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I am sure many people in our nation are asking these types of questions. In light of a troubled economy, a record number of foreclosures, people losing jobs, and people losing money, I know that I have wondered what on earth God was doing. I don’t want to talk about what God is doing globally in the world today though. I want to talk about what God is doing in you. What is he doing in your life, in your relationships, and in your circumstances? Think about this questions particularly in light of your adversity, struggles, and trials.

The apostle James said, “Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2). There is a good chance that many of you are facing trials right at this moment. James said there are trials of many kinds. Trials are kind of like lifesavers. They come in many different colors and flavors – relationship issues, business struggles, financial pressures, health problems, emotional issues, etc.

You may have a hard time swallowing this, but according to the Bible, trials are not an elective course we get to take in life. Trials are a part of the core curriculum of life. James didn’t say “if” you face trials but “when.”

So how do you face your trials and challenges? When you are facing adversity, what is the attitude you choose to arm yourself with? Do you see your struggles, trials, and suffering as an opposition to your happiness or an opportunity for your holiness? Is God more concerned about your comfort or your character? The way you answer those questions will greatly determine your outlook when you face challenges in life. And the way you choose to answer those questions may also determine the outcome of God’s activity in your life, and your witness to others who watch you go through your trials.

One of the best known verses is Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). This scripture does not promise that everything is good, nor does it says that nothing bad will ever happen to Christians. The promise of God is that in all things, God can work for good. There is no situation, no matter how tough, that God cannot bring good out of it. The Bible is full of men and women who proved this truth. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and then thrown into prison in Egypt. In the end, God used all of his trials to raise him up to become a great leader that would save his own family during a time of famine (Genesis 50:20). He knew what his brothers had meant for evil, that God meant for good. Our God is so big that He can even take the painful, sinful actions of others and somehow turn them for our good if we will trust Him.

The greatest example of this is the cross. God took the murder of his innocent Son and has used it to continually bring grace and forgiveness to a broken world. Two thousand years ago, the cross was nothing more than a cruel and shameful instrument of execution. Today it is perhaps the greatest sign of hope the world has ever known. That is definitely a picture of God working things for good. We serve a great God. Just remember, when things don’t go the way they should, God always make them turn for good. And that’s the Word.

We certainly each have the right to decide our individual belief system. No one can choose that for us, nor should they. The question still remains though: is there a way that we can really know what is true? Is there an objective standard? How can we truly know if there is a divine design for human life?

Over the last couple of weeks, I have written about the power of the Bible. The Bible is a very unique book that many believe is the inspired revelation of God. Scripture itself speaks about its own inspiration. In Psalm 19, the writer speaks of God’s Word as a life giving word that can revive dead hearts, and as a light that can bring guidance to our lives.

The Psalmist also speaks of the enduring nature of God’s Word: “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous”( Psalm 19:9).

God’s Word endures forever. This means his word will take its stand forever. God has always been right in the past, and He will remain so in the future. God’s Word is not the latest fad. You will not find it on the shelf at your bookstore in the newest list of self-help books. It is certainly not the latest cultural trend, as so many people become more humanistic instead of Christ centered. Scripture will not be the most popular book for those who say we need to be more enlightened because we are now living in the 21st century.

According to God, all of those things are just fads that will one day pass away. So many of society’s values are built upon sinking sand, because they are not built upon the eternal wisdom of Almighty God. God’s ordinances are “sure.” This means that his word is firm, faithful, and reliable. God’s Word is not only sure, but altogether righteous. This communicates the idea of a straight path, or straight way. It is not crooked. God’s Word will not lead you astray.

The point is clear – God’s Word is the ultimate foundation for your life. The holy book of scripture is calling to you, seeking to offer a firm foundation for you to build your life upon.

What are you building your life upon? Where do you draw your truth from? In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of a man who built his house upon the sand, and another who built his house upon the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against both houses. The house on the rock did not fail because it had a firm foundation. The house on the sand fell with a great crash because its foundation was weak.

Jesus is very clear in his message. The man who built on the sand is like the person who hears his word but does not put it into practice. This is a life that is not built upon truth, therefore the foundation is weak. This lifestyle will ultimately collapse and fail. The man who built on the rock is like the person who hears God’s Word and lives it out. The storms will come, and the winds will blow, but this person’s life will stand the test of time. According to Jesus, there is no foundation to build your life upon other than word of God. So how is your foundation? Is it sure? Is it enduring? Is it built upon the rock? And that’s the Word.

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One of the promises of scripture is that God’s word will give wisdom and light to those who are spiritually blind.  The psalmist said, “The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple… the commands of the Lord are radiant giving light to the eyes” (Psalm 19:7,8).

The truly wise person is one who makes decisions in light of reality and in light of truth.  God’s Word reveals to us the ultimate reality of God and His Kingdom. And yet think about the world in which we live.  So much of this world acts as if God didn’t even exist, as if there is no ultimate truth.

I have often thought about much of the entertainment that we watch.  Most all of it ignores spiritual issues and any talk of the true and Living God.  Everything in TV land or Hollywood is seen from a humanistic world view.  You rarely see a story line where someone truly is looking to God for help or guidance.  Even in tough times, it is all up to the hero to figure out how to save the day – by himself without any help from God.

It may work in the movies to leave God out of the picture, but I have seen too many people in real life make one self destructive decision after another because they would not submit to God.  I have found myself at times making so many self centered and shortsighted decisions.  If heaven wasn’t real, and if this life was all there is to it, then maybe living life our way makes sense.  If we live as if this world is all there is to it, then we are living in the dark; therefore, we will view things such as self sacrifice, giving, forgiving others, staying committed in marriage, putting others first, developing true character, etc. as unimportant.  Perhaps these and other Christian teachings will be seen as prohibitive, strange and undesirable.

I warn you though.  The world’s way is not working.  If it did, then I would say go for it.  Just chase all this world has to offer.  Live it up, drink it up and sex it up.  It will not work though.  I have seen too many marriages implode, people end up in addiction, people cheating others out of money, and people mis-prioritizing their families in the pursuit of wealth.  It just leads to bondage, destrucion, and ultimately deep spiritual darkness – cut off from God and others.

What can lead us out of the darkness?  The Word of God.  “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).  God’s Word gives us wisdom.  Gods’ Word gives light to our eyes.  It is amazing how blind we can be, but we don’t often realize it until we expose ourselves to the light of God’s Word.  Then we begin to see our errors, our bondage, and our darkness.
There is a story of a South Sea island native who proudly displayed his Bible to a G.I. during WW II.  He had received it as a present from a missionary some time before. The soldier said, “Oh, we’ve outgrown that sort of thing.” The native smiled back and said, “Well, it’s a good thing we haven’t, because if it weren’t for this book helping to open our eyes, you would be our evening meal.”

Maybe you are living like a savage and don’t even know it.  Could you be blind, living in spiritual darkness?  Wisdom is a life that makes sense in light of reality and in light of eternity.  And that wisdom and light shines from God’s Word.  And that’s the Word.

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Throughout the Old Testament, the scriptures are referred to as the law of the Lord, the commands of the Lord, the precepts of the Lord, the statutes of the Lord, etc.  All of these phrases are just different ways of referring to scripture, but the phrase that is consistent is “of the Lord.”  The Old Testament people of Israel believed that God had spoken to them, and continued speaking to them through His Word.  The New Testament confirmed this teaching.  The apostle Paul said,  “All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”  (2 Timothy 3:16)  This means that scripture was inspired of God, and not by man.  I agree.  There is certainly no way that man could have come up with the Bible on his own inspiration.

The apostle Peter described the inspiration of scripture as men who spoke from God, carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20,21).  What we believe about scripture is incredibly important.  Most everyone acknowledges the Bible is a unique piece of literature.  The real question, however, is do we believe the scriptures are the inspired, infallible Word of God?

I love this quote from author and pastor John Piper: “We are a people of the Book. We know God through the Book. We meet Christ in the Book. We see the cross in the Book. Our faith and love are kindled by the glorious truths of the Book. We have tasted the divine majesty of the Word and are persuaded that the Book is God’s inspired and infallible written revelation.”

Many Christians have discovered that the Bible is a life-changing book.  Spiritual growth and change of any real depth will not take place apart from God’s Word.  We must hear from God through His Word if our lives are truly going to be transformed.  The great evangelist D. L. Moody said that the scriptures were not given “for our information but for our transformation.”

In Psalm 19, King David declared that “the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.”  He was speaking of the power of God’s Word to bring life to our cold, dead hearts.  God’s Word can revive our soul.  It literally helps revive the heart, and bring it back to life.

As you read this column, your heart is in one of two places.  First, your heart might be dead, absent of any true spiritual life with God.  Secondly, your heart may be spiritually alive but it is in jeopardy of becoming dull and hard.  Proverbs 4 cautions us to guard our hearts with all diligence.  It would be one thing if every day with Jesus just naturally got better and better without any problems or struggles.  Life is not like that though.  Life is a battle.  There are days when our hearts and disposition are as sour as a lemon.  Some days we just have no strength.  If every day got better, we would have no need to be revived.  As humans though, we need revival.  We need our hearts to be softened again, to be awakened and stirred to fresh passion for God again.

God’s Word has life giving power for the dead heart, and life sustaining  power for the heart that God has awakened.  Our life with God begins with His Word, and we must stay alive by His Word.  You cannot and will not maintain a dynamic, spiritual apart from the Word of God.

Do you want to hear God speak?  Do you need to hear God speak?  Get into His Word consistently, and let your soul be revived.  And that’s the Word.

Last week, we said that one of the great hindrances to true spiritual growth is a lack of understanding about who God is. There is another huge hindrance to spiritual growth that I often see in many Christians. The problem is self righteousness. The self righteous person basically feels they are good enough, or they are just not that bad of a person. The root of self righteousness is based upon one’s own ability, performance and effort to please God by keeping his law and commandments. Self righteousness is falsely rooted in the idea that you can behave good enough for God or that you can earn God’s favor through human effort. Our culture is full of people who think they live a pretty good life and that they are fine, more than good enough for God.

If a person thinks they are good enough for God though, then they really don’t need God. They will find no need for his grace either. God will be a nice little addition to their life, but there will be no sense of real need. And if you do not know your need for God and His grace, then growth and change will be hard to come by. The moment you think you can grow on your own, then you are no longer depending upon God for true change in your life.

If I can be honest with you, I think most of our churches are filled with self righteous people. Most of us church people think we are pretty good, especially when we compare ourselves to others. We look at the 10 commandments and think, “I haven’t murdered anyone or robbed a bank lately.” Jesus took it deeper though. He said if you hold hatred or bitterness in your heart against another, then you are a murderer. I know that is tough stuff, but that is what Jesus said. Jesus wants to make sure that we remain humble. Jesus did not die for us because we were good people.

The Apostle Paul said, “… no one will be declared righteous in (God’s) sight by observing the law; rather through the law we became conscious of sin” (Romans 3:20). Paul was telling us that we could never become righteous before God by obeying all the law. The reason is because no one will obey it perfectly. We will continually fail. Paul’s point is that the law is there to actually help us become aware of our sin. How would you know that it is wrong to be jealous if God never said, “Thou shall not be jealous?” If God did not give us his commandments, we would think we are fine. The commandments not only show us what a righteous life should look like, but they also show us how far we fall short. God’s commandments are meant to keep us from becoming self-righteous. The law is meant to make us see our need for Jesus, and for our grace.

The whole point of God’s Word, and especially of the law and commandments is to help drive you to Jesus. Do you want to change? Do you want to grow? Then realize that you are not as good as you think you are, and let that drive you closer to Jesus. You will find that his love and grace are sufficient for your life. And that’s the Word.

It is only God who makes things grow. I remember when I first began to understand that God was truly the source of spiritual life. It wasn’t based on how good I was. It wasn’t based on my performance. True growth and change were only possible as God was at work in my life. The Holy Spirit was the true change agent, and the more I was open to Him, the more my life would be transformed from the inside out.

One of the greatest obstacles to growth and change in our lives is a wrong view of God. If you do not understand God’s character and nature, growth will be very hard for you. If God is the true source of change, but you do not really understand His nature or you are unsure about where you stand in your relationship with him, then you will not expect much change to happen. If I do not believe this God can change me and wants to, then how I can cooperate with his work in my life.

We must shift our view from a God of law to a God of grace. This means we need to move our understanding from a God who is out to get us, to a God who is out to help us. As a Christian, is God for you? Or is He against you? The way you answer reveals your understanding of God. As Christian, God is not against you – even if you are in sin. He will convict you, or maybe even break you, but it is always for your good. He loves you.

If you view God as nothing more than a God of law, then you mainly think of God as a God of rules. You probably think his favorite word is NO! And you most likely think God is ticked off at you if you fail and make mistakes.

Scripture tells us that Jesus “was pierced for our transgressions… the punishment that brought us peace was upon him.” (Isaiah 53:5) Does that sound like a God who it ticked off with you? No, Jesus took God’s wrath against our sin upon Himself so we could be forgiven. When we turn our lives over to Jesus, we meet a God of grace. God’s grace doesn’t just mean that we are forgiven. God’s grace includes God’s power that enables us to grow and change. It is God’s grace that allows God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Grace means we have been given God’s favor in our lives. Grace means we have God’s power available to us. Grace means that our God is for us. Grace means that we can grow and change with God’s help. Only God can make things grow. And our God wants to help us grow, as we love Him, seek Him, and trust Him. Thank God for grace. And that’s the Word.

If marriage is compared to a flame, it is a flame that must be tended to often if it is going to continually burn.  I heard Rob Bell, a gifted communicator, refer to marriage as a flame that is made up of three smaller flames.  Each of these flames must be combined together for the marriage flame to really burn strong.

