Pastor Don's Blog

TRUSTING IN GOD

2012-02-07T12:48:00.000-06:00

Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us (2 Corinthians 1:9-10).

Have you ever done a job or participated in a sport for so long until you became quite good at it? If so, then you probably gained a confidence in your knowledge, abilities, and skills in that area. After having walked with the Lord for a period of time, if we are not careful, we can assume a similar type of confidence, a confidence that may cause us to trust in ourselves rather than in the Lord.

In Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he describes situations designed to prevent such an attitude from taking root or to bring an end to it if it is already prevalent. He begins by saying, “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life” (2 Cor. 1:8). Many of us have faced or are presently facing trials that cause us to despair even of life. Whether our reaction is unwarranted or not, our reality is fraught with despair. These scriptures remind us that our trust should always be in God and not in ourselves. In Paul’s situation, the great lesson for the brethren is that the Lord allowed difficulties so great and beyond their abilities to rescue themselves that their only source and hope were in the Lord. Is it like that with you? Are the difficulties in your life so great that you cannot rescue yourself? Rejoice if your help can come only from the One Who loves you most!

Paul explains that the Lord had caused the sentence of death to be pronounced in them that they might learn not to trust in themselves, but in God who raises the dead. The Lord, undaunted by death, is the only one who can raise the dead! It is He who delivers them from death, and, likewise, He alone is the One who is able to rescue us from our present trials and deaths.

Our death-like situations will always have the upper hand in our lives until we die to them and allow the Lord, Who raises the dead, to raise us out of our death-like situations, thus manifesting the victory He has already gained for us! As the psalmist declares, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You” (Psalm 9:10).

WHEN YOUR STRENGTH SEEMS SMALL

2012-01-19T15:30:00.002-06:00

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel (Micah 5:2).

Sometimes all of us feel insignificant or small. We are at times overwhelmed by the bigness of all that surrounds us. It might be the enormity of our problems or the seemingly endless possibilities that have us encircled.

The prophet Micah gives us hope through words from the Lord. He shows by his prophesy that “the big” and “the great” come out of the small, humble, seemingly insignificant or the poorly-funded project, place, or person. His prophesy, “Though you are little among the thousands. . . yet out of you shall come forth to Me. . . .” is a tremendously powerful and transcendent phrase that has the capability to change one’s destiny and bring that one to the fulfillment of his purpose. Perhaps you are without strength or small and feel that you live in a land of giants. The giants, however, do not determine your destiny; the Lord does.

Small beginnings do not prevent, deter, or hamper the Lord in anything He desires to do for you. His might and power are seen in the parable of the mustard seed and other seemingly impossible situations. Your destiny is never seen outside the Lord. It will never be realized without Him. Why is this the case? It is so because, “. . . He shall stand and feed His flock.” The Lord Jesus Himself shall shepherd (Pastor) you. He shall stand (be vigilant) over you; He keeps watch over you day and night. What does the shepherding of the Lord Jesus look like? The Psalmist, David said, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Micah portrays the Lord Jesus’ pastorate in this manner— “In the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; . . . they shall abide. For now He shall be great to the ends of the earth; and this One shall be peace” (Micah 5:4-5).

We live (abide, dwell) in the strength and majesty of our Pastor, the Lord Jesus and His Father, the omnipotent God. We live knowing that He shall be great to the ends of the earth! And HE Himself shall be peace!

What great promises!

I ask all who read this article to believe the Gospel and receive its benefits!

WALKING IN THE COMFORT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Part 2

2011-12-17T18:22:00.000-06:00

Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied (Acts 9:31).

In English, the verb comfort means, “to soothe in time of affliction or distress,” and as a noun, it means “a condition of pleasurable ease or well-being.” The state of being comfortless, then, means being with no relief from discomfort and no escape from grief and afflictions. In speaking of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans” (fatherless/comfortless) (John 14:18). He had just said to them, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. . . .” (John 14:16) The word He used for another was allos which means “another of the same sort.” He did not use heteros, which means “different.” So the Father was sending One Who would comfort in the same manner that Jesus did.

