Daniel is one of the few individuals in Scripture about whom nothing negative is ever written. How did he live a life of such conviction and courage? What was the secret that enabled him to please and glorify God so consistantly?
A number of answers could be given, but consider this. Time and again, Daniel is revealed to be a man who prayed faithfully. You'l find his key prayers in 2:17-23; 6:10-11; and 9:1-3.
No matter what circumstances he faced- and he faced some very treacherous ones- no matter how busy his schedule was, he found time to commune with God through prayer. As a matter of fact, the awesome revelations of chapters 10-12 were given to Daniel by God as a direct answer to his prayers (10:10-12)
We can gain much insight into the lives of the prophets of God. Certainly, they were uniquely chosen by God for a unique task. And yet their lives were set apart for that purpose through their heartfelt devotion to God- a devotion that was fueled by fervent prayer.
While the page is not quite fully set up, you may view the Prayer Group page. As this blog grows in readers, my hope is that people will pray for each other by using this page as a guide to pray for specific needs.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Fuzzy Glasses 1 Corinthians 13:12
"For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known." (1 Corinthinans 13:12)
In the imperfect polished metal mirrors of Paul's day, one could see only a fuzzy reflection. The apostle notes that, in contrast to seeing God clearly in heaven, we can see Him only indirectly while we are on earth.
But the promise remains that someday, we will know the Lord as fully as a finite human can know an infinite Being. As you talk with Him in prayer today, thank Him for this glorious promise.
In the imperfect polished metal mirrors of Paul's day, one could see only a fuzzy reflection. The apostle notes that, in contrast to seeing God clearly in heaven, we can see Him only indirectly while we are on earth.
But the promise remains that someday, we will know the Lord as fully as a finite human can know an infinite Being. As you talk with Him in prayer today, thank Him for this glorious promise.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Written On Their Hearts
In your reading yesterday you caught a glimpse of the new covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34- the high point of Jeremiah's prophecies. In those verses God reveals His heart for His people Israel. And there He makes three primary declarations about His new covenant with them:
1. He will put His law in His people's minds. His law will be internal rather than external. Rather than on stones, He will write His law on their hearts so that it impacts their very lives from within. God's new covenant would give His people the inner ability to obey His standards of righteousness and thereby enjoy His blessings. The prophet Ezekiel explains that this would result from God's gift of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believers (Ezekiel 36:24-32). So, under the new covenant, God the Holy Spirit would actually dwell within each believer (see Joel 2:28-32).
2. He said, I "will be their God, and they shall be my people." That simply continues the relationship with them that He had already established. In other words, the new covenant wasn't meant to replace the old, but to fulfill it.
3. He will forgive His people's sins. Because Israel had sinned, they received God's curse. But as a part of the new covenant, God will "forgive and forget." How can a holy God ignore sin? He can't. But it's not that the sin is overlooked, it's that it is paid for by a Substitute... whom we know to be Jesus Christ.
As He shared a final meal with His disciples, Jesus took the cup and invited them to drink from it, saying, "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." The cup represents the blood of Jesus, which in turn represents His atoning gift, His poured-out life, His substitutionary death.
As you read Matthew 26:17-30, thank God in prayer for His commitment to you through the new covenant, and for the atoning death of Christ which made it all possible for you to enjoy eternal life with Him.
God has made an unshakable, unbreakable covenant with his people. What commitments have you made with Him?
Compose a list of life goals you want to accomplish in God's power- goals for spiritual disciplines, witnessing, Bible study, teaching, whatever they may be.
Remember, God deserves no less than your best. After all, that's what He gave you.
1. He will put His law in His people's minds. His law will be internal rather than external. Rather than on stones, He will write His law on their hearts so that it impacts their very lives from within. God's new covenant would give His people the inner ability to obey His standards of righteousness and thereby enjoy His blessings. The prophet Ezekiel explains that this would result from God's gift of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believers (Ezekiel 36:24-32). So, under the new covenant, God the Holy Spirit would actually dwell within each believer (see Joel 2:28-32).
2. He said, I "will be their God, and they shall be my people." That simply continues the relationship with them that He had already established. In other words, the new covenant wasn't meant to replace the old, but to fulfill it.
3. He will forgive His people's sins. Because Israel had sinned, they received God's curse. But as a part of the new covenant, God will "forgive and forget." How can a holy God ignore sin? He can't. But it's not that the sin is overlooked, it's that it is paid for by a Substitute... whom we know to be Jesus Christ.
As He shared a final meal with His disciples, Jesus took the cup and invited them to drink from it, saying, "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." The cup represents the blood of Jesus, which in turn represents His atoning gift, His poured-out life, His substitutionary death.
As you read Matthew 26:17-30, thank God in prayer for His commitment to you through the new covenant, and for the atoning death of Christ which made it all possible for you to enjoy eternal life with Him.
God has made an unshakable, unbreakable covenant with his people. What commitments have you made with Him?
Compose a list of life goals you want to accomplish in God's power- goals for spiritual disciplines, witnessing, Bible study, teaching, whatever they may be.
Remember, God deserves no less than your best. After all, that's what He gave you.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Consolation From Jeremiah (Jeremiah 30-33)
God's promise of restoration begins a section describing both the worst of horrors (the time of Jacob's trouble) and the best of blessings (God's new covenant with Israel). God Pledges to reestablish the nation after it has been purified by the discipline of exile. As a sign of His promise, He orders Jeremiah to purchase a field that would soon belong to the conquering Babylonians. As surely as day follows night, that land would one day become part of the restored nation to be ruled by the Righteous Branch, David's messianic descendant.
Imagine this: your five year old has just popped the question "Daddy, Mommy, what is God like?" Write down the first ten words that come to your mind. (Even if you don't have a five year old, the exercise will do you good!)
If you had trouble describing God in simple terms even a child could understand, today's passage might help you. Few passages of Scripture present such a complete picture of God. Here you can find the God who hates sin and judges it (30:12-15), yet loves and forgives the sinner (30:18-22). You see the God of wrath(30:23-24) and the God of love (31:1-9). Above all you find portrayed the saving God who regathers His scattered flock (31:10-22) and establishes with them a new covenant (31:23-34)- a promise that rests on the sure guarantee of His sovereign power (31:35-37; 33:19-22).
Now go back and change your initial answer to the question, "What is God like?" Using Jeremiah's thoughts to help, can you express your answer in terms both simple and scriptural? Better still, find a five year old to try your answer on!
Imagine this: your five year old has just popped the question "Daddy, Mommy, what is God like?" Write down the first ten words that come to your mind. (Even if you don't have a five year old, the exercise will do you good!)
If you had trouble describing God in simple terms even a child could understand, today's passage might help you. Few passages of Scripture present such a complete picture of God. Here you can find the God who hates sin and judges it (30:12-15), yet loves and forgives the sinner (30:18-22). You see the God of wrath(30:23-24) and the God of love (31:1-9). Above all you find portrayed the saving God who regathers His scattered flock (31:10-22) and establishes with them a new covenant (31:23-34)- a promise that rests on the sure guarantee of His sovereign power (31:35-37; 33:19-22).
Now go back and change your initial answer to the question, "What is God like?" Using Jeremiah's thoughts to help, can you express your answer in terms both simple and scriptural? Better still, find a five year old to try your answer on!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Broken Covenant Jeremiah 11-15
God instructs Jeremiah to take a linen girdle (a tight fitting belt or sash) and bury it by the Euphrates River. Later he is told to dig it up again. The result is predictable: one ruined girdle, unit to wear any longer. And the parallel is painfully clear. Selected by God for a place of intimate fellowship (just like the girdle), Judah would now be cast away in judgement for her corruption.
Moses, the servant of God and Samuel, the first prophet in Israel. What do these two great men have in common?
The answer may shock and disturb you. God declared that their combined prayers would not be suffiecient to avert the disaster soon to come upon rebellious Judah (15:1)
There is time to pray... to repent...to come to God on your knees. But there is coming a day when it will be too late to avoid Him, to acknowledge your need or sidestep the issue. Today many people may be praying for you: your spouse, children, parents, friends, minister. And you may choose to scoff at those prayers. But the alternative to getting right with God is getting left- waking up to a day in which even Moses and Samuel could not move God in prayer on your behalf.
Isaiah 55:6 states, "Seek ... the Lord while he may be found." And when you obey that command, you'll find a wonderful promise waiting on you in Hebrews 11:6!
For Fun-
Jeremiah was known for his visual representations for prophecy. The rotten girdle was just the first in a series of ten. Can you identify all 10? I'll give the answer in the next series in Jeremiah 16-20.
Moses, the servant of God and Samuel, the first prophet in Israel. What do these two great men have in common?
The answer may shock and disturb you. God declared that their combined prayers would not be suffiecient to avert the disaster soon to come upon rebellious Judah (15:1)
There is time to pray... to repent...to come to God on your knees. But there is coming a day when it will be too late to avoid Him, to acknowledge your need or sidestep the issue. Today many people may be praying for you: your spouse, children, parents, friends, minister. And you may choose to scoff at those prayers. But the alternative to getting right with God is getting left- waking up to a day in which even Moses and Samuel could not move God in prayer on your behalf.
Isaiah 55:6 states, "Seek ... the Lord while he may be found." And when you obey that command, you'll find a wonderful promise waiting on you in Hebrews 11:6!
For Fun-
Jeremiah was known for his visual representations for prophecy. The rotten girdle was just the first in a series of ten. Can you identify all 10? I'll give the answer in the next series in Jeremiah 16-20.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Tolerance and Idolatry
Today's Passage: Jeremiah 1-3
Key Focus: 1; 2:13-19
When I study the Prophets I usually think of these passages as warnings that are applicable to us in the present. God always sent a prophet or messenger to His people when they were being disobedient. Are we being disobediant today?
In this passage Jeremiah was called to announce Judah's condemnation. They were about to be given over to the Babylonians for being "Indifferent" and for their "Idolatrous" ways. I'm sure that many of you took a science course in your life at one time or another. Remember when the teacher poured water on a pile of sand? What happened? Right! The sand began to crumble. It was a study in weathering and erosion. Weathering is the process of breaking down rock. Erosion is the carrying away of these particles. These are a great lesson in the Christian walk. When we look at something that we know dishonors God it begins to weather our hearts and eventually it begins to erode and we are carried away. In other words, we become tolerant. Ever hear this word being used today? I think people have weathered and eroded hearts as I see bumper stickers that read "COEXIST" using different religious symbols. In the news you hear of "hate crimes" against different religions. Or, people that say "How dare they push Christianity on us!"
This passage can even be applied to our personal lives. How are we tolerant in our relationships? Our business practices? Although erosion is slow and we can ignore it for a while, we can't escape its destructive power. Here in Texas, every homeowner MUST water the foundation. Especially during the hot summer months. If ignored the foundation will crack and slide and cause more damage to the rest of the house. A simple regular watering prevents this from happening.
Jeremiah's warning to Judah was simply this; Get ready for Judgement (Chapt. 1), Remember where you came from (Chapt. 2), and Return to the Lord (Chapt. 3)
Are you toying with defection or defilement in your Christian life, confident that God's patience will last? Then hear what God says by reading the penetrating reminder in Exodus 34:6-7.
To err is human, but when the eraser wears out ahead of the pencil, you're overdoing it.
For more reading on Jeremiah
Key Focus: 1; 2:13-19
When I study the Prophets I usually think of these passages as warnings that are applicable to us in the present. God always sent a prophet or messenger to His people when they were being disobedient. Are we being disobediant today?
In this passage Jeremiah was called to announce Judah's condemnation. They were about to be given over to the Babylonians for being "Indifferent" and for their "Idolatrous" ways. I'm sure that many of you took a science course in your life at one time or another. Remember when the teacher poured water on a pile of sand? What happened? Right! The sand began to crumble. It was a study in weathering and erosion. Weathering is the process of breaking down rock. Erosion is the carrying away of these particles. These are a great lesson in the Christian walk. When we look at something that we know dishonors God it begins to weather our hearts and eventually it begins to erode and we are carried away. In other words, we become tolerant. Ever hear this word being used today? I think people have weathered and eroded hearts as I see bumper stickers that read "COEXIST" using different religious symbols. In the news you hear of "hate crimes" against different religions. Or, people that say "How dare they push Christianity on us!"
This passage can even be applied to our personal lives. How are we tolerant in our relationships? Our business practices? Although erosion is slow and we can ignore it for a while, we can't escape its destructive power. Here in Texas, every homeowner MUST water the foundation. Especially during the hot summer months. If ignored the foundation will crack and slide and cause more damage to the rest of the house. A simple regular watering prevents this from happening.
Jeremiah's warning to Judah was simply this; Get ready for Judgement (Chapt. 1), Remember where you came from (Chapt. 2), and Return to the Lord (Chapt. 3)
Are you toying with defection or defilement in your Christian life, confident that God's patience will last? Then hear what God says by reading the penetrating reminder in Exodus 34:6-7.
To err is human, but when the eraser wears out ahead of the pencil, you're overdoing it.
For more reading on Jeremiah
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thank you for your patience
OK. I have to be honest. I keep doing this. I just found out that I will have to get permission from the publisher to conduct a blog on Experiencing God even if I cite it. I can however conduct my own Breakfast with God. I personally think it will be better. I can use all of my study resources to conduct it.
Also, I have decided to move my blog to Blogger. The new address is http://biblegrounds.blogspot.com/
Pray for this. Pray that God draws people to Him through this ministry. My desire is to glorify God and bring people to a better understanding of Him including myself.
I do apologize fo rthose who are expecting a consistent blog post. I will do my best. I do however consider other writers. If you would like to write a post just submit it via email or through a comment to this post.
D. Shannon Rainwater <><
Also, I have decided to move my blog to Blogger. The new address is http://biblegrounds.blogspot.com/
Pray for this. Pray that God draws people to Him through this ministry. My desire is to glorify God and bring people to a better understanding of Him including myself.
I do apologize fo rthose who are expecting a consistent blog post. I will do my best. I do however consider other writers. If you would like to write a post just submit it via email or through a comment to this post.
D. Shannon Rainwater <><
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Experiencing God Day 1
Military pilots and civilian alike are trained to know what the gauges are saying. They know to trust them. When I was going through Naval Aircrewman school, we went through what was known as the "Spin and Puke". It was a pod in which you sat in that was allowed to spin left and right as well as around in a big circle with other pods. There was a joystick on a display pad so that when asked you had to determine what angle you thought your wings were at. The instructors spun the machine so that we were disoriented, hence the "Spin" part and then they spun the individual pods, hence the "Puke" part. No I didn't puke or hear of anyone in my class puke but I can see why they would call it that. The objective of this was simply to let you experience that your body is not meant to fly. After spinning around we were asked to indicate where do we "feel" the wings should be at. Then they would reveal that the tilting that we felt was totally opposite and sometimes we were stopped. In an aircraft, the forces being felt by your body tricks your brain into thinking that the wings are in a left turn when in fact the wings are actually in a right turn. This obviously could lead to a very dangerous situation. So to counter this "feeling", the pilots are trained to rely on the flight gauges. The gauges never lie and can be trusted. (I do realize that there can be some mechanical and electrical failures that could lead the gauges wrong but in most situations they worked.)
When we as Christians go through our daily lives, we tend to live by our "feelings". Then we wonder "What is God's will for me today?" Often we get no reply. Do we hear God's voice? Do we trust it when we do? How do we hear it? Audibly? This series on Experiencing God we are going to explore what it means to really get closer to Him. Just as the helicopter pilots that I flew with learned to trust their instruments and distinguish their feelings versus what the helicopter is doing, we will distinguish God's voice and will for our lives. So without further adieu lets look at the book. If you do not have the book then just follow along with my lead. I'll post a link later for you to order the book. It would be advisable to keep a journal while doing this Bible study. You will need to answer questions as we go along. Don't worry I will never them and neither will anyone else, unless you share them. Also, writing your answers in a journal will help you review if you happen to miss a day or two. You will notice progress in your walk with Christ as you look back in your answers.
1. When you come to the Lord Jesus to seek His will for your life, which of the following requests is most like what you ask? Check your response.
You know many of us just wants to know the place where God wants us to go and we will find the way there. Instead we should let our response correspond to the second one. It's almost like we were taken to the amusement park by our parents and then told to meet back up at a certain time. We rode every ride that we saw first and stood in long lines just to ride to best ones. However, our parents saw the big picture and wanted us to experience the whole park by following a certain path. You see, when we follow our own path we miss the blessings of the whole. Who is it that really knows the way for you to go to fulfill God's purpose in your life? God is. Jesus said, "I am the Way."
If you were to do everything that Jesus tells you one day at a time, do you suppose that you always would be right in the center of where God wants you to be?
The book tells of how Abram (later to be renamed Abraham) followed GOd one day at a time. God told him to go to a land that I will show you.
Gen 12:1-5 The LORD said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father's house to the land that I will show you. (2) I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (3) I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (4) So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. (5) He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people he had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
How specific was God? He just told Abram to go. Where? "To a land where I will show you." Are you ready to follow God in that way? (This is a good time for journal reflection)
God is more likely to call you one day at a time rather than giving you the whole details.
Please comment on this material. I take each comment serious. It only makes it better.
When we as Christians go through our daily lives, we tend to live by our "feelings". Then we wonder "What is God's will for me today?" Often we get no reply. Do we hear God's voice? Do we trust it when we do? How do we hear it? Audibly? This series on Experiencing God we are going to explore what it means to really get closer to Him. Just as the helicopter pilots that I flew with learned to trust their instruments and distinguish their feelings versus what the helicopter is doing, we will distinguish God's voice and will for our lives. So without further adieu lets look at the book. If you do not have the book then just follow along with my lead. I'll post a link later for you to order the book. It would be advisable to keep a journal while doing this Bible study. You will need to answer questions as we go along. Don't worry I will never them and neither will anyone else, unless you share them. Also, writing your answers in a journal will help you review if you happen to miss a day or two. You will notice progress in your walk with Christ as you look back in your answers.
1. When you come to the Lord Jesus to seek His will for your life, which of the following requests is most like what you ask? Check your response.
- Lord, What do you want me to do? When you do you want me to do it? How shall I do it? Where shall I do it? Who do you want me to involve along the way? And please tell me what the outcome will be.
- Lord, just tell me what to do one step at a time, and I will do it.
You know many of us just wants to know the place where God wants us to go and we will find the way there. Instead we should let our response correspond to the second one. It's almost like we were taken to the amusement park by our parents and then told to meet back up at a certain time. We rode every ride that we saw first and stood in long lines just to ride to best ones. However, our parents saw the big picture and wanted us to experience the whole park by following a certain path. You see, when we follow our own path we miss the blessings of the whole. Who is it that really knows the way for you to go to fulfill God's purpose in your life? God is. Jesus said, "I am the Way."
If you were to do everything that Jesus tells you one day at a time, do you suppose that you always would be right in the center of where God wants you to be?
The book tells of how Abram (later to be renamed Abraham) followed GOd one day at a time. God told him to go to a land that I will show you.
Gen 12:1-5 The LORD said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father's house to the land that I will show you. (2) I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (3) I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (4) So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. (5) He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people he had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
How specific was God? He just told Abram to go. Where? "To a land where I will show you." Are you ready to follow God in that way? (This is a good time for journal reflection)
God is more likely to call you one day at a time rather than giving you the whole details.
Please comment on this material. I take each comment serious. It only makes it better.
Monday, July 25, 2011
New Daily Bible Study... and the winner is....
Alright, the readers voted and the winner is...... Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby.
Every day if you are registered, you will receive an email containing the lesson for the day. I will post the bible memory verses and any questions from the book. I will comment on the sections as well as give you all the lesson for the day along with the assignments. I encourage everyone to actively particpate and discuss the content.
My goal is to get 1000 readers by the end of the year.
I encourage everyone to tell their friends about this site. I will add more as we go along. The first lesson will be coming later on today!
As an introduction Experiencing God is a daily walk. It requires that you contemplate and focus on Jesus. Since the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden God has been actively seeking a relationship with man. Since we are sinful, we can not commune with God because He is Holy and can not associate with sin. When we seek after Him, He will draw near to us. This is the will of God in our lives. As we study through this book, we will not only seek this relationship but we will 1. Learn to hear when God is speaking to us, 2. Find out where God is working and join Him, 3. Experience God doing through you what only God can do!
Every day if you are registered, you will receive an email containing the lesson for the day. I will post the bible memory verses and any questions from the book. I will comment on the sections as well as give you all the lesson for the day along with the assignments. I encourage everyone to actively particpate and discuss the content.
My goal is to get 1000 readers by the end of the year.
I encourage everyone to tell their friends about this site. I will add more as we go along. The first lesson will be coming later on today!
As an introduction Experiencing God is a daily walk. It requires that you contemplate and focus on Jesus. Since the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden God has been actively seeking a relationship with man. Since we are sinful, we can not commune with God because He is Holy and can not associate with sin. When we seek after Him, He will draw near to us. This is the will of God in our lives. As we study through this book, we will not only seek this relationship but we will 1. Learn to hear when God is speaking to us, 2. Find out where God is working and join Him, 3. Experience God doing through you what only God can do!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Options for Daily Study
Updated 7/23/2011
So far Experiencing God is in the lead for the most votes. Keep it coming! Voting ends tomorrow at 8pm! Monday will be the big announcement and then the first devotional post.
I would like to hear from my readers. Since this Blog is going under construction in the days and maybe weeks to come, I am still working things out.
I have a few ideas on Daily Devotionals:
1. The Mind of Christ by T W Hunt and Claude N. King
2. Spending Time Alone with God, from the moving toward maturity series, by Barry St. Clair
3. Experiencing God, by Henry Blackaby
Comment on which of these you would like to see every morning. My understanding is that you could sign up for email updates and get the post sent directly to your email.
Also I can get permission to recreate any worksheet items so you too can follow along.
What do you think??
So far Experiencing God is in the lead for the most votes. Keep it coming! Voting ends tomorrow at 8pm! Monday will be the big announcement and then the first devotional post.
I would like to hear from my readers. Since this Blog is going under construction in the days and maybe weeks to come, I am still working things out.
I have a few ideas on Daily Devotionals:
1. The Mind of Christ by T W Hunt and Claude N. King
2. Spending Time Alone with God, from the moving toward maturity series, by Barry St. Clair
3. Experiencing God, by Henry Blackaby
Comment on which of these you would like to see every morning. My understanding is that you could sign up for email updates and get the post sent directly to your email.
Also I can get permission to recreate any worksheet items so you too can follow along.
What do you think??
Friday, July 15, 2011
HELP!!! I Need a website extreme makeover
Seriously... can you come up with a better look?
Comment... send email... call me say something...
I am looking at something that is easily maintained and something that is easy to read. May be something in the future about selling things. I kind of want it to be like dailyaudiobible.com
Comment... send email... call me say something...
I am looking at something that is easily maintained and something that is easy to read. May be something in the future about selling things. I kind of want it to be like dailyaudiobible.com
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Don't be Saul, be a David
As some of you probably have already known I have had a birthday recently. It was significant because I turned the big 4-0. With turning 40 I have to get doctor's check up. Especially with it being summer and I'm off work because I am a teacher, I have the time to go. My first visit was for a blood test and examination of some spots on my arm. The result was that I have high cholesterol and I am showing signs of glucose intolerance, the pre-stages of diabetes. WHAT?!?!? What about my arm? I have these hard spots under the skin and I'm being told about a blood test from 6 months ago?Hmmm... I now have to go back in for a glucose test. So I drink the nasty concentrated orange soda and wait for the nurse to come in and prick my finger every hour. Yep my glucose level is high, which means that my body isn't getting rid of the sugar. Solution? Diet and exercise. Doc said that the diet needs to be high protein and low carb. Little did I know that trying to stay on this diet was going to be a battle. For one thing the food is expensive and second I didn't realize how much I love carbs. (I am eating ravioli as I write this... shhh don't tell my Dr.) He said he wants to put me on Metformin. It's a medicine that re-instructs my body on what it's supposed to do with insulin.
Next was to get my ears checked. For a while now everyone says I have to have them repeat things in a conversation. My wife says that I can't hear thunder which is my excuse when trying to participate in conversations in crowded rooms or social get togethers. The first doctor I go to tells me that I have stress in my throat and prescribes me Omnaris. What? Stress? Isn't Omnaris an allergy med? For the throat? At least that is what I think he said. So, needless to say I went to make an appointment at another audiologist. Dr. Jones, now we have this thing goin on... (sorry bad joke). This result came out that I had a hearing problem. My left ear is really bad and my right is moderately bad. At best I can only hear 47% of the conversations. There was a commercial a while back that had 3 men in a conference room having a meeting. Two of the guys were doing most of the talking but the third guy was struggling to understand. He heard them talking gibberish which is what the audience hears them to say. Things like "Bubble gum cappuccino wrapped in cheese". This scenario describes exactly what I hear in a conversation in a crowded room. Anyway the audiologist recommended that I get hearing aids. I kind of figured that is what he was going to say and did a little research. The cheapest aids on the market are at least $1500 for one. And they only last for about 6 years. Insurance companies consider these a cosmetic device and covers only a portion of them. My coverage is for $1000 every 3 years. So I do more research and found that I can get a used pair from ebay or craigslist for under $1000. But there is one catch. I don't have $1000 and my flex spending card can't be used for purchases in this manner.
I did in fact find a great deal. It was for a pair that has every feature I liked and was one of the top of the line hearing aids on the market. They were for $500. I told my wife and she gave me the answer "I good with whatever decision you make". This is usually how we make money decisions in our family. We use the protocol of asking the other spouse for permission and want them to give the right answer but the other dodges responsibility and puts it back on the other. Kinda like tennis.
Finally I asked her "I want you to tell me you real answer. What do you think i should do?" She said, "Don't be a Saul, be a David." Since my first name IS David, I was wondering what she meant. She explained that her boss at work had a Bible study about Saul and David. Saul was the king that tried to do things himself and then wanted God to either honor it or make it the right thing to do in the situation. David, who was known as a man after God's own heart, waited for God to work.
As I thought about this concept, how many times have we wanted God to make what we did great instead of letting God do the great thing? Hmmmm. Come to think about it, this concept is taught throughout the Bible. We tend to try to do things under our own power and fail miserably. Why can't we be a David and let God be God!
How about you? What are some ways that you have wanted God to move in your life and you were impatient and moved for yourself? How did it work out? (I do realize that sometimes we do the right thing and we do succeed)
Have you ever trusted God whole-heartedly? How did that work out?
Have you ever witnessed these scenarios in other people's lives? Did it work out for them? What would be something different that you would have done?
Please remember to comment!!!
Next was to get my ears checked. For a while now everyone says I have to have them repeat things in a conversation. My wife says that I can't hear thunder which is my excuse when trying to participate in conversations in crowded rooms or social get togethers. The first doctor I go to tells me that I have stress in my throat and prescribes me Omnaris. What? Stress? Isn't Omnaris an allergy med? For the throat? At least that is what I think he said. So, needless to say I went to make an appointment at another audiologist. Dr. Jones, now we have this thing goin on... (sorry bad joke). This result came out that I had a hearing problem. My left ear is really bad and my right is moderately bad. At best I can only hear 47% of the conversations. There was a commercial a while back that had 3 men in a conference room having a meeting. Two of the guys were doing most of the talking but the third guy was struggling to understand. He heard them talking gibberish which is what the audience hears them to say. Things like "Bubble gum cappuccino wrapped in cheese". This scenario describes exactly what I hear in a conversation in a crowded room. Anyway the audiologist recommended that I get hearing aids. I kind of figured that is what he was going to say and did a little research. The cheapest aids on the market are at least $1500 for one. And they only last for about 6 years. Insurance companies consider these a cosmetic device and covers only a portion of them. My coverage is for $1000 every 3 years. So I do more research and found that I can get a used pair from ebay or craigslist for under $1000. But there is one catch. I don't have $1000 and my flex spending card can't be used for purchases in this manner.
I did in fact find a great deal. It was for a pair that has every feature I liked and was one of the top of the line hearing aids on the market. They were for $500. I told my wife and she gave me the answer "I good with whatever decision you make". This is usually how we make money decisions in our family. We use the protocol of asking the other spouse for permission and want them to give the right answer but the other dodges responsibility and puts it back on the other. Kinda like tennis.
Finally I asked her "I want you to tell me you real answer. What do you think i should do?" She said, "Don't be a Saul, be a David." Since my first name IS David, I was wondering what she meant. She explained that her boss at work had a Bible study about Saul and David. Saul was the king that tried to do things himself and then wanted God to either honor it or make it the right thing to do in the situation. David, who was known as a man after God's own heart, waited for God to work.
As I thought about this concept, how many times have we wanted God to make what we did great instead of letting God do the great thing? Hmmmm. Come to think about it, this concept is taught throughout the Bible. We tend to try to do things under our own power and fail miserably. Why can't we be a David and let God be God!
How about you? What are some ways that you have wanted God to move in your life and you were impatient and moved for yourself? How did it work out? (I do realize that sometimes we do the right thing and we do succeed)
Have you ever trusted God whole-heartedly? How did that work out?
Have you ever witnessed these scenarios in other people's lives? Did it work out for them? What would be something different that you would have done?
Please remember to comment!!!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Gospel ADHD
I remember watching cartoons on Saturday morning while eating my cereal and seeing one of the characters that was just put in a dilemma. You've seen them where the character has to make a choice and then *POOF* there are two figures one on each shoulder and one in a red devil outfit and the other wearing a white gown with a halo. They were trying to convince the character to either do the right thing or the wrong thing. Did you ever wonder where they cartoonist got the idea for that? Well in the book of James of course.
What is the source of the wars and the fights among you? Don't they come from the cravings that are at war within you?
James 4:1 (HCSB)
How many times per day are you bombarded by thoughts that conflict with each other? I mean that while we know that we are to be honoring God all the time and we are to put Him first in all things BUT we also have our own desires that are "at war" with holy thoughts. All the time right!?!
I am not saying that we have bad thoughts all the time. I am saying that sometimes we have a disordered mind in that we tend to the selfishness side (or we listen to the character in the red suit on our shoulder).
Do a self test. List the top 5 things that you want to do today. Things you want to get accomplished. Things you want to acquire. Now look at your list and ask yourself where did God fall into the mix?
According to James, the war that rages in our minds as Christians is due to our desires that battle against each other. The disordered mind, or what I what dubbed it the "Gospel ADHD", has both good and bad desires jumbled together with little order. This will is not in control of thinking. Therefore little tought is given to what we think about. Then our thoughts often lead to actions. Godly thoughts lead to Godly actions. Wrong thoughts lead to wrong actions.
The minds of Christ was not disordered but ordered. He controlled His thinking in such a way that only godly actions came through His life. This is one reason you and I need the mind of Christ.
What is the source of the wars and the fights among you? Don't they come from the cravings that are at war within you?
James 4:1 (HCSB)
How many times per day are you bombarded by thoughts that conflict with each other? I mean that while we know that we are to be honoring God all the time and we are to put Him first in all things BUT we also have our own desires that are "at war" with holy thoughts. All the time right!?!
I am not saying that we have bad thoughts all the time. I am saying that sometimes we have a disordered mind in that we tend to the selfishness side (or we listen to the character in the red suit on our shoulder).
Do a self test. List the top 5 things that you want to do today. Things you want to get accomplished. Things you want to acquire. Now look at your list and ask yourself where did God fall into the mix?
According to James, the war that rages in our minds as Christians is due to our desires that battle against each other. The disordered mind, or what I what dubbed it the "Gospel ADHD", has both good and bad desires jumbled together with little order. This will is not in control of thinking. Therefore little tought is given to what we think about. Then our thoughts often lead to actions. Godly thoughts lead to Godly actions. Wrong thoughts lead to wrong actions.
The minds of Christ was not disordered but ordered. He controlled His thinking in such a way that only godly actions came through His life. This is one reason you and I need the mind of Christ.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Myth of Modern Evangelism and why it has to do with Aviation?
The following is an excerpt from a book and it is used commonly in Way of the Master Evangelism. Please read to the end and get the full picture.
Two men are seated in a plane. A stewardess gives the first man a parachute and instructs him to put it on because it will “improve his flight.”
Not understanding how a parachute could possibly improve his flight, the first passenger is a little skeptical. Finally he decides to see if the claim is true. After strapping on the parachute, he notices its burdensome weight, and he has difficulty sitting upright. Consoling himself with the promise of a better flight, our first passenger decides to give it a little time.
Because he's the only one wearing a parachute, some of the other passengers begin smirking at him, which only adds to his humiliation. Unable to stand it any longer, our friend slumps in his seat, unstraps the parachute, and throws it to the floor. Disillusionment and bitterness fill his heart because as far as he is concerned, he was told a lie.
Another stewardess gives the second man a parachute, but listen to her instructions. She tells him to put it on because at any moment he will be jumping out of the plane at 25,000 feet.
Our second passenger gratefully straps the parachute on. He doesn't notice its weight upon his shoulders nor that he can't sit up upright. His mind is consumed with the thought of what would happen to him if he jumped without it. When other passengers laugh at him, he thinks, "You won't be laughing when you're falling to the ground!"
Inoculated Backsliders
Let's now analyze the motive and the result of each passenger's experience.
The first man's motive for putting on the parachute was solely to improve his flight. As a result, he was humiliated by the passengers, disillusioned by an unkept promise, and embittered against the stewardess who gave it to him. As far as he is concerned, he will never put one of those things on his back again.
The second man put the parachute on to escape the danger of the coming jump. Because he knew what would happen to him without it, he had a deep-rooted joy and peace in his heart. Knowing he was saved from certain death gave him the ability to withstand the mockery of the other passengers. His attitude toward the stewardess who gave him the parachute was one of heartfelt gratitude.
Now listen to what the contemporary gospel says: "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ; He will give you love, joy, peace, and fulfillment." In other words, He will improve your flight. In an experimental fashion, the sinner puts the Savior to see if these claims are so.
What does he get? Temptation, tribulation, and persecution. The other passengers mock his decision. So what does he do? He takes off the Lord Jesus Christ; he is offended for the Word's sake; he is disillusioned and embittered, and quite rightly so.
He was promised peace, joy, fulfillment, and all he got were trials and humiliation. His bitterness is directed at those who gave him the “good news.” His latter end is worse than the first - another inoculated, bitter backslider!
The apostle Peter acted in misguided zeal when he tried to dismember the Roman servant in the garden of Gethsemane. Many misguided Christians are also cutting off ears - the ears of potential hearers. Once sinners think they have given it a try, they no longer have an ear for the gospel.
Why are sinners turned off and tuned out? Because we no longer preach the full message of the gospel. We have omitted the key to genuine repentance - the Law of God. The apostle Paul said, "I would not have known sin except through the law" (Romans 7:7, italics added).
Listen to these words from Spurgeon:
Lower the Law, and you dim the light by which man perceives his guilt. This is a very serious loss to the sinner, rather than a gain; for it lessens the likelihood of his conviction and conversion …I say you have deprived the gospel of its ablest auxiliary [most powerful weapon] when you have set aside the Law. You have taken away from it the schoolmaster that is to bring men to Christ…they will never accept grace till they tremble before a just and holy Law. Therefore the Law serves a most necessary and blessed purpose and it must not be removed from its place.
When the sinner sees the awful consequences of breaking the Law of God - that he cannot escape the certainty of judgment - he will see his need to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. When we preach future punishment by the Law, the sinner comes to Christ solely to flee from "the wrath to come."
Instead of preaching that Jesus “improves the flight,” we must warn men about the inevitable jump. Everyone must pass through the door of death.
It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment - Hebrews 9:27.
But doesn't Christianity offer the abundant life? You bet it does! Peace and joy are legitimate fruits of the Spirit. But we do sinners an injustice by enticing them with only the benefits of salvation. Our misguided efforts only result in sinners coming to Christ with an impure motive void of repentance.
Remember why the second passenger had joy and peace? Because he knew what that parachute was going to save him from. In the same way, the true convert has joy and peace in believing because he knows that the righteousness of Christ will deliver him from the wrath that is to come. "The kingdom of God is …righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). Why is righteousness coupled with peace and joy? Because "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death" (Proverbs 11:4).
Man-Centered Preaching
Now let's take a look at an unfortunate incident on board the plane. During some unexpected turbulence, the stewardess accidentally drops a cup of hot coffee onto the lap of our second passenger.
What is his reaction? Does he cry out in pain, then rip the parachute off his back in anger? No! He didn't strap it on for any other reason than the jump. In fact, he doesn't even relate the incident to his parachute. Instead, it only makes him cling more tightly to his hope of salvation and even look forward to the jump!
If we put on Christ to flee the wrath to come, when tribulation strikes we wont get angry at God. Why should we? We didn't come for a better lifestyle. Trials drive us closer to the Lord, and we cling more tightly to Him. Like the apostle Paul, we only stay around to encourage other passengers to put on the parachute. "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
Sadly, multitudes of professing Christians lose their joy when the flight gets bumpy. They are the product of “man-centered” preaching.
Because the Law is rarely used in modern-day evangelism, many pastors are frustrated and make the gospel “man-centered” in an effort to attract converts. They don't see men and women embracing the good news, so they turn to man-made methods.
Instead of driving the fish to the nets using the Law, they try to attract them by holding up only the benefits of salvation. Let me give an example of a typical altar call:
"Come to Jesus. Wont you give your heart to Him? He loves you and died on the cross for you. He wants to give you love, joy, and peace. He will make your life happy and give you what you've been looking for."
Ministers gently woo sinners to the altar with the "every eye closed and every head bowed" approach. Then, as the music gently plays, the preacher asks, "Why not ask the person next to you to come with you so Jesus can make him happy?"
An Invitation or a Command?
Instead of desperate sinners knocking on the door of heaven, we incorrectly paint a picture of Jesus pleading at the heart of the sinner. This type of “invitation” gives the impression that the sinner will be doing God a favor if he responds. The gospel is not an invitation because invitations can be politely turned down without fear of reprisal. Scripture says that "God …commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30, italics added).
We would never dare quote some of the following verses to encourage someone to come to Christ:
All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution - 2 Timothy 3:12.
We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God - Acts 14:22.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous - Psalm 34:19.
In the world you will have tribulation - John 16:33.
Neither would we mention the sufferings of the apostle Paul - the stonings, perils, and shipwrecks he endured. Why, it's hard enough to get converts when we hold up the good things of the gospel!
We try, in our evangelical zeal, to argue sinners into the kingdom by appealing to their intellect. We attempt to scare them into heaven by “666 Campaigns.” We try to seduce them into the kingdom by telling them that Jesus will make them happy. In fact, we use every method to bring people to Christ except the method God has ordained - the Law!
How to Fill a Church
Let's turn the spotlight inward for a moment. Do we preach a man-centered, “easy” gospel because we want to see more people saved or because we know the consequences? Are we like the mother who won't discipline a naughty child because she doesn't like the feeling she gets when she does it? She places her immediate concern over the long-term welfare of her child.
Better the sinner be offended in order to repent, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and be cast into everlasting fire. Where does the heart of our concern lie-with the fate of the sinner or with our own comfort?
The sinner hides behind the bush of sin. But we beat around the bush rather than beat the bush for fear of disturbing him. Yet, the day will come when every sinner is flushed out.
Some Christians innocently ask, "Why not preach a 'man-centered' gospel if it gets people 'saved'?" We can preach a man-centered gospel and get results; we may even fill our churches. But adding a soul to a church does not necessarily mean that a soul has been added to the church. A decision for Christ doesn't necessarily mean a soul for Christ.
I attended one service where a challenge was made to accept Christ, but the Law of God was not mentioned. A young man stood up and briskly walked to the altar. He stepped to the platform, turned around, and smiled at the congregation. As I looked at him I didn't see any outward sign of brokenness, guilt, or contrition. He wasn't fleeing to Christ for mercy. A short time later, he backslid.
Unlike this young man, some don't slide back into the world. Instead, church becomes no different than a social club. These new converts make plenty of friends; there are regular activities and no fees. Unfortunately, they also have no burden for souls, no real hunger for the Word, no zeal for God, and no lasting fruit. A “man-centered” gospel can fill your church with this type of “conversion.”
P. T. Forsyth has accurately observed:
Our churches are full of the nicest, kindest people who have never known the despair of guilt or the breathless wonder of forgiveness.
I am not against altar calls. Nothing is wrong with response to an altar call, but what sinners are responding to determines its effectiveness.
Hot or Cold?
There are only two kinds of Christian - “cold” and refreshing or “hot” and stimulating. All the rest will be spewed out of the mouth of Christ on judgment day.
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth - Revelation 3:15,16.
Soft-selling the gospel is the tragedy of modern evangelism. Its massive casualty rate leaves multitudes in the “lukewarm” bracket and sours the untaught to the truths of true commitment. How can we turn the tide and restore credibility to our conversion rates? Let's stop soft-selling the gospel and tell sinners like it is!
Two men are seated in a plane. A stewardess gives the first man a parachute and instructs him to put it on because it will “improve his flight.”
Not understanding how a parachute could possibly improve his flight, the first passenger is a little skeptical. Finally he decides to see if the claim is true. After strapping on the parachute, he notices its burdensome weight, and he has difficulty sitting upright. Consoling himself with the promise of a better flight, our first passenger decides to give it a little time.
Because he's the only one wearing a parachute, some of the other passengers begin smirking at him, which only adds to his humiliation. Unable to stand it any longer, our friend slumps in his seat, unstraps the parachute, and throws it to the floor. Disillusionment and bitterness fill his heart because as far as he is concerned, he was told a lie.
Another stewardess gives the second man a parachute, but listen to her instructions. She tells him to put it on because at any moment he will be jumping out of the plane at 25,000 feet.
Our second passenger gratefully straps the parachute on. He doesn't notice its weight upon his shoulders nor that he can't sit up upright. His mind is consumed with the thought of what would happen to him if he jumped without it. When other passengers laugh at him, he thinks, "You won't be laughing when you're falling to the ground!"
Inoculated Backsliders
Let's now analyze the motive and the result of each passenger's experience.
The first man's motive for putting on the parachute was solely to improve his flight. As a result, he was humiliated by the passengers, disillusioned by an unkept promise, and embittered against the stewardess who gave it to him. As far as he is concerned, he will never put one of those things on his back again.
The second man put the parachute on to escape the danger of the coming jump. Because he knew what would happen to him without it, he had a deep-rooted joy and peace in his heart. Knowing he was saved from certain death gave him the ability to withstand the mockery of the other passengers. His attitude toward the stewardess who gave him the parachute was one of heartfelt gratitude.
Now listen to what the contemporary gospel says: "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ; He will give you love, joy, peace, and fulfillment." In other words, He will improve your flight. In an experimental fashion, the sinner puts the Savior to see if these claims are so.
What does he get? Temptation, tribulation, and persecution. The other passengers mock his decision. So what does he do? He takes off the Lord Jesus Christ; he is offended for the Word's sake; he is disillusioned and embittered, and quite rightly so.
He was promised peace, joy, fulfillment, and all he got were trials and humiliation. His bitterness is directed at those who gave him the “good news.” His latter end is worse than the first - another inoculated, bitter backslider!
The apostle Peter acted in misguided zeal when he tried to dismember the Roman servant in the garden of Gethsemane. Many misguided Christians are also cutting off ears - the ears of potential hearers. Once sinners think they have given it a try, they no longer have an ear for the gospel.
Why are sinners turned off and tuned out? Because we no longer preach the full message of the gospel. We have omitted the key to genuine repentance - the Law of God. The apostle Paul said, "I would not have known sin except through the law" (Romans 7:7, italics added).
Listen to these words from Spurgeon:
Lower the Law, and you dim the light by which man perceives his guilt. This is a very serious loss to the sinner, rather than a gain; for it lessens the likelihood of his conviction and conversion …I say you have deprived the gospel of its ablest auxiliary [most powerful weapon] when you have set aside the Law. You have taken away from it the schoolmaster that is to bring men to Christ…they will never accept grace till they tremble before a just and holy Law. Therefore the Law serves a most necessary and blessed purpose and it must not be removed from its place.
When the sinner sees the awful consequences of breaking the Law of God - that he cannot escape the certainty of judgment - he will see his need to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. When we preach future punishment by the Law, the sinner comes to Christ solely to flee from "the wrath to come."
Instead of preaching that Jesus “improves the flight,” we must warn men about the inevitable jump. Everyone must pass through the door of death.
It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment - Hebrews 9:27.
But doesn't Christianity offer the abundant life? You bet it does! Peace and joy are legitimate fruits of the Spirit. But we do sinners an injustice by enticing them with only the benefits of salvation. Our misguided efforts only result in sinners coming to Christ with an impure motive void of repentance.
Remember why the second passenger had joy and peace? Because he knew what that parachute was going to save him from. In the same way, the true convert has joy and peace in believing because he knows that the righteousness of Christ will deliver him from the wrath that is to come. "The kingdom of God is …righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). Why is righteousness coupled with peace and joy? Because "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death" (Proverbs 11:4).
Man-Centered Preaching
Now let's take a look at an unfortunate incident on board the plane. During some unexpected turbulence, the stewardess accidentally drops a cup of hot coffee onto the lap of our second passenger.
What is his reaction? Does he cry out in pain, then rip the parachute off his back in anger? No! He didn't strap it on for any other reason than the jump. In fact, he doesn't even relate the incident to his parachute. Instead, it only makes him cling more tightly to his hope of salvation and even look forward to the jump!
If we put on Christ to flee the wrath to come, when tribulation strikes we wont get angry at God. Why should we? We didn't come for a better lifestyle. Trials drive us closer to the Lord, and we cling more tightly to Him. Like the apostle Paul, we only stay around to encourage other passengers to put on the parachute. "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
Sadly, multitudes of professing Christians lose their joy when the flight gets bumpy. They are the product of “man-centered” preaching.
Because the Law is rarely used in modern-day evangelism, many pastors are frustrated and make the gospel “man-centered” in an effort to attract converts. They don't see men and women embracing the good news, so they turn to man-made methods.
Instead of driving the fish to the nets using the Law, they try to attract them by holding up only the benefits of salvation. Let me give an example of a typical altar call:
"Come to Jesus. Wont you give your heart to Him? He loves you and died on the cross for you. He wants to give you love, joy, and peace. He will make your life happy and give you what you've been looking for."
Ministers gently woo sinners to the altar with the "every eye closed and every head bowed" approach. Then, as the music gently plays, the preacher asks, "Why not ask the person next to you to come with you so Jesus can make him happy?"
An Invitation or a Command?
Instead of desperate sinners knocking on the door of heaven, we incorrectly paint a picture of Jesus pleading at the heart of the sinner. This type of “invitation” gives the impression that the sinner will be doing God a favor if he responds. The gospel is not an invitation because invitations can be politely turned down without fear of reprisal. Scripture says that "God …commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30, italics added).
We would never dare quote some of the following verses to encourage someone to come to Christ:
All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution - 2 Timothy 3:12.
We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God - Acts 14:22.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous - Psalm 34:19.
In the world you will have tribulation - John 16:33.
Neither would we mention the sufferings of the apostle Paul - the stonings, perils, and shipwrecks he endured. Why, it's hard enough to get converts when we hold up the good things of the gospel!
We try, in our evangelical zeal, to argue sinners into the kingdom by appealing to their intellect. We attempt to scare them into heaven by “666 Campaigns.” We try to seduce them into the kingdom by telling them that Jesus will make them happy. In fact, we use every method to bring people to Christ except the method God has ordained - the Law!
How to Fill a Church
Let's turn the spotlight inward for a moment. Do we preach a man-centered, “easy” gospel because we want to see more people saved or because we know the consequences? Are we like the mother who won't discipline a naughty child because she doesn't like the feeling she gets when she does it? She places her immediate concern over the long-term welfare of her child.
Better the sinner be offended in order to repent, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and be cast into everlasting fire. Where does the heart of our concern lie-with the fate of the sinner or with our own comfort?
The sinner hides behind the bush of sin. But we beat around the bush rather than beat the bush for fear of disturbing him. Yet, the day will come when every sinner is flushed out.
Some Christians innocently ask, "Why not preach a 'man-centered' gospel if it gets people 'saved'?" We can preach a man-centered gospel and get results; we may even fill our churches. But adding a soul to a church does not necessarily mean that a soul has been added to the church. A decision for Christ doesn't necessarily mean a soul for Christ.
I attended one service where a challenge was made to accept Christ, but the Law of God was not mentioned. A young man stood up and briskly walked to the altar. He stepped to the platform, turned around, and smiled at the congregation. As I looked at him I didn't see any outward sign of brokenness, guilt, or contrition. He wasn't fleeing to Christ for mercy. A short time later, he backslid.
Unlike this young man, some don't slide back into the world. Instead, church becomes no different than a social club. These new converts make plenty of friends; there are regular activities and no fees. Unfortunately, they also have no burden for souls, no real hunger for the Word, no zeal for God, and no lasting fruit. A “man-centered” gospel can fill your church with this type of “conversion.”
P. T. Forsyth has accurately observed:
Our churches are full of the nicest, kindest people who have never known the despair of guilt or the breathless wonder of forgiveness.
I am not against altar calls. Nothing is wrong with response to an altar call, but what sinners are responding to determines its effectiveness.
Hot or Cold?
There are only two kinds of Christian - “cold” and refreshing or “hot” and stimulating. All the rest will be spewed out of the mouth of Christ on judgment day.
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth - Revelation 3:15,16.
Soft-selling the gospel is the tragedy of modern evangelism. Its massive casualty rate leaves multitudes in the “lukewarm” bracket and sours the untaught to the truths of true commitment. How can we turn the tide and restore credibility to our conversion rates? Let's stop soft-selling the gospel and tell sinners like it is!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Day 1
Well we are here in San Angelo TX. Randi and I were a little aprehensive about coming considering the circumstances that we are in. But as Randi so graciously puts it. Satan really doesn't want us to go and he is going to try and discourage us from going any way he can. Frankly I, in my mind, backed out in going and was looking for an excuse to tell my wife. Come to find out she was going through the same contemplation. We both said God must really have something for us to do if He wants us to go and well here we are. The trip here was great. Adalynne rode in her seat that we installed in the people mover (people mover is like the van that you see at the airport for express from the parking lot to the terminal). It only took us about 4 hours. About 30 minutes before we get to San Angelo Dr. Babler announced that we are stopping at the Walmart for a restroom break. When we saw it we started to laugh. It was about 1/6 the size of the Walmart in Fort Worth.
Our job here is to do backyard Bible clubs.We are excited to see what God is doing here so that we can join.
More on what living conditions and atmosphere here is tomorrow after the service.
Our job here is to do backyard Bible clubs.We are excited to see what God is doing here so that we can join.
More on what living conditions and atmosphere here is tomorrow after the service.
Better get your lifejacket... storms a coming!!!
Why does it seem that God is sometimes silent during our times of struggle? When we face these issues personally, we are to "Trust in the Lord and not lean in your own understanding and all ways acknowledge Him. Proverbs 3:5
Have you ever played the "trust" game where you are facing away from someone and you are supposed to fall backward and let them catch you? My favorite illustration of that is the Geico commercial. That poor little guy was about to get squished. But just imagine your self in a situation say, you have absolutely no money and your next payday is in 2 weeks. How many of us have actually been in this situation? (me.. me .. me) You receive notices in the mail that you have ten days to pay the light bill before they shut it off. You try desperately to scrounge up something to pay with. Only you find out that your baby is out of diapers and you need milk and a few other grocery items. On your way to the grocery store, the van gets a sound that you know is coming from the engine. then the engine light comes on. You start thinking to yourself, "thats ok, I have an emergency fund" because you are following Dave Ramsey Financial Peace. Wait a minute! You used the emergency fund last month to try and get caught up on other bills that are again behind this month.
Does this sound like you? Who is in control? You? God?
Who should be in control?
Many Christians are facing this type of situation and they are trying to fix all this by themselves. When we realize that God wants an absolute dependence on Him we also realize that He is in control of everything! When we look at Matthew 8:18 it was Jesus that gave the order to get into the boat. He knew there was going to be a storm. The disciples had no clue. When the storm came where was Jesus? Sleeping. How dare HE. The diciples were scared for their life and the very man that just performed miricles in front of them was SLEEPING. Didn't Jesus CARE? Of course He did! After they woke Jesus up and asked if He even cared if they lived or died or that they were scared and this storm was getting worse... and He was sleeping? Often we think God is sleeping during our life's storms. But Jesus IS in the boat. He does care. In verse 26 Jesus said to his disciples, "Why are you fearful, you of little faith". Then he calmed the storm and the wind.
You see God sometimes takes us through a storm to strengthen your faith. He knows the situation you are in. He also knows the outcome. He might even be "toughening" you up and preparing you for a mission he wants you to be on.
When you are going through a storm in life, praise God and acknowledge Him always.
Have you ever played the "trust" game where you are facing away from someone and you are supposed to fall backward and let them catch you? My favorite illustration of that is the Geico commercial. That poor little guy was about to get squished. But just imagine your self in a situation say, you have absolutely no money and your next payday is in 2 weeks. How many of us have actually been in this situation? (me.. me .. me) You receive notices in the mail that you have ten days to pay the light bill before they shut it off. You try desperately to scrounge up something to pay with. Only you find out that your baby is out of diapers and you need milk and a few other grocery items. On your way to the grocery store, the van gets a sound that you know is coming from the engine. then the engine light comes on. You start thinking to yourself, "thats ok, I have an emergency fund" because you are following Dave Ramsey Financial Peace. Wait a minute! You used the emergency fund last month to try and get caught up on other bills that are again behind this month.
Does this sound like you? Who is in control? You? God?
Who should be in control?
Many Christians are facing this type of situation and they are trying to fix all this by themselves. When we realize that God wants an absolute dependence on Him we also realize that He is in control of everything! When we look at Matthew 8:18 it was Jesus that gave the order to get into the boat. He knew there was going to be a storm. The disciples had no clue. When the storm came where was Jesus? Sleeping. How dare HE. The diciples were scared for their life and the very man that just performed miricles in front of them was SLEEPING. Didn't Jesus CARE? Of course He did! After they woke Jesus up and asked if He even cared if they lived or died or that they were scared and this storm was getting worse... and He was sleeping? Often we think God is sleeping during our life's storms. But Jesus IS in the boat. He does care. In verse 26 Jesus said to his disciples, "Why are you fearful, you of little faith". Then he calmed the storm and the wind.
You see God sometimes takes us through a storm to strengthen your faith. He knows the situation you are in. He also knows the outcome. He might even be "toughening" you up and preparing you for a mission he wants you to be on.
When you are going through a storm in life, praise God and acknowledge Him always.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
This morning I only have a few minutes to write but I feel the need to say something. This economy is going in the toilet bowl and everyone seems to be enamored by it swirling down the porcelain highway. Cats and dogs do the same. Gas prices are skyrocketing, food prices are high... $2.89 for a head of lettuce?... So what are we as Christians going to do about it?
The job market is like finding Waldo. Only once you find him you lost him again. Jobs across the country are being cut and not replaced. Even the more important jobs for our future are facing layoffs. So what do we as Christians do about this?
Moral values are being attacked. It's like the censorship boards were laid off along with our teachers and policeman. This generation of students are growing up seeing their parents split. They are seeing very immoral acts being modeled to them not only in their home but also in the media. So what are we as Christians going to do about it?
The job market is like finding Waldo. Only once you find him you lost him again. Jobs across the country are being cut and not replaced. Even the more important jobs for our future are facing layoffs. So what do we as Christians do about this?
Moral values are being attacked. It's like the censorship boards were laid off along with our teachers and policeman. This generation of students are growing up seeing their parents split. They are seeing very immoral acts being modeled to them not only in their home but also in the media. So what are we as Christians going to do about it?
Monday, February 7, 2011
Faith
After last weeks snowstorm I have resumed my "normal" routine. This morning God has been showing me things about faith. Now I kinda knew what faith was... things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen... but I never really pondered upon it. I have always heard the term used in a manner to describe a Christian such as: "Oh he has found faith" or " He lost his faith". But if we really examine the Word of God to know what it means it might just blow you away just as it did me.
Faith requires our ENTIRE trust in the Lord. What I mean is when we say we have faith it is like we have just given control of our lives to God. It is an action that is contrary to our nature. At first it is harder to give up control but just like any domesticated animal, then over time we accept it. But, because of our fallen nature we tend to want to take back control. In the Christian maturity this seems to be less often. Faith in this manner requires an action. If we were to truly give God total control, we will see Him do things in our lives that only He can do. The Bible tells us that we need only the faith the size of one of the smallest seeds known, the mustard seed. Once we see God working in our lives from our faith , our faith grows and it gets a little easier to put faith into action. It is not always easier and we don't always want God to be in control of our situations but when we see God working in our lives it should spur us on and increase our faith.
For those who are not saved ("saved" definition coming soon) faith is the action one must exercise to see God. It is the agent that one MUST have in order to receive grace. ("Grace" definition coming soon.)
Please I enjoy reading comments. If you have one, submit it!
Faith requires our ENTIRE trust in the Lord. What I mean is when we say we have faith it is like we have just given control of our lives to God. It is an action that is contrary to our nature. At first it is harder to give up control but just like any domesticated animal, then over time we accept it. But, because of our fallen nature we tend to want to take back control. In the Christian maturity this seems to be less often. Faith in this manner requires an action. If we were to truly give God total control, we will see Him do things in our lives that only He can do. The Bible tells us that we need only the faith the size of one of the smallest seeds known, the mustard seed. Once we see God working in our lives from our faith , our faith grows and it gets a little easier to put faith into action. It is not always easier and we don't always want God to be in control of our situations but when we see God working in our lives it should spur us on and increase our faith.
For those who are not saved ("saved" definition coming soon) faith is the action one must exercise to see God. It is the agent that one MUST have in order to receive grace. ("Grace" definition coming soon.)
Please I enjoy reading comments. If you have one, submit it!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
The Love of God
This morning's quiet time was a rather strange time. I planned more reading of God's word and writing during the holidays but as my track record would have it, I never did. I spent the entire time on myself. This morning however, was like trying to workout after being out of shape for a few months. It was sore but rewarding.
I am on day 5 of unit 3 in Experiencing God bible study. It is the last lesson on the relationship part between God and me. A Real, Personal, Practical relationship. It was always my thought that I had to be the one initiating a relationship with God but the Bible tells of a different process. From Genesis to Revelation it is God who has sought out the relationship with man. He sought out to clothe Adam and Eve after they sinned. He sought out Hagar to see where she was going. He answered Solomon's request for discernment. After He sent the 12 disciples out he gave them authority. He sought out Peter and freed him from the jail. He sought out John when he was worshiping during His exile.
Doing the will of God is easy if we recognize that God is already leading the way. We just need to recognize what He is doing and be obedient. The constant presence of God is the most practical part of your life and ministry.- H Blackaby
I am on day 5 of unit 3 in Experiencing God bible study. It is the last lesson on the relationship part between God and me. A Real, Personal, Practical relationship. It was always my thought that I had to be the one initiating a relationship with God but the Bible tells of a different process. From Genesis to Revelation it is God who has sought out the relationship with man. He sought out to clothe Adam and Eve after they sinned. He sought out Hagar to see where she was going. He answered Solomon's request for discernment. After He sent the 12 disciples out he gave them authority. He sought out Peter and freed him from the jail. He sought out John when he was worshiping during His exile.
Doing the will of God is easy if we recognize that God is already leading the way. We just need to recognize what He is doing and be obedient. The constant presence of God is the most practical part of your life and ministry.- H Blackaby
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