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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.

BIBLICAL LESSONS ON GIVING

Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. - I Corinthians 16:1-3 (NIV)

I have done some figuring.  If I had in my pocket what I have given to the Lord’s work over the years I could:

• Pay cash for a nice piece of property.
• Pay cash for new car, truck, boat or even that Honda Gold Wing motorcycle that I have had my eye on for some time!
• Pay cash for both of my children’s college and buy them a new car to drive off to school.

But, I don’t do those things.  Why?  Because my wife Debbie and I have learned over the years a few things about giving to the Lord’s work:

• We can live much better on 90% than we can on 100%!
• Then we learned we could live better on 85% than we can on 100%!
• Then we learned we could live better on 80% than we can on 100%!
• We have also learned the joy of making an eternal investment by giving to the Lord's work!

There is one Biblical principle that is often overlooked in our materialistic world today:  we, as Christians, are “stewards!”

That’s a Biblical word that means “caretaker.” A steward does not own a thing; he simply manages the possessions of another.  In our case as Christians, we simply understand that God owns it all and we are simply caring for His possessions!  All that we have: our possessions, our abilities, our energy, our time and our talents belong to the Lord!  Therefore, we should not be offended when He directs us on how to use what is His.

God’s Word, the Bible, has a lot to say about money.

• In Matthew, Mark, and Luke one out of every six verses deals with money.
• Of the twenty-nine parables told by Christ, sixteen of them deal with a person and his money.
• The Bible has a lot to say about generous giving as well.

Allow me to share with you six biblical lessons about giving:

 

1. Giving is a universal practice.

Paul said this was not just for the believers in Corinth, but for the churches of Galatia also!  Jesus said in Matthew 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Because every believer has received so much from the Lord, every believer should give back to the work of the Lord.

2. Giving is to be a weekly practice.

Paul said that we are to give on the “first day of the week.” Early Jewish believers moved their day of worship from Saturday to Sunday to commemorate the resurrection of the Lord.  Therefore, Paul said to give on that day of the week.  We are not to give spasmodically, or when we feel that we can afford to give.  The bible indicates that giving is to be a part of our weekly worship!

 

3. Giving is to be a personal act.

I Corinthians 16:2 says, "Let each one of you…” Giving is not just for the comfortable and the wealthy—everyone should give—even kids!  Why? Because giving is part of our worship to God.

 

4. Giving is to be a predetermined plan.

I Corinthians 16:2 says, " Set aside a sum of money.” There are many people that give because of emotional appeals or special needs.  There are many that give a little week-by-week, almost like tipping the waitress at a restaurant.  But God wants us to have a predetermined systematic amount that we intentionally bring to worship to give to the Lord.  Waiting until Sunday to see what is left over IS NOT taught in the bible.

 

5. Giving is to be a proportioned amount.

I Corinthians 16:2 says, " Set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income.” We are to give in proportion to what we receive.  We are never to give equal gifts, but we are told in Scripture to make equal sacrifices!

 

6. Giving is to be handled responsibly.

I Corinthians 16:3, Paul says, “I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. The church at Corinth was to certify trustworthy people to handle the money.  We are to give sacrificially, then we are to handle God’s money responsibly and efficiently.

In closing, let us evaluate our lives in the area of our “giving.” Ask yourself these question:

• Is my giving pleasing to the Lord?
• Is He being honored and glorified with my management of His finances?
• Do I really believe that God owns it all?
• Am I being a good and faithful steward in the areas of my finances?

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?

HOW TO OVERCOME NEGATIVE FAMILY PATTERNS

Sunday morning at Victory Church I spoke on the subject of becoming a "Transitional Generation Parent." Even if you grew up in a dysfunctional family, you can be the “transitional generation.” With the help of the Lord, you can break the chain of dysfunction from your past and help your children move beyond negative family patterns. Below are four steps to help you overcome negative family patterns:

 

     1.  ADMIT YOUR BROKENNESS  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The first step to overcoming unhealthy family patterns is to examine the problems plaguing your life and bring that brokenness to God. Awareness often starts by looking at the past.
Ask yourself, “Why did I act (or react) the way I just did?”  When we slow down we almost always find the answer.

We have to see our brokenness as a sign of strength, not weakness! When a person is truly broken of ego and can look at personal issues with a healthy perspective, he or she is ready to be a transitional generation parent. By facing your brokenness you have a better chance to bring a brighter future to your family.

So many people have the opportunity to the transitional generation parents because of their messy childhoods. 

ACTION STEPS:

• I can’t do it on my own.  I am broken.
• Christ can and will help me as I call upon Him.
• I must relinquish my will to the will of God.

