Ephesians 4:15-16 – “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”  NASB

Let me offer some definitions or identifications regarding the body using a couple of words in this text.  The two words to which I refer are:

• JOINT – The nervous system or the nerve paths that run through the body. 
• SUPPLIES – The full supply for any part of the body in its moment of need comes through the ‘paths’ within the body or through the nervous system. 

Why is that important?  It is essential because Paul frequently used analogies and comparisons to the human body in understanding the Body of Christ.  But that is only a part of the picture.

We are told by the apostle that The Body is built up in Love or that it builds itself up in or through Love.  The supply spoken of here is abundant and is sufficient to satisfy the need of any part of the body regardless of what or where that part is.  That supply flows through the body’s cells, bringing the needed supply, producing life, and making it whole. 

The result is that the Body, through its cells ministering to each other, builds itself up in Love!  Thus, a perfectly functioning Body, human or the Body of Christ, is where every cell is ministered to fully, completely, and according to need.  Body Ministry, a term we have probably heard frequently, is when all the supply lines are open and functioning as designed.  It would behoove us to remember that we are individual cells within the Body of Christ, not isolated entities. 

Our relationship with Jesus, the Head of the Body, is the same as the rest of our human body relates to the human head on that body (brain).  We are Christ’s Body!  That is not a hope, wish, or objective we are striving to attain – We are the Body of Christ if we are In Christ.  You did not originate the Body, and your inclusion did not cause it to begin; it was there before you were included. 

Since you have been included, you are a part of the Body of Christ and have a specific function.  One of those functions is to be a nerve path, a connecting cell, a supply route where other cells within the Body can receive what they need to function completely and wholly. 

Someone said, “There are only two bodies in the world, and greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.”  Therefore, we can see there is the Body of the World and the Body of Christ.  The head of the Body of Christ is Jesus, and the head of the Body of this World is Satan.  You were adopted, grafted, or born into the Body of Christ at conversion or salvation.  In the human body, the head and the rest of the body are one.  The head is the brain, the control center of the body.  The life that the body flows from the brain or head, and the life we have spiritually flows from the Head, JESUS!

Scientists and biologists tell me that from the brain, energy, life, and electrical current or Power come!  So, inside each of us is a pulsating power flowing from the brain to every cell or life.  It is not a matter of which church you belong to, the religious rituals you practice, or even the doctrine you believe it is being a living cell in the Body of Christ.  In Him, we live and move and have our being.  This supernatural life can only be manifested through our connection with the head being supplied through the nerve paths of the Body.  We are living His Life, and that life is LOVE!

William Shakespeare popularized ‘romantic love’; ever since the human race has been captivated by the idea of “Falling in Love.”  God does not fall in love; He is love and loves!  You fall in ‘mud puddles,’ and if you ‘fall in love,’ you can be rescued or ‘fall out of love’ as easily as you fell into it. 

God’s love is Unconditional; human love is conditional.  God’s love is spontaneous; it does not have to be earned, courted, or wooed. It is an extension of Who He Is.  It is Agape, and that Agape is what builds up the Body and transforms it into the Glorious Church Jesus said He was building and would return for.  God’s love is a premeditated choice, not the fire of emotion.  He decided to love us because that is who and what He is – Love!

I want to press deeper into this, so we will pause here and pick up next time, considering the Body of Christ and its building itself up in LOVE!   

Until next time may the richest and best of the blessing of the Lord be yours in all things and at all times.

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 gripping.  It is filled with pictures of evil, corruption, intercession, and willingness to accept 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 issued by 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 and care with which God ordains events, orchestrates situations, and moves people into positions 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, which 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 initially 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. 

Later his mother reclaimed him while he was a teenager.  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. He is now 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, impacts the Kingdom of God mightily?  Who knows if that person you influence for God and good might become the next mighty statesman for America and the world? 

You are not insignificant!  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, lonely soul who becomes mighty for God and good. But let us 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.  You might have come into the kingdom for this very time and purpose! 

May God bless richly is my prayer!

