Enslaved!

Romans 6: 6             ESV

⁶ We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing,

so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Yesterday I had a lengthy meeting in one of our County judicial offices.

When I arrived for the meeting, I could hardly find a place to park.

Once the meeting came to a close, I had a hard time even getting out into the hallway.

There had to be at least 70 people waiting for their personal court date.

I asked the lady whom I went to visit with, if this was normal.

She said...”Every day there’s court in secession, that pretty par for the course.” REALLY??

I have to say, that experience was a bit culture shock for me.

Up until yesterday, I hadn’t even been in that judicial building.

It just hit me, at how many people are still enslaved to sin.

Maybe those folks wouldn’t need attorney’s or court dates, if they were brought to nothing.

The only time I’ve ever been in a court room, is when the system made it official that our Grandson became a member of our family.

Actually, he had already became a part of our hearts. That court date was just a mere formality.

I for one am so blessed that my old self has died, and that I have been released from my own bondage.

It was a stark reminder though, of just how many people still need help with that...

The Best News!

1 John 2: 2               ESV

² He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

                                                   

It’s the best news you and I will ever hear, especially when hearing good news these days, isn’t at a premium.

Can I ask you something? When’s the last time you shared this great news with anyone?

·         You don’t need any special security clearance to share the Good News...

·         People can hack into your e-mail server anytime they want to learn about His love...

·         This good news isn’t just for hackers...it’s for slackers too...

·         Sharing it won’t endanger national security...

·         You don’t have to lie about it...because it’s the truth...

·         I’ll bet your Pastor won’t report you to the FBI if you do...

·         And the best part of all, God hits the delete button on all sin, to all who call on His name...

And yet 61% of regular church goers have never shared anything about Jesus with anyone.

Maybe it’s because we’re not interested in sharing the information we’ve been given.

58% of regular church goers have never invited anyone to church...ever.

But the Gospel of Jesus is still very good news.

This message is so great, that it should just bubble right out of us.

God reconciles His enemies, through the love of His Son.

Our willingness to share about God’s love, says a lot about how much we genuinely love Him...

What's your measurement?

Titus 1: 13

¹³ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith...

One of the characteristics of a person who has been walking with God for a number of years, is that they should be sound in their faith.

I wonder if soundness in faith, comes in part from listening to a few harder to hear sermons?

More than not, feelings get hurt by harder to hear sermons.

Someone sent me this quote just the other day:

“If being hurt by the church causes you to lose faith in God, then your faith was in people...not God.”

I have a friend who visited a different church over the weekend.

What was striking to them, was that almost no one carried their own Bible.

I remember going to a men’s conference one time, led by Pastor Voddie Baucham.

He asked the men to take their Bibles, and when he saw that most didn’t carry one, he said this:

“Man, I could tell you anything, and you wouldn’t even be able to prove me wrong...”

I wonder if the general church just doesn’t tolerate people who are Bible toting freaks anymore?

I’m amazed at the number of people who don’t even open their Bibles on Sunday mornings.

So, have we become complacent and satisfied with average? I think we need to reflect on what Jesus said about average.

So would you say you’re sound in faith...or are you satisfied with average?

If so, then what’s your measurement?  

Giving an Account!

1 Peter 4: 5              ESV

⁵ but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Steadfast followers of Jesus, truly do stand out in the crowd.

These are folks who will take the liberty to stand against those who oppose the truth of God’s Word.

A billboard was rejected in Cleveland, Ohio...that advertised the movie, “God’s Not Dead, 2 “

The reason it was found to be so offensive, were these words...

“I’d rather stand with God and be judged by the world, than stand with the world and be judged by God “

Yet in the same neighborhood, a billboard can be seen that promotes atheists, and the LBGT community.

Make no mistake about it, those who love the world and it’s passions, will be judged by God one day, for sure.

The only thing that can change in this scenario being played out in our world, is the heart.

Does your heart need to change? Does your heart represent all that is good and Godly?

I wonder if God is still the person we worship on Sunday’s?

And yet we’d be a darn fool if we didn’t think we’ve already replaced Him with something “better”, on the weekends.

I’m not in a race to get there, but one day at the end of my life, I will give an account.

I can decide today, if I’m going to be a part of the living group, or the dead group.

I can know today if my heart needs to change, and I can make that change.

There is coming a time though, when that won’t be possible...

Trustworthy

Psalm 111: 7

⁷ The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy...

In 1976, Gallup says that about 45 percent of Americans trusted the Bible as the literal word for word, Word of God.

In 2015, that number fell to 28 percent. So that’s less than one third (1/3^rd) of all Americans.

It would appear we have a trust problem in our current culture.

Do people trust more in God, when His Word doesn’t bring about conviction?

I asked my wife last night if she felt I was...“trustworthy”.

After a few seconds of thoughtful consideration, she assured me with answering... “Yes!”

Both U.S. Presidential candidates seem to have trustworthiness issues.

Only 8% of Congressional lawmakers are trusted. At least God has a higher trustworthy rating than Congress does.

Actually, pharmacists are now trusted more than a person’s Pastor.

I wonder if that’s because we can get almost any drug of choice now days, with a prescription?

Maybe Pastor’s would be trusted more, if they handed out medications?

I heard someone recently say... “The church is consumed with behavior, and not Jesus.” Is that the reason people don’t trust churches?

I wonder if Jesus was consumed with behavior, or holiness when He met the adulterous woman?

Weren’t His parting words to her... “Go, and sin no more.” Did Jesus want a behavioral change, or a heart change...or both? Didn’t He want her to trust Him?

Could it be that we’re trusting in things/people, that aren’t very trustworthy?

Maybe we need to trust in the works of His hands, and not the works of man’s hands. By the way...you can trust Him... 

Wise to be Wise!

Proverbs 13: 20      ESV

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise...

I have a number of men in my life, who are great, spiritual gems.

I spent a great deal of time with one of them on Monday, and with another special brother yesterday.

Most would know that they could ask me any of these questions.

Is your heart pure? How much do you study the Bible? How much are you praying? How well are you loving your wife?

This is just a sampling of questions that should actually be fair game.

All men should be able to answer those questions without any fear of condemnation, and with a straight face.

Actually, the more I hang with guys like that, the wiser I become.

Who do you walk with on a regular basis?

Who are you rubbing spiritual shoulders with?

I just choose to be with men who make me a better follower of Christ.

I choose to receive any wisdom they are willing to impart. Actually, in that area, I need all the wise help I can get.

Men and ladies alike need people in their lives, who will lovingly hold their feet to the fire.

Seriously, if we watched less of Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and Oprah...and spent more time with wise, spiritual people...the better off this whole world would be...

Are you Welcoming?

Romans 15: 7          ESV

⁷ Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Do you ever remember being a new visitor at church?

Deb and I came to a new Bible study when we were new converts many years ago.

We didn’t know anything about the Bible at all.

When we asked the question... “By the way, whose Mark?”, a man in the Bible study said... “You know Mark...Mark of the Bible!!”

I can still see the look on that guys face like it was yesterday. Deb and I wanted to crawl into any hole possible, but we didn’t find one.

Talk about a daaaa moment!! For obvious or not so obvious reasons, we didn’t feel welcomed, and we didn’t return.

How do you welcome someone new in your home church?

Do you go out of your way to make them feel comfortable?

Many in the church today have turned a bit inward.

Maybe we should have a teaching in church, for how to treat newcomers?