He has the last word!

Proverbs 16: 1 (The Message)

Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.

I have had a number of conversations with distraught people in the last 24 hours.

Some are distraught over the ruling of the highest court of this land, related to marriage.

Some have received devastating news, regarding injustice in their family.

Be sure of this my friends—those of you, whose steps are orchestrated by the Most High God—all is not lost!

In the end , God will have the last word about everything.

No matter how persuasive the legal opinions of lawyers might be, Jesus has the last word in every person’s life.

That’s why it’s so important to trust in God’s unfailing Word—and not in the opinions of man.

The opinions of man, legal or otherwise, have never stood up to God—unless they are of God to begin with.

The world is filled up to the brim, of advice of many kinds.

As for me and my house…. “I dare not trust the sweetest frame—but wholly lean on Jesus’ name!”

When this world looks like it’s about to cave in at any minute—who will you trust?

It is only Jesus, who can truly lay claim to these words….. “I AM THE ALMIGHTY!!”

Maybe those of you who are riddled with fear and worry, you need to remember who Jesus is.

Too many times, we have the wrong idea, of who has all the power.

Remember—HE is the author of our faith—and HE’S the finisher of it too!

Offer a hand of Peace!

2 Corinthians 5: 18 – 19

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.

 

The ministry of reconciliation, especially when it’s found in the church, is something beautiful to behold.

Followers of Christ cannot stay embittered toward anyone, because it is a mark of a Christian.

 

Regardless of how it’s received, we must make every effort to offer a hand of peace.

We must always make that effort!

 

Did you every say something to someone, and didn’t think about the ramifications, before the words spilled out of your mouth?

We’ve all done it, but there is something so wonderful, when someone allows us to go free.

That’s reconciliation.

 

Paul is telling us all in this verse, how important it is to demonstrate the love of Jesus.

Jesus made the first move toward us, and reconciled us.

Maybe we should make the first move, more than we do.

 

Refusing to reconcile with other people, is a complete failure to comply with the order of God’s Word.

Since we have been reconciled to Christ, through His sacrifice, then we ought to be bearers of the light of His love.

 

Was the misunderstanding you had, really worth the effort of carrying that burden?

Who do you need to be reconciled to, today?

 

Maybe it’s time to get over it. Maybe it’s time we get over ourselves….

Out of Order!

Galatians 2: 11

When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.

 

It seems that no matter where we look now days, we see conflict abound everywhere.

We see it in the work place—we see it in marriages—and we often see it in the church, as much as we would not want to admit it.

 

Peter had changed his position, and quite frankly, the Apostle Paul called him out on it.

How could Paul do that, to the one person Christ was going to use to establish the church?

 

Did you know that Paul was following the pattern that Jesus put in order, regarding conflict?

We think that we should all just get along and sit around and sing Kumbaya in the church.

That would be nice, but once in a while, things need to be set straight in the church—especially when someone or something is out of order.

 

People are afraid of conflict for the most part.

No one wants to ruffle any feathers, and so the person out of order, is often left unchecked.

That’s a dangerous place to be, especially when it happens in the church.

 

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 18—that when a person is out of order—you go to that person—and you correct him/her.

That’s what Paul was doing here to Peter….and once in a while, a rebuke needs to come to the darlings of the church.

 

I personally believe, that the church would be a whole lot healthier, if we made corrections, right when they needed to happen.

People leave churches over conflict—and people even build new churches over conflict.

That sure sounds to me, like a big waste of time. Maybe if the record was set straight right on the spot—we’d actually see more growth in the church…..

A Solitary Place!

Mark 1: 35

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed”

Followers of Jesus, often ask why it’s important to pray.

I guess if Jesus lived a life of prayer, maybe so should we.

The Bible describes many events where Jesus prayed.

Jesus prayed for guidance—He prayed for his friends and all believers—Jesus prayed prayers of praise—He prayed prayers of thanksgiving.

His prayer posture was always a reverent one—and we know that He prayed during trying times of anguish.

Let’s not forget the time He taught the disciples how to pray, when he taught them what we know to be, The Lord’s Prayer.

I’ll bet the first time the disciple heard Jesus pray the Lord’s Prayer—there was much more excitement than there is in the church today, when it’s prayed aloud.

It’s plain to see, that Jesus loved the Father, and communicated with Him quite often.

One thing Jesus prayed with, that most folks don’t display in their prayer life these days—was that He prayed with great expectation.

Do you pray expectant prayers?

Thought should be the goal of every believer.

I hear people pray from time to time—at least those who are willing to pray audibly—but I don’t often hear people pray expectantly.

I’ll bet if we learned to pray expectantly, we might have more results in our prayer life, than we have right now…..

Never give up!

2 Chronicles 15: 7

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."

Day after day, I meet more and more people, who would just as soon give up.

You would think it would be more people outside of the church that feel that way, but many followers of Jesus feel so defeated these days.

It got me thinking about arguably the greatest President of these United States of America.

Abraham Lincoln failed in 8 different elections before he was elected President.

Did you know that he was a failure in many business ventures, that left him feeling totally inept—but he never gave up.

Can you begin to imagine, what might have happened to this country, had Abraham Lincoln given up the ship?

The other thing I want you to think about, are the people who are depending upon you, to keep up a full head of steam, in your faith walk.

You might not realize it, but during these uncertain times, people are watching how we take the blows and punches of this culture.

We must always rely on the power of God, which is inside of us, that makes us determined even more, to win the prize.

Walking with Jesus every day, is not at all for wimps.

We must insist on overcoming sin, which by the way is doubt and fear, and we must be focused on pleasing God in all that we do—yes, even if it’s hard!

We must resist on giving up, because the devil would love nothing better.

We must be strong—and we must succeed—and we must NEVER EVER give up—because one day, we will be rewarded for our steadfast work….

20/20 Vision!

2 Corinthians 4: 3 – 4

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel….

 

Paul’s greatest mission on earth, was to bring sight to the spiritually blind.

Fact be told, the church today is filled with spiritually blind people.

 

Scripture tells us that only those who know and love Jesus Christ, have spiritual sight.

We also know, that the Word of God says that those who love Jesus, obey His commands in full.

 

Many people in the world, think that Jesus was the most narrow minded man of all time.

Those are the kinds of people, who can’t see spiritually beyond the end of their nose.

 

I’ve actually had people attend our Winneconne church for a time, and then stopped when they found out what Jesus requires to follow Him.

Those are the people I’m talking about, who do not have sight, to see the things of God—at least not yet.

 

Jesus is narrow minded, and that’s why He encourages us to take the path less traveled. The “narrow” road.

People with spiritual blindness, only see what they want to see, and end up taking the first easy fork that comes along in the road.

People who know Jesus, can actually see the light, because the Kingdom of Jesus, is the Kingdom of light.

 

We all have a choice in this life—spiritual sight or spiritual blindness.

The result of spiritual sight is a sincere and sacrificial worship of God.

Spiritual darkness is always a life filled with emptiness, darkness and gloom and doom…..

Loyalty

Ephesians 2: 19

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household….

 

There are some people in the frame work of the church, that think church membership isn’t important.

The true teaching of God’s Word though, says that we should be local members of the fellowship of believers.

So if we’re part of God’s family, why do so many stay outside of that organization?

 

Did you know that unity within the body of saints, requires loyalty?

We don’t see loyalty in the church like we did some centuries ago.

Something happens that slightly ticks people off, and they often run for the cover of another church.

 

The question should not be when we come to church…. “What’s in it for me?”

The question should be…. “How can God use me, to fulfill the spiritual and practical needs of others in this fellowship?”

 

It’s obvious that there is no shortage of needs to go around in the church.

Each person if they look deep enough in their heart, can find someone to help.

Many hands do make lighter work.

 

Each person should bring a loyal heart into the church house.

We’re supposed to be a family, and the church is a great place to foster that kind of attitude.

 

We’re not a part of a church, to be served—we’re part of the local church, to serve…..

Is everything just fine?

Mathew 24: 12 – 13

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

The former Chairman of NASDAQ, Bernie Madoff swindled various people for over 20 years, and accumulated over $18billion dollars of other people’s wealth.

People who were caught off guard in the swindling scheme, we’re furious when they found out they had lost everything.

Did you know that there’s fraud going on in the church of Christ, that often reach diabolical proportions?

There are people all over the world, that would call themselves Christians, but display almost zero fruit from following Christ.

During each wedding I officiate, at some point I hand out a questionnaire that measures the spirituality of those who desire to get married.

The first question, I almost always ask is…… “Is God important to you—and if so, how much?”

Frankly, I am sometimes amused at the answers that come back.

Some answer, that God is very important, but when Sunday comes around, that answer just doesn’t seem to jive.

Some people might retort…. “But what makes you think you can judge the hearts of those people?”

John 7: 24 says, that Christians can evenly exercise righteous judgment.

How can we all claim to be one thing, when our actions really tell a different story?

I’m sure when Bernie Madoff’s clients came to check out their financial portfolios, he told them that everything is just fine.

Some people are going to be frightfully furious, when Jesus calls them out on their own spiritual ponzi-scheme one day….

He holds the key!

Revelation 1: 18

“I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

 

Just reading this verse so early in the morning, brings me such great encouragement.

I hope it’s a good way for you to start off your day too!

 

I’ve recently read, that at Vladimir Lenin’s tomb in Moscow, you can actually see him lying in state.

If you look on line, you can see the image of his tomb, and he looks like he’s asleep—but he’s not.

 

What most people don’t know, is that engraved on his tomb are these words…..

“He was the greatest leader of all peoples—of all countries—of all time.”

 

It struck me funny this morning, that these words written on Lenin’s tomb are all past tense.

The words from the book of Revelation, suggest that Jesus is alive forever more.

 

It’s obvious that Vladimir Lenin didn’t know Jesus, or severely underestimated Him.

The Christian composer/performer Mark Shultz, wrote a song about Jesus, and the lyrics are… “He was—He is—and He will always be.”

 

Jesus is the living Christ of my life, and He has made such a difference in who I am today.

The great “I am”, is coming back again one day soon.

The reason He’s going to do that, is because He’s alive forever more. It’s pretty hard for a dead person to do that.

Who’d want to worship some dead guy, in some glass tomb anyway?

 

If it’s all the same to you, I choose to worship the God who is alive, and who defeated death and sin, once and for all….

Great Joy!

Jude 1: 24

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy….

 

Now it’s time to be totally honest.

Have you ever complained that while enduring trials in this life, you’ve felt like God’s abandoned you?

Maybe you’ve even thought that maybe God was away on an extended vacation.

You’re not alone.

 

The God who placed and named the stars in the sky, is God all the time.

The same God who knit you together in your mother’s womb, has never had a vacation.

The God who filled the seas with water, and the God who raised the mountains high, is still calling all of the shots.

Whether you believe that or not, doesn’t really matter.

 

He is our King—He is our Savior—and He cares way too much, to ever leave us hanging.

He’s the same God who brought us up and out, from the depths of sin itself.

 

The Bible says that we have been placed in the very hand of God, when we have confessed our sins, and repented of our personal darkness.

We can’t climb into His hand on our own—and I’m pretty sure His love for us, will always keep us close by.

 

He’s the One who keeps us from falling—and He presents us without fault.

What other God can do that? None that I know of.

 

That should bring about great and abundant joy……

Imputed!

Romans 4: 6  (NKJV)

….just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

I’ve always wondered what the word “imputes” mean, so I looked it up.

It’s means to be… “credited” or to be… “put on our account”

I remember when my Mom would have one of us kids go to the local corner grocery store—and she sent money with us—the grocer would credit that amount to Mom’s account.

Did you know that’s what God does, through His Son, Jesus Christ?

He imputes or credits righteousness unto us.

At the moment a person believes upon the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ, God makes us righteous.

Is it possible to lose that righteousness? That’s been debated for many a year.

Maybe it’s when Jesus isn’t Lord of our lives anymore? Maybe something or someone else has taken His rightful place.

A.W. Tozier once said…. “Either Jesus is Lord of all—or He’s not Lord at all!”

A little boy, after giving his heart to Jesus during a Sunday school class, said afterward…. “It feels like Jesus is living in my house—and me in His!”

No Bible scholar in the world, could explain it any better.

Is Jesus living in your house—and are you living in His?

That’s what righteousness is, at least through the heart of a little boy.

Maybe Jesus was right, when He said, we must become like little children.

He did not say we should act like them, though…

Humble Yourself!

1 Peter 5: 6 – 7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

 

When God ushered His people into the world, He did not make us to leave us somewhere in the darkness.

No, when He took the time to look upon created man, He took a long gaze and said in a satisfying way…. “It is good.”

 

Unfortunately, not long after that, sin came into the world and fellowship between God and man was broken.

But then in His great love and mercy for us, He sent His one and only Son, to restore that fellowship.

 

It was then, that those who received the grace of Jesus, were made into a new creation.

Now we were saved, and God could say it again with great satisfaction….. “It is Good!”

 

The fact is, our sin soiled garments, were washed clean and made righteous again.

We were allowed to wear the righteous robes of Christ Jesus.

 

Now here’s the important question…..

Are you washed in the Sons’ blood—are you forever cleansed in His sight—and are you forever in His heart?

 

Maybe on this first day of the week, we should take a good look in the mirror.

Are you dressed in the righteous robes of Christ—or still wearing the robes of man and of this world?

 

It might be a good idea to humble ourselves under His mighty right hand—so that He may lift us up……

A Perfect Home!

John 14: 2

“In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

Do you really believe, that there is a home waiting for you in Heaven?

I guess we’d have to say there is, because we know that Jesus could never lie.

Jesus would be a pretty cruel guy, if this promise of a home in Heaven, was some sort of delusion or dream.

Heaven is a place where Jesus is, in the literal sense. He lives there in His resurrected body, and we’ll be there one day too.

Heaven and our home, is definitely on God’s GPS.

There is an absolute specific location.

We can trust in that fact, because Jesus said so.

American’s are always dreaming of having their perfect dream home. Think of how many people actually watch HGTV.

Tell me that if money wasn’t an object, we all have in mind a dream home, where we could have every amenity, and enjoy every great comfort.

In Heaven, this won’t be a dream—it’ll be a reality!

If in fact, you’ve never thought about what your perfect home would be like, think about your Heavenly home.

Nothing in the world, could be this perfect.

Actually, that perfect home won’t be in this world, it will be in a world, all of its own……

You'll never make it?

Philippians 1: 6  (NKJV)

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ….

 

I remember a time when I was considering a move to full time ministry.

I wasn’t really sure I had what it takes.

Then I overheard someone from my family say…. “He’ll never make it—and it’ll never last!”

 

That was over 10 years ago, and since it came from someone close to me, it almost made feel like crying.

Did you know that’s what the world says about most of us Christians?

“They’ll never make it!”

 

Funny thing is, the devil hasn’t changed his tactics one bit over the years.

He’s still trying to rub stuff in our faces, and he’s constantly trying to rain on our parade.

 

Do you know what it’s like to tell someone, that they’ll never amount to anything?

Has anyone ever told that to you?

Here’s what I would do…..I’d send those lies right back to the pit of hell where they came from!

 

Rest in the Word of God, my friends.

Remember this….We have been purchased by the precious blood of the Lamb.

By what He accomplished at the cross, we’ll not only amount to something in this life—we’ll amount to something even greater in the next…..

Practice shouts of praise!

Revelation 7: 12

"Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!"

There was once a farmer, who would often shout… AMEN!, or… PRAISE THE LORD!, during various parts of the church service.

It got so much out of hand, that some of the Elders and Deacons of the church paid him a home visit to his farm.

At the end of their friendly conversation, the man offered this….

“I know that I’ve disturbed many a church service in my day, but you know as I sit there and reflect on all the Lord has done for me, I can’t contain myself.

When I consider how He died in agony, and how He spilled His blood on the cross for me, and how He’s forgiven me, and how He’s filled me with His Spirit, I can’t help but shout.

Why, even while I drive my tractor here on the farm, I just have to give God praise!”

If being a believer in Jesus doesn’t excite you, and going to Heaven one day doesn’t excite you, then what will?

I can’t speak for you, but for me, it sure is exciting to know the Lord Jesus Christ is a personal way!

When was the last time you raised your hands and shouted…. “PRAISE THE LORD!”?

I know some folks, don’t believe that should ever happen in the church.

I think when we all get to Heaven, we’re going to see a lot of that going on.

If that makes you want to crawl under a church pew when someone shouts in church, get ready for that happening all the time in Heaven.

Maybe right now—when no one else is looking—maybe this would be a good time to offer a shout of praise?

You could even do it right this moment, while you sit in front of your computer screen.

We might as well start practicing now…..

Battle Ready!

Psalm 71: 17

Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

School for most kids, ends this week.

But even as we begin to think about a summer away from school, be reminded that the devil is already planning for the new school year to come.

Did you know that Satan is on a killing rampage?

He’s trying to kill our memory, and send us sailing in a sea of forgetfulness.

He’d actually like to wipe out from our minds, the Christian heritage that made this country so great.

He’s starts at a very young age, and the school room seems to be the logical place to start.

His first line of defense is aimed at our children.

School used to be a place where children grew in the knowledge of all good things—especially good and Godly things.

Now in public schools, prayer is out—the Bible is out—creation is out—history of the signers of the Declaration of Independence are out too—not to mention the Ten Commandments.

But we’ve replaced them with….bomb sniffing dogs—metal detectors—security guards—and evolution. I wonder how that’s working for us?

So how can we tell future generations, the marvelous deeds of God, when He’s not allowed on the school grounds?

I think we have an important job to do, and we had better figure out a way, fast.

Maybe we need to train our children about God in the home—if we’re not going to do it in the school? How about the church?

We better begin teaching our children, to walk in the ways of the Lord, and to move out against the evil tides of this world.

We can win this battle, but we better find a way pretty quickly, before it gets too late in the game.

I’m sure the Commander in Chief of the Lord’s army, has a great battle strategy, if we would only engage it…..