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THE STANDARD FOR KINGDOM KIDS

I have spent the last several mornings in Matthew 5:33-48. Wow! There is so much to unpack here, so here goes!

This is the ultimate of "easier said than done". In fact, it doesn't even make that much sense. The last person I would want to be a servant to is the guy next door who constantly takes advantage of me. What is Jesus talking about here?

My first reaction is...ok, so obviously Jesus was willing to practice what he preached, but why? Why ask us to do this? Part of the answer lingers deep in my gut. My actions toward this kind of person may just be enough to be the tipping point of a conversion experience.

Alright, so what if a fellow believer takes advantage of me? Well I suppose I would need to talk to them about that and express my concern that they are not themselves demonstrating Christ-likeness. But I should look at the text. What does the text tell me?

Verse 45 explains it in a better way. It says, "in that way you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven."

The truth is that children of the Kingdom, those who belong in Christ as children of the King, are held to a higher standard. Throughout this chapter Jesus is constantly contrasting what has always been understood to be the norm to that "higher standard" of living as Kingdom Kids. "You've heard it said...but I tell you..." live this way. If I consider myself to be a child of God than I will be willing to reflect His character and live according to His own standards.

This is further explained in the rest of verse 45. "For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike."

Ok. So if my aim is to be Christlike and live a godly life, then this standard, this kind of living is simply expected. Period. No buts...period. If someone takes advantage of me, I should use it as an opportunity to SERVE and LOVE and BE HUMBLE -- demonstrating certain attributes of my Father in Heaven.

Verse 48 explains that I should be perfect (greek word telios meaning complete and is connected to the word telos which means to set out as in a goal) just as God is perfect (complete). My life should be lived in such a way that I aim for completeness in moral character - like that of my Father's.

When I am faced with the "opportunity to serve and love someone that takes advantage of me, I am also using the opportunity to live out perfection or completeness. I don't need to keep score or track of what he or she has or hasn't done for me. That's not the idea. Besides, as Jesus points out in the next couple verses, where would the reward be in that?

And this leads into the rest of the why question/answer; why ask us to do this? Well there's a reward. What's the reward? I can't say exactly. Part of that may be found as I live here on earth and I think much of that will be revealed to me when I get to Heaven.

So what is the lesson here? I think it's obedience = reward.

TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK? Hmmm?

This morning I was reading Matthew chapter five in my devotions and I ran across verse 39 which reads:

“But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matthew 5:39b)

As I read this verse the Lord stroked my heart string.  I then posted on my Twitter and FaceBook this statement: Seems like I've been living in this verse too long!  There have been a number of comments to that post. So I thought I would construct a small post pertaining to this particular verse. Let's begin:

John MacArthur says of this verse that we as human beings have the right to be treated with basic dignity, respect, and consideration. Because every person is created in His image, God demands that we treat one another with respect. But he knows that we will not always be so treated. Often for the very reason that we belong to God and go by the name of His Son, we will be mistreated, ridiculed, and held in contempt (see Matt. 10:16-23; John 15:18-16:3; 1 Pet. 2:20-21; 3:13-17; 4:12-19; 2 Tim. 3:12). It is the way we react to mistreatment and insult that Jesus is talking about here.

Among Jews, a slap or other striking in the face was among the most demeaning and contemptuous of acts (Matt. 26:67-68; Mark 14:65; John 18:22). To strike someone elsewhere on the body might cause more physical harm, but a slap in the face was an attack on one's honor and was considered to be a terrible indignity. It was to be treated with disdain, as being less than a human. Even a slave would rather have been stuck across the back with a whip than be slapped in the face by his master's hand.

To strike someone on the right cheek would then be a vicious angry reaction, indicating an act of insult. Yet when we are insulted, maligned, and treated with contempt—literally or figuratively struck on the cheek by someone—we are to turn to him the other also.

According to Jewish law, the one who slapped another faced punishment and a heavy fine. Thus, the law was on the side of the victim, and the victim would have every right to take this offense to court. But, Jesus said not to take the legal channels, however, but to offer the other cheek for a slap as well.

Jesus' point pertains more to what we are not to do than what we are to do.

Turning the other cheek symbolizes the nonavenging, nonretaliatory, humble, and gentle spirit that is to characterize kingdom citizens (Matthew 5:3, 5).

Jesus strongly resisted evil that was directed against others, especially His Father—as when He cleansed the Temple of those who defiled His Father's house. But He did not resist by personal vengeance any evil directed at Himself. 

When the leaders of the Sanhedrin, and later the soldiers, physically abused Him and mocked Him, He did not retaliate either in words or in actions (Matt. 26:67-68). As Isaiah had predicted of Him, Christ gave His back to those who struck Him and His cheeks to those who plucked out His beard (Isa. 50:6). As Jesus hung from the cross, He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).

Peter sums up our Lord's example:

"But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Pet. 2:20-23).

When someone attacks our right to dignity, we too are not to defend that right by retaliation. We are to leave the protection and defense of our dignity in God's hands, knowing that one day we will live and reign with Him in His kingdom in great glory.

Jesus suggested a new, radical response to injustice:

Instead of demanding rights, give them up freely! According to Jesus, it is more important to give justice and mercy than to receive it.

Warren Wiersbe sums it up this way:

In order to "turn the other cheek," we must stay where we are and not run away. This demands both faith and love. It also means that we will be hurt, but it is better to be hurt on the outside than to be harmed on the inside.

But it further means that we should try to help the sinner. We are vulnerable, because he may attack us anew; but we are also victorious, because Jesus is on our side, helping us and building our characters.

Psychologists tell us that violence is born of weakness, not strength. It is the strong man who can love and suffer hurt; it is the weak man who thinks only of himself and hurts others to protect himself. He hurts others then runs away to protect himself.

In the face of this human dilemma, Jesus proposed a better way—the radical response of love.

His standard was not an attack on the necessity for justice. Rather, Jesus was presenting a practical, rational, and holy way to deal with personal conflict and offense. The apparent impossibility of our generating love and concern for our enemies on our own directs us to God for help.

Therefore, the lesson is to rely on Him for strength to give the appropriate response when we are attacked.

THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT

But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus—my brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need. . .  (Philippians 2:25)

Some people know just what to say and do to encourage others who are going through difficult times. Their words give strength to those who are discouraged and comfort to those who are grieving.

These people are sensitive to God's voice. They are not self-centered or unaware of the struggles of those around them. They are the ones we immediately seek when we enter a crisis. They are welcome visitors when we are in distress, for their presence sustains us.

Scripture testifies of many whom God enabled to encourage others.

• When Moses was overwhelmed by his work, Jethro went to him and encouraged him. Jethro gave Moses wise counsel that eased his strain (Exod. 18:1–27).
• When Paul was imprisoned far from those who loved him, Epaphroditus risked his health and safety in order to go to Paul and minister to him (Phil. 2:25–30).
• Later, Paul urged Timothy to come and visit him, for Paul found strength and encouragement in Timothy (2 Tim. 4:9; Phil. 2:19–20).
• Paul asked Timothy to bring Mark also. Mark was 
  the kind of friend Paul needed when he was enduring hardship (2 Tim. 4:11; Philem. 24).
• Paul also relied on Luke for encouragement. When everyone else was absent or preoccupied, Luke could be found with Paul (2 Tim. 4:11).

Paul experienced trials throughout his life, but God sustained him by placing Godly friends around him who provided support in practical and sacrificial ways. God wants to develop you into the kind of friend who can strengthen others.

The words you share and the things you do can bring comfort and encouragement to your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your coworkers. Think of someone in your circle of influence and search for a way to encourage them this week.

ARE YOU FREE TO EXPERIENCE THE ABUNDANT LIFE?

What should we say then? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? — Romans 6:1–2 (NIV)

A Christian has died to sin. Sin has no control over a corpse. Temptation can present itself enticingly and persistently, yet a corpse will not succumb! Before you were a Christian you were keenly susceptible to sin. Sin held you in its grip.

When you became a Christian, your old self died (Gal. 2:20). Sin now has no more control over you than temptation has over a corpse. You have died to sin. You can still sin, but you are no longer in sin's power. If you choose to succumb to temptation, you are rejecting the freedom from sin that Christ gained for you by His death.

God's grace is a further motivation for us to resist sin. It was God's grace that enabled Jesus to endure mocking, beating, and crucifixion at the hands of those whom He had come to save. It was grace that led God to forgive our sin despite our rebellion against Him.

It is this same grace that God expresses toward us each time we sin against Him. Knowing this grace, we cannot continue to practice sin (Rom. 6:1–2). We cannot presume upon God's forgiveness by committing further offenses.

You are no longer the helpless victim of your sin. The victory has already been won. God does not have to win a victory over your sin; He already has! You only need to apply His victory to each area of your life.

If there is a sinful habit, an ungodly attitude, or an unrighteous relationship that you need to put to death, claim the victory of Christ's resurrection today. Then you will be free to experience the abundant life that God intends for you.

NOT ONE WORD HAS FAILED!

“. . . and you know with all your heart and all your soul that none of the good promises the Lord your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.”—Joshua 23:14

Near the end of his life, Joshua took time with the Israelites to review all that God had done for them since they first began following Him. God had given them an impossible assignment: to conquer a foreign and hostile land with fortified cities and armies more powerful than their own. The Israelites were to go forward with nothing more than God's promise that He would go with them and take care of them. Now Joshua looked back over their experience and reminded the Israelites that God had kept every promise. They had experienced numerous victories and had enjoyed God's provision for every need.

Sometimes hindsight gives us a clear picture of how faithful God has been. We are tempted during a crisis to wonder if God will be faithful to His promises. We focus on our problems, and our trust in God begins to waver.

Twenty-four years after God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, they were still waiting on God to fulfill His promise. But in the twenty-fifth year, Abraham and Sarah could look back and see that God had been faithful. As David was fleeing for his life, he may have been uncertain how God would keep His promise to make him a king. But at the end of his long and prosperous reign, David could review how God had kept every promise.

You, too, can rely on God's faithfulness.

Are you in a crisis? Hold to the promises of your Lord! He will not forget His promises to you. Look back over your Christian life and recount the many ways in which God has been faithful to His Word.

