Ministry May Not Be What You Think It Is

Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel… —1 Corinthians 1:17

Paul states here that the call of God is to preach the gospel. But remember what Paul means by “the gospel,” namely, the reality of redemption in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are inclined to make sanctification the goal of our preaching. Paul refers to personal experiences only by way of illustration, never as the end of the matter. We are not commissioned to preach salvation or sanctification— we are commissioned to lift up Jesus Christ (see John 12:32). […] Jesus Christ labored in redemption to redeem the whole world and to place it perfectly whole and restored before the throne of God. […] The one passion of Paul’s life was to proclaim the gospel of God. He welcomed heartbreak, disillusionment, and tribulation for only one reason— these things kept him unmovable in his devotion to the gospel of God. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest 

Have you ever thought of yourself as a preacher?  Perhaps not.  In our present day economy, preacher has a connotation of someone devoted to ministry, standing behind a pulpit on Sunday morning.  While I was in Haiti … my moniker was “Pastor Charley”.  I did not pastor a church but the Haitians associated me with those who did. Although I am ordained as a minister of the Gospel in Baptist circles, I never pastored a church and never will, most probably.  My point, I am called to ministry and so are you, each in our own way according to God’s shaping.  We are all called to “preach the Gospel”. 

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear - 1 Peter 3:15

You don’t have to stand behind a pulpit to lift Jesus up.  To tell people what happened in your life.  Telling people about your life before Jesus, how you met Jesus, and your life now that you follow Jesus.  I think we make it difficult with “methods” when it should be as natural as talking about your family or why you do what you do for a living.  

I [Paul] charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. - 2 Timothy 4:1-5

I am certain there are some people that you have known that you wanted to avoid when you saw them coming.  They “attacked” you with the Gospel.  Dr. John Maxwell said “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  It’s true. Another thing that is true is that you cannot save anyone.  Our part is to tell about what happened to us.  His part is to send His Spirit to do a work in the person’s heart.  Their part is to believe the truth and by faith in Jesus, be saved … or not.  You are merely and magnificently called to “fulfill your ministry”.  Pretty simple, huh? So what are you waiting for? An Invitation? Considered it delivered!

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Does God Expect You To Do The Impossible?

Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” -  Luke 18:26-27

Our life of faith is all about the impossible. Jesus had just spoken to a wealthy young man who thought that doing the right things was what was necessary to be right before God.  As human beings whose roots are firmly planted in the Garden and the sin of Adam, there is nothing we can do apart from Jesus to be right with God.

Once we are born again, God will ask us to do the impossible for His glory.  Oh, that strikes fear in the hearts of most Christians.  For the rest, it at least gives them opportunity to doubt.  Like when Peter walked on the water but then began to sink. 

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” - Matthew 14:29-31

Human ability is not in question.  Of course you can’t do what God asks without faith and His mighty power.  That is why Proverbs 3 says trust God and not yourself. That takes faith.  Do you remember when Jesus told the disciples to feed the people? 

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” - Matthew 15:32-33

Jesus was asking the disciples to do what was humanly impossible.  Imagine putting one chicken leg on the table with your family gathered around to eat.  Impossible, for men.  In the same way, every day we are faced with doing the impossible.  Going beyond ourselves to do what only God can do through us by faith.  And as soon as we take our eyes off of Jesus and depend upon our own puny abilities, we begin to sink. We wonder, “How can I possibly do this? There are so many obstacles in the way.”  The Bible is replete with stories of the impossible, but I suspect that most, if not all of us, think that those stories were for another time and place. They certainly don’t apply to our lives.  The thing is – it’s the same God – the same world – just different people. 

So, what has He asked you to do that you have rejected as being impossible.  Perhaps you need to re-think that decision, or more correctly re-faith it.  Trust God. Walk by faith and not by sight.  Nothing is impossible with God.  Never has been and never will be. 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9

To do what I am suggesting you need to be strong in your faith.  Courage is action in spite of your understanding what the natural consequences could be. So what are you waiting for?  

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Do You Believe, But Need Help with Unbelief

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief! - Mark 9:24

Up front – Some may think that devotions should be short.  A few sentences.  I write what the Lord lays on my heart.  Sometimes, like today, it can be lengthy.  No apologies, just know that is not likely to change.  

Have doubts? Join the club friend. I was talking with someone the other day.  The matter was concerning what seemed to be the imminent death of a loved one.  He said, “I sure hope that when I die, I find out this (our hope in heaven) is really true.” (Have you ever had that thought?) That statement set me back for a second.  I never thought of him as having any doubts about his faith, but there it was. The stress of the death or grave illness of someone you care about seems to have the effect of removing inhibitions from people.  Those situations reveal things that they typically keep hidden, and you wonder “Where did that come from?” or “I had no idea they felt that way!”  But to the point …

We are on a journey of faith – like in Pilgrim’s Progress.  We are jars of clay, formed from dust.  There is something called the Law of Thermodynamics, actually there are 4 laws, like Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion, except different. “Energy cannot be created or destroyed. In other words, in a closed system, the total amount of energy that can be taken out of the system will be equal to the total amount of energy that was put into the system.” That might be why people think that they can be reincarnated.  If you leave this form, you will “pop-up” in another form.  Zero sum.  Whatever is taken away is put back in.  (Hang with me, I am almost finished with the physics lesson!!!) My point is that these “laws” are nothing more than man’s observation of God’s creation.  The truth is that God can do what He wants to do, whenever He wants to do it.  He operates on an eternal clock and we operate on seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Hey, we do the best we can.  

Here is the problem. If we try to figure God out on our own, we are doomed to failure.  

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:8-9 

You, with your mortal natural mind, cannot figure God out.  

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. - 1 Corinthians 2:14

You see, in order to not have doubts, you must see the world as God does, and you can only do that by the power of God’s Spirit in you.  

We are given an account of a young boy being healed by Jesus.  The boy was apparently beyond human help. 

So He (Jesus) asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You (Jesus) can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” -  Mark 9:21-25

All of us face impossible situations. Situations that challenge the promises of God and our faith. Hebrews 11:1 says that Faith is about things hoped for and not seen.  If you want to strengthen your faith you can do two things.  Be reminded of when God showed up in impossible circumstances and keep your heart and mind fixed on Jesus.  If you don’t do that you will suffer spiritual atrophy and when that happens you will be plagued by doubt. (Proverbs 3:5-6) “Trust in the Lord in all your ways and not your own mental capacity.” In one of the Indiana Jones movies, Indy was confronted by a huge man with a huge sword.  Then Indy remembered that he was carrying a gun, so he shot the man with the sword. Well, in a way, Indy is me and you. Faced with impossible circumstances, we must remember that we are “packing”.  We have the Holy Spirit in us .. the Creator God is on our side .. and He is faithful to His promises. You can believe that!

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Temptation - I Hear You Knocking, But You Can't Come In

 "There is no temptation taken you but such is common to man" - 1 Corinthians 10:13

 “Joab withstood the greatest test of his life, remaining absolutely loyal to David by not turning to follow after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom. Yet toward the end of his life he turned to follow after the weak and cowardly Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one person has turned back is exactly where anyone may be tempted to turn back." Oswald Chambers

As a Christian there are a few things that are certain. One is that you are going to heaven.  You have eternal life in Jesus.  Another is that you are going to face temptation until you do ... go to heaven that is. The question is .. How will you respond to temptation when it comes your way?  Temptation is not sin, but what you do with temptation can lead to sin. 

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” -  James 1:13-15

You will face opportunities to sin by way of temptation every day.  First you must recognize that your struggle with temptation is a spiritual issue not a physical one. 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  - Ephesians 6:12

The point is that if you try to defeat temptation through shear will power or I suppose, more appropriately, “won’t” power, you will fail.  You are trying to do something that is impossible for the natural man.  It’s likened to trying to save yourself.  You need faith and the Spirit of God to be saved, not works or personal effort.  The next time you are tempted do what Jesus did when tempted by the devil in the wilderness … trust in God and His Word. as Pastor E.V. Hill said at a Promise Keeper's Conference some years ago - When you are tempted then Hit 'em, Hit Satan with the Word of God. 

"Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You." - Psalm 119:11

Jesus was tempted in the desert in the 3 ways that John wrote about. The lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. All temptation is rooted in one of those three.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. - 1 John 2:15-17

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but [He] was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:15-16

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

What To Do When You Don’t Get What You Want

Perhaps some of the most abused or misused or misunderstood verses in the Bible are in Matthew chapter 7. 

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! - Matthew 7:7-11

If I want it than God will give it to me.  If He doesn’t, I will be upset with God because I have decided I need what I asked for.  Actually there are a few reasons that I see that might affect God’s answer to your prayer.

First.  You have failed to examine your heart.  You have some un-confessed sin tucked away in the corner of your heart.  You have decided that the sin doesn’t matter.  That you can stand before a holy God even though you have quenched the Spirit with the sin that you are embracing.  Yes, you are a child of God.  Washed in the blood.  But you need to clear the air … approach God with clean hands and a clean heart. 

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. - Psalm 24:3-5 

Second. In God’s wisdom, there is a better answer to your prayer than the one that you have decided is the best one.  This is a test of submission to the will of the Father.  Just like Jesus. Are you really committed to seeking His will or is it only when His will agrees with yours? 

Third.  As the King James Version says “You ask amiss”.  Is it your flesh, your old nature, that you are seeking to satisfy? 

You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. - James 4:2-3

If everything is for God’s glory, why are His answers not good enough when you don’t get what you asked for? If God’s will for you is for your good and His glory, then the test is, can you trust God even when He is silent.  When you don't get what you asked for.  God is not here to serve us.  It is quite the opposite.  Even grocery stores are delivering what they sell to homes.  You nearly don’t have to leave the house.  But God does not take delivery orders.  It is so very important that we have the right view toward God.  Unlike the new TV show, God does not want to “friend you” on Facebook!  He is not your buddy.  He is the creator God who sacrificed His Son that you might be adopted and eternally blessed – for His glory and for your good.  We all should keep that in mind when we approach Him in prayer. 

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

We Can't See Their Heart But We can See Their hurt.

 Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head.  - Psalm 141:4

This is about speaking into someone's personal pain.

I might say something to that someone about their behavior or choices. The same words can be either intended to tear down or build up. They can be critical or encouraging.  Condemning or edifying. As Christians, the former should never be our motive. Everything we say should be intended to correct and direct. Encouraging the person to repent - go another way - reflecting the Lord in word and deed. What does the Word of God help us to do - To know what’s right. To know what’s not right. To know how to get right. To know how to stay right. 

So we should .....

"consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds… encouraging one another.” — Hebrews 10:24–25

“Encourage one another and build each other up.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:14

“Remember that the words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” — Proverbs 12:18

“Not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.” — Ephesians 4:29

“Carry each other’s burdens.” — Galatians 6:2

Taken together, these passages teach that encouragement means noticing people’s needs, speaking words that strengthen rather than wound, helping those who are struggling, being patient, and motivating others toward love and good actions. It doesn’t require pretending everything is fine; biblical encouragement can include gently offering truth, hope, prayer, and practical support. 

These verses are guides for others to step into the lives of some struggling Christian to be Jesus to them. In doing that you will be casting spiritual seed. Applying kindness, love, and spiritual oil as a balm. Your ministry may never be received in the way that you would like to see it at the time, but that is not your responsibility. That is between the hearer and God. We cannot see their heart but we can see their hurt.

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Will You Get In The Wheel Barrow

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. - John 14:27

The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Seeking God out in the midst of living out your life … is that a problem for you?  Our lives of faith are not merely thinking about God and then trying to do godly things … that is a certain path to failure … we do that every day even though we know that we cannot be righteous in our own strength. Yet we try to live righteous lives to the best of our ability.  Chambers said “You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. “Have you ever heard yourself say “I am doing the best that I can!”?  It’s thinking that “we” must be doing that is our real problem. 

The underlying issue of all of this is our lack of trust or faith in God.  It’s like the guy who pushed a wheel barrow on a rope stretched across Niagara Falls.  When he got to the other side he asked a spectator “Do you believe that I can take the wheel barrow back to the other side?”  The spectator said “Yes” so he said “Ok, get in!” Now that was a problem … we can believe that God will provide and take care of us, but when it is time to ‘get in the wheel barrow’ we back up … We have a tight grip on our lives and and are not ready to give the control to someone else … even if that someone else is God. 

Have you ever heard the phrase “Let go and let God”?  That is what we have to do … Putting your faith in God is where the natural meets the super-natural.  Can you trust Him?  You bet.  How will you know you can trust Him … the only way you will now for sure is by climbing into the wheel barrow.  You won’t be disappointed … trust me!

Why are you downcast , O my soul? … Put your  Hope in God - Psalms 43:5

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone