What Does God Have To Do With It?

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen" - Ephesians 3:20-21

We are living in our RV on the back side of a church's property, next to a Boy Scout meeting place. The other day I noticed one of the Scout Leaders working on a scout cargo trailer. He walked over and asked to borrow a ladder. Then he asked about the portable sheds we are building. And then he asked how we paid for the sheds adding the phrase, "Besides God I mean."

Besides God. As if it was people who really provided the money. Well, that is true that God uses people to help us but that is not the whole story. Money, unfortunately is the grease on the wheels of ministry. A necessary evil if you will. When it comes to seeking funds, my brother, Don, told me that I should ask God to provide and tell people what God is doing through us. And that is what I do. I believe that it is the Spirit of God that prompts people to support this work. A missionary couple, Edwin and Ruth Messerschmidt, once told us that where God guides He provides.

God is the source of all things. Be careful not to trivialize His role in meeting the needs to accomplish what He has called you to. You see, God never asks you to do something that you can do on your own. You always need the power of God to accomplish it. In the same way, do not minimize God's role in making provision for your life. Thinking that your well being is because of what you have done. You are because of God's providence. The idea of a "self-made-man" is carnal thinking. 

Last week we were asked of we would build some bunk beds for a church hosting volunteers. I said yes, because we could, we just need the wood. A few days later, last Saturday, I got a call. It seemed that a ministry that makes beds for families had purchased too much wood. It was for a one day build event in Cape Coral in a Lowes parking lot and now they were going to have to abandon what was left - a considerable quantity - because the few staff remaining were from out of state and leaving Florida the next day. I was asked if we could use it for the sheds and 10 bunk beds.  Martie and I drove to the Lowes parking lot to meet the ministry leader and I also met with the Store manager. I could see that there was wood enough for more than 10 bunk beds. I accepted the wood from the ministry leader and asked the store manager if Lowes would deliver it to our camp. All of this happened in one hour - from the time I got the call until Pathfinder had possession of more than enough wood to build the beds. The number has grown from 10 to 16 and now other churches are asking for help. I just wish my scout leader friend had been  there to see God at work.

We must be careful that we don't confuse what God does through us with our own effort. Stealing God's glory to receive the praise of men or to feel good about ourselves is not good. I guess that should go without saying, but sometimes we need to be reminded.

From the world's perspective, you should never start any endeavor unless you have the resources to accomplish your plans.  From  God's perspective you should never start without the compliment of faith and obedience. Where God says "GO" you go. What God says "DO" you do. Pretty simple actually.

"Men make plans in their hearts but God orders their steps." - Proverbs 16:9

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

Be It So - Embracing Spiritual Truth

"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." - 2 Corinthians 1:20

“Simplicity is the secret to seeing things clearly. A saint does not think clearly until a long time passes, but a saint ought to see clearly without any difficulty. You cannot think through spiritual confusion to make things clear; to make things clear, you must obey. When our natural power of sight is devoted and submitted in obedience to the Holy Spirit, it becomes the very power by which we perceive God’s will, and our entire life is kept in simplicity.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

The word "amen" means "so be it". We often treat it as if were punctuation. Like adding a period to end a sentence. I recall years ago a man was sitting next to me in church and every now and then during the sermon he would say "Speak! Be it so" I knew he was affirming the words of the preacher, but did not realize that he was actually saying Amen in a different way. When we say Amen we are saying that we embrace the truth of what was said. We are, figuratively speaking, wrapping our arms around it and holding it close to us. Or perhaps we are merely putting a period on the words and moving on to the next thing.

“We walk by faith and not by sight.”  2 Corinthians 5:7 

What does that mean? I think we should look at the substance of faith to understand … a supernatural trust in things hoped for that have not yet happened… and confidence in things we have not yet seen (Hebrews 11:1)  You think you are on one course, you commit to it and then, the Captain of the ship says “ heading to 270 degrees (West), full steam ahead, !”  What!  That is not in “my” plan.  Everyone is expecting me to travel on a 090 degree course (East) .. or maybe sit at anchor for a while.  Perhaps confusion or doubt will overcome you at that point, because we don’t understand or don’t want to understand is … maybe I misunderstood the order .. or maybe the Captain wants me to go in that direction next week .. you know, later, when it is more convenient for everyone.  When I can afford it financially or when it won’t inconvenience anyone.  It’s the common temptation to choose what is humanly reasonable over what is spiritually responsible. Or perhaps we should say "Amen" and step out in faith.

I am writing about a radical faith … not a misdirected one.  The world will tell you that you are misdirected if what you do does not make any sense to them.  If they can think of another way to do something that is less intrusive on others.  When God speaks, you must obey . .even in the face of the opposition of human convention. You might be thinking .. what does this have to do with me?  God has not asked me to go to Africa, or even Florida to help the people there.  Maybe not.  But He has asked you to change the course of your life.  To go in a new direction.  To obey His commands.  And what might those be?  To love Him above all, to love others, to abandon your devotion to the things of this world. (Matthew 22:37-39) To lay your life down. (Romans 12:1-2)  Pick up your cross daily and follow Jesus.  (Luke 9:23) So how is that going for you?  My wife and I are living what I call the “extreme” Christian life.  In the past 18 years we have done things in response to God’s redirection that frankly make people thankful they are not us.  Few are called to follow the course that He has set for us.  I do not say that pridefully.  We have said “Yes and Amen” and moved out smartly.  He has been the source of our strength ..the provider of what we needed it when we needed it.  He is the Captain and we are part of the crew.  He will do the same in your life but perhaps in a different context.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with your being right where you are so long as God has put you  there and your are faithful to obeying His orders.  Are you?  Then rejoice and praise the Lord! And if not .. repent!

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 

Finding The Hover Button

 “Enoch walked faithfully with God” – Genesis 5:24

“Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God because the righteous will live by faith” – Galatians 3:11

How do you listen to sermons on Sunday? For me, I listen for the Spirit’s voice through the preacher’s words. “Lord, speak to my heart” And so there will be a few thoughts to come to my mind – revelations or I suppose, more correctly, re-revelations. Being reminded of some truths that I know but perhaps I need to be refreshed. When I was in the Army, if I had been away from the cockpit of a helicopter too long I would go back to Ft. Rucker for a refresher course. Things I once knew and did, almost without thinking were not so “autonomic”.  I couldn’t find what we called the “hover button”. But after a few wobbly hovers – there it was – like it was never gone.

And so, in a similar way, that is the way it is in my faith walk.  There are principles having to do with my new life in Christ that get “stuffed” in the back of my mind. Principles that I must be reminded of. Not that I have fallen into sin, but then again to miss God is to sin – to miss the mark. 

Something that I was reminded of this past Sunday was that my being right before God had to do with faith and not sin management. Abraham, Moses, Enoch, Noah, the list is long … were righteous before God because of their faith in God. These men were not sinless. But they loved God – the greatest commandment – Matthew 22:37-38. Do you remember Ephesians 2:8-9?

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

It is my faith that is the prism through which God sees me as righteous. Not because I am a nice guy. Not because I am not guilty of doing any major sins. Only because of my faith in God, the Father and Jesus, the Son.

Does this sound simple – like something Christian knows. Like hovering a helicopter – you get away from it – in this case – not keeping it at the front of your mind, then you might well find yourself covering your sins with “fig leaves”. That is symptomatic of a faith problem. A “not loving God enough” problem.

When we do sin – and we will sin in some way – God made a provision for us.

“If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” – 1 John 1:9

Are you guilty of “stuffing” your sin as if it does not matter to God or man? It may not matter to man – but it hampers your faith walk with God. To confess is to agree with God that you have chosen the way of the first Adam and not the Last Adam – that being Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:45)  It doesn’t have to be a special time or a special place. It can be any time and any place.

 “Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God because the righteous will live by faith” – Galatians 3:11

How do you listen to sermons on Sunday? For me, I listen for the Spirit’s voice through the preacher’s words. “Lord, speak to my heart” And so there will be a few thoughts to come to my mind – revelations or I suppose, more correctly, re-revelations. Being reminded of some truths that I know but perhaps I need to be refreshed. When I was in the Army, if I had been away from the cockpit of a helicopter too long I would go back to Ft. Rucker for a refresher course. Things I once knew and did, almost without thinking were not so “autonomic”.  I couldn’t find what we called the “hover button”. But after a few wobbly hovers – there it was – like it was never gone.

And so, in a similar way, that is the way it is in my faith walk.  There are principles having to do with my new life in Christ that get “stuffed” in the back of my mind. Principles that I must be reminded of. Not that I have fallen into sin, but then again to miss God is to sin – to miss the mark. 

Something that I was reminded of this past Sunday was that my being right before God had to do with faith and not sin management. Abraham, Moses, Enoch, Noah, the list is long … were righteous before God because of their faith in God. These men were not sinless. But they loved God – the greatest commandment – Matthew 22:37-38. Do you remember Ephesians 2:8-9?

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

It is my faith that is the prism through which God sees me as righteous. Not because I am a nice guy. Not because I am not guilty of doing any major sins. Only because of my faith in God, the Father and Jesus, the Son.

Does this sound simple – like something Christian knows. Like hovering a helicopter – you get away from it – in this case – not keeping it at the front of your mind, then you might well find yourself covering your sins with “fig leaves”. That is symptomatic of a faith problem. A “not loving God enough” problem.

When we do sin – and we will sin in some way – God made a provision for us.

“If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” – 1 John 1:9

Are you guilty of “stuffing” your sin as if it does not matter to God or man? It may not matter to man – but it hampers your faith walk with God. To confess is to agree with God that you have chosen the way of the first Adam and not the Last Adam – that being Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:45)  It doesn’t have to be a special time or a special place. It can be any time and any place.

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

Standing In The Presence Of God

 "…having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus…" —Hebrews 10:19

We must never lose sight of who God is.  You think, “Oh I know who He is.  He is the  dot...dot...dot" Yet we can easily become irreverent in our attitude and even references to God.  Have you ever heard someone call God “the man upstairs”?  Or maybe Jesus as "JC"? Normally when I hear that I assume that the person is not born again, but that is not necessarily so.  It is like giving God or Jesus a nickname because you are such close, personal friends. 

“When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” - Exodus 3:4-6

When God spoke to Moses on the mountain, Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.”  Why take off his sandals?  When you are in the presence of the Creator God, you must stand clean before Him.  Taking off his sandals represented all of the things that Moses had picked up from a sinful the world.  

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:19-23

We have been given access to the Holy of Holies – God’s presence through the blood of Jesus – the veil was torn.  But that does not mean that we can approach God like he is our buddy or with sin in our heart .. any way we want to .. like the relationship is up to us and not God.

Years ago it was customary for people to dress up in the “Sunday-go-to-meetin’ clothes” when they went to church.  It was akin to taking off their shoes in the presence of God.  Today – there is a casualness on church attire.  Shorts and flipflops are considered acceptable.  It’s not really about the clothes you wear on the outside but the condition of your heart on the inside.  Jesus said 

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” - Matthew 23:25-26

“A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.” - Proverbs 21:2

 I want to encourage you (that includes me) to consider how you approach God.  If you are going to talk with Him – your heart must be clean.  You should have a reverence toward Him.  Moses had to look away because of God’s glory.  I have a friend who stands in bare feet when he preaches.  When I first saw that, I thought it was a little quirky.  But on reflection, it is actually out of great reverence toward God.  A reminder to himself that what he is doing has eternal consequences as he is fulfilling his God-given purpose. That he has a great responsibility to a holy God and must stand clean before Him.  And so must we!

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

Planning For The Next Disaster

The 1st of June is the beginning of the Hurricane season for the Gulf Coast.  It lasts until the end of November. Most hurricanes occur in the fall.  Most often, an area of interest will form off of the west coast of Africa and then make its way toward the Gulf. A storm will develop in the Gulf of Mexico.  It often strengthens into a hurricane and is heads for land and the people living in the communities on the coast.  It is an all too familiar story.  The people can’t change the storms intensity or direction, all they can do is get ready to endure its fury and deal with the aftermath of the storm.  Many of the people affected by the storm from the previous year are still “storm-shocked”.  A storm of any size, even a thunderstorm can bring on feelings of fear and anxiety - depression even.  

That is the way it is with the storms of life.  They are sure to come, but unlike having a Weather Channel to watch, you may not see them coming.  They will often have destructive power – relationships – health – wealth.  We need to be prepared for them.  We can certainly pray that the storm will be averted, that the problem will go away, but it doesn’t always happen. So what to do. Well, you need a plan.  Jesus said -

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

Did you catch that? Our plan is simple. It is faith in Jesus and peace through Jesus.  So long as you are walking on this planet and have breath, you will be faced with storms, with tribulation.  Remember the story about Jesus and the disciples in a boat.....

“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "LORD, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” - Matthew 8:23-27

Did you catch that? The storm was raging and Jesus was sleeping.  He was at peace in the middle of the storm.  How is it that the disciples didn’t pick up on that?  Because they were focused on the storm and their fear, not the One who commanded the wind and waves.  With all of their nautical skills, they lacked the ability to do anything about it.  So they turned to Jesus to fix it.  Had they truly understood His sovereignty, perhaps they would have taken a nap as well.  

Your ability to endure the storms that will come your way is a function of the strength of you faith.  Jesus said they lacked faith and asked them why they were so afraid.  That was a rhetorical question because He knew their hearts and their faith.  And He knows ours and asks us the same question.  My old friend Proverbs 3:5-6 comes to mind.  Trust God and not yourself.  In the Army we said “You fight the way you train.”  In other words, you need to be prepared for the battle.  Many of us put that off – that is until the storm comes.  Then we want to know where God is – Oh, He is sleeping.  What ?!?!?! It’s not a matter of God not caring, it is the point that He is sovereign – the master of the seas.  This is what King David wrote.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident” - Psalm 27: 1-3

Will there be storms that come your way. And there will be consequences from those storms?  Most likely.  But you can survive - you can endure! But only if the Lord is your light and salvation. Perhaps you are in the middle of a storm right now. Look to Jesus. 

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

Losing Hope When Things Don’t Go Your Way

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." - Psalm 42:11 

Have you ever been discouraged?  Of course you have.  Have you ever lost hope because life made a left turn when your thought you were going to the right?  It is the reality of living in a world that has rejected the One who created it.  A world that suffers under the burden of sin and the brokenness that sin brings.

I was talking with someone the other day.  They were sharing their concern for their child.  The child, who once had been “sold out” to Jesus, was now struggling with their faith.  Questioning their faith and God.  I would hazard a guess that most Christian parents know that concern. But it is not like pulling your child out of the street by the arm so they don’t get hit by a car.  When it comes to facing life and the struggle it brings, they must choose to get out of the street on their own.  You can certainly pray for them and should.  But no amount of talking (or nagging) will  coax them out of the street.  You must love them through their struggle of faith.

I told my friend that what we see is like looking at a picture.  A moment in time.  We should be careful that we don’t draw the wrong conclusions about their life.  I asked if they could remember a point in time when the child professed their faith in Jesus. “Yes” was the answer.  

I am an eternal security guy.  I believe that once your are adopted by faith into the family of God, nothing can change that.  I believe that being sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) means you are sealed. It is a forever thing.  I believe that when Jesus said (John 10:28) “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”) That “no one” means no one, including you, the person who has been given eternal life. The person who was born again.

I told my friend that they needed to trust God and believe His Word is truth.  (Oh, did that sound like Proverbs 3:5-6?) That the certainty of salvation applies to their child even when they see the child wandering into the street – not embracing their faith.  Struggling to understand why what happened to them, happened to them.  Is God really there? Does their faith really matter?  Don’t draw the wrong conclusion from the photo.  God sees from beginning to end.  We only see what is now and what we can see in the photo album representing their life in the past. God is sovereign.  He’s got this.  (Hebrews 11:1) “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.  The evidence of things not seen.”  So I encouraged my friend and I encourage you, friends, with this.  

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7

And perhaps one more.

"the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My [Jesus] name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 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 14:26-27

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

Delusional Living

"what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,  and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,  slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." - Romans 8:20-32

I heard a sermon this past Sunday where the preacher was explaining the meaning of delusion. "holding false beliefs or judgments about external reality that are held despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, typically as a symptom of a mental condition" In other words - perception is reality. Whatever you think is real ... is true ... is your reality.  My thoughts went to Romans chapter 1 and then more to the culture I live in. Imagine living in a society where what is true is whatever you or the consensus deems to be true.  A world where there are no absolutes.

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." - Isaiah 53:6

There is an eternal reality that the world has turned a blind eye to. There are eternal consequences for humans that are not true for all other creatures on this planet.  When does this happen? The easy answer is the moment of conception. And that is the hard answer as well. It drives so many "what about" questions. I do not understand it all, but I know what the Bible says.  At some point we all face the challenge of accepting what the Bible says about something - even if it is beyond ability to reason through it - as truth - as reality. That will open happen if we are born again by faith and enlivened by the Spirit of God.

"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" -  1 Corinthians 2:14

Don't expect the world to agree with Biblical truth. Their perception, their reality is superior in their minds to anything Christians might believe. In their eyes, we are the fools. We are blind guides. We are to be pitied. Does the depravity that is so rampant in the world alarming to you? It should be but only because it makes the light shine brighter. The darker the night, the brighter the light. Do not despair.  Truth will win out. Perhaps not in our lifetime, but the Day is coming. In the meantime, continue to put your hope in God. Be the Light!

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