Happy Birthday, America!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” - Psalm 33:12

As I post this, our nation is celebrating her 250^th birthday. For 250 years, our nation has been blessed by Almighty God. This is a time for celebration and thanksgiving. You and I are living in the greatest nation on earth. Yes, our nation faces significant problems. Throughout the decades, decisions have been made that God is not pleased with. Yet God, in His mercy, has spared our nation. He has chosen to bless us in spite of our mistakes and problems. However, we shouldn't take His grace and mercy for granted. Instead, let's render thanks to Him for His mercy and ask for His blessings on our nation.

Our forefathers made amazing decisions when they created our government. They wisely devised a plan for our government to be separated into three branches: the executive branch, the legislative branch and the judicial branch. Although each branch is separate from the other, they work together for the common good of our country. Take the legislative branch for a moment. Our forefathers came up with a brilliant plan to have states equally represented, yet have representation based on population. Thus we have the senate (each state with two senators) and the house of representatives (based on population). That was an intelligent idea that has worked for two and a half centuries.

The psalmist wrote, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” Our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Even at that point, they realized that our nation could only thrive if she had the divine help of God. While many wish to remove God from our country, they really don't know what they are asking for. Do you really want God to remove His grace and mercy? Do you really think we can accomplish anything without the divine aid of God?

On our money, it is printed, “In God We Trust.” When we recite the pledge of allegiance to our flag, we say, “To the republic for which it stands, one nation under God...” In the early documents of our country, men continually mentioned the Lord and the need for His blessings. Soon after the 9-11 attacks, members of Congress stood on the capitol steps and sang, “God Bless America.” Our nation is founded upon Christian values. These need to be preserved at all cost, because without them, our nation will be destroyed quickly.

May this 250^th year of our nation be a year of spiritual refreshing. Let us pray for God to bring a spiritual awakening to our nation. Like the psalmist, let us pray, “God be merciful unto us and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us.” While there are sharp disagreements about the political landscape of our country, our nation's woes are not primarily political issues. They are spiritual issues. It is wrong for people to expect political change to solve spiritual problems. The answer to our country's problems is found in Jesus Christ.

As we celebrate our nation's 250^th birthday, let me remind you that our freedom comes with a price. Our forefathers fought against the British in the Revolutionary War. Many died for our freedom during that conflict. Since then, many have bled and died to preserve our freedom.

One of the key components of our nation's foundation is the freedom of religion. Our forefathers saw the need for Christianity to continue, but they also knew that it was wrong for the government to dictate our worship. Worship is a matter of the heart, not legislation. Yet this freedom continues to be under attack. Instead of “freedom of religion,” many have falsely proclaimed the need for “freedom from religion.” Our right to worship publicly is under attack. Once this freedom is removed, they will attack our right to worship privately. This is not what our forefathers had in mind when they established our country.

Whether or not our nation continues to permit our worship, we have an obligation to serve our Lord. This is more important than our loyalty to the Constitution or the American flag. Many have tried to elevate national allegiance to equal or surpass our devotion to Jesus. Let us resist such a movement. I am proud to be an American. I love my country. Yet, I love Jesus more than my country. The first time I was born, I was born an American. My second birth was a spiritual birth. I was born again … to follow Jesus. One day, America will cease to be. Jesus will still be Lord forever and ever. His kingdom will have no end.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” God has blessed America. There is no country like it on earth. Yet there is a place that is even better than America. I am a temporary citizen of America. But I have a permanent residency in a place called heaven. I am a citizen of heaven on temporary assignment here on earth. I enjoy my life here in America. But nothing compares to the life yet to come. Heaven will be far better than America has ever been. Until I move to heaven, I will continue to love my country, vote & seek God's blessings on our land.

Happy Birthday, America!

Rights of Ownership

 RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

A few months back, I saw a Youtube video of a dog being rescued from an animal shelter. The dog was so excited and happy! The couple put a collar on the dog and connected a leash to the collar. When they went outside, the dog pulled continuously on the leash. He was so thrilled to be free from a cage and wanted to explore the world … but the leash was holding him back. He was still happy, just a little hindered.

We know what would have happened if the owners turned him loose from the leash. He would have run away from the couple that lovingly adopted him & probably would have gotten lost or killed by a car. The leash that the dog thought was holding him back was actually protecting him. The leash seemed to limit his freedom, but was really working for his best interests.

That's the way it is for the Christian. We were in the cage of sin, awaiting death. Then Jesus came, paid the price and adopted us. In our flesh, we want to roam freely, yet the Lord has His ways of keeping us on a protective leash. Left to ourselves, we would end up in the gutter --- or worse. The only way we can experience His love and enjoy His presence is by staying close to Him. The leash of protection keeps us close to Him.

When we were adopted, we became His. We belong to the Lord.

When we refer to Jesus as our “Lord,” do we really understand what we are saying? In essence, we are declaring that we are surrendered to His Lordship. He is the King and we are His servants. He is the leader and we are His followers. He is the boss. He is in control. We march at His command.

