The Bounty of God Part Three

Jesus spoke something else of importance to us with regard to this word in:

Mark 4:26 And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 "and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28 "For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29 "But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."

What is He trying to tell us about the way that the Kingdom works?

It goes back to the whole principle of sowing. If the earth is right and the conditions right then seed produces.

Only God knows when these things are all in place in the Spirit.

In the Psalms 65:9 You visit the earth and water it; You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it. 10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.

It is God making this increase. It is the work of God making this take place.

All we need to do is to be faithful with what is ours to do. We are His laborers, we are the ones who are to sow seed wherever we go. In doing so He will reveal where there is already a harvest to be brought in.

VS.11 was key for us, “You crown the year with Your bounty; Your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.”

This is the picture of a farmer who has so much in his wagon it leaves ruts in the softened earth.

This paints a portrait of soft ground, not hardened ground. Ground that has had sufficient rain fall so as to make it fertile. It has been such a good year that the wagon is full and it is leaving it’s mark in the softened soil.

Abundance! Even though there is talk of recession this is a word of hope for all of us. God is our provider and He knows what it takes to care for our needs.

But in this word there is that which is beyond our needs. Abundance exceeds needs.

The Bounty of God Part Two

I am reminded of what Jesus spoke in the Scriptures in:

Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

There is a harvest out there. There are souls in need of Jesus Christ and just don’t realize it yet. They need someone to come along and share the truth with them. They need a missionary.

There has always been a need for laborers in God’s kingdom. Those who will not stay silent but will be moved with compassion for the lost and unashamedly witness to them regarding the work of Christ.

This is what missions is all about. Missions is not about where one goes, it is about what one does. Missions is to take place in every part of the world and that means where you and I currently live as much as across the world.

Jesus siad the Holy Spirit would empower us to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the utter most parts of the world. If the church does not begin to rethink missions in such a way that empowerment and vision can be released for the place the local church lives Christianity will continue to decline in America because the church will continue to think that only other parts of the world need the gospel.

There are lost souls right here where I live in Knoxville, TN. There are souls who think that they are okay but have never truly tasted the abundant life Jesus offers in every town and every city.

The gospel is good for every geographic location on earth so wherever we find ourselves is where it needs to be shared. We need to pray that laborers will be sent out into the harvest here at home and abroad. Every believer is a missionary, there are no elites.

The work place, the schools, the grocery store and our neighborhoods are all mission fields in need of someone who will simply share the good news and live loudly for Jesus Christ.

It's time to let a little life leak out to others. God calls us to labor.

The Bounty of God Part One

A couple Sundays ago we brought in Joe Ewen to minister via Skype on the big screen. He gave us a word as a church for the year 2009.

It was taken from Psalms 65:9 You visit the earth and water it; You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it. 10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. 11 You crown the year with Your bounty; Your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.

Joe told us that this was for us this coming year. That the Lord was going to open up the heavens and pour out on us.

Now whenever we hear pour out on us we think of Holy Ghost moments where people are touched by the Spirit in powerful ways and everyone gets excited.

This could well happen, and we would welcome the Holy Spirit to do as He pleases, but I personally do not think that was the point of the word given.

I believe the point of the word had to do with the harvest. Even before the year ended we had the privilege of rejoicing over a soul entering into the Kingdom, a fortaste as it were of what is yet to come.

Many are unaware of how odd it has become for the church to witness salvation occurring in lives of lost people. It has been as though the ground of hearts has been very hard of late.

The point of watering the earth in the Psalm is for the purpose of softening the soil to help it to bring forth fruit.

People do not get saved on their own, it requires the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts for it to take place.

Backsliders do not just up and one day decide they will return to the Lord, they must be worked on in their hearts and drawn in by the Holy Spirit.

I want to break this word from the Psalms down for us as I believe it will produce faith to in us to reach out to others and share the gospel with them.

The gospel is still the power of God unto salvation. It is the means by which men and women are brought to faith in Christ. It is the seed we are to sow wherever we go and when that seed lands on good heart ground it produces.

The Real Incarnation Part Four

As a man of flesh and blood capable of feeling pain and rejection, Jesus embraced the death of the cross. His coming as a baby was merely a launching pad for the plan of redemption and salvation.

When the story of Christmas begins and ends with Shepherds, angels, animals, and manger scenes it comes up short. Those make for wonderful theatrics and story lines. But it is so much more.

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

The light of the world came into the dark abyss of fallen humanity. He who knew no sin came into a world filled with sin.

Why did He come?

1Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Reconciliation could come no other way!

2Corinthians 5:21 & 6:1&2
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
1 ¶ And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU." Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION"—

Salvation was costly to God not us. It cost God His Son. But it made the way clear for all of us who will believe to be reconciled to God.

God went to the greatest lengths there is to secure man’s salvation. To reject what Jesus did would be the ultimate offence.

The hope of salvation came as a babe in a stable, in a manger, a Messiah with humble beginnings and a humble end. He is the Lamb of God.

The Son of God became a human being, lived as a man, suffered and died as a sacrifice for sin, and rose from the dead on the third day.

He ascended into heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father and ever lives to make intercession for the Saints! Hallelujah!

Incarnation is more than just the birth, it the whole life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you put your faith in what Jesus has done and made a public confession of your faith in Him?

Romans 10:8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

The Real Incarnation Part Three

Sometimes I think the idea that God made Himself vulnerable is too uncomfortable a subject for many. It is like a small child seeing their daddy being weak. They just can’t handle that image of him. Being a baby is a pretty vulnerable place to be.

In the silly movie from Disney called Sky High there are super heroes who are endeared for their amazing strength and powers. But an evil villain has a device that zaps the greatest of them all and turns them into little helpless babies.

Turning these heroes into helpless babes is viewed as ghastly and evil beyond imagination. It is the lowest of the lows. Why?

Because to be so all powerful, and so invincible and then be reduced to the helpless state of being a baby is humbling to greatness.

Well, you can’t get more powerful than Almighty God, or more invincible than Almighty God.

Think about this for a minute now. He came to earth, through the womb of a woman, as a little helpless baby!

But even more than that, He came to a regular family, born of a regular woman, and a man who was a simple carpenter.

Jesus came as regular people. He mixed it up with the peasants so to speak.

He came from boundless time into measured time in order to walk the same journey we all as human beings walk.

He chose to experience humanity from the start to the finish. God put Himself out on our behalf.

In the incarnation He began as a human being and He continued His life as such. He continually humbled Himself by being identified with us the human race.

He did so all the way to the cross, where He died to pay for the sin of all mankind.

Jesus had to even embrace the obedience of death on the cross on the terms of His humanity, not His divinity. He was not allowed to step out of His cloak of humanity in order to make the choice and process easy.

As second Adam He would live His life and fulfill His purpose without finding a way around it.

The Real Incarnation Part Two

The Incarnation is the fact that God became a mere human being, but the most amazing part of the fact is that He came as a baby born from a woman’s womb.

He came to us in the most humbling and helpless of ways. Now this makes me marvel because in the New Testament Jesus is referred to as the second Adam.

We know about the first Adam, how God formed him from the dust and then blew into his nostrils and man became a living soul.

Adam was full grown and ready to go. Ready to tend the gloriously wonderful garden of God called Eden.

Adam had no clue of what it meant to be a baby, he never was one himself. He and his wife Eve were allowed to embark on their journey from the best starting place there is, adulthood.

Jesus on the other hand, the second Adam, would not come in such a manner. Instead He would come and experience humanity from the womb. He would lower Himself as far as he could possibly lower Himself. That my friend is incarnation!

