Dave is a missionary to the Middle East and has a unique perspective on the spread of the Gospel of salvation around the world. The whole world is hunkered down for fear of spreading the Corona Virus. However as Christians, we have not been called as disease vectors, but as vectors to spread God’s healing wholeness of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Many world leaders have proposed solutions to the global pandemic. However, the solution from God’s perspective is Jesus Christ and the gospel of salvation. Sometimes God allows that which can be shaken to be shaken. We have the choice either to voluntarily go to our knees in prayer or he will allow circumstances to bring us to our knees.

Despite the darkness of our times, The gospel of salvation is exploding in the Middle East. Many Muslims are being converted to Christianity during this pandemic. On Line messages, conference calls, and video meetings have proliferated throughout the Arab world. The light of the word of truth is a stark contrast to the darkness of the pandemic of this moment in world history.

God is a God of deliverance. There can be no victory without a battle. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in this world. Jesus said, “In this world ye will have tribulation. Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

In World War II, President Roosevelt said, “We have nothing to fear except… fear itself.” According to to 2 Timothy 1:7, God has not given us a spirt of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

As able ministers of the New Testament, in this world that is seemingly on fire with pestilence and pandemic, God has not called us to be fire extinguishers, but “fear extinguishers.” For there is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear for fear has torment. He who feareth is not made perfect in love.

God works in mysterious ways. As high as the heavens are higher than the earth, so much higher his thoughts above our thoughts and his ways above our ways. We don’t know the end from the beginning, but he does.

From God’s perspective, this “invisible enemy” of Covid-19 has an underlying cause. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness from on high.

According to Romans 1:29 and following:
29. “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31. Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Christians are called to stand against the darkness of this world. There’s a stark contrast between the works fo the flesh and the fruit of the spirit. Those whom God has called and are born again of his spirit have been given spiritual enablements. One of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit is discerning of spirits. The invisible enemy underlying the pandemic is the spiritual realm: the prince of the power of the air who now worketh in the children of disobedience.

Dave ministers to people from diverse ethnicities. Some members of his congregation still experience slavery in their countries of origin. The gospel of salvation is the only hope for true freedom. Jesus said, If you continue in my word, ye shall be my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

Things are far worse around the world than in the United States. Dave has witnessed atrocities in the Middle East where “ethnic cleansing” practices have resulted in innocent populations being raped, pillaged, plundered, and killed in the name of so-called ethnic purity. These are symptoms of the acute spiritual warfare of our times.

However, the weapons or our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual to the pulling down of spiritual strongholds. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high. According to Ephesians 6:14-18, To stand against the schemes of the devil we must put on the whole armor of God:

14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…

In the spiritual battle, the offensive weapons are the sword of the spirit which is the word of God and prayer.

We have nothing to fear, for if God be for us who can be against us? The question is not whether God is on our side, but whether we are on God’s side. On God’s side, be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good….

According to 2 Corinthians 2:14, Now thanks be to God who always causeth us to triumph in Christ Jesus, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.

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

Reconciliation

At the age of fifteen, Pete was traveling with his baseball team by train from Birmingham to Lynchburg, Virginia. He happened to be the last guy on his team to enter the dining car for lunch. There was only one empty seat in the galley so Pete sat down and noticed that the person beside him was a person of color. He knew that his team mates would make fun of him for violating the South’s strict unwritten code of segregation. Pete’s heart told him that he should do the right thing and make a new friend of this black man. However, embarrassed, he got up and walked away.

Even though Pete had been taught in his church about the unconditional love of God, he was too embarrassed to do the right thing and stand up for the truth of scripture.

Reconciliation means to restore to harmony and unity. It means to regenerate and to be made new, rejoined together in the spirit of unity. Reconciliation is to bring back together that which has been separated.

According to II Timothy 3:1-5:
1. THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent (without self control,) fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, highminded (prideful,) lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

To listen to the news of this world’s current events, is to separate our hearts from the truth of the word of God. However 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

According to 2 Corinthians 5:17-21:
17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God
21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

There can be no lasting reconciliation without repentance. Repentance means to turn around. It means to turn from myself and my selfish nature and unto God through his son Jesus Christ. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

The first step to repentance is meekness and humility. Jesus said, blessed are the meek for they shall inherit I the earth. We must give up the throne of our hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ. If any man is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things are passed away. All things are become new.