 

2. DEVELOP THE COURAGE TO MAKE CHANGE (Luke 6:12)

I’m sure you have experienced that it is easy to get weary and lose heart when it comes to making the right parenting and relational choices. Life-change first requires what Gary Smalley calls “self-care” and Bill Hybels calls “self-leadership.” These great leaders challenge us to make sure we leave enough room in the margins of our overcrowded lives to pay attention to our own soul so that we have something left for our families.  (i.e. Jesus - Luke 6:12)

For any parent, our ministry is to raise our children. The problem is we tend to neglect our own need for solitude and replenishing relationships, then wonder why we are so burnt out. We will do so much better making healthy changes when we take the time to nurture our souls. 

ACTION STEPS:

• What areas of your life do you need the courage to change?
• Have you built “margin” into your life to work on your own soul? (i.e. prayer, reading God’s word, etc.)
• Remember, you can’t help your kids come to a place you haven’t been. 

 

3. ESTABLISH REPLENISHING RELATIONSHIPS (Galatians 6:2)

Too many people are trying to go at it alone. We are not meant to handle heartache, sickness, andbroken relationships by ourselves. We were made for community!

There are 2 types of people in your life:

VDP’s - very draining persons - (don’t ignore - minister to these)
VIP’s - very inspiring persons - (needed for replenishment)

We all need to be intentional about establishing replenishing relationships! Do you invest in replenishing relationships at least once a week?

 

4. KEEP THE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE (2 Corinthians 4:17)

The secret to perseverance in parenting and being the transitional generation is not creating a plan for the next 3 moths or 3 years or even 30 years - but realizing that our efforts will establish a legacy for eternity! The Apostle Paul had an eternal perspective which kept him moving in the right direction.

When we are focused on an everlasting, eternal legacy, we naturally will...

#1 - Put first things first and choose right priorities
#2 - Admit our brokenness
#3 - Develop the courage to make changes
#4 - Establish those replenishing relationships

We MUST keep an eternal perspective!

All our struggles will not disappear as we adjust to a more eternal view of life, but our life will be focused on the right priority - and that is to - “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

Jim Burns says, “You Can Choose to RECOVER From Your Family’s Past Or REPEAT It.”

"KINGDOM ATTITUDES" - Ed Stetzer

Uncool - Kingdom Attitudes from Long Hollow Baptist Church on Vimeo.

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?

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)?

Video - D6 Conference 2010 - September 15-17

D6 Conference 2010 Promo (Short Version) from D6 Conference on Vimeo.

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.

Priorities Matter Ministies (PMM) is a ministry the Lord laid on my heart to begin in 2009.  Our purpose is to first and foremost assist the local church in fulfilling their God-given mission.  We have a tremendous desire to come along side the local church, pastors, and fellow Christ followers to encourage, train, and equip them so they can "walk in God's favor!"  

In 2 Samuel 7:29, King David went in and sat in the presence of the Lord.  He then asked, "Now, please bless your servant's house so that it will continue before You forever."  In short, David was asking for God's favor!

Throughout God's Word, the Bible, there are examples of individuals upon whom God's favor would rest.  It's the purpose of PMM to assist, equip, and train in the areas which will allow the blessing (favor) of God to flow in your life, family, secular career and/or ministry.

In order to "walk in God's" favor PMM focuses on four (4) areas of your life which we call priorities (click on each of the priorities in order to see how PMM is able to assist you):

Priority #1: Your relationship with Christ

Priority #2: Your relationship with your spouse

Priority #3: Your relationship with your children

Priority #4: Your career and/or ministry

Beginning in 2010, I am available to assist you in all four (4) of these priorities.  To schedule a service, or to gather more information, please send an email to [email protected] or call 618.581.1391 and we will be more than glad to share with you how PMM can assist you and your ministry.

Feel free to visit our PMM website for more information.  God bless!

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.

D6 FAMILY TAKE HOME STUDY

 
The D6 family theme for week 11/01 through 11/07 is "hope."

Each Sunday at Victory Church I will be sending families home with a "D6 Family Take Home Study" which correlates with the D6 theme of the week and the weekly message I share.  This is a great way for families to interact together spiritually, thus helping you to become D6 families! (For those who may not be familiar with D6 - click here.)

Below is this week's D6 Family Take Home Study:

1.  As a family, share some stories this week of seemingly "hopeless" situations you have found yourself in.  Also, share how the Lord answered your prayers and brought you through that particular situation.  KEY: Christian hope grows out of faith.

