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Tag: Love
It’s All Very Simple
It’s All Very Simple
Well, the morning has started with some reruns of the Andy Griffith Show. I like to watch them on the Sundance channel because they show different cuts from the original episodes. Scenes that are usually not viewed.
Yes, this probably indicates that I am over 21 years old. It reminds me how things used to be. I can remember how simple life was. Things were sort of black or white, right or wrong. It didn’t take a Doctorate to understand all the relevant points when someone says, I am thirsty. I would like a glass of water.
Did they really mean glass, or would a Dixie cup do. Spring water, tap water, flavored water. A full glass, or just half full.
Cold water or room temp.
THIS MAKES ME TIRED.
The same thing has happened to the Gospel. I believe that most of the 41,000 different denominations and institutions believe that Jesus is the answer. It is the path to reach Him, and to embrace Him, that is all over the place.
I have a lot to say about Biblical principles and the Apostolic authority that has been passed on to the church. What was accomplished in the book of Acts and throughout the NT is relevant today.
Keep an eye on my blog posts. I address these things all the time. For now I am going to keep it simple.
John 12:32
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.
The word all, or a synonym is used in all the English translations of this verse. “All, Means All”
Luke 9:23-25
23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
25 For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?”
What an amazing Savior. He died for all, called all. It’s all very simple.
Jesus suffered intense Roman persecution. The rejection of the very people He came for. People who should have known who He was. His crucifixion and death.
He went through this so all would have a path to Him.
That path requires us to give up our will and ways to follow Him, Our cross if you will. “It’s all very simple.” We lose who we are, to become who He has called us to be.
He even made the journey very simple when it comes to theological principles.
Luke 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
It’s All Very Simple.
John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.
A Message not a Massage
A Message not a Massage
There has been an issue on my heart for weeks and I have finally found time to share some thoughts. I hear all too often how preachers are not addressing sin issues enough. They call it soft and compromising if you preach the love of God and His love for all people. Sinners and saints. I have heard said that some call it giving a massage, instead of preaching them a message about hell fire and eternal damnation.
The prophet Jeremiah addresses a similar issues in his 6th chapter verse 14. “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.”
Ministries often spend time preaching against things that no one in their congregation is dealing with. Social issues, sexual sins. Never addressing the value that love has to turn the heart of someone that has not embraced Christ.
When I share my thoughts on this subject, I often get a lot of criticism. I love that. In some small manner it puts me in the same situation Christ was in. The religious folks didn’t like His message either.
They often forget that it was the religious folks that hated Him because He loved the sinners. He forgave them, healed them, embraced them.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 Message
3 If our Message is obscure to anyone, it’s not because we’re holding back in any way. No, it’s because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention.
4 All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won’t have to bother believing a Truth they can’t see. They’re stone-blind to the day spring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we’ll ever get.
The religious folks were looking for the Messiah. Those in the temple knew every prophesy about Him, yet they could not recognize Him.
Much like to day many have a picture in their minds of what Christ should look like. How He would respond to sinners and saints. All too often that picture is a God with a sword, poised to kill those who are in sin.
It is a picture that is painted all too often when telling the story of Jesus.
In John chapter 4 Jesus had the longest conversation recorded in the Bible with a woman who had been married 5 times, and was currently living with another man.
History tells us a lot about this woman.
Sometime after this encounter she was baptized by the Apostles and given the name, Photine. Her name means, “the luminous one” or enlightened one.
History says that she was recognized by the church as equal to the Apostles because she won so many people to the Lord.
Look her up. It is an awesome story.
In reading the story in John chapter 4 Jesus pointed out her life issues.
John 4:15-18
15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.”
16 He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.”
17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’;
18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”
So where is the condemnation? He pointed out her issue and then opened the path to redemption. Seems like I read somewhere that if you have been forgiven much, you will love much.
I could go on and on so let me wrap this one up. Tell the story of Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Tell them why He did it. That must be the message. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
By the way Photine converted her 5 sisters and two sons. They won many to Christ. In 66AD they were all martyred under the persecution of Nero. Some say he threw her body in a dry well.
Let me know what you think. visitlivinghope@gmail.com
Remember When
Remember When
The fall season is trying to arrive but summer has resisted it’s coming.
It reminds me of us, broadly speaking mankind in general. We resist change. It is who we are.
Change has unknown elements to it. Just when we get comfortable with the season of life we are in, God moves us forward to a new season. Change begins.
Sometimes we will hold on to what God is through with. Because we are comfortable with it. When we become comfortable with ourselves, usually this is the very time that God will begin to shake things up. It becomes a season of change.
With all of that said, much of the Bible is about the past. Examples of His grace and love. Stories of people and the difficulties they faced. Revealing their faith and how God moved for them. Moved them forward in destiny.
I come to you this morning, in His name, to share some thoughts titled, “Remember When”
Genesis 30 is the story of the sons of Jacob.
Genesis 30:22-24
22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb.
23 So she conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”
24 She named him Joseph, saying, “May the Lord give me another son.”
From the Hebrew Joseph means, “Jehovah has added, from the root word which means, to add, increase, do again.”
Exodus the 2nd chapter begins with the birth of Moses. His people being persecuted in Egypt. Moses fleeing to Midian. He took a wife, had a son, and became a shepherd of his father in laws sheep. “Then This”
Exodus 2:23-25
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.
God remembered the cries of a single individual.
He remembered His promise to the fathers, when He heard the cries of a nation with millions of people.
(God remembered when, someone prayed, when someone cried, when He made a promise.)
God will remember you!!!
Let’s talk about us for a while.
Matthew 26:74-75
74 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.
75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
How many remember a sin or failure?
(Let me fix this for you.)
Hebrews 10:14-18
14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,” He then says,
17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Mark 8:17-19
17 And Jesus, aware of this, *said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?
18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember,
19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They *said to Him, “Twelve.”
(Do you not remember His goodness? Everything He has brought you through. Every prayer answered, need met.)
Finally, In Romans 11 Paul was writing about the failure of the Jews to accept Christ. Explaining how that opened the door for the Gentiles to be saved.
In detail the Apostle was explaining the mystery of salvation and its quality of restoration.
He then said this.
Romans 11:17-18
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,
18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.
Remember who we are. It is not about us, it is all about Him, the Root.
Just so you know who the root is.
Isaiah 11:10 AMPC
And it shall be in that day that the Root of Jesse shall stand as a signal for the peoples; of Him shall the nations inquire and seek knowledge, and His dwelling shall be glory [His rest glorious]!
Romans 15:12
Again Isaiah says, “There shall come the root of Jesse, And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, In Him shall the Gentiles hope.”
“Do you remember when?
#inHisname #hopelives
What’s In Your Center?
What’s In Your Center?
The love and grace of God is an eternal flow. God loves unconditionally, and forgives with the same authority.
The last few years of my life have been a period of transformation. Understanding and revelation have been consistently communicated to my spirit.
I believe that should be true at some level, for everyone.
I love the word of God. I believe it is His inspired words. I also believe that it is fully revealed and understood, when read with spiritual revelation, study, and prayer.
It has always been my hope, and my prayer, that I would bring just that kind of revelation to those that hear me share the heart of God.
I come to you, in His name, to share some thoughts titled, “What’s In Your Center?”
The Gospel message, and its presentation, has been my heart, and my concern for many years.
Over time the message has been corrupted with all sorts of add ons. Things are changing. We are entering a new season, but the church will always be tempted to preach a man centered gospel.
A man centered Gospel is all about God meeting our desires, our wants, and our needs. I strongly believe that God does want to do good things in our life. Yet the Gospel is not about getting, it is all about giving.
The message of the Gospel must not be man-centered. It must be Christ centered. Paul said it this way.
Roman 14:7-8
7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;
8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
In 1st Corinthians the second chapter Paul shares His total reliance on the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:11-15
11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
Would that we all would have a sincere, faith and confidence in God.
Appraises,appraised means, “To determine the excellence or defects of any person or thing.”
I Corinthians 2:15 AMP
But the spiritual man [the spiritually mature Christian] judges all things [questions, examines and applies what the Holy Spirit reveals], yet is himself judged by no one [the unbeliever cannot judge and understand the believer’s spiritual nature].
TLB
But the spiritual man has insight into everything, and that bothers and baffles the man of the world, who can’t understand him at all.
We should Understand and reveal the heart of God.
Colossians 2:8-15
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.
11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Colossians 2:11 AMP
“In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but by the [spiritual] circumcision of Christ in the stripping off of the body of the flesh [the sinful carnal nature.
In Peter’s second letter, while writing to several cities, influenced by his ministry, he said this.
2 Peter 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.
This is not man-centered stuff. This is Christ centered.
Revelation 3:20-22 Amplified
20 Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me.
21 He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant to him [the privilege] to sit beside Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down beside My Father on His throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
We have a responsibility to build our life, our hopes, and our dreams around the Gospel message of Jesus. Working from the center out our world will change. Our lives will be enriched, and promises will be fulfilled in our life with Christ.
Would you make Jesus the center of your life today?
#inHisname #hopelives
Back to the Basics
Back to the Basics
I love the Bible. So many things fascinate me as they are unfolded in the word. When combined with prayer and spiritual revelation we can begin to understand the heart of God.
I love to keep things simple, which is not difficult for me.
I love the church, so from time to time I will speak to things that I believe need attention. This is one of those posts.
In an effort to learn and grow, I think sometimes we forget the basics.
