Maxims in Mind

Jesus is My Eternal Father

2008-12-15T10:50:00.007-06:00

Isaiah 9:6 says that a Son will be given to us, and one of His names will be "ad avi" or "Eternal Father". Many people dispute this title as not really applying to Jesus. How could Jesus be our "Eternal Father"? Jesus is the begotten Son of God. Many people and religions use this 'lower' image of Jesus to dispute His co-deity and co-equality with Jehovah God. If Jesus of Nazareth is our "Eternal Father", then He is God. To worship Jesus is to worship the true God. To not worship Jesus is to not worship the true God. Try telling that to 90% of the world's religions! That is why they deny that Jesus Christ is our "Eternal Father".

While you can try to explain it away by saying Jesus was the 'human face' of Almighty God, to do so is to deny the Holy Words of Jesus himself. Jesus Christ said "I and the Father are one", (John 10:30). Jesus told an enquiring disciple, "if you have seen me, you have seen the Father...I am in the Father and the Father is in me"(John 14). John seemed to have the clearest idea of who Jesus was of all the disciples. He described Jesus as the Living Word. He described Jesus as the Son of God, whom he had known and touched. The Gospel of John upholds the Deity of Jesus of Nazereth as the 'Son of God'. But when John was alone on the Isle of Patmos, he was caught up in the Spirit for a heavenly vision. In Revelation 1 he hears a voice. Revelation 1:8 says “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” John turns around and sees the Son of Man as a most terrifying image, so much so that he falls at the feet of Jesus, as if he was dead. Here are his own words in Revelation 1:17-18, "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades."
The voice of Jesus is the voice John heard before he turned around. He heard Jesus declare that "I am the Alpha and the Omega". He hears Him say "I am the Almighty". The image that caused John to faint as though he were dead was the image of Jesus Christ as GOD!
John had already seen the transfigured Jesus. Now John sees Jesus as He really is-our God, our "Eternal Father". Jesus is indeed our God. When we pray to Jesus, we are praying to God. When we pray to God we are praying to Jesus. "I and the Father are ONE!"

For anyone to think they are close to God without knowing Jesus Christ is to be deceived by the great deceiver. To think all the religions of the world pray to the same God is to fail to see Jesus Christ as He truly is, our "Eternal Father". That is why the words of Jesus cause so much scorn, and why so many deny "I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me". Jesus is the physical manifestation of our 'Abba Father'. There is no way to know God without knowing Jesus Christ!

We all love to look at babies. They are so innocent and non-threatening. Baby Jesus is beloved by the world, Christians and non-Christians alike. But the world needs to see Jesus as He really is. He is God. He is our Eternal Father. He is the ONLY way to eternal life in Heaven. He will judge the world!

Jesus indeed is the loving face of our Eternal Father, but one day we will see Him as He is, and we will fall at His feet, for we will see Him as our Jehovah God, our Eternal Father.

Anyone Need Superman?

2008-12-11T06:11:00.006-06:00

This morning God brought Psalms 18 to my mind. A verse that has been a source of strength for many years is Psalm 18:29:

For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God--his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?-- (Psa 18:27-31 ESV)

Sometimes I can relate to David on the run, the one hiding in caves, the one whom all his friends and family have rejected and worse, forgotten. I can imagine those moments of wondering and wandering, not knowing what God is doing and perhaps not doing. We have those moments in our life when the path doesn't seem so clear, and may even seem to be lost.

Why was David the apple of God's eye? Because of his heart. David knew that God saves a humble people. Only when we continue to look upon God will He light our lamp. When the darkness overwhelms us, look to God and wait. Even though your candle is smoldering and appears to be out, still there is a flame waiting to burst forth.

God enables us all to be Superman! For by God we will run through any troop, for by God we will leap over any wall! God's way, no matter how dark it may seem, is always perfect! His truth will always ring true!

Do you want to be Superman? Then humble yourself before God and know Him as LORD! There is no other rock for your life than the LORD God! The only thing which kept David going through all those years of darkness and hiding, was his confidence in God being his ROCK! God was David's shield. God was there every step of the way.

Is your way darkened by trials and difficulties. Is this economy causing you to worry and fret? Humble your heart before Him, take refuge in God as the LORD of your life. He will light your way. He will make you like Superman. His way is perfect.

We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ God, We’re Celebrities and Rock Stars!

2008-11-24T15:43:00.008-06:00

News Report of Bible Illuminated

I enjoy relaxing on Mondays, my supposed day off. I like to read the various news feeds I have, and one led me to look into a new Bible which has been recently published. It got my blood boiling just a bit, especially when I heard a lady in this video clip say something like “There is nothing wrong with using people in the media and entertainment world as role models. They do a lot of good!” Sad to say, most people think like her. Why else would we use celebrities and rock stars to sell God and His Word? "Bible Illuminated: The Book" is a new Bible that contains "striking, provocative, contemporary photographs" of world news as well as celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Bono, according to illuminatedworld.com.

On top of this I was greeted by my favorite sliced and diced celebrity in the Kansas City Star this morning. In a little blurb in the FYI section, Joan Rivers is quoted as saying: “I wish I could say I was a religious person,” she said. “I believe in God, but I also think God dropped you on Earth and said, ‘I’m giving you brains, you can think. I’ve given you all these things now go and do it.’ I don’t believe that God’s looking down on each of us and saying, ‘Oh, Joan has gained 4 pounds, I’m going to let her lose weight today.’ No, he’s saying, ‘I gave you a brain, now get out of my face.’" (Clearly God had nothing to do with your face-that is now totally man-made)

So I wanted to find out, what do Celebrities and Rock Stars (our role models according to some) have to say about God? In fact, since Angelina is featured in “Bible Illuminated”, what does she believe?

When Angelina Jolie was asked “Is there a God?” by “The Onion”, she replied: “Hmm... For some people, I hope so, for them. For the people who believe in it, I hope so. There doesn't need to be a God for me. There's something in people that's spiritual, that's godlike. I don't feel like doing things just because people say things, but I also don't really know if it's better to just not believe in anything, either.”

So Angelina doesn’t need a God! Sounds like a great role model for selling God’s Word!

God According to Celebrities and Rock Stars

Here are just a few more samples of ‘God according to Celebrities and Rock Stars’:

When asked by the Onion “Is there a God?” Trey Anastasio (sings and plays guitar in rock band Phish): “[Pauses.] I should have had a quick, witty answer to that question, but I missed my window. I'll say... I don't know if there's a God.”

Onion: … People look for the solution to life's issues through celebrities and rock stars. (I know that is where I look!-mudpreacher)

Trey Anastasio: That's the most bizarre thing I've ever heard in my life, that anyone would... Did you ever see the episode of The Simpsons where Lisa becomes a vegetarian? She tells Homer about how she met Paul and Linda McCartney, and he says, "Rock stars. Is there anything they don't know?" I think that really sums it up. If there is a God, He's definitely a rock star. (Oh No! Now the Simpson's are the authorities! Are they our role models too?)

Martha Plimpton's (remember Goonies?): God exists, and He lives in all the little salt particles in children's tears all over Africa. (That is so cute, and touching. Imagine, a God of salt! Remember Lot’s wife? Maybe she turned into Martha’s god.)

Two years later the Onion asked some more “stars” (The Onion in 2002):

John Leguizamo (actor): Yeah, but there's not just one God. There's a whole lot of gods, because one God couldn't have possibly made so many mistakes all by Himself. This had to be done by committee. (Now God makes mistakes, and with so many mistakes, he must be a whole bunch of gods.)

Steven Wright: Ahhh... You'll have to ask Jesus. (The mudpreacher actually likes this answer, because Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me)

Chris Matthews (hosts Hardball With Chris Matthews every weeknight on MSNBC) Yes. In 1978, I was in a plane situation, flying in a plane without air pressure. I'd never been in a situation where the air was disappearing from the cabin, where you had to put the mask on, and I was scared to death. I didn't know whether I could get air, and I remember putting on the oxygen mask—scared to death that it wouldn't work—and at that moment, I imagined God. He was a guy with a beard, Jewish probably, although not overly ethnic, from 2,000 years ago. I imagine Jesus as God. That's my only response to that question. (I am so glad to know that God revealed himself to Chris. I am disappointed that he didn’t see for sure that God is Jewish. It makes sense though, since Jesus was Jewish.)

Bill Maher (From a June 07, 2006 article titled Bill Maher takes on Religion in New Documentary in SlashFilm): "I'm not an atheist. There's a really big difference between an atheist and someone who just doesn't believe in religion. Religion to me is a bureaucracy between man and God that I don't need. But I'm not an atheist, no." I believe there's some force. If you want to call it God... I don't believe God is a single parent who writes books. I think that the people who think God wrote a book called The Bible are just childish. Religion is so childish. What they're fighting about in the Middle East, it's so childish. These myths, these silly little stories that they believe in fundamentally, that they take over this little space in Jerusalem where one guy flew up to heaven? No, no, this guy performed a sacrifice here a thousand million years ago. It's like, "Who cares? What does that have to do with spirituality, where you're really trying to get, as a human being and as a soul moving in the universe?" But I do believe in a God, yes." (Excuse me, but I need a translator to figure this comment out)

Jack Nicholson: (1992 interview in Vanity Fair) "I don't believe in God now," but he added that "I can still work up an envy for someone who has a faith. I can see how that could be a deeply soothing experience." (Jack has a soft side after all! Let's pray he softens further until he comes to Jesus!)

