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Dare to be different (Jesus Freak #2)

08 Mar

Dare to be different (Jesus Freak #2)

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

All through history you find those that deny the power of God, even denying that there is a God. There is theology wrapped up in those that believe, and those that deny. Those who believe are considered the “elect”, and those that deny are not. Therein lies a basis for deep doctrinal argument on the biggest topic of Predestination. That is not a topic for a morning devotional. Paul was writing to a church troubled and divided. The church was claiming to be followers of different leaders, and taking their eyes off Christ. They were placing their trust in the wisdom of men, and not the power of God. This today even happens when we place more hope in the man delivering the message, and not the message itself. The message of the cross is the Gospel itself.

Those who deny the power of God are simply placing more faith in themselves than they are the Creator of the universe. They believe their own wisdom is so great, they have figured it all out. They believe that only the ignorant believe in God; how dumb we must be for placing our faith in an unknown God. Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. The proof of God is all around us in creation; the evolution ideal takes more faith to believe in that the ideal of a supreme being. The pride in ones wisdom, is the road paved to eternal damnation. That pride will lead you down a path of destruction without the humbling of your heart, and the realization that you don’t have it all figured out.

Do you smile at the opportunities to share your faith, or do you withdraw for the fear of ridicule? That is a small victory for Satan every time you withdraw. You should never be ashamed of sharing your faith, most likely that urge you feel is because the Holy Spirit is wanting to use you to encourage that person who stands before you. Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.You don’t want to miss that opportunity; it is a step closer to God for you, and most likely them too. You will experience God in your life, and see the fruit of His work through your life. If your message comes with ridicule for your faith, smile and shake the dust off your feet. God has prepared your heart, but maybe not theirs yet. John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Dare to be different from all those out there who say they believe, yet there is no evidence in their lives. Share your faith whenever possible, and let God perform the increase.

 
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Posted by on March 8, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Daily nourishment & directions

07 Mar

Daily nourishment & directions

Ezekiel 3:1 -3   Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.” So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.

Ezekiel, the great prophet of God was being called by God to deliver the message from Him to Israel; a message that God told him that some would hear, and some would not. He told Ezekiel not to be afraid, for He was with him. As God opened the scroll before him it was printed on both sides. 10 Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe. God was full of sorrow for how Israel had become a rebellious nation. God commanded Ezekiel to eat the scroll, to feed on the words that God was giving him. These words would become the message that God would speak through him to his people. The words were planted in his heart.

You do not have to stand before the Creator and eat a scroll to feed on the Word of God. We are fortunate enough to have both the history of time before Christ, the life of Christ, and the message of Christ, all at our fingertips. God has given us his holy Word to enable us to pursue all that he has intended for us to have for our time here. The guidebook of how to live a life pleasing to Him for our short journey here. We are but pilgrims on the way to the Promised Land, and the Bible is the map for the journey. Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Have you at some point in your life spent so much time with the map that you have it memorized? Are you sure you know the path that leads to heaven?

Every day you awake to the same routines: Eat breakfast and fly out the door to work or the duties of the day. It is ingrained in us to not miss breakfast, for it is the most important meal of the day. It gives us the energy to accomplish the tasks and withstand the trials of the day. More importantly is the nourishment and direction found in daily mornings with God. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. You will miss daily encounters with God if you do not dwell there. The same scriptures you read will speak directly into situations of the day; you may hear them again from peers or other media; you will see the strength of that scripture in a situation you face when the Spirit reminds you of what you recently read. This is what you have been missing by not feeding on God’s Word every single day.

 
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Posted by on March 7, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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My hope is better than your BMW

06 Mar

My hope is better than your BMW

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11    I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.(NIV)

Ecclesiastes would be probably the least likely popular book in the Bible in the area I live in. Northern Mecklenburg county is an area of excess; lake living, big money homes, cars, and toys. People are so focused on themselves and the rewards they feel entitled to, I doubt their hearts would care for the words of wisdom found in this book. I too fell into that trap; I lived with the motto of who dies with the most toys wins. I sought it all, borrowed to pay for it all, and am still trying to pay for my mistakes. I thought happiness was found in material possessions like many of you. There are sadly men in God’s pulpits these days preaching that God wants you to have them. Joy is not found in anything made by mans hands or gains.

Ecclesiastes is the book by the wisest man who ever lived, Solomon. It is the book at the point in his life that he “gets it”. He was given his wisdom and his wealth by God. He took those gifts and ran from God grabbing all that he could to make him happy. He built a great temple, great homes, fortified cities, male and female servants, endless treasures……all kinds of stuff made by mans hands and gains. Through his wisdom in this book he came to realize all his hard work would be left to somebody who had done nothing to earn it; he could take nothing with him into eternity. 21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. He had worked so hard to obtain; yet it is all gone in a breath of life; Vanity here is described as that fleeting moment.

There is only one way that you can find happiness, one secure investment that will reap guaranteed rewards. Place your hope in eternal treasures, and invest your life in the rewards of investing your hope in Jesus Christ in others. You will leave behind a legacy of eternal rewards for endless generations to come. You will gain a joy that no monetary possession can provide. You will gain a peace that the world cannot reclaim. You will gain a freedom in your soul that carries no price, but pays in endless eternal riches. You will come to see the simple things in life as gifts from God. Solomon grasps the idea of the gains found in the simple pleasures, the simple gifts from God. 26 For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. The closer you draw to God, the more you realize what matters on a worldly scale, does not matter on the eternal one. The seemingly lowly here, are in truth great gifts from God.

 
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Posted by on March 6, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Fact Check them

05 Mar

Fact Check them

2 Corinthians 11:3 -4   But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted–you may well put up with it!

The apostle Paul was getting slammed by false teachers in Corinth. He had visited there, spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, and the early church was started. He had written an earlier letter to encourage them, strengthen them, and help with necessary disciplinary actions within the church. He had promised to return to Corinth. In his absence, there were those in the church who began to slam Paul and his ministry. The lied about many things, all to discredit Paul’s ministry and hurt the cause of Christ. Satan had infiltrated the church. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

We all must come to realize there are most likely more false teachers today; Satan’s captains disguised as angels of light. They flood our airways in all the media outlets, they are with us every Sunday at our churches. They preach soft gospels of prosperity and earthly riches that God wants you to have; to name it and claim it. Christ told the rich young ruler to sell all he had and give it to the poor. Luke 18:22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” When Christ was gathering his disciples, his call was not that of a two week notice; it was one of leaving all you have to follow Him, and reap the eternal reward. Matthew 16:24 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Nowhere in the Bible does he tell us to grab all we can for our short time here. We are told to live for the hope of eternal paradise. In that hope is the eternal peace that is a treasure the world cannot possess or steal from us.

Paul could have lived a life of exceeding any of today’s rich pastors. He could have used his testimony of Christ visiting him on the Damascus road, to his visit to Christ in heaven, (2 Corinthians 12:1-6), all to draw the attention and glory to himself. His understanding and love for Christ kept him humble and persecuted. This gave him a ministry that only glorified Christ and showed the power of Christ that was so evident in his life. When you hear a pastor speak something that either stirs your heart, or stirs a question in your soul, pray and go to God’s Word to find the answer. 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. Don’t just blindly take their word for it; let God show you the truth himself in His Word.

 
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Posted by on March 5, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Tunnel vision

04 Mar

Tunnel vision

2 Timothy 2:14-15   Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The apostle Paul was encouraging Timothy of how to keep focused; of how to not waste his energies on some of the false profits in that day. Some things are just considered babble, and not even worthy of Timothy taking the time to respond. Paul is pressing Timothy to focus on the Gospel, and the defense of it, but to not spend his time addressing the matters that truly do not matter at all. Focus on his ministry and make sure that it always has substance that benefits the hearers. Do not waste his time and energy on things that truly did not make a difference.

“Rightly divided” is only found here in the New Testament. It means to “cut straight”, like a straight path, or keeping a straight course. Paul is charging Timothy to not let the distractions take his eyes off his ministry. Satan loves to provide the distractions. When you begin to pursue God in his Word and prayer, it is no coincidence that phones ring, something seemingly important arises, you remember a “to do” that hasn’t gotten done, anything and everything to take your eyes off spending time with God. Satan knows the power that comes in a heart truly seeking God; a heart focused on serving God and becoming a disciple for Him. Satan wants to give you every reason, even seemingly good reasons to not come to abide.

A heart for Him is a heart that feels his power in the Word that is given to us. The more time you spend in the Bible, the more the Holy Spirit reveals it too you. 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. With this time cultured in the Bible comes an understanding that brings about a light in your heart that others begin to see. This light is the light of Christ that lives in you, and He begins to use you to teach what He has shown you in his Word. The more time you spend there, the more you live a life focused there, the more you become like Him. Stay rooted in God’s Word and begin to strive to be the best disciple you can be for Him. You will begin to see the distractions for what they are, and your heart will be less bent to respond to them.

 
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Posted by on March 4, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Whoa….did I do that?

03 Mar

Whoa….did I do that?

