move on out Devil!

Ephesians 4: 27      KJV

²⁷ Neither give place to the devil.

I can’t begin to tell you the number of people who have contacted me recently, feeling an all out attack by the devil, against them and their family members.

One thing you’ll almost never hear some churches preach on, is demonic activity or an active devil.

Jesus not only spoke about the devil, He also had a personal encounter.

Talking about the devil in church isn’t good for the coffers, and it isn’t good for church attendance either.

As a follower of Christ, it’s important that we resist anything that the devil brings our way.

I read the other day about a man who read comic books, and one of the evil characters appeared to him in the middle of the night.

I know...whose going to believe that story...right?!?

The manifestation was so severe, that the man ended up on a suicidal watch in an institution.

And parents are encouraging their children to take part in the Pokémon craze. (And you can put that Harry Potter crap in the same trash basket)

Call me suspicious, but I don’t see anything spiritually healthy coming out of that idiocy.

I wonder if we’ve forgotten that Jesus gave us power to tread on scorpions and serpents?

This world is changing at supersonic speed, but we don’t have to change with it.

As you start your day today, why not choose to praise Him and thank Him.

Instead of shaking, stand on the promises of God, and enjoy walking in victory in the name of Jesus...

Things to consider!

James 1: 27             KJV

²⁷ Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction...

Yesterday I spent a good share of the day, with a boy who needed my undivided attention.

Braedyn and I have a lot in common. We love the north woods, and the animals that live there.

One thing that we don’t have in common though, is that I had a Dad, and Braedyn, doesn’t.

It didn’t take long, but I could clearly see that this boy needs a godly man in his life.

I have no idea how Braedyn’s Mom provides for those needs that only a man can give.

I got to see firsthand this young lads affliction.

So is pure religion, just to visit kids like this? Is it just spending one day a month with them?

And many of you like me, can reason and even rationalize why we’re way too busy to pour into children without Dad’s.

Maybe our walk needs to match our talk. Maybe we need to truly come to the end of ourselves.

Maybe a few of us have overlooked this verse, all the while trying to be Holy and pure. Good luck with that...

Loving God daily, comes with a knowing that He will genuinely give me eyes to see those in extreme need.

When I got home last night, my heart ached for this fatherless boy.

His Mother said she feels like this every night.

And when you and I begin to gripe and moan about how life has treated us so unfairly, let’s not forget to consider this little boy...and others like him...

Righteous walk!

Proverbs 20: 6 - 7             NKJV

6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?

7 The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.

This has been a crazy summer for weddings.

I had the honor of officiating another one last Friday afternoon in Green Lake.

I was taken aback by the sincere vows articulated by each the bride and groom.

“I vow before God and our family and friends to love you unconditionally...”

“God’s plan and mine used to be completely different, but I am so glad I listened to Him...”

I think it’s pretty easy to find a man who might be stuck on himself these days, but to find a righteous man...I wonder if that might be a different dilemma?

It takes me every bit of daily effort I have, to stay in sync with the Master.

I am pressed to live a righteous life, because I want to leave my children blessing.

I wonder how many consider that when they confess their marriage vows?

I wonder how many people want to be found faithful?

It’s so easy to give up on a marriage that is shaky and even shattered.

I wonder who’s going to stand up and do the hard work in their marriage?

It seems to be a lot easier to throw in the towel...

“You owe it to yourself”...is not a valid excuse for breaking a marriage vow, but a creed of selfishness.” Rev. R.C. Sproul 

Eternal Weight!

Corinthians 4: 17

¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory...

A friend shared this Bible verse with me the other day, and I spent some time pondering it’s deeper meaning.

The great American writer, entrepreneur and publisher, Samuel Langhorne Clemens once said... (Mark Twain)

“Some churches actually fail to gain more members, because they make the way too easy...”

Read though, one more additional thing he said to finish this sentence...

“Conversely, the church that is hard to gain membership into, is more likely to prosper numerically.”

Twain wasn’t known for being overly spiritual, but maybe he was onto something back in the late 1800,’s.

God the Father has called men to follow His Son, but He never made the way look easy.

As a matter of fact, it would seem that He made it appear extremely hard.

The way Jesus spoke to His Disciples and perspective Disciples back when, the church avoids preaching that way today.

What modern day evangelist have you heard preach lately, about the word...”affliction”?

“For whoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it.”

The great preacher whom I love to read his material, (A.W. Tozier), is quoted as saying...

“The masses of professed Christians today, simply do not have the moral and spiritual muscle to walk down such a treacherous path”.

Do the people of the faith today, really have what it takes?

I wonder if we’re all just really afraid, to tell people the truth anymore?

Reject to Accept!

Matthew 16: 24

²⁴ “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

This verse of scripture sounds nice enough, and even has a nice ring to it.

But to accept whatever Jesus has for us, is to reject anything that is contrary to Him.

Frankly, so many Preachers today forget and overlook that simple element of the faith.

Why is that Preachers/Teachers/Pastors only talk about the great points of following Jesus?

Have we forgotten the denial part of the faith?

Would we just as soon forget about having to carry our own cross?

Whenever I go to buy a vehicle, the person selling it almost never talks about the cars disadvantages.

I wonder if the church has made the same mistake?

We shouldn’t be shocked out of minds, to think that there are disadvantages in following the God of the Bible.

Maybe we’ve stopped to consider that...

·         Abel was murdered...Joseph was sold into slavery...Daniel was thrown into a lion pit...Stephen was stoned...and Paul was beheaded...

Martyrs have been put to death in the most gruesome ways over the centuries, and yet most churches never talk about it.

Maybe we’ve forgotten that the people of the world, have made it awfully tough on people who love God.

I believe I need to think and pray on that for a while...

No more excuses!

Jeremiah 1: 6          NKJV

6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

I’ve found people in the church to be quite skilful in making excuses.

I wonder if our excuses can really outsmart our God?

“I’m not ready”...”I’m not able”...”I’m not available”...”I don’t understand”...”I haven’t learned that yet”...”I have a Doctor’s appointment”...

The one I haven’t heard as of yet is, “My dog ate my homework”...although anything’s possible.

Benjamin Franklin once said... “A person that is good for making excuses...is seldom good for anything else.”

In fourteen years of ministry, I’ve heard just about all the excuses you could think of.

Jeremiah had an excuse right at the tip of his tongue, when God called him to be a prophet.

His excuse was the same excuse we use when we don’t obey the voice of God.

That would assume that we can all hear the voice of God.

That’s another devotional for another time...but suffice to say that most people don’t or won’t hear the voice of God.

“It’s the Pastor’s job”...”That’s not within my gifting”...”I’ve already served in that area”...”Let someone younger do it”...”I’m too old”.

I’m not suggesting that God is calling each of us to be a prophet, but He has called each of us to something great.

How are you at adding to the well being of your home church? How are you making the Body of Christ more profitable where you worship?

Maybe some of us need to stop making it about us...and start making it about the One...Who it’s about in the first place.

No more excuses?

Hold fast!

2 Timothy 1: 13      NKJV

¹³ Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

The Pastor I used to serve with in Ministry, used to say to me... “Dan, be sure you keep the main thing...the main thing.”

I learned a lot from that man, and he was never willing to compromise the truth of God’s Word.

That’s a decision that every church has to face at one time or another.

Will we modify the truth of God’s Word or doctrines, to gain more members?

I for one have always been unwilling to compromise the truth, and for that I have suffered grave consequences.

I have long held to deep, personal convictions, and it many cases it has gotten me into a lot of trouble.

Pastors and church leaders are under constant pressure to gain more members, dollars and numbers.

I decided a long time ago to preserve the truth, and I realize that separates me from a lot of people.

Do you hold to your core beliefs?

Do you stand by your personal convictions?

Do you have any spiritual core beliefs or convictions?

That’s a decision we as a church should be weighing every day.

If the church becomes at all like the culture...and it has...it will fall for almost anything.

I am not willing to fall under the pressure of public opinion, and one day that will mean something...even if it doesn’t now.

We should always be sure to keep the main thing...the main thing... 

Put away!

Ephesians 4: 31      NKJV

³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you...

My grandparents on my Mother’s side (May God rest their souls), were some of the most imprisoned people I have ever met in my lifetime.

If anyone loved a good spat, it was them!!

