A Writing From A Brother in Christ

I was recently in communication with a brother (who wishes to remain nameless), and enjoyed the exhortation that he gave.  I asked him if he wouldn't mind writing or sharing it with me.  Here is the text thread I received:

"We can let our relationship and time with God our walk with our Heavenly Father bleed into other parts of our lives but we cannot let other parts of our lives bleed or hinder our walk with God

Our time with God is sacred and nothing else should ever cause us to neglect that, nor restrain us from sharing the Light God has given us with others for this is the highest priority James 5:20. 

But our time at work and even with family is not as important and if we have to put at risk embarrassment or even our jobs to minister to the lost that person's soul is more important than money or reputation 

And what risk is there romans 8:28 and 8:31 God is with us and gave us that job that situation and even the people we are around.  How can we not give it back for Him?

We fear at times reaching out our anxiety heightened when going about touching those souls but we are trying to be a witness for God to present the path out of death into new life 

Can't remember where but 

Which in times past were not a people but are now a people of God which hath not obtained mercy but now obtained mercy that you should show forth praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light 

Ephesians 2 12-15

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Think of this

We are in a world afflicted with a disease having no hope slowly withering away to our inevitable destruction yet go about our daily lives in wait for that end until one day in the midst of this dark fate our hearts heavy laden with nothing but sorrow and a man a stranger comes before you and gives you a cure 

Your skin gaining warmth that pain that strained you every day growing worse with each passing second now gone and as you rejoice this man asks that you go and tell others that this stranger now a friend a savior has a cure from their death 

Some don't listen afraid of ridicule for an impossible tale of a cure the world hasn't found continue their lives as before like nothing happened but slowly with time around all that sickness the disease the cure in their heart withers and dies as does everyone around them

But others hear the saviors voice they with joy proclaim the cure to all they meet some called crazy others liars they may be rejected ridiculed ignored persecuted but to others who hear and come

Those also have that cure that salvation as all those who mocked perish with their mocking disbelief while those who listened were saved from that terrible fate" 

A Transformed Life

“Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.” Matthew 26:35

            The transformative life of Peter is a testimony of what the power of God can do for every human being.  That he could so change Peter’s heart (and further still the Apostle Paul).  To bring them from the place of doubting and fear, to the bold, sanctified, holy man that he would become; that Christ can do that is a great hope to us all.

 Peter’s love, dedication and zeal for Jesus was evident throughout his walk with Christ.  Think of him as he leaps from the boat to walk the sea saying “Lord if it be thou bid me come unto thee.”  How he refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet thinking himself so unworthy, then the Lord rebukes him: “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” Peter responds with his characteristic zeal; “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head” (John 13:7-9)   Think of him as he answers Jesus's probing question after the multitudes turn back “Will you also go away?”  Peter proclaims “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6: 67-69)   He loved God; he loved Christ; and when he said “Though I should die with thee”, I believe that in his heart he meant it, that he meant those words, but he wrote a check from the heart, too big for himself to cash.  Many people love God.  These are they who have a desire to do right and a desire to “sin not.”  However, they find thoughts, actions, deeds, that they wish they wouldn’t do.  Or say.  Or think.  Thoughts, actions, and reactions that they wish they could take back.  Moreover, they promised God, promised him, that they will never do this or that again.  Repenting, and repenting again.  Yet, by and by, they find themselves unable to pay up on the checks they write with their hearts.  We each know what act of defiance is in our lives that we ourselves want so badly to overcome, but like Peter, we write checks with our hearts that our own will power cannot cash.  So what now?  Do we live in constant disapproval and failure towards God?  “God forbid” Paul writes in Romans  After the resurrection of Jesus we find the disciples in an upper room having a prayer meeting; when the Holy Ghost comes.  The promised Spirit fills all that were sitting (Acts 2).  Shortly thereafter, Peter stands up and boldly begins to preach and teach Jesus to everyone around.  The man that once denied now passionately affirms and preaches the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  He not only did it on this occasion, but time and time again he affirmed with boldness that Jesus was the Christ (see Acts 3 & 4).  So, what changed?  Peter changed, through the power of the Holy Ghost.  It purged out the sin and fear in Peter’s heart, sanctifying him wholly and giving Him a witness that we could witness with.  

The Holy Ghost can come into your heart and give you the power to love God the way you want to love him.  He can give you the capital to pay up on all those checks your heart once wrote, but your will power could not cash.  The Holy Ghost can eradicate every obstruction and remove that which yields to disobedience.  He can transform your life.   

Pernicious Preaching

“And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”-2 Peter 2:2

       As my wife and I were driving I-75 North, I happened to look up and see a large billboard with the following in big black letters: “Go to church, it doesn't matter where, just go.”  At first, it seemed an admirable sentiment (certainly became a wonderful conversation starter); however after reading Second Peter chapter two, I must conclude that this is utter foolishness. 

       Pernicious preaching is destructive, wasteful, ruinous preaching.  Pernicious preaching exalts the man over the message.  The sinner over sacrifice.  It laces lasciviousness into the soundness of scripture in order to please the nature of carnality.  Carnal meaning lustful, sinful, natural, worldly, and unholy.  The worst thing that can happen to a pernicious preacher is he can be successful.  When carnal men use carnal means to accomplish carnal ends it surprises no one.  Hollywood will produce wicked movies to entertain wicked hearts.  The music industry will write ungodly lyrics that resonate with ungodly lifestyles.  Covetous business men will cheat and lie to gain the advantage and make money.  This is no surprise, they are behaving as is their nature.  However, when a church seeks to adopt carnal means to attract carnal men, we profane that holy gospel by which we are called.  Preaching becomes less about promoting Christ, and more about crafting a message than aligns with your marketing scheme.  The preacher devolves into an influencer instead of an evangelist.  Happy to purr like kittens instead of roar like lions.  Undermining the truth, and bringing shame to Christ.  When the message is self centered, self loving, founded in the prosperity of the flesh it is a pernicious message.  The defenders of pernicious preaching will call to our attention the swelling numbers, and rising interest.  While claiming that more are hearing “the message” and who are we to judge?  Yet, all who would say this conveniently forget that God designed the church; not you.  He designed it with a goal, plan, and community. The goal is to glorify God.  The plan is salvation, and the community is the imitation of Christ.  To circumvent this is to undermine it, and bring reproach upon the cause of Christ.  Thereby causing the “way of truth to be evil spoken of.”  Our works will never justify disobedience to the truth.  Christ said: “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed.”  You cannot open up your garage with a sign that says "hospital" over it and start treating patients.  Criminal charges will come against you, because attempting to care for patients outside the rule of law will get somebody killed.  Likewise, don’t go rent a building, spout catchy one liners about scripture while taking people's money and call it a church.  Destroying the souls of men by speaking peace when there is no peace and building up your own kingdom in the process.  Piling on promises of goodness when sermons of reverence and humility are in order. Not only is it destructive to the hearers but it tempts the faithful.  Tempting them to compromise, and draw back into the world.  Tempting those preachers who are laboring faithfully.  Not to mention starving the appetites of those earnest hearted souls desperate for scriptural truth.  Coming to hear the meat of the gospel only to be fed marshmallows.  Preaching absolution without restitution.  Pride over piety.  Self love, instead of selfless love.  Carnal appetites, satiated by carnal means, and never called to kill it off.  To “crucify the flesh with the affections and lust thereof”.  Pernicious preaching is poisonous preaching; and make no mistake if you are supporting a pernicious preaching church, you have part in the same.  

       While pernicious preaching destroys, principled preaching gives life.  When it convicts, instructs, reproves, exhorts, encourages, and blesses.  The church that wants what God wants, and loves what God loves; that church will gladly spend and be spent in service to God.  Settled upon the truth that we are nothing without Him.  Completely convinced that without a born again, Holy Ghost filled transformative experience, we cannot see God.  Holiness of heart, and holiness of life.  This church, though rejected, defied, and even poor in this world; this church will stand the trying fire.  This church is pleasing to God, because it is obedient to His Word.  Go to this church, because it matters where you go to church.  

The Currency Of Faith

 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”- 1 Peter 1:7

       Over the years currency has taken on many forms and fashions.  From gold coins, to paper bills, to the latest model of crypto currency.  The type of currency has changed and evolved to meet our standardization that we deem necessary.  However, in essence, currency will always be a medium of exchange.  

       Faith is the currency of heaven.  For this reason alone it is far more precious than any currency mankind could dream up.  Through faith we are saved, and by faith we are born into the Spirit and led by the Spirit.  We understand the will of God by faith.  We please God by faith, we accomplish the works of God by faith.  It is a currency which we cannot place a value on.  That which is purchased to us with the currency of faith cannot be purchased with any other currency.  Only with the currency of faith can we find such precious promises in our possession.  It is faith that saved the lame man, that healed the blind, that cleansed the leper and cast out demons.  Faith that saves the sinner from the errors of his way, and sanctifies the believer to live holy.  We do not need more money but more faith.  Money can do many things, and often it does for us what we don’t want to do (or are unwilling to do) ourselves.  Yet money, for all her lovers that she entertains, cannot do what faith can do.  Compare one to the other and money comes up strikingly short.  As the saying goes: “there are some things money cannot buy.”  You may spend all day walking the streets of Fifth Avenue, New York but without money you will not be able to purchase a single thing.  You can walk the car lot and test drive a vehicle but unless you have some form of acceptable currency then you will leave in what you came in.  That which is desirable to you will remain beyond your reach.  So it is to the man or woman who desires to please God but lacks faith.  Hence, we do not need more money.  We do not need more organizing, planning, scheming or human enterprise.  We need more faith.  Faith will purchase to us the ability to fight and win spiritual battles.  It will allow us to become lights in a dark place.  Give us wisdom in uncertain times.  Direction to the lost, hope to the hurting and healing to the broken.  I believe Jesus and his disciples condemned the passion for money, because the nature of this medium could only raise its handler to the highest and best standards of the world.  Whereas the one who holds close to him the currency of faith, can rise to the highest and best standards of God. 

       The more currency a savvy investor has the more he can stand to make in the market by simply applying his capital.  In the right place at the right time, of course.  So it is with our faith.  God wants us to exercise our faith.  Pray without ceasing, learn the scriptures, lean on God, trust His Word and act on it.  Love our neighbor as ourselves, and do good to them “who despitefully use us and persecute us.”  He wants us to put our faith into the “marketplace” under the direction of the Holy Spirit so that it might grow.  Cast it into good soil so that a chance of wheat or some other grain might spring up.  Let us use it liberally to purchase to ourselves that which brings God, Christ, and His Church eternal returns.  Spend and be spent with this currency of faith.

Doth Not Wisdom Cry?

“Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” – Proverbs 8:1  

The truths and principles that should be advocated seem to have the most trouble finding advocates.  The contrary is true as well.  All across the airwaves and television screens the lust of the flesh, eyes, and the pride of life is exalted; to the point where we begin to wonder if wisdom, understanding, virtue, and righteousness have a voice at all.  They do, they cry, and lift up their voice; not in long clamoring tones or flashy filigree.  No, as a pure singing voice in the midst of a squawking crowd, the cry of wisdom and understanding rings true to those who have an ear to hear.  The voice of wisdom cries out through the Christian in a pure, genuine, consistent testimony.  It cries through Creation, in its untenable perfection.  It cries through the truth of the gospel, and the sacrifice of Christ.  A consistent holy life with Jesus Christ at the center, the advocate of wisdom.      

You cannot build anything without consistency.  This is true on a personal level and the same is true on a collective level.  You can’t build a business, a church, or even a book club without consistency.  Consistency is underrated.  You know who they are and maybe you are one of them.  Those folks that when they miss church, it raises red flags and others begin to say, “Where were they tonight?  They are always here”.  These are they you just know they are going to be there for you, to pray, to help, to uplift, and you can flat out, hands down depend on them.  You can depend on them to be the salt and the light each and every day.  You can depend on them not because of them, but because of who they are depending on; Jesus.  In this, in these men and women, wisdom begins to cry and understanding utters her voice.  It takes this, good consistency; because consistency in itself is not enough. You can be consistently twenty minutes late to church and all that does is guarantee that you will consistently disrupt every service.  You can be consistent in letting people down; don’t get me wrong, we all make a mistake now and then, and life happens, but your desire drives your will, and your will determines your decisions, and your decisions create your actions.  Therefore on a day in and day out basis, the fruit of who you are on the inside will show out.  The testimony will show, and to those who are in the Word of God and totally depending on Jesus Christ, the wisdom which is from above will begin to cry out in pure melodies to this lost and dying world.  People begin to see that there is undeniable merit to this “Christianity thing”.  It’s more than just a “good way to live” it is the only way to live.  The life you live day in and day out is your testimony. The words you speak in His name are your testimony.   Our legacy is written with our decisions, sealed by our actions, and transmitted through our words.  When we die it’s not what the preacher says over our bodies that will stick with people, but what we did before we passed.  When you meet a man or woman who lives holy day in and day out, there is no denying that testimony.  There is no way to undermine the wisdom, truth, and understanding of what they preach; and as in a court of law, the truth of a testimony can save or condemn (both you and hopefully those around you).  

No matter who you are, there is someone watching you.  You have influence over somebody, and when we let God lead, the wisdom of his Word will ring out through the righteous consistencies in our lives, because Christ is the voice of wisdom, God help us to be and stay in the place where he can use us to cry out.

Preach The Gospel, Use Words

“But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”-Romans 10:18

 

       “Preach the gospel, if necessary, use words.”  This quote is often misattributed to St. Francis of Assisi and has made its way around evangelical circles, as well as into literature and sermons.  Used by many to emphasize the necessity of living the example of a Christian life, while simultaneously undermining the need for words to accompany this example.  The reality is that words will be necessary, because the Bible says it is so. 

  

         Our testimony and proclamation of the gospel is critical to the Christian faith.  So much so that the five gifts of the Spirit in Ephesians are linked to proclaiming the gospel.  That the final commission of Christ was to go out and preach the gospel.  The requirement to preach is central to the commandments of Christ.  Preach and preach with words.  This does not diminish the necessity of living a life that backs up your preaching; however to put forward that words are optional is unbiblical.  They didn’t arrest Jeremiah and throw him in a pit for how he dressed, but for what he said.  They didn’t run Elijah down for the marvelous works he did but for the prophecy he spoke.  They didn’t kill Jesus because he was a good guy, they killed him because he spoke the truth.  The scripture testifying: “He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.”  The disciples could have worked miracles, taught Torah, fed the hungry, and never witnessed to the resurrection of Christ; and they would have been left alone.  However, they were charged to be witnesses of Christ, and they did just that.  They preached, and in preaching they used words, and because of their words they were killed.  We cannot imagine that our lives as Christians will be without persecution, and we cannot assume that a life lived will be enough to draw all men unto Christ.  Words will be necessary, because when the name of Christ is spoken, and the truth of scripture is spoken it moves the character and actions of your life away from what is assumed, and to the primary source.  You are no longer the meaning behind any good, but you're simply a vessel to that meaning.  You are a witness to Jesus Christ and in so doing a witness against sin in others lives and in the world.  If we shine the light of righteousness on sin, persecution will surely follow.   To do this, words are a must.  There can be a reluctance to share the gospel, if we are honest with ourselves I think some may find that we are reluctant, but why are we so reluctant?  I asked myself this question.  Could it be that we are reluctant because we are not totally dead to the world?  That we are unwilling to alienate ourselves from the social groups, and friends that may not agree with us?  To close the door on potential favors, friendships, and business relationships?  It is easier to “live and let live.”  Witness when convenient and not when called upon.  Perhaps, we are reluctant because we don’t always know what to say.  We have not “study to show ourselves approved unto God.”  We have not “sanctified the Lord in our hearts to be ready to give an answer.”  Therefore, when the time and opportunities come up (for they surely do every day), we have nothing to answer or offer other than our own opinion or insight.  Rather than the wisdom of scripture, which can save the lost.  We are reluctant because we are not resigned to the necessity of the message being preached.  The devil has convinced us that it is someone else's job.  Our pastor, elder, friend that is “churchier” than us.  He has us believing that we can “preach, if necessary, use words."

