Deception In The Church (Part 6)

Jude addresses the attack of deception by referencing two Old Testament stories. He mentions angels who didn't stick to their post. They become distracted in their assignment and become deceived to the point that they fall. They were so full of pride and lust that they are deceived into destruction. The 2nd account is that of Baalam. You can find his story in Numbers 22-25. Moab under the reign of King Balak seeks to hire Balaam to prophesy against Israel as they travel to possess their inheritance Canaan. Five times Balaam is offered gold and he wants to sell out to greed or preach for profit instead of preaching as a prophet. He sincerely tries to design a prophecy to curse Israel and God rebukes him through a donkey and even though he wants to curse Israel he ends up blessing Israel instead. It's good to remember that if God wants you blessed it doesn't matter who wants to curse you!

Since he can't curse Israel Baalam finds another way to bring about destruction. He counsels Balak on how to defeat Israel. He tells the king that since the Israelites are pilgrims, own no land and since they are seeking a land/inheritance the best way to defeat them is to deceive them which will divert them. The scheme he presents to Balak is to get them to intermarry with your sons and daughters and they will lose their pilgrim nature and settle short of possession. When they intermarry they will learn to worship your idols which will in turn cause them to get involved in sexual immorality and they will be so distracted they will never make it to Canaan. The deception worked! In Numbers 25 Israel settled in Shittim and committed whoredoms with the daughters of Moab. They sacrificed to their gods and joined themselves unto Baalpeor. As a result 24,000 Israelites died in judgment of God.

The strategy of the devil was to get the chosen people to settle for less than the best and to stop short of spiritual fullness and inheritance. They lost their pilgrim nature. May I remind you that we too are aliens, strangers, pilgrims! If the enemy recognized that deception could divert and defeat angels and then the chosen ones in the days of Balaam, then Jude wants us to be aware of this ploy today! He knows that we have been promised life more abundant and if the enemy can deceive us, then we like the angels will leave our posts and like the chosen ones we will stop short of reaching that level of living!

How many of us have stopped short and still claim that we are living the blessed life? How many of us who were once on a journey to fulfill all that God has for us have become distracted along the way by bills, status, and materialistic things? Don't let the cares of life we cause you to settle for less. The deception of the devil is you can't seem to find the strength to push forward to fullness. Oh, yes you can. Read Philippians 4:13 and believe. The deceiver will then be put in his place!

Deception In The Church (Part 5)

Micah 7:18, 19 "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."

What if you were to pick up a national publication and find a story that you were a part of, but the story was told from a totally different point of view than the truth? The reason you know that is because you were involved with the family or person the story is about and know all the intimate details. Yet what you know happened and what the story said happened are two completely opposite things? How would you react?

Not only did I read a story like that, but I heard the same story told from a pulpit by the person that lived it. Their testimony made it seem like a tale of triumph and victory, yet when I lived it with them it was a tale of terror and woe. It proved to me that a person can so convince themselves of a lie that they begin to believe it themselves. The devil is doing the same thing within the church today. He's convincing people that instead of dealing with the truth, they can be satisfied with something that makes them feel better about themselves and the circumstance they've gone through.

We've all faced criticism in the past for bad decisions we have made and sometimes the echoes of those choices continue to haunt us. Yet, lying to ourselves is not the way to find a release. Lying to God and the church becomes easier when you accept a lie about yourself. I'm not talking about bravado or ego, but about recognizing the difference between the truth and a lie in your own personal life. Changing the facts won't fix it or make it better. It's a scar that you either bear or surrender to God, and the choice is up to you.

After reading that story and then hearing it told in front of an audience in the same false manner, I really got angry. Man, I felt like I was going to explode! Then the Holy Spirit touched me and I realized that the pain of that event was still alive within the writer/speaker's life. Instead of believing in the forgiving power of God, the individual was holding onto a failure they had not forgiven themselves for. I realized then how sad it must be to live in a lie rather than to forgive yourself.

Don't be deceived-if God has forgiven you then He's forgiven your past. It doesn't count anymore because in Christ you are a new creation. Let go of those weights and quit living a lie. Enjoy your liberty in Christ Jesus!

