Category: Discipleship Essentials

Remember Whom We Represent

 

 

 

 

After the woman at the well questioned Jesus regarding why he was speaking to a despised Samaritan, he continued.

...“If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” John 4:10 (NLT)

Principle: Remember Whom We Represent

The Bible says that disciples of Christ are ambassadors for God (2 Corinthians 5:20) who carry the most important life-changing message in the universe – the gospel.

Unfortunately, we often forget who we are and act as if we are insignificant with little to offer. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Jesus never forgot his identity, his message, or his mission. He was on point all the time, and so should we be.

But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence {in God} when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 (GW)
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Talk to Unlikely People

 

 

 

 

 

When Jesus engaged the woman at the well in John Chapter Four, he broke the rules.

The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” John 4:9 (NLT)

He was a Jewish rabbi. She was a Samaritan woman. Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans. Rabbis did not talk to women. Jews would not drink from a cup or jar handled by an “unclean” Samaritan. What Jesus did in asking for a drink of water immediately got her attention and prompted her question. When people ask “Why,” it means we have made them curious and gives us an open door to share.

Not only did Jesus break social taboos, he also made himself vulnerable by asking for a favor. We like to present ourselves as self-sufficient, but people generally respond well when we admit that we need their help. She could have rebuffed him, but did not. When we ask for a favor, we open the door for people to be kind to us. Once a person does something for us, it is more likely that they will be more open in general.

Have you recently engaged anyone outside your normal comfort zone or pack of friends? Have you asked a favor from an unlikely person? Are you willing to launch a conversation just to see where it might go? These are all keys to being an effective fisher of men.

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How to Shine for Jesus in the Midst of Judgment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are in the midst of a pandemic during which nations around the world have taken great measures to protect their people, greatly slowing the world and national economies and societal interaction. These are unique times that deserve our attention. In the words of a politician, never waste a crisis.

If we go through this one without receiving what God intends, it will have been a terrible waste.

Point #1: God Is Sovereign

The author of Second Chronicles in the Bible penned these familiar words.

When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14  if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ESV)

Admittedly this promise was made to Jews living in the promised land. Does it have an application for us today? Through his death and resurrection, Jesus did away with the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile, creating in himself what the Bible calls “one new man,” the church, composed of every race and ethnicity. (Ephesians 2:13-16) All those who put their faith and allegiance in Christ are part of what Paul called the “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15-16) and are sons of Abraham (Galatians 3:7-9).

Followers of Christ, as children of Abraham, are to be a blessing wherever we live. That is part of our calling according to the promise made to the father of our faith.

You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ Acts 3:25 (ESV)

One of the main ways we can be such a blessing in the lands where we live is by praying that God will bring repentance and healing, which is the main focus of this article.

Before we go there, however, let’s pay close attention to the first sentence from the passage from 2 Chronicles quoted above: “When I… send pestilence…”

The Bible clearly teaches that God is sovereign over his creation. Nothing happens without his “signing off on it.”

God is not the author of evil, but as the Over Ruler (Lord) of all things, he makes everything, including evil, accomplish his purposes.

If you wonder where the coronavirus came from, ultimately it came from God.

This agrees with the admonition in Proverbs, which I consider to be a core passage of the Bible.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Believers in God are told to acknowledge him in all things, even difficulties and tribulation.

Since everything that enters our life has to go through him, we should always go to him first to get his perspective and our marching orders.

God has given us an amazing promise that many acknowledge but few seem to really believe.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (ESV)

Everything works for good for the believer. This is because God, as the Over Ruler, makes it happen that way. There can be no other explanation. However, those who are not God’s children have no such promise. The devils steals, kills, and and destroys those who do not have God’s protection. (John 10:10) Those are the ones God wishes to rescue from the consequences of their own sin.

Point # 2: It Is Extremely Important for Us to Have God’s Perspective

Just before Jesus’ crucifixion, our Lord began to prepare his disciples for what was coming.

From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. 22  But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23  Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” Matthew 16:21-23 (NLT)

If we fail to see things as God sees, we will likely find ourselves working at cross purposes with his will, as did Peter. It was God’s will for the judgment for our sins to fall upon Jesus, who died on the cross as God’s sacrificial Lamb. That was God’s plan. This was an example of redemptive judgment, but to Peter it seemed horrible and something to be avoided at all costs. He did not see as God did. He did not value what God valued. He preferred that Jesus be spared and the whole world be lost, but God ordained that his Son die in order to save the world. (John 3:16)

There is a difference between redemptive judgment and God’s wrath.

