Can We Repent without God Giving Us Mercy?

 July 1, 2024

Monday

There are two "who knows" in the Bible that have very different results. One comes from the king of Nineveh. Jonah has gone throughout the city saying that God will destroy the city for her wickedness in forty days. The king declares a fast, puts on sackcloth, and sits on ashes. God relents from destroying the city. 

Jonah 3:9 (NASB 2020) ⁹ Who knows, God may turn and relent, and turn from His burning anger so that we will not perish.”

The second is found when King David himself fasts for the life of the child whom Nathan, the prophet, has said will die because of David's sin. The child dies just as Nathan has said he would.

2 Samuel 12:22 (NASB 2020) ²² And he said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’

Both of these moments of contrition seem to call upon God to stay His hand from His judgment but there are two opposite results. What is the difference? Can we repent without God giving us mercy? 

Maybe we should look at the apparent intention in God's actions. In the case with Jonah, even Jonah knows that God will give them mercy when they repent. The purpose of Jonah's preaching was for the people to repent. God is very patient and long-suffering. He gave them the opportunity to be saved. But with David, Nathan comes to render judgment rather than give an opportunity for repentance. It was something that needed to be seen for David's household would have known what was going on. 

The same can be said for Ninevah. These people needed to know that God was patient and long-suffering. They needed to see that their own repentance resulting in God's grace. David was already given God's grace. He didn't die for the sins worthy of death. The death of an innocent one paid for David's sins. The child had to die. There is a lesson to be learned here.

Are You Running To or From the Lord

 June 30, 2024

Sunday

Those who know the Lord may not want to serve the Lord. That is a hard thing to fathom. Knowing the Lord should mean that we obey Him because we know Him to be good all the time if we really know Him. We know Him to be wise and loving if we really know Him. We know Him to know exactly all that will happen if we truly know Him. Do we think that He wants to hurt us when He tells us to do something? Or is the problem that we know Him and that which He asks us to do is distasteful to us?

This was the case of Jonah. God commanded Jonah to go to Ninevah and cry out against it because of their great wickedness. Jonah does not go because he knows what will happen. He knows that God is a patient God. He knows that He will not destroy a people who will repent. He didn't want to preach to a people that they are assured destruction when God would not destroy them. He decided that he needed to put himself in a place where God could not use him. He headed to Tarshish. 

I have met many people who were called to preach the gospel but who didn't. They came forward in worship services to tell of their callings. They told others that they were called but they never went. In one case I am thinking of now, the money was just too great in what he was doing. He didn't want his family to suffer the lifestyle of a preacher's family. Thus, he knew he was called but never went. He didn't go to Tarshish. He decided that he would just postpone responding to the call until time eliminated him. 

The problem was that his family suffered the fate of a worldly atmosphere rather than one that was godly. His family never knew the service nor did they know the joy. They learned by his example that money was always more important than serving God. In the end, the fate of his family was much worse than they would have had if they were as destitute as a preacher. They did not know the works of the Lord. This man's grandchildren would not know the Lord. So, the man may have gained the whole world but he forfeited the greatest value to his soul.

How many Jonahs are out there? They know that the Lord called them to act and they ran until they were unable to fulfill what the Lord called them to do. God may make things difficult for them but they were persistent in running. Note that when Jonah was on the ship in the middle of the storm, he told the pagan mariners to throw him into the sea. He didn't make a commitment to do as the Lord said. He was willing to die without fulfilling God's command. But God sustained Jonah in a great fish. He transported him to the seashore once Jonah committed himself to doing the Lord's will. God gave Jonah a second chance.

Are there people who are reading this who know that God is giving them a second chance? God may not be calling them to preach. He may be telling them to start a neighborhood Bible study. He may tell them to forgive a family member. He may be telling them to reconcile with their estranged spouses. He may be telling them to start a ministry that will reflect His love. Being afraid of what the Lord tells us to do will drive us away from the Lord if the fear of the Lord is not greater than what we are afraid of.

Which way are you heading? Is it toward what the Lord has told you to do or away from it?

Jonah 1:1–3 (NASB 2020) ¹ The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ² “Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it, because their wickedness has come up before Me.” ³ But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship that was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and boarded it to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of the Lord.

God Speaks through Those Who Lack Credentials

 June 30, 2024

Sunday

When God called me to preach, I was a staff member at a church. I had been to seminary for an M.Div. but I knew that churches were more likely to call me as a pastor if I got a D.Min. at a minimum. So, I set out to do so. There is a great problem with this. I was appealing to the flesh in those who were looking for a pastor. Pride is a part of the world.

1 John 2:16 (NASB 2020) ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Thinking that a pastor must be called "doctor" feeds the flesh that is full of pride. This pride can result in missing some very called godly people. Because this is true, people who heard Jesus missed who He is. That still happens today.

Mark 6:1–5 (NASB 2020) ¹ Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. ² And when the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man learn these things, and what is this wisdom that has been given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? ³ Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are His sisters not here with us?” And they took offense at Him. ⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not dishonored except in his hometown and among his own relatives, and in his own household.” ⁵ And He could not do any miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

Do you see why they missed who Jesus was, His teaching and His miracles? They saw Him as a carpenter. Surely, a carpenter couldn't reveal the mysteries of God. They knew Him as one that was among them. There is absolutely no way that someone they have known most of their lives could be teaching like Jesus taught. Everyone knows that someone who is a carpenter and who is known can't do miracles. Thus, they didn't give God the glory when there were miracles. And Jesus didn't perform many because of this.

What we fail to see is that God has used common people to do extraordinary things. I am not saying that Jesus was common, I am saying that they thought of Him as common. Therefore, they couldn't believe He could receive the mysteries of God or perform the miracles of God. Yet, when God wants to do something extraordinary, He often chooses the unlikely candidate.

Moses couldn't speak well. David was just a shepherd boy. And before we go on, look at the ragtag group of disciples Jesus chose. Evidently, God doesn't choose people because of their notoriety. He chooses them because He can see their hearts. It may not be the heart that they possess right now. It may be their heart from walking with Him.

