2 Timothy – 2:1-2 – “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”  NASB

In studying the directives of Paul to Timothy, his son in the faith we come to some powerful revelations and directives. Paul’s charge to Timothy was to find, teach, train, and impart that which was in his heart, received from the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul.  This was critical to the founding and grounding of the New Testament Church. 

There are Three Critical Areas in which Faithfulness is Key:

1. Faithfulness to God is Absolutely Essential.
2. Faithfulness in Relationships is Vital.
3. Faithfulness in Service is Indispensable.

FAITHFULNESS TO GOD.

This needs little explanation or discussion as most would readily acknowledge the need and the essential aspect of this.  However, if we are genuinely faithful to God it will be manifest in the other areas or dimensions as well.

FAITHFULNESS IN RELATIONSHIPS.

This is an area that many Christians do not work on and but need to give attention to!  Remember Timothy’s mistake or potential mistake – ‘Choosing people who were possibly qualified and influential but UNFAITHFUL.’

FAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE.

This is absolutely indispensable!  We must learn to be Servants. We must learn and become willing to do what is asked when it is asked and how it is asked even when the flesh rises up and resists or the ego says that is beneath me.  Even when your ego raises its ugly head and declares that is not using my gifts or abilities to the fullest.  Even when you feel that you are not appreciated and recognized as you should be.

God’s way is to first ‘make the man’ then He ‘releases the ministry’.  Tragically, the Church has gotten the cart before the horse too often.  We recognize ‘gifts’, ‘charisma’, ‘talent’, and ‘ability’ and immediately send forth into ministry! 

PERSONAL TESTIMONY.

I was released wrongly but God taught me the necessity of Serving. I was almost immediately sent out because people could see the hand of God on me and God gifted me with passion and ability to convey the message.  So my response was Go Out!  I should have been sitting and experiencing nurturing, but within weeks after my conversion, I was sent out.  I saw in Bible College and have observed it in my 40 years of ministry the dangers of that approach.

When a person is called or God uses them in some degree or measure of success and instills a vision in their hearts along with His promise people take note.  Too often those individuals mistakenly develop the idea that they should be immediately released to pursue that vision but they are not ready.

• They are overcome with the Vision.
• They expect to be Recognized.
• They become more Spiritual than anyone (in their own minds).
• They make sure everyone knows they are Anointed, Appointed, Called, and Commissioned.
• They demonstrate an inability or unwillingness to listen to others without a Critical Attitude believing in their hearts they could do a better job or they just know better.

They have not learned one of the key traits for Leadership is being a Servant and Serving Others as well as the Lord! If we do not learn how to Serve we are not qualified to Lead.

God bless you as you go through your day!

2 Timothy 2:1-2 – “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”  NASB

Making disciples as seen in verse two revealed in the words ‘commit to…’ is essentially ‘making a deposit’ in their lives.  It is like putting money in the bank.  You drive alongside or go inside and deposit the money and the money is there when you need it.  But, what about the times when you do that with people and they quit on you, betray you, hurt you, leave you, abandon, you in the time of heated battle?  You say, ‘that deposit didn’t work am I supposed to do it again?’  YES!  Everyone’s been hurt or will be hurt. 

If fear grips your heart you dare not go back into isolation and refuse to risk being hurt again.  If you do then the devil’s plan is succeeding.  The temptation is always there to protect your heart from hurt but when you realize that you cannot if you are to continue in the ministry and fulfill the commission the Lord gave us you will press on.  Always remember you Cannot function in battle by yourself alone and be effective.  This is a Body Ministry.  This is an Army!  This is a Family!  This is not a bunch of isolated individuals or body parts trying to be the whole for that is certain defeat!

In making disciples we quickly learn the power and importance of Forgiveness! We must make the determination that we will forgive, forgive, and forgive.  That will prevent a root of Bitterness from springing up in our hearts and defiling us and others.  It is necessary to maintain order in our lives and keep the battle moving forward.  If we have been ‘abandoned’ in the war zone we need to be ‘healed’ and ‘restored.’  Refuse to allow wounds to fester and become infected.  Healing comes by allowing the wound to be opened, the blood to flow to it and life to be ministered. 

A word of wisdom and warning – “Pick the right friends this time!”  Do not be too quick to lay hands on people.  How do you pick the right ones?  Discernment and testing!  I’ve had people want to be friends and comrades in arms in the battle only to find that they quickly became disillusioned and disappointed.  They had expectations of me that I could not fulfill and therefore they turned on me.  Some have been offended that I would joke, laugh, enjoy recreational sports, etc.  They expected me to be, as they stated “different” which really meant ‘abnormal’ and ‘weird’.  They had not learned that we are all human and even Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows. 

It would be easy to say, “Never again. I won’t risk being hurt.”  That would seal the deal making failure certain and limit any effectiveness we might have in the kingdom.  Too many pastors have allowed the wrong people to be made ‘elders’ and ‘deacons.’  We do that in our churches and our lives too frequently. That is why it is vital that we exercise the ‘discerning of the Spirit.’  Always remember that the qualifications for leadership are not ‘community influence’, ‘financial status’, ‘charisma’, or ‘perceived leadership potential.’  It is COMMITMENT! 

We all have the capacity for a great number of friends but only room for a few close intimate relationships.  You are to ‘deposit’ a portion of your life into that person or persons and that deposit is precious so guard it with your all.  You are going to war with this individual so you must Know Them! In war, it is vital that you Know that your fellow soldiers will stand and do their jobs.  Your life may and probably will depend on it.  I am not talking about preferences I am talking about WAR!  Once you have committed your life to Jesus you are a candidate for Front Line Duty!

There is nothing more destructive to a local fellowship than misplaced leadership.  Likewise, there is nothing more destructive to an individual life than misplaced friendships or relationships.  1 Corinthians 15:23 tells us that “bad company corrupts good morals.”  Proverbs 25:19 teaches that “confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint.”  It is painful and can be quite harmful.

In your enlistment in the Army of God, I pray that God not only equips you for battle but enable you to equip others and to have the spiritual insight and discernment to recognize the ‘right people’ to stand with.

Blessings as you go through your day!

Psalm 34:4-7 – “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.  6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.” NKJV

In the first portion of this passage, the Psalmist identifies something that too often we refuse to admit – FEAR.  If I were to go back to my time in Vietnam and tell you that I was never afraid, I’d be a liar.  I knew fear and more than once and am not ashamed to admit it.  In fact, I didn’t want to be too close to people who claimed they never experienced fear because I found them to be careless too frequently and that got people hurt or killed. 

There were times in my childhood and my adult life when I was gripped with fear.  Sometimes the threat was real and at other times it was a phantom danger that I was afraid of.  Learning to know the difference is important but the effect on your body and your mind is the same and often it will paralyze you so that you are not able to function as you should.  In Vietnam when fear tried to grip our hearts our training kicked in and we reacted out of instinct and as the adrenaline kicked into high gear we were oblivious to fear or pain and focused on the task at hand.

In life, we have fears, some more than others.  Fear can come as a result of “guilt,” and in those cases, it is important to recognize that and run to the Lord for His mercy.  I like what the Psalmist said, “I sought the LORD, and HE HEARD ME and DELIVERED ME from ALL my fears.”  (Emphasis mine)  Then in verse seven, he gives us an incredible hope upon which to hang all our hopes – “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.”  What a promise!  We have God’s angels setting up a barricade around us who fear the Lord and they come to our defense as the enemy comes in.  No wonder Isaiah said, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God shall lift up a standard against him.  (Isaiah 59:19b)

Having fear is not the problem not dealing with it is.  Being afraid is not something you have to hang your head in shame over, refusing to admit it is.  I confess there is a certain amount of “fear” or “trepidation” in my heart concerning this nation at this time but at the same time, I am 100% confident in the LORD.  “I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day.”  2 Timothy 1:12 We are living in “perilous times” but our LORD is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and one day “every knee will bow and every tongue will confess” that Jesus is Lord!

What I want to conclude with is this; do not allow fear to dominate your life because you are more than a conqueror through Christ.  Fear like thoughts and temptations will come but you do not have to give it lodging place and can “resist the devil” and watch him flee.  Why – because of Christ in us!

May God be with you as you go through your day!

John 5:30 – “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” NASB

I’ve said and heard it said – Jesus did nothing He did not see the Father doing and said nothing He did not hear the Father saying.  The basis for that finds root in this passage.  Here Jesus said, “I can do nothing on My own initiative.”  The Only Begotten of the Father felt compelled to have confirmation from the Father before He did anything and if that was His mindset and mode of operation it most assuredly should be ours.  He refused to operate independently from the Father and we should refuse to operate independently from Him. 

Jesus said, “As I hear I judge.”  He waited until He Heard what the Father had to say before he judged, spoke, or acted and so should we.  Too often we put our mouths in gear before our brains are engaged or in this case before our spirits are attune to the mind and will of the Father.  In John 8:28 – “…I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.” NASB. When the LORD says “I HEAR” He is referring to those things the Father has “SHOWN” and “TAUGHT” Him.  (John 5:20).

There cannot be construed in the words of Jesus that had he acted or spoke without hearing the Father on that particular occasion that his acting or speaking would have been wrong. Rather He was in complete harmony and agreement with the Father in all things and would not act independently of that co-counsel of the God-Head.  He, as the virgin born sacrifice for the sin of mankind recognized that His will must be subject to the Divine Will and His life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension was the outworking of that will.  He came to “seek and to save” that which Was lost.  He spoke it in the ‘past tense’ because He saw His sacrifice as a ‘finished work’ and ‘complete.’  There is nothing to add to or take away from His work on the Cross.  It is completely complete!

It would behoove each of us who serve in preaching ministry, counseling ministry, pastoral ministry, or any ministry as well as every individual believer to ‘wait’ for the LORD’s direction before we speak, act, or formulate a doctrine, opinion, or conviction.  We are not islands and without Him we can truly do nothing but in Him we are more than conquerors.  If He holds all the power of creation in His hands and knows the end from the beginning why would we not want to know His Will in the matter before charging in?

My button gets pressed from time to time and I want to give an immediate response, and sometimes do, but my objective is to give a measured response based on what I Hear Him say and See Him do.  If I make that the rule of my life and ministry I will have far less disappointment and reason for repentance and far more reason for rejoicing.  I want what He wants and that is renewal, restoration, and revival.  I want to see Him and His Kingdom manifest in this earth.

Blessings as you go through your day!

1 Peter 2:1-3 – “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” NASU

What do I mean?  Certainly not that literally we become babies nor emotionally.  What I am speaking of is found here in these verses and should be carefully read, examined, evaluated, and adopted.  Let’s consider what Peter tells us regarding spirituality.

1. Things to PUT ASIDE.

All malice. All deceit. All hypocrisy. All envy. All slander.

Wow! What a list and one that even the most stalwart soldier of the Cross and seasoned veteran of spiritual things could use this refresher from time to time.  Do we ever fall prey to the ugly demon of malice?  What about deceit does it every raise its ugly head?  Then there is hypocrisy, of course we are never guilty there or are we?  Envy is one of the most dangerous and likely suspects in the kinks in our armor and then there is that diabolical little devil called slander does it ever surface even a little bit?  If any of these are evidenced in any measure in our lives then my title and text are applicable.

• What We Should Do or PURSUE.

We should like newborn babes the sincere or pure milk of the word so that we may grow in our salvation and relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ and the kindness of the LORD!  Our pursuit and hunger should be for the simple clear unabridged Word of God.  We should long for it without the hindrance and obfuscation of the aforementioned vices or sins and character flaws. 

It is drinking the pure milk of God’s Word that brings light and life to us.  It is God’s Word that enables us to see clearly the path we are to walk.  It is God’s Word that introduces us and exposes us to the life of holiness, purity, moral rightness, and eternal life.  It is God’s word that gives us hope in a hopeless world and during hopeless times.

Therefore, we have two actions to take if we are to grow in Him and become men and women able to have the meat of the Word of God active in our lives. We must lay or put aside those things listed.  We must pursue and desire the pure milk of God’s word and grow healthy and strong in our salvation and experience the kindness and love of our Eternal God and Father.

Blessings as you go through your day!

John 8:31-33 – “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”  NASU

You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free!  That is a powerful statement standing alone but it is not standing alone and it is vital that we consider the rest of the passage and look at the mindset of those to whom our LORD was speaking. 

He told them that IF they continued in His word then, they were His disciple and the result of that would be that they would Know the truth, and that truth would Make them free.  I hear people constantly quote that as ‘set you free’ but it says ‘make you free’.  There is a dramatic difference, in my mind, between being ‘set free’ and ‘made free’. One identifies a condition and makes a declaration that ‘You Are Free” the other is an action that ‘Creates Freedom in the Heart.’  You may say I’m splitting hairs and I may be but to me, there is a difference.

As we study and drink the Word of God into our hearts, minds, and spirits we find that that Word does a work of transformation in our lives. Our way of thinking changes from self-centeredness to others-centeredness.  Our worldview changes from our little sphere to the Kingdom of God.  Our position changes from a ‘seeker’ to one that has ‘received’ and is now an “heir’ and a ‘joint heir’ with Jesus where we move from being one fed to one feeding others spiritually. 

The doctrine of Jesus, (The Word of God) will make us free from the ravages of Sin, bring into check our passions, transform our corrupt propensities to godly tendencies, and enable us to ‘bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.’  We will be FREE!  For the Jews, “No man was free, but the man who exercised himself in the mediation of the law.”  Truthfully, “No man is truly free, but he in whose heart the power of sin is destroyed, has received the Spirit of adoption, and through the new birth is able to cry Abba! Father!”  The bondage of sin is the most grievous bondage than any human can endure and to be free from its guilt, shame, and influence is the greatest of freedoms!

These Jews in self-centered arrogance declared, “We were never in bondage to any man.”  Really, maybe you should examine history because your history was one of enslavement and outside the forgiveness of God you are still enslaved.  Too many become boastful and proud of their church status, community status, business status and forget that ‘except by the Grace of God’ we are all men most miserable, lost and undone with God or His Son.  It is by Grace that we are saved and that through faith.  It is not our works, our money, our genealogy but our response in faith to His work on the Cross. TRUTH liberates and how we need to be liberated!  

God bless you as you go through your day!

John 8:31-33, 34-37 – “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.  35 ” The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.  36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”  NASU

On this day July 4^th we, in America, celebrate Independence Day and reflect on LIBERTY and what it means.  We are cognizant of oppression and express gratitude to all who served and sacrificed to bring or preserve FREEDOM and LIBERTY!  It is a day of reflection, introspection, honor, thanksgiving, and remembering or should be.  It is both a joyous and solemn day.  It is a time for festivities and a time for deep personal and national introspection.  It is a time to give thanks to God for our Freedom naturally and a time to focus on what Real Freedom really is.

Here in this passage, our Lord identifies True Freedom.  It can only come from God.  It has nothing to do with whether you live under oppression or even if you are in chains it has to do with the heart, the mind, the soul, and the spirit.  Jesus said “IF” and that is an undeniable qualifier.  “IF you continue in My word, THEN you are disciples of Mine; AND you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

The IF, THEN, and AND of the Gospels.  So many times, we encounter truth in Scripture and fail to read it all and apply it rightly to our lives.  There is commitment involved with a continuation on the path of righteousness and as a result, we are recognized as Disciples of Jesus, and as a result, we taste and experience True Freedom!  Without Him, there is no real Freedom because if we are living in sin we are the slaves of sin and outside the family of God.

Jesus identified that “if the Son makes you free, you will be FREE INDEED.”  The words “Free at Last” could be rightly applied to this passage and the condition of our hearts once we have accepted the Gift of Salvation from our Lord Jesus Christ through our repentance.  The Cross is a most beautiful picture of Freedom because it was there that Jesus paid the price for our Freedom.  It was there that He bought us back from the dominion of the devil and opened the door for us to be transferred into the Kingdom of God – FREE AT LAST!

I hope that you know Real Freedom today and as you go through this day you go through it with a consciousness of the Liberty and Freedom that only comes through Jesus Christ. 

Blessings abundantly as you celebrate our Freedom today!

Judges 3:31 – “After him came Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad; and he also saved Israel.” NASU

Some years back I asked a group of young people what they could tell me about Shamgar and not one of them had a clue about him or that he was a person referenced in the Bible.  I read them this passage and then explained to them that an ‘ox goad’ according to what I understand from Middle-Eastern farming is a pointed 7’ long stick used for pushing cattle around.  Pretty impressive that with a ‘cattle prod’ this man slew 600 Philistine Warriors! 

We do not know much about Shamgar and he could possibly be the same person as referenced in the Samuel as being one of the Three, a distinct group of warriors of King David known as ‘Shammah, son of Agee.’  Many Bible scholars believe they are that they are one and the same, but since we do not have clear information on that I won’t make that leap but leave it as a somewhat obscure man who in the strength of the Spirit of God rose up and resisted an enemy invasion.  The last portion of the verse says, “…he also saved Israel.”  That is the important part.  He did what he had to do in the face of overwhelming odds to save his people.

Sometimes, the Bible makes it clear, you just have to ‘get your fight on’ and stand.  Oh, I’m not trying to make this physical because most of the time that would not be appropriate but in the spiritual, we must Do Battle and we need to realize that the weapons of our warfare and Mighty through God able to pull down strongholds of the enemy.

Yet, no weapon is of any value without the individual to use the weapon.  It doesn’t matter how formidable the weaponry is unless there is someone to use it, it is nothing more than just another lifeless and inanimate implement.  It requires a person!  That is what Shamgar provided when God stirred his heart to stand.  He provided the person and God provided the strength and ability.  He took what he had and defended his land and his nation against the enemy.  So in the spiritual, if the enemy comes in like a flood then we need to anticipate that the Spirit of God is going to use us to stand against him.  He will take what we have and make us able to use it effectively. 

When the enemy attacks remember that the Whole Armor of God has no ‘backplate’ to cover the rear when running away.  All the armament is for the front as we are advancing toward the enemy not running in a frightened retreat.  Of course, the enemy can be frightening, after all, he is a supernatural being but we are Mighty Through God!  We are More Than Conquerors through Jesus! We do not have to cower in fear we are victors in Christ!

So, as you face the enemies and obstacles of this day go in the strength and power of the Spirit of God.  If all you have is your ‘ox goad’ take it and Stand!  God will give you the strength to overcome!

Blessings as you go through your day!