Encouragement

On September 30, 2024   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 46: 10

God is our refuge and strength, a very ready help in trouble.

Hurricane Helene blasted through the eastern US this past week leaving devastation in its wake. That is not hyperbole. The pictures of the aftermath reveal only part of the story, but certainly enough that we realize the very real need for a strong refuge.

This storm made victims out of millions of people. Some of those people do not know God, the Father and Jesus, our savior. They don’t know the Lord who is a very real and ready help in the time of trouble. For many people, God is not a present God. He is either a theory or a fiction. We know differently. He is alive and here. He is ready to help us in our time of need. Therefore, today’s Word of the Day has two purposes. First, it is meant as an encouragement for all those who have been adversely affected by the storm and secondly, as a call to prayer to the rest of us, to those who know that God is on hand.

Salvation is a big word. We usually think of it in an end of times or end of life context. Through the eyes of Helene, we see salvation’s meaning in its larger manifestation. People need His saving touch in many ways: in their finances, housing, communications, their towns, streets, etc. The encouraging word is that God has salvation in His hands for all those things and more. His saving grace touches every aspect of life. Moreover, it is available to all. Just ask for it, whether for yourself and your family or for others. He is the help that millions of people need right now.

God is that refuge we can run into. In the shelter of God, there is comfort and peace. I believe there are many people who need peace and comfort now. We should let people know that God can impact more than just emotions though. While I believe comfort is very important right now and should not be minimalized, it is also important to let people know that Yahweh is a practical God. By that I mean that He is able to help with the financial and logistical issues facing the eastern US. I am reminded of the great Exodus in which God secured Israel’s release from slavery in Egypt. Liberation was the driving force, but God did not send them out as destitute vagabonds. They left with gold from the Egyptians. That has always amazed me but that shows how God thinks and how He addresses problems.

A great swath of the country has certainly been impacted by Hurricane Helene, yet in the aftermath, we can find God and help others find Him. Maybe some people just need more of Him or a larger version of Him in their lives. Perhaps others need Him to hover close. Still others may find His strength and encouragement for the first time in their lives. Regardless of what each impacted person and business needs, I pray that everyone embraces God and finds the love, compassion, comfort and simple practicality they need in these trying times. While the flood waters recede, I pray that new found relationships and closeness with God never will.

Please join me in praying for the victims of Hurricane Helene

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Let Me In

On September 16, 2024   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Matthew 21: 31- 32

Truly I say to you that the tax gatherers and harlots will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax gatherers and harlots did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.

This is Jesus speaking to a pious collection of church leaders about the message of John the Baptist. Imagine their outrage at being told that the dregs of society would get into the Kingdom of God before them. In that day, the tax collectors were about the lowest form of humanity. They were actually Jews who collected taxes for the Romans using any means they could devise. Jesus’ use of the word “harlot” also indicated a group of people absolutely despised by pious Jews, that of the prostitute. And though despised, the prostitutes were kept in business as were the tax gatherers. Both of these groups of people represent the lowest, most profane and most reviled people in that society. Yet Jesus told the church leaders and elders that these low lives were going to get into the Kingdom before them. Even after the religious leaders witnessed the belief and faithfulness of the non-celebrated members of society, they still did not turn and repent. The Amplified version of the Bible says it this way, “… and you, even when you saw that, did not afterward change your minds and believe him [adhere to, trust in, and rely on what he told you”.

Who are the most reviled members of our society today? And are they going to make it into heaven before us because they are willing to believe Jesus? I certainly hope not. It is just as easy today as it was in Jesus’ day to get so inculcated in church doctrine and religious culture that we fail to listen to Jesus. We have all witnessed or experienced someone who read a passage of the Bible and experiences great discomfort or disagreement. What are we to do when the Word of God disagrees with our long held belief or with what our church teaches?

This is what I have learned from God. His Word is truth and His truth brings life. It isn’t always comfortable, but it is always ultimate truth. I have found that at times I have warred with certain passages of the Bible only to find out later, once I had yielded myself to understanding and to God, that I had misunderstood the passage all along. One passage, in particular, was saying exactly what I wanted to hear, but I took it for the exact opposite meaning. Once I yielded myself to God, His wisdom and His teaching, the truth became so clear that it is amazing to me to this day that I couldn’t see it from the first.

When you learn to trust God and trust His Word, you will find life and truth. You won’t be one of the sanctimonious churchgoers who is left waiting outside the pearly gates while all the disagreeable (but believing) members of society parade past. You will be one of the one’s about which God says, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Be very careful who you look down your nose at. Be very careful about whom you try to keep out of church. Believe in the “Good News” that Jesus died to bring us and enter into His gates; enter into His glory.

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Enter In

On September 9, 2024   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Hebrews 4: 16

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

What would you think if you heard the author of Hebrews preach this sermon in your church Sunday? Would it sound odd to you? He seems to say that we can enter God’s throne room now even while we still live on this earth. How do we accomplish that?

I believe the writer of Hebrews is telling us that we should be entering God’s throne room now. Not only that but also that we should enter confidently. We are spiritual beings even though we are currently housed in physical bodies. We can, therefore, participate in spiritual exercises like we do physical ones. For example, is prayer a physical or a spiritual exercise? The answer may have something to do with our own spiritual maturity, but I think most of us would say that it is a spiritual exercise. Most people probably recognize that we exist in the spiritual realm even while we reside in the physical realm. This should not be too hard to comprehend. After all, we can exercise mentally and physically at the same time so, also, we can exercise spiritually. Now, what I will say is that most of us spend more time on our minds and bodies than we do our spirits. None the less, you and I can operate spiritually, and we should. So, how do we actually enter God’s throne room?

The answer is that we do so in our spirits by and through prayer. How, though, does one actually accomplish this? It’s not exactly “natural” is it? Actually, it is just a step above natural and it is called supernatural. When you pray, imagine yourself walking into God’s throne room. See yourself invited and accepted. Then just talk with your father. Can you picture yourself driving a red Ferrari? You probably did even as you read “Ferrari.” You use the same method in seeing yourself in the throne room only, it is applied through the spirit and prayer. See yourself walking into God’s presence. Watch yourself boldly enter His throne room. You can still operate in humility even while you confidently approach God because your confidence is in Jesus. He has paved the way for you to enter into Father’s presence. Go forth confidently; knowing that Jesus has prepared this avenue for you. Go be with your Dad and talk with Him. He would love to spend time with you.

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Labor Day

On September 2, 2024   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 128: 2

When you eat the fruit of the labor of your hands, You will be happy and it will go well for you.
Work, labor, is not a thing to be reviled but rather celebrated.  The psalmist knew that by the labor of our hands we would be satisfied.  Now, we know that we are to be co-laborers Christ.  We abide and labor in divine partnership in everything we are called to do be that blue collar, white collar, as parents or volunteerism.   As Christians, that may give us an even greater cause for celebration.  I hope this Labor Day you enjoy your selection as Christ’s partner and co-laborer!
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Righteous

On August 26, 2024   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Romans 3: 22 – 24

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Glory Hallelujah! This is in keeping with last week’s word on sin consciousness. Although each and every one of has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God in ourselves, through our faith in Jesus we have been justified by grace. And not just any grace but that which Jesus so lovingly bestowed upon us with His father, our heavenly father. Their grace has redeemed us from the curse of the law and placed us under their redemptive glory. We are justified in Jesus. That sounds odd because we know that we don’t feel that we should be justified, but we are, none the less. Moreover, this grace, justification and redemptive glory have come to us not only when we did not deserve it but despite our unworthiness. While we were yet in our fallen state Jesus won the victory for us. This passage even tells us that this wonderful grace comes to us freely. We did nothing, paid nothing to acquire it.

And now we have become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5: 21). And we have become worthy. Jesus spilled his blood for us so that we could stand before the throne of grace worthy and righteousness. He did not endure torture, hell and the cross so that we could grovel in the dirt like worms. He made us the righteousness of God and we ought to act like it. I don’t say that you will never make another mistake the rest of your life. I mean to convey to you that Christ purchased your holiness, worthiness and righteousness with His precious blood so that you might walk in it and so that you may go boldly to the throne room of grace. The cost to us is that we must believe. The scripture says that this righteousness comes to us through faith in Jesus. It comes to ALL who believe. “All” is a pretty inclusive word. It includes you. You are not an especially wicked sinner. Your sin was not so great that Jesus’ blood couldn’t wash it away. To think so is just to bask in self-worship and vanity. Jesus’ sacrifice, his blood is much, much greater than any sin you ever committed. So, let go of the sin and worship the holy one who gave himself so that you might walk in the glorious righteousness that he purchased for you. You are so worthy. He thinks so. Even at your worst he was willing to die so that you could be part of his family and walk in divine kinship with him. Get out of the dirt and into the throne room. Tell Father how blessed you are. Express your thankfulness to Him and never allow yourself to lose sight of who you have become in Christ Jesus.

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Clean

On August 19, 2024   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Hebrews 9:13-14       (New Living Translation)

Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

I want to discuss sin consciousness. This scripture tells us that under the old dispensation, the blood of animals was able to clean people, ceremonially, so that they could worship God as clean individuals. The blood sacrifice covered their sin so that they could go before God. The blood only covered their sin though. It still remained but was overlaid by the blood of sacrifice. The blood of animals did not and could not erase their sin.

We are under a different covenant with God now because of the shed blood of Jesus. 1 John 1: 7 says, “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” When we have accepted Jesus’ sacrifice and confessed Him as Lord, then He is righteous and good to forgive our sins. His blood doesn’t cover our sin; it eradicates it from the memory of God. It is as if it never happened. The blood of animals only covered sin so that we could enter God’s presence but Jesus’ blood, the blood of the unblemished lamb, has completely erased our sin and completely cleansed our souls. We can therefore stand before God spotless in the blood of the lamb.

This is really important to grasp. God no longer sees you as a sinner. He does not even know what sin you are talking about because it has been completely washed away by Jesus. The only place that sin still exists is in your mind. But this scripture tells us that the blood of Christ has the power to purify and clean your conscience. You must let go of that sin consciousness and allow the blood of Christ to stand for you. It is only vanity that keeps you holding on to your deeds instead of yielding to Jesus’ great act. When you take your mind off of yourself (including your past acts) and put it on Jesus and His wonderful intercession, then you will be able to enjoy a holiness consciousness instead of a sin consciousness. You will let go of past failures and glorify God for Jesus’ great success. You are no longer a lowly worm of a sinner if you have confessed your sin and allowed the blood of the perfect lamb to wash you clean. If you have not confessed your sin and if you are not letting Jesus wash you clean, then you have a much bigger problem that should be addressed. But if you are really a child of the Most High through the shed blood of Jesus, then your sin no longer exists. It has been washed away by the one who is greater than you. You can and should let it go and live in the glory of who He is rather than in the failure of who you were. It is all about Him and He has perfectly redeemed you with His own precious blood.

Quit wallowing around in your sin and stand erect and perfect in the blood of the lamb. Do not make the blood of Jesus of no effect by continuing to hang on to a sin consciousness. You are no longer an old sinner burdened by past sin. He has made you clean, and you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him,” 2 Corinthians 5: 21. It is not holy for you to keep beating yourself up about past sin. It is not saintly for you to continue to humbly call yourself a sinner. It is a false humility based on your acts instead of the actions of Jesus and it is a sacrilege. Let go of your sin consciousness and adopt instead a glory consciousness for the miracle that Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit have wrought in you.

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Holy 

On August 12, 2024   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Exodus 28: 36, 38a

You shall also make a plate of pure gold and shall engrave on it, like the engravings of a seal, ‘Holy to the LORD.’ It shall be on Aaron’s forehead.

Aaron was appointed as God’s high priest and God specified exactly what clothing he was to wear when he approached the alter to minister. Part of Aaron’s accoutrement was a golden medallion that he was to wear affixed to a turban so that it was always on his forehead. The medallion was engraved with the words, “Holy to the Lord.” Anytime Aaron went before the Lord, the engraving went before him. It announced him as he entered.

You wear the same sort of pronouncement on your forehead. When you enter God’s presence, He sees the blood of Jesus proclaiming “Holy to the Lord.” The blood of Jesus clothes you so that His righteousness is on you like Aaron’s medallion. When you enter God’s presence Jesus’ blood calls out, “Holy to the Lord.” That is what you are, holy. Jesus has made us holy. Don’t consider yourself a lowly worm because the writing on your forehead announces you as God’s chosen, one who is holy. Your stature is from nothing that you have done so that none of us has reason to boast, but it is precious and sacred because of Jesus. You should enter God’s presence knowing that He sees you as holy, but your boasting is in Christ instead of yourself. You should not call yourself lowly because that is an insult to the blood sacrifice. Just be grateful and full of thanksgiving that God has made you righteous and holy by the blood of Jesus.

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