Turning Aside to Myths

 April 27, 2024

Saturday

Maybe you have read the story about the new pastor of a mega-church dressing like a homeless man to see the reaction of his new congregation. It seems that a mega-church pastor named Jeremiah Steepek dressed like a homeless man to see his new congregation look down upon him before he is introduced as the new pastor. It seems to be a convincing story of how church people care little about the abject poor. The trouble with this story is that it simply isn't true. It is fabricated for there is no Jeremiah Steepek named at any church as pastor. However, numerous blogs have cited this story. It is another case of playing on people's emotions. 

It is hard to convince people of something they don't already have some belief in. They readily accept this story. They will read the story to the very end. They don't even question whether or not it happened. They believe it is true because they believed it was true before they read it. They don't need further verification.

Why would anyone want to believe a negative story? The answer is simple. It verifies their own beliefs. Thus, church people will believe the made-up miracles from certain pastors because they already want to believe them. Thus, non-church people will believe in the evil actions in the church because they want to believe them. It's an easy formula: take a predetermined belief and add emotion. You'll get a reaction. People will copy and share these stories. These stories solidify their beliefs.

This is why stories may illustrate the scriptures but not be accepted as truth like the scriptures. Scripture may bring out emotions but emotions should not be artificially induced into scripture. Charging up scripture with emotions will often lead to heresy. Emotions tend to limit a deeper understanding of the scriptures. The Spirit works through our spirits to reveal God's word. Emotions work through the soul to feel God's word. Feelings often fail to verify the truth.

When I was in high school, a hypnotist came. He hypnotized a group of students into believing they were chickens. They clucked and scratched at the gym floor. They may have felt like they were chickens but they weren't. Their feelings had nothing to do with reality.

So, the next time you read an emotional story, check to see if it is true. You may have been played. Then, you won't copy and share a lie with others. And pastors, it won't show up in your sermons.

2 Timothy 4:2–4 (NASB 2020) ² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction. ³ For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

How Do I Know I Have a Godly Pastor?

 April 26, 2024

Friday

All pastors have feet of clay. Not one of us is as godly as Jesus. We have all sinned. Finding the perfect pastor is not possible.

No litmus test will prove a pastor's heart. Only God can see the heart. However, people can observe and see if their pastors have the following characteristics.

Your Pastor Genuinely Loves God

Romans 8:7 (NASB 2020) ⁷ because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

If your pastor loves the things of the world, he will love the physical pleasure, possessions and pride that the Bible warns us about. He will disregard those whom God loves for he will only be interested in what you provide for him. He feigns his love for God. He has to constantly explain why he is so well-cared for, rich and influential. He readily tells you how many books he has written and how many have been purchased.

When your pastor loves God, it will be reflected in how he loves the things of God. 

Your Pastor Has the Presence of the Holy Spirit

This can be seen in how he carefully presents the Word of God. He doesn't preach it as if he discovered it but because the Spirit revealed it to him.

John 14:16–17 (NASB 2020) ¹⁶ “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; ¹⁷ the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.

Your Pastor Is Obedient to the Spirit's Leading

This is a tough one. Every pastor needs to know the trends that people are taking. They need to know the best way to reach people for Christ and make disciples. However, their decisions need to be more than research from church growth gurus. They must pray for direction and lead the church that way because they know that the Spirit has led them in this good work.

Ephesians 2:10 (NASB 2020) ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Your Pastor Is Being Changed into the Likeness of Christ

Over time you will see your pastor grow in his faith. He will mature right before you. His messages will have deeper meanings. His demeanor will have a greater maturity. He may even correct some of the things he has done in the past. He does this because he is growing.

Philippians 1:6 (NASB 2020) ⁶ For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.

Your Pastor Is Genuinely Humble

It isn't all about him. He sees himself as a slave of Christ. This is more than being a servant. He is absolutely dedicated to the cause of Christ no matter what it cost him. He takes the back seat to claiming rewards. He knows he doesn't deserve them any more than the one who drives the bus for the team should be rewarded for their win. He sees himself as a little child sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Matthew 18:3 (NASB 2020) ³ and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Your Pastor Genuinely Loves You

Some pastors fake their love. Recently, I have heard of pastors who openly told some of their members that they couldn't be their pastors. They wanted these people out of the church because they didn't like them. It makes me wonder how they read the Word of God and not understand this characteristic of the saved.

1 John 4:8 (NASB 2020) ⁸ The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

I am reasonably sure that this list is not complete but it is a start. When you find a pastor with these characteristics, follow him. He is a godly pastor who may still sin. He may still make mistakes but he will repent. Know that he seeks to follow God even if he misses the mark occasionally. Forgive him without being compelled to tell him how wrong he is. If he is godly, he will already know it.

Do your best to find a godly pastor.

Bible Twisting

 April 25, 2024

Thursday

How do you know when a politician is lying? Easy. His lips are moving. How do you know when a preacher is lying. Also easy. What he says doesn't agree with the Word of God.

Bible twisting ought to be an Olympic sport. Some preachers are so good at it that their skill could be awarded. The key to their Bible twisting is not ignoring the scriptures but in making the scriptures say what they want to say. They are looking for what people want to hear. Thus, they are not about to read much of the scripture. Scripture twisting requires taking scripture out of context. 

Their delivery is all them. They have the ability to whip up the crowd into believing what they want people to believe. Of course, they are already starting in the direction the people want to go. It is harder to change direction on anything if it is going the opposite way. It is also hard to get something moving that is at rest. Going with the flow makes is much easier to deliver dynamic messages.

So, how do they know what to preach? They preach the things of the world.

1 John 2:15–16 (NASB 2020) ¹⁵ Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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.

People are incredibly influenced by the things in the world because they are living in the world. They seek physical pleasures, money and influence. So, preach that all sickness can be healed merely by doing what the preacher says is a very welcome message to those who are sick or have a loved one who is sick. Riches always hit the spot because the world never really teaches that riches are intended for generosity. Pride and power are the gods of this world. Social media platforms prove how many people want to be known. 

Isn't it interesting that these are the offerings of Satan to Jesus too? He was to relieve His hunger by turning the stones into bread. He was to be rich if He would just worship Satan. He would prove who He is if He just had the angels catch Him from the pinnacle of the temple. Jesus rejected all of these because they were not of God.

So, be careful when you listen to preachers who twist the Bible. They center in on a verse or even a word in a verse. They do not give any explanation of what else the Bible has to say about that word. They do not explain that word in context. They do not explain that word in the culture of the day. They do not relate the practice of those who wrote this word with their own explanation. Their only explanation is allegory. This plays on the felt needs of the congregation. 

Then, they rush in for the money. Somehow, you must give them money for this to work. It is like fast food for them. Come by, speak what you want, pay and receive your order all in a little over thirty minutes. And people do just that.

Typically, these preachers will produce people with testimonies of healing, getting rich and getting promoted or starting their own businesses. This makes people hang on in hope that their day is coming as soon as they have enough faith. They don't realize that true faith is a gift of God. God will not give them faith for something that isn't in His will. All these deluded people can produce is their own hope.

Some are rescued from these preachers. They read their Bibles in places these preachers don't read. They question the amount of money they have given with no results. They notice that these preachers do not care one bit about them. There are others lining up, writing checks and giving money, why do they need them?

Beware of someone who uses the Bible rather than lets the Bible speak. Preachers of God's Word have many characteristics. That will be tomorrow's topic.

Unity in the Church

 April 24, 2024

Wednesday

All churches have problems. They can be financial, missional, biblical, physical or moral. The lack of a consensus in these areas will tear a church apart. Factions are often created that declare a superior knowledge or righteousness. Those espousing their view often do not see the bigger picture. The church should have unity before it has those who are doing what is right at the expense of others. Some of these people may be experts in their fields but they are immature in Christ since they treat the church like it is something to be manipulated to establish their way. It is clear in the New Testament that unity was something the early church strived for. That unity gave them the ability to turn the world upside down. The church today can't hardly be said to shake the world.

Immature Christians make their decisions on their feelings without regard to the Spirit. They know what they like and look for reasons to support what they like. If they like a certain type of music, they will claim that the people are singing that music. They think that worship comes from the lips. The Bible says it comes from the heart. Many people will never sing because their heart is never worshiping. Many people will sing their favorite songs without worship. Whether people are singing or not cannot be the only means of measuring worship. 

Immature Christians will divide the church by their own demographic. Them is always defined as those who are not in their group. Thus, the church is black or white, rich or poor, contemporary or liturgical, young or old, etc. Again, unity is destroyed when us and they are part of the church description.

Immature Christians are always okay with lax leadership. It is when there is an expectation of living like Christ that the immature Christians start finding faults with the church. The church becomes judgmental according to immature Christians when morality is upheld. They will even claim that the church is unloving when it confronts sin in the church. They love a church which encourages gossip. They love to criticize. They don't care when marriages break up. They don't care to see people actually live for Christ. They are like the Pharisees who pray long prayers for others to hear. Their hearts are not in unity with the church.

Maybe this is why much of the New Testament is written to bring unity in the church. The church started out with immature Christians. They acted like immature Christians. Our problem is that many decades long Christians in an American church are still very immature. The lack of unity proves it.

The answer to this is making sure that each person is growing in their faith. They are making disciples who make disciples. They are being led by the Spirit and with the Spirit's leading they may disagree but not by their own feeling but the Spirit. Of course, the leadership in the church must mature as well. 

Read this passage and meditate on it. See if unity is that important.

Ephesians 4:11–16 (NASB 2020)¹¹ And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴ As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

When You Can't Forgive Yourself

 April 23, 2024

Tuesday

Too often, people come to see me who are burdened by guilt. They have asked the Lord for forgiveness but they can't forgive themselves. I know the Lord doesn't want people condemning themselves. What can they do when they have already confessed, repented and asked for the Lord's forgiveness?

Let's clear up a couple of things. Regret is not the same as guilt. Regret wishes that the sin never happened. It may even regret that the sin was discovered. Regret can be good. It can keep a person from getting near the sin. Regret can be bad. It can make the person resolve to hide the sin better so that it will not be caught.

People tell me that they don't "feel" forgiven. Feelings do not always reveal the truth. When I was in high school a hypnotist came to entertain us. Several in the crowd were chosen to be hypnotized. Once they were under, they were told they were chickens. They clucked and scratched. I believed at the time that they thought they were chickens. (I wonder if they were just acting for the crowd now.) Regardless, of whether they felt like they were chickens or we felt that they felt like they were chickens the truth is that they weren't chickens. (Though today I am not sure if a court of law might declare you a chicken because you felt like one.)

Truth is found in a Person.

John 14:6 (NASB 2020) ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

That Person is found in God's word. (Not the only place but a very good place to start.)

John 1:1 (NASB 2020)

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus doesn't just tell the truth. He is the truth. What He has done and what He says is truth. Anything that disagrees with Jesus is a fake. When Jesus says that you are forgiven, you are forgiven. Case closed!

Recently, I paid off my house. I went to the bank and asked what I needed to do to no longer have a house payment. I thought I would just pay off the principal but there are added fees for filing a paid off loan at the court house. The bank gave me an exact amount. I suppose I could have said, "These people have been making money off me for years. They have only raised my house payment when the taxes or insurance went up. I should give them more money than they said was necessary." Would you do that? That's exactly what you are doing when you won't forgive yourself.

Jesus' blood was the payment for your sin. You are saying that your standard requires a higher payment that Jesus' blood. So, you have decided to overpay for your sins. However, you have nothing to pay that with. All you have is Monopoly money. No matter how much of it you pay, it won't be enough. Until you accept the blood of Jesus, you will feel guilty.

How did you accept Jesus? You did so by faith. You established a relationship with Him by faith. And forgiveness is something you must accept by faith. 

So, ask God for faith to forgive yourself. It is a gift that He gave for your salvation. It is a gift that He gives to accept who He is. (Ephesians 2:8-9) And declare that you are forgiven by the payment of Jesus' blood. You know that you can't overpay that.

1 John 1:9 (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.

Salvation Worked Out with Fear and Trembling

 April 22, 2024

Monday

I always have a measure of fear when I preach. If I preach something that is incorrect, untrue and misleading many people could be led astray. There is no way that I can gather the exact same people to correct my errors. Now, that we stream our services, I don't even know who is watching and listening. I couldn't send them all emails or letters or anything rebutting what I had previously said because I don't know who they are. So, I am careful to get it right. And I do, most of the time. (I have told the congregation that I cannot preach messages on all the things I have gotten wrong because I simply won't live long enough.)

Paul told the Philippians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. It doesn't mean they will work for their salvation. Paul is clear that salvation is not a matter of our works. But salvation is not merely saying a prayer or being baptized either. It comes with obedience to the Lord or we really don't know what we were doing when we came to Jesus. It is based on what He did in His crucifixion and resurrection. It is not based on whether we made a commitment to Christ by saying a prayer, walking an aisle or avowing Jesus publicly in some other way. Our belief established a relationship which cannot be erased.

