Stress Free Living

Happy Friday everyone!!! Glad to be back and share some encouragement with you. This has been a wonderful week of refreshment. It's amazing what a little time away helps to bring focus in a lot of areas.

In case you are wondering, I was in South Carolina Monday - Wednesday. The last 3 years I have been able to do some hunting in Ehrhardt thanks to some farmers that do business with my in-laws. So...instead of blogging, I was spending time in a deer stand. Enjoyed a lot of time watching wildlife, enjoying time with my Heavenly Father, and being still.

Have you ever considered what life is like when there is no stress?
Spiritually
Mentally
Physically
Emotionally
Everything is better without stress!


What God continually teaches me is that I don't have to "get away" to live without stress. Scripture tells us: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7). God doesn't want you to live a life of anxiety.

Hear the Word:
"Be anxious for nothing..." - Do not be troubled with cares. It's a command!
"...but in everything..." - YES, EVERYTHING!!!
"...by prayer and supplication..." - This is you transferring your cares over to God.
"...with thanksgiving..." - Have an attitude of gratitude.
"...let your requests be made known to God..." - Quit keeping them to yourself.
"...and the peace of God..." - Sounds good doesn't it?
"...which surpasses all understanding..." It may not make sense but it works.
"...will guard your hearts and minds..." - No question here - WILL guard...
"...through Christ Jesus." - This is through your relationship with Christ.

This is the only way that we can hope to live stress free. Every time the "cares of this world" come upon you - give them to God. Jesus taught us in the parable of the sower that it is the cares of this world that choke the Word of God out of our lives. What typically happens to each of us is that we want to deal with everything that comes our way. We handle it...And what we often miss is the peace that God will give us if we would simply let Him be God.

While I am grateful for the times of "getting away", I'm also grateful for the times of giving away all my cares and concerns to my Heavenly Father. He truly is my Comfort, my Defense, and my High Tower. I will continue to trust in Him.

A Day of Meditation - Psalm 91

Rather than use today's blog to share my thoughts, I want you to take some time to meditate on the Word of God. The following is from Psalm 91. I pray that God will speak to you and give you comfort through His Word.

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, 'He is My refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.'
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and your buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

"A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

"Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

Some Basics About Sharing

So you have heard me talking about sharing the gospel. While there are a lot of people who understand what witnessing is all about, many don't know how to do it. Allow me to share with you a few simple things to get you started.

Before I begin, allow me to remind you of some incredible truths:
- Being a Witness is not what you do but who you are. Rather than focusing on what you need to do for the kingdom, focus on who you are in the kingdom. When this happens, the doing becomes a natural outflow of who you are in Christ.
- You do not have to be a theologian to share Jesus. I have literally watched people get saved and turn around to tell their friends about what just happened. The actually sharing of the gospel is telling others what you know to be true. You know that Jesus died for you, that He rose again from the dead, and that He just made a dramatic impact in your life. If all you can do is tell them what Jesus has done in you then you can make a difference.
- By the grace of God, live in such a way that you do not confuse the message. The Bible says that we are light. We are either a bright light that will show people the way or a dim light that will make it harder to see. Through your salvation, God has given you the ability to life a life that reflects His nature. Live in it while you talk about it.

Keys to Sharing Your Faith:

1) Learn to be a Conversationalist
This may require you to step out of your comfort zone a little bit but you cannot just walk up to someone and throw-up a gospel presentation. We must learn how to ask questions, show genuine interest in people, be humorous, etc. You know...all the things that make conversation fun and interesting. The art of conversation also deals with listening. Be sure to listen to the people you talk with because there may be some hidden things that God reveals to allow you access into their life.

2) Learn to Recognize and Seize Opportunities
This is where most of us miss it! We pray for opportunities but rarely recognize them. The fact is, we don't have to pray for them because God allows us to be in contact with people everyday. We simply need to walk in a sensitivity to the Spirit of God and seize every opportunity that He give us.

3) After Sharing - Ask for a Commitment
It's playoff time in baseball so I am going to us a sports analogy. Be a FINISHER! A lot of folk start well and do a decent job in the middle but never close. A simple "Is there any reason why you wouldn't make Jesus Lord and Savior of you life?" works well. Regardless of their answer, there isn't any good reason. Salvation is by Grace through Faith. This is the time we help them walk in faith.

I came across these simple keys in the book "Supernatural Ministry" that I told you about yesterday. It was a great reminder about the simple things. If you are open to sharing with others and use these tools, you can impact eternity.

May God use you to advance His kingdom!!!

Run to the Battle!

In the book, Supernatural Ministry, James Richards shares an incredible vision the Lord gave him while attending services at a large church one Sunday morning. If you aren't ready to "run to the battle" I'm sure that you can find some psycho-analytical stuff on another blog (LOL!).

"In my heart I could see a soldier dressed in armor. He had on a sword with a shield and all the weapons of war, but instead of being in battle, he was sitting at the table eating. Then this word came to me, 'No man girds himself up, puts on his armor, taking his sword and shield in his hand and sits down to eat. No, when you gird yourself up in your armor, taking your sword and your shield, you run forth into battle. Run to the battle says the Lord. God forth, for I have equipped you with my weapons of warfare, yet you sit and eat. You desire to be fed more, but I say run forth to the battle.'" [p. 68 - Supernatural Ministry]

What a picture! Can you imagine being in full armor sitting at a table eating? The imagery is so powerful. Here's what I take from this:

#1 - If you are in full armor with a sword and shield, you have but one purpose. There is a battle going on in the world between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. God has supplied us with everything we need. The armor and shield are for protection. The sword and the Spirit are our weapons. These are not carnal weapons but weapons that will allow us to cast down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

#2 - Can you imagine how uncomfortable it must be to sit at a table to eat in full armor? This explains why so many people get frustrated in their Christian life. They have been satisfied to come and eat - never thinking about the battle - but they are never fulfilled. If we never become engaged in the battle (ministry to others), then all that's left is to complain about how uncomfortable we are at the table. This is why a lot of churches have to endure the complaints of the saints rather than enjoying the edification of fellow believers.

#3 - This is a waste of good armor and powerful weapons! By now we should all know Acts 1:8 (if you are a regular reader of my blog or the Bible). We know that Jesus never intended to send His followers out without power. However, he also never intended them to keep it at home. If all we ever do with the gifts that God has granted to us is minister to one another, we aren't any better than the battle ready soldier sitting at the table. These gifts, this ability, are provided so that we may demonstrate to the world who God is and what He can do. Spiritual Graces are not a badge of honor or something for our entertainment; they are to be used to bring a lost and hurting world to Jesus.

I always place a poll in the top right hand corner of this blog. I'm not sure how many times I have asked the particular question that I'm using this week. I'm always amazed at the response when it comes to believers sharing their faith. The sad part is that if I could take a survey of Christians all across America the numbers would be staggering in response to how many of them actually share the Gospel with others. Why is this true? The reason is that we won't pull ourselves away from the table to engage the world. We are too busy feeding ourselves (and others) to run to the battle.

You might be thinking right now that you don't feel ready. I have heard people say that they just don't know enough. "What if I get asked a question that I cannot answer." This is what happens when you take the supernatural out of evangelism. We are more concerned with winning an argument than converting a soul. This isn't a battle of philosophies. I'm not asking you to be Plato or Socrates. You don't have to have all the answers, all you need is the SOLUTION.

So...get up from the table...make sure your armor is in place...pick up your sword and shield...and RUN TO THE BATTLE!!!

Times and Seasons

If you will take a look around you it is easy to see that we have entered into one of my favorite seasons. Fall is upon us. Although our calendars may indicate when each season "officially" begins, we rarely time them according to a particular date. It's when we see the changes in His creation that we know that we have entered a new season.