So, was it my education that got me noticed by a pastor search committee? No. The search committee from the church I was called to asked for a sermon. (Back then we sent audio tapes.) I sent the last sermon preached at my present church. During the time when I invited people to make a public commitment to Christ, a child came forward to proclaim that she had made a decision for Christ. Normally, that part is left off the audio tapes but this time it was included. (I didn't know it was there.) The girl was visiting her grandparents where I served. She and her family normally went to the church that asked for the tape. When they heard the name of the young lady, they asked her parents if they had visited my church on that Sunday. They affirmed that they had. They decided that this must be something that God had orchestrated. You see, I didn't know this when I sent the tape. They didn't know this when they asked for it. Pretty remarkable, huh?

Be careful to hear God even if He is speaking through someone who may appear unable to speak for Him. You can miss a whole lot of what God is saying if you fail to do so.

Late for Church Again

 June 29, 2024

Saturday

Many people don't show up for worship services on time. I wonder if they are late for other important events in their lives. Have they been so late for a flight that they missed the plane? (and it was their fault) Have they missed the time they needed to show up for a surgery? Were they late for the children's wedding? Were they so late for a doctor's appointment that it had to be rescheduled? Were they late for the beginning of a sporting event? No one is late when they have the opportunity to meet someone they especially admire. Why are they late for worship?

I remember hearing from a youth several years ago. Her mother told me that she couldn't wait to be in worship. Maybe that was because she was vitally involved in worship. Maybe some people don't  know they should be vitally involved in worship.

Worship should be something we do rather than attend. Otherwise, the singing and amens are just lip service. God desires worship of the spirit and truth. God cares if people are only attending worship. That isn't really worship to Him.

Worship should change the worshiper. Who can come into the presence of God and go away unchanged? Maybe people don't know they are supposed to come into the presence of God when they worship. I guess that might allows someone to show up late.

Worship should contain three elements. There should be a cleansing that comes from confession and realizing that each person's sins are forgiven by the sacrifice of Jesus. There should be commitment. If God is speaking, He must be obeyed. You can casually disregard what is going on if its just the preacher. There should be fellowship. Fellowship is a mutual contribution given by the congregants. It happens in singing, praying and giving words that spur others on to follow Christ. I guess it is okay to miss worship if these are missing.

I am afraid that many of the late comers might agree with the following scripture.

Psalm 42:4 (NASB 2020)⁴ I remember these things and pour out my soul within me. For I used to go over with the multitude and walk them to the house of God, With a voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude celebrating a festival.

The key words in this scripture are "I used to." There was a time when worship was vital. It was something that was anticipated. The good news is that realizing this is a good reason to return to the heart of worship.

Instead let your worship be:

Psalm 122:1 (NASB 2020) ¹ I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”

Let your worship be alive again. Show it by being there when it starts.

A Christian Challenge

 June 28, 2024

Friday

Satan really has no power over us. Sure, God has given him permission to disrupt our lives with bad things at times but this is all under God's limitations. Satan is the accuser of those who love God and challenges our faith to fail if we lose what we love. We love our security, people dear to us and our bright futures. Satan asks and receives permission to take those away. While I am aware of this, so many times he doesn't need to take away anything. He can watch us be devoured in our own lusts, greed and pride.

I realized this while reading Romans 5: 12:

Romans 5:12 (NASB 2020) ¹² Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned—

Sin entered the world because it already existed. Satan introduced sin to mankind. Once he did so, he could let sin take a natural course. While we might be able to blame him for introducing original sin, the rest of it lies on us. We are quite capable of sinning without his help.

Why should Satan spend his time getting permission from God when he doesn't need to do anything for most of us to sin. It seems it is only the exceptional people that Satan spends his time with. 

The question here is: Do you want to be one of the exceptional servants of God that God notices and brings to Satan's attention? This person guards himself or herself every day to follow hard after God. This person has a daily quiet time to prepare for the day. This person confesses each known sin. This person obeys the Holy Spirit promptly. This person proclaims Jesus every day. This person sacrifices time and money to God. This person is truly a disciple of Jesus.

Since you have taken the time to read this, you are probably someone who says, "Bring it on!" I believe that this decision cannot be taken lightly. First, you need to assess what this will mean for you. Does your giving need to increase? Will you commit the time to have a daily quiet time? Will you enlist people to disciple? Will you put yourself under a teacher so that you will be discipled? Saying you are committed without knowing what that entailed is what got Peter in trouble. He said he would stand up for Jesus without failure but failed when he needed to stand up. You must ask whether you actually long to see His appearing or are just putting Jesus out of your mind most of the time.

If you do make this commitment, there is a crown of righteousness waiting for you. Don't take that lightly either.

2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NASB 2020) ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; ⁸ in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

When Self-Righteousness Hits the Fan

 June 27, 2024

Thursday

Self-righteousness rears it's head in all manner of life. There are just as many self-righteous scientists as there are in the religious segment of our society. We find them in music as well as economics. The attitude that prevails is, "I am better because I act better than you." They claim to know more so that they can be better. Often, they don't even notice their disdain for those who don't know as much and stand up for the righteousness they stand up for.

Jesus addressed this:

Matthew 23:27 (NASB 2020) ²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

The scribes and Pharisees didn't see their own arrogance. In their defense, very few arrogant people ever do. They were concerned how they looked rather than what was on the inside. This is truly the nature of the self-righteous. They have so covered their flaws that they don't believe they have any. They can't see beyond the air-brushed image they have of themselves. Their lack of humility keeps them from learning beyond what they already know. They gather in enclaves of like-minded people who will espouse passionately what they already believe.

It is interesting to note that actions that will reveal this arrogance are couched in words like, "Before we did this, we bathed it in prayer." In other words, when they are leaving whatever ministry they have been involved in, they must justify their leaving. The real reason may be a hatred for someone they will need to work with. It may be a sacrifice they are no longer willing to make. The latter two reasons are never addressed. They will say, "We needed to do what is right for us." They don't realize they are saying, "You are not right for us." Relative rightness often results in self-righteousness.

It is easy for any of us to fall into this trap. A whole church can state with confidence that it is following the Bible when others aren't. It has become self-righteous. It is looking down on the other churches. It points to what it is doing because it has the right knowledge while others are sub-par in performance and belief. There is a fine line between self-righteousness and doctrinal differences. Every church needs to examine itself to see why it is who it is. Self-righteousness needs to be continually rejected. Doctrinal stands need to be held to.

