God’s Election

The popular media says that the recent United States election is the most important election of our lives. However from God’s perspective, the most important election is our election of God. Therefore, regardless of the results of man’s election, we rejoice because we are the result of God’s election.

2 Peter 1:10 says, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”. As God’s elect, these things we should do are in verses 4-8: “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As God’s elect, we press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. When we pray for revival, it is an acknowledgement that we have not yet arrived. When we stray from his path, God gives us a way to return our hearts back to him. To revive is to restore to a desired state as we renew our minds and press forward to a new state that we haven’t yet attained. 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.

Jesus Christ came to upset the status quo. He didn’t worry about pleasing the politically correct establishment. Men in his culture like men in our culture were marginalized. He said, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” He came to set the captives free and open the eyes of those born spiritually blind.

He’s called men who have ears to hear and eyes to see the truth of the Word of God made manifest. For Jesus Christ himself said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh onto the father except by me.” He has called us unto himself, for there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Influencers is a ministry to men. A Southern Baptist study concluded, If you win a man to Christ, 93 percent of his family members will turn to the Lord. If you convert a woman, only 17 percent will become Christians. God called us as men of God, not to keep a record of our sins and shortcomings, but so that we would would become the righteousness of God in him. For of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who has been made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption…. that we would be witnesses of the power of his son’s atoning sacrifice and resurrection on our behalf… therefore, we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and him crucified.

To influence others, we must first influence ourselves. The reason we gather together is to create an environment where the holy spirit can come himself to our lives. We need to humble ourselves to allow his spirit in us to influence our hearts and minds.

We gather together as men of God to join our hearts together in prayer. Prayer is aligning our hearts with God’s heart. Prayer is believing according to his word to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Prayer teaches us how to love others with the unconditional love of God. In prayer, we’re reminded of God’s grace… For by grace are ye saved though faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. We’re saved by grace… not because of how good we are but because of how good God is.

God has called us as men of God to bless our marriages. Prayer convicts us that there is nothing wrong with my wife that God can’t fix in me. Prayer teaches me to love my wife unconditionally with God’s love.

Prayer focuses our minds on what really matters… our fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ, with God our Father, and one with another in the household of believers. In prayer, we confirm that we are citizens of heaven. Prayer informs us that we are Christians who happen to be Americans and not vice versa.

Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” God is a good God. He is still on the throne…. he is Sovereign overall. Pete recalls that when his beloved wife Suzan lost her battle with stage four brain cancer, he prayed to his Heavenly Father with a broken heart. God reminded him that Suzan had accomplished her work here on earth. She was ready to be called home to live in eternity with her Lord. In heaven she could accomplish more than she could by remaining here on earth. Before her death, Pete said to Suzan, “I don’t know what I’ll do without you.” Suzan reassured him, “you’ll do just fine.” She reminded him, “God’s your sufficiency, not me.”

When God created Adam and Eve, he created them in His image… God’s Holy Spirit. However, he also gave them freedom of will. His spirit was conditional on their obedience to only one commandment… Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. For on the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.” Even though Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s only command and died spiritually that same day, God works all things for good to those who loved God and are called according to his purpose. Adam’s disobedience set in motion God’s plan of redemption. Although all mankind inherited Adam’s sin nature, God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

As God’s elect, he orchestrates and weaves together the fabric of our lives to accomplish his good purpose in us. There is nothing God can’t handle. What the world considers bad news, God works for our good. For 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.

All we like sheep have gone astray. It’s the nature of sheep to look for someone to lead them. We’re naturally drawn to a cause… a mission to give our lives meaning and purpose. The people in Jesus’ day were naturally drawn to him. They wanted to make him their earthly king. Jesus said, “that’s not what I’m here for. My kingdom is not of this world.”

There are two requirements for a man of God. The first is to love God above all. The greatest commandment is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength.”

The second is to be convinced that God loves us. We love him because he first loved us. The end of Romans chapter 8 says, “What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When we are convinced that God loves us then we can love our neighbor as ourselves. God loved us first…he loved us so that we could love others and that in loving others we would reflect the love of God. Jesus said, “In that thou hast done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.”