Woody Allen: "If it turns out that there is a God, I don't think that he's evil. But the worst that you can say about him is that basically he's an underachiever." (It would be a scary thing to see the world through this man’s eyes) "I do not believe in an afterlife, although I am bringing a change of underwear." (Cute, but a change of underwear won’t help where you are going)

Carrie Fisher: "I love the idea of God, but it's not stylistically in keeping with the way I function. I would describe myself as an enthusiastic agnostic who would be happy to be shown that there is a God. I can see that people who believe in God are happier. My brother is. My dad is, too. But I doubt." as recorded by Jon Winokur, editor, in The Portable Curmudgeon Redux, 1992, p. 302. (Does she mean that God does not go with her shoes?)

Julianne Moore (Actor's Studio December 22, 2002): The host asked (paraphrased) "What would you say to God at the pearly gates?" Moore answered (not paraphrased) "Wow, I was wrong, you really do exist." (Sorry Julianne, but you will never even get close to the pearly gates)

Mira Sorvino: According to an interview in the August 15-17, 1997 issue of USA Weekend, when Sorvino was little girl, she was horrified after learning about the genocide perpetrated by Idi Amin in Uganda in the 1970s. When USA Weekend asked about her reaction to these horrors, Sorvino said, "I couldn't believe a conscientious God would let so many people get killed. These things blew my mind. In a way, I couldn't understand the world." (Boo-Hoo, God gets blamed for so many things that we don’t understand)

Robert Redford (Playboy magazine, November 2007): Problems can't be solved with one way of thinking. If anything is my guide, nature is. That's where my spirituality is. I don't believe in organized religion, because I don't believe people should be organized in how they think, in what they believe. That has never been driven home as hard as with this administration. When somebody thinks God speaks to him, you've got trouble. If God is speaking to the president, he's speaking with a forked tongue, because the behavior of this administration doesn't seem very godlike or spiritual. (Nature speaks the truth and God speaks with a forked tongue…Have you ever read about the serpent and Adam and Eve? I think you have it backward!)

Phyllis Diller (Nov 2001) How does she {Phyllis Diller} visualize the hereafter? "There isn't any, you dingbat!" she replies as she lets out that legendary, raucous laugh: Ahhha... Ha... Ha... Ha... Haaah. This is it, baby! Enjoy, carefully! Religion is such a medieval idea. Don't get me started. I have thought about every facet of religion and I can't buy any of it." She pauses and with a subtle smile continues; "So God made man in His own image? It's just the other way around. Man made God in his own image." (Sad but true, most people make a god that fits their ‘style’, one who goes with their own way of living!)

Cyndi Lauper: God has more important things to worry about than who I sleep with. (I don’t even know how to respond to this)

Ellen DeGeneres: In the beginning there was nothing. God said, 'Let there be light!' And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a whole lot better. (Ellen, is everything a joke to you? Better get all your laughs now, because there will be no stand-up comedy in Hell!)

Jennifer Aniston: I don't have a religion. I believe in a God. I don't know what it looks like but it's MY god. My own interpretation of the supernatural. (Finally an honest celebrity that admits she has made her own god!)

And then there are those who think they are God: Voice Of God Revealed To Be Cheney On Intercom “In a transcript of an intercom exchange recorded in March 2002, a voice positively identified as the vice president's identifies himself as "the Lord thy God" and promotes the invasion of Iraq, as well as the use of torture in prisoner interrogations.” (I believe this was a spoof, but it is very funny. It could explain some things)

I find all of these comments amusing, but unsettling, because so many people do indeed look up to these people as role models. Our society is heavily influenced by the entertainment world. I laugh when I think of what the True Creator God is thinking. He reveals His thoughts to us in Psalms 2. The Message Translation is quite descriptive:

Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples? Earth-leaders push for position, Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks, The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers: "Let's get free of God! Cast loose from Messiah!" Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing. At first he's amused at their presumption; Then he gets good and angry. Furiously, he shuts them up: "Don't you know there's a King in Zion? A coronation banquet Is spread for him on the holy summit." Psalms 2:1-6 (MSG)

One day (soon I believe) all the gossip rags will be kindling for those who denied Jesus Christ, and calloused their heart to the truth of their Creator God. They worshipped a god of their own making, and experienced the truth of Romans 1:25-26 (MSG):

“And all this because they traded the true God for a fake god, and worshiped the god they made instead of the God who made them—the God we bless, the God who blesses us. Oh, yes! Worse followed. Refusing to know God, they soon didn't know how to be human either—women didn't know how to be women, men didn't know how to be men.”

God reveals in Romans 1 the result of making and worshipping your own god-depravity, lack of shame, loss of moral values. Isn’t that everything Hollywood and Rock and Roll stands for? Anything goes-without apology, without shame.

Well, at least I kind of like Bono being pictured in the Bible. In Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas (Riverhead Books), he mentioned his belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Assayas questions that:

Assayas: That's a great idea, no denying it. Such great hope is wonderful, even though it's close to lunacy, in my view. Christ has his rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God, isn't that farfetched?

Bono: No, it's not farfetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says: No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: "I'm the Messiah." I'm saying: "I am God incarnate." And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet, we can take. You're a bit eccentric. We've had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don't mention the "M" word! Because, you know, we're gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no. I know you're expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he's gonna keep saying this. So what you're left with is: either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. I mean, we're talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson. This man was like some of the people we've been talking about earlier. This man was strapping himself to a bomb, and had "King of the Jews" on his head, and, as they were putting him up on the Cross, was going: OK, martyrdom, here we go. Bring on the pain! I can take it. I'm not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that's farfetched …

Bono, you hit it right on the head. This world is hurtling through space toward a head-on collision with the truth of God Word. That’s why the time has come to heed the warning from God’s Word:

Psalms 2:10-12 (MSG) “So, rebel-kings, use your heads; Upstart-judges, learn your lesson: Worship God in adoring embrace, Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah! Your very lives are in danger, you know; His anger is about to explode, But if you make a run for God—you won't regret it!”

Jonah Ate Fish at Thanksgiving

2008-11-24T05:10:00.003-06:00

In 1983 I took a trip to Turkey sponsored by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, OPIC. It was a government sponsored trip to seek investment opportunities in Turkey. My last night I spent in Izmir having dinner with my interpreter and a business owner interested in doing business in America. They ordered for me and out came this huge Black Sea Bass (whole) sitting upright on a potato concoction. I ate the fish, but that night I got deathly sick, so sick I missed my early morning flight to Istanbul. That fish gave me nightmares for several months, because it meant that I had to rent a car and drive 600 kilometers through at least three military check points, in unfamiliar towns and then into Istanbul late at night trying to find a place to stay. It was an exciting and terrifying experience to say the least. That is why I don’t like eating whole fish to this day. The book of Jonah relates a story that you are all familiar with, of a man who tried to run away from God’s will, and ended up being swallowed by a giant fish. Now if I had problems eating fish after my experience, I can just see Jonah being afraid to get on a ship or even go near the ocean or a lake. Every time he would hear a splash I can just see him running for cover. But when I read what he wrote in chapter 2, I know that isn’t the case. In fact from the Psalm he wrote, I know that every Thanksgiving, Jonah would eat the biggest fish he could get.

Jonah says in his Psalm recorded in chapter 2: “But I with the voice of thanksgiving will I sacrifice to you” This he prayed while still in the fishes belly.

The Hebrew word for Thanksgiving has in view a Choir Singing Tremendous Songs of Praise, accompanied by a huge orchestra. People with SHOUTS of Jubilation!

The word depicts worship by the presentation of songs of thanksgiving and praise that extolled the mighty wonders of the Lord (Neh. 12:27; Ps. 26:7; Isa. 51:3). It refers to shouts of jubilation and thanksgiving (Ps. 42:4[5]; Jon. 2:9[10]). It describes the purpose of the choirs used by Nehemiah, i.e., they were choirs of praise (Neh. 12:31, 38).—Complete Word Study Dictionary, The

When Nehemiah dedicated the wall he had all the leaders get on the wall and had a huge assembly of Levites playing instruments and singing praises to God. This is the picture Jonah presented in his prayer while lodged deep in the stinking stomach of a huge fish! Now how was Jonah able to praise God while he was deep in the belly of a stinking fish? Because Jonah had a firsthand lesson in something which many of us are not familiar with.

Would that our Thanksgivings featured such spontaneous expressions of Joy and Rejoicing over what God has done in our lives.

Face it, most of our Thanksgiving meals consist of a few arguments over such and such, a short prayer of blessing, then maybe a forced “What are You Thankful For?’ and then the guys go and watch football or go to a movie or such like that. Even in my family I can’t recall spontaneous shouts of Joy over what God has been doing.

God wanted His people to have festivals and feasts where there was spontaneous rejoicing! One Such Event was the Festival of Booths held once a year in the Fall:

Leviticus 23:39-43 (KJV) Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Sovereignty vs. Thanksgiving

The story of Jonah is so appropriate at the time of Thanksgiving, because it addresses the conflict that most of us experience at this holiday time. This is the conflict we have between our experiences with the Sovereignty of God and the Joy (or lack of it) we feel in our Soul!

We used to know what the Sovereignty of God is. The Pilgrims who settled in America had a profound sense of the Sovereignty of God…

On November 11, 1620, Governor William Bradford and the leaders on the Mayflower signed the Mayflower Compact before setting foot on land. They wanted to acknowledge God’s sovereignty in their lives and their need to obey Him. The Mayflower Compact was America’s first great constitutional document and is often called “The American Covenant.”

Life was hard in the New World. Out of 103 Pilgrims, 51 of these died in the first terrible winter. After the first harvest was completed, Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and prayer. By 1623, a day of fasting and prayer during a period of drought was changed to one of thanksgiving because the rain came during their prayers. The custom prevailed in New England and eventually became a national holiday.

Because they understood the Sovereignty of God they could rejoice regardless of whether there was rain or drought, death or life. We have lost our concept of what the Sovereignty of God is. Let me share just a bit from AW Pink:

From (AW PINK, SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD)

The sovereignty of God! What do we mean by this expression? We mean the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the Godhood of God. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that God is God. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand or say unto Him, What doest Thou? (Daniel 4:35). To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the possessor of all power in heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purposes, or resist His will (Psalms 115:3). To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is “The Governor among the nations” (Psalms 22:28), setting up kingdoms, over-throwing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleases Him best. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the “Only Potentate, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords” (1Timothy 6:15). Such is the God of the Bible. The sovereignty of the God of Scripture is absolute, irresistible, infinite. When we declare that God is sovereign, we affirm His right to govern the universe, which He has made for His own glory, just as He pleases. We affirm that His right is the right of the Potter over the clay: that He may mould that clay into whatsoever form He chooses, fashioning out of the same lump one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor. We affirm that He is under no rule or law outside His own will and nature, that God is a law unto Himself, and that He is under no obligation to give an account of His matters to any.”

The Exercise of His Supremacy

The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy. Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature, He is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth. Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases. None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him. So His own Word expressly declares: “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure” ( Isaiah 46:10); “He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand” ( Daniel 4:35).

Divine sovereignty means that God is God in fact, as well as in name, that He is on the Throne of the universe, directing all things, working all things “after the counsel of His own will” (Ephesians 1:11).

We affirm that He is Sovereign in the exercise of His power. His power is exercised as He wills, when He wills, where He wills.

God is Sovereign in the exercise of His mercy
God is Sovereign in the exercise of His love
God is Sovereign in the exercise of His grace.

God’s Throne is Supreme

To declare that God is frustrated by sin, is to dethrone God.
To say that God has no control over the evil of this world is to dethrone God
To say that God has no control over the bad things that happen in our lives is to dethrone God.

Sovereignty speaks of God’s divine control over everything that happens. There is nothing outside the control of his loving hand. Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for the good of God’s children and verses 38- 39 implies that there is nothing beyond the control of God’s sovereign hand. God’s sovereignty reminds Christians to fear nothing as God is always in charge, no matter how dreadful the situation.—AMG’s Encyclopedia of Bible Facts

We have lost our sense of God and His Sovereignty in our churches, our preaching, our Thanksgivings!

Man-Centered vs God-Centered

A recent survey found the number one question people would ask God is “Why do you allow suffering?”

Instead of focusing on God and His Sovereign Right to Act as His Nature Dictates, we focus on ourselves and we go “boo-hoo”, why did you do this why did you allow that. We are so man-centered, that every time something doesn’t go our way we shake our fist at God!

When you learn to focus on the Sovereign Will of God, you trust in an all powerful God who works His Glory in whatever happens in your life! You know that nothing is by accident, that He is working all to accomplish what please Him, in accordance with His Word and His Nature!

The whole issue is whether we live lives that are man-centered or God-centered.

In the Book of Jonah we see an obstinate, self-centered man who runs headlong into the mighty Sovereignty of God!

Jonah-Centered

Jonah centered world results in captivity
- Jonah wanted to do what he wanted when he wanted
- He was swallowed by the fish, held captive.
Jonah centered world results in damnation.
- Jonah experienced Hell.
- The people of Nineveh were doomed.
Jonah centered world results in anger and hatred.
- Jonah was mad that Nineveh was saved.
- Mad at what God had done.
- Dependent on Circumstances

God-Centered

God-centered world results in deliverance from the storms of life
- Sailor saved
- Jonah rescued
God-centered world results in deliverance from the hell of life
- Jonah deleverd from the Hell of the fish.
God-centered world results in deliverance from sin
- Nineveh repented and was saved
God-centered world results in Rejoicing and Thanksgiving
- The people of Nineveh rejoiced because God spared them
Jonah learned to shut up and started eating Big Fish

Why Does a God Centered World result in Repentance, Deliverance, Mercy and Salvation?

The Sovereignty of God means that God seeks to Deliver Repentant man.
The Sovereignty of God means that God’s Mercy is for Repentant man
The Sovereignty of God means Salvation for Repentant man.

We have so much to rejoice in. If you have turned from you sin and embraced Jesus as your Savior, Rejoice, you have been delivered, you are wrapped in the Mercy of God, You are being saved. Rejoice and tell your relatives - make em think you are crazy. Jonah was stinking like a fish when he told the people of God’s coming judgment. Rejoice because God is sovereign. Why don’t you put God on His Throne in Your Life!!! He is on His throne. Whatever you are going through, all you need to do is repent of your sins and rejoice in God’s Mercy. He will do all according to His Will.

YOUR CHOICE

You can live this Thanksgiving Man-centered or God centered.

You Can Brood and Burn in Pain!

You can be on your own throne or you can submit to God on His throne. Jonah go upset at God for bringing revival to Nineveh. God asked him: “Do You Do Well to be Angry?”(Jonah 4:4)

That little word angry is “hara” which means to cause fire to burn- pictures a “burning sensation in your throat.” This is a kindling or simmering of anger. When you put your self on the throne you set in motion the kindling of your soul as you react to what God does in your life. Instead of praise and spontaneous rejoicing, your throat is burning, your are mad and resentful because God has not done as YOU wanted.

You can Seek God and BURN BRIGHT with Joy!

Psalms 105:3 (ESV) Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

You can realize God is Sovereign and is actively governing as He pleases upon His throne. You can repent of your selfishness and sin and seek after Almighty God and His reign over your life.

Then you will know SAMAH

SAMAH means to burn bright, to make joyful, merry. This joy comes from within your heart and lights up your eyes! (TWOT)
SAMAH results in spontaneous emotion and extreme happiness which is expressed in some visible manner.
When David killed Goliath, the women danced in the streets and shouted with JOY! (! Sam 18:6)

Psalms 32:11 (ESV) Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

President Ronald Reagan gave a famous farewell speech on Jan 11, 1989. He talked about the “shining city on the Hill”:

The past few days when I’ve been at that window upstairs, I’ve thought a bit of the ’shining city upon a hill.’ The phrase comes from John Winthrop, who wrote it to describe the America he imagined. What he imagined was important because he was an early Pilgrim, an early freedom man. He journeyed here on what today we’d call a little wooden boat; and like the other Pilgrims, he was looking for a home that would be free. I’ve spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don’t know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That’s how I saw it, and see it still.

And how stands the city on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure, and happier than it was 8 years ago. But more than that: After 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she’s still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home.

America may no longer be that shining City on the Hill, but God still Reigns. He still seeks men to repent and come to Him. All the financial and political travail that is going on is the Throne of God giving us one last chance to Repent and Honor Him as Sovereign God!

One day He will place His Son on that Shining City on the Hill, Jerusalem. All nations will come to Him there. He will reign.

Do you know King Jesus as your Savior. Is His Father your Sovereign Lord? Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins. He paid the price for your freedom with His precious sinless blood. Will you come to Him? Will you repent of your sins and say “Jesus I need you to be my Savior!” Will you come and make Him your Lord, so that He can shine bright in your life?

God Still Reigns. God is Sovereign.

What will be your visible expression of joy before God this thanksgiving!!!!

Will You allow God to be on His throne in your life? Will you jump for joy because of his deliverance, his mercy, his salvation for you?

That which you think has most injured your life, God can enable you to rejoice in it, even eat it! Never fear it! Even if it swallows you!

Barack - I Hope You Read and Heed Baruch

2008-11-17T17:38:00.012-06:00

Barack Obama is wasting little time to assume control of the United States Executive Branch. From weekly messages from his semi-oval office, to appearances on “ 60 Minutes”, he is rapidly inserting himself into what is left of the political decisions of the Bush Administration. Change.gov: The Office of the President-elect

In summarizing Obama’s appearance on “60 Minutes” last night, the LA Times said:

“Asked by CBS’ Steve Kroft whether he planned to put political enemies in his Cabinet, as Abraham Lincoln did, Obama responded by saying the first president from Illinois was a “very wise man.” With the economy struggling, the president-elect said the nation had little choice but to boost government spending, something he said conservative and liberal economists agreed on. “We have to do whatever it takes to get this economy moving again,” he said. “We’re going to have to spend money now to stimulate the economy.” Besides Lincoln, Obama said he had been reading about the Great Depression and President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first 100 days in office. He said he hoped his team could emulate that administration’s confidence and willingness to experiment.“

The London Times Online had this take on the interview: “Mr Obama said he had spent “a lot of time” reading the writings of President Lincoln since the election, because “there is a wisdom there and a humility about his approach to government, even before he was president, that I just find very helpful.” He and Mrs Clinton have both read and admired ‘Team of Rivals’, Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book about how President Lincoln bought old foes into government after winning the 1860 election. Reminded that the 16th president put many of his political enemies in his cabinet, Mr Obama was asked on CBS’s 60 Minutes whether he was considering the same approach. “Well, I’ll tell you what,” he replied. “I find him a very wise man.”

It would be interesting if Barack included an enemy or two on his cabinet, as President Lincoln did. However, most leaders do not like the idea of opposition. In another troublesome time many years ago, in the nation of Israel, the King of Judah listened as the writings of a man named Baruch were read. You can read what happened in Jeremiah chapter 36. The King’s advisors had heard Baruch reading from a scroll and were frightened by what they heard.

“When they heard all the messages, they looked at one another in alarm. “We must tell the king what we have heard,” they said to Baruch. “But first, tell us how you got these messages. Did they come directly from Jeremiah?” So Baruch explained, “Jeremiah dictated them, and I wrote them down in ink, word for word, on this scroll.” “You and Jeremiah should both hide,” the officials told Baruch. “Don’t tell anyone where you are!” Then the officials left the scroll for safekeeping in the room of Elishama the secretary and went to tell the king what had happened.” Jeremiah 36:16-20 (NLT)

King Jehoiakim had his trusted aide Jehudi read the scroll to him.

“It was late autumn, and the king was in a winterized part of the palace, sitting in front of a fire to keep warm. Each time Jehudi finished reading three or four columns, the king took a knife and cut off that section of the scroll. He then threw it into the fire, section by section, until the whole scroll was burned up. Neither the king nor his attendants showed any signs of fear or repentance at what they heard. Even when Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged the king not to burn the scroll, he wouldn’t listen.” Jeremiah 36:22-25 (NLT)

Here was a King who was open and honest about his contempt for opposition to his government. In fact, after burning the scroll, he sent his son and some other men to arrest Baruch and Jeremiah. Fortunately, God had hidden them, and they were spared. In those days opposition was often met with imprisonment and death.

Barack is busy reading about Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D Roosevelt. Would that he had the courage to seek wisdom from God’s Word.

Judah was facing economic and political hardships that eventually resulted in the toppling of the government and their captivity by a foreign nation. Times of prosperity had suddenly (over a process of forty years) turned into military defeats and isolationism. All the while they continued to fast, worship and seek after Jehovah God. Yet all the while they practiced greed and honored other gods, especially the god ‘BAAL’. They would worship in the Temple on the Sabbath and through the week offer sacrifices to Baal and other gods. They wanted to cover all the spiritual bases. They were tolerant of all the religions. They were tolerant of people’s rights to worship whom they please in a manner they please. That tolerance led to the horrible practice of child sacrifice to Baal.

“They have built pagan shrines at Topheth, the garbage dump in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, and there they burn their sons and daughters in the fire. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing!” Jeremiah 7:31 (NLT)

Americans do not see abortion as child sacrifice, but I can’t help but think that God does.

I can just see God saying “You allow your sons and daughters to be aborted in the womb, a practice that never even crossed my mind to command such a thing”. I believe we sacrifice them to the god of self-indulgence, and to the god of convenience.

I’m wondering if Barack Obama will be a President who will cut out of the Bible the portions of Scripture that he disagrees with. Indeed, I’m wondering if he will believe in the Bible as the Word of God at all. True belief requires OBEDIENCE. As he considers the wisdom of Lincoln and the actions of Roosevelt, I pray he will consider the warnings of God’s Word, especially the warnings of Jeremiah.

Barack has claimed that his name has its root in the Arabic and Semitic word for “blessing”. He said it is similar to the Hebrew word “ ‏בָּרַךְ‎ (bārak) to kneel, bless, praise, salute”. Other linguists have said it is more akin to the Hebrew word “‏בָּרַק‎ (baraq) cast forth (lightning)”. The Theological Workbook of the Old Testament has this to say in reference to the meaning of ‘baraq’ (lightning):

“The association of lightning with the Lord also serves as a polemic against Baal, the principal Canaanite nature deity. The Ugaritic texts and artifacts portray Baal as the god of lightning, fire and rain. Thus one text reads: “Baal flashed his thunderbolts” (ʿnt, IV, 70), and another says: “He flashed lightning to the earth” (Text 51, V, 71). In a stele he is pictured as brandishing a club in one hand, and holding a stylized thunderbolt ending in a spearhead in the other (C. F. A. Schaeffer, The Cuneiform Texts of Ras Shamra-Ugarit (1936), plate XXXII, fig. 2). The stele indicates that Baal had power over fire and lightning. It is against this background that one must read Jeremiah’s warning: “Do not learn the ways of the nations, and do not be dismayed at the signs in the heavens…. But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, an everlasting King; at his wrath the earth trembles…. The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, these shall perish from the earth, and from under the heavens…. When the Lord utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens . . . ; he makes lightning’s for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries” (Jeremiah 10:2-13; cf. Jeremiah 51:16).

I don’t know the true meaning of Barack Obama’s name. I do know that God said in His Word (Deuteronomy 28) that we can either have blessing or cursing and that choice is made by heeding and following the Word of God. In fact, God says in Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT): “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”

Followers of Christ must pray for Barack Obama. We must pray that he will be a “Blessed” leader, because he has decided to obey God’s Word. We must pray that he does not follow the example of Jehoiakim, and burn the Word of God that he disagrees with. If that happens, his name will indeed be “Lightning”, for he will be following the ‘god of lightning-Baal’. And God says that the gods of this world will perish from the earth, along with all those who follow them.

Barack, I hope you include the writings of Jeremiah in your readings. Barack, you need to meet Baruch, and follow the Word of God. Then and only then will your name mean “Blessed of God”. If there is any hope for America, if there is any hope for the Blessing of God on our country, it will be because our leaders humble themselves before Almighty God and agree to follow Him! Our God still Reigns!

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

2008-11-13T08:17:00.003-06:00

Time to pray about your offering to support Southern Baptist Missionaries around the World. This year our emphasis is South America:

Our church goal is $3,000.

Is Our Church More Than a Conqueror?

2008-11-11T04:47:00.015-06:00

We celebrated Pleasant Prairie Baptist Church’s 40^th Anniversary yesterday. I had thought two hours would be sufficient time to herald the past 40 years at Pleasant Prairie Baptist Church. Don’t get me wrong, I get nostalgic from time to time. I even did a video for my wife on our 25^th Anniversary (10 years ago-I figure it’s good until our 50^th). But actually, I’ve always been a here and now kind of preacher. In fact I’m more a what’s happening tomorrow kind of guy-always looking to the future, never looking back. I’ve always taken Paul’s phrase to heart – “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead”. As a preacher, if anyone frustrates me, it is Christians that live in the past. You can recognize them by the sighing and the tears when they talk about the “things we used to do”, or they remember how the people “used to do this or that”. But when you ask them about what God is doing NOW they usually get a blank look on their face. Older Christians with multiple “battle scars” seem to be more inclined to this “nostalgia”. Sometimes I believe we focus too much attention and emotion on what might have been. “If only this hadn’t happened, if only that had happened”. Anniversaries are important, and we should take time to honor those who have brought us to this moment in time. But shouldn’t we Honor God most of all?

The truth is that many churches, especially smaller churches, that have been through a lot of ups and downs (and splits) view themselves as SURVIVORS. This spirit was in evidence just a little bit yesterday. It is true, our church has SURVIVED many trials, TWO major Splits, an endless parade of Pastors (we have had more Interim's than Called Pastors). I was hoping that there would be no mention of past pains, because as long as we are still dealing with painful memories we are blocking any view of God’s Purpose. I understand that there may be regrets, painful memories, but we must be God-focused, and God is Jehovah Rophe, the God who HEALS.

Is God a Survivor?

Do we view God as a SURVIVOR? After all, He endured a HUGE split that took one third of the heavenly host away from Him. His Son was rejected as the Messiah and then horribly crucified. Most of the world uses His Holy Name in vain. If anyone is a SURVIVOR, it should be God. But that is NOT the God of the Holy Scriptures. God is a God of PURPOSE. There is NOTHING that happens that surprises God, or catches Him off guard. The following verses declare the omnipotence and omniscience of God:

Job 42:2 (ESV) 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Psalms 33:11 (NASB77) The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) 21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Isaiah 14:24 (NLT) The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sworn this oath: “It will all happen as I have planned. It will be as I have decided.

The Church of God is the Bride of Christ.

We are being prepared for that fabulous Banquet in Heaven. God’s Church is said to be "More than a Conqueror" (Rom 8:37). We need to see the bad things that happen in our church as the GOOD things of God. God is building His Church. We must acknowledge the HAND of God in building His Church. Most of the problems that a church experiences are the direct result of the flesh blocking the Holy Spirit of God. The flesh can block growth, the flesh can block God, the flesh can make it impossible for a Church to experience the Power of the Holy Spirit. The flesh will be pruned. Those that do not bear fruit, the Holy Spirit will cut off. Instead of seeing our church as a Survivor, we must see our Church as a Conqueror. Building a church is the work of the Holy Spirit. His mission is to move and call and prepare the Bride of Christ. The most important thing a church can celebrate is that the Holy Spirit is moving among the people, because we have united our hearts with the Purpose of God!

In Nehemiah 8 we find Ezra reading the Law of Moses. Many of the people had never heard the Word of God before. They had to have it explained to them. As a result, the people started weeping and mourning as their sin and rebellion and selfish ways were revealed by what God's Law commands. However, Nehemiah proclaimed to the people NOT to mourn or weep. In fact he told them to go and feast and party, because this day is holy unto Jehovah. Do not be sorry, for the JOY of the Lord is your strength.

The lesson for us is that when we as a church unite our hearts with God and His purpose, and depend totally upon God and His Word to accomplish the task of building our church, then we will experience the JOY of the Lord. In fact the JOY of the Lord will be our strength!

Priests were forbidden to wear garments that would make them sweat when they were ministering to God. God did not want any sweating going on in His Temple. After the fall, man was condemned to work by the sweat of his brow. In the ministry of God’s Word, it is not man’s sweat that ministers, it is GOD! God wants His preachers empowered by the Holy Spirit. He does not want us to work in our own strength. He does not want us to sweat as we minister. The sweat symbolizes our own fleshly efforts. The flesh is the enemy of God and His Purpose.

Ezekiel 44:15-18 (NKJV) 15 "But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood," says the Lord God. 16 They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge. 17 And it shall be, whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, that they shall put on linen garments; no wool shall come upon them while they minister within the gates of the inner court or within the house. 18 They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen trousers on their bodies; they shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat.

Pleasant Prairie has been a great church with great people. I received several compliments on how wonderful the Anniversary Service was.

We had an appearance by Lizzy Lou, singers Jack and Rachel Wicker, the testimonies of Janice Fogle, the Andrews and Cory Young. However by the time I stepped into the pulpit to deliver a message that I believe spoke to the FUTURE of our church, it was 12:13. We had started at 10 AM. I know a restless crowd when I see one. I promptly announced that I would only preach for 5 minutes and I did.

Does it seem that sometimes we push God out of the way? Does God want to lead a church where He is only allowed on the sidelines? Churches are full of people with good intentions. But how often do we stop and ask "God, Are we in line with Your Purpose? God, are You pleased with what we are doing? God, what do You want to accomplish with our Church?" Churches can sometimes get stuck in the rut of doing their own “agenda”, and just throw God in for good measure.

I believe that the people of Pleasant Prairie aligned themselves with the Purpose of God in the early days. That is why God blessed and multiplied the church. As Pastor, my concern is that we again unite ourselves with the Purpose of God. We cannot do that and focus our hearts on the pains and regrets of the past. We must accept that sometimes God does a shaking, so that those left can truly worship Him. God desires that we be “unshakable”.

Hebrews 12:25-29 (NLT) "Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire."

Pleasant Prairie Baptist Church has great potential. Not in our own strength, but through the Power of God. We have a great core of people who are humble, and seek God’s will for their lives. There is a spark missing, a cylinder that is miss-firing, and I believe it is caused by those holding on to the failures or misspent opportunities of the past. We have got to change our focus from failures and the past to the future we have with God and His purpose. We need to stop crying and mourning and discover the JOY of the Lord, and let Him be our STRENGTH!

I believe we are on the edge of very exciting moves of God. I believe God is ready to pour out His Amazing Grace upon our people. He is very excited by what is happening in our church. Hearts are being touched, lives changed. Sure there are problems, sure there are challenges. But God must be allowed to be Sovereign. He must be allowed to work without our meddling and our own personal agenda’s. We must not hold on to the past, we must not hold on to painful memories, we must not hold on to the way things used to be. We must let go and grab hold of God's Purpose. We must seek Him and keep seeking Him until we see His purpose for our church. We must not get content. We must willingly agree to unite our Hearts with His Word and His purpose.

I was very proud of our church yesterday. I believe the guests that came could sense God is being honored and is at work. I believe some people came that secretly desired to come back and re-discover God’s purpose for their lives. I pray that we will all move to that end, that we will become a church of God’s Purpose, a Church that is More than a Conqueror!

Pictures & Videos from our 40th Anniversary:

Pictures
Rachel Wicker
Lizzie Lou
Janice Fogle pt 1
Janice Fogle pt 2

There Are None Ignorant, No Not One

2008-10-23T06:03:00.011-05:00

God speaks generally to every man and woman, boy and girl on earth. No one can claim ignorance when they stand before God. It doesn't work with the cop and his radar gun, so why do we think it will work with God? Solomon writes:

Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. (Pro 8:1-4 ESV)

The Wisdom of God is pictured as a woman, and Solomon claims she calls to all and is readily available. Proverbs 1 confirms this truth:

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. (Pro 1:20-27 ESV)

God's wisdom is seen once again as a woman, and her testimony is that no one paid attention. She condemns us by saying: "you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof." Paul utters a similar indictment against mankind:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Rom 1:18-20 ESV)

There is no one that has ever trod this earth that can stand before Almighty God and claim that he turned away from Him because God never provided any understanding of His existence or His power and works among men. The witness of God has been in His creation and acts of goodness, and for over six thousand years has been through His Word.

Romans 2:14-15 presents yet another claim of God that voids mankind's excuses:

...For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them ...(Rom 2:14-15 ESV)

Deep within everyone, regardless of race or location, is a God-given awareness, a consciousness, not only of His existence, but even of some of the basics of what He requires, things written in God's biblical law. Despite all of this evidence, we universally reject Him. So thorough is mankind's rejection of God that, when He came as a man, we killed Him!

Am I Bonkers? Kids Always Made Fun of my Big Ears

2008-10-10T10:39:00.009-05:00

I remember getting upset when kids made fun of my 'big ears'. They wondered if I could listen in on the Chinese. I remember trying to tape them down so they wouldn't stick out so much. Thankfully I grew into my ears (maybe a little too much). I have grown to accept the way God made me. Words that people say don't upset me like they use to. I have learned the importance of understanding why they say what they say.

But I did read something this morning that brought back those memories of having 'big ears' . I felt like I was being made fun of all over again. Andy Klein was quoted in praise of Bill Maher’s new film “Religulous” in the Pro-Con section of the Kansas City Star’s Opinion page. Andy said

“For many of us, it makes about as much sense to take the Bible (or any of the other religions’ texts) as absolute truth as it does to regard The Lord of the Rings (or Gulliver’s Travels or The Story of O) as Holy Writ. The Bible’s exceptional status is more an accident of history than a proof of divine origin. And thinking God is actually speaking to you is, well, a little bonkers, whether you’re Moses or Joan of Arc or the guy on his knees praying, right down the street.”

Andy is a film reviewer for www.lacitybeat.com. And yes, he represents a growing number of people in America who define “bonkers” as thinking that God speaks to you. Such a view is widespread because we have raised an entire generation of children without teaching them the reality and authority of God’s Word. Nor have we DEMONSTRATED the reality of God’s Word. Sure people have a knowledge of God, even a desire to worship Him. But they only love the “concept” of a traditional God. What this generation loves is actually an idol, a god of their own making. He might as well be a voiceless statue if to hear Him speak is “bonkers”.

To know the true God is to listen to His words. To understand the true God is to believe that He in fact speaks to us. Hebrews 1:2 says that God has spoken to us through His Son. John 1 says that “The Word” (God’s message to us) was with God in the beginning, and in fact is God. In him appeared life and this life was the light of mankind. The light still shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out.

People like Bill Maher and Andy Klein will always make fun of people who “listen” to the Word of God. They would have made fun of my "Big Ears". They are like the kids who make fun of blind people and other kids with disabilities.

John 1:11 says even when He came to his own (the Jews) His own people did not receive Him. And the Jews believed the Word of God! So why should we expect an entire generation of Americans who have grown up without a Biblical foundation to believe that God really does speak to people? The problem with the Jews who believed the Word but rejected the physical manifestation of the Word (Jesus) was their hearts of stone.

