Remain Steadfast…..

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Have you ever had one of those days? I think we all have. what about one of those weeks? Any takers? What about one of those months or years? No matter who you are, what walk of life you come from, I’ll venture that everyone falls into at least one of those instances. Moreover, I’ll wager that there are many out there who can identify with several if not all of those circumstances. There are those seasons in our lives,as the old saying goes when, “The hits just keep on coming.
This was going to be a message about remaining strong. it was going to be a message about trusting the promises of God no matter what this world throws at us. This was going to be a message about making Psalm 51:10 our prayer; asking God to chasten our hearts and make them clean of all unrighteousness.
Psalm 139:23
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
The amazing part is, the longer I am blessed to share the word of God, the more I learn. in this case, this message will be about, standing strong in the Lord, trusting in His promises, and asking for a clean heart devoid of anything but God. The purpose, for lack of a better word, will be  different, will be broader.
In light of the decision Friday by the Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage across the nation, I must tell you, I no longer anticipate religious persecution in America as some distant event that will happen eventually. I know it is coming. i also know that the body of Christ must be ready to face it with the knowledge that Jesus is in charge and is with us every step of the way.
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
I quote that verse often because it is my favorite. It is a not so subtle  reminder that I am in charge of nothing and that Jesus has already won. Jesus Christ has beaten the devil and sin and death; that is already done. No matter what the courts of man decree, Jesus Christ is Lord of the universe.
Revelation 21:6
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give ofthe fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
I have said it before and I will say it again and again, and again and yet, again after the state classifies it as hate speech: Jesus Christ was here before it all started and He will be here when it is all over. His promises can and must be trusted; He remains on the throne!
So what must we do? The law is passed and the ramifications are farther reaching then any of its proponents will admit publicly. Where does that leave us? Where does that leave the church?  We are where we always have been, in the palm of God’s hand. It does not leave us to sit idly by and watch. It should stir us to action, righteous action. Scripture tells us to do all things as unto the Lord. So, if you don’t serve, begin, if you do serve, pray that your role would be expanded and in all things preach the gospel!
As I said, I believe that on the heals of this ruling, we will see full-blown, no holds bared, persecution of christians in the United States of America. Remain steadfast in the Lord. We must not allow our flesh to control us. We can not get down in the mud with those that would incite us to battle.
Matthew 10:16
16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
The storm is no longer coming, it is here. Remain steadfast in the word, diligent in prayer, and safe in the knowledge the God is still on the throne! Remember also that the great commission was not to preach to the choir. Jesus never said, ” Build a church, invite like-minded people, and hang out there affirming yourselves.” No. Jesus said, “Go forth!” (Matthew 28) That is what we must do.
As you step forward, remember those people on the steps of the court. Some profess faith in Christ. I pray that God would apprehend their hearts and bring them to a saving faith in Jesus: A faith rooted in relationship born of humility and repentance. The mission is the same as it has always been, reach the lost. Remain steadfast and trust in Jesus!
As the frustrations and disappointments build, remain steadfast in the Word. As the tears fall and the pain intensifies, know that He is there for you. Reach out your hand and touch Him. He is already holding you! Jesus knows your pain. He knows your sorrow for He has felt it too. Tomorrow will come and His mercy will be new. God keeps His promises. He sent His Son to die for you. RemaIn steadfast……
Grace & Peace,
LD
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Why?