 

       The testimony, and the type of testimony cannot simply be action, it must be with words.  Jesus said: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” (Mat 10:32)  In the revival of Ephesus the scripture tells us “ And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.” (Acts 19:17-18)  All through the scripture we are called to preach with words.  Words render meaning, meaning is the path to truth, and truth demands change.  Change to the sinner means conversion, and conversion leads to sanctification and Satan is against all the above.  Lord help us to look deeply and sincerely into the scriptures and realize the responsibility that faces us.  We who call ourselves Christians.  A holy calling to “witness to Thy glory of salvation full and free.”  A privilege to preach, and use words, for they will surely be necessary.

Repent and Believe

 “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” – Mark 1:15

       True repentance comes from genuine conviction.  Conviction is the divine work of the Holy Spirit in which he repoves you of your sin.  He shows you your true standing with God by shining the light of holiness, the fullness of the gospel, and the sacrifice of the risen Christ on your heart and life.  This will by consequence cast a dramatic contrast on a sinful person and cause one to long for change.  Change which begins at repentance.  

        When you go to the doctor to get your yearly checkup you expect him or her to tell you the true condition of your physical body.  Whether sick or healthy you want the truth.  This is especially true when you are really sick.  If you have a sickness that might kill you, but you can change, then you want to know.  Even if the diagnosis exposes your imperfection, how much better to know now while you can change.  The same is true of the spiritual man.  The sickness of sin is termal.  It will doom you.  The good news is there is a cure.  This sickness is highly treatable, with one hundred percent success.  If you repent, and believe the gospel.  The power of Christ can wash away the sins you have committed, and instantly transform you to walk according to his steps.  He will deliver you from sins past, and with the power of the Holy Ghost, keep you from sinning.  However, he is not going to run you down and make you accept Him.  You have to turn from your sin.  As a man going down the wrong road, or an animal walking directly into a trap.  The cry is turn around!  Turn around!  Turn to Jesus.  Turn with your whole heart.  It is a decided turn from wrong, and the immediate consequential action is to do right.  The works mirrored the resolve.  The belief manifested in change. Repentance. Turning away and begging forgiveness with manifest change.  You might be living in a damning spiritual condition and callous or ignorant. Herein is the danger of sitting under the teaching and preaching of those who tell you only what you want to hear and not what God wants you to hear.   Repentance is more than just “I’m sorry.”  It is “I’m sorry and I am not going to do it again.”  You are making a U-turn.  You are turning away from what you want and towards what God wants. 

         A truly repentant heart is instantaneously forgiven by our loving Father.  The scripture says that “if we confess our sins, he is faith and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).  God is not interested in rubbing your face in what you have done against him; he is waiting to forgive you, longing to absolve you of your transgression, but you must meet the condition.  Once a human heart repents and it is genuinely changed, the next direction is towards righteousness.  Therefore the seamless and necessary second work of grace is the receiving of the Holy Ghost.  It is not the Fathers will that we “continue in sin that grace may abound.”  Which is one of the reasons why he counseled us in the scripture to believe the gospel.  The gospel is Jesus Christ, and the will of Christ (and God) is for HIs people to be sanctified.  Jesus himself longed for us to experience the love and fellowship that He experienced with God.  This is why Jesus died to sanctify those that believe. Repent and believe the gospel. 

Childlike Trust

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” –Job 13:15

There is no faith and trust more remarkable than that of a child’s.  They put complete trust in their parents.  Children do not worry (nor should they) whether food will be on the table, or if the bills are paid; they have their faith in trust in their guardians.  In good times, bad times they trust.  Adults however, not so much.

The older you get, the more you learn, and the less you understand.  The scripture tells us that the cares of this world can choke the Word.  This covers a lot of ground.  In Samson’s case, the cares could mean the things that you care for, the things you put ahead of God.  Your selfish wants and desires.  Which will lead you out of the will of God and choke out God’s divine instruction from your life.  Cares may include legitimate responsibilities such as; food, clothing, shelter, etc.  It could include those you care for in this life.  Your family, friends, sons and daughters.  Those you love and those that are put in your care.  So many things can become a care of this world.  The anticipation of something (good or bad) can be a care of this world.  In Job’s case, he seemed to have everything, and then he  lost everything..  God proved him, and Job’s faith and trust in God carried him through the darkest of days.  In this Job left an example for us, the silver bullet to fretting, worrying, and cares; trust.  Incomprehensible, unnatural, radical trust in Almighty God.  When things are not what they should be, trust.  When the world is not where you think it ought to be, trust.  When you are afflicted, tormented, and rejected; we must put our faith and trust in God saying as Job “though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”  Total resignation to the will of God and absolute abandonment of your own will, this is not a natural trust, but it is a vital one.  This is the path of the Christian, and the antithesis to the suffocating cares that would creep in and destroy your relationship with Christ and God.

