May 29, 2011

“The Foundations of Freedom”

Psalms 11:3 -  "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

These are but three stories of the more than 2.5 millions who have died in wars. What motivates these brave men and women to put themselves in harms way? What is there about America that young people volunteer to go to foreign land to fight for their nation?

ONE WORD – FREEDOM!

The American spirit is portrayed in Patrick Henry declaring, “Give me liberty or give me death!

It was resident in the hearts and minds of the Founding Fathers who pledged to one another “their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor in order to create a nation God could bless its inhabitants with freedom. And they won freedom but most of them lost their fortunes and died penniless – But Free!

True freedom never comes apart from God. Our Forefathers understood and acknowledged that vital truth. That is why when they establish this land they made sure that America was build on solid foundations from the Word of God.

As you read through these principles I want you to do a couple of things. First, try to capture the heart and mind of the Founding Fathers and ask yourself where we might be as a nation if we still had leaders like them. Second, compare this standard of excellence and prescription for greatness to the standards and expectations of our day.

I. THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FREEDOM.
John 8:32 - "And ye shall know the Truth, and the truth shall make you free."

It is important to know that we are living for the same principles that millions of brave Americans have and are – dying for. And what better day to do that than Memorial Day?

A clear understanding of the truths of life, morality, honesty and social order are best found in the Holy Bible. The teachings of no other document more plainly describe the principles upon which nations build a civilized society.

These Biblical principles have come to be known as the Judeo-Christian Ethic. And although they are numerous and found throughout the Bible, we will look at seven of the most basic ones that have undoubtedly served as foundations for our great nation.

SEVEN PRINCIPLES:


1. THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN 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.”

Exodus 20:13 - "You shall not murder"

Matthew 22:39 - "...You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Our very Founding Document guarantees every person: "the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness..."

2. THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY.

Genesis 2:23-24 - The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

God instituted the traditional family defined as one man and one woman. If this marriage is blessed with children, those children have the rights to a godly and secure home with a Dad and Mom.

3. THE NATIONAL WORK ETHIC.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 - “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “Anyone who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

Meaning that people should work for their own livelihood and the welfare of others. We are not to be dependant upon the government for our livelihood.

 4. THE RIGHT TO A GOD-CENTERED EDUCATION.

Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Our forefathers knew this was right so they established institutions like Harvard...Princeton....Yale as religious schools of learning. This does not mean that all school should be Christian, but it does mean the recognition of the Creator God.

5. THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT.

Genesis 12:1-3 – “The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Meaning that a Nation under God was a nation which was especially blessed above all the nations of the world. The Founders believed that God would bless the nation that would serve and obey Him.


6. THE PRINCIPLE OF COMMON DECENCY.

Matthew 22:39 - "And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Americans have been known as a people who do the decent thing. Our Statue of Liberty has upon it the Words of Emma Lazarus:

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

7. OUR PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY TO GOD.

Hebrews 9:27 – “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment”

The Bible clearly teaches that people and nations are accountable to God! He Who blesses also judges!

It is said that the brilliant statesman Daniel Webster was once asked,

"Mr. Webster what greatest thought ever passed your mind?" To which he replied, "My personal accountability to God."

The Founding Fathers knew that these and other principles of Scripture are essential for the preservation of our national freedom. Ask yourself where we would be today as a nation if we still honored and observed these prinicples.

II. THE FATHER OF FREEDOM

“Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan.” Leviticus 25:10

This phrase, “proclaim liberty throughout the land” is inscribed on the Liberty Bell at Freedom Hall in Philadelphia.

Upon our coinage is stamped these words: "E PLURIBUS UNUM" It is Latin meaning: "From Many -- One" America is nation of ones. For the Land to be free, the people must be free!

Our Constitution declares we were established:

"To secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and those who would follow."

Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg address declared our nation to have been, "conceived in liberty".

“Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.” Alexis de Tocqueville. He also said, “America is great because America is good. When America ceases to be good she will cease to be great.”

I would substitute the word “godly” for the word “good” and whole-heartedly agree.

When Francis Scott Key wrote the second verse to the Star-Spangled Banner, he knew what he was writing.

"Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand,

Between their loved homes and wars desolation;

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land,

Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when because it is just;

And this be our motto: "In God is our Trust."

And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave.

O’re the land of the free and the home of the brave."

That is the message of the Gospel. Jesus told us the reason He had come into the world to set men free. Certainly Christ is greatest Freedom Fighter this world has ever known!

Galatians 5:1 - "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free..."


Romans 8:2  - "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from law of sin and death."

Have you been set free by Christ? You can make your eternal proclamation of Freedom today. Give your heart to Jesus and let him become your Savior and Lord. Allow Him to Set You Free!


FREE FROM SIN

Have you been saved from your sins? Have you been sanctified and delivered from sin?

FREE IN THE SPIRIT

Live, love and lavish in the power and freedom of being Spriti-controlled.

FREE FROM SELF

The worst sort of bondage is the self-inflicted bondage from our sinful deception and desires.


Do You Know Freedom From Sin?


Do You Know Freedon In the Spirit?


The Foundations of Freedom Are From God’s Word Because Freedom Is From God


Freedom Is Worth Dying For Because It Is Worth Living For

"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

It is obvious by now that the timeless foundations upon which our beloved freedom has been built is now under direct attack by the very institutions that the Founding Fathers intended to protect them. Our rights and freedoms are eroding on nearly a daily basis. Is it too lake to stop the disintigration of these principles before the foundation crumbles under our feet?

There ARE some things that you can do to firm up the foundation of your freedoms, but they must soon and they must be done daily. Will you join me in the task of restoring our moral values that made us the greatest nations on the face of the earth!

HERE’S WHAT TO DO:


FIND FREEDOM


FOSTER FREEDOM


FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

HOW?
Develop a Strong Faith  - Live these principles every day!

Develop a Strong Family - Instill these truths in your children.

Strengthen Your Finances - Work to get debt-free and save so you can be financially free - able to help others.

Strengthen Your Fellowship - Serve, pray, and support your local church so the Spirit has freedom there.

Freedom is fragile and it isn't free. It is rooted and grounded in divine truth! Love His truth! Live in His truth. Lobby for His truth. And, if necessary, die defending it!

May 28, 2011

"For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.  If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly."  I Timothy 4:4-7

This Sunday I will be sharing the seven principles that formed the foundation for our freedom as Americans. In a later post I will be commenting on those "big seven". But this morning I am wanting to focus on the idea of principles. In my thinking, the words "foundation" and "principle" are pretty much synonymous. Principles are bedrock truths upon which you can build - a life, a family, a church, a nation, a business, or an eternity. Principles will translate into eternity because they ARE timeless and unchanging.

The greatness of America is directly attributable to the greatness of its principles. But those principles are only helpful when they are implemented. When they are disregarded they lose their impact.

If you love freedom you would do well to understand and appreciate the importance of principles because freedom is built on truth (Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free") and principles define those truths.

Several years ago when Rick Warren wrote his best-selling book (30 million copies) "The Purpose Driven Life" he illustrated the power of purpose in your life and no one can dispute how important it is to have a compelling purpose. But purpose will lose its power in short order if it is not paired with proper principles. Your purpose declares why you live but your principles will determine how you pursue that purpose. A purpose without principles becomes pragmatic.

Purpose is the "what" for your life while principles are the "why". Purpose is the force of your life while principles are the course for your life. Purpose is the reason for living and principles are the rules for life.

When someone asked Jesus about the purpose for life, He answered by linking a principle with the purpose when He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your mind and all your strength. And the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself."

According to Jesus, the purpose for life is pleasing God and the principle by which to fulfill it is love. So, if you are going to live a life that is pleasing to God you must make sure your principles match that purpose.

Here is the bottom line: When your principles match your purpose the result can be holiness but when your principles don't support your purpose you have hypocrisy.

Do you know the purpose for your life?

Can you articulate the principles you live by?

How well do they match up?

When they match two powerful things result: true faith and true freedom!

