Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Truth

This morning a facebook friend of mine posted John 8:32 and then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
I love this verse and use it often, but I think I have used it out of context. It has been used as lines in movies and tv shows in the wrong way. You see, our word cannot free anything or anyone, but I know someone's word who can. In verse 31, the Bible says that Jesus said to the Judeans who had believed in Him, "If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples, and then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." Wow what a radical difference it makes when you put it all together. That scripture is not about us telling the truth to anyone. Shut up! It is about discovering the truth by following Jesus' teaching...wonder wherever could I find that... Oh yeah! In God's Word! If we study His Word then there will be no confusion about what truth is and that my friend is the kind of truth that sets you free!! Woohoo! I'm shouting... are you? What an awesome God we serve that His very Word is powerful enough to free us! Hmmm I wonder what you need freed from today. Are you angry with someone? Are you lying to someone? Are you coveting something? Are you drinking to much? Are you addicted to drugs? Are you having an affair? Whatever sin we are stuck in can be forgiven and His Word can be our freedom!
WOW! What a mighty God we serve!
Much Love!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Be careful little ears...

When I was younger, I remember a song O be careful little eyes. I loved that song and thought it was so much fun to sing. As I continue to age, I realize how much truth is in this song and lately have an increasing urge to sing it to our young people. There is so much deception in our world today. Don't think it all looks like the devil! Oh no dear ones, the devil can use things that sound good to lead you astray. The obvious sex, drugs and rock and roll are easy to spot bad guys, but there are other bad guys that they themselves do not know that they are bad guys. Satan is the great deceiver and believe this... he knows the scripture like the back of his hand! He can take a verse and use it out of context to lead you astray. That is why it is SO important for you to study God's word for yourself and not rely on someone else studying it for you. My first line in most of my teachings is look it up, check out what I teach and if it doesn't line up call me on it. This practice should apply to everyone that teaches the Bible. We are human. We make mistakes. The slightest slip of our tongue can lead others astray. It is why the Lord says that He will hold us accountable for what we teach.
There are many charismatic and feel good teachers more than willing to tickle your ears with exciting and sweet words. They tell you what you want to hear or what they think sounds good. Check them out. See if their word truly lines up with God's word and if it doesn't then stop listening to them! If you really believe they are men or women of God, take time to correct them in love. A true word from the Lord can be sweet and exciting of its own merit and not being sensationalized by man.

Guys, doctrine is simply teachings or beliefs and religion is a body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs. That is not from the devil!It can be perverted by man, but in and of itself is not wrong. You have a doctrine and religion even if you don't go to church or you go to a different church. Legalism is from the devil. Perverting God's Word is from the devil, but if you don't have beliefs and adhere to them then, as Bro. David said about his glasses, you are as lost as a ball in high weeds! Your doctrine needs to be based solely on the Bible and your religion needs to be serving God! If we were more religious about serving God through serving others, this world would be a much different place.
Just be careful little eyes what you see and be careful little ears what you hear. Mama always said that the devil will feed you a little lie with a lot of truth. Beware of the little lies mixed with truth...
Much Love!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Ministry

Many churches have a "ministry" type day. It may be visitation or a soup kitchen or AWANA's or Celebrate Recovery, but they all have a day. The intent to have an organized day is noble indeed, but I am afraid it is falling short of what our churches really need to be doing.
The mass majority of our members at any given church on any given Sunday(or Saturday) at any given denomination show up, critique the service and return home without affect. They don't change their lifestyle, make a sacrifice, or get out of their comfort zone in any imaginable way except maybe our organized day. You know, they volunteer at the soup kitchen or maybe teach Sunday School or some other noble attempt at helping others. Then, ignore opportunities to serve the other 6 days of the week.
Brennan Manning said(and DC TALK borrowed), "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny Him with their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable." I have to agree with Manning. How can we speak of His amazing love and then have none for our coworkers? How can we speak of His compassion and forgiveness and show none for those around us? How can we speak of His service and do none? If we are true followers of Christ, we must then strive to become more Christ-like! We must show love, have compassion and forgive freely and most of all serve others.
Oh we are so going to mess up! I do everyday, but the goal is to STRIVE to be more like Christ. Ask Him to let you see people the way He sees them. He will give you that ability in order for you to serve others.
My point is that ministry should not be compartmentalized into one day. It should be a way of life. Those organized days that churches set up are intended to help you make a habit of ministry not to be your only time of ministry. Ministry needs to happen every single day of the week. It needs to be part of our very being to want to serve others in whatever capacity the Lord has gifted us. Go! Go to your visitation night! Volunteer at the soup kitchen! Please volunteer in whatever capacity your church offers THEN use the skills you learn in the organized ministry to help you serve others every single day of your life. Begin looking for ways to use those skills. Ask the Lord to reveal to you the people that you can minister to and in what capacity. Ministry is not about traveling to Indonesia or Africa or Japan to rebuild a city or take a Bible where it has never been before... its about looking at your fellow man, seeing a need that you can meet and simply meeting it. Sometimes that does mean you travel to Africa or Indonesia or Japan, but sometimes it means that you walk over to the cubicle next to you at work.
One of my favorite scriptures is Matthew 25: 35-40... nope, not going to give it to you... look it up... while you are at it go ahead and read 31-46.
MUCH LOVE!!!