Monthly Archives: March 2015

Limits

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There are boundaries to everything and everyone in this life, except that which is achieved through Christ.  The Bible tells us that it is appointed to all men once to die.  This is the destination of all men, big, small, wicked, smart, poor or rich.  Even the richest man in the world still has a number assigned to his wealth, it is hard to imagine several are approaching the trillion dollar number.  We can only lift so much weight, jump just so high, run only so fast, fly only so far as our fuel will allow and stay awake for only as long as our bodies/sanity can sustain wakefulness.  We only have so much control over our lives, people and science.  We can only ingest so much alcohol, drugs, food or water before it causes deleterious health effect or death.  My point being that if it is eternity, overcoming all or achieving the impossible then we must seek to do so through our relationship with Christ.  Eternal life, overcoming scientific laws and abundance may only be done through the power of the Holy Spirit, by God through Christ.

There are limits to my freedoms as well.  I cannot continue in my own self gratifying behavior if it infringes upon the lives, health or welfare of others.  I cannot yell fire in a crowded building when there are no flames or evident smoke.  I cannot take what is not mine without repercussion and I cannot save myself from sin and death.  I was in bondage to all my sinful persuasions until Christ set me free.  I cannot simply declare myself emperor when there are people who do not wish to be ruled in such fashion.  Anything that I do which appears that I have thrown off the limits of human decency requires that I subjugate the will of those around me.  All men have limits, unfortunately it requires that free men often stand up to them and explain this fact through the use of convincing might.  Likewise God’s enemies are limited.  They serve God whether they like it or not and are powerless without His permission.  All creation is under God, whether they wish it so or not is irrelevant and also the implication that some created beings may choose to throw off the controlling reality of God’s Sovereignty is foolishness.  I cannot tell my creator that He has no control over my will when He never gave up the power to unspeak my existence or cast me into darkness, shame and imprisonment for eternity.

Men may wish that they had no end, limit or controlling parameters.  This is the nature of the difficulty with admitting God’s existence.  For if God exists then I am limited and also must understand my place in the hierarchy of the universe.  Additionally, since God exists and His people continue to state the truth of His promises both for salvation and judgment then I must destroy His ambassadors to have even the false hope of denying His authority.  This is the calamity, plight and fallacy of freedom taught by God’s enemies.  They twist this unavoidable truth, thus prompting, promoting, allowing and justifying the creation of false realities, which must be sustained, maintained and propped up in order to remain effective.  However the truth remains even when a fool dies his made up world expires alongside him.  Though some may carry on your expressed foolishness after your expiration, the truth is you no longer exist to maintain the lie, even though God continues forever.  So even though you convinced yourself for the extent of your life, the truth shall prevail in your death which is far more permanent than your brief existence in humanity.  Which is better to have lived a lie for a short time and then cast into the truth for eternity, suffering, punishment, separation and anguish for eternity or suffering the mockery of men here on Earth while maintaining the truth and then spending eternity with God, your beloved friends and family in realization of that same truth by which you once lived?

The way through

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It may have happened hundreds of years ago, but the Christian population does not currently pursue inquisition, forced conversion or sweeping military movements to force “submission” to our faith.  Yes, historically, powerful men, seeking complete power, utilized, hijacked or controlled a peaceful message, spoken by God, into a dogma that justified their misuse of Holy ideals to garner, capture or ensure their continued grasp on territorial, national or global interests.  Yet, even though these obeisances and egregious hijackings of Christianity were centuries if not thousands of years in the past we are still pursued, hated, maligned and labeled as “intolerant”.  And conversely those political, religious and national entities that are “currently” killing, torturing, pursuing, raping and forcing innocent people into forced conversion at threat to life are being allowed to continue their rampage without the same labels.  Alternative lifestyles may face scrutiny and disapproval in God’s Word but they are met with slaughter by the rabid, radical and absolutely “intolerant” laws and actions currently spreading across a wide swath of global topography.  Which would you prefer, a group that loves you yet disapproves with your lifestyle choices or a group that hates you for your lifestyle choices and threatens or actually carries out on threats to kill you for those actions?

When tyrants rule the nation cries out in misery and terror.  This is the history of humanity, and I use that word loosely for we have never learned or evolved into something other than avarice, brutality and intimidation to capture wealth and power.  That was the intention of America, to create a nation that would forever be free of the strangling threat of rule by tyrants.  A nation, blessed by God intent on living by tested ideals, principles and morals, proven to foster the continued health of any nation.  A nation, born of free people, with the intention of seeing a world free from tyranny, accepting those intent on escaping its grasp.

You may see recent revisions, encroachments and intentional erosion of these freedoms as simply harmless, but those of us who understand our founding principles see them as an organized strategy to usurp the power of the people and transform this nation to tyrannical rule.  What then is worth fighting for if not for the freedom of people to make their own decisions regarding sin and redemption, freedom to speak their minds, even when their ideas are unpopular or perhaps considered ridiculous, freedom to live free of the unmerciful hands of tyrannical rule?  If we have become convinced that tyranny will simply vanish if we are pleasant and offer them convincing discussion, then we have become blind to the nature of tyranny having forgotten the cost of blood to free us from its consuming grasp.  I say these things to call us to prayer for this nation, as God alone may free us from this current movement and returned health, direction and prosperity to our faltering path.  Depend on God, Christians and Jews alike, humble yourselves and cry out to God through prayer and He shall hear our voices from heaven and heal our land.

Can you see a storm on the horizon and if so what will you do to ride it out or avoid its powerful passage?  Will you perhaps hide, hoping beyond logic that somehow you will spared?  How do you know that you will certainly not perish in the storm, who knows that you were born for such a time as this?  Would you rather possibly perish in hiding or perhaps help others to survive by taking an active stance, leading others to safety, away from thirst and hunger into peace?  We cherish stories of people who helped the threatened escape tyranny, defiantly resisting, doing the right thing when to do so would potentially cost them life, liberty or station.  Our heroes are those who stood by their God given principles and did what was right in the face of certain, absolute self destruction.

How then now have we transformed to worshiping those embracing violence, those embracing avoidance or those who through self-absorption, remain disengaged to the advances and wicked influences of tyrants?  The power of our freedom lies in the voluntary decision to potentially sacrifice our own comfort to defend the right of others to live in freedom.  This is the story of our Lord Jesus Christ who modeled for us sacrificial love, giving all for others that they might see God.  Will we emulate, emancipate, cooperate to stand for these ideals, no matter what the cost, leaving the outcome to God?  I shall not speak of the alternative for this is a story of victory beyond circumstance, where defeat is impossible.  All things are possible through Christ who strengthens me?  There is victory in Jesus.  Begin to comprehend the power of God to defend, strengthen, overcome and deliver, for this is the power of Spirit living within you.  Praise God in Jesus’ Holy and Mighty Name.

We knew

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I would love to sing uplifting, encouraging music about our dedication and sacrifice for each other, forgetting ourselves for the benefit of our love for Christ.  However, to do so I would have to overlook a generally indifferent, self-concerned, non committal, lethargic at best group of believers awaiting harvest.  It is not sufficient for me to point my finger at others performance, comparing and declaring it lackluster when held in comparison to my own.  We all must turn a blind eye to our own shortcomings, just as Romans 1 declares that unbelievers will do when ignoring the truth of God.  Shall we compile and construct a house of cards, erected with the delusions and self-fulfilling deceptions we have orchestrated so that we may exonerate, justify or explain away our own unwillingness to disciple, feed or help the poor, fatherless and ill?  Can we honestly say that we are doing what Christ asked of us, nay commanded us?  I must say that I have and continue to fall way short of even the minimal mark.

What would Jeremiah say to and about our beloved nation?  Would he commend us for our generosity, our vigor for life, our commitment to fostering the next new technology?  What would he say after having attended a service full of joyous believers, dancing from the catharsis provided by the ear splitting rock-like worship music.  Would he applaud our palsied attempts at supporting orphans, widows, the homeless, imprisoned or gravely ill.  Would he see us volunteering at hospice, hospitals, orphanages, widow’s homes or down at the soup kitchen nightly sharing the gospel with those to be fed?  Would he be surprised at the millions of dollars spent upon air conditioned churches, with expensive carpeting, exercise facilities and child care wings rivaling the local elementary schools?  Would he condone and support the sales of DVD, CD’s, Pictures, books and memorabilia in the atrium of our churches or like Christ over turn some tables?  What would he say to our leadership, considering themselves saviors of our society, thinking themselves knights of the modern age?  Or would he declare us in danger of judgment, warning us to repent as a nation and be saved or face the coming wrath of Almighty God?  For that matter what would any of God’s prophets say to us as American’s after viewing our daily behavior and rituals?  If this doesn’t stand the hair up on your neck regarding a resounding fear of the Lord, then you should be very afraid for you are either too arrogant to see or have been turned over to your own decadence long ago.

The Lord’s Word says what it says for entirely understandable reasons, as this world was created by God not any one or group of us.  It is His plan, His world, His created beings and those who have been saved owe a special allegiance to Him for having been provided a method by which to be cleansed of sin and escape deserved and certain judgment.  That is not to say that there is a payment due beyond belief, but it ought to cause a change in people’s hearts, knowing that God cared that much to sacrifice Himself for our redemption.  In fact there all other ideals in this lifetime pale in comparison.  We must wake up or risk the slumber of an unconscious and lost generation of worldly Christians, having forgotten diligence, having forgotten the great commission, having determined that everything else in life is more important then the work God has given us.

True Nature

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The central point of indecision, confusion and argument surrounds the inability, unwillingness or conversely the acceptance of the fact that Jesus is God.  You see if He was just a man, as the secularists would have Him portrayed, then we may dismiss His commands, direction, correction and Prophetic Word as simply the uncannily wise recommendations of a theorist.  Or if He is merely portrayed as the Son of God, as many revisionist religions teach, then He may be included in the segment of “many” saints or prophets sent to demonstrate God’s efforts to convince man of His Sovereignty.  Accepting Him as God requires a complete transformation of our path through this life.  You see, when God came to Earth, as a man, born of a virgin, He committed the ultimate sacrifice for His creation, while showing them how to overcome sin, death and tragedies past mistake.  God revealed Himself for man’s edification, familiarity and hope.  God showed us through example how we are redeemed to relationship with Him and the “only” way to prepare ourselves for an afterlife spent with a Holy, Righteous, Sovereign and Loving, God.  Only in understanding that Jesus said clearly that He is God, brings to light the anger with which He was received by a hypocritical clergy and the righteous wrath with which all men will confront if they do not accept His Truth.  For since He is God, He may not be ignored, making His call to repentance and belief a necessity for eternity, rather than just a recommendation of simply one more man in the midst of man’s historical philosophers.

Further complications associated with misunderstanding God’s Triune nature may be avoided by accepting that not only is Jesus, God but the Holy Spirit is also God.  This complexity baffles humanity allowing argumentalists to insert this misunderstanding as proof of Christian foolishness.  Let us not look to strengthen their quest by accepting their bait and involving ourselves in a mobius argument, fulfilling their desire to obfuscate the issue at true consideration.  For none of us may effectively comprehend God’s complexity for we are just men.  Faith is born in the acceptance of what God says as Truth.  When we accept that old testament prophecy said that God would come, then Jesus came, born of a virgin fulfilling those prophecies, we are then confronted by the absolute truth that we must choose to either obey, follow and believe or deny, disobey and turn away from salvation and relationship.  Jesus is the only way to eternal life with God, because He is God.  Therefore, everything He told us which must be done was explained to us, by God, declaring it unavoidable in man’s quest to find, know and be with God.  This also raises the soul shaking principle that we may not ignore the Holy Spirit’s conviction, correction and guidance in this worldly existence because we are then once again disobeying and dare I boldly postulate, perhaps blaspheming, God Himself?

Search the scripture.  Analyze it as Jesus told us to do.  Don’t just go get a book on the regurgitated perspective of some notable religious scholar.  Read what God said about His nature.  Read the first few paragraphs of the Old Testament and you will see that the Father, God, the Spirit, God and the Word (Jesus), God were present at the founding of the world. Read Jesus’ Revelation and find that at the end we will reside with the Father, Son and Spirit, just as the Bible began it continues past the remaking of this world.  Do not fall for misdirection thrown out there as bait to lure you away from the central question.

Will we accept the Word of God as truth, committing ourselves to repentance, belief and reliance upon Jesus or will we be led astray by whatever convenient distraction the enemies of God utilize to keep us from making the only necessary decision that must be made in the timeline of our mortality?  Jesus is alive awaiting our arrival through acceptance of the path He provided for us to be redeemed to God’s Grace.  That central concept becomes acceptable, understandable and viable only by faith in the truth of His Word.  That is why as the Bible states, in Hebrews 11:6, “without faith it is impossible to please God”.  For since, we are incapable of fully comprehending God’s complexity, we are left with the choice of either accepting His truth as fact through faith or denying it wholly/partially in and endless discussion that shall never be resolved in this life.  Do not take the devil’s bait of deception and endless argument, simply believe that Jesus is God and uncannily all falls right into place.  Peace and God’s Grace to you this day that we have been given.  Keep your eyes elevated to heaven.  For in focus upon Him all truth is revealed and all deception eliminated.  Praise God in His Sovereign, Divine and Infinite nature, in the name of Jesus Christ the King of Everything.

Spoken out

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I have been convicted of my sin, but not condemned.  I have thought of the sin but never acted.  I harbor sentiments of fear, hate and ridicule deep within my heart, laying unpolished, in disrepair, waiting as an open grate, enticement to wanton burglar.  My money lay unspent, donated to no good cause as example of my piety.  My relationships lay fallow, tarnished, either broken upon the shoals or forgotten, stealing my memory of effective peace making.  I criticize the leaders whom God has lifted up, instead of offering intercessory prayer in honor of His Glorious capacity to change their hearts.  I stand motionless, speechless, my arms pinned to my pants leg as my neighbor trips and falls to his ruin.  I am silent of Good News as despair expands its empire.

What then makes me Godly?  Have I truly repented of my sin if there is no evident change?  How can one be cleansed by the redeeming power of the Blood of Christ without having been made clean?  This is contradiction and infinite calamity, especially any alternate explanation.  Do we believe that the Holy Spirit will lay powerless within us as we refuse to surrender to sanctification?  Our God is not a pacifist.  Do I truly believe that I may remain a slave to righteousness yet continue to express ultimate sovereignty by the power of my free will?  Do you know of a circumstance where inaction, bad action or disobedience has ever produced lasting reward?  What then is the definition of belief if not resultant behavior and witnessed or hidden action?  Where will I be on that glorious day when the truth is revealed in all its surgical and sterilizing Glory?

Brutal and unforgiving spirits indwell those absent God’s saving Grace.  Yet we pay them no heed, no passion, neither tear nor action taken to save their mortal souls from depravity.  Just as the hungry child is the responsibility of someone else or the sick capable of resolving their own condition.  What then is the power of my prayer, my relationship with God Almighty, the valuation of my access to the throne room of God?  How may I be called priest, ambassador, intercessory warrior is my petitions lay unused, my heraldry silent, my knees unbent to humble and honest disquiet regarding the world’s plight?  Which is truly more pitiful?  How then may I rejoice at my release from the bonding power of sin and death and not show utter joy at freedom?  Would not a freed man, by nature, wish to set other captives free?  Wouldn’t a cleansed heart and soul speak softly, purely, honestly with gentility and kindness to a still wounded population?  Don’t clean clothes require a greater diligence to avoid soil and dirtiness?  Am I to think myself aloof or special when none of the work to set me free was my own?  Isn’t my allegiance entirely due my savior?

I understand that the world hates me because I love Christ.  I understand that the unrepentant would rather hit me with rocks then listen to the voice of the convicting fire of the Holy Spirit.  I do not wish to harm, but if in speaking truth we are set aflame with grief for our predicament, if we are cast into misery powerful enough to force us to cry out to God for relief, then haven’t the words served greater purpose?  People have fallen away from the church.  Many of those reasons are personal, lack of conviction, backsliding, worldly pursuits, lack of fear or respect for God, but there are also those more effective at breaking our hearts to the dilemma of our own misunderstanding.  Because someone is dysfunctional, yet the things they tell me are entirely true regarding my own illness, may I devalue the honesty they’ve offered?  We have forgotten the indwelling POWER of the Holy Spirit.  We are disobedient, unchanged, untouched by the abominable situation of our communities, unprovoked to take immediate, precise and targeted action in remedy.  Is what this poisoned world says about the Body of Christ, true?  If not then we are free to disregard it, painting it as wantonness, envy, its intention evil, to be disregarded.  But we know the truth of our youth.  They avoid us in our hypocrisy, just as our savior would have spoken against us in His preaching outside the temple.

Lord God give us the strength to accept the cleansing of Your Righteousness and Truth.  Fill our lamps with Your baptizing Spirit, set us aflame with a heart for Your Will.  Bare bountiful and plentiful fruit in the lives of each Christian, such that they may not be criticized, libeled or avoided.  Make us a contagious antidote to a festering world.  In Jesus’ name I pray.

The taming power of quiet

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Peace, for us is evidence of the presence of God.  Not a peace, that idyllically calls men to tolerate one another in our obeisances, addiction and oddity of taste.  A peace suggesting that someone out there is praying for you, namely Jesus Himself.  What is the nature of a man who can walk calmly in the raging nightmare?  Is this courage, some possession of understanding built upon tragic experiences overcome in past days?  Why now Lord when there is so much to be said, would You counsel me to peace, quiet and brokered silence?  I am once again being called to dependence upon the works of Almighty God, reliance upon His outcome, His effort, His decision and undertakings.  This quiet tames my heart delivering me from critique, accusation and strangely frees me of concern.

There is so much to say to you, about love, the love I have for you, this magical person that was gifted me by God.  Don’t fret, breathe deeply, find a courage that was planted in your spirit by God Himself.  He will never fail you.  Please make note of the discouraging things shouted at you, wanting your paralysis, but do not heed them, for you know truth.  Set a pace that allows you to quickly be still when the Spirit guides.  Soak in the Glory of each moment knowing that it is provision of a Sovereign Father.  Step lightly, with peace, alacrity and purpose, knowing that God will show up at exactly the right time, with the right amount of wind, purpose, support, provision and love.  Jesus, sits at the right hand of God watching everything that transpires, knowing every thing you’ve done or will ever do, never wavering for a millisecond in His love for you.  You have been forgiven, be at peace, stand in courage and know that the Lord is Your God.

Spotted

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What shall I say to my Lord, who in His infinite wisdom has not yet made the necessary changes in my own attitude, character and behaviors to remake me in His image?  Shall I be upset, frustrated and interrogative or remain patient, knowing fully that this is indication of His sovereignty and timing?  I must admit, after making the same mistakes repeatedly, for what seems to be a significant piece of my lifetime, I am oft too quick to question God.  My faith is the only avenue through which I may please God.  Remaining steadfast in my position, untenable as it may appear, provides the only evidence that I am in fact completely dependent upon God’s trans formative Hand to sanctify my soul.  I know my weakness, without Him, I will never grow and change to resemble Christ.  This fact is the only thought which keeps me on the road to patient understanding.

What then may I do with this set of continual and repeated failures or repetitive behaviors?  All I can do is repent and pray, because try as I might, these issues will not be removed through my own mastery or injection of superior self-help skills.  Father, the things that have happened have marred my memory, producing deep seated scars, wounds and memories that I fear are impossible for me to ever dissolve.  What anger I see in my life today remains from past wounds, for today I am not suffering the constant and necessary pressures that made of me an angry man.  What slander I speak, I learned, through emulation of an acidic culture, determined to minimize the import and perfection of each person to God.  What callous nature I possess, I was taught, as a reflection of helplessness and lack of control forced upon my predecessors.  I am by origin and nature a sinner, holding on to the original transgression, but this is not the sum total of my calamity.  I have also been spotted by the brutal, divisive and pejorative nature of this fallen world.  Praise be to God that He sees me cleansed, for though I feel polluted, He only sees Christ’s Perfect Spirit covering my impurity and unrighteousness.  But I pray, wait and seek sanctification, so that I may be eternally free of my own poisonous past.

Lord God, free me of these remaining worldly characteristics.  Please let me be like Christ, no longer resorting to hurtful, dysfunctional or spiteful actions in order to control those around me.  I do not wish to be harsh, but gentile.  I do not wish to be violent but a peace maker.  I do not wish to sponsor sarcasm and slander, rather dispensing words of encouragement and hope.  Let me fill the sails of those who have been caught in continual doldrums.  Let me express love, the love You showed me, forgetting all their imperfections, gazing instead upon their majesty and importance in Your eyes.  Please let that old man and his fleshly tendencies to finally and completely perish.  Jesus my King, save me from my self and those things I have learned, seen and heard from a fallen world.