D6 - The Shema - Deuteronomy 6:4-9

What is the most-often quoted passage of Scripture in the world?

John 3:16? For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Psalm 23? The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

What about the shortest verse in the Bible? John 11:35 - Jesus wept.

These are all great passages of Scripture which many down through the generations have put to memory.  But, the distinction of being the most-often quoted passage of Scripture in the world goes to Deuteronomy 6:4-9! This is the section of Scriture the Jewish people call the Shema.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NKJV) "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

The word Shema literally means "to listen" or "to hear" in the Hebrew language. Each day in Orthodox Jewish homes, usually in the morning and evening the Shema is recited. It's used as a morning blessing, a bedtime prayer and in special dedications such as "home blessings." Traditionally the Shema was quoted every Sabbath, and the congregation would stand to recite these most holy words. Even today, the Shema is quoted at every deathbed, and is part of the mojor feasts and celebrations of the Jewish people.

The Shema is so important that most Bible scholars believe it is the first Scripture Jesus learned as a child. Before He could speak, walk or read He heard it everyday in His home. In fact, when Jesus was asked what is the most important commandment, He quoted part of the Shema (Matt 22:36-40).

The Shema is central to all the teachings in the Bible and shows us how to build a legacy of faith from generation to generation.

The Shema provides three foundational lessons for the home:

1. Loyalty to God
2. Tranmission of our faith to our children
3. Keeping constant mindfulness of the teachings of God

The home is where children must be taught faithfulness and fidelity to God. They must hear it taught and see it lived out authentically in their parents. No one is perfect, but the intentional nature of faithful living is critical.

Unfortunately, in our culture, we have "outsourced" the spiritual discipleship of our children to the church.  We send them to the "professional discipleship makers" (the pastor, youth pastor, children's pastor, and Sunday school teacher) and we think we are doing our part, but that is not the command of Scripture.

Don't get me wrong, the church plays a vital role in the life of Christians, but the first layer of spiritual influence is the parent, not the church!

Action Steps:

1. Pray the Shema as a family.
2. Teach this passage of Scripture to your children
3. Daily live by Biblical principles and be an example for your children

Remember, more is "caught" than is "taught!"

CLEAN HANDS; A PURE HEART

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart. — Psalm 24:3–4a

God has rigid requirements for those who want to enjoy intimate fellowship with Him. There is no easy access to God for those with unclean hands or an impure heart. It is an affront to holy God to assume that we can indulge in our sin and blatantly disobey His word, then brazenly enter the holy of holies.

In Old Testament times, one's hands represented one's activities. Clean hands symbolized pure activities. Priests washed their hands before serving in the temple to symbolize that only those who were cleansed could worship holy God.

There are levels of intimacy with God. The moment you become a Christian you begin a relationship with the Lord. However, if you persist in your sin, sin will separate you from God and keep you from enjoying close fellowship with Him. If you follow only God's basic commandments but resist every time God gives you specific, personal directions, you will never fully experience the depths of God's Person. If, however, you are like the psalmist and understand the holiness of God, you will adjust your life to His standards and respond to His prompting so that you may have deeper fellowship with Him.

The closer you get to holy God, the more obvious even your smallest sins become. The more you know of God's character, the more you will realize the need to wash your hands and purify your heart before you can get close to Him.

Are you willing for almighty God to make you absolutely pure before Him so that you can enjoy the maximum possible relationship with Him?

HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND

I keep the Lord in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

What does it mean to set the Lord always before you?

It means that you choose to relate everything you encounter to your trust in God. What you choose to focus on becomes the dominant influence in your life. You may be a Christian, but if your focus is always on your problems, your problems will determine the direction of your life. If your focus is on people, then people will determine what you think and do.

In biblical times, the right hand was the most distinguished position, reserved for one's chief adviser and supporter. When you choose to focus on Christ, you invite Him to take the most important position in your life as Counselor and Defender.

Every time you face a new experience, you should turn to Christ for His interpretation and strength.

• When people insult you and mistreat you, you should seek direction from your Counselor regarding the right response.
• When you face a crisis, you should receive strength from the One at your right hand.
• When you experience need, you should consult your Counselor before you react. 
• When you face a fearful situation, you should take courage from the Advocate at your right hand.

Everything you do is in the context of your relationship to Christ.

What an incredible act of God's grace that Christ should stand beside you to guide you and counsel you and defend you!

How could you ever become dismayed over your situation with Christ at your right hand? What confidence this should give you!

A FAITH WORTH PASSING DOWN

The word "inherit" may bring to mind cash and possessions, or even genetic and personality traits.  Yet the Bible talks about something else that can be passed down to the next generation, and it is the most precious thing we have: our faith!

In 2 Timothy 1:3-7, Paul writes to Timothy about faith worth passing down, namely, that which is based on the truth of God's Word.  It is the confident conviction that God is who He says He is and will do everything He says He will do.  The apostle notes that the younger man's sincere faith did not materialize out of thin air, but in fact was evident in his lineage (vs.5).

There are many ways to hand down a rich legacy of faith to the next generation:

1. SHARE BASIC BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES

Kids must be taught the proper attitude about money (Ps. 24:1), how needs are fulfilled (Phil. 4:19), and direction in life (Pro.3:5-6).

2. MODEL THROUGH LIFESTYLE

How we live - with transparency, peace, and persistence or fear, doubt, and frustration - sends a loud message about whether God can be trusted.

3. SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS

If we act on our faith, we show it is real (James 2:26).

4. PRAY AND PRAISE

Children won't forget hearing us speak their names in prayer.  And when we praise them for trusting the Lord, they will be motivated to do so again.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

1. Do you know the basic Biblical principles for life?
2. Are you teaching the basic Biblical principles to your children?
3. Does your life and lifestyle model your faith in Christ?
4. Are you a person who likes to be served or serve?
5. Do you serve others together as a family?
6. Do you have a daily prayer time?
7. Do you pray with your family?

ARE YOU A FRIEND OF GOD?

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”—John 15:15

You do not choose to be a friend of God. That is by invitation only. Only two people in the Old Testament were specifically described as “friends of God.” Abraham walked with the Lord so closely that God referred to him as His friend (Isa. 41:8). Moses spoke to God face to face as a man speaks with his friend (Exod. 33:11).

By His very nature God is a friend to us. He loves us with a perfect love and reaches out to us with salvation when we can offer Him nothing in return. It is quite another thing when someone has a heart so devoted to Him that God initiates a special friendship. David's heart was totally devoted to God (1 Kings 11:4). Although David was not sinless, he loved God. David hated sin (Ps. 103:3); he loved to worship God (Ps. 122:1); he took genuine delight in God's presence (2 Sam. 6:14); he loved to speak about God (Ps. 34:1); he was keenly aware of his transgressions (Ps. 51:3–4); and he delighted in offering gifts of song, thanksgiving, and praise, asking for nothing in return (Ps. 100). So closely did David walk with God that his words were on Jesus' mind as He hung upon the cross (Matt. 27:46).

Jesus called His disciples friends. He said He would disclose to them things that the Father had shared with Him, because they were His friends. There developed such an intimate friendship between them that He would share what was on His heart with His friends.

If you cannot describe yourself as a friend of God, commit yourself to seek after God with all your heart.

MANY RELIGIONS, ONE WAY!

Jesus: The Only Way to Heaven
John 10:1-11

While there are many religions, there is only one way to heaven. Jesus clearly states that "no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). He used several picturesque descriptions to emphasize this point—He called Himself the way (14:6), the door (10:9), the living bread (6:51), and the good shepherd (10:11).

God does not expect people to follow a ritual to make Jesus Lord of their lives—you can use any words you'd like. However, some biblical elements are essential when beginning a relationship with Him:

1) Confess your sin and admit your need for a Savior (1 John 1:9).

2) Place your trust in Jesus Christ as the only possible Savior, acknowledging that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again (John 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).

3) Believe that your sins are forgiven and your name is written in the Lamb's book of life (1 John 5:11-13).

Every person has a choice to make. Death is inevitable, but we can decide whether, on exiting this world, we will enter God's presence or eternal torment. Let me make this very clear: What a person believes about heaven and hell won't influence God in the slightest. People will be judged not by their attitudes but by the truth of His Word.

The Bible declares that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. His gospel is a straight path from the pit of sin to the glory of heaven—with the promise of an abundant life in between. What we must do is go through the Door and follow the Way to taste the Living Bread!

MUSIC FOR THE DANCE

I recently read "Gentle Thunder" by Max Lucado and thought this segment was worth sharing:

Let's imagine that you want to learn to dance. Being the rational, cerebral person you are, you go to a bookstore and buy a book on dancing.

You take the book home and get to work. You do everything it says. The book says sway; you sway. The book says shuffle; you shuffle. The book says spin; you spin.

Finally, you think you've got it, and you invite your wife to come in and watch. You hold the book open and follow the instructions step by step.

You continue to read, then dance, read, then dance, until the dance is completed. You plop exhausted on the couch, look at your wife, and proclaim, "I executed it perfectly."

"You executed it, all right," she sighs. "You killed it."

"What?"

"You forgot the most important part. Where is the music?"

Music?

We Christians are prone to follow the book while ignoring the music. We master the doctrine, outline the chapters, memorize the dispensations, debate the rules, and stiffly step down the dance floor of life with no music in our hearts. We measure each step, calibrate each turn, and flop into bed each night exhausted from another day of dancing by the book.

Dancing with no music is tough stuff.

Jesus knew that. For that reason, on the night before his death he introduced the disciples to the song maker of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. (John 16:7-9).

Of the three persons of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit is the one we understand the least. Perhaps the most common mistake made regarding the Spirit is perceiving him as a power but not a person, a force with no identity. Such is not true.

The Holy Spirit is not an "it." He is a person. He has knowledge (1 Cor. 2:11). He has a will (1 Cor. 12:11). He has a mind (Rom. 8:27). He has affections (Rom. 15:30). You can lie to him (Acts 5:3-4). You can insult him (Heb. 10:29). You can grieve him (Eph. 4:30).

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force. He is not Popeye's spinach or the surfer's wave. He is God within you to help you. In fact John calls him the Helper.

