Where We Go

In the face of danger we have this natural instinct to go and hide. When a hurricane comes we board up our windows, and take shelter. Those of us here in New Orleans, pack up and leave. We flee in order to keep safe. The same thing happens when we are challenged. The natural reaction is to back down, to submit to your normal ways, and not move forward. This is the natural way, however most of us have come to accept challenge and move forward to face these challenges. Sometimes when we chose to face the challenge we come victorious, and others we fail. Natural reaction would be to give up, not continue to try, just move on to the next. Some however have come to the place where they can continue on until they arise victorious and have defeated that challenge. Most people shy away from change as well, we don't want to go outside of our comfort zone, and comfort is more often than not the same thing that everyone around us is doing. If we do as others do, we fit in, skate through life un-noticed and don't stand out. We can move through and be accepted by one group or another. A fad can soon become reality, and your new way of life. Some people don't grow out of different stages in their life, they find comfort and come to believe that this is the only way. Where do we go? We go wherever life is comfortable, and convenient. How many people do you know have taken on a way of life, or a philosophy and chose to take it as their defining thought process? They find something that fits their personality, and take it on as their way of living. Trying to show this person that they are wrong is useless sometimes, because they have been sold out to the idea that their comfort is what is most important. How many times have you heard someone say, "I don't know, it just feels right."? It just feels right! Since when did the thing that "feels right" become the right thing. How often is the thing that "feels right" in all actuality wrong? I would have to say pretty often, at least in my life. I have come to see that more often than not the things that feel right are the things that I know are wrong. I don't know about you, but if it comes natural to me then I know that I need to evaluate that and see what is at the center of that feeling. To often people walk away from what they know the bible says because they don't agree with it, or because they aren't comfortable with the way it makes them feel. If you are one of those people who aren't comfortable with the way the bible makes you feel. GOOD! Keep reading it, that feeling is what is going to probably save your life. Jesus was full of teachings that didn't sit right with people, because a lot of what He taught went the opposite directions from their traditional way of thinking. They couldn't fathom that what He was saying about Himself was true. "How dare he speak of himself that way", they chose not to accept Him. They would follow Him as long as He was doing things for them. They sat and listened to Him teach while He was healing their sick, they ate the food that He miraculously gave them, but when He started to teach the hard to swallow stuff, the stuff that was hard to imagine as true, or took them away from what they thought was right, they turned their backs on Him. We do this a lot don't we. I remember hearing someone say to me once that they don't believe everything that the bible says. WHAT?!? I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This is a person who called themselves a devout Christian. But this isn't their fault, they listen to their feelings, that is what they did. They read some stuff they didn't like because they felt that it challenged some of the stuff they were doing in their lives, or in the lives of love ones and thought they would just choose not to accept it. This is what we so often do, we feel like this is wanting us to change who we are. We don't want to have to sacrifice who we are, who we have made ourselves to become. It is natural to shy away from change, to be scared of being someone that is different from the things that we know. "Does this mean I have to stop...?","I don't have to change _______ , do I?" We fear change, we hate change, we can't accept it in our natural state. Because of this natural reaction to change, people have perverted the truth. People have changed the Bible's teachings to fit their lifestyle. They begin to fool themselves, or choose to follow a teaching that doesn't require them to change. I would have to say that if there is a teaching that doesn't require who you are to change, then I would suggest that you re-evaluate yourself and really look to see if change is in fact what you need. I would say that we all need change, we all need to become different people than we are. "I can't change, I have been this way for too long now." I know. This is true, YOU can't change, but the great part about all of this is all you have to do is recognize that you can't and submit yourself to the forever changing and saving power that is Jesus Christ. The chances are that there are a lot of things that need to be changed about all of us, but the difference between me and some others that I know, is that I am willing to allow Jesus to change those things about me. I know that I am not perfect and that once He changes one thing there will be something else that needs to be changed, and I am okay with that. I am ready for Jesus to change who I am everyday for the rest of my life, to break away the peaces of rock that formed the person who I was, and carve in me a new life, making me a new creation. One that does not crave the things I once did, a creation that is free from the bondage of "comfort" that I fell under. I am ready for the things I am currently comfortable with to be uncomfortable to me. I don't want to be in a comfort zone, I want to be in Christ, where I am always changing and being prepared to be comfortable in the place He is making for me. " 60On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[e] and they are life. 64Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." 66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:60-68We to often hear a tough teaching that hits us right where we are, and makes us get up out of our comfort zone, and choose to walk away, to turn our backs. We chose to follow what makes us comfortable, not willing to accept the teaching God has given us in His perfect word. Where do we go? We go to a place where no change is required. Where should we go? I mean, Jesus has the words that leads to eternal life. Where else is there to go?

The Kingdom

This morning in church the pastor preached a message titled "His Kingdom Never Ends", and as I was sitting there God kept laying different passages on my heart, and different illustrations, so I had to come here and write a little note about it. The focus passage was Hebrews 12:28-29, where the author writes " 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire." When he made his first point he was talking about the "kingdom that cannot be shaken". Here it really hit me, God spoke to me loud and clear. The kingdom of God is here and it is not going anywhere, nothing anyone can do is going to break the walls of God's kingdom down and infiltrate. God is too strong and His kingdom will always be. This truth is not just so in the life we are living here on this earth, but it will continue for ever, through out all of eternity we are going to be living in the Kingdom of God. Not weapon, not man, not science, not Satan himself will be able to destroy the kingdom.Jesus came and started preaching this all around, He came saying " repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near", He spoke parables trying to paint pictures of what the kingdom is like. The kingdom is like a mustard see, like a man who sows good seed, like yeast that was mixed into flour and then made into dough. He commanded us to seek first the kingdom of God, he explains who will have the hardest time making it into His kingdom. He explains the type of person that will inherit the kingdom. Jesus focused a lot on teaching of the kingdom and I feel like we neglect to understand, or even think, or more importantly focus on this kingdom that God has built for us. Well, what is this kingdom Jesus spoke of, where is it? The same Jesus who teaches us what the Kingdom is like tells us where it is, well Heaven of course, but how is it that I can say the Kingdom is here now? Because Jesus tells me in His word that it is inside of me, and all of us who believe in Him. Luke 17:20-21 " 20Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within[a] you."Here is where my strength is found, this is why I know that I am indestructible. Sure you may be able to take the breath from my body, but inside me lies the kingdom of God, the kingdom that cannot be shaken, and for that I am thankful. I am a part of the kingdom that has endured thousands of years of people and powers and principalities trying to break down the walls, trying to persecute to the point where nothing will remain. The kingdom I am a part of survived great persecutions from the Roman empire, under Nero and Domision, countries leaders like China and Russia try to keep the kingdom from being preached in there nations but were unable to stop it. China is said to have the strongest church, the most active and full body of Christians in the world. Why? Because you can't stop it," the kingdom of God is too big to hide" Dr. Thomas Strong. The word of God is too loud to silence, the truth my friends has set us free, from any bondage, any chains that this world can put us in. I am reminded of a story in Acts 5 where the Apostles were in Jarusalem and they were performing all kinds of miraculous signs, and all of the believers were meeting in a part of the Temple called Solomon's colonnade, and the high priest and his Saducees became jealous so they arrested them. They were wanting to persecute them, but along came a teacher of the law named Gamaliel and told them " "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." And here we are! Still strong, still unshaken, un able to be contested. All of these people who try to stand against the Kingdom of God find themselves defeated and unable to silence God's people. And one great and glorious day will come when we get to be in this kingdom that God is preparing for us, a place that we can't even beguine to imagine. This is the place where I have made my home, this is the place that I get to spend eternity with my Savior. " 15The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[a]in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits[b] thick,[c] by man's measurement, which the angel was using. 18The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[d] 21The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. 22I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp." Revelation 21:15-23 This is where we will be, let's not neglect to introduce as many people as we can to this stronghold, this unshakable kingdom of which we are citizens.

What Do We Fear

What I'm about to say is based off of my own convictions, and of the response to the same question by some other people. I would have to say though that based on the average response this is probably one of the general reasons that people don't spread the gospel. Having said that, why don't we do a better job of spreading the gospel? The answer I think is because of fear. We are afraid of our knowledge, or lack there of. Another question for those who don't fall into this category is for the leaders of the church. Why does you congregation not grow, or what is the reason your people aren't spreading the gospel? I say the answer is the same, fear. I know as I came up I was afraid to share my faith, afraid to go up to people I didn't know and strike up a conversation about one of the two topics that people were reluctant to talk about.(religion and politics) "What will I say?", or "What will they say?" The average person that attends church, or even serves in the church doesn't really understand, or think that he/she has the words to say in this kind of situation. Why? Why is there this fear? Is it because of our leaders? What are you teaching in your pulpit? Are you preaching blue skies and rainbows, or are you attempting to "fan into flame, the gift of God" (2 Timothy 1:6) Perhaps they don't even know that they have these gifts. Are the leaders of the church igniting the burning coals of passion that are smoldering in the bellies of believers, waiting to ignite and proclaim the gospel of the resurrected Christ from the roof tops.Why do they fear? They fear because they don't know enough to know that "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) They fear because they don't know that the foundation on which they stand in Jesus Christ is solid rock and nothing can shake the ground under their feet. That though our lives may be taken, and this body in which we live may be put to rest our spirit is in the grasp of the All mighty God, protected by the impenetrable walls of His grace. I fear that today's leaders of the church may have lost that passion, that burning desire to step outside of the confines of the church building and go mix it up, and pick a fight with Satan himself. Are our leaders out at the front lines ready to lead the charge, or are they giving their students the basic knowledge and a sword and sending them into the charge, while they sit safely behind the protection of their office. I tell you the truth, if this be the case we are not dealing with leaders, but we are dealing with cowards. Jesus said that "the kingdom of God is forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."(Matthew 11"12) A line from one of the movies I love so much "Remember the Titans" said "attitude reflects leadership" if this is true and the church today shows the attitude of timidity, where are they getting it from. Because I know for a fact that the spirit given to us by God to dwell in our bodies is the spirit of a warrior. Bold, and forceful, passionate, and true. "But God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)What are you teaching? Look at your congregation and ask yourself what attitude are they reflecting from their leader? Hear the battle cry, and LEAD the charge.

Staff Support

Today in Sunday School we talked about Hur. For those who don't know who Hur is, this isn't just a misspelling of "her" this is an actual person in the Bible. In Exodus 17:8-16 you'll find the story. The Amalekites attacked the Israelites, and Moses told Joshua to get some men together and go and fight them. He said that he would go to the top of a hill with the Staff of God in his hands and Joshua and his army would defeat the Amalekites. So that day Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the hill. As the Israelites fought the Amalekite, Moses held the Staff up in the air, and as long as he was doing so Joshua and his army would be winning, but if it came down they would start to lose. So Moses had to keep this Staff up in the air. Needless to say he got tired and was unable to keep it up, so Aaron and Hur got a stone for him to sit on, and they each grabbed an arm and held it up till sunset.This is so cool, you see here what an important role Hur played in this key event. I think we discovered that Hur is only mentioned one more time in the Bible. Aaron we know is mentioned more, and he plays some big roles in the Story. Hur on the other hand did to. This goes back to a great sermon series I heard called HIStory. This was a teaching about the roles we play in the story of God. This whole life and history is a story God is writing and He wants to cast us. What role will you play? I look at Hur here and see that there is absolutely no role too small, and no role in this big story of life that can't have a big impact on the kingdom of God. We all have a part to play, some are big mega evangelists and others are pastors of mega churches. Some are Sunday School teachers, or small group pastors. Still some are missionaries that go to far off lands and spread the Word. Others stay here and head up organizations to fund and supply these missionaries. Still again others set up chairs, and run I.T. equipment for corporate worship service. Some clean the bathrooms, drag trailers, and take out the trash. There are people who hand out bulletins, and sharpen pencils. All of these people from the greatest to the smallest have a role in the big picture of the will of God. All are important, and none should be overlooked.I can remember when Whispering Pines Community Church(now known as Anytime Church) in Port St. Lucie, FL launched in an Elementary School cafetorium. People were all over the place, setting up, and greeting people. Some brought the coffee, and doughnuts, others set up the chairs, others set up the sound equipment, KidZone, and nursery. Hospitality table was always manned and the result was worship service. At the end people stayed behind to tear down and make sure that it was left the way we found it. I remember there even being someone who every week took charge of making sure that the trailer got packed up in an orderly fashion. If you have ever stood in the back of a trailer that has been closed outside in a Florida summer for a couple of hours, you would get it.The point is that some people lose the passion, and the interest in doing these things because they feel insignificant. I know this isn't so for a fact, because I have seen at that same church the level of help go from everyone to a need for people to commit. Every person in that community that pitched in from the biggest job to the smallest, from preaching to music, to set up, to setting out the coffee straws, made a big impact in the bigger picture that God was painting. Outreach was possible, the gospel was taught, and worship was something that was never missing. So, we need not lose the passion, we need to see that just as Hur was mere "staff support" he was a key player in the winning of the battle. So I say grab an arm, take hold of the HUGE job God has for you, pitch in and allow gospel to reach the ears and hearts God has prepared. Just as important as preaching and music is for reaching the lost, so are the people who are big enough to do the small jobs.