FredWes FOCUS

February 13, 2012

2012-02-13T00:10:00.001-05:00

"And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Matthew 6:13

As we have worked our way through this great prayer given to us as a guide by the Savior, we have learned four important reasons why we should care about prayer:

1) Prayer leads us into worship

2) Prayer lines us up with God's will

3) Prayer lets us express our wants

Those three parts of the Lord's Prayer we have already discussed. The fourth area of the prayer is warfare.

Just looking at this last section of the prayer with a casual glance shows why it matters.

There is evil in this world that tempts us. The reason we are tempted by evil is that we have an evil nature within us. So, there is evil that surrounds us and it appeals to the sinful desires resident in the human nature.

And, there is an Evil One who attacks us, accuses us, and allures us toward sin.

So, the power of evil is two-fold and double trouble - there is a powerful person and there is a powerful pull.

Jesus said, "The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy - BUT I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10

So, we are torn between two natures and confronted by two opposing kingdoms. We are in the middle of a spiritual war between righteousness and evil. Both kingdoms are strong than us and one is stronger than the other.

The battlefields of this war are in the mind, in the spirit and in the will. Each of those have been sabotaged by the enemy to cause us to self-destruct.

This final phrase of the prayer remind us that the only hope we have for victory is to call in an ally who is stronger than our enemy. That ally is Jesus Christ, the Son of God Who became Savior of the world. He conquered the two most powerful weapons the devil could threaten us with - sin and death. Sin was conquered when Jesus bled and died on the cross to atone for sin and death was defeated at the resurrection of Jesus, the Christ!

So, when we pray, "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one", we are choosing sides and calling in the One Who has already conquered and won the victory! When we pray this prayer are calling in the cavalry and the infantry and the artillary and the air force all wrapped up in One - Jesus!

You are engaged in a spiritual conflict with eternal consequences and an overwhelming enemy. There is no neutral territory and no treaties. Either you are being defeated or you are defeating the enemy in the power of God.

With prayer as your primary weapon, how can you afford not to pray?

Why would you not pray as Jesus taught you to pray?

Why risk defeat when victory is one prayer away?

February 12, 2012

2012-02-11T22:36:00.119-05:00

"Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." Matthew 6:11-12

I didn't agree with everything that Rick Warren wrote in his "Purpose Driven Life" book, But I strongly agree with one of his main premises in the beginning of the book. Warren states that "It is not about you" - "it is about God". And it is!

Why then do we act as though we think prayer is about us?

In response to the disciple's request "Teach us to pray" Jesus gave them this prayer we have come to know as The Lord's Prayer. Truly it does teach us about praying but also reveals much about the God to Whom we pray.

Jesus taught us to use prayer as a way of worship. Since prayer connects you with the Person of God and brings you into the presence of God and helps you praise God, this prayer is indeed, worship.

Also, prayer helps you do the will of God. Through prayer you can align with the will of God and accept His will and then act on it in daily living.

So, Jesus reveals that prayer is important to worship and important to doing His will, but also prayer helps you get what God wants for you. I know that many believe the purpose of prayer is to convince God to give them what they want from Him. But if you study it you will see that it is more about getting what God wants us to have.

First, God wants to give us food each day. Based on the word used in the original language, you could conclude that God wants to provide for you physically, emotionally and spiritually! You cannot live without food and God wants you to live and live abundantly.

Second, God wants you to enjoy fellowship with Him. God wants you to rely on Him on a daily basis so that you will have to commune with Him daily in order to receive the supply He has for you. We saw the evidence that God wants you to know Him in the "NOW" and enoy Him in that moment.

Third, God wants you to to know forgiveness for your sins. Being forgiven allows you to come into fellowship with a Holy God. Receiving His salvation through Christ for the forgiveness of sins is HUGE! Once you are forgiven you will find grace to forgive those who might sin aginst you.

Food, fellowship and forgiveness are three things you want and desparately need. God will give you those things if you will pray and ask Him! According to the Lord's Prayer He wants those things for you!

Why should you care about prayer? You shoudn't care about prayer unless God's worship is important or unless His will is important or if His wants matter to you.

If any of those or all of those are important to you, then you need to understand the importance of prayer. Pray away!

February 11, 2012

2012-02-11T08:40:00.002-05:00

"Give us this day our daily bread and forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors." Matthew 6:11

This phrase is as much a proclamation of praise as it is a petition of prayer.

Both are vitally important because God is worthy and God is able!

As you pray "give us this day our daily bread" you are recognizing God as your source!

He is your source because He is the Creator. As Creator we know He has the power to simply speak into existence things that are not! He can command manna from heaven! He can speak water into wine. He can make a simple lunch into an all-you-can-eat buffet!

Why not acknowledge Him as your Source? Why not trust Him and call upon Him as Jesus admonishes in this prayer?

We are living in under an increasingly oppressive government that seeks to be your source for everything. Nearly one-fourth of Americans are turning to them as their source. But there is a high price for these handouts - a loss of freedom because of the crushing $16 trillion debt incurred.

If you choose God as your Source, He can give on a daily basis and not be diminished in the least!

Jesus also tells you to make God your supply!

When you pray "Give us THIS DAY our DAILY BREAD...." you are not only declaring that God CAN and WILL supply exactly what you need in the right amount at exactly the right time!

If you make God your Source He will supply what you need BUT not just in the form of a hand-out, He will supply you with a job and with job skills and with the strength and health and intelligence to supply yourself and your family! When God is your Source and your Supply He feeds your physical needs but your emotional, psychological and spiritual needs as well!

God wants to be your Source and He wants to be your Supply but even more so He wants to be your Savior! When you pray ".......and forgive us our debts (sins) as we forgive our debtors (those who sin against us)" you are asking God to save you from your sins. It is those sins which separate you from a Holy God. But when you receive the forgiveness provided by Jesus on the Cross you can then enter into a personal relationship with God - that is the game-changer!

Coming into a personal relationship with God your Father, your Creator, your Source and Supply will allow to experience His incredible love and grace! Filled with His grace you will discover a new love for others welling up with your spirit! Out of that love you will find the desire and the strength to forgive others who have sinned against you!

Being forgiven and being able to forgive others brings unbelievable spiritual freedom! You will find freedom from guilt and freedom from shame and freedom from fear! You will experience and amazing peace and security when you acknowledge Jesus as your Savior and God as your Father!

The Lord's Prayer is a powerful resource because it teaches about and reaches to a great God Who delights in being your Source, your Supply and your Savior!

Let me ask you, "Are you relying on Him as your Source?"

"Are you requesting Him to be your Supply?"

"Have you received Him as your Savior?"

The Answer is only one prayer away!

February 10, 2012

2012-02-09T23:30:00.002-05:00

"Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." Matthew 6:11

The Lord's Prayer is not just a prayer or a pattern for prayer it is a new way to think about God. God is a Father Who desires to know you and to be known by you.

Jesus taught that prayer connects you with God and brings you into His presence and helps you bring Him praise. God wants to make your life a living praise offering to Him. And He taught you to accept His will and align your life with it so His kingdom can be lived out through you.

Over the last couple of days you learned God wants to provide for you daily so you can be focused on Him and enjoy His fellowship. We talked about how God wants us to know Him in the "NOW". He wants you to trust Him to provide on a daily basis. He knows it is easy for you to fret over something in your past or stress over something in your future and when you are worried or anxious you can't enjoy Him fully in the "NOW".

When you pray, "Give us this day our daily bread and forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors", you are telling God you want to trust Him today and you are going to commit to him your past so you won't have to worry over the past. You are committing to know Him in the "NOW".

So, if God takes care of the past and the presence does that mean you don't plan for the future? Not at all! In fact, by making plans for the future it is easier for you to love God in the "NOW". With your past covered and your future planned you are free to enjoy Him and His blessings in the "NOW".

When you are in fellowship with God you can seek His guidance as you plan for the future. Proverbs says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6.

When you are in relationship with God you can know that He will lead you into the future as a Good Shepherd leads his sheep. You will have confidence know that as you remain in His presence He will provide and guide and protect you daily.

Prayer has a powerful and pervasive impact on your life. Prayer is the language of His Kingdom. It is communication with the King and fellowship with your Father!

Learning to pray as Jesus prayed will aalow you to know God as Jesus knew Him. You will know His Person, you will know His peace because you will know His pardon and you will know His power because you will live in His presence.

If you thought you didn't have a prayer of ever knowing God in a significant way, Jesus is here to tell you that you DO have a prayer! He gave it to you!

February 9, 2012

2012-02-09T08:38:00.003-05:00

"Give us this day our daily bread......." Matthew 6:11

You are created for God’s pleasure! He made you to be the object of His love and grace! God desires to be known by you and to know you. One way that happens is through prayer.

Therefore, prayer is not a ritual or a religious exercise but a relationship with the Heavenly Father! Like all good Fathers, God delights in providing for His children.

I was blessed by the thought that God desires to relate to us in the “NOW”. Relationships happen in the moment and you must capture those moments to know and be known by God or by your loved ones.

Last night I saw this truth demonstrated in a powerful way in the recent movie “Courageous”. I recommend this movie for everyone but particularly for dads.

The men in this movie, like many of you, were busy making a living and providing for their families and in that process became easily distracted from the very family members they wanted to protect and provide for. So, like you, when they actually came home to be with their families they were physically present but emotionally absent. Like many of you they struggled with switching that mental switch that takes you from “THEN” to “NOW”. A God-given desire to provide and protect your wife and your children and the drive it takes to do that can be the very thing that prevents you from providing them with the emotional connection they desperately crave. Not many things are lonelier than living around the people you love but not giving or receiving that love.

Often it takes something dramatic happening to shock you into the importance of being “THERE’ when you are there. You and I need to be emotionally engaged in the “NOW” with wives and children. Otherwise, you wake up one day to discover you are living with strangers.

What does this have to do with the Lord’s Prayer?

Jesus teaches His disciples – and you – that you should pray for God to help you know Him and trust Him on a daily basis. He is helping them understand the importance of relating to God in the “NOW”. Relationships happen moment by moment. If you miss those moments you miss out on relationship. All relationships.

As in the movie and in your world, what keeps you from enjoying the “NOW” are the pains of the past, the pressures of the day as well as your plans for the future. When you are distracted by your past regrets or future concerns or the demands of the present, it keeps you from enjoying the “NOW”. Life happens in the “NOW”. Love happens in the “NOW”. All of us have missed moments we would love to have back!

One of the truths the Master wants you to get from this teaching on prayer is how to live in the “NOW” by trusting Him for the day and the days to come. One of the messages of “Courageous” is how to seize the moments with your family that shape lives and build love.

Pray the prayer. See the movie. Learn to live in the “NOW”. Start now.

February 8, 2012

2012-02-07T23:39:00.001-05:00

"Give us this day our daily bread......." Matthew 6:11

I focused yesterday on how God has the power and the desire to provide your needs. He fed millions of Hebrews in the desert for forty years with manna from heaven.

In the next few days I will have more to say about God, the Provider. But as I was meditating on this verse today, I was impressed with another aspect of this prayer. Jesus taught us to pray for His provision on a daily basis.

When God miraculously provided the manna in the wilderness He did it on a daily basis. Moses gave the people enough manna for that day and if they tried to gather too much it spoiled and became filled with maggots. Only on the day before the Sabbath were they allowed to collect more than one day's worth of the "heavenly bread".

On those occasions when Jesus fed the multitudes from only a few loaves of bread, even though it was a miracle of multiplication He only gave them what they needed for THAT day!

Later in this same Teaching, Jesus again mentions the important of living daily and trusting God to provide what you need. And think about it, if you can trust Him to give you daily bread today, why shouldn't be able to trust Him again tomorrow? Here is His statement:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34

"Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:13-14

When Jesus sent His disciples out two by two in His name to do ministry, He didn't give them any food at all! And they didn't ask! He knew they would be taken care of and they didn't seem worried about it either! They did go and they didn't starve and many signs and wonders were performed.

So, what is Jesus wanting you to understand by stressing the daily aspect of your relationship with God?

God wants you to enjoy knowing Him and loving Him in the NOW - THIS MOMENT - a day at a time! He wants to provide for you so you can focus on Him, so you can fellowship with Him, and so you can feel His presence!

That is how it was in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve enjoyed being with God in the eternal moment - until they sinned. And that's how it is in Heaven! Time is not a factor, God is worshipped in the forever NOW! He is the adored central focus of Heaven and all of the Heavenly beings rejoice over being in His presence in the eternal NOW!

Will you enjoy being in God's presence today? Will you ask Him to provide what you need so that He and you can enjoy being with Him today in each moment of today? Will you get up in the morning and do it again? Will you get yourself acclimated for your life to come in the forever NOW?

February 7, 2012

2012-02-06T23:54:00.002-05:00

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11

Bread was associated with some significant events in Jesus’ earthly life and ministry.

When He was tempted in the wilderness following a 40 day fast, He was challenged to turn stones into bread. That indicates two things about Jesus: (1) He COULD have done it; and (2) there was a hungry human part of Him that wanted to do it! But He preferred being the Bread of life to having a bite of bread and He responded, “Man should not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from God.”

Of course, there were the two miraculous feedings – the 4,000 and the 5,000 – using just a couple loaves of bread each time.

There was the intimate final meal He had with His disciples on the evening before His arrest and subsequent crucifixion. Near the end of that meeting He took bread and broke it and passed it out to His disciples to eat it in commemoration of His sacrificial death – something He was preparing to do for them.

What does this mean for you? It means that because of Jesus, God understands your hunger. Having been hungry His self and having enjoyed feasts with His friends, Jesus understood and appreciated the importance of tasty satisfying bread! And, by feeding several thousands of people through supernatural means, He proved His ability to feed anyone who is hungry.

I saw Him provide for my family on three seperate occasions we sat down to eat with barely enough to go around. We had a partial loaf of bread and a mostly filled gallon of milk. Counting kids at the table against the number of slices of bread on the table we knew it would be close. Each time we said grace and thanked God for His goodness to us.

On one of those occasions, we were still praying grace when a knock came at the door. Going to the door my mother saw my Little League baseball coach standing with a stringer of freshly caught fish that he gave to us. We were amazed at the goodness of God to provide for us that way.

One other time we were about to sit down for a less than complete meal and again someone knocked on the door. When we went to the door we saw a woman from our church standing there with a box of groceries to give us. Again, my brothers and sisters and I had a visual example of how God could provide!

The third time, was even more incredible because the person who appeared at the door at precisely the right time as an eccentric neighbor who hardly ever ventured out of his house, but there he stood with bags of groceries for our family!

God, on those three dramatic demonstrations, proved to us that He would “give us each day our daily bread”! We learned to trust Him more!

You can trust God to give you your “daily bread” and take good care of you! He is “Jehovah Jireh” your provider!

As your Father, He cares that you have what you need. And as your God He has the power to make it happen!

February 6, 2012

2012-02-05T22:56:00.001-05:00

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ." Philippians 2:5
In real estate they say it is "location, location, location". For believers it is "attitude, attitude, attitude." And, I guess you could say that your attitude has a lot to do with your spiritual location!

This verse is the hinge point of this portion of Scripture. After exhorting us about our attitudes, Paul points to the example of Jesus and says in essence, "Here's your attitude!"

That begs the question, "What IS the attitude of Christ?"

Obviously, there was obedience and there was humility but the BIG attitude here is GRACE.

It was grace that THOUGHT the plan of salvation. When Adam selfishly chose to rebel against God and wreck paradise, God could have been justified in vaporing them and starting over. But His response was not vindictive or vengeful - it was gracious. He launched a plan to send a Second Adam to redeem the damage of the first Adam.

It was grace that WROUGHT it. God began to unfold His marvelous plan as history became the record of HIS story! Through Abraham, God raised up a nation through whom a Savior would arise. His grace orchestrated all the people and all the events that set the stage for a teen-age Jewish girl to give birth to Jesus in a manger in the stable of Bethlehem.

It was grace that BOUGHT it. Grace is free but it wasn't cheap! It cost God all that He had. Jesus demonstrated the divine attitudes of surrender, sacrifice, selflessness and servanthood. The Sinless One resisted all the temptations of the human experience, especially that which brought down the first Adam - selfish desire. Ultimately, the reward for His perfection was death on a cruel cross. In His sinlessness He was able to assume our sin, our shame, our guilt and our sickness and defeat them on the cross. As the words of the song express, "We'll never know how much it cost to see our sins upon His cross".

And, perhaps most amzing is His grace that SOUGHT us! He pursues you and me with His Spirit. He proclaims His love and grace through His Word. He presents His grace through people who have been touched and transformed by His grace. And that IS the challenge that comes to you and me. Will we surrender to His grace? Will we be saved and sanctified by His grace? Will we become living examples of His grace through our attitudes and actions? Can He use us to seek others? Will others be amazed by the grace they see in us?

If your attitude is like that of Jesus you will grace your world. If not you will dis-grace it.

February 5, 2012

2012-02-04T22:16:00.002-05:00

"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

John Cassis is one of our nation’s finest motivational speakers. He told a story recently about a time when he was serving as one of the chaplain’s for the Chicago Bears during their glory years of the 80′s.

As John tells it, Mike Ditka was about to deliver a locker room pep talk one day. He looked up and saw defensive tackle William “Refrigerator” Perry. How could he not see him? At 338 pounds the Fridge stood out even in a crowd of pro football players. Ditka gestured to the Fridge. “When I get finished,” he said, “I’d like you to close with the Lord’s Prayer.” Then the coach began his talk.

Meanwhile, Jim McMahon, the brash and outspoken quarterback, punched John Cassis. “Look at Perry,” McMahon whispered, “he doesn’t know the Lord’s Prayer.”

