An Affirmitive Negative
As I was walking away from a sales representative who coerced me into filling out an application for a credit card, I began to feel a dissatisfaction within my spirit. Every time I told her a reason that I didn’t want the card, the sales rep came back with a counter response. After telling her no 3 to 5 times, I found myself saying yes and filling out the application. I didn’t want the card, I didn’t need the card, I had no intentions on getting the card, yet I still said yes.
In itself the incident was harmless. I can simply call the credit card company and cancel the card when it arrives in the mail. The dissatisfaction that I felt, however, was the sudden awareness that this type of activity is what leads people into failure, heartache and sin. When we allow our defenses to be broken down and don’t stand firm in the faith of Jesus Christ, we will ultimately find ourselves saying yes to something that is far from God’s best.
Luckily for me, I had a chance for vindication! As I continued down the airport terminal, I came across yet another sales rep from the same company. Like the other one, she caught my attention by saying, “Sir, are you flying with US Airways today?” I responded, “Yes I am, and thanks but no thanks”. She started to tell me that she only wanted a few seconds of my time. I firmly interrupted her and responded again, this time with a deeper tone, “I said thanks BUT NO THANKS”, and continued on my way.
As I walked away from her and continued towards my gate, I could hear a still small voice say to me, “This is how you are to respond to every person and circumstance that tries to pull you away from me.” I then thought about the times of failures and pains that I have experienced in my life. The moments that brought me the greatest pain and tragedy were the moments that I knew better. If only I had responded with an affirmative negative, and continued on my way, I would be in a much better place today.
13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. –Philippians 3:13-14
May 2010 be the year that you stop allowing people to tear down the boundaries that Christ has placed in your life. There is nothing you can do about your past, but there is something you can do about your future. Stand strong, stay committed, and move forward! Amen
Something to be Merry About
Besides the fact that Christmas is over commercialized and the existence of Jesus Christ is getting further and further removed from the stores we buy our gifts from, there is another dilemma that arises this time of the year… The dilemma that Christmas was originally a pagan holiday and that Jesus most likely was not born in December. Some of us want to fight keep Christ in Christmas while others say things like, “Why are we even putting Christ in a pagan holiday anyway”.
4Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. –1 Corinthians 8:4-6
Though eating meat and celebrating Christmas are two different scenarios, the situation is similar. Paul would knowingly eat meat that was sacrificed to idols (pagan gods). He did it knowing that there is only one true God, and he gave thanks to that God for the food that had been provided. His conscience was clear because he in no way gave any honor or reverence to the supposed deity’s to whom the meat was offered. Instead, his reverence and gratitude was directed towards the Lord.
So then, what shall we do with Christmas? Should we continue to use it as a remembrance and celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? Or should we lock forces with those who are fighting to remove the existence of Christ from the celebration? Hopefully your choice is the former. Some time ago a band of Christians fought to bring the influence of Christ to a pagan celebration, and they won; If you were to ask the question today, “What is the meaning behind Christmas?”, the majority of the world’s population would tell you that it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
What it boils down to is the heart behind the celebration. If Paul would have bowed down and worshiped the false Gods, he would have been in error. Likewise, if your reverence is directed towards the winter solstice this Christmas, you are in error. There is plenty to be concerned about and lots of ways to be distracted this Christmas, but let’s keep the “reason for the season”, and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29)!
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. –Isaiah 9:6
Merry Christmas to You and Yours!
Jail Break
I recently had the opportunity to help distribute over 1,400 Thanksgiving meals to inmates of a nearby prison. During the distribution I was able to speak to one of the prisoners for a few moments. I learned that he had already been in prison for 8 years and still had another 4 years to go until he was released. Shortly after our conversation, the reality set in that there were millions of people in prison throughout the world. Some will be released before they die while others will never taste freedom again.
The majority of society will never murder, never steal, never embezzle, nor do anything else that will land them behind bars. If not careful, they will however allow themselves to go down a path that could ultimately land them in a life sentence of spiritual and emotional captivity, a captivity far worse then any prison has to offer. I am speaking of course about the captivity of sin.
11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. –Ephesians 6:11-12
There are many schemes or devices that the enemy will use against us. If he fails with one tactic he will bring another. He knows if we get entangled in sin that we will ultimately be held captive by that sin, and thus lose the freedom that we have in Christ. It’s like the man who was enticed to rob a bank because of the thousands of dollars he could gain. When he walked into the bank he was a free man, but by the time the day was over he was behind prison bars with no way of escape. The freedom he once knew was gone. This is exactly what the enemy wants to do to you; he wants to entice you with sin, throw you in prison, and strip you from the freedom you once knew.
I could list at least a dozen scriptures that stress the affects of sin and how we are to resist the devil and the influences of this world. I could give you 10 points on how to guard yourself from temptation. I could tell you stories and show you videos about people who have been set free by the powers of sin; though those things are good and necessary, they all point to this truth: “Compromise leads to captivity”. The devil may have tempted you, the influence of this world may have drawn you, but you are the one who compromised. In the same way the bank robber made the decision to rob the bank, you made the decision that landed you behind bars. The difference between you and the bank robber however, is that you have a way of escape… His name is Jesus!
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free… –Luke 4:18(NLT)
While Jesus walked on the earth He healed all who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). By the power of the Holy Spirit He still does it today! If you really want to be set free, He is more then willing to help!
If you follow the life of Jesus through the Gospels, you will find a typical pattern in the accounts of those whom He set free. The pattern is as follows:
- Faith – Much like salvation, the individual had to believe that Jesus had the power to set them free. A statement that Jesus often stated after healing someone was, “Your faith has made you whole”.
- Confession – Jesus asked those who sought Him out to tell Him what their ailment was. If you want to be set free from something, you must be willing to vocalize what that “something” is.
- Desperation – In cases like blind Bartimaeus and the woman with the issue of blood, there was a sense of desperation on their behalf. They were so desperate to be healed that they did what it took to get the attention of Jesus.
- An Earnest Desire - There is an interesting fact about the man who was healed at the Pool of Bethesda. After knowing that the man was bound for 38 years, Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” Some people claim they want to be set free but deep down they really don’t. In order to be set free, you have to really want it.
Are you imprisoned by sin? Are you ready for a jail break? Are you desperate enough to do what it takes? Put your faith (complete confidence and belief) in Jesus Christ. Confess your sins in detail to Him. Ask Him to set you free. Have an earnest desire for your deliverance (For example, if you are addicted to a tangible substance that you have in your possession, prove your sincerity and destroy it right now – Faith without action is dead). And may I add, remove yourself from any influence or substance that would cause you to compromise your position.
SAY WHAT?
The other day my attention was brought to a conversation that I could not for the life of me understand. A young couple who have gone to church since childhood were talking about their new born baby. They were explaining how it was God’s will for them to have this baby and share this life experience together. It all sounded good to the ear but there was a slight problem with the testimony… the couple are not married and are living a lifestyle of immorality.
Don’t get me wrong, if God couldn’t turn my failures into good results (Genesis 50:20), I would have no promise to cling too at times. That being said however, no matter how large nor small the blunders I have made, sin was never God’s will for me… and it’s never God’s will for you.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
–2 Timothy 4:3-4
The hard reality in our society today is that many people from within the church are turning away from sound doctrine and following the doctrines of this world. What was once considered a consecrated lifestyle is now considered legalistic and out of touch. What was once considered conviction is now considered as being old fashioned. Mention the gifts of the Spirit and the power of the Holy Ghost and you will be labeled a fanatic for sure.
How is it that the influence of abortion, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, the love of money, and the like are growing stronger and stronger in our midst? How is it that the voice of repentance has been replaced by the voice of acceptance? How is it that someone can give God praise for the sin in their life and the church (you and me) say nothing about it?
9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
–1 Corinthians 6:9-11
In all of our political correctness and fear of offending someone, may we not lose touch of the reality of God’s word. May we be more concerned with running the risk of offending God then we are of the fear of man.