God’s wrath has no redemptive element. It is an outpouring of final judgment upon people who have rejected repeated overtures from him to repent and turn from their wicked ways. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus endured God’s wrath for the sake of those who put their faith and allegiance in him, so that we never have to face it again.

And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment (literally: “the coming wrath). 1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NLT) 

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (ESV)

Nevertheless, God graciously sends forms of redemptive judgment (otherwise called discipline) to turn us away from our sin and back to him, so that we can avoid one day encountering his wrath.

This is what is promised in our first passage above from 2 Chronicles. This is a major way that God blesses his people and the lands in which they live.

Point # 3: Be Prepared to Shine in the Midst of Judgment

The Bible makes it clear that God judges wickedness. Here are two passages that come to mind.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18 (ESV) 

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV)

Notice that both of these passages refer to God’s wrath.

As God pours out wrath on the earth, God’s people may have to endure aspects of it, without being the objects of it.

Those who belong to Christ are no longer “children of wrath,” but those without Christ still are, and we all live together.

It is clear that our nation and the entire world deserves God’s judgment. We continue to flagrantly and arrogantly flaunt God and his words. Our Lord has been extremely patient with mankind, but even his patience will eventually reach an end.

Jesus warned us that in the Last Days, as his Second Coming draws closer, there will be what the Bible calls “birth pangs.” When a woman goes into labor, her contractions begin mildly and are spaced far apart, but as the birth grows closer, the “pangs” become stronger with greater frequency.

The earth will experience stronger and more frequent “pangs” of judgments and outpourings of wrath as the Second Coming approaches.

Jesus said:

There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. Luke 21:11 (ESV)

I believe the coronavirus qualifies as such a “pestilence.” Many, including myself, believe it is a “birth pang.” The earth is experiencing an uptick in earthquakes. Locusts are devouring crops, increasing hunger and famine. Nations continue to rise up against nations.

The suppression of truth is a major problem in the last days. Even the church is affected. One example of disinformation that has plagued the church of late is the notion that God’s people will no longer be here during these birth pangs. Some assure God’s people that they will be “raptured” or snatched up from the earth before tribulation arrives.

No one knows for sure how the Last Days and Second Coming will play out, but the Bible clearly teaches that God’s people must be prepared to endure tribulation and suffering.

To think otherwise is deception and runs counter to God’s purposes who said in his Word that we are “appointed to tribulation.” (1 Thessalonians 3:3-4) Suffering is part of God’s plan to develop and mature us. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

As God pours out his judgments on the world, who will be able to offer hope to hopeless, if not the church? Peter wrote:

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

Peter wrote this during a time of cruel persecution of the church by Jews and Romans. God allowed the church to suffer then. Why should we expect to escape suffering today?

God wants his church to be prepared to shine as lights in a very dark world.

Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15  so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16  Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return… Philippians 2:14-16 (NLT)

Praying according to God’s Purposes

Since we are God’s ambassadors of reconciliation in the world, it is vital that we act and pray accordingly. Here are some suggested prayer points.

  1. Pray for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done. This may seem too obvious to put in the list, but Jesus put it in the prayer named after him. If he thinks it is important, so do I. We will always be in agreement with God when we pray this way. Over the years, I have often felt a strong sense of God’s presence when I prayed for his kingdom to come and will to be done. Perhaps as we deliberately align ourselves with God’s purpose in this way, he will give us greater clarity on the details. When we pray in agreement with his will, we can be sure he will hear us and do what we ask. (1 John 5:14-15)
  2. Ask God to grant repentance to the church and the nation. Repentance means chiefly to “change the mind.” It will result in a change of action, but it starts in the heart. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can change us at the heart level. We do not need to pray for people to reap what they sow. God will see to that. Our commission is to intercede with God on behalf of those who are in the midst of judgment, asking him to mercifully grant repentance to a hard-hearted world before it is too late.
  3. Pray for a great “awakening” and ingathering in our land. The ultimate purpose for repentance is for people to put their faith and allegiance in Christ and come under his benevolent rule. This  means the church needs to rise up and become bold and compassionate gospel communicators. People are afraid. The church is able to present Christ as the only One who is able to satisfy their deepest longings and needs. He is the Good Shepherd, Prince of Peace, Healer, and Lord. There is no other name under heaven that can save.
  4. Pray for government leaders. Our leaders need God’s wisdom and the fear of the Lord.
  5. Pray for medical personnel. They are on the front line and at great risk. Pray for God’s blessing and protection.
  6. Pray for unity. Satan always tries to divide. There has been deep division in our nation. Pray that God will unify us as the church, as families, and as a nation.
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Viewing the Coronavirus Scare through Eyes of Faith

 

 

 

 

 

The words Thomas Paine wrote during our American Revolution are true today: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” The coronavirus is creating mass panic across the world, partly due to its seriousness, but largely because of our fear of the unknown and media hype. God warned the prophet Isaiah to be careful not to fall prey to fear and false information.