Self-righteousness will not place us in a right standing with the Lord. Jesus said: 

Matthew 5:20 (NASB 2020) ²⁰ “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

It is unreasonable to believe that Jesus was saying that you must keep the law better than the scribes and Pharisees to enter heaven. They were committed to keeping the law. No one kept it better than them. No, there is another meaning here.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB 2020) ²¹ He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Our righteousness does not come because of our works. It is the righteousness given to us by the work of Jesus Christ. We can claim no arrogance. We cannot look down on others. We can't be concerned by how we look without recognizing who has given us a righteous standing with God.

This is humbling. Humility is not as common among Christians as it should be. 

Just a Word of Encouragement

June 26, 2024

Wednesday

I watched a TED talk done by a friend yesterday. He did this talk in 2017 and never told me about it. He is just humble that way. I have known him for thirty-five years. He has always been amazing to me. He has produced 13 Gold and 3 Platinum records. He has won 7 Grammy Awards and 20 Dove Awards. He is a songwriter and producer.

The TED talk centered around him growing up in North Dakota. Since I never thought of him as more than incredible, I was surprised to hear that he thought of himself as a loser while he was in junior high (Middle School now). The words of an encouraging teacher launched him into who he is today. After watching, I texted him and told him that I also want to be that encourager because there just might be another one of him out there. After thinking about it, I really don't care if they become someone who has won great awards if I can simply help them along by giving them words of encouragement. This friend told me that he is still in touch with this person who encouraged him.

People are always saying they want to make a difference. They think it will be by their names placed in the media or on the side of buildings. That's not the difference that really matters. The difference that matters is found in the lives that are changed for the better. Encouragement costs us nothing to give. It lifts people up. It changes the trajectory of their lives. Maybe that's why the Bible tells us to give it.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB 2020) ¹¹ Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.

Here is the TED talk I mentioned. It is about 16 minutes long. It will be worth your time.

https://www.ted.com/talks/greg_nelson_the_elusive_origin_of_a_creative_mind

It Is Easy to Be Led Astray

 June 25, 2024

Tuesday

I am continually perplexed at believers following preachers building their own kingdoms. They go in droves toward the excitement and sparkle of being a part of the "in" group who are greater than those who are not with them. The services are animated. The preachers use a variety of  tactics that spin stories that the congregants long to hear. The people do, indeed, become more religious. They may even change their lifestyles to resemble that of a Christian. But they are cultish in their worship for they long to hear the words of a man or woman rather than a word from God. They are largely emotional as the worship team has led them to a frenzy in which anything can be poured into their minds.

Most of those who will attend these churches will deny what I have just said. They will point out that the preacher read the Bible. They will even say that the songs brought them closer to Christ. "It is better to be in an exciting church than one that is dull" will be the reasoning for attending. My question is this: "Are you only attending church or are you also furthering the kingdom of God?" One does not necessarily beget the other.

A church should be a gathering of people to serve the Lord. It is a people who disciple others to further the kingdom of God. I really don't think Satan cares how many times "Jesus is Lord" is sung as long as Jesus isn't Lord. Truthfully, I don't think God cares either.

Any time a worship leader cries out, "I sense the presence of God in this place," the question should arise, "How do you know?" Maybe the reason the people leading are called the Praise Team is because they are being praised by those who worship them. Worship should always point toward Jesus. It isn't the music, the musicians, the preacher or the building who are placed in the middle of worship. It is Jesus. The Holy Spirit will always praise Jesus.

The presence of the Lord is most often a realization that the Holy One is there. There is a need to confess and repent. Sure, there should be praises but that comes after the confession and repentance because we know He has received us. We know He has forgiven us. We know we possess His righteousness. We know He is working in our lives. We know that this relationship should consume us. But we hear so little about confession and repentance. Sure, we preach forgiveness but there seems to be no qualification. Everyone is forgiven without taking any action to receive that forgiveness. No, I am not saying that we have earned forgiveness. I am saying that we are cleansed from all unrighteousness because of a confession that produces repentance.

We gravitate toward messages we want to hear. The sick want to hear they will be made well. The financially struggling want to hear that their struggles will be no more. The depressed want to hear that tomorrow will change everything. But what if the message from God is that these circumstances will not change? What if He merely promises to walk with people through these circumstances and, therefore, allows them a testimony of trust in God when everything appears to be going to hell? Who wants to hear that?

The deep messages of God are so often convicting. They are life-changing. They confront the status quo and demand a closer walk with God. That walk with God may not be in a church that sees thousands screaming the lyrics of songs. It may be a few people gathered to sing "Just as I Am." 

To all who read this I say, "Watch what you are doing. You may be led astray without knowing it." Excitement entices when truth may be ignored.

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB 2020) ³ But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Keep Yourself Both True and Kind

 June 24, 2024

Monday

People are often divided between kindness and truth. Many believe kindness must prevail. If so, it leaves us deluding ourselves. For example, people are met frequently with requests from worthwhile charities. Each of them has a cause that is worth pursuing. The local Christian radio station has days when it asks for donations. Mission agencies send millions of mailings stating their cause. Christian colleges, universities and seminaries call for all believers to unite in giving to them. A person does not need to give beyond the Christian faith to be overwhelmed with the needs and the requests for meeting those needs. Not many people can give to all of those who make requests. 

On the other hand, truth doesn't seem to be distributed as well. One mission organization said that 80% of the donors' mission giving went to missionaries overseas missionaries. The fact is that organization only considered 20% of the donors giving designated for missions. 80% of all that was given went to running the organization for raising the funds. 4% went to what was considered local missionaries. 16% went to the actual missionaries overseas. Those facts were not publicized. I am sure that most people gave thinking that 80 cents of every dollar they gave went to the missionaries. They would be surprised to learn that it was only 16 cents of every dollar.

Kindness must always be balanced with truth. Leaning on kindness without truth will make you ineffective. Leaning on truth without kindness will make you cruel. For example, a drug addict may come to the church seeking money for food. Giving that addict money will likely end up in furthering the addiction. Letting that person starve will make the potential giver callous to those in need. Addressing the need with truth and kindness will take more time and effort than simply saying "no" or giving a few bucks. After all, you probably will never see the person again.

Of course, many would rather turn this over to a government agency so they won't need to be bothered with it. Their only involvement is to complain when they see the inefficiency of the government to meet the needs. What they don't realize is that the government is doing the same thing that they would have done. Give the person a few bucks so that it can be said that something was done. The truth of the matter is that it would be much harder to have effective programs that will get people off of drugs as long as addicts have other avenues to get money for their drugs.