This description is rather offensive to many, including some who claim that Jesus is their Lord. Yet that is what it means to have Christ as your Lord. When you surrender to the Lord, you give up your rights. He purchased you with His blood. Ownership has been transferred from the devil to Jesus. You never really owned yourself. Instead, you have a new Lord, One who loves you and wants the best for you. Like the dog I mentioned earlier, the devil kept us caged up and would have let us die. Jesus has freed us from the cage and from ultimate eternal death. He has freed us from the devil's dominion. We now walk with Jesus.

In our country, many argue that they have certain rights. They will complain and pursue litigation to prove that their rights have been violated. Christians really have no rights. We are owned by the King. He has ownership rights. This creates conflict in our lives because our flesh resists a life of obedience. It is a daily battle. That's why we need to be surrendered to Jesus every day. Otherwise, the protective leash will begin to choke us as we try to work ourselves free of God's control.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” Notice that Paul states that we belong to God. Not just the spirit. Even the the body belongs to Him. Thus, we should glorify God in our spirit and our body.

We've been purchased by Jesus. Thus, we belong to Him. Everything we have belongs to Him. Our health, our wealth, our jobs, our families, our possessions --- everything belongs to Him. In fact, it is by His grace that we enjoy these things in the first place.

Someone has wisely said that when we hold tightly to the things of this world, it hurts much more when God releases our grip to take them from us. It doesn't hurt nearly as bad if we keep our hands open in surrender. You see, we came into this world with nothing and that's how you will leave it. Everything we strive for in this world --- homes, property and vehicles --- they are all temporary. Even our family members are here for us to enjoy for just a short period of time. God has the right to give things to us & to take them away. Job realized this. When he heard that his children had perished, Job said, “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

God paid a tremendous price for me, far more than I am worth. The same is true for you. Because He purchased us, we belong to Him. He has the ownership papers. We belong to a loving God. We are no longer a caged by a tyrant who sought our death.

We owe Jesus everything. He has proved His love for us in the most tangible way. Thus, we should glorify Him through every aspect of our lives. Let's love Him with the same kind of sacrificial love that He has shown us.

I'm glad I am His and He is mine!

Give Up

GIVE UP!

“And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” - Acts 9:4-6

When an army enters a battle, victory is the objective. The soldiers are equipped and trained to win. No army is sent into battle with the objective of surrendering.

On a personal level, our sinful human nature resists any attempt by others to control us. When we were young, we would sometimes resent parental authority. As adults, we can get frustrated when others hinder us as we work and live. When we engage in an argument, we want to have the last word.

Defeat is humiliating. Surrender is even worse.

Saul of Tarsus had been an enemy of the Gospel. He actively sought the arrest of Christians. He labored zealously to destroy the Church. In his effort to stop the spread of the Gospel, Saul placed himself in opposition to God. This was a battle he would not ultimately win. On the road to Damascus, God stopped Saul in his tracks. A light came down on Saul and blinded him. God stopped him right there.

Notice what the Bible says. “And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” When the Lord said, “... it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks,” he was basically telling Saul that he was fighting a losing battle. His efforts were in vain. There are some battles you simply can't win. It is foolish to think that you can fight against God all of your life and ultimately come out the victor.

Confronted with the truth, Saul of Tarsus gave up. He surrendered to God. He learned a valuable lesson. Surrender is the path to victory. Surrendering to God leads to triumph.

Most of our society is fighting against God. God's standards have been clearly defined in His Word. Yet most live in violation of God's law. They think that passing legislation with make their sin acceptable. They have sought to label right as wrong and wrong as right. Some have even tried to change the Bible so it will tolerate their sinful rebellion. They are facing a head-on collision with judgment. The ultimate standard is not set by a local judge. Neither is it established by the US Supreme Court. God is the ultimate authority. He has already stated what is right and wrong. He has the power to execute judgment on those who oppose Him.

The Bible says that there will come a time when, “... at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” We will either surrender to His Lordship while we are living … or wish we had later.

Saul of Tarsus surrendered to the Lord. Instead of fiercely fighting against the Lord, he submitted to Him. This personal encounter with Jesus Christ profoundly changed his life.

When an army surrenders, they must lay down their arms and cease all forms of hostility. All rebellion and resistance must come to an end. So it is with us. When we surrender to the Lord, we must surrender our rebellion.

This is a major reason why many refuse to surrender to Jesus Christ. Their pride will not permit them to kneel before anyone … including the Lord. They refuse to have God to rule over them. They wish to maintain control of daily activities and choices. They don't want to be told what to do. This independent, free spirit, though celebrated by the world, keeps people from experiencing true freedom.

Some are fearful that surrendering to the Lord will lead them into a slime-pit of arduous labor, similar to the slavery the Israelites suffered in Egypt. What they don't realize is that they are currently serving a far-worse taskmaster. The devil keeps people in sinful bondage and craftily leads them down the path of destruction. When people surrender to Jesus, the Lord actually delivers them from such spiritual slavery.

Saul of Tarsus eventually became the Apostle Paul. Because he surrendered his life to Jesus, Paul would testify, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” When he surrendered to Christ, Paul gave up all he had in order to gain Jesus.

In surrender, Paul gained more than he gave up.

