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I Prayed-He Heard
I Prayed, and He Heard
Together, we are experiencing a change in the atmosphere. I really love this stuff. “Something going on!!!”
Not long ago I shared a quote on twitter by Frank Bartelman.
The depth of your repentance will determine the height of your revival.
We live in a world where people want something for nothing. The church world is no different. I say this broadly.
Nothing real, nothing lasting, ever comes without repentance and prayer. “Lots of it”
I want to share some thoughts titled, “I Prayed, and He Heard”
When I began to think of Sunday’s message I had nothing. I looked at notes, scriptures, thoughts that I had jotted down. Nothing seemed right. So I prayed.
Usually in these situations I simply ask for a word. A place to start. The word came very quickly and it branched out with two more words that I will get to today.
In prayer, I heard the word, overwhelmed. It led to the word encompassed, and the word mourning. We will get to them all.
David wrote a Psalm after he had been delivered from all his enemies, including Saul.
Psalms 18:1-6
1 “I love You, O Lord, my strength.”
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death encompassed me, And the torrents of ungodliness terrified me.
5 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.
David had been overwhelmed, encompassed. He prayed and God heard.
He wrote again about confidence in God’s protection.
Psalms 61:1-4
1 Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.
Another Psalm David wrote when he was hiding in a cave.
Psalms 142:2-4
2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see; For there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul.
“overwhelmed, encompassed, in mourning”
Emotions all over the place. Defeat, fear, doubt, sorrow, enemies abound.
David went on.
Psalms 142:5-7
5 I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.
6 “Give heed to my cry, For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are too strong for me.
7 “Bring my soul out of prison, So that I may give thanks to Your name; The righteous will surround me, For You will deal bountifully with me.”
Much of David’s life sounds like some of our days, and weeks, and years.
Overwhelmed, with life events, family and relationship problems. Financial situations, and on and on.
Encompassed, surrounded by negative influence. Situations that look hopeless, no way out.
Mourning, with a broken heart for family, friends, failures.
“Still have to face the issues”
What did David do? He prayed, and God heard.
James approached these issues with something of a different take. Now for those of us who have lived a while we understand that life events just happen. Without reason, without sin, or without failure. They just happen.
“It still feels the same.”
Still James wrote that we must look at ourselves. Probably because mankind has never changed. We still continue to make mistakes, bad decisions, and chase our fleshly desires.
James 4:8-10
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
If I could give a short commentary for these 3 verses it would be this.
“There are times, when we ain’t all that.”
Yes, there are times when we must accept some accountability for the things that come our way. It doesn’t make us bad people. It does however mean, that our heart must break for our part in the mess we are in.
James 4:8-10 AMPC
8 Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].
9 [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].
This is all about verse 10.
10 Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].” Here is the link for the video of this message. http://bit.ly/2tbBXnH
We pray-He Hears.
Blessings to you all.
#lovewins #hopelives
Everyone has an Opinion
Everyone has an Opinion
The word opinion is defined this way, (a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.)
As anyone knows that has studied the Bible there are some conclusions that can only be defined as an opinion.
Depending on how each theologian, student, teacher, or commentary, understands the principle.
These opinions are formed from many different things. Author, time line, translation. The use of words from the time, and the culture of the people.
In many cases you can actually form a clear understanding, void of opinion, if you look hard enough, and pray for revelation.
Remember this from the Apostle Paul.
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.
5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Still, there are folks who hold fast to their opinions. We all have them, and for the most part they are held by good, sincere people. People who are praying, believing, and loving God, and His word.
I have never been someone to sit back and read, or listen to Biblical principles that have been corrupted by individual opinions, and not address the issue. I speak of Biblical principles that are clearly defined in the Bible.
I am quite sure that there will be someone to read this post and say, that is just his opinion.
I have no problem being accountable for the things I say and teach. There are Biblical principles that I defend with an unrelenting passion.
Unrelenting, (not yielding or swerving in determination or resolution, as of or from opinions, convictions, ambitions, ideals, etc.)
Just thought I would let you know that these issues are not changed by opinions.
There are Biblical principles that are clearly defined. They are not up for yours, or my opinion. These principles are clearly represented and taught by the writers of the Bible.
One such Biblical principle is the Gospel. The Gospel is clearly defined and taught in the Bible. It is not up for opinion, nor can you make it better by adding your personal agendas to it.
Even the world knows what the Gospel means. If you put define Gospel, in the Google search this will come up.
The teaching or revelation of Christ.
Webster defines Gospel this way. The message concerning Christ, the Kingdom of God, and Salvation.
The word Gospel comes from the Greek word, (Evangelion) and it is defined this way by Vines dictionary.
“It denotes the good tidings of the Kingdom of God and salvation through Christ. To be received by faith on the basis of His expiatory death, His burial, resurrection, and ascension.”
The Gospel is the story of Jesus. The good news that the Savior has come.
It has not, nor has it ever been the story of Jesus, plus. Plus your favorite sin, or your personal agenda.
I recently read a post from the Patheos blog. He was talking about missions and the areas where they are needed most.
He shared a sobering truth. One that I have preached for several years. Here it is.
(The kind of missionary the world most desperately needs are missionaries who are sent to introduce the message of Jesus to one of the last unreached people groups: Americanized Christians.)
For years I have wept for the American church and the opinions that have corrupted the message of Jesus. Opinions derived from prejudice, hate, arrogance and pride.
People criticize me all the time for my bluntness when it comes to these issues. Failure to address the corruption of the Gospel is the reason it has continued to grow.
The truth of the Gospel is not open for opinion. It is an irrefutable fact. One that was preached throughout the book of Acts, and throughout generation after generation of Christians.
The Gospel has one purpose. To declare and reveal Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The promised sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
The Gospel is the story of Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
This is not up for opinion. It is a fact.
(Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word. Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard.)
Blessings to you always, in His name.
#lovewins #hopelives
The Mystery Lives On
The Mystery Lives On
Finally got some time to sit down and share some thoughts. I love life. I love The Holy Church, and I love the local church. In particular, Amazing Life Church.
For almost 14 years God has blessed abundantly. We give Him all the glory.
Next week will be our 10th annual Backpack and school supply giveaway. We look forward to serve the families in our community each year.
With that short update behind me I will get to what has been bugging me for a while.
A few weeks ago I heard someone challenging those of us who believe that it is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance. The message that God loves you, and sent His Son to redeem you through the process of shedding blood, dying, resurrecting, and ascending back to the Father.
The statement made said that love was not mentioned in the book of Acts. Since Acts was the building of the church love was not a part of it. “His ridiculous statement, not mine.”
The message was, we must preach sin. “His not mine.”
I looked it up in the KJV and the word love is not found in Acts. Guess what? The word sin in the KJV is only found 8 times in Acts, and it is used broadly as repentance from your sins and follow Christ.
No real specifics about individual sins. They preached the message of Christ. From the Old Testament they shared His story. From their own witness they shared the story of Christ.
When they chided the hearers it was because of their unbelief.
There are some, if they have stayed with me this far saying, He is compromising. Watering down the Gospel. Trying not to offend.
Once again I say, nothing is farther from the truth. My message has been, and will always be to strengthen the Gospel message.
Sin is a destructive force. It invests itself in our minds and our fleshly desires. Creating lust and hunger for power and attention. Making everything about us, and our personal satisfaction.
Interestingly these same sin preaching folks forget to tell you that sin has been defeated. The enemy has been conquered.
In John 16:9 Jesus defined sin as not believing in Him. WOW
You mean that it could be possible that all sin is derived from not believing in Christ.
The Apostles went through the book of Acts telling the story of Jesus. At times, rebuking those who would not believe in Jesus.
In Acts 16 Paul and Silas were singing, In Prison. An earthquake happened and the doors were opened. The jailer saw this and was about to kill himself. Paul stopped Him then this occurred.
Acts 16:30-32
30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.
Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. You mean he got saved without meddling in his business. Listening with open ears while he named all his sins and failures.
Seems like that would have been a good message for Paul. The next time he had a crowd he could tell them how he got the jailer to confess all his sins and failures. Naming them one by one for the crowd.
Please forgive me if I sound a little angry. I mean no harm to anyone. Most of these folks are good folks. They just don’t get it.
Somehow over the years the message has been changed. It has gone from Jesus loves me this I know. To hell awaits you because of your sin.
2 Peter 3:8-9
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
I wonder if God tarries, giving time for His church to return to the Gospel. The message of Christ. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
This is the Mystery that lives on. Paul shared this.
Colossians 2:1-3
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Don’t be afraid to love. It was love that moved the Father to send Jesus. It was love that led Him to the cross. It was love that cried Father forgive them.
It was love that moved the Apostles, and countless numbers of Christians to die at the hands of unbelievers. Over thousands of years. Happening still today.
It is love that drives missionaries to foreign lands. Love for God and His people. Love moves moms and dads to weep for their children. Love moves street evangelists to share the story of Jesus to those who are lost and without hope.
It is love that a Pastor has for his church. Weeping and crying in the wee hours for their pain and loss. Praying and believing for them through every season of life.
It is love that the enemy fears. Why, because it covers a multitude of sins.
Sin has been defeated. Let us hold fast to the love of God. The love He had for us, and the love He has given us for others. It will change you, and your world.
#lovewins #hopelives.
Would You Agree Together?
Would You Agree?
Grace, mercy, and love. Three of my favorite words from the Bible. When you put faith with these words you open a door. A path, if you will, that leads people to repentance.
A path that the unbeliever can embrace and follow. Grace, mercy, and love are certainly three of Christ’s most dominant character traits.
This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.
John 3:16-17 Msg
Here are some words from Christ
Luke 11:5-13
5 Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;
6 for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;
7 and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’
8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.
11 Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?
12 Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
The statement seems to say to those of us who pray to God. We shall be heard. This statement, promise, revelation, rests entirely on one very important thing. “Christ’s authority.”
Matthew 28:18 AMP
Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”
The word authority from the Greek means, “the power of choice, the liberty of doing as one pleases, the power of influence and privilege.”
Hebrews 1:1-2 AMP
1 God, having spoken to the fathers long ago in [the voices and writings of] the prophets in many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the truth], and in many ways,
2 has in these last days spoken [with finality] to us in [the person of One who is by His character and nature] His Son [namely Jesus], whom He appointed heir and lawful owner of all things, through whom also He created the universe [that is, the universe as a space-time-matter continuum].
Sometimes we think that God is deaf to our prayers. In fact this is far from His reality.
The delay in fact has a purpose. It is to deepen our faith, and educate us in His ways. Aligning us with His will.
Will He always answer? “All I can say is pray, pray, pray, persistently.”
Matthew 7:7-8 AMP
7 “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.
There is something to be said of perseverance. Many successful businesses started from failure after failure. Many dreams have been realized. Many churches have conquered adversity and thrive in their communities. Individuals have overcome extreme difficulties to realize their purpose and walk it out.
“All because of perseverance.”
Today the word perseverance is defined this way, “steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.”
I want to add an ingredient to these thoughts of persistent prayer. It is found from the words of Christ in 2 distinct verses.
Matthew 18:19-20 NASB
19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
AMPC
19 Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.
20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I Am in the midst of them.
Being a follower of Christ will often take you places that you never thought of. Places in prayer, crying out to God in the Spirit for needs far beyond the world you live in. In difficulties that stretch your faith. Christ followers will often have dreams that seem impossible. So impossible, that at times we will not even reveal them for fear of failure. Afraid that people will think we are crazy.
So what do we do with all these seemingly impossible tasks, prayers, difficulties, and dreams.
“Find someone to help you pray.”
Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.
“I want to agree with you today!!” Video link to message below. #lovewins #hopelives
God Always Remembers
God Always Remembers
The message is really about intervention. God’s intervention in our lives.
The times we cry to Him, He hears and moves to meet our need. Sometimes He intervenes for us, and others, because of prayer. Our prayers, and others.
There are times when God will move the world around us to make sure we walk the path of our destiny. In many of these times we never even know it.
There are many Godly interventions throughout the Bible. A very serious one occurred 6 chapters into the Bible.
Genesis 6:1-8 NASB
1 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,
2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
“God looked and looked for a reason not to destroy.”
Several generations later God’s people found themselves in bondage to an Egyptian king. The next few passages tell an amazing story of His love.
Exodus 2:23-25 NASB
23 Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God.
24 So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
25 God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them.
If you read from the beginning of this chapter Moses had been born, grown up, and was hiding in Midian.
God had already begun the process of intervention in answer to the cries of His people.
Why? Because He remembered His promise!
This represents the awesome love of God!
In 1st Corinthians 10, Paul was teaching about all the mistakes and failures of the children of Israel. Teaching from the Scrolls of the Old Testament. “He was explaining why these things were written.”
1 Corinthians 10:11-13 NASB
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Verse13 plainly tells us that God will intervene against the attack of our enemy. Tempting us to turn away from Christ.
The phrase take heed means, “to see with the mind’s eye. To have the power of understanding.” The word temptation means, “the trial of man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, and constance.” The word tempted is referring to, “the attempt or the endeavor to tempt.”
We need to discern the opportunities presented us, before we find ourselves in the middle of a bad situation.
Just some thoughts about the greatest intervention of all time.
This intervention was very broad. It went back in time to the garden. It moved forward in time to today, and will continue throughout eternity.
It was an intervention that carried a huge cost for God.
Let me read the words of Simeon in the temple.
Luke 2:30-32 NASB
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
Today is your day. Here is a link to the video.http://bit.ly/2rJldov
Have a blessed week.
#lovewins #hopelives
Itching Ears
Itching Ears
I have been so busy the last couple of weeks. Blogging has taken a back seat. “I’m back” lol.
I have had a note on my desk for several weeks that simply said. Itching ears. These words are in the KJV, and I use the NASB so it will sound a little different.
Here are the passages.
2 Timothy 4:1-4
1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
Now these scriptures for years have been used as something of a rebuke, for preachers who are accused of not preaching against all the sins of the world.
Let me remind you that what the Bibles says is sin, is sin.
These passages are not referring to people outside the church. They refer to those within. This is a rebuke to preachers who preach shallow, flesh driven messages that make their congregations feel good about themselves.
Preachers who beat up every sinner in the world, when for the most part, none of those folks are in hearing distance.
What has happened to challenging congregations with strong doctrine. Kingdom authority, passionate prayer, fully committing their lives to Christ and His purpose for their lives.
Teaching them to study and pray for revelation.
Too often what is heard are heart warming stories about the past, or dogs, or squirrels, or cracks in the sidewalk. Then you will hear about all the wicked sinners in the world, and how we need to thank God we are not that way anymore. I have heard it all.
Please don’t get me wrong. I love the church. If you read my blogs, facebook posts, or watch my sermons on youtube, you will find that to be true. I love the church.
We must remember who we were and the grace of God that changed our lives. We remember this for a specific purpose. It should cause us to have compassion for those who have not followed Christ.
Let me share verse 3 from 2 Timothy 4 from the Amplified Bible.
“For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold,”
As a Pastor I fully understand that there are all levels of commitment in every congregation. Every one is necessary to move a congregation forward in their community, and their relationship with Christ.
Some pray and give. That is their purpose. They are the foundation that we can build upon. Others want more than just a good sermon, they want to be challenged. Then there are those who have an intense desire to walk in Kingdom authority.
It may sound difficult to create a message that will reach every level within a church. With God’s grace that is exactly what I attempt to do every week.
I am not perfect by any means, yet I refuse to tell flesh driven stories with no challenge to do better.
How can we spend an hour each week jumping and shouting about who we are, when our world needs us on our faces, praying for God to use us to change our world.
We are the light of the world. Of course light cancels darkness. It will reveal who a person is, but it has a broader and really more important characteristic. It will reveal Jesus.
The Gospel is not up for different interpretations. The definition of the Gospel is very clear.
The Greek word used means, good news. Good news is defined as the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.
It is His story that must be told. When Peter left the upper room the only sin he mentioned was unbelief in the Messiah. Throughout Acts this was shared over and over. Telling the prophecies of Jesus from the OT, and their personal relationship with Him.
When the jailer asked, what must I do to be saved. The response was believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you, and your house will be saved.
Why have we complicated the message so much?
Blessings and favor to you all, In His Name.
#lovewins #hopelives
Called to Demonstrate
Called to Demonstrate
God has moved me, over the years to a message that I believe is in line with the Gospel that the 12 original Apostles preached.
I will never stop telling the story of Jesus. Beginning and ending with the greatest story ever told. Hopefully in between some words that will encourage you, convict you, inspire you, and move you forward.
I will never stop, at least in my writings, calling out, not by name, those who malign and corrupt that message with their prejudices, and their agendas.
Before I begin my message today I want to share an abbreviated form of the most profound theological precept recorded in The Bible. These words change our hearts, and they build our relationship with the Father. This short response will change your world and the people who live in it.
“Love God with all you heart, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
In Acts the 26th chapter Paul is facing King Agrippa and telling Him the story of His conversion.
Acts 26:15-18 Message
15-16 “I said, ‘Who are you, Master?’
“The voice answered, ‘I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down like an animal. But now, up on your feet—I have a job for you. I’ve handpicked you to be a servant and witness to what’s happened today, and to what I am going to show you.
17-18 “‘I’m sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I’m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.’
Much has been said about Christians being the light. It was even addressed in the OT.
Proverbs 4:18-19
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.
Daniel 12:3
Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
In proverbs, the word light means, “life, prosperity, instruction.” In Daniel the word shine from the Hebrew means, “admonish, warn, teach, to be taught or admonished.”
Jesus said it this way.
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
There is a reason that we must look back, and then look forward, in our study of the scriptures. The level of understanding increases when we can see the plan of God over the ages.
God’s people have always, collectively and individually, been a people called and anointed to reveal God to the world.
People in the world are hungry and they are being filled with stuff that will not fulfill their destiny.
In verse 14 and 16 of the passage I just read the word light is used metaphorically and it means, “God is light, truth and knowledge is light, and light is the power of understanding.”
In verse 15 the word light is used literally and it means, “to shine or give light.”
Colossians 1:13-14
13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
The word domain speaks of power, and the word darkness speaks of ignorance respecting divine things and our human duty.
Once again we are reminded that walking in the light has personal responsibility.
Moving down chapter 1 a few verses we find Paul sharing this.
Colossians 1:24-27
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,
26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,
27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
He made this great mystery of redemption available to all people. (Christ in you, the hope of glory.)
“Amp, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory.”
From the Greek hope means, expectation of good. Glory means, a most glorious condition, a most exalted state.
(We are Called to Demonstrate)
Blessings to you, in Jesus name.
#lovewins #hopelives
Taking Another Look
Not in Vain
Much is being said today about the church and its influence in the world. Many are expecting a revival in America. I have been praying, along with others for several years, that an awakening would move across this land.
It is needed. People are often confused about revival. Revival is for the church. Of course in great revivals people will come to know Christ as their Savior. Still, it comes, God sends it, when the church is found in repentance for the darkness it has embraced.
When I speak of darkness, I simply mean that often the light of Christ is diminished in the church world. With all the hate filled rhetoric streaming from pulpits. Diving into the politics of the world. Fighting over theology and interpretation.
The only message that will change a heart is shrouded in the darkness of opinion and anger.
Of course this is not true across the board. Even those caught in this web of darkness are good people. Still they move forward with the whims of the majority, and leave behind the most important story from the Bible.
The story of Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
I know, if you have read one of my blogs, or one of many Facebook posts, you have heard this before.
I see an awesome change taking place in ministry.
Change is occurring in the message from many pulpits and organizations across this awesome country.
Jesus is alive. He loves everyone. You can not live like you want when you come to Christ. We know that, and teach that.
Over the years I have come to realize that people will change when they know they are loved.
When you convince someone of the great love that God has for them. When they embrace it, things will change. People will repent and turn to follow Christ.
I love the church. Still we must be aware of the influence we embrace. The message we give. The church must be willing to repent.
Repent from such things as growing cold in our praise and prayer. Repent for our lack of forgiveness, and our religious self righteousness.
Repent for rejecting the needs of your community. Even if all you can do is pray. You must shine in the place that God has planted you.
Somehow from the very beginning I moved away from my original thoughts. Still, they have become relevant now.
Over 2000 years the church has weathered every storm. From persecutions, poverty, religion, disease.
It has never been perfect, only in heart. Still we move forward in glory at times. At other times in repentance.
With our ups and our downs we keep moving. Shining the light of Christ. The light that reveals His love for us, and our need for Him.
Paul gave the Corinthian church this encouragement.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
I love this stuff.
Have a blessed day and keep on working for the Lord. Some plant, some water, some reap. Everyone has a part in this wonderful movement.
The church of our Lord Jesus Christ.
#lovewins #hopelives
You Have to be Kidding
Recently I posted a blog with some short thoughts on the condition of the church, and the message it shares. Of course I was speaking broadly, as I indicated in the post.
You will find no greater advocate for the church than me. Betty and I have fought for more than 14 years for the right of all people to find safety and love in the church. For some unknown reason to me, some people define the love of God for all people as flesh pleasing. Avoiding the truth of their sin filled lives.
There is nothing further from the truth. At Amazing Life Church we have seen many over the years come to Christ and be baptized, all because they were shown God’s love. They turned to Christ because they heard His story. The only thing that can redeem them is to believe in Christ as their Savior.
I hate sin. The problem in many churches is there is only one or two sins preached. Heaven forbid you teach Proverbs six, or the rejection of Christ by the wealthy young ruler. The story of how we put things before Him. Jealousy, pride, or failure to forgive.
Who are you worried about offending when you will not acknowledge these sins?
There is not a person, in my belief, that does not see their sin,when in the church, you create an atmosphere of love and praise.
When this happens you allow God, and the Holy Spirit to do their job. (When He comes, He will convince the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.)
I have to say that I love it when religion is angered. It confirms the word from the Lord and its relevance to us today.
Some may take from my earlier post that I am criticizing the church. Once again, nothing is further from the truth. I call it like it is. I am a Pastor, not someone who just shows up. I pastor a church, not just a group of people.
I love the church, and it is nothing more than arrogant hypocrisy to tell the world it needs to repent. All the while refusing to look at ourselves as members of His body, and acknowledge our faults and failures. Then repent ourselves.
In Romans 2 Paul was rebuking the church for passing judgment on others. Then He said this.
Romans 2:4
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? The Kindness of God!!!
Five different verses in Revelation show Jesus calling on His churches to repent.
The church at Ephesus, Revelation 2:5. The church at Pergamum, Revelation 2:16. The church at Thyatira, Revelation 2:21. The church at Sardis, Revelation 3:3.
I love the fifth one, it is the church at Laodicea.
Revelation 3:19
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
You see, I love the church, and when you find me challenging the church and its message, two things are going on.
First, I look at myself and the work we are building. Have I, or others within our church wandered off course. Is there something we need to improve. Something requiring repentance.
Secondly, because I love the church I will point out what I believe to be the danger that occurs when the church rejects the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
From the Greek, the word Gospel is defined as good news. Vines dictionary further defines the Gospel as the story of Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
It is not Jesus plus, it is just Jesus.
Hope this clears things up for some of you who were confused.
As Paul said, let me show you a more excellent way.
I pray you are blessed and empowered by His love.
#lovewins #hopelives
Is There Room In Your Vessel?
Is There Room In Your Vessel
What a humbling experience it is to enter this house each Sunday, and enjoy such an awesome presence of God.
His love and grace is overwhelming at times. His eternal, unwavering care for His people is awesome.
My prayer for us all is this. Keep your eyes on Him. Your faith in His promises. Never stop praying. Pray more than ever, with passion.
Don’t quit until He answers, or until He tells you why.
I want to share a very familiar Psalm today. Probably the most recognized Psalm in the Bible.
I want to share some thoughts titled, “Is There Room In Your Vessel”
There is one verse that is the heart of the message today, but all of Psalm 23 is amazing.
Psalms 23:1-6
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The word cup is used figuratively to mean, “his portion or lot.” The phrase runneth over, or overflows means, “saturation.”
David is saying that God has blessed him beyond what he deserves, to the point his blessings are spilling out all around him.
Psalms 16:5-6
5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
The word lot in verse 5 is referring to destiny. The lines of His heritage is referring to the earthly heritage. The kingdom that God has given David.
There is something that is critically important to the work of God in our lives. It is contained in one word. Thanksgiving.
At every level we are at. Every season of life. We must be thankful for what we have. The things we have been given. The strength to move beyond the pain that life has brought. In abundance or in lack.
The scriptures I read were blessings, but if you know David’s story He faced peril as well. That is life. God is always there in every situation. That is more than enough reason to honor Him with praise and thanksgiving. In Psalms 63 David had found himself in the wilderness.
Psalms 63:1-5
1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Symbolic)
2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.
3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You.
4 So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
David is probably our greatest example of the grace of God. God loved him in his failures, his bad decisions, his fear. God blessed David richly. Not because he was worthy, it was because he was greatly loved.
Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Filled means, “to cause to abound furnished or supplied liberally.” Fullness means, “That which is filled with the presence, power, agency, and riches of God and Christ.”
Is there room in your vessel? If so how do we obtain this level of God and His presence?
The Apostle John said this, and I read the Amplified
John 1:16 Amplified
For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].
Jesus said in John 7 verse 37. ““If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.”
Are you thirsty? Hungry? Is there room in your vessel for more?
Have an awesome week. There will be more to come.
#lovewins #hopelives
Friend or Enemy
Friend or Enemy
What an awesome season of time for the church. Many across this great country are leading prayer services with the focus on revival, and the great awakening coming to the church.
When I started this blog it was not my intention to be controversial. With that said, knowing me and my desire to get things right. I have from time to time addressed issues that have not been accurately represented.
Case in point was a blog I wrote on accepting accountability for the work you have been called to do. The blog was titled, You Have to be Kidding. You can find it on this site. Take a look when you get a chance.
Although my thoughts were not focused on any single individual. It must have hit home to some because I got un friended on Facebook.
Well, here we go again.
I have been seeing posts on social media about the enemy of the Gospel. I have, what I believe is a clear understanding of what this is. Most often when this term is used it is in combination with the world.
The world, in this understanding is used to point out unbelievers.
Most often when the Bible speaks about the world it is referring to ideology. Flesh driven principles that ignore Christ, and His mission to redeem all people.
Lifestyles that are driven by our sinful nature.
With that said, and here it comes. I don’t believe that those who have not followed Christ are enemies of the Gospel. They are the ones who need to hear the Gospel in its true and relevant form.
The story of Jesus, His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
These folks can not discredit the Gospel. They can not minimize the Gospel. They can not taint the Gospel, by the way they live. They are unbelievers.
It is true that down through time people have hated Christians. Cultures have killed, afflicted, and banned Christians.
These things did nothing to hurt the Gospel. These tactics only strengthened the movement. It ratified the Gospel principles and many were saved because of these persecutions.
When Jesus ministered He encountered constant resistance. It was not from the world ideology. Not from sinners. His resistance came from the religious ideology. The very people who should have known who He was.
The ones who prayed every day, let me live to see the consolation of Israel. The ones who knew all the prophecies concerning the Messiah. These people became His unrelenting enemy.
So what does the Apostle Paul say.
Philippians 3:17-19
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
Paul is not talking about people who don’t follow Christ. He is calling out those who claim to be a Christ follower, yet they will not pick up their cross and follow Him.
They live for self gratification, and self approval by others. Looking for any and all that will appease their fleshly desires for attention.
They reject humility, And the service that God has commissioned all of us to do.
“Tell the Story of Jesus”
The real enemies of the Gospel are those who profess the finished work of the cross. Yet they do not represent it, in the world they live in.
We have been called to be the light of the world. The salt of the earth. Called to walk through deep waters, and soar high above the world and its standards.
The stains on the Gospel don’t come from the world. They come from the flesh driven lives that many who claim to follow Him live. Those who refuse to take up their cross. Those who will not pick up the towel and the pan of water to serve.
It is a process. Doesn’t happen overnight. Revival and awakening will come. It will come like a tidal wave of glory when the church, the church that I love with every fiber of my being. This church, the Bride that Christ loves.
When this church falls on it’s face and repents for its complacency. Its worldly ideology.
When it repents from changing the Gospel to Jesus plus.
Bringing the Gospel back to its original form. Just Jesus.
Let me know what you think. There is an email link at the top of the page.
Be blessed always.
#lovewins #hopelives