Even making these problems very personal doesn't help. Parents who have a children abusing themselves in a harmful lifestyle want to stop the acts but soon realizes that this might estrange their children from them. Confronting their children with truth and holding their children to the truth is hard. It is easier to put up with the acts and hope that they come to their senses before they do irreparable harm to themselves or others. Truth should have been the kindest thing these parents should have offered.

No, truth and kindness must go together. They must for your sake and those around you.

Proverbs 3:3 (NASB 2020) ³ Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

When You Are Not Who You Thought You Were

 June 23, 2024

Sunday

We think differently about what we will do when things are calm. When things are calm, we tell how we think things should be. We often act much differently when in the thick of things.

People sometimes tell me how I didn't act appropriately in a certain situation. They are correct, but they also weren't there. They didn't feel the pressure. They had time to discern what to do. That is not true in most real-time situations. I suppose our reactions reveal more of who we are than our statements when we are calm.

Peter claimed he would go to the death for Jesus.

Luke 22:33 (NASB 2020) ³³ But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!”

Jesus knew what would happen. He knew that there had been permission granted in the spiritual world to sift Peter and the other disciples like wheat. He knew that Peter would deny Him three times. Peter didn't think he would. Peter thought he was someone who would stand up when everyone else capitulated.

I believe that is why Peter's pain was so great.

Luke 22:60–62 (NASB 2020) ⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. ⁶¹ And then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” ⁶² And he went out and wept bitterly.

Who are you if you are not who you think you are? Peter didn't know. He knew he loved Jesus to a point. That was the problem. He thought he loved Jesus beyond that point. He thought he was someone who would be on the cross beside Jesus. The problem for Peter is that he thought he was a person who lay down his life for his friend when he wasn't.

This is the hardest lesson that many of us must learn. We may think that we love the Lord with all our hearts, but remain silent when He is mocked. We fail to tell anyone about Jesus. We fail to serve. We fail to give. Yet, we want to claim that we love Jesus with all our hearts.

To restore Peter, Jesus confronts him after the resurrection.

John 21:15 (NASB 2020) ¹⁵ Now when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.”

Peter needed to understand who he was through loving Jesus. If he loved Him, there would be service that required all of his commitment. This is always where the rubber meets the road. Our identity with Christ must be found in our love for Him. It will result in a life that goes beyond we can make for ourselves. The lack of this love will reveal that we are not who we thought we were.

Just as Jesus prayed for Peter to return, He seeks us to return to Him. It must be more than just saying that we love Jesus with all our hearts. It must be more than singing songs that say we love Him. It must be more than weeping bitterly when we fail. It must be all to Jesus that we surrender.

Is Amos 8: 11 Right around the Corner?

 June 22, 2024

Saturday

Amos 8:11 (NASB 2020) ¹¹ “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the Lord.

There are many questions I have about the above scripture. Why would the Lord stop giving us His word? I wonder if it isn't that He makes it unavailable or that people just quit listening. I am finding that many people in our church are longing to hear God's word. I watch them lean forward as the Word is read. I see their attentiveness as I preach. I believe that is why God has enabled me to preach His word. I am not special in any way. The Spirit has enabled me to preach His word because there are people who are listening. It isn't because I am a great preacher for I am not. (I wish this was humility but it isn't.)

If there is a famine of hearing God's word will it occur everywhere at once? Will there be no place that God's word can be heard? The next verse indicates the desperation that people will have to hear God's word.

Amos 8:12 (NASB 2020) ¹² “People will stagger from sea to sea And from the north even to the east; They will roam about to seek the word of the Lord, But they will not find it.

There are times when God seems to be absent. (He isn't absent, but it seems that way.) People would depart from the Lord. He would withdraw His grace toward them and they would be oppressed. They cried out to Him for years before He delivered them. The Word of God was rare.

I know I see people roaming from church to church to get the message they want from the Lord. They want the Lord to bless them so much while they are on earth that heaven will be a downgrade. They want all that they can want and believe there is some means of getting the Lord to give it to them. They just need to know the magic words, the magic gift, the magic act or whatever magic they can perform so that the Lord will dump a load of money on them. Every time they hear what they want to hear they claim it is the Word of God. The problem is that they don't know what God's word actually says. How can they recognize it if they just want to hear what they want to hear?

Will this famine come even if there are some people seeking God's word now? The Old Testament certainly recorded prophets who suffered along with the people who had rejected God's word. These prophets never deviated. They held onto God's word. Elijah thought he was the last of the prophets as he stood before King Ahab. He did everything at God's word. Even he was in great peril because of the evil of Jezebel. It appears that God has a tipping point in which a nation is declared apostate.

Is this a prophecy that will occur again and again? It appears so. Human nature has not changed. The fact that mankind is fallen should never escape us. We all get close to God and lose our focus if we aren't careful. We hear God's word and depend upon it. It works upon us. We are grateful for it. Then, we go about our business forgetting God's word. This is why the habit of having a daily quiet time is essential. We need to come to our sense daily.

Is this prophecy coming soon? I don't know. Maybe that's why we should make sure that we are hearing and doing God's word now.

Are You So Busy That You're Not Living Anymore?

 June 21, 2024

Friday

People are much busier than they used to be. Things at church didn't compete with so much stuff. The problem is that people don't know what is truly important. Thus, they are busier than ever but getting less done.

I looked at the stuff I have in my house and realized that I had a lot of stuff that I didn't use and evidently didn't need. I wondered how I got all that stuff. For example, there must be ten pillows in the den that sit by the fireplace. I don't remember using them. I would put them in a closet but the closets are all full.

So, we are adding activity and stuff to our living without getting more out of our living. In fact, we are getting less. How did this happen?

Well, in my life, I wasn't careful. It was activity and stuff creep. One thing was added after another without removing anything that was already there. Very little thinking is required to get yourself in this predicament. You just keep putting things into the boat until the boat sinks. This isn't wise.

So, I must do something about it. I must start eliminating those things that aren't going to add value to my life. I must know God's will, follow that will and guard that I don't go back to adding things that seem good but aren't the best. Truthfully, I don't have time for good things. There are too many best things that I may be missing.

