Woe #3

[Note to the reader: Occasionally I'll put one of my morning devotions on here. I'll read passages and write down the thoughts of a verse or more that jumps out. This morning it was one verse: Luke 11:44.] In this passage Jesus is really dealing some hard truth to the Jewish religious leaders. They had pretty much become legalistic, very religious, but no earthly good as far as God was concerned. They talked a good game, and they put on a great facade; but Jesus let them know the Father wasn't happy with them. In this third "Woe" Jesus told them that they were like unmarked graves that men walk over. In Jewish custom a person was considered unclean/corrupted if they came in contact with a grave (Numbers 19:16). They would have to go through rituals to become clean. They would have to stay away from the temple seven days. Therefore, the Jews marked their grave-sites very clear. Yet, Jesus calls the religious leaders "unmarked graves"just waiting for someone to walk over and become corrupted. Jesus probably couldn't have hit them with a harder insult as he spoke the word of truth to them. You see, it was all about appearance to them, not real life application of Scripture. --- It's easy to get after these Jews and even the legalistic church-goers of today. However, how many of us are just trying to look good to those around us, and not living the transformed life (christ-like) that is presented in the Scriptures? "Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God" may be found in the Old Testament, but it still reflects the heart and life God expects from His children. When God speaks to you, whether it is through sermon, personal study and quiet time with God, podcast, radio-preacher, or whatever are you applying the lessons God teaches you to your daily walk? If not, you and I are no better than these hypocrites. Live a life of real change. Let the Word of God marinate into your life.

Fall of A Rock Star

Fall of a Rock Star (Lucifer) Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah 14:9-19 He appears to have been a “rock star” in heaven that let it all go to his head. He was a created being that forgot he was a created being. He had a submission problem. God let him on stage with all his bling-bling (his raiment was beautiful stones-he was the shining one). Evidently he was the one leading worship of God with his awesome set of “pipes”. He was front and center covering the throne of God. This stage that God allowed him on went to his head. Somewhere along the way, he began to like the attention that his beauty drew and he quit pointing or reflecting it all to God, the Creator. He was blessed by God, and he liked it. Eventually he became dissatisfied with all that God had given him, and he wanted to be like God (which is the very argument he gave to Adam and Eve).---God will bless us. That’s what God does. However, we need to always recognize that all glory, power, honor and praise go to God. Reflect it, don’t receive it. Word: next time you’re thinking a little too highly of yourself realize you are in danger of joining Bad Company! Instead, follow the example of Christ as described in Philippians 2. Peace.

Devotion: Luke 10:38-42

Martha was distracted (in her hospitality preparations) from the worship of Jesus. It doesn't always have to be an elaborate satanic scheme to distract us from worshiping the LORD. Sometimes our busy-ness gets in the way of worship. Here Jesus was in living color, for goodness-sake fall at his feet! Pastors, teachers, leaders...all need to be certain they slow down in the midst of the business of ministry to worship Jesus. Yes, we want things to be set-up and just right, but are we worshiping?
Lk.10:38-42

Can't GET Me

No weapon formed against me can prosper. Oh, he can get me, but he can't GET me. The enemy can and has thrown everything at me, including the kitchen sink, to get me to fall (with success at times). He has not succeeded with regularity, because I do not live a lifestyle of sin, since I seek to live for the One who died for me and rose again. But with all humility, I must confess that he has proven that he can get to me. However, he cannot GET me. What I am saying is this: he can use his prince of the air resources to work me down, but it is a waste of time. While he may trip me up, I will get back up in the strength of Christ Jesus. All of my sins are already paid for. His awesome weaponry will not prosper against me. He may get a laugh at me, but my Savior lives. The mockery that was made of satan at the cross will never end. Jesus made a public spectacle of him at the resurrection. He won't get over that. What Jesus has done on the cross will prosper. Every christian that is planted in the ground at death will arise a new glorious creature! For I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the live I now live I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. ---Ultimate thought: he can get me, but he can't GET me; because God has already GOT me. Even while I play my part out here, I am seated in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus. It's a done deal! While I pray that my stumbles are few and far between, they are certainly not a real victory for an enemy whose sentence is already written. Amen.
*Isa.54:17; 2 Cor.5:15; Gal.2:20; Col.2:15; Eph.2:6; Jn.6:35-47; 1 Jn.1:9; 1 Cor.15:44; Rev. 20:10

So How Are We Supposed to Do it?

People fuss about the guys that yell and scream on the street corners with Bibles in hand. I understand. They often look very angry. Other folks get squeamish when another talks about sharing Jesus with a stranger on an airplane. Others get antsy about using a two-question test to gauge someone's spiritual condition, followed by the sharing of Scripture. ---Meanwhile, many followers of Jesus expect their sub-par lifestyle to lead people to Christ on its own. Then, some dazed and confused on what way is not confrontational are conflicted and do nothing. ---So how do we share Jesus with others the right way? The Scripture is plain. We have to share the Gospel somehow. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?(Rom.10:14) ---People don't get saved unless someone shows them the way. Jesus is clearly the way found in Scriptures. We need to lovingly tell the people the truth. I certainly don't recommend yelling, screaming, or name-calling. Treat people as you would want to be treated. You do need to live a lifestyle in such a way that people would even consider your beliefs. People will listen to a person of integrity. People will listen if they see your love for others. But when compelled by the Holy Spirit to share Jesus with a stranger, just do it in his power. Always be ready to give witness of the hope that is in you. Take them to the Scriptures and let the Word of God speak. Stop making excuses and just do it. Your last resort...your parachute: invite them to church. They will hear the Gospel preached there. How will they know unless someone tells them? Yes, there are people in this country that have not heard.

Sensible

Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.---Prov.17:24 (NLT) These words remind me of Jesus dealing with the religious leaders of his day who were determined not to believe him to be the Messiah. Describing their stubbornness to accept the truth he said, "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."---Here Jesus was doing miracle after miracle as signs of who he was, and yet they acted like that was too tough to swallow. Today, people will go to far away places in search of a "real" experience with God or a god or even multi-gods. They act as if going to a country in the Far East into a remote village with an unpronounceable name makes the experience more real. On top of that, to get the real experience they need to smoke who knows what out of a pipe that really makes them feel spiritual. They are wandering the earth in remote places when God is not hiding. Jesus was crucified in public. There were eyewitnesses. There were many people that saw Jesus after his resurrection. They have testified of that, and even died for that. The heavens declare the glory of God (Ps.19), but that is not enough for some. God made it simple. Instead of going with what we know, people will pick something obscure to use as an excuse to not believe. Yet, they'll do extra-weird things to foster another belief. ---Use the brain the Good Lord gave you! Stop straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Often people (even christians) will get really pumped up about something, and then the newness or the faddiness (I'm always making up words, get over it) wears off. Let me be plain about something, One Love is not a one time thing. It is not a fad. I'm really pumped about the idea of multiple churches working together and leveraging resources for the Kingdom of God versus the prince of this world. Let's tell it like it is, "He don't like it." Have you ever remotely wondered why churches don't work together? It's the same reason that it's hard for you to pray fervently and study God's Word faithfully. The enemy we wrestle with is an unseen spiritual entity. ---Okay, I strayed. This will be a fad if we don't stick together. A lot of great things have begun and they didn't end with the Good Friday Celebration. ---Look, I'm a nobody, but if all the 200 volunteers were still acting like me...and I'm a nobody, then stuff is still happening. Again, this isn't bragging, I give God the glory because I promise you I would not naturally do these things. 1.)bought someone coffee behind me in line in the name of Jesus. 2.) helped someone in need with food & gas (others gave the $, I just got to go) 3.) Actually stopped my car and got out to help a person with car troubles. ---Let me reiterate, this is walking on water stuff, because I'm not that good of a person. I could have easily given good reasons to not do any of these and been fully justified. ---I'm excited, because if a nobody like me is stepping up; I can only imagine if 200+ believers in our community are doing a little something every day in the name of Jesus looks like.---Keep the fire burning! One Love. If you're not involved yet, get in on the movement at onelovefl.com. We do what we do for the fame of the LORD Jesus...the One who loved me and died for me.

Loving and learning through garbage pick-up

It started out as a prayer-walk for the community, but then we (my wife and I) had the litter-pokers and garbage bags from the earlier planned trash pick-up that was rained out; so we thought why not? If we were going to love the city by walking 7 miles down Highway 90 picking up trash, we could walk 4 miles around Spencerfield picking up trash even though no one would know about. I must admit God loved us into doing this, because prayer-walking was just fine for me. But it was awesome to be engaged with God in this, because when I would want to pass a little piece of paper (and that temptation will come after a mile or two) something inside of me wouldn’t let me do it. You see, I was trash-picking in Jesus’ name, and (allow me to misuse grammar here) He don’t play! While it was a different kind of spiritual experience and getting closer to God, there was a lighter side to things that Teresa and I learned about people and trash.
Those lessons came from the things we found and how we found them scattered or not.
Beer cans and beer bottles ranked near the top with cigarette packages. I’m not the judge, but what does that say? Mike’s Lemonade was the top as far as specific beverage. All of these to only one trashy diet coke drinker. Burger King customers, well you were #1 when it came to thinking Spencerfield was a garbage dump. Yes, good Christian chicken eaters we did run across one cup from CFA. As a now veteran trash picker-upper there were a few things I would appreciate if people would not throw out (besides, of course everything: wait until you get home): newspaper, straws and bottles (particularly if you bust them). Newspaper gets wet and well, you really can’t pick it up after that. Straws...come on. We must have had to stop and pick up a thousand straws. Really! Broken glass...we did our best, but you can’t pick it all up. I hope no one runs barefoot out there. Then there was a couple of spots where trashy people obviously just stopped the car and emptied their junk. That should be a $500 fine for sure. ---Overall, it was a humbling experience, but it did make me think about the side of the road a little more. I think it would be good for everyone to walk a mile or two and pick up trash at least one time. And if you do, go in the Spirit for a unique experience!

Picture of Champions

In this picture you will see members of a championship team. They are about to go out and meet perfect strangers (with an accomplice not in this picture). They are part of the onelove movement (onelovefl.com). Area churches are getting together with business owners that are believers as well, and blessing the community in the name of Jesus. All of these people gave up some time and money to go on this mission in one way, shape or form. I call them winners before they even left on mission because they rejected all excuses to come and be a part of this. ---So often we give in to excuses, and consequently lose or miss out on the opportunity of the blessing we receive when we are blessing others. Maybe YOU need to hear this. The young lady on the far right had her baby sitter cancel last minute. However, she didn't cancel on her commitment. You can't tell from this picture but she is very pregnant. She didn't offer that as an excuse either. She arrived on time, smiling. Might I add that 85 degree weather and high humidity have arrived. She didn't even budge. ---Isn't it time you dropped the excuses and became a champion?

There is hope

As we read the news in the paper and on the internet, it often causes us to lose hope. People want peace and prosperity, and they misunderstand everything around them. No government and no man-made peace plan is going to work. Truly there is no hope...in these plans. In Luke 19:41-44 the Jews had rejected the original peace and prosperity plan...Jesus. 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”---However, there is hope. Jesus then turned to the Gentiles to offer salvation. The door is still open to all who will receive Christ. Peace and prosperity will come, but it will have nothing to do with the plans of men; it will be the Master's Plan. Where is your hope? Pay attention to the Passion story of Jesus this week. Read the Scriptures for understanding of End Times. It is written. In the end there is reason for great joy for those that are "in Christ Jesus."