Ephesians 4:26

“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
I have started this weeks post multiple times; with no success. In light of this weeks tragic events, I felt the need to wait. You see, I’m angry. The very last thing I wanted was to respond in my flesh and give you the word of “Larry.” My words are not what will heal this world, my words don’t solve problems, and my words do not save souls. Only word of God to repentance and salvation by the blood of Jesus Christ can do that. Yet, even though i know that, I am angry and that is okay.
The hardest thing to do as Christians, I think, is to live in this world and not be of it. When tragedies like Sandy Hook, Columbine, Aurora, and Charleston strike, it is hard not to react in our flesh. I am not ashamed to admit that this week I have struggled in my flesh. As this latest tragedy unfolded, and details came to light, I got angrier and angrier and lost focus. That, friends, is exactly what the devil wants. He wants us to give in to our fleshly desires and take our eyes off of Jesus. Then, through compromise, he can rip us off. for those who have been saved, salvation is no longer an issue; living life in this world separate from the purpose the Lord has for each of us is.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The devil is very real. It is at times like this, when tragedy strikes that he is on the march. He looks for compromise and we must not give in. I have heard  from many of you this week and the overwhelming sentiment is that you are tired. You are tired of candlelight vigils, prayer services for the families of the lost, tired of tears and tired of pain. For what it is worth, I am with you. I too am tired.
The good news is, we know the answer to the overarching question that comes up every time something of this scope occurs; we know why. It isn’t because of lax gun laws or something as simple and petty as racial hatred. Let me add, it also is not simply because the shooter was not in his right mind although I will agree with that. The reason this happened is because the devil is real and true, dark, unexplainable evil exists in this broken sinful world.
When we view the world as it is, broken and separated from God, the world of Jesus encourage our hearts.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
In Christ there is the ultimate victory of sin and the devil. When we view the word as Jesus did, we can pray for our enemies and love them.
Matthew 5:43-48

[ Love Your Enemies ] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;
So as our flesh cries for justice, remember what Jesus taught us. Love our enemies and bless those who curse you. for our battle is not with one another but with principalities and powers.
Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
So, as we fight this spiritual battle, I pray that we would remain steadfast. This is not a battle we can win in our own strength. It is, in fact a battle that has already been fought and won; one time for all time.  Be angry but do not stray from the truth that Jesus is with you and has overcome the world and all the  evil it represents.
My prayers go out to the people of Charleston. We are with you. May the abounding love of Jesus chase away the darkness and bring you peace.
Grace & Peace,
LD
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Isolationism – It’s not What Jesus Taught Us

Luke 5:31-32: 31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
As I write this weeks post, I am apprehensive and cautious. I pray that my words and thoughts do not come across as merely opinion. The purpose of this publication is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, a purpose I am called to and therefore take seriously.  As I watch the state of the world via the news media, I am noticing an alarming trend on the part of the church. As a body, the church is stepping further and further away from the world at large. Like a flashlight with dying batteries, I fear that the light of Christ is growing dim, flickering, and will finally go out, leaving the world in the darkness of sin and hopelessness.
The world is a hard place to exist. I grant that. For a Christian to live and work in a world where everything is upside down and counter to the teachings of Christ; that is impossible – without a trust in Jesus that is total. I will also grant that as flawed human beings, total trust in Jesus is hard to say the least. Our flesh, it seems, gets in the way at every turn.
So, many Christians retreat. They step away from the world at large and step into the culture of Christianity The culture of Christianity? What is that? It is our own counter-culture. We have our own tee-shirts, our own music, art books, television shows, and even our own hangouts. Outside of going to work everyday, it is entirely possible for Christians to minimize to almost nil their involvement with the world.
The state of the world today makes this option attractive. With the persecution of Christians on the rise around the world and secularism the, “religion.” of choice in America today; the instinct is to run and hide. Putting on out tee-shirts, tuning in Christian radio or the latest podcast (always with our ear buds in) we pick up our bible and head to church; creating our own Christian cocoon, salvation, sanctuary, or, if you prefer, holy huddle. From here, we can view the world at large from a distance. We can pray with great piety for the lost and broken, for the state of our nation, its leaders and the world in general – and never get our hands dirty! Sound familiar? It should. It is the same thing the Pharisees, who were highly religious, were guilty of. In Luke 5:30, they ask. “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
In Jesus’ day tax collectors were considered the lowest of the low. They were Jews who collected taxes from their own people for the occupying Roman Empire. They were considered traitors, not only to the Jewish people but to God himself. Matthew, a disciple of Jesus, was a tax collector who, in one moment heard the call of the Lord to, “Follow me,” left his tax collection table (a picture of repentance) and did as he was commanded.
Luke 5:27: 27 After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” 28 So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.
Matthew was so excited he threw a dinner party and who did he invite? The people he knew of course; other tax collectors – other sinners. So, there is Jesus, in midst of he broken and hurting. Lives are being changed, hearts are being won for the Lord, how glorious! Then, the buzz kill. the religious leaders say, “Hey, those people are dirty sinners they are uneducated in the law, why do you fellowship with them?”
The question is, are Christians today guilty of the same thing? Do we pop our ear buds off pausing the final stanza of Amazing Grace, just long enough to go out of our way to avoid interaction with the, unclean?  Instead of sharing the love of Jesus, too many times we become part of the division and very Godlessness that is destroying the world.
The pharisees of today don’t even ask the question, Why. They jump immediately to the statement, “I won’t.” I won’t – do business with this company because they support gay rights. I won’t – have a conversation with this person because they live an immoral lifestyle. The division goes even deeper. It exists within Christianity itself.There are sects of the faith that will not even interact with one another. The grips are often not deal breakers but there is still a division.
No matter the source of the division, Jesus wants us out there in the midst of it, not in our little holy huddle preaching to the choir. When Jesus ascended into heaven, he sent us a helper.
Acts 1:8: 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus knows we can not do as he commands in our own strength. The Holy Spirit dwells inside every believer. He knows our needs before we do. If we walk with Jesus and view the world through spiritual eyes, He will show us what we need to do and be with us as we do His will.
So rather than stay where it is “safe” step out into the world, on to the waves. That’s where Jesus is. We are at war. It is a war for souls. Jesus said in Matthew 9:37: Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Will you leave you isolation and become a laborer for Christ? It won’t be easy. it might even be dangerous. Jesus died for you. Are you prepared to give it all for Him?
Grace and Peace,
LD
*If you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, email me at savedIIserve@gmail.com and let me know! I will be happy to lead you through what the bible says about salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.*
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The Jesus Gap

