What the Church Can Learn From an Entitled Generation!

I recently read an article that has gone viral about Millennial's leaving the church.  (http://www.recklesslyalive.com/12-reasons-millennials-are-over-church/)  

According to this article:

"Church attendance and impressions of the church are the lowest in recent history and most drastic among millennials described as 22-35 year olds.

• Only 2 in 10 Americans under 30 believe attending a church is important or worthwhile (an all-time low)
• 59% percent of millennials raised in a church have dropped out.
• 35% of millennials have an anti-church stance, believing the church does more harm than good.
• Millennials are the least likely age group of anyone to attend church (by far)."

There is another video that went viral about working with millennial's.  In this video the speaker focus's on the entitlement mentality of this generation. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MC2X-LRbkE

Although I agree with the author's on most points, there are Biblical realities that started with the fall of man and the salvation of man.  These are the realities that every generation needs.  I think every church has to meet two criteria's to be effective:  Why am I here?  (Purpose) and Who am I to God? (Identity).  

So, here is my very abbreviated opinion.  I began preaching when I was sixteen.  I did it full-time for years, so I am saying this as some one who was guilty.  There are many well meaning churches and preachers that, like I was, are still teaching the law.  The messages are on sin and judgement.  What you can and cannot do.  Whether this comes from teaching the law of Moses, (Uh-Oh ~ I am going to touch someone's sacred cow- read disclaimer) the Red Letters of your Bible or from some denominational position.  Unfortunately, this leads to an Orphan mentality.  It creates a mindset of never being good enough.  Instead of teaching about who we are in Christ!  (Just look at the first two chapters of Ephesians and how many times Paul used the phrase "In Him!")  I think the "entitled" mentality of this generation allows them to see right through this.  In most churches I imagine them thinking, "Why should I go to church to have them tell me that I am not good enough?"

All that being said, I do see this changing.  Churches are starting to realize that we can never be perfect, that is why we need Jesus. That through Him all things are possible, I am the righteousness of God, I have the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba father, etc.  The Bible says, "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are NO LONGER UNDER A TUTOR. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:24-25

Romans 3:21;24 ~ "But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in^[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for
ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT
of the glory of God, and
ALL ARE JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE
through redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
 

We adapt styles for the new generations, for example what is commonly called contemporary worship, but the method never changes, "God chose the foolishness of preaching to confound the wise."  C.S. Lewis was at a seminar on world religions and after learning about all the different religions, he overheard some people talking about what is the difference between them and Christianity.  He replied the group with one word, "Grace."  Every other religion had a set of rules regulations that you had to follow and attain for your salvation.  Only Christianity is not about what we have done, but about what was done for us."

What generation would walk away from church, if that church taught them what it truly means to be a son or daughter of God, instead of somebody who never meets the mark? 

Any way I could go on, but won't!

(Disclaimer - Jesus was under the law and spent His life raising the Law to it's true standard - Unattainable.  If we teach this as our standard then we are telling this generation that Jesus is not enough.)

The Awakening of an Apostle

Many of us would never argue that we experienced great grace when we got saved.  We knew that we had been forgiven much and passed from death to life.  However, most of us also had a sense of our own self-righteousness; the view that our own works somehow made us more acceptable to God.  After all, for the first time in our lives the Bible was alive and our prayer time brought us into the throne of grace.  However, in order to fully understand grace we have to go through an awakening.

Nobody in the Bible wrote more about grace than the Apostle Paul.  In fact, his message on grace was so radical that it was often misunderstood.  In fact, Peter said that some of Paul’s teaching was ‘hard to understand.’  However, did you ever consider where Paul came from?  In his own words, he was a “Pharisee of Pharisees,” as regarding the law “blameless.” 

So when he became a Christian do you think that he was made completely perfect and did not have to go through any “transformation?”  (To answer that, think about your own experience.)  Paul came into Christianity “blameless,” full of self-righteousness.  Yet he also had been given a revelation of Grace.  So let me show you Paul’s growth in grace.

In A.D.  57, the Apostle Paul told the Corinthian Church, “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle. . . But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect” 1 Co. 15:9

In A.D. 62, he told the Ephesians, ” To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Eph. 3:8

In A.D. 64-65 Paul told Timothy, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. 1 Tim. 1:16

What happened in that eight year period?  Did Paul backslide?  Did our ‘blameless’ apostle fall into sin?  My guess is that Paul began to realize more and more that all those things he once relied on for his righteousness were filthy rags.  Remember these were the things that he once used to boast in. 

Paul’s standing in society as a religious leader was very important.  Pharisee in its Hebrew form means, “The separated ones.”  They also saw themselves as chasidim or “loved of God.”  After all they were perfect, why wouldn’t God love them more than others?  My guess is that Paul worked very hard to be a Pharisee of Pharisees.  However even Paul missed the mark.  His righteousness was as filthy rags and rubbish. 

My prayer is that we come to know the grace or undeserved favor of God in reality, deeply and clearly and thoroughly, becoming accurately and intimately acquainted with it. And therefore, cease from our works and enter His rest.

Colossians 1:5-6 (AMP)
⁵ Because of the hope [of experiencing what is] laid up (reserved and waiting) for you in heaven. Of this [hope] you heard in the past in the message of the truth of the Gospel,
⁶ Which has come to you. Indeed, in the whole world [that Gospel] is bearing fruit and still is growing [by its own inherent power], even as it has done among yourselves ever since the day you first heard and came to know and understand the grace of God in truth. [You came to know the grace or undeserved favor of God in reality, deeply and clearly and thoroughly, becoming accurately and intimately acquainted with it.]

