Defending it.

Hebrews 10:32
32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.

I remember when I first was born again. With little knowledge and no schooling I was ready to tell the world of the transformation taking place in me. I had endless people coming to me to ask me their well thought out questions. People trying to sway me from my faith, and people looking for faith. I found it easy to get my point across; all I knew were the basics of Christianity, not much more than the average Joe. God created a spirit of wisdom in me and I ran with it. I thought I could do anything because my God is big. It was so easy then, to tell you the truth it is still easy to defend my faith, but I know this for only one reason. God's word lives in me.

Matthew 4
The Temptation of Jesus
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him

Jesus always replies with God's word to defend Himself and Satan wasn't even coming at Him with absolute blasphemes. Jesus set the bar for us early in His ministry. Jesus was tempted straight after His baptism and the Word of God was His shield. We need to maintain the word of God within us, it is our only defense. We on our own power cannot stand up to the enemy but with wisdom from God and His hand upon us Great and mighty things can happen.

God bless you and build up your defenses, love the word of God.

Put Him On.

Galatians 3:27 "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." I love it. The first time I read this verse I nearly jumped through the ceiling. I thought "how can I put on Christ, He lives in me but I definitely don't look like Him." Then the conviction came, "I don't look like Christ. I am supposed to be a CHRISTian, I am supposed to emulate Christ." We as Christians need to be in the word of God because the word of God is God (John 1:1.) Living out the word of God is a way of putting on Christ. What else must we do to put on Christ?

Romans 13:10-15 " Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Now this is where truth is found. We have been charged with this list of things, but it all starts with love. There may not be much effort involved directly towards walking properly with Christ; nor in not making provisions for our flesh or the worldly part of us because if we sincerely love Christ and our neighbor as we are commanded; every thing will flow out of it.

Death to self is a MUST in order to accomplish our calling: Romans 6:3-4 "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. " This walking in newness of life follows death to self. This is when we deny ourselves and whatever selfish ambitions and goals and we decide to live for Jesus. Jesus was the sacrifice for our salvation, in emulating Him we need to also deny ourselves and make sacrifices for others... even if they don't deserve it. Who says we deserved salvation, but salvation is because of the Grace of God and His Love. This very same Grace needs to be in our hearts, we need to start doing things for others out of genuine love and not because they deserve it, but just because. When we do these things we become salt to the earth and a light.

The truth is we cannot put on Christ without first dying to self. How can we love our neighbor like we love ourselves if we are relevant. We need to die to self so that our own needs become irrelevant. We need to be standing on the promises of God and know that our needs are already taken care of and live faithfully. In doing this, loving those around us becomes easy and in having strengthened faith we too fall in love with Christ. Thus we are able to shine as we are intended to as a light unto the world.

God bless you and Put on Christ.

Illogical.

I love looking at all of the things Jesus did during His ministry in the Bible and start thinking - "How illogical." I mean who chooses thieves, murderers, tax collectors and grunt fishermen to head their church and legacy. Jesus had the ability to choose whomever He pleased. Jesus could have established His kingdom and reigned in power from the get-go (like the Jews thought He would.) Instead He humbled Himself on earth so He could relate to us on every level. Jesus had the ability to heal people with nothing more than a thought; but He made mud out of dirt and spit and rubbed it on the blind mans eyes, then told him to go wash in the pool of Shalom to receive sight. Why did He do it like that..... What's the deal God.

Now I think of the "what ifs:" What if everything Jesus did was completely logical in the norm. What if everyone who wanted to be healed was so just because they saw Jesus and He knew there was hurt. What if He picked the best of the best to be His disciples? I'll tell you what then... Jesus would not have accomplished His mission.

Before you start throwing rocks at me and calling me a bigot let me explain. Mark 2:13-17 "13Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. 15While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."" The only prerequisite to becoming a born again Christian is to have been a sinner, and all have sinned. His purpose in coming was to show redemption for those in need of it and to illustrate the transformation from dirty sinner to perfect and new creation.

Check this out... Jesus did not come to condemn but to save. We need to understand this being a Christian is following after Jesus. If Jesus did not come to judge and be served on earth while He was manifest here, why should we. There is only on judge and it is not us.

Challenge yourself every day to seek God's will and His method of doing things. There is a separate study as to the "whys" of Jesus method of ministry for everything He did; just remember, Sometimes His will makes sense in the natural, but know that it doesn't always look like we thought it would. We are a peculiar people, follow Jesus.

Purchased with a price.

What will you say when you are face to face with the one true God? What will you do, feel, see, think? Perhaps you already have it all planned out, maybe you have not given it much thought or don't know who the one true God is.

Maybe you don't think such a thing will ever happen, that there is some meaning to this life other than the here and now. I am not going to spend too much time trying to tell you all the reasons why you should believe and live for Jesus. Think of yourself as someone with a brain between you own two ears and realize truth. How did beautiful life of all sorts of forms get on volcanic islands like Hawaii, How does nature seem to have a perfect balance when natural law tends towards chaos. There mus be something greater than us, greater than this world and greater than the here and now.. Ask yourself this question "what if I was wrong?" You see because if I was wrong and there is something more; than what difference did it make; but I know that is not so. If you are wrong and there turns out to be a true God, what will save you. That being said: ponder a while and read on.

The other day I was on my way home and I saw a crimson moon. It sparked something strange in me. I thought "perhaps the Lord is coming," then something happened. I said to myself, "Not now, I have not yet fully repented." What a shocker... I a young pastor tooo am not perfect. I felt fully convicted of what had not yet been accomplished and what things had not yet been fully given up.

God knows our hearts, how would I have been able to stand before God with all of my conviction and guilt in the natural. I will tell you how. God's Grace will be ever evident. When I see the scars on His hands and feet I will see what a price was paid for me. My sins are as far away as the east is from the west and so are your. I must remind myself that I am a new and perfect creature every day and of the price that was paid for this new creation. Some say there is a great lake our past and repented sin is thrown into and a sign is put up saying "no fishing."

Paul states in the epistles, "do you not know you were purchased with a price." I Cor. 6:19-20 "19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." and 7:22-24 "22For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. 23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to." Note this is a statement or rhetorical question. He was writing this letter to a church, no doubt; but God is speaking to the world though it.

I know any person who receives Christ in their life will be saved. Jesus already paid the price. This gift of eternal life is for everyone. Jesus said to follow Him is to take up you cross daily: Luke 9:23 "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

So when Jesus comes to establish His Kingdom, What will you say?

We the Sheep.

We live in a world of diverse people, with diverse beliefs and diverse motives. Of the innumerable personalities and walks of life, one thing is always common; a sense of cause and effect, karma, or some kind of repercussion for the past, it's the physics of life. This is a natural correlation wired in the brain of man. However; one thing God provides is a revelation of weakness and flaws of past and present and He places a memorial for the future. He does this through the rod and the staff; The tools of a shepherd.

Psalm 23:4 (New International Version)

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

Shepherds had to be mighty people of wisdom and valor. I don't believe just any one person could be a shepherd; there were key qualities to be found in a shepherd: courage, Loyalty, Will, Love, and Wisdom.

"Hang on a second, we are talking about sheep here, harmless sheep, not lions. Why would so many qualities be needed to (Baby-sit) harmless sheep?" The need is there because wolves and lions perceive these sheep to be just as harmless. Any little wimp isn't going to risk their life to fend of fierce predators, (courage, loyalty.) Just as well sheep often loose their way; not on purpose, but one blade of grass at a time, (Love, Wisdom.)

Besides being equip with all these characteristics, a shepherd has two tools in his hand: a rod and a staff. When I picture a shepherd, he is normally holding his staff with a crook at the end. I don't picture him with the rod. It just doesn't seem to fit the character. The staff is a gentle tool, it has a long reach and a finesse about it. The staff is used to give direction to the sheep by using the crook around the neck. This is a gentle and comforting tool; it is used often and used out of love. Perhaps this is why I picture a shepherd with the staff.

When a shepherd picks up the rod, the situation is serious. The rod symbolizes power. The shepherd relies on the rod to scare away or beat down predators. This is not the only use either; the rod is commonly used to discipline sheep who don't respond to the staff. First the shepherd will give nudges and taps of warning to the sheep. If they still are disobediant the shepherd may physically reprimand the sheep with the rod. Finally if all else fails, in the case of a stuburn sheep, the rod is used to break a leg so to assure the sheep cannot wander. Although harsh, this saves the sheeps life.

There is much to be learned about people and human nature from sheep. God is the shepherd possessing all of the ability and tools to protect and lead His flock. People are stubborn creatures, not because of our upbringing bur our nature. Man is the greatest of God's creation on earth and won't ignore it either. However; great and intelligent in our realm of reality; we are but stubborn sheep in true reality with God. Because of our self-absolved ways and poor perception of reality we often go astray and approach danger; not on purpose, but one little thing at a time.

Our shepherd will aways lobe us first and guide us gently with His staff. He will use signs or people to worn us of our mis-direction and point the proper way out. A word of warning from a loved one or friend, a feeling of uncertainty, guilt or shame, the "maybe I shouldn't" notions. These are examples of the initial lulls of the staff.

If we continue along a stray path and ignore the gentle draw of the staff; greater measures may be taken. At this point the shepherd is going to warn us of the rod. These lobe taps may sting a little but warn us of more to come. This is likened to temporary punishments or suspensions, a probationary time issued or a warning of no further toleration. I like to think of this as the "ultimatum." We are made aware of great consequences if we continue along the path. The shepherd does not wish to follow through with the rod, He wants an obedient response before things go that far.

Now it is the last straw, an extremely stubborn sheep requires extreme measures to break it. This is something both the shepherd and sheep don't look forward to, but must occur. The shepherd must make Himself absolutely clear. A beating must take place. The rod is used as it is meant to be... to inflict lumps of pain and lasting discomfort. This is a beating the sheep will not forget. It leaves a mark, a memorial of what has taken place. A thorn in Paul's side or a limp in Jacob's walk. At this point a sheep in any right mind will recognize the power and authority of the shepherd. Perhaps now aware of the rod, the sheep will respond better to the staff.

Could you imagine being a sheep among a flock with no shepherd or a shepherd with no rod, no staff? There would be no protection, no sense of security, no direction. Imagine also if an old stubborn wild sheep were to suddenly have a good shepherd. How well would this sheep adapt. I would think it will take an extreme instance to make the sheep subjected to the shepherd. Now imaging being a sheep which does not know life without a shepherd, I bet this sheep does rather well in response to the shepherd. There have been two different walks of life for the sheep and both have strengths and weaknesses.

I also find the shepherd will always do everything in His power regardless of the sheep's past to ensure their well being and response to Him. The shepherd needs to be recognized as a powerful and wise protector and leader. The shepherds motives are for the love of the sheep.

We all have been lead by the Shepherd (God) whether we know it or not. We have been guided by the staff, protected from predators (Satan) and disciplined with the rod. Either we have grown up with the shepherd and know Him, or the shepherd has been taking great measures to wake us up and will continue to until we do. God loves us, He wants the best for us. It is up to us to submit to His terms and His power because His rod may be coming. Be broken and live.

Judged By The Cover.

While attending a spirit filled conference in Kansas City I was first awe-inspired by the shier volume of people. We were seated in a convention center with a capacity of over 11 thousand; it was over capacity and overflow rooms were opened to accommodate. All these people were worshiping and seeking God.

Myself and five others left to eat and came back an hour later to something dreadful. It was a large room full of about 1500 people and 8000 items, clutter on seats. Claims and reservations. Absolutely shocked by the absent ministry leaders and seekers replaced by papers, gloves, bibles, and homemade laminates. I felt offended, then compassion. A good 90 total and 100% of the closest seats were reserved, with no on there. It told me they thought they deserved the spot more than the disciplined who show early. Then I felt compassion for them; as they are trying to run a selfless ministry with self-deserving hearts and they had not been convicted.

Today I have a simple challenge; what I have written is an observation of 11000 leaders in churches throughout the nation. What message are we putting out? What message are you putting out? Take some time and ask God to search you and convict you, we need to be light and salt.
God bless.

Having Beautiful Feet.

Today I am going to use scripture to paint the background for this message. God's word is the manual to our lives, I feel it is appropriate to use it.

Colossians 3:1-2 "1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

What are the things of above?

Revelation 7:16 "16Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat."

Revelation 22:5 "5There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 21:25 "25On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there."

Philippians 1:27 "27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel"

Romans 10:11-15

11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." [Isaiah 28:16 says "whoever believes will not act hastily."]12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." [Joel 2:32 Whoever calls on the name...]

14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Paul proposes a series of circumstantial but real issues as to the expansion of Gods Kingdom. Verses 14 & 15 seem to be a missionaries selling point and mission statement combined. He creates conviction and perpetuates action with these philosophical questions. He uses established Old Testament evidences to elebate a New Testament concept. How effective would he have been in addressing Rome plainly with "Jesus said...?" The interest and impact of this message would have certainly diminished.

• To call on the name of the Lord, one must know the name of the Lord.
• To know the name of the Lord/King is to know and believe in it's meaning
• In order to hear and understand one must be told.
• To be told, one must be sent to preach.
• To preach is to have beautiful feet.
• To have blessed feet is to have a blessed body and path in life. (this also might represent a blessed foundation on which one stands.
• Ultimately feet are goofy looking a commonly dirty, to be blessed is to overlook these and find them absolutely beautiful.
• Preachers of the Good News need continual blessings and Gods hand of guidance and healing in order to go on.

A Preachers Guidelines.

2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction."
1 Timothy 4:13 "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of scripture, to preaching and to teaching"
1 Timothy 2:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
Timothy was given strict guidelines to set the bar high, the same instructions go to all who preach Jesus. God is always guiding you . Isaiah 30:21-22 "whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying "This is the way; walk in it." Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!"

Whatever your calling, seek it for the betterment of the Kingdom of Heaven, Follow the guidelines given to us in scripture to maintain a Godly composure and Gods blessing. Carry the Gospel with you always, wherever you go.

God bless.