James 1:21
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
I spoke to my best friend this week by phone. in the process of catching up, the conversation turned as usual, to the state of the world at large. He expressed his discouragement with the world and its current state; I agreed and then he said, “If the world just knew Jesus we wouldn’t need to worry about all of this.”
That statement has stuck with me. it is  profound in it’s simplicity, ” If the world just knew Jesus….” If indeed!  The bible tells us that God made us in His image.
Genesis 5:1: This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.
We were created by God. We did not come out of a pile of green ooze, nor did we evolve from an ape. God made us and sanctified us (set us apart) for His purposes.
Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
God knew each one of us before He even placed us into our mothers womb; believer and non believer alike! That should astound you. It astounds me! Not only did God know us but He set us apart; each one of us, so that we might do great things for the kingdom. We have also been ordained by God to speak His truth as the prophets of old have done, all before we were even born! All of this is what makes my friends statement so profound, “If the world just knew Jesus…..” It already does!  our souls were created by God and know Him. Author AW Tozer in his book,  In Pursuit of God, puts it this way,
“Christian theology teaches the doctrine of prevenient grace which simply stated mean this, that before man can seek God, God must first have sought man.”
So why then is there such rampant unbelief in the world today? If God made us and our souls long to return to a right relationship with their creator, then why is the world such a train wreck?
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
When Adam and Eve fell in the garden sin entered the world. The wages of that sin, according to scripture, is death (Romans 6:23). Sin causes us to be separated from our creator. that separation, that gap is what our soul longs to bridge. There is only one bridge only one way to close or cross over that gap a saving faith in Jesus Christ!
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
So, if that is the case, if the human soul longs for a right relationship with its creator, then what is the hold up? Why is there so much discord in the world? The first answer is the presence of sin in the world and the other answer is free will. God created us in his image and gave us free will; the ability to choose for ourselves. He could force us to come to him but what kind of relationship would that be? I can assure you, not the relationship God desires. God wants us to come to Him willingly and give ourselves to him.
Do you find yourself searching? Do you consistently try different things to no avail? Nothing you try, nothing you experiment with, no one you spend time with fills the gap? That’s  because the gap that you are trying to bridge, the emptiness you fee can only be satisfied by a true and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jesus bridges the gap--the ONLY Way
 The cross of Christ and the blood He shed on it is the only way to God. We must humble ourselves and repent of our sins. Here is how to accept Jesus God’s way.
  • Realize ( that you are a sinner)

Romans 3:23: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Isaiah 53:6: All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

  • Recognize (that Jesus died in the cross for you)

Romans 5:8: 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1Peter 3:18:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us[a] to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

  • Repent (Turn away from the things that don’t please God)

John 14;6: 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Romans 10:6(not shown): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

  • Receive:

John: 1:12:

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Revelation 3:20:

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

  • Remain

Psalm 7:17: I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

The simple fact of the matter is the man Jesus Christ was uniquely qualified to suffer and die in our place. He was the only sinless man in history. As both God and man His sacrifice washes away our sin and permanently bridges the gap between us and our creator. The gift is free! Accept it.