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 truly believe that God wants everyone to go to heaven, but I also realize that everyone will not.  Some teachings suggest that everyone will go to heaven without meeting the qualifications the Bible lists and going through 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, it was beyond the ability of this Jewish teacher to comprehend.  Nicodemus’ focus was the natural and physical.  He questioned how this could become a reality.  How could a man be reborn?  In the natural, he could not, 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; 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!  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; 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!

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 “a mind to work” is emphatic in Hebrew and indicates the people had “the heart to work.  That indicates their hearts were fully committed to and involved in the project.  I have long contended that whatever we have a heart for, we will find it a joy, not a drudgery.  Unless the heart is convinced, the effort will falter in the face of difficulty.  Conversely, if the heart is firmly fixed on the objective, the difficulty will only be a bump in the road, not defeat. 

You have heard the term ‘half-hearted’!  I have always stated that in the churches I led, I would rather have a person whose heart is in it but with lesser qualifications than someone with an impressive resume that is half-hearted.  I want 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.  I contend that they would have scurried into the shadows to avoid conflict if they had been faint of heart.  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 laborers.

I believe a lack of commitment is evident in some of today’s modern churches and Christians.  We live in a world of ease and instant everything.  I call it a “microwave world” where we 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 often they seemed daunting, but we knew the task set before us, and my parents’ hearts were in the viability of that farm and in providing for us three 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; I will be eternally grateful for that.

I have often wondered about the lack of commitment in today’s church.  I have concluded that, at least in part, it is because there is no common vision.  The Bible teaches us that “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 is because people do not want to take that step or do not have the knowledge needed to see the vision.

I do not believe there can be a genuine commitment to anything people do not understand clearly.  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 and trust you dearly, but if you ask me to commit to a project and I do not understand or know what that project is and its purpose, I will find it challenging to do so. 

• We must 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? 

• We must understand the benefits of completing 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 simply an emotional commitment but one that is reasoned.  Both emotion 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 make a covenant and bind themselves to their word to see it through to the end. 

Sadly, 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 genuine commitment is a personal pledge to do whatever it takes, within reason, to get the job done.   Commitment is not convenience and may and likely will 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 Commit 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 propels a person to reach the objective and obtain the prize.  It is epitomized through 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 cannot win if you quit!

God bless you is my desire and prayer!

John 6:11 – “Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise, also of the fish as much as they wanted.”

Deuteronomy 8:10 – “When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.” NASB

A custom in the Middle East during biblical times was that people, without fail, gave thanks before eating and would usually give thanks after the meal.  It was initially done to recognize God’s provision and as an expression of gratitude.  Like so many things, it evolved into a religious or societal ritual, as is often the case today!  I know many who would never dream of eating a meal without saying, Grace.

In those days, those at the table would repeat the host’s words as he gave thanks.  If a prophet were present, he would be expected to take the lead in the prayer and bless the food giving thanks as is described in 1 Samuel 9:13 – “…he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat.”  It was customary, but initially, it was far more than custom and proper recognition of God’s provision and their gratitude.

When Jesus fed the 5,000, we read that “after Jesus had given thanks, the food was distributed….”  In providing the 4,000, Matthew carefully includes the fact that Jesus gave thanks before anyone ate.  The Jews were conscious that all they had come from God and willingly expressed gratitude.  Sadly, for many then and now, it is nothing more than a religious or societal ritual, not a genuine expression of gratitude.

They also customarily gave thanks at the end of the meal, as is reflected in Deuteronomy 8:10 – “When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD….”  Gratitude demands acknowledgment of not only the provision but the provider.  I would suggest that if you say grace and pray over your meal without giving thought or having genuine gratitude, it is more of an insult to God than an act He will receive and recognize with blessing.

Therefore, make your words true expressions of your heart’s gratitude, and always remember that all we are and have has its source in God.  In Him, we live and move and have our being.  

I pray blessings upon you as you go through your day!

Exodus 20:16 – “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” NASB

1 Timothy 5:13 – “Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.”  NIV

Years ago, I had a lady in the church I was serving who would always ask, “Do you have any news?”  She would also preface what she was going to share with, “Have you heard the news?”  I asked her once if she considered what she was doing gossip.  She said, “Oh no, pastor, I’m just sharing the latest news, not gossiping, for that would be wrong.”   I could never convince her that they were the same thing.  She longed to hear any tidbit documented or undocumented, and would share it with whomever she could find that would listen.

