Designated Praise

"And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel" {1 Chronicles 6:4}

King David is a truly remarkable figure of the Old Testament. It is noted in Scripture that he was a man after God's own heart. He wasn't perfect, but God took note of his heart.

God used David to establish Israel as a kingdom that would give praise to His name. In 1 Chronicles we find that one of the first things that David did was to bring the ark of the covenant into the city. This was something that was never done under the rule of Saul. But we must remember that in Saul that God gave the people what they wanted. They wanted a king like all of the other nations. In David, we have God's man.

After bringing the ark of covenant back into Jerusalem, David set up a tabernacle to house it and designated the Levites to minister before it. The most notable aspect of all this is that part of their job description was to do more than just offer sacrifices according to the law of Moses. David actually set apart certain men to play the musical instruments. Horns and stringed instruments were continually playing before the presence of God. Songs were being sung by men that were set apart for this service - those who were skilled in singing. And we cannot forget those whose ministry was to give praise to God for all the good things He had done.

The praise ministry of Israel was established under David. The king said: Some of you will offer the sacrifices. Some of you will play and sing songs. Others of you will commemorate our God, thank Him for all that He has done, and literally give praise from your mouth.

Once David got everyone into position, he gave a psalm of thanksgiving to Asaph so that it could be used in rendering thanks unto God. We find it here in 1 Chronicles 16:8-36:
"Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!...For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised...Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!...Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; and let them say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns.'...Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever...Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting!"

Let's put this into perspective. If God truly dwelt in a church building then when you drove by you could hear songs being played, songs being sung, praise being given, and you would see smoke rising from a chimney where sacrifices were being offered. However, God doesn't work that way anymore. We are His temple. God has chosen to dwell within each of us through His Holy Spirit. We do not need others designated to give praise for us. We are told to offer unto God the sacrifice of praise continually - the fruit of our lips - giving thanks unto His name (Hebrews 13:15).

Here's what we need to take away from this teaching:
God enjoys the praises of His people
God is worthy of the praises of His people
It is our choice whether God will receive praise

Chris Rice came out with a song several years ago called "The Cartoon Song". The whole song was filled with the sounds of praise that would come out of certain cartoon characters: Fred Flinstone, Scooby-Doo, the Jetsons. The song is a lot of fun but has an awesome message. Chris goes on to say that the point of the song is that cartoons were not created to praise God. We were created to praise God. So let's sing "Hallelujah!!!"

Designate some time today to REMEMBER all that God has done for us - THANK Him for His mercy that endures forever - and give PRAISE to His name.

Reality Christianity

I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of "Reality TV". If I wanted to see a marriage fall apart and children dazed and confused, I could go up and down the streets of the neighborhood. I don't need to see that stuff play out on TV. In fact, if I'm going to sit down and enjoy a show on television, I want to escape reality. It was during my quiet time this morning that Oswald Chambers got me to thinking about "Reality Christianity."

Unfortunately, much of what we see in the church of America has nothing to do with the reality of faith. Sure...you can see a little drama, excitement, and maybe even a fight scene or two; however, there is something lacking. When will we understand that the people who walk into the doors of our churches want something REAL?

Pay attention to the words of Oswald Chambers:
"The holiness movements of today have none of the rugged reality of the New Testament about them. There is nothing about them that needs the death of Jesus Christ. All that is required is a pious atmosphere, prayer, and devotion. This type of experience is not supernatural nor miraculous. It did not cost the sufferings of God, nor is it stained with 'the blood of the Lamb'...It is not marked or sealed by the Holy Spirit as being genuine, and it has no visual sign that causes people to exclaim with awe and wonder, 'That is the work of God Almighty!' Yet the New Testament is about the work of God and nothing else.
"The New Testament example of the Christian experience is that of personal, passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ. Every other kind of so-called Christian experience is detached from the Person of Jesus. There is no regeneration - no being born again into the kingdom in which Christ lives and reigns supreme. There is only the idea that He is our pattern. In the New Testament Jesus Christ is the Savior long before He is the pattern. Today He is being portrayed as the figurehead of a religion - a mere example. He is that, but He is infinitely more. He is salvation itself; He is the gospel of God!" {My Utmost for His Highest - November 29}

We find Jesus in the Gospel of John 16:13-14 saying: "...when He, the Spirit of truth, has come,...He will glorify Me..." When the Spirit of God is at work in our faith, the reality is Jesus Christ. It's not a better me, a more pious me, or a more devoted me. It's all about the reality of Jesus! The reason I focus so much attention on the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is because the work of the Spirit is to bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ. Our focus as the people of God needs to be shifted again to the reality of His Spirit at work in every area.

Spirit led worship
Spirit led preaching
Spirit led living
Spirit led giving
Spirit inspired dreams & visions
Spirit prompted words
Healing
Miracles
Prophecy
All the things that are accomplished by the Spirit of God in our midst for the revealing of the Son of God.

Attention all churches: Let's make Jesus Christ the main attraction once again! It's not about our singing, our programs, our ministries, or our buildings. It's not about our preaching/teaching, our small groups, or our purpose statements. Real Christianity is about advancing the Kingdom of God where we live and abroad. It's about being empowered by the Spirit of God - being used by the Spirit of God - so that we may leave a mark in the world about the reality of Jesus Christ.

Are you ready for REAL CHRISTIANITY? REAL FAITH? GENUINE CHANGE? SALVATION OF THE LOST? Then get on board with the work of the Holy Spirit and you will experience all that God wants for you and the world. Let's get REAL!!!

Returning Thanks

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." {James 1:17}

My grandmother is a firm believer in "Thank You" cards. Whenever she opens a gift, she brings out her little notebook and pens the persons name inside. The next day (or so) she will sit down, write out, and send a note of thanks to the people who gave her gifts. This is the mindset of a truly thankful person. They are thankful for the gift and for the person who gave them the gift.

Do you understand the importance of James 1:17? It is here that we see the giver and the gift. The Giver is God. James calls Him the Father of lights. The gift: every good and perfect gift. Don't you think it's time to return thanks?

What an awesome God we serve!
The God of Creation
The God of Eternal Life
The God of Provision
The God of Protection
The God of Peace
The God of Redemption
The God of Righteousness
The God of GOOD THINGS

As if I needed anything else from His hand, He has provided every good and perfect gift! I am truly thankful.

And before you begin to think that you have received bad gifts from Him, read what James has said. "...with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." God hasn't changed. His nature hasn't changed. He is still the Giver of good and perfect gifts.

I hope that during this Thanksgiving holiday that you will be revived in your thanksgiving. Share it during the meal. Talk about it with your family. Make sure that your friends understand what you are thankful for and to whom you are grateful. You may not be able to send Him a note, but you can give Him the sacrifice of praise - the fruit of your lips.

Blessings to you all.

I am Thankful

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'" {Romans 1:16-17}

There is no doubt that I could spend a great deal of time thanking God for all of the material blessings in my life. I have a roof over my head, a vehicle to drive, food in my refrigerator, meat in the freezer, and other vital necessities. Most of us can also move past the necessities and thank God for the non-essential stuff that we own. However, I can honestly say that of all the "things" that I am most thankful for, I am most thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul told the church at Rome that the gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation. I can testify to that truth. It has been almost 19 years since that became true in my life. I had heard the gospel countless times before I ever accepted Christ but on that day something happened. I believed the gospel and it has forever changed my life.

What about you? Have you ever taken the time to thank God for the power of the gospel? Everything else in life means very little if we have never allowed the truth of the gospel to set us free. The old saying is true: "He who dies with the most toys still dies." I can accumulate all the wealth in the world, never want for anything again, be blessed with all material blessings; but without the power of the gospel at work in me I would still be lost.

Think about it:
The RIGHTEOUS ONE bore my unrighteousness on the cross.
The SINLESS ONE became sin for me.
The PERFECT SON OF GOD gave His life for the imperfect ones like me.

God in His great love chose to give Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. We can be forgiven, set free, and have His Spirit take up residence in our lives by believing in what He has done. The Bible tells us that it is by GRACE through FAITH that we are saved. If we confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead we shall be saved. This is true for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord!

As we prepare to gather with family and friends over this thanksgiving holiday, let us not forget to give thanks for the incredible power of the gospel. I have been made the righteousness of God in Christ. Sin no longer has dominion over us because we are no longer under law but under grace. All because of the amazing, wonderful, and grace filled power of the gospel.

If you have allowed this message of the gospel to change your life then you can be truly thankful. If you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you can do it today. Thank God that you have the opportunity to be saved. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you can spend this Thanksgiving truly thankful for what God has done in you by His grace.

Great to be Home

Thanksgiving week is upon us and God has given me many reasons to give thanks.

Last week I was in Missouri with my father-in-law and brother-in-law. We had been invited to go up and hunt whitetail deer in this beautiful state. It was a great week. I was able to bag my first trophy buck (8 pt), while my brother-in-law killed an excellent 10 pt.

The week away provided a lot of time for relaxation and reflection. It allowed me to think about all the wonderful things that God has been doing in our PBC family. Folks...we serve an awesome God!

I just wanted to stop in today and say "Hello." Tomorrow is a new day with a new blog entry. I pray that your week is filled with all the goodness of God. I pray that you will be able to find some time to reflect upon all the good things that Jehovah has provided for you. And I pray that you will have a thankful heart.

May the Lord bless you all in the name of Jesus!

Pardon the Interruption

When I decided to start blogging, I never considered that there would be so many interruptions. Immediately after typing those words...the phone rings (LOL!).

I will be taking about a week off from the blog to do some hunting. I look forward to returning with a few stories, fresh ideas, and challenging words.

Thanks for checking in with PBC Voice. It is our prayer that this blog will continue to bring encouragement and instruction into your life. May the Lord bless you in your walk with Him.

Going with the Flow

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" {Philippians 4:11}

Paul's lesson of contentment is found in the understanding that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (verse 13). These verses cause me to ask the question: Can I go with the flow?

We all have certain moments in life (possibly days) where we have to make a decision. Am I going to be upset at changes in schedules, stressed at the problems that life throws at me, or bothered that I cannot always do what I want to do? OR...can I go with the flow and make things work? We often look at Paul's comments and say, "I don't have to have everything." And we immediately link contentment with material things. But what happens when there is a conflict of schedule? What happens when a flight is delayed? What happens when I find out that it will take another day to get my car out of the shop? Most of us understand that we cannot possess everything that we want but struggle being content when our time is affected.

Time seems to be one of the most valuable concepts in the American culture. We know that money can slip through our hands rather quickly but try to make the most of all the time that we can. That is why devices that make life simpler, cause us to save time and effort sell like hotcakes. If you can save me a few minutes, I might be willing to spend a little more money. But there are some things in life that cannot be helped and we find ourselves having to change our plans:
One of the kids is sick
The car doesn't start
The power goes out and the alarm doesn't go off
There is an accident on the highway and traffic is backed-up
Etc., Etc., Etc.

Paul told Timothy that "godliness with contentment is great gain." We may be able to learn contentment but are we God-like in the process? This is one of the hardest lessons of life. It is righteousness in character. It's more about attitude than action. Can I go to the Father and say, "I know that you are in control."?

Remember: Not every bump in the road is meant to be a distraction. There are some things in life that become Divine opportunities. Don't be so quick to be upset when things don't go the way they should. Learn to be content and godly through the process. It's a lesson we can all learn.

Jesus said "Go"...

I heard a quote some time ago that I fell in love with: "Jesus said 'Go". You need permission to stay."

The quote, of course, is a reference to the Great Commission. The followers of Jesus Christ are to go into all the world making disciples, baptizing, and teaching those disciples to obey all that He commanded. Until He returns, we must continue to "GO!".

This Saturday PBC will be sending out our 3rd team to South Africa. Over the last couple of years, this trip has been remarkable. The stories that come out of the squatter camps are amazing. We have heard of demons being cast out, the lame walking, the Gospel being preached, and people being saved. If it sounds like something out of the book of Acts...well...it is! God is doing amazing things in this part of the world and our folks are always eager to go.

Please keep this team in your prayers over the next couple of weeks.
Travel
Family back home
Their effectiveness in the field
Sensitivity to the Spirit of God
And pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will send out laborers because the field is truly white!

While this team is overseas I want you to consider being a missionary at home. While they share with strangers, take some time to share with family and friends. You can "Go" while you are at home. Go across the street. Go to that person who is hurting. Go to that co-worker. You will be amazed at how God will use you. What He cannot use is your silence.

What You Witnessed

There are certain moments in American history that cause you to sit back and say "WOW!" Last night, we witnessed one of those moments. According to Fox News, Republicans won more than 60 seats in the House with a 65 net gain being projected. Our nation hasn't seen this type of historical shift in more than 70 years.

I want you to put all of this into prospective. You can look at the "Tea Party" movement, any other "grass roots" organizations, or just the general disgust of the people over our current economic status and say these were all the cause of the election results. Each of these items played a part in getting people out of their homes and into the voting booths. However, what I want you to take away is the MOMENT we witnessed. We witnessed a great uprising of people who wanted to make a difference. These people were tired of the current situation and decided to do something about it. They did what every American citizen had the right to do - cast a vote - and they voted for a change.

Imagine, if you will, what our nation would look like if the church of the living God did the same thing. I'm not referring to the political arena but to the advancement of the kingdom of God. Imagine all churches zealous for good works, seeking to save that which is lost, and longing to be a force in their communities. Imagine every believer empowered by the Spirit of God to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Imagine every church fellowship feeding the poor, clothing the naked, and caring for the broken. Imagine all followers of Jesus Christ taking God at His Word and standing in faith. Do you think that we would see some significant moments in church history?

In the book of Acts 17:6, the Bible says, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." You have to remember that they were referring to Paul and Silas who had come to Thessalonica. What an incredible statement! What an incredible MOMENT in church history!

I pray that the church will see what can happen when men and women move within common goals and values. I pray that the church will consider what can happen when we are not in competition with each other. If we could remember that it is His kingdom that we are to advance, His message that we are to preach, and His creation that we are to reach; then maybe we can see Jesus exalted as Lord and Savior upon every heart.

I know what I saw last night. The message was clear. People had become frustrated with the state of our nation. When will the church become frustrated with the state of lostness within our country? When will we grow weary watching the enemy have his way in the lives of so many around us? When will we begin to walk in the authority that Jesus gave us? It's time for a Divine Moment that not only affects church history but the history of the world!

Vote - Election 2010

It's Election Day...aren't you glad? I'm sure that most people will be glad to rescue their phones from all the calls and their televisions from all the commercials. It looks as though tomorrow is shaping up to be an interesting day.

Although I am a proud American and believe in having certain people representing our country, I do not believe that the future of our nation rests upon our elected leaders. To quote James Richards: "The future of our nation will be determined by the church's willingness to win and disciple the lost. History is written in the hearts of the believers."

Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." The truth of the matter is this: If we do not win the lost and develop disciples, our country will become corrupt and fall through all the junk that we sow. God doesn't have to overthrow a nation; it rots on its own.

I hope that you took the time to exercise your Constitutional right to vote. It is a freedom that should not be taken lightly. I also hope that you took the time to share your faith in Christ with someone. The salvation of the lost will do more to influence this nation than how we vote. The Church must recapture this vision!!! If we do not bring change through relevant ministry within the world, then we will have no more influence that another political party.

The Church was never intended to be a political force. In fact, we have never been very successful when it comes to politics. We are to be a force in the kingdom of God!