The Big "If"

Small things can make a big difference.  When baking bread, cakes, or cookies, a small omission of salt or baking powder will make a tremendous impact on the outcome.  All the ingredients work together with the heat of the oven to rise properly and form the correct consistency.  One little teaspoon of salt missing from the batter can have disastrous results!

Little words in the English language have great power.  Take the word "all," for instance.  In three letters everything can be lumped together.  Every person in the world, every rock in the universe, every star in the heavens, every molecule and atom are included in "all" things.  Another huge word is "if" when used in a conditional sense.  Galatians 6:9 reads, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."  The immediate context of the passage is teaching the principle of sowing and reaping:  if we sow to the flesh we will reap corruption, and if we sow to the Spirit we will reap life everlasting.  The passage above states that when we do good without growing weary we will reap IF we do not lose heart.  This reveals it is possible to do good and not reap benefits because we have given up.  The KJV version says, "...in due season we shall reap if we faint not."  Faint literally means "to relax."  When we stop laboring for God's glory and relax, we will backslide and lose ground.

How tragic to plant a big field of crops, tend the field, guard from pests and destructive animals, and lose heart before time to reap.  Much labor, time, and expense would be wasted if farmers relaxed during the reaping phase.  Farmers work from dark in the morning to dark in the evening to harvest their crops.  As we travel through this life following Jesus Christ, by His grace our lives will be transformed.  This is a process called sanctification in the Bible.  Every day we have the choice to sow to the flesh or sow to the Spirit.  We can invest ourselves in the temporal, perishing things of this life on earth or we can labor for the glory of God.  It is hard work to raise a field of crops, and it is also hard work to keep our lives clean from sinful influence.  Like leaves that continually blow into the pool, sinful thoughts and attitudes drift into our hearts and need constant removal.  Many people start the race, and far less people finish than begin.  Why?  Because they lose heart when faced with struggles, trials, and hard work.  They choose worldly relaxation instead of spiritual rest in Christ.

Instead of focusing on the negative - the big "if" in this passage - it would be fruitful for us to consider the positive.  When we do good and live for God, we will reap bountifully.  There is great reward for following Jesus Christ faithfully.  I know when I was little, I wanted instant results when I planted seeds in the ground.  Every day I would look at the bare earth where the seeds had been planted and wonder if they would ever grow!  After a few days or a week passed I wondered if it was really worth the effort of keeping the soil moist.  Maybe the seeds weren't growing!  Maybe it was all a waste of time!  But when good seed is planted in soft soil in the right conditions, it will grow and be fruitful.  Sometimes we labor to walk in obedience to God and wonder if the struggle is worth it.  God's Word is good seed, and though there may be little visible growth at times we can KNOW we will reap a great crop.  A lot of growth occurs unseen under the surface.  As we abide in the Vine Jesus Christ, we will be fruitful for His glory.

In this life we can grow weary, but we can be sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit so we will be strong to persevere.  Jonah 2:7 reads, "When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; And my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple."  It took Jonah reaching his lowest point before he remembered the LORD and cried out to Him.  God delivered Jonah from the belly of the great fish, and God will deliver us from our apathy, foolishness, and vices when we seek Him.  Sometimes we can be lulled into thinking we are sufficient in ourselves.  We might see fruit forming in our field and think the time for hard work is over.  We must continue to wait on the LORD and sow to the Spirit so we will be able to reap for God's increase.  When our hearts are devoted to God and the performance of this will, our hearts are guarded from pride and sin.  We will reap, if we faint not!

From Dry Bones to New Life

"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." ⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

Revelation 21:3-5

The context for this passage is a time when God will create new heavens and a new earth because the first passed away.  The Bible teaches us that a day is coming when He will dissolve this world and all the works and sin within it.  All who have rejected Christ will face eternal damnation, and all those who have repented of their sins will spend eternity with God in the new heavens and earth He creates.  Because of sin, no person is a stranger to pain, sorrow, crying, sickness, and death.  How wonderful it is to realize that God makes all things new!  He does not just remove pollution, sickness, or feelings.  He makes new, and in what is new is no trace of what was old.  Outside of the realm of time what is made new remains new, for it cannot grow old.

But is this promise of God only meant to be applied to life in heaven?  No!  But unfortunately, many Christians live as if that is the reality.  We have all been there.  A dog returning to his vomit may well describe our life at the moment.  We can be tricked to willingly drown in depression, disappointment, and disillusionment brought through belief of Satan's lies.  He would tell us such a promise does not apply to us, that we are too far gone for such a change to take place.  We have struggled with sin too long, our faith is too small, and we do not deserve such a blessing.  The fact is we have struggled with sin too long, our faith is small, and we do not deserve such a blessing.  But God has promised to give new life to all who repent and trust in Christ by His grace!  That is the wonder of the Gospel!  Completely unworthy of life, we can receive new life through Christ.  God will make us new from the inside today if we will ask Him believing in His promise.

Perhaps you cannot bring yourself to believe this.  There have been times when you were sure you were changed but before long you found yourself back in a pit dug dug with your own hands.  The only way to combat such deep-rooted doubt bred into us through sin is through confrontation with the truth of God's Word.  Are you familiar with the passage in Ezekiel 37 concerning the valley of dry bones?  God brings Ezekiel in the spirit to a valley full of dry bones and asks him, "Son of man, can these bones live?"  Ezekiel said something I would not have said.  I would have said, "Obviously not!"  He said to God, "O LORD God, you know."  There is no potential for life in such a thing as dry bones, at least from our human perspective.  But to God, the one who Creates from nothing, nothing is too hard for Him.

God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones and they were covered with sinews, flesh, and skin.  God caused these bones to stand up resurrected and breathed life into them.  They stood on their feet and were an "exceeding great army."  The purpose of this vision was a sign of what God would later do:  Ezekiel 37:12-14 says, "Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. ¹⁴ I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD."  God's people would know He was the LORD when He opened their graves.  He would put His Spirit within His people, and He would bring them into their own land.

After Jesus died on the cross, His dead corpse was placed in a tomb carved out of stone guarded by Roman soldiers.  Three days after His death, Jesus would rise from the dead.  But did you know something wondrous happened at the moment when Jesus died on the cross?  The veil of the temple was torn top to bottom, there was an earthquake, and Matthew 27:52-53 confirms the word spoken in Ezekiel:  "...and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; ⁵³ and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many ."  Can these dry bones live?  Yes they can!  God has granted us access into His presence through the person of Jesus Christ.  After the resurrection of Christ, men and women long dead came out of their opened graves and appeared to many!  After Christ's ascension into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to fill His followers on the Day of Pentecost.  It was about 60 years ago when Israel was made a nation once again and were brought into their land.

Without Christ, we are dead bones:  dead spiritually and condemned to die eternally.  But God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and be born again.  Just because you have made a commitment to follow Christ, it will not be easy to walk in this newness of life.  We can be tempted to go back to old habits, old ways of thinking, the ways we used as coping mechanisms before we were transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 6:3-6 reads, "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, ⁶ knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."

Once God opened the tombs and raised those saints from the dead, they didn't remain in the graves but came forth as Lazarus.  Those who have been born again have now been raised from death to life.  Satan frantically works to deceive us to crawl back into our graves, isolate ourselves from God's help in self-pity, and roll the stone back over the opening to shroud us in darkness!  Many believers are in this pitiful state.  They have listened to and believed the lies of Satan rather than the truth of God's Word, condemning themselves when Christ has redeemed them!  Can these dry bones live?  YES!  Praise be to God, He makes all things new.  His mercies are new every morning, and He grants us perpetually the promise of new life in Him.

Are you sick of your life?  Are you weary of the stench of death when God has made you alive?  Only God can give you this victory.  Cry out to Him for new life for He has said, "I make all things new."  A man said at this week's conference, "Because of this conference, we will never be the same."  That's just the kind of talk that disillusions people, for the emotional feelings will fade over time.  It is because of Christ we have been made new.  We don't ever have to be without Him and the power of renewal again!  Conferences will come and go, songs of worship have a beginning and end on earth, but fellowship with our Savior is for eternity.  New life can only be found in Him!

