IF FOOTBALL FANS WERE THIS FAITHFUL

Last Sunday, the Buffalo Bills and the Indianapolis Colts played a football game that will be remembered for years.  Not because it was a great game but because the game was played in a “blizzard.”  The footing was slippery, the ball was cold and hard to catch and the yard lines were, at times, impossible to see but they played on.  In the stands were the “faithful.”  Fans bundled up against the relentless wind and snow, cheering on their team to victory.

Immediately, a meme of the game and its fans went viral on Face book.  The meme is a picture of fans, caked in snow with the caption, “IF CHURCH MEMBERS WERE THIS FAITHFUL.”  And all the Pastors said, “AMEN.”

Now, let’s really examine the meme in light of church.  Having been married to a football fan for 41 years, I will try to explain the excitement and anticipation they feel on game day.  We will begin with the SUPER BOWL.

When I mention SUPER BOWL, what immediately enters your mind?  Commercials?  Food?  Half-time show?  NOT TO A TRUE FAN!  Believe me, a True Fan doesn’t even realize what food he is putting in his mouth; his focus is on the game being played on the field.  Commercials are really bathroom breaks and Half-Time is the opportunity to discuss the great pass, the awesome runback, or the devastating fumble, and how their team  could be destroying the other team if they would just….

Now that you understand the fan that would set outside covered in snow to watch their team play with an inflated pigskin, let’s imagine this scenario…

15 seconds left in the game, the score is tied; it is 4^th and goal, with your team is on the 2 yard line, SUDDENLY, the Ref raises his hands and says, “Could the fans please stand, the players will serenade you on your way out.  Hope to see you next week.”

I cannot even imagine the “riot” that would take place and the poor ref had better make a quick exit, surrounded by body armor.  If it happened the next week and the next, I can guarantee the stands would be empty, the merchandise unsold and the owner’s bottom line would be all zeros.

Back to the Meme….Perhaps there is a reason some would rather sit in a frozen stadium watching their team rather than sit in a frozen church listening to a program.

We wake on Sunday Morning, full of excitement and anticipation.  We arrive at church, greet the usher, pick up our steaming cup of coffee and find our seat.  We stand for the “national anthem” place our hand over our heart; some may even raise their hands and sway as we lift our voices in unison.  Our ticket fees are received, a few public announcements, some carefully prepared words are delivered to encourage us to come back next week and we are dismissed to go about our day….WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GAME?  WHERE WAS THE MAIN EVENT?

Oh we have some moments, Jesus is just about ready to run out on the field but its half-time and the entertainers have prepared a great show.  OR…There have even been those times when we’ve allowed “Quarterback” Jesus to lead the team down the field, we are almost to the goal line; victory is in sight and the Ref calls “TIME!”  It’s time to take an offering, dedicate a baby, preach a sermon or maybe the clock says noon and dinner is waiting.  We go home the way we arrived, frustrated because the “game” was ended…unfinished.

What would happen if we arrived at church with the excitement and anticipation of a true fan, with only the “game” on our mind.  We bypassed the coffee bar and entered the sanctuary where we spent a few minutes communing with our “Quarterback” Jesus.  Then we began to cheer and praise; really get involved with the “game.”  No halftime show, no bathroom breaks, no public announcements because our team was marching down to victory.  There would be unbelievable plays, no interceptions or fumbles as we approached the goal line.  AND if we would linger just a little longer, trust our Star, He would lead us across the goal and into victory.

THEN….JUST MAYBE….there would be a Meme that said, “IF ONLY THE FOOTBALL FANS WERE THIS FAITHFUL.” 

THE DAY OF BATTLE

Psalms 78:9 The Children of Ephraim being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of the battle.

Ephraim was the second son of Joseph who became a ruler in Egypt.  Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, each inherited portions of land from their grandfather Jacob and became known as half-tribes in the 12 tribes of Israel.

We also learn that Joshua, the great leader, chosen by God hailed from the lineage of Ephraim.  It was Joshua, one of the spies sent to check out the Land of Canaan, along with Caleb, who came back with a good report, full of faith that through God, the Children of Israel were well able to conquer the city and take possession of the land.

So, what happened to the Children of Ephraim?  They could trace their bloodline back to the “Father of Faith,” himself; Father Abraham.  Their forefather, Joseph, had been a great ruler in the Land of Egypt, saving the world from starvation.  They even had the birthright to boast in the heritage of that great warrior, Joshua, who led all the People of Israel into the Promised Land.  What happened?  What was the cause of the sad commentary in Psalms 78?

They had the “right” heritage, they had the "right" training and they had all the “right” equipment, YET, the Psalms 78 tells us that when it came time to go forth into battle; to join the fight, THE CHILDREN OF EPHRAIM TURNED BACK!

Sadly, I have watched as too many “Children of Ephraim” have turned back.  They have the “right” Heritage of Truth.  They have donned the armor and picked up the weapons.  Many have even walked the path to the “battleground,” but then the “Day of the Battle” dawns and they retreat.

Perhaps fatigue has set in; the weapons have become too heavy.  Or it may be that the armor has begun to rub a sore spot that has become infected and inflamed.  It could be that the looming battle overshadows past victories and their waning faith opens the door to fear, forgetting that they are not fighting on their own.

THE DAY OF BATTLE HAS COME!  Do not pass the legacy of the Children of Ephraim on to your own children and grandchildren.  GET BACK UP!  Put on the armor once again; pick up the bow and march into battle.  A future generation is depending on you…THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD!

JOB: A MAN OF FEAR

Job 3:25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me and what I dreaded has happened to me.

FEAR will handicap our faith until we can no longer trust God to take care of the situation and we begin to take matters into our own hands…we have entered into a WORKS-BASED RELATIONSHIP with God.

Job had houses, lands, wealth, position, power and a beautiful family.  The first chapter of Job also tells us that he was blameless, upright and shunned evil; Job had it all, but there was one little area that needed God’s “Refining Fire”…JOB WAS FULL OF FEAR.

Job 1:5 states that Job would rise early in the morning and offer a sacrifice for each of his children, just in case they had sinned.  He had taught them the truth of Jehovah; he had lived an upright, blameless life in front of them, but he was afraid to entrust them to God.

So Job continued to do what he had always done; to shun evil, fear God and offer sacrifice, because it had always worked for him…UNTIL ONE DAY IT DIDN’T!

As we continue to read the first chapter of Job, we learn that in the space of one day, Job lost it all!  Marauders destroyed his financial health, a lightning strike destroyed his source of food and clothing and then a tornado struck his son’s house and killed all his children…Job was left with a wife and 4 servants.  Although verse 22 states, “he did not sin or charge God with wrong,”  we understand from verse 5 that it may have been out of fear that God would also strike him dead.

BACK TO FEAR….Two truths regarding fear: 

FEAR IS NOT FROM GOD.

 FEAR IS THE AVENUE THROUGH WHICH SATAN WILL ATTACK.

Satan attacked Job in the very areas his fear was centered…his family; his finances; his possessions and his position.

WHAT DO YOU FEAR?

Be honest, we all have areas in which we FEAR more than we TRUST.  Perhaps it is your children…you fear they will be injured or die or perhaps, although you taught them the things of God, they have refused to accept them and you fear they will not come to an altar of salvation.  Do you fear the loss of position or status?  Maybe it is the loss of power, possessions or financial security.  Perhaps it is your health; you fear developing a dreaded disease, a chronic illness or debilitating accident.  All of these are “valid fears” except God desires to relieve you of all of these fears by developing a RELATIONSHIP OF FAITH in you.

If these fears are not placed on and left at the altar, Satan will use them as a means of attack.  You may not suffer a bolt of lightning, marauders, the loss of children and finances all in one day, but Satan will use your fears to attack your mind.  He will surround your fear, with crippling doubts that will cloud your judgment and decisions until like Job you may state, “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me and what I dreaded has happened to me.”

God’s desire for you is no different than was His desire for Job…God desires for you to live a blessed and fulfilled life of a FAITH RELATIONSHIP with Him.  It involves TRUST not WORKS which leads to FEAR!

Whatever fear has you bound, give it to God, NOW!!!  God desires to RESTORE ALL AND MORE but you MUST lay the fear down first.

JOB: A WORKS-BASED RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

We have all heard numerous messages preached on the life of Job…

His “patience;” although I don’t find that he really had much patience, rather he was placed in a situation in which he had no choice but to endure. 

His “Miserable Comforters:” A “How to slap a man when he’s down” treatise. 

Mrs. Job suggesting that her husband go ahead, “curse God and die.” Although, I always thought we were a little too rough on Mrs. Job considering that she had also lost children, home, wealth, position and in addition had to stand by and watch her husband suffer excruciating pain.

And, finally, how God restored to Job “double for his trouble,” after he prayed for his friends.

For some reason, I have been drawn to take a “second” look at the book of Job.  This “second” look is causing me to rethink all of the sermons I have heard preached regarding Job and view him and his experiences in a whole new light.  I pray they will provoke your mind and challenge you to consider that there may be far more to Job’s story then we first thought.

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was BLAMELESS, and UPRIGHT, and one who FEARED GOD and SHUNNED EVIL.

The first chapter of the Book of Job establishes the man and gives us insight into his character.  Verse 1, states that he was blameless, upright, feared God and shunned evil.  Verse 2 tells us that he was “greatest of all the people of the east.”  We come to understand that Job was a “Man of Integrity,” BUT, though it says he “feared” God, it does not say that he was a man FULL OF FAITH, as Abraham is described. So in reality, what type of relationship did Job have with God?

Job 1:5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all.  For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.  Thus Job did regularly.

In reading this verse, one may say and I have heard sermons preached saying, “What a righteous, spiritual man, Job must have been; so spiritual that he offered sacrifices for his children every day.”  Reread verse 5…This describes a man who FEARS God but does not have FAITH in God.  This portrays a picture of a man that has developed a WORKS-BASED RELATIONSHIP with God.

A WORKS-BASED RELATIONSHIP – If I do this, then God will…If I am “holy” enough, then God must…If I follow this list of rules, then God promises…

A WORKS-BASED RELATIONSHIP has two components that walk hand-in-hand…FEAR and PRIDE.

The PRIDE FACTOR says, “IF I.”  It’s really up to me. IF I can try hard enough to do enough, then God will perform as I wish.

The FEAR FACTOR causes you to continue the behavior because you are not sure you will ever truly be “good enough” to receive all the blessings you desire from God.

The one component missing from a WORKS-BASED RELATIONSHIP is FAITH!  Perhaps God’s conversation with Satan had more to do with taking Job from a WORKS-BASED to a FAITH-BASED RELATIONSHIP with Him, then it had to do with God showing off one of His “prized possessions” or teaching us a lesson on “enduring to the end,” or even forgiving the “inept sympathizers” in our life.

NOW, let’s be real here…have you ever “bargained” with God?  Maybe, thought if you did this, didn’t do that or committed to something, that God HAD TO do the thing you desired?  I HAVE!!! And I discovered that God is NOT IMPRESSED with anything I use to manipulate Him. 

GOD IS LOOKING FOR FAITH IN HIM!

FAITH that GOD has the plan for your life.

FAITH that HE will give you the desires of your heart; not what your heart desires. 

FAITH that if you turn every circumstance that comes your way over to God, that HE will work it out for your good. 

FAITH that GOD DESIRES to save your children even more than you do, BUT His methods will probably not meet your criteria.

FAITH that HE will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory, using the most unlikely people.

FAITH that HE is able to complete everything HE has started in you.

If you are happy living in a FRUSTRATED, WORKS-BASED RELATIONSHIP with God, keep on striving, keep on trying to please, and get ready to retrieve all of your prayers as the bounce off the ceiling right back at you.  BUT…

If you are ready to walk in the FREEDOM of a FAITH-BASED RELATIONSHIP, shake off the chains of your own desires, lay down the pride that says, “I CAN,” and allow God to overshadow your fear with His love.

Job finally got from WORKS to FAITH;  hopefully you won’t have to travel the same road to get to the same destination.  God has GOOD THINGS in store for you but they can only be obtained through a FAITH-BASED RELATIONSHIP with Him.

JOB; FRUSTRATOR OF SATAN

Job 1:8 Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant, Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

Yes, Satan was frustrated.  He had been roaming to and fro in the earth, because that is what Satan does.  He had been wreaking havoc on lives, preying on hearts and mines and destroying everything in his path.  BUT, suddenly he had come to an impenetrable hedge; an invisible force shield…he couldn’t see it but he knew it was there.

Job 1:1 There was a man in the Land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

This man, JOB…could there be any one more frustrating to Satan’s plans.  None of his tricks were working.  This “PARAGON OF VIRTUE;” this man, Job dealt fairly in the marketplace, passed along wisdom rather than judgment to those who sought him out, loved his wife and children faithfully and even offered sacrifices daily to the one true God.  Satan couldn’t find a hint of slander or gossip to spread.  YES, SATAN WAS FRUSTRATED!

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan also came among them.

AND…if that wasn’t enough, Satan had received a “Summons from Heaven” to appear before God.   Nothing good could come from this day. 

SURE ENOUGH…right after the exchange of a few pleasantries… “Where have you been?”  “What have you been up to lately?”  God hits Satan right in the “gut of his frustrations.”

Job 1:8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

WAY TO RUB IT IN…POUR SALT IN THE WOUND…

Are you IN COMPLIANCE WITH or are you FRUSTRATING the attempts of Satan? You could be the topic of a conversation taking place in Heaven today.  Perhaps at this very minute God is holding up your “homework paper,” the one with the big A+, and saying, “SATAN, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT….?”

BUT I’M NOT JOB; I’M NOT THAT GOOD… why would Satan ever have a conversation regarding my life?  How can I become a FRUSTRATOR OF SATAN?

Satan already has his eye on you because…You are a child of God and you are filled with His Spirit.  Now to becoming a FRUSTRATOR IN CHIEF…begin by allowing the Holy Spirit to produce fruit in your life.  There is nothing that is more frustrating to Satan than a COMMITTED man or woman who FOLLOWS after the Spirit and EXHIBITS an abundance of fruit in their daily life.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.

BEGIN YOUR NEW ROLE TODAY…Start with LOVE; work on it…REALLY, INTENTIONALLY allow the Spirit to produce LOVE in and through you, today.  Then tomorrow, add JOY; the next day, PEACE; then…..

I PROMISE YOU…after 9 days of exercising the Fruit of the Spirit, you will be healthier, happier and a card carrying “FRUSTRATOR OF SATAN.”

KING OF THE WORLD

Psalms 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

“How could I forget that you’ve always been the King of the World.”  The refrain from this song by Natalie Grant ran through my mind in the predawn hours.

We worry; we fret; we try to figure things out because WE ARE IN CONTROL…but mostly its all a façade as things slowly crumble in our small kingdom.

When we are born, God bestows on each of us a kingdom to rule.  We are given control and the power to make each and every decision in this little kingdom that we rule…AND if the king/queen doesn’t get his/her way, the surrounding kingdoms can hear the stomping foot of protest vibrating throughout their small world.

Of course the prosperous, happier kingdoms understand that they only rule a “sub-kingdom” and they receive daily instructions and direction from the KING OF THE WORLD.

What about your kingdom?  Has it become like the child’s game?  You claim the hill and stand precariously at the top, knowing that one strong push will knock you down. OR…do you rule a beautiful kingdom that looks so good to those in surrounding kingdoms but in your heart you know you are sitting on the throne of a crumbling infrastructure…you’ve forgotten that  “HE’S ALWAYS BEEN THE KING OF THE WORLD.”

This morning take some time to put God in His rightful place and you in yours.  He belongs ON THE THRONE and you belong kneeling in submission to THE KING OF THE WORLD.  Allow Him to put your kingdom back on the solid foundation of His Kingdom. 

It’s your kingdom and you have the POWER to put Him in CONTROL!

SETTLING FOR BRACHS

2 CHRONICLES 7:1-2 WHEN SOLOMON HAD FINISHED PRAYING, FIRE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUMED THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE SACRIFICES; AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE TEMPLE 2 AND THE PRIESTS COULD NOT ENTER THE HOUSE OF THE LORD BECAUSE THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAD FILLED THE LORD’S HOUSE.

Several years ago, I befriended a woman from Belgium.  Returning from a trip home, she brought me a small box of authentic Belgian Chocolates.  They were indescribably delicious; the type of chocolate that you eat in small bites, allowing the chocolate to melt in your mouth and excite your taste buds with its sweet smoothness.  In the years since the last bite was consumed, I’ve eaten a lot of chocolate, from Brach’s to Godiva, but I’ve never found anything to compare to the chocolate from Belgium and I still dream of some day experiencing that chocolatey goodness again.  I probably never will because I AM NOT WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE to have a box shipped to the middle of Michigan.

Have you ever been in a gathering of the People of God when the heaviness of God’s Spirit actually descended and filled the room?  A Holy hush stills voices and even the cries of babies.  Knees are bent, tears flow and hands are raised as worship begins to ascend heavenward.  Music is set aside, sermons are forgotten, dinner plans are set aside because you are “tasting” the authentic Presence of God.

Psalms 42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for you, O God.

Oh you will attend other worship services; there will be beautiful music that will draw you Heavenward; you will hear inspiring sermons that challenge and inspire you to change but you will NEVER FORGET that indescribably awesome encounter with the Shekinah Presence of God.  You will talk about it, dream about it and always long to experience it, at least once again in this life.

God desires to come down rest in the midst of His people; we desire to experience His awesome Presence, but TOO OFTEN WE ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE that His Presence requires.

We have settled for the “chocolate” left in our box because we are hungry for a taste of chocolate and the leftovers don’t require a whole lot of effort.  We have plans, there are schedules to be met, the pastor has a sermon prepared, and the roast is timed to be done at Noon.  What about the Sunday School teachers and kids?  What if there are visitors?  What if they get bored and never come back?  What if an encounter with God convicts me, changes me and I have to turn away from my personal desires?  Oh, you can count on that happening!

BUT, WHAT IF… you could once more “taste” the genuine Presence of the Lord?   WHAT IF….you could have your first encounter with heaviness of the Holy Spirit?  Are you willing to pay the price?  Are you willing to forget about YOUR plans, set YOUR sermon aside, turn the clock to the wall and linger in worship until He fills your heart and His Presence fills the room?

Don’t settle for Brach’s when you can savor Callebaut.

OTHERS CAN BUT YOU CAN'T

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

To my Fellow Ministers and Servants, it is easy to get our eyes off Jesus and onto the success of others.  And sometimes we marvel at the actions they, seemingly, “get by with.”  Maybe it is time to consider that your situation is the gateway to the GREATER BLESSING because God has reserved you to accomplish something special and dear to His heart.

In his writing, entitled OTHERS CAN…BUT YOU CAN’T, G. D. Watson says it all and says it best….

OTHERS CAN… BUT YOU CAN’T

G. D. Watson, in Living Words

If God has called you to be really like Jesus, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people or measure yourself by other Christians.  In many ways, He will seem to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians and ministers, who seem very religious and useful, may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it.  And, if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their success, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing.  And, if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you from wealth because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely a helpless dependence on Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury,

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants you to produce some choice fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.  He may let others be great but keep you small.

He may let others do a work for Him and get credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing.  And then, to make your work still more precious, He may let others get credit for the work you have done, and thus make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love and will rebuke you for little words and feelings, or wasting your time, which other Christians never seem to get distressed over.  So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own.

He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you in a jealous love and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.

Settle it forever, then, that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand or closing your eyes in ways that He does not seem to use with others.  Now when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the Vestibule of Heaven.

WAITING FOR THE AMEN

Time for morning devotion.  In my usual position…check; Bible handy…check; music playing softly…check; comfy pillow…check; everything in place; everything normal…ready to begin.

As I began my prayer routine, the praise then the petitions, my voice was suddenly stilled and this dropped into my spirit, “I am waiting for the Amen!”

SAY WHAT?????  Are you saying I can get up now?  That I’ve prayed long enough?  That I’ve satisfied all the requirements and you are about to answer all my prayers?

AND GOD SAID…. “I am waiting for the Amen!”

According to the Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, AMEN means to take care, to be faithful, reliable or believable.  It is also used in the Bible to confirm a statement or as the popular, accepted definition, “SO BE IT!”

Most of us end our prayers of petition, praise, thanksgiving and repentance with the word, “AMEN,” without a thought to its meaning.  It has become more of a “sign-off” word…see you later; till next time; have a nice day; same time tomorrow.  And God who knows the very intent of our heart sees right through to the very intent of our usage of the AMEN….and He continues to wait for the AMEN spoken in sincerity and humbleness of heart.

What has God spoken to you lately?  What promises are you still waiting to see come to pass? What “Frustration of Hope” are you experiencing as your patience wears thin?  Perhaps God has just been WAITING FOR THE AMEN!

AMEN…I will “take care” of all the preparation necessary to receive Your Promise into my life.

AMEN…I will be faithful to You and trust in Your Faithfulness to me even when My Promise comes in ways I never imagined.

AMEN…You can rely on me to be available for You to work through and accomplish this part of Your plan.

AMEN…I will accept my assignment with humbleness as a servant because You have believed in me and entrusted me with this piece of Your heart.

AMEN…Not my will but Your will be done…SO BE IT!

AMEN!

A PURE HEART

Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

During Ladies Prayer, I meditated on the fact that it was the Day of Atonement in the Jewish Religion and began to thank God for His atoning blood that covers our sin.  I am so thankful that we no longer are required to offer the blood of a spotless lamb because Jesus became the perfect Lamb of God.

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

As I continued to worship and praise God for this great sacrifice I felt that God whispered in my ear, “All I wanted then and all I want now is a PURE HEART!”

Let us take a mind trip back…It is the morning of the big day.  The Day of Atonement begins at sundown, the scurry of preparation is over, the final requirement now rests on the shoulders of the High Priest.  He is well aware of the requirements of the Law that passed down through Moses.  They ring through his head as he goes step by step…the purification, the special garments, the linen turban, the specially prepared incense to burn and finally, the bowl that would hold the blood for the atonement.  Yes, they were all there; all ready and waiting.

Then the moment came…the High Priest slipped behind the veil into the Holy of Holies to deliver the blood of atonement to the altar.  He had followed every step perfectly, the blood had been delivered and he comes back from behind the curtain….all the boxes were checked and he was unchanged…this glorious day; the one chance to come into the Shekinah Presence of God had become just A RITUAL….the right garments, the right words, the right instruments of praise, the right offering, BUT….the heart had been forgotten.

Isaiah 29:13 ….these people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips but have removed their hearts far from me.

Allow your mind to journey back to this moment…What about me???  Has entering into the Presence of the Lord become just a ritual?   We have perfected the look, the clothes are just right, the hair is arranged perfectly, our incense burner is filled with the latest Praise and Worship songs; we know when to stand, when to kneel, what words to repeat and when to raise our hands or say Amen.  We even have the facial expressions down pat…the look of “Godly” sorrow, awe, concern and concentration on the message being delivered or the Bible passage we are reading…BUT WHAT ABOUT MY HEART???

SERIOUSLY….God isn’t concerned about your dress, hair, worship rituals and even your facial expression; besides I can promise you when you really get into the Holy of Holies and God’s presence enters to commune with you, YOUR FACE WILL BE ALL UNDONE, and you won’t care or even notice.

God isn’t concerned with our rituals.  In fact, I believe they have become a stink in the nostrils of God blocking out the sweet smelling savor of our worship.

GOD IS CONCERNED ABOUT OUR PURE HEART

A pure heart doesn’t mean you have done everything in the right order or even that you haven’t stumbled, failed or fallen down.  A pure heart is honesty before God, sorrow as you crucify this flesh and allow the Holy Spirit to do its work in you.  It is handing over your will to Him and following wherever He leads…then it is time to bring out the “Censer of Praise.”  Let the sweet smelling savor waft into the Heavens as you worship with a pure heart because GOD CAN SMELL AGAIN!

A SETTLED ACCOUNT

Ecclesiastes 3:15 That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been; and God requires an account of what is past

Every day we are writing and producing the Legacy that will eternally bear our name.  When you are passed from this life, what will be the first thought, word or memory that will enter the mind of those to whom your name will be spoken?  What stories will be passed down to your great-grandchildren?  Will they be fraught with misdeeds and bad choices or full of faith, giving glory to God? 

YOUR CHOICES TODAY DETERMINE YOUR LEGACY TOMORROW!

This morning’s news announced the death of the famous playboy, Hugh Hefner.  In the reporter’s words, his legacy was framed with these words, “The man that turned many little boys and young men into temporary thieves.”  Would any of us want that epitaph on our tombstone?

Oh but it went so much further than thievery….This is a man that using one of the most powerful tools in Satan’s arsenal, provided an avenue to destruction for so many.  I have received many emails and letters documenting the destruction left behind as young men’s hearts and lives were forever changed by Mr. Hefner’s legacy.  

Women were objectified and the women themselves traded their self-respect and purity for momentary fame.  Homes and marriages have been and are in the process of being destroyed, children have been sentenced to single-parent homes and wives struggle with self-esteem and being good enough.  No, I would say that even today, as Mr. Hefner waits to face God, this is not the legacy he wanted to leave.

Before you accuse me of judging and remind me that only God has the right to judge, let me say, Mr. Hefner’s choice and actions have already judged him, just as our choices and actions judge us.  The only way we can get the sentence commuted is through the Blood of Jesus.

Every one of us will stand before God bearing an “Account of our Life.”  When it is opened, what will be found?  An Account full of emptiness….empty promises, empty achievements, empty accolades from this world, broken families, lonely children, destroyed lives OR…. An Account that was settled long ago!

An account wiped clean by the Blood of Jesus; an account full of the Holy Spirit; an account of leading and guiding our families in the ways of God; an account of lovingly pointing others to Jesus Christ; an account of daily glorifying God!

IT IS YOUR LEGACY AND YOU CHOOSE THE AUTHOR!

Place the pen of your life in the Hands of the One who created you.  Allow Jesus Christ to write the legacy you leave behind.  Allow Him to work through you to create the memories of your exploits…Your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all those yet to be born are counting on you.

TRUE REVELATION REQUIRES A CHALLENGE

There is a period of “blind belief” in the life of every person.  It usually begins to slowly fade into self-discovery around the age of two.  Mom says, “HOT!” and the toddler reaches out to touch the pan only to discover that Mom was right.  The challenges to authority and knowledge continue throughout childhood, adolescence and into young adulthood.  At some point, a set of accepted values are established and the need to challenge all authority and societal norms is buried under more exciting pursuits…but what if societal norms are wrong; what if accepted facts are not facts at all, but merely someone’s opinion or interpretation?  What would we learn, how far would knowledge increase, what scientific advances would be gained if one person had the courage to challenge?

In the 21^st Century, we have the benefit of sophisticated instrumentation, powerful satellites, and pictures from space to prove that the EARTH IS ROUND!  Although a few “FLAT EARTHERS” still exist, intelligent people all accept that we live on a big round ball. By the way, we only have to read the Word of God to find out that there were ancients, such as Job, who speak of a CIRCULAR HORIZON and Isaiah, who declares that God sits on the CIRCLE OF THE EARTH to understand that the earth is round.  Yet it became an accepted “societal norm” that the earth was flat until around 500BC.  Pythagoras, a Philosopher and Mathematician  challenged conventional knowledge, declaring that since his observations showed the moon was round, it only made sense that the earth must be round also…BUT what if no one had ever challenged this “fact?”

We will never receive further revelation without allowing the things we have always believed to be challenged!

We all can name several religions that are stuck in the century in which their particular sect was formed and a doctrine was established and codified. Dissent is squashed and those who would question are shun and ostracized, so that the religious tenets are kept pure.  They have received no fresh revelation for 1,000, 500, 75 or 40 years but “Praise God, they hold to the old paths” and no one dares to challenge.

This isn’t a Middle Ages or modern day phenomenon, some of the great leaders of the Bible were happily walking in their established tenets until they were CHALLENGED and received GREAT REVELATION!

In the Book of Acts we read of Saul’s miraculous conversion, how he became the great Apostle Paul and then, follow his ministry through the Epistles, yet Paul did not receive his GREAT REVELATION until his closely held beliefs were CHALLENGED!!!

We find in Acts 9, that Saul was on his way to kill those who dared to challenge the established religion of Israel.  He even had the blessing of the Religious leaders, but God had other plans and CHALLENGED Paul’s mission by shining a supernatural light on the situation.  A large portion of our New Testament Bible would be missing, if Paul had not been CHALLENGED!

The great Apostle Peter had been given the Keys to the Kingdom, was filled with the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room and preached the first sermon after the birth of the Church on the Day of Pentecost, yet God had to CHALLENGE HIS ADHERENCE TO THE LAW before He could impart further revelation and use Peter in a powerful mission.

Peter was raised a Jew, embraced the Jewish law and believed it was sin to break any part of the law as it had been handed down…then God CHALLENGED him in a vision.  In his vision, Peter was told to slay and eat animal flesh that would violate the dietary laws of his established beliefs.  At first, he resisted, but God had a plan for GREAT REVELATION and it lead to Cornelius, a Gentile, finding the same salvation that Peter had received….But what if Peter had never been CHALLENGED?

Acts 19:2 And he said unto them, “Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?” And they said unto him, “We have not so much as heard that there be any Holy Ghost.”

After receiving supernatural revelation, Paul journeys to Ephesus and meets up with a group of John’s disciples.  They were Believers because they followed the teaching of John, which said they should believe on Jesus and they had been baptized by John unto repentance.  There is nothing to suggest that they were unhappy with their religious experience or even felt a hunger for “something more.”  Paul, however, CHALLENGED them with one question, “Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?”  They had come to the crossroad of “STATUS QUO and REVELATION!”

The account continues; the Disciples of John took the “Road of Revelation,” were baptized in the Name of Jesus and received the Holy Ghost; speaking in other tongues and prophesying…BUT WHAT IF THEY HAD NEVER BEEN CHALLENGED?

REVELATION IS NOT a greater understanding, supported by our preconceived point of view or interpretation of Scripture.  Revelation will NEVER contradict Scripture but it MAY contradict YOUR INTERPRETATION of Scripture!

If only we could get past what WE THINK WE KNOW! What great REVELATIONS of TRUTH, contained in His Word, is God waiting to impart to you, if you would only open yourself up to being CHALLENGED? 

TRUE REVELATION WILL ROCK YOUR WORLD!

PEOPLE ARE OFFENDED; JESUS IS COMING

Matthew 24:6-8 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famine, pestilences and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.

We read Matthew 24:6-8 and we see the signs of the world we live in; wars, earthquakes, pestilences and famine…and we hear the preaching.  But seldom do we hear the preaching on Verse 10; BEING OFFENDED!

Matthew 24:10 And then many will be OFFENDED, will betray one another and will hate one another.

Have you ever witnessed a time when everything that occurs offends somebody!

Republicans are offended at Democrats because they take their money and give it away.  Democrats are offended at Republicans because they want to keep their money instead of giving it away.

Gay people are offended because some won’t accept and celebrate their lifestyle choices.  Straight people are offended because gay people flaunt their lifestyle choice and expect everyone to accept it.

Atheists are offended because Christians pray in public and say Merry Christmas.  Christians are offended because Atheists don’t believe in God and say Happy Holidays.

Minorities are offended at majorities, Senior Citizens are offended at Millennial, women are offended at men and employees are offended at employers.  This list could be turned around, read backwards and added to daily.

We need to recognize that this “Offended World” we live in is another sign that “it won’t be long and we’ll be going home.”

STOP being offended and get busy; JESUS IS COMING!

YOU DON'T OWN THAT!

1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

When we finally come to understand that God created us to be STEWARDS not OWNERS, He will become Lord over our life.

PREACHERS, that includes the call God has placed on your life; it is NOT YOUR CALL...You DON'T OWN it; you are a STEWARD.

PARENTS, that includes the children God has placed in your family; love them, provide and care for them and raise them to know the love of God, BUT...You DON'T OWN them; you are a STEWARD.

EMPLOYEE, that includes the job or career you work at every day; God has provided it as a source of blessing and...You DON'T OWN it; you are a STEWARD.

CHILD OF GOD, that includes every blessing that surrounds you; God gives them because it is HIS GOOD PLEASURE...You DON'T OWN them; you are a STEWARD.

Quit trying to take OWNERSHIP of everything that God sends your way, tend to it as a GOOD STEWARD and the MASTER will multiply it abundantly in your life.

COMPASSION; MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Jude 1:22-23 And of some have COMPASSION, making a difference: 23 And others save with FEAR, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by flesh.

Meditating on this verse today…

We all have those dear ones that we hold close to our heart, yet grieve daily because they are far from God.  We pray and don’t see any change.  We wonder; what will it take?  Can anything or anyone reach them?  Our mention of “End Time, Prophetic” news reports are met with derision; even fear doesn’t touch them.  We preach, then they no longer come around…and we weep.

Maybe it is time for COMPASSION.

Lose the “End Time” reports.  Stop the preaching and offer a hug instead.  Greet them with a smile.  Ask about their life, WITH INTEREST and WITHOUT CONDEMNATION!   Above all…Tell them you LOVE them.

I see so many that love Jude 1:23.  They are always ready to point out spotted garments and use fear and guilt to minister to the hurting.

BUT REMEMBER…

Verse 22 comes first and it contains a key word…COMPASSION!

A little FEAR may get their attention but it is COMPASSION THAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

IF I; THEN GOD

There are many promises in the Word of God that include the conditions, IF I; THEN GOD WILL!

We leave so many blessings "on the table" because we grab hold of the last part of the phrase, "THEN GOD WILL" but ignore the very important first two words, "IF I."

As we journey along the road of life, we must understand that following the plan of God and enjoying His many blessings requires COOPERATION or an "IF I."  Here is one for you to meditate on today.

IF I WILL:

Habbakuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—18 Yet I WILL REJOICE in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

THEN GOD WILL: 

19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Praying you have a blessed day as you COOPERATE WITH GOD!

MORE THAN A FRIEND; A CONFIDANT

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the FRIEND OF GOD.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines FRIEND as “One attached to another by affection or esteem; a favored companion.” 

In today’s vernacular, the word “FRIEND” has so many different meanings.  It may signify an acquaintance, a colleague, someone favorable to a cause and of course in Facebook Land, a “FRIEND” is someone who is connected to your page.  You may have never met them, actually spoken to them or really know anything about them but they have given you a “thumbs up” on many occasions and you read their posts and status updates, so you call them “FRIEND.”

James 2:23 tells us there was one man in the Bible that had the distinct title, “FRIEND OF GOD.”  Because of his unwavering FAITH in God and his WILLING OBEDIENCE to the call of God, Abraham would be immortalized in Scripture as a “FRIEND OF GOD.”

It would be awesome to be known in your community, because of your steadfast faith, as “One attached to God or a favored companion of God.”  Your epitaph, the words etched on your tombstone; the words your descendants would walk by and read, would be “SUSAN; FRIEND OF GOD.”

Yes, a “FRIEND OF GOD” would be an awesome, yet humbling title, but I believe Abraham had an EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TITLE; Abraham was a “CONFIDANT OF GOD!”

Genesis 18:17-18 And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him.  

Then he adds in the first part of Verse 19 “FOR I HAVE KNOWN HIM.”

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines CONFIDANT – One to whom secrets are entrusted – comes from an Italian adjective “Confidente” meaning TRUSTWORTHY.

We read in Genesis, just after Abraham receives Angelic Visitors to assure him that God has not forgotten HIS PROMISE and that he and Sarah will have a son. Then Abraham walks with them away from his dwelling; he and his visitors walking in the Shekinah Glory of God.  Abraham’s faith was so steadfast, that God esteemed and honored him by taking him into His confidence.  GOD STILL HONORS FAITH!

God said, “I will still destroy Sodom BUT not without alerting MY FRIEND;” Abraham became the CONFIDANT OF GOD.  God entrusted His Secrets to him.

So what did Abraham do with his new status and knowledge?  I can assure you he DID NOT grab his Smartphone and post his new job title, “CONFIDANT OF GOD!”  He status update did not include the cryptic message, “SO BLESSED TO KNOW THE MIND OF GOD.”  He didn’t hang a “shingle” on his tent or regale his friends and family with boastful stories of his new-found favor…NO, ABRAHAM BECAME AN INTERCESSOR!

Does God know you well enough to honor you with His plans? What would you do if God entrusted you with the knowledge of His future actions?   Perhaps, He is or already has…REMEMBER that time you were wide awake at 3 a.m. with a burden to pray for that wayward loved one?  Or that time, during devotions, you were overcome with grief and could only weep for the lost?  Or perhaps it was the time that an impending sense of tragedy overwhelmed you and you asked God for protection for a friend….GOD MADE YOU HIS CONFIDANT; YOU WERE AN INTERCESSOR!

 It could be that even now God is saying, “Shall I hide from Susan, what I am doing?”   God is calling you to an honor far above that of FRIENDSHIP; He is calling you to be HIS CONFIDANT because someone needs you to BECOME AN INTERCESSOR!!!

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE SHIP; IT'S ABOUT THE ANCHOR

Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an ANCHOR OF THE SOUL, both sure and steadfast and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

I recently listened to a wonderful message by my friend Pastor Wendell Maynard, entitled, ‘THE ANCHOR HOLDS.”  His messages are always anointed, encouraging and beautifully delivered, AND…set my mind spinning…so I apologize and thank my friend, in advance, for inspiration and for taking his thoughts in a different direction.

Pastor Maynard’s message related Paul’s account in Acts 27, of his experience at sea in the midst of a powerful storm.  Paul received a Word from the Lord and commanded that the anchors be let down and everyone was to STAY IN THE SHIP.  In his message, THE SHIP is THE CHURCH and if we stay IN THE SHIP we will all be saved.  A great exhortation…God’s Church  is a place of safety; a haven in the time of a storm BUT it is important that you make sure you are in GOD’S CHURCH and make sure to what THE ANCHOR IS ATTACHED!

We read a little further in Acts 27 and realize not all was perfect…the Captain of the ship LET GO of the ANCHORS, hoisted the main sail and RAN THE SHIP AGROUND, where the STERN WAS BROKEN by the violent waves…KNOW THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP!

Then we read that a Centurion, in order to save Paul, ordered the prisoners to JUMP OVERBOARD, grab hold of ship scraps and get to shore however they could manage. 

Have you ever felt like one of these prisoners?  You were riding high in ‘THE SHIP” when suddenly a storm hit and the ANCHOR DIDN’T HOLD.  You were thrown overboard, told to grab whatever you could find floating beside you and try to get to shore.  Some of us made it to shore but so many did not.

Which brings me to my thoughts…

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE SHIP; IT’S ABOUT THE ANCHOR!

The security of the ship is only as dependable as the mooring to which you attach the anchor. 

In March a storm blew up over Pensacola Bay.  We watched from the deck of our condo as a boat came loose from its anchor and was tossed out of control toward the docks.  The owners waded out in the storm, jumped in the boat and finally got it started to steer away from the docks and secure the anchor.  The anchor had been dug into the sandy bottom, which works when the sun is shining and the waters are calm but when the winds began to blow and the storm raged, a more secure mooring was required for attaching the anchor.

Are you facing a raging storm in your life?  OR perhaps you’ve been thrown overboard and you are grasping a broken plank, just trying to keep your head above water.  If your anchor was attached to a congregation or a specific pastor, you are not going to make it to shore.  BUT, if your anchor is in JESUS CHRIST, let the winds blow, let the storm rage; even if the ship breaks up or you are thrown overboard; TRUST THE ANCHOR!

The words of this old song remind us that there is no need to fear when we are ANCHORED TO THE ROCK OF AGES!

♪♪ “I’ve anchored in Jesus, the storms of life I’ll brave.

I’ve anchored in Jesus; I fear no wind nor wave.

I’ve anchored in Jesus, for He has power to save.

I’ve anchored in the Rock of Ages.” ♪♪

CROSSING OVER AND NOT COMING BACK

Joshua 1:2 “Moses, my servant is dead.  Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving them-the Children of Israel.”

The children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.  It had not been an easy life, since leaving Egypt, but God had led them and made provision along the journey.  They had witnessed the awesome miracles; parting of the Red Sea, water from a rock, manna from Heaven and they even had shoes that never wore out; oh the anticipation as they began the preparations for crossing over into the Promised Land. They were all excited, that is except for the tribes of Rueben, Dan and Manasseh.

Numbers 32:5 Therefore they said, if we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession.  Do not take us over the Jordan.

Numbers 32 records the leaders of these tribes approaching Moses with a strange request.  It seems that during their journey through the wilderness, they had acquired many sheep and decided that the beautiful land of Jazar and Gilead suited them just fine.  They and their families were tired, everything they required and desired was in this land, it would become their “PROMISED LAND;” why cross over Jordan?  Moses reluctantly agreed that they could settle without crossing over but only if they would go fight with their brothers so that the other tribes could obtain the inheritance that God had promised.

Every time I read this passage, I question, WHY? 

Why would anyone faithfully make the journey and stop short of the Promised Land? 

Why would anyone fight for truth alongside his brothers then say, “it’s yours now, I am tired, I will return to all I have accumulated, rest and enjoy a few of life’s pleasures before I die?”

 Why would anyone settle for less than all of God’s blessings?

 IT HAPPENS!!!  We have fought, we have labored; then just on the banks of crossing over, we hit the wall, tiredness settles in and this side of Jordan doesn’t look so bad.

I believe God has led the Church to the banks of Jordan, the Promised Land is in view and the Priests, with the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders have already taken that first step into the water.  I can feel the excitement as I find my place.  I want to be as close to the front as I can, behind the priests because I’M CROSSING OVER!!!  My “tambourine” is ready; I have a song on my lips and a dancing in my feet. 

IT’S TIME TO CROSS OVER.

I have been walking, following the cloud.   I have been fighting, holding onto truth.  It is time to cross over into God’s Promise and once I do there will be NO GOING BACK!  Stay on this side of Jordan if you want to; settle for less than God’s best, if you must, but I WANT MY MOUNTAIN!!  The greatest day for the church has arrived, don’t stay on this side of Jordan;

IT’S TIME TO CROSS OVER!!!

BUT HE CAN'T LIFT A CAR; NO ONE CAN DO THAT

BUT HE CAN’T LIFT A CAR; NO ONE CAN DO THAT

Mark 9:24 Immediately, the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord I believe; help my unbelief.”

4 year-old Caleb and Grandma were sharing an early morning conversation and making exciting plans for the day.  I assured him that Grandpa would carry the toy downstairs as soon as he got out of bed. Of course he wasn’t satisfied and wanted to know why I didn’t just bring it down.  I explained that Grandpa was much stronger than Grandma, so we would have to wait.  Caleb, boastfully, replied, “My Daddy is very, very, very, very strong.  But he can’t lift a car; no one can do that.”

Do you remember a time when your Dad could do anything?  I do!  There was no one as strong or as smart as my Dad.  He could fix anything that was broken, accomplish the impossible and had the answer to every situation that we faced.  I don’t remember when it happened but one day I broke a toy that couldn’t be fixed, a situation arose that even Dad didn’t know what to say, and then his body became so weak that most tasks became impossible.  I wanted my strong, smart, capable, Hero-Dad back and the reality made me sad.

Do you remember a time when you believed God could do anything?  There was nothing broken that He couldn’t fix, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the impossible could be accomplished and there was no storm that He wouldn’t see you through.  I don’t remember when it happened but one morning I found myself thinking, “God you are very, very, very, very great.  You can do anything, but not that; no one can do that!”  Then it hit me, God really COULDN’T do that in my life because I didn’t believe that He could or would. 

Just as Caleb had voiced his thoughts regarding his daddy, I believed God was very great BUT there had to be some limitations.  The only place I could go was to my knees.  As the man in Mark 9:24, I cried, “Lord I believe; help my unbelief!”

 It’s true; sometimes a Dad can’t lift the car, but GOD CAN!  Lives become so broken until even a Dad can’t fix them, but GOD CAN!  Dads grow weak, run out of answers and situations become impossible, but not to God; HE CAN!!! 

Whatever you are facing today; the broken can become whole, the unanswerable can be solved and the impossible accomplished because…

“MY GOD IS VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY STRONG AND HE CAN LIFT A CAR;

HE CAN EVEN DO THAT!”