Out of the pandemic several phrases have caught on and have become common. Social distancing. Self quarantining. Anti-maskers. The new normal. Out of all those phrases the one I detest the most in the new normal. I feel like society is being conditioned to accept the current status quo. To do so is to acquiesce to abnormal things.
In the history of our world, it is not normal to avoid any contact with other people outside your home. God designed us to be people who live in community with other people. We are told we cannot do that in person anymore. We are supposed to accept things like zoom as the alternative. Television commercials support this. Public service announcements remind us of this. People have been quarantined in the past. It was the sick people. Not society as a whole? Depression is on the rise. Anxiety is increasing as well as stress. Bills are mounting and finances are dwindling. We need one another. We need to stir one another toward love and good works as Hebrews 10:25 exhorts us.
I could not believe it. The new normal is online church services. In California all worship services inside a building are banned. Even singing is banned by the Governor.. Singing in the new normal is detrimental to the health of others. Think of every pandemic in the history of the world. Were churches shut down in the past, but abortion clinics could remain open as essential. Worship is essential for followers of Jesus. At what point do Christians reject the new normal where you are told you cannot even sing a hymn or worship song to God?
It is not normal to walk around wearing a mask. Think of the irony of it. In the past, people who wore face masks robbed you. Dr. Fauci actually said in March wearing face masks would not be helpful. Look it up. Yet here we are ordered to wear them. It is the new normal. It is not normal at all. Quit believing that. Why was Fauci seen at a Washington Nationals baseball game sitting with two other people and not covering his mouth or nose in the stands and not socially distanced?
Why are people refusing to accept cash or not unless you have exact change? Is there a new normal push to get rid of cash currency in society? If so, what is the new normal agenda behind it?
Why is it considered the new normal to protest and to physically assault people and police officers? Why is everyone caving into peer pressure to bow the knee at the national anthem instead of standing with respect for those soldiers who fought and died to provide this freedom for us? Why is it the new normal for the Supreme Court to vote 5-4 to not to allow a Nevada church to have over 50 people in attendance when thousands are allowed to flock to the casinos? Why is there so much pressure to say churches remaining open spreads corona while BLM and ANTIFA protesters are encouraged to meet? Why am I forced to wear a mask into a restaurant, but as soon as the chips and salsa arrive I can remove it to eat? This is the new normal. Why is it the new normal to give people the stink eye for not wearing masks?
We are being programmed. Conditioned to accept the new normal. Brainwashed wit the same messaging to think we are doing our civic duty to give into CDC guidelines.
Why would I trust the government? I am expected to live within my means and balance my checking account at the end of the month. They have shown themselves repeatedly to be fiscally irresponsible. Has a politician ever lied to the American people before? Have they ever covered up the truth, spun the facts, given double talk and doubled down on talking points they want to get out there? Has the government ever spied on its own citizens? Does the news anchor always tell the truth and the whole story? Is the news biased toward one political party over the rest? Are politicians out of touch with the common people? Are they filled with self interests, greed, and personal agendas? Do politicians ever intentionally deceive? WHY WOULD I TRUST THEM TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU AND ME? MY FAITH REMAINS IN GO AND JESUS ALONE!
Are the corona statistics accurate? Are the tests really reliable? Somebody sure wants us to believe they are. It is the new normal. Some say we will never go back to life as it used to be. The government will never willingly give up civil liberties snatched from a silent cowardly society. Again we are being conditioned to accept as normal something that is abnormal. Why are medical doctors who speak out against the CDC and Fauci threatened with silence or the loss of their medical license. This is nothing less than medical tyranny. There is no longer free speech.
I still have free speech. Yahweh, Jehovah and His Son Jesus are exclusively God. There is no other way to salvation except through Jesus. Not Allah. Not Mohammad. Not self enlightenment. Not any other religion. Salvation comes through Jesus alone by faith alone and not as a result of works. The Bible is exclusively the Word of God. God breathed. Inspired by Him through human authors. It is truth for all time. The Ekklesia, the church, is ordained of God. We are commanded not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as is the habit of some [Heb 10:24]. We are to assemble. It is not assembling when I sit in front of a camera at home in my living room and others do the same. We are to assemble, even if the group remains small. Even if we go back to the Acts model and meet in homes. The church is to assemble. And all the more as the end approaches. Marriage is between one man and one woman. Homosexuality is sin. Transgenderism is sin. Same sex marriage is sin. That is normal. Same sex marriage is not normal. Deceiving and twisting the minds of young children to alter their gender is not normal.
I will not be one who accepts the new normal. I will use my brain and think refusing to just go along. I will be a preacher and teacher of Bible truth. I will seek to love all people. I will seek to speak the truth in love. I will not be afraid to disagree and to stand alone.
I was so proud to hear about the San Francisco Giants pitcher who refused to take a knee when they played the national anthem. He said he could only bow to Jesus as a Christian. I am sure he has paid a price for that stand. The same cost you and I will have to pay to go against and reject the new normal. Choose you this day who you will serve. As for me and the Edwards household, we will serve Jesus. That is our normal.
Monday, July 27, 2020
Count The Cost
The time has come for followers of Jesus to count the cost of following. This is not new. From as far back to the book of Acts and to modern day gospel closed countries, people have counted and paid a high price for following Jesus.
In the United States, we are being told what we can say and not say. Terms are being redefined and censored. People are told that going to church spreads the corona virus while BLM and ANTIFA rallies are not as highly scrutinized. Such protestors can violently attack with little to no repercussions while people who try to defend themselves or their property are called racist.
We are now told you cannot use the word "master". One of the most famous golf tournaments in the world has been told they need to change their name. I want you to read this next statement very carefully. JESUS CHRIST IS MY MASTER. I AM HIS BONDSLAVE. He has earned the right to rule and reign in my life. Not my life only. In the life of every blood bought redeemed man, woman or child.
In a world hurling head long into prophetic end times, it is time for the people of God to courageously live with convictions. In a time when anarchy is on the rise, when respect for authority is decreasing, when people are bullied into making political correct stances and speeches, I say WE MUST OBEY GOD AND NOT MEN. We must speak Bible truth in love. We must not water it down to blend in with the culture. We must present Bible truth and the gospel good news without shame and with love.
In just a few months, sinister forces have stripped the United States of freedoms and independence we once took for granted. We have been deceived, fooled, hoodwinked, told lies, brainwashed and we took the bait. There are numerous reports about people who were not even tested for corona who got emails or phone calls that they tested positive. There are numerous reports about people dying from cancer, car accidents, old age, and numerous other things but the cause of death being labeled as corona virus. 333 testing sites in one state tested 50,000 people and all of them tested positive. Even in Texas, if one person in a household tests positive they automatically assume everyone in the house is positive. Do you see how the numbers keep rising on the evening news. There were supposed to be millions die when all this began. Sinister forces are at work. Forces like Bill Gates and George Soros. We watched our economy get crushed, people imprisoned under house arrest, denied access to goods and services if we did not wear a mask. Even though medical reports are numerous about the ill effects of wearing masks and its ineffectiveness against protecting you from the corona virus.
If you are show up for in person worship, you are viewed with suspicion. You will be labeled a dissenter if you do not wear a mask or take the coming vaccine. Mark my words. The day will come when this vaccine will be mandated even though reports are that the vaccine will genetically modify the DNA of a person.
Corona hit Spring Creek Baptist Church. Out of a congregation of 50 people at least 8 tested positive. We shut down for two weeks. I tested positive and isolated myself for nearly three weeks. My convictions will not allows me to keep the church shut down indefinitely. I don't care if only five show up or if 105 attend. Virtual online church is not the same. It can never be the same. I understand the costs associated with keeping Spring Creek open. Snitches will tell on you. Numerous instances have already happened when people showed up in other churches taking pictures and videos to report to the local law enforcement officials and to health care officials. It is a price I am willing to pay. Convictions mandate that I worship in person and continue to proclaim the truth of God's words in person as well as online as long as I can.
Social media platforms already censor and remove conservative voices and points of view labeling some things as hate speech. In the eyes of Jesus, all lives matter. Black. Brown. White. All lives matter. Police lives matter. There is no excuse for police brutality when an officer crosses the line. There is also no excuse when protestors block traffic and point guns at people as well as destroying property. When a guy gets murdered for holding a vote for Trump sign something is wrong. Threats continue that if Trump gets re-elected protestors will burn the nation down intimidating people. I am here to say according to Bible prophecy things are going to get much much worse before the end.
By and large, the people of God sit silently, compliantly, and cowardly. These days you have to count the cost of following Jesus. The price could get very high. I say emphatically, MAY WE NEVER TURN OUR BACKS ON JESUS WHO PLACED HIS BACK ON A CROSS FOR US.
In the United States, we are being told what we can say and not say. Terms are being redefined and censored. People are told that going to church spreads the corona virus while BLM and ANTIFA rallies are not as highly scrutinized. Such protestors can violently attack with little to no repercussions while people who try to defend themselves or their property are called racist.
We are now told you cannot use the word "master". One of the most famous golf tournaments in the world has been told they need to change their name. I want you to read this next statement very carefully. JESUS CHRIST IS MY MASTER. I AM HIS BONDSLAVE. He has earned the right to rule and reign in my life. Not my life only. In the life of every blood bought redeemed man, woman or child.
In a world hurling head long into prophetic end times, it is time for the people of God to courageously live with convictions. In a time when anarchy is on the rise, when respect for authority is decreasing, when people are bullied into making political correct stances and speeches, I say WE MUST OBEY GOD AND NOT MEN. We must speak Bible truth in love. We must not water it down to blend in with the culture. We must present Bible truth and the gospel good news without shame and with love.
In just a few months, sinister forces have stripped the United States of freedoms and independence we once took for granted. We have been deceived, fooled, hoodwinked, told lies, brainwashed and we took the bait. There are numerous reports about people who were not even tested for corona who got emails or phone calls that they tested positive. There are numerous reports about people dying from cancer, car accidents, old age, and numerous other things but the cause of death being labeled as corona virus. 333 testing sites in one state tested 50,000 people and all of them tested positive. Even in Texas, if one person in a household tests positive they automatically assume everyone in the house is positive. Do you see how the numbers keep rising on the evening news. There were supposed to be millions die when all this began. Sinister forces are at work. Forces like Bill Gates and George Soros. We watched our economy get crushed, people imprisoned under house arrest, denied access to goods and services if we did not wear a mask. Even though medical reports are numerous about the ill effects of wearing masks and its ineffectiveness against protecting you from the corona virus.
