Steadfast Love

The Love of God is like light refracted by the facets of a diamond and split into the brilliant colors of the rainbow. 1 John 1:5 says, For God is light and in him is no darkness at all. The facets of the diamond of the Word of God split the love of God into the characteristics of God. 1 John 4:8 says, “God is love.” 1 Corinthians 13 lists the characteristics of love and since God is love, these are also the characteristics of God himself. In this “love chapter” the name “God our Father” could be substituted for the words “love” or “charity.” God and the Love of God is very patient, very kind. He is never haughty, never prideful, and never selfish, irritable, resentful, or rude. God suffers long and is kind; he is not easily provoked. He is always eager to believe the best. He doesn’t charge our sin nature against us. God and his love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth things. The love of God never faileth. Now abides faith, hope, and love…. But the greatest of these is love.

The conclusion of 1 Corinthians is “love never fails.” Steadfast characterizes God and the love of God. Steadfast means unwavering, true, never changing, firmly fixed in place. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the manifestation of the love of God. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son… Steadfast is the most frequently used adjective for the love of God in the Revised Standard Version of the Old Testament. Psalm 6:4 says…Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. Save me because of thy mercy. Mercy is the result of the love of God…his forbearance doesn’t give us what we deserve. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ or Lord.

God saves us not because our nature is deserving of salvation. Our nature of the flesh is the nature of sin and death. However, His nature is the nature of steadfast love. He saves us because Loving kindness and tender mercy is his character, not ours. It’s not because of who we are but because who he is. Love is the nature of God himself.

The prodigal son is the story of the Love of God. The younger son said to his father, “I wish you were dead…..give me my inheritance as if you had already died.” The father gave him his inheritance. The prodigal son went away into a far country and wasted away his father’s fortune with riotous living. After he had run out of money, a famine overtook the land and he became destitute. As a Jew, he fell into the lowest point a Jew could fall. He joined himself with a pig farmer to tend the pigs. To the Jews, he was a pig himself. He became numbered among the pigs. He “feign did fill his belly with the husks which the swine did eat.” He had sunk to the level that he craved pig slop. Then he came to himself. He hit bottom and remembered that he wasn’t a pig….he was his father’s son. This is the point of repentance. He said to himself, my father’s hired servants live much better than this. He practiced his speech that he would tell his dad, “I’m no longer worthy to be thy son. Make me one of thy hired servants and I’ll serve you as a ranch hand.” Humility is required for repentance. He realized that he had broken the law and that the wages of sin is death. The Father saw his son approaching from afar off and ran to meet him. He threw his arms around his son as the son began his speech…. “Father I have sinned against you and against God.” The Father didn’t let his son finish his speech. He put a robe on him and put his family’s signet ring on his finger….. He rejoiced and said, “this my son was dead and is now alive.”

The message of the prodigal son is a picture of salvation. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast. He sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ to pay the price of our sin. For he who was without sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

When you ask most men, “what do you think God thinks of you?” Most men will answer, “I think he’s disappointed in me.” However when we repent and return to our Lord with a broken and a contrite heart, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Is your concept of God that he is a hard taskmaster? When David sinned and confessed in repentance, he appealed to God’s character of steadfast love, mercy, and compassion. After he had committed adultery with Bathsheba and ordered her husband’s murder, David said, “against thee and thee only have I sinned.”

God loves to forgive those who repent. According to 1 John 3, even though our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things. Like the prodigal son who returned to his father in repentance, he will embrace us in his arms.

The devil is the accuser and the deceiver. He says, you’re not deserving of grace, mercy, forgiveness. Your sins have condemned you to death. However, Romans 8 says, who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? Who is he who condemns? Is it Christ who justified, whom God raised from the dead? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall persecution or famine or distress or nakedness or peril or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither life nor death nor Angels nor principalities, 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.

The assurance of salvation is according to the Word of God. For if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the lord Jesus and shalt believe in thy heart that God has raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved. Herein is the love of God made perfect…for while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Salvation is none of me and all of thee….. Salvation is the result of his great love whereby he loved us. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth In him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is amazing grace….this is His steadfast love.