God who needed nothing, is self sufficient in all that He is, became a baby dependent on His mother for survival and care. She changed His diapers, nourished Him with her milk, clothed Him, taught Him all that she knew. His earthly Father had to provide for Him and teach Him as well.

We must allow our minds and hearts to grasp the utter humanity of Christ or else we cannot grasp the sympathy of God expressed in the Incarnation.

We fail to see just how low God had to go when He left heaven to become flesh and blood. We fail to understand the message of Philippians 2 when it says,

5 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. 6 He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. 7 Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, He became human! 8 Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.

The Real Incarnation Part One

This Christmas I have been meditating on the reality of the humanity of Jesus.

There are carols that applaud the coming of Christ Jesus as a babe. Artists painted glorious images of what they imagined the moment of the manger to be, and they show us a babe all peaceful, with halo, perfectly formed.

One carol has the line it, “the little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.”

The truth is there is very little out there that gives us the image of Jesus being a baby like any other baby. You know, the kind those of us who are parents had. The kind that cries when they mess their diapers, have gas, can’t sleep, get hungry or want affection.

There is a quote I recently was reminded of when I read Noel Pipers post on the Desiring God blog. It comes from the classic story, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

A church allowed poor, rough cut, uneducated children to participate in their Christmas play. Real down to earth children without pretension and no idea of how to put on a good face. I am using excerpts from pages 73-74

Imogene had the baby doll but she wasn't carrying it in the way she was supposed to, cradled in her arms. She had it slung up over her shoulder, and before she put it in the manger she thumped it twice on the back.

I heard Alice gasp and she poked me. "I don't think it's very nice to burp the baby Jesus," she whispered, "as if he had colic." Then she poked me again. "Do you suppose he could have had colic?"

I said, "I don't know why not," and I didn't. He could have had colic, or been fussy, or hungry like any other baby. After all, that was the whole point of Jesus—that he didn't come down on a cloud like something out of "Amazing Comics," but that he was born and lived...a real person.

When we allow Christmas to be an idealized, sanitized, and polished up portrait of the coming of Christ as a babe, we do a disservice to the whole idea of the Incarnation.

Never Say, "I Can't" Part Five

Being instant in season and out does not imply that we are walking in abundance in order to give out to others. It implies that we forever be ready to be used.

The poor widow that Elijah was sent to had a little flour, a little oil, a couple of sticks, and a lot of discouragement. Doesn’t sound like much does it?

In God's economy even a very little if used properly can go a long way.

She brought what she had and God multiplied it many times over. God sustained her, and her son till the end of the drought!

The church will move more in the gifts when it begins to give out the little it currently has.

If you will step out in faith trusting God He will meet you, and give you what you need to be more than an over comer, more than able to bless others!

But, if you develop the “I can’t” syndrome, if you refuse the revelation of His love and allow ourselves to become the victim you will become convinced you have nothing to give.

Needs will go unmet, spiritual blessings will be missed, and divine opportunities squandered away. The means by which God desires to sustain will be wasted.

God has more than enough to go around. He is a God of great abundance who has promised us He will take care of us.

He has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness in His Son Jesus Christ. All His promises are yes and amen in Christ!

It might look like a famine out there! But there is more than enough flour and oil in our dwelling!

Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus who is the author and the finisher of our faith! Not on what we seem to not have!

You have more than enough! You have the bread of life living in you!

Never say, “I can’t.”

Never Say, "I Can't" Part Four

Like in the life of the widow of Zarephath, opportunity knocks at some of the seemingly most inopportune times in our lives. If opportunity finds us walking in a victims mentality we risk missing out.

Because of the victim mentality in the widow, Elijah had to say do not be afraid.

When we are in a season of lack, we know all too well what do not have. We begin to wonder where the money will come from to pay the next bill, buy the next meal, etc. Where will we get the energy to do this or that. I do not have the talent, etc.

Giving of ourselves, our time, and our resources is a means of demonstrating our trust in God. It is magnified when we do so out of what appears to be our lack.

This is the only way that Paul’s statement, “in my weakness He is made strong,” makes any sense at all.

God never just leaves us hanging with no where to turn for help. Elijah didn’t just leave the widow hanging on bring me a cake first. He gave her words to believe in.

"For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’"

This poor widow was not asked to give what she could not give. God was willing to work with what little she had. We can only give whatever it is we have, however little, or much it happens to be. If she had refused to feed Elijah, the flour and oil would have run out. Her words would have become a self fulfilling prophecy.

It is not the size or the magnitude of what we bring that pleases God, it is the faith to bring whatever we are asked to, simply because we trust Him.

I mentioned the gifts at the beginning of this story. How does this widow woman and her lack of provisions play into the gifts?

It teaches us a principle to live by. She could only bring what she had at that moment and time. The same is true with regard to the gifts the Holy Spirit has given to each of us. We must begin with an obedience in the smallest way until it matures into an obedience in larger ways.

Never Say, "I Can't" Part Three

Remember the old Hee Haw song? Gloom despair and agony on me, deep dark depression excessive misery, if it weren’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all, gloom despair and agony on me.

This widow could have written that song! Now in reality no one is denying that this poor woman has it bad.

She only has a handful of meal, a little oil, a couple of sticks and no prospects for more. She is identifying herself as a, VICTIM!”

She didn’t ask for this drought. She didn’t do something to stop the rain from coming down. She was suffering because of something she had absolutely no control over. She is giving up.

“I can’t” is the mantra of victims the world over! Victims are those who do not walk in a revelation of the love of Christ.

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

What is most interesting in our story is what precipitated this widows response to Elijah.

When Elijah saw this woman he asked her to give him a drink and bring him a morsel of bread to eat. He did not pay attention to her poverty, he likely expected she was walking with God.

Basically this poor widow with little was asked to give and to serve.

Listen very carefully to me. Many people think only the talented, the gifted, and the wealthy should be the ones to give of themselves and their resources. Here is a very clear lesson that even the poorest person, with very little, has something to give.

Give what, you might ask? Well let me finish my story.

After the widow tried to get out of feeding the Elijah by going into her statement regarding her condition. Elijah told the woman “do not fear, go and do as you said but make a small cake for me first, and afterward make some for yourself and your son.”

Giving of ourselves and what we have is not what we do after we have taken all that we need first.

Never Say, "I Can't" Part Two

Way back long ago, many, many generations ago. Way back around 1Kings 17 in the bible, there was a severe famine in the land due to a long drought. Whenever it doesn’t rain for years the crops just will not grow.

During this drought there lived a man of God named Elijah. The Lord spoke to Elijah and told him to go to Zarephath and a widow would feed him. So he went.

Now already the request of God seems so absurd. Why Zarephath which by the way means, smelting shop, and why a poor widow? Why wouldn’t God send Elijah to a wealthy household which would be more likely to have goods?

Could it be God was about to smelt the widow? Maybe He was going to do a refining work in her?

When Elijah came to the city he saw the widow gathering sticks and asked her to fetch him water and a morsel of bread. She told him, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."

Now Jesus once said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Look at what this widow said. “As the Lord your God lives.”

Have you ever had someone say to you, “well, that might work for you in your walk with God, but it doesn’t work for me?”

That would be the same type of thing. She says, “As the Lord your God lives.” Maybe at one time He was considered the Lord her God and the hard times have made her bitter against Him.
Maybe she never had real faith in God at any point and time and so she does not believe in Him.

The total reason for her statement is not made evident but we do know this, she definitely did not own God as her own, she clearly referred to Him as being Elijah’s, God.

But even more revealing is the attitude she is walking in.

“I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."

There it is! This poor widow is far too aware of what she doesn’t have. If you were to find her on the street and ask her how things were going she would be able to tell you how bad she has it. She could list all the things she lacks.

