About The Author

My photo
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Beware Affluence Part Two

The more time it takes to maintain our lifestyles, the less time we have to spend for the things that matter most.

In light of all the fearful predictions being circulated we should take note of what Jesus said,

Matthew 6:31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

After these things the Gentiles seek. The Gentiles spent the bulk of their time in that culture striving for affluence. Social status was of great importance to them and having these things was the motivation of their lives.

Here we have a readjustment of priorities for any true believer in Christ. Seek first! Seek what? A better career, a higher position of authority in the corporate world, a better home, a brand name wardrobe, the best there is to offer in possessions? No!

The Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Some of the most relationally challenged and miserable people on this planet are people with lots of nice things and plenty of money.

Under the current secular mindset you would think they should be happy. But the fact is, it required a lot of sacrifices and time to get where they are.

Some of those sacrifices were relationships that should not have been put on hold until they reached the financial plateau they were striving for. Some of them were relationships that stood in the way of their goals and thus were deemed worthy of sacrifice.

This is not foreign to those who possess ambition in ministry either. Ambition will step on whoever it must to advance it’s own cause.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Beware Affluence

There is something that is rather appealing about simplicity. The first thing is how much less stressful it is.

Second is how much time it grants us to invest in the important things of life, such as the Kingdom of God and relationships.

Currently the modern church suffers due to a lack of time in the lives of the followers of Christ. People feel overloaded in life.

It seems that Christ’ children are so preoccupied with making ends meet they have no time left to do the things the Lord has told them to do.

Some of you may or may not fit into this category. However, it is likely many have and are experiencing this on some level.

Ever said to yourself, “I would like to get involved but I just don’t have the time?”

We’ve been discussing belief, and being persuaded and how that we do not do anything until we are. But what happens when you become persuaded and find that you have too much on your plate already?

What should you do to get things at a place where you can actually obey?

Well, this has to do with our priorities in life. Although it is both Biblical and important to work to provide, did Jesus ever say anything about what level or means we should seek to maintain?

Our culture of affluence has robbed us of a great deal. Right now Washington and Wall street are reeling from the effects of affluence.

Francis Schaffer spoke of the effects of affluence in his series on “How shall we then Live.”

He uncovered the parallels of Roman society during it’s peaks and fall and demonstrated how it’s own affluence led it to ruin.

Our own country is in financial crisis over this very issue today. We are there due to being in too deep in borrowed resources .

What happened? Someone wished to have more and found a way to get there.

More often than not we want more home than we can keep up with, more car than we can afford, more this, or that, without realizing that with each desire comes stewardship, payments, etc.

All this equates into time being lost as we work more hours, more jobs, and spend more time in upkeep etc. Life is being sacrificed at the altar of affluence.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

The Cantrell's


What a blessing this couple and family have been to mine and to Harvest Church.
More affectionately known to our kids as Uncle Doug and Aunt Wendy these two have been close friends since before Harvest began.
On the flip side my wife and I are affectionatley known to their children as Uncle Tim and Aunt Sheila.
No we are not blood relatives in the natural, just in the Spirit.
Doug journeyed with us from the trials involved in the birth of our first son till now.
This family has been consistently faithful and provide encouragement to many as they live a lifestyle of serving others.
Always eager to make a difference but never really aware of how much they did. Noah, Katie and Bethanie are refreshing to watch. Noah the athlete of the family, Katie the quiet one and Bethanie taking all the cuteness awards when around everyone.
Harvest has been enriched by having this family in our midst. They have served in too many areas over the years to list. The best way to describe them is how I already have, faithful!

Friday, September 26, 2008

My Faith is My Destiny Part Four

Paul approached the Centurion because Paul was convinced by God. But the Centurion was not a man who reasoned by the Spirit. He was not a man of faith and thus could not go with Paul’s advice.

Human reasoning tends to go against faith. In the case of the story we just read from Acts that is what we find.

(JB Phillips) 1Corinthians 2:14 But the unspiritual man simply cannot accept the matters which the Spirit deals with—they just don’t make sense to him, for, after all, you must be spiritual to see spiritual things.

