True Ministry

On April 27, 2011, our area was rocked with an outbreak of tornadoes.  Countless people lost their homes.  Many lost their lives.  Some were left with only the clothes on their back.  The pictures are breathtaking, but to see the devastation with your own eyes is gut wrenching.  In many areas it is as if 100 bulldozers lined up side by side and moved forward.  I am truly amazed at the power that weather possesses.  The destruction is unlike anything I have ever seen.

Having experienced two different tornadoes that day, I can say I have a new found respect for storms.  My wife, my baby, and myself, along with several others were stacked in a bathroom when a F3 tornado smashed through Trenton, GA.  It was the scariest moment of my life.  At the same time, it was the most empowering.  We all began to pray with authority and boldness.  No one received a scratch.  We walked outside and were amazed by the destruction.  It was total chaos.  People were screaming and running everywhere. 

What has happened since has been astonishing. 

The word minister means to serve, or wait tables.  Ministry has been evident in the purest sense of the word.  Nearly every able bodied person and all churches have united to assist the hurting, broken, and those in need of food, water and supplies.  Power companies from many states have come through to assist.  Churches congregations have come to volunteer and serve.  Organizations, charities and even the Federal Government have come in to assist.  The numbers are astounding.

I am proud of my fellow brothers and sisters.  They may not consider themselves a "minister", but for nearly two weeks they have truly set the table for those in need.

The tornado that came over Sand Mountain into Trenton. Courtesy of Bill Clingan.



³⁷Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. -Romans 8:37(AMP)

Holiday Jesus

Resurrection Sunday is nearly here.  A time where church parking lots and pews are packed.  Easter is a time when you go to the store and buy a new suit or a new dress.  The whole family walks into church decked out!!  Throw the ham in the oven and head to church! 

On the Pastoral side of Easter, there will not be another Sunday throughout the year when there will be more unsaved people in the congregation.  More time is spent on studying and perfecting a sermon that will pull at the heart and convict the one sitting in the pew that does not know Jesus. 

For some people, it is the only day of the year that they will walk into a church.  Maybe for a family member.  Perhaps they just feel it is their obligation.  It could even be a tradition.  Whatever the reason, they come.  Unfortunately, they will not sit on that pew for an entire year after that.

I fear that people that do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ only thank him when they are allowed off of work because of him.  On Good Friday, Christmas Eve, & Christmas, people are very thankful when they don't have to get up and head to their jobs.  That is far as it goes for most.  Some will not consider what Easter truly means.

My prayer is that this weekend, people do not just celebrate Holiday Jesus, but they are radically saved by Resurrected Jesus!  The one that laid down his life so that we may live.  I pray that a revival shakes our churches regardless of what name is on the sign in the front lawn of the church.  Let's agree that this Easter people will not leave the same way they walked through the door.  Sunday is coming.

Acts 2:24
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Don't Block the Trend

We all know have read, preached, listened to the scriptures about the life of Elijah.  I even preached about him as recently as a week ago.  Last night at church the minister made a point that I had not thought about.  It is right there in front of us!

Elijah was a great man of God.  He performed miracle after miracle.  One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Elijah calls fire down from heaven.  What a sight that must have been!  How strong his faith must have been when God proved who was the true God through him.  Then shortly after that he receives a threat against his life from Jezebel.  What does he do?  He flees.

I am going to list some scriptures.  See if you can see a trend develop.

1 Kings 17

² Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: ³ “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. ⁴ You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”
 ⁵ So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. ⁶ The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

....

⁷ Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. ⁸ Then the word of the LORD came to him: ⁹ “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”

....
1 Kings 18

¹ After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” ² So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.

....

Do you see it?  Everywhere Elijah went God sent him!  God says, "Go" or "Leave here".  When Elijah listened to him, God always supernaturally provided for him.  A miracle always took place when God sent him.  Now read this scripture and see what you notice....

1 Kings 19

² So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
 ³ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.


What is missing from verse 3?  God did not say, "Go" or "Leave here"!!  What could have happened?  What would have happened?  What should have happened?  What was going to happen if Elijah didnt take matters into his own hands?

How often do we take matters into our own hands and miss our miracle?  Why do we become fearful after God has delivered us time and time again?  Stand still, wait on the word of the Lord!  When God says to go or to leave then you do it, but not until then!  When we are faced with a trial or life places a life changing decision in front of us......wait on God.  It will be worth it and you will eliminate a lot of messes in your life.

God was not finished with Elijah and provided for him in the wilderness.  God is not finished with you and he will provide for you.  Even after bad decisions. 

True Love?

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Today, I pose a question to you....  What is true love?  Many would describe the moment when they knew their spouse was "THE ONE!!"  Some would describe a first date or how they feel when they are with their husband or wife.  Some may even talk about their children.  Whatever your view, most of us realize and understand the depth and meaning of love.

I love my wife and my daughter unconditionally.  They are the only two people that I can see myself laying my life down for.  After God, they are my world!!  I would do anything to protect them and keep them from harm or danger. 

Then I think about Jesus.  A baby boy born in Bethlehem.  Raised by normal people.  He got hungry.  He got thirsty.  He felt pain.  He laughed.  He cried.  Just like we do!!  He was a man.  He did come here to die, but do you think knowing his own fate made that easy?  No. Have you ever been so stressed that your sweat turned to drops blood?!?

Luke 22:44

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

This was not an easy decision by any means.  To willingly lay your life down for someone you did not know would not be an easy decision for anyone!  But He did it.  He was arrested, put on trial, beaten, treated like a criminal, scorned, had his facial hair ripped from his face.  It gets much worse.  Tied to a post, whipped until his insides were hanging out of his body, made to carry his own murder weapon on a path to his death site.  Yet, still it continues.  He was made to drape himself on the cross as they took spikes and drove them through his hands and feet.  He felt the excruciating pain that racked his body as the cross was raised and the breath was ripped from his body.  He hung there suspended between blood covered dirt and his Father until he died.

He did it.  This is not some fairytale that someone made up.  He did it without a guarantee that even one of us would invite Him into our hearts.  He died for you.  He died for me.  He endured the most horrendous death imaginable because He wanted you to be free from sin and spend eternity in Heaven.

That, my friend, is True Love.

The Nice and the Nasty

Matthew 5:43-48 (MSG)
^43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
 ⁴⁸"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

*enemy:  one that is antagonistic to another; especially : one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent.

I have tried to live my life with "The Golden Rule" in mind.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  I can honestly say that I do not know one single person that absolutely "hates my guts" so to speak.  I am an easy-going guy that tries to treat everyone how I would like to be treated.  I stay away from trouble that way.  It still seems unavoidable.

Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

One of the hardest things to do is love someone who intends to cause you harm.  Someone who intends to cause you strife and disrupt your life is not worth fighting.  Let God handle them!  Show them love and "kill them with kindness".  Jesus said the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.  Think about that!  If everyone were to have that mindset, how different would our lives be?  No bickering over pesky things.  No fighting, and on a larger scale, no murder.  People would not feel empty and feel the need to turn to drugs and alcohol to feel happiness.  Our world would be a completely different place.  God knew what He was doing when he inspired this scripture.  It works if we apply it!

No matter how hard you try you will never be able to please everyone.  It is nearly impossible.  People are different.  They come from different backgrounds and have diffeent personalities.  That can be a very good thing or it can be a very bad thing.  Unfortunately it does cause strife and if it is not diffused it turns for the worse.  Whoever said "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me", lied through their teeth!!  Words can cut you to the bone.  Words can destroy a person.  We can cause more damage with our mouth than we can with our fists!  I truly believe that!  We are bound to have people in our life that come against us for one reason or another.  But whether they are "nice" or they are "nasty", the Word of God says we are to love them.  It takes discipline.  It takes prayer.  So, just remember the next time you have to deal with someone intending to cause you harm or strife in your life, just love them.  It will mess them up!!!

Preemptive War

A preemptive war is a war that is commenced in an attempt to repel or defeat a perceived inevitable offensive or invasion, or to gain a strategic advantage in an impending (allegedly unavoidable) war before that threat materializes.

In my study time last night God dropped this into my spirit and I had to share it with you today!

1 Chronicles 14:9-11
⁹ Then the Philistines went and made a raid on the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁰ And David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”
The LORD said to him, “Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.”
¹¹ So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

When I was reading this passage last night, I started thinking about what David did.  In this particular situation, he did not wait until he was in the heat of battle before he called on God for wisdom, guidance, and deliverance.  He sought God BEFORE the battle!!!

I hear God saying this to His people:

"What would happen if my people would seek me BEFORE the battle?  What would happen if they didn't wait until they were in the middle of a mess before they sought me for breakthrough and deliverance?  How much heartache and pain could be avoided?  How many trials and troubles could be preempted?

Wow!!

I believe that God wants to hear from us everyday regarding the warfare that is taking place over our lives! 

John 10:10
¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.....

It is not a secret what Satan intends to do to you.  He wants to steal, kill and absolutely destroy everything in your life.  That gives us an incredible gift!!!  We hold the battle plans for the plan of attack from our enemy!!  Preemptive war is striking BEFORE you are attacked!!  Why wait until you are being ripped apart at the seams before you seek God for damage control?  Seek him BEFORE the attack and save yourself heartache and pain.  Rise up.  Stand to your feet.  Look the enemy in the eyes and watch as God "breaks through" your enemies like a "breakthrough of water".  We are a part of the most powerful army that has ever been and ever will be.  We are children of God!!!

I hear the sound of an army arising!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dead Man Walking

²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."  Luke 9:23

Scholars say that although no one can be sure, the crossbeam of the cross that Jesus carried could have weighed anywhere from 75-125lbs.  With the whole cross weighing approximately 300 lbs.  Regardless of whether you believe he carried the crossbeam alone or carried the whole cross that day, it was an astonishing feat.  The portrayal in movies is quite gruesome.  In fact, its is very hard to watch anyone take such a beating.  If that was not enough there was the crown of thorns, plucking of his beard, and the humiliation that he endured by the very people he was about to die for.  He took up his cross that day and started the journey.

What did Jesus mean when he said to take up your cross daily?  I believe we can look at it several ways.  Today, I want to deal with our daily walk and the battle we face within ourselves. 

There is a battle that takes place everyday within each one of us.  The flesh man versus the spirit man.  It has been said that if you put two men in a cage to fight, the one that you have fed the most will win.  If we feed our flesh, the flesh will win.  But, if we concentrate on things that are holy and fast, pray, and read the Bible, then it will be a "no contest" match.  The spirit man will prevail every time.

We are bombarded on a daily basis with sin.  Around every turn there seems to be a temptation for believers to test their lifestyle of holiness.  I believe that is where the cross comes in.  When we wake up in the morning we have to make a decision.  We decide right then how the rest of our day is going to go.  There are certainly situations that may arise that we have no control over, but you can control how you respond!  We make a stand in that moment and say, "Lord, I am taking up my cross right now.  I choose you.  I choose life, healing, blessing, power, strength, and faith!!!  It does not matter what the enemy puts in my path.  I will deny myself today and endure just to follow you."

What a concept!!  What if we took the word and actually applied it to our life?  I do not know about you but I want to be a disciple of Christ.  I am at a point in my life that it does not matter what the price is.  I want to follow him.  The things of this world are precisely that....just things!  I am going to make a conscious effort to deny myself every single day.  I want to grow closer to Jesus.  I want the favor of God on my life.  I am going to take up my cross daily.  Will you join me?!?!?  It will be worth it I assure you!