Hebrews 4:9-11 ⁹ There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.¹¹ Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

God Will Lift You Up!

Today in a message by Joseph Prince, he brought up a great illustration.

John 15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” This verse has been used many times to imply that God is going root you up and throw you out when your not bearing fruit. However, “he takes away” is not an accurate translation. In fact, in the Greek αἴρω literally means ~ “TO LIFT UP.” He then talked about something he learned while on a trip to Israel. The owner of a vineyard showed him a vine that was lying on the ground, because it did not have a trellis to climb. The owner explained that as long as it was on the ground it could not grow grapes. The owner did not cut off the vine and throw it away. Instead he lifted it up and connected it to a trellis so that it could grow and bear fruit. God isn’t out to get you. He isn’t out to cut you down. (That’s the devils job.) God wants you to bear fruit. So those seasons of your life when you’ve fallen from the trellis and are not bearing any fruit ~ Remember that God is there to lift you up! Fruit will come!

The Quest For Revival

I am writing this post out of heartbreak from an article I just read.  In my life I have had the opportunity to be in some powerful services.  I have been apart of many "major" revivals.  I stood in line for hours in a thunderstorm at Brownsville waiting to get in.  Back in 1994 I went to the Toronto blessing.  I have been in meetings with the Gray's from Smithton and several times with the staff from Brownsville. 

That being said, I am asking the same thing as the title of the article I read, "What Happened to Brownsville's Fire?"  Please click on the title to read the article.

If you have read any of my blogs then you will notice a trend.  I have an opinion on how to sustain revival.  I have my opinion on where most revivals go wrong. 

If you were part of Brownsville then you know that almost every message was repent, come running to the mercy seat, get your heart right with God.  Through this message countless lives where brought into the Kingdom.  People were set free and the Body of Christ saw times of refreshing.  However, the message of the law that leads us to Christ is the beginning.  The Bible says that the law is our tutor that brings us to Christ. (Gal. 3:24) "But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." ~ Gal. 3:25 What should happen in every move of God that begins with repentence is that we move past it into the victory we have in Christ. 

Revival can be sustained for a season with preaching of the law.  The Bible says that the law has glory.  But it is a glory that is fading. (II Cor 3:7)  However, if the message preached switches from the law to the glory found in Christ and being made His righteousness, now we have a message that can bring people from glory to glory.  (II Cor. 3:9)

People shouldn't leave "revival" hurt, dusallusioned and in despair.  They should leave passionate, full of the Spirit ready to shake the world! 

( II Cor. 3:7 - 11) But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

 ( II Cor. 3:12 - 18) Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

SCARE THE HELL OUT OF YOU

In my second post for today I am going to deal with holiness through grace.  This is where people misunderstand grace the most.  Some people say that if you teach people grace then you are giving them a 'license to sin.'  I don't know what your experience is, but I have noticed that most people do enough sinning without a 'license.'  The Bible, however, teaches quite the opposite.  You could never attain righteousness through your own works, likewise you can't attain holiness through your own works.  It's funny how easy it is for us to get saved and then live in a way that we try to impress God through our own works. 

The reality is that this 'works' message starts many times before salvation.  How many people are told, "You are going to have to change if you want to become a Christian?"  How many altar calls are nothing more than scare tactics?  Thomas Hooker, the founder of the state of Connecticut, believed this way.  One of his friends told him, "Mr. Hooker, you make good Christians before men are in Christ, as ever they are after would I were but as good a Christian now, as you make men while they are preparing for Christ."   Wait!!!!  I thought we become a new creation after accepting Christ?

This is a far cry from a story told about D.L. Moody ~ A young woman came to see him and she said, "I want to become a Christian, but I just love to dance, I tried to give up dancing to become a Christian, but I just can't."  (She was most likely talking about partying, as we know not all dancing is wrong.) 

D.L. Moody said to her, "Why, little lady, just give your heart to Jesus, and you can dance all you want to."  That convinced her, so she gave her heart to the Lord and was born-again.

A number of days later this young lady met D.L. Moody on the street.  She smiled and said, "Mr. Moody, I see what you mean now.  The 'want to' is gone!" 

What different approach.  One was mans attempt to control the situation and force perfection onto a non-believer.  The other was simple trust that God is big enough to complete the work He begins in us.

OK -  To keep this blog short I am going to wrap with a couple of verses and small commentary.

The church grows and bears fruit when we TRULY understand God's grace.

Colossians 1:6 ~ "In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace."

Grace teaches us how to live right.

 Titus 2:11-12 ~ "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age"

Grace gives us the ability to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Hebrews 12:28 ~ "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."

There are a lot of things we can do that outwardly have an appearance of holiness.  The Pharisees where masters at this.  However true holiness comes through grace.  Maybe next time I will blog about how the Bible teaches us to walk this out. 

THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE!

It has been a while since my last post, but I have been thinking about these particular posts for some time.  If you have read any of my posts then you know that I have spent a lot of time on the subject of grace. 

According to the Bible the Good News of the Gospel is that it is the "gospel of grace."  We are no longer under the law.  In fact in Galatians 2:21 the Bible says, "I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die."

However, this is a subject of controversy.  No doubt we have all heard the phrase "sloppy Agape or GREASY GRACE."  A while ago I sat down with a couple of men who are considered leaders of leaders and was sharing with them about grace and how much understanding it has changed our lives.  The atmosphere in the room changed as I received a stern warning to watch out learning about grace.  That the grace teaching could lead into all forms of error for example. . . Pluralism.  When I left this meeting I felt genuinely sad that our adversary the devil has done such a good job of misleading God's children about one of the most important truths in the New Testament.  Think about this. . . Before Azusa Street what kind of response would you have gotten talking to Christians about Speaking in tongues?  Before the healing revival what would most believers think about healing?  Before the Latter Rain Movement what would you have been told about laying on of hands and impartation?  Before the Charismatic Movement who really taught about the gifts of the Spirit?

My point is this ~  This last one hundred years and more has been a time where God is rapidly restoring truth to His body.  Grace is one of these truths!

PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF GRACE

Angela and I had been trying for a couple of years to have a baby.  We had been prayed for by multiple people.  We dealt with all the "What could be wrong questions."  As you can imagine there were many well intentioned believers who had all kinds of reasons of why.  In fact I can remember sitting with a lady who prophesied over Angie that the reason why she couldn't get pregnant was because she was not doing enough in ministry.  How disheartening. . . This really effected Angela.

Around this time God began teaching us about grace, unearned and unmerited favor.  We realized the foundation of our faith is grace. (Eph 2:8-9) "For by grace are you saved"  It was during this time that we began to rest in the truth of His word.  Within a couple of months she became pregnant with our first son.  A little less than two years later she became pregnant with our second son.

We did everything we knew to do.  It wasn't until we rested in Gods promises that we saw Him act.  How often do we struggle in life trying to accomplish things in our own strength, when the reality is that His grace is sufficient?

I DON'T NEED YOU ANY MORE. . . .

There is a trend in our post-modern society that breaks my heart.  I am excited that we live in a time where people question what was and has been.  I am excited that this has led to a rise in creativity and people hungry for truth.  However, I have noticed a trend, even among "Christians," and that is to try and create their own truth.  You can call it values clarification (whats right for you may not be right for me) or situational ethics.  Whatever you call it, people are falling into error.  It's as if we have become so proud as to believe our opinion is ultimately the truth.

When I was youth pastoring a parent came into my office in tears because her "Christian" daughter had been experimenting with drugs.  When her mom confronted her she tried reasoning with the Bible.  To which the daughter replied, "That is what you believe."

I was upset over this.  I hear this kind of thing to often.  In fact the decisions that some people make often makes the same statement.   That next week in youth group I used an example of a board game.  The players of the game don't create the rules.  The creator of the game creates the rules.

Here is the first mistake we make.  God IS NOT LIKE US.  We do not have the right to create a God in our image.  That is called idolatry. 

 Ps. 50:16-21 "But to the wicked person, God says:  “What right have you to recite my laws
   or take my covenant on your lips? ¹⁷ You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.
¹⁸ When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.
¹⁹ You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. ²⁰ You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. ²¹ When you did these things and I kept silent,
   you thought I was exactly like you."

Romans 1:21-23 "What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand."

The second real mistake is a lack of believing that God's word is truth.  Either it is and we had better know it well enough to live by it, or why waste our time.  If you are one of those who don't believe God's word is truth ~ Then you better make sure you're right, because this is one area you can't afford to be wrong.

Jesus brought us Grace and Truth:

John 1:17 "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

God's Word is truth:

John 17:17 "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

David said, "I have hidden your word in my heart    that I might not sin against you." ~ Ps. 119:11

Jeremiah 15:16 " When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty."



2 Timothy 2:15 " Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"

The Bible tells stories of what happens when each person does "what's right in there own eyes."  It never turns out well.  There is truth ~  Be one of those that is fed up with mans religious traditions, but more importantly be one of those that is hungry for the truth of God's Word.  The Bible calls the quest for real "truth" noble.  (Acts 17:11)  It's a quest that will change you're life forever. . . And it's good!!

Diplomatic Immunity!

Years ago, when I was first introduced to Christ For The Nations worship, there was a song I really enjoyed titled "No Eye Has Seen."  The song was an exact quote of I Corinthians 2:9 set to music.  The song was intimate, made you glad you were saved and reminded you that God has good things in store for us.  However the song only tells half the story.

But as it is written:
      “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
      Nor have entered into the heart of man
      The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

The Bible continues:

I Corinthians 2:10, 12 "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."  "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God."

The Bible says, "since the beginning of the world" (Is. 64:4) man has not had clue what good things God has in store for us.  In fact in I Co. 2:8 says if they did know they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. 

However, as a believer He has revealed all things freely given to us by God.  This where it gets interesting.  If God has revealed these things then where is the victory in the lives of believers?  Where is the joy, unspeakable and full of glory?  Where is the demonstration of the power of God?

I believe that it comes down to one thing.  Understanding the we are Ambassadors for Christ. (II Co. 5:20)  Or we could take it from the perspective of being pilgrims on the earth.  (I Pt. 2:11)  In either case imagine living in one of the most morally deprived, oppressive nations in the world.  However,  you are not a normal citizen you are the Ambassador of the United States to that nation.  While you live there you live under different laws.  You are not subject to the oppression of that government.  Your laws are those of the Nation you represent.  As long as you remember this you will be able to successfully represent the United States to this nation. 

However, if you forget who you represent and the fact that the entire government of the United States is behind you; it's possible that you might start to come under the oppression of that nation.  It may effect your mood, you may make decisions out of fear, you might find yourself imitating the culture, etc. 

