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Affirming Sin

A few days ago I watched a video debate called “Can you be Gay and Christian”.

The debate is between Dr. Michael Brown and Matthew Vines.

Mr. Vines is very intelligent in his pro-gay part of the debate. He does not deny the what the Bible says in Leviticus 19 and Romans 1. But his main debate is that today people are capable of a caring and loving gay relationship as Christians.

Something Dr. Brown said caused me to think about myself.

He quoted Matthew 16:24:

Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Dr. Brown says you must deny yourself – not affirm yourself.

Wow! I’ve never thought of it that way.

It makes the following verses take a whole new meaning.

Matt 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Anyone that affirms their sin is trying to save their own life – trying to make the sin of no affect. They will lose.

It is not by my standard or yours. It is by God’s and His word is the standard.

Abba, I am guilty of affirming myself. Forgive me for not denying myself and affirming no other but You. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Never too old – Never too young

The service of God has no age limit – either upper or lower. We only limit ourselves by health and physical ability.

God does not!

Gen 18:11-12 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

I cannot imagine myself retiring from pastoring, teaching, and preaching. It’s not like I will one day speak on everything in the Bible and be through. It doesn’t end.

Lam 3:22-23 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning;

With God it’s always a new beginning.

Did age stop God from using Abraham and Sarah? No.
Did physical ability stop God from using this couple? No.

God will use the willing heart no matter how many times it has beat in its lifetime.

Abba Father, here I am – use me. I am available for Your service today! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Know the Future

Sometimes it would be nice to know the future.

Abraham and Sarah had that knowledge.

Gen 17:19 God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac;

Gen 18:10 And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.”

Abraham and Sarah are told they will have a son. They will call him Isaac. And they even knew the time he would be born.

Often the desire for futuristic knowledge isn’t about having a baby. More likely it’s for next weeks $250 million lotto numbers, the final score for the next Superbowl, or penny stocks that will increase in value 500%!

Such knowledge is selfish, greedy, and temporary.

There is one future you can know.

God has said;

I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord; Jer 29:11-14

God’s future for you is one full of hope and promises. It’s full of love, forgiveness, and grace. It’s also eternal.

The future belongs to God. Join in.

Abba, my future is in You. I trust you with it. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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When God shows up.

Would you invite God into your home if He came to visit you?

You might think that everyone would but many in the Bible didn’t. Even today there are those that do not allow God into their home. They don’t want Him in the school or in the government.

When two angels of the Lord visited Sodom the men of the city did not welcome them with open arms. No they wanted to physically abuse them.

It was quite different over in the camp of Abraham.

Three angels of the Lord appear and Abraham goes to them, bows to the ground, and invites them to his home.

Gen 18:3 “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.

What will your reaction be when God shows up today?

Accept or reject?

Abba Father, I invite You into my life today. Lead me. Instruct me. Tel l me what I need to say. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Demon of depression and suicide

There’s a story of a man whose son had been plagued by a demon since birth. It would convulse him into seizures and the child was often hurt in the process. He would burn himself and try to drown himself.

The young man seems to have a self-destructive nature. No doubt he is demon possessed because the Bible says so. However the demon perhaps has an affect of depression and suicide on its host.

However, there are many that have the same depression and self-destructive nature. Demons are not blamed nor diagnosed. Meds are prescribed and perhaps psychiatric care.

I don’t downplay doctors and medicines – but doctors often downplay the spiritual.

The disciples had tried to help but could not. In desperation the dad turned to Jesus.
Jesus in turn frees the man from this demon.

There are a few great quotes and lessons that come from this story in Mark 9:17-29

Jesus –

“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23

The dad –

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24

The disciples –

“Why could we not cast it out?” Mark 9:28

Jesus –

“This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:29

The message to me is clear. If you struggle with these things you can be delivered from it. Believing, prayer, and fasting are all keys to breaking the chains of depression and suicide.

Abba Father, help my unbelief too! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Depressed – Look Up!

The death of Robin Williams caught me by surprise. I found him a multi-talented comedian. He was lightning quick on delivery, while changing voices or subjects in a wink! Robin was made for improv!

Little did I know that such a talented man that could make so many others laugh had trouble laughing himself as he suffered with depression.

Prov 12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,

One of my first thoughts upon hearing about his death was his soul – did he know Jesus as Savior. It’s a question I can judge but not one I can answer.

Last night one of the ladies at church told me that while he was receiving an award, he pointed up and thanked his Father!

My response was maybe he was thanking his dad.

Uncertainty about the future can cause anxiety; and anxiety can cause depression.

Prov 12:25 But a good word makes it[the heart] glad.

I am not uncertain about my future. I have a good word from God’s word and I have given my life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

That’s not to say that a Christian cannot be depressed. When you take your eyes off of Him and begin looking at the world around you, it can happen.

Keep looking up to Christ!

Abba, I pray for those suffering from depression. Please help me recognize them and share with them the only real Hope – Jesus! YES&AMEN

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Jumping to Conclussions

Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was? John 7:41-42

Those that wanted to deny Jesus as Messiah did it based on the scripture – the lineage and birthplace.

What they failed to do was to get all the facts about Jesus Himself. They supposed He was born and raised in Galilee, not knowing of His birth in Bethlehem so many years ago.

They judged Him by what they knew, not by the facts!

Jumping to conclusions seldom leads to happy landings.

Throughout the day I can hear a bit of conversation here and another bit there. I will always come to some conclusion based on what I hear.

Or I see someone act a certain way. Perhaps they are stumbling around while walking. I may think they are inebriated when they may actually be having a reaction to cold medicine.
Often my conclusions are wrong.

There are a lot of people today that have come to a conclusion about Jesus based on partial information – a little bit of a sermon here or a part of a Bible verse there.
But when you read the entire Bible you will get the entire picture.

It will change your life. The more you read – the more you will change.

Abba, I want to know more about You. I want to know all about You. I want Your word to continue to change me and those around me. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Cut the little things.

Sin is certainly something that should be cut from your life. Sin will not allow a relationship with God to flourish.

I know many people that won’t give up the vices in their lives despite the fact they say they have been born-again and know Jesus as Savior.
They decide that the things they are doing aren’t really severe enough to be called sin.

But reconsider the covenant God made with Abraham. The procedure of circumcision is really as small matter. It seems insignificant. It’s not like God demanded something totally useful like a thumb or an ear.

There are times the little things interfere more with getting closer to God.

What makes the little things so tough to conquer is the attitude that because they are little, they really don’t matter. It’s the unwillingness to let go of the little things.
I believe that is why God said…

Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. Deut 10:16

It was Stephen that said,

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.” Acts 7:51

Do not resist when the Holy Spirit tells you to cut away some small part of your life. End the stiff-necked rebellious nature that keeps you from growing closer to God.

Abba, circumcise my heart and remove those small things from my life – things I don’t need and that keep me from You. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Cutting it Away

When God makes a covenant you don’t have any choice in the terms.

God has chosen Jesus as the way back to Him. It is through the blood of Jesus that you have the forgiveness of sin. You have no choice. It is His chosen way!

I believe there are things God would have you cut out of your life as a result of the covenant. These things you can live without. They are not necessary for your relationship with the Savior; and could be detrimental.

The main thing that needs to be cut from your life is sin!

Abraham was presented with the terms of a covenant with God.

Gen 17:10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised;

If given the choice, I’m sure Abraham would not have chosen that particular procedure. He may have chosen to give up red meat or wine.
But what God demanded be cut away was useless to the life of Abraham – something not really needed and something he could live without, yet painful to remove.

I’m sure there are things in your life that would be painful for you to get rid of; but you can live without.

Abba, help me cut out of my life those things I don’t need to make room for more of You. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Praise The Lord

I don’t normally watch a lot of church services on TV but somehow I ended watching the Praise & Worship of one of those televised services.

The music was great – don’t get me wrong. And I don’t mean any offense by what I say but I thought it was over produced.

The lights flashed on and off in a strobe effect while colored lights alternated bright and dim. The singers backed up and did some little choreographed dance move.

While I watched I could see genuine worship in the audience and the team itself. And perhaps the person with their finger on switch that was flipping the lights on and off was also praising the Lord in this way.

While it was entertaining, the thought came to me “does God want to be entertained or praised?”

The answer is always in His word.

Ps 150
Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

Yes indeed, the Lord should be praised in all things.

However I have discovered you cannot choreograph praise.

It is spontaneous. It is not planned out. It is not timed. It is eruptive. It comes from inside your heart and soul to touch the face of God. It spreads. It’s contagious. It takes different forms.

Raised hands will praise the Lord as well as silent weeping. Standing will praise the Lord as well as falling face down at the altar. You can praise Him while sitting or prostrate on the ground.

You can praise Him in the best suit or dress and praise Him in torn jeans.

There are times when I’m on the praise team and spontaneous worship begins to happen. While we practice our songs – we never practice praise or worship. It just happens.