July 6, 2012

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. ² Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. ³ They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.⁴ Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. ⁵ It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. ⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ⁸ The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. ⁹ The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. ¹⁰ They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. ¹¹ By them your servant is warned in keeping them there is great reward ¹² But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. ¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19

Would you rather look at a photo of the Grand Canyon or would you rather SEE the Grand Canyon?

Would you prefer to see a documentary about Lake Tahoe or would rather stand on its shore?

That's the difference between a two-dimensional view and a 3-D experience.

Places as majestic as the Grand Canyon and Lake Tahoe are meant to be experienced in person.

I remember standing near a crystal clear lake high in the Sierras with snow capped peaks in the background, a clear blue sky stretched out above me and Lake Tahoe spread out several thousand feet below me. So overwhelming was the experience that I could hardly speak. My spirit broke out in praise and the predominant thought was, "God! You are just showing off!" And I loved it! I love Him!

Even as I reflect on that awesome memory I identify with the Psalmist when he declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God". On that day in that place creation literally shouted His glory no matter which direction I looked!

God intends for praise and worship to be a three dimensional experience! This Psalm makes that abundantly clear. He wants you to get caught up in the wonder of His world that He created for you. He didn't have to make it as beautiful and amazing as He did - BUT HE DID! All the marvelous varieties of flowers and trees and insects and birds and wildlife so intricately crafted were probably not necessary - EXCEPT TO REFLECT HIS MAJESTY!

If you want to discover how to praise God in another dimension, learn to lose yourself in amazement over this wonderful world He created for your enjoyment!

Gaze on the incredible beauty that surrounds you each day and praise Him for every flower, bird, creature, tree, gentle breeze, and fluffy white cloud you see! Marvel over the detail and the color and the precision built into them. Observe the joy of a squirrel leaping from branch to branch. Or  get caught up in the pure pleasure of a bird soaring high above lifted by the heat rising from the earth.

God provides you countless chances each day to praise Him through the wonder of this world He created! Don't miss those precious opportunities. He puts them there just for you!

Creation shouts the glory of God! Listen with your soul and shout back!

When you are done remember that is just ONE dimension of praise. God has given you two more!

July 5, 2012

"1The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect,  refreshing the soul. 8The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.  The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.  9The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.  ¹⁰ They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. ¹¹ By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. ¹² But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. ¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.  Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19 

What causes you to praise?

That's a pretty good question to consider, isn't it?

Do you know how to answer it?

Let me offer a suggestion how you should answer it. This answer is not original to me, I am taking it from the Psalmist. Who knew how to praise better than he did?

What should inspire you to praise? Here's what caused King David to praise:

The first six verses make it clear that he was thrilled by the creation he saw around him.

Dozens of times during a typical day you are confronted by the amazing beauty of nature. Whether it is a dazzling sunrise, a clear blue sky, the songs of birds serenading you in the morning, the power of a thunderstorm, or a huge harvest moon at night, God's handiwork is hard to ignore.

Will you vow to take notice of how inspiring nature is from now on? Will you begin with your waking moments tomorrow and then consciously enjoy His interacting with your world through out they rest of the day? See how that affects your spirit.

That is reason for praise!

In the next verses, 7 through 11, the Psalmist was thrilled by what God was creating in him.

Unlike many who seem to thing the Bible is restrictive and negative in its tone, the Psalmist felt exactly the opposite. Look at the sense of excitement he expresses for the Word of God. Consider these phrases:

"Life for the soul", wisdom for the simple", "joy for the heart", "giving light to the eyes", "pure", "more precious than gold", and "sweeter than honey".

The stories, the truths, the wisdom, and the practical teachings of the Word of God give deeper insights into the heart and mind of God. Though His Word you can get to know Him intimately and not just from a distance. It is good to know nature but it is far better to get to know His nature!

That is reason for praise!

Finally, verses 12-14 give one more reason to praise, he was thrilled not only by what God had created and what God was creating in him through His Word, but he was also praising God for what He was creating through him. II Corinthians 5:17 declares he is a "new creation".

The Word of God is pure and powerful and active in the life of one who receives it gladly with obedience. As it recreates the person from the inside out, that person begins to have a positive impact on the world around him.

That is reason for praise!

Why do you praise?

You praise Him for what He has created! You praise Him for what He is creating in you! You praise Him for what He is creating through you!

July 4, 2012

"Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to its people." Proverbs 14:34

There is no doubt that our Founders recognized the importance of the Christian faith in the formation of this new Republic. It is also clear they embraced that faith and recommended to all.

Those who say otherwise are simply uninformed or deliberately unwilling to admit it. Consider these several quotes chosen from an impressively large collection of Quotes of the Founding Fathers.