There is no silver lining around her cloud that she can see. This woman is defeated, depressed and discouraged looking only towards dying.

Never Say, "I Can't"

My Mom used to say to me, “I can’t never could do anything.”

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Now let’s not divorce that statement from it’s context by reading the two preceding verses that led up to Paul’s thought.

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

“Everywhere and in all things”

For a believer to say “I can’t,” is like saying God is not enough.

To say “I can’t” is to accept defeat before you’ve even fought the battle.

The attitude of “I can’t” is what keeps believers on the sidelines instead of in the game.

Most people will never engage a process if they expect failure before they begin.

For instance the church is not in need of yet another teaching on the gifts and how to use them, or a gift quest for folks to discover what gift they have.

What the church needs is for the saints to abandon the “I can’t” syndrome!

There are two responses sparked when it comes to “I can’t.”

There are those who take someone saying you can’t do that as a challenge. They set out to prove it can be done.

Then there are those who are told you can’t and it stops them dead in their tracks.

The difference between the two is a matter of faith.

Sowing Precious Seed Part Five

Reading further in Mark 4 reveals the motive of Jesus in telling the parable of the sower.

Mark 4:21 ¶ Also He said to them, "Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lamp stand?

Hidden lights cannot light up the darkness. We are meant to light up darkness with the light of the truth!

Only light can push back darkness, darkness just blends in with darkness. But light and darkness are opposites and the distinction is clear.

The Gospel is our light and He delights in seeing it given out. In other words do not hide your light! Share the Gospel!

Sow your seed. Seed that remains in the bag has no chance of producing anything. My wife had been given a huge bag of flower seeds from our friends in Faith NC. They were on the shelf for quite a long time until one day she asked me to till two patches in the yard and she scattered them. Most fell in the area tilled but others fell outside of it. There was a multitude of beautiful flowers to enjoy within the tilled area! But not outside it. The amazing thing is that until the seeds came out of the bag, there were no flowers at all!

We should delight in the Gospel and celebrate that we have it.

The seed of the Gospel is to be sown on every type of ground without worry that it might be wasted. We can be lavish with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we can know it is what delights the Father.

Be encouraged to share as often as you can the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ knowing, in simply sharing it you are pleasing the Father!

Sowing Precious Seed Part Four

The parable of the Sower is a very important one to all believers. Interpreting this parable correctly provides encouragement and strength for being faithful in sowing the seed of the Gospel. But more than that, Jesus said if we did not understand this parable how would we understand all the others. This parable is a key parable in Kingdom understanding.

This parable shows us that the worth of the message of the Gospel is not measured by the result it produces in men. It is measured in the message that it is.

It is the truth about the work of Jesus Christ the Son of God to redeem mankind, and set them free from being enemies under the wrath of God due to sin, to becoming children of God who enjoy a right relationship with the Father. We go from being labeled sinners to actually being called the righteousness of God in Christ.

The result of sharing the Gospel will produce men and women who become followers of Jesus Christ, but remember these positive results were just one fourth of the soils. Two thirds of the soils receiving seed were unfruitful.

But here is the beauty in that. Although only 25% of all those who heard became fruitful, their level of fruitfulness makes up for them being the smallest percentage of fruit at the beginning.

The outcome ends up becoming multiplied many times over. But never forget that the Sower had to throw seed on the three poor types of soil before he reached the good soil.

So we should not be discouraged when we share the Gospel with as many as we can, and yet not many have acknowledged Christ as of yet. God is pleased with us for the sake of the seed sowing alone.

How shall they hear if there is no preacher the Bible says.

Not preacher based on the way we think of preachers today. Preachers in the Bible were simply those who shared the gospel with others.

If you are one who shares the Gospel with others you are a preacher and the Father delights in what you are doing.

The whole body of Christ is to be such. Spirit filled, seed sowing, love sharing, mercy showing saints who know and love the truth they have been given and generously share it with others.

Sowing Precious Seed Part Three

In the Parable of the Sower Jesus was communicating the pattern of the ministry these men and any witnesses of His to come after them would have.

It also reveals the ongoing condition of people throughout the world, for all ages. These four types of people are present with us today, and will continue to be with us till the end of the age.

This parable is meant to enable us to be faithful to the Lord as His witnesses of His Gospel till He comes.

Jesus does not make the goal the fruit itself. The goal is the spreading of the Gospel. Why spread the Gospel?

Most would say because it is what will bring men and women to Christ, and there is truth in saying this. In fact Scripture tells us that it is the very power of God unto salvation. But there is more.

The Gospel needs to fall on every heart and confront mankind concerning the reality of God, the faithfulness of Jesus Christ the Son, and the work He accomplished.

Every ear is entitled to hear the word, and every heart is given a chance to allow it to work. Each soil will reveal what nature it is. But the goal for sharing the Gospel needs to be in the sharing itself.

This makes success much different from modern Christianity has made it out to be.

Modern Christianity has convinced it’s followers that unless people are receiving Christ we are not getting anything done. I beg to differ with this ideology.

In the parable of the Sower I find that a faithful sowing of seed regardless of outcome is what pleases the Father. Jesus in no way indicates that the Sower was wrong for throwing seed on all the types of soil.

Nothing in the parable spoke of what to do about the types of soil. In no way is there any instruction on how to change the type of heart a person has at the moment we share the Gospel with them.

On one hand we say that salvation is the Lord’s business, but on the other we want to be able to share with someone, have them pray to receive Christ, and then take the credit for their coming to know Him.

What if Christians got a revelation that success according to Jesus is found in faithful seed sowing without demanding a certain outcome?

I wonder how many believers would become empowered to share the Gospel for the first time if not more than they have already?

Sowing Precious Seed Part Two

The seed of the Gospel is for everyone and is never wasted when it is being sown. The Gospel seed is the type that is meant to be scattered everywhere. There is more than enough to go around.

Understanding the point Jesus was making in this parable was difficult for the disciples, so He went on to explain it.

Mark 4:10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 "so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’" 13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 "The sower sows the word. 15 "And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 "These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 "and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 18 "Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 "and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 "But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

On thing Jesus said should haunt us. If you do not understand this parable how will you understand all parables. Understanding the parable of the Sower is of utmost importabce to us because failure to do so is like a garauntee that we will do likewise with all the others.

Let’s break it down: The seed is the word or we could say more specifically the Gospel.

Wayside soil is those people who hear the word but Satan steals it from them before it can sprout. Nothing ever comes from it.

Stony ground soil is people who hear the word and receive it with gladness, but they have no root and so endure only for a short time. If tribulation or persecution comes they stumble.

Thorny soil is people who after hearing the word have the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, desires for other things choke the word so that it becomes unfruitful.

Good ground is people who after hearing the word accept it and bear fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty and some a hundred.

In our American mass production and efficiency mindset we could likely be tempted to ask the question why did this man sow seed on ground that would be unproductive?

Is it possible that although fruit is enjoyable it is not the primary and only purpose of a Sower of the word?

Sowing Precious Seed Part One

Mark 4:2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: 3 "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 "And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 "Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 "But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7 "And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 "But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred." 9 And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

Here we have a parable regarding a Sower, not a farmer. There are two things that are consistent throughout the story, the Sower and the seed. All other things in the story vary.

The Sower is spreading the same seed everywhere he goes, and he is not checking the condition of the soil he is throwing his seed on. The soil conditions are not the focus of the Sower, spreading seed is what the Sower is consumed with. The goal of the Sower is to simply sow seed.

Obviously the Sower has more than enough seed to throw around. How else could he be so wasteful in throwing it on poor ground? In the Spirit every believer has a seed bag strapped over their shoulder. It is filled with the precious seed of the Gospel. Like the widow and Elijah when he told her to go get jars to fill and her cruze of oil did not run out until she had no more jars to fill. Until there is no more ground without seed our spiritual seed bags will stay full. Every time you dip your hand in that bag there will be seed to throw.