The Bible says “he will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.”  It also says, “casting all your care on him for he careth for you.”  When you are forgiven God wipes away all past sin.  Then you must give your all to God trusting in him for the first time and he will then send his Spirit and sanctify you.  You are then in perfect peace, and this relationship of trust begins.  To maintain that, we must keep our mind on him and “rework” our thinking to cast our cares instead of hoard them.  Whatever comes up in life, take it to the Lord in prayer and give it to him.  When you do, he will take care of you and it will increase your faith.  This is not a one-time occurrence but a daily exercise. In this we trust God and learn to trust God.  We come as children, and continue with childlike faith.  This is the sanctified life, a life of faith and trust, and it brings with it glorious liberty.    

Guest Week: Andrew Norman

 1 Peter 1:6-7 KJV

• “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"

The storms of life come to each and every one of us. No matter our position in life, none of us are immune to the trials of this world. Through these hard times, it can feel like our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling because they are not being answered in the way we think they should be. It is easy in these times to start to feel discouraged and get the feeling that God is not listening. However, this is not the case. 

The Bible refers often to the trials or the trying of our faith, and the passage above is a great example. These trials, the Word tells us, are precious and essential parts of our walk with Jesus Christ. It is through these times that we truly learn to lean on Him and to trust in His Word. It matters what we do when the storms of life come to us. Do we take it to the Scripture and read about the promises of God? Do we pray to the Lord that He will give us strength to endure the trial? Do we talk to a Sanctified elder or mentor for advice through these hard times?

Let's make sure that we know where our strength and help comes from when we are faced with hardships and difficulties in life. The Bible tells us that "the joy of the Lord is your strength." The tough times in life are when we truly learn to depend on the Lord. This fosters a closer relationship and a reliance that teaches us to truly give all of our burdens and cares to God. When we do this He blesses us, although not in the way we always expect. The promise of our God is not that He will take the trial away, but that He will give us the strength to endure it. That is why the Scripture above refers to the trials of our faith as precious, because it causes us to trust in the Lord and thereby grow closer in fellowship with Him. 

Seeing The Field

 “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”-Matthew 9:38

        At present, the majority of the crops here in Georgia are near, or very near harvest.  At this point, even the layman can distinguish the difference between each crop because of their maturity.  However, in the earlier stages of the crops, the untrained would find making this distinction very challenging.  Their ability to see the field is hindered by their lack of exposure.   

        By contrast, the farmer can see the field. A farmer can walk into a field, look around and see what another man cannot.  At a glance he can see and understand what crop he has, how far it has come, and what potential lies in it given the right conditions.  He can understand when it is under stress, when it needs to grow, and what kind of work is involved to prevent weeds, pests.  He has a rough timeline laid out in his mind along with an intuitive knowledge of when it is time to harvest.  The farmer knows his field, and spends his days laboring in it.  He can see the field.  He can see the crop, he can see the potential harvest.  The fields of labor are all around us.  We are most likely right in the middle of it but simply cannot see.  We cannot see because we have not been sitting with the Lord of the harvest.  Spending time in the labor of prayer and reading the Word.  In absence of this daily devotion we are tempted to adopt man’s understanding, and methods.  As a result, many times we are tempted to draw our own conclusions and place boundaries around our work for the Lord.   Boundaries such as, the work must be in church, it must be at youth camp, or on a mission trip.  It must be with people that I feel comfortable with, or look and talk like me.  It must be a work that has a clear return rate to my ministry or local church congregation.  A work where I am comfortable with the work, and with the results.  A work that I can control.  The Apostle Peter had similar borders and boundaries around his work, he had his field of labor well defined.  Until one day in prayer God showed him otherwise.  God showed him that this glorious gospel was not just for Peter’s crowd, Peter’s people, it was for whosoever will.  He was willing to see what God sees, and go where God said, so God widened his gaze.  This is the need for us.  This is why we must pray to the Lord of the harvest that he might send laborers.  Laborers that have sat at Jesus' feet and heard His Word.  That understands the need, and can see the field.  I believe that everyday the fields around us are white for harvest if we allow God to show us.  It may be a word of wisdom, a prayer of intercession, an impromptu conversation that leads to sharing the gospel, a thirty second sermon in the grocery store you didn’t plan on preaching.  Giving, listening, helping.  So many little acts of ministry that sum to a life of light.  Sharing the gospel with our lives, and our language.  Holiness in our conversation.  Working in the field.  

        We can be tempted to look at ministry like a salesman would his monthly quota.  Did you close that sale?  Did you win that soul?  There's a fine line here, because you cannot compromise the integrity of the gospel in the pursuit of gaining numbers.  You can rush to harvest an immature crop, only to find that it leaves you with bitter fruit.  Yet, we must advance against the forces of Satan.  When you accept that the Lord of the harvest is sending forth laborers and we are willing to be one of them, it removes a great deal of anxiety of the matter; because if you preach all your life and save your family (as Noah did), then you are as God wanted you to be.  Or, if you preach one sermon and save a whole city (as Jonah did), then you are as God wanted you to be.  The laborer sees the field and understands the charge from his master, and the master understands where to send forth his laborers.  We all, working together, bringing in the harvest. 