They carried more bitterness than anyone I ever remember.

They were always quick tempered enough to pass judgment on other people, but very slow to hold themselves to the same standard.

As I write this devotional this morning, and I mean no disrespect, but this is what most people will remember about them.

They carried a grudge like no other...well almost like no other. What will people remember about you, some day?

Forgiveness always comes down to a choice. God will never make us forgive someone who has harmed us.

But before we go that route, we had better understand what we’re getting ourselves into.

I would venture to say, that in church we should find some of the most forgiving people on planet earth.

Un-forgiveness imprisons people to their past, and offenses scorch their spirits. When it comes to forgiveness, does the church operate differently than the world?

Bitterness is a devastating sin that can be directly traced to a failure to forgive.

Unfortunately, I believe that was a sin my Grandparents were willing to take to their grave.

Unresolved anger and bitterness that accompanies a failure to forgive, leaves a door wide open to the Devil himself.

I refuse to pay the price for nursing a grudge...and I’m praying that I’m not at odds with anyone...when it’s time for me to die... 

In the Field!

1 Corinthians 3: 6              ESV

⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

The Bible indicates that one of man's basic tasks was to... "till and keep" the land (Gen. 2: 15)

Man is seen as being divinely given the ability to be a gardener or farmer. It’s where we get the term, “husbandry”, from.

“Husbandry” - Miriam Webster Dictionary... “the cultivation and production of crops; farming”

My youngest brother and I have a great fetish with farming, but in a very small scale.

We recently purchased this vintage, 1920 Case corn planter. 

It’s not for decoration, or for an ornament on the front lawn. No, we plan to actually use it.

We will expect and even anticipate a future harvest.

We are already planning for this implement to serve it’s designed planting purpose.

And yet the reason that so many agriculture metaphors are used in the Bible, is because we were designed to be spiritual farmers.

It’s a pity that not many “spiritual” people, think that’s their responsibility.

If we were truly interested in the harvest of souls, we’d be in the field planting.

When once the seed has been sewed, someone needs to water it.

How serious are you about spiritual farming? Are you serving your designed purpose?

We can count on God to give the growth, if we would just be intentional to get ourselves out in the field...  

Watch Yourself!

Hebrews 13: 17

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.

Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

This is one of those verses that should make Pastors/Preachers shake a little bit.

One day there is going to be an accounting for those who proclaimed... “Thus sayeth the Lord!!”

Keeping watch over souls is risky business...for the soul watcher, and for the soul itself.

I wonder if this verse is considered at all in the church anymore?

Over the course of 14 years of ministry, I’ve had a number of people say some pretty harsh things to me, without ever using their Bibles.

Maybe for good reason, and then again maybe not. I wonder if I’ve had more joyful times in ministry, or more times of groaning?

It is the Preachers responsibility to lead people toward the mind and the will of God, which is revealed in the Bible.

People who go their own way and refuse to follow, will indeed suffer loss.

It is the Shepherds responsibility to lovingly lead the Sheep to spiritual prosperity and maturity.

It is the Sheep’s responsibility to produce faith and fruit for the Kingdom...not the Shepherd.

Poor leadership and poor following will all be accounted for one day.

The Preacher should stand in and protect the flock from anything harmful to the soul...according to the Word of God....and not according to public opinion.

One day there are going to be some red faced Shepherds, and some very regretful Sheep too.

Maybe there was a good reason, when Paul said to Timothy...”¹⁶ Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.” (1 Timothy 4: 16)

Refuge!

Nahum 1: 7

⁷ The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

There’s a hymn in our hymnal at church, that I can’t ever remember singing.

Hymn #466 is entitled...”Jesus, Lover of My Soul”.

It was written by one of the great preachers of his time, Charles Wesley.

Charles wrote this hymn as a result of a real life, troubling experience.

In the year 1740, Wesley was attacked severely for a message he preached. (I can sort of relate)

He went to a nearby farmhouse, where the farmer’s wife hid him in a milk house, until he haters passed him by.

Wesley’s specific prayer was... “Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly...”

In this moment, he knew that he could trust Jesus...yes...even with his very life on the line.

I can’t speak for you, but in the business of life I surely can be moderate to severely distracted.

Jesus is the lover of our souls, and He so longs for some quiet time with us. When’s the last time you soaked in some quiet time with the Lord?

Maybe we need to go into hiding in a milk house, to experience the depth of His love for us?

Maybe if we went into hiding with the Lord during troubling times, a hymn would be birthed out of us?

No matter what’s going on in your life this morning, you can hide in Him.

The questions remain though...”Will you hide in Him?” Or will you on the other hand, try to find solace in your own strength?

Heart problem?

Revelation 2: 4       ESV

⁴ But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Here are the last two warning signs, that might indicate a heart problem toward the things of God.

These signs should not be ignored...

·         You’ve become relaxed and tolerable about the sinful conditions that surround you.

Matthew 24: 12 ¹² “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”

·         You refuse to forgive anyone who has offended you.

1 John 4: 20 ²⁰ If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar...

That’s pretty strong language from a God who is only loving.

There is a remedy for those who have abandoned the love of Jesus.

Pride is the thing that allows that love to grow cold, that is if it was love in the first place.

Bitterness is the ugly fruit of un-forgiveness.

I’ve had people in my life, that when I see them now...WOW...if looks could kill, I’d be a dead man!

These are people who I used to be in fellowship with, and who would say their believers.

Holding a grudge means a person has lost sight of God’s great forgiveness...and it might be that their heart has grown cold.

If that’s you, maybe you need to return to your first love.

If you’re love has grown cold, take steps this morning to renew a right relationship with Jesus

Silent Killer

Revelation 2: 4       ESV

⁴ But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

 

Heart disease is the number one killer of all Americans.

Just last year, over 800,000 people died of heart related issues.

 

Is there a heart problem in the church today?

Can our heart problems be the cause of spiritual death?

 

Here are some additional signs where it might indicate an abandoned heart toward the things of Christ:

 

·         You look to be affirmed by the world, as opposed to being approved by God.

John 15: 19 ¹⁹ “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own...”

 

·         You won’t share the Words of Jesus to others, because you don’t want to be embarrassed.

Luke 9: 26 ²⁶ “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory...”

 

·         You refuse to give up a sinful habit, that might be a stumbling block to another person.

Romans 14: 13 ¹³...but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

                                                                                                                                                                                           

Heart problems are often silent killers.

I wonder how many people will escape this silent killer?

Return!

Revelation 2: 4       ESV

⁴ But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

I remember how I felt when I saw my wife, Debbie across the bar room 35 years ago.

She had the warmest smile, and I wanted in the worst way to get to know her.

My heart you could say, went...pitter-pat.

Actually, that’s the kind of love that’s spoken of here in this text found in the book of Revelation.

For some though, that kind of love for Jesus can grow cold. Our hearts can start to beat slower and slower.

Church attendance on a Sunday morning is usually a good heart indicator.

Here are a few more signs to ponder, when measuring our devoted love for Christ:

·         You tend to make excuses for doing the things you do, that you know don’t please God. “Well, I’m only human!!!”

James 1: 14 ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

·         You stop giving your financial gifts cheerfully, to the work of the Lord in your home church.

1 John 3: 17 ¹⁷ But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

·         You stop treating other people, like you should treat the Lord.

John 13: 34 ³⁴ “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you...”

·         You consider the things that Christ commanded of us, as restrictions to your personal way of life.

John 8: 31 31“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples...”

You still hearing a pitter-pat

Wandering?

Revelation 2: 4       ESV

⁴ But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Every follower of Christ should be on their guard, so as not to fall into the trap of losing their love for Jesus.

This week we’ll look at the signs that could indicate some wandering on our part.

·         You might get more pleasure in something or someone else, than you do in Jesus.

Mark 12: 30 says...³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Our love for God should be at the top of our list.

·         Your heart doesn’t long for time with God in prayer, and the reading of His Word.

And yet some folks are no longer inspired to spend quiet time with God.

John 15: 5 says...but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

·         Your thoughts often wander away from the Lord, and they don’t honor Him in any way.

Philippians 4: 8 says...if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

So if our love for God is supposed to be HOT or COLD, which would you say is it for you?

It would be wise for us to remember the words of Paul...

Galatians 6: 7 ...⁷ Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.