A gift from God

"You were once dead because of your failures and sins. You followed the ways of this present world and its spiritual ruler. This ruler continues to work in people who refuse to obey God. All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God's anger just like everyone else.

But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us. We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God's kindness (grace) that saved you.) God has brought us back to life together with Christ Jesus and has given us a position in heaven with him. He did this through Christ Jesus out of his generosity to us in order to show his extremely rich kindness in the world to come. God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God. It's not the result of anything you've done, so no one can brag about it. God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do. Ephesians 2:1-10

I gave my life to the Lord. I was baptized. I am a member of the church. I have faith. I believed. I repented. I...thankfully, know that none of what I just wrote is true.

I love the scripture above. It puts everything in perspective about me. I have nothing to do with my salvation and I love knowing that! Because if it was me and the power I have to change my self by believing, repenting, confessing, or any works, I would never have changed.

We want so much to brag about our walk with God...or should I say, I want! I love doing good things for the Lord, but I know in my heart, I always seems to wonder if I do good enough, will others like me more or will God bless me more for being good. Will God see that I am a capable servant and warrior for Him? Will He stop what He's doing and call the angels and say..."Look! Look at that guy! He's really making things happen by being so good and choosing all the right things to do! He is the perfect disciple! He repented and believed and gave his heart to me!"

It's a hard thing to understand. We know we have choices to make. To repent. To confess. To steal or not to steal. Yet, Scripture clearly shows us that God is the one who chooses to make us a good vessel or a bad one. With warts or with perfect skin. Yes...HE is the potter and we are the clay. So, how do we take the Scriptures that say..."repent, believe, confess, and justify them with the Scriptures like the one above that says...YOU don't have anything to do with it! Being saved is a gift from God. All I know is that by faith, I believe my choices are only the result of the gift from God.

The translation I used above is the "God's Word" translation. I love the line they translated as; "God saved you through faith as an act of kindness." Now the questions for you and I to search for is "Whose faith? Yours? or God's?"

Oprah - Deceiving a nation.

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping." 2 Peter 2:1-3

For a very long time I have been saddened that Oprah Winfrey, whom I believe has a call from God on her life, has fallen prey to the deception of false teachers and their teachings. Being as powerful and famous as she is, it shouldn't surprise us that she has been swayed by the world and all that the world thinks it has to offer.

From her daily TV program, film company, a magazine, an XM radio station, and now her own TV network, she is able to literally reach nearly every person in the world, 24 hours a day, and teach the masses the deception that she has come to believe. Sadly, many believers in Christ Jesus are faithful watchers of her show and truly think she is doing a great service to the world.
Believers need to wake up and start repenting and praying for God to open our eyes to what is happening around us, and give us the strength to love as He loves.

One of her most important messages is the daily program that she promotes on her website called "A Course in Miracles" with Marianne Williamson. Here are some of the things this course teaches: (Excerpt from author Warren Smith http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/007/smith-oprah.htm )

* There is no sin. . . "
* A slain Christ has no meaning.
* The journey to the cross should be the last useless journey.
* Do not make the pathetic error of clinging to the old rugged cross.
* The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol... It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray.
* God is in everything I see.
* The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself.
* The oneness of the Creator and the creation is your wholeness, your sanity and your limitless power.
* The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation.

As believers in Jesus and believers in the Scriptures, is this from God? Is this what the world needs to know and come to believe? Satan has come like an angel of light and the masses have fallen prey to years of subtle deception, but now, it's not that subtle anymore.

I am personally not against Oprah! But the purpose of this post is to encourage you to be aware of what you allow in your heart and mind and become diligent in praying for Oprah and the many who are deceived by the father of lies. Pray that she will use the platform that God has given her for the purpose of GOD'S KINGDOM. Oprah grew up in the church and has heard the Good News. I believe she accepted that Good News but now has been misguided and is in need of a divine appointment and anointing from God.

Grace

"For to you it is graciously granted for Christ's sake, not only to be believing on Him, but to be suffering for His sake also." Philippians 1:29

For many years now we have heard teachings that promote prosperity. Promoted by the idea that when you follow certain doctrines you will be blessed with health and wealth and because of your beliefs...you actually deserve it and have earned it.

I really have never understood how so many have fallen into believing such a lie when all of us can read scriptures for ourselves. We see that from the beginning those who follow God will be persecuted and will deal with suffering. And as Paul puts it...graciously suffer for Christ's sake!

That doesn't mean all believers will walk around in rags, are sick, and have nothing...but God graciously allows suffering to believers to bring us to a maturity in graciously knowing the suffering that Christ endured for us. This suffering teaches us and helps us to remain focused on Jesus instead of ourselves. Paul also reminds us in Romans 5:

"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope doesn't disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us."

The time is coming soon when we will see this world turn upside down. Disaster will come to this land, the whole world, and the doctrine of prosperity will fade from our hearts and minds. We will graciously be granted to not only believe in Christ and the power of resurrection, but we will graciously be granted to suffer for His sake.

It's hard to rejoice when we are going through trials and tribulations. But I pray that all of us will learn and know that God is in control and His purpose, His Will, will be done in our lives and in this world. That is something to rejoice about! We may not see how things can work out in our sufferings...how it could be good, but God knows.

Bring glory to God

"Stay away from sexual sins. Other sins that people commit don't affect their bodies in the same way sexual sins do. People who sin sexually sin against their own bodies. Don't you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you have received from God, lives in you. You don't belong to yourselves. You were bought for a price. So bring glory to God in the way you use your body." I Corinthians 6:18-20

In our age we have become such a perverted people. It's all around us. Turn the TV on, open the pages of a magazine, listen to the radio, get on the internet, or just walk around a busy shopping mall. Sexuality is the order of the day and we can't run or hide from it. It surrounds us and captivates us like nothing else in our society. It makes it hard to live a holy and pure life.

Let's be honest. We all struggle with it. Men probably more than women, but now I'm not so sure. I think the media has created a mindset in women that teaches them from a very young age, that sex is the way to gain power and to completely satisfy ones desire to serve self.

But...and that's a big but, the younger generation has much more sense than that! They are realizing that there is more to life than serving ones self. No not all kids think this way, but God is raising up a generation that is seeing there is more to life and this life starts and ends with Jesus. I am excited about our young people. I have witnessed (even this day!!) how God is moving in them and bringing them to a place that previous generations only received a small portion of His mighty power in their lives. They are wanting and desiring to be pure and holy and are coming against the evil in this world. Praise God for His mercy and grace!

For us older ones...we need to repent and be holy. We need to be pure and immersed with the Holy Spirit and not allow this wickedness into our homes, our businesses, the church, and our lives anymore. We need a cleansing from God that will empower us to stand strong against the schemes of satan.

Be pure as He is pure. Be holy as He is holy. Run from wickedness and run to Jesus! Jesus is coming soon and we must be ready. Look up and know He is God.

Chiang Mai - Thailand

My nephew David Allen, along with his wife Michelle and their two children are part of this great mission team in Chiang Mai.

Christmas List

"For to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

It's almost Christmas day. The day we celebrate our Lord and Saviour's birth. Most of us have finished shopping or making presents for all our family and friends on our list. Just a few more hours and those we love will receive their gifts that we have taken the time to find for them and in return we will be opening gifts that they have given to us.

It can be a wonderful season for us as we think about giving to others. It doesn't have to be an expensive present, just something that shows them our love and thankfulness for them. It's a time when we think about the homeless and those who are lonely, sick, or in prison. It reminds us to think of someone other than ourselves.

But when was the last time we put Jesus on our Christmas list? Or how do we acknowledge that He is in the list? We remember His words, "when you do it for others, you do it for me" but do we understand the meaning behind that? Scripture tells us that we are being changed into the image of Christ and that is something most of us yet can't grasp the meaning. I know what it means to me...but what does it mean to you? Have you thought about being like Christ Jesus? Do you recognize Christ Jesus in others? This is how we give our gifts to Christ. For all who belong to Him are being changed into His image. Is Jesus on your Christmas list?

Happy birthday Jesus!

The Journey

"And Jesus said to them, Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them. And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere." Luke 9:3-6

Because of the way my life is, I normally don't sit around our house. I have recently because of a health problem and yesterday had surgery. So, I have time to think about things and get reacquainted with our stuff. Stuff that we have been acquiring for many years. We are certainly not extravagant in what we purchase, but I am amazed at how much stuff we have. Especially the needless stuff like trinkets!

Jesus sent the 12 apostles out and told them to leave their stuff behind. Take nothing. God would be their provider and they will have what they need. They were also given the gift of healing as they went through the villages spreading the gospel. There was nothing in their way to distract them from their mission.

