Month: November 2016

WE ARE SICK AND NEED HEALING…


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Mark 2:14-17 – “As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, ” Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. 15 And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. 16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, ” Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  NASU

 

The Pharisees were self-righteous and afforded Jesus object lesson after object lesson to present His message of Grace.  In today’s world, I find the level of bitterness and hatred that exists among people incredibly disturbing.  It is even more disturbing when it is found among those who identify as followers of Christ.  The Pharisees thought they had a corner on truth and were the only ones pure in their doctrine.  Jesus repeatedly revealed that it was not the outside of the cup that God focused on but the heart.  The Pharisees had their spiritual ‘T’s’ crossed and their ‘I’s’ dotted and yet missed the mark in the eyes of the Savior and the revealed will and heart of God in the Bible.  They sought to earn their acceptance and in doing so demonstrated the reality they were ‘sick’ spiritually and ‘bankrupt’ relationally.  We have a condition where those who are outside the faith are filled with enmity toward each other.  We have a condition in the church where those of various sects, groups, camps, and/or persuasions are at enmity with those not like them.  That identifies the condition of my title – “We, as a society, are sick and need healing.”

When Jesus called Levi, a tax collector, a man whose occupation caused him to be despised by the Pharisees, Jesus became the immediate target of the religious crowd.  Our Lord went into this vile man’s home, sharing a meal and when the Pharisees became aware of it, they branded Him a heretic because he was associating with SINNERS!  Imagine that, the Great Physician seeking out those in need of spiritual healing.  These Pharisees were not bold enough to confront Jesus to his face so they buttonholed his disciples asking their condemning questions, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”  Jesus heard them and responded directly to their accusations and condensation saying, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  If it were not for the incredible seriousness of that, it would be hilarious the way Jesus put the Pharisees in their place.

Our Lord’s answer should have caused an immediate recognition by the judgmental, self-righteous looking down their noses as those they considered SINNERS but it didn’t.  Jesus identified His purpose of “seeking and saving that which was and is lost.”  His statement, that it is not the healthy that needed a physician was an indictment on the attitude of the Pharisees.  Jesus’s statement revealed a powerful truth that although one might be rigid in keeping the Law and Laws of their own making, they can and usually do still suffer from a serious heart problem, spiritually.  Their hearts were not gracious or loving.  They were not forgiving or interested in the spiritual condition of those they considered SINNERS.  They were judgmental and harsh in their treatment and view of anyone not a member of the Association.  Jesus identified that attitude as being foreign to His heart and the purposes of God.  He identified the truth and purpose of the Spiritual Physician who comes to Heal the Spiritually sick if the sick will receive Him.

If we allow ourselves to become as the Pharisees we reveal a spiritual sickness in our own hearts and our great need of the Heavenly Physician to heal us.  If we who are followers of Christ fail to manifest spiritual health how will those in the world believe and receive!  In many ways, we are sick and need healing.  I encourage you to bring your entire heart and mind to the Cross and allow our Lord through the Holy Spirit to apply His healing balm and heal us.  In that state of wholeness, we can manifest not just represent Christ to the world.

            God, bless you as you embark on this beautiful day in Christ!

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THE POWER OF WISDOM…


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Proverbs 2:1-9 – “My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. 9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course.”  NASU

 

Solomon the wisest man to ever live next to Jesus gives a very powerful discourse instructing each of us how to live and pursue our daily objectives in life.  Although Solomon may well have been talking to his own son we can relate this to God and us, His children.  Then, we see the power of this instruction.

We are to ‘receive His words’ or ‘embrace’ them allowing them to be assimilated and incorporated into our lives, our thinking, our living, and our actions.  We not only receive God’s word but we consider His words and commandments as treasures.  Remember Jesus said, “…for where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21).  So, if we value God’s word at the level of treasures we will anchor those commandments in our heart and become joined with His word so completely we are inseparable.