The first flame is the flame of friendship.  I spoke about the importance of this several weeks ago in this article.  A husband and wife were meant to be companions for each other.  They should truly become best friends.  People who just have physical attraction as the basis of their relationship will easily become bored with each other.  They will eventually want to move on to someone else in the future.  Best friends do not get bored with each other.  Best friends do not feel the need to move on.

In the Old Testament, a newly married man was not allowed to go off to war.  He was called to stay at home with his wife.  Even the best of generals would not have looked down on him.  Do you think this was because the Lord thought it was so important for the new young couple to take time to get to know one another?  Friendship creates intimacy between a man and a woman.

The second flame is the flame of  lasting commitment.  God’s love for us is unconditional love. God is committed for the long haul.  He will not back out, or give up on us – even on our worst days.  God is not looking for an out.

It is this type of commitment that God wants us to build our marriages upon.  Just as God says, “I will never leave you.  I will never forsake you,” we are called to the same love and commitment.

In the Song of Solomon (a great biblical romance story), the woman says to her man: “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.”  (Song of Songs 8:6)  A seal was a sign of ownership.  When she said, “place me as a seal over your heart,” she was telling him that she wanted his heart to belong to her.  She didn’t want any other woman in his heart, or on his arm.  She didn’t want to share him.  When she described love being stronger than death and as unyielding as the grave, she was speaking about the permanence of the marriage commitment.  It is a pledging of two lives together, for better for worse.  Sometimes in marriage, the only flame burning is the flame of commitment.  You must keep that flame burning though in order to make it through the tough times.

The last flame God wants us to nurture is the flame of romance.  This is an important aspect of marriage, and healthy marriages keep this flame alive.  The flame of romance will never sustain a marriage by itself. And yet, it should continually burn on in a marriage.  Romance brings warmth to a marriage.  I heard it said that Satan will do everything he can to get a couple into bed with each before marriage, and do everything to keep them out after marriage.  The flame of romance and passion should be a continual source of love for a couple.

Three flames creating one bigger FLAME!  As we nurture the flame of friendship, the flame of commitment, and the flame of romance, the flame of marriage can and will burn stronger and brighter through time.  So don’t flame out in your marriage.  And that’s the Word.

I do not know if that sounds exciting to you or not, but it was absolutely awesome.  The Spirit of God was there.  God smiled on our time together.  It has been a while since I have experienced such an awesome sense of the Lord’s presence.  I could have literally stayed all night and prayed and praised with this group.

We gathered together from many denominations and churches – Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Charismatics, Pentecostals and more.  We gathered together as black and white.  We gathered together as one – one people under one God.  We gathered as a people at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ.  Our love for Jesus and desire for his blessing upon our lives and nation was greater than any of our differences.  There was a sweet spirit of unity in Philadelphia Overcomers Church tonight.

I really believe that it pleases God when His people can cross denominational and racial lines to praise Him together.  Jesus even prayed that we would be one:  “I pray also for those who believe in me … that all of them may be one… May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:20, 23).  If Jesus prayed for our unity, it must be very important to the Lord.  Our unity as Christians can also be a real witness to the world.  When our love and devotion to Jesus is greater than our differences, it makes our voice for Christ seem louder.

Psalm 133 also speaks of the power of unity among God’s people: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.  It is like the precious oil poured on the head, running down the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robe.  It as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.  For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore” (Psalm 133:1-3).

This psalm provides some unique insight into the power of unity as believers in Christ.  It describes the power of unity as the precious oil poured on the head of Aaron the priest, and running down his beard and upon his robes.  The oil here refers to the anointing oil that would poured over and upon the Old Testament priest as a symbol of their complete consecration and devotion to the Lord.  Oil in the Bible is often symbolic of the Holy Spirit and His work in the lives of God’s people.  The passage seems to describe how the unity of God’s people brings about the power and anointing of God’s Spirit.  When the body of Christ gathers together as one, the presence of God’s Spirit is real and powerful.

The psalm also describes our unity as the dew of Hermon.  The dew of Hermon was very thick and profuse, and it ensured that Mount Zion was well watered.  This meant that Mount Zion would be very rich and fertile.  The last description given is that the Lord would command his blessing and life on the place where his people are gathered in unity.

I hope you are following along with me.  What all this means is that God loves unity a whole lot.  When God finds his people gathering together as one, God promises to send His Spirit.  God declares that His blessing will be there, and it will be a rich and fruitful place.  That is what I think we experienced tonight at Philadelphia Overcomer’s Church.  We gathered as one, and God smiled.  God blessed.  God poured out His Spirit, and we left full – full of His love, His power, and His grace.  And that’s the Word.

According to scripture, God calls the man to be the head of his wife. This means that he is called to be a servant leader in his home. Some women may struggle with the idea of the man being called the head of the women, but deep down I believe most women want a strong man they can trust their life with. I believe most women don’t feel as secure when they are the ones having to lead the family morally, spiritually, financially, and in the area of discipline with the kids. A woman doesn’t want Conan pushing her around the house, but she doesn’t want a piece of milk toast either. There are a lot of men who are very passive when it comes to responsibility around their home. They can build a business, develop business networks, lower a golf score, kill an 8-point buck with a bow, but they may check out at home. They don’t lead. They don’t initiate. Most women want a man who will value them, and that they can trust enough to follow. A man is also called to love his wife as Christ loved the church. Christ’s love was active. It was much more than an emotion. He demonstrated his love by giving his life. The love we have for our wives should be active.

Men, do you know what your wife’s love language is? In other words, what is that you can do that really lets her know you love her? If you don’t know, ask her. She can tell you what makes her feel loved. She can tell you what it is that you can do to communicate your love. My wife likes quality time and acts of service. That means the best way I can tell her I love her is to wash the dishes and plan a date to spend time with just her. The bottom line is that your wife wants to know that she is loved and valued. So guys, how are you doing? Not sure? Go ask your wife.

Women, do you know what a man wants in a wife? He wants a wife who will show him honor and respect. This makes a man feel that he is good, that he has what it takes. If you look at the major marriage passages in the New Testament, God never tells a woman to love her husband. Instead God focuses on the word respect. It has been said that every woman wants to be loved, and that every man wants to be admired. This must be why God calls a woman to respect her husband.

According to some research, most women can distinguish between love and respect. This means they can love their husband, but not respect him. For a man, this does not compute. If he doesn’t feel his wife respects him, then he doesn’t feel loved. Men can’t separate the two. A wife is actually loving her husband as Christ calls her to when she shows him honor and respect.

Our God is a God who calls husbands to love their wives when they are unlovable; and wives are called to respect their husbands even when they are un-respectable. So God’s plan for a solid marriage is “Love and Respect.” When a couple can give these to one another, they begin to meet the deepest needs of each other’s heart. Sound good to you? Well go try it. And that’s the Word.

Women aren’t the only who bring some fears into a marriage. Deep down, a man’s core fear has to do with feeling powerless and out of control. Men deeply fear the loss of power and respect of those who surround them. Men are doers by nature. They want to feel that they are good at something. They want to be successful. Due to their manly wiring (and a lot of pride), men have a hard time admitting that they are not good at something. When men sense a lack of respect, it becomes hard for them. A man’s fear button tends to get pushed in those moments, and he may respond in unhealthy ways. A man gets his fear button pushed when he feels someone has disrespected him or “challenged his manhood.” Have you ever heard a woman say that someone has challenged her “woman-hood?” No. It’s a guy thing. This is why men have a hard time hearing criticism from their wives at time. It is because they are feeling that they are not respected; therefore they are not a real man.

Men you may not be willing to admit it, but there is a lot of truth in this. If you can realize this about yourself, you can diffuse a lot of battles. It is often and immaturity and fear that causes men to get defensive and combative. You can choose another way of reacting though. Women, it helps if you know this about men. They don’t need to be handled with kid gloves, but they do need to feel they have what it takes in your eyes. They need to know they are not a failure.

So you know what every good marriage needs: a healthy dose of love and respect. In scripture, God calls a man to love his wife. This means a man’s job is to make sure she feels valued, loved, and connected. She needs the security of your complete love. A woman is called by God to respect her husband. A woman is supposed to honor her husband, and truly make him feel that he has what it takes. Love and Respect. These are two keys to a great marriage. Come back next week for more about love and respect. And that’s the Word.

Genesis 2:18 says, “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” Man needed a companion to walk with him. He was made for a relationship. Yes the aspect of partnership is here, but the bigger idea represented is companionship. A man and a woman should seek to enter into their marriage as best friends. Building upon a solid companionship with one another will lead to greater intimacy in their marriage. And greater intimacy will lead to more trust, more respect and more love. I have heard people say they could never marry someone because they are too good of friends. If there was absolutely no physical attraction there, then I understand. If there is some physical attraction though, there is no better foundation to build upon than that of a true friendship.

Passion in a marriage will ebb and flow. As powerful as sexual attraction is (and yes it is powerful), there is a whole lot more time spent together outside of the bed than in it. And even most of the time in the bed is spent sleeping. So you better be able to talk to one another. You better develop some common interests.

I met my wife in college. She immediately fascinated me. She was fun to hang around. We could really talk with each. We enjoyed each other’s company. We both had a love for God. It took me a while though to realize that she was the one. Finally, a woman told me that you don’t get married because you think you could live with someone, but because you can’t live without them. I don’t know if that is the best advice, but it made sense for me. Amber was the one woman that I didn’t want to live without. I had dated some very nice girls, but Amber was different. I wanted her to be a part of my life forever. I wanted her friendship. I wanted her companionship.

Many marriages that struggle do so for a variety of reason. I am willing to bet though that it is often not as much about your sex life, or the fact that you have fallen out of love. The truth is often that you are no longer best friends (or maybe you never were). You have drifted apart, because you have not been intentional in nurturing the flame of friendship.

So, are you still single? Let me give you some advice: Marry someone who you think can become your best friend for life. Are you married? Don’t underestimate the power of friendship. Grow together. Nurture one another. Have fun together. Love deeply together. Grow old together. There is no more important human relationship than that between a husband and wife. And that’s the Word.

I am often surprised at how Christians really don’t have very high standards for the people they would choose to date.  And yet this is so important because you never know who you will find yourself falling in love with.  There are 6 billion people on the face of the planet.  Do you think there is a possibility that you could find yourself attracted to more than one of them.  You could feel chemistry with many different people, but that doesn’t mean that they would all be a good complement for you.

One of the ways that you sort through the 6 billion people on the face of the planet is by eliminating as many of them as possible by developing a set of standards.  For a lot of singles, eliminating the right one might be just as important as finding the right one.  You may find yourself with a sizzling hot attraction for someone but they could be all wrong for you.

The first standard for any follower of Christ is this: Is the other person a Christian?  The apostle Paul said, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14).  A yoke was a piece of wood that would harness two oxen together for the purpose of directing their energy and power in the same direction.  The yoke would keep the oxen pulling in the same direction.  If they weren’t of equal strength, however, they would begin to pull against one another.  Eventually one ox would pull the other one in the wrong direction.

As a Christian, if you get into dating relationships where you are unequally yoked, they will most likely drag you off course from your faith, your values and your morals.  I bet some of you know this from experience. Perhaps you met a guy (or a girl) and in the end you found yourself making compromises you never would have imagined.  You may have lowered your standards sexually, financially, or in some other area of your integrity.

Too many people get in wrong relationships because they have not set a clear set of standards.  We all want God’s results for our relationships don’t we?  It is unreasonable to ignore God’s standards and still expect God’s outcome in our relationships.

Too often we set our standards for dating based upon physical appearance, social status, intellectual ability and financial means.  If they look good, have the goods, and make us feel good, then we are ready to go.
God’s standards for our relationships start with character  and qualities.  The key to finding the right mate is to identify the character and qualities you will hold as your standard, and then evaluate any potential partner according to those standards.  A woman can be beautiful but she might have poor character.  A man might be a business success but could courtesy and respect.  Your primary concern should not be with how he or she looks, but what kind of person he or she really is.  So, what are your standards?  Do you have any?  Before you get a date, get a standard.  And that’s the Word.

I wonder if any of you have ever had a dating relationship end with a bunch of heartache, tears, and disappointment.  Perhaps you tried to figure out how life was going to go on without the other person.  And then realized something…  You put so much energy and focus into your dating relationship, and so much of your self worth was wrapped up in the other individual. All of sudden you woke and realized how much of your life had been on hold because of that relationship.  Your career, your interests, your friendships and your relationship with God had all taken a backseat to Mr. (or Ms.) Right – and now you have discovered that the person was Mr. (or Ms.) Wrong.

One of the biggest dangers that any single person needs to be aware of as a potential dater is the temptation to make another person the center of our life.  The First commandment of dating is this:  Thou shalt get a life! Your own life.

The most important element you will ever bring into a real relationship is a real life with a sense of purpose, identity, and healthy self-esteem.  You do not want to bring a needy, desperate, clingy life into a dating relationship.  You are not ready to date if that is where you are.

In the book of Genesis, God created man and then put him in the garden to work it and take care of it.  Man had God first in his life.  Then man was given a life purpose.  He wasn’t just sitting around waiting for love to come along.  Eventually the Lord said,  “It is not good for man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18).

God is the one who said it is not good for the man to be alone.  God had a plan to bring a relationship into man’s life.  He was preparing a bride for him.  God didn’t give man a helper because he was an emotional basket case and didn’t know what to do with himself on Friday nights.  God was making a suitable helper for man, a complement to what was already good.  A “helper” or partner from God is not meant to fix what is broken or fill what is empty in our lives.

A true potential partner is meant to be a companion to complement and strengthen that which is already good.  God made relationships to be two parts that work harmoniously together.  Please read this next phrase carefully: A relationship with the opposite sex is not meant to be a band-aid for a bleeding heart.  Human relationships were never meant to give us the life we have finally been looking for.  We are supposed to bring our own life into our relationship, and ultimately into our marriage.