1 John 1:8-10   If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

I was talking yesterday with someone and they shared how some people they know think they are not sinners. Before I even knew it I had spouted off a paraphrase of this scripture. I guess I don’t get it; how could anyone believe they do not sin? That would be a pride so lofty they would likely consider themselves heavenly; yet were captive of the demon below. Is that belief truly out there? Denial of God, denial of Christ, many other roads of religion; but is there a sect of humanity that elevates themselves to that level? Even when I was my farthest from God in a life steep in sin, I had that conviction; knowing I was doing wrong, but denying it’s impact.

When you begin to research this epistle of John, you read of the blends of religions that were steering people away from the Gospel of Christ. There were blended cultures that divided God; divided Christ life, and death. They did not believe that a holy God could create matter; they did not believe Christ truly died on the cross; they did not believe that Christ was fully God and fully man. John was an eyewitness to this and he testifies of it. 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us. The apostle John and Christ did have a special relationship; John was the apostle whom Christ loved. John was always close to Christ in His most intimate moments.

There must come a point in your life you feel these sin convictions. These convictions should lead to Salvation, but the repentance does not stop there. We are still living lives as sinners, but we are living lives assured of our salvation in our faith in the power of the atoning sacrifice at the Cross. We should feel guilt immediately upon sin that steers us to confess that sin. Matthew Henry pens the repentant life so well: “The Christian life is a life of continued repentance, humiliation for and the mortification of sin, of continual faith in, thankfulness for, and love to the Redeemer, and hopeful joyfully expectation of a day of glorious redemption, in which the believer shall be fully and finally acquitted, and sin abolished forever.” YES! Come Lord Jesus and rescue us from this body of sin. Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

 
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Posted by on March 3, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Spotlights

01 Mar

Spotlights

2 Corinthians 4:5-6      For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

I am a behind the scenes kinda guy. I will give my labors of love, but expect no recognition for them. Whatever I find myself doing, I try to do it to the best of my ability, and to draw glory to Christ. I want no glory in any work or ministry I perform. I have Colossians 3:23 on the side of my work truck to remind me every day: 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. The sin in me wants to puff my chest out in pride, but Christ is me is the reminder that He is the provider; I am the bondservant or slave that rests in his grace and mercy. Why would we want to draw attention to ourselves? We can provide only temporary satisfaction, while He can provide eternal hope and joy. The glory rests in His work, not ours.

Paul was defending his ministry here in Corinthians. Some of those had come to say he was being deceptive, and he took great offense in that. He understood that all he was came from Christ; he had nothing to deliver except the promise of the Gospel; in it is the completion of any temporal and eternal need. 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God. (ESV) He knew that he had been called by God to become a minister of the Gospel, and he only wanted to point those who will hear to Christ, not to draw any glory to himself. There is no more powerful message than that delivered in Christ; the only glory in yourself is a life transformed by the knowledge of the Salvation that lies in Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  

The world we live in pushes the pride of accomplishment. From the houses, to the cars, to the salaries, to the stuff we obtain. We rest in the pride of the American dream; “I can do all things that I put my mind to.” God may allow this for a season, and he may also remove them for a reason. He may bring to you the understanding that it all flows and stops through his sovereign hands and control.  James 1:7 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  You are called by God to be a light in a dark world that needs him. Make sure that spotlight is on Him and not you.

 
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Posted by on March 1, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Behind these blue eyes

28 Feb

Behind these blue eyes

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I am no different from you. I am in many ways likely struggling with life just like you, maybe even more. I just like you put on my happy face and give cordial responses when asked, but wherein does the truth lie? Who do you have in your life that truly knows what your deepest struggles are, those that are warring inside your head? Even my wife and best friend do not know the level of warfare inside my head. My greatest sin is pride, and my confidentiality is wrapped up in it. Do you bear you soul to those closest to you? Sometimes the battles get so great that I feel as though I am loosing my mind; my memory is the first to suffer in these strains. That produces more strain from the understanding of my DNA and the disease of Alzheimer’s. It is almost a vicious cycle. There is One who knows all that I am under, and the heart I have for Him.

