We Need to Stop Playing Church...

…and start BEING the church!

I have always been somewhat of an individualist. I got much of that from my dad, who never cared one whit what anyone but God thought of him. I am sure that deep down in his innermost being he carried a few scars inflicted by the unkind,  unnecessary, and likely untrue words of a few fellow believers. None of us is totally immune to hurt, but other people’s opinions never seemed to dissuade Dad from being the man God made him to be. He would never have made anyone’s top ten list of best-dressed, most likely to succeed, most charismatic, or most diplomatic, but everyone who really knew him loved him. Probably because they knew that he was what I call a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) kind of guy. Of whatever flaws Dad might have exhibited, pretense was not one of them. He was true to his word and he did what He felt was right regardless of the consequences.

Whatever happened to that kind of conviction? Where are those in the Body of Christ who will do what is right; what God desires of them no matter what it costs? Unfortunately, many believers have fallen prey to the false gospel of the ‘church of the status quo.’ We have so entrenched ourselves in our comfortable pews and mesmerized ourselves with creature comforts and entertainment that we have lost sight of the whole meaning and purpose of the word “church.”

I have been studying the origin of the church—the Body of Christ, to be more precise—in the New Testament, and it’s amazing to me (disturbing, actually) how little most contemporary entities that bear the name “church” resemble the church that Christ established here on earth. Read the following descriptions of the New Testament church.

42They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer. 43A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. 45They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. 46They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – 47all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

Initially, New Testament believers met at every opportunity, in homes, at the Temple, whenever and wherever they could for the primary purpose of worship, fellowship, sharing about what God was doing among them, and praying for each other’s needs. They were eager to get together with other believers and joyful when they were together. They shared not only meals together, but everything, including their material goods. No one in the New Testament church had unmet needs for long. The early believers took care of each other. They truly loved each other and they spent most of their time living out that love in practical ways.

God’s response to their heartfelt and joyous celebration of Him and His gift of salvation was that He added new believers to their flocks ‘each day.’ When was the last time you heard of a church that brought a new believer into their fellowship each day? Probably not since Jesus’ day! And why not? I contend that it is because we’ve stopped functioning like the Body of Christ. We have gotten so sidetracked by our efforts to be relevant and contemporary that we have neglected doing the things that actually work.

26…When you meet, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in an unknown language, while another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must be useful to all and build them up in the Lord. 27No more than two or three should speak in an unknown language. They must speak one at a time, and someone must be ready to interpret what they are saying. 28But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately. 29Let two or three prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. 30But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. 31In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. 32Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can wait their turn. 33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the other churches. (1 Corinthians 14:26-33)

What if your church did away with the weekly bulletin and in its place adopted the above as its order of service? I would be surprised if you did not immediately begin hearing directly from God. Unfortunately, there is no real opportunity in the format of ‘worship services’ in most churches today for God to speak to His people. Plenty of time for the pastor and often, other staff members to speak, but little, if any time for God.

Read carefully the passage below.

Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.(2 Timothy 4:2)

Understand, this admonition was not given to the pastor of a local church. It was given by Paul to Timothy, his spiritual disciple. Timothy represents every believer who is called to minister and serve in the Body of Christ today. According to Scripture, every believer is a priest who can boldly proclaim the Word of God. We ought to look for opportunities outside of our structured Sunday services to "preach, patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage" others.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful. (James 5:16)

Following James' admonition is another way to stop playing church and to be the church. Many churches are full of unrepentant sinners because they have ceased practicing James’ instruction to “confess our sins to one another and pray for each other.” We have given accountability a totally humanistic meaning and forsaken its true meaning. Biblical accountability is being open and honest before the Lord and before our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is trusting each other enough to share our struggles, knowing that we will be prayed for, encouraged, and supported as we turn them over to God. It does not mean subjecting ourselves to some self-appointed, holier-than-thou inquisitor to be chastised and condemned each time we slip up.

18…let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. 19Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. (Ephesians 5:18b-19)

Imagine a group of believers filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. It boggles the mind. Unfortunately, most believers in institutional churches are too busy planning and perpetuating programs to have time for the Spirit of God. I cannot speak for everyone, but I am dying to be free to “make music to the Lord in my heart.” And what unbelievably beautiful music that would be.

The church that Jesus established was not a building, not a program, or even a specific doctrine. The church is the collective fellowship of true, born-again believers (i.e., every Biblical Christian). We are the church. The church is who we are, not something we do or some place where we meet. Being the church today is following Paul’s advice to the Christians in Colosse.

Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. (Colossians 3:16)

Hopefully, at least some of the activities that are mentioned in these verses still happen in the place you call ‘church,’ but sadly, too few of them do. Even sadder, many of them have all but disappeared in most traditional places of worship.

Understand that my bone of contention is not with established religion or traditional denominations, per se. What I quarrel with is how believers, especially those who identify with specific denominations, have allowed denominationalism, tradition, liturgy, and in some cases, pure heresy to replace the original doctrines of the church as established by Jesus, Himself.

I challenge all true followers of Christ to put aside tradition, preconceived notions, prejudices, dogma, and personal preferences in deference to the Spirit of the Living God and begin to pray for the Spirit to come and make His Presence known among us each time we gather together in His Name. When we truly experience His Presence, I believe that we will see people being drawn, convicted, forgiven, healed, filled, and empowered by the Spirit of God. And after all, is not this what the Church of God is supposed to experience?

Is God Jealous?

Read the excellent article by Pastor Greg Laurie at: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51689 and ask yourself how many 'other gods' you have in your life right now. Read the actual second commandment below:

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."
(Exodus 20:4-6)

Do you think God was serious about NOT wanting us to put anyone or anything before Him? Think about your friends, your activities, and the things that consume most of your thoughts and time. Are there things that could be consider 'other gods?'

Before deciding that God is just too strict and unreasonable, remember that He wants ONLY the best for our lives. The ONLY reason He has for commanding us to do or not do anything is for our own good. He ALWAYS has our best interest in mind.

"The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (2 Chronicles 16:9a)

God is constantly looking to strengthen you, but He can't do it until you are fully committen to Him. And 'fully' means 'fully.' You can't be fully His if you have given even the smallest part of your heart to anyone or anything else.

My prayer for you is that you will let God's Spirit search your heart for any allegiances that might cause you to break the second commandment. I want God's best for you, too.

How a Youth Group Saved John's Life

I'd like to share with you the story of John. It's a true story. It was originally told by Ann Kiemel Anderson in her book, I'm Out to Change My World. I hope you'll take the time to read it through. It could make the difference between the life and death of someone you know.

John was one of those kids who always had his head down and never looked anyone in the eye. He was sullen and afraid and never allowed anyone to get close. One day at youth group, John wasn't there, so Ann asked the group if they'd like to perform a 'love experiment' and try to love John into fellowship. As you can imagine, the initial response from the other kids in the group was less than enthusiastic. But they went along, if only out of curiosity. The next time John showed up at youth group, everyone fought over who got to sit by him. They sent him letters and notes during the week. Some would stop by his house and pick him up and take him to get a soda. Whatever they could think of to do, they did for John...for six months. It got old! John didn't respond

Love was hard work. Maybe too hard. The kids wanted to quit. But Ann encouraged them to keep loving John. Then one day when he showed up at church, he smiled. It was the first time anyone had ever seen John smile. Everyone was elated. Then another time, John laughed out loud. Another first! Things were really looking up. Then John's mother called Ann.

John's mother told Ann about how when the family was on a weekend camping trip, John had kept to himself and then burst out crying and couldn't stop. She was understandably upset. When she asked him what was wrong, he replied, "I'm such a failure, Mom. I'm such a flop." His mother responded, "It's that church you're going to. They're not treating you right." "No, no. It's my only hope. They love me over there." pleaded John. The mother recounted how the instant he uttered those words, he seemed to find a peace he hadn't had before and his whole demeanor began to change.

After that weekend, in youth group John began to hold his head up. He laughed more, and he actually prayed out loud. He even decided to play with the church softball team and was one of the best players they ever had. He began to bring friends to church. Love changed John's life.

Do you know any Johns or Janes? Is there someone at your church or school or work that you could love back to life? I challenge you to give it a shot. God's love is amazing and powerful and there is NO limit to what it can accomplish.

"34A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)


For a complete definition of God's love, visit my blogpost "What Is Love?"

Living on the Edge

Have you noticed all the EXTREME reality shows on television? It seems the new drug of choice is Adrenalin. Folks seek out the feeling of having their hearts pound practically out of their chest, feeling blood rush to their brains, and gasping for breath. I've never been much of a risk taker, but even I can understand the underlying quest for excitement and the head rush that accompanies it. Interestingly enough, this is not a new phenomenon. It's a part of our human nature. The only thing that has changed is that there is a whole new variety of ways to pursue that Adrenalin rush.

Young people in particular seem to have a penchant for the extreme and one of the most extreme things that anyone can do is to live for Christ. I think of Christians in other parts of our world who are suffering persecution and even death in their attempt to live godly lives. I can't imagine that bungee jumping or hang-gliding could begin to provide the Arednalin rush caused by being chased by machine-gun- or machete-wielding Christophobes. We hear news reports virtually every day about persecution, beheadings, arrests of pastors, and the destruction of churches all over the world. We have no idea how very good we have it here in America, but in other parts of the world, living a life that is consistent with the teachings of Christ can and often does cost individuals their freedom and sometimes their lives.

I challenge all believers to consider pursuing the most extreme activity I can imagine--standing up for your faith 24/7. It's easy to be a good Christian at church, or when you're around your Christian friends, but what about when you're in school or at the mall or on the job? Despite the fact that we here in America are blessed with religious freedom, living for Jesus is NOT without consequences. Ask someone who's done it consistently. They will likely tell you that it's cost them friends and sometimes family. There will always be 'the devil's crowd' who will be more than happy to heap insults on you when you espouse your beliefs or take a stand for what's right. Jesus warned us that we would be "persecuted for righteousness' sake." He also reminded us, however, that we will be blessed in proportion to how much we endure such persecution. (Matthew 5:10-12)

If you're one who loves to live on the edge and who craves Adrenalin highs, let me challenge you to the ULTIMATE EXTREME! Try living for Jesus Christ just for one full day, in front of your family, your friends, and even strangers. Better yet, try it when NO ONE is around! That's the true test of godliness and Christian character. It's how you act when no one but God is watching!

Spiritual Fruit

I recently read a comment by someone claiming to be a Christian, but from whom I’ve neither seen nor heard any real spiritual fruit. I won’t name the individual, but you would, no doubt, recognize the name. What she said, in effect, was that she didn’t see how someone could be a Christian AND a Republican—like somehow, one’s political persuasion has anything to do with her spiritual condition. The ridiculousness of such a comment prompted me to write this brief, but hopefully poignant statement on what I believe God’s Word says about the characteristics of a true follower of Christ.

First of all, for those who still believe that everyone born in America is a Christian (because this is a Christian nation?), let me set the record straight. The Bible makes it clear that becoming a Christian is a personal choice made by every individual in response to God’s gift of His Son. It’s not just a matter of believing. We also must accept God’s provision for dealing with our sinful condition and be willing to testify publicly that we have done so.

“9...if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

Though becoming a Christian is only possible because of Jesus’ willingness to die in our behalf, no one becomes a Christian through someone else’s efforts. Every individual must first choose to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and then be willing to follow God’s directive to receive Him fully and proclaim Him openly.

Second, let’s draw a distinction between Christianity and religion. Religion is the work of man. It’s man’s acknowledgement of and his effort to reach, please, or appease his concept of some higher power or authority. It is, in effect, our paltry attempt to fill that “God-shaped void,” as Blaise Paschal described it, that resides in every one of us and “which can only be filled by God.” At best, religion provides us with some semblance of moral standards and personal discipline, but it has no power to regenerate sinful human beings.

Christianity, on the other hand, is the work of God. It was made possible when He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to live and walk among us mortals as a human being, and ultimately to die for (literally to satisfy God’s judgment against) all the sins we have committed, are committing, and ever will commit. In short, God created us specifically for the purpose of fellowship with Him, and then He sacrificed His only Son to make that fellowship possible. In this respect, Christianity is not a religion at all, but rather a God-initiated relationship with those created in His image.

According to Scripture, the word ‘Christian’ translates as ‘little Christ,’ or ‘Christ-like.’ Quite simply, to be a Christian is to be like Christ. To determine if someone else is a Christian, the first test would be to look for Christ-like qualities in her or his life. Some in the Body of Christ would argue that one’s level of spiritual maturity is measured by the spiritual gifts, callings, and manifestations evident in his life. While these are definitely all from God, they are given, not as evidence of salvation or measurements of spiritual maturity, but for the building up, equipping, and unifying of all believers. According to God’s Word, the true evidence of salvation is the fruit of the Spirit, as mentioned in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia.

“22But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23a)

If you want to discern whether or not someone else is a Christian, look for spiritual fruit in that person’s life. Anyone can busy himself with activities that look spiritual or use language that sounds spiritual, but no one can produce spiritual fruit apart from the Holy Spirit. Such evidence is the natural outflow of a life lived through the Spirit of God.

“I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

Besides spiritual fruit, there should also be a noticeable absence of fleshly attitudes and behavior in a Christian’s life. One who is led by the Holy Spirit of God is not likely to be influenced by the things of the world.

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
(Galatians 5:24)

Finally, one who is truly a Christian will have ‘the mind of Christ,’ which guides him in everything he does.

“5Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 6Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. 8And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. 9Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

Thankfully, the final authority for who is saved and who is not rests with God. I truly believe that when I get to heaven, I’ll be surprised to find out who is there and who is not. I tend to judge people based on flawed human reasoning, personal prejudice, and my own indefensible sense of self-righteousness. God, however, judges people based on what’s actually in their hearts.

Next time you’re wondering about someone’s spiritual condition, remember this:

“The LORD doesn't make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person's thoughts and intentions.”
(1 Samuel 16:7b)

Taking EVERY Thought Captive

“4The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; 5we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 GNT)

I have been familiar with the above passage since I was a teenager, but it wasn’t until I was a relatively mature adult that I actually began to understand what it means. In my last entry, “Know Your Enemy,” I alluded to the fact that between Thanksgiving and Christmas of last year I had experienced some blatant attacks from the enemy. It was during this ordeal that the Holy Spirit began to teach me specifically how to destroy strongholds and false arguments and to take every thought captive. It should have come as no surprise to me that in the midst of some of the worst turmoil I have ever experienced, I would learn one of the greatest lessons of my life. God is so very good! I heard it said many years ago that God is the ultimate economist because He NEVER wastes an experience, good or bad. I heartily agree.

I know of no better way to share what I’ve learned than to give you specific examples of how I learned it. Being primarily a hands on learner, most of what I know I have learned through personal experience. Spiritual matters are no exception. To learn how to trust God fully, I had to come to a place in my experience where I had absolutely no one else in whom I could trust other than God, Himself. For me it happened in the middle of the night one night just before Thanksgiving last year.

I awoke from a disturbing dream in a cold sweat, gasping for breath, my heart racing, and feeling more anxious than I could ever remember having felt before. I don’t know what triggered this event, but it definitely got my attention. I immediately sat up in bed and tried to catch my breath and clear my head, but to no avail. I was near panic, so I got up and walked into the kitchen to get a drink, thinking that might possibly help me to calm down a bit. I felt an inexplicable tingling sensation all over and though it was the middle of the night, it seemed even darker than usual in the house.

Nothing seemed to help. I could feel my heart throbbing in my neck and it beat with an oddly irregular rhythm. My first thought was that perhaps I was having a heart attack. This thought, of course, only exacerbated the condition, so I dismissed it as quickly as it had entered my mind and began to cry out to God. I breathed deeply to try to distribute more oxygen throughout my system and slow my heart rate and eventually, I caught my breath and my heart slowed to a more normal tempo, but still beat with an irregular rhythm. I walked from the kitchen into the dining room and then down the steps into the living room, making a circle back through the kitchen again as I begged God to not let me die. I had no clue what was going on, but I was as frightened as I’d ever been.

As I called out to God, verses that I had memorized or become familiar with began to flood my mind. One of the first ones was Romans 8:15: “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” I began to speak that out loud, knowing that my enemy couldn’t read my mind. I’m sure I didn’t speak it with much confidence at first, but the more I repeated it, the more confident I became. As I walked through the dark house, repeating this verse, another came to mind. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) I began to repeat this verse out loud, continuing my circle through the kitchen, dining room, and living room. The more I repeated it, the more I felt the fear I had been experiencing being driven out. I don’t know how long I continued walking through my house speaking the truth, but eventually, I felt calm enough to return to my bed.

As I lay there in the dark, still feeling a bit tingly, to keep my mind from reverting back to the disquieting thoughts that had been triggered by my sudden awakening, I continued to pray and to remind God of His promises. As I was replacing the negative thoughts with the truth from God’s Word, it suddenly occurred to me that I was doing precisely what Romans 8:15 instructs us to do—“taking every thought captive,” and replacing it with truth. I was “pulling down false arguments” that tried to convince me that I was dying or at best, losing my mind, and replacing them with what God said. Eventually, I fell asleep.

At this point, I suppose that I should interject that it would be great if all lessons in Scripture were this easy to learn. The truth is, however, that though I had an instant epiphany of sorts in the midst of my turmoil, the actual learning process is still going on. I was able to fall asleep that fitful night, but I awoke again a few hours later with similar thoughts and feelings. Truth is, these attacks occurred intermittently both during the night and during the day for a period of weeks. And each time one came, I had to respond the same way I had during that first night. “Taking every thought captive,” means just what it says. We have to be diligent to take EVERY negative, untruthful thought captive and replace it with the truth. Taking every other thought, or every sixth thought captive just won’t work.

Spiritual warfare is a lot like any worthwhile endeavor in that it requires consistent effort over a period of time. Just as body building requires breaking down muscles and then slowly building them back up, so renewing our minds requires breaking down old flawed ways of thinking and building up our minds with the truth from God’s Word. Romans 12:2 admonishes us to “not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” The only way I know of to renew my mind is to replace negative, untrue, or even impure thoughts with the thoughts of God. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” We need to replace the way we think with the way Jesus thinks. And how is that?

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippian 4:8 NLT)

I believe that to ‘fix’ one’s mind on the things mentioned in the above verse means to know and to meditate on those things. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:32) It’s one thing to have passing knowledge of truth, but in almost every place in Scripture where the word know is used in regard to knowing God, knowing truth, or knowing the things of the Spirit, it has the same meaning as the word that translates ‘to have intimate sexual relations.’ I don’t believe this is a mistake. I believe that God wants us to become as intimate with Him and with His truth as we aspire to be with our spouses. To know truth means that we are ‘one’ with it—that it has become a part of who we are. Only this kind of truth has the power to set us free.

Since the beginning of the year, I’ve had no more attacks, and I attribute that to my having diligently taken every negative and false thought captive and replaced each with the truth. Victory didn’t come overnight, but over time. I believe that the devil and his cohorts know when we’ve defeated them and they will move on to pester someone who is less persistent. Whenever I am tempted to think negative or impure thoughts, I immediately replace them with the truth. We have to be consistent and committed to do what God’s Word says to experience the benefits. It’s difficult and demanding work, but it’s never complicated. We simply do what the Word says as often as necessary and then we experience the positive results of doing so.

Something that has helped me tremendously in this area has been doing word searches for Scripture verses dealing with things that affect my thoughts such as fear, anxiety, doubt, anger, lust, poverty, etc. (Click the Bible Study Helps link on the right side of this page underneath my bio to access a great Bible reference site for doing such word searches.) I cut and paste as many relevant verses as I can find on each topic into a Word document that can be saved by topic and then printed. I keep the printed copies with my Bible study and prayer materials for daily use. I use these sheets daily to replace negative, untrue, and unclean thoughts with those from God’s Word. It’s amazing to me how effective such simple tools can be.

(Paul and Donna Cox’s Web site, Aslan’s Place, offers seven topical reference sheets with Scripture verses dealing with fear, doubt, depression, lust, shame, rejection, and anger. These are .PDF files which can be downloaded and printed. Click the following link: http://www.aslansplace.com/insights/index.html and scroll down to find a section called “Swatting the Fly…” You should see the seven issues listed in a blue grid. Click the Download link to the right of each topic that you wish to download.)

The next time you are plagued with negative thoughts or tempted to think impure thoughts, put this principle to practice. I’ve listed below some real-life situations and what God’s Word says about them.

Situation:
You are fearful about something that might happen.

What God’s Word Says:
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

Situation:
You are depressed about something that has already happened.

What God’s Word Says:
Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials. (James 1:2)

Situation:
You are worried about the possible outcome of an event or circumstances.

What God’s Word Says:
6Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Situation:
An unwanted thought pops into your mind, and you are tempted to pursue it.

What God’s Word Says:
Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

Situation:
You have heard something negative about someone else and you are tempted to share it with a friend.

What God’s Word Says:
A gossip goes around revealing secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. (Proverbs 11:13)

Situation:
Someone has mistreated you or done something to make you angry.

What God’s Word Says:
And don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry. (Ephesians 4:26)

Situation:
You feel unloved.

What God’s Word Says:
38And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from [God’s] love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. 39Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Situation:
You feel alone and forsaken.

What God’s Word Says:
For God has said, "I will never leave you. I will never forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5b)

Feel free to create your own list. And remember that it’s not only about what you shouldn’t think, but also about what you should think. It has been said that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ If that’s true, then stuffing your mind with positive, truthful thoughts can save you a boatload of grief.

Know Your Enemy

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

“Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

Great warriors have always understood that. The better one knows his enemy, the more able he is to defeat him. Vito ‘Don’ Corleone in the 1972 film “The Godfather,” made the statement, “Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.” He knew that if he wasn’t ALWAYS aware of what his enemy was up to, he could end up being his unwitting victim. It’s no different in the spiritual realm. We have a very real enemy and we need to remain aware of his tactics.

I believe that the reason so many Christians are bound up and ineffective is because they choose to ignore the devil rather than to resist him. That is tantamount to pretending not to see a robber who is trying to break into your house. Do you remember that time when I was speaking to the youth group about spiritual warfare? I asked why it was important to speak out loud to the devil. The answer is because he can’t read our minds! Thankfully, Satan isn’t omnipotent, omniscient or omnipresent.

Some years ago, I was working from home when my Great Dane began barking with great conviction. Being a good watch dog, he only barked like that when he knew something was awry, so I went to see what that might be. As I peered through the sliding glass doors on the back of our house, I noticed a man walking up the driveway of my neighbor’s house. Shortly after he disappeared from view, I heard glass breaking. I immediately let the dog out and called 911. Thankfully, hearing my 180-pound dog snarling just on the other side of the fence frightened off the would-be thief. What do you suppose would have happened had I just ignored my dog’s barking?

It never occurred to me to do nothing in that situation, just as it would never occur to me to do nothing when the devil is attempting to “kill, steal, or destroy,” which is precisely what he wants to do. Nowhere in Scripture are we told to ignore him or to pretend that he doesn’t exist. Neither are we told to fear him. Jesus made one of the most definitive statements of all times when he said to His disciples,

“18I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lightning! 19And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” (Luke 10:18-19)

We have NO CAUSE to fear our enemy, the devil. According to the words of Jesus our Lord, we have authority over the devil and his demons. That means the ONLY way he can hurt us is if we choose to let him. I’ve already chosen to NEVER let him hurt me or my family. I regularly exercise my authority over him to keep him at bay. Besides knowing that Jesus gave me that authority, I also have another promise to hold on to.

“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

God’s Holy Spirit living in every believer is greater than the spirit of evil who lives in this world, so even if we could add nothing to the fight, God’s Spirit in us would always trump evil. What we must always remember is that though victory is guaranteed, the battles must still be fought. But what a difference it makes when I remember going into battle that I have authority over the enemy, that he can’t harm me, and that I have God’s Spirit in me to empower and protect me.

I recently asked some of the young people at my church if they thought it was necessary to speak (out loud) to the devil, and if so, why. The only responses I received were blank stares. After a brief discussion, we determined that speaking is the only way we can let the devil know what we are thinking. He can’t read our minds, after all, so if you want him to leave you alone, you need to tell him.

I believe that speaking to the devil is the best way to resist him. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He responded aloud with Scripture. We ought not to quote Scripture to the devil because we think he doesn’t know it at least as well as we do. He likely knows it better. We should quote Scripture because God’s Word is our primary offensive weapon against the devil, especially those verses that remind him of his defeat and his ultimate reward.

I have recently experienced one of the greatest spiritual battles of my life. I am still in the fight, but I have every confidence that I will emerge triumphant. I don’t know why I am having to go through this, but I have God’s promises to keep me going.

Every day I remind myself of His Truth.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.” (Psalm 33:11)

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us.” (1 John 4:18)

“4Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! 5Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)

Every day I put on all my spiritual armor.

“3We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. 4We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. 5With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ. 6And we will punish those who remained disobedient after the rest of you became loyal and obedient.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

“10A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. 11Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. 12For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. 13Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. 15For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. 16In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. 17Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.”
(Ephesians 6:10-18)

Every day, when I’ve done all I can do, I stand firm on the Truth of God’s Word.

His Word tells me that my enemy, the devil, “is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). It tells me that anger gives the devil a mighty stronghold (Ephesians 4:27) and that he will use pride to make me fall. (1 Timothy 3:6) But, most importantly, it tells me that “the Son of God came to destroy these works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Child of God, NEVER forget that! Jesus’ death rendered the devil harmless to all those who have received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. To believers he’s like a old, toothless lion—he can roar, but he can no longer bite. Next time he tries to mess with you, remind him of the following:

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Romans 16:20)

Get Out There!

Lately I've been thinking a lot about how the church as a whole seems to have become irrelevant to many of those outside it. Research indicates that more committed believers are moving outside the confines of the traditional church structure to find support and opportunities to serve the Lord, while fewer lost and hurting people are drawn to it.

I live in the Dallas area and according to statistics compiled by a prominent denominational association, about 80 percent of its churches in this area have either stopped growing or are in decline. According to George Barna in his new book, Revolution, the number of followers of Jesus attending a local church is declining rapidly. Approximately 70 percent of Christians attend traditional churches today, but in 20 years, only 30 percent will still be attending.

Recently, I was listening to a local pastor on a Christian television talk show discussing how the church as a whole is missing the mark in reaching the lost with the truth. He mentioned several prominent groups of people that few churches are reaching. Then he said something that hit me right in the heart. We must lay aside the 'come hear' mentality and get back to the 'go tell' commission given by Jesus, Himself.

I don't see all of the above statistics as being necessarily bad news. It's all in how we choose to respond to them. On the one hand, what this could mean is that Christians are moving out of the pews and into the marketplace to minister where the people are. This is the kind of ministry that Jesus modeled for us when He walked the earth. He didn't spend the bulk of his time in the synagogue, but in the community where He was needed the most. We should take our cue from His ministry and 'go thou and do likewise.'

Another possible positive outcome from this shift is that alternative fellowship forms could be established, such as ministry groups that meet in homes, coffeehouses, restaurants, places of business, or on campuses. As nice as it is to come together with a roomful of other like-hearted, like-minded individuals several times a week, the bulk of our time should be spent where the need is the greatest--outside the walls of the church building.

I play in a contemporary band, REFUGE, and while we enjoy leading worship, ministering to other believers, and participating in the joy of Christian fellowship, we feel called into the marketplace where real needs exist and often go unmet. Our name came from the Lord's call on our lives as musicians to provide a place of peace and safety through our music. Though all of our original music is Biblically based, we have felt compelled to add many positive popular songs to our repertoire to add to our appeal among those who don't know the Lord. Interestingly, in one of our first 'secular' venues, we sold more of our blatantly Christian CDs than we've sold in any Christian venue.

I will admit that there are probably more hurting people sitting in the pews of most churches today than any of us would care to admit, but that only emphasizes the need for the church to be more relevant to the needs of people in general. I'm not advocating that we shut down declining churches, but rather than we find more and better ways to use the facilities we have to meet the needs of our communities. The expression of the Body of Christ that my wife and I attend is working to find ways to meet real needs in the community in which it's located. We have a nice, comfortable, and very well-furnished facility that needs to be used seven days a week, rather than just two or three. Virtually every church building could be put to better and more practical use. We need to put aside our possessiveness of the facilities with which God has blessed us and find more ways to use them to reach the lost and the hurting.

I'm ashamed to say that I've been in churches that had classrooms with locks on the doors to keep everyone out except those who met there for an hour each Sunday morning. What a complete waste of God's provision! I've also known of churches that had so many rules and regulations for the use of their buildings that even church members were reluctant to use them. I've even known of a group of 'church builders' (as opposed to 'church planters') who would pool their resources to build a magnificent facility and then act as if they literally owned it. If they couldn't control the pastor and most of the members, they would leave that church and build a new facility in another part of town. I know of at least three very nice church campuses in our area built by this group. Unfortunately, the Spirit of God didn't inhabit any of the buildings until after the 'builders' left. ("Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is useless." Psalm 127:1a NLT)

My point is this; followers of Jesus need to find new and more relevant ways to share the Gospel and minister to the lost. We don't need to tear down our nice church buildings, but we should be find more effective ways to use them during the week. And we need to 'think outside the building' to find ways to minister to those who will never darken the doors of a traditional church. Start an outreach group that meets in your home or at your favorite coffee shop. Get involved in your community. Offer practical help and services through your church. Build relationships with those who don't attend church. As the late Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, once said, "we have to earn the right to be heard." Believers must prove to nonbelievers that they matter and that we truly care about them before they will believe anything that we say.

Jesus set the example for us by ministering to individuals' physical and emotional needs before confronting them concerning their spiritual needs. It's not a matter of which is more important, but of which is more urgent. A person with an empty stomach is not likely to listen to a presentation of the Gospel until his hunger has been satisfied. Someone who is experiencing severe emotional pain is not going to be receptive to Truth until her pain is allayed. Ministry, after all, is more than just preaching sermons. It's also about feeding the hungry, giving to the poor, and healing the sick.

As you pray this week, ask God to show you your specific ministry and let Him prepare and equip you to perform it. We live in a hurting and fallen world that is in desperate need of a Savior. And if we don't point them to THE Savior, who will?

The 'J' Word

JESUS IS LORD!

There, I said it, and I’m glad. He is Lord, after all, whether we submit to Him willingly or not. Before it’s all said and done...

10…at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10,11 NLT)

I’d much rather submit willingly to His Lordship and receive the blessings associate with doing so than to be forced against my will (as will the Devil and his demons) to submit in the day of judgment.

According to the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church at Corinth, no one can say that ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the power of the Holy Spirit of God.

So I want you to know how to discern what is truly from God: No one speaking by the Spirit of God can curse Jesus, and no one is able to say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3 NLT)

The fact of the matter is that Jesus is what sets Christianity apart from every religion and belief system on earth. Christianity is NOT a religion, despite the fact that demographers include us in their statistical records along with all the religions of the world. To be a Christian is to have a personal relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. Without Him, there would be no Christianity.

We live in an age when it’s perfectly acceptable to admit to belief in or acquiescence to God or to some ‘power’ greater than we are. We live in a culture in which many believe they are ‘Christian’ by mere virtue of the fact that they are American. (After all, doesn’t America claim to be a ‘Christian’ nation?) There are even those who would infer that all deities are equal, regardless of what name one gives to his ‘god,’ and that faith is all that matters, regardless of in what or in whom we place our faith. In the spirit of tolerance and cooperation, shouldn’t we all just try to get along?

In answer to that question, let’s read what Jesus said in response to a question from one of the religious leaders of His day.

28One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the discussion. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' (Mark 12:28-30 NLT)

He couldn’t have said it any more clearly. “The Lord our God is the one and only Lord!” That leaves NO room for anyone to claim that we all worship the same god or all gods are the same. One either worships the God of Creation, the God of Abraham, the Great ‘I AM,’ or he worships a false god.

Many have criticized Christianity for being ‘narrow-minded’ in believing that there is only one God and that Jesus is the only way to salvation. So since when is narrow-mindedness a bad thing? Once again, read what Jesus said.

13"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. 14But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:13,14 NLT)

Wouldn’t it be better to be narrow-minded and enter God’s eternal Kingdom than to be so open-minded that your brains fall out? God’s way to salvation may be narrow, but it’s NOT exclusive! It would be if He only intended for a few to find the way to salvation, but His Word says otherwise.

The Lord is not slow in fulfilling His promise, in the sense in which some men speak of slowness. But He bears patiently with you, His desire being that no one should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 NLT)

Those who see Christianity as being exclusive do not fully know and understand the heart of the Christ of Christianity. He came to be the Savior of ALL!

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.”
(John 3:16,17 NLT)

There are those who would argue that they believe that Jesus lived and was a good man, or a good teacher, or even a prophet, but that He wasn’t the Son of God. I bring to your attention the famous ‘trilemma’ of C. S. Lewis.

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
[C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 2, Chapter 3, The Shocking Alternative]

From anintellectual perspective, to believe that Jesus was someone other than the Christ, the promised Messiah, the Son of God, the Second Person of the Godhead, is pure foolishness. From a Biblical perspective, however, such a belief would cost its believer his eternal salvation. The Bible is very clear as to the Way to salvation.

11For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, 'The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.' 12There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them. (Acts 4:11,12 NLT)

Our politically correct culture has so ‘sanitized’ our language as to have all but eliminated the name of Jesus from our vocabulary. I’ve seen high-profile Christians on talk shows, news shows, and in other settings speak openly of God, but avoid using the name of Jesus. Some rationalize that the name Jesus is ‘offensive’ to some and that they’d rather not offend anyone. I know of Christian organizations and ministries that are reluctant to use the name of Jesus in their brochures and on their Web sites in order to appeal to ‘the masses.’ Problem is, without Jesus, we have nothing to offer the masses.

Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.” (John 12:32 NLT) I believe that He was referring to His being ‘lifted up’ on the cross of Calvary, but I also believe that when we lift Him up by proclaiming His name and His Lordship, He will also draw people to Himself for the express purpose of saving them.

I just want to go on record as saying, along with Paul, the Apostle, that…

…I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – Jews first and also Gentiles.
(Romans 1:16 NLT)

I am a Christian because I have received Jesus Christ into my heart and life as my personal Savior and Lord. I wear His name proudly because of what He has done for me. The word Christian literally means ‘follower of Christ.’ That is who I am. I will NEVER use the name of Jesus flippantly or with the intension of offending anyone, but neither will I refuse to mention His Name. The Name of Jesus has the power to convict, to heal, to deliver, and to save. How can we, who call ourselves Christians—followers of Christ—keep from speaking His Name loudly and proudly? It is the ONLY name through which anyone can be saved.

There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them. (Acts 4:12 NLT)

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, follow the simple directive in the following verse of Scripture so that you may be eternally secure in the arms of our loving Father.

For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NLT)

Click HERE to request a copy of "The 'J' Word" in MSWord or PDF format (please specify), or if you have questions or comments. Click HERE (and scroll down) to view my blog, "How to Be Saved."

The Church in the World

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything, but for a very good reason. God has been working on me. I’ve always believed that Christians are ‘works in progress,’ as suggested by Philippians 1:6. “And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.” Until that day, we’re all ‘under construction.’

This latest chapter in my life began when I saw a headline on WorldNetDaily, a conservative news site on the Internet, about how the entire world will be Christian by the year 2032. Being somewhat skeptical, but at the same time hopeful, I read the related article by Jim Rutz, author of the book, Megashift, and founder of Megashift Ministries. In the article, Mr. Rutz stated that at its present rate of growth of eight percent per year (most everywhere in the world EXCEPT in the West!), Christianity could outgrow the entire world’s population in just 23 years. I'm not 100 percent sure how that measures up against Scripture, but the mere fact that Christianity is growing at such a rate has kept me awake nights wondering how I might become more involved in growing the kingdom of God on this earth.

I must confess that before reading Mr. Rutz’ article I had very little knowledge of how God was moving in the rest of the world. I’d been too busy complaining about how little evidence I see of the Holy Spirit working in the expressions of the Body of Christ of which I’ve been a part. Having read, however, documented accounts of miraculous conversions, spectacular healings, and even resurrections, I began to feel a stirring in my spirit to become an active part of what God is doing throughout the world. As I began to re-read the passages of Scripture describing the activities of the New Testament church in Acts and in Paul’s epistles and discovered that what is happening in other parts of the world is very similar to what happened immediately after Pentecost.

"42They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer. 43A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. 45They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. 46They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – 47all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

Compared to this passage from Acts, I see how very different the Church in America has become from the New Testament church, perhaps to its own detriment.

I’m not writing this to be critical of our Christian tradition here in America. Plenty of others have already done a noteworthy job of that. Neither am I complaining. I’m blessed to have been raised in good, Bible-teaching, God-honoring churches for most of my life. All I’m saying here is that for the first time in my life, I realize that the Body of Christ is MUCH bigger than I once thought and it encompasses many more flavors of style and function than I have heretofore been willing to accept. God is WAY bigger than any single expression of the Body of Christ. The First Community Church may have been the first of its ilk to open its doors in a particular community, but it’s only one of thousands of expressions of God’s Body throughout the world. And so is your church.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that we need to look beyond the walls of our church buildings to see all that God is doing. God is at work in the world, and like it or not, He seems to be freer to operate in third-world countries than He is in the West. The good news is that we can play a role in changing that. We can play a vital role in returning to New Testament principles in our expressions of our faith.

I believe with all my heart that God is about to pour out His Spirit upon America in a way we’ve never experienced before. I believe that everything that’s happened in this great nation since 9/11, including hurricanes Katrina and Rita, has been a part of God’s preparing us to receive His Spirit. It’s more than coincidental that the name Katrina means ‘purity.’ For reasons that I will never fully understand in this life, God allowed the enemy to unleash Katrina’s fury upon the Gulf Coast, but what the devil meant to tear down, God used for cleansing and to build up.

Prophet Kim Clement delivered a word from God on September 2, 2005 in Whittier, California, concerning what God intends to do in America. “‘And when the cleansing has taken place, there will be a mighty rushing wind that shall come in and restore this Nation back to order,’ says the Lord of Hosts.” God has not given up on America, and neither should we. We need to commit to pray daily for our nation, for our President, for our leaders, and especially for our church leaders, that they will submit to God and once again give Him sovereignty over ALL things.

I am losing my job as of the end of this week. Ordinarily, I would be in a panic by now, but this time I am uncharacteristically at peace about my situation. God has been preparing me for something, and even though I don’t know what, I am confident that He will bring it to pass in His perfect timing. I have been praying that God would give me a vital role in His what He is doing in the Church in the world, and I fully believe that this is all a part of His plan. I expect to have some incredibly exciting news to share with you in my next post.

Until then, remember than a true believer never stands taller than when he is on his knees.

The Importance of Well-Chosen Words

When I was growing up, my parents always reminded me that my words should always be chosen well because once they were out of my mouth, they could never be unspoken. To help me to choose wisely, they gave me a three-question test against which to measure any statement before I spoke it.

1. Is it true?
2. Is it kind?
3. Is it necessary?

The importance of choosing your words carefully is illustrated in the following parable:

A young man had spoken unkind and untrue words about several individuals over a period of time and came to realize that his words had hurt or maligned those about whom he had spoken them. Wanting to make things right, he sought the counsel of a spiritually wise man. The wise man advised the young man to go and gather a basketful of small bird feathers—one for each person he had offended with his words. The young man did as he was told and returned to the sage with his basket of feathers.

“Now,” said the wise man, “go and place a feather on the doorstep of each person you’ve offended, and then return to me for final instructions.”

Again, the young man did as he was told and then he returned to the wise man.

“Well done,” stated the wise man. “Now there is one last thing you must do. Go and retrieve every feather you have placed.”

“But, Sir,” the young man replied sorrowfully, “Surely by now the wind has carried them all away and I shall never be able to retrieve them.”
“Precisely,” the sage replied. “And so it is with the words we speak.”

The same is true for the words we write with one critical caveat—written words leave a “paper trail” that can often take on a life of its own. It is even more important that we carefully choose the words that we write down, because once they are published, they cannot be unwritten.

Below is some wisdom on words from King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived.

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. (Proverbs 12:18)

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4)

23From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive. 24Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.(Proverbs 16:23-24)

A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. (Proverbs 17:27)

A person's words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook. (Proverbs 18:4)

1Don't envy evil people; don't desire their company. 2For they spend their days plotting violence, and their words are always stirring up trouble.(Proverbs 24:1-2)

The Apostle Paul also had some things to say about the words we speak.

29Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. 32Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
(Ephesians 4:29-32)

James devoted almost an entire chapter to the subject of “taming the tongue.”

My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. (James 1:19 )

So whenever you speak, or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law of love, the law that set you free. (James 2:12)

2We all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way. 3We can make a large horse turn around and go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4And a tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong. 5So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 7People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish, 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison. 9Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God. 10And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12Can you pick olives from a fig tree or figs from a grapevine? No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty pool.(James 3:2-12)

Don't speak evil against each other, my dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize each other and condemn each other, then you are criticizing and condemning God's law. But you are not a judge who can decide whether the law is right or wrong. Your job is to obey it. (James 4:11)

Peter also had some things to say about why we should be careful about what we say.

For the Scriptures say, "If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies.” (1 Peter 3:10)

The most significant wisdom concerning words, however, came from the mouth of Jesus Christ.

33"A tree is identified by its fruit. Make a tree good, and its fruit will be good. Make a tree bad, and its fruit will be bad. 34You brood of snakes!How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. 36And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak. 37The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:33-37)

Next time you’re tempted to say something unkind about someone, remember that the old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me,” is patently false. Words can and do hurt people. Verbal abuse can tear down and destroy an individual’s sense of self worth. As Solomon said, “A person's words can be life-giving water…” Or they can lead to death. The real significance of the words we speak, according to Jesus, is that they echo who we truly are on the inside.

“But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them.” (Matthew 15:18)

Make it your habit always to choose your words carefully so that you can speak life and peace to those around you. Then when you stand before Jesus on judgment day, you will have nothing of which to be ashamed.

Walking by Faith (part 4 of a 4-part series)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

What is Faith?

Webster defines faith as, “1. A confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing. 2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. 3. Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance. 4. a. Belief and trust in God. b. religious conviction. 5. A system of religious beliefs. 6. A set of principles or beliefs.”

The Bible has a very different definition for faith.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Where does faith come from?

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

…to another faith (is given) by the same Spirit...
(1 Corinthians 12:9)

How is faith manifested?

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith... (Hebrews 12:2a)

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead...Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. (James 2:17, 18)

How significant is faith?

...everything that does not come from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23b)

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.”
(Matthew 21:22)

…he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (James 1:6-8)

How does faith work?

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.(Galatians 5:6b)

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5)

It is necessary for salvation! (Hebrews 4:2)

It is essential in spiritual warfare! (1 Timothy 1:18, 19; 6:12)

True Faith is Not Blind!

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Another translation states Hebrews 11:1 this way:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Substance is the basis of everything that is. Evidence is what proves things to be true. Faith is NOT believing something that you cannot prove, but rather acting upon truth that you believe. The expression, blind faith is an oxymoron which has no foundation in scripture. Faith works according to whom or what it is based upon. Biblical faith is based upon the truth of God's Word which has been acted out and proven over thousands of years of human history. Since there is a solid basis for this kind of faith, it is neither risky, nor blind!

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:24-25)

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporal, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

We walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

The objects of our faith should be:

• God (John 14:1)
• Christ (John 6:29; Acts 20:21)
• The gospel (Mark 1:15)
• God's promises (Romans 4:21; Hebrews 11:13)

Results of faith:

• “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Ephesians 3:17a)
• Salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8, 9)
• Remission of sin (Acts 10:43; Romans 3:25)
• Eternal life (John 3:15, 16; 6:40, 47)
• Justification (Acts 13:39; Romans 3:21, 22, 28, 30; 4:3; 5:1; Galatians 2:16)
• Righteousness (Galatians 3:6; Philippians 3:9)
• Sanctification (Acts 15:9; 26:18)
• Assurance (1 John 5:1)
• Spiritual light (John 12:36, 46)
• Spiritual life (John 20:31; Galatians 2:20)
• Access to God (Romans 5:2; Ephesians 3:12)
• Adoption (John 1:12; Galatians 3:26)
• Preservation (1 Peter 1:5)
• Edification (1 Timothy 1:4; Jude 20)
• Inheritance of the promise (Galatians 3:22;
  Hebrews 6:12)
• The gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:15-17;
  Galatians 3:14; Ephesians 1:13)
• Provides us with a defensive weapon (Ephesians 6:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:8)
• Overcomes difficulties (Matthew 17:20; 21:21;
  Mark 9:23)
• Overcomes the world (1 John 5:4b)
• Assures success (2 Chronicles 20:20)

The righteous will live by faith. (Galatians 3:11b)

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:3)

Faith produces:

• Hope (Romans 5:2)
• Joy (Acts 16:34; 1 Peter 1:8)
• Peace (Romans 15:13)
• Confidence (1 Peter 2:6)
• Boldness (2 Corinthians 4:13)
• Patience (James 1:3)

Faith causes believers to:

• Live (Galatians 2:20)
• Stand (Romans 11:20; 2 Corinthians 1:24)
• Walk (Romans 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:7)
• Be commended of God (Hebrews 11:2)
• Overcome the world (1 John 5:4, 5)
• Resist the devil (1 Peter 5:9)
• Overcome the devil (Ephesians 6:16)
• Hope in God (1 Timothy 4:10)

Obstacles that test our faith:

• Discouragement (Luke 5:18, 19)
• Unbelieving friends (Mark 5:35)
• Scoffers (John 9:24)
• Divine delays (John 11:3-6)
• Lack of sympathy (Matthew 15:23; Mark 10:13)

...for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)

The rest of the above passage states that only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God can overcome the world. That indicates that for faith to work, it must be based on Truth. Only Jesus is Truth personified. Therefore, only faith in Jesus is sufficient for overcoming the problems of this world.

There is an illustration in a popular tract that depicts a train with an engine, a coal car, and a caboose. The engine represents fact; the coal car, faith; and the caboose, feeling. The idea behind the illustration is that faith fuels engine of fact and the caboose tags along. Too often, we allow ourselves to be ruled by feeling. It's a small wonder we run out of steam so often. Stated succinctly, function by faith on fact and feelings will follow.

Guidelines for walking by faith:

• Be sincere in your faith (1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:5)
• Abound in faith (2 Corinthians 8:7)
• Continue in your faith (Acts 14:22; Colossians 1:23)
• Be strong in the faith (Romans 4:20-24)
• Stand fast in faith (1 Corinthians 16:13)
• Be established and firm in your faith(Colossians 1:23)
• Hold on to your faith (1 Timothy 1:19)
• Pray for more faith (Luke 17:5)
• Be assured by your faith (2 Timothy 1:12;
  Hebrews 10:22)
• Examine yourself in faith (2 Corinthians 13:5)
• Let your faith produce fruit (James 2:17, 20-26)
• Do everything in faith (Romans 14:22)

Faith in Jesus is:

• God's gift (Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8; 6:23; Philippians 1:29)
• The work of God (Acts 11:21; 1 Corinthians 2:5)
• Precious (2 Peter 1:1)
• Most holy (Jude 20)
• Fruitful (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
• Accompanied by repentance (Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47)
• Followed by conversion (Acts 11:21)

By faith (Hebrews 11):

• Abel was commended as righteous (verse 4)
• Enoch pleased God and did not die (verse 5)
• Noah became an heir of righteousness (verse 7)
• Abraham received the promise of God (verses 8-19)
• Moses delivered the Children of Israel (verses 23-29)
• Rahab's life was spared (verse 31)
• Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets conquered kingdoms, gained the promise of God and were commended by Him (verses 32-40)

Examples of men of faith:

• Abraham (Genesis 22:8)
• Caleb (Joshua 14:12)
• Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:6)
• David (1 Samuel 17:37)
• Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:12)
• Job (Job 19:25)
• Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego (Daniel 3:17)
• Paul (Acts 27:25)

Examples of applied faith:

• The leper (Matthew 8:2)
• The centurion (Matthew 8:10)
• The ruler (Matthew 9:18)
• The blind man (Matthew 9:28)
• The diseased (Matthew 14:36)
• The Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:28)
• The afflicted woman (Mark 5:28)

Lack of faith (unbelief) produces:

• God's wrath (John 3:36)
• Rebuke (Mark 16:14)
• Eternal separation from God (John 8:24)
• Conviction (John 16:9)
• Turning away from God (Hebrews 3:12)
• Delusion and damnation (2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12)
• Wickedness (2 Thessalonians 3:2)
• Impurity (Titus 1:15)
• Double-mindedness (James 1:6)
• The spirit of antichrist (1 John 2:22; 4:3)
• Death (1 John 5:12)
• Destruction (Jude 5)
• Eternal damnation (Revelation 21:8)

Verses to bolster your faith:

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him. (Psalms 32:10)

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. (Psalms 125:1)

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

May God bless you and strengthen you as you seek Him with all your heart, know Him with all of your mind, obey Him with all of your strength, and walk with Him in faith.

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Obeying God (part 3 of a 4-part series)

It is the Lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him. (Deuteronomy 13:4)

Did you know that you cannot obey God? At least not in your own strength and power. God knew that we could not obey His Word on our own, so He sent His Son, Jesus, to obey for us.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8)

Jesus paid the full penalty for all our disobedience (even that which we haven't commited yet). As a result, all that God now requires of His children is that we walk in Christ's obedience. We have been made righteous by Jesus' shed blood, and because we are righteous, obedience ought to come natural to us. We can now obey God out of our love and gratitude for Him rather than out of a sense of obligation to Him.

Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
(1 Samuel 15:22-23a)

Obedience can be considered a form of worship. It's a way that we can demonstrate our love to God.

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:15)

Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will go to them and make our home with them." (John 14:23)

This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:3-5)

Why we should obey God:

• To receive God's blessing (Genesis 22:18)
• God commands us to (Deuteronomy 13:4; 26:16; 32;46)
• To be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8)
• It is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22)
• That it may go well with us (Jeremiah 7:23)
• We are exhorted to (Jeremiah 26:13; 38:20)
• In order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven
  (Matthew 7:21)
• To build a strong foundation (Matthew 7:24)
• To become a member of God's family (Matthew 12:50; Luke 8:21)
• It is the key to spiritual wisdom (John 7:17)
• It is essential for fellowship with God (John 14:23;
  1 John 2:17)
• It is our obligation (Acts 4:19, 20; 5:29)
• We are elected to (1 Peter 1:2)
• It is a characteristic of saints (1 Peter 1:14)

We must prepare our hearts for obedience ( 1 Samuel 7:3; Ezra 7:10)

We must pray to be taught how to be obedient
(Psalms 119:35; 143:10)

We must confess our failure to be obedient (Daniel 9:10)

Obedience should be:

• From the heart (Deuteronomy 11:13; Romans 6:17)
• Undeviating (Deuteronomy 28:14)
• Unreserved (Joshua 22:2, 3)
• Willing (Psalms 18:44; Isaiah 1:19)
• Constant (Philippians 2:12)

Obedience to God includes:

• Obeying His voice (Exodus 19:5)
• Obeying His law (Deuteronomy 11:27; Isaiah 42:24)
• Keeping His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
• Obeying the gospel (Romans 1:5; 6:17; 10:16, 17)
• Submitting to authority (Romans 13:1)
• Obeying Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5 [Exodus 23:21])

The Bible is full of great examples of those who loved God and obeyed Him. Here are some examples:

• Jesus (Matthew 3:15; John 14:31; 15:10;
  Romans 5:19; Philippians 2:5-8;Hebrew 5:8; 10:9)
• Noah (Genesis 6:22)
• Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4; 22:2, 3, 12)
• Joshua (Joshua 11:15)
• Elijah (1 Kings 17:5)
• Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:6)
• David (Psalms 119:106)
• Joseph (Matthew 1:24)
• Mary (Luke 2:39)
• Paul (Acts 26:19)

God doesn't want us to obey Him for no good reason. Everything God does is for a purpose. His primary purpose in demanding our obedience is so that He can bless us. With every command of God in scripture there follows a promise. Obedience brings reward.

If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.
(Deuteronomy 28:1-2)

Rewards for obedience:

• We will be God's treasured possession (Exodus 19:5)
• So that God will fight our battles (Exodus 23:22)
• So that it may go well with us and our children (Deuteronomy 5:29; 7:12-15)
• So that we may be set high above the earth (Deuteronomy 28:1)
• In order to receive God's favor (1 Samuel 12:14)
• So that we may have long life (1 Kings 3:14)
• So that we may have prosperity and contentment
  (Job 36:11)
• So that we may “eat from the best of the land”
  (Isaiah 1:19)
• In order to be “God's people” (Jeremiah 7:23)
• In order to have authority (Zechariah 3:7)
• In order to be blessed in all we do (James 1:25)
• In order to receive from God (1 John 3:22)
• In order to have the right to the “tree of life” (Revelation 22:14)
• In order to enter into the city of God
  (Revelation 22:14)

Just as there are rewards for obedience, however, there are consequences for disobedience. Since obedience and disobedience are choices we make, we should expect to reap the results of our choices, good or bad.

Consequences for disobedience:

• We will receive the curse of God (Deuteronomy 11:28; 28:15-68)
• We will not enter into the “promised land” (Joshua 5:6)
• God's hand will be against us (1 Sam 12:15; 28:18;
  1 Kings 13:21; Jer 12:17)
• We will be “devoured” (Isaiah 1:20)
• We will experience God's wrath (Ephesians 5:6)
• We will receive God punishment
  (2 Thessalonians 1:8;Hebrews 2:2)

There's even more good news concerning the will to obey. It's one thing to know that we can obey, but it's yet another to realize that we can also want to. God doesn't do anything halfway. When He gave us the command to obey, He also gave us the will to do so.

Therefore my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12-13)

One day even those who choose not to will be made to obey God.

But the court will sit, and his [AntiChrist's] power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him.” (Daniel 7:27)

Wouldn't you much rather learn to obey God because you want to than because you have to?

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