On Jordan's flooded banks I am standing,
Asking Lord exactly what You're demanding,
What do You desire - what are You willing,
Why such tests as my faith You're instilling,
Your sovereign plan so wisely designed,
To Your will I'm wholeheartedly resigned,
You desire me to cross to the other side,
The waters overflow - my way is denied,
Unless with courageous faith out I step,
I will sink if my trust in You is inept,
My destiny is on the other side before,
If I'm willing to lift my foot from shore,
Taking a faith step where You are unseen,
Trusting You were, You are, and always been,
Fear denied - a confident trust now embraced,
Only after stepping Your sovereign hand traced.
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Standing On Jordan's Banks
Joshua 3:7-17 (NKJV)
7 And the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
8 You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.' "
9 So Joshua said to the children of Israel, "Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God."
10 And Joshua said, "By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites:
11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan.
12 Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe.
13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap."
14 So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,
15 and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest),
16 that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
17 Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.
What stands in the way of where you are and where God wills you to be? What obstacles are up against you? I am sure you can identify them easily. So could Israel. The obstacle that stood between them and actually setting foot in the long awaited promised land was a flooded Jordan river they had to cross.
Simple enough. They could have just waited out the flooded river. They had waited that long. What would a few more weeks mean? That was not what God had in mind. He commanded them to go forward. Specifically He told Joshua to command the priests to step foot in the Jordan and to stand still. IMPOSSIBLE.
If you know anything about flood waters it only takes a few inches to actually move a car and to knock someone off their feet. God and Joshua expected those priests to go to the edge of the Jordan carrying the ark of the covenant and to step in. Flood waters and all. What did that first row of priests think? Did they fear? Did they doubt? Did they question the logic of stepping into the flood waters and being swept away? Maybe they recalled the famous story of what God did at the Red Sea and how He parted those waters.
We can't just live on the faith adventures of generations gone by. As much as I love to read about George Mueller, Jackie Pullinger, Amy Carmichael, John Hyde, and Hudson Taylor what God did for them in their day does not help me in my day. Each generation needs to experience the power of God for themselves. What God did for Israel at the Red Sea could serve as inspiration but that story alone could not solve their problem. Just retelling Bible stories and testimonies of what God did in the past is not enough. Yes those things are necessary and helpful. We need to link them with modern day experiences of God miraculously intervening on behalf of His people again.
Some are quick to point out," Where are the miracles? God does not move that way anymore." I in turn would ask you a question. Where are you standing? As you question the miracle working power of God do you do so from the safety of the banks of the Jordan river of your life? Do you pray for a miracle and commit to step only after the waters are dried up first?
I am standing right in the Jordan. Brenda and I have put ourselves in a position to absolutely need God for miracles. We're utterly abandoned to Him. We fully surrendered. We will either sink and be swept away in utter failure or protected, sustained and provided for by God.
I have taken what feels like hundreds of faith steps. One thing I can say confidently. God rarely does the miracle before He requires a person to take a faith step first. The miracle follows the faith step. We ant the miracle to precede the faith step.
Standing on the banks of the Jordan in your life is easy. It does not require courage, conviction or commitment. It comes natural to plant yourself on the safe side. The miracles are on the other side of faith steps. Until you fully commit, step all in and go to the point of no return you may never see the power of God on display around you.
Churches play it safe. Christians root themselves in comfort and security. You can spend the rest of your life standing on Jordan's banks. Many do. They never move forward. They never step out in faith. They see imminent dangers ahead. They prefer a stable life. The adventure really begins when you and I fully commit to follow and we step off the banks into the flooded Jordan. That's where the miracles are. That's where the adventure really begins.
Stand still or step out? It's your move.
Monday, September 24, 2018
Another Great Day
They kept turning off the highway into our gravel driveway and filling up the gravel parking lot. It was a misting overcast day. We had record rainfalls over the weekend dampening our outdoor plans. Still newcomers kept showing up. Many new families. I loved seeing all the children. What a joy to see those little bundle of joys bouncing around all over the place.
In the end our attendance doubled from normal weekends. People were excited. It was another great day. We sang. The gospel was presented. We ate afterwards. We sat down at tables visiting with people long after the meal ended. Some played games and others watched a Christian movie during the afternoon. We capped the day off with a prayer meeting and more fellowship. I especially loved the prayer meeting. United hearts pleading with God for His help. A beautiful way to end another great day.
I had the chance to meet several new families. I also reconnected with some children I had not seen since Vacation Bible School which blessed my heart. I love the little children. I saw more children present yesterday than I have since VBS. I saw old friends we've invited for months. I saw some who have been sick be able to gather with us for worship. It was another great day. A powerful day.
We have enjoyed many such days recently. Many signs of God's blessings. In dozens of little ways that we do not take for granted. There is life. There is enthusiasm. There is a hunger for God's presence and a renewed emphasis on prayer. All I can say is we enjoyed another great day.
In the end our attendance doubled from normal weekends. People were excited. It was another great day. We sang. The gospel was presented. We ate afterwards. We sat down at tables visiting with people long after the meal ended. Some played games and others watched a Christian movie during the afternoon. We capped the day off with a prayer meeting and more fellowship. I especially loved the prayer meeting. United hearts pleading with God for His help. A beautiful way to end another great day.
I had the chance to meet several new families. I also reconnected with some children I had not seen since Vacation Bible School which blessed my heart. I love the little children. I saw more children present yesterday than I have since VBS. I saw old friends we've invited for months. I saw some who have been sick be able to gather with us for worship. It was another great day. A powerful day.
We have enjoyed many such days recently. Many signs of God's blessings. In dozens of little ways that we do not take for granted. There is life. There is enthusiasm. There is a hunger for God's presence and a renewed emphasis on prayer. All I can say is we enjoyed another great day.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Courage In Battle
Everybody knows the story of David and Goliath. I will not recount the whole thing here. What strikes me is the courage God put in David not only to face the lion and the bear to protect the lambs but, also to face Goliath when every other solider in Israel acted a coward. The Bible even tells us that King Saul stood head and shoulders above the other Israelite men. Saul was a large man in his own right but he would not face Goliath.
David heard Goliath's taunts just once and he volunteered to fight him. 40 days and night the giant taunted Israel and nobody did anything but tremble. David heard him just once and courageously stepped up to fight. Goliath stood insulted that a youth like David came to fight against him a champion. Goliath trusted in his strength and experience. David trusted in God.
We get no picture of David approaching Goliath shaking in his boats. David actually talked trash to Goliath. Then, he ran to the battle. You cannot teach that kind of courage. You cannot instill it in someone through classes.
God gave David courage.
You are not facing a giant named Goliath but I bet you are facing a giant. I bet you are facing a giant somewhere. Are you facing it courageously. God's people always face giants somewhere. Something or someone stands in the way of God or what God wants done.
In those moments we have a choice. We can act in courage or cowardice. Joshua faced a giant challenge in his day. What did God tell him.
Joshua 1:6-9 (NKJV)
6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Three times God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. Does He say to same thing to us when we face our giants. Be strong and courageous. Be strong and courageous. Be strong and courageous. You do not fight alone. Take courage my brothers and sisters. God fights by your side. Take courage in Him.
David heard Goliath's taunts just once and he volunteered to fight him. 40 days and night the giant taunted Israel and nobody did anything but tremble. David heard him just once and courageously stepped up to fight. Goliath stood insulted that a youth like David came to fight against him a champion. Goliath trusted in his strength and experience. David trusted in God.
We get no picture of David approaching Goliath shaking in his boats. David actually talked trash to Goliath. Then, he ran to the battle. You cannot teach that kind of courage. You cannot instill it in someone through classes.
God gave David courage.
You are not facing a giant named Goliath but I bet you are facing a giant. I bet you are facing a giant somewhere. Are you facing it courageously. God's people always face giants somewhere. Something or someone stands in the way of God or what God wants done.
In those moments we have a choice. We can act in courage or cowardice. Joshua faced a giant challenge in his day. What did God tell him.
Joshua 1:6-9 (NKJV)
6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Three times God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. Does He say to same thing to us when we face our giants. Be strong and courageous. Be strong and courageous. Be strong and courageous. You do not fight alone. Take courage my brothers and sisters. God fights by your side. Take courage in Him.
