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Leading with Confidence: “Abide In Him”

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John155

Scripture Reference:  John 15:1-11

Introduction:

This is my second attempt at writing this message.  The first one must’ve been awesome because the devil made sure it didn’t get posted.  However, as much as I allowed it to aggravate me…it’s not going to keep me from trying again.  Just like I did in the first attempt, I’m going to rely upon the Holy Ghost to help me write a message that’s going to be even better than the first one.

This is also only the second message in this series, and in the first one we talked a lot about reading the Bible.  Today, we’re going to talk about Abiding in Him, but one of the main ways that we do this is by reading the Word of God.  I’m not going to spend a lot of time on the introduction, but before I get into this message I am going to ask the Holy Ghost for help in writing it, and ask you to believe with me that God’s going to speak some amazing things to us through this message.  In fact, why not just type out a live prayer so that you know what I pray when I’m in the process of beginning to write a message.

Lord, I thank You for the opportunity to write another message.  I yield myself to You and ask that You would make my fingers that as a pen of a ready writer…writing only of the oracles of You.  That You would supply me with that supernatural ability to write with clarity, boldness, and power.  I ask, Holy Spirit, for the unction and anointing to flow, and that You would sink this message deep within my heart and the hearts of the readers.  I ask, Lord God, for ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts that are receptive and responsive to that which You are about to speak to us through this message.  I thank You, Holy Ghost for Your help, and ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus…Amen and Amen.

Okay, now I’m ready to get into this message…

Today’s Message  “Abide In Him”

Josh Radford “Abide in Him” at New Life Christian Center

Whenever I combine talking about reading the Bible and Abiding in Christ I can’t help but to think about how one of the main ways we abide in Christ is by abiding in the Word of God.  We know from John that in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God, right!?!  If we read on in John Chapter 1 we find out that the Word became flesh and dwelled among us, right?  We know that Jesus Christ came and was God in the flesh, right!?!  Therefore, the conclusion that I always come to is that when I am reading the Bible, not only am I reading God’s Word, not only am I hearing God’s voice, but that I am holding Jesus in my hands.  I like to some times refer to the Bible as being Jesus Christ in book form…because that’s what it is.  Everything written in the Bible is God breathed, God inspired, and while the Bible was written by many writers…we know that it really had one Author, and that it really is all about Jesus.

Jesus refers to himself as “the true vine” and to his followers as “the branches.” In the midst of the descriptive narrative on the work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus suddenly draws upon the vine and the branches to describe the spiritual intimacy, union or connection he came to bring into the lives of his followers. Jesus makes it clear that he is out to make them spiritually alive so that they will become spiritually productive. Jesus reveals his goal, his method and means of doing this. These shine a light on the way Jesus works in our lives.

How many of you know that it’s impossible to abide in Christ, and not abide in His Word?  Friends, the Word of God is the way that we nourish ourselves spiritually.  The Bible is constantly referred to as manna from Heaven.  Jesus referred to Himself and the Bible as food and water.  When Jesus was being tempted by satan the first thing satan did was tempt Jesus with food…and Jesus’ response was that man shouldn’t live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  Paul writes about the milk of the Word of God, and meat.  About how the Word of God is substance to us.

We must feed upon the Word of God or we will all be malnourished Christians.  Come on, look around today, and you’ll find so many Christians who have no real understanding of the Word of God.  In fact, many of us think it’s enough to go to church on Sundays, and maybe make the mid-week service so that pastor so and so can tell us what the Word of God says.

Friend, I can tell you from my own personal experiences I’ve been in church services where the preacher will be talking about what he thinks God said, and while he’s talking God has spoken up on the inside of me that not only is what this person is preaching not biblical…but that God’s insulted by what this person was preaching.  The Bible talks about people who are carried to and fro by every wind of doctrine, and I can honestly admit that I was one of those people.  I was until I began to study the Word of God for myself, and have the Holy Ghost teach me His Word and how to rightly divide it…and as I got to know the voice of the Good Shepherd I found myself knowing who was preaching good, sound biblical truth or something that was complete garbage.

Not everyone who opens a Bible to preach is working for the Lord, and the ONLY way we’re going to know that is if we are reading the Bible for ourselves, and therefore making a serious effort to abide in Him.  We abide in Christ when we are abiding in His Word.  Apart from the Word of God we cannot abide in Him.  Jesus’ blood flows through us, but it’s the Word of God that nourishes our spirits…and there are a lot of Christians who are malnourished because they refuse to read the Word of God for themselves.

And preachers…I don’t know how in the world you can have anything to say if you’re not using the Bible.  I love Christian books, but I don’t want you to preach me a sermon on Rick Warren’s “Purpose Filled Life” because there’s no Holy Ghost anointing on anyone else’s book.  The anointing, the yoke breaking anointing is only found in one place…the Word of God…and if you’re not preaching from it…you will be judged by it….and that’s not my warning…that warning is found in the Word of God.  I may use devotional articles to assist me with illustrating what I’m writing…but I can assure you that the real anointing isn’t in what I’m writing or in what I’m using…the anointing is in the Word of God, and when I rely upon the Holy Ghost to help me write these messages I’m not writing what thus saith Pastor Bryan…I am writing what I sense is from the Holy Ghost.  My fingers are that as a pen of a ready writer writing only of the oracles of God.  That means everything I write is Holy Ghost inspired, and the reason that happens in these messages isn’t because I’m some kind of journalism major…I have no professional writing experience at all.  Everything I write here is because I rely upon the authority found in God’s Word, and the Holy Ghost.

Otherwise…I have nothing to say or write.  When I started doing this I’ll freely admit my messages were very hard reads, but as I allowed the Holy Ghost to develop me as a writer…I’ve grown and become much better at it.  I didn’t have anyone teach me how to format anything….except the Holy Ghost…and therefore how dare I stray from the Word of God.  The ability isn’t within me…it’s within the anointing…and the anointing only comes from abiding in the Word of God.

Jesus’ discourse on the vine and the branches not only calls the followers of Christ to be connected to (i.e., “stay joined to”) him, but makes sure we let God’s words get connected to us. He calls us to something beyond simply reading. He doesn’t want us to just meditate on his Word; you might say he wants us to marinate in it! Scripture engagement means getting immersed in God’s Word and allowing it to change us. After all, when we open ourselves up to someone, isn’t that exactly what happens? We share more of our thoughts and our ideas, and we more carefully consider the other person’s words and opinions. That is intimacy. That is engagement with the Word of God.

We have to make it a point to search the scriptures daily.  Just like we have to pray daily we must be in the Word of God daily.  The Bible is just as vital to us as breakfast and coffee.  Yes, I admit a lot of times coffee is my breakfast, but the point I’m trying to make is really a very simple one…daily intake of the Word of God is necessary for our spiritual growth and nourishment.  Just as food and water nourish our physical bodies…the Word of God nourishes our spirit…and we’re always told that we need to starve our flesh and feed our spirits.  Most of us are starving our spirits because the only thing it feeds upon is what we take in with our eyes and ears.

Friend, if the only thing you read is the Breaking Dawn series your spirit is feeding on that.  If you read nothing but Sports Illustrated your spirit is feeding on that.  If you read romance novels that have stuff written in them that’s basically soft pornography and some of those are pretty graphic…you’re feeding your spirit that kind of stuff…and what you feed upon is what’s going to show.

I love the use of the word marinate here.  For Mother’s Day, I grilled some steaks for my wife, and I used a marinade for the meat.  The instructions for it that for at least a half and hour or so to put the meat into this marinade before cooking it.  The longer the meat is in the marinade…the more of the flavor from the marinade soaks into the meat.  So, if one person marinated the meat for a couple of hours, and one marinate it for a half an hour…the one who marinated it longer is going to have more flavorful steaks…is that right!?!

So, if the only time you are marinated in the Word of God is on Sunday’s, and you’re pastor is marinating on the Word of God every day…guess why I can walk around quoting scripture?  Guess why there’s more flavoring on his life?  It’s because he is constantly marinating in and upon the Word of God.  Friends, the life changing, life altering Word of God can only be and do that if we’re constantly feeding upon it.

Here’s a great illustration, okay.  I listen to a lot of sports radio.  So, when I get into a conversation with someone about certain sports topics I have allowed myself to be marinated by what I hear from those who are talking about those topics on the radio.  I also listen to a lot of good, solid bible teaching preachers on the radio as well.  I have a mixed marinade of sports and bible based teaching to draw from when I have the opportunity to get into discussions.  I have very little marinade within me when it comes to politics.  There are a lot of people who have a much better ability to explain political things than I do because I don’t marinade my mind with political stuff.

There are words like immerse, marinate, and saturate.  That’s what we’re supposed to be doing with the Word of God.  Marinating in it, being immersed in it, and saturated with it.  The more we are reading, the more we study, and the more we feed upon the Word of God the more it will impact who we are and how our lives are shaped by what we read.  It’s also going to help us to know who is preaching a bunch of mumbo jumbo, and rightly divided scripture.  Friends, the only way we can really, truly know God’s voice is by abiding in His Word.  That’s how we know what His voice sounds like…and that’s why it’s so important to understand by reading the Bible we are abiding in Him because His Word is His Voice.

Can I ask you a simple question before moving on to the next point…what do you allow your mind to marinate on?

Jesus doesn’t just tell these leaders that in order to experience intimacy with him they need to let his words dwell richly within them. Jesus says that if they allow his words to become part of their lives, thoughts and actions, then they “will become fruitful disciples” (v. 8).

I don’t know about anyone else, but when Jesus talks about something that will help me to become a fruitful disciple…I want to listen.  I want to try to do what He says will make me fruitful.  Here’s another word that comes out of a message like this, and that word is intimacy.  If you want to have, develop, and maintain a real, serious, intimate relationship with God…you cannot do it if you do not read His Word.  I can’t say it anymore clearer then that.  If you don’t read the Bible…don’t expect to know God as intimately as someone who reads it all the time.  If you want the kind of relationship with God that your pastor has…I bet you if you asked him why he has such an intimate relationship with God…he’s going to tell you it’s because he spends time with God.

If you want to have an intimate relationship with God you must allow these four things to become the most important parts of your day…and before you start doing these things try to find yourself a private, quiet intimate place where you can get alone with God…and DO them.

Number one…take time to worship Him.  Thank Him and praise Him.  Give Him glory, honor, and praise for what He’s done, what He’s doing, and what He’s yet to do in your life.  Thank Him for giving His Son so that you can be in relationship with Him.  Praise Him for His faithfulness, goodness, love, and holiness.  Personal praise and worship is a necessary part of this intimate relationship because it allows His presence to fall and once it does then you’re ready to do the rest.

Number two…pray.  Friends, the most important part in any relationship is communication.  When we pray we are talking to God, but remember that communication goes both ways and this is why it’s important to get away in to a quiet, private place known by many as a prayer closet.  Because it’s just as important for you to talk to God about what’s in your heart and on your mind as it is to listen to Him, and one of the ways we listen is by doing the next thing.

Number three…read the Bible.  I can’t tell you how many things I’ve prayed about and gotten the answer by reading it in the Bible.  The Word of God is the Voice of God.  If you want to know what He thinks about certain subjects then find them in the Word of God, and do a word study.  If you want to know what God has to say about sex before marriage for example…you can find out all about it if you do a word study on fornication.  If you want to find out about how God feels about drinking alcohol then you can do a word study on drunkards.  If you want to find out about how the Bible can encourage you to know your saved…then you can do a word study on salvation.  The answer for every issue of life is found in the Bible.  If you want to know what He thinks about divine healing…it’s in the Bible. If you want to know what His will is concerning your life, pray about it, and then get into the Word of God…I promise you that if you pray before you open the Bible you will inevitably find the answer you were looking for within His Word.

Number four…regular church attendance.  Listen to me very carefully.  If you’re going to church to chat with the Johnson’s then you’re wasting your time.  That’s why there’s coffee shops and places to go for lunch or brunch or whatever else.  If you go to church for the sole purpose of having an encounter with God’s presence…I promise you that’s exactly what you’re going to have.  In fact, for me I’ve come to realize that the only real purpose for going to church is to be instructed something by the Word of God that’s going to be profitable for me (2 Timothy 3:16-17), but the other reason is because I am going is for the sole purpose of encountering God’s presence.

I promise you that if you get serious about being serious with God, and you incorporate those four things into your relationship with Him before long you’ll start to notice how different your relationship with God becomes.  You’ll notice you can hear His voice clearer, and feel His presence more often.

The main difference between Christianity and any other religion in the world is the fact that our God desires to have intimate fellowship with each and every one of us.  We truly can abide in Him and with Him.  We can have as intimate a relationship with Him as Adam and Eve did in the garden before sin entered into the world.  We can have that kind of relationship with Him.  He wants to be our Father…He wants us to refer to Him as “Abba, Father” which is the Bible’s description of an intimate term…He wants us to know Him as Daddy.

If you want that kind of relationship with God then we must abide in Him, and the main way we do that is by maintaining a healthy relationship with the Word of God.  Again, it’s as important to our relationship with God as food and water are to our nourishment within our bodies.  The more of the Word of God we feed upon the more nourished we will be…Amen!?!

It’s tempting for leaders to live out of insufficient sources of motivation — from sheer adrenaline or over caffeinated to tracking it out on the ministry treadmill or running on auto-pilot. As leaders, we often face the question, “What am I living out of?” In other words, “What is my prime source of motivation and strength as a leader?” Christ wants us to obey him and live for him out of the motivation of relationship, intimacy and love (cf., Luke 10:27). And that intimacy stems from the place we give to God’s Word in our lives.

I can understand why it’s tempting to use someone else’s book for a sermon.  Preaching the Word of God isn’t very entertaining.  You know, when I’m in church I’m not there to be entertained…I’m there to be enriched and enlightened and instructed.  Sure, my pastor’s usually have some kind of joke or funny or something they do…but it’s not about being entertained it’s about being educated in the things of God.

Listen, we went through hours upon hours of classroom instruction to receive our diplomas or college degrees or whatever, right?  It’s the same thing with the Word of God.  Faith comes by hearing and by hearing the Word of God, right?  So does knowledge, understanding, and the ability to rightly divide scripture.  Much of the foundational beliefs I have today are because of the teaching of my pastors, and of course the Holy Ghost teaching me His Word while I was studying it.

I have nothing against reading good Christian books.  I read them.  However, what’s important to understand here is the reason we grow from glory to glory and faith to faith is because of what we learn and have revealed to us by and thru the Word of God.  The Bible is of vital importance to us as believers.  It’s so important that if we don’t take time to read it, study it, and have it preached to us…then we will be spiritually malnourished…and don’t even get me started on why there’s so many powerless Christians walking around…I will just say it’s because they’ve neglected to read the Word of God…and really feed upon it.

Scripture engagement brings us closer to God…and I don’t know about anyone else…but my desire is to always do things that will bring me closer.  The more of His presence I experience in my life the better, and one of the best ways to abide in Him is to make sure we’re abiding in His Word.  Amen!?!

In Closing:

Well, praise God!  Did you receive this message today?  Can we all agree that we can do a better job of taking time to abide in God’s Word?  I know I can.  I know that I don’t spend nearly enough time reading the Word of God that I should.  I’m a pastor that writes Bible based messages, and I admit I can still spend more time reading the Bible.

It’s important for us to really spend time with God in our quiet place with Him as well.  I gave four things that will help to improve our intimacy with God, and I would like to encourage you to take the next month or so to do those things.  Test them out.  Most importantly, find yourself a quiet, private place where you can go to be alone and be with God.  Turn on some worship music, turn off your phones, televisions, and just focus all of your attention upon Him…and see if doing this doesn’t change the relationship you have with God.

Thank you all for your continued support of Christlike Ministries NWA.  All of you who follow this ministry are a blessing to me and confirmation that I’m doing exactly what God destined and called me to do.

Blessings and Grace to you.

Pastor Bryan Kizer

Christlike Ministries NWA

“My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.” (1 Cor. 16:24)

 

 

“Changed” – How A Country Song Blessed My Sins Off

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“I got off track, I made mistakes…back slid to that place where souls get lost, lines get crossed…and the pain won’t go away…I hit my knees, now here I stand. There I was, now here I am…Changed.”

I have listened to this song about 25 times already since downloading it.  There’s a beautiful message in this song, and a fantastic testimony that I believe could be the testimony of anyone of us that are whosoever’s who have called upon the name of the Lord.

I know there are some who are going to frown upon me for posting a “country music band“, but if you’re too religious to enjoy a song like this…I’m sorry…but I’m not.  This song is awesome, tells an awesome story, and I’m not ashamed to say it’s blessed me…yes…a country music band sang a song that’s blessed me…the pastor of Christlike Ministries NWA.

God can use anyone who has a desire to be used by Him, and whether it’s the members of the band (which I applaud for putting this kind of song on a country music album…and releasing it to be played on the radio), the songwriter, the stations who aren’t afraid to play this song, or a man like me who isn’t too religious to hear the message of hope, reconciliation, and the gospel in this song…then who am I to frown upon it…and say this can’t be of God.  I believe it is, and therefore I am posting it…and if that causes me to be hated or persecuted…Praise the Lord!

I will support anything that has a message like this.  A message that says no matter how far off track you are…God is always waiting and watching for you to appear at the end of the drive way…like He does for all of us who are Prodigal sons and daughters…and if you’ve forgotten what it’s like to come back to the Father after back slidding away from Him…there’s a pretty good chance you’re backslidding right now…or you have too much pride.

There’s been many a time that the chorus of this song has been my life…but the best part of the good news of the Bible is that no matter how far off track you get…God is always ready, willing, and waiting to take you back…dust you off, put a robe & ring on you, kiss your face, and kill the fatted calf to throw a party for your return.  Never forget that when we return…how God rejoices…and that’s not my message…that’s the message of the Prodigal son which is in the Word of God.

I hope this song blesses you…like it has me…and reminds you (like it did me) that we can always come home…to our Daddy.

Blessings & Grace to you
Pastor Bryan J. Kizer
Christlike Ministries NWA
“My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 16:24 (KJV)

7 Hebrew Words for Praise: “Shabach”

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Scripture References:

  • “O clap your hands, all peoples; shout (shabach) to God with the voice of joy (or triumph).” (Ps 47:1)
  • “One generation shall praise (shabach) thy works to another and declare thy mighty acts.” (Ps 145:4)
  • “Cry aloud and shout (shabach) for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” (Isa 12:6)

Introduction:

Welcome to message number four of seven in our current series: “7 Hebrew Words for Praise”. We’re almost finished with this series, and then it will be time to check with the Holy Ghost to see where we go from here. I am really enjoying the opportunity to write this series of messages, and am hoping that you’re all getting as much out of these messages as I am. It truly is an honor and a privilege to be able to do this, and have the unction and backing of the Holy Ghost. It’s a lot of fun to write these messages, and just wait for the Holy Ghost to take control.

So, I’m excited to see where the Lord will take us today as we talk about this fourth of the seven Hebrew words for praise. Please join me as we find out together what the Lord would have us to know about this form of praise.

Today’s Message: “Shabach”

I think today’s message is really going to be excellent. I have a sense that the Lord has some things to say similar to what He’s already been speaking to us, and continuing to challenge us to become more radical and as we found out on day one…clamorously foolish when it comes to worshiping our King of kings and Lord of lords…Amen!?!

Shabach means, “to shout, to address in a loud tone, to command, to triumph.”

Well, that’s pretty simple isn’t it. The correct way to pronounce this word is this way: shaw-bakh’. I realize that doesn’t sound to easy…so the way we say this word is Shaw Bach…I hope that’s a little more helpful than shaw-bakh’. Maybe I can search Google for an image of what we’re about to talk about. I know there’s several songs that use Psalm 47:1 in them “shout unto God with a voice of triumph…shout unto God with a voice of praise (shabach).” That’s what “Shabach” is, that’s what it means…when we shout unto God…that’s exactly what Shabach is.

“Shout Unto God With A Voice of Triumph”

Instead of finding an image, I found a video of Hillsong’s version of “Shout Unto God” to listen to while you read this message.

Okay, you know exactly where we’re going because we’ve been going here for the last three messages. This goes back to the shouting clamorously foolish for our favorite sports team, but when we are in church for some reason we can barely muster up a voice to shout “Jesus” or “Hallelujah” or “Praise the Lord”. Now, before you think that I’m only speaking to you…I have inserted the “we” here because I am just as guilty of standing in church some times with passionless worship while I can be excited and shout out “touchdown” or “homerun”.

Listen, (I guess I have adopted Charles Stanley‘s “Listen” as my catch phrase when the Lord gives me something important to say.) I’ve had the Holy Spirit deal with me about these things that’s why and how I know they’re done in the church pew or seat or in the midst of an amazing conference. All I know is that when I can’t shout for God, but I can for the Redskins or White Sox or Badgers or whomever it is I’m cheering for…then the problem isn’t with the worship band, it’s not the song choice, the melody or rhythm of the song…the problem is within me. That problem is what I touched on a little bit in the last message…it’s know as PRIDE.

Before you say it. I understand that some of you are from religious places that frown upon shouting to the Lord as well. I know that there are congregations out there who prefer you to sit quietly while the worship team sings their songs, and when they’re finished then you can clap and maybe say a few amen’s, shake some hands, and then be seated quickly so the sermon can be given. I’ve been there with you. I know what that’s like, and that’s why I’m no longer in those places…because I can’t be in a place that’s passionless about their worship and pursuit of the heart of God. Not anymore because my passion and pursuit of the heart of God demands that I do something other than sit or stand in a place that has no passion for God.

Christlike Ministries NWA Family, the Bible says that God is looking for people who will worship Him in spirit and in truth, and a lot of folks focus on the spirit and truth part of that. However, what I hear when I read that verse is that God is looking for people who will worship HIM. Christlike Ministries NWA Family, we know that our God is a jealous God so why is it that we can shout “Woo Pig Suey” for the Razorback games, but when we’re standing in church the worship leaders have to practically beg us to get out of our flesh, press past our situations and circumstances and maybe muster up enough of a voice to shout out a half-hearted “Amen”.

Look, I’ve come to realize and to the point where I don’t give a rip who is around me or what anyone else thinks of me. God has done so much for me, with me, through me, and now because of me that there’s no reason I can think of that prevents me from worshipping God with passion and love and awe because of who He is and what He has done. Therefore, if I feel the urge to shout while I’m praising and worshiping God…then that’s what I’m going to do. If I feel the need to “Halal” God (get clamorously foolish for Him), if I feel the need to “Towdah” God (raise a hand to Him when I’m driving), or if I feel the need to “Yadah” God (extend my hands in praise and worship of Him) or in today’s case “Shabach” God (shout unto God with a voice of triumph and praise)…I’m going to do that because for no other reason…He is worthy of my praise, my adoration, and for me to worship Him in the way that He is seeking.

For crying out loud, friends. If we have nothing other than Jesus to shout over…then that is more than enough for us to shout about from here to eternity. That’s not adding into all of the things that He’s done in, with and through our lives. That’s not including the countless people He’s used us to touch, or the countless number of people He’s used to touch our lives. That’s not including the many things that He’s blessed us with, the grace that He gives us every time we fail Him, the mercy He shows when we fall, and the love He gives us that makes us inseparable from Him once we’re His children. There is so much that God has done that I can hardly keep from shouting as I’m writing this message.

“Shout unto God with a voice of triumph”. God IS victorious, friends. He has already fought the battle and secured the victory for us…and He won the battle. God has NEVER lost. He has a perfect record. There is none or no one that has defeated Him. Just as a short list…He has defeated death, hell, the grave, sin, sickness, disease, and more just by sacrificing Jesus upon the Cross…in your place and mine. Jesus made an open spectacle of satan as He took back the keys, He took back the authority that Adam lost in the garden, and He brought satan through the streets like the old solders used to do with kings that they defeated in battle to embarrass and bring them to an open shame. That is what the death, burial, and resurrection did…it allowed Jesus to drag satan through the streets of hell in an embarrassing fashion. In fact, there is scripture in Isaiah that says that when we finally get to Heaven…we’re going to take one look at satan…and we’re going to say to ourselves: “this is who gave us so much trouble?”…because he is stripped of all his power. The ONLY power he has over us and our lives is the power and access we give him…because if we’re believers and in Christ…then we’re fighting against an enemy that’s already been defeated.

So…how can I not shout unto God because there’s so much that He has done and won for us without us doing anything. The best part is the ONLY thing we have to do in order to take part in all of this is to believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior…and EVERYTHING that God did for us through Jesus is ours…EVERYTHING.

Listen, there wasn’t anything left out when it comes to the Cross. God thought of absolutely EVERYTHING and nailed it to the Cross with Jesus. So, whether it’s sin, cancer, or whatever it is you can possibly think of…God has already defeated it! He’s already purchase the victory. He has already won every battle we will ever face. He is victorious…and through Jesus so are we. If that doesn’t get you to wanting to shout…then you may need to have someone hold a mirror in front of your face to see if you’re still breathing or check your pulse to make sure your heart is still beating. I can’t even write this message without wanting to shout.

Christlike Ministries NWA Family, I understand that some times we’re tired from work or we have a million things going on. I understand that some times we have situations and circumstances we’re facing that the devil tries to use to keep us quiet. I can imagine there were many times that those people who were walking around the walls of Jericho that they had many opportunities to think that what they were doing was stupid or useless. I’m sure there were lots of solders watching them march around the walls thinking what a bunch of morons they must be. I’m sure there was a lot of ridicule. However, when they shouted and those walls came down…I would’ve liked to have been there as faith arose in them like never before.

Christlike Ministries NWA Family, can I ask you a couple of questions? What walls are standing in your life? What’s going on in your life that a good shout unto God with a voice of triumph could bring down? After all, the best line of that song to me is “the enemy has been defeated”. It doesn’t say “the enemy will be defeated”, “the enemy might be defeated”, or “the enemy could be defeated”. It says the enemy HAS been defeated. That’s past tense, Christlike Ministries NWA Family! That means the enemy was defeated before we did anything…we’re just shouting unto God because He’s the One that secured the victory. Amen!?!

Do you need victory? Do you need breakthrough? Maybe you should try swallowing your pride and giving God some shouts of triumph and praise…and see if those walls of your own Jericho come down.

Conclusion:

I hope that you have enjoyed this message. Please understand that I’m not trying to pick on anyone. I’m just trying to challenge you to be more clamorously foolish in your worship of God. If it’s been a while since you’ve felt His presence, you need an encounter with Him…then some times we need to do something different. Some times we need to praise Him in a different way. I’m trying to encourage you to see God in a different way so that maybe it will fill your heart with more passion and love and the more you think about what He’s done in, with, and through your life…the more difficult it will become to contain your praises and worship of Him.

There’s no malice or any ill-will when it comes to writing these messages. The sole motivation and intent with all of my messages is love and the truth in love. If you feel condemnation…then understand that isn’t coming from God or me…condemnation is from the devil. However, if what you’re feeling is conviction, and that small voice inside of you is speaking to your heart…that’s the Holy Ghost…and He’s trying to let you know that you need to look at your heart…and that perhaps there’s more of you that needs to decrease so that God’s presence in your life can increase.

As always, I wish to thank all of you who take the time to read these messages, and pray that it helps you to begin, develop or maintain your relationship with Him.

Blessings & Grace to you
Bryan J. Kizer
Christlike Ministries NWA
“My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 16:24 (KJV)

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Carols: A Christmas Devotional – Mary Did You Know

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Today’s Scripture:  Luke 1:38

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Introduction:

This carol is quickly becoming one of my favorites just because every time I hear it…there’s some pretty stunning revelations within it.  I feel the Holy Spirit read to let loose…and therefore I’m not going to spend a whole lot of time on this introduction…I’m going to get right into the message…I’m even going to wait till the end to post the video for today…so get ready cause I think this message is about to be awesome!

Today’s Message:  “Mary, Did You Know?”

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding is the great I am

Perhaps the greatest thing that irks me about Christmas is that it’s all about “baby Jesus”, but Jesus is anything but a baby.  He is…the Creator, He is the Lamb of God slain before the foundations of the world, and He is THE Great I AM.

Do you know why everyone wants to think of Jesus as “baby Jesus”?  Because He’s less imposing, and less threatening to our way of life.  See, if we pictured Jesus with eyes like fire coming back upon a pure white horse, with a tongue as of a sword…slaying people by merely speaking…that’s a much different picture than the cute, harmless baby Jesus isn’t it?

It’s much easier to picture baby Jesus than Jesus as the Lion of Judah.  It’s easier to picture Jesus as a baby, and forget about the fact that this baby made you and me as babies.

You see, when you make “baby Jesus” your focus…then you’re only seeing one part of Him.  Yes, the immaculate conception was a miracle.  Yes, the fact that God came to earth in human form, and started life like we all do is a miracle.

But…let us not forget that this “harmless baby” is…the same God that the four beasts sing about all day, every day…the One who is “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty Who Was and Is and Is to Come.”  He’s the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever.  He’s the God of Jacob, Issac, and Abraham.  He’s the God who whipped out cities like Sodom and Gomorrah so completely that there’s no record of their existence still  today.

So…while it’s wonderful to think of Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger…let us not forget that this baby isn’t just a baby…He is the King of kings and Lord of lords…and the whole reason He’s here…is to reconcile us to Himself.  Not bad for a “harmless baby”…Amen!?!

I told you…I felt like the Holy Ghost has some strong things to say through this message…Amen!?!

Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?

This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Can we think about these two lines in the song for a moment!?!  This “baby Jesus” came to make us new creations…in Him.  When you think about the next words…”this Child you delivered would soon deliver you.” How can you not like this song?  How can you not think about some of the lines in this song.  In fact, I would encourage you to Google this songs lyrics…and meditate upon them for a bit.  Because the words in this song tell a story that’s not about some helpless baby Boy…but the story of the Great I Am.

So, I don’t know about you, but I’m not really picturing a cute little baby…I am picturing a powerful and almighty God.  A God who loved me so much that He endured time on earth as a man, endured the Cross, and He did that because He desired to one day deliver me from myself…so that I could have the same kind of relationship with Him as Enoch, Elijah, Moses, and Adam enjoyed.

Enoch and Elijah were the only two men in the Bible who have yet to taste death.  They were raptured out of the world…like we will be one day.  They had such a relationship with God that rather than allow them to taste death…God just simply took them to be with Him.  We all know about how God shielded Moses’ eye and passed him by.  How Moses came down from that mountain shining with the glory of God upon Him.  Finally, Adam enjoyed the greatest relationship with Him because Adam got to walk and talk with God face to face in the cool of the day.

Friends…this little cute baby Boy…came to the world so that you and I could have Adam and Eve’s experience for ourselves.  Every one of us…having the same personal face to face relationship they enjoyed with the Great I am…which Mary one day would give birth to in human form.

This touching song has been played for well over three decades during the Christmas season. The lyrics are beautifully written and contain powerful phrases like Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand and that This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you. It’s a stirring line of questions by the songwriter that cause listeners to stand in amazement at the power of our God.

This “little baby” walked on water, calmed stormy seas, turned water into wine, fed thousands with a couple of fish and loaves of bread, and of course went to the Cross to deliver us all from ourselves and the power of hell, sin, and the grave.  This song is powerful, and I would really like to encourage you to take the time to read and reflect upon the lyrics of this song…and I challenge you to not come away with a different perspective on Jesus.  I know that when I actually really listened to the words of this song…I was blown away by it…and in a small way envious.  I was envious because Mary actually got to kiss the face of Jesus…what a moment that must’ve been when she realized Who she was actually kissing.

We really don’t know much about Mary except that she was a virgin and probably in her early teens. According to Luke 1:28, we know that she was “”highly favored” and that “”the Lord was with her”. Even without a stunning resume, God used her. Sweet, little Mary who kept to herself and wasn’t a big “”play maker” was invited by the Creator of the universe to change the world.

This brings me to a point with you and I.  You know what is so neat about the way God chose people?  They’re all simple people.  Jesus’ disciples weren’t the smartest and brightest from the Pharisee academy…they were regular people like you and I.  They weren’t the Scribes or religious zealots of that day.  They were tax collectors, fishermen, and the like.

God has always used regular people to accomplish the most through.  King David wasn’t a mammoth of a man, but a shepherd boy.  Abraham was Abram at first.  Noah wasn’t some pretty boy…neither was Moses.  In fact, it wasn’t until the Damascus Road experience with Paul that God had someone who was well versed in the scriptures and the law…but by the time God was done with Paul…Paul said that all that stuff he knew was rubbish, dung, worthless compared to the knowledge of Jesus…and that he still wanted to know more.

So, this brings me back to us.  You know, I’m certainly not a theologian, and I’ve never been to Bible School even.  I’ve never been to journalism school or taken creative writing classes to learn how to be a blogger for Jesus.  I just started writing because I believed that was what God wanted me to do…and well over 250 messages later…I’m writing messages that are transforming people’s lives.

What’s my point?  God doesn’t need flashy people to accomplish His mission…He needs yielded people.  Listen, you may look at yourself in the mirror like I did, and wonder how in the world God could use someone like you…but He can.  In fact, if you’re asking yourself that question…that more than likely means you already know what God’s calling you to do…because no one really looks at themselves in the mirror to ask what God would want with us…unless we know God’s letting us know He wants to use us to accomplish His Great Commission.

Friends, I don’t care if you don’t know the entire Bible from cover to cover.  I don’t.  In fact, there are some books of the Bible I have never even read before…but yet…God’s using me…and the only difference between us is that I stopped asking “why me?” and started believing “why not me?”.

Remember, the Bible says that God will use the foolish things of the world to confound the wisdom of the wise.  God’s had the mega church pastors, and they’re messing things up pretty badly aren’t they?  We have a whole lot of preachers that have become prosperity pimps, others are preaching a counterfeit gospel where everyone is going to heaven, and there are others who are preaching things that are way more damaging that others.

