Today was a significant day in my walk with Jesus. It was a fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken to me seven years ago: "You will preach, and you will be sent." I believed in seven years I would see the word of God fulfilled. Never could I have imagined in 2002 that God would have moved me out of the trade that I loved, into a full-time position working at a church, and later leave that position to pursue the call of God to march forth to the east side of Australia. As I stood before the congregation at Calvary Chapel Melbourne, it struck me that God has done a marvelous thing. He truly does all things well.
If you follow the blog you know a little of my testimony. I never aspired to be a preacher, and never planned on serving in the Body of Christ in a pastoral role. Yet the call of God to preach was clear, as clear as His call to minister in Australia would later be. Australia is certainly new territory for me, but the same LORD has never left or forsaken me. I have never requested to preach at any point, yet God by His grace has provided opportunities across the world! It's too great a thing for my mind to fully grasp.
This morning I preached on Jephthah, and tonight we had a Bible study on Barak. Between the two at this point, I find more in common with Barak, a man listed with notable people of faith in Hebrews 11. Barak is not introduced to us in Judges 4 as a mighty man of valor, a warrior, general, rugged outdoors-man, or administrator. But Deborah the prophetess of God called him, told him to gather 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun, and muster on Mt. Tabor to fight Sisera God had delivered he and Jabin's army into the hand of Israel. Barak was hesitant at first, not willing to go through with the plan unless Deborah the prophetess accompanied him. After he was assured of her support, he was obedient to the end. Barak demonstrated his faith in God when he came when called, obeyed God's commands, offered himself willingly, and praised God for His great victory.
I believe there is a little of the reluctant side of Barak the son of Abinoam in all of us. We respond when Christ calls us, but we stop short of obedience unless the conditions we dictate are met. Like a spoiled child we rebel against the command because we want to go our own way. Though God has delivered us from sin and death and granted us life, we act like He owes us something. But a slave cannot dictate his form of slavery. He has no authority over the command of his master. God in His grace is exceedingly patient in His training of us to follow Him. Like the Good Shepherd He is, He does not drive the sheep but leads them.
I thank God for the opportunity to preach today and pray that His Holy Spirit will quicken our hearts to receive of His truth and wisdom. I have not come to Australia because I have a gift to share with the world, or I possess a rare gift or talent: I have been sent here to glorify Jesus Christ and lift Him up that He might draw all people to Himself. It has basically nothing to do with me, save I am a vessel in His hand. It has all to do with the refinement process of teaching me to rely upon God, opening my mouth as He leads. I was very reluctant to preach the message this morning because it is not an easy passage. But God be praised, who enabled me to preach Christ crucified and point to Him from a passage that seems to divide more than unify. Only our God can do that!
In my opinion, I could use more of the faith Barak showed by his obedience to God and willingness to offer himself willingly to God. As the last stanza of Deborah and Barak's song of victory says in Judges 5:31: "Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength." As Jael pierced Sisera's temple through with a tent peg and hammer, may God skewer dead our unbelief! Too long have we been oppressed by the iron chariots of fear, uncertainty, and the lies of Satan. It is time that God's people stand in obedience with the faith of Barak, who came when called, obeyed the command of the LORD, and willingly offered himself. With man this is impossible: but with God all things are possible for those who believe.
I am in awe of my heavenly Father, who has brought me into green pastures far out of the range of my nearsighted vision of even a year ago. As a sheep I cannot discern the blades of grass at my feet except the Good Shepherd direct my gaze. Sometimes I believe the LORD is generous and gracious to call us sheep, for few sheep are as stubborn and feeble-minded as mankind is spiritually. May God grant us the grace and faith to trust Him that we might bring honor to His holy name. In Australia and in all the earth, may the nations laud and praise the One who is worthy of all worship and honor. May we shine for Jesus as the sun shines in full strength!
01 November 2009
30 October 2009
Travel Update!
Tomorrow I am flying down to Melbourne, Australia. God willing I will be preaching at Calvary Chapel Melbourne and I look forward to holding forth God's Word. I've been very blessed by the time of preparation and I have no doubt that God will prepare all our hearts to hear from Him.
The messages have come out of Hebrews 11:32-34: "And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: [33] who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, [34] quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." I find it ironic that most of the men of faith mentioned here are typically used as examples of what not to do. If God sees these as men of faith, then instead of dwelling on faults and shortcomings it would be wise to consider their examples as good for a change.
God does not see as man sees. He looks at the heart. Instead of focusing on the faults of others, it would do us well to consider our faith. Last I checked our names are not found listed in Hebrews 11. Ours is a story yet to be written: when Christ comes again, will He find faith on the earth? Will faith be found in you?