Sure enough, Perry sat with a look of panic on his face, his head in his hands. He was sweating profusely. “Everybody knows the Lord’s Prayer,” said Cassis to McMahon in disbelief. After a few minutes of watching the Refrigerator leaking several gallons of sweat, McMahon nudged Cassis again. “I’ll bet you 50 bucks Fridge doesn’t know the Lord’s Prayer.”

When Coach Ditka finished his pep talk, he asked all the men to remove their caps. Then he nodded at Perry and bowed his head. It was quiet for a few moments before the Fridge spoke in a shaky voice, “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord, my soul to keep…”

Cassis felt the tap on his shoulder. It was Jim McMahon. “Here’s the 50 dollars,” he whispered. “I had no idea Perry knew the Lord’s Prayer.”

Like the Fridge and Jim McMahon, you may not know much about the Lord's Prayer. Or, you may not know as much as you think you do.

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, they had no idea how much He actually would teach them! He taught them not just about prayer, but about how they should think about God and about how they should relate to God and a lot about themselves.

The Lord's Prayer is about worship because it connects you with the Person of God and brings you into His presence and can actually shape your life into a living praise for Him!

Not only in this prayer about worship but it is about His will. When you pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done you are asking for Him to reign and rule in your life.

For this prayer to be answered you must accept His will.

The will of God is for you to acknowledge Him as King of your life. You must surrender to Him before you can accept His will. You must acknowledge that He is King and you are not!

Accepting His will and His kingship over your life requires that every decision you make choose His will and desires above your own. Kings aren't negotiated with or nagged or told "no". Kings are obeyed and honored and served.

Have you accepted God as your King? Have you sincerely prayed - "Your kingdom come"?

Second, you must align with His will.

Prayer is not for the purpose of trying to persuade God to get in line with your will. Prayer is to ask Him to help you align with His will.

Ancient mariners were able to navigate vast oceans and large seas after they discovered the North Star. It is a fixed point in the sky that they can use as a point of reference in determining their direction. When they face toward the North Star they immediately know that west is to their left and east is to their right and south is at their back. Aligning with the North Star gave them their bearings and lead them to their destination.

The will of God is to be your North Star and you are to line you life to that in every decision and with every step you take.

When you pray - "your will be done" - you are asking God to help you come into line with His will. His expressed will is to "Love the Lord with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself". That is where it begins.

Third, you must act on His will.

God's will exists for the purpose of shaping your life in a way that pleases and honors Him! When you live out His will in your daily decisions and deeds you allow His kingdom to come and His will to be done through you right where you are!

Jesus accomplished the will of God because He accepted God's will, He aligned with God's will and He lived it out until the day He died - and in the way He died!

God's great gift you is a free will. But a free will in the hands of a willful sinner brings judgment upon Him. If you use your free will to live according to your own lusts and desires you will reap the consquences of sin.

The purpose of the Lord's Prayer is to give your free will back to God and let Him have control of it so what you desire will align with what He desires for you!

Will you pray - "your kingdom come, your will be done IN ME as it is in heaven"?

Will you crown Him King in your life and spend your days serving, honoring and obeying Him?

February 4, 2012

2012-02-04T08:56:00.001-05:00

"Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Matthew 6:10

One of the things that makes our dog, Tyrod, so much fun is that he has such a strong personality. Either he is sleeping or he is charging full speed ahead. When he wants something he is relentless! It is safe to say that he is strong willed. And that very thing that makes him fun also makes him very frustrating to train. Thankfully, he only weighs 10 pounds and I weigh 200 or it he would completely have his way. Training Tyrod is an ongoing project.

What makes it further frustrating is the fact that we only want what is best for him and what is best for him is what is best for us! He has yet to figure that out. He knows he needs us because he is less than a foot tall and has no thumbs, so he is severely limited in what he can do for himself. I think he has figured out how dependent he is on us he just hasn't figured out if he likes it or not.

Life would be much better for the entire Snyder household if Tyrod would just look up at us with his goofy little underbite and his one trick eye and say, "Your kingdom come, your will be done."

Perhaps today will be that day! It hasn't happened yet, though.

In teaching the disciples how to pray, Jesus first addressed the issue of worship. Prayer is essential to worship because it connects you to the Person of God, brings you into His presence and empowers you to live your life as a praise offering to Him.

That makes complete sense, but the second thing He addresses is your will. God gave you a free will. It is one of the greatest gifts He has given you. He knows that how you exercise your free will make you or break you. Guess what? The enemy knows that, too! And therein, is the problem - he has contaminated your will with a self-centered bent so that your will and God's will are in conflict.

Praying, "Your kingdom come your will be done" is vitally important because it is telling God, "I give my will back to you and I surrender to yours!" THAT IS HUGE! And, by the way, you will have to pray that prayer many times during the day.

Tyrod reminds me of a painful truth, I am hard to train. I have a hard time bowing to the will of God in my life. I forget that what He wants for me is what is best for me. I slip into the illusion that I know what is best for me! And what is true for me is also true of you.

I will keep working on Tyrod to subdue his will. And I will allow God to keep training me and shaping me after His will. I will pray today, "Your kingdom come and your will be done" IN ME!

What will you do with your will today?

February 3, 2012

2012-02-03T23:51:00.002-05:00

"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

I was walking Tyrod early this morning and I watched as the light from the rising sun slowly overcame the darkness leftover from the night. The walk that began in darkness was completed in dawn. And, this evening as Barbara and I are heading out for our date we will observe the process in reverse as the setting sun gives way to darkness.

God gives us dramatic daily reminders that the battle between darkness and light is relentless. So it is in the spiritual realm, darkness never rests in its assaults on the light. I have shared a couple of contemporary examples of how the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light is raging around us.

What can you do? How can you push back the darkness and see the light prevail?

This moral and spiritual battle between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness is waged in your heart and mind every day – sometimes hourly and often moment-by-moment. It must be won there!

Could this be why when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He instructed them to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done”?

That prayer is a declaration of war against the darkness that relentlessly attacks you daily. It is a declaration of surrender to the presence and power of God. It is an acknowledgement that He is King and you are not! It is a recognition that you are unable to defeat your inner darkness without His might and His light.

Praying “Your Kingdom come” is not a rote or ritualistic petition, it is a continual cry of the heart in the midst of your daily routines. Moral and spiritual darkness is relentless in its attacks against you and you must go on the offense against it! Fight in the light!

In this very same Sermon on the Mount, Christ has already challenged His hearers to be the “light of the world” and “let your light so shine that men will see your goodness and glorify your Father in heaven”. You are to be a lighthouse in a dark world.

God’s plan to overcome the darkness in this world is to snuff out the evil and darkness within you and me. The Son must rise in us! His kingdom must be received in us and His will must be accomplished by us!

If you don’t exercise your will toward God, the prince of darkness will use it against you! A kingdom will rise within you today, you decide which one.

February 2, 2012

2012-02-01T23:37:00.002-05:00

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

I have recently made a decision that I will join the Catholics.

Why?

The Catholics have taken a strong, courageous and principled stand for the Kingdom of God against the powers that seem to be opposing God’s Kingdom.

Let me aske you, “What do you think the liberal media’s reaction would be if the Bush administration would have created a law that all Muslims were forced to eat bacon, egg & cheese sandwiches daily?” Obviously not very well – so why hasn’t anyone made a peep about the Obama administrations blatant attack on Christianity, specifically Catholics, where institutions would be mandated to cover things that blatantly violated their beliefs? Catholic priests all across the USA were asked to share a position statement with their parishes during last week-end’s masses.

What did the letter say?

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just been dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people — the Catholic population — and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers,including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the Obama Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled to either violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Obama Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

We cannot—we will not—comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

I share this letter to illustrate how the kingdom of darkness and evil is coming to confront, challenge and hopefull, conquer the Kingdom of God. There is no way the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services could have legally or conscientiously prayed, “Your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” and then issued some of these health-care mandates and edicts they have been attempting to implement into law.

The Catholics are to be commended for their courage to stand for their Biblical convictions and to confront the US Government to challenge it’s discriminatory laws. I suggest we Wesleyans join them on this one. I say we too should let out position be made clear, we will not bow down to any Kingdom that sets itself in opposition to the Kingdom of God!

Heavely Father, have mercy on our land. Find favor with your people who are doing their best to allow your Kingdom to come and His will be done through them.

February 1, 2012

2012-01-31T22:07:00.002-05:00

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:

Here is a deeply troubling article published Friday. It is a joint finding from the National Institute of Health and the Bioethics Department of Duke University.

As you read it think how incompatible it is with the verse of the Lord’s Prayer written above. Would this article have been written this way if the writers took seriously the teaching of Jesus on how to pray and how to think about God? Do you think this question would have been asked if these people were seeking God’s kingdom and His will!

There IS a kingdom coming and someone’s will is going to be imposed, but who’s kingdom and who’s will?

Is it morally wrong to take a life? Not really, say bioethicists by Michael Cook

Is it morally wrong to kill people? Not really, argue two eminent American bioethicists in an early online article in the Journal of Medical Ethics. Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, of Duke University, and Franklin G. Miller, of the National Institutes of Health believe that “killing by itself is not morally wrong, although it is still morally wrong to cause total disability”.

Ultimately their aim is to justify organ donation after cardiac death (DCD). This is a state in which a patient is neurologically damaged and cannot function without a respirator. Within minutes of withdrawing this, the organs are removed. However, the authors state frankly that the patient is not dead at that point because it is possible that the patient’s heart could start beating again. (Other bio-ethicists disagree, vehemently.)

“[T]he criterion of irreversibility has not been satisfied; hence, these patients are not known to be dead at the time of organ procurement.”

In view of well-publicized organ shortages, transplant surgeons are eager to increase the number of available organs. DCD is an important avenue. However, a nagging suspicion that these patients might not be dead is still a substantial stumbling block because the medical profession insists that donors must always be dead. But Sinnott-Armstrong and Miller have an solution:

“[T]he dead donor rule is routinely violated in the contemporary practice of vital organ donation. Consistency with traditional medical ethics would entail that this kind of vital organ donation must cease immediately. This outcome would, however, be extremely harmful and unreasonable from an ethical point of view [because patients who could be saved will die]. Luckily, it is easily obviated by abandoning the norm against killing.”

This radical conclusion may shock some readers, but the authors are not murderers. They want to bring greater precision to what we mean by killing. Rendering someone totally and permanently incapacitated is just as bad as taking a life, or so they contend. Killing totally disabled patients does them no harm.

“Then killing her cannot disrespect her autonomy, because she has no autonomy left. It also cannot be unfair to kill her if it does her no harm.” Nor, they say, is life “sacred”. The only relevant difference between life and death is the existence of abilities – and a brain-damaged person no longer has these.

“[I]f killing were wrong just because it is causing death or the loss of life, then the same principle would apply with the same strength to pulling weeds out of a garden. If it is not immoral to weed a garden, then life as such cannot really be sacred, and killing as such cannot be morally wrong.”

It really makes a difference who’s kingdom come and who’s will gets done in this world!

I want God’s kingdom to come in me! How about you? I want God’s will to be done in me! How about you?

January 31, 2012

2012-01-30T22:27:00.000-05:00

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
There is no spiritual Switzerland.

What?

Switzerland is a neutral country, according to Wikipedia - The Swiss Confederation has a long history of neutrality — it has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815—and did not join the United Nations until 2002. It pursues, however, an active foreign policy and is frequently involved in peace-building processes around the world.

Switzerland made a decision to sit out all regional or international conflicts by not making alliances with warring nations. Other nations have honored Switzerland’s policy of neutrality and not invaded them. They do have a military but has only deployed their forces when they perceived threats of invasion from neighboring nations.

There is however, no spiritual neutrality. Contrary to what some seem to believe, you are either in the kingdom of evil or the kingdom of God.

To which kingdom do you belong?

It depends on who you have chosen as your king! Everyone serves a king! Either you serve God or you serve the evil one who is the ruler of this world. And, unless you have renounced evil, repented of your sins, turned from sin, and began to love and obey God you are not of His kingdom.

The significance of Christ’s death on the cross was to provide you and me with the choice of which king we would serve. His death and resurrection made it possible break free from the kingdom of darkness and have power to step into God’s Kingdom.

You have the power to let His kingdom come to you or you can oppose His kingdom by stubbornly refusing to surrender to His will.

Switzerland is great for chocolate and cheese and yodeling but you can’t go there spiritually. Don’t even try!

January 30 2012

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray and when you ask Jesus a question you will always get more that you asked for. After all, He IS the Answer!

Jesus did not just give them a prayer but He gave them a pattern for HOW to pray and a paradigm for how to think about God!

Yesterday I spoke about verse nine that I summarized as God desiring to make your life a living prayer that glorifies Him.

This week I invite you examine verse 10 with me and I believe that once again you will discover He has given us a lot to think about.

At first glance you notice that God has a kingdom. Why is that important? For a couple of reasons:

1) To have a kingdom He must be the King – He is!

A King is sovereign. He isn’t elected or appointed. All authority rests in Him. He answers to no one.

2) Since He IS the King He has a kingdom not a democracy.

In God’s kingdom you don’t vote on the rules. He makes all the rules because He is the Ruler. You either obey His laws or you break them. If you break them you will discover God is also the judge and jury and jailor!

3) His Kingdom WILL come!

God’s earthly kingdom was wrestled away from Adam when he disobeyed God in the Garden. Therefore, Satan became the ruler of this world. But His rule is limited.

Jesus came to defeat Satan and win back the kingdom on earth by His death and resurrection. Once Jesus had come back to life and gone back to His Father He ushered in God’s Kingdom on earth through His people the Church.

God’s kingdom comes through you and through me as we make Him the King of our lives.

How do we make Him King of our lives? By serving Him. By Obeying Him. By surrendering your heart and your will to His and proclaiming Him as King of your life His kingdom comes to you. By helping to promote righteousness and to defeat evil on earth you bring His kingdom.

God is the King.

God has a kingdom.

That kingdom WILL come and no one or nothing can stop it.

Is He your King? Have you allowed His kingdom come to your heart?

January 29, 2012

2012-01-28T20:32:00.000-05:00

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:9-13

Several months ago a friend asked me a sincere question that went something like this, "What is the purpose of prayer if God already knows how it will turn out?"

I don't come as an expert on prayer. I can't tell you why sometimes you pray once or twice and get an answer and other times you may pray for months or years without seeing an answer. But, I can point you to One Who IS an expert on prayer and share some truths for the prayer He taught us to pray.

What are those four purposes for praying?

You should pray to worship - “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name......"

You should pray to know His will - “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven......"

You should pray for your wants - "Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors......"

You should pray for spiritual warfare - "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

As I study the Prayer I see three goals for prayer: to know God, to grow in God and to show God through living a holy life.

Let me ask you this, "Which of those is not important to your spiritual life? Which one of those can you afford to not pray for?" Because if none of these are significant to you then you don't have to be concerned about prayer.

However, if those things are important to your spiritual relationship and growth, prayer is priority one! Jesus cares about prayer! God cares about prayer! Maybe you and I should – and one BIG reason is that prayer is WORSHIP!

HOW CAN PRAYER BE WORSHIP?

I. Worship Involves the Person of God – “Our Father” – (So does prayer)

Just like the Sermon on the Mount is a whole new way of thinking about faith, the Lord’s Prayer is a whole new way of thinking about God!

God is a God Who is anxious to know and be known by you. Like a Father, He delights in giving good things to His children! (Vv. 6-8)

Did you ever know someone who seemed stern all the time and you wondered if they even like you? For a long time you were afraid of them but when you finally got to know them personally you were surprise to discover that you like them and they liked you as well.

If you relate to that then you understand the impact this had on those hearers Jesus is speaking to. Practically all of the NT writers made this a point of emphasis in their writings:

PAUL – Romans 8:14-17

LUKE – Luke 11:11-13

JOHN – John 10

The idea of a personal God was revolutionary in that day, especially to the religious leaders.

The idea that a personal God who desired to be in relationship was a stretch. The God they imagined was distant and fearsome. Jews couldn't even mention the name of God and when the scribes wrote it they had to pause and was their hands before they wrote it.

But the idea that a personal God who presented Himself as a father was unheard of!

So, with this new way of understanding God and identifying prayer as the means of communicating with Amazing Person framed prayer in a whole new way for them!

BIG THOUGHT: Worship Helps You Get To Know A Personal God – So Does Prayer!

II. Worship Involves the Presence of God – “in Heaven” – (So does prayer)

While we were on vacation we stayed with some very good friends. We feel very much at home every time we are at their home. They love us so much and are some gracious and generous toward us that whenever we spend time in their presence we leave feeling rested and refreshed.

I believe that is an example of how it should be in the presence of God.

We were designed to live in the presence of God!

We are destined to live in the presence of God!

What should we be doing in the meantime?

(READ JOHN 15)

There is LIFE in the presence of God, Vv. 1-8

There is LOVE in the presence of God, Vv. 9-10

There is LIBERTY in the presence of God, Vv. 11-15

How can you abide with God except for prayer?

With that in mind, listen to this verse – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” I Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Abiding” means staying connected to the vine……..

If you are not connected to Christ you live a “disconnected” life.

BIG THOUGHT: Worship Is Growing In the Presence Of God – Prayer Makes It Possible.

Why Should I Care About Prayer”

Prayer helps you know God as your Father

Prayer helps you grow in God’s presence AND,

Prayer helps you show God’s praise

III. Worship Involves the Praise of God – “hallowed be your name” – (So does prayer)

“hallowed” = holy, sanctify, consecrate

“Name” = totality of God’s character

The Prayer = “may Your Name be honored through my holy living”

^“1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritualact of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” ROMANS 12:1-2

When I thought about an example of someone I could point to as an example of a person who reflects the presence of God in a way that brings God praise, I think of Tim Tebow. All through his very successful college football career and now as a pro quarterback Tim has maintained a strong and shameless personal faith in Jesus Christ.