Yes, the Holy Spirit brings everything that the English definition denotes, but to obtain a fuller understanding of the meaning, let us examine the Greek word for comfort. Composed of para meaning beside, and kaleo meaning to call, paraklesis means “a calling to one’s side.” In 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, comfort means not only relief from grief but it means to bring encouragement as well: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father . . . comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.”

Another Greek derivative is the word paramuthia, used in 1 Corinthians 14:3. Composed of para (near) and muthos (speech), it indicates speaking closely to someone with a great degree of tenderness. “But he who prophesies speaks . . .comfort. . . . ” Yet another form of the word comfort in the Greek, paragoros, is the word for medicines which calm irritation.

We can gain an understanding from this brief study that the comfort of the Holy Spirit is His tender touch that brings with it relief and consolation, strength and encouragement, and the allaying of those irritations and annoyances that can wear away at one’s soul. Today, may you fully experience His comfort.

WALKING IN THE COMFORT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

2011-11-18T11:46:00.000-06:00

Last week I discussed part of what “walking in the fear of the Lord” involves. The responsibility we must bear for walking righteously need not be burdensome. As we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, He adds grace that makes it very possible to live lives that honor Him. Continual fellowship with the Lord and ingesting His Word will result in continual spiritual growth. Add to that a commitment to the local church and the discipline of being under the church leadership and teaching, and you have the makings of a progressive spiritual experience. That experience will bear fruit worthy of the Lord. In Colossians 1:9-11, Paul says, “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience . . . .”

Endurance and patience come as we walk “in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus, knowing how immeasurably valuable the Holy Spirit would be, encouraged the apostles saying, “. . .the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). No wonder He is the Comforter! He echoes the words of Jesus, bringing to our recollection precious life-giving words that can sustain us, give us hope, and fuel our faith. In John 14, Jesus reveals that He would not leave us orphans but would be in us in the person of the Holy Spirit.

My prayer today is that as a congregation we be a people that walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, revealing Jesus and maintaining His cause. For this, we live.

WALKING IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD

2011-11-07T16:51:00.000-06:00

“Walking in the fear of the Lord” is what is required of us. Galatians 5:16 declares emphatically, ”Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The flesh and the spirit, we are told in Galatians 5:17, are “contrary to one another. . . . “ As a new creation, you and I must yield to the Spirit of God who then produces His fruit in us; we must not yield to the flesh and continue in fleshly ways. What is evidence that we are continuing in fleshly ways? Galatians 5:19-21 explicitly describes, “. . .Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. . . .” Some of the works of the flesh we might tend to categorize as “really bad” while others we might tend to wink at, thinking that given the right situation, such a response might be “understandable,” or “justifiable,” but we must not be deceived. They are all heinous works of the flesh; they show no evidence that the Spirit of God is ruling in our lives. And living in these conditions comes at such a cost. Lives mired in these works are bereft of peace. They are not edified, and they do not have the “comfort of the Holy Spirit.” If you find yourself struggling with one of the works of the flesh, the wonderful news is that our Redeemer can make you completely free. The walk of faith that He requires of you may not be easy, but it will be marked by His peace, His edification, and His comfort.

As a church, the Lord is calling us to separate ourselves from walking in the flesh. He is calling us to a holiness, a separating of ourselves unto Him. I have invited you to join me in a special season of seeking the Lord, a time of concentrated prayer and fasting. We are in need of the Lord to manifest Himself in our midst. We must decide to be radically different. It is no longer enough that we are saved, blessed, and on our way to heaven. Now is the time to examine ourselves and to pray like the psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting ” (Psalm 139:23-24).

GAINING CLEAR FOCUS

2011-10-29T23:22:00.001-05:00

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58).