When Jesus was asked by a lawyer to share the greatest commandments, He left the theological definition for another day. He simply shared a basic word that encompassed the entire heart of God.
Matthew 22:37-40
37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
This passage and it’s meaning has been debated through denominational and theological channels for generations.
How about we quit trying to figure out what we think this means, and simply do what it says.
What if every Christian, in every church in this country, would begin to love God with all their heart, their soul, and their mind? With persistent and consistent passion.
What changes would it make in our lives?. Our relationship with God would move to another level. We would begin to see things like He sees them. Think His thoughts, and speak His words. Awesome.
Then what would happen if we loved everyone like we loved ourselves?
Our country would begin to heal. Different races would find unity as love canceled hate. Political discourse would return to what it used to be. Friendly arguments and discussions over lunch. Our boisterous opinions given, then ending the discussion with a friendly handshake, and I will see you again next week.
Sounds like a dream doesn’t it?
God specializes in making dreams come to pass. It will take a while, but I would challenge everyone that reads this to begin to do what Jesus said to do.
Share these words of Christ with whatever venue you use to reach your friends and family. Keep it simple. Return to the basics.
Love God with everything you have, and love your neighbor like you love yourself.
I believe it will change our world.
Be blessed as you follow Christ.
#inHisname
The Gift of God
The Gift of God
I have been wanting to do a post for a while on what seems to be a fixation on sin in much of the church.
I am aware that the religious community will not like this but I do pray that you read the entire post. I am not the type to judge and condemn others for their beliefs. I am, however the type that will passionately address what I believe is wrong.
Let me say unquestionably, that what the Bible says is sin, is sin. I didn’t write it, and I do not have the right to alter it. With that said, and this is probably for another post. I along with all of you have a responsibility to study, and pray, for understanding. As the Apostle Paul taught us our covenant has a spiritual concept, and must be understood with spiritual discernment.
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.
With all this said, Here I go!!
It seems to me that there is only one sin that the church world is concerned with. I have read many posts regarding homosexuality. All kinds of amazing topics that grab attention.
5 Reasons why the church must publicly denounce it, or you will be labeled as approving it. Does that mean if I don’t call out liars that I approve of their lies. Revelation 21:8 says all liars will be in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.
What about people steeped in selfish pride and arrogance.
What about the seven abominations found in Proverbs. By the way, none are sexually related.
Proverbs 6:16-19
16 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
If I don’t cry out against these, naming them, and publicly berating those involved. Does that mean I approve of it, or condone it.
The church uses homosexuality as the sole reason for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Take a look at this.
Ezekiel 16:49-50
49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.
50 Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it.
The word abominations comes from the Hebrew word, Tow’ebah, strongs #8441. It means, (a disgusting thing. In a ritual sense it means, unclean food idols, and mixed marriages. In a ethical sense it means, wickedness.)
However, if you read the book of Jasher you will find that every sort of sexual sin there is, was being committed in these cities. Along with many other despicable acts of rebellion and disobedience.
It seems to me, God speaking through the prophet, was concerned about the poor and the needy. INTERESTING ISN’T IT?
Jesus put an emphasis on unbelief when He commissioned the disciples to tell His story.
Matthew 10:13-15
13 If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.
14 Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
15 Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
Verse 15 Amplified
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city [since it rejected the Messiah’s messenger].
Please understand, this is not an effort to condone or minimize anything. I am simply saying that there are many things that people are dealing with. Many of which affect the condition of the church and it’s message to the world.
I believe in being fair. If I started naming sins from the pulpit, I would have no time to share the story of Jesus, (The Gospel Message). Most people have something they are dealing with. Is one more dangerous than the other?
When did we as a church stop believing in the redemptive power of the Gospel. The message of Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. When did the church stop trusting that message to change the lives of the hearers?
We as a church need to listen to the voices crying out in the world.
The people who are in desperate situations. Sexual addictions, drug addictions. Those in poverty and horrible living conditions. People being abused every day with no hope of having a normal life.
Do we in the church really believe that these folks don’t know their condition?
They need to hear a message of hope. Something that will build within them the faith to change their circumstance. Something that they can believe in. A friend that will walk with them every step as they transition from their past and become a follower of Christ.
They need to hear that someone loves them, not hates them.
Yes we hate sin, and the destruction that it causes in peoples lives and families. That is why the Apostle Peter wrote this.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I could go on for hours but I won’t. I will close with some words from an old Hymn. Words I have shared many times.
“Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word; Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.”
Be blessed and let me know what you think.
#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.
Greater Love, The More Excellent Way
Greater Love, The More Excellent Way
This is one of those days when all I could think about was the awesome love of God. His love was manifested throughout the Bible, but never more significantly than these words from our Lord.
John 15:12-13
12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Verse 12 presents a problem from time to time.