May 27, 2011

Rarely do I post articles by other writers but I came across this today and was very impressed by it for three reasons: (1) It was written by a young pastor, (2) It was written by a young pastor from a non-holiness tradition, (3) His church is right across the street from Michigan State University so he is challenging college kids with this message. See what you think!

I have a growing concern that younger evangelicals do not take seriously the Bible’s call to personal holiness. We are too at peace with worldliness in our homes, too at ease with sin in our lives, too content with spiritual immaturity in our churches.

God’s mission in the world is to save a people and sanctify his people. Christ died “that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Cor. 5:15) We were chosen in Christ “before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” (Eph. 1:4) Christ “loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her…so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:25-27) Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14)

J.C. Ryle, the Bishop of Liverpool from the nineteenth century, was right: “We must be holy, because this is one grand end and purpose for which Christ came into the world…Jesus is a complete Savior. He does not merely take away the guilt of a believer’s sin, He does more—He breaks its power (1 Pet. 1:2; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 12:10).” My fear is that as we rightly celebrate, and in some quarters rediscover, all that Christ saved us from, we will give little thought and make little effort concerning all that Christ saved us to.

The pursuit of holiness does not occupy the place in our hearts that it should. There are several reasons for the relative neglect of personal holiness.

1) It was too common in the past to equate holiness with abstaining from a few taboo practices like drinking, smoking, and dancing. In a previous generation, godliness meant you didn’t do these things. Younger generations have little patience for these sorts of rules. They either don’t agree with the rules, or they figure they’ve got those bases covered so there’s not much else to worry about.

2) Related to the first reason is the fear that a passion for holiness makes you some kind of weird holdover from a bygone era. As soon as you talk about swearing or movies or music or modesty or sexual purity or self-control or just plain godliness, people get nervous that others will call them legalistic, or worse, a fundamentalist.

3) We live in a culture of cool, and to be cool means you differentiate yourself from others. That has often meant pushing the boundaries with language, with entertainment, with alcohol, and with fashion. Of course, holiness is much more than these things, but in an effort to be hip, many Christians have figured holiness has nothing to do with these things. They’ve willingly embraced Christian freedom, but they’ve not earnestly pursued Christian virtue.

4) Among more liberal Christians, a radical pursuit of holiness is often suspect because any talk of right and wrong behaviors feels judgmental and intolerant. If we are to be “without spot or blemish,” it necessitates we distinguish between what sort of attitudes, actions, and habits are pure and what sort are impure. This sort of sorting gets you in trouble with the pluralism police.

5) Among conservative Christians, there is sometimes the mistaken notion that if we are truly gospel-centered, we won’t talk about rules or imperatives or exhort Christians to moral exertion. To be sure, there is a rash of moralistic teaching out there, but sometimes we go to the other extreme and act as if the Bible shouldn’t advise our morals at all. We are so eager not to confuse indicatives and imperatives (a point I’ve made many times) that if we’re not careful, we’ll drop the imperatives altogether. We’ve been afraid of words like diligence, effort, and obedience. We’ve downplayed verses that call us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12) or command us to cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit (2 Cor. 7:1) or warn against even a hint of immorality among the saints (Eph. 5:3).

I find it telling that you can find plenty of young Christians today who are really excited about justice and serving in their communities. You can find Christians fired up about evangelism. You can find lots of Generation XYZ believers passionate about precise theology. Yes and amen to all that. But where are the Christians known for their zeal for holiness? Where is the corresponding passion for honoring Christ with Christlike obedience? We need more Christian leaders on our campuses, in our cities, in our seminaries who will say with Paul, “Look carefully then how you walk.” (Eph. 5:15)

When is the last time we took a verse like Ephesians 5:4—“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving”—when is the last time we took a verse like this and even began to try to apply this to our conversation, our joking, our movies, our YouTube clips, our TV and commercial intake? The fact of the matter is if you read through the New Testament epistles, you will find very few explicit commands that tell us to evangelize and very few explicit commands that tell us to take care of the poor in our communities, but there are dozens and dozens of verses in the New Testament that enjoin us, in one way or another, to be holy as God is holy (e.g., 1 Peter 1:13-16).