It appears that the Sower is only seeing a 25% return on his work and effort. So someone might ask, isn’t he casting his pearls before swine?

Before we can rightly answer that question we must first understand the issue of casting pearls. Pearls are not the same as seeds.

Matthew 7:6 (The Message) "Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.

A good example of this would be trying to help an unbeliever understand communion by saying we are going to eat crackers and drink juice. By saying this the person deduces that communion is insignificant and silly. It is taking something holy and making it common. Pearls are the Holy things given to us by God that are precious because they are for us as believers.

No Compromise Part Four

2Corinthians told us; Come out! Be separate! There needs to be something about us that stands out not just one time, but continually. Periodically standing won’t get it done.

Moses is a great example of this coming out without compromise.

In the story of the Exodus Moses had to debate with Pharaoh over the release of the Hebrew slaves. The interaction between Moses and Pharaoh reveals the tactic of the enemy to get us to give in to an easier solution.

Moses came to Pharaoh saying, “Let my people go!”

When Pharaoh realized that Moses wanted to lead the people out of Egypt for good he used cunning to frustrate Moses.

Basically Pharaoh began by saying, “Worship God if you will just don’t leave Egypt to do so. In modern language that is the equivalent of saying, “Christianity is okay and socially acceptable but you don’t need to give up the world for it.”

Satan is all too happy to allow believers the freedom to worship as long as they do not come out and be separate from the world.

But Pharaoh didn’t stop Moses. Moses rejected Pharaohs offer. Moses persevered at insisting on the release of the slaves. So the second time Pharaoh said, “If you must go out of Egypt to worship that’s fine, just don’t go too far.”

Satan tests us to see how far we will go. How far we will go in our walk with God. He’ll let us occasionally meet, occasionally pray, and occasionally read Scripture. Just don’t go too far!

But Moses perseveres, he keeps insisting on a full release. So the third time Pharaoh says, “Okay, let the men go, but the women and children stay here.”

Here again, the offer of a compromise. It’s the same as Satan saying, go on and serve God for yourself just don’t expect your family to follow your example of faith. Satan is happy to let a man or woman get on with God if they will sacrifice their children to do so. The New Testament reveals household salvation for many who believed. Satan will gladly give up one to keep several. He fears the work of the Spirit through an uncompromising believer. He does not want us to be witnesses!

Moses of course perseveres. He wants all the Hebrews free.

So Pharaoh appeals to that big temptation in man. Greed! He says, “Okay go, but the flocks and herds stay.”
Here it’s like Satan saying, “you should not mix your faith with business and the making of money. Go ahead and worship God on Sunday but know you have to come back to Egypt for your livelihood. If you want the good life you will have to get it from me. Your God is not enough.

Why would Pharaoh use all these tactics with Moses?

Because he knew if Moses gave in to just one of them the slaves would still be bound to Egypt. He would inevitably maintain control because they would not have fully come under another master.

If Moses had failed to persevere the Israelites would have remained as slaves in Egypt!

Fully surrendering to Christ is not like adding accessories to a car package so that it is more comfortable and fun to drive.

It is the only way to fully realize the worth and wealth of the life of Christ that has been offered for us.

No Compromise Part Three

We have lost the fascination that we should have with the idea of the glory of God!

The glory of God was a primary motivation for saints throughout the ages Old Testament as well as New and beyond. We read in Romans 5 that character is the root of this hope for us.

Our generation has witnessed a decline in the development of character because we have walked away from the practice of the Spiritual Disciplines. The passage we read in Romans 5 is like that old saying, “sow an act and reap a habit, sow a habit and reap character, sow character and you reap destiny.”

No musician who is about to be invited to play Carnegie hall regrets all the days of difficulty they encountered on the way to becoming good enough to be invited. Discipline led to destiny!

This generation seems to have a take it or leave type of attitude that is not producing the fruit of perseverance and hope and they seem oblivious to what it is costing them spiritually.

Our walk with God, or the lack of it, affects us more than we realize. This is why we cannot afford to allow ourselves to walk in this kind of deception.

Often, when I am attempting to encourage someone in the Lord, it is with great difficulty if I see any success at all. This not because they are not Christians.

It is usually due to the person feeling unworthy of receiving it because they have not persevered and walked intimately with God.

I can say all the right things I know to say, but the words do not mix with any faith in the person because the fruit of their lives does not reflect a work of righteousness in them.

This is what compromise does for us. Compromise prohibits us from partaking of all that Christ has done for us. Compromise has never been able to release people, it binds them.

Compromise is a faith drainer, not a faith builder. This is why the New Testament speaks so strongly against mixture with the world.

2Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."

There will always be those who think they are the exception to the rule, but they are easy to spot. They do not walk in the confidence of Biblical hope and they do not reveal godly character when you are around them. They say things that sound good but they fail to produce righteous acts that confirm the righteous deposit of God in their lives. They are weak in faith.

Choosing to walk in the Spiritual Disciplines can produce tribulations in your life. It does so by encouraging us to say no to the things that are lawful, but not expedient. To do so with consistency requires perseverance. But this is when character comes.

Those I have met who are strong in their faith and walk in real hope have been men and women strong in their commitment to the Spiritual Disciplines.

It is lawful for me to miss gatherings if I wish. But it is not expedient. It is lawful for me to just pray when I can get an opportunity, but it is not expedient. It is lawful for me to read the Bible on occasion, but it is not expedient. It is lawful for me to hang around questionable companions, but it is not expedient.

No Compromise Part Two

Our character is of great significance to God. Because character is what testifies to this world whose we are, and more than that, it sets the stage for something every believer desperately needs to be able to walk in. Hope!

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

People without hope are sick people. Sick at the very core of their existence.

But more than that those who fail to experience this process lack confidence. Whereas those who walk in it are bold.

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion. There is something that is released in us through the Spirit when we walk uprightly before God.

Not that through right character we earn anything from God. This is matter of a personal effect, in our own conscience.

It is one thing to quote the Scriptures that tell us we are the righteousness of God in Christ. But if we are not seeing the reality of that imputed righteousness in our lives we are left to question it’s validity. We can’t help it.

In Romans 5 the Holy Spirit revealed two things that true believers were able to rejoice about.

1) The hope of the glory of God due to the work of Christ in us by which we were justified through faith and given access to the grace of God.

2) Tribulations which work perseverance, which develops character, which produces hope.

Modern Christianity has reduced the idea of hope to being like that which a child experiences at Christmas. They write out their list of desired treasures and with great hope they wait until that fateful morning when they tear open the gifts beneath the tree longing to find what they requested. That is a form of hope, but it is shallow in comparison.

The Hope the Scripture speaks of is so much richer than this!

It has to do with the formation of Christ in us who is the hope of glory! Not hope for a better job, or a better relationship, or a better car or house. Hope for the very glory of God!

No Compromise

Perseverance is a word of great significance in the New Testament.

Romans 5:1 ¶ Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Did we just read that right? Did Paul just say, we glory in tribulations?

What could there possibly be about tribulations that could cause a believer to glory? It tells us clearly. Tribulations produce perseverance;

Perseverance. That word is hard to spell and hard to pronounce and difficult to live out. There is nothing about the word perseverance that would rank it at the top of the list of most favored among words. Lazy people despise the word even more.

But Biblically it is a well favored word, a cherished and prized word for the fruit it renders in the life of a believer.

But isn’t it ironic that this unpopular word tandems with another well despised and avoided word, tribulations.

The word tribulation by itself is enough to scare the soul, but here it is put in the plural sense. You know what that means don’t you?

There is more than one! To the world tribulations are never intended to produce anything good in us they are simply inconveniences that are designed to make our lives more miserable than they already are.

But to a devoted follower of Christ tribulations are the fertilizer of perseverance. No tribulations, no perseverance.

But why is this thing of perseverance so all consuming important?

Because perseverance is what God uses to work into and out of us the life of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is at work forming Christ in us. In other words developing right character in us.

In Quietness and Confidence Part Four

I want to be able to quietly handle things and allow others to see the great grace of God at work in me through it all.

May God work His grace in me more. I am returning to Him so I can be at rest in life.

Isaiah 30:15 For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not, 16 And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses" ––Therefore you shall flee! And, "We will ride on swift horses" ––Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift! 17 One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill. 18 ¶ Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

This whole passage is all about self deliverance. Self reliance is an enemy to the grace of God. In the insurance matter I told Sarah to seek the Lord for His help but I set out to handle it in my own strength. What an idiot I was.

Quietness and confidence will be our strength it says.

Talking at our problems will not make them go away, but if we learn to quietly rest and wait on the Lord then we show that we are strong.

When we refuse to wait on the Lord we make Him have to wait on us. That is what it says in VS.18 ¶ Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

God desires to be gracious to us, but too often we put Him on hold. We rush ahead with our horses and try to deliver ourselves.

God is exalted when He delivers us and shows us mercy. But He cannot do so if we are too busy trying to save ourselves from situations.

Is it any wonder this Scripture says, “blessed are all those who wait for Him?”

Can you wait for God to come through on your behalf?

This is what characterizes meekness. Meekness is that down to earth quality of trust and quiet assurance.

That’s where I want to be.

In Quietness and Confidence Part Three

Meekness is such a beautiful and admirable character trait to walk in. A New testament encouragement that embodies meekness is;

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I think of the recent great failure in this I experienced. My daughter Sarah had been in an accident and it was the other drivers fault. The insurance company we had to deal with jerked her around and cost her lost time at work and delays on getting her money. I Totally blew it on the phone with the supervisor. I allowed my anger to take over and became demanding and critical. Now I am embarrassed I acted in such a way.

It never achieved what I hoped it would. In fact it might well have caused some of the delays seeing they had little to no desire to do anything after I pulled my stunt. I like to think I learned a great lesson from that mistake.

I don’t want to be all dramatic when situations arise. I just can’t see how it can bring any glory to God when we get all dramatic about what we are going through and act as if there is no hope.

As Americans we do not realize how pushy and demanding we are until we are outside our own borders encountering other cultures. We want the fastest and best service, we want things fixed right now when they go wrong, we expect to never be put out or on hold for anything. Just watch how Americans treat people at the airlines in other countries and you’ll see what I mean.

The modern American spirit is anything but meek. But we have the Spirit of the Living God within if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus was meekness expressed on the cross.

Christians want to be like Him when it comes to seeing people get healed, or fall under the power of the Spirit, or some miracle take place because they prayed. But who will be like Him when He was the Lamb led to the slaughter, when on a cruel Roman cross He said, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

There are no long lines for that part of His character that I can see. But that is something we all desperately need today. It is something I want to be able to walk in.

In Quietness and Confidence Part Two

The Bible has something to say about being meek. In fact it has promises that are attached to being meek.

One such promise is the promise of peace. I don’t know about you but I enjoy peace when I have it. There is nothing like peace.

In Numbers 12:3 it says Moses was meek above all other men in the earth.

I think of how Israel stood trapped by the sea and the enemy was charging and Moses stood and declared stand still and see the salvation of your God. He was not troubled and in a panic about it. He was meek.

Life by nature can tend towards turmoil and anxiety. Discouragement awaits us around every turn, disappointments lurk in the shadows waiting to leap out a take hold of us.

Jesus told us in this world we would have tribulation, but that we could be of good cheer for He had overcome the world.

When He overcame the world He did not overthrow all the social systems and corruption. He did not remove all violence and greed in society. He rose above it Himself and in giving us His life gives us the power to do the same.

Psalms 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.

The New Testament idea of meekness is one of being humble and trusting as it pertains to God’s providence. It is being at rest in what God is doing even when things appear to be unjust. The believer walking in meekness can become reconciled to the will of God even in suffering and find joy through faith and trust in His goodness and faithfulness.

That is what we witnessed in Haiti with Ignace and Franchette Augustine of Bethanie Missions. That is what I wish to walk in. I hope you would desire it as well.

In Quietness and Confidence Part One

While in Haiti this past week we had opportunity to observe a man of God in his element and see how it is that he goes about the work God has given him amidst troubles too many and too difficult for many of us to understand. Americans get nervous about their pension funds and how greatly this economy will effect their retirement, Haiti is trying to simply survive. We are unhappy about $2.00 gasoline, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere pays $5.85 for a gallon of gas.

Randy and I got to observe a man with a huge vision, a deep love for his people, who quietly and confidently executes his responsibilities although he does not have all the resources he would like to have to get everything done.

We never witnessed an anxious moment in him. When a vehicle would begin to break down he simply parked it and patiently went to work on another solution. He never felt a need to apologize for the condition of any of the vehicles we tried to use.

We never saw him in a hurry and his rest had nothing to do with laziness. Ignace is no lazy man. Quiet, resourceful, patient, gentle, are words that could be used to describe him, but not lazy.

Even when Hosanna House is filled with guests from here in America who can tend to be demanding and impatient, he and Franchette were a wonderful picture of grace, hospitality and patience.

It is amazing to see how much they have accomplished with so many obstacles to the work. When there is a great need Ignace simply says the Lord knows our need and He will provide.

He obeys whatever he feels the Lord has given him to do without wondering about how it will get done.

All this in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

For this reason I believe I was more humbled on this trip into Haiti than any other. I think the many other times I have gone in I was too immature to take notice of much more than the obvious things, such as the poverty, the chaos, the mess of things that the nation of Haiti is.

This time I became greatly impressed and humbled by the meekness and quietness of two people who simply desire to walk with God wherever He has called them to walk, without complaint and with much prayer.

A Sons of Issachar Anointing Part Five

The kingdoms of this world have been, and will be shaken, for they are the kingdoms of men. But His kingdom is one eternal, not of men, but of God Himself. An unshakeable kingdom of which we who believe are all a part of.

A kingdom with promises like:

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.

Who said this? The Lord! This is not a hokey political promise He needs to make for us to elect Him to high office.

He sits on the throne of heaven itself, the earth is His footstool! He has no need to be popular, He has no need for constituents. His throne is steadfastly secure and not even Satan himself can remove Him from it.

When 1/3 of the angels followed Lucifer in the rebellion to take the throne, God put them down with ease. No major difficulty for the Almighty of heaven.

I am here to bear witness today that an election here in the U.S did not phase the Almighty and catch Him off guard.

God is not wringing His hands and saying to Jesus what are we going to do now?

God is still in control!

Psalms 2:1 ¶ Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples? 2 Earth-leaders push for position, Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks, The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers: 3 "Let’s get free of God! Cast loose from Messiah!" 4 Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing. At first he’s amused at their presumption; 5 Then he gets good and angry. Furiously, he shuts them up: 6 "Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion? A coronation banquet Is spread for him on the holy summit." 7 ¶ Let me tell you what GOD said next. He said, "You’re my son, And today is your birthday. 8 What do you want? Name it: Nations as a present? continents as a prize? 9 You can command them all to dance for you, Or throw them out with tomorrow’s trash." 10 ¶ So, rebel-kings, use your heads; Upstart-judges, learn your lesson: 11 Worship GOD in adoring embrace, Celebrate in trembling awe. 12 Kiss Messiah! Your very lives are in danger, you know; His anger is about to explode, But if you make a run for God—you won’t regret it!

I believe we can put all our trust in our God during these difficult times.

A Sons of Issachar Anointing Part Four

In Hebrews 11 we are introduced to men and women of faith. The father of faith was a man who had eternal vision. He had a heart for the kingdom of God! He could see far into the distance!

Hebrews 11:8 (NLT) It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith––for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

I believe we are entering an hour of trial in which the Holy Spirit will use the situation to begin turning the eyes of the church back to the kingdom of God, and not so much on the kingdoms of men.

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

This is not an hour to despair over who will be in the White House. It is an hour to look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith!

God has been in the business of turning the hearts of wicked leaders to serve His purposes for all of history. It is time the church saw things through different glasses and began to realize that prayer is what we have been given to accomplish things in this earth.

I agree that it would be nice if whoever held the White House, the Senate and the Congress were all born again, Spirit filled, Bible believing, Christ honoring people.

But is that the only hope for this nation?

Was that the only hope for early believers who were saved while under the rule of the Roman Empire? An empire where Caesar was considered to be God? Where idolatry reigned, where lust and greed, and sexual perversions, and blood sports and debauchery was common place?

Brothers and sisters we must beware that we do not become engulfed with a love for America, over our love for His kingdom. It is perfectly fine to be patriotic, I encourage such, but not at the expense of seeking His kingdom first.

A Sons of Issachar Anointing Part Three

Although the candidate of my choice was not elected and the overall election did not turn out as I had hoped I am not dismayed.

Something is taking place in our nation and there has obviously been a major spiritual battle waged in this election.

Issues hit the front page that our generation found challenging.

Issues like the possibility a vice presidential candidate that may have spoke in tongues, wanted schools to allow both creation and evolution taught side by side, and believed life begins at conception.

Faith was a little more at the center in this election and we witnessed two candidates being interviewed in a church setting about their Biblical values and how they would influence their decisions.

Like the sons of Issachar we need to understand our times if we are to know what the church should be doing. We need our vision corrected!

I have good news today. God is still on His throne and His kingdom cannot be shaken!

Although we are citizens of these United States we are first and foremost citizens of His kingdom!

We must understand this for we belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken! We have had close up vision far too long. We could only see the things right in front of us but could not see beyond.

A Sons of Issachar Anointing Part Two

It is tough times when Paul writes young Timothy and says,

1Timothy 2: 1 ¶ Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

We must realize that early Christians had it difficult as it pertained to leadership.

I know many if not most were not excited over the outcome of our recent elections and I have heard people speak as though America as we know it is coming to an end.

Early Christians had no say in who would govern them yet they were being told to make supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks for all men, for kings and all who are in authority!

Now before we say that is just too difficult an instruction lets consider the instruction that says,

Matthew 5:43 ¶ "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 "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, 45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

So lets not assume here that this instruction Paul gave Timothy to give to the church is based on ideal circumstances. Paul does not say that if you have a godly government leader pray for him. He says all men, for kings, and all in authority. That would have included Emporer Nero who was insane and killed Christians!

Now that puts this in better perspective in light of our own times.

A Sons of Issachar Anointing

In 1Chronicles 12 it lists all the tribes that came to David at Hebron to acknowledge him as king after Saul died. In that list it speaks of the sons of Issachar who understood the times and knew what Israel needed to do.

Like the sons of Issachar we too need to know what to do at a time when it appears the rest of our nation seems to be in a fog.

This brings us to the need to look at 1Timothy for a moment. But first let me give a background here.

It is believed that the first letter to Timothy was written around 63 –64 AD. Timothy had been left in Ephesus to labor in the church there. Paul had already prophesied that there would be wolves rise up even among their ranks, and it appears this came true because there were false teachers Paul named who were apparently men once noted as leaders in the church. What about Ephesus?

Ephesus was the central hub for Diana worship. It was a city filled with perversion, superstition and ungodliness. There is in Ephesus a real wrestling with the demonic powers due to rampant idolatry there, they even sacrificed children to appease the gods.

Sound familiar?

So here is young Timothy in a place where he is having to battle cultural immorality, false teachers from the churches own ranks, and demonic powers all at a time when Emperor Nero is about to unleash what will become know in history as Neroean Persecution and regarded as one of the most violent and horrible times of persecution against Christians due to the brutality of his methods.

James and Peter have already been put to death for their faith.

At the writing of 1Timothy it is believed Paul is enjoying a short reprieve from his house arrest and is in Macedonia. By the time of 2Timothy Paul is back under house arrest and will not have to wait too long to be beheaded for his faith.

The Second Greatest Gift in My Life

Twenty Two years ago I stood at the front of Trinity Chapel of Knoxville and watched with eager anticipation as the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on approached from the back in a flowing white wedding dress. What a glorious gift she is! My Sheila with deep green eyes, tremendous wit, wonderful humor and incredible innocence. She was so full of God and on fire but on this day I was all caught up in her beauty and the Lord delighted in it.

There is only one thing in all my life that tops the gift this became to me and that was when I met Christ and received the Holy Ghost.

God was so good to me Twenty Two years ago, to give me such a gift as a wife. Her beauty has not diminished, her love for the Lord has grown, her love me is stronger today and our relationship together is something we both rejoice over. We love to have alone time just the two of us, in fact we welcome it at every opportunity we get.

Having four children together, the oldest ones being 21 and the youngest 15 we didn't have much time at the beginning of our lives just the two of us. I am thankful that it has always been easy to be together and I look forward to when it is what we enjoy most of the time and find we must schedule in opportunity to be with others.

The grace of God has been rich in our relationship and for that I am extremely grateful for I can boast of no magic formula that makes us who we are together and makes loving each other such a thing of rest. I can only give credit to God for His grace and His active role in our relationship.

Of course part of that worked itself out in giving me a woman of great depth that He knew would smite my heart. So today we celebrate twenty two years and should Jesus tarry His coming we look forward to the years ahead. It's so nice to be in love with such an incredible gift.

The Clothes Make the Man Part Six

The clothes make the man.

1Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

2Chronicles 6:41 Arise Oh GOD, enjoy your new place of quiet repose, You and your mighty covenant Chest; Dress your priests up in salvation clothes, let your holy people celebrate goodness.

Christ came to change what we wear so we can be ready to enter the great wedding feast in the proper garment!

Isaiah 61:1 ¶ "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

No more filthy rags! No more arrogance! No more being known as sinner! No more the garment of depression and hopelessness!

Praise the Rock of our Salvation!

What clothes are you wearing?

Are you still trying to merit friendship?

If you have been clothed in righteousness why would you act like one outside the camp?

It is time to believe! Time to rejoice! Time for the world to see your great reveal and know that you are clothed in His salvation!

Hallelujah! Let’s give Him the praise for what He has already done!

The Clothes Make the Man Part Five

Romans 5:1 ¶ Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 ¶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

The point in all this utterance is the matter of glorious reconciliation.

I hear “worship” songs today sung by people with no understanding of this glorious doctrine of reconciliation through justification. Songs that speak of wanting to be a friend of God as though even after receiving Christ something else must be done before friendship can be guaranteed. People sing these kinds of songs with great passion in the hope that God will see their desire and somehow make it possible for them to live uprightly enough to feel like a friend. They are songs of doubt, not faith.

Brothers and sisters that is an offensive ideology to God because it is ignorant of the glorious reality of justification by faith alone.

Christ died for us while we were yet sinners! While you and I were wearing the garment of the sin nature and were called the enemies of God Jesus died for us. He did not decree a set of formulas we must follow to deserve this glorious atoning and reconciliation.

When we received Christ through faith we immediately became the friends of God, we were justified and reconciled that very moment. Better yet, Jesus is called the friend of sinners for this very reason.

Jesus didn’t do something to get us to the starting line so we could now finish what He began. His work was complete!

Glorious salvation, marvelous reconciliation, joyous justification is mine and yours through the finished work of Christ!

The Clothes Make the Man Part Four

The Message

Romans 5:12 You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we’re in—first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death. 13 That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone, but the extent of the disturbance was not clear until God spelled it out in detail to Moses. So death, this huge abyss separating us from God, dominated the landscape from Adam to Moses. 14 Even those who didn’t sin precisely as Adam did by disobeying a specific command of God still had to experience this termination of life, this separation from God. But Adam, who got us into this, also points ahead to the One who will get us out of it. 15 Yet the rescuing gift is not exactly parallel to the death-dealing sin. If one man’s sin put crowds of people at the dead-end abyss of separation from God, just think what God’s gift poured through one man, Jesus Christ, will do! 16 There’s no comparison between that death-dealing sin and this generous, life-giving gift. The verdict on that one sin was the death sentence; the verdict on the many sins that followed was this wonderful life sentence. 17 If death got the upper hand through one man’s wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?

Now this is glorious revelation that stirs deep joy and rejoicing in those who get it! This is the source of our life and joy!

Adam clothed us with the sin nature which made us enemies of God. It separated us from God. But in Christ we are clothed with the very righteousness of God so that we are no longer enemies but friends having the very life of God at work in us.

The Clothes Make the Man Part Three

This disease of sin has taken over every cell in the human body and under the scrutiny of God it is clearly seen. But men are blind to it so the law came and like an MRI it revealed what men otherwise may not see.

All the Law did was reveal what was already there. For those without the law God granted conscience and it revealed what may not have otherwise been seen. But what they reveal are just symptoms of the greater problem.

If I sneeze it reveals something is irritating my sinuses. It might be an allergic reaction, or it might be the symptom of a head cold.

If it is a head cold and I treat it like an allergy I am unlikely to effectively see it cured, and vice versa.

So, if I am to effectively get it treated I must first understand what is the cause of the symptom I have experienced. How we approach the remedy determines the effect of any cure we seek.

If I come because I am only convinced I have told a few lies then my reason for seeking help is to mask a symptom. Masking the symptom does not heal the problem at it’s source.

If I think I need to exchange my lying garment for a truth one I still have on the wrong garment. The garment of salvation is designed to replace the sin nature garment of the old man.

This is why referring to the lost as sinners is not a racial, or derogatory term meant to insult another human being. The Bible refers to the human race as sinners because the whole human race is infected and the symptoms of the root cause vary from person to person. But the Bible concludes all are dead in sin.

Romans 3:9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

What set Jesus apart from all other men is that He had no earthly father, He was virgin born and thus the Son of God. This kept the nature of sin from clothing him from birth and this is why He is referred to as the second Adam. He faced temptation and resisted it. He refused the garment of sin.

Adam clothed us with sin and death but Christ came to clothe us with righteousness and eternal life through His obedience and sacrifice.

The Clothes Make the Man Part Two

Ever heard the saying, “the clothes make the man?”

Jesus spoke a parable of a man who sneaked into the weeding feast and was mingling when he was asked how it was that he got into the wedding feast without the proper garment.
Until a man or woman is born again through faith in Christ they’re clothed in the garment of the sin nature. It is not so visible to family, friends, or coworkers even. They may say that the person in question is a really good person they give money to charities, they volunteer at the rescue mission, are really polite and kind.

But God sees what man cannot. He sees what it is we are clothed in spiritually. The clothes make the man!

Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

This means the most seemingly decent person on the planet is spiritually dressed in filthy clothing before God unless he has received a new garment from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Knowing this is of utmost importance because otherwise we think of salvation in a wrong manner. For us to understand the value of what Christ has done we must know the depth of the effect of the sin nature we inherited as human beings.

Outside of Christ we are not just prone to sin, we are sin.

The Clothes Make the Man Part One

Did you know we are all part of the ultimate statistic: Ten out of ten people die?

Death isn’t prejudice, it knows no social boundaries is not gender sensitive it simply is a fact of life.

Death of course is the result of one man’s sin at the beginning of the human race. It was through Adam that death entered humanity.

Death is the direct result of sin. Not just a sin but the very nature of sin. Often when someone thinks of sin they think in terms of an act committed that violates a commandment and although it is true that the violation of a commandment is a sin, the Scripture addresses a much more profound problem in the human race.

The problem is that sin is inherent in all human beings from birth.

In other words we all are born with the nature of sin embedded in our being. That doesn’t simply mean we are capable of choosing to sin, it means we are by nature sin.

The commandments easily prove all are guilty before God on the basis of an actual sin committed. But it is the sin nature that made us enemies of God. It is the sin nature that will be judged by God.

This is why the law was unable to save. It relied on the power of the flesh to become righteous before God but since it could do nothing to change the very nature of a man or woman it cannot forever remove the enemy status every lost man or woman has.

Count it All Joy Part Four

From the midst of his trial in Psalms 73 David discovered His God in a more intimate way. What was his trial? It appears it was economically and success related. He was perplexed at how the wicked can do anything and somehow still seem to prosper while he was trying to keep the rules and do right and not making it as well as they were.

His complaint does not turn to praise until he discovers the nearness of God to himself the futility of the ones he was once envying. He calls himself a dumb ox in the presence of God and then speaks of how the Lord took his hand while in His presence.

When we stand and complain and carry on about how bad we have it we are like a dumb ox in the presence of the Lord.

We are in the presence of the Lord the whole time even though it seems difficult and disastrous God is still with us we just aren’t holding His hand because we are too caught up in the moment.

God wants to wisely and tenderly lead us through our trials before He blesses us. The blessing is reaching the place where all we want in heaven and on earth, is Him!

We do o not want to become like those who were discouraged and decided to turn away from the Lord blaming Him for their difficulties, David says they’ll never be heard from again.

We want to be the ones who being refreshed in the very presence of God, and even though things look bad we find we want to tell the world about what He does.

When James says count it all joy, he is encouraging us to tap into a faith that is rooted in the person and work of Christ?

He is likely remembering the words Jesus spoke when He was being tried in the wilderness by Satan, Jesus said in,

Luke 4:4 But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’"

James is saying we can count it all joy because we get the chance to demonstrate to everyone around us that our confidence is in Christ our Savior and we are not in need of the trappings of this world to have joy?

If your joy and my joy is in Christ Jesus then a difficult situation cannot take that away from us. It can inconvenience us and make us uncomfortable, it can even make life difficult for us, but it cannot separate us from His love!

We need to tap into the life that we have been given in Christ!

I know these are tough times but we are not as the world is. We have hope! Count it all joy!

Count it All Joy Part Three

How is it that the Holy Spirit through James admonishes a scattered people to count it all joy? Could it be He knows something we do not?

James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Patience is mentioned. Implied is the idea that these people are standing in faith towards someone, or something and in doing so these trials they face are designed to test their faith to see if it is real or not.

When we have reconciled ourselves to His will for our lives and we have embraced the call to give glory to God with our lives the idea of this testing can bring about great joy when we understand it is the means of proving to the world His life in us is real.

If we exhibit joy only when things are running smoothly in our lives how are we any different from those without Christ, do they not do the same?

The real test comes when our faith is tried. Have we forgotten how great salvation is ours?

David was being tried and needed some encouragement in Psalms 73
1 ¶ No doubt about it! God is good—good to good people, good to the good-hearted. 2 But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. 3 I was looking the other way, looking up to the people 4 At the top, envying the wicked who have it made, 5 Who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world. 6 Pretentious with arrogance, they wear the latest fashions in violence, 7 Pampered and overfed, decked out in silk bows of silliness. 8 They jeer, using words to kill; they bully their way with words. 9 They’re full of hot air, loudmouths disturbing the peace. 10 People actually listen to them—can you believe it? Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words. 11 What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody’s tending the store. 12 The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches 13 I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me? 14 A long run of bad luck, that’s what—a slap in the face every time I walk out the door. 15 ¶ If I’d have given in and talked like this, I would have betrayed your dear children. 16 Still, when I tried to figure it out, all I got was a splitting headache… 17 Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture: 18 The slippery road you’ve put them on, with a final crash in a ditch of delusions. 19 In the blink of an eye, disaster! A blind curve in the dark, and—nightmare! 20 We wake up and rub our eyes. …Nothing. There’s nothing to them. And there never was. 21 ¶ When I was beleaguered and bitter, totally consumed by envy, 22 I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox in your very presence. 23 I’m still in your presence, but you’ve taken my hand. 24 You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me. 25 You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! 26 When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, GOD is rock-firm and faithful. 27 Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again. 28 But I’m in the very presence of God—oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord GOD my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do!

In part four we'll break down what David is saying and what God is doing. Take hope in the anchor of your soul, the rock of Salvation Jesus Christ. He has no equal and ever lives to intercede for us. He knows what you're going through.

Count it All Joy Part Two

I really looked into this James 1:1 passage because this is a troubling Scripture when I am in the midst of my pity party and feeling justified in being there. I wanted to know what it meant by using the word joy. Surely it can't mean gladness.

This is the same Greek word that is translated as joy in other passages such as:

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.

1Peter 1:8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

1John 1:4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

3John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

In our passages the word translated as joy in the Greek is: chara; meaning- cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight:— gladness, X greatly, (X be exceeding) joy(-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous). 1) joy, gladness

Knowing this now we ask again how is it that the Holy Spirit through James admonishes these scattered people to count it all joy?

Could it be He knows something we do not?

It causes me to marvel that the Holy Spirit knows the work of Christ so completely that it has made a way for me to count it all joy! Jesus finished the work He came to perform and He left nothing undone. That means His life in me prepares me for anything if I will look to Him.

Count it All Joy Part One

Have you ever run into a Scripture that just really grabs you and makes you have to wrestle while you are in the middle of things?

I mean you are in real difficult battle and there is a Scripture that hits you like a 2x4 in your head and says don’t forget me! To me that’s James 1:2

James 1:2 is just that sort of Scripture, it says: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,”

Is he saying there is such a thing as “all joy,” or is he saying all that you are going through is to be counted joy?

If we read it “all Joy” then we treat it like it is a detergent meant to be used to wipe away all our trials. But if it says that whatever trial we find ourselves in we are to count it as joy that is different.

You mean I am supposed to count all my difficulties joy?

“But you don’t know how bad my stuff is, you haven’t walked a mile in my shoes and had to deal with all I am having to deal with.”

I didn’t write this Scripture the Holy Ghost did. So let’s consider just who it is James is speaking to and how bad they have it when he says this.

James 1:1 ¶ James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

These are displaced people who have been driven from their homes! They’ve been separated from friends and family because they were scattered, now that is a pretty tough place to find yourself.

There is a reason the Holy Spirit is just in admonishing us to count it all joy when we are in the middle of trials. I hope you will return for the rest of the story as it develops on this blog through the week, you will be encouraged.

Learning to Walk With God Part Five

Becoming a father in the body of Christ involves walking with God in relationship to the degree that you are not known for panicking and jumping to wrong conclusions. You learn to see beyond the circumstances in life and you are able to see the Lord at work instead.

When you begin to exhibit this type of maturity others will look to you for advice.

2 Kings 6:21 When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "Father, shall I massacre the lot?"

When you discover others seeking your advice it will not go to your head. Neither bad circumstances nor great successes will overcome you. You will know how to respond in either situation.

Elisha did not let this success go to his head, nor did he give in to the idea of popularity. He kept a level head about him.

2 Kings6:22 "Not on your life!" said Elisha. "You did not lift a hand to capture them, and now you’re going to kill them? No sir, make a feast for them and send them back to their master."

Because of the wisdom gained from walking with God, Elisha had more than a formula to offer. His calm response to the providential working of God rendered a lasting fruit for the nation.

2Kings6:23 So the king prepared a huge feast for them. After they ate and drank their fill he dismissed them. Then they returned home to their master. The raiding bands of Syria did not bother Israel anymore.

Elisha passed the test, the servant learned a lesson and the people experienced a time of peace. How are you handling your problems?

Are you able to see your God at work, or are you too busy looking for your own solutions it blocks your ability to see God at the moment?

The most wise counsel I could ever give you is, now is the time to seek Him. Now is when you need to become more acquainted with His ways and His heart.

Looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith!

Learning to Walk With God Part Four

2Kings6:18 When the Syrians attacked, Elisha prayed to GOD, "Strike these people blind!" And GOD struck them blind, just as Elisha said. 19 Then Elisha called out to them, "Not that way! Not this city! Follow me and I’ll lead you to the man you’re looking for." And he led them into Samaria. 20 As they entered the city, Elisha prayed, "O GOD, open their eyes so they can see where they are." GOD opened their eyes. They looked around—they were trapped in Samaria!

Not only did the Lord grant Elisha a good nights rest, and peace in the midst of his circumstances, but He also delivered the enemy into Elisha's hands. God was setting a trap the whole time and it was meant not just for Elisha’s benefit, but for the benefit of the servant, and all of Israel. If Elisha had been ruled by his emotions and ran from the situation he would have never had the opportunity to see the enemy humbled.

God ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts and we will never discover them if we live by the impulses and logic of our soul alone. Our soul is always busy seeing things according to the circumstances and trying to scheme our way out of them.

Remember Elijah’s response to this type of threat? When Jezebel threatened him he fled into the wilderness and became depressed. He asked God to let him die. Elijah had powerful miracles and amazing exploits in his ministry just as Elisha later did. But Elijah didn't have the calm and quiet confidence. Elijah seems more emotional and impulsive.

Elisha asked for a double portion of what Elijah had. Some think it meant he was asking for twice as many miracles. But that is not what we find when we look at these two men. What we do find is that Elisha had calm where Elijah did not. Where Elijah became depressed and was ruled by his emotions at times, Elisha is steady and resolved. The double portion was to know how to be confident when problems arise. Many want miracles as if miracles is what will grant them the confidence they need. But you can have miracles without deepening your walk with God, just as you can have gifts without deepening your conformity to Christ. Just look at the Corinthians.

When we walk according to the Spirit we are walking in relationship and we can look to Him from whence cometh our help!

Only God knows what He is up to and only through seeking Him can we know which path is right and what step is next.

Learning to Walk With God Part Three

VS 17 Then Elisha prayed, "O GOD, open his eyes and let him see." The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha!

Elisha does not offer a formula for how to escape this problem. He offers a prayer for spiritual vision. When we seek to only solve someone’s problem through counseling we do them a disservice because we stagnate their spiritual growth. Spiritual growth is the direct result of growing in our knowledge of God, not our dependence on the ability of others to solve our problems. They simply need to see Jesus.

When you and I are in the storm we do not need a list of solutions, we need eyes to see the One who is our help in time of need. We need to be able to see what God sees!

If we can just see our help is in Christ and become personally acquainted with Him in the midst of our storm then we will know what steps are ours to take.

In a situation that appears hopeless according to logic Elisha because of his knowing his God is able to respond to the situation in a sure and confident manner. There is no panic in this man of God.