Saint Francis Was Wrong

“Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.”

 -Francis of Assisi

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While this is a popular saying, it isn’t actually biblical.  I would go so far as to say it is ANTI-biblical.  It is a thought that communicates a false idea that you do not have to share truth with people, you merely need to be “nice” to them.

Please hear me: We should be engaged in regular and random acts of kindness.  We’ve been reborn for the purpose of bearing the fruit of good works that glorify God.

However: These works aren’t the end.  They’re a means to the end.

The Gospel Message (the Good News that Jesus lived the perfect life no person could ever live and died the death we all deserved for our sin — resulting in eternal life for the person who believes the message spoken to them) does not (and CANNOT) trickle out of our good works.

Yes, the good things we do, the godly lives we live, reinforce the truth of the Gospel — but those things (which we are both called and empowered to do as believers) are not the Message. Truth must be spoken.

THE MESSAGE MUST BE SPOKEN.  IT MUST BE DECLARED.

YOU MUST SPEAK THE MESSAGE!

You MUST use your voice in order to do that.  And, yes, that is the biblical means of sharing the Gospel:

‘John [the Baptist] came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission (forgiveness) of sins.’ (Mark 1:4)

‘[Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel…”’ (Mark 16:15)

‘For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.’ (1 Corinthians 1:21)

So many people use Francis’ statement as an excuse to avoid sharing the Gospel with people.  Their vague assumption (often clothed in fear and/or compromise) is that people will understand the true Gospel as they’re simply “nice” to them.  Mormons are nice to people.  Jehovah’s Witnesses do nice things for people.  Muslims are even people who are committed to their faith by their actions.

Those three groups (along with many others) all represent counterfeit messages. People who do not know what they stand for have no ability to differentiate the false messages of these religions from the singular truth of Christianity if the Christian message is not proclaimed (i.e.- spoken).

With that in mind, we understand that simply being a “nice” person and doing “nice” things will never bring someone into a saving relationship with Jesus.

In order to proclaim the message you must use words:

‘“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach)…”‘ (Romans 10:8)

The Greek word the Apostle Paul uses for “preach” is a word denoting a public crier.  Some form of this word is used in all three of the Scriptures I quoted earlier.  In centuries past, such a person was a governmental official who would dispense pertinent information by making public announcements.  He had to speak words.  He couldn’t just be “nice” and do “nice” things.

He had a message and he had to actually speak it. 

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Your challenge?: Live your faith, certainly.  That is integral to the actual message.  But more than that, declare — through the words you speak — your hope, your faith.  DECLARE THE MESSAGE!

‘How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,

Who bring glad tidings of good things!”‘ (Romans 10:14-15)

Go!  Take the truth of Jesus.  PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE! 

Someone’s eternity may depend upon it!

All Means All!

You shall DRIVE OUT ALL the inhabitants of the land from before you, DESTROY ALL their engraved stones, DESTROY ALL their molded images, and DEMOLISH ALL their high places. (Numbers 33:52, emphasis mine)

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As God’s special people, He desired Israel to be the Light of the world from which God’s Laws and, eventually, His Messiah would come.

God also knew His people could fulfill neither without being separated wholly from the pagan peoples and cultures already existing in the Promised Land He was desiring to give them.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND:

The world’s values cannot exist in the hearts, minds, and lives of God’s people!

The Lord would speak through Moses several things in this verse that were to be keys for their success.  Such keys are essential for both the personal and corporate success of those who are part of His Remnant Church today.

God’s Remnant People MUST:

1.)  DRIVE OUT ALL THE INHABITANTS– We must, through death to self, permit the Holy Spirit to “drive out” anything from our pre-Christian experience that is juxtaposed to God’s Word and His will for our lives.   Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24).

2.) DESTROY ALL THEIR ENGRAVED STONES– Engraved stones, or pictures here, reference the things these pagan cultures value.  Pictures evoke thoughts and feelings.  We take pictures of things that are important to us.  Rather, as God’s holy people we are to renew our minds daily (see Romans 12:1-2), allowing Him to …sanctify and cleanse [us] with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26).

Why? Because new creations have new desires and are headed in a new direction.  Our perspectives must change!  The past is irrelevant for the believer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17, emphasis mine).

3.) DESTROY ALL THEIR MOLDED IMAGES– Humanity was created to worship, and to worship God alone.  The Fall of humanity skewed that.  As a result, all of humankind has worshiped a grand variety of much lesser things, having …worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).  

God is calling His people (yes all believers!) out of any type of idolatry (pagan, religious, or otherwise) and into a consecrated relationship with Him.  God is our focus of worship and Jesus, through His Redemptive Victory at Calvary, has made it a living reality in our lives.  Therefore, throw down the idols — immediately!