We must always have a clear focus, and Jesus should always be the One we see most clearly, no matter what we think of or what we are looking for. Every picture of life must clearly have Jesus there. Having clear focus entails knowing what we are called to be and doing what we are called to do. No matter what occupation you hold, what job you are completing, what task you are doing, follow the Scriptural mandate that says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24). Imagine getting rewards according to your performance and according to the attitude which you have embraced! That in itself should motivate each one of us to be mindful of the Lord at all times—to be mindful of His standards, His expectations, and His enablement. No more sloppy work ethic. No more taking costly shortcuts. No more robbing employers of a full-day’s pay by not producing a full-day’s worth of work. I Corinthians 15:58 guarantees that our work is not in vain. Christians should be a testimony because of how they labor: with integrity, with diligence, with excellence. That is what it means to have Jesus as our clear focus.

Keeping our focus clear requires being wary of distractions. Beware of anything that lures us away from Jesus or that desensitizes us to His presence. Blatant sin will cause us to lose our focus. Even a hobby or a pastime can end blurring that focus if it consumes our lives. Before we know it, we have spent our lives pursuing the wind.

Do not allow anything to keep you from the eternal purposes of God for your life, for therein lies the abundant life He died to give you; therein lies your destiny.

A YIELDED LIFE

2011-09-11T19:52:00.001-05:00

September 11 marks a significant anniversary in the life of our nation. Ten years ago, a horrific terrorist attack wrought permanent, drastic changes to the life of our nation. We are still living with the imposed effects. During times of such crises, there is a heightened awareness of God. There seems to be a renewed interest in calling on God, even publicly. Gone is the hyper-sensitivity to political correctness regarding God. When things rock out of our control, and when all we’ve trusted in collapses, we become aware of the speck of faith within us, and we call on God, even if it’s a “God, if You’re there. . . .” type of prayer. God, being fully aware of the fragility of humans, loved us, gave His only begotten Son for us, and then He continues to give to the world, His own sons and daughters (Christians) as His ambassadors so that at such critical times, they can proclaim the same message of hope. To the degree that they have apprehended Jesus in their lives, they produce His fruit.

A life fully yielded to God produces much fruit. The life of Christ in you can’t help but produce life! So you may find yourself speaking (God) words to those who are weary and hopeless. You may find yourself prompted to call someone at a critical time for him or her. Opportunities to minister to hurting individuals will happen, as the Spirit of God in you fulfills what was spoken of in Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me . . . .” Through every yielded life, Jesus re-presents Himself to a hurting world. Every contact you make is an opportunity to have the living water in you enliven those around you who are spiritually dead; every interaction with a Christian can be refreshing and invigorating, buoying all involved forward!

You are an example to the flock of God. You are an example to someone. Perhaps you don’t think you are, but you are. Someone is watching you. Anything that we fail to apprehend of Christ in this time is an eternal loss. Take advantage of every opportunity.

KNOWING CHRIST Part 2

2011-08-10T12:56:00.001-05:00

A clear study of Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and Colossians will show you that Jesus comes into the heart as your life. He does not come into your life to help you out or to help you be as you’ve always been.

So Paul is speaking and then he asks in Romans 11:33b, “. . . how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” And then he asks in verses 34 and 35, “for who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath become His counselor? Or who hath first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?” It is amazing what Jesus does. He lays hold or apprehends us and for the rest of our lives, we seek to apprehend the Person Who has apprehended us. What an amazing journey that is! What an exciting life! The Ancient of Days, the One who holds time in His hands, has laid hold of you, and so then that gives you abilities that are outside of time. It gives you a connection with the infinite God, and you have to understand what Jesus Christ then brings to you.

The Bible says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.” We always stop there, but I love the next verse. It says in verse 17, “For God did not send His Son into the World to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” And I want you to understand that God has brought something wonderful to you. He has brought eternity to you, but He has brought Someone greater than eternity to you. It is an amazing reality that God has done this for you. You are now the house, the container, of what cannot be contained!