Yet, salvation must also be a process in which we are refined. This is done through our working it out. It is with fear and trembling that we want to get this right. We often have deacons read scripture, say prayers or give testimonies in our church. Often, they are almost terrified to do so. They are not scared of the congregation nor are they scared of what I will say about what they are doing. They are merely taking every step to make sure that it is done right. They are meticulously careful and that always brings trepidation. 

Salvation is working in us to get it right. We are working on our salvation to get it right. There is nothing wrong if this takes an atmosphere of fear and trembling. After all, while we are working out our salvation we are in the presence of the Almighty God. He is not waiting for us to make a mistake so that He can punish us. He is seeking to applaud when we get it right. Still, like those who do feats of skill on a stage there is fear and trembling because of that desire to get it right.

Each of us has days that we utterly fail. These days are those in which we didn't start the day with God and didn't walk with Him throughout the day. We found ourselves acting like those who don't know the Lord. We acted like they expected us to act. While God forgives, this is no reason that we should take our salvation capriciously.

So, we do just that. We work out our salvation with fear and trembling. It is really the only way that we can work it out.

Philippians 2:12 (NASB 2020) ¹² So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

The Value of the Kingdom of Heaven

 April 21, 2024

Sunday

If I had bought $10,000 of Amazon or Apple stock in the 90s I would be a millionaire tens of times over. Of course, I didn't know that Amazon and Apple stock would take off. I didn't know that I wouldn't lose my money. I didn't know what the future was in that stock. So, I didn't and I am much poorer than I could have been.

Now, I want you to consider these words of Jesus:

Matthew 13:44–46 (NASB 2020) ⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field. ⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, ⁴⁶ and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.

Most of the people that do not know Jesus don't think the kingdom of heaven is worth anything. They wouldn't spend a cent on the kingdom of heaven. They wouldn't spend it because, to them, it looks like they would be losing on their investment. They are like I was when I didn't buy Amazon or Apple stock. It looked like I would be losing my money if I bought the stock so I didn't buy it. 

When Jesus spoke of selling everything in order to buy the field with treasure or the pearl, He was speaking of value rather than price. The problem is that many people will realize the value of something when it is too late to purchase that something. This happens all the time.

A father will regret all the hours he worked that caused him to miss his sons major activities in school. He will realize the value of that time far exceeded the money he made while working. There is nothing he can do to get that time back.

People who find themselves on the other side of death will feel the same way. They will know the value of the kingdom of heaven but not be able to purchase it. They will be like the rich man in Jesus parable that asked if a dead man would come back from the dead, their own family would purchase the kingdom of heaven and not suffer their fate. Jesus told him that if they won't believe Moses and the prophets, even a  dead man rising won't make them believe. Nothing convinces someone whose eyes are closed to the truth. More truth just won't do it.

Purchasing the kingdom of heaven is a miracle. The person faced with the choice must see the value. On the surface, it looks like a dream at best. Looking deeper is where the miracle is. It takes a child-like faith to initially believe. It takes a mature Christian to realize the value. It takes a person entering heaven to know the full value.

Yes, I wished I had bought Amazon and Apple stock. I can't do anything about that now. But I did "buy" something much more valuable than that. I have the kingdom of heaven. It has consumed me. But I can say not without a doubt, it is worth it.

Not a God of Formulas

 April 20, 2024

Saturday

"Everything will be okay," the preacher says, "if you will . . . ." It gives you a lot of hope. The dilemma I am in can be averted if I do what the preacher says. So, you do what he says and the dilemma is much worse than you could have imagined.

Being in the will of God is no guarantee that you won't be persecuted or have terrible circumstances. A lady with cancer asked me, "Why do I have cancer?" She was a Christian with no discernable evidence of being outside the will of God. She wanted to know why she wasn't protected from this disease. In other words, isn't cancer intended for the real sinners.

I replied to her, "Why not?" Though she didn't want me to explain my question, the truth is that we are not so good that God must protect us. We don't live by formulas that ensure our safety, riches or esteem. We walk with our God who allows us to sin and to live in this fallen world. This fallen world has cancer, heart attacks, inflation, layoffs and wars. It has murders, stealing, betrayals and lies. The reason that some may be sick may have nothing to do with how good they have been. It may have nothing to do with the fact they are in the middle of God's will. It may have something to do with the testimony of a person who goes through hardships. It should be easy to shine in this fallen world.

God gives us no formulas to live the Christian life. He expects us to walk with Him in humble obedience. He expects us to pledge our allegiance to Him. He expects us to die to self. He will love us regardless.

Our purpose is found in walking with God. Each day is brand new. Each day we make another commitment to walk with Him Each day we should be amazed with what He is doing with us. Each day the wonder should grow.

That doesn't mean that God expects you live without planning. You still go to school, go to work, pay your bills and have your celebrations with planning. Its just that when people live by formulas for their own safety, provision and worth God isn't really necessary anymore. You are just obeying the formula.

So, get up and be amazed. God has a plan for you for this day. It won't be found in a formula.

Psalm 5:3 (NASB 2020) ³ In the morning, Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will present my prayer to You and be on the watch.

Do the Right Thing

 April 19, 2024

Friday

Several years ago there was a movie called "Do the Right Thing." Today, people don't know what the right thing is.

If the right thing means that you can do anything you want as long as you don't hurt others, then, you can't do anything you want. You have a responsibility to those around you. You can't speed down the road recklessly without eventually hurting others. You can't drink until your liver is pickled without hurting others. You can't make money and keep it all to yourself without hurting others. Let's face it. Doing whatever you want is going to hurt others.

It doesn't fare any better when what is right is what conventional wisdom says is right. This is exactly the problem of the racism that existed in this country. The majoring of the people were white who disregarded people of other races. Therefore, treating people of color badly was considered the right thing to do. And this goes beyond racism. Riots are a perfect example of this. When the majority of the people around you are destroying and looting, doing what the majority is doing will seem right. Those who are arrested use this as their defense. I was doing what others were doing, I'm just the one who got caught. (Sounds a lot like getting a speeding ticket, huh?) Right or wrong cannot be determined by what others are doing even if they are in the majority.

