Holiness & Santa Claus

Santa Claus is certainly not the holiest image I could send you for a Christmas message.  However, there are several reasons I like this image and chose it for you today.

First, I simply wanted to send some cheer and whimsy into your life today.  If this picture invoked a smile, then I am satisfied.

Secondly, and the more important reason, I just love a guy who has devoted his life to giving and making other people’s lives more cheery.  In the simplicity of my theology, Santa speaks to me some of the messages that Jesus imparted.  Santa brings joy and hope.  He goes about doing good, leaving a trail of smiles in his wake.

I recognize that people have real problems.  That is precisely why the idea of Santa (which means holy) is comforting.  In this lighter view of the Christmas celebration, our hearts open to the real meaning of Christmas.  In my view, Santa is the embodiment of who we all are when we embrace the love and message of Jesus.  Few better typify the love and generosity of our holy father and His dear son than Santa.  We don’t always have to take ourselves so seriously.  It is okay to enjoy the simple things and sometimes, if you look, they are the easiest ways to find our beloved.

So, I hope this picture brings you a smile.  I hope your heart feels light and full of joy.  I pray it ministers God’s pure love to your heart.  I pray you have a blessed Christmas with Jesus so close to you that you hear his voice and feel his love.  Merry Christmas!

The Good News

Malachi 3: 10 – 11

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it may not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts.

I promised you good news last Monday. Last week’s message was pretty hard and the whole topic is uncomfortable for some folks, BUT here is the good news, and don’t you know that the gospel is Good News? Everything God said is for our benefit.

So now this section of Malachi 3 is just as loud to me as last week’s passage. God comes right out and tells us why He has made this requirement. And that is not like God. He doesn’t usually tell us why He wants us to do a thing. We are supposed to just trust Him and do as He says. He tells us here that we are the ones that supply His house.

Then, no sooner does He gets these words out of His mouth than He starts making some BIG promises: 1) He will open the windows of heaven for you, 2) He will pour out a blessing on you so huge that you will not be able to contain it and, 3) He will rebuke the devourer for you. Now, any one of those is enough but all three is really above and beyond.

I want you to see and understand that the promises He makes are part of the same sentence as the dictate to bring the tithe into the church and the explanation of why He gave the directive in the first place. In other words, in the same breath He starts telling you about the benefit to you when you stock the storehouse of God. The reason these are all together is that provision for you is the reason He wants you to give in the first place. He is telling you something for your own good. He is so adamant about this that He invites you to test Him in this. Isn’t that remarkable? Wow! God wants you to put Him to the test. He wants to bless you, and He wants to protect your seed and your harvest. He is trying to show you how His kingdom operates. He is trying to get you to let Him into your finances so that He can be the cultivator and protector of your harvest.

You see, we are in covenant with God. When you take care of the finances of His house, you have just invited and given permission to Him to take care of the finances of your house. It really is that simple. That is what He is trying to get over to us. He is trying to get something to you, not something from you. He wants to stand in your garden and protect it from the devourer. You have sown seed when you give into God’s house, so you are due a harvest. He is going to watch over that crop until the harvest if full and ripe. That is what it means when he says your vines won’t cast their grapes or fruit. Fruit which has fallen off of the vine is no good. It needs to stay on the vine until it is ripe, receiving nutrients, and then it is picked at the height of maturity.

If we could really grasp this, I mean really get it down into our hearts and into our understanding, we would never hesitate to give to God. No, we would give with great joy and excitement. When you are a tither, you can make a demand on God’s resources. When hard economic times come, you know with confidence that your harvest is protected by God. You will increase while others decrease because your wealth is tied to God rather than to the economy. If something bad heads in your direction, you will have the boldness to stand strong in the promises of God. You won’t have to ask God about your finances. That is already handled. You will just stand firm with that shield of faith out in front of you declaring and decreeing the Word of God.

So tithing is good news. Tithing is good for you. It was designed to bless you and protect your finances. It is part of God’s kingdom resources. You need to be a tither today more than anytime in the past. I know it is tough when you first start, but start. Get involved in God’s economic system. Don’t let another day go by that you don’t tell God you want in. If you don’t have an income, find something, anything to sow into His kingdom. You can always give time. You can probably find something of value in your house that will really bless someone else. Just do whatever you need to do in order to become part of God’s economy. Get in on His system today.

Eeeek, Not that!

Malachi 3: 8 – 9

“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed Thee?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you.”

Let me talk to you about tithing and let me encourage you to hold on for the good news. Tithing is a very unpopular topic and many people do not want to teach about it. It is hard for your pastor to talk to you about it so here, perhaps, we can look at tithing Biblically in an unthreatening environment. I say unthreatening but that is God speaking in the verse above and it is pretty frightening if you read thoughtfully.

I don’t think God leaves a lot of room for discussion here. As a matter of fact, He is talking about more than tithing. He says He is being robbed in tithes and offerings too. The tithe is the first 10% of your income. Technically “tithe” means ten percent. And it is supposed to be the first ten percent. That means we are supposed to tithe on gross income folks. I know you don’t want to hear that, but it just is what it is and our discomfort doesn’t change God’s word.

Now I know some of you are having a hard time wrapping your head around that, so you are really going to love this next part. It is clear from this passage that God expects us to give above and beyond the tithe. Otherwise, He would not talk about offerings. He even says that He is being robbed in offerings. That indicates that the offerings are His. So, when we don’t give them to Him, we are stealing from Him. Come on! That is strong God! And yet, day after day we look at promise after promise that He has given us. The fact that He requires a little something of us really shouldn’t cause us so much heartburn. But there is little that is more controversial and misunderstood of Biblical principles. People really don’t want to hear that God wants them to give something. Isn’t that amazing with all that He has given us, wants to give us and has promised us. It’s not like He is asking for 90% and asking us to live on 10%.

I know that many of your churches have different doctrines regarding tithes, offerings and pledges, but just ask yourself this one question. From where did those doctrines arise? Are they purely from the church’s need to finance its programs? Was there a divine source? If it came from God, how can it contradict His word?

I know this really challenges some of you but there are very good reasons God has required the tithe of us. Yeah, I know some of you will say that tithing is from the “Old Testament” or the “Old Covenant.” I honestly don’t think that even deserves a response but for those of you who are sincere rather than just looking for an excuse not to tithe or give gifts let me give you two things to think about.

If the Old Testament people who were under compulsion from the law gave 10 percent of their income, how much more should we who are under grace, who have received the gift of the Christ, give? Secondly, all those promises that we cling to, that we believe and that we hold up to God, many of those are in the Old Testament too. Do you expect all of those promises to have passed away? Of course not! That would be ridiculous. The Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever,” (Hebrews 13: 8) and that is New Testament. The truth is, the things that make us uncomfortable we claim passed away somehow but the parts we like, we keep.

Lastly, why am I bothering to teach you about this? Not because I want to but because God wants you informed. He wants you to tithe. I do not stand to gain from you embracing this teaching. Most of you have a home church to which you will give your tithe. Others of you, I know, are supporting many ministries. I want you to learn this because I want you blessed and I want this entire nation to grow in the glory and blessing of our Lord. But here is the thing, it begins with you.

Refuge

2 Samuel 22: 31

He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

I want you to know that God has provided protection for you nine ways from Sunday. Everywhere you look in His word has the promise of His protection. He is a refuge, a shield, a strong fortress. He sends angels to look after you. He has sent His son and now He has sent His Holy Spirit. Everything He is and has is laid at your feet.

Now here is the rub. There always seems to be a contributory factor for which we are responsible. Last week’s scripture told us to listen to Him and that those who do shall live securely. Today’s scripture tells us that we must take refuge in Him for His protection to operate for us. Now this isn’t meant so that you can become confounded, frustrated and worried. It really is as simple as His building a fortress for you and you deciding whether or not you will avail yourself of it.

Imagine medieval times and God has built a strong, walled city. Some people build their homes outside the city walls though. None the less, in times of trouble they are allowed, even expected to withdraw within the protective walls of the city. This is such a good image of the protection the Lord has provided. Some people actually are going to choose to sit outside as marauding invaders approach rather than take advantage of the protection provided for them. Is that nuts? And then when those brigands fall on them, who do the people blame? They blame God, of course? You hear it all of the time. “Why did God let this happen to us?” He didn’t. He provided a fortified city for you to dwell in. It is not His fault if we are too proud or foolish to avail ourselves of it.

We must look to the Lord as our fortress and our refuge in times of need. If we constantly look to the things of the world for protection and to solve our problems, then we are effectively shutting God out. It is like sitting outside the gates. Just run into His city and allow Him to defend you. Look to Him instead of governments and other human agencies to be your guard. When you see a threat on the horizon, talk to Him first. He has already prepared an answer for you. He loves you and wants to help you in all things.

Thanksgiving

 

John 1:16         NLV

From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.

Isn’t this an attractive picture? The overflowing cornucopia represents the abundance with which God has blessed us. Early settlers to what became the United States were dependent upon a good fall harvest and plentiful game to hunt. Thanksgiving probably came more easily to them than to us since we can run to the grocery store at all hours. The festival began over being grateful for food from the harvest and from the new friends they found, the indigenous Americans who helped these settlers make it through the winter.

I hope you feel you have much to be thankful for. Most of us don’t have to worry about food or shelter. I am grateful for running water and electricity which many have been deprived of during this year’s storm season. I am also grateful for all the people who have given to their church, to this ministry, to disaster relief and who helped me raise money for MS research and services. It is heart-warming to see people come together to help others.

Thank you for all you have done for me and others this year and Be Blessed.

Hideaway

Proverb 1: 33

But he who listens to me shall live securely and shall be at ease from the dread of evil.

There has been little security for many people over the last many years. Wars, Covid, threats, political unrest and economic hardship have caused people all over the world to lose their sense of wellbeing and safety. Suicide rates are climbing. People are desperate. Fortunately, we do still have a safe place to hide, our own refuge. We can live safely and with the feeling of security because we have a God who is bigger than all of the trouble the devil dishes out.

You see, as the verse says, if we listen to Him, He will lead us to a place of protection. He will give us the ideas and answers we need in order to live securely, both physically and emotionally. You shouldn’t have to live in dread and worry. Your Father has provided a safe haven for you, but His security is only for those who believe Him and listen to Him. The Good News is, that is only a decision away. You may have been a Christian all of your life but have never quite gotten out of the boat yet and walked by faith. Well, today is your day. Set your mind on Him, completely on Him. Let His word instruct and guide you. Let Him fill you, all of the parts of you, even those places you have walled off before. Those walls are only keeping you handicapped anyway. Now put Him and His word first place in your life allowing Him to flood you with the peace and security. Choose to believe that He is protecting you and call on that protection. Ask Him to surround you, your family and friends, and your properties with His angels. Don’t give in to fear any longer but rather live in the security and peace of mind that comes from living to Him and listening to His instruction. Be free of fear. Be secure in His name and blood.

Favorable Conditions

Exodus 3: 21; 12: 35 – 36, Psalm 105: 37

And I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty handed (Exodus 3: 21). Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus, they plundered the Egyptians (Exodus 12: 35-36). Then He brought them out with silver and gold (Psalm 105: 37).

I am showing you these three verses to demonstrate just how separate your finances are from those of the world and why you should not connect your fortunes to those of the world.

The Israelites were slaves in Egypt. Yet the time came for them to leave and God sent Moses to lead the people out of Egypt. Being slaves, though, they had not accumulated for themselves wealth. None the less, God promised them that when they left Egypt, they would take the wealth of Egypt with them. Sure enough, when they left Egypt, they took silver, gold, articles of clothing and jewelry and large herds of livestock with them.

How did they go from slaves one day to wealthy the next? It was the favor of God. Exodus 12 says that God gave them favor in the eyes of the Egyptians. This was a big deal. Can you imagine giving all of your wealth to your slaves? It wasn’t enough that the Egyptians lost all their slaves but also the slaves left with immense wealth.

We have so much in common with those ancient Israelites. We too have been enslaved. We have been slaves to a world economic system that has broken our backs. But like the Israelites, God has ordered us to be freed. What I really want you to see is that when economics failed the Egyptians, the Israelites were improved. The Israelites were not tied to the economy of the Egyptians. When the Egyptians were doing well, the Israelites certainly were not. So, a booming economy in the land of Egypt was not benefiting Israel even though the Israelites lived in Egypt. Are you seeing this? Then when God sent His people out of Egypt, they carried the wealth of Egypt out with them. You see, when the world’s economy is failing, you do not have to fail with it. God has separated you out. Further, I really believe you should arise and succeed in such times even as the Israelites fared well while Egypt was emptying itself.

When Egypt was enjoying great wealth, it was really wealth that was created by the Israelites. The wealth of the land was tied to the labor of the Israelites. Then there was a realignment. The wealth of Egypt became the prosperity of Israel. Well, in the same way that the Father was looking after the Israelites, He has been watching over you. He has wealth stored up for you. Don’t look at what is happening in the world’s economy unless that is the system that you want to be a part of. Look to God who has been laying up treasure for you all along. He has unlimited resources with which to bless you. Don’t watch the evening news and expect to hear anything that relates to you and your condition. Just because you live in Egypt does not mean that you are a part of Egypt’s system. I tell you that you are not. Your news broadcast is called “The Good News” and it is broadcast everyday, all day between Genesis and Revelation. If you want to know what is happening in your economy, then you’ve got to read the book. God is telling you what to expect and believe me, it is the Good News Report. Hallelujah! When the world system fails, look to heaven because maybe, just maybe, it is about to rain manna from heaven for you just like it did for the Israelites.