Grace and Peace,

LD

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Trusting God – It’s Harder Than it Looks

Mark 14:36: “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

I have spoken at length of the truth that God is in charge. It is a fact, God created it all, He runs the show. He  also created us in his image (Genesis 1:27) and gave us free will; the ability to choose for ourselves what to do with the gifts that He has given us. Because of the freedom granted us, we can even choose to accept him or not. God’s world is not a dictatorship, not at all. God’s world is based on His love for us. Love manifested in His only Son. God’s gift to humanity for the forgiveness of sin that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

All believers and unbelievers as well (that’s another study) know these things to be true. If that is the case, the question becomes, why is it so hard to trust Him with everything we have? Why is it difficult, at times, almost impossible to let go and let God? The answer is one that will make some uncomfortable. The answer is sin. The world is a broken sinful place filled with broken sinful people Genesis 3:6: 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. At that moment, sin and death were ushered into the world. At that moment there was a gulf between God and man; making communion with God impossible without the life-giving blood of Jesus. Even after accepting Jesus into our lives, while communion with God is not impossible any longer it is still difficult because we humans are sinful imperfect beings.

Trusting God is a learned behavior to a point. we learn to trust Him based on our experience. As God fulfills His promises in our lives our testimony is built.  our testimony; the story of God in our lives, reflects His work in us and therefore our trust in Him.

More so than any learned behavior or response, we trust through faith. Faith in God, faith that He is with us through all things. Faith is not something one can learn faith is a gift from God. Ephesians: 2:8: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Through faith and experience are born obedience. Sometimes trusting God comes down to simply doing what we are told even when it does not make sense or it’s hard, or uncomfortable.

What does that look like? Jesus models it for us in the garden the night of his arrest. Jesus comes to the father in a very personal way, “Abba.”in the Hebrew is a personal salutation for father. It is the name a child calls their father ie. daddy or papa.  Then, He gives God the glory, “Everything is possible for you.” Then He makes the petition. “Take this cup from me.” Then submission, “Yet not what I will but, what you will.

So many times as believers trusting God boils down to what we get out of that trust. We look to  God as a great gift giver. We take for granted the amazing grace and mercy that He showers on us every minute of our lives and forget that He is sovereign: the creator and sustainer of the universe. When trusting God, we often forget that all things happen for His glory.

This is why trusting God with everything we have is so difficult. We become attached to things; become preoccupied with stuff  and how to hold on to it. When in reality, the kind of trust that Jesus wants stems from a heart knowledge of James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Everything we have that is worth keeping came from the Lord! That being the case we should do two things: first, treat everything as a gift from God honoring it as unto the Lord and second, don’t become so attached to the gifts you have been given that you place its  value over the sovereignty and Lordship of Jesus over your life.In the final analysis, In order to completely trust God in all things we must first give everything we have: our homes, our jobs, our stuff even our families, our spouses, our kids and our very lives to God. In doing that we are set free from worry and made available to be used for God’s purpose in our lives.

Revelation 4:11

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Grace & Peace,
LD
*If you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, email me at savedIIserve@gmail.com and let me know! I will be happy to lead you through what the bible says about salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.*
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When Worry Comes to Visit – And Won’t Leave

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 not a fan of cliché’ especially in the realm of counseling. So much of what we say in an effort to comfort someone who is going through a trail comes across as flippant and shallow. There is no question that the sentiment is well intended but there are so many times when it simply doesn’t deal with the issue. Foe example: A friend comes to you and shares that he has just been diagnosed with cancer and he is scared. In trying to be helpful, you share Romans 8;28: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. You pray for him and he walks away looking a bit stunned. Why? Because, while a biblical truth was shared – God is in charge; I can promise you that the new cancer patient in front of you does not need to hear that right then. Many times, there are no immediate solutions. While it is in our nature to attempt to solve the problem at hand, often times there is no solving it. In those cases, we comfort, pray, and lean on the Holy Spirit for guidance.
      The above example is extreme yes, but often times it is all to common. The cancer patient is less concerned about the cancer then immediacy of time. The cancer patients is suddenly worried about his kids, his wife, and his family; how will they survive without him?
     That is an example of an extreme situation; a  situation where suddenly  the normalcy of the world is turned upside down. The sudden death of a family member or friend, that call from the doctor that was unexpected, divorce, and job loss are all examples of that sudden extreme situation that causes anxiety and worry. What about when anxiety and worry are a constant companion. No matter how things are going – worry. Nice house, cars, the kids are fine, there is enough money, everyone is healthy; in short, the American dream and yet, there is constant worry and anxiousness.
     According to anxietycenters.com over 40 million Americans will suffer an impairment due to anxiety and stress this year!  Another article published in 2011 by theweek.com stated that 1 out of every five adults in the us is on medication to treat some form or mental illness and that 29% more women than men (1 out of 5 women over the age of 20) take such drugs. The statistics are startling and yet Jesus tells us not to worry.
     Let me be clear, there are medical professionals out there and medication that is prescribed for such illnesses. I am in no way saying that those practices should be abandoned. Healing is a spiritual gift (see I Corinthians 12) the wisdom for which is given by God. James 1:5: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
     What I am saying is when the pharmacy  and the therapy sessions or the alcohol, the illegal drugs and whatever else fits under the heading of self medication fall short, and they will, Jesus extends His hand to walk with us through our distress. Jesus said: John 16:33: 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
     Jesus was a man, God made flesh. as a man he felt what we feel: hunger, thirst, exhaustion, the entire gambit of human emotions. Isaiah 53:3: He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were,our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. this passage in Isaiah is prophetic. It speaks of the suffering Jesus would do on the cross for us. Jesus understands what we go through every day because He went through it Himself.
     Jesus never said that our time in this world would be easy. To  the contrary, in the verses used for this post, Jesus acknowledges worry and tribulation. He knows life here is not easy. That is why He made us this promise: Matthew 28:20: teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,even to the end of the age.” Amen.
     So how does this all work? We are to give our worries to the one who conquered the world. The one who overcame sin and death one time for all time. Give your worries and concerns to Jesus. He took the sin of the entire world on His shoulders. He can handle your worries. I Peter 5:7: casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. My mother always said, “Give it to God.” My question in return always was how?
     If you have already accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior then deepen your relationship with Him through the reading of the word, prayer, and fellowship. By spending time in scripture, speaking with the one who created you, and surrounding yourself with other believers you will keep your eyes firmly set on Him.
     If you haven’t yet accepted the free gift of salvation you must settle that question once and for all. What will you do about Jesus? Christ died as the final sacrifice for the sin of the world, your sin and mine. He took the punishment that we deserve so that all who believe in Him would have eternal life with the Father (Romans 6:23b). God loves you and desperately wants to have a  relationship with you. God is perfect and as such, can not have a relationship with an imperfect being. This is why Jesus died and rose again; to serve as a bridge between God and man. Without Jesus, when we die we are destined to spend an eternity separated from God ( See Romans 6:23a).
     How can you guarantee that you will spend eternity with God when you die? How can you have Jesus to walk with you in this world? Romans 10:9 & 13: 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”[a]
     If you have never called on the name of the Lord, I would like to invite you to do that today. You can say, ” Dear Jesus, I know that I have sinned against you. I repent of my sin and choose to follow you. I believe that you died and rose again to forgive me of all my sins. Thank you Jesus!”
Grace & Peace,
LD
*If you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, email me at savedIIserve@gmail.com and let me know! I will be happy to lead you through what the bible says about salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.*
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The Christian Fish Bowl

Philippians 3:17: 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

A few weeks back my pastor said that being a Christian was not easy; it was impossible – without a relationship with Jesus Christ. Contrary to the popular opinion of the non-believer, Christians are not perfect, not holy, and not above reproach. truthfully Christians, those who walk with Jesus, are the most humble and broken people I know. They are humble because they understand that God is in charge and everything that is good and righteous in our lives comes from Him. Ephesians 5:9: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness,righteousness, and truth). They are broke because in order to come into relationship with Christ the believer must come to the realization that they are at a complete loss without the power of Christ in their lives. Mark 10:27: But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

Throughout the life of Paul he models for us the example of the Christian life. In this section of Philippians, he reminds his congregation in Philippi, that he has set the example and that they must refer to it in their own lives and the lives of others. All people who have come to know the Lord came to that knowledge through another believer. Paul is saying. “I have shown you what it looks like to walk with Christ, now do as I have done.”