First, I resolve that God wants the best for me. He knows me well and can bring about the best for me if I will just walk with Him. Knowing this, I have full confidence that He will lead me into the best. Thus, I must get rid of all the things that are keeping me from my best.

Next, I must be filled with the Spirit to know what God wants for me. I must admit that I can't discern this on my own or I wouldn't have all this clutter in my life. God didn't clutter my life but He will help me de-clutter it.

Then, I must clean house. This is more than dusting and vacuuming. There will be truckloads of junk going to a charity. There will hours of wasted time reclaimed.

Of course, I will resolve to pray about every purchase and activity before I buy or engage in them. This is the only wise thing I can do. I can't live in this junkyard any longer.

Today has a to-do list. I make those and follow them most of the time. Each of the items is evaluated and given a priority. Some of those things will go on the next day's list. At this point, cleaning out things is not something I can do in "spare" time. It must go on the to do list.

I wonder if anyone else is like me. Do any of you see things in your life that really aren't adding living to your life? What is really important? Of course, it is doing God's will. It is walking with Him. Adding activity without discernment will keep you from being able to walk with Him. I guess some of us are going to have a clean up day.

Here is a scripture I come back to often. I need to read it again.

Ephesians 5:15–18 (NASB 2020) ¹⁵ So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of your time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Hated by the World

 June 20, 2024

Thursday

Why are we so surprised when those outside our faith attack us? We should have seen this coming. It is found in the words of Jesus.

John 15:18–19 (NASB 2020) ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

It may be hard to believe that the world hates Jesus. This is especially true for us that love Him so. But those who have rejected Him may vehemently hate Him. 

They will ridicule any faith in Jesus and use ludicrous means of proving their point. For example: A man on Youtube confronted a street preacher saying that if there was a God, he should be struck dead at that moment. There are two great problems with that: One, this man is commanding God to act. Two, this man does not understand the patience of God. People aren't condemned in a moment. They are condemned in their sins because they did not respond to the love of God. Though one sin would certainly condemn us, it isn't one sin that they are condemned for.

Many people think that Christians have a superior attitude. They see us as those who can look down on others because we are more righteous than they. Our position is one of amazing grace. We are amazed at God's grace toward us for being the sinners we are. We can't be better than others though others think we are judging them because we are calling everyone sinners. Sin is a word many want to eradicate. 

When Christians say that something is wrong, those who approve or practice these things cannot conceive of anyone saying that anything is wrong. Morality has moved but God's word hasn't. That makes no sense to some.

I heard a Methodist pastor (Youtube) say that people have always chosen what parts of the Bible they follow. (Not his exact words but certainly his intent.) While I believe he was right in this assertion, I don't believe he is right in his theology. Christians often choose the verses of the Bible they follow and those they ignore. That doesn't change the validity of the Bible. In other words, sinful practice doesn't validate sin. A sin is a sin no matter how large the population that affirms a sin. That sets people on edge toward Christians. They will also hate us for it.

However, others hating us does not validate an attitude of hating them back. We are to show the grace that has been extended to us. We are to love those who hate us. We are to pray for them. This is very hard to do without being filled with the Spirit. It is hard to forgive those who put us on a cross.

We have been chosen out of this world. We are in the world but not of it anymore. We cannot act like the world when the world hates us. So, live each day by the power of the Holy Spirit. Keep living the life that God has created in you when you became a Christian. Remember, if the world hates you, they hated Jesus too.

When the Hurt Is Too Great

 June 19, 2024

Wednesday

I realize that many people cannot let go of the hurts they have felt in the past. Some of these hurts were so devastating that it is understandable that humans would continue to hurt. There is some measure of protection in remembering hurts. They remind us that we don't ever want to feel them again. But often, the person builds protections around themselves that make new hurts and even hurt others. These people frequently see wolves in the darkness when there aren't any. The trouble is that they think this is perfectly fine because they don't know any other way of living. Often, they are living at a high level of anxiety but cover it up very well.

That is, they are able to appear calm until something others would think is nothing more than an irritation falls on them. Someone appears to criticize them. Someone says something unkind and their facade falls apart. They get emotional beyond what others can understand. Of course, there may be those who will tell them that it will be okay without giving them any solutions for it to be okay. These helpers would rather have the act rather than the true person right in front of them. If they can just get them to stop being emotional, all will be well. That is not the truth.

Professional counselors help. They often challenge the hurt person to confront their hurts. Unlike the movies and TV, this doesn't happen in one session. Also, realizing the problem and even managing it doesn't mean that the hurt person won't fall back into the bitterness trap. Letting go of hurt is extremely hard.

What if this hurt is deeper than an emotional scar? What if the problem is spiritual? If so, dealing with this on a psychological level will not give full healing. If Satan is the accuser of the people of God, why wouldn't he bring this hurt to mind again and again so that the believer would hurt. Hurt people have very little ministry because their hurts keep them from helping others. Hurt people struggle to express their faith to others. Hurt people are injured and cannot be expected to join the battle.

Years ago, I quit asking women who were obviously hurt if they had been sexually abused. The number was astounding. Eventually, I didn't want to know. Yes, I know this is a coward's response. It hurt me to think of them being hurt like that. Yet, I wanted to help and didn't know how. 

I still don't know how but I believe somehow these extremely hurt people must go to Jesus. I often told them that they needed to take their hurt to Jesus. I don't think this is right. I think they must go to Him fully. This is not an act of salvation though salvation is necessary to go to Him. This is not to pray or tell Him the hurts. It is to let Him hold them. Really no words need to be spoken. It is to know He is right there with them. It is knowing that He takes the hurt away. He did so on the cross. This is why Paul makes sense when he says that he has been crucified with Christ.

I wish this was a one-time solution to extremely painful pasts but it isn't. Letting Jesus hold onto you should become a regular part of a quiet time. Not only the sins you have committed are nailed to the cross. The sins against you are nailed there too.

Galatians 2:20 (NASB 2020) ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

The Church Is the Body of Christ

 June 18, 2024

Tuesday

I heard a mega-church pastor claim that he had over 500 staff members. I guess I get it. His church grew so rapidly that he didn't have the time to disciple the membership to maturity. He hired more people for the foundation (the mature) of his church. Of course, this means that much if not most of the church budget will be used for personnel. His claim was that a church cannot grow if it gives too much of its budget to missions. He practiced what he preached.