Deception In The Church (Part 4)

A few years ago a friend of mine told me, "You know we preacher's stretch the truth!" It shocked me to hear this coming from a fellow pastor, and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. So many churches have stressed numbers and statics for so long that many pastors feel they have to "stretch the truth" just to fit into the conversation. God help us to remember what Paul said about becoming a castaway. "Stretching the truth" is just a fancy phrase for telling a lie. If anything at all in the church is sacred it must be the man in the pulpit responsible for telling the truth each week. We are all fallible and can stumble and fall, but for a godly man it is often unintentional. Because of our calling we are held to a higher standard than most and we must make sure that we walk circumspectly in our congregation and with our brethren.

Pastors, we have to revisit and reclaim what we believe. It isn't enough to just pastor a Bible believing church. You have to know what you believe in the Bible! You need to know the what and the why of your beliefs! You have to know the absolutes and stand on them in the face of a society that would rather you embrace license, tolerance, and inclusion. Don't just buy what the media says or even what another preacher says. If we preach the truth then we must live the truth and be honest with our congregation and each other. Deception in the church often begins and ends with the one standing behind the pulpit. If we don't hold ourselves accountable we must remember that God does.

The Word proclaims for us to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind. Revisit what the Word says about truth and the way we treat one another. Revisit what the great Christian theologians, scholars, and pastors of yesteryear embraced and don't let down the standard. Take up the warrior mentality again because we are facing an onslaught of lies from the enemy that is destroying our brotherhood. This is not a time to cower down and hide. We must take courage that God is with us and preach the truth as we live it.

Disception In The Church (Part 3)

When you fall prey to the deception of license then another deception is ready to move in. Make no mistake about it-it is the doctrine of tolerance and inclusion. Since morals are now defined and determined by what "feels right" absolutes are rejected and redefined. It is no longer about what the Bible says so now some churches can dismiss hell, willingly, proudly, and openly embrace homosexuality, and proclaim universalism (all religions/beliefs lead to God/heaven). We must become tolerant and inclusive of anything and everyone!

Jude says very bluntly that if we don't stay on guard we will begin to call good evil and evil good. Jude would sound the alarm today if he watched Sports Center a few years ago. Tim Tebow was crucified (not for his ability or lack of ability) for praying, sharing his faith, and witnessing. He was the butt of every joke and a cry arises from teammates, celebrities, and even fellow Christians for him to be quiet. However, the day Jason Collins comes out as the first gay American professional athlete, he immediately receives congratulatory calls from the President and Twitter praise from celebrities, politicians, and sports legends that herald him as hero! Some even linking this announcement to the ground shaking accomplishment of Jackie Robinson.

When ESPN on air personality Chris Broussard eloquently defended his biblical view that opposes homosexuality he was immediately trashed and a petition was started to demand that ESPN apologize for the comments. A Bible believer turned into a villain. A sinner turned into a hero! All in the name of tolerance and inclusion! Just for the record I am sick and tired of the call for tolerance since it seems that the only ones that are intolerant are those calling for tolerance! They are free to set the standard and judgments but when someone wants to apply what God says then we are labeled as close minded, judgmental, bigots! I think Jude should be our standard.

Jude declares that we should be tender with the sinner, but tough on the sin. This mandate of the tolerant is to be soft not only on the sinner but to make room for and accept the sin! Jude shouts, "NO!" Love the person, be tender with the sinner, knowing that sinners are supposed to sin, while at the same time we are to call sin what it is. Don't be deceived! Don't accept something just because we are told we should. Look to a different standard-The Word of God-and adhere to it. 

Deception In The Church (Part 2)

Jude 3 "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

Jude, knowing we are under attack, uses the language of urgency. We are to earnestly contend or fight with everything in you against the deceptions of the devil. Contend means to "agonize, defend, engage in an athletic contest, be a combatant, warrior, fighter for the faith."

We have become too passive. We are not militant enough. Intellectually we know we are at war and yet we continue to live as if we are on vacation. We have little to no prep or  diligence. We acknowledge the attack of deception and simply roll over and go back to sleep. It seems to no impact on way we live.

Jude goes on after calling us to wakeup and fight and pulls the curtain back on specific strategies by which the enemy would like to deceive us. He says these are the deceptions we must guard against in the church.

Jude 4 reminds us that some people have infiltrated our ranks (Scripture warned us this would happen), who beneath their pious skin are shameless scoundrels. Their design is to replace the sheer grace of our God with sheer license—which means doing away with Jesus Christ, our one and only Master.

Jude refers to this deception as The Way of Cain. You remember Cain. He knew what was right and yet instead he chooses an alternate self-devised option. Cain was self- centered, self sufficient, and full of self-works. He lived like he wanted and believed he could save himself by sacrifices he chose; not a blood sacrifice, but rather works of own hand. Abel's blood sacrifice is accepted but Cain's offering was rejected and Cain throws a murderous fit. God responds to Cain and lets him know that if he would do right he too would be accepted. But if he chooses license instead, the Bible describes the results as a lion ready to pounce and devour you. Rather than adjusting his theology/doctrine/beliefs to meet God's Cain pushes forward with his own way.

We now see the same in church and our lives. The original sin of self is pushing back to the front. We are replacing God with us. Be your own god! You decide between good and evil, not what God says, but what you think. Set your own standards, because your definition of sin trumps Gods. Reject what the Word of God says if you don't like it or if it doesn't allow what you wanted to do. The church is facing the days of Sodom and Gomorrah again. They were described by Jude as making religion out of their whims and lusts! Sound familiar? Many churches are being force fed a "social theology instead of Biblical theology". Nothing is wrong anymore and everything is acceptable. Don't be deceived! It still takes a clean heart to get to heaven and a gospel that has no standard will not work. A church without the truth is just an institution. God wants a dedicated people and not another building or denomination.

Deception In the Church (Part 1)

I cannot take credit for this article, but I felt like it was worth sharing when addressing the area of deception in the church. Please read this article carefully and see how the spirit of deception has entered the church.

Consider these statistics of Christianity in America: Eighty-four percent of the inhabitants of this nation say they believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, according to Barna Group, and 45 percent claim to be born-again Christians. Other studies show it is closer to 33 percent.
Either way, these numbers are high. Seventy-seven percent believe their chances of going to heaven are excellent. Thirty-three percent believe one day everyone will go to heaven. Yet America has the highest percentage of single-parent families in the industrialized world, the highest abortion rate, the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases, the highest rate of teenage birth by far, the highest rate of teenage drug use and the largest prison population per capita than any country in the world.

Consider also the great moral decline of the last generation (50 to 60 years) and these telling statistics in America. The divorce rate has doubled, teen suicide has tripled, reported violent crime has quadrupled, the prison population has quintupled, the percentage of babies born out of wedlock has risen sixfold, couples living together out of wedlock have increased sevenfold, and gay marriage is now a legalized reality in a number of states, with many believing the end is not in sight.
In this past generation, we have experienced an overwhelming increase in lawlessness, permissiveness and selfishness, even among Christians. Moral actions that were unthinkable a few decades ago are now commonplace—Christian leaders indulging in sexual sin and grossly immoral scandals, addicted to pornography and accompanied by an exploding divorce rate have greatly factored in the rapid decrease of morals in the American church. And as the church goes, so goes the world. In fact, the results of a survey among young American adults showed that the percentage who follow biblically based values for living has now dropped from 65 percent to a mere 4 percent since World War II.

There has never been a society in the history of mankind whose moral values have deteriorated so dramatically, in such a short period of time, as those of Americans in the last 50 years. And so far it shows no sign of stopping. These statistics are eye-opening, and they serve to warn us that something is terribly wrong with our brand of Christianity. They reveal how poorly the church has communicated the true gospel to mainstream America, and thus the reason for so much deception in our culture.

When the rich man died and went to Hades (Luke 16:19-31), he was surprised to find himself there. In the Jewish culture, they equated wealth with godliness, so this man thought God favored him. The common thought, especially among the Jews, was if you were blessed financially, then you were a good person and therefore favored by God and on your way to heaven. This also explains the disciples' astonishment when Jesus told them how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:23-25).

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Similarly, there was a church in Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22) who, due to their wealth, thought they too had attained God's favor. Jesus expressed great disapproval over their spiritual condition as well, which they were totally unaware of. They were deceived.