We must pay attention or give heed to the understanding and truths that are revealed in God’s word and seek the Holy Spirit to bring us into understanding as we devour those morsels of truth in God’s Word.  As we gain understanding we realize the value of discernment and begin to cry out for the aid of the Spirit of God to help us both understand and have the ability to discern His precepts and principles and those things which transpire around us.  We are to seek God’s truths as though we were mining for golden nuggets in a stream or in a mine in the natural.  It is in that condition and position that we learn the Fear of God and the power of Wisdom in our lives.

Wisdom becomes a shield to those who walk in integrity and a strong tower, to which we can run for safety.  He becomes our shield and buckler protecting us from the onslaught and assault of the enemy of our souls.  We will then become able to demonstrate the heart and character of God and His wisdom before the world.  We will be able to choose the right paths, take the right fork in the road of life and as we walk in righteousness God will bring us into good pastures where we will have the Abundant Life Jesus promised.

God bless you as you embark on today’s journey in Jesus!

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WHEN I CONSIDER CREATION – My Heart Soars…


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Psalm 8:3-9 – “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!” NASU

 

I love being outdoors enjoying that which God has created and the feeling of being free that accompanies being outside the confines of four walls.  Everyone does not share that sense of being that I do when I’m outside but how could anyone view the world and not see Creation?  How could anything so perfect, filled with beauty, as well as the intricate detail of the universe have just happened?  To ask me to believe that some nebula or cosmic reaction as in the “Big Bang Theory” where a rapid expansion of matter created a massive explosion and the universe suddenly came into being.  Where did the original matter come from?  How did everything fall so perfectly into place with positioning, orbits, gravitational fields, etc. happen so perfectly?  Sorry, but I believe that design indicates a designer and when I consider the work of the heavens, the earth, and mankind I see design.

When I consider the Bible’s presentation of creation and look at the heavens, earth, the moon and stars and all that exists I am awed!  As I consider the universe and its incredible detail and perfect positioning and look at man, I  find myself speechless that God, the creator, and originator of everything would give such care to man who He has described as the pinnacle of His creation.  I am reminded of the Words of Jesus in Matthew 6 when He spoke about worry and concern over life and provisions.  He described God’s care for the animals and birds, the flowers of the field, and everything in the natural then said, “But if God so clothes the grass of the field… HOW MUCH MORE…” (v.30).  How much more will He do for you and me!  Amazing is probably an inadequate description but WOW!  His directive was, seek God first and banish worry because the God who created us will care for us with incredible care.

I am not a scientist trained in anatomy or biology but when I consider, from a layman’s understanding, the human body I believe!  When I view the planetary orbits and how the planets are held in perfect alignment I believe!  When I consider the positioning of our Terra firma and how we have winter and summer, heat and cold, and the seasons in perfect harmony and in such a way as to provide and sustain life I believe!  When I hear, the alarmist talk about man-made global warming or climate change I consider it a slap in the face of our Creator and a diminishing of His care and keeping and elevating man to a position that he does not deserve and in which he cannot function.  God, not man is in charge and puny man, the creation of the Almighty God who spoke the worlds into existence perfectly, is not going to destroy God’s creation.  We are to be good stewards but we are not gods there is only one God and He is still Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent.  He is not asleep at the wheel, on vacation, or taking a nap.

           When I consider the handiwork of God my heart soars with a good theme and joy floods my being.  For in considering the work of God in His creation, I have heightened confidence in the Promises of God that He will keep that which I have committed to Him against that day. He is coming back just like He promised.  We are more than conquerors through Jesus and we can ask what we will and have confidence He will bring it to pass.  My heart soars as I view the work of God’s hand in the universe! 

            God bless you as you enjoy His creation and bask in His divine presence. 

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THE CALL TO THE AMERICA…


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2 Chronicles 7:13-15 – “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.”  NKJV

 

I address this to America but it applies to the world and every human being alive on the planet.  God appeared to Solomon a second time after he had dedicated the temple to the Lord.  God told Solomon that He had heard his prayer and had chosen the temple to Himself as a house of sacrifice.  Then He spoke of a condition in which judgment was on the land because of people’s drifting from God’s way there was a remedy nationally as well as individually.  He spoke of a time when He (God) would shut up heaven and no rain would come or the devouring locust to destroy the crops or pestilence among the people.  That can easily be understood as a severe hardship, external and internal chaos and the decline of the nation.  God instructed Solomon that in that time the remedy was simple, explicit, specific.