Gossip is a very destructive weapon the devil uses to drive wedges and damage people in their testimony.  I recall hearing something once about a fellow minister that, if true, would be so damaging to his reputation that it would impact untold numbers of people.  What I heard is not important, nor his name, but the fact that I listened is.  

As I pondered what I had heard, the Holy Spirit brought conviction to my heart, and I sensed the Lord speaking to me, saying, “Why did you allow that gossip to be spoken into your hearing?”  I began to weep, for I had listened, and without realizing it, I formed an opinion regarding this brother without actual documentation or evidence.  It was wrong!  I was wrong, and the gossip was a malicious lie later proven false.  Yet had I repeated that gossip, I would have been furthering the harm brought to an innocent brother.  Thankfully, the Holy Spirit arrested me before I participated in an activity I have long abhorred – Gossip.

When people come to me with tidbits about someone, I usually ask, “Have you gone to that individual to discuss this?”  If the answer is no, I stop them and ask that they not continue with gossip.  My directive is to take it to prayer and approach the person in question with that little morsel they share.  Some have become quite angry with me, calling me self-righteous or worse, because I did not want to participate in gossip regarding another.  However, I must ask, “Would you want someone spreading gossip about you?”  Consider that point when you are tempted to share news, as that little lady called it. 

Some years ago, Gil LeBreton, a sportswriter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, wrote a piece regarding the Texas Ranger’s manager Ron Washington’s resignation.  He used an illustration from a movie that speaks to what I’m talking about.  It was excellent, and I share it here. 

In the Academy Award-nominated movie Doubt, there is a memorable scene in which the accused priest, Father Flynn, delivers a powerful homily to the congregation. The priest, brilliantly played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, tells the story of a woman who “was gossiping with her friend about a man whom they hardly knew.” Seized later with guilt, the woman went to a Catholic confessional and asked her parish priest if she had done anything wrong.

“Yes,” said the priest. “You have borne false witness against your neighbor. You’ve played fast and loose with his reputation and should be heartily ashamed.”  As her penance, the priest instructed the woman to go to her roof and gut a pillow with a knife, a scene classically depicted in the movie.  And what did she see? The priest asked.   “Feathers,” the woman answered. “Feathers everywhere.”  “Now, I want you to go back and gather up every last feather that flew out into the wind,” the priest instructed. The woman protested. “It can’t be done,” she said.  “I don’t know where they went. The wind took them all over.”  “And that,” the movie’s Father Flynn said, abruptly ending the sermon, “is gossip!”

That is a fantastic illustration of the damage and futility of trying to retrieve harmful words spoken about another.  It is IMPOSSIBLE!  The damage is done even if we go to them in repentance begging forgiveness; we will never retrieve all the words or find where they have been carried.  Therefore, the biblical policy is DO NOT GOSSIP!    

Blessings as you go through your day!

Luke 14:11- “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  NASB

In this passage, Jesus gave a parable to the guests as He noticed that they were picking out places of honor for themselves.  He used the occasion to highlight the fatal flaw in that tendency and thinking in self-exaltation.  Sadly, many today are so driven to be recognized and esteemed that they exalt themselves. 

Jesus reminded His audience of this flaw by using the scenario of the guests being invited to a wedding feast.  He warned them not to take the place of honor because someone more distinguished and recognized than they might arrive, and the host would embarrass them by asking them to move down to a lesser position.  The result would be such embarrassment that they would assume the lowest position in shame.

Public humiliation and self-pity would be the by-products of this type of action.  He suggested that when invited, they should go and recline at the lowest place; the host would possibly come and ask them to move to a more notable position.  The result would be recognition by everyone in the room rather than embarrassment and shame. 

In Verse Eleven, Jesus said – “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,” which is frequently painful. I know I have tasted it.  He declared that the one who humbles himself would be exalted, and I have also tasted that. 

I like the feeling of the latter far better than the former.  We have all, at times, felt more important than we are or should think about ourselves.  That is a dangerous mindset and attitude.  I am not suggesting self-flagellation but humbling ourselves in the sight of the Lord and allowing Him to cause us to be elevated or lifted to the place that He desires. 