Some people claim that the way they were raised is a good means of knowing what's right and wrong. That one, at least, is possibly valid. However, was everything you learned as you grew up right? Is it possible that those who raised you had a different standard than what is truly right? Where did they get what was right or wrong? All of these must be considered. Too often, the inherited values were the mores of the society from the past. Thus, they may become more stable than going with the flow of today's rights and wrongs but they are not eternal in what is right and wrong. This method causes the children's children's children to continue to suffer the sins of the past.

No, right and wrong must be established beyond a society. It must go beyond what feels right. It must go beyond not hurting others. It must go beyond what others say it is. It must go beyond the way a person is raised. It stands true when everything and everyone opposes it. It is right and that which opposes it is wrong.

Recently, I observed a vote by politicians. I realized that they don't know what is right or wrong. They are voting by party line rather than convictions of right and wrong. Their right seems to be whatever will get them re-elected. Right is defined as campaign donations and votes from the area they "serve."

Why are we in this place today? People don't know what is right. People are floundering as crime and governmental corruption rages around them. People are hiding in their homes expecting the next political candidate to right things that have turned upside-down. Of course, they are only asking what will be done for them rather than what is truly right.

The Apostle Paul wrote almost two millennia ago:

Romans 1:21 (NASB 2020) ²¹ For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

Now, is this what has happened? Are people becoming futile in their reasonings? Are their hearts darkened? I don't know how we can say that this isn't exactly what is going on today. A darkened heart does not know what is right or wrong. It doesn't even know where to find what is right. Reasonings must, therefore, become futile.

The solution to our dilemma is not easy. It will not come because we have elected the "right" politicians to office. It will not change if we solve whatever  society tells us are our greatest threats. It will only come when a society returns to God humbly and thanks Him for what He will do. This comes only when the people of God quit playing games with God and fully commit themselves to Him These people will walk humbly with Him and thank Him continually. This is called revival.

This message is not to those who don't know the Lord. I want everyone to come to know the Lord in a relationship that changes their eternity. However, it will not be because we have tried to clean up our society but because we have been dramatically changed as believers for we have come into an intimate relationship with the Living God.

There are only three things I know to do. One, I must be a person who humbly walks with God. I must be one who does His will completely without question. Two, I must tell others who God is with the hope that they will do more than believe in Him. They must know Him. That only comes from a walk with Him. Three,  I must pray for God's revival. I pray that the Holy Spirit sweeps through this world with power. Yes, the light is still shining in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

Will you join me in this? Will you act to know what is right? I personally believe this is the only hope we have to change a disintegrating society.

Were Those Who Have Left the Faith Ever Truly Christians?

 April 18, 2024

Thursday

There are many people who preached Christ as Savior at one time that no longer do so. In fact, they say that they do not believe. At one time, they gave evidence of believing, but now they claim that they don't. People ask me, "Were they Christians in the first place or were they able to lose their faith and salvation?"

It is neither my responsibility nor my desire to give damnable judgement to anyone. So, I cannot tell you what the stories of the individuals are. I do not know them. I do not know what has happened in their hearts. I can only tell what the scripture says.

John spoke of people who at one time were a part of the congregations he is familiar with. They left the congregation voluntarily and began preaching a false gospel. I am not sure what that gospel was but it wasn't the gospel of Jesus Christ. John warns of these people.

1 John 2:19 (NASB 2020) ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be evident that they all are not of us.

I know that many of you will point to a time in your life that you weren't in church. You might even have said or did things that indicated that you weren't truly a believer. Yet, you came back. The question is: Did you ever really leave?

I am one of those people who left the church at one time. No one could have known that I was a Christian by the way I spoke or lived. I did damage to the cause of Christ by the way I lived but I always knew that I believed even if I said I didn't. So, when I hear of those who once preached and told others of Christ leaving their faith behind, I can't tell whether they have truly left Christ or that they are denying their faith because of some other reason.

Some of these people who have left are encouraging others to join them. Maybe you could consider this a false gospel. Maybe it is the litmus test for determining who they are. I do know this: Once you have truly established a relationship with Jesus Christ, you can't simply divorce Him. He will always be your Savior even if you do not acknowledge it.

Some of these people must have been amazing frauds. They could espouse the cause of Christ better than I can and I know I am a believer. They may have even done great good in the lives of many who followed them at one time.

So, if they can truly "leave the faith" they were never of the faith. I pray that isn't their case. I pray they are wandering away and come back someday.

This teaches us that we don't need to follow people who profess Christ but follow Christ Himself. Even if every word that is said by a preacher, Christian singer or author drips like honey to our ears, we must keep our focus on the One who saved us and loves us throughout eternity. He will never leave. We can put full trust in that.

Christians Need Encouragement

 April 17, 2024

Wednesday

There are many people who are enormously famous and successful in their lives. We measure that success in influence. Some can command crowds of thousands to hear them sing or perform. Some have more employees in their companies than those thousands. We say they are gifted.

But do you think that they were able to do all that they have without any help? Were there parents encouraging? Teachers who believed in them. Coaches who smoothed off the edges? Friends who urged them forward? Of course, there were. Is there anything the church can learn from this?

Too often, we, the people in the church, are self critical. There seems to be a virtue in telling others how bad they are. So, we say how bad we are, hoping that this will make us better. Do you think that happened with Taylor Swift? Do you think she was motivated by others telling her how bad she was? Sure, she gets criticism now. It doesn't matter. She has already gone beyond the dreams of others. Criticism now is like a gnat hitting a freight train head on.

Are we so afraid that people will be proud of how far they have come in their Christian lives that they will no longer take another step? Can we say to one another, "good job," without thinking we are doing them damage? Evidently, many people believe that beating people down will make them stronger. Surely adversity does make people stronger but they also need encouragement to fight on. They need someone who believes they can go forward.

Telling people they have done a good job isn't a concession. It should be the hope of everyone. We should be telling each other, "I want you to succeed. I believe you can." Concessions should come when others quit getting up after they have fallen. As long as they keep getting up, we need to encourage them.

Many times people say to me, "I haven't been in church for a long time." My response is, "I am just glad you are here today." They don't need to be beaten for doing the right thing. They need encouragement. 

The Bible says this too:

Hebrews 10:24–25 (NASB 2020) ²⁴ and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, ²⁵ not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

So, look for someone to encourage today. On Sunday, when you see people you haven't seen in some time, encourage them. They may have taken all their energy just to get there. They may be embarrassed for not being there for some time. They may be afraid that someone will tell them how bad they have been.

I once heard two brothers chide another youth. They said, "Hey, Bill (not his real name), I haven't seen you since you made that commitment at camp. Guess it wasn't a real commitment, huh?" I never saw that youth again in church. It didn't matter what I said after that. That youth had been cut to the core. He wasn't coming back.

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

Beware of the Kingdom of Wolves

April 16, 2024

Tuesday

There are wolves that are after you. These wolves will single you out for destruction. They especially pick on those who have been hurt or have strayed from their protective group. Their goal is to devour you. You must always be on guard.

Of course, I am not talking about Canis lupus. I am talking about those who will take you away from your faith. They will devour you with their devious theology. They will leave you with nothing.

These wolves look for people who have been hurt. They are sick or struggling financially or they have been walked on all their lives. They promise that you will be healed if you follow their teaching of faith. They give you the secret of opening God's vault where the money is stored. They tell you that you have the power within you to change all circumstances if you will adhere to their method.

But first, they claim, you must give a certain amount of money to prove your faith. If you believe, that shouldn't be a problem. That proof is all that you need to unlock the power within you to be healed, or see riches pour in or have people call you the blessed one. This is the way out of sickness, poverty and anonymity. This is the road they claim that you were always meant for.

Of course, when the saints in the Bible didn't have this same experience they will claim that they either didn't know how to obtain the power or that they were giving a false testimony or that they were simply not walking where God wanted them to walk. You don't need to be like Paul who would be beaten and work hard for his money. You don't need to be like most of the Apostles who were martyred for their preaching of God's word. You can be above all that.

These wolves are leading you to worship a false god. They will even tell you that you can see the face of your god in the mirror. These wolves are leading you as far from God as they can. They want you to see them as prophets who reveal the truth. They don't want you to meet Truth in person.

How long will you allow these wolves to devour you? How long will you walk with a false god?

Many people one day realize that all of their church attendance and sacrificial giving is playing the lottery. They have not had any return for their gifts but they listen to those who are paraded in front of the church to give testimonies of being financially well off after adopting the theology of wolves. They have tried to believe, they have even proved their belief again and again by giving more and more but have nothing to show for it. 

Run away from these wolves. Go to where you can know the true God. That place may not have as many people who seem to be as happy as the place you are leaving. They may be much more solemn. They may be much fewer than you have experienced in the church of the wolves. They will walk much deeper with their God. They will put their faith in Him to accomplish His will rather than themselves. Their lives will be humble. Their lives will be full of scripture. Their lives will drip with the fruit of the Spirit. They will know Jesus personally.

Wolves are after you. They want you to separate yourselves from the Church and come join their kingdom of wolves. Don't let them do it.

Acts 20:29–30 (NASB 2020) ²⁹ I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰ and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them.

When God Makes You Wait

 April 15, 2024

Monday

I am certainly not the brightest star in the sky. I realized something today that I should have known for a long time. Are you ready for this?

The cross is not the only moment of God's love. Don't get me wrong. The cross is the greatest expression of God's love.  What I am trying to say is that God's love doesn't end at the cross. God's love begins at the cross. He loves us and shows that love even after we have come to know Him. He continues to show His love for us by inviting us to join Him every day. 

Think of it. I love my wife. Let's say that I bought her the most beautiful, most expensive wedding ring ever made.  After that, I never do another thing for her nor do I ever give her anything else. Would that show the deep love I have for her? Would I truly love her? I have heard of men who say that they told their wives that they loved them when they got married and will tell them if that love ever changes but will not tell them that they love them again. Those men have no idea how to love their wives. Can I say that God doesn't know how to love us? Absolutely not!

This means whatever I am going through, especially those things that require me to wait or endure, it is an expression of God's love. I was thinking of the eight years and three months that I waited to become a pastor. I prayed whether this was God's direction for me. He told me it was. Then, I began to pray to become a pastor. That lasted for eight years and three months.

During that time, I didn't know why God would make me wait. I had a seminary education. (I have even gotten a D.Min.) Yet, the opportunities to become a senior pastor eluded me. I assumed that I just wasn't ready. I thought God was preparing me and that I was really slow in learning. While that is true, that's not the main reason that God made me wait. He made me wait out of His love for me.

While I was waiting and praying, I got closer to God than ever before. I clung to Him. I grew in my relationship to Him. God let me go through this time of waiting so that my love would grow. I needed to love Him more than I needed education or experience. This time taught me to cling to Him in every trial I face because I know when I go to Him I am going to someone who loves me. I am going to someone who doesn't want me in anxiety, frustration or depression. It took over eight years but I learned always to go to the One who loves me.

Don't get me wrong! I don't love waiting or difficulties. I love the God of the waiting and difficulties. I never want to go through a time of waiting like that again but I wouldn't trade those years for anything either. They showed me God's love day-by-day. My love for the Lord is far greater than it was before I waited. And I know His love more too.

1 Peter 1:6–8 (NASB 2020) ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷ so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ⁸ and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

The Reason to Forgive

 April 14, 2024

Sunday

Everyone has been hurt at some time in their lives. Some hurts are hard to forgive. The Christian forgives because he has been forgiven. He has the forgiveness of Christ in him. He depends upon Christ's forgiveness to enable his own forgiveness. Therefore, all forgiveness is based on the blood of Christ.

But what about the people who don't know Christ? How do they forgive?

It appears to me that they think forgetting is the same as forgiving. Thus, they depend on their ability to forget rather than forgive. And it works as long as the transgression isn't that great. We all had to forgive our elementary classmates when they said something that hurt us. We continued to play with them and the slight was forgotten.

That works until there is something so egregious that it can't be forgotten. Child abuse is rarely forgotten though it can be suppressed. Rape and severe beatings are rarely forgotten. Betrayal from someone very close is rarely forgotten. Even things that can be forgotten take their toll. They add up like dirty dishes piled up in a sink.

Now, if there is no way to forgive and forgetting is out of the question, what happens to the people who have collected these hurts? I believe this may be the basic reasons for road rage, unruly airplane passengers and maybe even some of the mass killings. Of course, mental illness plays a big part in these, but when people normally considered to be in their right mind act out of their minds, there must be a reason.

Consider this premise, please. People who can't forgive are collecting the hurts they have felt. They rehearse them in their memories so that they are hurt again and again by the same incident. It adds up to where their rage is always on the brink of eruption. Some plan retribution. Others just wait until their is an event that pushes them over the edge. How dare that person pull into their lane! That lifestyle is what's wrong with our country! I paid for this seat and I can do as I please!

What's the answer? I don't believe there is an answer without Jesus. People need to know His forgiveness to forgive others.

Matthew 18:21–22 (NASB 2020) ²¹ Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.