The Word Conference

Last night me and two mates took the red-eye from Perth to Sydney following the weekend conference at Calvary Chapel Albany.  We all were blessed by messages and testimonies from pastors Raul Ries and Bill Welsh, as well as from Ryan Ries of The Whosoevers.  The common qualities between these men are a genuine love of God, compassion, and a contrite spirit.  Whether they shared passages from scripture or detailed events of their lives, the power of Jesus Christ to save and deliver was central.  Being grounded and obedient to the Word of God was another uniting point of every discussion.

I was not only able to spend quality time with my traveling buddies Ian and Paul, but also met a lot of great people like Russ, Bruce, Luke, Bryan, and many more.  The more I travel around Australia the more I am struck by the fact we serve the same God.  We come from different backgrounds with different accents and roles in the Body of Christ, but we love and honor the same LORD.  It's amazing how powerful the Gospel of Jesus Christ is, and how it has remained unchanged since the very beginning.  What was Good News then is STILL Good News now.  The message never grows old because this world is still full of sinners who need forgiveness and new life in Christ.  Because there are more people on the world than ever, the need for salvation grows bigger by the day.

There will likely be a string of posts borne out of this conference as I consider what God is showing me.  He still wants to completely change and revitalize my relationship with Him.  Am I willing to grow in faith, obedience, and prayer?  Am I willing to believe that what God has promised He is able to perform?  Because of Christ we are never destined to remain in a rut or repeat past mistakes.  Our God makes all things new.  This promise is not only for those who have just made a commitment to follow Christ.  God desires to bring a newness to the way you approach God, a freshness to His Word, and graft into our hearts a renewed desire to please Him and fall back into love with Him again.  He wants our dry eyes moistened with divine affections, and our hearts to be full of love for Him and the lost.  We are not doomed because of our past, not even by what you did yesterday or today.  Because of Christ, we now have a future.  Will we live for Him?

Bursting the "Christian" Bubble

No matter what our standards are, life will force upon us a barrage of choices.  We will be forced to decide if we will have that fifth cookie, what movie we will watch, whether we should pay extra on the mortgage this month, or if diet Dr. Pepper actually tastes like regular Dr. Pepper.  As parents we not only have to make decisions about our lifestyle, but we must set boundaries for our kids.  Some parents make well-defined boundaries, and others let their children live as they please.  Boundaries to some are no different than a bubble!  Due to hurts they may have experienced as children, many parents work hard to protect their children from every potential worldly influence.  Boundaries are important.  But it is possible to make boundaries so restrictive for the child to be stripped of the decision making process when it comes to morality.  When "obey" or "disobey" are the only decisions to be made, when real choices present themselves many teens and young adults are actually tested for the first time and are usually away from the instruction of a parent.  The results are often disastrous.

All healthy human bodies have an immune system.  This immune system is able to isolate and destroy potential threats to the health of the body.  From 1971 to 1984, a boy named David Vetter lived in Texas who was basically born without a functional immune system.  Any exposure to germs would be fatal.  So he basically lived inside of a bubble and wore special suits designed by NASA.  I was intrigued by this quote from an article:  "Even though David was only five, he recognized his difference and dreaded what the future held - limited choices, feelings of alienation and an increased need to be polite and compliant so as not to reveal his anger."  This struck me as similar to the feelings of many kids whose parents construct a "Christian" bubble around them.  Because all choice is taken away and compliance is demanded, their anger grows.  By the time David was a teen, the doctors had great concern.  "Doctors feared that as a teenager he would become even more unpredictable and uncontrollable."  They decided to operate, and in a few months David became ill with cancer and passed away.  Life had become unbearable in the bubble, and outside the bubble he could not survive.  I have such respect for this tough little guy who faced unimaginable struggles.  The emotional fight must have been as strong as his battle for physical health.

David's case is extreme, and another example is equally compelling.  When the Europeans arrived in the Americas, the Native Americans were absolutely devastated by the common cold.  Without having been exposed to the flu before, the antibodies in the native people were not able to combat the virus initially.  Because medicine was far from what we have available to us today, countless people died as a result.  I have seen the exact thing happen in "churched" kids.  All their lives they have been confined under strict rules and guidelines given for their own "protection."  Like the Native Americans who became deathly ill from the influence of foreign germs, churched kids are easily overcome by worldly influences and temptations.  "Churched" is not the same as "Christian!"  Their anger and resentment builds towards God and church life in general.  When they finally are free from parental authority, many run as far away as possible from a semblance of Christianity and are hardened in their rebellion.  Why?  They see being a Christian as having rules.  They rebel against the bubble and relish to make their own choices even if it kills them.

I read a parenting book which emphasized, "Let reality be the teacher."  As Christians we often fall into the trap of thinking our job is to insulate our kids from reality and even consequences.  I would rather my child be cured of his rebellion under my care than a vain attempt when he is 22 in college and far away or far gone!  It is wise to protect our kids from obvious dangers, like sexual predators, pornography, drugs, alcohol, and friends who are bad influences.  But whenever possible, we should allow our kids to make their own decisions followed up with an opportunity for instruction.  For example, my oldest son Zed wanted to play a video game at his friend's house that was a "Mature" rated game for violence.  I could go with the bubble method and immediately say, "No rated M games.  Period.  End of story."  That would only allow the potential resentment and bitterness to grow inside of him.  So I did something a little different, even for me.  I said, "Zed, you make the decision.  If there's a lot of blood or cursing or stuff you know is wrong, don't play the game.  Let the LORD show you what to do."  This gave Zed an opportunity to make his own decision concerning one of those "gray" areas that will challenge us all our lives.

So after Zed came home, we talked about what had happened.  "Dad," Zed began.  "I'm thinking I made a bad decision."  "What do you mean, son?"  "Well, I played the game...but after I played it I realized I probably shouldn't have."  And then we were able to have a wonderful conversation about the choice Zed made and how he could make better decisions in the future.  It built trust between us rather than resentment.  We were able to talk about what was actually wrong with the game for Zed and encouraged him to seek forgiveness if he was in sin.  He will actually trust our decisions as parents more because we let him make a choice.  In this case it was a controlled environment.  I would never have done this with something blatantly sinful or harmful.  Take every opportunity to reason with your children according to the scriptures.  Instead of throwing out their music CDs because "That's the Devil's music!" it would be better to look carefully over the lyrics.  Allow them to see how the message lines up with the message of scripture.  Then they will make an educated decision.  Either way, you're effectively teaching them the process.

Jesus never told parents to isolate their children from the world.  Instead we are to be light in a dark world, the salt of the earth coming into direct contact with the world's wisdom to turn people to Christ.  We are to teach our children and raise them in the admonition of the LORD, not insulate them from making real decisions.  Our children are like ships on a billowing ocean.  The world will woo them with tempting breezes, subversive currents, and the sway of satanic temptations.  Our job as parents is to guide and direct them, teaching them of Christ and demonstrating a life set apart for God.  Someday your children will take the helm full-time.  Wouldn't it be wise to hand them the wheel while they are still young?  No person would ever think to send their children out in a sailboat without training or guidance. That soul would not doubt face the real threat of shipwreck!  We would never even allow an adult to fly a plane without expert supervision!  Instead of spending all our energy trying to protect our children by environment control, let's seek God's control of their hearts from within.  Let us cultivate in them not a reliance upon their parents for guidance, but a complete trust upon God for His leading according to the truth of the scriptures.

Sunday School Danger!

There are a lot of positive things to say about Sunday School for kids.  For parents, however, there is a hidden danger.  Decades ago it was not uncommon for kids to attend the same service as their parents.  This gave parents an opportunity to explain thoroughly what had been preached and apply it personally to the lives of their children.  Frankly I do not know the exact history of what has brought us to the current system of kids having their own separate classes with activities, crafts, and snack apart from convenience.  As much as children have benefited from having a class geared to their level of understanding, teachers have also grown through the preparation and prayer for children and services.  This is good.  But I believe parents should live as if their kids never went to church at all.  Allow me to explain.

