Evangelism

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NO CONDEMNATION

It happens so regularly that it’s predictable.  The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up.  I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight.  Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.  I’ve tried everything and nothing helps.  I’m at the end of my rope.  Is there no one who can do anything for me?  Isn’t that the real question?  The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.  He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.  With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved.  Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud.  A new power is in operation.  The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. (Romans 7:21-8:2 The Message)

What then is our responsibility in regard to sin?  This question reveals the trap that catches many believers.  We often feel that we should now more than ever focus on being sinless, missing the fact that we can’t make ourselves sinless.  We are still flawed by our inherited sinful nature.  Focusing on making ourselves sinless is self-indulgent and actually leads us away from God.  Our focus should be on God.  That is where we find freedom.  Paul calls it living in the Spirit not in the flesh.  All the power to overcome sin is in Christ Jesus.  We have no power in ourselves.  Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)  Our responsibility is to seek God.  He takes care of the rest.  Try sinning while you’re seeking God.

In closing, I’d like to remind you that we are justified through Christ’s blood shed on the cross.  That means we are acceptable in the sight of God.  We are welcome into the presence of God.  The work is finished.  There is no condemnation for us who have received Jesus.  When we are seeking God, he wants, and may I say is excited for, us to find him.  It is his delight for his children to know him.

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FAITH AND DOUBT

Are you convinced that Christianity is true? Do you ever doubt your belief? Does God really exist? Is my belief in vain? Do these questions of doubt haunt you at times? They do me. During these times of doubt I have two processes that I follow, reason and experience. Reason alone cannot restore faith, but it can help.   Walking back through my life and remembering my experiences with God seals the breach in my faith, and I am restored.

These nagging questions that challenge my faith cause me to return to the process of reasoning. I start with the basic question of where did I and all I know come from. There are only two possible answers. It all came about by some accidental occurrence of events over millions and billions of years, or an intelligent force designed it. The complexity of the universe and the existence of life itself lead me to believe that an intelligent force designed it. And if this is so, what do I know about this intelligent force. I have concluded that the Bible is the most reliable source of information about this intelligent force. This process, to remind myself of the logic of my belief, gets me started. But the most interesting truth about this reasoning process is that it all came about after I believed. My belief in God is therefore founded in something other than reason.

I next reminisce on my experiences with God. God has spoken to me at key moments in my life, and he drew me to himself. He answered prayers and provided miracles all to build a relationship of trust. My faith is rooted in a relationship with God that he has built over many years. Then I remember, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Ah, my faith is based not on my ability to reason, but on my relationship with God. Experience trumps reason. The questioning of my faith is entrenched in my reasoning skills. My reasoning is faulty, but my experience is sound. There is no argument against what I have experienced.

I feel that faith is even more deeply based on a spiritual foundation. When I first believed reason played a small part, experience barely existed, yet I was drawn to God. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him …” (John 6:44). My reason and my experience came because God drew me. I simply said yes to him. I believe because I was predestined to believe. God is sovereign over all his creation, even me.

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TRUST IN THE LORD AND DO GOOD

The title above comes from Psalm 37:3.  Trust in the Lord and do good.  This is wisdom for God’s people from King David who later, in verses 8&9, exhorts us to: Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.  For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.   These verses challenge us, but they also comfort us.  Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart. I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

In light of the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage, I believe June 26, 2015 is a day to be marked as another “in your face God” moment for our country.  That is why I was looking for comfort and direction from Psalm 37.  God’s people need to be aware that God is not surprised by the decisions of man.  He gave them over to a depraved mind because of their rejection of him.  He is in charge, and we belong to him.  We are redeemed!  And we are bearers of his message of love and forgiveness.  Nothing good will come if Christians join the ranks of haters and revilers.

In Romans 1:18-32 Paul gives a clear dissertation on what’s happening.  He starts out: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”  Reading on we see that the depravity over taking our nation is because we have turned our backs to God.  Even the futility of our thinking, the illogical thinking of our leaders is a result of denying God.  So, what should be our response to this evil?

I think that we should trust in the Lord and do good.  God has his hand on all that is taking place on the earth with a promise to work it out for his glory and our good.  Trust him!  As King David pointed out, hating, fretting and being filled with wrath only leads to evil.  Our charge is to do good, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Do good to those who spitefully use you.  Jesus made it clear how we are to proceed.  Don’t turn your back to him.

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The End of Separation

In the beginning there was no separation between man and God.  When man sinned God withdrew his presence.  This separation lasted until Jesus’ death on the cross. The restoration was signified by the tearing from top to bottom of the temple curtain.  (See Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, and Luke 23:45)

One of the churches in our city does the Stations of the Cross each year on Good Friday.  My wife and I find this experience a great way to begin Easter Weekend.  The stations take you from the time they arrested Jesus to the crucifixion. I am always deeply moved as I walk from station to station remembering what Jesus went through.  This year the tearing of the temple curtain stood out to me.

At the moment when Jesus said it is finished and gave up his spirit, the temple curtain was torn in such a way that it could only have been done supernaturally.  The curtain was 16 feet tall and 4 inches thick, and it was torn from top to bottom.  As it was torn it exposed the Holy of Holies, the place of God’s presence in the temple.  No one could enter the Holy of Holies except the high priest, and he could only enter once a year after going through an extensive ritual of preparation.

Jesus gave up his life so we could be restored to the presence of God.  We who are redeemed by Jesus’ blood can now enter into God’s presence. I was overwhelmed by the significance of the tearing of the curtain.  God’s redemption of fallen man was complete, and he opened for us access to his presence.  This tragic day had underlying glory.  God’s created ones could now return to the closeness that Adam and Eve had with him before the fall.  Jesus restored our relationship with his amazing act of sacrificial love.  Can I do anything but spend eternity expressing gratitude to my blessed savior?  Thank you Jesus!

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The Pivot Point of Eternity

Kneeling at the cross

Such a wondrous place to be,DSCN1330

I find my greatest freedom there

At this place called Calvary.

 

For here is where it all begins,

If you are willing to receive.

At this pivot point we each decide

Our eternal destiny.

 

Yes, God took our greatest evil,

The murder of his son,

And with his loving power

Salvation for all He won.

 

Now kneel with me if you will,

And receive this very hour,

The salvation offered freely

Enlivened with resurrection power.

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My Neighbor

I work part time as a driving instructor.  I am well versed on the rules of the road.  I know exactly how other drivers are supposed to drive.  In light of the general way people drive; this is a dilemma for someone trying to not be judgmental.  Driving has become the proving grounds of my sinful nature.  In-other-words while driving, I prove myself a sinner.  I frequently blurt out expletives like jerk and idiot.

Monday I was driving to my house after a driving lesson.  As all Americans seem to be, I was in a hurry.  I came to an intersection where I was turning right.  I stopped correctly behind the crosswalk before moving forward to make my right turn on red.  However, the gentleman in the left turn lane stopped all the way across the crosswalk, blocking my view of the cross traffic.  I was grateful that he slowed me down and made me wait for the light; not really.  After my usual pronouncement of his lack of intelligence and moral character, I was struck by the thought, he’s my neighbor.  I found myself changing from annoyance to compassion.  I thank the Holy Spirit for the thought.

The rest of the journey home was occupied by thinking about “my neighbor”.  Jesus made some clear statements about our neighbors such as: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 19:19).  Yep, I was falling painfully short of loving my neighbor.  That afternoon, I started reading through the scriptures about my neighbor.  In Luke 10: 29-37 Jesus responds to the question, “And who is my neighbor?” with the parable of the Good Samaritan.  The Samaritans were hated by the Jewish people of Jesus’ time.  By using the Samaritan as the good guy of the story, Jesus nailed the prejudice of the time.  Today, perhaps the story would be of the Good Muslim or in the Middle East, the Good Christian.

My conclusion, after my study, is that everybody I come into contact with is my neighbor.  All the man in the left turn lane needed from me was patience and compassion.  Everyone I meet needs at least that.  A smile and an encouraging word would be nice, but they certainly don’t need my judgement.  Every day I obviously fall short of perfection, but I have the Holy Spirit to reminding me of the words Jesus spoke.  With his help I plan to be a better neighbor.  If we should run into each other someday, just know I’d be delighted to be treated like your neighbor.  I’ll try to respond with the same recognition.  God bless you neighbors.

Author’s note:

This has been a challenging week of trying to love my neighbor.  I have been reminded of how desperately I need the salvation Jesus bought for me on the cross.  Lord thank you for your mercy and grace, Amen.

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Mortality

It is a fact that we are all going to die.  The mortality rate among humans is 100%.  People around me are dying.  Recently, a friend of mine who was 15 years younger died from brain cancer.  We’ve lost two women in our church in the last year.  I know others who are currently fighting cancer trying to stay alive.  The death of others always brings us closer to the reality of our own mortality.  The loss of a loved one is deeply painful, almost unbearable.  So, for a Christian what is a good perspective?

Our pastor, Eric Nelson*, Spoke on resurrection last Sunday.  He brought up two points that I believe help us to deal with our mortality.  First, he reminded us that the Apostle Paul referred to death as falling asleep (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15), and who is afraid to fall asleep?  The second point was that the life we are going to is far better that the life we leave.  For one thing, it is eternal.  Once we pass from this life, death will never again be an issue.

In our eternal life we will be living in heaven.  In heaven we will live a sinless existence.  Try to imagine what living without sin would be like.  I find it really hard to contemplate.  What would it be like living with no sin? The earth and all of creation is tainted by sin.  Imagine what the new earth will be like when sin is gone.

For me, when facing mortality, my greatest fear is what if my wife should go before me.  How would I be able to survive such a loss?  We are true soul mates, partners for the last 34 years.  But, notice that the concern is for me.  She will have gained.  She will be with Jesus.  Her time in a sinful world will be over.  She’ll have arrived in eternity.  She will be home, her work will be done.

So, in looking at mortality, I find there is much to rejoice about.  The future is only going to get better for those who belong to him.  Christians live by faith not by sight.  All we know now is this world, but through faith, we believe that God has prepared us an eternal place.  The greatest truth in our mortality is that we will be with him forever.

(If you don’t know him, he’s just a prayer away.)

*Eric Nelson is pastor of Delta Life Four Square Church in Madera, California.  Hear his sermons at deltalifechurch.com

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The Heart

In the Bible the word heart obviously refer to something other than the muscle that pumps blood throughout our bodies.  So, what is the Bible referring to?  It’s not our soul because we are told to love the Lord with all our heart and soul; therefore, the two are separate. As I have searched through the scriptures, it seems that the heart embodies the deep inner self where emotions, moral values, and our decision making process resides.  In essence, the heart is where we live.

I’ve been concerned about what is in my heart.  Jesus said that what comes out of a man’s heart can make him unclean.  I find that what comes out of my heart is a mixed bag.  There is in my heart the potential of both good and evil.  So, what can I do about this?

Paul prayed for the Ephesians: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith….” (Ephesians 3:16-17).  I need to be strengthened in my inner being.  I need God’s power to overcome the evil things in my heart, so the things that “come out” of me will be good things.

In Psalm 51 David asks God to create in him a pure heart. (Psalm 51:10)     I join with David in this prayer.  My deep inner being, my heart, needs the presence and the power of God if it is to be good.  God alone is good.  Goodness comes from me when I am full of God.

“Create in me a pure heart most generous and merciful God”.  “Draw me closer to you that I may reflect your goodness.” Amen!

On a Quest
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On a Quest

A young man stumbled down the path to the village square.  He stopped to rest at the well and then collapsed.  The villagers gathered to see the stranger, but were hesitant to approach for he appeared to be sickly.  His body was dirty and emaciated.  Mrs. Murphy, who was never hindered by indecision, strode through the crowd right up to the boy.  After ascertaining that he was alive, she instructed several of the men to carry him to her cottage.  There they laid him on a cot in her den while Mrs. Murphy went to the kitchen to warm the lad some broth.

The boy regained consciousness enough to drink the warm fluid, and throughout the night Mrs. Murphy stirred him with more broth, and then let him return to sleep.  By morning the young stranger had recovered somewhat.

“What’s your name?” asked the town constable who had arrived early to look into the matter.

“William Morgan,” the boy replied.

“Well, William Morgan, what brings you to our village?”

“I’m on a quest to find my parents,” the lad said with unquestionable sincerity.  “I awoke one morning, and they were gone.  I searched everywhere, but I could not find them.  Finally, I set off to search for them, but I have yet to find them.”

Just then the constable’s assistant interrupted, “A dispatch came in some months ago from Broaden Flats.”  “It said that a Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were looking for their lost son.”  “He disappeared one morning while they were out walking.”

“Broaden Flats is where I’m from!” cried William.

When on a quest searching for God, just remember that he’s right there.  He hasn’t gone anywhere.  He’s waiting for you.

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Reflection on Psalm 139

In Psalm 139, David expresses his understanding of the intimate way that God knows him. God knows his thoughts, his location, his habits, and what he is going to say before he says it.  Nothing about David is hidden from God.  He cares for David and guards over him.  I believe David’s insight about his relationship with God reveals truth for us all.  Hebrews 4: 13 reminds us that, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight”.  Therefore, God knows our thoughts, our location, our habits, and what we are going to say before we say it.  As you think about this, how do you respond?

David’s response to these thoughts is precious. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain”.  I believe David was overwhelmed by the idea that the creator of the universe paid that much attention to the details of his life.   I am also stunned, if you will, that the creator of the universe pays that much attention to me.  He also pays that much attention to you.

As I contemplated the knowledge that God knows me this intimately, I sought a proper response.  I finally decided that I should seek to know more about him.  I remembered that Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.”   With Jesus’ words to insure success, I am seeking to know more about God.  We often sing in our worship songs, “I want to know you more”.   Well, here I go.

David, at the end of a life of seeking God, told his son Solomon:

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with whole hearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.  If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)

The advice of David, the man after God’s own heart, is to serve and seek the true God with the assurance that he will be found.  I’d like to know him more.  Won’t you joint me in this quest?