Monthly Blog: HE HAS CAUSED HIS WONDERS TO BE REMEMBERED

 

THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE.
                                    ( PSALM 111:4 )

     Who could ever measure the great Love and
 Compassion our Lord has for each of us?  For AS A FATHER HAS COMPASSION ON HIS CHILDREN, SO THE LORD HAS COMPASSION ON THOSE WHO FEAR** HIM.
 ( PSALM 103:13 )

     He is always with us, protecting, helping, and guiding
 us.  DAVID SAID ABOUT HIM "I SAW THE LORD
 ALWAYS BEFORE ME.  BECAUSE HE IS AT MY RIGHT
 HAND, I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN.  ( ACTS 2:25 )  
 Now that does not mean that we will never have a problem, but it does mean that He will help us if we ask Him to.

     Further, WE KNOW THAT WE LIVE IN HIM AND HE
 IN US, BECAUSE HE HAS GIVEN US OF HIS SPIRIT.
 AND SO WE KNOW AND RELY ON THE LOVE GOD
 HAS FOR US.  GOD IS LOVE.  WHOEVER LIVES IN
 LOVE LIVES IN GOD, AND GOD IN HIM.
 ( 1 JOHN 4:13 & 16 )

    Therefore, as a Child of God, just think about
 the Enormous Love and Compassion Jesus has for you!  
 After all He smiles with you, laughs, and cries with you.  
 And He has promised us, THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS BE
 SHAKEN AND THE HILLS BE REMOVED, YET MY
 UNFAILING LOVE FOR YOU WILL NOT BE SHAKEN
 NOR MY COVENANT OF PEACE BE REMOVED, SAYS
 THE LORD, WHO HAS COMPASSION ON YOU.   
 ( ISAIAH 54:10 )

    NOTE ***Fear" should read Revere."

Not ashamed of the Gospel

   Have you ever thought about what the Gospel, the Good News, is all about? The simplest answer is that Jesus died for our sins, but really, there a much more profound and deeper message contained in the pages of scripture. 

 

  Jesus did indeed die for the sins of the whole world, but in God’s eternal purpose, His plans were to do something never seen before, a new creation. He would call from among mankind, believers, who would come together in common faith and unity to constitute as a Church, who would serve as a bride for His Son. Its purpose, as Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 3 (NLT): “God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, (His eternal purpose), which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

   What a profound notion, that the very angels in heaven watch in amazement at what God is doing through the Church on this earth. When the prophets of old were writing about the gracious salvation that was to be offered, they were anxious and excited and wanted to know when the glorious things of Christ’ suffering and the glories to be revealed would take place. And they were told, by the spirit, that the things they were writing were not intended for them, but for the Church, you and I and all who are called according to His purpose. Peter says that even the angels are eagerly watching these events play out as God’s spirit moves mightily in the hearts of men and women alike around this planet, slowly transforming each into the image of His Son. 

  With that incredible knowledge and understanding, is it any wonder why Apostle Paul proclaims with unabashed enthusiasm in Romans 1: 15 “So, I am eager … to preach the Good News. 16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

 

  So, the question is, do we ever find ourselves ashamed or intimidated to share the Good News of Jesus Christ? I admit, there have been times, especially early in my faith, when I was intimidated and shy to express my newfound faith in Christ, but ashamed, never! 

   Anyone who truly understands the wonderfully deep plans and purposes of God cannot help but get excited in this life, especially as we see the end of the age draw near. Are you excited? Are you willing to share that Good News with any who asks?

   I was amazed and deeply moved last football season by 2 young men who were quarterbacks for 2 different professional football franchises. With a whole nation of avid football fans watching live on TV, they unashamedly proclaimed what was most important to them. Let me share the brief conversations:

 C.J. Stroud – Houston Texans “I can’t do anything except by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… I’m thankful to be the vessel that Christ picked to lead this… franchise. I can do nothing but thank the Lord.” 

Interviewer: “What are the writings on your wrist band as you came out of the tunnel to start the game?” 

C.J.: “I put a lot of stuff; a cross, triple 7’s, and then “to the glory of God” and then Proverbs 3:5&6 as my favorite scripture verse.” (“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”) 

 Mason Rudolph – formerly the Pittsburg Steelers 

Interviewer: “What worked for you tonight?” 

Mason: “First of all, just thankful to my creator, Jesus Christ, for giving me the opportunity to play this game and for carrying me through the dark times and getting me back to this special moment.” 

   As Paul writes in his 2nd epistle to Timothy: “ Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,…”

Committing to Excellence

 

Why We Must Choose the Unpopular Path.

Mediocrity is fast becoming the by-word of our times. Every imaginable excuse is now used to make it acceptable, hopefully preferred.

Things like . . .

• My printer wasn't working
• Time deadlines
• Majority opinion
• Hard-nosed practicality

These are outshouting and outrunning excellence.

Swimming Upstream

Those forces seem to be winning the race. Even for pastors. Incompetence and status quo averages are held up as all we can now expect. The tragedy is that more and more people have agreed.

• Why worry over the small stuff?
• Why bother with the genuine now that the artificial looks so real?
• If the congregation buys it, why sweat it?