If you are show up for in person worship, you are viewed with suspicion. You will be labeled a dissenter if you do not wear a mask or take the coming vaccine. Mark my words. The day will come when this vaccine will be mandated even though reports are that the vaccine will genetically modify the DNA of a person.
Corona hit Spring Creek Baptist Church. Out of a congregation of 50 people at least 8 tested positive. We shut down for two weeks. I tested positive and isolated myself for nearly three weeks. My convictions will not allows me to keep the church shut down indefinitely. I don't care if only five show up or if 105 attend. Virtual online church is not the same. It can never be the same. I understand the costs associated with keeping Spring Creek open. Snitches will tell on you. Numerous instances have already happened when people showed up in other churches taking pictures and videos to report to the local law enforcement officials and to health care officials. It is a price I am willing to pay. Convictions mandate that I worship in person and continue to proclaim the truth of God's words in person as well as online as long as I can.
Social media platforms already censor and remove conservative voices and points of view labeling some things as hate speech. In the eyes of Jesus, all lives matter. Black. Brown. White. All lives matter. Police lives matter. There is no excuse for police brutality when an officer crosses the line. There is also no excuse when protestors block traffic and point guns at people as well as destroying property. When a guy gets murdered for holding a vote for Trump sign something is wrong. Threats continue that if Trump gets re-elected protestors will burn the nation down intimidating people. I am here to say according to Bible prophecy things are going to get much much worse before the end.
By and large, the people of God sit silently, compliantly, and cowardly. These days you have to count the cost of following Jesus. The price could get very high. I say emphatically, MAY WE NEVER TURN OUR BACKS ON JESUS WHO PLACED HIS BACK ON A CROSS FOR US.
Friday, July 10, 2020
Praying Mommas
I am reading a biography of George W. Truett, who served as pastor for FBC Dallas for fifty years. In the book, the story is recounted of how his mother prayed for 26 years for her husband to be saved. He commented he often came upon her in some secluded spot in tears pouring her heart out to God. She prayed fervently for the salvation of her numerous children.
Not everyone has the privilege of growing up with a praying Momma. I never heard my mother pray out loud one time. I am sure she prayed privately. What a blessing for a child to grow up knowing parents pray for them.
When I look back at my formative years, I am thankful for three people. I am thankful for my Aunt Nan. She prayed for me a great deal. She took interest in me getting to church when I was young. We did not go all the time, but my first memories of gathering with people to worship was with Aunt Nan at Keltys United Methodist Church. I recall being asked to voice public prayers in the worship service as a child. That is unusual. Aunt Nan must have known something of God's plan for me.
I am thankful for a lady named Doris Roberts. Mrs. Doris is in her seventies now. She is married to my pastor Charles M. Roberts. As a teenager, I hung out in the wee hours of the morning at a girl's house who lived right across the street from them. Mrs. Doris one day looked at her living room window saw me there and commented to her husband, "I am praying for that young man to get saved." God heard her prayers and did save me. God also planted me in the church where they served. None of us could have known back then that God would choose me to preach.
Finally, I am thankful for the prayers of my wife. In 8th grade she made a committment to pray for her future husband. I was not saved at the time. God heard those prayers. He came after me rescuing my soul in a very dramatic way. I awoke the other night and saw Brenda sitting on the floor by the bed in tears. I thought she had fallen out of bed and hurt herself. She was praying for me and our sons. What a blessing. I have awakened in the night to find her hand on me praying God give me messages. She is a wonderful woman of prayer. I thank God for her.
Give thanks for those praying mommas in your life. Give thanks for those who pleaded with God to open your eyes and heart to the gospel message. I am forever indebted to Aunt Nan, Doris Roberts and Brenda. My life will never be the same because of their fervent petitions lifted for me and what God did in response.
Not everyone has the privilege of growing up with a praying Momma. I never heard my mother pray out loud one time. I am sure she prayed privately. What a blessing for a child to grow up knowing parents pray for them.
When I look back at my formative years, I am thankful for three people. I am thankful for my Aunt Nan. She prayed for me a great deal. She took interest in me getting to church when I was young. We did not go all the time, but my first memories of gathering with people to worship was with Aunt Nan at Keltys United Methodist Church. I recall being asked to voice public prayers in the worship service as a child. That is unusual. Aunt Nan must have known something of God's plan for me.
I am thankful for a lady named Doris Roberts. Mrs. Doris is in her seventies now. She is married to my pastor Charles M. Roberts. As a teenager, I hung out in the wee hours of the morning at a girl's house who lived right across the street from them. Mrs. Doris one day looked at her living room window saw me there and commented to her husband, "I am praying for that young man to get saved." God heard her prayers and did save me. God also planted me in the church where they served. None of us could have known back then that God would choose me to preach.
Finally, I am thankful for the prayers of my wife. In 8th grade she made a committment to pray for her future husband. I was not saved at the time. God heard those prayers. He came after me rescuing my soul in a very dramatic way. I awoke the other night and saw Brenda sitting on the floor by the bed in tears. I thought she had fallen out of bed and hurt herself. She was praying for me and our sons. What a blessing. I have awakened in the night to find her hand on me praying God give me messages. She is a wonderful woman of prayer. I thank God for her.
Give thanks for those praying mommas in your life. Give thanks for those who pleaded with God to open your eyes and heart to the gospel message. I am forever indebted to Aunt Nan, Doris Roberts and Brenda. My life will never be the same because of their fervent petitions lifted for me and what God did in response.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Blindsided
Sometimes you never see it coming. You sail through life on calm seas. You float along on gentle streams. Everything goes along smoothly. Then out of nowhere, you get blindsided by a trial, spiritual attack, set back, or adversity. The force of the blow disorients you throwing all your life in upheaval. In that moment, when it feels the weight of the world is crashing in on you, what do you believe about God then?
I fear many have a tissue paper faith both thin and flimsy. On occasion you cross paths with those who have endured with God. They have been blindsided multiple times. They stay the course. They do not lose heart. The persevere in prayer. They don't stop believing in God or His promises. These are people who have been blindsided and they keep standing. Draw near to such people. Learn from them.
It is more common to find people who complain, whine and doubt when blindsided. They fold up like a tent. Because they are not grounded in God's word, the roots of their faith have not grown deep. They have not sunk their hearts and minds deep into the soil of God's sovereignty. They live the life of faith on a roller coaster of highs and lows based on their circumstances.
People get blindsided all the time. Good people. God fearing people. A woman I love very dearly has ben blindsided by Alzheimer. She is slowly losing her memory a little more each day. People I love and care for have been hit by the Corona virus. It impacts many churches. Friends Brenda and I love are dealing with a prodigal child. Another friend is dealing with two ailing parents quickly fading from life to eternity at the same time.
Brenda and I have been. Multiple times over the years. Multiple times just over the past two weeks.
Life hits hard. It slams against the fragile frame of most people's faith. The winds howl and blow. The rains fall. The floodwaters rise. Some are not able to withstand the blow. They crumble because the foundation of their life was not built on trust in God and His word. It was built on the flimsy fleeting pleasures of this life. The pleasures of the world are temporarily satisfying at best.
It is not a matter of if we get blindsided for most people. It is a matter of when we get blindsided and will we be prepared? Will we be emotionally buoyant? Will the foundation of our family stand in tact when the hard blows come? Will our faith crumble and shatter like chards of glass?
It is a beautiful things to see people deeply rooted in God who have stood tests. Those people are like oaks planted by streams of water. May God make each of us like that.
Matthew 7:24-27 (YLT)
24 `Therefore, every one who doth hear of me these words, and doth do them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock;
25 and the rain did descend, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, and it fell not, for it had been founded on the rock.
26 `And every one who is hearing of me these words, and is not doing them, shall be likened to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand;
27 and the rain did descend, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, and it fell, and its fall was great.'
Psalm 1:1-3 (NASB)
1
How blessed is the man who does not
walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the
path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of
scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
I fear many have a tissue paper faith both thin and flimsy. On occasion you cross paths with those who have endured with God. They have been blindsided multiple times. They stay the course. They do not lose heart. The persevere in prayer. They don't stop believing in God or His promises. These are people who have been blindsided and they keep standing. Draw near to such people. Learn from them.
It is more common to find people who complain, whine and doubt when blindsided. They fold up like a tent. Because they are not grounded in God's word, the roots of their faith have not grown deep. They have not sunk their hearts and minds deep into the soil of God's sovereignty. They live the life of faith on a roller coaster of highs and lows based on their circumstances.
People get blindsided all the time. Good people. God fearing people. A woman I love very dearly has ben blindsided by Alzheimer. She is slowly losing her memory a little more each day. People I love and care for have been hit by the Corona virus. It impacts many churches. Friends Brenda and I love are dealing with a prodigal child. Another friend is dealing with two ailing parents quickly fading from life to eternity at the same time.
Brenda and I have been. Multiple times over the years. Multiple times just over the past two weeks.
Life hits hard. It slams against the fragile frame of most people's faith. The winds howl and blow. The rains fall. The floodwaters rise. Some are not able to withstand the blow. They crumble because the foundation of their life was not built on trust in God and His word. It was built on the flimsy fleeting pleasures of this life. The pleasures of the world are temporarily satisfying at best.
It is not a matter of if we get blindsided for most people. It is a matter of when we get blindsided and will we be prepared? Will we be emotionally buoyant? Will the foundation of our family stand in tact when the hard blows come? Will our faith crumble and shatter like chards of glass?
It is a beautiful things to see people deeply rooted in God who have stood tests. Those people are like oaks planted by streams of water. May God make each of us like that.
Matthew 7:24-27 (YLT)
24 `Therefore, every one who doth hear of me these words, and doth do them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock;
25 and the rain did descend, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, and it fell not, for it had been founded on the rock.
26 `And every one who is hearing of me these words, and is not doing them, shall be likened to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand;
27 and the rain did descend, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, and it fell, and its fall was great.'
Psalm 1:1-3 (NASB)
1
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
Monday, July 6, 2020
Tests Build Testimonies
Teddy was a star football quarterback. He excelled at every level of football. He got drafted to play in the NFL. His performance looked promising. People projected his success ceiling to be high. Teddy rallied his team. His personality attracted people and he showed promising leadership skills. Teddy also followed Jesus.
One day on a routine play in practice Teddy injured his knee horrifically. He tore it so badly most experts thought he would never play again. He endured a grueling surgery and the doubts by all the experts. His rehab took well over a year befoer he could even practice again. Most thought he was finished. One day he made a profound statement during an interview about his faith in God. He commented, "You cannot have a testimony without a test."
They say pressures builds character. Coach Herb Rios always told me pressure reveals character. What Teddy Bridgewater's pressure revealed was a rock solid faith in His God. That happened several years ago. This past offseason Teddy was signed by the Carolina Panthers to be their starting quarterback for the upcoming football season.
Tests build testimonies. Teddy did not give up. Nor did Abraham Lincoln after suffering failure and losses in elections. Nor did Jonathan Edwards when the church he inherited from his grandfather as pastor fired him after 23 years of faithful service. Amy Carmichael did not give up her quest to deliver children from slavery, though she was bedridden. William Carey lost his wife on the mission field, but stayed the course. Hudson Taylor lost two wives and children in China, but he did not quit. He pressed on and did not grow bitter. He grew better and stronger. Jackie Pullinger endured trial after trial in her labors in Hong Kong. She has a fifty plus year legacy of missionary services and myriads of transformed lives.
We often hate tests. I can't say I enjoyed them as a student. That is with one exception. When I felt prepared. When I studied hard and gained the information, I entered those tests confidently. I felt so confident after one final exam I commented the professor when I turned it in putting my hand to my mouth like holding a slice of cake, "It was a piece of cake." I meant to say if softly. My voice carried and everyone in the class laughed. It embarrassed me but my confident remained. I made a high "A" on that test.
When you walk with God, you have tested and proved Him over and over again, the tests do not break you. They reveal what is inside you. When God is inside of you and His word, you can stand firm. Teddy did. His testimony is not over. Neither is yours or mine.
One day on a routine play in practice Teddy injured his knee horrifically. He tore it so badly most experts thought he would never play again. He endured a grueling surgery and the doubts by all the experts. His rehab took well over a year befoer he could even practice again. Most thought he was finished. One day he made a profound statement during an interview about his faith in God. He commented, "You cannot have a testimony without a test."
They say pressures builds character. Coach Herb Rios always told me pressure reveals character. What Teddy Bridgewater's pressure revealed was a rock solid faith in His God. That happened several years ago. This past offseason Teddy was signed by the Carolina Panthers to be their starting quarterback for the upcoming football season.
Tests build testimonies. Teddy did not give up. Nor did Abraham Lincoln after suffering failure and losses in elections. Nor did Jonathan Edwards when the church he inherited from his grandfather as pastor fired him after 23 years of faithful service. Amy Carmichael did not give up her quest to deliver children from slavery, though she was bedridden. William Carey lost his wife on the mission field, but stayed the course. Hudson Taylor lost two wives and children in China, but he did not quit. He pressed on and did not grow bitter. He grew better and stronger. Jackie Pullinger endured trial after trial in her labors in Hong Kong. She has a fifty plus year legacy of missionary services and myriads of transformed lives.
We often hate tests. I can't say I enjoyed them as a student. That is with one exception. When I felt prepared. When I studied hard and gained the information, I entered those tests confidently. I felt so confident after one final exam I commented the professor when I turned it in putting my hand to my mouth like holding a slice of cake, "It was a piece of cake." I meant to say if softly. My voice carried and everyone in the class laughed. It embarrassed me but my confident remained. I made a high "A" on that test.
When you walk with God, you have tested and proved Him over and over again, the tests do not break you. They reveal what is inside you. When God is inside of you and His word, you can stand firm. Teddy did. His testimony is not over. Neither is yours or mine.
Anchored
When we think about boats or ships there is so much to catch the eye. The shape and size of the craft. The size of the engine. The purpose of the vessel such as for; sailing, fishing, skiing, cruising, or war. One of the things most would not pay much attention to would be the anchor. The dropped anchor holds the vessel fast.
We are living in very chaotic times. I keep hearing people say, "Whoever dreamed we would see such things in our lifetimes." Our world has fundamentally changed. It will never be the same again. Chaos seems to be increasing. At the same time, peace seems to be decreasing in society. It is both an interesting and challenging time to be alive.
In a time when people are finding it harder to cope with unpleasant realities, where is the anchor? The things people anchored their lives to in the past have all crumbled and leaving people adrift. Financial security gone. Career advancement limited in a down turn economy. Education unstable as millions fight for the same jobs. Sports gone over night. Even family has added stress during these times of quarantining and social distancing. People once found anchor in the church, but even the church has been adversely affected by the pandemic. Just when most churches were getting back open many have shut down again due to the widespread pandemic.
The racial upheaval has left many unsure as to what to say or wear for fear of backlash. This includes the church. Society has censored what words are acceptable. They are trying to remove the word "master." Jesus is my MASTER! I am his bondservant or dare I say it, I am a slave to Jesus Christ. Not involuntarily but voluntary servitude to the one who saved my soul and transformed my life.
Jesus is not only my Master, He is my King. He is also my anchor. The one I hold fast to. In these turbulent days, Jesus is what gives us a steadfast foundation. When everything else is crumbling, Jesus still stands firm. He is a rock. He is also the anchor people need today. Even more so as the end draws near. Set your souls deep in Him.
Saturday, July 4, 2020
The Fruit of Affliction
How many like affliction? It is not pleasant to go through adversity or adversities. It is a part of the human experience. Yet, we find inspiration in those who suffered and persevered. Bible characters like Joseph, Moses, David, Jesus and Paul have helped many people through difficult seasons.
Few people I've ever met want to go through affliction. Truth is most people will do anything necessary to avoid such seasons. Should they ever find themselves there, they will fixate on doing everything in their power to get out of the misery. That has been my experience over the years.
I think about missionary David Brainerd. Brainerd worked among native Americans in the 1700's. He mostly worked alone. We would not even know the name David Brainerd except for the fruit of affliction. Brainerd got expelled from college for criticizing a professor publicly. Without formal education, Brainerd would never live out his dream to pastor a church. Therefore, he went down the missionary path.
Brainerd also suffered from Tuberculosis. He suffered excruciatingly painful afflictions in his service for the Lord. He often had long coughing spells where he spit up blood. Yet he labored tirelessly for the salvation of native Americans in the Delaware area. He battled the heat and brutal winters in his tent with none to attend to his needs. He never married and labored alone. He had few missionary friends who lived nearby forcing him to live and labor alone. He also suffered from bouts of what he called melancholy. We would call it depression.
In the fertile ground of these afflictions God brought fruit from Brainerd. God used Brainerd to reach several Indians for Jesus. The reason we know this is because Brainerd kept a diary. Brainerd recorded the agonizing physical and mental afflictions he endured in his service. He also recorded the devotion to prayer and fasting for the salvation of those who lived in his mission field. He wrote down the difficult days of affliction too.
The reason we even know Brainerd's name, is that he came to the house of Jonathan Edwards where he died at age 29. Edwards read Brainerd's journals and published them into a book. That book has been read by scores of missionaries and pastors to inspire them to endure in affliction. I have read The Life And Diaries Of David Brainerd and received much spiritual help and encouragement from those pages.
It was out of Brainerd's afflictions that God brought some beautiful fruit from his life. It is during the difficult seasons that we grow the most and where some of the best fruit is harvested. I have no doubt someone reading this today is in one of those seasons of affliction. If you cling to faith in the Lord, He can still use you mightily to touch others for Him.
Many years ago I went through what I called, "The long dark season of the soul." It was the hardest four year stretch of my life and ministry. I felt affliction on all sides. I fought in faith to maintain hope and at times my sanity. Preaching through that season was challenging. I mainly preached to myself. Week after week for four years God would lead me to texts that ministered to me and then I would preach them to the people. In hindsight I cannot remember hardly any of them. They are in my files, but I doubt I could preach them the same way now.
One man in our church had major afflictions going in his business. One day he told me about some of his struggles. He asked if I knew what helped him get through? I did not. He said it was those sermons I preached during those four years when I could barely muster the strength to enter the pulpit. Seasons where I preached to me more than to the people. God brought fruit out of the affliction.
Press on friend. God is not done. The frown of your present circumstances may indeed conceal the hidden smile of God in providence. You can still bear fruit in affliction. You can still bring glory to God like Brainerd did and a host of others through the ages. Today, I thank God for the fruit of affliction in my life over the years. I hope God will move you to do the same.
Few people I've ever met want to go through affliction. Truth is most people will do anything necessary to avoid such seasons. Should they ever find themselves there, they will fixate on doing everything in their power to get out of the misery. That has been my experience over the years.
I think about missionary David Brainerd. Brainerd worked among native Americans in the 1700's. He mostly worked alone. We would not even know the name David Brainerd except for the fruit of affliction. Brainerd got expelled from college for criticizing a professor publicly. Without formal education, Brainerd would never live out his dream to pastor a church. Therefore, he went down the missionary path.
Brainerd also suffered from Tuberculosis. He suffered excruciatingly painful afflictions in his service for the Lord. He often had long coughing spells where he spit up blood. Yet he labored tirelessly for the salvation of native Americans in the Delaware area. He battled the heat and brutal winters in his tent with none to attend to his needs. He never married and labored alone. He had few missionary friends who lived nearby forcing him to live and labor alone. He also suffered from bouts of what he called melancholy. We would call it depression.
In the fertile ground of these afflictions God brought fruit from Brainerd. God used Brainerd to reach several Indians for Jesus. The reason we know this is because Brainerd kept a diary. Brainerd recorded the agonizing physical and mental afflictions he endured in his service. He also recorded the devotion to prayer and fasting for the salvation of those who lived in his mission field. He wrote down the difficult days of affliction too.
The reason we even know Brainerd's name, is that he came to the house of Jonathan Edwards where he died at age 29. Edwards read Brainerd's journals and published them into a book. That book has been read by scores of missionaries and pastors to inspire them to endure in affliction. I have read The Life And Diaries Of David Brainerd and received much spiritual help and encouragement from those pages.
It was out of Brainerd's afflictions that God brought some beautiful fruit from his life. It is during the difficult seasons that we grow the most and where some of the best fruit is harvested. I have no doubt someone reading this today is in one of those seasons of affliction. If you cling to faith in the Lord, He can still use you mightily to touch others for Him.
Many years ago I went through what I called, "The long dark season of the soul." It was the hardest four year stretch of my life and ministry. I felt affliction on all sides. I fought in faith to maintain hope and at times my sanity. Preaching through that season was challenging. I mainly preached to myself. Week after week for four years God would lead me to texts that ministered to me and then I would preach them to the people. In hindsight I cannot remember hardly any of them. They are in my files, but I doubt I could preach them the same way now.
One man in our church had major afflictions going in his business. One day he told me about some of his struggles. He asked if I knew what helped him get through? I did not. He said it was those sermons I preached during those four years when I could barely muster the strength to enter the pulpit. Seasons where I preached to me more than to the people. God brought fruit out of the affliction.
Press on friend. God is not done. The frown of your present circumstances may indeed conceal the hidden smile of God in providence. You can still bear fruit in affliction. You can still bring glory to God like Brainerd did and a host of others through the ages. Today, I thank God for the fruit of affliction in my life over the years. I hope God will move you to do the same.
Friday, July 3, 2020
Moved By Satan
In the book of I Chronicles in the 21st chapter we find a story that starts in verse one with this phrase, "Satan stood against Israel and moved David to number Israel."
Satan moves people to do a lot of things. He is so clever and deceptive. Most of the time we never see the traps he lays for us. One of the ways he does this is by planting ideas in our heads. That is what he did for David. The thought occurred to David to take a census to see how big his kingdom had grown. That seems pretty harmless on the surface. Let's look deeper.
When Satan moved David to number Israel, there were at least three problems. First, God did not move David to this. Satan did. By this time in David's life he should have known the difference between good ideas and God ideas. That is true for all of us as well.
The second problem was that David would be tempted to put his trust in his numbers rather than God. God helped David win military victories. Sometimes against impossible odds. God wanted David's focus to remain on Him, not on his military might.
Lastly, numbering Israel would be a source of pride for David. To look at all he had accomplished. Again, God wanted David's focus to remain on Him. God grew the kingdom. God won the battles. God increased the nation. God gave them peace and prosperity. God wanted David to remember that.
When Satan moved David to take his eyes off the LORD, we are told God was not pleased. In I Chronicles 21:7 it reads, "God was displeased."
Sin has consequences. This is not something we hear a lot about in these days. I heard a sermon a long time ago with some hard hitting facts about sin. Sin will take you further than you ever wanted to go and cost you more than you ever wanted to pay.
God gave David the choice between three judgments. Famine. Military conflict. Or a plague. David chose the plague. 70,000 Israelites died because of David's sin. At one point, David asked God why the sheep of Israel had to suffer for what He did. Sin cost David more than he ever wanted to pay.
So what is the point? We better be cautious when "moved" to do something. We must question who is moving us. We need to consider the consequences of ideas that come to us. Will it further the kingdom of God and His glory? Will it keep our focus on Him?
70,000 people died because David let Satan move Him to do something foolish. May God grant us discernment to see when Satan tries to move us to sin. May we weigh our ideas on the scales of what pleases God. May Jesus help us not be moved by Satan to displease God.
Thursday, July 2, 2020
An Impossible Mission
They were a small bunch. A little confused. Jesus gave them an impossible mission.
Acts 1:6-8 (NASB)
6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"
7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"
7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
They had no money. No organization. They lived in a brutally hostile environment to their message. People were murdered for this radical religion of The Way led by Jesus and His followers. They were definitely in the minority and went against centuries of religious tradition. Many of these devout followers had previously denied Jesus and protected their own lives instead standing bravely and boldly.
You could see why Jesus might look elsewhere for people to get on the ground floor of starting this new organization called the ekklesia. Through the ages different names have been attached. The church. Fellowships. Communities of Faith. Home gatherings. Cell Church. Temples. Tabernacles.
These were given the impossible mission of taking the message of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Transportation was difficult. They rode horses, donkeys, on wagon or by ship or walked. That did not hinder them. They traveled tirelessly. They had no computers. Yet they handwrite copies of the Bible. They had no cell phones and yet worked tirelessly to get th message out to individuals, small groups and even in entire communities. They had no Bibles. They just had a collection of stories about the life and teachings of Jesus.
Undaunted by all this, they accepted the mission. The book of Acts tells the rest of the story. In case you have not read Acts in a while, let me summrize. They preached Jesus boldly. God empowered through the Holy Spirit. Many people got saved. New ekklesias started. Often the Jesus followers suffered for proclaiming that message. The message spread and still does today.
Now church has become big business. Technological advances make getting the message around the world easier than ever. At the push of a button these blogs can be read by anyone with a computer or cell phone with access to the internet around the globe. During this pandemic Jesus followers have found new and creative ways to get the message out to more people than ever online.
The mission may still look impossible. With all the tools God has made us available to us, will we accept it as whole heartedly as those early believers did when they had so much less to work with. Yet they had more. More power than the average believer. More conviction and boldness. They also had more perseverance. Those are things we all need to keep fulfilling His mission.
What exactly is that mission? Like one pastor said, "Turning atheists into missionaries." That pretty well sums it up. We are not left to do this without divine help. May we continue to labort to the ends of the earth.
I Have Never Been To A Revival
During our revival meetings last night, I heard the same thing from four people under 30 years old. They had never been to a revival meeting before. Some of them had not even heard of a revival meeting. They did not know what to expect. Another person told me they had never been to one and was reluctant to come not knowing what to expect.
There was a day in the not so distant past where churches held at least one, and sometimes, two revival meetings a year. Slowly that began to change. Revival meetings went from a couple of weeks down to a week, then down to four days and now to one time Sunday meetings. I have friends in evangelism ministry. They told me their calendar this year had the most empty dates. That was long before before the pandemic. The sad conclusion is that churches no longer hold revival meetings. It is not important. Even when churches do schedule such meetings, the attendance is usually very light.
The last revival meeting I attended before last week, they squeezed so much into the service they left the guest evangelist 15 minutes to preach. I knew right then there would be no revival in that church.
I have already stated it publicly. We had very good meetings last week. Some might even say great. I can say realistically God didn't unleash real revival on us. As I process the events of last week, I'm left with many questions. Questions God is not obligated to answer.
I do know that many of our people did not take their spiritual preparations seriously. I know the attendance by our own people was pretty sparse during the week. I think a lot of that had to do with the pandemic and the convenience of watching the services online. I think those things contributed to good meetings but not the revival I believe God called us to believe Him for.
It seems to me Satan has masterfully steered flocks and pastors away from revival. What a foolish thing for God's people to blindly do. In true revival, God can do more in one week than we see happen in multiple decades of ministry as usual. It is tragic a generation is growing up in communities of faith who do not even know what revival meetings are. It is shocking and appalling. It also evident.
God chooses when and where He sends genuine revival. God has used revival meetings to call the church to repentance and to save the lost in the past. We are in need of both of those things to still happen today.
May God awaken pastors and followers of Jesus to see the need for revival again in our day. May we all live long enough to see and taste such days of refreshing before Jesus raptures the church.
Shade From The Heat
Summers in Texas get really hot. We typically see multiple days of triple digit temperatures. Native Texans have come to expect it. We know it is coming and we grit our teeth and endure it.
Much of my time is spend driving the Farm to Market roads between Runaway Bay and Weatherford. Most of the drive is through the country. I see multiple horse and cattle ranches. This week while driving home, something caught my eye. I have seen it before but never gave it much thought. I drove through the hottest part of the day and the cows were crowded under the shade of threes.
This did not happen on just one ranch. Once I noticed it, I saw the same thing the rest of the drive. God gave cows enough sense to find shade in the heat of the day. That got to me to thinking. Thinking about people seeking shade in a relationship[ with Jesus.
Psalm 121:5 (NKJV)
5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORDisyour shade at your right hand.
The word shade in that passage means two things. It means shadow. It also means defense. God is a shadow for those getting blistered by life like the blazing hot Texas sun. He is relief. A place to find refreshing and shelter. I do not know why more do not turn to Him. It bewilders me why some prefer to stay in the heat sweating out day after day.
Folks in the country are smart enough to park in the shade when they can find it. When they visit with others outside they try to find shade. For every person who will ever read this, Jesus is shade. Shade from the blazing hot furnace of eternal fire damnation. What do you have to do to step into the shade of eternal salvation. Believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. Confess with your mouth can call on the name of the Lord to be saved.
He is also our defense. I wondered while driving the other day how miserable it must be for those black cows absorbing all that heat. I also wondered if the light colored cows ever got sun burned. Most of us have experienced the misery of a sun burn from time t time. When we get out in the sun too long and it burned the skin. I used to see this every year when I preached a youth camp in Panama City, Florida. Those young kids did not heed the warnings about wearing sun screen. By the end of the week they were miserable. I have actually seen kids with huge blisters on their backs and shoulders. They did not heed the warnings and paid for it dearly.
Jesus is not only like shade. He is like sun screen. He provides a defense against the destructive effects and over exposure to things that could do us harm. I need the defense of Jesus. So do you. In this topsy turvy world where everything is awry, we all need Jesus. We need His defense in this world. We will certainly need it when we stand before the holy righteous Judge Jehovah.
Yes, God offers us shade. Relief in the shadows and defense. I'm thankful God drew my attention to a bunch of cows finding shade from the heat. I trust God will do the same for you today.
Much of my time is spend driving the Farm to Market roads between Runaway Bay and Weatherford. Most of the drive is through the country. I see multiple horse and cattle ranches. This week while driving home, something caught my eye. I have seen it before but never gave it much thought. I drove through the hottest part of the day and the cows were crowded under the shade of threes.
This did not happen on just one ranch. Once I noticed it, I saw the same thing the rest of the drive. God gave cows enough sense to find shade in the heat of the day. That got to me to thinking. Thinking about people seeking shade in a relationship[ with Jesus.
Psalm 121:5 (NKJV)
5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORDisyour shade at your right hand.
The word shade in that passage means two things. It means shadow. It also means defense. God is a shadow for those getting blistered by life like the blazing hot Texas sun. He is relief. A place to find refreshing and shelter. I do not know why more do not turn to Him. It bewilders me why some prefer to stay in the heat sweating out day after day.
Folks in the country are smart enough to park in the shade when they can find it. When they visit with others outside they try to find shade. For every person who will ever read this, Jesus is shade. Shade from the blazing hot furnace of eternal fire damnation. What do you have to do to step into the shade of eternal salvation. Believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. Confess with your mouth can call on the name of the Lord to be saved.
He is also our defense. I wondered while driving the other day how miserable it must be for those black cows absorbing all that heat. I also wondered if the light colored cows ever got sun burned. Most of us have experienced the misery of a sun burn from time t time. When we get out in the sun too long and it burned the skin. I used to see this every year when I preached a youth camp in Panama City, Florida. Those young kids did not heed the warnings about wearing sun screen. By the end of the week they were miserable. I have actually seen kids with huge blisters on their backs and shoulders. They did not heed the warnings and paid for it dearly.
Jesus is not only like shade. He is like sun screen. He provides a defense against the destructive effects and over exposure to things that could do us harm. I need the defense of Jesus. So do you. In this topsy turvy world where everything is awry, we all need Jesus. We need His defense in this world. We will certainly need it when we stand before the holy righteous Judge Jehovah.
Yes, God offers us shade. Relief in the shadows and defense. I'm thankful God drew my attention to a bunch of cows finding shade from the heat. I trust God will do the same for you today.
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