I believe the days of the superstar preachers are over.  It’s the small time, small town preachers like Pastor Cass Hill of New Life Christian Center who still believe and follow Paul’s admonition to “Preach the Word”.  We still believe that the Bible is the ultimate authority for a believer’s life…and that it’s just as valid today as ever before…and that it still speaks to the needs of men today.  It’s the evangelists like my friend and mentor  Evangelist Josh Radford who know of the hour in which we live, and has a heart on fire for reaching the lost.  It’s people like me who recognize that God’s calling us to use special gifts and talents like writing these messages to reach, feed, and disciple God’s sheep.

In case you’re wondering…if you’ll surrender your life…He most definitely can and will use you too.  All God’s looking for is people who are totally sold out for Him, and are willing to lay down their lives for the sake of the call of ministry.  Ministry is nothing more than using the gifts, talents, and abilities you have to serve others.  Maybe you’re a dance instructor…don’t you know that you can teach people to dance for Jesus.  Maybe you’re a poet…don’t you know that you can write poems about the love, grace, and mercy of God.

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do.  Everyone has gifting, abilities, and talents that God has given them…and when put to use for the advancement of the Kingdom of God…that’s your ministry.  So…what I’m saying is that if you’re willing…God can and will use you to change and effect other people’s lives…for Him.

Many think the reason He chose her is because of her willingness. Upon hearing how this would play out in her life, Mary’s response was, “”I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” (Luke 1:38)

Mary simply said yes to her Lord with no conditions whatsoever.

I promise you that I didn’t read this next part of the devotional until just now.  I just got done saying that God can use anyone who just simply says “yes, Lord.”…without condition.

Listen, when I began to understand what I was called to do…I didn’t say:  “Yes, Lord, I’ll start writing messages, but I must have 1,000 Facebook followers before I do.”  Do you want to know what I said?  My answer was very simple.  “Yes, Lord, I don’t care if the only person I write these messages for is myself…I will do it…because I know You’re calling me to use what I have for Your glory.”

That’s all God is looking for, friends.  A ready and willing vessel.  I didn’t say able because God will make sure you’re able to carry out whatever it is He’s calling you to do.  Listen, I didn’t start out writing messages like this.  In fact, if you read my earlier messages…they’re kind of a mess…but now I’m writing a whole lot better messages.  There’s still spelling, grammar, and other errors…but little by little…God’s helping to develop me as a writer and help me to get better…He’s making me able…all He needed from me was a willingness to do what He was asking me to do…He’s taken care of the rest, friends.

Remember I said that I’d write these messages no matter how many I’m writing for.  Today there are well over 200 people who these messages are being shared with, and the best part is that some of them are all over the world.  Places like Iraq, India, Africa, England, Europe, Asia, and more.  I’m reaching people all over the world.  I never expected all of that when I started.  I figured most of my family and friends would be ministered to, but He took what I thought would happen…and showed me that my vision was too small.

I don’t want to go there because there’s a lot of specific stuff that can be hard to understand, and I really don’t have the time or the utterance of the Holy Ghost to get into all of that.  All I am saying is that if you’re willing He is able to take you and make whatever talents and abilities you have…become something so extraordinary that you’re stunned and in awe of what God can do.

Every once in a while I will go back and re-read messages I’ve written and I’m stunned at what I’m writing.  I’m amazed that these messages are coming from me, but then I realize that I have the greatest person training me…and I realize that the Holy Ghost knows what He’s doing…and perhaps my greatest talent is that I’m learning to get out of the Holy Ghost’s way…like I did with this message.

I told my wife that I was just going to get this message started.  In the last four days, I have worked almost 50 hours…and I have tomorrow off…and then it’s back to work for another night.  So…I’m in desperate need of some rest, but when I saw that this was the song for today’s message…I knew I would get started…and the Holy Ghost would take over.

Where are you in your life right now? How much of “”you” have you truly surrendered? Are you living the truth that “”your life is not your own” and that you’ve been “”brought with a price”? Is there something that you are missing out on because you won’t let Him lead?

I have surrendered a lot of myself, and I have a whole lot more yet that I need to.  I definitely know that my life is not my own today, and that I’m bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.  I am an Ambassador for Christ…the Pastor and Founder of Christlike Ministries NWA.  I am called and chosen by God to use this particular method to walk in the vocation in which I’m called and chosen to walk in.

I am in the place of my life where I am some times stunned at what God’s doing in me, with me, and through me.  I’m amazed that when I look at the global reach I have with these messages, and in the beginning I thought I was barely going to reach people outside of my home.  But I see places like Ghana and I’m just amazed at how small my vision was…and how much bigger a plan God had.

We have a Messiah. His name is Jesus. He is the Savior of the world. He walked on water without a single bit of effort. He came and died to make us new. He gave sight to a blind man with some dirt and saliva. He woke up from a deep sleep and calmed a raging storm with his human hand. He fed over 5,000 people with a bit of bread and fish. He does the miraculous. And He has amazing plans for your life.

Friends, let’s stop thinking of Jesus as this helpless baby Boy, and start remembering that this baby is the Great I Am.  He’s the God of all Creation, and He’s the God that created you.  He has created you for this time, and there is a purpose for your being here.  God doesn’t just place people into the world randomly…He has a purpose, plan, and destiny for every person in the world at this exact time.

The difference.  There’s a lot of un-surrendered people walking around not knowing that God’s called them to do great and mighty things for Him.  There are many of you who were like me at first…wondering how in the heck God could use you for any good in this world, but it’s not up to us to decide whether or not we’re worthy.  If you’re wondering what in the world God could use a loser like you for…that means that first of all…you’re not a loser…and secondly…you already know God’s got a plan and purpose for you.

God decides and choses where we fit into the body of Christ as it pleases Him.  He knows what gifts, talents, and abilities He’s placed inside of you.  He also knows exactly how to develop them, and what He gave them to you for…and how they can be used to reach the people He’s called you to reach.

Let’s stop being so in love with this cute baby Boy known as Jesus…and start getting a revelation of just who God really is…and the fact that this little baby Boy is waiting to not only deliver you…but use you for the purpose of reaching and delivering others…through you.

Did you receive all of this?  I sure hope you did.  I’m going to close with a prayer, and then add today’s video and stuff at the end.  I just feel like we need to pray…and then we’ll go with what the Lord wants to do…Amen!?!

Let’s Pray:

Oh, Lord God, I just come before You to give You praise, glory, and honor.  Father, I sense that there are people reading this message that are in the midst of a struggle to understand why or how You could use them…just as I did…and some times still do.  Father, none of us know the impact that we’re going to have on the world.  I certainly never envisioned reaching people in other nations, but You have drawn so many people to this ministry in so many nations…including these United States of American.

Lord, I pray for those who are struggling to believe they can be used by You.  I pray this message would be an encouragement to them to ask You to show them what it is that You would have them to do.  I ask that You would give them the wisdom, courage, and ability to seek Your face…and that You would begin to shine Your light upon what You’ve placed within them to do for You and the advancement of Your Kingdom and the Gospel.

Lord, I pray for myself…that You would continue to open my eye to see the work that You’ve done and have yet to do in my life…and through my life.  I pray that I would be an encouragement to those who are straddling the fence as to whether to get into ministry or not.

Most of all, I thank You for sending Jesus to die in my place so that I could have fellowship with You.  Lord, I ask You to be with each and every one of us this night…and that You’d speak things to our hearts that You’ve never spoken.  I ask that You’d give us ears to hear Your voice today, tonight, and this entire weekend.

I ask that You would remind us that this little baby Jesus is the Great I Am…and that You are desiring to do great and mighty things through us.  Thank You for the Cross, Lord.  Thank You for the nail pierced hands.  Thank You for Your love Lord, thank You for the Blood of Jesus that washes and cleanses me of all unrighteousness…and I thank You for all that You’re doing, all that You’ve done, and all that You have yet to do in…with…and through my life.

I give You all the praise, all the glory, and all the honor.  I pray and ask these things in Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen.

Be A Doer…Not Just A Reader:

These are some really good questions to meditate, think, and pray upon.  I hope you’ll take the time to seek God’s face…and ask Him to reveal to you how you should answer these questions:

What have you not surrendered to God?

What is keeping you from doing so?

Today’s Video:

I have always liked this version of this song…enjoy:

Mary Did You Know By Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd

 

In Closing:

Well, I thought I was just going to start this message, but I got it all the way finished.  I guess some times even I have to learn to rely upon and trust that the Holy Ghost is going to help me do what I think is impossible.  I would like to add yet again that I thank all of you for your patience, and that I really need your prayers.

“Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:2)
Blessings & Grace to you
Bryan J. Kizer
Christlike Ministries NWA

 

Carols: A Christmas Devotional – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

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Today’s Scripture:  Luke 10:41-42

(41)  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:  (42)  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Introduction:

Are you as surprised as I am to see this as one of the “Christian” Christmas Carols?  I guess that we really shouldn’t be surprised, however.  I am looking forward to seeing what this carol can teach us, and how we can apply the message in the song to our walk with God.

Today’s Video:

I Always Enjoyed Kenny G’s music…and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas one of his best pieces.

 

Today’s Message:  “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Let your heart be light.

From now on, our troubles will be out of sight.

How is it that our troubles can be out of sight?  How can our hearts be light?  It’s not easy to see how the story of Mary and Martha can be added to the Christmas story, but when you think of the hustle and bustle of the holiday’s (starting with Thanksgiving)…it’s easy to see how we can become distracted and so busy like Martha was.

We all have jobs that we have to go to work for.  We still have the daily things and chores to do.  We have Christmas shopping to do, and once we have the gifts we have to wrap them (and hide them from snooping kids or spouses).  We have dinners to make, Christmas parties to plan or attend, and maybe for the first time in months…a desire to return to church…after all…Christmas is about Jesus.

We can become so busy and overwhelmed by life that we forget the most important thing of all…the thing that Mary understood as the single most important thing.  Sitting at the feet of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In the last message, I talked about the importance of spending time in God’s presence, and how that we need to find that place where we don’t lose the awe that we have of our relationship with Him.  Mary understood that.  Even in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of having Jesus as a house guest…Mary understood that there was a time to serve…and a time to be served…and we all need to understand the same thing.  We cannot minister to anyone if we aren’t first ministered to ourselves.

If we’re starving spiritually…we cannot feed anyone.  Mary understood that, and it’s one of the things we need to understand as well.  Sitting at the feet of Jesus is something that we all must do…if Jesus said that Mary found the one thing that is needful…then that means it’s needful for all of us.  I don’t know about you, but when Jesus talks about something being the most important thing…I think we ought to listen…and do what He says is important…Amen!?!

Christmas can seem like a rat race at times. There is all of the hectic last-minute shopping at crowded malls while struggling to find the perfect gift for someone, the decorating the house (including checking every single bulb on the strand of lights to find the one at the very end that shorted out the rest), wrapping present after present after present, or preparing for the family to come and take over the house for the day. It is easy to get lost in the busyness of Christmas, and to miss the things that are really important.

Before you ask…no I didn’t read the devotion before I started writing, but a good way to know if we’re on the right page with God is everyone basically seems to say the same things.  I think if we’re honest, we can expand the rat race to the pre-Thanksgiving plans can’t we?  Like I said a moment ago, there’s planning where the meals are going to be, whose all going to be able to make it, and thus the rat race of the Holiday’s begins…and it doesn’t end until New Year’s.

In addition to our normal lives, we add Christmas shopping, getting a Christmas tree, putting up the decorations, making out Christmas cards, Christmas parties, wrapping Christmas gifts, and then some.  There’s so much that goes into Christmas.  Not only do we have our families to shop for, but many of us have company Christmas parties to attend and shop for.

You know, when I think of Martha running around so busy when Jesus came to visit…it actually is a great illustration of what happens to us during the holiday’s…and why instead of being a time of relaxation and fellowship…many of us wind up tired and exhausted.  The busyness of the season is such that it can sap the joy, and very rest from our lives.

You see, it’s the commercialization of Christmas that’s made it such an easy thing for the devil to get us distracted, and that’s why we need reminders that “Jesus is the reason for the season”.  I’m in that boat too.  I’m not immune to being distracted by the busyness of the world…you know being in ministry is a lot like preparing for the holiday’s.

Do you know that I believe the reason most in ministry get burned out is because they’re all a bunch of Martha’s?  They are involved in so much, and many of them (myself included)can get so busy that we forget that what’s even more important than the work we do is the time we spend with the Lord.  We become so busy, and we mistake doing the work of the ministry as being in the presence of the Lord.  We all need to remember to be more like Mary…and take the time to sit at the feet of Jesus.

It’s hard to say that we shouldn’t be too busy to spend time with the Lord, but the truth is…there’s nothing more important than spending time with the Lord.  How do I know that?  I know it because Jesus said there’s one thing that is needful that will never be taken away from us.  We need to take time to be “continually filled”, and to sit at the feet of the Master for ourselves…and that includes the busyness of life and preparations for the holiday’s.

We see this happen in the book of Luke, when Jesus goes to eat in the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha spends her time running around cooking, serving dinner, and cleaning, which are very good things, but are busy things. Meanwhile, Mary sits in the company of Jesus. When Martha asks Jesus to tell her to work too, He tells her that, “”Mary has chosen what is better.”

Jesus spoke of the third kind of soil being that as soil that has the Word of God choked out of them by the cares of the world.  We see this in Martha as she’s frantically trying to put together something to offer Jesus, but Mary offers Him something more.  Which brings me to this point:  Our time with the Lord is more important than what we do for the Lord.

Listen, I don’t know about anyone else in ministry, but I NEED to spend time at the feet of Jesus.  I can’t even write good messages if I don’t spend time with Jesus.  I can’t be any thing close to what and who God wants me to be…apart from spending time with Jesus.  I need the hem of His robe.  I need that better thing…because at the feet of Jesus is where I am ministered to by Him.  That’s where I get what I need from Him, and if I neglect spending time with Him there…that’s when my life starts getting out of whack…and I wind up being out of balance.

I don’t have perfect balance in my life, but when I neglect time at the feel of Jesus…I find myself more like Martha than I do Mary.  I don’t know about anyone else, but I want to be more like Mary.  I want to find more time to be like Mary…and sit at Jesus’ feet.  I NEED to find more time to sit at the feet of Jesus…How about you!?!

Jesus is trying to tell us to live in the moment. It is great that you are willing to be like Martha, and make sure that all of the popcorn is strung up, but it is not worth missing the opportunity to have a real conversation with a family member you don’t see often, or when your child’s face lights up because Santa indeed got that letter and delivered exactly what they asked for. It is not about all that we have to do, the list of things we have check off, but it is all about the moment.

“Live in the moment.”.  That’s so easy to say isn’t it?  It’s so easy to lose track of time, isn’t it?  I mean there are times where it’s Friday, and it feels like Monday was just yesterday.  I have to admit that I’m not very good at living in the moment because there’s many more times that I realize time just gets away from me.  I find that happens more often the less time I spend with Jesus like Mary.  When I run around like Martha it’s easy to allow life to get out of whack and unbalanced, but when I am able to slow down like Mary for the opportunity to sit with the Lord…I’m always amazed that time seems to get away from me less.

This year, don’t miss out on what is better. Take the opportunity to enjoy the time you have with friends and family. Take time not to worry about the things you have to do, but to enjoy the people you get to be with. Be present where you are, because that is what is better, and have yourself a merry little Christmas.

That’s something I was able to do with Thanksgiving, and something I’m trying to continue to do whether it’s a holiday or not.  Slow down, and enjoy life.  It’s hard to do, but it’s important.  I’ve heard it said that there’s not one person on their death-bed who wishes they would’ve spent more time working.  Most of them, I would imagine all wish that they would’ve spent more time with their families.

I don’t want to be on my death-bed before I realize I spent too much time working, and being busy.  Do you?  I’ve also heard it said that life isn’t about the years of your life, but the life in your years.  Maybe this is a message being written by someone who is almost 40, and for the better part of my first 40 years, but the older I get the more I realize that life isn’t about stuff.

I wrote this in A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving on my Christlike Ministries NWA Facebook Fan Page:

I think one of the things that I may be most thankful for is the ability to understand that the abundant life isn’t about stuff, but about the stuff that you can’t buy with money.  The exceeding riches of God’s glory is about having a wealth not of material possessions, but of the fruits of the spirit…because there’s a limit to what you can have in the natural…material realm, but there’s unlimited wealth when it comes to matters of the spirit and heart.  The older I get, and the longer I live…the more I realize that the most important things in life to me…are the things that add to the ability to receive and recognize more of the fruits of the spirit in my life…Things like love, peace, joy, forgiveness, long-suffering.

Do you know where understanding like that comes from?  It comes from learning by sitting at the feet of the Master.  God taught me that the abundant life isn’t about material gain, but about growth as a mature believer.  The exceeding riches of God’s glory has more to do with recognizing that you’re growing the fruits of the spirit in your life, and that the things of the world are less important to you.

The idea of that post was to think of something every day for the month of November that I’m thankful for.  By sitting at the feet of Jesus…it’s those times I can take a reflective look back at life and realize where I was…and where I am today.  It’s how I came to understand another important thing that I wrote in this piece.

Day 26:  I am thankful that I am able to recognize the man that God’s growing me up to be.  I can actually look at myself in the mirror, and like what I see now-a-days.  There was a time when I couldn’t say that, but God’s done such a remarkable work in my life…and maybe the think I’m most thankful for is that He’s not even close to being finished with me yet.  I’m grateful that God is patient and long-suffering with me…and that He’s not shocked when I miss it…and He doesn’t ever throw His hands up in disgust and cast me away…He loves me…and He knows my heart…and I’m so thankful to know that I am His…I know that’s a lot of thankful’s…but most it’s easy to be thankful when you take the time to reflect on who you once were…and who you are today as a result of the grace and mercy and workmanship of God.

I am thankful for being able to sit at the feet of Jesus…because it’s here that He teaches me and molds me and helps me to become who He was designed me to be.  It’s here that He tells me He’s proud of me, and some times He even has to scold me.  It’s here that I’m able to allow the workmanship of His hands to do what He wants…and it’s here that I can take the time to live in the moment.

I know that I need to slow down.  I need to spend more time enjoying life.  I need to spend more time at the feet of Jesus.  I need to spend more time focusing on the better, important, and needful things that Jesus said were important…and that’s something that I am going to focus on.

We only get one opportunity at life…and I don’t know about you…but I’ve wasted enough of mine chasing things that were of lesser value and importance.  It’s time that I spend more time focused on the better things…Amen!?!

Be A Doer…Not Just A Reader:

Today’s assignment is a good one.  I want you to take some time to think about these two questions…maybe take them into that secret place with the Lord…and maybe for the first time ever…or the first time in a long time.  Sit at the feet of the Master…and have Him help you answer these two questions:

What are some things you need to take off the list to make yourself become more like Mary?

What are the better things that you have chosen to be a part of this Christmas?

In Closing:

I think this would be a good message to close with a prayer…Amen!?!  So…let’s pray:

Father, we come before You to sit at Your feet.  Lord, so many of us (myself included) are so busy and flustered with the hustle and bustle of life.  We’re caught up in the rat race, and many of us have had the cares of the world choke out our time with You.  We’ve become Martha’s…so consumed with working, serving, and doing…that we forget that we need to spend time being filled, ministered to, and touched by You.

Lord, I ask You to help us make that list of things that will help us to become more like Mary.  Help us to find the better thing.  Help us, Lord, to find that time to sit at Your feet so that You can love upon us, minister to us, and mold us into the people You desire us to be.

Help us, Oh God, to live in the moments…and instead of being so busy trying to add years to our life…help us to slow down…and learn to add life to our years.  I ask for those who are stretched and stressed that You extend Your hand of love, and remind them that You’ve invited them to give all their cares, concerns and worries to You…in exchange for a lighter load.

Oh, Lord, I pray for us all to learn to enjoy life more, and be less consumed by the things of the world.  Help us to live more, laugh more, love more, and sit at Your feet more.  In Jesus’ name I pray…and ask these things…Amen & Amen

Thank you for joining me today…please come back tomorrow for another message on another song as we count down to Christmas by taking a look at these Christmas Carols…Amen!?!

“Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:2)
Blessings & Grace to you
Bryan J. Kizer
Christlike Ministries NWA

 

Are you humble or prideful? (originally written on September 1, 2011)

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Introduction:

This message was originally written in my Facebook “notes” section.  I thought I would take a look back at some of my first writings, and start working at getting them moved over here to the WordPress site.  I really like this message.  It was written on Thursday, September 1, 2011…which is a few months before the official launching of Christlike Ministries NWA.

I hope you’ll enjoy the look back at some of my earlier messages as I work to get them all posted here, and maybe we’ll even see if the Lord has anything else to say to us through them.

So…here’s “Are You Humble or Prideful” from Thursday, September 1, 2011’

Message:

There are two characteristics that can either make or break a Believer…those characteristics are humility and pride. Being humble by your own efforts can produce pride and cause us to look down upon others that may not have been able to reach your “standard” of Christianity (Look at the Pharisee and the Publican- Luke 18:9-14) Look to the Cross of Christ where humility was demonstrated and afforded for us all and allow the Holy Spirit to clothe you with humility (1 Peter 5:5) Surrender all at the foot of the Cross.

We are all God‘s workmanship, and have no right to boast in pride over anything.
All we do and have is solely based upon the grace and mercy of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Remember that Jesus said in His own words: “apart from Me you can do nothing”?.  Paul writes that we are to do all that we do for God’s glory, and not our own. He also tells us to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to.  The bottom line is as stated in Proverbs the number one sin God hates is pride, and that’s because when we’re full of pride we’re full of ourselves. We’re praising our own efforts, abilities, and accomplishments…we have made ourselves an idol…we’ve made ourselves into a god.

However, when we ever stay connected to the Vine, when we ever keep the Cross before us, and when we remember that all we are and all have is received by grace through faith…humility comes.  When we shrink in our lives in surrender to the will of the Father it is then God who brings the increase to us. Not so we can talk about how great we are, but so that He can put on display for the world how great HE is.

Do you take the credit?

Do you believe you got where you are on your own?
Or

Do you know that everything you are, have, do, and are becoming is because of the grace, mercy, and workmanship of God?

The more I learn from life and the Lord…the more I understand that we’re promised nothing when we’re outside of the will of God for our lives. We’re promised blessings, good things, and more…but those promises are conditional upon us remaining in the will of God for our lives.  When a branch is hanging off of the vine…it is still connected, but in order for it to grow it has to be redrafted to the vine.  Christ is already abiding in us through the person of the Holy Ghost.  Jesus told us the Holy Ghost would be in us, with us, and work through us to accomplish the will of God on the earth.

Friends, John writes in Chapter 15 that Jesus Christ spoke of being the Vine, and that we are the branches connected to that vine. He was the One who said that It’s impossible to for us to grow and bare fruit if we’re not fully connected to the Vine.  The simple reason that so many Christians aren’t experiencing growth because they’re partially separated from the Vine. There are a couple of reasons that there are so many Christians separated from the Vine.  One…they don’t know that they are disconnected from the Vine.  Two…because they are trying to stay connected by works instead of faith.  Therefore, instead of being fully connected to the Vine they are barely hanging on by a thread.

Pride severs us from the Vine because we think we can do things & grow on our own…We cannot.

Humility is what reconnects us to the Vine. When life proves that in our own abilities don’t work, and life will prove that out…it will either cause us to be bitter or realize we need to try a different way.  Now before you beat your chest to talk about the success you’ve had without God…let me assure you that success won’t last long. It’s limited, it’s short-lived, and it’s empty.  I’ve found in my life that the more success I thought I had in my own abilities…not only were my abilities limited, but success was not only limited…it lead me to being discontented with other parts of my life.  Until I learned to start abiding in the Vine…all the success that I thought I achieved was short-lived, and when the failure came…the heart-break from that failure was great.  Remember the Proverb that says with pride comes a great fall.  I know what it’s like to achieve so-called self-made success, and I know what it’s like to achieve Holy Ghost assisted and lead success.  There’s no comparison to the amount of success, and the joy and fulfillment that comes from realizing success comes because of abiding in the Vine.

Listen, here’s a pretty good illustration.  Severed vines may produce fruit.  However, we all know that when you pick from a severed vine even though it’s fruit…it is not good…quality fruit.  In order for a vine to produce good, quality fruit it has to remain attached to the vine…because the vine contains all of the nutrients and life blood that fruit needs to become fully mature…and quality fruit.

Listen, when you go to a grocery store, and you look at a bundle of grapes for example…you can tell the grapes that stayed grafted to the vine because they look better than the ones that didn’t…don’t they.  What do we do with the grapes?  We eat the good-looking grapes, and throw away the bad ones.  How’s that for a picture of the difference between believers who abide in Christ…and those who do not?  Just as there are grapes in the bottom of the bag that we know were once attached to the vine, they’re usually brown, and rotting away on the inside.

Thus…when you have a believer that was once attached to the Vine of Christ…you have believers who are carnal, and beginning to decay on the inside…why because they’re allowing all the stuff from the world to influence them…and eventually because they’re no longer connected to the Vine…they don’t have the life blood of the Holy Spirit flowing through them…to help them fight off things that will cause them to decay and begin to rot on the inside.  Have you ever bitten into a grape that looked good on the inside, but began to decay on the inside?  The don’t taste very good do they?  If you find believers that are not abiding in the Vine…they are the ones who are always struggling, always dealing with sickness, and they’re the ones that Jesus talks about being lukewarm.  Just like we will spit out grapes that taste bad…Jesus says He will spit out lukewarm believers.

On the other hand, when we have believers that remain attached to the Vine of Christ…you have believers who are able to fight off more of the things that will cause them to decay, and get into a carnal mindset.  The life blood of the believer is that still small voice on the inside that tells us not to do things, gives us an urgency to pray for a certain person, pay for someone’s groceries, or simply remind you that you’re the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  We eat the good-looking, plumb, juice grapes because they’ve remained attached to the vine…and they’ve received all the nutrients they need to produce quality tasting grapes.

Friends, let me ask you a couple of questions for you to think about.  Do you know why most Christians have no joy? They are severed from the Vine.  Do you know why Christians are some of the meanest people? They are severed from the Vine.  Do you know why is the divorce rate in the church just as high as it is in the world? They are severed from the Vine.  Why are there Christians who are striving, working, and stressed out? They’re severed from the Vine.

Jesus wasn’t joking when He said “Apart from ME you can do nothing”, but “with God ALL things are possible”.

There’s a quote that’s been given by many a preacher:  “If you want to change the fruit you have to change the root.”  If you want to change what you’re reaping in your life…then you might want to look at whether your rooted and grafted to the Vine of Christ or the vine of the world.  Keeping in mind that while the vine of the world produces fruit…often times it’s not good for us because there’s been nutrients added, and some times artificially added to help produce things that are full of empty calories…and really have no nutritional value.

Can I tell you that’s what religion does?  Religion force feeds you stuff that sounds like it would be good for you, but in reality there’s no nutritional value in your life for what religion teaches.  Yes, they may have some good points, but every lie has a bit of truth in it.  If there wasn’t a bit of truth in every lie…we wouldn’t be so willing to believe the lie.  Someone who is good at manipulation can get people to believe just about anything…sound like someone we know!?!

The devil will always dress up his lies to make them look appealing.  He’s always going to give you things that look and sound good…but when you partake of what he’s giving you…the end result is sin that needs to be repented from.  Let me also say that we’re already forgiven of what ever sin that we get into, but we do have to remember that we need to confess our sins…and when we do God is faithful to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.

Are you rooted in pride or humility?  If you want to change what you’re reaping you have to change what your sowing!  Are you sowing pride or are you sowing humility?  If you want to kick the devil out of your life you have to resist him. What does that mean? It means submitting ourselves to God, and resisting the devil.  We must resist the temptation to get into pride over anything in our lives because God hates a prideful and haughty spirit. If you’re depending upon yourself…you wind up embracing the same thing that caused Lucifer’s fall…God will share His glory with no one…including us.  So, the best way to keep from getting prideful is to practice  1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV):  “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Peter says God resists the proud, but draws near to the humble.  Want more of the tangible presence of God in your life? Humble yourself enough to be able to realize that in everything our dependence is upon Him.  The thing of it is. When we’re dependent upon Him…than He directs our path (Proverbs 3:5-6). And in return we find independence. Not from God, but from the world.

So…are you rooted in pride or humility?

 

Finding Real Happiness (Day 1 of 3)

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Today’s Scripture:

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Corinthians 4:4

Introduction:

With Thanksgiving coming up this Thursday…I thought that this might give us something to talk about so that when it comes our turn at the dinner table to give something we’re thankful for…we might be able to avoid that awkward silence as we think of something profound.  Then again, as Christians we always have one thing to be thankful for…and that’s the fact that we serve a God that’s like no other in the world.

God makes much of us. But the point is to draw us out of ourselves to enjoy his greatness. In this 3-day devotional, John Piper pushes readers beyond the acts of Jesus’ love to see the goal of his love.

I just thought it would be a good idea to take these next couple of days to focus on the goodness of God, and hopefully help those of us (I’m ashamed to admit I’m one of them) who aren’t quite in the holiday spirit yet…to finally get into the spirit of the season…

So…I pray that this series will help us to discover some joy and happiness, and help get us ready for all the holiday festivities, Christmas parties, and dinners with family…and the dreaded Christmas shopping.  So…without any further delay…let’s get into the first message in this three-part series.

Today’s Message:  “Did Christ Die for Us or for God?”

Well, here we go.  If you’re sitting at a family dinner this Thanksgiving where one of the traditions is to give something you’re thankful for…here’s a great place to start.  I know many people will give the vague and classic answer of being able to fellowship with family…many of which we may have not seen in quite some time.  I understand that’s an important part of this holiday, and I’m really not making fun of anyone that says they’re thankful for family…it’s good to be thankful for family…because for the most part unless you’re working on multiple marriages…the family you have is the only one you’re going to get…so it’s good to be thankful for family.

However, I don’t know about you…but I can’t think of anything I could be more thankful than Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.  I am thankful for the Cross because without it…there really isn’t anything to be thankful for…is there.

Seriously.  Have you ever thought about this question:  What if there wasn’t ever a Cross?  What if Jesus never came, lived a sinless life, and became the spotless Lamb to be slain and sacrificed for our redemption?  What if Jesus never was made to be sin so that we could inherit His righteousness?  What if there was no sin atoning Blood of Jesus?

I believe that above all…this is the single most important thing that everyone (believer or not) should be thankful for because with out the Cross…there’s no good news, there’s no hope, and there really isn’t anything to be thankful for…because of the second point there…with out the Cross…we have no hope.

You know, I always pose this question to the atheists and agnostics:  “What if us “Jesus Freaks” are right?”  What if there is a Heaven and Hell, and those who reject Jesus really will die and go to Hell?  But…just for the sake of the opening thought of this message…what if the Atheist’s are right?  What if there isn’t any such thing as life after death…and when we die there’s just an empty nothing?

So…if everyone is giving the patented answer about being thankful to be able to fellowship with family…maybe you can be the one to stick out at the dinner table and shout out:  “I’m thankful for the Cross!”…Amen!?!

Test yourself. What is your mindset? Do you begin with God and his rights and goals? Or do you begin with yourself and your rights and wishes?

For many years…I could take this test, and to be honest…my first thought was indeed myself.  I mean think about the up coming “New Year’s Resolutions”…most of them are centered around personal goals…like losing weight or quitting smoking or working towards that promotion or finding a better career path.  Believe me, I’m not scolding anyone here…I’m guilty of the same thing.  I’m guilty of thinking of myself when it comes to goals or dreams, but last year that changed.

Last year was the first year that God spoke to my heart a theme that He had in mind for me for the year, and as many of you have read…it was simple:  Getting Serious About Being Serious With God, and from that Christlike Ministries NWA was born.  Almost a year later I’ve written just shy of 260 messages, and we’re going to be pretty close to 300 by the year’s end.

I find that I’m starting to have goals like spending more time in prayer, spending more time reading the Bible, spending less time watching television, and I can already tell you that one of my goals for next year is to do a better job of maintaining consistency with these messages.  I want to do a better job of starting and finishing these devotional series we do on time…without taking too many days off, but being diligent to start and finish them on time.  How many of you know if we take more time to take care of the little details of life…the bigger things tend to work themselves out.

I know another goal I’m going to have after the Holiday’s is getting off my butt, and spending time in the fitness center that I have a free pass to.  I know that come March or so that softball is going to be starting again, and I want to be in better shape physically for a couple of reasons.  One, because the Bible is clear that we ought to do a good job of trying to keep our “temples of the Holy Ghost” as healthy as possible.  Two, I realized during the short fall season that I was out of shape and lost a couple of steps…but that could be corrected with a little bit of commitment and work.  Third, I don’t like my expanding waist line.

The most important things to me however…is trying to become the best ambassador for Christ that I can be.  I recently wrote a friend of mine who is a powerful evangelist that I’m extremely young and inexperienced in ministry, and want to learn.  I want to learn to be a better minister and make sure that what I’m saying is sound doctrine.  That I think of him and my own pastors as mentors, and that I’m trying to learn from them so  that I can be a more effective minister and example for Christ.  I am sick and tired of playing around, having one foot in and one foot out…I want to be totally sold out for Jesus, and that’s what John’s talking about here.

Are your goals and dreams just about you…or are they about God?

And when you look at the death of Christ, what happens? Does your joy really come from translating this awesome divine work into a boost for self-esteem? Or are you drawn up out of yourself and filled with wonder and reverence and worship that here in the death of Jesus is the deepest, clearest declaration of the infinite esteem of God for his glory and for his Son?

