Trust But Verify

On Sunday December 26, 2010- I presented this message to our congregation at Desert Reign Church in Downey, Ca. The purpose was to re-emphasis the need for all Christians to know God's Word, the Bible. And even more important, to know it from their own personal study, not merely from hearing others teach it or talk about it. We each are responsible for our own spiritual growth and maturity. And that, absolutely will not happen without a commitment on our part to study and get to know God through His Word and learn what it is He expects from you and I.  May the Lord bless you richly as you endeavor to know His Word.

A Bit of Bible Trivia For You: (try and answer the questions yourself before you look at the answer that's given)

Q. How many of each kind of animal did Moses take with him into the Ark?

A. None, Moses wasn't on the Ark. (that one was just for fun)

Q. How many of each kind of animal did Noah take with him into the Ark?

A. Genesis 7: 2-3; says, that all clean animals went into the Ark in groups of seven. The unclean animals went in groups of two, male and female. According to Jewish law there are far more clean animals than unclean, so the majority of the animals entering the Ark went in groups of seven.

Q. What did Eve eat in the Garden of Eden?

A. Genesis 2: 17; says, the fruit of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." not an apple.

Q. The "Ten Commandments" consist of how many imperative statements or commands?

A. Exodus 20: 2-17 ; Deut. 5: 6-21; The Bible does not list a consistent set of ten commandments at all. Compare these verses and you will find more than 10, either 14 or 15 imperative statements depending on how you divide them up.

Q. Did three kings, riding on camels come to visit Jesus shortly after His birth in the manger?

A. Matthew 2: 1-16; *Nowhere in Scripture does it refer to these men as kings, instead it says Magi (priests of the Medes and Persians).
*The Bible does not say that there were three of them, only that three gifts were given.
*There is no mention of camels in any Biblical narrative.
*The Magi clearly did not visit Jesus while He was laying in the manger, Matt. 2:11 says, "and when they had come into the house".
*It goes on to refer to Jesus, not as a baby, but a child. Based on the calculations of king Herod and the Magi in Matt. 2:16, Jesus could have been as much as two years old.

Q. What was it that swallowed Johan and spit him out on dry land?

A. Jonah 1:17; "Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah", not a whale as is commonly told. A whale is not a fish, it is a mammal, I tend to believe that God would know the difference.  (And yes, the literal translation is sea monster or sea creature, it still is not a whale).

The point I'm trying to make in all this is:
You've got to know The Word!

Are these misconceptions vitally important to your Christian faith?  Probably not, however, the same types of "half truths" and "almost accurate" statements are also being made, taught, and believed concerning; Salvation, Sin, Forgiveness, Judgment, Prayer, Heaven, Hell, God and Jesus Christ Himself.  And these are areas that are vitally important to our Christian faith.

Even within the church, or on Christian radio and Christian television there are teachings that are not in line with God's divine Word, though they may be ever so slight.

So how do we as individual Christians combat this type of misinformation?
We've got to know The Word!

Psalm 119: 1-2; "How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the Lord. How blessed are those who observe His Testimonies, who seek Him with all their hearts."

How do we recognize false teachings?
We've got to know The Word!
You learn to recognize the counterfeit by handling the authentic.

How do we refute the naysayers of Jesus and His deity?
We've got to know The Word!
Jesus did, in fact, refer to Himself as God.

How do we teach our children and grandchildren the truth about God?
We've got to know The Word!

When God's spirit confirms His Word to your spirit you gain the confidence and boldness to share it.

Acts 17: 11; "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Noble; distinguished, of exalted moral character, of excellence) Striving for excellence!

Even the messages of all respected Bible teachers need to be verified by Scripture. This type of attitude affirms the hearer and confirms the truth in his heart and mind. It also cultivates good study habits.

The reason you seek to verify a message from Scripture is for edification and evangelism not for arrogance or argument. We are not the Scripture police; rather our knowledge of God's Word becomes an invitation for others to discover His truths, But we have to be approachable.  The Bible is for building up of self and others in love.

Deep down everyone desires to know the truth about God and the truth about themselves. "Where did I come from?", Why am I here?", "Where am I going?" God's Word has these answers and so many more. So do not be sloppy or lazy with your stewardship of Scripture knowledge.

Put the effort into studying and knowing God's Word that such an endeavor deserves. Then use your reservoir of truth prayerfully and with humility.

Psalm 119: 4 "Thou hast ordained Thy Precepts, that we should keep them diligently."

Allow Scripture to validate your worldview.  Do your thoughts and beliefs on current cultural issues line up with God's Word? Think about it, what are the issues of the day?  War, joblessness, welfare, marriage, homosexuality, immigration, abortion, the economy, politics, etc.

Do not take for granted what is presented as truth by the worlds media and it's people in your everyday life. Think for yourself, and measure your thoughts and opinions by The Word of God.  For instance, your faith is not to simply be a part of what you do. You don't just leave it at the door when you go to work or when you enjoy your social life.  Instead your Christianity should be who you are.  It should be interwoven throughout the very fabric of your being, and seen in your everyday life.

It is not a wise or accurate worldview that locks your faith away, only to be released for a few hours on Sunday morning. This in fact is an insult to God. If we call ourselves Christians we are followers of Christ, His disciples, His students and we should live accordingly.

Psalm 119: 9 "How can a young man keep his way pure? by keeping it according to Thy word."

Psalm 119: 11 "Thy Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against thee."

Compartmentalizing your faith is compromising your faith. Therefore, verify all your beliefs and behaviors by Scripture and live what your believe.

Psalm 119: 33 "Teach me O Lord, the way of Thy Statutes, and I shall observe it to the end."

What you believe about money, marriage, work, parenting, relationships, government, business, international affairs, social issues, and church will require a consistent Scriptural worldview. If there is inconsistency in your belief system, your behavior becomes erratic and off the mark. You cannot pick and choose when it comes to The Word, what you do or do not agree with.  Know The Word, trust The Word, follow The Word, live The Word.

Culture and feelings may validate your own beliefs and behavior rather then Scripture, so you have to chose what you will follow, the culture or the Bible.

Therefore, start today to filter your faith and your every thought through Scripture, and if you don't know what you are to choose or what you are to do, then search it out in The Word.

Validate your actions or lack of actions by Scripture. Then your life will become different. Others will take notice. You will become a lightning rod for evangelism and edification, a person of noble character, a person of excellence.

Here are are some more familiar quotes or misquotes and misconceptions;
Can you find these in the Bible?

God helps those who help themselves.
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
The Lord works in mysterious ways.

And these?
Money is the root of all evil.
1 Tim. 6:10; says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil."  There is a huge difference in these two statements, wouldn't you agree?

Spare the rod, spoil the child.
Proverbs 13: 24; says, "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently."

And I close with this one;

Know the truth and the truth will set you free.

John 8: 31-32; "Jesus therefore was saying...if you abide in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

God has gifted you uniquely. Allow His gifts to develop and come to full fruition. This is good stewardship, for an undeveloped gift may soon go away. If you are gifted to teach, teach. If you are gifted to write, write. If you are gifted to lead, lead. If you are gifted to mentor, mentor. If you are gifted to give, give. The Spirit of God rests on you and dwells in you. By faith allow the Spirit to develop your character and competence through His Holy Word.

Eccl. 10:10; "If an axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success."

Above all, sharpen your mind with The Word of God. Nothing infuses a sharp mind like the Bible. His wisdom is like a sharpening stone on a battered blade, He smooths the jagged edges of a rough life.  The Lord refurbishes your abilities to a radiant and shiny silver edge.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."  Proverbs 27:17

God Bless and Press On
Larry

Parents, It's In Your Job Description

Patsy and I, with our children

Part of my daily Bible reading is from a devotional entitled "The Word For You Today".

There was a particular daily devotion that caught my attention, and I'd like

to share it with those that may not have had the opportunity to read it.

Abraham had a nephew named Lot who succeeded in business, but lost his family.  How come?
 
Because:

(a) he had the wrong emphasis - he placed material success above spiritual success;

(b) he had the wrong environment - he thought his children could live in Sodom and not be affected by it;

(c) he had the wrong expectation - he thought he could change his surroundings by compromising with them;

(d) he set the wrong example - he thought his family would follow his instructions; instead they followed his lifestyle;

(e) he had the wrong relationships - he didn't realize until it was too late, how much Sodom had influenced his family. 

If you think you can live by the worlds rules and expect your children to follow God's, you're kidding yourself.  Instead of preaching about the shoes you want your children to fill, walk in them!  Lead by example. 

Outside of your influence as a parent, the four greatest influences in your child's life are their peers, the inter net, media and music.  And all four are either working for you or against you. 

You say, "But I'm really busy right now."  Get un-busy!  Rethink your priorities.  Your child's character is being molded each day; the question is by whom? 

God's Word clearly states that these six things constitute your job description as a parent:

(1) Instruct them:
"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." Deut. 6:6-7

(2) Train them:
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6

(3) Provide for them:
"For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children."  2 Corinthians 12:14b 

(4) Nurture them:
"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."  Eph. 6:4 

(5) discipline them:
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." 
                           Hebrews 12:11

(6) Love them:
"And so train the young women to love their husbands and children."  Titus 2:4.



Our beautiful grandchildren

 The truth is, you have no greater responsibility!


God Bless and Press On
Larry

YOU'VE GOT TO "WORK AT IT"

Part of my daily Bible reading is from a devotional entitled "The Word For You Today".  There was a particular daily devotion that caught my attention last week, and I'd like to share it with those that may not have had the opportunity to read it.

Clara Null writes: "At a wedding my granddaughter Melissa asked, 'Why is the bride always dressed in white?'  I replied, 'Because white represents happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.'  Her next question was: 'Then why is the groom dressed in black?'"
  
Marriage only works if you "work at it." 

