Do you have the fire?

I’m sure you are the familiar with the term “on fire for the Lord.”  Maybe you are, maybe you are not.

There is one example in the Bible that I want to examine who had the fire — the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah.

The text is Jeremiah 20:7-13. 

Let’s backtrack for just a moment.  In Jeremiah 1 we find out that the Lord is calling a young Jeremiah to be his special spokesman.  Jeremiah, like we have the tendency to be sometimes, was relunctant, maybe even on the extreme side of relunctant.  But, God was able to persuade him.

By the time we reach our text, Jeremiah had come to accept the responsibility placed on him by the Lord — however he ran into a considerable amount of opposition, mockery and ridicule.

His reponse (v. 9) was “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.” He was just going to keep quiet.  He no more than got those words out of his mouth when he added some very memorable words — very committed words — words of extreme conviction.  He had the fire.

“But his word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.”

He realized the importance of the message that he carried — it was the only message that would save his people.

It is the same for us today — do we have the fire? Or are we choosing to “shut up?”

Paul had it also.  Pay attention to these words in I Corinthians 9:16.  “For I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for neccessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.”

What can cause this fire?  This burning sensation in our bones?

1. Realization of what God and Christ have done for us and for the whole world.

2. Heartfelt gratitude for what has been done for us.

3. Realization of the lost condition of the world.

4. Caring that the world is lost.

5. Having God’s Word in our heart and soul.

This was an obsession with Jeremiah (and Paul) — one that we must have today also if we are truly people after God’s own heart.

Do you have the fire?

Four Everyday Evangelism Tips

Years ago, while carrying on a conversation with a preacher friend of mine.  He stopped in mid-sentence and said to me  “Evangelism is not option.”

Now, that thought was not pertinent to what we were talking about the time, but nonetheless, it was accurate.

That being the case, we need to evangelize.  Jesus left it up to us (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:46-49).  Notice in Acts 9 when He met Saul on the road to Damascus — as a part of the conversation, Jesus told him to go to Damascus (into the city) and it will be told what you must do (Acts 9:6).  Jesus didn’t tell him, He left it to his disciples, in this instance Ananias.

My point to this is — I ran across this and felt like I needed to share it with you.

Since evangelism is not an option and something that we need to do, really on a daily basis, here are four tips that we can use everyday to help us in spreading the Gospel.

1. Look at other people as those for whom Jesus died.

2. Pray for three specific people by name, asking God to use you to draw them to Christ.

3. Tell them how being a Christian gives your life meaning and purpose.

4. Relax. God is in charge.

Hopefully those tips are helpful to you in your ministry.

Why does it have to work that way?

I hear all the time — well it doesn’t work that way.

It’s interesting — I get an e-mail from my boss when I have made a mistake or when he thinks I have done something that I shouldn’t have.  But I never get one when I have done my job right.  Why? Because it doesn’t work that way.

I can take out the garbage 20 weeks in a row and never hear a living, breathing peep out of my wife, but I miss one time and then I hear about it.  I ask her why she didn’t comment on the previous 20 weeks when I did take the garbage out and her response, it doesn’t work that way.

Not that I’m against correcting mistakes, that needs to happen, but to only criticize or comment when a person makes a mistake and not offer any praise when they have done somthing good, I believe is wrong.

It’s interesting that it would take the same amount of time to compliment as it does to complain or criticize, but we only take the time to do the latter. Why? Because that’s the way it works?

First of all, who says that it has to be  that way?  What gives that individual the right to say we can do this, but we can’t to do that? 

And if that is the case, why can’t we change it?

I know a higher power and someone who does have the right and He said “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 7:12.

Seems to me we would get along a lot better if we followed that “way”.   I don’t really have the greatest desire to go the extra mile in my job if all I’m ever going to hear is something negative, without any positive reinforcements.

I have a greater desire to not do as much around the house I as I otherwise would, if only my mistakes are going to be recognized.

I was in AIM (Adventures In Missions) 20 years ago and took a Spritual Growth course while there.  In that class it was revealed that people need to hear about 30 words of encouragement for every one negative word.  Imagine what the ratio is today?

We need people like Barnabas.  We first meet him in Acts 4:36 and his name means “Son of Encouragement” or “Son of Consolation.”

Not that I have any clout, but I say let’s be more like Barnabas, be more encouraging, be more positive.   Let’s make the Golden Rule living and active in our lives and I think you’ll see a change in how the people around you react.

And maybe, just maybe, it can work that way.

Drafted, Chosen, Selected, but do we have an agreement?

Drafted, Chosen, Selected

The NFL Draft is this weekend. It’s where we find out who our favorite teams will add as new players from the college ranks. Some of those players will agree to terms and sign their contracts quickly. Others will hold out.

We are drafted, chosen, selected — by God as well, to be with Him in Heaven when time is no more. Sin separated us from God, and we all have done that — Romans 3:23. Jesus made it possible for us to come back to God — Revelation 1:5.

He left His Gospel, Good News, His terms, of which we must follow in order to be with Him in Heaven. Just like teams set forth terms for the player to sign God has terms that we must agree to in order to be saved and to be with Him in Heaven.

We have been chosen by God — but we must submit our will to His, in other words, accept His terms, in order to be saved. Just like the player must agree to the terms of the contract before he can play for the team that selects him. God has made it possible for us to live eternally with Him — it’s up to us whether or not — we want to keep His commandments, His words, His terms. If we do, Heaven is ours, If we don’t He has no choice, but to reject those who refuse — II Thessalonians 1:7-8, Matthew 25:31-46.

God’s Terms are as follows:

Hear— Matthew 11:15; Romans 10:17

Believe — Mark 16:16; John 3:16; John 3:36; John 8:24; Acts 16:31; Phillipians 1:29; Hebrews 11:6

Repent — Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30; II Peter 3:9

Confess — Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10; I John 4:15

Be Baptized — Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:48; Acts 22:16

Live Faithfully — Revelation 2:10

God has made the selection — If you accept those terms — He has an agreement — and you have salvation and eternal life in Heaven.

Two serious questions from Noah & the Ark

I was studying from Genesis Ch. 6 recently and the account of Noah and the Ark and the flood in which God destroyed the Earth the first time.  While reading that — there were two questions that arose.  Two questions that I believe to be very serious and important.

First — Would you/I build the ark if God had asked you/us to?

Careful how you answer that — because it strikes at the heart of our commitment to God.  Gen. 6:8 says that Noah found favor in the eyes of God.  Gen. 6:9 states that Noah was a righteous man and he was blameless when compared to the people of his time.

For that he is mentioned with all the other heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.  His faith, his commitment, his trust in God were the key elements for Noah.  Keep in mind — it had never rained before, as we know rain, yet God said He was going to make it rain and destroy the Earth with a flood. 

Also, with the dimensions that God wanted — this task of building the ark was going to take some time to complete .  He preached to the people and constructed the ark for 100 years plus.   Talk about commitment.  We struggle with our commitment, I do for sure.  But, thankfully, Noah did not.

Again, would you/I build the ark if God asked you/us to?

If you answered yes to the first question then that leads us to the second query.

Would you/I build the ark the way God said to?

God gave very specific instructions as to how to build the ark, the dimensions, the type of wood, the specific numbers of clean and unclean animals, etc.

We fuss about the specifics that God has left for us today in regards to how we are to be saved, how we are to worship Him and how we are to live our lives.

Gen. 6:22 says that Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

God expects the same of us — to do everything just as He commanded.  We are to obey His word by submitting our will to His, through belief (Faith), repentance, confession and baptism.  None of those “steps” should be excluded because God’s word does not exclude them. 

We are to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). God’s word is truth (John 17:17). God’s truth says that He wants us sing (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16). 

We are to live our lives in a righteous manner— to walk by faith (II Corinthians 5:17).

Many today are serving God on their terms and not His terms.  Noah’s example shows us otherwise. 

Also read I Corinthians 4:6.

To sum it up — It’s not about you, It’s not about me, It’s about God and serving Him, praising Him and glorifying Him.  Doing it His way.

Perhaps, you question and ask does it really matter?

Ask Cain in Genesis 4 — he offered a sacrifice to God, just as his brother Abel did, but God rejected it, because it wasn’t proper in God’s sight.  I’m confident that Cain was sincere and perhaps he thought does it really matter?  It did to God and ultimately His vote is the only one that counts.

Ask Nadab & Abihu in Leviticus 10.  They were priests, Aaron’s sons, God’s men.  They called for a strange fire for the sacrifice, going against what God had authorized — and the result was fatal.  Again, I’m confident that Nadab and Abihu were sincere and perhaps they thought does it really matter?  It did to God.

Ask Korah in Numbers 16.  Korah arranged for a rebellion against Moses and Aaron — the results were disastrous — Korah and his group were swallowed up and buried alive, along with their families (v.31-34)— some of them probably innocent.  Korah, I’m confident felt he was doing the right thing— God felt otherwise.

Ask Uzzah in I Chronicles 13:7-10 — Uzzah was one of the men who was helping to bring the Ark of the Covenant back.  God had specific instructions on how to transport the Ark — an individual was not to touch the actual Ark.  The oxen stumbled and Uzzah thinking that it might fall reached up to brace it and God’s anger burned against him and verse 10 says he died right there on the spot.

This was probably just an instinct on Uzzah’s part, nothing sinister behind it, but he touched it and God had not authorized it — despite David’s objection and anger, God did not apologize and Uzzah remained dead.  Was it really a big deal? — God thought so. 

Let’s renew our commitment and develop it to the level of Noah and do everything just as God commands us and do it the way He wants us to do it.

Immersed In Jesus

Sometimes we hear about an individual who immerses himself in something.  They totally consume themselves with it.  They spend time thinking about it, they make plans around it.

It occupies their mind — expends their resources and utilizes their energies.

We can immerse ourselves in many things as well.  Sports, hobbies, recreation, yard work, etc.

Some folks immerse themselves in their children and grandchildren.

I Corinthians 12:13 tells us, as Christians,  that we were baptized into one body — most understand that the word baptism means immersed.

However, we may not have given much thought to the connection of being immersed in water and being immersed in Jesus.

Galatians 3:27 puts it this way.  “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

Those of us who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ — like putting on clothing — we are covered with Him, immersed in Him.

By itself, immersion in water doesn’t do anything as far as changing a life — but when that immersion is the beginning of being overwhelmed with Jesus — it is truly life changing.

Baptism into Christ results in a person being raised to walk “in newness of life.”  — Romans 6:4. Also see II Corinthians 5:17.  This new life is one that is immersed in Jesus.

Every sinner needs to be immersed in water for remission of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16).  Everyone who is immersed in water is obligated to live a new life — immersed in Jesus.

Are you immersed in Him?  “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”  Romans 13:14.

The two most powerful words in the English language

The two most powerful words in the English language.

We need to say them, alot and we don’t say them enough for whatever reason. 

A child should say them to a parent/grandparent.

A parent/grandparent should say them to a child.

A boss should say them to an employee.

An employee should say them to a boss.

A friend should say them to another friend.

A student should say them to a teacher.

A teacher should say them to a student.

A customer should say them to a store clerk.

A store clerk should say them to a customer.

I could go on and on.

What are the two most powerful words in the English language.   “Thank you.”

Everybody wants to be appreciated.  To a boss, a little thank you every once in a while will go a long way in performance.  To a parent or a child, or a friend, a teacher, student, the same holds true.

We seem to be able to offer criticism very easily, but it’s a little harder to say thank you, or to appreciate a job well done or for the fact that you received good service or that somebody just did something nice for you.

For those that utter the two most powerful words in the English language on a regular basis, keep it up.  For those who could use them more than they do, be encouraged and committed to make that happen and I bet you’ll find things will be a lot smoother.

As for reading this post and visiting my blog —- “Thank You.”

Paul’s defense before Agrippa

Acts 26 gives us the account of The Apostle Paul’s defense before King Agrippa.  Which, really was not a defense as it was another opportunity for him to proclaim Jesus Christ. 

Paul was in prison, he was falsely charged and he had the right to appeal to Caesar which is what he did and it was granted.

After the pomp and circumstance of Agrippa and all the politcians, Paul went about the business of making his defense (preaching).  This was something that Paul very much wanted to happen, so you know he was looking forward to it. It would be his last public address that we have record of. 

Paul spelled out everything in detail, his former attitude, his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus, his conversion and his subsequent commitment to the commission of preaching Jesus Christ.

Festus, one of the jewish leaders, wasn’t buying what Paul was selling, Agrippa was receptive, but not to the point of converting.  “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?  I know thou believest.  And Agrippa said unto Paul, with but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian.  And Paul said, I would to God, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds.”   (KJV) Acts 26: 27-29.

Agrippa was no doubt sincere in what he said to Paul, but sincerity alone doesn’t get it done.  Almost persuaded is not the same as fully persuaded. 

It’s interesting to note that as Paul’s defense ended and the politicians walked away while Paul returned to the dungeon in chains, Paul was actually the one who was free.  You know he had more joy than those “free” rulers who had listened to his plea only to reject it. 

Paul remained in chains physically and would make the same defense again in Rome. Even facing his death he was obedient to the commands of Jesus.

We should all be as Paul was — without the bonds — and that is altogether persuaded to be a Christian, experiencing a freedom that is even greater than what we have as American citizens.

You can’t afford this loss

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world , yet  forfeit his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? ” Mark 8:36-37 (NIV).

A person can suffer many losses in their lifetime and can recover them, but the loss of your soul (in eternity) is irretrievable and permanent.  The soul is man’s greatest value — it should be man’s most absorbing concern. 

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish that I might gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteouness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”  Phillipians 3:7-9 (NIV).

I hate it…

I hate it that I am weak, but I love it that He is strong.

I hate it that I give in to temptation, but I love it that He withstood temptation — Luke 4.

I hate it that I seek revenge, but I love it He that was silent when he was wrongfully accused — Isaiah 53:7.

I hate it that I lose my way, but I love it that He is the way — John 14:6, Luke 19:10.

I hate it when I fail, but I love it that He understands — Hebrews 4:15.

I hate it when I get distracted, lose focus and stumble, but I love it that He is there to pick me up, correct me and return me to safety — Matthew 14:22-32.

I hate it that I get tired (physically and spiritually), but I love it that He gives rest — Matthew 11:28-30.

I hate it that I’m sometimes not very forgiving, but I love it that He is always forgiving — Luke 23:34.

I hate it that I wasn’t always a good son, but I love it that He increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man — Luke 2:52.

I hate it that I’m inconsistent, but I love it that He is always consistent — Hebrews 13:8.

I hate it that I sin, but I love it that He took my place on the cross and sacrificed Himself that I might live — II Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:8.

I hate it that I was lost and condemned to die, but I love it that He crushed the serpent’s head — Genesis 3:15, Luke 24: 2-3.

I hate it that I must die, but I love it that He conquered death — Matthew 28:2-6, Mark 16:1-6, Luke 24:2-3.

If you have any of these thoughts that you would like to share.  I would love to hear them and grow with you.