God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.”  So many have instead turned it into the thought: “I can’t stand to be alone.”  And they buy the lie that they are insignificant if they are not in a dating relationship.  They always have to have a man (or a woman) in order to feel good about themselves.  People with real lives don’t always need to be in a relationship with someone else to feel good about themselves.  I want to warn you from setting all of your hopes for fulfillment in a dating relationship. Finding the right partner is awesome, but you do not want to put so much pressure on a relationship that you are liable to suck the life out of the other person.  So, do you need to get a life?  And that’s the Word.

Once Jonah is back on dry land, we are confronted with the words of Jonah 3: “Then the Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time” (Jonah 3:1). Did you see that? The word of the Lord came to Jonah “A SECOND TIME!” God’s word came to Jonah again. God gave Jonah another chance to obey. The guy who ran away from God was given a second chance. The guy who didn’t deserve to ever hear from God again, heard from God again. There are a lot of people who will never give you a second chance. They will never forgive you and will hold a grudge against you forever. Aren’t you glad that God is not like that? Some of you may think he is, but He is not. I know that God has come to me over and over giving me more and more chances when I have messed up.

Maybe you need God to come to you again and give you a second chance. Maybe you are a Christian and you have gotten off center. Perhaps you have been headed in the wrong direction and are filled with guilt and regret. Some of you have never surrendered your life to Christ, but He has spoken to your heart in the past. You have said no time and time again through the years. Guess what? God is coming to you again. The word of the Lord is coming to you again. God will give you another chance to say “Yes.” God will give you another chance to obey if you have disobeyed. He will not quit on you. He will not give up.

I look back in my life and realize how God kept coming to me at different stages in my life. In high school, there were moments God was speaking to me and yet I wasn’t ready to give my life to him. My senior year in high school, my brother died in a car accident. The Lord truly revealed himself to me, but I wasn’t ready to really say yes to Him. During my freshman year in college, God got my attention several times, but I still resisted him. Finally during my sophomore year at UGA, the word of God came to me again. Jesus reached out to me once more and I said yes. Oh, I praise God that I got a second chance. I am so grateful he didn’t quit on me and give up on me.

Do you need a second chance, a third chance, or more? Our God is the God of “another chance.” Jonah knows from experience, and so do I. You can be forgiven. You can have a fresh start with God. You can have a second chance by God’s grace. And that’s the Word.

Jonah is no longer running from God at this point.  He is running to God now.  Perhaps he remembers how the sailors on board the ship had been calling out to their idols and false gods who could not help them. So he declares that those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.  The word grace speaks of God’s mercy and pursuing love.  It is the undeserved favor of God.  When we turn our backs on God and chase idols, we are unable to receive the grace of God.  If you cling to the things of this world, and do what you want to do instead of what God wants, then you forfeit God’s grace.  God will not be active in that manner that he could be and should be.

Jonah declared that “with a song of thanksgiving, I will sacrifice to you (God).”  These are words of worship.  At the bottom of the ocean, Jonah felt he was in a living hell, but God delivered him.  Jonah’s mouth was now filled with thanks, and God turned this rebel into a true worshipper.  God responds to us with grace, so that we will respond to him with praise.

It is all about Him. He loves you and shows you grace, but in the end He wants you to become a worshipper of Him.  He is worthy of your praise.  He is a God who answers prayer.  He is a God who brings life from death.  He is a God who can lift us up when we are down.  He is a God who gives us what we don’t deserve (grace) instead of what we do deserve (judgment).  He is a God worthy of our praise.

We should not only praise Him with our words, but we should also worship Him with our obedience.  Jonah also said, “What I have vowed, I will make good.”  Jonah knew what he had to do.  He had to obey God and finally go to Nineveh.  He couldn’t just give lip service to God, and then not obey Him.  He had to make good to God what He had vowed.  He had to follow through and obey the Lord.  What is it that God has laid on your heart?  Maybe the Lord has laid it on your heart to be more generous and start tithing.  Maybe He is calling you take a step of faith, end an unhealthy relationship, reach out to a friend, etc. What is it that God is calling you to do?  Could it be that now is the time to make it good?

Finally, the last declaration of Jonah in the belly of the whale is this: “Salvation comes from the Lord.”  These are the words of a man who would have been lost forever if God had not stepped in to help.  He was helpless to save himself.  He was drowning, dying, and unable to do a thing but cry to God for mercy.  God heard his cry and saved Him.  Salvation comes from the Lord. Jonah couldn’t save himself and neither can you.  We are helpless to save ourselves.  Will you trust Christ and Christ alone to save you?  Salvation is from the Lord alone.  And that’s the Word.

Now Jonah was a prophet. You would think he would have no problem going into a city and telling a bunch of wicked people to “Turn or burn. Get right, or get left.” That’s all in a days work for an Old Testament prophet.

Jonah didn’t want to go though. His problem was with Nineveh. The Ninevites were a very cruel group of people. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. They attacked many cities and treated their captives very cruelly. They pillaged, plundered, raped and tortured the people they conquered.

You might think Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh because he was scared to death. In the story, however, we find out that Jonah didn’t want to go for other reasons. His problem was that he didn’t want Nineveh to have a chance to repent. He was afraid that if he preached about God’s impending judgment upon them that they would repent and turn to God. Then God would forgive them and show them grace. Jonah didn’t want to risk it. He wanted nothing but judgment for Nineveh. They were too cruel for God to forgive in his eyes. He thought Nineveh shouldn’t get a shot at grace, but only get judgment.

So Jonah “ran away from the Lord and headed to Tarshish” (Jonah 1:3). Basically Jonah said, I don’t like your way God. I don’t want to do what you want me to do. So he ran and went as far away from God’s will as possible. Tarshish was actually in the exact opposite direction of Nineveh. God said go west to Nineveh, and Jonah went due east to Tarshish.

There are times we run from God as well. God speaks into our lives and reveals his will to us. He tells us what we are to do. And maybe you think, “Okay God, I understand what you say to do. I understand what your word says on this matter, but I do not want to do it. “ We can relate to this in so many different ways. We all have a Tarshish that we tend to run to and run away from God.

Perhaps someone has wronged you and hurt you. And God says forgive. You think, “I know I should forgive, but I do not want to. They don’t deserve my forgiveness. I don’t feel like it.”

Or maybe the word of the Lord has come to you concerning your finances and giving. You know what God has called you to do. You say, “I don’t want to. I don’t feel like it. It doesn’t make sense. And I like my things more than I want to obey God.” So you run from the Lord.

Or maybe you are dating someone. You think he or she is so cute and smells so nice. You know what God has to say about waiting until marriage before you have sex. But you think, “I don’t want to wait. I love him/her. I don’t think I have should have to wait.”

There are so many different ways that we can tend to run from God and go the other direction. We will look at this more in the weeks to come. Answer this though: What is your Nineveh – the thing God has told you to do. And what is the Tarshish that you are tempted to run to. Are you running now? If so, maybe it is time to turn around. And that’s the Word.

There is a lot of apprehension going into 2009. Many are fearful and full of dread as they think about what lies ahead. These are hard times indeed, and everything that can be shaken is being shaken from a financial standpoint. It also seems to be shaking up a lot of people as well. Reports say that the economy is not only putting financial stress on many people, but it is also creating physical and emotional hardship for many. There are more reports of sleeplessness, headaches, depression, and marital discord. If you look at things from strictly a worldly standpoint, there is not a lot of immediate cause for peace and for hope.

And yet as Christians, we should be looking forward into the future with great faith and hope. It really doesn’t matter what comes upon our world, because our King has prevailed. His kingdom will come, and His will shall be done. As I have heard it said before, “You can read the end of the Book, and we win.”

As Christians, we should be looking to the future with great faith and hope. We must realize that it is not all about us. It is all about Him. These days and these times are incredible opportunities for God to show Himself to us and to many. Perhaps you are reading this and you have not really developed a relationship with Jesus Christ. God is calling out to you in the middle of these days. He is seeking to get your attention, and He wants you to know He is there. Jesus wants to become real to you. He wants you to find forgiveness in Him, peace in Him, hope in Him.

For those of us who are Christians, God is calling us to get our eyes off our circumstances. We must quit looking at our big ole fear, and look to our big ole God.
We must stop letting circumstances rob us of our peace and our joy. This is an opportunity for believers to truly let the light of Christ’s love shine through. We must believe our God and trust Him. We must have faith that God is who He says He is, and that He can do what He says He can do.

The apostle Paul said, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him” (2 Corinthians 2:14). The Lord will lead His people in triumph if they will believe Him. His triumph might be different than the outcome we had hoped for or planned for. God’s greatest triumph was the cross. That would not have been the outcome or the triumph we would have chosen, but it was what we most needed. Can we embrace this type of faith? Can we trust God like that?

I think if we can walk through this season in great faith, then 2009 will become one of the greatest seasons of our lives. The victory is sure, and by faith we can walk in it long before it is established. Fearful people are tormented even when things are going well. People of true faith are full of peace and joy even when things aren’t well. Which person will you be?

As you head into 2009, let your faith be in the Lord who leads us in triumphal procession. Don’t put your faith in an outcome. Put your faith in the Lord. Don’t set your heart on an answer to prayer. Set your heart on Him. Believe God. And that’s the Word.

As Americans, we often seem to be constantly looking for more and more. We often seem to be unsettled and restless. It is hard for us to find contentment.

Richard Swenson said contentment is hard to find because it is not like cutting down a tree – when it is done, it is done. No, contentment is more like “trying to pick up mercury with tweezers – it keeps squirting away.” Contentment is like the carrot suspended two feet in front of our face. We keep moving and it keeps staying ahead of us. We keep chasing it, and it keeps dodging us. Just when you seem to achieve everything you wanted, you discover that it was actually not enough. There must be more than this. Right?

The apostle Paul said, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Phil. 4:12). It is interesting that Paul used the word secret – “the secret of being content.” I believe he used this word because contentment does not often come from the things we would expect. It is not found in the places where so many people seek for it. We think contentment comes from the quest for more – more possessions, more status, more power, and more fame. These are very well traveled roads. All the while, there is another trail with far less travelers. This road has the potential to lead us to inner peace and joy. There is a treasure at the end of this road called “godliness with contentment.”

The apostle Paul said, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). Godliness involves a commitment to love and please God above all else. Contentment is a state of willing acceptance whatever God allows to come our way. Contentment does not find its source in more. Its source is not found in circumstances. Contentment is not found in success. There is nothing wrong with enjoying success or being excited when things are well. Contentment, however, is a freedom that we can enjoy whether we have little or much, whether we are rich or poor. Contentment is not laziness. It does not involve a passive attitude that is not willing to work hard to better one’s circumstances.

Contentment comes when I realize that I really don’t need another thing. Contentment comes when I am satisfied with God the Giver, and I am grateful for what He has given. This type of God given contentment is rare, and yet it is God’s recommendation to us.

As we head into 2009, many are saying that things will only get worse on the economic front before they get better. I would like to encourage us to adopt a “theology of enough” this coming year. This means it is time for us to realize that we have enough, often more than enough. In order to embrace this theology, we must realize a few things: God is what we need, and possessions are what we use. We were made to love God and people, and use things. Instead we have fallen in love with things, and seek to use God and people for our own benefit. Sadly, this will never bring us to a place of contentment.

“There are only two ways to get enough,” said G.K. Chesterson. “One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.” Contentment realizes that most of the time, “less is more!” So enough already! And that’s the Word.

I just can’t believe that God the Father was caught off guard. If God went to all the trouble to have this young mother carry His Son in her womb, then surely he could have had enough foresight to make a hotel reservation in advance. Perhaps God had his reasons for the birth of His Son in a stable. I think there are some real lessons to be found in the birth of Christ.

In his birth, Jesus embraced poverty. While he could have been born in the finest of hotels or hospitals, he chose to be an outcast. He was not given a luxurious palace, instead his mother laid his head down in a manger. Jesus became poor for a reason – so that we could become rich. The Apostle Paul said, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 7:8-9). Jesus Christ stepped out of the riches of heaven and humbled himself to become a man. And as a man, he didn’t become a king, but he embraced human poverty to the fullest extent. In his poverty, Jesus was embracing the poverty of our human condition. He became poor, however, so that we might receive the riches of God’s mercy and grace. The person who comes to know and receive Jesus Christ is truly rich indeed.

In his birth, Jesus not only embraced poverty, but also humility. God allowed his son to be born in the most humble of circumstances. God found a stable full of animals to welcome and receive his Son into the world. God did announce the birth of his Son to some humble shepherds in a field, and some visiting Magi dropped in later. By and large however, the birth of Jesus was a rather quiet event. There was no great fanfare for the Son of God that night. God took that humble beginning though and did something that would change the world. God says he uses the humble things of the world to shame the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). Jesus is attracted to humble things, humble places, and humble hearts. God says he rejects the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Do you know that Jesus is still born in stables? He looks for humble hearts that will acknowledge their need of forgiveness and receive Him. Is your life like a manger – a humble place for Jesus to rest His head?

Jesus’ birth also revealed how some people will treat Him. There will always be those who simply declare that they have no room for Jesus. They will reject Him and have no room in their lives for this King. Some will simply shut the door on His presence in their lives.

What about you? You may have gone to church for years, but your heart has had a “no vacancy” sign over it? Have you shut the door on Jesus and declared that you have no room for Him? Or maybe now you hear him knocking, calling you to open the door. Remember these words from that great Christmas hymn: “Joy to the World, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare him room…” Make room. Make room, and open your heart to Jesus. And that’s the Word.

On the very first Christmas, there was a man named Simeon who longed to see something as well. The book of Luke says, “He was waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon Him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:25-26).

Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel. This was a phrase used to speak of God’s promise to bring relief and deliverance to his people Israel. God had promised to send one that would end their oppression and bring them hope and comfort. Simeon saw his people in need of God’s help. Many were rebellious and separated from God. Simeon was looking for God’s help, God’s hope, and God’s forgiveness. He was a man of spiritual passion with a hunger for God.

Simeon wanted to see God – and he did in the face of the baby Jesus. Simeon was a priest in the temple when Jesus’ parents brought him to be dedicated to the Lord forty days after his birth. We are used to referring to Jesus as God’s Son, but there was no precedent during Simeon’s time for God to come in flesh as a baby. And yet he had eyes to see what God was doing even in the form of an infant. The passage makes clear that he was a man who was in tune with what God was doing. Simeon was moved by the Spirit to enter the temple as Mary and Joseph came in with their child. As Simeon took Jesus into his arms, he held the baby in his arms and praised God saying “your salvation has finally come.” Simeon had waited for many years, and now he was staring the salvation of God in the eyes. And the Savior of the world was in his arms, wearing a diaper.

Can you imagine how he felt? He had waited a long time for this moment. The Lord had actually promised Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And now He has come. Can you picture him taking the child, pulling him close, kissing his tender face, looking upon him in delight and thinking, “God is faithful. God has kept his promise. He has come.”

According to Simeon, Jesus was an absolute “must see.” Holding the Christ child in his arms, he proclaimed to God: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, your servant may now depart in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).

Simeon could now depart in peace because he had met the Lord’s salvation face to face in the person of Jesus. This baby did not come to live. This baby came to die, and to give his life for the sins of the world. Jesus did not come so we could have warm fuzzy feelings at Christmas. He came on a rescue mission. He came because we couldn’t get to heaven without him.

Have your eyes seen the Lord’s salvation? Have you met Jesus Christ? Have you received his forgiveness? You cannot depart in peace without him. And that’s the Word.

I want to ask my question again though. Are you really ready for Christmas? I am not really thinking about the presents, cooking, etc. I am talking about your heart. One famous Christmas carol goes like this: “Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare him room…” This carol encourages us to make room in our hearts for Jesus the king. During the month of December, many churches celebrate what is known as Advent. Advent means “coming” or “arrival. This season right before Christmas is meant to be a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. It seems, however, that we spend a lot of time preparing for everything but Jesus. I am a pastor, and even I have a hard time keeping my focus with all of the other distractions of the season.

It seems like Jesus has always had a hard time finding room at Christmas. Remember that very first Christmas when Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem for the census. Scripture records, “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn and wrapped him in a manger, because there was no room for him in the inn” (Luke 2:6,7). On the very first Christmas, nobody had room for Jesus. Everybody was busy, distracted and blind to what God was doing in Bethlehem. God was coming to earth in the form of a human, but so many were unprepared to receive him.

Over recent years, some politically correct groups have tried to totally drop Jesus out of Christmas. Some stores have instructed their employees to say, “Seasons Greeting” or “Happy Holidays” instead of Merry Christmas. There is a fight in some cities to put a nativity scene on any piece of public property. For most of us, however, it will not be the atheists and politically correct that strip Christ from our Christmas celebrations.

Our problem will often be the busyness of the season. I love Santa Claus, presents, parties, watching Christmas specials and all the other trappings that go with the holidays. You would think it would be easy to remember that all of this is nothing more than the sideshow, and that Jesus is the main attraction. And yet is seems that the birth of Jesus has become the sideshow, and all of the rest has become the main attraction. What if our kids walked away from Christmas with a message bigger than “be good for goodness sake” because Santa is checking his list twice? I want my kids to remember each Christmas to fall in love with a God who would send His own Son into the world to give his life. I want them to learn to be like the wise men and seek after Jesus with all of their heart. I want to remember these things for myself as well.

So here it is – Christmas season once again. It has been a hard year for many folks. The new year holds a lot of unknowns. Many of us need encouragement and hope. Go over to your Nativity scene and remember exactly what Christmas is all about. God drew near to us, to you. He is Emmanuel – God with us. Remember that no gift under the tree will ever compare to the gift of Christ. Take time to get ready. Make room in your heart for Him. If you miss Jesus, then you have really missed Christmas. And that’s the Word.

I thought a lot about people like you today? How are you? Are you one of the many who has watched your income shrivel up? Are you facing a foreclosure? Have you been laid off from your job? Are you nearing retirement only to see your 401 K suffering a TKO (boxing term for a technical knock out)?

I must admit that I have faced fears of my own as I think about the future. Here I am – a man of faith, a so called spiritual leader – but these times have tested my faith as well. I have found myself worrying about the future at times. Then I catch myself worrying, and think – Why?? Why do I worry so much God?

I have come to a realization through it all. I have trusted God for several years now. I have seen God provide for all of my needs in great ways. For some reason though, I have let the unsettled nature of our economy bother me. Something in me has felt so vulnerable watching our country struggle so badly. I have realized that it is because I have put more of my trust and security in the Almighty Dollar than I would like to admit. As Wall Street has shaken, and the banks have shaken, and the real estate market has shaken, and the automobile industry has shaken, I have let myself be shaken. And I imagine that I am not alone. I am sure there are many more of you out there who feel the same. There are a lot of “What ifs?” out there.

So today on Thanksgiving, I am seeking to remember to be thankful. And I really am. God has been so good and kind. I have much to be thankful for. I am seeking to do much more than be thankful though. I am seeking to be faith-filled also. I am trying to remember God’s promises as I face the future, as I help to lead others in facing the future.

So as we come towards the end of 2008 with all of its uncertainty, there is a scripture I want to share with you this Thanksgiving. In the book of Hebrews, the writer speaks of the things that can be shaken – the kingdoms of this world, the things of this world. Then there is a word for Christians – Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:28).

The scripture reminds us that everything in this world can be shaken. The kingdoms of this world can be shaken. We, however, have been given a kingdom that cannot be shaken – the kingdom of God. As Christians, we serve a God who can never be dethroned. He is never surprised. He is never worried about the future. Our God is bigger than the economy, bigger than the Almighty Dollar. He is a God who provided manna from heaven for the Israelites. He is a God who fed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. He is a God who shall show Himself faithful to all of who seek Him.

We are receiving a kingdom that can never be shaken. So be thankful. Worship! Praise Him. Have peace. Have faith. Do not let yourself be shaken. I am truly thankful to be a part of God’s unshakable kingdom. And that’s the Word.

Jesus’ temptation scene is found in the fourth chapter of Luke. Right before this scene, however, is the story of Jesus’ baptism. Jesus came to John the Baptist and asked John to baptize him. When Jesus came up out of the water, there was a voice from heaven. God the Father spoke and said, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). Here at his baptism, Jesus was announced and proclaimed as the Son of God. God spoke over His Son, and then confirmed the word by anointing Jesus with the Holy Spirit. This was the Father’s validation for His Son. He gave Jesus his full love and acceptance even before Jesus did one act of ministry. These words were meant to encourage, empower, and edify Jesus as God’s beloved Son.

This is really important to remember because Jesus went right from this place of love and validation and was thrown into the fire of temptation. He was led into the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days. At the end of that time, when he was hungry and tired, and Satan tempted him, it would have been easy to wonder where his Father was. Had God the Father forgotten him? Is he still loved?

Jesus heard the Father speak to Him. There was no need to doubt God’s love even in the midst of his struggles and temptation. Jesus’ baptism would have been a real spiritual high for Jesus. His heart would have been full of the Father’s love. The Spirit of God was alive in his heart. Immediately following this spiritual high, however, Jesus found himself in a battle for his very soul. It was a battle over his very identity.

When Satan came and tempted Jesus, he said to him, “If you are the Son of God…” He repeated this phrase three times during each of the temptations Jesus faced. God the Father had just said, “You are my son.” Now Satan had come to test that very word. It was as if he was saying to Jesus, “Okay, lets’ see some action. Prove that you are really God’s Son. Do something.”

It can be just like that for us. We can have a spiritually high moment. We feel like God speaks to us, and then we turn around and feel like we are losing it. All of a sudden we get filled with doubt, discouragement, and questions. Two days earlier we seemed so full of faith and peace. We knew what God said. We were confident, and then we turn around and face nothing but doubts: “Is that really true? Can I really trust God? Can I really believe God?” I have discovered that our greatest temptations often seem to come on the heels of some of our greatest victories. Right after the spiritual high is over, Satan seeks to bring us to a new low.

Has this ever happened to you? Watch out! Temptation is real, and the enemy’s schemes are deceptive. And yet God allows these tests to happen to see if we will be faithful to Him. God wants to know and to see if we will hold on and trust Him. Temptation becomes a true test of our belief in God. When we are tired, hungry, alone, and discouraged, will we still remember what God has said? Will we hold on to God’s Word even when we are face to face with temptation? And that’s the Word.

How should we respond? Does God offer any hope? Maybe you are stuck in fear. Perhaps you are mad at God at the moment. Let me offer some biblical wisdom.

First we must remember that God does not promise to keep Christians from all trials. He does promise to keep us as we go through our trials. Jesus said, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Sometimes Christians tend to think that they should have a free pass from any trouble. It is simply not true. There are times we will have difficulties. Our promise is that He is with us in the midst of our difficulty – even financial troubles. Don’t forget who you belong to as a Christian. You are a child of God, and He will watch over you.

Second, we must learn to be content. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in the book of Philippians: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who give me strength” (Phil. 4:11 – 13).

For many of us, godly contentment might be the most valuable lesson we can learn. Perhaps we tend to put way too much stock in worldly comforts. True contentment never comes from how much you have, or how many toys you own. There are enough rich people that have been miserable through the years. What about you? Are you content? Will you be okay if you have to downsize? If not, then you may have a real spiritual problem. I remember being on a mission trip to India several years ago. All of our luggage was lost and I was there for 10 days with a Bible, toothbrush, some tic tacs, and the presence of God. I have never been so content in all of my life. It wasn’t because I had more. It was because I had been stripped of all my material comforts and discovered what was really important.

Third, it may be time for a budget. Do you know where you money is going? Are you really spending wisely? This is a very practical step to help you control your spending.

Lastly, don’t stop giving. Often times, a person’s giving level is the first thing to go when their income gets tighter. We let fear get a hold of us instead of faith, and we may hold back our tithes and our offerings. I think that is the worst mistake that a Christian can make. Some people think they cannot afford to tithe. If we truly believe God’s word and trust our Heavenly Father, the truth is that we cannot afford to not tithe. Giving is an act of our worship towards God. We honor him when we give for His sake. Our giving is also an act of our trust in Christ. As we truly give, we are inviting Jesus into our financial picture and declaring that He is the answer to all of our needs. Through our faithful giving, we are putting our faith into action. Giving says, God is my source. God is my Provider. Our giving to God releases God’s hand into this area of our lives. And many have discovered that you simply can’t out give God. God doesn’t want you walking in fear. Remember whose you are, and walk in faith. And that’s the Word.

Many people prayed fervently for God’s will and direction in this election. Some of you were convinced that John McCain needed to be the man in office and prayed to that affect. Others of you prayed for an Obama victory. I submit to you that the time for prayer has not ended. In many ways, the need for prayer has just begun. I encourage you to be faithful in your prayers for President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and his two daughters. Ask God to speak to Obama’s heart and grant him true wisdom from above in all that he does. The apostle Paul said, “I urge then first of all that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:2).

There is no doubt that our next President is walking into a very difficult situation. The American economy is still suffering. Our international relationships are strained on many fronts. The war in Iraq has no quick and easy solutions. Our new president will need a lot more than our cheers or our jeers. He will need our prayers. God has called us to pray for those who are in authority over us as leaders. The book of Proverbs says, “The King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord. He directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases” (Proverbs 22:1). We must truly seek God and believe that He can direct the heart of our leader.

Pray for the people that will surround our president as he transitions into office. Ask God to put wise and righteous counselors in Obama’s path. Please also seek God for greater unity in our nation, and greater unity within the church. As I read from Beth Moore (and agree), we should have zero tolerance for prejudice whether it is regarding party affiliation, color (whether Black, White, or Brown), economics, taxes and the like. It is not a sin for us to disagree with the president or a politician. It is a sin to be prejudice. It is a sin for us to curse our leader, when God has called us to lift him up in prayer.

This is an opportunity for many of us in the body of Jesus Christ to show forth his character. We should stand for what is right not from our feet, but from our knees. We must remember that ultimately God is in control of the nations. The Lord is still on the throne. We can trust God for His work to be done in America.

As Chuck Colson said, “This is no time for Christians to go into bunkers. This is a time to repent, to pray more. It is time for Christians to lead.” Let us lead in a way that will honor Jesus. Let us lead in a way that displays where our real trust ultimately rests. And that’s the Word.

She believed that if she could just touch the hem of his garment that she would be healed. She did touch Jesus that day, and He touched her as well. He touched her more deeply than she had ever imagined. The scripture records, “Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering” (Mark 5:29).

She reached out to Jesus in faith, and she was rewarded with a divine release of power from the Son of God into her life. Her blood had been flowing out for 12 years. Blood is symbolic of life in the scripture. It was as if her life was flowing away, ebbing out of her. And then his life flowed in.

The same power of Christ is still available today. The power of Jesus still flows from Calvary’s cross. The apostle Paul referred to Jesus as a life giving spirit. He gives life to those who truly look to him in faith, for those who reach to him in faith. You can go ahead and ask him to give you his life even now.

Jesus didn’t just heal this woman physically though. She was freed from her suffering in her body, but Jesus wanted to touch her soul as well. The woman had snuck up behind Jesus in an anonymous fashion. As his power flowed into her body, Jesus knew something was going on. He stopped in the crowd having “realized that power had gone out from him” (Mark 5:30). Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “Who touched me?”

The disciples thought it was a ridiculous question. The crowd was so big and everyone was crowding around Jesus. They were thinking, “Who hasn’t touched you?” Jesus asked the question again though, “Who touched me?”

It wasn’t just the tug of a hand Jesus had felt. It was the tug of a heart. It was the tug of faith that he sensed. He knew someone had reached out to him in faith. Jesus scanned the crowd looking for who it was. He wasn’t about to let this woman just get lost in the crowd.

This woman came up to Jesus from behind. Jesus wanted her to come face to face with him though. He wasn’t satisfied just to be this lady’s healer. He didn’t want her to remain nameless and faceless. He wanted this woman to know that he knew… her. He wanted to become her God, her King, Her savior, Her lover, Her Heavenly Father.

This story lets us know that God always wants to make Himself personal to us. Jesus wanted a real relationship with this woman. He didn’t want to be just a mystical force who can touch and heal. He wanted to be a personal God who was real, loving and personal. He is not satisfied until we come face to face with him.

She finally fell at his feet, grateful for his touch, fearful of his rejection. Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.” This woman had not heard tender words from a man in more than 12 years. She had the words unclean written on her heart. Just like that though, Jesus wrote a new name on her heart. Not content to just touch her physical body, He spoke love and acceptance in to her heart. Now she was healed, really healed and she would never be the same again. And that’s the Word.

This woman wanted to get well. She wanted to be whole. She wasn’t going to give up hope that God had a better life for her. This is important because I meet people all the time who don’t want to get well. They are unwilling to change. They remain a victim for the rest of their lives holding onto their misery, bitterness, or pain. They aren’t willing to take any steps in order to get well.

This woman had heard about Jesus though (Mark 5:27). Perhaps she had heard about how Jesus had touched a group of lepers. They were considered unclean too, but Jesus healed them. Whatever she had heard about him, there was a little seed of faith in her heart. She was desperate to find out if Jesus could heal her. As an unclean woman in that day and time, she would not have dared to approach Jesus face to face. Apparently she decided she would try and sneak a touch from him. She wanted to do a “drive by touch” on Jesus.

The story says, “She came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’” I love the fact that this woman decided to go after Jesus. She was going to press in and go after him. She was desperate to touch Jesus in hopes that he would somehow touch her. If her broken body and soul could somehow come in contact with the essence of this man Jesus, perhaps his very nature would change her.

She could have sat at home and played it safe. She could have thought, “Well if he is really God, then he can come find me. If God wants to heal me, then he knows where I am.” Some people are like that. They just sit there and wait for God to come to them – not this lady though. She went to touch Jesus. It was a great risk and a great step of faith. She risked the social embarrassment from those in the community. She risked rejection if anyone saw this “unclean” woman stepping beyond her allowed social boundaries. She could have been scolded by a Pharisee, or rejected again by the rest of the crowd.

What about you? Are you willing to go after Jesus no matter what someone else says or thinks? How desperate are you to get a hold of Jesus? Do you want to get well, or do you want to hang on to your bitterness, your anger, your fear? Are you waiting on God to pick you out of the crowd, or give you a holy zap? Or are you ready to press in to Him, and go after him?

This woman pressed in to Jesus, and she wasn’t disappointed. Regardless of the cost, regardless of the risk, she was desperate to touch Jesus. She did, and she would never be the same again. And that’s the Word.

I have always appreciated a couple of stories in Mark 5 that run together. The two stories are about a synagogue ruler named Jairus whose 12 year old daughter was ill (and died) and a woman who had been suffering an affliction for 12 years. The story of the woman is actually inserted right into the middle of Jairus’ story. She basically intrudes upon Jesus as he is going to help Jairus’ daughter.

There is an interesting contrast between this man Jairus and this woman. As I have said, Jairus was a synagogue ruler. We are told his name and what he does. The woman was merely an unknown person. Her name is not even mentioned. We are just told about her affliction. She had been “subject to bleeding for twelve years” (Mark 5:25). Basically, this woman was suffering from a continual menstrual flow that had not stopped.

As a synagogue ruler Jairus would have been an important and well-respected man in the community. Everyone would have known Jairus. He would have been a popular person due to his role as a spiritual leader. The woman was an unknown nobody, and even an outcast. According to the OT, a woman was considered to be unclean during her menstrual cycle. That meant she was not allowed to touch or be touched by others. She couldn’t go into the temple during this time. Basically she was cut off from God and from man. She was the unknown outcast living her life in obscurity.

Jairus would have been a man of means. He would have been well compensated for his role as a ruler of the synagogue. The woman was broke. She had spent all that she had on doctors.

Jairus had 12 years of happiness with his daughter come to an end when she died. The woman had 12 years of affliction and discomfort finally come to an end after Jesus healed her.

As you can see, these are two completely different people from opposite sides of the track. One was wealthy, prominent, and popular. The other was poor, obscure, and an outcast. And yet they both shared some things in common. They both had a great need. Jairus had a critically ill daughter slipping towards death. The woman had an issue of blood that the doctors could not help to heal. They were both desperate with nowhere else to turn. They both ended up turning to Jesus though.

It is very interesting at how both of them approached Jesus. Let me share these verses, and notice how each one of them comes before Christ: “Seeing Jesus, (Jairus) fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him…” (Mark 5:22). “Then the woman … came and fell at his feet, and trembling with fear, told him the whole truth (Mark 5:33).

That day, Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, and He healed the woman from her affliction. Even though these two were quite different, they both found their answers at the feet of Jesus. Both Jairus and the woman fell at the feet of Jesus, and they both had life changing encounters with Him.

Do you know what they discovered? The highest place on earth is not Mt. Everest. The highest place on earth is at the feet of Jesus. There is no greater place to go. There is no higher place to climb to. Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you face, I encourage you to fall at the feet of Jesus. And that’s the Word.

Scripture records, “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!'” At this point, the boat wasn’t the only thing about to sink. Peter’s heart began to sink as well. The weight of the full nets and the weighted down boats seem symbolic of the weight of God’s presence in the boat with Peter. In the person of Jesus Christ, Peter came face to face with the weight of God’s holiness and power. And Peter seemed to feel the weight of his own sin pulling him down into the water.

I think Peter saw how shallow his existence had been. He truly understood he was unworthy to have this man Jesus in his boat, much less to have him in his life. Peter was a selfish, stubborn, prideful human who wanted life on his own terms.

“I am a sinful man,” Peter cried. He was thinking, “I am undone. I am sinking under the weight of all this.” He felt so unworthy that he bid Christ to go away. It seemed that the presence of Christ reminded him of everything that he should be, but everything that he was not. He became a broken man. He no longer called Jesus Master, instead he called Lord. It was a word that held much greater weight. It meant Master of all – God. Peter knew in his heart that he was not right with God.

When you really encounter Jesus, you will come in touch with your own sin. As Jesus calls you deeper, you will get a glimpse at how shallow your life may be. In those moments when you feel the weight of God’s holiness and your sin, part of you will want to run away from God. You too may ask him just to go away and leave you in your misery.

Jesus didn’t leave Peter though. As Peter cried out in sorrow for his sin, Jesus saw something in him. Jesus didn’t see a man worth drowning. He saw a man worth saving. In Peter’s humility, Jesus saw a man that he could actually use. Peter understood that he was nothing without Jesus. Peter’s sin became something that would cause him to run to Jesus instead of from Jesus.

So instead of hopping out of the boat, walking on water and leaving Peter, Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” It was an invitation to follow Jesus and to be used by Jesus.

Have you ever felt so unworthy that you just wanted Jesus to leave you alone? Don’t run from him. Run to him. You just may be in the perfect place for God to use you – humble, broken, and surrendered to Jesus. And that’s the Word.

For Peter to respond to Jesus’ call to launch out to the deep is very telling. Something must have been stirring in his heart because his natural inclination would have been to tell Jesus to go jump in a lake. Peter and the boys had been fishing all night long and caught absolutely nothing. In the Sea of Galilee, one would usually fish at night in the shallow waters. Jesus is asking Peter to go out into the deep water in the middle of the day. He is basically asking Jesus to do everything contrary to what Jesus had been trained to do.

This wasn’t just a hobby for Peter. He wasn’t just a weekend fishermen whose idea of the perfect bridal registry was the Bass Pro Shop. This was his career. This was his life. He was a trained fishermen on these waters from his earliest years. Jesus was basically asking Peter to hand over the keys to his business. He was asking Jesus to trust Him with his trade. Jesus wanted Peter to make this decision even though it seemed like the wrong advice. He wanted Peter to do what made no sense to his natural mind.

Simon (Peter) answered Jesus, “Master, we worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5). We know Peter must have had some great respect for Jesus even though it was very early in their relationship, because Peter called him Master. The word can mean “leader, commander, and boss.” Basically, Peter is telling Jesus, “Jesus this doesn’t really make any sense at all. As a matter of fact, I think it is crazy. But I have so much respect for you that I will do it just because you say so. I will launch out to the deep and let down the nets for a catch.”

Was Peter disappointed for doing what Jesus said to do? If he had pulled up an empty net, I am sure he would have been frustrated. Imagine he had pulled up just a couple of fish, just enough for a fish nugget meal from Long John Silvers. Peter might have thanked him for dinner, but he still would have been disappointed.

The story says “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” This haul of fish was abundant and overflowing. It is a picture of supernatural fullness. Jesus surrendered what was his, and put it into the hands of Jesus. Jesus blessed him in a supernatural way. After a futile night of fishing that turned up nothing but empty nets, Jesus filled the nets of the seasoned fishermen to the point of overflow and abundance. It is a real picture of what we can do on our own versus what Jesus can truly do when we surrender what it is ours and put it into his hands.

Does it always make sense to do what Jesus calls us to do? No. Does it sometimes seem contrary to what we think we should do? Yes. He is the Master though. We must come to a place where we do what He says just because He says so. “Because you say so…” That is reason enough to obey Jesus. He said so! And that’s the Word.

Then finally Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4). The King James Version says, “Launch out into the deep.” Jesus was asking Peter to go out into the deep waters with Him.

This invitation to go from the shallow water out into the deeper waters seems to be an analogy that goes way beyond the depth of the water. The depth of the water just seems to be an illustration that Jesus used to talk about life.

It seems the real invitation Jesus was giving to Peter was to go from a life of shallow meaning and little purpose to a life of much deeper meaning. Jesus wanted to rescue Peter from a shallow and meaningless existence and invite him into the deeper purposes of God.

When you truly encounter Jesus Christ, he will challenge your lifestyle. What are you living for? What is really important? Isn’t it true that we get so easily caught up living in the shallows all of our lives. Let’s face it, when the big decisions we face are things such as what movie the family is going to rent from Blockbuster this weekend, what TV shows we are going to TIVO, and where we are going to eat, we are stuck in the shallow end of life. When the major focus of our life becomes making more money so we can buy more stuff with our money, we are stuck in the shallow water of life.

Ask yourself if you are really developing a life of depth? Are you developing a life of meaning, purpose and substance? I am not talking about being serious all the time. It is great to have fun, enjoy a good meal or a good movie. Isn’t it easy though to get stuck swimming around in the shallow business of life so much of the time. And from time to time, we may hear a voice that is calling us to come deeper – deeper to a life of greater existence. Sometimes I feel I need to just cry out to Jesus and ask Him to save me from a shallow life.

Launch out into the deep. It was an invitation to go deeper with God. It still is an invitation to go deeper. God wants us to grow deeper in our faith and trust. God calls us to greater surrender. God calls us to get in over our heads and see what He can do in and through our lives. Have you ever been in a place where you were in “so deep” that you had to completely depend upon God to show up?

Yeah, Jesus had a real purpose in mind when He invited Peter to go deeper. What about you? Are you ready to launch out into the deep? Or will you spend your life stuck in the shallows? And that’s the Word.

For most of the Jewish children, they stopped school at age 12. At that time, the boys would go and learn the family trade or business – fishing, carpentry, agriculture, etc. The girls would go into a stage of preparation for the day that they would be married. A few of the students from Bet Sefer would show a unique grasp and ability with the scriptures. These top students would have the opportunity to go on to further study at the school of Bet Midrash.

The students at Bet Midrash would learn the Tenah, the remaining books of the Old Testament from Joshua through Malachi. This school lasted until they were about 16 years of age. At the end of Bet Midrash, there was another weeding out process. For many this was now the end of their education and they would enter into a normal lifestyle. The elite students, however, would go on to pursue a rabbi and become one of their students or disciples. A disciple would study directly under the rabbi as one of his pupils.

The goal of the disciple was not just to learn from the rabbi. The pupil wanted to be like the rabbi. When a young man finished the school of Bet Midrash, he would seek to go and find a rabbi. When he found a rabbi that he wanted to follow, he would ask, “Would you be my rabbi? Can I come and follow you?”

The rabbi would ask the student a series of questions to see how knowledgeable he was, and how devoted he was. The rabbi wanted to see if the young man had a true fire and desire to become a rabbi. Even at this level, many young men were turned down. They just didn’t make the cut. Very few went on to become a disciple of a rabbi, and even fewer went on to become a rabbi themselves one day.

Now with all of this in mind, think about Jesus’ call that he gave to Peter, James, John and Andrew many years ago. They were fishermen at the Sea of Galilee. Most likely, they had gone to the school of Bet Sefer as young boys and that was it. They were most likely told that they didn’t make it to the next cut. They were not the All Stars, and so at 12 years old they returned home to learn the family trade as fishermen. It was to this group of ordinary fishermen that Jesus came and called them to “Come follow me.” Jesus didn’t go after the All Stars. He went after the guys who didn’t necessarily make the cut and called them to be his disciples. Jesus was telling these ordinary guys that they could become like Him. They could be his followers. He could shape them and use them. And Jesus says the same to us. You may not be an all star, but Jesus calls you to be his follower any way. Follow Him! And that’s the Word.

Regardless of your political leanings, I think we must agree that both Barack Obama and Sarah Palin are two incredibly impressive candidates. Obama is an incredibly charismatic man who has rallied great hope for change among many Americans. Palin is a force to reckon with in her own right as she teams with John McCain as the Republican nominees for the White House. While I have maintained some interest in politics through the years and always seek to vote, I have never enjoyed taking in the whole process quite so much.

There also seems to be a great sense of urgency among many people concerning the upcoming election. The dividing lines between parties are as strong as ever. The cries for political change are ringing loud and clear. People are concerned about the economy, concerned for our soldiers, concerned about foreign policy, concerned about terrorism, etc. Both candidates believe they offer the leadership that is so needed in our nation at this time.

I just want to offer a few reminders for us during this season. It is our natural human tendency to put our hope in human leaders. Many get excited about “their candidate,” and think he/she is the answer for all our nation’s issues and problems. I have seen both Democrats and Republicans do this through the years. While strong leadership is incredibly important, I think that Christians need to remember that the true hope for our country will never be found in the White House. I do not mean that as any disrespect for the office of the president. I will honor whoever has the privilege to serve as our next president even if I disagree with his policies.

Our hope as a nation though is ultimately found in an office that is higher than the oval office. Scripture gives us this admonition: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). God promises to bless a nation who honors Him. We are also given this bit of wisdom from the book of Proverbs: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

I know that many in our country may not agree, but scripture indicates that God’s blessing and protection of our nation (or any nation) are affected in large part by our nation’s attitude toward God. The song “God Bless America” became a heart cry for many in our nation after 9/11. Many of our nation’s leaders end their speeches with “May God bless America.” God’s blessing on our country is a great desire. Shortly after 9/11 though, I remember seeing a “God bless America” sign on the marquee of an Atlanta strip club. It struck me funny and odd to see the sign on such an establishment. Why would God want to bless an establishment like that? It’s wrong. And yet the sign seemed to me to be an indication of how we have cheapened the idea of God’s blessing on our nation.

Our nation needs God’s hand to guide. This is an important season for our country. So I encourage you all to pray daily for our country as we continue this important season. Pray for God’s guidance in the lives of our candidates. Ask God to bring us the best possible leader for our nation at this time. Let’s humble ourselves and ask God to bless us as a nation though we don’t always deserve it. Ask God to shed his grace upon our nation again. May God truly help us and bless America. And that’s the Word.

Jesus said, “Remain in me.” The phrase can also be “abide in me.”

Perhaps Jesus is even holding a branch in his hands at this point. Picture the place where the trunk of the vine meets the branch. This is the touch point between the two. This is the place of abiding. Here is the connection where the life giving nutrients in the sap can flow from the vine into the branch. The only limitation on the flow is the circumference of the branch. The branch with the largest, least obstructed connection with the vine is abiding the most and will bring forth the most fruit.

Jesus said the key to a life of much fruit is this – “Abide in me.” As we grow and bear fruit, God invites us to abide more deeply in Him that we might become even more fruitful. Notice that his purpose is not that go and do a lot more for Him, but that you choose more to be with Him. Jesus is saying that the greatest key to bearing fruit is found not in activity, but in relationship to Him.

Abide means to stay closely connected, to dwell, or to settle in for the long term. Jesus is saying that an ongoing deep connection and union with him will ultimately determine the flow of his supernatural power and life into yours.

As you abide in him, more of his life will be in you and more of his fruit will come from you. As you abide in him, his power will be at work in your life.

The word “abide” or “remain” is found ten times in John 15. As Jesus is preparing to die, he is making a passionate plea. He knows they are being called to start his church and bear a miraculous amount of fruit – enough fruit to turn the world upside down. And they cannot begin to produce that kind of fruit and make an eternal impact without the one thing they are most likely to forget: more of Him.

Abiding is about the most important friendship of your life. It is about getting as close to Jesus as possible. Abiding is not just about acquiring a bunch of Bible knowledge although Bible Study is excellent.

Abiding is about hungering, thirsting, seeking for, longing for, waiting for, and responding to a person … Jesus. More abiding means more of Jesus in your life, more of Him in your thoughts, desires and activities.

In our Western mindset of rushing around to do and to perform for God, we often falter at the most important thing … enjoying the presence of Jesus in our lives. Think again about the vine and the branch as they connect together. Jesus gave us an image of a living thing whose life force (the sap) is mysteriously out of sight. It is hidden where no one can see it. Not on the surface.

Could it be that our life source is a hidden relationship with Jesus where we abide with Him? It is not what happens on the surface of the branch that matters, it is what is happening deep inside. And that’s the Word.

A couple of weeks ago, we saw that God disciplines his children when they bear no fruit (John 15). He simply will not let us keep going in the wrong direction without seeking to intervene in our lives. God loves us enough to correct us and hopefully bring us back into a place of obedience and fruitfulness again.

In the same passage about the vine and the branches, Jesus promises to prune his disciples that do bear fruit: “Every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). Jesus is talking about his Father’s strategy for coaxing greater fruit from the lives of believers. The word prunes means to cut back or thin out. If you are a Christian whose life is bearing fruit, there are times where God will intervene to prune you so you might bring about more fruit.

A grape vine’s tendency is always for more growth. They can grow so vigorously that they need to be cut back every year. If they are not cut back, they will become so dense that it will hinder the fruit itself. With all of the growth, it will look luscious but the growth will be underwhelming. The vinedresser cuts away any unnecessary shoots so the branches will be the most productive. Pruning is one of the single most important techniques to ensure a continual good harvest of fruit.

This is true for our lives as well as for the vineyard. This is why God prunes us at times. God cuts us back some times in order to bring about greater growth. We can sometimes develop preoccupations and priorities in our lives that are not always dead wrong, but they can often hinder greater growth. God must simply prune us to bring about more fruit.

As God prunes us, He asks us to let go of things that keep us from being more focused and productive. God prunes us to teach us, shape us and mold us. As He prunes us, we grow in our faith and become more committed to God’s kingdom purposes. Ultimately we become more humble and more effective.

Pruning involves cutting, and cutting hurts. It is not always fun. It may sound like discipline, but it is not. God’s discipline is a rebuke from God in love to get our attention and bring us to repentance. Pruning is an act of God’s love to shape our character and bring us into even greater fruitfulness.

One of the greatest tools for growth in our lives as Christians is adversity. God can use the hard times to make us and mold us. If you are Christian that has really grown, then you have been pruned. The greatest Christians with the greatest growth are those who have walked through tough times and held onto God. They trusted and believed him and when they came through, an amazing transformation had taken place in their lives.

God longs for fruit in your life. Will you trust Him in all circumstances? If so, He will bring you forth with great fruit in your life. And that’s the Word.

In John 15, Jesus said, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit…” (John 15:1-2). Jesus sent a warning here to believers that do not fruit for him. Does this mean they will be judged and cut off from God?

Jesus seems to indicate that this is a branch that is in Him, or belonging to Him. In the original language, the phrase cuts off can also mean “to lift up.” As a matter of fact, that is the normal translation for this word. Perhaps the image could be that of a vinedresser lifting up a branch and not cutting it off.

New branches in a vineyard have a natural tendency to trail down and grow along the ground. The branches don’t bear fruit down there. When they grew along the ground, they get dirty, muddy, and mildewed. Eventually the branches become weak, sick and useless.

Does the vinedresser cut off the branch and throw it away? No. It is much too valuable. He lifts it, cleans it up and washes it. He then wraps it around the trellis so it will stay out of the dirt. Eventually it can begin to thrive again.

This has such a parallel for our lives. The dirt is like the sin of our lives from disobedience, wrong choices, and unwillingness to submit our lives to God’s direction. God is not going to let us stay in the dirt though. If your life consistently bears no fruit, God will intervene to discipline you. If necessary, He will use painful measures to bring you to a place of repentance where you are ready to get out of the dirt and get your life back in line with him. Scripture tells us, “As a man disciplines his Son, so the Lord your God disciplines you” (Deuteronomy 8:5).

All of us struggle with sin in different ways. The Christian needs to confess his sin and repent on a consistent basis. God must discipline us when we walk in denial and refuse to turn back to Him. We begin to love our sin more than we do our God. When we have un-confessed, unconfronted behavior in our lives, God must get out attention.

Is discipline fun? No. God only does it because He loves us. Any parent knows that discipline is a part of true love. Listen to what scripture tells us: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves…” (Hebrews 12:5-6).

God never disciplines in anger, frustration or rage like earthly parents can sometimes do. It is always for our best. Just as the vinedresser take the necessary measures to correct the wayward branch, so our Heavenly Father deals with us and takes the necessary measures to correct us when we are living wayward lives. Why would God allow pain into our lives? Sometimes He does it to get our attention in hopes to bring forth more fruit. God’s actions are always intended to nudge you toward his desired purpose for your life.

If you disobey God’s standards for your relationships, you are going to get hurt and become barren. If you lack integrity with others in your family, or work you will become barren. If you have an affair, if you are stuck in pornography, if you keep dating unspiritual people, if you can’t put down the bottle, you will become barren. And God may have to discipline you to bring you back to the place of fruitfulness. And that’s the Word.

The Bible tells us “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is the promise for a new lease on life. The phrase “new creation” refers to a fresh work of God. Jesus said that He makes all things new. This is the very heart of what it means to be a Christian. It is much more than having a mental belief or acknowledgment of God and His Son Jesus Christ. True Christianity involves a life-changing encounter with Jesus where we are made new and whole. An encounter with Jesus Christ should change us. We should never be the same again.

As Jesus makes us into a new creation, He also gives us a fresh start by wiping away our sins and failures. Doesn’t that sound good? Jesus Christ can give you a new lease on life.
When the scripture says, “the old has gone,” it is the promise of forgiveness and freedom from the past. God can so drastically change us from the inside-out that we are no longer bound by our old dreaded patterns and impulses. Becoming a new creature in Christ does not mean that we become perfect or incapable of wrong doing, but it does imply that we have a new nature and power given to us by God.

So how does one become new on the inside then? How can we allow God to do this work? The scripture says that those who are “in Christ” become new creations. The phrase “in Christ” describes a person who has truly entered into a relationship with Jesus as they believe and receive Him.

First, we must believe in the person of Jesus Christ. Scripture declares that He is the divine Son of God. He came to earth and led a sinless life. Ultimately he gave his life and died for our sins on the cross. Finally he rose from the dead and ascended to heaven where he rules and reigns. There are some of the major points of the Christian faith.

Many people believe in Jesus but there lives have not been changed. This is because scripture calls us to believe and receive. We must not only have head knowledge of Jesus, but we must also have a heart response to Jesus. John 1:12 says “To all who received Him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” We have the right and privilege of becoming God’s very own children as we believe and receive Jesus Christ. To receive Jesus means to acknowledge one’s sin and need of forgiveness and to invite Jesus into one’s life and heart to become forgiver, leader, and Lord. To receive Christ involves completely committing one’s life to Him.

When Jesus comes into one’s life, however, he makes all things new. I will never forget when Jesus stepped into my life almost 20 years ago. I became a new person from the inside-out. What about you? Are you the same old person? Or has God made a new you? And that’s the Word.

In sports, we often talk about a very talented team or an athlete as someone who really has the goods.

What about you? Do you have the goods?

Jesus told a parable about a man who went on a journey and “delivered his goods” to his servants (Matthew 25:14-30). One servant was given 5 talents, another 2 talents, and another 1 talent. A talent was a monetary amount equal to 20 years wages. The servants were entrusted with the Master’s goods and therefore responsible for it while the master was away. According to Jesus, these servants had the goods.

It is evident in the story that the Master was expecting some return from the trust that he had given to each servant. He wanted them to do something with what they had been given. After a long absence, the Master returned to find that two of the servants were faithful to work and use the talents they had been given. They doubled their number of talents. The Master was pleased and said to both of them, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

One of the servants was unfaithful and took his talent and buried it. He still had the talent, but the Master was not pleased because the servant had not used what he had been entrusted with. He simply hid it in the ground and its potential was wasted. The Mater called the servant “wicked and lazy.”

The parable reminds us of what God will expect from us when he returns. The Master is Jesus who has entrusted each of us with some talents. The talents represent our time, resources, natural talents, and giftedness. God has given us the goods; He has given us a trust that He expects us to use for his glory and purposes.

Are you putting your talents to use? Many are afraid to use their talents for God because they do not feel like an expert. “What do I know?” they say. Look at the man who received five talents though. In verse 16, it says that he “went at once and put his money to work.” He didn’t have to go to seminary or wait for his expert certificate to come in the mail before he used his talents. No, he just began at once doing what he could with the trust he had been given. I am sure he continually learned as he worked with his talents. Thank God that he didn’t wait until he was an expert though.

I think many people have buried their talents because they are not experts. They want to leave it to the paid professional preachers to serve God. The fact is though that we have all been “entrusted with God’s goods” to bring glory to His name. The servant who buried his talent was not blaspheming God’s name or living a wicked life – and yet he was called a wicked and lazy servant. Why? Because he wasted what the Master had given him. He was unfaithful with God’s goods.

You have got the goods. You really do, and God wants you to be faithful with the trust you have been given. I once heard a cheer that went like this: “You got it! Now use it! You got it! Now use it!” Sure sounds like what God may be saying to us. “You got it! Now use it! You got it! Now use it!” And that’s the Word.

Just then they came to a wide vista on the path, with a long view of the river flowing along in the sunlight. Pointing to the opposite bank, the young man said, “See that impressive old castle over there? When I was a small boy I used to sit right here in the evenings and look at it. I knew what was going on inside by the number of lights that were burning. If only a few people were home, just a faint glimmer filtered through the windows. But when company came, many lamps were lit and the place became a thing a beauty. One time when a member of the royal family visited, the entire castle was illuminated. I have never seen such brilliance.”

Then turning to his companion, he said, “I think that’s the only way I am able to explain Mary’s personality. She’s entertaining a royal guest.”

This is one of the best descriptions I know of the Christian life. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a royal guest living inside of our lives through the person of the Holy Spirit. The question is, how good of a host are we to God’s Spirit? Do we give him full access to our lives or do we allow him only limited access to our lives while keeping some parts off limits.

Imagine having a guest stay in your house. Before you leave for work in the morning, you tell your guest to make himself at home. “Help yourself to anything. My house is your house,” you tell him. After you leave, your guest goes into the kitchen to find something to eat only to discover that you have locked the cabinets and refrigerator. So your guest sits on the couch to watch TV and discovers you have a lock on the TV. He can’t get it to turn on. He heads toward the bathroom, but once again it is locked. He has very little access because most of the rooms are locked. Some host you are. My house is your house, huh?

We would certainly never treat a guest this way (at least I hope you wouldn’t). It would just be rude. And yet, do we treat the Holy Spirit like that? When we invite Jesus to come into our lives and be our lord, He sends his Holy Spirit to fill us. We are sometimes tempted, however, to give Jesus very limited access to our lives. Perhaps we don’t allow him into our dating relationships. Maybe we don’t want to give him access to our entertainment life. We think that it is none of his business what we want to watch and listen to and so we shut him out of that area of our life. Even though he is God and we have invited him to dwell within us, we are tempted to limit his access to much of our lives. We keep him out of our business dealings, our social calendar, our relationships and more.

Without realizing it, we may be showing a lack of good manners and hospitality to the very presence of God in our lives. If Jesus Christ is truly Lord (and He is), then the only option is to surrender every area of our hearts and lives into his hands. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit , who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Your life is like a house that the Holy Spirit has come to live inside of. As he comes in, He wants to clean house and redecorate. He longs to fill the rooms of our lives with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and these are what he wants to fill your heart with. Will you let him make your heart his home? Or will he be a house guest with limited access? And that’s the Word.

In a similar way, this is what Jesus does when He comes into your life. Maybe you have just been hanging out, cruising along in life thinking you have it all figured out, and all of a sudden you become challenged by what Jesus had to say about life. Maybe you started going to church and your view on life is being challenged. All of a sudden you find God getting in your stuff – up close and personal. Jesus begins to challenge your thoughts, beliefs, and values. And He begins to change some of the price tags. You have always thought certain things to be so important and significant, and now Jesus comes along and turns it over on you. He reveals that some things you thought were important aren’t really important at all. And things you thought were insignificant now seem to be very important.

And as you get closer to Jesus, it is not uncommon to think that you have just had life upside down. What if you had it all wrong? What if your values were all mixed up?

If you have ever had thoughts like this, welcome to the Upside Down kingdom of God. The Upside Down Kingdom is a kingdom that Jesus came to establish when he entered into this world. It is a kingdom where Jesus calls us to embrace a new way of life and a new way of thinking. He switches the price tags on us and calls us to be open to a new way of life as we seek to walk in his kingdom.

One of the main topics Jesus spoke of was the kingdom of God. He spoke of the kingdom more than 121 times. Jesus said his kingdom was not of this world meaning it was not a physical kingdom. The kingdom of God is defined as the rule and reign of God expressed through His Son Jesus Christ. Wherever you have a kingdom, there is a king. The kingdom of God is wherever Jesus reigns – wherever He is allowed to reign in our midst. His kingdom is marked in the hearts of men and women. His kingdom is revealed whenever men and women submit their lives to Him. His kingdom shows up when we allow Him to be the Lord over our lives. That is where you will find the kingdom of God – as He rules in our hearts.

Jesus said to his followers, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He was saying, I want to invite you to submit your life to my rule. Bring your life under the authority of God. And as they submitted to His kingdom, He promised to deliver them from their bondage to sin and to Satan. He was going to give them forgiveness and eternal life and call them to embrace a new way of life with Jesus Christ as their God and king. It is a great offer, but we must repent and turn from our own kingdom first if we are truly going to embrace the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. So, will you let Him switch the price tags in your life? And that’s the Word.

I want to teach you how to love by faith. These principles came from a man named Bill Bright, one of my heroes of the faith. First we must understand the nature of love. In the New Testament (and Greek language) there are several different words that we translate for love.

One of the words for love is eros. Eros is sensual desire. It is a love that it based more upon fleshly passion than commitment and character. To be honest, our world knows a lot more about eros than it does about true love.

Phileo is the term used to describe the love for a friend or family member. Philadelphia is called the city of brotherly love. That is what the word means as it stems from the root word phileo.

There is a deeper love that the Bible speaks of though, and that is defined by the word agape. Agape is God’s unconditional love. It is not just an emotion but is expressed through the act of one’s will. Agape is not based upon the worth of the one receiving the love, but it is based upon the heart and character of the one giving the love.

God calls us to love other people with this same type of agape love that He himself loves with. If we are going to truly love others with this type of love, several things need to be grasped and understood.

First, you must know and believe that God loves you unconditionally. God’s agape love is for you. His love is not based upon your performance or self worth. Scripture says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (I John 3:16). The very reason we can talk about love is that God has given it to us. He defined it for us. Christians must get past the idea that God is merely tolerating us, and truly believe that God is completely committed to us in His love.

Second, we are commanded to love. Jesus called us to love our neighbor as our self. He expects us to love others just as we are loved by Him. To be honest, this is impossible for us to do. We cannot love others like God does which leads us to the third step: Recognize that you cannot love in your own strength. The bottom line is that we are quite often selfish as human beings. The reason that our relationships struggle is because of a lack of love. Our selfish motives often cause us to self-destruct. Humans simply cannot produce agape love. So what are we to do?

We can learn to love others with God’s love. Scripture promises that God can put this kind of love in our heart for the people around us. We must learn to ask God by faith to give us His love for others. Scripture lets us know that if we ask for something that is according to God’s will, He will answer it (I John 5:14,15). Do you think it is God’s will that you love others – even those you are angry with? Yes it is. God says, “Love them.” And He also says, “Let me help.” By faith, ask God to give you agape, His love, for those in your life. Love by faith. Is your marriage struggling? Bitter at a friend or coworker (or a rivalry). God says love them. How? With his love! Love them by faith. And that’s the Word.

Dealing with criticism is a part of life for all of us in some form or another. I have yet to meet the person who truly enjoys being criticized. We don’t go home and tell our spouses or friends how great our day was because of all the criticism we received. The fact is – criticism often stings.

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the ruined wall around Jerusalem. This would have established the identity of God’s people again, but Nehemiah began to face some pretty tough critics. A man named Sanballat was Nehemiah’s chief foe. Sanballat had something to lose – politically and economically – by the resurgence of Jerusalem.

He and his allies verbally attacked the Jews in hopes to discourage them from rebuilding the wall (chapter 4 of Nehemiah). He called into question their character, commitment, competence, ability and faith. These guys were hitting below the belt in an attempt to rattle the Jews and shut down their vision.

Some of us know how this feels. We have had vision and good ideas only to have them shot down and shut down by what others say and think. When you want to change, some will criticize you because it reminds them that they are not what they should be.

I have met Christian wives with a vision for a godly marriage that are belittled and harassed by their unbelieving husbands. I have met godly singles that are saving themselves for the right person in marriage, only to be ridiculed by friends and family who think they are puritanical or simply crazy. Some of us have attempted to share our faith only to get ridiculed by others.

Criticism and ridicule can cause our vision to die. It is easy to give up and pack it in when we face criticism, so we must learn how to handle it.

Often our first response is to retaliate. Nehemiah however took his case to God. It is a mark of maturity to let God handle our case. In Nehemiah 4:4-5, our visionary friend prayed one of the most honest and brutal prayers ever. He basically said, “Go get ‘em God. Turn their insults back on their head, and don’t forgive them – EVER!”

Nehemiah was angry for sure, but he took his anger before God. We usually spew our anger on others around us, but I believe the safest place to deal with our anger is in the presence of God. It is okay to be honest with God about how you feel. Just give him the chance to change your heart in the process. When you have been criticized and ridiculed, don’t go tell your friends. Go tell God. Go tattle-tale to God.

When Nehemiah faced the critics, his first response was to pray. And then he kept his focus and made sure Israel stayed on the job. He didn’t go argue with his enemies or complain about them to every one else. He prayed and stayed above the fray. That is the best advice we can receive when we are facing our critics. Our maturity is revealed sometimes not by what we say, but by what we don’t say. Take a lesson from Nehemiah, and learn to fight on your knees. When dealing with criticism, “Pray and stay above the fray.” That is God’s way. And that’s the Word.

A man named Joe Ehrmann coaches high school football and has been challenging teenage boys to become men for a number of years. He has noted how boys tend to compete with one another from the very beginning. First they start on the athletic field. They begin to establish a pecking order. Then they move to the girls. Who is on top in the social scene. Finally as they get older, men compete in the financial world to see who can make the most money. Life basically becomes a big competition. Who can be the King of Mountain? This false sense of masculinity brings about a lot of failure in many lives because it gives us the concept that what we do as men is compare what we have and compete with others for what they have. Women can tend to compete as well.

And then Jesus walks into our worlds and begins to challenge these ideas and concepts of competition and comparison. He says things like the first will be last, and the greatest of you will the servant of all.

One day, James and John asked Jesus to do whatever they asked of him. Jesus said, “Oh yeah, what do you want me to do.” They asked, “Let one of us sit at your right hand, and the other at your left hand in your glory.” (Mark 10:37)

They were asking Jesus to make sure they came out on top. They were asking Jesus to make sure they were kings of the mountain when he came into his kingdom. They were seeking the place of honor and prestige. They were more concerned about their kingdom than Jesus’ kingdom.

The other ten disciples were pretty upset when they found out about James and John’s request. You know why? James and John beat them to the punch. The others were whining because they felt that had been outmaneuvered by James and John, and they had gotten passed up on the mountain.

Can you believe that Jesus’s disciples are bickering about who is going to be number one in the kingdom, and Jesus is getting ready to die and give his life for them? The reality is that God’s people still do the same things. We fight and jockey for position at work, at school, at church, at the club, and on and on. We all want to win, and look better than the others.

Jesus looked to his disciples and said, “The first will be last. And the greatest of you will be the servant of all.” Jesus wasn’t against us being great. He just said we go about it the wrong way. Jesus said that we must serve to be great. The world says success is about having people serve you. Jesus said it is about serving others. Does our life add value to the people around us? Are we helping them draw closer to God? Are we helping others be successful? Jesus said that down is the way up in His kingdom. Humble yourself and serve, and God will lift you up. And that’s the Word.

And yet through the years, she felt their was something missing. She had a longing for his presence. She wondered what he was like. She wondered if he ever thought about her. After all, she was his daughter. He was her father.

Now she was old enough to find out who he was. She could contact him and let him know all about her. She could reach out to him and let him know that she couldn’t wait to meet him. She had dreamed about the day they would finally connect and begin a relationship. And finally she acted on it. She wrote a letter expressing her feelings, sharing her desire to meet. She put the stamp on the letter and hopefully slipped it into the mail. And then she waited… and waited.

She sat on the couch in tears, uncontrollable tears. She was once again holding in her hands the letter she had mailed to her father, the man she had longed for all of her life. It had come back to her in the mail with those dreaded words written across the front: Return to sender. Her biological father had denied her letter, and rejected her once again in the process. The ache would continue, but now it was only deeper. There was a man out that who was her father, but he had made it abundantly clear that he wanted nothing to do with her.

The following story was the plot line from a tv show I once saw. It was a very emotional story to see this girl’s hopes crushed. You could almost feel her rejection as she held the letter in her hands and cried.

My thoughts turned to the spiritual parallels. I think many people imagine God is similar to this father. Perhaps you have lived much of your life separated from God. Maybe your life has been good, but inside you have sensed something is missing. There is a presence out there somewhere that you were made to connect with. And yet deep down there might be some fear. Perhaps you think that if you reach out to God, He will reject your prayers and send them back with a big “return to sender” sign. Maybe you feel that God really wants nothing to do with you.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. The whole bible is the story of God’s pursuit of people like you and me – people who have been separated and disconnected from God due to our sin. The truth is that God is the one who is seeking for us.

Jesus said, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him” (Matthew 7:11). Jesus was contrasting earthly father’s with our Heavenly Father. Most earthly fathers will meet the needs of and show goodness to their children. And yet this can’t even begin to compare with the goodness of God the Father. His goodness far surpasses any human parent. He does not reject those who see their need and truly reach out to Him.

We will celebrate our father’s this Sunday. It is their big day where we let them know we love them. Perhaps it is time for you to reconnect with your Heavenly Father as well. He is waiting for you. He will not reject you. He will not send back your prayers with a “return to sender.” If you reach out to Him, it will make His Father’s day. And that’s the Word.

I remember a woman from another church several years ago. She would tie the preacher up for 15 minutes after the service at least a couple of times a month. She always had a problem or an issue she was facing. One Sunday, long ago, I had the opportunity to fill in for the pastor. I had preached on trusting God. At the end of the service, guess who got a hold of me for at least 20 minutes. This lady began to share her story with me. Her husband had left her several years before. She prayed and prayed though believing that God would heal and restore her marriage. Eventually, the divorce was final and her ex-husband married another woman. She was heart broken and incredibly disappointed with God. As a result, she was at a stand still spiritually. She was going in circles but kept coming back to the same place. God didn’t do what she wanted Him to do. And her disappointment with God was greatly affecting her relationship with Him.

During our times of disappointment we think “If God is all powerful He could; and if He loved me, He would.” He doesn’t always do it our way though, so we are tempted to think that there must be something wrong with God or with us. Often times we just come to the conclusion that God doesn’t love us.

When we are disappointed with God, we often lose our ability to trust Him. We wonder if He is really good? As we hold onto these thoughts and feelings, we can’t really receive God’s love. We also become angry with God in the process.

If we hold onto our disappointment, we will think that God has abandoned us and forsaken us.

On the cross, Jesus took our sin upon Himself. The bible says He literally became sin. Scripture lets us know that God can’t look upon sin. He must turn his face away from it. And as the Son of God took our sin upon him and became sin, the Father had to turn his face away from his son in that moment.

From the cross, Jesus cried out the cry of dereliction. He said, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” As he took our sins upon him, Jesus knew what is was like to be forsaken of God in that moment. He was forsaken in that moments so we would never have to be.

There are theological mysteries that we will never fully solve here on earth. But God’s love is no mystery. He settled the love issue on the cross. There are times you may feel God doesn’t love you, but it’s not true. Look at the cross. Remember the cross where Jesus was forsaken for you, so you would never be forsaken.

If you have struggled with disappointment and it has left you in a place where you have been hurt with God and angry with him, Could you forgive Him? Could you forgive God? I don’t think God did anything wrong. He never has, and he never will. But as humans, there are times he just doesn’t act like we think he should. And we need to let God go and forgive Him and then ask him to forgive us for our lack of trust.

If you don’t, then that disappointment may keep you from the love of God. And that’s the Word.

The Father decided to give the son his inheritance, and the son left town. You know what happened. He squandered it all on “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” as they say. In the end, he ended up broke and feeding pigs. It was pretty low for a young Jewish boy in the 1st century. Jesus said that the young man finally came to his senses and realized his father’s hired hands had it better than he did. So the son finally hatched a plan. He said to himself, “I will set out and go back to my father and say to Him: Father I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men. So he got up and went to his father” (Luke 15:18 – 20).

Look at his mindset. The son felt he had blown it so badly that he could never be truly forgiven. Perhaps the father would let him become a servant, but he would never really be a son again. He felt so unworthy that he thought he could never really go home again. Basically he was asking the father to let him sleep in the bunkhouse with the servants.

Many Christians have a bunkhouse mentality. They feel they have blown it so greatly and that they are forever marked by their mistakes. Some people feel they will never be accepted and truly loved by God. They think they are relegated to God’s bunkhouse forever.

Perhaps you have made a commitment to Jesus, but you feel He is holding you at arms length. You think God doesn’t really want you close. You think God loves everyone else but you. The prodigal son knows exactly how you feel.

I want you to see the Father’s response though: “But while he was still a long way off, his Father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

Whenever I read this verse, I try to imagine how Jesus’ audience responded. They would have been a bunch of first century Jews who probably had a hard time picturing such an intimate picture of God. And yet Jesus was using this father to describe what His heavenly Father is like. Have you ever imagined such an intimate picture of God – a God who runs to us, throws his arms around us and kisses us. Jesus wanted his listeners to know that God is not a far off, harsh, and distant God.

The Bible says He ran. In that time, older men did not run. But this dad ran to meet his lost son. God may seem slow at times, but he gets in a real hurry when people repent and turn to Him. He is ready to meet us with forgiveness and grace. The Father throws his arms around us and kisses us (literally over and over again).

What is up with the kisses? First it speaks of God’s tenderness towards us when we turn to him. It communicates his great love for us as well. Last of all, it speaks of his joy. The father is so thrilled when we turn back to Him that Jesus used the image of a father lavishing his son with kisses over and over again. No longer is this son stuck in the bunkhouse. How about you? And that’s the Word.

This is a simple truth and yet I would imagine that for the majority of us this truth has not fully penetrated our hearts. We know in our head that God loves us, and yet we live as if we are not real sure about it. The love of God is so foundational and important for us to grasp. In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul prayed for the church that they would really know the depth of God’s love: “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses all knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Paul was praying for them because they needed a deeper revelation into the heart of God. Mental knowledge of God’s love was not enough, but they needed an experiential knowledge of God’s heart and God’s love that can only be revealed to the human heart by the Holy Spirit.

I have a favorite scripture that really captures God’s heart for his people: “The Lord your God is with you; he is might to save. He will take great delight in you; he will quiet you with his love; he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

This verse comforts us with God’s presence, and protects us with His power. Finally it overwhelms us with God’s passion. According to this verse, God takes great delight in his people. The phrase literally means festive pleasure. God thinks about his people and his heart explodes in glad celebration. He throws a party. When people turn from their sin and repent to discover God’s grace and forgiveness, Scripture says there is great rejoicing in heaven. Heaven throws a party when people turn to God. We think God can’t stand to get close to us. The truth is that God can’t stand to have us far away. He wants us to draw close.

God doesn’t just throw a rowdy party though. It also says He will quiet you with his love. It literally means that God will be quiet in his love for you. God’s love is so deep that words sometimes seem inadequate. Perhaps there are times that God becomes speechless when looks at you in love. The God who is never at a loss for words is moved to silence as he contemplates the depth of his love for you.

Then the silence is broken though. The words that come forth are not words of outrage or disgust. They are not critical words of disappointment or frustration. The silence is broken with …singing. Yes, I said singing. The verse said, “He will rejoice over you with singing.” God sings over you.

Singing enables the soul to express deeply felt emotions that mere speaking cannot do. When we sing, our hearts get more engaged. Something begins to happen deep inside as we sing. Not only does God speak to our hearts, and whisper to us, but best of all He sings. You may find it hard to believe, but scripture reveals a God who sings. The psalms declare that God surrounds us with songs of deliverance. You see, love is something that cannot just be spoken about. It must be sung about. That is why there are so many love songs. You have to sing about love. Our God sings. He sings of His love for you –for his people. He rejoices over you with singing. And that’s the Word.

The Lord had Hosea marry a prostitute named Gomer. He took her as his wife, but Gomer kept wandering into the arms of other lovers. She was unfaithful. And yet the Lord told Hosea to keep going after her again and again, and bring her back home.

Hosea was a picture of God, and Gomer represented God’s people. God’s people were called to live in a covenant relationship with the Lord. He was their God and they were to have no other gods in their life. They consistently rebelled against God though and chased after other idols. Their history was full of unfaithfulness.

Instead of just telling Israel how sinful they were and how determined God was to love them anyway, God had Hosea and Gomer serve as a dramatic illustration. So Gomer kept cheating on Hosea. She left him with the kids and went out into the arms of other lovers – turning her back on him, spurning him, and committing adultery again and again.

You would think love would have its limits. I do not think anyone would have looked down on Hosea for bailing out on his marriage. The Lord had Hosea stay in that marriage though. He wouldn’t let him go. Why? Hosea was to be a picture of God’s amazing love and faithfulness to a group of people who often did not return God’s faithfulness.

Even when God’s people turn their backs on Him and run to the world to indulge their pleasure, God’s love doesn’t quit. He doesn’t give up. He doesn’t look for an out. He still pursues us. How can we even begin to describe a love that is so deep that it would pursue and illicit fornicator and adultery. And yet this is what God told Hosea to do:

“The Lord said to (Hosea), ‘Go show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.’ So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, ‘You are to live with me many days, you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you.'” (Hosea 3:1-3)

Do you see what Hosea did to gain his wife back? He had to go and purchase her back. He had to pay what was called a redemption price to bring his own wayward wife home. Gomer, playing the part of unfaithful Israel was redeemed by the relentless love of her husband.

You should never forget that this is a picture of the love of God for you. God paid the most precious and costly price to redeem you from a life of sin and idolatry. We wander from God, and yet He has come to buy us back. The worst mistake we could ever make is to deny the love of God. Our hearts should not remain hard like a stone when we hear the story of God’s love. We should hear of a God who loves and pursues like this, and our hearts should be moved to love Him back.

The truth is that we are a bunch of Gomers who chase the world. And yet our God has a love greater than that of Hosea who will woo and pursue to bring us back to Himself. And that’s the Word.

One of those images is called the bridal paradigm. In His word, the Lord said, “As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5). God compares his relationship to his church as to that of a bridegroom to his bride. The scriptures refer to God’s people as the bride of Christ, and Jesus is referred to as the bridegroom.

Now the ladies may be able to grab onto this imagery quicker than the guys, but we men must understand that this had nothing to do with walking down an aisle in a white dress. I am 100% man and I just can’t feel for Jesus like that. There is nothing sexual intended when scripture calls us the bride of Christ. And yet God is telling us that everything you find in the heart of a bridegroom you will find in the heart of Jesus towards his people. There is delight, enjoyment, passion, affection, and desire. Jesus is viewed as a fiery and passionate bridegroom who seeks and pursues his people at the deepest level possible.

As a pastor, I do a few wedding each year, and I can see that absolute joy and desire that these grooms have for their bride and vice versa. There is a tenderness in them towards their bride. This is just a reflection of God’s heart for his people. As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.

On earth, we often say that the honeymoon is over. As humans, our emotions are often fickle. They can fluctuate some times on a daily basis. Humans just cannot sustain that honeymoon level of passion and intensity over the long haul. It would be great if we did, but we usually give into familiarity and predictability over time. We guys may not stay as handsome and fit as we once were. As couples we have to work hard at keeping our relationships fresh and vibrant.

With God, the honeymoon never ends. It may be very hard for us to imagine but God is infinite. He can sustain a freshness in his passion and love for us without getting into a rut. God forever keeps a white hot love and intensity for all of eternity. He knows all of our quarks – past, present, and future. And yet He doesn’t throw up his hands and quit on us. God doesn’t ask us for a divorce. Oh He could. If God wanted to look for reasons to quit on us, I am sure that He could easily find them.

The Great Heavenly Bridegroom doesn’t respond that way to us. He is committed. His is faithful. He is loving. He will always seek our best, and He will never give up. We have to work hard to keep our passion alive. Jesus Christ doesn’t have to work at all. It is his nature to always display his love towards his people. He doesn’t love our sin. He is not pleased with our rebellion. He has set his affection upon us though, and He will always pursue and seek to win our hearts back. And as we turn to Him and seek Him, He rejoices – as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride. And the honeymoon will never end. And that’s the Word.

Jesus basically said, “Love God, and love people.” That is the bottom line of what it means to live out our faith. Jesus also said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). How did Jesus say that people would know that we were his followers? Because of a little fish sign on the bumper of our cars? No. He said that love would cause men to know that we were his followers. I often pray that God would give me a greater love for Himself and for others. I have also learned that there is a great key to growing into a deeper, mature love for Christ. There is a foundation for all of our love as human beings. So where then does our love have it’s beginning? The book of 1st John spells it out very clearly through several key verses: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10); God is love (I John 4:16); We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

God is love. He is the source of all love. The only reason we can begin to reach out to God in love and the reason we should reach out to God in love is because He first loved us. Before we ever thought about Him, he first loved us. Before we committed our lives to Him, he first loved us.

John is telling us some very fundamental truth: You need God to love God. You need God to love others. We need to know and experience the love of God in our hearts so we can respond back to God and others in love. The truth is that you will never be able to fully love God and to love others until you realize how fully you are loved. Our love for God can only be a reflex of God’s love for us.

This is so crucial to really understand because so many of us have heard somewhere along the way that God loves us. This is not some new, mind-blowing truth for any of us. This is an intellectual truth for all Christians. The problem is that many of us are missing out on this truth. We know it in our heads, but our hearts have not become convinced of this reality. Many of us are not really enjoying the love of God and finding our lives energized by the love of God filling our hearts.

We must understand that the heart of God is passionate for his people. God is not some emotionless and indifferent being. God is not fickle in his emotions like human beings are either. God does not get confused about how He feels about you. The scriptures will not allow you to see God as unemotional and uninvolved. God loves you. God’s heart is filled with love.

We wouldn’t even know what love is if weren’t for God. He is the essence of love. There is a fire that burns in His heart for you. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.” (1 John 3:16) And that’s the Word.

The story has passed on, but I have learned that bitterness does not usually pass on that quickly. I have no insight into the people of Pennsylvania, but I do have

Have you been bitter at someone? Are you bitter even now? The apostle Paul said, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Ephesians 4:31). Paul said that bitterness was not something that we should hold onto. It can be dangerous to your spiritual health. Just a few verses earlier, Paul said, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26,27).

There is a real spiritual and emotional danger to bitterness and anger. When we do not resolve our anger and decided to hold on to bitterness, Paul said we give the devil a foothold in our lives. We surrender part of our hearts to evil, and in the end we pay a price. Bitterness can really interfere in our relationship with God. Jesus said that if we do not forgive others, then he would withhold forgiveness from us. Bitterness will cripple you spiritually.

British pastor and evangelist John Wesley (1703 – 1791) was traveling with General James Oglethorpe, who was angry with one of his subordinates. The man came to the general and humbly asked for forgiveness, but he was gruffly told, “I never forgive.” Wesley looked the general in the eye and said, “Then I hope, sir, that you never sin.”

There can be emotional and physical consequences to bitterness as well. A little boy heard that his dad was going to the doctor because of his colitis. He said, “Oh yeah, who did he collide with this time.” More and more doctors are recognizing that many illnesses are rooted in emotional causes. I am sure that anger and bitterness cause a lot more physical harm than we will ever realize. I have even heard of some people being healed of their arthritis when they finally chose to forgive and let go of their bitterness.

The writer of Hebrews said this: “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:15). So here I am calling you to let go of any bitter root in your life. God calls us to a life of forgiveness and grace. We must realize that forgiveness is not an emotion or feeling. It is a choice that you make in response to God’s grace. In the same chapter of Ephesians we have already quoted from, Paul also said this, “Be kind to one another, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). God willingly forgives us without any strings attached as we invite Jesus into our lives. He forgives us completely without holding our sins against us, and then calls us to do the same to those who have offended us.

Would you want God to forgive you in the same way you forgive others? Perhaps there is a barrier between you and God because you have not been willing to forgive someone for his or her actions. In light of God’s mercy toward you, will you tear down that wall by making a simple choice to forgive? Forgiveness is the healthiest choice you can make. It is good for your heart. It is good for your relationships. Are you ready to forgive? Or are you going to stay bitter and cling to your religion and guns (Just kidding). And that’s the Word.