Exodus 36:6-7 10/30/2018*

^“Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.”

When is the last time your church issued a restraining order to stop you from giving? …

The Israelites were so excited about the Sanctuary that Moses had to tell them to stop giving to the building fund. That seems to be very different than the “marketing campaigns” run by many churches today. 

Why is that?

No doubt there are some churches with greedy leaders that simply always want more…but much of the problem is that we, the members, have become complacent and always want to give less. 

What would happen if we changed our focus and became so enthusiastic about the work of the Kingdom that we had to be restrained from giving our money, our energy, and our time? 

If we were as excited about the sanctuary as Moses’ congregation was what would the church look like today? 

The children’s ministry would have to ask people to stop volunteering to work the nursery. We would have to partner with retirement homes to find enough widows for all those who wanted care for them. And the need for pledge drives and building campaigns would disappear.

In other words, the Church would look like it was intended to look…a giving, growing, vibrant organization that blesses those around it with the gospel.

So, you have two choices…

1.  You can complain that the leadership in your church is too greedy, and that others don’t give enough…. or…

2.  You can give and serve…. let God use your resources to further His Kingdom

This Sunday when you go to church, don’t go to be catered to, or to be entertained. 

This Sunday go on a recon mission and find what needs to be done at your church. What area needs funds to grow, what department needs volunteers? … How can you help?

Find a need that you have the ability to fill. Then take care of it…and do it big. Try to out give God…you can’t … but you will be blessed for trying. 

Since spreading the Gospel is the mission of the church, there is nothing more worthy of your effort and investment.

"You can always give without loving, but you can never love without giving."

- Amy Carmichael

Matthew 15:14 10/23/2018*

“Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Jesus is referring to the religious leaders of the day who spoke of righteousness yet walked in sin.  He called them blind guides because their sin had blocked their vision and led them into dangerous areas… what about you?... Has your spiritual vision led you into, or out of sin?

We love to talk about grace, but what about repentance and obedience? 

If you encourage repentance to someone controlled by sin, they will not only disagree with you, they won’t even understand what your saying.  They are slaves to sin…it’s not that they don’t agree…they don’t see it. They are blind to their own condition.

Sin is darkness.  It disguises itself as freedom as it slips the chains of slavery onto its prisoner… if you doubt that look around.

We are surrounded by people publicly celebrating their liberty, while privately living the hellish torment of addiction and despair. Openly professing freedom, while secretly living in bondage.

Suggesting repentance of sin may be offensive to some, but it is the only redemption available to those living in chains.  Preaching repentance, is preaching grace.

Grace is what brings light to your darkness - it is what breaks the chains of sin and allows you to walk away.

Don’t just talk about grace, use it … How foolish would it be to sit locked in a dungeon with the key in your pocket? ... Use grace to leave your dark prison cell and walk in the light of forgiveness and freedom.

God’s grace is not just to make you feel better…it is to clear your vision, change your life, and set you free.

“Sin is to the mind; what Fog is to the highway” - Charles Stanley

Ephesians 6:12 10/16/2018*

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

The first step in winning a war is identifying the enemy.

Paul is pointing out to the Ephesian Christians who the enemy is not… the enemy is not their neighbors … not those who don’t believe.  They may appear to be the adversary, but they are in fact being controlled by a much more insidious foe. This verse says we must focus our attack on the real opponent.  

In medicine we don’t treat an illness by killing the person who has it…we identify the pathogen and attack it specifically. The same amount of care is taken in not damaging the patient, as is taken in destroying the offending microbe.  This is how we must target and attack sin

It seems we have lost this truth in our society today. 

Instead, we employ a “scorched earth” mentality and eliminate with great hostility anyone who gives the slightest hint of disagreement. The problem is we attack the person not the powers that have blinded them. By destroying the host, we do the job of the disease, instead of curing it.

Our enemy is spiritual.  It blinds people, it lies to people, it confuses people. Its stated objective is to steal, kill, and destroy. 

We cannot fight this foe by stealing people’s self-worth, killing their value, and destroying their hope. Our fight is not against them, and our aggression must not be directed at them.

The remedy for the illness is to “speak the truth in love”, and the antidote must be applied precisely to be effective. 

If you speak the truth without love it will be rejected.

If you water down the truth it is no longer truth - and allowing people to comfortably continue toward their own destruction is not love.

So, you must know who you are fighting…and know who you are not.  Attack the sin not the sinner.  Don’t tolerate the sickness… but don’t kill the patient.

There are powers in this dark world that seek to destroy us…don’t help them. 

Go on a “seek and destroy” mission today.  Seek and love the lost … and destroy the enemy who has them blinded.

"Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies? … hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Acts 9:13-15 10/9/2018*

“Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine…”

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me…. but maybe not so much you.

God had just told Ananias to go help Paul.  But Paul was the leader of the group responsible for rounding up, imprisoning, and killing God’s people. He was their “Hitler”, and not shy about his commitment to wiping out all “Christ followers”.

So naturally Ananias assumed (as I probably would have) that someone needed to explain to God that Paul did not deserve assistance.

Isn’t it amazing how clearly, we see the power of grace when it is offered to us - yet question its life altering power when it is applied to others.

Have you ever felt the need to enlighten God when He calls you to witness to someone you deem unworthy? 

Are there times when you think people of the opposite political party are undeserving of the mercy of Christ?  

Would you say the gospel just slightly changes people, so it shouldn’t be wasted on those who are deep in sin?

When God hears the hesitation in Ananias’ voice His answer is “Go” … His answer to you is the same.   

The price of Paul’s redemption for his murderous, attacks on Christians was a bloody cross on Calvary. The price of your sin is identical.

You have been healed of a terminal illness… yet you hesitate to communicate with others because they are sick?  Look in the mirror of your past. You will see the same symptoms in your old life that you use to disqualify others today.

Go tell them what God said! 

That person God has put on your heart may be a chosen vessel, and your obedience could change history.  You tell them the truth and leave the results in God’s hands.

The Lord is not interested in your opinion of His plan, or the potential you see in others…He is interested in your obedience….

So, when God says “go tell them about me”…. go!

If your Gospel isn't touching others, it hasn't touched you!
--Curry R. Blake

Luke 15:21-22 10/2/2018*

“The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet”

The prodigal son had rehearsed his speech… he believed his actions had forfeited any right to be considered a family member, so he was going home to simply try to get a job.

While that sounds humble…it is illogical. The flaw in his logic was to believe he could do something, to lose the thing he had done nothing to gain…his sonship.

He had forgotten that his actions could not impact his lineage. The boy had focused on his depraved condition…but the Father as always, had focused on his position as His son.

So, when the prodigal began his speech, the father interrupted him and commanded that his son be clothed and treated in a way worthy of his position as child of the father.

This is our story.

We have all believed that somehow, we have forfeited our sonship because we fail.

We come to God guarded, ready to negotiate some lesser relationship because we have sinned ….and in the middle of our speech God interrupts us… He says bring the robe and a ring…start preparations for the celebration…my child is back, and my heart is overjoyed at his return.

When the son comes home, the father in this story forgives his failures…but our story has one more element…The Cross.  

Our Father not only forgives but removes our failures. He covers them and remembers them no more…it is as though they never happened.

The “great lie” is that God forgives you, but He’s mad about it…. The truth is He not only forgives you, but covers, removes, and forgets your sin. He gives you His holiness, so your relationship with Him will be without blemish.

God is watching…just waiting for you to turn around. He will run to meet you.

Not with a list of failures, but with a robe and a ring worthy of your position as His son.  Stop running the wrong direction and return to your Father who has already paid your debts and erased your failures.

He is not interested in your speech…He’s interested in your heart. Just, turn around and come home.

"No matter how far wrong you've gone, you can always turn around."
  - Anonymous