KNOWING CHRIST Part 1

2011-07-04T21:01:00.000-05:00

Knowing Christ is the greatest blessing God has ever given any created being! Every believer must know Christ Jesus in an intimate way. It is not enough to know Him simply doctrinally or as methods. Many all over the world teach about Him or around Him, but they do not actually teach “The Man.” If you learn about Him and do not learn Him, you will find yourself stuck in a situation or circumstance where your rule does not apply nor your method work.

I would like to further acquaint you with the Lord Jesus, Who is the believer’s life, hope, peace, joy and everything he needs for life and godliness. Jesus Christ is indispensable to our success and well-being. He promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us. The Bible is careful to instruct us that He cannot lie. The Psalmist, King David, says, “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” This is also my testimony. The Lord Jesus will be faithful to you till the end. Never lose this truth; keep it under guard in your heart.

The Word of God should always inspire confidence in those who hear it. We should endeavor to be clear and careful to show all there is in our magnificent “New Covenant.” In this “New Covenant,” we have immutable promises--promises that will never be taken away! In Hebrews 5:9, the Scripture says, “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”

In almost every place where I utter the aforementioned Scripture, someone will say, “Oh, but the catch phrase is, ‘to all who obey Him.’” There is no caveat here because faith, obedience and love are all on the same continuum. Your faith, obedience, and love are all from One, the Lord Jesus who has made possible all we need to please the Father and to lead successful lives. We come to the Lord and give Him all that we are in order to receive all that He is! What an exchange!!! We, as well as our children or those we love, come to the Lord Jesus Christ by Divine Initiative! Salvation is a Divine Initiative and a covenant promise. When you receive this, it will reshape your thinking and change your life! You will begin to walk with God more powerfully than ever before. Salvation was not your idea. It came from God through His Son, Jesus Christ, and it came with exceedingly great and precious promises. Now that you know this truth, confess and possess it by faith in the One who loved you and gave Himself for you. He alone will keep you through all of life’s difficulties.

IMMUTABLE BLESSINGS

2011-06-06T11:18:00.001-05:00

The Messianic promise found in Isaiah 54 belongs not only to Israel, but also to the church of the Lord Jesus.

Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited. . . . For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer. For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you nor shall My covenant of peace be removed says the Lord, who has mercy on you (Isaiah 54:4-10).

In this passage, the Lord also makes a covenant with us as He likens it to the one He spoke to Noah. The Lord promised to restore Israel to her place among the nations. These promises are not only for Israel, but also for the church. We have received these blessings through faith in Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham, who inaugurated them by His death and resurrection. The apostle Paul in Galatians 6:16 says that we are the “Israel of God.” He pronounces the same blessings of peace and mercy upon us as does Isaiah upon ancient Israel.

In times of restoration, the Lord exhorts His people to cooperate with His peace, mercy, and grace that are abundantly poured out upon them. In Isaiah 54, we are told to enlarge the place of our tent. That is, we are encouraged to recognize the hand of God in our lives and to be responsive. The Lord in this Scripture does not make a conditional promise to us, but an unconditional one. He says, “…with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you…” and, “… the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you nor shall My covenant of peace be removed says the Lord, who has mercy on you.”

The Lord has provided an atmosphere in which His church can experience unfettered growth. He has showered us with His peace, mercy, and everlasting kindness. The prophet Isaiah and the apostle Paul confirm that this atmosphere is of Divine origin. I encourage you to cooperate with the Spirit of grace and to experience God’s favor in your life.

THE PROCESS OF WAITING

2011-05-31T14:59:00.000-05:00

Process is defined as a systematic series of actions directed toward a specific end. Typically, it describes the act of taking something or someone through an established and usually routine set of procedures to convert the person or thing from one form to another. It is like the renewal of the mind

The prophet Isaiah says, “. . . The Creator of the ends of the earth neither faints nor is

weary. . . .He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but 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 40:28-30). The Prophet defines God as One, who unlike youthful humans, neither faints nor becomes weary. God gives power to the weak and to those who have no might He increases their strength. Isaiah’s experience is that young people faint, become weary and fall, but those who wait on the Lord are renewed in strength, and by enduring the waiting process, they soar above their circumstances, run without weariness, and walk in Divine Stamina.