You and I must be mindful that we are walking commercials for the most important "product" in the universe - the Gospel of Jesus Christ! So God expects us to live and walk in a way consistent with His holiness!

“If you were arrested under suspicion of being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

Why Should I Care About Prayer?

Prayer helps you know God as your Father

Prayer helps you grow in God’s presence AND,

Prayer will help you show God’s praise.

CONCLUSION:

Why Should You Care About Prayer?

Prayer Is Worship!

It Helps You Know The Person of God

It Helps You Grow In The Presence of God

It Helps You Show The Praise of God

Here’s how I want to wrap this up this morning. I want to you to remember the most powerful worship experience you have ever enjoyed – go back there in your memory – go back there emotionally….....are you there yet?

Are you reliving how it felt?

Can you remember how peaceful that felt?

Worship Seemed Easy Didn’t It?

Prayer Seemed Natural Didn’t It?

God’s Presence Was So Real That Time Didn’t Matter

Would You Like To Have More Moments Like That?

Understand The Relationship Between Prayer & Worship And Embrace It!

January 28, 2012

2012-01-28T08:57:00.002-05:00

Everyone knows prayer is part of a worship service. It opens with a prayer and usually has a pastoral prayer near the middle followed by a commitment prayer at the end on the message and a closing prayer or benediction to end the service.

I am not sure nearly as many would realize that prayer IS actually worship.

Why do I say that?

Think about this:

Worship involves the Person of God – BUT, so does prayer – “Our Father”

Worship involves the presence of God – BUT, so does prayer! – “in heaven”

Worship involves the praise of God – BUT, so does prayer! – “hallowed be your Name”

The last post considered prayer as connecting with the Person of God and how that can transform you because you are connecting with a powerful, loving, and supernatural Heavenly Father.

Today I want you to think about prayer as a vehicle for bringing you into the very presence of God.

We were designed to live in the presence of God! Just like Adam was.

We are destined to live in the presence of God! Just like Adam did.

What should we be doing in the meantime?

(READ JOHN 15)

There is LIFE in the presence of God, Vv. 1-8

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ²Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.⁵“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will^] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

A vine draws its life from being attached to the vine. The vine has not life of its own. What a clear illustration of why you MUST live in the presence of your Heavenly Father. He is your vine. You live through HIS life and by His life in you there is fruit produced.

There is LOVE in the presence of God, Vv. 9-10

⁹“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

There is LIBERTY in the presence of God, Vv. 11-15

¹¹“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. ¹²This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ¹⁴You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. ¹⁵No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you”

Living in relationship with a Heavenly Father brings powerful results! Connecting with Him by faith and remaining connected through prayer and worship pumps spiritual life from His heart to yours!

How can you abide with God except for prayer? With that in mind, listen to this verse – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” I Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Abiding” means staying connected to the vine – through prayer and worship.

Worship Is Knowing the Person of God – Prayer Makes It Possible.

Worship Is Growing In the Presence Of God – Prayer Makes It Possible.

Are you abiding in Him?

January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T08:13:00.000-05:00

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name," Matthew 6:9

The Lord's Prayer may have been the first "grown up" prayer you learned. It was for me.

But I didn't learn that it was far more than just a prayer but rather a pattern for prayer and a new way to understand my relationship with God!

Recently I have been studying this important teaching of Jesus and discovered four great purposes for prayer:

1) Worship
2) Will
3) Wants
4) Warfare

In my last post I shared how prayer is an essential part of worship because prayer connects you with the Person of God.

This morning I want to show you a second aspect of prayer as worship - it brings you into God's presence.

The last couple days of our vacation we were hosted by some very dear friends. You probably have friends who seem like family and that is who this precious couple is to us. Time with them refreshes us because we enjoy each other's presence so much. We want to bless them and they are committed to blessing us.

Jesus, in John 15 shared some of the blessings of living in the presence of God:

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:1-11

Prayer brings you into the presence of God. Prayer enables you to remain in the presence of God. In His presence good things happen:

You will bear His spiritual fruit

You will have power in prayer

You will know His love

You will live in His joy

According to Jesus, prayer should be thought of as worship because it connects you with God's Person and brings you into His presence!

Will you enter His presence today?

January 26, 2012

2012-01-25T23:18:00.002-05:00

Several months ago a friend asked me a sincere question, "What is the purpose of prayer if God already knows how it will turn out?"

That was when I decided I would study a put together a sermon series on prayer. My study led me to the Lord's Prayer where I find four purposes for prayer in those several verses. Those purposes will be the basis of a four week series "Why Should I Care About Prayer?"

Before I talk about these purposes of prayer I want to say that The Lord's Prayer is not just a prayer to be repeated in a rote fashion. In fact, two verses earlier in verse seven, Jesus had cautioned against vainly repeating memorized prayers,

The Lord's Prayer is a pattern for how to think about God and how to think about ourselves in relationship to God. And the way to think about yourself in relationship to God is - well - in relationship to God! Praying is one of the primary ways to develop and deepen a relationship with God!

As I study the Prayer I see three goals for prayer: to know God, to grow in God and to show God through living a holy life.

What are those four purposes for praying?

You should pray to worship - “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name......"

You should pray to know His will - “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven......"

You should pray for your wants - "Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors......"

You should pray for spirital warfare - "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

However, if those things are important to your spiritual relationship and growth, prayer is priority one!

January 25, 2012

2012-01-25T08:01:00.000-05:00

Well known pastor, speaker and author, Francis Chan, speculates on what could be facing believers and the Church in the coming years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOZi0hNJ2vA

The Church of Jesus Christ was launched just a few months after His crucifixion. When the Holy Spirit fell upon the 120 in the upper Room, they were locked away uncertain of their future. It wasn’t as if they were playing defense, they were actually stalling because God had told them to “tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power by the Holy Spirit”. So, they did!“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread

and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

I want to point to the Early Church as the example of how we should play when it is under pressure and the game is on the line. They went on offense and played to win!

1) They leaned on God – “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4

2) They learned of God - “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” – Acts 2:42

3) They lifted up God – “and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles” Acts 2:43

4) They loved like God – “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” Acts 2:44-45

5) They lived godly – “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” Acts 2:45-46

6) They led others to God – “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47

These 120 believers, though they were under heavy opposition and attack by the religious establishment AND the Roman government, refused to play defense. Instead they launched an offensive of Spirit-filled love, obedience, fellowship and sacrifice.

How did it work?

Some historians speculate that as many as half of the city of Jerusalem became followers of Jesus Christ!

Because these emboldened believers were “clutch” under pressure, we are still in the game! But now the ball is in our court. It is up to you and me and our churches to decide how we are going to respond down the stretch as the pressure and opposition rises against us.

Are you game?

January 24, 2012

2012-01-24T00:28:00.000-05:00

Hanging around with Jesus was never boring! The disciples had barely cleaned up the crumbs after the miraculous feeding of thousands of people from one humble lunch, than they received a lesson on the lake. Here's the story:

"When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading." John 6:16-21

Jesus became an instant favorite of 5,000+ people who had just received a free lunch. They wanted another. He knew they intended to make Him into their king, so He disappeared into the mountains after He sent the disciples off in their boat.

When they were halfway across the lake a ferocious storm blew in. Even though they were experienced with handling a boat, and even though they rowed hard against the storm, they were at the mercy of the waves and about to sink. I am sure they were praying and crying out to God, but I don't think they expected what happened - Jesus walking to them across the waves! Walking on calm water is a miracle. Walking on the waves during a storm is uber-miraculous!

In addition to having their lives saved, here are some significant things they learned:

1) Jesus always knows where we are - even when we aren't sure where He is!

2) Jesus will never let us go to a place where He can't reach us. That is because He loves us and because there is no place He can't reach! Even in the middle of a storm!

3) Jesus doesn't always save us FROM the storm but He will always save us IN the storm.

4) Jesus doesn't deliver us until we welcome Him into our boat.

5) Jesus brought them safely to their detination on the other side.

If you have ever suffered through a storm, you can appreciate the lessons on the lake. What Jesus did for them He will do for you!

Have you welcomed Him into your boat?

January 23, 2012

2012-01-22T22:52:00.000-05:00

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." I Corinthians 13:6

The problem with sin is that it complicates life. It complicates life because it confuses your understanding of truth. When the line gets blurred between truth and lies, life gets tough in a hurry.

That is exactly what happened with Adam and Eve and it has become the story of humanity. It is essentially the story of history.

So, fast forward to your marriage and our truth for the day reminds us that love is directly and intricately connected with truth. The question then becomes, "What is truth?"

Truth is a Person!

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by me." When Jesus made that statement He was not saying He is a concept or a system of beliefs, He IS TRUTH! Truth starts and ends in HIM! If you want to know truth you must know Him! Nothing is true apart from Him! So, when this verse says that love rejoices in truth it makes a lot of sense when you understand that truth is not a thing it is a Person! Isn't it much easier to love a person? Especially when that Person is Jesus! Want love in your marriage? Get Jesus! Want truth in your marriage? Get Jesus!

Truth is Purity!

Because truth is a Person and that Person is Jesus, you need to get Jesus. In order to get Jesus you must repent of sin and renounce it in your life. You must cleanse your heart and mind of moral impurity. I John 1:8-9 affirms this: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." That's what I am talking about! Get rid of the impurity of sin and receive the purity of His righteousness. And righteousness is "rightness". Also, back up a couple of verses to I John 1:7 and it sheds more truth on truth: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." "Walk in the light". What is light but truth? As you walk in truth you walk in purity!

Truth Is Power!

When you have Jesus you have purity. When you have Jesus and purity you will have power. The power of truth! The power of holiness! The power of rightness!

Love rejoices in truth! Make that "truth" with a capital "T"!

January 22, 2012

2012-01-22T15:25:00.000-05:00

http://youtu.be/bflkoEfp4tM

That is one reason I am passionately, proudly and unapologetically pro-life. You should be, too. Over the few minutes i will be sharing several biblical reasons why I am pro-life and why you should be!

I am pro-life because:

I. Because God Is the Source Of Life, Genesis 2:7

“the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

I love the story of the boy sitting on his father's lap as they were looking into a mirror. The boy said to his dad, "Dad, who made me?"

He said, "God made you, son." He said, "Dad, who made you?"

He said, "God made me, son." He said, "Dad, who made granddad?"

He said, "God made him, son." He said, "Dad, who made great-granddad?" He said, "God made him, son. Why do you ask?"

The boy took one look back in the mirror and said, "Well, it just seems to me He's been doing a better job in recent years!"

If life were some random occurrence that crawled out of some prehistoric swamp somewhere there would be no particular reason to respect life. But if life came from the very breath of God – that is a game-changer!

I believe when He created life He infused His image into it and since He is sacred life is sacred. Life was created BY Him and FOR His pleasure because love like His needs to be expressed.

As a Christian, I believe that life begins and ends with God and that He IS life. There are those people who would say, “No one really knows when life begins.”

We are people of the Word and Psalms 139:13 & 16 makes clear that life begins at conception. Modern technology such as sonograms confirm that.

Further, to those who don’t know when life begins then why are they messing with it?

I am pro-life because God is the Source of life and I am committed to love Him and serve Him.

II. Because God Is the Sustainer Of Life, Genesis 1:29-30: 2:8-9

A college professor once asked his class to imagine making a decision in regards to an unborn child. He described the child that he would be born blind, deaf, and possessing other physical infirmities. Asked what they would do, and the entire class responded--to abort the baby. The professor replied, ’Congratulations you just aborted the life of Ludwid Von Beethoven’. Life must have a chance

God put Adam and Eve in a climate-controlled, fully supplied, perfectly secured paradise designed for people who were intended to live forever! God breathed life into them and then provided what they needed to sustain that life!

Not only did God put everything in Eden to sustain Adam’s life BUT He put Adam in charge of making sure the lives of all the creatures would be sustained.

Similarly, God designed your mother’s womb so that it would sustain your life from the moment of conception until birth!

God proves that He loves life by the extravagant lengths He went to sustain those lives!

I am pro-life because I believe God’s will is to sustain human life!

III. Because God Is the Substance Of Life, Acts 17:24-31

Our kids Every day: 1,000 unwed teenage girls become mothers - 1,106 teenage girls get abortions - 4,219 teenagers contract sexually transmitted diseases - 500 adolescents begin using drugs - 1,000 adolescents begin drinking alcohol - 135,000 kids bring guns or other weapons to school - 3,610 teens are assaulted; - 2,200 teens drop out of high school - 6 teens commit suicide every day.

What is their life missing? SUBSTANCE! They lack purpose, they lack a sense of significance, they have been taught they are a “cosmic accident” and life is about being happy until you die.

Max Lucado tells in his book “The Applause of Heaven” about a sweater that hangs in his closet. He says he seldom wears it – it’s too small, the sleeves are too short, the shoulders too tight, some of the buttons are missing, the thread is worn. Logically, he says, he should throw out that sweater since he has no use for it and never will wear it again and it is just taking up space in an already crowded closet.

That’s what logic says. But love, he reports, won’t let him. Why not? What is so unusual about this sweater? The begin with, it has no label, no tag telling you to “Wash In Cold Water.” That’s because it wasn’t made in a factory, produced on an assembly line as the product of a nameless employee who is just trying to earn a living. Rather, it was knit stitch by stitch by a loving mother – his mother. Therefore, it has great significance to him because of who made it!

I have significance and you have significance because each of us were hand-made can carefully crafted by a Loving God!

We are significant NOT JUST BECAUSE OF WHO HE MADE US TO BE but because of what He created us to DO – To Know Him – To Worship Him – To Serve Him – To Proclaim Him To The World!

I am pro-life because life has God-given substance!

IV. Because God Is the Savior of Life, Genesis 3:15

Adam and Eve made a pro-choice decision and that is where the world went wrong!

PRO-CHOICE REALLY SHOULD BE “ANTI-CONSEQUENCES” – The Root of Sin!

Pastor Lee Strobel shares this account:

We were doing a baptism service. We told people before they came up to the platform to be baptized to take a piece of paper, write down a few of the sins they’ve committed, and fold the paper. When they come up to the platform, there was a large wooden cross on the stage. Take that piece of paper, take a pin, and pin it to the cross, because the Bible says our sins are nailed to the cross with Jesus Christ, and fully paid for by his death. Then turn and come to the pastor to be baptized.

I want to read you a letter a woman wrote who was baptized in one of those services. She said:

I remember my fear. In fact, it was the most fear I remember in my life. I wrote as tiny as I could on that piece of paper the word abortion. I was so scared someone would open the paper and read it and find out it was me. I wanted to get up and walk out of the auditorium during the service, the guilt and fear were that strong.

When my turn came, I walked toward the cross, and I pinned the paper there. I was directed to a pastor to be baptized. He looked me straight in the eyes, and I thought for sure that he was going to read this terrible secret I kept from everybody for so long. But instead, I felt like God was telling me, I love you. It’s okay. You’ve been forgiven. I felt so much love for me, a terrible sinner. It’s the first time I ever really felt forgiveness and unconditional love. It was unbelievable, indescribable.

Do you have inside of you a secret sin that you wouldn’t even want to write down on a piece of paper out of fear somebody might open it up and find out? Let me tell you something about the Jesus I know. Not only does he want to adopt you as his child, he wants to lift the weight of guilt off your shoulders.

V. Because God Is the Sovereign Of Life, Genesis 2:15-17; Psalm 139

God called Adam & Eve to account for their choice………….

EVERY ONE OF US WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO HIM AS WELL – EVERY KNEE WILL BOW……..

(READ PSALM 139)

Here’s What Pro-Life People Should Do:

DO NOT RESPOND IN HATRED OR VIOLENCE – WE ARE PRO-LIFE BECAUSE WE ARE PRO-LOVE! We love God and love people and want God’s best for them.

a. Study this message and strengthen your pro-life position

b. Stay informed on abortion legislation lobby for life laws

c. Teach sexual abstinence in the home and church

d. Support your local crisis pregnancy center and unwed moms with time, talents and money

e. Offer grace and compassion to women who have chosen abortion

f. Don’t be intimidated by loud liberals who try to shout you down and shut you up because their position is so weak and illogical

g. NEVER EVER vote for a political candidate who is not boldly pro-life

h. Pray and cry out to God for mercy on our nation for this evil we have brought on ourselves

Imagine the national outrage that would rise if a terrorist cell swept into Spotsylvania County and wiped out every resident over a two-day period. This would be an unimaginable act of violence against innocent citizens. There would be an immediate response by military and law enforcement to kill or capture those terrorists.

But that is about the number of innocent, defenseless unborn babies destroyed over that same period in the sanctity of their mother’s wombs before they ever get to draw a breath. 115,000 human hearts are stopped each day worldwide through abortions and no one comes to their defense because very few even know about it. Many don’t even care.

Added together, the top ten catastrophic natural events in recorded history (some might call them “acts of God”) took about 8,000,000 souls from the earth. That is the population of a major city! Sad indeed!

6,000,000 Jews died during the WW II holocaust in what would be considered a man-made tragedy. Those poor persecuted people where part of the 100,000,000 who perished in WWI and WWII.

Plagues have taken hundreds of millions of people over the centuries, 300,000,000 from smallpox alone.

Why am I throwing around such grim and foreboding numbers?

I want to give some perspective to the terrible social and moral evil of abortion. Since it became legal by a dubious legal ruling that by any objective legal standard is clearly unconstitutional – some 52,000,000 innocent infants in the United States alone have been swept form their mothers without ever drawing a breath. That is in the relatively short span of 39 years.

Worldwide that number is 42,000,000 per year of which 1.2 millions are Americans.

How long will God continue to allow this vicious assault on the most defenseless beings on our planet to go unjudged? How many innocent lives will perish before He rains down judgment in their behalf? Sodom and Gomorrah were wiped out for less evil than this.

January 21, 2012

2012-01-20T23:14:00.000-05:00

"I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time. Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." Psalm 77

It seems that a young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked. "What’s the point, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water. "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

One reason I have chosen to spend this Summer in the Psalms is because the Psalms deal with the gamut of emotions that you and I face in everyday life! This Psalm, for instance tackles discouragement in a very true and transparent manner.

In the dangerous and difficult world where we live, you can easily become discouraged. You may be discouraged by someone else, you may be discouraged by yourself or you could be discouraged by God - or even all three!

So, how can you deal with discouragement in a way that changes the water?

I have given you five ways of dealing with discouragement when it shows up uninvited at your door. Let me remind you of those:

1) Devotion Not Emotion, vv, 1-7

2) Perspective Not Panic, vv. 7-13

3) Certainty Not Speculation, vv. 13-14

4) Recommit Don't Quit, vv. 11-12

5) Declare Don't Despair, 14-20

Discouragement is a big tool in the enemy's arsenal and he will attack you with it early and often. He intends to use it to cause you to feel like giving up. If you don't handle it it can lead to depression. But, if you learned to handle discouragement and learn to use it to draw closer to God, the enemy will be less likely use it against you! So, if he tries to use that one weapon against you I have given you five to defend yourself with!

January 20, 2012

2012-01-20T07:31:00.000-05:00

Concept #5 - DECLARE DON’T DESPAIR

“You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” Psalms 77:14-20

The world says, “Seeing is believing!” Christians say, “Believing is seeing!”

Faith is seeing before you see! Hebrews 11:1-2 says, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen."

If you are looking at something and talking about it that is not faith! That is a description because you are telling what you see! If you are talking about something that has already happened that is not faith! That is a report because you are sharing what you have seen. But if you are declaring it and it hasn't happened yet - that is faith because your are verbalizing what you believe you will see!

There is tremendous power in your words! Positive words have power for good and negative words can destroy.

I have an idea that if you go back and trace how you became discouraged it had something to do with a negative declaration or two that came from your lips to your ears to your mind and into your spirit. Perhaps it was negative hurtful words spoken to you by someone else that caused you to become discouraged.

God spoke the world into existence by His words! He declared it and it happened! I am not saying that we are God, but I am saying that we can declare His Word and when we do there is power! That is exactly what Aseph the worship leader was doing right here in these verses. And guess what! It worked!

President John F. Kennedy made this challenge just five months after being inaugurated as President, "First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth."

At the time he issued this bold declaration the technology did not exist to make this a reality. But because he spoke it and because Americans heard it and embraced it and believed it and just eight years and two months later Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar landscape! As amazing as it was it would not have happened if JFK wouldn't have declared it!

If you struggle with discouragement or even despression, be careful what you declare with your lips and what you hear with your ears. Make faith declarations. Read the word and read it aloud so you can hear it. Make sure you get to worship service where you can hear God's truth read, and sang and preached.

Don't be discouraged! Declare don't despair!

January 19, 2012

2012-01-18T21:12:00.000-05:00

"I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Psalms 77:11-12

This week I have been studying the 77th Psalm which deals with the very practical issue of discouragement and how to deal with it.

So far I have shared three of five concepts I find in this Psalm to help overcome or prevent discouragement. For sake of review those concepts are:

Concept One - Devotion Not Emotion

Concept Two - Perspective Not Panic

Concept Three - Certainty Not Speculation

This morning I will share the fourth concept for your consideration:

Concept #4 - RECOMMIT DON’T QUIT

Aseph was faced with the very same decision as you and I face when we are discouraged, “Why not just give up?”

Discouragement can cause you to lose hope and when you lose hope you can begin to wonder, "It this worth it? Why should I keep trying? Why not just quit?"

Quitting smoking is good! Quitting drugs is good! Giving up any harmful practice, attitude, habit or relationship is good. Quitting on God is never good. If you quit on faith what are you going to believe that is better? Oprah? Dr. Phil? And if you quit on God, where can you go?

"A majority of the great historic accomplishments of the past have been the final result of a persistent struggle against discouragement and failure. A man is never beaten until he thinks he is. Without perseverance, the chances of his succeeding are small indeed."

Harold Sherman, wrote a book “How to Turn Failure Into Success”. In it he gives a “Code of Persistence”

a. I will never give up so long as I know I am right.

b. I will believe that all things will work out for me if I hang on until the end.

c. I will be courageous and undismayed in the face of odds.

d. I will not permit anyone to intimidate me or deter me from my goals.

e. I will fight to overcome all physical handicaps and setbacks

f. I will try again and again and yet again to accomplish what I desire.

g. I will take new faith and resolution from the knowledge that all successful men and women have had to fight defeat and adversity.

h. I will never surrender to discouragement or despair no matter what seeming obstacles may confront me.

Winners never quit and quitters never win! Aseph was a winner. It was his job to lead God's people, including King David, in worship. He served at the pleasure of the King, it wasn't his to decide to quit. He had made a commitment to the King and to the Lord. A commitment means he had promised not to quit. That is the nature of commitment, it eliminates every other option including the option to quit. Commitment demands that when you feel like it is time to quit you recommit!

Perhaps you have been battling discouragement and you have come to the point of wondering if it is worth it to keep trying. Maybe you are about to quit on your faith or your marriage or your job. Let me encourage you that if you have made a commitment and sealed it with a promise, you don't need to quit you need to recommit!

January 18, 2012

2012-01-17T23:16:00.000-05:00

Concept #3 - CERTAINTY NOT SPECULATION

“Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” Psalm 77:13-14

Like Aseph, when I am struggling with bouts of discouragement it is very easy and, maybe even natural, to project the current troubles forward. Pain and problems have a way of eroding my attitude and causing me to think negatively. And the longer the trouble lasts the easier it is to begin assuming that it will continue. That feeds the discouragement.

I don’t know that the trouble will continue. There really is no way to know. But the pain and the panic and the problems can cause me to feel like they will never end or even get worse. That negative speculation regarding the future serves to deepen the anxiety and prompts negative or even fatalistic thoughts about tomorrow. Losing hope about tomorrow makes me more susceptible to adding to my discouragement.

So what do I do when I am already discouraged and my prognosis looks bleak? How should I respond when God seems deaf to my pleas for some relief and the heavens seem like brass?

I can continue to speculate about how bad it could be going forward OR I could go back and begin remembering the good things God has done for me in the past. That is what Aseph did. He did not give in to speculation but remembered that God is good even when times are bad and life is painful. I like that idea! That seems like a very good plan for battling discouragement.

So, I won’t speculate, rather retreat mentally to some of my favorite times with God when His goodness was obvious and His power was on display. When I don’t understand what God is up to I choose to focus on what I DO know about Him and what He has done and what He is still able to do! I choose certainty over speculation.

Will you?

I am certain that God is holy and that He is love and that He is powerful and He is righteous and He is good. I am certain that He loves me and has good plans for my future. I am certain that He is able to make all things work together for my good – even the painful things.

To work your way through a bout of discouragement, don’t speculate about what MIGHT happen. Rather choose to meditate on what you know for sure about God! When you are not sure what might happen focus on what you know - HE is in control.

CERTAINTY, NOT SPECULATION!

January 17, 2012

2012-01-16T23:28:00.000-05:00

Concept # 2 - PERSPECTIVE NOT PANIC

“Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?" Psalm 77:7-13

One of the signs of discouragement is a loss of perspective. Things in your headlights look bigger than they actually are and objects in your rearview mirror look better than they were. Perception often does become your reality and when you are seeing life as overwhelming it becomes overwhelming. As life overwhelms you it crushes the hope out of you giving rise to discouragement.

Another sign of discouragement is the use of exaggerations - “Will the Lord reject FOREVER?” – In your calmer moments you know better than that. But pain or problems can cause you to panic and lose your perspective. “Will he NEVER show his favor again?” Seriously, you know better. “Has his unfailing love vanished FOREVER?” Really? Uh, no! I think you get my point.

When you hear yourself or someone else using exaggerations like this, especially in regard to God, you should recognize that as a sign of panic. It is evidence of discouragement and a loss of perspective. If you don’t make an intentional effort to address the panic and regain perspective it will become a downward spiral feeding on itself. Unless it is confronted and dealt with it will descend into depression.

Should you recognize this panic and loss of perspective and you realize you are discouraged but can’t shake it by yourself, call a friend or your pastor. Like Aseph in this Psalm, the best way out of panic is to get perspective back. See how he gets a hold on his distorted view of reality and focuses on God – "Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?"

Big problems are put back into perspective when you regain your focus on a BIGGER GOD! His power and His presence will help you get back your perspective. Once you have your perspective back your panic will ceases and you hope will begin to return.

I have had this happen to me. I know about panic – even panic attacks. Losing perspective and plunging into discouragement in no fun. Thankfully, each time I have been able to regain my perspective, remember the goodness of my God and reconnect with Him!

Maybe you have to. Maybe you have lost your perspective and are overcome with panic. Perhaps you are there now. If so, this message is for you. Let me remind you to stop focusing on your big problems and start remembering you have a bigger God!

January 16, 2012

2012-01-15T23:02:00.000-05:00

I want to examins several causes and the cures of discouragement that are mentioned or implied here in Psalm 77. I don't think you have to read this Psalm very far to conclude this guy is discouraged and maybe even depressed. Discouragement certainly can lead to depression if it is not effectively dealt with.

Beginning with this post I will share six things that can lead to discouragement and six things that lead you out of it. To help you grasp these concepts I have put them into short and rhythmic statements.

Here is the first one and it is based on verses 1-7 - “I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again?" Psalm 77:1-7

CONCEPT # 1 - DEVOTION NOT EMOTION

Emotions are God-given and God ordained. He wired you emotionally so you are able to develop relationships with Him and with other people. Since He wants you to love Him He had to make you able to do that and emotions are how that happens.

But, for all that is good about emotions, they tend to be fragile and fickle easily affected by circumstances or surroundings. So, if you allow your emotions to lead your commitment to Christ, you will be subject to changes when your circumstances suddenly change. It follows then if you are led by emotions you will be more susceptible to discouragement.

That could well be what happened in this Psalm.

To avoid discouragement or to help you get beyond being discouraged, base your relationship to Christ on facts not on feelings - or, devotion over emotion. I am not saying that feelings are not important or powerful, I am just saying they are not a reliable foundation for faith.

In fact, you will find that when you build your faith upon your devotion to God and stand on the facts of God's Word, you will experience better emotions because feelings always follow faith! Make your decision to follow Christ regardless of how you feel and then be true to that decision no matter what your emotional state. That is what I mean by devotion over emotion.

Believe in this concept and live by it and I am sure you will be less prone to discouragement.

January 15, 2012

2012-01-14T22:45:00.000-05:00

Psalm 77 is timely and insightful because it shows how to battle discouragement. Christians are not immune from discouragement and may, in fact, be prone to discouragement for several reasons:

1) We tend to care more than other people

2) We tend to care more about other people

3) We have intimate knowledge of a God Who has the power to "fix things" but sometimes doesn't

4) We are under constant attack from the Enemy who continually attempts to discourage us

5) Faith is a journey that doesn't have clear mile markers and progress can be hard to measure

6) There is a constant dynamic tension between the work of grace God has accomplished in our lives and the awareness of how much more growth needs to happen - this "holy dissatisfaction" is necessary but hard to manage.

7) We are called to accomplish a task that is never completed and often overwhelming

8) We hold ourselves and our leaders to a high standard and therefore, are often disappointed

I could go on, but I think you get the picture!

Psalm 77 is a Psalm of Aseph. Who was Aspeh?

Aseph was one of the three musicians who worked for and with King David. He and his cohorts were responsible for developing inspiring worship to maintain the spiritual climate of God's nation and His people.

Sort of a big job, eh?

If Christians are prone to discouragement (and they are) how much more so for the "point people" who serve on the front lines of ministry?

Discouragement not properly handled will lead to despression. Over the seens I have seen many good and effective ministry people knocked out of the game by perpetual discouragement that morphed into depression.

Before I depress you with these thoughts, let me get to the good news! Aseph discovered how to work through discouragement before it became depression.

Read and meditate on Psalm 77 and see if you can find out how he did it. See what the Spirit says to you.

Be encouraged today!

January 14, 2012

2012-01-14T09:40:00.000-05:00

“but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:2-3

TO BE BLESSED MAKE SURE YOU SPEND TIME IN GOD’S WORD

(1) Love the Word, V. 2

The word “delight” means to take great pleasure in. It has the idea of a consuming passion that controls your life. Everyone “delights” in something. Some people delight in food. Others delight in a job or a hobby or a career. Some delight in a particular friendship. Many people delight in money or the things money can buy. And many delight in evil pleasures and wrong desires. Mark this well. Your “delight” determines your direction. What do you delight in? What gets your motor running? What gets you excited in the morning and keeps you awake at night? What do you daydream about?

Tell me the answers to those questions and I’ll tell you something crucial about who you are. To delight is to be so excited about something that you just can’t wait. Watch a young couple in love and you’ll know what “delight” means. Or take a young man Who has fallen in love for the first time. Ask his friends and they’ll say, “He’s not the same guy he used to be. They mean he has radically changed. He doesn’t want to hang around with them anymore. All he does is talk about “that girl.” Just look at him. He’s got this goofy grin on his face. He’s in love. Now apply that principle to the Word of God. We are to delight in God’s Word as a lover delights in a letter from his beloved.

I guess the question to ask is – “Do you love God’s Word like that?”

And, it not, “Why not?” “What needs to happen? What needs to change?” “How would your life be different if you did?”

(2) Live the Word, V. 2

Rick Warren, in The Purpose Driven Life, describes meditation this way: "Meditation is focused thinking. It takes serious effort. You select a verse and reflect on it over and over in your mind...if you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate". Warren goes on to say, "No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than daily reflection on Scripture…If you look up all the times God speaks about meditation in the Bible, you will amazed at the benefits He has promised to those who take the time to reflect on His Word throughout the day"

The Hebrew word used for "meditate" can be literally interpreted “Chew your cud” Meditate means “a strong desire to understand God’s will in order to do it!
God sets a high standard for us but that is because the stakes are high! Also, the satisfaction level is high for those who do – THEY GET THE BLESSINGS:

“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water” – STABILITY

“which yields its fruit in its season” – PRODUCTIVITY

“and whose leaf does not wither” – LONGEVITY

“whatever they do prospers.” – PROSPERITY

Being blessed doesn't happen by accident. There are reasons why some people see God's blessing rain upon their lives and why others don't. I have touched on several of those reasons today and in some previous posts. Why would you want to miss out on the blessings of God when you can enjoy His goodness and His favor AND be a blessing to others?

Delight in His Word!

Meditate on His Word!

January 13, 2012

2012-01-12T21:36:00.004-05:00

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers" Psalm 1:1

If you want to be blessed by God you must find a place in God's will. This verse gives some insights on how to do that.

First, be careful who you believe - "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked ...."

It is hard to get good advice from bad people. You are not likely to get godly advice from and ungodly person. How can you get trustworthy counsel from a person you can't trust?

Before you believe something ask yourself, "What does the Bible say?"

Be careful who you listen to. Ask yourself, "What is their life like?"

What are you filling your mind with? Always ask, "Can God honor this?"

Second, be careful how you behave - "....or stand in the way that sinners take...."

The old saying is, "Birds of a feather flock together." You will be judged by the company you keep.

If you are committed to doing the right thing you will not want to spend time with the wrong people.

Are the people you spend the most time with lifting you up or are they pulling you down? Do they draw you closer to God or do they pull you away?

Sow a thought and you reap and act;

Sow an act, and you reap a habit;

Sow a habit, and you reap a character;

Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.

If the friends you spend the most time with can impact your destiny, what sort of friends should you choose? Are they exhibiting the sort of behavior God can bless? Are they helping or hindering your behavior?

Third, be careful whom you have for buddies - "or sit in the company of mockers"

If you want God's blessing, why would you develop close friendships with people who God is not able to bless? Wouldn't you be better off finding friends who share your faith and your values?

The easiest thing in the world is to be negative, and cynical, and sarcastic. It doesn't take a spiritual giant to recognize problems, but it does take a person of faith and conviction to come with ideas to solve them. If you want to have a positive attitude and a positive perspective on life, why would you spend your time around cynical and negative people?

If you want to be blessed and delivered from the struggles with sin in your life, some things need to be done to help you live in God's will, and learn in God's Word, and love in God's way.

Get wise godly counsel so you will believe right. Get grounded in God's Word so you will behave right. Get godly friends who can encourage and edify you in your faith.

Who are you listening to?

What are you learning from?

Who are you hanging around with?

January 12, 2012

2012-01-11T22:45:00.000-05:00

"Blessed is the one......." Psalm 1:1a

Some men want success. Some want to impress. Some desire to possess. God wants to bless and He would love to bless you. When He blesses you it satifies all those other desires. Having God's blessing IS success for a believer. It is evidence that you HAVE impressed Him. And it allows you to possess all that comes with His favor.

Men who want success or who need to impress or who desire to impress are really looking for the same thing - happiness. Each is in pursuit of what he thinks will make him happy.

But the Psalmist assures that the blessing of God is the source of true happiness. The word used here for happiness has several implications and all of them are good - (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) - are accurate renderings of the word for "blessed".

Are you blessed?

A person who is blessed not only enjoys favor with God and all His benefits, but they also become a blessing to others. Those who live with or work with or worship with or hang out with a blessed person find that they are blessed by being with him.

Do you know someone like that? Is there someone like that in your life?

If so, thank God for them. If so, tell them how much you appreciate them. Learn from them.

Perhaps the bigger question is, "Are you that sort of person?" Do you know God's blessing on your life. Are others blessed because you are around them? Does God's blessing reside in you? Does His peace follow you? Does His presence follow you? Does His power flow through you?

