Apathetic Busy-ness

Ron Tovar encourages us that men need to bond with other men. This is why men join softball, volleyball, and soccer teams. They form bowling leagues, congregate in bars, or go fishing with their buddies. God made men for fellowship, to share our lives with other men joined by a command bond. According to Hebrews 10, “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is….” Despite the government’s orders for social distancing, isolating, and locking down, Influencers is sponsoring 4M groups — small groups of 4 men who meet together in person or on-line to encourage one another in the Word of God.

Jesus himself modeled a 4M group. He chose twelve disciples. He also had an inner circle of three: Peter James, and John.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says, ….. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

God created Adam and Eve for each other so that they could share fellowship with each other and with God himself. However, they sinned and broke fellowship with God. They separated their hearts from God and died spiritually the day they disobeyed God by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The question at one of the Influencers retreats was, “who’re your six?” Lynn, a retreat leader, had asked this question. He never had a meaningful relationship with his father whom he had watched die of alcoholism. Lynn observed that his dad did not have six friends at his funeral who would carry his casket. Men need to bond with other men. It’s unhealthy for men to be isolated and “socially distanced” from other men.

Therefore let us consider how to stimulate one another, how to encourage one another to love and good deeds. If you claim to be a Christian and yet there is no evidence of good works to God’s glory, then the church has not stimulated you to the love of God. Jesus said, a new commandment I give to you that ye love one another even as I have loved you. In this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, that ye love one another.

Phillip Keller, a sheep rancher, wrote about Psalm 23 from a shepherd’s perspective. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Jesus said, why art thou cast down? A cast sheep has fallen into a ditch and turned over on his back. In this “cast” position, the sheep cannot get off his back. A cast sheep will die in this position unless his shepherd picks him up and sets him back on his feet. Sheep are completely dependent on their shepherd for their lives and well being. Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice and they know me and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life. Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

A minister is one who runs to serve. Our 4M groups influence our walks with God. Our purpose is to stimulate one another to walk in fellowship with each other and with our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Navigators Press publishes a diagram to illustrate our relationship with God using a wheel as an analogy. The spokes of the wheel transfer power from the hub to the wheel so that the wheel can turn and progress forward. Jesus Christ is the hub, the power source. The power of God’s Holy Spirit is Christ in us the hope of glory. There are two vertical spokes and two horizontal spokes that transfer God’s power to the wheel so that we can “press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” The two vertical spokes are prayer and the word of God. These spokes transfer power by connecting our hearts with God’s heart. The two horizontal spokes are witnessing and fellowship. These two spokes connect our hearts with others within the body of Christ. When we live according to God’s word, we are the witness of the Holy Spirit… We are God’s epistles, His love letters known and read of all men. Fellowship is living transparently, sharing our hearts with other faithful Christians. The wheel symbolizes living in obedience to His will, proceeding according to the purpose to which we have been called. The wheel analogy is summarized in Acts 2:42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

The new commandment Jesus gave the church is to stimulate one another in love and good deeds. Loving God and loving others start with attitudes. Godly attitudes are summarized in the beatitudes in Matthew 5.

In Hebrews 12, God disciplines those he loves. The purpose of discipline and reproof is to correct — to restore to an upright position. Fellowship means to live a life committed to connecting our hearts with Jesus Christ, with our Heavenly Father, and one with another in the household of faith.

Discipline is often painful but it’s necessary. According to Hebrews 12:9, “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” It hurts to be straightened but it’s for our own good to be restored upright.

Pete recalls that when he started his men’s ministry, he discovered that five men who had risen up as potential leaders were living with their “significant others” out of wedlock. He took each man aside separately and said. “You can’t be an example to the church while you’re living in sin. Either you need to move out or she needs to move out.” He followed up with each man in the weeks that followed but nothing changed. Then he said to one of the men, we need to correct this situation today. If neither of you is moving out, then you need to get married. The man said, “how do I do that?” Pete said, “go down to the courthouse and sign a marriage certificate in front of a justice of the peace.” When Pete confronted each man and gave him this specific instruction, each man married his wife that very week. When it comes to reproof and correction, men need a specific action plan. Years later, each man came up to Pete and said, “Thank you so much for insisting that my wife and I get married. Because of your correction and encouragement to do the right thing, we committed our lives in marriage in the sight of God and men. God has blessed our marriage ever since.” Reprove and correction means to stimulate each other to love and good deeds.