The LORD has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, 12  “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. 13  Make the LORD of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. 14  He will keep you safe… Isaiah 8:11-14 (NLT)

The people of Israel faced something far worse than COVID19. The Assyrian army loomed on the horizon threatening a violent destruction of the land and the people. Facing the threat of death is nothing new. Facing it on a large scale as a nation has not happened to us in a while and is testing the moral fiber of our people. It is important for the church to stand firm in faith.

God told Isaiah in another place.

…If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all. Isaiah 7:9 (HCSB)

God wants us to confront our fear of this disease with trust in his keeping and healing power. It is important for us to believe that he is sovereign over all things. The mass onslaught of a virus is nothing to him. Behind the scenes, he is orchestrating events and people on the world stage in order to set things up for the Second Coming of his beloved Son. It may happen in our day!  We must not flinch at the things that he lets us encounter as the church during the end days. This is our time to shine.

We have been praying for a long time for a massive ingathering of people who will respond to the gospel. Is this current crisis setting things up for that very thing? Is that which people fear actually a surprising answer to prayer? I have discovered that many times God works in ways that confound our understanding. Please do not misunderstand me: God is not the author of evil. He overrules what the enemy does and makes it work toward his purposes. Evil can only operate with permission. What an amazing God!

It takes faith to properly interpret what God is doing in the world.

Here is a sure way to gain the victory.

Since God is working everything out for the good of his people (Romans 8:28) and to bring glory to himself, we should praise God for what he is allowing to happen on the earth. We do not praise him for a virus or the suffering it causes. We praise him for his amazing goodness in taking something so destructive and working it for the good of his people and for his glory.

When we make the choice to praise him, the Holy Spirit will give us insight into God’s perspective on things, which will enable us to pray with even greater clarity.

Such an attitude of faith will make us overcomers in the midst of what terrifies many people.

So, instead of worrying, start praising.

It will make an amazing difference in our lives. We will become part of the solution instead of being part of the problem. We will be  overcomers. Should we have to deal with sickness or even death, God will give us the strength to do so in faith. Regardless of what may come our way, he is our Keeper and Healer, a Fortress in time of trouble. In the words of the psalmist:

Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. 2  From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3  For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy. 4  Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah. Psalm 61:1-4 (NASB)

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Can I Know for Sure if I Am Going to Heaven?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I grew up in the Roman Catholic Church, a religious system based on keeping church rules and submitting to its hierarchy. It offered no security regarding my eternal destiny, only the hope that I might die in what is called a “state of grace,” meaning that I would have no mortal (grave, death producing) sins on my conscience at the time of death. One could go to confession to get a fresh start or gain “indulgences” through attending Masses on specific days to obtain a sort of guarantee of having an opportunity to get right with God before death.

But those who rely on religion cannot know for sure if they are going to heaven. The best one can do is hope for the best.

How different are the words penned so long ago by John the apostle.

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 (NLT)

When I first truly understood and believed the good news that Jesus died for my sins and took away the guilt and the judgments leveled against me, giving me his very own life, I realized immediately that God had set me free from relating to him through religious rules keeping and church affiliation! Nothing the Catholic Church ever did or taught gave me the kind of joy, life, and freedom I experienced through being born again by faith in Christ. This began my escape from religion, whose tentacles are long and clutching.

Religious systems are always performance based, manipulative, and fear inducing. They offer no assurance.

The Jews tried to relate to God through a religious system, too. They believed that if they kept the Law of Moses, they were good. If they failed to keep it, they would die. Since Christianity is directly descended from Judaism, many Christians fall into such thinking. It’s pretty simple, as long as we are able to stay on the right side of the scale. Unfortunately, no one can do that. God gave the Law to expose our hopeless situation. We are all sinners who deserve to die.

But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11  So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12  This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” 13  But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14  Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:10-14 (NLT)

The good news is that Jesus kept the Law for us by living and dying in complete obedience to his heavenly Father. His sacrifice for our sins as God’s Lamb purchased our freedom from death and made us children of God. His resurrection proved his sacrifice on our behalf was accepted.

Now those of us who declare faith and allegiance to Christ can know for sure that our eternal destiny will be life forever with God.

Jesus promised:

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NLT)

Can we know for sure if we are going to heaven? We can, but only if we put our full confidence in what Jesus accomplished on our behalf. If we are still relying on ourselves to get it done, we can have no assurance whatsoever.

