We never came with words of flattery, nor did we seek glory from people
(1 Thess. 2:5,6a)
Dr James MacDonald recently tweeted this;
"I love my church because they can listen to a hard message, receive it ,and come back for more". Encouraged!
Truth- God's people can handle it. As a matter of fact, we want nothing less than the truth.
Now let's play the role of Pilate for a second and ask ourselves, what is truth? (John 18:38)
Well, Truth is absolute and authentic. Truth is unchanging. Truth is morally good. Truth is liberating.
As Christians, we anchor our feet in Truth and stand confidently upon it.
In John 14:6 Jesus claimed to be the Truth and the Life.
Jesus IS Truth we can trust.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy spoke truth into peoples lives, and never concerned themselves with the havoc it could have created to them personally. They chose not to flatter people with meaningless words in order to gain their approval, because they're intentions were never to seek popularity or self-promotion.
They also understood that Gods Word did not need their help in any way in order to have its perfect work carried out into the lives of those to whom it was delivered.
They knew the Truth, and their job duty was to give it out boldly and practically, and then leave the rest to God.
What a shame it is today to hear people profess Christ but fail to speak the truth about Him.
True Christians speak truth even if it wounds the heart, because true Christians receive the implanted word and bear fruit because of it.
A liar on the other hand speaks words to pacify the sinning soul. A liar preaches his or her agenda using the name of Christ for their own personal gain.
Rejoice today that we have great biblical examples like Paul, Silas and Timothy. These men not only spoke the truth, but believed it so much so that they exemplified it in their daily lives to the point of becoming willing participants of self-sacrifice.
Do you have the Truth?
Monday, April 26, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Are you a man pleaser?
So we speak not to please men, but to God who test our hearts. 1 Thess 2:4
One of the greatest temptations that often comes upon God’s servants is the desire for position.. This self- centered ambition is always problematic for newbie’s, and can even find it’s way among the mature.
The root of position is covetousness.
When we focus our attention upon others, we always begin to want what they have, and, want to be treated the same way. We feel that we deserve the attention, and so begins the long arduious journey of self- promotion.
Our idea’s, our plans, our vision, our goals, our gifts, our whatever, becomes our agenda.
However, our text reveals to us that we do not see a desire for position in the lives of these faithful stewards of God.
Thankfully, they willfully choose not to be men pleasers, and, the only position Paul & co wanted was to be right with God.
They took the high road, that lead to the low road. The low road never brings about popularity, and if it does, it is not the kind that self is ever interested in.
Jeremiah 17:5 says that pleasing men will bring about a curse, and it will never become what you envision it to be.. Men are sinners and men will always fail you, and the sad truth is that, if you are trying to please man, you are living a duplicitous life.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look wholly at his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
By this you will never be disappointed.
One of the greatest temptations that often comes upon God’s servants is the desire for position.. This self- centered ambition is always problematic for newbie’s, and can even find it’s way among the mature.
The root of position is covetousness.
When we focus our attention upon others, we always begin to want what they have, and, want to be treated the same way. We feel that we deserve the attention, and so begins the long arduious journey of self- promotion.
Our idea’s, our plans, our vision, our goals, our gifts, our whatever, becomes our agenda.
However, our text reveals to us that we do not see a desire for position in the lives of these faithful stewards of God.
Thankfully, they willfully choose not to be men pleasers, and, the only position Paul & co wanted was to be right with God.
They took the high road, that lead to the low road. The low road never brings about popularity, and if it does, it is not the kind that self is ever interested in.
Jeremiah 17:5 says that pleasing men will bring about a curse, and it will never become what you envision it to be.. Men are sinners and men will always fail you, and the sad truth is that, if you are trying to please man, you are living a duplicitous life.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look wholly at his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
By this you will never be disappointed.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
You know what kind of men we proved to be among you.. 1 Thess 1:5
The life of Paul, Silas and Timothy exemplified the type of men we are to follow, if we are going to make any positive impact in the Body of Christ. It is true that we have many men and woman today God is using mightily in order to bring about great advancements in kingdom work. Find them, see what makes them tick, and follow them.
In Thesssalonica, Christians everywhere were compelled to preach the gospel because these three guys had lives sold out for Jesus Christ. The result was that this infection spread so fast it nearly became impenetrable. The world could stop this Jesus who was the Christ, nor even His servants for that matter.
