Philippians 3:20 10/6/2020*

“For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

We must never forget that this is an “away game”.

If we do not feel at home in this world - it is because we are not…  We should not expect a home field advantage. 

When you play an away game, you do not anticipate applause. You come prepared to be harassed and taunted…It does not discourage you it motivates you.   

As a Christian if you are looking for applause you have overlooked where the game is ... If you are surprised at what you see on the news you have forgotten where you are...

The fact that this is not our home becomes clearer every day, but that should not depress us…it should inspire us…Some people are enemies of the cross. But we do not despise our opponents because we were once enemies of the cross ourselves.

We are not here to defeat them – we are here to rescue them. We are here to bring them truth even though that will not always make us popular. That’s OK because that’s not the goal - our mission is to make followers of Christ, not followers of us. 

Jesus is coming back, but until He does we are behind enemy lines. We cannot forget that we are “in this world” not “of it” …In fact, if you are universally accepted and appreciated it may be because they do not know what team you’re on…Make sure it is evident Who your King is…We’re not here to make enemies - but we are here to be different.   

Live boldly in this foreign land - Be salt and light – Refuse to blend in, knowing your King is coming soon. 

You are not a tourist - and your popularity is not the goal … your objective is to never water-down the truth…and get the gospel to as many people as you can…That, after all, is the only reason you are still here. 

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” - Jesus

Luke 22:57 9/29/2020*

“But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said.”

Peter was a leader among the disciples, a self-assured fisherman…The only human other than Christ to walk on water… He was a man’s man, who once cut a guys ear off while he was defending Jesus…And he swore to go to his grave protecting his Lord….Yet, here he denies Jesus because he is afraid of a servant girl.

How many of us are too much like Peter?

How many of us have accomplishments in our lives which make us believe we have something to offer God?  We think since we are disciplined - we can show God how worthy we are…but when we are challenged we collapse.

Peter…the man that Jesus named “The Rock” and said He would build His church on…crumbled under sin. Without the Holy Spirit, the “Navy Seal” of the disciples retreated when challenged by a young girl.

This verse is not intended to preserve Peter’s failure - but to speak to those of us who are too much like him.

It does not matter who the world thinks you are, you are a slave to sin without Christ.  Without the Holy Spirit you, like Peter, are a failure who is defenseless against temptation. 

If that were not true - the cross would not have been necessary - and if it were not necessary - it would never have happened. 

Peter was transformed by Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection – which paid his debt to sin and redeemed him – this was the only thing that could make him a vessel worthy of the Holy Spirit – and that is what changed him.  

It made Peter a fearless warrior who later, when condemned to be crucified, would demand to be turned upside down because he was not worthy to die like his King.

Man’s stumbling block is pride.. thinking we can do it on our own. But regardless of worldly achievement, we cannot…so we must die to ourselves so the Holy Spirit will live in us and permanently transforms us. 

This is the only path…The Holy Spirit is the seal of our salvation and He alone can give us real courage and change us from slaves to sin, into soldiers for God.  

“When we have the Holy Spirit, we have all that is needed to be all that God desires us to be.” - Aiden Wilson Tozer

Romans 1:20 9/22/2020*

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” 

Our lack of belief is confusing… we are without excuse. God’s existence has been etched on our consciences by God Himself. 

Few will argue that there is not an “unexplained force out there”. Most even acknowledge elements of design in creation – They do this not to recognize God, but because even their stubborn unbelief has limits.

Something outside of science is needed for their theories to be reasonable. The “big bang” requires colliding particles …an explanation is needed as to where these come from, and why they were in motion?  Since there are no definitive answers – a force must be acknowledged… call it what you want, just don’t call it God.

Academia says they “believe in science” …but science does not offer anything to believe in… Science begins in the middle … However, the bible begins with “In the beginning” … making it a self-contained belief system. 

Scripture says the unseen has been seen - perceived “by that which has been made”. The phrase “His eternal power and Godhead” expresses the idea of an infinite God - and we have been made aware of His existence. 

Great Apes - though differing by one chromosome from us - have never been observed worshiping. Yet even the most primitive human cultures worshipped something… Why?

Because we are not apes…we are created in God’s image and He has placed an awareness of Himself inside of us. 

The problem this creates is that we are now without excuse. God exists… and He has made sure you know it. If you refuse to worship Him then you will stand and fall on your own merits. If you have sinned (and you have) His wrath is justified. 

But instead of wrath - God loves you and sent His Son to redeem you. 

Look at the evidence…acknowledge Him as God, and accept His grace …because when our life is over -  no one will say “I didn’t know”

 “I was at this time, like so many Atheists in a whirl of contradictions. I maintained that God did not exist. I was also very angry with God for not existing. I was equally angry with Him for creating a world.”

~ C.S. Lewis

Daniel 6:10 9/15/2020*

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

Daniel had just learned that praying to God was a capital offense.  So, he went home and prayed “just as he had done before”. 

Daniel did not become filled with indignation and begin to pray as an act of civil disobedience.…He had been praying all along.  

He did not make a sign, or t-shirt about praying…or insult others on Facebook for not praying… He simply continued to talk to God as he had already been doing.

There is a difference in discipline and passion. Great men require both, but passion is common - discipline is rare.

It is normal for people to fight for their beliefs …but when the struggle begins many do not have power because they have lacked discipline prior to the battle.

Athletes do not begin training the day before the game – they work diligently long before the season starts… That is what qualifies them to play.  

In the same way if you want to be a warrior for God you must prepare before the fight arrives.  You should be in the habit of talking to God … You should have a routine of scripture reading, and memorization… constantly training as a soldier of the cross.

The day may come when you are commanded not to pray – or to bow to an idol.  If you have not been praying up until that point, you will not have the strength you need – You do not suddenly become a soldier when you are attacked – that is just when it becomes evident that you are one.

It is revealing that Daniel – even when condemned to die - is the only one in the narrative who was never anxious. He had walked with God – and regardless of the world’s actions - He would continue with God “just as he had done before”.  

There is strength in consistent discipline – and that strength is available to you - if you will make it your habit to daily spend time with God and prepare. 

“We must all suffer one of two things:  the pain of discipline or the pain of regret and disappointment.” – Jim Rohn

Matthew 28:20 9/8/2020*

“ I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

This verse is so familiar to us that we must be careful not to miss its impact.

The ascension of Jesus was at hand, so He looked at His disciples and said: “I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS” …. In the original language every word of that statement was emphatic. 

This was not a farewell. It was a declaration of a continuing presence from the Creator…. a promise of immeasurable importance. – offering a perfect relationship with God which had not been obtainable since the Garden. 

On the Cross, God turned His back on His own Son so He would never have to turn His back on you...because of that - Christ said -  I am with you now…and I will be with you forever.

Jesus’ statement was not only directed at Peter, James and the rest…He was talking to you and me.

This is our salvation statement…It is the anchor that holds us through the storm. “I am with you” is the promise that takes us from victim to victorious. It separates Christianity from religion…We are His temple. His presence resides with us - we are inseparable.

If you believe that Jesus is eternally with you – What power can harm you? Whether you are in a global crisis - or you are privately holding the hand of a terminally ill loved one…There is still that promise…YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

We all have moments when we feel abandoned…when our soul feels empty…but according to this scripture He is always there. 

He weeps with you when you are broken – He smiles when you rally back from your grief. -  He guards your heart when it breaks and catches the pieces to put it back together again. He laughs when you are joyful…. There are no paths that you walk alone. There is nothing that can separate you from Him …NOTHING.

What a great assurance...what a great foundation…What can intimidate you? You are loved – you are redeemed - and your salvation is permanent. 

Walk in the promise of Christ’s presence - and from that position of security confidently offer the love you undeservedly received from your Father - to those who don’t deserve it from you. 

“Do you not realize that the love the Father bestowed on the perfect Christ - He now bestows on you?”  - Charles Spurgeon

Judges 17:6 9/1/2020*

“In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.”

This verse describes a time of idolatry and moral decline in Israel which mirrors what is emerging in America today.  We have lost our compass. There is no “True North” - every man does what is right in his own eyes.

This is called secular humanism and it is the path to national insanity.  

I don’t say that to be dramatic - it is simply a fact. 

When you declare that killing a child is ethical as long as the child is still in the womb – that is madness. 

When we physically attack people based on skin color, or opinions – that is lunacy.

Secular Humanism declares that man decides morality and that there are no absolutes…Of course, no one really believes this – if someone says they do, steal their wallet, and see is they think that’s “absolutely” wrong or not.

Yet we teach this self-centered ideology that when fueled by lack of biblical knowledge produces what we see on the news… anger and ignorance – and that is a dangerous mixture. 

Israel’s deterioration occurred just one generation after Moses - So societal decay does not take long. 

We must re-discover our compass. We must again teach right and wrong to our children…truth is not a moving target… it is God established and rigid.  

Young people in our country have been lied to…and the seeds of deceit are producing a bitter harvest.  We have removed “thus sayeth the Lord” from their education and we are paying the price.

We must teach biblical truth again. They must be told that there are consequences for sin…that arrogance and ignorance of scripture leads to destruction…and that our country’s only hope is to humble ourselves and return to God. 

Political parties do not set righteousness standards - they either adhere to them or they do not…. you should vote accordingly.  

But our aim must be to destroy the lie we have tolerated, that we are gods who establish our own truths. 

Eternal, unmovable, biblical truth is the key to freeing our society from secular humanism and it is our only hope to restore righteousness and freedom to our culture. 

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - Jesus

   

Luke 10:36-37 8/25/2020*

“Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”  And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan in answer to a lawyer who was trying to establish who he had to love to fulfill the commandment “love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Jesus doesn’t tell him how to identify a neighbor - but instead how to be a neighbor. 

The subtle message in that answer is one we need to hear today.  

By worldly definition, the victim in the story was not a “neighbor” of the Samaritan. Their culture would have made them enemies…. different tribe and ethnicity. In fact, making the Samaritan the hero of the story probably offended the Jews.

But Jesus is teaching a lesson. He is showing that skin color, ethnic origin, nationality…none of these matter in the Kingdom of God. 

He is telling us not to worry about who the person in need is…worry about who we are.

 In the parable the Priest and the Levite who passed by the injured man were just too busy. The things on their “to-do list” precluded them from being a neighbor that day and If we are not careful our calendar can do the same thing to us.

Some days it seems there isn’t time to fit being a Christian into our busy schedule. But Jesus says go and act like the guy whose schedule took a backseat to his Christianity.

 There are people near you who need to feel loved…Will you make time?…Is that a priority to you?

Will you call the senior citizen who has been trapped in their room for months and talk to them for a while?

Will you mow the yard of the person down the street who is struggling?

Will you call the friend who lost their job and offer a helping hand?

Jesus said – “go and do the same”.…He is telling you to mimic someone who allowed another person’s problem to interrupt their schedule.

Love is seldom convenient - so act when the opportunity presents itself - don’t just agree with the concept…make a plan and do it today  

“You do not write your life with words. . . You write it with actions.“ - Patrick Ness

Psalm 103:2 8/18/2020*

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;”

How often do you stop and thank God for individual blessings? It seems we ignore blessings until they disappear.  

Just six months ago - did you thank God when you went to a concert or a ball game?...Did you appreciate being able to hug your grandmother?...  Were you grateful that you could meet friends at a restaurant in a carefree environment?

Probably not…What about now?  When did you last thank God for the good things you have today?

Even with all the problems we face – We are awash in blessings. Most people on earth would trade places with us in a heartbeat. Do you thank God for those benefits?

Have you thanked Him that there is a grocery store – or just complained about wearing a mask? 

Are you grateful for our brave first responders – or do you just grumble about the fraction that abuse authority?

Do you appreciate your right to vote – or do you spend your time complaining about the choices?

It is completely up to you – the mood of your life depends on what you do with this verse.

Make the choice to be thankful. Stop spreading criticism and despair. Quit telling everyone what they’re doing wrong and instead find a way to encourage. Constantly correcting and arguing does not come from your intellect – it comes from your ego.  

When I coached there were inevitably players who felt the need to continually tell other players what they were doing wrong.  My usual comment to them was: “You encourage, and I’ll coach”. 

I think God may be saying that to some of us right now.

Maybe we should stop pointing fingers and look in the mirror. Maybe we should have some faith and be reassuring. God is working out revival and restoration as we speak…That is His job…our job is to trust that He is working.

Live differently today…Instead of anxiously focusing on the virus…or fretting about the economy… or worrying about politics – open your eyes to your current blessings.

See the things God is doing and be grateful.  It will change you from the inside out.  And perhaps when others hear your thankfulness - it will disrupt the flow of negativity- and rescue those around you from despair. 

“The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life.”- Robert Louis Stevenson

Psalm 51:10 8/11/2020*

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

David wrote this prayer after his greatest personal failing and it reflected a sentiment that, despite his sinfulness, made David a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22)

“Create in me a clean heart” is not a request for renovation – but a plea for new construction.…David desires to have his adulterous heart obliterated and replaced with a clean heart free from lust, selfishness, and pride.   

“Renew a steadfast Spirit” is an appeal to be made faithful.  David asks to have a loyal spirit restored within him that will allow him to please God and resist temptation.

Though he is a king, David is not decreeing what he plans to do for himself – he is begging God to do something for him. Trying to have communion with God any other way is a waste of time. Your sanctification is solely dependent on God’s authority and grace. All you bring to the table is your need.

David remorsefully admits his guilt and asks for forgiveness.  He does not blame Bathsheba for bathing on the balcony.  He does not excuse his infidelity by citing the pressure of being king.  Nor does he attempt to minimize his sin…. He confesses in brokenness, offers no excuse, and repents. 

To chase after God’s own heart is to agree with His standard.  To acknowledge His truth as the only truth. To have a clear mirror that shows your faults. No deflection. No justification.  No self-help theory…Just a recognition of your corruptness, and a desire for forgiveness and transformation. 

No matter how catastrophic your fall has been… you can be redeemed. You need a clean heart - and a spirit that is loyal to your King. You cannot acquire either of these through good works, or religious ceremonies…so run to God and find them in Him…abandon all hope except the hope based on God’s sacrificial mercy.

Desperately cling to God… Be a man after His own heart. Nothing satisfies the soul like unpolluted fellowship with your Heavenly Father. And nothing will bring change to your life – except a humble recognition that you are morally bankrupt - and a deep longing to have God make you new.

“I want to deliberately encourage this mighty longing after God. The lack of it has brought us to our present low estate.”  - A.W. Tozer

Matthew 14:15-17 8/4/2020*

But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!”  They said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

Jesus told the disciples to feed a crowd of thousands…and one word polluted their response.

There is a difference in saying “We have five loaves of bread"... and saying, “We have (only) five loaves of bread”... one word moves the response from informative to argumentative.

Christ’s comment was not a question… He did not ask them to evaluate the difficulty of locating diner for 5000 people.  He clearly and simply said “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

What he wanted was for them to have faith.  To take their eyes of earthly restrictions and look to the power of God. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6) … and when you have it you do not look for obstacles – you look for pathways. 

Faith in God means I bring what I have to Jesus… fully expecting that it is enough. Faith is not a desperate last resort – it is my first and only strategy. 

Each day when I open the Word of God it contains clear commands like – fear not – love others – trust God– have peace. 

Yet my tendency is to point out the problems with these orders.… How can I not fear with sickness all around?...How can I love in the middle of hate? … What peace can be found in a divided nation?

Admittedly those commands are difficult… and to ignore difficulty is irrational.  A man who does not understand his own limitations is foolish…But a man who thinks God is limited is a fool.  

Faith is deciding to look at God’s power – instead of my weakness… I must start each day aware that God is able.  I lay what I have at His feet and expect miracles.  Faith is the Christian’s nuclear weapon…it does not point out obstacles – it destroys them.  

Though the crowd around you is starving for truth and it feels overwhelming – they do not need to go away – you need to feed them - bring your limited resources to Christ, stand back, and watch what He does.

Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time. – Oswald Chambers