The Impossible Christian Life

 April 13, 2024

Saturday

Jesus said that all who come to Him would get rest. That isn't what most people think. They think that living their lives as Christians is hard work. In a way, it is, but not like most people think.

So many things we are called to do as Christians are impossible. We can act like we are changed from the inside out but we are mostly just putting on a show. True change cannot come from our efforts to change. True change comes from the One we have trusted in. We live by faith in Him.

Faith is believing, yes, and so much more. Faith is admitting that we can't be the people we think Christians should be. Faith is a surrender to the One who can change us. We may be able to look like we are changed for some time but a crisis will reveal who we really are. For example, we can tithe and say that we trust in the Lord. Then, we get the desire for a new car. We never thought that a car payment could be that much. So, we justify our expense. God wants us to work and we need that new car to get to work. You know the Lexus, or Tesla, or Corvette? After all, we need to present a good image for the Lord, right?

How about forgiving people that have done us wrong? We say we don't hate them but we act like we do. We say that we have forgiven them but we act like we haven't. We say we have tried to forgive . . . and we have but we haven't been successful. We just can't do it.

Or, let's take another example: How about those people whom we just despise but we are supposed to love? So, we just avoid them. That's real love, right?

The problem is that we haven't come to Jesus to give us rest. We have gone from Jesus to try and live the Christian life on our own. We know we are failing so we have resigned ourselves to look like we are succeeding. Is that the same thing?

The strongest words we can say in coming to Jesus are, "Jesus I can't without You." We can't be saved without Him and we can't live the Christian life without Him. We must cling to Him if we are to be changed. We must depend upon Him to change us.

The most important thing a Christian can do is to pledge allegiance to the Lord each morning. He or she should admit that this is the Lord's day even if it isn't Sunday. He or she must admit that there is no power to do His will without Him. There is no power to become like Him without Him. There is no power to forgive or love or overcome addictions or anything else that is fleshly impossible. It is the one who listens and obeys the Spirit that will overcome his weaknesses.

Then, by coming to Him, you will have rest.

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.

Shall We Have Snakes at Church This Sunday?

 April 12, 2024

Friday

Can the laws of God be wrongly interpreted by men? Of course.

There are always people who strictly follow God's word. That isn't a bad thing. It only become bad when they have wrongly interpreted God's word.

For example: People can take God's protection and flaunt it to prove their faith. Someone might read the following scripture:

Luke 10:19 (NASB 2020)¹⁹ Behold, I have given you authority to walk on snakes and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.

then, decide that those who don't bring snakes and scorpions into the sanctuary of the church building don't truly have faith. They act as if they are invulnerable because of their actions rather than having the faith that the Lord will take care of them when they encounter these things. They do not realize that the authority that Jesus gives is not to be tried. The authority Jesus gives is in His name rather than owned by the user. It is not a promise that nothing bad will ever happen to the believer. It is a statement of assurance that Jesus has everything in control. Even if your life is taken, you will not be harmed. If He meant that nothing will ever harm us in this life, there are many martyrs who prove this isn't true. Peter was crucified upside down and Paul was beheaded. Neither begged their executioners to "just try to do something that harms me." This is not playing is safe. This is never trying the Lord.

Satan tempted Jesus to jump off the pinnacle of the temple. 

Matthew 4:6–7 (NASB 2020) ⁶ And he said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written: ‘He will give His angels orders concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will lift You up, So that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” ⁷ Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written: ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

This is not playing it safe. God sends people to unsafe places all the time. Sometimes they are persecuted for their faith. They, however, don't go to be persecuted. They are persecuted because they have gone to preach the gospel. There is no virtue in preaching the gospel in order to be persecuted. There is much virtue in obeying God and preaching for people to be saved.

It is a delusion to believe that you need to try to be hurt so that God will protect you. It is just as prideful to flaunt martyrdom as it is to shout for accolades for preaching or anything else that people might be awed with. It is a side-show trick to hold snakes and dare them to bite you. It is great faith to go where snakes might be because you are obeying the Lord.

When you hear of people keeping snakes at church, don't spend your time telling them how wrong they are. Spend your time obeying the Lord. Then, you are not putting God to the test.

Where Do You Keep Your Treasure?

 April 11, 2024

Thursday

We spend a great deal on keep our possessions safe. It seems that half the ads on TV warn us about identity theft or thieves breaking into our houses or being exploited by some scam. Each warning often comes with a product to thwart these evil people who will take away all that we have earned.

Some of the thieves use our greed against us. They promise us millions from an Nigerian prince who simply has chosen us to receive his inheritance. We are told that we have won millions of dollars from a lottery we don't remember entering. We are told that the IRS is sending the sheriff to arrest us in the next twenty minutes. We are told that our computer has been compromised from those who claim to be at the Microsoft Center. If we don't act soon, we will not receive the money or we will go to jail or our computers will be locked down without a means of recovery.

Let's be very honest. There is nothing we can do to protect everything we have on this earth. Thieves are often ahead of every deterrent we can place before them. We can know that the "too good to be true" are just that. We can take reasonable cautions, put security systems in our houses and subscribe to companies who monitor our finances but we can't be absolutely safe no matter what we do. If someone wants what we have bad enough, they can take it.

Of course, our fears of losing it all are coupled with our treasure. What if the things of this earth weren't our treasures? What if we truly treasured our relationship with the Lord so dearly that these things paled in comparison?

When our treasure is on the earth, we will do whatever it takes to keep it safe. When our treasure is in heaven, the Holy Spirit guards it. It is truly safe. When treasure is on earth, we live in anxiety. When our true treasure is in heaven, we have peace. When our treasure is on earth, we give as little as possible. When our treasure is in heaven, we are generous.

Today, why not make sure your treasure is in heaven. That way you can sleep calmly because no one can take it away. It will not be like a new car that gets old. It will not be like your own body that breaks down. It will not be like your reputation which can be taken by one liar. It will be safe from corruption and thieves.

One of Satan's great deceptions is keeping Christians focused on this world. Let's make sure our treasure is in a place that he can't go to steal it.

Matthew 6:19–21 (NASB 2020) ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; ²¹ for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Who Are You, Really?

 April 10, 2024

Wednesday

Answer this question for yourself alone. I am not taking a survey and truthfully, I don't want to hear the confessions of people who might answer this in a negative way. Would you assassinate someone for $10 million if you knew there was absolutely no way that you could get caught?

