John 2:15 5/28/2019*1*

“So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.”

I read an interesting book called “Unoffendable” which dealt with “righteous indignation”. This has been one of my go-to emotions, and I have used what Jesus did in this verse to justify my actions when I felt like being an angry Christian.

The “What Would Jesus Do” movement may have confused me. I have decided that Instead of “WWJD”, my bracelet should have said “WWJHMD” (What would Jesus HAVE ME do).  Since I am not the Messiah, what Jesus did and what I should do, aren’t always the same thing.

For instance, when they brought people to Jesus, He forgave them of their sins… But since I’m not Jesus… I can’t forgive you of your sins…. And for the same reason I may not be qualified to chase people out of church with a whip.

The fact is, I am not qualified to have righteous indignation - because I am not righteous… And while I abhor sin and will stand against it, I am not qualified to abhor sinners.

So now, with your own moral outrage, you say, “but we are called to judge sin!” ... and you are right. The great failing of the church is that in order to not offend we have stopped calling sin what it is, and this has gutted the gospel of its life changing power.

So, we must stand our ground when dealing with false teachers. But what should our demeanor towards them be? … Haven’t we all been healed of the same disease? …Can we be angry at those who are still afflicted by it?  We can’t ignore the illness. ... but shouldn’t we be trying to get them the cure?

Besides, the overwhelming Holiness of God makes our irritation inconsequential. God is their judge, and His wrath is far more pertinent to the situation than ours.

The bible is clear… Our job is to speak the truth in love…not in anger.  It may not feel as good as righteous rage…but it is what we are called to do, and it is what Jesus said would identify us as His.

"God has nothing to say to the self-righteous."

- Dwight L. Moody

Acts 1:4-5 5/21/2019*8*

“On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus remained with the disciples for over a month after the resurrection. He taught them about the Kingdom and provided indisputable evidence that He had risen from the dead.  

This inspired the disciples and gave them courage to go out and preach the Word.  But Jesus said “not yet” … you cannot succeed without The Holy Spirit.

It wasn’t enough that they had known and followed Jesus for years. It didn’t matter that they had heard His sermons, traveled with Him and closely examined His teaching. Jesus said wait…you need more.  The battle you will face is not against flesh and blood. It is a spiritual battle and you will need divine authority.

Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit would transform them…He would give them power… changing them from a fearful group of followers into courageous messengers filled with the Spirit of God.

What about you?  Do you work inside your qualifications, and abilities…or do you rely on the power of the Spirit of God inside you? 

We have allowed the world to make us timid about the supernatural power that indwells us.  We’ve become uncomfortable discussing the third member of the Trinity, and seldom consider His power when we make our plans.

But the truth is Christianity is not a self-help program.  We are not offering good advice.  We are offering redemption and rebirth through the supernatural power of God. 

Unlike the disciples, you don’t have to wait. The Gift arrived on the day of Pentecost and you were sealed with the Spirit the day you believed (Eph 1:13). Stop pushing the car and start the engine… Spread your wings, and realize that if you trust Him…The Spirit will infuse your life here on earth with the Power of the Great I am.

“…whatever the Holy Spirit was at the first, He is that now, for as God, He remains forever the same-whatever He did then He is able to do still, for His power is by no means diminished.”

-      Charles Spurgeon

John 6: 7-9 5/14/2019*

"Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”"

Your perception of God will dictate whether you look for problems or possibilities when God speaks.

Jesus had just suggested that the disciples provide lunch for over 5,000 people. Philip immediately pointed out the financial impossibility of the proposal and waited for plan “B”.

However, Andrew began looking around for a way to make it happen. He was aware of the challenges, but he seemed more aware of the power of the one who had suggested the plan. 

What is your default response when God issues a challenge in your life?

If your “go to” answer is, “that’s impossible” …then your perception of God is too small.

If it is God’s plan…why waste time worrying about the negatives, and the hurdles, and the things that will make it difficult? That is not your problem. Your problem is finding the way that God has made for you to do what He has told you to do…. even if it seems impossible.

Jesus wasn’t looking for advice. He was aware of the boy’s basket of food when He asked the question. Jesus was testing Philip’s faith. His question, and the miracle that followed, would sharpen Philip and make him a more powerful man of God. Many people were impacted by that picnic but none more than Philip.

So, how is your faith? …When God says move do you look for pathways or problems? Do you see opposition or opportunity?

If God has allowed a challenge in your life today look around …there is an answer…what He has provided may seem insignificant to you but He can make a banquet from a sack lunch…so just bring Him what you have and stand back and watch what God will do with a small act of obedience.

“Faith isn't the ability to believe long and far into the misty future. It's simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step.”

-      Joni Erickson Tada

Romans 8:6 5/7/2019*

^“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

What about a mind governed by both? …. Contrary to popular belief, that can’t happen…only one of these forces can rule your mind. Darkness and light cannot occupy the same space. It’s an “either/or” decision.

That’s a problem in our culture. We seem to believe that our minds can be governed by the flesh on Saturday night - and governed by the Spirit on Sunday morning.  But that’s a lie…and it is a lie that deceives many.  

We think we control our minds, but this verse says our minds control us. If that is true, then we need to purposely decide what influences our thoughts.

We must control what we meditate on… What input do you provide for the computer that God has placed in your head?  Just like any other system, the outcome will be directly related to the input.  Good data provides positive outcomes and bad data creates chaos.

If you listed the “fleshly” inputs that you allow in your head, and the “Spiritual” inputs you provide… which list would be longer?  This passage clearly says that one provides death, and one provides life…which do you prefer?

It is pretty simple, really. The music you listen to, the movies you watch, the language you use, the time you spend in prayer and scripture contrasted with the time you spend immersed in materialism, sensuality, and self-centeredness… all of this determines what governs your mind.

So, make a choice, and then make a plan.  But understand that this is a life or death decision, so be intentional.  Create an environment that will allow the Spirit of God to control your mind. Make some good habits and eliminate some bad ones.

You can’t have it both ways. You are either set apart for God, or you are living in the flesh for the world…and the deciding factor is what you allow to control your mind.

“A man's mind is like a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth”.
― James Allen