The devil’s job is to divide and conquer. There are irreconcilable differences between genders, political parties, races, and denominations. Where there is strife and contention there is confusion and every evil work. However, the solution to division is the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Reconciliation resulting in peace is only available through Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “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.” We have peace with God through Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice on our behalf. Reconciliation and atonement are the same word in Greek. Atonement means at-one-meant. This is the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.

The apostle Paul said, In my flesh dwelleth no good thing. However through salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone we have been given a new spiritual nature. The new nature is Christ in you the hope of glory. Jesus said, If I abide in you and you abide in me you shall bear much fruit.

God hasn’t called us to keep the rules of the Old Testament law. He has called us unto salvation…. wholeness by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing that God has raised him from the dead. Because He lives, we have been made a new creation in Christ… Old things (of the sin nature) are passed away. All (spiritual) things are made new.

At the cross of Christ, God has made us acceptable in the beloved. 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. The solution to reconcile irreconcilable differences is to meet each other at the foot of the cross where Jesus paid the price for our sins as our atoning sacrifice.

Our witness for the Lord is in the power of His Holy Spirit. We’ve been called as peacemakers to reconcile God’s people back to him through the super natural power his Spirit.

Our purpose and our calling is to be ambassadors for Christ. The country of our new birth is heaven….for our citizenship is in heaven. Not only are we citizens of heaven but we are called as ambassadors, the highest ranking representatives sent from our home in heaven to represent our Sovreign Lord in a foreign country. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation and committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we pray you in Christ’s stead be ye reconciled unto God.

As ambassadors, our commission is to introduce others to our Lord. When Andrew introduced his brother Simon Peter to Jesus, he simply said, “come and see.” Similarly when the people asked John the Baptist if he were the Messiah, he said, “I’m not the bridegroom. I’m here to introduce the bride (Israel) to her groom Jesus Christ. I must decrease that he might increase.”

The great commission is the ministry of reconciliation. Jesus said to his disciples before his ascension, “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 age.”

In other words our mission and our commission is this: Go give ‘em heaven!

….that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace.
Your brother in Christ,
MIchael

Doug’s Testimony

For many men, Father’s Day brings back painful memories. However, regardless of the examples of our earthly fathers, our Heavenly Father’s legacy is what really matters in life.

As a young boy, Doug Hall idolized his dad. Doug’s father was a fighter pilot in the Air Force who left for Vietnam when he was only five. The death and destruction his father witnessed in Vietnam changed his life. When his dad returned from active duty, his heart had changed and he had became angry, bitter, confrontational, vindictive and verbally abusive. At the age of twelve, Doug’s father moved out of the house.

Doug grew up without a dad from the age of 13 to 37. Without a father’s guidance, Doug was broken, empty and lacked self confidence. He needed a father to give him affirmation him as a son and a young man. Even after Doug graduated from college and attained a good job with rewards that the world values, his life was still empty. His met a neighbor in Corona Del Mar where he had bought a house. She kept inviting him to church.

When he finally found the courage to accept her invitation to go to church with her, Doug doesn’t remember what the preacher said, but he remembers that in the depth of his soul, he heard the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the preacher read “Thou art fearfully and wonderfully made,” the heavens opened as if God himself were speaking.

Later he heard God’s voice that said, “Doug, you need to forgive your father.” Doug argued with the Lord, “I think he needs to apologize to me.” His dad had been a womanizer, and an alcoholic, filled with bitterness and pain.

Doug remembers that he wrote a twelve page letter of forgiveness to his dad. God reminded him that unforgivness is drinking poison and hoping that it will kill the object of your unforgivness..

As the days and years progressed, there was reconciliation between Doug and his father. When Doug finally had children of his own, he began to realize what it means to model the love of God. Gary Leachman reminded him that you can fake many things but you can’t fake showing up. Doug made it a priority to spend time with his wife and children. He keeps a framed needlepoint on his wall to remind him, “to have a child is to know the beauty of life.”