This results in a anemic church. Even though the attendance is in the thousands, many of these have almost no understanding of the fundamentals of the faith. They don't truly understand soteriology, eschatology, hermeneutics or the Trinity. They may be at this church on Sunday mornings and watching a heretic most other days of the week. They can't tell the difference between biblical truth and heresy that uses the Bible. They are tossed around like the waves of the sea.

Jesus didn't tell us to leave people at their conversion. He commanded us to make disciples. They must obey what Jesus has commanded. Discipleship is intended to create organic growth. Every member is an essential part of the whole. They are the followers of Christ who obey His commands. Those commands include sharing their faith and helping others to mature in their faith. They live by example and by their words. Church members are not intended to be attenders only. Worship is more than being entertained. It is an act of joining with the Holy Spirit for personal change. Bible study is not merely sharing the intellectual understandings of the Bible's contents. It invokes change in the person to live like Christ. Fellowship is more than eating fried chicken. It is contributing to each other in care. Prayer is more than bowing the head while the nose is scratched. Prayer goes into the throne room of God making requests with the expectation that God will answer. Christ-like character is not merely acting like a Christian at church, but it goes with the believer in everyday life.

While I marvel at the mega-churches and am amazed at the sermons their pastors preach, I see church a bit different from them. The church is a body with every part essential. The only thing that I know of on a body that can be lost is fat.

That means that every member of a church who reads this blog has an essential function in his or her church. So, what is yours?

1 Corinthians 12:14–27 (NASB 2020) ¹⁴ For the body is not one part, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ But now there are many parts, but one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again, the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; ²³ and those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable, ²⁴ whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked, ²⁵ so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it. ²⁷ Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.

Sifted Like Wheat

 June 17, 2024

Monday

Luke 22:31–32 (NASB 2020) ³¹ “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you men like wheat; ³² but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

While preparing a sermon, I copied these verses into the text. While reading them later, I thought there was a typo. The word "men" was added after "Satan has demanded to sift you." Why would it be there? I had always thought that Satan had demanded permission to sift Peter like wheat. But when I looked it up in the Greek text, I realized that the word "you" is plural. It is gender neutral so the translators of the NASB added "men" to make sure it is understood as plural. 

It struck me. Has Satan demanded to sift all the disciples like wheat or does this go beyond the disciples? Here is where application must be careful. It is easy to make a passage say what you want it to say. However, I have no agenda in interpreting it beyond the disciples. I must ask what Jesus' intention was in making this statement. Biblical interpretation is taking the words and testing them in context, in culture and in practice. In practice we must ask whether Jesus' immediate disciples are the only ones being sifted like wheat. I believe than anyone who wants to live a godly life will be sifted.

2 Timothy 3:12 (NASB 2020)¹² Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

It appears that all who devote themselves to walking in the Truth will be sifted. Maybe we should warn people of this before they make their commitment to Christ. 

In Peter's case, Jesus says He has prayed for him. The "you" in verse 32 is singular. It is clear that Jesus has said a specific prayer for Peter. So, what should we do?

We should pray that whatever we are going through will result in God's glory. We should pray that we are stronger because of it. We should pray that is produces endurance in us. And we should pray that He will enable to get to the other side of it.

We may all be sifted but we don't need to go through it without the Lord. 

A Solid Foundation for the Church

 June 16, 2024

Sunday

Most churches started well. A more mature group of members purposely left their mother church to begin the new mission church. Things go well because these people are mature enough to realize that the new church will not exist if all who have moved don't go to work reaching new people. The people starting the church form a strong foundation. They know what they believe. They understand that the gospel must go out and they are responsible for making sure it goes out. They are not looking to be served but to serve. The new church grows.

As the new church grows, the foundation remains the same. The walls of the church bulge because there is no way the original people to shepherd the flock of people who now call themselves a part of the church. There is a tremendous strain on the foundation. This is often where many churches hire more professional staff. That doesn't grow the foundation. Thus, the problem continues to get worse because budget begins to drive the church more than reaching people.

Then, the church begins to lose members of the foundation. They die, move, become too ill to serve and some are called away by God to serve in other churches. This makes the problem worse. The hired staff must be paid. Newer people do not generally give at the same rate as those in the foundation. Those people in the foundation are critically stressed.

Many churches decide to draft unprepared people into places of leadership at this point. These new people have no idea of doctrine and believe the church exists for a number of reasons. The foundation of the church is thin. It can't hold up the membership. Only a very small percentage of the membership ever shares Christ with anyone. Baptisms are few. Eventually, the church loses more people than it reaches.

It seems that many churches do not understand the mandate of the church. They fail to realize that the only healthy way to grow a church is to increase the foundation as the church grows. Those in the foundation know the purpose of the church. They know doctrine and are solid in the church's beliefs. They minister to others in their love of the Lord rather than in their obligation to the organization.

The mandate of the church is to make disciples. Disciples know and obey what Jesus commanded. They are matured by their relationship to the Lord and their relationship to someone who has more than teaching in mind. The person who makes disciples seeks to grow a person into a disciple who can function as an ambassador of Christ. These are the people who are part of a church's foundation.

It is no wonder that church attendance is shrinking. Many churches have failed to be what the church should be.

Be a disciple maker. This means that you are a disciple whose goal is to make others like yourself. That is a tremendous responsibility. It is never fully completed as long as you are able. However, it leaves behind a strong church that continues to reach, teach and obey the commands of Christ. Then, the church will have the presence of Christ.

Matthew 28:19–20 (NASB 2020) ¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Rewards for Your Gifts to God

 June 15, 2024

Saturday

I recently read of a billionaire who sent what appeared to be a tremendous amount of money into the federal government to pay taxes. He advertised his tax burden on X. His intent was political. He wanted to show everyone what he paid. Of course, we are supposed to praise him for paying his taxes. Therefore, we can say that he his politics are better than those who use every advantage to avoid paying taxes. There are so many flaws in this.

The billionaire is not paying in such a way that it will affect his lifestyle. He is paying in his excess. He will still ride in his private jet. He will live in his mansion. He can still take exotic trips. He is unaffected.

This billionaire wanted everyone to know how much he paid. He was proud of that number. He wasn't about to simply pay his taxes and let no one know about it. He should have known that this only impresses those whose god is made of money.

It appears that this billionaire is calling for people to pay their taxes. It doesn't matter that this billionaire evidently failed to use the tax code to get out of as many taxes as possible. (This is the real problem with a disproportionate taxation in America. Abolish the tax code and everyone pays his or her fair share.) The fact that the enormous tax he paid didn't affect him doesn't mean that it won't affect those who are not as rich as him.

This story reminded me of the Widow's Mite. There were rich people making a show of what they were giving. Large sums were deposited with flair. The rich were trying to impress each other. All they would get out of their gift was measured in the pride they felt and the awe that was shown by those of lesser means. Of course, the priests were happy too. Maybe this would cause others to give in this manner.

Jesus noticed the widow making her way to give her offering. It made a small clink. No one turned to notice. She didn't give it so that people would notice. She gave out of her love and expected nothing more than giving the gift. She didn't know that God, the Son was watching. She didn't know that her story would be told for thousands of years. 

I read that one church rewarded the members who gave above a certain amount of money. They took these givers on fabulous trips. They recognized their giving lavishly. It certainly made these givers want to be in this circle. 

Now, there is a difference between giving to God and paying your taxes. Paying your taxes is a legal obligation. Giving to God is an act of the heart. Beware of those who  reveal what they give to God as a matter of pride. Give so that the reward for your giving goes beyond what you receive on earth.

Mark 12:41–44 (NASB 2020) ⁴¹ And Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and began watching how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large amounts. ⁴² And a poor widow came and put in two lepta coins, which amount to a quadrans. ⁴³ Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; ⁴⁴ for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

An Opportunity for the Devil

 June 14, 2024

Friday

Ephesians 4:26–27 (NASB 2020) ²⁶ Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not give the devil an opportunity.

Anger is an emotion that has caused sin that has dire consequences. It can go from zero to light speed in an instant. It can take control of the person if he or she lets it. Raging on, it will lead people to do things they know to be wrong. Extreme violence has often occurred when people are angry.

Anger comes from an outside source. The word for "be angry" in the scripture above is a passive imperative. Imperative generally means that it is a command but the passive means that it is more received that committed. There are things that will legitimately anger you. There may be an injustice that brings you to anger. For example there may be a woman laughed at where you work because she can't afford the clothes that others have. There may be a man who takes credit for the work you have done. Each of these may make you angry. Be angry about these things.

The problem is not specifically with anger. It is letting the anger move you to sin. One of those ways it to linger in your anger. This is when you go over the offense that caused anger and talk about it frequently. I knew a  man who bragged often. I never heard him claim fault. He probably had a very low self-esteem. He wanted to be a big man. He didn't get a job that he applied for and blamed another man for a bad reference. He had no evidence that the other man gave him a bad reference but he told everyone how despicable this man was. His anger turned into hate. His heart became very bitter. He was mean to everyone after that. This was the sin that consumed him.

So, don't let your anger continue. While anger may ramp up very rapidly, it goes down very slowly. The devil uses the opportunity to tempt the angry person to do something he or she wouldn't normally do during such anger. The devil is always seeking someone to devour. Uncontrollable anger gives him all the green lights he needs to ruin a person's life.

Occasionally, one of my grandchildren has a melt down. The root cause may be hunger or being tired but it comes out as anger because of something not received. Uncontrollable anger is not rational. One granddaughter wanted her daddy to sit beside her in the van as we went for lunch but her seat was at the back of the van. She demanded he sit beside her even though she knew he had to drive. At three years of age this can be expected. It won't be at thirty. It may have taken twenty minutes to calm her down enough for us to make the journey. After she ate, she was fine. Lots of people get "hangry." Recognizing this in yourself may keep you out of a lot of trouble.

I have gotten angry many times while riding my bicycle to and from work. Mostly, it is from people who are either inconsiderate or simply don't care if they hit me. I have hit the brakes so hard that I have slid to within inches of a car more times than I can count. I have reacted in anger with the drivers. I realized that this was not the way to handle it and have a process that I ride by most of the time now. I tell myself that I am an ambassador for Christ before I go on the ride. This doesn't keep me safe. It doesn't keep me from getting angry. It keeps me from sinning and giving the devil an opportunity.

Don't let anger take over. When it does, the devil seizes the opportunity.  

Are You Afraid of Revival?

 June 13, 2024

Thursday

This morning as I was preparing for a Bible study, I was reminded of something that was said in our last session. There was a reference made to a revival that had broken out in a place where several of those in the study had lived. None of us had heard of that revival and we questioned if it had truly happened. 

So, being the person I am who can't let something I could know be unknown, I looked it up on the internet. Sure enough, the revival had happened. I read how hundreds of people had flooded the altar of the church to confess their sins and repent. It was at that moment that I believe the Holy Spirit spoke to me saying, "You are afraid of revival."

I have been challenging my church for years to pray for revival. I have prayed myself. How could I be afraid of revival? So, I, at first, wondered if this was the Holy Spirit. I prayed for God to reveal whether that was true. It was.

I admitted that I didn't know what to do if revival came to our church. I admitted that I am a skeptic. I don't think things are of the Lord at first blush. I discount them until I see the Lord's hand in what is happening. Thus, I am a late adopter of the works of God. Revival will not let me be so reluctant or it won't be revival. I prefer a steady stream rather than a flood. 

Essentially, I have been praying for revival on my terms. That, too, will not be revival. The Holy Spirit goes where He wills. He doesn't need my approval. He doesn't need me to direct Him in how He will bring revival. He just needs me to get out of the way. He needs me to accept what He is doing. He needs me to allow Him to work in my life without telling Him how to do so.

Repenting of my fear is not easy. My fear has been fashioned by so many false statements about the movements of God. I do not want to be a part of something that is counterfeit so I guard against it so well that I probably wouldn't know revival when it came. 

So, I have decided to continue to pray for revival with a difference in my praying. I pray that God sends His revival regardless if it meets my approval. I want revival even if it makes me uncomfortable. Revival is needed even if I must wait for a long time. Let the Holy Spirit come and turn over my apple cart. May I be ridiculed by my exuberance. Let me be silenced when revival comes!

Acts 2:1–13 (NASB 2020) ¹ When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out. ⁵ Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷ They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty deeds of God.” ¹² And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others were jeering and saying, “They are full of sweet wine!”

When Is Repentance Not Repentance?

 June 12, 2024

Wednesday

Let's say that a man comes to me and says, "I have cheated my partner in business for years but I am okay with the Lord for each time I cheated my partner, I confessed it to the Lord and was restored back into His good graces. I know I can do that every time I cheat him. I know this because you have preached that no matter what we have done, God will forgive us."

This man would be right about my statements of forgiveness. Jesus paid such a high price for our sins that He will forgive all my sins no matter how egregious they are. So, is this man right in saying that he is okay with God even though he continues to cheat his partner? I will give a resounding "No!"

Sin separates us from God even if we are believers. It doesn't keep us from going to heaven but it estranges us from God. Anyone who has been away from God in his or her own sin will confirm this. This is why people truly repent of their sin. They are left in their guilt without God. It doesn't matter that Jesus has forgiven them if they no longer experience His presence. They are separated.

Isaiah 59:2 (NASB 2020) ² But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

So, can a person repent and have restoration only to repeat the sin again and again? Again, I will give a resounding "No!" Repentance is more than admitting that you have done wrong. It is filled with regret that reminds the person not to do it again. It calls upon the Lord for strength for help in not repeating the sin. Repentance calls for the person to turn around.

Religion is different from a relationship with God Almighty. Religion goes through the motions that are named as righteousness. A relationship with the Lord looks at the heart of the person when considering righteousness. The most religious people in Jesus' day were the ones Jesus had the most trouble with. They are the ones He used as bad examples of faith. They were the ones He called names to illustrate how bad they were. They went through the motions but their hearts were far from God. They had no relationship to speak of with God.

Repentance with no intent to change is an act of a corrupt heart just as repentance with a commitment to follow the Lord is an act of the heart. God is not interested in your actions if they are not true to your heart.

Let's put it another way: suppose a man is unfaithful to his wife. He tells her that he is sorry that he is unfaithful, but continues to be unfaithful. Will his marriage be restored just because he is sorry? No! True repentance is necessary. That will come from the heart and the body will follow.

So, don't think you can get away with sin with a "get out of jail card" given to you by your bending of scripture or what your preacher has said. God is not amused by your pretending to Him. He is still far away from you.

On the other hand, if you genuinely repent . . .

Acts 8:22 (NASB 2020) ²² Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart will be forgiven you.

First Love Lost

 June 11, 2024

Tuesday

I guess I am amazed when people tell me that they don't love their spouses anymore. I really wonder how that happens. They tell me that they grew apart. They tell me that their spouses can't be trusted. They tell me that their spouses betrayed them. They have resentment toward these failures that they won't get over. They soon split over this.

But how is it that a church can lose its love for the Lord. Not many churches would admit this. They will say that they prove their love by what they are doing. "Our love is proved through our worship," they say. But if you go to the church they sing without any enthusiasm. They appear to go through the motions of observing the Lord's Supper. The invitation for people to receive Christ or join the church doesn't expect any decisions. The have become like many married people who live in the same household but have little affection for each other. 

Losing your first love doesn't mean that you aren't doctrinally sound. Churches who have solid doctrine die all the time. They hold onto their doctrine but do not seek the Lord's face. They neither expect His manifest presence nor would they welcome it. There is a fear that the service might go too long if the Lord showed up.

Losing your first love doesn't mean that these churches tolerate evil. They may have preached against evil and even addressed it in their members. They may have seminars on those who are false prophets and call them evil. Yet, they can't see that the failure to love is an evil when it involves the Lord. After all, they must be good and able to point out evil because they are so righteous.

Losing your first love doesn't mean that you are doing what you have always done. The programs that these churches did in 1963 are still in force today. It doesn't matter that no younger people have joined them in these programs. Again, young people just don't know what is important. These young people today are what the members of the church were when they were that age.

When these churches were in love with the Lord they worked to become doctrinally pure. They worked to see the Lord in their churches. They changed the way things were done to reach the people they have today. They worked to see new people in the church. And they worshiped with enthusiasm. The Lord's presence was depended upon at each worship service.

Can the first love be revived? Of course. It will take repentance from that which has become mundane to that which will seek the Lord. It will take repentance from a dead worship. It will take confession that the first love has been lost. It will take a commitment to restore that first love.

Nearly all churches lose their first love after some age has come into the church. That doesn't mean every member has waning love but the characteristic of the church is such. Prayer for church revival will mean that the people will regain their first love for the Lord. This may take time.

Will you be that prayer warrior that will pray that your church will restore her first love?

Revelation 2:1–5 (NASB 2020) ¹ “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ² ‘I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; ³ and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. ⁴ But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

Lord, Something Is Wrong

 June 10, 2024

Monday

I often talk with people who say they know something is not right in their lives but they don't know what it is. Maybe they have gone to church in the past. Maybe they are living two lives. They live genuinely devoted to the Lord at church but find themselves drifting away from Him during the week. They know all the right "churchy" words. They can bamboozle the pastor and the church members but when they get real honest with themselves, they know something is wrong. They honestly don't know what to do.

Many times I don't know what is wrong for them. Every one of us sins at times. Sin does not mean that we are on a journey far away from the Lord. But there is something about sin that many protestants don't recognize. Sin must be confessed if the relationship with God will be righted.

Many of those who believe they must go to a priest to confess do so regularly. They appear to often forget their confession right after leaving the booth and return to their sins. That may appease their consciences but it is not setting things right.

Confession is the full admission that the sin was against God and others with a commitment of not committing that sin again. Sins come in two kinds. There are sins of commission and sins of omission. The sins of commission are the things that have been done that God has said shouldn't be done. The sins of omission are the things God said to do but have been neglected. Very few people see the latter as sins that need to be confessed.

Often, that's what is missing. It isn't the sins of doing wrong that just need to be confessed. It is the sins of not doing right. It is the failure to obey God when He has told them what to do.

Again, there are none of us who can say that we have always done what God said we should do. We have held onto money that we should have given away. We have kept silent when we should have been witnesses. We have stayed at home when we should have gone on mission trips. Maybe we were afraid or we had too little faith. It doesn't matter. We didn't do what the Lord said do.

So, something is wrong. If we stop to think about it, to pray about it, we will see the things we failed to do. We have the opportunity to confess. This time we admit we didn't do what we were called to do but that we commit ourselves to do them. Of course we ask for the Lord's help. He has never failed us.

1 John 1:9–10 (NASB 2020) ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.