The messages have come out of Hebrews 11:32-34: "And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: [33] who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, [34] quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." I find it ironic that most of the men of faith mentioned here are typically used as examples of what not to do. If God sees these as men of faith, then instead of dwelling on faults and shortcomings it would be wise to consider their examples as good for a change.
God does not see as man sees. He looks at the heart. Instead of focusing on the faults of others, it would do us well to consider our faith. Last I checked our names are not found listed in Hebrews 11. Ours is a story yet to be written: when Christ comes again, will He find faith on the earth? Will faith be found in you?
28 October 2009
Can Purity come from Impurity?
I came across a flask on the ground the other day. It was a empty water bottle in the shape of a flask by a Lake Tahoe company called "Liquid Salvation." The company slogan grabbed my attention: "Pure Water for an Impure World." On the bottle was a "she-devil" or succubus, a female demon. When an order is placed for water online, you can choose between the "horns" or "halo" packaging to suit your taste. The whole thing is in bad taste if you ask me, and is a further sign of the moral erosion and perversion of what is good.
The devil loves nothing more than cheapening the goodness and grace of God. He will stop at nothing to pervert the straight way of the LORD, and the world loves it! Halo or horns, it doesn't matter! But I am confident that the horns are much more popular. These are the days when wickedness is called good the prophet Isaiah spoke about. Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
The rainbow in the heavens was a sign of a promise God gave to Noah and all the inhabitants of earth, that He would never destroy the earth with a flood again. The homosexual community has taken the curved rainbow and made it straight, perverting God's creation. God instituted marriage to be monogamous between one man and one woman, yet countless websites are dedicated to enabling and teaching people to cheat on their wives and husbands without being caught. Their catchphrases are "Have an affair - life is short." and "Married but looking?" On cnn.com there was an article today about if monogamy is realistic in our modern culture. More and more people are convinced it is not a moral decision if you swing or have affairs, but a personal one that no one can say anything about. Pornography is no longer seen as a vice or dirty but a healthy way to spice up lovemaking and is an acceptable rite of passage for today's youth.
Is salvation to be found in a liquid? Is there any purity to be gained from this impure world? Is forgiveness no longer necessary? Is the brazen attack by Satan upon the family God instituted and designed certain to succeed? 2 Tim. 3:13 warns us, "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." God has given us His perfect law which does not alter. The pure message of the Gospel did not originate from the earth, but from God in the heavens. Deceived people have suggested that God does not exist, there is no absolute truth, and even if there was truth it is outdated and does not apply to us! The culture of today is primarily humanism, hedonism, and heathenism. Anyone who thinks that technology has made humanity more "advanced" is a fool. Modern technology enables man to pursue the basest of sexual sin with more reckless abandon than ever before in his history. His pride and arrogance in this pursuit will be his destruction.
Now is the time for Christians to make a stand for Christ. I do not mean that we should write television producers, set up picket lines, stand in front of abortion clinics with tape over our mouths, sign petitions, or put our faith in politicians. We must be personally right with God first, walking in righteousness. Could you imagine a world where the Christians could never be rightly accused of hypocrisy? Can you imagine a world where Christians never looked at pornography, did not cheat on their wives or husbands, had the lowest rate of divorce, were sexually above reproach, were never closet alcoholics or drug users, and were the hardest workers, the best soldiers, the most courageous, bold, loyal, honest, and upright citizens?
We all have sinned and made mistakes. 1 Cor. 6: 9-11 says, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." This is the true message of the Gospel today, same as it has been since the beginning. All men have sinned and the wages of sin is death. But now that we have repented and been converted by the blood of Jesus by grace through faith, let us walk uprightly. It is not for us to point fingers and complain because the lost are lost, the spiritually blind are spiritually blind, fornicators fornicate, or drunkards drink. Will you show them the way to Christ through your righteous conduct? How shall they hear the Gospel unless they first see a person demonstrate the power of God through a sanctified life?
There is nothing pure in this world. Even bottled water has been tainted by the appearance of evil and lies of the devil. But our hope is found in Jesus Christ, and the promise of the Holy Spirit now without measure. He will make us fountains of Living Water, and all who thirst Christ will satisfy with eternal life. Allow me to conclude with 1 Thes. 4:3-7: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; [4] that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, [5] not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; [6] that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. [7] For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness."