Sunday School attendance has the power to subversively deceive parents into thinking their children are being taught the Word of God and thus have all the spiritual training they need.  This causes parents to shirk their God-given duty of taking a proactive role in their children's spiritual growth and understanding.  It insulates the parents from concern or care of their child's relationship with God.  The fact their kids go to church and hand them a coloring page or craft every week makes them content.  Have we become ignorant to the fact a huge majority of "churched" kids fall away from God entirely after they leave home?  They become hardened from much hearing.  There is nothing more dangerous to a child than church attendance without a real walk with God.  This "churchianity" breeds spiritual pride, boredom, disillusionment, hardness of heart, and hatred of church gatherings.

I suspect the vast majority of children who go to their classes are never engaged in their heads or hearts with observing, interpreting, and applying scripture.  If they were their lives would bear the long-term results of fruitfulness.  The fact is kids learn very quickly how to behave in a Sunday School environment.  Be quiet at the right time, answer "Jesus" when a question is presented, and colour inside the lines.  To have the teacher pull his parent aside would mean discipline, so the child learns to behave according to proper church decorum.  Therefore the kids who are the most quiet are considered attentive and Christian, while the kids who struggle in the class environment are seen as the ones who must be reached - or at least conditioned to be quiet and attentive like the rest.  All parents want their children to go to heaven.  But the stark reality may be few do little for their children's spiritual benefit aside from a weekly taxi service to and from a church building.  

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 reads:  "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! ⁵ You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ⁶ "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. ^{8 9} You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes."  God commands us as parents to teach our children of God, His righteous laws, the truth of His Word, to provide an environment at home that nurtures spiritual growth, answer their questions, live out biblical truth constantly as an example, and to cultivate in their hearts love for God.  It is well said that "more is caught than taught."  Sunday School will never replace this personal instruction with a complimentary Christian witness, nor does church attendance free us from our personal duty and responsibility to teach and train our children in the admonition of the LORD.  Do you know how many millions of souls have been doomed to hell by a parent's poor example?  I would say even more have been lost because of lack of instruction, prayer, and carelessness.  God says through the prophet in Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..."  Why should our children perish because of our negligence?

Speaking for myself as a "churched" kid, my heart was virtually never engaged in Sunday School.  It was little more than reading comprehension:  a story was read and we would answer questions about it.  I cannot remember scripture being applied to my life.  Sadly, I believed my job in Sunday School was to make sure everything the teacher said was correct according to scripture.  I had a reputation among my peers and teachers of knowing everything about the Bible, but I harboured a critical spirit in pride.  I strained out the gnats and swallowed the camel!  God used an atheist college professor and public university to humble me and compel me to seek Him.  Questions were asked I had never heard in Sunday School!  The validity and social relevance of the Bible were not assumed like in church services.  I was forced to either throw out everything I believed or actually discover the person of Jesus Christ as revealed in scripture.  Don't get me wrong.  I had great Sunday School teachers and godly parents who took the time to disciple me.  But it was not until I was confronted with a challenge from a godless environment that caused me to develop spiritually.

When I was on staff at a church, God convicted me that I was not performing my duty as a parent to personally instruct my children.  My kids are very well-mannered, obedient, and respectful in church.  They know that if they do not behave there will be consequences!  But because of their attentiveness and knowledge, they were flying under the radar.  It is a sad truth knowledge can often pass as spirituality, though knowledge of God's Word does not mean a person knows God!  My wife and I repented of our lax leadership, and instituted a "Bible night" where we discuss a basic doctrine of scripture.  It marked the start of us walking in obedience to God in teaching our children of Him.  One day a week is still not enough impart all the spiritual nourishment needed.  Like the scripture states, we should be diligent to instruct them concerning God when we rise up, lie down, walk in the way, or sit in our house.  God's truth should be so plastered all over our lives that when our kids see us they see Jesus Christ.  I am not saying we should be legalistic, but on the contrary:  our relationship with Jesus should govern our thoughts, mouths, activities, intentions, and attitudes.

Please do not fall for the lie that Sunday School provides all the spiritual nourishment and instruction your children need.  It is not the primary job of Sunday School teacher or a pastor to instruct your children:  it is your job!  Instead of working to create a "Christian bubble" around our kids, let us labour to have Christ living inside them.  No matter what struggles they face or what fiery darts Satan throws at them, they can stand firm upon the foundation of Christ as revealed in scripture when we are faithful to instruct and encourage them.  Let us instruct with our lives as well as our mouths.  Have you taken steps to lead your children to Christ today?

More than Appreciation

I'm preparing a Bible study for Tuesday night, and I was deeply challenged by the introduction.  I find that God must challenge me first so I can properly convey the truth of His Word to others.  Hopefully it is an exhortation you too will find profitable!

Can man ever appreciate God enough? Our appreciation is limited by our awareness. An infant which is practically blind and without understanding has hardly the capacity to appreciate all the parents have done for his survival and growth. What pains a pregnant mother takes in eating food and dietary supplements which promote heath, and abstains from drink and activities which could do harm. What of the purchase of clothes, buying a crib, a safety seat for the car, cleaning wipes, diapers, ointments, and the arranging of a nursery? The child realizes none of this. The baby cries when he is hungry, feels the stab of a gas pain, or when he is held in the arms of a stranger. But appreciation? This the child in his immaturity can hardly conceive of himself, much less appreciate anything.

The danger is this child will later in life take for granted all the love and blessings given by his parents. He will assume there is goodness in him which makes him unworthy of anything less than what he wants, and in fact deserves much more than his parents have provided. This is the place where Christians can find themselves, goaded by selfish desires to wallow in discontent while disillusioned by entitlement. What great things God has done for us, and how easily we forget the blessings we have received by God’s grace! God does not simply free us from the pit, but adopts us as sons. He does not punish us according to our iniquities, but rewards us according to his grace and mercies. He does not doom us to eternal servitude in chains under a grievous yoke of oppression, but God delights to make us kings and priests unto God for His glory. No longer outcasts, we are co-heirs with Christ! Gone is our guilt, and replaced with joy, comfort, and rest forevermore! Instead of lamenting what we do not have, let us rejoice in who we have in Christ! Let us spend more time thanking God for who He is than begging Him to give us what we want. After all, we have been created by God for God, and He is our Redeemer and Savior whom we owe all things. Isn’t more than appreciation in order?

What's up? A quick look...

Last night I went with John and Tina Graves to the house of Paul and Christina for a Thanksgiving meal and celebration.  2010 will mark the second time in five years the I will spend the American holiday of Thanksgiving outside of the U.S.  It was fun to watch a downloaded football game ("gridiron" in AUS) and sit around the table with friends new and old.  No one cooks a Thanksgiving meal like my dad or grandpa, but it was delicious just the same.

No matter where I am or what I eat, I can give thanks to the same God.  Celebrating a holiday is so different from house to house, especially from country to country!  The more and more I experience in Australia, the more I am struck by differences.  When I woke up this morning, I did the washing (laundry) and hung it outside to dry.  I vacuumed the pool, read my Bible, played with the dog, and tried to figure out why my computer keeps crashing when I watch streaming video.  Just the daily morning routine on a Saturday!

I'm growing a mustache with Ian (worship and youth leader from church) in honor of Movember, an Australian fundraiser to bring awareness and supply money for men's health, specifically prostate cancer and depression.  Abel cracked me up on Skype when he said, "So instead of Thanksgiving you have Movember all month?"  One of the catchphrases is "Grow a mo, help save a bro."  How mustache can be shortened to "mo" I'll never understand.  Some people say it is rhyming slang, but it doesn't rhyme at all!  But they do both start with an "m!"  It's probably better than saying, "Grow a stache, give some cash..."

Tomorrow I hope to shoot some clips of people at church to make a video to show at church back in the States to introduce them personally to their Aussie brothers and sisters in Christ at Calvary Chapel Sydney.  We put in an application to rent a house in a suburb near the church and we're praying that God would open that door.  Our household goods are due to arrive on December 16th, and the house will be available on December 17th so that would be perfect.  It seems like an ideal setup, and may God's will be done!  We're still waiting on our FBI background checks and need to schedule physicals for the visa completion.

After preaching at CC Sydney Sunday morning, on Tuesday God willing I will lead a Bible study at a local home fellowship.  I'm still thinking and praying about what the text from scripture will be.  On Friday, Ian, Paul, and myself are scheduled to fly to Perth and drive five hours to Calvary Chapel Albany to attend the Word Conference.  It should be an awesome time to hear gifted speakers, meet up with Christians from all over Australia, and enjoy worship and fellowship.  God willing the travel will be smooth and seamless.

The longer I travel this path of faith in Christ, the more I realize I am a pathetic man who needs His strength.  There are continual temptations to cease setting my mind on things above, and set it on things of this earth.  I read a passage from A Minister's Obstacles by Turnbull that gave me encouragement.  "...They never made Bunyan a doctor of divinity nor anything else of that honorable sort.  But three degrees had already been granted to him that neither Cambridge nor Oxford could either give or withhold: 'to wit, union with Christ; the anointing of the Spirit, and much experience of temptation" (pg. 73-74).  God has seen fit to give me the first two degrees by his grace, and I am determined to obtain the third by his grace as well.  God help me!

Praise the LORD that He is unchangeable and not limited by location or time restraints!  I am experiencing grueling separation from my wife and kids, but when I look to the LORD I find in Him all I need.  It is not easy but no trial was ever intended to be!  It is through separation that our priorities are re-focused, and our weaknesses and false supports are revealed by God to us.  The house we desire to rent is on "Supply Court" which was another reminder of God's promise to me and all believers in Philippians 4:19: "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  What more shall I say?  If Christ is for me, who can be against me?

Peace With God

I was driving down the street today and observed a church sign which read:  "Jesus came to earth to make peace with us."  Interesting, I thought, because I couldn't disagree more.  Jesus did not come to earth to make peace with men:  He came to earth so men could have peace with God.  There's a big difference.  God did nothing to separate or ostracize mankind from Him, nor did He declare war on man at any time.  It is man who rebelled and sinned against God!  It is man who declared in the Garden of Eden that he would not submit to the rule, authority, or commands of God.  It is man who wars against God, not God with man.  If that was the case, the battle would have been over long ago!  And contrary to the opinion of some, God would have won!

Because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, through faith we are forgiven and His righteousness is imputed to our account.  Romans 5:1-2 reads:  "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."  Again, we see scripture confirm that man has peace with God through Jesus, not Jesus making peace with man.  Man is at enmity with God, and it is we who must yield.  Jesus led the way in humility.  Although Jesus is God in human form, He made Himself of no reputation. took upon Himself the form of a servant, and made Himself obedient to death, even the death of the cross.

Do you have peace with God?  Jesus brings peace for everyone who repents and trusts in Him.  He promises in John 14:27:  "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  Instead of demanding that God reveal Himself to us, why don't we ask Him to open our eyes?  Why don't we cling to His promises in faith?  God has spoken, God has revealed Himself, and God sent His only Son to save us from our sins.  If that's not good enough for us, then we aren't worthy of Him!

Use the Word!

^"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..."

Ephesians 6:17

As I read this scripture yesterday, a powerful realization come to mind.  If the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit, than it is the implement He uses to do His searching work.  When we remove the Word of God from preaching or evangelism, it renders Him without His weapon!  Think of this in terms of warfare:  take away the pilot's jet and he is grounded; remove the gun from the sniper's hands and he is neutralized.  If we desire the power of the Holy Spirit to impact the hearts, minds, and lives of others, we are fools to substitute clever sayings or logical postulates for the Word of God.  We unknowingly play the hypocrite when we ask God's Spirit to move and neglect the use of His Word.

Hebrews 4:12 reads, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  Another potential is that we would blunt the Word of God by softening the message.  To intentionally change a single word because we think it would be cause for offense is grave sin.  If God calls something sin, we too must call it sin.  If God says something is "abominable," then we cannot substitute the phrases "less than what God would have" or "not ideal" or "a bad idea" to describe that thing:  it is an abomination because God has said so.  The world may not agree, and even we might struggle to accept the truth because of personal inconvenience!  When we refuse to allow God's Word to retain the sharp, piercing power in the Holy Spirit's hands, we hinder God's work.

What a powerful testimony when a believer actually carries the Word of God with him for the purpose of illuminating God's truth to others.  God will bless this richly.  When I worked in construction, it was easy for me to carry a copy of God's word in my lunchbox.  I remember a conversation I had in the galley of a ship with a co-worker who had questions about God.  Even the way I looked up passages impressed him.  "You really do know that book, don't you?"  But it was nothing that I said, no carefully crafted argument, not a single word of mine that impacted that man who later made a confession of faith in Christ.  I was not around him when it happened!  He came up to me later and said that there was a verse he could not escape:  "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)  The Holy Spirit used that single verse to break down his defenses, silence every argument, recognize his need for salvation, and change his eternal destiny.

God has graciously given us His Word:  it is up to us to use it faithfully!  To do so we must immerse ourselves in the Bible, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us.  Would an infantryman be ashamed of his machine gun?  Or would a samurai feel awkward to carry his katana into battle?  God's Word is not to be like one of those swords made for "display only" that are shiny, blunt, and hang on hooks fastened to the wall.  Those who beat people with the Word are not using it led by the Holy Spirit!  The Holy Spirit will never use it to beat people, but to surgically slice right through every defense and expose every sinful thought and intention for the ultimate purpose of redemption, reconciliation, and God-glorification.  God's Word is living, sharp, and powerful, and when quickened by the Holy Spirit it is devastating to the forces of wickedness in this world.  It is the primary thing God uses against the sin-hardened hearts and consciences of men.  The is nothing as confrontational to the flesh as God's truth.  Let us seek mastery of it as we are taught, led, and empowered by the Holy Spirit!

God's Word in Prayer

In preparing for preaching this Sunday, I have been struck by the critical importance to use of God's Word in sharing the Gospel and prayer.  Before he was filled with the Holy Spirit, I cannot immediately recall a single time when Peter quoted from scripture.  Yet during Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost, when he preached to the people after the lame beggar was healed at the temple, when he addressed the religious leaders while on trial, and in prayer afterward he quoted scripture!  The Holy Spirit not only brought passages to remembrance, but caused the disciples to rightly divide the Word of truth.  They were able to bring the truth of God's Word upon any situation with the accuracy of a skilled sniper.  It was the Spirit who caused their words to engage and persuade hearts with power.  When they prayed God answered, and the earth quaked as God moved in power among them to boldly proclaim His Word.

Consider this quote from R.A. Torrey's book How to Obtain Fullness of Power (pages 11-12) concerning the power of God's Word and its relation to faith and prayer:

Faith must have a foundation; it cannot float in thin air.  It is disheartening to see men told to believe when they are not given anything to believe in.

Not only saving faith comes through the Word of God, prevailing faith in prayer does, as well.  Suppose I read Mark 11:24:  "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."  I used to say, "The way to get anything I want is to believe I am going to get it."  I would kneel down and pray, trying to believe, but I did not get the things that I asked for.  I had no real faith.

Real faith must have a guarantee.  Before I can truly believe I am to receive what I ask for, I must have a definite promise from God's Word, or a definite leading of the Holy Spirit, to rest my faith on.  What, then, should we do?

We go into God's presence with the thing we desire.  Next, we ask ourselves this question:  is there any promise in God's Word regarding what we desire?  We look into the Word of God and find the promise.  Then all we have to do is to present that promise to God.  For example, we say, "Heavenly Father, we desire the Holy Spirit.  You say in Your Word, 'If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?'  And again in Acts 2:39, that 'the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.'  I have been called; I am saved; and here in your Word is your promise.  So please fill me now with the Holy Spirit."

We then take 1 John 5:14-15 and say, "Father, this is the confidence I have in You, that, if I ask anything according to Your will - and I know that this is according to Your will - You hear me, and, if I know that You hear me, I know that I have the petition that I have asked of You."

Then we stand on God's promise and say, "It is mine," and it will be.  The only way to have a faith that prevails in prayer is to study your Bible, know the promises, and present them to God when you pray.  George Mueller, one of the Church's mightiest men of prayer, always prepared for prayer by studying the Word."