Here's how:

"Blessed is one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers." Psalm 1:1-3

Finding success may bless you but not many others. Impressing others will not bless them. Nothing you can possess will do much to bless.

Live for God's blessing. Live in God's blessing. Live to be a blessing.

January 11, 2012

2012-01-10T21:56:00.000-05:00

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night." Psalm 1:1-2

I found this article that describes well the spiritual progression expressed in verse one: walk, stand, and sit.

"From birth there are distinct phases that mark the normal development of a human being in terms of their ability to move. At first we are completely helpless and need to be carried and supported as our bones, spine and muscles strengthen. Soon we learn to hold up our heads and push ourselves up, eventually to a sitting position. After this we build up the courage to pull ourselves up to stand and in short succession we, with faltering steps, learn to walk and then run.

Perhaps it is a coincidence that the order in Psalm 1 is opposite to that of positive, healthy development of a human in the physical world. Perhaps it isn't.

In the physical, so in the spiritual.

In Luke 10:39 we read that Martha ‘…had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said….’.

Sitting is not a bad thing, if we are sitting at the feet of Jesus.

In Ephesians 6 the church in Ephesus is encouraged by Paul to, ‘… put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes...’ (Eph 6:11)

Standing is good, if we are standing girded with the full armor of God.

Earlier in Galatians Paul wrote “…This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh….” (Gal 5:16)

and in Ephesians:

“… As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received…” (Eph 4:1).

(It is a commonly known fact that here, and elsewhere in Ephesians, the verb ‘live’ is actually the Greek verb normally translated ‘walk’ as reflected in the King James Version).

“…I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called…” (Eph 4:1)

“…And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour...” (Eph 5:2)

“…For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light…”(Eph 5:8)

So let me ask you what is your spiritual posture or condition today?

Are you sitting at the feet of Jesus or in the seat of scoffers?

Are you standing in the full armor of God or in the way of sinners?

Are you walking in the Spirit or are you walking in the council of the wicked?"

My prayer is that your delight “…is in the law of the LORD…”, that you will be “… like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither….”

That whatever you do prospers. (Psa 1:2-3)

January 10, 2012

2012-01-09T21:05:00.000-05:00

"Blessed is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly , nor stands in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down where the scornful gather." Psalm 1:1

Here's a pop quiz: "Would you rather be blessed or cursed?"

I think I know your answer.

Though the answer is obvious, the significance of that answer is not. You are either one or the other. If you are not blessed you are cursed. I say that because I fear there is a tendency to think that there are shades of blessedness. But the fact is if you are not living under God's blessing you are cursed. There are not "kind of blessed" or "sort of blessed" people. His blessing begins with the removal of the curse. Unless you understand that you will not appreciate the importance of being blessed.

The writer of the Psalms spells out clearly what it means to be blessed.

I like the Amplified Version of the Bible to give clarity to the undesrstanding of Biblical texts. Here is how it explains what it means to be blessed: BLESSED = (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable).

You can plug in those synonyms without it altering the meaning of the verse. HAPPY is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly......."

To be blessed means to be happy! Happy about what? He is happy because of Who he loves - God! He is happy because of how he lives - godly! And He is happy because of what he learns - the Word of God!

Also, you can substitute the word "fortunate" as well! A blessed man is a fortunate man because of what Jesus did for him on the cross! Notice it didn't say "lucky" it said fortunate. Blessing comes as the result of right choices and decisions not from a random confluence of events.

Thirdly, you could replace "blessed" with "prosperous". Usually, a blessed man becomes preosperous because he makes good choices and wise decisions that result in profitable outcomes for a "blessed" man.

You have it within your power to live a "blessed" Life! The question is, "Will you?" Will you choose to live a bless life? Now that you know three things God blesses and you refuse to do any of those things - you will live under the curse of sin and pride.

Do you love God with ALL your heart?

Do you live according to His Word?

Do you have a desire and a discipline to learn His Word?

Loving, living and learning lead to blessedness! Reject the curse - receive the blessing!

January 9, 2012

2012-01-08T22:07:00.008-05:00

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." Psalm 1

In real estate the rule that determines the value of a property is, "Location, location, location!" If the home is located in a neighborhood with other higher priced homes that raises the price of the property as well. Build a house on a lakefront or near a beach and the pice goes up. Should the home be on a golf course the value is increased.

Similarly, a man's "blessedness" is determined by His location in relation to God and His Word. Consider these phrases:

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers"

A blessed man locates himself in the neighborhood with godly and righteous people. He doesn't hang out with evil wicked people. Wicked people are spiritually condemned. Who wants to build next to a condemned property?

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night."

Secondly, a blessed man camps out in the Word of God! He doesn't spend time reading sexy magazines or going to questionable websites. You are what you read. "As a man thinks in his heart so is he." Contrary to modern thinking, a man cannot separate his private life from his public life.

Third, a man will be blessed if he puts down roots in the living water. Jesus is the Living Water! "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither." The evidence that a man has established his life in a good location is the fruitfulness of his life and the healthiness of his life!

A man who wants to be blessed will locate himself in a place where God's blessings flow. How presumptious is it to expect or demand that God bless what he is doing rather than doing what God blesses?

There is a reason that some men lead blessed lives and others don't. It can be summed up in three words, "Location, location, location!"

Will you choose to be blessed? Will you go where God blesses? Will you do what He blesses?

January 8, 2012

2012-01-07T21:20:00.001-05:00

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philppians 1:21-22

The barnyard animals loved their farmer. He had taken good care of them for many years and made their lives very pleasant. He loved them and in their animal way, they loved him.

One day they were discussing how blessed they were to be owned by such a kind and generous man. It was decided they would honor him to show their appreciation. They all readily agreed and began to brainstorm on the best way to communicate their appreciation for him.

Finally they came upon an idea that pleased them all. Since the farmer arose early every morning to do his chores they knew that he loved eating a good hearty breakfast. So, to thank him they thought they would prepare a breakfast in his honor.

"How shall we do it?" one of them asked.

"Well," said the hen, "I will gladly contribute a half dozen of my delicious eggs!"

"Great idea!" said the cow, "I will give milk for him to drink and cream for Him to make butter for his biscuits."

The hog was strangely silent. The hen and the cow looked at him indignantly and the hen challenged, "Hey, hog! I am giving eggs for our farmer's breakfast and the cow is gladly contributing her milk. How about if you donate some ham and bacon!"

This simple silly story about the barnyard animals illustrates the difference between involvement and commitment. The hen and the cow were willing to be involved but the hog would be committed. They would be giving from themselves but he would be giving himself. That is a big difference! That is commitment! Involvement costs you something - but commitment costs you everything!"

Paul in saying, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" is saying, "I am committed not just involved!"

How do we know that he is committed? We know because he is willing to die. He was willing to pay the cost. Paul loved God more than He loved life itself.

What about you? Are you involved or are you committed? How do you know? How would others know? How would God know? What price are you willing to pay? Do you love God more than you love your own life?

January 7, 2012

2012-01-06T21:56:00.004-05:00

Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

One of the misconceptions that is doing great harm to the Faith and to the Church is the idea that there are levels of commitment. You might hear someone claim in self-defense that they are "more committed" than someone else. What they should say is that they are less uncommitted than that person. The point that Jesus is making here is either you are committed or you are not.

Claiming to be "sort of" committed is like saying you are "sort of" pregnant. You either are or you are not. You can't "sort of" sky dive. You can't "sort of" get married. Peter didn't "sort of" walk on water. Jesus didn't "sort of" die on the cross.

The challenge Jesus is issuing is this - "you can't 'sort of' follow Me!" Either you are a disciple or you are not! Either you do His will or you don't. Either you walk in holiness or you don't. Either you are saved or you aren't.

I know you live in a day and a culture that wants to nuance everything into shades and degrees. That would be fine if you were the rule-maker or the arbiter of the rules - BUT YOU ARE NOT - He is! He makes the rules and you don't. So, you either obey Him or you don't. You are either following Him or you are not. That is what commitment means!

Having grown up in corn and soybean country, I appreciate what Jesus is saying to His hearers, who were also rural folks. What He was saying was, "When you go out to plow you don't 'sort of plow', you plow or you don't!" No true farmer would begin plowing and quit. No true farmer would "sort of" plow. No real farmer would plow forward while looking backward.

In rural Indiana where I was raised and in rural Illinois where I served for 22 years, there are cornfields so huge you can hardly see across them. I have always been impressed how straight those long rows or corn or beans are. Never have I seen a field with crooked rows. That is proof that the farmers who planted those rows were committed to planting.

How so?

Farmers plant straight rows by lining up their plows and their planters with a reference point at the end of that row and they stay focused and aimed at that point. Straight rows are evidence of a committed and focused farmer. Those perfectly parallel rows are proof of a committed farmer who never looked back while he plowed!

When you think about commitment think about plowing. When you measure your commitment think about focusing on a fixed point and moving straight toward that point continually. And of course, that straight point is the way of God and the will of God as outlined in the Word of God.

There are no "sort of" committed plowers. Neither are there any "sort of " committed Christians. Either you are committed or you're not. Don't buy the lie.

January 6, 2012

2012-01-05T21:05:00.001-05:00

"Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

People were following Jesus for a lot of reasons. They followed Him hoping to be healed, some followed Him because they had been healed by Him. They followed Him because He had fed them and others followed Him hoping to be fed. Some followed Him because they liked His stories, some followed Him because they had a story. A few followed Him because they were called.

Why do you follow Him?

He calls to commitment.Why do you follow Him?

Commitment is hard - very hard. But it is also very healthy and helpful. And, the very things that make it hard are the things that make it helpful.

I want you to take a look at Jesus' call to commitment in this verse and consider the hard things and see if you can understand why they are also helpful.

There is a cost - "If anyone would come after me he must deny himself......"

Commitment asks you to deny yourself. That means you put His way ahead of your way. He calls you to come after Him and that makes common sense. How could you follow Him and go your own way at the same time? You can't! To be a follower of Christ you must begin by following! And when you follow your own way you cannot at the same time follow His. Chasing Him means surrendering your way to pursue His.

There is a cross - "......and take up his cross...."

The call on Jesus' life led to a cross. This was God's will for Him. Is was not the way Jesus wanted but the cross was why He came. Jesus had to die as the atoning sacrifice for your sins so you can have your sins forgiven.Without His cross, you would not be able to follow Him. Without a cross, you will not be able to follow Him. Discipleship requires a death. Since He has already died, it is now your turn! You must die to your own selfish will so you are free to follow His way! Crosses are hard! They can kill you! No one climbs off a cross once he is nailed there!

You are placed on a cross to die. That is the will of the cross. What needs to die in your life?

There is a consistency - ".....daily and follow me."

It is hard to be consistent at anything. Doing the same thing the same way on a daily basis is hard! That gets tedious in a hurry. And yet, that is what Jesus called these men to do -consistently follow Jesus. In this case that means that everyday you count the cost of following His way and denying your way - EVERY Day! And it means nailing your way and your wants and your will to the cross - putting them to death so you are free to follow Him. Then, the next day, you come back and do it all again! That is consistency.

Counting the cost and paying the cost his hard! But walking in His way rather that yours is helpful - very helpful! And the cross in hard! Very hard - because it calls you to die to your will. But when you consider having His will rather than yours - very helpful! Doing these two hard things consistently (every day) is real hard! But He calls you to following Him daily - counting the cost and dying on the cross! Very hard - but very helpful!

Have you answered the call to commitment?

January 5, 2012

2012-01-04T21:20:00.001-05:00

“Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 1The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:7-15

Like the sheep in Psalm 23 you should be one satisified sheep! I have spent the better part of this week reminding you of how good your Shepherd is! So, if there is still anxiety or discontent stirring in your soul it could be that you are not following Him as well as you should!

May I share a true story to further illustrate the blessings and benefits of following this Shepherd Who is a personal shepherd and a powerful shepherd and a promising shepherd?

Here it is:

In 1972, a shepherd had brought his sheep into a walled-off, enclosed area for the night, and he had just gone to sleep when he heard a commotion. He quickly rushed over to where the sound was coming from and to his horror he discovered that a wolf was in the process of dragging off one of his sheep through a hole in the wall. He was mauling this sheep and blood was flying.

The shepherd quickly began hitting the wolf, and the wolf turned on him and began attacking him. He bit him over and over while the shepherd was striking him with his staff, and finally with one final blow of his staff, he killed the wolf as he himself collapsed into a bloody heap.

He managed to crawl over to the half-dead sheep, and began to bandage its wounds.

He gave it some water, and then took it in his own bloody arms, and shepherd and sheep went to sleep together. The next morning the shepherd was found dead, his body literally draped over the sheep to comfort it and keep it warm. The following day the headline in the Jerusalem paper said, “Sheep Alive, Covered in Shepherd’s Blood.”

That is the testimony of every sheep and lamb who is under the care of the Good Shepherd. Why would you not follow Him closely? Why would you not completely trust a Shepherd like that?

Any other shepherd is a hireling who comes to steal, abuse, or kill the sheep. There is no comparison between the Good Shepherd and any other. There is really no comparison between sheep under the care of the Good Shepherd and those who are not. You can tell the difference by looking! There is a noticeable difference!

As the storm clouds gather and the threats increase and the world becomes significantly more dangerous, you cannot afford to be led or cared for by anyone other than the Good Shepherd because no matter how perilous the times that lay ahead - IF THE LORD IS YOUR SHEPHERD, YOUR FUTURE IS YOUR FRIEND!

Hallelujah!

January 4, 2012

2012-01-03T23:47:00.001-05:00

“SURELY – goodness and mercy will follow me…..” Psalm 23:6

"Promises are like babies: easy to make, hard to deliver." ~Author Unknown

"It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath." ~AeschylusHe began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life.

"Promises are like crying babies in a theater, they should be carried out at once." ~ Norman Vincent Peale

The future is your friend when you have a personal shepherd Who has an intimate concern and care for you! And, the future is your friend when you have a powerful shepherd who has seven-fold ability to protect and provide for you. But there is still another reason to trust this shepherd - His promises!

But the promises made are only as good as the previous promises that have been kept. How can you be sure you can trust the promises of this Shepherd? Has He proven reliable?

Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water.

Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest.

Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King.

Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons.
Jesus wept, yet He wipes away our tears.

Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world.

Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd.

Jesus died, yet by His death He destroyed the power of death.

Yes! This Shepherd IS trustworthy! He not only keeps His word HE IS THE WORD!

What He promises:

God’s presence -- "I will never leave thee" (Heb. 13:5)

God’s protection -- "I am thy shield" (Gen. 15:1)

God’s power -- "I will strengthen thee" (Isa. 41:10)

God’s provision -- "I will help thee" (Isa. 41:10)

God’s leading -- "And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them" (John 10:4)

God’s purposes -- "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil" (Jer. 20:11)

God’s rest -- "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28)

God’s cleansing -- "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)

God’s goodness -- "No good thing will He withhold from them that work uprightly" (Psalm 84:11)

God’s faithfulness -- "The Lord will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake" (1 Sam. 12:22)

God’s guidance -- "The meek will He guide" (Psalm 25:9)

God’s wise plan -- "All things work together for good to them that love God" (Rom. 8:28)

With the troubling and uncertain future you face how can you have hope?

You can be sure your future is your friend because your Shepherd is personal and He is powerful AND you can trust His promises!

The things that are coming in the next few months and years will be trouble on a scale you have never seen before. It will be frightening. It will be painful. You will be tempted to panic. That is why I want to remind you of your Shepherd and that if you fully trust Him, you will need not fear the future for He will make your future your friend!

January 3, 2012

2012-01-02T22:31:00.001-05:00

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23

Reading this Psalm gives you an insight into a day in the life of a sheep. I am not sure you ever had a desire to see life through the eyes of a sheep. Personally, I have never paused in the middle of a busy day and wondered, “What would a sheep think of this?" You probably haven’t either, but when you consider that the Bible compares you to a sheep it might be of some interest to you.

From this moment forward, should a similar thought flash through your mind you will have an answer. According to this beloved Psalm a sheep faces each day concerned about: hunger, harm, harassment, and hereafter.

Incidentally, I have known a few humans who worry about the same things.

Fortunately, for this sheep, he has a shepherd who worries about those same things for him. Do you have a shepherd like that? If you are worried about those things, you probably don’t!

Sheep are grazers. Grazing is great as long as there is plenty of grass. But a flock of sheep will tend to overgraze an area until all the grass is gone. Because they are too timid to move far from where they have grazed, they would starve themselves within a matter of days. Hunger is a concern. No one wants to go hungry, even a sheep!

A good shepherd leads his sheep to green pastures each day and then stand guards over them as they graze on lush green grass. After a few days of learning they can trust their shepherd, they cease to worry about hunger anymore. That is a good day!

Do you have a shepherd like that? You could!

Sheep are defenseless. They have no way of protecting themselves against predators and they can’t run fast enough to get away. So, if they have no shepherd to guard them they will become lunch for a wolf or cougar. So, along with daily concerns about hunger, they worry about harm coming to them!

But if he has a good shepherd, that shepherd is on constant guard watching for predators. Should one attack, he is armed with a staff and a rod with which he can ward off the beast. After awhile the sheep learns he doesn’t have to worry about harm when he is with his shepherd.

The fact that the sheep lays down is significant. They are so timid and flighty that they will not lie down unless they feel completely safe from predators, parasites or pests. If flies or gnats or bees are buzzing around them they will not lie down. When you see a sheep lying down he is either dead or he is feeling completely secure! In that case, it would be evidence that he has a good shepherd who cares enough for his sheep to keep him free of harassment!

Once he has been relieved of his concerns over hunger, harm and harassment, a sheep’s worry turns to the hereafter. What will happen tomorrow? Will he be hungry? Will he be harmed? Will he be harassed? Not having to worry about today will not keep him from worrying about tomorrow. Know the feeling?