We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is. God created us for fellowship with another. Apathy is one of the enemies that will destroy fellowship. Transformational communities are the foundations of church assemblies. Transform means to change in character or condition. Most men judge the quality of their lives by their works and their accomplishments. However salvation is of grace and not of works. Unless Christ is preeminent in our hearts, works will be futile. Jesus said, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things will be added to you.

Sin makes men walk in lonely paths. The selfishness of sin separates us from God and from others. However, the tie that binds is the love of God. Paul said, above all things put on charity — the love of God, which is the bond of perfectness.

Busy-ness is the enemy of fellowship. What does it mean to be busy? Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. He said, “We cant keep Christians from going to church or forming an intimate relationship with their saviour so here’s what I want you to do. Steal their zeal and appetite for God so that their hearts will grow apathetic and lazy. How shall we do that? Persuade them that they need to keep themselves busy. That fathers need to work constantly and have no time for fellowship. Tempt them to get mobile devices for their children so they will isolate themselves in their own self centered little worlds. Have their wives think that they need to work full time so that they can be imprisoned by their covetous desires to keep up with the Jones’s. Have them return from their vacations exhausted and keep them busy, busy, busy. Invite them to gossip in churches but don’t let them pray. Keep them talking about their problems and others’ faults and failures but don’t let them join their hearts together in prayer. Call them to a works based system to keep their hands and their minds occupied with the busy-ness of worldly pursuits.”

Oswald Chambers said that the main thing about Christianity is not the works we produce but rather maintaining our relationship with Jesus Christ. We will not be the men of God we should be without other men of God in our lives. We’re most like the men with whom we choose to associate.

In the First World War, Two boys who had grown up like brothers volunteered together for military service. They both served in France and found themselves defending the same trench line. They charged the German lines when their commander said, Charge! The enemy machine gun fire made them retreat back into the trenches. One guy didn’t see his buddy return to the trench. He started over the trench to find his buddy, but his commander said, “He’s probably dead. Don’t go out to find him.” However, he went out of the trench and into the bloody field looking for his buddy. When he finally found him mortally wounded, his buddy said just before he died, “I knew you’d come.”

The Bible says there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. We can’t survive the spiritual battlefield without other men of God. Part of dying to self is entrusting our lives to other men who “have our six.” They have our backs — our 6 o’clock position — and we have theirs in the midst of the spiritual battle.

Therefore, forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is, and so much as ye see the day approaching…

…that we may stimulate one another to love and good deeds to the praise of the glory of God’s grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Encouraged

Despite the bad news about the global pandemic, not everything is as it appears. Even though there is record unemployment with massive layoffs, business closures, and shutdowns of non-essential businesses, God has opened the door for Orlando’s food distribution ministry to flourish. His ministry has increased from distributing 60,000 lbs of food per month pre-Covid-19, to over 200,000 lbs in July. God has been blessing his ministry exceeding abundantly above all he could ever ask or think. In times of need, God shows up and shows off. Orlando distributes 90 lbs of food per needy family during this time of pandemic. At the food distribution sites, Orlando always delivers a message of encouragement from the Word about God’s grace, mercy, and deliverance. God called Orlando to prove Jesus’ words: “in that ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

God has allowed our Influencers ministry to continue despite the government’s orders to socially distance. We have been meeting together via Zoom and conference calls for prayer and continued fellowship. Our Orange County Chapter of Influencers has been meeting continuously since 1992. After 4 months of on-line meetings, we are thankful that today Voyagers Church of Irvine has allowed us to meet together in person.

Pastor Pete recalls that one day he was praying and listing each of his physical ailments. God responded, “I see that you are listing all your friends. Your friends turn your heart to me so that I can help you through your pain and suffering.”

The world thinks that pain, heartache, trials and tribulations are our enemies. However we will never know by experience the meaning of love and hope until we have been tested. Romans 5 says, for tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience (character), and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.

When we write a letter to God and then God dictates a letter in response back to us, His letter is always a word of encouragement. At our Influencers retreats we toss an orange to brothers who have encouraged and refreshed us. The foundation for this practice is in Philippians 1:7: For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

To encourage means to build up, and to fill with inspiration, reassurance, hope and blessing. An encourager is one who is called alongside to deliver a timely word of kindness. Encouragement inspires us not to give up and give in. Philemon was an example of an encourager. An individual is never more Christ like than when he encourages a brother who is discouraged, beaten down, and burdened by the tribulation of this world. Blessed is the man who inspires, stimulates, and influences others to take heart.