Throughout this life, Doug has discovered that the trials he endured with his dad were not wasted. He continues to learn that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed because the one of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.

God has redeemed the years that “the locust has eaten.” When Doug’s father passed away a few years ago he was blessed to pray with him before hi died. Doug keeps alive the hope that his dad was born again and that they will see each other again in heaven.

The story of Joseph reminds him that “what men meant for evil, God meant for good.” According to Romans 8:28, all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.

Forgiving his Dad was the most cathartic thing that Doug had done in his life. As the quote says, “I forgave and set the prisoner free only to find that the prisoner was me.”

Pete’s Message: Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Doug’s testimony reminds us that God reconciles us to Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation and has committed unto us the Word of reconciliation.

The beatitudes says that blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the children of God. Peace is the result of reconciliation, of bringing together that which has been separated. There is no peace without the prince of peace. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Everything that Jesus taught was remarkable. He was outside of the norm of the world’s standards. 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.”

Paul said, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” The gain is in living for the fourtharance of the gospel….to be ministers of the New Testament fulfilling our charge as ambassadors for Christ. Therefore we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to Christ. Our mission is to offer a peace treaty from the kingdom of heaven. The terms of the peace treaty are acceptance of God’s gift of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

The holy spirit points away from ourselves and unto Christ and the gospel message of salvation. The evil one will point us to ourselves and away from Christ. When we focus on ourselves, it makes us think that our so-called rights have been violated. The voice of the enemy will appeal to the old nature that is insidiously preoccupied with self.

However, we are a new creation in Christ. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. God through his son gives us the power to live for him….to live the remarkable life of forgetting those things which are behind and pressing forward to the things that are before….in the newness of life.

1 Peter 1:23-24 says,
23. (Jesus Christ) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Righteousness is not in seeking retribution, but in forgiving. Jesus said while he was being nailed to the cross said, “father forgive them for they know know what they do.”

The mark of the high calling is to be Christ centered, grace driven, and faith based.

A critical spirit will break up any relationship. According to James….the tongue is an all consuming fire, the very world of iniquity, set among our members on fire by hell…full of deadly poison.

Like the song says, “It’s only words, and words are all I have to take your heart away.” We’re called to deliver words of peace, reconciliation, love and forgiveness in light of eternity. God has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. To reconcile is to make peace in the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.

Therefore guard your tongue. God dwells in the prayers and praises of the saints. Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of the heart are flow the issues of life.

Pete recalls the story about DL Moody who was preaching at a revival in England. As Moody preached, he noticed an older man sitting on the front pew whose ruddy face was radiant with joy. After the service DL Moody approached him and asked him why his face reflected the joy of the Lord.

The man said that he had been an officer in India for the British army. He ruled his troops with an iron fist. He was a tough officer who took pride in being a hard charging hard drinking womanizing task master. One night he had been drinking in the officers’ club. He stumbled into the barracks filled with rage in a drunken stupor. Looking for someone to vent his rage, he saw a soldier asleep who was a Christian.

He dragged the soldier from his bunk and started kicking him. He beat him and kicked him until he was lying in a pool of his own blood. The last thing the officer remembered was collapsing into his own bed and passing out.

When the officer awoke the next morning, the first thing he noticed was his boots beside his bed. His boots were so shiny that he could see his reflection. Then he realized that the soldier he had beaten had crawled though his own blood to spit shine his boots. That’s when he uttered a silent prayer, “whatever that man has, I want.”

According to Romans 12…… Recompense to no man evil for evil; be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. Only when we give up the rights to ourselves can we be ambassadors for Christ.

The question is “will the real you please stand up?” The real you is Christ in you the hope of glory….his hands behind our hands, his feet behind our feet, his eyes behind our eyes and his ears behind our ears…..it is his heart behind our heart. Therefore work out your own salvation, your own healing wholeness with fear and trembling….with awe, respect, reverence and love. For it is God who worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure.

There is power in the Word of reconciliation. It is his tongue behind our tongue. Therefore, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable unto thee, O Lord my strength and my redeemer….

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

Underdogs

God loves underdogs. As men of God we know that in our flesh dwells no good thing. However, we have been strengthened with His mighty power by the Holy Spirit which he gave us when we were born again. In the midst of the spiritual battle the Lord is our refuge and strength. He is our shelter from the storm.

In the days of Noah, God called Noah to warn the people of the coming flood. They went about their daily business and didn’t listen to God’s warning. Then when the flood came, they weren’t ready and they didn’t know what hit them.

Our times are challenging times. The average Christian guy is casual in his walk with the Lord. He’s stressed and doesn’t think he can do anything about it. He’s struggling with his walk with God. He cannot say, “Lord, without you I’m nothing. I need help.” Many casual Christian men have a father wound. Their dad never said, “son, I love you.” Guilt and shame dog and condemn the casual Christian. He’s angry and doesn’t know the cause of his anger or how to deal with it. Even though he’s attended church and has been to men’s retreats, he still feels uncomfortable on spiritual turf. He avoids places or situations where he might be asked to pray or look something up in the Bible. He’s fearful and doesn’t know where to turn. He finds his identity in his work and accomplishments. He strives for the world’s definition of success. He pursues the things the world holds dear: beauty, honor and money. He see’s himself as a good guy even though he’s not involved with his church. He’s an underdog when it comes to the things of the spirit of life in Christ.

Bob Bennet says that men of this world have been marginalized. They have been relegated to the margins of our popular culture. They have been emasculated and pushed aside while the women have taken center stage. The average guy has acquiesced to his marginal position trying not to offend the world’s standards of political correctness.

According to Isaiah 55:8-9 God said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Therefore proverbs 3:5-6 says, “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 path.”

His ways, His Purpose, and His plan are much higher than ours. We don’t understand the end from the beginning…..but he does. As a follower of our Lord, our purpose is to follow him in close proximity.

The first chapter of 1 Corinthians says, not many noble, not many wise are called. God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the wise. For the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God.

God has chosen the weak, the base, the foolish, and the despised things of this world so that no man can glory in his sight. Repentance is to turn from myself and unto Christ. Our credentials are not in our own accomplishments but only in Him. 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. Christianity is all of thee and none of me….that we may be to the praise of the glory of His grace.

By God’s grace he has called us and chosen us to be holy and without blame before him in love.

When God called Moses to confront Pharaoh, Moses said, “why me, Lord. I can’t speak. I’ve been banished from Egypt as a murderer. Why have you chosen me?” God chooses the things that are despised of this world to show the power of his grace, mercy, and love.

According to 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” According to this verse we’re saved from sin and the effects of sin. This includes the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and the presence of sin.

Salvation from these effects of sin also covers the three tenses of salvation. In the past tense were saved because of what Christ did on our behalf….not because of our own worthiness. Righteousness means that we have been saved from the penalty of sin. In the present tense, sanctification means that we are being saved, set apart from the power of sin. We’re separated from the power of sin according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named either in this world or that which is to come….. In the future tense, Redemption means that we will be saved from the presence of sin for when that which is perfect is come at Christ return, we shall know even also as we are known.

We’re not successful by the world’s standards. Jesus said, the abundance of a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesses. By his standard, he came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. He has called us to stand in the power of his might according tot he spirit of Christ in us the hope of glory.

God chooses underdogs from the world’s perspective….ordinary men who have the meekness and humility to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God.

God chose Joseph to provide and protect the nation of Israel to be separated in the land of Egypt according to God’s plan.

Likewise, he set Moses apart to lead the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt to the promised land flowing with milk and honey. God had a plan for his life. God got his attention through a burning bush that wasn’t consumed. God called Moses to a high and mighty calling to deliver his people. Moses’ life was an example of His grace and mercy.

Jesse’s son David was also the story of an underdog. David was Jesse’s youngest son who was tending his father’s sheep. When Samuel told Jesse that God was calling one of his son’s to be anointed, Jesse left David in the field. Even though David was chosen to become king, he often walked outside of God’s will. He sinned woefully with Bathsheba, but he repented of his sin and God restored him to an upright position. God is rich in mercy and grace. A broken and a contrite heart, God will not forsake.

