Monday, December 17, 2007

Bah Humbug!


(Isaiah 9:6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.


Bah Humbug! There I got it out! And I am not afraid to say it again!

Bah Humbug!

I’ve already been told by my incredibly beautiful wife that I WAS GOING TO ENJOY Christmas this year, my dear friend Steve Evans even sent me a list of “How To’s” for enjoying Christmas. Pastor Jeff Baker preached on Scrooge, calling on us “Scrooges” to confess, and I did, I’m no hypocrite! ! He then preached on a message on enjoying Christmas, and to that I say “Pastor it was a wonderful message!” but BAH HUMBUG!

That’s right folks… I am a Scrooge, and it feels good to say it! Uh huh, you got it baby, Tis the season to get bumped by angry, yet determined shoppers, cheated out of the bow with your complimentary gift wrapping, booted to the back of the line because you cut (or so the manager sternly accused) Tis the season to pay double for less, and get less for double!

Wait I’m not finished!

Tis the season for even more hectic schedules, angry relatives, burned out Christmas lights, wrong size shirts, and “Hey lady, watch your hands!”

Tis the season for:

“No, we don’t carry that.”

“It was on sale yesterday”

“You got me this last year”

and “I thought you said you wanted a power dental flosser”

Now don’t get me wrong it’s not the lights, or the tree or the gifts that bother me, I mean who doesn’t like going to the mall and getting free Wassail! (Wassail is a hot, spiced punch often associated with winter celebrations, and it is “Um good!”) I don’t even mind saying “Uh Mam I think you’re drinking out of my cup… ”

I enjoy watching others open the gifts, and of course I enjoy opening gifts as well… It’s the pressure that I just loathe…

"What time are you coming?"

"When should we be there?"

"How come you’re not doing “this” or “that” this year?"

"Who said we were coming?"

"The sale only lasts from 6AM to …."

"They don’t like red"

"They don’t like green"

"They don’t like ponies"

"This doesn’t come with batteries"

"Some assembly required"

"Craig, you always loved mushrooms before"

I don’t like” smelly Santa’s, One Time Only Sales, “Gee, one of these lights must be burned out!” and “If you apply for a (insert store name here) card, you get 2.25 % off of your purchase today!”

One Christmas as I was investigating a strand of non working lights, I actually grabbed the inside wires of a light bulb that once was protected by the now missing glass, the strand lite up and so did I! Electricity traveled through my body, as I danced with the power of GE coursing through my veins… With stammering lips and a jolted tongue, I danced under its power! I finally shook free of the pulsating energy, sweat rolling down my brow, and hair sticking straight up upon my head, I was nearly certain I had heard the angels singing “Welcome Home Dear Child Welcome Home -"Gloria in Excelsis Deo (whatever that means!)"”

I am intensely irritated with:

Holiday Trees

Good Tidings Cards

And other politically correct ways of saying “Merry Christmas!”

ARGH!!! And again I say BAH HUMBUG!

However I must admit subtly and secretively I think God has been working on my Christmas spirit tank. I cried at a commercial the other day… It was so, gee I don’t know Christmassy! Then again at a local Christmas play, which oddly enough was about the Christmas Spirit… It was so sweet, simple and wonderful!

Now then, I know well and good about the meaning of Christmas and focusing on the birth of Jesus Christ, you know

“He is the reason for the season”

“Keep Christ in Christmas”

I haven’t been under a rock, I know the cliché ways of saying the most simple rule of Christmas which is… Remember Jesus.

But isn’t that the real struggle after all. Not just at Christmas, but all year long. We allow so many things to grab our attention away from our most passionate desire. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

How many times is that not the root of the problem anyway?

Think about our failed relationships!

Marriages fail not so much because people grow apart, nor because affairs happen or whatever, but because we lose focus, we fail to spend time nurturing our relationships, focusing in on our blessings… and disaster occurs!

Backsliding in a variety of matters does not occur because we give into fleshly desires, or because we follow the world, but because we fail to maintain our relationship with God!

