I’M THROUGH!

I want to state from the beginning of this article that I am pro-life, pro-marriage (defined as one-man/one-woman) and generally socially conservative, but I have to say that I don’t really like the pro-life, pro-marriage, conservative movement.  Over time, more and more Christians have aligned themselves with these movements, however, this wing of social politics has become known largely for it’s angry, nasty, shouting protesters and commentators instead of loving, caring, respectful, compassionate people of Godly Christian integrity, offering caring, wise counsel and options.  Many Christians have allowed division, news channels and the politics of “Herod” to drive a wedge between us as a country and as a church.  Instead of seeing hurting, needy people, we only see issues, arguments and agendas.  Too many Christians simply see politics and social issues as a debate to be won instead of hurting people to be ministered too with the love of Jesus.  Honestly, because of these attitudes, I stay away.

It increasingly seems that those with loud mouths and an argumentative spirit are simply attempting to out shout the opposition and they no longer see the very real needs of hurting people who are grappling with these issues in real life.  Far too many fail to see that in every debate, every argument, every shouting match is found someone’s son, daughter, wife or parents with a very painful story and a broken heart.  We have forgotten (or never knew) that we are to “speak the truth in love.”  In the beginning, God created all life including humankind and He made man and woman in His image.  Then He said about the mankind He created “that it was good”.  Perhaps we should walk in His steps.  Even when man fell and became separated from God, decided not to follow His will, chose not to love Him and not love others, the Bible tells us  “God still loved the world, so much that He gave His only son”.  God so loved that He gave!  He didn’t picket or protest.  He didn’t argue and debate.  He didn’t shout down mankind.  No!  He loved and He gave.  Yes!  Let’s not forget that He still gave us rules including the 10 commandments because He loves us, cares for us and wants the best for us.  But ultimately, God desire a relationship with us, NOT RULES!

Psalm 51:17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

Matthew 15:8‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

When people find that I am a follower of Christ, will they only see me shouting about their sin, debating about their depravity?  Or will they see my acts of love, taking joy in their value as a person, made in the image of God.  If that is going to happen, I must see them through the eyes of God’s redemptive love, eyes of Jesus that loved so much that He gave.

I want to be a Christian whose focus is not on Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, the Republicans or Democrats, but I want my focus to be on bringing hope, encouragement, peace, strength and redemption.  I’ve left the debating, arguing, shouting and disrespect behind.  Will you?

IT'S CONFESSION TIME!

OK! There is an old saying that goes "confession is good for the soul". Not exactly scripture but it is still true. The bible says in James 5: 6 to "confess your sins to each other and pray for one another that you may be healed" So I am going to make a confession here for all the world to see.

My confession: I have been distracted. Distracted from my calling, distracted from my sheep, distracted from my family and more. I have been self centered. I have not seen it as self-centeredness, but it was. See, the church that I pastor has been under incredible financial stress during this recent recession. On top of that, I have faced and dealt with (not necessarily well) some very painful personnel situations. Add all this up and I have allowed myself to be distracted from the important things and become self centered on myself. My "ministry", my "reputation", my "feelings", my "income", my "success" (or lack thereof). That's it! My - my - my - my. Listen, I'm not saying we shouldn't take care of ourselves and I'm not saying we personally don't need ministry, but what I'm am saying is that my life has been extremely unbalanced and well ... self centered. 

Well, that is my confession! Now what am I going to do with it? Come back for my next blog entry to read all about it.

Choosing between two worlds

READ:  Luke 16:1-13

Through faith alone in the Jesus, you will go to heaven. But after that, you must choose whether you will live totally and completely of God’s kingdom or if you will yet choose to operate as an earthling.  A person of indecision in terms of your priorities, never coming into maturity in the life that Jesus has for you now. 

Jesus says the children of this generation are wiser than the children of light. Jesus isn’t saying it’s smart to cheat or to act unjustly. He’s saying the children of this world work their system.

Jesus is pointing the worldly person who functions in a system that encourages each man to benefit himself, and He says that the world even admires and rewards people for their shrewdness in getting ahead. Jesus is saying that the world works its system and that system prospers in its environment.

But between the lines there is something else, and don’t think the steward didn’t know it: Not only will he leave his master’s house out of favor with him, but if he and the master ever bump into one another again, it won’t be a happy reunion for the steward. The world’s system works but ultimately it catches up to you.  Put another way:  You reap what you sow and what goes around comes around!

So why would Jesus say the children of light aren’t as wise as those of the world?

Because the children of light are usually unwilling to commit 100% of themselves to God’s system; to say, “Lord, everything I have is Yours. My money, my time, my life, my priorities—I am yours.”

That is the choice that settles it all!

As believers, it’s required of us all to make choices that center around one question:

Is my character molded by my Master, or by the master of this world whose games I play shrewdly? Are we more know- legible about the latest Hollywood gossip than with God’s word?  Are we more adept at playing the Wall Street game, than the narrow street? 

It is up to us to choose to step up and function as a child of God’s kingdom.  Which world will you choose?  I pray you choose wisely!

For the Men

READ:  Mark 5: 21-25, 35-43

Here we see a man named Jairus with a high social position, a man known among the people, a man of prestige & power, but a man who had a desperate need-

Folks you will never become so powerful, so popular, you will never rise so high that problems & troubles cannot reach you.  This man’s little girl, the apple of his eye, was dying

Those of you that have children--you can identify with the feelings that this man may have felt—

I want you to notice something about Jairus …

HE WAS NOT ASHAMED TO SEEK OUT JESUS!

Notice he sought out Jesus--he did not send his wife, He did not send a servant, or someone else.

When you took on the role of a father, you also were to take on the responsibilities of the father, given to you by the heavenly father:

Paul tells us:

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

It is the father’s responsibility to teach children about God, it is not the mothers, it is not even the churches-

Yet many mothers & churches have had to take on the responsibility, simply because the father refuses to do it:

Men, it falls upon you to give to your children the kind of upbringing that prepares them for living lives that are pleasing unto God.

Let me give you some instruction:

Teach your children to honor the Lord and to love righteousness.  Instill in them Gods attitude toward sin--Live before God, the way you would have them live before God

Protect them from ungodly influences--Satan is out to destroy them.

Establish them in church---if you see no need in faithfulness to God’s house, nether will they!

Teach them God has a purpose for their life-

Instruct them the importance of Prayer & the Word of God—

Teach by your life, your actions, not just words!  Remember!  Words mean very little, if they’re not applied.

Teach them that they cannot expect God to bless them with:

Finances without Tithing

Wisdom without the Word

Freedom without Forgiveness

Victory without Accountability

Abundance without Obedience

Notice:  He did not send the wife or someone to take his place--but he as the father sought out the Lord himself-

Notice -- Regardless his social position, regardless of the onlookers of the townspeople,  Jairus humbly knelt before Jesus--pleading with him- -Please come, for my child is dying--

Men we must a be seeker of Him --seekers for wisdom, strength, guidance-for the sake of our family!

Let your children know, that you are not ashamed of the Gospel or His name

Take it up!

READ: 2 Kings 2:13-2:14 and Judges 15:15

It doesn’t matter how much glory, how much power, how much peace or joy or how much prosperity surrounds you or is within reach, it doesn’t help you unless you take it up. That jawbone became a weapon of mass destruction against Samson’s enemies, but he had to take it up.

A young prophet lost a borrowed axe head, it flew off into the water (Elisha threw a stick into the water where it fell and the axe head swam to the surface of the water) within reach, but the young prophet had to put out his hand and take it up.

It doesn’t matter what happens to gas prices or health care, or social security, or retirement plans or anything else, God is still in charge. The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof.

I believe this is the finest hour for the church: We were chosen by God to live right now in this present season, and if God in all of his wisdom saw fit to allow us to live in this season, it is because he believes in us.

But what you need to do is quit pouting and start speaking the Word of God. If you are the only believer on your job it’s because God believes in you. For too long Gods people have shuffled around with their heads down, and their backs stooped over, stepping on their bottom lip crying about how bad it is.

I didn’t say things weren’t bad, I didn’t say I like what’s happening in our world, or that I am not aware of the tragedies that have shaken our world.

What I am saying is: Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.

What I am saying is: I know in whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

What I am saying is: God is for me, and if God be for me then who can be against me. The world is shaking; Earthquakes, Tsunami’s, Tornado’s and financial storms.

But we are in the world but not of the world.

We are a part of an unshakable Kingdom, built upon an unshakable foundation, ruled by an unshakable King. Jesus Said: Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Mat 16:18

This is no time to tone it down, this is no time to dampen our praise, no time to worry about being politically correct or socially acceptable.

This is no time to hide in a cave or back peddle on our faith. This is the time to Arise and Shine! This is the time to stand up and stand out! This is the time to speak the word of God with boldness, authority and power.

This is the time we declare ourselves:

Moses demanded in the book of Exodus: Who is on the Lords side, declare yourself, make your choice clear.

Elijah demanded the same thing: Choose one side or the other, either serve God or serve Baal but quit limping back and forth between the two.

Jesus also demanded the same thing: He said, He that is not for me is against me, and if you are not gathering with me, then you are scattering abroad.

Why don’t you pick up the opportunity that is before you and declare today! I am on the Lord’s side!

It's not over!

It does not matter what the enemy is working against you, or what you’re struggling with, the bible says:

Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against you shall be able to prosper.

The bible did not say that Satan would not form weapons against you, or that he would not launch them at you, or that they would not touch you.

But what the bible does say is: It shall not prosper, it shall not accomplish its intended purpose.

As a matter of fact: The bible teaches us that all things, work together for good to them who love the Lord and are the called according to his purpose. Ro 8:28

It doesn’t matter who you are or how spiritual you are, at some point life is going to deal you a blow.  Unexpected, undesired situations and problems that catch you off guard, and send your life reeling.

The good news is, that even though we all will at some point encounter these unexpected unplanned for attacks, problems, and circumstances.

We have the promise:

2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.

And Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.

I want to talk to somebody today who has been knocked down, life has thrown you an unexpected curve, divorce, sickness, A financial disaster, your child is on drugs, your company down sized and they let you go.  Your dreams have been crushed.

It can be a thousand different things, but the bottom line is: you didn’t expect it and it hurt, it threw your life into a tail spin.

It knocked you off your feet, but this is the biggest mistake the devil made, because when a Christian is knocked off their feet they fall to their knees, and when they fall to their knees they touch heaven, and when they touch heaven hell trembles.

You may have lost a round but you’re still in the fight!

I cannot say that I will never be knocked down

I cannot say that I will never be caught off guard
I cannot say that I will never be troubled or perplexed or even forsaken,

But I can say: I’m going to make it.

I can say: Nothing shall separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I can say: 2im 1:12 I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto him against that day.

I can say: Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I can say: Ro 8:37-38 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

You may have lost a round, you may have had the breath knocked out of you, you may have a black eye, and a busted lip and a bloody nose.

But the best is yet to come:

Your set back, is just a setup, for a comeback.

And ye are of God little children and have overcome them for greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. 1Jn 4:4

God understands our tears

Read: John 11

John 11: 35 says, “Jesus wept”

Those two words speak volumes, don’t they? This probably isn’t the best translation. What it ought to say is that Jesus burst into tears. This is not a misty eyed response. This is one of those moments where Jesus loses it in compassion for his friends who have lost their brother. I don’t know about you, but that does something for me. We have a savior, a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, who is deeply moved, who cries when we cry. He cries when we cry, but what I love is that He has the power to do something about it. There are moments in my life when I need someone to cry with me. But there are moments when I need someone who can do something about it.

We have both in Jesus.

WATCH EASTER SUNDAY SERVICE AT GULF COAST ASSEMBLY!