Side Note: A good follow up to this blog is Life Guard
More than Just a Good Message
I was talking to some friends the other day about exercise and the importance of eating good food to maintain a healthy body. After we all agreed to the notion of exercising and eating healthy, we commenced to the local pizzeria and pigged out on pizza and chicken wings! Not exactly a good follow through with the topic at hand!
Though I got a good chuckle about the poor follow through with the diet and exercise plan, it made me think about my spiritual diet and exercise plan. Do I really follow through with the truth that is brought forth Sunday after Sunday, or do I clap my hands with the rest of the crowd and say, “That was a good message!”, then continue to walk in error? Likewise, how many times do I read God’s word, set it down, and walk away unchanged by it’s truth?
When I first gave my life to Jesus Christ I would often find myself asking God, “How do people that have been saved for a long time allow sin to creep back into their lives?” I was dumbfounded when I saw leaders engage in activity that my convictions would not allow. I would often ask my close friends similar questions, but no one had an adequate answer to give. Now that I have been saved for several years and have carried leadership roles, I find the answer screaming out at me when I look into the mirror of my life…
“Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards,
While our vineyards are in blossom.” –Solomon 2:15
Some how, some way, while my vineyards were in blossom (My relationship with Christ was pure), I allowed the little foxes to sneak in and eat away at the vine. Jesus said it this way…
… the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. –Mark 4:19
How about you? Are you still on fire for God? Do you still allow the Holy Spirit to convict and change you when you hear the truth of God’s word? Or are you like a bunch of guys who acknowledge the need for a diet plan, and then run to the pizzeria the moment their stomachs start to growl?
May we do more then acknowledge that Sunday’s sermon was a good message. May we do more then read a passage of scripture and acknowledge it’s truth. May we take the message with us. May we take the scripture with us. May God’s word bring healing to our hearts, strength to our inner man, and conviction to our spirit… and may we put action to the truth and walk in it.
The Path We Leave Behind Us
A popular saying in my childhood was, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names and lies won’t hurt me”. Though it is a catchy phrase, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Hateful and abusive words can be devastating to the human soul. Murders, suicides, fights, church splits, family feuds, divorces, and the like are all products of hateful and spiteful words. On the other hand, our tongue can also be used for good. Our words can encourage, lift up, admonish, and bring peace to a troubled situation.
What type of path do your words leave behind? A path of destruction or a path of hope, healing and restoration?
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. –Proverbs 18:21
Dealing with the Accuser of the Brethren
This clip (taken from the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers) depicts a war that has in some way shape or fashion plagued all of us at one point in our life or another… the war between ourselves and the accuser of the brethren.
As a follower of Christ, we must understand that God’s desire for us is to live a blessed and peaceful life (Jer 29:11-13, Psalms 23:2-3) Unfortunately, the devil also has a plan for us… a plan to destroy God’s purpose and peace in our life. Jesus summed up these two plans in the following verse…
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). – John 10:10 (Amp)
Though the enemy has different tactics to use against us, the weapon that can reap great destruction is the weapon of “accusation”; it was accusations after-all that led to Christ’s crucifixion.
Accusations of Past Failures
We must first realize that we all make mistakes and poor choices that lead to sin…
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. –1 John 1:8-10
The mistake that most people make when they commit sin is to conceal it and pretend it never happened. This is exactly what the enemy wants you to do. If he can get you to keep a sinful secret, he will use that secret as a means to control and manipulate you in the future. If however, you confess your sins to those who are close to you and allow God’s healing process to take place (James 5:16), the enemy can no longer use your sin to gain a foothold in your life. Though dealing with the reality and consequences of sin can be painful, a truthful accusation that you have openly confessed can have no power against you.
Accusations of the Mind
There are other times that our minds can be our own worst enemy. We know that God heals, we know that God restores, we even encourage those around us to move forward in Christ because their sins have been forgiven… but when it comes to our own life, we sometimes don’t feel adequate enough to do the things that God is calling us to do. Like Gullum (in the clip above), our minds can work against us, and accuse us, and convince us that there is no forgiveness for the sins of our past. Know this dear one, if you have confessed your sins and have turned away from them, nothing can hold you back from being used in the Kingdom of God.
False Accusations
The hardest accusations to deal with are false accusations. Jesus was crucified because of false accusations and many of us have felt the heartache and difficulties of being falsely accused. When we know we have made mistakes and committed sin, we can at least understand the consequences we face were brought on by our own actions; but when we face trials and tribulations over accusations that are not true, we have entered a realm of agony that is not easily understood nor welcomed.
“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great… – Mat 5:11-12
If you are going through a fire because of false accusations, take comfort in knowing that Jesus gave warning this would happen. Though it may be difficult to put into practice, learn to rejoice in the midst of the fire. Also understand that the truth will always prevail. A wise influence in my life once said, “If you are uncertain as to who is telling the truth, just sit back and watch… the truth will always come to light.” Regardless of the accusation, if it is false, your vindication will come! Hold your head high, keep the faith, and don’t allow the fiery darts from the adversary to deter you from your pursuit of Christ!
Life Guard
My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. –James 5:19-20
May we all recognize that we can be Life Guard’s to those within our circle of influence. In the same way that Jesus had a specific word to draw the woman at the well to Him, God has a specific word to draw those around us to Him.
If we are born again believers, we have the precious gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling on the inside of us. One of the reasons the Holy Spirit was sent to us is to convict the world of sin (John 16:7-11). How can the world be convicted of sin unless they hear the voice of God? How can they hear the voice of God if the people in whom He dwells remains silent? May we be attentive to those around us and to the Holy Spirit that is in us. May we be His Life Guards, drawing people back to Him!
Slow to Speak
16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it”…
21From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” 23But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
– Mat 16:16-18, 21-23
Just a few verses after receiving a great revelation from God, Peter all of a sudden had the audacity to pull Jesus aside and set him straight (at least that’s what he thought he was doing)! Though we would never think to tell Jesus that He was in the wrong, I wonder how many times we have been guilty of incorrectly speaking on “God’s behalf” and telling others that they are wrong?
When we are in a relationship with Jesus Christ and grow closer to Him, it is only natural that we will receive revelation and a greater understanding of who God is. As the Holy Spirit speaks to us through God’s word and through our personal times of prayer, we will find that our confidence to speak on “God’s behalf” will strengthen. Though this is a good thing, we must be careful not to assume that every thought that runs through our mind is a God inspired thought. We must be as equally careful not to blurt out those thoughts as though they are.
This you know, my beloved brethren But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger…
–James 1:19He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
– Proverbs 17:27When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
– Proverbs 10:19
Have you become someone who is quick to speak your mind? Do you find yourself without hesitation telling people they are in the wrong? Know this, people who are quick to speak will often cause confusion and strife above all else. May we all learn to be slow to speak.
Fallen Words
The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. — 1 Samuel 3:19
Samuel lived a life in which he regarded Gods word as the ultimate authority. Regardless of how wonderful or how harsh the Word of the Lord may have been, Samuel did not allow one word from God to fall to the ground; he kept Gods word in his heart, in is thoughts and in his actions. When we know Gods Word and fail to practice it, we are in essence allowing Gods Word to fall to the ground.
Marriages have failed and friendships are destroyed because Gods Word has fallen to the ground. Adultery and other immoral acts take place because Gods Word has fallen to the ground. Bitterness is in our hearts and gossip is on our lips because we have allowed Gods Word to fall to the ground.
Jesus declared, “Blessed (happy and to be envied)… are those who hear the Word of God and obey and practice it” (Luke 11:28)! If hearing, obeying and practicing God’s word leads to a blessed life, then would it be safe to say that we will live a cursed life (or at best, a life of mediocrity) if we do not hear, obey and practice Gods Word?
22But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
– James 1:22-25
Are you living a cursed life? Are you going around the same mountain over and over again? You can break the cycle. You can escape the wilderness. Examine your heart. Examine your actions. Stop allowing Gods word to fall to the ground.
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