Jeremiah 2:19 (AMP): Your own wickedness shall chasten and correct you, and your backslidings and desertion of faith shall reprove you. Know therefore and recognize that this is an evil and bitter thing: [first,] you have forsaken the Lord your God; [second,] you are indifferent to Me and the fear of Me is not in you, says the Lord of hosts.

The Jewish leaders (Pharisees and Sadducee's) were self-serving and corrupt. Their hearts had become hardened to the voice of God. They had rejected the message of John the Baptist (the Voice of one crying out in the wilderness), and now they rejected the message of Jesus of Nazareth. As Jesus proclaimed on the Temple steps:

15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” John 7:15-19 (ESV)

If people of this day and age desire to do the will of God, they will listen to His Word. If they only desire their own authority, they will worship a god of their own making, a god who is speechless and without impact on their lives. They will continue to think their virtues of generosity, kindness, and sincerity will be sufficient to live moral upright lives of significance. They will continue to call listeners to the Voice of God “bonkers” as they continue to cover their heart and ears to the call of His Word. Jesus is calling all to the Salvation He has provided. As the Voice of God says:

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. John 3:17-19 (ESV)

Go ahead and call me bonkers. You do so because you love darkness and your works are evil. Paul affirms this in Romans 3:10-11 when he quotes Psalms 14, “There is none righteous, no not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God”. If you desire to seek after the true God, and hear His Voice, you must allow the Son of God into your life. You must worship Him as your Savior. He will speak to all those who call upon His name and give their hearts to Him as Savior and Lord. “whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith-the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9)

Hearing the Word, seeing the Word, believing the Word, is the key to knowing the true God.

Jesus Christ is the Word. He in the flesh was the visible manifestation of the invisible God. As 1 Peter 1:21 says: “who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

I am bonkers

according to this ‘new-age’ definition of those who believe God speaks to them. I hear the voice of God in His Son and the Words He spoke as recorded in the Bible. I hear the Voice of God in the Scriptures when I read them. I hear the Voice of God when the Holy Spirit speaks to my heart. My God is not a speechless statue. My God is not a god of my making. He is real, He is intimate, He lives in me. He lives in me through Jesus Christ His Son, my Hope of Glory!

What Would Jesus Do About America's Economy?

2008-10-03T07:53:00.006-05:00

The big debate between Palin and Biden was on last night. If we believe the candidates our salvation is just around the corner. Our economic and banking woes will be over come January when the evil Bush administration is cast out.
"What would Jesus Do?" is an over used and vilified statement that is more mocked than taken seriously anymore. Yet one day Christ will reign from Zion. He will rule over the economies of the nations. What would King Jesus Do?
I believe the most important thing Jeus would do is deal with mankind's greed. We are basically greedy people. We covet what we do not have, and we hold tight to what we do have. It is so obvious that GREED motivates our Congressmen as revealed by what it takes to get votes on an important piece of legislation like the banking relief (bailout) bill. Congress failed to pass the 3 page legislation last week. But now tha the Senate version has added over 400 pages and $105 Billion in "Pork", it will probably pass. This "pork" is nothing more that bribes to get certain Representatives and Senators to support the Bill. It is GREED at its worst.
The reason we got in this mess in the first place is our greed.

As Martin Wolf wrote in the Financial Times:

I suggest we should take a broader view of events. The aggregate stock of US debt rose from a mere 163 per cent of gross domestic product in 1980 to 346 per cent in 2007. Just two sectors of the economy were responsible for this massive rise in leverage: households, whose indebtedness jumped from 50 per cent of GDP in 1980 to 71 per cent in 2000 and 100 per cent in 2007; and the financial sector, whose indebtedness jumped from just 21 per cent of GDP in 1980 to 83 per cent in 2000 and 116 per cent in 2007 (see charts). The balance sheets of the financial sector exploded, as did the sector’s notional profitability. But leverage, alas, works both ways.
Since US net international debt was 39 per cent of GDP at the end of 2007, virtually all of this debt is an asset of another domestic entity and would net out to zero. But when the gross debt stock is huge and economic conditions difficult, the chances that many entities are bankrupt is high. When people fear mass insolvency, lenders stop lending and the indebted stop spending. The result can be the “debt deflation”, described by the American economist, Irving Fisher, in 1933 and experienced by Japan in the 1990s.

The reason our debt rose astronomically was because we wanted more. Consumers wanted more toys, bigger homes, banks wanted to make more money. Now it is all crashing down around us and people want quick solutions. We are still GREEDY.

When King Jesus reigns He will observe the Law of God. God's Law says "Thou shalt not covet." There were provisions for behavior in the Law that mitigated against coveting. Harsh penalties, a Sabbath day of rest and cessation from business, a Year of Jubilee when all debts were forgiven and land returned to the original owners, limits on interest rates (usury). He will once again place God's Law in effect.

I realize we must do something about the short-term crisis in credit and banking. As usual Governemtn will get bigger and the middle class will get squeezed. The rich will get richer. This is the American Way. But without dealing with America's GREED Factor, this problem will not go away. In fact, I believe God is at work in such a way that He is calling America to repentance. He is going to stop at nothing to bring this Nation to our knees. He wants us to acknowledge our GREEDY hearts and confess that it all belongs to Him. We must enter a period of Godly Stewardship of our possessions and wealth. As Psalms 2 states, we must "Kiss the Son lest He be angry".

I like this little tidbit from John Cochrane. There is a link to his entire article. This problem will not go away no matter which candidate is elected President. There are fundamental problems that must be addressed, and it will take time.

The Treasury Plan

The treasury plan is a nuclear option. The only way it can work to solve the central problem, recapitalizing banks, is if the Treasury buys so many mortgages that we raise mortgage values to the point that banks are obviously solvent again. To work, this plan has to raise the market value of all mortgage-backed securities. We don’t just help bad banks. We bail out good banks (really their shareholders and debt holders), hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds, university and charitable endowments – everyone who made money on mortgage-backed instruments in good times and signed up for the risk in bad times. This is the mother of all bail-outs.

There is a storm out on the lake, and some of the boats are in trouble. Commodore Bernanke has been helping to bail water from some boats until they can patch themselves up, encouraging other sound boats to help, and transferring passengers on sinking boats to others. But it’s getting tough and the storm is still raging. Someone has a great idea: let’s blow up the dam and drain the lake! Ok, it might stop the boats from sinking, but there won’t be a lake left when we’re done. That’s the essence of the Treasury plan.

Short of that, it will not work. Suppose a bank is carrying its mortgages at 80 cents on the dollar, but the market value is 40 cents. If the Treasury buys at 40 cents or even 60 cents on the dollar, the bank is in worse trouble than before, since the bank has to recognize the market value. Unless the Treasury pushes prices all the way past 80 cents on the dollar up to 90 or even 100, we haven’t done any good at all. And $700 billion is a drop in the bucket compared what that would take.

There is a lot of talk about “illiquid markets,” “price discovery,” and the “hold to maturity price;” the hope that by making rather small purchases, the Treasury will be able to raise market prices a lot. This is a vain hope – at least it is completely untested in any historical experience. Never in all of financial history has anyone been able to make a small amount of purchases, establish a “liquid market” and substantially raise the overall market price.

Since the Treasury will not be able to raise overall market prices, it will end up buying from banks that are in trouble, at prices fantastically above market value. This is transparently the same as simply giving the banks free money. Make sure the taxpayers get a thank-you card.

There is other talk (reflected in the Senate bill) of abandoning mark-to-market accounting, i.e. to pretend assets are worth more than they really are. This will not fool lenders who are worried about the true value of the assets. If anything, they will be less likely to lend. Conversely, if prices are truly artificially low, then potential lenders to banks know this and would lend anyway. We might as well just ban all accounting if we don’t like then news accountants bring. No, we need more transparency, not less.

Many of the changes in new versions of the Bill make matters worse, at least for the central task of stabilizing financial markets. The Senate adds language to protect homeowners – “help families to keep their homes and to stabilize communities.” That’s natural; a political system cannot hope to bail out shareholders to the tune of $700 billion dollars without bailing out mortgage holders on the other end. But it makes the bank stabilization problem much worse. Mortgages are worth a lot less if people don’t have to pay them back. This will directly lower the market value of mortgages that we’re trying to raise.

Yes, we need to do something. But “doing something” that will not work, with potentially dire consequences, is not the right course, especially when sensible and well-understood options remain.

We must pray for America and our leaders. We must confess our greed and covetousness. We must dedicate ourselves to Godly Stewardship of our money and assets. Only then will there be healing in our economy.

Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

2008-09-25T07:15:00.003-05:00

I love the letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians. The more I study it, the more I realize I don't know about the ways of God. Paul had such an insight into God's heart and how He works. Last night we only covered Eph 4 verses 2 and 3. We almost got to verse 4, but I decided to end at about 7:55.