Envision a father helping his son learn to ride a bicycle, and you will have a partial picture of the Holy Spirit. The father stays at the son's side. He pushes the bike and steadies it if the boy starts to tumble. The Spirit does that for us; he stays our step and strengthens our stride. Unlike the father, however, he never leaves. He is with us to the end of the age.

What does the Spirit do?
He comforts the saved. (John 16:7).
He convicts the lost. (John 16:8).
He conveys the truth. (John 16:12).

Is John saying we don't need the book in order to dance? Of course not; he helped write it. Emotion without knowledge is as dangerous as knowledge without emotion. God seeks a balance. "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).

What is essential is that you know the music is in you. "If Christ is in you, then the Spirit gives you life" (Rom. 8:10). You don't need a formula to hear it. I don't have a four-step plan to help you know it. What I do have is his promise that the helper would come to comfort, convict, and convey.

So think about it; have you ever been comforted? Has God ever brought you peace when the world brought you pain? Then you heard the music.

Have you ever been convicted? Have you ever sensed a stab of sorrow for your actions? Then you've been touched by the Holy Spirit.

Or have you ever understood a new truth? Or seen an old principle in a new way? The light comes on. Your eyes pop open. "Aha, now I understand." Ever happen to you? If so, that was the Holy Spirit conveying to you a new truth.

What do you know? He's been working in your life already.

By the way, for those of us who spent years trying to do God's job, that is great news. It's much easier to raise the sail than row the boat. And it's a lot easier getting people to join the dance when God is playing the music.

That's what makes God, God.

DECLARING A CONGREGATIONAL FAST @ VICTORY CHURCH

As Senior Pastor of Victory Church, today I am declaring a "Congregational Fast" for the approval of a $1.3 million loan for phase one of our building project.

Joel 2:12-13, 15-16 (HCSB) Even now- [this is] the Lord's declaration- turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. Blow the horn in Zion! Announce a sacred fast; proclaim an assembly. Gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even those nursing at the breast.

Below is a study on "Prayer and Fasting" I taught at Victory:

BREAKING STRONGHOLDS THROUGH FASTING

Matthew 6:16-18 (HCSB) “Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

For many of you this is a new “subject/experience” in your Christian life, but it’s a very biblical practice.

John Wesley said about fasting, “Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it altogether.”

We live in a world obsessed with food.

• It is almost impossible to drive a city block without passing a local pizza parlor or fast-food restaurant.
• Some would argue that we have a national addiction to food.
• There are support groups for people who cannot control their eating habits.
• It is natural to eat! That’s why the subject of fasting is something that appears unnatural or strange.

What is fasting? It is the biblical discipline from food for spiritual purposes.

Fasting must always be for spiritual purposes, not for public attention! The Sermon on the Mount is best known for the “Beatitudes” or the “Blessed are…” statements.

• Because we have focused so much of our attention on the beatitudes, we have inadvertently missed what Jesus said about certain activities that should be done in privacy away from neighbors and friends.
• He admonished the crown to be careful about what they did in public because of the tendency to do it out of misguided motivation.

Jesus talked about three things we should refrain from doing in public:

1. We should refrain from public notoriety. (Matthew 6:2)
2. We are admonished to pray in private. (Matthew 6:5)
3. We should fast in private. (Matthew 6:16)

Nothing is fundamentally wrong with doing these things in public, but Jesus understood the tendency of people to do things for admiration of their peers instead than for the glory of God. Therefore, to keep our hearts pure, Jesus thought it best for us to do these things in private.

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT FASTS WRITTEN ABOUT IN THE BIBLE:

1. NORMAL FAST

• Involves abstaining from all food, but not from water. Matthew 4:2 (HCSB) After He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry. Luke 4:1-2 (HCSB) Then Jesus returned from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, He was hungry.
• Now it did not say anything about Him being thirsty.
• Since the body can normally survive no longer than 3 days without water, we assume that He drank water during the 40 day fast.
• The most common Christian fast is to abstain from food and drink water or fruit juices. 

2. PARTIAL FAST

• This is a limited diet but not total abstinence from food and water.
• This fast is demonstrated in Daniel 1:12 where we are told that Daniel and his friends had only “vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

3. ABSOLUTE FAST

• This means to abstain from both water and food.
• There are several references in Scripture regarding an absolute fast. Ezra 10:6 (HCSB) Ezra then went from the house of God, walked to the chamber…where he spent the night. He did not eat food or drink water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
• This type of fast is recorded when Esther requested the Jews fast and pray on her behalf. Esther 4:16 (HCSB) “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.” 

4. PRIVATE FAST

• This fast is referred to in Matthew 6:16-18.
• Jesus spoke about fasting in a way not to be noticed by others.
• Fasting for public attention or political power was not an acceptable reason to fast.

 5. CONGREGATIONAL FAST

• This is where the prophet Joel proclaimed a fast… Joel 2:15-16 (HCSB) Blow the horn in Zion! Announce a sacred fast; proclaim an assembly. 16 Gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his bedroom, and the bride her honeymoon chamber.
• The congregation at Antioch was involved in a fast… Acts 13:2 (HCSB) As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work that I have called them to.” 

6. NATIONAL FAST

• The response of King Jehoshaphat to an invasion was to call a national fast… 2 Chronicles 20:3 (HCSB) Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he resolved to seek the Lord. So he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
• Other references of a nation fasting is found in Neh. 9:1; Esther 4:16; Jonah 3:5-8 • In the early days of our nation, Congress proclaimed 3 national fasts.
• Three presidents (John Adams, James Madison, and Abraham Lincoln) called the nation into fasts.
• Abraham Lincoln called for a fast 3 times during the War Between the States. 

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT FASTING IS NOT INTENDED TO DO:

1. FASTING IS NOT INTENDED TO PERSUADE GOD TO CHANGE HIS MIND. 

• Some have the mistaken idea that fasting is a sure way to get God on their team; therefore, they learn the hard way that fasting was never intended to be a tool to manipulate God!
  

2. FASTING WILL NOT MAKE YOU MORE ACCEPTABLE IN GOD’S EYES.

• It is not another item on the “to-do-list” in order to be accepted by God!

3. FASTING IS NOT DONE TO LOSE WEIGHT.

• That’s the way the world thinks! Our world has become obsessed with the outward appearance—fasting was never to be intended to be a diet plan!

SPECIFIC REASONS FOR FASTING PRESENTED IN SCRIPTURE:

1. FASTING PREPARES US.

• Fasting puts us in a proper attitude for God to is calling us to do and be.
• Fasting provides an opportunity to get away from the negative impact of the world and provides a time to really listen to the Voice of God.
  

2. FASTING CLEANSES US.

• Fasting is a means of personal cleansing for the physical body, ridding it of impurities.
• Not only our physical bodies are cleansed, but our “soul” is cleansed as well. 

3. FASTING EQUIPS US.

• Fasting equips us for the battle we wage against Satan!
• There is a powerful verse that deals with fasting and the way it is connected to our victory over the strongholds in our lives is found in Isaiah. Isaiah 58:6 (HCSB) Isn’t the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke?
• When Satan gains a foothold in our lives, we usually try everything except fasting! • When Satan did his very best to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, it was a fasting Messiah that triumphed over the evil one! 

Conclusion:

• The more you know about what the Bible has to say about fasting, the better equipped you will be when God leads you.
• Never fast out of pride or in an effort to draw attention to yourself. Scripture says that will be your only reward!
• The bottom line in fasting is to be done to honor and glorify the Lord.
• This is a limited diet but not total abstinence from food and water.
• This fast is demonstrated in Daniel 1:12 where we are told that Daniel and his friends had only “vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

GOD'S WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS - Isaiah 55:8-9

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” [This is] the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”—Isaiah 55:8–9

Rarely does God do something exactly as we think He will. Our problem is that we try to second-guess God, saying, “Oh, now I know what God is planning to do!” Moses experienced this as he learned how God was going to deliver the Hebrews out of Egypt. God told him He would harden Pharaoh's heart. Yet, the result was not what Moses anticipated. Rather than allowing the Hebrews to leave, Pharaoh increased their hardship. Rather than becoming a hero among the Hebrews, Moses was despised by them for bringing greater suffering. Moses returned to the Lord and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?”(Exod. 5:22).

Much of the frustration we experience as Christians has nothing to do with what God does or doesn't do. It has everything to do, rather, with the false assumptions we make about how we think God will and should act.

Have you ever done the will of God and then things seemed to become worse? Moses completely misunderstood what the results of His obedience to God would be. When things did not turn out as he anticipated, Moses became discouraged. God had told Moses what to do, but He had not told Moses what the consequences would be.

It is foolish to attempt to do God's work using your own “common sense.” God does not eliminate your common sense, He consecrates it. He gives you His wisdom so you can understand His ways.

As you look back on God's activity in your life, you will recognize the supreme wisdom in how He has led you. As you look forward to what God may do, be careful you do not try to predict what He will do next. You may find yourself completely off the mark.

PRINCIPLES TO LIVE BY

This is the response to why I don’t drink alcohol, gamble, smoke or any other questionable social practice.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (HCSB) “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under the control of anything. 13 “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will do away with both of them. The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. 15 Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body? So should I take a part of Christ’s body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For Scripture says, The two will become one flesh. 17 But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Run from sexual immorality! “Every sin a person can commit is outside the body.” On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. 19 Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.

To help make the moral decisions of your life we must use biblical principles.

There are some great eternal standards of right and wrong that have been set and settled by the Word of God. We call these the 10 commandments:

1. 'You shall have no other gods before Me.'
2. 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.' 
3. 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.' 
4. 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.' 
5. 'Honor your father and your mother.' 
6. 'You shall not murder.' 
7. 'You shall not commit adultery.' 
8. 'You shall not steal.' 
9. 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.' 
10. 'You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.'

However, there are a lot of issues that are not settled by the 10 commandments.  Why is this?  Well, first of all, we must be reminded that the bible is not primarily a rule book, it is primarily a guide book. The bible is not a book of minute laws, but a book of many principles. 

I’m personally glad it’s not a book of laws, but a book of principles.  Let me give you an example: if the bible were a book of laws and rules, what would relate to one age would not relate to another age.  Let’s consider obeying the laws of the land.  Driving 65 on interstates and 35 on any road not posted makes perfect since to us in the 21st century.  But, to the people of Corinth in the 1st century this would have been completely ludicrous!  However principles can apply to the 1st and 21st century.  Also, there are loop-holes in laws and rules, but not in principles.