Some politicians say that we should look to the government to supply our needs. They say, “You don’t need to rely on God. Religion is just a crutch.” They say, “vote for me and I’ll make sure that Uncle Sam will take care of you from the womb to the tomb. That’s your right as an American.” However the Word of God says cursed is the man who maketh flesh his strength. God himself is our sufficiency… he is both our soul provider and our sole provider. We are complete in Him.

We don’t know the end from the beginning… but God does. Salvation is all of Thee and none of me. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. All things work together both for our good and for His good…. for we are his workmanship… His work of art, his masterpiece, his magnum opus, his poetry in motion… created in Christ Jesus unto good works that he has prepared for us in advance that we should walk with him.

He loved us first… He chose us before we chose him. We are the result of the greatest election, God’s election…

… that we should be to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

God’s Election

The popular media says that the recent United States election is the most important election of our lives. However from God’s perspective, the most important election is our election of God. Therefore, regardless of the results of man’s election, we rejoice because we are the result of God’s election.

2 Peter 1:10 says, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”. As God’s elect, these things we should do are in verses 4-8: “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As God’s elect, we press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. When we pray for revival, it is an acknowledgement that we have not yet arrived. When we stray from his path, God gives us a way to return our hearts back to him. To revive is to restore to a desired state as we renew our minds and press forward to a new state that we haven’t yet attained. 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.

Jesus Christ came to upset the status quo. He didn’t worry about pleasing the politically correct establishment. Men in his culture like men in our culture were marginalized. He said, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” He came to set the captives free and open the eyes of those born spiritually blind.

He’s called men who have ears to hear and eyes to see the truth of the Word of God made manifest. For Jesus Christ himself said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh onto the father except by me.” He has called us unto himself, for there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Influencers is a ministry to men. A Southern Baptist study concluded, If you win a man to Christ, 93 percent of his family members will turn to the Lord. If you convert a woman, only 17 percent will become Christians. God called us as men of God, not to keep a record of our sins and shortcomings, but so that we would would become the righteousness of God in him. For of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who has been made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption…. that we would be witnesses of the power of his son’s atoning sacrifice and resurrection on our behalf… therefore, we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and him crucified.

To influence others, we must first influence ourselves. The reason we gather together is to create an environment where the holy spirit can come himself to our lives. We need to humble ourselves to allow his spirit in us to influence our hearts and minds.

We gather together as men of God to join our hearts together in prayer. Prayer is aligning our hearts with God’s heart. Prayer is believing according to his word to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Prayer teaches us how to love others with the unconditional love of God. In prayer, we’re reminded of God’s grace… For by grace are ye saved though faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. We’re saved by grace… not because of how good we are but because of how good God is.

God has called us as men of God to bless our marriages. Prayer convicts us that there is nothing wrong with my wife that God can’t fix in me. Prayer teaches me to love my wife unconditionally with God’s love.

Prayer focuses our minds on what really matters… our fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ, with God our Father, and one with another in the household of believers. In prayer, we confirm that we are citizens of heaven. Prayer informs us that we are Christians who happen to be Americans and not vice versa.

Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” God is a good God. He is still on the throne…. he is Sovereign overall. Pete recalls that when his beloved wife Suzan lost her battle with stage four brain cancer, he prayed to his Heavenly Father with a broken heart. God reminded him that Suzan had accomplished her work here on earth. She was ready to be called home to live in eternity with her Lord. In heaven she could accomplish more than she could by remaining here on earth. Before her death, Pete said to Suzan, “I don’t know what I’ll do without you.” Suzan reassured him, “you’ll do just fine.” She reminded him, “God’s your sufficiency, not me.”

When God created Adam and Eve, he created them in His image… God’s Holy Spirit. However, he also gave them freedom of will. His spirit was conditional on their obedience to only one commandment… Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. For on the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.” Even though Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s only command and died spiritually that same day, God works all things for good to those who loved God and are called according to his purpose. Adam’s disobedience set in motion God’s plan of redemption. Although all mankind inherited Adam’s sin nature, God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

As God’s elect, he orchestrates and weaves together the fabric of our lives to accomplish his good purpose in us. There is nothing God can’t handle. What the world considers bad news, God works for our good. For 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.