Jesus Christ The Amen

 “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;” – Revelation 3:14

It is difficult for humanity to understand and accept how absolute the Word of God is.  We live in a world that is ever changing where everything we see, touch, and experience is fleeting yet God’s Word is just as true today as it will be thousands of years from now.  His Word is eternally absolute, and if the Father is eternally absolute then so is the Son.  Jesus Christ is the Amen.

There is great joy in seeking knowledge of the Word of God, however it does not supersede the necessity of believing the Word of God.  In believing we find change, knowledge does not save our souls, faith is the saving agent.  This gospel is for whosoever will; a man with a doctorate of divinity from Harvard University can be just as lost as a man drunk in the ditch.  The reverse is also true, the doctorate of divinity can find God through faith just as the drunk in the ditch can.  There is no respect of persons with God and his Son Jesus Christ.  “Ok, if by faith, then faith in what?”  Faith in the Amen, faith in the absolute word of Jesus Christ the Son of God.  The faithful and true witness from the beginning.  He himself charged us that we must believe on Him, and Christ himself told us that we must be born again.  The words from His very lips are as absolute and binding as the Ten Commandments that were carved in stone; whether they bless you or curse you they are binding, they are final, they are Amen.  Please, consider this, if a Christian and an Atheist had a debate on worldwide television and that Christian did not win a single argument, in fact he was soundly beaten. The Atheist is still wrong.  Jesus is the Amen, His word is absolute, yesterday, today, and forever.  Do you believe it?

If you choose to believe, then you must believe all of it.  We cannot “grocery shop” when it comes to the plan of salvation.  We cannot say, “I like the idea of eternal life, but…..the whole “carrying my cross "is not for me.”  “I don’t want to be labeled a “Christian;” but I do want to ascribe to some of what they teach.”  God help us all to understand that the promise “to Him that overcometh God will give a crown”, is just as sure and eternal as the promise “the wages of sin is death”.  Jesus Christ is absolute and to the righteous is a great foundation to stand on.  To the wicked it is a rock of offence.  Yet, when the storms of life come we can trust in the Amen and His word “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  When we get a little weary we can take courage in the truth “be ye not weary in well doing;” and when he says “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you.” We can know that God can give you an assurance that surpasses any in this world.  The Amen speaks comfort, encouragement, and admonishment to those who love Him, and great judgment and vengeance to those who do not.  This is not because he is cruel or unloving, but because he is absolute.  He is just.  Jesus Christ the Amen.

Contentment & Covetousness

 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” - Matthew 6:21

Contentment and covetousness stand contrary to one another.  One tethers you to this world, and the other liberates you from it. One invests you in the natural, and the other divests you from the natural.  What you treasure most, is the thing you are unwilling to lose.  This is where your heart truly is.   

When something is readily available it can be easy to take it for granted.  The average American probably does not appreciate running water like someone from a third world country who has never had it.  The other day I was listening to a man argue with his HOA over the right to cut lines in his grass.  I thought: “well, this is a first world problem, if I have ever heard of one.”  The readily available becomes status quo, and eventually, we can be tempted to discontentment and lust to covet something better.  The running water is not enough, it needs to be temperature controlled.  It needs to be in every part of the house.  It needs to be everywhere we go, etc.  Maintaining our standard of living can quickly become the whole of our existence.  On this point Jesus’s words pierce like a sword.  The Pharisees loved the high seats, the show of sacrifice, the long prayers.  They were quick to display their abundance of power, and slow to relinquish it.  It was more just their false theology Christ was attacking, it was their standard of living, their way of life, their treasures on earth.  When Jesus came, he stripped away all that.  He told everyone to give in secret, pray in secret, and to humble themselves.  He said to “lay not up for yourselves treasure on earth.”  He brought salvation down to man and obliterated the need for a high priest.  In doing so, he ripped everyone from the covetousness and drew them to contentment.  He commanded them to refocus their investment of time, and to place it in eternal things.  Why?  Because where your “treasure is there will your heart be also.”   The Pharisees did not take kindly to this radical, so they had Him killed.  He preached a gospel that told them to abandon what they loved most, and embrace a gospel that would strip away their treasures.  Then surrender to God who would grant them true peace, unquestionable contentment, and treasure in heave.  Is it not the same today?  We like our comforts, our pleasures, and our way of life.  We love our family, our friends, and our future.  Some of it is standard of living and creature comforts, and some of it is treasures on earth (what cannot abandon will tell you which is which).  Jesus takes all that (food, raiment, family, friends, etc.) and rolls it up into one word “life.”  He says: “lose your life.”  Jesus calls us to abandon it, die to it, lay it down and follow Him.  If you do, if you fall radically in love with Jesus Christ, then you will find life.  When you treasure this world the heart clings to it and you are drawn away from Christ.  When you break from the world and treasure heaven then your heart is in Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ will wreck your life and give you life.  He will strip away the covetousness but grant contentment.  Contentment that is rooted in righteousness.  