I find myself in Matthew Six repeatedly. Real personal advice from the mouth of Christ on how to live my life daily. Where to focus, where to place our trust, where to place our hope, what to do every single day. Matthew 6:33 Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. The understanding of all that this life has, is found in that scripture and the pursuit of it. Nowhere in it does it say it will be easy, but in it is found true understanding of eternity. It it is found spending time in God’s Word and prayer, and therefore you will come to possess the strength to face and fight all that you battle every day. You will learn that it is temporary, and the rewards are eternal. You will understand that you sin because you are a sinner, and the forgiveness is only found in Him. You will learn that you are saved by God’s grace alone, through faith alone; that you can never do enough to earn it. (Ephesians 2:8)

God wants to grow you closer to Him. This means that He will put acts of obedience before you to gauge where your faith lies. He may take you down very hard roads that you would not have traveled to accomplish his purpose. He may seemingly hurt you to grow you more into the image of his Son. All He desires is to make us more like Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:8 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. You may not share with others all your deepest struggles, but you can share them with the One who already knows them. He has either designed it or allowed it to accomplish his purposes. The more time you spend with God every day, the more you come to understand the struggles in life are just for a moment, and that moment is to draw you closer to eternity.

 
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Posted by on February 28, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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From the bottom of the sea to dry land

27 Feb

From the bottom of the sea to dry land

Jonah 2:1-3    Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. 2 And he said: “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, And He answered me. “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice. 3 For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.

They did it; the sailors on the boat which Jonah was on threw him into the sea to escape the wrath of God upon them as a result of Jonah’s disobedience to God. They pled for God’s mercy on the sacrifice they were performing; Jonah knew he was about to die. God prepared the fish that swallowed him whole, and in Jonah’s mind it was likely the end. Jonah describes seemingly being taken to the bottom of the sea, to the “roots of the mountains” (ESV); to the gates of the dead found there. His near death experience led him to plea to God; to turn his face towards the temple and pray. At some point in this incredible journey he came to realize the great fish was there to save him. He repented of his sin and disobedience and the great fish vomited him onto dry land.

The only place to look when you are at your seemingly bottom is up. You can either concentrate on looking down into the pit of pity, or you can look up to the One who can deliver you from there. 6 I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. Jonah had done nothing but run from God, nothing but disobey God, nothing to deserve God’s mercy. Jonah is another example of salvation by grace alone. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. God is letting you face these seemingly insurmountable trials to draw you to Him; it is in him that you find what you have been looking for all along: Eternal hope and the security of it. Once you possess it, the rest will seem trivial.

I am at a seemingly financial death, a place where the only place I can look is up. I believe Satan wants me to cry out in anger at my God for the loss of imaginary financial security. I believe God is allowing me to go there to grow in my faith and rest on his provision for me. I do not know what tomorrow may bring, but I know what God is calling me to do in a large step of faith. It is when you are at these places in your life that you are closer to God than ever. It is at the places in life that you say “Yes God, I will.” Jonah let go of his prejudices towards Nineveh, and obeyed God in the very hard command to go and preach repentance. As a result an entire evil nation repented and was eternally saved. What is your reluctance holding back?

 
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Posted by on February 27, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Wake up

26 Feb

Wake up

Jonah 1:4-5    But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.

I have openly shared of my struggles with anxiety and depression. The roller coaster of life’s emotions, the highs and lows that take us from one day to the next. You don’t even have to possess the torment of depression to possess the stresses that take you down those roads of seemingly self-pity. Of dropping into the pit of the “why” or the “what next”. So many times the best escape is to shut down; to lay your head down and escape with sleep. Anxieties may inhibit sleep, but once it moves into the depression you can lay your head down anywhere and rest. I cannot help but think Jonah felt this pressure; and escaped into the ships hull to run from it and sleep. If it was rooted in fear of God, of the sea, of his next step in life, he would have been pacing the hull, not sleeping in it.

I am at a place in my life like Jonah; feeling a call on my life to go, and trying to prepare to be obedient. I can see the storms in my life that God is using to get my attention, to steer my ship, to prepare me for what He has planned. Some days the pressure gets so great I too must escape into the hull of the ship. Where do you go when God starts pressing on you? Sleep may be a means of temporary rest, but He will be there to remind you when you awake. The captain of the ship awoke Jonah to remind him. Jonah 1:6 So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” Is it possible that in your own life, that in your running from God you have them in your boat too? Are those around you suffering because of your disobedience? I have asked myself these questions.

The ships captain and crew were doing all they could do to lighten the load to keep the ship from sinking. They were trying in all their power to thwart the sovereign will of God on what He had planned for Jonah. They did not realize that God was even using their situation to draw them into the knowledge of Him. They came to know Him on the sea that day. Jonah 1:16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows. God is likely at work in many areas of your life, and those he has placed in your life’s circle. It is impossible for us to understand how He even takes our mistakes and turns them into victories, but if my God can breath a star into existence, the plans and details of my life define simplicity.

 
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Posted by on February 26, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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