A New Beginning...

In Revelation 21:5, the Bible says: "Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new...'" With the approaching New Year, you have a couple of choices on how to view life. You can view the end of the year as a chapter closing or you can look at the coming year with the attitude of a new chapter beginning.

Closing a chapter can be a good thing. If we have taken the time to understand what we have been through...to learn all the lessons...then closing a chapter in our lives can bring about great growth. However, if we do not listen to the lessons of the past then we will be doomed to repeat them in the future. All that you have gone through this year can be used to strengthen you, shape you, and create great character. Even if you have had a rough year, I would encourage you to reap all that you can from the experience and you will find that there is some good in there.

Opening a new chapter is exciting. Where will the story take us? How will the plot of life develop over the pages of this year? What does God have in store for us? The possibilities are limitless when we are walking with the God who makes all things new. If you will resolve to seek Him out over this next year, I think you will be amazed at all He is able to accomplish.

Allow me to encourage you to make Revelation 21:5 a fresh revelation for your life.
1) Let God sit on the throne
- This verse is quite clear about who is in charge. If this is going to be a year of fresh beginnings then we have to relinquish control. Let God have His rightful place in your heart.
2) Let God make all things new
- May this be the year that you stop striving in the energy of your flesh. Allow the grace of God to be your strength and ability. If there is one lesson that I can pass on to you from the last chapter (this past year) is that God's grace is enough! There is grace available for everything that you will face in this coming year. And understand that His grace is able to keep you from falling. Too often we only see His grace as the ability to get up when we fail but I pray that this will be the year that you walk in victory. Go ahead and step into all that God wants to do in and through you.

Thank you for sharing this past year with me. I appreciate you taking the time to read what I have posted. I trust that in this coming year God will continue to give me fresh revelations to share with you. It is the desire of my heart that PBC Voice will be able to minister to you directly. I pray that God will allow me to affect your life in a positive way.

Happy New Year to you all. May God's richest blessings be yours.

Cliché doesn't Work

One of the greatest dangers facing the church today is that we become a cliché to the rest of the world. Please hear me out on this point. It is not my intention to sound mean-spirited...I'm simply concerned.

A good definition of "cliché" is: "expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, rendering it a stereotype...frequently used in modern culture for an action or idea which is expected or predictable, based on a prior event..."

The words that you see in the picture above have been used to the point that they can be rendered useless or predictable. Mission/Vision statements for a lot of churches are simply regurgitated slogans and phrases that do not reflect the fellowship that uses them. This problem is common among a church that simply doesn't know who she is, her place in society, and her purpose within the kingdom of God. Cliché sayings and programs have moved many churches into a posture of trying to be cute or operating in the wrong kind of creativity. When will we understand that the world doesn't need the church to be cliché, cute, or critical? What the world needs to see is a church that flows in genuine creativity given by God, walking in the power and presence of God, and preaching the good news of the Gospel.

I have been in the ministry long enough to see fads, ideas, projects, and programs cost the church money, time, and valuable resources without any lasting results upon the community. What is needed is a return to the heart of God as it pertains to church life if we ever hope to make an impact where we live. Just as Jesus came to reveal the heart of God to a world in unbelief; the church should stand as a revelation of the reality of Jesus Christ. We don't need to be on the street corners condemning everyone to hell. We don't have to have great marketing skills. All we need is the power of the Holy Spirit that was promised in Acts 1:8 and recorded in Acts 2 to be upon us. This was God's design all along. The witness that He promised in the world would only come as a result of the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of believers. The early church turned their world upside down. I'm afraid that much of what we do in the name of the church only turns their stomachs.

Folks...hear what I am saying. This is not a plea for a politically correct church, nor is it a cry for the church to turn away from our biblical base. All I am asking for is that the church be the church. If we are the "called out" and "gathered together" ones who operate under the Lordship of Jesus Christ then we will be all that God wants us to be in our generation. Our programs are not going to change the world. Our budget is useless in the eyes of God unless it fuels the harvest. Our buildings are empty shells if the lives that come in remain empty. Let us return to the heart of the Father that longs to see the world come to repentance. Let's recapture the burning desire that He had when Jesus came to "seek and to save that which was lost."