Sweet Surrender

SWEET SURRENDER

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. ” - James 4:7-8

Most Christians would probably say that they desire a close walk with God. Yet the truth is that most want the benefits of such communion yet hesitate to meet its requirements. We like the thought of being close to God, but we don't necessarily want to commit to the time and effort needed for such fellowship.

James 4:7-8 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” When we quote these verses, we tend to leave off the first part, “Submit yourselves therefore to God,” and the last part, “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” Whether the omission is deliberate or not, we miss important information when we do so.

For the sake of time and space, I am just going to concentrate on the first part of this text. “Submit yourselves therefore to God.” Last week, I wrote about the need for surrender. We are continuing that thought with this message.

Truthfully, when it comes to our problems, cares and worries, we want to rid ourselves of them. We want God to take responsibility for our challenges. We want Him to solve our problems. In one sense this is understandable. We can't solve our problems by ourselves. We need His help. Sometimes our situation gets very vulnerable and we get desperate. We need the Lord!  Yes, we need to submit our burdens to the Lord.

Yet we make a mistake of thinking that submission is only about our burdens. James did not write, “Submit your burdens unto God.” Instead, He said, “Submit YOURSELVES therefore to God” (Emphasis added). When you submit yourself to God, it is all-inclusive. You are not only submitting your problems to Him, you are submitting every aspect of your life. You are placing yourself on the altar as an offering to the Lord.

This level of surrender makes us uncomfortable. We like to be in control of things. We are hesitant to yield total control to someone else. For those who yield to God in total abandonment, this is sweet surrender. It yields peace and serenity.

As I wrote last week, one of the areas we must yield to God when we submit is our role. This changes how we see ourselves, God and the world. Our identity is no longer based on a title or label. Instead, we find our identity in our eternal relationship with the Lord.

Three things must be surrendered for this to occur. First of all, we surrender our position. We are no longer lord of our world. In each heart, there is a throne. We are born occupying this throne. We like to be in control. We like to make our own decisions. We don't like to be bossed around. When we surrender to God, we leave the throne so that Christ may occupy it. He is the only One who deserves to sit upon the throne. He is the only One who knows what is best --- all the time.

Not only do we need to surrender our position, we need to surrender our prestige. To borrow an image from the theater, we forsake the spotlight and have the spotlight fall solely on Jesus. In other words, when we are surrendered to the Lord, we no longer seek praise for ourselves. Instead, we want Jesus to receive all the praise. Think about it for a moment. If any good is accomplished in my life or yours, the Lord did it. If we are used to make a difference or a major contribution to any project, the Lord enabled us to do this. Doesn't He really deserve the praise for all the good that is done in lives?

Finally, we need to surrender our power. We are servants of the most high God. The most we will ever be are undeserving servants. Even if the Lord places us in positions of public ministry, we are there to serve. For instance, as a pastor, I am servant to my congregation. Jesus taught us that if we wish to be great, we must serve. Jesus modeled servant leadership. He ministered to needs. He taught people. He made Himself available for numerous requests. In fact He stated that the Son of man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister and give his life a ransom for many. Jesus came to do His Father's will. Let us learn from His example and do the same.

Many may argue that surrendering to the Lordship is Christ is carrying a good thing too far. These skeptics believe that a religion is fine as long as it doesn't infringe upon daily life. Really? Isn't He God? As such, we should worship Him. Jesus is our Savior and Lord … and we are His disciples. He is our leader and we are His followers. If we settle for anything less than complete surrender to Him, we are simply playing games at the foot of the cross.

In spite of opinions to the contrary, total surrender to Jesus does not enslave us. It gives us freedom. Surrender does not shackle us, it liberates us. Experience life as it is meant to be. Surrender your life to Jesus today.

I Surrender All

I SURRENDER ALL

“Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house.” - Jeremiah 38:17

The Bible can be very paradoxical at times, especially the New Testament. For instance, the Bible teaches us that if you really want to live, you must die. Jesus taught us, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” The Bible also teaches us that the way up requires us to go down. “...whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Also, we are taught that if we wish to be victorious we must first of all surrender. I want us to focus on this last point.

“I Surrender All,” is an old hymn that is loved by many. It is sometimes used at the end of a church service, when people are called to surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Here's the problem. If people were honest, they would have to sing, “I Surrender Most,” or “I Surrender Some.” Some would even sing, “I Surrender Nothing.” Few could honestly say, “I Surrender All.” Yet unless you surrender all to Jesus, you aren't surrendered at all.

What about you? Are you fully surrendered to the Lord? Most of us would like to give a positive answer to that question. But if we dig deeper, we may discover that there may still be some areas of our lives that we still have not surrendered to Him.

We often feel uncomfortable about the subject of surrender. It is difficult to give up things that we cling closely to. While we want others to think of us as committed Christians, we could be hiding sins and idols in our hearts. We may have secret sins that we refuse to repent of. There may be unconquered areas of our lives that we don't want exposed or changed.

While we are quick to judge the guilt of others, we are very slow to confess our own. We have a “reputation” to protect. Sometimes this “reputation” is an idol of itself.

If we wish to reach the destination of victory, we must walk the path of surrender.

When Zedekiah asked Jeremiah for a word from God, he was in a desperate situation. He was facing an uncertain future with a formidable foe approaching. In his desperation, he sought a word from God. Just like many people today, he was probably hoping for some good news. People tend to look to the preacher to provide them with comfort or cheer.

God's word to Zedekiah was simple. “If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house.” In other words, if Zedekiah wanted to survive, he had to surrender. If he stayed where he is at, he would die. He had to surrender if he expected to live.

Zedekiah asked for a word from the Lord … and he received it. What did he do with it? Nothing. He stayed put where he was at. It cost him his life. If he had just heeded God's message, he would have lived. His fear and pride kept him from surrendering and surviving.

Most are making the same mistake today. They are fearful that surrendering to God will produce a miserable life. They are too proud to obey God publicly and surrender to Him. It is tragic that most people people would rather perish in their pride rather than experience life by surrendering.

True surrender consists of three things.

First of all, we must surrender our role. When we surrender to the Lord, we give up the throne and submit to the Lordship and reign of Christ.

Secondly, we surrender our rebellion. Pride is demolished. When we surrender, we quit resisting God. We lay down our arms. We end our willful disobedience.

Finally, we surrender our rights. We are no longer in control. The decisions we make, the direction we go and our response to circumstances are at the command of our Lord. Rather than seeking our own pleasure, profit and promotion, we seek the Lord and His kingdom. We seek to do His will rather than our own.

Most people find these requirements to be too stringent. Yet the essence of surrender comes down to this. When we are surrendered to Him, Jesus is Lord and we are His servants. Jesus is King and we are His subjects. Jesus is Master and we are His slaves. Yet He is not a taskmaster. He loves us supremely. He is worthy of our trust and devotion.

Can you honestly say, “I Surrender All”? If not, why not surrender your life to Jesus right now?

By All Means

 BY ALL MEANS

"I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." - 1 Corinthians 9:22

Are you doing all you can to reach lost people? Writing to the Corinthian church, Paul said, “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." Notice the word, “all,” in this verse. Paul wrote, “I am made ALL things to ALL men, that I might by ALL means save some.” Paul was consumed with a passion to win souls to Jesus. Although he stayed within Biblical boundaries, Paul was willing do whatever it took to reach souls. He didn't target only a certain age group. He wanted to reach out to all men.

I want us to consider the last part of this verse. Paul wrote, “I am made all things to all men, THAT I MIGHT BY ALL MEANS SAVE SOME” (Emphasis added). Paul was willing to use “all means” available to point people to Jesus. Are we willing to do the same?

Paul may have had less resources available in his day, but he reached far more people than we are reaching. The difference is that he used all the resources he had and we aren't.

Here are the primary resources at our disposal.

First of all, we have the Spirit. Like Paul, we have the Holy Spirit working within us. We tend to think little of the Spirit, but we shouldn't. The Holy Spirit is a person who resides in the lives of believers. It is the Spirit who convicts and converts. As we consider the many resources available, there is none as great as the Spirit. He is God. We cannot succeed in any form of ministry without the Spirit's power. We do a great disservice to the Spirit by thinking that He is of little importance. The Spirit transforms lives. We need Him like never before. If we have nothing or no one else available, the Spirit is sufficient. Yes, we may have other tools and resources available, but the Spirit is absolutely necessary.

Secondly, we have can offer supplication. Prayer is a powerful tool that we should use. In Romans 10:1, Paul wrote, “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Paul had a passion to see his people saved, so he prayed for them. Don't underestimate what God may do through prayer. James wrote, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Third, we have the Scriptures. When Philip led the eunuch to saving faith, he shared Jesus from Isaiah 53. The Word of God is alive and effective. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” In this age where many resort to new tactics and programs, we need to remember that it is God's Word that brings people to salvation. Romans 10:17 says, “... faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Finally, we have the saints. Fellowship with other believers help to keep us encouraged, instructed and stirred. When Jesus sent His disciples on a mission trip, He sent them two-by-two. No one will be effective in evangelism if they try to do it all alone. We need other believers to pray for us and help us along the way.

These are the primary resources that are available. Every one of these resources are necessary.

Here are some secondary resources we have available.

Unlike Paul, we have numerous modern tools at our disposal. For instance, we can use our telephone or cell phone. We can use our phone conversations to share the Gospel with others. I heard of a prayer group at one church that took their phone book and began calling each person beginning with the first page until they finished calling every name in the phone book a few years later. They were able to reach many people through this ministry.

Also, we have our social media that we can use. Regularly share Gospel centered messages online. Youtube, Facebook, X, Instagram and other accounts give you an audience to share with. Whether it is a quote, a personal testimony or a sermon clip, social media is an excellent way to proclaim the Gospel.

Gospel tracks, Christian movies, Gospel music, religious books and other resources can be given away to those around us. You never know what God may do with any of these items. Of course, there is nothing that replaces one-on-one conversations. We still should invite unbelievers to church and Gospel events. These are just a few of the means that we can use to reach people with the Gospel. You may think of even more.

Like Paul may we say, "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."

Consumed With A Passion

CONSUMED WITH A PASSION

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” - Titus 2:13-14

Too many people think of salvation as a fire insurance policy. Certainly, when we get saved we are delivered from the penalty of sin. Our eternal future shifts from hell to heaven when we receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. But salvation is more than an item to check off your bucket list. Sugar-coated sermons are partly to blame for such weak theology. Selfishness and self-preservation also contribute to this problem.

When Paul wrote to Titus, he reminded the young minister (and us) that Jesus is coming soon. That is our blessed hope. His return is the exciting event that we are looking forward to. Also, Paul reminds us that Jesus died for us, “... that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people.” Why did Jesus die? So that through His death, He would redeem us. Because of sin, we were spiritually bankrupt. We owed a debt we could never pay. His death is the full payment for our sins. That's great news, isn't it?

Furthermore, He died to redeem us, “... from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people.” He died to save us from our sins. If we treat salvation like it is only a fire insurance policy, we overlook a major aspect of salvation. Jesus died to save us from our sins. He did not die so we could continue to be rebellious, wicked people. No! He died to save us from our iniquity. Our salvation should lead to sanctification. We've been saved to be a purified and special people for the Lord. We need a revival of holiness among God's people today!

I want us to focus on the last part of our text. Jesus died to redeem us, that we may be, “... zealous of good works.” He wants His people to be consumed with a passion. He wants our lives to manifest good deeds that are the product of a loving heart.

When we think of passion and zeal, we have examples around us. Some are passionate fans for a football team. Their zeal leads them to do unusual, uncomfortable and even bizarre things. For instance, I saw a picture of fans attending a Buffalo Bills football game. They were covered with several inches of snow. In spite of the poor weather, they traveled to the game and sat in the cold, snowy stands as they cheered their team on. That is zeal. They had a passion for their team. Others will travel hours to see a musician perform. The fans will arrive early. They will pay several dollars to get in the concert. They will get excited, scream and sing along during the concert. It is an unbelievable experience they will treasure. They are zealous in their show of affection for a musical artist.

To be rather honest, we are suspicious of spiritually zealous people. We question their sanity. We think they don't have proper balance in their lives. However, God expects us to be zealous of good works. He expects us to be consumed with a passion for Him.

Jesus is our example in all things. Our goal should be to emulate our Master. Here is what Jesus said of Himself. “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” “... the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Jesus was zealous of good works. He had a passion to accomplish His Father's will. He came to redeem lost souls. He had compassion on people. Jesus lived with passion.

Where are the people who are zealous of good works? Where are the Christians who are consumed with a passion? Where are the believers who have a burning heart for God and a burden to reach lost people? Where are the saints who have genuine compassion for the people God has placed around them?

What about you? When was the last time you had a burden to see someone saved? When was the last time you were so consumed with a passion to reach people that it led you out of your comfort zone?

Perhaps we need to get off our cellphones and get on our knees. Instead of looking at social media, we need to look to the harvest fields. Rather than being consumed with politics or sports, we should be consumed with the plight of the lost people around us. Our focus needs to shift from the temporal to the eternal.

A thousand years from this date, it won't matter who won the Super Bowl or was elected to the White House. Facebook and Instagram will not be important. All that will matter is where we and others will dwell through eternity. Let's be zealous of good works. Be consumed with a passion to accomplish God's will.

Time is running out. 

A Matter of Perspective

A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” - John 4:35

The comedian Flip Wilson was noted for saying, “What you see is what you get.” There is some truth to his statement. What we see can easily distract us, even consume our attention. We can get focused on a minor issue and neglect major problems.

I once saw a Youtube video about a true story. The pilots of a commercial airline noticed a minor problem on a gauge. All the men in the cockpit got involved in resolving the problem. The pilot got so consumed with this minor issue that he neglected to pay attention when his co-pilot warned him that they were running out of fuel. They had circled the airport more than once while addressing the gauge problem. When the pilot finally realized they were out of fuel, they couldn't get back to the air field and the plane crashed.

That is a sad story, but proves the point that what we focus on can easily distract us from critical matters. With eternity in the balance, we can be consumed with lesser matters and never accomplish what matters most.

The disciples struggled with this, too. In John chapter 4, they were coming back from purchasing food. When they arrived, they were amazed to find Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman. When the woman went back to town, she told others about Jesus. The people came from town to meet Jesus and hear His teaching. The disciples, seeing all of this, tried to persuade Jesus to take a break and eat. Instead, Jesus said, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” The disciples had food on their mind. Jesus had souls on His heart.

Sadly, I've had times when I've been like the disciples. It is easy to be distracted with the events of the day instead of caring deeply about the people nearest to us.

Many probably saw the encounter with the woman as scandalous. After all, Jesus was a Jew and she was a Samaritan. Jews had no dealings with Samaritans. Secondly, in that day, men did not treat women as equals. Men did not talk with strange women. Women were often avoided. Worst of all, this woman was a sinner. She was living an immoral lifestyle. She was probably scorned by most in her community, even the women probably avoided her. But Jesus cared for the soul of this woman. He cared enough to share the truth with her. While He spoke of living water, He also was very blunt about her sinful situation. She had a great spiritual need that only He could meet. This may have been her only opportunity to experience grace.

Look around. God brings people in our lives from different backgrounds. We meet them from day to day. We have family members, friends and co-workers that we encounter on a regular basis. But like the story of the woman at the well, there are times we meet some just one time. It could be at a gas station, at the grocery store or the doctor's office. Each encounter is an opportunity. Each person has an eternal soul. Every individual is either saved or lost. They are either heaven-bound or headed to hell. Furthermore, each person has specific needs. The person you meet today may be going through the deepest, darkest valley. They may not show it outwardly, but they may need an encouraging word, a helpful hand or show of support.

I must confess that I have often looked over such opportunities. What about you? I have often been consumed with daily tasks or some project I am working on, yet failed to notice those near me at the moment. I need a daily reminder that this life is not about me. It is about God and His kingdom. It is about people that God brings my way. Daily I must choose whether to invest in others or selfishly pursue my own goals. You have the same choice.

We need to see things as our Lord does. We need our focus shifted so we can see the hurting people so close to us. While I may not be able to solve the problems others have, I can choose to love, encourage, help and pray for the people divinely placed in my path.

Yes, the harvest is plenty. There are no shortage of needy people. We are not running out of sinners to win. Although the harvest is plenty, we are running short on workers. We need men and women who have a heart for God and compassion for people.

Time is running out. The human need has never been greater. Souls are perishing daily. People are hurting greatly. Many need a friend today.

Look to the harvest field today. With the harvest coming to an end very soon, let's get busy for the Lord. God is calling us to work in the harvest field. While we are told to pray for more workers, let's make sure we are working ourselves.

Let's work while there is time.

Passionate Praying

PASSIONATE PRAYERS

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.” - 1 Samuel 1:10

In 1 Timothy 1:2, the Apostle Paul referred to Timothy as, “my own son in the faith.” Timothy was a young man who was being mentored by the apostle. Paul felt like he had a special bond with the young man, like a spiritual father-son relationship. When you lead a person to Jesus and help them grow in their faith, a similar relationship occurs with the new believer. Do you have such a person that you are leading? Have you actively brought a person to the Lord? Are you involved in their spiritual growth? If not, you can relate with a woman named Hannah.

As the book of 1 Samuel opens, we learn that Hannah is a woman who is barren. She has been childless. This fact has weighed heavily on her. The one thing she yearns for is a son. She wants to provide her husband a child.

As Christians, we should have a desire to introduce people to Jesus Christ. We should yearn to have a son or daughter in the faith, one we have personally led to Christ. We should want to help this new believer thrive in the faith. If you have never led a person to Jesus, spiritually you are very much like Hannah.

As I post this message, our nation is celebrating Mother's Day this weekend. We can learn much from this unusual mother. Hannah went from being barren to having a son who would positively impact the spiritual direction of Israel. It could be that the person we lead to Jesus or mentor in the faith may eventually become a great pastor, evangelist or spiritual leader. When Edward Kimball led a young Dwight Moody to Jesus, he had no idea that the young convert would become to the greatest evangelist in America during that century.

What did Hannah do that was so special? What made her case so unique? Obviously, the Lord was involved in the matter. Without the Lord, our efforts are in vain. So many write books, blogs and articles about evangelism yet omit this unmistakable truth. How can we accomplish anything of eternal significance without God's intervention?

Hannah went to God with her problem. She sought the Lord and appealed to Him for a miracle. If we are wise, we'd do the same. Do you long to win souls yourself? Do you wish to see your church grow numerically? Do you have a zeal to see the Gospel impact your family, your work and your community? Look to the Lord. Cry out to Him. Make your petition known with the Master.

In contrast to Hannah, the Bible says in Genesis 30:1, “And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.” Rachel was childless, yet she complained to her husband rather than crying out to God. How often do we look to the arm of flesh instead of leaning on the arm of God? What good is it to buy books, listen to podcasts and attend seminars to learn church-growth and soul-winning techniques, and yet fail to get on our knees and seek God?

Unlike Rachel's childish complaints to her husband, Hannah went to the Lord. When she and her husband went to Shiloh to offer a sacrifice, the Bible says this of Hannah: “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.” Notice three things about Hannah.

First of all, she had passion. The Bible says, “... she was in bitterness of soul.” She had an earnest desire for a child. She yearned to be a mother. Yes, she had a good husband, yet she had an internal passion to have a child. She did not want to live and die childless. Are we willing to live and die without winning souls or mentoring new believers? Do you simply want to live selfishly and fail to be used of God to make a difference in someone's life?

Secondly, there was prayer. Hannah, “... prayed unto the Lord.” I have found that most people would rather sing about prayer than to actually pray. It can be edifying to hear how God answered someone else's prayers, but wouldn't it be more thrilling for Him to answer yours? Don't expect answers to prayers you're not praying.

Finally, there was pain. Hannah, “... wept sore.” Few people are heartbroken over the spiritual need around them. I once wrote that the reason most baptistries remain dry is because of our dry eyes. Psalm 126:5-6 says, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” When was the last time you actually wept when you prayed? Can you recall the last time you wept as you considered the plight of lost people? Perhaps there should be more tear stains on the floor where we kneel to pray. Our prayer closets should become weeping chambers.

Soon after her tearful prayer at Shiloh, Hannah become a mother. Her son, Samuel, became an outstanding man of God.

I'm sure that Hannah never regretted one tear.

Orders From Headquarters

ORDERS FROM HEADQUARTERS

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” - Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus is Lord. I think most Christians would agree with this statement, but do our lives reflect this? When a person joins the military, he is immediately instructed about the importance of saluting and obeying those of higher rank. A man will not have a successful military career if he only picks and chooses the commands he obeys.

At work, you are accountable to your boss or supervisor. You are responsible to carry out the commands and directives that he gives.

On a greater scale, Jesus Christ is Lord of all. Yet our perception of His commands are drastically different from the commands our boss gives. We treat the commands of Jesus like they are options.

Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” This command, that we refer to as the Great Commission, is known by most believers. Yet very few people treat His command seriously. How many believers are actively sharing their faith? How many Christians are known as fishers of men? Our Lord has given us a command, yet we act as if this command is for someone else. Many think it is the pastor's job to evangelize. Some think that a select few are called to share the Good News.

It is amazing that we are not selective when it comes to receiving the positive promises of God, but we are very select in obeying the commands of God. Yet in John 14:15, Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Obedience should be the natural response of a loving heart to a gracious God.

In the Great Commission, what are we commanded to do?

First of all, we are taught to evangelize. Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...” We are taught to go and share the message of the Gospel. We are called to be proactive rather than reactive. We are not told to wait for an evangelistic opportunity. We are called to go. We are to be active in this work. Far too many are waiting for someone to come out of nowhere and ask them how to be saved. While this could happen, that is not the normal way evangelism works. Rather than waiting for sinners to come to us, we are commanded to go to them.

Secondly, we are called to enlist. Those who hear and believe the Gospel need to follow the Lord. Jesus taught us “... baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” When someone professes faith in Jesus, they should be baptized in water. This is a command from our Lord. We are not greater than our Lord Jesus. He was baptized by John. We are to follow in His steps. In baptism, the water is a symbolic grave where the old sinful life is buried and the believer rises to a new life in Christ. We celebrate the beauty and meaning of this ceremony. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. Evangelism is not the end of the Great Commission. When a person repents and believes, we continue obeying the Great Commission by baptizing the new believer. I realize that baptism is not considered highly important by many churches, but it needs to be. Baptism is a step of obedience for the new believer … and for the Christian worker who desires to keep the Great Commission.

Finally, we are commanded to educate. A new believer that has been baptized needs to be taught. Jesus said, “... teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Discipleship is a vital part of the Great Commission. We haven't obeyed the Great Commission fully if we fall short of teaching discipleship to new believers. Ultimately, we want to teach new believers to obey the Great Commission themselves. Properly implemented, the Great Commission results in multiplied growth that continues for generations to come.

Here's the big question. Are YOU a Great Commission Christian? Are you actively obeying the Great Commission? Are you seeking to win souls to Christ? Are you leading them to be baptized into a local body of believers? Do you seek to instruct the new believer to be a fully devoted follower of Christ? Are you a Great Commission Christian who leads others to be Great Commission Christians?

The disciples were Great Commission Christians. They evangelized. They baptized those who believed. They emphasized discipleship and Christian doctrine.

The early church took Jesus' command seriously. So should we.

Worshiping God

 WORSHIPING GOD

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” - Psalm 95:6

Humans were created to worship. Since the Garden of Eden until now, men and women have been worshipers. Since Adam's fall, mankind has shifted the focus of his worship from God to other things. In the Old Testament, men worshiped idols that they created and formed in their own hands. In the New Testament, people worshiped religious and human traditions. Even today, worship continues here in America. Some worship a favorite sports team. Others worship a politician or political party. A few are enamored with power and wealth.

Probably the most common idol in America is the worship of self. We are consumed with the person we see in the mirror. We think highly of ourselves and seek to please ourselves at all cost. If you trace every sin to the root, you will probably find selfishness as the key ingredient of every sin man commits.

But mankind was not created to worship this way. We were created to worship God alone. Sin has diverted our attention to lesser matters. Rather than worshiping the God who created us, we have settled for far lower things. We worship the creation rather than the Creator. We worship the gifts rather than the Giver. We adore possessions instead of the One who possesses all things.

Worship stirs us mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Worship is never boring.

Watch a boy when he meets his sports hero. When this boy sees his “hero,” he gets excited. He is stirred. He can't wait to have this athlete sign a picture or memento. He is thrilled to his picture made with this athlete. It is a moment he treasures the rest of his life. We call it, “hero worship.” The boy has high regard for this athlete. He keeps a poster in his bedroom. When this athlete is competing, the boy will sit and watch the event on his television, cheering for his hero throughout the event. Yes, this is worship. The boy is engaged mentally and emotionally just to see this athlete.

Do we have such high regard for God? Isn't He far more worthy of such devotion as an athlete? Do we long to meet with Him? Are we exciting to read about Him in the Bible? Are we looking forward to seeing Him face to face?

If we claim to be followers of Jesus, it should be understood that we are worshipers of God. Yet how can we worship? What is required of us to worship God?