Ironically though when someone is willing to walk in faith towards God those around us who aren’t spiritually minded will eventually get a chance to see how the Lord truly was leading us.

Remember how we left Paul and his sailing companions getting ready to leave the harbor when the soft south wind picked up?

Acts 27:14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. 15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. 18 And because we were exceedingly tempest–tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. 20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. 21 ¶ But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 "And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 "For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 "saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 "Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 "However, we must run aground on a certain island."

I love verse 21 "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss."

This is what I call a godly I told you so. Paul is not gloating here, he is reminding them about who got it right because now he wishes to encourage them and it is important that they see he hears from the Lord.

Notice now he adds to why he feels the journey will be completed. His God has a certain destiny for him that all these other men are now caught up in.

Paul must go to see Caesar and these men are in the boat with him. These men will be spared for Paul’s sake.

It is possible when we are walking with God in faith for others to get caught up in our wave of destiny.

God really is that big and that at work in us. The question is will we walk in our own understanding, or will we walk in faith with God?

Our influence grows as we begin to put our trust in the Lord and speak about where our confidence comes from.

That is what happened for Paul.

After they left harbor they ran into trouble as we read, and then later they have even more trouble and the sailors are about to abandon ship. When Paul tells the soldiers to not let anyone off the ship or else the promise does not stand the soldiers cut the ropes to the small boat and trap everyone on board.

The number of people on the ship is 276 and now all of a sudden everyone is taking their lead from Paul.

The road to influence is not knowledge itself. It is a walk with God.

Effective witnessing begins at our walk and then our talk confirms who and what we are about and as others see us yielding to God as opposed to human reasoning, they are able to eventually be impacted according to the work of the Spirit.

This is why we can do our daily lives and still carry the impact of God’s kingdom with us wherever we go.

But this will require that we seek God out of relationship and not out of duty.

Paul knew what he did because he sought the Lord out of relationship.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

The word made alive t us is what persuades us.

If we are not feasting on His word from a desire to know Him we will be persuaded by culture, entertainment, peers, etc.

Knowing Him is what positions us to be persuaded of Spiritual things that carry the weight of eternity with them.

I want to be persuaded like Paul was.

2Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

If we are persuaded of Him will we not be ashamed of Him.

I promise you all who the Spirit reveals Him to will not find us strange. They will find common ground.

2Timothy 1:5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

What are you persuaded of? Whatever it is when others are asked about you that is thing that will mark you the most.

Paul and Timothy were marked by their faith. They were persuaded men who lived out what they believed. My prayer is that we will be persuaded of Him and draw closer as a result.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

My Faith is My Destiny Part Three

In our story from Acts 27 Paul was over ruled by human reasoning.

Paul approached the Centurion because Paul was convinced by God. But the Centurion was not a man who reasoned by the Spirit. He was not a man of faith and thus could not go with Paul’s advice.

Human reasoning tends to go against faith. In the case of the story we just read from Acts that is what we find.

(JB Phillips) 1Corinthians 2:14 But the unspiritual man simply cannot accept the matters which the Spirit deals with—they just don’t make sense to him, for, after all, you must be spiritual to see spiritual things.

Ironically though when someone is willing to walk in faith towards God those around us who aren’t spiritually minded will eventually get a chance to see how the Lord truly was leading us.

Remember how we left Paul and his sailing companions getting ready to leave the harbor when the soft south wind picked up?

Acts 27:14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. 15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. 18 And because we were exceedingly tempest–tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. 20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. 21 ¶ But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 "And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 "For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 "saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 "Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 "However, we must run aground on a certain island."

I love verse 21 "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.

This is what I call a godly I told you so. Paul is not gloating here, he is reminding them about who got it right because now he wishes to encourage them and it is important that they see he hears from the Lord.

Notice now he adds to why he feels the journey will be completed. His God has a certain destiny for him that all these other men are now caught up in.

Paul must go to see Caesar and these men are in the boat with him. These men will be spared for Paul’s sake.

It is possible when we are walking with God in faith for others to get caught up in our wave of destiny.

God really is that big and that at work in us. The question is will we walk in our own understanding, or will we walk in faith with God?