To the carnal heart, it is an enormous challenge to lay up treasures in heaven, because your greatest loves are present down here.  Like the Pharisees, your heart will adamantly reject the very notion of it and even seek to destroy it.  However, when you are genuinely converted, washed in the blood of Christ and sanctified by the Spirit.  When you are brought into that born-again experience.  It is a great delight to lay up treasure in heaven.  You see this as wisdom as much as righteousness.  You are given peace that brings contentment.” 

What Will Ye Do In The End?

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”- Jeremiah 5:31

          When I think about man's inability to contemplate the end of something it strikes me that when it comes to building our kingdoms here we often can look towards the end. Think of the Olympic athlete who is training now for something that comes four years from now.  Think of a commercial developer buying land for something they may build years in the future.  Why, just this week the Georgia port authority announced a multi-million dollar project that was begun in efforts to increase capacity—looking into the year twenty thirty.  Elon Musk is trying to look hundreds of years down the road to put mankind on mars.  The investment banker puts millions into a company in hopes to receive millions more in the long-term future.  If it is a matter of temporal gain, personal wealth, or collective triumph, we don’t struggle with future planning. However, when we begin to speak about eternity it seems the brain short circuits. Many people go through this life neglecting this great consideration.  Perhaps the devil steps in and clouds our judgment.  And yet, a certain death is coming. It is the devil’s business to busy us about anything else, and keep our minds on this temporary world. However, it is the role of the Spirit to turn our hearts and minds to the end. The spirit does this through preaching, teaching, Bible reading, church services, and even funerals. The wisdom of Solomon says that it is better to go to the house of mourning than feasting, because in the house of mourning we must face the end.  Why is it so hard for mankind to face his end?  Perhaps it is scary, perhaps it is so final and so daunting it’s better to ignore.  Perhaps we don’t believe what we sometimes say we believe: that there is a heaven, and there is a hell— that there is something beyond this life. It is all these things, but I also feel through the instruction of this scripture in Jeremiah that it is because we love to have it so.  We love to have the here and now. We love to have the natural world surround us, consume us, comfort us, and invite us to playfulness.  We love to have it so, and to consider that it will all end is to challenge that love.  We must cast down our idol of playfulness and turn our attention to the sobering reality that we are mortal and God is eternal. 

 Herein is the responsibility of the Christian— to fix our hearts on eternity and warn the people to flee from the wrath to come; to give a more earnest heed lest we let them slip; to live with eternity’s values in view and remain a pilgrim here on earth.  Through prayer, reading, witnessing, testifying, assembling together, we can find the strength and insight to do these things.  In short , through the Spirit we can live with the ultimate end in mind.

The Holy Spirit

 

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”  -Romans 8:9

“Are you sanctified?”  I asked.  “What do you mean sanctified?” an honest response.  “Do you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?”  I followed.  Then came their follow up: “What is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?"

It is entirely possible that many people around us are never prompted to explore the meaning behind the words “the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.”  Perhaps some, are outwardly (or inwardly) asking “what is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?”  Or “what do they mean by sanctified?”  While we, I, continue completely unaware that the word is tragically foreign to them. So, what is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?  In the first place the Holy Spirit is not tangible or natural.  He cannot be seen.  He cannot be bottled, manufactured, or marketed.  He is a person.  The third part of God the Father and God the Son.  Like the wind, He does not go where He is not sent and does not stay where He is not welcome.  He is God.  He is Christ, and He testifies of Jesus Christ.  He reproves sin and makes holy that which He baptizes.  He makes holy wherever He abides.  He is called in scripture the: Holy Ghost, the Spirit, the Comforter, the Spirit of God, Living Water, the Spirit of Truth.  He is the second coming of Christ.  The fulfillment of Jesus’s prophecy that he will come again and receive us unto himself.  The Holy Spirit is the establishment of the New Testament church, and the keeper of the New Testament Christian.  He is why we can live holy.  When the Holy Spirit shows up, things happen, they change, you change, you take on the character of the Holy Spirit, which is holiness.  You die to the old way of living, which is sinfulness, and you are raised into a new life of righteousness.  No one can go to heaven without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is what invades a willing heart and purges out the “want” to sin.  Furthermore, it implants a seed of love in your heart; love towards God and man, perfect love; true holiness: Sanctification.  It is Jesus on the inside; it is why I believe we can live without committing a willful transgression against God, because the Holy Spirit can keep us from sin.  Christ promised he could, he would and then sent the Holy Spirit to give us the power to live free from sin.  Our will is God’s will as long as we yield to the instruction of the Holy Spirit. 

“Indwelling.”  The Holy Spirit is not like a house cat.  He does not go and come on a whim.  He will abide, but he will not stay where he is not welcome.  He will not enter where he is not invited.  If you can imagine your heart as a throne room, where the ruler of all your desires can be found, on that throne sits the devil if you are not sanctified (meaning you don’t have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit).   Only when you, with all sincerity: repent of your sins, and ask God to send the Holy Ghost to throw out the devil and take the throne; only then will he come.  He will come, he will dwell, and he will guide, if you are obedient.  He will change your desires and make your heart and life anew.  What a blessing! What peace! What a comfort! What a joy to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Do you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?      

A Worldly Marriage

“In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.” –Nehemiah 13: 23-24

The consequence of an action will not always immediately follow the action itself. In many cases, consequences come much later. After the action or decision has remained in the annals of time. It is then we look back and see the error of our ways and grasp the realization of our mistake. Only to desperately hope there is time for reconciliation.