Who brought you to faith in Christ? Was it a family member or a friend? Think about your salvation story? After you had accepted Jesus as Lord of your life, you had questions; questions about theology, the bible, and a myriad of other topics. No matter what questions you had, they all boiled down to the same basic premise, what do I do now?

If you came to faith as a child,as I did, this person was a family member. in my case, my mother. She sat with me, working on memory verses, explaining scripture, and events on the Christian calendar. She was my Paul. If you came to faith later in life, the person who discipled you was most likely the person who brought you to church or the event where you accepted Jesus. They may have even led you to a decision one on one. Either way, they became your example, your Paul.

We must use caution in our dealings with others asking the Lord for a discerning heart. Paul delivers a warning in verses 18. Telling us that there are some “christians” out there who would rip off believers. Philippians 3:18-19: 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

The letter to the church at Philippi was written around 62 AD from the inner cells of a roman prison. Paul was awaiting an audience with Cesar, his right as a Roman citizen. Paul thought he might die; it was a reasonable assumption.  Paul is warning the people of wolves in sheep’s clothing, those people who are not committed to Christ but to themselves, those that are out to rob the flock.

The robbery comes in many forms: loss of resources, possible persecution and arrest resulting from non-Christian plants sent to the church to infiltrate it. While these examples are valid they are not the biggest threat. Paul is speaking here of spiritual robbery. He is cautioning the people to be aware of those who would profess Christ with their mouths but then live a  worldly uncommitted life.

This is solid advice for us today. We must view one another as well as new believers through the prism of God’s word and the example we have been given by our Paul. When it doesn’t match up, we are called to come alongside that believer and disciple them in the truth ( See Matthew 18 starting in verse 15). further, we Christians are judged daily by the unbelieving public at large as well as those that are on the fence regarding Jesus.

Often it feels as though we live in fish bowl. having to do what is right while the unbelieving world walks by tapping on the glass in an attempt to distract us. This pressure is the reason God gave us prayer, His word, and fellowship with other believers.  We learn to embrace the “Fish Bowl,” of the Christian life by embracing Christ and the relationship we have with Him. I leave you with this: 2 Corinthians 12:9: 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Grace & Peace,

LD

*If you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, email me at savedIIserve@gmail.com and let me know! I will be happy to lead you through what the bible says about salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.*

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He Doesn’t Need You

John 18:10: Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

I am a fighter. I always have been. from the time I was small ( the smallest kid on the block) I would fight back. It didn’t matter how big you were, if you mistreated me or someone I cared about you would have me to deal with. As I have gotten older, I still fight back. My tools now are my mouth and my intellect rather than my fists.  I lead with my heart always, I would like to think, with the best of intentions; the truth is however, this is an area that God continues to work on in me.

I understand Peter because, in many ways I am Peter. A former pastor once called me a Peter apologist. I had given a message during Lent on Matthew 14: 25-33 in which I made the point that while Peter did lose faith; it happened while he was out on the water and the 11 other disciples were huddled in the boat. While the rest were huddled in fear, Peter had the faith to do as his Lord commanded and come. He slipped and fell, or sank, in this case, along the way; but Jesus was there for Peter as he is for us today; to pick us up when we fail.

For those that walk with Christ this rings true: Jesus is there to pick us up when we fall – and we fall a lot. To those that say when looking at Christians, “You are all a bunch of hypocrites!” I agree and would add: there is always room for one more.

Humans are emotional creatures, some more than others. On a whole, all people have the tendency to allow their emotions to get the best of them at times. Have you ever said something in the heat of the moment only to think the better of it later? Or, acted on impulse only to realize later that it was the wrong choice? If you answered yes to either or both of those questions, congratulations! You are human just like the rest of us.