Paul wants us to walk with weight that is equal to our calling, in view of all that God, Christ and the Holy Spirit have done for us (mentioned in Eph 1-3). The starting block of this walk is built upon the foundation that we must embrace humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearing one another in agape love. Our goal and that which we strive with all our energy and determination is the Unity of the Holy Spirit in the bond of peace.

We are bound together in the most powerful force this world will ever know-peace with God. That is the gift of the cross, peace with God. And having peace with God, we can have peace with man. Our hearts can be one. When our hearts are one with God and with each other, there is the Unity of the Spirit. That is to be the purpose of our walk, that is to be the purpose of the church.

Most people say that is crazy talk, impossible to achieve, especially in a local church. Many a pastor has lost heart endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit. But perhaps we have been going about it in the flesh, in the way big business and marketing guru's suggest. How does Paul say we should do it?

Realize we are prisoners to our Lord-we submit to Him.
Realize (having the eyes of our understanding enlightened) all that we have as indwelt and sealed believers.
Focus on walking (not running or racing) one step at a time.
Listen with attentive ears to God's voice (His calling)
Embrace Christ's "low-mindedness", His attitude that there is nothing we are too good to do on behalf of others.
Learn to be gentle - bear injuries without anger or a desire for revenge.
Be forbearing-going the extra mile to cover up and even overlook the ugliness of those around you. (Seeing God in the face of all you encounter, even mean ones)
Allowing God to love others through you.
Never give in to disillusionment or apathy, but dedicate yourself to diligence on God's behalf.
Major on the Major things of God, the Seven Essentials of Eph 4:4-5.

These are the lessons of Ephesians 4:1-3. If these be the foundation of our church, Christ will be Lord indeed. Any rational man would look at those and say, they are not possible. That is why we must endeavor to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. The walk of Ephesians 4-6 is a walk of life in the Spirit, which means putting off the old man of stinking flesh.

May this be the goal of church elders and deacons and leaders across the world. The day is coming when God's throne will force the church to reveal whether we are walking in the Spirit or the flesh. Blessed are they that endure to the end.

Feel Like You Are Banging Your Head Against the Wall?

2008-09-08T21:06:00.007-05:00

In Acts 15:36-40, we find Paul going forth on his second missionary journey. Paul teams up with Silas, a leader in the church and a prophet as well. Barnabus wanted to include John Mark, and Paul refused to take a quitter along. So, God through this personality disagreement, has TWO missionary teams where there was once only one.

Someone once said the reason there are so many different kinds of churches is because we have so many different personalities.

In Acts 16:1-5 we find Paul & Silas returning to Lystra and Derbe. A young man by the name of Timothy caught their attention. Paul saw a great potential in Timothy and wanted to take him along with them. There was a small problem. Timothy’s Mom was Jewish, but she had married a Gentile man. This meant that Timothy was not circumcised, and would be regard by the Jewish people Paul was witnessing to as something similar to trash. This would severely handicap their witness in the synagogues and to the Hellenistic Jews they would encounter.

Paul circumcised Timothy, not because he was conceding to the Judaizers, but because it removed a barrier to evangelizing the Jews, who all knew that his father was a gentile. “And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.”

Paul and Silas then had what we preacher’s call a “Head banging experience.” Maybe you have had one too. It’s when you feel like instead of making progress you realize you have simply been banging your head against a wall. First they had been forbidden to go into Asia by the Holy Spirit. So they went through Galatia and started to go toward Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. But that night Paul had a vision: a man from Macedonia appeared saying “Come over to Macedonia and help us” Paul immediately realized that God was directing them through this vision.

Realize this: As Revelation 7:10 says “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb”.

God is busy in this world speaking to people and working circumstances to draw people to Jesus. Most of you can bear testimony to the fact that before you accepted Jesus as you Savior, that God had been using circumstances and even His own words to touch your heart. That is why God needs people who are willing to partner with Him in reaching the lost that He is calling. So while Paul and Silas were spinning their wheels, God was preparing the hearts of three people. God was arranging circumstances. God kept Paul and Silas spinning their wheels until He was ready for them!

Don’t ever think you are banging your head against the wall when you are serving Jesus. You may think you are spinning your wheels, but all the time God is preparing someone or some situation for you to be used in. There will be times of feasting, but there will be times of seeming famine. Do not lose heart. Hope thou in God! For we shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance! God is preparing someone’s heart for you to talk to. God is still in the Saving Business! Salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb!

How Are We Saved

2008-08-31T21:53:00.024-05:00

The controversy was long and bitter. Martin Luther insisted on a real presence of the body and blood of the Lord.

But Zwingli held the blood and body to be present only in emblems, and that the words, "This is my body," were to be interpreted like those similar words, "I am the door," "I am the vine," or that strikingly similar phrase used of the Paschal Lamb, "This is the Lord's Passover," where, Zwingli pointed out the word "is" means represents.

This word "is" was the rock on which the Reformation split. Agreement being impossible, Zwingli turned to Luther and said:

"Martin Luther, let us confess our union in all things in which we agree, and, as for the rest, let us remember that we are brothers, with the same cause at heart. While we all hold the grand doctrine of salvation by faith, we differ on minor points."

There was an anxious pause, waiting for Luther's response, and great tears rolled down Zwingli's face as he reached out the hand of brotherly love to Luther.

But, alas! the great reformer of Saxony refused that outstretched hand, and the opportunity for a new and mighty illustration of Augustine's motto, "In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things charity," was forever lost.The Swiss reformers and the German reformers parted in sadness, and even yet the breach is not healed.

If any of you have been around churches for very long, you are well aware that there are occasionally disagreements that arise. This is not just a Baptist thing, but is a problem that crosses denominational lines. The early church had disagreements. The first was the treatment of Hellenistic Jews by the Jewish converts, particularly in the distribution of goods and provision of food. After prayer and seeking the Holy Spirit, it was decided to seek deacons to care for these matters. Some of those deacons were Hellenistic Jews.

That may seem like a minor matter, but I assure you, denominations as well as churches have been divided and even split over much minor issues.

However, in Acts 15, we find a disagreement which could have shipwrecked the early church and brought to a sudden end the precious work of Jesus Christ.

We find that certain men have come down from Judea and were teaching the believers at First Baptist of Antioch that to be truly saved you must be circumcised. To these devout Jews who had come to Christ, the idea of Gentiles being equal to them through Christ was just as controversial as if I were to announce at invitation time:

“Folks, you have the privilege today of being saved just like the drunks, adulterers, harlots, liars & cheats!”

The idea of grace is foreign to most people.

Our world has made the word grace impossible to comprehend:

There is no such thing as a free lunch.
You get what you deserve
You want something-work for it.
Do unto others before they do unto you

Here was a defining moment in the early church. What they decided at this first Jerusalem Council would set the course for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the centuries to come.

Now you may be sitting there saying, Pastor this is a no-brainer. Of course you don’t have to be circumcised to be a born again Christian. That is ridiculous. But what if it they had said something else like:

Be Baptized
Have Communion
Join a Church
Stop Smoking
Stop Drinking
Stop Dancing
Stop Going to Movies
Divorce your unsaved spouse
Stop Gambling
Stop Listening to Ungodly Music (however you define that)
Start Tithing
Start Witnessing
Start reading your Bible
Get a Hair Cut
Any other do’s and don'ts

In actuality, that is exactly the point. For when the matter got down to Jerusalem, it not only was circumcision, but the believer’s who used to be Pharisees said they also need to follow the laws of Moses.

So the Question before this early church was:

Does anything you do or stop doing have any bearing on whether you are a truly born again Christian?

Paul and Barnabus, zealous for the Gospel of GRACE and filled with the Holy Spirit, got into heated discussions with these Judaizers. But they would not change their mind. The believer’s in Antioch realized that there was a problem, and wanted advice on what the truth was from the Apostles in Jerusalem (The Mother Church). Paul and Barnabus were chosen to make the journey. As they travelled south, Paul and Barnabus gave testimony to the conversion of the Gentiles. This was a source of Great Joy to all the brethren. When they got to Jerusalem, they shared the same news with the apostles and elders. Here again in Jerusalem, some converted Pharisees stood up and said that these gentile Christians, in order to be really saved, must be circumcised and follow the law of Moses. This was a serious problem. If the Pharisees had their way, salvation would no longer be because of faith in what Jesus did on the cross, but salvation would rest on your WORKS.

You have to remember, there was no New Testament at this time. Everything the Apostles preached was a result of divine revelation based upon Old Testament writings and Direct Revelation. Some of what Paul preached was based upon his BDU degree (Backside Desert University). So these Pharisees were pointing to the Scriptures and rabbinical writing that they had studied all their life. It made sense to them. After all, Jesus was a Jew. Jesus was circumcised and followed the Law of Moses.

Praise God His Holy Spirit was still in charge of the early church. The Holy Spirit used Peter once again to set the matter straight:

⁷And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. ⁸And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, ⁹and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. ¹⁰Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” Acts 15:7-11 (ESV)
The multitude was silent, for they knew that God had just spoken through His servant Peter.