The scripture tells us that the Jews had married the wives of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab; “and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod and could not speak in the Jews’ language.” God has always wanted a separate people. Unlike certain clubs and organizations, the separation is not for pride or arrogance’s sake, but for the sake of love, goodness, and holiness. Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab were pagan lands, with pagan beliefs and practices. The Jews were a people of one God. The true God, and their beliefs and practices reflected the desires of Almighty God. The language they spoke, the food they ate, the way they: lived, dressed, and believed were in total contrast to the nations around them. They were peculiar people. Within these beliefs and practices it mandated that they could not marry “strange” women, meaning women of other nations. Marriage is an intimate relationship. It is the most intimate relationship that exists on earth between two people. When two people are grafted together, they will undoubtedly take on the characteristics of one another. It is like two fruit trees that are grafted together. The union formed in hopes of creating a better overall variety (though it does not always), but when they bear fruit, the seeds of that fruit will not reflect the parent type, how can it? The union was not ordained by God, only man. So it was, the children of these unholy unions within the Jewish nation did not reflect their parent type, i.e., God. They reflected the marriage of the church and the world. They were a lost generation, torn between the world and the church. A casualty of choice by those gone before, who loved the world. Why did they love the strange women so? Was it their exotic dress? The liberal lifestyle? The promise of extravagance? The scripture does not say, but this we know, they were lost, and their children were lost. Therefore, this action of worldly marriage was met with stern rebuke and exhortation to change. Desperately hoping for a realization of the consequences of their actions, and a resolve to hastened towards immediate reconciliation. The people of God cannot expect to be intimate with the world and there not be consequences. The Apostle Peter tells us that sanctified people are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. When the Holy Ghost convicts you, forgives you, and sanctifies you; he calls you out of the world. You cannot love what they love, go where they go, and worship what they worship (i.e., lust of flesh, of the eyes, and pride of life). When you become filled with all the fullness of God, your heart cleansed from all sin, and you are called to daily walk in the light.  What draws you, excites you, occupies you, and affects you is a direct reflection on what lives within you.  A product of what you have wed yourself too.  The fruit of your union is the conversation of your life.

If the only Christianity that the generation coming behind us sees, is one that is married to the world; then they will see no Christianity. What is worse, if the only Christianity that the generation behind them sees, is one predicated on the worldliness they saw in us; then that generation will think that is Christianity. This is the consequence of a worldly marriage. 

Gift Of Faith

“Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”- 1 Peter 1:12

 The scripture tells that we are saved by grace through faith.  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:8-9) Salvation which God so freely offers, and Christ willingly died for, is offered through faith.   Of all of God’s creation, this realm of faith that we live in is only experienced by mankind.  No other creation has or needs this salvation by faith.  We are the only ones who will ever know God in this way. 

 The angels live in the presence of God.  They know and see Him in the realm of the spiritual.  A realm we cannot totally experience while living in this physical world.  Therefore, angels are without faith and the necessity of faith for salvation.  They desire to “look into” but cannot fully see.  The animals, plants, trees, etc. are all physical.  They have no spirit. No concept of eternity.  No free will.  No opportunity to serve God, love God, or be in judgment before God.  It is not murder for a lion to kill.  Nature exists in a purely carnal sense, with no concept of sin and righteousness.  Therefore, they have no need or experience of salvation through faith.  Of all the created beings that God made, humanity is the only creation that lives in the realm of faith.  What a thing this is.  That we can know God in this way and speak to him in this language.  Experience Him in this manner.  The Bible says that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1) Which means we have a hope that is unique to us.  A hope that has been prepared for us, by the Christ who died for us and gave us access to the Father through faith.  This faith cannot be commercialized or monetized.  It is not subject to our adulteration or censorship.  It is a gift from God and rooted in love and devotion.  It is both our ultimate hope and our only hope.  Simple faith, faith in the risen Christ Jesus.  Faith that cleanses, redeems, and restores us into the right relationship of holiness with God.  Faith that, through the Holy Ghost, binds us to the one true Savior Jesus Christ.  Giving us the earnest of the Spirit, our confidence of eternal life.  If we keep the faith.  It calls and unites us into a body of believers and brings to us a profound sense of belonging.  Regardless of race, color, or social status.  Without it, it is impossible to see God.  With it is it possible.  When we believe that God is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, we can see Him through the eyes of faith; and one day see Him face to face.  We are the only ones who are afforded the opportunity to do so.  It is a shame that so many squander this opportunity to live for the carnal.  For the temporary.  Devoted to the natural instead of embracing the spiritual.  Do you not know that this natural realm will soon pass away?  We are here for such a short time, and then we are soon gone. Furthermore, we will only pass this way but once, and to live our lives fixed on the world while rejecting Christ is criminally shortsighted.  How pitiful is this?  Especially when you consider that we are so privileged to know and experience God through this precious gift of faith.

The angels desire to look in.  I am reminded of photos of a crowded Fenway Stadium in the early 1900’s.  The sold-out stadium was so packed that it showed some climbing the grandstand and perched on the water tower to get a glimpse of baseball’s best.  The angels, the angels desire to look in.  They would like to see and know God as we do.  We will never pass this way again.  Our opportunity is swiftly passing by.  It would be a shame to waste it.