Opportunities for Victory

When I consider the variety of challenges I may face on any given day, my flesh is often ready to tremble at the sight of their approach. The weakness of my humanity is constantly nagging my spirit; pointing out all the reasons why I should fail with epic proportions. In addition to all this I'm plagued with accusations of all my frailty and failures of the past by the crooked tongue of my adversary-the devil!

Yet... I am victorious because my Savior has already won! What then is there to bring against me? Afterall, "if God is for me then who can be against me?" (Rom 8:31).

The Valleys of Shaddow

There are days when I wonder if I will be able to last through the challenges I face day after day. Then suddenly I am reminded of the reality that I cannot last them... in fact the only reason I have managed to last this long is because of God's abundant mercy and grace at work in my life. Who am I without my Lord? I am nothing without Him; nay I do not exist without His will for me to be anything at all!

Something for us to think about as the craziest time of year is upon us: today is just as much a part of the plans He has for us as yesterday and the day before. Why should I fret because of my trivial limited perspective? God is God afterall and I am not. That is assurance enough for me. May the name of the Lord be praised in the good times as well as the bad. Hallelujah!

Legitimate Witness

The dictionary defines a witness as one who (1) attests to a fact or event; (2)who gives evidence; (3) confirms facts of the past to have taken place; (4) who has personal knowledge of something; (5) public affirmation by word or example. (see Merriam-Webster's)

According to our understanding of this term's etymology, the term "witness" as it is described in the New Testament refers to those who bear evident proof of their knowledge by their modeling of convictions their faith has in-fact transformed in their inner being.

For instance, if a witness were to claim that a certain company's products contain deadly poison in their bottled beverage products. It would appear consistent that this witness would not purchase or drink any product manufactured by this company if their claims were something they have actually witnessed. Otherwise, they would be considered a 'false witness'; destroying their credibility to the public and the courts.

For those who bear the name "Christian", whom are as Christ presents to the world as his witnesses (Acts 1:8), these should understand that in order to 'witness' of whom Christ is to the world, they must believe and model in their knowledge of the person and teachings of Christ.

Why then do we entertain ourselves with trivial and misplaced worldly desires? Why do we pretend to represent our Holy maker while we live unholy lives? Why do we waste the precious life we have on amusements and fleshly pleasure while we neglect our spiritual duties to pray, fast, serve and witness the gospel to every soul as if God has in-fact called them unto salvation? Where is our 'witness' of Christ?

How are we to convince the courts of the world that our witness is true of Christ if we indulge in the sinful appetites of all that is diametrically opposed to everything that we hold to be consistent in the identity of Christ?

When we only pretend to bear witness of the truth, while still holding on to all our idolatries, we are blasphemies to Christ; because we fail to represent him in his true identity to those who must see him as their hope of salvation.

If you claim to be saved, ask yourself, how am I offering evidence of my salvation to the world. I pray this blog is a challenge to wear your Christian Faith publicly without fear and shame.

Imposters?

Have you ever thought about the possibility that those who claim to have faith in Christ...

... those who attend church regularly...
... who lift their hands in worship...
... who carry and read their bibles even in public...

... that when they are called to account for sin and become offended at you...

... they may in-fact be deceived in their knowledge of who Christ is.

... and may be in danger of worshiping a god they've created rather than the Almighty.

Could it be that many who attend services and are very much involved in our churches today may be the goats Jesus talked about in Matthew 25:31-46? These "christians" (lowercase intentional) have a shallow understanding of grace, and they become hostile when the Word of God exposes sin in their lives and so they respond by manifesting the evil that still inhabits the center of their soul.

Where is the new birth which Jesus talks about (John 3:16)? Where is the living sacrifice of transformation as Paul talks about in Romans 12:1-2? or the new man/creation that has left the old way of life? Where is the proof of purchase? What evidence is there in this person's heart, soul, mind and strength that there is genuine love for Christ???

I confess that I've struggled with the flesh just like anyone else, but I've come to learn something incredible this past year... as though I finally stepped into adulthood of my faith in Christ. Until I am willing to crucify the flesh and die to the old man, my salvation is nothing more than standing at the gate of eternal life... window shopping!

Christianity is not merely a 'good idea' or some charitable philosophy. Christianity is embracing faith in its fullness... leaving behind the trivial cares and concerns of the world; finally able to see the full value that anything less than total abandonment of self is to remain lost in the power of sin and separation from the Lord God Almighty.

My friends, I pray you are not an imposter... I pray that you feel the serrated blade of God's truth cut you deep in your soul to know that your games with sin will cost you eternity if you die in it. Let your conviction lead you to repentance and embrace SALVATION, so that you may discover eternal life... and begin living the life God has been so desperate to give you.

Growing Up

The other day I tuned into a conversation held between two young girls over the matter of which color baby-doll dress was "better" between the two of them. Their disagreement could not be resolved and so they parted ways in tears over the issue.

One may say that in a matter of time, these issues will resolve themselves as the girls grow up into maturity. However, is maturity merely a matter of time? Or is it something greater, perhaps having to do with experience, mentality, emotions, psyche... or even spirit? What determines the process of maturity in the human context?

As a matter of fact, people do not always mature and know how to settle their differences... even within the circle of those who put their faith in the same Lord and Maker of all. Paul addresses the believers of the Corinthian church in 1 Cor. 1:10-17 on the matter of divisions, saying "One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ'" (v12).

Tragically, because of our limitations as a creature marred by sin and cursed since the Fall, we see but with a fixed lens of comprehension even when it comes to the Holy Scriptures; thus dividing the body of Christ by countless denominations and divisions which has consequently affected our ability to unite under the prevailing banner of Truth by the same Lord of all.

I believe, that however difficult it may appear, it is indeed possible to settle our differences and see past our limitations for the sake of serving Christ with pure heart. Perhaps then the ages would not linger in the propagation of the gospel message to reach every tribe and tongue!

Why Fishermen?

In Matthew 4:13-22 we read of the calling of Jesus' first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James and John who were mere fishermen. For the entirety of his ministry, these men were among the inner circle of trust to Jesus; experiencing first hand the power and wisdom of God in human flesh; a special revelation unlike any prophet's experience in the history of humanity.

In Acts 4:8-13, we read these same fishermen, namely Peter and John, were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the wisdom of God before the Sanhedrin who were masters of the books of God's Law. The scholars and theologians were confounded by the apostles' words; concluding this could only be explained from their having been taught by Jesus.

Now if scholars and theologians who dedicated their lives since childhood to the study and memorization of God's law were bewildered by the seemingly uneducated followers of Christ, why do we find our ministers today criticized for having no formal education? After-all, what trophies did Peter and John present but Christ as their Savior?!

I bring this up only because I feel we are becoming a society that secretly desires the praise of men rather than God. When in-fact Truth, no matter the merit or title of the spokesman presenting it, remains Truth just the same as long as it is delivered by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Does Truth depend today upon our citing scholars of commentaries and professionals in order for the message to have credibility? Or have we forgotten the True Source from which God's power is made available to us? Without the Holy Spirit, we present the Scriptures in an absence of anointing which remains powerless and ineffective, contributing to the ever-spreading cancer of ungodliness in this nation.

My friends, we need more fishermen.

Having The Proper Fuel

I remember a time when I was young, ever-anxious to offer help to my father in order to prove to him that I was useful. One day, I remember helping him with the riding lawn-mower and it needed fuel. So I went over to the other side of the garage and grabbed a can of "fuel".

When I handed it over to my father I remember him telling me this is not "the right fuel" for this machine. He said, "it needs a special fuel" in order for the machine to run properly. Even though I was too young to understand at the time, a lesson had begun for me that day that not all machines take the same kind of fuel.

When we apply this principle to our spirit, the same truth is at work. Far too often humanity tries to live life by an improper fuel. The reason we all too often fail to thrive in our spiritual walk has much to do with trying to run on "the wrong fuel". In fact, the only proper way to live life spiritually is to allow God's Holy Spirit to indwell and have authority to properly govern our lives. Much of the problem with our inability to see or understand how to live our lives has much to do with trying to do things in our own strength and willpower. If we try to apply biblical principles and live "the Christian life" without the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we will repeatedly fail to live life as our Heavenly Creator intended it to be. In-fact, to live our lives by the insistence of our own willpower and strength is to reject God entirely and claim our own power to be greater than that of God's.

John 15:5 reads, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

If we have the desire to do and live as God has designed our lives to be, we must trust and believe that He and He alone is the proper fuel for our lives. You wouldn't put milk in your car's gas tank would you? Why try to live your life without the power of the Holy Spirit?