Tuesday, January 31, 2012

February 1, 2012

“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?
















Monday, January 30, 2012

January 31, 2012

“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

“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?

Saturday, January 28, 2012

January 29, 2012

“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 spiritual act 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

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. 2 Every 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide 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. 6 If 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. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By 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. 10 If 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. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No 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. 16 You 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?
























Friday, January 27, 2012

January 27, 2012

“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?













Wednesday, January 25, 2012

January 26, 2012

“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, "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."
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!










January 25, 2012

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


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?















































Tuesday, January 24, 2012

January 24, 2012

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?

Sunday, January 22, 2012

January 23, 2012

"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


 
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.