Prayer

Jesus, I am weary of trying to earn my way into God’s favor. I realize now that it is hopeless. You designed it that way so that I would come to my senses and realize that trusting in you is the only way. I ask you today to forgive my sins and come into my life. I give you myself. I belong to you from this day forward. Come, Holy Spirit, fill my life and show me more about Jesus’ and the Father’s love for me. Empower me to be a fearless proclaimer of the good news to others. Amen.

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Overcoming the Tragedy of Self-Inflicted Loneliness

 

Anyone who has heard or read the story of how Nathan the prophet fingered King David for committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband and his friend, Uriah the Hittite, will never forget the drama of self-discovery experienced by the king. (2 Samuel 12:1-15) After setting David up with a story of a rich ruler who stole a poor man’s only sheep instead of using one from his own large flock, David became furious and demanded that the scoundrel be punished severely. Nathan’s words, “You are the man,” brought David to his senses and prompted him to repent for his sins. Those words still ring true for us today.

We are often our own worst enemy, blindly hating in others what we despise in ourselves.

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. Romans 2:1 (NLT)

Problem: We may experience self-inflicted loneliness if we repel potential friends by being critical and judgmental.

As anyone who has lived very long knows, we generally do not respond well to criticism. When we engage in such, it reveals that we see ourselves as a judge of others. It is difficult to be the friend of a judge.

Jesus was called the “friend of sinners.”

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.  2  This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! Luke 15:1-2 (NLT)

It was a derogatory title pinned on him by the Jewish religious leaders, who held those whom Jesus befriended in contempt. Those leaders believed that they were morally superior because of their knowledge of the Law and their imagined adherence to it. The truth is that we all fall short of God’s glory and fail to keep the requirements of the Law. (Romans 3:23)

No one is ever in a place to despise other human beings.

Jesus, on the other hand, who was truly superior in every way to all others, gladly chose to be with the ones whom the religious leaders judged and shunned. Those labeled as “sinners” picked up on Jesus’ love and were attracted to him, at least the ones whose hearts were open to his message of hope and forgiveness. The interesting thing is that Jesus calls us to leave our sin and follow him, but he does it in such a way that draws humble people toward him rather than pushing them away, as the religious hypocrites did.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Criticism breeds criticism. Rejection usually gets rejected in return, but love draws people.

It is true that God judges sin. He has the right to do that, but he has provided a remedy in his Son, who died on our behalf in order to provide forgiveness and reconciliation. Those who reject the good news that Jesus took our punishment and guilt upon himself, can only expect judgment from God. However, those who believe the gospel are able to receive and enjoy God’s love.

God’s heart is open toward anyone who is willing to receive his love and who is humble enough to admit his or her desperate need for forgiveness and help.

Pride is harsh and unforgiving, but humility is gentle and inviting.

Solution: Loving humility is a huge key to having and keeping friends.

Mature followers of Christ learn how to make proper assessments of people without descending into thinking we are somehow superior. Jesus completely knows people and their motives. Nothing is hidden from him, but his heart remains open to those who are open to him, regardless of their shortcomings and failures. That is why we have hope.

We all need friends. If we want to have more of them, we should try being more humble and loving and less critical.

We may find that those we formerly criticized and rejected have much to offer in the way of friendship if we start treating them as we wish to be treated. We can ask the Holy Spirit to take the “log” out of our own eyes, so that we will be able to properly see others through God’s eyes. If we make the effort to be friends with “sinners,” just maybe someone will decide to reach out to those other sinners in the neighborhood – us.

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Taking the Sting Out of Death

 

The Apostle Paul was a man whose life was frequently in jeopardy due to his fearless proclamation of the gospel. He penned these wonderful words for us to ponder.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 (ESV)

Many of us suffer from a deeply seated fear of death that robs us of joy and holds us in bondage.

The author of the Letter to the Hebrews gives us the welcome news that Jesus solved this problem and liberated those of us who have been held captive by this fear.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15  and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15 (ESV)

Eventually our natural physical life must come to an end. There is a sting to death. It is the end of our earthly dreams and ambitions. It is a temporary separation from those we love. It is a departure from what we know in order to face what is now largely unknown. It is a transition of having some power to direct our lives into a realm of seeming powerlessness.

The Bible tells us that sin is the sting of death. When a Brown Recluse spider stings a person, the usual result is death to the tissue around the bite. The human race was stung by sin in the Garden of Eden and continues to be stung every day. Death always accompanies this bite. The power of that first sting ravaged all of creation. Death is unnatural in the sense that it was not a part of God’s original design.

God, Who is Life itself, made us to live; therefore, death is a contradiction of Who God is.

