I know this is really like geeky or whatever... but that's OK! It ministered to me! haha So I am watching Superman Returns, and it just inspired me to write this. These lines come after Clark has noticed that Lois wrote an article about why the world doesn't need superman. He takes her high into the sky and asks her this:
Superman: Listen; what do you hear?
Lois Lane: Nothing.
Superman: I hear everything. You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior, but every day I hear people crying for one.
People all over the world ARE crying for a savior. They want to be rescued from their distress. Whether it be physical, financial, emotional, spiritual, the world needs a someone that they can call on in times of trouble and depend on in times of peace. We watch movies like Superman and dream about having someone save us like Superman saves people—someone who swoops down and rescues us from our worst nightmares. But we think that’s just a story for the comic books, television, and movies. What many of us don’t realize is that the world does have the Savior. Our Savior has all the good qualities of the heroes we admire so much. He’s stronger than Superman, smarter than Batman, more merciful than Spiderman, and more just than the Hulk. He’s greater than these heroes and more put together. He is the Savior of the world, not just Metropolis or Gotham or any other one place. The entire universe is in His care. All we have to do is call on His name, and He promises to answer (Romans 10:13).
We need to stop looking to humans for answers and help. We need to look to the One who has the answer to every question. Who is your help in a time of trouble (Psalms 46:1). The One who gave His life so that you might be saved (John 3:16). He died so that you could live victoriously! Praise God! He has given us His ZOE (life in the absolute sense; life in the manner that God possesses it) life. All we have to do is reach out and take it.
Many don’t know who to call as they are sitting there in absolute destitute because they can’t pay their bills, someone has passed away that was close to them, they lost their job, or they just feel lonely. So they look to natural remedies or drugs, alcohol, sex, and countless other things that will never fulfill the emptiness and hopelessness they feel inside. But praise God I know the one who sticks close than a brother – Jesus! And Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be our comforter too (John 14:16)! I encourage you today - when your feeling down, don’t throw a pity party. Just start thanking God for never leaving you nor forsaking you (Hebrews 13:5) and sticking closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24)!! He is always there when you need him! The next time that you see or hear about someone who is down and hopeless don’t just walk by them. Be their “good Samaritan” and share the GOOD NEWS that Jesus is their Savior in the midst of any circumstance! And He has made us more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Hurry Home
So this has been on my heart for a while. I adore this song, and I believe that it shows the unconditional love of a father. The song is Hurry Home by Jason Michael Carroll.
"He's been sitting by the phone since she left
But it's time for work and he just can't be late
So he grabs his old guitar and he plays a couple bars on the machine
And then he softly sings
It doesn't matter what you've done I still love you
It doesn't matter where you've been you can still come home
And honey if it's you we've got a lot of making up to do
And I can't hug you on the phone, so hurry home
Well, the message light was blinking when he got back
It was an old friend calling 'cause he just heard the news
He said man, I hope you find her
If I see her I'll remind her that her dad is worried and want her to know
It doesn't matter what you've done I still love you
It doesn't matter where you've been you can still come home
And honey if it's you we've got a lot of making up to do
And I can't hug you on the phone so hurry home
Well, the days dragged by without a word from her
And it looked like she might not be coming back
People said man, don't you think it's time to take that old message off
He said no, you never know when she might call
She was just outside a bar in New York City
Her so-called friends had left her all alone
She was scared he wouldn't want her
But she dialed up that old number and let it ring
And then she heard him sing
It doesn't matter what you've done I still love you
It doesn't matter where you've been you can still come home
And honey if it's you we've got a lot of making up to do
And I can't hug you on the phone so hurry home
He walked in just in time to hear her say
Dad, I'm on my way"
The first time I heard that song I cried... and still do cry, but anyway... haha. I heard it and thought about the love God has for us, His children. He loves us so much that He "gave His only begotten son. That whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)."
I hear this song and it reminds me of the story of the prodigal son. How the son or daughter in this case left because they wanted to go out and experience the world for themselves. I can relate to this story. I understand that sometimes you look out to the world and think that everyone is having so much fun as they party and sleep around and enjoy the spoils of the world. It looks tempting and sometimes even appetizing. and thats what the son and daughter thought too. They caroused with people who claimed to be their friends but then abandoned them at the drop of a hat. After having no where to turn, the son and daughter turned to the one place that they hoped would accept them back.
Now I want to look at the role of the Father in these stories. The Father is a giving man. He loves deeply and wants the best for His child. "He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things (Romans 8:32)?" A gracious man is He. When His child leaves Him and His good treasures, He doesn't become angry and He doesn't turn His back. He opens His arms and offers a place of refuge to return to. A place of forgiveness. A place of peace. A place of complete, passionate love. He never closed the door, and He never gave up hope to see his prodigal child return to Him.
The song doesn't explain what happened after she daughter says "dad, I'm on my way." But I believe that that dad probably had the same response that the father in the parable had. The father in the parable watched everyday for the return of his son, just as the dad left the song. When he saw his son in the DISTANCE (He was watching closely), he raised up his garment (which was kinda unheard of in those days) and RAN to meet the son. He kissed Him and dressed him in regal garments and placed a ring on his finger and threw a party to celebrate the return of what was lost.
I wonder how much more our Father in heaven celebrates when we return to Him? All I know is that when I mess up and ask for forgiveness, I feel surrounded by an air of peace and gentleness and love. I never want to leave it. Oh praise God! He is a good God! I can't help but praise His name! I do know that no rocks will be crying in my place... I will lift my hands and raise my voice and praise Him unashamedly. I once was lost, but now I am found! I was blind but now I see! Even in the midst of a circumstance, I feel a certain peace. And know that if I mess up He faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
So just realize how good your Father in heaven is. And if you mess up... no matter how bad. You can still come home. Hurry home... He's waiting.
Luke 15:11-32 (Amplified Bible)
And He said, There was a certain man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that falls [to me]. And he divided the estate between them. And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and loose [from restraint] living. And when he had spent all he had, a mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind and be in want. So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. And he would gladly have fed on and filled his belly with the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better]. Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]! But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry, Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry. But his older son was in the field; and as he returned and came near the house, he heard music and dancing. And having called one of the servant [boys] to him, he began to ask what this meant. And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed that [wheat-]fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well. But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him, But he answered his father, Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends; But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that [wheat-] fattened calf! And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!
"He's been sitting by the phone since she left
But it's time for work and he just can't be late
So he grabs his old guitar and he plays a couple bars on the machine
And then he softly sings
It doesn't matter what you've done I still love you
It doesn't matter where you've been you can still come home
And honey if it's you we've got a lot of making up to do
And I can't hug you on the phone, so hurry home
Well, the message light was blinking when he got back
It was an old friend calling 'cause he just heard the news
He said man, I hope you find her
If I see her I'll remind her that her dad is worried and want her to know
It doesn't matter what you've done I still love you
It doesn't matter where you've been you can still come home
And honey if it's you we've got a lot of making up to do
And I can't hug you on the phone so hurry home
Well, the days dragged by without a word from her
And it looked like she might not be coming back
People said man, don't you think it's time to take that old message off
He said no, you never know when she might call
She was just outside a bar in New York City
Her so-called friends had left her all alone
She was scared he wouldn't want her
But she dialed up that old number and let it ring
And then she heard him sing
It doesn't matter what you've done I still love you
It doesn't matter where you've been you can still come home
And honey if it's you we've got a lot of making up to do
And I can't hug you on the phone so hurry home
He walked in just in time to hear her say
Dad, I'm on my way"
The first time I heard that song I cried... and still do cry, but anyway... haha. I heard it and thought about the love God has for us, His children. He loves us so much that He "gave His only begotten son. That whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)."
I hear this song and it reminds me of the story of the prodigal son. How the son or daughter in this case left because they wanted to go out and experience the world for themselves. I can relate to this story. I understand that sometimes you look out to the world and think that everyone is having so much fun as they party and sleep around and enjoy the spoils of the world. It looks tempting and sometimes even appetizing. and thats what the son and daughter thought too. They caroused with people who claimed to be their friends but then abandoned them at the drop of a hat. After having no where to turn, the son and daughter turned to the one place that they hoped would accept them back.
Now I want to look at the role of the Father in these stories. The Father is a giving man. He loves deeply and wants the best for His child. "He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things (Romans 8:32)?" A gracious man is He. When His child leaves Him and His good treasures, He doesn't become angry and He doesn't turn His back. He opens His arms and offers a place of refuge to return to. A place of forgiveness. A place of peace. A place of complete, passionate love. He never closed the door, and He never gave up hope to see his prodigal child return to Him.
The song doesn't explain what happened after she daughter says "dad, I'm on my way." But I believe that that dad probably had the same response that the father in the parable had. The father in the parable watched everyday for the return of his son, just as the dad left the song. When he saw his son in the DISTANCE (He was watching closely), he raised up his garment (which was kinda unheard of in those days) and RAN to meet the son. He kissed Him and dressed him in regal garments and placed a ring on his finger and threw a party to celebrate the return of what was lost.
I wonder how much more our Father in heaven celebrates when we return to Him? All I know is that when I mess up and ask for forgiveness, I feel surrounded by an air of peace and gentleness and love. I never want to leave it. Oh praise God! He is a good God! I can't help but praise His name! I do know that no rocks will be crying in my place... I will lift my hands and raise my voice and praise Him unashamedly. I once was lost, but now I am found! I was blind but now I see! Even in the midst of a circumstance, I feel a certain peace. And know that if I mess up He faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
So just realize how good your Father in heaven is. And if you mess up... no matter how bad. You can still come home. Hurry home... He's waiting.
Luke 15:11-32 (Amplified Bible)
And He said, There was a certain man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that falls [to me]. And he divided the estate between them. And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and loose [from restraint] living. And when he had spent all he had, a mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind and be in want. So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. And he would gladly have fed on and filled his belly with the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better]. Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]! But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry, Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry. But his older son was in the field; and as he returned and came near the house, he heard music and dancing. And having called one of the servant [boys] to him, he began to ask what this meant. And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed that [wheat-]fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well. But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him, But he answered his father, Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends; But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that [wheat-] fattened calf! And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The power of love and boldness
What is love? How do we know when we find it? Most spend their whole lives searching for meaning, longing for answers, hungering to fill the void of their soul. Friendships and romance are often seen as the rescue to the emptiness inside. "Live for yourself! Live for no one! Judge no one! You have no one to please!" These thoughts and actions end in despair, because the people who entertain them and follow them through to their actions soon learn that they can only keep themselves entertained with the debauchery for lustful pleasures of the self for so long. At some point, they must lie down to sleep, and then they realize how truly alone they are. Perhaps their romance of the night lie there as well, but inside, they are alone. The pleasures of that night at an end. The lusts of the flesh lead to no where. They are the path to destruction, yet they are too stubborn to admit that they are in need of something more powerful and more fulfilling than one night stands and drunken escapades. Because most were raised to care only for themselves, they are unable to understand true love when they stumble across its path. They think love revolves around pleasing them. They desire complete subservience to their needs; perhaps this is why 50% of all marriages end in divorce. No one understand the true meaning of love.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud, it is not rude. It is not self seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.
With a definition like this, many will never find true love in lustful, selfish humans. This definition requires complete and utter selflessness. Oh that we should find such people in our world today. It seems these people are few and far between. Not simply in the world, but within churches as well. The very place that selflessness should be at its height - among the body of believers and followings - it barely exists. Churches become like high schools with back-biting, gossip, hatred, pride, lies, deceit, and even fornication. God help us all! If the Church cannot contain itself and its selfish lusts, how can it expect the world to? No! We as a Church, as the body of Jesus Christ, should stand together in faith, hope, and love. We should walk in the true meaning of it! We should not be imitating the world! For what gain is there in this? They will never understand the gospel if we do not set ourselves apart. The Bible commands the Christians to doers of the Word! The word teaches strictly against the sins of drunkenness, of sexual promiscuity and homosexuality, of lying, of gossip, of keeping bad company. The Word even describes the consequences of such actions! Yet in Churches toady, we welcome these people and allow them to live their perverted ways - all the while saying that they are OK the way they are! How dare we! How dare we condemn them! By allowing them to continue with their sins and not correcting them, we allow them to continue down a life of destruction. When you appease their flesh, you attempt to free yourself of the task we were called to give! Tell them the GOOD NEWS of Jesus! And His love for them! But also tell them what Jesus told the adulteress... "sin no more." Jesus commanded her to STOP her lifestyle! And yet we have the nerve to tell them that they are under grace and can continue whatever they want! Blasphemy! Who gave these people the right to judge the persons acts as pleasing to the Lord when the Bible specifically speaks against them! It is not love! it is a love of themselves! People today care more for their own desire to be liked that they would reduce the Gospel to something so minuscule and powerless. This is NOT the love of God!
True love is helping each other. Loving the other person more than yourself! When you feel pressure and are afraid that the people might dislike you after you speak the truth to them, remember that Jesus said that persecution would come, but that is no reason to refrain from carrying out with all BOLDNESS the work that needs to be done! To the deepest depths of Hell, the lies of subtly must be thrown! In Acts, the apostles prayed that the Lord would grant them all BOLDNESS to declare His word! It was through their boldness that people came to Jesus - NOT though this lie of subtly! I see no where in the Bible where the Apostles or Jesus were subtle! They spoke the truth boldly and with power and conviction! So why should we be? We hold the same calling, and our world today needs Jesus more than ever before!
The point of this entire rant? When you love someone, you will want what is best for them and not for yourself. Forget all the approaches that were brought into the church out of the desire to be accepted. We were not called to be accepted or even liked. We are to be in the world but not OF the world! (Yes, there IS a difference). We were called for the reason. WHat some call the great commission. And we are to do it through LOVE! So God bless the feet of those who bring the good news to the nations! We give thanks for them! We give thanks for their loving hearts, which love their neighbor more than themselves. They rose to standards and are refusing to live beneath them! I challenge you and myself as followers of Jesus (the One and ONLY way!) to rise to the mark that is set before us! Let us run the race together. That when we meet our Savior, He will smile and look at us and say "Well done!"
Amen.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud, it is not rude. It is not self seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.
With a definition like this, many will never find true love in lustful, selfish humans. This definition requires complete and utter selflessness. Oh that we should find such people in our world today. It seems these people are few and far between. Not simply in the world, but within churches as well. The very place that selflessness should be at its height - among the body of believers and followings - it barely exists. Churches become like high schools with back-biting, gossip, hatred, pride, lies, deceit, and even fornication. God help us all! If the Church cannot contain itself and its selfish lusts, how can it expect the world to? No! We as a Church, as the body of Jesus Christ, should stand together in faith, hope, and love. We should walk in the true meaning of it! We should not be imitating the world! For what gain is there in this? They will never understand the gospel if we do not set ourselves apart. The Bible commands the Christians to doers of the Word! The word teaches strictly against the sins of drunkenness, of sexual promiscuity and homosexuality, of lying, of gossip, of keeping bad company. The Word even describes the consequences of such actions! Yet in Churches toady, we welcome these people and allow them to live their perverted ways - all the while saying that they are OK the way they are! How dare we! How dare we condemn them! By allowing them to continue with their sins and not correcting them, we allow them to continue down a life of destruction. When you appease their flesh, you attempt to free yourself of the task we were called to give! Tell them the GOOD NEWS of Jesus! And His love for them! But also tell them what Jesus told the adulteress... "sin no more." Jesus commanded her to STOP her lifestyle! And yet we have the nerve to tell them that they are under grace and can continue whatever they want! Blasphemy! Who gave these people the right to judge the persons acts as pleasing to the Lord when the Bible specifically speaks against them! It is not love! it is a love of themselves! People today care more for their own desire to be liked that they would reduce the Gospel to something so minuscule and powerless. This is NOT the love of God!
True love is helping each other. Loving the other person more than yourself! When you feel pressure and are afraid that the people might dislike you after you speak the truth to them, remember that Jesus said that persecution would come, but that is no reason to refrain from carrying out with all BOLDNESS the work that needs to be done! To the deepest depths of Hell, the lies of subtly must be thrown! In Acts, the apostles prayed that the Lord would grant them all BOLDNESS to declare His word! It was through their boldness that people came to Jesus - NOT though this lie of subtly! I see no where in the Bible where the Apostles or Jesus were subtle! They spoke the truth boldly and with power and conviction! So why should we be? We hold the same calling, and our world today needs Jesus more than ever before!
The point of this entire rant? When you love someone, you will want what is best for them and not for yourself. Forget all the approaches that were brought into the church out of the desire to be accepted. We were not called to be accepted or even liked. We are to be in the world but not OF the world! (Yes, there IS a difference). We were called for the reason. WHat some call the great commission. And we are to do it through LOVE! So God bless the feet of those who bring the good news to the nations! We give thanks for them! We give thanks for their loving hearts, which love their neighbor more than themselves. They rose to standards and are refusing to live beneath them! I challenge you and myself as followers of Jesus (the One and ONLY way!) to rise to the mark that is set before us! Let us run the race together. That when we meet our Savior, He will smile and look at us and say "Well done!"
Amen.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
The Passive Church and the Active Church: Which one are you?
So I was reading through Acts 5 and came across these verses. They touched my heart and spoke to me. As a pastor was saying this morning, the book of Acts is the pattern by which we (the church) must follow. I thought to myself as I read these verses wow! So I decided to write this. I hope it makes you think! :-)
I have heard many Christians say “I don’t like to talk to people about Jesus, unless they ask first. I prefer to let them see my life and hope that they want to know more just because of what they see.” While it is true that we need to live upright lives that speak for us, we must be more than passive believers. We must be active. Jesus was active. If this was untrue, He would never have thrown people out of the temple. If this was untrue, He would never have preached the way He did. He would have never boldly rebuked the Sanhedrin. He would never have gone about healing the sick and performing miracles. Jesus did all these things and did them with boldness. In Matthew 4:17, it says, "From that time Jesus began to preach, crying out, Repent (change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Amplified)" And in Mark 16:14,15, it says, "Afterward He appeared to the Eleven [apostles themselves] as they reclined at table; and He reproved and reproached them for their unbelief (their lack of faith) and their hardness of heart, because they had refused to believe those who had seen Him and looked at Him attentively after He had risen [from death]. And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race]." Does this sound like a passive person to you? As “little Christs” like the name Christians implies, we should be mimicking these actions just like the early church did. These members of the early church acted so similar to Jesus that they experienced the same persecutions that He did.
In Acts 5:27-42, Peter and the apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin. They had been preaching in the temple. The Sanhedrin began to question them the same way that they had previously questioned Jesus. The Sanhedrin became angered because of the gospel they were teaching. The verses that really stand out to me is this, “But a certain Pharisee in the council (Sanhedrin) named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, highly esteemed by all the people, standing up, ordered that the apostles be taken outside for a little while. Then he addressed them [the council, saying]: Men of Israel, take care in regard to what you propose to do concerning these men.… For if this doctrine or purpose or undertaking or movement is of human origin, it will fail (be overthrown and come to nothing); But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop or overthrow or destroy them; you might even be found fighting against God!” What wisdom this man had! Wisdom or fear... haha He saw what others did not see! He realized that the force that they were fighting against could be the one Force that they never should go against.
After the men were released, they went out rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer that shame for their Lord. This part and the next are what really grabbed my attention. These apostles were REJOICING for being flogged, arrested, imprisoned, and rebuked by these men. All this for the name of the Lord! How many people today crawl into the corner and cry at the first sign of someone disagreeing with them? How many modern day Christians are more concerned with being liked and accepted than they are about reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Shame on us for acting this way! Not only did the apostles rejoice for what had happened to them, they continued to do those acts that previously awarded them with persecution! These men were ACTIVE in their beliefs! I am so tired of being told that the church should be passive! Why should we? The Bible does not give me the example of a passive Jesus or passive disciples. So why should I be passive? We must take a stand, church! Today is the day to stand up and fight for souls! If we want to see a change, we must fight for it! So I encourage you, stop being LAZY! Yes, I said it. LAZY! We have been lazy and because of it, many souls have been lost. No longer! If you care to go about your Father’s business, you must rise up from our comfort zone and preach the good news that we have been graced to hear! We must take an active pursuit of the lost! God give us the strength! And every time someone laughs at you or slams a door in your face, I encourage you to remember that you have been counted worthy of suffering persecution for your Lord! Hallelujah!
To sum this up, I just want to leave you with this. Being passive accomplishes little. Thank God that He is not a passive God! When I see Jesus face to face, I want Him to look at me and say, “well done!” What do you want Him to say to you?
Acts 5 Amplified
27So they brought them and set them before the council (Sanhedrin). And the high priest examined them by questioning,
28Saying, We definitely commanded and strictly charged you not to teach in or about this Name; yet here you have flooded Jerusalem with your doctrine and you intend to bring this [b]Man's blood upon us.
29Then Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than men.
30The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree (cross).(A)
31God exalted Him to His right hand to be Prince and Leader and Savior and Deliverer and Preserver, in order to grant repentance to Israel and to bestow forgiveness and release from sins.
32And we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit is also, Whom God has bestowed on those who obey Him.
33Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and infuriated and wanted to kill the disciples.
34But a certain Pharisee in the council (Sanhedrin) named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, highly esteemed by all the people, standing up, ordered that the apostles be taken outside for a little while.
35Then he addressed them [the council, saying]: Men of Israel, take care in regard to what you propose to do concerning these men.
36For before our time there arose Theudas, asserting himself to be a person of importance, with whom a number of men allied themselves, about 400; but he was killed and all who had listened to and adhered to him were scattered and brought to nothing.
37And after this one rose up Judas the Galilean, [who led an uprising] during the time of the census, and drew away a popular following after him; he also perished and all his adherents were scattered.
38Now in the present case let me say to you, stand off (withdraw) from these men and let them alone. For if this doctrine or purpose or undertaking or movement is of human origin, it will fail (be overthrown and come to nothing);
39But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop or overthrow or destroy them; you might even be found fighting against God!
40So, convinced by him, they took his advice; and summoning the apostles, they flogged them and sternly forbade them to speak in or about the name of Jesus, and allowed them to go.
41So they went out from the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted worthy [dignified by the indignity] to suffer shame and be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name.
42Yet [in spite of the threats] they never ceased for a single day, both in the temple area and at home, to teach and to proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus [as] the Christ (the Messiah).
I have heard many Christians say “I don’t like to talk to people about Jesus, unless they ask first. I prefer to let them see my life and hope that they want to know more just because of what they see.” While it is true that we need to live upright lives that speak for us, we must be more than passive believers. We must be active. Jesus was active. If this was untrue, He would never have thrown people out of the temple. If this was untrue, He would never have preached the way He did. He would have never boldly rebuked the Sanhedrin. He would never have gone about healing the sick and performing miracles. Jesus did all these things and did them with boldness. In Matthew 4:17, it says, "From that time Jesus began to preach, crying out, Repent (change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Amplified)" And in Mark 16:14,15, it says, "Afterward He appeared to the Eleven [apostles themselves] as they reclined at table; and He reproved and reproached them for their unbelief (their lack of faith) and their hardness of heart, because they had refused to believe those who had seen Him and looked at Him attentively after He had risen [from death]. And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race]." Does this sound like a passive person to you? As “little Christs” like the name Christians implies, we should be mimicking these actions just like the early church did. These members of the early church acted so similar to Jesus that they experienced the same persecutions that He did.
In Acts 5:27-42, Peter and the apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin. They had been preaching in the temple. The Sanhedrin began to question them the same way that they had previously questioned Jesus. The Sanhedrin became angered because of the gospel they were teaching. The verses that really stand out to me is this, “But a certain Pharisee in the council (Sanhedrin) named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, highly esteemed by all the people, standing up, ordered that the apostles be taken outside for a little while. Then he addressed them [the council, saying]: Men of Israel, take care in regard to what you propose to do concerning these men.… For if this doctrine or purpose or undertaking or movement is of human origin, it will fail (be overthrown and come to nothing); But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop or overthrow or destroy them; you might even be found fighting against God!” What wisdom this man had! Wisdom or fear... haha He saw what others did not see! He realized that the force that they were fighting against could be the one Force that they never should go against.
After the men were released, they went out rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer that shame for their Lord. This part and the next are what really grabbed my attention. These apostles were REJOICING for being flogged, arrested, imprisoned, and rebuked by these men. All this for the name of the Lord! How many people today crawl into the corner and cry at the first sign of someone disagreeing with them? How many modern day Christians are more concerned with being liked and accepted than they are about reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Shame on us for acting this way! Not only did the apostles rejoice for what had happened to them, they continued to do those acts that previously awarded them with persecution! These men were ACTIVE in their beliefs! I am so tired of being told that the church should be passive! Why should we? The Bible does not give me the example of a passive Jesus or passive disciples. So why should I be passive? We must take a stand, church! Today is the day to stand up and fight for souls! If we want to see a change, we must fight for it! So I encourage you, stop being LAZY! Yes, I said it. LAZY! We have been lazy and because of it, many souls have been lost. No longer! If you care to go about your Father’s business, you must rise up from our comfort zone and preach the good news that we have been graced to hear! We must take an active pursuit of the lost! God give us the strength! And every time someone laughs at you or slams a door in your face, I encourage you to remember that you have been counted worthy of suffering persecution for your Lord! Hallelujah!
To sum this up, I just want to leave you with this. Being passive accomplishes little. Thank God that He is not a passive God! When I see Jesus face to face, I want Him to look at me and say, “well done!” What do you want Him to say to you?
Acts 5 Amplified
27So they brought them and set them before the council (Sanhedrin). And the high priest examined them by questioning,
28Saying, We definitely commanded and strictly charged you not to teach in or about this Name; yet here you have flooded Jerusalem with your doctrine and you intend to bring this [b]Man's blood upon us.
29Then Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than men.
30The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree (cross).(A)
31God exalted Him to His right hand to be Prince and Leader and Savior and Deliverer and Preserver, in order to grant repentance to Israel and to bestow forgiveness and release from sins.
32And we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit is also, Whom God has bestowed on those who obey Him.
33Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and infuriated and wanted to kill the disciples.
34But a certain Pharisee in the council (Sanhedrin) named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, highly esteemed by all the people, standing up, ordered that the apostles be taken outside for a little while.
35Then he addressed them [the council, saying]: Men of Israel, take care in regard to what you propose to do concerning these men.
36For before our time there arose Theudas, asserting himself to be a person of importance, with whom a number of men allied themselves, about 400; but he was killed and all who had listened to and adhered to him were scattered and brought to nothing.
37And after this one rose up Judas the Galilean, [who led an uprising] during the time of the census, and drew away a popular following after him; he also perished and all his adherents were scattered.
38Now in the present case let me say to you, stand off (withdraw) from these men and let them alone. For if this doctrine or purpose or undertaking or movement is of human origin, it will fail (be overthrown and come to nothing);
39But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop or overthrow or destroy them; you might even be found fighting against God!
40So, convinced by him, they took his advice; and summoning the apostles, they flogged them and sternly forbade them to speak in or about the name of Jesus, and allowed them to go.
41So they went out from the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted worthy [dignified by the indignity] to suffer shame and be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name.
42Yet [in spite of the threats] they never ceased for a single day, both in the temple area and at home, to teach and to proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus [as] the Christ (the Messiah).
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
What is truth?
Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines truth as "fidelity, constancy; sincerity in action, character, and utterance; fidelity to an original or to a standard."
Truth. This word is the epitome of what most every person seeks. Many spend their entire lives searching for this. Others claim to find it at an early age. While some run away from it. Truth gives hope to many and fear to some. Truth is something that once you find it, you must value it above all else.
The main question of today is how often do we actually hear or even speak the truth? The answer: hardly ever. We are bombarded with lies from all around. Lies in politics. Lies in religion. Lies everywhere. One can hardly go shopping without seeing them. The magazines we read. The literature we discuss. The television we watch. While most are disguised as half-truths, they are lies nonetheless. It is a pity that we can not go a day without hearing, seeing, or speaking falsehoods. While my blog will primarily pertain to the speaking of the truth regarding political and religious events, I will also discuss the kinds of truths we are not being told in other walks of life. God help us all in this society whose truth is based on lies and a personal moral obligation. Where people claim that they can do anything that is right by them because they think themselves to be gods who know the truth. It sickens me to think of the shame that our world is putting itself through as our moral compass becomes nothing better than a toilet (in other words, full of crap). Rebellious attitudes plague our society and destroy it with selfish people that care only for themselves. Oh God have mercy upon our souls!
I do not pretend to be perfect and have all the answers, but I will give my opinion on occurrences, and whether you agree with me or not, I ask that you respect my opinion by only answering it with educated responses. If you do not know your facts and will only give a mindless response based on facts that you have been "fed", do not leave a post. If you do respond with an intellectual argument, however, I will respect you for your opinion.
God bless you all! Remember to ALWAYS Speak the Truth!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)