God is Pro-Life

Jesus calls us to live a life of unimaginable adventure.  It begins the moment we choose to follow Him.  It is not less than to pass from existence to life.  

Erwin McManus; Seizing Your Divine Moment

God told the Israelites:

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!" (Deuteronomy 30:19; NLT).  

There is no greater desire God has for us than that of life.  To give us life is the very reason Jesus came; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10b; NASB).  God cherishes life.

Fighting the Cosmic War

{2 Corinthians 10:3-6}

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

This world is the battle ground of a great cosmic war. Satan and the Kingdom of Darkness are trying their best to lay waste to God’s great creation. God and the Kingdom of Light are at work to restore creation. You need to understand something very important: in this war you on one side or the other. You cannot remain neutral. The way you live determines whether or not you are a soldier of Satan bringing destruction to the wonderful creation God has given us or a servant of the Living God working as an agent of reconciliation and restoration. You either belong to the Kingdom of Darkness or the Kingdom of Light.

I realize that it seems a little dramatic to use war language. After all it doesn’t feel like war, it feels like life. Since the bullets aren’t flying and there are not great D-Day like invasions in the works it is easy to believe that we aren’t part of this war being fought for creation. Yet, if you really took the time to examine your life you would realize that the best explanation for the great evil in the world, the oppressive regimes which take advantage of the people they are to serve, the twisted thoughts and philosophies being promoted, and even temptations and sins you struggle with everyday is that there is an active campaign being waged against the Sovereign God and His creation.

Take a moment and think about the words of the apostle Paul that are recorded in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. I believe this passage gives us three important insights to help us understand our role in this cosmic war.

The first insight is a truth to remember: For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.

We may be human and living in bodies of flesh, but that doesn’t mean we fight this war in the same way humans fight wars. This is a different type of fight and it isn’t about killing and destroying other people. It is about bringing God’s love and restoration to the world. This war requires different tactics and different weapons.

This war between the Light and the Darkness should not be equated with the “culture war” that is being fought in the United States. We are not at war with the atheist, the Muslim, or the Hindu, but with philosophies, teachings, and institutions that keep them in bondage to sin and death. We will be opposed by people who have been tricked into serving the Enemy, but our fight isn’t with them. Our fight is against the Kingdom which keeps them in darkness.

The second insight is God has given us weapons to use: For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

The weapons God has given us are different from the guns, swords, missiles, and bombs used in our human warfare. They are even different from the spin and propaganda used in the “culture war”.

Jesus has provided us with two great weapons for this war. These weapons are unconditional love and uncompromised truth. When we love unconditionally we will reach out and serve people simply because they need help. When we speak the God’s truth we allow His Word a chance to effect the hearts of people who may have never had the opportunity to hear the truth before. We won’t win any popularity contests by loving people and telling the truth, but that is the role God given to us.

The third insight is that God has given us a purpose to follow: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

In this war we are not to attack our fellow man, but we are to challenge the philosophies and lifestyles that hold people in darkness. If we insist on attacking other people it shows then we are not following God’s battle plan for winning this war and bring restoration to creation.

The only way we can free people from the control of the Kingdom of Darkness is to level the light of God’s Word at the lies Satan and to love people. That is the only way they will understand that there is a better way to live. People will not abandon their kingdom until they understand that God’s Kingdom is the best kingdom. They will not leave their way of living until they know that following Jesus is the best way to live.

We are in the middle of a great cosmic war. This conflict is being fought, not over physical territory, but for the human heart. It is of the upmost importance that we learn to guard our hearts and do battle to fight for the hearts of those we love, for those people Jesus died to save. It is time to go to battle. Let’s follow Jesus to victory.

Point to Ponder: We live in a world at war.
Passage to Remember: 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Prayer to Pray: Lord God, open my eyes to the the battle that is being fought for the hearts of people.

Becoming Truly Human

 {2 Corinthians 5:17; ESV} 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Stop for a moment and consider why it is important for us to be made new.  After all, aren’t we already created in the image of God?

Men AND women (Genesis 1:27) tells us that God created us to be His image bearers in the world.  This means that we are to reflect God’s love, truth, and holiness as we watch over the world and interact with one another.  To truly be human means that we reflect God’s character in all that we say and do.

The problem is that sin makes it impossible for us to do that.  Sin, while it seem like that natural human thing to do, is the pathway of becoming less human.  The more we allow sin to control our lives the further away from God’s image travel.

Ultimately that Good News of Christ Jesus is that it is possible for us to change directions.  Rather than moving away from God we can once again start moving towards Him.

I want you to consider what Erwin McManus wrote in his book Uprising:

God desires to place within each of us a new heart, a heart that reflects him not only in action, but in desire.  The Scriptures speak of this transformation as a metamorphosis.  We are literally transformed into new creations; not a different kind of creature, but a different kind of humanity.

The divine transformation that God seeks to bring is nothing less and nothing more than making us truly human (emphasis added, pp. 68-69).

The hope that we have in Jesus Christ isn’t centered on “going to heaven,” but it is that we can become new people.  It is possible for you and I to be the people God created us to be.  There is hope for our lives.  We can live an authentic human life.