We love him because he first loved us. And as we by his gift of grace love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
MIchael

Steadfast Love

Pete’s son Chris who lives in Scotland has been spending some vacation time with his family in North Umbria on the coast of the North Sea. He was walking along the sand bars with his wife and two daughters Gabrielle and Isabella and young son Milo. The children were wading along the edge of a sand bar when the current from the in rushing tide almost knocked them into the icy cold water. Chris’ wife called the coast guard. He was determined to bring his children to safety so he waded toward them. The icy cold water felt like razor blades. His daughters asked him, “Dad, are we going to die?” Chris remembered stories of people who had died of hypothermia in the North Sea but he said, “of course we won’t die.” He called emergency services on his daughter’s cell phone. The operator said to go opposite the direction they were wading and to head toward a tree on a distant sand bar. This long route kept them in waist deep water as the tide rose. If they had stepped into deeper water they could have drowned in the icy North Sea. When they finally arrived at the tree, a dingy from the coast guard approached and took them to safety. Everyone had suffered hypothermia. Chris’ body temperature had been lowered to 34.8 degrees C and he took the longest time to recover.

Life is fragile. Handle it with care. Be thankful for every day that God has given us by his mercy and grace.

Steadfast is a word that we seldom hear. Most men don’t feel that God loves them. They succumb to a steady stream of negative influences that tear them down. They are bombarded by the hype that says the phrase “toxic masculinity” is redundant. Radical feminists ask, “what other kind of masculinity is there?” Most men are relegated to the status of casual Christians. They are under challenged in the church because many leaders in the church do not model what it means to walk as a disciplined follower of Christ.

Steadfast means to be securely attached and never fading, never changing, resolutely firm and unwavering amidst the storms of life. Steadfast is Firmly fixed in place, loyal, committed, steady, true, constant, trustworthy, relentless, unwavering, uncompromising….in a word, faithful. The scripture says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Joshua who led the children of Israel into the Promised Land was an example of steadfastness. Steadfast is most often used in scripture as an adjective for the love of God. “Save me for thy steadfast love and mercy.” Save is to rescue the perishing in time of desperation and need. 1 Chron 17:13 says, ..I will be his father, and he shall be my son; I will not take my steadfast love from him…. Psalm 5:7 says, “But I through the abundance of thy steadfast love will enter thy house, I will worship toward thy holy temple in the fear of thee. I will enter thy house through thy steadfast love and mercy.”

What you think about God will govern the everyday decisions in your life. Is he a God of loving kindness and tender mercy? Does he love you despite yourself? He’s not disappointed in us. Rather he has a hope and a promise to sustain us according to his steadfast love. He has given us his spirit, his word, and the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ. He has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness.

The devil tells us that we are fallen sinners and that everyone is disappointed in us. When we listen to his lies, at a horizontal level, he reminds us that “in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.” We’re not strong enough, we’re not wise enough, we’re not rich enough…. We’re just not good enough. He reminds us that we’re not able to live a single day without sin.

Jesus knew what was in the heart of man…that we are but dust, that we’re fallen sinners in need of a Saviour. As Brother Lawrence said, “I’m not surprised when I sin, I’m surprised when I don’t.” Even though we’ve inherited our fallen nature from Adam, God doesn’t see us according to the world’s perspective. When he sees us, he sees the spirit of Christ in us. 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.

If I’m disappointed in myself and God’s not, then I’m denying my Father. David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 is the perspective of a man after God’s own heart. Along the line we have to make peace with the reality of who we are and whose we are in Christ. To reconcile our hearts with God, we need to meet him at the foot of the cross. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus. There is no peace without the Prince of peace. Peace is the result of reconciliation. Reconciliation means to make of twain, one new man. We who were separated have been made one in Christ.

When God sees us he sees his righteousness in Christ. We’re not worthy in our sin nature. We’re worthy because of the price Jesus Christ paid on our behalf. Even though the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The gift of the spirit of life in Christ has made us worthy of his love and mercy.

The story of the prodigal son is the story of forgiveness…of the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father. Even though the prodigal had said, Dad, I wish you were dead. Give me my inheritance as if you had already died, the loving father gave him his inheritance. The son wasted away his father’s inheritance with “riotous living.” He sank so low that he did the unthinkable for a good Jewish son…he went to a pig farmer and lived among the pigs. To a Jew if you associated with pigs, you were numbered among the pigs. He “feign did fill his belly with the pods which the swine did eat.” Like a pig, he craved pig slop. Then he came to himself. This is the point of repentance. This is the inflection point, the change of direction. He remembered that he wasn’t a pig, he was his father’s son….