But, once again, being under the care of a good shepherd over time, the sheep will come to trust his shepherd so much that he ceases to worry and is content and comfortable following his shepherd anywhere!

Life through the eyes of a sheep!

What does it have to do with you?

It IS you! That is, if you know the Good Shepherd. If not, you know hunger, harm, harassment and concerns about the hereafter.

When you follow the Good Shepherd – life is good and your future is your friend!

January 2, 2012

2012-01-01T21:47:00.000-05:00

"Every day they continued to meet together......." Acts 2:46a

Small things done well over time make a big difference. The tendency is to value the spectacular events and the exciting efforts. But unless someone is paying attention to the details nothing lasting will result from the big things.

Today I want to talk about the value of one particular small thing - the importance of showing up!

Just showing up almost sounds too abvious to mention. But it was one of the things that the Church in Jerusalem did best. They were consistent in their Christian disciplines. Consistency equates to commitment. Not much happens without commitment.

Cal Ripken is a cinch for the Hall of Fame because he developed the discipline of showing up. His career statistics are borderline for Hall of Famers. On the basis of his stats he would have been considered for Cooperstown, but the fact that he played in a record-setting 2,632 consecutive games make his selection a no-brainer. Ripken shattered the record of a previous Hall of Famer, Lou Gehrig by almost 500 games!

I think of Betty Darling. Betty was a tiny little lady from the hills and hollows of West Virginia who was extremely shy - but amazingly faithful. Betty worked in the nursery at Heritage Wesleyan Church, one of the largest churches in our denomination. She was there when the church ran 25 people and she only had one infant to care for. She was still there when the church topped 2,000 and had more babies in the nursery than they used to have people in the church. Betty was so shy she had trouble looking you in the eye. She would slip into the nursery and out the back door. But you could count on one thing - if Sunday came, Betty would be there.

For nearly 30 years she cared for several generations of little ones. There are young men in ministry that Betty rocked and burped. She is now in God's Hall of Fame, otherwise known as Heaven. By the way, the church now runs 3,000+ because of a lot of faithful people like Betty who just show up on a regular basis.

Can I remind you that God promised that "where two or three people are gathered together, I am in their midst"?

In otherwords, God promises that if we show up He will!

Commitment trumps talent every time. Don't discount the value of just showing up. Showing up is far more powerful than showing off. Obviously, the real deal is when talented people show up!

Churches don't happen without people who are committed to showing up and doing their best. How committed are you? How good are you at showing up?

January 1, 2012

2011-12-31T22:14:00.000-05:00

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

God Is Calling You To Faith!

God did not send the angels to Zechariah, Mary and the shepherds He did not send them to put fear in the hearts of those good, godly

But He sent them to call them out of fear and into faith!

“Fear not” is another way of saying “have faith”! And we have a Savior because they did! They let fear motivate them rather than allowing it to debilitate them!

How about you? Are you going to allow yourself to live in fear or are you going to choose faith?

Are you going to hide behind your weaknesses and huddle up in fear of how out of control your life is?

Those ARE the questions as you tip-toe into 2012, aren’t they?

Let me ask you:

Do you REALLY believe that God is aware of your fears?

If you do, then you can trust Him in your weaknesses! In fact, you can expect Him to show up at those points of weakness and call you to faith! Those areas the very areas where He wants you to grow this year! Try this - you can just tell the Devil that if he is planning to intimidate you in those weak areas, all he will do is help you develop your faith!

Three people are aware of your weaknesses – you, the devil and God. If you try to handle your weakness you will live in fear of having that weakness exposed to your shame. Or, the devil will come against that weakness and overwhelm you with fear. But if trust God in your weakness He will unleash His power through it and turn your fear into faith!

You can know He is aware of your fears because according to I Corinthians 10:13, nothing can happen to you without His approval and He knows how much you can take – AND how much you can’t!!

So – not only is God aware of your weaknesses and your fears - HE IS AWARE OF THEM BEFORE YOU ARE!

Do you REALLY believe that God is bigger than your fears?

Zechariah did and look what happened!

Elizabeth did and look what happened!

Mary did and look what happened!

The Shepherds did and look what they got to see happen!

If you really believe that God is bigger than your weaknesses or anything that causes you to fear, here is what I want you to do – I want you to think of the absolute worse thing that you could think of happening to you in 2012 and ask yourself, “Is God bigger than that?”

If your answer is “yes” then tell yourself, “Fear not!”

I DON’T KNOW WHAT 2012 WILL HOLD BUT I DO KNOW WHO HOLDS 2012 AND HE IS GREATER THAN YOUR WEAKNESS! “FEAR NOT!” HE WILL TURN YOUR FEAR INTO FAITH!

THIS YEAR REFUSE TO FEAR!

December 31, 2011

2011-12-30T22:59:00.001-05:00

God Is Aware Of Your Fear!

Fear usually arises out of our weakness or areas where we feel out of control. God knows that.

Zechariah and Elizabeth lived under the fear that they would be judged as less spiritual because they were childless. Children were seen as a sign of God’s blessing and God’s blessing was considered a reward for your level of spirituality.

So, Zechariah had labored faithfully as a priest but had done so with a heavy heart over being childless and being disrespected because of something he couldn’t control.

You get a sense for the level of his disappointment when he hesitated to believe the angel’s announcement.

But to that fear the angel spoke, “Fear not!”

Mary’s biggest fear after being assured that God would cause her to become pregnant with the divine child even though she was a virgin, was how her pregnancy would be viewed by Joseph and the rest of her neighbors in Nazareth.

What if Joseph didn’t believe her story and chose to divorce her? She had no control over how he would respond.

What if the people of the town didn’t believe her story – she could be stoned to death! She had no control over what they might decide to do.

Those were very real fears, but to them the angel spoke, “Fear Not!”

Out on the Judean hillside those shepherds also struggled with fears. They feared insignificance. All they were was lowly shepherd, some of the most overlooked and unappreciated people in the land. The shepherds had little control over the level of disrespect they received but it was hard to take.

But God valued them and gave them significance by sending the angel to say, “Feat not!”

You and I see our weaknesses as obstacles to faith, but God sees our weaknesses as opportunities to show His power!

As God told St. Paul, “My strength is made perfect in your weakness!”

Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary and the shepherds all became significant players in the birth of Jesus our Savior and each one did so at the very point of their weakness and fearfulness!

Think about any miracle of the Bible and it happened at point of human weakness, neediness or fear! That is why you should “fear not” and be aware of how He delights in building your faith and the point of your fear!

December 30, 2011

2011-12-29T22:46:00.000-05:00

The top 10 fears: Economy, Job, Personal Finances, Relationships, Health, Children, Terrorist Attack, Divorce, Death, Insignificance.

The New Year is always a mixed bag isn’t it? You approach it with equal amounts of anticipation and anxiety. One moment you are filled with hopes of a better year and the next you are haunted by the hurts of the past. There’s an optimistic voice within that assures you this will be your year and then the realist interrupts and reminds you that was what you thought last year.

If you are stuck somewhere between faith and fatalism as 2012 approaches, I have two words for you from the Christmas story – “Fear not!”

Wouldn’t that be great if you could launch into 2012 with anticipation rather than anxiety? It can be as easy as ABC!

Three times in the events leading up to the birth of the Savior we hear these reassuring words, “Fear not!” Once it was to the priest named Zechariah, a second time to a young girl named Mary, and the third time to shepherds on a cold and lonely hillside.

I want to draw from each of those angelic appearances to help you understand why you don’t have to fear as you look to a new year. One thing that is clear from each of the three “Fear not” announcements is that fear is a choice! You can choose not to allow fear to dominate your heart or mind. Instead, you can choose faith! Why would God tell you to “Fear Not” if He knew you had no control over your fear! He wouldn’t!

It is up to you to “Fear Not” – as easy as “A – B – C”:

God Is Aware Of Your Fear!

God Is Bigger Than Your Fear!

God Is Calling You To Faith!

Over the next few days I want to build on these ABC’s of “Fear Not” from the Christmas Story!

God can help you remove the “fear factor” from your New Year! Are you ready for a “Fear Not” year?

December 29, 2011

2011-12-29T00:17:00.000-05:00

God Is Aware Of Your Fear!

Fear usually arises out of our weakness or areas where we feel out of control. God knows that.

So, Zechariah had labored faithfully as a priest but had done so with a heavy heart over being childless and being disrespected because of something he couldn’t control.

You get a sense for the level of his disappointment when he hesitated to believe the angel’s announcement.

But to that fear the angel spoke, “Fear not!”

What if Joseph didn’t believe her story and chose to divorce her? She had no control over how he would respond.

What if the people of the town didn’t believe her story – she could be stoned to death! She had no control over what they might decide to do.

Those were very real fears, but to them the angel spoke, “Fear Not!”

But God valued them and gave them significance by sending the angel to say, “Feat not!”

You and I see our weaknesses as obstacles to faith, but God sees our weaknesses as opportunities to show His power!

As God told St. Paul, “My strength is made perfect in your weakness!”

The exciting news is that God used weak and fearful people to change the world! He met them in their doubts and at their inadequacies and in their anxiety and unleashed His power through them.

You may feel weak and your life out of control but "Fear not", a miracle is on its way!

December 28, 2011

2011-12-27T22:27:00.000-05:00

"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." Luke 2:10

Once famous evangelist, Billy Sunday said, “if you have no joy, there’s a leak in your Christianity.”

Joy was a new experience for the shepherds because joy arrived with the coming of Jesus! But it should not be a novel experience for you. Jesus intended for His believers to live in joy:

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:11

"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." John 16:24

So, what can you learn about joy from this encounter between the angel and the shepherds?

First, joy comes from receiving the good news.

These shepherds heard the good news in a very dramatic way. The angels came to them with this amazing announcement. How great was that?!

You will not get the news from an angel but the good news is no less powerful. One of your main responsibilities is to put yourself into places where you can receive the good news. Whether that be church service or small group or listening on radio or on the Internet or watching TV or in your daily devotions, it is up to you to get your daily dose of good news! No one else can do that for you.

How can you have joy if you are not regularly hearing the good news? What are you doing to make sure you regularly hear the good news?

Second, joy comes from responding to the good news.

The shepherds immediately responded to the good news. When they heard about what was happening they went to see it for themselves.

What do you do with the good news you receive? Do you obey it? Do you test it? Do you live it out in your daily living so that you know it it true? Do you let it guide your decisions and steer your emotions? Joy is not an emotion, but it is an action that leads to positive feelings. Feelings always follow faith and faith is the preferred response to the good news.

Living in joy means receiving the good news and responding to the good news and thirdly, joy results from relationship with the good news!

Joy is the natural response to living in relationship with Jesus. If you receive the good news just for information you will not live in joy. If you receive purely for inspiration it will not remain. But if you will commit to living in an intimate personal relationship with Jesus, your joy will not leak. The good news is about truth and Jesus IS the Truth! The good news is about finding your way and Jesus IS the Way! The good news is a way of life and Jesus IS the Life!

How is your relationship with Jesus? How well do you know Him? Is He your Source of Joy?

Don't let the joy leak out of your life. Plug that leak by plugging into Jesus! Receive His good news daily and respond to it and live in relationship with it!

Have a joyous New Year!

December 27, 2011

2011-12-26T23:40:00.000-05:00

"Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35

As the prophet Micah foretold, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It was the city of his ancestor, King David and by decree of Caesar Augustus that all throughout the land the citizens were to register of the census in their home town.

It was while Mary and Joseph were there in Bethlehem that Mary's baby was born in a manger at a local stable because the inn was full. So the history records that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. It was prophetic but it was also symbolic.

The word "Bethlehem" means "house of bread". Jesus, the Son of God, was born in "the house of bread". The Bread of Life was born in the "house of bread"! How good is that? Think about what that birth in Bethlehem signified.

First, it means that Jesus sustains life. As bread was a staple of their diet and an important part of ours and sustains our physical life, Jesus sustains the spiritual life of anyone who believes in Him and "feeds" on Him spiritually.

Second, it means that Jesus strengthens life. Just as a healthy diet of good food, such as bread, is necessary to strengthen the body, so "feeding" on Jesus strengthens the spirit of a believer.

Third, it means Jesus satisfies life. Few things a more delicious and substantial than a hot freshly made loaf of homemade bread. You can almost smell it now, can't you? In the same way, Jesus satisfies the spiritual hunger of those who "feed" on Jesus!

How do you "feed" on Jesus?

Have faith in Him. Believe what His Word tells you and life according to those truths.

Have fellowship with Him. Walk with Him daily. Talk with Him through pray and hear Him through His Word. Regularly partake of Communion in the fellowship of your local church.

All of this is possible and available to us because the Bread of Life was born in the "house of bread"! What good news this brings to a hungry world!

December 26, 2011

2011-12-26T23:31:00.000-05:00

"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." John 2:10

Over the past several days I have been focusing on the announcement made by the angels to the shepherds that holy night. What was this "good news of great joy"? Why don't we see more joy in the church among believers?

We have recognized there should be joy in the presence of God and joy in the pardon from God and because of the peace of God though Christ. Also, you can find joy in the power of God. Christmas was impossible but impossible things happened so Jesus could be born!

How about another reason for joy?

You can take joy in the promises of God! In the events leading up to and culminating in the birth of Jesus there were 360 prophecies fulfilled. That means that 360 things that God predicted in advance were going to happen happened! And they happened exactly as they were foretold!

That incredible fact proves that God had His fingerprints all over the events that led up to the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! And the accuracy of these predictions should give us joy in knowing that the promises of God are true and reliable!

Whatever His Word promises He will do!

There is no one else you know and love who could keep his promises 100% of the time! Every person over promises and under delivers. BUT NOT GOD!

If you are facing a difficult circumstance right now and you desparately need Him to be Who His Word says He is - rejoice! Jesus is everthing He promises He is and He can do and possibly has already done what ever He says. What He can do is posted in His Word. Read it, memorize it and claim it!

Find joy in praising Him that He will do what He promises to do! Christmas proves it!

December 25, 2011

2011-12-24T22:58:00.000-05:00

^{MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!}

^"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." John 14:1

Long before there was Occupy Wall Street or Occupy Oakland there was Occupy Bethlehem.

But rather than union members, and college students, and leftover hippies from the '60's, these characters were an entirely different sort of radicals! Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, and Zechariah were called on to occupy key roles in the redemptive plan of God. These very ordinary folks were required to become radical in their faith, in their commitment and, especially in their obedience. Rarely has the world seen radicals like these!

A radical redemption from God was required to overcome the results of a radical rebellion that took root in the heart of Lucifer in Heaven and was re-enacted by Adam in the paradise called Eden. Those two acts of flagrant disobedience radically disrupted two perfect places and one perfect plan. They allowed sin to occupy the place once reserved only for God. But the grace of God is much more powerful than the greed of man. God's radical plan was announced right after the destructive deed was prepetrated, So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:14-15

From the moment of that announcement a patient, purposeful, persistent, and powerful plan was enacted from the heart of God that would require radical faith and radical obedience from a faithful few from generation to generation. Heroes of faith like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Moses, and David demonstrated a radical preoccuption to having God occupy their hearts. Because each was faithful to occupy their roles in His plan, the stage was set for two teens in tiny Nazareth of Galilee.

If history teaches us anything it shows us the world is shaped by those who are the most radical in their beliefs, desires, and devotion. The rise in radicalism among socialists, communists, progressives, anarchists and militant Muslims should remind us of that fact.

The radical obedience of Joseph and Mary won the Day for God by allowing Him to send His Son to fulfill God's amazing plan and display His radical grace. They also demonstrate for us How God can occupy you, radically transform you and use you to change your world for Him!

On this day when we celebrate Occupy Bethlehem, will you once again become preoccupied with God? Will you allow His Spirit to occupy you and empower you to radically obey Him in the same way Joseph and Mary did? It is time to get radical! Radical righteousness defeats radical rebellion every time!

Christmas proved it!

December 24, 2011

2011-12-23T23:27:00.000-05:00

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of GRACE and TRUTH.” John 1:14

That just has a nice sound to it doesn’t it – “full of grace and truth”?

I could love a God like that! I could trust Him to love me!

What a joy to know that the very same Word Who spoke the universe into existence with just a few words, tempers all that power and authority with grace and with truth! I wouldn’t want One who possessed that much might being spiteful or dishonest. Would you?

Amazingly, not only does His grace and truth keep His massive power in check but grace and truth balance each other.

Grace, as wonderful as it is, can actually become harmful if not balanced by truth.

I’m sure you have known people who are so gracious they allow others to get away with harmful and unhealthy behavior. A good relationship requires boundaries that make grace meaningful. Those boundaries are formed and established by truth. That is best illustrated by the Ten Commandments God gave His people on their way to the Promised Land. He wanted them to prosper toward Him, their families and in society, so He established the guardrails of truth to define healthy relationships.

This wasn’t in my notes, but as a parallel thought here, remember when Jesus said that He didn’t come to abolish the Commandments but to fulfill them? In part, this is what He was talking about. Check out the Commandments and you will see that all ten deal with relationships. And Who better to demonstrate for us how relationships should work than God in the flesh?

Jesus even tried to simplify it for us by reducing truth into two big concepts – “Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself”. Truth and grace are to define our daily reality and our relationships.

The Master also made it plain He could help us execute those two realities by identifying Himself as, “the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life”. Anyone see a theme developing here?

Have you noticed how much trouble people create for themselves and others when they try to become arbiters of truth? No wonder our culture is so bad at relationships! How can I ever hope to have a healthy relationship with you when we are operating from two different versions of truth? The only way I can extend you grace is if you line up with my version of truth! It is hard to love someone you are tying to dominate. If I am trying to manipulate you and control you and cajole you with attempts to force you into my reality, how can that foster trust or respect (the two foundations of healthy love)? Hello, conflict! Hello, conditional love!