I do not wish to denigrate any of the other biblical emphases capturing the attention of younger evangelicals. But I believe God would have us be much more careful with our eyes, our ears, and our mouth. It’s not pietism, legalism, or fundamentalism to take holiness seriously. It’s the way of all those who have been called to a holy calling by a holy God.

May 26, 2011

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" Matthew 25:23

One of the big myths of Christian growth and church growth result from spectacular manifestations or major breakthroughs. Many of us tend to overlook the importance and the impact of small things, especially small things done consistently over time.

Remember the Challenger disaster? The official conclusion on the cause of that tragedy was the failure of a few small and inexpensive "o" rings. Just a couple of little things but one big failure.

I'm sure you recall the Columbia space shuttle tragedy. It was caused by a few missing tiles from the heat shield designed to protect the craft from the intense heat during re-entry to the earth's atmosphere. Again, small tiles but huge impact.

It would be hard to completely assess the impact the automobile has had on the modern American lifestyle. But Henry Ford, to whom we owe a great deal, made one small mistake in the design of his first Model-T - he forgot to build reverse into it. Correcting that seemingly minor error launched the ever-expanding love affair between Americans and their cars.

Those are just three examples of small things that made huge, even historic differences. So, why would spiritual growth be different? Should you sit around waiting for big things to happen? It that how it happens? Is that what you should expect? Or should you run around to gospel concerts and attend charismatic conferences until you experience and amazing breakthrough? Is that how it happens?

Not usually. It almost always happens one small victory at a time. A new discipline like starting a prayer journal, or finding a prayer partner can make a big difference. A new commitment to a ministry or conquering a negative attitude show significant growth. When you replace a bad habit with a good behavior, that's real growth. And the result of winning those little daily battles is often that big breakthrough others are chasing!

What is the growth point in your life right now? What little victory could you win that would make the biggest difference? When will you stop wishing and start winning?

May 25, 2011

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

I just finished watching the American Idol final two show. Both Scotty and Lauren did very well, especially under the pressure of the night and being in the much larger theater. They both sang three songs, both did all three like pros but Lauren got to go last and she finished well! How can you not like a country song that honors your mother? That is like slapping a big hunk of vanilla ice cream atop your fresh from the oven apple pie? Lauren may have put herself over the top with that song because people do tend to remember how you finished.

Finishing well is crucial to whatever you are doing. In Hebrews 12:1-2 we are reminded of the importance of finishing well in the spiritual race.

It is good to run fast. Running fast in a race is always a great idea! Running fast in the spiritual race is probably because you have rid yourself of all extra weight and hinderances. That is smart and more importantly, it is spiritually necessary. Those who run fact are the ones who normally win the race.

Just as running fast is an advantage, so is running far. The spiritual race is a marathon and not a sprint, so the farther you run the better. Running fast and running far gives you a definite edge in the race you are running. The most important thing though, is to run all the way to the end of the race.

That brings us to the most important truth about running a race - running fast, running far AND finishing the race! When you run a race plan to always finish well. Always run through the tape! Lunge toward the line! Running fast might get you some attention. Running far might get you and advantage, but finishing well - like Lauren Alaina - will get you remembered! And like her, it will get you into the winner's circle!

So, as you are running your spiritual race, run fast and run far, but make sure you run to the finish! Keep your focus fixed on Jesus at the finish line and run hard toward Him!

How are you running? Are you staying focused on Jesus? What are you doing to make sure you finish?

May 24, 2011

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."   Hebrews 12:1-2

As you know, Memorial Day week-end is a huge racing week-end.

In Charlotte, NC the entire week is designated "Speed Week" with a variety of race activities leading up to the Charlotte 600.

Several hundred miles north in Indianapolis, at the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, they will be running the Indy 500.

These highly skilled drivers will be running their finely tuned machines side by side and bumper to bumper at break-neck speeds for two or three hundred miles hoping to entertain thousands of fans looking on in person and watching on television - AND oh, hoping to win the races.

The 43 drivers in Charlotte and the 33 racers in Indy remember why they are racing. They are driving to win!

In this 12th chapter of Hebrews we are reminded that we are also running a race. Here are several important things he wants us to remember about our race during this Memorial week:

Remember Who's Running

You are running the race of faith and faithfulness. The Christian life is compared to a race several times in Scripture and with good reason - a Christian progresses one step at a time. As a Christian you must learn to pace yourself and run with purpose and determination.

Remember Who's Watching

This race you are running is a relay race. You have been handed the baton in order to advance the Faith through another generation. Those who handed it to you are cheering you on! Some are rooting from along the sidelines while many others, including all those heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11, are looking on from the celestial bleachers. They set the example of how to run well and they set the pace and now it is up to you not to disappoint them. Will they have run in vain or will you sprint to the finish? What will you say to Moses if you drop the baton? How will you explain to Noah if you stumble and fall? Will you have an answer for Abraham if your faith fails short of the finish line? Run well because someone else is waiting to receive your baton.

Remember What Slows You Down

When an Indy car pulls out onto the speedway to compete in the most famous race of all, does he pull a camper behind him? Does a stock car fill the trunk with luggage as he leaves pit row at the beginning of the race? Of course not? Does a world class marathoner run wearing combat boots? Niether should you compete in this most important race carrying any extra weight. Sin is what weighs you down and slows you down and saps your strength. Run to win! Run without sin!

Remember Where You Are Running

Every champion racer knows that he is racing to win and he knows where the finish line is. It is that coveted destination that he is intent upon. His focus is upon finishing by crossing that line as quickly as he can. You don't win a 600 mile race by completing 590 miles. The Indy 495 means nothing! Get rid of all that weighs you down and run hard for the finish. Then you can hand off the baton to a new generation of runners! That is what champions do! It is was Christians do!

Remember you are in a race!

Remember who is rooting for you to win!

Remember to run well, without sin!

Remember you must cross the finish line to get the prize!

May 23, 2011

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is true worship. Do not conform 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

Holiness happens through sanctification. After you consecrate yourself unto God, repent of your sin, and renounce your sinfulness, God cleanses away your sin nature by the blood of Jesus. Once you have been made clean you can receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. When that happens, as Romans 12:1-2 tells you, a fundamental tranformation takes place.

God is in the tranformation business. You and I may settle for reformation but He doesn't. Perhaps that is because reformation is the best we can do - sometimes, for brief periods. But He transforms because He can and because we need it and because we can't.

Consider some of the transformational work He does in you:

SANCTIFICATION CHANGES YOUR HEART

"this is true worship"   At the heart of your sin problem is your heart - corrupted and degenerate. It is "deceitful above all things and desparately wicked, who can know it?"  The heart of the deceit is the desire to be God and that desire makes it tough to worship the true One. That is a problem. A big problem that needs to be changed. Not reformation change but transformation change. Sanctification does that fundamental transformation of your nature.

SANCTIFICATION CHANGES YOUR HEAD

"tranformed by the renewing of your mind"  It is hard to do right when you are thinking wrong. It is hard to honor God when your thoughts are ungodly. Trying to reform what you think about only causes you to think about it more. What you need is a renewed mind, a mind transformed by the power of God - a sanctified mind.

SANCTIFICATION CHANGES YOUR HABITS

"do not conform to the pattern of this world" When your heart is transformed and how you think is transformed it positively affects your habits. Behavior is the product of desires and decisions so when both of those are fundamentally changed by the power of God's Spirit, old habits are replaced by new disciplines. Those unproductive and counterproductive behaviors no longer control you. You are sanctified.

 SANCTIFICATION CHANGES YOUR HOPES

In your own strength with a sinful heart, corrupted mind, and harmful habits what is there to hope for? Reformation? Maybe. But that is more hoping than hope. However, if you were to allow God to sanctify you wholly, heart, head and habits then you would have true hope for the future! And your future can be filled with hope not hoping!

Holiness is wholeness! It transforms you spiritually, mentally, emotionally and behaviorally! As St. Paul declares, "the old is passed away and all things became new".

So, how about you? Will you settle for trying to make yourself into a more tolerable sinner or will you consecrate yourself to God for His sanctification? In view of God's mercies, it is your reasonable service!