The Holy Spirit Revealed these Truth's through Peter's Sermon:

1. Salvation is of Your Heart.

When Peter was preaching Jesus to Cornelius and his household, God knew what was going on in their hearts. He could see that they were opening their hearts to the truth of Jesus being their Risen Savior. He could see that their hearts longed for His forgiveness, and that they were turning from their sinful ways and wanted to follow after God. When God saw what was happening in their hearts, He bore witness to it by sending the Holy Spirit to them, before Peter had a chance to give the invitation.
2. The Holy Spirit is Proof of Your Salvation

The presence of the Holy Spirit in your life is the evidence that you are a child of God. Does He give you a desire to read God’s Word? Does He open the Word to you, does He teach you? Does He work in your heart to change the wrong things you do-friends, music, movies, television? The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God. (Romans 8)

3. You Are Saved by Faith

Peter said that their hearts were cleansed by their faith. While Peter was preaching, their eyes were opened to the amazing truth that Jesus had bore their sins on the cross, and that his sacrifice was the perfect sacrifice for their sins. By faith they believed and entrusted their sins to Jesus. Their evil hearts were cleansed and made new by faith in Jesus.

Saved by My 'Good Looks'

evangelist preach on While an English farmer was walking through his field one day with a friend, he suddenly remarked, "You know, I was saved by my good looks." He explained that he had attended a gospel meeting where he heard anIsaiah 45:22. The farmer said, "He pictured Jesus on the cross in a general way as the divine substitute bearing the sin of the world. Then the preacher pointed us to Hebrews 12:2 and told us to look again unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who saves to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25) all that come to Him. He said that everyone has to accept this personally. When I saw the Lord in this way, I received Him as MY Savior." The farmer's friend was impressed. "Now I know what you mean," he said. "It was your good looks at Christ and His cross that resulted in your conversion."

Does your faith cause you to keep looking at Christ and His righteousness, or do you have your eyes only on yourself?

DO YOU HAVE FAITH TO SEE JESUS?

Faith opens our eyes to the Light of Jesus Christ.
Faith enables us to see Jesus as Lord.
Faith enables the blinders to come off our eyes

4. Salvation is Not a Burden

Peter declared: “why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? Everyone knew what Peter was talking about.” Vivid in their memories were the occasions when Jesus lambasted the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and the way they had made the law burdensome to the people.

⁷Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ⁸'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. ⁹And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " Matthew 15:7-9

Jesus Calls Everyone to Come

God never wanted His people to be under a yoke.

⁶“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6 (ESV)

5. SALVATION IS BY THE GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST ALONE!

Salvation in the heart of God has always been a free gift. This free gift was made possible by the death burial and resurrection of God’s holy son, Jesus Christ.

¹⁵But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. ¹⁶And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. ¹⁷For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. Romans 5:15-18 (NKJV)

²³For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 (KJV)

Faith and Door Knockers

2008-07-12T18:07:00.020-05:00

Back in the old days answering a knock at the door was never a cause for alarm unless you are Clark Griswold and your Cousin Eddie is showing up at Christmas Time.

Nowadays we have to be careful answering the door, because there are a lot of dangerous people out there. Now our nightly news carries stories of deadly “Home Invasions”, even in broad daylight.

Personally I keep waiting for that knock that means the Publisher’s Clearing House Prize Patrol is outside my home.

In Acts 12 we find a funny story of Peter Knocking on the door. It is funny because the disciples were praying in faith that God would free Peter from prison and certain execution. But when Rhoda ran into the room saying Peter was at the door, they didn’t believe her. Their FAITH was knocking on the Door in the shape of Peter and they refused to believe.

A Boston mother said to her little daughter: "If you had my faith, darling, you would have no toothache." The child replied: "Well, mother, if you had my toothache you wouldn't have any faith."

One day an eleven-year-old boy came home from Sunday School and told his mother what he learned. "Well," the boy said, "our teacher told us about how God sent Moses behind the enemy lines to rescue the Israelites from the Egyptians. Moses led them to the Red Sea, and then ordered his engineers to build a bridge. After they all crossed to the other side, they saw the Egyptian tanks coming after them. Moses then radioed the air force to send jet fighters to bomb the bridge and save the Israelites."
"Johnny: Did your teacher really tell you the story in that way?"
"Not really," Johnny admitted. "But if I told it her way, you'd never believe it.

We nervously laugh at such stories about faith because for many of us our FAITH in the Power of God is weak and even non-existent. The cry of the man “I believe Lord, Help Thou my Unbelief” is our cry as well. I read biographies of great men of God such as George Mueller and I wonder if I could ever have faith like them. Accounts of the faith of Hudson Taylor challenge my heart:

When Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary, first went to China, it was in a sailing vessel. Very close to the shore of cannibal islands the ship was becalmed, and it was slowly drifting shoreward unable to go about and the savages were eagerly anticipating a feast. The captain came to Mr. Taylor and besought him to pray for the help of God. "I will," said Taylor, "provided you set your sails to catch the breeze." The captain declined to make himself a laughing stock by unfurling in a dead calm. Taylor said, "I will not undertake to pray for the vessel unless you will prepare the sails." And it was done. While engaged in prayer, there was a knock at the door of his stateroom. "Who is there?" The captain's voice responded, "Are you still praying for wind?" "Yes." "Well," said the captain, "you'd better stop praying, for we have more wind than we can manage."

If someone asks you to explain your faith in Jesus Christ, how would you answer them?Do You See your Faith as Simply Your Belief in Jesus?

Opinion Dynamics Corporation conducted the national poll for Fox News Channel. The research shows that 92 percent of Americans claimed to believe in God, while 85 percent claimed to believe in heaven, and 82 percent in miracles.. The study found that belief in God has remained the about the same, belief in the devil has increased slightly in the past few years, from 63 percent in 1997 to 71 percent today.

FAITH IS BELIEF IN ACTION

Many people believe in Jesus Christ and Many More Believe in GOD, but does it affect their lives? Does it affect their daily walk?

If there is no affect upon their lives, if there is no affect upon their behavior, then I contend their belief is in vain and will not remove God’s Wrath from their soul.

James 2:19 (NKJV) You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!
Luke 8:12 (KJV) Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Belief should produce change. The Devil doesn’t want the Word of God in your hearts, lest you believe it and be saved. Belief is of no value unless it produces a change!

Suppose the heavens were opened and you could see into the future. You could see Israel and Iran going to war. You could see a nuclear war that destroys half of the world’s oil supply. You see the world thrown into utter chaos because all of a sudden there is no reliable power. Then you see a man step forth with an invention for cheap energy and a plan to restore economic order into the world. A plan that brings peace to the Middle East because Israel is allowed to rebuild her Temple, and yet allows the Muslims to maintain their sovereignty. And then you see that in a matter of days Jesus is coming to rapture His church.

Would you all of a sudden believe in this Bible? Would you say I’ve got to get my life in order, I’ve got to tell my kids, I’ve got to get busy and tell my friends.

What you see and believe should affect your actions. Faith is Never Static. FAITH is the MEANS OF ACTION, an ACTION that Changes and Governs the way we Live!!!

An old Scotsman operated a little rowboat for passengers. One day, a passenger noticed that the old man had carved on one oar "Faith" and the other oar "Works." Curious, he asked the reason.The old man, being a Christian, said, "I will show you." So, he dropped one oar and used the other "Works"—and the boat went in circles. Then he dropped that oar and use "Faith" only, and the little boat went in circles—other way around, but still circles. Then he used both oars, and the boat swiftly sailed over the waters.

He explained: "One without other will get you nowhere. But faith and works pulling together makes for progress." (James 2:20, 26).

It is one thing to Believe. It is another thing to have a Faith that Empowers your Belief to Change your Life!

FAITH AFFECTS YOUR WALK

Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV) Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Romans 1:17 (KJV) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Galatians 3:11 (KJV) But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

FAITH SEES THE INVISIBLE

Faith enables us to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.

Hebrews 11:1-3 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews 11:27 (KJV) By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Faith apprehends as a real… fact which is not revealed to the senses. It rests on that fact, acts upon it, and is upheld by it in the face of all that seems to contradict it. Faith is real seeing."

The word "substance" deserves careful treatment. It is hupostasis, made up of stasis "to stand," and hupo "under," thus "that which stands under, a foundation." Thus it speaks of the ground on which one builds a hope. (Wuest)

Faith is that assurance deep down in the darkest crevices of your soul that God is Real, Jesus is Real, God’s Word is Real. And One day you will stand before a Holy Righteous God and be Judged by His Son, the one who Died upon the Cross for You. Faith enables you to know without a shadow of doubt that Jesus lives in your life by the Power of His Holy Spirit. Jesus is so real that you don’t need to see Him to know He is with you.

Faith enables you to face the deepest darkest fears and know that God is holding your hand every step of the way. How is your Faith in the Loving Presence and Power of Jesus Christ?

Do you have a Faith that empowers your belief's to See the Presence of God in every situation you encounter in life?