What If We Have A Martha Spirit And A Mary Desire?

There is this wonderful tension in the Body of Christ between work and rest. It shouldn't be a tension and the reason it exists is because most of us have a wrong understanding of work and rest. There is no time like the present to get a better grasp on these Kingdom positions.

Most of us have heard the story of Mary and Martha many times. We have sat through many sermons, maybe looked at it in a Bible study and may have even read a book about it. Let's sum it up for those who don't remember.

Jesus was visiting the home of his friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. While he was teaching, the two ladies took up two very different positions. Martha was the oldest woman in the house so she took up the traditional position of hostess and was occupied in the kitchen with meal preparation for their guests. Mary should have been assisting her big sister but she took up an unfamiliar position.

As a woman at this time it was demanded of Mary that she be in the kitchen with her sister. According to the Pharisees it was illegal to teach a woman the Torah. But here we find Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening, learning and being taught. This is when tradition reared its ugly head and attacked the unfamiliar position and it tried to involve Jesus. Much to Martha's shock Jesus lifted up Mary's position and told tradition that Mary had made the better choice.

Now what do we do with this? Most of us have some of the Martha attitude. We like to be busy doing things. We like work. We were actually made for work and feel much better when we are doing it. So what if we have a Martha spirit and a Mary desire? How do we deal with this tension considering how much value churches put on doers?

When Jesus told Martha that Mary had made the better choice he was not condemning work. Instead he was demonstrating the order of position. We are told through Scripture that our actions matter. We are told to be doers of the Word. We are told love is not love without action. So work is not the problem but the root can be. Look at what Paul wrote to Timothy:

"Consider carefully all that I've taught you, and may our Lord inspire you with wisdom and revelation in everything you say and do. But make Jesus, the Anointed One, your focus in life and ministry." 2 Timothy 2:7-8 TPT

Work is not the problem, our position is. We are meant to always be in a position of relationship, a position of receiving, a position of student, of growth, of maturing. It is a position where we keep Jesus as our focus, our center, our raison d'etre, our First Love. Now we can say that he is all that and more to us but our actual position will reveal if he is.

Most of us have the desire of Mary but we act on the habits and traditions of Martha. We do everything in his name but not necessarily from a First Love relationship. You know what I mean. We get in the habit of doing, responding and working according to the needs of others but he has called us, not to strive, but to rest. It is in this position of rest that he is able to work through us. It is in this position of rest that we hear his voice and know his heart. It is in this rest that we are able to follow his instructions and from the overflow of this relationship the Kingdom advances.

There is a big difference in work that is done from a position of rest and work that is done from a position of work. What we do for the Lord will always fall short of what the Lord wants to do through us. His work through us will never exhaust us and will produce fruit beyond our imagining.  It takes a mindset of surrender to remain in this position of rest.

When we can go days or weeks without talking to Jesus or hearing from him then we have slipped from position. When our day's schedule is filled with his work  and not his relationship then we have slipped from position. When being industrious becomes our measuring rod instead of being like the King, we have slipped from position. Being a Martha is not the problem. The problem is being a Martha without Mary's position.

If we are finding ourselves in a place of striving, in a place of "stressed out" from doing, a position of exhaustion then we are walking in Martha's footsteps, serving from our own strength instead of the King's. That does not honour him. We are suppose to steward our calling and ministry better than that. Make Jesus your focus in life and ministry. In this way you will honour your King, honour yourself and honour your neighbour. Martha, may the Lord open open your heart to receive this.

 

Rescue The Perishing, Care For The Dying

Why do people need Jesus? What is in your head when you are thinking about presenting Jesus to someone? Is it to save them from hell? Is it to point them in the direction of heaven? Perhaps it is to lessen some of their suffering in this place? What is your motivation and what do you see the root cause to be?

I ask these questions because it is never good to go into battle with some vague notion of what we are doing. Unfortunately for some Christian warriors, they don't even get as far as to consider these questions. They are so caught up in their own life, their own problems, that they aren't even in the fight. But life here isn't about us; not any more. It is about Jesus and his mission to save as many souls that are willing to be saved.

I find it important to remind myself what we are engaged in. Part of it was exposed in yesterday's scripture:

"and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." (2 Timothy 2:26)

I find this to be one of the most revealing scriptures as to what we are involved in. It is more than just trying to get people to come to church. It is more than wanting to see their self-destructive behaviour change. It is more than wanting to see them enter into God's glory. These people are prisoners, taken captive by the enemy of our King. These people need to be freed.

They have been in captivity so long they identify with their capture. They are more familiar with his ways than they are with God's righteousness. They don't even realize what a terrible position they are in. We are involved with God's rescue plan to rescue them from captivity so they may again have the freedom of choice. Believe it or not, some will choose to go back to captivity, but praise be to Jesus, some will be rescued.

Our role is pivotal. Our Father planned it; Jesus completed it; and the Spirit is here to equip us to present it. But as I said yesterday, salvation belongs to God. It is his work. What he has called us to partner with him in is the presentation. The good news must be presented. People must be told about Jesus. They need to hear the reality of their situation. They have to hear why they need to be rescued.

We are not in this to win brownie points with God. This is not our way of earning a ticket to heaven. This is a calling of love, filled with compassion for a people who are lost just like we were. They are trapped by the devil but in such a way that they can't even see the trap. They are not only held in captivity but they willingly do what the enemy directs them to do. It is a horrible situation and we need to be reminded about it every day.

It is unfortunate that we have spent so much time building community; so much time building a sub-culture. We put tons of time and energy into our music and literature industries. We are back to building wonderful cathedrals to man's great success at building community. There is so much time and energy that goes into teaching, with class after class and seminars galore. We have great women, men and youth conferences. We really live as a world within a world, but what impact is there from all of this. How is Jesus' spiritual uprising transforming the lives of the people of this world? We have this great community but yet, all I can hear Jesus saying is, go.

We talk the talk but I am not convinced that we are convinced that salvation is urgent. I don't think we have a good mental image of what we are involved in. I think we are more interested in conformity over the need for full transformation by the blood of the Lamb. Honestly, is there any sense of urgency? Do we see our friends and family in captivity by the enemy? Is there any compelling by the Spirit to get into the trenches and get into the fight?

If we don't care we should at least be obedient because we love Jesus. Jesus told us to go. But at the same time, I think we should be concerned if we don't care. How can we not have compassion for those who are stuck in the same ugly place that we were rescued from? May the Spirit press this matter on us until our eyes are re-opened to the condition of our neighbour. Come on warrior, we have been called by the King.

Don't Be A Bully For God

How are you at handling conflict? Most of us are not very good at it and so try to avoid it. It is good to avoid conflict where possible but it is not always possible. Sometimes we have no choice but to face up to it and it is in those times I am wondering about. How do you handle those conflicts that cannot be avoided?

Many of us steel ourselves so that we can be protected against what is coming at us. Sometimes we allow anger to become our defense. We allow anger to become a wall that prevents anything from getting at us. But anger is also a weapon that causes injury. Conflicts do not have to end in hurt.

The problem with conflict is that we allow it to become personal. We keep getting in the way. A conflict does not have to be about us. We don't have to own it. It doesn't have to be part of us. We do not need to allow it to consume us or to even touch our heart. If we understood Jesus correctly we would know that there is nothing in this world that we value or that we should feel attached to. If we understood this then there would be a lot less hurt in conflict. People cannot offend us when our value and worth is not found in us but in Jesus alone. This is how Paul was able to instruct Timothy:

Be humble when you correct people who oppose you. (2 Timothy 2:25)

Everything is done in humility, even correction. The way this is possible is when we respect a person's right to choose. Some people say that they love people too much to respect their decision to reject Jesus. Funny, God has done everything he can to rescue us and his love for us is of far greater worth than ours for people, but he leaves the choice to us. He will never force his will upon us, but we must understand there is a day when we will face the consequences of our decisions. This is what people need to understand but we must it explain it with the same attitude as God's; we have to respect a person's right to choose.

I know we love people and we want them rescued from the destruction of hell. We have the truth and we want to convince people but forcing them into something is wrong and will not last. It is not enough to pray a prayer; it has to be the conviction of the heart. The only way we can obey God is through love. The only way repentance is sincere is through love. The only way we can work out our salvation daily is through love and love does not happen when someone is forced into something that they are not convinced of.

Salvation does not belong to us; it is the work of God. We are only messengers, conveyors of the good news, and trophies of God's grace. Arguing with someone over salvation will not work. Becoming angry and shouting at someone about their actions and attitudes will do nothing but convince them you are a bully. Read Paul's instructions to Timothy and see who is actually responsible for touching the heart and mind of the person you are speaking with:

Be humble when you correct people who oppose you. Maybe God will lead them to turn to him and learn the truth. They have been trapped by the devil, and he makes them obey him, but God may help them escape. (2 Timothy 2:25-26) 

We have the responsibility to always present the truth but it is God who changes the hearts of men. So we speak the truth in humility, avoiding senseless arguments, presenting Jesus and allowing the Spirit to do the rest. We must go. We must present. We must tell others, but do it with an attitude that pleases God.

God does not need bullies. He does not need those who will allow their emotions to control their mouth. He needs warriors, controlled by the Spirit who are willing to go anywhere and speak to anyone about Jesus, in humility and love. If people decide not to listen, it is their decision. Salvation is by the conviction of the Spirit. He will use your words that he gives to you to speak but he will not use your persuasion. Just speak the truth plainly and allow the Spirit to do the rest. Don't take their rejection personally. It is not you they are rejecting. Trust God in this as you trust him in everything else.

Parenting In The Church

Have you ever wanted to be a teacher? Imagine the opportunity to shape young minds, to share knowledge and wisdom and see the reward of your students' great success. Sounds great in theory but it is more like trench warfare. What do you do with a classroom full of students who do not want to learn, who build walls and fail to see the importance of expanding their minds? So in reality, the greatest thing a teacher can ever achieve is to get his students to the point of wanting to learn. As soon as a teacher does that, he has equipped that student for the rest of his life. Is it better to give a fish or to teach how to fish? Is it better to give out knowledge or to teach how to gain knowledge?

The Church needs good teachers but the Word appears to make it a bit confusing. In one passage we are being chastised for not gaining enough maturity to be teachers and in another we are being told that we should not all assume to be teachers. The difference is the same difference between a school teacher and a parent.

There is no teacher more important or greater than a parent. Parents will teach their children to eat, walk, talk, sing, laugh, and share. Parents will teach the difference between what is good and what is bad and how to love. They teach them the foundations of life without an instruction book or curriculum. They do it with words and they do it by example. They teach as their parents'taught them. They teach the practical lessons of life. School teachers teach the formal education, which is also important but has a different nature and purpose. Sometimes school teachers end up teaching both because parents forget their responsibility.

In the Church all of us are like parents. We demonstrate the foundational aspect of our walk with Jesus. New Christians watch our example, listen to our testimonies and see how life is lived in a practical manner. We have our formal teachers, who are very important, who explain the words and teach us about things like the importance of love, but how that is applied is seen in the example of the "parents".

That is why we read from James:

My friends, we should not all try to become teachers. In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others. (James 3:1, CEV)

These are those of the five-fold ministry, who have a special anointing for the task, and who are responsible for bringing to us our formal "education". We need them but not everyone should assume to be one. However, we are all parents and should have such a maturity that we set a good example of the "working out" of our salvation daily. This is why we read this correction in Hebrews:

By now you should have been teachers, but once again you need to be taught the simplest things about what God has said. You need milk instead of solid food. People who live on milk are like babies who don’t really know what is right. (Hebrews 5:12-13)

We need maturity to be a good parent. I think we all understand that a 6 year old would not make a good parent. Either would a 14 year old or 16 or even in many cases an 18 year old, because they have not yet gained maturity. That is not saying they are not mature as an 18 year old but parenting often takes more than an 18 year old's maturity.

Spiritual maturity does not work in the same way; it is not based on time. Spiritual maturity is based on surrender and obedience. It is based on faith and trust. It is based on our centeredness in Jesus. This is important for church leadership to understand as well.

In his description of what Christians should look like, Paul told Timothy:

They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient. (2 Timothy 2:24b)

Every Christian is a teacher but not formally. Everyone of us should have such maturity that we teach as parents teach. Few parents sit down with a blackboard and draw out how the principle of walking works. Instead, with a great deal of patience, a parent takes the child's hand and helps them learn to walk by trying again, and again, and again. When that first step of independence is taken there is a great celebration, the video is shared with everyone and a parent brims with pride.

New Christians need just as much attention and care. They don't need formal instruction from us because they will get that from those called to do so. They need people who will take them by the hand and will demonstrate a consistent, practical walk with Jesus. That new Christian will stumble and fall and will need loving, patient hands to help them to their feet again. But there is no excuse for parents who are impatient, unkind and fail to demonstrate the practical living of God's Word. Every Christian should have maturity to be kind to everyone, to be good parent-teachers and to be very patient.

The only real question to ask ourselves is, have we reached the level of maturity to be a parent?

What Does A Christian Look Like?

These are confusing days we are living in, especially if you are trying to figure out how a Christian is suppose to think and act. So many voices. So many opinions. And that is just in the Church. Let's add in the pressure from the media and special interest groups. There is also the mounting opinion of a changing society, calling wrong right and right wrong. But no one can dictate to you what God has or has not said. You have it right there in your hand, the Word of God, and you are possessed by the great teacher, the Holy Spirit. As a Christian you are not into opinions; yours or anyone else's. All that matters is the Father's will.

Paul has given us a good idea of what we should look like when we are possessed by the Spirit and bent on doing the Father's will:

- running from temptation
- doing what is right (God's definition, not society's)
- being faithful
- being loving
- easy to get along with

And then we hit our Achilles heal:

Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. (2 Timothy 2:23)

How many times have you been pulled into stupid and senseless arguments over disputable matters? We didn't mean to go there but we just wanted to correct their thinking or understanding on something. Before we know it we are in a huge argument and people are being hurt.Was it worth it? Did we make our point? Will that person ever be open to talking with us again?

Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble, and God’s servants must not be troublemakers. (2 Timothy 2:23-24)

True, so very true. Often times we are not to teach but simply to share our testimony. We tell people what Jesus has done for us or maybe something that happened this week that shows his great grace. Not everyone is a teacher. I am a teacher and I still avoid senseless arguments.

Sometimes arguments are senseless because the person is not yet ready to receive. I am having an ongoing discussion with one gentleman who has been influenced by some Mormon teaching. He actually believes that only 144,000 people will get into heaven. I discussed the truth of this with him but his reply was "It all depends on interpretation". I could see that this discussion was only going to do more damage than good so I changed the subject. We will re-visit this topic again but at that particular moment he was closed to anything I had to say. It became a stupid and senseless argument.

Paul says that we are not to be troublemakers. We are not here to force anything on anyone. Like Jesus, we make ourselves available, we talk about Jesus to everyone and spend time with those who want to know more. It is their choice if they do not want to receive the good news we have to share. But that doesn't stop us from loving them or showing them compassion. Paul says of us:

They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient. (v. 24b) 

Of being teachers and correctors I will write more tomorrow but for today, drink in this image that Paul has given to us of what a servant of Jesus Christ looks like. The most important things are, study the Word and listen to the Spirit. Know the difference between your voice and that of the Spirit's. After God, people are the most important thing in your life. Learn how to treat people according to the Father's will and you will be a faithful servant of the King.

A Super Market Of Churches

The Christian Church reminds me a lot of a supermarket these days. You can find a little of everything to suit your taste. If you support women preachers go to that church. If you like believe in speaking in tongues go to this church. If you hold to gay marriage go to that church over there.  It is hard to know what the Church holds on to as beliefs any more because the teaching is as varied as people. We are making God out to be whatever we want or need him to be. But that isn't the Church.

It comes down to interpreting the Word of God, or at least that is what I have been told time and again recently. The problem with interpretation is that it has to go through our own personal set of filters. We tend to ignore the stuff we don't like or excuse it away. Looking at the Word of God this way means it is wide open to abuse and it most certainly has been abused. We can make the Word say whatever we want it to say according to our own personal prejudices.

The problem with all of this is that we have left out the very important part of "deny yourself". Following Jesus has been very aptly explained in a couple of steps in the Word. First we are crucified with Jesus, so we die. We die to ourselves, to sin, to desires, hopes, dreams, opinions and this world. This is the part people tend to overlook or forget. We go right to the second step which is to be made alive in Jesus. Well we can't be made alive in Jesus if we have not died. So we have this fake thing happening.

We conform most of our behaviour to that of Jesus but our heart actually remains the same. There has been no transformation because transformation requires death, a letting go of everything we knew, especially our opinions, and living in Jesus through the Holy Spirit. In a society that prizes individual rights and freedoms, this is hard. What Christians should be understanding is that we are taking orders and directions from the Spirit and not doing what we think is best based on our knowledge.

This is how we read the Word, not through our experience and opinions, but through Jesus. The Word says that we know his mind. We don't know his mind if we have not died. We only know his mind when we have been crucified with him, raised to life in him, possessed of the Spirit and seeking only the Father's will. Anything less than this has the danger of "interpreting" God's Word with our filters. If we use our filters we will always bend God's Word to our desires.

Perhaps this is the reason Paul instructed Timothy:

Worship with people whose hearts are pure. (2 Timothy 2:22)

The only heart that is pure is that which is possessed by Jesus. The only heart that can be possessed by Jesus is the one that has voluntarily died, been crucified with Jesus and has been raised to life in Jesus. I repeat, in Jesus because there is no life found in us, only what is found in Jesus. We can't live for ourselves and Jesus. We can't serve both this world and God. Holiness requires that we find no value in this world or opinion of man but instead we live on every word from God. Anything less and we are lying to ourselves.

So I have a problem when people talk about interpretation. It usually means the person has a personal agenda and is creating God in the image of his own sinful desires. When we have died to self, been made alive in Jesus, the only interpretation we need comes from the Spirit and is always the will of the Father and not our own. Stop looking for a church that meets your own personal beliefs. Repent of your selfish ways and seek believers whose hearts are pure.  

Faithful, Loving And Easy To Get Along With

It seems these days that socially awkward nerds are in. In my day we were just picked on. Being socially awkward is no joke as it leaves people feeling on the outside. Often it is just a matter of being unsure what is acceptable behaviour in a new environment. It happened to me when I went from elementary school to junior high school. In elementary I had all my friends I had grown up with. We knew what to expect from each other and we accepted each other. Bigger school, lots of kids I didn't know, not many friends and no idea how to conduct myself. It left me standing on the outside looking in, which made me a target. This also happens in the Christian family more than we realize.

Imagine knowing what is acceptable behaviour for most of your adult life. You have your friends, family and all the various activities you enjoy. You have a certain way of talking, certain language you use. Suddenly you are introduced to Jesus, you are gloriously saved, born again and now everything is different. The difference is as great as a baby going from the womb to the world. Big shock. How does one behave in this new setting? What is acceptable? What isn't?

Unfortunately too many churches take these people under their wings and teach them how to conform to the acceptable behaviour of that particular church. But it isn't about conformity. Jesus Christ is all about transformation. We need to be teaching new Christians how to hear and obey the Spirit so the Spirit can continue with the transformation process. God does not want us to change our behaviour; he wants to change our heart which will affect our behaviour.

Yesterday we considered Paul's instructions to Timothy to run from temptation and to do what is right. These instructions should always be understood as our actions in cooperation to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. In and of ourselves we are not capable of righteousness but, because of the ongoing transformation in us, we are capable. Consider this instruction:

Be faithful, loving, and easy to get along with. (2 Timothy 2:22, CEV)

Consider the words carefully. Weigh them against your heart and your behaviour. This is what is acceptable behaviour in the Kingdom of God. This is the crowd you hang out with now. The Spirit of God in you desires this in you. He is working to make it happen but we have to make the decision to cooperate, to make these our daily goals. It is only possible when we are determined each day to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus. The moment we allow "self" to start getting in the way is the moment we fail.

Be faithful; to the covenants that we make; to Jesus and to each other. Be faithful to the promises that we make. Be faithful to relationships. Be faithful to the Church and the leaders Jesus has placed us under. Be faithful to what is good, holy and pleasing to God. Be faithful.

Be loving. I am constantly stymied by this. If we are not honest with ourselves we will gloss over it with "Of course I am loving" but when we really examine God's love against our hearts then we are overwhelmed by our failure. I am tired and allow "self" to get in the way as I correct my child. The words come out harsh and unkind. Correction is very necessary but harshness is not. My wife asks me to turn off a light she forgot. She just got into bed and I have been there for ten minutes, almost asleep. "Self" would tell her to do it herself. Love would only be too glad to serve my wife. If I do it with resentment in my heart it is not love. This is a major thing to realize that God's transformation means a cooperation to be loving. And if we aren't then we had better examine ourselves to see if we understand how he has loved us.

Be easy to get along with. We could spend a long time on this one. Don't be argumentative. Make people your priority. Don't judge behaviour when it is the heart that matters. Don't develop a protectionist attitude that will separate you from the world. Don't accept sin but don't allow it to keep you in your house either. Jesus told us to "go" and make disciples. We can't do that hiding in our house. If a brother or sister sees something in the Word a bit different from you that's okay. God teaches all of us. If that thing is going to take them away from Jesus then speak to your pastor for advice on what to do and what to say. Most importantly, listen to the Spirit and follow his lead. Whatever you do, be loving and easy to get along with.

This whole section is pretty solid in instruction on Kingdom behaviour. We would all be in a better place if we studied this and asked the Spirit's help in implementing it in our lives. Remember, it is already in you through the desire of the Spirit to see this completed in you, it only requires our cooperation. Walk in the Spirit today my friend and see how much of "self" needs to be kicked to the curb.

Do What Is Right

After having spent some time with Jesus on the cross and in the resurrection, I am turning back to our walk through  2 Timothy. In his last letter to his friend Timothy, with the prospect of not seeing him again, Paul is giving him some sound instruction.

We could all use some sound instruction these days as our culture and society continue to erode with the threat of taking us with it. We have to have clear understanding of who we are in Jesus and how that should play out in our daily living. We need to have sign posts to tell us what holiness looks like. This is important because we have many who claim Jesus as Saviour but live a life that is in direct opposition to his character. The goal of the Holy Spirit is to make us all like Jesus.

Paul touches on several bite size things here so we are going to take our time walking through them. He writes:

Run from temptations that capture young people. Always do the right thing. (2 Timothy 2:22, CEV)

This seems to be my theme in these recent days, "run from evil". Paul says here to run from temptations. He specifically says "that capture young people". This seems to indicate that the older you get the more you grow out of some things. That's not to say that they are no longer there, just that they are not as powerful as they were. Hopefully some wisdom has also been gained to understand the natural consequences to certain actions, but wisdom should not be assumed for everyone.

Is this to say that young people are weak? Not at all. I know a number of young men and women who have surprised me by their great maturity and faith. But I also know that these spiritually mature young people have great struggles to overcome certain things in their lives. Some of you may be thinking that sex tops the list or great longing to have someone to love them. As strong as these are they are not at the top. I would count pride and arrogance as the top temptations. This is countered by the humility of Jesus.

We could make up a long list but the list is not what matters here. What matters is the instruction to run from temptation. But how do we recognize temptation? How do we know when something is against the character of Jesus? How do we know when something is wrong? The simple answer is to study what is right. If you know Jesus, know his character, his actions, you will know when something does not fit.

I have been told that the people who have to detect fake currency have one sure way of telling the fake from the genuine. They do not spend years studying counterfeit work. They spend time studying the genuine article. They know the genuine so well that they can spot a counterfeit in an instant. If you want to know what is of God, know Jesus.

Along with this, and more importantly, we are possessed by the Holy Spirit who convicts of things that do not belong to God. This is not an inner voice or a conscience but is the direct intervention of God. The Spirit will not prevent you from sinning but he will make you aware that the temptation you are considering is not of God and you should have nothing to do with it. It will always be your choice to obey or not. Paul's instructions is to run from that thing. Don't just tolerate it and not participate but run, and I would add, run quickly.

Always do what is right. Not right as you consider right. Not your own personal code of right and wrong. Not even what others consider acceptable and not acceptable. Do what is right according to God. His is the only correct measuring gauge. You will know what is right and wrong by the Holy Spirit in you and confirmed in the Word of God. The Spirit will never direct you outside of the Word but please do not try to live the Word without the Holy Spirit. That is like getting married without love. You can do it but there is no joy in it. It is hollow, empty, without life and will eventually fail in what a marriage is suppose to be. We live our life in Jesus through the Holy Spirit, confirmed in the Word of God.

Now run from temptation and do what is right. Don't live by your own personal code. Live by the Spirit of God and I guarantee you, it will change your day.

I Have Decided To Say No To Evil

When someone is acting immature we often hear them being told to act their age. If we recognize this can be an issue emotionally and mentally why don't we recognize the same problem spiritually? Why are we afraid to tell people to "grow up" spiritually? Apostle Paul never seemed to have this problem as he often told people to "grow up".

If we were to do this the best place to start is in the mirror. Following Jesus requires some mature decision making. It means setting aside whatever we want, to follow the instructions of the King. Maybe that's the first problem. Maybe we see him too much as a friend and forget he is King. His commands are not suggestions. He doesn't tell us to follow his commands if we feel like it. He tells us to obey because we love him. Love does not demand less of us but more. There is no stronger motivator in life than love. Some would say fear is the strongest motivator but I think that's because they have not experienced real love.

Here's the thing: You were called to be holy, set apart, special, for God's use. I can't stress that last part enough: You are intended for God's use. God's holy instrument. His servant. His warrior. His man. His woman. His child. Paul explains it to Timothy:

In a large house some dishes are made of gold or silver, while others are made of wood or clay. Some of these are special, and others are not. (2 Timothy 2:20)

Some of you will understand this. There are dishes that you use every day and then there are the special occasion dishes. There is the flatware and then there is the silverware. If one of the daily use dishes gets broken you may be a little upset but that is nothing compared to how upset you would be if one of the good dishes was broken. You place special value on these for special events.

That’s also how it is with people. The ones who stop doing evil and make themselves pure will become special. Their lives will be holy and pleasing to their Master, and they will be able to do all kinds of good deeds. (v. 21)

Stop doing evil! Turn from it. Run from it! You know what tempts you and causes you to fall, so stay away from it. Some would say, "But only God can keep me from evil". Jesus has made it possible for you to make that decision. He has opened the door. He has sent us the Holy Spirit. But we have to make the decision. We have to turn from it. He has made it possible for us to have the strength to say "no" but we are the ones who have to say "no". So say it already.

We are not intended to be common. We are not intended to be dailyware. We are intended for God's holy purpose and we will step into that the moment we stop doing evil and make ourselves pure. We are made pure by the blood of the Lamb. We remain pure by daily walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit. It is as simple as that. Make the decision not just to accept the cross but to live in obedience to the King.

The Church is a family of believers, filled by the power of the Holy Spirit to do God's will on this earth. But we can't operate in that power if we are double-minded, prostituting ourselves, trying to hide the evil we do in the dark. That power can only flow freely when we walk away from everything that is not part of God and immerse ourselves in Jesus every moment of the day so we are always available to him whenever and wherever, however he wants to use us. We should desire to have the power to fulfill God's will daily. 

You know the things that you do, the things you decide to do that are not acceptable to God. Anything he says is not acceptable is evil. Make the decision right now to walk away from that thing. Repent, which means to go in the opposite direction. Don't just stop but cry out to God. Run to him. I mean run fast to him, with all your energy. He will forgive you and will allow you to step into his holiness, set aside exclusively for his use. Stop prostituting yourself to another and realize you uniquely belong to the King, our Lord Jesus Christ.

It All Depends On How You Look At It

Someone responded to my criticism of Rob Bell yesterday by stating that how we see the Bible depends on interpretation. I agree whole heartily and add that the vast majority of us are interpreting God's Word according to our own selfish desire. The only interpretation that is worth receiving is that given through the revelation of the Holy Spirit but we are too self-focused to listen to the Spirit. We would rather hear from man's interpretation, the kind that comes from man's own wisdom, interpreted through man's desires. Can you imagine how that turns out? You don't have to imagine, just look around.

We can go back and look at the original language, tear things apart, look at them under a microscope, debate them, chew on them, and apply it to our current culture. The problem is that man changes. Our values change. Our culture changes. Our desires change as do our priorities. But God doesn't change. Interpreting his Word to make it more relevant to our culture is plan stupid. God is always relevant regardless of the culture. Society is not suppose to shape the Church, the Church is suppose to influence the society.

Man does not get to define good and bad. We do not get to decide what God considers evil. God has defined it and man has ignored it. We don't need to pick on homosexuality here, we have a whole list of things we can choose from. We can pick on abortion if you want. Do you know how many Christians have murdered their babies because society says it is okay? They ignore what God says and accept murder. I know of many Christians who decide to live with their boyfriend or girlfriend in a sexual relationship because society accepts it and God considers them married, or so they say.

Let me get a little more personal. I am not throwing stones here because I have no leg to stand on. I have been lost in pornography in the past. I have lied, stolen, cheated. I am a divorced man. As David said, my sin is always before me. I am also forgiven and I know my God has forgotten all these things even if I can't. I praise him every day for his grace and for the fact that his mercies are new every morning. But I also know this, he is a holy God and he has called me to his holiness. I cannot make excuses for my sin and I cannot allow society to seduce me into the dark by accepting my sin as "normal." I must pursue the righteousness of God, not man.

Forgive me as I repeat that point: I have no right to excuse my sin and live in it according to the interpretation of my society. I must be honest with Jesus, understand where I have fallen short, repent of my stubborn ways and run after his righteousness. Not a righteousness as defined by me or interpreted by my culture but a righteousness that is, was and always will be my God. I have a responsibility to flee from what is evil, not embrace it, excuse it and re-define it:

But the foundation that God has laid is solid. On it is written, “The Lord knows who his people are. So everyone who worships the Lord must turn away from evil.” (2 Timothy 2:19)

It doesn't matter if society says it is okay to murder my unborn child; God says it is evil. Flee! It doesn't matter if society says I don't need to be married to have sex with whoever I want, male or female; God says it is evil. Flee! It doesn't matter that society says looking at naked bodies is normal and natural; God says it is evil. Flee!

I am praying for a re-awakening of God's children to a desire for holiness, that we would seek the character of Jesus again. I know that re-awakening must begin in me and I am crying out with all my heart, mind, soul and body. I am praying for this because I know that there will be no revival of God's children without it. We need to denounce the things we have done in the dark and society does in the daylight. We need to throw off what is not of God and seek his face with all our energy. We must call good good and evil evil. We must allow the Spirit to interpret God's Word to us and refuse the interpretation of man because man has it all messed up.

Let us make the decision to be his holy people again.

The Lies Of Rob Bell And Others Like Him

My heart is sick from the lies of the enemy coming from the lips of those who claim Jesus as King. There is some kind of marriage taking place between the world and God's children, a melange of truth and lies so something new is born. But it is not new. It is as old as time. It is the enemy again whispering in the ear, "Surely God did not say ..." but God's instructions are clear. They are clear, written down and plain for us to see.

Too many servant's of Jesus are falling for the temptation of the enemy when he says "Bow to me and I will give you the kingdoms of the world". For the sake of acceptance and popularity we are calling good evil and evil good. It isn't just Rob Bell and his sudden support of gay marriages. Come on now, the guy was already messed up, claiming there is no hell and even if there was, God's love wouldn't allow any of us to go there. One has to do some major re-writing of God's Word to come up with these lies. But that's what is all about, isn't it? Aren't we re-writing God's Word to be more "relevant" to our culture? At least that is what Rob Bell has to say. Him and a lot of other pastors are leading entire congregations, even denominations right through the gates of hell. I guess they can all try to deny it when they are in it but it's not going to go away.

According to Rob Bell we have no choice but to change and to call evil good or the Church will disappear. No, the Church will not disappear but we do know there will be a great falling away. We do know that many will be enticed away by the teaching of demons spoken through those whose consciences have been seared. Not my words but directly from the Word of God:

God’s Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons. They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling. (1 Timothy 4:1-2, CEV)

I also remind you of what we were looking at yesterday. It was a different lie but with the same result: people were being led back to death:

That sort of talk is like a sore that won’t heal. And Hymenaeus and Philetus have been talking this way by teaching that the dead have already been raised to life. This is far from the truth, and it is destroying the faith of some people. (2 Timothy 2:17-18, CEV)

It doesn't matter how popular it becomes.It doesn't matter how many pastors and congregations support it. It doesn't matter if the Church loses 90% of those attending, we have to stand our ground; we have to stand on the Word of God; we have to stand on God's truth.

God is not running a democracy. We do not get to vote in changes to laws. We do not get to re-write God's values. We do not get to tell God our terms for following him. Right and wrong are not defined by the majority or even a chosen powerful few. There are no lobbyists in the Kingdom of God. It is a Kingdom and the King decides. If you don't like it you have the freedom to leave but you leave behind the benefits as well. You don't to keep anything and death is the only certainty you will face. Not a loving God you say? The cross says other wise but the cross also demands choices to be made. You don't get to keep the world and Jesus.

Flee from evil and run to God's righteousness. Popularity and acceptance in this place are not reasons to sell your soul. I pray the conviction of the Holy Spirit will somehow penetrate the seared conscience of Rob Bell and all pastors and congregations like him. I also pray for the protection of the young sheep who follow this man and others like him. However, we are not surprised. The Word told us these days would come and they are here.

Slandering The Word Of God

We don't get to say whatever we want. Sure most of us live in places where we have freedom of speech but this freedom does not mean we get to say whatever we want. We can and often do but we forget there are consequences. If I said or wrote something about you that was not true it would be called slander and most courts in the world protect people in these cases. If I claim something about you I must be prepared to defend what I said by actual proof. If not, you could successfully sue me. So we should always think twice before commenting on something of which we are not certain. The same is true about Jesus and the Word of God.

It is unfortunate that we live in an age where people prefer listening to other people's opinions on the Word of God instead of studying it for their own understanding. People's knowledge of the Word is often from scripture taken out of context, Christian songs, 3 minute video clips, sound bites from some conference. What we don't understand we make up. What blanks are left we fill in with speculation. It is amazing some of the wrong teaching people are basing their faith on and worse, teaching to others.

We have no idea what damage we are causing when we teach speculation instead of the truth, opinion instead of fact, rumour instead of knowledge. We are slandering the Word of God and destroying people's faith. Paul wrote of such an incident :

And Hymenaeus and Philetus have been talking this way by teaching that the dead have already been raised to life. This is far from the truth, and it is destroying the faith of some people. (2 Timothy 2:17-18)

There are so many false teachings permeating the Church and the faith of God's children all because the children are too lazy to see what God said for themselves. It is like when Moses came from meeting with God and the people were terrified. God wanted to have a personal relationship with all of them but they were too afraid. They told Moses to represent them. Now it isn't fear that keeps us from knowing God but laziness. We still want someone to represent God to us instead of entering into the personal intimate relationship that is ours to have.

If we want to be teachers of the Word then we must become students of the Word. But understand, students of the Word do not sit in classrooms. That is not how the Word works. It is not a document to be studied but a character to be lived. The Word does not so much tell us what to do as it explains what is happening. It gives us road signs to let us know if we are on the right path. It reveals God's heart and explains what he has done. But the Word has to be lived and we are empowered to do that by the Holy Spirit. To be a teacher of the Word means you are filled by the Spirit and are a living example of the Word of God.

Let's stop slandering the Word of God and be determined to know the truth for ourselves. Stop being taught by songs, sound bites and scriptures shared on the Internet and bathe yourself in the Word by the Holy Spirit. Open your Bible and ask the Spirit to write it on your heart. Become a student before you teach. 

Worthless Talk

Words, words, words. We talk a lot but say very little. We have a rich language but we limit ourselves to a communication that expresses practically nothing. Everyone has a FaceBook, many have blogs and we fill cyber space with lots of information, telling people what we are eating, wearing and doing but nothing that would reveal much about our hearts. These days we seem to be into shock and destroy. We use our words as weapons, containing very little value, their purpose to wound as deeply as possible. We also have a lot of useless conversations.

In the Church we major on the minor, risking salvation over methods of worship or evangelistic approach. We concentrate on what someone has or has not done and we are slow with forgiveness. We use our words to keep a person buried in their sin instead of assisting to restore them to Jesus. Words are powerful and important and should be filled with grace. We should also walk away from any conversation that does not add to us or someone else. Run away from the conversations that rob us or someone else:

Keep away from worthless and useless talk. It only leads people farther away from God. That sort of talk is like a sore that won’t heal. (2 Timothy 2:16-17)

It seems this was a problem in the early Church as Paul wrote about it often. It was caused by people who were teaching about things they knew nothing about. It seems Paul encouraged them to stick to the basics when testifying about Jesus:

Keep your mind on Jesus Christ! He was from the family of David and was raised from death, just as my good news says. (v. 8)

There are a lot of wonderful things about Jesus beyond the cross and the empty tomb but not everyone should presume to be teachers. Many things of speculation are passed on as certain truth. Churches have been split over disputable matters. You and I probably would not agree on a lot of things but the basics are for certain. It is crazy that we would allow such things to divide and weaken us.

We have a job to do and we have to stop allowing words to distract us. There are people dying every day while we discuss things that will have no impact on their salvation. I am not saying that sound doctrine is not important  but we need to make a distinction between the foundation matters and the things that divide us. I don't really care where you stand on the tribulation, as long as Jesus is Lord and we love and serve him with our entire being. We share the same Father, same King, same Spirit and the same mission. Nothing else matters and nothing else should be permitted to get in our way.

Too many of us have too much theology and not enough practicality. Too many of us spend hours in study and nothing in sharing the good news. Too many of us are too concerned about our own salvation and not concerned for others. Paul said he would gladly give up all he had with Jesus if it would lead to the salvation of his people. Do we have that level of passion for what Jesus told us to do? He did not tell us to go build schools or churches in his name, he told us to make disciples. How do we do that? Just like he did. Let's keep away from worthless and useless talk.

No Short Cuts

My dad has always been a man of excellence. He not only taught me with words but by his actions that any job worth doing is worth doing well. My dad has never taken short cuts or cut corners and done any less of a job to make life easier on himself. He is a man of quality. We don`t see that a lot any more in a society that prizes pleasure over work. Instead of pleasure being a distraction from a hard days work it has become the purpose of a hard day`s work. We work so that we can play. Work is the evil we must face in order to enjoy the pleasure we want to live. But we were created to work.

I have no delusions when it comes to the Kingdom of God; I am a servant of the King, a worker of the harvest. I have not been saved to serve my own pleasure and to be pampered by God. I have been saved and left here as a Kingdom citizen with tasks that I am to complete. I have been warned that there will be tough days and that many will see themselves as my enemy but I am under the authority of the King and his protection. And I have been told to be faithful to these tasks I have been given and to be found doing them on the King`s return. There are no short cuts and my King is looking for quality.

Paul`s instruction to Timothy was in this same spirit as he wrote:

Do your best to win God’s approval as a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed and who teaches only the true message. (2 Timothy 2:15)

How does a workman avoid feeling ashamed? By doing the best at everything he does. Again I feel I must put in this side note. I am not talking about salvation. Everything you need done to belong to God has been done for you. We are not talking salvation here but being a faithful workman in the Kingdom, completing the tasks that have been given to us. A carpenter knows that if he does not do his best it will soon be seen by everyone. He wants to feel good every time he looks on his handy work, not shame because it is falling apart. The same can be said of everyone whose work will be put on display, whether it be musicians, plumbers, actors, parents and Kingdom workmen.

Do you realize that our work will be put on display on the day we are asked to give account for what we did with what we were given? Short cuts will be seen. Shoddy work will be shown. Half-measures will be clear to everyone. And it is not just then. Do you not feel the conviction of the Spirit when you let go of an opportunity? Do you not feel troubled when you only give your minimum to the work of the Kingdom? Do you really have a sense of satisfaction when you say `good enough`?

Maybe you are not laying bricks or patching pot holes or painting houses but the work you do is plainly seen by the King. When you tell that friend that you don`t have time for them because you want to watch the hockey game, it is seen.When you lose patience and walk away from a person who `should know better`, it is seen. When someone asks you about your faith and you are too ashamed to talk to them about Jesus, it is seen. When we put more finances and time into what distracts us then into the mission we have been given, it is seen. When a need is presented and we ignore it, as if we didn`t see it, it is seen. When we choose sin over righteousness, it is seen.

Paul told Timothy to do his best to win God`s approval. Is that how you live your day, wanting to do your best so you win your Father`s approval? Some people have problems with such a thought but it is there, plan as day, in the Bible to read. How you live your life matters. How you approach the Kingdom work matters. You are a workman so be one that works hard and wins the approval of our Father. No short cuts.

Stop With The Words Already

Have you noticed how ugly a person gets when they are stuck indoors a lot. I don't mean appearance but their attitude, temperament and perspective. I have noticed with all my children that the longer they stay in bed the grumpier they get. The longer they play video games the more fights they have. Yet, when they are outside, running around, riding their bikes, being with friends, they laugh a lot more and are pleasant to be with. I notice the same thing with the Church.

Christians are spending far too much time "indoors". We love to worship, take classes, study, be together, fellowship, but the more we do that the uglier we get. We end up in arguments, fights, debates over things that do not matter for the mission.We have this love affair with words. I am not referring to God's Word but our words. We love to hear ourselves talk. We write a lot of books too. We are staying "indoors" far too much, sleeping too long. We do a lot of navel gazing and it is not healthy. It is not what we were told to do.

About words, Paul told Timothy to warn his people:

"Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen." (2 Timothy 2:14)

We seem to have turned the Christian walk into some kind of academic pursuit. Everyone wants certificates and diplomas, letters after their name. We want to spend our time in discussion but Jesus called us to action. The Word is useless if not put into action. Our service is useless if it is not of action. The Word warns us;

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22)

Yes, study the Word; know what the instructions are; understand and then live it. I am not saying we should not study but if all you do is study you are wasting your time. We have to get outside, run around, ride our bikes, play with our friends. We have to live life, filled by the Spirit, acting on the Word, being the "salt" this world is so desperate for. We have to be in the world, the workplace, the hockey arena, the market place and we must live like Jesus, representing him so others can know him. This is when we will be the healthiest, when we will know the joy of the Lord, when we will see the most spiritual growth we have ever experienced. This is when we will be fulfilling our mandate, our commission, our purpose, our calling.

If we would be busy with our King's work we would have less time to fight about words, there would be less division and there would be more of Jesus for the world to see. It's great to be a student of the Word and hopefully you will be that for the rest of your life, but if all you are is a student then you have missed the entire point of it. Be doers and let the Spirit work through you to effect change in the hearts of everyone you have contact with today.

Wake Up Warriors, It's Not About Us!

There is no doubt that you are going to face some difficult times in your life. You can't live in a fallen world without running into some hardships. Some people seem to face more than their fair share, but then again, who are we to define fair. The question is, how are you going to deal with these things when they happen? Will you panic, fall apart and generally not handle it well? Will you run to someone you trust for the answers, taking whatever advice they have to hand out? Will you just ignore it and hope it goes away? There are plenty of ways of handling or not handling the difficulties of living in this world.

The question is not if these things will happen but what you will do when you come upon them. May I suggest that you change your perspective. Part of our problem is that we measure everything by the standards of this world, but we no longer belong to those standards. We have new standards and a new method of measurement. We have a new measurement of success and failure; a new measurement of riches; a new measurement of values; a new measurement of purpose; a new measurement of what is important.

Face it, this world and the various societies belonging to it are pretty messed up and getting worse by the day. They pursue logical argument and what seems right. They are absolutely convinced in themselves that their logic and the arguments behind the logic are solid because they seem right to them. But since the Fall we have not been able to trust our own thinking and judgment on matters. We needed a higher standard, something outside of the depraved thinking that resulted from the Fall.

As you face some of the difficulties of living here do not trust your logic or emotions. Do not trust the wisdom of this world. Do not look around this place for a lifeline or an example to follow. Do not model yourself after the perceived success of this place. You, child of God, have only one source for all things, and his name is Jesus. In troubled times we are not troubled. Instead we find strength in truths and standards that cannot be changed or re-shaped by the storms of this place:

"If we died with him,
     we will also live with him;
if we endure,
     we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
     he will also disown us;
if we are faithless,
    he will remain faithful,
    for he cannot disown himself." (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

These are a few truths that are stones in the foundation of our faith. These truths are unchangeable, regardless of our circumstances. From these things we draw strength and are able to continue with joy. They are not just words but truths that strengthen our mind, heart, spirit and body, to stay the course, to stand our ground.

If the warriors of the Kingdom could be stopped by mere circumstances and hardships of this world, the Church would have died long ago. But we can't be stopped because our worth, value, standards and measurements are not from this place but from the Kingdom of which we are citizens. We are strengthened in this place beyond our own sake but so that we may be of use to our King in bringing salvation to the lost. Wake up warriors, it's not about us! Stop panicking, get back in the ranks, trust the King and stand your ground. Now sing with the joy that comes from the assurance of our salvation!

I Endure Everything For Them

God has brought us into partnership with him and his mission. I can't explain why, it is just what he has chosen to do. I heard recently from the apostle over my church, "We can't do anything without God and God won't do anything without us". The Church is vital for the mission and we are members of that Church.

I dislike the fact that I always have to clarify this point but here we go again. We are not working for our salvation. That was all done by Jesus and there is nothing left to be done. However, there is a ton of work to be done so that Jesus is lifted up in order that people may come to him. Why else would Jesus tell his disciples to ask for more workers, because the harvest is plentiful and the labourers are few? There is a work to be done and, as citizens of this great Kingdom, we are the labourers.

Apostle Paul said this:

"Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." (2 Timothy 2:10)

A couple of points to clarify. Let's start with the elect. We are part of the elect. The elect are those who have made or will make the decision to accept the sacrifice of Jesus and make him Lord of their lives. We are the ones who have become citizen's of the Kingdom, who have died to self and made alive in Jesus, who have been made into a new creation. The elect are not pre-destined in the sense some understand it. There are not limits placed on our choices. It is only a matter of God's foreknowledge. Not being limited to our time and space, God knows the decisions we will make. Just because he has the foreknowledge does not rob us of our freedom to make or not make a decision. So the elect are simply those God has a foreknowledge of the decision they will make for Jesus.

The other point we have to clarify is that we don't have this foreknowledge. Because we don't have it means that we must make the most of every opportunity with every person we will meet. It means that we have to work hard and endure whatever we must to make sure that everyone has the opportunity of being part of the elect.If people decide against Jesus it is the freedom of their choice, but at least we know we have done what we can to lift up Jesus to them.

This is why Paul said he was willing to endure everything and I think by his life we can see that these were not empty words. He was willing to endure everything because he knew that it was no longer about him but about the salvation of the world. He already had everything he could possibly want in Jesus. With nothing else left to desire, Paul was able to pour out his life so that others might live.

Imagine approaching each day with this same attitude: "Jesus, what happens to me today does not matter, just show me where you want to use me". If you get spat on then you get spat on. If you get punched then you get punched. If you get to lead a soul to Jesus then, all glory to God, that is another soul saved from the endless torment of hell.

"Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect."

The harvest is plentiful and the labourers are few because they are too busy pampering themselves in their quiet religion. Time is running out. What are you more concerned about today? What occupies your prayers? Your own needs or those who need Jesus? Are you willing to endure everything for the sake of another person's salvation?

It's Time To Get Our Hands Dirty

If God needed a prophet in Iraq would you go? If he needed a martyr in China would you do it? If he needed a preacher in Nigeria would you volunteer? A lot of people would throw up their hands to volunteer without hesitation whereas others would take time to consider the cost. But what if Jesus simply asked you to represent him in your school or work place? What if he simply wanted to use you as his agent right where you are? Would you be willing to face the consequences, to carry the cost no matter the price?

To be sold out for Jesus is more than just being willing to enter into a relationship with him. To get on board with Jesus is to also get on board with his mission. Too many of us miss that point. Jesus wants much more than worshipers; he wants disciples. He wants people who will do what he did, obey what he has commanded, who are willing to do more than just live a moral life and are willing to live by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We do not get to choose when and how we will be used. Our responsibility is simply to be available and obedient. There may be hardships involved but our perspective is such that nothing we go through here is comparable to what has been prepared for us. Our reward is not here. The blessings we receive are for the purpose of the work. We are not here for a long time or a good time but for serving time. That is not to say it is joyless because serving the Lord has a joy that goes beyond any pleasure on this earth. That joy is to sustain, strengthen and encourage us: "The joy of the Lord is my strength".

