Defeating the Enemy

On May 7, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Mark 16: 15

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

There is much political and economic attention on China. China is not our adversary. Satan is (1 Peter 5: 8). Therefore, I would like to suggest a different way of thinking about China. Let’s bring spiritual attention to China rather than meditating on the political and economic issues. Below is part of an article about the challenge facing Chinese Christians.

Elder Li, whose family is closely monitored by police, asks Christians in the United States to pray for his family and for Early Rain Church. “We pray that we depend on God when we lack, because apart from Him we have no good thing,” he said. “We pray God makes us put our trust in Him at this difficult time. We pray the Holy Spirit fills us to respond to our situation with gentleness and respect.”

I believe that is a prayer we can all get behind. It speaks to our own lives too and I pray that we always respond with gentleness and respect.

The key for us, as Christians, is to intellectually separate the Chinese people from Chinese Communism. We are tied to Christians of all nationalities. We have the same interests and the same father. It is important for us to remember that while the world spins in fractured antagonism, our Father is a God of reconciliation and love. We can be the voice of calm and reason because we speak from a heart of love and love must, and always will, carry the day.

So, my appeal to Christians is that we claim China for the Lord. Communism and political systems are not God, nor do they make good masters. They are institutions of men, but the Lord has established His government where Jesus is Lord. Faith and love are how we overcome adversity, that and the word of our testimony and the blood of Christ. That precious blood was shed for Chinese and North Koreans and Russians. It is up to us to win these countries, and their citizens, for Christ.

There is a war. We are warriors in this fight for the souls of the Chinese people and indeed the souls of all people. The good news is that Jesus has already won. Now it is up to us to pray in that victory for China. Through prayer Christians around the world can intercede in the affairs of man. To succeed, we must proceed without judgment. This must be an act of love. We can change the course of human history in China by getting into agreement with Jesus. You have the power of salvation in your hands. Do not waste it. Pray for China. Intercede with a heart of passion and compassion. Let us do the work to which we are called, preach the good news to all creation; spread the love of Christ to all people. We can do this. May it be done according to the grace which is within us through Christ, our Lord.

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Do Good

On May 6, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

1 Timothy 6: 18

Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.

I have noticed that sometimes when you speak with people about their faith, they respond that they try to be a “good” person and treat others fairly. It is commendable that people are trying to be good but, that is not Christianity. Christianity is not an ethic.

Christianity is more than an ethic. Just trying to be a good person does not make you a Christian. One might use Christian ethics as a personal morality code, but that does not make us Christians. Christianity is a relationship with the Christ and through him, with the Father and the Spirit. At the heart of Christianity is ethical and kind behavior but the core of Christianity is devotion and submission to Jesus who is the Christ. We are devotees of Christ, the Son of Yahweh God. Those who devote their lives to being followers of the Christ should demonstrate ethical behavior. Their lives should demonstrate kindness and generosity. However, kindness and generosity do not make one a Christian anymore than, like Joyce Meyer says, sitting in a garage makes you a car.

There are many ethical codes in the world. They are designed to help us behave as honorable people. They help us to regulate our interactions with other people as we attempt to answer the question, “What is right?” Non-Christians and even people who serve no God attempt to live their lives by a code of morals. Ethics are part of human development and civilization. They are an important part of civilized society. They are not, however, the answer to a life of divine connection.

Christ is the epicenter of Christianity. Our aim should be to follow him and serve him. Thank the Lord that he forgives us when we fail to behave in a way which is becoming to him, but it is not the adherence to a Christian Ethos that makes us Christians. Christianity is us dying to self and living to Christ. Christianity is a life lived with Christ. When we wrap ourselves around Jesus, good behavior ensues. His light shining through us will always rise to the highest level of moral conduct. Ethical conduct is a by-product of walking with Christ. Therefore, we shouldn’t “try” to live a good life. We should live intertwined with the Christ and let our lives be a testament to his goodness rather than our own.

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Be Still my Heart

On May 5, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 46: 10       NIV

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

It is always fascinating to me when two ideas or projects I am working on come together. It seems to be a confirmation that I am on the right track. That happened to me this week.

I have been ministering on this verse from Psalm 46. I am also reading a book on Moses. Interestingly, the two have come together. The author wrote these words, “That voice still speaks to those whose hearts are hushed to hear . . . and seeking hearts that are still enough from their own plans and activities to listen” (Meyer, Moses: Servant of God, Whitaker House, 1909, 2014, p. 42 – 43). One of the most central aspects to hearing God speak is stillness.

We live in a busy world, finding ourselves going this way and that. We get a lot done and our lives are filled with richness and diversity. Unfortunately, that busyness can also conspire to inhibit our time with the Lord. My own experience was that even when I took a few minutes to sit down and commune with God, I was so keyed up that I could not hear Him. Both physically and mentally I was like a metronome, in constant motion. It, literally, took an act of God to teach me how to slow down so that I could come to know Him as God in my life. And that is the point of this, letting God show Himself as God.

I believe in praying at all times. For example, I like to pray while I am driving, pumping gas and riding my bike. However, communion with God also requires those quiet times; times completely devoted to visiting with Him. That, I believe, is where it becomes hard for many of us. It is hard to set aside quiet time to be with the Lord. There are so many things vying for your time and hard to find time alone. And then even when you do find the time, perhaps the pressures of your schedule and task list invade your stillness making it difficult, if not impossible, to hear the voice of God.

If being still is a challenge for you, if you have a hard time hearing God, contact me and let’s get that worked out in your life so that you routinely hear the voice of your Father.

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Wisdom for the Wise

On May 4, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

1 Corinthians 3: 19 – 20

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.”

I was struck today with just how simple we are in comparison to God. I have often wondered why He didn’t make us smarter so one day I asked Him. Do you know what His answer was? “You don’t need more intelligence because you were supposed to follow me with your spirit rather than your mind.” Wow! That set me straight. I thought today that perhaps we intellectualize so much because we are aware of how unenlightened we really are. We try to be smart because we are subconsciously aware that we really are not.

And as I was praying for people today I prayed that we would all just be led by God. Well, there is where infinite wisdom resides. We have seen that He stores wisdom for us and that He gives it to us willingly and freely. Let us not be wise in our own eyes because that only shouts how foolish we really are. Let us humble ourselves before the omniscient Father of all, allowing His wisdom and knowledge to guide our steps. Rest today in complete confidence in your ignorance because you have the all-knowing one as your ever present leader. Paul said that when He was weak, He was strong. In the same way that God substitutes His strength for your weakness, He provides His wisdom and knowledge when you have none of your own. Lean on Him and He will provide you all you need.

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Intertwined

On May 3, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 147: 10       NIV

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

I don’t know that I have ever seen this verse so clearly before. We see what we are able to see, what our hearts are prepared for. I accuse God of adding things to my Bible that weren’t there previously. It is amazing how you can read the same passage year upon year and then, all of a sudden, there is something there you have never seen before. I suppose that means I am ready to hear this passage. Let us hope I am ready to share it as well.

God has continually had me teaching on being intertwined with Him, see our logo above. It is a representation of us intertwined with Christ. What is so important about this scripture is not only that we are expected to live in this intertwined existence but also that our Father is delighted with those whose trust isn’t in their own strength, but rather, in His.

Intellectually, we all agree that leaning on the Father’s wisdom and strength is the right and proper thing to do. It is the smart way to live life. The problem arises when faced with a new challenge or project. Our first reaction is not always to stop and consult the Father. Usually we get in our own heads about what is needed. Sometimes that immediately translates into activity, still failing to pause and consider. It is not that we don’t believe. It is simply a matter of habit. We are accustomed to jumping into action. It doesn’t make us bad people, but it does show why we need the power of transformation in everyday life.

God doesn’t transform us because we are bad and that is really important to understand. Instead, He is attempting to lead and teach us. Jesus’ coming has a great deal to do with integration with the Father. The Trinity comes to live in us, and Jesus wishes to teach us continual communion with them. He wants us to learn how to walk, step by step, day by day in their anointing and presence. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

God is pleased when we invest our lives in a continuous communion with Him. He does not delight in human strength. Instead, He wants to empower us with his strength. His plan is for us to be in constant communication with Him, even in our every breath. He can be that close to us so that at any moment, we can inquire of Him and receive answers and guidance. I like that. I hope you do too.

 

 

 

 

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Chosen One

On April 30, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Isaiah 41: 9

I have chosen you and not rejected you.

Do you ever wonder who you are in Christ? Or do you love God but just don’t know how you fit in? Do not worry. God called you from the far reaches of the earth. He called you when you didn’t know him. You love God because He first loved you. He wanted you in His family since the beginning of time. He picked you; He chose you. He certainly has not rejected you. Perhaps you do not think you are who you should be. Well, we are all growing into a better version of ourselves, but that does not mean that God is rejecting who you are. He just wants you to grow up into the you that you were always destined to be. That does not mean that He wants to alter the basic elements of who you are. We just all have to grow. We all need to learn to walk in love, mercy, peace and truth. We don’t just instinctively know how to do that. So, sure, we are all learning and growing but God wants you to know that He, Himself, has chosen you and not rejected you. He wants you to hear this loud and clear. He knew exactly who you were when He got you. He called you to Himself when you were yet imperfect. So, don’t think you have to be perfect to please Him. He is the perfection. Just join with Him. Integrate who you are with who He is. You will be perfect in Him because the two of you will make an unbeatable pair.

From this day on, never again question who you are because I am going to tell you who you are. You are God’s chosen, His elect. He sought you and He bought you. You have been redeemed in the perfection that He is. You are His joy and His delight. You are receiving this message because you are a precious member of His own family. He has always loved you and validated you. He just longs for more of you.

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Role of a Minister

On April 29, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Ephesians 4: 11 – 12

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the purpose of equipping of the saints and the building up of the Body of Christ.

The Body of Christ is changing rapidly and thus the dynamics and means of ministry are changing too. However, the role of the minister remains unchanged, in my opinion. During these tumultuous times, it is important to ask ourselves what the role of the minister is and the second question would be what is it that you need from your ministers.

The key purpose of all ministry gifts and ministry offices is to equip the saints and to build up the Body of Christ. The inquiry comes in how that is accomplished in a changing environment. Once upon a time the priests made the sacrificial offerings for the body. Obviously, that is a task which is no longer required. Yet in a way, there is still a component of that. We are to receive your offerings to God and to pray over them. When you give to a ministry, the ministers receive them on behalf of God, for the work of God.

Until recently, an important part of many ministers’ job was to stand in a pulpit and either teach or inspire. Now, we are increasingly using online services to share the word. There are still apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Each office has been given, by God, to equip the saints. As we go forward, we and you are going to have to learn how God’s work is done in the new era. There will be experimentation as we learn, but the one thing I would say is to make sure you are using the ministry gifts in others that God has put into the body of Christ and in ministry offices. Also, make sure you are willing to sow into the work of the ministry. God isn’t silenced just because we don’t congregate in the same numbers we once did. His Word is alive and always going forth. As I said once before recently, pull on your ministers. It is your right, but be willing to help them do their job too.

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