Even though all human beings must deal with the aftershocks of sin, which include God’s judgment of sin via death, Christ has provided victory through His cross and resurrection. The Law, on the other hand, gives sin and death a stranglehold on the human race by clearly pointing out and condemning us for our sinfulness. In order to set us free, God had to introduce what C.S. Lewis calls a “deeper magic” in his Tales of Narnia. The Bible calls it God’s hidden wisdom.

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7  But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8  None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 (ESV)

Christ took our sin upon Himself. He actually became sin and received the attached judgment of death, so that we could become the righteousness of God in Him.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

As a result, we have been blessed in several ways, which include the gift of eternal life. Now, as Jesus proclaimed, even though we die physically, we shall live spiritually. In fact, in reality we shall never die because He is the Resurrection and will someday raise our physical bodies back to life.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 (ESV)

Jesus is now the Lord of Life as well as Lord over death. He has the keys of hell and death. Our lives and physical death are now exclusively under His authority. What then is physical death for the believer? How we view death will greatly influence whether we fear it or not.

Death no longer should be viewed as a final separation or end, but as a homecoming and a beginning.

The Bible tells us that God regards the death of His saints as a precious thing. (Psalm 116:15) The Hebrew word here means “precious, splendid, rare, or weighty.” For God, death is His opportunity to welcome us into a new realm and dimension of life in which we can more fully enjoy Him, and He, us.

Look at what Paul wrote.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7  for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8  Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 (ESV)

Paul actually looked forward to his own demise because he had already been given a glimpse of what awaited him in the heavenly realms. If we could see as clearly as Paul did, we would never fear death.

May God open our eyes to the true nature of our physical death! It is the doorway to life eternal in the very presence of God. Jesus could not wait to get back to His Father. We really have little idea yet of how good our homecoming will be!

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV)

If you are facing death, now is the time to meditate on the victory over death we have in Christ. Now is the time to participate in the peace that passes understanding. We must learn to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd calling out to us:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 (ESV)

Do we believe this? The things we are facing or will face eventually are designed to provide a setting for the Spirit of God to reveal to us in a personal way that Jesus is our Life, a life that never ends and is absolutely fulfilling – eternal, resurrection life.

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9  I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:7-10 (ESV)

A confrontation with death, then, is actually an invitation from God to know the Lord Jesus Christ as the Resurrection and the Life. The light shines most brightly in the worst darkness.

This chapter is taken from my book, Seeing God’s Smile When Life Is Difficult, which can be ordered from Amazon. This book is designed to help people through severe trials, but is helpful to all who wish to live by overcoming faith.

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Surrender, Unconditional Peace, and the Secret Place

 

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! 5 Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near! 6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (NET)

In warfare, peace often comes through one side unconditionally surrendering. As long as two opposing wills still contend, there can be no peace. God first revealed himself as Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord Who Is Peace, to Gideon, immediately after commissioning him to go to battle against Israel’s enemies.

In a severe trial, if our wills are battling against God’s, divine peace comes through our unconditional surrender to God.

We are surrounded by Satan’s demonic forces who wish to destroy us, but, oddly enough, sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Our sin and the fear and mistrust in our hearts toward God can sabotage our efforts to be true to Him. God has a plan for our lives, but if we stubbornly and fearfully refuse to go along with that plan, we can end up in an unprotected place outside of God’s best for our lives, in need of His correction and deliverance.

Surrender to God and His will requires that we lay down our own agendas and our desire to control our lives.

It means that we must be open to the possibility that God will require us to go through something we dread. Unless we unconditionally surrender to God, we cannot have unconditional peace. By “surrendering” I do not mean that we passively submit to evil. Instead, when we find ourselves under attack, our first responsibility is to turn to God and acknowledge that he is sovereign over all things, including my current situation.

Unless God allows something to enter our lives, it will not happen. I am not hereby declaring that God is the author of evil, sin, suffering, or sickness. I am saying that God’s sovereignty transcends all these things in a magnificent and mysterious way that is beyond explaining.

Wisdom tells us that, no matter what God allows to come into our lives, we are first to acknowledge His sovereignty, seek Him and His will, and then engage the enemy as directed.

When the Philistines attacked David, his first response was to seek the Lord, Who gave him specific instructions regarding how to proceed.

Too often Christians flail about in sometimes misguided attempts to fend off the attack, rather than seek the Lord, Who may be allowing the attack in order to do a deep work in the believer.

When Jesus stood before Pilate, our Lord declared that the Roman ruler could only do to Him what God allowed.

So Pilate said, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know I have the authority to release you, and to crucify you?” 11 Jesus replied, “You would have no authority over me at all, unless it was given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of greater sin.” John 19:10-11 (NET)

Before going to the cross, at which time darkness would temporarily rule, Jesus first did business with His heavenly Father – the real Ruler in every situation.