How the neglect of reading, studying, and praying God's Word saps us of spiritual strength!  There is a old saying I will adapt for our context:  "Seven days without the Word makes one weak."  Puns aside, it would be truer said that prayer or any action without God's Word or the leading of the Holy Spirit is wasted effort, and lack of results reveals we do not ask aright.  God, please forgive me for all presumptuous prayers which are not according to your Word!  Help me through the Holy Spirit's power to rightly divide the Word of truth and bring it to bear upon all circumstances of life.  Teach me how to pray!

A Conversation with God

A man stared into the clouds as they morphed into puffy shapes overhead.  The air was damp and heavy.  Thunder could be heard afar off as an occasional raindrop the size of a grape whizzed and smacked the ground.  The stored heat in the asphalt from the sun evaporated the spot in moments, though the aroma of summer rain continued to grow.  The man knew God was up above.  He stood transfixed in the middle of the street, trying to see a break in the clouds.

"There is a dark cloud over this country, Father," the man said slowly.  "There is also a cloud over your church.  We struggle to see.  I know you can part the seas...won't you part the clouds that hang over my soul as well?"

The clouds continued to billow and change.  Sometimes a spot of blue shone brightly through the where the clouds were wispy thin.  There was no thunder, no crack of lightning.  Only the sound of the wind in the trees and pattering of rain could be heard.  The man waited for a while, no need to rush.  God would speak when it was time.

"We need your wind to blow upon us so we might be moved, LORD.  We need your Spirit to fill us.  We need the refreshment you have promised, for you have said that times of refreshment would come," the man continued.  "How can we live for you unless you help us?"

The sky became more dark and ominous.  Yet scattered through the heavens vibrant blue peeked with sharp contrast against the charcoal puffs.  Then God's still small voice said to the man's heart, "You may have clouds overhead, but you still have Light.  I make the light shine.  Be still and know that I am God."  The man listened and stood there for a while, thinking about the truth of what God said.

The man was happy because God spoke to him.  He knew the clouds were only a small layer blocking his view of the clear sky.  There is a place above the clouds that is always clear and bright.  Because the man lived on the earth sometimes clouds made the sky dark during the day.  But every day God makes His light shine, even if all the man could see were clouds.  God is good to do that, the man thought.  He prayed.  God, make my life shine bright for your glory under these dark clouds so people will know how awesome you are.  He was thankful to have a conversation with God and told Him so.

No beam of light, no voices of angels, no quivery feelings inside.  Just a still small voice.  And you know what?  It was just what the man needed. 

It's Worth It!

After church yesterday, a family took me down to "Sculpture By the Sea" at Bondi.  We ate fish and chips on the wind-swept knoll overlooking the water.  The sun was shining and the exhibition was "chockers" (full, packed) as we slowly shuffled down the path from Bondi beach to Tamarama.  I learned that every cove is a specific beach and is a different suburb.

Like most art exhibits, some displays were more impressive than others.  I'm pretty sure most of the time I don't "get" art.  I appreciate the skill, craftsmanship, and creativity these artists pour into their craft.  Some of the displays were large, others intricate, some labor intensive, and then there were ones just to shake your head at:  what the heck is that supposed to be or represent?  That is the product of six-month's work and ten thousands of dollars?  Only humans can waste their time so well.

But there is at least one thing in common between the "struggling artist" and the Christian:  the passion to pursue a goal other people do not understand, comprehend, or support.  While an artist works for self-expression, a Christian lives for Christ to express Himself through him.  I'm sure many people look at the lifestyle of a Christian and say, "All that trouble for what?  What's the point of believing in God and pursuing a "relationship" with someone you can't even see?"  Only someone who does not know God can think and speak like that!  God exists as true as Christ lived on earth, and His creative power is the inspiration for countless artists.  God is the original Artist, the Divine Creator who simply spoke the universe into existence.  While we make things out of what have already have been made, God did not even have a canvas.  God made His own clay by words alone, and then formed man and breathed into him a living soul.  God is beautiful and His handiwork exalts His name.

The labor, struggles, and difficulties we face in life may not be regarded by some men as worthwhile, but through the eyes of faith we see differently than the world sees.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18 reads:  "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."  Let us work faithfully for the praise of One, our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ.  His approval and glory ought to be our chief aim in all we do.

War Memorial

On Wednesday Mark and I visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.  I uploaded some of the pictures to my flickr account which can be accessed by following the link on the right panel of the blog.  In addition to a tranquil place of memorial, there is a museum which houses many replicas and actual uniforms, weapons, medals, planes, and stories from primarily the first and second world wars.  Although primarily Australian in focus, there is a unique international flair.  There are not only Australian relics, but many articles from Italian, German, and Japanese forces.  It emphasized the world-wide scale of the war and how great the impact was on all people.

As I perused weapons designed for maximum destruction of humans, armor, and equipment, I could not think of war in any romantic terms.  War is a terrible necessity sometimes brought upon a country or group of people.  It is a great tragedy that war comes at the immense cost of human life.  It is not only the man eviscerated or decapitated who personally experiences the pain of war.  He often left parents, brothers, sisters, a wife, and children behind.  War does, however, provide an opportunity for valor not displayed in times of peace.  In times of great conflict some men wilt and yet others blossom.  There was a painting and caption which commanded my attention.

 This is a painting by Dale Marsh (1940) depicting "Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean, HMAS Armidale."  The caption reads:  "'Teddy' Sheean was a loader for an Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun on HMAS Armidale.  When the order to abandon ship was given, he made for the side, only to be hit twice by bullets of an attacking aircraft. 'None of us will ever know what made him do it,' wrote a shipmate after the event, 'but he went back to his gun, strapped himself in, and brought down a [Japanese] plane, still firing as he disappeared beneath the waves.'"  Here is the story of an ordinary man doing a most extraordinary thing.  His job was to load the gun, but when wounded he took it upon himself to strap himself in and fire upon the enemy.  He showed great courage even when faced with his own mortality.  Mr. Sheean took no thought for his own life, but gave himself willingly.

In war there are casualties.  People are maimed, disfigured, and carry with them injuries that will affect the rest of their lives on earth.  We are often insulated from the gritty horror of actual war and cannot comprehend the devastating emotional price paid by soldiers.  As Christians, we are part of a spiritual battle which threatens to destroy our resolve, drown us in temptation, and isolate us from accountability and fellowship.  When Christians stumble and fall into sin, instead of being moved to compassion with grace, other Christians often stand in judgment.  Can you imagine that if Seaman Sheean had survived the conflict he was given the "cold shoulder" by his mates because he didn't obey orders and abandon ship faster?  Ridiculous!  Sometimes people just need a hug!  Sadly we often stand in judgment of others when they face a divorce, fall prey to false teaching, commit suicide, or have views different from our own.  It is not for us to judge:  we ought to pray for compassion, grace, mercy, and truth exercised in love.  Christians experience pain too.  Sometimes there are injuries inflicted that we will carry for the rest of our earthly lives.  We will not "get over" certain things we have experienced:  but we can work through them.  We were never meant to dwell in the valley of the shadow of death, but pass through guided by the Good Shepherd.  Joy will come through our Savior as we walk in faith!

Our God promises times of refreshing by His grace.  How wonderful it is to dwell together with brethren in unity!  No man goes to war by himself, and God has not left us comfortless in the spiritual battle we find ourselves.  He has promised us the victory through Jesus Christ and has given us the Holy Spirit.  He has given us brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage, exhort, and travel with us through the hardships of this journey to everlasting glory.  The peace that God brings which passes understanding is just as real as the trouble life brings our way.  Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus!  Let us be valiant to love as Christ does, and always labor to edify one another faithfully.

Be Ready!

When I saw this shirt, I almost immediately asked for a picture of it.  When Nathan traveled up to Sydney, he bought this shirt from a Muslim salesmen at Paddy's Market.  There are an interesting mix of messages on display.

Is Jesus coming?  He has already come as a servant, a Savior who came to seek and save the lost.  After His resurrection, Christ ascended up to heaven where He remains at the right hand of the Father.  But scripture teaches us He will come again, this time as a conquering King.  Jesus says in Revelation 22:12, "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."  Christians welcome the return of Christ because He will set up His rule upon this earth.  Those who reject Christ and refuse to repent for their sin will face the fierce wrath of God for eternity.  If they actually believed this, they would shake at the prospect of Christ's return.

The part of the shirt which really intrigues me is the ridiculous conclusion the shirt arrives at:  Jesus is coming, so "LOOK BUSY."  I would contend that "looking busy" will do nothing for those who have rejected Christ.  Have they been busy about HIS business?   Looking busy does not mean you are busy.  When I was a kid, everyone looked busy doing work when the teacher was in the class.  But as soon as the teacher stepped out of the room, it was not moments before kids were out of their seats, running around, and had someone posted as a lookout.  When the teacher returned everyone ran back to their desks, picked up their pencils, and tried to look as studious as possible.  Will God reward us for "looking busy" when He has commanded all men everywhere to repent?  Acts 17:30-31 reads, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, ³¹ because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."

God knows exactly what we're about.  While we tend to focus on externals God looks upon the heart.  The Pharisees looked busy.  In fact, they appeared totally dedicated to God.  But when Christ spoke to them, He compared them to whitewashed tombs:  they appeared clean on the outside, but inside were dead rotting corpses.  Just looking busy is hypocrisy.  Matthew 24:45-51:  "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. ⁴⁷ Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. ⁴⁸ But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, ⁵¹ and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Jesus is coming, and let us be watchful, prayerful, obedient, faithful and sober.  Looking busy will not profit.  Invite God to do an inner work within so we will be enabled to live righteously as we ought.  Praise God for His warnings motivated by love for our good!  Let us urgently do good for God's glory, for it is for this purpose we have been redeemed.

Leading by Following

"Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses."

Deuteronomy 34:9

Leadership is a quality rarely understood according to the context of scripture.  People sometimes think to be a good leader one must be a visionary, be filled with confidence in his abilities, and in short be the best and brightest.  This is not true according to the biblical model.  In the Bible, the greatest leaders were always followers:  they followed God, and He gave them the wisdom and authority to fulfill their role as leaders.

A quick glance over the men who gained great power in the world were men who did not follow God.  They saw their rule as absolute, and their chief tactic to deal with opposition was systematic elimination.  Men like Hitler, Pol Pot, and Stalin were particularly brutal and violent towards all who could be considered a threat.  Because of their influence and the means available to them, they were able to exercise (though not fully!) ambition fueled by lust for power.  These leaders had thousands of men to do their bidding, men who would kill and even die for their loyalty.  But were these men great leaders?  NO.  Did they invest in leadership beyond themselves?  No.  Because they were led by the dictates of their own hearts they were delusional, power-hungry, sadistic, and murderous.  They were unqualified to lead because they would not be led.

Jesus is the perfect leader because He followed God perfectly.  We do not see Him seething with violence and seeking the destruction of the established government for self-promotion.  He operated continually according to His Father's will.  The focus of His leadership was not on Himself as leader, but His Father in heaven.  Moses did not have a "vision" of the future that governed his life God had given him:  he simply knew God and lived in obedience to Him.  Moses followed God, and God lead him faithfully.  A faithful leader as he is led by God leads others.  Interesting isn't it, that submission is a huge part of being a leader?

When the church needed more leaders, the existing leadership had simple qualifications.  Acts 6:3 reads,  "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business..."  This was the same Spirit who enabled Jesus, Moses, and Joshua to lead.  He is the same Holy Spirit who leads, empowers, and enables us to be leaders for God's glory today.  Instead of self-promotion, sound leadership is Christ glorification.  As we follow Christ, we can lead others without fear.  We need not be suspicious, for our security is found in our Savior.  Faith in God reveals itself in meekness.

Isn't it great how God's ways are greater than ours?  Only God can use the foolish things to confound the wise, and in our weakness He is strong.  As we live out our allotted days ordained by God, let us be led by Him.  The better we submit to His lead the better leaders we will become.

Be Bold!

Too many of us Christians lament our lack of opportunity to impact the world for Christ.  By "opportunity" we mean an obvious, fool-proof plan laid out start to finish with no chance of failure.  My friends, this will never exist!  People who are wise in investments make their own opportunities.  While everyone else is reeling, scared to invest, and waiting for "something to happen," successful entrepreneurs manage to create a booming market!  After companies see the success they do their best to follow the formula, usually without success.  They didn't see the opportunity while it remained an option.  Should we choose inaction when we have the Holy Spirit of God?  Christians, there will be no easy opportunities.  Our flesh will resist stepping out in faith.  Satan will try to deceive us to justify why the time isn't right.  The whole world is under the sway of the devil, and we have a message contrary to the world!  We can be so overwhelmed by the scope of potential ministry we do nothing.  And that is the place where most of us have spent most of our lives.  We have missed opportunities because we never recognized them.

You may not be able to change the world today.  But can you help one person in Jesus' name?  That is how Jesus impacted the world - one person at a time!  He says if we offer a cup of cold water in His name we will not be without reward!  Are we willing offer a word of encouragement to someone who is down?  Can we visit one person who is lonely or send them a text message to say we are praying for them?  When we see someone laboring under a load of groceries could we offer help?  When we see someone sitting alone are we willing to sit near them and start a conversation?  We do not need to set goals beyond following the Holy Spirit as He leads us step by step.

Do you know a character trait God has given every Christian, regardless of age?  It is a quality rarely exercised.  You need not be muscular, energetic, handsome, tall, or of great spiritual maturity.  It is boldness!  The disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane before being filled with the Spirit did one of two things:  they ran away or lashed out with violence.  Boldness is a calm confidence a Christian has when he is filled with the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ.  We need not fight with people, nor must we run from conflict.  We can stand our ground, firmly rooted on Christ and the truth of His Word.  Sometimes boldness is opening our mouths when we don't want to say anything.  Other times boldness is saying nothing when we really want to speak!  A little old lady and a small child can have great boldness for Christ.  It will not always take the same form but will always be bourne of the same Spirit!

Some seem to feel that boldness means being rude and confrontational.  We are to contend with error, but we need not be contentious.  God will confront us to be sure, and sometimes He will give us a message not appreciated by those who want to remain insulated from conviction.  Let us make a decision to be bold today for the sake of Christ.  We should not see to fulfill any personal agenda or goal, like trying to get someone to come to church, hoping someone will like us, or to find acceptance.  Let's not limit what God can do though us!  Because we have been accepted by Christ, let us be bold to share that love with others.  People will know by our conduct and character that we have been with Christ.  Isn't that a reason we're living on earth right now? 

God's Inheritance

^"Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession."

Psalm 2:8

Last night I attended a home group where this verse was read by pastor Mark Walsh.  The context is God speaking prophetically to Jesus, His Anointed One.  Psalm 2:7 reads, "I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You."  The Father gives the Son an invitation to ask for His inheritance and later promises all will be subject to Him:  Psalm 2:9 says, "You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel."  A day will come when Jesus Christ will set up His kingdom upon earth and will rule in righteousness.  The earth and all that is in it is Christ's for the asking.  Jesus has affirmed, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

Most of us have been exposed to the idea of heavenly reward or inheritance.  Thinking back to when I was a child in church I remember the teacher's description about heaven as a wonderful place to live without crying, pain, or death.  Everyone would receive a crown and the streets are paved with gold.  This is an oversimplification, but typically the promise of reward make us think about how they affect us or how we use them.  We are familiar with passages like 1 Peter 1:3-4:  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you..."  Jesus has told us that He is coming quickly, and His reward is with Him.  The prospect of a reward is one that can appeal to our flesh.

As Mark expounded upon this scripture, my thoughts rested upon a portion of it:  "Your inheritance."  Do you realize that we are Christ's inheritance as children of God?  Even more astounding is the implication that when we share the Gospel with others we increase Christ's inheritance!  What a great gift to give back to God!  Many Christians today are caught up in trying to establish an earthly legacy or even a heavenly one - for themselves.  How about we seek to give Christ the reward of His suffering by sharing the Gospel so many would be born again?  We understand the idea of giving our children an earthly inheritance of houses, land, and money:  isn't it time we focus on increasing Christ's inheritance by a life lived just for Him?

When I was a child, I thought every "good" thing I did for God meant He added "another jewel" to my crown.  In my mind, I surely had a ruby-diamond-emerald encrusted-golden-atrocity for headgear awaiting me!  Conversely if I sinned, God reached over and broke a chunk of my crown off.  I was always motivated by this fictitious idea of reward and loss much like a sea lion who receives fish for properly  performing a trick.  Can you imagine what comparisons would take place in heaven if my ridiculous childish theology were true?  I remember being amazed while reading the portion when the 24 elders Revelation 4:10-11 give God what He gave them!  "...The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ¹¹ "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."

Wait a second, I thought to myself.  Why would you cast your crown before the feet of Jesus when you worked so hard for it?  Ah foolish boy!  Do I deserve a crown?  NO.  I deserve death in Hell and eternal separation for God because of my sins.  But out of His grace God grants us forgiveness, rewards, and an eternal heavenly inheritance which will never fade away.  God is the worthy one!  The fact is God gives us new life we are to give right back to Him so He can live through us.  This goes for our money, time, resources, talents, gifts, abilities, and EVEN heavenly reward.  What pleasure it gives me to think I can by His grace give God an inheritance of souls saved through the Gospel which will last forever!

Like Moses we would be wise to pray the words of Exodus 34:9 "...If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance."   Isn't it amazing that God delights to do so?  It made news across the world when the trapped miners in Chile were removed using state-of-the-art technology.  Yet without a mechanical hoist, cables, or video equipment, God brought us from the grave to a new life of liberty and freedom through the blood of Jesus.  As it is written in Deuteronomy 9:29:  "...Yet they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your mighty power and by Your outstretched arm."  Isn't it great that we have the opportunity to glorify and enrich God with our lives?  Let's make God the richer and joyfully lay up treasures in heaven not for us, but for Him!

Carried in His Bosom

Yesterday the LORD gave me great comfort through a living illustration.  Whenever I put on shoes in the Tooke's home in the morning, Poncho (the family dog) whimpers and shakes with excited anticipation.  He has learned that when shoes go on the feet, it means he will be going on a walk.  I put on my shoes yesterday morning and it cracks me up how excited Poncho becomes at the prospect of a walk.  So not wanting to disappoint him, I picked up his lead (leash for the Americans in our audience) and walked out the door.

After about 10 minutes of jogging and a couple of potty breaks, Poncho began to resist the lead more and more.  As I carefully observed him, he was favoring his left foreleg.  For the past couple of weeks I have seen him more than once favor that leg.  "I'm sorry, Poncho," I told him.  "We'll take it easy, alright?"  Unfortunately for both of us, we happened to be at the lowest point of elevation in our run!  After a minute or two of hobbling around, Poncho would not walk at all.  I looked at him, he stared at me.  "Well, I suppose I'll have to carry you!" I said, and that is what I did.  For about 5 minutes or more I carried my wounded 22 kilo mate along the road.  Car after car passed and I mused:  I wonder what they think about me!

When we came to the steep part of the climb, I set Poncho down and he walked the rest of the way (much to the delight of my back!).  God showed me a wonderful truth from this illustration.  Sometimes when we start out walking with Jesus we run at a strong pace.  Whenever we walk in faith we start a new journey, trusting in God to guide and empower us.  But along the way sometimes we can be wounded.  We can tire and lose heart.  When the Holy Spirit prompts us to move we pull against the lead and refuse to walk anymore.  But instead of kicking us to the ground and dragging us along, He picks us up.  I'm reminded of the famous poem "Footprints" where the man looks back on his life with the LORD.  At times there was only one set of footprints.  He accused God of abandoning him in the tough times.  God instructed him that it was in those times it was God who carried him along!

We are so privileged to have a Good Shepherd who knows our weak frame and picks us up when we are wounded and weary!  He seeks to heal us, not destroy.  When we falter and fail we do not disillusion God, only the perception we have of ourselves.  Our pride becomes wounded when we fail to meet our meager expectations and tempts us to give up.  Shall we give up when God is in the process of carrying us through the trial?  Should we run from His healing hands?  Let us trust in the Good Shepherd and submit to Him.  He has created us, redeemed us, and does not hesitate to pick us up, muddy paws and all.  As it says in Isaiah 40:11:  "He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young."

Moving!

Moving can be a moving experience.  The nature of the process reveals to us what we really think is important.  It strips away the veneer of all we have taken for granted.  Perhaps for the first time we see our priorities aren't where we thought they were.  A baby doesn't care where he is as long as he can cuddle with his silk blanket.  Sometimes the presence of mom is enough to comfort.  Once we grow older we still do not outgrow this attachment to things.  It is natural to base our security in what we can hold in our hands.  In reality, this is security found in ourselves.

This process cannot be performed until we resign ourselves, our things, family, friends, and future to Jesus Christ.  Perhaps some foster a false "romantic" view that following Jesus comes at no cost of things, relationships, or comforts.  Will God provide for our needs?  Certainly.  Isn't it true that anyone who leaves family for the sake of the Gospel will receive reward.  Yes.  But the tears still flow.  There is no denying our family faces the stiff price of separation on both sides of the Pacific.  Is Jesus worth it?  No question!

All of our household goods were loaded into this little 20' container.  Last Friday it was loaded and driven to port, only 20lbs. under the maximum weight!  But I would trade the whole lot for the little boy sitting on the furniture.  God has seen fit to separate us for a little while.  Stuff carries no value when compared to people!  We would do well to remember this always!

This morning during my reading I came across this passage:  Psalm 27:13-14 reads, "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!"  No matter what situation we find ourselves in, this remains true!  We can be apt to believe this some days over others.  We must wait on the LORD before He will supply us with strength.  This kind of waiting is not patiently enduring the passage of time, but the expectant looking to and trusting in our Savior, Jesus Christ.   David was not only looking towards heaven, but he cultivated an expectancy that God would supply his needs today!  I too desire to be of the same mind.  Though I cannot be with my wife and children at the present, God will supply both our needs just the same.  He is the one we really need.

Pious Pride

What self-deceptions we are willing to employ to justify refusal of submission to God!  How far we will wander from obedience because we are too proud to repent.  We say, "I will not commit because I know I cannot.  I am unable to perfectly keep my word."  So out of pride we fashion a pious cloak to cover our rebellion.  "God would not have me agree to something I cannot do."  But can a man do anything perfectly before God?  You cannot do anything for God!  We are powerless to do the first works, much less be fruitful, progress in sanctification, or even cease a single sin unless God helps us.  It begins with faith in Him and agreement with God.  Then we must commit to give no place to the devil, walk in obedience, and continually humble ourselves before Him.  No wonder pride in all its forms and disguises is abominable before God!

While struggling with a particular sin years ago, I remember in church when the hymn "I Surrender All" was played.  During the refrain which goes, "I surrender all, I surrender all, all to thee my precious Savior I surrender all" I did not sing the words.  I sang "I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live" but not "I surrender all."  What blatant hypocrisy, what pride!  I could not enter into His presence because I would not surrender all.  I refused to mouth the words "I surrender all" not because I was incapable of surrender, but because I would not.  The pretense of keeping my "word" was more important to me than holiness, and therefore preferred wickedness instead.  There I was concerned about keeping my word while I remained in sin!

It wounds a man's pride to admit he cannot do something.  Conversely, his pride is bolstered the more he refuses to yield.  As I stood that day with the outward appearance of piety, mouth closed with "intellectual" objections, praise of sin and pride was substituted for worship and obedience to God.  What a horrible, detestable thing pride is!  Pride is death posing as an angel of light!  Should we refuse to commit ourselves to Christ because we cannot follow Him perfectly when we are not perfect ourselves?  Ridiculous!

Let us seek God's favor to weed-out pride in us wherever we find it creeping through our hearts.  Pride is the secret identity of sin.  It is a slippery monster that sounds so convincing, has huge crushing teeth, and convinces us it cannot hurt us to be friends with it.  It is time to sever the relationship, once and for all!  Let us call Pride sin, and ask God to purify us of all the numbing poisons it has injected into our minds and hearts with its fangs.  It makes a man self-righteous, arrogant, spiritually drowsy and dull, unaffected by the Spirit, caustic, selfish, and judgmental.  Like a leech it fastens onto our souls and we cannot know it except the LORD reveal it.  It seems to always fog our spiritual vision.

Have you ever hesitated to sing, "Search me O God, and know my heart, see if there be anything at all that might keep me from hearing you, keep me from knowing you, keep you from loving you, dear LORD?"  I have.  Pride keeps us from opening our hearts to the LORD's searching gaze.  "You are not that bad, you have already repented," the soothing voice says.  "You have victory!  No need to worry!"  When we entertain pride, there is always cause for concern!  Are you willing to be examined by God today?  Do you fear He might find something?  Brothers and sisters, there is always something!  But He has the power to heal, cleanse, and restore.  Pride will only drag us to hell.  God leaves the choice to us!

Doctrine of Doing

"First, all preaching should be practical.  The proper end of all doctrine is practice.  Anything brought forward as doctrine, which cannot be made use of as practical, is not preaching the Gospel.  There is none of that sort of preaching in the Bible.  That is all practical.  "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  A vast deal of preaching in the present day, as well as in past ages, is called doctrinal as opposed to practical preaching.  The very idea of making this distinction is a device of the devil.  And a more abominable device Satan himself never devised.  You sometimes hear certain men talk a wonderful deal about the necessity of "indoctrinating the people."  By which they mean something different from practical preaching; teaching them certain doctrines, as abstract truths, without any particular reference to practice.  And I have known a minister in the midst of a revival, while surrounded with anxious sinners, leave off labouring to convert souls, for the purpose of "indoctrinating" the young converts, for fear somebody else should indoctrinate them before him.  And there the revival stops!  Either his doctrine was not true, or it was not preached in the right way.  To preach doctrines in an abstract way, and not in reference to practice, is absurd.  God always brings in doctrine to regulate practice.  To bring forward doctrinal views for any other object is not only nonsense; it is wicked."  Charles G Finney (quoted from Revival Lectures, pg. 222, emphasis mine)

Jesus never preached to satisfy the curiosity or men, to excite their senses, or simply for the sake of sharing information.  He aimed to move the hearts, minds, and man's complete being to repentance and righteousness.  Jesus did not seek to only engage the mind but move the soul.  Finney wrote these words quoted above almost two hundred years ago, yet we still see this practice continually in the church.  "Feeding the sheep" today often constitutes the sharing of information rather than motivation to action.  Quite often I find that abstract doctrines, or teaching in an abstract manner does little more than please the minister.  People politely sit through message after message, sift through the material, and though there is an abundance of information there is no direction concerning how to live in light of it.  Therefore the material exists to quiet a man's conscience:  he has done his duty in listening to a sermon rather than the sermon being an impetus used by the Holy Spirit to cause a man to draw nearer to God in faith.  He has had a healthy meal at the LORD's table and returns hungrily back to the slop served up in the world's trough.

The result of this kind of preaching is overfed and overweight sheep due to lack of exercise - actual exercise of the Christian walk with Christ.  Like cows we chew and chew, digest, and stand around talking about what we're eating.  We have the scripture on our breath but it doesn't have practical impact.  Take for instance the doctrine of the pre-tribulational rapture of the church.  People happily take a position, but for what?  Unless this doctrine moves you to action, it is like standing in the batter's box to hit without a bat.  Your stance may be textbook, your uniform spotless, and you may have memorized word-for-word the rules of baseball.  But without a bat you cannot perform your purpose in the box:  to hit the ball!  The doctrine of the rapture can and should move us to action:  the necessity for personal repentance and evangelism; the knowledge that our time is short causes us to labor with earnest, urgent diligence; to desire and labor so our conversation will glorify God more and more as we see the Day approaching; we will be sober, watchful, and godly and on.

It has never been good enough in God's eyes for a man to know something.  Knowledge brings a man under greater condemnation!  It is the application of this knowledge that constitutes wisdom.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.  A preacher does Christ disservice when he does not specifically apply the Biblical truths of doctrine to practical life.  Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies!  When we think of any doctrine in scripture, how does it move us to greater love?  How does doctrine stir up our hearts to glorify God with our lives?  These are questions which I must address not only with my mouth through preaching or discourse, but also through my thoughts, words, and actions.  The most essential doctrines can be degraded to information regurgitation rather than life transformation.  How we need the Spirit to teach us and guide us in our daily lives!  Let us not only be good students but servants of the Most High God.  May our lives be display of true doctrine, an outflow of the life of Christ which speaks volumes of wisdom no one can deny.

Divine Acceptance

It's not often when an object lesson literally jumps into your lap.  While reading today Poncho, the Tooke's dog, did something he has never done before.  He came up very close to the chair I was sitting in, stared at me with his tail wagging, and suddenly jumped into my lap.  Before I could put what I was reading on the table beside me, he had settled down in a comfortable position.  Poncho is a medium-sized dog (poodle/cocker mix) that weighs around 50lbs, likely not the ideal size of a lap dog!  As I stroked his coat Ross remarked, "Now there's the ultimate in acceptance.  He's found a friend."  Poncho proved his acceptance of me by his actions.

As I sat with Poncho spread across me, there was a deep sense of pleasure in this display of confidence and trust.  Unfortunately today the word "pleasure" tends to have a sexual connotation, but this was nothing of the sort.  If Poncho suspected I would injure or hurt him he would refuse even to be touched by me, much less leap into my lap.  What had I done to deserve such favor over the last week?  Nothing unusual.  I had given him a few treats, opened a door for him when he wanted out or in, and scratched his belly.  Though it is likely he rested on me motivated by selfishness for attention, it made me happy he displayed such trust and desire.  It was no trouble for me to put down my papers and make him the object of attention and affection.

There was something sweet in the familiarity and closeness we shared for those moments.  After a while he moved on and I continued to read, thinking about this lesson.  If I can take pleasure in a dog seeking attention, does not God take greater pleasure when His creation seeks after Him?  Do our actions confirm that we have accepted Christ as LORD, Savior, and Friend?  Am I willing, with humility as Poncho, to approach God and climb into His lap?  Won't it give God great pleasure to know that with all the toys, diversions, and cares I might have, I will lay them all aside to spend quiet time with Him alone?  I am not Poncho's owner but God is my Owner, having bought me with a price:  the blood of Jesus.  He deserves such time with me but will not legally require me to spend a set amount of time with Him.  He could put me on a leash, threaten me with violence, and heave me onto His lap - but that would not be according to God's character.  He has freely given me His love, and desires I would freely love Him back.

Remember the longing in the words of Jesus?  He says in Matthew 23:37:  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!  God has all the comfort to give, but we so often are unwilling to receive.  Jesus offered love, acceptance, forgiveness, and salvation, and men instead plotted to kill Him!  There is little in a human relationship that compares with the closeness of a hen to her chicks.  She has the capability to cover them all, warms them with her body, and protects them from harm.  Each chick nestled beneath has all of her.  We hold our babies, but a hen covers them.  What a picture of closeness Christ desires to share with us if we are willing!

What a blessing that God rejoices in companionship with us!  We climb up in His lap with our dirty old selves, complete with wet muddy paws, bad breath, drool, rancid gas, and stickers all through our coat because of where we've been.  But God delights in us even though there is nothing we can do to earn his divine acceptance.  Psalm 147:11 says, "The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy."  Instead of taking this grace for granted, may we avail ourselves of it by offering ourselves a living sacrifice unto God.  When we trust God, we have no fear of abuse by Him.  He delights in our advances and will never turn us away because we are not worthy.  We are not worthy anyway!  Yet when we admit our unworthiness and seek Him with desire He is pleased.  God will make us the attention of His affection and acceptance if we allow Him.  Have you climbed up in the LORD's lap today?