2. As a family, explain the purpose of anchors to your children.  Then share that by placing our faith in Christ we have "anchored" our life in Him.  Therefore, we are safe and secure in Him!  When the storms come on the sea, the sailors are safe because they have their anchors secure in the rocks.  Reassure your family that when the storms of life come your way, you are safe because you have placed your "hope" in Christ and He is our anchor!  KEY: Christian hope is an Anchor.

3. As a family, read the words of the old hymn "My Hope Is Built." KEY: Christian hope is a Person - Jesus Christ.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Sing-a-long! Now click here and "sing" together as a family this old hymn.

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).

Steve 411 - Hotel, Conference Center, Parking, and Registration at the D6 Conference

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! 

REGISTER FOR D6 CONFERENCE BY 09/08 AND SAVE!

Come on, let's keep connecting the church and home!

Almost 1,350 people have registered for the D6 Conference , September 23-25, 2009 in Dallas, Texas.  The exciting to thing to know is there are more and more groups registering each day.

To make it as easy as possible on those who missed all of the early bird opportunities, the D6 Conference would like to extend a promotion to everyone who has not yet registered.  This will help you save a little extra. 

In order to take advantage of this offer, do the following:

1. Go to the D6 Conference website (click here)
2. Register by Tuesday, September 8th (click here)
3. Use the discount code SEPTD6 and groups of 2 - 9 will save $25 per person!!! (Individuals will save $30. Groups of 10+ will save $15 per person.)

See you in Dallas!!

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.

PRIORITIES MATTER MINISTRIES

After a season of prayer, I feel the Lord has led me to begin a new ministry called "PRIORITIES MATTER MINISTRIES (PMM)." 

I am a Free Will Baptist pastor and former church planter, and one of my greatest desires is to be an encouragement to the local church pastor and congregation.  The purpose of PMM is to first and foremost assist the local church in fulfilling their God-given mission.

Through PMM, I am able to come along side the local church and minister in a variety of ways: 

• Revivals / Camp Meetings / Bible Conferences / Mission Conferences
• Stewardship Seminars / Discipleship Training Seminars
• Marriage Retreats or Seminars
• Men’s and Ladies’ Retreats
• Youth Camps, Retreats or Rally’s
• Parenting Conferences or Seminars
• Leadership Seminars, Conferences or Retreats
• Local Church Leadership Team Strategic Planning Retreats

To learn more about me personally and PMM, please take time to visit my webpage at www.PrioritiesMatterMinistries.org. 

If you have questions about this ministry please give me a call; I would love to speak with you about ways we can serve you and your church.  I am scheduling now into 2010, but I do have some openings for the remainder of 2009. 

Just contact me and I would be thrilled to travel and speak in whatever venue you feel is needed.  May God richly bless you and your ministry!

"D6" CONFERENCE - SEPTEMBER 23-25 DALLAS, TX

D6 Conference Promo (Long Version) from D6 Conference on Vimeo.

It’s time to take a different look at the way we minister to children, students, and families in the church. Research shows that the kids who grow up to be spiritual champions most often have parent(s) in the home who make a considerable contribution to their spiritual influence. Unfortunately far too many parents rely on the church to be responsible for the spiritual development of their kids. According to D6 (Deuteronomy 6:5-7) this is the job of dad and mom.

The D6 Conference will equip leaders with the tools and ideas they need to influence the parents in their church to be responsible for leading their kids spiritually. There is no other ministry of the Church that is more important than ministering to children. At any cost, we must equip dad and mom to connect with their kids spiritually in the home.

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.

REGISTRATION NEWS FOR D6 CONFERENCE

The date for the D6 Conference in Dallas, TX is quickly coming upon us!  September 23rd will be here before you know it; and you will be beating yourself up if you miss this conference!

Also, if you register before Father's Day, June 22nd, you will get a $15.00 discount and a free D6 t-shirt. 

Just click here and enter this Father's Day special discount code D6DAD when you register.

It's going to be a great event.  I hope to see you there!  Also, if you register as a result of reading this blog, be sure to shoot me an email.  I would love to hear from you!

REMEMBER, TO RECEIVE THE DISCOUNT AND FREE D6 T-SHIRT, YOU MUST REGISTER BY JUNE 22ND!

Once again, here's the discount code: D6DAD

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?

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?

CHECK OUT THIS D6 FAMILY CONFERENCE VIDEO

Victory Church is a D6 Church striving to build D6 Families! Each week at Victory we focus on one D6 Biblical Theme, from the nursery through senior citizens in our D6 Sunday school, to our children's church, our junior and senior high youth meetings, and my sermons each Sunday in our weekly worship service. We are intentional in driving home just ONE Biblical theme each week and getting our families to discuss at home what we are studying at church. It's working at Victory! Check out D6 at Randall House (click here).

Four members of our leadership team at Victory are going to the D6 Conference in Dallas this September.  I encourage you to attend this conference, it will be life changing!  Sign up today! (click here)

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.

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”

VICTORY'S GOT TALENT SUNDAY

Sunday at Victory Church was our fourth week in our Sunday school "Reaching the One" campaign.  Our theme this week was "Victory's Got Talent."

Each of our Sunday school classes displayed their talent in acting out a skit on how they could build their Sunday school class.  

It was a hilarious Sunday!  It has been a long time since I have laughed that hard at church! 

All of you "Victorites" did a great job!  You were ALL winners in my book!  However the junior/senior high girls brought home the gold!

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.

MY PRIMARY PURPOSE IN LIFE - WORSHIP

At Victory Church Sunday, our "D6 Family Theme" is worship.  Al of our Sunday school classes, from the nursery to the seniors, were studying about worship.  Our weekly goal is to "worship God more deliberately, more deeply, and to live in keeping with my worship."

In our new Fusion curriculum we discovered several things about worship:

1. Worship requires preparation (Luke 2:28-34)
2. Worship is rooted in sacrifice (Luke 19:35-38)
3. Worship is not optional (Luke 19:39-40)

At Victory we come along side our Sunday school classes and continue the "D6 Theme" in our worship service.  In other words, we are studying just one theme each Sunday!  We are finding this to be very beneficial in the spiritual development of our families.  Here is the sermon outline I used on Sunday:

Revelation 4:11b (NLT) “You (God) created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.”

Matthew 22:36-39 (HCSB) Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?     37 He said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

1. WORSHIP IS MY RESPONSE TO GOD'S LOVE

Romans 12:1 (HCSB) Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

2. WORSHIP IS GIVING BACK TO GOD.

Mark 12:30 (HCSB) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

3. WORSHIP IS FOCUSING MY ATTENTION ON GOD.

Psalm 139:1-3 (HCSB) LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You observe my travels and my rest: You are aware of all my ways.

4. WORSHIP IS EXPRESSING MY AFFECTION TO GOD.

I John 4:19 (HCSB) We love because He first loved us. 

Hosea 6:6 (NLT)  God says, I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices.  I want you to know Me more than I want burnt offerings.

5. WORSHIP IS USING MY ABILITIES FOR GOD.

Colossians 3:23 (HCSB) Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men.
 
Romans 12:1 (The Message) Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, your eating, your going to work, your walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering.

ARE YOU SEEKING AFTER JESUS?

Listen to this passage of Scripture in Mark 1:36:

"Simon and his companions went searching for Him."

Simon Peter is well known to us for his foolish, extemporaneous statements throughout the Gospels (Matt. 16:22; 17:4; 26:33). But Peter was always seeking after Jesus.

• Peter followed Jesus from afar during the night of Jesus' crucifixion (Matt. 26:58).
• Peter ran to the tomb when he heard Jesus had risen (Luke 24:12). 
• Peter swam in the sea in his haste to get to Jesus (John 21:7).
• Peter even walked on water in order to join Jesus (Matt. 14:29).

Peter did not always say or do the right things, but he did constantly seek to be with Jesus. Because of this, he was continually encountering his Lord and growing to be a more faithful disciple. Whenever we see Peter coming to Jesus he is always accompanied by others. Because Peter was seeking Jesus, others sought Him, too.

Evaluate yourself:

• What are you known for by those who know you best?
• Do they see you searching for fame, power, success, or happiness? 
• Are you known as a person who seeks after Jesus? God promises: "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jer. 29:13).
• Did you begin today intent on encountering Jesus? 
• Is your search for Him halfhearted, or are you seeking Him with all your heart? 
• Have others grown closer to Jesus because they followed your example and sought Jesus?

If your heart is set on pursuing Jesus, you will always find Him. "And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come" (Rev. 22:17).

I encourage you to post a comment on how the Lord spoke to you through this devotion.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! "RESOLUTIONS vs. LOVE"

John 21:15 (HCSB) When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”

Jesus has a wonderful way of restoring us when we fail Him! He does not humiliate us. He does not criticize us. He does not ask us to make a resolution to try harder. Rather, He takes us aside and asks us to reaffirm our love for Him.

Peter miserably failed his Lord when he fled with the other disciples from the Garden of Gethsemane. Later, he publicly denied that he even knew Jesus. Peter must have wondered if he had been capable of being Jesus' disciple when he was unfaithful to Jesus in His most crucial hour.

As you begin a new year, you may be painfully aware that you have failed your Lord in many ways.

• Perhaps you were not faithful.
• Perhaps you disobeyed His word to you.
• Perhaps you denied Him by the way you lived.

The good news is this: Jesus will take you aside, as He did Peter. He will not berate you. He will not humiliate you. He will ask you to examine your love for Him. He asked Peter, “Do you love Me?”  If your answer, like Peter's, is “Yes, Lord,” He will reaffirm His will for you. If you truly love Him, you will obey Him (John 14:15).

Jesus does not need your resolutions, your recommitments, or your promises to try harder in this new year. If your resolve to obey God last year did not help you to be faithful, it will not make you successful this year.

Jesus asks for your love. If you truly love Him, your service for Him in 2009 will be of the quality that He desires.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

IT IS FINISHED!

All of us can now say, "It is finished," when it comes to the year 2008!  But what about your spiritual walk with Christ?

When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.—John 19:30

• God always finishes what He begins (Phil. 1:6).
• God never speaks a word without ensuring that it comes to pass (Isa. 55:11).
• Christ is both the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end (Rev. 1:8, 17).
• Christ is as much at the end of His work as He is at its beginning.

Jesus was given an enormous mandate. He was to live a sinless life, remaining absolutely obedient to His Father.  Even the manner of His death was to fulfill numerous prophecies that had been foretold in Scripture (Matt. 26:24, 31, 54, 56; 27:9, 35, 46; John 19:28, 36–37).  Yet, despite the extremely complex assignment Jesus received from His Father, He could shout triumphantly from the cross, “It is finished!”

Christ now resides within each believer. His assignment today is to complete God's will in each Christian.  He is just as determined to do this in us as He was to complete God's will for Himself.

You will have to resist Christ in order to remain out of the will of God. As we come to the close of another year, stop and ask yourself some deep, penetrating questions:

• What is it God wants to do in you? 
• Are you living in the center of God's will for your life?
• Have you allowed Him to complete what He has begun?
• Are you walking daily by faith, submitting your life to the Lord?

God will not force you to receive all that He has for your life. If God's work has not been brought to fruition in you, it is not that Christ has not been diligently working toward that end. Rather, you may need to release areas of your life to Him and be as determined to see God's work in you completed as Christ is.

Review the things God has said to you over this last year. Are there promises God has made to you that you have refused to allow Him to complete? If so, commit to yield your will to God today.

VICTORY IN CHRIST ALONE!

This week I have been reading portions of the Book of Revelation.  As you well know, there is a common theme which is found in many different chapters: "Christ is victorious!"  Christ is triumphant!

In Revelation 19:4 we read, "Then the 24 elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the Throne, saying, 'Amen! Hallelujah!'"

In chapter 19 of Revelation, the heavenly multitude responded to God's judgment with enthusiasm and praise!  Jesus, the suffering servant of the Gospels, became the righteous Judge!  (When Jesus returns, He will complete the work He began.  He will gather His people and destroy Satan!)

Triumph is a precious thing.  We honor the triumphant!  The gallant soldier sitting proudly on his stallion.  The determined explorer returning from his discovery.  The winning athlete holding proudly his gold medals and/or trophy!

But here is the thing we must realize, "Triumph is a fleeting thing."  Hardly does one taste victory before it is gone!  No one remains a champion forever!  Perhaps this is why Paul proclaimed, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession..." (2 Cor. 2:14)

Here is the BIG difference between victory in Christ and victory in the world:

A victor in the world rejoices over something he did - swimming, climbing Mt. Everest, making a million dollars, etc...

A victor in Christ - a believer - rejoices over who he is - a child of God!

Nothing can separate us from triumph in Christ!  Nothing!  Our triumph is not based upon our feelings, but upon God's gift.  Our triumph is not based upon our perfection, but upon God's forgiveness.  How precious is this triumph!

For even though we are pressed on every side, the victory is still ours!  Nothing can altar the loyalty of God!  Triumphant in Christ - it is not something we do-it is who we are!

Therefore, no matter what you are facing in this life.  No matter what happened to you yesterday; no matter what this day holds for you; no matter what happens tomorrow - look to Christ with joy!   He has conquered sin, defeated Satan, and will one day take us home to be with Him!

Let's rejoice today because of "who we are - children of the Most High!

WHAT DOES CHRISTMAS MEAN?

At Victory Church I preached a sermon titled: "What Does Christmas Mean?"  Below is my sermon outline:

Luke 2:8-14 (NKJV)

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

"And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

The fact that God made the announcement to shepherds helps us to understand the real meaning of Christmas.

John 3:16 (HCSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

-- and He chose to announce that to shepherds first of all.

Shepherds were at the opposite end of the social stratum from King Herod and all the influential people of the day.