In Acts 1, Jesus was telling the disciples that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. When they gathered together He was asked if the kingdom would now be restored to Jerusalem. "And He said to them, 'It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.'" (Acts 1:17). There are some things that we have not been permitted to know. God has set times and seasons that He controls. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses..." (Acts 1:18). Notice the transition. It's not for you to know the times and seasons BUT you are getting ready to enter into a new one!

The coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost marked a new season in the life of the believers. They would not be able to sit around and simply wait for God to turn the kingdom back over to Jerusalem. They would be empowered to establish God's kingdom on earth.

Times and Seasons are out of our control. There are times when it seems that God is continually pouring out blessings. Seasons of refreshment, power, and life. At other times it seems as though we have to walk in faith. Seasons of growth, pressing in, and looking for understanding. We cannot control them but we can control how we live in each one.

Regardless of the time or season that you may find yourself in, there is a constant. God never changes. He says, "I am God and I change not." Never consider God as a variable. We may change, our situations may change, but God does not change. He still loves with an everlasting love. There is still no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. If you ask Him for bread he will never give you a stone. He will still give to those who ask. You can still find God when you search for Him with all of your heart. The problem comes when we begin to view God from the time or season that we are experiencing.

There is an old song that still rings true today: "The God of the mountain top is still God of the valley." The mountain top never requires the same faith as the valley. The finish line does not require the same endurance as the race. However, God is firmly established in each and every season. He never leaves nor forsakes us. We may simply have to walk in faith rather than sight. We may have to be moved by our convictions rather than our emotions. We may have to swim against the current rather than flow in the river.

Some people may say "I just wish that I knew when this season was going to be over." But what if you could know? If you knew how long you had to pray, believe, and strive; would it change how you approach a season. Some of us would be far too willing to curl up in the bed and sleep through a season if we knew that it was only going to last a few weeks. We may get through the season but it will not benefit us. We won't know anything more about the nature of God when we are through unless we are willing to go through them with Him.

The disciples had to know that God was bringing them into a new season. And what a season it was!!! The Gospel would be preached, people would be saved, churches would be established, the lame would walk, sick people would be made well, and God would continually show His power in their situations. If they knew that God was going to establish the kingdom they may have simply set up shop in the upper room. But His calling wasn't for them to fellowship continually in the upper room. His calling was for them to take this message of the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth. They had to walk in the new season. It wasn't always an easy journey. Some of them were shipwrecked. Most of the apostles would become martyrs for the faith. They would have to endure some difficult days. However, they had a constant living inside of them - HOLY SPIRIT.

I must say to you that it's not for you to know the times or seasons in your life. But you will receive power...

The Need of Evangelism

Philemon 6, "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ" (NIV).

The need for evangelism is two-fold:
#1 - The lost of the world will only come to faith in Christ when they hear.
#2 - Certain aspects of our growth in Christ will only come when we share our faith.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul prayed that Philemon would be active in sharing his faith so that he could come to a full understanding of every good thing he had in Christ. This aspect of spiritual growth is important. As long as we keep the faith to ourselves, we can become stagnant. However, when we allow the Holy Spirit to flow through us in communicating life to others we find that we become beneficiaries as well.

We may find this hard to understand but we partake of the life that we pour out. When we share life, we experience life. If Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we know that He came to seek and save that which is lost. We should do the same. I don't want to place evangelism on a list of "things to do" - I want you to see it as an opportunity to grow in your relationship with Christ.

Within each and every believer there is creative DNA. God is the author of life. Jesus said that He came so that we may have life (and that life more abundantly). There is a part of you that will never be fulfilled if you are not sharing the life that God has given you. Every time you share the Gospel of life, you have an opportunity to take part in the creation of new life in someone else. This is the nature of God within you - to create life!

Sharing my faith with others also gives me the opportunity to learn more about the life that is within me. It helps me to understand the GOOD THINGS THAT I HAVE IN CHRIST. Dr. James Richards puts it this way: "Proclamation brings revelation." Christians who are not involved in sharing their faith only have a theoretical understanding of the Word. Because we have not allowed this new life in Christ to lead us into sharing life with others, we fail to see God at work in and around us. Churches (the body of believers) that are not active in sharing their faith begin looking inward instead of outward. This constant introspection leads us to only see problems and shortcomings. We become judgmental and critical rather than bearers of "Good News".

When you and I choose to share life with others, we begin to live a life filled with excitement and anticipation. Rather than going through the routine of everyday life, we will begin to look for opportunities that God gives us to speak into the life of someone else. A bi-product of this kind of living is growth. This growth should not surprise us because what we discover is that we are participating in the Great Commission that Jesus gave His followers. We cannot be a part of kingdom initiatives without being affected by the kingdom.

If you have reached a place in your spiritual walk where you feel that you are plateauing or declining - ask yourself "When was the last time I shared my faith?" The problem may be that we are not growing because we are not sharing. Commit yourself - by the grace of God - to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Ask God for opportunities to share the life that He has given you. Then...BE READY to share with those people that God puts in your path.

I pray that you will be active in sharing your faith so that YOU can come into a full understanding of all the good things that you have in Christ! I also pray that you are effective. Who knows? You may be able to lead someone into new life in Christ.

Keeping it Simple - Keeping it Real

In the book "Simple Church" by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger, the story is told about Christ Fellowship. Several years ago the pastors of the church began evaluating ministry. They sought to define the kind of disciples their was church was seeking to make. God impressed upon their hearts to focus everyone on four things: intimate relationship with God, community with others, serving, and influencing nonbelievers. {p. 93} Guess what? It worked!

I wonder how many other churches in America would be willing to go through the same process? The answer lies in whether or not they are willing to keep it simple and keep it real.

The believers that I experience in today's culture aren't looking for sophistication and structure. What they are looking for is a building filled with real people who love the God they serve and the people they fellowship with. They don't care if the person behind the pulpit has the title of "Dr." before his name as long as he can communicate truth. They aren't that concerned about the flower arrangements, the robes in the choir, etc. They simply want to be with other believers in a setting where they can experience God.

The church as a whole has almost structured herself to death. Does anyone understand what I'm saying? You can't hardly breathe without taking a vote. You can only do ministry if approved by a proper committee and headed by an elected leader. The fellowship is a great divide between "clergy", "laity", and "leadership". I'm not saying that the church shouldn't have some type of leadership but we need to honor the priesthood of all believers. How do we do this? We keep it simple & keep it real.

Keep it Simple:
Make worship an experience with God rather than simply singing songs about Him.
Make preaching a time to communicate truth into the lives of the hearer rather than rolling out a "fine" sermon.
Make prayer a time of coming before God and not simply going through the motions.
Make fellowship about fellowship rather than just trying to populate the membership roll.

Keep it Real:
There isn't one person in our community that has it "all together".
Don't be afraid to minister to people who are different.
Be open and honest about struggles by seeking help and encouragement.
Show the love of God to every person that walks through those doors and into fellowship.

I have no doubt that most people in churches would read this blog and say "We are doing that." Let me suggest that you look back over all you do and ask the question: "Is it simple & Is it real?"

Trust me...the people who come in know whether it is or not.

God's Coming Out Party!

Just in case you missed it: yesterday was the national "Coming Out Day". This is a day set aside by gay rights groups to encourage "coming out" and discussions about gay lifestyles and issues. I've got a better idea. Why not let God clean the closet before you come out?

1 Peter 2:9, "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light."

If these people are planning on coming out then I would encourage them to come out of darkness into God's marvelous light! Instead of embracing a lifestyle that is not consistent with God's Word they can be changed forever by the power of grace. I know it's hard for many people to hear this message. Even some Christians believe that God created people to be homosexual. The agenda of these people has been to force our children to learn about homosexuality in public schools. You can hardly turn on a television program, watch a movie, or listen to the radio without having this lifestyle thrust in front of you. Which makes me wonder...

If this lifestyle choice is so natural then why do they feel the need to change minds?

If this lifestyle choice is normal then why are so many people uncomfortable with it?

If this life is the way God made you then why do people feel the need to defend it so aggressively?

It's not natural because it is not natural! The book of Romans tells us that "women turned against their natural way..." and "the men instead of having normal sexual relationships..." The homosexual lifestyle is a choice based upon a perversion. An individual is tempted to go after that which isn't natural and they defend it by saying that they are going to do what is natural to them. Would we do this with any other perversion?

Does the drug addict do what is natural to them? Does the alcoholic simply follow after his natural instincts? What about the adulterer? The pedophile? The serial killer? The smoker? (Do I need to go on?) Most of these people would tell you that they were simply following after what was going on in their heart. As they followed through with their desire it seemed natural. I know that people don't want me to lump this group in with what we consider the "worst" but we must be honest. Each of us have a choice to follow what is natural according to God's Word. God said that it wasn't good for man to be alone, so he made Adam a companion "Woman." She was bone of his bones, flesh of his flesh, but she was different. Case closed.

I don't say any of this to condemn people in this lifestyle but to shed light on the lie. There are those within the church community who would say that God accepts all of us where we are and that He loves us regardless of our lifestyle. While the statement may not be inaccurate, the assumption is inaccurate. God does love us exactly where we are. He has demonstrated His love for all of mankind by allowing Jesus to die on a cross for our sin. Ever person - straight or gay - is loved by God. However, in each instance, God doesn't want us to stay in our condition. Yes...we are all sinners but when we agree with God about our sin we discover that He doesn't want us to stay within our sinful condition. He calls each of us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

If my sinful condition caused me to live as a liar - as a new creation in Christ I would no longer live as a liar.
If my sinful condition caused me to live as an adulterer - as a new creation in Christ I would no longer live as an adulterer.
If my sinful condition caused me to live in anger - as a new creation in Christ I would no longer live in anger.
This change occurs because of the grace of God! I could not change myself. I did what was right in my own eyes. I followed my emotions, lusts, and deceptions. But when God called me out of darkness and into His light then I was able to see who I could be in Him.

Our God is able to redeem, restore, and rescue. Anyone who comes to faith in Him will not be put to shame according to His Word. He has a better quality of life in store for all of us. And when each of us make Him Lord of our lives, we see Him make the change. Our lives come into agreement with what He says is truth. I don't care how many professing Christians come out and say that they are gay and God is o.k. with that - it is a lie. How do I know? Because it is in contradiction with His Word. Let the truth of God's Word set you free from a life that is ruled by lust and deception. Believe in Jesus and allow His grace to change you. Let God call you out of the closet so that you may walk in His wonderful light!

Misunderstanding the Power of God

In case you haven't noticed, I love to talk about the power of God in our lives. The work of the Holy Spirit in and through us is the great difference maker. God can, through His Spirit, accomplish more in 1 day than we could accomplish in a lifetime through our own strength. Many men and women of God have committed their lives to seek out fresh outpourings of His Spirit upon the people of God. One of the best works that I have read is the book "Power From God" by Charles Finney.

There have been many books that God has used to speak to my own life. The works of D.L. Moody, Jim Cymbala, etc. These authors have various backgrounds, ministries, and theological understanding. However, they all have one common denominator - the work of the Holy Spirit is evident in their life. We can read about His work in the book of Acts but often disregard the appropriateness of the Spirit's work in our day. We need His power just as much today as they did in the 1st century church.

God's power enables us to move past our own insecurities and weaknesses and accomplish great things in the kingdom of God. With this outpouring, many followers of Christ have found the power to proclaim the Gospel, understand God's truths, teach God's Word, obey Christ no matter what, and live a holy life. Apart from His power we are left to our own abilities, gifting, and strategies. We need the power of God in our lives as much as our physical bodies need oxygen. Just as breath fills the lungs, we need God to breathe upon everything we do for the kingdom if it is to have eternal value and impact.

The difficulty of this subject is our misunderstanding of the power of God. I have discovered many believers who are thrown off by this subject. We struggle with the though of the 1st church separating men who are "full of the Holy Spirit" to accomplish certain tasks because we think we all have enough. While it is true to say that we have ALL of the Holy Spirit we may not be walking in ALL of His power. In fact, many people simply rely on all of the Holy Spirit that they experienced at salvation never realizing that there is more power available.

The testimony of my life and ministry is a growing awareness of my need for the Spirit of God and His power coming upon me for "greater works." God continually placed me in areas of service where I had to thrust myself upon Him wholeheartedly. I had to trust that His Spirit would anoint me for a task, take me deeper in my understanding of how He works, and long to have even more that what I experienced. This requires a humbling of ourselves should we come into the fullness of His power. We have to say "I need more."

One of the greatest struggles (misunderstandings) is our terminology. We are confused by the terms baptism of the Spirit, filling of the Spirit, seal of the Spirit, etc. Our denominations have argued over "proof" of the baptism, the gifts that are available (or not), and the legitimacy of particular manifestations. It is time for the church of the living God to STOP arguing over the work of the Holy Spirit and simply get in on what He is doing and how He is doing it. We live in desperate days. The church of America is in desperate need of a fresh move of God's Spirit among us. We cannot continue to move forward without His power. In these "last days" our greatest desire should be to be clothed with more than what we have experienced.

Every great preacher will tell you of a time when God gave them more. You may not have all of the particulars but they got to a place where they could no longer do the work of the Gospel apart from a fresh infusion of power from on high. If this is true of the Gospel minister, what about those who fill the pews every Sunday? Should not every believer seek to go deeper, experience more, and function in greater power and influence? The answer is YES!

Here is a description of this power as found on the back cover of Finney's book: "His words seemed to fasten like arrows in the souls of men. They cut like a sword. Like the power of a hammer, they broke down strongholds. Multitudes experienced this power. Often, just a look or a single sentence would bring conviction and result in an almost immediate conversion to Christ." This same power is available to you and I if we want it. If we are willing to ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK - God will SEND, GIVE, and OPEN this door unto you. Jesus said, "How much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask."

The only way we will walk in the power of God is when we seek to walk in the power of God. I'm not telling you to run after experiences. I am telling you to run after Him!!!

Can You Tarry?

Luke 24:49, "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

Tarry - to linger in expectation (wait), to abide or stay in or at a place.

Just for a moment, I want you to place yourselves in the shoes of the disciples. They have spent the last few days with the risen Savior. Their understanding has been opened so that they might comprehend the Scriptures. They have been told that they are witnesses of the awesome plan of God. Jesus is getting ready to return to Heaven and they are told to WAIT.

I don't know about you but I can almost hear a collective groan. "I have just been given the greatest message that anyone has ever heard. I am an eyewitness to the greatest miracle on earth. Now I have to wait? Uggghhh!"

Think about it: What if the followers of Jesus hadn't waited? Can you imagine the mess they would have made? I can see them one by one being thrown into jail or killed for their faith. Sure...they would have been zealous but they would have lacked power. The power that Christ was sending them was the same power that raised Him from the dead. They had already walked in some pretty amazing things but what Jesus was getting ready to do was unleash ALL OF IT on them.

Charles Finney said, "There is a great difference between the peace and the power of the Holy Spirit in the soul. The disciples were Christians before the Day of Pentecost, and, as such, had a measure of the Holy Spirit. They must have had the peace of sins forgiven and of a justified state, but yet they did not have the infusion of power necessary to do the work assigned them. They had the peace that Christ had given them but not the power that He had promised. This may be true of all Christians, and this is, I think, the great mistake of the church and of the ministry. People rest in conversion, and they do not continue by seeking until they obtain this outpouring of power from on high. Hence, so many professors of Christianity have no power with either God or man. They prevail with neither. They cling to a hope in Christ, and even enter the ministry, overlooking the admonition to wait until they are clothed with power from on high."

The disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost; but if you continue reading in the book of Acts, you will find that they were continually filled with the Spirit. All of us have been endued with power from on high yet very few of us walk in it. The Holy Spirit resides within us. He has sealed us. He is the guarantee - the down payment - of our salvation. However, this doesn't seem to be the reality in the church. Why? Because we continue to do so much in the energy and power of the flesh.

How do we wait?

We wait in prayer
We wait in worship
We wait in expectancy

If you are seeking to go deeper with God then He will take you there. If you are wanting a greater experience with the Holy Spirit then He will give it. If you are seeking to be baptized in the RIVER that already dwells inside of you then you can be. You just got to be willing to wait. He will do the rest.

Can You Tarry?

God of All Comfort

"Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." {2 Corinthians 1:3-4}

I have a heavy heart this morning for some friends of ours who lost a son to leukemia. It's hard for me to imagine what they must be feeling today. This has been a long journey filled with great difficulty. Although it is difficult to understand, I know that God is the Father of all comfort.

The comfort that God gives doesn't make sense to the world. How can we be comforted by a God that we cannot see? They do not understand the peace of God because it passes all understanding. And the comfort that He gives, He wants us to share with others. He allows us to be comforted so that we may be a comfort to those around us.

I'm reminded of the story of a little boy that was sent to the store by his mother. She had given him a specific list of things to purchase and was told to hurry on his way. After a couple of hours the mother began to worry because her son had not returned home. Finally, the door opened and the son came into the house. The mother asked her son what had taken him so long. He replied, "Mom, I did what you asked me to do. I went to the store and got the things on the list. As I was leaving the store, I noticed a little girl crying on the sidewalk. I went over to ask her what was wrong and she showed me a doll that was broken. I couldn't fix the doll, and I didn't have enough money to get her a new one. So I just sat down and cried with her for a little while."

There are times when the only comfort that we can give is to cry with someone for a little while. God's word teaches us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep. People that are going through difficulty don't always need your words...they just need you. I'm praying that this family will experience the comfort of God through His people. His people may not have answers to their situation but they have the comfort of God that can be shared.

Today I am trusting in the God of all comfort!

Counting it All JOY...

Do you ever feel like the guy in the Dunkin' Donuts commercial? You know...there's so much to do that it's like you are running all over yourself to keep up? "It's time to make the donuts."

I was busy enough last week that I had to ask the question: To blog or not to blog? This week started off with a couple of days in Richmond at the Executive Board Meeting for the SBCV. We were making some final preparations for the Annual Homecoming. I do enjoy hearing about the things that are going on in our state. However, we come back home in a dead sprint to keep up with all the things that were neglected.

It would be great to have a quarter for every time I heard someone say "I need a vacation to get over my vacation." It seems as though even when we take time away that we are so used to being busy that we have forgotten to enjoy what we get to do.

I'm not complaining...honest! Our kids are active because they are healthy. The upkeep around the house is here because I am blessed. I'm behind on my work because I have a job. For every complaint that I could have, there is a blessing behind it. Even the difficult times are a reason to give thanks and rejoice in the Lord. James teaches us to "...count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4). It may be hard to believe but the trials of life produce good things in us if we handle them correctly.

I don't like to complain. Number 1...it's not very attractive. Number 2...nobody wants to hear it. Number 3...complaining never takes into account the work of God in my life. My life isn't perfect but God is. I go through stress, difficulties, and fatigue but my life is full. This isn't living life wearing rose colored glasses - it's simply the way that I have chosen to live. It is life with the knowledge that "all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose."

God always gives me strength.
God always provides me with His ability.
God is always present in my life.
God always gives peace.
God is always at work.

There is not one thing in my life that God says "I will be waiting for you on the other side." According to the psalmist "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...You are with me." What a joy to know that I am never alone. What joy in knowing that everything that I need for life and godliness is already mine in Jesus Christ!

I know you are stressed. I know that there never seems to be enough time in the day. I know that you it doesn't seem possible to do all the things you want to do. But I want you to take heart. Regardless of what you are going through, or how you feel, I want you to count it all joy. Learn to be thankful even through the hard stuff. Believe and trust that God is not forsaking you.

We have some friends whose son is laying in a hospital fighting leukemia. When I consider what they are dealing with on a daily basis, it puts my life into a greater perspective. Every time I think that I don't have enough, I'm reminded of how so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are living around the world. Things in my life could be much harder. So I'm learning... I'm learning to count it all joy. Even in the trials I'm trying to see the end result rather than the present reality. I'm also understanding that in the midst of it all, God is GOOD!

I pray that God will give you an attitude of gratitude. Be thankful for all that you have. Be joyful. May you learn to "be anxious for nothing". In all things you can pray - with thanksgiving - and God will grant you peace. Count it all joy my friend.

Guilt Free Living

I will begin today's blog with an apology to my wonderful friends who take the time to read what I write. This week came with a full schedule of events. However, I didn't want you to go into the weekend without something to think about.

This past Sunday, I preached a message titled "The Condemnation of Grace." It was the 4th sermon in a series of messages on GRACE. According to Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according the the Spirit." Two of the greatest hindrances of receiving the message of grace are: (1) Our Identity & (2) God's Identity. We really don't know who we are in Christ and we struggle with our understanding of who God is. We hear the words of Romans 8:1 and almost immediately think about our salvation experience. But this verse applies to where we are now.

When you are free from condemnation, you are free from guilt. There is no "adverse sentence" upon you. There is no judgement against you. In the grace of God you have been set free from the power of sin and the penalty. You no longer have to walk around in shame, humiliation, or guilt. Because of the blood of Jesus your slate is clean.

NO CONDEMNATION...

1) Because of Your Position
- According to God's Word, you are "in Christ." Old things have passed away - All things have become new. What normally happens in the believers life is that we begin with a lot of enthusiasm until we sin. Once we sin, condemnation creeps in and we fall into a world of shame and despair. We look for and expect judgment. But there is no judgement. God has dealt with your sin at the cross. Past, Present, and Future sin is under the blood. When this condemnation creeps in we think that it is the work of God in our lives. However, God doesn't condemn us any more. We are free from condemnation. What we have described as conviction from the Holy Spirit is actually coming from our conscience. The conscience is what God has placed within every person He created. This is where God has written His law upon our hearts. When we fail to live up to what we know to be right and wrong - conviction comes. But this isn't God pressing down on you.

2) Because of the Power at Work in You
- Romans 8:9-14 describes the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Spirit of God is the guarantee of eternal life. He is the inner witness to the fact that you have been born again. His presence within you is the evidence of new life. He is in you to empower your life, to guide you into the truth of who you are in Christ, and to comfort you with the assurance of God's love. He does not deal with you the same way He does with the world. The Spirit convicts the world of sin but you are no longer of the world. You have been set apart!

3) Because of your Father
- The Bible goes on to say that the Spirit of God within you cries out "Abba, Father." He is the Spirit of adoption into sonship; not the spirit of fear unto bondage. This is why I say that you must know who YOU ARE in Christ and who God is in your life. You belong to Him and He is your Heavenly Father. You need not fear Him because you have been made acceptable. He is still the same Father that Jesus described in Luke 15:11-32 when He told to parable of the Prodigal Son.

THE BREAKDOWN:
There is no condemnation in you because of the death of Jesus on the cross. When you believed upon Him with your heart, it resulted in righteousness. The confession from your mouth resulted in salvation. The Spirit of God took up residence in your life and immediately began to cry out "Abba, Father" as a result of your adoption into the family. The law is gone (you don't have to gain God's favor) - righteousness is yours (in Christ) - and the Spirit of God confirms it to be true. There is NO MORE CONDEMNATION!!!

What do you need to do? How can you live a guilt free life? Agree with God! Agree with what He has said is true about you. The change from guilt to glory happens when you are able to confess by faith what God has accomplished. Then watch what the Spirit of God does in your heart as grace begins to flood your life. Your life will be different...and why not...you are now learning to live without guilt.

This Sunday I will be finishing up this series. I pray that God moves in the heart of our PBC crowd so that they can enjoy a life filled with grace. I pray that He moves in your heart as well. This is the change you need = GRACE!!!