“I rejoice that the religion of Jesus prevails in your parts; I can tell you the same agreeable news from this quarter. Yesterday I returned from Piscataway in East Jersey, where was held a Baptist annual meeting (I think the largest I ever saw) but much more remarkable still for the Divine influences which God was pleased to grant. Fifteen were baptized; a number during the three days professed to experience a change of heart. Christians were remarkably quickened; multitudes appeared.”   James Manning - MEMBER OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS; PRESIDENT OF BROWN UNIVERSITY

“[Governments] could not give the rights essential to happiness… We claim them from a higher source: from the King of kings, and Lord of all the earth.”- John Dickinson - SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION; GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA; GOVERNOR OF DELAWARE; GENERAL IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

“I have sometimes thought there could not be a stronger testimony in favor of religion or against temporal enjoyments, even the most rational and manly, than for men who occupy the most honorable and gainful departments and [who] are rising in reputation and wealth, publicly to declare their unsatisfactoriness by becoming fervent advocates in the cause of Christ; and I wish you may give in your evidence in this way.” - James Madison -  SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION; AUTHOR OF THE FEDERALIST PAPERS; FRAMER OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS; SECRETARY OF STATE; FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED

“Our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New Testament, or the Christian religion.” -  Noah Webster -  REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER; JUDGE; LEGISLATOR; EDUCATOR; “SCHOOLMASTER TO AMERICA”

“The Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children under a free government ought to be instructed. No truth is more evident than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.” -  Noah Webster - REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER; JUDGE; LEGISLATOR; EDUCATOR; “SCHOOLMASTER TO AMERICA

“The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend all to the happiness of man.” – Thomas Jefferson

“As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and His religion as He left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see.” – Benjamin Franklin

I find it an incredible blessing that we had such wise and godly men involved in the establishment of our great nations.

This is something I will celebrate on this 236th Independence Day!

But here is a more important question, "What are you doing to live a godly life?"

Are you exalting your God and your nation by how you behave?

Is yours a life that exalts God?

Do you live in a way that would please God and make your nation a better land?

July 3, 2012

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. ² Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. ³ They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them. ⁴ Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.  ⁵ It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. ⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. ⁷The law of the Lord is perfect,  refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ⁸ The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to  the eyes. ⁹ The fear of the Lord is pure,enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. ¹⁰ They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. ¹¹ By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. ¹² But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. ¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalms 19

Most churches of the conservative ilk desire to foster an atmosphere where praise and worship becomes an essential part of the service. It is important to the pastors and it matters to the people. But let me ask you, can you remember being in a service recently where praise really happened? I mean REALLY happened?

Would you recognize it if it did happen?

Is it possible that it happened and you didn't recognize it?

Perhaps some clarity on the nature of true and sincere praise would be helpful.

Enter Psalm 19.

Who was better at praising than the Psalmist? Who better to gain insights from about how to praise God?

The answer, probably no one! And in Psalm 19 he tells us that powerful praise is a three dimensional experience.

Here's what it looks like:

Praise the Wonder of His World, Vv. 1-6 - "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. ² Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. ³ They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. ⁴ Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. ⁵ It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. ⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth."

For many people, their first experience with praising God is through nature. Perhaps a stunning sunrise or a brilliant sunset. Maybe it is an amazing full moon like tonight's. But, as the Psalm says, "All of nature shouts the glory and greatness of God!" And during all your waking hours it constantly confronts you with the Creaton by way of His creation!

Praise the Wonder of His Word, Vv. 7- 11 - "⁷The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ⁸ The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. ⁹ The fear of the Lord is pure,enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. ¹⁰ They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. ¹¹ By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward."

God's hope and desire is those who are impressed and inspired by His creation will be drawn to the Creator.

The best way to get to know Him more intimately is through His Word, the Bible!

Have you read it lately? Have you ever given it a serious consideration by studying it and by sitting under Biblical teaching and preaching?

Praise the Wonder of His Will, Vv. 12-14 - "¹² But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. ¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." 

A serious sustained study of the Scriptures will change how you think of God and what you think about yourself.

The Bible gives clear insights into the nature of God behind nature. As you come to understand His glory and majesty you also become aware of your own sinfulness and shame. That experience is called conviction. Conviction is a work of the Holy Spirit of God to lead you out of your sin and into a personal faith relationship with God!

God's will (or His greatest desire) is for you to come to Him in true repentance and sorrow for your sins so the Creator can make you a new creation in Christ!

Powerful praise is a three dimensional experience - praising His world, praising His Word, and praising His will.

How can you praise Him better?

July 2, 2012

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine”. Psalm 33:12-19

Where should we look for national security in a post-911 world of terrorists who are developing nuclear weapons? Ours is a world governed by the aggressive use of force, is it realistic to think that trusting God can keep us safe?

Think about the Exodus! Think about the Red Sea! Think about Jericho! Think David and Goliath! Think Gideon and the Midianites. But more recently, consider this:

Numerous miracles were reported during the famous 1967 war. One such story involved a Catholic journalist who was reporting on the front lines during the war. Ernie Miller had personally met this man in Baton Rouge, LA. The journalist was reporting from the Sinai Desert during the 1967 war. The battle had become very intense and there were numerous casualties. At one point an Israeli soldier was rushed into the medical tent, where the journalist was wiring front line information.