The rainbow in the heavens was a sign of a promise God gave to Noah and all the inhabitants of earth, that He would never destroy the earth with a flood again. The homosexual community has taken the curved rainbow and made it straight, perverting God's creation. God instituted marriage to be monogamous between one man and one woman, yet countless websites are dedicated to enabling and teaching people to cheat on their wives and husbands without being caught. Their catchphrases are "Have an affair - life is short." and "Married but looking?" On cnn.com there was an article today about if monogamy is realistic in our modern culture. More and more people are convinced it is not a moral decision if you swing or have affairs, but a personal one that no one can say anything about. Pornography is no longer seen as a vice or dirty but a healthy way to spice up lovemaking and is an acceptable rite of passage for today's youth.
Is salvation to be found in a liquid? Is there any purity to be gained from this impure world? Is forgiveness no longer necessary? Is the brazen attack by Satan upon the family God instituted and designed certain to succeed? 2 Tim. 3:13 warns us, "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." God has given us His perfect law which does not alter. The pure message of the Gospel did not originate from the earth, but from God in the heavens. Deceived people have suggested that God does not exist, there is no absolute truth, and even if there was truth it is outdated and does not apply to us! The culture of today is primarily humanism, hedonism, and heathenism. Anyone who thinks that technology has made humanity more "advanced" is a fool. Modern technology enables man to pursue the basest of sexual sin with more reckless abandon than ever before in his history. His pride and arrogance in this pursuit will be his destruction.
Now is the time for Christians to make a stand for Christ. I do not mean that we should write television producers, set up picket lines, stand in front of abortion clinics with tape over our mouths, sign petitions, or put our faith in politicians. We must be personally right with God first, walking in righteousness. Could you imagine a world where the Christians could never be rightly accused of hypocrisy? Can you imagine a world where Christians never looked at pornography, did not cheat on their wives or husbands, had the lowest rate of divorce, were sexually above reproach, were never closet alcoholics or drug users, and were the hardest workers, the best soldiers, the most courageous, bold, loyal, honest, and upright citizens?
We all have sinned and made mistakes. 1 Cor. 6: 9-11 says, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." This is the true message of the Gospel today, same as it has been since the beginning. All men have sinned and the wages of sin is death. But now that we have repented and been converted by the blood of Jesus by grace through faith, let us walk uprightly. It is not for us to point fingers and complain because the lost are lost, the spiritually blind are spiritually blind, fornicators fornicate, or drunkards drink. Will you show them the way to Christ through your righteous conduct? How shall they hear the Gospel unless they first see a person demonstrate the power of God through a sanctified life?
There is nothing pure in this world. Even bottled water has been tainted by the appearance of evil and lies of the devil. But our hope is found in Jesus Christ, and the promise of the Holy Spirit now without measure. He will make us fountains of Living Water, and all who thirst Christ will satisfy with eternal life. Allow me to conclude with 1 Thes. 4:3-7: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; [4] that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, [5] not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; [6] that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. [7] For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness."
27 October 2009
The Life of a Messenger
Have you ever had to deliver an uncomfortable message? I remember the time I was asked by a friend to serve a mate with divorce papers. Uncomfortable and awkward is how I would describe that interaction. Many times when I worked at a church I would approach transient people in various stages of sobriety and volatility and ask them to leave the property. There have been times in preaching when I have been led by the LORD to touch on a sensitive subject or confront an issue. It is always hard, and my flesh tends to resist. If I said it always feels rewarding to deliver God's messages it would be a lie. There is nothing more rewarding than walking in obedience to God delivering His messages, but it is not easy, simple, or fun for the flesh. Sometimes it is grievous, gut-wrenching, and painfully hard to say what is right.
As children of God, we are tasked to deliver His message to the world. Praise Him we are not alone in this joyful duty! The message is greater than the messenger, and the one who sends the message is greater than the message itself. In a Christian's case Christ is our message, and we remain less than the message. He is the Vine and we are the branches. Any branch that would elevate itself will be separated from the Vine and rendered powerless. King Saul is a perfect example: he exalted himself over the commands of God, and God's Spirit left him and an evil spirit was sent to torment him. Saul was once small in his own eyes, but he was lifted up with pride and great was his fall.
What message has God given you to deliver? The other day I was struggling to pray and asked God what He wanted me to do. Though I have regular times of prayer, it has been a challenge to remain focused. As I waited on the LORD, the only thing He impressed upon my heart was, "I want you to open your mouth." Now if you know me personally, you know I have no problem with talking. I feel like I need to shut my mouth rather than open it! But the LORD showed me that He wants me to open my mouth concerning His righteous statutes, judgments, and truth. A lot of times I stay quiet when I should speak.