The Psalmist David also shares one of his experiences of the waiting process. He says, “My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning” (Psalm 130:6). David, being a shepherd, understood the difficult and painful task of waiting for a glimpse of sunlight after watching and enduring the creeping moments of a bleak, dark and sometimes dreary night where hours seem like days, minutes seem like hours, and seconds are elongated.

It doesn’t matter how bleak your circumstances are or how dark your nights, you, like David, will find that strength and comfort come as you wait on the fulfillment of the Lord’s word.

Generally, one experiences extreme emotions shortly before the answer comes, David knew the certainty of the morning; you also must know the certainty of your morning. Your expectation of the Lord is as certain as the morning! Those of us, who have worked all night waiting for the morning, can agree with the Psalmist that the morning will come!

This is the time of the fulfillment of your promises. Therefore, “wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say on the Lord!” (Ps. 27:1)

MY SOUL WAITS ON THE LORD

2011-05-20T08:48:00.002-05:00

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning---Yes, more than those who watch for the morning” (Psalm130:5-6).

Waiting on the Lord is one of the most difficult tasks a child of God will ever do. Waiting punishes the natural mind, breaks down the human will, and strains our emotions. However, waiting in faith produces godly results.

The Psalmist speaks of the longings of his soul when he says, “I wait for the Lord. . . .” Why does he wait? He waits because the Lord Himself has orchestrated his life; his times are in the hands of the Lord, and he knows it. He is hemmed in by God, totally given over to Him. He can no longer do his own will, being his Lord's prisoner. He has no will to step outside his Master's will, but he maintains the posture of watching and waiting because that is his Lord's design for him. He waits because the Lord has given him a word.

We all have received a word from the Lord whether through reading the Scriptures, in conversation with a friend, or from a sermon through the pastor. When the Lord gives us a word, that word should be life to us. When we understand that God has given us a word, our understanding of that word creates in us an expectation. This expectation says that there will be a fulfillment of the Word of the Lord. The writer says, “. . . and in His Word I do hope.” In this phrase, we have a clear depiction of one who has been given a word by the Lord and now spends his time waiting, meditating on God and searching out His Word.

The waiting is only tolerable as you meditate on His Word and focus on His Truth. Sometimes the waiting can seem infinitely long, and the darkness of the circumstances can seem overwhelming. During these times, we should recall Isaiah's words, “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him” (64:4).

COME AND SEE THE WORKS OF GOD

2011-05-12T10:10:00.000-05:00

He is awesome in His doing(s) toward the sons of men. He turned the sea into dry land; they went through the river on foot. . . .He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations (Psalm 66:5-7).

Our God is so amazing. His blessings toward us are tremendous! The Psalmist reminds us that our God is great toward us. His deeds are incomparable. As an example of His prowess, he recounts, “He turned the sea into dry land; they went through the river on foot.” Each of us has testimonies of the Lord's protection and deliverance. We should remind ourselves how awesome and faithful He has been and is to us till this very day. In my life, I've had days when it seemed that there was no way out, and He made a way where there was no way. He has rescued me where there was no human solution. He is not only my Redeemer, He is also my Rescuer. He saved me from drowning, from car wrecks, sicknesses, the plots of evil men, and so much more! I believe He has done the same for you.

We often hear much about what is going on in our nation as though we must take corrective action by taking up arms. I say “Yes! Let's take up arms, but let them be our Spiritual Armaments, the weapons of our warfare which are not carnal or natural, but the ones that are mighty in God that pull down strongholds, cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ (II Corinthians 10:4-5).

What is your boast in the Lord? What has He done for you that will affect the lives of others? Do you say with your mouth and in your everyday life to those you encounter and interact with, “Come and see the works of God (in my life)”? Each of us has something to say about the Lord.

The Psalmist says, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. . . .He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness. . . .[He] prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies; [He] anoints my head with oil” (Psalm 23). He watches over us as tenderly as a shepherd watches over his own sheep.

