Why Have A Godly Marriage?

Some reasons Christians MUST work to have healthy and Godly marriages are: 1) The Gospel of Jesus Christ is at stake.  2) The validity of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is on trial before the world.  3) The reality of God in believers through Christ is on display for all to see.  Too over the top?  Consider what Paul wrote about marriage in Ephesians 5:32…

This mystery (Marriage) is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

A husband must (will) love his wife because that is a picture to the world of how Christ loves the Church (5:25).  Husbands… don’t present a false picture!

A husband must (will) love his wife to the point of dying for her and/or in her place.  He does this intellectually… metaphorically… practically… and literally if necessary.  He does this because his actions for his wife are a picture to the world of how Christ loves the Church.  Husbands… don’t present a false picture!

A husband must (will) love his wife to the point of doing what it takes to build her up… encourage her… and strengthen her in the faith.  He does this because that is a picture to the world of what Christ does for His Bride… the church.  Husbands… don’t present a false picture!

A husband must (will) love his wife to the point of protecting her from anything that is not in her best interest and spiritual growth.  He does this because that is a picture to the world of what Jesus does for His Bride… the church.  Husbands… don’t present a false picture!

A husband must (will) love his wife to the point that he personally NEVER does ANYTHING that harms or hurts his bride.  He does this because that is a picture to the world of how Jesus treats His Bride… the church.  Husbands… don’t present a false picture!

A wife must (will) submit to her husband because this is what the Bride of Christ (Individually and corporately) does in the relationship to Jesus.  Wives… don’t present a false picture to the world of Christ!  (Note: It is easy to submit to a person when you know they love you and have proven it by their actions.  Jesus showed His love for His Bride {The Church} by dying to save her!  So husbands… help your wife in this by lavishing love on her so completely that her call is easy {easier?}).

See why we must work so that our marriages are what God intends?  Otherwise the world sees a false picture of Jesus…

Obama’s “Christianity”

This has been written about by many, and I thought it worth posting here for the few that might not have seen it yet.  Cathleen Falsani  republished the full transcript of an interview with Barack Obama about his faith.  It is relevant on the topic of President Obama’s Christianity.  It’s from 2004 when he was a state senator in Illinois a couple days after he clinched the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat that he eventually won.  The interview focuses entirely on Obama’s faith, and it opens a wide window on the version of Christianity that he professes.  I found my link to this HERE…

In short, though Obama professes to be a Christian, his beliefs are that of a theological liberal. Here’s a summary with some quotes:

• He believes that “there are many paths to the same place,” and he doesn’t believe that God would “consign four-fifths of the world to hell” for not believing the gospel.
• When asked about his belief in the afterlife, he says he doesn’t know if there is one.
• Obama defines “sin” as “being out of alignment with my values.”
• Obama says that one need not embrace “Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and savior” to avoid judgment.
• When asked “Who’s Jesus to you,” what Obama didn’t say is as important as what he did say. He confesses Jesus to be a “historical figure” and “wonderful teacher” but says nothing about Jesus being a Savior, Messiah, or Son of God.
• He confesses that he doesn’t necessarily subscribe to his own church’s “set of doctrines.”

Obama isn’t a Muslim… he is more a liberal Christian who denies essential doctrines of the Christian faith and embraces other ideas that are incompatible with the Christianity of the Bible.

Frustration In Heaven And Earth

As a thought starter, consider what is written in Revelation 6:9-11…

I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

Think!  Ruminate solemnly over what is written!  In case you need a bump or two…

This took place in heaven!

People in heaven verbalized a great level of frustration… “HOW LONG…?!”

These people in heaven are those who had been killed (Neither of us have paid that price… yet) for their testimony about Jesus.  Kind of puts whatever we go through into perspective doesn’t it?

These people in heaven were given an “interim reward” (A white robe) and told to wait.

God has determined there is a number of people who enter heaven through losing their life for Christ (“Until the number… should be complete”).

Have you ever asked God “How long?”  “How long am I going to have to suffer through this (Whatever “this” is for you)?”  If so, know that you aren’t the only one… the first OR last person to ask that question.  God’s answer is… wait.  Thus what we find in 1 Peter 5:6…

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you… 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Take heart… whatever state you are in!  If your frustration is a week… month… year or decade old, keep a heavenly perspective.  Paul called all the sufferings HE went through (CLICK HERE) as “light” and “momentary.”  Light (For Paul) meant death and momentary meant a lifetime.  Keep a heavenly perspective!

Simplicity After Complexity

The thought for this post came from listening to a message by Albert Mohler… which was titled: “On the Other Side of Complexity:  Christian Conviction in the Late Modern Age.”  It is a follow up to yesterday’s post about Unconsciously Competent Christianity.

Consider what is written in Scripture… “Professing to be wise they became fools” (Ro 1:22),  ”The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14).  Also an interchange found in Acts 26:23-25, (Paul is speaking) ”The Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles. 24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”

There are two kinds of wisdom, knowledge, and truth: Godly and worldly.  Godly wisdom, knowledge, and truth are foolishness to unbelievers.  The world’s wisdom, knowledge, and truth is foolishness to God and Christians.  For example, “enlightened” people of the world stumble and refuse to believe things like…

God created the world by speaking it into existence in six 24 hour days,

Jonah was in the belly of a large fish for three days and nights,

Jesus was born of a virgin,

Jesus walked on water,

Jesus fed 5,000 with a few fish and loaves of bread,

That Jesus was resurrected from the dead,

That Jesus is the only way to be saved… and many other things found in Scripture.

Biblical truth and theology are actually so complex that their “elitist intelligence” is insulted and they deem those things foolishness… and those who believe as simplistic if not fools themselves.  The simple truth of Scripture… if seriously considered as true… would throw their “elite intellectual” world into such chaos and complexity they refuse to engage even the possibility that they might be wrong in what they believe.  For them, the simple is too complex to be believed.  To them the simple is so immature and unenlightened that they aren’t willing to work through the complexities so as to arrive at what is actually Godly Simplicity.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Jesus said that in order to enter heaven we must become as a little child.  I suggest that means there is a simplicity of believing and faith on the other side of what is perceived to be insurmountable intellectual complexity.  Thus… “After Complexity There Is Simplicity.”

Unconsciously Competent Christianity

We go through stages in life.  Depending on where we are at a given time, we are in one of four stages (Suggested by Noel Burch in the 1970s).  They are: 1) Unconscious Incompetence, 2) Conscious Incompetence, 3) Conscious Competence, 4) Unconscious Competence.  Let me explain…

Unconscious Incompetence is a child riding in a car seat who doesn’t understand he can’t drive.  Conscious Incompetence is when the child in a car seat realizes he can’t drive.  Conscious Competence is when the child one day drives… and is careful to drive safely.  Unconscious Competence is when driving becomes second nature… we just do it.  Unconscious Competence is the most dangerous of the four stages.  Unconscious competence is why people text and drive… put on makeup while driving… and do other stupid things.  They THINK they are able to drive AND (Add whatever you’d like).

So what is my point?  Many Christians live in Unconscious Competence .  They cruise through life because (In their mind) they have it all nailed down.  Their theology is settled.  Their walk with Christ is secure.  Everything related to faith is in its proper place.  They have no major issues to deal with.  They have no worries.  Life is good.  They are blind to their Unconscious Competent situation and therein lies the danger.

1 Corinthians 10:12 Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Because they’re living an Unconsciously Competent Christian life, they get blindsided by something they didn’t expect (Satan is willing to wait years for a shot at destroying our faith).  Because they haven’t “taken heed” or “paid much closer attention to what they had heard,” they don’t handle the situation well… and fall away.  Jesus described this in Mark 4:16-17…

These are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the Word, immediately they fall away.

There is encouragement though and is found in Galatians 5:16-19, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”  (Back to 5:16, paraphrased) “So walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh… you wont fall… you will be consciously competent in regard to Christ!”

Which stage are you living in?  You won’t know unless you ask God to reveal it to you.  Be careful… you might be living as an Unconsciously Competent Christian!

Shout out: Thanks Mikey!

Staying Content

There are few greater blessings in life than to be content.  Paul wrote he had LEARNED to be content.  You’d think we’d learn more of the secret to being content ourselves.  You’d think over time and by experience we’d learn the things that cause us to be dis-content.  Here are a few suggestions in outline form regarding contentment to contemplate

Take seriously what is written in Scripture about the cause and effect of our actions.

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Guard closely what you allow into your heart. 

Proverbs 4:23 Keep (Guard) your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Psalm 101:3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.

Run from the disordered loves of your heart.  In other words, keep God #1 in your life!

1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Make corporate worship, prayer, and Godly meditation a priority in your life. 

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer & supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true… honorable… just… pure… lovely… commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned & received & heard & seen in me—practice these things, & the God of peace will be with you.

Remind yourself often of God’s truth… don’t forget what you know about God.

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

2 Peter 1:12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

Bullet Points To Help For Contentment

Regular reading and meditation on Scripture (Ps 119:11).

Regular self examination (2 Cor 13:5).

Quick to repent with restitution (Acts 26:20)

Someone to be accountable to.

Prayer!  “God work into me… 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a and Galatians 5:22-23.”

Fox’s “Touch” And God

Ever so often Hollywood goes theological without knowing it.  Fox Network’s new drama “Touch” with Keefer Sutherland is one such program.  Fox doesn’t present truth from a Christian view… but thinking believers can’t help but impose Biblical theology as THE truth behind the storylines.

The basis is an autistic child who through numbers and patterns sees things that others cannot/don’t understand.  The concept is that everyone on earth is connected.  Pilot Episode: A cell phone lost by a business man (Who sells commercial ovens and wants to see pictures of his deceased daughter that is stored on the phone) is passed from a baggage handler in the airport (Sutherland) to a wanna-be record promoter to a man traveling to Japan to another random person to another and another and eventually ends up in Baghdad in a teen suicide bomber attempting to get money for his family to purchase an oven in the family bakery.  Just before the bomb blows up the phone is tracked… the battery removed… the video the promoter put on the phone AND pictures of the little girl are shown in Time’s Square… where the initial dad is standing… who gets an oven for the teenager in Baghdad… and Keefer realizes how his son is attempting to communicate (Stay with me).

These kind of things happen every day… 10,000 x 10,000 times… all over the globe… in all of our lives… and mostly we don’t comprehend it.  Let me explain.

The writers of Touch attribute random events to an ordered universe with no mention of God or theology.  From a Christian perspective such things are not random… nor do they take place as the result of a child unlocking mystical secrets only a few can grasp.  They are the result of a merciful, good, and loving God who actively works in the lives of every person to bring all things to a consummation that results in His glory!  Let me to explain with a Biblical and personal example.

Biblical Example: In Genesis (37, 39-47, 49-50) Joseph’s dad sends him to his brothers.  The brothers hate Joseph.  They throw him into a pit with intent to kill him.  One brother talks them into selling Joseph to Midianites who just happen to be passing by.  The Midianites sell Joseph to Potipher who runs an Egyptian prison.  Potipher wife falsely accuses Joseph of rape.  Potipher throws Joseph into prison.  Joseph runs the prison for Potipher.  Joseph interprets dreams for two men he meets in prison, one promises to gain his freedom… and forgets him for two years.  Then Pharoah has a dream Joseph interprets so as to prepare for a famine.  Pharoah makes Joseph Vice-Pharoah to prevent starvation.  Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt to buy food.  They are reunited as a family.  The Jewish nation is preserved.  Joseph makes a famous statement about these events… “You meant it for evil, God meant it for good” (Gen 50:20).  Jesus The Messiah descends from them.  Jesus dies and is resurrected.  All who believe in Him are granted eternal life.  And Hollywood makes a movie called “The Ten Commandments” with Charlton Heston!  The movie would never have been made unless all those things had happened to Joseph (Levity)!  GOD MADE ALL THOSE CONNECTIONS AND BROUGHT ALL THOSE THINGS ABOUT… FOR HIS GLORY IN THE SALVATION OF SINNERS!

Personal Example (Shortened):  I chose to leave a church in Northwest Alabama without a place to serve (That’s a story of God’s providence in its self!).  A friend asked me to preach for him in Moulton, Alabama (Where’s that?!).  Moulton Baptist Church asked me to be their interim pastor.  Huffman Baptist Church heard about me from a person on staff at another church in Birmingham.  Huffman Baptist’s previous pastor grew up and attended Moulton Baptist Church.  He gave them contacts in Moulton to find out about me and my pastoral skills (I served 16 months… so they had observed me for a while).  HBC contacted me and heard me preach at a church in Birmingham another friend had asked me to fill in at after their pastor was fired (I was no longer MBC’s Interim)… and short story long… I’m now pastor of Huffman Baptist Church!  GOD DID IT!  HE MADE THE CONTACTS AND CONNECTIONS BY HIS PROVIDENCE!