All we like sheep have gone astray. It’s the nature of sheep to look for someone to lead them. We’re naturally drawn to a cause… a mission to give our lives meaning and purpose. The people in Jesus’ day were naturally drawn to him. They wanted to make him their earthly king. Jesus said, “that’s not what I’m here for. My kingdom is not of this world.”

There are two requirements for a man of God. The first is to love God above all. The greatest commandment is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength.”

The second is to be convinced that God loves us. We love him because he first loved us. The end of Romans chapter 8 says, “What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When we are convinced that God loves us then we can love our neighbor as ourselves. God loved us first…he loved us so that we could love others and that in loving others we would reflect the love of God. Jesus said, “In that thou hast done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.”

Some politicians say that we should look to the government to supply our needs. They say, “You don’t need to rely on God. Religion is just a crutch.” They say, “vote for me and I’ll make sure that Uncle Sam will take care of you from the womb to the tomb. That’s your right as an American.” However the Word of God says cursed is the man who maketh flesh his strength. God himself is our sufficiency… he is both our soul provider and our sole provider. We are complete in Him.

We don’t know the end from the beginning… but God does. Salvation is all of Thee and none of me. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. All things work together both for our good and for His good…. for we are his workmanship… His work of art, his masterpiece, his magnum opus, his poetry in motion… created in Christ Jesus unto good works that he has prepared for us in advance that we should walk with him.

He loved us first… He chose us before we chose him. We are the result of the greatest election, God’s election…

… that we should be to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

All Things Work for Good

Jesus said, there will be wars and rumors of war. There is so much confusion, strife, and division in this world. People think that peace is the absence of war. However, there is no true peace without Prince of Peace. 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.

In light of recent world events, Romans 8:28 still holds true. All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Despite the trials and tribulations of this world… despite the confusion around us, All things work together for His good.

Pete recalls that while he was journaling about his ailments, ills and pain, the Lord said, “I see you are listing your friends.” Pete asked, “what do you mean by that?” God said, “Your friends are anything that brings you closer to me.”

Pete was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. His neurologist did a brain scan after Pete had taken a short and long term memory test. When Pete met with him to go over the results, his neurologist said, “the results of the brain scan show evidence of Parkinson’s. However, I can’t reconcile the results of your memory tests with your brain scan. The scan says you have full blown dementia. However your memory tests show memory function as a healthy much younger man. You don’t need to worry about your Parkinson’s. Even though this is a degenerative disease, you have no evidence of its ill effects. Since I’ve known you for many years, I can only conclude that your meditation in the Word of God and prayer has preserved your memory and protected your brain function.”

According to Romans 8:27-31, “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

What does he know who searches the heart in verse 28? When Jesus healed a man born blind man in John 8, the religious leaders asked him, “What do you know about the man who healed you? Is he a sinner or not?” The man who was healed answered, “I don’t know if he’s a sinner or not. This one thing I know… I was blind but now I see.” 1 Timothy 1::12 says, “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day(of righteous judgement).” When we come unto him he opens the eyes of our spiritual understanding. Once I was blind but now I see.

The highest purpose for man is that he would love God and that he would conform to the image of His dear son to the praise of the glory of His grace. God is still Sovereign overall. He knows the end from the beginning but we don’t. God knew that Adam and Eve would fall and disobey him in the Garden of Eden. He allowed Adam to choose to sin. The purpose was to set in motion his plan of redemption… salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

As we look back over the events of our life, we can see in retrospect God’s hand of blessing. The older we get, the more we can see how God has intervened to bless us according to the good purpose of His will.

If the church has lost its impact, it’s because believers have lost their salt, their preserving influence on the godly foundation upon which our country was founded… one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. God has an ultimate purpose in all things including the pressure of this world. For 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.

Either a nation can humbly kneel voluntarily in prayer to God or else God will allow cataclysmic events to bring a nation to its knees. Isaiah 40 says, the nations are but a drop in the bucket. Kings and kingdoms come and go. Nations rise and fall. However, the Word of God liveth and abideth forever. God is no respecter of persons or nations. He is a respecter of the conditions in His word.

Paul said, not that I have already attained, but this one thing I do, I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The hope is in the resurrection at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has elected us, chosen us, and set us aside as a special “peculiar” people, that we would be a holy nation unto him. For our citizenship is in heaven. Our allegiance is to the country of our new birth… the kingdom of our risen Lord. Regardless of the results of man’s election, we rejoice because we are the results of God’s election.

The devil will deceive us into looking at our sins and failures. He will focus our minds on guilt, shame, sin and iniquity. Sin is the missing of the mark. To overcome sin, we concentrate not on the missing, but on the mark itself. The mark is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

God gives us a moment by moment choice. The choice is to press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We have the hope of heaven. Life in this wold is but a nanosecond in eternity. We look forward to the hope of the return of our Lord…. for our light affliction which is but for a moment (here on earth) is not to be compared with the glory that shall follow (In eternity.). For when that which is perfect is come (Jesus Christ) we shall see him as he is. Then we shall know even as also we are known.

When we look forward to what God has in store for us, despite troubles, trials, and tribulations of this world, we can rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. As we walk in the light as he is in the light the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The cleansing is in the walking. Then we will be “living epistles, God’s love letters, known and read of all men.

Know not that ye are the temple of the Holy Spirit? We are God’s dwelling place. We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works that we should walk in the way that he has prepared for us in advance. Therefore we press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 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…

Jesus Christ reconciled us to God through his death and resurrection so that we could testify of Him. That we should be a witness of his mercy, grace, and goodness. 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. Therefore, 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….

… that we would be to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

All Things Work for Good

Jesus said, there will be wars and rumors of war. There is so much confusion, strife, and division in this world. People think that peace is the absence of war. However, there is no true peace without Prince of Peace. 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.

In light of recent world events, Romans 8:28 still holds true. All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Despite the trials and tribulations of this world… despite the confusion around us, All things work together for His good.

Pete recalls that while he was journaling about his ailments, ills and pain, the Lord said, “I see you are listing your friends.” Pete asked, “what do you mean by that?” God said, “Your friends are anything that brings you closer to me.”

Pete was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. His neurologist did a brain scan after Pete had taken a short and long term memory test. When Pete met with him to go over the results, his neurologist said, “the results of the brain scan show evidence of Parkinson’s. However, I can’t reconcile the results of your memory tests with your brain scan. The scan says you have full blown dementia. However your memory tests show memory function as a healthy much younger man. You don’t need to worry about your Parkinson’s. Even though this is a degenerative disease, you have no evidence of its ill effects. Since I’ve known you for many years, I can only conclude that your meditation in the Word of God and prayer has preserved your memory and protected your brain function.”

According to Romans 8:27-31, “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

What does he know who searches the heart in verse 28? When Jesus healed a man born blind man in John 8, the religious leaders asked him, “What do you know about the man who healed you? Is he a sinner or not?” The man who was healed answered, “I don’t know if he’s a sinner or not. This one thing I know… I was blind but now I see.” 1 Timothy 1::12 says, “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day(of righteous judgement).” When we come unto him he opens the eyes of our spiritual understanding. Once I was blind but now I see.

The highest purpose for man is that he would love God and that he would conform to the image of His dear son to the praise of the glory of His grace. God is still Sovreign overall. He knows the end from the beginning but we don’t. God knew that Adam and Eve would fall and disobey him in the Garden of Eden. He allowed Adam to choose to sin. The purpose was to set in motion his plan of redemption… salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

As we look back over the events of our life, we can see in retrospect God’s hand of blessing. The older we get, the more we can see how God has intervened to bless us according to the good purpose of His will.

If the church has lost its impact, it’s because believers have lost their salt, their preserving influence on the godly foundation upon which our country was founded… one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. God has an ultimate purpose in all things including the pressure of this world. For 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.

Either a nation can humbly kneel voluntarily in prayer to God or else God will allow cataclysmic events to bring a nation to its knees. Isaiah 40 says, the nations are but a drop in the bucket. Kings and kingdoms come and go. Nations rise and fall. However, the Word of God liveth and abideth forever. God is no respecter of persons or nations. He is a respecter of the conditions in His word.

Paul said, not that I have already attained, but this one thing I do, I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The hope is in the resurrection at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has elected us, chosen us, and set us aside as a special “peculiar” people, that we would be a holy nation unto him. For our citizenship is in heaven. Our allegiance is to the country of our new birth… the kingdom of our risen Lord. Regardless of the results of man’s election, we rejoice because we are the results of God’s election.

The devil will deceive us into looking at our sins and failures. He will focus our minds on guilt, shame, sin and iniquity. Sin is the missing of the mark. To overcome sin, we concentrate not on the missing, but on the mark itself. The mark is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

God gives us a moment by moment choice. The choice is to press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We have the hope of heaven. Life in this wold is but a nanosecond in eternity. We look forward to the hope of the return of our Lord…. for our light affliction which is but for a moment (here on earth) is not to be compared with the glory that shall follow (In eternity.). For when that which is perfect is come (Jesus Christ) we shall see him as he is. Then we shall know even as also we are known.

When we look forward to what God has in store for us, despite troubles, trials, and tribulations of this world, we can rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. As we walk in the light as he is in the light the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The cleansing is in the walking. Then we will be “living epistles, God’s love letters, known and read of all men.

Know not that ye are the temple of the Holy Spirit? We are God’s dwelling place. We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works that we should walk in the way that he has prepared for us in advance. Therefore we press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 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…

Jesus Christ reconciled us to God through his death and resurrection so that we could testify of Him. That we should be a witness of his mercy, grace, and goodness. 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. Therefore, 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….

… that we would be to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Resting in Him

According to Philippians, we’re in control of our own attitudes. Philippians 4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” This is a command. Our joy and rejoicing is in the object of our joy. Despite the trials of this world, Our rejoicing is in the Lord.

In times of trial and tribulation, when all seems bleak and hopeless, God will say: Rest in my peace: I have you in the hollow of my holy hand. What men meant for evil God meant for good. Without a spiritual battle, there can be no victory. When the Chinese Communists outlawed Christianity, churches moved underground. Today, Christianity is exploding in China. God deepens us in the furnace of affliction and refines us in the fire of tribulation. He purifies our soul in the fires of pain. God will bring us through what seems to be a wind of destruction. As Paul came to understand after he had prayed for God to remove his thorn in the flesh: Thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me. Therefore God says: Draw upon the resources of my grace. So shall you be equipped through the testing to testify for me. I have you in my own intensive care. 1 Peter says, “Casting all your cares upon the Him for He cares for you.” He is our very present help in time of trouble. Heaven rejoices when we go through trials with a singing spirit, enduring the test without questioning his mercy. Christ will be revealed when he brings us through the refining fire.

Grace is all of Thee and none of me. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship (His poem, His poetry in motion, His word of art) created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he has prepared beforehand for us to walk.

The book of Hebrews was written to Israel, the twelve tribes descended from Abraham and Jacob to remind them of the purpose for which God sent the Messiah, Jesus the Christ the son of the living God.

Hebrews 3:12-13 says, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Sin is so deceitful that it makes you think that sin is acceptable. When we’re indoctrinated by the world’s doctrine we will succumb to the world’s definitions that call good evil and evil good. However, the encouragement of believing believers day by day is the antidote to the deceitfulness of Sin.

It’s good to remember those who taught us the Word of God. Whom the Lord loves, he corrects. The Word of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and correction, for instruction in righteousness. To correct means to restore to an upright position. In the journey, the daily walk, thank God for brothers in Christ who encourage us in the Lord…. those who restore us to an upright position.

According to Hebrews 1:18-19. “And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not. So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

The “sabbath rest” is one of the central themes of the book of Hebrews. The “rest” signifies the completed work of Jesus Christ through his crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus said, “I did not come to destroy the Old Testament law, and the Prophets, but to fulfill.”

When we rest in the completed work that Jesus Christ accomplished on our behalf, we can empty our resentment bank. To forgive others, we can rest in the assurance of that for which God has forgiven us. God doesn’t angrily wait for us to return our hearts back to Him. Like the forgiving Father who awaited the prodigal son’s return, when we return to our father, he will run to meet us and restore us back into his fellowship.

We encourage one another in the faith when we walk together day by day. Therefore enter into his rest, for Jesus said, “come unto me all ye who are weak and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

When we rest in the hollow of God’s holy hand, we will not worry about the affairs of this world. In resting in him, we are in the calm eye of the spiritual hurricane. Our responsibility is to obey Jesus’ command to get in his boat to go to the other side. Then when the winds rage and the storm tossed waves crash around us he will say, “Peace be still.” Even the winds and waves obey him. God is faithful to His word. He is still Sovreign overall.

Despite the strife, contention, and confusion of this world… regardless of the results of Man’s election, we can rest in the assurance that we are the result of God’s election….

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

Back to Basics

Pete was honored to perform a wedding a couple of weeks ago. The bride’s uncle approached him after the ceremony and said, “You’ve done a few weddings before, haven’t you? I can tell that this isn’t your first rodeo.” Pete has performed many weddings. He enjoys joining Christian couples in holy matrimony. Pete asked the bride’s uncle if he attended church. He said, “you know, I’m not a believer.” He said this jovially. Pete said, “Wow, how’s that working out for you.” He said, “I think everyone should do the things that they enjoy doing.” Pete asked, “do you think you are a sinner?” He said, “O yeah, I’m a card-carrying sinner.” Pete said to the bride’s uncle, “I can tell from our conversation that you’re an educated man. I understand that you haven’t studied the Bible, but did you know that the Bible is the best selling book of all time? Many intelligent people enjoy reading the Bible. As an educated man, I think you would enjoy reading it if you took the time to check it out.”

Many of the people we meet are not familiar with Christianity. They have never been introduced to the Bible, the revealed word of God. As followers of Jesus Christ, our “great commission” is to go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Our calling is to tell others about Jesus Christ, and then let the chips fall where they may. As Christians we need to focus on the basics, to preach Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Influencers Fullerton started sixteen years ago to encourage an abiding relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ and to be a positive influence as we chase after our brothers who chase after Christ.

The vision is to transform lives creating a culture to change lives to influence the world for Christ. Chambers said, his mission wasn’t to develop a successful bible college but to create an environment where the Holy Spirit can come help himself to our lives. The stronger Christian we become, the more benefit we are to bless those around us to God’s glory.

Only a truly transformed life can produce lasting fruit. Abiding in Christ is the key to a truly transformed life. Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5). Abiding with and within Christ is the purpose of influencers.

Our goal is to bring glory to God by bringing forth lasting fruit, and to shed the light of truth in the world of darkness. Those who have eyes to see will see according to the spirit of life in Christ. To those whose hearts abide in Christ’s heart God will reveal to them his grace in our lives.

According to 1 John 1:9, even though Christians are born again of God’s spirit we will continue to sin in our flesh, the natural nature we inherited from Adam. Sin is breaking our fellowship with God. 1 John 1:9 says that when we sin, if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Salvation is all of thee and none of me. For by grace are ye saved by faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. According to Galatians 2:20, For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

To crucify is to execute by nailing the person guilty of a capital offense to a cross. The cross is the “torture stake” to execute the criminal in a humiliating and excruciating public execution. Because Jesus Christ willingly allowed his execution, sacrificing his innocent life for our guilty life, Jesus Christ who was without sin was made the perfect innocent sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. To follow him, we must give up the right to ourselves. However, as Chambers said, “the kingdom of self is heavily defended territory.”

God uses our habitual sins to keep us humble. As he answered Paul’s prayer to remove his thorn from the flesh, “My strength is made perfect in your weakness. My grace is sufficient for you.” To turn unto the Lord, we must first humble ourselves. We must come to the realization that God is Sovreign and we’re not.

We’re as close to God as we want to be. If we perceive we’re far from God, who moved? Even though we may feel that he is an unjust judge, an unkind master, and an unreasonable lord, He is not. For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations.

God works in ways we cannot understand in our own finite minds. However, all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. Our testing in this life will produce a testimony for Him. For 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.

Even when we have a hard time surrendering to him, when we reach the point of repentance, of turning around, God will run to embrace us as a loving father. Therefore, taste and see that the Lord is good. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled. The word of God is an acquired taste. Jeremiah said, I found thy words and I did eat them, and they were unto me the joy and rejoicing of my soul. According to Psalm 19 the word of the Lord is pure making wise the simple. More to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honey comb.

The abundant life is in seeking the Blessor not the blessing. Our joy is in the object of joy. Therefore rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice. The truths that God told Israel through his prophet at the dedication of the temple still holds true today: “If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then shall I hear from haven, and shall forgive their sins and heal their land.

God is still Sovreign overall. God does not worry over the results of man’s elections. The nations are but a drop in the bucket. Nations rise and fall, but the word of God liveth and abideth forever. Therefore we lament not the results of man’s election. Rather, rejoice because we are the result of God’s election…

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

Proclaiming Truth

The Word of God reminds us who we are, where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we’re going. The spiritual battle rages all around us. When we’re in the center of the will of God, we’re in the calm eye of the spiritual hurricane.

In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter wrote in similar times: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”. God himself has chosen us. The purpose is that we should show forth the praises of His glory… to be a witness of his love, mercy, and grace.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. He has made us righteous in Christ… for Jesus Christ who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. Therefore 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.

1 Peter 2:10 continues, “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

God has called us as aliens and foreigners in a world of darkness. We may be natural born citizens of the United States. However, we’re spiritually born-again citizens of heaven. We have been born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God that liveth and abideth forever.

Because we have been called into His righteousness through Christ, we’re to abstain from fleshly lusts. Lusts are “overdesires”….. anything that we desire over our desire to walk in fellowship with our Lord. The first of the Ten Commandments says in the KJV: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” The literal translation of the Aramaic text is, “thou shalt have no other gods between your face and my face.”

The world speaks against Christians for being “intolerant.” They are tolerant of the evil of this world. However they are intolerant of God’s righteous standard of His revealed word. John 3:20-21 says, “he who doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved. But he who doeth truth cometh to. the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God.”

1 Peter 2:13 continues: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:”

We’re encouraged to submit to the ordinances of man. Righteous ordinances are for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of those who do well. The freedom we have is to use our liberty not as servants of men, but as servants of God. In doing well, we will put to silence the evil of foolish men. According to Romans 12, be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

We have a moment by moment decision to do the right thing. The right thing is to do as Jesus would do. In. Jesus’ words, “know ye not that I must be about my father’s business?”

Continuing in 1 Peter 2:16. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”
18. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.”

When we suffer wrongly for the sake of righteousness, this fulfills Jesus’ exhortation on the sermon on the mount… 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. Testing produces a testimony for God.

It’s easy to praise God when everything goes well with us in this world. However, we are not of this world. We may suffer wrongly in this world. God’s will is that we do the right thing with a heart of love for God despite being suffered wrongs. Jesus Christ himself suffered to bear our wrongs…. For God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. Even though we were unworthy of his love and grace and deserving of death, he sent his Son to bear the death we deserved.

What is God’s plan? Ye who were dead in trespasses and sins whom God has made righteous through Jesus’ payment for our sins: you are God’s plan. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

Psalm 37:1-5 says, “FRET not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

There is much evil in this world. However, despite the darkness of the world around us, we can live in the light of the truth of His word.

God’s righteous judgement will prevail in the end. According to Psalm 37:14-15: “The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.”“Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.”

Therefore the righteous humbly wait on the Lord. Psalm 37-6-8 says, And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”

God is still Sovreign overall. Despite the darkness of this world he will sustain the righteous according to Psalm 37:23-24.

23. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”

These verses in Psalm 37 confirm the truth of Isaiah 41:10, “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…

… that we may be to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael