WWJD

Have you ever seen this: "WWJD"? It is short for asking the questions, "What would Jesus do?" Both of these are commonly seen or heard among Christians today and we agree that it is a great idea. However, I would like to ask this question: What DID Jesus do?

1 John 2:6 says: "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."

My question is this: Does the "church" today really look like Jesus? Do we daily live as He did, doing what He did, following the practices of His life? If not, then is the "church" accurately portraying Jesus to the world?

If not, then perhaps it is time to examine what we are doing and make a choice between our traditions and "comfort zone" or living like our Saviour.

Is This Message Important!

Matthew 24:3-5

"As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.

This implies a couple of very important points. One being that there will be many false teachings and beliefs relating to this doctrine and it implies that we have a responsibility to know and understand the scriptures so that we are not deceived.

If we are not careful history will repeat itself. Jews rejected Him in the flesh, we may reject Him through His word…

I don’t know if we know the first time God promised the return of Christ, but He did it long enough ago that Job wrote about it. That great saint of God said,

“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”

The prophet Daniel wrote that…

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

The Bible promises over and over the return of Christ. This is one of several reasons as to why this message is so important.

The promise of His return is also a personal promise.

John 14:3, Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven…” He’s not sending a search party to look for His children. He’s not sending an ambassador to take care of His business. Jesus came personally the first time and He’s coming back personally the next time.

Not only does the Bible promise that Jesus’ return will be personal, it promises His return to be visible. When Jesus left the earth the disciples stood there with their mouths dropped open looking up into the sky.

The angel asked them, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up in to heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

Revelation 1:7
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.

The Bible promises the return of Christ. It promises His return will be personal, visible, and sudden. Matthew 24:44 says that we’d better be ready, “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Jesus Himself said, “Surely I come quickly.”

I want you to know that through and through the Bible promises the return of Christ. Those promises are the hope of humanity, the joy of the saints and the faithful and true words of God. But listen, not only does the Bible tell us that the return of Christ is a promised return, it’s going to be a day of Judgement.


1 John 3:2-3
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

Everything we do in the Church leads to our being presented to Christ on His wedding day! The purpose of the apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, Sunday School teachers, youth directors, and every program pertaining to Church is to make us spotless and without wrinkle. Everything we do each day at work or at home should be in preparation, or with the thought that we are going to stand before God when all of this is over.

Who Killed Jesus?

“Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief.”
Isaiah 53:10

“Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:2

What Jesus did when he suffered and died was the Father’s plan from the foundation of the world. It was conceived even before creation, as God saw and planned the history of the world.

That is why the Bible speaks of God’s “purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Timothy 1:9).

The prophet Isaiah foretold the sufferings of the Messiah, who was to take the place of sinners. He said that the Christ would be “smitten by God” in our place.

Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities. . . . All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6)

What is most astonishing about this substitution of Christ for sinners is that it was God’s idea. The suffering of Christ was not a good idea that came about after the fall of man. Christ did not unexpectedly step in on God’s plan to punish sinners. God planned for him to be there. Isaiah also said, “It was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief” (Isaiah 53:10).

This explains the paradox of the New Testament. On the one hand, the suffering of Christ was a display of God’s wrath because of sin. On the other hand, Christ’s suffering was a wonderful example of submission and obedience to the will of the Father.

So Christ cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). And yet the Bible says that the suffering of Christ was a fragrance to God. “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).

I pray that we would know and worship the God of such fearful and wonderful love.

The Doctrine of “Christ’s Imminent Return

One of the many lies perpetuated through the Church World today is the doctrine of “Christ’s Imminent Return”.
The generally accepted definition of imminence is that Jesus could come "at any moment". Like most false teachings, it doesn’t take a bible scholar to prove that these teachings are not supported by God’s Holy Word.

If one truly believed that Jesus could return for His church at any moment, they would be engaged in non-stop preaching of God’s word on some level. However, this teaching as with all false teachings, produces unsustainable life. In other words, many find themselves “burnt out” if you will, because they fall victim to a doctrine that does not give life. Jesus said, “my words are spirit and they are life”.
The Bible states something about God that is very clear. The prophet Isaiah recorded in chapter 46:10 “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come”.

I take this to mean that God has an appointed time for everything under heaven, and He makes it known. There are things that must come to pass before Christ will return. Why else were we commanded on several occasions to “watch”?
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

Even in the great commandment we clearly see that the end of the world is an appointed time. Jesus didn’t say, “I am with you for an undisclosed length of time which I can not disclose because it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the topic because only my Father in heaven knows the day and hour”. He said, I will be with you until the end” until all things are finished.

In Matthew 24:14, Jesus tells us that this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all of the world as a witness to all nations BEFORE the end comes.
Some people believe that Jesus teaches that His return is imminent in John 14:2-3. “In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also”.

Does Jesus, in this passage, mention that His coming could be "at any moment" or does He merely teach His disciples that He will be coming back for them? Just a few days earlier, He had told this same group of men of wars and rumors of wars, of the abomination of desolation, of the great tribulation, of signs in the sun, moon, and stars.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28

Is it possible, as some believe, that the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) was meant only for the Jews and John 14 was meant only for the church when BOTH were spoken to the same group of men only days apart?

In answer to His disciples question in Matt. 24:3, "What shall be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" He did not tell them that His coming would be sign less or imminent. He told of wars and rumors of wars, etc. Then He said,
As soon as [the fig tree's] branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates.

In other words, we will not know the exact day or hour, but when these things begin happening, His coming is so near that the generation to see the signs will not die before His return. Could His coming be imminent BEFORE these things have happened? (Matt. 24:32-34,36; Luke 21:28)

Many pre-tribbers quote verses about the "thief in the night" to support their "at any moment" doctrine. In Revelation 3:3 written to the church at Sardis (not Philadelphia, not Laodecia), Jesus says,

"Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you."
However, it is "the day of the Lord" which comes like a thief.

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10. "For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." 1 Thessalonians 5:2.

But when we keep reading, we find, "But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief." (vs.4)
It is in this context that we are commanded not to sleep, but to watch.(vs. 6-7; Mark 13:36)

We are watching because of what we read in Acts 2:20 and Joel 2:31 placing the sun turning dark and the moon to blood BEFORE the Day of the Lord? That wouldn't make the rapture very imminent would it? Could it be merely a coincidence that this is the very sign Jesus described would precede His coming?

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29-31.

This coinciding of the Day of the Lord and the rapture is spoken of in 2 Thess. 2:1-4.
"Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."

According to Luke 21, it is only "when these things begin to take place" that we can "look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Proof?

Just wanted to share something that came to me today as I was meditating on some things.


To those who are being saved, no PROOF is necessary…

To those who are perishing, no PROOF is adequate…

1 Corinthians 1:18

Forgive To Be Forgiven!

The greatest risk we face as a church in these last days is not that we may lose a musician, or that we may lose money, or that we may lose members, or that we may lose staff, or that we may lose reputation.
The greatest risk is that we may lose heaven. Because one way to lose heaven is to hold fast to an unforgiving spirit.

Jesus said (in Matthew 6:9, 12), "Pray like this: 'Our Father who art in heaven . . . forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.'" Then in verses 14–15 he explains why he taught us to pray this way: "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions."
If we hold fast to an unforgiving spirit, we will not be forgiven by God. If we continue on in that way, then we will not go to heaven, because heaven is the dwelling place of forgiven people.

Here is forgiveness: when you feel that someone is your enemy or when you simply feel that you or someone you care about has been wronged, forgiveness means,
1. resisting revenge,
2. not returning evil for evil,
3. wishing them well,
4. grieving at their calamities,
5. praying for their welfare,
6. seeking reconciliation so far as it depends on you,
7. and coming to their aid in distress.
All these point to a forgiving heart. And the heart is all important. Jesus said in Matthew 18:35—"unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Forgiveness is not the absence of anger at sin. It is not feeling good about what was bad.
When you are wronged, you are not expected to feel good about what happened. Anger against sin and its consequences is fitting up to a point. But you don't need to hold on to it in a vindictive way that desires harm for the one who has wronged you.
You can hand it over to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23) again and again, and pray for the transformation of the one who has wronged you. Forgiveness is not feeling good about horrible things.

We are not bound to trust an enemy; but we are bound to forgive him.
You can actually look someone in the face and say: “I forgive you, but I don't trust you.”
But be aware of how crucial the heart here.
What would make that an unforgiving thing to say is if you were thinking this:
“I forgive you, but I don't trust you. What's more, I don't care about ever trusting you again; and I won't accept any of your efforts to try to establish trust again; in fact, I hope nobody ever trusts you again, and I don't care if your life is totally ruined.”
That is not a forgiving spirit. And our souls would be in danger.
Perhaps we are at risk in some way, we all have people we need to forgive. We need very much to see Jesus and feel what it means to be forgiven of our huge debt.

Book Review

I have been in ministry in one capacity or another during the past 18 years. Often, people have recommended books to me that are said to be “life changing” revelation. In many cases, disappointment is all that I get from many Christian authors. However, this book is not like that. Gary Wood uses a principle in his writing that many would do well to follow when writing about biblical principles. Isaiah 28:9-10 says, “ whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept , precept upon precept ; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” KJV

That’s what you get from “The Sixth Day Rapture, The Shabua Principle” Line upon line, scripture after scripture of understanding that is truly life changing. If you are hungry to know what the Bible actually says about the End Times and the rapture of the Church, this is the book you must read. This book will challenge many people’s understanding regarding the return of Christ for His church. And for those who are willing to yield to the truth of scripture, “that day” will not take you unaware. To order "The Sixth Day Rapture, The Shabua Principle" go to
www.sixthdayrapture.com

Fellowship is Required!

It's been a couple of months since my last entry. It's amazing how time can get away from us. God help us to value it more purposefully.

I am convinced that true Christian Fellowship provides the opportunity to prove where our hearts are when it comes to the faith. God has purposed that His people become a body, fitly framed together that grows into a habitation of God's Spirit.
The "Body of Christ" must come to the realization, that God wants a people who clearly demonstrate genuine love and concern for one another. One of the signs of the "end times" is that the love of many would grow cold. Unfortunately, we see this coming to pass in our culture. Sadly, this spirit has also crepted into the lives of those who call themselves believers.

There will be many believers who will stand in judgment and hear Christ say, "depart from me you workers of iniquity, I NEVER KNEW YOU" Why is that? False Conversions.
There are many church going, tithe paying people who have never have had a born again experience. Jesus was quick to tell Nicodemus that believing that he was the Christ would not give one a place in God's eternal kingdom. When Nicodemus called Jesus the Son of God because of his witness to the miracles, what did Jesus say?
He said, unless one is born again, one could not see the kingdom of God.

When we are able to love one another, forgive one another, forbear with one another, prefer one another, pray for, encourage, and rebuke, we will know that the new birth has happened in our lives. Fellowship causes us to engage one another in different ways. How else will we know that we are growing and maturing in Christ until we are put to the test through relationships with other believers. How we treat one another in good times and in difficult times will be the measure of our faith. Jesus said that all men will know that you are my disciples by the love that you have for one another.

Fellowship is required!

A Community of Believers

The New Testament church has always been organism, and was never meant to be an organization. It did not grow because of Alter calls, but through altered lives. Peter did not call them to say the 'sinners' prayer, instead they asked, what do I need to do to become part of Jesus. The people had a thirst to join something living, powerful and transformational. This thirst came from the preaching and teaching of the gospel. The church is a community of believers who are alive by the calling of Jesus Christ.

Church communities are grown, not built. They are grown by the transforming power of God’s word not powerful feelings. The community of the believers is far more than a club, because being part of a community of faith has deep value to the individual.

Belonging is the fabric of people’s lives instead of the fruit of their fun. The hardest part in growing an authentic community of believers is building a sharing culture, where people realize that Jesus is constantly doing significant work in each one of our lives. The acts of sharing and serving are the life blood of a community of believers, and everyone has a vital role to play. People will often exhibit different levels of engagement at different times:

(1) Bystander: The bystander appears to only take. Maybe where they are now in their lives they do not have enough time, or feel that they have no valuable knowledge to contribute. Maybe they do not feel welcome or do not understand the community culture.

(2) Someone who gives Feedback: these people add to the community, the danger is that people who are not seeking spiritual transformation may use open sharing, or such community opportunities as a forum for malice or grievances. But even this challenge allows everyone to respond in a Christ like manner, and to model appropriate response to difficult situations. When people do give feedback some people will just correct or complain and some people will add richly, but all are necessary whether they are people who feel safe and jump in, or need some encouragement.

(3) Some people join the community: Here people want what the community has and are willing to pay the price of engagement to become part of something significant, these people want to taste and see what is good. They may join formally, or informally. Where people put their attention, time and money is an indication of where their heart is. Some people may have a light level of engagement in terms of attending Life Group meetings or other social gatherings. Some people will join existing ministries, some may be willing to shape ministries and others start them from scratch.

In this context of community there needs to be community leadership, such as pastors/shepherds. These leaders need to control and define the environment, but never the people. The environment should be a dynamic place, a place of spiritual power where people have the opportunity for spiritual growth. It is important for the pastors to model what they teach, and not teach something they do not do.

Members of a community of faith, are disciples of Christ, with the Holy Spirit as the glue. Our yardstick is simple lives transformed by the good news of the Gospel, and the Christ of the living God glorified!

Being A Leader!

Being a leader or an example is not an easy burden. If it was, more people would be doing it. To be in a position, in which people are looking to you, carries joy as well as pain. As a pastor, you see and hear things about people, that can be very disappointing. People in whom you place trust, sometimes, misuse that trust and betray it. I find myself wondering how people would feel if I were to treat them like they treat me. It is sad when other believers do not realize that the "golden rule" is a biblically based life principle that must be followed in order to be faithful to God's word.

"Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you" is a scripture found in the bible(Luke 6:31). In addition, "love thy neighbor as thyself" and "love one another, as I have loved you" are commandments from Christ Jesus. Hence, it would be true to say that the "golden rule" IS a good rule to live by.

As a leader, it is necessary, and required that we put up with the failings of others. Paul made this clear in Romans 15:1-3 when he wrote, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."

God is glorified in all Christian leaders who demonstrate patience and grace when people fall short of Godly character. We must remember that we are who we are by God's grace, and we do what we do by God's grace.

Where did the time go?

I can't believe its been over a month since my last entry. Time is slipping past us very quickly. I don't think we value time as we should. Many people complain about not having enough time. I think we have more than we think, we just don't use is wisely in many cases. God help to make the most of our time.

I am convinced that one of the tools that the enemy of our souls has as a weapon is the busyness of life. We are always doing something, listening or watching something, or going someplace. We rarely have time to sit and meditate on God's goodness and mercy. I believe this is a spiritual discipline that is just as important as prayer and fasting. I think we need to "be still and know the He is God." Be still and know that He is faithful. Consider all the wonders of His hands. We need to stand in amazement that God has called us into a relationship with Himself.

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

We often question why tragedy befalls people we know. We really find ourselves wondering why bad things happen to good people, especially when they profess a love for Christ.

I believe the following is a perspective that is biblically sound.

God, in his infinite wisdom, knows what it takes to bring each of His own into a right kind of mindset. Often times when cancer strikes, an unexpected death, or other life changing events, we find ourselves remembering those things in life that are truly important. If you are honest with yourself, it will always involve people.

I spoke at the funeral of a dear friend, family member and pastor, William Kaber. I shared in the message a scripture which reads as follows:

“It is better to go to a house of mourning, than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2 (NIV)

This was a sobering truth that reminds us that life is short and precious. When we fail to see what is important on our own, God has a way of refocusing us to what is important.

Remember the four lepers of Samaria? The city was being starved to death under siege from Syria, and these four were stuck outside the gate between the city and the Syrian army.

They deliberated, If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die. (2 Kings 7:4)

The question wasn’t whether or not they'd die. That was the obvious that their leprosy helped them recognize. The issue, then, was simply when and where: Next week in the city? Tomorrow at the gate? Or today at the hands of our enemies?

They concluded that their enemies could do nothing more to them than what nature had already assigned. And, unlike their city and their skin, their enemies might even show them mercy. For them, the most frightful prospect was actually the wisest, most fruitful way to go.

In this case Leprosy made life a lot simpler. Being terminally ill, facing the death of a loved one, or other life changing events, often cultivates the clarity of mind that enables people to approach things that are good for them.

I believe that this is one reason why bad things happen to good people? Remember, all good things come from God. What we say is a bad thing, God sees as good.

A Superficial Gospel

Is it possible that modern popular Christianity is preaching a superficial Gospel in the 21st Century? If you look carefully at the history of the people of Israel many times the “popular” majority of priests and prophets turned from preaching the truth before the people and became profane in their speech and their own lives. In Jeremiah’s time, we see this recorded in the scriptures: “For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord.”

What dismay to see almost all of the spiritual leaders of Israel speaking lies in the name of the Lord. Is this happening again? Is it possible that in our modern day evangelical circles there are many that are not preaching a true Biblical Gospel? True Christianity is never popular Christianity! True Christianity is accepted by few and rejected by many. True Christianity is abhorrence to the flesh, the devil and the world. True Christianity is a Cross! Death to self! Crucifixion to the world! What many are wanting to hear is an easy salvation and Gospel that does not hurt us or crucifies us. We want a Gospel that is catered to man and his interests.

Jeremiah wrote this when a entire nation was embracing a false gospel: “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their own means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” What shock should we experience if we realize that a false Gospel abounds and overflows in our evangelical Churches.

Could it be possible that just as in the days of Amos the prophet, today it is the same as was prophesied: “Behold, the days come with the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.”

Are people seeking out Churches were true biblical doctrine is preached? Are they seeking churches in which the conviction of the Spirit of God, the burden of lost sinners, the judgment of God is being preached? How rare it is to find such a Church where there is not just a feel-good message that warms the backslidden soul. How rare it is to find a church that is truly preparing the people for their reunion with Christ whether it is by the grave or when we are gathered together on the day of Christ’s return.

Division Hinders Our Commission

The greatest challenge for a pastor is, people. It is amazing to me how people can so quickly turn on one another. People who gossip and complain often times do not realize that they are being used by the enemy to bring division to the fellowship of believers. Often times, this kind of destructive behavior starts with people who lose their connection with the fellowship for whatever reason. Unity is broken when we yield to our carnal nature and let our emotions get the best of us.

My prayer is that people will learn the power of unity. Unity is necessary for any group of people trying to accomplish a particular task.

The power of unity can be seen in Eccl 4:12 which says, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

No matter how much a local church has going for it, division can negate it’s vision.

The word division is constructed of the word vision with the prefix "di", which means, "double".

Double vision can be dangerous. If you are seeing two of everything you need to make a trip to the eye doctor. If there is disharmony in the local church you need some spiritual doctoring.

One of the conditions for unity: "Speak the same thing." (1 Corinthians 1:10)

There must be unity in speech if a local church is to make an effective impact for God.

The Bible is not saying there isn’t room for disagreement among good Christians. Rather, we are encouraged, even when we do disagree, and we will, to speak in such a way as to promote harmony.

Your motive for speaking and how you deliver your words are just as important as what you say. Be careful of a critical spirit. If you find your self hyper-critical of everything done in your church and others in your church, there are two options:

1.) The church may need your positive contributions to turn in the right direction, or,

2.) You may need to change your attitude. Ask yourself, "Is there something else going on in my life right now that has me angry or discouraged? Am I taking my frustration out on others in my church?

There must be unity of thought if a local church is to have an effective impact for God.

Once again, unity and uniformity are not the same thing. God has given all of us different perspectives to bring to the table.

Proverbs 11:14 "Where no counsel [is], the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors [there is] safety."

A church may look beautiful and have the latest technology, latest innovative programs and sharpest presentations, but without unity it will come apart at the seams.

How can we accomplish this objective? How can we be "perfectly joined together in the same mind?"

We can all spend a lot of time in the Bible and by reading the same thing we will have a greater chance of unity.

We can worship together consistently, serve together regularly, pray together faithfully, and fellowship together constantly.

God’s purposes are greater than our minor differences in the local church. What will really matter in the end is whether or not we accomplished God’s purpose for the church.

God Could Not Be Glorified If We Chose Him

The Bible teaches that we are dead in trespasses and sins since the Fall (Ephesians 2:5). It says that the mind of the flesh does not submit to God's law—indeed it cannot—and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you (Romans 8:7-9).

Paul divides the world into two groups: those who are in the flesh and those who have the Spirit. He says that those who are in the flesh (that is, everybody apart from the new birth) cannot please God (Romans 8:7-8). And in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 he says that the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit because they are foolishness to him.

The only question left after a group of scriptures like that is whether or not that inability, that "cannot," is blameworthy or not, In other words, does it release us from the penalty of sin, or does it insure that we cannot escape it by our choice.

The Bible is pretty clear that the corruption of our own hearts is so profound, that it renders us incapable of doing or desiring anything good. It indeed intensifies our guilt rather than relieves us of it.

My inability to do good apart from the Holy Spirit does not free me from the penalty of my sin. It is an inability that is rooted in my rebellion. My rebellion is so great and so strong that I cannot see Christ or hear the gospel as beautiful. Rather, it is a stumbling block or foolishness; and until I'm called, awakened, born again, I cannot see it as beautiful.

So what I believe about free will is that I am free to do whatever I please, and what I please is to sin. Therefore I'm going to be damned by my free will. I must be rescued from the bondage of my free will in order to see and hear God for who he is.

Paul says in Galatians 5:1, "For freedom Christ has set you free. Do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." True freedom is being set free from a bondage which only results in death. This is why we must be born again.

The evidence of a born again person is that, after the new birth, we want to do God's will. It is that freedom we act rationally according to what really exists. Thus, God gets all the glory for the liberation that he performed on our behalf and for the praises that we now bring him, not as people who are enslaved to sin, but as free people who are seeing the world for what it really is.

So I don't believe in free will if you define it as man's ultimate self-determination. I believe free will as, "you can do whatever you please." Before you're born again what you please, is self destructive and sinful. After you're born again, what you please is the will of God. So in both cases you have free will in that definition.

I realize that many others do not see free will as I do. They believe in a freewill defined as "man's ultimate self-determination." I don't think there is any such thing, especially since the fall of Adam when his self-determination forever bound mankind to sin and death.
Thank God, He chose us.

Writing My Personal Meditations

To this point in my blog writing experience, I have merely added portions of messages that I have preached or taught or articles from other sources that I have found insightful. I have decided to begin the practice of writing my thoughts as I am working through the process of knowing God and making Him known.

Tonight will be a nice beginning. I have been reading a book by John Piper titled "The Pleasures of God." A wonderfully deep and life changing read. In my reading time, my mind began to wonder why people don't or can't see God the way he really is. Most people have a view of God that comes from their heritage and tradition rather than from true revelation of the scripture. For example, I have met many people who do not give God credit for their "salvation" which is really no salvation at all. How can anyone, with half spiritual eyesight not understand that they had nothing to do with God calling them to be saved.

I think its very important that we begin realizing that God is God, and that he is perfect and complete in himself, and that he is exceedingly happy in the fellowship of the Godhead. He does not need us to complete his fullness and is not deficient without us.

I know that this thinking goes against the grain of much of the church, but never the less, if we can see it as true, then we would better understand his sovereign grace and love. Unless we see God in this way, when we hear the gospel, we will fall for the trick of thinking that we are the center of the gospel. We will feel that our value is the driving force of the gospel, rather than God's value being the driving force for the gospel. In other words, we will see the gospel as God's need for us, rather than the gospel and God's sovereign grace being exactly what we sinners need in order to be rescued from death.

What makes the gospel good news for us is that God is all that we need. He does not need us, and as a matter of fact, he is estranged from us because of our sin. But as Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, "but God, because of His great love," made a way for sinners to be reconciled to Him. This is done by the Spirit, to whom he chooses, it is a gift of God.

God is the center of the gospel, he was not motivated by our value, he was not coerced or obliged to offer this powerful gift. The gospel is truly a gospel of grace!

The Word of God Pierces!

Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

The term "word of God" may mean a word spoken by God without a human mouthpiece. But in the New Testament it regularly means a word or a message that a human speaks on God's behalf.

Hebrews 13:7 says, "Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith." So the "word of God" in Hebrews 4:12 most likely refers to the truth of God revealed in Scripture that people speak to each other with reliance on God's help to understand it and apply it.

The word of God is not a dead word but a powerful word. It has life in it. And because it has life in it, it produces effects. There is something about the Truth, as God has revealed it that connects it to God as a source of all life and power. He upholds this universe with His mighty word of power. God loves his word. He is partial to his word. He honors his word with his presence and power. If you want your teaching or witness to have power and produce effects, stay close to the revealed word of God.

What does this living and effective word accomplish? It pierces for what purpose? The answer is, to divide soul and spirit.

The writer gives an analogy: it's like dividing joints and marrow. Joints are the thick, hard, outer part of the bone. Marrow is the soft, tender, living, inner part of the bone. That is an analogy of "soul and spirit." The word of God is like a sword that is sharp enough to cut right through the outer, hard, tough part of a bone to the inner, soft, living part of the bone. Some swords, less sharp, may strike a bone and glance off and not penetrate. Some swords may penetrate part way through the tough, thick joint of a bone. But a very sharp, powerful double-edged sword will penetrate the joint all the way to the marrow.

"Soul and spirit" are like "bone joint and bone marrow." "Soul" is that unseen dimension of our life that we are by nature. "Spirit" is what we are by supernatural rebirth. Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). Without the awakening, regenerating work of the Spirit of God in us we are merely "natural" rather than "spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:14-15). So the "spirit" is that unseen dimension of our life that we are by the regenerating work of the Spirit.

What is the point in saying that the "word of God" pierces to the "division of soul and spirit"? The point is that it's the word of God that reveals to us our true selves. Are we spiritual or are we natural? Are we born of God and spiritually alive, or are we deceiving ourselves and spiritually dead? Are the "thoughts and intentions of our heart" spiritual thoughts and intentions or only natural thoughts and intentions. Only the "word of God" can "judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" as Hebrews 4:12 says.

The word of God pierces deep enough to show us the truth of our thoughts and our motives. Give yourselves to the word of God in the scriptures. It is through God’s word that we confirm not only our regeneration, but also our justification and glorification.

"Yes" Prayer

I am thankful that God sees the end from the beginning, and that he knows all things. I am thankful that he is the author and finisher of our faith. If our Christian walk was left up to our own doing, we would certainly make a mess of it. I am thankful that God knows our needs even before we ask. I am also thankful that he doesn’t give us everything we ask for.

Can you imagine the mess we would be in if we were given everything we ask for? How many times have you asked for something out of frustration? For example, have you ever been so hurt or mad at someone that you prayed silently or out loud that God would just wipe them from the face of the earth? I have. Then some time later I would find myself repenting for such a foolish prayer. I have been like James and John and wanted to call fire down from heaven, only later to realize that I was not walking in the spirit. I know we have all been there.

God does not always say “yes”, thankfully. However, there is one prayer I believe that will always get a “yes” answer. That is the prayer of forgiveness. The bible says in 1 John 1:9-10, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Life is full of things that are not easy. For many, asking for forgiveness is not easy. We have the hardest time admitting fault. However, forgiveness will always be there if we recognize our need for it. When we recognize our need for forgiveness, the answer to the request for it, will always be “yes”.

Fellowship

Why did God create us? I wonder how many times has this question been asked. This is a deep question and theologians have been discussing decades. I guess I will put in my two cents' worth.

I believe a single answer covers the entire spectrum of why we were created. His glory. But, there is another one that I want to focus on: Fellowship.

1 Cor. 1:9, "God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (NASB). In Greek, the word "fellowship," is "koinonia." It is also translated as "communion." God wants to have an intimate communion, a close fellowship with us.

Do you remember in the garden when Adam and Eve sinned? Who hid themselves? That’s right Adam and Eve. Who went looking for who? Right again! It was God looking for them. After the expulsion from the garden, after the flood, and at the time of the Exodus, God says to the people, "And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them." Again, who is seeking to dwell with who? It is God seeking man.

Take a look at John 1:1,14 which says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...¹⁴ And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." The word "dwelt" is the Greek "skano-o" and it also means to tabernacle, to tent, to dwell among. Again, it is the Lord who is seeking us, who is dwelling among us. Of course, we see that we are the temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16), and this signifies that the Lord is in us and with us.

This simply tells us that God is a God of fellowship, and that He desires to have people to be with and to love. God is love (1 John 4:8), and the nature of love is to give (John 3:16). God desires that we have an intimate relationship with us through His Son, Jesus.

Do you have that intimacy with Jesus? Do you seek the relationship and fellowship with God that He desires and has manifested throughout history -- especially in the cross?

Ask. Seek. Knock.

Relevant Preaching and Teaching

Many churches make it a point to advertise the fact that they preach and teach a gospel this is relevant. I know that what many are trying to say is that they are not boring like many believe that church can be. As a preacher, I think a lot about relevance. In other words, why should anyone listen to what I have to say? Why should anybody care? Relevance is an interesting word. It could mean more than one thing. It might mean that a sermon is relevant if it feels to the listeners that it will make a significant difference in their lives. Or it might mean that a sermon is relevant if it will make a significant difference in their lives whether they feel it or not.

That second kind of relevance is my goal in preaching the sermons that I share. In other words, I want to say things that are really significant for your life whether you know they are or not. I want to share the words of God that paint a true picture of His glory, character, and sovereignty. My way of doing that is to share the truth of the gospel that has as little of the traditional and religious ways of thinking as possible. In other words, speak a truth that can withstand the scrutiny of those that are traditional or religious in their view of the Gospel.

On any given Sunday you may have people who believe that racism, global warming, abortion, limited health care for children, homelessness, poverty, the war in Iraq, white-collar crime, the global AIDS crisis, rampant teenage pregnancy, the subprime mortgage crisis, and so on and so on, is relevant. These things have nothing to do with the real problem that this world is facing.

I believe that there the most relevant issue in one’s life is whether or not they are “born again”. Jesus says in John 3:3, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Not to see the kingdom of God is to be excluded from the kingdom of God. Jesus said in Matthew 8:11-12 that outside the kingdom is “outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” He called it “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46). The alternative to that is to be in the kingdom of God and spend eternity in everlasting joy with the greatest person in the universe (John 18:24).

It would be wrong to think that these other issues are the most important issues in life. They aren’t. They are life-and-death issues. But they are not the most important, because they deal with the relief of suffering during this brief earthly life, not the relief of suffering during the eternity that follows. They only deal with how to maximize well-being now for eighty years or so, but not with how to maximize well-being in the presence of God for eternity. Eternity is much longer than eighty years.

My job as a spokesman for God week after week is to deal in what matters most, and to stay close to the revealed will of God in the Bible (so you can see it for yourselves), and to pray that, by God’s grace, all people will see and feel the magnitude that what God says, is important.