Are you in touch with your true spiritual condition? Or are you allowing the pop culture around you to dictate your standards? Are you conforming to the world's standards or to the Bible? Are you deceived? How can a nation of people among whom a large percentage claims to be born-again Christians experience the kind of degradation the above statistics reveal? Such deception is the state of America today, and the above statistics reveal the fruit of it.

The problem has been that the real gospel has not been preached nor lived. Both the profession and the practice of many so-called Christians in this nation have not matched up. Our substandard message has produced substandard believers. Our departure from the preaching of the cross, repentance, holiness, and the real empowering grace of God has increased the level of deception in the church. How else can we explain the disparity of the above statistics in the church and the nation?
But what is really at the root of this deception? This is what we need to carefully discern. In one word, it is humanism—the glorification of self. Humanism has crept into much of the modern-day church and is diluting the power of the real gospel. 

Evil Defeated (Part 9)

Whenever changes come into our lives, or we even just think about making changes, one of our first responses is fear. It is the fear of how we will be perceived by others. The origin of that emotion goes to a core fear that we will be rejected by others, and thus find ourselves alone in the world. It is a universal fear.

This fear is so strong that it keeps people chained to unhealthy lifestyles and an unhappy life for a lifetime.

The most common scenario I saw as a pastor was to see this dynamic played out with people who have lived a codependent life. The codependent does a poor job of taking care of themselves, never verbalizes their own needs or opinions, and has very poor boundaries with others, allowing others to take advantage of them.

Since my stroke I have spent much time battling this type of fear. Anxiety has lurked just outside the door of my heart. I really lost my joy, though no one would have known because I became so good at faking it. I made some bad decisions and let myself become trapped in the web of what others thought of me rather than what I thought of myself. My health issues only worsened that fear within my heart and mind.

The apostle Paul must have found himself battling similar demons. He lived two starkly different lives. The one prior to his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus and the one he lived after meeting Ananias in Damascus.

Who would he try to please with his life? Those who wanted him to return to persecuting Christians? Those who wanted him to preach Christ only to Jews and not Gentiles? Those who knew him only as God's servant?
It must have been out of his frustration with pleasing people that he wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:3 The Message, "It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion." Paul decided to draw a line in the sand. He came to the place where all he was concerned with was pleasing God, not people.
That is the solution for everyone who allows public opinion to dictate to them how they should act.

We have no control over what people think of us. How they view us is dictated by their own lifestyle, beliefs, prejudices, and opinions. That's why living to please others will make you miserable. because there will always be someone who does not like what you are doing!  I'm not suggesting we should have an inflated, egotistical view of ourselves, believing we are always right and never wrong. Our focus needs to be on walking the walk and talking the talk that Christ commands us to. We must always approach Him in humility, listening to His Word, and making changes when we are living contrary to His will.

You defeat evil by restoring your joy in Christ. Restoration comes when you realize that doing your best for God is in the long run all that matters.

Evil Defeated (Part 8)

John 8:44 “For he (Satan) is a liar and the father of lies.” 

God is truth and speaks the truth. Satan lies and is the father of lies.

A few days ago, I discussed the miracles of God with a friend during a chance meeting. We both felt so privileged to be called to serve Him. During the discussion, we also touched on fact that the enemy keeps whispering lies in our thoughts to try to stop us from serving God.

Satan seems to know our weaknesses, and he attacks our minds in those areas. Satan often begins to tell me, “You are not worthy to do God's work. People will laugh at you for what you put in your blog. What do you know about ministry or life that other's haven't already gone thru?”

Yet, God’s Word tells me, “In your weakness I am strong. . . . You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. . . . I called you and I will be faithful to do it. . . . Because I am your shepherd, I am everything you need.”

As Christians, we have both a spiritual nature and a carnal nature, and each has its own signal. Our spiritual nature listens to the Holy Spirit, while our carnal nature listens to the enemy. Many times a day, when thoughts come into our minds, we decide whom we will listen to: the Holy Spirit and truth, or the enemy and lies. We make the choice.

When the enemy begins to torment you with lies, or tries to make you feel unworthy, turn your thoughts to the Holy Spirit and begin quoting Scripture to yourself and the enemy. That is what Jesus did when the enemy taunted Him, and the enemy had to depart.

Remember what the Psalmist prayed, “Your Word have I kept in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” When the voice of the enemy would have you believe lies, quickly turn your thoughts to God’s truths. 

Evil Defeated (Part 7)

Philippians 3:10 "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering."

Do Christians have painful memories? As long as there is evil in the world the devil will try to dredge up memories of your failures, mistakes, and shortcomings. It's that constant presence of evil that makes life’s journey painful at times. We all wish we could have eighty years of the “good life” but that isn’t real life, is it? Suffering is a part of life no matter how close you are to God. If you're human you will fight suffering as much as you fight evil. 

God is faithful and will walk with us each step of the journey. He will never leave us or forsake us and His grace and strength are always sufficient. Even though some days you may doubt it. God has provided healing in His atonement for all, but not everyone is healed. God has promised blessing for all, but not everyone is rich. Paul knew Him as a deliverer, but also shared in His suffering as a soldier of the cross.

Even though God has forgiven us and we have forgiven ourselves and others, painful memories tend to keep coming back. During my prayer time recently, I asked Lord how I could stop the memories from coming back?
He reminded me of this verse in Philippians:

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering.”

He told me to thank Him for the experience every time it popped up in my mind. He also reminded me that I have the privilege of feeling a little of Christ’s suffering during His trial and crucifixion.

When I look at the experience from God’s perspective, suffering becomes a privilege I can share with Him. We get to know Him in a deeper way. I would not have chosen some of the deep valleys I have gone through, but now I am thankful for it.

Jesus, our Master and Friend, said we could expect trouble when we follow Him. We shouldn’t be surprised! But He is there with us, feeling our pain, strengthening us, loving us, giving us grace and wisdom to defeat the spirit of evil that seeks to destroy us.

Evil Defeated (Part 6)

1 Samuel 16:7 “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Sometimes I cringe at how often judgments are made about people’s behavior or actions because of things we hear or read or see. Tidbits of gossip on social media is bad for that, rumors or slanted opinions in the media. If you have ever been on the receiving end of these judgments, you have experienced how painful it is to be judged on false information. Our world seems to get a kick out of how much evil they can spread to defame or attack another person's character.

However,  we ourselves can be guilty of spreading rumors. We, too, judge or criticize others on partial truths without knowing the whole picture. Sometimes people take credit for deeds others have actually accomplished and it doesn’t seem fair. It is our humanness, isn’t it? Our spirits may be willing, but we are weak in the flesh. Romans 7 tells us how impossible it is to overcome those evil habits without the help of Jesus.

I find it encouraging to know that God always judges fairly. He knows everything about us. What we do, what we think, and what we could have done. He knows and has given us our gifts and talents. He knows the circumstances surrounding our actions, yet His attitude toward us is always enveloped with love Because God is just I know He will always treat me fairly.”

Not only does He judge us fairly regarding questionable thoughts and actions, He rewards us for the good we do. In His book, Knowing God Through the Year, the author writes:“To reward good with good, and evil with evil, is natural with God. The retributive principle applies throughout: Christians as well as non-Christians will receive according to their works.”

Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair and evil seems to triumph; but remember this, God is fair and the good guys come out on top for sure!

Evil Defeated (Part 5)

Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” 

When tremendous evil events happen in our world our spirits sink very low. Many are still recuperating from the shootings in Las Vegas and Texas. Others are shaken by the devastation caused by the hurricanes and forest fires this year. It just seems like evil is on the rampage and there is no way out. Sometimes you feel as if you're at the bottom of a pit looking up. But friend, you're not there by yourself. Jesus is there with you, and He will keep speaking promises in your ear.

Deuteronomy 31:6“I will never leave you or forsake you.” 

Deuteronomy 33:25 “As your days, so shall your strength be.” 

Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory forever and forever.” 

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” 

These are just a few of the many promises God has made you when evil attacks you in any way.

God is good.

-He does not abandon us.

-He is always there.

-He cares more about us and His work then we do.

Don’t fret, but listen to Him speak promises in your ear. God is there. He will take care of you.

Evil Defeated (Part 4)

Psalm 3:3 “But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.”  

September 11, 2001 will always be etched in my mind. I was eating breakfast and watching the news when I saw the second plane fly into the tower. I saw the people jumping from the buildings and watched helplessly as other damage was done to the Pentagon. I remember the stories of heroism from our first responders and even passengers who sacrificed their lives crashing a plane in a field rather than letting it do more damage to another city. Personally, it was the first time in my life that I was gripped by a spirit of fear for our nation.

On that day and every since I praise God more and more for being our shield. The word “shield” means to protect, guard, defend, shelter, and screen. God protects us from harm’s way, guards us from danger, defends us against accusations, shelters us when we are weak, and screens everything that comes our way. Nothing can touch us until it goes through God’s screening process first.

Many of us have had the scary experience of a rock hitting our windshield. The windshield protected us from being hurt. Our homes shelter us from the elements of nature , such as rain, snow, extreme heat, and cold. But there is no shelter, no protector, like God Himself. The verse Deuteronomy 33:27 is a wonderful comfort to me:

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

There may be times in your life when you feel like you have been hit by a ton of bricks. Believe it or not, that experience had to first go through God’s screening process. And His screening process is more accurate than that of any airport security system! Painful experiences do help us to trust God more. In these evil days remind yourself from the Word:

Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” 

Psalm 119:114 “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” 

Psalm 84:11 “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” 

Evil Defeated (Part 3)

Psalm 115:3 “But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.” 

God is great and He is mysterious, yet He is totally loving.There are so many things about God and His ways we will never understand. To naively say that we know Him completely would be foolish. He gives us glimpses and insights into certain aspects of His character. He has also given us the written and living Word and His Holy Spirit to teach more about Him.
Often it is through painful circumstances we come face to face with Him, and when we meet Him, we are changed. He is so awesome and mysterious and yet He desires and delights in our company. 

I've been reflecting about my experiences during the past few years. I recognize now  that God took a painful time of life and is beginning to turn it into something beautiful again. When I was in the middle of it, I could not see any happiness ahead, but God always knew what was best for me. He always has the big picture.

CS Lewis said, “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.”

In a way that is not only best for us, but also the best for the people involved in our world. He has a long-range plan; we see as though we are looking through a tiny, foggy window. Sometimes He answers our prayers in an instant, and other times He waits days, months, or years before He answers. In fact we may never see some answers in our lifetime.

I have family members who need answers right now for situations in their lives, but they haven't come to pass of this writing. Yet other times God answers seemingly inconsequential prayers immediately for parking places or finding a lost item.

The awesomeness of His nature is reflected in the majestic mountains, humming birds and colorful butterflies. We feast our eyes on their beauty and are amazed. We look at the fragile snowflakes and know that even though they are fragile alone, they are very amazing in their power when bonded together.
At times, when we seem to be treated unfairly, we wonder about His power. Is it real? Yet He never changes when our feelings do. We never fully know Him, yet He is always waiting for us to know Him more.
It is good to reflect on God and His ways. Like the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:10:

“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.”

I don’t want a shallow belief in Jesus. I want my roots to grow down deep into Him. How about you?

Evil Defeated (Part 2)

Micah 7:9 "I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, and I will see His righteousness."  

You’re caught. You are arrested and charged. There’s not much point in resisting since you know you are guilty. You stand before the judge, ashamed and humiliated. What can you do? There is no way out of this unless someone pleads your case. But who would plead the case of a man who has already confessed to the crime? Actually, only one person could do such a thing – the injured party. The only person able to speak for the criminal is the victim.

  

That’s the scenario in Micah’s courtroom description. I have offended the Most High God. He is the injured party. There is no question about my guilt. Therefore, only He is able to take up my case and bring about justice. The law demands punishment, but the victim can plead for mercy. If God doesn’t act on my behalf, there is nothing ahead but wrath and misery.

  

The Hebrew word "riyv" comes directly from the courtroom. It means to conduct a lawsuit, to contest and dispute in legal proceedings. God Himself uses this word to describe His accusation against idolatrous Israel in Isaiah 3:13. Now Micah says that unless God takes up our sorrowful verdict, we are lost. In the court of heaven, I need the best attorney in all creation, and that, of course, is the merciful Lord Himself.

  

This is a legal proceeding like no other. God is victim, judge and defense counsel. It may seem a bit strange to us, but this is the way it must be. God is judge by right of creation. He made it all. He owns it all. He sets the rules in place for the governance of it all. God is also the victim here because, in spite of His right to require obedience, I have spurned Him. I have refused to live according to the decrees of the Owner of all. He is the injured party in this proceeding.

  

But Micah also tells me that God is the defense counsel. I discover that God is not simply the moral policeman of the universe. He is exactly as He describes Himself in Exodus 34:6 – "Compassionate and full of mercy." God steps in to plead my case when there is absolutely no excuse for my actions.

  

So, what does pleading mean when I am a confessed criminal? From my perspective, it can only mean one thing-a cry for a merciful verdict. In these circumstances, that’s all I could come up with. That, however, is not God’s way. God’s way is amazingly controversial, completely unanticipated and absolutely unique. The victim voluntarily dies in the place of the guilty. This is the whole creation turned upside-down. Nothing could have prepared us for this solution. The law is upheld. The judge is satisfied. The guilty are forgiven. Mercy triumphs over wrath without compromising justice.

This might be a good day to praise the God Who died in your place. Jesus is the only reason you are free.

Evil Defeated (Part 1)

Our world today is clearly not the best of all logically possible worlds, but it is the best world God could create given His commitment to create genuinely free creatures like us. Free creatures are the only beings who can love and experience love. Since one of God’s main purposes in creating us was to have a reciprocal love relationship with us, God created the best of all actually achievable worlds. God cannot make people freely choose to do good or freely love Him. If He makes them do it, they are not free. If they are genuinely free, then He can’t make them do it. That would be a contradiction. Therefore, the possibility of free creatures choosing evil is not something God can control without eliminating free will. And free will is not just a nice addendum of human nature, it is an integral part of who we are. This being the case, if God were to eliminate evil, He would also be eliminating free will. In doing so, God would be perpetrating the most horrendous evil of all: the annihilation of the human race.

For most people the problem of evil is not an intellectual problem, but an emotional one. They want to know why God allows evil and suffering. When they can’t get a satisfactory answer, they become angry. They don’t like a God who would permit them or others to suffer. This is not an atheism of refutation, but of rejection. A child who is hurting needs reassurance, not an intellectual explanation. Atheism cannot supply this reassurance. It does not reduce suffering one bit-it just removes hope. In an atheistic universe, there is no ultimate accountability or justice. Evil people will get away with what they’ve done; but in the Christian worldview, God has done something about evil in the person of Jesus Christ. He does not just say, “Okay, I created you. Now prepare to suffer!” He has given us a clue, a deposit, and a down payment that He does have good reasons for allowing evil and that He does have a greater good in store. By appearing in human form, He showed us that we could trust Him. And what did He do while He was here? He suffered!

Jesus endured a suffering beyond all comprehension. He bore the punishment for the sins of the entire world! For all the evil that everyone of us from the beginning of our species has perpetrated, He paid the penalty. None of us can comprehend that suffering. Though he was innocent, He voluntarily took upon Himself the punishment we deserve. And why? Because He loves us. It is like He was saying, “I know you don’t understand why I permit every evil. It’s not possible for you to understand yet. But just to show you that you can trust me, I’m going to suffer with you.”

When we comprehend his sacrifice and love for us, it puts the problem of evil in an entirely different perspective. We see clearly that the true problem of evil is the problem of our evil. Filled with sin and guilt before God, the question we face is not how God can justify himself to us, but how we can be justified before Him. And it is through Christ’s payment for our evil by his death on the cross that we can be justified before God.

Many Christians will also testify that Christ provides inner resources to cope in the midst of difficulty and suffering. He promises that He causes all things to work together for good to those who love God in Romans 8:28. Ultimately, He promises victory over death, the ultimate evil. Those who genuinely choose to accept and receive his forgiveness will rise from the dead with a transformed, immortal, imperishable body to be with him forever in 1 Corinthians 15:42; 52. Death, pain and suffering have been dealt a fatal blow; they have suffered a crucial defeat. The light has pierced the darkness and evil will ultimately be defeated.

Encourage (Part 4)

Four more things that will help somebody this week to be encouraged:

-Use encouragement as an outreach.

If anyone should be known for being an encourager, it should be the Christian. Write a letter of appreciation to people at work, your apartment manager, your child's teacher or your doctor. Often when we interact with these people, we are asking for their services. Take time just to say thank you! If you really want to encourage someone who gives you excellent service, write a letter of commendation to the person's boss.

-We could learn something from the way team athletes freely pat, touch and high-five each other in competition.

Touch is a powerful encouragement. Be sure to be sensitive in this area, though. Ask someone if you can hug her first. And be careful to be above reproach with persons of the opposite sex.

-When you see someone making positive changes in their lives, affirm them.

Tell people how they've encouraged you!

-Walk daily in the power of the Holy Spirit, asking Him to give you what you need to encourage others.

Just as it is impossible to live the Christian life in one's own strength, it's also impossible to freely, unselfishly pour out encouragement without the help of the Holy Spirit who is our Encourager.

Encourage (Part 3)

How many backsliders would still be in the church if someone would have encouraged them? How many pastors would still be involved in ministry that have fallen along the way because of discouragement? We need the Lord's help, but we also need each other to speak life into the hearts and minds of people who are carrying a heavy burden.

My pastor brother is a prime example of what I'm writing about. He is a straight-shooter and doesn't take any gruff from people, but he is an encourager first and foremost. He has a heart for lifting people up even when they've done him wrong. If we would all be like that I believe the church would be better off.

Paul reminds us that we need to be honest and concerned with others in the faith:

-Encourage other believers with the reminder of Christ's coming.

It redirects our thinking to an eternal perspective and ultimate deliverance from the sin and death.

1 Thessalonians 5:17b, 18 "We who are still alive and are left will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." 

-Realize the power of presence; we need each other.

Just being there is encouraging! When you're with others, you're telling them that they're important. The Apostle Paul closed his letter to the church at Colosse promising to send his friend Tychius:

Colossians 4:8b "that he may encourage your hearts." 

-If you're part of a church, Bible study or fellowship, be committed to showing up for services.

Your simple presence encourages others that they are part of a community of faith and that they are not alone. That's why the writer of Hebrews says,

Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as we see the Day approaching." 

Encourage (Part 2)

Again, remember God has called us to be encouragers. Here are a few more suggestions I hope will help you accept that calling.

-When you introduce someone, add a few words of praise for the person's abilities, accomplishments, about how they've helped you or about the nature of your relationship. It's encouraging to be praised in front of others. We all hear discouraging news on the television or read it in the newspaper. Positive affirmation can really turn around someone's life if they feel that you really care.

-When someone is discouraged or hurting, offer specific, practical help. If you ask, "How can I help?" the person might be at a loss to answer. It's better to ask, "Would it help if I" or say, "I would like to help if you'll let me." Some people are very private and won't ask for assistance, yet you can't come off as a know-it-all and lift their spirit. Be available, but don't be nosey. You offer to help may encourage them to try again.

-Remind fellow believers of the specific promises of God and characteristics of God. We may know something with our mind, but need to be reminded in our heart. The Apostle Peter wrote: 

2 Peter 1:12 "I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have." 

Encourage (Part 1)

In this "downer" world we all need hope. That is why God is looking for encouragers in these troubled days because encouragement goes straight to the heart.

In fact, the word itself comes from a combination of the prefix "en" which means "to put into" and the Latin word "cor" which means heart. Knowing what a big difference encouragement makes in your own life, think about what you can you do to help others "to take heart" when the going gets tough.

-Become aware of what encourages you and do those same things for others.

-Learn individuals' "love language" or the special way in which they feel most valued.

In his book, The Five Languages of Love, Gary Chapman explains that not everyone's emotional needs are met in the same way and that it's important to learn to speak others' love language. The five love languages are:

1. Words of affirmation.

2. Spending quality time.

3. Receiving gifts.

4. Acts of service.

5. Physical touch.

-If an encouraging thought comes to mind, share it! It may not have the same effect if you wait. Don't let shyness hold you back. Instead, form a new habit: 

Hebrews 3:13 "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today…"

You just might have the right words for somebody that they need today!