When we are about to enter a trial or are in the middle of one, we should first go to God and be sure our hearts and wills are submitted to what He wants to accomplish in our lives through the trial. It is only against that backdrop of trust and submission that we can know more perfectly what other actions we must take. If instead we simply begin to engage in what we might want to call “spiritual warfare,” we may find ourselves unhappily resisting God Himself. Imagine if Jesus had rebuked Satan instead of surrendering to death as God’s Lamb! This is what Peter advised his Master to do, but Jesus rebuked his misguided friend by telling him that he did not have the things of God in mind. Imagine how foolish it would be for us to fearfully rebuke a pending trial that may be the avenue of our knowing Christ as Provider, Healer, or in whatever other way we need to know Him!

Check in with God first. Find out what He wants to do; then, join His program. This is what it means to have Christ as Lord.

A severe trial will often cause whatever rebelliousness and fear we still may have deeply buried in our hearts to bubble to the surface. God knew it was there all along, but we may be surprised to discover what is hidden inside of us.

The fire of affliction tests and reveals our hidden motives and the nature and strength of our faith. If we know God loves us enough to expose these things in order to deliver us, we will better be able to endure the process by faith.

Unless we go through the fire, we never know for sure what is inside us. Until we face our fears, our faith is somewhat of a mystery. Soldiers who have never been in combat wonder what they will do under fire. No one can know for sure ahead of time. Once we go through our first battle, however, we know.

That which we dread can become for us the gateway into great faith and confidence after we have faced it and found that God’s grace enables us to overcome.

Job had to endure what he feared so that his subtle self-righteousness and proud indignation against God would bubble to the surface. God was far more interested in revealing Himself in a greater way to Job than in keeping him pain free.

When we realize that character transformation is a higher priority than our comfort and ease, we will begin to better understand God’s ways.

If we embrace God’s ways, we will be pliable in His hands for Him to mold us how He wishes.

As long as our peace hinges on a certain set of conditions or a certain answer to prayer, we will always be subject to our circumstances and miss out on experiencing real and lasting peace.

Being enslaved to our circumstances is a terrible way to live because we can never be completely at rest. What we dread could be just around the corner…and then what? It is no use trying to insulate ourselves from what we fear by “having enough faith.”

Faith was never designed to protect us from trials: rather, faith keeps us while we are in trials.

Ponder Christ’s words:

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage — I have conquered the world. John 16:33 (NET)

If we believe that trusting in Christ is our ticket to a trouble free life, we are in for a shock. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are actually appointed to tribulations.

We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith, 3 so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 (NET)

Trials, afflictions, suffering and tribulations work for us. They teach us perseverance and build character. Here is what Paul wrote to the church in Rome.

Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance, character, and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5 (NET)

It is only when we reconcile ourselves to the fact that life will contain many difficult trials, and only when we choose to surrender to God in the midst of them, trusting in His love and power to accomplish in us His desire through them, that we are able to have peace that passes understanding. I call this “unconditional peace” because it does not depend on any outward circumstance or condition. Whether we live or die, we have peace. Whether we get the answer we want or not, we have peace.

Peace resides in a Person, and His name is Jesus. As we fully surrender to that Person, we receive all of what that Person has and is.

One of His titles is the Prince of Peace. His peace becomes our peace, a peace that can never be shaken.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage. John 14:27 (NET)

Moses wrote about this place of surrender and peace. It is a secret place hidden from life’s storms and the threats of the enemy. It is a place where God’s peace and presence reign undisturbed. We have access to that secret place by surrendering unconditionally to God’s will for our lives.

As for you, the one who lives in the shelter of the sovereign One, and resides in the protective shadow of the mighty king — 2 I say this about the LORD, my shelter and my stronghold, my God in whom I trust. Psalm 91:1-2 (NET)

Surrendering to God’s will and plan for our lives will not make us passive. In fact, we will find that, as we unconditionally surrender to God, great faith will rise up in our hearts – faith to overcome.

 

This chapter is taken from my book, Seeing God’s Smile When Life Is Difficult, which can be ordered from Amazon. This book is designed to help people through severe trials, but is helpful to all who wish to live by overcoming faith.

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How Strong Is Your Anchor?

 

When we are in school, we look forward to the day when we will no longer be subject to pop quizzes, tests, and final exams. If only it were so! Life is full of challenges and tests in a variety of areas – loyalty to friends, integrity in business, honesty in speech, purity in our hearts and thoughts, faithfulness to our promises, endurance in temptation, and commitment to our Lord Jesus. Tests and difficulties are woven into the fabric of life. If we are children of God, he uses them to reveal what is in our hearts and to help us grow in our faith and knowledge of him. Otherwise, our lives may end up being a cautionary tale.

Jesus gave us some comforting words to help us.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (ESV)

No matter what happens to us, we have a promise from Jesus that his peace will rule. Some of us have already experienced this first hand. Others will eventually. But what about the times when what comes at us is so severe that we feel as if we are barely able to hang on to God and his promises? What can we do if we feel as if things are hopeless, confusing, and spinning out of control?

Lowering the Anchor

When life seems like a violent storm pushing us against deadly reefs, we need an anchor to help us ride out the storm. Consider these words.

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19  This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:18-19 (NLT)

Jesus already successfully navigated the worst storm imaginable. He endured the confusion of contradiction, the abandonment and betrayal of friends, false accusations by enemies, injustice, horrible suffering, and a humiliating death. Through the outward hopelessness of it all, he did not waver in his faith in his loving Father. He made the decision to enter that vortex of suffering, knowing full well what was ahead, because he fully trusted his Abba Father to be his Keeper.

When Jesus rose from the dead, his’ victory over hopelessness was complete. It is a victory he shares with all who trust in him.

The Devil’s Deception and Our Weapons

When it is our time to enter into testing and trial, it is important for us to make some conscious choices. Passively “going along for the ride,” so to speak, is actually collusion with the enemy of our souls. It is vital that we make a stand against the feelings of fear, doubt, and confusion in our minds. The devil, who is the father of lies, preys upon our sin-corrupted ways of thinking. If he can get us to believe his lies instead of God’s truth, he gains a huge advantage over us. Satan tells us that God is not there, that he does not even care, or perhaps that he is impotent to change things. He tells us that God and his promises cannot be fully trusted. He reminds us of our faults and failings, instilling in our minds the idea that we don’t deserve God’s help anyway. Others may be blessed, but not us. Therefore, faith is useless. We must take matters into our own hands.

When Satan’s lies line up with our own interpretation of things and our perception of reality, it creates a powerful pull to abandon our trust in God.

The Bible calls these “strongholds,” logical arguments we employ to nullify the truth and impact of God’s Word. These devilish speculations must be destroyed using spiritual weapons. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Four of the weapons God has given us are:

  1. The truth of God’s Word,
  2. Our faith in God and his promises,
  3. The power of the Holy Spirit, and
  4. Praise.

Unfortunately many of us have at one time or another succumbed to this temptation and have become hopeless, afraid, and perhaps quite angry at God and life. Perhaps you are in that place right now. There is hope, but first let us consider what may happen if we do not overcome by faith in God.

Adam and Eve failed their big test, which brought horrendous consequences upon all of us. What will be the fallout for us and those we love, if we also cast away our confidence in God and walk away from him? We will not know unless we choose to go that route, which I hope you will not. Sin only has bad consequences, and these often get passed down to those we love. Conversely, our obedience positively impacts succeeding generations. The is part of the generational aspect of salvation. (If you want to read more, click here.)

The Bible encourages us by telling us what will be the outcome for those who refuse to abandon their hope in God and his promises.

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 (ESV)

 

Our ability to survive and thrive in the midst of the strains and confusion of life depends on our holding to these three convictions.

  1. God is loving and good. Satan seeks to cut the line to this anchor of faith, and, if he does, we have little to hold us. However, if we maintain our confidence that God is loving and good, despite our circumstances or past experience, we will be able to overcome adversity. God is glorified when we make this choice.
  2. God is powerful. This conviction upholds that God is sovereign over all things. He is not in a struggle against evil in which the outcome is in doubt. He is not evenly matched against some evil foe. He is the Supreme Being. Therefore we can fully trust him at all times. Jesus’ resurrection sealed the doom of Satan and our eternal inheritance once and for all.
  3. God is working all things for my good and his glory. This conviction is the logical outcome of believing the first two points and is where the victory in our minds and hearts is won. Romans 8:28 states that everything is being worked out for our good by a loving and powerful God. He will be glorified in and through us if we keep our confidence through the test.

Unleashing the Power of Praise

So how does faith in these three convictions about God’s love, ability, and faithfulness work out in real life? It’s simple: we make the choice to praise him for his goodness, his power, and for working all things out for his glory and our good. Passively getting kicked around by Satan and our circumstances is not the answer. We can choose to praise God despite our natural inclination to wallow in fear, doubt, and self-pity. We are able to choose to praise him even when our emotions are flat or even depressed. We can praise him for who he is, what he has promised, and what he will do on our behalf!

When we offer to God the sacrifice of praise in the midst of confusing and difficult situations, it is a God-glorifying act of faith and  a powerful spiritual weapon.

Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands— 7  to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, 8  to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, 9  to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones. Praise the LORD! Psalm 149:6-9 (NLT)

When everything is going our way, it is easy to give praise to God, but, when the opposite is the case, choosing to give praise anyway reverberates throughout creation and brings great glory to God! It is also one of the most powerful forms of spiritual warfare we have at our disposal. The devil cannot stand against it. When we praise God in the midst of adversity, the power of heaven is unleashed on our behalf to carry us to victory.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18  yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! 19  The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights... Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NLT)

Through faith and praise we can transition from hopelessness and fear to a place of peace and victorious faith. We can know what it means to be an overcomer, all because we make the choice to trust God and his promises in spite of everything opposed to us. We will have an anchor for the soul that cannot be moved!

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Unlocking God’s Blessings through Being Generous

 

If you know God at all, you understand that he is most generous. The most shared verse in the world, John 3:16, highlights God’s giving nature. He gave his only Son to redeem ungrateful enemies, whom he desired to turn into a family of friends. (Romans 5:6-8) Not surprisingly, he wants his people, those who follow Christ and his teachings, to be like he is – generous.  Psalm 112 attaches some powerful promises to generosity that are worth contemplating. In them we discover that generosity opens the door to many powerful blessings.

It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment. 6  For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever. 7  He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. 8  His heart is upheld, he will not fear, Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries. Psalm 112:5-8 (NASB)
  • It is well – pleasant, agreeable, good – for the generous. Contrast this with the judgment made upon the miserly. They will experience lack and disfavor. (Proverbs 11:24-26)
  • God will maintain the cause of the generous in judgment.  The Bible makes a surprising connection between our being generous and God providing us with a good defense against judgments made against us. Literally the Hebrew says that God will sustain our  affairs with justice. In other words, when we live justly by caring for those in need, God will care for us when we are in need of justice. God’s justice extends beyond court proceedings. True justice seeks the welfare of the poor, the needy, and the oppressed. When we make that our practice, God will see to it that we benefit from his protection.
  • The generous will never be shaken. This means God will keep us from tottering, shaking, or slipping. Another way to say this is that God holds us up and keeps us secure. He is our Keeper.
  • The generous will be remembered forever.  The woman who poured out her life savings in the form of a costly perfume on Jesus’ feet demonstrated extreme generosity. God rewarded her by including her act of selflessness in the Gospel. Being remembered by God is a great blessing that will be extended to the generous.
  • God will make the generous fearless in times of trouble. As we go further into the unfolding scenario of the Last Days, when lawlessness is on the increase and terrible trouble looms, having confidence in God’s keeping power is essential. Why is it that the generous will not fear an evil report? It is because they know that God takes care of those who take care of others. When we are generous, we tap into the very heart of God, and he reveals more of himself to us. When we pour ourselves out for others, we grasp that he will do the same for us.
  • The generous will look in triumph upon their enemies. Most people are clueless when it comes to God’s judgments and justice. They want religion to be pie-in-the-sky fairy tales that God is some kind of cosmic smiley face. This false view of God’s justice is promoted as a way to manipulate the masses and make them think that with God anything goes, as long as it makes you happy. In other words, the smiley face God is a giver of good things who never requires anything from us except to be happy partakers of his gifts – no accountability, no judgment, no justice, no day of reckoning. The Bible portrays Jesus coming in power and glory to usher in God’s kingdom and bring God’s justice upon the earth once and for all. This will include the punishment of the wicked and the destruction of all those who refuse the mercy extended to them in the Gospel. Literally, there will be hell to pay for refusing to bow the knee to Jesus and acknowledge his Lordship. Those who do surrender to Jesus will be part of his triumphal army, who will come back with him to install God’s kingdom.
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12  His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13  He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14  And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15  From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16  On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 19:11-16 (ESV)

God’s Generosity and the Gospel

Those who have experienced God’s generosity are expected to be generous. They accept what Jesus died to give them – forgiveness, freedom from guilt and condemnation, reconciliation to God, freedom from everything that enslaves us, and belonging to God’s eternal family!

Those who have received God’s generosity in the Gospel are obliged to extend that generosity to others in the form of love, forgiveness, service, and sharing the Gospel message. We give away what God gave to us.

We look forward to the day when Christ returns to settle accounts and usher in the final reality.  On that day, we will look in triumph on all those who have ruthlessly persecuted God’s people and resisted the Gospel. A glorious day, indeed!

Those who refuse God’s generosity make the greatest miscalculation of all time. Those who receive and participate in his generosity experience the fullness of blessings.

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