How hard is it for us to do these things? To leave all behind to follow Jesus. We think we need our stuff for the journey. And sometimes, I guess we do. Not all are called to the type of ministry the apostles had...but all of us are called to do the same things. To spread the gospel and be light to a dark world.

I guess as I reflect on this, I come to the conclusion that I spend more time on keeping my stuff instead of releasing it. I work hard to make sure our stuff stays safe and we have the comforts of life around us. I need to balance that out. I wrote a song many years ago where the chorus says;

I have more than enough, I have more than I need
Is the state of my heart lost in this age of greed?
How can I carry this cross that You've given to me?
Heal the state of my heart.

It's a good reminder as we are coming up on Christmas. I haven't had time to go buy more "stuff" for our family. I hope I can keep it reasonable. Merry Christmas all.

April 26, 2008

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

I often get into discussions with people who are overwhelmed by the sickness of our world. The murders including abortion, adultery, hate, pride, greed, lack of self-control, disease, famine, natural disasters...and on and on. Many of these people claim Christ as Lord and Saviour and I am always concerned by the way they think that it's the "world's" problem that we live in such a godless society.

The verse above is constantly thrown out to the church. You'd think that at some point and time we might actually take this incredible truth, believe it, and actually do what God is calling us to do.

God isn't telling the world (unbelievers) to do this...He is telling believers to do this! Repent, turn from your wickedness, humbly approach His throne and seek His face...pray and He will hear us, turn our hearts around and heal our land. The problem isn't the world's problem, it's ours. It's all of us who believe in the Lord God Almighty, and His son, Jesus the Christ, Saviour of all mankind.

Today is a good day to get started on this. Each one of us has the ability to start the process with those whom we know. To band together and humbly ask the Lord to cleanse us from the selfishness that has invaded our hearts and minds...and repent to allow the Lord to heal us and heal our lands.

The time is short. Even the world recognizes this. Now, it's up to us who believe to repent and allow the Lord to heal us and bring this world to order.

April 26, 2008, hopefully, the church will all be together as one for the purpose of healing our world. But it needs to start with each of us today. Whether you agree with the doctrines of those who are trying to get the church together for this day should not matter!
Please consider your part and join in if you can! http://www.reigndownusa.com

Giving Thanks

"It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Phillippians 1:9-11

Happy Thanksgiving!

Condemnation

"Judge not that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" Matthew 7:1-3

This comes from the sermon on the mount where Jesus is talking to the Jews who started following after him. He was teaching them how they should treat each other. The word for judge would probably be better translated by using the word "condemn". Quit condemning each other! Why condemn someone in something when in another area of life you are just as bad as the one you are condemning. Seems like we still haven't learned to do that.

It's sad how each denomination uses certain doctrines to condemn each other with. One says that if you're not baptized...you are not saved. One says if you take the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner...you're history. One says if you don't follow the law then you are missing it and not worthy of being called a believer. If you don't do it our way, believe our way, exactly the way we believe...you are a heretic and not a "true believer" and are condemned.

I try to read and study as much as I can. Because of the internet, I am able to find a massive amount of material to study and learn from. But it's a bit scary out there. I fell into some blogs the other day that at first glance, seemed to be decent blogs. Then I realized their whole purpose was to condemn others for not following the "scriptures" exactly the way they believed. I think pretty much every known minister, church, author, was found to be heretics and sinners that were damned to hell for preaching "another gospel". Now, believe me, some that they were talking about are clearly walking outside of the Christian faith...but most of them were believers who just didn't see certain scriptures the way they understood them. Because of this, it was not just judging them by their fruit...but it was pure "condemnation". How sad that some feel that their purpose is to destroy others by making fun of them, calling them names, and never trying to teach and rebuke in love. Love..was the last thing I saw coming from these sites. Love...was not the point. Love...had no place to try and restore those whom they thought had walked away from the "truth".

I admit that when I hear or read things that I disagree with...it's hard not to just slam them for being so ignorant of the Word! But...as believers we need to be careful. We need to be reminded that none of us see the complete picture yet. We all see in part by our lack of knowledge, experience, maturity, faith, understanding...and as we condemn each other for that, we will also reap condemnation.

Sure...some purposely teach false doctrines for their own personal gain or glory. But we need to be stronger than that and be wise on how we present the "Gospel".