Back to Eden

It's Only a Test

2012-03-04T20:57:00.002-06:00

I am paraphrasing this thought for today, heard this Sunday March 4, 2012 at Starlight COGIC, 2800 Bob Hall Rd, Orange, TX, Supt. Ernest B. Lindsey, Pastor.

If you are experiencing hard times and feel as though you cannot hear from God, remember, during the test, the teacher is always quiet.

If you are going through hard times, you may need a little encouragement. God has been telling me to hold on, keep the faith, be encouraged. It is only temporary, this trial you're' going through. It will be over real soon. Keep the faith. Don't give up. It's only a test.

Feed the Spirit

2012-01-01T23:12:00.000-06:00

As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
I Peter 2:2-3 KJV

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

If you are a Christian, you likely have a desire to know more of God. One way to know him and be used by him is to study his word. This year, I am trying something different for my daily Bible reading. Ordinarily I read the Bible from cover to cover, from January 1 to December 31. I have a ragged old study Bible that I’ve highlighted, color-coded, and annotated throughout. This Bible is falling apart, but I love it because in it I have all these insights into God’s word.

I highlighted scriptures that were especially significant to me. I marked the places where the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is mentioned. This was important to me because it was part of my salvation journey. I had to learn that the Holy Spirit wasn’t just an entity outside of me but a manifestation of God that wanted to reside inside me. I had to invite him in. Among other things, I marked the prophecies in the Old Testament that are realized in the New Testament.

I received a trifold schedule years ago, but it too has grown tattered and torn over the years. Not only do I need a new schedule, but I need a new approach. One year I read the Daily Bible which is a chronological Bible, but this year I needed something to rejuvenate this part of my daily walk with Christ.

Morning has been my devotional time with God, but as the year progressed I found myself waking later and later. By the end of the year, I barely had enough time to get up, minister to my physical man, get dressed, and go to work. In the meantime, my spiritual man was sorely lacking.

Now in Bible study we’ve been talking about the degeneration of a generation. Understand that generation gaps don’t suddenly appear. There is a gradual change from one generation to another. Topple over one spiritual or moral domino and they begin to fall one by one. If I want to have a positive impact, I have to work on me. I have to get my own dominos in order. I need to renew that daily devotional time with God, praying and reading his word.

God has been ministering this message to my spirit. He has a way of sending shout outs until I get it. The other day I was watching the 700 Club. At the end of the program they gave out their web address. I went to the site and found what I had been looking for, a daily Bible reading (http://biblestudy.cbn.com/default.aspx ). I like this one because I will be reading the Old and New Testament side by side. I am just excited about studying the Testaments in parallel.

A few days later, I read the blog post 5 Life Changing New Year’s Resolutions (http://networkedblogs.com/s6Swj ). #3 said “Read the Bible More: The Key Word is ‘Everyday’ ”. The blog post was spot on. I am sanctified, saved and filled with the Holy Ghost, but of late, my spirit has been thirsty. I need to fill up in order to pour out. Isn’t that why we have been called? One way to keep the spirit filled is to study the word of God.

For suggestions for daily Bible study, read 5 Life Changing New Year’s Resolutions (http://networkedblogs.com/s6Swj ) or simply do a search on the internet. There are even free Bibles you can read on line. If you find reading anything hard to do, if you are visually impaired, or if you simply prefer an audio version, you might try saxophonist Kirk Whalum’s Bible in Your Ear (http://blog.kirkwhalum.com/biye/ ). The Word of God has never been more accessible.

Whatever you choose, put God’s word on your daily menu. Feed the spirit in you.

P.S.
If you prefer audio, the CBN Bible Study is also available as a podcast. http://biblestudy.cbn.com/BibleInAYear.aspx?day=2&plan=1
I am listening as I type this update.
You can listen to the podcast or read the text online.

They Chose Barabbas

2011-12-29T23:33:00.000-06:00

And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

I will therefore chastise him, and release him,

(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired: but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Luke 23:13-19, 25, KJV

Given a choice, they chose Barabbas, an insurgent, a murderer, a rebel. We know nothing more of Barabbas’ life. We do not know how he lived out the rest of his days, but we do know Barabbas got another chance.

On that day Jesus took Barabbas’ place on the cross. Blameless, faultless, falsely accused, Jesus had done nothing worthy of death. Yet they chose Barabbas.

Judge neither Barabbas nor the crowd who chose him. There could in reality have been no other choice. The events on that day were predestined.

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Isaiah 11:10, KJV

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:5-6, KJV

Jesus gave his life, not just for Barabbas, but for all mankind.

Jesus was delivered to the cross, but three days later he arose again, a promise of life to all who believe, repent of their sins, and follow him.

Why consider his death and resurrection during a season when Christians celebrate his birth? During his life, Jesus was always focused on our salvation. His mission, his purpose was to restore our relationship with God. Jesus’ greatest gift was his sacrificial death. Our greatest gift is a sacrificial life.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:1-2, KJV

The choice is yours. Choose today whom you will serve.

They chose Barabbas and put their hope in a man. Who will you choose?

Now Faith

2011-07-14T12:39:00.000-05:00

The preacher took us to Hebrews 11. I call it the Faith Chapter. The author recounts case after case of now faith. Faith for the midst of trials. Faith for the valley. Faith for the battle. Faith for your healing, your blessing, your deliverance, your breakthrough. Faith to carry you through adversity, over obstacles, out of the wilderness. Faith to transport you beyond your past and into your future.

To put it in perspective, if you’ve got a big problem, just get a little faith.

Hebrews 11

Jesus is the Way

2011-07-03T00:50:00.001-05:00

CNN’s “The Sissy Boy Experiment” chronicled a government funded program whose purpose was to de-feminize effeminate boys. One bitter alumnus declared the program a failure. He separated from his family at an early age, funneling his feelings of anger and rejection into depression, drug abuse, and homelessness. At the time of the interview, he had overcome the drug addiction and homelessness; he had yet to overcome the pain.

As I watched the story, it occurred to me that we are losing battles we can not win and need not fight. We are losing because we are fighting on the wrong front. We cannot win because the battle is more than we can bear alone. We need not fight because the battle has already been fought and won.

John 1:29 says

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Jesus is that Lamb of God. When he met John on the banks of the Jordan, Jesus was just beginning his ministry. John would baptize him. God would justify him, sending a dove as a sign of purity, righteousness, and sonship.

Hebrews 9:12 says

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice. He gave his life. No higher price can be paid. Before Jesus, the Israelites had to make ritual sacrifices. After Jesus, there was no more need for sacrifice. There was only a need for repentance.

Romans 3:23 says

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

We are quick to judge the sins of others while ignoring those of our own. The scripture says all have sinned.

Romans 6:23 says

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is that Good News. You do not have to die in sin. You can have eternal life. Salvation comes through Jesus and Jesus alone.

John 1:12 says

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

What good is a gift if it is rejected? The gift is salvation, and it must be received.

John 3:16 says

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

How does one receive the gift of salvation? The answer is simple. Believe.

Romans 6:6 says

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

This is salvation. Our old sinful self dies with him. We are no longer enslaved to sin.

I Peter 2:24 says

He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Jesus bore our sins on the cross. When we accept Christ, through his death, we too die to sin. Through his resurrection, we too are born again. We arise new, spotless, and blameless.

John 5:24 says

Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Perhaps because sin is so hard for us to overcome, we complicate salvation. Jesus said, hear my word, believe, and you will receive everlasting life.

Salvation is not a ten step program. There is only one step the sinner must take, and only one thing the believer can do to help someone take that step.

Mark 16:15-16 says

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.”

Jesus will do his part, if we will simply do ours. How can they be saved, unless they believe? How can they believe, unless they hear? How can they hear, unless we tell them?

When you see someone in need, someone hurting, someone lost, someone seeking, tell them Jesus is the answer. Tell them what Jesus has done for you.

Matthew 15:16 says

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

If you have been saved, you have a past to tell and a present to show. Witness by word and by deed. Compel them to come and see, Jesus is the way.

A Call to Action

2011-05-23T19:22:00.000-05:00

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14:23

This is a call to action.
God wants to fill his house.
He wants to restore a right relationship with his people.

In my Father’s house there are many mansions: If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:2-3

According to Isaiah 65:17 and Revelations 21, God has promised believers a new heaven and a new earth. All the former things will pass away, and we will have no remembrance of them. He will dwell with us and we will be His people. There will be no more tears, no death, no sorrow, and no pain. That is a great promise.

God said “It is done.”
God has prepared a special dwelling place.
God wants to fill his house.

You have been positioned. You are in the right place, at the right time.
You have been equipped. You already have the tools you need at your disposal.
You have an assignment to share the Good News

I want to tell you the journey won’t be easy. God wants to use you. You know it. The devil knows it too. The devil will come at you with everything he has. He will try to dissuade you. He will try to discourage you. He will try to discredit you.

I Peter 5:8 warns that the devil walks about seeking whom he can devour. It’s a mind game. If you let him win, you lose and those who need to hear your story will never hear it. That husband, son, daughter, friend, stranger that is lost might never be found.

Don’t let the devil deceive you. Don’t let the devil defeat you.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts1:8

You have received power from the One with all power.

The devil is a liar. He has no power over you.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

You have an assignment.
You have been put in position.
You have been equipped.
You have been called.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:15

Jesus offered living water to the Samaritan woman at the well.
Her thirst sated, the woman did not let that message rest with her.
She was compelled to tell others.

Just like that woman at the well, God has saved us. God has blessed us. God has positioned us. God has called us to action. We are compelled to tell others. Tell them to come and see. Remember the fervor when you first got saved. Remember the excitement and the assurance. Pay it forward.

Don’t keep the Good News to yourself. You will probably be rejected along the way, laughed at, scorned. Shake the dust off your feet and keep going. With your last breath, keep telling of the goodness and the glory of God. Tell somebody to Come and See.

In Times Like These

2011-04-24T23:25:00.000-05:00

I could not let this Easter Sunday pass without sharing something of the joy and peace I feel in Christ. This harmonic selection by a group of young sisters takes me back to New Hope Baptist Church many years ago. Sisters Harderman and King sang a beautiful duet back then. The words and the melody bless me now as then. May they bless you too.

Come and See

2011-04-17T17:49:00.000-05:00

E. B. Lindsey, Pastor of Starlight Church of God in Christ in Orange, Texas and Superintendent of the East Coast District of the Church of God in Christ, spoke today from John 1:34-39. Pastor Lindsey delivered his message - four ways to salvation – with fiery conviction. The four ways to salvation:

1. Preaching of the Word

2. Personal witness about the Savior.

3. A pointed encounter with Jesus

4. A powerful testimony from a friend

Pastor Lindsey concluded the message with a go to for everyone.

If you are saved, you must tell others.

If you are not saved, come and see what the fuss is all about.

My friend, church member and fellow blogger, Cheryl Pollard had just encouraged me days ago to tell you to “Come See a Man” again. We laughed, but I knew she was right. I was sitting on my testimony. Pastor Lindsey came so close to the title of my latest book today. He kept compelling us to tell someone to come and see.

If you are saved, then heed God’s call. Acts 1:8 says

But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The after is now. We are called to witness.

If you are not saved, come and see. You are called out of thirst and hunger into the fullness of the Lamb. You are called out of darkness into his marvelous light. You are called out of sin into salvation. Come see a man who knows all about you and loves you still. Come see the Christ.

Come See a Man

2011-03-18T23:48:00.000-05:00

Come See a Man is my personal testimony and an invitation to Christ. It is a tiny book. Some may think I reveal too much, others not enough. The intent is not to focus on me but the Christ who saved me. I wanted to share my good news. I needed to tell you to come see a man.

At the end of this little book are four blank pages. I believe they are there for a reason. I journal so blank pages are the places where I unburden my soul. My prayer is that you will turn your burdens over to Jesus.

Open the invitation and let Jesus close the door to your past. Will you come?

Come See a Man is now available in print and Kindle edition.
Buy Books at Amazon

I Don't Mind Waiting

2011-03-12T22:23:00.000-06:00

Wednesday night in Bible study the subject was Job, and I was quieter than usual. I was thinking - thinking that I understood how Job felt, though in reality my problems are miniscule compared to Job’s. Job lost his wealth and his ten children. Job was covered with boils from the sole of his feet to the crown of his head. It got so bad for Job, his own wife told him he should just curse God and die.

I on the other hand have a job to complain about, a roof over my head, and food in the pantry. My only son is doing well. Everything I own is still mine. I should lose weight, eat better, and exercise more, but my health is good.

The Lord said Job was a perfect and upright man. Job exemplifies the fact that bad things do happen to good people. Bad things happen to bad people and not so bad people too. Bad things happen to ordinary people just like you and me.

Like Job I am alternately asking why me and thinking why not me. I’m up one minute, and I’m down the next. I’m either crying out to God that I can’t make it or believing I really can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Still there are a lot of things I need and even more things that I want. I want them yesterday, but I wait. I wait because God told me to wait. No he didn’t rain down fire or appear in a cloud. I didn’t hear his voice or get a visit from one of his angels. It’s just that every time I turn around, someone is telling me to wait or tarry or stay in my set place.

Maybe it’s a sign of these stormy times. In this economic downturn, there are too many people struggling, losing jobs, and property to be preaching about prosperity. The unrest in the Middle East, the wild weather, and the string of natural and man-made disasters have people wondering if we’re in the last days. Those God’s gonna bless you messages just don’t fly in this kind of weather. So God says wait. He tells his preachers to tell you to wait. Wait for your breakthrough. Wait for your deliverance. Wait for your healing. Wait for your answer.

I heard Steve Harvey, yes that Steve Harvey, say “Stay on Faith Street”. Steve said if you get off Faith Street, you just might miss what God has for you. I can relate to that. Thursday morning there’s a loud knock on my door. It’s the UPS man, and is he glad to see me. “Good,” he says. “You’re home.” He’s got my five packages. These are the same five packages he tried to deliver in February. Three times he tried to deliver them, and three times I wasn’t home.

Those packages had to be delivered directly to me. They weren’t meant for anybody else, so nobody else could receive them. I wasn’t home, so those packages got sent back to the vendor. I had to call the vendor and tell them to watch out for my packages. Then I had to call them again to make sure they had received them and were sending them back to me. I had waited a long time for those packages. I was beginning to believe I wasn’t going to get them. Finally I was in the right place at the right time, and I got what was meant for me.

God is just like UPS. He’s got something for you, and He’s not going to leave it with anyone else. If God put you in position, just know you’re there for a reason. There’s something in it just for you. It could be you’re there because of something you need, or it could be you’re there because someone needs you.

Job led a blessed life until God allowed some bad things to happen to Job. Through it all Job persevered. Job stayed on Faith Street, and the Lord blessed Job’s latter days more than his beginning. Job teaches me to wait on God.

God set me in this place, so I know God expects to find me right where I am. I know he’s holding something just for me and just waiting for me to be in the right place at the right time. He told me to wait, and he’s expecting me to be here. No, “I don’t mind waiting. I don’t mind waiting on the Lord.”

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say, on the Lord”. Psalm 27:14 KJV

Visible God

2011-01-29T00:10:00.001-06:00

The fool hath said in his heart,

There is no God. Psalm 14:1

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,

being understood by the things that are made,

even his eternal power and Godhead;

so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:20

In Nineveh

2011-01-17T01:56:00.000-06:00

Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, and of them was the whole earth overspread. (Genesis 9:18-19) After the flood, the earth was repopulated. Through Shem’s family line came Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, patriarchs of the Israelites. (Genesis11:10-26). Japheth became the father of the Gentiles (Genesis 10:5). Ham fathered the Canaanites and the Philistines. His descendents built the infamous cities of Babel and Nineveh.

The short but rather poignant portrait of Jonah gives us a glimpse into ancient Nineveh. We know well the fore math and aftermath of the story. The prophet Jonah receives an assignment from God. He is to go to wicked Nineveh. While there he is to preach repentance to the Ninevites.

Jonah has no desire to go to Nineveh. Jonah believes the Ninevites deserve God’s punishment not his grace. In defiance, Jonah flees west for Tarshish. God sends a storm to hinder Jonah’s journey. In the midst of the storm, Jonah is cast into the sea and ends up in the mouth of a great fish.

From the belly of the fish, Jonah prays to God. Now Jonah finds himself in need of God’s mercy. God delivers Jonah out of the fish and gives him another chance to complete his assignment.

Jonah heads for Nineveh, but Jonah’s attitude toward the Ninevites hasn’t changed. It is this very attitude that makes Jonah the ideal prophet for this wicked nation. Jonah has a mission in Nineveh.

The Bible describes Nineveh as a three days journey. In Nineveh, one day into a three day journey, Jonah declares the word from God. In forty days Nineveh will be overthrown. (Jonah 3:1-4) Jonah’s short message of impending doom was effective, averting Nineveh’s destruction, the very thing Jonah hoped for.

Years later the Ninevites would return to their wicked ways. Sennacherib, king of Assyria was murdered at Nineveh by his own sons. (2 Kings 19:36-37; Isaiah 37:37-38) Nahum, Zephaniah and Isaiah would prophecy the utter destruction of Nineveh, but in Jonah’s day, God had mercy on Nineveh. Matthew 12:41 and Luke 11:32 also record the success of Jonah’s mission.

Jonah 2:5-10 says the people, even the king of Nineveh believed God. The king declared a fast. From the greatest to the least, the people put on sackcloth and sat in ashes, mourning and crying unto God. They turned from their evil ways and from violence.

Jonah has a change of mind, but not a change of heart. Even as he leaves a repentant Nineveh, knowing his mission has been a success, Jonah is angry and mournful. Jonah questions why God has spared such a wicked nation. God uses a gourd to remind Jonah of God’s power, mercy and grace. Jonah might have done well to remember the three days and three nights he spent in the belly of a fish.

Before we judge Jonah too harshly, we must consider Nineveh. Nineveh is not the type of place we plan to go. We don’t prepare ourselves for Nineveh. Nineveh is the place we try to avoid and if perchance we find ourselves in Nineveh, we too might try to find a way of escape.

Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria. The Assyrians were a fierce nation who worshipped Ishtar, the goddess of fertility, love, war and sex. The Ninevites were warmongers and whoremongers. They reveled in violence, blood, lust and sexuality. The Ninevites worshipped the very things God abhors.

Jonah had reason to hate and fear the Ninevites. With a reputation for brutalizing their conquests, the Assyrians were hated and feared by many nations. Although in Jonah’s day, Assyria was experiencing a period of political weakness, they had conquered many of Israel’s neighbors and Israel was at the time under tribute to Assyria.

The Assyrians had a reputation for cruel, merciless bloodthirsty conquests. They rolled their outer garments in blood before battle. They were known to burn children to death and to chop off the hands of their enemies. They despoiled many nations, slaughtering many and enslaving the survivors.

The Nineveh of Jonah’s day was bloodthirsty, lustful, sexually immoral, wicked. Since the 1950’s excavations have revealed much of the culture of Nineveh. Reliefs uncovered from the buried city depict scenes of warfare and torture. It was to this wicked nation that Jonah was sent.

It wasn’t comfortable for Jonah in Nineveh. He was preaching repentance to a people he despised. Jonah knew he served a God of mercy, a God who was capable of forgiving even the Ninevites. Jonah was angry, hurt and even a little disappointed in his God.

Jonah was a prophet called out of Israel for a time and a people. Jonah had a mission in Nineveh. He was the ideal prophet to deliver a message of doom to a pagan people. God called Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah didn’t want to go, but in the end he did God’s bidding. Jonah went through Nineveh and a nation was saved.

Like Jonah you may have a need to go through Nineveh. Nineveh is easy to recognize. There is sin and evil in Nineveh. There is heartache, danger and trouble in Nineveh. The Ninevites do wicked things and make you uncomfortable. You fear the Ninevites will reject your message and sacrifice you to the fire. The Ninevites discourage you and stand in your way. It seems the Ninevites sole purpose is to make your life miserable.

You may not have to journey far to get to Nineveh. Your Nineveh could be your home, your job, your community or even your church. When you find yourself in Nineveh, don’t be so quick to seek a route of escape. The grass may not be greener on the other side. You may be jumping from the fire to the frying pan. You may try to leave Nineveh only to end up in the belly of a monster.

Before you flee your Nineveh, ask God why you are there. Is there a mission for you in Nineveh? Is there a woman at the well, a prodigal son, a Pharisee, a fatherless child, a heathen nation in your path?

In your work for Christ, you too will have your Nineveh. Don’t be frightened to make the journey. Israel had a wilderness journey en route to a land flowing with milk and honey. David had to sojourn in Ziklag on his way to a kingdom and a throne. Jesus had a need to go to Samaria on his way to Jerusalem and a cross. It was just a little side trip he had to take to meet a certain Samaritan woman at a well. Through that brief encounter a witness was born.

If God has sent you to Nineveh, there is someone who needs to hear. A day into Nineveh you may have trouble, heartache and strife. Preach the preaching God has bid you. Some will turn a deaf ear; but others will listen. Some may throw rocks and some may tell lies, but others will welcome you into their homes, minds and hearts. Nineveh is a hard place, but you will pass through. Nineveh is an exceeding great city of three day’s journey, but there is rest on the other side.

Top Ten Signs You Are A Christian

2011-01-01T20:32:00.000-06:00

Thanks in no small part to David Letterman, the top 10 list is as American as baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie. After a search for a top ten list for Christians yielded only an irreverent mockery of Christian values, I composed this top ten list for Christians. More than a year has passed since I first shared this list. At a time when we reflect on the past and make resolutions for the future, this top ten list merits a second look.

Number 10.

You see the world around you, the earth and the sky; the night and day, the sunset and the sunrise; the phases of the moon. You see the blades of grass and the towering trees; the snow capped mountains and the fertile valleys, the shale escarpments and the granite outcrops; the artic ice bergs and the molten lava; the rich clay soils and the desert sands, the waterfalls, the rivers and the oceans they feed.

You see the variety, intricacy and abundance of life - the great white shark and the tiny minnow; the soaring eagle and the humming bird; the Clydesdale and the Shetland pony, the crocodile and the salamander, the sparrow and the cockatiel. You feel the sun on your face, the wind in your hair, the chill of winter. You hear the roar of the waves and the whistle of the wind, the trill of the robin and the caw of the crow, and you know:

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

(John1:1-3)

You know the world was made by God.

Number 9.

You acknowledge that Jehovah is God and you will put no other Gods before him – not your money God or your job God, not your house or your car God, not your clothes or your shoes or your purse God.

For Jesus said:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

(Matthew 6:19-21)

You will put no other Gods before him – not your husband God, or your wife God, not your child God or your self God. For:

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

And he that taketh not his cross, and follow me is not worthy of me.

(Matthew 10:37-38)

You will put no other gods before him.

Number 8.

You laugh with joy, cry with sorrow, boil with anger, prickle with fear, tingle with anticipation. You strive to run faster, climb higher, build bigger, do greater. You long to go where no man has gone before, do what no man has done before, create what no man has made before. You feel the Spirit of God stir in the depth of your soul and you know:

…the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

(Genesis 2:7)

He dwells in you.

Number 7.

You carry the Word along with you everywhere you go. The Bible is the most read book in your possession. You can be found regularly in Sunday school, worship service and Bible Study. For the scriptures say:

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

(Psalm 119:11)

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

(Psalm 119:105)

You carry the Word along with you everywhere you go.

Number 6.

You are saved by faith not by works.

They say you can’t pass this test, get this job, buy this house, start that business. You say to the mountain move, for his word says:

…If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible for you.

(Matthew 17:20)

Your faith moves mountains.

Number 5.