Remember that we are not the focus of all things, nor must we be the center of attention.  We do not have to be the lead in every situation.  Sometimes the need is to lead by example.  Humility needs to be manifested.  If God wants us to be the head, He will cause us to be promoted to that position.  If God wants you to develop humility, He may give us a lesser position without fanfare and notice. 

It is His Church that is being built.  The position is not what is most important; obedience is.  It is allowing God to place the gift required for the situation in the lead spot and placing you in the mix where you can best lend to the advancement of the Kingdom.

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

Proverbs 20:6 – “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?”  NKJV

Through the years, I have met people who, when asked about their relationship with Christ, would declare,” Well, I am a good person.”  They would frequently tell me what they do not do, and some would describe their acts of benevolence, civic contributions, or something of the kind.  Some would tell me that they went to church regularly.  Others would say, “Well, relatively regularly.” 

This passage is incredibly accurate and reveals that many people view themselves as basically good or as good as the next fellow.  I had a man who was a regular attendee in church but had the propensity to hit the night spots and cavort with the ladies while his wife and children remained home.  He made little secret of his lifestyle, but because he considered himself “as good as the next fellow,” he felt little reason to change. 

In my many conversations with this individual, he would point out the flaws in other people in the community and church, especially those in leadership.  It was mostly comparing apples with turnips, but it was his justification for allowing his conscience to become calloused, guarding against conviction. 

I understood his argument, for I also held that view once.  The rural church I grew up in had flawed people (as to all churches), and I wrongly determined that if some of those people were going to heaven, God could not send me to hell because I was “as good as the next fellow.”  I went to Vietnam with that mindset.  It was wrong, but it was the view I adopted because it allowed me to not deal with the pricks of the Holy Spirit.

I talked to this individual, and in the course of the conversation, the account in Mark 10 came up, and I read to him the words of Jesus when He was called “Good teacher or Good master,” and Jesus stopped the individual and said, “Why are you calling me good?  No one is good except God alone.”  

He was shocked, and I continued recounting how this rich individual proclaimed his personal goodness when Jesus told Him to keep the commandments.  Jesus then informed the rich young man that he still came up short, and this individual was a captive audience at that point. 

I read to him the words of Jesus, “One thing you lack, go, sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. THEN come, follow me.”  The ruler was heartbroken and turned away because his possessions held his heart, and his personal goodness was insufficient to save him. 

While many, if not most of us, would like to compare ourselves with others and declare that we are “as good as the next fellow,” if we are honest, we know that is insufficient.  Salvation is never earned. It is by Grace through Faith. 

God does not measure my life against your life, but His standard is Himself, the Lord Jesus, and His Holy Word.  In that light, everyone knows we have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.  If we understand the standard, we know all have sinned and come short of God’s glory.  If we understand the standard, we know that the invitation of Jesus to “Come unto Me” is our only HOPE OF SALVATION!

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

Matthew 7:24-27 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.  25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.  26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall.”  NASB

At times, the quest for a Word from the Lord has relegated many believers to becoming nothing but ears!  The church is the Body of Christ, not the Ears or Mouth of Jesus!  As Jesus taught, He clearly distinguished between success and failure in the Christian walk.  Both groups Heard the Word, and I contend that an absence of the Word is not the problem. It is the application of the Word. 

I recall a story about a preacher who was chosen by a congregation.  The first Sunday, he preached a powerful message that had the people raving about it for days.  The same message was preached the following Sunday, which continued for several weeks.  The congregation began to complain, and the board met to discuss the issue and decided to approach the minister and advise him that this was unacceptable. 

The board called him in and said, “Pastor, your message was great, but you keep preaching the same thing.  You need to get a new sermon.”  He calmly looked at them and said, “Only when you do something with that one.”

Jesus said if we Hear and Apply, we are like the house built on the rock that cannot and will not be moved by trial, trouble, or difficulty.  However, if we Hear but Do Nothing, we are like a house built on shifting sand that can and will be shaken by the trials of life, and failure is virtually guaranteed.  We have the choice as He opens His word to become Action-Oriented in faith through the grace of God.

May God help us apply His word in our lives daily!  Blessings as you go through your day!