Jesus will use us exactly where we are but sometimes he has to arrange to get us to certain places because he needs someone there. It may mean he has to remove things from us or add to us. He may need to have one job end so another can begin. Sometimes it may be as extreme as what Paul experienced:

"This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal." (2 Timothy 2:8-9)

Unfortunately too many of us put the emphasis on how circumstances affect us instead of seeing what God is doing. There is a very self-centered gospel being preached these days and people are eagerly eating it up so that when they begin suffering for the gospel the become very confused and start acting like a victim. We are not victims in this place but through Jesus we are victorious. No matter what we face and what we experience we are not victims but ministers of the gospel. Paul knew that even in his circumstances of being "chained" God's Word was not:

"But God's word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect." (vv. 9-10)

I don't know what else to do to help people other than come against the false self-centered gospel that puts our comfort above the salvation of this world. We have to realize that as warriors of the Kingdom we have a responsibility to join in this battle for the lost. Our comfort here is of no importance and we must be willing and available for whatever the King calls upon us to do, no matter where he places us.

No matter our circumstances, nothing can "chain" the Word of God. Nothing can prevent the Spirit from convicting the hearts of the lost. Nothing can stop Jesus from using whoever he wants, for whatever he wants, wherever he wants. Are you willing to be used? Are you available? Enough of this false gospel. It's time to get our hands dirty according to the will and direction of our God. It's time to set aside the distractions and start concentrating on the commands of the King.

The Gospel For Which I Suffer

Have you figured out your belief system yet? I get to meet people every day who are without Jesus but who have a belief system. We may call it a philosophy for living or any number of things but it comes down to the belief by which you live your life. If you believe that "what goes around comes around" you will make sure that you are giving out good stuff to receive good stuff. If you believe that purpose is found in how many toys you buy in life, then your life will be up and down according to what you can afford. If you believe that Jesus Christ died so that you could have life then your life is going to be based on serving Jesus.

The problem is that what we believe is not always what we live. I hear that every day as well. I hear people rationalizing why it is okay to steal from the government. But if you believe in "what goes around comes around" then you should expect to suffer the consequences for theft. Funny how people aren't willing to take their believes that far. Unfortunately either are many Christians.

Paul wrote to Timothy :

"This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal." (2 Timothy 2:8-9)

Paul lived by the conviction and calling of the Holy Spirit. He preached what he was taught by the Spirit and he paid the price for it. He was beat, stoned, rejected, arrested and treated like "public enemy number one" by  Israel. But he wasn't surprised. Why would he be? Jesus told him this is exactly what would happen. He told us all. So why do we complain. In fact, why are we surprised? But that really isn't my question today.

Today I am asking why we don't live according to the belief we profess? Why don't we live by the example Jesus set for us? I don't mean the moral living but the Holy Spirit empowered life that Jesus showed us how to live. Yes, a life of grace, mercy and compassion but also a life filled with the power to see things happen. A life that will face whatever the cost in order to fulfill the belief that Jesus is truth.

"Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me."

We say it,we believe it but are we willing to live it beyond the suffering that it can provoke in our life? Christianity goes far beyond a code we live by and demands nothing less than our all, even if that all is the air we breathe. Anything less is not good enough. Jesus is not Gandhi. Jesus is not Buddha. He is not Mohammed. He is not a teacher of some philosophy or religion. Jesus is our life and we cannot deny that which gives us life. We stick with him no matter the cost because the life he has given is eternal. We could never bring ourselves to deny him, ever, for whatever reason.

There is a reason told us that if we are ashamed of him in front of men he will be ashamed of us in front of his Father. If we are ashamed of him it means we don't believe him. If we don't believe him why should we expect anything from him? Why would we expect to receive the promise of eternity with him? Yet, if we do believe him then our life should reflect that fact. Our life should be an example of faith, power and conviction.If our passion for him does not surpass the passion this world has for many things then we have not even begun to understand his love and our relationship with him.

So I ask you, is your belief enough to go all the way, no matter what it may cost? Understand, those are the followers Jesus will honour.

Remember Jesus Christ

Since last I blogged Bible Gateway and other online Bible providers have removed the NIV '84 at the publisher's request. I refuse to use the new NIV due to its liberal translation of God's Word so this leaves me  no choice but to go back to the printed form of the Bible. Such hardships in this current age of technology. :-)

I am sitting here in my store this morning, with my coffee beside me and God's Word open before me and I am tired. I went into partnership with my son, running a small coffee shop type of store. He needed a partner and I saw it as a means of connecting with people in the neighbourhood. I have to tell you though, it is a lot of work. It's hard to believe that people do this day on and day out just to make a dollar.There has to be easier ways to make money.

I would think that it is an easy thing to become discouraged running a business like this, as bill after bill pour in and income expectation is not always reached. I can tell you, if money was my motivation I would have walked away from this after the first week. But money isn't my motivation. Connecting with people for Jesus is the reason I am involved with this project. That means the financial burden is not so great and the discouragement is kept outside because profit margins don't bring me down.

How we handle life is going to depend on our motivation. Motivation dictates expectation and when expectation is not met then all kinds of emotions run their course. Wrong expectations can be a killer especially when they are based on a false sense of purpose. Perhaps this is why Paul reminded Timothy:

"Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David." (2 Timothy 2:8, NIV '84)

It seems a strange thing to say to a minister of the gospel or even just an ordinary Christian: Remember Jesus.Well, yes, of course I will remember Jesus. But did I yesterday? Did I remember him in the many decisions I made or in every conversation I had? Was he the motivation for my kindness, for my service, for my smiles?It is easy to be me without thinking of Jesus. I am usually a kind and generous guy, but kindness and generosity is not going to reveal the gospel of Jesus to a dying people.

The command to remember Jesus is a reminder that everything must come from him. Our motivation for everything we do must spring from the love of Jesus for us. It is not good enough that I am kind. The type of kindness that changes the world is that which is anointed, that comes from the seed of Jesus Christ. Anything else will fade away. Only that which comes from Jesus has the qualities of eternity knit into it.

I am telling you, you are kind, special, beautiful, talented and a hundred other things that I could say if I knew you better, but none of it matters. All that matters is what springs out of our relationship with Jesus. These are the only things that have the anointing of the Spirit. It is great that we offer our everything to Jesus but we don't have anything he needs.What he wants is our death and rebirth so that we are empty vessels, allowing him to fill us with what we need to serve him. Until we discover that for ourselves we will continue wasting our energy in actions and activities that have no eternal power,as nice and kind as they are.

Remember Jesus Christ. Set aside any other motivation. Stop trying to serve him in your own capacity. Instead, allow him to be your motivation in every word you speak, action you take, decision you make. Then watch what he accomplishes through you.