The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. In times of struggle, when a man is broken and repentant before the Lord, God will lift him up. The light affliction of this present time is not to be compared with the glory that shall follow. In other words, the best is yet to come. God will remind us through a brother in Christ that despite the pain, God has us each of us in his own intensive care.

Suzan, Pete’s wife said, “Do you remember what was the nicest thing you ever said to me?” Pete couldn’t remember an incident where he had given her a special word of encouragement. She said, “do you remember the time that I brought the Christmas tree home? I backed the car into the garage with the hatch up. When you came home I was afraid that you would scold me for destroying the trunk lid. Instead you said, “that’s OK honey, that sounds like something I would have done.” That was the nicest thing you ever said to me.” Pete jokes, “After getting the car fixed, that Christmas tree cost me $1,000. But that’s the best thousand dollars I ever spent.”

A word of forgiveness and grace is a word of encourgement. According to Philippians 2, “fulfill ye my joy that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” We’re encouraged to be of the same mind as Jesus Christ himself. Jesus let nothing be done of strife and contention or for his own vain glory. He took upon himself the form of a servant and became obedient to his Father, even unto his death on the cross. Jesus although he was God’s only begotten son, lived to serve and encourage those whom God had called him to minster.

Why don’t Christians encourage one another? Often it’s because they are too concerned about themselves to think about others. Philippians 2 says, Do nothing through vain conceit but look everyone to the needs of others to lift them up acccording to God’s grace.

James chapter 3 talks about the tongue. The tongue can be used as a knife to sarcastically cut down others. It’s better to do what the Bible says: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver.”

A critical spirit will kill any relationship. Especially in marriage when one party continues to make deposits into a resentment bank. Even though the percentage of resentment deposits may be outweighed by the good deposits, the seeds of resentment will grow and choke out the good deposits. This will kill the relationship.

James says the tongue is like a flame set on fire by hell itself. It will engulf and consume anything in its path. An unkind word will kill the relationships within the body of Christ. The tongue is full of the deadly poison of hatred spewing cursing toward those who are made in the likeness of God. When the flesh is defensive, the mouth will speak from the abundance of the heart. These destructive words will destroy godly relationships. James 3:15-16 says, “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

The antidote is to turn from the wisdom of this world and instead seek God’s wisdom from above. This wisdom of God comes from the Word of God and prayer. James 17-18 says, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

Even when we were dead in trespasses and sin, God gave us grace and loved us anyway. I was destined for hell, but because of his grace, mercy and love, He gave me heaven.

Proverbs says, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. You can tell a healthy soul by what comes out of the mouth. Salvation depends on confessing with our mouth hour heart’s conviction that Jesus is Lord and that God has raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). At the moment of salvation, a Christian is fully forgiven. Because we have been born again of God’s Holy Spirit, we have been declared righteous in Christ. From the moment of new birth, our forgiveness is a past, present and future reality.

Even though we have been born again of God’s spirit, we often sin in the flesh when we miss the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. However, we remain righteous in God’s sight. For he who knew no sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

After salvation, If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another another and the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. If we sin by breaking fellowship, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Before we can encourage others, we need to encourage our own hearts in the Lord. This is the purpose of prayer in Philippians 4 beginning in verse 4.:
Therefore, rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation, (your loving mercy and grace,) be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Aaron’s benediction in Numbers 6:24-26 is a blessing of encouragement:

“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

…that we may encourage one another in the Lord,
and that together we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Joy Thief Number Four: Worry

The theme of the book of Philippians is the Joy of the Lord. In each chapter there is a thief that will steal your joy. Also in each chapter is an antidote to defeat these thieves and restore the joy of the Lord.

In the first chapter, the joy thief is circumstances. The antidote is to keep Jesus Christ foremost in our mind because for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

In the second chapter, the joy thief is people. The antidote is humility to serve others from a heart of love.

The joy thief in the third chapter is things. The solution is to treasure treasures in heaven instead of treasures on earth. The ultimate blessing is to seek the Blessor instead of the blessings.

The thief that steals joy in the fourth chapter is worry. The world will indoctrinate our minds through panic, pandemic and pandemonium to succumb to the cares and worries of this world. These anxious thoughts will steal our joy. The antidote to worry is prayer with supplication and thanksgiving to keep our hearts and minds focused on the truth of His word.

The fourth and final chapter of Philippians begins with encouragement to stand steadfast in the Lord, in harmony with believers whose names are in the book of life. The love of God is the basis for unity within the body of Christ. The devil’s ploy is to divide and conquer, to set our hearts against each other. However, to reconcile with others we must meet each other at the foot of the cross. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus .

In Philippians 4:4, the first key to praying and focusing our minds on the Word of God is the central theme of Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” This is a command. It doesn’t say rejoice when we feel like it or “when the spirit moves us.” Rejoicing in the Lord is a deliberate, intentional, and purposeful act of the will in obedience to God’s command. When we rejoice in the Lord, we’re obeying the first of the Ten Commandments: thou shalt have no other gods before me (Nothing between your face and my face.) As the song says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth shall grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.”

The second key to prayer is “Let your moderation (the spirit of gentleness and loving kindness) be known unto all men, the Lord is at hand.” The book of Timothy encourages us to love others and minister with a forgiving, compassionate, and merciful heart. To minister means to “run to serve” the flock of God with a pure heart fervently.

Therefore to defeat the worries of this world, pray with a submissive heart of gratitude. Philippians 4:6-7 says: “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Prayer is the antidote to anxiety. Through prayer, the peace of God that surpasses worldly understanding will guard our hearts. God’s Peace is available only through the Prince of Peace for Jesus said, “My peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Peace with God is the result of reconciliation… reconnection and atonement (at-one-meant) through Jesus Christ’s payment for our sin. For he who was without sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. Because we have been reconciled with God we have peace with God and with our brothers and sisters in the family of God. Our fellowship is in the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.

Having God’s peace, we can focus our minds on the things that matter. According to Philippians 4:8: Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Proverbs 4:23 says, keep thy heart with all diligence for out of the heart proceed the issues of life. To keep and to guard our hearts and minds, think on the things of God available only through the Word of God.

Oswald Chambers said, “All God requires from me is extreme obedience with no questioning or complaining on my part and no explanation on his. Then when the crisis comes and courage is required, God expects his men to be the reliable ones.” The reliable ones are the ones who are faithful to His Word.

Chambers said, “it’s one thing say, don’t worry, but it’s an entirely different thing to surrender our hearts to the Lord. There is nothing God can’t handle. Through the tumult and anguish, our rest in him is available only when our hearts are surrendered to him.” For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Worry ends in sin because the root of worry is in having our own way instead of God’s way. Chambers says, “beware of the man who has nothing to lose.” When we turn everything over to God including the throne of our hearts, then we can come to him with empty hands. When we acknowledge our own weakness, then he will strengthen us and uphold us with the right hand of his righteousness.

The problem with a living sacrifice is that it wants to crawl off the altar. Therefore we must crucify upon the cross our will in subjugation to his will. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life that I now live I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

It’s the little foxes, the little cares of the world will choke the Word out of our lives. Worry is infidelity to the Lord. It’s trusting in our fears and anxieties and believing the world’s lies instead of the truth of the Word of God. To enter into fellowship with the Lord, we must enter in with total abandonment and absolute trust.

According to Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the. Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” When we align our will with His will in prayer, then we will rejoice in the Lord. Joy and rejoicing is the outpouring of a heart filled with gratitude and praise.

When the Lord says, “Get in the boat, we’re going over to the other side” our job is to get in the boat. Our job is not to ask, “what’s the weather forecast?” The only question is “Whose boat are you in?” Then when the storms rage and the waves are crashing all around, the Captain of Salvation will say, “Peace be still.” Through the trials of life and in the midst of the storm we will come to understand that “even the storms and wind obey him..”

Our joy is not in circumstances, people, things, or worldly thoughts. Our joy is in the object of our rejoicing: the Lord himself. For he alone is worthy of all glory and honor and praise!

Therefore, rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice…
….That we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Joy Thief Number Three: Things

In each chapter of Philippians there is a thief that will steal your joy. Also in each chapter is a remedy to restore the joy of the Lord.

In the first chapter the joy thief is circumstances and situations. The antidote to defeat this thief is “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” When the storms of life are raging and there is panic, pandemic, and pandemonium all around us, the remedy is to keep the main thing the main thing: Jesus Christ and him crucified and the saving power of his resurrection from among the dead.

In Chapter two, the joy thief is people. The antidote is, “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Even tough being in the form of God, he made himself of no reputation. Instead, he humbled himself and took upon himself the form of a servant and became obedient unto death, even unto the the death on the cross.” Humility to God in serving others is the antidote to overcome the world’s criticism and condemnation as the devil’s minions attempt to steal our joy.

In chapter three of Philippians the joy thief is things. The antidote is the spiritual mind…. finally brethren rejoice in the Lord. Paul said this is a reminder that there are false prophets and preachers who will lead you astray by telling you that salvation is by works and the things of this world and not of grace. However, we put no confidence in the flesh, not having the circumcision made with hands but having our hearts circumcised to receive the truth of the Word of God.

Paul said that from an earthly perspective, he had the right credentials to rely on the things of this world… his own works and the things that the world holds dear. Paul was an Hebrew of Hebrews who could trace his lineage through the honored tribe of Benjamin. He had been trained in the right synagogues and by the right rabbis. He was a leader of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of Judaism. However, Paul acknowledged, “those things I counted as precious to me, I now count but dung compared to the righteousness I have in Christ.”

Jesus said, if you abide in me and I abide in you, then you shall bear much fruit. He is the vine and we are the branches. Unless we are attached to the vine, there will be no fruit, there will be no purpose in life.

The goal in Philippians 3:10 is that we will know him and the power of his resurrection being conformed to his death. The power of the resurrection is the power that raised Jesus from among the dead. Part of knowing the power of his resurrection is to know the fellowship of his suffering. Through the tribulations he will refine us according to the good pleasure of his will. The end result of this refining through tribulation is hope and love. For tribulaton worketh patience, and patience experience (character), and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.

Only through suffering and the trials of life can we understand the grace of God. Paul learned this difficult life lesson after he prayed three times, “Lord please remove this thorn in the flesh.” The third time he prayed, God answered, “My strength is made perfect in thy weakness, my grace is sufficient for thee.”

The devil will sidetrack our thoughts and condemn us into thinking that we love those whom God has blessed us with, even more than we love God himself. Pete loved his wife so much that he prayed, “Lord I think that I love my wife more than I love you.” God answered, “you don’t love her more than me. You love her because you love me.” According to 1 John 4:12b, “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” The love of others is a reflection of the love of God. Jesus himself said, “in that ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

The purpose is that we will be conformed to His death… that we will reckon our old sinful nature dead and our new spiritual nature alive in Christ. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

If God needs to break our hearts for what breaks his, then thank him for breaking our hearts. That we may be conformed to his will, not ours. He’ll pick up the threads of our broken hearts and weave them together again, conformed according to his will and his purpose.

The antidote to the joy thief of the things of this world is to set our affection on things above and not on things of earth. For our citizenship is in heaven from which we eagerly await the redemption of our bodies at the resurrection. The hope of the resurrection keeps everything in proper perspective. Our hope is that the best is yet to come. According to Romans 8:18… the sufferings of this present time are not to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

As sons of God and as Americans, we hold dual citizenship. We’re Christians who happen to be Americans and not Americans who happen to be Christians. Even though we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, Our first allegiance is to the country of our new birth. We may be natural-born citizens of the United States. However we’re spiritual-born again citizens of heaven. We’ve been born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by he word of God which liveth and abideth forever.

Because he lives and because he lives in us, we can choose joy. This is a command: Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Our joy is not in circumstances, people, or things. Our joy is in the object of joy, the Lord himself.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know who holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Therefore, rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice….
…That we may ever live to the praise of the glory fo His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

How Shall We Then Live?

Francis Shaffer wrote a book entitled “How Shall We then Live?” This is an appropriate question for such a time as this.

Dave Hess has a unique perspective as a missionary in a Muslim country where he himself is a minority. According to Revelation 5,

From every people and tribe
Every nation and tongue
He has made us a kingdom and priests to God
To reign with the Son
Is He worthy?Is He worthy?
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Is He worthy of this?
He is!

From Dave’s last message on June 5, the theme was that the solution to the problems of this world is the gospel message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

The worldwide media thinks that the United States has been overrun with rioting, looting, and active violation of human rights by the police. They think that the US is the global center of chaos and confusion and the epicenter of the global pandemic.

The current crises in America has been precipitated by the passage in 2 Timothy 3. God will shake that which can be shaken. As the song says, “there’s a whole lot of shaking going on.” However, the world is not focused on the root cause of the shaking. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against rulers of the darkness in high places, against spiritual wickedness from on high.

Either people will voluntarily kneel in prayer or God will bring the world to its knees. Because of the trials and tribulation of this world, the world is open to a message of deliverance. Jesus said in the great commission: Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations…..teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

In Acts 10, God has given us a key to reach out with his message of deliverance. This is the record of “houses of fire” and of “Putting new wine into new wine skins.” In this record, God called Peter to minister unto the gentiles. This was unheard of before in the Bible since the Word of God was originally given only to Israel.

Cornelius was an unbeliever who had a vision from God in answer to his prayer. He feared God with his household. He had an awe, reverence, and respect for God along with everyone in his own house. Similarly, in this time of social distancing God is interacting with his church in the homes. The question in Acts 10:1-5 is “who’s calling whom?” It’s actually the lost who are calling the Christian believers to minister to them.

In Acts 10, The “unbeliever” Cornelius who had not been saved had a one time encounter with God. He responded to God’s vision with immediate obedience. He followed God’s instruction and sent his servant to go get Peter.

Meanwhile, Peter went up on his housetop to pray. He also had a vision and in verse 16, Peter saw the vision three times. God had to remind him over and over, but Peter was inwardly perplexed about the meaning of God’s visual revelation. Then spirit said explicitly, “three men are looking for you and I have sent them.”

In the Muslim world, many who come to Christ have had a dream or an encounter with Jesus Christ via a personal revelation. The role of the supernatural is huge in the Muslim world. It’s common for Persians to have a divine vision from God. They see miraculous healings such as the encounter Dave and his wife had with a Muslim woman in Orange County this past Saturday. Even though they had just met this woman Dave’s wife prayed for her. She was miraculously delivered from chronic abdominal pain.

Peter was one of Jesus’s three personal best friends. However, he needed to see the vision from God three times and he still didn’t understand the meaning of the vision.

The Bible says, don’t put new wine into old wine skins. You have to put new wine into new wine skins otherwise the the old wine skins will burst.

The record in Acts 10:23 says that “Then (Peter) called them (Cornelius’ servants) in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.”

This was unheard of for someone brought up in the Jewish religion. Jews did not associate with “heathen unbelievers.” Peter was starting a new process and a new norm, i.e., a new wine skin. The new process was ministering to non-Jews and meeting in the home instead of the temple or the synagogue.

Dave and his wife were recently invited into the house of a young Jewish woman from Yemen. One of her relatives was radically healed and had a spiritual encounter with the Lord as Dave prayed for her healing. His friend Craig mentioned that Dave should tell her about the story in Acts 10 about the house of Cornelius.

Cornelius invited Peter into his home. When you’re around people who think that you’re special because you have done things on behalf of God, Peter had to correct their theology and said, “I’m just a man like you.”

Jews did not interact with non-Jews. This old wine skin kept Peter from wanting to minister to a “heathen.” However, Peter said, “when I was called I came without objection. Verse 31 tells about how God revealed to him that he should go see Cornelius.. Actually Cornelius the unbeliever was more willing to act on God’s revelation than many Christians. Christians often think they should pray about God’s instructions rather than simply acting by believing faith on God’s revelation.

Cornelius said, “we (our whole household) have gathered together in the presence of God to hear everything that the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” They wanted to know the truth of the word of God. They weren’t afraid to understand God’s righteousness, judgement, and holiness. They wanted to be set free from everything that was imprisoning them. They did not want a watered down message of “easy believism.”

Jesus had said to his disciples, “Go into all the world….teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you.” According to Corinthians, we are not as those who water down (corrupt) the word of God.

In Acts 10: 34-43, Peter preached to Cornelius and his household the gospel message of deliverance from the bondage of this world and salvation through Jesus Christ.

According to Romans 12, the Bible says, recompense to no man evil for evil, provide all things honest in the sight of all men. Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good.

While Peter was preaching, the spirit fell upon Cornelius and his household and the Jews who were with Peter were all amazed. The gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on Cornelius and his Gentile household just as it had fallen Peter and the Jews who where with him.

The emphasis is to meet with people during this time of social distancing. We need to become a church of house groups. We’re living connected together despite the storms of life so that there is a healthy connection of believers within our own households. The church in the home was one of the hall marks of the first century church in the book of Acts.

The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. One of the harvest fields is in the homes of people who need to have an encounter with the risen Lord.

New means new. The new is completely different from the old normal. This is a time of renewal to change what was wrong with our lives pre-Covid19.

The devil works through distraction. Now is the time to set our affections on things above and not on the things of this world. The time is ripe for the harvest. As Christian believers, God is opening the minds of those he’s calling to receive the seed of the word of truth. We’ve been called to plant, to water, and to bring in the harvest in the mission field of the hearts he’s prepared for us.

That He alone may be glorified and that we may be to the praise of the glory of His grace.
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Stealing Joy

In 1975 Pete travelled to the Dominican Republic, the first stop on a tour of Latin America to play baseball for a Christian exhibition team. He had never before seen a third world country. During this trip, Pete was afflicted with a painful stomach flu. Despite the tribulations, their team had a great trip. During this trip Pete was able to study the book of Philippians. God inspired him to write an outline of the book of Philippians.

Philippians is a letter of insightful and uplifting spiritual encouragement about the Joy of the Lord. According to Warren Wiersbe, in each of the four chapters of Philippians there is a thief that will steal your joy. Each chapter also has a solution to keep these thieves at bay.

The background history for Philippians is in Acts 16. Paul on his missionary journey with Silas was looking for opportunities to speak about the good news of the gospel of Christ. He found a group of women who were meeting “down by the riverside” to pray. There he met Lydia, a seller of purple who was a leader in her community. She and her household were converted to the Lord and baptized. She offered to host Paul and Silas at her house while they were in Philipppi.

Paul cast out a devil from a slave girl who told fortunes for her masters. When they realized that the source of their wealth was gone, they stirred up the crowd in the marketplace and started a riot against Paul and Silas. The magistrates arrested Paul and Silas and put them in jail for causing an uprising. While in prison, they were beaten but that night they sang praises to God. A miraculous earthquake opened the doors of the prison. The jailer was about to kill himself for allowing the prisoners to escape but Paul and Silas called out: “Do yourself no harm. We’re all here.” They witnessed to the jailer about the gospel of Christ. The jailer and his whole household were converted and came to the Lord.

The city officials released Paul and Silas and told them to leave Philippi. Paul advised them that he was a Roman citizen and that he had been unjustly accused and imprisoned. Paul exercised his right as a Roman to appeal to Cesar since he had been unjustly imprisoned in Philippi which was a Roman colony. Paul wrote this epistle to the believers at the church in Philippi from Rome while he was being held captive before his appeal to Cesar.

The epistle of Philippians is an epistle of joy. After his salutation, Paul begins this letter in chapter 1 verses 3-7:
3. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5. For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
7. Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”

Fellowship means that which we “partake” in common within the body of Christ. This begins with God’s gift of grace: His Holy Spirit which is Christ in us the hope of glory. Paul said that his joy is that we participate in the fellowship of the gospel. Our collective faith is in salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

The first thief that will steal your joy in Philippians is circumstances and situations. Paul said, in verse 12, “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;”
Paul said that whether in pain or comfort or in life or death, my joy is in the the gospel of Christ. The antidote to the circumstances of this world is to our focus on our mission: our participation in the good news of the gospel message of Jesus Christ. The defense and the confirmation of the gospel is in verse 2. The participation in the fellowship of the gospel is in verse 5. The furtherance of the gospel is in verse 12.

During these times of worldwide pandemic where everyone is facing the effects of social distancing and sheltering in place, we can still experience the joy of the fellowship of the gospel of Christ.

Paul is singularly focused on the Gospel of Christ. He said, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. In Philippians 1:22-26 Paul continues:
22. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot (know) not.
23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
24. Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
25. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
26. That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.”

Life is a dress rehearsal for eternity. Paul continuing in verse 27 said that my desire is that you live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ:
27. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
28. And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Upon salvation we’re given by God’s grace a new life in Christ. He is the one who is worthy of praise. Despite our circumstances and situations, our circumstances are working out for the furtherance of the gospel.

The antidote to circumstances is the focus on the gospel of Christ. When we “turn the other cheek” that’s walking in a manner worthy of the gospel. Jesus said, blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.

Compared to his grace and mercy, every circumstance and the pain of tribulations are insignificant. Problems are inversely proportional to the power to overcome the problems. The question is, how great is your God?

When we focus on the joy of the Lord, the problems of this world fade to insignificance. Sam Parsons learned this lesson while he was ministering in nursing homes by singing to the elderly residents. He met an old lady from Japan who was paralyzed. Her face lit up when he came into her room. He asked her, “How do you remain so cheerful in your condition?” She couldn’t speak so she held a chopstick between her lips to point to the letters on a board. She spelled out the reference to a Bible verse: 1 Corinthians 1:9. This verse says, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Sam was so inspired that he wrote a song called “The Best is Yet to Come.”

The Apostle Paul was in a dire situation but he did not focus on his circumstances. Instead he focused on the gospel, the good news of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Through the trials and pressures of this world, we will come to an understanding of hope and the love of God. For triulation worketh patience and patience experience, and experience hope. And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.

Jesus said, These things I have spoken to you that ye might have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.

Therefore Philippians 4 says “Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice!”

That we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace.
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Our Finest Hour

God works in mysterious ways. Isaiah 55 says, as the heavens are higher than the earth, so much higher are his thoughts than our thoughts and his ways than our ways. When Pete and Suzan found out that she had a brain tumor with the diagnosis of stage four terminal brain cancer, God said to them, “Either this will be your greatest tragedy or it will be your finest hour.”

They determined that this trial would be their finest hour. Through this ordeal, God taught them four important life lessons. The first lesson is, Life is hard. Jesus said, in this world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. The second is, It’s not about you. Our purpose is that despite the tribulation, we would be to the praise of the glory of His grace. Third is, I’m not in control, He is. Therefore trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding… In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths. He’s called us to empty ourselves of ourselves in service to him. This is the essence of the abundant life. The fourth lesson is, we’re all going to die. To live unto him is to die unto self.

This is our finest hour. Our lives are a calling to be remarkable, uncommon, and extraordinary. We are the elect of God, a peculiar people, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, separated from a world of darkness to spread the light of the gospel of truth.

Our finest hour is the precious occasion where we can praise and glorify God and not ourselves. Our finest hour is our opportunity to empty ourselves in service to our Lord by serving others the bread of life. According to James, count it all joy when you encounter trials. For the testing of your faith works patience. Then when patience has completed her work you will be perfect and entire wanting nothing.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed three times, Father, if there be any other way, let this cup (of pain, suffering, humiliation, and death) pass from me. Then Jesus concluded his prayer, “nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.” This is the definition of prayer: to align my heart with God’s heart.

Jesus often slipped away from the crowd and separated himself to pray in the wilderness with his inner circle of Peter, James, and John. William Wilburforce said, “there are seasons where we need to get away and join our hearts with the Lord. These precious moments of prayer are the golden bonds that transcend this earth and unite us with heaven’s purpose.”

When Jesus walked out of the garden of Gethsemane in John 18:4 he was ready to do his father’s will. He said to Peter in verse 11, “shall I not drink the cup that my Father has given me?”

Jesus experienced all things like ordinary men yet without sin. His actions proved his words, “I always do my father’s will.” Jesus gladly submitted to do his father’s will. He was convinced of his Father’s loving kindness and tender mercy. Jesus knew by experience God’s answer to Paul’s prayer in 2 Corinthians 12 “My strength is made perfect in thy weakness. My grace is sufficient for thee.”

According to Romans 12:1-2, “I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Oswald Chambers’ devotional for November 1 says, “If God’s plan for my life is to break my heart to accomplish his will, then thank him for breaking my heart.” He’ll pick up the threads of our broken hearts and weave them together again according to his plan and his purpose: that we would be vessels fit for the master’s use.

Disciples of Christ are disciplined to follow in their master’s footsteps. After his prayer in John 19, Jesus taught by his example three essentials of godly servant-leadership:
1. He stood in the face of danger.
2. He bore up under suffering
3. He sacrificed himself for the good of others.

Jesus stood in the face of danger. When he walked out of Gesthemane, He knew all things that were coming against him. He said to the Romon cohort of 600 soldiers that came to arrest him, “whom do you seek?” He asked them twice. When they said, “Jesus the Nazarene”, he said, “I am he.” They all fell backwards at his words.

Jesus bore up under suffering. While he was being tortured and hanging on the cross, Jesus prayed for the soldiers who drove the nails through his hands and his feet, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Trough the pain and suffering Jesus taught us the meaning of Romans 5: Tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope. And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.

A godly leader sacrifices himself for the good of others. Jesus Christ who was without sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we would be made the righteousness of God in him.

The Lord asked Pete and Suzan, “can I trust you with a brain tumor.” They purposed in their heart, regardless of the outcome of this situation, we’ll glorify God through the trial and trough the tribulation.

In John 19:26, Jesus had the presence of mind to take care of his own family. He ordained John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” to look after his mother.

Jesus saw men not as they were but as they would be. Hebrews 12:2 is God’s answer to Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. This is Jesus’s example as the culmination of Hebrews chapter 11, God’s “hall of faith.”

According to Hebrews 12:1-3:
1. WHEREFORE seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses (of the faith of believing believers,) let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. His joy was your redemption and mine. The purpose for which he was called was to become the perfect payment for sin on our behalf that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. His ultimate purpose was to sacrifice his innocent life in exchange for our guilty lives that we could be saved, set free, redeemed, and made righteous. That we would be holy and without blame before him in love, to the praise of the glory of God’s grace!

Through the trials and tribulations, Suzan came to understand her life’s motto: Joy is not the absence of pain, rather joy is the presence of the Lord.

Therefore rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael