Strength

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Eph 3:14-21 (NKJV)

The chorus started with the following declaration, "My strength is in You Lord..." It is a good thing that my strength is in the Lord, because it certainly is not found in and of myself. I recently strained my back--and I continue to strain said back every-time I pick up my two year old grandson--who weighs in at just over 30 pounds. In other words--in spite of my work-out regiment--I'm just not that strong. I guess that the same measure could be applied to all areas of my life. (Self-Discipline--not strong. Emotional Stability--not that tested. Spiritual Tenacity--timidity. Intellectual Prowess--weak. General Health--compromised) "OK, I'll admit the truth...on my own merit, I'm not very strong!"

"But--wait a minute--my strength is in the Lord!" Humans are weak by nature. Almost every Bible hero was hampered by character flaws and personal failures, and yet, they are heroes by any definition. The difference maker was always God. Empowered by God, Moses stretched his rod over the Red Sea and the waters parted. Empowered by God, Joshua led the Children of Israel to shout and the wall of Jericho fell down. Empowered by God, Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water. Empowered by God, David slew the giant Goliath.

This was the type of strength that Paul was referring to when he prayed that we would, "Be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man!" God can and will bring His strength into you, if you let Him in. The cry of Jesus to the churches listed in the early chapters of John's Revelation was and is to open the door and let Him in. Jesus is knocking at the door of the heart--the inner man--waiting to come in. The very moment we let Him in, is the very same moment that our inner man is strengthened and our possibilities are exponentially greater.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, Your Word tells me,'That in my weakness, You are made strong.' I accept that premise. I used to foolishly believe that I could make great things happen in my own strength, but have found only the ability to make great messes. Lord, please hear me--I need You! I cannot make it without You...I cannot do anything of value without You...all my hopes and dreams are empty without You. You are my Rock, my Shield, my Fortress...my Strength. Amen"

A Starting Point

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. 1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)

When it comes to our involvement in Evangelism, where do we begin? I believe that the Apostle Peter gives us some great insight and wisdom in answer to this question. In a compound sentence Peter gives us three important ideas that should be helpful. The first idea deals with the nature of our relationship with God. The second idea deals with our preparation in being able to articulate our faith. And lastly, the third idea speaks about the attitude we should have when engaging in evangelistic activities. Let's take a closer look at these ideas.

"Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts." What does this mean? It means that you are creating a sanctuary in your heart for God. This is a protected place where faith in God is unwavering--a place where your relationship with God is deep, ongoing and active--a place where God has the final say in your life--a place that is set aside for the purposes of God. Effective evangelism flows from a heart that is unshakable in its faith and where that faith is continually demonstrated in the actions of living.

"Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you." You do not need to attend a Seminary before you engage in evangelism, but let me be honest, the more Bible knowledge you have--the more time that you spend contemplating the answers to the kind of questions that non-believers are likely to ask--the more you understand "why you believe what you believe"--the more effort you make to understand your own faith; the more prepared you will be when it comes time to articulate your faith. Be encouraged with this thought: The Holy Spirit will be with you as you share your faith. He will guide your words and inspire you as you engage in evangelistic activity.

Talk about your faith with an attitude of "meekness and fear." A more contemporary way of expressing this idea would be: Engage in evangelism with a "humble attitude"--not as a prideful person with all the answers. Jesus, who was God in the flesh, engaged people with a humility that allowed Him to speak into their lives. We also need to engage in evangelism "carefully." Always remember that an eternal soul is in the balance and the words and attitudes that you express count! Are you ready? Get ready and see what God can do!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I pray that you would send people my direction who would ask me about my faith in You. I want to see lives changed and transformed by Your power and I know that there are thousands of people surrounding me that are ready to receive You into their lives. Lord, I will, with Your help, carefully tell them about You and about the difference You have made in my life. I look forward to the challenge of telling more people about my incredible Lord! Amen"

God in Us

"If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you." John 14:15-20 (NKJV)

The Gospel of Matthew, quoting the Prophet Isaiah, refers to Jesus as Immanuel. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Matt 1:23 (NKJV) As He walked with His disciples on this earth--taught with amazing authority from the Father--did miracles that no-one else dreamed of attempting, including raising people from the dead...Jesus was"God with us!" What a comfort it must have been to be walking down the dusty roads of Israel in the literal footsteps of the Creator.

As Jesus approached His own death, He made it clear to His disciples that they would not be orphans when He was gone. Jesus assured them that another Helper would be sent to them from the Father. That another, of the same essence as Jesus Himself, would be sent to abide with them forever. Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit. Historically, this prophetic word from Jesus was fulfilled a short time after His death, when the followers of Christ were gathered in an Upper Room in Jerusalem, and on the Day of Pentecost, God, the Holy Spirit landed.

Where did the Holy Spirit land? He landed in the midst of those gathered praying--He landed in their hearts--He landed "in them." Jesus was "God with us." The Holy Spirit is "God in us!" Wow!!! What are the possibilities for a person who has God literally living in them? The bigger question is this: "How do we access the power of the Holy Spirit that is living in us?" I think that there are three attitudes that need to exist in us that open the gates of God's power. We must "Believe." We must be "Humble." We must "Obey." God living in us is not a fictional idea--it is a fact and God's power is released through faith, not unbelief. We need to stop trying to boss God around--we must humble ourselves and acknowledge that He is in control. When God speaks to us--we need to listen to His voice and obey. Belief, humility and obedience allow "God in us" to use our lives and will lead us into the center of our God-designed destiny.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I know that You desire to use my life, and in fact, have already prepared work for me to accomplish. Too often, it is my human nature that seems to be getting in the way. I cry for Your will to be done, only to run the other direction. Forgive me for my pride--for my unbelief and for my disobedience. Thank you for Your love and patience with this, at times, wayward son--and help me to become all that You want me to be! Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen"

Appearance of Evil

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thess 5:14-22 (NKJV)

Near the end of 1 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul used a shot-gun approach by giving the Church several random short commandments. I want to focus on the last burst which states: "Abstain from every form of evil." This happens to be one of those verses that lost some of its spiritual impact, because of the translation. A more literal translation carries the following thought: "Avoid the very appearance of evil." What does this mean? That Believers should make an effort to refrain from any activity that would call into question their commitment to Christ.

Just this week Polish tennis star Agnieszka Radwanska was dropped as spokesperson by a Catholic group in her home country. Agnieszka is the fourth ranked women's tennis player in the world and had been appearing in a commercial for the Youth Crusade, which runs a campaign with the slogan “I’m not ashamed of Jesus.” Why was she dropped? She still claims to be a Believer, but she also appeared in ESPN's "Body Issue" sans clothing. While the nude picture is not explicit a spokesperson for the Catholic Youth Crusade explained their decision: "Personally I am very sorry that someone declaring herself to be on the side of Jesus has at the same time played up to the mentality of those who treat people as just a thing to be looked at."

Let me translate: While not evil--this has the appearance of evil. In a world fascinated by the the exploitation of women and the plague of internet pornography, Believers are not well-served by having a 24 year old tennis star posing naked while telling people, "I'm not ashamed of Jesus." I do not know if Agnieszka understands what is at stake, or if she regrets her decision to pose for ESPN--but, all around the world, young girls looked to her as a role model, at the very least, her testimony is now tarnished.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, firstly, I pray that Agnieszka would understand why she was dropped as a spokesperson and repent. Somehow, I pray that You would turn this situation around and work it for Your glory. Please keep the young girls that looked to her as a role model safe from the pull of this world that would tell them that appearance is everything. Continue to raise up a generation of people who are so focused on following You that avoiding the appearance of evil is simply a natural fruit of the way that they live. Amen"

Trust in the Lord

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Prov 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Do you trust God? (After-all, our greenbacks even declare, "In God We Trust") Before you answer this question, consider the definition of "trust." "Trust is an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something." So, when it comes to God--how deep does your trust run? Can you with confidence declare the words of Job? "Though He slay me, yet will I serve Him!" 

I have a strong dose of self-reliance that was handed down to me by generations of ancestors who were determined people. When faced with life's challenges, I generally take it on--head on--foolishly fearless in the face of problems that I often have no power to solve. Let me suggest to those of you who are already wiser than myself. "Trust in the Lord and wait until God speaks before you act!"

Here is a true saying, "With God all things are possible. He can do what is impossible for you to do." What can we do in the face of the impossible? Isaiah gave us great advice when facing the happenings of life: "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) It is difficult to surrender your intellect and will to God in the best of times, but when situations demand action, it is very difficult to be still and wait. It all comes back to the question: "Do you trust God?" Never forget--"He shall direct your paths!"

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, trusting in You is something that is easy for me to acknowledge and see the wisdom in the concept--it is much harder for me to put into practice. I want to fix and control everything around me. You have proven to be trustworthy, so help me to once again surrender my will and submit to that which I may not understand. Lord, in my life, I pray that Your Kingdom would come, and that Your will would be done! Amen"

Favor and High Esteem

Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. Prov 3:3-4 (NKJV)

Do you get along with other people? Everyone has those few impossible people, but as a general rule, do you get along with the people around you? If trouble is always swirling around you--if controversy is typically trailing in your wake--if you can not "hear" certain names without flinching--if you involve yourself in gossip on a regular basis... Then you are without a doubt a part of the problem. Please hear me--you can begin to turn it all around by embracing and putting into practice some wisdom that comes from God.

Make a choice to live a life full of mercy and truth. Let mercy and truth be at the center of the relationships that you develop in life. This starts with your family and extends out to the very edges of people that you are barely acquainted with. Pour out mercy; meaning, YOU stop being judgmental. Too often, we judge others unfairly and then compound the problem with confrontation and/or gossip. We are so effective when it comes to picking the speck out of someone else's eye, but too easily forget about the great log that makes it impossible for us to see clearly. Was Jesus right by calling us "hypocrites" in this matter? "Yes," Jesus was always right!

How do we discard hypocrisy? It starts by accepting the truth about ourselves. When the Holy Spirit gives us His honest evaluation, the result will be a new baptism of humility. We will never fulfill the Apostle Paul's call to "Esteem others as better than ourselves," unless we have an honest, truthful view of ourselves. Humility allows us to extend mercy and grace when others fail to live up to our expectations. Humility allows us to speak the truth in love for the purpose of reconciliation. When we walk this way, the Word tells us that we will, "find favor and high esteem in the eyes of God and man." The result is worth the effort!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I have to be honest, I find it easy to evaluate and judge others, and no doubt, I am somewhat blind to my own failures, weaknesses and sin. I know that I need to walk with more humility--acknowledging Your wisdom and expressing mercy when it comes to the people around me. Am I that impossibly difficult person that makes life harder for the people that I love? May that not be the case...Lord, help me to be a person of mercy and truth who brings healing to difficult relationships. May I walk in a new dimension of Your humility. Amen"

Smarter than God?

My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. Prov 3:1-2 (NKJV)

Wisdom starts with this understanding: "I am not smarter than God!" (And neither are you!) One would think that everyone would understand this truth, but we live in a world that is full of itself, and of intellectual pride that believes itself to be enlightened beyond the "primitive" thinking found in the Bible. Thus far, such intellectual audacity has only proved man's pride to be nothing more than folly.

One truth that was established at the dawn of man's creation is that man was created to be gender specific. What does that mean? That mankind is divided by gender to be either male or female. No sane person would dispute this truth and yet there are political and philosophical blocks within our culture that have been pushing for a gender-less society. Meaning that male and female should be viewed as virtually the same. If I was to suggest to these well-meaning folks that the genders are different, but equal--they would disagree with that assessment.

As our culture, in its great wisdom, (sarcasm) has embraced the idea of a gender-less society, what has been the result? Increased gender confusion--men fathering children without serving their children as fathers--more single parent homes--more women in the work force outside the home--increased divorce rates--lower marriage rates--more children born into poverty--and a general breakdown of the traditional family. It could be argued--with statistical support--that the wisdom of man has led us to the brink of disaster as our culture has embraced this enlightened thinking. It is just one of many examples of how thinking that we are smarter than God WILL lead to destruction.

Please hang on to this truth concerning God's wisdom and commandments: He wrote them for our good. You can kick against them--rebel against them--turn away from them; but in every case, society loses when left to its own devices, because God is smarter than man.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, just like the typical man--I often act in ways that indicate that pride is somehow trapped in my heart and in control of my decisions. I hope to humble myself before You are forced to step in and intervene. I acknowledge that You are superior in every conceivable way, starting with wisdom. May I obey You and walk according to Your Word. Lord, do not let me lean on my own understanding, but send Your Spirit to challenge the vanity of my thinking patterns and intellect. Amen!"

Happy is the Man

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. Prov 3:13-18 (NKJV)

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding." That is one powerful claim--is it true? Are the people who live according to God's wisdom appreciably happier than those who live life according to their own natural desires? Years ago the great Andraé Crouch wrote a song titled "If Heaven Never Was Promised to Me." (I'll let the lyrics speak for themselves)

       You may ask me why I serve the Lord. Is it just for heaven’s gain?
       Or to walk the mighty streets of gold, And to hear the angels sing?
       Is it just to drink from the fountain That never will run dry.
       Or just to live forever, ever and ever In the sweet ol’ by and by.

       If heaven never was promised to me, neither God's promise to live eternally.
       It's been worth just having the Lord in my life.
       Living in a world of darkness, You came along and brought me the light.

       If there were never any streets of gold, neither a land where we'll never grow old,
       It's been worth just having the Lord in my life.
      You've been my closest friend down through the years,

       And every time I cry You dry my tears.

I remember well a conversation that I had with my mother years ago. She told me to live life in light of the legacy that I would be establishing. In other words--what will be the fruit of my life when I come to the end? Will my life have counted? Did I encourage and help others? Will my children and grandchildren want to follow in my footsteps? Did my life make a difference or did I just live for myself? I took my mother's advice--and some would say that I've missed out. But, what did I really miss? No one night stands--no DUI's--no hangovers--no messed up children--no divorces... I must stress that I have not lived a perfect life, but I have fully embraced the idea that living according to God's wisdom does indeed lead to a better life and an exponentially superior legacy. (It is not even close) To live a life that has very few regrets is the life of a happy man.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, thank you for Your wisdom. Your ways are not the ways of man. Your wisdom makes the wisdom of man seem foolish by comparison. You see the whole picture of life's process while we are trapped in the moment. We want our pot of beans and You are promising a birth right beyond comprehension. May I follow and come to love Your dictates and not lean on my own limited understanding. May I walk in Your footsteps and enjoy the abundant life that You have planned for me. Amen"

A Vow to Emma

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Prov 22:6 (NKJV)

(Emma is already blessed, because she has been born into a family that loves God and loves her. Her parents want to dedicate Emma to the Lord--so, tomorrow at church, the family that is Believers Church will pray a prayer of blessing over Emma's life, while vowing to be a part of the extended family that trains her up to be a follower of Christ. This is a crucial part of our calling as the Body of Christ)

Dear Emma,

Your life is a precious gift to your parents and to the rest of your family--including all the brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great grandparents that make up Believers Church. The Bible tells us that "we" are a part of your family and we affirm that claim. We have great expectations of what you will become as you travel down life's road, but even now we see the great potential that God has already placed in you. You are a beautiful child--eyes that sparkle with life--a quick and easy smile--a pleasing personality--our hearts are smitten. To say that we "love you" cannot fully communicate the depth of our affliction--but never doubt this truth: You are loved and cherished.

To say such words without any action to back up our claim would be to fall short of what God has called us to be in your life. We, the family of God, are here to surround your life with friends and spiritual siblings, with people who believe in you and pray for you, with mentors who will teach you by example and with Bible-centered teaching, with a community of people committed to loving you and being there for you...ultimately, we are here to assist your parents in training you up in the ways of the Lord.

What does the future hold for you? We know from experience that life is not always easy, and that God uses life's challenges to strengthen and deepen our faith in Him. In spite of life's troubles, we firmly believe that God will work all things out for your good. We also believe that you will be able to do all things through Christ who is your strength. Make Christ your King and He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will be the Rock on which you will stand. Our dear Emma--we believe that God is going to use your life to do great things in His Kingdom. May the Lord bless you and keep you--may He keep you in good health and grant you a long life--may your life bring glory and honor to His name!

Believers Church July, 2013

Prayer Changes Things

"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Matt 6:5-8 (NKJV)

"Prayer Changes Things," declared the bumper sticker on an impossibly old VW Microbus. Although I ultimately agree that prayer can make a significant difference--prayer is neither a scientific formula nor a magical solution. (Please keep reading and hear me out) I have listened to a plethora of teaching on the subject of prayer and am surprised of how often it misses the mark. Prayer is not scientific in that we can not replicate a specific formula that always delivers the same result. Prayer is not magical in that we are not binding the power of God to do our bidding. We should also avoid deifying prayer--making prayer the object of our affection and worship. Still..."Prayer Changes Things!"

What does prayer change? Let us start with you. If you are entering into a deepening conversation with God--where you are engaged in listening to His voice--prayer will change you. Prayer is simply the conduit by which we communicate back and forth with God. When you grasp the beauty and the intimacy that can and should define our relationship with God you will find that your prayer life will lose all semblance of superstition. Jesus instructed us, "When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words."  (Just ask the 400 prophets of Baal how that worked out for them)

Here is my point: Prayer is about relationship--it is about talking to God--it is about hearing His heart and acting in obedience--it is about expressing our love, and lavishing our praise, gratitude and heartfelt affection on our "First Love!" When prayer cracks open the possibilities of what it means to be joined to the power and purposes of God; it is in that place of spiritual unity with our Father that impossibilities become possibilities and the prayer of the "righteous man" changes things. It is in that intimate place with God where we discover that our Father who is in heaven will give good things to those who ask Him!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, blessed be Your name! In all of time, space and creation, there is none like You. You hold an unfathomable creation together by Your will, and yet, You make the time to talk to me. Who am I that You would consider? I am of little value and yet You value me and sent Your Son to rescue me. You have paid and redeemed me by the power of Christ's blood. I shall be forever grateful! Amen"

Ruth's Oath

"Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me." Ruth 1:16-17 (NKJV)

I am of the opinion that it might be easier to die for someone rather than to live for them. Let me explain what I mean. It is a part of human nature to be in control of one's destiny and life. To give up our freedom and to fully commit your life to another is neither easy or natural. Essentially, it is the vow we make when we enter into the covenant of marriage, but too often the vows that we speak so freely are much more challenging to live out.

Ruth made such a covenant with her mother-in-law. Ruth's husband had passed away and her mother-in-law, Naomi, decided to journey back to her own land and people. Naomi strongly urged Ruth to go home to her own people--to get remarried and to get a fresh start in life; but, Ruth was committed to her mother-in-law--and so, she made a solemn vow: "Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you stay, I will stay; Your people will be my people; and your God will be my God; where you die, I will die; and where you are buried, I will be buried." Talk about an awesome oath!

Ruth made good on her promise... She followed through with the oath she made to Naomi. In doing so Ruth demonstrated a rare humility, putting the need of another person before her own. To consider another person's life so important, that you give up your own destiny in order to support them is very Christlike. I admire Ruth--she is the kind of person I aspire to be. A real friend to my friends--a selfless husband for my wife--a father who goes the second mile for his children--a pastor who empathizes with the needs of the flock--a Believer who denies himself, picks up his cross and follows Jesus. Time to narrow the gap of who I am and who God wants me to be!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I know that I am not that awesome of a person. I am often humiliated by my own behavior and the great measure by which I fall short of Your glory. But, I aspire to be a better person--knowing that You are the answer. Lord, fill me up with more of You and squeeze out the selfish attitudes that need to leave. Lord, make me more like You! Amen"

RJ's Apostles' Creed

This is not a standard devotional, but it is something that I wanted to share. Making a "paraphrased" version of the Apostles' Creed--is probably like listening to finger nails scratching across the surface of a chalk board; however, since we readily accept paraphrased versions of the Bible, this should not really stir too much controversy. Anyway, this is the official "RJ Paraphrased Version of the Apostles' Creed."

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of all that is; I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, the author and the finisher of our faith; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a Holy and sinless life, only to be unjustly punished when Pilate had already declared Him to be an innocent man. He was crucified, died, was buried and descended into hell. But, on the third day he rose victorious over death, hell and the grave. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father, and even now He is making intercession for His people.

I believe in the Holy Spirit and fullness of His power and ministry on this earth, I believe that Christ is preparing a bride that is without spot or wrinkle, I believe in a Church that will continue to stand in the face of darkness until Christ returns, I believe that the Gospel Message is destined to reach every tribe, every tongue and every nation, I believe that all the saints of God, both living and dead will hear the trumpet sound, and their temporal bodies will be gloriously changed into bodies that shall live forevermore, without pain, suffering, weariness or the tentacles of sin. And so, we shall evermore live in the Kingdom of our God and King. Amen.

If My People...

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chron 7:14 (NKJV)

Years ago I received a phone call from Bob Biddle, who was the Music Minister at Bethany Assembly in Everett, Washington. He asked me to sing in a musical that Bethany was getting ready to perform. It was a very fine musical called, "If My People," written by Jimmy and Carol Owens. In the musical, the timeless message of Solomon's entreaty to the nation of Israel was given new life as its truth was applied to the contemporary times in which we live. In a nutshell, "If my people," is a call for God's people to act as agents of God's reconciliation.

Abraham entered into a negotiation with two agents from God. The messengers from God told Abraham of the coming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham, concerned for his relatives that lived in the cities asked if Sodom and Gomorrah could be sparred for the sake of the righteous people that lived there. He negotiated the number down to 10 righteous people. The judgment of God would be turned away for the sake of 10 righteous people. Only one fly in the ointment--there were not that many righteous people to be found in Sodom and Gomorrah. Instead of reconciliation and healing, the cities in question were destroyed.

How many righteous people would it take to spare the United States from the judgment of God? How many Believers are being salt and light? How many Believers are standing true and not bowing before the increasing pressure to conform? Will we remain standing in the face of political correctness as the Hebrew children boldly stood before Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue, or will we capitulate and become a part of the problem rather than the solution? Serious questions for serious times! What is God's answer to the gathering darkness? You...God's people are the answer. We are ministers of God's reconciliation. We stand in the gap. "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I pray that You would raise up a standard against the spiritual wickedness that is sweeping our nation. Like the builders of Babel's Tower our culture has decided that they are smarter than the Creator. Casting aside morality in the name of equality they plant the seeds of their own destruction. Lord, raise up a remnant of people to redeem our nation, a people who seek You--who love You--who serve You--who remain true to Your Word. Lord, forgive us, your people, for losing our spiritual saltiness and becoming a part of the problem. Forgive us Lord...forgive me Lord. Amen"

My Trust

We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Psalms 20:5-7 (NKJV)

I believe horses to be magnificent animals. They are powerful, and from personal experience let me tell you, they can hurt you. (Nothing quite like having a horse step on your foot to wake you up in the morning) Can you say "broken?" Needless to say, "I don't trust horses, or trust in horses!" Just so I'm not accused of giving horses a bad rap, let me be clear: "My hope (and my trust) is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name!"

There it is--out in the open... I don't trust in man-made institutions. (I have a lot of respect for many of our institutions, but I am not putting my trust in them to do the right thing) I don't trust in the "less than" almighty dollar. (Even before it inflates--it's only paper) I don't trust in elected officials. (I pray for the leadership of our country, but that does not mean that I have any confidence in their decision-making process) I don't trust in new cars. (My car was less than a month old when it broke down and had to be towed in for a repair) Life experience has taught me that security is only found in the hands of God.

Let me express why I have put my trust in God: He hears my prayers. He cares about me. He has saved me. He is preparing a place for me. He encourages me and guides my steps. He fills me with courage. He sends my heart a peace that passes understanding. He is always with me... I could go on and on... Frankly, I look at our broken, dangerous, messed up world, and I do not see another alternative for my trust. It is either trust in God or search in vain. Please know that I will not be searching for another alternative, because, like the Apostle Paul, "I know who I believe in and I am persuaded that He is able to keep me and the things I care about safe until that day when I am with Him!"

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, a grew up hearing a song that said, 'Where could I go, but to the Lord.' That is exactly how I feel. You are my anchor, my strong tower, my shield, my rock, my shelter, and my only hope. Thank you for living in me and for giving me the strength and the fortitude to face the daily challenges of life. Blessed be Your name! Amen"

Duplicity

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. Psalms 24:3-4 (NKJV)

du·plic·i·ty : contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially : the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action. "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?" Based on personal merit, I guess that the answer would be a resounding "NO-ONE!" To ascend the hill of the Lord requires: 1) Clean Hands. 2) A Pure Heart. 3) Loyalty to God, and 4) No Duplicity, as in "sworn deceitfully." (Sworn Deceitfully simply means there exists a qualitative difference between what a person claims to be and who they really are)

This is what we know to be true concerning the human condition from the Bible. According to Jeremiah, the human heart is "deceitful" and "desperately wicked." According to the Apostle Paul, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." According to the Apostle John, "If we say that we are without sin, we are liars." None of this information is helpful if you plan to ascend the hill of the Lord. It all points to one ultimate truth: "We are all in desperate need of God's supernatural intervention!"

What can God do for the problem of the duplicitous heart? We will not fully "see" ourselves as we really are until we are with the Lord. As long as we are alive we will continue to hear the murmurs of the duplicitous heart as we rationalize away our guilt and justify our actions; however, if you listen, our teacher--the Holy Spirit will tell you the truth concerning YOU. His voice needs to become the "loudest" voice among the voices that speak to us. As we listen, submit and obey what the Holy Spirit is telling us, we have the opportunity to eliminate much of the duplicity that has caused so much confusion. It also allows us to ascend to new heights and a higher destiny in Him. He is our righteousness--He is our hope--He is our salvation!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I am a hypocrite. I know that comes as no surprise to You, but it came as an unwanted revelation to me. It is hard to imagine that such an imperfect, somewhat warped vessel, such as myself, could be used for Your purposes. I know that I am covered by the blood of Jesus and therefore, I wear His righteousness. But, I still pray the prayer of David: 'Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.' Amen"