Our influence grows as we begin to put our trust in the Lord and speak about where our confidence comes from.

That is what happened for Paul.

My Faith is My Destiny Part Two

In the previous post we established the first example of how human reason operates, now we move on to the remaining three examples in our story. Another attribute of human reasoning is:

2. Our circumstances. Acts 27:12a

And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in,

These guys were convinced the harbor they were in at the present was not fit to winter in. They are being pressed by their circumstances.

How many times have we launched out in a decision about something simply based on the inconvenience of the moment, the uncomfortable circumstances we find ourselves in, a situation gone bad, or even what may be perceived as everything going right?

Human reasoning wants to consider the angles and then make the decision.

3. Popular Opinion or Numbers. Acts 27:12b

the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.

The majority advised. How often have we been at a place where we heard the truth but a majority of dissenters persuaded us not to believe it.

Or, perhaps we were getting it wrong and the majority was in agreement with it?

Either way when it comes to human reasoning these things tend to be the criteria for knowing what is right and acting on it.


4. Immediate circumstances confirming the decision. Acts 27:13

When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.

When a south wind blew softly! Sometimes after we have reasoned the matter out it appears that all is going well and things are running smoothly. It’s at these times that we begin to brag about the soundness of our decision. We become convinced we did the right thing.

But remember that when we set out on human reasoning although everything looks right at the start, if all starts to go wrong where will our reason takes us then?

Anytime we rely on our own reasoning and do not act in faith we have already began a process that is wrong.

Hebrew 11:6 It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that He exists and that He cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

My Faith is My Destiny

I never get tired of laughing at football fans who although their team has no hope of winning the coveted prize they still hold up their index finger to the camera and scream we’re number one.

They are persuaded that their team is the best. What are you persuaded of?

Our destiny in the Lord is only realized through faith and those around us on our journey are impacted by the things we are persuaded of. I want us to examine how human reason persuades us if we are not walking by faith in our relationship to Christ. Human reason can ruin not only our lives but the lives of others.

Acts 27:9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives." 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 12 ¶ And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. 13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.

More Persuaded! A powerful expression because when someone is persuaded of something, that is what they act on.

Outlined for us are the reasons why the centurion was less persuaded by Paul than the other two men, and it reveals the process of human reasoning.

1. The sources from which the information comes. Vs. 11

Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.

Human reasoning naturally considers the source providing information. Paul is not a sailor he is a man of God. What could he possibly know about sailing?

But Paul’s comment isn’t based in any knowledge of sailing, it is based on His walk with God.

Human reasoning cannot go there.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Established in the Lord! Part Three

Every time we become wise in our own eyes and lean to our own understanding we destroy faith, we crush our belief in God.

Just like Israel’s sources for input had a negative effect, the source of our input matters as it pertains to our faith for obedience.

When we allow belief to be crushed by wrong input and bad sources we become unable to move forward.

Just as rebellion is the fruit of unbelief. Honorable and good accomplishments are the fruit of believing the right things. Victory is the fruit of believing God.

2Chronicles 20:20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper."

Jehoshaphat is a leader with a really strange battle plan. He is promising the people they will not have to fight. He wants to go out and face an enemy that greatly outnumbers him and he wants to send out standard bearers and singers as his front lines.

Now either Jehoshaphat hates musicians and banner carriers or he believes something. God’s people in Jerusalem had to believe and their belief was based on their input.

We need to recognize two significant promises uttered here.

1) Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established! This is personal stuff here. This is not believe in the Lord my God. Jehoshaphat makes sure they understand they belong to the Lord. Being established is a personal relationship matter with God. We need to be able to trust Him on the basis of being His.

2) Believe in His prophets and you shall prosper. The word prosper could easily be interpreted as succeed. Prophets spoke the word of the Lord. They were the mouth piece of the Lord as it were. A more accurate modern understanding and application would be to place emphasis on believing the Word of God. We still have prophets today as well but even more than that we have the tested, proven, and inspired Word of God.

The battle for Israel was not Ammon and Moab on that day. It was what they would believe.

By arresting any thoughts that opposed what Jehoshaphat said, they were able to move forward in an obedience born of faith, and thus witnessed a great grace and victory from the Lord.

Is your faith moving you forward or are you standing still in your obedience towards the truth today?

Monday, September 15, 2008

Established in the Lord! Part Two

Our hearts are moved by what we believe. This effects our emotions. This is why sometimes it takes time for something to sink in before the emotions catch up to us.

I know now that my belief effects my emotions, just as I know that when I do not believe what I hear I have no feeling about it.
Our emotions are equally effected by both belief, and unbelief.

Something else in us is greatly effected by these two forces at work in us. Our actions!

Perhaps this is best demonstrated by what we see regarding Israel in the Bible. Israel had come up out of Egypt after 400 years of cruel bondage and witnessed many miracles, even the destruction of their captors. But, that generation refused to believe God.

Deuteronomy 1:32 "Yet, for all that, you did not believe the LORD your God,

Rebellion is the poster child of unbelief.

Kids who begin to think that their parents just want to spoil their fun cease to listen to their parents advice and instruction and will even oppose their parents. What is the problem? What the child believes about mom or dad and their motives.

If you change what is being believed, an issue no longer exist. Rebellion ceases. Our obedience is directly effected by what we believe.

Deuteronomy 9:23 "Likewise, when the LORD sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, ‘Go up and possess the land which I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and you did not believe Him nor obey His voice.

Moses is cataloguing Israel’s rebellion against the Lord in this chapter. Why did they rebel? They did not believe!

They did not believe so they did not obey. But not believing is no excuse when we give an account to God. God still held them responsible for their lack of obedience, He just let’s them know that He knows why they did it.

If we had read the whole story Moses spoke we would discover that each offence he mentions involves Israel listening to and believing the wrong people. They listened to rebels when they made the calf, they listened to rebels when they followed after Korah’s rebellion, and they listened to the wrong spies about the land God wanted to give them.

They listened to everyone but God and God’s appointed leadership for them.

Established in the Lord!

Whenever we struggle to overcome something in life we usually seek to know why we cannot seem to overcome it. In such cases the tendency is to run to human reasoning for answers which usually leads to blaming others, or finding some excuse for why change cannot occur.

Sometimes the answers are so simple they allude us. I want to demonstrate from the Word of God how one simple truth reveals what it is that hinders us most of the time, if not always.

Have you ever felt emotionally numb when an occasion should have really stirred some sort of response such as remorse, or sadness, or joy and excitement in you?

Jacob loved Joseph dearly. He had many years before been told that Joseph had been killed, and shown a bloody coat of many colors as proof.

Jacob believed the story he had first been told by his other sons regarding Joseph’s death and he mourned greatly over it. Now, many years later, good news comes in. “Joseph is alive!”

One would think that Jacob would dance a jig and throw a party!
But look at how Jacob responds to such good news.

Genesis 45:26 And they told him, saying, "Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt." And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them.

What exactly does it mean that Jacobs heart stood still?

It means that Jacob felt nothing. Jacob was numb to such news. There was no response, no emotion, nothing.

Why is Jacobs response to such good news hindered? It tells us. “Because he did not believe them.”

We have no real response to things when we do not stand in faith believing the report we receive. We are unable to rejoice, or to shed tears of joy, or tears of sadness when we do not believe.

Our hearts are moved by what we believe. This effects our emotions. This is why sometimes it takes time for something to sink in before the emotions catch up to us.

I know now that my belief effects my emotions, just as I know that when I do not believe what I hear I have no feeling about it.
Our emotions are equally effected by both belief, and unbelief.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

The Bailey Family

This great family started with us as Matt Bailey and Kelly Reese. The two met and married and have become a wonderful family over the years.
Matt & Kelly serve our youth by leading our Living Stones Teens group, and I might add doing a great job. We are so blessed to have them with us.
On September 9th they added an addition to their family. Little Hannah Grace was born weighing in at 7lbs and 14oz.
The Bailey's are loved at Harvest Church. Matt, Kelly, Lydia, David and now Hannah Grace are appreciated for all that bring to us, but even more so for who they.
There is a such a grace on their lives. Hannah Grace literally means grace, grace.
I don't have time to go into the journey leading up to this gift, but I will tell of how a Scottish Prophet named Joe Ewen came and laid hands on Kelly's stomach and declared grace grace not knowing what this child would be named. God knows the little ones even in the womb by name! How great is our God!?
This family's existence is a testimony of His goodness and grace and we are grateful and proud to have them at Harvest Church.
Congratulations on your new addition Bailey's may she bring abundant joy into your home, and may she live up to her name throughout her life. God's grace be with you.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

What Does My Way Of Life Say About My Faith Part Three

Matthew 21:31b Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 "For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

These men were not looking for this! They thought this was a safe question unlike the first one asked.

They probably thought that having the right answer would prove they knew their stuff, and would disarm Jesus.

Jesus confronts these leaders on the basis of obedience to the truth. He just destroyed their religiously correct views by making it a matter of what one does, not just what one says.

John came to you in the way of righteousness...

What does that mean? John came to you with a walk to match the talk and he spoke the truth in step with Scripture to you.

These leaders heard a righteous man but did not act on what they heard. More than that, lives had been changed by the truth John had spoken and they were witnesses to this, and still would not believe.

Why did they not act on it? They did not believe.

Bottom line is simply, God is not moved by good words He is moved by obedience to His word.

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

If we hear truth and do not walk in it we become deceived.

Matthew 12:35 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Beware a talk without the walk. Idle words are those things spoken but not acted on.

It is what we do with our lives that tells the truth about who we are, and what we really believe. God is all about obedient faith.

Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

If we say Jesus is Lord without acting on His word to us, how are we any different than these leaders Jesus rebuked? We are still in unbelief and unable to produce the fruit of repentance.

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Luke 6:46 "But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?

Doing the truth is not optional to the true believer.

If you are like the first son who said no I will not go, you can also be like the first son and choose to repent and go after all.

It’s not too late to obey.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

What Does My Way Of Life Say About My Faith Part Two

Matthew 21:25 "The baptism of John––where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 "But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

If they lived what they talked they could have answered instantly without hesitation. But they live for popularity. Beware when reasoning must take place before answering a simple question. These men were weighing the outcome. They knew the right answer but rather than give it and become accountable they would rather avoid it to try to save face. These men knew what was at stake.

You cannot run from the truth forever. Beware your sin shall find you out. Being religiously correct will betray a person in time. God knows how to get at the heart of any person no matter how much they try to hide what they really believe.

Matthew 21:28"But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 29 "He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 "Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31a "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first."

Answering a question about John the Baptist is too risky for these popularity loving leaders. So Jesus made it easier for them.

No one can catch us in a lie better than God. That is exactly what happens here. These leaders are living a lie. They are not walking in faith and obedience.

They thought they dodged the very pointed first question, and likely feel they hit this second one out of the park. This second question seems safe to answer for them, but it reveals that they have knowledge and just do not wish to act on it themselves.

Find out in our next post how Jesus responds to their lack of obedience to the truth.

Monday, September 8, 2008

What Does My Way Of Life Say About My Faith

As Americans we understand the term politically correct. It is when an idea whether wrong or right has the masses behind it and thus it becomes popular to speak about it to gain their support.

It comes from the desire to be popular, to appeal to the masses. Having a record of acting on it isn’t as important as speaking about it. But this is not isolated to only politically driven issues.

It is possible to fall into being religiously correct. A person can say the right things, like things heard in church, and have no actions to prove they truly believe what they are saying.

Matthew 21:23 ¶ Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?"

Unlike the religiously correct chief priests and elders Jesus is a doer of the word. Doers of the word create problems for the religiously correct.

Obedient people intimidate those who live in theory. These big talking leaders aren’t happy with the obedient teacher in their territory. So they decide to confront him.

"By what authority, are you doing these things?" You should underline doing these things in your Bible. They acknowledge Jesus is walking the talk.

I love the wisdom in how Jesus handled this.

Matthew 21:24 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:

Jesus sets up a situation that will reveal the hearts of these leaders who are challenging His teaching and work. His question will is meant to respectfully expose their religiously correct ways and disarm their opposition to Him.

In our next post we will see how He handles their deception.

Friday, September 5, 2008

The Buyck's


Let me introduce you to a great couple who have been part of Harvest for six years. Tim & Delana Buyck! Their family came to us from Martinsville, Virginia through a series of circumstances that just seemed to be orchestrated by God.
We have enjoyed getting to know them over the years and have been in their home having gatherings and simple fellowship. They are truly fun to be around and easy to be with.
Their hospitality has touched many and there are those who have been touched by this couple behind the scenes. They have never sought out the applause of others in serving, they just enjoy being a blessing.
I am sad to announce that they will be leaving us soon for Charleston SC as Tim has a new job awaiting him there. This couple will be sorely missed by our fellowship. They are greatly loved by all.
We give thanks to the Father for the time He allowed us together and we pray for their continued blessing in life.
Tim & Delana we love you!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Band Aids for Gaping Wounds Part Five

Today you are unlikely to hear popular preachers use the word sin and make any attempt to call anyone to repentance from sin into eternal life in Christ Jesus. They will cry and speak of wanting to improve peoples lives or make them better, but never mention sin.

If we think heart disease or cancer or aids is bad we have not even began to understand the curse and horror of sin. Sin is what will be judged by God on the great day of His wrath.

Eternal life and eternal damnation are real! Hell and Heaven are not just fairy tale stories that are designed to stir up fear or pleasant thoughts.

The most revered message ever preached in American history was the one delivered by Jonathan Edwards in early American history. What was his title?

Sinners in the hands of an angry God. There’s a book title for you.

This man was so moved by the plight of sinners should they die in their sin without Christ that he would rather risk unpopularity than have their blood on his hands.

So powerful was this pure gospel message that it is recorded that people screamed out as they experienced visions of hell and even claimed to feel the flames of hell reaching up to snatch them.

What was the fruit? Hundreds repented with the fruits of a changed life to follow.

Habits and issues are nothing to repent of. They may or may not be bad for you, and have little or nothing to do with your separation from God.

It is our sin that has separated us and every man that has yet to put his faith in Christ for deliverance from sin is under the very curse of sin from birth.

We are sinners by nature, from birth. There are no alternative cures for this condition, there are no natural remedies for the spiritual death that resides in all mankind apart from Christ.

People all around us are under the very wrath of God. You may walk by someone in the mall this week who is passing you with the invisible cloud of God’s wrath on their shoulders.

Jesus was aware of this, How aware are we?

John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Hell rejoices over the numbing effect of business and ignorance so rampant in churches today.

Every time a popular preacher stands and speaks of anything but the curse of sin and the remedy of Christ it is the demons of hell who rejoice, not the angels of heaven.

Modern Christianity thinks it takes hundreds at an altar call for ambiguity before heaven can rejoice, but the Scripture still teaches us that the angels of heaven rejoice over one sinner who repents and turns to Jesus Christ!

Why?

They know for certain that one sinner could not have come unless the Father was at work and they ever live to glorify the work of the Father and of Christ!

Hope for a better life has never been the message of the gospel. Hope for a better end in eternity has. Jesus invites sinners to come to Him with no guarantee that doing so will iron out all the wrinkles of difficulty and hardship in this life.

He does promise though to lift the wrath of God from them, to give them eternal life, and to release them from the just punishment of hell and grant them that they might forever be with the Father in heaven when this life is over.

All are under sin, the Father does the drawing, the truth does the seeding, the Spirit waters and Christ gives life. Have you come to Him for life?

Have your sins been blotted out?

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Band Aids for Gaping Wounds Part Four

We live in a society filled with an avoidance gospel. A gospel that is not the good news as a result of learning that my sin is sending me into Hell, and that Jesus took on my sin debt so that the wrath of God could be removed from my life.

The false prophets of our day think that making people feel good, or better about themselves is what improves their lives, as if that is what the gospel is about.

The gospel is about what it cost God to cure the disease of sin in man.

Our generations more popular preachers are literally putting band aids on life threatening, gaping wounds, and thinking they are doing people some sort of good!

Peace, peace they say! Sin is too harsh a word, they say. It’s not mine to judge they cry. I just want to help people feel better about themselves they proclaim.

Well we can give a cancer victim more morphine to ease their momentary pain, but it will not rid them of the very disease that is taking their life away.

Listen to what Jesus says, (Message)
Matthew 7:13 "Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. 14 The way to life—to God!—is
vigorous and requires total attention.
15"Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. 16 Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.

What would you think about a doctor, who had a patient dying with cancer and only days to live, and he smiled and told that patient, “there is a small issue in your body that is hindering your better health now. I know it is just a small issue, but wouldn’t you like to have your better health now?”

Peace, peace! Band aids for life threatening gashes! Where is the awareness of death, of life, of eternity?

When was the last time you heard a message from a TV preacher that even mentioned hell in it?
Jesus thought this subject was so important that it was one of his most mentioned truths.

Eternal life and eternal damnation are important issues needing to be addressed in our time just as they were in any other.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Band Aids for Gaping Wounds Part Three

We hear the heralded preachers on TV address habits, hindrances and issues, but seldom ever do they address sin. They call people to respond to messages of better living, but fail to address mans true need which is deliverance from sin. They are like those in Jeremiahs day.

Jeremiah 6:13 "Everyone’s after the dishonest dollar, little people and big people alike. Prophets and priests and everyone in between twist words and doctor truth. 14 My people are broken—shattered!—and they put on band-aids, Saying, ‘It’s not so bad. You’ll be just fine.’ But things are not ‘just fine’!

Israel had been in rebellion against God for years. The nation was sinning against God. They had left off those things which mattered to God, and had adopted their own sense of right and wrong. Meanwhile, there were prophets and priests who were telling the people how much God loved them and was going to bless them. Peace, peace they were crying.

Jeremiah was trying to warn the nation that unless they repented judgment would come upon them. Jeremiah was letting them know the true state of their condition. Jeremiah was attempting to get them to see their great need for repentance and faith in God.

The false men, however, were contradicting Jeremiah. They likely discredited him by labeling him a cynical, unloving and judgmental man. But Jeremiah was willing to address the real issue that was stealing the soul of Israel and sending the nation into captivity.

The people wanted momentary peace at any price. They wanted the feel good messages of the false prophets of their day, and the false prophets wanted popularity over truth. It was a perfect mix for deception. They did not know they were diseased with sin.

Isn’t it odd that many of the diseases that take the lives of so many today can go undetected in the body? Heart disease is known as the “silent killer.”

I’ve known of people who went most of their lives not knowing a cancer was developing in their body until one day all of a sudden a sharp pain, or regular doctors visit revealed the truth.
Sometimes there a small warning signs, but we largely ignore them because we do not want to hear what we think is bad news.

We want Peace, peace! But there is no true peace. Just deeply buried reality beneath the shifting sands of ignorance and flattery.

Until I know the disease is there how do I do know to deal with it? How do I know to call on the Lord for His help against it?

Monday, September 1, 2008

Band Aids for Gaping Wounds Part Two

Luke 6:20 ¶ Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. 25 Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Because we have the Spirit we know that Jesus is dealing with those who live for the now. Those who want to have heaven on earth in a sense. We don’t find Jesus making elaborate attempts to clarify His communications with the people. He let what He said stand just as He said it. If they were able to receive it then the Holy Spirit was at work in them making them able. If they were not able, then they were without the Spirits revelation. Jesus did not dumb it down, or repackage it for them in an effort to reach more of them.

The fact is there are people who know they need something and those who think they have it already.

Jesus was not conducting a felt needs ministry when he was stating these things. He was teaching us that those who have not discovered their true needs will not find His offer of any value. The Holy Spirit makes us aware of the truth and reveals to us Christ.

To rightly speak the word takes faith on our part. It takes faith to believe that the word rightly spoken and kept true is all the Father needs to work in the heart of someone He is drawing to Christ.

John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Can anyone come to Jesus without the Father drawing him?

A change of tactics, or twisting of words will not produce the fruit of salvation. The Holy Spirit works through the truth of God’s word in the heart. Either the Father is working in them, or He is not. This frees us to simply speak the truth in love and let God do the work of bringing in those who are meant to come in.