4.) DEMOLISH ALL HIGH PLACES– High places were sites of pagan worship.  Everything our culture exalts is hostile to (and is daily becoming more and more increasingly hostile towards) God’s character and His word.  The Bible teaches we are to be …casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5).

When we value what the world at large values, we find ourselves worshiping at their high places.  We must daily allow the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to reprioritize what we value and to allow such to sift us and to shift every area of worship in our lives from that of the satanic world system to God, that we might truly: Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! (1 Chronicles 16:29).

The key word in each of these is all.  “All” is a Hebrew word meaning, ‘the whole or every [single] one.’

If you leave any area of your life unaffected by the items just mentioned, you will never (verse 53):

1.) DISPOSSES THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND– Having victory in your life over the world, the flesh, and the devil (see 1 John 2:15-16) requires you to surrender all to the Lordship of Jesus.  You cannot hold on to any area of sin in your life and expect to possess His Promised Land!

Sin does not have to reign as lord and king over your life.  Jesus died to give you eternal life.  He also died to give you victory in every single area of your life!  Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14).

2.) POSSESS THE LAND– The true Church of Jesus Christ would do well to understand this principle of “dispossessing to possess.”  We (personally and corporately) often settle for mediocrity and compromise and, while we may step foot in it, we’ll never truly possess the Land.

You cannot embrace your sin and the promises of God simultaneously!  No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24, emphasis mine).

The Lord, through Moses, ends this section and chapter with a stern warning, one Israel failed to heed:

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. (Numbers 33:55, emphasis mine)

In God’s economy — and for our good — ALL means exactly what it says: ALL!

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Will you allow the Holy Spirit to examine your heart and consequently allow Him to deal with anything in your life that is currently prohibiting you from giving all of yourself to Him?

Understand: This does not only affect you, it also affects your role in the greater Body of Christ, thus affecting your ability to shine forth the Light of Jesus.

Surrender ALL to Him today!

THE Scourge Upon Our Land

‘And [King Josiah] defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.’  (2 Kings 23:10)

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TOPHETH was in the Valley of Hinnom (the valley region around Jerusalem, known also as Gehenna and where the Greek word for “hell” comes from).  It was there such “worshipers” would dedicate their child to the pagan Canaanite god, MOLECH.

To ‘make your [child] pass through the fire’  was to offer him or her in child sacrifice. The thought was by sacrificing (murdering) your child, Molech would ensure your future financial and procreative prosperity.  In reality, it was an abominable act, for child murder brought (and still brings) God’s wrath. ‘Molech’ carries with it the idea of ‘a king’ or ‘one who reigns.’ Those who subscribe to this philosophy today are brought under its dominative power and, in so doing, find themselves to be fighting against God.

It is quite maddening, in light of our current situation (COVID-19, its variants, and the continued economic and societal trail of destruction it is bringing), that instead of repenting and turning to God in order that the scourge may be removed from our land, so many millions would choose to ‘beat the drum’ in support of such an ‘abomination’  (God’s word, not mine — see 2 Kings 16:3 and Jeremiah 32:35).

In this horrendous, unthinkable act, children were placed into the arms of Molech and tied down.  At that point a fire was kindled in the belly of this idol and, as the child would begin to scream, the priests of this false, devilish god would beat drums (where the word ‘Topheth’ originates) to drown out the sounds of the child shrieking while being burned to death. 

Is this any different than “partial birth abortion” or murdering a child “accidentally born alive” who is deemed unwanted and disposable?  God help us!!!

Americans keep beating the drum of the mantra of “choice” — with its obnoxious, bullying “priests” screaming loudly to silence the voices of truth bringing light to this unthinkable evil, all while child sacrifice continues to escalate, to the tune of some 60,000,000+ children.

Satan has no new tricks, he simply repackages the same lies — all which promise freedom yet end in a trail of destruction and death.

While some believe God is love (which is true) they fail to realize He is also the God of justice.  He will not be mocked. A people that sow unto themselves judgment through disobedience to and rebellion towards His commands will ultimately reap it. That is what is happening today.

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Simply, it is past time for the true Church in America to repent for “turning a blind eye” to this evil in the name of “growing a church” or whatever excuse (and that is what it is!) has become palatable.

As well, please know if you have committed this sin against God, you (through repentance and faith in Jesus) can find forgiveness and healing through Him. Jesus died on the Cross, in part, so you could experience total forgiveness and complete healing through a faith relationship with Him!

Our land is ravaged from THIS scourge and its stain is particularly glaring…

Will we be the generation, like young King Josiah, that eradicates it from the land, ‘that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech?’

Father, hear our prayer and heal our land from THIS scourge — but don’t let us remain silent as the priests of Molech continue to beat their drums…

Unity?

Unity.  Many in the Body of Christ want it.  Some think they have it.  Few know what it really is.

Unity can be defined as, oneness, absence of diversity, concord, harmony, or agreement.[i]

In light of Scripture, I don’t know that I’d completely buy that definition.

Having said that, throughout my twenty-five years as a believer, one of the key buzzwords in Christendom has been ecumenism.

What does it mean to be ecumenical?  While the defined word in English points back to Christianity, the Latin word from which it is derived basically means, belonging to the whole.[ii]

Jesus specifically desires His Church, His Body of which He is the Head (Colossians 2:18) to be unified (see John 17:21-23). Why?  There is power (authority and influence) in unity.  And the goal is to permeate a lost and broken world with His redemptive message.

Unfortunately, many in professing Christianity attempt to be unified but are rather unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14).  Tragically, others are indeed unified but their unity is unbiblical in nature (Romans 16:17-18).  Neither produce the fruit Jesus desires from His people.

While many New Testament passages speak to unity, it is important to remember that biblical unity consists of far more than “believing in Jesus.”  Cultists, by and large, “believe in Jesus.” The demons which inspire their satanic doctrines do, as well (see James 2:19).

This takes us to First Corinthians chapter 1.  Paul the apostle speaks on this very topic, unity within the Church.

He uses these phrases to describe it (see verse 10):

• speak the same thing
• no divisions
• be perfectly joined together
• in the same mind
• in the same judgment

To be sure, there is a difference between unity (agreement) and uniformity (looking and sounding like each other). Unity is biblical, uniformity may or may not be (and it usually isn’t).

Paul did not have some kind of undefined and vague ecumenical unity here.

After chastising the Corinthian believers for their schisms (see verses 11-13) which look eerily familiar to the denominational idolatry and non-denominational pastor worship we see today, he defines what biblical unity is foundationally based upon:

‘The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God’ (1 Corinthians 1:18).

The message is essential!  The sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus must be first and foremost.

Mixed with faith, this message brings salvation to those who are lost and empowers a believer to live a consecrated, victorious Christian life.

Any other “message” not only does not bring biblical unity, those who propagate such are revealed to actually be, ‘…enemies of the cross of Christ’ (Philippians 3:18).

As he further defines what this unity will practically look like through the first several verses of chapter 2, the following thoughts are important to note.

Like Christianity itself, biblical unity:

1. Is contrary to humanity’s ideas of such (vs 19)
2. Will never be lauded by the world (vv 20-25)
3. Has the Victory of the Cross as its central theme and rallying point (vv 21, 23; 2:2)
4. Will often be spearheaded by those who are rejected by the world’s—and greater church world’s—systems (vv 26-28; 2:1, 4a)
5. Finds its origin in God—and is for His glory (vv 29-31)
6. Has as its members those whose lives Jesus has transformed—and is transforming (vs 30)
7. Necessitates personal (and, by proxy, corporate) humility as an attribute (2:3)
8. Understands the absolute necessity of the ministry of the Holy Spirit (2:4)

…and finally—and MOST IMPORTANTLY…

True, biblical unity has as its impetus the same desire as its King: that humanity would see (through a united Church proclaiming a singular message) and would experience (through the moving and operation of His Spirit) the true biblical Gospel—that lives would be changed for time and eternity as individuals place their faith in Jesus Christ (2:2, 5).

Regardless of what the godless world system throws at it, the Church which unifies biblically is unstoppable!

Would you join me in prayer for this type of unity which affords the opportunity for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?

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[i] DICTIONARY.COM UNABRIDGED; BASED ON THE RANDOM HOUSE UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY, © RANDOM HOUSE, INC. 2020

[ii] Ibid.

“Judge Not?”

Judge not.  Two powerful words!

 

Many quote the King James Version of Matthew 7:1 primarily because they do not know the Bible nor, contextually, its teachings.  They’re merely repeating what they’ve heard someone else say.

 

It mistakenly seems these two simple words “judge not” affords them the grand opportunity of living however they want.  They believe no one can say anything to them to the contrary because, after all, they’d say (and correctly so!), “GOD is my Judge.”

 

While not the topic of this post, if this is you, the prospect of God being your Judge ought to terrify you.  Understand, if your sin is not under the Blood of Jesus Christ (by faith in His death for your sin), God WILL JUDGE you.

 

The result will be an eternity separated from Him, which is where all who have rejected Him will be. You won’t “party” there. It is a horrific place where ‘there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth‘ (Matthew 22:13). 

 

However, I want you to know, today, you (yes, YOU!) can find forgiveness and eternal life in a faith relationship with Jesus Christ!  

 

…whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

 

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Back on topic: sadly, because believers do not know the Word, they allow the “judge not” crowd to bully them into silence.

 

While that is unfortunate in its own right (and a topic for another time) this thought process, if applied to one’s own spiritual life, will ultimately result in disaster!

 

First of all, Matthew 7:1-5 (from where the “judge not” phrase originates) does NOT speak of the general act of judging—but rather of HYPROCRITICAL, SELF-RIGHTEOUS judging.

 

The Greek word judge, while meaning ‘to condemn’ also carries with it the idea of ‘standing trial or coming to a conclusion.’  What this tells us is that while believers are not called to render a hypocritical, final judgment on others, we most assuredly are called to judge.

 

Before we get to a few of the ways we are to judge, let me first say this emphatically: you CANNOT judge a person’s motives!  Yes, God knows all and sees all…but we do not.

 

Scripture lays out—and this never includes our feelings—how and when we ARE to judge.  I will list the primary ways here.

 

Believer, you are called to judge:

 

1.) THE FRUIT OF A PERSON’S LIFE- [Matthew 7:15-20]

 

All people—including false prophets (pastors/teachers/believers) have FRUIT. The false person’s fruit is rotten. Their very lives and ministries leave a systematic trail of destruction.

 

In the very same chapter where Jesus said, “Do not judge” He also tells us we are to judge fruit (a person’s life).  What a person does (or doesn’t do) is often (but not always) indicative of who (and whose) they are.

 

Please note: all true believers in Jesus Christ are at different places in their born again experience.  A lack of perceived growth (or even victory) in an area (or areas) does not necessarily make a person themselves a non-believer.

 

However, if you do not wisely discern such, you will likely be victimized by a false brother or sister. That is why you must judge (make an estimation) and proceed wisely and accordingly.

 

2.) THE SPIRIT FUELING THE PERSON/TEACHING- [1 John 4:1-3]

 

We are to TEST the spirits behind ALL things. While John uses a different Greek word than Matthew did in Matthew 7:1, the word ‘test‘ has a similar meaning: ‘to examine, prove, scrutinize.’ Deceptive people and deceptive messages always APPEAR righteous. However, the end result is death.

 

Failing to test (judge) spirits has been the ruin of many an unsuspecting believer who followed a charismatic personality and/or a dynamic message that happened to be illegitimate.

 

Please note: while a portion of a person’s teaching could be wrong, it does not necessarily make him/her a “false teacher.”  Such teaching could simply be biblically incorrect. Being wrong on a non-essential biblical doctrine does not make one a heretic, even if it may be your particular area of passion and emphasis.

 

3.) THE SPIRITUAL ORIGIN OF THEIR DOCTRINE- [2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 13-15]

 

Far too much of what is considered Bible Christianity (especially in America) is nothing more than a DIFFERENT gospel, propagated by a DIFFERENT spirit (NOT the Holy Spirit), and heralds a DIFFERENT Jesus. 

 

While cults would certainly fit into this category, so do individuals and organizations who have drifted from the biblical orthodoxy they once trumpeted.

 

Why is this important?: because such false teaching cannot save a person. RATHER, and insidiously, such gives a person a false sense of eternal security—one that will find them tragically surprised when they step into eternity.

 

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Believer: YOU’D BETTER JUDGE!  Your eternity depends on it!

 

HOWEVER, you’d better do it based upon the written Word of God and the discernment of His Spirit (which NEVER contradicts the Bible!).

 

In closing, remember the words of Jesus in John 7:24:

 

“DO NOT JUDGE according to appearance, BUT JUDGE with righteous judgment.”

Do You Really Want To Keep The Law?

So…you want to be a “law-keeper?”  Do you really think your own merit is enough?  Do you really?

But shouldn’t we see what God’s Word has to say about it?

Actually, the Bible is crystal clear regarding the reality that law keeping, whatever form it may take, can neither make nor present a person whole before a holy God.

Having been born in sin (Psalm 51:5) as a result of our first father’s sin (Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-21), we are completely incapable of being a “law keeper.”  This especially creates an unfixable dilemma when you factor in the perfection God demands…

His expectation was laid out under the Old Covenant:

‘Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them.’ (Deuteronomy 27:26a, emphasis mine)

Both New Covenant writers (James and Paul) address this:

‘Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.’ (James 2:10, emphasis mine)

Paul would clarify that anyone desiring to live by law is, ‘…a debtor to keep the whole law.’ (Galatians 5:3, emphasis mine)

My point: no one is capable of living spotlessly before God.

The Old Covenant law was never meant to be kept as a means of salvation. It was never God’s intended purpose for His people.

You may ask, “What, then, is its purpose?”  Actually, there are many.

Here are a few realities God’s law point to:

1.) Humanity is bound by sin and cannot perfectly keep ALL of God’s laws (totally—every single one of them and all the time!).

‘As it is written [Paul is quoting Psalm 14:3 and 53:2-3, Ecclesiastes 7:20, and probably had Isaiah 64:6 in mind]: “There is none righteous, no, not one.”’ (Romans 3:10, emphasis mine).

Unfortunately, the words “none” and “not one” are exclusive.  No human being is righteous.  This means humanity can neither be righteous nor produce its own righteousness.  Our performance is woefully insufficient.  Therefore, as previously stated, no one has a right standing before God in and of themselves.

2.) Humanity, hopelessly bound by sin, needs someone to deliver (save) him from himself and his sin.

Regarding this, Isaiah trumpeted both humanity’s problem and God’s ability to answer in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah:

Our predicament:

‘Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you.’ (Isaiah 59:1-2)

God already had a plan:

Later in the chapter, Paul then quotes verses 20-21 (Isaiah 59 is a Messianic passage, meaning it was a prophecy of the coming Deliverer) in Romans 11:26b-27: ‘“The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”’

3.) Because of the increasing (indeed multiplying) nature of sin, and because of humanity’s need for boundaries, the Law (God’s expectations for His people) was introduced.

According to Paul, the Law is both a guardian and tutor.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:23-24)

This guardian, this tutor also defined what was sinful (see Romans 7:7; 1 Timothy 1:9).

As stated earlier, the Law was not designed to be a salvific list, but rather a mirror to show man he could not attain to righteousness, thus needing help outside himself.

4.) Only one perfect person has ever existed. And He died for YOU!

Jesus, though born of a virgin, did not receive His DNA, if you will, from His mother.  The Bible explicitly states Jesus’ incarnation was a work, ‘...of the Holy Spirit’ (Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35).  He was born without the stain of sin.

Furthermore, though tempted to sin, He never did: ‘[Jesus] was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.’ (Hebrews 4:15, emphasis mine)

The author of Hebrews more than aptly presents Jesus’ work on the Cross on our behalf: ‘We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, [refers to His Incarnation] for the suffering of death [His Crucifixion] crowned with glory and honor [His Resurrection and Ascension], that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.’ (Hebrews 2:9)

Jesus condescended from eternity, lived in time as a perfect Human, and died for His enemies–enemies who are utterly incapable of saving themselves!

5.) YOU can receive God‘s precious promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ His Son!  Furthermore, you exchange your inability to keep the law for Jesus’ perfect ability to keep it

This “great exchange” was prophesied of under the Covenant of Law (the Old Testament).

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”

17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34, here quoted by the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 10:16-17)

Not only has He wiped the slate clean…He promises this!:

‘Now where there is [forgiveness] of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.’ (verse 18)

Not only can you not work your way into heaven, there also isn’t a need to even try—provided you’ve been forgiven!

6.) God promises to make you a new creation through His indwelling Spirit with a daily renewed heart and mind.  You then have the inward desire and the spiritual capacity to follow God and live by His precepts.

The good news just keeps getting better and better!

15 “If you love Me, [you will] keep My commandments [He is going to tell us how!].

16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—

17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you [this was made possible after His death on the Cross].” (John 14:15-17, emphasis mine)

And if THAT wasn’t enough…

4 “He commanded them…to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me…

8 [At which point] you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:4, 8, emphasis mine)

Jesus promises His followers a mighty enduement of power whereby they would have the supernatural ability to be His witnesses (see Acts 2 and throughout the rest of the Book for what happened next)!

But remember…we need more than just a one-time experience.

‘Do not be drunk with wine, in which is [unsavedness, wastefulness]; but be [continuously being] filled with the Spirit.’ (Ephesians 5:18)

ALSO…we have access to our indwelling Helper 24/7/365 (that includes leap year, too) provided we remain yielded to Christ and dependent upon His help.

‘Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.’ (Galatians 5:16)

Why?

3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh [perfect law keeping depends entirely on human ability, which makes it an utter impossibility], God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh [through His Virgin Birth, perfect life, and sacrificial death],

4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit [our flesh wants to work; living the Spirit-filled, Spirit-led life requires complete surrender–see verses 1-2]. (Romans 8:3-4, emphasis mine)

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That brings us to Paul’s delineation of both mankind’s problem and God’s divine answer.

He sums it up in one short verse:

‘Scripture has confined all under sin [which, at first glance, appears quite problematic]…

…that the promise [a specific quality of spiritual life now which fits us for eternal life] by faith [continuous surrendered trust] in Jesus Christ [He kept the ENTIRE law perfectly as well as paying the penalty for our sins–ALL of them!] might be given [it is a free gift to the one who will receive it] to those who believe [yield to Him and stop trying to do it on their own through their tainted works].’ (Galatians 3:22, emphasis mine)

Now that is GREAT news…provided you’ve placed yourself entirely in the-nail scarred hands of Jesus!

• Do you really want to focus on your performance when you can trust Jesus for (and with!) everything?

Undignified

In Acts 16, Paul and his co-laborer, Silas, had been imprisoned on “trumped up” charges.

While praying and praising God (watch: there is a great story in this!), there was a great earthquake. The prison shook, their chains were loosed, and prison doors flew open.

The man overseeing the prison became terrified.  He knew the escape of prisoners under his watch would require his very life.  Fearful in this grave predicament, the jailer prepared to kill himself.

Paul, knowing this, shouted to him (undoubtedly reassuring him) saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here” (Acts 16:28).

This man, scared (almost to the point of death), comes to them and asks the most important question anyone will ever ask: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Fortunately (for him and his family) he asked the right question to the right people!

• Their response: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:30).
• The result: They were saved and baptized in water (vv 32-34).

What I find quite interesting is this man’s response to being saved from death and, ultimately, the Lake of Fire (the eternal destination of all unbelieving sinners who enter eternity apart from faith in Jesus Christ):

‘…he rejoiced, having believed in God’ (Acts 16:34).

In the original Greek language, rejoice actually means, ‘to jump for joy, to exult.’

This man, just moments before was so desperate he was about to end his life.  INSTEAD—he finds Jesus and receives the free gift of eternal life.

How can one NOT respond to that the way this man did?

This isn’t about personality—that is a tired, unbiblical argument.  This IS about the goodness and faithfulness of God Who, in His grace, allowed His Son to pay our penalty and offered us eternal life!

King David understood this better than most who claim to be “Spirit-filled” today.  With the Ark of the Covenant (the place of God’s Presence) being brought into Jerusalem, this was the king’s posture:

‘King David [was] leaping and whirling before the Lord…’ (2 Samuel 6:16)

After being ridiculed by his wife (who was far too aristocratic for such condescension), this was his response:

“It was before the Lord, who chose me…  And I will be even more undignified than this…” (2 Samuel 6:21-22, emphasis mine).

You can keep your stately, dignified worship.  I know what Jesus saved me FROM—and what He saved me INTO!  You can sing, lip-synch, or mumble your funeral dirges.  I’ll shout His goodness from the top of my lungs and jump for joy.  I (like David) will be more undignified than this.  Why?  Jesus sacrificed everything for me.  Why wouldn’t my response be a sacrifice of praise?

‘Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.’ (Hebrews 13:15, emphasis mine)

Being “Spiritual” Isn’t Enough!

It is no longer in vogue to be a Christian.  While it may have been culturally acceptable decades ago, it isn’t today.  As a matter of fact, our culture is becoming increasingly hostile towards those who live exclusively by the principles found in God’s Word.

The more fashionable moniker, these days, is to be “spiritual.”

Many today are like Jeroboam of old.  Jeroboam, the first king of the Northern Kingdom of ancient Israel, was spiritual but did not truly follow the God of the Bible.

“Spiritual” people make their own religious rules (often contradicting God’s way) in arrogant and foolish attempts to justify themselves, their interests, and their lifestyles.

Jeroboam’s total disregard of God’s sanctioned way of doing things (specifically the sacrifices–which all would point to the coming Redeemer and His shed Blood on the Cross for the sin of all humanity) in deference to his own way of doing things (see 1 Kings 12:26-32) shows a contempt for God and that which would typify His Son’s once-for-all-time sacrifice on Calvary.

First Kings 12:33 states that Jeroboam, like so many “good” and “spiritual” people today, ordered his life in ways, ‘…which he had devised in his own heart.’

God has a prescribed order.  It is found in His Word (the sixty-six Books of the Bible).  It all points to Jesus Christ and His supreme sacrifice for our sin on the Cross.

It is not enough to merely be spiritual.  Our fallen nature renders us incapable of following our hearts.  Why?  ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?’  (Jeremiah 17:9).

Our “moral compass” is skewed.  The heart is wicked and untrustworthy.  Our carnal wants and desires are ever fluctuating, rendering an unsure foundation on which to build our lives.

Simply, we need a new birth.  A spiritual birth.

‘Jesus [said], “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”‘ (John 3:3).

This rebirth that grants a new heart and new desires.

‘I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.‘  (Ezekiel 11:19-20, emphasis mine).

As well, we need the sure counsel of the unchanging, never failing Word of God.  The Bible reveals our heart’s deepest desires (Hebrews 4:12) and is our Creator’s primary means of communicating His truths and desires to us.

‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:4b)

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Being “spiritual” is NEVER enough.  It lacks definition, fails to have a legitimate object (one that is outside of oneself), and is wholly insufficient to present a fallen person before a holy God.

We desperately need the Spirit of God and His written Word to change and transform us…daily!

• Will YOU do it His way?

 

Worship Costs!

Yes, worship costs!  No, I am not specfically referencing a church service nor an offering plate.

Instead, and to share my thoughts, Second Samuel is where I’ll primarily be.  This particular Book ends quite interestingly.  When you couple it with its companion passage in First Chronicles chapter 21, you are able to “fill in the blanks.”

The story begins like this:

1.) In his pride, King David decides to take a census of Israel (1 Chronicles 21:1 tells us this was instigated by satan himself).

2.) His chief military commander, Joab, warns him against this, knowing the reproach David’s potential sin could bring upon Israel (see 2 Samuel 24:3).

3.) Tragically, as we will see, David overrules Joab’s wise counsel and proceeds with the census, numbering all of Israel (1 Samuel 24:4)

Having committed this sin (and yes, pride and the actions that stem from it are sin!) judgment quickly followed. 

David, while far from perfect–though yet a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14)–sensed his Lord’s displeasure.  The Bible states, ‘David’s heart condemned him…’ (2 Samuel 24:10a).

The narrative continues with David’s acknowledgement of his sin and prayer for forgiveness.  Sound similar?  Our sin WAS great (but for those of us who have surrendered our hearts and lives to Jesus Christ) but we’ve experienced a grace that is so much greater than we ever could have imagined.

Knowing that sin always has consequences (Romans 6:23a), the Lord revealed a choice of three options for David through the prophet Gad (2 Samuel 24:11-13 or 1 Chronicles 21:9-12).

These three choices included:

1.) Three (some manuscripts say seven) years of famine

2.) Fleeing three months before his enemies

3.) A three day plague

Sin always brings death.  And, like always, its consequences were sure to come.  However, God–in His grace–still gave David a choice!  His response was wise: “Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great…” (2 Samuel 24:14).  He knew, even in judgment, God’s hands were the safest place to be.

The plague resulted in the deaths of 70,000 people. 

Sin costs…and great sin costs greatly!

Scripture states the plague was stopped at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (2 Samuel 24:16).

The prophet told David it was essential he build an altar.  Why?  An altar is a place of sacrifice and worship.

Araunah offered to give the King the property and all he would need to sacrifice and worship the Lord.

David’s response was of the utmost significance: “I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24). In today’s money, David paid thousands of dollars for the site.

Sin costs…and great sin costs greatly!

The great news is that great sin in our lives was paid for by the very life of Jesus on Calvary’s Cross.  He paid a debt He didn’t owe while simultaneously paying a debt we could not have ever paid.

Jesus Christ, through His sacrificial death paid the entire price for our sin!

Our sin was so great we never could have repaid the debt…even if we would have had any ability whatsoever to do so (which we did not!).

However, through Jesus, we have been translated from darkness to light, from death to life.  We were bought and paid for at the cost of the very life of the only perfect Man to have ever lived.  We have citizenship in heaven and the gross bondages of our sin have been broken for both time and eternity!  We are indeed new creations in Him!

Our response to that should be worship!  Unabashed, unapologetic worship.

Worship costs!

What does it cost?:

1.) Being a lifestyle, it requires surrender to God and death to self.

2.) Personal worship requires our time.  Anything good is worth investing in.  It is essential as a follower of Jesus Christ to spend time in His Presence.

3.) Public worship will cost us our dignity.  Only the person who is concerned with the audience of One will worship passionately before Him.

In his Gospel, Luke the author describes the scene as Jesus was heading into Jerusalem for His “Triumphal Entry.”

In Luke 19 he notes a number of pertinent things:

1.) They, ‘spread their clothes on the road…’ (Luke 19:36)– This type of honor was reserved for royalty.  If Jesus really is your King, shouldn’t your private and public worship reveal it?

2.) His disciples also, ‘began to rejoice and praise God…’ (Luke 19:37a)– They worshiped Him…publicly and unashamedly. 

3.) They worshiped, ‘with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen…’ (Luke 19:37b)– Your sin cost…and cost greatly: the invaluable price was the shed Blood of the Son of God.  That is the only way you gain entrance into God’s holy Presence!  Therefore, your worship (both private and public) should dynamically proclaim the reality that God sent His only Son into this world to redeem lives and He has redeemed YOU! 

Worship costs! 

And if you choose to live as a worshiper, it’ll cost you everything.

As the great Apostle Paul would say, ‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.’ (Romans 12:1).

The great king understood the signifcance of building an altar for sacrifice and worship, but do we?

When you are surrendered to God and have died to your own selfish desires, then (and only then) can you be abandoned to truly worship the One who gave everything for you.  Others’ thoughts and opinions will no longer matter.  Then, and only then, are you truly free…free to live as a worshiper of the one true God!

Worship costs…but it is the only logical, reasonable, and spiritual response for a person who has been forgiven.

Yes, worship costs.  The reward, however, is both temporal and eternal!

Only Jesus Christ Can Save You

‘…there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’ (Acts 4:12b, emphasis mine)

That is of incredible, dare I say eternal, significance!

What, then, does that mean for us?

     Good works can’t save you…

     A church can’t save you… (Nope, not even yours!)

     Baptism in water can’t save you… (And neither can the “right formula.”)

     Church membership/attendance can’t save you…

     Being a “nice” person can’t save you… (And how do you define “nice?”)

     Religious ritual can’t save you…

     Praying a faithless prayer at an altar can’t save you…

     No act, religious or otherwise, can save you…

     And finally…you cannot save yourself!

Furthermore, ignoring this will not make the reality that you need a Savior to deliver you from your sin go away.

‘For the wages of sin is death…’ (Romans 6:23a)

It is something you will either address on this side of eternity or you will have addressed it permanently at the moment of your death.

‘…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.’ (Hebrews 9:27, emphasis mine)

At that point, if your sin dilemma is left unaddressed, you will be confined to an eternity where there is, ‘…outer darkness [where there] will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’ (Matthew 8:12).  It is a place of eternal torment (Luke 16:23-24, 28; Revelation 20:11-15).

As Jesus Himself said, you must, “Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? 

1.) Humanity is born with indwelt sin and is utterly incapable of presenting him/herself before a holy God (Psalm 14:3, 53:3; Romans 3:12).  In our wickedness, humanity (more specifically, each one of us) is deserving only of eternal banishment from His presence.  ALL sin must be judged. Both God’s holiness and His righteousness demand it!

2.) God sent His only Son to bridge this impassable chasm of sin (which separates us from a holy God) by having Jesus pay the penalty for ALL sin. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death, becoming the only offering for sin God the Father could ever recognize, for our offerings are wholly polluted, at best.  He alone has conquered death, rising to life three days later (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:11).

3.) It is only the person who repents of (makes a 180 degree turn from) their sin, asks God to forgive them (based upon the sacrifice of Jesus for their sin), and places their complete trust in what His Son has already accomplished for them, who receives eternal life.  This is a gift, made possible by God’s benevolent favor through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, is ours by grace, through faith (John 3:36; Romans 10:9-14; Ephesians 2:8-10).

Again, you CANNOT save yourself.  However, the good news (that is what the word ‘Gospel’ means) is you can be reconciled to the God of eternity based upon the merits of His perfect Son, who gave His life…FOR YOU!

ONLY JESUS CHRIST CAN SAVE YOU!

Why?  He did for you what you could NEVER do for yourself:

‘[Jesus] humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…‘ (Philippians 2:8-10, emphasis mine)

God loves you (YES YOU!!!) and He willingly gave up His Son in order to rescue you!

‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.‘ (John 3:16)

He made the offer…you make the choice.

• Should you ignore or reject this, understand you are making a choice!

TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!

‘…NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.’ (2 Corinthians 6:2, emphasis mine)

DO NOT put this off another day!  You are not guaranteed tomorrow!

Should you wholeheartedly desire the assurance of eternal life (and, as well, overcoming, abundant life now) please use the following prayer as a guide.

• (PLEASE NOTE: Simply praying a prayer doesn’t save you. The prayer MUST come from a repentant heart and mixed with faith in what God the Son has done for you.)

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus Your Son.

I repent of my sin, all that I am and all I have done that is egregious in Your sight.

Please forgive me of my sin and cleanse me from my unrighteousness.

Thank You for the Blood Jesus shed on the Cross to make this possible.

I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is Lord.

I surrender my life to You today. My life is Yours. Take it and make it what You will!

Change me and empower me by Your Holy Spirit to live a life that is honoring to You.

Resting in the assurance of Your Word, which cannot lie, I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

Amen.

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If you prayed this prayer in faith…would you let me know?  I’d like to continue to pray for you as you begin this new life in Jesus Christ!