This is where we need to understand that right and wrong is not determined by who knows what you have done. Right and wrong is still right or wrong no matter who knows. We cannot live like we know God, have trusted in Jesus and have the Holy Spirit living within us when our actions are determined by who is watching.

This is just as true on the positive side as it is on the negative. If our actions of acting friendly, generous, benevolent, kind or serving are done simply because we know others are watching and we want to be praised for our actions, they are not from our hearts and reveal who we are. The Holy Spirit certainly will never lead us to act so that others will praise us. We become hypocrites with two faces. One face is who we are and never show. The other face is the image we want to project and show when others are watching. These are the people who are nice and kind at church but mean as snakes the rest of the week. (Sometimes they are mean as snakes at church when they think they will get praised for their meanness.)

One of the things that bothered me was how I acted at church opposed to how I acted when I rode my bicycle home. On the bicycle I was yelling at those who showed me no courtesy or nearly hit me and at church I was telling everyone they needed to love others in a forgiving way. I had to stop before riding the bike to remind myself who I truly was. I had to remind myself that I was carrying the Holy Spirit with me. I had to remind myself to shut my mouth.

That doesn't mean that I have overcome this problem completely. I am renewing my mind from the conforming it has already accepted.  Unfortunately, my flesh is still very active when I give it a chance. Yet, hypocrisy cannot be my path. I should not act to attain the accolades of people or avoid their condemnation simply because someone is watching.

Regretfully, I must admit, the way that I act when I fail to notice who is watching is who I really am. That is a picture that must change.

So, if you answered the question I posed in a negative way, you too have some work to do. It is time we all acknowledge how we act, repent of the negative things and be renewed to who we really are.

Matthew 23:5–7 (NASB 2020) ⁵ And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. ⁶ And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, ⁷ and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people.

Which Donkey Are You Listening To?

 April 9, 2024

Tuesday

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church for several reasons. I believe the major reason was the disunity in the church. I believe that because he tackled that problem first. Factions in the church erupted as people chose the preachers they followed. Normally, preachers don't say anything bad about each other but they will accept the praises of the people even if it is at the detriment of the others. Paul would have nothing of it even though he was one of the preferred preachers.

He tells the Corinthian church how they should look at preachers. It is the way we should look at them too.

1 Corinthians 4:1 (NASB 2020) ¹ This is the way any person is to regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Paul uses a very special Greek word for servants. This word means one who learns his tasks and goals from another because he has a innate desire to know these tasks and goals and takes no regard for his own dignity and worth in the process. (Unfortunately, that doesn't describe many of us preachers.) In other words, the preaching comes from the Lord in what it will accomplish and how it will be delivered. The preacher desires to preach in this way without needing to be called "doctor" or given special credit for the preaching.

This, of course, has set me reflecting upon myself. I don't need to criticize what I might believe is the attitude or methods of others. In fact, a preacher shouldn't see his preaching as anything more than walking with God, learning from Him and telling others what he has learned. It is more than the report of a bystander but it is much less that being the soul author of the message.

Should this apply to your preacher or Sunday School teacher? Yes, I believe it should. And if you are one of these, you too should reflect upon yourself and see yourself as this type of servant.

Should this be how you respect your preacher or Sunday School teacher. Yes, I also believe this is the case. While you may have a great Sunday School teacher or preacher, you cannot use the fact that you listen to their teaching or preaching as a means of claiming you are better because you listen to them. They are, if they walk with the Lord, humble servants not elevated above others because of their deliveries or knowledge but because of their willingness to humbly walk with the Lord. Remember, God has used a donkey to speak. Which donkey are you wanting to promote?

So, listen to different preachers and teachers who differently present the true messages of the gospel. However, don't think that because you listen to one while other people listen to others that you are above them in your spirituality. You, too, must be one who humbly walks with God.

Just Say, "I'm Sorry"

 April 8, 2024

Monday

Years ago, a movie's by-line was, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." Every person who has had a close relationship knows this is wrong.

I read recently that the two hardest words to say to someone you are close to are, "I'm sorry." There may be lots of reasons that this is true but it doesn't matter. "I'm sorry," just might be the two most healing words we can say too. Relationships that have been damaged for years could be repaired if "I'm sorry" began the conversation.

It is no wonder that God opposes the proud. The proud want the rest of the world to see things their way. They look down on others. They don't see that they must say, "I'm sorry." This is below their stature. This would bring them to the level of the ones they have offended.

This sounds good unless you are the one who is proud. Pride seems to hide itself from those who are proud. They are simply right and that doesn't make them proud. They don't see the damage they have caused. They didn't even realize that they ridiculed the person who may have disagreed with them. They don't realize that their relationships always hang in the balance between being prideful and being humble. Those who are prideful can't have deep relationships. They continue to sabotage them.

Pride is not the gospel that the Lord called us with. He called us to being slaves to Him and servants of everyone else. He said that the greatest would be the servant of everyone. There is no room for pride. There is plenty of room for saying, "I'm sorry."

Responding to the gospel itself begins with saying, "I'm sorry." Realizing that sin is present and it must be forgiven requires these words. Repentance never follows a great deal of pride. Salvation is not gained by thinking it is deserved. The humbled one comes to Jesus.

So, is there any one-time close friend that you need to say, "I'm sorry," to? You could start the repair to something you once had with those words. If you know the Lord Jesus, you will make this effort. That is, unless pride gets in the way.

Matthew 5:9 (NASB 2020) ⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

When We See God Work

 April 7, 2024

Sunday

The staff at our church is going through "Experiencing God." Some have done it before. I have led a few groups of "Experiencing God" back in the early 90s. You would think I would have learned what it says a long time ago. 

Experiencing God says that we should look for where God is working and join Him. The following verse is used:

John 5:19 (NASB 2020) ¹⁹ Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way.

Jesus watches His Father to determine what He should be doing. After seeing what His Father is doing He joins the Father. It is a pretty plain. It reminds me of Peter seeing Jesus walking on the water asks if he can come out and join Jesus. Of course he can.

None of this is new. But today I was reading in John 16:13 and I saw things better.

John 16:13 (NASB 2020 ¹³ But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

The Holy Spirit speaks to the believers by hearing what the Father says. There is an incredible harmony between the members of the Trinity. No one speaks out of turn. No one acts out of turn. The principle holds true that we don't simply think of things that we can do for God. We see God working and join Him in what He is doing. We don't simply try to think of the greatest things that will break records. We act humbly as we join God. Therefore, He provides the work, provides the strength and provides the resources and He gets all the glory. We take our place as His slaves.