Friday, September 14, 2018
The Needle Did Not Move
Brenda told me early in the week we only had $10 for the remainder of the week. Paying bills, trying to help three sons in college, driving to watch Tanner play football last weekend in college and gas expenses for driving all added up and left us with nothing extra.
When she told me on Monday I noticed I had a full tank in her suburban. I had a lot of driving to do for ministry this week. I had meetings on three different days, my regular preaching and teaching duties plus visits I wanted to make. I wondered how we would make it on that one tank of gas. By Tuesday night the needle had moved to just barely above half a tank. I saw this as I drove to pick Turner up from football practice, a forty minute round trip. I thought ahead to all the other driving I needed to do for the remained of the week. I saw no way to make it. I asked for provision for gas.
I kid you not, the needle did not move when I picked Turner up or returned. I had a meeting the next day in another town. Again I asked God for help. I actually asked Him for gas money. The money did not come but I could not believe my eyes when after my meeting the needle still registered half a tank of fuel. I know some of you will think I am making this up. I drove over forty miles for that meeting. Suburbans use a lot of gas. It did not make sense.
I drove to teach on Wednesday and for another meeting. Still the needle hovered right at the half mark.
The following day, Thursday I had an early morning appointment and planned on making some visits. I wondered how I could do all of that and still have enough in the tank to get back home. This time the needle did move when I drove to my appointment. All the way down to one quarter of a tank. I wrestled with having enough to make the visits and get back home. Another prayer for gas money. I debated about skipping the visits but decided I needed to follow through.
One appointment took me on the opposite side of town. The two visits I made were relatively close to my office. I watched the needle on all of them. It did not move. It did not move again until I drove to pick Turner up from football practice again. When I got home I had one eighth of a tank left.
You will never convince me God did not somehow stretch that fuel way beyond what is physically normal to accommodate our needs this week. I stood on a promise of God. I believed Him to help but He did it differently than I expected. The miracle was the needle never moved while I ministered for Him. He stretched that tank of gas. I glorify Him for it.
I sought Him first and drove on faith to do my work. He saw and honored that faith.
Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
When she told me on Monday I noticed I had a full tank in her suburban. I had a lot of driving to do for ministry this week. I had meetings on three different days, my regular preaching and teaching duties plus visits I wanted to make. I wondered how we would make it on that one tank of gas. By Tuesday night the needle had moved to just barely above half a tank. I saw this as I drove to pick Turner up from football practice, a forty minute round trip. I thought ahead to all the other driving I needed to do for the remained of the week. I saw no way to make it. I asked for provision for gas.
I kid you not, the needle did not move when I picked Turner up or returned. I had a meeting the next day in another town. Again I asked God for help. I actually asked Him for gas money. The money did not come but I could not believe my eyes when after my meeting the needle still registered half a tank of fuel. I know some of you will think I am making this up. I drove over forty miles for that meeting. Suburbans use a lot of gas. It did not make sense.
I drove to teach on Wednesday and for another meeting. Still the needle hovered right at the half mark.
The following day, Thursday I had an early morning appointment and planned on making some visits. I wondered how I could do all of that and still have enough in the tank to get back home. This time the needle did move when I drove to my appointment. All the way down to one quarter of a tank. I wrestled with having enough to make the visits and get back home. Another prayer for gas money. I debated about skipping the visits but decided I needed to follow through.
One appointment took me on the opposite side of town. The two visits I made were relatively close to my office. I watched the needle on all of them. It did not move. It did not move again until I drove to pick Turner up from football practice again. When I got home I had one eighth of a tank left.
You will never convince me God did not somehow stretch that fuel way beyond what is physically normal to accommodate our needs this week. I stood on a promise of God. I believed Him to help but He did it differently than I expected. The miracle was the needle never moved while I ministered for Him. He stretched that tank of gas. I glorify Him for it.
I sought Him first and drove on faith to do my work. He saw and honored that faith.
Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Church Outside The Walls
When people mention the word church their minds go to a building. Interestingly the first church did not have a building. The word church in the Greek language is the word Ekklesia. It means the gathering or assembling of the called out ones. Much time would pass before buildings were constructed for worship.
Many debate the purity of the house church movement over buildings where people gather for worship. That is not my intent today. My focus is on something that easily relates to both groups. In the three decades I have been a follower of Jesus and a preacher I've noticed a few things.
1. Not everyone who gathers for public worship actually worships.
2. While the Bible is taught or preached in most of these gatherings everyone does not live their lives according to Biblical principles.
3. Much of what we do takes place behind the walls of a worship building or a home rather than in public.
Here are my questions. How much of what you do as a follower of Jesus takes place outside the walls? Out where the people are/ How about the people you worship and seek God with? How much of what you all do together takes place outside the walls of your gatherings? Increasingly I feel compelled that ministry must take place outside the walls. There are so many needs.
Real people need real ministry outside the walls. Not sterilized synthetic religion. They need real life love, evangelism, service and help. It is messy often. It is not glamorous like so many mission trips or projects get romanticized. My friend says some trips look sexy. They get a lot of attention. Mowing an elderly neighbor's yard is not sexy. Helping people strung out on drugs is messy. Three steps forward and sometimes two steps backward. Some ministry may not yield quick results. You won't be applauded for doing so.
In the early church they did not set up a night for a visitation program. They ministered and shared the gospel in the public sector everyday. Where they lived, worked, shopped and rubbed shoulders with others. Jesus so impacted their lives they could not help but talk about Him. As a result God continually saved the lost. Everyday He saved the lost. The church exploded in just a ew chapters in Acts.
Today we have buildings and every conceivable tool to make ministry more effective but we are less effective than the first church. They tapped into God through prayer. What God did in them could not be contained behind the walls of a worship gathering. They were compelled to minister for Jesus outside the walls.
It did not stop there. Those people who made up the first church really loved each other. More than with just words. When people had a need they rallied together to meet that need. Even if it meant selling their own possessions to raise the money. Do we see this in the Ekklesia today? I praise God in many places yes. Sadly there are others who hoard their money for a rainy day. They stock pile tens of thousands of dollars while ignoring the needs right underneath their noses.
As I write this I'm eating lunch at home. Just leftovers but they are sure good. Down home country soul food kind of cooking. Yet a couple of weeks ago I received an email from a lady who asked if I knew where a poor person could get help with food. I made some inquiries and several people rallied to raid their pantries and refrigerators. The food was delivered to people who really needed it. How many others are just like them? I am eating leftovers today but there are many who have nothing to eat. It's easy to collect money to help those in poverty. It is harder to get involved. To minister outside the walls. Aren't we supposed to help feed the poor or is that the government's job? Many pastors and church leaders would rather relegate such ministries to the government so they will not have to be bothered. I praise God for those churches actively engaged in feeding the hungry outside the walls.
This summer I went on a mission trip to Rockport, TX in order to help with relief efforts from Hurricane Harvey some nine months after the storm. The government showed up and when their money ran out they vacated. You wan tot know what I saw. I saw a church put make shift beds in classrooms and volunteers from all over the country still helping. I saw volunteers using their fellowship hall to feed volunteers who came to serve trying to help things get back to normal. Cutting down trees, tapping roofs, cleaning out debris from the flood waters and doing what they could to help. So much work is still let to be done. That same area is getting flooded by tropical storm rains again.
My mind turns to the people of the Carolinas getting pounded by a hurricane as I write this. The recovery efforts will take longer than most imagine. Volunteers will be needed to help the victims for months to come. That is ministry outside the walls.
Are we going to expend our days in endless teaching, preaching, hearing but seldom doing. This past week I have been swamped in ministry efforts. Very few of them took place inside the walls of a house of worship. They took place in living rooms, sitting on a mower, at restaurants and in hospitals. Keith Green sang in a song, "Lord, there's so much work left to be done, so many souls still left to be won."
We are the people of God. The called out ones. Out. Out from lives of sin and paganism. Out from dead religion. Also outside the walls.
Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Acts 2:42-47 (NKJV)
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
I
Many debate the purity of the house church movement over buildings where people gather for worship. That is not my intent today. My focus is on something that easily relates to both groups. In the three decades I have been a follower of Jesus and a preacher I've noticed a few things.
1. Not everyone who gathers for public worship actually worships.
2. While the Bible is taught or preached in most of these gatherings everyone does not live their lives according to Biblical principles.
3. Much of what we do takes place behind the walls of a worship building or a home rather than in public.
Here are my questions. How much of what you do as a follower of Jesus takes place outside the walls? Out where the people are/ How about the people you worship and seek God with? How much of what you all do together takes place outside the walls of your gatherings? Increasingly I feel compelled that ministry must take place outside the walls. There are so many needs.
Real people need real ministry outside the walls. Not sterilized synthetic religion. They need real life love, evangelism, service and help. It is messy often. It is not glamorous like so many mission trips or projects get romanticized. My friend says some trips look sexy. They get a lot of attention. Mowing an elderly neighbor's yard is not sexy. Helping people strung out on drugs is messy. Three steps forward and sometimes two steps backward. Some ministry may not yield quick results. You won't be applauded for doing so.
In the early church they did not set up a night for a visitation program. They ministered and shared the gospel in the public sector everyday. Where they lived, worked, shopped and rubbed shoulders with others. Jesus so impacted their lives they could not help but talk about Him. As a result God continually saved the lost. Everyday He saved the lost. The church exploded in just a ew chapters in Acts.
Today we have buildings and every conceivable tool to make ministry more effective but we are less effective than the first church. They tapped into God through prayer. What God did in them could not be contained behind the walls of a worship gathering. They were compelled to minister for Jesus outside the walls.
It did not stop there. Those people who made up the first church really loved each other. More than with just words. When people had a need they rallied together to meet that need. Even if it meant selling their own possessions to raise the money. Do we see this in the Ekklesia today? I praise God in many places yes. Sadly there are others who hoard their money for a rainy day. They stock pile tens of thousands of dollars while ignoring the needs right underneath their noses.
As I write this I'm eating lunch at home. Just leftovers but they are sure good. Down home country soul food kind of cooking. Yet a couple of weeks ago I received an email from a lady who asked if I knew where a poor person could get help with food. I made some inquiries and several people rallied to raid their pantries and refrigerators. The food was delivered to people who really needed it. How many others are just like them? I am eating leftovers today but there are many who have nothing to eat. It's easy to collect money to help those in poverty. It is harder to get involved. To minister outside the walls. Aren't we supposed to help feed the poor or is that the government's job? Many pastors and church leaders would rather relegate such ministries to the government so they will not have to be bothered. I praise God for those churches actively engaged in feeding the hungry outside the walls.
This summer I went on a mission trip to Rockport, TX in order to help with relief efforts from Hurricane Harvey some nine months after the storm. The government showed up and when their money ran out they vacated. You wan tot know what I saw. I saw a church put make shift beds in classrooms and volunteers from all over the country still helping. I saw volunteers using their fellowship hall to feed volunteers who came to serve trying to help things get back to normal. Cutting down trees, tapping roofs, cleaning out debris from the flood waters and doing what they could to help. So much work is still let to be done. That same area is getting flooded by tropical storm rains again.
My mind turns to the people of the Carolinas getting pounded by a hurricane as I write this. The recovery efforts will take longer than most imagine. Volunteers will be needed to help the victims for months to come. That is ministry outside the walls.
Are we going to expend our days in endless teaching, preaching, hearing but seldom doing. This past week I have been swamped in ministry efforts. Very few of them took place inside the walls of a house of worship. They took place in living rooms, sitting on a mower, at restaurants and in hospitals. Keith Green sang in a song, "Lord, there's so much work left to be done, so many souls still left to be won."
We are the people of God. The called out ones. Out. Out from lives of sin and paganism. Out from dead religion. Also outside the walls.
Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Acts 2:42-47 (NKJV)
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
I
Thursday, September 13, 2018
It's Always Been About Him
I still remember my first sermon if you could call it that. I was only 18 the summer after my senior year of high school. It was probably more like a testimony. An older college girl on fire for Jesus, named Kendra, in our church planned an outreach event for a sister church. I had recently surrendered to preach and she asked me to come and speak to those students. As I recall there were not many students at the Woodlawn Baptist Church in Lufkin, TX. I planned and planned on what I would say. I prayed a lot. When I gave the message I gave everything I had prepared in just a few minutes so I repeated myself. The whole thing lasted about seven minutes. A pretty woeful start.
About a year later my pastor, Charles Roberts, asked me to preach on a Sunday night at my home church Denman Avenue Baptist. Our congregation consisted of several hundred people. I was nervous to say the least.
I prayed, studied, prayed and studied some more. Fear gripped me like a vice. I finally convinced myself that I could not do it. I planned on canceling. I saw no way God use someone like me. Not once in my short life had I ever excelled at public speaking. I hated standing before crowds and speaking as a student yet I could deny God's call on me to preach. It scared me to death. I saw no way I could stand before those people for any length of time to share God's word. I planned on backing up and tried to muster the courage to call Brother Charles to inform him.
A very wise person got wind of my doubts and spoke words I treasure today 34 years later. "God will never call you to do something He will not equip you to do."
I went through with it.I took that step of faith and pleaded with God to help me. He did. I fumbled and stumbled over my words as I preached about Moses and the burning bush when God called him. Seems Moses had some doubts too.
34 years later I still find myself on the front row at a church or youth camp pleading with God for help. I cry out for God to help me communicate His word. I am powerless to do it without Him. Even after all these years. I know I will fail and we will gather in vain if God does not speak and help. I doubt my ability but wholly lean on Him to use this vessel.
For 34 years that is exactly what He has done. Whether the crowd be barely a dozen, like I ministered the word too last night, or, over 1,000 like I have had the opportunity to preach God's word to on a few occasions, I still need Him. I cannot preach or teach without Him. He alone brings the results. Left on my own I am just a babbling fool.
I need Him for teaching a Bible study. I need Him for preaching. I need Him for study and revelation. I need Him for fresh anointing. I need Him for passion. I need Him for results. I NEED HIM.
For 34 years He has opened doors. He has helped me time and again. He has protected me. He has saved the lost. He has ministered hope to the distraught. He has comforted the afflicted. He has lifted burdens and brought people to tears in conviction. He has revived. He has used this flawed vessel.
Often as I hear the last stanza of some song before I get up to preach I mutter this same prayer under my breath, "Jesus I ask You to anoint my mind with Your thoughts, anoint my mouth to speak Your truth and anoint my heart to feel Your passion. Please bring these all into unison so I can be your vessel. I have prayed this prayer at First Baptist Churches, at Beach Camps in Panama City, FL, at small country churches with sparse crowds and at big youth events. I NEED HIM.
Me. Just an average young man from deep east Texas God hand picked. I thought He was wrong. I resisted but He persisted. I surrendered. He has helped me all these years since. I still depend on Jesus for help to this day. I NEED HIM.
I don't know why He chose me but I am humbled He did. It has never been about me. It has always and I pray will always be about Him.
John 3:30 (NKJV)
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
About a year later my pastor, Charles Roberts, asked me to preach on a Sunday night at my home church Denman Avenue Baptist. Our congregation consisted of several hundred people. I was nervous to say the least.
I prayed, studied, prayed and studied some more. Fear gripped me like a vice. I finally convinced myself that I could not do it. I planned on canceling. I saw no way God use someone like me. Not once in my short life had I ever excelled at public speaking. I hated standing before crowds and speaking as a student yet I could deny God's call on me to preach. It scared me to death. I saw no way I could stand before those people for any length of time to share God's word. I planned on backing up and tried to muster the courage to call Brother Charles to inform him.
A very wise person got wind of my doubts and spoke words I treasure today 34 years later. "God will never call you to do something He will not equip you to do."
I went through with it.I took that step of faith and pleaded with God to help me. He did. I fumbled and stumbled over my words as I preached about Moses and the burning bush when God called him. Seems Moses had some doubts too.
34 years later I still find myself on the front row at a church or youth camp pleading with God for help. I cry out for God to help me communicate His word. I am powerless to do it without Him. Even after all these years. I know I will fail and we will gather in vain if God does not speak and help. I doubt my ability but wholly lean on Him to use this vessel.
For 34 years that is exactly what He has done. Whether the crowd be barely a dozen, like I ministered the word too last night, or, over 1,000 like I have had the opportunity to preach God's word to on a few occasions, I still need Him. I cannot preach or teach without Him. He alone brings the results. Left on my own I am just a babbling fool.
I need Him for teaching a Bible study. I need Him for preaching. I need Him for study and revelation. I need Him for fresh anointing. I need Him for passion. I need Him for results. I NEED HIM.
For 34 years He has opened doors. He has helped me time and again. He has protected me. He has saved the lost. He has ministered hope to the distraught. He has comforted the afflicted. He has lifted burdens and brought people to tears in conviction. He has revived. He has used this flawed vessel.
Often as I hear the last stanza of some song before I get up to preach I mutter this same prayer under my breath, "Jesus I ask You to anoint my mind with Your thoughts, anoint my mouth to speak Your truth and anoint my heart to feel Your passion. Please bring these all into unison so I can be your vessel. I have prayed this prayer at First Baptist Churches, at Beach Camps in Panama City, FL, at small country churches with sparse crowds and at big youth events. I NEED HIM.
Me. Just an average young man from deep east Texas God hand picked. I thought He was wrong. I resisted but He persisted. I surrendered. He has helped me all these years since. I still depend on Jesus for help to this day. I NEED HIM.
I don't know why He chose me but I am humbled He did. It has never been about me. It has always and I pray will always be about Him.
John 3:30 (NKJV)
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Why Jesus Marveled
On any given week some 56 million Americans participate in some kind of worship gathering and hear some kind of teaching or preaching from the Bible. Many times the people are inspired, comforted and even convicted by such messages.
Sadly some of those 56 million will listen to boring, uninspiring and powerless messages as well. Truth may be dispensed but something seems lacking. The listeners are not brought into an encounter with God. Preachers may be eloquent, polished and professional but they can be all of that and still be powerless. Ineffective. Impotent.
Jesus did not teach that way. He taught with power and authority often leaving the listeners astonished. They wondered where He got His insights. When Jesus showed up it was not religious routines as usual. He brought life and power. He transformed lives.
Even though He taught so effectively I read a passage today that left me puzzled. Jesus marveled at a group of people in a synagogue. They also marveled at His teaching. People heard Him and were again astonished. They were also offended by Him. Jesus in turn marveled at them and did very little powerful work among them because of their unbelief. Their lack of faith. Their doubt.
Mark 6:1-6 (NKJV)
1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.
2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!
3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him.
4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."
5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
How could they doubt and lack faith when they heard Jesus teach? Jesus marveled, or was astonished at them for doubting. They did doubt Him. We do too. How often do we doubt and lose heart in Jesus and His word even while hearing that very word taught and preached? We may gather for worship consistently and yet still be filled with unbelief. UNBELIEF IS SIN. We are commanded over and over again to trust God. May our unbelief be quickly repented of and cast away to embrace faith and belief in Jesus to come through. May His mighty work not be hindered in our lives and gatherings because of unbelief.
Sadly some of those 56 million will listen to boring, uninspiring and powerless messages as well. Truth may be dispensed but something seems lacking. The listeners are not brought into an encounter with God. Preachers may be eloquent, polished and professional but they can be all of that and still be powerless. Ineffective. Impotent.
Jesus did not teach that way. He taught with power and authority often leaving the listeners astonished. They wondered where He got His insights. When Jesus showed up it was not religious routines as usual. He brought life and power. He transformed lives.
Even though He taught so effectively I read a passage today that left me puzzled. Jesus marveled at a group of people in a synagogue. They also marveled at His teaching. People heard Him and were again astonished. They were also offended by Him. Jesus in turn marveled at them and did very little powerful work among them because of their unbelief. Their lack of faith. Their doubt.
Mark 6:1-6 (NKJV)
1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.
2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!
3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him.
4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."
5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
How could they doubt and lack faith when they heard Jesus teach? Jesus marveled, or was astonished at them for doubting. They did doubt Him. We do too. How often do we doubt and lose heart in Jesus and His word even while hearing that very word taught and preached? We may gather for worship consistently and yet still be filled with unbelief. UNBELIEF IS SIN. We are commanded over and over again to trust God. May our unbelief be quickly repented of and cast away to embrace faith and belief in Jesus to come through. May His mighty work not be hindered in our lives and gatherings because of unbelief.
Fault Finder
There are people who strive to find fault in others. They scrutinize, criticize and analyze those around them. They find fault in all sorts of ways. They are quick to point out these faults too. They cut and slash with their words. They draw other's attention to the faults they find. They embarrass and humiliate victims caught in their crosshairs. They love to point out the imperfections in others while ignoring their own imperfections.
When confronted with their own faults they extend extravagant grace to themselves while judging others. Such people love to point out their own successes to make themselves look important and successful before men. Fault finders hate it when others find fault in them. They are quick to explain away their mistakes, blunders and faults.
Matthew 7:1-5 (NKJV)
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
When confronted with their own faults they extend extravagant grace to themselves while judging others. Such people love to point out their own successes to make themselves look important and successful before men. Fault finders hate it when others find fault in them. They are quick to explain away their mistakes, blunders and faults.
Matthew 7:1-5 (NKJV)
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Judge not. A good word for many Christians. It is easy to find fault in others. It is easy to judge. Jesus commanded His followers not to judge. The fault finding holier than thous can't seem to help themselves. They want to play police officers in the church. They try to be the rule and the law. They sit on their private judicial benches passing out judgment on anyone with whom they find fault.
How easily the fault finder forgets the same measure they use to judge others can be just as easily turned back on themselves. They would not like it I am betting.
Why do fault finders exert so much energy looking at the speck in someone else's life but not considering the plank in their own life. To put it another way, why does the fault finder spend so much time looking for sin and faults in others while not giving attention to their own sins like judging, not extending grace and tearing people down.
I have certain people in mind I've met over the years. They looked for fault in my life, my wife, my kids, and the people I loved and served. They were and are quick to call people out. They point out to anyone who listen the faults of others. I have had enough. Most are not bold enough to hold such people accountable. Most will do most anything to avoid confrontation. Well today it is time to turn the tables on them. It is time to name names and point out their faults. It is time to set the record straight. Ready or not......
No. No, I will not go there. I will not be such a fault finder. I have my own sins to fight against. I will not be a fault finder or a stone thrower. I have received grace. Jesus has dealt with me in mercy. I will do the same even for the fault finders.
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Push The Button
It appears everyone has an agenda. Somebody somewhere is trying to push your button. They want to stir you up. Get you riled and agitated. I am no different. I write with an agenda unashamedly and unapologetically. I write to turn people to Jesus or to help those who have already turned to Him.
Somebody somewhere is pushing your button. Getting you fired up about politics, social activism, civil rights, which lives matter, what to purchase and who to boycott. People express their opinions. They write and say things to elicit a response. They know what buttons to push to created a buzz.
Marketers know how to do this. Political pundits know how to do this. Trend setters know how to do this. Fashion gurus do too. To some extent even the church knows how to do this. Some preaches know what topics to preach on to push people's buttons and get into the headlines.
We live in a noisy world. If we tried to live by all the prevailing philosophies of the day we would exhaust ourselves. Buy this. Boycott that. Eat here. Boycott there. Vote for this one. Shout that one down. Watch this. Ignore that. Learn this. Unlearn that. It never ends.
So I come with a strong message today. If your button has been pushed by someone on social media, some company, some politician, some Hollywood personality, some athlete then I say listen carefully. You have the power. The power right at your fingers. If someone is pushing your emotional buttons you have the power to silence all the noise. All you have to do is.......push the button. Turn it off. Click off social media, turn the television off, put your phone down.
I don't know everything going on in the world because I choose not to watch much television. What I did see a couple of days ago on a sports channel made me choose not to watch more. Sorry. I rarely read what you post on social media. I don't follow anyone. I strive to follow Jesus Christ. [Matt 16:24] I have the power to turn off newscasters with their agendas. I have the power to not be shaped by the opinions of others by pushing my own button. I have the power not to be goaded into wanting to buy the newest latest anything when I choose to push the button. I click the off button on the remote or the exit button on my computer. I can even choose to power down my phone. At that point everyone is powerless to get to me.