2 Tim. 4:2 says, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." I have never met a teacher who could not speak. I am not saying you cannot learn from a mute teacher. Communication is best done through verbal or written words. Can a man convince, rebuke, exhort, or teach with hand signals? He would probably not be very effective, persuasive, or clear. The Word is our message, and before we can teach we must have learned. A man who knows nothing is not convincing. We must know what is right before we can properly convince, rebuke, or exhort. Because this task requires spiritual discernment, we must be empowered with the Holy Spirit, whom the Father gives to all who ask Him. Jesus says in Luke 11:13, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
Your life is sending a message to the world whether you choose to open your mouth or not. What message does it hold forth? Even if we speak the truth, we must remember to be longsuffering. God is longsuffering, one of His wonderful attributes. 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." If God was not longsuffering, we would all be damned. He is not lazy or a procrastinator. We are the ones who excel at these vices! I am glad that God is longsuffering towards the heathen and godly alike, for if God treated us according to our sins who should remain?
When I went on a mission trip to Israel in 2005, God opened my understanding concerning the delivery of the message of the Gospel. People will not warm to facts, but to love. When people realize that you come to them because of your love for them, they will listen. When we bring a message because we are right and they are wrong, they will likely be defensive and closed to the message. Though words are important, the way we say something is more telling than our words. 1 John 1:5-7 says, "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. [6] If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. [7] But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
The messenger is not responsible for the reception of the message. But we have a responsibility to deliver God's message with the grace, love, and longsuffering of Christ. We need not apologize for the truth, and it cannot be diluted. As a patient with a potentially terminal condition must hear the truth to be convinced to undergo radical life-changes for a cure, people need to hear the unadulterated truth of God's message: we who were once far from God can now be brought near through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, and those who believe on Him will never die. May God grant us the boldness to speak the truth in love.
As children of God, we are tasked to deliver His message to the world. Praise Him we are not alone in this joyful duty! The message is greater than the messenger, and the one who sends the message is greater than the message itself. In a Christian's case Christ is our message, and we remain less than the message. He is the Vine and we are the branches. Any branch that would elevate itself will be separated from the Vine and rendered powerless. King Saul is a perfect example: he exalted himself over the commands of God, and God's Spirit left him and an evil spirit was sent to torment him. Saul was once small in his own eyes, but he was lifted up with pride and great was his fall.
What message has God given you to deliver? The other day I was struggling to pray and asked God what He wanted me to do. Though I have regular times of prayer, it has been a challenge to remain focused. As I waited on the LORD, the only thing He impressed upon my heart was, "I want you to open your mouth." Now if you know me personally, you know I have no problem with talking. I feel like I need to shut my mouth rather than open it! But the LORD showed me that He wants me to open my mouth concerning His righteous statutes, judgments, and truth. A lot of times I stay quiet when I should speak.
2 Tim. 4:2 says, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." I have never met a teacher who could not speak. I am not saying you cannot learn from a mute teacher. Communication is best done through verbal or written words. Can a man convince, rebuke, exhort, or teach with hand signals? He would probably not be very effective, persuasive, or clear. The Word is our message, and before we can teach we must have learned. A man who knows nothing is not convincing. We must know what is right before we can properly convince, rebuke, or exhort. Because this task requires spiritual discernment, we must be empowered with the Holy Spirit, whom the Father gives to all who ask Him. Jesus says in Luke 11:13, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
Your life is sending a message to the world whether you choose to open your mouth or not. What message does it hold forth? Even if we speak the truth, we must remember to be longsuffering. God is longsuffering, one of His wonderful attributes. 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." If God was not longsuffering, we would all be damned. He is not lazy or a procrastinator. We are the ones who excel at these vices! I am glad that God is longsuffering towards the heathen and godly alike, for if God treated us according to our sins who should remain?
When I went on a mission trip to Israel in 2005, God opened my understanding concerning the delivery of the message of the Gospel. People will not warm to facts, but to love. When people realize that you come to them because of your love for them, they will listen. When we bring a message because we are right and they are wrong, they will likely be defensive and closed to the message. Though words are important, the way we say something is more telling than our words. 1 John 1:5-7 says, "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. [6] If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. [7] But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
The messenger is not responsible for the reception of the message. But we have a responsibility to deliver God's message with the grace, love, and longsuffering of Christ. We need not apologize for the truth, and it cannot be diluted. As a patient with a potentially terminal condition must hear the truth to be convinced to undergo radical life-changes for a cure, people need to hear the unadulterated truth of God's message: we who were once far from God can now be brought near through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, and those who believe on Him will never die. May God grant us the boldness to speak the truth in love.
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