So here are three principles for strengthening yours:
(1) Become a good listener.  Jesus said, "Consider carefully how you listen"  (Luke 8:18a).  Sometimes the most important thing in communicating with your mate is to hear what is not being said, to learn to read between the lines.  Just "being there" isn't enough; your mate needs to feel heard - and validated.  When they are, they'll open up and accept what you have to say.

(2) "Speak the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15).  Nobody likes to be corrected, but when someone is heading down the wrong road, love will "get in your face."  Our marriages break down when truth is violated, integrity is forsaken, trust is broken, manipulation is allowed, self-interest is the rule, control is the goal, and time isn't invested. 

(3) Always believe the best.  Love sees you at your worst but never forgets your best; thinks you're a little bit more wonderful than you really are; will talk with you endlessly or just sit with you in silence; is happier about your success than you are; doesn't try to know more, act smarter or be your constant teacher; it listens even when what you have to say is not particularly interesting.  That's because love believes you're important!!

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends."

                                               1 Corinthians 13:4-8a


God Bless and Press On
Larry

DECIDE, AND TAKE ACTION

Part of my daily Bible reading is from a devotional entitled "The Word For You Today".  There was a particular daily devotion that caught my attention last week, and I'd like to share it with those that may not have had the opportunity to read it.  The author is not acknowledged in the booklet so remains unknown to me.



"For to everyone who has will more be given,
and he will have anabundance."  Matthew 25:29a

Every accomlishment starts with a decision. Choice, not chance, determines your destiny. Jesus gave us the parable of a businessman who gave one employee ten talents to invest, and he doubled them. A second employee received five talents, and he doubled them too. A third employee got one talent, but he buried it. Afraid of losing it, he failed to take even a modest risk. "The master was furious...It's criminal to live cautiously like that...you knew I was after the best, why did you do less?" (Mt. 25:26).

The Bible says we "walk by faith, not by sight" (2Cor.5:7). Unless you're willing to take prayed-over, carefully-considered and well-advised risks, you're not operating in faith.  And "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb.11:6). Jesus ended His parable by saying, "Everyone who has will be given more... Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." Your goal should be to maximize the investment on everything you do.

Ken Blanchard calls this getting the highest return on life.  It means putting all your eggs in God's basket (don't worry, He won't drop them!). To get more, you must use what God's already given you. When you step out in faith, God moves, and extraordinary things happen. John Mason says: "Not what we have but what we use, not what we see, but what we choose - these are the things that mar or bless human happiness."

When you limit what you will do, you limit what you can do. Think: if you don't act now, what will it ultimately cost you?

I really hope you enjoyed the read and are motivated to rise up and do marvelous and awe inspiring things in your life for the Lord.

God Bless and Press On
Larry

Christ In You (2)

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me." 
           Galatians 2:20

**How did Paul put it in Colossians 3:11?  "Christ is all and in all..."  For Paul, his apostleship was not to advance a defining array of doctrines or a checklist of propositions.  As far as he was concerned , our faith is not even a relationship with a set of doctrines or commandments... Christianity is a relationship with Jesus the Christ.**

Colossians is a letter from the apostle Paul to the church at Colossae.  A group of people that Paul had never personally met. He had received a report from Epaphras, who some believe to be the founder of the Colossians church, that there was some heresy creeping into the church and the believers there were beginning to move away from the teachings of the gospel and into the philosophies of the world and the traditions of men.  They were being deluded by persuasive arguments and not holding fast to the teachings of Christ.

In many churches today, tolerance (to sin) and an ultra social gospel are the focus.  While some are confused between the theory of evolution and Creationism.  Others dabble in horoscopes and palm readings, and many have allowed teachings of humanism and the new age movement to creep into their Sunday morning message.  

Paul's letter to the Colossians was written to bring back to their remembrance, the power which had been attained by the receiving of Christ as Lord and Savior. These are Christians Paul is writing to, and he goes on to say that the Power of the resurrected Lord was available to them, the power to do all things... everything that God required of them.

Paul begins by making mention of the report he has heard about their love for one another and for all believers.  The marks of true conversion, about the radical changes that had taken place in their lives.  These were the evidences that the gospel of Jesus Christ had genuinely changed them.

It wasn't something that was merely added on to their regular life and lifestyle, but something so powerful that it caused a complete and radical change of life and lifestyle.  The same should be true for the church today, and the people of God today.  So often people come to the altar and say a prayer for salvation or raise their hand in a service and say prayer for salvation, yet there is no change in their life.  It merely becomes something added on to everything else they are doing rather than it becoming who they are.

It is my experience and understanding that no man or woman can come in contact with the living God and remain the same.  Nor can they continue a lifestyle of sin, and be changed.  I definitely understand that many changes do not happen overnight, but that which takes place within the heart takes place immediately. 

The desire for and the carrying out of a lifestyle change in a person comes from within the heart, as does the decision to begin to live for God, the way the scripture calls us to live.  As we examine the standard which is God's Word, and we begin to compare it to our own life, we see that we fall far short of our Lord's expectations.  We then begin to make decisions that cause changes in our lifestyle, in our choices, in our thinking, that will put us in line with God's Word.

The purpose of Paul letter was to reestablish their foundation in Jesus Christ, both who He was and what was available to them as believers.  To let them know that they did not have to look to the philosophies of the world and the misguided teachings of men to attain power for living or to find significance in their life.  Which in fact is a trick from our enemy the devil, who desires to subtly come into the church with his false teachings  and half truths, and convince the followers of Christ that they no longer need to look to Christ for strength in living their life. 

Paul goes on to deliver an awesome prayer concerning these saints of God, expressing his desire for their spiritual growth and maturity in Christ, and their knowledge of His Word,  knowing that through growth and maturity they would be able to fend off anything the enemy, Satan, throws their way.  Any false teachings, any unusual wind of doctrine that would cause them to stray from the true gospel or the "truth of the gospel" as Paul called it.

And that is my prayer for you today church.  For each and every one of us to have an ongoing learning and growing spiritual experience, an ever expanding knowledge of who Jesus Christ truly is, and to know what He has made available to each one of us saints.

The power that comes to us through Jesus Christ was attained through the resurrection and His ability to conquer death.  Paul establishes early on in chapter one of Colossians, Christ preeminence, that He is the first-born of all creation.  Not that He was the literal first born on the earth, but more accurately, He is the heir of the Father the owner of all creation.

Just a few verses later Paul mentions Him again as the first-born, but this time, unto death, no, unto resurrection.  Again, we know that Jesus was not the first person to resurrect, as we read the gospels.  But He again is the heir of salvation, through His death and resurrection.

Paul makes mention of his calling as a minister of "the gospel of truth". And in that gospel a mystery has been revealed, something that had been kept from God's people, from "past ages and generations". This mystery now being revealed through Paul and the other apostles to the church, the called out ones, is this; "Christ In You, the hope of glory."


He further states that his purpose in this life was to hold every man accountable.  To warn him of this pending doom without Christ, and to teach and prepare all men for the glory that is to come.

Through Christ I can do all things, without Him I can do nothing!!

All fruit that is separated from the branch (it's source) will wither and die, but for you and I - "We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us."

If we look at Paul's life we see that he took three missionary journeys during his time of ministry.  He was beaten and chased from town to town by people with bad intentions.  When he stayed in a town to minister to the church there, he would work during the day as a tent maker (his professional trade), and preach the gospel at night, often into the early morning hours.   He had been shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake, beaten by soldiers, stoned by and left for dead by the people he was trying to help and many other tragedies befell him.  All because he was compelled to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness.

It amazes me that he had the energy and the power to move forward, always to do what God had called him to do.  We have no less power then he, we make many excuses like; "I'm too tired", "I don't have the energy", "I'm too busy", "I don't have that gift or ability", "but, my job, my family prevents me!"  Whatever it is we make many excuses to not fulfill God's calling on our life.

But we see here, Paul, as an example to us, that the power of God, "Christ in us", is sufficient for us to fulfill all that He has called us to accomplish.  CHRIST IN ME!!

This message is not meant to be a judgment on anyone in particular, nor is my intentions to put anybody on a bummer for what they are not doing.  This message is to be an encouragement, to let you all know that whatever it is that you want to do for Jesus Christ, you have the power to do it.  It's there, all you have to do is grab hold of it and walk in it. 

Whatever situation you find yourself in today in your life, just know this, that God says to you and I in His word that He will not give you anymore than you can handle, in everything that comes your way, He will make a way.  He will give you the power and the wisdom to do what is needed, what is required to overcome, to gain the victory.  Amen and Amen

You are a "living epistle of Christ" written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is of the heart.

God Bless and Press On
Larry

**from the book 'Jesus Manifesto'

Christ In You

When I'm weak, You make me strong

When I'm blind, You shine Your light on me

'Cause I'll never get by, living on my own ability

How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that You want me
So I'll stand on Your Truth, and I'll fight with Your Strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me
The Power of Christ In Me
Lyrics to the chorus of "In Me" by Casting Crowns

In studying the writings of Paul the apostle, I've come across an interesting phrase that he uses a few times.  It's something that I've read before but I didn't pay much attention to the exact phraseology and meaning he was trying to impart.  "Christ in you", Is what he wrote, and I wondered what exactly did he mean by it, and how does it differ or compare with other phrases he uses, such as, "In Christ" and "with Christ".

In the King James Version of the Bible, the New Testament includes seventy-six scripture references of the phrase "In Christ" and many more with expressions similar such as "Christ in you".  We tend to read over it as if it means "with Christ" or as just meaning a "believer in Christ", but a study of this phrase reveals that Paul as well as the apostle John clearly express the idea that Jesus, the living Christ, lives on in the believer, His love, His desires, His authority and His power are available to each and every believer, even today.

I've recently been reading a book (that I would also recommend to other believers), entitled;
JESUS MANIFESTO - (Restoring The Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ)  by authors: Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola.  In one particular chapter they wrote briefly about a topic that has been much on my mind and heart lately, that Christ lives in me and you!

I want to share some of my thoughts as well as some short excerpts from the book (**) to help make my point.  I hope I don't come across too harsh or judgmental but I believe we (the church), which includes myself, need to refocus or better yet we need to know personally the power of Christ that is in us, and available to us, in order to fulfill our calling.  This is what's needed today if we are going to reach the lost for Christ.

Christ In You!

The apostle Paul writes this to the church at Colossae:

"Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the Word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been made manifest to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory"  Col. 1:25-27

**The mystery of God is this...
The One who is the visible image of the invisible God...
The One who is the power of glory and might...
The One who nailed to His bloody cross evey law, every rule, and every regulation that would condemn the beloved people of God...
Christ,... has chosen to place all of His fullness, Inside of you!

Fellow Christians, has this biblical truth really penetrated your heart yet?  That the creator of the universe, Jesus Christ, actually lives in you?  What that means is this, In order to have the power of God at work in your life daily you must be a pure vessel.  So, no habitual sin in your life will be tolerated by an indwelling Christ; Jesus came into this world to save mankind from sin, and His Spirit cannot and will not stay where sin is allowed and practiced, without regard for His holiness.  Are you lacking the power of God in your life?  Are there areas of sin that you refuse to deal with?  Have you taken your eyes off the source?

As the Father was pleased to dwell in the Son, so Jesus Christ is pleased to dwell in you.  All the riches of the glory of the heavens have been placed inside of you.

That is the mystery of the ages, the hope of glory!

**The Colossian church had become distracted from Jesus... The church had in effect dethroned Him... They were no longer living under His sovereignty, and they had lost touch with His supremacy... The Christ that the Colossians knew was simply too small.  That was why they became susceptible to chasing other things - including religious things.

Upon reading this book I can't help but compare the church of Colossae in Paul's day with the church in America today, and I see many parallels here.

I see the church today has also become distracted by world events, politics, and the economy.  Distracted by church building programs, self-help seminars, and Christian entertainment.  So much so that it appears that Christ has lost His rightful place in our worship services and in our preaching and teaching.  He no longer is the central theme or focus, much of the time we are. We are concerned first with our own joy, our own emotional needs being met, our own prayers being answered, instead of Jesus' name be exalted, worshiped and glorified.

**To have the mind of Christ does not mean merely to posses the knowledge of Christ, or the intellectual comprehension of Him, but instead, the relational knowing of Him.

A great many people in "the church" miss this fact.  they miss the power of Christ in their lives by about fourteen inches, the distance between their head and their heart.  They have much head knowledge of Jesus from many church services and bible studies, but have not the heart knowledge, yet.  What I mean by this is; they believe that there is a God, they believe that Jesus was the Son of God, they believe they are saved (and they are), but not enough to have it change their lives completely and radically.  We still hold on to areas of sin, hidden compartments of it in our hearts.  We haven't fully let go of the world we live in, so we struggle with the flesh under our own strength and power instead of His.

Jesus desires a pure unblemished bride.  He wants a sanctified army of men and women that He can use to make a radical difference in this world before He returns.  And, He doesn't expect us to do it alone, under our own power and strength.  He doesn't expect it because He knows that it's not possible.  Only by the "power of Christ in me" can I even hope to succeed.

If this word, which I believe is from the Lord, is just for me, then fine, it's just for me.  But, I believe that it is so much more then that, I believe it is a call, a beckoning to the children of God to begin to get it right.  God wants to fill us with His mighty power.  He wants us to be able to live that power daily.  And He has made a way for that power to be available to you and to me and that is "Christ in you, the hope of glory."

God Bless and Press On
Larry

The Towel Not The Title

"And so when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments, and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?... If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I give you an example that you also should do as I did."   Matthew 13: 12,14,15

For followers of Christ, It's about the towel not the title.  Jesus was the Servant Master, or better yet, the Master Servant and He has called all of us to do as He did, to be a servant.

Being a leader or the "Big Dog" is much different in the kingdom of God than it is in the world.  We are called to live by a very different standard, with a much different outlook on this life.  To have the mind of Christ requires great humility on our part, putting others before yourself and recognizing where you are in the great scope of things requires a humble spirit.

"Don't ever seek to be the greatest.  Seek instead to do great things.  If you aspire to greatness, your greatness will die with you. But if you aspire to do great things, your legacy will live on." author unknown

Each of us has the potential to be great - not famous, but great, because greatness comes by serving others.  Christ said, to be the greatest of all we have to be the servant of all.  What a different paradigm from the world's.

"There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do the little things."  D. L. Moody

The only way to accomplish great things is by being a servant.  We lead by serving and when we do that we can accomplish great things in our life.

Jesus was the embodiment of servant leadership.  He didn't just tell the disciples what they should do, he did it first as an example to them and then told them (us) to do likewise.

What is leadership?  It is an influence process - any time you are trying to influence the thoughts and actions of others toward goal accomplishment in either their personal, professional or spiritual life, you are engaging in leadership.  Given that definition, you can see that Jesus is our model for servant leadership wherever we go.

"Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest." D. L. Moody

"But the greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."  Matthew 23: 11, 12 

Jesus is so clear about how He wants us to lead.  He wants us to make a difference in the world we live in by being effective servant leaders.

"We cannot do great things on this earth, only
small things with great love."   Mother Theresa

Leadership by definition, is about others. When you start thinking it's about you, you've lost perspective.


God Bless and Press On
Larry

Last Days

I was young and now I'm a little bit older,
looking over my shoulder at the army
that is marching with me.
Yeah, I see them rising up across the land,
women, children and men,
we're all headed towards the victory.
So watch your sons and daughters prophecy,
your old men dream, dreams and your young men see things.

The Day of The Lord is at hand

We're living in the last days, the last page
is turning, and we're now faced with reality.
Repent and turn about-face, the last days,
are here but will your heart taste this reality?
Tell me will your heart taste this reality?

Woe to the one who hears the Word of God,
but doesn't respond for hardness of heart
has kept him tied up in chains of sin in bondage,
a product, with modern philosophies running around in his head
In the mean time thinks he's fine because his wife and children are fed
but what are you fightin for, daddy could you tell your family this,
that Jesus Christ the sacrifice has come to take their sins,
or will you watch them live their life's in search of what they missed?
But then the Lord comes back and their blood is on your head.

In the last days, the last page
is turning, we are now faced with reality.
Repent and turn about-face, the last days
are here but will your heart taste this reality?
Tell me will your heart taste this reality?

Wake up and see that this is a call to arms,
there's only two sides in this war, what side you on?
The day has dawned, the Son of God has opened up His arms,
embrace forgiveness and get freed from what your holding on.

This world is dying for righteousness, that's why I write you this,
in hopes that you will see the urgency of life He gives.

The Day of The Lord is at hand.

Living in the last days, the last page,
this time we are now faced with reality.
Repent and turn-about face the last days
are here but will your heart taste this reality?
Tell me will your heart taste this reality?

I don't know how I will go, but when I do just know I made it,
the reason that I strive to live this life that was created.
See I was born to serve, and called by name out of the mayhem,
that exists upon this fallen place where Adam, first depraved man.

Ordained to proclaim, instilled with vision in this living passion,
to get across my thoughts and express what this feeble mind inhabits.
But when I go, it's not a casualty of war,
it's a passing on of the baton from soldiers long before.
I'm not afraid to die, I'm afraid to compromise,
I'm afraid to close my eyes and open up to see no sunrise,
and a world that's dark with shadows, people lost with no direction,
I can hear the cry from lost souls yearning for their redemption.

Is there something that I could have done? If so than give me one breath,
if not then let them see You, and bring life through this track,
is there something that I could have done? If so than give me one breath,
if not then let them see You, but bring life.

In the last days, the last page
is turning we are now faced with reality.
Repent and turn about-face, the last days
are here but will your heart taste this reality?

Living in the last days, the last page
it's time we are now faced with reality.
Repent and turn about face, the last days
are here but will your heart taste this reality?
Tell me will your heart taste this reality?

The Day of The Lord is at hand.

song lyrics to "Last Days" by Shachah

Nuff said...

God Bless and Press On
Larry

P.U.S.H.

At Desert Reign Church in Downey we spent the entire month of September speaking and teaching about prayer, the “who, what, why, where and how’s” of prayer. We were taught on every aspect of prayer, from the prayer of salvation to the prayer for purification, from the prayer for the sick to the prayer for revival. I believe the people of God have always desired to experience a great move of God. The trouble is we don’t often seek it out in the right places. We don’t often prepare ourselves properly to be in God’s presence. When looking at the book of Acts chapter 19, we see that Paul began a great work in the city of Ephesus and God moved mightily, in fact it says in verse 11 that “God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul.” Looking at verse 18 it is revealed to us what was the results of God’s moving in their midst. It said; “and many of those who believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their evil deeds” and then in verse 20 it said; “so the Word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.” Notice the author Luke’s perception of what caused the change in the people’s hearts, the Word of God.


Today I want to look at the next step we need to take in order to bring about that mighty move of God we so anxiously await, and that is to P.U.S.H. It’s now time to push ahead! It’s now time to push on through!

One thing we know for sure is that God wants His people praying for revival. But if revival is to come, there must be a change in the prayer life of the Christians of America. It is time for us to return to our knees and remain there until something happens.

The prophet Hosea said, “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you” (Hosea 10:12). God is looking for a company of believers with courage who are willing to do whatever it takes to bring another great spiritual awakening.

There is an acronym for the type of prayer life that is necessary to bring about change. The word is P.U.S.H., which stands for: PRAY –UNTIL- SOMETHING- HAPPENS!

This acronym also stands for four steps you need to take in order to see personal, family, and national revival.

P: Purify yourself – Search your heart, repent from any known sin. The prophet Hosea said, “Sow for yourselves righteousness.” Paul wrote “Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (2 Cor. 7:1). You need to sow the Word of God into yourself until you see that you are a sinner under the searchlight of God’s righteousness. The Psalmist wrote, “The unfolding of your words give light” (Psalm 119:130). When you sin, be quick to turn away from it and cry for God’s mercy.

U: Understand God’s mercy – We need to receive mercy from God, and we need to deliver mercy as ambassadors for Christ to a lost generation. “Be merciful to those who doubt” (Jude 22). Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matt. 5:7). Your personal revival awaits your willingness for forgive all who have wronged you and to seek forgiveness of others you have wronged. “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.” (Mark 11: 25, 26).

S: Sanctify yourself – Learn to live a life of personal accountability to God. Regardless of what others consider to be righteous, keep yourself “from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). Be separated for the purpose of God. “As God has said, I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord” (2 Cor. 6: 16, 17).

Separation for God does not mean we leave the world or neglect our families, just the opposite. It means that our commitment to the living, righteous, holy God becomes evident to all those around us. Hosea said, “Break up your unplowed ground.” We must learn to immediately obey everything God tells us to do. We never want to have a wrong heart toward Him.

H: Hold fast in prayer – Pray until something happens. Prayer is work, it is a blessed work, but it is work. As in any relationship, it takes effort to give up some of your own pleasures to bring pleasure to another. The chief sin of the church today is laziness. We are lazy about prayer. We’re lazy about changing ourselves. We’re lazy about good works. We’re certainly lazy about praying through for a great spiritual awakening in America.

God has made available incredible power to change this nation, and yet we remain in our dulled state of sin, complaining about the conditions of America, crime in the cities and corruption among our political leaders.

Just think of all the power that could be unleashed if all of God’s people in America would begin to P.U.S.H. for America. What would happen if each of us made a commitment to; Pray – Until – Something - Happens? Can you see what a serious force that would be?

Conclusion: Our problem is that we have no understanding of the power within us. We’re unwilling to give up our comforts, like morning sleep, for a few precious moments with God. “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me” (Proverbs 8: 17). The America of our founding fathers is sick and dying because the people have lost hope and vision (Proverbs 29: 18). Even the church is aimless. Why? Primarily because of a lack of faith in God, but why do people lack faith? Because those who say they are children of God are so seemingly helpless to bring about change. We say we pray and study the Word, but our friends and families see little evidence of it in the way we live our lives. Our prayer and study lives should have an immediate, ongoing effect on our everyday life and that of our family. They should be so moved by our love and mercy that they want to emulate what they see in us of the character and qualities of Christ.

Do we really believe that Jesus has risen from the dead and that God answers prayer? If we do we will continually develop that perspective through time with God on our knees – we will become the source of faith, hope, and vision that the world so desperately seeks.

God Bless and Press On
Larry

Hypocrisy, Duplicity or Integrity

We are presently living through difficult times. In the world we live in today there are wars going on and terrorism creeping up everywhere. In state and federal governments we are dealing with a failing economy and political division. In our communities there’s joblessness and rising crime rates. In the church we are encountering a lack of commitment to the Christian life and a watered down faith. In our homes the divorce rate has sky-rocketed both outside and inside the church and our children are in rebellion.

With all that’s going on in the world around us God has given us an unprecedented opportunity to reach lost and hurting souls with the gospel.

When people are hurting and it seems like things are falling apart in their world, they begin to look for answers to their life’s problems in places they might not normally look. That’s where we come in; we have a message of hope and salvation. We have a message of grace and forgiveness, but, we can’t deliver our message with power and effectiveness without personal and corporate integrity.

If you were asked to describe in one word the present condition of the “church” as you see it, what word would you use?

Revival?  I don’t think so, but I wish it were true. The wind of the Holy Spirit seems very still today. Many church leaders are afraid to release the freedom of God’s Spirit to move in the corporate fellowship; in turn the individual believer is reluctant to seek the filling experience.

Renewal?  Maybe in some individual ministries; but for the most part it’s “business as usual” or even “just going through the motions.” A form of godliness, but there’s no power!

Reassessment?  Yes, a lot of studies are being done, and we hope they well be useful. Recently a new survey of “Americans’ knowledge of religion” found that atheists, agnostics, Jews and Mormons outperformed Protestants in answering correctly, questions about the most basic tenets of their own faith. I fear the church has become a place of feel-good socializing instead of the vehicle God wants to use to raise up strong uncompromising citizens of His kingdom.

Ruin?  No, not as long as God is on the throne and there are people willing to listen and obey. God will always have a remnant, and the church will stand, albeit on shaky ground sometimes, until Jesus return to gather up His bride.

Reproach?  I have a feeling that many feel that this is where the “church” is at today. Let me define this most powerful and descriptive word.

“A cause or occasion of blame, discredit or disgrace; the quality or state so incurred or brought upon oneself; one subjected to scorn.”

One of the church fathers once said “the church was something like Noah’s Ark: if it weren’t for the judgment on the outside, you could never stand the smell on the inside.”

Reproach is the one word that seems to describe other areas of society as well, on the sports fields and in the halls of education, at the Pentagon and on Wall Street, On Capitol Hill and in the White House. We have experienced scandal and disgrace in every area of the public arena. We have had and are having disgraces in our churches and ministries on the local and national level. And you better believe the secular media’s going to jump to publicize those failures long and hard. Time magazine in one of its cover stories asked the question “Whatever Happened to Ethics?” Moral standards are dwindling away, even in many Christian homes.

The crisis the church is facing today cuts to the very heart of its authority and its ministry. A commitment to personal integrity among Christians will have a great impact for the cause of Christ in our world.

Let’s look to God’s Word at just one of many examples of integrity in a time of great temptation and see what we can learn from our brother Joseph.

In Genesis 39, Joseph was an individual whose life story stands in stark contrast to the compromise I have just described. Joseph had a motive for compromising his integrity and an opportunity to do so. And yet, under the heat of temptation, he stood firm and true as a man of unquestionable integrity, a man of God.

Now if anyone had a reason to fall into compromise, into sin, Joseph did:

Motive: Joseph experienced indescribable rejection as his eleven brothers sold him into slavery. Can you even begin to imagine the indignity he must have felt as his brothers watched the slave traders shackle him and drag him off into bondage?

Opportunity: When Joseph arrived in Egypt he was sold into the service of Potiphar, one of Pharaohs officials. While in Potiphar’s home Joseph prospered because of the Lord, and was given much responsibility and freedom. Potiphar’s wife set her eyes upon the young and handsome Joseph. While away on business, Potiphar left Joseph in charge of the household, the perfect setup for Mrs. Potaphar to raise the heat and for Joseph to compromise his integrity without being caught in the act.

The key to understanding the pressure Joseph experienced comes in the form of a short, three word phrase: Gen. 39:10, says “day after day.” Joseph did not experience a one-time seduction. Mrs. Potaphar pursued him day after day in a relentless attempt to erode his convictions. Joseph did not budge. Finally in a last ditch try to conquer her prey, Mrs. Potiphar grabbed Joseph by his coat and tried to forcibly rape him. “Come to bed with me! she demanded (v.12). “But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.”

Before running away from Mrs. Potiphar, Joseph made three significant statements that support the cause of uncompromising integrity. These declarations serve as a blueprint for you and me to help keep our integrity intact.

First: Joseph stated,

“My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife.” (v.9)

In other words, Joseph was saying, “If I go to bed with you, I violate my master, who is counting on me.” Do you realize when you compromise your integrity you violate those who know you? How many people would you take down with you? How many people would call Christianity into question as a result of your actions? You are an ambassador, a representative of Christ!

Second: is also revealing, “How then could I do such a wicked thing?” (v.9)

Joseph in effect says “If I go to bed with you, I violate myself.” No pain can compare to the agony of looking into the mirror and seeing the reflection of a hypocrite. The consequences of sin have a way of catching up with us. God desires that we have a clear conscience before Him at all times.
Third: Joseph finished with four important words; “and sin against God?”

In essence he was saying, “If I go to bed with you, Mrs. Potiphar, I violate God.” Unthinkable, unconscionable, how dare we, through a selfish choice, violate the one who died for us! When we violate our integrity by whatever means, we injure our relationship with God and handicap our ability to respond to his voice and enjoy His presence.

Conclusion;

Integrity involves the whole of the inner person; the heart, the mind, and the will. The person with integrity has a single heart. He doesn’t try to love God and the world at the same time. The person with integrity also has a singleness of mind, a single outlook that keeps life going in the right direction. Jesus said that the person with integrity has a single desire - he seeks to serve but one master.

George Barna in his book “The Frog In The Kettle” wrote;

To the average nonbeliever, Christians act no different than anyone else. Our faith appears to be simply a theoretical construct (a built up theory) (is your faith a theory to you?), an emotional decision that does not have the power to transform who we are and how we behave. We must now forcefully demonstrate, through our actions, that what we believe dictates what we do… Christians should be discernable as people of love and integrity.

The church is God’s main instrument in this world for putting things together, and in order to do the job right, the church itself must have wholeness. If there is one place where the shattered people of our fractured society ought to find integrity, it is in the local church. After all, we Christians are reconciled to God and united to one another, so people have every right to expect to see integrity in the church and her people.

What is integrity? Oxford English dictionary says that the word comes from the Latin “integrites”, which means wholeness, entireness, completeness. The root word is integer, which means untouched, intact, or entire.

The person with integrity is not pretending (that’s hypocrisy). We can no longer just go through the motions – people have seen through the lie and are rejecting Christ as Savior because of it.

The person with integrity is not divided (that’s duplicity). We can no longer live as one from this world and claim to be a citizen of heaven as God Word claims for those who belong to Him.

The person with integrity is whole, life is put together, and things are working together harmoniously. People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. We must all seek, with all our hearts, to live a whole and complete life in Jesus. One without compromise, in doing this we will *effect our world in a positive way, that is our calling.

*not , affect: which means to stir the emotions of,

*but, effect: which is the power to cause results,

We cannot express the power of God without experiencing the power of God.

And what results are we looking for?

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16



God Bless and Press On

Larry