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."