That is Romans 8:28!  “GOD causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him who are the called according to His purpose!”

Ahem… there IS a reason Jesus said, “Don’t worry… Don’t be afraid!”  There is a reason Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything…”  It’s because God is on His Throne… God IS in control… He IS working ALL THINGS according to His will (Ephesians 1:11b)!

Different In Death? (Whitney Houston, Leon Perry)

On the DRUDGE website Sunday the link to Whitney Houston’s funeral was, “NATION GOES TO CHURCH.”  Funerals are interesting things.  They are more for the living than the deceased.  Such is the case for Leon Perry, us, and Whitney Houston.

The way a person lives & conducts their life, along with what they say… over time (The true proof of character)… is the best indicator of whether they are in heaven or not after death.  What people say during a funeral service (Including the minister) has NO bearing on their eternal state.  With that said…

I once did a funeral for a person I didn’t know.  I met with the family and asked them about the deceased’s life and faith.  They gave me a lot of information, which I used in the well attended service.  After it was over, a person well-known locally said (With smerk on his face), “Preacher, that’s the best service I’ve ever heard from a person who didn’t know the individual.”  Later that day I got a call from a church member who said, “Pastor, you really brought a great message today!  But WHO were you talking about?!”  Then the first man’s comment made sense…

ASIDE: When I don’t know a person and am presiding over their funeral I say, “I didn’t have the honor of knowing Joe/Susie myself, but the family has told me…”  I guess you could say that’s my pastoral disclaimer.

On the other end of the spectrum I did a funeral last week for Leon Perry.  He was a kind, loving, forgiving, gracious, compassionate, and gentle man.  He served the Lord Jesus faithfully for many decades… and people had observed him over that period of time.  Leon preached his funeral long before I ever stood behind the pulpit!  Everything I said was affirmed by those attending.  His family didn’t “sorrow like the rest of the world that had no hope” because of the testimony of his life.

You are preaching your funeral now by how you live.  At the service after your passing, those in attendance will know the truth about you regardless of what the preacher of speakers say.  You won’t be any different in death than you were in life.  The only change will be in the eternal location where you dwell.  It doesn’t matter if you are a Whitney Houston type… Leon Perry type… or one who is unknown, life on earth determines eternal destiny.  The only thing that matters is whether or not Jesus Christ saved the person (Which will be evident to all by how life was lived on earth).

What funeral message are you preaching?

Oh… That’s Why To Pray!

Recently an issue came up in my life I didn’t want to deal with.  Just thinking about it made my stomach turn and I did all I could to avoid even thinking about it.  The next day my wife Pam called to voice her concerns and I felt that much sicker because she was right.  After getting off the phone, I tried to occupy myself with other things to take my mind of it (Didn’t work!).

In my spirit I kept feeling the need to pray.  I kept thinking… “Just go pray.”  After these proddings continuing for a while, I went to my place of prayer at the church and prayed.  Not necessarily much about the actual thing it’s self, but just to spend time with the Lord.  After a while I got up and went back to my daily routine.

A few hours later I got a call from a person helping me on the matter.  He asked me one question and the answer made everything clear.  My “A” to his “Q” removed the haze in my brain and trouble in my spirit.  Then I realized something about prayer…

First, prayer is more about God working IN US than getting what we pray for.  Second, God has determined to work in our lives through prayer.  When we pray… God acts because HE chooses to do so.  When we don’t pray… and this is an important point, so don’t miss it… When we don’t pray He leaves things alone… to be subject to forces and powers other than His (CLICK HERE).  When we do pray… He answers according to what He has decided… then HE gets the glory for answering our prayer… we are blessed… AND we learn God answers our prayer!

Option #1: Pray… God answers… He is glorified… and we’re blessed.  Option #2: Don’t pray… God isn’t involved… and who knows what will happen?

Let’s see… I think I’ll take Option #1.

Wounded By Words

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.”  Whoever said that was clueless! (I post on this often because it is a relevant topic).

Our words can wound people… deeply… for along time.  Physical wounds heal quickly.  Emotional and heart wounds don’t heal easily or quickly and they can fester for years to decades!  I want to address that…

It’s been said that a hurricane destroys everything in it’s path.  The same is true for the person whose anger and bitterness comes out their mouth and wounds whoever is around them (Sadly, most of the time those wounded are those closest to us… family).  The emotional pain a human hurricane  causes is counted in more than dollars and physical damage.  It is much more significant… possibly lasting into eternity.

This matter is of great importance and seriousness because of the following Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 11:31 If we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. (Note: Think on the last phrase!)

Hebrews 10:30  ”The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

I’ve been a Cat-5 too many times in my life.  Several years ago I sat each of my family down and apologized to them… AND have made it my life’s goal to: 1) Not wound them if at all possible… 2) If I do to repent quickly… 3) Constantly ask God to protect my family from me… 4) Ask God to work this passage deep into my heart… Ephesians 4:26-27, 29-32…

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 29  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Practical Suggestions from 2 Corinthians 7:9-11…

There are two kinds of sorrow (Grief)… one is Godly while the other is worldly.  People can grieve for different reasons such as: Anger, embarrassment, manipulation, or fear (These are called “Worldly sorrow” in 2 Cor 7).

When we have sinned, and God’s Spirit is at work in us (Hear that!), He causes GODLY GRIEF…

Godly grief causes us to… Want to address the situation ourselves (V 11… “In you”)!  We don’t wait to be caught or forced into action.  We act because WE recognize sin ourselves and are personally motivated to rectify the situation and change our actions.

Godly grief causes us to… Repent. Turn away from our sin and toward God (V 10).

Godly grief causes us to… Earnestness to deal with the situation/event properly (V 11).

Godly grief causes us to… Indignation at ourselves that we have sinned against God and wounded others (V 11b)

Godly grief causes us to… Fear as to what our actions may have or will cause in others (V 11c)

Godly grief causes us to… Longing from within to do whatever it takes to correct the situation (V 11d)

Godly grief causes us to… Zeal to work hard at making things right with God and others (V 11e)

Godly grief causes us to… We punish ourselves without others having to inflict it upon us (V 11f)

Growing in Christ and maturing in the faith means that God’s Spirit brings to our own conscience the need to repent of sin.  Whether our sin is the result of words we say or things we have done, Godly Grief (Sorrow) is worked in us by the Holy Spirit.  What we probably need to do is found in the following Scripture of  Psalm 139:23…

Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Sin Is FUN (Briefly)

(Note: Follow up from Monday)  Sin is like a Tsunami… it keeps going, spreading a path of destruction and heartbreak everywhere, and it’s impossible to stop by human means.  Flee sin at all costs!

David got up from a nap one afternoon… was walking on his roof when he saw a beautiful young woman.  In that moment he decided to have a one night stand.  The consequences of that decision would haunt him till the day he died.  It would cost many people their lives.  It would cause heartache in his own family in ways he could not imagine.  The story can be read in 2 Samuel 11:1-12:24.  To cover his sin (Because the woman got pregnant), David committed murder.

Because of David’s decision… one act of sin led to another… and ultimately the consequences were strong, wide ranging, and long lasting.  “Do not be decieved, God is not mocked.  Whatever a man sow, that he will also reap” (Gal 6:7).  Consider the consequences of David’s sin…

A man lost his life when David tried to hide his sin (2 Sam 11:14-15),

The woman became a widow as part of David trying to cover his sin (2 Sam 11:26),

David would fight wars the rest of his life (2 Sam 12:10),

Members of David’s own family would rise up against him (2 Sam 12:11a),

David’s wives would be raped in broad daylight (2 Sam 12:11b),

Everyone would know about David’s sin to his shame (2 Sam 12:12),

The baby born to him would die (2 Sam 12:13).

Had David known the consequences and their severity, he’d never have given himself to sin that afternoon.  He would have fled to God for help to overcome it.  But he didn’t…

LESSON!  Sin is fun… briefly… for a season… BUT the consequences are far greater than the fleeting pleasures of sin!  Don’t be decieved!!  God has warned us by His Word and through our conscious by the Holy Spirit!  Flee sin.  Flee idolatry (Which is what ALL sin is).  Guard your heart!  Set no vile thing before your eyes.  Walk according to The Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh!

Angles’ Ministry To Christians (Leon Perry)

Today I have the honor of doing Leon Perry’s funeral.  There is no greater honor a minister has than to be asked to preside over a loved one’s coronation into heaven.  Let me tell you a little about Leon (And then God’s Angels).

The Leon I knew was a kind and gentle person.  A hard worker his entire life.  He had a strong sense of right and wrong.  He loved his wife and family.  He loved Jesus and served every way he could as long as his health allowed.  He was also a forgiving person (Which I personally experience with him).  He loved working in the yard with a certain penchant for Azaleas.  He told me of a couple of times he made “designer” Azaleas by cross-pollinating them for a few friends.

Leon is with Jesus today, so instead I want to encourage those who lose loved ones (Particularly Dean, Karen, and the rest of Leon’s family).  The ministry of God’s Angels for His people.  Consider what the writer of Hebrews penned about them as found in Hebrews 1:14…

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

I believe every Christian has at least two of God’s Angels with them at all times.  We do know that at least two angels usher the believer into the presence of God at the moment of their death (Luke 16:22a).  We also know that little ones have Angels who watch constantly over them and report to God how they are treated (Matthew 18:10).  I believe if our eyes were opened, we would see many Angels all around us!  But back to thoughts on Hebrews 1:14.

God sends His Angels to “serve for the sake” of Christians.  What does that mean?  What might it mean?  Let me suggest how Angels may serve Christians on God’s behalf…

They protection Christians.  Most of us will never know how often they do this until we get to heaven and God reveals their ministry to us.  Until then I believe they minister by…

Protecting Christians from tragedy and calamity…

Encouraging Christians in difficult times…

Strengthening Christians during trials…

Delivering answers to prayer from God (Click here).

And then one day upon their death, to usher them into the presence of God Himself (Luke 16:22a above).

Today I believe God’s Angels are actively ministering to Leon’s family.  And I also believe they minister to you as a child of God.

When I Blew It!

I’m patient as long as what I want is happening.  But let my schedule or plan get discombobulated and I can become a bear… a poppa bear… a hungry poppa bear woken up from a nap.

Pam, Amy, Britton, and I went to Nashville last week to see Trey play basketball.  I met P, A, & B (Shorthand for family names) in Athens.  They were ahead of schedule!  We had plenty of time to get to the gym for warm-ups before the game.  So I settled back for a leisurely ride.  THEN four things happened and I went from a smoldering ember to a raging fire (I relate this to my embarrassment).

ASIDE: I relate this to my embarrassment for a few reasons.  1) To remind us all that we have to constantly be on our guard.   2) It doesn’t take much for us to stumble.  3) None of us are beyond simple things causing us to fail.  4) Our failures are against God {Worst of all}.  5) Our failures wound others (That hurts a lot).

Back to the five things.   Amy’s order wasn’t in the sack I got from Chic-Filet (I got jipped!).  Second… Now we’d have to stop… AGAIN.  Third… the exit we took required a several mile drive into a podunk town for food.  Fourth… Outside Brentwood, TN traffic came to a standstill.  Fifth… I started looking at my watch (Big mistake).

To top it all off P, A, & B were cutting up, laughing, and having a good ole time (While I steamed).  With each minute I got more and more frustrated.  We’d miss warm ups.  Then… we’d miss tip-off.  Then… we’d miss who knows how much of the game.  Then… we’ll might miss the whole game!  That’s when it happened.  That’s when I blew it.

One of my family asked me a simple, innocuous question.  I answered in a low grumble.  In an attempt to lighten my mood their reply was funny.  And that’s when I made a comment under my breath.  Note to self: When you can’t hear well… what you think is a whisper is to other people normal conversation.  They heard what I said and it shut them down.  The hilarity was gone.  The kidding was over.  The laughter was silenced.  BECAUSE OF ME.

Immediately I knew: 1) I’d failed God miserably.  2) I had wounded three people I love dearly.  3) Guilt flooded my spirit.  4) Satan and his demons were laughing at me.  I felt a little of the sting Peter must have felt after denying Christ (just a little).

I did what I could to make things right (Repented to all three & a plus factor)… but damage was done.  And it grieved me deeply.  I have been having to do battle from that moment to now (Friday morning).  Satan keeps reminding me of my failure… whispering in my ear how stupid I am… how unworthy I am… and a host of other things.  I keep throwing Romans 8:1 at him.

Lesson/request: Learn from this little story.  Stay on your guard.  If you fail… repent and do all you can to make it right.  And “don’t let a root of bitterness spring up and defile many.”

God’s Steadfast Love

If you haven’t read Psalm 136, you need to.  It’s a classic, Holy Spirit inspired “7-11 song” (Same 7 words repeated 11… uh… 26 times).  The phrase repeated 26 times is… “For His steadfast love endures forever.”

No matter what you do, you cannot make God love you any more or less than He does right now.  It is because Jesus loved you that God loves you and visa versa.  That is a blessed thought!  If you began when you woke up this morning, you could not name all the reasons you should be thankful to God for His blessings.  You’d run out of energy before you ran out of reasons to thank, praise, and bless God for His steadfast love.

When and why does God’s love endure forever?  How do we know His love endures forever? 

Because He is good (v 1), He’s the God of gods (v 2), He is worthy of thanksgiving (v 3), He alone does great wonders (v 4), He created the universe (v 5), He created earth (v 6), He created the stars (v 7), He created the sun (v 8), He created the moon (v 9), He has the power of death (v 10), He delivered Israel from Egypt (v 11), His power is supreme (v 12), He divided the Red Sea (v 13), He brought Isarel through the Red Sea safely (v 14), He killed Pharaoh’s army in the Red Sea (v 15), He led Israel through the wilderness (v 16), He struck down great kings (v 17), He killed great kings (v 18-20), He gave their land to His own (v 21), And to their children (v 22), He is merciful (v 23), He rescues His own from danger (v 24), He gives food to all (v 25), He is worthy of thanksgiving (v 26).

God’s love doesn’t change.  God doesn’t change.  He is the same yesterday… today… and forever.  Because He is merciful to you and me… we are allowed to take another breath.  Because God is good… He forgives our sin.  Because God is gracious… we are sustained in all things.  No matter what you do… once you are His child, that can never change.  As it is written in Romans 8:38-39…

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Half The Bible, No Hell

There is a God who is and the God you want Him to be… and they aren’t the same (Unknown source).

What if a person said to you… “You are a decent person with a good personality, but I’d rather think of you my way.  Instead of being the accountant you are, I see you as a politician.  Instead of loving your wife, I see you as a player.  Instead of being health conscious, I see you as a glutton and drunkard.  Instead of being a Christian, I see you as a Buddhist.  I perceive you as THIS kind of person… and after all… ‘Perception is reality!’”

And your answer would be… “You can’t do that.  That ISN’T me.  Your perception needs to be based on truth and not something you prefer!”

Ever so often I run into a person who tries to do the same thing with Scripture and God.  Every time the person is serious in their belief and believes they are right.  But sadly their perception of Biblical and spiritual reality is in error.  Last week I talked with a man who was convinced the Trinity is not Biblical and there is no such thing as eternal condemnation in hell (He was a Jehovah’s Witness).  It didn’t matter how much I tried to show him (From Scripture) that Jesus is God (Hebrews 1:8 for starters), he just would not accept it.  No matter how much I tried to explain the reality of eternal hell and punishment (From Scripture), he just would not believe it.

Just because a person doesn’t believe something doesn’t mean it isn’t true!  It is also possible for a person to read the Bible and come to a false conclusion (Satan uses Scripture but distorts its meaning to lead people astray.).

When it comes to Scripture, it is either true (All of it) or none of it is true.  Going a step further, Scripture must also be rightly understood… meaning we can’t make it say what we want it to say.  Thus the need for study and leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

What part of the Bible can we choose not to believe… or believe in an unorthodox manner?  Can we choose to believe in heaven and not hell (Both are equally true)?  Can we choose to believe Jesus is not God (Clearly taught in Scripture)?  Can we choose to believe the New Testament but not the Old Testament… that God used evolution rather than speaking things into existence… that the Trinity is not taught… and on and on the questions go.

Truth is… yes… we CAN choose to believe all those things.  But we would do so in opposition to centuries of orthodox Christian doctrine.  Once a person begins believing one part of Scripture and not another, they have lost it all and believe none of it.  That person has made themselves the god of their life and exchanged the truth of God for a lie.  At that point they’ll believe anything no matter how outlandish it is… to the point of abandoning Christ.

This happened to a man named Charles Templeton, of whom Billy Graham was his understudy.  Mr. Templeton was a great evangelist in the 1940s and 1950s until he went to seminary where he began to doubt the veracity of portions of The Scripture.  Eventually he lost his faith and became an agnostic.  He tried to get Dr. Graham to see things his way which lead to a crisis of faith until Dr. Graham decided to believe God’s Word without reservation (“Just As I Am” by Billy Graham, pages 135-139).

A person can believe half the Bible and reject hell.  But the consequences are disastrous!