Can I Have Your Attention?

Greetings to all of the gracious PBC Voice readers. I'm posting this week to let you know that I have plans to come back to the blog the first week of August. There will be some changes that come with my return. I'm in the process of finalizing my book and plan to give you a sneak peak into what I have been working on.

Many blessings to each of you.

In Christ ~ Neal

Time For An Update

Greetings everyone. I would love to tell you that my book is almost complete and that I will be returning very soon. However, I still have plenty of writing to finish.

Since I have been endeavoring to finish a book about GRACE, I thought I would share a few thoughts on the subject with you today.

It was several years ago, that my understanding of grace and it's work in my life became incredibly enriched. If you have followed my blog for any length of time then you have probably heard the story. I won't bore you with all the details, but you need to understand that this change came about as I looked into the original Greek word. What I discovered is that everything I understood about grace up to this point in my life had been so shallow. I had always heard that grace was God's "unmerited favor" in my life. The only problem with that definition is that it falls WAY SHORT of what grace really is. Grace, according to Thayer, is "the merciful kindness by which God, exercising His holy influence upon souls, turning them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of Christian virtues." Far from being unmerited (since it's not in the original definition), grace is the divine enablement of God in our lives. It's His strength, His love, His goodness, and His power at work in & through us. The more I realized that the Christian life was about Jesus living through me, it made a radical difference.

With all that being said, I have been amazed at the people out there that reject this kind of grace thinking/teaching. The majority of Christians that I know only understand grace as it relates to salvation. There is a lack of understanding about grace being something that we can grow in, grace teaching us about living lives that are separated unto God, and that it is the grace of God that empowers us to live for God in the first place. While there is a part of me that would love to give you a full explanation as to why people would even want to reject this message, I simply want to say a few words: Grace is either sufficient or it is insufficient.

Grace is either sufficient to cover me or it is insufficient.
Grace is either sufficient to enable me or it is insufficient.
Grace is either sufficient to save or it is insufficient.
There is no either/or in this equation. Paul makes it very clear that His grace is sufficient and when we are weak it is EVEN MORE sufficient.

Paul also tells us in his letter to the church of Galatia that his gospel of grace was not a man's gospel. He didn't get it from man, it is not according to man, but it is a message that he received through revelation. Anything that is man based seems to appeal to the flesh. Even religion can appeal to the flesh. We feel good about performing certain acts. It builds up our ego to know that we have accomplished something. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is that He accomplished it ALL and that His grace is sufficient for ALL.

What does this mean for your life? It means that you have been enabled to live in relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It means that you are the beneficiary of a covenant that was established between the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. It means that everything you have in this relationship with God is because of Jesus. That's what grace is all about & it is sufficient.

May your life be forever changed as well. May you glory in the overwhelming goodness of God. May you be empowered as the overcomer that the Bible declares you are in Christ. Enjoy the journey!!!

ALL Means ALL

I have often wondered how we got to where we are in our thinking. It seems as though "all" means all except in religious circles. We have changed the definition of "all" to mean a select group of individuals. Now...before you think I'm stretching things, I want to illustrate for you just how this has been handled. In the end I believe you will see that "all" means all.

If you have sat through many church services or heard many preachers, you have probably heard Romans 3:23 quoted "for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." It is this verse, and primarily this verse, that we use to say that all of mankind are sinners. We hear the "all" of this verse and apply it to everyone. The problem with that is we overlook the punctuation and the continuance of Paul's thought. Verse 24 (which is one of the reason I don't like verses in the Bible) continues with Paul's thought by saying "and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." While we shout "AMEN!" at the proclamation of verse 23 and believe it applies to everyone, we struggle to see that what Paul is setting forth is NOT to keep people in a sinner mindset but to bring us to a justification mindset that is based upon the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.

Here are those verses in context: "…23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;…"

Another area in the Romans comes out of chapter 5. Verse 12 states "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to ALL men because ALL sinned." Once again, the religious minded will shout a hearty "AMEN!" to this news because we have such a sin consciousness. However in verse 18 we read "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for ALL men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for ALL men." The way some people translate these verses is that the "all" in 12 means all but the "all" in the latter part of 18 is only for the church. Really? It's the same word translated as "all" but we have changed our understanding to suit our own thinking. Did Jesus die for all? Was His blood sufficient for all? Did He not cry out from the Cross "It IS Finished!" for all? I believe He did.

"12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-- 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men."

Allow me to show you a couple of more verses and then I will add some commentary.
Romans 11:32, "For God has consigned ALL to disobedience, that he may have mercy on ALL."
1 Corinthians 15:22, "For as in Adam ALL die, so also in Christ ALL will be made alive."

Much of Paul's writing were focused in these areas. He desired to illustrate the point that what was true in Adam as it related to all men was true in Christ as it related to all men. All means All. There is nowhere in his writing where Paul is content to leave us in the fall of Adam but to demonstrate what is true about us in the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. In essence what He has shown us is that all that was lost in Adam has been found in Christ.

The idea that "all" only counts for all when it deals with sin and bad things comes from a separation mindset. Separation from God was birthed out of Neoplatonism NOT the early church. However, these ideas and concepts have been so ingrained in our thinking that we have changed the meaning of the word "all" depending upon what it saying. We were never separated from God on His end. We were only separated from God in our minds (see Colossians 1:21). But thanks be to God that we have been reconciled through the body of Christ and that we are carried by the hope of the Gospel. That word "hope" means the "joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation."

What does this mean for us? How then do we respond to God's ALL encompassing grace & love?
BELIEVE!!!

2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is not willing that any should perish but that ALL should come to repentance. Repentance means to change the mind. It's time for us to throw out the notion that we are separated from God on His end. It's time to change our mind in regards to what we think it means to be close to God, pleasing to God, and/or acceptable to God. Let's repent of everything that keeps us from experiencing the abundant life of Christ.

ALL means ALL which means YOU ARE INCLUDED!!! Can you believe that?

2 Different Sundays = Some Amazing Results

Greeting PBC Voice readers. I'm sorry for the delay in posting but we had some internet issues in the office. We are back online and hope to be able to keep you up to speed with our goal for this year: Life without Limits!!!

I'm looking forward to looking back over this year to see just how powerfully the Lord impacted the way we think & live. So far this year He has created this seamless transition from Sunday to Sunday. The messages have been building upon one another and allowing us to see through a lot of the junk that has been handed down to us. Whether we are talking about the differences between the Old & New Covenants, or simply trying to understand the nature of God, the Lord is doing some wonderful things.

Two Sundays ago I shared out of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and talked about "Winning the Battle of the Mind." Using a boxing illustration, I drew a comparison between spiritual warfare and how a boxer trains for any fight. Some of the crucial elements in boxing are:
Know Your Opponent
Know His Strategy
& Keep Your Focus

I have never been a fan of the way most people handle spiritual warfare because I feel as though they give too much power to the enemy. If you don't understand that He is disarmed & defeated then you will always think that he has the upper hand. Believers need to understand that they fight from a place of victory. Your enemy - the one who roams around like a roaring lion - according to Scripture is the father of lies and the accuser of the brethren. This is vitally important because much of the fighting that we engage in has to do with lies that we are believing or the accusations that are being hurled at us. This is how the enemy works. We are not ignorant of his devices but sometimes we need to be reminded.

The most basic strategy that he uses is to create strongholds in our lives. These strongholds are what I refer to as mindsets. Those things that have a strong hold upon us. The mindsets that we cannot seem to shake free from. Interesting that we are told to capture EVERY thought to the obedience of Christ and that transformation comes through the RENEWAL of the mind. The warfare that we engage in should result in the destruction of these strongholds, as well as the arguments & opinions that are raised against the knowledge of God in our lives. In spiritual warfare you are not fighting people, their accusations, or their opinions. You are fighting against the devices that the enemy would love to use to keep you bound up. When you accept the Truth of what God's Word says about you then you will be able to live in the abundant life of Christ. You will be set free.

Keeping your focus doesn't mean that you have to place all your attention on the enemy. It means that your attention is focused upon Jesus, His Truth, and who you are in Him. Learn how to get rid of the statements that say "you are not good enough", "you are not strong enough", "you are not loved", etc. Anything that will keep you from being all that God says you can be needs to be destroyed. You learn to lean on Jesus and believe His definition of who you are in Him.

This past Sunday I shared out of Romans 14:17 "The Kingdom Within." The lead in was simple. Jesus states that the Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21). This makes perfect sense when you consider that 2 Peter 1:3 BOLDLY DECLARES that you have everything you need for life and godliness through His divine power. The Holy Spirit within you makes sure that there is enough grace, enough peace, enough joy, enough strength, and enough of what you need to carry the Kingdom of God.

This Kingdom is fully resourced. Everything is readily available for use in your life. Your response to these truths will allow you to follow the things that make for peace and learn the joy of building up other believers as well. I have told our congregation that abundant life is "life that is more than necessary." When you know that - really know it - then you know that there is plenty to go around. There is plenty of life for you and plenty to give to others. This Kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. What we are learning is how to live in the reality of this Kingdom. We learn how to spend time in it, become aware of its presence, and access everything that is available. There is no lack here. And because there is no lack, you never have to worry about running out.

I closed our time by talking about the lost "art" within many Christian circles: the art of meditation. We have allowed the New Age philosophies to take this basic discipline and change it to fit their agenda. However, for the believer, meditation is a vital tool. Accessing the peace that is available, the righteousness that is a part of your life, and the joy of the Lord is one of the best ways that I know to fight the good fight. Spiritual warfare looks much different when you fight out of the Kingdom within you. Life looks different as well.

God has ensured that you have everything you need to live life without limits. The Bible teaches us how to destroy every vain imagination that would lift itself up against the knowledge of God. We have within us, through the Holy Spirit, access to the gifts and fruit of this Kingdom. Why would we ever go back to fighting on our own or living a defeated life. Life without Limits is the promise and every promise of God in Christ is YES & AMEN. Enjoy the journey!!!

Do You Love Me?

John 21:15-19 presents for us a beautiful picture of reconciliation. For those of you who know the story, you know that Peter had denied Jesus and you also know that Jesus sought him out. This conversation forces us to recognize the nature of God in a very different light. It's not meant to be a mantra for modern day gospel bearers but was an intimate encounter between Jesus and one of His own. What is often missed in the English translation is the heart of Jesus for Peter.

Most of the believers that I have spoken with have this indescribable connectedness to Peter. In other words, there is so much about him that is appealing, abhorable, and at the same time familiar. I think we connect with Peter's HUGE moments: walking on the water with Jesus, the mountain top experience of the transfiguration, and even the revelation of Jesus as the Christ. However, we also connect with Peter's humanity: sinking into the water, sticking his foot in his mouth, being rebuked by Jesus, and even his denial of knowing Him. It seems as though we have all been there in some form or another. What is remarkable about this story is the unrelenting pursuit of Jesus for Peter. He knows what is in him. He knows the plans that the Father has for him. And He just won't let it go.

Before this scene, Peter makes an announcement: "I'm going fishing."
Sounds like a guy getting ready to throw in the towel doesn't it? Who among us hasn't felt this way? The guilt that he carried, the shame that he experienced...better to go back to fishing than to mess things up one more time. Right?
The good news is that Jesus plans a breakfast meeting on the shore. Isn't it just like Jesus to confront us in our wrong thinking? Isn't it just like Jesus to come to us? It most definitely is!!!

Another wonderful aspect of this part of the story is how Jesus seeks to restore Peter. We all know that Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus even predicted that this would happen. Three times Peter was called out by the people. Three times Peter had an opportunity to go to jail or even die with Jesus. Three times he denied himself that opportunity even though He swore he never would. Three times he denied even knowing Jesus (once with a curse). Jesus in His love for Peter wanted to bring restoration. Which is why we find Jesus asking Peter three times: "Do you love me?" Three times Peter says "Yes." And three times Jesus instructs Peter to take care of the flock. Why is this important? It's important because Peter was to be a rock. He was to be the one who would lead this band of misfits once Jesus left. Peter was the one who heard the divine revelation of who Jesus really was. Peter, with all of his screw-ups, was a perfect fit in the Lord's mind. As long as he carried the guilt and shame of denying Jesus, this would never happen. Jesus will always bring restoration in every area where we have denied Him.

The other point of this story that needs to be stressed is the language of the exchange between Jesus and Peter. Jesus asks Peter, three times, "Do you LOVE me?" Peter answers, three times, "You know that I LOVE you." What is not seen in the English is the striking comparison between them. In the Greek language we know that there are three different words that are translated as "love":
Agápe - a deeper, spiritual, unconditional love
Éros - a physical, passionate, sensual love
Philéō - a kind, affectionate, brotherly love
Jesus asks Peter "Do you Agápe me more than these?" Peter says "You know that I Philéō you."
Jesus asks Peter again "Do you Agápe me? Peter says again "You know that I Philéō you."
Jesus asks Peter a third time "Do you Philéō me?" Peter answers again "You know that I Philéō you."
Every question goes to the heart of the matter. Every answer gets the same response. The change happens in how Jesus asked the question. Twice he asks Peter if he loves him unconditionally. Peter responds that he loves Him with a great brotherly love. The last question is the attention grabber because Jesus changed the word for love. He asks Peter if he loves Him with a brotherly affection. Peter, although grieved, responds affirmatively. Jesus' response? "I can work with that."

I think we often portray our relationship with God as "all or nothing." And in many cases this could be true. However, what we find in the story is Jesus' willingness to accept what Peter is willing to give. Peter's willingness to give the only love he knew was enough for Jesus to show him what he could with that kind of love. How is that possible? I mean, we are told that God will only accept the best. But what I often find in the gospel narrative is a God who is willing to use what we bring to Him. Maybe our faith isn't as big as we would like it - but He uses what we bring Him.
Maybe our love doesn't even come close to His quality of love - but He can do so much with it.
Maybe our strength isn't as strong as we arrogantly believed - His grace is sufficient and is actually made perfect in our weakness. For you and I to live in the abundant life of Christ is to recognize that He comes, He restores, and He receives us just as we are.

What I believe we have discovered in the story, and Peter's honesty, is purity of heart. There is no arrogance in his declaration of love. No presumption as to what he would do. It's real and genuine. Jesus takes it and shows the world what He can do with that kind of love.

Stop beating yourself up over the failures of your past. Find Jesus in the midst of the darkness.
Stop thinking that you could never match up. Hear the voice of Jesus in your frustration.
The absolute beauty of this life is discovering the Lord in the midst of it. Good, bad, or ugly, He is always there and He is for you. He knows more about you than you do. He sees the rock inside you and desperately wants you to see it for yourself. Can you give Him your faith? Can you give Him your love? Can you give Him your weaknesses? He wants it all.