God's Way to be Prepared

  

'...In the day of my disaster...the Lord was my support.' 2 Samuel 22:19 NIV

A phone call in the small hours, a malignant tumour, a police officer at your door, a child addicted to drugs - if you live long enough you'll be confronted with 'the day of disaster'. For me it was when one of my brothers went to prison. For you it's something very different. But it's the strength of your relationship with God that will dictate your response. I love what CS Lewis said, "we can either acquire the wisdom assigned to a trial, or keep repeating it until we 'get it'." One author points out that God's 'disaster-preparedness kit is found in Psalm 31:24 NIV: Be strong. Why? Because God is fighting for you. You must know God, know your convictions, and know how to tap into God's unlimited power. You are not who you, or anyone else thinks...God says you are strong. Believe Him! Take heart. Don't let your pain shut you down. Take the broken pieces and offer them to God...choose to live with love. A closed heart isn't worth fighting for. You've worked too hard to get this far, so work with Him to see your healing all the way through. Hope in the Lord. Put no stock in emotion, circumstances, or gossip...Place your hopes and dreams at the altar...God makes all things new and possible. Anything other than the real thing will fail...No matter how long I've spent in God's workshop, my progress is proven only in the moment of peril. We prepare in advance so our responses are involuntary...There isn't a situation, a temptation, or a question where Ephesians 6:10 doesn't apply: "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power" (NIV). On multiple-choice tests it's the answer...God isn't telling you to be tough on your own...rely on His strength and let Him do for you what He knows is best. You are Loved!

Who's You're Provider?

 

'Godly sorrow brings repentance...and leaves no regret...' 2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV

As we continue in the book of Ephesians we are going to get a wonderful understanding of what grace is. But unless we have faith in His grace, there's this kind of regret that leads to despair because you don't think His grace is sufficient to cover your sins. Then there's 'sadness...used by God [which] brings a change of heart...and...no regret.' (2 Corinthians 7:10 GNT) This kind draws you closer and makes you more dependent on Him. 'See what God did with this sadness of yours... Such indignation, such alarm, such feelings, such devotion, such readiness to punish wrongdoing! You have shown yourselves to be without fault...' (2 Corinthians 7:11 GNT) We were in a position in Westport, as the economy closed in I began to regret not buying a less expensive home. If only we'd bought a cheaper house. If only we'd rented. If only we'd stayed in our first house. I can 'If only' myself into depression and stagnation where I'm stuck between regret and forward motion. When my focus is not on the One who provides...I let regret become bigger than God...and following that logic, I believe past choices, an event, a tragedy, a compromise, a mistake - is more powerful than the God who spoke the world into existence...We live in 'if only/what if' moments more than we realize. What happens is we get a sense of hopeless paralysis: we fear the bad choices we made [and] the choices we face. But look at what God's word promises us if we believe and follow Him? If we allow God to pour His grace into the present...our walk will be one where we make a decision and are able to stick with it. Learning to trust Him even if we make mistakes, because God's big enough to turn them around. When regret becomes ungodly sorrow versus godly sorrow, you find yourself submerged in self-pity instead of looking to Him to work things out for the good of "those...He has called according to His purpose."' (Romans 8:28 NKJV) You are loved....

'Faith Is'

 

'...Lord, "Increase our faith."' Luke 17:5 NKJV

Ever asked God to increase your faith? I had to learn what faith really is so I could believe God because Faith answers the question, 'How?' with one word: 'God!' The Bible says, 'Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV) Notice: (1) Faith is a 'substance'. Some people see faith as something ethereal and 'otherworldly'. But it's not; we use faith every day. For example, you pick up the phone, call a department store, place an order, and they ask for your credit card number. Then they give you a receipt number. The receipt is what you hold on to while you're waiting for the item to arrive - it gives you the assurance that the product is on the way. And the same is true in the spiritual realm. God promises to answer your prayer, you believe Him, but your faith is the 'substance' or the receipt you hold on to while you're waiting. (2) Faith is also 'evidence.' Why would you believe that someone you can't see on the other end of a phone line would send you something just because you order it? Because it happens every day for others, and it's probably happened to you before. Therefore you're not being presumptuous or silly when you go to your mailbox expecting it to be there. You are not the first person to trust God and you won't be the last. 'Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.' (Psalm 90:1 NAS) People have been trusting God for thousands of years and He has never let them down. His faithfulness is all the 'evidence' you need. So it's not foolish to put your trust in a God like that, is it? You are loved...

Why we need a Savior!

Yesterday as I was ending service I didn't get the chance to finish up with my last point and I think it is important that you have the opportunity to put it into perspective. Paul says:

“The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:6-9 (NIV)

Our sin nature is kind of like a worm in an apple. Do you know how a worm gets into an apple? I always assumed that it ate itself into the apple from the outside. But what I discovered is that the worm actually comes from the inside of the apple. What happens is that an insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later the egg hatches in the middle of the apple and the worm eats itself out. We’re born with that sin nature inside of us and it continues to make its way out day after day. That's why we need Jesus and God's Spirit inside us.

Because “Apart from God, I was dead and I was dominated. And also…”
3. I was doomed
“…Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.”
The result of my spiritual death and my domination by the world, Satan, and the flesh is that I was under the wrath of God. That’s why the question “Why do we need a savior” is so critical.
Frankly, most of us don’t like to think about the wrath of God a whole lot. And so I think we often get a wrong picture of what that wrath is like. We tend to picture it as God getting angry from time to time, lashing out in anger and then forgetting it. But when we look at what the Bible teaches about His wrath, we find that His wrath is consistent, controlled and judicial. God’s wrath is an inevitable response to all that stands in opposition to His righteousness and holiness. God’s wrath has both a present and future element to it. Jesus Himself spoke of the present aspect of God’s wrath:

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him." John 3:36 (NIV)
Paul writes about that in Romans:
“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” Romans 2:5 (NIV)

For those who do not respond to the grace and mercy of God, there is a future judgment to be faced. And at that time, those people will experience the wrath of God and be separated from Him for eternity in a place of eternal torment. That's why we need a Savior! Paul was reminding the Ephesians what they had been saved from so he could show them what they received. As we look forward to next weeks message we look at God's Love, Grace, and Mercy...it's going to be awesome.

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Forgiver and you’re Master, then you are exactly as Paul describes you in these verses – someone who needs a savior. Don’t leave this blog until you respond to what you now realize. You can do that right there where you sit by praying to God and thanking Him for drawing you to Him, telling Him you’re sorry for your sins and asking Him to forgive you, and placing your faith in Jesus Christ alone as the payment for your sins. You don’t have to use fancy words. Just speak to God as a friend and tell Him what’s on your heart. Or call me right now and I’ll pray for you! 509-967-2447...you are loved.

 

God's still in control

 

The question can be asked 'Why?' isn't everyone healed? The truth is, sometimes God heals us in response to the prayer of faith (James 5:14), other times He takes us to Heaven, which Paul describes as 'far better' (Philippians 1:23). The real answer is: 'We don't know, and God doesn't tell us!' Paul, who wrote half the New Testament, had a ministry so miraculous that the dead were raised, yet he confessed, 'We know in part.' (1 Corinthians 13:9) Paul didn't have all the answers and neither do we. In Hebrews chapter 11, some 'escaped the edge of the sword' (Hebrews 11:34 NIV), while others 'were put to death by the sword.' (Hebrews 11:37 NIV) But notice in verse 39, 'These were all commended for their faith.' It seems clear that we can't always measure faith by results. Faith is a virtue and value on its own merit. Our faith is not based on what we get, it's based on who we trust. Who are you trusting today in your harshest trials? Never let your faith waver because he is always with you! You are loved...

Know When to Be Quiet!

'Fools vent...the wise quietly hold it back.' Proverbs 29:11 NLT

Writer Carol Kuykendall writes: 'My very pregnant daughter got her hair cut...from long to stylishly short. She was trying to get used to her new look when we ran into one of her friends. "Oh no!" her friend wailed..."I don't like it!" Then as if to rationalise her words, she quickly added, "You know me. I'm a Truth-Teller!" As we walked away my daughter told me she could've done without the truth that day!...It made me more aware of that critical moment in conversation when I'm faced with a choice: Do I say what I'm thinking? Or do I zip it?' I believe God's choice would be to zip it. The old adage if you can't say anything good don't say anything at all holds true. I keep hearing that "telling it like it is" and "being real" is good for relationships. But here's what I know about myself: if I say everything I think, I can slay people in my path. And just because I think something - doesn't make it true...A good question to ask is: Is it helpful - or hurtful - to the person or our relationship? What about the timing and tone? [For example] a comment about a spouse's appearance is hurtful when they can't do anything about it, and will only make him or her self-conscious the rest of the evening. The biggest challenge with this is when we think we've been wronged. We want to attack everyone in our path. When that happens ask yourself the question: is this truly how God wants me to act? The Bible says, 'Fools vent...the wise quietly hold it back. Knowing when not to speak is often more important than knowing what to say. That's what Paul had in mind: 'Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up...that it may benefit those who listen.' (Ephesians 4:29 NIV) You are loved!

Beatitudes for Parents

    

'Train up a child in the way he should go...' Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

I loved this article I read years ago and thought I'd pass it on to you....

"A mathematics teacher, who agreed to babysit while her friend went shopping, left her this note: 'Dried tears 11 times...tied shoelaces 15 times...blew up balloons, five per child... warned children not to cross the street 26 times...children insisted on crossing the street 26 times. Number of Saturdays I'll volunteer to do this again - zero!'

The following Beatitudes for Parents were written nearly 50 years ago by Marion E. Kinneman when her daughters were raising her six grandsons. They're still spot-on! 'Blessed are those who make peace with spilled milk and mud, for of such is the kingdom of childhood. Blessed is the parent who engages not in the comparison of his child with others, for precious unto each is the rhythm of his own growth. Blessed are those who have learned to laugh, for it's the music of a child's world. Blessed and mature are those who without anger can say "No," for comforting to a child is the security of firm decisions. Blessed is the gift of consistency, for it brings heart's-ease in childhood. Blessed are they who accept the awkwardness of growth, for they are aware of the choice between marred furnishings and damaged personalities. Blessed are the teachable, for knowledge brings understanding and understanding brings love. Blessed are the men and women, who in the midst of the unpromising mundane, give love, for they bestow the greatest of all gifts to each other, to their children, and, in an ever-widening circle, to their fellowmen.'" One successful entrepreneur said, 'I may be a self-made man, but the blueprints came from my mom and dad.' Bottom line: Children learn from their parents. What are you teaching yours? You are loved!

Have You Been Rejected?

  

'...Do not be afraid...I am with you...' Acts 18:9-10 NIV

When Paul tried to share his new faith with his old friends, 'They opposed him.' (Acts 18:6 NKJV) It hurts to be rejected by those you love. It seems like Paul was so hurt by their rejection that God had to encourage him, saying, 'Do not be afraid...I am with you, and no one is going to...harm you.' Even when Paul reached out to some of the apostles, they were wary of him. They saw him as too Jewish to be Christian and too Christian to be Jewish. Throughout his ministry, Paul suffered disappointment and rejection at the hands of those he loved. One of the biggest things a pastor walks through from time to time is the these feelings of rejection. But what I've learned is when people fail you it drives you into the arms of God. Being rejected by others can actually bring a greater intimacy with Him. When they stoned Paul and left him for dead, 'he got back up' and went on to greater things (Acts 14:19-20). Being rejected makes you lean on God like never before, because you've nowhere else to turn! In fact, at times like that, unless you hear from God, there's no other word of hope coming! When others reject you, God has a way of opening doors to new levels of blessing you'd otherwise miss. Your greatest spiritual growth will generally result from your greatest trials. The Psalmist wrote: 'You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies [vindication]: you anoint my head with oil [daily empowerment]; my cup runs over [greater blessing].' (Psalms 23:5 NKJV) The truth is, without some pain and opposition, you wouldn't get to sit at God's table and enjoy His best. You are loved!

Overcoming the Wilderness?

      

'He...guided them in the wilderness...' Psalm 78:52 NKJV

As I was looking for a picture today this one jumped out at me. Your picture of a wilderness maybe different but they all have the same thing in common, they are a place where you can die. The wilderness is a place where growth is difficult, water is scarce, and you plod on when there's no end in sight. But wilderness experience's can happen anywhere. You can have a wilderness experience: at a graveside, at the Job Center, or in a divorce court. In the wilderness: (1) There seems to be no way out. In Scripture, the number forty represents struggle. Noah experienced storms for forty days. Moses spent forty years alone in the desert. Jesus was tempted by the Devil for forty days. (2) You begin to think the worst. The wilderness weakens your resolve. It makes you look for an easy way out. A troubled marriage can make you look the wrong way at somebody else's husband or wife. It's the breeding ground for dishonesty, depression, even pornography - things you normally wouldn't find appealing. 'Jesus...was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil...' (Luke 4:1-2 NLT) Notice: going face to face with the devil was God's idea. Jesus, the last Adam, came to succeed where the first Adam failed. 'Because one person disobeyed...many became sinners. But because one righteous person obeyed...many will be made righteous.' (Romans 5:19 NLT) Jesus overcame the devil by using God's Word. Three times He said to Satan, 'It is written.' (Luke 4:4, 8, 12 KJV) And God's Word is still your wilderness-survival guide. After using it, Jesus left the wilderness clothed in the power of God's Spirit, ready to launch His ministry. And God can do the same for you. 'He...guided them in the wilderness...He led them on safely, so that they did not fear...' (Psalm 78:52-53 NKJV) You are loved...

Gratitude - It's Contagious!

    

'In everything give thanks...' 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

I love what author Barbara Johnson wrote in a recent article. She says 'she was frazzled; she was running late, and on the bus to work she had to stand. Her attitude was going downhill fast when a cheery voice from the front of the bus announced, 'Beautiful day, isn't it?' She couldn't see the man, but she listened to his commentary as he described the lovely scenery...this church...that park...a cemetery...a firehouse. His grateful attitude lightened the mood of everybody around him. Then as Johnson got off the bus she caught a glimpse of the speaker: an average-looking man wearing dark glasses and carrying a white stick!'

Paul said, 'In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.' We don't thank God for trials, we thank Him in them. That is a hard to do sometimes, but it is essential in the process of giving thanks in all things. Gratitude is like a boomerang. It blesses the recipient, enables a 180-degree turn and blesses the person who gives thanks. Whatever the crisis in your life, God is prepared for it and has made sure you are equipped to endure it. Many other people have experienced exactly what you're going through. Some have made it through victoriously. No matter what the temptation God promised to '...make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.' (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)  Every trial has its escape route. They are inseparable. But the devil doesn't want you to know that. Every time you're in the middle of a test, he insists there's no way out. So when the devil is really on your case, piling on the pressure, that's an indication the way of escape is close at hand. We need to do what God says: rejoice! Remember: '...The joy of the Lord is your strength.' (Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV) When you continue to give thanks and have His joy, it gives you strength for the journey. You are loved!

Be Honest

      
'...Be careful to do what is right...' Romans 12:17 NIV

Paul is right when he writes, "be careful to do what is right." That's honesty in its highest form. Jeremiah writes, 'Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means...in the end he will prove to be a fool.' (Jeremiah 17:11 NIV) Don't think that you can do whatever you like in small things, and be ok as long as you've no major lapses. Whether you steal ten cents or a million dollars, you're still a thief. The Oxford Dictionary defines integrity as - honesty. Every time you break a moral principle it becomes harder, not easier, to act with integrity. Everything you've done in the past, including the things you've neglected to do, comes to a head when you're under pressure. That's why developing integrity requires constant vigilance. John Morley observed, 'No man can climb out beyond the limitations of his own character.' And that's particularly true when you're a leader. So: (1) Keep your promises. When you make a promise you create hope. When you keep a promise you create trust. (2) Acknowledge your mistakes. When your decisions don't turn out the way you intended, you owe people an explanation. (3) Apologise and try to make amends. When your actions hurt others, you need to admit that what you did was wrong and say you're sorry. This is usually very painful in the moment. But not only is it the right thing to do, it can actually shorten the agony and help you to put the incident behind you. It's also the biblical application that will change your life to a new direction. You are loved!

Believing God for 'Good Things'

  

'...You...promised...good things to your servant.' 2 Samuel 7:28 NIV

Yesterday in service I mentioned living our lives by faith. Each of us should strive each day to 'walk by faith, not by sight.' (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV) But it doesn't come easily and it takes effort on our part to believe in God. It also takes a mind saturated in Scripture to make a faith choice when you're staring down the barrel of a situation that seems impossible. So how do you develop that kind of faith? For a relationship to thrive, both parties must invest time and energy into getting to know one other. Lasting connections are based on trust, and an intimate knowledge of the other person's habits and character. And it's the same with God. Over time, as you prove His faithfulness it becomes easier to let go of your fear and replace it with trust.  Getting to know God means walking with Him, spending time in His Word, getting to know His spotless character and the countless examples of His unfailing love illustrated in His ironclad promises. It means praying, talking, sharing all the details of your life and the inner workings of your heart. He knows it all already, but He enjoys the intimacy of the conversation. And like any balanced relationship, we can't always be the one talking. We have to make time to listen, to come before the Lord and get quiet, by silencing the noise of our thoughts and the rush of our emotions. Remember, the only place fear has to work is in the empty space where your faith should be. Fear is based on what you see and hear. Faith is based on knowing that God's Word is reliable, and that He has promised 'good things' to those who believe Him for them! You are loved...

True Friendships

   

'...We have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus...cleanses us from all sin.' 1 John 1:7 NLT

I love this scripture in Proverbs that says, 'a nearby neighbor can help you more than relatives who are far away.' (Proverbs 27:10 GNT) It's so true. I think about my own relationships. I'm closer to all of you than many of my own relatives. Sometimes it is easier to develop close friendships with those outside your immediate family circle. But there's another kind of 'blood relative' mentioned in the Bible: brothers and sisters joined together through the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7). It's the kind of relationship that doesn't allow you to go off and do your own thing. It requires us to be 'peace-makers who go on quietly sowing for a harvest of righteousness - in other people and in themselves.' (James 3:18 PHPS) It calls for a long-term commitment not readily understood by the 'me generation' where, when the going gets tough, it's acceptable to bail out of a relationship and move on. This goes along with yesterdays thought on "speaking healing into others lives." You can't do it unless you are in right relationship with others. Tom Sabens points out that the world doesn't understand the Christian concept of brotherhood and sisterhood: 'It says find friends among like-minded, like-income people who vote like you and have the same golf handicap. These friendships work until the bottom falls out of your life, you face a pressing problem, or a tragic loss, or a serious illness, and suddenly you realize that no one cares much about you. Why? Because you've made no investment in anybody's life, and now when you need to make a withdrawal there's no money in the friendship bank.' Sacrificial love is the foundation of true friendship. Paul writes, 'I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves...But you know how Timothy has proved himself.' (Philippians 2:20-22 NLT) Healing words and love for each other makes the body strong! You are loved...

Speak Words of Healing

    

'...The tongue of the wise promotes health.' Proverbs 12:18 NKJV

One of the things that took me a awhile to learn was to speak words of healing into people's lives. Now we all have our moments of failure, but Matthew Henry describes grace as 'salt that seasons' our words and 'keeps them from corrupting'. Salt has two primary purposes: it preserves, and it adds flavor. So when the Bible says your words should be 'seasoned with salt' (Colossians 4:6 NIV), it means they should preserve and not corrupt, always be in good taste, and promote wellbeing. James the apostle says, 'You can't draw fresh water from a salty spring.' (James 3:12 NLT) In other words you can't fake what's in your heart. It's not just a question of learning to say the right things; it's about having a right attitude, because what you say reflects 'the things that are in [your] heart.' (Matthew 12:34 NCV) Solomon says, 'There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.' (Proverbs 12:18 NKJV) Unless you are careful, you can end up talking yourself and the people around you into all kinds of problems. Mark Brazee says: 'We have the ability to speak words of faith, which cause miracles to manifest...Faith is a law and we operate in it with our words, either to our benefit or our destruction..."The tongue of the wise promotes health." We could turn that around and say, "The tongue of the unwise promotes sickness." It's your choice. You can line up your mouth and heart with what the devil tells you, or you can operate in faith by lining your mouth and heart up with God's Word, pointing towards His blessings. Faith works by believing and saying what God says.' So begin to speak words of grace and healing. You will be amazed at the change in your life...you are loved!

Giving God's Way(2)

  

'...see that you also excel in this grace of giving.' 2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV

Took a break for a couple of days as my days were packed full this last week. I want to continue looking at giving God's Way! Our giving should be regulated and motivated by gratitude for what Christ has done for us. Paul writes: '...though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.' (2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV) Understanding how gracious and generous God is to us is important, because some of us give Him our leftovers; if we've anything left after we've paid our bills and done everything we wanted to do, we'll give. But even if we give God a million dollars, if it's out of our leftovers, have we given Him our best? (Malachi 1:6-14) Some people are 're-givers'. Re-givers receive a present they don't want, wrap it up and give it to someone else. Some folks have whole wardrobes full of these kinds of gifts. I know, we did that the other day for Joe's birthday. He wasn't expecting anything but Amy has a cabinet full of gifts to give for right occasions. That's how some of us approach giving to God - and it's an insult! In the New Testament you don't see preachers begging, selling stuff or using gimmicks to raise money for God's work. What you see is people like the Macedonians responding to God's grace because they understood and loved the God they served. Everything God created was meant to give. He created the sun to give light during the day and the moon and stars during the night. He created flowers to give seeds. God Himself is a giver: 'For God so loved the world, that He gave...' (John 3:16 KJV) When you understand grace, circumstances take a back seat. Your giving is not determined by your debt-to-income ratios, financial indexes, leading economic indicators or tax code. No, your giving is motivated by God's grace! You are loved...