In Possession of Sin

Originally posted on Friday, September 24, 2004

Take a moment and think about what John Maxwell and Jim Dornan wrote in their book Becoming a Person of Influence; “Slaves is the right term to describe people who lack integrity because they often find themselves at the whim of their own and others’ changing desires” (p. 32)

The movie version of The Lord of the Rings has made J. R. R. Tolkien’s story accessible to thousands of people who would never bother with actually reading the story. One of the characters that people seem to identify with is the character Gollum. Gollum is a pitiful creature because he has been corrupted by the power of the One Ring. The Ring consumes Gollum’s life, and there is nothing he can do to break free from its power. Colin Duriez in The J.R.R. Tolkien Handbook describes Gollum like this: “In The Lord of the Rings a once-hobbit who bore the marks of long centuries underground guarding yet possessed by the One Ring which he called ‚ ‘my precious’, and which he had deluded himself into thinking was a birthday present to him” (p. 106). The possession of the Ring had changed Smeagol to Gollum, from a Stoor Hobit to a pitiful creature. The Ring may have granted Gollum unnatural long life, but it also physically changed him. Worse than the physical change was the control the Ring had on Gollum’s desires and dreams. They were twisted and corrupted so much that all Gollum could think about was to regain possession of his “precious”.

I think sin has very similar effect on us. Unlike the Ring sin will not prolong our lives, in fact God promises us that sin brings about death. It will also not physically change us from human into something less human, but sin will cause us to behave less than human (true humanity is found in Jesus). It will twist our desires and dreams into things that are evil and wicked. Sin will make us think that the only thing that will make us happy is the evil behavior that we are involved in. Sin consumes and corrupts us, which keeps us from becoming the people that God created us to be.

Consider what the apostle Paul wrote about the effect of sin on the lives of people:

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:24, 25; ESV)

The apostle Paul in Romans 1:18-32 is very clear about the corruption that takes place because of sin’s presence in our lives. When we are in the possession of sin it is impossible for us to be who God created us to be. The reality is that sin twists our hearts and souls making us corrupted forms of the people God created us to be.

I want you to understand the vile effect that sin has on our lives. Sin not only corrupts us, but it also controls us. It makes us long for the things that not only will not make us happy and content, but will ultimately lead to our destruction. Sin is not something to mess with; because it will take control of our lives, and in the end destroy us.

I know that this sounds dark and depressing, so I will not end on that note. Instead I want to give you a glimpse at light at the end of the tunnel. The apostle Paul wrote this about the power of Jesus’ resurrection in our lives: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17; ESV).

The Good News is this: Jesus has the power to restore! He can breathe life back to the dead. He can heal the twisted and evil soul that we have. We don’t have to be possessed by sin because Jesus, through His death and resurrection, has rescued us from sin and death. This Good News is for all who are chained by the power of sin. We need to remember that freedom is found in Jesus!

Not a Christian Nation

Originally posted on Thursday, 15 July 2004

“America has been known as a Christian nation due to the tremendous impact that the Christian faith has had on our society. At the same time, the Christian faith has become delusional, over-identifying itself with the society as a whole. A Christian revolution must live in tension with human societies and cultures. The ultimate goal of American Christianity should not be to make us good citizens but to make us revolutionaries in the cause of Jesus Christ.” ~ Erwin McManus; An Unstoppable Force

Is there any more dividing issue in our society than politics? In this war of values and ideologies it is hard to discuss things logically without our emotions getting involved. While harsh things are side by both sides about the other, each has the same goal, what is best for this country. Liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, though some of us would hate to admit it, both want what is best for the citizens of this great nation. Each group approaches it for different angles, with different backgrounds, and different values, there is still the common goal.

What I want to remind you of today is that as first and foremost citizens of God’s great and awesome kingdom we have to rise above all of this. Our methods should not be the methods of the world. The way we seek to make the United States better shouldn’t be through the same means as the Republicans or the Democrats seek to make a difference. The Apostle Paul tells us; For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses (2 Corinthians 10:3, 4; NASB). Our weapons are Truth, hope, and service all wrapped in love. These weapons are powerful enough to knock down the dividing walls that politics raises up.

I say this because I believe a great many of us have been distracted. We see the evil going on around us and the moral decay destroying the foundations of our country. We want to do something about it, so we turn to the government. We clamor for laws and for a correct reading of the Constitution.

The truth is that the United States is in moral upheaval, not because of laws and court decisions, but because of sin. There is no longer a common morality held by the people of this country. John Adams, the second president of the United States pointed out, “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.”

For people apart from a saving relationship with Jesus Christ sexual sin, greed, murder, and discrimination are par for the course. As Christians we shouldn’t expect the people of this world to live any differently than that. No laws, no logical argument, or more education will make people good. It is only through surrendering our lives to Jesus that happens.

So the most important thing American Christian can do is to live lives of hope and love. Remember what Peter wrote?

Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world (1 Peter 2:12; NLT).

This is my plea to you. Concentrate on these two actions.

Pray. I know that is the standard Sunday School answer, but the truth is that we haven’t been being praying the right prayer. We have being asking God to change the sinners in the world. Instead we need to be asking God to make us holy. When we face the sin in our lives and pursue the holiness of God, He will make us highways over which change will come.

The second action is serve. In the Church we have written mission statements and talked about programs to bring people to us. The Bible is clear on how to make a church grow. It is not by sitting up shop on a street corner and inviting everyone who comes by to stop and listen. The Church grows when Christians get out of the pews and into the communities, serving and loving those in need.

I know this sounds too simple and like it won’t make a difference. But isn’t that when God displays His power the most?

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God (1 Corinthians 1:27-29; NRSV).

Let me leave you with this quote by Dr. Michael Brown from his book Revolution.

All true revolution begins with a belief, with a dream, before it turns into action. The Lord has a plan of action for you! But it must flow out of your loyalty to Him, out of your dedication to His cause. He came to set captives free, but they will remain in bondage unless we tell them the good news.

It is more important that we help set captives free than get the right political agenda passed. That is the work we have been called to do.

God's Ambassadors

Originally posted on Thursday, 17 Jun 2004

“But my heart cry is to say it is crucial that we hold ourselves accountable to a life of holiness--that if we walk righteously, there will come a response from God. Our lives will be a highway over which God shall come.”~ Henry Blackaby, Holiness

It is a great frustration I have to see the church get so heavily involved in politics. The American Church has so closely tied their faith and Patriotism so that the two are almost one. To be a Christian is to be an American and to be an American is to be Christian. We begin to think that the government exists to promote life the way we think it should be.

American Christians tend to overstate the importance of the faith of the founding fathers. We get so very upset at the thought that the words Under God might be removed from the pledge or that the Ten Commandments can’t be posted in court houses and schools.

I really believe that American Christians are far more interested in living in a country in which we don’t have to worry about being persecuted or laughed at. We want life to go smoothly and to live out our faith quietly.

I am sorry that is not the life God has called us to live. God has not called Christians to preserve the Union and to keep the United States a “Christian” nation. The United States is not the New Israel, we are not a theocracy. God’s primary concern is not that the United States has a government which agrees with Him. God’s primary concern is a Church which follows Him.

As an American I deeply love this country. I am very thankful for men like my grandpa Huff who fought in World War II to keep this country free. It is a blessing to be able to enjoy this freedom. Yet, political freedom is not what we called to protect. We were called to bring spiritual freedom to a world that is tied with the chains of sins.

The only way we can do this is by doing what God asked us to do. Not petition the government to change or make laws. We are to be God’s ambassadors. We are Christ’s ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, “Be reconciled to God!” (2 Corinthians 5:20; NLT). Our allegiance is first to God, we are to promote His kingdom above anything else.

The problem the Church has when we allow ourselves to get so involved with politics is that we immediately turn people off. Politics is very divisive. Already Evangelical Christians are equated with Conservatives. We are viewed as closed minded, bigoted, and legalistic. The Church’s efforts to get involved in politics has done more harm for God’s kingdom than good.

This country will not be changed through laws. It will not be changed though different Supreme Court Justices. The only way this country will change is because Jesus Christ once again rules in the hearts of the majority of her people.

Rather than getting so worked up about gay marriages and the pledge of allegiance we need to focus our efforts on telling others about Jesus. Not just talking with people, but showing people God’s love. The Church needs to get out of politics and start getting involved in people’s lives. Only when our focus is on helping those in need, ministering to those who are sick, and reaching out to the lonely will the voice of the Church be heard.

The power of the Church is not found in political might, it is found in the way we live.

Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone (Colossians 4:5, 6; NLT).

Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us (James 1:27; NLT).

Be very careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world (1 Peter 2:12; NLT).

By living holy lives we provide a highway over which God’s truth and love can travel. Until we live this way all our efforts and all our words will be nothing but a noisy cymbal to a world looking for relevance and truth.

Our goal as American Christians should not be to have a land in which we are free from persecution. Our goal should be to help the Kingdom of God grow throughout the world. We are first and foremost a citizens of God’s Kingdom, it is time that we lived like it.

The Good Side of Pain #2

The reason that pain is such an important part of God’s molding process is because it gets us to redirect our focus. So many of us have our focus on other things besides God. We may be focused on the money we will be making on what we will spend it on. We may be focused on a romantic relationship, and we put in so much effort to make it work. Our focus may be the upcoming football season and winning the state championship. It could be on getting good grades so you can get into a good college. Whenever our focus is on something other than God, we are cheating Him of what He deserves. As long as our lives are good and problems are small and manageable we are not going to change our focus. For many of us, the only way we will learn to focus on God is to have our worlds rocked and our dreams shattered, in a word, Pain.

Dr. Larry Crabb in his book Shattered Dreams wrote; “But we almost always mistake lesser pleasures for this greatest pleasure (an encounter with God) and live our lives chasing after them. We’re not in touch with our appetite for God” (p. 5). God allows pain in our lives to help us get in touch with our desire for God.

If we were honest with ourselves we would admit that many times the only way God could redirect our focus is to take away the thing that distracts us the most. When our dreams shatter or when our lives are turned upside down the result is pain. Having our lives disrupted is not be a pleasant experience, it does hurt. This is the second reason why pain is valuable in our lives. Pain is valuable because it is an opportunity to trust God.

The apostle Paul wrote about a particular pain he suffered in 2 Corinthians 12:6-10. This is what the Apostle wrote:

If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NLT)

Pain can be valuable in our lives, but only if we learn the lesson that God wants us to learn. So often we miss out on growing in our relationship with God, because we miss the opportunities God has given to us. The next time you go through a trial or some great pain enters your life, ask God this question, “God what is it that You want me to understand or do?” If you do that I am confident that you will make the most of the pain that is in your life.