What does your life say for the Lord? It says a lot! Meditate on His goodness toward you and exclaim it from the housetops!

WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM

2011-05-04T00:44:00.000-05:00

Christ is our Lord and Savior and He is also God’s pattern for us. He is the Pattern Son! I Corinthians 15:47-49 says,“The first man (Adam) was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man (Jesus) is the Lord from heaven.” Paul uses the term “the first man” and “the second Man” denoting a significant difference. The first man is earthly, made of dust; the second Man is not of the earth, but from heaven. He is superior to the first man because of His nature and origin. He is God’s only Son! The Father’s Purpose in bringing the Son is revealed in the next verse. “As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.” Paul shows us in this passage that those who have not accepted Jesus have Adam as their only hope. Adam failed! Therefore, no matter what “success” one achieves in this life, it has failure built into it because it is based on one who failed to meet God’s standard! Jesus, on the other hand, greatly succeeded and has become both Lord and Christ. He is the Head of the new creation. A creation that enjoys His Life and His victory! Therefore, as He is, so are we in this world.

In verse 49, the Apostle says, “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” Paul speaks in a manner that gives us absolute assurance that Christ Jesus has changed us eternally by His death, resurrection, and ascension! He says with the same certainty that as we have borne Adam’s likeness, we shall also bear the likeness of the heavenly Man. By Christ’s sacrifice, we have received His nature. I John 3:2 says, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” May that incredible promise be an encouragement to you today!

HIS FAITHFULNESS CONTINUES

2011-04-21T21:25:00.000-05:00

In Psalm seventy-eight, there are numerous references to the continued guidance and faithfulness of God in spite of the capriciousness of His people. In 2 Timothy 2:13, Paul says, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." Psalm seventy-eight contains proof of the faithfulness of the Lord in spite of the behavior of His people. However, in 2 Timothy chapter two, we see that there are consequences to disobedience. We should never take the grace of God for granted. His grace is space for us to contemplate and seek His face. His beneficence is not for more folly on our part.

Let's look at some examples of the Lord's enduring faithfulness in Psalm 78:5-72:

He established a testimony in Jacob. . . that they should make them known to their children. . . the children who would be born. . .that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments. . . . Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers. . . .He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; and He made the waters stand up like a heap. In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink in abundance . . . . but they sinned even more against Him. . . .And they tested God in their heart. . . .Yes, they spoke against God: they said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?”. . . .Yet He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven. . . .He sent them food to the full. . . .He being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity.

We see clearly that God was faithful in spite of their unfaithfulness. Let us, however, be different than they were. Paul in 1 Corinthians 10 says, "Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted" (6) and "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition. . ." (11).

We have a marvelous opportunity to be for God what He has always desired: an obedient people! Therefore, we must endeavor to obey Him without question.

THE PREVAILING PRESENCE OF THE LORD

2011-04-04T15:31:00.000-05:00

“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, who do men say that I the Son of Man, am? (14) So they said, some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. (15) He said to them, but who do you say that I am? (18) . . . . I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:13-18).

Jesus says to us that we are built on ‘this rock’ (Himself) and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against us. Why can’t the gates of Hades prevail against the Church of Jesus Christ? It is because we are filled with His indomitable Spirit! Jesus, the God of the universe, lives in the hearts of His people!

There is another passage in Luke which also resonates with the prevailing presence of Jesus Christ. “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost! I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. . . . I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:6-7, 10). In these passages, we understand that joy comes from God Himself. This joy is so powerfully prevailing that it affects the atmosphere of heaven and even the angels of God, and it will also affect your atmosphere!

The Scripture says, “. . . the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Joy and strength come in the presence of the Lord. Although we cannot see Him with our natural eye, when we experience God’s presence, we know that He is certainly among us. Strength means a fortified place, force, defense, or stronghold. Therefore, we may safely conclude that the prevailing presence of the Lord strengthens us as a fortified place of defense which cannot be conquered by satan or his agents.

As we move forward this year, let us remember that the Lord will show us the path of life and in His presence we have fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).

FAITH AND THE BELIEVER

2011-03-28T10:26:00.002-05:00

Growing up in a Christian home has many advantages. We were taught the things of God from our infancy. It also has some disadvantages. We would often hear truth without explanation. As a result, we sometimes grew up with a vague understanding or a misinterpretation of Scripture.

One statement always spoken to us by our Pastor or one of the Sunday School teachers was, “You must have faith.” We were taught that faith moved God. As a child, I was often told that I was to trust and believe God in every situation--that He would always see me through. The Pastor regularly quoted Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Finding faith was now my life’s journey. I knew that it was the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of what I could not see, but it was hard to understand these terms: substance, hope, evidence, things not seen. I immediately took upon myself the responsibility of searching out this mystery and to become a person who moved God by having what He required.

What I’ve learned through my journey is that faith comes by hearing and hearing again the Word of God (Romans 10: 17). It also grows through our obedience in difficult situations. As a youth, I fasted and prayed much to have this faith. Some would say, “You are not blessed because you don’t have enough faith.” Even as a pre-teen, I had problems with this statement. There are many opinions as to what faith is and what it means. These views often cause believers much trouble, self-condemnation, and mental anguish. I encourage those who struggle with these feelings of guilt to relax, love the Lord, and pay no attention to such words.

Recently, I was meditating on the Lord and His “bigness.” I was overwhelmed by the thought that even now, after all these years, God is still a mystery to me. Immediately, I was comforted by another thought, which I call a God-Thought: I do not have to understand or have full knowledge of the infinite God because I believe that He exists! Somehow even in the midst of an attack against my faith, the Lord was able to reveal Himself to me in an undeniable way. I’ve come to know that faith is simply loving the Lord, trusting Him when I don’t understand, and obeying Him when my way seems better than His; it is having confidence in the One who loves Me.

THE UPWARD CALL

2011-03-25T09:21:00.000-05:00

“. . . I have suffered the loss of all things. . . that I may gain Christ and . . . that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection . . . . Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on . . . forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the Upward Call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8-14).

The question that we must face is whether this is just another slogan or our life’s pursuit.

The Apostle Paul tells us that there is an Upward Call of God in Christ Jesus which those who are mature will pursue. The mature will have a mindset to ardently pursue this heavenly calling. The Upward Call (Heavenly Call) requires that we hold on to what we’ve already attained in Christ (arrived at) while we continue our pursuit of the highest to which He has called us.

Paul speaks of an experiential knowledge of Christ which will supply him (and us) with the ability to accomplish what he desires “. . .that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection. . . .” The apostle seeks a special reward in the resurrection. It is the prize of the Upward Call of God in Christ Jesus. He says, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press (pursue) on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Philippians 3: 12). He has not laid hold or gained possession of his pursuit (to be perfected). At this point in the life of the aged Apostle, is recognition that he has not reached his goal of Christian perfection. There is more work of God in his soul. Therefore he says, “I press (pursue) on . . . forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press (pursue) toward the goal for the prize of the Upward Call of God in Christ Jesus.”

What are the goals you have for your Christian life? Do you want to be just an average Christian? If not, you must also “. . . Run to receive the prize. Run in such a way that you may obtain it . . . for everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection. . .” (1 Corinthians 9: 24-27).

As we move forward into the Upward Call of God in Christ Jesus, let’s forget all the failures of the past and look forward to those things that are ahead.

CONFIDENT REJOICING IN CHRIST

2011-03-12T15:26:00.000-06:00

“. . . Christ [is] a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:6).

As a dwelling place of God, each believer is exhorted to hold securely the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. Because of the hope we have in Christ, we have received this great confidence from Him and in Him, confidence that He exists and that He is able to do that which exceeds anything we can ask, think, or imagine. The confidence the writer of Hebrews speaks of is expressed in our openly bold, Biblical speech which evidences our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The encouragement we get from this text is that the rejoicing, our confident boasting and glorying in the Lord Jesus, comes from the hope as well. Biblical hope always produces confidence and rejoicing.

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:35-36).

One first verse explicitly refers to the end of life’s journey, and the second one alludes to it; both offer encouragement to us as we journey along. Trials will come to every believer’s life. We will not escape difficulties. Therefore, the writer explains that those who are the house of the Lord can hold fast to the end. He also encourages us not to cast away our confidence which has great reward. Nurture your confidence in the Lord by reading His word regularly, praying, and fellowshipping with believers. Many of us are under fire from the enemy of our souls; however, I exhort you to continue believing and trusting Jesus. Your confidence in Him will be rewarded.

KINGDOM CONDUCT

2011-03-08T23:29:00.000-06:00

Every Christian who lives in this world has had the thought of fighting back when mistreated, but in Matthew 5:39, Jesus tells us not to fight back. What should the Christian's response be when confronted by an evil person?

“You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,'But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."

Matthew 5:38-39

Jesus makes clear that we should not resist people. In Matthew, He says, “I tell you not to resist an evil person.” Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He wants to save men, not to condemn them. John 3:17 says, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” He came to rescue the perishing. Therefore He does not want us to put a stumbling block in anyone's path by resisting them. We must seek always to have godly responses even to ungodly actions and attitudes.

How are actions determined? Actions, attitudes, indeed, all our conduct flows from character. Jesus shows us His character, the character of His Kingdom! As a result of His saving work in believers, His character is now in us! Therefore we are to show this Kingdom character in our everyday lives, and most especially whenever we have encounters with evil persons. Evil in the Greek language is poneros. This word means hurtful, evil in effect or influence, vicious, or bad. Jesus tells us not to fight, oppose, or become fractious against evil persons. What then are believers to do when they encounter evil? The answer is found in Matthew 6:13. When we pray, we are to say, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (KJV): Our ultimate deliverance from the evil persons comes from the Lord, but in the process, He wants them to see His character in His people. As we respond with Jesus-like character, we set in motion a series of effects through which the Lord moves to reveal His Kingdom, to touch and heal broken lives, and to accomplish His purposes.

This is the manner of the Kingdom of God. He, Himself, is our defender as we show Kingdom conduct flowing from His character in us! May we always represent Him well.

BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY (THAT I MAY DWELL AMONG YOU)

2011-02-28T14:41:00.000-06:00

When I was a young boy, I heard many, many sermons on holiness. Pastors would often admonish their congregations, reminding them of the Lord’s words, “Be holy, for I am holy.” As a child, I learned that holiness was important to God, but I didn’t understand exactly why. However, I was certain of one thing: God wanted a holy people and I was determined to be one of them. I now understand that the Lord wants a holy people because it is right and that holiness is indispensable to fellowship with Him. In order to enter fellowship with Him, we must be like Him.

The word holy means to be separate. Separate for what, you might ask? It means that we are to be exclusively for the Lord! We are set apart for righteousness.

The Apostle Peter says, “. . . gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘’Be holy, for I am holy’’ (1 Peter 1:13-16).

The Apostle encourages us to gather up those thoughts that are hindrances as with a belt or a knot and secure our minds so that our progress in the Lord is not impeded as we move toward God’s goal for us. Why is our thought life of such vital importance? Proverbs 23:7 says about man, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” What you meditate on determines what you become. Psalm 1:3 gives us a clear picture of the effect on the person who meditates on the Word of God day and night, “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
To be sober means that we are to have calm and collected self-controlled hearts; this enables us to see ahead clearly, without distortions. The Apostle warns us to become holy in our lifestyle and not to pattern ourselves after our former conduct, for without holiness, we will never have this fellowship with God.

Let us walk as separated people and allow the Holy Spirit’s work to take effect in our lives, and we will have sweet and uninterrupted fellowship with Jesus Christ our Lord and in it find all we’ve ever longed for.