The people of God were to do four specific things to stay the hand of judgment and restore the nation:

  1. Humble Themselves.

Often when an individual or a nation drifts from God one of the identifying element in their decline is PRIDE.  Not only pride but trusting in their intelligence, ability, accomplishments and such.  The Bible teaches that “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” [Proverbs 16:18].  We read in Isaiah 2:11 – “The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.”  In James 4:10 we read, “Humble yourselves before the LORD, and He will lift you up.”   Pride is destructive and Humility a necessary condition to stand in the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.   Therefore, the first action of national and personal restoration is Humbling ourselves.

Jesus was a man of prayer and taught His followers to pray.  He was so much a man of prayer that His disciples came to Him and requested that He teach them to pray.  James instructs in James 5:13, “Is anyone among you in trouble?  Let them pray.”  Then in (v.16) he instructs, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”  HEALING comes through humility, confession or repentance, and prayer.  That healing is healing in all aspects of personal and national life.

  1. Seek God’s Face.

The next and quite a logical step is to SEEK GOD’S FACE.  Remember the words of our Lord in Matthew 6:33?  He said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”  Jesus said Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  The next verse tells us that if we do we will receive.  If we seek God above all else, healing comes to our land and our lives.

  1. Turn from Wickedness.

This is the true state of repentance.  Repentance means to ‘change your mind’ or do an ‘about face’.  It is not as one preacher I heard preach that when he repented he did a 360-degree turn.  No, it is 180-degree turn, not a full circle.  It is to go the other way.  We are to truly ‘come out from among them and be separate.’  We are to make God Lord of All.  We are to repent of our wickedness and failure to be obedient to His Word and Plan.  We do that individually and nationally.

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The Promise of God is that He will HEAR us, FORGIVE us, and HEAL us.  That is my cry for my nation today. It is my desire for my own life.  I make the prayer of David in Psalm 51 my prayer.  “Lord create in me a clean and pure heart and renew in me a right and steadfast spirit.  Lord give me the fullness of the Holy Spirit and let me walk in Your anointing.  Do not take from me Your Holy Spirit but let me live in the presence of the Lord.” 

America needs to repent and return and when we do God will restore that which has been stripped from us by the enemy of righteousness.   God bless you richly as you make 2 Chronicles 7:14 a cornerstone in your life. 

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THE CONFIDENCE OF GOD…


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Job 1:4 – “Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” NKJV

 

Let me declare at the outset that I am fully aware and confident in the Omniscience of God.  HE KNOWS so this was not God trying to find out what was in the heart of Job but a demonstration of God’s Confidence in a righteous person.  It served as a life lesson and illustration of God’s faithfulness and man’s frailty to the devil and those who encountered Job as well as to the generations that would follow.

I heard a preacher say once, regarding what God did, “God don’t sic the devil on me!”  He was serious and from his commentary I wondered if he was accusing God of being unkind.  That was not his intent but that is how it could have been construed by anyone listening and that would be incredibly sad.  As I look at this account I consider it an expression of God Incredible Confidence in Job.  Yes, Job had a great loss in the natural but in the end, his reward and relationship with God were strengthened almost beyond imagination.  NO, I do not think God was being sadistic in His question to the devil regarding Job. 

I have wondered, in some of my times of difficulty, if God had asked the devil, “Have you considered my servant Roy?”  Then, my human frailty and the recognizable kinks in my spiritual armor flooded my mind.  I do not allow myself to elevate my personal estimation of my righteousness to the point that I become puffed up and thereby allow the seed of self-righteousness could grow.  However, I do want to live in such a manner that I am fully confident that on that final day I will stand before the Lord and hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joys of your Lord.”  NO, I do not think that we can earn God’s grace and fully comprehend that “our righteousness in comparison to that of Jesus could be compared to a filthy rag.” 

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If we stand like Paul and can honestly make the affirmation,” For I know the one in whom I have placed my confidence, and I am perfectly certain that the work he has committed to me is safe in his hands until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12).  The Prophet Isaiah declared, “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.”  (Isaiah 32:17).  It should be the compelling desire and pursuit of every believer live such a life and present such a character that God’s Confidence in us could be as He expressed in Job in days of old.  Abraham was called ‘the friend of God’ and it is my desire that God would not only consider me His servant and bond-slave but His friend and could have the confidence in me to make the same assertion as He did of Job.

Another side of that coin and a topic for another message would be that we would, as Job, come through the other our time of difficulty resisting the plea of the world and the devil and even well-meaning friends to “curse God and die.”  NO, I do not want nor do I pray for suffering but the words of James resonate in my spirit. We can be confident in God that even in times of trial He is faithful and once the trial is complete we will come forth a finely refined gold.  The saying often used by Burton McCafferty is worthy of mention, “God can pull us through anything if we can stand the pull.”  Then the words of Paul encourage us that when we have done all to stand to just keep on standing, and keep trusting God’s Grace, Promise, Purpose, and Power!

God bless you richly as you enjoy this day in Him!

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WHY WOULD A CHRISTIAN WANT JESUS TO DELAY HIS COMING?


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Matthew 28:18-20 – “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”  NKJV

 

That passage clearly speaks to the ministry and purpose of the Church and Christians in this present world.  A companion passage is found in Mark 16:14-18 – “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”   We have a commission to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations, all peoples, all ethnicities, and all religions.  We are not only commissioned to tell them of Jesus but to ‘make disciples’ which involves and included ‘teaching’ them the commandments of our Lord.

In Matthew 24:14 we read, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”  On the Day of Pentecost, after Jesus’ resurrection the LORD met with His followers and Promised Power to accomplish their purpose.  He said in Acts 1:8 – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and to the end of the earth.”  Therefore we have the COMMISSION to take God’s Word and the Hope of Salvation to the entire world and we know that Jesus will delay His coming UNTIL that message has gone forth to all the world.  We have a PROMISE of provision and power to fulfill this COMMISSION.  Whether we are doing this or not isn’t the focus of my message today.

This causes me to ask, “Would it be wrong for a Christian to desire Jesus delay His coming?”  Before you react let give me a moment to address that.  Of course we, like Paul and those who have fought the good fight before us, desire His return and our eternal occupation of heaven.  But, what could be reasons for wanting the Lord to delay?  I fully understand that the longer Jesus tarries His return the more difficulty and trouble will come to multitudes. However, I also comprehend that once Jesus returns and we are caught up together with Him in the clouds all hell is going to break lose and the world will be plunged into darkness.  But back to the question.

What could be reasons to want a Delay in the Coming of the Lord?  Let me offer just a couple of thoughts on this matter.

  1. There Are Those Who Have Not HEARD.

We have no cause for concern over this other than to admonish us to spread the word for the clear declaration of scripture is He will delay UNTIL the Gospel has gone to the world.

  1. There Are Those Who Have HEARD but not HEEDED.

That is not a biblical requirement for God to delay but it could be a reason we would desire that He delay for a time.  You could argue that it will make no difference but I ask, did you immediately respond the moment you first heard the Gospel?  I did not and I am incredibly thankful that there were those who continued to pray for me and present a godly example to me.  I am thankful that once I heard the end did not come.

  1. There Are Those Who Have HEARD and HEEDED but Are Lacking in COMMITMENT.Again, not a biblical requirement or justification for the delay but will affect their eternity in a significant manner.  They many not lose or have lost their salvation but they may stand ‘red faced’ before God on that day.

Abraham prayed for God to spare Sodom for ten righteous people’s sake.  In Revelation 3 we find Jesus’ chastisement to the Laodicean Church, “…because you are lukewarm, and neither hot or cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (v.16).  There was hope for this church but were the Lord to have come immediately their condition would have been disastrous for them and detrimental to the purpose and mission of the Kingdom of God.  If they repented and returned and renewed their zest and quest for God and His Purposes multitudes could be impacted for God.

Do not understand me to say that we want God to delay UNTIL everyone is right with God, that hour will never come.  And while we are perfectly content to leave the day and hour to God’s judgment we weep for those in the three categories I listed.  What then should we do?  Rather than pray for the delay of His return we should invest ourselves in the fulfilling of His Great Commission and GO YE THEREFORE.  Go to our Jerusalem, our Judea, our Samaria, and to the World.  We cannot all go to the world but we can invest ourselves in our spheres of influence and we can contribute to ministries that are going.  But, above all, we can PRAY and become INTERCESSORS!

God bless you richly is my prayer!

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FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS…


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Esther 4:13-14 – “And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  NKJV

 

The story of Esther, Mordecai, Haman, King Ahasuerus, and the Jews is a gripping one of evil, corruption, intercession, and willingness to accept one’s responsibility.  The plight of the Jews was dire and while Esther had the favor of the King she was placing her life on the line in answering the challenge of Mordecai to intercede for her people.  The question of Mordecai is gripping and multitudes of sermons have been preached using it as the catalyst to speak for dedication, commitment, and recognizing the call of God.  He said, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

I have witnessed and experienced the detail with which God ordains events, orchestrates situations, and moves people into position for His purposes.  He had elevated Esther to the palace and given her favor with the king to save her people in their darkest hour.  God has divine appointments for us if we can recognize them and if we will walk in willing obedience to the nudging of the Holy Spirit.

You may view your life as meaningless or of lesser importance than some prominent figure spiritually or politically and that is a mistake.  You may never see your name in lights and multitudes may never know your name but that does not mean your place in the purposes of God is unimportant.  I heard Evangelist James Robison founder of LIFE Outreach International tell his story and it is inspirational.  He was born in the charity ward of a Houston hospital, the product of a forced sexual encounter.  His 41-year-old mother originally sought to have an abortion, but the doctor would not comply.  She gave birth to this child, put an ad in the newspaper and gave him up for adoption to Reverend and Mrs. H.D. Hale, pastors in Pasadena, Texas.  His mother reclaimed him as a teenager and he returned to her home in Austin, Texas, where they lived in extreme poverty.  His biological father came back into their lives and after some volatile times, James almost shot his father, an alcoholic and ill-tempered.  He returned to his adoptive parents in Houston and Mrs. Hale led him to Christ during a revival service.  The ministry of James and Betty Robison has touched untold thousands if not millions around the world for God.  Who was that obscure doctor who refused to perform an abortion?  I do not know and few probably do but the reality is that his obedience to conscience and conviction allowed James to be born and he now is a powerful voice for God internationally.

Who knows if that next person you touch in kindness or through a word of witness will become the next Billy Graham, Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody, W.J. Seymour, Charles Finney, or James Robison?  Who knows if that life you touch becomes a mighty person in the world of finance and through their prosperity impact the Kingdom of God mightily?  Who knows if that person you impact for God and good might become the next mighty statesman for America and the world saving America from destruction?  You are not insignificant for you were significant enough for Jesus to go to the Cross for you.  You could have been brought into the kingdom for such a time as this when you speak to that isolated and lonely soul who becomes a might person for God and good. But let’s take a giant step forward and declare that who can say you were not brought into the kingdom to be the next voice to the world or statesman to bring reconciliation to nations.

Listen to the Holy Spirit and never consider your worth, value, and importance insignificant.  Who knows you might have come into the kingdom for this very time and purpose!  God bless richly is my prayer!

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DOORWAY TO HEAVEN…


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John 3:3, 18-21 – “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”  NKJV

 

I fully believe that God wants everyone to go to heaven but I also realize that everyone will not.  There are teachings that suggest everyone will go to heaven without meeting the requirements for salvation enumerated in the Bible, going through the God’s door of being “born again.”  Jesus made it clear here and in other places in Scripture that being Born Again was a requirement for Salvation and Citizenship in Heaven.

When He uttered those words to Nicodemus which was beyond the ability of Pharisee to comprehend.  Nicodemus’ focus was the natural and physical questioning how this could become a reality.  How could a man be reborn?  In the natural, he cannot so our Lord answered his questions beginning in (v.18).  If we back up a few verses, we find the Gift of God’s Love in Salvation.  In John 3:14-17 – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” 

In 2 Peter 3:9 we find an incredibly powerful and comforting word regarding the attitude of God toward humanity.  He is “not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  Does that mean everyone is saved?  NO!  Sadly, man does not always do what God wants and this is no exception.  God wants everyone to become members of the Family of God and Citizens of Heaven but there will come a day when they stand before the Great White Throne and hear the words, “Depart from Me for I never knew you.”  That is more than tragic!  Clearly, God wants everyone to have their sins forgiven and receive the Abundant Life Jesus lived, died, and arose for.

A pressing question today must be, “Are you Born Again?”  If you are not, I plead with you to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and “confess your sins, repent, and believe that He is the Christ the Son of the Living God.”  Jesus said, “If any man comes to Me I will not cast out.”  (John 6:36).  He promises that IF we confess our sins He will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us of all our iniquities.  If you know Him, rejoice and if you do not know Him listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and call upon His name.

            God bless you richly is my prayer!

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COMMITMENT IS A HEART THING…


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Nehemiah 4:6 – “So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”  NKJV

 

The phrase “mind to work” is emphatic in the Hebrew and indicates the people had “the heart to work” and indicates that their hearts were fully committed to and involved in the project.  I have long contended that what we have a heart for we will find a joy, not a drudgery.  Unless the heart is convinced our efforts will falter in the face of difficulty but if the heart is firmly fixed on the objective difficulty will only be a bump in the road, not defeat.  Have you ever heard the term ‘half-hearted’?   I have always determined in the churches I led, I would rather have a person who is committed and their heart is in the ministry or project, even if they were of lesser qualifications than a person with an impressive resume who was half-hearted.  I wanted those propelled by their passion for the project rather than one doing it for position or acclaim.

In this situation, building the walls of Jerusalem they experienced fierce opposition from Sanballat and his cohorts and had they been faint of heart they would have scurried into the shadows to avoid conflict.  They were mocked, ridiculed, and those in opposition decried their ability and questioned at what pace they could complete their work.  Nehemiah said, the wall was joined and was erected to half the planned height in the face of severe opposition and difficulty.  WHY?  His simple explanation did not exclude the Hand of God but focused on the COMMITMENT and DEDICATION of the workers. 

I believe there is a lack of COMMITMENT in too much of today’s modern Church and Christians.  We live in a world of ease and instant everything or as I like to call it a “microwave world” where we just press a button and presto the finished product is there.  I grew up on a small family farm in rural East Texas and few things came easy and virtually nothing came quickly.  We faced obstacles and they often seemed daunting but we knew the task set before us and my parents’ hearts were committed to the viability of that farm and in providing for us kids a life that provided food, shelter, and clothing.  Of course, the greatest thing they gave us was not material.  They gave us love and taught us perseverance and for that, I will be eternally grateful.

I have often wondered why there is a lack of COMMITMENT in much of today’s church and have concluded that, at least in part, it is because there is no COMMON VISION.  The Bible teaches us “where there is no vision the people perish” and one translation says, “the people run wild.”  I have often wondered if the lack of COMMITMENT because people truly do not want to take that step or because they do not have the knowledge needed to see the VISION. 

I do not believe there can be a genuine commitment to anything which people do not have a clear understanding.  That element of knowledge or knowing and understanding must comprise several factors.  We will not commit to what we do not understand or when we do not know what we are committing to.  I may love you dearly and trust you greatly but if you ask me to commit to a project and I do not understand or know what that project is and even its purpose I will find it difficult to do so.  Likewise, I believe we have to grasp the value of that to which we are being asked to commit.  Why are we doing it?  Why is it necessary?  What impact will it have on me, others, and the kingdom?  Then, we need to understand what the benefits are of the completion of the project and in that the benefits of our commitment to the task.

When we make a COMMITMENT, such as in marriage it is not strictly an emotional commitment but one that is reasoned.  Both the emotions and intellect or reason are involved.  We count the costs and weigh the benefits and impact on our lives.  When one makes a COMMITMENT they are making a COVENANT and binding themselves to their word to see it through to the end.  We live in a world that operates from a ‘contract’ rather than a ‘covenant’ mentality.  In business, professional sports, and even relationships we do not view our commitment as binding but binding so long as it benefits us in the way we desire.  A COMMITMENT that is a personal pledge to do whatever it takes, within reason, to get the job done.   COMMITMENT is not CONVENIENCE and may cost us something if not much.  Jesus made the COMMITMENT to come and die for mankind and He refused to allow anything to deter His fulfillment of the commitment.

If we will COMMIT ourselves fully and completely to the LORD and to that which is set before us we will begin to see dramatic changes in the labors and success of the Church in this present world.  COMMITMENT drives a person to reach that objective and obtaining that prize and is epitomized in PERSISTENCE.  A person that is COMMITTED will not and cannot quit!  Remember the words of Paul in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap IF we do not lose heart.”  You can’t win if you quit!

            God bless you is my desire and prayer!

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THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME…


spiritual-blog-anointed

Luke 4:18-19 – “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”  NKJV

 

Every time I read this one-word leaps off the page and is highlighted powerfully in this passage.  What is that word?  “TO”.  That’s right the two letter word TO.  Let’s examine it briefly if we might.

Jesus made a powerful declaration that the Spirit of the LORD was on Him.  That, in my view, was an understatement and so obvious that even the blind could see it.  But, Jesus was declaring to those listening to His purpose and identity through the Prophet Isaiah.  He didn’t just say that the Spirit of the Lord was on Him but identified the PURPOSE of that anointing and thereby identifies the purpose of the anointing for us.  He said, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me.”  Then He gives the purpose of His ministry.

Anointed TO preach the gospel to the poor.  If we make that only monetary we fail to understand the ministry of Jesus.  Anointed TO heal the broken hearted.  Anointed TO proclaim liberty, freedom, and deliverance to the captives.  Anointed TO recovery the sight of the blind.  Again, if we only make this physical we miss the larger message and ministry.  Anointed TO set at liberty those who are oppressed.  John 8:36 declares beautifully, “…if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”  And in Matthew 11:28 we find the plea of our Lord, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 

The powerful words of Galatians 5:1 should resonate in our hearts, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  Jesus came to earth for the purpose of REDEMPTION and in that redemption are all the things that Isaiah identified the Messiah would bring.  The Gospel proclaimed to the world is realized in our Lord’s directive to “Go ye therefore into all the world and preach…”  The healing of the brokenhearted, liberty to captives, sight for the blind, and liberty for the oppressed are realized in His Gift of Salvation.  We are transferred from the kingdom or domain of darkness and taken from the control of the evil one and transferred into the Kingdom of God through the Blood of Jesus.  In that condition and position, we find Isaiah’s prophecy a reality in our lives.  WE ARE FREE!  Spiritually Free to become emotionally free and physically free. 

I am sometimes troubled by the words of our LORD in John 14 when He spoke of His followers doing GREATER WORKS.  Obviously, there can be no greater work than Salvation but my problem is that, too often, the Body of Christ is failing to do the works He said were part and parcel of our redemption and call.  He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.  13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”  I’ve cried to the LORD, “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.”  Many times I wept before the LORD for the lack of spiritual power and authority in my own life and when I witness the anemic state of the Church, at times I am troubled.  We live in a world this is dying and needs our Savior.  There is a harvest that is ripe and ready and we need both laborers and spiritual power and authority to pluck them from the very jaws of hell.

Oh God, help us to seek You and Your Anointing in and upon our lives so that we might walk daily in Your presence and manifest You to the world.  May we LIFT YOU UP and when we do, You will draw people to You.  May we find permanent residence in Your Presence and pull down strongholds through Your name and power.

            God bless you richly is my desire and prayer!

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