If you don't like what I write you have the power to push the button to quit reading. I respect your right to do so. Like I said earlier, I too have an agenda. An agenda to point people to Jesus. It is the only reason I use social media. To get the message out to more people. If you are offended then just push the button.
You have the power to silence the noise just by pushing the button. Even in your vehicle. While driving to make a hospital visit yesterday morning I grew weary of the chatter on the radio. I pushed the button and turned off the noise. I drove in silence. It is silent as I write this. I can hear Brenda sleeping. No television. No outside noise. Just Jesus, my Bible, my computer and me this morning. I am about to push the button. With one little push these thoughts will leave the confines of this little office to be broadcast and made accessible around the world. A lot of power at the push of a button. Try pushing yours when you want to silence the noise.
John 14:6 (NKJV)
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Psalm 46:10-11 (NKJV)
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Somebody somewhere is pushing your button. Getting you fired up about politics, social activism, civil rights, which lives matter, what to purchase and who to boycott. People express their opinions. They write and say things to elicit a response. They know what buttons to push to created a buzz.
Marketers know how to do this. Political pundits know how to do this. Trend setters know how to do this. Fashion gurus do too. To some extent even the church knows how to do this. Some preaches know what topics to preach on to push people's buttons and get into the headlines.
We live in a noisy world. If we tried to live by all the prevailing philosophies of the day we would exhaust ourselves. Buy this. Boycott that. Eat here. Boycott there. Vote for this one. Shout that one down. Watch this. Ignore that. Learn this. Unlearn that. It never ends.
So I come with a strong message today. If your button has been pushed by someone on social media, some company, some politician, some Hollywood personality, some athlete then I say listen carefully. You have the power. The power right at your fingers. If someone is pushing your emotional buttons you have the power to silence all the noise. All you have to do is.......push the button. Turn it off. Click off social media, turn the television off, put your phone down.
I don't know everything going on in the world because I choose not to watch much television. What I did see a couple of days ago on a sports channel made me choose not to watch more. Sorry. I rarely read what you post on social media. I don't follow anyone. I strive to follow Jesus Christ. [Matt 16:24] I have the power to turn off newscasters with their agendas. I have the power to not be shaped by the opinions of others by pushing my own button. I have the power not to be goaded into wanting to buy the newest latest anything when I choose to push the button. I click the off button on the remote or the exit button on my computer. I can even choose to power down my phone. At that point everyone is powerless to get to me.
If you don't like what I write you have the power to push the button to quit reading. I respect your right to do so. Like I said earlier, I too have an agenda. An agenda to point people to Jesus. It is the only reason I use social media. To get the message out to more people. If you are offended then just push the button.
You have the power to silence the noise just by pushing the button. Even in your vehicle. While driving to make a hospital visit yesterday morning I grew weary of the chatter on the radio. I pushed the button and turned off the noise. I drove in silence. It is silent as I write this. I can hear Brenda sleeping. No television. No outside noise. Just Jesus, my Bible, my computer and me this morning. I am about to push the button. With one little push these thoughts will leave the confines of this little office to be broadcast and made accessible around the world. A lot of power at the push of a button. Try pushing yours when you want to silence the noise.
John 14:6 (NKJV)
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Psalm 46:10-11 (NKJV)
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Friday, September 7, 2018
Church Orgy
I bet that title got your attention. I could not believe what I heard. A tragic tale related to me by a friend. I thought I had heard and seen a lot when it comes to sin among God's people. This story went far beyond anything I'd ever heard.
There is a church, who knows if there are more, in Texas where some of the leadership in the church and town are part of a swinger's club. This is not the pastor or pastoral staff to my knowledge. There is at least one deacon involved. There are several church members also involved. These couples show up at a designated location for orgies. Husbands and wives swap partners. Illicit sex is openly flaunted and experienced by people who also sit in Bible studies and worship services with no remorse.
The church is not the building. The church is the people of God called out. The Ekklesia. These "church people" openly committing adultery and fornication is an orgy in the church. How could this be? It is unclear if the pastoral staff knows about it. It is common knowledge among many in the pews and the sinful behavior does not stop. The deacon has reportedly had many ex partners and broken up marriages. How can he still be a deacon? How can he still be a member in good standing?
I am stunned. This is beyond belief. Blatant hypocrisy. How could it be. How could these people gather for Bible study and worship, all the while planning their next sex escapade.
Orgy is defined as a wild part containing excessive drinking and unrestrained sexual activity. It's beyond my comprehension that supposed Christians would openly engage in such behavior. It is hard to believe that pagans would do this. Unbridled lust rules the day. A sex crazed society gone mad.
I do not know the name of the church. I do not know the pastor. What I can tell you is the watering down of solid Bible preaching over the past several decades and the entertainment driven church philosophy is raising carnal congregations.
I sat at a hopstil today visiting with two gentlemen I love dearly. One told me his pastor has not preached in the several years he has been in pastor position. I am not sure what the pastor does but my friend said it is not preaching. In well over five years the man told me he had never heard his pastor even mention the world hell. Not once. When is the last time you heard an old fashioned hell fire sermon? For some it might have been awhile. What about a message on adultery, fornication, homosexuality or orgies? I bet it has bene awhile.
How could hypocrites sit under a steady diet of preaching and teaching the word of God and not either get convicted and repent or quit coming all together. If the word is watered down it does not pierce and penetrate the conscious or the soul. To live in the vice of sin openly and yet to gather for worship and hold positions of leadership is beyond my ability to comprehend.
I am thinking of my high school Sunday school teacher who loved us boys. He ministered to us outside the church as well in our class. He and his wife often had us in their home and took us boating on the lake. He had an affair on his wife and divorced her. He lived a double life nobody knew about. I am thinking of another prominent church member and town leader who also had an affair and left his wife. He acts like nothing ever happened. I am thinking of another prominent leader who had multiple affairs on his wife. He even feigned repentance. Come to find out his outrageous behavior continued. Another marriage broken up and many people hurt along the way.
I think of the volunteer of a ministry living with his girl. When I found out I demanded one or the other move out. I did not even lead that ministry. Did others not know? Did no one have the courage to say living together outside marriage is sin? Are we afraid of offending?
No matter how the times change and the elite try to redefine morality that does not change God. His law is set. It will not change. Sin is still sin. An affair is till adultery. Sleeping together and making love is till fornication when done outside the confines of marriage. Same sex couples and marriage is still homosexuality. Child molestation, incest, and rape are still sins. Sin is sin. I did not write the rules but I will not change them just to get a crowd for worship. Sin is still sin.
If people have heard about this orgy who are members have they gone to their pastoral leadership? Have they gone to other deacons and elders? In the Corinthian church they dealt with morality issues. Sexual immorality to be exact. A man was involved in sexual intercourse with his mother or stepmother.
1 Corinthians 5:1 (NKJV)
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles--that a man has his father's wife!
When Paul learned about this did he turn a deaf ear and a blind eye not wanting to upset anyone or the attendance. He called for the person to be "delivered over to Satan" and to "purge out the old." This is not easy. It is never easy to call someone into account about their sin.
I can hear the howling masses shouting through the internet, Matthew 7:1 (NKJV)
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
Such people fail to recall Matthew 7:13-23 (NKJV)
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
It is not judging when you see the fruit. You can see the fruit of a person's life and deduce what kind of person they are. Many profess faith in Jesus but their lives testify a far different story. Which is it? Do we just listen to what people say and never watch how they live?
There is a church, who knows if there are more, in Texas where some of the leadership in the church and town are part of a swinger's club. This is not the pastor or pastoral staff to my knowledge. There is at least one deacon involved. There are several church members also involved. These couples show up at a designated location for orgies. Husbands and wives swap partners. Illicit sex is openly flaunted and experienced by people who also sit in Bible studies and worship services with no remorse.
The church is not the building. The church is the people of God called out. The Ekklesia. These "church people" openly committing adultery and fornication is an orgy in the church. How could this be? It is unclear if the pastoral staff knows about it. It is common knowledge among many in the pews and the sinful behavior does not stop. The deacon has reportedly had many ex partners and broken up marriages. How can he still be a deacon? How can he still be a member in good standing?