The word is impulsive. among the many bad connotations that surround the word there is good that comes from being impulsive as well, As with all things  When the Holy Spirit is involved, when God is involved, all things happen for His glory! Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

Mark 8:29:

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

Peter did not come to this revelation on his own. He most assuredly had prompting from the Holy Spirit. In the gospel of John ( see vv. 6:68) after Peter makes this bold statement Jesus says starting in verse   70, “Did I not choose you the twelve?” In this statement, Jesus clarifies and reminds that the disciples are there by divine appointment, thus removing any thought of human pretense from the equation. In essence He is saying, ” you didn’t come to this conclusion alone or by your own wits. God is here and I am in charge.

In our everyday dealings as Christians, we are inundated by the world and its misguided philosophies. I speak for myself when I say that many times, i have the urge to correct and fight back. I grow tired of the rampant sin of the world being misrepresented as tolerance. But where I really get bent out of shape is when that tolerance is justified by the gross misrepresentation of holy scripture.

Oh boy! When I come across this my blood boils and often times, I fight back. I start swinging the sword of righteousness forgetting that it was never mine to swing in the first place. Romans 3:10: As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one. Scripture tells us that we are all sinners and only through acceptance of Jesus as our savior are we cleansed. We have no right to swing a sword that by our inherent sinful nature we can’t even wield. Jesus is judge and will do so; trust in that. I Peter: 4-5: They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Jesus Christ has already won the battle. He has conquered sin and death so stop fighting. Instead  share what Jesus means to you. Live it out in your life. We can not argue people into the kingdom. We can lay them at the feet of Jesus; at thee foot of the empty cross and allow the Holy Spirit to bring them to victory!

Grace & Peace,

LD

*If you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, email me at savedIIserve@gmail.com and let me know! I will be happy to lead you through what the bible says about salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.*

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What About the Government?

Romans 13: 1: 13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

As I started studying for this weeks post, I was struck by the realization that I am a changed man. The irony is not in that I would write a study concerning God’s view of human governance; on the contrary, the irony is in that nowhere in this study will you find a leaning toward a particular political ideology, candidate, or party. not very long ago, I was what one would call a political animal. I ate, slept, and dreamed politics. Now, if I listen to the news for 30 minutes a day I must not have had anything else to do.

What does the bible say about politics, laws, paying taxes, and government in general? Should Christians Be actively involved in government? Should we run for office? What if the a law is passed we do not agree with? God has answered all of these questions in His word. Some of the answers are what we would expect and others are unsettling but they are all there.

Romans 13;1 can be broken down into three parts: 1. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities; 2. For there is no authority except from God; 3. ….and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 

1.Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.

This is no small statement The key word here is  subject. the Greek is Hupotasso speaking of absolute obedience to authority. If a person or governing body is put in power over us we MUST obey Uncomfortable yet?  It is fine to say yes. This is a truth that flies in the face of worldly convention. and, when we take into consideration that Paul’s letter to the Romans was written at the apex of Roman power and persecution of believers under Nero; the Gravity of the opening statement in chapter 13 hits with the force of a brick landing in a pond. the ripple sent forth to all of Christianity is immense. The short answer is, no matter the ideology, no matter how we feel about it, no matter if we agree or not we must obey.

there is one exception that God has built-in through His word. (This is for those of you who didn’t fess up about being uncomfortable).  When obedience to civil authority would require disobedience to God’s word, Christians obey the word of God. Exodus 1:17: 

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.

Pharaoh commanded that the midwives who delivered male Jewish children should kill them. The midwives knew this to be a violation of God’s law. So, fearing the judgment of God over that of man, they disobeyed. There are other scriptural references you can study to see a picture of what it means to fear God not man: Daniel 3:16-18, Acts 4:19.

2. For there is no authority except from God

God is the ruler of the universe. He is the Alpha and the Omega. Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.  God created it all He was here at the beginning and will be here after it’s all over. All authority is God’s and therefore His to give to whom He wishes.

The question comes up, does God appoint bad, inadequate rulers? He does allow it. There is always a reason and often we are not privy to it. Isaiah 55:8: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. God is in charge period. He is sovereign and as such we must trust in Him. I do not intend to apply that this is an easy task. On the contrary it is impossible! It is impossible when we are seated in our favorite chair, in the middle of the night as the pictures from the television set play off the walls emulating our growing rage at the state of the world. In the flesh it is impossible. Matthew 19:26: But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” So, God is in charge, He is on the throne; are we supposed to do nothing?

