Today is Memorial Day and we as a nation are honoring those who have served our country in the military and have given the ultimate sacrifice. As we take a day to relax from work and spend time with family and friends, let’s also take some time today to pray for the families of those who have had family members killed while serving in the armed services. Let’s also take some time to pray for our President and national and local leaders. Their decisions largely determine our continued freedom as a nation.
Many Christians do not understand how to balance what the Ten Commandments say about murder with serving in the military and facing the need to kill an enemy endangering national security. As a result, many are pacifists and believe that national peace can be secured by diplomacy alone.
Let’s first of all look at some fundamental facts. Thou shalt not kill should actually be translated Thou shalt do no murder. The prohibition is against premeditated murder. Understand that the same God that said Thou shalt not murder also told the Israelites to go to battle and kill their enemy during the conquests of Canaan their promised land. And God told them that He would empower them in battle and help them defeat their enemy. This is the killing of an enemy to spare a nation from annihilation by an enemy set on their destruction and this kind of killing for the defense of a nation is allowed by God.
A strong national defense is a deterrent to an enemy that is set on a nation’s downfall. A strong national defense actually encourages peace because it sends a strong message to those seeking to undermine a nation’s security. Because of the wicked fallen human condition, a nation must defend itself against attack. As Paul said in Romans 12, we should seek, as much as lies within us, to live peaceably with all men. That’s not always the easiest thing to do in the light of the depravity and wickedness of man.
As you enjoy your peaceful holiday today, please pray for our nation. Our international enemies would love for our nation to fall into ruin. Many are seeking to steal the liberties that we as a people enjoy. We are hated by extremist that are actively seeking ways to destroy America. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray that our nation would continue to be a friend of Israel. Our national survival hinges on how we as a nation deal with Israel.
And remember the sacrifices made for your freedom. Peace through military strength will be necessary until the millennial reign of Christ when the nations will beat their swords into plowshares!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Christians and the Military
Posted on Monday, May 31, 2010 at 7:38 AM by Pastor Mitch
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Praying without Presumption
Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 at 4:42 AM by Pastor Mitch
Some people have the idea that we can just ask for anything we want, and, because God promises to answer prayer, we can get whatever we desire. While that could be true in a technical sense, it is very unwise. And this kind of attitude reeks with spiritual immaturity.
God has promised to answer our requests. I could cite here numerous scriptures to the affirmative. But we are called, not to do as we please, and just selfishly spout out requests to the Lord off the cuff, but to be branches of the vine. We are called to allow Him to live His life in us. We are extensions of Jesus and His ministry. Jesus came not to do His own will, but the will of the Father who sent Him.
Here’s a case in point. God wanted Israel to be a nation of kings and priests. But Israel wanted a king like other nations. God told Israel that a king would make life very hard for them and that He had a better way for them. But Israel persisted in their request, and God granted them a king even though it wasn’t His highest and best for them.
I’ve learned to be very careful as to what I ask for in prayer. It takes me longer to wait on God in prayer and find out how He wants me to pray and exercise my faith about a matter than it does to actually pray. The prayer of faith doesn’t take a lot of time to pray.
Don’t just run into personal prayer and ask for something off the top of your head. The major key to effective personal prayer is to spend the time necessary to feel the Father’s heart before you pray. Jesus said it best: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7). Abiding, living, fellowshipping, and being intimate with Jesus is the key to prayer without being presumptuous.
David said it this way: Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). When you put God first place in your life, He will place in you a desire to do what He wants you to do. You see, we’re not calling the shots, He is! And He knows what’s best for us.
I’m discussing here the “gray” areas of life that the Bible doesn’t have a specific answer to give. I know how to pray for healing or finances, or for some thing that is clearly revealed in scripture. But it’s the in between areas, like where you should work, or who you should marry, or whether or not to buy that house, or some other thing that is really up to you to make a decision. These things must be prayerfully pondered or you could end up with a result you weren’t looking for! That’s what happened to Israel.
Pray before you exercise your faith, and make sure that what you’re asking for in these gray areas of life are God’s highest and best for you!
God has promised to answer our requests. I could cite here numerous scriptures to the affirmative. But we are called, not to do as we please, and just selfishly spout out requests to the Lord off the cuff, but to be branches of the vine. We are called to allow Him to live His life in us. We are extensions of Jesus and His ministry. Jesus came not to do His own will, but the will of the Father who sent Him.
Here’s a case in point. God wanted Israel to be a nation of kings and priests. But Israel wanted a king like other nations. God told Israel that a king would make life very hard for them and that He had a better way for them. But Israel persisted in their request, and God granted them a king even though it wasn’t His highest and best for them.
I’ve learned to be very careful as to what I ask for in prayer. It takes me longer to wait on God in prayer and find out how He wants me to pray and exercise my faith about a matter than it does to actually pray. The prayer of faith doesn’t take a lot of time to pray.
Don’t just run into personal prayer and ask for something off the top of your head. The major key to effective personal prayer is to spend the time necessary to feel the Father’s heart before you pray. Jesus said it best: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7). Abiding, living, fellowshipping, and being intimate with Jesus is the key to prayer without being presumptuous.
David said it this way: Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). When you put God first place in your life, He will place in you a desire to do what He wants you to do. You see, we’re not calling the shots, He is! And He knows what’s best for us.
I’m discussing here the “gray” areas of life that the Bible doesn’t have a specific answer to give. I know how to pray for healing or finances, or for some thing that is clearly revealed in scripture. But it’s the in between areas, like where you should work, or who you should marry, or whether or not to buy that house, or some other thing that is really up to you to make a decision. These things must be prayerfully pondered or you could end up with a result you weren’t looking for! That’s what happened to Israel.
Pray before you exercise your faith, and make sure that what you’re asking for in these gray areas of life are God’s highest and best for you!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Physical and Spiritual Fitness
Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 8:23 AM by Pastor Mitch
I’ve been jogging and exercising regularly since 1983 and I can personally attest to its benefits. The enormous physical benefits affect the cardio-vascular system, the digestive system, the skeletal system, the immune system, as well as the psychological and emotional dimensions of life. The benefits so far exceed the personal discipline that has been necessary to keep this habit going all these years.
As wonderful as exercise is, it is not nearly as beneficial as spiritual exercise. Notice 1Timothy 4:8 (Amplified): For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.
Years ago I began a journey of discipling myself to spend time daily in the word and in prayer. As much as I've benefited from the physical exercise, it doesn't hold a candle to the benefits I've gained from tithing my time to the Father each day in time spent with Him alone. It's affected every area of my life, and has made me what I am today.
Spending daily time in the word and in prayer keeps the flesh under, magnified spiritual values, helps you keep the proper perspective in tests, elevates the fruit of the spirit to the forefront of personality, keeps you attuned to the heartbeat of God for your life, warns you of impending danger and prepares for storms that may be ahead, minimizes stress, keeps faith and hope burning brightly, enables the love of God, manifests the peace of God, and keeps the world, the flesh, and the devil at bay.
And the godliness produced by spending time in the word and prayer has benefits not only in this life, but will bring eternal rewards. The spiritual exercise of godliness makes deposits for you in the eternal realm where you are going to spend the majority of your time. As much as I benefit physically from jogging, it doesn’t hold water to what happens when I daily spend time with the Father.
I’d encourage you to practice both physical exercise and godliness. That way, you gain the maximum benefit in this life and the next!
As wonderful as exercise is, it is not nearly as beneficial as spiritual exercise. Notice 1Timothy 4:8 (Amplified): For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.
Years ago I began a journey of discipling myself to spend time daily in the word and in prayer. As much as I've benefited from the physical exercise, it doesn't hold a candle to the benefits I've gained from tithing my time to the Father each day in time spent with Him alone. It's affected every area of my life, and has made me what I am today.
Spending daily time in the word and in prayer keeps the flesh under, magnified spiritual values, helps you keep the proper perspective in tests, elevates the fruit of the spirit to the forefront of personality, keeps you attuned to the heartbeat of God for your life, warns you of impending danger and prepares for storms that may be ahead, minimizes stress, keeps faith and hope burning brightly, enables the love of God, manifests the peace of God, and keeps the world, the flesh, and the devil at bay.
And the godliness produced by spending time in the word and prayer has benefits not only in this life, but will bring eternal rewards. The spiritual exercise of godliness makes deposits for you in the eternal realm where you are going to spend the majority of your time. As much as I benefit physically from jogging, it doesn’t hold water to what happens when I daily spend time with the Father.
I’d encourage you to practice both physical exercise and godliness. That way, you gain the maximum benefit in this life and the next!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Facing Impossible Circumstances
Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 at 4:37 AM by Pastor Mitch
But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with Himself and took possession of him, and he blew a trumpet, and [the clan of] Abiezer was gathered to him (Judg 6:34 - Amplified).
When you first see Gideon in Judges, he is hiding behind a piece of farm equipment as he threshed wheat to hide it from the Midianite army. The Midianites would attack Israel during their harvest season and steal their food. It was a great oppression to Israel. And an angel appeared to Gideon and called him a mighty man of valor while he was in hiding!
Gideon’s response was to remind the angel that he born on the “wrong side of the tracks” and that he was the smallest in his father’s household. The bottom line was that God saw Gideon differently than he saw himself. Gideon focused on his weakness while the Father focused on his strengths. God saw in Gideon the leader that he was, even though the circumstances showed his personal cowardice! Your opinion of yourself may not agree with God’s! He knows you better than you know yourself and he sees the latent abilities that you can’t see in you!
Then to top it off, God told Gideon that he would defeat the Midianites. So Gideon amassed an army of 32,000 men for the task. When God was finished telling Gideon the criteria the men must fulfill to fight this battle, the army dwindled to 300 men! What looked impossible from natural human thinking was so easy from God’s perspective. The Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with Himself, and took possession of him. You see, God and one man make a majority! God has the ability and wisdom. All He needs is yielded flesh and blood. Not Charisma! Not Wit! Not raw human power! God only needs a human emptied of self-ability who is willing to be clothed with power from on High!
You may face impossible circumstances today. Failure may seem inevitable. On your own, it may be. Take the time to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. He sees what you can’t see. What seems impossible to you is so easy to Him! Take His word into your mouth today and begin to say what the Father says about you, your circumstances, your life, and your future. Call those things that be not as though they were. Confess that you have God’s strength, power, wisdom, and ability, and that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. The Father working in you makes the impossible possible. What He did for Gideon He will do for you.
When you first see Gideon in Judges, he is hiding behind a piece of farm equipment as he threshed wheat to hide it from the Midianite army. The Midianites would attack Israel during their harvest season and steal their food. It was a great oppression to Israel. And an angel appeared to Gideon and called him a mighty man of valor while he was in hiding!
Gideon’s response was to remind the angel that he born on the “wrong side of the tracks” and that he was the smallest in his father’s household. The bottom line was that God saw Gideon differently than he saw himself. Gideon focused on his weakness while the Father focused on his strengths. God saw in Gideon the leader that he was, even though the circumstances showed his personal cowardice! Your opinion of yourself may not agree with God’s! He knows you better than you know yourself and he sees the latent abilities that you can’t see in you!
Then to top it off, God told Gideon that he would defeat the Midianites. So Gideon amassed an army of 32,000 men for the task. When God was finished telling Gideon the criteria the men must fulfill to fight this battle, the army dwindled to 300 men! What looked impossible from natural human thinking was so easy from God’s perspective. The Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with Himself, and took possession of him. You see, God and one man make a majority! God has the ability and wisdom. All He needs is yielded flesh and blood. Not Charisma! Not Wit! Not raw human power! God only needs a human emptied of self-ability who is willing to be clothed with power from on High!
You may face impossible circumstances today. Failure may seem inevitable. On your own, it may be. Take the time to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. He sees what you can’t see. What seems impossible to you is so easy to Him! Take His word into your mouth today and begin to say what the Father says about you, your circumstances, your life, and your future. Call those things that be not as though they were. Confess that you have God’s strength, power, wisdom, and ability, and that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. The Father working in you makes the impossible possible. What He did for Gideon He will do for you.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Dealing with Temptation
Posted on Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 5:57 AM by Pastor Mitch
But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). (James 1:14 – Amplified)
The most dangerous person in my life is me! Self deception hinders more people in God than perhaps any other one thing. We all must ruthlessly deal with ourselves, honestly admitting our areas of weakness to the Lord, to ourselves, and if necessary, to another trusted friend.
The verse above is written to believers. Every believer has a built in Achilles heel. Notice that every believer is tempted when he or she is drawn away by his own evil desire. What is this? This refers to what you allowed in your life before Christ. And it may be different for each person.
The seeds of the sins of the flesh committed before Jesus came into your life are still in the recesses of your soul. They lay there latent, dormant, waiting for you to feed them. They are fed by giving them attention in your thought life. You allowed your mind, emotions, will, and flesh to do certain things before Christ that, if you do them now may break your fellowship with the Father. This is your personal strong desire mentioned in the above verse. And these things must be guarded against for the rest of your life. It may be anger, a tendency towards holding a grudge, fears of any sort, gossip, jealously, envy, self-centeredness, or any of the sins of the flesh like adultery, fornication, or lust. It may over eating, drug or alcohol use.
The key is to know yourself and be aware of what tempts you. Here are three keys to keep you free from your past. The first one is to maintain a close, regular, and daily intimate fellowship with the Father in the Word and in prayer. Our spiritual life should be the energy center of life. And the spiritual resources of sincere prayer and quality time in the Word give us a tune up spiritually and help keep our flesh under. If you don’t keep your spirit fed, your flesh will rise.
Secondly, watch your close friendships carefully. 1 Corinthians 15:33 - Amplified reads: Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character. Close association and friendship with those who have no spiritual values will dampen your spiritual life and lessen your spiritual fervor. Their values and ideals will rub off on you. I am friendly with unbelievers and with believers who are carnal and refuse to discipline their flesh. But I refuse to “hang out” with them in a close way. It wouldn’t work anyway, because I would challenge the wrong behavior! At some point, you either make a decision to step away from those who compromise or you may become like them.
Lastly, draw the line of demarcation in your life. That is, refuse to go places or do things that will stir up past sins in your life. Don’t hang around the person that gossips if that was a previous problem. Don’t look at the risqué movie or TV program; it will only entice the problem you had before. Don’t hang out with those who are casual drinkers if that was in your past. Apply this rule to whatever you were involved in pre-Christ!
Daily fellowship with the Father, godly associations, and drawing the line of demarcation in your life will help shield you from falling into previous patterns of living!
The most dangerous person in my life is me! Self deception hinders more people in God than perhaps any other one thing. We all must ruthlessly deal with ourselves, honestly admitting our areas of weakness to the Lord, to ourselves, and if necessary, to another trusted friend.
The verse above is written to believers. Every believer has a built in Achilles heel. Notice that every believer is tempted when he or she is drawn away by his own evil desire. What is this? This refers to what you allowed in your life before Christ. And it may be different for each person.
The seeds of the sins of the flesh committed before Jesus came into your life are still in the recesses of your soul. They lay there latent, dormant, waiting for you to feed them. They are fed by giving them attention in your thought life. You allowed your mind, emotions, will, and flesh to do certain things before Christ that, if you do them now may break your fellowship with the Father. This is your personal strong desire mentioned in the above verse. And these things must be guarded against for the rest of your life. It may be anger, a tendency towards holding a grudge, fears of any sort, gossip, jealously, envy, self-centeredness, or any of the sins of the flesh like adultery, fornication, or lust. It may over eating, drug or alcohol use.
The key is to know yourself and be aware of what tempts you. Here are three keys to keep you free from your past. The first one is to maintain a close, regular, and daily intimate fellowship with the Father in the Word and in prayer. Our spiritual life should be the energy center of life. And the spiritual resources of sincere prayer and quality time in the Word give us a tune up spiritually and help keep our flesh under. If you don’t keep your spirit fed, your flesh will rise.
Secondly, watch your close friendships carefully. 1 Corinthians 15:33 - Amplified reads: Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character. Close association and friendship with those who have no spiritual values will dampen your spiritual life and lessen your spiritual fervor. Their values and ideals will rub off on you. I am friendly with unbelievers and with believers who are carnal and refuse to discipline their flesh. But I refuse to “hang out” with them in a close way. It wouldn’t work anyway, because I would challenge the wrong behavior! At some point, you either make a decision to step away from those who compromise or you may become like them.
Lastly, draw the line of demarcation in your life. That is, refuse to go places or do things that will stir up past sins in your life. Don’t hang around the person that gossips if that was a previous problem. Don’t look at the risqué movie or TV program; it will only entice the problem you had before. Don’t hang out with those who are casual drinkers if that was in your past. Apply this rule to whatever you were involved in pre-Christ!
Daily fellowship with the Father, godly associations, and drawing the line of demarcation in your life will help shield you from falling into previous patterns of living!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Love Gauge
Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 7:54 AM by Pastor Mitch
The love of God is our spiritual barometer, the gauge of progress as we move away from being dominated by the flesh. As we become spiritually attuned to God, we exude His love.
Use love as the benchmark of your spiritual progress. Ask the Father to help you develop this precious gift that He’s placed in your spirit. The following is a compilation of several translations of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. This will help you plot your progress. Use it daily as a guide:
Let me describe love. It is slow to lose patience; love stays in difficult relationships with kindness, and it always looks for ways to be constructive. There is no envy in love. It is not possessive and never boils over with jealousy. Love makes no parade of itself; it never boasts, nor does it puff up with pride. Love is never arrogant and never puts itself on display, because it is neither anxious to impress, nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. Love never gets irritated and is never resentful.
Love holds no grudges, and it keeps no record of evil done to it. Love refuses to be provoked and never harbors evil thoughts.
Love is not rude or grasping or overly sensitive, nor does love search for imperfections and faults in others. Love does not compile statistics of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails. Love celebrates what is real and not what is perverse or incomplete.
Love never does the graceless thing. Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. Love never insists on its own rights, never irritably loses its temper, and never nurses its wrath to keep it warm. Love is not touchy.
Love can stand any kind of treatment because there are no limits to its endurance, no end to its trust. Love bears up under anything; it perseveres in all circumstances. Love’s first instinct is to believe in people. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best in him, and always stand your ground in defending him. Love never regards anyone or anything as hopeless. Love keeps up hope in everything. Love’s hope never fades.
Love keeps on keeping on! It trusts in God in every situation and expects God to act in all circumstances. Love goes on forever. Nothing can destroy love. Nothing can happen that can break love’s spirit. In fact, it is the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.
Use love as the benchmark of your spiritual progress. Ask the Father to help you develop this precious gift that He’s placed in your spirit. The following is a compilation of several translations of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. This will help you plot your progress. Use it daily as a guide:
Let me describe love. It is slow to lose patience; love stays in difficult relationships with kindness, and it always looks for ways to be constructive. There is no envy in love. It is not possessive and never boils over with jealousy. Love makes no parade of itself; it never boasts, nor does it puff up with pride. Love is never arrogant and never puts itself on display, because it is neither anxious to impress, nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. Love never gets irritated and is never resentful.
Love holds no grudges, and it keeps no record of evil done to it. Love refuses to be provoked and never harbors evil thoughts.
Love is not rude or grasping or overly sensitive, nor does love search for imperfections and faults in others. Love does not compile statistics of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails. Love celebrates what is real and not what is perverse or incomplete.
Love never does the graceless thing. Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. Love never insists on its own rights, never irritably loses its temper, and never nurses its wrath to keep it warm. Love is not touchy.
Love can stand any kind of treatment because there are no limits to its endurance, no end to its trust. Love bears up under anything; it perseveres in all circumstances. Love’s first instinct is to believe in people. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best in him, and always stand your ground in defending him. Love never regards anyone or anything as hopeless. Love keeps up hope in everything. Love’s hope never fades.
Love keeps on keeping on! It trusts in God in every situation and expects God to act in all circumstances. Love goes on forever. Nothing can destroy love. Nothing can happen that can break love’s spirit. In fact, it is the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Love Solution
Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 5:19 AM by Pastor Mitch
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5).
Love is the solution to every relationship problem known to man. We’re to love God with our entire being. We’re to love others the way we love ourselves. Then Jesus added that we are to love others the way He loves us!
Romans 13:10 reads Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. So for every relational challenge I encounter I must see love as the cure.
Here’s the best part. The Father has already placed inside of us as believers the answers to our issues with others. This love that He has placed in our hearts must be nurtured until it is absorbed into all of our mental processes. The Father’s plan is that this love worm its way into every nook and cranny of our thought life; into our every response in each relationship. He wants it to totally replace our ingrained selfish patterns of thinking and response.
Our mind fights love’s control. The mind of the flesh is the enemy of God (Romans 8:7). Our natural mind automatically repels thoughts that come from our spirit to act and react in love. That’s the reason we must take much time to meditate in love until it is absorbed into our mental processes. Without this meditation, our mind will pull us away from love and force us to live a self-centered life.
We must see that this love is so powerful, so potentially life altering, that we give it room to change us. Every thought and action within us that has become an ingrained habit can be changed by yielding to love’s sway. There are no exceptions. Love is the most powerful force known to man.
Our goal must be to yield ourselves to this love moment by moment. Compare every thought, every word, and every action to this love. Change anything in you that disagrees with the love of God. This is our high calling, to be love men and love women. To be so totally absorbed in this love that it’s the first thing people notice about us!
John was known as the apostle of love. I’ll leave you with his words on the subject from the Message Paraphrase:
My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love — so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about — not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God. My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us — perfect love! This is how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He's given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we've seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day — our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life — fear of death, fear of judgment — is one not yet fully formed in love. We, though, are going to love — love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.
(I John 4: 7-21 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Love is the solution to every relationship problem known to man. We’re to love God with our entire being. We’re to love others the way we love ourselves. Then Jesus added that we are to love others the way He loves us!
Romans 13:10 reads Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. So for every relational challenge I encounter I must see love as the cure.
Here’s the best part. The Father has already placed inside of us as believers the answers to our issues with others. This love that He has placed in our hearts must be nurtured until it is absorbed into all of our mental processes. The Father’s plan is that this love worm its way into every nook and cranny of our thought life; into our every response in each relationship. He wants it to totally replace our ingrained selfish patterns of thinking and response.
Our mind fights love’s control. The mind of the flesh is the enemy of God (Romans 8:7). Our natural mind automatically repels thoughts that come from our spirit to act and react in love. That’s the reason we must take much time to meditate in love until it is absorbed into our mental processes. Without this meditation, our mind will pull us away from love and force us to live a self-centered life.
We must see that this love is so powerful, so potentially life altering, that we give it room to change us. Every thought and action within us that has become an ingrained habit can be changed by yielding to love’s sway. There are no exceptions. Love is the most powerful force known to man.
Our goal must be to yield ourselves to this love moment by moment. Compare every thought, every word, and every action to this love. Change anything in you that disagrees with the love of God. This is our high calling, to be love men and love women. To be so totally absorbed in this love that it’s the first thing people notice about us!
John was known as the apostle of love. I’ll leave you with his words on the subject from the Message Paraphrase:
My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love — so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about — not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God. My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us — perfect love! This is how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He's given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we've seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day — our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life — fear of death, fear of judgment — is one not yet fully formed in love. We, though, are going to love — love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.
(I John 4: 7-21 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Monday, May 24, 2010
By This All Will Know
Posted on Monday, May 24, 2010 at 6:48 AM by Pastor Mitch
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another . By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35).
If I strip away all the Christian speak that I use; if I remove all religious symbols from my person, my car, my home, my office, etc.; if I use no references to God, Jesus, the Bible, church, etc., would others know that I am a disciple of Jesus? Jesus said by this all men will know.
This love is to be the main advertisement for God in my life. It’s to make me attractive to others. I must ask myself, is love attracting others to the God who lives in me? If I say no, then there is still too much of me ruling me!
Until we make love the main thing, we’re not going to be effective in moving our culture towards God. His plan is that this love be the advertisement, the display that draws attention to Him.
Think about it this way. When I was born again, He deposited this love in me, actually poured it out inside of me, in my spirit. This love is designed to be to power supply for my spiritual life. If I renew my mind to it, if I think and meditate on it, it rises up from my spirit and begins its process of taking me over. Little by little, like honey, it oozes into every crack and crevice of my personality. It’s a slow process. Some parts of me are hard and unyielding to it, but it is so powerful, that even the hardest areas break under its force.
This love has nothing to do with feeling or emotion. Most often it moves me to act against reason and feeling. It urges me to do the loving thing when harsh words threaten me, when human impulse urges me to retaliate.
My mind sometimes rebels against this new boss that has moved into me. My mind often thinks it knows how best to protect me from the hurts others may bring. But this love stands up within me, telling my mind to sit down and be quiet.
It is constantly speaking. Father knows best. Love your enemies. Do good to those who mistreat you. Pray for those who use you for their advantage. Return good for evil. Do to others what you want them to do to you. Be kind. be gentle. Calm down and be patient. Overlook that fault you see in that person. Forgive and act as though that word was never spoken to you. Act toward that person as though they had never done you wrong. Don’t reveal that fault you see in this person to anyone else. Don’t brag about your skills or accomplishments.
Open yourself to this boss that’s moved inside of you. This love only wants your success. If you let it lead you today, it will lead you out of every relationship problem that arises. Love never fails. It’s a good boss. By this all will know…
If I strip away all the Christian speak that I use; if I remove all religious symbols from my person, my car, my home, my office, etc.; if I use no references to God, Jesus, the Bible, church, etc., would others know that I am a disciple of Jesus? Jesus said by this all men will know.
This love is to be the main advertisement for God in my life. It’s to make me attractive to others. I must ask myself, is love attracting others to the God who lives in me? If I say no, then there is still too much of me ruling me!
Until we make love the main thing, we’re not going to be effective in moving our culture towards God. His plan is that this love be the advertisement, the display that draws attention to Him.
Think about it this way. When I was born again, He deposited this love in me, actually poured it out inside of me, in my spirit. This love is designed to be to power supply for my spiritual life. If I renew my mind to it, if I think and meditate on it, it rises up from my spirit and begins its process of taking me over. Little by little, like honey, it oozes into every crack and crevice of my personality. It’s a slow process. Some parts of me are hard and unyielding to it, but it is so powerful, that even the hardest areas break under its force.
This love has nothing to do with feeling or emotion. Most often it moves me to act against reason and feeling. It urges me to do the loving thing when harsh words threaten me, when human impulse urges me to retaliate.
My mind sometimes rebels against this new boss that has moved into me. My mind often thinks it knows how best to protect me from the hurts others may bring. But this love stands up within me, telling my mind to sit down and be quiet.
It is constantly speaking. Father knows best. Love your enemies. Do good to those who mistreat you. Pray for those who use you for their advantage. Return good for evil. Do to others what you want them to do to you. Be kind. be gentle. Calm down and be patient. Overlook that fault you see in that person. Forgive and act as though that word was never spoken to you. Act toward that person as though they had never done you wrong. Don’t reveal that fault you see in this person to anyone else. Don’t brag about your skills or accomplishments.
Open yourself to this boss that’s moved inside of you. This love only wants your success. If you let it lead you today, it will lead you out of every relationship problem that arises. Love never fails. It’s a good boss. By this all will know…
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Girls, the Gold, and the Glory
Posted on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 3:50 PM by Pastor Mitch
So he (Samson) went up and told his father and mother, saying, "I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife (Judges 14:2).
Marrying a Philistine was forbidden by God for the Israelites. The Philistines worshipped idols, and intermarrying with the Philistines would bring the curses associated with idolatry to Israel.
Samson was dedicated to God from his birth. His mother had taken a Nazarite vow before his birth. Samson was dedicated to do the will of God. The anointing of a judge and deliverer for Israel came upon Samson when he was a young man. Supernatural strength rose up within him, and God used him to deliver Israel from her enemies.
But Samson had flesh problems. He liked forbidden Philistine women. This became his downfall. He became so numb to God that he was not aware when the anointing left him. His flesh cost him his life.
Years ago Lester Sumrall mentioned three hindrances those in ministry should guard against. They were the girls, the gold, and the glory. Take measures in your own life to guard against these potential pitfalls.
The Girls. If you’re married, decide to remain with your spouse for life. Nurture your relationship with your mate. Refuse any personal friendship with the opposite sex that does not include your spouse. Refuse to eat meals alone with the opposite sex and refuse to get into your car alone with someone of the opposite sex unless your spouse is with you. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you’re single, refuse to be alone with the opposite sex. Keep yourself pure.
The Gold. Be careful when God blesses you financially. We are to shun covetousness and are to be content with what we have. The spirit of our age is covetousness. The love of money is rampant, even in the church. Yes, God wants to bless, but we should be very careful not to manipulate or use money as the motivation for what we do.
The Glory. Pride is a deep human problem. It was transferred to us in the fall from Satan. Pride was found in him while he served before the throne of God in heaven. We all have the tendency to self glory. We must constantly humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, and give all the glory to Jesus when others are blessed by our efforts. God will not share His glory with another.
Perhaps the Apostle Paul said it best in 1 Corinthians 9:27- Amplified:
But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].
Marrying a Philistine was forbidden by God for the Israelites. The Philistines worshipped idols, and intermarrying with the Philistines would bring the curses associated with idolatry to Israel.
Samson was dedicated to God from his birth. His mother had taken a Nazarite vow before his birth. Samson was dedicated to do the will of God. The anointing of a judge and deliverer for Israel came upon Samson when he was a young man. Supernatural strength rose up within him, and God used him to deliver Israel from her enemies.
But Samson had flesh problems. He liked forbidden Philistine women. This became his downfall. He became so numb to God that he was not aware when the anointing left him. His flesh cost him his life.
Years ago Lester Sumrall mentioned three hindrances those in ministry should guard against. They were the girls, the gold, and the glory. Take measures in your own life to guard against these potential pitfalls.
The Girls. If you’re married, decide to remain with your spouse for life. Nurture your relationship with your mate. Refuse any personal friendship with the opposite sex that does not include your spouse. Refuse to eat meals alone with the opposite sex and refuse to get into your car alone with someone of the opposite sex unless your spouse is with you. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you’re single, refuse to be alone with the opposite sex. Keep yourself pure.
The Gold. Be careful when God blesses you financially. We are to shun covetousness and are to be content with what we have. The spirit of our age is covetousness. The love of money is rampant, even in the church. Yes, God wants to bless, but we should be very careful not to manipulate or use money as the motivation for what we do.
The Glory. Pride is a deep human problem. It was transferred to us in the fall from Satan. Pride was found in him while he served before the throne of God in heaven. We all have the tendency to self glory. We must constantly humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, and give all the glory to Jesus when others are blessed by our efforts. God will not share His glory with another.
Perhaps the Apostle Paul said it best in 1 Corinthians 9:27- Amplified:
But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].
Friday, May 21, 2010
Reaping Benefits from Tests and Challenges
Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 10:04 AM by Pastor Mitch
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way (James 1:2-4 –The Message)
Tests and difficulties are part of life on this planet. None of us are immune from hardship. Walking by faith doesn’t promise freedom from life challenges. But it does promise that the Father will help your through every circumstance to victory!
Determine to get the most out of the hard places life brings you by keeping a good attitude and expecting the Father to give you wisdom and to bring you through the ordeal.
And you can really milk all you can get out of a test or trial by counting it all joy. Decide to walk in praise and thanksgiving when you feel like griping and complaining. Active praise and worship in the midst of a test will open your life to the power of God. He will begin to put in motion the answer as you stand in faith by praising God and giving thanks.
And then what Satan meant for evil, God will actually work out for your good. As the outward pressure reveals areas of personal weakness in you, acknowledge those weaknesses to the Father and ask Him to work them out of your life.
Some of the greatest workings of the Father in my personal life have been during seasons of great hardship where I really wanted to quit. I just set my jaw and praised God and gave thanks for Him working the situation out.
My personal freedom from perfectionism, workaholic tendencies, and deep seated feelings of rejection came out of one of the greatest trials of my life many years ago. Believe me, I don’t want to go through that time in my life again. But on the other hand, no amount of money could purchase the life change that going through that tough time produced in me!
If you’ve been whining and complaining about what’s happening in your life right now, I urge you to read the above verse again. Make a decision right now to adjust your attitude and being to stand in praise, worship, and thanksgiving for the victory the Father is providing you in this test! When you come out on the other side of this challenge, you’ll be strong, wiser, and more patient and Christ like. But only if you choose to count it all joy!
Tests and difficulties are part of life on this planet. None of us are immune from hardship. Walking by faith doesn’t promise freedom from life challenges. But it does promise that the Father will help your through every circumstance to victory!
Determine to get the most out of the hard places life brings you by keeping a good attitude and expecting the Father to give you wisdom and to bring you through the ordeal.
And you can really milk all you can get out of a test or trial by counting it all joy. Decide to walk in praise and thanksgiving when you feel like griping and complaining. Active praise and worship in the midst of a test will open your life to the power of God. He will begin to put in motion the answer as you stand in faith by praising God and giving thanks.
And then what Satan meant for evil, God will actually work out for your good. As the outward pressure reveals areas of personal weakness in you, acknowledge those weaknesses to the Father and ask Him to work them out of your life.
Some of the greatest workings of the Father in my personal life have been during seasons of great hardship where I really wanted to quit. I just set my jaw and praised God and gave thanks for Him working the situation out.
My personal freedom from perfectionism, workaholic tendencies, and deep seated feelings of rejection came out of one of the greatest trials of my life many years ago. Believe me, I don’t want to go through that time in my life again. But on the other hand, no amount of money could purchase the life change that going through that tough time produced in me!
If you’ve been whining and complaining about what’s happening in your life right now, I urge you to read the above verse again. Make a decision right now to adjust your attitude and being to stand in praise, worship, and thanksgiving for the victory the Father is providing you in this test! When you come out on the other side of this challenge, you’ll be strong, wiser, and more patient and Christ like. But only if you choose to count it all joy!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Signs of the Times
Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 8:33 AM by Pastor Mitch
And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken (Luke 21:25-26) But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:34-36).
We’re no doubt living in the time just prior to the rapture and the second coming of Christ. In view of current events, we are encouraged by Jesus to stay alert, watchful, and ready for the coming of the Lord.
World events have been slowly lining up with the scenario that the Bible indicates will come to pass prior to the return of Christ. The Bible clearly reveals that God will begin to deal with the Jewish race again prior to the return of Christ, after they have been set aside because of unbelief for almost 2 millennia. The Bible indicates that prior to the return of Christ Israel would return to the land promised to them by God after having been dispersed from the land for 2000 years. The Israelites began returning to Palestine from all over the world at the beginning of the 20th century, and became a nation again in May of 1948, the first time since A.D.70!
Israel regained control of Jerusalem for the first time since the 1st century A.D. in 1967. Since Israel has been back in their land, the desert has indeed blossomed as a rose, and has become one of the most powerful nations in the Middle East.
With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, communism released its hold on nations previously closed to the gospel, and the former Soviet Union and Europe opened up to gospel evangelism. As the Bible foretold, the nations of Europe have begun to enter into a financial, political, and military union together under the auspices of the European Union, and are working to ratifying a European constitution. The prophet Daniel revealed that there would be a revival of the power of the fallen Roman empire. No doubt that this European Union is a part of the fulfillment of Daniel’s words.
Daniel also revealed that a world ruler we call the Anti-Christ will arise from this revived Roman Empire and will find a way to solve the Israeli –Palestinian conflict. He will enter into an agreement of peace with Israel and her neighbors, and will seemingly set the world stage for an era of peace. No doubt that the push to create a Palestinian State within the borders of Israel that is being encouraged by our government is part of the puzzle being put in place for this peace agreement to come into play. It’s just a matter of time.
At the same time, Russia and Iran, along with other nations are beginning to work together in a military, political, and financial alliance that will culminate in the war of Ezekiel 38 and 39, where nations headed by Russia attack Israel and seek to wipe her off of the face of the earth. The attack backfires as God supernaturally defeats these nations and fights on Israel’s behalf.
Added to all this are natural disasters, increased seismic activity, unparalleled weather phenomenon, and an increase in deadly and infectious diseases worldwide that have been predicted by Jesus during the time just prior to the return of Christ.
We are living in a generation that is facing world conditions that are rapidly deteriorating, and will culminate in a world-wide time of suffering the Bible calls the “tribulation” that will be the most devastating time period the world has ever know. According the Bible, during this time period wars, famine, and natural disasters will reign supreme as God judges the unbelief of humanity. Over 1/3 of mankind will die (that’s over 2 billion people), 1/3 of the green vegetation will perish, and 1/3 of the oceans of the world will become polluted. Jesus said that unless this time period was shortened, no person would be able to survive.
In the light of all of this, we have the promise of God to protect and care for us as believers. Just as God provided an ark for Noah and His family, a basket for Moses as a baby, protection from the lions jaw for Daniel, deliverance from the flame for the three Hebrew men in a furnace, and food for the hungry prophet Elijah by the beak of a bird, so the Lord will care for and provide for His people as we enter this dangerous time period.
Jesus told us to lift up our heads, and to be joyful, because our redemption was drawing near. We have a mandate to boldly take the gospel to the world before Jesus returns. We have not been appointed to experience God’s wrath as believers, but we have been appointed to obtain mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ!
We are to live in the expectation of the rapture of the church, and of the providential care of God regardless of what occurs. Let’s prepare ourselves and be ready every day to meet our King!
We’re no doubt living in the time just prior to the rapture and the second coming of Christ. In view of current events, we are encouraged by Jesus to stay alert, watchful, and ready for the coming of the Lord.
World events have been slowly lining up with the scenario that the Bible indicates will come to pass prior to the return of Christ. The Bible clearly reveals that God will begin to deal with the Jewish race again prior to the return of Christ, after they have been set aside because of unbelief for almost 2 millennia. The Bible indicates that prior to the return of Christ Israel would return to the land promised to them by God after having been dispersed from the land for 2000 years. The Israelites began returning to Palestine from all over the world at the beginning of the 20th century, and became a nation again in May of 1948, the first time since A.D.70!
Israel regained control of Jerusalem for the first time since the 1st century A.D. in 1967. Since Israel has been back in their land, the desert has indeed blossomed as a rose, and has become one of the most powerful nations in the Middle East.
With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, communism released its hold on nations previously closed to the gospel, and the former Soviet Union and Europe opened up to gospel evangelism. As the Bible foretold, the nations of Europe have begun to enter into a financial, political, and military union together under the auspices of the European Union, and are working to ratifying a European constitution. The prophet Daniel revealed that there would be a revival of the power of the fallen Roman empire. No doubt that this European Union is a part of the fulfillment of Daniel’s words.
Daniel also revealed that a world ruler we call the Anti-Christ will arise from this revived Roman Empire and will find a way to solve the Israeli –Palestinian conflict. He will enter into an agreement of peace with Israel and her neighbors, and will seemingly set the world stage for an era of peace. No doubt that the push to create a Palestinian State within the borders of Israel that is being encouraged by our government is part of the puzzle being put in place for this peace agreement to come into play. It’s just a matter of time.
At the same time, Russia and Iran, along with other nations are beginning to work together in a military, political, and financial alliance that will culminate in the war of Ezekiel 38 and 39, where nations headed by Russia attack Israel and seek to wipe her off of the face of the earth. The attack backfires as God supernaturally defeats these nations and fights on Israel’s behalf.
Added to all this are natural disasters, increased seismic activity, unparalleled weather phenomenon, and an increase in deadly and infectious diseases worldwide that have been predicted by Jesus during the time just prior to the return of Christ.
We are living in a generation that is facing world conditions that are rapidly deteriorating, and will culminate in a world-wide time of suffering the Bible calls the “tribulation” that will be the most devastating time period the world has ever know. According the Bible, during this time period wars, famine, and natural disasters will reign supreme as God judges the unbelief of humanity. Over 1/3 of mankind will die (that’s over 2 billion people), 1/3 of the green vegetation will perish, and 1/3 of the oceans of the world will become polluted. Jesus said that unless this time period was shortened, no person would be able to survive.
In the light of all of this, we have the promise of God to protect and care for us as believers. Just as God provided an ark for Noah and His family, a basket for Moses as a baby, protection from the lions jaw for Daniel, deliverance from the flame for the three Hebrew men in a furnace, and food for the hungry prophet Elijah by the beak of a bird, so the Lord will care for and provide for His people as we enter this dangerous time period.
Jesus told us to lift up our heads, and to be joyful, because our redemption was drawing near. We have a mandate to boldly take the gospel to the world before Jesus returns. We have not been appointed to experience God’s wrath as believers, but we have been appointed to obtain mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ!
We are to live in the expectation of the rapture of the church, and of the providential care of God regardless of what occurs. Let’s prepare ourselves and be ready every day to meet our King!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Caught Up!
Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 8:34 AM by Pastor Mitch
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
We should live with the expectation of the catching away of the saints, the rapture. Notice that the word rapture is not found in scripture. It’s from the Latin word rapere, from the Latin translation of the Bible. Though not found in the Bible, it correctly summarizes the event of being caught away, and is used frequently today to reference this grand event.
Living in the light of Jesus coming will change the perspective on all we do, and is meant to bring comfort to us. Enoch walked with God and was not, for God took him. He was caught up! Phillip was preaching Jesus from Isaiah 53 to the Ethiopian Eunuch and was suddenly caught up! He was found in a city 20 miles away. Paul was caught up into the third heaven and received some direct revelation that he didn’t have words to share. And when Jesus returns we believers will be caught up!
The words caught up are full of meaning. Caught up is from the Greek word harpazo. According to Kenneth Wuest in his Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, this word has five shades of meaning in the Greek language.
First, harpazo means to carry off by force. When Jesus returns for the church in the rapture, Satan, the prince of the power of the air, will seek to oppose our leaving, and Jesus will overpower Him and take us away!
Secondly, harpazo means to rescue from the danger of destruction. When the tribulation (a seven year period of judgment preceding Jesus’ second coming) begins, we have the promise that we’ll be taken away! God has not appointed the believer to experience His wrath, but to obtain mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ! We’ll be rescued from it!
Thirdly, harpazo means a Divine power transferring a person marvelously and swiftly from one place to another. Enoch, Phillip, Paul, and Jesus experienced this amazing phenomenon. And we could be the generation that experiences it too.
Fourthly, harpazo means to claim for one’s self eagerly. Jesus is eagerly anticipating His coming back for us. In John 14, He told the disciples that He was going to prepare a place for us, and t hat He would come back to receive us to Himself so that we would be with Him. Preparations are being made in heaven right now for our coming!
Fifthly, harpazo means to snatch out and away suddenly. There will be no time for last minute preparation. We won’t be able to say our goodbyes. We’ll be gone in time it takes to blink! One day soon, our daily challenges will be gone. Our personal weaknesses will melt away in the light of His appearing!
We are to comfort one another with these words. Many of us have friends and family members that have preceded us to heaven. This will be a great reunion day full of excitement and joy.
Let’s be ever watchful and ready for Jesus’ return for us in the rapture. Before the end of this very day, we could be caught up!
We should live with the expectation of the catching away of the saints, the rapture. Notice that the word rapture is not found in scripture. It’s from the Latin word rapere, from the Latin translation of the Bible. Though not found in the Bible, it correctly summarizes the event of being caught away, and is used frequently today to reference this grand event.
Living in the light of Jesus coming will change the perspective on all we do, and is meant to bring comfort to us. Enoch walked with God and was not, for God took him. He was caught up! Phillip was preaching Jesus from Isaiah 53 to the Ethiopian Eunuch and was suddenly caught up! He was found in a city 20 miles away. Paul was caught up into the third heaven and received some direct revelation that he didn’t have words to share. And when Jesus returns we believers will be caught up!
The words caught up are full of meaning. Caught up is from the Greek word harpazo. According to Kenneth Wuest in his Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, this word has five shades of meaning in the Greek language.
First, harpazo means to carry off by force. When Jesus returns for the church in the rapture, Satan, the prince of the power of the air, will seek to oppose our leaving, and Jesus will overpower Him and take us away!
Secondly, harpazo means to rescue from the danger of destruction. When the tribulation (a seven year period of judgment preceding Jesus’ second coming) begins, we have the promise that we’ll be taken away! God has not appointed the believer to experience His wrath, but to obtain mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ! We’ll be rescued from it!
Thirdly, harpazo means a Divine power transferring a person marvelously and swiftly from one place to another. Enoch, Phillip, Paul, and Jesus experienced this amazing phenomenon. And we could be the generation that experiences it too.
Fourthly, harpazo means to claim for one’s self eagerly. Jesus is eagerly anticipating His coming back for us. In John 14, He told the disciples that He was going to prepare a place for us, and t hat He would come back to receive us to Himself so that we would be with Him. Preparations are being made in heaven right now for our coming!
Fifthly, harpazo means to snatch out and away suddenly. There will be no time for last minute preparation. We won’t be able to say our goodbyes. We’ll be gone in time it takes to blink! One day soon, our daily challenges will be gone. Our personal weaknesses will melt away in the light of His appearing!
We are to comfort one another with these words. Many of us have friends and family members that have preceded us to heaven. This will be a great reunion day full of excitement and joy.
Let’s be ever watchful and ready for Jesus’ return for us in the rapture. Before the end of this very day, we could be caught up!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Raptured!
Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 5:35 AM by Pastor Mitch
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed -
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
The rapture of the church is imminent. That means that it could happen at any time. The early church lived in the expectation of the rapture and it produced holiness of lifestyle. You know that the rapture and the second coming are two separate events and are separated by at least seven years. There are scripture yet to be fulfilled for the second coming to occur, but there are none to be fulfilled for the rapture to take place.
Here’s the scenario. One day, a trumpet will sound, perhaps in the spirit realm and we’ll be pulled from within to leave this planet. The above verse says it will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. The word moment is the Greek word where we get the word atom and refers to the smallest increment of time. The twinkling of an eye is a single blink of the eye. That’s pretty fast. One moment we’re here, the next moment, we’re gone!
Those believers who have already preceded us to heaven will come from heaven and be united with a glorified body that will be resurrected from their grave at that time. Then we will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. In the second coming, Jesus comes back and His feet touch the Mount of Olives. But in the rapture, we meet him in the air. He doesn’t come down and completely touch the ground. See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Philippians 3:21 reveals that the corporeal substance of our bodies will change at the time of the rapture; our bodies will transition from a flesh and blood body to a flesh and bone body just like Jesus had when He was raised from the dead. These glorified bodies will enable us to live in the presence of God for eternity and will give us new powers of locomotion. Jesus appeared in an instant, materializing in a room with the disciples when He resurrected from the dead. The doors and windows were shut tight!
Soon we will here the call to come up! There will be no time for last minute preparations. You won’t have time to mend a relationship or prepare your family. This event will take you by surprise. Are you living the way you want to be living when the rapture occurs? Will you be confident before Jesus when you see Him because of your obedience to Him and to the Word? We are to be alert, watchful, on guard against sin, and ready. If you’re not, take time right now to make the adjustments you need to make.
We’ve heard these things so much, but now the world is changing and you can sense that we’re entering the season of His coming. Jesus said, One day, when you think not, the Son of man comes! Let’s live ready!
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
The rapture of the church is imminent. That means that it could happen at any time. The early church lived in the expectation of the rapture and it produced holiness of lifestyle. You know that the rapture and the second coming are two separate events and are separated by at least seven years. There are scripture yet to be fulfilled for the second coming to occur, but there are none to be fulfilled for the rapture to take place.
Here’s the scenario. One day, a trumpet will sound, perhaps in the spirit realm and we’ll be pulled from within to leave this planet. The above verse says it will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. The word moment is the Greek word where we get the word atom and refers to the smallest increment of time. The twinkling of an eye is a single blink of the eye. That’s pretty fast. One moment we’re here, the next moment, we’re gone!
Those believers who have already preceded us to heaven will come from heaven and be united with a glorified body that will be resurrected from their grave at that time. Then we will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. In the second coming, Jesus comes back and His feet touch the Mount of Olives. But in the rapture, we meet him in the air. He doesn’t come down and completely touch the ground. See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Philippians 3:21 reveals that the corporeal substance of our bodies will change at the time of the rapture; our bodies will transition from a flesh and blood body to a flesh and bone body just like Jesus had when He was raised from the dead. These glorified bodies will enable us to live in the presence of God for eternity and will give us new powers of locomotion. Jesus appeared in an instant, materializing in a room with the disciples when He resurrected from the dead. The doors and windows were shut tight!
Soon we will here the call to come up! There will be no time for last minute preparations. You won’t have time to mend a relationship or prepare your family. This event will take you by surprise. Are you living the way you want to be living when the rapture occurs? Will you be confident before Jesus when you see Him because of your obedience to Him and to the Word? We are to be alert, watchful, on guard against sin, and ready. If you’re not, take time right now to make the adjustments you need to make.
We’ve heard these things so much, but now the world is changing and you can sense that we’re entering the season of His coming. Jesus said, One day, when you think not, the Son of man comes! Let’s live ready!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Faith and Love
Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 at 9:18 AM by Pastor Mitch
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love (Galatians 5:6).
Love is the foundation of our walk with God. We may have faith to move mountains, but if we fail to walk in the love of God, our faith will not work! A race car with a flat tire is useless. An aircraft with a missing wing will not fly. And so faith must have the ingredient of love if it’s going to work.
Jesus gave us a new commandment, the love commandment that has in it all the other ten combined. Others know of our salvation experience by the demonstrations of love in our life.
Because this love is so vital, the Father has placed it in our spirits in the new birth. Now we must steward this love every day. Patience, kindness, self-less care for others, humility, no selfish ambition, not holding a grudge when wronged, actually paying no attention to an offence committed against us, believing the best of others, these are some of the characteristics of love. Without them, our faith is hindered.
Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire this love make it your aim, your great quest (1 Corinthians 14:1 Amplified). All that God does in my life rests on what I do with the love of God. Love covers a multitude of wrongs. It forgives and disregards the offences of others.
If answered prayer has been a challenge, or over a period of time, the results of faith have not been forthcoming, then check up on your love life. Make the adjustments necessary to bring love to the forefront of all you do. Make it your aim, your great quest!
Love is the foundation of our walk with God. We may have faith to move mountains, but if we fail to walk in the love of God, our faith will not work! A race car with a flat tire is useless. An aircraft with a missing wing will not fly. And so faith must have the ingredient of love if it’s going to work.
Jesus gave us a new commandment, the love commandment that has in it all the other ten combined. Others know of our salvation experience by the demonstrations of love in our life.
Because this love is so vital, the Father has placed it in our spirits in the new birth. Now we must steward this love every day. Patience, kindness, self-less care for others, humility, no selfish ambition, not holding a grudge when wronged, actually paying no attention to an offence committed against us, believing the best of others, these are some of the characteristics of love. Without them, our faith is hindered.
Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire this love make it your aim, your great quest (1 Corinthians 14:1 Amplified). All that God does in my life rests on what I do with the love of God. Love covers a multitude of wrongs. It forgives and disregards the offences of others.
If answered prayer has been a challenge, or over a period of time, the results of faith have not been forthcoming, then check up on your love life. Make the adjustments necessary to bring love to the forefront of all you do. Make it your aim, your great quest!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Faith is the Evidence
Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 8:15 AM by Pastor Mitch
NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality; faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses (Hebrews 11:1- Amplified)
Faith is for what I don’t have, and what I can’t see, but that God has promised me in the Word. Faith takes the place of what God promised me until it shows up in my life. It’s the title deed that what God promised belongs to me now even though I can’t see it!
Himself took my infirmities and bare my sicknesses is what my title deed for healing is based on. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus is what my title deed is based on for the need I have to be met.
If I have the title deed, then I own the property. If I believe I receive, then I own the thing I believe for. I may not see it yet, but it’s just as real as though I could see it. I’m to look mot at the things that are seen (the symptoms), but at the things unseen (the eternal Word of God). The things seen are temporary, the things unseen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
So if I’m walking by faith, and my faith takes the place of what I believe I receive, then I should be just as joyful and happy now as I would be if I could actually see what I’m believing for! Faith has the shout before the answer can be seen, or it’s not real faith.
Abraham could not see the child of promise, but still gave glory to God. He was fully persuaded that what God promised belonged to him. His faith was the title deed. (See Romans 4:17-20).
Standing in praise and thanksgiving is the best way to exercise your faith. Your faith is proof that what you believe for exists. Exercise your faith today by doing all you can to act as though you already had in manifestation what God has promised!
Faith is for what I don’t have, and what I can’t see, but that God has promised me in the Word. Faith takes the place of what God promised me until it shows up in my life. It’s the title deed that what God promised belongs to me now even though I can’t see it!
Himself took my infirmities and bare my sicknesses is what my title deed for healing is based on. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus is what my title deed is based on for the need I have to be met.
If I have the title deed, then I own the property. If I believe I receive, then I own the thing I believe for. I may not see it yet, but it’s just as real as though I could see it. I’m to look mot at the things that are seen (the symptoms), but at the things unseen (the eternal Word of God). The things seen are temporary, the things unseen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
So if I’m walking by faith, and my faith takes the place of what I believe I receive, then I should be just as joyful and happy now as I would be if I could actually see what I’m believing for! Faith has the shout before the answer can be seen, or it’s not real faith.
Abraham could not see the child of promise, but still gave glory to God. He was fully persuaded that what God promised belonged to him. His faith was the title deed. (See Romans 4:17-20).
Standing in praise and thanksgiving is the best way to exercise your faith. Your faith is proof that what you believe for exists. Exercise your faith today by doing all you can to act as though you already had in manifestation what God has promised!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Relationships Help is Change
Posted on Friday, May 14, 2010 at 12:20 PM by Pastor Mitch
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
I encourage you to come to our church picnic tomorrow if you in the area. These events help create an atmosphere of unity in our church family. They help enable an atmosphere in our church body that attracts the manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
There is a strength that comes from fellowship with other members of the body of Christ. We have become a culture of lonely people. And loneliness breeds dysfunction and pain. A hurt animal will isolate himself. And those dealing with emotional struggles shy away from being with the family, and keep themselves from a prime ingredient necessary for change in their lives.
My friend Chip Judd say that truth, relationships, and time are the three necessary ingredients for change in human life. We need the truth of God’s Word confronting and challenging us; shedding light on areas of personal darkness. We also need truth with ourselves; being honest and real about things we deal with deep inside.
We also need relationships with others. God create us humans to thrive best in the context of loving relationships. Relationships can bring strength, encouragement, and healing to us. Genuine close relationships sharpen us. They keep us from isolating in our personal pain and difficulty, and help strengthen us when we face the challenges of life. Those who run from relationship are avoiding a path God has created to minister to them personally.
Lastly we need time to change. No change is overnight. Change is a process of confronting ourselves and allowing the Word to do its work in the context of close personal relationships.
Take advantage of the rich diversity found in the body of Christ. God has an ordained strength for your life in the fellowship you allow. If you’ve been hurt by close relationships, it’s going to take time for that to heal. And you’ve going to have to be willing to open yourself us and trust again.
It’s well worth the risk to open up to fellowship. And in some areas of life, the Word is hindered from producing its fruit until we get into close contact with spiritual family.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
I encourage you to come to our church picnic tomorrow if you in the area. These events help create an atmosphere of unity in our church family. They help enable an atmosphere in our church body that attracts the manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
There is a strength that comes from fellowship with other members of the body of Christ. We have become a culture of lonely people. And loneliness breeds dysfunction and pain. A hurt animal will isolate himself. And those dealing with emotional struggles shy away from being with the family, and keep themselves from a prime ingredient necessary for change in their lives.
My friend Chip Judd say that truth, relationships, and time are the three necessary ingredients for change in human life. We need the truth of God’s Word confronting and challenging us; shedding light on areas of personal darkness. We also need truth with ourselves; being honest and real about things we deal with deep inside.
We also need relationships with others. God create us humans to thrive best in the context of loving relationships. Relationships can bring strength, encouragement, and healing to us. Genuine close relationships sharpen us. They keep us from isolating in our personal pain and difficulty, and help strengthen us when we face the challenges of life. Those who run from relationship are avoiding a path God has created to minister to them personally.
Lastly we need time to change. No change is overnight. Change is a process of confronting ourselves and allowing the Word to do its work in the context of close personal relationships.
Take advantage of the rich diversity found in the body of Christ. God has an ordained strength for your life in the fellowship you allow. If you’ve been hurt by close relationships, it’s going to take time for that to heal. And you’ve going to have to be willing to open yourself us and trust again.
It’s well worth the risk to open up to fellowship. And in some areas of life, the Word is hindered from producing its fruit until we get into close contact with spiritual family.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Freedom from Sin Consciousness
Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 8:12 AM by Pastor Mitch
The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever (Isaiah 32:17).
Guilt is one of the main de-motivators of human personality. A person consumed with guilt feels trapped in their own weakness, and to him or her life seems hopeless. Their weaknesses become like a ball and chain that holds them back from progress. They feel hopelessly bound to repeat failure after failure. And after a period of time, a person consumed with guilt will throw up their hands in frustration and quit trying to improve.
I was a person consumed with a conscience working in overdrive before Jesus rescued me. Bound by my weakness, I saw no escape from the chain of guilt that doomed me to repeat past failures.
The day before my life was radically changed, a friend told me that God was not mad at me because of my past. That He was not holding my sin against me. That was the beginning of my being set free from the bondage of sin.
Being secure in the righteousness of God brings a peace that works from the inside out. Every believer must school himself in this gift of righteousness bequeathed to him or her by the sacrifice of Christ. When the enemy accuses, let your right standing with God be your guard!
Righteousness is the ability to stand before God as though sin, condemnation and inferiority had never been a part of your life. Just like a newborn baby, it is as though you never had a past.
Righteousness has two phases. In phase one, Jesus bears the liability for your sin. He was made to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). All of your past was borne by Jesus, and He completely paid your sin penalty. No sin is judged twice, so you get to go free since your penalty is already paid!
The next phase is exciting. Not only are we released from the liability of sin, but it is also expunged! It is as though we never committed the deed! And God gives you as a free gift the same status before Him that Jesus has. You become the righteousness of God in Him! When God looks at you, He sees you as clean and as pure as His own Son! This is incredible!
Now you have the responsibility to walk in self-judgment. That is, when you sin, you judge it. That’s done by confessing it before the Father (1 John 1:9), and asking for His ability to overcome the weakness of the flesh. As you walk in this self-judgment of personal sins committed, Jesus’ blood continually cleanses you from unrighteousness. As you do this day after day, a righteousness consciousness begins to bring peace to your whole being from the inside out! Jesus becomes your personal lawyer before the Father, and He’s never lost a case!
And their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more (Heb. 10:17). I, even I am He who blots out your transgression for mine own sake, and will not remember your sins (Isaiah 43:25). As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Fahter, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:2).
Guilt is one of the main de-motivators of human personality. A person consumed with guilt feels trapped in their own weakness, and to him or her life seems hopeless. Their weaknesses become like a ball and chain that holds them back from progress. They feel hopelessly bound to repeat failure after failure. And after a period of time, a person consumed with guilt will throw up their hands in frustration and quit trying to improve.
I was a person consumed with a conscience working in overdrive before Jesus rescued me. Bound by my weakness, I saw no escape from the chain of guilt that doomed me to repeat past failures.
The day before my life was radically changed, a friend told me that God was not mad at me because of my past. That He was not holding my sin against me. That was the beginning of my being set free from the bondage of sin.
Being secure in the righteousness of God brings a peace that works from the inside out. Every believer must school himself in this gift of righteousness bequeathed to him or her by the sacrifice of Christ. When the enemy accuses, let your right standing with God be your guard!
Righteousness is the ability to stand before God as though sin, condemnation and inferiority had never been a part of your life. Just like a newborn baby, it is as though you never had a past.
Righteousness has two phases. In phase one, Jesus bears the liability for your sin. He was made to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). All of your past was borne by Jesus, and He completely paid your sin penalty. No sin is judged twice, so you get to go free since your penalty is already paid!
The next phase is exciting. Not only are we released from the liability of sin, but it is also expunged! It is as though we never committed the deed! And God gives you as a free gift the same status before Him that Jesus has. You become the righteousness of God in Him! When God looks at you, He sees you as clean and as pure as His own Son! This is incredible!
Now you have the responsibility to walk in self-judgment. That is, when you sin, you judge it. That’s done by confessing it before the Father (1 John 1:9), and asking for His ability to overcome the weakness of the flesh. As you walk in this self-judgment of personal sins committed, Jesus’ blood continually cleanses you from unrighteousness. As you do this day after day, a righteousness consciousness begins to bring peace to your whole being from the inside out! Jesus becomes your personal lawyer before the Father, and He’s never lost a case!
And their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more (Heb. 10:17). I, even I am He who blots out your transgression for mine own sake, and will not remember your sins (Isaiah 43:25). As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Fahter, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:2).
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Faith for Answered Prayer
Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 8:38 AM by Pastor Mitch
I was raised to believe that answered prayer was relative. You really couldn’t count on the Father to answer your prayers. Sometimes He may say yes, other times He would say no, and sometimes maybe. This idea sapped all the faith for an answer out of me. The best you could do was to hope if you got enough people praying long enough, maybe you could coerce God into answering.
When I made Jesus the Lord of my life, I was totally delighted and shocked to find that the Father longs to answer our prayers, and He wants to say yes every time! All we need to do is to look into the Word to find His will before we pray. His Word is His will!
All things whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive (Matthew 21:22). Whatever things you desire when you pray, believe you receive them, and you will have them (Mark 11:24). If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done to you (John 15:7). In that day you will ask Me nothing. Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Up until this time you’ve asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24). Whatever we ask we receive from Him because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22). This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:14-15).
These are the promises to answered prayer that I meditate on every day. Every day they revolve around in my mind. I keep my faith built up in the fact that if I pray according to the Word, He hears me, and I’m promised the answer. This eliminates worry and fretting about things that arise in the course of life.
This knowledge of His desire to answer prayer solves most problems. I’ve learned to take everything to Him in believing prayer. That keeps my mind free, my emotions calm, and my spirit in charge. And it keeps me dependent on Him to work in every area of life.
When we choose to live a lifestyle of prayer based on the Word, it brings a ray of sunshine into the darkest day, and brings great peace and joy into everyday life.
How can we lose? How can we but shout for joy! How can we go under in the light of these awesome promises from the Father to care for and to provide! Our God is more than enough!
When I made Jesus the Lord of my life, I was totally delighted and shocked to find that the Father longs to answer our prayers, and He wants to say yes every time! All we need to do is to look into the Word to find His will before we pray. His Word is His will!
All things whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive (Matthew 21:22). Whatever things you desire when you pray, believe you receive them, and you will have them (Mark 11:24). If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done to you (John 15:7). In that day you will ask Me nothing. Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Up until this time you’ve asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24). Whatever we ask we receive from Him because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22). This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:14-15).
These are the promises to answered prayer that I meditate on every day. Every day they revolve around in my mind. I keep my faith built up in the fact that if I pray according to the Word, He hears me, and I’m promised the answer. This eliminates worry and fretting about things that arise in the course of life.
This knowledge of His desire to answer prayer solves most problems. I’ve learned to take everything to Him in believing prayer. That keeps my mind free, my emotions calm, and my spirit in charge. And it keeps me dependent on Him to work in every area of life.
When we choose to live a lifestyle of prayer based on the Word, it brings a ray of sunshine into the darkest day, and brings great peace and joy into everyday life.
How can we lose? How can we but shout for joy! How can we go under in the light of these awesome promises from the Father to care for and to provide! Our God is more than enough!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
No More Obsessing
Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 10:07 AM by Pastor Mitch
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully (1 Peter 5:7 - Amplified).
We’re all changing from glory to glory by the Holy Spirit. That means we never really arrive in full spiritual maturity. We’ll be in process until the day we meet Jesus face to face.
I thought I had a pretty much conquered the worry habit. When I came to Jesus, I had a well developed habit of worrying about everything, and the Lord had helped me redirect my focus to faith and to believing I receive instead of allowing fear, doubt, and unbelief to rule.
Several years ago I was reading Happiness is a Choice by Frank Minirth and was confronted with an uncomfortable idea about myself. He mentioned that those who are leaders generally have a degree of obsessive compulsive tendencies. That’s what makes them good leaders. They push and get things done. I was taken back a bit when I read that, and the Father began to slowly speak to me about my obsessive tendencies. He revealed to me yet another layer of doubt, fear, and unbelief that I did not realize that I allowed in my life. He revealed to me that my obsessing over how something would be accomplished was actually unbelief working in my life.
Since that time I’ve been challenged to another level of faith and obedience. When things are not going as planned, I obsess. That is, I try to figure out what I need to do to work it out. In my mind I will come up with several scenarios that will work out. For instance, if I’m on a missions trip in between flights and my flight is late, I will obsess about all the scenarios of what could happen with my connecting flight, and what would happen if it was a late arrival when connecting to the next one.
Several years ago I was in the Omo valley in Ethiopia (a very remote area), and we were beginning the journey home the next morning. This area is very mountainous and is prone to flooding. I was awakened early with the sound of pouring rain, a real gulley washer! As I obsessed about what could happen if it flooded and we got stuck (we had to cross several river beds on our journey), the Lord began to deal with me to trust Him instead of obsess over the varying possibilities. I found this behavior was enmeshed into the fabric of my life. The Lord knows how to reach down into the basics of your nature!
Now, I have become constantly aware of the need to depend on the Father through the Word rather than try to figure every problem out alone. He’s turning my obsessing into trusting! I’m more rested and at ease. Sudden changes and challenges are not nearly as threatening. Peace is a constant friend. Life is more of an adventure with the Father taking the lead.
Worry on any level is an exercise in futility. It’s a complete waste of time! Instead of worrying or obsessing, pray the prayer of faith and believe you receive. Then spend time in praise and worship when the worry thoughts of doubt and fear attack. In His presence is fullness of joy, pleasures forevermore. The Father inhabits praise. His joy becomes an hourly strength!
We are in His grasp. Our days are arranged by the Father. Let Him rule you through the Word today! Keep yourself in His care! Underneath you are His Everlasting Arms!
We’re all changing from glory to glory by the Holy Spirit. That means we never really arrive in full spiritual maturity. We’ll be in process until the day we meet Jesus face to face.
I thought I had a pretty much conquered the worry habit. When I came to Jesus, I had a well developed habit of worrying about everything, and the Lord had helped me redirect my focus to faith and to believing I receive instead of allowing fear, doubt, and unbelief to rule.
Several years ago I was reading Happiness is a Choice by Frank Minirth and was confronted with an uncomfortable idea about myself. He mentioned that those who are leaders generally have a degree of obsessive compulsive tendencies. That’s what makes them good leaders. They push and get things done. I was taken back a bit when I read that, and the Father began to slowly speak to me about my obsessive tendencies. He revealed to me yet another layer of doubt, fear, and unbelief that I did not realize that I allowed in my life. He revealed to me that my obsessing over how something would be accomplished was actually unbelief working in my life.
Since that time I’ve been challenged to another level of faith and obedience. When things are not going as planned, I obsess. That is, I try to figure out what I need to do to work it out. In my mind I will come up with several scenarios that will work out. For instance, if I’m on a missions trip in between flights and my flight is late, I will obsess about all the scenarios of what could happen with my connecting flight, and what would happen if it was a late arrival when connecting to the next one.
Several years ago I was in the Omo valley in Ethiopia (a very remote area), and we were beginning the journey home the next morning. This area is very mountainous and is prone to flooding. I was awakened early with the sound of pouring rain, a real gulley washer! As I obsessed about what could happen if it flooded and we got stuck (we had to cross several river beds on our journey), the Lord began to deal with me to trust Him instead of obsess over the varying possibilities. I found this behavior was enmeshed into the fabric of my life. The Lord knows how to reach down into the basics of your nature!
Now, I have become constantly aware of the need to depend on the Father through the Word rather than try to figure every problem out alone. He’s turning my obsessing into trusting! I’m more rested and at ease. Sudden changes and challenges are not nearly as threatening. Peace is a constant friend. Life is more of an adventure with the Father taking the lead.
Worry on any level is an exercise in futility. It’s a complete waste of time! Instead of worrying or obsessing, pray the prayer of faith and believe you receive. Then spend time in praise and worship when the worry thoughts of doubt and fear attack. In His presence is fullness of joy, pleasures forevermore. The Father inhabits praise. His joy becomes an hourly strength!
We are in His grasp. Our days are arranged by the Father. Let Him rule you through the Word today! Keep yourself in His care! Underneath you are His Everlasting Arms!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Grace - God's Ability
Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 at 6:56 AM by Pastor Mitch
Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. (Hebrews 4:16 – Amplified).
In my early years of ministry I had an experience with the Lord that changed me forever. Always being tough on myself, I usually felt that the Lord was also tough on me, and that I never really measured up to His desire for perfection. So I struggled with being intimate with the Lord. Don’t misunderstand, I knew I was a child of God through the new birth, but I struggled with really giving Him every part of me. Deep down, I believed that the Father just tolerated me. I’ve since learned that He really loves me and wants to help me with everything in my life.
Here’s a phrase that sums up what He showed me. Faith changes things but Grace changes people. The above verse mentions us going to the throne of grace to obtain what we need from the Father.
Let me give you a new definition of grace that was the catalyst to produce a change in my relating to the Lord. I knew that grace is unmerited favor. In Bible school I learned the acronym to sum up what grace is; God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. But here’s another definition that impacted me. Grace is God’s ability working in me to enable me to do what I can’t do myself!
We can’t change ourselves, and we definitely need a higher ability than our natural strength. That ability is called grace. Grace is for the weak places of your life! Paul was wrestling with the thorn in the flesh in 2 Corinthians 12. This was a demonic attack on His life. And Jesus made a statement to Paul that at first he didn’t understand. He said, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Later Paul was able to say when I’m weak, then I’m strong!
Grace is God doing what you can’t do. It’s His supernatural ability working on the inside of you doing what you just can’t do for yourself. Grace will change you. Faith will change a circumstance, but grace will change you.
Grace comes from the throne of grace. That is, grace is applied through prayer. God’s ability is enabled in you when you call out to Him in your weakness. Jesus, by the grace of God tasted death for every man. Where did He as the God-Man get the strength to bear our spiritual death? It was in the garden of Gethsemane while He prayed!
The Father has grace for your personal weaknesses today. He knows and understands you. Go today to the throne of grace, and receive His ability to do what you just can’t do yourself. His grace will change your weakness into strength!
In my early years of ministry I had an experience with the Lord that changed me forever. Always being tough on myself, I usually felt that the Lord was also tough on me, and that I never really measured up to His desire for perfection. So I struggled with being intimate with the Lord. Don’t misunderstand, I knew I was a child of God through the new birth, but I struggled with really giving Him every part of me. Deep down, I believed that the Father just tolerated me. I’ve since learned that He really loves me and wants to help me with everything in my life.
Here’s a phrase that sums up what He showed me. Faith changes things but Grace changes people. The above verse mentions us going to the throne of grace to obtain what we need from the Father.
Let me give you a new definition of grace that was the catalyst to produce a change in my relating to the Lord. I knew that grace is unmerited favor. In Bible school I learned the acronym to sum up what grace is; God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. But here’s another definition that impacted me. Grace is God’s ability working in me to enable me to do what I can’t do myself!
We can’t change ourselves, and we definitely need a higher ability than our natural strength. That ability is called grace. Grace is for the weak places of your life! Paul was wrestling with the thorn in the flesh in 2 Corinthians 12. This was a demonic attack on His life. And Jesus made a statement to Paul that at first he didn’t understand. He said, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Later Paul was able to say when I’m weak, then I’m strong!
Grace is God doing what you can’t do. It’s His supernatural ability working on the inside of you doing what you just can’t do for yourself. Grace will change you. Faith will change a circumstance, but grace will change you.
Grace comes from the throne of grace. That is, grace is applied through prayer. God’s ability is enabled in you when you call out to Him in your weakness. Jesus, by the grace of God tasted death for every man. Where did He as the God-Man get the strength to bear our spiritual death? It was in the garden of Gethsemane while He prayed!
The Father has grace for your personal weaknesses today. He knows and understands you. Go today to the throne of grace, and receive His ability to do what you just can’t do yourself. His grace will change your weakness into strength!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Giving Reveals the Heart
Posted on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 10:47 AM by Pastor Mitch
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).
A great book I have in my library about giving is The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn. This book is a great encouragement to be a giver. Let me be real here. In my view, there has been a huge imbalance in the message of prosperity in the body of Christ in recent years. This has bothered me deeply. Truth taken to the extreme becomes error. Kenneth Hagin saw the danger of this extreme before he went to be with the Lord, but few listened to him. He wrote a wonderful book to bring balance to the subject of Biblical prosperity when he wrote The Midas Touch. I encourage you to read it!
Our giving reveals our heart. If you want more of a passion for Jesus and for the lost, invest your time and money in the kingdom of God. It’s that simple. It’s the best investment. You can lose an investment made here on earth, but there is more than just compound interest being gained by deposits we make in heaven! And every deposit is guaranteed, not by FDIC but by His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus!
There are no hearses pulling u-haul trailers is an amusing quote from Randy Alcorn. Only what we invest in the kingdom of God will go ahead of us to heaven. As we age, and as we think about the time for us to depart this life, we began to think more and more of the impact we leave, and of what lies ahead of us as we enter heaven. Now is the time to prepare for the future.
I personally have never missed a dime I’ve given away. In fact, giving produces such joy that it breeds the desire to give more frequently.
I believe it was D.L. Moody who said What I spent, I had. What I kept, I lost. What I gave, I have.
Randy Alcorn mentions a tour given to John Wesley by a very wealthy man with a huge estate encompassing a large piece of land. At the end of part of the tour, the wealthy man asked Wesley, Well, what do you think? Wesley’s reply was I think you’re going to have a hard time leaving all this behind.
God blesses us so we in turn can be a blessing. Don’t allow the spirit of mammon to rule your life. Be a giver. Be a blessing. Live to give, and you’ll find that God will supply you with more than enough!
A great book I have in my library about giving is The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn. This book is a great encouragement to be a giver. Let me be real here. In my view, there has been a huge imbalance in the message of prosperity in the body of Christ in recent years. This has bothered me deeply. Truth taken to the extreme becomes error. Kenneth Hagin saw the danger of this extreme before he went to be with the Lord, but few listened to him. He wrote a wonderful book to bring balance to the subject of Biblical prosperity when he wrote The Midas Touch. I encourage you to read it!
Our giving reveals our heart. If you want more of a passion for Jesus and for the lost, invest your time and money in the kingdom of God. It’s that simple. It’s the best investment. You can lose an investment made here on earth, but there is more than just compound interest being gained by deposits we make in heaven! And every deposit is guaranteed, not by FDIC but by His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus!
There are no hearses pulling u-haul trailers is an amusing quote from Randy Alcorn. Only what we invest in the kingdom of God will go ahead of us to heaven. As we age, and as we think about the time for us to depart this life, we began to think more and more of the impact we leave, and of what lies ahead of us as we enter heaven. Now is the time to prepare for the future.
I personally have never missed a dime I’ve given away. In fact, giving produces such joy that it breeds the desire to give more frequently.
I believe it was D.L. Moody who said What I spent, I had. What I kept, I lost. What I gave, I have.
Randy Alcorn mentions a tour given to John Wesley by a very wealthy man with a huge estate encompassing a large piece of land. At the end of part of the tour, the wealthy man asked Wesley, Well, what do you think? Wesley’s reply was I think you’re going to have a hard time leaving all this behind.
God blesses us so we in turn can be a blessing. Don’t allow the spirit of mammon to rule your life. Be a giver. Be a blessing. Live to give, and you’ll find that God will supply you with more than enough!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Shun Hardness
Posted on Friday, May 7, 2010 at 9:14 AM by Pastor Mitch
But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamour of his sin may play on him]. (Heb 3:13-Amplified).
All of us must guard ourselves against the delusions of the three enemies of the Christian life: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Through the years I’ve seen those who were once strong in the Lord fall away into their former sinful lifestyles. It’s a grieving thing to see a precious saint of God become entangled again in bondage.
Backsliding as we call it, is a slow process. It’s the result of the little foxes (Song of Solomon 2:15) that are not dealt with daily. Small compromises eventually produce catastrophic effects. The small crack in the dam will eventually lead to its destruction.
Sin produces hardness. I’ve watched over the years as a seemingly wonderful person suddenly falls into adultery, or alcoholism, or greed, or into a lifestyle of selfishness and lying. But it wasn’t a sudden fall. It took a thousand little compromises to harden the heart to the point that adultery or fornication was no longer a big deal, or to the point that lying becomes a way of life. A callous on the hand is produced by repeated blows.
The key to a strong walk with God is maintaining a sensitive heart to the Father. That means when we’re tempted by whatever, we immediately tell the Lord about what tempts us, and ask for His mercy and grace to help us. And if we yield to any kind of temptation and sin, we immediately repent by confessing the sin and turning away from it. He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse if we’ll only be real and honest.
Another key to a strong walk with God is maintaining fellowship in a local church and with fellow believers. Isolation breeds spiritual weakness and compromise. A coal by itself will lose its heat. Coals bundled together in your grill will stay hot for hours. Every time I’ve seen a believer stop attending church, I know danger is ahead. We need the strength of mentoring and fellowship brought by the sense of community in a local church. And we need the constant exposure to the strong tangible presence of God available when we gather together and to the anointed preaching and teaching of the Word.
If you fail to see a fellow believer in your regular services in your local church, pray for them and then give them a call of encouragement. We need the Word, we need each other, and we need to be real with ourselves before the Father.
The closer we get to the return of Jesus, the more we will need to keep our hearts sensitive to the Father and to each other!
All of us must guard ourselves against the delusions of the three enemies of the Christian life: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Through the years I’ve seen those who were once strong in the Lord fall away into their former sinful lifestyles. It’s a grieving thing to see a precious saint of God become entangled again in bondage.
Backsliding as we call it, is a slow process. It’s the result of the little foxes (Song of Solomon 2:15) that are not dealt with daily. Small compromises eventually produce catastrophic effects. The small crack in the dam will eventually lead to its destruction.
Sin produces hardness. I’ve watched over the years as a seemingly wonderful person suddenly falls into adultery, or alcoholism, or greed, or into a lifestyle of selfishness and lying. But it wasn’t a sudden fall. It took a thousand little compromises to harden the heart to the point that adultery or fornication was no longer a big deal, or to the point that lying becomes a way of life. A callous on the hand is produced by repeated blows.
The key to a strong walk with God is maintaining a sensitive heart to the Father. That means when we’re tempted by whatever, we immediately tell the Lord about what tempts us, and ask for His mercy and grace to help us. And if we yield to any kind of temptation and sin, we immediately repent by confessing the sin and turning away from it. He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse if we’ll only be real and honest.
Another key to a strong walk with God is maintaining fellowship in a local church and with fellow believers. Isolation breeds spiritual weakness and compromise. A coal by itself will lose its heat. Coals bundled together in your grill will stay hot for hours. Every time I’ve seen a believer stop attending church, I know danger is ahead. We need the strength of mentoring and fellowship brought by the sense of community in a local church. And we need the constant exposure to the strong tangible presence of God available when we gather together and to the anointed preaching and teaching of the Word.
If you fail to see a fellow believer in your regular services in your local church, pray for them and then give them a call of encouragement. We need the Word, we need each other, and we need to be real with ourselves before the Father.
The closer we get to the return of Jesus, the more we will need to keep our hearts sensitive to the Father and to each other!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
A Horse, a Mule, a Goat, or a Sheep
Posted on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 9:57 AM by Pastor Mitch
Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you (Psalm 32:9).
The Bible uses animals and their dispositions to illustrate the attitudes we should and shouldn’t have as believers.
A horse is high spirited, and will bolt in a moment’s notice. It’s difficult to be lead if you constantly “jump the gun.” God can’t lead us if we’re in front of Him, so slow down!
A mule is lazy, slow, and stubborn, and can easily get left behind. We must be fervent and diligent in spirit as we serve the Lord. A lazy person is a carnal, body and feeling ruled individual. Be quick to obey the word.
A goat is independent and self-reliant. He wants things his way and in his time frame. When I’m in Ethiopia on missions trips, I regularly see goats tussling in a tug-of-war with boys or men who are seeking to lead them. The goats want to do it their way, at their speed, and offer great resistance.
A sheep is a really dumb, helpless animal that must depend solely upon the shepherd for its care and provision. It has no self-defense against any enemy and can easily wander off the path and get lost. A sheep sticks close to the shepherd and is trained to listen for the shepherd’s voice.
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. He is the great shepherd of the sheep. Jesus is the good shepherd.
All of us at some time or the other display some these characteristics mentioned here. We all at times have run ahead of God in our human, fleshly zeal. I’ve learned some hard life lessons that way. Perhaps we’ve let down our guard and not been diligent to obey, and allowed our flesh to rule us. All of us must keep in check the tendency toward self-reliance and independent living.
The best we can do is give up our fleshly right to control our lives and make our own way, and daily yield our will to the will of the Father who all things together for our good and His glory. To be dependent on God and His word, we must be willing to humble ourselves and assume the attitude of a sheep towards its shepherd. It’s the best way, the most cared for way, and the hardest on the flesh!
Jesus became the Lamb of God, denoting total yieldedness. What we you allow yourself to be; a horse, a mule, a goat, or a humble sheep. Can you hear His voice calling you?
The Bible uses animals and their dispositions to illustrate the attitudes we should and shouldn’t have as believers.
A horse is high spirited, and will bolt in a moment’s notice. It’s difficult to be lead if you constantly “jump the gun.” God can’t lead us if we’re in front of Him, so slow down!
A mule is lazy, slow, and stubborn, and can easily get left behind. We must be fervent and diligent in spirit as we serve the Lord. A lazy person is a carnal, body and feeling ruled individual. Be quick to obey the word.
A goat is independent and self-reliant. He wants things his way and in his time frame. When I’m in Ethiopia on missions trips, I regularly see goats tussling in a tug-of-war with boys or men who are seeking to lead them. The goats want to do it their way, at their speed, and offer great resistance.
A sheep is a really dumb, helpless animal that must depend solely upon the shepherd for its care and provision. It has no self-defense against any enemy and can easily wander off the path and get lost. A sheep sticks close to the shepherd and is trained to listen for the shepherd’s voice.
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. He is the great shepherd of the sheep. Jesus is the good shepherd.
All of us at some time or the other display some these characteristics mentioned here. We all at times have run ahead of God in our human, fleshly zeal. I’ve learned some hard life lessons that way. Perhaps we’ve let down our guard and not been diligent to obey, and allowed our flesh to rule us. All of us must keep in check the tendency toward self-reliance and independent living.
The best we can do is give up our fleshly right to control our lives and make our own way, and daily yield our will to the will of the Father who all things together for our good and His glory. To be dependent on God and His word, we must be willing to humble ourselves and assume the attitude of a sheep towards its shepherd. It’s the best way, the most cared for way, and the hardest on the flesh!
Jesus became the Lamb of God, denoting total yieldedness. What we you allow yourself to be; a horse, a mule, a goat, or a humble sheep. Can you hear His voice calling you?
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
True Independence
Posted on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 8:23 AM by Pastor Mitch
No, I have learned in whatever condition I am, to be independent of circumstances. I am schooled to bear the depths of poverty; I am schooled to bear abundance. In life as a whole, and all its circumstances, I have mastered the secret of living – how to be the same amidst repletion and starvation, amidst abundance and privation. I am equal to every lot through the help of Him who gives me inward strength. (Philippians 4:11).
The less we are ruled by circumstances, the more spiritually mature we are. Babies whine and cry when they don’t get their way. As we mature, we learn to handle conflict and difficulty, and learn how go with the flow. That’s not easy if we’re mostly motivated by the flesh.
Real spirituality is allowing the Word to rule us from the inside out. Being Word conscious keeps us from being circumstance led. Walking in the spirit keeps us from yielding to the flesh. And walking in the spirit is really allowing the word to gain the ascendancy over our minds, emotions, and will.
The human spirit is amazing. It is capable of being developed just as a body builder develops and hones his muscles. The first step of course is the new birth. Then, we must begin the process of renewing our minds with the word of God.
Then, we must make the decision to act on the word throughout the day instead of acting on circumstances and letting them get the advantage. We learn to refuse to allow emotions to control us.
So a spiritually mature person can be full of joy when needs seem to be unmet, when outward circumstances are cutting and difficult. That’s because he’s not allowing outward things to control him, he’s letting his human spirit through the word govern his responses. This should be the goal of our Christian life.
When you live this way, everyday is an adventure. The above verse has been like a special friend to me over the years. This is one of my goals in life, to get to the point that nothing moves me. Hard places become testimonies to the grace and faithfulness of God. They become places to prove that the Word of God is true.
Uncomfortable circumstances become a challenge that must be overcome; much like a mountain climber must conquer that foreboding height. Challenges become an inspiration to succeed.
Life is a school. We’re learning to live as Jesus lived when we refuse to be changed by outward conditions. Let’s be independent of circumstances and dependent on the Word today. Let’s grow up!
The less we are ruled by circumstances, the more spiritually mature we are. Babies whine and cry when they don’t get their way. As we mature, we learn to handle conflict and difficulty, and learn how go with the flow. That’s not easy if we’re mostly motivated by the flesh.
Real spirituality is allowing the Word to rule us from the inside out. Being Word conscious keeps us from being circumstance led. Walking in the spirit keeps us from yielding to the flesh. And walking in the spirit is really allowing the word to gain the ascendancy over our minds, emotions, and will.
The human spirit is amazing. It is capable of being developed just as a body builder develops and hones his muscles. The first step of course is the new birth. Then, we must begin the process of renewing our minds with the word of God.
Then, we must make the decision to act on the word throughout the day instead of acting on circumstances and letting them get the advantage. We learn to refuse to allow emotions to control us.
So a spiritually mature person can be full of joy when needs seem to be unmet, when outward circumstances are cutting and difficult. That’s because he’s not allowing outward things to control him, he’s letting his human spirit through the word govern his responses. This should be the goal of our Christian life.
When you live this way, everyday is an adventure. The above verse has been like a special friend to me over the years. This is one of my goals in life, to get to the point that nothing moves me. Hard places become testimonies to the grace and faithfulness of God. They become places to prove that the Word of God is true.
Uncomfortable circumstances become a challenge that must be overcome; much like a mountain climber must conquer that foreboding height. Challenges become an inspiration to succeed.
Life is a school. We’re learning to live as Jesus lived when we refuse to be changed by outward conditions. Let’s be independent of circumstances and dependent on the Word today. Let’s grow up!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Love Confronts
Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 5:03 AM by Pastor Mitch
Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful (Proverbs 27:5-6).
Many people think that if you walk in love, you’re always full of joy and acceptance of everybody and everything around you. Well, those who walk in love are full of joy, but they don’t necessarily accept everything! Love does have a sweet side, but the agape love placed in a believer’s heart by the Holy Spirit also has a confrontational side to it!
Peter had just announced by Holy Spirit revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. And Jesus commended him for his honest confession. But just a moment later Jesus looked at Peter and said get behind Me Satan!
Jesus loved the crowds by preaching truth and healing the sick. But when approached by questioning Pharisees, He called them hypocrites and white washed tombs full of dead men’s bones. Talk about a rebuke!
When we walk in love and are led by the Spirit, there will be times that He will direct us to lovingly confront a situation that is bringing or may eventually bring harm. Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is challenge the person whose actions and choices are hurting others. The alcoholic or drug addicted husband and father who acts irresponsibly and harms the family in so many ways needs loving confrontation. The person sowing malicious remarks about others needs loving confrontation. The list is endless of life issues that need to be confronted rather than ignored.
One attribute of agape love found in 1 Corinthians 13:6 is that love does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth. One Bible expositor says about this verse that love happily stands on the side of truth. Love isn’t silent about unfair actions that hurt others.
Love is silent when persecuted personally. When someone’s actions are unkind and selfish, a loving person will take no account of the evil done to them, and will pay no attention to a suffered wrong (Amplified – 1 Corinthians 13:5).
The difference is when others are hurt by a person’s irresponsible or selfish behavior, love will confront. He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue (Proverbs 28:23).
This doesn’t mean that we assume a Gestapo personality. We certainly don’t need to take over the Holy Spirit’s job of dealing with us when we get off track!
But there is a place for loving confrontation. Don’t run from this. When nudged by the Spirit of God, pray and obey in the tough situations that need to be dealt with. The outcome may save a person from ruin.
Many people think that if you walk in love, you’re always full of joy and acceptance of everybody and everything around you. Well, those who walk in love are full of joy, but they don’t necessarily accept everything! Love does have a sweet side, but the agape love placed in a believer’s heart by the Holy Spirit also has a confrontational side to it!
Peter had just announced by Holy Spirit revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. And Jesus commended him for his honest confession. But just a moment later Jesus looked at Peter and said get behind Me Satan!
Jesus loved the crowds by preaching truth and healing the sick. But when approached by questioning Pharisees, He called them hypocrites and white washed tombs full of dead men’s bones. Talk about a rebuke!
When we walk in love and are led by the Spirit, there will be times that He will direct us to lovingly confront a situation that is bringing or may eventually bring harm. Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is challenge the person whose actions and choices are hurting others. The alcoholic or drug addicted husband and father who acts irresponsibly and harms the family in so many ways needs loving confrontation. The person sowing malicious remarks about others needs loving confrontation. The list is endless of life issues that need to be confronted rather than ignored.
One attribute of agape love found in 1 Corinthians 13:6 is that love does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth. One Bible expositor says about this verse that love happily stands on the side of truth. Love isn’t silent about unfair actions that hurt others.
Love is silent when persecuted personally. When someone’s actions are unkind and selfish, a loving person will take no account of the evil done to them, and will pay no attention to a suffered wrong (Amplified – 1 Corinthians 13:5).
The difference is when others are hurt by a person’s irresponsible or selfish behavior, love will confront. He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue (Proverbs 28:23).
This doesn’t mean that we assume a Gestapo personality. We certainly don’t need to take over the Holy Spirit’s job of dealing with us when we get off track!
But there is a place for loving confrontation. Don’t run from this. When nudged by the Spirit of God, pray and obey in the tough situations that need to be dealt with. The outcome may save a person from ruin.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Be Faithful
Posted on Monday, May 3, 2010 at 9:08 AM by Pastor Mitch
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry (1 Timothy 1:12).
You can be taught a skill in life. Abilities can be acquired through study and diligence in a certain discipline. But nobody can teach you character. Character is something that only you can develop. Faithfulness is a character issue, and is a quality that can take you right into the perfect will of the Father for your life.
For me, I knew that God had called me into ministry. But He didn’t tell me what kind of ministry, or even how to pursue what He wanted. I learned that faithfulness is top priority with the Father. And to find His purposes for life and ministry, I learned to pursue being faithful above all else.
After graduating from Bible School, the Lord led me to be faithful in my local church. No one asked me to do anything. I just wanted to be a blessing, so I looked for an opportunity to help out weekly in my local church. To begin with, I helped prepare for weekly services by assisting the maintenance crew as they set up 1200 chairs twice a week. It was grueling work. There was no spotlight or pat on the back. I just had a heart wanting to be faithful to the Father in some way.
I was eventually hired as part of the church maintenance staff, and later on joined the pastoral team of the church assisting the pastor in counseling. The door opener was faithfulness. Eventually, that same faithfulness opened up the pastoral role the Father had called me to when He first placed ministry in my heart as a teenager.
At every level, the Father looks for faithfulness before promotion. Don’t try to make your own way. Prove your character by being a faithful person at whatever lever you are in life right now.
The faithful abound with blessings. Those that are faithful in the small tasks will most likely be faithful in the larger responsibilities. Seek to be faithful today.
Tomorrows opportunities are opened by the faithful deeds and the faithful attitudes you sow today.
You can be taught a skill in life. Abilities can be acquired through study and diligence in a certain discipline. But nobody can teach you character. Character is something that only you can develop. Faithfulness is a character issue, and is a quality that can take you right into the perfect will of the Father for your life.
For me, I knew that God had called me into ministry. But He didn’t tell me what kind of ministry, or even how to pursue what He wanted. I learned that faithfulness is top priority with the Father. And to find His purposes for life and ministry, I learned to pursue being faithful above all else.
After graduating from Bible School, the Lord led me to be faithful in my local church. No one asked me to do anything. I just wanted to be a blessing, so I looked for an opportunity to help out weekly in my local church. To begin with, I helped prepare for weekly services by assisting the maintenance crew as they set up 1200 chairs twice a week. It was grueling work. There was no spotlight or pat on the back. I just had a heart wanting to be faithful to the Father in some way.
I was eventually hired as part of the church maintenance staff, and later on joined the pastoral team of the church assisting the pastor in counseling. The door opener was faithfulness. Eventually, that same faithfulness opened up the pastoral role the Father had called me to when He first placed ministry in my heart as a teenager.
At every level, the Father looks for faithfulness before promotion. Don’t try to make your own way. Prove your character by being a faithful person at whatever lever you are in life right now.
The faithful abound with blessings. Those that are faithful in the small tasks will most likely be faithful in the larger responsibilities. Seek to be faithful today.
Tomorrows opportunities are opened by the faithful deeds and the faithful attitudes you sow today.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Prayer Results
Posted on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 12:23 PM by Pastor Mitch
In yesterday’s blog, I discussed three principles to be used in praying for the unsaved. Today, I want to share from my own life an example of the effectiveness of praying this way.
While I was attending Bible School, I worked as night manager overseeing the crew that restocked a grocery store for the next day’s business. I began to pray for one of my workers. He would come to work under the influence of drugs and I knew his life would deteriorate if he didn’t change. I begin to pray for the Lord to draw him to Himself, and for a strong desire for spiritual things to come upon him. I prayed that he would think about his need for Jesus and for change in his life while he was reading the paper in the morning; when he woke up during his sleep during the day, and that he would have a desire for God and would feel out of place while he was in the bars that he frequented. I also commanded Satan to stop blinding his mind to the truth of God’s Word.
As weeks went by he began to ask me about the Bible school I attended and began to pepper me with all sorts of questions about the Bible and my relationship with Jesus. I related to him how Jesus set me free from drug use and filled my life with indescribable peace. I continued to pray for spiritual desire to rise in him, and for the Father to use me and others as laborers in his life.
One day, in the back room of the store right in front of the cardboard bailing machine, I led this young man to Jesus. The next week I brought him to church with me and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He’s been with Jesus ever since that day back in 1980, and presently attends my former church there in Tulsa.
After this young man was saved, he told me something that got my attention and showed me the awesome power of prayer. He told me that before he was saved, he began to feel dissatisfied with his life. He said he would leave work after talking to me and would think about his need for Jesus while he read the newspaper in the morning. He told me that he would wake up from sleep during the day (we worked nights) and would think about his need for Jesus. Things I would tell him about the Bible and Jesus would filter through his mind regularly.
He also told me that while he was in the bars drinking, he began to feel out of place and felt as though he should leave. These thoughts throughout the day and during his visits to the bars happened week after week. And what he said coincided exactly with how I prayed!
The Lord has used this episode in September of 1980 to stir prayer passion in me year after year. Prayer for the unsaved is very effective if you’ll be specific and not quit! I encourage you to begin to pray regularly for your unsaved friends and family members. Use the three principles of John 6:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4; and Matthew 9:37-38 as you pray (see yesterday’s blog).Watch as the Lord works miracles in the lives of those around you.
While I was attending Bible School, I worked as night manager overseeing the crew that restocked a grocery store for the next day’s business. I began to pray for one of my workers. He would come to work under the influence of drugs and I knew his life would deteriorate if he didn’t change. I begin to pray for the Lord to draw him to Himself, and for a strong desire for spiritual things to come upon him. I prayed that he would think about his need for Jesus and for change in his life while he was reading the paper in the morning; when he woke up during his sleep during the day, and that he would have a desire for God and would feel out of place while he was in the bars that he frequented. I also commanded Satan to stop blinding his mind to the truth of God’s Word.
As weeks went by he began to ask me about the Bible school I attended and began to pepper me with all sorts of questions about the Bible and my relationship with Jesus. I related to him how Jesus set me free from drug use and filled my life with indescribable peace. I continued to pray for spiritual desire to rise in him, and for the Father to use me and others as laborers in his life.
One day, in the back room of the store right in front of the cardboard bailing machine, I led this young man to Jesus. The next week I brought him to church with me and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He’s been with Jesus ever since that day back in 1980, and presently attends my former church there in Tulsa.
After this young man was saved, he told me something that got my attention and showed me the awesome power of prayer. He told me that before he was saved, he began to feel dissatisfied with his life. He said he would leave work after talking to me and would think about his need for Jesus while he read the newspaper in the morning. He told me that he would wake up from sleep during the day (we worked nights) and would think about his need for Jesus. Things I would tell him about the Bible and Jesus would filter through his mind regularly.
He also told me that while he was in the bars drinking, he began to feel out of place and felt as though he should leave. These thoughts throughout the day and during his visits to the bars happened week after week. And what he said coincided exactly with how I prayed!
The Lord has used this episode in September of 1980 to stir prayer passion in me year after year. Prayer for the unsaved is very effective if you’ll be specific and not quit! I encourage you to begin to pray regularly for your unsaved friends and family members. Use the three principles of John 6:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4; and Matthew 9:37-38 as you pray (see yesterday’s blog).Watch as the Lord works miracles in the lives of those around you.
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