I am stunned. This is beyond belief. Blatant hypocrisy. How could it be. How could these people gather for Bible study and worship, all the while planning their next sex escapade.
Orgy is defined as a wild part containing excessive drinking and unrestrained sexual activity. It's beyond my comprehension that supposed Christians would openly engage in such behavior. It is hard to believe that pagans would do this. Unbridled lust rules the day. A sex crazed society gone mad.
I do not know the name of the church. I do not know the pastor. What I can tell you is the watering down of solid Bible preaching over the past several decades and the entertainment driven church philosophy is raising carnal congregations.
I sat at a hopstil today visiting with two gentlemen I love dearly. One told me his pastor has not preached in the several years he has been in pastor position. I am not sure what the pastor does but my friend said it is not preaching. In well over five years the man told me he had never heard his pastor even mention the world hell. Not once. When is the last time you heard an old fashioned hell fire sermon? For some it might have been awhile. What about a message on adultery, fornication, homosexuality or orgies? I bet it has bene awhile.
How could hypocrites sit under a steady diet of preaching and teaching the word of God and not either get convicted and repent or quit coming all together. If the word is watered down it does not pierce and penetrate the conscious or the soul. To live in the vice of sin openly and yet to gather for worship and hold positions of leadership is beyond my ability to comprehend.
I am thinking of my high school Sunday school teacher who loved us boys. He ministered to us outside the church as well in our class. He and his wife often had us in their home and took us boating on the lake. He had an affair on his wife and divorced her. He lived a double life nobody knew about. I am thinking of another prominent church member and town leader who also had an affair and left his wife. He acts like nothing ever happened. I am thinking of another prominent leader who had multiple affairs on his wife. He even feigned repentance. Come to find out his outrageous behavior continued. Another marriage broken up and many people hurt along the way.
I think of the volunteer of a ministry living with his girl. When I found out I demanded one or the other move out. I did not even lead that ministry. Did others not know? Did no one have the courage to say living together outside marriage is sin? Are we afraid of offending?
No matter how the times change and the elite try to redefine morality that does not change God. His law is set. It will not change. Sin is still sin. An affair is till adultery. Sleeping together and making love is till fornication when done outside the confines of marriage. Same sex couples and marriage is still homosexuality. Child molestation, incest, and rape are still sins. Sin is sin. I did not write the rules but I will not change them just to get a crowd for worship. Sin is still sin.
If people have heard about this orgy who are members have they gone to their pastoral leadership? Have they gone to other deacons and elders? In the Corinthian church they dealt with morality issues. Sexual immorality to be exact. A man was involved in sexual intercourse with his mother or stepmother.
1 Corinthians 5:1 (NKJV)
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles--that a man has his father's wife!
When Paul learned about this did he turn a deaf ear and a blind eye not wanting to upset anyone or the attendance. He called for the person to be "delivered over to Satan" and to "purge out the old." This is not easy. It is never easy to call someone into account about their sin.
I can hear the howling masses shouting through the internet, Matthew 7:1 (NKJV)
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
Such people fail to recall Matthew 7:13-23 (NKJV)
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
It is not judging when you see the fruit. You can see the fruit of a person's life and deduce what kind of person they are. Many profess faith in Jesus but their lives testify a far different story. Which is it? Do we just listen to what people say and never watch how they live?
Something is very wrong when church members live in hypocrisy. Either they have never truly been saved or they are like the prodigal son living in rebellion. Either way they are called into account and repentance.
You would think the anointed worship, preaching and teaching of the Bible would be used by the Holy Spirit to convict, break and bring people to repentance. You would think a desire for holiness would permeate the hearts of the people of God. Holiness is an old fashioned notion. Holiness is antiquated among people who call themselves progressive. If we are progressing why are there over 50 registered sex offenders where I minister 4 of them being women. Why are crime rates so high if we are progressing. Why do some people in the pews act just like pagans. Why does sexual immorality happen among church people.
The sex orgy among people in that church must be confronted. That deacon must be called into account along with all the others. If they are unwilling to repent then they should be purged. Church of the living God whomever you are - there must be a cleansing. We are called to live holy lives.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV)
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
It is time for the bride of Christ to repent and cleanse herself. Jesus has not waited this long to come back for a spotted, defiled and polluted bride. May holiness win the day. May sinners repent and come clean before Jesus. May the lost, even if they have deceived themselves that they are saved, repent and cry out to Jesus. May hypocrites be broken and find the mercy and unfailing compassion of Jesus. May those bound up in sin find deliverance and freedom in Jesus. May God's people live like we are God's people.
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Broken
I could not mistake the sound of her sobbing as she poured out her heart and pain to me. Heart wrenching. Not the kind of thing you forget easily. In fact, I awoke the next morning heavy laden with the painful story I heard running laps in my mind. I couldn't shake it. I fought back the tears. A pain so deep and real I could feel it physically. It hurt in my stomach.
Broken people are all around us. They are broken for various reasons. Some due to poor decisions they made and others broken due to poor decisions of others around them. Broken people are damaged. Damaged emotionally. Damaged psychologically. They are also fractured. Wounded.
I cannot get this off my mind and heart. I think of sons who grew up or are growing up with tyrannical fathers. Those fathers constantly criticize. They never encourage. No matter the performance the son can never match up to the high expectations of a demanding father. Those sons will grow up their whole lives, even into adulthood, striving to hear these words, "Son, I am proud of you and I love you." They will work to succeed but always feel like they could not measure up. They will feel like failures. Those broken sons in many cases grow up to have sons they do the same things to because they do not know how to do it differently.
Some daughters grow up broken because they were abandoned. Fathers just walked away. Walked out of their lives forever. Others were abused in horrific ways that fractured them and damaged in ways we can never fathom. They will always have trust issues. Their self esteem is destroyed and in worst cases they give themselves away to any man or woman who shows some interest. They play at sex searching in vain for love while sadly others play at love with them just to get sex.
Broken. Damaged. Fractured. We work around such people. They might be our neighbors. Our children might go to the same schools. We might even sit next to them in a house of worship.
Are we aware? Do we notice? Can we identify those who spent the night in silent sobbing? Can we see those who keep everyone at arm's length because they have trust issues. I am such a person. As a child I remember clearly a family member slapping me across the face in a fit of anger. I remember vividly a drunk uncle picking up a bull whip to whip me. He lashed me several times. I know he was angry. Did I deserve to be whipped with a bull whip? In hindsight I know now my uncle was physically abused by his alcoholic father. He just acted out the things that had been done to him as a younger man. My paternal grandfather sexually abused my aunts while my grandmother held them down. WHY? Sick, twisted, perverted, and broken.
Hurt people hurt other people. Broken people break other people. Damaged folks leave a wake of destruction in other people. My father's side of the family lived shamefully, hiding in the shadows, and embracing sins like alcoholism, molestation, incest, domestic violence, and adultery just to name a few. The cycle continued. Many years ago I talked to a female cousin who told me she had been sexually abused by an uncle. She told me every single female member of the extended family had been sexually abused. Hurt people hurting other people.
Even as a first grader some of those cousins, who were getting abused themselves, introduced me to sexual intercourse. I eye witnessed my cousins who were brothers and sisters having sexual intercourse. They even tried to get me to do it as a first grader! I have not thought of that in decades. Broken.
To even write about these things is shocking to me today. When I first started writing this I had no thought or intention of delving into my broken past. Over the years I have seldom talked about the sexual abuse of childhood. Ashamed. Embarrassed. A victim. To have males in my family try to sexually abuse me seems like a distant memory now. It doesn't even seem real but the memories are not made up. In my mind I travel back to hidden places in the woods near mossy oak trees, in bedrooms where all the cousins slept in the same bed irregardless of age, and in hidden isolated rooms where shameful things could be done secretly. I recall an incident in an outhouse.
I grew up broken. I did not understand my anger. Raging anger. I fought as a child and teenager a lot. Football was not just a game for me. It was my life. My identify. My way out. I had to succeed. I hurt many people along the way. Anyone who stood in the way of my dreams and goals. A hardened young man, rebellious, defiant, and not trusting. A victim.