Growing apart happens not because we grow apart, but because we don’t grow together. What was once the love of your life, many times becomes so mundane, every day and average, and we allow less important things to become more important, we bicker, and argue over silly things, and we just drift…

Christmas is about Jesus, and that is first and foremost. I have been pondering this alot the last few days. Thinking of His birth, what it all means, what it may have been like to be a shepherd on that hill! To see the baby in the manger to comprehend the goodness of His coming, the power of His entrance – the WORD MADE FLESH!

And I realize I have drifted…

I have allowed the current, or flow of this world to shape my Christmas Spirit, into its little dirty mold. Thankfully Christmas chose to fight back, and it has regained this P.O.W.

Each night I have read a little of the Christmas story, I have counted my blessings one by one, I have listened to Josh Groban sing “What Child is this” and have allowed my self to be carried away with emotion! I have been thrilled at the lights, hugged a Santa, and on occasion I can be heard humming a variety of Christmas carol melodies…

All that though is insignificant really. Merely symptoms of a deeper issue. That being this: “Thank you Jesus, for coming to the earth, for me, I celebrate YOU!”

This central principle must shape my view of all the events to come in the next few days, because others will cut in line, others will take my parking space, it will on occasion happen that the lady wearing the “Christmas is for Caring” sweatshirt will tell me in no uncertain terms that I am slow, in the way, and offensive on some level!

There may be upset acquaintances, dead batteries, and shirts that are the wrong size, color, and shape. Yet, the old Pentecostal folks have a saying “What the world can’t give, the world can’t take away.”

So this Christmas season, I am not looking for gifts under the tree, or items on sale, my eyes are seeking the presence of Angels proclaiming the salvation of the Lord! I am looking for the Word, who became flesh, and the light that leads the way…

Why? because my heart seeks a child who was given! His name is wonderful, counselor, the prince of peace, and the Mighty God!

This year, of all the gifts you give and accept, give and accept the gift that matters most – The Son of God… Give Him to all you meet, and accept Him in all you do…

Merry Christmas

Thursday, October 25, 2007

The Reality of the Cross - Part 1

I was talking with a good friend today about the Christian belief of an eternal abyss or torment, real hellfire and brimstone kind of stuff! During our discussion he stated he had come to the conclusion the hereafter was little more than a “dirt nap”. Through the years he has “lost the faith”, and I assume that by and large not to be an intellectual decision, but more of an emotional response to past abuses suffered by the carcinogens of Christianity these often creep in, distort, deform, and left untreated cause death…

Those killers of course are those that turn faith to fear, relationship to rules, and gain to guilt.

The basis of my eternal view nonetheless is located in the book of Revelation… For those that believe the Bible to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, and given to men, who in turn penned those Words for our betterment, and that these Words contain present and eternal unchanging truths, the following text validates our view, otherwise known and called; the truth.

(Revelation 20:12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

(Revelation 20:13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

(Revelation 20:14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

(Revelation 20:15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The original origin of our discussion was based on the fact that my friend… lets call him “Rob” (after all that is his name!) stated he had not realized some evangelicals took issue with Joel Osteen on some of his practices namely omitting the gospel message of Christ, and the validation that one must be saved to avoid eternal despair. As the conversation progressed we began to discuss the variety of issues such omission would cause, why they are important and to what degree these topics seem to have become so taboo in the church today.

Now then I need all to realize that my message is laced with love, grace, mercy and the forgiveness of sins, provided for and given by Jesus Christ through the cross… In this manner I in no way boast of my faith as some pompous “Christians” do… Instead I consider myself the fortunate recipient of someone else’s sacrifice, and the benefactor of absolute mercy(The sacrifice of Jesus) I think that view is best, because it is most biblically accurate and keeps the Christian from elevating self to some sort of “self righteous”(which is actually an oxy moron by the way) attitude surveying others as stupid immoral sinners… The truth is we Christians are humans whom the blood of Christ has washed, and in which His Spirit dwells … making us what we could not be on our own… Saved, sanctified, redeemed etc…

The unfortunate reality for so many Rob, being one, and myself being another, among so many others is, we grew up in the Bible belt, which sought to gain disciples and to retain them by:

Guilt

Fear

Belittlement

And a variety of other manipulative means…

Readying the mind to understand the horrendous consequences of sin, but often times spending much less time detailing the depth of grace, mercy and love… Found in Jesus!

The result of that is manifested in one of two ways…

1) My case – I have trouble being free in Christ and enjoying His love and mercy because I always feel guilt for no apparent reason! A direct result of fear based teaching the second manifestation is

2) My Friends case - A denial and rejection either completely or partially of Christianity, based on the fact that one becomes tired of feeling guilt, particularly while watching others of less moral character seem to advance by the tool of ministry

So in the end both parties are quite similar… Some chose door one, while unfortunately others chose door two… To those of you who have selected “Door Two” I’d like to address this first installment!

The reality if eternal punishment is quite real biblically, and based on scientific evidence validating other concepts biblically based, the intelligent decision would be to accept the fact that God certainly does exist, making the next question “Now what do I do about that?”

For certain a proper argument would then include such scientific proofs validating the reality of God’s existence… by and large however you Door #2 people don’t need that validation, for you have known Him, and His reality is evident within you even still, and by and large it is inescapable.

It is not proof of existence you need, but understanding of the concept of a “Loving God” which can penetrate the skewed image of Him painted by hardliners whom failed to understand this concept themselves or more ghastly used the image of holy anger to sway and manipulate congregants into ; serving, giving etc…

The Reality of Hell, to a Loving and Giving God:

So infuriated is God with the concept of eternal punishment that He gave the ultimate sacrifice, His Son Jesus Christ. Consider for a moment the concept that exists here; imagine the pain and suffering associated with your dearest loves suffering. When consoling individuals who have lost loved ones to some terminal illness, the most grievous part is not so much the loss, although that is painful, but it is the suffering that precedes the death. This the Father was willing to endure that you and I might escape the reality of Hell.

That is to say God the Father so believed in this concept of eternal punishment that He was willed to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer, to be ridiculed, to be flogged, beaten, spat upon and then crucifixion, which is excruciatingly painful, unimaginably tormenting, and intensely torturous! The reason for this action is simple! God loves us.

(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(Romans 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

While I cannot deny that an eternal punishment exists for sinners of whom all human kind is, as powerful a concept is redemption, justification, and acceptance, these the benefits of salvation! If we understand the concept of grace we realize that not by what I have done, or will do, but by what Jesus has done and what He will do, that this punishment is exchanged for reward, not just eternally but in the present time as well!

In other words, it is by the cross of Christ that we are saved, and by the gift of the Holy Spirit that we are regenerated. These acts occur by faith not by works and are provided not by condemnation, but by love!

Therefore for you door #2 people, let us well establish in our minds the gospel is less about eternal hell fire and brimstone, and more about redemption, and victory! You and I, us guilt carriers, must absolutely release guilt, understanding that the atoning blood of Jesus cleansed us from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS!

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Furthermore we must also understand that there is NO CONDEMNATION in Christ Jesus. We have been freed from sin, death, hell, guilt, and shame. In fact as audacious as it may seem, and I trouble with wrapping my mind around this one

WE ARE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD – IN CHRIST JESUS!

Literally when God looks at us, He sees righteousness, holiness and purity. Imagine describing yourself that way? Do you dare? Imagine accepting that God loves you, and I mean really loves you, and is for you, and seeks your heart, because He loves you…

The most critical aspect of all this God stuff, is to understand the power of redemption and the meaning of the cross… which I will detail more in my next post, but as a preview of that the cross means:

God loves us

He was willing to give it all that we might live

He is for us

He is searching for our heart

We can be free from shame

We can be free from guilt

We can be free from fear

We can be free from condemnation

We can be free from sin

All this and so much more…

Are you a door #2 person? Maybe you are a door #1 person… Whoever you are, are you riddled with shame, guilt, fear, condemnation or other life controlling issues? There is still power in the cross, there is still life in the blood… Behold – Jesus makes all things new!

Until next time…

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Saturday or Sunday Worship - Why is that the Question?

It was recently suggested to me that there may be some confusion as to the day Christians are to worship, and further more that this confusion may be causing turmoil, and unrest…

To which of course I wondered “Why?”

Never being immersed in the group the Seventh Day Adventists I am sure I cannot fully appreciate the ingrained dogma regarding Saturday worship… Although a time or two I have tuned into the local Seventh Day radio station and heard tidbits of information regarding the “satanically inspired Saturday morning cartoons”, which were of course a demonic ploy to keep children out of “Sabbath School” Stating “Do you think it is a coincidence they show those cartoons on Saturdays?” It caused a slight chuckle, a grin and a turn of the dial back to the local Christian Contemporary station…

However I too have had the cold scaly hands of legalism around my throat, therefore I feel sympathetic towards any who may be struggling with such thoughts and am inspired to put forth a suitable amount of effort to clear things up a bit, and I hope it helps.

Many Seventh Day Adventists associate Sunday worship with receiving 'the Mark of the Beast'. In fact many believe that Christians who attend church on a Sunday have actually been deceived by a variety of demonic influences ranging from the Catholics, to Constantine, to Satan himself, and therefore, by attending Sunday worship, are in essence sinning against God!

Legalism in all cases seeks to justify it case by selective texts, and selective historical documentation, somehow failing to balance their view or conveniently leaving certain historical truths covered. In fact I am amazed at the length to which these groups will search to validate their view, obtain obscure historical records, of which are highly questionable, and then degrade those most generally and scholarly accepted documents! In fact it sickens me and I am appalled!

It is suitable to note that most Seventh Day Adventists also hold to the dietary laws of the Old Testament as well… So if one chooses to subscribe the “Sunday is Satanic” or Pagan or whatever hot button word being used, I’d lay aside the bacon, as well, and of course Shrimp Fest at the local Red Lobster should be considered a memory as well!

This is only noted to state that in the New Testament some changes where made, and we observe those changes and we follow them as the fulfillment of initial first coming of our Messiah – Jesus Christ…

So let us dive into the meat of the issue!

The commandment in Exodus 20:8-11 states that the seventh day of the week, which is Saturday, is the day which the Lord instructed as the day of rest and worship. However in the New Testament we see the church worshiped on Sunday. So what gives?

Though there are a variety of places to begin let me first start with the New Testament view of the Sabbath.

Romans 14:5-6: "One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God."

Paul illustrates for us in Romans that one man regards one day, and another man, another day… He then states “He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord”

If Saturday worship were so critical, then why would Paul give such variance to man, such flexibility? Why would he not drill the issue, as some feel it should be, why not make it an object of division, as some have? I won’t answer this, actually I cannot answer this question because no answer exists, other than to note Paul felt we should take a day to observe the Lord, but this day was to the discretion of men… As a man observes that day of choice, he observes to the Lord. It is a clear command.

Colossians 2:16-17: "Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ."

This is a critical text. Take note of the Holy Days noted here:

a festival

a new moon

a Sabbath day

Preceding the mentioning of these things we are given a command from the Word of God “Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to” Pretty weighty stuff so far.

No one can judge in regards to the Sabbath day, or what day we worship the Lord, and the reason is… this is where it gets interesting –

The Sabbath was a “mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ”

The Message Bible

Col 2:16 So don't put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.

Amplified Bible(R)

(Colossians 2:16) Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath.

(Colossians 2:17) Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ.

Jesus is essentially our Sabbath! The Sabbath was a shadow of what is to come. He is our rest, He is our worship, and the entire law is summed up in Loving God, not in keeping a variety of Holy Days!

The insistence of the Seventh Day Adventists adherence to Saturday worship, and their condemnation of Sunday worship, is unfounded and ignorance or ignoring based of New Testament SCRIPTURE, PRACTICE, AND TRADITION!

That in mind let’s take a look at some historical truths

Acts 20:7: "And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight."

Message Bible

Act 20:7 We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master's Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight.

The first day of the week is now as it was then and that day is Sunday. It also appears to be the day that the church gathered for worship. The day that people gathered, worshipped and learned of God, in the New Testament church… WAS/IS SUNDAY.

Now if this was a single occurrence that would be fine, but as you’ll see it was not!

1Corinthans 16:1

Regarding the relief offering for poor Christians that is being collected, you get the same instructions I gave the churches in Galatia. Every Sunday each of you make an offering and put it in safekeeping. Be as generous as you can. When I get there you'll have it ready, and I won't have to make a special appeal. Then after I arrive, I'll write letters authorizing whomever you delegate, and send them off to Jerusalem to deliver your gift. If you think it best that I go along, I'll be glad to travel with them.


Notice here that Paul is directing the churches to meet on the first day of each week and put money aside. It would seem that this is tithing. So, the instructed time for the church to meet is Sunday. Is this an official worship day set up by the church? You decide.

So we notice that Paul instructs the saints to make an offering on Sunday, which sounds like well an offering in a church service!

Revelation 1:10-11: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."

On the Lord’s day is Sunday

Same text Message Bible

(Revelation 1:10) It was Sunday and I was in the Spirit, praying. I heard a loud voice behind me, trumpet-clear and piercing:

Ask the REAL EXPERTS


Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

The Lord’s day - The first day of the week, observed as the Christian Sabbath, because on it Jesus Christ rose from the dead; therefore it was called the Lord’s day, and has taken place of the Jewish Sabbath throughout the Christian world.








John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Rev 1:10 - I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day,.... Not on the Jewish sabbath, which was now abolished, nor was that ever called the Lord's day, and had John meant that, he would have said on the sabbath day; much less the Jewish passover, but the first day of the week is designed

Now let me give you a bit of wordy information, but it so validates this truth






The Lords Day

the Ethiopic version renders it "on the first day"; and is so called just as the ordinance of the supper is called the Lord's supper, being instituted by the Lord, and the Lord's table, 1Co_10:21, and that because it was the day in which our Lord rose from the dead, Mar_16:9; and in which he appeared at different times to his disciples, Joh_20:19, and which the primitive churches set apart for his worship and service, and on which they met together to hear the word, and attend on ordinances, Act_20:7; and Justin Martyr (z) tells us, who lived within about fifty years after this time, that on the day called, "Sunday", (by the Greeks,) the Christians met together in one place, and read the Scriptures, and prayed together, and administered the ordinance of the supper; and this, he adds, was the first day in which God created the World, and our Saviour Jesus Christ rose from the dead;

Barnabas (a), the companion of the Apostle Paul, calls this day the eighth day, in distinction from the seventh day sabbath of the Jews, and which he says is the beginning of another world; and therefore we keep the eighth day, adds he, joyfully, in which Jesus rose from the dead, and being manifested, ascended unto heaven: and this day was known by the ancients by the name of "the Lord's day"; as by:

Ignatius

Irenaeus

Tertullian

Origen

End quote






Some of you may not know the names listed: Ignatius, Irenaeus, Tertullian, etc… These men are known as the “Church Fathers” We value their opinion because they where disciples of the disciples… Yes, most of them knew the actual disciples/Apostles of Jesus Christ, and as they began to pass away, these men began to lead the church…

Fringe groups such as the Seventh Day Adventists will often discredit the Church Fathers… They do so because their thoughts, and words disagree so vehemently with what I call their “existence doctrines”

Existence doctrines are those doctrines so extreme that orthodox Christianity rejects them as heresy there fore a group is formed around the existence of this polarizing doctrinal view… it then becomes the soul reason for their shallow existence! The sum of all their sermons etc …

Nonetheless the writings of the Church Fathers and their historical value are so esteemed by so many scholars all over the world it is silly to refute them in totality!

Constantine Controversy

Poor Constantine, he was the fourth century Roman Emperor, and is usually the man in black for our Seventh Day Advents which is all to humorous to me, because he also is the devil in the Oneness doctrine as well… This guy gets blamed for more stuff!!! I am sure he was not sweetheart but come on… The rumor is Constantine created or imposed Sunday worship (along with the trinity as well) and then persecuted all the Sabbath-keepers and modalists of his age… Excuse me while I chuckle

Justin Martyr 110-165 a.d. [160 years before Constantine]

"Sunday is the day upon which we all hold our communion and assembly" (Justin Martyr, First Christian Apology)

Didache Estimated Range of Dating: 50-120

Chapter 14. Christian Assembly on the Lord's Day. But every Lord's day (Sunday) gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one who is at odds with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord: "In every place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the nations."

Obviosuly Sunday worship was happening LONG before Constantine, so that theory, accusation is false, and perhaps we may even say it is a lie…

The non-canonical Epistle of Barnabbas show that Christians were also assembling on Sundays.

The Epistle of Ignatius about A.D. 107 gives the reason why The Lord's Day was now seen as having more importance than the original sabbath:
'Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish Law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace....If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and By His death.'

'Apostolic Constitutions: Church life in the 2nd Century' says this:
'On the day of the resurrection of the Lord--that is, the Lord's Day--assemble yourself together without fail, giving thanks to God and praising Him for those mercies God has bestowed upon you through Christ.'

What about Jesus

Jesus bluntly corrected the legalistic view of the Pharisees when he stated, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).

The point Jesus made is that the Sabbath was not instituted to enslave people, but to benefit them.

The purpose of Sabbath is to give man the opportunity to honor God, and to rest from work to worship God… Not simply a law to obey!

A few final thoughts

Adventists claim: The Catholics take responsibility for changing Saturday to Sunday worship.

My answer – Maybe they do, I have not checked into this… but they also claim Peter as their first Pope! So who care what they claim as their, and what they take credit for? Is it scriptural, is it historical… That Adventist claim is MUTE, WORTHLESS, WITHOUT MERIT


Do not fail to remember worship on a Sunday is present within the New Testament itself (Acts 20:7 1 Cor 16:1-2 and Revelation 1:10, for instance).

The Sabbath command is never repeated in the New Testament, not even once.

Christ entered his own rest from His earthly labors on a Sunday - not a Sabbath.

The resurrected Jesus appeared to His disciples first on a Sunday (John 20: 19-22).

If you wanted to have church with the disciples during that time period… You better wait till Sunday (Acts 20:7 1 Cor 16:1-2 and Revelation 1:10). If you want to go the Jewish Synagogue and follow all the laws, dietary, and all other 600 or so… go ahead and do the Saturday thing

While Paul chose to preach on a Sunday - see Acts 20:7.

MY FINAL THOUGHT…

Legalism is a killer. It seeks to steal, kill and destroy. “Destroy what?” you may ask. Life, faith and grace… oh yes, and the cross of Jesus Christ. The command given to us regarding our worship to God is simple… Do it with all your heart!

(Matthew 22:36) Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

(Matthew 22:37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

(Matthew 22:38) This is the first and great commandment.

Other than not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, we will find no other commands in the New Testament about our public worship, not the correct day it must happen, the correct time it must happen… This foul “existence doctrine” of Saturday worship is sheer legalism, and it is void of scriptural, historical and logical truth. So then, I’ll see you Sunday.

Friday, October 5, 2007

Mr. Opinionated

Okay well sooner or later this blog was bound to get me in trouble, sooner or later it was certain that my opinionated discourses on a variety of subjects was bound to break through the eewie gooey goodness of past posts, no longer satisfied with silence here comes “Mr. Opinionated”!

With fair warning I first feel it fair to confess, a soon apparent reality, I write this offering with a hint of irritation! It could be a warning perhaps to go no further although I implore you to do so.

What has rained on my parade, you may ask? What has caused such irritation? Well not a single incident per say, though it certainly could be labeled as the catalyst. The past week brought news of an impending divorce to take place among a Christian TV personality (televangelist) and her husband who pastors a very large church in Florida.(somewhere in the neighborhood of 23,000 members). The cause for such an action was simply labeled as “We are going in different directions” with the promise to continue in ministry without missing a beat. He’ll continue to Pastor, and she will continue to pursue or serve in the ministry on television…

I must confess that this floored, shocked, disappointed, and saddened me. Without coming across as calloused and uncaring I am quick to note that I pray for this couple and sympathize with the plight and pain of divorce. Truly it is devastating and painful for all who find themselves at this crossroads, or who are themselves storming such weather…

However, with dues sympathies noted, under no condition, or circumstances at all should divorce be considered, simply because a couple finds themselves going in different directions, under such a discovery, that they may well be, and most certainly are actually traveling in opposing directions which therefore are the wrong directions, an immediate change of travel MUST take place, so they find themselves once again on the right path… together… because after all that “two shall become one flesh stuff… I think God meant that! (ref; Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:8, Ephesians 5:31)

This failure to do so cannot be remedied by further separation! Certainly a time of refocus of the roads being traveled and finding the correct avenue, one ample for proper travel would be the wise pursuit to endeavor!

What I find so saddening. is certainly the decline of moral fiber here in America, what I find utterly repulsive and sickening is the decline of moral fiber in the church. In past years marriage was considered to be ones first ministry, and it was considered the most precious commodity. Is that sentiment, no let me reword that, is that truth somehow losing its fire in the hearts of modern American Christianity?

In our modern Christian view, are we know shaping the commands of Christ based merely on cultural preferences? Gee, I hope not.

The basis of the marriage vow… “for better or worse, richer, or poorer…. Until death do we part” is said for a reason!!! The reason or the summation of such is a word seemingly hated by society today… So scary I cringe as I say it … get ready here it comes!

COMMITMENT

Ouch! That’s right God calls us to be committed… to Him, to each other and to our marriage, our spouse our children, our church etc…

In fact if we as Christians are to be any thing, or to have retained any quality since “Jesus came into my heart” as the song says… IT SHOULD BE COMMITMENT – and the first sin of wavering commitment(oxymoron) should be a warning that one may be weakening in their spiritual life…

I do realize that extenuating circumstances exist. Certainly in cases of abuse I don’t expect a spouse to abide under the same roof where physical danger lurks…

Nonetheless a principle quality of the church ought to be the sanctity of marriage, in which we certainly confess with our lips, but our statistics are far from it! Divorce is as prevalent in the church as it is in society at large… In fact our statistics rival theirs!

It seems to have lived in the pew long enough that it is becoming more socially accepted… Now that acceptance is crawling from the pew making its way to our pulpits… and I personally don’t like it! In fact as you were fairly warned I have something to say about it! IT – STINKS!

So my one lone voice resonates on the pages of this Blog perhaps making a point or two to those who frequent… But one voice is not the totality of the body of Christ… For we being many are essentially one body… there fore I make the simple suggestion to you… Be ye holy… as you have been so called, and defend the faith, which was given to you at the costly price – the blood of Christ.

We must make a stand against the erosion of moral integrity in Christianity today… Because we, like it or not are the only church God has in America, we are the modern day: apostles, prophets, teachers etc… Lets not take that to lightly! In fact I would encourage some contagious zeal! Let’s stand firm in the faith, and let the WORD of God be a lamp, and a light to our path! We live in age were uncertainties exist, and social pressure seeks to override the precepts of God… This truth therefore begs the question: What are you going to do about it?

The Dream Of God

The Dream Of God

I want to talk to you about the dream of God

I am very honored to have you here, because you are a creation of God.

You know many people have spent all the time they want to spend in; depression, being burned out, feeling lost and uncertain. There are other's who have dreams and visions and they see day by day go by and those dreams do not come to pass... I feel called to encourage you today...

maybe secretly you have wondered

Secretly you have considred the the thought:

  • Maybe God doesn’t love me
  • Maybe God just doesn’t care
  • Maybe God doesn’t want me to be happy

Come on now its passed through you somewhere along the way

Maybe God just isn't interested or concerned with my life

  • He's unaware of my dreams
  • He’s unaware of my heartache
  • He’s unconcerned with my situations

But the bible says

That your father know your needs

Lu:12:32: The Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

I am excited about that, I am excited and encouraged to tell you that God has a dream! God has a dream for your life, He is concerned about you, He is dreaming about you!

  • God has not created you destination-less
  • God has not created you without purpose
  • God has a dream for you

1) You Where Created With a Purpose

Jer:1:4: Then the word of the LORD came …., saying,

Jer:1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee ……….a prophet unto the nations.

I want you to pay particular attention to the word BEFORE in this text

It contains two key ingredieants to our understanding The Dream of God

A) BEFORE you where concieved

B) BEFORE you where born

God had a plan for your Life

HE purposed you – HE designed you

  • before you took your first breathe of air
  • before you kicked inside the belly of your mother
  • before a name had been chosen for you
  • before your mother even knew she was with child

God did something for you

He Sanctified you – God ordained you

We ministers love to talk about being ordained – Carry our papers and our cards! The truth is God already ordained each one of us for a purpose

Ordained means –set apart for a sacred purpose

Ordained you for a sacred purpose –

You’re ordained you for divine destiny

Before you were a failure, before you had heard all the negative things people have said to you, before any body knew you and what you were...

GOD had already spoken some things over your life

GOD already had a dream that HE established within your being

You’re not just some chump down here with no place to go and nothing to do! Your not just taking up space – You where created with a destiny! You where created with a purpose! You where created with gifts and attributes to propel you towards the dream GOD has for you

People wonder why I spend so much time and why I preach so many messages on divine destiny on personal purpose

The reason is, I believe the devil has spent the last how many years of your life telling you, and trying to convince you that you’re worthless, you've have no purpose, that God can’t, and doesn’t want to do anything special in your life!

The devil has used people, he used failures, he used your bad circumstances, he used your bad mistakes, he's used every conceivable means available to make you believe your purposeless, worthless, and without a destination.

WHAT A LIE! The truth is you’re ordained! You've been set apart for a sacred purpose - you've been sanctified for a divine destiny - before the mistakes, before the failures… GOD spoke who you really were/are!

I'm not talking about what you did, with whom, and where…

I’m not talking about mistakes made in terrible ways, and unseemly circumstances…

I’m talking about something that happened in the HEAVENS

The moment the LORD spoke you into existence;

· HE shouted your destiny –

· He spoke it before HIS throne

· He spoke it in the presence of angels

and now all of heaven watches for you to fulfill the will of GOD

to be all that HE has sacredly purposed you to be, we’ll to be who you really are… not this façade you have become.

The angels know what you can be

GOD knows what you can be

The devil knows what you can

The only one that may be unsure, or unsettled in that is you

Its not who you fooled around with

It’s not the drugs you took

the failures you have had

It’s none of that

It’s what God has said about you

David’s father and brothers thought David was just a Shepard boy but GOD knew he was a king, a giant slater

They called Moses an Egyptian, but God knew he was a deliverer…

They called Joseph a dreamer- a slave – Potipher’s wife called him a rapist – they said his place was in the dungeon

But God knew his place and it wasn’t a prison it was in the palace

See I’m thinking GOD has said some things about you and I

I’m thinking that in the womb HE spoke some purpose

HE spoke some destiny

Proverb:23:7: as he thinketh in his heart, so is he

Some of us thought we where drug addicts

Some of us thought we where bums and losers

Some of us thought that we were what other people said about us

Addicted, strung out, helpless… Whatever!

But what did God say:

(Philippians 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

(Matthew 19:26) …………….with God all things are possible.

Before anybody had a chance to say anything

GOD spoke

HE ANNOUNCED IT TO THE HEAVENS

(Jeremiah 29:11) For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Crafted By God

Joh:1:3: All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

See we have been crafted by the Master’s hands

We where made by HIM – Because there is not anything made that was not made by JESUS

I’m thinking if HE made me – HE must have purposed me

IF HE made me – HE must have ordained me

IF HE made me - HE must have sanctified me

IF HE made me – there must be a reason

Be all that God has created you to be, and believe that you the creation is much greater than you first imagined... That with God... Nothing is impossible!