While that may mean that we don't get our own names up in lights, it does take away the pressure of performing so that what we do is noticed by the world. In fact, I believe we did it wrong if God doesn't get all the glory.

Yours and my greatest claim is that we are servants of the most high God. All of our accomplishments should add up to that. While it is more than reciting lines in a play, it is less that being the star attraction. 

So, we look to see where God is working with a decided commitment to obey. 

Show us, Lord, where you are working. Invite us to join you and we will. Amen

A Time to Be Bold

 April 6, 2024

Saturday

It seems that each time we watch the news that we are warned of a new fear. We are to be afraid of global warming, afraid of the weather, afraid of a recession, afraid of what we eat, afraid to go out into the world, and afraid of anything that can possibly make us afraid. Eventually, we will barricade ourselves in our homes with our solar panels for energy, water treatment devices to purify our water and let Amazon deliver food in our garages so that we don't need to go outside. We will consider ourselves perfectly safe while we are prisoners to our fears.

So, Christians have come up with a mantra: "Being in the hands of God is the safest place to be." Where did we get the idea that being in the hands of God was the safest place we could be? God Himself is dangerous. He could send you to a country where you will be persecuted and martyred. Witnessing boldly might even land you in prison in this country some day. The media push points out that less people are calling themselves Christians than ever before. Those who aren't committed will go toward the accepted values of the majority. They will join the ranks of those who will call out, "Crucify him!" to make sure they aren't in danger.

God never wanted us to live in fear. Very often, fear and faith are in opposition to each other. Either our fears keep us from acting in faith or our faith keeps us from acting in fear. However, acting in faith is always outside of what the world considers safe. 

There was a time when the safest thing was to professed your faith in Christ. You would be accepted and included in those who were praised. That time has either passed in many places or is on the verge of passing. We are getting closer to the days that resemble the first century very quickly. There may come a time when Christians are openly persecuted. Many Christians will abandon faithfully acting as followers of Jesus Christ when this happens. Many others will step up and boldly claim their faith. Fear will not rule them.

Our faith has always taken giant leaps forward under unsafe environments. Christianity is spreading in China. It spread during the days of communism in the Soviet Union. It meant a great deal to claim to be a follower of Christ when others knew that by doing so you would face a very unsafe persecution.

What did believers pray for when persecution was at their door during the first century? They prayed for boldness. They fully understood what they might happen for their faith but they didn't let their fears overrule faith. 

Amazingly, this is the reason the gospel spread so fast. It spread in a fearful environment. 

I am not saying that open persecution is eminent. I am just saying that we cannot live in fear of it. I am saying that we need to resolve right now that we are followers of Christ and no opposition from anything else will change that. I am saying we need to pray for boldness.

Acts 4:29–31 (NASB 2020)²⁹ And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to speak Your word with all confidence, ³⁰ while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

The Testimony of a Life Lived in the Spirit

 April 5, 2024

Friday

Have you ever noticed that it some people don't seem to catch Christianity? They made a profession of faith some time in their past but they just don't get it. They don't know very much about the Bible. They aren't very active in church even though they attend most Christmases and Easters. They want their children to be baptized. Yet, their lives don't show much interest in Christ or what He is doing in the world.

To tell you the truth, I was like this one time. I didn't go to church even though I could point to the moment of my salvation. I could tell you very little of the Bible and could be led into any heresy that said Jesus or had a cross as it's symbol. One day I realized that if this is all true, I had better be committed to it. Otherwise, I would live a secular life that would never account for much.

Now, I am constantly running into people who are exactly like I was. They don't seem to care that they are AWOL when it comes to Christ's service. I want to tell them how much they are missing but its seems like telling a blind person about the color red. I can't relate them to what the experience is like. They only know what they have seen and they aren't very impressed. Some of these people will tell me of something that was meaningful to them years ago. They seem to be living off of that experience. I wonder if they know they are saved or not.

This is not to be critical of these people for, remember, I was one of them at one time. I just want them to know Jesus like I know Jesus. It is not my place to judge them. It is my place to encourage them deeper in the faith. The writer of Hebrews says that people like this have become dull of hearing. That's what happens when the Spirit speaks and the hearer quenches the Spirit again and again. Eventually, he can't hear any more. How do you speak to someone who can't hear you?

I guess I must live my life full of the Spirit to give them an example of what they are missing. I know I have feet of clay and often fail but I just need to get up and keep trying.

People that can't hear our gospel should be able to see it. That is, if we will live it out.

Hebrews 5:11 (NASB 2020)¹¹ Concerning him we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become poor listeners.

Restoring the Fallen

 April 4, 2024

Thursday

Scripture records that John Mark abruptly leaves Paul and Barnabas during their first missionary journey. We don't know the reason why, but we do know that it greatly upset Paul. John Mark was either necessary for the mission or Paul didn't care for the character of someone who would commit to something and abandon it before it was completed. All we know is that Paul didn't want to have anything to do with him on later missionary trips. The disagreement was so great that Paul and Barnabas would split on a subsequent missionary journey because Barnabas thought they should take John Mark again. Paul would not have him on the mission. Paul, therefore takes Silas and Barnabas takes John Mark as each head for different missionary destinations.

Much later we find that Paul asks for John Mark and calls him useful. The problem was trust. Trust is faithfulness over time. Paul was unwilling to trust John Mark for some time. In the end, Paul again trusts John Mark.

Many Christians have no place for redemption for those who have failed in the faith. They write off those who have fallen. They have no path that they can be redeemed. They are done with those who sin as if they have never sinned. 

Make no mistake, those who have sinned need to be disciplined. They should be taken out of the ministry for some time. They should be given an opportunity to redeem themselves. They also need to be given the opportunity to be faithful and restore trust. They need someone who will come alongside them to give them this opportunity.

Too often those who abandon their mission act like nothing has happened. They continue to act with impunity. They are either deceiving themselves or others about their relationship with the Lord. In other words, they can't have a close walk with the Lord as long as they continue in disobedience and either have excused themselves for their failure or have deceived others into thinking that the mission has "changed." Those who won't acknowledge their failure cannot be redeemed for they see no reason to act differently than they are acting.

However, when you see someone who has failed and grieves over that failure, you should ask if you are the "Barnabas" that God would use to restore them. Even the "Pauls" of the world will come around if they are found faithful. Trust must be rebuilt. You may be the one to help them rebuild it.

Acts 15:36–40 (NASB 2020) ³⁶ After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the brothers and sisters in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. ³⁸ But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. ⁴⁰ But Paul chose Silas, and left after being entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.