Truth and grace in proper balance equal unconditional love! That is exactly why that Baby was born in that manger two millennia ago! That’s why Christmas should count!

Aren’t you glad that the Word came “full of grace and truth”? Will you, like Mary, ponder these things in your heart and let His Holy Spirit of truth minister to you?

December 23, 2011

2011-12-22T21:02:00.000-05:00

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Given that I am a rebellious sinner at my core, I really need God’s grace. What great news to hear that Jesus came from God “FULL OF GRACE”!

Grace is such a wonderful concept! Someone expressed it this way – GRACE = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense! Grace means that when you and I deserved judgment and justice from God instead He gave us mercy! When He should have sent the Sheriff He sent His Son! And His Son didn’t come as a social worker He came to be a sacrifice for my sins!

God’s grace means I have a choice! I don’t have to live in guilt and bondage to sin!

God’s grace means I have a chance! I get a “do over”! I get a “mulligan” in life! If I receive God’s grace by accepting the Gift of His Son as our Savior, I can live in relationship with God!

God’s grace means that if I make my choice and take the chance and I can have a change! I can change from a sinner to a son of God! I can change from an enemy of God to an ambassador for Him! I can change from death to life! I can change from being full of guilt to filled with grace!

Christmas celebrates the greatest gift ever given – the gift of grace!

Another wonderful fact about His grace is that He is “FULL OF GRACE” and yet when He offered His grace to all the world He had no less grace to give! You can receive His grace and I can receive His grace and He is still “FULL OF GRACE”!

However, just like any gift you will give this Christmas, it must be received! God was so very gracious to give this amazing gift, you must be humble enough to receive it! What a shame to let grace be given in vain.

Do you need a new choice?

Could you use another chance?

Are you ready for a change?

Take the gift!

December 22, 2011

2011-12-21T22:10:00.000-05:00

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-14

Here is another amazing paradox in the Christmas story: The Creator became Christ, the creature, in order to allow you and me to be re-created in Him!

Think on that for a moment!

Before I elaborate on the significance of the “Word” becoming flesh, let me talk about what it means for you.

God, the Word, put on flesh in order to correct us – “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it”

Sin had plunged the human race into spiritual darkness. Darkness is the symbol of spiritual ignorance and sin. Light stands for God’s truth and His holiness.

Have you ever been in total darkness? Maybe you were in a cavern or in a cellar and you couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face. If you can relate to that experience and how it felt, then you have a clue about your spiritual condition apart from Jesus, the Word of God,

We were so morally and spiritually lost in the darkness of sin and ignorance we did not even know we were lost. We thought God grades on a curve and we can do enough good things to earn a passing grade.

Jesus, the Word that became flesh, came to declare the truth about out lost condition. But, praise God, He proclaimed the truth in grace!

God, the Word, put on flesh to connect us – “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”

Because the Word was God and because He “put on flesh and dwelt among us”, He was uniquely able to as a Holy Son to introduce us to His Heavenly Father.

That connection did not become possible just because The Word was born in a manger, but it happened because He died on a cross. In fact, the reason He was born in human flesh was so He could die on the cross to atone for our sins. His atoning sacrifice on the Cross paid the price of your adoption as a child of God.

Because the Word become flesh, the Son of God, died to pay the penalty for your sins, trusting Him to be your Savior will connect you to God by faith!

God, the Creator, was born into the world in the flesh of a creature, to make it possible for you and me to be recreated – from the inside out! Have you been made new?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” II Corinthians 5:17

December 21, 2011

2011-12-21T07:42:00.000-05:00

"A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ. The Birth of Jesus Christ." Matthew 1:1-17

Over the past decade or so there has been an increasing interest in tracing family trees. Websites like Ancestry.com have sprung up to respond to this trend.

Do you know your family history? How far back can you go in your know of relatives?

I would like to have a better grasp of my family lineage. It is interesting to know about your heritage.

While this is interesting information for us, it was essential information to the Jewish people to whom the Gospel of Matthew is addressed. That explains why it was tucked in at the beginning of the Gospel record. You and I tend to skip over this portion of the Gospel when we do our Bible reading. It holds little interest to us. But the Hebrews were big on family pedigrees. For them to accept the story of Jesus, His ancestry had to be established beyond question.

In my next couple of posts I want to share why this rather obscure group of verses should matter to you and me.

As you look through these names, there are a few celebrity names that are easily recognizable. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and King David are "superstars" who jump off this page. I'm sure we all have a few ancestors we point to proudly, while ignoring the wierd uncles, etc.

But again, the strong message of Christmas is clear - God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things! The fact that you are familiar with most of the names should be an encouragement to you!

I am one of those ordinary people who no one has heard of. So are you! Sometimes we wonder if it is worth the sacrifices we make or the struggles we endure trying to be odedient to God and true to the faith. What difference will it make! How can I be sure it matters? No one will ever hear of me. No one will care about what it took for me to remain faithful.

This geneology testifies that it DOES matter. You have no idea who may come along in a generation or two in your family line. If you compromise your faith or sell out to selfishness, you can be sure that the blessings will cease. I would venture to guess that every person listed in this geneology had decision points where they wondered if it was worth it. They became discouraged. They struggled with faith. They knew the loneliness of being misunderstood because of your values. BUT they remained faithful! And it mattered! Through them came a Savior!

From the Christmas Story comes the great news that faithfulness matters! It matters for individuals. It matters in families. It matters to God. He notices. He blesses. He moves in and through those people. Ordinary people in ordinary families who commit to exceptional faith make and extraordnary difference under the Hand of God.

We all know that Christmas is a family Holiday. Now you know that it REALLY is! In more ways than you imagined. God emphasized that at the very beginning of the story! Before He told the amazing story of Christmas, He told the story that made it possible!

Will you embrace that truth? Will you take encouragement from it? Will you recommit to creating a legacy of faithfulness in your family?

December 20, 2011

2011-12-19T23:45:00.000-05:00

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

I wanted the GI Joe Commando Kit that Christmas but I got new socks and underwear instead.

That is what happened growing up in a family with lots of kids and limited cash. Christmas usually was about getting what you needed not what you wanted. But, what kid really knows what he wants anyway – not to mention what he needs.

My mom understood that I needed to have enough underwear that I could always wear a clean pair. As you well know, it is essential to always be sporting a clean pair of undies in case you happened to be in a car accident,

Parents know better what their children need and place a higher priority on needs than wants. They are better at distinguishing wants from needs that children are. So is God! That is what Christmas is all about!

Christmas was God sending us exactly what we needed – A SAVIOR! We needed salvation and God had a Son Who would come to be our Savior.

We didn’t ask for a Savior. We thought we could save ourselves.

We didn’t know that we needed a Savior. We thought we were good enough to save ourselves. In fact, many religious people thought they already had salvation because they were born into God’s chosen people, the Jews. They foolishly believed they could keep the Commandments and earn their salvation.

What they wanted from God was credit for their “righteousness”. God sent them what they needed, the Christ! There was desperate spiritual need they couldn’t meet and God wanted to meet that need. Christmas proves how much God wanted to meet man’s need for salvation from sin.

Now that I am older and wiser I am a little better at knowing the difference between my wants and needs. I know I need salvation and I know I want Jesus as my Savior. He is the point where my need and my want join in faith. When I stopped living by what I wanted and accepted what I needed, I got them both in Him!

Have you acknowledged your need of salvation? Have you confessed that you are a sinner and you need to be saved? Do you know for sure that if you were to die before you finish reading this article that you would immediately find yourself in Heaven? If you are not sure, do you want to be?

You need to be!

December 19, 2011

2011-12-18T22:15:00.000-05:00

"Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Luke 1:18-20

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month." Luke 1:34-36

Have you ever noticed how most people find it easier to believe bad news than to believe good news?

When Zachariah and Mary were presented with some of the best news ever shared, they questioned it. Understandable - but not acceptable.

However, it is encouraging to notice how Gabriel responded in each case. He gave them evidence! And I believe he did so because he understood that they wanted to believe but they weren't used to such good news! so, he helped them!

In Zachariah's case, he struck him dumb, so he could not speak. At first glance it looked like a judgment, but I believe it was evidence. I think it was for Zachariah's benefit. How better to believe a supernatural report than to see something supernatural happen?

For Mary, the angel gave her two proofs, a longer-term proof - pregnancy; and a shorter term proof - her formerly barren cousin, Elizabeth's pregnancy.

Here's the good news I get from both of these examples, God not only asks to have faith, He gives it to us! When He knows we really want to believe He will give us evidence to believe. I like that! I need that!

Now on my part, I need to work on my faith until I find it easier to believe good news from God, from His Word, and by His Spirit. I must condition my faith to expect good things from the Hand of God and to know that He will also turn the bad news into good in His time! That is my part! But I can even count on His grace to help me there! And I can condition my heart and mind and spirit by saturating them in the Word of God.

So this is the good news of Christmas - for those who believe and those who are wanting to believe more - there really is only good news! There is immediate good news and there is ultimate good news! That is the God we serve! Christmas is the evidence!

December 18, 2011

2011-12-17T21:54:00.000-05:00

Has your “expecter” expired? Have you have been disappointed by God? Are you got tired of praying and believing without seeing an answer? Are you tired of expecting little – and getting it? Would you like to expect big things?

“Expecters” are powerful because expectations are powerful. Expectation and faith are “kissin’ cousins” and faith is powerful. Faith is expecting God to be Who He says He is and to do what He says He will do.

The challenge of faith is to keep your “expecter” expecting.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is an example of someone who had a good “expecter”. What if Mary would have had the same mindset that Leah and Lydia had? But she didn’t! She believed God!

Even though nothing had happened in Bethlehem it didn’t keep Mary from believing it could! Rather than believe what she had seen she chose to believe what God said, “Nothing is impossible with God!”

Here’s the story:

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:26-38

So, what can you do if your “expecter” is expired? How do you inspire your expired expector?

What you have to do is develop a “Mary mindset”. You need to have the same expectations of God that she had.

We have two very different mind-sets on display here! One mind-set says:

“NOTHING EVER HAPPENS HERE”

The other mind-set says:

“NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD”

Could it be possible that nothing ever happens here (where you are) is because nothing is happening here (in your head) or here (pointing to heart)?

Last week I talked about a “Joseph Heart” – being willing to do whatever God asks you to do, be willing to not do want you want to do and be willing to get no credit.

When you develop a “Joseph Heart” that is one of the things that must happen here (your heart). This morning I want to talk about what needs to happen here (point to head) and that is a “Mary mind-set”.

How do I inspire my “expired expecter”? How do I get a “Mary mind-set”? How can I get to where I believe that something CAN happen where you are?

LEARN FROM MARY:

1) MARY EXPECTED GOD TO BE BIG AND POWERFUL

2) MARY EXPECTED GO TO DO BIG AND POWERFUL THINGS

3) MARY EXPECTED GOD TO USE HER IN BIG AND POWERFUL WAYS

4) GOD EXPECTED MARY TO BE USABLE

BIG THINGS HAPPENED IN BETHLEHEM BECAUSE THINGS HAPPENED HERE (POINT TO HEART) AND HERE (POINT TO HEAD) FOR MARY AND JOSEPH.

WHEN YOU HAVE A JOSEPH HEART AND A MARY MIND-SET YOU WILL SEE SOME MIRACLE MOMENTS HAPPEN WHERE YOU ARE.

IS YOUR “EXPECTER EXPIRED”?

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN YOUR HEART?

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN YOUR MIND?

December 17, 2011

2011-12-16T23:01:00.000-05:00

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:5-8

I am having trouble getting my mind around this Scripture. This is pretty radical stuff! On one hand it sends a comforting message of how much God loves us, but it also confronts us with our responsibility to love each other like Christ loved us! What Christ demonstrated at Christmas must be how we love each other year-round!

Let's examine that love again today.

The first thing I notice is that Christmas love sees the needs of others.

Romans 5:8 tells us, "God demonstrated His love for us in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us!" Wow! God provided for our need before we were even aware we had a need! He provided a solution before we even understood the problem!

How atuned are you to the needs of others? Are you too consumed with your own problems and pains that you become oblivious to the plight of others? Christmas love sees the needs of others and seeks to ways to minister to those needs. Christmas love is not selfish.

Can you imagine a church fellowship where each member saw the needs of others and stood ready to help? What a radical place that would be!

Christmas love also serves the needs of others. Jesus wasn't simply an observer that saw rhe needs from the security of Heaven and waited for someone else to do something. Christ, the omnipotent sovereign Son of God, shed all His power and priviliges to become a servant! He surrendered control and became vulnerable so He could serve a needy race! Christmas love is humble in order to be helpful.

How about you? Are you willing to humble yourself to serve someone else? Are you willing to give up control and allow yourself to be vulnerable if it means meeting the needs of others? Can you be weak to strengthen someone else?

Imagine a fellowship like that! What a radical place that would be! Why can't there be a place where members see each others needs and step up (or down) to serve those needs?

Also, Christmas love sacrifices for the needs of others. This may be the most radical of all because it usually involves death. For Jesus, the sacrifice didn't begin at the cross. It because at the throne of His Father in the most exalted place in Heaven! Everything we dream about and desire, Jesus had - and He laid them down! He saw our needs and judged our crisis to be more urgent than His own comfort. Christmas love willingly traded Paradise for pain. How can God die? BECAUSE HE WANTED TO!

What have you sacrificed for someone else? It is nice to see a need and feel compassion. But Christmas love sees the need, serves the need and sacrifices what ever it takes to solve the need. Love is hard work! Love is costly! Love hurts! You can't love safely and conveniently - you must love sacrificially!

I dream of a fellowship where Christmas love is a reality. Why can't we love until it hurts? Why can't we die to serve others? Didn't Jesus call us to "deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him"? What if there was a group of believers who actually decided to be that radical!

Christmas love will cost you, but Christmas love will change you - and everyone around you!

Christmas love could create a contagious fellowship! It could be Christmas in July - and August, and Septemeber and...........

December 16, 2011

2011-12-15T20:23:00.000-05:00

Christmas was driven by love.

In these three incredible verses Paul reveals the motive of why Jesus gave up His exalted position and all the privileges of being God and did some serious down-sizing to become flesh and blood. He stepped out of eternity and into time. He came from a serene and secure paradise to a sinful, selfish and savage world.

What would possess Him to do such a thing?

LOVE! No other explanation makes sense.

Not only was Christmas driven by love but it defines love.

Love begins with an attitude - "have the same mindset as Christ". No one loves accidently. No one loves naturally. Love is a decision. You and I love because we choose to love. Even Jesus, Who was God - and God IS love - had to set His mind on leaving Heaven.

Love becomes an action - "He made Himself nothing". Love has to be more than a thought or a feeling. Love has to be demonstrated with cooresponding actions. Love seeks! Love serves! Love sacrifices! The Bible says that God loves us BUT Christmas showed it!

Love bought atonement - "He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross"

Love properly expressed results in life-change. Real love is transformational! It changes the heart, it changes the head and it changes the habits. Loving like Jesus loved changed the world! When you receive His love it changes you - it helps you love yourself. Loving yourself enables you to live for God and love others. Paul begins this portion of Scripture by commanding us to love like this in ALL of our relationships!

What drives your life? What defines your life? What difference does your life make?

Christmas demands an answer! Christmas holds you accountable to love! Christ took away all the excuses!

December 15, 2011

2011-12-14T23:14:00.001-05:00

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." Romans 5:1-11

So, what have you done for me lately?

That's the world we live in, isn't it?

How often do you hear someone cry out to God in a desparate moment, "God, why don't you do something?" Maybe you have uttered that question before.

Christmas shouts back the answer, "God did something!"

In fact, God did everything! There is nothing more that He can do that He hasn't already done! He sent His ONLY Son to become a man, born as a baby of a virgin, to become the atoning sin sacrifice for your sins. That is all He CAN do. That is all He needs to do. He undid what the first Adam did. He redeemed us from the sins of our first parents. Through His death and resurrection He made it possible for us to be forgiven from our sins and cleansed from our sin nature. By ascending to His Father and sending the Holy Spirit He made it possible for us to live in spiritual power and purity. And, by fulfilling all these prophecies, He proved that the Word of God is true and reliable for you to live by. It is a life-giving Word.

So, on this week before Christmas God wants to ask, "What have YOU done for me lately."

December 14, 2011

2011-12-13T20:22:00.000-05:00

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation”. Romans 5:1-11

According to this GREAT portion of Scripture, even if you are the Grinch and you don’t believe any of the Christmas story, Christmas means this – GOD BELIEVED IN YOU!

How do I know that?

The verses above clearly say so. There are a number of other portions of Scriptures declaring the same truth.

“But I don’t believe the Bible”, you say.

That changes nothing! He still believes in you!

Christmas happened because God believed in you. He believed you were worth redeeming. He thinks you should have a second chance to be rescued from your sins. He believed it so strongly that He gave His Son in exchange for your salvation. He believes that you are worthy of an even swap – His son for your sins.

Think about that for a moment. Even though you may not believe in God, He believes in you! Even though you may not believe in you, He does! And He is the One Who knows EVERYTHING about you! Imagine all those secrets that you hide from every one for fear if you’re ever exposed you would be flatly rejected by those you love – He knows! And knowing every ugly truth about you He still chooses to believe in you and offers you a chance to be more like Him!

Christmas can make believers out of unbelievers! That is the point of Christmas! God was willing to prove He believes in you in hopes that you would some day be convinced to believe in Him.

Believe it!

December 13, 2011

2011-12-12T23:09:00.000-05:00

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." I John 4:8-10

There are some things you never get tired of.

You never get tired of Christmas and you never get tired of hearing people say, "I love you."

Personally, I never get tired of butter pecan ice cream, but I probably could at some point.

If Christmas and expressions of love are two things you always look forward to, there is a reason. Those two experiences are inextricably connected.

Christmas means so much because love means so much. Love is what Christmas is all about. Love is why Christmas happened. Love is how Christmas happened. Christmas is what love looks like! The Bible makes that abundantly clear:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Every celebration of Christmas is a reminder of God's love. Every thought of Christmas is a reminder of love. No wonder Christmas has such strong emotional implications! Christmas seems to bring out the best in everyone! Even people who are not people of faith, still love Christmas. People who are not ordinarily in a good mood are generally in a good mood at Christmas.

Retailers love what Christmas does for their bottom line, but beyond that, they find that customers are generally are in a better frame of mind.

Everyone loves Christmas because everyone loves being loved! And Christmas is all about being loved - unconditionally and extravagantly! Christmas brought love down to our level and lifts us up to a supernatural level of love!

You've got to love it!

December 12, 2011

2011-12-11T22:35:00.000-05:00

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:1-11

Everything about the events of Christmas make the world a much better place.

Peace on earth is still an illusive dream but it is actually possible now through the Prince of Peace.

But I want to comment on an aspect of the story that would contribute to world peace even for those who are not very spiritual.

A message of Christmas is this: “give up your rights and take up your responsibilities”.

Think about how much of our culture is corrupted by people demanding that their rights be honored without taking responsibility for themselves or toward others. Can you imagine how quickly our culture would improve if Americans embraced this important aspect of the Christmas message?

Obviously, as this verse declares, Christ had more rights and privileges than anyone has ever had or ever will have! But He voluntarily surrendered His rights and advantages to assume the responsibility of becoming the Savior of the world.

But, Mary, also surrendered some rights and accepted a very heavy responsibility. Had she clung to her rights, she could not have known the blessing of bearing the Son of God.

Joseph, also, refused to cling to his rights and surrendered them to take on the awesome responsibility of parenting the Son of God!

What could happen in your life if you chose to focus on your responsibilities and not cling you your rights?

Choosing responsibility over your rights IS difficult because it means you have to give up something that is natural and live up to something that is supernatural. Taking responsibility means DOING right not having rights. That is why it is so powerful – and so rare.

How would it impact your marriage? How about your parenting?

What would it do for you in the workplace?

Can you imagine what it could do for your church?

If Jesus, Mary or Joseph had clung selfishly to their rights rather than commit to their responsibilities there would have been no Christmas.

Is there an area of your life where you are clinging selfishly to your rights and refusing to take responsibility? How is that working for you? What would happen if you changed?

December 11, 2011

2011-12-10T19:21:00.000-05:00

There are some things you never get tired of.

You never get tired of Christmas and you never get tired of hearing people say, "I love you."

Personally, I never get tired of butter pecan ice cream, but I probably could at some point.

If Christmas and expressions of love are two things you always look forward to, there is a reason. Those two experiences are inextricably connected.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Retailers love what Christmas does for their bottom line, but beyond that, they find that customers are generally are in a better frame of mind.

You've got to love it!

December 10, 2011

2011-12-09T23:02:00.000-05:00

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:8-11

Christmas means so many things to so many people in so many different ways. Some are very happy and some are very painful. All are very meaningful.

But this morning I want to focus on two things Christmas offers that everyone should welcome because they are in short supply - "good news" and "great joy".

In a culture that has been negatively shaped by the 24/365 cable news cycle, bad news constantly assaults our consciousness. Even as one who is a "news junkie" I would get overwhelmed by the bad news were I not firmly ground in the "good news". So, in a very real and powerful way, Christmas is the antidote for CNN, MSNBC, HNN, and even FOX cable news outlets.

What is that "good news"?

The "good news" or the "gospel" is that God did for us what we could not do for ourselves. He bridged the moral/spiritual gap that separated a sinful fallen race from a Holy God. Thousands of years of religion could do it. Centuries of recycled philosophies could not do it. Political power and might couldn't do it. Even the prophets, the promised land and the prosperity of God's people couldn't do it.

But God did it and the angels announced it, "Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." The good news is that God sent us a Savior! We could not save ourselves because we were the problem! We needed to be saved FROM ourselves!

So how could that be accomplished? How could the great moral/spiritual gap that separated God and man be closed when we could not reach up to God? THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS!

God reached down to us! God became like us to provide us a shot at becoming like Him! God's Son emptied Himself of all the privileges and rights of the Godhead, checked out of Heaven and slid from eternity into time! Why would someone do that? UNCONDITIONAL LOVE! THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS!

This unique and miraculous incarnation was the only possible way to reconcile God and man. And only God could pull it off! Come on, only God could think of it! THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS!

So, what about the "Great Joy"?

That is what happens when you receive the "Good News"! That is the result of believing the "Good News" and being reconciled to God! That is what happens when you get so fed up with the bad news of sin that you repent and turn to the "Good News". "Great joy" is the proof that you have received the "Good news"! It is confirmation that into you a Savior has been born!

How is your joy this morning?

December 9, 2011

2011-12-08T22:58:00.000-05:00

I had another thought on the “Mary moment” concept.

It seems to me that “Mary moments” can lead to “miracle moments”!

Surely it did in the first Christmas story! Perhaps there is a lesson for us today. Maybe we would see more “miracle moments” if we had more “Mary moments”!

All of us can identify with Mary’s question, “How can this be?” Everyone one of us have asked that, or at least thought that, when confronted by a challenge from God.

For the better part of four years I asked, “How can this be?” as I wrestled with God’s calling on my life.

You may be facing a difficult challenge and you are asking, “How can this be?”

Perhaps God is planting a new dream or a vision in your spirit that is so big it frightens you and you wonder, “How can this be?” In fact, I would suggest that if that stirring does not cause you to ask, “How can this be?” it may not be from God.

As important as it is to ask, “How can this be?” that was not the “Mary moment”. That moment is not found in the question but rather in her answer, “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” - THAT was the “Mary moment” that allowed the “miracle moment” to happen!

If you wish to see more “miracle moments” happen, make more “Mary moments” happen!

December 8, 2011

2011-12-07T22:17:00.000-05:00

According to the Herald Angels, (and who wants to argue with them) Christmas is a season of good news and great joy. The good news has not changed, so where is the joy? The story is the same, our need is the same, our God is the same, the work of Christ has been completed and His Spirit is available and active in our world, so why is there so little joy?

Because this is such an important question I have given it some serious thought. It seems to me the best way to answer it is to consider why these shepherds found such joy. Once we understand that we can try tap into their sources of joy.

The first obvious answer is they heard from God.

Well, that makes sense, doesn’t it? God is the Source of joy so hearing from Him brings joy!

You may be thinking, “Sure, Brad, if I could hear from angels I would be joyful, too!”

I’m not saying it couldn’t happen but you have several other more practical options for hearing from God.

Prayer is a primary way to hear from God. The shepherds had angels but we have Jesus interceding for us as we pray and the Holy Spirit inspiring us and instructing us and interpreting for us as we pray!

If joy is missing from your life the first place to look is your prayers? Are you regularly communicating with God through prayer? Are you making your requests known to Him AND are you listen to His?

Bible study is another way of hearing from God. The Bible is the Word of God. Every time you read it you get a fresh word from Him. When you open the Word you activate Jesus, Who is the Word, and you activate the Holy Spirit Who inspired the Word, and you connect with the Father.

“But, Brad, I read the Bible a lot and I don’t hear from God,” you may be thinking.

With all due respect, it is impossible to read God’s Word and not hear from God. By it’s own testimony, God’s Word never returns void. It always has an effect on the reader or the hearer.

If you are reading the Word and finding no joy, ask yourself, “Am I reading it objectively and am I reading it obediently?” By reading it objectively I mean, are you reading with an open-mind ready to hear what God has to say through His Word? Or. Are you reading it with an agenda trying to justify a point of view or validate your own idea? If you don’t read it objectively and open to hearing from God you won’t hear from God. There is no joy in reading God’s Word to support you own bias.

If you are reading His Word with no intention of obeying it, you will not hear from God. Why should He dishonor His own Word by speaking to someone whom He knows won’t obey it.

The second answer is they hoped in God!

You could debate whether these shepherds heard from God because they were hoping in God or, if they were hoping in God because they had heard from Him. Maybe it was both!

Hope is rooted in the good news that God is still in control of this world and is working in this world to establish His Kingdom in you and through you. Hope is grounded in the reality of Christ not circumstances.

But joy is a result of hoping in God! The problems and perils and pain of everyday life will beat the hope out of you in a hurry if you do not have a reason to hope for a better day. The hope that brings joy is a hope borne out of a determination to believe in the goodness of God despite all evidence to the contrary. Hope is a decision to trust in the last Word you have heard from God until you hear a new Word from God. This hope is built on a foundation of God’s Person. It is never wavering in your belief of His holiness, and His goodness, and His power, and His purposes and His promises. Hope deliberating chooses to believe that what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal and defines reality by the invisible not what is seen.

When you go day after day in the same situation facing the same suffering and circumstances, it is easy to lose hope. But you can choose not to lose hope. Hope doggedly holds onto what you have heard from God until you hear from God again!

Hearing from God produces joy and hoping in God preserves joy!

December 7, 2011

2011-12-06T21:55:00.000-05:00

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:26-34

Christmas makes it a little easier to believe the unbelievable.

However, we are looking at the incredible events of Christmas after the fact. It happened and it is recorded history.

Mary was called on to believe something that seemed unbelievable BEFORE it happened. God confronted her with the choice of believing beyond the possible. God was asking her to commit to something that had never happened and believe that it could. The fact that it was announced by an Archangel may have made it a little easier to believe, but it still required a big leap of faith.

No virgin had ever become pregnant before. Not only had she never heard of such a thing, such a thought had never entered her mind. It was a plan so incredible only God could have conceived it yet Mary was asked to believe it. God called her to believe the unbelievable and to disbelieve what she had always known to be true. She had a “Mary moment”.

We had Christmas and we have a Savior because she didn’t fail her “Mary moment”.

How well have you handled your “Mary moments”?

What do you do when God calls you to believe what He is saying rather than what you are seeing?

If you want to honor God you will have “Mary moments”.

If you want to change the world for God you will have “Mary moments”.

If you want to see God move in miraculous ways you will have “Mary moments”.

Mary was faithful in her “Mary moment”! The world has never been the same!

Will you MAN UP in your “Mary moment”? God may only be a few “Mary moments” from rocking your world!

December 6, 2011

2011-12-05T21:41:00.004-05:00

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name," Philippians 2:5-9

Christmas could also have been called Christ-yes.

What do I mean by that?

I mean that Christmas could not have happened without several willing "yeses". Over the next few posts I am going to show you what I mean.

The first "yes" was out of this world! It had to come from Heaven because the first one Who had to say "yes" was Jesus, the Son of God.

Our Scripture text assures us that He did.

When Jesus said, "Yes" to Christmas, He was saying "no" to all the safety, security, and splendor of Heaven.

When Jesus said, "Yes" to Christmas it meant saying "no" to eternity and stepping into the restrictions and limits of time.

When Jesus said, "Yes" to Christmas he also said "no" to the power, the privilege and the paradise of Heaven.

When Jesus said, "Yes" to Christmas in order to come as God's gift to the world, it meant He had to give up everything that was special or advantageous about being equal to God.

When Jesus said, "Yes" to Christmas He was saying "no" to the peace of Heaven and facing the pain of an evil planet filled with wicked people.

Christmas was not an easy "yes" for Jesus. It required saying "no" to some pretty precious privileges. Christmas would be no holiday for Jesus. He would leave all that was holy, and familiar and deserved, to live among sin and strangers and sacrifice.

Christmas was actually Christ-yes. It could not have happened unless several people were willing to "yes" to God and "no" to all that was comfortable or convenient to them. The first among that group was none other than Jesus Christ Himself!

In view of all the hard things that Christ said, "Yes" to for you, where do you need to say "yes" to Him?

December 5, 2011

2011-12-04T21:46:00.000-05:00

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

How would it impact your job if you were never at your best? How far would your worst get you on a regular basis?

What would it do for your relationships if you always showed your worst side?

How would you feel about your worst moments? What if you judged yourself only by your really bad moments? How would that affect your self-esteem?

What would you get for Christmas if Santa made your list based on only your worst days?

Give those some thought and I doubt if your answers will be positive.

As you think about what results from your worst efforts and poorest attitudes in life, let me brighten your day a bit!

There is good news of great joy from the reality of Christmas! As this verse from Romans reminds us, God's response to man's worse was giving His best!

Who does that? Who would give his very best for people who are doing their very worst? Who would send the best they have to redeem those who have already seemingly wrecked their his dream? Who would do that?

Other than God - no one! But God did!

From the moment that Adam exercised his will against God and activated the sinful nature in the human race, God announced His plan to redeem the race. The only way that God could restore a fallen race and rescue it from its worst self was to send His very best!

That is exactly what He did!

Did we request it? No, we were clueless.

Did we deserve it? Not even close.

Did we need it? Absolutely! It was our only hope.

Why would He do it? Ah, that's the good news of Christmas!

It is called unconditional love! It is called grace! It is free - but it is not cheap. It cost God His best for a people at their worst!

Joy, to the world, the Lord has come!

December 4, 2011

2011-12-03T20:34:00.000-05:00

“The Perfect Baby Gift”

Really Bad Baby Gifts:

1) A Cactus

2) English Leather Cologne And After Shave Combo

3) A Reversible Electric Power Drill

4) A 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

5) A Pit Bull

6) A Craftsman Tool Kit

7) Velcro Sheets

8) A Sonic Toothbrush

9) A Bowling Ball

10) Soap On A Rope

Now, let me tell you about the best baby gift ever! The most perfect baby gift ever was A PERFECT BABY!

This perfect Gift was motivated by a perfect love!

God, the Perfect Father sent the Perfect Baby Gift – HIS SON, JESUS!

God GAVE His Baby In Order to SAVE Your Baby!

That is the exciting news of Christmas! That is the “good news of great joy” announced by the Angels to the shepherds on that first Christmas!

It is why Christmas is such a favorite Holiday – because it celebrates that glorious truth that never grows old – God sent His Baby so that your baby can someday go to see Him!

This is especially significant in light of what we have done this morning – dedicating your babies back to the God Who gave His Baby!

Here is how it is announced in the Bible:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6-7

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21

“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:30-35

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1-4, 14

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:8-14

The reason I still excited about Christmas after all these years is because of the PERFECT BABY GIFT that God gave you and me – the gift of a Savior!

WHAT DEFINES A PERFECT BABY GIFT?

Who Gave the Gift?

The more significant the giver of the gift then the more significant the gift will be. When the giver is precious to you the gift they give will be as well!

The Perfect Baby gift was given by God - the Giver of all good gifts.

How Much Did It Cost?

While you never know exactly how much a person pays for a gift because they take the prince tag off and it would be very tacky to ask, but most people know a costly gift from a less expensive one. When someone who could afford to purchase an expensive gift gives a cheap gift, it can bother you.

God's Perfect Baby gift caused Him everything! He is the most expensive gift every given!

The Thought Behind The Gift

When a gift is so special or unique it shows a good deal of thoughtfulness, that makes it extra special as opposed to someone who knew you were expecting a boy and gives you a pink dress.

God thought of us before we were ever created - that's why we were created. And, while we were still sinners the Bible says that God sent His Son to die for you and me.

How Long Will The Gift Last!

A good gift will not be too small to wear or so poorly constructed that it falls apart, but will be the right size and the best quality.

This Perfect Baby gift not only lasts forever but will allow you and I to last forever.

How Appropriate To The Need?

A good baby gift will meet a need that will make life easier for the mother and the newborn.

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

"If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior."

CHRISTMAS MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WE NEEDED A SAVIOR AND GOD GAVE HIS CHILD TO SAVE YOUR CHILD – AND YOU!

Can you imagine how much God loves YOU to send His Son?! HE LOVES YOU AS MUCH AS HE LOVES HIS SON!

Here is what it looks like – watch!

http://youtu.be/GhkpxpjHIRg

Christmas means God sent the PERFECT BABY GIFT – He Gave His Child To Save Your Child!

A Gift Like That Should Be Received Gladly! How Could You Refuse It?

What other plan do you have for your salvation?

December 3, 2011

2011-12-02T18:06:00.000-05:00

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” Matthew 1:18-25

How do I know if I have a “Joseph heart”? Or maybe a better question is, how do I know when I don’t?

I am glad you asked!

Let me give you some markers you can look to for evidence.

First, Joseph was surrendered to God’s will.

Being surrendered to God’s will simply means you do what you know God wants you to do even when it is something you don’t understand or would rather not do. Joseph wanted to marry Mary, but not under these circumstances. But he did!

The other things he was asked to do where not things he found joy or pleasure in, but they were the clear will of God so he did them.

Are you surrendered to the will of God? Are you willing to do what ever He may ask you to do?

Second, Joseph sacrificed to do God’s will.

Obeying God will cost you something! Disobeying God will cost you more!

Joseph sacrificed his reputation in the community to marry a pregnant fiancée. When you are a small businessman in a small town your reputation is everything. Joseph but it up for risk to obey God!

What have you sacrificed for God lately? What are you willing to sacrifice? What are you unwilling to sacrifice?

Finally, Joseph served God, served Mary, and served God’s Son. In so doing, He served God.

People with a “Joseph Heart” are servants. Like Jesus’ earthly father, those in possession of a “Joseph heart” are willing to serve God by serving others. They are humble. They are helpful.

Are you are servant? Do you find joy in serving others? Or, would you rather be served?

There are at least three unmistakable signs of a “Joseph heart:

A willingness to surrender to God

A willingness to sacrifice for God!

A willingness to serve God!

Those are things that allowed Joseph to help change the world!

How is your heart?