One last thought about rules verses principles; rules are for children, principles are for those who are mature.  Let me illustrate.  When my children were young I had to specifically communicate to them to “stay out of the road” and “stay in the yard!”  I was very specific with my instructions and/or rules.  But, as they matured I no longer had to tell them to “stay out of the road.”  Why? Because they grew to know and understand the danger of playing in the road.

How do you make up your mind what is right and wrong for you?

Allow me to share with you six principles which should come into play as we make our moral decision of what is right and wrong for us to indulge in.

1. EXPEDIENCY (I Cor. 6:12a)

Number one is the Principle of Expediency.  Listen to what the Apostle Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians from three different translations:

I Corinthians 6:12a (HCSB) “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is helpful.”

1 Corinthians 6:12a (KJV) All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient:

1 Corinthians 6:12a (AMP) Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things).

How do I make up my mind what is right and wrong for me?  Don’t ask yourself this question, “Is it lawful?” Rather ask yourself this question, “Is it expedient?”

What does expedient mean?  The root word is expedition, which means to be on a journey.  Therefore, we need to ask, “Will doing this thing, whatever it may be, bring me to my appointed destination or goal?  Will it help me in reaching my destination?”

Let me ask you a question, “Do you have some God-given ambitions and goals for your life?”  If yes, then a lot of things will be settled for you.

2. ENSLAVEMENT (I Cor 6:12)

Number two is the Principle of Enslavement.  Once again, listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Corinth.

I Cor. 6:12 (HCSB) “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under the control of anything.

Friends, do you realize that Jesus came to set you free! 

John 8:31-32 (HCSB) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Therefore, you should not be “enslaved” to anything.  Are you a free person or is there something that has enslaved you?  Review the list below (realize this is not an exhaustive list, but there is enough here to get us thinking in the right direction):

• Pornography
• Lust
• Alcohol
• Nicotine
• Caffeine
• Music
• Television
• Sports

All of these are habit forming vices which can enslave you and bring you under bondage.  It has been said of old, “No man is fully free who drags his chain with him!” 

3. EXAMPLE (I Cor 8:8-13)

Number three is the Principle of Example.  Once again, listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 8:8-13 (HCSB) Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat. 9 But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? 11 Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge. 12 Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won’t cause my brother to fall.

Wow!  There is so very much to be pondered in these verses, but the bottom line is this:

If what I am partaking in or of causes somebody else to stumble, then DON’T do it!

Notice with me, if you will, the later part of the very first verse in this chapter:

1 Corinthians 8:1b (HCSB) Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.

I believe what the Apostle Paul is trying to convey is this, “As you go through life, don’t let your head run away with your heart.”  Listen, we are to operate by love! There are some things I don’t do because somebody else may stumble.

It is very selfish to say, “How will this hurt me?!”  The far greater and bigger question is to ask, “Will this hurt somebody else?”

Listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome:

Romans 14:19-21 (HCSB) So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats. 21 It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble.

This is the key verse for why I don’t drink, gamble, smoke cigarettes or cigars, and a number of other practices which I may be able to handle! 

It’s the Principle of Example!

In the area of alcohol, many will say that “moderation” is the answer.  Just don’t get drunk!  Well, I have counseled with a number of alcoholics and every one I have spoken with, counseled, and consoled all believed in drinking in moderation!  However, it took hold of them and destroyed their homes and families.   

Here’s something else to remember about moderation. “What you do in moderation, your children will do in excess!”  This is true in every area of your life, including the questionable areas.  I love my children too much not to strive to set a Godly example for them to follow.  I would hate to think that one day my son or daughters life would be destroyed by alcohol because they watched dad indulge in “social drinking.”  I’m not sure I could live with myself. 

Oh yeah, by the way, it’s foolish to say that will never happen to me or my family.  Listen to what the Scripture says about that mindset:

Proverbs 20:1 (KJV) Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

The bottom line is that nobody knows whose going to become an alcoholic! Everybody who drinks in “moderation” thinks someone else will!

Once again, it has been said of old, “First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes the man!”


4. EDIFICATION (I Cor 10:23)

Number four is the Principle of Edification.

1 Corinthians 10:23 (HCSB) “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up.

Listen, everything you do is either building you up or tearing you down.  We must stop long enough, before making a decision to indulge in a questionable practice and ask the question, “Will this build me up, will it build others up, will it build Christ up? Or, will it tear me, others, and the cause of Christ down?”

In verses 23-24 two basic principles are given to guide us in using our Christian liberty for God's glory:

    A. Edification over Gratification (vs. 23)
 
Paul’s use of “all things are lawful” always refers to questionable practices, the gray areas of Christian living that are not specifically forbidden in the Bible.

The basic meaning of edify is "to build a house," and, by extension, the term refers to the literal or figurative building of anything. It is often used in the New Testament to describe the spiritual growth, or upbuilding, of believers. Whatever contributes to spiritual growth constitutes what is profitable, or beneficial, helpful, advantageous, or useful. Only things that are profitable are able to edify.

When we are faced with a decision about a practice, we should first ask if we have a right to do it. If it is not forbidden in Scripture the answer is yes. But our next question should be, “Is it profitable, edifying, and upbuilding for ourselves and for others?” If the answer to both questions is yes, then we can do it to God's glory. If the answer to either question is no, we cannot do it to His glory.

    B. Others over Self (vs. 24)

The second principle for using Christian freedom for the glory of God is even more demanding. Even if something will build us up we should not do it if it is not also for the good of others. Our primary concern should be for the good of our neighbor, a principle contrary to basic human nature.

Philippians 2:3-4 (HCSB) Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Once again, ask, “Will I be built up and matured in Christ; will I become spiritually stronger?” If not, then it’s wrong.


5. EXALTATION (I Cor 10:31)

Number five is the Principle of Exalation.   We need to ask, “Does this thing I’m about to partake in exalt the Lord Jesus Christ?”  If yes, then do it, if you have to pause for a split second and ponder that question, then don’t do it!

Everything you do in life either honors or dishonors the Lord.  Therefore, we need to ask, “Is God glorified in what I’m doing?”

Can you honestly say, “Lord Jesus, this thing I’m partaking in or of, is what I’m doing for Your glory.”


6. EVANGELISM (I Cor 10:32-33)

Number six is the Principle of Evangelism.

Once again, when deciding on what is right or wrong for you to do, ask this question, “Is what I’m doing keeping me, or hindering me from bringing someone to Christ”   If it does, then it’s wrong.

The most important thing on earth for me is for others to know that I love the Lord Jesus Christ and I have a desire to introduce Him to them!  Therefore, I do not do a lot of things that may be lawful for me to do..

Conclusion: 

In deciding about whether or not to participate in any behavior that is questionable or doubtful, the following principles make a good checklist to follow.

1. Expediency. "All things are lawful for me," Paul says, "but not all things are profitable," or expedient (1 Cor. 6:12). Is what I want to do helpful and useful, or only desirable?

2. Enslavement. I Cor. 6:12b (HCSB) “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under the control of anything.”  Is the activity or habit necessary, or is it merely an extra that is not really important?  Could I possibly become “enslaved” or is this activity “addictive” in nature?  If so, run from it!  (Ref.Hebrews 12:1)

3. Example. Are we setting the right example for others, especially for weaker brothers and sisters? If we emulate Christ, others will be able to emulate us, to follow our example (1 Tim. 4:12).

4. Edification. Will I be built up and matured in Christ; will I become spiritually stronger? "All things are lawful, but not all things edify" (1 Cor. 10:23).

5. Exaltation. Will the Lord be lifted up and glorified in what I do? God's glory and exaltation should be the supreme purpose behind everything we do. "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

6. Evangelism. Is my testimony going to be helped or hindered? Will unbelievers be drawn to Christ or turned away from Him by what I am doing? Will it help me conduct myself "with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity" (Col. 4:5)?

All of God's Promises Are "Yes, In Christ!"

For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in Him. Therefore the “Amen” is also through Him for God’s glory through us.—2 Corinthians 1:20

God keeps every promise He makes. When we walk in intimate fellowship with Christ, we have the assurance that every promise God has made in Scripture is available to us. This truth should motivate us to search the Scriptures for each promise in order to meditate upon its potential for our life.

Jesus promised that when you ask for something in His will, He will give you what you ask (John 16:23b). This promise is available to every Christian. If you ask God if this promise applies to your life, His answer is yes. If you are not now experiencing this promise, it does not change the fact that God has said it. You may need to seek God's answer for why His promise has not yet reached maturity in you.

Paul claimed he had tested each of these promises in his own life and found them all to be abundantly true. That's why he could speak of the “exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7b) and the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8b). Paul had found a wealth of God's promises and enjoyed them all in abundance.

Don't become discouraged or impatient if you are not experiencing to the fullest all of God's promises in your life. God may want to prepare you to receive some of the great truths He has made available to you.

Walk closely with your Lord and, in time, you will see Him bring His promises to fruition in your life.

TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”—John 8:32

God's truth never restricts you; it always sets you free!

• Are you discouraged?
• Is there a sense of bondage in a particular area of your life?
• A lack of victory over a certain sin?
• A harmful addiction?

It is possible that you do not yet understand a truth about God that can release you.

• If you feel powerless to meet the challenges before you, take encouragement from the promise of Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
• If you are defeated by circumstance, hold on to the truth of Romans 8:28 that God can work your most difficult situation into His good.
• If you are enslaved to a particular sin, work the truth of 1 John 1:9 into your life, which promises that if you confess your sin, God is faithful to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

All of these truths await the Holy Spirit's implementation into your life.

It is one thing to know about the truth. It is yet another thing to experience the truth of God being worked out in your life. God's truth will have no effect upon you unless you accept it and believe it.

Perhaps you have already read and heard accounts of God working mightily in the lives of others. But have you allowed God to implement those truths into your life? What truth about God would you like to be experiencing in your life? Ask Him to implement that truth into your life today.

PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL SEES HIS SHADOW - 6 MORE WEEKS OF WINTER

There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven.—Ecclesiastes 3:1

I KNOW WE WERE HOPING FOR SPRING TO BE JUST AROUND THE CORNER!  But with Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow today, we are told there will be six more weeks of winter.  :-)

The beauty in the way God designed the four seasons is that, though each one is distinct, they all work together to bring life and growth.

• Spring is a period of freshness and new life.
• Summer sees growth and productivity.
• Autumn is a time for harvesting the rewards of past labors.
• Winter is the season of dormancy and closure.

Each season has its own unique beauty and makes a significant contribution to life.

Just as God planned seasons in nature, He planned seasons in life as well.

• Life has its springtime, when we begin new things and look excitedly toward the future.
• Summer comes and we work diligently in the heat of the day at all that God has assigned to us.
• With autumn comes the fruition of things begun at an earlier time in our lives.
• Winter brings an end to a particular period in our lives.

Sometimes winter brings hardship, but we remain hopeful, for another spring is just around the corner!

In God's perfect design for our lives, He has planned for times of fruitfulness and activity. He will also build in times of quiet and rest. There will be times when He asks us to remain faithful doing the same work day after day. But there will also be periods of excitement and new beginnings.

By God's grace, we will enjoy seasons of harvesting the fruit of our faithfulness. By God's grace we will also overcome the cold winters of heartache and grief, for without winter there would be no spring. Just as it is with the seasons of nature, these seasons in our lives work together to bring about God's perfect will for each one of us.

COME AND FOLLOW ME!

JESUS was saying, "Follow me," long before Twitter! 

They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are You staying?” “Come and you’ll see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day.—John 1:38b–39

There comes a time for each of us when merely talking about the Christian pilgrimage is not sufficient. We must actually set out on the journey! We can spend many hours debating and discussing issues related to the Christian life, but this means little if we never actually step out and follow Christ!

For generations, the coming of the Messiah had been pondered and predicted by the nation of Israel. Perhaps no topic garnered more discussion among Jews than the nature and work of the Messiah. Andrew had listened to John the Baptist and had heard of the coming Messiah. Now, suddenly, he was face to face with the One he had yearned to see! Andrew's mind was filled with questions he longed to ask. Instead of entering into a theological dialogue with Andrew, however, Jesus turned and began to walk. Andrew's questions would not be answered by discussion alone, but by walking with Him.

Christianity is not a set of teachings to understand. It is a Person to follow. As he walked with Jesus, Andrew watched Jesus heal the sick, teach God's wisdom, and demonstrate God's power. Andrew not only learned about God; he actually experienced Him!

Moments will come when you stand at a crossroads with your Lord. You will have a hundred questions for Him. Rather than answering the questions one by one, Jesus may say,

“Put on your shoes, step out onto the road, and follow Me.”

As you walk daily with Him, Jesus will answer your questions, and you will discover far more than you even knew to ask.

HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICT

I don't know about you, but I love baseball.  More specifically, I love the St. Louis Cardinals (I live just 25 miles from the stadium). I love the strategy, how the game changes as it goes deeper into innings, and I must say, I enjoy watching Tony LaRussa (or any manger) charge out of the dugout to the umpire to dispute a call.

However, we must remember, this is just a game.  According to the Word of God, this is not how we are to handle disputes in the church.

Matthew 18:15-20 (HCSB)
¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.
¹⁶ But if he won’t listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.
¹⁷ If he pays no attention to them, tell the church. But if he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like an unbeliever and a tax collector to you.
¹⁸ I assure you: Whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven.
¹⁹ Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.” 

Sinning against a brother is a matter of great concern to God. It is so serious that if the offending brother refuses to rectify the matter, he is to be severely disciplined (Matthew 18:17). However, when dealing with discipline, two critical points are to be noted.

1. The sinning brother is a brother, a genuine believer. He sins against another brother. The breach is between two genuine believers who are in the church.
2. The trespass is a personal offense; that is, the wrong and harm are done against another person. A fellow Christian believer is injured, hurt, and damaged in some way.

God has one great concern: He wants peace restored. He wants peace between the brothers, and He wants peace within the church. The disturbance caused by two offending brothers is so damaging that God lays down very specific steps as to how the matter is to be handled; and if the sinning brother refuses to be reconciled and to rectify the wrong, God says the disturbance is not to be tolerated any longer.

Christ knew we would have disputes from time-to-time, therefore, He gave us a few guidelines in how to handle ourselves when we are offended:

1. Go to the brother alone and tell him his fault. (vs. 15)
2. Go to the brother with witnesses. (vs. 16)
3. Go before the church. (vs. 17)

I will expound on these in the days to come, so be sure to check back soon!

OFTEN GOD CHOOSES TO USE SMALL THINGS

"For who scorns the day of small things?" Zechariah 4:10a

The world loves the spectacular. God has proven that He is certainly capable of the extraordinary, but He often chooses to work through the ordinary and seemingly insignificant. In this way He demonstrates His love and His power.

Throughout history, God's answer to a critical time was to send a baby. Isaac, Moses, Samuel, John the Baptist, and Jesus were all born as answers to a time of need.

When God delivered the Israelites from the Midianites' oppression, He intentionally used an army of merely three hundred men to defeat a vastly larger army. He had more soldiers available, but He preferred to demonstrate His power in the way He accomplished His purposes.

When Jesus selected His first disciples He could have enlisted a multitude to follow Him, but He chose twelve. It was not the number of disciples but the quality of their walk with Him that would determine how they affected their world.

When Jesus fed a multitude, five loaves of bread and two fish from a boy's lunch were sufficient in the hands of the Lord.

Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed (Matthew 13:21-32). The mustard seed was the smallest seed known to the Jews, yet it grew into an enormous tree. He also likened God's kingdom to leaven that is hardly noticeable but raises the entire batch of dough (Matthew 13:33). When children came to Jesus, His disciples assumed they were an annoyance and chased them away (Matthew 19:13-15). But Jesus said that in order to enter His kingdom, people must approach God as a child.

Christians often accept the adage “the bigger the better.” We measure success by the number of people involved in our ministry. We seek spectacular displays of God's power. We must learn to view success as God does. God is interested in the heart; He is pleased with obedience.

A GREAT LITTLE DEVOTIONAL FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS

Steve Arterburn shares a great little devotion on "solving problems."  I trust you will find this insightful and beneficial.

People who do what is right may have many problems, but the Lord will solve them all. Psalm 34:19 NCV

Life is an exercise in problem-solving. The question is not whether we will encounter problems; the real question is how we will choose to address them. When it comes to solving the problems of everyday living, we often know precisely what needs to be done, but we may be slow in doing it—especially if what needs to be done is difficult or uncomfortable for us. So we put off till tomorrow what should be done today.

The words of Psalm 34 remind us that the Lord solves problems for "people who do what is right." And usually, doing "what is right" means doing the uncomfortable work of confronting our problems sooner rather than later. So with no further ado, let the problem-solving begin . . . now.

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems. Unsolvable without God's wisdom, that is."  -- Charles Swindoll 

"You've got problems; I've got problems; all God's children have got problems. The question is how are you going to deal with them?"  -- John Maxwell

"I choose joy. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical; cynicism is the tool of a lazyb thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God." -- Max Lucado

"Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines." -- Robert Schuller

Today's Prayer

Lord, sometimes my problems are simply too big for me, but they are never too big for You. Let me turn my troubles over to You, Lord, and let me trust in You
today and for all eternity. Amen

ALL SCRIPTURE IS PROFITABLE!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (HCSB) "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

All Scripture is profitable! Knowing this, we cheat ourselves when we do not access every book, every truth, every verse, and every page of our Bibles for the promises and commands God has for us.

Because every verse of Scripture is inspired by God and gainful to us, we should not pick and choose which verses we will read and study. We should not claim verses we like and ignore those that convict us! If we are to become mature disciples of Jesus, we must allow every Scripture to speak to us and teach us what God desires us to learn. Scripture enables us to evaluate the soundness of doctrines that are being taught. Scripture ought to be the basis for any reproof or correction we bring to another.

If you are not firmly grounded in God's Word, you will be bombarded with an assortment of doctrines, lifestyles, and behaviors, and you will have no means to evaluate whether or not they are of God.

You cannot develop a righteous life apart from God's Word. Righteousness must be cultivated. As you fill your mind with the words of God, and as you obey His instructions, He will guide you in the ways of righteousness. Scripture will equip you for any good work God calls you to do. If you feel inadequate for a task God has given you, search the Scriptures, for within them you will find the wisdom you need to carry out His assignment. Allow the Word of God to permeate, guide, and enrich your life.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP - John 13:1-17

Turn in your bible and read John 13:1-17.  What a beautiful picture of a servant leader!

NBA coach Pat Riley wrote about the "danger of me."  He said,

"The most difficult thing for individuals to do when they're part of a team is to sacrifice.  It's so easy to become selfish in a team environment.  To play for me.  It's very vulnerable to drop your guard and say, 'This is who I am and I'm going to open up and give of myself to you.'  But that's exactly what you've got to do.  Willingness to sacrifice is the great paradox.  You must give up something in the immediate present - comfort, ease, recognition, quick rewards - to attract something even better in the future."

What's true on the basketball court is true in all of life.  Serving others can be tough; expending your energies and resources in the interest of others can be exhausting.  Yet the most effective leaders are servants.

Nobody demonstrated this better than Jesus on the night prior to His crucifixion.  Alone with His disciples in a room in Jerusalem, Jesus did the unthinkable.  When there was no servant to carry out the custom of foot washing, Jesus assumed the role. The Master became the servant!  The greatest and most high became the least and the lowest.

Jesus was able to do this because He was secure in Himself.  He knew who He was and where He was going (vs. 3).  But Jesus also served His disciples because He loved them (vs. 1).  While these two reasons would be adequate in and of themselves, the Lord had another reason for His actions.  When He finished washing the disciples feet, Jesus told them He had set them an example to follow (vs. 15).  The Lord didn't tell them to do what He had done.  He commanded them to do "as" He had done.  They weren't to become full-time foot-washers, but rather full-time servers of men and women.  They were to be servant leaders!

Are you a follower of Jesus?  Do you desire to be His disciple?  Then make a commitment to do as He did and expend your energies in service to others.

LET NO ONE LOOK DOWN ON YOU!

 No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.—1 Timothy 4:12

Timothy was a sincere young man who earnestly desired to serve the Lord. Yet certain weaknesses in Timothy's life hindered him from serving God confidently.

1. Timothy was very young to be a religious leader, and apparently some doubted his abilities.

2. Timothy had a tender nature and was sickly (1 Tim. 5:23).

His was an unfavorable beginning for a young minister of the Gospel in an age of persecution!

Therefore, Paul urged Timothy not to allow his youthful insecurity to blunt his zeal and faithfulness in doing what God had told him.

Rather than arguing with those who criticized Timothy, Paul urged him to live as an example of godliness.  Paul advised Timothy to live a life that was so spotless in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity that his life could serve as a model for others in the church to follow. Timothy's life was to be the evidence that God had called him.

God looked beyond Timothy's youth, timidity, and physical weakness and saw his sincere heart.

As you seek to follow God's will, you may identify with Timothy. Perhaps some things about you seem to disqualify you from serving the Lord effectively. You may be sensitive because you are a new Christian or because you come from a sinful past. Perhaps you have little education or money or social status. You may have previously experienced failure in your service for God.

Don't allow this to intimidate you from following God's will. Your area of weakness may be God's means of demonstrating His strength (2 Cor. 12:9). Allow God to demonstrate His call upon you by transforming your life into a model of Godliness.

THE WORD OF GOD - IT IS YOUR LIFE!

“For they are not meaningless words to you but they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”—Deuteronomy 32:47

It's puzzling that so many Christians try to live the Christian life without reading their Bible, except for sporadic readings of God's Word, seeking a pithy thought for the day.

The Word of God is not merely a source of helpful suggestions, preventative warnings, or inspirational thoughts: It is life itself!

God gathered the children of Israel at the edge of the Promised Land to review their pilgrimage with Him. They had spent forty years in a desert because their parents had not trusted God's word. Their parents died without seeing the Promised Land because they had not believed God's word. Even the revered Moses was soon to leave them because he had not shown proper reverence for God's word. Many of them knew those who had been put to death as a consequence of their disobedience to God's word. Over the years God's word had become the most important thing in the life of the Israelites.

God commanded His people to bind His words on their hearts, to teach them diligently to their children, and to regularly discuss them in their homes (Deut. 6:4–9). So essential was His word that it was to hold a prominent place in the daily lives of His people.

Our reverence for God's Word is revealed not only by what we say but also by what we do. Spending more time reading and studying the words of people rather than the Word of God, reveals our hearts' condition. To blatantly disregard God's Word is to reject life itself. To obey God's Word is the surest way to experience all that God has in store for us.

D6 FAMILY THEME: JUSTICE

This week's D6 family theme is "justice."

Today's Fusion fact: "It is unjust to oppress the poor."

Today's Scripture reference: Luke 20:45-47; James 5:1-7

An added thought on justice:

Justice is doing what is right for another person, or ensuring that what is right takes place. The Old Testament prophets spoke much about the need for justice, and Israel and Judah were both criticized for not treating widows and orphans justly. The prophet Micah gave this prescription for right living: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8, niv).

In a stricter sense, justice means giving a person what he deserves as a result of his actions. Scripture is very clear that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God," and that "the wages of sin is death." According to God's justice, all people deserve damnation.

Thankfully, God provided a way of atonement for those who believe.

A WORLD INTOLETANT OF GODLINESS EQUALS PERSECUTION

2 Timothy 3:12 - "In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

FACT: Living a Godly life will not insulate you from hardship.

Paul said that the more blameless your life, the more likely you will be persecuted. According to Paul, “evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse” (2 Tim. 3:13). As the world increasingly embraces sin, worldly people are becoming increasingly intolerant of Godliness. Darkness cannot tolerate light; the more your life illuminates the presence of Christ, the more you should expect opposition from the forces of darkness.

FACT: Your Christlike nature will be offensive to those in rebellion against Christ's Lordship.

Allow me for a moment to address a new Christian, a new follower of Christ:

• You may have recently repented of your sin and taken a new step of obedience to God.
• Perhaps, in doing so you expected to experience God's blessing immediately as He demonstrated His approval of your obedience. Instead, you were met with opposition.
• The persecution you experienced may have come even from other Christians who misunderstood your motives.
• Perhaps you obeyed God, and still your actions were met with criticism instead of praise.

Here's the encouragement: If you are sincerely following the Lord's direction, don't be discouraged.

Paul warned that those who seek to live Godly lives will suffer persecution. Do not be surprised when this happens to you. If the world crucified the Son of God, surely the world will be hostile to anyone who lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Persecution may be the best evidence that your life is like that of Christ.

Jesus warned that the world hated Him, the Savior, and so it would certainly misunderstand and mistreat His disciples (John 15:18).

WHEN OUR HEART GROWS COLD, HIS LOVE REMAINS!

“Go and announce directly to Jerusalem that this is what the Lord says: I remember the loyalty of your youth, your love as a bride—how you followed Me in the wilderness,in a land not sown.”—Jeremiah 2:2

Even when our hearts grow cold toward God and our devotion to Him weakens, His love remains steadfast.

We may forget God, but He remembers us.

God was concerned because the people of Judah had allowed their hearts to drift far from Him. In a powerful moment, God shared His heart with His people, recalling what it was like when they first began loving Him. He remembered how they had loved Him, as a new bride loves her husband, with excitement and enthusiasm for the future. He recalled the kindness they had expressed as they willingly followed Him wherever He led them. God reminded them of the love they had once had for Him, so that the memory might rekindle feelings of devotion and their hearts might return to Him.

If you do not guard our heart, you will grow cold in your love for Christ. A time may come when He approaches you and reminds you what your relationship was once like.

• Do you recollect the joy that permeated your life when you first became a Christian?
• Do you recall the youthful commitments you made to Him, pledging to do anything He told you to do?
• Do you remember the thrill you experienced each time you came to understand a new dimension of His nature?

Spiritual memory is important. You may not realize how far you have drifted from God until you contrast the love you are expressing to Him now with that of earlier days.

God has not changed. He is the same Person you gave your heart to when you became a Christian (Mal. 3:6–7). If your love for God is not as intense as it once was, return to Him. He will restore the intimate fellowship you once shared with Him.

DON'T GIVE UP ON GOD'S PEOPLE!

“As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way.”—1 Samuel 12:23

It can be tempting at times to give up on God's people! They are so imperfect and can be so sinful, yet they are His people. Samuel had thoroughly warned the Israelites of the dangers in appointing a king over Israel. Yet they wanted to be like the nations around them, insisting that they were willing to pay any price. Almost as soon as the people were granted their desire, they recognized their sin. But it was too late. What was Samuel to do? They had ignored his warnings. Now they wanted him to continue to minister to them. It would seem appropriate for Samuel to abandon them and allow them to suffer the consequences of their actions.

Samuel knew, as Jesus knew, that God sends His servants to the sick, not the healthy (Matt. 9:12). Samuel did not take the people's response as a rejection of him but as an indication of their walk with God. Samuel was serving God, not the Israelites. When God commanded him to minister to them, he could do nothing else, despite their resistance to his message.

At times people will not respond as they should to the message God speaks through you. Don't become discouraged; it is a reflection of their relationship with God. You are God's servant; if Jesus spent His time with the spiritually needy, you can expect Him to ask you to do the same. Don't lose your patience with God's people. Keep in mind that God loves them as much as He loves you.

D6 THEME: ENDURANCE - BE A FINISHER!

Hurt, bleeding and bandaged John Stephen Akhwari finishes the race in the 1968 Olympic marathon.  When asked why he had not quit, injured as he was and having no chance of winning a medal, he answered, "My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race, they sent me to finish the race."

What a great illustration for Hebrews 12:1-3 (HCSB) "Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne."

Don't quit!  Be a finisher! 

FORMULA FOR FRUITFULNESS

In his book Be All You Can Be, John Maxwell shares the formula for fruitfulness taught by Jesus. 

Jesus gives us a three-word formula for fruitfulness in John 15. These three words are the ones I want you to remember, because they are the key to fruitful living.

1. REMAIN - The first word is remain. Throughout John 15 Jesus tells us to remain. In fact, the word abide in the original language can be translated "remain." "Remain in Me," Jesus says. He's talking about our willingness to take time with Him in prayer and in study of the Word. We need to let Him begin to be part of our lives and work on our lives.

2. RECEIVE - The second word in the formula is receive. Jesus says in John 15 that if we remain in Him, we will begin to receive certain things. What we'll receive is good, fruitful living.

3. REPRODUCE - The third word is reproduce. If we remain in Him, we're going to receive what He has for us, then and only then will we begin to reproduce in our lives.

Spend some time reading John chapter 15 from God's Word and then I encourage you to apply these principles to you life.  Decide today you are going to be fruitful!

IS YOUR SCHEDULE YOUR MASTER?

So as He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then He began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34 (HCSB)

Wise leaders will always have a schedule, a plan to use time most productively.  But the wisest leader never makes it his master!

Important but unplanned moments periodically occur that should not be lost, even though they disrupt a planned schedule.  One of the tensions of leadership is finding the proper balance between adhering to a well-planned schedule and being flexible enough not to lose those spontaneous opportunities that cross our paths.  This is not easy! I have seen both extremes.

Some leaders seem to stroll from one unplanned event to another, their schedules meaning nothing.  At the other extreme, I have seen leaders who rarely deviate from a planned schedule, resulting in many missed opportunities.  Both extremes are examples of ineffective leadership.

How do we find balance?

DEFINING YOUR MISSION STATEMENT

Disregarding the command of God, you keep the tradition of men. (Mark 7:8)

Effective leaders see beyond the traditional way of doing things and look for better ways.  They do this, however, realizing that some things are so sacred they are untouchable, and they always keep the ultimate goal in mind.

This is why it is so important to have a well-thought out, closely defined, easily understood mission statement.  Without this, even the most compelling and charismatic leaders get off track and go astray.  A mission statement is essential to quality leadership.  Otherwise, personality, pride, and the demands of the moment will be diverting.

For Jesus, "the command of God," doing His Father's will, constituted His mission statement. And the "tradition of men" was never going to sidetrack Him from His goal.  He was not to be diverted.

Again, the point to notice in Mark 7:8 is not that the Pharisees were holding on to the traditions of men.  We all do that to some extent becasue tradition helps to take the best of the past as a guide while we walk into the future.  Jesus might be wrongly seen here as attacking all tradition.  Instead, He criticized the Pharisees for having let go of the commands of God. When you place your own traditions underneath God's will, they will serve as a positive guide, but, when the order is reversed, you will end up exactly like the Pharisees - abandoning God's will for your own personal agenda.

Note the specific example Jesus gave in the following passage, verses 9-13.

SEVEN VIEWS ON APOSTASY FROM HEBREWS 6:1-6

This Sunday's D6 Family Theme is FAITHFULNESS. The text passage of Scripture is Hebrews 6:1-12 from which I will be preaching tomorrow.

I have been mediating on this passage of Scripture all week.  I have spent time praying over it, reading a variety of commentaries on it, wrestling with it, and doing word studies through the passage.  I'm mentally exhausted, but spiritually revived!

Let me explain.  I was raised Southern Baptist, educated at an Independent Baptist College, and ordained a Free Will Baptist.  Twenty years ago when I felt the Lord calling me into ministry I had to make a decision on which denomination I was going to spend the rest of my life serving.  Yes, you guessed it! It all came down to this passage of Scripture and others like it.

Well, I made my choice. I could not reason away what I was discovering in this particular passage, therefore, I identified with the Armenian group, the Free Will Baptist.  And with no regrets I might add!

I was reading this week in the Randall House Commentary by Dr. Stanley Outlaw.  Dr Outlaw shares seven different views on Hebrews 6:1-6:

1. Those described are “professors” of salvation in Christ, but not genuine “possessors” of that salvation.
2. Those described were “regenerate”, but not “elect”.
3. Those described are genuinely saved people who receive a serious warning about apostasy as a preventive measure, but the whole thing is “hypothetical” since believers are eternally secure.
4. Those described are saved people, but the writer is speaking about “loss of rewards” and not “loss of salvation”.
5. The sin of apostasy spoken of here involves a special situation which could not be repeated today.
6. Those described are saved people who are on the verge of apostasy, but even if they proceed into apostasy, they could come back to God, not through any human effort, but only by the power of the Holy Spirit.
7. Those described are saved people who are seriously backslidden in their spiritual lives, and if they continue to the point of apostasy, they will be eternally lost since they have sinned against the Holy Spirit.

(The seventh view is the one I seem to believe fits the best within the context of the Scripture.  Therefore, this is the view for which I adhere.)

Many have asked me through the years about the "unpardonable sin" the sin of unbelief, the sin against the Holy Spirit.

I believe the sin against the Holy Spirit can be committed by both unsaved people - who constantly and willfully reject the obvious truth of the Gospel, and by saved people who also constantly and willfully turn their back on Christ to the point of final apostasy.

One final thought: You may be wondering if you have committed apostasy.  Well, just the fact you are questioning, pondering, and thinking about your relationship with God is a sure sign you have not committed apostasy.  Once you do, there is no coming back.  Whey? Because those who commit apostasy:

• Have turned off their consciences long enough that they no longer feel guilt.
• No longer feel sorry for their sin — they are enjoying it too much. 
• Have ears that have become dull to the voice of God. 
• Have eyes that have become blind to his goodness and mercy. 
• Have hearts that have become so calloused that they could no longer respond to the love of God.

Apostasy is a willful decision, and a deliberate choice, an abandonment to the things of God which are made with your own conscious.

DOES GOD SEEM FAR AWAY?

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!—James 4:8

There may be times when God seems far away. You may feel as if your prayers go unheard. James said there is a simple reason for this and a solution. If you are far from God, it is because your sin has separated you from Him.

God is unchanging. His character stays absolutely holy. His faithfulness remains constant; it is we who change. We allow sin into our lives. We choose our own direction. We spend less and less time with Him in Bible study and prayer. Then one day we realize that we have gradually grown distant from God. The solution, according to James, is straightforward. We are to draw near to God. As we realize our need to be closer to the Father and we begin to return to Him, He meets us even as the father hurried to greet his prodigal son (Luke 15:20).

Drawing near to God requires you to take two actions:

First, you must cleanse your hands (Isa. 1:15). You must cleanse your way of living. If you have been actively engaged in sin, you must renounce it. If you have done anything to offend or hurt someone, you must make it right.

Second, you are to purify your heart (Ps. 51:10). You must make certain your attitudes, thoughts, and motives are right in God's eyes and are in harmony with God's word. Jesus warned that you cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6:24). It is impossible to love anything else as much as you love God and still please Him.

If God seems distant, do what is necessary to cleanse your hands, purify your heart, and draw near to Him.

KNOWING GOD THROUGH YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

Read this verse slowly and allow it to settle in your spirit.

Then God spoke to Moses, telling him, “I am Yahweh. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but I did not make My name Yahweh known to them.”—Exodus 6:2–3

As God has walked with His people through the generations, He has progressively revealed His nature according to His purposes and the needs of His people. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew Him as God Almighty, because they needed His mighty power to protect them from their enemies. Moses and the Israelites learned that God was Lord, Master over every nation and every thing. God not only delivered them from the most powerful ruler in the world, but also brought them into the Promised Land. They came to experience Him as Lord, preeminently powerful over the pagan gods of their day.

God will continue to reveal His character to you according to your needs and according to His purposes. You will come to know more and more about Him as you obey Him.

• When you grieve, He will come to you as Comforter.
• When you are in need, He will demonstrate that He is the Provider.
• When you face a serious challenge, He will reveal that He is God Almighty.

Your understanding of God's character ought to be greater now than when you first became a Christian. You ought to know Him today better than you did five years ago. Sadly, some Christians continue to live year after year with the same basic knowledge of God that they had when they first began walking with him.

Whatever your present situation, view it in the light of what God is teaching you, through circumstances, about Himself and you will come to know God in dimensions you have never known Him before.

ARE YOU SHOWING MERCY?

You know what I'm talking about.  You've been hurt, wronged and mistreated.  Our first reaction is to retaliate, but wait...that's the flesh speaking!  The spiritual man will be merciful! Listen to this passage of Scripture:

“‘Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’”—Matthew 18:33

Mercy is a gift. It is undeserved. Punishment and consequences are sin's just reward, but the merciful person does not demand justice for the guilty person.

• If it were not for God's mercy, we all would have faced His terrible judgment long ago.
• If not for His mercy, He would have condemned us after our first offense.
• If not for His mercy, He would punish us each time we sin. 

But rather than letting us bear the full punishment for our sin, God demonstrated His mercy when He paid the penalty for our sin Himself.

Do you find it hard to show mercy? It may be that you do not comprehend the mercy that God has shown to you. Jesus commanded His disciples to extend the same mercy to others that they had received from God. When they considered the incredible, undeserved mercy they had been granted, how could they refuse to extend the same unconditional mercy to others?

• Could anyone sin against us to the same degree that we have sinned against God?
• Could any offense committed against us be as undeserved as the abuse hurled against the sinless Son of God?
• How quickly we forget the mercy that God graciously bestowed on us, only to focus on the injustices we endure from others!

If you find it difficult to forgive others, you may need to meditate on the mercy of God that prevents you from experiencing God's justifiable wrath. Scripture describes God as “Ready to pardon, / Gracious and merciful, / Slow to anger, / Abundant in lovingkindness” (Neh. 9:17b).

Action item for today: SHOW MERCY!

FINDING THE WAY

This morning I read a great little devotional from Pastor Greg Laurie.  Enjoy!

During World War II, an American pilot who was shot down over the jungles of Burma was able to safely eject from his plane. As he landed in the deep, dense jungle, he was met by a friendly Burmese man. The man gestured for him to follow. So the American soldier followed the man through the jungle. There was no path that he could see, and ahead of him was the Burmese man, slicing away with his machete. It didn't seem like they were going in any particular direction. The American became frantic. So he yelled out to the man, "Where is the way?"

In broken English, the man told him, "I am the way. Follow me."

That is what Jesus says to us in the maze of life: "I am the way. Follow Me. I will get you to where you are supposed to go." The entire meaning of the Christian faith can be condensed into four words: "I am the way."

You might be wondering, But how do I do this? How do I find my way? First of all, the road to heaven is a toll road. It will cost, but you can't pay the toll. Jesus paid it for you. You must realize that you can't do it on your own. And you must admit that you are a sinner. The Bible says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

Which road are you on today? Which way are you going to choose? There is only one way to find a life that is full and rich on this earth and then to know for certain you are going to heaven. It is the highway to heaven. And you can pull onto the on ramp today.

TIPS TO WORSHIPPING BETTER

I just read a great post by Pastor Robert J. Morgan on worship.  Below are some of his tips for worshipping better:

1. Make worship and praise a part of your quiet time each day.  Include the verse of a hymn and/or a period of true thanksgiving in your morning devotional routine.
2. Learn to visualize the throne of God above you, as described in Exodus 17, Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1, and Revelation 4, 5, and 22.
3. Don’t worry about worship “styles.”  Whatever the style, keep your eyes on the Lord.  Never say, “I didn’t like that hymn,” or “I wish we wouldn’t sing those praise songs.”  It’s not about our favorite styles; it’s about forgetting our own preferences and focusing on Him .
4. Train yourself to concentrate on the words of the hymns and prayers during church services.  Don’t let yourself sing mindlessly or aimlessly.
5. Learn to say, “Thank you, Lord,” whenever you see a beautiful cloud formation, a lovely cluster of plants, or whenever something good or bad happens.  Take it right to the Lord in praise.
6. Serve the Lord with joy.  To quote Tozer again:  “We’re here to be worshippers first and workers only second.”

Click here to read the entire article and many other great posts from Rob.

REJOICING IN GOD'S WORD

Your words were found, and I ate them.
Your words became a delight to me
and the joy of my heart.— Jeremiah 15:16

Yesterday, I was watching a rerun of "Everybody Loves Raymond."  The episode was about how ecstatic, how thrilled, how completely overwhelmed Ray was that he received a personal letter from Muhammad Ali.

If you were to receive a note from the President of the United States, or some other country, or someone famous, you would probably be ecstatic, thrilled, and completely overwhelmed.  You would then save it as a keepsake.

How much more precious is a message from almighty God!

Sometimes we find ourselves in circumstances that are beyond our control. This was the case for Mary and Martha as they were grieving the death of their brother Lazarus. At these times a word from Jesus can bring much rejoicing (John 11:41–45). Other times when Jesus speaks, His words bring correction. “Get behind Me, Satan!” (Matt. 16:23) and “O you of little faith” (Matt. 14:31) do not seem to bring joy. Yet Jeremiah said that God's word brought him joy.

It is overwhelming to consider that holy, almighty God would speak directly to us!

What a privilege that He would care enough to challenge our destructive thoughts or practices. No matter whether His words are praising us or chastising us, we ought to consider it joy to receive life-changing words from our Master!

• Every time we prepare to worship the Lord, we ought to do so with anticipation that almighty God may have something to say to us.
• Whenever we open our Bibles, we should expect that God has something to tell us in our time with Him.
• We ought to be far more concerned with what God will say to us during our prayer times than with what we intend to tell Him.

When you receive a word from your Lord, whether it be of praise or of correction, consider it joy that almighty God would speak to you.

ARE YOU TOO COMFORTABLE IN YOUR BONDAGE?

“May the Lord take note of you and judge,” they said to them, “because you have made us reek in front of Pharaoh and his officials—putting a sword in their hand to kill us!”—Exodus 5:21

It is possible for people to become so accustomed to their bondage that they resist efforts to free them. The Hebrews had been slaves in Egypt for four hundred years. Slavery meant that they were not free to do God's will or to go where they wanted. Moses had come to tell the Israelites how they could experience freedom, yet they were more concerned about the reaction of their taskmasters than they were about pleasing God. For them to be free would mean that the pharaoh they were serving would be angry! It would mean that the Egyptians they had served all their lives might attack them. Freedom from their slavery did not seem to be worth the hardships they would inevitably endure.

When God sets out to free us, there will often be a price we will have to pay. Grief can be a terrible form of bondage, yet we can become comfortable with it. We can grow so comfortable with fear that we don't know how to live without it. As destructive as our sinful habits and lifestyle might be, we may prefer living with the familiar, rather than being freed to experience the unknown. We may recognize the harmful influence of a friend but choose to reject God's will rather than offend our friend.

As incredible as it seems, the Israelites were angry at Moses for disrupting the life of slavery to which they had grown accustomed.

• Have you been lulled into a comfortable relationship with your bondage?
• Do you fear change more than you fear God?
• Are you willing to allow God to do what is necessary in order to free you?

HAVE YOU ASKED FOR THE LORD TO BLESS YOU TODAY?

 
In 2 Samuel 7:29, King David sat in the presence of the Lord and made this request to the Lord, "Now, please bless Your servant's house so that it will continue before You forever."

In 1 Chronicles 4:10, Jabez prayed this prayer, "If only You would bless me, extend my border, let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not cause any pain."

Therefore, have you asked the Lord to bless you today?  Why not? It's biblical!  Remember, Jesus said, "Keep asking, and it will be given to you."  Matthew 7:7

Have a great weekend!

DO YOU HAVE THE HEART OF A SERVANT?

Listen to this passage of Scripture:

“In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are good-for-nothing slaves; we’ve only done our duty.’ ”—Luke 17:10

Here are a few observations about a servant:

• The servant carries out the master's will.
• The servant doesn't tell the master what to do.
• The servant does not choose which tasks to perform for the master.
• The servant does not suggest days or times when it would be convenient to serve the master.
• The servant's function is to follow instructions.

Here are a few observations about a master:

• The master gives directions.
• The master does not tell the servant to develop a vision that will guide the master.
• The master is the one with the vision.
• The servant's task is to help fulfill the master's purposes. 

We are the servants; God is the Master. We tend to try to reverse this!  God's revelation of Himself, His purposes, and His ways depends directly upon our obedience. He may not reveal today His intentions for the next five years, but He will tell us what our next step should be.

Here is the kicker:

As we respond to God's revelation, He will accomplish what He desires, and He will be the One who receives the glory. Our fulfillment comes from serving our master.

The world will encourage you to strive for positions of authority and power. God wants you to take the role of a servant. As God's servant you should have no other agenda than to be obedient to whatever He tells you.

Do you have the heart of a servant?

SUFFERING FOR OTHERS

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body, that is, the church. (Colossians 1:24)

Ministry is costly. When the heavenly Father wanted to save His creation from sin, He could find no other way except the sacrifice of His Son (Rom. 5:8). Scripture gives a stark picture of the price our Savior paid to obtain our salvation: “He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3).

If Christ is your model for ministry, you cannot avoid going to the cross for the sake of others. Salvation comes with a great price, and if we are going to “take up our cross” and follow Jesus, then we must be prepared to go with Him to the place of suffering if that's what it takes to bring salvation to those around us.

If our goal is to bring others to Christ we must be willing, as He was, to risk rejection. People may disappoint us, misunderstand our motives, even despise and persecute us. Our Savior did not let suffering prevent Him from being used by God to bring salvation to those He loved. Love for His Father provided all the motivation that was necessary.

• Are you presently experiencing hardship because of the ministry to which God has called you?
• Have you begun to wonder if the price you are paying is too great? 

Take a moment to reflect on the price God was willing to pay in order to bring salvation to you. Are you glad He was willing to do what was necessary? Will you not join Him in whatever is necessary to bring salvation to those around you?

CHANGED THROUGH MEDITATION

During my devotion time this morning, this Psalm really spoke to my heart:

Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. (Psalm 1:2)

Meditation means “to think deeply and continuously about something.”

For a Christian, this means remaining in the presence of God and pondering each truth He reveals about Himself until it becomes real and personal in your life. This takes time. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus accused certain would-be followers of calling Him “Lord” and yet never doing what He told them (Luke 6:46). They had the correct truth in their heads, but it had never translated into obedience. When you meditate on Scripture, the truth moves from your head to your heart and results in obedience. As the Psalmist said: “Your word have I hidden in my heart, / That I might not sin against You” (Ps. 119:11).

When you know God's Word in your mind but not in your heart, it means that you have learned the principles and concepts and doctrines of God, but you have not come to know Jesus personally.

You can reject a doctrine, or ignore a concept, or challenge a principle, but it is much more difficult to ignore a Person. You can have Scripture in your mind and still sin against God. There are those who can recite long passages of Scripture and yet live ungodly lives. However, you cannot have Scripture fill your heart and continue to sin against God. When God's truth is allowed to touch the deepest corner of your soul, the Holy Spirit will transform you into the image of Jesus Christ.

This Easter season, don't just read your Bible, meditate on God's Word and ask Him to change your heart.

NEW VICTORY WORSHIP CHOIR PODCAST

I trust you are having a great day in the Lord.  I would like to encourage you to spend some intimate devotional time "sitting before the Lord" this week focusing on all that Jesus went through this Passion week, just so we could have a relationship with God the Father and inherit eternal life.

Upon the request of so many of you, today I have created a "Victory Worship Choir Podcast!"  Just in case the link does not work, here is the web address: http://www.victorychurchonline.net/podcast.htm

Over the last several weeks many of you have asked me if the Victory Church Worship Choir specials were on the podcast.  Well, now they are!  I have created a designated podcast player especially for the Victory Worship Choir! 

You can listen online, or you can "subscribe" to the Victory Podcast (sermons and songs) and have everything directly downloaded into your iTunes library.  You then can transfer these sermons and songs in MP3 format to your iPod or any MP3 player.

Enjoy the worship service of Victory Church everyday on your computer!!!  Have a great day, and remember, "He is Risen!  He is risen indeed!"

Have a great week!

D6 - FAMILY THEME: REJECTION OF CHRIST?

This week''s D6 Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

This Week’s Goal: To live to meet the expectations called for by God’s patient provision, and to avoid the judgment that results from persistent rejection.

Principle of the Parable: Blessing follows obedience; judgment follows rebellion.

In our new FUSION lesson this week we will discover four ways people reject Christ:

1.    Overlooking God’s Provision (Matthew 21:33)
2.    Disregarding God’s Expectation  (Matthew 21:34)
3.    Neglecting God’s Patience (Matthew 21:35-39)
4.    Doubting God’s Judgment (Matthew 21:40-46

What is a parable?  A parable is an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning.

In this particular parable, the…

•    Landowner – God
•    Farmers – Religious leaders of Jesus’ day
•    Slave – Prophets of God
•    Son – Jesus Christ
•    They rejected Christ, thus judgment will fall on them!

Today I would like to speak to you on the subject of “Dealing with the Reality of Rejection”

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR PASTOR WINTERS FAMILY

By now you probably are well aware of the tragedy that took place last Sunday morning at the First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois.  Pastor Fred Winters was shot while preaching his message in the early service.  Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead upon arrival to the hospital.  Before going any further, let me say that I am praying for his wife, his children, and his church family.  Please know that my heart is literally "aching" for you all!

Pastor Fred was doing a great work for the Lord in leading this church for 22 years; and seeing the Lord grow the church from 38 people to a membership of 1300.

My heart is still "numb" to the fact that something like this can take place in a Bible preaching church, right in the heartland of our nation!  Not to mention the fact that this incident took place really, really close to home!

The verse that immediately came to my mind, when I was made aware of what took place, was Philippians 1:21 (ESV)

"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

I'm certain that Pastor Fred preached from this verse many times, and I'm also certain that he has gained far more than he could have ever imagined when he was ushered into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ last Sunday morning!  I can assure you, he is far better off than any of us are today.  However, that still does not change the fact that we are having to deal with the loss and pain of this event.

The Bible clearly teaches us that this IS NOT a perfect world.  Why?  Well, because there is sin in the world, therefore, people do the wrong things and suffering is the result.  Notice this passage of Scripture in Ecclesiastes 8:14 (HCSB)

There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

Here is the same verse in Eugene Peterson's "The Message:"

Here's something that happens all the time and makes no sense at all: Good people get what's coming to the wicked, and bad people get what's coming to the good. I tell you, this makes no sense. It's smoke.

What Ecclesiastes 8:14 is teaching is that we don't always get what we deserve.

MIGHTY IS THE POWER OF THE CROSS VIDEO - AWESOME!