I Submit to you that America and the world need Godly men and women in positions of authority. If you are passionate about public service than heed the call and serve! Do it as unto the Lord!

3. And the authorities that exist are appointed by God

The final segment of this verse is summed up best by John Macarthur in the, Macarthur Bible Commentary, “Human government’s authority derives from and is defined by God. He instituted human governments to reward good and restrain sin in an evil, fallen world.”

So, pray earnestly for our leaders. As a friend put it the other night, “Don’t be afraid to pray the impossible prayer.” Our God is the God of second chances. Pray for our leaders, pray for our nation and the world. Search your heart pray for discernment. If God has called you to serve then do so for His glory.

Grace & Peace,

LD

*If you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, email me at savedIIserve@gmail.com and let me know! I will be happy to lead you through what the bible says about salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.*

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You Didn’t Build That

Proverbs 13:10: By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.

Life is predictable in so many ways. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When we give flowers to our spouse, we look forward to their reaction and if we have been married for some time, we know what that reaction will be. The warm smile, the hug, the kiss, and the whispered thanks fill us with anticipation. Our satisfaction comes full circle when we receive the status quo response. How do we know the reaction? From experience. Experience with our spouse tells us exactly what to do: what kind of flowers to buy, how many, do we include chocolates etc….It strikes me that if we followed the scriptures the same way we worked for a positive reaction from our spouse there would be far fewer “face palm” moments. There would be fewer moments when only in the aftermath of an event do we realize that we could have gone around the brick wall we just hit rather than running headlong into it.

While there are many things that trip us up, pride is a sin that is so easy to be blindsided by. the bible contains 51 references to pride and, at first glance, none of them are positive. It is a safe bet that pride is a trap that we as believers need to watch for. God tells us in Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 

The book of Proverbs is interesting in that it was written by David’s son Solomon. Recently I attended a bible study on Proverbs. During the study, the teacher said that proverbs was a letter written by a father (Solomon) to his son. Proverbs then is a letter written by our Father (God) to us his children. The Proverbs are snippets of wisdom directly from God! In 31 Proverbs God warns against pride 6 times. It is safe to say that the sin of pride is on the Father’s radar screen.

The tricky thing about pride is it’s built-in. Pride sneaks up on us and before we know it, we have succumbed to its wiles. Our society is based on pride. How many times do we tell a friend or a loved one, “you should be proud of yourself.” I know I’m guilty of it. As I reflect on societal norms, it becomes apparent that society is geared toward building people up.

“Now wait a minute,” you might say, “that’s not so bad.” If we were talking about the human condition and that alone I might be tempted to agree with you. The issue is, we are not talking about things of this world. On the contrary, we are talking about spiritual things; things of the Lord. Looking at pride through God’s prism, we quickly see that He views pride differently.

Pride is associated with words like disaster, strife, fall, and destruction; hardly the outcomes anyone would wish to associate themselves with. If we take stock of our own lives, a practice that is biblically prudent, Proverbs 27:19: As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. What do we find? Do we  find a heart that lives for God and is humble, or a heart that is prideful; believing that we are responsible for God’s giftings, mercy, grace in our lives? In the event that there is anyone out there who hasn’t figured it out yet, let me be the first to inform you, the great career you have – you didn’t build that! It belongs to the Lord. Your wife or husband, I’m sorry to tell you; they didn’t marry you because of your irresistibleness. No, they are a gift from God and should always be treated as such.

Pride is a sin because, at it core, it involves us taking our eyes off of Jesus and putting the attention on ourselves When we are prideful we are making ourselves god’s. Pride makes everything all about us; we become more and God becomes less. This is contratray to biblical teaching.

John 3:30: He must iincrease, but I must decrease.

The devil will use our own vanity to build us up. He will encourage us and then when the train wreck occurs and it will, he will say, “What kind of Christian are you? You are horrible?”

We should be proud – of Jesus! Proud that He thought enough of us to sacrifice it all: one time for all time! We must live for Him!

Hebrews 12:2: looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Grace & Peace,

LD

*If you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, email me at savedIIserve@gmail.com and let me know! I will be happy to lead you through what the bible says about salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.*

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