Then one October night in 1983 I met Jesus. He touched me. He changed me. He transformed me. He healed me. He saved me. He delivered me. He loved me. He rescued me. He adopted me. I am no longer broken. No longer a victim. I am a victor in Jesus. I am overcoming. I am continually being made whole. I am constantly being renewed.
Even to this day I battle trust issues. I am not broken and fractured like I used to be. I live to help other broken people find healing and wholeness in Jesus. He is the only One who can do that. I praise Him that what He did for me He is still doing for others to this day. It is my honor to serve Him by helping broken people.
Broken people are all around us. They are broken for various reasons. Some due to poor decisions they made and others broken due to poor decisions of others around them. Broken people are damaged. Damaged emotionally. Damaged psychologically. They are also fractured. Wounded.
I cannot get this off my mind and heart. I think of sons who grew up or are growing up with tyrannical fathers. Those fathers constantly criticize. They never encourage. No matter the performance the son can never match up to the high expectations of a demanding father. Those sons will grow up their whole lives, even into adulthood, striving to hear these words, "Son, I am proud of you and I love you." They will work to succeed but always feel like they could not measure up. They will feel like failures. Those broken sons in many cases grow up to have sons they do the same things to because they do not know how to do it differently.
Some daughters grow up broken because they were abandoned. Fathers just walked away. Walked out of their lives forever. Others were abused in horrific ways that fractured them and damaged in ways we can never fathom. They will always have trust issues. Their self esteem is destroyed and in worst cases they give themselves away to any man or woman who shows some interest. They play at sex searching in vain for love while sadly others play at love with them just to get sex.
Broken. Damaged. Fractured. We work around such people. They might be our neighbors. Our children might go to the same schools. We might even sit next to them in a house of worship.
Are we aware? Do we notice? Can we identify those who spent the night in silent sobbing? Can we see those who keep everyone at arm's length because they have trust issues. I am such a person. As a child I remember clearly a family member slapping me across the face in a fit of anger. I remember vividly a drunk uncle picking up a bull whip to whip me. He lashed me several times. I know he was angry. Did I deserve to be whipped with a bull whip? In hindsight I know now my uncle was physically abused by his alcoholic father. He just acted out the things that had been done to him as a younger man. My paternal grandfather sexually abused my aunts while my grandmother held them down. WHY? Sick, twisted, perverted, and broken.
Hurt people hurt other people. Broken people break other people. Damaged folks leave a wake of destruction in other people. My father's side of the family lived shamefully, hiding in the shadows, and embracing sins like alcoholism, molestation, incest, domestic violence, and adultery just to name a few. The cycle continued. Many years ago I talked to a female cousin who told me she had been sexually abused by an uncle. She told me every single female member of the extended family had been sexually abused. Hurt people hurting other people.
Even as a first grader some of those cousins, who were getting abused themselves, introduced me to sexual intercourse. I eye witnessed my cousins who were brothers and sisters having sexual intercourse. They even tried to get me to do it as a first grader! I have not thought of that in decades. Broken.
To even write about these things is shocking to me today. When I first started writing this I had no thought or intention of delving into my broken past. Over the years I have seldom talked about the sexual abuse of childhood. Ashamed. Embarrassed. A victim. To have males in my family try to sexually abuse me seems like a distant memory now. It doesn't even seem real but the memories are not made up. In my mind I travel back to hidden places in the woods near mossy oak trees, in bedrooms where all the cousins slept in the same bed irregardless of age, and in hidden isolated rooms where shameful things could be done secretly. I recall an incident in an outhouse.
I grew up broken. I did not understand my anger. Raging anger. I fought as a child and teenager a lot. Football was not just a game for me. It was my life. My identify. My way out. I had to succeed. I hurt many people along the way. Anyone who stood in the way of my dreams and goals. A hardened young man, rebellious, defiant, and not trusting. A victim.
Then one October night in 1983 I met Jesus. He touched me. He changed me. He transformed me. He healed me. He saved me. He delivered me. He loved me. He rescued me. He adopted me. I am no longer broken. No longer a victim. I am a victor in Jesus. I am overcoming. I am continually being made whole. I am constantly being renewed.
Even to this day I battle trust issues. I am not broken and fractured like I used to be. I live to help other broken people find healing and wholeness in Jesus. He is the only One who can do that. I praise Him that what He did for me He is still doing for others to this day. It is my honor to serve Him by helping broken people.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Confirmation
I struggled with what to preach last week. I even started studying two passages only to discard them midway through due to lack of peace. I prayed and prayed for a clear direction from God. Nothing. No inspiration. No burden. No discernment. I read scripture. I prayed and prayed some more. Still nothing came.
Late Thursday afternoon I walked into the sanctuary, walked down front, mounted the stairs and prostrated myself next to the pulpit. I pleaded with God to give me something. I asked for a fresh word. For the word He wanted to speak to His people. I am not sure how long I prayed. I eventually left in the same condition I started with no direction.
The next morning I received a text. Like lightening shooting through my heart the long desired inspiration came through a text message. I immediately found the passage laid on my heart, began the work of word studies, organizing thoughts and Bible truths and coming up with all the needed research. The message flowed. I eagerly awaited to deliver it.
I preached a message I would not have come up with on my own in a hundred years. I would have never thought to preach on that particular passage. God spoke. I could see it on the faces of the people. I poured out my soul in that message. He worked. Many fell under conviction but not condemnation.
When the service ended I stood at the back to greet people as they left. A little girl walked over to me and handed me a picture she colored in her Bible study class. I could not believe it. There are on top of the picture was the very verse I had just preached. It seemed pretty clear to me that Jesus prompted me to preach that message. It also seemed clear to me that without my knowing it the message coincided with the children's lesson that day as well. Clear confirmation. Thank you Jesus.
Late Thursday afternoon I walked into the sanctuary, walked down front, mounted the stairs and prostrated myself next to the pulpit. I pleaded with God to give me something. I asked for a fresh word. For the word He wanted to speak to His people. I am not sure how long I prayed. I eventually left in the same condition I started with no direction.
The next morning I received a text. Like lightening shooting through my heart the long desired inspiration came through a text message. I immediately found the passage laid on my heart, began the work of word studies, organizing thoughts and Bible truths and coming up with all the needed research. The message flowed. I eagerly awaited to deliver it.
I preached a message I would not have come up with on my own in a hundred years. I would have never thought to preach on that particular passage. God spoke. I could see it on the faces of the people. I poured out my soul in that message. He worked. Many fell under conviction but not condemnation.
When the service ended I stood at the back to greet people as they left. A little girl walked over to me and handed me a picture she colored in her Bible study class. I could not believe it. There are on top of the picture was the very verse I had just preached. It seemed pretty clear to me that Jesus prompted me to preach that message. It also seemed clear to me that without my knowing it the message coincided with the children's lesson that day as well. Clear confirmation. Thank you Jesus.
Sunday, September 2, 2018
They Cannot Bring Themselves
My heart is heavy today. I've been praying under a heavy burden. A burden for lost souls. That burden shifted at some point to a burden for little children. Little children who are growing up in homes where the Bible is never opened, the name of Jesus or God are never uttered except in profanity, prayers are never offered, and where abuse is rampant. Verbal abuse. Emotional abuse. Physical abuse.
I begged God for a ministry to these little ones. I LOVE CHILDREN. I volunteered at VBS and had children hanging all over me. They clutched my hands, hung all over me, sat in my lap and begged for my attention. It made me uncomfortable because of all the abuse scandals but I could not fight them off. They were persistent. Precious little souls Jesus loves. Yes, Jesus loves the little children as the song goes. All the children of the world. Children of all races. They are precious to Him. That means they are precious to me too!
Many times I used to take my sons lunch. Their friends would fight to sit near me and get my attention. I nicknamed one troubled little kid, "Cool Breeze." He never forgot it. Each time I returned he wanted to make sure I knew his nickname.
My burden intensified in prayer today when I thought of the scores of children who would love to learn about Jesus but nobody tells them and they cannot bring themselves to worship or a Bible study. Somebody has to bring them if they will ever come. Or we have to go to them.
I once heard someone complain about parents dropping their children off for a Bible study and using it as baby sitting. I say praise God they came. Praise God their impressionable and formative little minds heard about Jesus and heard Bible truth. How many dozens and dozens would love to come and learn if they just had someone to bring them. The greater good is served if children meet Jesus and Savior and maybe entire families.
I know children are fidgety. They wiggle and squeal. They often run instead of walk. They talk incessantly. They sometimes do not follow the rules. Yet, Jesus with a group of little children just like that welcomed those little ones. How can we the people of God not do the same. Children are inconvenient. They are tattle tales. They can be unruly. They are messy and loud. Yes to all that but JESUS LOVES THEM. WE AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD MAY BE THE ONLY CHANCE THEY EVER HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT HIM because their own families do not know Him.
Mark 10:13-14 (NKJV)
13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
After VBS most of those beautiful little ones never returned. How can they? They cannot bring themselves. This stirs in my soul right now. How do we minister more effectively to children? If they are not coming to us then we have to find ways to go to them. Children are important to Jesus and must be important to us.
When I was in fourth or fifth grade we attended a worship service as a family which happened infrequently. In my little class I learned about a contest they were having. Whomever brought the most friends over the next several weeks would win a free airplane ride. My competitive juices kicked in. I'd never rode in an airplane and I determined to win that contest. I invited my friends, cousins and anyone who would come. Me, a very irregular attender myself, won that airplane ride. I drove my family crazy to make sure we picked up those I invited and I did not miss a week during that contest. It was an exciting plane ride for awhile on a small two propeller plane and then I got bored and fell asleep.The one thing I do remember is flying over the football stadium where I would play high school ball. More importantly it's the place I met Jesus as Savior as a teenager.
Later that year I went to a children's camp. They had a contest to give away a trophy to the person who memorized the most Bible verses. I wore my counselors out quoting verse after verse all day. I skipped free time to memorize verses. I wanted that trophy. I was lost in my sin but memorizing scripture. I won that trophy. It was many years later before God won my heart.
I think of all the pain, insecurity, anger and trust issues that could have been avoided in my life if I had met Jesus at an earlier age. I had a hunger for spiritual things. Often I got my grandmother's Bible and read it. I often looked through the pictures in my children's Bible. I had a hunger to learn. My mother did not. She seldom ever took me to any church related activities. When she did it was infrequent.
Somebody brought Jesus to me while watching a football game. What child out there needs me to bring Jesus to them and their family. What group of friends need me to bring Jesus to them at a park or in their neighborhood. Somebody just like me needs to hear about Jesus as a youngster.
I know a youth pastor, 64 years old, who still plays flag football with neighborhood students every Sunday afternoon. Dozens show up to play with Mark Julian. He invests in them and many have to come faith in Jesus and been discipled under his leadership. Mark's knees hurt him after such games. He still shows up. Yes, he loves football. He loves Jesus and students more.
How many children cannot bring themselves but long to learn about Jesus. Church, what will we do about it. Hope they will somehow come. Will we go and get them? Will we go where they are? Will we be like Jesus and welcome them?
I'm 51 today. I've been saved 31 years. I look back and thank God for the First Church of the Nazarenes and for Denman Avenue Baptist Church back in Lufkin, TX. One church touched me in my childhood years. Denman Avenue youth ministries were used to introduce me to a saving relationship with Jesus and disciple me into maturity as a teenager. It was through Denman Avenue on a Sunday evening I first felt God's call to preach and publicly surrendered months later.
How many others are just like me when I was young out there. Hurting. Lonely. Needing to be loved. Needing to be introduced to Jesus. Jesus, I beg You to burden our hearts with Your love for those little ones and help us find ways to minster to them and bring them to You. In Your name I ask and believe it. Amen.
I begged God for a ministry to these little ones. I LOVE CHILDREN. I volunteered at VBS and had children hanging all over me. They clutched my hands, hung all over me, sat in my lap and begged for my attention. It made me uncomfortable because of all the abuse scandals but I could not fight them off. They were persistent. Precious little souls Jesus loves. Yes, Jesus loves the little children as the song goes. All the children of the world. Children of all races. They are precious to Him. That means they are precious to me too!
Many times I used to take my sons lunch. Their friends would fight to sit near me and get my attention. I nicknamed one troubled little kid, "Cool Breeze." He never forgot it. Each time I returned he wanted to make sure I knew his nickname.
My burden intensified in prayer today when I thought of the scores of children who would love to learn about Jesus but nobody tells them and they cannot bring themselves to worship or a Bible study. Somebody has to bring them if they will ever come. Or we have to go to them.
I once heard someone complain about parents dropping their children off for a Bible study and using it as baby sitting. I say praise God they came. Praise God their impressionable and formative little minds heard about Jesus and heard Bible truth. How many dozens and dozens would love to come and learn if they just had someone to bring them. The greater good is served if children meet Jesus and Savior and maybe entire families.
I know children are fidgety. They wiggle and squeal. They often run instead of walk. They talk incessantly. They sometimes do not follow the rules. Yet, Jesus with a group of little children just like that welcomed those little ones. How can we the people of God not do the same. Children are inconvenient. They are tattle tales. They can be unruly. They are messy and loud. Yes to all that but JESUS LOVES THEM. WE AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD MAY BE THE ONLY CHANCE THEY EVER HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT HIM because their own families do not know Him.
Mark 10:13-14 (NKJV)
13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
After VBS most of those beautiful little ones never returned. How can they? They cannot bring themselves. This stirs in my soul right now. How do we minister more effectively to children? If they are not coming to us then we have to find ways to go to them. Children are important to Jesus and must be important to us.
When I was in fourth or fifth grade we attended a worship service as a family which happened infrequently. In my little class I learned about a contest they were having. Whomever brought the most friends over the next several weeks would win a free airplane ride. My competitive juices kicked in. I'd never rode in an airplane and I determined to win that contest. I invited my friends, cousins and anyone who would come. Me, a very irregular attender myself, won that airplane ride. I drove my family crazy to make sure we picked up those I invited and I did not miss a week during that contest. It was an exciting plane ride for awhile on a small two propeller plane and then I got bored and fell asleep.The one thing I do remember is flying over the football stadium where I would play high school ball. More importantly it's the place I met Jesus as Savior as a teenager.
Later that year I went to a children's camp. They had a contest to give away a trophy to the person who memorized the most Bible verses. I wore my counselors out quoting verse after verse all day. I skipped free time to memorize verses. I wanted that trophy. I was lost in my sin but memorizing scripture. I won that trophy. It was many years later before God won my heart.
I think of all the pain, insecurity, anger and trust issues that could have been avoided in my life if I had met Jesus at an earlier age. I had a hunger for spiritual things. Often I got my grandmother's Bible and read it. I often looked through the pictures in my children's Bible. I had a hunger to learn. My mother did not. She seldom ever took me to any church related activities. When she did it was infrequent.
Somebody brought Jesus to me while watching a football game. What child out there needs me to bring Jesus to them and their family. What group of friends need me to bring Jesus to them at a park or in their neighborhood. Somebody just like me needs to hear about Jesus as a youngster.
I know a youth pastor, 64 years old, who still plays flag football with neighborhood students every Sunday afternoon. Dozens show up to play with Mark Julian. He invests in them and many have to come faith in Jesus and been discipled under his leadership. Mark's knees hurt him after such games. He still shows up. Yes, he loves football. He loves Jesus and students more.
How many children cannot bring themselves but long to learn about Jesus. Church, what will we do about it. Hope they will somehow come. Will we go and get them? Will we go where they are? Will we be like Jesus and welcome them?
I'm 51 today. I've been saved 31 years. I look back and thank God for the First Church of the Nazarenes and for Denman Avenue Baptist Church back in Lufkin, TX. One church touched me in my childhood years. Denman Avenue youth ministries were used to introduce me to a saving relationship with Jesus and disciple me into maturity as a teenager. It was through Denman Avenue on a Sunday evening I first felt God's call to preach and publicly surrendered months later.
How many others are just like me when I was young out there. Hurting. Lonely. Needing to be loved. Needing to be introduced to Jesus. Jesus, I beg You to burden our hearts with Your love for those little ones and help us find ways to minster to them and bring them to You. In Your name I ask and believe it. Amen.
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