Though I believe pain can be valuable, I also believe that not every situation will fit neatly into these two reasons. Sometimes we have to realize that we will not understand that pain and suffering that is happening. Think about the grandmother with Alzheimer. How is that disease valuable to her? How can her character be developed when her mind isn’t functioning? How can she focus on God when she can’t even remember the names of her grandchildren? We will not always understand why God allows pain into the lives of people, especially into the lives of His children. It is a mystery that we need to learn to live with.

Faith that is Rewarded

{2 Corinthians 5:6-10; ESV}

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Faith is essential for salvation. The Bible is very clear on this point (Ephesians 2:8 is an example). God’s Word also reveals to us that faith is not simply belief, but it is also about trust and obedience. In other words faith is concerned with how we live our lives. The simple definition of faith I use with the Church Family I minister to is: life influenced by belief. What we believe should effect the way we live.

The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 that the reason faith is needed is because we are in the body and away from God. In other words we can’t see or touch God. He is invisible to us. This is an important admission, for if we could see God we would not need faith. We need to rely on faith because we can’t see God.

Some people would like us to believe that the only truth we can rely on is that truth that we see with out own two eyes, yet the reality is that everyone believes things they have not seen. We believe truth because of evidence that has been uncovered, because of testimony of trustworthy witnesses, and even what seems to be logical to us. I know I believe in God because of the lives of faithful Christians, the evidence for the reliability of the New Testament, historical evidence which supports Scripture, the “ring” of truth the Bible has when describing the condition of our lives, and the difference following Jesus has made in my life.

Because of faith we trust that God exists. Since this is what we believe a small ache appears in our hearts as we long to be joined with God. I know that as I mature in faith the more I long for God’s kingdom to be revealed in this world. Faith has us longing for for life the way it was meant to be lived: with God and free from sin.

What do we do in the meantime as we wait for God’s Kingdom to be fully revealed? We strive to please God. That is a good answer, but exactly how do we please the Creator of the universe? We love Him by loving people. We seek to serve Him by doing His will. We are for His creation by being good stewards. Our faith is seen in what we do, and our actions, when done in faith, pleases God.

That is why people are judged by the good and the bad they have done. Our actions reveal our faith, and if we trust God then the pattern of our lives will consistently show a pattern of doing God’s will. People of faith will seek to please God, and as a result we end up doing good. The faith that God rewards is the faith that is lived, and not just believed.

Lonely Days and Grace

It has been one of those lonely days for me today. A day when it seems nobody really cares about you and you wonder if you suddenly disappeared if anyone would really notice. This isn't about romance as much as it is about fellowship. More than anything I would like to be with a group of people who are doing life together.

As I have felt this way today a passage kept coming to mind. The passage is 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. This is what the apostle Paul wrote:

So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (ESV)

"My grace is sufficient for you," God tells the Apostle. It is hard to trust on God's grace when life isn't what you planned it to be. That is what makes my current situation so difficult, is because I know this is where God wants me to be, but it isn't where I want to be. So I end up fighting God's grace, rather than relying on God's grace.

What is the answer? How do we rely on God's grace? I really wish I knew, but I have this thought that it probably begins with thanksgiving and praise, seeing the good rather than focusing on the bad.

How do you rely on God's grace in the thorny patches of life?

Living Faith

How do we know if a person has faith in Christ Jesus? While faith starts out with belief, it grows into action. Faith that is living is faith is seen in the way that we live life. If you took time to examine the people who make up your church family you would discover people who had varying degrees of belief, but whose belief was not reflected in their lives. We can say that we believe something, but that doesn’t mean it has made an impact in the way we live life.

William Lane in his book Hebrews: A Call to Commitment wrote; “A Godly life is the response of committed faith to the call of God” (p. 151). If we want to know about a person’s faith then we need to examine their life. Wait a moment. If we want to know about our faith we need to examine our lives. The choices that we make and the priorities that we have will reveal whether or not we really believe all this stuff about God and Jesus. Our faith is reflected in the way we live our lives.

I think one thing that we need to emphasis more in the Church is the call of God in our lives. That call is more than a call to moral living, it is a call to do good. One of the ways we live a moral life, a life free from the dominance of sin, is to do those things that are right. Understanding God’s will, His call, for our lives will lead us away from sin and to the life He created us to live.

The foundation of God’s call for us is the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The reality of Jesus should provide the greatest example, as well as motivator, for living a righteous life. How can we still live a sinful lifestyle when we realize Jesus did for our sins? How can we not struggle with sin when Jesus struggled to go to the cross? How can we not live differently when Jesus has conquered death? How can we not serve others when Jesus laid down His life in service to us?

The apostle Paul tells us:

14 The love of Christ controls us, for we are convinced of this: that one person died for all people; therefore, all people have died. 15 He died for all people, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the one who died and rose for them. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; ISV)

The love Jesus showed in His life, His death, and His resurrection should provide us with an example as well as a motivation for living differently. We will love God and people if we trust that Jesus loves us.

Faith expresses itself in the way we live. So if we are not striving to become more like Jesus, to live a life that pleases God, means that our “faith” is not real faith. We may believe the right things about Jesus and about God, but those ideas are not translated into how we live. To believe the right things, but not do the right things, makes us fools in the eyes of God.

James wrote:

14 What good does it do, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but does not have any works? This kind of faith cannot save him, can it? 15 Suppose a brother or sister does not have any clothes or daily food 16 and one of you tells them, “Go in peace! Stay warm and eat heartily.” If you do not provide for their bodily needs, what good does it do? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it does not have any works, is dead. (James 2:14-17, ISV)

Living faith is right believing that is expressed in right living. This truth takes us back to the call of God. God has not called us to be pew sitters and proposition believers, but He has called us to be Christ Followers. The call of God is a call to action and not just a call to belief. If we truly believe the right things about God it will be seen in the way we live. Our faith is proved true by the way we live.

• Point to Ponder: Living faith is right believing that is expressed in right living.
• Passage to Remember: James 2:14-17
• Question to Consider: Is your faith seen in the way you live?

A Burning Heart

It is one of my fundamental beliefs that God speaks to us. He speaks to us as individuals and as a church family. If this is true than it is absolutely critical that we learn how to hear God’s voice. Here is a question I would like you to consider: How do we know that God has spoken to us?

One of the major figures in the Old Testament is the prophet Moses. Most of us are somewhat familiar with his story. He was born to Jewish parents, grew up in the court of Pharaoh as the adopted son of his daughter, killed an Egyptian in order to protect an Israelite, and ran into the desert to escape Pharaoh’s wrath. 

In the desert he became a shepherd, and for 40 years he watched sheep for his father-in-law Jethro. One day, when Moses was 80, while he watched sheep a strange sight caught his eye. He saw a bush that was on fire but the bush did not burn up. Moses turned aside to see this incredible sight, and from the bush came the voice of God. From the burning bush God called Moses to return to Egypt and confront Pharaoh.

 Wouldn’t things be so much simpler for us if God called us that same way? Things would seem to be clearer and we would be able to forge ahead certain of what God wanted us to do. The problem is that burning bush moments are rare. In fact even in the Bible we only read about it happening once. Abraham didn’t have a burning bush moment, Samuel didn’t have a burning bush moment, David didn’t have a burning bush moment, nor did Isaiah. Only Moses had this moment with God before the burning bush. But that doesn’t mean God has stopped revealing His will to people. History is full of people, both good and bad examples, who have received a word from God that shaped the rest of their lives.

 Fundamental to this sermon is this idea Henry Blackaby wrote about in his excellent study Experiencing God: “God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways” (back cover of workbook). As we seek to move forward to become the people God has created us it will be very important for us to grab hold of this truth. God is speaking to us! What is it like when God speaks to us? Is there a booming voice from heaven? Is there a voice in our head? Rather than explain what it is like to hear God’s voice, let me share with you a few examples.

 John Eldredge in his book Wild at Heart wrote about an experience that he had.

“God’s word to me comes in many ways--through sunsets and friends and films and music and wilderness and books. But he’s got an especially humorous thing going with me and books. I’ll be be browsing though a second hand book shop when out of a thousand volumes one will say, ‘Pick me up’...In the introduction to the book that I rose to this day, the author (Gil Ballie) shared a piece of advice given to him some years back by a spiritual mentor: Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive. 

“I was struck dumb. It could have been Balaam’s donkey, for all I was concerned... Reading the counsel given to Bailie I knew it was God speaking to me. I set the volume down and without turning another page and walked out of the bookstore to find a life worth living” (p. 200-201).

Through a short passage from a book Eldredge had his life clarified and he moved forward certain that God had given him the direction.

 Dreams have been a way God has communicated with people throughout history. The summer after I graduated from high school, before I went to Nebraska Christian College, I had a dream that terrified me. In the dream I was with my family and suddenly I noticed my family was moving upwards and I began a slow downward descent. I woke up in a cold sweat and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was telling me that it was time for me stop relying on the faith of my family and to develop a faith that is all my own. That has become a driving force in my life.

 God will use a worship experience to speak. When I was the youth minister at the Stronghurst Christian Church we would go to Christ In Youth Summer Conference each summer. At the start of conference I would tell the students who came that there was something God wanted to share with them and so they needed to pray and ask God to help them hear what He had for them. It was the summer of 2002 and though we had been to Summer Conference for the previous two years this was the first summer that Sarah decided to go with the group. To put it simply Sarah was difficult to deal with. Not that she was a troublemaker, she just had to have things her way. On the van trip down to Summer Conference I could already hear rumblings from the other girls about Sarah. By Wednesday the rumblings had turned to grumblings, and I did what any good youth minister does in those situations, I ignored the problem and hoped that it would go away.

 That night in our youth group time that followed evening worship I asked the question that I always asked at this time: What did God teach you today? That is when Sarah began to share and cry. Now being the sensitive guy that I am I remember thinking at that moment; "please don’t cry." Despite the tears Sarah went on to talk about what God revealed to her during worship: that she had a problem with pride. She asked for the groups' forgiveness for always trying to get her way, and promised to try her best to change her attitude. And she did. Over the next two years there was a noticeable change in her behavior and attitude. When we open our hearts and minds in worship we allow the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to convict us of the truth.

 Through the words and actions of other Christians God will speak to us. At this time in my life I feel like God has called me to focus on my writing. The issue I face is That when I sit down to write I don't feel like I have anything worthy of sharing. It has all been said before. A few weeks ago I was explaining to my brother the dilemma I was facing and he shared with me a nugget of truth that brought clarity into my life. He told me that my responsibility was to share the truth God had given me from my unique perspective. The light bulb turned on and I realized that because of my experiences, education, reading, and relationships made my perspective unique to me alone and by sharing it I might be able to connect a person with God's truth in a way no one else could.

 Other times God might speak to us through a story. J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of such classics as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings wrote an essay about the power of story entitled On Fairy Stories. In it Tolkien wrote; “I believe that legends and myths are largely made of ‘truth,’ and indeed present aspects of it that can only be received in this mode” (Finding God in the Lord of the Rings; p. x). Have you ever had a story speak God’s truth? King David did.

 One spring when the armies went to war King David decided he would stay in the safety of the palace while Israel’s army went to defend her borders. During this time David discovered the beautiful wife of one of his men, and commits adultery. When Bathsheba learned that she was pregnant, and David realized that his sin cannot be kept secret, he called Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, back from the front line. David hoped that Uriah will spend his R and R with his wife, but Uriah committed himself not experience the pleasures of home while his comrades remained in the field of battle fighting the enemy. Since David cannot hide his sin he decided to have Uriah killed in a staged military accident and marry Bathsheba. So David sent Uriah, a man who would have given his life for David, back to the front carrying his own death warrant. Uriah was killed, David took Bathsheba to be one of his many wives, the child was born, and no questions were asked.

 Then one day Nathan, a prophet of God, came to visit David. Nathan told the king a story about a wealthy farmer with many sheep, and a poor farmer with one little pet lamb. When the wealthy farmer had an unexpected guest drop by he went to his poor neighbor and took the pet lamb so he could have a feast for his guest. David is outraged by the story. The Bible says; “David burned with anger..." This anger was turned to repentance when Nathan revealed, “You are the man.” For a year David did not repent for his sins or make things right, yet through a story God convicted David of his sin. We can assume that David still went to the Tabernacle, still studied the Scripture, and still worshiped God, but none of these things touched his heart with the need to repent. God used a simple story to get past David’s defenses and speak to His heart.

 God speaks to us in various ways. Sometimes it will be unique to us and other times it will be a message for a group of people, but whenever and however God decides to speak we can be confident that God is speaking to us. So how can we know that God is speaking to us?

 In Luke we read about two disciples of Jesus who had an unique encounter with Jesus and from this encounter I believe we will better understand those moments when God speaks to us.

 That same day two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. 

He asked them, "What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?" 

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, "You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days." 

"What things?" Jesus asked. 

"The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth," they said. "He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. 

"Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said." 

Then Jesus said to them, "You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?" Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 

By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, "Stay the night with us, since it is getting late." So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! 

They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?" And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, who said, "The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter." 

Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread (Luke 24:13-35; NLT). 

 These men had what I have come to call a “Burning Heart” moment, and their “Burning Hearts” were the result of Jesus teaching them truth.

Though I do believe that we can discover from this passage in Luke two important truths about experiencing the voice of God in our lives that is not the main point of the text. The primary purpose of the passage is to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus. This is essential to remember, for it is the central truth of Christianity. Without the resurrection Jesus’ death is meaningless and his teachings are no better than the philosophies of other religions. Even more than that the resurrection proves Jesus is who He says He is. He is not some good teacher or prophet, rather He is the Son of God. That is the most important lesson that we can take away from this text.

These men have left Jerusalem confused and hopeless. They have witnessed the events of the week, including the crucifixion of Jesus, and they are uncertain what their next move should be. They are crushed by what has happened and all they can think to do is talk about what happened.

It also seems they are confused by the reports they have heard about the empty tomb. They want to believe that Jesus rose from the dead, but because of recent events they can’t help believing that the reality is the body has been stolen. As they rehash the events Jesus appears alongside of them, except God kept the disciples from recognizing Him. Jesus entered their discussion and traveled with them until they arrive at the place they were to stay. Jesus joined them, and it is only when they begin to eat that God allowed these disciples to recognize Jesus.

Our Burning Heart moments, those moments when God speaks to our hearts with His truth, will always be the result of an encounter with God. Obviously we are not going to have an encounter with Jesus like the encounter these two disciples had. They were able to see, hear, and touch Jesus. We are forced to relate to an invisible God, who we can’t touch or audibly hear. Nevertheless we can still encounter God today.

Henry Blackaby in Experiencing God wrote, “You never discover truth; truth is revealed. When the Holy Spirit reveals truth to you, He is not leading you to an encounter with God. That is an encounter with God!” (p. 78).

When we understand Truth, that is all that Jesus embodied in His life and the doctrines He taught; it isn’t because we are so wise or the preacher so skillfully explained things, but because the Holy Spirit is at work in our hearts.

Sermons, prayer, other Christians, stories, and various circumstances open our hearts to receive the truth God has for us to learn. These things are not the source of the Truth, but are merely the tools the Holy Spirit uses to teach us truth.

One way we know we have encountered God is that we have received clarity or direction for our lives. These disciples came away from their encounter with Jesus with a new and living hope that conquered their despair and sent them running back to Jerusalem to share that hope with the other disciples. All because Jesus revealed Truth to them.

Jesus said; "But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative--and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit--he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you" (John 14:26; NLT).

The Holy Spirit will guide us in truth. The Holy Spirit will remind us and help us understand what Jesus taught. Being taught by the Holy Spirit is the same as being taught by Jesus, for they are the source of Truth.

The second truth about “Burning Heart” moments that we need to remember is that they must be supported by Scripture. In 2 Corinthians 11:14 the Apostle Paul wrote; Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. Satan can twist our experiences and he can make us have good feelings about things. Satan can get us to believe that Holy Spirit is teaching us the truth while he is distorting what the truth really is.

 So a “Burning Heart” moment isn’t about having a good feeling or even believing that we see things clearly. These are things that Satan can counterfeit and make us believe that he is telling us the truth when in fact he is feeding us lies. How many people have been led astray because they “followed their heart” instead of being true to the truth we find on the pages of Scripture? All the truth we think we have learned needs to be evaluated by the truth we know God has revealed in Scripture. Henry Blackaby in Experiencing God wrote; “Our experiences cannot be our guide. Every experience must be controlled and understood by the Scriptures. The God revealed in Scriptures does not change” (p. 13).

This requires us to be truth seekers in the mold of the Bereans. Acts 17:11 reads; And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those of Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth (NLT).

The Bereans made sure that the truth the received was compatible with the truth God had already revealed.

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus where hopeless and confused because the events they had witnessed. Jesus came near and talked with them, opened the Scriptures with them, and journeyed with them. The reason these two disciples knew the could trust the hope welling up in there hearts is because they had it confirmed by the Scripture they knew.

When God shares His truth to us through the Holy Spirit He doesn’t intend for us to keep it for ourselves. He intends that we share it with other people so that it maybe be an encouragement and a source of hope to theme as well. Just as John Eldredge went out to find life, just as Sarah asked for forgiveness, and just as David repented of his sin God’s truth comes to us so that we may change our lives and move forward to impact the lives of others with the Good News that has been given to us. 

Here is what I want you to take away from all this talk about “Burning Hearts”: God speaks to provide direction and clarity to our lives. Our lives our filled with moments of uncertainty, of temptation, and disappointment. If we are going to survive with our faith intact and if we are going mature to become like Jesus then we are going to need to hear from God.

What is our responsibility in this?

First, we have believe that God has something to say to us. Second, we need to spend time in the Bible, for the Bible contains all that we need to know for life. There is enough truth on the pages of Scripture that we can spend the rest of our lives trying to apply it. Third, we need to be obedient. As we obey the truth we already know God has revealed to us the more we will hear God. Fourth, it is important to ask God's help in applying the truth He has given to us. Blessed are the poor in spirit, and if we are going to experience God's Kingdom we have to turn to Him for wisdom, strength, and healing.

Burning heart moments provide clarity and direction for life, but we will waste them if we don't apply their truth to our lives. Burning heart moments are all about prompting action in our lives. Their purpose is to help us become the people God created us to be. Are you ready to act on the truth God has for your life?

Point to Ponder: God speaks to us so we can live out the life He created us to live.

Passage to Remember: Luke 24:32

Question to Consider: How do we know God has called to us?

Being Made New

"The message of the action of God in Christ is concerned with the creation of a new identity, namely, the redeemed person participating in the reconciled society, enjoying fellowship with all creation and with the Creator."~ Stanley Grenz; Theology for the Community of God

The mission of Jesus Christ was not just to save people from our sins, but it also included providing the opportunity for all creation to be made new. Things are not the way that they should be, and Jesus came in order to make things right. Without Jesus there would be no hope for the future because the breakdown of society and the environment is all that we would have to look forward to.

Since Jesus came we have the hope of things being made new. This process of being remade does not just happen at some time in the distant future, but it happens the moment we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17; NLT).

The Apostle Paul tells us that becoming Christians means that the process of being recreated has begun in our lives.

This process begins only when we choose to become disciples of Jesus. The problem this raises is that while we are becoming new the world around us continues the life cycle of becoming older and breaking down. The recreation of the world has to wait, but it it will happen.

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God's curse. All creation anticipates the day when it will join God' children in glorious freedom from death and decay (Romans 8:18-21; NLT).

This time that God has given us provides us with the opportunity to learn how to interact with the world around us. While things are not what they should be we have this time to treat things as though they were right. That way when the time comes and things are made right we can be counted on to do the right thing.

As new creatures it is not just about us and our relationship with God, but it also includes our relationship with other people and with the world around us (society and environment). One of the mistakes the American Church has made has been to neglect the wider world. We have not talked about being stewards of the world God has given us. We have done a poor job at taking care of the poor and needy among us. We have not started meaningful relationships with other Christians. We have allowed out relationship with God to consist of just a Sunday morning experience. It is time for us to change these things. To be a new creature is not just about us, but it is about how we relate to the larger world around us.

A Clash of Kingdoms

This world is the battle ground of a great cosmic war. Satan and the Kingdom of Darkness are trying their best to lay waste to God’s great creation. God and the Kingdom of Light are restoring creation. In this war you on one side of the other. You cannot remain neutral. The way you live determines whether or not you are a soldier of Satan bringing destruction to the wonderful creation God has given us or a servant of the Living God working as an agent of reconciliation and restoration. You either belong to the Kingdom of Darkness or the Kingdom of Light.

I realize that it seems a little dramatic to use war language, after all it sure doesn’t feel like a way. There are no bullets flying and no D-Day invasions happening so it is easy to believe that our lives aren’t part of this war being fought in the heavenlies. But I think if we really took the time to examine our lives we would realize that the only explanation for the evil in the world, the oppressive regimes, and the twisted thoughts and philosophies being promoted is that there is an active campaign against the Sovereign God and His creation.

The apostle Paul wrote of this conflict in his second letter to the Corinthian Christians. This is what he wrote 2 Corinthians 10:3-5:

{3}Of course, we are living in the flesh, but we do not fight in a fleshly way. {4} For the weapons of our warfare are not those of the flesh. Instead, they have the power of God to demolish fortresses. We tear down arguments {5}and every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive in order to obey Christ. (ISV)

In this passage Paul provides us with a principle to remember. - Vs. 3
We may be human and living in these bodies of flesh, but that doesn’t mean we fight this war in the same way wars are fought amongst each other. This is a different type of fight and it isn’t about killing and destroying other people. It is about bringing God’s love and restoration to the world. This war requires different tactics and different weapons.

This War of Kingdoms should not be equated with the “culture war” that is being fought in this country. We are not at war with the atheist, the Muslim, or the Hindu but with those things that keep them in bondage to sin and death. Sure other people will oppose us because they have been tricked into serving the enemy, but our fight is not with them but with the Kingdom that keeps them in darkness.

In order to fight this war Paul tells us that God has given us a provision to use. - Vs. 4
The weapons God has given us are different from the guns, swords, missiles, and bombs used in our warfare. They are even different from the propaganda and slander that are used to fight the “culture war” that is being fought through the media.

Jesus provided us with two great weapons for this war. These weapons are unconditional love and revealed truth. When we love unconditionally the result will be hatred from those people who want to see other remained oppressed. When we speak the simple truth of God we will be labeled as intolerant and ignorant by those who rather live a lie. Yet for those searching for real life the love of God and the truth of His word will be beacons of light penetrating the darkness.

Paul also provides us with a procedure to follow. - Vs. 5
In this war we are not to attack our fellow man, but to attack the philosophies and lifestyles that hold people in darkness. When we insist on attacking other people it shows that we are not following God’s battle plan for this war and are willing to use the weapons of the flesh to achieve victory.

The only way we can free people from the control of the Kingdom of Darkness is to level the light of God’s Word at the lies Satan has given to mankind and to love people so they can realize that there is a better way to live. People will not abandon their kingdom until they understand that God’s Kingdom is the best kingdom. They will not leave their way of living until they know that following Jesus is the best way to live.

We are in the middle of the clash of kingdoms. This cosmic war is being fought, not over physical territory, but for the human heart. It is of the up most importance that we learn to guard our hearts and enter the battle to fight for the hearts of those we love, for those people Jesus died to save. It is time to go to battle. Let’s follow Jesus to victory.

The Cure for Loneliness

"As grand an experience as love is, it is not the final answer to loneliness." ~ Ravi Zacharias; Cries of the Heart

Loneliness is universal to human experience. Everyone, from the most famous to the least known, has experienced loneliness. Not just being alone, but the feeling there is no place we belong. Most of us believe the answer to our loneliness is a love relationship. The close relationships of friends and the intimate relationship of marriage we believe provide the answer to the loneliness which we experience. After all, if we are able to be with people then we will have place to fit in.

The trouble is many people who have friends and are married still experience loneliness. This is even the worst type of loneliness because we have what we believe is the answer to loneliness. So loneliness drives people to drugs and alcohol. Loneliness is the justification married person uses to have an affair. Love is a wonderful experience, but it alone cannot rid our hearts of loneliness.

What is the answer to loneliness? Worship. Understanding our purpose and giving our lives away to a higher calling than ourselves. Worshipping in Spirit and Truth, takes the focus off our lives and places it on the Person who deserves it. Our worship of God relieves the loneliness in our heart.

Loneliness is not a symptom of having no love in our lives. Most people have friends and family who love them. Loneliness then is a symptom of a hole in our heart that no human relationship can fill. Only God fill that hole. Yet, it is not filled by God's love. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life~ John 3:16 (NASB). God's love already exists for everyone, and yet people are lonely. Our loneliness is the longing God put in us for Him.

Our longing for God is only met in our worship of Him. This is not just singing a few songs on Sunday morning, at church camp, or at Christ In Youth Summer Conference. Worship is what we do to show our appreciation for who God is and what He has done for us. Worship is what we do in response to God's great love. It is through our worship that we discover a place to belong and the meaning for our lives. The more we respond to God, the more we experience His love, and the more we experience God's love the more we understand our lives.

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them~ 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NLT). Though this verse isn't specifically talking about loneliness, I believe we can see the two ways we handle loneliness in it. The first way we can handle loneliness is to live to please ourselves. We can seek out relationships which we can use for our benefit, we can do things which will give us a moment of pleasure and dull the feeling in our heart, and can try to find the "one" who will make our lives complete. That way will not provide us with what our heart is truly longing for, it just dulls the feeling.

The second way we can deal with loneliness is to live to please Christ. Isn't that what worship is? It is a response to the one who has given us so much. It is through worship we discover what our heart longs for. Not only the love for God, but having a relationship with Him. It is through our relationship with God which provides the final answer to the problem of loneliness in our lives.

If you are lonely, the answer is not in a new relationship, a weekend fling, or the bottom of a bottle. The answer is worship. Living to please Christ. It is a relationship with God that our heart longs for, and that relationship is only possible through Jesus.