God has called men of God for such a time as this. He’s called us to be salt and light in a world of darkness. He’s called his men to stand in the gap as his wall of protection around the city. We’re watchmen on the wall to put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to sand in the evil day and having done all to stand.

Despite the pestilence and pandemic, God says, fear thou not for I am with thee. Be not dismayed for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

From the world’s perspective, Jesus was an underdog. Jesus lived one solitary life according to this poem attributed to James Allen Francis:

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher.He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn’t go to college. He never lived in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race. I am well within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned–put together–have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one, solitary life.

As underdogs and as servants of our Lord, may we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God,
That we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Lead Us to Pray

How has God called each of us as Christians and men of God… to fulfill the great commission, to make disciples of all nations, and to serve others by serving them the bread of life? According to 2 Corinthians 5, God has given us the ministry of reconciliation: to connect God’s people back to him. To do this he has committed unto us the Word of reconciliation, the truth of scripture, God’s message of deliverance by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

The world teaches us what it means to be a leader, but how does God define his leaders? EM Bounds said, “Praying men are God’s chosen leaders whom God has brought to lead his people to Christ, sanctified according to to his purpose. He has called them to be men of prayer.” 2 Corinthians 5 says, therefore we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. To whatever position he’s placed us in the body of Christ, he has called us first to be men of prayer. God calls his ministers to lead and to bless his church which is his called-out, his elect and chosen.

Godly leaders are different from worldly leaders. The world chooses leaders according to worldly credentials. However, leading in the church requires men who having walked in fellowship with their Lord, live to do their master’s will. The church is not an organization but rather a organism. The church is the elect of God, the called-out living body of Christ.

The false church that looks for better methods to pursue worldly success. However, God does not look for better methods. He looks for better men….men mighty in prayer. In Jesus’ day, the Romans ruled over their empire with an iron hand. When Jesus broke upon the scene, the people realized that he was different from their oppressive worldly rulers. They wanted to make Jesus their earthly king. However, Jesus said, That’s not why I’m here. They asked him, “Jesus, what’s your plan?” He pointed to some lowly uneducated fishermen and a despised tax collector. He said, “those men over there, they’re the plan.” God chooses the lowly things of the world to confound the wise.

Those who spend time in the Lord’s presence are the ones whom God has chosen to lead his church. A pastor and a godly man must spend time in close proximity with his Lord. Jesus didn’t say to his disciples, “do what I say.” Rather he said, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” He said, if you abide in me and my word abides in you ye shall bear much fruit. He said, I am the vine and ye are the branches. Therefore abide in me. A fruitful life is the result of abiding with and within the living vine.

God asks each person he’s called, “what is it that you want? What do you desire most? What is the object of your delight?” The world thinks that prayer is telling God what we want. However, the Bible says that this is the opposite of prayer. Prayer is not telling God what we want. Instead prayer is telling our heart what God wants. Prayer is not aligning God’s heart with my heart, but rather, aligning my heart with God’s heart. This is the meaning of Psalm 37:4, “Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

The next question he asks is, “what’s that worth to you? What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve what you value most?” The world tells us that sacrifice is something that we give up and that in giving it up, we’re poorer. However, from God’s perspective, only when we give up the things of this world can he fill us with the things of highest value, the things of the spirit of life in Christ.

Prayer is the key to abiding in Him. When we live live life rejoicing in the Lord together with our brothers and sisters in the household of faith, our prayer will be an outpouring of praise and thanksgiving. Prayer and praise is the product of a thankful heart. Our prayer will glorify God and encourage and edify one another within the body of Christ.

The Navigators Colossians 2:7 program leads small groups through a discipleship training program. Pete recalls that when he was a novice assistant pastor, an elder in his church asked him to lead a small group to go through this basic Christian training program. The first sessions began with the most fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. As a young pastor, Pete didn’t think he was qualified to lead the elders whom he admired as seasoned men of God. However, one elder encouraged him, “never apologize for reminding us about the foundations of our faith.”

Men and women of God see life through the lens of Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Peter 4:16-17 says, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

God expects men of God to be salt and light in a world that has lost its salt of truth and has turned to darkness. He’s called true disciples to be counter cultural to the culture of this World. To follow him we must love him more than the things of the world. After Jesus had trained his disciples and after his resurrection, Jesus asked Peter, “do you love me?” Is he the object of your affection? The question is “do you want to spend the rest of your life learning to become just like him?” The cost of following him is to turn from the things of the world. The first of the Ten Commandments says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” In other words, “there shall be nothing between my face and your face.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all with open face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory (of the flesh) to glory (of the spirit), even as by the spirit of the Lord.”

Jesus said, “in this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Our comfort is not in the comfort of this world. Our comfort is in the comfort of Holy Spirit. The job of the Holy Spirit is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.

Jesus calls us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. 2 Timothy 5 is about suffering. Through the trials and affliction, through the tribulation and pressure of this world, we will learn to trust our souls to the captain of salvation.

When a man is faithful he shall receive a crown that fadeth not away. Our confidence is not in the insecure things of this world. The only security is in the rock of our salvation. Only Jesus Christ is the sure foundation. He alone is our refuge and strength.

He alone is worthy of our prayer and praise. Therefore may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable unto thee, O Lord my strength and my redeemer.

That we may live a life of prayer, a sweet smelling savor…. to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
MIchael

Spiritual Grit

True Grit describes a man who is firm and steadfast in mind and spirit. A man of true spiritual grit is unyielding in courage in the face of hardship and danger. He has intestinal fortitude. He stands firm in the faith and is spiritually strong, courageous in his Lord Jesus Christ.

As men of God, Christ likeness is our goal. The book of Philippians reminds us of who we are in Christ. In this epistle of joy Paul exhorts followers of Christ to “rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice.” According to .1 Corinthians 5, “ye are not your own…. Ye were bought with a price.” A man of God is God’s man. The most important thing is not who we are but rather whose we are.

According to Philippians 3 beginning in verse 1:
1. FINALLY, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
2. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

False teachers were coming into the fellowship of the believers and said that they needed to follow the Old Testament law of circumcision. However, Paul reminds them that true spiritual grit means that we are circumcised according to the spirit of life in Christ and not according tot he flesh:

3. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Paul reminds them of his own credentials as a “Hebrew of Hebrews:”

4. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5. Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Paul had impeccable credentials according to the traditions of the Old Testament law. He was born into one of the elite tribes of the southern kingdom of Judah. In the eyes of the Hebrew religious leaders, he had a lot to brag about. However, according to verses 7-10, Paul came to the conclusion that his earthly credentials were worth nothing compared to his credentials in the spirit of Christ:

7. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Compared to the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, everything the world considers valuable is “counted but dung.”

9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

It’s not what we know that’s important but rather who we know. The important question is, “Do you know Him?” To know Jesus Christ is to know the power of his resurrection. Because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, we who have confessed Jesus is Lord have been raised in the newness of life. Since we have received his holy spirit through faith, he will open the eyes of our spiritual understanding as we walk in close proximity in fellowship with him. When we walk with him he will take us through the suffering and endurance of the trials of life. To be conformed unto his death, we must die to self so that we can live for him. According to Galatians 2:20, 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.

Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It’s not about us. Christianity is all about Him. Philippians 1:10 says that we should be conformed to the likeness of his death. According to Philippians 2:2-11:

2. Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Spiritual grit is the nature of Jesus Christ himself. To become Christlike is to serve others from a heart of love. Humility is the character of true spiritual grit. He humbled himself and became obedient even unto death of the cross. At the cross, We were reconciled to God through Christ’s sacrifice for sin on our behalf.

Those who persecute others are held captive by the devil against their wills. This is why our exhortation is according to verses 9-11:

9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus Christ is our access to God’s throne of grace. This is the life God called us to live. To reconcile with God and others within the household of believers, 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.

Therefore, be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God that passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ. Therefore, 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.

He has called us as men of God, standing steadfast in his power….men of true spiritual grit faithfully walking in fellowship with our Lord.

As we align our thoughts with His thoughts and our hearts with His heart, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael