Deuteronomy 31:6-8 1/25/2022*

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

We are halfway through the life plan of Faith, Love, Wisdom, Courage, Peace, and Joy.

Today’s word is “Courage”, which is challenging if you have not mastered the first three components. However, if you are walking in faith, love, and wisdom it will produce stability and understanding which eliminates fear in your life. 

God is never frightened or anxious, and He does not expect us to be either. Scripture says, “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” That is our source of courage … not our own power, but the strength of Christ who lives in us. 

Any other type of bravery is a paper tiger. Like a Chihuahua barking at a Doberman – what some call courage, is simply fear hiding in bravado. 

True courage is quiet and calm. It does not ignore danger it simply sees it in context. While we may feel fear – it is dwarfed by the power of God and His promise to never leave us. Bravery is focusing on His power and promise – instead of our problem.

Not acknowledging danger is foolishness. But a man who realizes that fear is not from God – can disregard the dread and continue down the path God has set before him. 

There is no need to search the web for reassurance. We don’t require others to agree with us. The source of our courage comes from the faith we have in God who loves us and is in complete control. 

Everything I face today must pass through God’s hands before it gets to me.  If I believe that, no response other than courage makes sense.

Courage is not a feeling; it is a decision. You choose to trust God and share the gospel. Courage is not ordinary, and it will make you stand out like a beacon in a dark world of fear and anxiety. 

You have chosen to be called a Christian, but as William Wallace said: “men don’t follow titles, they follow courage”.  So, stand on scripture, and live courageously in the power of God - and men will follow you to Christ.

“You always need divine protection, and believer in Christ, you shall always have it.” – Charles Spurgeon

Proverbs 3:13 1/18/2022*

 “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.”

Our six-word life plan is Faith, Love, Wisdom, Courage, Peace, and Joy. 

We have discussed Faith as the engine of your life, and Love as the fuel. Today let’s look at “wisdom”, which we’ll call your compass.

In sports, even with athletic ability, you need direction. It doesn’t matter how fast you run if you don’t know where you’re going.  Life is the same way – even with faith and love, you need wisdom if you want to know what direction to move. There are two things that facilitate wisdom… improving your stance - and improving your vision.  

The power of an athlete is affected by his footwork.  The power in your life depends on the same. A proper base makes you wise and stable, and the only foundation that provides this is scripture. Your daily strength and steadiness depend on your knowledge of the bible. 

The second component of wisdom is vision.  How often do coaches say, “keep your eye on the ball”?  That’s because focus is crucial in achieving goals. In life if you are preoccupied by material things you will drift off course and be out of position. If you allow the urgent to distract you from the important it is the equivalent of taking your eye off the ball.

Wisdom is the ability to stand on scripture and see the goals God has given you.  Michelangelo said: “The greatest danger is not that our aim is too high, and we miss, but that it is too low, and we reach it.”  Wisdom perfects your aim allowing you to say, “Thy will - not my will.”

So how do you get wisdom?  

Proverbs 2 says, it’s a gift from God. Proverbs 4 says, “Acquire wisdom; And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.” In other words, God will give it to you – but you must pursue it at all costs. 

So, try this…. Proverbs has 31 chapters. That’s one for each day of the month. Pursue wisdom by reading a chapter a day. That’s a five-minute investment, that will have you reading Proverbs twelve times by next year. This will improve your stance and train your eyes, developing a compass that points true north and allows you to know what God expects you to do.

“Wisdom is looking at life from God’s point of view.” –Chuck Swindoll

1 Corinthians 13:1-2 1/11/2022*

“If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

We have been discussing a life plan of pursuing Faith, Love, Wisdom, Courage, Peace, and Joy. 

We established that Faith is the mechanism that allows us to walk with God…But If faith is the engine, then love is the fuel, and the power of the engine is irrelevant without gasoline. 

Today’s passage states that it doesn’t matter how talented, rich, pretty, or popular you are…if you don’t love, it’s worthless. 

God is unimpressed by loveless acts- They are simply irritating noise. Even with positive traits such as eloquence, intelligence, and faithfulness …your efforts are meaningless without love. 

Scripture goes so far as to say if you don’t love- you don’t know God. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  That means, if you don’t love, your salvation could depend on you figuring out why. 

Love is our fuel, our proof, and our identity– it would be difficult to overstate its importance. 

How do you attain love? You fill yourself with its source. 

God is the only source of love in the universe, and He is standing at the door of your heart knocking. The only way to acquire the most powerful force in existence is to open that door and give Christ command of your heart. 

Love does not originate in you…You must decrease, and He must increase (John 3:30). God is love. So, to be more loving there must be less of you, and more of God.

If you give your heart to Christ …He will fill it with love, and it will show.  Love is a power you cannot fake, nor hide…If it is in you - it will splash out on those around you.  

You have been praying for faith, now give yourself over to love…and watch it transform everything you do, from meaningless noise into powerful actions.

“Love is the active, working principle in all true faith. It is its very soul, without which it is dead. Faith works by love.” - Jonathan Edwards

Galatians 3:26-27 1/4/2022*

 “So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

Last week we discussed a life strategy with six words, the first of which was “Faith”. Today let’s talk about why faith is “step one” and is required to please God. (Heb. 11:6)

Galatians explains the process that turns us into children of God. Anything less than accepting Christ’s righteousness as my own, will fail to elevate me to the required holiness. 

The entire plan is a non-starter without faith. You either acquire it or you stop here. Faith is the doorway to the perfection required to commune with Holiness

Thinking that your “religious acts” can earn your entrance is like offering pocket change to the surgeon who saved your life. Not only is it inadequate - it is offensive.

Faith does not fix you; it replaces you.  Faith clothes you in Christ…Your sin replaced by His righteousness. Only then are you able to fellowship with The Father.   So, faith is mandatory for salvation.

But faith also transforms your life. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says… “we live by faith, not by sight.”  That is a game changer. 

We must function differently than non-believers. Our blinders have been removed and now we see with spiritual eyes not just earthly ones… We don’t ignore physical sight, but we don’t depend on it either. We operate according to what we know is true even when we can’t see it.

If you struggle with faith pray for it…Ephesians 2:9 says it is a gift.  

Scripture also acknowledges that at times we wrestle with it …Like the Father of the sick child in Mark chapter 9 who said “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”  Jesus responded to that prayer - so admit your struggle and cry out to God…. Continue requesting and never relent. There is no “Plan B” so pursue it daily.

Faith is not a part of your life - it is your life source. It is your spiritual oxygen, and you will suffocate without it.

Faith is the vehicle God has chosen to save you, change you, and strengthen you. It is not a nice addition to your life…it is the required foundation.

“A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul.” - Charles Spurgeon

Proverbs 19:2 12/28/2021*

 “Desire without knowledge is not good —how much more will hasty feet miss the way!”

Do you have a plan… or just a desire?  You need a plan if you don’t want to miss the mark.

My 2022 plan deals with who I am going to be, not what I am going to do. 

It is comprised of six words which build on each other…. Faith, Love, Wisdom, Courage, Peace, Joy. 

It starts with FAITH…Faith has always been our path to God. Hebrews says it’s impossible to please God without faith. That is a significant statement that we sometimes ignore. Faith comes from God so I must continually pursue it in prayer.

The next ingredient is LOVE… Love identifies me as God’s child. Scripture says anything I do without love is irrelevant. Even great faith without love is meaningless.

Once these foundational pieces are set, I need WISDOM to see God’s plan.  Scripture says if I lack wisdom, it’s because I haven’t asked for it…So I will ask God for the wisdom to know what He wants me to do. 

Knowing what to do is different than doing it… God’s way is not always popular. So, it’ll require COURAGE to stick to His plan. 

Next, I need PEACE. I often have anxiety over problems that have not yet happened. Peace will allow me to stay focused on what is in front of me. Philippians says to stop being anxious and tell God my needs. If I do this, His peace which is beyond comprehension will guard my heart and mind and allow me to deal wisely with issues I face today.  

The final component is JOY. Nehemiah says the Joy of the Lord is my strength. I cannot dispassionately serve God – I must see life from God’s perspective and tackle life Joyfully…Doing so, will produce unstoppable enthusiasm and strength and will attract others to Him. 

So that’s the plan. Pray for FAITH, radiate LOVE, seek WISDOM, COURAGEOUSLY follow where wisdom leads, relax in God’s PEACE, and lean on His JOY.

Post these six words where you’ll be reminded to pray through them every morning.  Go “All In” this year and become a part of the victorious plan of God.

“God’s plan is to make much of the man… Men are God’s method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.” – E.M. Bounds

Luke 2:11-14 12/21/2021*

 “… today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Mankind was lost – We had been given the requirements for righteousness and had failed miserably by rejecting God and rebelling against His law…We had no hope of redemption, and our eternal destiny was set.

Then out of nowhere - Christmas exploded into history.

Can you imagine the panic in the hallways of hell when this baby was born?  Can you fathom the terror that surged through the enemy at this proclamation from a throng of powerful angels?

A heavenly host appeared and said: Today changes everything! 

In that instant history pivoted and God proclaimed that His love would not allow us to get what we deserved…. Since we couldn’t save ourselves – He would save us…So on the first Christmas morning God launched the greatest rescue mission ever undertaken. 

The Commander of the universe sent His Son as a child – to go behind enemy lines, live a life of perfection, die for our sin, and rise again to set us free. 

This birth began the process of turning the jungle back into a garden.  It signaled an end to my slavery to sin, restored the relationship I had forfeited with my creator, and canceled the debt I had accrued. 

Don’t be confused by the commercial hysteria – The holiday we celebrate is an historical event that has nothing to do with Christmas trees and reindeer.  

Christmas was a tactical invasion by The Lord of Host to rescue His children…It provided us a path back to Him.  It restored peace with our maker, and brought hope to this broken world. 

Don’t get so distracted by the hype that you miss the only Christmas gift that matters … “there has been born for YOU a Savior, who is Christ the Lord … Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

“The Son of God became a man, to enable men to become sons of God.” - C.S. Lewis

Deuteronomy 6:5 12/14/2021*

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Are you an alien living here as a foreigner, fully committed to Christ? 

Or are you a local that dabbles in religion?

Because you can’t be both. 

God sent His Son to die for our sin…Centuries before He did - He wrote this verse to make it clear that something that costly can never be a side hustle…Christianity is not a part time job. You are either all in – or not in at all. 

So, what does loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength mean?

Your heart is your engine. – Is it committed to pursuing God at all costs? Is your worship filled with passion, gratitude, and commitment? It should be if you love the Lord your God with all your heart. 

What about your Soul? C.S. Lewis said, “You don’t have a soul, you ARE a soul...”  What a profound statement. Your soul is the essence of who you are…Your soul is what is everlasting and made in the image of God.  So, God expects you to love Him with ALL that you are. Everything in you that matters should be clinging to your Heavenly Father. 

And finally, how do you love God with all your strength?  Your strength is about what you DO every day? Is your energy spent chasing trinkets this world offers, or do you pursue your King? When you are exhausted is it most often because you were battling for lost souls - or chasing temporary fame and fortune?

With all of that in mind, let me ask you again… Are you an alien living in a foreign land fully committed to Christ? Or are you an earthling that dabbles in religion? 

If you don’t like the answer to that question – Change it…The invitation is open, and God has paid your way.  

Abandon all hesitation. Go “all in” with Christ with every part of your heart, your soul, and your strength. You were created for one purpose… to be with God – Anything else is just a distraction.

“If Christ is not all to you, He is nothing to you. He will never go into partnership as a part Savior of men. If He be something He must be everything, and if He be not everything, He is nothing to you.”

 – Charles Spurgeon

1 Kings 13 12/7/2021*

“The old prophet answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (But he was lying to him.) So, the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house.”

There is a difference in listening to men who claim to serve God - and listening to God. 

The prophet lied, proving all can sin …The man of God followed the prophet’s advice – though God had instructed otherwise – and costly consequences followed. 

We must never elevate man’s words above the Word of God.

This principal is reinforced in the New Testament when Berean Jews are praised for their devotion to scripture: “they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Even when listening to the Apostle Paul, they checked the content through existing scripture.

The danger in not doing this, is the temptation to look for agreement instead of direction. We tend to search for sources who encourage us to do what we already want to do. 

There is wisdom in having righteous advisers…but no matter who your advisers are, final confirmation must come from scripture and prayer.

In the gospels Jesus often says, “it is written”. That is the standard – You can read Christian books and devotionals – and they may be good additives to scripture…But the thing that matters, is your knowledge of God’s Word.

You cannot follow what you do not know. And you cannot know what you have not studied. 

Read your bible. Set up non-negotiable daily routines. Learn to ask questions through prayer and find answers in scripture. Study and learn to handle The Word well. Counselors are good – but their only purpose is to help you understand and apply what God has already written in your bible. 

We have the perfect compass. Memorize it – follow it relentlessly – and never entertain advice that conflicts with its guidance, no matter who that advice comes from. 

“What we need as Christians is to be able to feed ourselves.  How many there are who sit helpless, with open mouths, hungry for spiritual things, and the minister must try to feed them, while the Bible is a feast prepared, into which they never venture.” – D.L. Moody

PSALM 139:7-12 11/30/2021*

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take up the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me.”

 This is a passage that completely mystifies us if we delve into it. 

God is incomprehensible. We see Him through a dark glass but even that glimpse is too much for us to grasp. 

You cannot hide from God – He knows where you are…and He is there…. there is no darkness around God – He is light. 

Most things in this life are relative and shifting, but God is not. He is eternal and permanent. 

How amazing is it to be loved by a God like that? A God who sees behind the façade and loves you still. In Jeremiah God says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart”. In other words, you didn’t earn it…

God is omnipresent. He is everywhere…All powerful, omnipotent, omniscient…and any other “omni” word you want to throw in…. You are literally incapable of overestimating His power.

After you recover from trying to comprehend that - throw into the mix that, that same God adores you! … He not only loves you – He likes you…He longs for fellowship with you. He stands knocking at your door. 

He is the perfect Father. It doesn’t matter how far you run or how well you hide…He is already there. Nothing you have done can separate you from Him…Nothing is stronger than the blood of Christ. 

The question asked in this passage is “where can I go from your Spirit?” … The answer is “nowhere”.

What a gift… Once I claim the sacrifice made on my behalf, I am permanently His child… and nothing can separate me from His love. 

Boldly walk out of your door today with confidence in that undeniable truth. The extravagance with which God loves you combined with His incomprehensible power is all you need to face today without blinking.  

“On the whole, God’s love for us is a much safer subject to think about than our love for Him.” C. S. Lewis

Joshua 1:9-11 11/23/2021*

"…Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are going to cross this Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving you…”

God tells His children to be strong and courageous …. Then He says - get ready to move – prepare to go into battle. 

I love talking about being courageous when I am telling other people to do it. But I am not as excited about moving courageously into conflict myself. 

Courage matters when there is a battle – bravery is important when facing danger…. So, as I sit in my easy chair this morning and write these comments – what danger am I willing to face? …What battle am I prepared to wage? God wants me to move – not just talk about moving. 

God is more interested in what we do than what we say. James 1:22 says “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”  So, what are you willing to do? As you sit in your easy chair this morning – Ask yourself what battles you are willing to fight today. 

Consider the illustration of the pig and the chicken and their role in breakfast …The chicken is supportive - the pig is committed. So, which are you? Are you committed to the gospel or just supportive of it? 

God wants soldiers who are committed to sacrificing for the Kingdom. Courageous men and women ready to risk it all, leave their comfort zones, cross the Jordan, and take possession of the promises God has given them.

Moving forward is uncomfortable… And at times risky because it pushes you out of cover and opens you up for others to shoot at…But that can be a good thing, since it will force you to stop talking about courage - and actually have some.

So, it’s up to you today…Will you cross the Jordan that God has put before you…or will you sit in your comfort zone and talk about it?

"You do not write your life with words... You write it with actions. "

- Patrick Ness.