Hear oh Israel - the Lord is God!

I must start off by confessing that I haven't kept up with this as I would have liked.  But I must share my latest experience.  My wife and I recently had the wonderful opportunity to travel with 98 other people on the Salvation Army's Biblical Education Tour.  We spent 10 days exploring the beautiful landscape of Israel.  We saw some amazing sites and had many, life changing moments.  One of the greatest experiences of my life, not that I've had many, was the day we spent in worship on the Sea of Galilee.  Our group was "Sailing on Faith," literally, as our tour boat was called Faith.  During  the hour on the boat, we spent about 30 mins in worship.  During this time, it was as if time stood still.  It was like we were caught up in heaven and time no longer existed.  There we were, on the sea, the sun shining brightly, the boat rocking slowly by the waves, surrounded by the beautiful, mountain landscape of Israel and birds flying in the air.  It was a powerfully, spiritual experience; one that I will never forget.  Another powerful experience was the healing of my wife.  When we left for Israel, she had severe foot problems and she was very concerned that she would not be able to do much on this trip and would miss much of the expereince.  Her feet bothered her every day and she could not do much walking or stand for very long.  However, on our trip, her feet began to feel better every day.  One day, we went to the pool of Bethesda, where the lame man was healed.  Due to the heavy remains that we experienced our first few days there, there was actually water in the pool.  I was able to reach into the water and sprinkle some on my wife.  Her feet no longer hurt.  She did almost everything on the trip without pain.  Even now, after being back for almost 3 weeks from our trip, her feet still do no hurt.  Praise the Lord!  We had many other wonderful experiences that we will always remember.  I want to proclaim and shout out "Hear oh Israel, the Lord is God!"

I Want a Revival in My Soul

There was an old song that we used to sing quite frequently in The Salvation Army when I was a child.  We would sing:

I want a revival in my soul

I want a revival in my soul

I must apply to the blood of Jesus

To get a revival in my soul

Send down the rain

Send down the rain

Send down the Gospel rain

I was taught, like many of us, that revival meant having a meeting or series of meetings with special guests to get people saved or excited about coming to church.  It seemed to be a natural part of the church to do this every year.  But did you know there is no biblical support for revival meetings?  In fact the first revival meeting wasn't until the 1700's.  This actually makes sense because to be revived means that you had life but lost it.  You have reached a comatose state and need to be brought back to life.  What you need is a spiritual defibrillator.
As Christians we shouldn't need revival.  Christ has come to give us life and give it more abundantly.  We shouldn't need revival because we weren't meant to lose life.  We were already dead and Christ gave us life, new life; we were born again.  If we have life then why would we need to be revived?
Maybe it has something to do with Revelation chapter 3:1 - "I know your deeds, you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead."  The life has gone out of us.  We have become a valley of dry bones.  We have removed ourselves from the river of life and we have dried up.
Verse 3 gives us the answer to our dried up life: "Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard, obey it, and repent."  This corresponds with the Lord's words to Ezekiel in 37:4 - "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!'"  The key is hearing and responding to the Word of the Lord.  It is God's Word that will revive us.  If we feel like a pile of dry bones then we need to hear and respond to the Word of the Lord.  Too many people hear sermons, week after week, year after year and still seem to be without life.  That is because they hear but do not respond to or obey God's word.  James said do not be only hearers of the word but doers.  If we want to experience the abundant life that Jesus promised, then we must obey the word of God.  I don't need a revival; Jesus has already given me life.  What I need is more of his WORD!

Why do I need to go to church?

Why do I need to go to church?  That place is full of hypocrites.  Why do I need to go to church?  I can believe in God right at home.  Why do I need to go to church?  The people there act the same as everyone else.

Why do I need to go to church?

I have been asked this question several times throughout my ministry.  It came to my mind again when my wife asked someone very close to us where they were currently going to church.  The response was "No where!  Not until you can find me a place without hypocrites.  Someplace that I won't get raked through the coals."

My first thought is; "What better place for a hypocrite to be than in church!"  We all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  None of us are perfect.  In fact, the Bible teaches that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

Some people believe in Karma:  You do good things and good things happen. You do bad things and bad things happen.  Others believe in the Yin and Yang.  Every good has a little bad or every bad has a little bit of good.  However, the Bible teaches that all are corrupt, no one does good, not even ONE.  Only God is good! (Proverbs 14:1, 14:3, 53:1;53:3, Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19, Romans 3:12)

If we look we are looking for the perfect church; we're not going to find it!  There isn't one.  At least not until you die and get to heaven.  We live in a fallen world with fallen people.  All of us live in these weak bodies that are terribly susceptible to sin and temptation.  We are mostly tempted to be selfish.  We are only concerned with our own wants and desires.  We don't care if we hurt others as long as we get what we want.  It shouldn't be this way in the church but often it is.  Most of the time when people encounter situations like this in the church, they leave.  They go to another church and they are hurt again so they leave.  They try again, are offended, and they leave.  Eventually, they deem it best to not go anywhere.  They believe in Christ and his teachings.  They desire to grow in their faith.  But they grow weary of the immaturity, selfishness and lack of understanding by many of the faithful so they think it best to worship God at home and they stop going to church.  This is a grave MISTAKE!  Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) tells us to "not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

If your church has a theologically sound doctrine; if your pastor lives and preaches biblically sound sermons; if your church elders/leaders are godly men/women with a passion to serve Christ; then don't leave!  Don't allow the ignorance or immaturity of others to chase you out of the church.  If you know playing cards, eating meat, going to a movie or doing some stretching exercises doesn't harm your faith, then don't allow the lack of knowledge, understanding or immaturity of others to force you to leave.  The Bible teaches to put on the armor of God and STAND our ground.  Resist the devil and he will flee.  It does not tell us to back down or walk away.  We need to stand for our faith.

For those who have stopped going to church, I encourage you to return.  Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) informs us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  We need to quit taking things so personal.  We need to understand that we are in spiritual warfare.  We need to realize that people are going to offend us and say things that hurt us and you need to expect it.  John 15:18-19 (NIV) "warns us; "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."  It also tell us in verse 20, "if they persecuted me, they will persecute you also."

We cannot be a Christian without someone hurting us or offending us.  It is going to happen.  If we are mature in our faith, then we will understand that this is part of the spiritual warfare.  We cannot allow it to hinder our faith or remove us from the fellowship.  The Lord says that our body is the temple.  In other words, We are the church.  We cannot go solo and live our faith on our own.  We must be in the fellowship.  God, himself, ordained the ecclesia, the general assembly, the church, to meet together. We are meant to be in fellowship.  Jesus may be preparing a mansion for us but when we get to heaven, we won't be secluded in our homes.  We will be all together, in one place, worshipping Him.

For those of you, who may be immature; those who are whining, complaining or causing discord in the church; it's time to grow up.  (See my previous blog.)  The church is not about you; it is about Christ.  We are to encourage and build each other up.  Not tear down the church one person at a time.  You should be on solid food by now but you are still on milk.  Return to the elementary teachings of your faith and rebuild on a solid foundation.

Why should I go to church?  Because God ordained it.  No, he commanded it!  We must assemble together in His name!  Besides, if we all left how would that honor Him?  Go to church today!

Time to Grow Up!

One of the difficult things of being a leader is dealing with people.  There are so many who have been saved for so many years and then do things that make you say "What?"  I've experienced so many people who whine, complain and act like children.  Mind you, these are grown adults but they will fight and bicker over the smallest of things.  Sometimes they are office staff members but many times they are members of the church.  You would think that some of them would know better.  I fully understand what Paul was saying when he said;
" Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.  You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?" 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NIV)

He said it again in Hebrews 5:11-14 (NIV):

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.  In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."

People who do not grow in their faith are like children and as children they will fight over the smallest of things.  They will act childish in their relationships.  They will seldom be respectful or obedient but more likely will be selfish and rebellious in their behavior.
Lord, how do we grow up?  How do we get beyond this child-like behavior and begin acting mature?  You have already told us - we need to learn your word.  The more we study it, obey it and make it a part of our life; the more we will grow.  Lord, the world sees enough childish behavior, it's time for us to grow up.  Help me to be mature so that I may teach others.  We need grown, mature Christians as leaders so that the world will see you more clearly and not be blinded by the childish behavior of immature Christians.  It's time to grow up!

Where have All the Friendships Gone?

Today isn't necessarily a spiritual lesson.  It is more of a spiritual venting.  Friendships can be so rewarding and yet so draining at the same time.  By nature, I am introverted and have a more difficult time making friends as my extroverted wife.  However, when I make a friend, I consider them friends for life.  Yet, it seems like all of the work in the relationship comes from me.  I must call, I must write, I must visit, etc.  If I don't take the initiative then I never hear from them.  Often, I have wondered, is it just me?  But I know that there are others who feel the same.  I have had friends go through some difficult times and I was there.  I listened.  I wrote.  I encouraged.  I was as supportive as I possibly could be.  Then when I experience some difficulty in life, I don't hear from them.  When I finally see them I get the same response; "I MEANT to call you.  I MEANT to write.  I MEANT to" . . . etc., etc., etc.  I understand we can all get busy in life but where have all the friendships gone?  Now, I know I have a friend in Jesus.  Yes, I have my help mate, Michele, that the Lord gave to me.  But besides the relationships with my Lord and my wife; where have the rest gone?  I have had accountability partners become occassional acquaintances.  I have had close pastoral friends become distant.  I have had childhood friends become "holiday" remembrance cards.  Now, if I put forth the effort, I could keep in closer contact.  As "friends," why don't they do the same?  Now I know how Jesus felt on the eve of his death and his "friends" fell asleep.  He wanted them there with him, praying for strength and direction and they didn't respond.  When he needed them most, they abandoned him.  Even the very vocal Peter, denied knowing him.  Maybe Jesus was asking; "Where have all the friendships gone?"  Maybe that is why he prayed; "Father, may they be one as you and I are one."  I think this is to remind us that we are not by ourselves.  We must remember one another for we are united together in Christ.

Whatever happened to conviction?

It is interesting being a Christian with convictions.  I have had fellow believers tell me; "Don't push your convictions on me" or "What's a sin for you may not be a sin for me!"  I didn't realize that scripture teaches individual sin.  I think what they are referring to is the fact that they may not have the same convictions as I do because I fully believe that we all are held accountable for the same sins.  God sets the standard and if we don't meet his standards then we have fallen short.  There are not different sins for different people.  If it is a sin for me then it's a sin for you.  To follow the other idea and accept the distorted theology would mean to accept the idea that murder might be a sin for one person but not a sin for another.  I know that is an extreme example but either that theology is true or it's not.  Some people like to misinterpret 1 Corinthians 10:23 which says; "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive" (NIV).  They try to say that "As a Christian I can do what I want because my sins are forgiven."  How absurd is that?  In Romans 5 Paul says that where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. However, in Romans 6:1-2 Paul says; "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (NIV)  I won't force my convictions on anyone but I have to ask: "Whatever happened to conviction?"  So many Christians watch the same movies, listen to the same music and live the same lifestyle as non-Christians.  It's hard to tell the two apart.  Now, I'm not in to be religious or legalistic but I fully believe that holiness means to be set apart from the world.  We might be in this world but we don't need to live like it.  We need to set our minds on things above.  If you think I'm "holier-than-thou" then so be it.  I'd rather live in obedience to the Lord than worry about fitting in with the world.

Once Saved Always Saved? - I Don't Think So!

It's been almost a month since my last post.  I have been too busy to take the time needed to write what is on my mind.  I have a great group of guys that I meet with each week for Bible study.  Probably the best that I have been with since my early 20s when I attended Hillside Wesleyan Church.  It is one of those groups that challenges you; keeps you focused on scripture and hold you accountable to God's Word.  A couple o the guys were wondering about the subject of salvation.  They believe in the assurance of salvation but were wondering how can you be secure in your faith if you have to worry about losing it.  They in turn were determined to say that once you have salvation you can't lose it; you don't even have the free will to give it up.  They referenced Romans 8 saying that nothing can take it away, not even you yourself, can take away your salvation.  They also quoted John 10:28-29 which says no once cane "snatch them out of my hand." And they noted Phillipians 1:6 which states that God will carry unto completion the good work that he has started or that if you fall away you were never a believer in the first place.  In proper context, I fully agree with all of those but the key is found in John 15, Romans 11 and other portions of scripture that tell us that we must remain in Christ.  If we don't REMAIN in him, then we will be cut off.  You can't be cut from the vine unless you at one time, belonged.  Romans 11 specifically states how we are "grafted" in but if we don't remain then we can be once again cut off!  Not to mention Hebrews 6:4-6 or 2 Peter 2:21-22.  God will never take away our salvation and no one or anything else can take it from us.  However, just as we freely received it, we can freely give it back.  Why anyone would want to is beyond me but if the angels, who were in heaven, could see God face to face and still choose to give up their place in heaven then I believe it is fully possbile for those of us who have not seen can give it up as well.  My advice, remain in Him and you never have to doubt or worry about it!