Do You Believe It?

"WHAT God did makes sense. It makes sense that Jesus would be our sacrifice because a sacrifice was needed to justify man's presence before God. ... However, WHY God did it is absolutely absurd. When one leaves the method and examines the motive, the carefully stacked blocks of logic begin to tumble. That type of love isn't logical; it can't be neatly outlined in a sermon or explained in a term paper. ... It IS inexplicable. It doesn't have a drop of logic nor a thread of rationality. And yet, it is that very irrationality that gives the gospel its greatest defense. For only God could love like that." (Max Lucado)

The message of the Gospel provides us the opportunity to believe that God loves us so much that He willfully chooses to forgive us of our sins. Or we can choose to reject this message due to the fact that we can not discern a logical answer to the question of "WHY would He do that for me?" The words of Max Lucado stirred my heart this morning. I have been preaching the message of the Gospel since 1971 and I still struggle with the "WHY." I know the story of Christ that we find in the pages of the Bible but I soon remember the distance that I once had between myself and God and I wonder "Why would He love me?" But then I soon realize that the same Bible declares that "God is love" and I soon begin to realize that it is His love for me that opens the door of salvation for me as well as for my fellow human beings. 

Have you ever struggled with the question; "Why would God love me?" Do you know of someone today who is struggling with that same question? That question is only answered as we move from a logical approach to the situation and move into a faith approach. Faith causes us to accept the fact that Christ died on the cross for every human being that has lived, will live or is presently living in this world. Logic will never be able to put its hands around this display of love. But faith operating in the strength of humility will bring us to Christ with a heart of genuine repentance. It is at this moment that we are able to receive the fullness of the love of God into our lives and it is at this moment that we are adopted in the family of God with the spiritual designation of either son or daughter. 

Oh, what a glorious revelation that the love of God brings into our lives. Take a moment and rejoice in the fact that God loves you!! Take a moment and reflect on the moment that you asked Christ to forgive you!! Take a moment and recommit your life to Christ and offer yourself to Him as a willing servant that will live out your life through the power of Grace!!

Season of Seeking

Psalm 63:1, "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water." (NKJV)

The Psalmist David expressed many wonderful desires that his heart felt toward God. One of them referenced his thirst for more of God in His life. Each of us needs to have that same desire or passion for more of God in our lives. The enemy has many weapons in his arsenal that he uses against us. We even walk through "dry places" or even "dry seasons" in which God seems very distant. But the song says "He is as close as the mention of His name..." The Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians that the "Lord is at hand." God is near even when we walk through those dry seasons and He just waits for us to call on His presence to assist us at that time on our journey.

I believe that we are living in a "Season of Seeking." The presence of God is calling for us to draw nearer to Him. He understands the challenges and obstacles that each of us face BUT He is the Source for all of the resources that we need to overcome those obstacles and challenges. We just need to be bold, brave, courageous and call on Him. He will provide the strength that we need.

Are we willing to seek God with all of our heart? He is awaiting our response!!!

What will be Our RESPONSE

The past few weeks have been very challenging from a "pastoral" point of view. People that I know, love and care about are facing some difficult situations. But it is also true that during those moments God reveals His strength, might and power. He ministers to our weaknesses and provides His strength as a replacement. That is not a bad trade for any of us. I exchange my weaknesses for His strength. I believe that I will come out a winner every time when I participate in that trade. I would like to share a portion of our note that I sent to our congregation today.

Isaiah 26:4, "Trust in the Lord forever, For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength." (NKJV)

I wanted to take this opportunity to encourage you today. I don't know all that you are facing but I do know about the True and Living God and I know that He is interested in your life today. Both of the services on Sunday reminded us about the strength of God. I would encourage you to read Isaiah 40:25-31 (I especially enjoyed the New Living Translation of this passage) at your convenience. I believe this passage of the Word of God will release encouragement into your heart today.

I truly sense that God is at work in our community of believers. Many of us are choosing to respond to the call from God. You may say, "Pastor what is that call from God?" I believe that much of the call it is defined in James 4:8a, " Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." (NKJV) God is calling for a response but He has promised to respond to our response to Him. WOW!!! Isn't that an awesome promise from the Lord who is our "everlasting strength." Whatever you or you family needs is found in Him!!!

Will you take time to respond to God today?

Spiritual Direction

I would like to share a portion of the message that I shared this past Sunday at New River. I fully believe that each of us need to carefully examine the direction of our spiritual life. There are many distractions in our world which seek to move us off of the right course but we have the Word of God to which we can turn for truth and clarity for our lives. 

Psalm 119:129-136: “Your testimonies (statutes) are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them.  ¹³⁰ The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.  ¹³¹ I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. ¹³² Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.  ¹³³ Direct (order, guide) my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.  ¹³⁴ Redeem (ransom) me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts.  ¹³⁵ Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes.  ¹³⁶ Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law.” (NKJV)

J. Stowell In the book Fan the Flame shares the following inspiration about the word “heart” that we so often read in the Bible.    "Heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person.   It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide.   It has been described as ‘the place of conscious and decisive spiritual activity,’ ‘the comprehensive term for a person as a whole; his feelings, desires, passions, thought, understanding and will,’ and ‘the center of a person.   It is the place to which God turns to and begins His work in our lives.’" (Fan the Flame, J. Stowell, Moody, 1986, p.13   

It is no wonder that the enemy of our soul desires to control our heart, the seat of our emotions.   He can control my life if he can control my heart.   That is one of the reasons that we must discover the right or correct directions as we travel the road of life. 

Spiritual Guidance, Continued

Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (NKJV)

Unfortunately there are many people in our world who are living shipwrecked lives because of a defective compass.   The Bible which is the Word of God is the only reliable spiritual compass that we can count on for accurate and precise directions that enable us to navigate the treacherous waters of everyday life with confidence.  Each of us needs to remember the words of Paul in Romans 10:17, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

The enemy of your soul and my soul does not want me to trust the Word of God.   We can always count on what it says.   The enemy seeks to create an environment in which we are constantly doubting God.   When a storm of a life hits, why do we tend to turn to fear instead of faith?   It is during those moments that we take a fresh look at our “spiritual compass” and realize that the Word of God will lead us through the storm.

You may have heard the familiar old Chinese saying, “There is a good dog and a bad dog fighting within each of us.   The one that is going to win is the one we feed the most.”   The same is true when it comes to faith and doubt. We have to ask ourselves this question today; "What am I feeding my soul?" We must be careful to feed our souls the Word of God and allow the Word of God to direct our path and direct the daily decisions that we make. 

Spiritual Guidance

Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (NLT)

I truly believe that it does matter about the source of your and my spiritual influence. We need to be careful and examine the source of "truth" on which we are relying to lead us in the right direction. There are many sources of what is referred to as "truth" in our modern world but we can confidently put our hope, faith and trust in the Word of God. I would like to share a story that I recently read. This story reminds us of the importance of making sure that we have the right source of spiritual direction in our lives.

In 1804, the British ship HMS Apollo was leading a convoy of 69 merchant vessels to the West Indies on a route that put them parallel to the coasts of Spain and Portugal, about a hundred miles from land.   A storm arose on Sunday, April 1.   Even though it was April Fools’ Day, the captain was unconcerned because his compass assured him he was well into open sea. But in the wee hours of the morning, the ship wrecked against the jagged rocks of the coastline.

Jolted from their hammocks, the crew ran to their posts and tried to save the ship from the cold sea.   The waves crashed over the hull, flooding the ship from above amid the screams of shipmen still below.

As night gave way to dawn, the surviving crew were amazed to find themselves not a hundred miles from land, but wrecked against the Portuguese coast, which was littered with the debris from many of the other ships in their convoy.   Of the sixty-nine vessels traveling with HMS Apollo, forty were wrecked, some with total loss of life.   It was one of the greatest disasters in the history of British maritime shipping.

The captain of HMS Apollo faced court-martial, but he was acquitted when it was learned that the fault lay not with him - but with the ship’s compass.

Because the Apollo had taken on a large iron tank, the magnetism of the compass was thrown off just a little - just four degrees - and the error accumulated day after day.   As leader of the convoy, the captain had unwittingly led the others to shipwreck because his compass was defective.

Here is a simple but challenging question that each of us need to ask ourselves. Is the Bible the "spiritual compass" of my life?

Belonging to Christ

Philippians 2:1-2, "Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose." (NLT)

The words "belonging to Christ" grabbed my attention this morning as I was reading from the Bible. Isn't it a blessing to be included in that category of people? We often talk about civic clubs with which we are connected. There are people who are very proud to be counted as members of "fan clubs" of certain actors or actresses. But "belonging to Christ" carries with it many perks that the other afore mentioned clubs can not bring.

Paul refers to the "comfort of His love." Paul talks about the fellowship that the Spirit provides for the family of God.  Paul also reminds us that "belonging to Christ" also brings a tenderness and deep sense of compassion into our hearts. I am truly thankful that I am not embarrassed to declare my allegiance to Christ. A line from a song says, "He ain't never done me nothing but good." Once more today I can declare that God is a good God and that I am very thankful to be identified as a child of God.

"Belonging to Christ" opens the door for spiritual unity, spiritual agreement and spiritual cooperation within the Body of Christ. We can come together for the common cause and goal of worshiping and exalting Jesus Christ. We can come together for the common cause and purpose of promoting and sharing the Good News of the Gospel. We can come together with a common desire and call to love one another and encourage one another as we travel the road called life. We can also unite our gifts, talents, abilities and knowledge so that many "good and wholesome" things are accomplished for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

Let me say it one more time, "I am thankful that I belong to God." I am honored to carry His name in my life and I am blessed to be associated with Him and His family business (reaching the lost and hurting in our world).