We understand that it is the Holy Spirit's job alone to energize the fruit production in the life of a believer, but God uses the faithful witness of His chosen vessels to help aid in His divine purpose in the lives of fellow regenerates.
Everyone influences someone.The question you need to ask yourself is, whom am I influencing, and what are they doing because of my influence?
This is a good standard for measuring your own productivity.
In Thesssalonica, Christians everywhere were compelled to preach the gospel because these three guys had lives sold out for Jesus Christ. The result was that this infection spread so fast it nearly became impenetrable. The world could stop this Jesus who was the Christ, nor even His servants for that matter.
We understand that it is the Holy Spirit's job alone to energize the fruit production in the life of a believer, but God uses the faithful witness of His chosen vessels to help aid in His divine purpose in the lives of fellow regenerates.
Everyone influences someone.The question you need to ask yourself is, whom am I influencing, and what are they doing because of my influence?
This is a good standard for measuring your own productivity.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Are your tears genuine?
For you know that afterwards when he (Esau) desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought it with tears.
Contrition is viewed by some as weakness. They say that God wants a manly man. I believe that contrition is formed in a man or woman whom God has genuinely broken, where in their desperation, tears of gratitude and adoration flow.
Esau had tears, but they were not produced because of genuine repentance, but rather they came as he understood the consequences of his rebellious heart. He could have cared less about his birthright, and so when his blessing had been taken away, he cried.
Our satisfaction is being in Christ. He is our blessing. There is no position or person or place that can take the place of intimacy with Jesus. Everything that comes after this are just added graces.
If my son inherits a car from me, he does so on account that he is my son, and I desire to bless him. If he should decide that he no longer wants to be my son, and rejects me a his father, then I take a way his last name and the car goes with it. It does not matter to me that he cries and is angry because he no longer gets the car. I am more hurt that he does not want to be my son any longer
I am thankful however, that once a son to the Father, always a son. Once He regenerates the darkness of your rebellious heart and seals you with His Holy Spirit, we are sure to inherit our blessing, and I am confident, though we walk away in sin, Father will bring us back to him. Esau was just not elected.
The next time you shed tears before God, make sure they are genuine.
Contrition is viewed by some as weakness. They say that God wants a manly man. I believe that contrition is formed in a man or woman whom God has genuinely broken, where in their desperation, tears of gratitude and adoration flow.
Esau had tears, but they were not produced because of genuine repentance, but rather they came as he understood the consequences of his rebellious heart. He could have cared less about his birthright, and so when his blessing had been taken away, he cried.
Our satisfaction is being in Christ. He is our blessing. There is no position or person or place that can take the place of intimacy with Jesus. Everything that comes after this are just added graces.
If my son inherits a car from me, he does so on account that he is my son, and I desire to bless him. If he should decide that he no longer wants to be my son, and rejects me a his father, then I take a way his last name and the car goes with it. It does not matter to me that he cries and is angry because he no longer gets the car. I am more hurt that he does not want to be my son any longer
I am thankful however, that once a son to the Father, always a son. Once He regenerates the darkness of your rebellious heart and seals you with His Holy Spirit, we are sure to inherit our blessing, and I am confident, though we walk away in sin, Father will bring us back to him. Esau was just not elected.
The next time you shed tears before God, make sure they are genuine.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Draw near to God and be satisfied
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
In order to seek the Lord we must possess faith. The greatest problem among so many Saints today is our laziness. As Christians, God equips us with enough faith to draw near to Him, but we fail to appropriate it.
The good news is that when we finally figure out that prayer is the first most important element of fellowship with the Father, we find a super-natural ability given, and a deeper, more intimate relationship with God occurs.
This is our reward.. It is not necessarily our requests and petitions answered, or that the position we have been patiently waiting for finally materializes.
Our reward is intimacy with the Father.
When this dynamic happens, there is no other place you would rather be, and there is nothing more satisfying. Everything else that may come after this, is just added grace.
Draw near to God today and be satisfied.
In order to seek the Lord we must possess faith. The greatest problem among so many Saints today is our laziness. As Christians, God equips us with enough faith to draw near to Him, but we fail to appropriate it.
The good news is that when we finally figure out that prayer is the first most important element of fellowship with the Father, we find a super-natural ability given, and a deeper, more intimate relationship with God occurs.
This is our reward.. It is not necessarily our requests and petitions answered, or that the position we have been patiently waiting for finally materializes.
Our reward is intimacy with the Father.
When this dynamic happens, there is no other place you would rather be, and there is nothing more satisfying. Everything else that may come after this, is just added grace.
Draw near to God today and be satisfied.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Jesus is our promise ( Hebrews 10:36)
You have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. ( Hebrews 10:36)
Trials, suffering, brokenness and weakness are all things that pertain to the will of God, however, it is not as if God’s will is to inflict pain on His children, as it may seem sometimes, for enjoyment. Rather, His will is quit the contrary.
When He established the garden, it was a place for man to have full reign and dominion. Man’s will had never been free(er) than in the garden,where freedom & un abated love and sex were climaxed at the pinnacle of expressional emotion. (for whatever that was worth!) The Garden was a place where fellowship with God was a routine meeting face to face. It was literally paradise on earth, until the conception of sin was introduced. After the inception took place, disruption occurred which broke communion with God, which of course necessitated the law, only to be infinitely replaced by Christ’s substitution on the cross.
Trails, pain and weakness have become tools God uses to engage in our lives as part of the process to help aid us back to a spiritual garden(so to speak) that was intended for us to have in the first place. What He had sown in perfection, we have gown in corruption.. Hence, the weeding process becomes the sanctifying work of regeneration..
Today we only see dimly as in a mirror, and the IMAGE of what or who we see is Jesus Himself. He is the image of the invisible God, and He becomes the promise, because Jesus is Himself, eternal life.
Now you may say we have eternal life now, and indeed we do, because we have Him who dwells in us, thanks to the Ascension and Pentecost. But even this is only a glimpse of what is to come.
Jesus told the Pharisee’s that the disciples did not fast because the Bridegroom was with them, but soon when the bridegroom would be taken from them, then they would have need to fast and pray.
This illustration clearly indicates that presently though comforted and guided by the Holy Ghost, it His Ghost that we have but not his face to face fellowship, that the disciples were privy too. It becomes clearer to see then that soon we will have the promise of His face to face fellowship, and not just a glimpse.
Soon, we will see God as He is, and we will enjoy a restored fellowship with Him like the fellowship exemplified way back in the garden with God and man.
Heaven is our reward, and Jesus is the substance of heaven which ultimately makes Jesus the promise.
As Christians, this alone should be enough incentive to endure all things He places in our lives, in order to obtain our inheritance, the promise of our salvation, the One who holds the keys to death& Hades.
Trials, suffering, brokenness and weakness are all things that pertain to the will of God, however, it is not as if God’s will is to inflict pain on His children, as it may seem sometimes, for enjoyment. Rather, His will is quit the contrary.
When He established the garden, it was a place for man to have full reign and dominion. Man’s will had never been free(er) than in the garden,where freedom & un abated love and sex were climaxed at the pinnacle of expressional emotion. (for whatever that was worth!) The Garden was a place where fellowship with God was a routine meeting face to face. It was literally paradise on earth, until the conception of sin was introduced. After the inception took place, disruption occurred which broke communion with God, which of course necessitated the law, only to be infinitely replaced by Christ’s substitution on the cross.
Trails, pain and weakness have become tools God uses to engage in our lives as part of the process to help aid us back to a spiritual garden(so to speak) that was intended for us to have in the first place. What He had sown in perfection, we have gown in corruption.. Hence, the weeding process becomes the sanctifying work of regeneration..
Today we only see dimly as in a mirror, and the IMAGE of what or who we see is Jesus Himself. He is the image of the invisible God, and He becomes the promise, because Jesus is Himself, eternal life.
Now you may say we have eternal life now, and indeed we do, because we have Him who dwells in us, thanks to the Ascension and Pentecost. But even this is only a glimpse of what is to come.
Jesus told the Pharisee’s that the disciples did not fast because the Bridegroom was with them, but soon when the bridegroom would be taken from them, then they would have need to fast and pray.
This illustration clearly indicates that presently though comforted and guided by the Holy Ghost, it His Ghost that we have but not his face to face fellowship, that the disciples were privy too. It becomes clearer to see then that soon we will have the promise of His face to face fellowship, and not just a glimpse.