First of all, we must give Him our attention. We give our time and attention to things we value. It is easy to identify what a person treasures because he will devote attention to the object of his devotion. Do we give God our attention? Is He the focus of our mind each day?

Secondly, we must give God our affection. We must put our heart and soul into the experience of worship. Our worship of Him should be an act of love. Worship and love go hand-in-hand. We worship what we love and we love what we worship. For instance, many worship their favorite sports team. They will travel long distances to see them play. They love their team. They worship their team. They show up for their “worship service” hours in advance and actively engage in verbal praise for their idol. Why do we see pagans worship with such zeal and devotion while Christians are very lukewarm and loveless in our worship of the real God? In genuine worship, we give our affection to God.

Finally, we give Him our adoration. Worship is more than hearing a sermon or singing a hymn. Worship is the act of knowing and loving our glorious Lord. As we hear sermons that reveal Him to us and hear songs that draw us close to Him, we adore Him more and more. Our reading of the Scriptures can be an act of worship as we learn about Him. When we pray with faith, we see Him in His majesty and are encouraged to know that this mighty God hears our feeble pleas. When we fellowship with other believers, our faith in Him is strengthened as we hear others share what the Lord is doing in their lives. God should be adored. As we ponder His attributes, we are overwhelmed that this loving God is perfect in all His ways.

In Psalm 95:6, we are invited to worship: “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” Worship humbles us, but exalts our Lord. As we meditate on His holiness, greatness and glory, we are brought to our knees before Him. The proud never worship anyone but themselves. The wise recognize their unworthiness and approach the Lord with fear and faith.

While most of humanity worships their little idols, we should look above to the only true God and worship Him.

He is worthy of such worship.

Delighting In God

DELIGHTING IN GOD

“Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” - Psalm 37:4

When I was growing up, certain things brought me delight. I enjoyed special days like Christmas Day, our annual 4^th of July family reunion and the first day of summer vacation. I looked forward to such events with great expectation.

As an adult, I tend to find delight in the times I spend with family, friends and church. Relationships bring me great enjoyment. Yes, I still look forward to special days and events, but it's the people that bring delight to me.

In Psalm 37, we are told to delight ourselves in the Lord. Based on the facial expression I see among professing Christians, I'd predict that most church members struggle in this area. While they believe in God, they don't really cherish Him. They don't enjoy His presence. They don't seek His face. They don't find much delight in Him. That is tragic.

One of the reasons that Christians struggle to delight themselves in God is because there are so many things that distract them. The enemy has strategically placed many items along the way to lure our attention away from the Lord.

Have you ever driven the freeway at night? For many miles you have only the freeway lights and other cars providing you light. However, when you approach a large city, the entire landscape is illuminated with many buildings, signs and exits. For miles, you've traveled in the darkness of night, but now the bright lights of the city have your attention. You can't help but look at some of the sites. When you see signs advertising a restaurant, you suddenly have an appetite. It takes effort to keep your eyes on the road.

This happens in life. Our eyes need to be focused on Jesus, but there are many bright lights, flashy signs and impressive scenes to capture our attention. We have social media, television, streaming music and the responsibilities of life to keep us occupied. Time that should be dedicated to the Lord and His work is quickly drained by entertainment, social events and hobbies. We find ourselves saying, “no,” to the things we should be doing, while saying, “yes,” to the things we should avoid.

How can we delight ourselves in the Lord?

First of all, we must value Him for who He is. We tend to delight in the things we value most. Sadly, many believers have undervalued the Lord. They would refuse to admit it, but their actions say otherwise. We value money, time and family relationships. I am not critical of this, since each one does have certain value. However, when you realize that these things are gifts from God, it should heighten our value of the Lord. He created money, time and relationships. He gave them to us, simply out of His goodness and love. Furthermore, His gifts are reflections of His grace. Money, time and relationships have limitations. Our Lord is inexhaustible. He is eternal. We need to value Him for who He is. When we value Him as we should, our hearts will gravitate towards Him. We will find our delight in Him.

Secondly, we must give of our time to Him. We need to set aside time to meditate on Him. We should concentrate on the cross and His resurrection. We should consider all the blessings that we have because He has saved us. We need to express our affection through worship and praise. We should regularly give Him thanks for the blessings we receive. We should learn more of Him as we read the Scriptures and hear sound Biblical teaching. We should share in our devotion with other believers at a local church.

As we spend time with the Lord, our delight in Him increases. Psalm 16:11 says, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Notice that we experience joy when we are in His presence. Obviously, the more time we spend with Him, the more this joy abounds. Let us be like Mary, who sat at His feet and heard His word. Our Lord said of her, “Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her,” (Luke 10:42).

The psalmist wrote, “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Most people jump to the end of this verse and then try to manipulate God into giving them what they want. However, the promise of the last part of the verse is contingent upon us keeping the first part of the verse. He gives us the desires of our heart WHEN we delight ourselves in Him. You see, when you delight in the Lord, the desires of your heart begin to change. Rather than desiring worldly possessions, fame or selfish goals, your heart yearns for more and more of Him.

It was said of David that he was a man after God's own heart. Where are the people with a heart for God today? Where are the individuals who refuse to accept anything less than the Lord Himself?

Why can't that person be you?