I promise you that I started writing before I even read any of what Mr. Piper wrote, but here we are getting back to my opening thought of this message.  The greatest thing of all that we as Christians ought to be thankful for is the Cross.  That should give us all the joy and happiness we could possibly need…especially if we’re whosoever’s who have called upon the name of the Lord and are sozo’ed.  I don’t know about you…but if God never did another thing for me…having Jesus die in my place so that I could have a relationship with Him, and not have to worry about where I was going to spend eternity when I die or when Jesus comes back to get me…that’s all I need Him to do.

I’m being sincere here.  If all God did for me was send Jesus to die in my place…that would be enough for me to be thankful for the rest of my life.  I was once an alien to God, but now I have citizenship in Heaven.  I was once I child of disobedience…now I’m  the child of the King of kings and Lord of lords.  I was once lost, but now I am found.  I was blind, but now I see.  I mean what can be more important than knowing your eternal destination is secure…because you’re in Christ Jesus!?!

If you can think of anything more important then that…I’m all ears, but I’m pretty sure that anything you might be able to come up with…all I have to respond with is…what about Jesus?  What about the Cross?  What about salvation?  What about grace?  I think Jesus has anything you could think of beat…Amen!?!

Here is a great objective foundation for the full assurance of hope: the forgiveness of sins is grounded, finally, not in my finite worth or work, but in the infinite worth of the righteousness of God, God’s unswerving allegiance to uphold and vindicate the glory of his name.

I can’t get away from the point that what God did through the Cross what the greatest thing of all because the atoning Blood of Jesus flows from it.  It’s the Blood of Jesus that washes us white as snow, and cleanses us from ALL unrighteousness.  It’s the Blood of Jesus that God used to purchase every single one of us who calls upon the name of the Lord to be saved.  It’s the Blood of Jesus that God sees every time He looks at me, and why He no longer sees my sin…but the Blood of His only Begotten Son.

The Cross is the foundation of everything because without it…there’s no hope.  There’s no forgiveness of sin, there’s no Holy Ghost, there’s no redemption or hope of His glory.  If there was no Cross then we’d still be under the law, and there would be a whole lot of people (including myself) whom God would’ve had to strike dead because He couldn’t look upon or tolerate sin.

There’s nothing more valuable than the Cross.  There’s nothing more precious than the Blood of Jesus…I sure hope I can get an Amen or two from that…Amen!?!

I appeal to you with all my heart, take your stand on this. Base your life on this. Ground your hope in this. You will be free from the futile mindset of the world. And you will never fall.

Take our stand on what?  Base our life on what?  Ground our hope in what?

When God’s exaltation of God in Christ is your joy, it can never fail.

Jesus!  When you’re unashamed to stand for Jesus because even though you may not be able to fully comprehend just how valuable His Blood is, and what it did for you and still does for you…it gives you a reason to rejoice, and be thankful…and humble because you realize that it wasn’t just for the world to receive…but it was for you.

The Cross!  I can’t not think of the Cross without having some kind of reaction.  Some times it’s awe.  Some times it’s tears.  Some times it’s joy.  Because of everything I’ve already spoken of in this message and more.

So…when it comes your turn at the dinner table, and everyone’s given their answers about being able to spend time with loved ones, maybe a promotion they received at work, that new car they got, the new house that they moved into, and you know all the other stuff that’s said…be the one that is unashamed to say:  You know what…I’m thankful for all those things everyone has just said, and it’s clear that we all have a lot to be grateful for.  And I don’t know about anyone else…but I am so thankful that Jesus went to the Cross for me.  It’s so amazing that if there wasn’t anyone else in the world He would’ve still gone to the Cross just for me.  Because of Jesus I have right standing with God, and I know my eternal destination is secure.  That’s what I’m thankful for…

Anyone else feel that way?

Conclusion:

Well…I think maybe that could be a bit of a challenge for us this Thanksgiving.  Instead of making it about material possessions or worldly stuff…why not stand out…and be what for many of us could be the first to say something about being thankful for Jesus.  You never know what kind of impact that can have.  There may be one of your family members at the table who might need to hear that…and they may want to know Jesus as a result of your being unashamed to speak out.  Then again, everyone at the table might roll their eye’s and think “oh…no…there goes another one of them Jesus Freaks”, but I always remember that the less ashamed of Jesus I am before man…the less ashamed of me He is going to be when we’re standing before His Father on that day…and I don’t know about you…but I would much rather Him not have any reason at all to be ashamed of me…Amen!?!

Let’s Pray:

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son.  Lord, as we sit around our Thanksgiving tables this week, I ask that You would remind us of the sacrifice of Your Son, and how valuable to all of us that should be.  Thank You for the Blood, Thank You for the Cross, Thank You for securing our eternal future, and Thank You for providing a way for all of us to be Your son’s and daughter’s.  In Jesus’ name we pray…Amen & Amen

Authentic Prayer from James MacDonald (Day 7 of 7)

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Today’s Scripture:  Jeremiah 33:2-3

2  Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name; 3  Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Introduction:

Well…today we wrap up our series on Authentic Prayer with Pastor James MacDonald.  He’s the senior pastor for Harvest Bible Chapel, and he also has one of my favorite radio programs called “Walk In The Word”.   I enjoy listening to his teaching on the radio, and I’ve enjoyed doing this series.  There are others that he has on YouVersion, but I don’t believe we’ll have enough time between now and the end of the year to get into another one.

So, this will be the final message of this series.  I believe that it’s been a pretty good series, and that we’ve gotten quite a bit of good stuff from it.  This series has reaffirmed to me what the Bible says about itself in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 in that it is “profitable”, and that when taught properly it helps perfect us as believers.  In other words…when the Word of God is taught correctly…it helps us to grow and mature.

Well…I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to get into this last message, and therefore I believe it’s time to get out of the way.  Let’s see what we can learn from this final message, and what the Lord would have to say to us through it…Amen!?!

Today’s Message:  “Hidden Things”

So far we have looked at three promise words found in God’s word to Jeremiah: invitation, insurance, and inspiration. Here’s the fourth: illumination.

Remember back in the beginning of this series…we learned that in Jeremiah 33:1-3 within these verses are four distinct promises from God to Jeremiah related to prayer.  I know that I gave you that as an assignment, but through the last few messages of this series…we’ve been secretly looking at them.  So, let’s take a look at the first three, and then finish it up by looking at the last one.

So…what are the four distinct promises God made Jeremiah in Jeremiah 33:1-3?

  1. God’s Invitation.
  2. God’s Insurance.
  3. God’s Assurance.
  4. Illumination. (which we’re going to talk about right today.)

God’s Invitation:

God’s “Call to Me” was His invitation to us.  The invitation to come to Him no matter who we are, where we are, and what we have done.  It’s one of those things we see in the story of the thief on the cross that was next to Jesus.  The thief represents us in that he had two choices.  Either he could’ve remained silent rejecting Jesus until his last breath finding himself spending eternity separated from God, or he could’ve done what he did…and accept the Jesus’ invitation to call upon Him as Lord to receive salvation.

What can we learn from the thief?  First of all, the thief as I mentioned represents us, and where we are before we come to Jesus.  He was on the cross next to Jesus, and that represents the fact that we were all at one point dead in our sins and trespasses…and that we deserved death as a result.  Second, He recognized his need for a Savior.  Unlike the other thief who mocked Jesus…this one realized that it was himself and not Jesus who deserved to die.  He recognized that he deserved death for the way he lived his lie, and he also recognized that the only option he had was to call upon Jesus.  Third, he reached that point that we all reach…regardless of who is watching or what anyone thinks…he recognized that he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by accepting Jesus’ invitation.  So…by faith he called upon the name of the Lord, and true to the Word of God…he was saved.  The important thing for all of us to understand and recognize is not only do we need to recognize we need God’s help, but that we can come to Him regardless of what our lives look like.

You see, the real problem I have with religion is that they make you work for the things that Jesus came to freely give us access to.  We have free access to the throne of grace because we’re in Christ, and for no other reason then that.  Both God and Jesus gave us the same invitation.  In  Jeremiah 33:1-3 the invitation was to “Call to Me”, but in Matthew 11:28-30 we see Jesus give what’s commonly referred to as “The Great Invitation.

No where are we told that we have to clean up our lives before accepting the invitation.  God says “Call to Me”, and Jesus says “Come unto Me”.  In either case, the invitation is given, and it’s up to us to accept or reject that invitation.  I don’t know about you…but I’m thankful that I have a God that gives us such an unconditional invitation to call and come to Him…as we are.  I’ve said throughout this series that being authentic is just simply being real…being genuine…being yourself…and the main component to God’s invitation is just that…Come as you are…and I will take care of the rest.

God’s Insurance:

Equally as wonderful is the fact that God gives us the insurance that He will hear us when we call.  Look back at the thief on the cross.  Religion would have us to believe that God cannot hear us over our sin, but again using the story of the thief on the cross…we see why religion really doesn’t talk all that much about this person.  I think the thief on the cross is one of the most important people in the Bible…because he provides us such a clear picture of the difference between religion and relationship.

If it’s true that God is deaf to our sin…then Jesus wouldn’t have even heard the thief call to Him.  That is what religion teaches.  We have no right to approach God because we have sin in our lives, and the reason He cannot hear us when we pray is because of that sin in our lives.  We just talked about how there were two thieves one was content to die in his sin…and the other thought that he might as well.

So, with nothing to lose the thief says “Lord, remember me this day.”  We obviously know Jesus heard him because Jesus responds.  Now, if what religion teaches is true…the story ends with both thieves dying in their sin.  However, one of them died in his sin, and is going to spend eternity in hell…the other this very day is in paradise with Jesus…and will be in Heaven just like Paul, Peter, David, Abraham, and everyone else who died having accepted God’s invitation to have a relationship with Him.

So…we can call to Him as we are…and know that He’s going to hear us.  There’s no other offer from any other god because they’re all dead.  None of the other gods can hear us, they can’t even invite us to call  to them because they’re all dead.  We serve the ONLY living and true God that not only invites us to call to Him…but insures that He will hear us.  I don’t know about you…but that excites me…and gives me a sense of awe for Him.

God’s Assurance:

We now know that God wants us to call to Him just as we are.  We know that He will hear us.  Now, we find out that not only will He hear us…but He will answer us.   No other god can make these claims because no other god is alive.  Again…the thief on the cross accepted the invitation to call to Jesus, Jesus heard Him, and we know Jesus heard Him because Jesus answers the thief.

So…when those religious folks come to tell you that you need to clean up your lives, that God cannot hear you over your sin, and that He won’t answer you because you’re so unholy and unrighteous…then point them to the story of the thief on the cross…and ask them if that’s true how is it that a thief could call to Jesus, that Jesus would hear that thief, and not only would He hear the thief…but He also answered the thief.

See…that story shoots so many holes into the religious point of view.  Here’s the truth.  If what religion teaches was true…then that story wouldn’t have even been in the Bible.  This story either contradicts everything the Bible teaches or it contradicts what religion teaches.  I don’t know about you…but since I know that the Bible is a more sure word than even any audible voice I may hear from God…and that God swears His Word by Himself…I think I’ll take the Bible over religion…Amen!?!

Illumination: 

Illumination comes from “I will . . . tell you . . . hidden things.” Illuminations are insights that no one can see but me and God. The Hebrew term is used to describe fortified cities that were inaccessible and unassailable. God knows things about our circumstances: great things, mighty things, hidden things. This is one of the greatest blessings of prayer: God tells us things. But sometimes even His Word doesn’t become clear to us until we are quiet and prayerfully listening. Unceasing prayer is a conversation that expects God to speak to us directly. That can’t happen without moments of attentive silence during which we anticipate hearing from God.

“I will tell you hidden things.”  This means that there are things that God is going to reveal to me that He’s not going to reveal to anyone else.  God is going to illuminate things in our lives that are between Him and me.  God revealed things to Daniel that He never revealed to anyone else.  God revealed things to Moses that He never revealed to anyone else.  God revealed things to Paul that He never revealed to anyone else.  John…Jesus’ beloved disciple had things revealed to him that God has yet to reveal to anyone else.  See, that tells me that there are things He’s going to reveal to me and about me that He’s not going to reveal to anyone else.

See.  Illumination implies that there’s things that we’re going to be in the dark to until God reveals them to us.  There are certain things that God’s dealing with me about today that He didn’t deal with me on when I first called upon Him as Lord.  Why?  There were things that I hadn’t even realized had been hidden in my heart.  Attitudes that need to be changed, pride that needs to be broken, unforgiveness that needs to be given, things that I haven’t been able to let go of or forgive, and then there’s a whole other side to things that are being revealed to me through my writing these messages…and the discipleship track I’m doing, and even through messages I hear in church or online or on the radio.

Can I tell you that we are never going to reach a place where we have nothing left to learn.    Think about Paul’s declaration that he counted all that he knew as rubbish, and that the only thing he desired to was to know God on a deeper and more intimate level.  Paul was the Pharisee of the Pharisees’.  He knew the law…all of it.  He knew the ancient scriptures…all of them.  This side of Solomon…I believe Paul was a man of great knowledge, wisdom, and understanding…and he admitted that even with all he knew that he hadn’t attained anything.  Paul even prayed that the eyes of our understanding would be opened, and that God would reveal the full array of His love to us.   It was Paul to whom God revealed the mystery to, and revealed the true gospel to also.  God revealed to Paul justification by faith, the ministry of reconciliation, and yet…Paul felt that he could’ve known more.

Paul had a lot of things illuminated to him, but he also spent a lot of time in prayer.  I believe Paul was constantly praying and seeking God.  We know that He often prayed in tongues because he told the Corinthians that he prayed in tongues more than they did.  He sought out God and the presence of God…and as a result…he received so much revelation that God allow him to be constantly buffered because all of the revelation Paul had it could’ve been easy for him to get full of pride and arrogance.

We know that buffer worked because Paul spoke of how he constantly sought God to deliver him from that buffer, and God’s only response to him was that His strength was made perfect in Paul’s weakness…Paul saw his weakness…and that allowed him to remain humble in spite of the enormous amount of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding he had.

So…there are many, many things that God is going to want to illuminate and reveal to us in our lives, and let me say this…the majority of the time God is going to speak to you about you.  Yes, God may give someone a word of knowledge for us, or we might be given a word of knowledge for someone else…but the majority of the time…God is going to speak to you about you…God’s not into gossip while He may give you a word of knowledge for someone…He’s not going to talk to you about what’s going on in someone’s life…unless He wants you to have an impact in that person’s life.  Let me say that again…because I sense the Lord wants me to repeat it.  The majority of the time…when God speaks to you it’s going to be about you and about your life.  So…stop it with the “God told me you…blah…blah…blah.”…no He didn’t.  In fact, if God did tell you “blah…blah…blah” it most likely wasn’t for that person…it was most likely for YOU.

This is one of the greatest blessings of prayer: God tells us things. But sometimes even His Word doesn’t become clear to us until we are quiet and prayerfully listening.  Unceasing prayer is a conversation that expects God to speak to us directly. That can’t happen without moments of attentive silence during which we anticipate hearing from God.

Here’s a concept.  We talked about this point a few times, and it just jumped out at me.  So, it’s time to talk about it again.  Prayer isn’t just us talking and talking and talking.  Prayer also requires us to shut up and listen.  He can’t speak to us if we’re the one that’s always doing all the talking.  I am convinced that one of the reasons that people never get their prayers “answered” is because they don’t ever just shut up and listen.  I know you might think I’m being rude, but can I tell you that God’s said those very words to me?  Yes…God has actually told me to shut up and listen.

“Some times His Word doesn’t become clear to us until we are quiet and prayerfully listening.”  That means that some times it is necessary to turn off the television, the radio, the phones, and everything else…and just get into that quiet place (our prayer closet).  Some times we just need to grab our Bibles, go some where quiet and secluded, and seek the Father.

How many times in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John do we read about Jesus going off some where to seek the Father?  We always find Jesus returning from some where or going some where away from the crowd to seek His Father’s face.

Friends…this is pretty obvious…but if Jesus needed to do that…how much MORE do we.  How much more important is it for us to shut off everything…and I mean everything (including our iPhones)…find a secluded and quiet place for us to get away from all the noise…and seek God’s face.  In that seeking it also requires us to realize that we shouldn’t do all the talking.

I can tell you that there are times that I do that.  I turn everything off (including my BlackBerry), shut the blinds, turn off the television and even the worship music…and just sit.  There are times where I don’t even say anything…I just quiet my thoughts and everything and focus all my attention on seeking the face of the Father.  Can I tell you that some times…nothing is said at all.  Some times, it’s just good to be quiet and sit at the feet of the Master.  Other times, God might put someone’s name on my heart to pray for, a scripture in my heart to look up, or He may even just simply remind me that He loves me and that I belong to Him.

Those are good times…Amen!?!

God tells us why people are the way they are or why certain things had to happen as they did. God reminds us what good is being accomplished that we can’t see. God tells us how the future will be better, even though it seems impossible now. God sees everything that is hidden to us, and He chooses to tell us about them.

This brings me back to the point I was making a moment ago about the fact that most of the time God is going to talk to you about you, and included in that some times He’s going to point someone out.  Not for the purpose of telling you about them, but to help you understand why that person does what they do.  One of the greatest pieces of advice I received from Pastor Stephen Robbins was when he taught us through a series he was teaching on about advice to those who desire to be in ministry is that we have to learn to look beyond the person we see in front of us.

There are times God will show me someone, and the whole purpose of Him pointing that person out to me was to point out an attitude I have that He’s wanting to deal with me on.  He’s not pointing that person out to me so that I can go up to them, and talk to them about their attitude…He’s pointing that person out to me because He wants to talk to me about MY attitude.  God may show me something about someone’s motives…again to point out MY motives…not for me to deal with them about their reasons or motives…but MINE.

You see…God’s about dealing with me about the conditions of my heart, and some times He points out people to me because He knows I might see something in them I don’t like…and then He’ll immediately point out to me that the reason I don’t like what I see in them…is something He doesn’t like seeing in me.  HUMBLING to look at someone else…and have God point out that the very thing that I am looking at in them…He is looking at in me…that is illumination.

“Can’t you be more specific, James?”

Don’t you guys know that I can sense that some of you may have the same question?  Well, I guess James and I both have the same answer.

No, I cannot, because though I know what God has shown me, I don’t know what the hidden things are for you. Isn’t it awesome to think that God has some hidden things for you? How awesome to know something that only you and God know? God told Jeremiah that prayer is the condition in which He tells us hidden things. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

Friends, there are things that God’s shown me that I don’t even have specific answers to yet, and that means that in order for me to get those answers I have to take what I have had reveal…and continue to seek more understanding.  But…it’s true.  God has things that He wants to reveal to each and everyone of us who are His.  He has things to reveal to you about your life that only are for you and Him to know about.

Yes…God has hidden things for you.  He has things that He’s going to reveal to you, about you, and for you that aren’t for anyone else.  He’s going to point out people to you…like He does me…and then He’s going to show you things that they do that you do that He wants to deal with your heart on.

Prayer…this is what’s necessary to receive these things.  Being authentic means that we’re not false, that we’re not a copy of someone else, that we’re real, that we’re genuine…that we are ourselves.  We are just like the thief…taking the chance to realize we have nothing to lose and everything to gain by accepting the invitation to Call upon Him.

Authentic prayer…is just you and I being who we are…and seeking the face of the Master…Amen!?!

Conclusion:

What a great series.  I really enjoyed this series, and I hope you did too.  We took seven days to explain that authentic prayer has nothing to do with the beautifully eloquently spoken prayers we hear some times, but it’s about us being who we are…and just seeking God’s face.  There are hundreds of times in a day where I may just simply stop and say nothing more than “Lord, I love Ya.”

After all.  Isn’t that how we relate to our earthly dad’s some times?  Don’t we just some times just say to our dad’s something similar.  That’s really how God wants us to approach Him…don’t ya know!?! He wants us to just talk to Him…that’s all prayer is.

Prayer is a conversation between you and God.  Authentic prayer…is just you being yourself having a conversation with God.  That’s how we get to a place of having a deep, personal, and intimate relationship with God.

All the marriage experts talk about how important communication is within a marriage.  Well…since we’re considered the “bride of Christ”…that illustration applies to our relationship with God.  The better the communication between my wife and I becomes…the more intimate our relationship becomes.  It’s the same way with God…the more we communicate with Him…the deeper and more intimate our relationship with Him becomes.

See…here’s the point.  I don’t start out my conversations with my wife calling her Mrs. Kizer.  I start off conversations with her some times with “honey” or “babe”.  Don’t you know that’s where we need to get with God?  Paul tells us we can call Him “Abba, Father”…and most of us know that’s just the Bible’s way of God telling us to call Him “Daddy”.

So…don’t be so formal with God all the time.  Lose the stiffness of approaching Him in a religious and formal way…and start approaching Him like He’s your Dad…and I promise as you do that…it’ll be easier and easier to just start talking to Him.  There are many times throughout the day where I’ll just say something like “Ya know Lord,”…and then I’m off to talking to Him about what I wanted to talk to Him about.

There’s something personal and intimate about being able to say to the God of the universe:   “Ya know Lord…”, and because of His Word…I know that whether I approach Him saying “Ya know Lord” or “Dear Jesus” or “Heavenly Father”…He’s going to hear me and answer me…and He’s saying to us the same thing He spoke to Jeremiah.

“Call to Me…I will hear you and answer You, and show you things that are beyond your imagination.”

I don’t know about you…but I want to know what He has to show me…Amen!?!

Let’s Pray:

Thank You, Father, that I can pray with David, “O LORD, You have searched me and know me!” (Psalm 139:1). Thank You for the Invitation to call upon You…the insurance that You will hear us, and that assurance that You will answer us.  I thank You for demonstrating Your personal awareness of everything about me by showing me “hidden things” that are just for me. I am hungry and long to know all that You have to reveal to me.  Lord, help me to be faithful to those convictions, comforts, and guidance. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

The Invitation:

I am going to work at making sure that I never close a series or a message without asking you the most important question you’ll ever answer:  Have you ever accepted Jesus’ invitation to know Him as Lord and Savior?

If not…it’s really easy to do.  In fact, it’s as easy as A-B-C…and then doing what Romans 10:9-10 and 13 say to do.

A- Admit:  Admit to God that you are a sinner. Repent, turning away from your sin.

    • ”For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23
    • “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life.”

Romans 6:23

B- Believe:  Believe that Jesus is God’s Son and accept God’s gift of forgiveness from sin.

  • “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”John 3:16

C- Confess:  Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

  • “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Romans 10:9-10, 13

If you’re ready to do that…then you’re ready to say this simple prayer.  Make sure you say it OUT LOUD…I know you may not understand why…but by saying it out loud all of Heaven and hell will hear you…and you might not understand why that’s important…but that’s one of those things that will be revealed to you in time.

Pray this out loud:

Dear Lord Jesus…come into my heart.  Forgive me of my sin.  Wash me, cleanse me, and set me free.  Jesus, thank You that You died for me.  I believe that You are risen from the dead and that You’re coming back for me.  Place me IN Your Ark right now, today.  Fill me with the Holy Ghost.  Give me a passion for the lost, a hunger for the things of God, and a holy boldness to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I boldly confess that I am a whosoever that has called upon the name of the Lord…that I am IN the Ark…and that I am saved…I am born again…I am forgiven…I am the righteousness of God IN Christ Jesus…and I am In the Ark and on my way to Heaven because I have Jesus in my heart.  In Jesus name I pray…Amen!

If you prayed that prayer…you’re part of God’s family.  Your saved.  If you need help knowing what to do next…feel free to write us at: christlikeministriesarkansas@yahoo.com we’ll do the best we can to help get you started with your walk with God.

Thanks for following along with this series…and for your support of Christlike Ministries NWA.  You all are an encouragement to me, and I’m thankful for all of you.

“Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:2)
Blessing & Grace to you
Bryan J. Kizer
Christlike Ministries NWA

Authentic Prayer from James MacDonald (Day 1 of 7)

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Today’s Scripture:  Hebrews 10:23-25

(23)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Introduction:

This is the first of many reader voted upon series that is going to be doing on a regular basis.  One of the most difficult subjects to talk about is the subject of prayer, and part of the reason for that is unless you’re a really strong prayer warrior…then chances are you’re like me and find yourself like the disciples as they asked Jesus to teach them to pray.  I’m sure the disciples prayed, but I believe what attracted them to the way Jesus prayed was the boldness and confidence in which He prayed with…and because of that boldness and confidence (and faith that God would hear and answer Him)…Jesus’ prayers got results.

I know for myself…I’m much better at writing (everything) instead of speaking, and I don’t know why God didn’t create me to be a great speaker…but I am not.  Often my prayers are simple and not very detailed.  So…the reason prayer is hard to talk and teach about is because unless your Catholic and only recite the same prayers (and that’s nothing more than chanting in my opinion)…everyone prays different.

So…we’re going to talk about “Authentic Prayer” with one of my favorite of the lesser known preachers that is usually only found on the radio.  Dr. James MacDonald is actually from my neck of the woods.  In fact, I know where his pilot church is, and I frequently listed to his radio program called:  “Walk in the Word”.  The reason I like him and his teaching so much is that it’s very much biblically correct, and really good stuff.

So…I’m excited to do this series on Authentic Prayer, and I thought that I would allow the introduction he wrote to close out the introduction I’ve just written…so we can get into this series…Amen!?!

More than any other discipline, prayer can get away from you. This seven-day plan will help you access your prayer life, check your methods and motivations, and show you how to turn up the power of personal prayer. Use these daily readings to increase your confidence that God hears, answers, and can change your life through prayer.

Today’s Message:  “Stirred Up to Pray”

You know, one of the things about prayer is that no two people pray exactly alike unless you’re repeating a prayer after someone, but there are so many styles and ways that people pray that it’s hard to teach about prayer.  There are also those (like me) who know that they need to pray more, and could probably use a lesson or two on how to have much more religious sounding prayers because I’ll be honest most of the time when I talk to God…I’m not bellowing out some kind of something like this:  “My Most Gracious and Awe-Inspiring Heavenly Father, how great Thou art, and if Thou wouldst incline Your Most High and Holy ear to Thy servant…”.

Believe me, I think the first thing God would say to me if I started praying to Him like that is “Who in the world are you, and what have you done with My child?”  I know that sounds like a beautiful way to begin a prayer (and it is), but let me be as clear as God would be with me if I started speaking to Him like that.

Yes…it’s necessary to approach God with awe and wonder and respect and reverence, but it’s also important that we understand when we approach God…we’re approaching our Father!  Listen, if I approached my earthly dad the way some people approach God…I honestly believe my dad would almost be insulted, and I think that while it sounds beautiful and religious to pray that way…I believe God is insulted when we relate to Him that way instead of relating to Him as our Father…or even our friend.

So…let’s get into today’s message, and see what we can learn…and more importantly what more God would have to say to us through today’s message…Amen!?!

Paul gives us a term that really helps us describe the kind of prayer we’re going after—unceasing. Unceasing prayer brings the glory of God down. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says we are to “Pray without ceasing.” That doesn’t mean you’re not doing anything else. It means that just as you are always physically breathing in and out as you go about your day, you should always be spiritually in a conversation with God. Always talking: “Yes, Lord;” and “See that, Father?” and “Help me, God,” and always, always in an attitude of prayer.

This kind of gets me to where I was headed just a moment ago.  Continual prayer.  I know I poked a little fun a moment ago at the huge monologue opening of a prayer…but is there anyone other than me that thinks if we walked around “praying without ceasing” that God would get tired of hearing us come to Him like that all day?  I promise you that if I spoke to God that way even some of the time He would ask me who I was and why I was talking to Him that way.

The truth is I’ve prayed that way…which is what I’ll call the vain religious way, and I’ve prayed the way I think God desires us to pray…and I can tell you I’ve gotten more results from the Authentic Prayer from my heart, and not some religiously beautiful sounding prayers.

My father-n-law has one of those religious sounding prayers, and can I again insert that I’m not saying that it’s inappropriate to pray with honor and reverence to our God.   There are many times when I’m getting into serious prayer I’ll start out with something like “Heavenly Father” or “Dear Jesus”, but I’ll be honest…I probably start out about 95% of my prayers with just a simple “Lord”.

Going back to the earthly dad point.  About 95% of the time, when I talk to my dad, I address him the way I have since I can remember…my dad to me is “Pa”.  The other 5% is probably when I actually call him dad.  Can I tell you that’s exactly how God wants us to relate to Him when we’re praying without ceasing?

A little secret…when I approach God by just saying “Lord”…in my heart I’m approaching Him like I would my dad when I call my dad “Pa”.  That’s my point.  It’s not so much about what you pray, it’s not even how you pray…the important thing is THAT you pray.

Again, I’m not saying there’s never a time to address God as our “Gracious Heavenly Father”…because He IS our Gracious Heavenly Father.  We SHOULD address God that way to prevent us from being so casual with Him, but that doesn’t mean we should address Him that ways all the time.  This is the point of being “stirred to pray”.

Let’s go on.

When it comes to prayer, God Himself is in the stirring-up business. He doesn’t do it for His own good but for our good. We need to pray unceasingly because it is immeasurably good for us!

See, God’s the One who draws us into prayer to begin with, and I think what’s important here is what I said a minute ago.  I hear that in my spirit, and think it needs to be repeated.  “It’s not what you pray, or how you pray that is important…the important thing is THAT you pray.”

Please understand that when I say that how we pray isn’t important I’m not talking about praying with faith or doubt.  I’m talking about praying with the vain repetition and pretty words that Jesus scolded the religious people for.  Don’t believe me?  Here…I’ll show it to you in Scripture:

And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. Matthew 6:7 (AMP)

Listen, there is only one thing that Jesus marveled about in the entire Bible, and it wasn’t the eloquently spoken prayers of the religious…it was faith.  God isn’t impressed or moved by our multiple words or eloquently spoken prayers…God’s impressed by faith…and faith alone.  “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:6 and “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” James 1:6

Faith is the key element to getting prayer answered…not eloquently spoken prayer.   That’s what Jesus had when He prayed that the disciples were after.  Jesus was bold and confident because He had an unwavering faith that what He was getting ready to ask the Father for was already provided. “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Matthew 6:8.  After He said that, He went on to give what we know of today as the Lord’s Prayer, but Jesus wasn’t saying that we should recite that prayer over and over again…although some times…it is a good idea to pray it…but He was giving an outline of what prayer should be like.

However, it wasn’t what Jesus prayed that got Him the results when He prayed…it was His faith.  It’s the same way with us.  It’s not the words we pray that God responds to…it’s whether or not what we pray…we pray with boldness and confidence like Jesus because we know that what we’re getting ready to ask God for is already provided…or whether we wonder if we’re worthy of God providing what we’re asking Him because we know He can do it…but not really sure if He will for us.

Listen, I’m convince that the main reason most of us don’t see results when we pray isn’t because of the words we use, and it’s not because God is deaf to our prayers because of our sin.  It’s because we ask with wavering faith not really sure if we’re going to receive what we’re asking God for.  How do I know?  “For let  not  that  man  think  that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”  James 1:7.  Let not what man think he shall receive anything of the Lord?  The man that asks with wavering faith.  Why?  “For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed…A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. “  (that’s the end of James 1:6, and James 1:8.)

Jesus was never double minded.  He was always focused and full of faith…and that’s how He got results.

By the way…while I’m on the subject…I’m not going to stay on this very long, but I am going to make sure that I get this misconception out there, and debunk it by the supernatural unction of the Holy Ghost.  This notion that God cannot hear our prayers over our sin is false.  How do I know that?  If God is no longer counting our sins against us…it would be Him going against His word to not answer our prayers or hear our prayers based upon something He’s no longer counting against us.  It’s true that if we are regarding sin in our hearts we ought to confess that to Him, and seek forgiveness (1 John 1:9), but God’s not deaf.  Our sin isn’t like ear wax in His ear…He can hear us just fine whether we’re full of sin or not…because if it were true that He can’t hear us because of our sin…then none of us are born again…because I don’t know about you…but when I confessed Jesus as my Lord and Savior I had a whole lot of sin in my life.

So…I don’t believe that God makes an exception to hear my prayer confessing Him as Lord and Savior, and then plugs His ears once I am born again because I have sin in my life…and therefore because of that He plugs His ears and refuses to hear my prayers.  I believe the reason He cannot hear our prayers is because we come to Him more often than we don’t with that wavering mindset James spoke of.

I know I’m going to hear from some of the religious folk who believe that God’s deaf to our cries because of our sin, but like I said if that’s true than none of us are born again.  I believe I am born again, and therefore I don’t believe that God’s ability to hear or not hear my prayers are based upon sin…I believe they’re based upon my faith.

Let’s wrap move on:

Let’s look closely at God’s move to stir up Jeremiah (and us) to prayer: “The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time while he was still shut in the court of the guard. Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is His name: ‘Call to Me, and I will answer and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known’” (Jeremiah 33:1-3). Within these verses are four distinct promises from God to Jeremiah related to prayer. Do you see them?

Before I get to the four distinct promises…let me get to the word Authentic.  Authentic is a nice word for just being real…being yourself…the person you are when no one else is looking.  Authentic prayer comes from our hearts, and that’s the first thing Jesus told us when He gave us the Lord’s Prayer.  Most people look at Jesus teaching us to say:  “Our Father, Who Art In Heaven” as teaching us to open our prayers with these beautiful eloquently spoken opening lines, but what Jesus was really concerned with was getting us to relate to God as “Our Father”…because when I relate to God that way…then I can’t help, but to pray without ceasing because talking to Him is like talking to my dad or my friend…I’m speaking to someone who I love…I’m not talking to the President of the United States.

You know, I can guarantee you that Barak Obama’s children don’t come up to him and say “Mr. President”…I bet you they call him “dad”.  They don’t approach him as the most powerful man in the world…they approach him as their dad.

That’s exactly the same way we ought to approach God, and the first point Jesus made when giving us that model for prayer.  God’s the most powerful being in the world…period.  Yet,  He desires of us to not approach Him that way, but approach Him as “Abba, Father” which is a formal way of saying He wants us all to call Him “Daddy”.

He wants us to see Him as a Father who is ready and willing to do great and mighty things for us, but He wants us to believe that He’ll do those things for us.  He wants us to ask in faith…nothing wavering…just like Jesus did.  Jesus prayed with boldness and confidence out of that faith because He knew that whatever He sought His Father for…He was going to receive…and that’s the way we ought to pray also…Amen!?!

Be A Doer…Not Just A Reader:

There are two assignments for this message.  As always, whether you do them or not…is between you and God.  I’m not going to follow behind you, and I’m not going to beg you to comment or post your answers or what you experience.  If you should desire to do that…I would welcome it.  However, the important thing is that you do these assignments…not for me…but for your relationship with God.

So…what are your assignments?

(Jeremiah 33:1-3). Within these verses are four distinct promises from God to Jeremiah related to prayer. Do you see them?

Your first assignment is to read Jeremiah 33:1-3…and find the four distinct promises from God to Jeremiah related to prayer.

What’s the second…well…the second is related to prayer:

And when you do pray, ask God to bring the people and events into your life that will stir you up to pray even more. Stirring things are around us every moment, but we need the eyes and heart to see them.

Conclusion:

Well, I’ve to say that I’m glad you guys voted for this topic to be our next series, and that if this message is any indication…this is going to be a really good series.  I just hear again in my heart that it’s not what or how you pray that’s important…what is important is that we pray.  God just wants us to talk to Him…about anything and everything.

Ya know, I am constantly talking to God about something.  I know that people think a lot of times I’m talking to myself, but I’m not.  Some times, I just start talking to God, and that’s what He wants.   That is what praying without ceasing is about.  God’s our Father…our Friend that’s closer than a Brother.  He just wants us to talk to Him, and perhaps the first message of this series is spot on…maybe we just need to ask God to stir us to prayer by bringing people and events before our faces (like today’s presidential election) to pray about.

So…at the end of each message…there’s a sample prayer…and I think that it would be a good idea for us to do something silly, and don’t worry if someone sees you.  Let’s go to God in prayer…and do this out loud…why?  Because we need to make sure we’re in the habit of praying out loud.  Not in our minds or thoughts…but out loud with our words…believing in our hearts and confessing these prayers with our mouths.

Prayer:

Father, continue to stir me toward a consistent attitude of prayer so that my sensitivity to immediate and momentary times for prayer is increased. Help me not only to pray without ceasing but to jump to special invitations to pray. Thank You for drawing near to me as I draw near to You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Seeking God (Day 2 of 48)

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Today’s Scripture:

Introduction:

We’re just barely into a series about Seeking God.  I know that 8 weeks is a long time, and that will take us just past perhaps what may be one of the most important elections in this nation’s history.  It may also be an important election as it relates to Bible events.  Which is why I believe the Lord’s lead us down this road with this series.

There’s never been a time where it’s more important to seek God in our personal lives, and for this nation’s future.  I know many of you, as am I, are very concerned about the direction this nation is headed, and I also believe that many of you know, as do I, that the only hope for America is Jesus…and there’s never been a more important time in our history that the people of God need to stand up…and stop being silent…but first we must hit our knees…and seek His face…and that’s the whole point of this series…

Seeking God’s face, God’s presence, God’s will, and most of all God’s love.

Today’s Message:

God knows you intimately and fully.

I have to say that  is Psalms 139 one of my favorites because there’s such intimacy written in it, and therefore I believe it might be appropriate to just have it be part of the message.  So…here…in it’s entirety is Psalms 139:

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

19Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

20For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

21Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Let’s take a look at a couple of these verses because I believe it’s important in the scope of understanding how intimate and personal God wants to be with us.  So, we’ll look at some of the verses that express that, and then we’ll come back and look at some of the verses that speak to how intimately we should be seeking Him.

1O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

“Thou hast searched me, and known me.” I can’t think of any deeper statement then that one right there.  We know that this is a Psalm written by King David who has the distinguished title (given to him by God) as a man that was actively pursuing the heart of God.  Can I tell you that all of us should be seeking after the heart of God as diligently as King David did?  I mean, I don’t know about you, but I want to be known by God as a man that was after His heart…and yet I know in my heart that I fall short of being so diligent to seek Him…yet there’s a yearning and longing in my heart that is only settled and satisfied by God’s presence.

“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it.”  Imagine if we would all think about the fact that before we even speak…God knows exactly what we’re going to say.  There’s not a word that is on our tongue that God doesn’t know about.  Now, I know I spoke yesterday about the fact that God’s numbered every single one of our hairs, and He knows exactly how many we have…and in my case…how many have fallen out.  Then we read that before we ever utter one word…God knows exactly what we’re going to say.  Come on, friends, is there any doubt in your minds that God desires intimacy with us?

I mean, for all of you who view God as this fire and brimstone kind of God that’s sitting up there in Heaven keeping score of the wrongs and sins we’ve committed.  Can I ask where it is you’ve found that in the Word of God because everything I read in the Word of God is about how much God loves us, and how He longs to have this kind of intimacy not just with King David…but each and every single one of us who calls Him Lord.

Yes, it is true…He wants to be our Lord.  He wants us to yield and submit to Him.  He wants us to trust Him, and allow Him to lead and guide us through life.  But He also wants us to view Him as a Father who desires to know us on a level that no other God desires to know His people.

I can assure you that the Muhammad doesn’t want to know his people who intimately, and I can also assure you that he can’t know his people who intimately…because he is dead.  You can’t have an intimate relationship with a dead person, but you can have one with a living God.  I can assure you that them Buddhists don’t have a personal relationship with Buddha.  They may have their peace and “chi”, but Buddha cannot search them or know the words of their tongue…because he’s dead too.  I’ve never heard a Buddhist claim they can feel the presence of Buddha…you know why…because he’s dead.

Let’s look at some more…shall we?

14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Before getting to these verses, David talks about no matter where he went or goes or is…that he knows God is with him.  “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?”.  David understood that no matter where he went that God was with him.  In the most recognizable of all the Psalms David writes:  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;” Psalm 23:4.

Can I let you know that God’s with you where ever you go?  In the last few messages, the phrase “God is no respecter of person” has been on my tongue, and here again I have a need to use it in this message because if He truly isn’t a “respecter of person”…that means just as David had the assurance that no matter whether he was in green pastures or the valley of the shadow of death…that God was right there with him…we too can have that assurance.

Now, this is where David’s Psalm turns to his knowledge of God’s seeking him, and turns it to his desire to seek God…and this is the point I’ve been wanting to get to…

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Oh, that is the continual cry of my heart…this is where David turns and seeks God’s face because he realizes just how intimate God wants to be with him, and out of that comes a desire to seek God’s face with more passion.

Do you have a passion for God like this?  If not, I offer a perspective that maybe the reason you’re not this passionate about God is that you don’t realize that He is this passionate about you.  Maybe you’re not so on fire or in love with God because you don’t understand that God is this on fire and in love with you…but the truth is that God is this passionate about you, He is this on fire for you, and He is this in love with you.

Friends…Paul writes here in Romans 8:38-39 something I think we know within the context of our minds, but this is something that we need to get as revelation into our hearts…like David and Paul had it.  Let’s look at Romans 8:38-39, and then work to wrap up today’s message:

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul says:  “I am persuaded”.  Now, for those of you that have followed along with me for any length of time know that some times with verses (especially this one in a message like this) I like to consult the Amplified Version of the Bible because some times…it helps us to dig out more of what we’re looking for.  So…here is Romans 8:38-39 in the Amplified.

For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here we have what Paul writes as that he is “persuaded beyond doubt” that he is SURE that there is absolutely positively NOTHING that can separate him from the love of God.  Perhaps in order to get a full perspective here we ought to take a closer look at the word “persuaded”.

Persuade:  “to induce to believe by appealing to reason or understanding; convince: cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action, ”

Paul was convinced, certain, induced to believe by appealing reason or understanding that there was absolutely, positively nothing (including his sin) that could or would separate him from the love of God that was in Christ Jesus.

Do you know the number one struggle that Christians have?  It’s their own personal walk with God.  Do you know what the number one reason for that struggle is?  We believe God will love us more if we don’t sin, and love us less if we do.  We believe that the love of God is based upon our performance, and our obedience.  We believe that because we don’t understand that God’s love isn’t given to us because we’ve earned it…it’s given to us because that’s Who God is…and that’s what God does.  God is love.

Friends…listen to me.  There’s nothing that can separate you from the love of God…but you.  If you’re relating to God based upon the belief that His love for you is conditional based upon your sin…then you’re never really going to be able to receive God’s love.  Look, even I have had my understanding of God’s love for us changed by one simple statement made by Pastor Cass Hill of New Life Christian Center.

I was taught to believe that God’s love was “unconditional”, but Pastor Cass said that “God’s love isn’t unconditional…it’s perfect.”  Friends…in addition to unconditional…God’s love is perfect, it’s flawless, it’s absolute, and it’s something that cannot be earned or lost…it’s just given.  God loves us freely…because that’s Who God is.

So…there’s nothing…not even our sin that separates us from the love of God…Paul was fully persuaded of this, and so too was David.  I like this because it gives an Old Testament under the law example, and a New Testament under grace example.  In both cases…David knew that God love him and was always with him, and so did Paul.

Friends…if David being a liar, murderer, adulterer could be assured of the love of God, and if Paul being a murderer of Christians and a chief Pharisee who knew all of the law could be fully persuaded that nothing could separate him from God’s love…since God isn’t a respecter of person…we can have this same persuasion and assurance.

That’s because God’s love isn’t based upon us…it’s based upon Him…and that’s why no matter where we are, what we do, where we’ve been, and who we were.  There really isn’t anything that can separate us from the love of God…because before we ever entered into this world…He knew and knitted us in our mother’s womb.  He knew your name before you ever had it.  He knew what you would do before you ever even did it.  He knows the words you’re going to say before they even form on your tongue.

He is our Heavenly Father…and He loves us with an everlasting, undying, and unquenchable love that’s not just unconditional…it’s absolutely perfect…because God IS love…and therefore since He is perfect…so is His love…and that, my friends, is why we can be assured that whether we’re in the greener pastures or the valley of the shadow of death…He is right there with us.

He longs to be loved and known by you.

Do you ever wonder what the perfect will of God is?  I know I have, but one day as I was thinking about that very question…God answered me by simply reminding me of His relationship with Adam and Eve before sin entered into the world.  Friends…that’s what Heaven is going to be like.  All of us having the opportunity to walk with God in the cool of the day…and that…my friends…is the perfect will of God…the relationship He enjoyed with Adam and Eve…is the same relationship He longs to enjoy with us.

But did you know that we don’t have to wait until we get to Heaven to have that kind of relationship with Him?  We can have that kind of relationship with Him right now…but it requires us turning off the television once in a while.  It requires us to get away and alone with Him in our quiet place where we go to shut the door, and just seek His face.  It requires spending time in His Word, time talking to Him in prayer, and worshipping Him…again in that secret place where it’s just you and Him.

I think the best way to close this message is to simply repeat that last statement:

He longs to be loved and known by you.

Be A Doer…Not Just A Reader:

Ahh…you didn’t think you were going to get away from this message without having some kind of homework did you?  Here’s some suggested homework for you to do today:

Write out your favorite verse(s) from today’s reading, and record some thoughts to God in response to His love for you.

Choose to enjoy Him all day long.

Conclusion:

Well…what an amazing message. I am so thankful for the opportunity to do this, and it’s such an encouragement to me whenever someone clicks the “like” button. I want you to know the reason I do this isn’t for the notoriety, but because I love the Lord. The very mission of Christlike Ministries NWAis to help each of you discover and maintain your own personal and intimate relationship with God. It’s important in these last days that we seek and cling to God with everything we can…and it’s also important that we get out of this religious mindset that God’s dealing with us according to our sin, and that He’s somehow disappointed in us.

Friends…we need to get to a place where we’re like David and Paul…fully persuaded that God’s with us and loves us beyond anything we can imagine. We need to get to this place where we relate to God as our loving Father because when we relate to Him any other way…that’s where the separation comes from. If we feel distant from God…it’s not because He’s left us and doesn’t love us because we’ve sinned way too much…it’s because WE have moved away from Him…and we’re under guilt, shame, and remorse because we feel like we’ve let Him down…He loves us…ALL of us…and He longs for you to return that love to Him.

Let’s all make the conscious choice today to:  Choose to enjoy Him all day long…Amen!?!

Romans 838

 

We Have Been Reconciled–Day 4

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Today’s Scripture:  Romans 5:9-11

“9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”  Romans 5:9-11

Introduction:

We continue our series on Reconciliation in Romans 5:9-11, and unlike the previous message…I think we’re going to revisit what I said the first time I wrote a message about this in talking about Reconciliation to see what we can get from a message I’ve written…see if there’s any good revelation we can get from a message of my own…Amen!?!

So…let’s see what the Lord would have to say to us as we revisit Reconciliation in our new series titles…We Have Been Reconciled.

Today’s Message:

We continue our study in Romans 5:9-11. I love the book of Romans. This is one of the books that the religious people steer clear of because in it are a lot of things they don’t want you to know. Whether it’s in chapter one that we read that we should never be ashamed of the gospel…because in it is the power unto salvation, and it also is the first time in this book we read that “The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:16-17). The entire book is good, and if you haven’t I would suggest that you get a good study guide, and really get into the book of Romans. There’s a lot of good stuff in Romans, and in it there’s many of the foundational truths of the Christian faith…what we believe, and why we believe what we believe.

The book of Romans provides much of the basic principles, and what we know as “foundational truths”.  What are “foundational truths”?  These are the core beliefs that all Christians ought to have…just like when constructing any kind of building the first thing that needs to be built is the foundation.  Once you have a foundation laid then you can begin to construct whatever the building is.

So…in Romans a lot of the foundational core beliefs of Christianity are found, and like I said back in February if you ever find yourself in a church that avoids teaching out of Romans…you may want to find another one…because every person who is a sincere Bible believing Christian knows that in this book…Paul lays down a firm foundation as to what the core beliefs of every Christian ought to be.

The truth is religion doesn’t want you to know just how simple the becoming, and staying a Christian really is…because in this book we find terms like justification by faith, sanctification, righteousness, and we receive all of this at the same time…when we confess that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Lord.

You see, it’s the religious mind that wants you to believe that there’s more to the Christian life, and that you have to work for and earn your “status” by being and doing good.  They shake their finger at you if you drink beer and say that those who drink beer are going to hell because to them whether you drink 2 beers or 20 you’re a drunkard…but really the truth is…that is a sin…and all sin was placed upon the Cross and judged at one time (2 Corinthians 5:21).  So…if you’re a born again, spirit-filled Christian who likes to drink beer…you’re still the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  Why?  Because the righteousness you receive isn’t yours it’s Jesus’, and therefore since the righteousness wasn’t yours begin with…it’s not yours to lose…but it is yours to keep…because it’s not your righteousness it’s Jesus’…and because you’re IN Christ…you have what He has…therefore even if you stand with a 40 ounce of Laser Malt Liquor in your hand…and you’re a whosoever that’s called upon the name of the Lord to be saved…you’re the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

See…that blows the religious mind because they don’t understand what reconciliation is, and they also don’t understand grace, faith, mercy…and the Cross.  It’s foolishness to them because it’s so simple.  The religious mind is always going to have a “work for it” mentality because they don’t believe in justification by faith, and they also have never received the ministry of reconciliation…because they don’t believe you can be reconciled by just receiving it…they believe you have to earn it.

“Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.” Romans 5:9 (AMP)

Some times it’s good to look at certain verses through the eye of another translation.  As I’ve said before I love the Amplified Version because it gives you a good idea of what the verse says without taking it out of context and turning it into something completely different.  There are a lot of versions of the Bible out there that are horrible because the way they’re translated just leads to all kinds of error.

Anyways…as we look at the word justified we see it broken down to include the following words:  acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God.  Well, Bryan…can you tell me how in the world did we get to be justified, acquitted, made righteous, and brought into a right relationship with God?

By Christ’s blood.

I didn’t say it…Paul did by inspiration of the Holy Ghost.  We’re justified by the Blood of Jesus.  Funny it doesn’t say that we’re justified by water baptism does it?  Does it say we’re justified by being filled with the Holy Ghost?  How about speaking in tongues?  No…what does the Word of God say?  It says we’re justified by the Blood of Jesus…period.  There’s no work involved on our part here…there’s nothing for us to do…there’s nothing for us to earn…and there’s nothing we can take credit for.  It’s the Blood of Jesus that’s our justification…period.

So…if it’s the Blood of Jesus that purchased our justification…then it’s the Blood of Jesus that is also responsible for us being reconciled to God.  I’m not reconciled to God because I’ve been baptized…or because I’ve received the Holy Ghost.  I’m not reconciled to God because I speak in tongues once in a while.  I’m not reconciled because I’ve gone to the same church for almost 2 years now.  I’m reconciled to God because of the Blood of Jesus…and so are you.

In this verse we read the justified means acquitted, made righteous, and brought into a right relationship with God…and how is that made available to us? That’s right…the blood of Jesus. Did you know that the moment you confessed Jesus as Lord & Savior by faith…that is when justification by faith happened…you were given HIS righteousness, and immediately brought into a right relationship with God? See, here again is one of the verses that the religious world doesn’t want you to know, and understand because when you do…you really get the understanding that justification, salvation, and reconciliation is NOT your responsibility…and that there’s absolutely nothing that you can do to earn it, get it, buy it, or maintain it.

It’s amazing isn’t it?  I wrote this in February.  It’s now October.  You know…when you basically say the same thing as you did before…and it’s said again by inspiration of the Holy Ghost…then what you have here is absolute truth because the Holy Ghost only exalts Jesus and the Word of God.  He leads and guides into what?  All truth.

I promise you that I didn’t read what I wrote back in February until just now…and it’s almost exactly what I just wrote here in October.  “The moment that you confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior by faith is the moment you were reconciled, justified, and made righteous.  This was all made possible by one thing…the Blood of Jesus.

39  One of the criminals who was suspended kept up a railing at Him, saying, Are You not the Christ (the Messiah)? Rescue Yourself and us [from death]!40  But the other one reproved him, saying, Do you not even fear God, seeing you yourself are under the same sentence of condemnation and suffering the same penalty?41  And we indeed suffer it justly, receiving the due reward of our actions; but this Man has done nothing out of the way [nothing strange or eccentric or perverse or unreasonable].42  Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come in Your kingly glory!43  And He answered him, Truly I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise. Luke 23:39-43 AMP

One of my favorite stores in the entire Bible is the story of here about the thief on the Cross.  You see…if you really, truly believe the Bible (like I do) then you believe that when you get to Heaven (like I do) that one of the people that’s going to be there to greet you is this thief on the Cross whom Jesus promised Paradise to.  But the important thing about this story is that it illustrates just how simple reconciliation with God is.  It’s here that we see Romans 5:9 (AMP) illustrated.

Remember those words!?!  Acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right standing with God.  Now here’s the part that blows the religious mind again.  If there was anything other than being a “whosoever” that calls upon the name of the Lord for salvation…then the Bible lied to us.  How can I say that?  The thief was on a cross next to Jesus right?  Did he have time to atone for all he had done? Did he have time to get baptized?  Did he have time to be filled with the Holy Ghost and speak in tongues?

I’ll help you with answering those questions.  The answer is no…to all of them.  Yet…Jesus said to him:  “THIS day you WILL be with me in Paradise”.  Friends…the thief on the Cross was reconciled to God right there on the Cross.  There wasn’t time for him to do anything other than call upon Jesus as Lord…and then death came.

So…here’s the truth.  Either it really isn’t that simple, and the Bible lied to us all…or the Bible is true…and that thief will be there just like Peter, James, John, Paul, David, Abraham, Smith Wigglesworth, TD Jakes, and all else who called upon Jesus to be Lord…that thief is going to be there to greet us too.  I don’t know about you, but I choose to believe the Bible’s account that thief had with Jesus, and when Jesus said to him:  “This day you’ll be with Me in Paradise.”…I believe that’s where the thief is, and that he’s going to be there to greet me along with the others when I get to Heaven.

You cannot have it both ways. You cannot believe that justification is instant, and believe that you have to earn your way into heaven. Because YOU CAN’T. There is absolutely, positively NO way to earn your way into heaven…it cannot be done, and if you believe it can then you do not believe that the Cross was enough.

This is the truth.  You can’t have it both ways.  Either everything we receive is by grace through faith…or it’s not.  Why?  Because faith and works are direct opposites of one another.  I know…I know.  There’s always the argument that comes from showing our faith by our works, but that’s not talking about salvation.

Listen.  Everything…and I mean everything operates in God’s Kingdom by love.  There isn’t anything that happens in God’s Kingdom without love.  I know that’s hard to understand, but the chief characteristic about all of them is that God is what?  LOVE.  Jesus said you’ll know my people by what?  LOVE.  Faith, hope, and love…the greatest is what?  LOVE.  If you’re in ministry, if you volunteer at the homeless shelter every week, and speak in tongues…it’s worthless if it’s done without what?  LOVE.

Friends…the work that faith should lead to is LOVE not salvation.  Look, I just said that everything in the Kingdom operates by LOVE.  The key to accessing everything in the Kingdom is FAITH.  The greatest work in the Kingdom is SERVICE…the work of service is done out of what?  LOVE.

So…all this talk about revealing our faith by our works…if our works aren’t producing love…they are useless.  The only way to show faith is by the fruit of LOVE.  If LOVE isn’t your proof…then it doesn’t show FAITH…it shows PRIDE.

If you’re attempting to prove you belong to God by works…then you’re no better than the goats who are going to beat their chests before God talking about how they did this, they did that, and how good a person and how hard a worker for the Kingdom they were…but God’s not going to be impressed by that.  In fact, He’s going to say to them:  “Away from Me…I never knew you.”  Why?  Why is it that God won’t be impressed by their works?  Because they weren’t done out of LOVE, but PRIDE.

If you’re attempting to receive justification, sanctification, redemption, reconciliation, and right standing with God by your works…you won’t get it…because it cannot be earned…it can only be received.

The truth is that there is NOTHING we can do. That’s where John 14:6 comes in again. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father, but by Me. I didn’t say that…Jesus did. I didn’t tell the thief on the cross that the moment they died the would be in paradise together…Jesus did. Did Jesus lie to the thief?

And we’re back to the thief.  Do you believe that thief is in Paradise with Jesus or don’t you?

If you believe the thief is in heaven then stop trying to work to earn something you can’t. Sure, we should get baptized, we should get filled with the Holy Spirit, we should start walking with God, and we should start day by day looking more like a Christian and less like the world…but it really, truly is this simple.

So…that’s all from verse nine, and there’s plenty more that can be said on this.  However, I think that it’s time to move on, and see what we can get from the rest of the message.

Look at this. Here’s verse 10. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life.”

Look…Paul didn’t say that we’re trying to become reconciled.  He didn’t say that if we got baptized, cleaned up our lives, and worked to keep the ten commandments we would one day be reconciled.  Paul writes that we ARE reconciled.  Friends…does anyone other than me know that ARE is a “right now” word?  I mean ARE is present tense.

In fact, here’s something the Lord spoke to my heart the day before I was wrote this message:

“We all died on the Cross with Christ. We all went to hell with Christ. We all rose again with Christ blameless, holy, and in right standing with God.”

If that doesn’t make you shout…nothing will.  We all died with Christ, we all went to hell with Christ, we all rose again with Christ, and to add to that…because Christ is sitting at the right hand of the Father (and we’re in Christ) we are sitting at the right hand of the Father too.  We ARE reconciled…and we ARE seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus.  Now, I think I just wrote myself happy!

We are is present tense.  That means right now at this very moment if you have believed in your heart the what the Bible says about Jesus and the Cross is true, and based upon that belief you confessed that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior by calling upon Him as Lord…then you are fully, flawlessly, and perfectly reconciled to God…now…today…at this very moment…and there’s nothing that you can do or not do that changes the fact that you are reconciled to God.

Friends.  I wrote the first message to this series eight months ago, and I can promise you that I didn’t read that message before I started writing this one.  So…what I’m about to say is another shouting point.  I’m writing the same things today that I did eight months ago…and do you know why that is?

Because it doesn’t matter when I write this…this is truth.  If the Lord leads me to write about this again in another eight months…I’m probably going to say the same thing again…because truth is truth.  The Holy Spirit is saying the same things to my heart today He did eight months ago…and even if I waited years before talking about this subject…I’m certain I could and would write the same things.

Listen it’s not truth because I write it…it’s truth because the Holy Spirit is speaking it, and it’s also truth because it lines up with the Word of God.  The Holy Spirit is never going to have me write anything that’s contrary to what’s written in the Bible…so the fact that we’re almost repeating what we wrote eight months ago…this is exciting to me…because it’s the Holy Ghost.

Verse 11 reads:  ”Not only so, but we also rejoice and exultingly glory in God [in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received and enjoy [our] reconciliation.”

I just wrote about verse 10 that we “are” reconciled, and that “are” is present tense.  So then, Paul follows up with verse 11, and writes that we have NOW received our reconciliation.  When did we receive our reconciliation?  When we called upon the name of the Lord to be saved…we received our reconciliation right then and there…and because of that we can enjoy our reconciliation NOW.

Friends…we don’t have to wait till we get to Heaven to enjoy our reconciled relationship with God.  We can enjoy it NOW because we are reconciled to God right NOW.  We’re not waiting for some wonderful day in the sweet by and by…we are saved, we are sanctified, we are justified, we are righteous, we are redeemed, and we are reconciled right NOW…today…at this very moment.

Come on…if that don’t get you shouting than you’re full of dead religion, and you’re probably steaming mad right now because none of this sounds religious at all.  But…if you are a whosoever, and you have called upon the name of the Lord…you ARE reconciled to God…RIGHT NOW.

Praise the name of Jesus!  Glory to God.  Hallelujah!   Oh friend, I don’t know how to make this any clearer or more plain.  I don’t have the words to describe how awesome this is…and what revelation just came to me as I was writing that we are able to enjoy reconciliation RIGHT NOW.

Friend…that’s the goal of Christlike Ministries NWA.  For all of us to enjoy that intimate…personal relationship with God…NOW.  Verse 11 is confirmation that we’re not waiting for the opportunity to one day have a personal, intimate relationship with a God who is our loving Father…we can enjoy God as that right NOW because we ARE reconciled to Him…right NOW.

GLORY! GLORY! GLORY! Anyone other than me happy right now?  Anyone else shouting on the inside?  My oh my…what an awesome message this has become.  I think I’m just gonna stop this message right here.  If you want to read more from the first time I wrote this message than click on this link right here:  Reconciliation Day 4 February 2012, and you’ll be taken right to it.

Conclusion:

I know it’s taken a while for me to get this message finished, but my work schedule has once again kind of worn me down.  I hope that this message was worth waiting for…and thank all of you who were patient enough to wait for it to be posted.

I realize we’re behind in both of our series…and will do my best to catch us up and get this one and the American Bible Challenge Week 2 back on track…

The Christlike Ministries NWA Prayer for Salvation:

Friend…do you know Jesus?  Are you a whosoever that’s still waiting for that day when you feel worthy to call upon the name of the Lord to be saved?  I want you to know that today is that day.  Friend…you can come to Jesus right now, today, and just as you are…and you too can be reconciled right now…today.

It’s really easy to do.  All you have to do is do like Paul writes.  Believe in your heart that everything Jesus did on the Cross was for you, and then become a whosoever that confesses with their mouth that you need Jesus to be your Lord and Savior…you don’t need some fancy prayer…all you have to do is say something like this out loud with your whole heart…and you will be reconciled to God.

Dear Lord Jesus…come into my heart.  Forgive me of my sin.  Wash me, cleanse me, and set me free.  Jesus, thank You that You died for me.  I believe that You are risen from the dead and that You’re coming back for me.  Place me IN Your Ark right now, today.  Fill me with the Holy Ghost.  Give me a passion for the lost, a hunger for the things of God, and a holy boldness to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I boldly confess that I am a whosoever that has called upon the name of the Lord…that I am IN the Ark…and that I am saved…I am born again…I am forgiven…I am the righteousness of God IN Christ Jesus…and I am In the Ark and on my way to Heaven because I have Jesus in my heart.  In Jesus name I pray…Amen!

Friend, if you prayed that simple prayer…you are saved, you are sanctified, and you ARE reconciled to God.  Welcome to the Body of Christ.

We Have Been Reconciled – Day 3

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Today’s Scripture:  Colossians 1:20-22

“20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” Colossians 1:20-22

Introduction:

We continue our series “We Have Been Reconciled” with this passage Colossians 1:20-22.  There’s such good news in this passage of Scripture, and that’s what the Gospel is…good news.

So…let’s get into today’s message.

Today’s Message:

 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:  Colossians 1:20-22

We’re at peace with God through the Cross of Christ.  The Cross is where God reconciled ALL things to Himself.  He judged ALL sin at that time (2 Corinthians 5:19), and because of that we are ALL found guilty of ALL sin except one…accepting or rejecting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Again, this is where the religious world has their disconnect because the truth is it sounds great to say that I’m going to Heaven because I keep God’s laws, I’m a good person, and I attend church regularly.  However, that’s the group of people that’s going to stand before God as goats talking about how they feed the poor, clothed the naked, and so on and so forth…and God’s going to say away from Me…I never knew you.

Why is that?

It’s because the only way to be reconciled to God is through the Cross, and being a “whosoever” that believes in their heart, and confesses with their mouth that what Jesus did on the Cross was for them…and they realize that without that confession…they’re not going to make it to Heaven.

Friend…God’s not going to be impressed with what we do here in the earth…He’s only interested in one thing.  Did we accept of reject Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

I just wrote in the other series The American Bible Challenge – Week 2 about how Jesus Christ is our Ark, and that the ONLY way to be assured that we’re saved and going to Heaven is to make sure we’re in the Ark…which is Jesus Christ.  If we’re trying to get to Heaven any other way…we’re not going to make it.  There aren’t any “row boats” or other “life preservers”.  There’s only ONE Ark…and if you’re not IN it…you’re going to perish…for eternity.

Listen…the ONLY basis any of us has for being saved is that we have Jesus in our hearts…period.  There is no other way.  There’s no other method, there’s no other process, and there’s no earning it, working for it…there’ just ONE way…and that way is through the Cross.

With out the Cross we were enemies to God.  We were on the outside of the Ark looking in, and just like once the door to the Ark was closed it was too late for those who didn’t get IN the Ark…one day the door of opportunity is going to be closed to you…and if you refused to get IN…and thought this whole Jesus and the Cross thing was silly and foolish…you’re going to be left out…and you will perish along with those who thought Noah was crazy.

There’s a lot of people who think us “Jesus Freaks” are crazy, wrong, and some even think we’re delusional…just like the people in Noah’s day thought he was.

The sad thing is there are many in the religious world…including those who claim to be Christians themselves think the same thing that the world does….but how many of you know we’re not to be swayed by what the world or even the religious say…we’re to stand-fast and hold on by faith to what we know the Word of God says.

It doesn’t matter what the religious world says is included…or what they think is required for salvation…what matters is that the Bible is clear that all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Baptism doesn’t save, being a member of the same church for 30 years doesn’t save, giving money to the homeless doesn’t save, being a good person doesn’t save, never drinking a drop of alcohol doesn’t save, never smoking a cigar or cigarette doesn’t save…all of that stuff is good…but none of it saves…the ONLY thing that saved is to be IN the Ark…and there’s only ONE way IN the Ark…and that’s to be a “whosoever” that’s called upon the name of Jesus to be their Lord and Savior.

Have you done that?  Have you been a “whosoever” who has called upon the name of the Lord?  If not…you can do it right now.  All that’s needed is this simple prayer…and you’ll be reconciled to God…and no longer an enemy of His.

Dear Lord Jesus…come into my heart.  Forgive me of my sin.  Wash me, cleanse me, and set me free.  Jesus, thank You that You died for me.  I believe that You are risen from the dead and that You’re coming back for me.  Place me IN Your Ark right now, today.  Fill me with the Holy Ghost.  Give me a passion for the lost, a hunger for the things of God, and a holy boldness to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I boldly confess that I am a whosoever that has called upon the name of the Lord…that I am IN the Ark…and that I am saved…I am born again…I am forgiven…I am the righteousness of God IN Christ Jesus…and I am In the Ark and on my way to Heaven because I have Jesus in my heart.  In Jesus name I pray…Amen!

As a minister of the Gospel…I want you to know that if you said that simple prayer…you are saved, born again, and you’re now IN the Ark…and now you have the safety and assurance that when you stand before God on the charge of rejecting His Son as your Lord and Savior…you’ll be found not guilty…and will spend eternity in Heaven.

If you chose to reject this opportunity…please know that just like those who drown in the flood…you may not get another chance…and that when you stand before God on the charge of rejecting God’s Son as Lord and Savior…you’ll be found guilty…and you will spend eternity in Hell.

I hope you chose to get IN the Ark…

Conclusion:

If you’ve just said that prayer today…or if you’ve already said that prayer…be assured that you’re at peace with God…and that you’re going to Heaven.  It’s really just that easy to know, and be assured that when you die or Jesus returns…you’ll be spending eternity with Him.

Are you IN the Ark?  If not…you can be…just go back to that prayer…believe it in your heart…and confess it OUT LOUD with your mouth…and you too will be IN the Ark…saved from the storm that’s coming after the rapture…and some of it that’s coming before it.

It’s time to get IN the Ark…the rain is coming.

We Have Been Reconciled – Day 2

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Today’s Scripture:  Psalm 103:10-12

10  He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.11  For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him.12  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Introduction:

I enjoy talking about reconciliation because it’s so easy to step on the toes of the religious who think that they’re going to heaven because they’re such good people or because they have worked so hard to maintain their salvation.

However, like we talked about in the last message.  When we stand before the Lord…and He asks us why we’re worthy to enter into Heaven.  There’s only one answer that will be sufficient…that answer is the only reason I’m worthy is because of Jesus.

So…let’s pray, and get into this message.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the opportunity to write for You.  I yield my fingers to You, and ask that You’d make my fingers as that as a pen of a ready writer.  Writing ONLY as the oracles of You.  I ask that You would supply my with the supernatural anointing that comes only from the Holy Ghost.  I ask You to speak through me…and that You would use me as You see fit.  I ask this in Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen.

Today’s Message:

If you’re struggling to know you’re forgiven…allow this song to minister to your heart…and remind you…you ARE forgiven.

Casting Crowns wrote a song about how far the east is from the west, and that it’s from one of Jesus’ scarred hand to the other.  The basic point of the song is that there’s an endless distance between our sin and God…for those of us who are “whosoever’s that have called upon the name of the Lord.”

“10  He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.11  For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him.12  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”  Psalm 103:10-12

Here we see again…just like we talked about Friday…that God has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  It’s verses like these that mess with the religious mind because the truth is the religious mindset is one of pride.

Religion says “look at me, and how holy and blameless I am.”, but true Christianity says “it’s not about how holy and blameless I am, but it’s about what Jesus did for me.”  See.  Here’s the thing.  Religion points to self…true Christians point to Christ.

Listen.  The religious world wants you to think that the Holy Ghost is running around convicting the world of sin…and they’re right.  If you’re of the world…the Holy Spirit is convicting the world that they need a Savior, and that they’re going to hell because they refuse to be a whosoever that calls upon the name of the Lord to be saved.

The Holy Ghost’s ministry is to point us to the Word of God, and to point us to Jesus.  True Christians know that we’re not worthy of salvation based upon our merit, our good works or our good deeds.  We know that only because of the Cross are we able to call upon the name of the Lord to be saved…and that has zero to do with us.

The facts are…we came into the world sinners.  We were born under a death sentence because when we were born we were in Adam, and that’s why the new birth is so important.  In the new birth we’re taken out from being in Adam, and we’re placed into being new creations IN CHRIST JESUS.

The religious world is fumbling for reasons and ways to discredit the Cross by saying that if we practice certain sins that we will sin our way out of Heaven.  The problem with that is it wasn’t our sins that was keeping us out of Heaven to begin with…it was our refusal to call upon the name of the Lord to be saved.  We were on our way to Hell until we confessed Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  THAT is what separates us from the world…Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.

Like I said, the religious doesn’t like that because it doesn’t sound super-spiritual.  It sounds much more spiritual to say that I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t cuss, and I don’t hang out with people who do those things…and that’s where I get back to the religious mindset being one of pride…because it’s always focused on what “I” have done.

Let me tell you.  I am not perfect, and I have not flawless.  If anyone were to ask me what makes me so sure I’m going to Heaven…my ONLY answer is because Jesus paid my way.  I have no reason to boast and beat my chest and say look at me, and how holy and spiritual I am.  I am not going to Heaven because I write these messages, I’m not going to Heaven because I attend church, I’m not going to Heaven because I study and read my Bible, I’m not going to Heaven because I pray, I’m not going to Heaven because my grandmother prayed over me, I’m not going to Heaven because I have done such great and wonderful things in my life…I am going to Heaven solely and only because Jesus Christ died upon the Cross for my sin, and one day I heard the Gospel preached…and after the Gospel was preached to me I made a decision in my heart, and I confessed with my mouth that I believed what Jesus did on the Cross was for me…and I asked Him into my heart to be my Lord and Savior…and that and ONLY that is why I am going to Heaven.

I’m assured of my salvation because I didn’t do anything to earn it, and I cannot do anything to maintain it.  Yes…there are things that have changed in my life because I’m putting off the old man, and I’m learning to put on Christ.  However, when I fall short of the glory of God…and I do fall short of the glory of God…I’m told that when I do so if I confess my sin…He is faithful and just to cleanse me of all my unrighteousness…and the further truth is this…even I forget that God is not imputing my sins against me anymore…because He judged ALL of my sin at one time on the Cross.

Friends…when the Bible says that our sins are removed from us as far as the east from the west…that means that there is an immeasurable distance between our sin and God.  He “remembers them no more”.  Friend, it’s not because God gets amnesia, but it’s because there really isn’t anything for Him to remember…because our sin…ALL of our sin as believers is covered by the Blood of Jesus.

That’s why we may boldly say that we were once on the road to hell, but now we’re on the road to Heaven…because Jesus was the bridge that crossed that great divide.

The Blood of Jesus washed and cleansed us when we came to Him to ask Him to be our Lord and Savior, and that same blood that cleansed us then is still washing and cleansing us now.

OH…the Blood of Jesus…that washed me white as snow!

Conclusion:

The things you’ve done in your past that keep coming back to you aren’t coming because they’re unforgiven…they’re coming because the devil doesn’t want you to know you’re worthy of entering the Kingdom.  He’s the one that wants you to feel guilt and condemnation because he knows if he can get you to focus on your unworthiness…and the best thing as believers is that whenever satan gets to reminding you of your past…you have the authority to remind him of his future!

The Blood of Jesus has washed us, and it’s because of the blood our sins are removed as far as the east is from the west.

 

15 Days in the Word with John Piper – 6 ASPECTS OF HUMILITY

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Today’s Scriptures:

  • “5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”  1 Peter 5:5
  • “11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”  Luke 14:11
  • “13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”  James 4:13-16

Introduction:

We only have 3 messages left in this series, and today we get to talk about something that I believe isn’t talked about enough anymore:  Humility.

There’s a lot of talk these days about boldness, confidence, and while those things are good and necessary to have…there’s also a missing ingredient to them that must be talked about just as often.  I believe when we add humility to boldness and confidence that keeps us from stepping over into being arrogant and prideful…and I also believe that there are a lot of arrogant and prideful Christians running around today claiming their being bold and confident.

As always, whenever you want an example…you always look to Jesus for the example.  Jesus was the perfect picture of someone who approached God the Father with boldness and confidence, but had the humility in Him to keep from being arrogant and prideful.  The boldness and confidence are what the disciples noticed the most about Jesus’ prayer life, but when Jesus taught them prayer the first thing that He taught them was to praise God…and not themselves.

So…I’m excited to talk about Humility because I believe that it’s a characteristic that is sorely lacking in the Church today, and I’m interested in making sure it’s a characteristic that I’m not lacking in…how about you…Amen!?!

Today’s Message:

If humility is not compliance with relativism and is not sophomoric skepticism, what is it? This is important, since the Bible says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5), and “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). God has told us at least six things about humility.

We’re about to get into these 6 aspects of Humility, and we’ll do it like we’ve done with all of the lists John Piper has given us throughout this series.  We’ll post the entire list, and then we’ll take them all one by one.

I think it’s important to understand what true humility is, and I believe that’s what we’re going to learn today.  So, let’s see what we’re gonna be talking about.

1. Humility begins with a sense of subordination to God in Christ.

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. (Matthew 10:24)

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. (1 Peter 5:6)

2. Humility does not feel a right to better treatment than Jesus got.

If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! (Matthew 10:25)

Therefore humility does not return evil for evil. It is not life based on its perceived rights.

Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps; . . . while suffering, He uttered no threats, but handed [his cause] over to Him who judges righteously. (1 Peter 2:21-23)

3. Humility asserts truth not to bolster ego with control or with triumphs in debate, but as service to Christ and love to the adversary.

Love rejoices in the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:6)

What I [Jesus] tell you in the darkness, speak in the light. . . . Do not fear. (Matthew 10:27-28)

We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. (2 Corinthians 4:5)

4. Humility knows it is dependent on grace for all-knowing and believing.

What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (1 Corinthians 4:7)

In humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

5. Humility knows it is fallible, and so considers criticism and learns from it; but also knows that God has made provision for human conviction and that he calls us to persuade others.

We see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

A wise man is he who listens to counsel. (Proverbs 12:15)

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. (2 Corinthians 5:11)

6. Humility is to believe in the heart and confess with the lips that our life is like a vapor, and that God decides when we die, and that God governs all our accomplishments.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16)

I hope y’all weren’t hoping for a short message…because we’re going to have a lot to talk about today…and we’re going to get it all in before we close this message.  So…let’s get into these 6 Aspects of Humility.

1. Humility begins with a sense of subordination to God in Christ.

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. (Matthew 10:24)

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. (1 Peter 5:6)

This is where we talk about surrendering our lives to God, and if you need to know more about how to live a surrendered life…then you should check out our “Living the Surrendered Life” series we just finished before we got into this one by John Piper.

We are not above God.  We are to be submitted and surrendered to Him.  As I said in the introduction that if we’re to need an example then we should look at how Jesus lived.  Not that we’re ever going to live exactly like Jesus, but what we can do is see how He approached life…and try to apply it to ours.

Throughout the life of Jesus we see this first aspect in operation in His life at all times.  There wasn’t a time where we didn’t see that Jesus made Himself to be subordinate to God.  What does that mean?  I’m glad you asked.  Subordination is defined as:  “the act of placing in a lower rank or position.”

Listen.  We all know that Jesus was fully man and fully God at the same time, but what people refuse to acknowledge is that while Jesus was walking the earth He walked it as a man that was totally submitted and dependent upon the Holy Ghost and the Father to lead Him.  Wasn’t it Jesus who said that I do what I see My Father does, and say what My Father says?  Doesn’t He say that My will is to do the will of the One who sent Me?

Listen.  You can’t get any more subordinate that Jesus the Son of God humbling Himself into the form of man (even though He was fully God), and having to rely solely upon the Holy Ghost to lead Him…like we do.  He was totally and completely subordinate to the Father and to the Holy Ghost…and the amazing thing of that to me is that He was God the whole time.

Do you know that any time He wanted to…He could’ve just decided to not go through with what He was doing?  He placed Himself at a lower rank and position for us…to show us not only that He was here to redeem the lost, but how to live a life filled with Humility.

2. Humility does not feel a right to better treatment than Jesus got.

If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! (Matthew 10:25)

Therefore humility does not return evil for evil. It is not life based on its perceived rights.

Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps; . . . while suffering, He uttered no threats, but handed [his cause] over to Him who judges righteously. (1 Peter 2:21-23)

If Jesus had to be completely submitted to the Holy Ghost…why shouldn’t we have to be?  If Jesus endured persecution…why shouldn’t we?  If Jesus endured suffering…why shouldn’t we?  Why do we think that we don’t deserve to go through some of the same things that Jesus did?  I’ll tell you why…PRIDE.

Listen.  If anyone ever had the right to not have to endure hardship, persecution, suffering, and the rest of what He endured…it was Jesus…but He went through it all…didn’t He?  So…that begs the question…why is it that we think we are entitled to an easier life?  Why is it that we feel we’re entitled to a persecution free life?  The answer and truth are we’re not entitled to anything of the sort.

Listen…if Jesus had to endure it…we are going to have to endure it as well.  If you want to know What Would Jesus Do…then take a look at what Jesus did…and then you’ll know what kind of things we can expect in our lives…Amen!?!

3. Humility asserts truth not to bolster ego with control or with triumphs in debate, but as service to Christ and love to the adversary.

Love rejoices in the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:6)

What I [Jesus] tell you in the darkness, speak in the light. . . . Do not fear. (Matthew 10:27-28)

We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. (2 Corinthians 4:5)

Whoa!  A mouthful has just been said here…hasn’t it!?!  I don’t think I have anything to add to this point.  It’s clear enough that I don’t think I need to expound at all.

I do have one point to express.  Love to the adversary.  We just talked in the previous message about loving our enemies.  We said yesterday that our motivation for everything ought to be out of love…and the only way that we can love those who persecute and hate us to be humbly submitted to His Lordship…and through being surrendered to what we feel we’re entitled to.  I am not entitled to anything the world is entitled to because I don’t belong to the world…and neither are you.

Listen…we aren’t entitled to anything in this world.  I hate this “sense of entitlement” that is rampant throughout the world…and even in the body of Christ.  We’re entitled to spend eternity in hell, but instead of getting what we’re entitled to…we get what Jesus is entitled to.

So…the next time you get to thinking the world owes you something…you actually have it wrong.  YOU owe the world something…and it’s Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

4. Humility knows it is dependent on grace for all-knowing and believing.

What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (1 Corinthians 4:7)

In humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

Do you know why this is such an awesome adventure for me?  It’s because I am completely dependent upon God for His grace, and the ability that He’s given me to express myself in writing.  I have no right or reason to boast at all about this ministry that God’s given me…nor the gift of being able to write that God has given me.  I’ve no reason to boast about being a pastor or having a ministry or even having people following along…because it’s all about Jesus.

Listen.  I have probably said this in the majority of my messages, but it bears repeating yet again that this ministry, these messages, and all of the people who choose to follow Christlike Ministries NWA…none of this is mine…it ALL belongs to Jesus…period.  You aren’t my sheep…you’re God’s.  Christlike Ministries isn’t my ministry…it’s Gods.  These messages aren’t my messages, but they’re God’s messages to you.

I need God’s grace every single solitary day of my life because there are many, many days where I completely miss God, and I screw things up all the time.  I am not getting a 100%, and I don’t believe I ever will.  I don’t want to reach some plateau where I feel like I’ve arrived some where because I haven’t arrived anywhere.

God’s grace and mercy saved me, and it’s God’s grace again that allows me to be in ministry.  It’s God’s grace that gets me through many nights at work, and keeps me going.

Listen…I don’t have anything that I didn’t receive from God…therefore I have no right to boast or brag about anything…but I do brag on my God…because there’s no One like Him…He’s one of a kind…and some how He sees me as His…and that’s amazing all by itself.  His grace and mercy made me His…and therefore I can’t help but enjoy doing this because this is about Him…and not me or my abilities…it’s all…always about Jesus.

5. Humility knows it is fallible, and so considers criticism and learns from it; but also knows that God has made provision for human conviction and that he calls us to persuade others.

We see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

A wise man is he who listens to counsel. (Proverbs 12:15)

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. (2 Corinthians 5:11)

Here it comes again.  I am not perfect.  I do not belong in some preachers “hall of fame”.  I have done and still do things to miss God on a regular basis.  In fact, to be honest I probably miss God more than I don’t…but some how He sees me as fit and good…and none of that is because of me…it’s all because when He looks at me He sees Jesus…and I hope He also sees my heart.

I am fallible.  I know that, and will never claim to be someone who isn’t.  I will never be one of those who believes we can be without sin, and blameless because the only One I know that was perfect, without sin, and blameless was Jesus.  Everyone else falls short of that perfection…and I don’t care if it’s Pope John Paul or T.D. Jakes…no one is perfect, but Jesus…and we’re all fallible…and for those who think they aren’t…that is sin too…because that’s pride.

6. Humility is to believe in the heart and confess with the lips that our life is like a vapor, and that God decides when we die, and that God governs all our accomplishments.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16)

“God governs all our accomplishments.”.  You know.  I think that if we’d just remember that…we wouldn’t have such a problem with prideful and arrogant people in the church today thinking they’ve arrived or done something with their lives.

Listen.  If anyone ever had the right to be prideful and arrogant I believe that person would be Paul.  Look at all he knew, all he accomplished, and all that he did.  If anyone deserved to look at all of that and feel some sense of accomplishment…Paul would be that guy, but he doesn’t ever get that way does he?

In fact, it was Paul who described all he did and knew as rubbish compared to his desire to know Jesus more and deeper than he already did.  Listen…how many of us have had Jesus personally preach the Gospel to us?  Paul did.  How many of us have had the opportunity to see the third Heaven…the one that hasn’t even been built yet?  Paul did.  How many of us had the mystery of the church revealed to them?  Paul did.  How many of us had the privilege of writing two-thirds of the New Testament?  Paul did.

So…of anyone who had the right to boast and pump his chest and say “look what I’ve done for the people of God.” it was Paul.  He never did any of that…did he?  I’ll help you…the answer to that question is no.

So…that begs the question.  If Jesus didn’t boast, and neither did Paul…then what in the world are we so prideful about?  What makes us think that we’re entitled to anything that Jesus Himself wasn’t entitled to?  I guess the ultimate question is this one:  Why do we feel we’re entitled to what Jesus wasn’t?  I’ll help you with that answer too…pride.

Conclusion:

I can only speak for myself here, but for me I have come to recognize that everything I am and have is because of Jesus.  I know that apart from Him I am nothing, I have nothing, and I can do nothing…other than fall short of the glory of God.  All I have, all I am, and all I do today is because of God’s grace, God’s mercy, and God’s love…even this very message I’m writing today is because of God’s gift of grace…and the ability that I have to write…I have because of His grace.

So…I would encourage you to look at your heart…and the attitude within it.  Is it humble or is it full of pride?  If you look back at these 6 Aspect of Humility…I trust it will help you to see clearly which side of the spectrum you’re on…and if it’s on the prideful side…I would hope that you’d realize that’s not the way we’re intended to be…and seek God’s forgiveness.

Lord, how foolish we can be to think we’re entitled to things in our lives that You weren’t.  Lord…I ask that if there’s pride that needs to be shown in me that You would illuminate it, and help me to rid my life of anything that exalts myself above You.  I want to remain humble and contrite…and know that all I am, have, and do is because of You.  I ask that those reading would come to that same realization…and for those who may have need to be rid of some pride and arrogance…may You pierce their hearts with Your love…and bring them to a place where they realize…You deserve the glory for their accomplishments.  I give You all the praise, all the glory, and all of the honor for the things that I can do by Your grace and mercy…and I pray in Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen

 

15 Days in the Word with John Piper – PSALM 135 AND THE PLEASURE OF GOD IN ALL HE DOES

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Today’s Scripture:

1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord.2 Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God,3 Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.4For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

5 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.  Psalm 135:1-6

Introduction:

Greetings friends.  I am extremely sorry for the delay in messages, but I’ve been a little busier that usual.  For those of you who don’t follow along with us on Facebook…we have a new member to the Kizer household…an 8 month old puppy named Vinni.  I’m still learning to balance life, and you know I believe that’s the greatest challenge in ministry.

There’s so much to learn how to balance.  I work a secular job, I have a family (that now includes a new puppy), I am studying and working towards obtaining my Associates Degree, I’ve got church services at New Life Christian Center, I’ve Discipleship Track meetings every other week, extended family functions, writing these messages…and some where in there I’m needing to find my own devotional time apart from my messages and studies so that I can have my personal encounters with God…and somewhere in there I still try to keep up with the Chicago White Sox, Washington Redskins, and try to find some “me” time in there as well.

So…if I may solicit your prayers that God would be able to help me and teach me to maintain a good balance so that nothing is overlooked…but also that nothing gets too much time either.  Thus…the need to learn that thing called balance…making sure everything gets time without over or under doing it.

Anyways…please keep me before the Lord in prayer.  I would greatly appreciate it…and with all that said…let’s get into today’s message:  PSALM 135 AND THE PLEASURE OF GOD IN ALL HE DOES

Today’s Message:

The psalm begins by calling us to praise the Lord: Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. Then, starting in verse 3 the psalmist gives us reasons for why we should feel praise rising in our hearts toward God. It says, for example (verse 3), “Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.”

Do I have to tell you that it’s necessary to give God glory, honor and praise?  I hope that I wouldn’t have to tell you that, but it seems to me that one of the other epidemics that’s sweeping through congregations across the country is this apathetic worship of our God.

Now, I don’t know about you…but I can’t worship God that way.  I don’t dance, shout, and get down…but I still make sure to worship God is a way that He knows I mean business with Him.  There are times I do shout, I do dance, I do jump for joy, but that’s usually in my private time with Him.  But…I can’t be in church and have my hands in my pocket…but there are so many who can.

For people who worship God that way…I just have to wonder if they’ve been delivered of anything only He can deliver them of, or if they’ve even had that once in a lifetime experience with God that changed their lives for ever.  I know I have had that experience…and that’s why I’m like that blind man who says:  “You don’t know like I know what my Jesus has done for me.  So, I can’t help but worship like I worship, I can’t help but to praise like I praise, and I can’t help but to write and teach and preach like I do…because my God’s done such wondrous things for me.”

The list of reasons for praise goes on until it comes to verse 6, and this is the verse I want to focus on:

Whatever the Lord pleases he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.

Whatever the Lord pleases…He does.  Do you know that when God made you He was pleased?  I imagine that after every person He creates He does just like He did with Adam…and blesses every person and calls them good.  Just an opinion of mine.  I’ve no biblical evidence to support that, but I believe that God looks at every person He creates and just as He did with everything He created:  “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.”

Psalm 115:3 says the same thing:

Our God is in the heavens;
he does whatever he pleases.

There isn’t anyone that tells God what to do.  He doesn’t seek counsel for anything He does at all.  God does what He wants…when He wants…how He wants…and why He wants to do things.  He has His own reasoning, and He never once was concerned with what anyone else thinks about what He does…He just does…what He pleases.

ALWAYS FREE, NEVER CONSTRAINED
This verse teaches that whenever God acts, he acts in a way that pleases him. God is never constrained to do a thing that he despises. He is never backed into a corner where his only recourse is to do something he hates to do. He does whatever he pleases. And therefore, in some sense, he has pleasure in all that he does.

These texts and many others should lead us to bow before God and praise his sovereign freedom — that in some sense at least he always acts in freedom, according to his own “good pleasure,” following the dictates of his own delights.

God never becomes the victim of circumstance. He is never forced into a situation where he must do something in which he cannot rejoice. He is not mocked. He is not trapped or cornered or coerced.

I love how this is written.  I really couldn’t say it any better, and therefore I’m going to let this speak for itself.  What an awesome and mighty God we serve.  I do believe one thing…that there is an apathetic and lack of awe of God that’s rampant within the Body of Christ today.  The Bible says that a good healthy fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  There are a lot of people in the Body of Christ who are lacking in wisdom…not because they fail to ask for it, but because they fail to use the wisdom they have…and choose for whatever reason to have very little awe, respect or wonder when it comes to the God that created them…He is still Sovereign, and too many people in the church forget that today.

A FRAGRANT OFFERING
Even at the one point in history where he did what in one sense was the hardest thing for God to do, “not spare his own Son” (Romans 8:32), God was free and doing what pleased him. Paul says that the self-sacrifice of Jesus in death was “a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). The greatest sin and the greatest death and the hardest act of God was pleasing to the Father.

And on his way to Calvary Jesus himself had legions at his disposal. “No one takes my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord” — of his own good pleasure, for the joy that is set before him. At the one point in the history of the universe where Jesus looked trapped, he was totally in charge doing precisely what he pleased — dying to justify the ungodly like you and me.

“No one takes my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord” — of his own good pleasure, for the joy that is set before him.  The Cross was endured by His good pleasure…are you kidding me?  How anyone can know that and still have the lack of reverence and awe for the King of kings and Lord of lords is beyond my comprehension.  I mean…seriously!?!  How can you not after knowing what Jesus endured before the Cross, on His way to the Cross, and then on the Cross…read that He did it for His good pleasure…and not have any reverence or awe for Him?

Oh…that our eyes may see God in a different light today.  May we repent of our lack luster way of seeking and relating to Him.  Let us ask Him to forgive us for our apathetic attitude, and lack of awe and reverence for Him.  Father, forgive us for taking You so for granted…and not giving You the rightful glory, honor, and reverence that You are due.  In Jesus’ name…Amen

So let us stand in awe and wonder. And let us tremble that not only our praises of God’s sovereignty but also our salvation through the death of Christ for us, hang on this: “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever he pleases

And with that I’ll close this message.  Let us stand in awe and wonder.  For our God is in heaven…and He does what ever He wants…and what ever He pleases…Amen!?!

Conclusion:

Friend, every once in a while the conclusion of the message needs to be an altar call of sorts.  I just sense that maybe there might be a few of you reading this that don’t have a relationship with God at all…and you’re wanting to know this Jesus that gave His life for you so that you and God could have a relationship.  I want you to know that the Bible says that:  “If you believe in your heart, and confess with your mouth that God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to Himself, and that what Jesus did on the Cross was for you…and you would like to give your heart and life to Jesus that if you are a whosoever…and you call upon the name of the Lord to be saved…then you will be just that…saved.

It’s not complicated.  All ya need to do is pray this simple little prayer out loud with all your heart and believing that when you say “Amen” you’ll be a new creation.

“Heavenly Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus.  I admit that I am a whosoever, and I have not called upon the name of Jesus to be my Lord and Savior…but I want to do that now.  I believe what Jesus did on the Cross was for my sin…and Your Word says that as a whosoever if I will call upon the name of the Lord to be saved…I am.  Therefore, I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior.  I ask You Jesus to come into my heart and I thank You for making me a new creation.  I thank You for what You did upon the Cross for me, and I am stating by faith today that I have called upon the name of the Lord…and I am saved.  In Jesus’ name…Amen.

Friend…if you just prayed that simple prayer…you’re now a citizen of Heaven, and Jesus Christ is now your Lord and Savior.  I would encourage you to seek out a good, strong Bible preaching and teaching church to get plugged into…and that you get a Bible of your own and start studying.  If you’re new and never studied the Bible for yourself…I have a resource available to you that I use in my own personal devotional time.

If you’ll email me at christlikeministriesarkansas@yahoo.comwith your name, and address I will make sure to get a copy of the Our Daily Bread Devotional Magazine to you right away.

Well…glory to God…we’ve completed another message…and we will finish up this series over the next couple of days.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.” (1 Corinthians 16:23-24)

Blessing & Grace to you
Bryan J. Kizer
Christlike Ministries NWA

 

15 Days in the Word with John Piper “11 WAYS GOD WORKS FOR US”

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Today’s Scripture:

  • Psalm 55:22: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
  • Isaiah 64:4:  “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.”

Introduction:

We all know that God works in us, and some of us know that God works through us.  However, I’m relatively certain that many of us forget that God also works for us.  I am excited to get into today’s message.  So…without any further delay…let’s get into the “WAYS GOD WORKS FOR US”

Today’s Message:

Only a few things have gripped me with greater joy than the truth that God loves to show his God-ness by working for me, and that his working for me is always before and under and in any working I do for him.

I think one of the greatest things that comes from writing these messages is that not only is God working and speaking through me to help you to know Him more, but He’s also working through these messages for me…to help me to know Him better too.  This is such a two-sided opportunity.  Not only do these messages help to equip and encourage you, but they do the same for me.  I think that most real pastors and people in ministry will tell you that often they get just as much out of ministering to people as the people they’re ministering get…and some times even more.  I find that to be true in this case because not only is my knowledge of the Word of God increasing with every message I write, but my understanding of who God is…and what He desires to do in me, with me, and through me also increases.  So…I can actually understand what ministers mean when they say that they get more out of ministry opportunities than the people they minister to at times.

At first it may sound arrogant of us, and belittling to God, to say that he works for us. But that’s only because of the connotation that I am an employer and God needs a job. That’s not the connotation when the Bible talks about God’s working for us. As in: “God works for those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:4).

Can I tell you that I’m one of those who forgets that not only does God work in us…and through us…but that God works for us?  I mean we can be honest with one another right?  So…I’m not immune to forgetting that God is also working for us…on our behalf…but the truth is…if the Word of God says that “God works for those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 64:4)…then that’s exactly what God does.  See…we either believe all of what the Bible says or we don’t…and we believe that all of the Bible is the Word of God or we don’t.  Therefore, since I do believe that all of the Bible is the Word of God…and I believe all of what the Bible says (whether I’ve read it or not…whether I understand it or not)…then I believe that God does just as much work for me as He does in me and through me.

The proper connotation of saying God works for me is that I am bankrupt and need a bailout. I am weak and need someone strong. I am endangered and need a protector. I am foolish and need someone wise. I am lost and need a Rescuer.

“God works for me” means I can’t do the work.

And this glorifies him not me. The Giver gets the glory. The Powerful One gets the praise.

And here it is.  The reason God works for those who wait for Him is because we’re humble enough to understand that there are things in our lives that only HE can do.  Most of us only realize it after we have tried to do it on our own, or we give God some of it…and keep some of it.  However, when we do like Proverbs 3:5-6 say…and we trust in the Lord with all of our hearts…and acknowledge Him in ALL of our ways…He will direct our paths.  In other words…If we acknowledge Him in ALL of our ways…and get ourselves and our limited understanding out of His way…He will direct our paths.  Getting out of His way…allows Him to be able to work on our behalf.

How many of you know that as we do our jobs in the private sector that we are working on the behalf of the company we’re working for?  I am a route manager for the local Krispy Kreme franchise here in Bentonville, Arkansas.  How many of you know that the main Krispy Kreme Headquarters is in North Carolina?  How many of you know that when you work for a franchise like McDonald’s or Krispy Kreme that not only are you a representative of the particular franchise you work for…but you’re also a representative of the corporation as a whole?

How many of you know that the corporate office also works for us?  They come up with solutions and ideas that will make our jobs easier or make our displays look better.  They come up with ideas for different doughnuts, and packaging…and then they will send those ideas out to the franchises to be implemented and used by our store.

You see.  We are ambassadors for Christ.  We are God’s workmanship.  He is the CEO of Christianity (and let me just say I mean True Christianity), and we are His representatives.  Can I tell you that He has helped me to develop my writing ability?  I am a much better writer now then I was eight months ago, and that’s because I’ve taken the ideas He’s given me about the layout of my messages…and now they are much easier and better reads.  That’s just a small example of what I mean about God working for us…and why we always need to get out of His way…so that He can direct our paths.

“God works for me” means I can’t do the work.

And this glorifies him not me. The Giver gets the glory. The Powerful One gets the praise.

Can I tell you that it’s hard for me to accept compliments on the messages I write?  Not because I’m so proud and prideful about what I do, but rather it’s because I understand that it’s God who has given me the ability to write…and it’s God who speaks through me as I write.  I’ve said many a time that I don’t want the praise or glory for this ministry because it doesn’t belong to me.  It belongs to God.  Sure, it is encouraging to hear someone tell me that I wrote a good message or to see people like the postings, but in all honesty I just return that praise to the One who deserves it…and thank Him for giving me the ability and words to write…and that whenever someone like what I write…that just means that I’m making a difference for Him…and I thank Him for the ability to make a difference for Him and His Kingdom.

That’s the honest truth friends!  I don’t take any glory or honor from doing this.  I do get some satisfaction out of knowing that people are being fed, encouraged, challenged, and helped by these messages…but even in the satisfaction of knowing that…I return the glory back to the One who deserves it…and I believe that’s one of the things that helps keep me humble and grounded…I know that the glory doesn’t belong to me…it belongs to God.

I just completed a series on Twitter (@JohnPiper) celebrating some of the texts that express this truth. Here’s the summary list. Read and be freed from the burden of bearing your own load. “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22). Let him do that work.

So…now here is the list of 11 Ways God Works For Us…and we’re going to take these one at a time…and see what more God would have to say to us about these 11 ways…Amen!?!

1. “No eye has seen a God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 64:4)

Have you ever heard a Muslim talk about the great work that Muhammad does for them?  How about how great a miracle Buddha has done in the life of a Buddhist?  Anyone ever heard a Hindu talk about whatever god they worship delivering them from alcoholism? Drug Addiction? Restore their broken  family or marriage?  I have known people who were Muslim…and while they pray all those times and maybe they have some kind of peace in their lives…I’ve yet to hear one of them say that Muhammad blessed them with that job they’ve been praying for.  I used to work for a man who was a Buddhist, and I could tell that he too maybe had a peace about him, but I’d never once heard him say…glory to Buddha because he did this for me or through me.

You know why that is?  Because there is NO other God like ours.  No other God can work in us, through us, and for us like ours…because He’s also the only God who is alive and powerful.  There’s NO God beside our God because He’s the ONLY One who works for those who wait for Him.

2. “God is not served by human hands as though he needed anything, but he himself gives life and breath and everything.” (Acts 17:25)

Everyday that we wake up is an opportunity to see God work in our lives.  He gives us our very life and breathe.  He’s the One who woke us up this morning to breathe life into a new day.  He works for us on a daily basis…and some of us (myself included) completely forget about that and take it for granted.

3. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Going back to the first one…anyone ever heard someone from another religion talk about how their God gave their life for them?  Most of their gods require them to sacrifice their lives, but did any of their gods provide the example like ours?  Friends…maybe this is just basic common sense, but I certainly wouldn’t want to serve a God who would ask me to do something for Him that He wouldn’t do for me.  It’s easy to desire to sow my life for the work of the Cross…because Jesus sowed His life on the very Cross I strive to sow my life for.  It’s easier to desire to die to myself because Jesus showed me the example as He denied His own will.  Our God is the ONLY One who gave His life for us…and while He requires of us to die to ourselves and serve Him…He’s the only one who provided the example.

4. “The eyes of the LORD run through the earth, to show himself strong for those who trust him.” (2 Chronicles. 16:9)

Anyone ever heard a Muslim talk about the eyes of Muhammad being upon them or watching over them?  They may think that’s the case, but the only god watching over their lives is…well..the one who is seeking whom he may devour and destroy.  Our God seeks for those who love and trust and will worship Him in spirit and in truth.  Their god searches for those whom he may steal, kill, and destroy them…who wants that kind of god working for them?  I sure don’t.

5. “If I were hungry, I wouldn’t tell you. Call on me, I will deliver you. You will glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15)

Anyone ever heard of Buddha feeding anyone?  Literally or spiritually?  I’m thinking since I’ve seen pictures of “The Buddha” that he wouldn’t be feeding anyone anything.  Anyone ever seen the belly on that statue?  There’s no way Buddha would want to feed anyone…but himself.

6. “To old age I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” (Isaiah 46:4)

Oh…glory to God.  This makes me think of the “Footprints in the Sand” poem.  About how the person in the poem had gone through such heartache, and asks God why there was only one set of footprints through those times…and our loving God tells us that during those times where we see only one set of footprints in our lives…it’s because He is carrying us through them.  What a Mighty God.  Hallelujah!  I don’t know about you…but I think I’m writing myself happy…Amen!?!

7. “I worked harder than any, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Corinthians. 15:10)

Paul writes that he’s worked harder than any (other than Jesus) to sow his life for the sake of the Gospel, but still acknowledges that it’s by God’s grace working in and through him.

8. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

How many try to have church without God in their house?  They build these huge mega churches…and they do it all in vain because God’s not only not involved in the building process, but He’s not even invited to attend the services.  There are so MANY churches that are built in vain because God’s not involved in them at all…because He’s not even invited to be in the services.  I’ve been to a few of those places, and it’s just said how empty and dead those churches are because there’s no power in them.  The lights may be on…but there’s no one home…because there’s NO Holy Ghost…because there’s no Word of God…and any Word of God there is in them is taken out of context and falsely preached.

9. “Whoever serves, let him serve by the strength God supplies, so that in everything God may be glorified.” (1 Peter 4:11)

Here we are back to me acknowledging that God supplies me the words and ability to write.  He gave me the gift of writing.  He gave me this ability.  I couldn’t even do this without Him.  And therefore…He gets the glory and honor for all of these messages I write…because the Holy Ghost supplies me with the unction and utterance for them.  He speaks…and I write…that’s all there is to it.

10. “Work out your own salvation, for it is God who works in you, to will and to work.” (Philippians 2:12–13)

There are so many people who quote the first part of this verse to verify that salvation is by works, and not by grace.  They use this to pad their argument that we not only are saved by works, but we maintain our salvation by works.  Unfortunately…they leave out the rest of this verse because if they’d read the rest of the verse…they would see that God works in us…and therefore…even when we work out our salvation…He’s doing the work in us…and furthermore the work we do for Him…He’s doing the work through us.  We are simply to be vessels for God to work in so that eventually He can work through us…Amen!?!

11. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:6–7)

Pastor Cass Hill of New Life Christian Centertaught on this very verse last night.  Paul planted the seed, Apollos watered the seed that Paul planted, but it’s God who gives the increase.  When I began Christlike Ministries NWA I have to admit that for a while there weren’t too many people who were following this ministry at all.  That’s because I hadn’t really been sowing much seed, but over the last few months the Lord has begun to draw people to this ministry.

However, just recently I’ve seen the number of followers have grown…to include approximately  60 people and pages that are fans of us on the Christlike Ministries NWA Facebook Fan Page…about 15 followers of the Christlike Ministries NWA WordPress Page…80 people who follow us @ChristMinistNWA on Twitter, almost 20 connections on the Christlike Ministries NWA LinkedIn Profile, and over 1,200 viewers of the Official Website of Christlike Ministries NWA.

God has brought increase to Christlike Ministries NWA over the last few months, and I know that the credit and glory belongs to Him.  All I have done is to be faithful in continuing to sow my life by writing these messages, and it’s God who is honoring me by bringing the increase…which in return honors Him.

So…you see friends.  The truth is that we serve the only God who not only works in us and through us, but He also works for us.  Like I said in the beginning of this message…I’m relatively certain that no one else’s god works for them…but that’s why we’re able to boldly declare that there is NO other God like our God…Amen!?!

No Other God Compares to Ours!!!

 

Conclusion & Prayer:

Friends…I don’t know about you, but I am really enjoying this series.  It’s only been three days, but I’ve really been having fun with this series.  John Piper is a great man of God, and what a blessing it is to be able to work through this 15 day devotional, and allow not only what Mr. Piper writes to influence and impact our lives…but get more from the Lord…and have Him teach us more that will influence and impact our lives.

What an awesome God we serve…because not only do we get the honor of being able to serve Him, but we get to be reminded that He serves us as well…Amen!?!

And Lord…we thank You for all of the work that You do.  What a joy and honor it is to be reminded that not only do You work in us and through us…but You’re also working for us.  How wonderful it is to know that we serve a God who is as eager to work for us as we ought to be to work for You.  Thank You for giving me the ability and gift to be able to write these messages, and I thank You…God for bringing the increase.  I thank You for drawing people to this ministry…and I pray Lord that You continue to bless not only me and this ministry…but those who read these messages…and I thank You for all of them.  I thank You for the sheep which You have entrusted to me…and ask You to continue to give me wisdom and understanding to share with them.  In Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen

 

15 Days in the Word with John Piper “A WORD FOR BACKSLIDERS”

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Today’s Scripture:

“19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” John 20:19-21

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him,“Tend My sheep.”17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”  John 21:15-17

Introduction:

Well…we only did one day so far, and I don’t know about you…but I have the exciting thought that this may be one of the best series we’ve done to date.  I’ve had a lot of fun, and maybe the most important series may have been the one we did on “Why Read The Bible?”…but I think this one has the potential to be a really good series as well.

Today…we talk about backsliders…and I know that I’m not the only one who has ever been here…and multiple times.  I think that it comes from allowing the cares of the world to overtake our desire for the sincere milk and meat of the Word of God on a regular basis.  I know that the more important to me the world becomes…the harder it is to get into the Word of God.  Pastor Cass of New Life Christian Center often says that one of the devil’s main goals is to “get us busy”.

Why?  Because if our minds are on the things and cares of this world…then they’re usually off of the Word of God.  The longer our minds are entrenched and busy with the worries and cares of the world the less our focus is upon God…and the less we’re in the Word of God.  At least that’s how it works in my life…and then before you know it…it’s been days or some times even weeks since you last got into God’s Word…and before you know it…you’ve developed some carnality in your walk with the Lord…and we all know that to be carnally minded is death…spiritual death.

So…I don’t know about you…but this is one of those messages that I think I’m going to have to read over and over again…and also one of these messages that I need to make sure I’m relying upon the Holy Ghost to speak…and with that in mind we’ll pray…and get into today’s message titled:  “A WORD FOR BACKSLIDERS”

Opening Prayer:

Holy Spirit…I thank You for the opportunity to speak to the subject of backsliding today.  I ask for Your anointing and supernatural ability to overtake me as I begin to write this message.  I ask that You would give me the utterance and unction needed to write a clear, sound, and precise message that will be rooted deeply in the hearts of the readers…and my own heart as I write what You supply me with.  I ask that You would take over now…this day…and that we’d all have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts that are receptive and responsive to what You would have to say to us through this message.  I ask this in Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen.

Today’s Message:

How eager Jesus was to restore broken fellowship with his apostles after the resurrection! Surely this is a sign of how eager he is to restore us when we have drifted (or bolted) away.

All the apostles had forsaken him. In the garden, at his most sorrowful hour, “They all left him and fled” (Mark 14:50).

When I think of what John writes here about Jesus being eager to restore the broken fellowship between Him and His disciples it makes me think of His determination to get to the Cross.  It makes me think about how the reason He made His way up the mountain was because He was thinking of me.  He was thinking that one day I would be one of those who would respond to His eager desire to have restored fellowship with me too.

How easy it is for us when we are wronged to hold on to those hurts and disappointments that come between us and the person who has wronged us.  How easy it is to not desire to restore that broken fellowship, but this reminds me of how I felt about my relationship with my parents after spending the better part of a decade in a relationship that was broken…and how little fellowship I had with them through that decade.

It’s also one of the greatest works that God has done in my heart.  There was a time when I would hold on to hurt and resentment…and not only did that cause me to break fellowship with many people…but it also caused me to keep the rest of the world at bay as well.  Instead of trying to believe that there was a bit of good in everyone…I began to believe that no one (including myself) was trustworthy…and that in the end they were either going to leave me or devastate me emotionally…and therefore what started as holding on to bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness turned into an unwillingness to even allow myself to fellowship with people at all.

Today…I can honestly say that by the grace of God I’ve gone from being unwilling to forgive to almost being too willing and eager to forgive.  I also can say that for the most part I am able to quickly let go of offense as the Lord is teaching me about the part of 1 Corinthians 13 that says that “love bears or keeps no record of wrongs done to it.”.  That’s hard…friends.

I won’t go into details, but recently there was a bit of a family issue that came about that challenged my very heart upon this matter.  Somehow, the Holy Spirit was able to speak through me some thing that I know was from Him because I know that I myself couldn’t have come up with what I said.  “One of the hardest things to do is to extend grace to someone who doesn’t deserve it…even when you’re in the right to not extend that grace to that person.”  The more devastation a person causes you…the more difficult it is to extend that grace because feelings and emotions are involved…and so extending grace and forgiveness can be extremely difficult.

I used to wonder how Jesus felt about His disciples before He got to them, and I think John paints a pretty good picture to me.  He felt a sense of urgency to restore the broken fellowship between Him and His disciples.  What an example that is…and how difficult of an example that is to follow.  It speaks of the depth of His love for us…and just how valuable each and every single one of us are to Him.

When you read about the rejoicing of the father who had the Prodigal Son return home, and how he ran when he saw his son a far off.  How he kissed him, and was so happy that he wanted a big celebration.  I know I’ve found myself coming home to God many a time like this…and you know what I’ve also found that God is just as eager after the one hundredth time as He was the very first time…because the whole reason He endured the Cross in the first place…was because He was eager to restore fellowship with us…and have it be the way it was in the beginning when Adam and Eve used to walk with Him in the cool of the day.

Friends…if you ever get to wondering what the perfect will of God is…go back and read the creation story before the fall.  God’s desire is for each and every one of us to have the same fellowship with Him as He enjoyed with Adam and Eve before sin entered into the world.  That’s what the New Jerusalem and Heaven are going to be like…restored…perfect fellowship with our Father…the way it was meant to be when He created the Garden of Eden…and put Adam and Eve in it.

Now he was raised. What would he say to those who had abandoned him? Three healing things:

1. To Mary at the tomb: “Go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17)

“Brothers!” “Your Father!” “Your God!” I am going now. You will come later. We are, and we will be, together. I forgive you. Our Father forgives you.

2. He finds the apostles, stands among them, and says, “Peace be with you.” He showed them his hands and his side — horrible reminders of what it cost him when they forsook him. And he says again. “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19–21)

“Peace!” Not “Shame!” I forgive you. I take you back. I entrust you with my mission: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

3. To Peter, three times: “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” And to his three positive answers, Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” “Tend my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15–17)

I have not given up on you, Peter. You are a shepherd of my sheep. Do you recall that I prayed for you? I told you what was coming. I never let you go. My command was a promise: “When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)

Let’s see if we can’t take a look at each of these things Jesus said to those who had abandoned Him.

1. To Mary at the tomb: “Go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17)

“Brothers!” “Your Father!” “Your God!” I am going now. You will come later. We are, and we will be, together. I forgive you. Our Father forgives you.

Is anyone else in awe right now of the grace and mercy of our Father?  Is anyone else finding comfort right now in the fact that even when we abandon God that He never abandons us?  He’s never reached a point where He throws His hands up in disgust, and says:  “I’m done with Bryan.  He just doesn’t get it, and I’m tired of Bryan abandoning me over and over.  He’s just a pathetic loser, and there’s nothing I can do for him anymore.  Bryan is on his own.”

First of all…I am extremely thankful that God isn’t like us.  Other wise…He’d have done just like I wrote at least ten years ago.  However, I am so thankful that God stands ready to forgive me and accept me with open arms every time I come back to Him like the Prodigal Son.  Every time I come home…He still runs to me…He still calls to me…and when I come home…He still calls me His.

He’s OUR Father.  He’s OUR God.  He forgives us.  What an important thing to know that we’re forgiven and loved.

2. He finds the apostles, stands among them, and says, “Peace be with you.” He showed them his hands and his side — horrible reminders of what it cost him when they forsook him. And he says again. “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19–21)

“Peace!” Not “Shame!” I forgive you. I take you back. I entrust you with my mission: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

As I believe I’ve shared before one of the most difficult things for me to do was to overcome the guilt and shame and condemnation over my life and the many mistakes (some of them monumental) that I made.  I was sharing with my wife this afternoon that it has almost always been easier for me to forgive others and let them off the hook…then it was for me to extend that same forgiveness to myself.  I once heard a bone chilling message from Dr. Charles Stanley about how refusing to forgive ourselves for the things we’d done in our lives was…well…pride.  The gist of what Dr. Stanley was teaching was that when I stood and refused to forgive myself for what I’d done that I was basically saying that what Jesus endured on the Cross wasn’t enough to forgive me of all of my guilt, shame, condemnation, and sin.

I remember that message made me feel worse at the time.  I remember even praying that I was sorry that I couldn’t forgive myself, but I just couldn’t.  I couldn’t see myself the way God saw me no matter how hard I tried to.  I couldn’t see past my failures, my sin, and it lasted for many years.  Over the years since then I can tell you that only by the working of God upon my heart have I been able to let myself off the hook, and forgive myself for the things I’d done so that I could allow God to heal my heart of the guilt and shame that I’d held on to for all those years.

The more I let go of…the more He shared with me how much He loved me…and I believe that one of the things that Pastor Ronnie saw taken off of my shoulders on that day in November of 2010 was the burden of guilt and shame that I had carried.  The yoke of that bondage I was under brought me to the point of my need, and just like the old song by Philips, Craig, and Dean says:

Mercy came running
Like a prisoner set free
Past all my failures to the point of my need
When the sin that I carried
Was all I could see
And when I could not reach mercy
Mercy came running to me

Mercy came running to me that day in November like never before, and I walked out of The Haven Family Worship Place different from how I’d ever been before.  I’m still discovering some of the changes that took place that day, but one of them was that He finally took all of the sin, guilt, and shame I’d felt…and replaced it with His peace.  The lyrics of another song come to mind…and I believe it may have been the song playing that day:

Oh how beautiful, are you Lord.
It is Your words, it is Your love.
Oh how glorious, are you Lord.
It is Your power, it was Your cross.

That saved me, and rescued me,
Just a moment there.. set me free!!

That day…that moment on November 15, 2010 was the moment that I was set free from many things…and maybe to a certain degree myself.  In that moment…that encounter with Him that changed my life forever…I remembered writing in my journal that I knew God had touched me.  I didn’t really know all of what He did…but I knew that He showed up…and that I had an encounter with Him.  As I mentioned a moment ago…I am still coming to understand some of the things that happened that day…and truthfully…until I began writing this message…I didn’t understand that some of what Pastor Ronnie saw lifted off of me that day was the decade of guilt and shame and broken heartedness I had felt.  I knew I felt lighter…I just didn’t know why…and now I do.

3. To Peter, three times: “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” And to his three positive answers, Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” “Tend my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15–17)

I have not given up on you, Peter. You are a shepherd of my sheep. Do you recall that I prayed for you? I told you what was coming. I never let you go. My command was a promise: “When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)

This encounter that Peter had with Jesus was one of the things that eventually lead me to understand that God was talking to me during one of the many times I had read this passage.  I’ve mentioned this in past messages…but I received a reminder earlier this year as Pastor Cass was preaching on the Vision and on the Mandate that he sensed was upon New Life Christian Center.  I’ve shared in a few messages that shortly there-after I received the word in my heart from God that my personal theme for 2012 was “Getting Serious About Being Serious With God”.

It was in those messages that the Lord reminded me of the encounter I had with Him, and how He had work for me to do.  Shortly after that was the birth and beginning of Christlike Ministries NWA.  That was January of this year.  I may have mentioned a few times that the first encounter I had with God in regard to this encounter He had with Peter was in January of 2001.  That’s right…eleven years had passed…and do you know why God had to remind me?

Because once again I had gotten into a place where I couldn’t see myself the way He saw me, and He even blessed me with a godly woman who He spoke through to encourage me to try to help me to see myself the way He saw me.  Even though I had the weight of all my past taken off of me in November of 2010…it was still hard for me not to put my hand to the plow and not look back.  It was still difficult to look at myself in the mirror…and see how in the world God could use a broken down guy like me.

However…as He gave me the words to the theme of this year He also reminded me that HE hadn’t given up on me.  Once again…it was through the reading of this passage, and another one in the Book of Psalms…Psalm 28:8-9to be exact.  Those were the scriptures He spoke to me about the fact that He’d called me to be the Pastor of Christlike Ministries NWA…and that it was time to not only embrace that calling…but to step into it…and get it going.  Almost 200 messages and 8 months later…here I am doing what He called me to do.  He said if I loved Him then I was to “Feed His Sheep”.

You see, friends…God never lets us go.  He promised us in His Word that He would never leave us nor forsake us, and I think that we often lose sight of that promise based upon how we feel about ourselves, and one of the important thing to remember about our walk with God is that it has nothing to do with how we feel…but what He says about us in His Word…and what He says about us in His Word is that He loves us…and that He loved us so much that He gave His life to have the fellowship that was broken between us and Him completely restored.

Friend…I don’t know your situation, but I know the One who does.  Maybe you are in a place much like I was when mercy came running to me.  Maybe you were like me, and you’d known God for a long time…but the weight of guilt and shame and condemnation has you so weighed down that you don’t know what else to do.  Maybe you found yourself in a desperate place much like I was on that day in November.  I knew that I needed God to do something.  I didn’t know what it was…but I needed Him.  I can’t even claim that I was backslidden.  I was purely carnal, and I was so weighed down by my broken heart, the weight of my sin, my guilt, and my shame.  I knew I needed God to do something…otherwise…I can only imagine what would’ve happened had I carried on without the encounter I had with Him that day.

This message is for you.  Jesus is saying these three things to work to heal you today.
1.  Our Father forgives you.
2.  He wants to give you peace and rest.
3.  He loves you and hasn’t given up on you.

Jesus was eager to repair the damage that had been done. Eager to forgive, restore, recommission. If you have forsaken him, let him down, offended him, take heart, he is not less eager to repair things with you. Seek his face. Ask him. Receive his grace.

Conclusion & Prayer:

I don’t know that there is anything more that I can write at this point.  I just know that maybe we need to close this message right here…and seek Him together.

Father…I come to You in the name of Jesus.  I thank You for Your eagerness to repair and restore the broken fellowship we have with You.  Lord, it’s so easy for us to get bogged down with guilt and shame because we see ourselves through our natural eyes…and have such a hard time understanding how it is that You love us so much.  Many of us, myself included, have lived a lifetime full of people who have given up on us, and thrown their hands up in disgust to write us off…but You…Lord God…You have never done that over any one of us.  You love us with a love that is incomprehensible…and extend to us grace and mercy that is as equally hard to comprehend.  I hear You, Lord, speaking to my heart…I hear You saying that even I have gotten to a place where I was having a hard time seeing myself through Your eyes.  Lord…I know I forsake You.  I know that I let You down and offend You…and maybe I needed to know this as much as anyone else that I’m not immune to feeling like Peter…needing Your peace…needing Your reminder that You love me…You’ve not forsaken me…and most importantly that You will never give up on me…even though I tend to throw my hands up in disgust and give up on myself.  Lord…I am so thankful for Your mercy…and I thank You…Lord for such a timely message…and ask You to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me…and help me to understand that Your forgiveness, Your grace, Your mercy, and Your love aren’t based upon my feelings…but upon Your Word.

I pray for those reading this message today, Lord who may be feeling like they have let You down to the point that they feel like You’ve given up on them.  I ask that You would sink this message deep into their hearts…and I pray that You would speak of Your love and forgiveness and mercy and grace to them.  I pray that You would remind them that they belong to You…and that there’s nothing that can separate us from Your love…and no one or no thing that can pluck us from the safety of Your Hands.

Lord…remind us of the surety of our salvation…and restore unto us the joy of our salvation.  Restore us to a place where we are secure and have that invincible joy that we spoke of in yesterday’s message.

Do a work in our hearts…God.  A work that is both inward as we deal with ourselves…and outward as we deal with a world that’s dying and needs to know the love and forgiveness that’s available to us who believe and have called upon the name of Your Son to be saved.

Let Your Spirit rest fresh upon us tonight…let us sense Your presence in a deeper and more intimate way.  Maybe there are some reading today who need to be reminded of what it feels like to be wrapped in Your arms of love…Lord wrap us in Your arms…and whisper Your love for us in our ear that our hearts would melt and break…and forgive us…Lord for all offenses…all disobediences…and all things we have done to sin against You and those in our lives…and mostly…help us to forgive ourselves.

Lord…I love You so much…and I thank You for speaking to us this day.  I ask again that You would seal this message upon our hearts, and help us to meditate upon this message for the rest of the day or even the week…until it comes to our hearts that You love us…and that You have never…and will never leave our side…and we give You all the glory, honor, and praise this day…and as always we ask all of these things in the name of Your precious Son…Jesus Christ…Amen & Amen

Mercy came running… Like a prisoner set free…Past all my failures to the point of my need When the sin that I carried…Was all I could see And when I could not reach mercy…Mercy came running to me

Living the Surrendered Life (Day 16)

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Today’s Scripture:  “ And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Romans 12:2

Introduction:

Greetings friends, and welcome back to our “Living the Surrendered Life” series that we’ve been working our way through.  Along the way we’ve learned…or at least I hope we’ve learned a little more about what a surrendered life is and looks like.  I also hope that we’ve been challenged to go deeper into the things of God, seek Him for areas in which we need to surrender to Him, and I also hope that you’re aware that this surrendering our lives to God is a process…not an event.

I’ve been walking with the Lord for most of my life, but until the last couple of years that walk with the Lord hasn’t been what it could’ve been.  It’s only within the last couple of years that I’ve begun to understand that there is a very real need to get serious about being serious with God.  It’s only been since January that I’ve really begun to buckle down…and do that because God gave me that statement as kind of my personal mission statement for 2012…and beyond.

So, we manage to return to this series in a passage that’s familiar to many Christians…but today…I get the sense that we’re going to be talking about the “renewing of our mind”…and therefore I cannot wait to get into today’s message to see what it is the Holy Ghost would have to say to us today…so without any further delay…let’s get into today’s message…Amen!?!

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father I seek You today to help me to get out-of-the-way of the Holy Ghost so that He can speak…and so that You…Lord God can say what You want to say to us today.  I ask that You’d make my fingers that as a pen of a ready writer…writing only that which You inspire and anoint me to write by the supernatural ability which You supply me with by the Holy Ghost.  I ask that You would create in the readers ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to them, eyes to see where we need to grow and mature and become more like Jesus…and hearts that are receptive and ready to respond to what You would have to say to us this day.  I ask these things in Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen

Today’s Message:

You cannot talk about Romans 12:2 without including Romans 12:1.  They go hand in hand, and when we’re talking about Living Surrendered Lives…there’s no way that we can talk about renewing our minds, and surrendering our lives to God without these verses paired together…it’s like trying to have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the peanut butter.  Peanut butter sandwiches are pretty good, but jelly sandwiches…however…not so much.  So…in reality I’m saying that Romans 12:2 is the jelly to Romans 12:1…but together they’re like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  What an analogy…hey?  Anyways…just so we have both of them together…here they are:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

Now, I realize that we still have 5 messages in this series, and that Romans 12:1 may still be part of the series, but like I just said we cannot really talk about one verse without talking about the other.  See…because without Romans 12:1 we don’t know why we need to be renewing our minds…and in a large part there are a few main places that we need to have totally surrendered to the Lord in order to have  what I guess we’ll call a successful start in surrendering our lives to God…those places:

  1. Our Hearts:   We talked about the heart on Day 11 of this series.  We said that our heart goes far beyond that physical muscle that pumps blood through our entire body, but that it’s the very core of who we are.  Inside of our heart is our mind, our will, our emotions, and everything that we hold near and dear to us…we always say that we hold it near and dear to our what?  Our Heart.
  2. Our Mouths:  On Day 14 of this series we talked about how our mouths reveal what?  What is in our hearts.  Jesus even said that “what’s in your heart will come from our mouths.”.  We also discovered as we all have heard hundreds of times that the power of life and death is in our tongues, that we can destroy a person’s reputation with the power of our tongues, and like we just mentioned…what comes out of our mouths is really the fruit of what’s been planted in our hearts.
  3. Our Minds:  I’m fairly certain that’s what we’re going to be talking about today.  Our minds is where our will and our soul is located…and in reality our mind is not that place that’s between our ears.  Like the heart in our bodies is not really what’s being referred to when the Bible talks about guarding our “hearts”, but actually the guarding of our hearts is actually the life source and place of our minds.  Our hearts and minds are basically in the same location…it’s that deep down inner place where the Holy Spirit dwells…it’s where that still small voice resides, and it’s that place above all places that we know that we either belong to God…or aren’t really sure…our minds…our hearts…our soul…we’re to love the Lord our God with all of our what?  All of our hearts, all of our souls, and all of our mind (might).  In other words…these three areas (our heart, our soul, and our mind) is what we refer to is the “every last fiber of our being”.

As we’ve done throughout this series…I’m going to post what has been written in this series by the writer of it…Mrs. Cindy Beall…and then listen for the Holy Ghost to speak more to us.  Amen?

In Romans 12:2 the Greek word for “renew” is anakainosis and it means “renovation” or a “complete change for the better.”

I just love that. For us to renew our minds we must actually strive to make a complete change for the better. I can think of no better way to “renew our minds” than by diving into the Word of God. Not only diving into it, but allowing it to submerge our very being. When we fill our minds with the truth of God’s Word, we will be changed from the inside out.

I find the word “renovation” interesting here…because anyone who has watched shows about things like “flipping houses” you know that what these people do is buy this old rundown houses, make plans for renovation or completely changing them for the better, and then turning around to sell them to hopefully cover the cost for not only buying the house, but the cost of the renovations…and the main goal is to hopefully sell the house for more than it cost to buy it and renovate it so that you can make a profit.

Do you know that’s exactly how the Word of God works in our lives?  Come on, most of us when we come to the Lord for salvation are kind of like these old, broken down shacks that are bought by these real estate agents who are seeking to take something old and ugly and turn it into something beautiful and profitable.  You do know that the Word of God is “profitable” don’t you?  If not…I’ll show you that if you turn in your Bibles to 2 Timothy 3:16 – 17  says this:  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  The good news is that we have a Savior who is a Master Carpenter Who is responsible for the renovations…Amen!?!

So, we come to the Lord as broken people, and then as we learn from Ephesians 2:10 (KJV):  “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” and also in Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) we read that “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the dayof Jesus Christ;”

The good news here is that it’s God who does the renovation…but the problem for most Christians is that we don’t understand that the Bible is the blueprint that the Master Carpenter has to renovate us from.  Just like when the construction workers have to adhere to the blueprint that’s drawn up that the real estate and architect…the Holy Spirit is bound by the blueprint that’s drawn up in the Word of God…and it’s only through the Word of God that the Holy Spirit can operate in our lives…and do the rebuilding in our hearts, our minds, and transform us and conform us into the image of His Son.

Listen…this is the Holy Spirit right here…this is good.  Romans 8:29 says that we are “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son”.  Do you know what that means?  As the Holy Ghost is sent forth to work in our lives…His job is to work with in us according to the blueprint (which is the Word of God) to transform our minds and conform our hearts into the very image and likeness of the Son of God.  The image of God’s Son…Jesus Christ…is the final picture…of what we’re to look like while the Holy Spirit is working on us.

You see.  When these people buy and flip the house…you have before…during…and after photos.  The goal is to get the flipped property to look like the image in the photo at the end of the renovation process.

The spiritual parallel is this:  what the Holy Spirit is working on is making sure that every single one of us looks as close as possible to the final image (Christ) just like these construction workers are trying to do with the renovation of the house.  The goal is to have us all conformed into the image of His Son…that is the final picture…that is the image the Holy Spirit is trying to create in us, with us, and through us.

Again…the problem is that we are the ones who are trying to do the building…and we can’t.  There are a couple of reasons why we can’t do the building.  Ready…

  1. We are not master craftsmen…we’re not even amateurs when it comes to renovating and transforming our lives into the image of the Son of God.  Do you know why that is?  The Holy Spirit is the ONLY one who knows exactly what the Son of God looks like.  The Bible does it’s best to give us a picture, a blueprint, and like the drawings of the house being renovated…they try to give as close and as clear a picture as possible as to what the house will look like when it’s finished…but in reality…the only one who really knows what the house is going to look like when it’s finished is the one who draws up the plans…they have a picture in their minds as to what the completed house is going to look like…the Holy Spirit is the only one who has a picture of what a life conformed to the image of the Son of God looks like…because He has seen Him.
  2. We refuse to follow the blueprint…can I be anymore forward than this?  We just finished a series not long ago in which we found out that less than 25% of Bible believing, Bible reading Christians read their Bibles…and of that less than 25%…about 10% or so read their Bibles on a regular basis.  Can you imagine what these renovated houses would look like if the construction crews refused to go by what’s on the blueprints or the drawings…but yet we have millions of Christians trying to renovate their own lives without the Word of God…and then we wonder why in the world our lives are in such messes and shambles…and worse…we blame God because of it.

I knew this message was going to be tough because I’ve been trying to write it all weekend, and I never really was able to put anything together that I felt good about.  So…I knew that the Holy Ghost was wanting me to set this aside because I needed to be able to fully concentrate upon Him…and hear His voice clearly…because as we’ve seen…there’s a lot of good…solid stuff that He’s said already.

For us to renew our minds we must actually strive to make a complete change for the better. I can think of no better way to “renew our minds” than by diving into the Word of God. Not only diving into it, but allowing it to submerge our very being. When we fill our minds with the truth of God’s Word, we will be changed from the inside out.

Can you imagine what would happen if the construction workers only worked to renovate the outside of the house these real estate agents are trying to flip for profit?  We all know that Jesus talked about the religious people having a gorgeous outside appearance, but on the inside they were a filthy mess…and that’s much the same with us today.

Most of the attention is on making our outward appearance look better ignoring what is on the inside which brings us back to talking about what’s rooted and grounded into our hearts.  Why?  Because what’s rooted and grounded in our hearts is what makes us either a sweet-smelling incense or a foul odor in the nostrils of God.  We all have or at least heard it paraphrased that God doesn’t look at the outward appearance…He looks at what is in our hearts.

Don’t you know that when people buy a house they don’t just look at the outside of it, and they’re like…hey…that looks gorgeous.  We’ll take it.  No…they go inside the house…they inspect everything from closet space to the efficiency of the kitchen to the stability of the foundation.   While some like the antique or rustic look to homes…they still want it to look immaculate both inside and out…don’t they?  Are you seeing where the Holy Spirit is going with this house flipping analogy?

The majority of us are so consumed with making sure our outer image is improved that we neglect and even ignore the inside.  We try to dress ourselves up a little, maybe we tan, maybe we spend hours at the gym trying to look like the people we see in the movies and magazines.  We have to make sure our hair is just right, our tan is just right, and clothes…it’s all outward…outward…outward.  Again…can you imagine how much money these real estate people would lose on these properties if they just concentrated on making sure the outside of the house was fixed up.

Is this any good?  Is this helping anyone?  Does this all make sense?  I hope so…because I feel like the Holy Spirit is ready to move on…Lord I pray that this message gets in…and that You paint the picture of what You’re trying to illustrate…In Jesus’ name…Amen.

Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Merely “doing” something good or right without the right heart won’t last. We will find ourselves overwhelmed because we are trying to stay on a spiritual treadmill of sorts. But when we hide, treasure and breathe the word of God, we are less likely to walk in sin.

Again…I think the important thing to point out is that when we refer to the “heart” we’re talking about that deep down inner part of us that makes us who we are…and hopefully where the Spirit of God is residing within us.   It’s in this place where the Holy Spirit goes about His work…but the critical part is that we hide the Word of God in our hearts…because as we learned through the “Why Read The Bible” series…the Holy Spirit can do nothing apart from the Word of God…because it’s in the Word that the Holy Ghost is given the blueprint on how to transform and conform and renovate our lives…so that as He works…more and more of the image of His Son is brought into our lives…and that we reflect that work…on the inside first…because what’s rooted and grounded within us…is what’s going to be shown on the outside.

The Bible is clear that there is power in God’s Word. In fact, we are told in Hebrews 4:12 that it is “living and active…sharper than any double-edged sword…penetrating even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow…judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

It’s the Word of God that causes the Holy Spirit to bring forth the changes within us.  He’s always at work in us, and I would like to submit to you that when we’re in a dry place where it seems like there’s nothing going on in our lives…it’s not because the Holy Ghost isn’t working…but that we’re not giving Him anything to work with.

Construction crews need all kinds of things in order to bring forth the renovations upon these homes that they are trying to flip for profit…and thus the Holy Ghost needs the Word of God to do in our lives what these carpenters and so forth can do with these homes.  I’ve watched these shows from time to time, and the amazing thing is how they can take an old run down place and turn it into something beautiful…and that’s exactly what the Holy Spirit is trying to do in our lives..but the simple truth is that unless we give Him the Word of God to work with.

Can you imagine the carpenters trying to renovate a house without their tools, without nails, drywall, and the other things necessary for them to bring about the transformations from an old rundown shack into a beautiful home they can sell?  Again, can you imagine those construction people trying to renovate a house without the drawings or blueprints?  See…the blueprints usually will let the construction people know what kinds of materials they are going to need to complete their work.  It helps them to know a lot about the process of rebuilding the property into a place that’s going to reflect their work.

Which brings me back to us and the Word of God.  See.  The Word of God is the blueprint, and it contains what the Holy Spirit is going to need in order to bring about the necessary changes and renovations needed in order to reflect His work in our lives…and that work is then produced in things like love, peace, joy, and so forth until we begin to reflect more and more of the image of the Son of God.  The image that the Holy Spirit is trying to get us all to become is more like Jesus…and the only way that He can bring those changes about is through the Word of God.  It’s the blueprint…it’s the tools…it’s the materials…the Word of God contains everything needed to transform and conform our lives into something that is…well…what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  It brings us back to 2 Timothy 3:17 “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  How do we get to being  “perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” or “what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”?  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) tells us…the Word of God.

When you find yourself fretting over that thing you keep fretting over, encourage yourself by proclaiming Matthew 6:34 over your life. When you feel picked on and wonder if anyone is on your side, declare Romans 8:31 and walk in victory. There is a verse to apply to the situations in life. Today is the day to claim them!

The Word of God is the source for everything we need…and it’s also the source for everything the Holy Spirit needs to bring forth a “complete change for the better.”  This is why we spent an entire month talking about “Why Read The Bible” before we could get to talking about “Living The Surrendered Life” because the Word of God is what is needed to bring us to surrender, change, and eventually it gets us to become more and more conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.

Friend, there is power in the Word. And I am more than confident that it will be the determining force to renew your mind today and every day.

So…in order for the Holy Ghost to “flip” our lives from being the old, broken down shacks that we were into beautiful temples of the Holy Ghost…we need to again be reminded of the importance of the Word of God.  We need more than 10% of us to be committed to seriously studying and searching the scriptures daily.  We need to be studying to show ourselves approved.  We need to be hearing the Rhema Word of God being preached and taught to us by our pastors, preachers, and teachers.  It’s the Word that allows the Holy Ghost to do the work…because it’s the Word of God that the Holy Ghost responds to…and that’s why…my friend there’s so much importance placed upon the Bible.

Let’s be committed to renewing our minds with the Word of God…and that’s what these messages are all about.  These messages are nothing without the Word of God…and the Holy Spirit can do nothing without the Word of God…so let us do like Paul writes…and be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…by being even more committed to studying the Word of God…Amen?

Points for Pondering:

  • How much time do you spend reading God’s Word every day?
  • What other godly influences do you use to help you keep “in step with the Spirit”? (i.e., worship music, podcasts, Christian TV shows)

Be A Doer Not Just A Reader:

  • Take an inventory of how much time you spend listening to the things/people of the world. When you spend more time reading God’s Word, you will be amazed at how you change from the inside out.

Conclusion:

I had to take one of these inventories not long ago, and was then prompted by the Holy Ghost to take a 21 day fast away from the things of the world.  I fasted from things like secular music, video games, television, sports talk radio, and anything else that overtook my desire to be in the presence of God.  I was amazed at how much of my life those things consumed, and when I set them aside I was again amazed at how much time I was able to spend on the things of God.

In the place of sports talk radio I was able to establish a list of Bible based radio programs to listen to…and instead of television I watched a lot of good Bible based videos.  I listened to messages from people like:  Pastor Joel Stockstill, Evangelist Josh Radford, Pastor Cass Hill, Pastor Curtis Holt, and Pastor Bryan See, and radio programs from people like:  Dr. Vernon McGee, Dr. Jack Graham, Dr. David Jeremiah, and others.

In the place of secular music I listened to nothing but praise and worship music.  In the place of video games I focused on writing messages, finding good Tweets and Facebook posts to repost, and I spent time studying the Word of God.

The fast has been over for a while, and certain things God used that fast to completely break me from…things like secular music and video games.  I no longer play any games on Facebook, the computer, or anything else.

I’m not going to suggest you do the same…only the Holy Ghost can really speak to your heart, but I will urge you to make sure that you put the things of the world in it’s proper place.  Anything that you place above the Word of God, the presence of God, and God in general…it’s a good sign that those things are far too important to you…and that maybe a fast is in order so that you can see…like I did…just how important those things became…and remind you of what should be important…Amen!?!

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father…I ask that You would sink this message deep within the hearts of the readers.  I ask that You would speak to their hearts about things of the world that have taken more importance in their lives that You, Your presence, and Your Word.  I ask that You would do a work in all of our hearts…and help us to understand just how important Your Word is to our own renovation and transformation…and how it’s the main thing that the Holy Ghost uses to conform us into the image of Your Son.  Father…bring those things to our minds that need to be reduce…and maybe even severed from our lives so that we can become more and more conformed into Your image…and have a deeper and more intimate relationship with You.  I ask Lord…that You would be glorified and that Your voice would be heard…and that we would receive and respond in ways that would bring You glory…in Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen.

 

Living the Surrendered Life (Day 14)

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Today’s Scripture:  “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”  Ephesians 4:29

Introduction:

Oh man…I think this is going to really be a good message.  I just saw the opening statement of today’s devotional, and coupled with today’s verse I’ve got a pretty good idea of the direction the Holy Spirit is going to want to go…and I’m already fired up about this message.  So…I’m not going to give some long introduction…today…I believe we’re just going to pray…and get right into today’s message.

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father…I come before You to ask You to take me out of Your way, Lord God.  I ask that You would speak this day through Your servant, and that You’d anoint my fingers to write Your words…and as always that You would by Your Holy Spirit lead and guide me into all truth…and that You would give the readers ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts that will receive and respond to Your Word…In Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen.

Today’s Message:

So God, you mean I should only say things that are helpful, that build others up, and that benefit anyone within earshot? And that when I say sarcastic things at the expense of someone else or cut someone down that you don’t like that because they’re your children and you love them?

There really is a mouthful that could preach right here…isn’t there?  Let’s just deal with the first question:  I should only say things that are helpful, that build others up, and that benefit anyone within earshot?  I believe I’ll let the writer of this devotional answer that question.

Friends, that is exactly what our Heavenly Father is saying. Gulp.

You know the old saying that if I had a dollar for every time I did or heard such and such that I’d be rich?  I’m going to use it again here to say that if I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard yet another old saying:  “If you can’t say nothing good…don’t say nothing at all.” I am sure that I would be set for life to the point that I may not ever need to work a secular job again…LOL.

Come on…Third Day has a song about it. If you click right here on:  Third Day “Nothing At All” you will be taken to a YouTube video of the song I’m referring to…and if you’ve listened to the song multiple times like I have…then you’ve heard the phrase at least a couple hundred times just from listening to this song…and that doesn’t count all the teachers, adults, and others who have said this at some point.

If You Can’t Say Nothing Good…Don’t Say Nothing At All.

Well…how about we just add the video to the message?  That way you don’t have to worry about broken links, or anything like that.  I’ll give you a word of caution, however…the song may cause you to want to rock out a bit…so you may need to listen to it once to get over the desire to rock out…and then another time to listen to the words…and come to the conclusion that this song really does fit in with this message.

Friends…do you not know that being a gossip, talebearer, and slanderer are just as much a sin as murder, adultery, and fornication?  Now I realize that in the world we have a ranking system for sin, but need I remind you that when God looks at sin…all He sees is sin…He doesn’t rank one sin above another…well…accept for the rejection of His Only Begotten Son…Jesus Christ.

In the Bible it says not to gossip 7 times, 6 in Proverbs and once in II Corinthians.  The word “talebearer” appears in the Bible 6 times…5 of them in Proverbs, and one of them in Leviticus.  There are over 100 references to the word “slanders”, and from what I saw at a glance none of them are good or anything that a Christian ought to want to be associated with.

So…this problem with gossip and slander (talebearer is just a fancy way to say gossiper or slanderer) is that it’s laced in pride because it usually stems from a thought sort of like we talked about yesterday…that we’re thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought…and thinking of that person you’re gossiping about a lot lower that we ought.

Yes…friends…I said the dreaded “we” word.  That means I’m in the same boat as you are.  I’m not so much guilty of that anymore, and I can tell you what broke me of it.  When you are the subject of gossip and rumors…suddenly it’s not so much fun anymore.  I used to have so much pride in me that I enjoyed that people were gossiping about me.  That’s before I realized that a man’s reputation is worth far more than gold…and that the things being said about me were completely false…and destructive to my reputation.

In the words of the great song and James one of the disciples and brother of Jesus…we simply have to learn to tame our tongues because another thing we’ve heard that could make us rich from the amount of times we’ve heard it, read it, and had it preached to us is that the power of life and death really is in the tongue.

Do you know one of the greatest pieces of advice ever given to me about ministry besides the one about if I don’t have anything nice to say…then I really need to just shut my pie hole? Again the credit for this goes to Pastor Stephen Robbins who taught during a sermon one time that we…as ministers absolutely have to get past what we see on the outside of the person we’re attempting to minister to…otherwise we won’t be able to help them.

We live in a world that focuses on the negative. The news we watch on TV is almost always filled with stories about bad stuff. I don’t know about you, but that really affects my mind and heart. I find myself fretting over things just because someone told me something that might happen. It causes me to worry and steal trouble from tomorrow which totally overloads the troubles that today already has.

You know, as a recruit in Marine Corps Basic Training my Drill Instructor’s job was to identify weakness and negativity in me…but that was done to strip me of  my pride so that I could be molded into one of the finest human beings on the planet…a United States Marine.  However…as ministers of the Gospel we cannot do that.  We can run around telling people their sins are sending them to hell…or…we can run around telling people the good news that God is not counting their sins against them, and that if they would place their faith and trust in what Jesus did on the Cross that they could and would be placed in right standing with God…and that they would no longer be enemies of God…but joint heirs with Christ…which sound more like what we should do to you?

I used to love the Ray Comfort videos where he’d go to people on the street, and ask them why they thought they were going to heaven.  In theory he’s right because if their answer is anything other than Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior…then chances are they aren’t going to heaven when they die.

One of Ray’s conversations might go something like this:

  • Ray:  “Excuse me sir, but can I ask you a question?
  • Person:  Sure, why not.
  • Ray:  “If you were to die right now at this very moment…do you believe beyond a shadow of doubt you would go to heaven?
  • Person: “Yeah…I think so.”
  • Ray:  “Why do you believe that?”
  • Person: “Well, I’m a pretty good person.”
  • Ray:  “Have you ever told a lie?”
  • Person:  “Of course, who hasn’t?”
  • Ray:  “The Bible calls anyone who lies a liar…so what does that make you?
  • Person:  “I guess that makes me a liar.”
  • Ray:  “Have you ever looked upon a woman with lust in your heart?”
  • Person:  “Yeah”
  • Ray:  “Jesus says that whosoever shall look upon a woman with lust in their heart has already committed adultery with that woman…so what does that make you?”
  • Person:  An Adulterer.
  • Ray:  “Is there someone who you hate?”
  • Person:  “Yeah…this person did such and such to me.”
  • Ray:  “The Bible says that if you so much as have hatred in your heart towards someone you’re guilty of murder…so what does that make you?
  • Person:  “A murderer”.
  • Ray:  “ So…sir…by your own admission you have said that you’re a liar, an adulterer, and a murderer.”

Listen…I understand what Ray is doing, and I used to really like what he did until I started to understand that I’m not a minister of condemnation…I am a minister of reconciliation.  I know that this is a long way to get to the point that as minister’s or even Christian’s in general we can get to a place where we are mean & unloving…and while I understand what Ray was trying to get at…as a minister of reconciliation…I find it’s a lot easier to tell people God loves them, and is not counting their sins against them…and that they could have a right relationship with God by accepting His free gift of salvation by grace through faith in what Jesus did on the Cross.

Here’s another one of those phrases that would make us all rich:  You get more flies with honey than you do vinegar.  I believe that you reach more people for the Kingdom of God telling people God loves them instead of shouting that they’re going to hell if they continue to live like they are and reject Jesus.

I guess I didn’t realize this message was going to go this way…but I guess the Holy Spirit has an idea of what He wants to say…so I’m getting out-of-the-way…

Here’s another thing that Pastor Stephen said a few times about one of most memorable times of leading someone to the Lord doing street missions.  He once lead a man to the Lord who literally had a 40 ounce of beer in one hand, and smoking a joint with the other.  After Pastor Stephen had preached the gospel to this man, and the man received Christ as his Lord and Savior…he then looked at that man with the 40 ounce in one hand…and marijuana joint in the other…and he said to him.  I want you to repeat this after me:  “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.”

Come on people.  How many of us (myself included) would walk right past that guy?  How many more of us (myself included) would probably say something that would be considered gossip or slander about that very person?  Can I tell you that this is what turns people off from coming to Jesus?

Listen…if we don’t treat the people we’re trying to lead to the Lord any differently than the world treats them…why in the world would they want what we claim to have?  The Bible says that the world would know Jesus’ disciples by what…LOVE.

Oh my…have we gone on a side journey or what?  I’m liking the flow so I’m staying with it…we’ll get back to the message…but I believe that there are some people reading this message that need to read what the Holy Ghost is saying now.

Sir or Ma’am you’re heart is way too hard and calloused…and instead of ministering what you believe to be the gospel…it is a gospel…but it’s more of a gospel of condemnation.  Listen…we cannot treat people like the world treats them and expect them to want what we have.  Can I tell you that having someone point their finger at me, and tell me that all the things I was doing was sending me to hell didn’t do anything but make me angry…and not want what that person had to offer me.

I’ve been at the other end of someone preaching the ministry of condemnation to me, and I’ve been on the other end of having someone preach the ministry of reconciliation to me…and can I tell you that the person who preached to me with the love of God rather than the hell fire and brimstone God was the one who had success in reaching me for the Lord.

So…I guess the Holy Spirit wants us to think about how we are treating the people that we come into contact with.  He doesn’t want us talking about them behind their backs…He doesn’t want us treating them like the world does…He wants us to treat them how He would treat them…and that’s with the love of God.

Back to the message:

The truth is that most of us love a good story. We want to hear the good news. We like to hear kind things said about us. Why? Because it’s helpful, builds us up and benefits not only us, but also those around us.

I haven’t turned on the news in a long time because it’s almost always the same thing over and over.  This person has died, this horrible car accident, this person was shot, stabbed or arrested, and so much negativity…and maybe at the end of the newscast there might be a “feel good story”…I’m glad they lead off the newscast now with the weather report because that’s really all I care about anymore.  I can get my sports news from the radio or ESPN…because in order to get to the sports on the regular newscast I had to watch all the doom and gloom.

Here’s a challenge for you: Try going one day without saying anything negative, rude, sarcastic or hurtful to anyone or about anyone. At the end of the day, evaluate everything. How you felt, how the people closest to you felt, and how things were different. If you found that the people around you were better off and that you were better off, considering living the rest of your life with an effort to be uplifting to those around you.

As the old adage goes…If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.

I believe this is finally a good place to close this message.  On the first day of the “Love Dare” book from the movie “Fireproof” is the challenge to not say anything negative to your spouse…but why not take that challenge a couple of steps further.  Try not to say anything negative, rude, sarcastic, hurtful to or about anyone…in other words…try going an entire day with the mindset that if I don’t have anything nice to say to or about someone…then don’t say anything at all.

I don’t know about you…but I could certainly stand to take this challenge…I hate to admit that I even need to accept a challenge like this, but the truth is…this is one of those areas that I need to work on…and therefore I’m going to be taking this message to heart…and seeking the Lord to help me to take this challenge…and be successful with it…because in the end…the main goal here is to have God’s heart for people…and as a minister and ambassador for Christ…if I hope to be successful in ministry…I need His heart to replace mine…how about you?

Points for Pondering:

  • Do you tend to be more negative or positive with your words?
  • Do you insult people to elevate yourself?

Be A Doer Not Just A Reader:

  • Here’s a challenge for you: Try going one day without saying anything negative, rude, sarcastic or hurtful to anyone or about anyone. At the end of the day, evaluate everything. How you felt, how the people closest to you felt, and how things were different. If you found that the people around you were better off and that you were better off, considering living the rest of your life with an effort to be uplifting to those around you.
  • If this is hitting a little to close for comfort, seek God and ask Him to reveal to you the why behind your hurtful, cutting words.

Conclusion:

I don’t know about you, but my heart has certainly been challenged.  I need messages like this sometimes to remind me that there’s a broken and hurting world out there who needs me to grow up, and stop acting like a child.  “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”  1 Corinthians 13:11.  I need to realize that doing things like gossip, being a talebearer, and slandering people is childish…and shows a level of immaturity in my walk with God that I don’t want there…the Bible says that we’re to “may grow up into him in all things” Ephesians 4:15 (NKJV)…and that’s exactly what I want to do…grow up in all things so that I can be effective and successful as an ambassador for Christ…Amen!?!

If you agree…then I would encourage you to pray this closing prayer with me…and make it your prayer too:

Oh Lord, thank You for this message today, and for challenging my heart and dealing with my heart about this very subject.  I want to have every childish way put away from me so that I’m more effective and successful as one of Your representatives.  I most certainly need You to reveal the “why” behind my hurtful, negative words…and I also need You to help me put away this kind of behavior so that I’m not hurting Your sheep…and especially those who don’t know You or Your Son…I pray Lord that You’d continue to give me a “heart transplant” in that You’d transplant my heart for Yours…in Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen.

Living the Surrendered Life (Day 11)

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Today’s Scripture:  “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”  Proverbs 4:23

Introduction:

After battling with some computer issues we’re back online.  It’s always good to have issues like this because it helps me to know that the devil knows who I am, and that he’s trying to keep me from continuing to embrace the call of God upon my life…but I refuse to let him win…because he can’t…the devil has been defeated…and my victory is in Christ…and even though we’re a few days behind…that’s okay…we’ll get caught up…and finish this series on time.

While there were periods of frustration I never lost heart because I’ve come to understand that any time I have issues it’s because the enemy is wanting to discourage me from continuing the ministry…but that’s not going to happen…like I said yesterday:  “greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.”

So…we’re talking about keeping our heart today, and that’s kind of funny that we are because the battle here with the computer caused me to do just that…it also showed me that the diligence I used to not give up and work this issue out till I got back up and running and online pales in comparison to the diligence that it takes to keep our hearts towards God…because there’s so much today vying for our attention.

It’s so easy to be distracted today by the cares of the world, the entertainment venues of the world, and I know that I’ve been guilty of allowing both of those to keep me from getting all that God has for me whether it’s blessings or work that I’m to do for His Kingdom…the cares and entertainment of the world certainly are thorns…as Jesus described in His parable of the Seed Sower.

So…now that we’re back and online…let’s get back into this series…and see what the Lord would have to say to us.

Today’s Message:

We hear the phrase “follow your heart” almost daily from people in society. The Bible actually says that we are to guard our heart, not follow it. Why? Because when we follow our hearts we are basically just following our feelings. And friend, we are often misguided by our feelings.

Our feelings, aka the “heart”, can lead us into situations simply because it feels right especially when an old boyfriend enters the picture. Our heart can cause us to make decisions that are not thought through completely when that budget-busting pair of boots is just screamin’ our ever-lovin’ names.

I can’t remember who it was that said this, but who said this isn’t as important as what was said.  I think it may have actually been Pastor Curtis Holt of New Life Christian Center in Centerton, Arkansas.  The statement:  “Instead of following our hearts we need to learn to lead our hearts.”

Out of our hearts are the issues of life.  Jesus said here in Matthew 15:18 (NKJV) “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.”  and “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” in Matthew 12:34 (NKJV).

The point here is that our hearts are vital to our walk with God because what we treasure in our hearts will show to the world.  Jesus says in Matthew 6:21 (NKJV) “

For where your treasure is, there your heartwill be also.”  Which begs the question that all of us need to meditate upon from time to time:  what is your heart treasuring?

Does your heart treasure the things of the world or does it treasure the things of God?  What is coming out of your mouth?  Is it blessing people or cursing them?  Is it showing the world that you love the Lord or is it showing the world that while you might say with your mouth you love the Lord, but the truth is your heart is far from Him?

The heart…friends…is where we find our soul.  It’s also not talking about our physical heart that keeps our bodies alive by pumping blood throughout our bodies.  It’s talking about that place deep down within that makes us who we are, where all of our thoughts and imaginations are kept, and that place where the Holy Spirit dwells when we ask Jesus to come into our hearts.

Our spiritual heart…just like our physical heart is vital to our survival.  If you want to do a fun word study some time…just type the word “heart” into a Bible search engine such as the YouVersion Bible App…and see all of the references that it brings up.

We hear the phrase “follow your heart” almost daily from people in society. The Bible actually says that we are to guard our heart, not follow it. Why? Because when we follow our hearts we are basically just following our feelings. And friend, we are often misguided by our feelings.

I brought this back because I don’t believe the Holy Ghost is ready for us to move on from this point…we…as Christians should never make important decisions based upon our feelings…because our feelings can misguide and mislead us into places we really don’t want to be or go.  Yes…as always…friends…I am speaking to myself just as much as I am to you because I’m just as guilty as anyone else at making decisions based upon feelings…rather than consulting the Lord.

That brings us back to Proverbs 3:5-6:  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

See…we’re to consult the Lord in ALL of our ways.  When we see here that we’re not to “lean on our own understanding” I believe we could add that we’re not to lean upon our feelings.  So, when we look at verse 5 again in that light we see it this way:  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your feelings.

Why?  Because like we’ve already seen our feelings (emotions) can lead us down the wrong path.  I know that there are times that I’ve made decisions based upon my emotions, and when I’ve done that the results never turn out very good.  However, when I seek the Lord…and make decisions based upon how I sense the Holy Ghost is leading me…and I follow that lead…things always turn out to be much better.

The Hebrew word for “wellspring” in the verse above is towtsa’ah. And in its simplest term means “goings out, going forth.” Meaning that basically what is in our heart is where our life will lead. With that being said, we must guard our hearts. We must allow God to overwhelm our hearts with his love and guidance.

“What is in our heart is where our life will lead.”  Which gets me back to the statement I started this message with.  “Instead of following our hearts we need to learn to lead our hearts.”

The question I hear you asking in my spirit is:  “how do we lead our hearts?” I’m glad you asked.  It goes back to the last series we did talking about why we should read the Bible.  We lead our hearts by studying the Word of God.  David wrote about hiding the word of God in his heart so that he wouldn’t sin against God.  When we are diligent about the meditation and studying of the Word of God…and we get it in our hearts…then if it’s true that what’s in our hearts is where our life will lead…then it bears to be true that if God’s Word is what’s in our hearts…we will be lead and our lives with match up more with what’s in the Word than what’s in the world.

I have really taken this to heart and am making sure that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I am guarding my heart. I am the one in charge of my heart not the other way around. I don’t let my heart dictate my choices on a consistent basis. Sometimes it leads me to reach out to a hurting friend. And I follow it in some instances, but making this a daily practice will only yield pain and disappointment.

See.  When we have the understanding that we’re in charge of what gets into our hearts then we can make better choices about what it is we put in our hearts.  If we’re putting in our hearts the filth we see on television that’s how we’re going to lead our lives.  We’re going to lead our lives based upon what we see on TV.  That’s why we have so many marriages end up in divorce because of affairs because on television that stuff is made to be entertainment…and that it’s okay.  The thing of it is the thrills of the world are always going to be more appealing than the things of God…but I would give you this word of caution:  Satan will always show you the thrill…without giving you the bill.

There’s a cost for allowing the things of the world to penetrate your heart, and then become your guidance system.  There’s also a cost when you allow the Word of God to penetrate your heart and become your guidance system.

Not long ago I completed at 21 day fast from some of the worldly entertainment venues because they were beginning to become more important to me than the presence of God.  The things I fasted from were television, secular music, video games, and sports talk radio.  In their place I did things like replace my sports talk radio with sermons on the radio by people like Dr. David Jeremiah, Jack Graham, and more.  I replaced secular music with nothing but praise and worship music.  I replaced television with simply the “off” button, and I also ceased to play video and computer games.

Since the fast has been completed I have found a few things that I’ve been allowed to continue, and some that I have not.  God’s allowed me to turn ESPN radio back on, but as far as secular music…I don’t turn it on anymore.  I haven’t and will not be playing video or computer games anymore.

Do you want to know something else I found out?  All that stuff that was so entertaining to me wasn’t really necessary.  It also had begun to have influence upon my decisions, and it also affect my ability to clearly hear the Holy Spirit and be in God’s presence…which affected my ability to write good messages.

Since the end of the fast I’ve noticed that my messages are much better because the worldly entertainment venues aren’t that important to me anymore.  For those of you who don’t know I’m a huge Chicago White Sox fan, and I am also an admin for a White Sox fan page of Facebook.  I’m not as active on that page these days as I am on the Christlike Ministries NWA Facebook Fan Page.  My messages are better, more clear, more powerful, and much better reads than they were.  Why?  Because I’m more careful about what I’m sowing into my heart.

It’s hilarious to watch my wife and I try to decide upon a movie to watch because that’s one of those things that grieves my spirit is movies, and I’m very picky about the kinds of movies I’ll watch.  It’s hard these days to find movies that don’t promote stuff that’s completely contrary to the Word of God.  There’s movies today that make homosexuality funny and acceptable.  There’s movies that make cheating on your spouse funny and acceptable.  There’s movies that make disrespecting God funny and acceptable.

That’s what’s important about “leading” your heart.  What are you leading your heart with?  Are you leading your heart with things of the world or are you leading it with things of God?

Let me add that if you’re leading your heart with the things of the world without making sure the Word of God is constantly being sown into it…then you’re allowing the world to lead your heart…and if things in your life aren’t going the way you believe they should…you have no right to blame God…take a look at what you’re allowing to lead your heart.

Are you leading it or is the world leading it?  Are you allowing the Word of God to lead your heart or are you allowing the entertainment venues of the world to lead your heart?

By the way…don’t get mad at me either.  We’re talking here in this series about living a surrendered life.  Do you understand that surrendering some of the things you enjoy are part of surrendering your life to God?  In a perfect world we’d surrender everything that displeases God.

If you look at the lives of people like Smith Wigglesworth, Charles Spurgeon, Oswald Chambers, JC Ryles, and others they all have something in common.  Most of them had zero influence from the world.  They didn’t so much as read newspapers.  If you look at the lives of these men of God you’ll also know that some like Smith Wigglesworth oozed the power of God.  There’s stories of people who were healed just because Smith Wigglesworth happened to be on the same train or bus.

I kind of wonder how they would fair in today’s world with so much technology today, and I understand that we live in a much different world than they did back in the early 1900’s and late 1800’s.  However, the one thing we can take away from their lives and use today is that if we want to have a more powerful influence and have more of the power of God in our lives…then there are things we’re going to have to lay down and surrender to God.

Believe me.  One of my favorite bands of all time is 3 Doors Down, and for a while it was alright with me and the Holy Ghost to listen to their music…but now it’s not.  One of my favorite songs of all time is “Blue on Black” by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and for a while not only was it okay to listen to it…but I used to sing it for karaoke.  Since the fast…it’s not okay anymore.  Today…all I listen to is Christian music, and I’m discovering artists that I love like Jesus Culture, Rhett Walker Band, and more.

What’s happening?  I’m changing what’s being sown into my heart, and therefore my desires are changing…and the direction my life is going is also changing.  That’s what is meant by “leading your heart” instead of following it.

I hope that this message has challenged you to think about what kinds of things you’re putting into your heart.  I’m not saying that you shouldn’t enjoy music or movies or television shows or video games, but what I am saying is that if you’re allowing those things to be sown into your heart without the Word of God…then I’m fairly certain the direction your life is going is based upon what’s leading your heart.

Let’s guard our hearts from this day forward.

I know that this is something that I’m always working on, and have to be extremely careful about…because what I sow into my heart affects not only the direction my life goes…but it also has an effect on writing these messages.

So…I’m just wondering if we can all agree to do a better job of guarding our hearts from this day forward…Amen!?!

Points for Pondering:

  • Do you find yourself following your heart on a regular basis?
  • If so, what is the usual outcome?

Be A Doer Not Just A Reader:

  • Let’s guard our hearts from this day forward.

Conclusion & Prayer:

When it comes to making decisions in our lives and honoring God and the people around us, consider getting all of the facts and weighing your choices based upon more information than just “following your heart.”

I don’t know about you, but this message has given me cause to be more diligent to protect and guard my heart a bit more than I already am because I want to be sure that I’m not being lead by my emotions or the ways of the world.  I want to be sure that I’m being lead more by the Lord’s love and guidance…and that means I need to become even more diligent about what I’m putting in my heart…how about you?

Lord God…thank You for Your Word today.  Teach us, Father God how to better guard our hearts.  Help us, Lord to be more careful about what we’re sowing into our hearts, and help us…Lord to be more diligent and committed to filling it up with Your Word.  In Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen

 

Living the Surrendered Life (Day 9 of 21)

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Today’s Scripture:  “10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”  2 Corinthians 7:10

Introduction:

It’s good to finally be able to resume our series, and get back to writing these messages.  I know that lately my days seem a little strange when I don’t take time to write a message, but part of living the surrendered life is knowing that it’s good to take a step back.  Especially when you rely upon the Holy Ghost to help you do something…like write messages.

Since starting this I’ve learned there is a definite difference between messages that I try to write on my own abilities…and the messages I write when I am able to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit…and allow Him to speak through me.

You know, that’s one of those things that comes as a result of learning to be submitted and surrendered to the Lord…and it’s one of those things that I’m still learning to do…and what a surrendered life really looks like…and how it applies to my life both as a believer trying to do his best to live a life that’s somewhat pleasing to the Lord, and as a servant hoping to one day hear the words:  “well done”.

So…let’s get into today’s message.  We’ve a few messages to write over the next couple of days to get us caught up so we finish this series on time.

Today’s Message:

People watching is a hobby of mine. Don’t let that stir a panic in you. I’m not a weirdo or a stalker. I just enjoy the human race. What they say, what they don’t say, the color of their eyes, the length of their hair, how confident they are by the way they carry themselves, how nervous they are because they lack said confidence.

This is funny because I do the same thing.  I kind of learned that from my dad who when we’d go out to eat liked to sit where he had a view of everything in the restaurant.  Today…I like to do the same thing.  It’s probably another one of those attention to detail things within me that my time in the United States Marine Corps perfected.  As a recruit one of the jobs of my drill instructors was to observe weakness and exploit it so that we could learn to overcome them…and work to be stronger in those areas.

You know something…this is also something the devil likes to do with us…isn’t it.  He likes to go around pointing out things that we’ve done or are still doing, but the problem for him is that by exploiting our past and our weaknesses he allows us the ability to take those things to the Lord…and ask Him for help, grace, and mercy to overcome those things.  So, even when the devil thinks he’s got us by reminding us of failures, sins, and weaknesses…he hasn’t got anything on us because we can take those things to the Lord…and have Him turn them into good.  (Another Romans 8:28 reference).

The greatest thing I’ve heard said about that is that whenever the devil gets to reminding us of our past…we have the ability and the authority to remind him of his future…Amen!?!

Not only do I like do sit and watch, I also like to sit and listen. I’ve grown a lot during my 30s. So much so that instead of monopolizing a conversation, I actually enjoyed listening to others more. No matter their age, demographic or intellect. I believe I can learn something from everyone…good or bad. In all of this, one of the things that I’ve learned about people is that some people are broken and some people are not.

What Cindy says here reminds me of one of my favorite Proverbs, and something I usually say in response when people remark at how quiet I can be at times.  “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”  Proverbs 10:19 (KJV).  Solomon later repeats this here:  “For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.” Ecclesiastes 5:3 (KJV)

I find it interesting that the Holy Spirit led Solomon to say that twice.  I have learned to refrain my lips for the most part, but like most of us there’s still a lot of areas and room for growth.  However, I’m one of those that’s not particularly good at “small talk”.  I’m not necessarily sure why I’m the way I am, but I guess that’s one of those things I’ll be able to ask the Lord about some day.  I can see it now.  I’ll be standing there with Jesus and ask Him:  “Lord, why didn’t you give me the gift of gab?  LOL.”

However, in having the wisdom to shut up some times is going to come in handy because Cindy is about to unpack what she said for us:

Allow me to unpack this for you:

Broken people don’t focus on the sins and issues of others. No, they are so aware of their need for a Savior that they work on themselves. Broken people don’t demand their rights. No, they often lay them down. Broken people don’t dodge responsibility for their actions. No, they are fully willing to accept the consequences of their sin.

The first thought I have when I read this is:  Lord…I want to be more broken.  Because in what she says I see some characteristics of brokenness that allow for us to have a deeper and more intimate relationship with the Lord.  Now…let me unpack this for you.

>Characteristics of Brokenness<

  1. “Broken people don’t focus on the sins and issues of others…they are so aware of their need for a Savior that they work on themselves.”
  2. “Broken people don’t demand their rights. No, they often lay them down. “
  3. “Broken people don’t dodge responsibility for their actions. No, they are fully willing to accept the consequences of their sin.

Let’s take these one at a time…shall we?  I know this is turning into a rather long message…but I believe it’s going to be pretty good.

Characteristic #1…Broken people are so aware of their need for a Savior that they work on themselves.

It’s hard to not point out the plank in someone else’s eye…isn’t it.  We get exposed to a little truth of the Word of God, and instead of using it to look internally, and apply it to our lives…we look externally to see who needs to apply it to their lives.

Broken people…and dare I say surrendered people don’t do that.  Why?  I can only speak for myself, and what I can tell you is that I know from where and from what God’s delivered me from…therefore I have no right to look at anyone else’s life with a critical or judgmental spirit.

I can admit that I have a struggle in areas where I have pet peeves when it comes to the body of Christ, and learning how to rebuke them in love and not out of frustration.  Jesus constantly rebuked people, but even when He did that He rebuked them out of a motive and heart of love…and that’s one of those things I’m seeking of the Lord these days…is to make sure that everything I do…whether it’s a rebuke or encouragement is to make sure my motive for doing so is always love…and His love.

Characteristic #2…Broken people lay down their rights.

This is the most difficult part of the surrendered life because we can find it so easy to lay our lives down, and then pick them back up again.  This is yet another area where I too need to grow up in, and realize that the best place for my life is to be laid down upon the altar and feet of Jesus.

No one…especially God…owes me anything.  Truth be told it’s the exact opposite.  I own God everything, and that means my entire life.  It’s hard to leave your entire life at the altar…and not pick it back up again.

The key part to the surrendered life is the surrender of self, but we tend to be so selfish…don’t we?  I’m speaking this to myself too.  In fact, if we’re honest…this is the main area all of us need to grow up in…and is also the one area where we aren’t going to master or get a 100% in…not to say it’s impossible…because with God all things are possible…but I believe this is one of those things I’m going to have to work out daily.

Characteristic #3…Broken people are willing to accept the consequences for sin.

There’s no finger-pointing when it comes to God.  That’s something that we ought to have learned from the first Adam.  Instead of taking responsibility for taking the bite from the forbidden fruit…he pointed his finger both at Eve…and also at God.  Don’t believe me?  Here’s exactly what Adam said when God confronted him about his sin:

And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. Genesis 3:12 (KJV)

What Adam did was dodge his responsibility for his sin and disobedience to God.  Not only did he point the finger at Eve, but he pointed the finger at God.  I don’t know if things would’ve ended differently if Adam would’ve owned up, been more broken, and instead of pointing the finger outward…pointed it at himself and said:  “I ate of the fruit that You said not to.  I knew better, but still chose to disobey Your Word.”

Listen…here’s the truth.  When we stand before God we’re going to give an account for our lives…no one else’s.  So, when we miss it while we’re here…it’s just good practice to admit it, confess it, and repent of it…Amen!?!

Is this okay?  Is this making sense?  Is anyone getting hit by these characteristics?  Am I the only one who reads these, and thinks that I can always stand to be more broken?

I’ve heard more stories than I care to relate to you about people who can’t or won’t take responsibility for what they’ve done. They play the blame game and run like crazy until they are far from the situation. If you’ve fallen into sin, own it. Even if you feel like you did something because of someone or because that someone didn’t meet your needs.

Newsflash: You sinned. You made the choice to sin. You need to make it right. No matter what anyone else did first. You are still responsible for you!

There’s the confirmation right there.  I promise you that I didn’t read this before I wrote what I just said about the final characteristic.  I’ve even been one of those who refused to take responsibility for some of the sins in my life.  That’s certainly changed now, but there was a time when I did my best to dodge the responsibility for my sin…and place it on someone else.

So…I don’t know about you, but to me this message has made me see that I can always stand to be more broken before God…and that there’s always more of myself that I need to lay down…anyone else get that feeling from today’s message?

“No matter what anyone else did first. You are still responsible for you!”…Amen!?!

Points for Pondering:

  • Do you find that you dodge responsibility for your actions?
  • Do you ever blame someone else for your sinful actions?

Be A Doer Not Just A Reader:

  • Spend some time with the Father today and ask Him to reveal to you why you take this path so often.

Conclusion & Prayer:

This is the kind of message that makes you think, and want to be better for the Lord.  I know that this message makes me realize that I can always find room to have more brokenness in my life and in my heart.  I’m reminded again of my pastor saying: Zeal without knowledge always leads to error.

I don’t want to be in error, and I don’t want there to be areas in my heart that can stand for more brokenness…but the simple truth is…there will always be areas in my heart that can be more broken and surrendered…and that’s the point of us being brought to this series about Living the Surrendered Life…because in so many ways I still don’t quite know what that is or looks like because I still have so many ways and areas that need to be surrendered.

Oh Lord…thank You for leading us to this series by Your Spirit.  Help us…Lord God…to become more broken and surrendered that we may be more useful to You…and above all…Lord God…help us to get to the place where all we do is out of a motive of love…Your love…in Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen

Living the Surrendered Life (Day 7 of 21)

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Today’s Scripture:  “13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. James 4:13-15

Introduction:

The last two messages we’ve talked about continual prayer, and I have really enjoyed those messages.  I know there are probably times when you think that I’m not really learning from my own messages, but the truth is I am not nor do I claim to be some kind of theologian who has this all figured out.  No, friends, I am learning daily just like you, and while some may feel that disqualifies me from writing like I do…the facts are…I write like I do because I know this is exactly what I’m called to do…and in a strange way it helps keep me surrendered to the Lord.

I finally have come to find out who is responsible for writing this devotional, and it’s a woman by the name of Cindy Beall.  I’ve really enjoyed this woman’s insight…and am thankful that she was willing to write this devotional.  If you want to check out more of her stuff then you can find it here:  http://cindybeall.com/.

So…today it looks like we’re going to be going in another direction with this series, and I’m really looking forward to what the Lord is going to say to us through this message.

Today’s Message:

When I was a child, I couldn’t wait to be a teenager. When I was a teenager, I couldn’t wait to go to college. When I was single, I couldn’t wait to get married. When I was in college preparing to be a schoolteacher, I couldn’t wait to get in the classroom. Eventually, my husband and I wanted to have children. Four years later, we had our first son. Five years after that, our second son joined us. I couldn’t wait for them. During our days of trying to become debt-free, I thought ahead to days of being generous to our church and to others. Cindy Beall “Living The Surrendered Life”

Can anyone else relate to this?  I know I can.  I can remember when I was a child not being able to wait until I was a teenager, and then from a teenager to a grown up.  Although if you ask some I’m still an almost 40-year-old teenager some times.  I can remember when I started working as a paperboy, and how that lead me to becoming interested in serving my country in the military…which eventually lead me to become a United States Marine.

I know what it’s like to not be able to wait until you find that one person in which you are wanting to spend the rest of your life with.  I know what it’s like to not be able to wait for that perfect job that doesn’t make work feel like a job, but something you enjoy doing.

However, I’m pretty sure I have an idea of the direction this message is going to go, and with that…today I am going to yield and follow the direction the writer and the Holy Ghost intended this message to go.

If I’m being completely honest with you, I’ve wished away many days in my life and in the lives of my sons. I’ve spent plenty of time complaining about the difficulties of life especially in regards to raising children. Oftentimes I have done my griping in the company of empty nesters. They graciously smile because they’ve been there. And because there is a part of each of them that would give anything to hold their children in their arms like they did years ago. They tell me, “Cindy, enjoy it. It goes by so quickly.”

Oh…if I am being completely honest also then I can admit that I have certainly wished and day-dreamed many a day away.  I’ve spent plenty of time not really appreciating what I had, and wanting more or better or what I perceived to be better than what I had.  I have that issue with vehicles some times.  I have always wanted a really cool truck, but I’ve never been able to afford one…and the vehicle I have no is just a small economy car that was given to me by my dad. Still I wish and day-dream about the day I have a nice four-wheel drive truck that has big tires on it, and a nice stereo system in it so I can rock out to my Jesus music in it.

But you know something…one of the greatest things I believe we can learn is to appreciate the blessings we have now.  Everyone is always talking about how we need to plan for tomorrow, and dream big…and I think that some times that robs us of the ability to look at where we are right now…you know…stop and smell the lilac bushes as well as stopping to smell the roses…and taking it a step further…being content to smell the lilac bushes while hoping someday they will become a rose garden.

My encouragement to you is to make the most of everyday. Don’t allow the discouragement of regret to rob you of today’s joy. Press on and receive God’s grace over any regret you may have in your life. And live today as a new day.

And there is the other side of this.  Regret.  The devil will use regret to kick your butt with condemnation because I believe that he knows that if he can get you to look at the steaming pile of mess your life used to be, and how horrible some of the things we did in our past was…then he can get us to a point where we see ourselves as unworthy…and when the devil gets us there…then he can really kick our butts.

You know, the only time I look back today is to be reminded of where I was before I surrendered control of my life to the Lord, and now instead of regret I feel overwhelmed by how much God’s really done in my life.  I still have plenty in my life to surrender, and for the Lord to do in and through my life. However…I do know that God’s really done a wondrous work in my heart and in my life…and I also know that He’s not finished with me yet….and that gives me all the cause for optimism I need.

Make the most of every day is the absolute greatest wisdom that can be shared.  I have found that the greatest way I can keep from wishing for stuff I don’t have is to be grateful for the things I do have.  I have also found that the greatest way I can keep from getting into condemnation over the life I used to live is to look at where I am today.

The greatest thing that has helped me is to stop living in yesterday, and worrying about tomorrow…but to do the best I can to make the best of each and every day.  I’d like to encourage you to do the same.  Yesterday’s gone, and you cannot go back and fix what happened…you can only use yesterday’s experiences to learn from.  Tomorrow isn’t here yet, and while there are things you can do to prepare for tomorrow…worrying about what’s going to happen tomorrow is fruitless.

So…what’s left?  Two things.  Make the best of today…and seek first the kingdom of God.  You can surrender the hurts, disappointments, and maybe even the successes of yesterday.  After all…the successes we have are from the Lord.  I know whenever someone tells me that I’ve done something good…I find it hard to take the credit for it because within me dwells no good thing…except Jesus.  So…any good that comes from yesterday or even today…I don’t ever want to receive the glory…because it’s not mine it’s Gods.

The same with things that are coming up tomorrow.  I can have my work clothes set out, and the coffee maker set to brew my coffee so it’s ready when I’m on my way out the door…but even when I do all of that…the harsh truth is I may not even wake up to see tomorrow.  So, I have to surrender all of my tomorrow’s, my hopes, my dreams, and my ambitions to the Lord as well…and ask Him to give me His hopes, His dreams, and His ambitions for my life.

Which leads me back to today.  Have NO regrets…and make every moment count.  Don’t neglect to tell people you love them.  Don’t leave things you know God wants you to do undone.  Like the Tim McGraw song says…like each day like it’s your last…because in all reality…it just may be.

Listen…I’m certainly no expert, and I certainly haven’t perfected making the most of every day…doing everything God wants me to do in a day…and living each day like it’s my last.  I know that this is one of those things that I have to do…and work on daily…and also one of those areas that I can do nothing about apart from Christ.

Enjoy every belly laugh from those who are around you. Enjoy carefree days outside soaking in God’s creation. Because if you do, I can guarantee that the amount of regret that you live with will decrease each day.

I think I will close this message by writing down the quote that’s on my drink coaster…”Live life passionately…Laugh out loud…and Love unconditionally”.

Points for Pondering:

  • What are you wishing away?
  • Do you live with regret over anything in your life?

Be A Doer Not Just A Reader:

  • Spend some time asking God what He would have you to do redeem or “buy back” some of those days where you wish you could go back. Going forth, allow Him to help you make the most of each day you are given.

Conclusion & Prayer:

Making the most of each day you’re given…and going forth.  You know, I used to hate the old 12 step program’s cliché “One Day At A Time”, but now I guess I not only endorse it…but live my life that way…because in reality…no man can serve God putting his hand to the plow and looking back…and no man can do anything about tomorrow because it’s promised no one.

The Bible talks a lot about today being the most important day.  Today is the day of salvation.  Chose this day whom you will serve.  Give us this day our daily bread.  So…don’t live with the regrets of yesterday, don’t live with worry about what’s going to happen tomorrow…but make the best of what you can today…and the best way to do that…is to live each day as surrendered to the Lord as we can be…Amen?

Father God…there’s on simple request today…help me to make the most of every day…and more importantly how I can lay down more of myself so that you can use me more and more.  Forgive me for the things I take for granted, and for the times that I am not content with what You’ve given me…and help me to continue to learn to be content with such things as I have…I love You Lord…and bless You in Jesus name…Amen.

Living the Surrendered Life (Day 1 of 21)

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Today’s Scripture:  “25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?”  Matthew 6:25-27

Series Introduction:

Welcome to the beginning of the 21 Day “Living the Surrendered Life” series.  It’s been a little more than a week since we ended our “Why Read The Bible?” series, and what a series that was.  I really got a lot out of that series, and I don’t know if you enjoyed reading the messages as much as I enjoyed writing them…but I feel like it was a really good series…and that there was a lot of good messages in that series.  I hope and pray that this one turns out to be the same…and that you’ll join me in this 21 Day journey to see how we can be better at “Living the Surrendered Life.”

This series is going to be done a bit differently in the sense that there’s commentary already written by the writer of this devotional.  By the way…if you wish to follow along you can find it on the YouVersion Website…or you can just follow along here.  Either way I hope you’ll follow along…and I hope we learn some good stuff along the way…Amen!?!

Message Introduction:

We begin this series talking about surrendering our worry.  When we worry we’re saying that we don’t believe or trust that God is going to meet the need or circumstance that has us worried.  Therefore, I know not many of you may have made this connection, but when we worry we’re calling God a liar…and saying that He’s unfaithful.  So, let’s take a look at worry…and find out why we’re opening this series talking about worry.

Today’s Message:

Worry is really just a smaller way to say we don’t know if God will come through. It’s our inability to trust Him to do what He says He will do, which is to make all things work for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). We somehow think that if we add a little worry to His holy mix that things will work out better.

I like what’s written here.  “Worry is just a smaller way to say we don’t know if God will come through.”  God’s faithfulness isn’t based upon us, but it’s based upon Him.  He’s faithful to us not because we need Him to be faithful…He’s faithful to us because He IS faithful.  He’s always available to us to meet our needs, desires, wants, and circumstances.  The problem comes when we’re unwilling to completely surrender our lives to Him.

Listen, there’s not anything going on in our lives that God cannot take care of, that’s got Him by surprise, and that He doesn’t know about.  There isn’t anything that we cannot or shouldn’t be able to lay down at the altar of the Cross…including our lives.  That’s what it means to live a surrendered life…we have to lay down us…and pick up Him.  Remember John the Baptist’s saying:  “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 (KJV).

John the Baptist was trying to give us an illustration of what a surrendered life looked like.  He must increase, but we must decrease.  In other words, the more of self that we have…the less surrendered our lives are…and the less surrendered our lives are the more we’ll have cause and reason for worry.  Why?  Because a life that is not surrendered does not come because we don’t love God, but because we don’t trust Him to take care of us.

See, when we’re fully surrendered to God then there isn’t anything that comes into our lives that we don’t completely trust Him to take care of, and that’s what Jesus is getting at here when He’s teaching us to “take no thought for our lives”.

The writer of this devotional shares a story about a friend, and at the end of this story gives us a little nugget of gold that they received from the Spirit of God.  I wasn’t going to include this story…but it will help illustrate today’s message.

Just the other day a friend of mine, who was going through one of the most wretched times in her life, kept asking me questions. What should I do? How long should I wait? When do you think I’ll see some change? What should I do if this happens again?
I felt terrible for her. I wanted to make her wounded heart all better, add some Neosporin, a bandage and call it good. Then, very quickly, the Spirit of God prompted me to tell her this: Don’t borrow trouble from tomorrow.

It’s always easy to surrender and trust God when things are going well…isn’t it?  It’s another story completely when we’re going through difficult times…isn’t it?  The funny thing is that we think that we’re more equipped to help God during the times we struggle.  However…as we see here in this picture…God doesn’t need our help for anything.

I’ve always liked this little saying.  I don’t know where it originated from, but it’s a neat little reminder that God doesn’t need us to help Him do anything…but what He does need is for us to yield to His Spirit…and get out of His way.

Today, you and I need to make a stand against that worry monster who creeps up next to us and wants to steal away our tomorrows. Don’t let him. He’s our spiritual enemy and all he desires to do is see us flounder in our lives to the point where we make no progress whatsoever.

It’s interesting that what we think we can do by worrying really doesn’t happen at all.  I know from my life whenever I was worried about things I thought that by worrying I showed that I cared, and that I was getting something done.  However, the more I think about it the more I realize that worrying never really accomplishes anything.  In fact, it actually goes to hinder us more than anything else.

I’d like to add this bonus piece of information as well.  Worry is linked to many physical health problems.  So not only does it hinder and injure us spiritually, but it also causes us physical problems.  So…worry isn’t good for us spiritually, physically, or emotionally.

Friend, I don’t know what you are facing or what lies ahead in your path. But I know that we serve a God who effortlessly created the world in six days and still knows how many hairs you have on your head.

I agree.  I don’t know what you’re facing.  I don’t know the situations or circumstances in your life.  However, I know the One who does know.  He knows all about you, your life, and the situations you are facing.  He doesn’t need us to help Him…but He needs us to surrender and get out of His way.

I know in my life that once I began to learn to lay down the things that I was so worried and concerned about, and asked God to take over…He did.  What’s unsurprising is that once He did take over…things turned out a lot better than they did or they were while I was trying to take care of them on my own.

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22 (KJV).  Let us not take for granted the Lord’s great invitation:

“28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

As Christians we ought to be able to rest, and know that the God that created us doesn’t need our help…He needs us to surrender.

Action Steps:

In what areas of your life do you worry the most? Try to pinpoint why you tend to worry about this instead of trusting God. Commit Matthew 6:25-27 to memory and the next time you are tempted to worry about this or anything else in your life, replace the worrying thought with the truth of this scripture.

In Closing:

It’s taken me a long time to learn not to not give in to worry, but what took me the longest to learn was to surrender the things I worried about to God…and allow Him to take care of them.  The more I seen God do in my life the more I learned to trust Him, and the more I learned to trust Him the easier it was to surrender.

Today…I find that whenever I am in worry I’m there because I’ve yet to surrender what I am worrying about, and it’s also because I think that some how I’m more capable of taking care of what I’m worrying about then God.  The interesting thing today is that God will allow me to worry and try to do things on my own for a while…before He sweetly asks me if I’ve had enough yet.

God’s a gentleman, friends.  He’s never going to force Himself into our lives or our circumstances.  He’s always going to wait for you to come to Him for help.  Some times He will prompt you a bit to reach out to Him, but the truth is He can’t do anything in our lives until we surrender them to Him.

I don’t know about you, but there are always areas of my life that I can surrender more.  I’ve readily admitted to you that I’m not perfect, and I certainly haven’t figured all there is to figure out about the Christian life…but one thing I have figured out is life is much easier when I get out of God’s way.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank You for leading us into this series about living surrendered lives.  Father…show us what a surrendered life looks like.  Father…show us what areas of our lives we need to surrender.  Lord…help us to see those areas and surrender them to You.  We give You all the glory and honor Lord…and ask that You would teach and speak to us during this series…and lead us to have more surrendered lives so that our relationship with You can be more intimate.  We love You Lord…In Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen.

New Series “Living The Surrendered Life” Starts Monday July 2, 2012

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Greetings to you from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  I’m writing this as a general message to let those of you who like and look forward to the messages put out by this ministry that our next series:  ”Living The Surrendered Life” is going to be starting on Monday July 2, 2012.

It will be a 21 day series, and I’m very much looking forward to getting into this series to find out what the Lord would have to say to us.  I trust it will be challenging, encouraging, and I also believe that it’s really going to take us to a deeper place with the Lord.

So, I apologize for the long delay in between series, but I want to be sure that we do everything in line with the Holy Ghost.  I was planning to start this series this past week, but I never really felt there was unction or a flow because the Holy Ghost had some things to work out in me before we could begin this series.

I just think that’s awesome.  Before I began writing messages about a surrendered life I had some things that I needed to surrender to Him so that I the Lord could speak through me…and so I wouldn’t be hypocritical neither.

See, I’m a regular person doing something that God’s called me to do.  I’m nothing special apart from Him, and you know…some times the best thing to do is get out of the way…and let God have His.

So…I hope you will join me on Monday for “Living A Sacrificed Life” Day 1.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.” (1 Corinthians 16:23-24)

Blessing & Grace to you
Bryan J. Kizer

Why Read The Bible – Day 30 of 32- Following the Word

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Today’s Scripture:  “66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”  Psalm 119:66-67

Introduction:

With two messages to go after this one I’m no longer surprised by the fact that we’re once again back to Psalm 119.  I feel like this is going to be a really good message, and I also feel like we may be going on a side journey or two…but that’s all dependent upon the Holy Ghost.  I’m excited to see where the Holy Ghost leads us on this message titled:  “Following The Word”

Today’s Message:

The first point that’s jumping out at me before we even get into the scripture is the title of today’s message…Following The Word.  So…Why Read The Bible?  If you don’t then you are not a true follower of Christ.  Now, I know that you’re going to immediately ask me how I can say that…and the answer is the same as it always is.  If the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us…that means the Word isn’t just some book, but it’s Jesus in book form.  Listen, I don’t know how many times we can read that verse…and just so you don’t think I’m making this up here is the verse that I constantly refer to here:  “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14 (KJV)

Listen, The Word became flesh.  So, whenever you hold the Bible in your hands you are holding Jesus in book-form.  How’s that for awesome, and maybe eye-opening for some of you.  One of the main reasons to read the Bible than is because of this reason here:  If Christians are “followers” of Christ…how in the world can you call yourself a Christian if you don’t read your Bible?  The most simplistic of points and reasons for reading the Bible is because the Bible is Jesus in book-form.  Maybe if more people thought about the Bible that way they would be more interested in reading it on a more regular basis.

By the way…this here is for those of you who think that I made up the statistics about Christians and there Bibles.  This is from Dr. James Merritt of Cross Point Church.   This was actually a tweet from him that I read this morning.  “Even though 93% of Americans own a Bible, 50% never read it, including 23% of all followers of Christ.”

23% of all “followers of Christ” never read the Bible.  That means only 27% of the 50% who do read the Bible are actually really followers of Christ.  That’s astonishing to me that 23% of Christians call themselves followers of Christ, and they don’t even do the most basic thing…the don’t even read the Bible they own…and most Christian homes have several Bibles in them.  I know that I own 3 Bibles, I have the YouVersion Bible App on my computer and my phone, and I have the E-Sword Bible software available on my computer as well.

How in the world can you claim to be a follower of Christ…and not read the Bible is beyond me.  It’s beyond my ability to comprehend.  Now I didn’t say that they aren’t believers…but they most certainly are not followers.

Here’s the Holy Ghost right here ready:  “IF YOU DON’T READ THE WORD OF GOD ON A REGULAR BASIS YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BLAME GOD FOR THE FACT THAT THERE’S NO POWER IN YOUR LIFE.  THE POWER FOR YOUR LIFE IS IN THE WORD OF GOD.  NO WORD OF GOD = NO POWER.  THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE POWER OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE IS TO HAVE THE WORD OF GOD AS A PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE.  I CAN’T MOVE IN YOUR LIFE APART FROM THE WORD OF GOD.  NO WORD OF GOD = NO HOLY GHOST.  NO HOLY GHOST + NO WORD OF GOD = NO POWER.”

Come on people…I don’t even for the life of me understand why we had to take 32 days to talk about why we should be reading our Bibles…and when I say reading our Bibles I mean study them.  I mean really getting into studying the Bible.  Doing like Paul writes and study to show ourselves approved, and searching the scriptures daily.  Doing things like meditating upon this book of the law day and night…and making daily Bible study and reading a part of our lives.

Here’s a truth.  I love what the Lord just said there because you hear Christians all the time talking about how God hasn’t moved in their lives in a long…long time.  You know why?  I’ll bet you it’s because you haven’t seriously sat down to read and study your Bible in a long…long time.

Listen to me here…this is personal honesty right here…ready:   I can look you square in the eye and tell you that the times when God was dormant in my life were the times that I wasn’t reading His Word on a regular basis…the reverse of that is true.  The times when God moved the most in my life were the times…like now…where I am making the Word of God the priority in my life.  When I’m reading the Word, hearing the Word, and responding to the Word of God…God moves.  I don’t know how many times I have to say this…but I’m getting ready to say it again…the Holy Ghost cannot move in my life without the Word of God.  I can pray until I am blue in the face, and until hours and hours have passed, but the Holy Ghost isn’t obligated to do anything according to my words…He is only obligated to respond to God’s Words.

That’s for someone right there.  If you would spend more time praying God’s Words than your own then the Holy Ghost would respond.  The Holy Ghost is under no obligation to respond to our words, but to the Word of God.  When we speak and pray the Word of God…that’s when the Holy Spirit can move and respond.

Well…we’ve gotten all this in just from the title of the message.  How about that?  I told y’all that I was feeling like this was going to be a good message.  Point one of today’s message is really quite simple…if I am not studying my Bible on a daily basis I’m not a follower I am just a believer.  Followers of Christ…well…they follow Christ…and they do that by constantly being in His Word…because the Word of God is Jesus in book-form.

The second point I’m sensing the need to get into and this is going to be one of the side journeys is this thing about judgment.  David writes:  “Teach me good judgment”.  I can almost guarantee you that when He sought the Lord for “good judgment” he wasn’t seeking the ability to judge people, but good judgment for the course and things in his life.  You know, one of the biggest pet peeves or points of irritation in my heart towards the body of Christ is their willingness to judge someone else’s life.  Listen, the only thing Jesus gave us the right to judge people by was the fruit of their lives, and the love that they have for one another.  Yet, we see the body of Christ judge people for being enslaved to certain sins, for having a divorce, and for drinking beer.

Can I tell you that the body of Christ has more to hurt me by their judgmental attitude than the world has?  I have been judged time and time again because of what the religious people believe is right, and what they think a Christian ought to look like.  I have been divorce and re-married.  I’m sure there are people who judge me because of that.  I have a daughter of whom I barely have ever had contact with, and am behind on my child support payments…and I know of people who judge me for that.  I still drink beer…and I know people judge me for that.  I am not licensed or ordained as a pastor…and I know I’m judged for that.

Can I tell you what God says about all that? “Judge not [neither pronouncing judgment nor subjecting to censure], and you will not be judged; do not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and released.”  Luke 6:37 (AMP)

I realize that not everything I do in my life is the perfect will of God.  I also realize that not everything I choose to do in my life is God’s best for me.  However, I am perfectly secure in my relationship with God because I know what God has spoken to me, and I also know what God allows and what He doesn’t allow in my life.  I have had people tell me that I’m deceived, but the truth is…I know my Master’s voice, and I know that there are certain things that He’s allowing me to do because they have a purpose in my life.  I know that I’ve gone through certain things in my life so that I can relate to others.  But the biggest thing that I know is that I am forgiven and loved…and one day I am going to stand before God…and be told “Well done.”.  That’s the only thing that matters to me.

You can point your finger, look down your nose, and if you choose not to follow me or my ministry for any reason then that’s fine with me.  The Lord gave this to me one day…and I’m not sure who this is for, but it’s been brought back to my remembrance…so I’m going to add it here:  “ Don’t judge something you don’t understand…when you stand in judgment of God’s call upon someone…you think you know better than Him.”

So, good judgment, friends, isn’t about having good judgment about other people…but having good judgment for our own lives.  Listen, I have a very simply philosophy about being judgmental of other people…it’s not my job.  Even as a pastor it’s not my job to judge someone’s life.  Yes, I can look at things people are doing in their lives and know that it’s not God’s best for them.  However, there isn’t one single solitary sin that Jesus didn’t die on the Cross for.  There isn’t one sin that isn’t covered and washed away by the Blood of the Lamb.  So, who am I to stand in judgment of anyone for anything when my life is just as full of filthy rags as anyone else’s?  Who am I to look at the plank in someone else’s eye when I have a huge log in my own?

Yes, I can suggest and encourage people not to do certain things, but I don’t judge people’s lives because it really isn’t my job.  It’s my job to serve the Word of God.  That’s it.  I’m not here to point fingers at someone’s life because the truth is that person could point their finger right back at mine…and in some cases the things I’ve done in my life are worse than the things they have done…so I really have no right to judge anyone’s life.   Jesus is very clear about being judgmental. Don’t believe me…let Him say it to you Himself: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Matthew 7:1 (KJV).

I really believe that when Jesus was standing there with all those who brought that woman who was caught in adultery that when Jesus started writing in the sand…He was writing down the sins of those that were in the crowd with stones in their hands.  One by one they put down their stones, and the only one who had legal and every right to stone the woman was left…and that was Jesus.  He didn’t condemn her, He didn’t judge her, but He forgave her right then and there sending her on her way.  Do we do that?  No…we stone people knowing that we have sin in our own lives that God is dealing with us on.

You know what?  I believe part of the reason people are so willing to look at someone else’s life and judge their lives is because it makes them feel better.  They use phrases like…”I can believe they can call themselves a Christian and do ________.”  Well, my friend.  I can guarantee you that someone is looking at you and your life and thinking the same thing.  So…remember that whatever judgment you give out…that same judgment is being used against you…not only by that person…but by God Himself.

I don’t know about you…but knowing that God is going to judge me the same way I judge someone else helps keep me from judging anyone.  I know that I am alive and well today because of the grace and mercy of God.  I know that I’ve saved, sanctified and redeemed…and going to Heaven.  Not because of anything other than the grace and mercy of God.  I also know that I’ve done worse things in my life than others…so I have no room or right to judge anyone’s life…but my own.  Would you like to know where that is in the Bible?  “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”  1 Corinthians 11:31 (KJV)

Finally, the last point in this message is found here.  “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”  Anyone else other than me ever been here?  Before I was afflicted I went astray.  I’m sure that I’m not the only one who has ever gone astray from the Lord…am I?  Which leads me back to talking about being judgmental for just a second…we all are like sheep who have gone astray.  All of us were prodigal sons and daughters at one point in our lives.  Remember that when you look at others, and are tempted to judge them for what they do or don’t do.  What is it that you do or don’t do that someone else can judge you for?

“But now, I have kept thy Word.”.  There’s a direct connection to going astray and not keeping the Word of God.  Remember how the other day that there was a question on Facebook posted about the number one issue facing the body of Christ today, and all these people responded with all kinds of different reasons and issues.  Do you know why there are so many reasons and issues…they have not kept the Word of God…and do you know why they haven’t kept the Word of God?  Because 23% of Christians never even read it.

Can I suggest to you that 27% of Christians reading their Bibles isn’t a very good percentage?  Come on, 93% of Americans have at least 1 Bible in their homes…out of that 93% that own Bibles 50% of them never read it, and 23% of the 50% who never read the Bible they have in their homes…are Christians.  That leaves 27% of all Christians in America who own a Bible read it.  Which brings me back to the stats in the very first message where it was discovered out of 2,000 people surveyed 12% read their Bibles on a daily basis…leaving 88% that barely or hardly or never read it at all.

I got some flack for that.  I even had some people question those numbers.  I’m not the only one who has them.  Dr. James Merritt has no idea who I am other than the fact that I follow him on Twitter.  I am sure he has no idea I’m writing this series, and had no idea the statistics I had written in our very first message…but his numbers and the numbers I have are about the same…and the whole point of this is that when you think about the fact that 12% of the 27% who own a Bible read and study it on a daily basis…then you get a really good picture and understanding especially after we’ve been doing this series why the church as a whole has gone a stray…and why the church is so afflicted by so many issues.

Which brings me back to what I’ve been saying throughout this entire series.  If you want to fix the issues the church is afflicted with…then get the Word of God back into the pulpits of America.  Stop preaching from so and so’s latest book…and start “preaching the Word of God.”.

The implication of what David is writing here when he says:   “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I have kept thy Word.” is that once David began to keep the Word of God…than those things that he was afflicted by that led him astray…no longer afflicted him…and no longer lead him astray.  So,  when you put that verse into our lives then it’s possible that we can limit the things that lead us astray by increasing our intake and study of the Word of God…and on a corporate body of Christ level…we can eliminate the things that have led the body of Christ astray by returning the Word of God to the pulpit instead of preaching “The Purpose Filled Life”.

Here’s some personal honesty here from me on this point.  The things that so easily beset me no longer easily beset me now that I’ve been writing these messages because they make me have to be in the Word of God on a daily basis.  The more I am in the Word of God on a daily basis the less the things that held me astray are able to keep me astray because the Word of God is working to remove those things from me and my life.

I’m going to close this message by saying that the way that the things that so easily used to beset me aren’t being removed from my life because of people who stand in judgment pointing a finger at me who wonder how I can call myself a Christian and a pastor…and do those things…but by the Word of God confronting me with the issues and things that have me afflicted…and it’s then as the Word of God shine it’s light upon those things that I can take them to the Lord…and seek His help in overcoming them.

You see…judging someone’s life isn’t going to help them, but hurt them…and we all know what Jesus warned when it came to hurting His little ones.  So…instead of thinking that good judgment involves you being better able to judge what someone else is doing…that’s not what good judgment is for…it’s about being better able to judge what’s going on in your own life…so that you can bring the things that have you afflicted can be brought to the Lord so that by His mercy, grace, and Word…you can overcome.

We overcome how?  By the Blood of the Lamb…and the Word of our testimony.  Stop judging…it’s not your job…Amen!?!

Points for Pondering:

“66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” Psalm 119:66-67

  1. What makes the Psalmist follow God’s Word?
  2. Have you ever felt like God was disciplining you?  When?

Conclusion & Prayer:

So, we covered three points in today’s message “Following The Word”.  I think the point I liked the most was the one we made in the beginning.  I believe that you can be a believer without reading and studying the Word of God on a daily basis, but I don’t believe that you can be a follower of Christ without reading and studying the Word of God on a daily basis.

So…I guess there is a third question for you to consider:  Are you a believer or a follower?

Lord, I know what I want my answer to be.  I want to be a follower which means I have to be rooted and grounded in Your Word.  I think You, Lord for the many afflictions that You have delivered me from through the study and walking out of Your Word.  I pray that Your Word would continue to shine it’s light upon areas and afflictions that beset me so that I can one day like David be able to say “But now, I keep thy Word.”.  I pray for those who are reading this message that You would do the same in their lives, and help them to develop and maintain more of a passion and fire for Your Word…and deliver them of their afflictions as they have more of Your Word shine it’s light upon their lives.  Help us, Lord, to not judge others lives, but to pray for them instead…and love them.  Forgive us for being finger pointers, and judging others lives when we have so many things that we should be judging in our own.  Teach us, like David writes good judgment…and help us, Lord to know that doesn’t mean good judgment of others lives, but our own.  Most of all, Lord…help us to really come to the understanding that Your Word is Jesus in book-form.  Maybe if we understood and looked at the Bible that way instead of being just another book…it might stir something in us to be more diligent to spend time in Your Word knowing that when we read and follow Your Word…then we’re following Christ.  We love You Lord, and ask these things in Jesus’ name…Amen & Amen