I'm expecting big things in the life of the church this coming year. What I say next may only be for the PBC crew that I gather with on Sunday and Wednesday but you need to hear it. I'm looking for a greater experience of His power in our lives, a more intimate experience of His presence, and a flow of divine creativity that comes from His heart. We will not fall victim to the cliché or cute method of church because our eyes are upon the Father. He will not leave us nor forsake us. He will build His church and the gates of hell will not be able to withstand the force that is His body. We will walk in God-given authority to reclaim that which was lost, open eyes that have been blinded to the truth, and set the prisoners free. We will proclaim the year of Jubilee!!!

Let the Countdown Begin

In just a few more days we will be celebrating the opening day of a new year. New Year's Day seems to bring hope to a lot of people. There is something about saying goodbye to the past that offers great anticipation for the future. My question: Why wait?

Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Consider this verse with me:
Mercy allows us to say goodbye to the past!
Grace allows us to say hello to the future!

For the follower of Christ there is never a need to wait. There is mercy and grace available NOW in our time of need. God's Word encourages each of us to come boldly - in confidence - to obtain those things which we desperately need. The past does not have to dominate us and the future does not have to frighten us. God can handle it all.

Romans 6:4, "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

What if I told you that you could bury the past and walk in the newness of life today? Would you believe me? Would you do it? For most of us, the shame, guilt, unbelief, and mistakes of the past seem too difficult to overcome. We struggle with the idea that we can actually let it go. What God offers us is more than just letting go of the past. He completely removes the past - wipes our slate clean - and allows us to walk in our new identity in Christ. God gets no glory when we wallow in past failures but loves to see His children walk in the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit.

Don't wait until Saturday to begin a new chapter in your life. Begin today to enjoy all that God has for you.
Believe in the finished work of Christ
Confess Him as Lord and Savior of every part of your life
Walk in who you are in Him
Start today!!!

You can enjoy the hope and anticipation of God's goodness in your life today. It's a matter of faith.

The Word Became Flesh

I hope that during this Christmas season that each of us will be able to rise up above the materialism, commercialism, and routine of the holidays. Many Christians around the world use this time of year to celebrate the birth of Christ. However, even in our celebrations we can lose the meaning of His coming.

Here's some tips to helping you keep Christ in your Christmas:

#1 - Remember that He would be called Emmanuel - "God with us"

#2 - Jesus Christ was the Word become flesh (according to John 1:14). The "Word" in the Greek is "Logos" - "Divine Expression".

#3 - John 1:18 also tells us that Jesus declared God to the world. The word "declared" in the Greek literally means to lead forth into full revelation. It metaphorically mean to draw out in narrative. Jesus came to reveal, manifest, and interpret God unto man. In Him we have the full revelation of God!!!

#4 - In our Christian tradition we refer to Jesus as God-incarnate. The incarnation is basically the personification, embodiment, manifestation, and materialization of God in living form. Jesus told His disciples "If you have seen Me you have seen the Father." (John 14:9).

#5 - The Bible also tells us that He will be called Jesus because He will save His people from their sins. We sing the song: "There's just something about that name" - this is why!!! At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.

Don't allow the coming of our Lord to be clouded with the image of a young lady holding a baby. Don't get caught up with the thoughts about the actual date of His birth (I know we could spend a lot of time arguing these points). I want you to take some time to consider that the reason for His coming was to fully reveal the heart of God to the world, demonstrate a life filled with the grace of God and empowered by the Spirit of God, and to give His life as a ransom for ours.

In the days to come I will be celebrating the miracle of God coming in the form of man. I will give thanks for this incredible gift of eternal life. And I will be leading my family in praise to the God who loved us enough to send His Son into the world.

Many Blessings to you all & Merry Christmas!!!

Talk About Mercy!

We were created to worship. If we do not worship God then we have forfeited our reason for existence. Too often, we have mistaken praise for worship (or vice versa). Worship is a spiritual response. It is something that happens inwardly. That is why we speak of the heart of worship. Praise, on the other hand, is a physical response that is a result of what is happening inwardly. Praise is something you see and hear. Why am I saying all of that? Keep reading...

The book of Lamentations was written under deep distress. Thus the title: Lamentations. Jeremiah is lamenting the death and destruction around him. However, in the midst of this five-poem dirge comes a statement that is hard to comprehend if you do not understand the "heart" of worship. In Lamentations 3:22-23 he says, "Through the LORDS's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; GREAT is Your faithfulness."

Great is the faithfulness of God even when I don't understand the situation I am in.
Great is the faithfulness of God even when I am not experiencing joy.
Great is the faithfulness of God even when problems have come against me.
Great is the faithfulness of God because He is always faithful!!!

Notice how Jeremiah states this faithfulness:
God's Compassion Does Not Fail!
His Mercy is New Every Morning!
Do we understand the faithfulness of God in this way?

I don't think we can ever understand true worship unless we can worship in the most difficult of circumstances. Jeremiah knew His God. He understood His heart. He had experienced the mercy and compassion. He had been warning Israel of what was about to come and they didn't listen. And although Jeremiah had to see all of this come to pass, he could still worship a faithful and compassionate God.

What has the enemy used to try to steal your praise and rob your worship? Jesus said that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. If he can disrupt your worship then you will take your praise. Don't give him that opportunity. Settle in your heart that God is good, He is faithful, and His mercies are new every morning. You may have to sing the old song: "GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS". Get it into your spirit. Then when the problems comes you can join Jeremiah and worship God because of His faithfulness.

Remember: His compassions NEVER FAIL!!!

A Great Christmas Present!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! My family and I just returned from a trip to New York. This was our Christmas present to the kids. We thought that it would be better to create a memory than just buy a bunch of stuff. The family had a blast.

Some of the highlights:
A Broadway Play
Times Square
Statue of Liberty
Rockefeller Center
Empire State Building
World Trade Center Site
Yankees Stadium Tour
Etc., Etc., Etc.

I could take up an entire blog sharing the sites and sounds of New York but I would rather tell you about one of the places that we visited: The Brooklyn Tabernacle.

It has been a desire of mine for some time to visit The Brooklyn Tabernacle. For years I have enjoyed the choir music, the books from Pastor Cymbala, and the overall ministry of this congregation. This fellowship of believers ministers to the homeless, addicts, and many other "hopeless" people in Brooklyn. Our time of worship with this church body was incredible.

The "worship" portion of their service was an hour long. I told my wife that we tend to have the setup of our services backwards. We tend to think that you need a lot more time for the preaching. However, I have discovered that if you get the worship right then you don't have to preach for an hour. Hearts will be sensitive to the Word of God and lives will be changed. This is the impact of the presence of God!

The preaching wasn't anything out of the ordinary for Pastor Cymbala. He preached a simple message that was powerful. It was amazing to me how he was preaching a lot of the things that I have been sharing with our church family. A message about the heart of God, the impact of our relationship with Him, and allowing His work to be complete in us!

One of the reasons that I have longed to visit with The Brooklyn Tabernacle is because their approach to ministry is what impacted our church body to do Wednesday Night Prayer Meetings. That may sound odd to some of you but you have to understand that many churches have "prayer meetings" but they include Bible studies, etc. We simply PRAY!!! And what we have discovered is that prayer works!

Prayerless churches lead to powerless churches. If we do not invoke the help of Almighty God then we might as well call it a social club. Without the power of prayer we will be doing ministry in the energy and power of the flesh. Any ministry that is started in the energy of the flesh has to be maintained through the energy of the flesh. And to be quite honest with you: I don't have that kind of time or energy.

Our church has been able to witness healing, provision, and amazing results because we stopped activity and entered into an attitude of going before God. We are learning the beauty of being still before Him. Too many churches have fallen into the idea that activity is what God is looking for from us. But we must remind ourselves that unless the Lord builds the house then we labor in vain.

This holiday season I want to remind you of the importance of waiting upon God. Take some time to get into His presence and bring all of your requests unto Him.

I'm Away From My Desk...

Folks, it's time to take a few days away from the blog. I will return on Monday.

By way of encouragement, I do want to leave some Scripture with you:

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you...I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." {Ezekiel 36:26-27}

Part of the renewal of Israel was a promise from God to put a new spirit and heart within His people. Not only that, but a promise to place His Spirit within them.

This promise has been passed down to us as well. We have the same problem that Israel had...we struggle in having a heart for God. It is through the new birth that we receive a new heart and new spirit - as well as the Spirit of God within. It is the Spirit of God that causes us to walk in agreement with God's Word. It's the Spirit of God that allows us to accomplish all that God asks of us.

The time has come for us to cease doing ministry by the energy of the flesh. We must stop viewing our walk with the Lord as something that we do for Him. He has given us everything we need for life and godliness. The life of the believer is to be empowered by the Spirit of God. Our heart and our spirit (which has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb) comes into agreement with the Spirit of God (which guides into all that is true) and we can now "flesh out" what we believe. Gone is the reliance upon the flesh. Gone is our natural ability. We now fully rely and trust in His work within us.

Over the next few days, I want you to focus upon the work that God has done in you. Then, and only then, you can focus upon what God wants to do through you.

Walk in His Grace!
Enjoy His Love!
Allow Him Full Access to who you are!
Be Amazed at all He Accomplishes!

May Grace and Peace be multiplied to you. We'll talk soon.

Movie Review Time

The family went to the movies last night. This is a rare occurrence during on a weeknight but the kids were out of school. We watched "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" in 3D.

First of all, I want to commend Disney for continuing the Chronicles series. I'm not sure how the profits compare to something like "The Lord of the Rings" but these movies allow us to sit down as an entire family and enjoy some action/adventure. The 3rd movie in the trilogy did not disappoint.

There were several things that I carried away from the movie that parallel my relationship with Christ:
1) Identifying myself by who I am in Christ
- The identity crisis theme comes up in all the Narnia movies. Apart from Aslan and what He has made them to be, the characters struggle with who they are.
2) Faith is the key
- Even when you cannot see Aslan, He's always there. Even in the darkest times it seems that you can hear him roar.
3) There is a kingdom to establish
- The kingdom of Narnia is always being advanced and defended in these movies. Just like the kingdom of God is to be established in the earth, we must overcome our fears and seek to rescue the lost souls and defeat the evil of our day.

These are just a few of the things that I can share with you without giving away the story. If you haven't seen the newest Narnia movie then I would encourage you to watch it with prophetic eyes and hear with prophetic ears. God will speak to you through the struggles, the encouragements, and the plot of the movie.

Never forget that God can use anything He chooses to speak to our hearts...even a Disney movie. All of us (kids and adults alike) walked away inspired. So much of what we saw and heard last night became confirmation for things that God had been doing in our hearts. What is truly amazing is that these were the things that C.S. Lewis was alluding to when he wrote the fantasy series. How have we missed these truths in the church for so long?

As you go about your daily routine of life today I want you to take some time to listen. Listen for the roar of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah!!! He's always with you, always "roaring" into your life, and always seeking to use you in His purpose.

A Return to Family

If you enjoy college football then you have probably heard the name of Urban Meyer. Meyer was the head coach for the Florida Gators football team. He resigned his position yesterday (this is his second resignation - 1st due to health reasons but only lasted a day) due to family.

Coach Meyer had this to say:
"At the end of the day, I'm very convinced that you're going to be judged on how you are as a husband and as a father and not on how many bowl games we won...I've not seen my two girls play high school sports. They're both very talented Division I-A volleyball players, so I missed those four years. I missed two already with one away at college. I can't get that time back..."

I wonder how many parents hear something like this and reflect upon their own investment in their children. It's real easy for us to look at our jobs and think that we are providing for our families. We might even think that the best thing for our family is that we advance our career to the point of never having to worry about college, etc. The fact of the matter is that regardless of our job/career, we will not get back the time lost with our children. But we can redeem the time!

How can we redeem the time?
- Make the most of every situation. Make the time you get with your children an investment into their future. This is an act of the will. You have a choice to make.
- Use your time with your children as an opportunity to build up rather than tear down. How many times have we heard stories from troubled teens/adults who had a parent that wasn't around that much but when they were all they did was tell them all of the wrong things they have done? If you aren't involved enough to give some encouragement then your criticism will only be used to bring about a negative effect.
- Make your children a priority. Did you ever think you would have to hear those words? Most of us bring children in this world with the idea that we will do anything in the world to make them happy. However, raising children isn't cheap, it isn't automatic, and it isn't easy. If I do not map out a plan on investing in my children then I will be investing in other things.

Kids need parents. They need the love of a parent, the attention of a parent, the correction of a parent, and the presence of a parent. The Bible tells us to raise our children in the reverence and instruction of the Lord. It is our responsibility to equip the next generation in their own relationship with God. Family time in prayer, instruction of the Word, and exemplifying godliness within the family environment are the best ways we can pass on our love for God. I truly believe that we are living in a day when God is drawing the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children back to their fathers. We simply need to respond to what God is doing in our hearts.

I hope that each of us will take some time today, while this thought is fresh upon our hearts, to make wise investments in our children. Don't wait. Begin redeeming the time you have with your children and watch God begin to shape their hearts along with yours. May we be the generation that reclaims the family for God and His purpose.

God's New Thing

"Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." {Isaiah 43:19}

Have you ever heard someone say that the church is always 20 years behind? I believe it's true because we argue about the validity of something for the first 10 years and then spend the next 10 years trying to make it work. Why do we fear new things?

God told the Prophet Isaiah that He was getting ready to do a new thing. You can almost hear God saying, "You better get ready because it's coming!" God was prepared to put roads in the wilderness and rivers in the desert if it meant accomplishing His purpose. Can I tell you that God hasn't changed?

I think the problem for many of us is that we hear verses like "I am God...I change not..." and think that God is somehow stuck in a rut. In other words: He only works through certain prescribed methods and ideas. However, it is in times like this that we need to be reminded that our God is a creative God. God may have ceased with the creation of the earth on the 6th day but He never ceased being creative. All throughout the Bible we can read about a God who constantly does new things. This whole idea of a systematic God was the downfall of the Scribes and Pharisees in Jesus' day. The truly believed that God was confined by their religious practice. In their ignorance, they completely missed the revelation of God before them.

It is my prayer for the church that we do not miss what God is doing in our days. This is not about going against the foundations of our faith; nor is it a rant against religious practice. It is a call that we do not lose sight of a creative God should He choose to move in a way that is against our conventional way of thinking. We must be willing to take a serious and honest look at how God is moving in the world, the people that He is using today, and the way in which ministry is being done. We cannot be content to look the same way we did 30, 20, or even 10 years ago. We must be willing to embrace all that God wants to do for today's generation. His truth does not change and we should not compromise, but we must be willing to change.

The strange thing about much of what is considered "new" is that we can find a lot of it in the OT. Years ago, dance was considered sinful. Yet we know that David danced before the Lord. It wasn't that long ago that people did not use instruments in the church (much less modern instruments), but we find David using all types of instruments when He established the praise and worship ministry of his day. The list goes on and on: media, drama, and all of the arts. All of these things should be a part of the creativity of God's people in an effort to worship Him rather than an escape from the mundane activities of life.

We were created in the image of a creative God. The creativity that God has placed within His people needs to be embraced and used for His glory. Let the church paint, sing, perform, and dance for the glory of God. Let us remember that God is more than willing to do a new thing in the earth. "May His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

The question we need to ask today is not "What is God doing?". The question we need to ask is "How does God want to use us?" Then we must embrace all that God wants to do in and through us to reach this generation for the kingdom of God.

Perfect Day to Hit "500"

Before we get started I want to note that today's blog is number 500! This milestone may not mean as much to the reader, but for someone who has attempted to be creative, informative, and engaging (not sure that was I was for all 500) it's amazing to think that so many have taken the time to read what I have shared. Thank You!

I also believe it's a perfect day to hit "500" as we remember Pearl Harbor. It was on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese bombed our US Naval Base in Hawaii. President FDR told America that this day would "live in infamy", and he was right. Some have called this a day of celebration over the last few years. Personally, I don't think we can celebrate what happened on December 7 but we can celebrate the honor and courage of so many brave men and women who rose up to defend this great nation. We can celebrate the resolve of a nation that said "We will not back down from a fight!" Today we remember all the lives that were lost and honor those who sacrificed for a stronger America.

The defense of our nation has always been a hot button issue. It amazes me to think that some believe America has used her military might to become a great empire. However, it is my belief that when you investigate the wars of this nation that you will discover we have fought on the side of freedom (many times our own). We haven't been perfect as a country but I hope that we will never lose our willingness to protect the sovereignty of this nation.

America is still a very young nation. It's almost mind boggling to think of how far this country has come. Do you realize that the Revolutionary War dates from 1775-1783? We declared our independence in 1776 and the war didn't officially end until 1783 under the Treaty of Paris. A lot has happened in the 227 years since the Revolutionary war ended. As a nation we have survived a Civil War, two World Wars, been involved in other wars/conflicts around the globe (Korea & Vietnam to name a couple), Desert Storm, the attack of 911, and we are currently fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our country has seen great losses of both men and women in the defense of our sovereignty and freedom.

With all of that being said: I will use "500" to give thanks to our Founding Fathers, our military, the families of those who serve, and every American who has shaped the greatness of this country. We remember your sacrifice and service to something so much bigger than yourself. And I give thanks to Almighty God who saw fit to bless this nation. We remember His protection, provision, and providence. May God continue to bless America.

The Place of Social Ministry

"And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." {Acts 10:38}

I used to think that it was important to "strike a balance" when it comes to ministry. That typically means that we will feed the hungry, help the needy, and continue the work of evangelistic ministry. However, what I am discovering in the ministry of Jesus is that the whole purpose of ministry is to lead people to the saving knowledge of Himself. Social Ministry (doing good) is only half of the equation. Unless we seek the healing and deliverance of those oppressed, all we have done is feed, clothe, and provide for natural things that will pass away.

As you read Acts 10:38, I want you to see some important lessons about ministry that we need to learn:
#1 - God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power
#2 - Then Jesus went about doing good AND healing all who were oppressed by the devil
#3 - God was with Him

*Before we do anything FOR God, we need to be anointed by God! Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave His disciples "The Great Commission"; but before they could follow through with His instructions they had to be endued with power (Acts 1:8). The need for the world to be saved was important but the followers of Christ could not carry out the work without the anointing of the Holy Spirit with power.

*After being endued with power from the Holy Spirit, we should set out to perform the same ministry of Jesus. Doing good (social ministry) was only a part of what Jesus did. The "doing good" of Jesus was a means to show the world the goodness of God. Where the church falls short today is that we have neglected the healing of those oppressed by the devil. Mark 16:17-18 says, "And these signs WILL follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons...they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." {emphasis mine} James Richards said, "We have wanted to reach the world by becoming socially accepted and influential. What we have wound up with is a bunch of socially-accepted, demon-oppressed people influencing the church. What good does it do to reach people and get them in our churches if we do not set them free?"

*When you and I are empowered by the Holy Spirit, set out to do good and deliver those who are oppressed by the devil, God will be with us. This is the church body that God blesses. We have become too focused on doing the right kind of ministry, performing the newest cutting edge program, imploring the most effective growth strategies, or even watering down the Gospel as a means of growing the body. What if we simply walked in all that Jesus said we could/should walk in? Think it will make a difference? I do!

Doing good is an important part of what the Body of Christ is all about. We are to walk in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior. This is how we help the world experience the goodness of God. However, I want to encourage the Body to walk in all that Jesus died to give us. Let us seek to heal and deliver all of those who are oppressed by the devil. In this way we demonstrate the goodness and power of God in the world.

God has Reconciled

Is God really good? That seems to be a major question in today's culture. We want to believe in a good God but there is not much in this world that is not good. How can we get to a place where we trust in the goodness of God?

I'm glad you asked...

In 2 Corinthians 5:19, Paul (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) said: "...God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." He goes on to talk about their ministry as ambassadors for God - sharing this message of reconciliation. It is through our understanding of what God has provided for the world through Christ where we can see the goodness of God. If there is ever a doubt in your mind about His goodness; all you have to do is look at the Cross.

The Good News of the Gospel is this: God has already forgiven men's sins. Jesus died and carried the sins of the entire world. Not only did He take care of the sins of the world but He took the punishment for those sins. When Jesus said "It is finished", God said that we are forgiven. Our salvation isn't a matter of God being willing to forgive. Our salvation is a matter if we are willing to believe.

Reconciliation - 1a) to reconcile (those who are at variance). 1b) return to favor with. The Bible says that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. Jesus was the "Christ" (Anointed One) sent into the world to bring about this reconciliation. It was the Christ who bore our sin, shed His blood, took our punishment, and overcame death to conquer sin once and for all. The Bible goes on to tell us that God no longer "imputes" our trespasses to us. In other words, He no longer takes inventory, estimates, or reckons our sins to us. You and I are saved when we believe upon the finished work of Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord of our lives.

Romans 10:9, "...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." It is that simple! We have got to stop with the idea that people go to Hell because of their sins. People go to Hell because they don't believe in the finished work of Jesus. What God offers us in Christ is His righteousness. If we refuse His righteousness, we can never be fully reconciled to God. God has already reconciled the world to Himself - we just need to believe it, accept it, and confess it.

"The message of reconciliation tells us that God did all we would ever need through Jesus. He became our sin so we would not have to stay sinners. He took the curse of the law so we would never have to be punished for our sins. He went to hell so we would never have to pay the ultimate price for our sins. He conquered our sins we He arose from the dead so we would never need to fight the battle with our sin. He obtained our righteousness so we would never have to earn it. He gives it to us as a free gift, thereby, qualifying us for all of the promises of God. In so doing, He is worthy to be our Lord." {James Richards}

Only when we believe and accept the finished work of Jesus can the grace of God empower us to experience the life of God. Once we do that, we have a message to share with the rest of the world: Be reconciled to God! He has already done His part.

I pray that you have a weekend filled with all the good things that God wants to give. May you rejoice in His goodness, thank Him for His mercy, and praise Him for His grace.

Responding to Truth

Jesus told His disciples that if they would ABIDE in His Word that they would "know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you free." (John 8:32)

Most of us know this verse. We have heard it, we can quote it, and we appreciate it. But how do we respond to truth? How we respond to the truth of God's Word will tell us whether or not we are abiding in truth.

The letter to the Hebrews tells us that the Word of God is quick, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It is with this understanding of the Word that we have conditioned ourselves to believe that God only delivers truth to us when He wants to cut us to the bone. Not true! God doesn't speak truth to us so that we may be pierced in our hearts, but rather to reveal to us how we can be free.

The way we respond to truth is directly related to how we perceive God and the life that we are living. If we are living a life that is contrary to God's Word, it's easy to see truth as abrasive. If we have a view of God that says He is out to punish me every time I mess up then we will not be ready to receive truth. It's funny to me that we tend to blame God for how His truth rubs us the wrong way. I have said it in the past (and so have most of you): "God nailed me with that one!" It is with this type of mindset that we have totally negated the work of our conscience. Could it be that the pain we feel (conviction) is related to the fact that we know we are living a life that is contrary to God's Word?

I have had several conversations with believers who are living outside of God's best for their lives. The purpose of my conversation wasn't to make them feel bad. I'm not out to convict anyone. I get absolutely no joy from tracking people down and sticking it to them. It's actually the pastor's heart within me that wants to help people see the life that they could be enjoying. Here are some of the responses that I have received:
"Every time you talk to me, you just make me mad."
"Why is it that you are always pointing out the bad stuff that I'm doing?"
"I don't care what you say..."
"That's not how I view it!"

These are typical responses from people who are living in opposition to the truth that can set them free. Only as we abide in the Word of God, walk in all that God would have us walk in, can we experience the freedom that God wants us to have. When God gave His commandments to the children of Israel, He said that He wanted them to have a heart to do all that He commanded so that it would go well with them and their children. God wants His absolute best for all of us, and the way that we enjoy His best is by walking in the life that He blesses.

Think about it: A lawyer comes to Jesus and says, "What is the greatest commandment?" His response: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength...and the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." The Jewish people had taken the commandments of God and made them an outward standard. This is the reason for the question. In essence the lawyer is saying "What can I do that is best in God's sight?" Jesus' reply demonstrates the nature of the law. He summed it all up by saying all that was given in the Law and from the Prophets is to lead us in a love relationship with God and one another. It doesn't matter if you follow the letter of the law if it doesn't lead you to loving God with every fiber of your being and loving your neighbor as yourself.

Remember: How we perceive God and how we live life will determine how we respond to truth. Do you view God according to His unconditional love? Are you living your life in the freedom of God's Word? If we cannot say "Yes" to these statement then it will be hard to respond to truth positively. Understand that God has His best in mind for you.

Unguarded Strength

Beware: An unguarded strength can become your greatest weakness!

When David was anointed king over Israel, we hear the Lord say that David was a man after His own heart. David's reign over Israel was triumphant. The Bible tells us that God gave him victory everywhere he went. Israel was prosperous and a true shining light among the other nations.

Even though God proclaims that David was a man after His own heart, we find a moment in David's life when his heart did not line up with God's. It is interesting to note that before David fell in sin with Bathsheba the Bible says "at a time when kings go to war...David stayed in Jerusalem." Does anyone know why he stayed? Could it be that David had become so confident of God's victory that he didn't see the need to go? Could it be that David had become lazy? Was it his age? Was he tired? The Bible doesn't give us a clear reason as to why David stayed at the palace; however, what happens next gives us some insight.

The story of David's sin is well known. We find him on the roof of the palace and he sees an attractive woman bathing. I will bullet point the rest:
- He calls for the woman
- He commits adultery
- Finds out later that she is pregnant
- He calls for her husband to come home
- The husband will not be with his wife out of respect for his fellow soldiers
- David gets him drunk and he still won't go home
- David plans for this man to be killed in battle
- The husband dies
- The woman is brought to David after her mourning
- They get married
- Nathan the prophet comes and exposes David's sin
- David confesses his sin and repents
- She loses the baby

I don't know about you but I read this story and say "How in the world did we get here?" The answer: At a time when kings go to war, David stayed in Jerusalem. Why did he stay? I believe he stayed because that wasn't his first time on the roof.

Peter tells us to be on guard because our adversary (the devil)roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Here is what each of us need to learn: our adversary has no power over us except what we give him. He's simply seeking whom he may devour. He cannot devour you if you don't let him. We must guard our hearts unless we, like David, find ourselves crying out to God for mercy. David allowed the lust of his flesh to cloud the judgment of his heart.

The only way that you and I can continue to guard our hearts is to walk in the grace of God. When we allow God's ability to be our strength, there is no temptation that can overtake us. It is when we drop our guard...become lazy in our devotion, slack in our prayer life, uncommitted in storing God's Word in our hearts, or we stop having fellowship with God's people; this is when the enemy strikes. And he will strike in the unguarded areas of our hearts. The Bible says that we are not foolish to the schemes of our enemy. We know how he works. However, we must guard our integrity.

Before we jump up to judge David and his actions we must look into our own lives. How many times have we fallen when we had the ability to walk in all that God would have us walk in? How many times has a bad attitude made its way back into our lives? How often has a bad habit showed back up on our doorstep? How many of us have found ourselves fighting the same battle that we thought we had won?

Aren't you glad that God loves us completely? He knows our frame. He knows our weakness. He knows our struggles. Even in all of that...He loves us. The point of guarding our hearts and minds is that we can continue to enjoy this relationship - that we never allow anything to come in that would cause us to lose the joy of our salvation. I imagine that the days following David's sin with Bathsheba and the death of her husband were some of the most empty days of his existence. Just think of the guilt and pain that he brought onto himself. Nine torturous months passed before Nathan shows up and exposes David's sin. Is it any wonder that David cries out "restore unto me the joy of Your salvation"?

You need to know that David's story did not end with his failure. In fact, God continued to be with him and continued to say that David followed him with all of his heart except in this one area. Oh, the mercy of God!!!

My prayer for each of us today is that we will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. He alone is able to keep us from stumbling. He is the one who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. May we walk in His grace.