Soon, we will see God as He is, and we will enjoy a restored fellowship with Him like the fellowship exemplified way back in the garden with God and man.
Heaven is our reward, and Jesus is the substance of heaven which ultimately makes Jesus the promise.
As Christians, this alone should be enough incentive to endure all things He places in our lives, in order to obtain our inheritance, the promise of our salvation, the One who holds the keys to death& Hades.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Have you entered in? (Hebrews 9:3)
Behind the second curtain was the second section called the most Holy of Holies (Hebrews 9:3)
The Author of Hebrews here describes to us the O.T tabernacle. This was the most holy place where the presence of God dwelt before Jesus. It was divided into two sections, the first being a place where the priest would enter in to perform their rituals and duties for the sins of the people. It had all of the furnishing; a lamp -stand, a table; and showbread of Presence.
The second section behind the curtain or veil, was the most Holy of Holies where the actual presence of God dwelt. If the high priests had any un- confessed or uncovered sins, they would instantly become dead guys, and had to be pulled out by a rope.
Jesus is our High Priest, and upon His sacrificial death on the cross, the curtain was ripped from top to bottom, providing us a direct passage to the most Holy of Holies without any fear of dying and needing to be lassoed like a running scared calf in the eyes of a cowboy.
Many Christians today however, only enter into the first section of the tabernacle, so to speak. They attend church with the lamp stand present, the table (alter) available, and the bread ready to be consummated, but they go no further then simple observation. Perhaps there is a deep intuitive concern of fear they may die? But there is nothing wrong with this, because after all, death is synonymous with Christianity.
But to think, that just by entering into the tabernacle and recognizing Jesus as the light and bread of life, thereby providing also an alter for self sacrifice , is good enough for an intimate relationship with God, it is not.
We must enter in through the torn veil and actually fellowship with God, with the provision Jesus had made for us. It starts in prayer with confession and adoration. This is where true transformation occurs, and where you can be excited to enter in to a deep and intimate quiet fellowship with God, a private session with the Creator. This secret place is where we find strength,enjoyment, encouragement, and direction.
I will never forget after my session as guest speaker at a convention one year, sitting and listening to one pastor speak about an old time preacher who once said this; 'prayer is like having an audience with God'!
Seek to labor in prayer today, and you just may find yourself entering into the most Holy of Holies. Now as you worship, thank Jesus for providing a way for you to enter in boldly, confess your sins, and make your requests be made known to God, and then...enjoy!
The Author of Hebrews here describes to us the O.T tabernacle. This was the most holy place where the presence of God dwelt before Jesus. It was divided into two sections, the first being a place where the priest would enter in to perform their rituals and duties for the sins of the people. It had all of the furnishing; a lamp -stand, a table; and showbread of Presence.
The second section behind the curtain or veil, was the most Holy of Holies where the actual presence of God dwelt. If the high priests had any un- confessed or uncovered sins, they would instantly become dead guys, and had to be pulled out by a rope.
Jesus is our High Priest, and upon His sacrificial death on the cross, the curtain was ripped from top to bottom, providing us a direct passage to the most Holy of Holies without any fear of dying and needing to be lassoed like a running scared calf in the eyes of a cowboy.
Many Christians today however, only enter into the first section of the tabernacle, so to speak. They attend church with the lamp stand present, the table (alter) available, and the bread ready to be consummated, but they go no further then simple observation. Perhaps there is a deep intuitive concern of fear they may die? But there is nothing wrong with this, because after all, death is synonymous with Christianity.
But to think, that just by entering into the tabernacle and recognizing Jesus as the light and bread of life, thereby providing also an alter for self sacrifice , is good enough for an intimate relationship with God, it is not.
We must enter in through the torn veil and actually fellowship with God, with the provision Jesus had made for us. It starts in prayer with confession and adoration. This is where true transformation occurs, and where you can be excited to enter in to a deep and intimate quiet fellowship with God, a private session with the Creator. This secret place is where we find strength,enjoyment, encouragement, and direction.
I will never forget after my session as guest speaker at a convention one year, sitting and listening to one pastor speak about an old time preacher who once said this; 'prayer is like having an audience with God'!
Seek to labor in prayer today, and you just may find yourself entering into the most Holy of Holies. Now as you worship, thank Jesus for providing a way for you to enter in boldly, confess your sins, and make your requests be made known to God, and then...enjoy!
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