“Don’t sit there with your smug religious attitude. Thinking that you haven’t had a problem loving someone in the way Christ loves you.” LOL
I say this with a humorous tone. I would suspect that all of us humans have met someone in our life that presented us with a challenge. The challenge being, how will I love this person, like Christ loved me.
Just so you know, God most likely puts these people in our lives from time to time, to teach us. He is teaching us to look beyond personalities and see people like He sees them.
Teaching us to forgive, as He forgives. “Forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
In verse 13 our Lord really raised the bar. He loved us so much that He gave His life for us.
Love was never meant to be used as a tool to hurt and confuse people. I hear those 5 famous words, taken out of context all the time. People will say they have the right to condemn others because they are, “speaking the truth in love.”
This approach has turned more people away from Christ, than it has ever brought to Him.
Jesus also said this.
John 3:16-17
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Note. God sent His Son because He loved. The Son didn’t come to judge, He came to save. Why?
BECAUSE HE LOVED.
I have a passion for this. With all my heart I believe that when you reveal God’s love to a sinner it becomes a seed in their heart. It will grow as it is watered, and will reach a season where this soul can be harvested.
It is so much easier to embrace someone that loves you.
This is why 8000 souls came to Christ in the 1st few chapters of Acts.
Peter preached the story of Jesus. The sin He recognized was simply unbelief. All sin stems from that same principle today. People don’t believe that God loves them, because many times the message is one of judgment and condemnation.
It is not God’s anger, but His goodness, that leads men to repentance.
The Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthian church chapter 12 had some great instruction for the church. He taught on spiritual gifts and the function of the body of Christ. Ending with the function of ministry and spiritual gifts as well.
Then He made this statement.
1 Corinthians 12:31
But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.
That excellent is found in its’ entirety in Chapter 13. I will close with the first and last verse. Read the whole chapter when you get a chance.
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Be blessed as you follow Christ and remember this.
#lovewins and #hopelives
Seasoned For Your Purpose
Seasoned For Your Purpose
God is a good God. It is His goodness that leads people to repentance. His goodness moves us to walk in His purpose for our lives.
Knowing that His love is everlasting and unconditional. This kind of assurance should propel us forward into a close, and even closer relationship with Him.
I love the Lord, and I love the church. This one, and everyone, that exists to further the Gospel and declare the wonders of God.
It is His story that drives me, not mine. I am not called to promote myself. I am called to shine His light.
I want to share some thoughts titled, “Seasoned For Your Purpose”
Mark 9:38-42 NASB
38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.
40 For he who is not against us is for us.
41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.
I think what stands out to me in these passages, is the Lord’s complete confidence in those who believe in Him.
Even declaring how important these little, unknown servants are, and the harsh rebuke those who offended them would receive.
In the next few verses, Mark 43-48 there comes a stern warning. I will summarize.
If you hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. If your eye causes you to stumble, pull it out. Better to enter into the Kingdom of God with one hand, or one foot, or one eye. Than to have both, and enter into hell.
Pretty tough. What is He really saying?
I believe that Jesus is emphasizing the importance of three things that occur in our lives, most everyday.
What we touch, where we go, and what we see.
When God gave instruction to Adam and Eve about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He said this. In Genesis 3:3. “You shall not eat from it, or touch it, or you will die.”
He threw them out of the Garden. Commanded them to work the ground from which they came.
What you touch matters. Today it has a much broader meaning.
The Lord told Joshua this.
Joshua 1:3 NASB
Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
Where you walk is your inheritance. Where you go matters.
Psalms 26:12 NASB
My foot stands on a level place; In the congregations I shall bless the Lord.
Psalms 94:18 NASB
If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up.
Where your feet take you matters!!
It matters what you see. Jesus said this.
Matthew 6:22-23 NASB
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
What you touch,where you walk, and what you see.
I want to go back to Mark 9 and read the last two verses. The Lord shared these warnings for our good. Following these principles will strengthen our faith and our relationship with Him. Christ ended the chapter this way.
Mark 9:49-50 NASB
49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.
50 Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
When we go through trials we are being salted in preservation. Not only for our lives. We are called to share this process with everyone.
When we follow Christ we begin a process. Our lives, thoughts, and actions are being refined. Changed, if you will to align with the will and purpose of God.
That process must also be the catalyst that makes us the light of the world. Sharing our story. The things we have conquered. The things that have preserved us for the Kingdom.
Don’t minimize your story. It will be the salt that changes another.
Our success generates success in others. That is the process of being salted.
Matthew 5:13 NASB
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Colossians 4:6 NASB
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
“What we touch, where we go, what we see, salts our world with the love and grace of God.”
We are seasoned for purpose.
What about your purpose?
#lovewins #hopelives
You Have To Be Kidding
You Have to be Kidding
Yesterday 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