In my opinion this very thing happens to believers.  God reveals great things to us (i.e. ~ Definition of Sozo ~ salvation, wholeness, healing, rescue, restoration.).   However, when circumstances happen in our lives contrary to God's revealed truth, we are more influenced by the culture in which we live or our past experience.  We forget that we live here under different laws because we represent a different kingdom.  (I could spend quite a bit of time building my case but in an attempt to keep this blog short - I am just going to quote one verse. "while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."  II Co. 4:18

If we are going to be all that God has called us to be and represent Him correctly. . . We have to wrestle with the decision. . . Either God's Word is true or are circumstances are.  Jesus lived a life of miracles proving that God's Word always trumps circumstances.

I'll end with this:  As I am trying to express.  If you allow your culture and/or circumstances to define truth, you will never understand all the things God has freely given us.  A carnal mind cannot comprehend these things.  They are to great. 

I Corinthians 2:13-16 " These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."  

I MISS THE WAY. . . .

Years ago Michael W Smith came out with a song titled, "I Miss The Way."  It was a song written to somebody who walked away from the Lord and started living life for themselves. 

I Miss the Way YouTube Link

Here is the verse:

Once a true believer
Once there was a fire in your soul
You were the epitome of blessed faith astir
With thirst for holiness
And hunger for the Word
Now you move in other circles
To the beat of different drums
And I see only glimpses of the one you used to be
The inspiration that you were to me

I spent a lot of time tonight praying for friends that aren't currently serving God. 

I am going to share something with you that is important and hopefully God will use it to remind you how much He loves you.  READY -- Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus did not start out as a betrayer!

Luke 6:12-16 "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.  When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:  Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor."

Think about it, Judas saw everything all the other Apostles saw.  The blind eyes opening, the lepers made whole, the dead raised, the sea made calm, the feeding of the multitudes, etc.  He heard the same teaching and saw the kindness of Jesus towards sinners.  Yet, for some reason he still became a traitor. 

Why?  While Peter, James and John and the other apostles where getting to know Jesus, Judas was in the background stealing money and making plans on how to betray Jesus for more money.  Judas never got to know Jesus as an intimate friend.   Jesus was just a way for him to make money.

Friends please listen.  Your life is where it is because of one thing.  At some point you lost intimacy with the father.  At some point you stopped getting to know Him and allowed other things to come and draw away your affections.  I know this world has so many distractions, but I also know NOTHING compares to being in that place where you hear the heartbeat of God.

Unfortunately, I can't force you spend time with Him, your godly parents (as hard as they may try) can't give you this intimacy through osmosis.  Even going to church or having grown up in church doesn't give you intimacy.  Only you can make the choice.  Being married and living in the same house doesn't mean that I know my wife's most intimate thoughts and desires.  Those are discovered by time together communicating, listening, loving, etc.

If you do "draw near to Him, He'll draw near to you."  If you seek Him you will find Him, When you seek for Him with all your heart.  Don't worry, He's just waiting to lavish you with His love. 

Jesus never stopped loving Judas.  Till the end He called him friend.  It doesn't matter how far you may feel like you have fallen He's there waiting to show you His love.

I am going to end with the chorus of  "I Miss The Way."

I miss the way His love would dance within your eyes
I miss the way His heart was the soul of your life
And somewhere in the saddest part of heaven's room
Our Father sheds a tear for you
He's missing you, too

WHAT CAN MAKE A GROWN MAN CRY?

So you may be thinking -  "Wow didn't Jeremy just do a  blog entry?"  I know! I decided to live life on the wild side and do another one back to back.  :)  No the reality is; I was encouraged to write more blog entries, but make them shorter.  So this is my attempt at both.

The other day I was walking in Meijers and thinking about the Scripture, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27  By itself this is great verse.   Jesus, who knew no worries, is giving us His peace.  Hmm. . . . However, this is what hit me.  Jesus is Sar-Shalom.  He is the Prince or RULER of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6)

As I was walking I was overwhelmed with this fact.  Fighting back tears so I didn't look like a psycho walking through Meijers, I began to realize this promise of peace like I have never understood it before.  Think about it.  Jesus, the RULER of all peace is now giving us ALL of His peace.  Is it any wonder that it is called a "peace which surpasses all understanding?"  (Philippians 4:7) 

To begin understanding this we have to know what peace we are being offered.  The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom - still a common greeting and farewell between Jews today - literally means "being in a state of wholeness or with no deficiency.  It was meant to act as a blessing on the one to whom it was spoken: "May your life be filled with health, prosperity, and victory."

In an attempt to shorten my posts. . . . I am going to end with a story of peace from the New Testament.  May "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  In fact, let me say it correctly. . .  "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Mark 4:35-40 (The Message)

 ^35-38Late that day he said to them, "Let's go across to the other side." They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, "Teacher, is it nothing to you that we're going down?"  ^39-40Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, "Quiet! Settle down!" The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith at all?"

Now that's peace. . . . When it seems like the ship is sinking and the end is near, to take a nap without a care in the world.

I want to point out something.  Jesus was in perfect peace.  He was in total control.  If He said lets cross over to the other side, then they were going to cross over. . . . Not drown.  Nothing in our life takes Him be surprise.  He isn't in heaven thinking. . . . "I didn't see that one coming."  But did you notice that He did not act until the disciples cried out to Him. 

 He wants us to come boldly to the throne of Grace.  Not in fear like these disciples, but instead asking for mercy and grace to help in the time of our need.  You can ride the storm out with Jesus in the boat and make it to the other side, or you can ask Him to calm the sea.  Either way, if Jesus is in the boat your going to make it to the other side!

IN THE MIDST OF THE FLOOD

I am writing this blog at a time when there is major flooding happening along the Mississippi River.  Although I know that this is a tragedy and I am not making light of this situation, I am going to talk about a flood in the Bible we are all familiar with.

A couple of blogs ago I began speaking on the subject of grace.  Today is going to be no different. . . . Except with a twist.

Most of you have probably heard about the "law of first mention".  Basically this means that to truly understand the meaning of a Biblical principle you need to go to the first time it is mentioned.  The thought behind it is that God does not change, therefore the first mention will set a precedent to the interpretation of the principle throughout the Bible.  How was that for fun?  Aren't you glad that you are reading this?  :) 

So I want to talk about the first time Grace is mentioned in the Bible.  This is important for all of us who may be going through trying times.  You will see that Grace will carry you through.  There is nothing that you are going through that God is not bigger.  There is nothing that you are going through that God will not carry you through.  There is nothing you are going through that God does not have the answer.  The Bible says, "Thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus."  2 Co. 2:14 I like to summarize it this way. . . .  "It's not over until I win."

I remember reading a book by Kenneth E Hagin and he was talking about casting your cares unto the Lord.  He was talking about going to these ministers meetings and listening to all the ministers complaining about their offerings and the needs of the church.  They would look to him and ask him what problems he was dealing with.  He would look back at these ministers and declare, "I don't have a care in the world."  WOW!  To come to a place of complete rest in God to CAST ALL OF OUR CARES TO HIM.

OK. . . . So Grace. . . . The first mention of Grace is found around the time of Noah and the building of the ark.  In Genesis 6:5-6 the Bible says, "God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. God said, "I'll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds—the works. I'm sorry I made them." (The Message)

That's a bad day.  Can you imagine God looking at the earth today and saying. . . ."I am so fed up I am just going to wipe them all out and start over."  No thanks.  No matter what your end time theology is I am glad that I am saved, because "God has not ordained us for wrath."  I Th. 5:9

Right in the midst of His intent to get rid of man and start over the Bible says this, " But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."  Gen. 6:8 The result of this Grace is that God shared His plans to flood the earth, God gave them a plan to be saved through the flood and best of all God saved them in the midst of the flood.

As a believer God will not hide His wisdom from us when are in need.  If we live a life led by the Spirit, he will not only usually share in advance when trials are coming our way, but will give us His wisdom on how to get through the trial. James says, "If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open."  I Corinthians 10:13 says, "No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it."  Finally, Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Here is the best part, in the midst of the storms of life, God will keep us.  Jesus said in this world you will suffer persecution, but FEAR NOT I have over come the world. Think about about the three in the fiery furnace. . . . They didn't bow and as a result they were in the fire and did not burn and had they never been thrown into the fiery furnace the fourth man would have never appeared.  Could it be that some of our troubles are just an opportunity for God to show himself strong on your behalf? 

I could go on with examples, but I want to end with this.

No matter what you are going through. . . . . Financial difficulties, marriage problems, sickness, sin etc.  God has Grace that will bring you into to triumph.  IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL YOU WIN! The storms came, but the storms also left.

A Cold, A Couple of Months and The Beginning of the End!

Ok . . . . So it has been a couple of months since I have last updated the blog.  After the worst cold I have ever had and the business of life I am finally back and ready to continue.

In january I started talking about the importance of understanding Grace.  This month I am going to continue with this, by explaining the signifcance of the Law.  In order to understand Grace we have to understand the purpose of the law.  I will explain the rest of my title in a moment.

The law was first given in the book of Exodus.  Prior to the law the children of Isreal lived in the grace of God.  Think about it. . . . They had supernatural food and water provided, their sandals never wore out, there wasn't a feeble one among them (no sickness or disease), during the day God gave them shade through the clouds and during the night He kept them warm through the fire.  Wow!  This was before Jesus.  If they experienced this kind of Grace, what do we have to look forward to who have a greater covenant based on greater promises?  Hebrews 8:6

Something happened though that changed this life of Grace. . . I am calling it the beginning of the end.  It was the end of Grace as the children of Isreal knew it and the beginning of the law.  In Exodus 19:4 the Lord told Moses to say, "you have seen what I did to the Egyptions, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.  Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to me above all people, for the earth is mine.  And you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation"

Look at their response, Exodus 19:8 "Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do."  So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord.  At first glance you would think this is exaclty the answer that God was looking for.  Hmm. . . .but is it really?  I heard a Hebrew scholar preach on this very verse one time.  It was eye opening.  According to this scholar, in the Hebrew the statement made was more than just a nice gesture of obedience, but in reality it was more of a challenge.  He stated that you could interpret this verse to say, "you tell God that we can do anything he asks us to." 

Immediately after this God prepares Moses and the people to receive the law.  It's as if He was making a statement.  You think you can keep my righteous standards?  God covers the mountain with a cloud full of lightning and thunder and then calls Moses up.  While Moses is gone, he is given the Ten Commandments and the days of the law begin.

After Moses was gone for some time the people began thinking that he was probably dead.  So what do they do, before Moses even comes down they break the first commandment and make an golden calf and call it their God.  Oh how good it must have tasted when Moses made them drink the gold as a consequence of their sin.  (Exodus 32)

So now lets come into the new testament, before the cross.  The ministry of Jesus was to restore the law to its rightful place, to once again show man that they can not stand before God based on their own righteousness.  To show people that they are not able to fulfill the law on their own.  The scribes and pharisees had reduced the law  by their own traditions to a place that it almost seemed attainable.  They made all about outward appearances.  All of a sudden Jesus shows up on the seen with radical statements such as "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."  (Mat 23:27)  He told the Isrealite people who certainly thought of the Scribes and Pharisees as "HOLY" people "For I say to you that unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

He would say radical things like "adultery being committed just by having lustful thoughts.  Murder being committed simply be hating your brother.  Commanding people to be perfect even as your heavenly father is perfect.  The law is now once again being seen for what it really is.  A standard unattainable by mans owns efforts.  In other words it was there to prove our guilt and need for a savior.

How can that be?  Paul said that he would not have known sin except for the law. (Romans 7:7)    He also said, "But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  Once faith comes we are no longer under the law.  (Galatians 3:23-25)

I am going to end with one thought.  Why is GRACE so important?  "Because by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."  (Romans 3:20)  We have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.  The Bible says that our righteousness is as filthy rags in His sight.  If you have been reading this and are one of those who think "grace is greasy" or just an excuse to sin, I hope I am making it plainly obvious that Grace is the Good News that leads us to repentance and we have got to understand it in order to become who we have been called to be.

I think in my next blog post I am gong to talk about "through the cross."  Many of our hang-ups have to do with the context. We have to realize that the Old Testament and the Four Gospels are about people under the law.  As brother Hagin used to say. . . . They were written for us, but not to us.  Remember, even Jesus was speaking to people under the law, before His death burial and resurrection.  When we read our Bible, context is important.  Who was being addressed can tell you a lot.  For example, "For I say to you that unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven."  What a true statement and to Jews under the law,  it probably freaked them out a little.  As a believer, I don't stand before God in my own righteousness, instead "I am the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus."   Any way hopefully we will get a chance to explore that some more as we grow to understand grace.

He Loves Me! He Loves Me Not!

He Loves Me!  He Loves Me Not!

We are all familiar with the game that young children play when they have a crush on someone.  You know the one where they pick up a flower and each time they pick off a pedal declare "He loves me."  Next pedal, "He loves me not."  Until finally the last remaining pedal declares if the crushee has the same feelings. 

So what does this have to do with anything?  Good question.  Years ago when I was youth pastoring, I had great youth leaders working with me.  They loved God, were hard workers and faithful.  Each week we would get together and I would ask them one by one how their week was going.  Over time I began noticing a trend.  On the weeks that these leaders spent "quality" time with God their response was always, "I am having a great week."  However, on the weeks that they were busy or for some reason did not spend "quality" time with God they would seem down and almost apologetic when they described how their week was going.  How many of us have done the same thing?  We play "He loves me!   He loves me not!" with God simply based on our works.  If we feel we have hit the mark in our own labors (i.e prayed enough, read the bible enough, witnessed enough, etc) then God is happy with us.  Woe on us if we missed day.  Oh how God must be disappointed in me now.

It was during this time that God began teaching me about Grace.  What a controversial subject.  I am thoroughly convinced the devil will do everything he can to keep believers from understanding the truth of Grace.  I bet most of you have heard Grace described as "greasy grace"  by some religious person.    What ignorance.  Recently I read a post on facebook where somebody said that grace was just an excuse carnal Christians use in order justify sin.  Wow!

So here it goes. . . . . All I am doing is setting a foundation of what I will be blogging about in the weeks to come.  After years of studying the Bible I have determined that Grace is one of the most important subjects in the life of a believer, therefore the subject I went to spend most of my time understanding.

Ready. . . . How important is Grace?  To begin with - Grace IS WHAT SAVED YOU.  Eph. 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast. ."

The Gospel is the GOOD NEWS OF GRACE:

Acts 20:24 "so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 14:3 "Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands."

How Many Galaxies are There Anyways?

What would you do if they give you a one time check for the budget used just to explore for new galaxies?  Billions every year are used for space exploration.  They say it beneifts us, but it sounds more like some people are just getting the thrill of seeing these amazing creations of God before anybody else. 

So the answer to my title question:  Nobody knows!  Infact they are constantly finding new galaxies they never knew existed.  Wouldn't it be cool to visit an observatory and see trhough some high powered telespope and see other galaxies or just the planets in our own?

Well, there is something in the Bible that says that we will never fully understand as well.  Are you ready?  It is how much God loves you and me.  "and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge" Eph 3:19  In fact this verse is part of a prayer that Paul the Apostle prayed for the believers in Ephesians.  He prayed for a few things in this verse, but I am just going to focus on love. 

In verse 17 the Bible states "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love."    What a prayer. . . .to have a foundation based on our understanding of God's love for us.  The greater our understanding of His love for us the easier it will be to believe that He has good things in store for us and wants to use us.

Let me illustrate this the best I can.  As a parent I have a deep love for my boys.  They are constantly on my mind, and I will do all that I can to take care of them and make sure they have a good life.  You know what ~  Even thought I hug and kiss my boys and do good things for them, they will never fully understand how much I love them.  I never understood this until I had my first son.  If that is the case with my relationship with my children, how much more does God love us beyond our comprehension?

John 3:16 says, " For God SO loved the world."  He didn't just love the world He made appoint of emphasizing that He SO loved.  John, the apostle, had such a revelation of God's love, even while writing about himself he called himself "the Apostle whom Jesus Loved."  No wonder his books declare thing like "God is love, "faith works by love" etc. 

How about this verse, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me"  Galations 2:20  How many of you have heard that verse quoted before.  What a great verse!  However, this is only half of it.  Paul also had a revelation of God's love.  Lets look at the whole verse.  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."   Now I get it. . . . The revelation to us here is that Jesus us loved me so much that He gave himself for me.  In return I will now give my life for Him. 

I don't want to write a book in this blog on love, but my prayer is that we get a greater revelation of how much God loves us.  He loves in spite of our imperfections and failures, He loves us because that is who He is.

Romans 8:37-39

"But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. "

An Assassination, A Smoking Gun and a Conspiracy Theory!

A couple of times when Angie and I lived in Texas we visited the spot where President John F Kennedy was assassinated.  Each time we were met by peddlers of books, magazines and newspapers.  All with photos of the event and stories of different conspiracy theories of who, how and why JFK was assassinated.  Each theory sounded plausible.  I mean was it a coincidence that the only suspect was, himself, assassinated shortly after being arrested?  Hear is my favorite, during our last presidential campaign, with a slip of the tongue, why did John McCain call JFK's assassination a "intervention?"  (Look the clip up on youtube)  Why in the days leading up to this tragedy were the Secret Service Agents repeatedly told to back off of their normal post surrounding the Presidents motorcade? 

No matter what your theory might be there is only ONE truth.  Everything else can look good in writing, sound great and even resemble the truth.  However, there is still only ONE truth.

As believer no matter what trials or circumstances life may bring we have to realize that there is only one truth.  We need to be able to boldly proclaim that either God's Word is wholly true or our circumstances are.  Both can't be true, if they don't line up.

I recently shared with a friend, whose family is going through the biggest trial of their life, a verse in Jonah.  Imagine being Jonah.   God has given you a command to go and prophesy over the Ninevites that they need to repent or perish.  However, (thank you Veggie Tales) the Ninevites are fish slappers. 

Out of fear Jonah jumps on a ship, hoping to run away from God and His command.  You  know the story:  A great storm arises, they cast lots and find out it's because of Jonah and they throw him overboard.  After he gets thrown overboard he is swallowed by a great fish.

In the belly of the fish, with certain doom looming, he declares "They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy."  Jonah 2:8  Is it possible that Jonah had such confidence in God and the command he was given that he was saying, "Those that observe there circumstance above the promise and command of God (i.e. about to die in the belly of the fish) forsake their own mercy?"  Well the outcome is clear. . . God used this experience to cause an entire nation of fish worshippers to repent.  What a story it must have been for Jonah to explain how God saved him from the belly of the great fish.

Well if that is not enough to convince you how about these:

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.  2 Cor 1:20 -- We say the "SO BE IT"

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 -  God does not change -  He is not good one day and bad the next.  He is always good. 

And finally. . . . this one could be a blog on it's own.  Abraham and Sarah, well past age to conceive children, believed god.  "That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, "I have made you the father of many nations." This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing."  Romans 4:17

All of us go through trials and tribulations.  The difference is going to be how we handle them.  Are they going to to overcome us or are we going to overcome them, by standing on the truth. . . . Which is God's Word.  Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

The Lessons of a Fat Man and Rangoons!

Ok. . . .So now that I have your attention.  What does a fat man and a rangoon have to teach us.  Well it all began at a Chinese restaurant.  Have you ever noticed that at most Chinese Restaurants there is big fat Buddha statue?  Believe it or not the superstition behind the idols of Buddhism have great effect on its followers.

As I was sitting there I began to think about Paul, the apostle, when he was in Athens.  Act 17:16 "Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry."  Imagine what emotions he experienced as he realized the people around him were very religious, but had been lied to and were serving false gods.  My guess is that his emotions ranged from anger all the way to sorrow.  How could so many people believe the same lie?  

Paul new what they needed and immediately began challenging them in their synagogues.  Act 17:17 "Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. "

As I sat in this restaurant I began thinking about Paul's response to their idolatry.  How would you have responded?  Would you tell them they were all serving a lie?  They were lost? Or even more extreme that their idolatry was condemning them to hell?  Maybe you would have taken the mercy road and just let them know that "Jesus loves them and has a plan for their life."

You know what Paul did. . . . . He took their own religion and from their own beliefs presented the Gospel to them.  Act 17:22 "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious." Act 17:23 "For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. "

Wow!  What a response.  God gave him so much wisdom in this situation.  Rather than telling them they were wrong, he took them right were they were at and presented the Gospel to them.  To the unknown God.

We live in a time that there is a lot of skepticism about religion.  People are exchanging the glory of the incorruptible God and replacing it with idols of there own choosing (Rom 1:23).

What can we learn from Paul that will make us effective soul winners?

1.  Paul spoke up.   It doesn't do any good for us to see our friends and neighbors lost and hurting and not to say anything.

2.  Its about winning them not offending them.  I have watched a lot of well meaning Christians present Jesus in a way that would me want to walk away from them.  Remember, "It's the kindness of God that leads us to repentance." 

3.  God will give you wisdom to be effective.  Rely on the Holy Spirit.  Maybe a Word of Knowledge or a Word of Wisdom will be just what is needed to change a life, change a family, change a culture.

Thanks For Visiting!

Thanks For Visiting!

I started this blog so that I would have a place to encourage my friends. Why when I was younger (haha) we all used Myspace and Myspace had a blog feature. I miss that! I enjoy writing.

My prayer is that if you spend time reading any of these blogs that it will encourage you in your walk with God. We are all in this together.

Hebrews 10:25 (The Message) "So let's do it - full of belief, confident that we are presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps His word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching."

Thanks for taking time to visit! ~ Jeremy

The Beginning!

It has been quite a while since I have actually updated my status on Facebook. Well I thought I would do so by way of a mini-blog. (The one feature I miss from Myspace) As some of you know, about four years ago we founded a ministry called "kairos." (www.kairosmoment.org) I define Kairos as "a moment ~ defined not by seconds, but by impact." I am in one of those moments. I love it!

The Bible gives us very clear instructions on how we can have our own Kairos Moment.  Acts 3:19 says "Repent therefore and be converted so that times (Seasons, Kairos Moments) of refreshing can come from the presence of the Lord." 

Most of us have been taught that repentance is something done when a person renounces sin, but it is so much more!  The word repentance comes from a Greek word "metanoia."  This word is a compound word that, when together, means "to think differently after."  Yes it can be defined as a feeling of remorse, but there is more to it! Every time you hear the Word preached, study your Bible, or hear from God it has the potential to cause you to "to think differently after" and make an adjustment that lines you back up with God. My prayer for you is that you to would experience your own Kairos Moment - You'll know it when it happens! There is no doubt

Nov 22, 2008 A Hundred Years From Now

A Hundred Years From Now

~Warren Parker~

It will not make much difference, friend,

A hundred years from now,
If you live in a stately mansion

Or a floating river scow.

If the clothes you wear were tailor-made,

Or just pieced together somehow,
If you eat big steaks, or beans, and cake,

A hundred years from now.

Won't matter what your bank account,

Or the make of car you drive;
For the grave will claim all your riches and fame,

And the things for which you strive.

There's a deadline that we all must meet,

No one will show up late;
It wont matter then, all the places you've been;

Each one will keep that date.

We will only have in eternity,

What we gave away on earth.
When we go to the grave, we can only save

The things of eternal worth.

What matter, friend, the earthly gain

For which some men will bow;
For your destiny will be sealed, you see,

A hundred years from now.

A man's greatest care should be for that place where he lives longest; therefore eternity should be his scope.  ~  Thomas Manton

Nov 22, 2008 Pharaohs and Fathers

Pharaohs and Fathers

Many of us our looking for people in our lives that can be fatherly role models in our relationship with God. It doesn't take long to read about the relationship Paul had with Timothy to crave a relationship like this.

Not only do many crave this type of relationship, our goal as believers should be to grow into "spiritual" parenthood ~ A place where we pour our hearts and lives into others to bring them to maturity.

I recently read a book by David Ravenhill (The son of Leonard Ravenhill) called "Surviving the Anointing" and want to share with you the heart of a father.

When you read Paul's letters to Timothy in the Bible you see a man who wanted to be there for, encourage, and who believed in his son. He wasn't self seeking nor authoritarian in his approach. What a generation we will see if we can get a hold of this and become Paul's to the Timothy's in our lives.

"Hardly a month goes by that I don't receive a call or e-mail from someone wanting to be 'heard.' They are looking for a father, someone who will take the time to listen to them and give them some fatherly advice or encouragement. One young man came to see me recently and shared how he and his wife felt called to a major city on the East Coast. This young man had a very large youth group. He was so successful that other youth pastors came to him to learn all they could from him. When he approached his pastor and shared his burden, his pastor told him he would make the "call" as he was "the pastor." Needless to say, the pastor did not want to lose this gifted young couple and so chose to use the authority card to control them. He eventually released them but told them he would never have anything to do with them – from that moment on they were on their own.

How tragic I call that type of leader a Pharaoh not a father. I'm grateful to God that he allowed me to be raised by spiritual fathers – men who never wielded the authority card at me but who sought to influence me through example, persuasion, and prayer. One of my spiritual fathers would say to me if someone decided to leave the church, "I'm not sure they are making the right decision, but I want to bless them regardless; that way they will always feel welcome to come back if things don't work out."

I can hear some of you saying to yourself, "This guy doesn't believe in 'covering.' Yes I do, but I believe there is a vast difference between being a Pharaoh and a father. Here is the difference.

Pharaohs have slaves                           Fathers have sons

Pharaohs command                             Fathers counsel

Pharaohs dominate                              Fathers liberate

Pharaohs dictate                                  Fathers communicate

Pharaohs destroy and demean              Fathers discipline

Pharaohs remove                                 Fathers restore

Pharaohs restrain                                 Fathers release

Pharaohs manipulate                            Fathers motivate

Pharaohs emasculate                            Fathers propagate

Pharaohs whip                                     Fathers weep

Pharaohs want results                          Fathers want relationship

Pharaohs build great cities                    Fathers build great sons

Pharaohs are hardhearted                    Fathers are tenderhearted

Pharaohs fear success                          Fathers foster success

Pharaohs want servants                       Fathers are servants

Pharaohs prey on slaves                      Fathers pray for sons

Slaves die for pharaohs                        Fathers die for sons

Slaves work out of fear                        Sons work out of faith

Slaves work out of duty                       Sons work out of devotion

Slaves remain slaves                            Sons develop into fathers

Slaves loathe pharaohs                        Sons love fathers

Slaves are discouraged                        Sons are encouraged

Slaves receive reproof                         Sons receive approval

Slaves grow to hate and hurt                Sons grow to heal and help

Slaves have numbers                            Sons have names

Slaves celebrate a Pharaohs death        Sons commiserate father's death

Slaves escape                                       Sons return

Slaves sigh                                            Sons sing