don't share our hearts with anyone.  We put on a mask and hope the world don't see us for what we are.  We need to learn to share our problems with others so they can pray for us.  We also need to be in the habit of praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ since this is a part of their deliverance.  

How else was Paul confident he'd be delivered?  By the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. ... Take a minute and let that sink into your thoughts. ... "The supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ."  There are two aspects to this.  The first is that it is the Spirit of Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit has many names recorded in the Bible, but this one describes Him as that of Jesus Christ.  Do you ever find yourself wanting to know Jesus?  Get close to the Spirit then, for that is the essence of Jesus.  The Spirit of the One who died and was resurrected will walk with you, hold you, comfort you, strengthen you, encourage you, and never leave you.  The second aspect is the supply.  It is a never ending supply.  This provision will always be enough, in fact, it is always more than we need or can contain.

Whatever your "this" is, you can be assured that if you'll allow others to pray for you and you will open your heart to the Spirit of Jesus Christ, it will turn out for your deliverance.  Be hopeful that through the experience until it is over, that Christ is magnified by your words, your witness, your actions, and all of your life.

Where are the signs?

Acts 2: 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 

Signs, signs, everywhere there're signs!  as the old song says.  Do we see them in church?  What are they?  If so, what are they?  If not, why not? 
At last nights Administrative Board meeting, I was struck by the upbeat, optimistic, and praise-filled atmosphere.  I confess that I arrived late for the meeting; right in the middle of Pastor Dave's four-point outline summarizing God's vision for our church after spending a year here.  As I recall the four point outline:  1) Align resources with children and young families, 2) Continue ministry to the aged, sick, and homebound, 3) Communicate our care and presence in our community, and 4) Move people from the "porch to discipleship" (focused on those involved with the Preschool and Taekwondo etc).  Whether you agree or not, I found it refreshing to see elements of leadership sizing up the demographics, gifts, and talents of the church and crystalizing a vision for ministry.  I pray that this is God's leading and we will follow in obedience as He continues to reveal His direction as we move from a broad vision to actionable ministry plans.  I also found a very positive atmosphere throughout all the perfunctory reports with each person finding and dwelling on the good things God is doing through His people rather than harping on what is wrong.  From a strong foundation of observing God at work, we can join Him.  Absent was the critical spirit that can at times be so prevalent in our church which serves only to divide, discourage, exhaust, and exasperate. 
More to the point, where are the signs of God at work in my life?  How have I listened?  How have I followed in obedience?  Where is the fruit?  As Jimmy Carter once said, rather than ask me, ask those around me.  Have I followed in daily devotion, prayer, and worship?  Do I have the courage to lay aside my own selfish hopes, dreams, plans, interests, hobbies, and commitments to this day take up my cross and follow Him in obedience?  If not, how can I possibly be the man God needs me to be in a lost and hurting world?  How can God perform signs and wonders through me if I'm consumed by my own goals, interests, and opinions?
Hmm.  I didn't go to a business meeting looking for God, a worship experience or a devotion.  I almost didn't go at all.  Perhaps God is trying to tell me to quit looking for reasons to whine (thanks Rew!) and look for Him at work in everything.  That takes discipline. Dang it!  That is against my perfectionist and critical nature.  That goes against the analytical character that I learned in school and am paid to practice at work.  That requires God to break me and remake me into something else outside of my flawed character.  Signs and wonders depend on my willingness to yield to His Lordship and nothing else.  If I'm not seeing signs, perhaps it is because of my own stubbornness and disobedience instead of others faults. 
Lord, rather than stand in harsh judgment of those around me, may I be a man who humbly seeks You and can be used by you to make a real difference in Your kingdom.  May You forgive my lack of discipline and honor my repentance with a revelation for where You need me to go today. Teach me to love and lead better.  Control my mind and bind my tongue such that instead of critique and criticism, may my mind and ears be open and alert to what You are doing and guide me into accompanying You in Your work.  Where others are struggling, rather than criticize or blame, may you reveal how I can simply stand in the gap between feeble efforts and the results you need.  Although unworthy of even asking, may I be a clear sign of your reality, presence, care, and ongoing work to all those around me today beginning at home and continuing through each and every encounter and activity of this day. 

Love as Jesus Loved

I remember as a young teenager growing up how frustrated and angry I’d get at my single Mom when she would condemn or oppose my directed tendencies to do things in a very man-like manner.  Obviously testosterone had something to do with it as I was moving through puberty.  But I distinctly remember occasions where the rub was that I was being a guy and not doing something as a girl would.  I can’t blame my Mom for this.  She was married with a guy who left her for someone else while she had a one year old, two year old and a six year old at home.  No matter who I ask, no matter what the reason is said to have been, I can find no excuse worthy enough to do such a thing.  The simple fact is my Dad was irresponsible and didn’t want to a) be the man God intended him to be at that time and b) be that responsible at that time in his life.  He had made decisions he didn’t have the manhood to stand up too.  So who can blame my Mom for having a strong dislike or even a hate for having to put her whole life on hold to raise kids while the Dad runs off.

I am aware of another lady here in town through a friend, who is gay.  When I asked why, the friend told me that her husband had beat her so often and so severely that when she was able to get away (thankfully before she was killed) she didn’t want anything to do with another man.  I have to admit, no matter what I think about the aspect of being gay, that I have little support in me to tell her to trust another man.  My male friend is working on it though and has made progress, even getting her to see his belief in Jesus and have brief discussions about it.

My point, however, is to discuss my observance with the obvious attack on all things male.  Men are under attack by our society.  This is incredibly dangerous to our young men who are trying to discover who they are and where they fit in society.  As a Father of young males, I am very concerned about this aspect for them.  But for some reason, our society has a problem with testosterone, unless it is required to defend them in war or entertain them on a football field.  Yet, our Savior came to this physical world as a man.  People don’t seem to oppose that, but that’s because He was Jesus, the son of the one and only living God.

People tend to see aggression as the problem.  If they could just take away that inner explosion from a man the man would be a nice kind lovable person.  I say, if men didn’t have that, no one would like them.  Jesus had this same aggression and it became evident at times.  He ran the businesses out of the Temple (physical confrontation), He verbally assaulted the religious leaders almost every time He spoke to them (verbal confrontation),  He spoke directly to many regarding the kind of person they were (spiritual confrontation), and He would condemn His own disciples when their faith was not correct (family confrontation).  This is very aggressive.  It is incredibly difficult to be confrontive.  No one accepts this well and it takes big shoulders and a lot of confidence to stand in the face of people who reject your point-of-view and even make fun of you for it. 

Men need to learn to be responsible and secure for everyone who trusts in them.  They should use their natural aggression to protect, teach, and confront those either outside of their family who attack them or those in the family who knowingly do wrong.  However, as important as that might be, men must love as Jesus loved, with an intentional inner explosion of aggressive love.  This should be a fierce love for all to see.  If men were more like this, society would not be in this attack on men.

Out of Balance

Acts 2: 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 
I returned from Israel out of sorts.  Not grumpy.  Not irritated.  Not frustrated.  I thought I was just tired, but by Sunday when I hadn't snapped out of it, I knew something else was wrong.  I examined my time over the past 10 days and was immediately confronted by my own lack of discipline.  I had not once sat down to journal about what God was speaking or doing and I was in the land where he took on flesh and then gave that very flesh up for my sins which I was in the very process of committing.  Of all places to not devote one's self to prayer and devotion!
The excuse:  I've found that as I age, travel is becoming more difficult.  I don't sleep as soundly as I once did and travel, especially international travel, really messes with my already sub-optimal sleep schedule.  Even days spent on my feet walking in excess of 5 miles (it seems everyone has a fitbit these days and can tell me how far I've walked with them), I didn't sleep well at night.  Consequently, I felt sorry for myself and spent as much time in the bed as possible, foregoing my usual morning routine of writing a short devotion.  Besides, I'm on travel, I can surely take a break from morning devotions, right?
One never knows the importance of discipline until you abandon it.  I became convinced on Sunday that my poor mood wasn't lack of sleep, although that was certainly a contributor.  Instead, I believe the failure to discipline myself and center myself under Christ's Lordship each morning led to what might best be described as a mini prodigal experience.  I know God didn't go anywhere, but the failure to take time in prayer and devotion led to a strange lack of contentment and a feeling of being distant from God.  Nothing was right.  Nothing was good, everything frustrated me, especially my lack of sleep which became more and more elusive as the trip went on.  Unfortunately, the real issue wasn't confined to sleep, it was a lack of devotion. 
May I remember this brief lesson the rest of my days and discipline myself to simply grasp the promise made by seeking Him first.  Only then will "all other things be added"  (Matt 6:33).  I had the privilege of going to the Holy Land for the second time and I cheated myself out of a prime experience by losing discipline.  May I live a disciplined life of devotion from this day forward.
Thanks to Rew Randolph for an excellent sermon yesterday that reinforced my own conclusion regarding "whining."   Perhaps God needed Dave to take a break just so I could hear the lesson on the importance of discipline in devotion.  Thanks Rew!

Enjoy the Ride

Are you waking up in heavenly joy every morning?  Are you walking in heavenly joy every day?  If not, what is keeping you from experiencing the life God has for you?

While those are good questions, let me bring this topic "back to earth" where we all live.  Life happens: people hurt us, pain is real, survival demands labor and labor demands time, the world pulls/pushes/attacks/pummels us in ways we don't understand.  We are like boats tossed in the stormy waves at sea.  ...  Yet, Jesus calmed the seas.  The wind obeyed His Words.  While His disciples were exactly where He asked them to be and were in the middle of those winds and waves, He was there.  When they cried to Him for salvation, He spoke, and world changed.

How often do we forget that God is with us?  I often wonder if the disciples should have been kicked back, holding onto ropes, and enjoying the ride on the waves with great wonder - and no worry - knowing their God, their salvation, the holder and fulfillment of their very life, was there with them and He's got this.  So might as well enjoy the awesome ride!

Does this describe you today dear Christian?  Has something or someone robbed you of your joy today?  Jesus freely accepts today - will you freely give to Him?  Today is a day you will never get back and Jesus created you to be full.  Open yourself up to enjoy the ride with all its ups and downs and turns and thrill, knowing He rides with you and will speak at the proper time and change your world.

The Difficult Skill

"The fruit of the Spirit is ... self-control." - Galatians 5:22-23

"Self-control is not a popular virtue in our culture.  We are an instant-gratification, act-on-impulse, if-it-feels-good-do-it society.  ...  As Christian adults, we can fully grasp why it is so important to have control over our bodies, our energies, our motives, and our purposes; it is the only way we can truly be useful servants to God.  And yet, it is still such a difficult skill to master." - Dr. David Jeremiah

This is without a doubt a very perplexing subject in our society today.  Today's current societal influence is that "everything is okay".  Do whatever makes you happy, we'll accept it and maybe even promote it.  The government seems to lead this charge.  All moral compasses that promote a healthy, robust, society that includes strong middle class working families are demolished in a purposeful manner.  A self-controlled society is only as good as the self-control of the citizens.

Everyone struggles with self-control.  This struggle can be with everyday things: it might be the doughnut on the counter that is supposed to be for the kids; it might be in setting aside time to pray and read God's Word; it might be in intentional exercise - or the struggle might be with deep-down heavy things: it might be with viewing porn (one study asked 1,000 college men if they viewed porn and ALL said yes); it might be with idolatry; it might be with forgiveness; etc.  Self-control can apply to all areas of our life, therefore it is important for this to be one of the fruits in our life through the Spirit.

It is impossible to conquer self-control over sins without the person of Jesus and the Spirit of God.  Until a sin can be forgiven and lifted off your shoulders, it will always pressure you.  Then when you walk daily and the sin jumps out to grab you, the Spirit of God dwelling in you (if you're allowing Him to rule), will protect you and guide you safely.  Our greatest effort in self-control is to willingly submit daily to the Lordship of Jesus and purposely walk in the Spirit of God.  When we do this, all efforts of self-control in our physical lives can become a reality.  In fact, I can bear witness that some things that you couldn't find a way to answer will evaporate and disappear.  God still works in the miracle business and I bear witness of such healing.

Give your life to God today and walk closely in His Spirit and be self-controlled.

Who is Your Authority?

As I continue in my physical journey in this life, I am made aware over-and-over, example-after-example, that all sin starts with the wrong view of Who is the authority over all things.  Would any of us lie, cheat, or steal seeking gain for ourselves if we were living second-by-second accepting in full knowledge the Creator and Overseer of our souls specifically told us not to take from others in order to lift ourselves but to give to others instead through words, deeds, or materials?  And not just to give what they need, but more than they need (Mt 5:40-42).

The immediate area of concern in everyone's life at all times is this: Who is the authority over your life at this very moment?  Maybe you're tired of your marriage.  Does God say you can get tired of it?  If not, then who is the authority in your life?  Maybe you hate someone who has done you wrong.  Does God say you can hate them?  If not, then who is the authority in your life?  Maybe you've decided that now it is time to live for you and its time you got something from life.  Does God say you live this life for yourself?  If not, then who is the authority in your life?  Maybe you want to be a part of a movement and a culture of change for the world.  Does God say your life should stand for that movement; does the movement line up with His Word?  If not, then who is the authority in your life?  ...  And this type of questioning could go on-and-on looking at every detail in our life.

If we do not take the time to acknowledge this topic and do some self-analysis and continue making decisions "on the fly", we need to know that we are telling God that we know better about sexuality, revenge, idolatry, and our purpose or calling than He does.  Isn't it absurd to believe such a thing!  We would never openly say that we believe that, but we make decisions everyday that confirm that we believe that!  What speaks louder about our beliefs, our actions, or what we think we believe?  There is no substitute for the right action.

Do not make another life decision without first confirming who the authority is over that decision.  Do not have another emotion without first confirming who the emotion should represent.  Do not believe another word without first confirming from whom the word is spoken from.  Make God the authority over every decision, every emotion, and all knowledge.

Small Talk

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  – Ephesians 4:29

I wish I knew how to say things in a non-clumsy way so it would bring grace to the hearers.  I trip over words so often and people perceive them in ways I can’t imagine.  I can try to compliment someone, but by the time I trip over myself they are somehow offended instead.  Because of this I have learned to be quiet.  Rather than say something embarrassing, don’t say anything.  This works most of the time, but there are times when something has to be said.  Someone has to be made aware of their action.  You have a responsibility to try to show someone where they have no longer made themselves subject to the Word of God.  These times are so awkward and never go well.  To confront someone, while fumbling words, and have them take it well is seemingly an impossibility for me.

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification. – Romans 14:19

Everyone responds well to smiling people who compliment them.  People who want to hear about something going well in their life.  Most people like to talk about themselves (or their college football team).  Is this kind of small talk what is referenced in these verses?  Words that do not bring strife and lead to a peaceful conversation?  Words that compliment only?

Perhaps they refer to just being nice, kind, caring, loving, courteous, helpful and encouraging to others.  I think this is great and who doesn’t want to be around such a person.  But it is necessary to show where that spirit comes from, Who provides the continued victory in your life.  Otherwise, people will just say what a wonderful person you are and that worships the wrong person. 

I do not believe that this is to what these verses are referring regarding conversation.  Where is peace?  In Christ.  Where is grace?  In Christ.  Therefore, bring Jesus to people in your conversation.  This makes sense to me, but my immediate conflict is this: rarely can you bring up the topic of Jesus without someone being offended or even incensed in today’s culture.  So these verses seem counter-productive to me.  Truth is, if you talk about Jesus, you won’t have to talk for long, everyone will stop talking to you.  However, anyone who’s identity is as a child of God and who is full of thankfulness and gratefulness for being saved, will talk about their faith and Who it is in.  So talk loud.

He Holds Me

Rick Warren's Daily Hope today is entitled, "God's Love is Deeper Than Your Problem".  You can read it by going HERE.

Pastor Warren says at the end,

You’ve hit bottom emotionally, ... you’re frustrated, and you think, “I’m going under.”  Where is God when you hit bottom?  He’s right there underneath you. He is “your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you” (Deuteronomy 33:27a NLT, second edition).  Drop into his arms of love. Let him catch you and support you when you have nowhere else to go.  

I have to admit that it is shameful to get to those locations at the "end of everything" as Frodo described it to Sam in the Lord of the Rings.  I believe that God puts us in those locations so we'll realize we have nowhere else to go and we never had anywhere else to go.  We need to learn that everyday we must wake up and walk in the full knowledge of not having anyone more secure, more trustworthy, and more capable than our Savior.  We should not have to "hit bottom" to walk in this kind of faith.  When I witnessed God catching us and performing a miracle right before my eyes, I was walking in the miracle, I realized that God can do this everyday and He doesn't need me to be left with no hope to do it.

God shouldn't just be our last hope, but He should be our only hope - everyday.

John Wesley's Order of Salvation

For my Methodist friends ........ with an Emmaus Walk flavor.

Got Deceit?

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,

  Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
  And in whose spirit there is no deceit. – Psalm 32:1-2

Jesus came so that the original sin of Adam (but that women sinned first!) could be removed from all mankind.  From that original sin, all sin was born.  We like to think some sins are more severe than other sins, but all sin came from the original sin, which was refusing the authority of God.  Sure, some sins have much more severe consequences than other sins.  A murderer is much different in its effect on people than someone stealing a piece of bubble gum from a convenience store.  However, in their essence, both refuse the authority of God.  One of these sins is full grown and destructive and the other is a baby, but if the baby sin is allowed to grow, its defiance against the authority of God will one day destroy lives also.  All sin, fully grown, takes life (James 1:15).  Sin always takes you farther than you want to go, keeps you longer than you want to stay, and costs you more than you intend to pay.  The original sin took Adam and Eve’s lives.  The only sin I’m aware that they committed was eating the fruit of the tree they were told not to eat.  Yet God held that sin to the same accountability as the sin of the murderer.

Praise God today that we can be forgiven!  Blessed are we that we have a Savior!  Blessed are we that our sins (transgressions) are forgiven!  Blessed are we whom the Lord does not hold sins against!  Is there a greater blessing in your life?  Are you living in the grace and mercy of the one true living God who has forgiven you of all your sins?  Be restored today!

An important piece of these verses is the very last sentence of verse two.  Blessed is the man whose sins are not counted against him by the Lord AND whose spirit holds no deceit.  This is the genuine part of the sinner’s heart.  This is the part man can’t see in another man.  The intent here is to say the sinner had sincere and real repentance and a changed heart.  He is not a hypocrite, faking his change for the perception of other men, while holding onto his idol deep in his heart.  Everyone has done this at some time in their life.  We may have believed that we wanted to be rid of something (anger, drugs, alcohol, lust, hate, murder, jealousy, envy, etc.) and do what we knew we were supposed to do, but after a while we called back to that idol that we held down deep and truly never left.  We are depraved children.

Surely we all see this in those who fail time and time again in rehabs, but then see the one who didn't go to a rehab and stopped in a single day.  One never left it in his heart (deceit) and the other left it completely (no deceit).  One was appeasing others and the other gained a new faith.  Those who are deceitful with selfish intentions cause great pain in others, often burdening them with their continued addictions and consequences from those actions from the addictions.  There is a wake of destruction behind them.  Those who have had a great change are great joy to others, overflowing in their thankfulness for being made new.  They are uplifting to those around them.  Everyone who sees them gains faith and hope.

Pray today thanking God for His forgiveness of your sins.  Pray for God to reveal any deeply held idols that you may have held onto, even unknowingly.  Let them all go today and worship the one and only living God.  Be alive!