To make it painfully plain,

• Why think clearly since many in ministry want someone else to think for them?
• Why live differently in a society where it’s so much easier to look the same and swim downstream?
• Why fight fiercely when so few seem to care?
• Why stand courageously if it means risking ridicule, misunderstanding, or being considered a dreamer by some and a fool by others?

Why, indeed? To quote young David just before he took on that Philistine behemoth in the Valley of Elah:

Is there not a cause? (1 Sam. 17:29 KJV)

Must we wait for someone else to establish our standard or to set our pace?

Not on your life! It is my firm conviction that those who impact and reshape the world are the ones committed to living above the level of mediocrity.

There are still too many opportunities for excellence, too much demand for distinctiveness, to be satisfied with just getting by.

Opportunities for Excellence

Excellence in the pastorate is a difficult concept to communicate because it can easily be misread as neurotic perfectionism or snooty sophistication.

But it is neither. On the contrary, it is the stuff of which true greatness is made. It is the difference between just getting by and soaring—that which sets apart the significant from the superficial, the lasting from the temporary, the engaging from the entertaining.

A commitment to excellence is neither popular nor easy. But it is essential.

Excellence in integrity and morality as well as ethics and scholarship. Excellence in physical fitness and spiritual fervor just as much as excellence in relationships and preaching.

Since it is the living Lord in the final analysis who appraises our excellence, it is He whom we must please and serve, honor, and adore.

Pastors Blog: Chuck Swindoll

Promises Made; Promises Kept

 

About every four years here in America, we start hearing the mantra “Promises made; Promises kept” by politicians and their surrogates of all stripes, colors, and teams. Typically, they make thousands of promises and claims and after 4 years they find the 4 or 5 that came to fruition. And whether they were instrumental in them happening or not, they shout from the roof tops “Promises made; Promises kept.” If they shout loud and often enough with their paid advertising, maybe about 5 of the promises are kept, then the country will forget the other thousands of promises that never happened. This works because there is no expectation and certainly no accountability for the promises made. In fact, it is hard for me to see how one might even be considered for major office if they do not make outrageous promises first.

   This speaks volumes to the state of “truth” in America and how little it is valued and practiced. The intent of the claims is that since one kept 5 of their promises then you know that they will surely keep the thousands of promises that they are making today.  

   Rejoice, and again I say rejoice. For unto you has been given “the truth.” “The Truth” does not change. Not a half or one-sided truth.

(Ps119:160) “The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”

   We read this of The One who has inspired the writings of the sacred scriptures for you and me;

   “ Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise, (this includes us), the immutability of His counsel,…” (God does not change, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. If you are waiting for the Word of God to change, to come up to date, forget it. It is already beyond “to date”, it is truth, righteous and forever),

“… confirmed it by an oath,  that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, (that is to say that we might be mighty, unwavering in our comfort from the fears and turmoil of all the tragedies and upheavals upon the earth caused by sin), “we might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. (Heb 6:17-19)

(JN 16:33) “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”   

   We take hold of the hope, faith and assurance of the salvation and inheritance promised and held for us in heaven awaiting the arrival of the groom. We wait confidently and expectantly under the safe and sure wings of God our refuge.

We can spend hours and hours reading and listening to others and be left wondering if that is true or how much of that is true or if any of that is true. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the (accurate) knowledge of the truth.” (1Tim 2:3,4).

God does not direct us to the NY times, CNN or Fox for the accurate knowledge of the truth which is able to save you and me. He has addressed His own love letter to you and I personally, the Bible, and has sent His own Son to deliver it, sealed with His Son’s own blood. And they have left us God’s holy spirit to explain, interpret and lead us into all truth. How much time do we spend listening to and seeking out guidance and advice from people that once we have listened, we walk away and wonder if they are right?  

Compare that amount of time with the time we spend reading and listening to the One who is always right, who cannot lie, who gave His only begotten Son so we can be reconciled back to Him. Because of His spirit within us, we are able to hear and comprehend. It drives us to live with and for Him and enables us to come to an accurate knowledge of the truth.

Rejoice and again I say rejoice, you have mail, a love letter from your Heavenly Father. Have you read it today? Do not put it too far from you.   

        Our mantra with God and his Holy Word needs be:

                  “All Promises made; All Promises kept.”

   The probability that a single person would fulfill 8 of the prophecies of the Messiah is conservatively estimated at 1 in 10- to the 17^th power! That is 1 chance in the number 10 followed by 17 zeros. The match probabilities for DNA profiles today typically are in the order of 1 in a billion. (or 1 in 10 to 9^th power) Again the 1 in 10 to 17 power is only for fulfilling 8 prophecies and with Jesus we are speaking of fulfilling over 300 and counting.

    If you are looking for the Messiah, just let me say, we have got your man.  He is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. If you are seeking truth and promises that cannot fail, open your love letter for it is full of prophecies about countries, kings, prophets, those known and unknown at the time they were foretold, and all came to fruition. Some hundreds of years later.

   All promises made; all promises kept. The promises that God made 4,000 years ago to Abraham and yet to be completely fulfilled, are surely on the way and are as real and sure to today as it would be if He made them an hour ago.  Read your Bible daily and let God write it in your heart.

By His Grace

B. Blake