The journalist observed that the soldier was severely wounded. In fact he had been shot in the intestinal area, and his intestines were hanging from his body. He knew it was only a matter of time until the man would die. Yet, the man, who was fully conscience, began praying and saying the various names of God in the Hebrew language. As he prayed he began to talk about God’s ability to heal him and to defeat the enemy armies. To the journalist amazement, the man suddenly screamed, and jumped up from the cot. His intestines were back inside his body and the entire area was healed! The man was jumping and screaming, and ran out of the tent praising God.

The journalist told Ernie, “I am a Catholic and I am suppose to believe in miracles but had never seen one. That day, I saw one with my own eyes that was a true miracle!”

This amazing story clearly demonstrates that the “Battle belongs to the Lord!”

Maybe it is just me but it seems the best way to anticipate what we can trust God for in the future is to see what He has done for His people in the past. Since He never changes and is the same "yesterday, today and tomorrow" it seems like making Him the foundation of our national security makes sense! God did a good job of protecting His nation, Israel when they trusted Him. But Israel maintained an army, too.

The big point here is that security comes from the inside out. Like everything else in our world, it is fundamentally a spiritual issue. God may preserve your life or He may choose not to. Christians die in war as pagans do. But we know He always preserves the soul who has trusted Christ for salvation. Have you received His salvation from your sins and entered into an eternal relationship with God? If you have you can live in this assurance:

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91

July 1, 2012

"Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. I will proclaim the Lord’s decree. He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery. "Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." Psalm 2

My last post I shared what freedom isn't. Freedom isn't a matter of having total control. Those who are driven by a desire to have absolute control usually end up out of control.

According to verses 4-6, freedom is found in God Who IS in total control! He is freedom and He instructed the Founders in establishing a free nation and protecting it.

God stands above the rule of man and is not threatened by men who build great armies or possess great power. He chuckles at them. Their arrogance amuses Him.

Romans 13 reminds us that God sets all rulers in place to accomplish His purposes. So, those who vainly challenge Him or curse Him are no threat to Him. They usually end up as victims of their own attempts to oppose Him.

Beginning with Lucifer, and then Adam and Eve, then the Pharaoh and down to the Hitlers, Stalins, Moas, and Castros of the world - many have tried to eliminate God from the earth only to be brought down by their own evil designs.

To find freedom is to lose yourself in God because freedom is primarily a spiritual matter.

Presidents or kings or prime ministers don't give you freedom, because freedom doesn't come from political parties or governments. None of them can rescue you from your spiritual bondange. Only God can do that.

The truth is, there are millions of people in the freest nation in the world who are bound up in sin. And there are those in China and Russia and North Korea who know the freedom of being children of God.

That brings us to the third important fact about freedom found in verses 7-12, freedom happens when you give control to God!

The fundamental freedom when have is this - the freedom to choose who we will serve!

Jesus gave up His freedom and took your bondage in order to make that freedom of choice possible for you!

God, Who is in charge of time and eternity, gave His Son in order to purchase your spiritual freedom. He chose to pay a HUGE price in order to allow you to that choice.

If you are yet to make that choice, think about this. Think about what it is like when God has absolute control over everyone and everything. What would that place be like?

Does the word "Eden" mean anything to you? How about the word "Heaven"?

And then think about another place where God is not allowed and there is continual rebellion against Him. How would a place like that be?

Maybe, "Hell"?

Freedom isn't free and it isn't easy. It will cost you something and it cost Him EVERYTHING! But think about your other option. Think about spending the rest of this life in the spiritual bondage of rebellion against God and then going to eternal bondage when you die.

The Psalmist knew and the Founders knew what freedom isn't - being in total control. They knew what freedom is, a spiritual matter. And they knew when freedom happens, when you give control to God.

Have you found freedom or are you still bound up in tyring to control everything?

June 30, 2012

"Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. I will proclaim the Lord’s decree. He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery. "Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him."  Psalm 2

Psalm 2 gives great insights into freedom, that is why I titled my message for this Sunday "Freedom 101".

First, in verses 1-3, we see what freedom isn't.

Freedom isn't being in total control.

 

Reading the Founders makes it clear they understood one of the greatest obstactles to freedom is the false notions of freedom that arise from the corrupted heart and clouded minds of humans.

The Founding Fathers understood the fallen nature of man and the rebellion that led to that fall. They were very aware they would have to build a system of checks and balances as safeguards against the lust for power and control.

Ingeniously, they came up with three co-equal branches of government and a written Constitution to which they were to constrain themselves. They also designed a republic rather than a pure democracy. It was safer to have have 535 elected officials deciding policy rather than a simple majority of individual citizens. In a democracy, if there are 100,000,000 voters and 50,000,001 of them decide that homosexual marriage should be the law of the land, it would become the law of the land.

Also, they had the foresight to limit the terms of service for elected officials. Presidents serve 4 years, senators who serve 6 years, and representatives who have a 2 year term.

Guided by Divine wisdom, our Founders knew what the Psalmist declares in this Second Psalm, those who are driven by a lust for power and control will end up abusing power and out of control.

As you take time to reflect on your blessings as an American, be sure and thank God for the Founders who so carefully and humbly built this great government.

And, while you are searching your heart, ask the Spirit to reveal any area that is not under His control and surrender it to Him.