Luke 18:18-22 "Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’ ” The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young. When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
There are many people, like the rich man in this story. They have one thing they are holding on to that is keeping them from eternal life. One thing that they are unwilling to surrender to Jesus and that one thing is going to take them to hell. What about you, what is your one thing? You know you need Jesus, you know that he is the only way to heaven, you know that how you are living is destroying your life but you keep holding on to that one thing. The enemy has lied to you and told you that you can not live without that one thing. he has told you that you can not quit and there is no hope for you.
But here is the Good News, all you have to do is be willing to let Go and God will take it from you. Surrender is the key to eternal life, when you surrender everything to God, he will take away the sin and fill you with his grace and love. He will empower you by his spirit to live a victorious life full of his glory. But you must be willing to let go of that one thing and surrender everything to him. When you open your hand to let go, you also open your heart and let Jesus in. Once he comes in everything changes and you will find yourself infused with life from above.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
The Key to Life
Deuteronomy 30:20 "You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life"
The key to life is loving God and fruit of love is obedience. Without obedience there is no love. When a husband and wife obey their wedding vows, their obedience is the fruit of their love. When they disobey their wedding vows, it shows a lack of love. Love is the fuel that produces obedience in our lives.
Obedience birthed out of love brings joy and increases intimacy. Obedience birthed out of fear brings resentment and causes division. That is why God said, the key to life is loving God. If you love God you will obey him and it will produce joy and deepen the intimacy of your relationship with God. If you obey God because you fear him, you will resent God and every act of obedience will drive a wedge between you and The Lord.
According to Proverbs 8:13 the fear of The Lord causes you to hate what God hates and according to John 14:15 the love of God causes you to obey God. We run from sin because we fear God and we obey God because we love him. This is the key to life.
The key to life is loving God and fruit of love is obedience. Without obedience there is no love. When a husband and wife obey their wedding vows, their obedience is the fruit of their love. When they disobey their wedding vows, it shows a lack of love. Love is the fuel that produces obedience in our lives.
Obedience birthed out of love brings joy and increases intimacy. Obedience birthed out of fear brings resentment and causes division. That is why God said, the key to life is loving God. If you love God you will obey him and it will produce joy and deepen the intimacy of your relationship with God. If you obey God because you fear him, you will resent God and every act of obedience will drive a wedge between you and The Lord.
According to Proverbs 8:13 the fear of The Lord causes you to hate what God hates and according to John 14:15 the love of God causes you to obey God. We run from sin because we fear God and we obey God because we love him. This is the key to life.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Who's Driving?
Leviticus 20:22-23 “You must keep all my decrees and regulations by putting them into practice; otherwise the land to which I am bringing you as your new home will vomit you out. 23 Do not live according to the customs of the people I am driving out before you. It is because they do these shameful things that I detest them"
Sin drives us out of the land of promise and allows others to possess what was once ours. God told the children of Israel that the reason he was driving out the inhabitants of the land was because of the detestable things they were doing. Then he warns them to obey his decrees/regulations and not to live according to the customs of those being driven out of the land, because if they do the land will vomit them out.
Righteous living stabilizes our lives and our future, but sinful living causes us to be displaced and constantly moving. There is a very distinct difference between being on a journey to a desired destination and being a restless wanderer never knowing what tomorrow may bring. The difference is what moves you, those on a journey of faith are moved by the Spirit of God and a desire to do his will. Wanderer's on the other hand are moved by circumstance, situations and the repercussions of their sin. The Hittites and the other inhabitants of the land were moved because of their sin, the Israelites were being moved by the will of God. How about you? What moves you, what causes you to change directions and make life changing decisions? Is it the pressure of sin and wrong choices or is it the Spirit of God and his will for your life?
Sin drives us out of the land of promise and allows others to possess what was once ours. God told the children of Israel that the reason he was driving out the inhabitants of the land was because of the detestable things they were doing. Then he warns them to obey his decrees/regulations and not to live according to the customs of those being driven out of the land, because if they do the land will vomit them out.
Righteous living stabilizes our lives and our future, but sinful living causes us to be displaced and constantly moving. There is a very distinct difference between being on a journey to a desired destination and being a restless wanderer never knowing what tomorrow may bring. The difference is what moves you, those on a journey of faith are moved by the Spirit of God and a desire to do his will. Wanderer's on the other hand are moved by circumstance, situations and the repercussions of their sin. The Hittites and the other inhabitants of the land were moved because of their sin, the Israelites were being moved by the will of God. How about you? What moves you, what causes you to change directions and make life changing decisions? Is it the pressure of sin and wrong choices or is it the Spirit of God and his will for your life?
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Never Alone
2 Timothy 4:16-17 "The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death"
I was reminded this morning, that on Valentines Day there are many people who will be alone or at least feel alone. Unfortunately holidays like Valentines has an amazing way of making people that are single, not in a relationship or those who are unable to be with their spouse, to feel like they are all alone and unloved. But nothing could be further from the truth! If you are a Christian then you are never alone, Paul in the scripture above talks about going before a judge, being tried for his faith and everyone abandoned him, no one came with him but he says "The Lord stood with me and gave me strength."
This is my prayer today for every person who feels alone. I pray that your eyes would be opened to The Lord Who Stands With You and will never leave you and that he will give you strength to do his will. I bind the spirit of loneliness and break its power from off your life and I release his peace and presence to fill your life. I also pray that God would bring godly people into your life and that he would give you the desires of your heart as you live a life that pleases him. In Jesus Name, Amen.
I was reminded this morning, that on Valentines Day there are many people who will be alone or at least feel alone. Unfortunately holidays like Valentines has an amazing way of making people that are single, not in a relationship or those who are unable to be with their spouse, to feel like they are all alone and unloved. But nothing could be further from the truth! If you are a Christian then you are never alone, Paul in the scripture above talks about going before a judge, being tried for his faith and everyone abandoned him, no one came with him but he says "The Lord stood with me and gave me strength."
This is my prayer today for every person who feels alone. I pray that your eyes would be opened to The Lord Who Stands With You and will never leave you and that he will give you strength to do his will. I bind the spirit of loneliness and break its power from off your life and I release his peace and presence to fill your life. I also pray that God would bring godly people into your life and that he would give you the desires of your heart as you live a life that pleases him. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Defining Marks
Proverbs 9:7-9 "Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. 8 So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more."
One of the most defining marks that separates the wise man from the fool is how they receive correction, instruction and teaching. A wise man receives them all and eagerly applies what he has learned so that he can become wiser. The fool however doesn't receive any of it. He gets angry and actually attacks the person that is trying to help him.
So what about you? How do you receive correction, instruction and teaching? How you answer this question will reveal the true condition of your heart, do you accept correction, instruction and teaching or reject it by blaming others and making excuses? Are you a wise man or a fool?
One of the most defining marks that separates the wise man from the fool is how they receive correction, instruction and teaching. A wise man receives them all and eagerly applies what he has learned so that he can become wiser. The fool however doesn't receive any of it. He gets angry and actually attacks the person that is trying to help him.
So what about you? How do you receive correction, instruction and teaching? How you answer this question will reveal the true condition of your heart, do you accept correction, instruction and teaching or reject it by blaming others and making excuses? Are you a wise man or a fool?
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The Standard
Exodus 15:25-26 "It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. 26 He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.”
Exodus 16:19/27-28 "Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” 20 But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them. 27 Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. 28 The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?"
God told Moses that he was going to set a standard for the people of Israel to live by and that the standard would be a test of their faithfulness to God. Every time the children of Israel violated the standard that God set for them, they revealed the true condition of their heart. They loved what God was doing for them, but they didn't love God.
Unfortunately there are many in the Church today who love what God does for them but they don't love God. I know that sounds like a harsh statement but the proof is in the pudding. When you look at how many professing Christians are living their lives, they profess with their mouths but their lives deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They say the right things but live the wrong way. "I love God but I support homosexual marriage", "I love God but I support the murder of unborn babies", "I love God but every decision I make is based on money", "I love God but I just don't have time to be involved in the local church", "I love God but I have no concern for the eternal souls of men, that is the preachers job", I love God but don't ask me to make any sacrifices for the kingdom of God", "I love God but I am my own person and I do my own thing" and the list goes on and on.
Jesus said you would know a tree by its fruits not its profession. The standards of the word of God don't make us righteous, we are made righteous through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ and him alone. But the standards of the word do reveal our heart and help us and others to see if we really do love God or love what God does for us. How you respond to the standards of the word of God reveal whether you are faithful to God or just milking God for what you can get from him.
But standards apply not only to your relationship with God but also with those in leadership over you. Standards are test, they test our faithfulness to one who sets the standard. Standards reveal a persons heart toward their leader, those who buck the standard don't have the leaders heart, therefore they don't have the leaders back.
Every pastor/leader should have standards in place that line up with the word of God and the vision of the house. These standards not only protect the people that you have been called to lead, but it reveals the heart of the people and shows the position of their heart to you the leader. Someone that continually bucks the standard does not qualify to be in a leadership position because they don't have your heart.
Now understand that their is a difference someone who has legitimate questions and concern and someone who bucks the standard. The one with legitimate questions ask their questions and move on, the one who bucks the standard is always challenging the way you do things or what you are asking them to do. Standards are test, that reveal people's hearts, if you are a leader and you don't have standards in place then I encourage you to get before God and set a standard for ministry and leadership in your church or ministry. These standards safeguard your people and your own heart.
Exodus 16:19/27-28 "Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” 20 But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them. 27 Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. 28 The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?"
God told Moses that he was going to set a standard for the people of Israel to live by and that the standard would be a test of their faithfulness to God. Every time the children of Israel violated the standard that God set for them, they revealed the true condition of their heart. They loved what God was doing for them, but they didn't love God.
Unfortunately there are many in the Church today who love what God does for them but they don't love God. I know that sounds like a harsh statement but the proof is in the pudding. When you look at how many professing Christians are living their lives, they profess with their mouths but their lives deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They say the right things but live the wrong way. "I love God but I support homosexual marriage", "I love God but I support the murder of unborn babies", "I love God but every decision I make is based on money", "I love God but I just don't have time to be involved in the local church", "I love God but I have no concern for the eternal souls of men, that is the preachers job", I love God but don't ask me to make any sacrifices for the kingdom of God", "I love God but I am my own person and I do my own thing" and the list goes on and on.
Jesus said you would know a tree by its fruits not its profession. The standards of the word of God don't make us righteous, we are made righteous through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ and him alone. But the standards of the word do reveal our heart and help us and others to see if we really do love God or love what God does for us. How you respond to the standards of the word of God reveal whether you are faithful to God or just milking God for what you can get from him.
But standards apply not only to your relationship with God but also with those in leadership over you. Standards are test, they test our faithfulness to one who sets the standard. Standards reveal a persons heart toward their leader, those who buck the standard don't have the leaders heart, therefore they don't have the leaders back.
Every pastor/leader should have standards in place that line up with the word of God and the vision of the house. These standards not only protect the people that you have been called to lead, but it reveals the heart of the people and shows the position of their heart to you the leader. Someone that continually bucks the standard does not qualify to be in a leadership position because they don't have your heart.
Now understand that their is a difference someone who has legitimate questions and concern and someone who bucks the standard. The one with legitimate questions ask their questions and move on, the one who bucks the standard is always challenging the way you do things or what you are asking them to do. Standards are test, that reveal people's hearts, if you are a leader and you don't have standards in place then I encourage you to get before God and set a standard for ministry and leadership in your church or ministry. These standards safeguard your people and your own heart.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Staying In Faith
Matthew 14:29-31 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
It's not enough to step out in faith, we must walk by faith every step of the way. Many times like Peter we start out in faith, but because of circumstances and people we get hurt, discouraged or betrayed and begin to doubt. We must guard our faith and be relentless in protecting the only thing that can empower us to do the impossible.
So how do we continue on in faith, when it seems like everything around us is trying to get us to doubt and give up. The answer is Focus; we have stay focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith., we have to stay focused on our mission and the calling of God upon our lives and we have to stay focused on those things that have eternal value.
Life is filled with distractions and problems, and we can not bury our heads in the sand. We have to deal with distractions and problems, but dealing with them and being consumed by them are two totally different things. As a Pastor my life is filled with problems and challenges and my job is to help my church and our people work through those challenges and come out on the others side with the victory that Jesus has for us. Dealing with problems and challenges is apart of life, but we must refuse to be consumed by them and allow them to steal our focus.
Continuing in faith is the result of a determined focus, everyday we must take time to reset our focus at the feet of Jesus, we must remind ourselves of what we have been called to do and we must remember that it is always about the eternal souls of men. These three things help us to finish the race and complete the course, staying in faith and doing the impossible.
It's not enough to step out in faith, we must walk by faith every step of the way. Many times like Peter we start out in faith, but because of circumstances and people we get hurt, discouraged or betrayed and begin to doubt. We must guard our faith and be relentless in protecting the only thing that can empower us to do the impossible.
So how do we continue on in faith, when it seems like everything around us is trying to get us to doubt and give up. The answer is Focus; we have stay focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith., we have to stay focused on our mission and the calling of God upon our lives and we have to stay focused on those things that have eternal value.
Life is filled with distractions and problems, and we can not bury our heads in the sand. We have to deal with distractions and problems, but dealing with them and being consumed by them are two totally different things. As a Pastor my life is filled with problems and challenges and my job is to help my church and our people work through those challenges and come out on the others side with the victory that Jesus has for us. Dealing with problems and challenges is apart of life, but we must refuse to be consumed by them and allow them to steal our focus.
Continuing in faith is the result of a determined focus, everyday we must take time to reset our focus at the feet of Jesus, we must remind ourselves of what we have been called to do and we must remember that it is always about the eternal souls of men. These three things help us to finish the race and complete the course, staying in faith and doing the impossible.
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