Your faith is more than words. Your faith is manifested by your works, for faith without works is dead. (James 2:17)

Your brother is hungry. Feed him. Your sister is naked. Clothe her.

They say this is your severance check. Tithe anyway. For his word says:

Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure: pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

(Luke 6:38)

Your works speak faith.

Number 4

You exhibit the love of Christ, for while we were yet sinners, he died for us. For the Bible says:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

(Romans 3:23)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Romans 6:23)

That is why you:

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you;

(Matthew 5:44)

If thy enemy hunger (you will) feed him; If he thirst, (you will) give him drink: For the Bible says:

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

(Romans 12:20-21)

You love your enemies.

Number 3.

You present your bodies, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service, and are not conformed to this world, but are transformed by the renewing of your mind.

(Romans 12:1 and 2)

You choose to celebrate the season in the house of God, filled with the Spirit, praising Him in psalms and hymns, making melody in your heart to the Lord, and giving thanks to God.

(Ephesians 5:18-21)

You live holy.

Number 2.

You have a genuine concern for nonbelievers and faithfully exercise the Great Commission, desiring as followers of Jesus that every man be saved. For Jesus said:

… I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

(Matthew 9:13)

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: …

(Matthew 28:19-20)

You tell others about God.

And the number 1 sign that you are a Christian.

Number 1

The next time someone calls for a moment of silence, you remember that men ought to always pray, that we ought to obey God and not man. And you will pray after this manner:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

A Word of Truth

2010-12-24T18:49:00.000-06:00

We live in a time when false teachings are all around us. Jesus said, “And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. (Matthew 24:11) 2 Peter 2:1 warns “But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.”

It seems daily, I am confronted with another untruth about God. So many people are confused and forming their own opinions from limited understanding and lack of faith. It is what some call “Personal Religion” – a form of religion we construct to justify our lifestyles and beliefs.

Jesus said, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.”(Mark 6:11) Paul advised Timothy, “Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.” (1 Timothy 1:3)

In other words, don’t waste time arguing with false teachers. In many cases, the false teacher is not interested in any truth but their own. As a Christian, you must know your faith. To know your faith, you must have a personal relationship with God. That is why it is so important to be sanctified, saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit will give you wisdom to discern good from evil. He will open your eyes and your heart to the truth. (John 16:13)

In recent days, I’ve heard statements like:
“I believe in God, but I don’t believe in the Bible.”
“The Bible is just a story written by men.”
“The story about Satan being cast out of heaven isn’t in the Bible.”
“You can’t talk about religion.”
Such statements only serve the devil. He is a liar, a thief, a deceiver. Don’t fall for his lies.

Lie No. 1 There is no God.

Some scholars would like you to believe that the heavens and the earth simply came to be, explaining order, design, variety, creativity and power with words like chaos, randomness and big bang. Romans 1:20 rebuts this error in logic.

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

God is evident in everything that exists.

Lie No. 2 There is no devil.

If you don’t believe in God; it’s hard to believe in demons. Conversely if you believe in God and his Word, you must accept that we battle principalities and powers. Jesus said, “I beheld Satan as lightening fall from heaven.” Revelation 12:7-9 says, “And there was a war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels. And prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

“And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence cometh thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” Job 1:7

Satan is real and he walks among us.

Lie No. 3 The Bible was authored by men.

If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything. To know what you stand for, you must know the word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

Some falsely claim the Bible is just a great story written by men. We, however, believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible written word of God. The truth is that God is the author, man is the scribe. God used as many as 40 writers, over a period of many centuries to write the 66 books we know today as the Bible. The Bible has one powerful message. Our creator God loves us and has a plan to deliver us from sin.

Peter proclaims, “Above all you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.”

Over the years, many have tried to ban the bible. Books have been shattered, torn and burned. Yet today the Bible not only survives, but prospers and spreads. Moses broke the first set of tablets that we know as the Ten Commandments. King Jehoiakim burned Jeremiahs’ scroll, only to have the scroll replaced by another.

For centuries, men held the Bible hostage to a corrupt translation in a language accessible only to the scholarly and elite. During this dark period, the word of God was used to manipulate men and build wealth at their expense. Yet Christianity prevailed. Over the years, many gave their lives so that the Bible could be translated into the language of the common man, so that you and I might have direct access to the Word of God and the salvation of Jesus Christ.

The Bible is a miracle of God for the furtherance of the Gospel of salvation through belief in Jesus Christ. For it is written. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14)

Today the Bible has been translated into more than 2000 languages with a little more than 2000 yet to go.

Lie No. 4 It’s only natural.

We live in a time when anything goes. Sexual promiscuity, plural marriage, and homosexuality are glorified in the media and pervade our society. Today women are just as likely to boast of their sexual exploits as men. Society debates whether homosexuals should come out in the open or stay in the closet. Neither position lines up with the Word of God.

The Bible says all mankind is guilty of sin. Man in his foolishness and imagination, denied the glory of God, and became wise in his own eyes. God then gave man over to a reprobate or wicked mind. “.. for even the women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another; men with men, working that which is unseemly,…” (Romans 1:21-28)

I Corinthians 6:18 say, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commiteth fornication sinneth against his own body.”

Sexual sin is an assault on your body, your mind, your spirit, your self.

Lie No. 5 You can’t talk about God

In America, God has been taken out of almost everything – government, schools, the workplace. Modern American culture and even state and federal law mandate that God and religion be confined to a physical building we think of as the church. But the church is not a building of wood and stone but the body of believers. The church is you and me. (Colossians 1:18, I Cor 12:12--27)

Acts 1:7-8 says “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put to his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

We are the church and we must proclaim the gospel wherever we go. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus commands, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16: 15-16)

Church growth demands that we walk the walk and talk the talk everywhere we go.

As a young minister, Timothy faced opposition within and without the church. False teachings were rampant then as they are now. As a Christian you too will face opposition. People, even those you respect, will challenge your faith and beliefs. Paul’s advice to Timothy is fit for these times, “Study to shew thyself approved, unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

God Love

2010-09-06T14:48:00.000-05:00

After commending the church at Ephesus for its works and patience, Christ rebukes Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Revelation 2:4-5

I imagine much like the church today, the church at Ephesus had become efficient and predictable at its works. The church regularly worships. We deliver God’s word not only in ceiled temples, but also on radio, television and the internet. We have Sunday school, prayer meetings and bible studies, revivals and anniversaries and all manner of programs. We give to foreign missions, we feed the poor, we visit the sick and shut in, we bless babies, wed couples, baptize the converted, and funeralize the dead. We commemorate holi-days that have secular origins. We pray, fast and read the word, but for what reason and with what if any zest? Is it habit or duty or fervor that fuels our works?

Have we left our first love? That is the charge Christ gives to Ephesus. That is the question he asks the church to examine today.

What is the first love to which Christ refers? It is none other than that initial ardor we felt when we first found him, when we first turned back to him, when we first loved him. People often speak of their first romantic love with wistful words and dreamy eyes – a time of sweet infatuation, but there is a better love, a love that surpasses all others, God love.

The command was first issued to Israel, as they began their wilderness journey in Horeb in route to the Promised Land. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) Christ reiterated the words in Mark 12:30 in answer to the question thrust at him by a scribe, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered, “The first of all the commandments is Hear, O Israel; The LORD our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” Matthew also records this response. (Matthew 22:37)

God love is a four part love: the components – heart, soul, mind, and strength – separate and distinct as defined by dictionary.com.

Heart
3. the center of the total personality, esp. with reference to intuition, feeling, or emotion: In your heart you know I'm an honest man.
4. the center of emotion, esp. as contrasted to the head as the center of the intellect: His head told him not to fall in love, but his heart had the final say.

Soul
1. the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.
2. the spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come: arguing the immortality of the soul.

Mind
1. (in a human or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.: the processes of the human mind.

Might or Strength
1. the quality or state of being strong; bodily or muscular power; vigor.
2. mental power, force, or vigor.
3. moral power, firmness, or courage.
4. power by reason of influence, authority, resources, numbers, etc.

God love is indeed a four part love: the components – heart, soul, mind, and strength –operating in complete harmony, each one necessary to complete the others.

What does it mean to love God so? Deuteronomy 6:6-9 instructs us to write the commandment in our hearts. It should be engraved in such a way that when we rise, we think of how good God is. When we go to bed, we think of how good God is. Not only do we think of how good God is, but we will be compelled to tell it, in our houses, in the street, wherever we may be. That compulsion is fueled by our love for God. We will write it on our doorposts and on our gates. We will teach it to our children. We will see it, a permanent fixture before our eyes, a tattoo on our hearts and on our hands. We love God, not because we are told to, but because we must. We can fast from food and water, but to live we must breathe. Like breathing, God love becomes a necessary part of our daily Christian journey.

In Ezekiel 14:12-23, when Israel had left her first love, forsaking God love for the love of idols, God promised retribution. God was so angry he declared even if Noah, Daniel and Job could be found in the land, their righteousness could only deliver their own souls. God wants our love. God demands our love. God commands our love. God love is the first commandment.

Deuteronomy 6:14-17 instructs us not to go after other Gods, not to do as those around us, but to diligently keep the commandments, testimonies and statutes of God. Such obedience takes will and resolve. Lest we like Israel forget our deliverer when we are full and satisfied, Deuteronomy 6:10-13 warns us to fear the Lord, serve him, and swear by his name.

Exiled to a foreign land, confronted with foreign people who served foreign Gods, threatened with imprisonment or death, Daniel kept God’s commandments. Daniel prayed and trusted God to answer. Daniel faced a king. Daniel faced a lion’s den. Daniel faced death and never wavered. Daniel 1:8 says But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. That’s love.

Americans are fortunate to live in a country where we are free to worship as we choose, but even today there are many nations where bibles and churches are burned. There are modern nations where Christians are routinely persecuted and martyred. Yet in spite of danger, in spite of threat of death, these Christians continue to gather to worship and declare the glory of God. That’s love.

I John 2:15-17 says Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

At a time when it repented God that he had made man on the earth, at a time when man grieved God in his spirit, the Bible says in the midst of a corrupt and violent people, Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God. That’s love.

Matthew 10:37-38 illustrates He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Job lost everything – children, possessions, health. Job suffered mightily; in a moment of weakness Job even wished his own death. While others sought to reason what sin had brought such trials to Job, Job repented of his doubt and held on to faith. That’s love.

How do you reclaim your God love? Proverbs 8:17 says I love them that love me: and those that seek me early shall find me. Seek him. I John 4:19 says We love him because he first loved us. Remember his unique, sacrificial, first love. 2 John 1:6 says And this is love, that we walk in his commandments. Keep his commandments. 1 John 4:8 says He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love. Know him.

I have a church member who is fond of asking, “Do you know me? Do you know who I am?” When God first called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses asked, who should I say sent me? What shall I say is your name?” God simply answered, I AM THAT I AM. Do you know him?

If you know him, you can’t help but love him. If you love him, you will know him. There are so many ways God could have finished the I AM statement, not one of them adequate.

I am Alpha. I am Omega. I am eternal. I AM.

I am deliverer. I am conqueror. I am might. I AM.

I am shepherd. I am savior. I am provider. I AM.

I am healer. I am helper. I am restorer. I AM.

I am creator. I am keeper. I am love. I AM.

I am knowledge. I am wisdom. I am just. I AM.

I am faithful. I am righteous. I am true. I AM.

I am hope. I am joy. I am peace. I AM.

I am bread. I am water. I am life. I AM.

I am spirit. I am truth. I am light. I AM.

I am God. I am Holy. I am Lord. I AM.

I AM THAT I AM.

To encompass all, God simply states I AM THAT I AM. Do you know him? Is it habit or duty or fervor that fuels your works? Do you love him – heart, soul, mind, strength? That’s love. God love.

The Debt Cycle

2010-08-16T00:40:00.000-05:00

Americans have made borrowing a way of life. Our nation, once a lender nation has become a borrower nation and much of our prosperity – jobs, real estate, and wealth is foreign held.

Consumer debt has shown recent declines amidst an economic recession, high unemployment, bank failures and tightening of credit. Yet, we largely remain a nation of borrowers. We borrow for the big things – houses, cars, education, vacations. We borrow for the small things – gas, food, clothes, and entertainment.

Debt is an obligation to pay something in the future. Debt is the result of greed, lack of self control, or poor or no planning. The Bible has many terms for debt ― usury, trust, vow, cosigning, striking hands, surety. By any name, debt is a thief – robbing you of your blessings, your prosperity, and your peace of mind – leaving you instead with worry, anxiety, and conflict.

Credit card companies and retail stores lure consumers with 0% or low interest payments for an introductory period. Once you’re locked in, interest rates shoot to double digits, are higher for cash advances and higher still for missed or late payments. The desire for immediate gratification can quickly put you in a vicious cycle. The items you bought may perish, be consumed or wear out long before you pay them off. (Proverbs 21:20; Haggai 1:6; I John 2:15-16)

Once the debt cycle is set in motion, it is not easily broken. The consequences can be life changing – family discord, poor credit, bankruptcy, even homelessness.

Proverbs 22:7 says:
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

The Bible is clear – God does not like debt. The Law of the Debts found in Deuteronomy 15:1-11 reveals God’s general attitude regarding lending and debt. God forbid Israel to lend to the poor with interest. God promised Israel that they would be lenders and not borrowers. He even went so far as to establish a seven year plan to relieve debtors of debt.

God wants you to prosper. When you obey his will and his word, God will bless you. You will be the head and not the tail. Conversely, when you fail to follow his commandments, you will be cursed. Strangers will lend to you, and you will not lend to them; strangers will be the head; while, you will be the tail. (Deuteronomy 28:12-13)

God wants you out of debt. God wants you to be the lender, not the borrower; the master, not the slave. He wants you to break the bondage of debt and establish a surplus. He wants you to break the debt cycle. Ephesians 4:22-24 instructs us to put off the old man and put on the new man. Dave Ramsey says “Live like no one else, so you can live like no one else.” To break the debt cycle you will have to put away bad spending habits and put on stewardship. Be a good steward. Break the debt cycle today.

Praise Him

2010-08-08T19:46:00.000-05:00

To the church of the Laodiceans, Jesus says:
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelations 3:15-16)

What a metaphor. Most foods appeal to the palate when they are either hot or cold. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and fresh buttered rolls are best served hot. In these sizzling days of summer, ice cream, snow cones, and iced tea are just what the doctor ordered. My granny served us coffee over ice years ago. Today we can have our tea or coffee any way we like it. Thanks to all the Java houses, we have espresso, cappuccino, and lattés iced or piping hot. Were any of these served lukewarm, we would, like Jesus, spit them right out of our mouths.

This scriptural text is a message to the church of Laodicea from Jesus himself as relayed to John on the isle of Patmos. The message speaks to the very essence of the church, for the church is more than a building or place where Christians meet. The church is the body of Christ. (Colossians 1:18, 24) The church is a collective body of believers with a diversity of gifts but a singleness of purpose. (Romans 12:4; Ephesians 4:11, 12)

In referring to the works of the church, Jesus addressed the church’s plural functions. The church has many functions inside and outside the temple – worship, fellowship, loving, giving, soul winning, edifying. In the case of the church of Laodicea, Jesus was not pleased with the works.

Jesus’ messages to the seven churches came at a time of great persecution. It was a dangerous and trying time to be a Christian. The churches were outcast, ridiculed, scorned, beaten, imprisoned and martyred. Yet Jesus’ expectations for His church had neither changed nor diminished. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. So Jesus’ message to the church of Laodicea is just as relevant to the church today.

The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a difficult text to teach from. It is an unpopular message that many a pastor has had occasion to preach to a lagging congregation. Let’s face it; Jesus has some good news and some bad news. If there were only good news, we wouldn’t need to spend much time here. Everyone likes to receive good news. We would accept it and move on. On the contrary, it is hard to stomach the bad news, to be rebuked and criticized. Look at it this way. God is trying to tell us something. Do we dare turn a deaf ear to God?

While Jesus’ message covers the multitude of church works, today’s message will only consider one – Praise and Worship.

I always look for confirmation before I attempt any spiritual assignment. I want to be certain that God is using me and that I am walking according to his purpose. God gave me three clear signs that he wanted us to consider praise and worship.

First God gave me confirmation by sight. He allowed me to see firsthand the type of praise that displeased him. Out of town for the weekend, I searched the internet for a church where I could fellowship. I had few criteria. I looked for a church in the vicinity of the hotel where I was staying. I found several in the area and chose the one that was closest to the interstate.

I also looked for a church of my own denomination because I had high expectations. I thought I knew what the services would be like. Let me pause here to make it plain. God does not honor denominations. The seven churches in Revelations were distinguished only by location. There is one God, one Savior and one Church.

The church was well attended that day. The service had all the requisite parts – praise and worship, prayer, scripture, testimony, welcome, music, giving, and the Word. But the services fell flat. The songs and testimonies were served cold with a spirit of lamentation. The praise was coerced and mechanical. Even the Word was served up with a little too much world.

Soon I too fell into that spirit of lack and rather than offering up my own sincere praise, I found myself analyzing the service and wondering why on this day the people seemed so cold. Was it a chronic condition or a one time thing, and what if anything was the cure?

If we are honest, we have all been in services like this and may have been symptomatic as well, part of the problem rather than part of the cure. My own pastor, E. B. Lindsey had preached to the church not long ago, urging us to reexamine our level of commitment. Almost the entire church came to the altar that day.

Next God gave me confirmation by word of mouth. I returned home to find out the Lord had blessed our own Sunday services so much the Pastor didn’t even preach. The spirit of worship was so high, the Spirit of God moved in and blessed in a mighty way. Praise and worship became the service.

God had shown me a cold, dead praise, a praise that displeased Him, and he had revealed to me a hot, living praise, a praise that magnified and glorified his name; a praise that cried out to his Spirit and caused him to show up and show out in an awesome and powerful way.

Finally God gave me confirmation in writing. As I prepared for Wednesday night bible study, I came across a paper I had long ago folded and placed in my bible. Neat and unread, it had been functioning as a bookmark. I don’t know what possessed me to open it that day, unless it was the Holy Ghost. The title of the paper: “Concert of Praise”.

God has an awesome way of knitting his word together. He will always put you in the right place at the right time to receive a right now word. This is the word the Lord gave me to give to you, His church. Please receive it with all the love God so graciously intends.

Pastor Lindsey has been heard to say anybody can praise God, but only people who really know him can worship him. God desires our praise and our worship.

I went to the dictionary to understand the distinction between the two. According to the eastonsbibledictionary.com praise means:
1. To commend; to applaud; to express approbation of; to laud; - applied to a person or his acts.

Certainly anyone is capable of this type of praise. With this type of praise, it is easy to give lip service, using the right words, at the right pitch to appear as praise. God doesn’t desire lip service, but the scripture says offer a sacrificial praise.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:15-16)

A second entry says:
2. To extol in words or song; to magnify; to glorify on account of perfections or excellent works; to do honor to; to display the excellence of; - applied especially to the Divine Being.

Here too, perhaps one might be capable of giving utterance to praise, acknowledging the attributes ascribed to God without truly believing them in one’s heart.

Yet another entry says:
5. Especially, the joyful tribute of gratitude or homage rendered to the Divine Being; the act of glorifying or extolling the Creator; worship, particularly worship by song, distinction from prayer and other acts of worship; as, a service of praise.

Here the lines are blurred and we get a hint of what God desires in our praise and worship – a tribute - joyful, grateful, glorifying, and true.

Of worship, the eastonsbibledictionary.com says this:
“Homage rendered to God which is sinful to render to any created being. Worship rendered to anyone or thing other than God is idol worship.”

If you get more excited and emotional about that football game, relationship, raise, new house or new car than you get about Jesus, you’re treading on dangerous ground. You might be guilty of idol worship.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)

To be honest, I didn’t know what this Scripture meant until now. God desires a sincere praise. God is seeking true worshippers. Praise and worship go hand in hand. To praise him you must worship him; as you worship him, you will give him praise. This means your spirit must commune with His Holy Spirit. To give him a sincere praise, you must get in the spirit.

So why do we find ourselves lukewarm or cold when it comes to praising God. Are we simply going through the motions? Has church lost its meaning and simply become routine? Are we just too tired, too worried, too busy, too preoccupied with life outside the church walls? Are we going through trials and falling short on faith? Have we forgotten why we come together? Are we the church or do we simply do church, playing at church rather than being the church?

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:46-47)

Such was the faith and fervor of the early church. How can we infuse that spirit of worship back into our services? How do we invite the Holy Spirit to take charge of the services? How do we lose the programs and give the service back to God? How do we turn the heat up, when we find our services are lackluster or cold. Just think.

Think of all the things God has done. Think beyond mere words. Are you saved? Think of his mercy. Think of his son Jesus who bore our sins on the cross. Remember what you were before God saved you. How long did he suffer you before you came to your senses? How far have you come? (Psalm 32:1, 2)

Think of his majesty and his power. Consider all the world his hands have made. Consider what power holds our feet to Earth; while, the sun, moon and stars orbit the void. See his might in the rivers and streams that flow down to the sea carving mountains, valleys, caves and plains along the way. Feel his power in the sun and wind upon your skin.

Think of his provisions. Consider the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, the creatures that creep and crawl on the land. Consider the fruit of the land –the grasses, plants and herbs. Consider the very air we breathe and the waters, salt and fresh, that sustain the earth and all that live upon it.

Think of his creative spirit. See it in the strange and bizarre – the tree kangaroo, the puffer fish, the Venus fly trap, the porcupine. Hear it in the symphony of the songbirds and the distinctive calls of the bull frog, the katydid and the cicada.

Consider all God has created. Yet he is mindful of us. He gave us dominion over all things. Think and thank. (Psalm 8:3-5)

Can you walk, talk, see, smell, touch, taste, and hear. And if you can’t, if you’re suffering illness or loss, think beyond your present circumstances. Give him a sacrificial praise. You’ve lived to see another day. God still has a plan and purpose for your life. (Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 61:3; Psalm 30:11-12)

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34: 1-3)

In the engineering world, we often use catalysts to start a reaction. God’s challenge to each of us is to be a catalyst for change. When you wake up, praise him. When you go to bed, praise him. In the hours in between, praise him. In your car, on your way to work, during your coffee break and lunch hour, praise him. On your way to your place of worship, praise him. Then when you walk in the door, you’ll still be praising him. Praise him and he’ll meet you wherever you are.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:18-21)

Praise him with your lips, your songs, your music, and your dance. The song says, “When praises go up, blessings come down.” Too often in this materialistic world, we think of material blessings, but a greater blessing is to meet God in the spirit. I dare you to try it.

“…Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: …” (Psalm 100)

One Starlighter simply says “My, My, My, My”. God knows just what she means. A certain octogenarian shouts and leaps with uncontained joy. One sister enters the sanctuary singing “Have you tried, Jesus?” inviting us to answer, “He’s alright”. Yet another wails, “Every morning when I wake up, I owe God a praise.”

Each of us must find our own praise, a sincere fruit offering from our spirit to his. I call him Abba, Father. What is he to you? Is he your provider, your peace maker, or your healer? Call him by name: Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Rapha. Is he your all in all, your El Shaddai? He wants you to know him.

If you love him, then you know he loves you. Shout Hallelujah, which simply means Praise Yahweh, Praise Jehovah, Praise ye the Lord. It is said to be the highest form of praise.

Tell him, “Yes, Lord”. He wants you to surrender. Tell him, “Thank you. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus.” He wants your gratitude. Tell him, “Bless your name. Glory to your name. Glory to God.” He desires your worship. Say it until you mean it. Mean it and watch the Spirit come.

Be a catalyst for change and watch God do what God does. Think and Thank. Praise Him.

“… Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” (Psalm 150)