Lift Up the Standard

Don't lie; Tell the Whole Truth

2011-06-22T10:54:00.001-06:00

What do you do if the physical pain is still there and you have prayed and believed for healing? Can you say, “I am healed by Jesus’ stripes” and not feel like you are lying? Obviously the same dilemma happens when you say “My needs are met according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” and there is not money to pay the bills.
There is an answer. Tell the whole truth. The whole truth includes the fact that there is a spiritual realm that also exists and is greater than the physical realm. Don’t deny the physical pain and pretend like it doesn’t exist, but deny that the physical realm is the only source of truth. My words can be based on whichever realm I hold as greater. So the truth is “I have physical pain, but in the spiritual realm the resurrected Christ dwells in me, and His healing stripes have already healed me. My needs are met because I am in eternal covenant with the infinite, almighty God which easily handles the present physical challenges. I choose faith, choose to believe “It is finished,” and declare with my mouth what I hold as true.
Mark 11:24 confirms this principle. When we believe and declare the spiritual truth over the physical realm, then there will also be a manifestation in the physical realm in due time.

2011 A Year of Knowing Jesus!

2011-01-01T18:53:00.002-07:00

As we counted down the seconds until the new year, my heart realized that one thing is for sure about 2011: we are one year closer to Jesus coming back and all things on earth being fulfilled. The clock continues to tick loudly.
Jesus’ first words to the disciples, when they asked about the time that all things would be fulfilled, was “Take heed that no one deceives you.” He further said that many will fall away in the last days. With a slight tremble on the inside of me, my heart silently cries, God do not let me(us) be deceived. What word has the power and persuasion to keep our hearts and minds from being deceived?

In Matthew the passages on the end times concludes with the sentence, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” When Jesus warns us about a problem He also gives the answer.
Yet many read the Bible only intermittently or superficially. Some may even be bored with the contents and don’t see how these words can direct their lives. May we suggest the simple way Jesus gave to let the Scriptures be the light He meant it to be.

Jesus, in John 5:39-40, stated to the Pharisees, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. So how do we “come to Him” while we read the words of God and taste this life? The Holy Spirit as author and teacher of all Scripture uses the Word to bear witness to Jesus. He invites us to interact with Him and through this relationship get to know Him. When the Bible verse gives us something to believe, such as “do not fear, only believe,” the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus and then we can stop right then and ask Him to help us believe. When the Word tells us to “forgive those who hurt us,” the Spirit reminds us of our weakness and that Jesus is available to pour that grace into our hearts. We cry out for His love and experience His forgiveness which enables us to do likewise. Often there are verses in between the commands that are just information which set the scene for us to realize the next opportunity to draw life from Him.

2011 will be a life-changing year if we heed the admonition to not be deceived by increasingly coming to Jesus through responding to the Word He has given. Schedule a daily time and deliberately choose to meet with Jesus by coming to Him in His Word everyday.

Thankfulness -- An Acquired Taste

2010-11-23T22:39:00.003-07:00

5 Reasons to Acquire the Faithful Character Trait of Thanksgiving

Being thankful is a natural honest response of someone who realizes he has been given something that is valuable, beyond what he earned or deserved. The word asks in 1 Corinthians 4:7 “what do you have that you did not receive?” In other words we brought nothing into this world, we did not create any of our faculties, aptitudes, or abilities that make us who we are, or do anything to cause us to be alive. God knew every aspect about us long before He knit us together in the womb. It isn’t that we have a checklist of twenty things we are thankful for, but rather there is nothing outside of the incredible treasure that we have been given. All any honest man can do is acknowledge he is blessed and thank the One who gave him the blessings.
In contrast, the person who refuses to give thanks begins a downward spiral of delusion and pride. Romans 1:21 explains that “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” The person who will not acknowledge God as his creator or be thankful to God for who he is and all he has been given does not think with true understanding and easily becomes captured by false pride and desires. This lack of thanksgiving is the key to a person developing a hardened heart that is closed to having a true relationship with God or being able to receive further from God. Verse 22 continues that this person claims to be wise but actually is a fool.
The word of God continually exhorts us to humble ourselves by understanding who our Maker is and what He has called us to be, then walking in an attitude of gratefulness and obedience. Psalm 100 reminds us Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
The just shall live by faith according to Romans. The book of James furthers this truth to explain that faith is shown by works, or more simply obedience. So when 1 Thessalonians 5:18 declares, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” it becomes both an act of obedience to give thanks and an act of faith, trusting that God is able to work all things for good to the one whose heart is right before Him.
Finally, God is worthy. Revelation 7:12 declares that "Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor…belong to our God."

To Me or Not To Me

2010-10-02T10:22:00.004-06:00

The other day a student inquired about coming to CedarWood to acquire credits to graduate early. The disturbing thing about the interview was that the enrollment prospect's entire focus was her desire to graduate early and what teachers could do for her to get special individual courses and attention. There was no awareness that, as a high school student, she would be looked up to by the younger students and could contribute something significant to the school and the other students.

This caused me to reflect on how easily human nature operates in what can be called "tunnel vision." We tend to only think in terms of what we want and fail to consider others or that our life is designed to bless others. Fallen human nature thinks we are "God" and that life should revolve around us and our wants.

Jesus in the parable of the talents addresses the one who hid the one talent with the words, "You wicked and lazy servant..." Since this whole section in Matthew 24 and 25 is really talking about the end times, it becomes apparent that men will continue to regress in these choices, both to wickedness and to laziness.

Entertainment has never been so great in quality and quantity. Everything from HD video games, streaming sporting events, social networks, and a myriad of other activities which consume time and attention, there clearly are more great diversions available. Attraction to wickedness such as pornography and perversion through media options will increase in the last days, even more than now.

On the other characteristic, maybe because of all these distractions, more and more people will choose to not get really involved in any worthwhile pursuits that take whole-hearted commitment, but rather just do what they have to do to get by. An example is a student being content to get "C's" with no effort or the employee only doing the bare minimum to pick up a paycheck. Unfortunately, sin does not stand still and the laziness quality demonstrated in society will likewise grow out of proportion as we approach the end.

We can't change the world but can seek to influence it by our truth and example. Jesus has changed our heart by making us new creations "in true righteousness" (Ephesians 4:24) and has given us His power "to will and to work" for His pleasure. We do not have to be like the "Me" world. We can draw our life from the Word of God and be led by His Spirit in a daily choice to live for Him. To pick up our cross daily means to choose "Not to Me."

Heart of Christian Education

2010-06-26T09:00:00.009-06:00

What is the difference between Christian education and what children receive through the public system? The argument is that both venues may have Christian teachers who love their students and the subjects are pretty much the same, so what is the big deal? Perhaps one of the key points is that Christian education integrates the Bible into our subjects in a way that shows how this subject relates to Scriptural truth. This article considers a more complete picture of the role that revealed Biblical truth provides in genuine Christian education.

Bible integration is a well-meaning term used to show how the Word of God is brought into every discipline. However, on a practical level that term is often a euphemism for a frantic search to find Scriptures that fit into various aspects of our curriculum, similar to the student who has finished a science project but needs to have a Scripture on it to make the presentation complete. The question is, does finding an appropriate Bible verse do anything constructive for developing a Christian worldview?

Developing a Christian worldview requires something so much more pervasive. The solution is not finding the right verses, but rather having a paradigm shift in what is reality. Consider this truth: Jesus reveals Himself as the way, the truth, and the life. He further points out that eternal life is to know Him and the One who sent Him. The goal of our life and teaching likewise must be to know Him. We are not teachers that happen to be Christian, we are Christians, people who know Jesus Christ personally, that have been entrusted the gift of teaching. In other words, we are to teach Jesus, His ways, His life, and His truth in order to let the Holy Spirit reveal the nature of God to each student. We teach Him through our subjects.

Reality is that all subjects are the reflections and handiwork of God and thereby demonstrate various aspects of His character, nature, and life. John Dewey deliberately established religion as separate from other subjects in the Dewey Decimal System. God didn’t. All creation demonstrates God eternal and invisible attributes according to Romans 1. Indeed the whole process of life shows God’s patience in desiring all people to understand their need for and come to know God. Therefore, genuine teaching is about God, who He is, what He is like, and how great is His mercy and goodness. Subjects just happen to be the physical examples and illustrations that allow human nature to grasp some understanding of the infinite, all wise, almighty, personal God.

For example, mathematics helps us perceive the three in one, the strength of unity, the ability to calculate and multiply, and a system that can evaluate the incredible order and vastness of all creation. Math further provides a method for man to marvel and to understand the greatness of the indescribable God who designed such an awesome precise universe in which each part has its exact place and value. Not one hair on our head is unaccounted for nor is one jot of the law left unfulfilled. Mathematics falls short in its ability to approximate or even define infinity but God rests eternally knowing the number of the stars and the thoughts and intents of the heart. The “teaching the greatness of God” point of view is infinitely greater than just finding a Scripture where David numbers his army to identify Biblical integration in math.

Unless we as Christian educators understand this perspective we will always be falling short trying to discover a verse or principle that might apply to what we want to teach. However, if we marvel at who He is and what He has done and how incredible His creation reflects His glory, then our history, literature, science, and even music or art lessons will naturally point to the greatness of the One who authored it all. Learning will be an opportunity for Holy Spirit revelation and the process will be life-giving in its perspective. Jesus will be the all in all.

Everyone Wants a Bowl of Porridge

2010-06-11T21:10:00.002-06:00

“How utterly stupid can you be!” we scream at Esau, as he nonchalantly casts away his birthright for a mere bowl of porridge. Understandably he was hungry and the fresh cooked stew smelled so good, but …at what cost? Perhaps that is the question of life, at what price do we sell out? For what are we willing to compromise our values or ignore godly standards? When is the goal so precious and important that nothing is able to sway our convictions?
Let’s consider a couple specific situations.
Alexander, a junior in high school, has a solid workload from her classes and enjoys texting with her classmates and keeping up with friends on facebook. She has to write a three-page paper about some current event that is due tomorrow. Even though the assignment was given much earlier, somehow the urgency of this paper did not come to her attention until this afternoon. When she updated her facebook page, she noticed one of her “friends” shared a web site that has some well-written, excellent quality articles available to download free. After dinner and taking a little longer than usual on the Internet, she finally got down to doing her homework. She could do the math and history questions in less than a half hour, but she just didn’t have a clue on what current event she could write about. So out of curiosity, she checked the web site, and to her amazement there was an article about the oil spill that was the right length. Who would know if she downloaded it and made a couple changes? Alexander has to decide what she will do.
Ryan, an associate at a retail store, has been given a monthly cleaning project in his department area. It takes extra work and effort to move the products around and complete the dusting, sweeping, and mopping. Even after completing the assignment, there is not much noticeable improvement and rarely do the customers even notice. Plus, chances are that his manager wouldn’t even know if it wasn’t done this time. The store is large and there are many distractions and customer interruptions that could take his time and would serve as an excuse for the project not being done. Ryan has to choose whether to go to the extra bother to do it this week or take the easy way out.
Susan, who has two small children, works an 8 to 5 shift as a medical assistant at Children’s Hospital. After picking up the youngsters at the daycare she begins preparations for dinner. She knows that Melissa and Jamie would benefit from some one-on-one time and has even checked out a book from the library that she could read out loud to Melissa, the four-year-old, and that Jamie, the two-year-old, would be happy to sit with them. However, it would be easier to just sit the kids down in front of the television and take some “me time” with the magazine she picked up at the grocery store yesterday. Which will she do?
Apparently everybody does it. The high bar has been dramatically dropped many times. Business executives bilk the system for millions, or athletes indulge in steroids to beat the competition, and students in college cheat on a regular basis to get higher grades (around 75% of them according to Gallop surveys). Not to mention the politicians who decide which way to vote on a measure by the amount of money or influence that is used to persuade them. The integrity of many people is quickly cast aside for the immediate payoff.
However, since the Word of God is a mirror rather than a window, this question can be brought closer to home. It is not always the other guy. We like to live in our dream world and act as if everything we think and the way we do things is beyond reproach. Yet our own ways of dealing with situations, justifying various wants (as needs), and making choices may also be based on immediate personal rewards rather than the truth or principles that we know are right, truthful, and have more eternal significance.
Each of us generally contends that we are a good person, but what is the standard of comparison? The more we commit to maintain high standards of truth and integrity, the more we discover just how sold out our flesh is to having its own way. Paul shares his struggle with the flesh in Romans 7 concluding with the comment, “who can deliver me from this body of death?” Yet there is hope because the next line is “Thanks be to our Lord Jesus Christ…” Furthermore, in Ephesians 2:1-4, God, who is rich in mercy, delivers us from being a slave to the desires of body and mind. Naturally with any of the promises of God, the essential provision is for “whosoever will,” meaning for each person that chooses to receive the promise and then proceeds to obey the condition.
How do we choose to walk in freedom from the desires of the mind and body? The key is keeping our eye single or focused on something better. Without a vision the people perish or as some translations state, without a vision the people cast off restraint. God told Joshua that the way to prosper and walk in God’s blessings was to keep the word of the law in front of his eyes and on his lips. The word of God contains the vision and hope. It is up to us to let it become what we earnestly desire and the goal we think about reaching each day. Jesus states in John 8, “if you continue in My word you will know the truth and the truth will set you free,” or in John 15, “if you abide in Me and my words abide in you,” you will bear much fruit.
The point is simply this: everybody wants a bowl of porridge (satisfying the immediate appetite or pleasure) over holding on to the things that really matter. Unless we deliberately choose to hear His Word and desire to please Him by obeying it on a daily basis, we will by default follow our selfish ways and take the easy way out too. Each of us needs His help if we are going to live above the desires of the flesh. So let’s start every day by asking God to help us keep His thoughts in our minds and hearts, and then have the motivation to do the things that make a difference forever.

Humanism versus the God-directed Lifestyle

2010-04-05T06:15:00.003-06:00

God so loved the world that He sent Jesus to save sinners and to transform them into new creations, becoming sons of God. Yet the question is for what reason does a person turn to God and receive the forgiveness that Jesus purchased by His blood on the cross. Does one accept Jesus Christ as Lord so he will have a better life and enjoy eternal happiness or is there a better reason?
Humanism, by its very nature, is centered on man, his efforts, his needs, and his happiness. It is natural for human nature to focus on his own thoughts, feelings, wants, and pleasures. This truth is shown quite openly in the expression, “Look out for number one.”
The problem is that man’s human nature has been corrupted through sin. It doesn’t take long for even a baby to demand his own way or a young child to quickly declare “mine” to whatever he desires. Much advertising plays on how vulnerable man is to satisfying his wants, to feeling important, or to gaining the attention of the opposite sex. Man lives for the satisfying of his human nature and its needs and wants. This way of thinking leaves man always wanting more and never being satisfied. There is a reason that Proverbs points out that the way that seems right to man leads to death.
In the book of Jude, the word tells us to contend for the faith. Is it possible that humanism has crept into the church, and even into the way we present the Gospel? Do we “advertise” accepting Jesus so that man can have his needs met and be happy? Are we suggesting that man’s desires are the motivation to get saved?
Let the word of God suggest another perspective: God. He is the almighty infinite being who has demonstrated ultimate love in being pleased to let Jesus be crucified in our place. Rather than destroy man for killing His son, God actually invites man to receive the substitution gift that Jesus took the punishment for him. Truly this kind of merciful God is worthy of all service and praise.
The primary reason for accepting the saving work of Jesus Christ and making Him “lord” or “ruler” of his life is because man has offended an infinite holy God and now recognizes that Jesus deserves to have the reward of His sufferings. Man’s new purpose in life is to glorify God rather than live for himself. Paul states “He [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” in 2 Corinthians 5:15. Man is not only “born again” as a ”new creation” but now lives by the power of the Holy Spirit to offer his life for the glory of God.
The satisfying of human wants will ultimately fail. One cannot serve God by living for his own satisfaction. No matter what man does, there will always be criticism and someone who doesn’t appreciate it. Human wants or what the Bible calls “flesh” will conflict with the spiritual direction of what God desires. Only a deliberate purpose of living to please God will prove to provide the motivation and the persevering power to overcome to the end.
In short, even Christianity and its life-giving principles depends on man’s choice to focus on doing all things to please God rather than expecting God to be his servant and always meet his wants. God does promise that if man seeks Him first, all those needs will be met. God is a loving father who knows that the only way man will enjoy peace and joy is to repent from selfish human nature and to accept by faith the power of the Christ-filled life and the "yoke" of living to glorify God. Man chooses to be a bond-servant of Jesus Christ because God is worthy.

Many are Called, Few Chosen

2010-03-02T17:27:00.002-07:00

“Many are called, few chosen.”

Who are chosen? What does it mean that only a few are chosen? Why does God only choose a few? How do I know if I am chosen? What is God saying to each of us in this statement? What can or needs to be done to be available to be chosen? Obviously, this succinct expression was designed to give life rather than cause anxiety or confusion. So it is necessary to ask for help: “Holy Spirit, open up this truth and help us receive it.”

It is always wise to go back to the context of these words. In Matthew 20 Jesus is talking about the master who goes looking for laborers and several different hours of the day. He hires those who are available. Finally near the end of the day he finds some whom no one has hired so he also sends them into the field. There is some jealousy among the early workers about the last ones being paid the same as the ones who worked all day. However, the master does pay the first workers exactly what both he and the workers had agreed, so it is up to him how much he wants to pay the last workers and he tells them so. Then the parable finishes with the words, “Many are called, few chosen.”

From the parable the master is looking for laborers and readily hires those who are in the marketplace ready to work. He doesn’t even make a distinction between those who show up at different times. It makes sense that God has called each of us to be a part of His body and that he has specific tasks for each of us to do (Ephesians 2:10) “which He has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” However, the point of the story seems to be how do we get ourselves in a position to be “chosen.”
Most people spend the majority of their lives concerned about their job, their finances, their relationships, their pleasures, and many other facets of daily life. People get preoccupied with the busy-ness of life and take little thought of a higher purpose for their lives. Even Christians rarely consider whether we are preparing ourselves to be chosen. Who is God looking for?
According to the statement in Isaiah 66:2 “But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word,” He is looking for those who humbly acknowledge their need, are genuinely repentant for their wrong choices, and who show respect for the authority of God’s word.
God is an awesome powerful God and yet He delights to show mercy and is looking for those who know and trust His merciful love. In Jeremiah 9:24 God delights in those who understand and know Him, as the one who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth. Furthermore, Psalm 147:11 declares “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.”
God is faithful, and likewise puts high priority on faithfulness. In Jesus’ parable about the talents, He demonstrates that he who is faithful in little will be given much and enter into the joy of His father. Luke 12:42 reveals that God will bless the faithful one by making him ruler over all that He has.
Why would God choose you? A clear answer of His purpose is given in John 15:16, where Jesus assures each of us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” The purpose is to glorify Him with a fruitful life that depends upon God’s continual answering of your prayers.

Finally in Colossians 3:12-17, the word summarizes how God desires the “chosen of God” to respond. “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love…let the peace of God rule in your hearts…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord…and whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Let him hear

2009-12-23T08:43:00.001-07:00

“Did you hear what I just said? What did I just say?” the frustrated teacher responds to the disobedient student. Training children to listen and actually follow instructions is the challenge of every parent, teacher, or coach.
The amazing thing is that Jesus had the same problem with adults. He would state a life-giving truth and then conclude “he who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:9) He even quotes the prophecy of Isaiah (6:9-10) that states men will hear and not understand, see and not perceive, because “their hearts of this people have grown dull, their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes are closed.”
Why is it so hard for people to hear? The Isaiah verse Jesus quoted gives some pertinent insight. It points out that a choice is involved. The people have hardened their hearts, meaning they don’t want to be affected or corrected. Likewise, closing their eyes and becoming hard of hearing suggest that one deliberately chooses to refuse to see and hear, usually because it would require a change of attitude, thinking, and behavior. Man doesn’t want to change. Man wants to do things his own way, he wants to be God.
God calls us to repent. Repent means to change our inner heart and attitude, and then carry out this different way of thinking through deliberate different actions. God’s thoughts and ways are infinitely higher than our ways. He looks for the person who has “a humble and contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.” (Isaiah 66:2) When someone humbly lays down his own thoughts and honestly seeks truth and life from God’s thoughts, then God is free to let His presence and power work mightily in that life.
How can anyone know what God is really saying? Jesus said in John 7:17 that if anyone’s will is to do the will of the Father, he will know whether the teaching is from God or man. The real question that determines whether we hear is not the volume of the words that falls on our ears, but rather the inner willingness to obey what is spoken.
So the point is, what are you willing to hear? Do you desire God to speak into your life? Have you taken time this morning to read His word with an attitude of wanting to let His thoughts and desires become yours? John Wesley always knelt down to read the word because he wanted to be in a position of surrender to God’s will. When you tremble before the majesty and authority of God’s word, your ears will be attentive and you will hear.

How Much is Enough?

2009-11-27T21:11:00.002-07:00

Walking through the stores very early on Black Friday morning and feeling the throngs of shoppers snatching up as many deals as possible is an experience to challenge the rational mind. How much stuff do we need? What makes us willing to pay such a high cost to amass more stuff? Why do we continually seek something new and more powerful to meet our wants? Do we really need more? What is the root cause of desire?
Christmas is the season of many things, but for children in most Western countires the first thought is the presents. Even though parents and Christian teachers have labored hard to bring the emphasis back to God and the coming of Jesus Christ, nothing replaces Santa Claus and their desire to get more stuff. We may have created a monster, but the roots were there long before we watered the plant.
Even Shakespeare, in Troilus and Cressida, points out that desire is never satisfied and infinite in what it seeks. Likewise Paul would contrast the desires of the flesh as diametrically opposite to the law of God in the spiritual man. Fallen human nature, according to Ephesians 2, follows the desires of body and mind. Even Solomon, who had the capabilities of letting himself satiate every human desire from wealth and fame to sex, concluded that all is vanity and that it did not satisfy.
The problem is simple. Our flesh wants everything it can desire, but it doesn’t have the ability to know what really satisfies those desires. Once man is born again with a new spirit, his mind and desires must be renewed or changed by God’s desires, revealed in His word. As the word becomes flesh in us, our thoughts and desires are transformed to be like His. Then promises like Psalm 42 which declare how we long for the living God as a deer pants for water become reality inside our hearts. God is even pleased when we honestly admit our lack of desire for Him, and then ask Him to give us a hunger and thirst for Him.
So how much stuff is enough? Stuff may be useful but not helpful if it deadens or is sought in replacement of the true fulfillment that only comes from knowing Jesus and enjoying the presence of God. Once we know Jesus, His Spirit can lead us to the right amount and use of stuff. Ask the Holy Spirit to sanctify your desires and give you that which matters.

Thank you, Jesus

2009-11-23T02:34:00.003-07:00

Thank you, Jesus. Giving thanks begins with realizing that you have been given something valuable, beyond what you earned or deserved.
There are two sides of the foundational coin of thanksgiving. The first is admitting or knowing who we are and freely responding. The second choice is allowing an attitude of ungratefulness to settle in our hearts and suffering the consequences.
1 Corinthians 4:7 asks “what do you have that you did not receive?” In other words we brought nothing into this world, we did not create any of our faculties, aptitudes, or abilities that make us who we are, or do anything to cause us to be alive. God knew every aspect about us long before He knit us together in the womb. It isn’t that we have a checklist of twenty things we are thankful for, but rather there is nothing outside of the incredible treasure that we have been given. All any honest man can do is acknowledge he is blessed.
On the other side of the coin, the person who refuses to give thanks begins a downward spiral of delusion and pride. Romans 1:21 explains that “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” The person who will not acknowledge God as his creator, usually demonstrated by being thankful for who he is and all he has been given, then no longer can think with true understanding and becomes captured by false desires. Verse 22 continues that this person claims to be wise but actually is a fool.
Giving thanks to the Giver is so simple and so right. The word of God continually exhorts us to humble ourselves by understanding what we have been given and walking in an attitude of gratefulness and obedience. Taking time to express thanks reminds us how blessed and valuable we are. God doesn’t need our praise and thanksgiving, He simply is worthy and has been incredibly good to us. We are the ones that need the right attitude in order to experience and enjoy the tremendous relationship that His gift has made possible. Come to Him right now with a simple, “Thank you, Jesus.”

Fresh Mercy - Get It and Give It!

2009-11-15T10:18:00.003-07:00

This morning a fresh blanket of snow covers the ground in the Denver area which reminds me of the blood of Jesus and the fresh mercy that He gives to start each day. Truly, God makes all things new for those who receive it. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, according to Psalm 23.
What an amazing God! Instead of rejecting us for our wrong choices and sinfulness, He has made a way for us to not only be forgiven but also to enjoy a perfect harmony and peace with God Himself. This gift is His mercy. Ephesians 2 reviews the consequences of our fallen flesh and then reassures us, “But God who is rich in mercy.” It certainly is not a coincidence that the presence of God in the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant, was the home for the mercy seat. Praise God that His nature does not change and He is continuing to be rich in mercy to each of us today.
The foundation of the word “mercy” is from the Latin word meaning “price-paid.” How true! God can afford to extend incredible mercy because of the total price paid by Jesus who freely shed His blood for every sin.
Joe Kuhlman, the father of the famous evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman, was mayor of Concordia, Missouri. One day as the city council was gathering for a meeting and entering the city building, a drunk pushed over the mayor as he stumbled into the revolving door. One city councilman said to Mr. Kuhlman, “Are you going to take that?” The Mayor replied, “Sure, I can afford to.” Obviously Jesus, who paid the supreme price, can afford to forgive and show mercy to you and me.
Since we did nothing to receive this priceless gift of His mercy, it follows that we cannot “un-earn” it. Naturally, we did not and do not deserve it. Yet God can do what He chooses to do. Thank God He has chosen to give mercy to us through His shed blood and He chooses to continue to give mercy to each of us. However, there is something we can do to show we are thankful and to continue to walk in it. Jesus declares in the beatitudes, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” His challenge to us is to demonstrate the mercy of God, which you have freely received, as a gift to others.
How much more magnificent in the eyes of God, than the beautiful fresh falling snow, would be the earth covered with the mercy of God. We are the instruments of His mercy. This morning, we are clearly reminded to receive and to show others that gift which is beyond human origin, the fresh mercy of God.

Unshakeable

2009-11-09T22:55:00.001-07:00

Unshakeable
All things that are made, according to Hebrews 12:27, will be shaken so that only the things that cannot be shaken may remain. The question is what parts of our life are involved with the unshakeable?
A teenage boy spends hours playing Halo or some other video game mastering the fine points of how to reach the higher levels. A young girl reads all about the latest “hottie” in People or some other popular entertainment magazine. A man spends hours each day checking the latest sports news and scores as well as various favorite Internet sites which may even include some pornographic sites. Many people think nothing of spending several hours texting and posting on the various social media networks. What lasting effects or what practical value has these pursuits? Obviously, none.
Furthermore, the majority of people spend significant amount of time and effort to make money to spend on worldly comforts and pleasures. We strive to get the highest paying job that doesn’t require too much work or stress. We consider various luxuries such as the latest cell phones, high definition televisions, computers with high speed Internet connections, and various entertainment options as necessary expenditures, yet seldom consider the possibility of a higher and more unshakeable investment that could change lives forever. Would we be so nonchalant and secure if we knew that the vast majority of these activities will be shaken? Would there be a shift in the way we look at things and how we seek to spend our time?
According to Barna surveys the typical Christian spends less than a minute of the day talking to God or reading His word, and uses the other 1,439 minutes for mostly temporary things that don’t matter and will pass away. Jesus said that heaven and earth will pass away, but His word will not. Likewise in the parable of a wise man building on the rock instead of the sinking sand, the difference was hearing and obeying the word. There is a critical need to examine and determine what is built solid on Biblical principles in our lives. In other words, what parts of our life are unshakeable?
It isn’t even a question “what if” things were to change, the only question is when. Knowing this what type of person ought we to be? How can we begin to change? The answer is simple and yet completely profound. Read the word. Think about the word. Make our thoughts and ways line up with the truth of His thoughts and ways. What you think, what you desire, what choices you make that are consistent with God’s word, these will last forever and be unshakeable.

You Get What You Plant!

2009-10-25T11:22:00.002-06:00

Human nature has an almost-magnetic pull toward thinking we can get away with anything. It also likes to follow the path of least resistance, doing only what it has to. We seem to think that we can do what we want and have no consequences. Our flesh thinks we can eat fattening deserts, drive over the speed limit, watch hours of TV, listen to music with vile lyrics, look at pornographic pictures, entertain negative thoughts, and still expect to have everything go perfectly.
Jesus disagrees. Galatians 6:7 starts out with “Be not deceived,”as it proceeds to declare the eternal principle of sowing and reaping. Why would God say that first? From the beginning He makes it clear that this principle is the opposite of what our flesh so easily rationalizes as acceptable truth. We cannot get away with anything and we will surely reap consequences or results from everything we sow. Every thought and action produces something.
Even though this Scripture about sowing and reaping is commonly used as an incentive in financial giving, the overall nature of the principle is whether we sow to the flesh or sow to the Spirit. Sowing to the flesh simply means doing whatever our mind or flesh wants, according to Ephesians 2:3. In Proverbs Solomon reminds us that “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—so shall poverty come on you like a prowler.” In other words, being lazy will surely lead to lack.
Jesus instructs us, rather, to sow to the Spirit by obeying His leading. Romans 8 promises that those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God. Jesus himself demonstrates this principle saying I must work while it is day, because night comes when no man can work. We only have the window of this lifetime to sow good seed. Jesus at times was so busy teaching and meeting people’s needs that he didn’t have time to rest or even to take a lunch break.
Our flesh looks for a life that is comfortable and convenient. God invites us to rather spend ourselves freely to serve Him and others, promising eternal fruit. Do we believe Him enough to change our perspective from what do I have to do to what can I do today?
Holy Spirit, lead me today in specific things that I can do to sow good seed, because I believe the truth that whatever I plant is what I shall receive.

Overcoming the Deceiving Enemy

2009-10-04T09:23:00.003-06:00

“I really should, but…”
How much control do you have over your own flesh? When you have this quiet voice inside saying that you should do something, is it easy to say you’ll do it later? When you preface your remarks with “I shouldn’t say this…” are you able to not say it? Do you waste 30 minutes on a television program you really weren’t interested in, but it was easier to just sit there than to get up and start the project? When you have a spiritual need that requires prayer and fasting, are you able to quit nibbling or thinking about food? Do you say inside, just one more? In short, who rules inside of you?
James 1:26 points out that the one who claims to be religious but can’t bridle his tongue deceives his own heart. In another place, Jeremiah declares that the heart is deceitful above all things (17:9). Have we accepted the fact that our flesh is at war with our spirit and will always try to sabotage our godly desires? There clearly is a war going on, but many people do not realize the opponent and how to win.
Muscles develop through exercise. Hebrews 5:14 describes the mature Christian as one who has his senses or faculties “exercised” to discern both good and evil. The time to exercise your spiritual muscles is now. 2 Corinthians 6:1 states that now is the time of salvation. Much like a workout program, the benefit only comes with a willingness to start doing it and then being faithful in carrying it out consistently. The man of God must show diligence in mastering the flesh.
Wait, help is on the way. The Holy Spirit is our helper and clearly is involved in our cause “to will and to work” for His good pleasure. Even Jesus offered himself, according to Hebrews 9:14, through the eternal Spirit. So likewise, when you commit to God’s will in big or little things, God’s Spirit is right there to help you make the decision and to do it.
Today is a new day and God’s mercy is fresh for you. What is God telling you to do? Change the outcome and lethargic feeling that follows by simply saying “I choose to do that and my flesh will not overrule my decision. Trust the Holy Spirit to give you the desire and the power to overcome. You are an overcomer.

Jesus running to help?

2009-09-21T11:50:00.003-06:00

In my quiet time this morning I came across the phrase in Hebrews 2:18, “He is able to succor them that are tempted.” The reason given was because He Himself suffered and was tempted with everything that we could be and yet without caving in.
The word “succor” caught my attention. It reminded me of a science term for a branch that is grafted into a tree and gains life from the established plant. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines succor “to run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want, or distress.”
What an incredible God! He not only is a “very present help in time of trouble” according to Psalm 46, but consider also His heart and attitude in being with us in those tough times. Can you picture Him running to help you just when you need it. He takes pleasure in us trusting His help rather than giving up.
No wonder God warns us about the deceitfulness of sin. Sin lies. It wants us think that we are powerless and that God doesn’t care and may even have fdeserted us. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We are engraved in the palms of His hands. He never leaves His children alone. He knows every pain and temptation that we endure.
God reminds us not to cast away our confidence for it has great reward. Then He paints this picture of Him running to help so we don’t have to believe the lie that the situation is winning. God is pleased when we maintain our confidence in Him and His word during the hard times. In Hebrews 3:6, the word declares that “we are His house if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”
The word today is simple: you can trust Jesus’ help, He has been there and won. So you can rejoice, because now grafted into Jesus, you win! Rejoice!

Have You Had Your Multi-Vitamin Today?

2009-09-13T09:26:00.002-06:00

Do you take a daily multi-vitamin? Do you feel stronger and healthier after you take it? The truth is that rarely does one immediately feel stronger or healthier. However, knowing these vitamins and minerals are available to our body system gives one the confidence that they will be utilized as needed to keep the body healthy and functioning well. It is like a timely deposit into the bank of good health.
Then the next obvious question is “do you take a spiritual multi-vitamin each day?” What do you do to ensure that you have the resources available to your inner man, your spirit, to maintain spiritual balance and focus in challenging times? God has provided spiritual vitamins in His word. These life-giving capsules likewise may not give immediate strength, but they are sure to work effectively in times of need.
One of my favorites is found in Ephesians 3:16, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,” This simple request assures me that God is providing that inner strength to meet the challenges of the day.
Another great one is Colossians 1:9-11, “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.” Who doesn’t need encouragement that we have God’s power to be patient with joy and fruitful in all we do?
Have you found a good spiritual vitamin to take daily? As you read in the Word each day make a list of great “vitamin” verses and put one in a conspicuous place each day so you remember to dwell on it.

God's Incredible Favor

2009-09-05T11:39:00.001-06:00

Walking in God’s Favor
Psalm 5:12 declares, “For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.” The one who accepts Jesus’ righteousness and walks in it will enjoy God’s favor.

Recently a friend shared how God’s favor followed him at work. On a slow day in the store God sent the right people to him that needed the merchandise that he sold. One after another they came to his department and made purchases. In a few hours he was able to sell more than his quota for the week. God is so good.

Then on arriving home, I was met by my son who shared what incredible favor he had received at work where his boss’s boss gave him some projects and could not say enough about how much she valued his work. My own experience and testimony this week also is that I have seen amazing favor from God.

As the school year has started at CedarWood, the favor of God is upon us.. From staff members cheerfully giving their all, to parents willing to help, to the attitude of our students, to a tangible presence of God in worship and students willing to seek Him with all their heart, it is clear that we are enjoying God’s favor. God has hand-picked the young people who are being trained and taught the ways of the Lord and we believe it is His favor that inspires the creative ideas as well as the efforts of teachers and staff to make it possible. We are blessed.

With God there is no partiality. He feels toward you just as He does toward Jesus.(John 15:9) He reveals to you that you are “My beloved son (daughter) in whom I am well-pleased.” Truly God's favor surrounds you as a shield.

Commitment or Convenience

2009-08-29T10:38:00.002-06:00

Convenience or Commitment?
Everybody loves the football team when they are winning; but what happens during the times when the team is losing. Where do the “fair weather” fans go? All things are tried by fire. When tough times come, the truth comes out whether people are doing things just out of convenience or out of commitment. Similar to the sports fan situation, the test of following Jesus is not what is said, such as “Lord, Lord” but what a person does, especially when it is inconvenient.
Jesus strongly stated, “whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” This seems completely unreasonable and undesireable to our flesh. However, in over 2/3 of the countries of the world, people who accept Jesus Christ are brutally persecuted and often killed today. Why does God require so much? Deeds not words show the faith of a person. When a person is willing to lay down or sacrifice that which is in his hands, he demonstrates a step of faith that trusts God does care and will, in fact, meet his needs. Why was Jesus thrilled at the widow who gave her last two mites or the woman who freely applied the costly spikenard to Jesus? Both demonstrated the kind of love for God that gives all.
The same is true about Christian education. When a person has enough money to afford Christian education and still keep all the comforts and conveniences he has become accustomed to, then it is easy to enroll the children in XYZ Christian School and declare God has led them to Christian education. However, the test comes when the money for tuition isn’t there. Has God lead the same person to Christian education when times are hard and in order to provide for Christian school it might be necessary to not have a high-definition TV, cable, or cell phones, or a new car, or many other modern-day “necessities.” Where is the Biblical spirit that one swears to his own hurt (Psalm 15:4) or is willing to give all to obey the Lord? One parent recently shared that she and her husband had to re-prioritize their lifestyle an make some choices including continue to drive an older car so their sons could be taught and trained at CedarWood. In other words, they were willing to do whatever it takes to not compromise the godly mandate to raise up children in the instruction and correction of the Lord.
The love of money is the root of all evil. It is amazing how many times the real issue is money that causes our reasoning to change. Most of us know that God instructs parents in the word to “bring up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4) and to be careful to “see that no one makes a prey of you through the philosophy and traditions of man” (Colossians 2:8) rather than obeying Christ. Yet, when the choice is between “free” public education and the cost (and sacrifices required) to have tuition for a Biblical education based on truth and love, the thoughts and intents of the heart are revealed. And unfortunately, often the world and its desires win. We rationalize that our strong Christian home will compensate for the ungodly influence of worldly thinking that our children will be exposed to for 8 hours a day. The Barna survey organization reports even young people who are from Christian families that participate regularly in Sunday church services and at least one extra meeting a week are greatly affected. 87% of these young people will have lost their faith by the time they finish public education.
The tragedy is that many people have been so thoroughly affected by the world and the desire for comfort, success, and convenience that they are unaware that the world controls their decisions. Yet James 4:4 states “friendship with the world is enmity with God.” Enmity means mutual hatred. Obeying God is not negotiable. You cannot serve two masters.

Never Be Afraid of God Again

2009-07-02T21:47:00.003-06:00

There is a special quality in the heart of man that pleases God so much He literally calls it His treasure. Because of this desired characteristic, God promises some amazing and unparalleled blessings:
no want (psalm 34:9),
He will teach in the way He chooses (Psalm 25:12),
the eye of the Lord is upon him (Psalm 33:18),
a fountain of life to turn one away from the snares of death (Proverbs 14:26)
strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge (Proverbs 14:27),
the angel of the Lord encamps all around him (Psalm 33:7),
the secret of the Lord, a sharing of intimate covenant relationship (Psalm 25:14),
the compassion of a father toward his children (Psalm 103:13),
an everlasting to everlasting mercy upon him, and righteousness to grandchildren (Psalm 103:17),
He will be their help and shield (Psalm 115:11),
motivation and ability to depart from evil (Proverbs 16:16),
a person’s days will be prolonged (Proverbs 10:27),
leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction, he will not be visited with evil (Proverbs 19:23),
riches, honor, and life (Proverbs 22:4).

Many people have probably guessed this must be the rewards for loving whole-heartedly or walking in righteousness or practicing forgiveness. However, this heart attribute that is God’s pleasure is the fear of the Lord.
How can this be? Learning to not be afraid of God is one of the greatest comforts that comes from experiencing His great love, for perfect love casts out fear. Therefore, it is almost inconceivable for many people that God would want his people to learn fear. However, before we reject this concept, it behooves us to examine what the Scripture is talking about and understand what this heart quality truly is.

From the Bible definition in Proverbs 8:13, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.” God is seeking to transform the heart of fallen man to have the same hatred of pride, sin, and evil that He has. It seems to start with an awareness of how great, how compassionate, how totally good God is. Psalm 33:8 speaks of His greatness of His creation and wisdom and instructs that “all the world stand in awe of Him”

However, the concept is much more than perceiving His majesty and reverencing Him. There is something supernatural about having this reality because in Psalm 25 God himself promises to teach the fear of the Lord to those who are willing. Proverbs 2 declares that those who seek and desire God whole-heartedly will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. We are instructed to choose the fear of the Lord in Proverbs 1:29 by His showing what happens when this choosing is absent.

God is so good. He desires such a tenderness toward Him that we are one with His heart and love. Fear of the Lord is that internal specialness of our relationship that causes us to hate anything that would lessen or harm this incredible closeness and union with Life and Love Himself. We walk humbly because in our heart of hearts there is such gratefulness to be chosen to be His, a revelation of His character, and such longing to respond to His love in a complete pleasing way. Therefore, take time to ask and let Him teach you and cradle you in the fear of the Lord, enjoy incredible blessings and benefits, and never be afraid of God again.

Man's Pride vs God's Direction

2009-06-25T11:44:00.002-06:00

All things will be tried by fire according to 1 Corinthians 3:13. How do we know what will be precious and lasting to the end and what will burn up? We know according to Hebrews 4 that God's word is able to discern the thoughts and motives of the heart, but even that isn't foolproof, because how many thousands of people claiming to follow the word differ or do foolish things?
The answer has to be to get a confirmation from the author to find out what He meant. Unless we lay down our thoughts and take some specific time and attention to let the Holy Spirit teach and guide us, we will still just interpret the word in our own perspective or prejudices. Why does God promise incredible blessings upon those who wait on the Lord?
Man is so proud. Everyone seems to think they know what the government should do, what the pastor needs to do, what is wrong with the boss, where our parents are wrong, where our spouse is selfish, etc. We even think we know what God should do. So many times our correcting someone else is just pride. God does give us the right to correct others in Galatians 6, but with humbleness and weeping.
The question is "Do you want to let God direct you? (Why did Jesus ask "Do you want to be healed?"?) Then humble yourself to honestly admit you can't direct your own life and the specific thing you are concerned about, and ask Him to lead you. Then wait...be still...listen...wait...be still...listen...until you know the next step He is directing. Then...do it.