Tag: Life

The Choice is Yours

July 11, 2017

The Choice is Yours

I love the Lord, the global church, and I love Amazing Life Church.

All too often, in the church world, personal agenda’s cloud the opportunity to share Jesus. For the purpose of this thought, the word agenda is defined this way, “an underlying often ideological plan or program.”

In other words, at times, the Gospel is presented with an agenda. With that said, there should be a singular agenda in every church, and on the minds of every Christian. I am speaking of the story of Jesus and it’s power to change lives, circumstances, and even worlds.

After Moses had disrespected God and was about to die he had some things to do. He had to commission Joshua to lead the people into the promised land. As he was doing this Moses began to prophesy to the people. Here is a portion of what he said.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

15 “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;

16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.

17 But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them,

18 I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it.

19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,

20 by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”

The word choose in verse 19 from the Hebrew means, “to decide for.”

Know this, whatever you choose, whatever you decide for, Heaven and earth is watching.

“Yes, it matters what you choose.”

Your pursuit of life, or your journey towards death, begins with a choice.

The children of Israel for generations had problems with choice.

Joshua had the same issues with these folks.

Joshua 24:15

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

(Get Off The Fence! Was his point.)

One big issue with choice is accountability. It is much easier to choose if you can blame someone else when your choice falls apart.

There is a passage in Psalms that really strengthens and upholds the rest of my message. It is important to understand that when you choose Him, you choose all of His resources.

Psalms 119:129-130

129 Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul observes them.
130 The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

AMPC

129 Your testimonies are wonderful [far exceeding anything conceived by man]; therefore my [penitent] self keeps them [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].

130 The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.

Psalms 25:12-15

12 Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.
13 His soul will abide in prosperity, And his descendants will inherit the land.
14 The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.
15 My eyes are continually toward the Lord, For He will pluck my feet out of the net.

Psalms 34:18

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

The prophet Isaiah confirmed this as did Christ when teaching before the Jews.

Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;

When you choose Him, you choose His benefits and His promises.

In what is known as the great commission found in Matthew 28, we read these words from Jesus.

Matthew 28:18-20 AMP

18 Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”

With you always!!!

Today the word choose is defined basically the same. (pick out or select (someone or something) as being the best or most appropriate of two or more alternatives.)

You have to decide. Life or death, Kingdom benefits with Christ as your source for everything you will ever need. Or maybe you think you can make it on your own.

Christians are still struggling with this level of choice.

Today, the choice is yours. What will it be?

#lovewins #hopelives

Tell Me the Story

April 6, 2017

Tell Me the Story

When you follow anything I do, from social media, blogging, and Pastoring. You will quickly recognize my love for the church. With its difficulties and struggles over the years. Even with the diversity within it, that comes to question from time to time.

The local church in every community and country around the world, is the hope of the world. The work that churches do in their communities. The prayers they pray for their cities and their countries. The programs they offer, people that they feed, needs met all across the board.

Not to mention their most important efforts to shine the light of Christ to everyone in their community, and in mission work across the world.

By the way, doing all the things I mentioned above are part of shining the light.

The most common reference to church from the Greek in the Bible is the word, ecclesia. It means, “a called out company or assembly.”

It is used to describe local bodies that gather together, individual members, and more broadly the universal church which includes all believers throughout time.

Still, it is local churches that the Apostles spent so much effort in building. The power and presence of believers in a community would bring change and purpose for believers, and unbelievers as well.

When it comes to doctrinal issues the church today has drawn many different conclusions. The study of the original languages, writings from church fathers for over 2000 years, along with many other study and help aids available. These things have offered a path to knowledge.

I am sort of an old school guy. I love to study and prepare messages from the inspiration I get from the things I mentioned above.

Yet there is something that has stuck in my mind for years. A passage from the Apostle Paul. It is found in 2 Timothy 3 and you need to read the chapter in its entirety. Paul said this in verse 7.

2 Timothy 3:7 NASB

always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Jesus said this.

John 6:63 NASB

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

Yes, I love God’s Word. I believe with all my heart that it is comprised of two elements. Written and Spirit. These two together give us a spiritual revelation of the words written in the Bible.

Only then can we fully understand what God has shared from His heart, down through time. Remember again the words of the Apostle John from his Gospel.

John 1:1-2 NASB

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

Don’t forget the words of Christ from John 16.

John 16:13 NASB

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

I love the Classic Amplified—“But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future].”

The Bible is the history of the coming of Christ. A reference to Him is mentioned in every book, including the Apocrypha.

I am one of those Pastors that believes the story of Jesus is the relevant issue that we need to share. The church is not the police agency of the world. Yes we must stand for righteousness but the most successful way of doing that is to live it. Not tell it.

That is the example that will lead others to Christ.

Paul wrote 3 Pastoral Epistles. Giving instruction and leadership to Timothy and Titus. Through out his letters, and in fact, most of the letters in The New Testament, the authors used one common theme to encourage their readers.

The story of Jesus. Paul used it to encourage Titus. A Greek that was converted by Paul. Paul appointed him the first Bishop of the island of Crete.

Titus 2:11-14 NASB

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Forgive me for going so long. I love the church and I love the Word of God.

I love the story of Jesus. “His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.”

Tell it every where you go, and every chance you get. The church is built upon it, exists because of it, and walks in Kingdom authority empowered by it.

I will close with a verse and chorus from Frances Crosby.

Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus, Sang as they welcomed His birth, “Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good tidings to earth.”

Refrain:
Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.

#lovewins #hopelives

From The Heart

January 31, 2017

From the Heart

There is a word that can’t be completely avoided in my posts. The word is, I. I use it when necessary to say, this is what I believe, or what I think. Used in a broad sense to clarify my positions or feelings.

Talking about myself is not something that I like to do. My life is not about me. It is all about my Savior. His love and grace that has moved me forward. That has picked me up from failure. Loved me without exception.

There are many times in prayer when I have difficulty hearing. All the clamor of the day and the tragedies of life sometimes drown out that still small voice.

In these times I say something to Him that I have said for years. “Father, I have always been in your hands, and I always will be.”

That may sound simple, but I feel it sort of bridges that silent gulf and let’s Him know I am listening.

Believing that He will keep on speaking. When the racket dies down, I will hear.

I know there may be some read this that don’t believe that God speaks in any way but through the Bible. I have to say that the Bible is my constant source of Him speaking to me. Through prayer and revelation His words of life ring loud. Still I love that still small voice in prayer.

Bringing comfort in chaos. Revelation in confusion. Peace in storms. And on and on His love keeps giving.

Well into the last half of my life, I have come to realize the things that should have been. Decisions that I never should have made. People I never should have let into my life. Looking at my life and the life of others. Seeing what could have been done, or should have been done.

For the most part it is not relevant. I can’t change a thing.

What it does for me as a pastor is this. When I see gifts in people’s lives. Talent that needs cultivating. I look back sometimes, so I can see the things they should not do. Then, because of my experience I can help others reach their potential much quicker. Maybe even help them avoid mistakes that could slow their purpose.

You see, everything in life is education. We shouldn’t continue in regret for our own mistakes. We must move beyond them and help others with what we have learned.

I mentioned above about people that I shouldn’t have let into my life. There are several types of people that you should avoid confiding in if you can. I will share the two types that are most common. There are people who may come to you because they see success or favor in your life or ministry. They will make you believe that they are on your side and will help you any way they can.

This requires prayer before you go further because they really could be sent from the Father, to do just what they said. Often they are people who are trying to ride your wave of success.

Thinking that if they stay around you long enough they can use your hard work to advance themselves.

I don’t mean to sound negative. This is from my heart and years of experience.

The second group have no such agendas. They are generally good people, who you may be able to help move forward, in their God given destiny. You do need to be aware that many of these amazing folks are not going where you are going. Their dreams may be much smaller than yours. Embrace them with the goal of helping them reach their potential. Take their counsel with much prayer.

These two groups of people can be found in many areas of life. From ministry to business they exist.

It is just life.

Going forward from a mistake or failure has an element of fear. Will you be respected? Considered to be serious in your endeavor. Will they blow it again? These and more are questions that people will have in their minds. Not everyone. Just the ones who really don’t want you to rise above your mistakes.

It is ok. This is just life.

There will be others that will encourage you, and embrace you, as you move beyond these things. Find these people. Listen to their counsel and accept their help.

The negative ones. Pray for them, but ignore them. They are not going where you are. Their dreams are small if they even exist. It doesn’t always make them bad people. It takes all kinds to build a church and a business.

Surround yourself with winners. At least people who want to win. To dream. To work hard, and to believe.

It is what Jesus did. Do what He did!!!

PS. Please forgive me for all the I”s in this blog.

My life and my heart belongs to Jesus. The source of everything good in me, and in the world.