Thank God for men of God who reprove us with the word of God. When King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and ordered her husband Uriah’s murder, he was no longer a man after God’s own heart. Nathan told David the story of a terrible injustice in his kingdom. There was a poor man whose only possession was a little ewe lamb whom he loved like his own daughter. The little lamb played with his children, ate from his own table, and slept under his roof. His rich neighbor had many flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. When a traveler came to the rich man’s house, instead of taking a sheep from his own flock, he stole his poor neighbor’s precious little ewe lamb. He slaughtered her and fed her to his guest. This story deeply touched David, a shepherd from his youth. David was outraged. He said, “the man who did this thing must die.” Then Nathan stick his finger in David’s chest and said, “You are the man.”

Thank God for godly men who correct us….who restore us to an upright position. David’s confession was, “blot out my transgressions according to thy steadfast love. Wash me from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Against thee and thee only have I sinned.” God will not forsake a broken and a contrite heart. Our sins are forgiven not because we deserve forgiveness. God loves us not because we deserve love. We’re forgiven and loved because this is the nature of God himself. For God is love and in him is no darkness at all.

When we sin, if we confess our missing of the mark, he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When we come to him with a heart of repentance, our loving Father doesn’t see our sin and iniquity. For if our heart condemns us God is greater than our heart and knowest hall things. When we confess our sins and then come boldly before the throne of grace, Our loving Heavenly Father says, “that’s my boy!”

I will rejoice and be glad for thy steadfast love, because thou hast seen my affliction, thou hast taken heed of my adversities… He has saved us, delivered us and redeemed us because of His steadfast love. (Psalm 31:7)

Because of the steadfast love wherewith he loved us,
May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

What’s Good About Tribulation?

The gospel message is both good news and bad news. Jesus said, In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world. The world surrounds us with tribulation. Tribulation is characterized by mental pressure, pain, suffering, and trying situations that cause mental anguish. According to Ephesians 6, we are in the midst of a spiritual battle. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high.

Here’s the bad news: Life is hard. In this world we will have tribulation. Everyone dies. The heart of man is desperately wicked…who can understand it? In 2 Timothy 3, we’re reminded what men are like in the last days. 2 Timothy 3: “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, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Many Christians have memorized Galatians 5:22 about the fruit of the spirit. Pete remembers when he was leading a chapel service for his ball team, he intended to share this verse. He said, “when I was a child, I never thought I would ever do the things that I did in college.” One player said, “things like what?” Pete turned to Galatians 5 and read verses 19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Pete asked the player, “does that answer your question?” His only response was, “Oh!” He was left speechless.

Here’s the good news: Romans 8:38-39 says, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who 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.” Ephesians 6 says, “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might… that you may be able to stand in the evil day and having done all, to stand.”

God has given us everything that we need to stand against the schemes of the devil. The enemy is not the person who opposes you. The enemy is the devil and his legions of fallen angels: spiritual wickedness from on high. The two names of the adversary are the devil, the accuser, and Satan, the deceiver. His scheme is to take men of God off the playing field…to shut their mouths, remove their testimony and relegate them into insignificance. The battlefield is in the mind. He will remind you that you’re not wise enough, strong enough, rich enough….that you’re just not good enough. His tools are discouragement, doubt, worry, and fear. The battle is for our hearts and minds.

According to Ephesians 6:10-13: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Today is the evil day. Standing firm is to stand for the truth of the Word of God….to believe that we are who God says we are…sons of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom we shine as lights in a world of darkness.

Gods instructs us to take up the whole Armor of God. Verse 14 says, “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

The truth of the Word tells us who we are in Christ. Because Jesus Christ who was without sin payed the price for sin on our behalf, we can put on the breastplate of righteousness. We have been made the righteousness of God in him. The breastplate of righteousness protects our heart. When God sees us, there is no condemnation, for he has made us righteous in Christ. He sees the heart of Christ in us the hope of glory. When we understand who we are in Christ, then we can pray with Christ’s heart behind our heart.

Verse 15 says, “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”. There is no peace without the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. He said, “My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Peace is the end of all strife with God. We have peace because Jesus Christ reconciled us….he brought together that which had been separated. For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4 says, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Continuing in Ephesians 6:16, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (one.”) The hall of faith in Hebrews 12 is filled with believers who stood fast despite trials. They all came to the conclusion as did the Apostle Paul, “thy strength is made perfect in my weakness. Thy grace is sufficient for me.”

Romans 8:28 says, 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.” How do we know that he works all things together for good? How do we know that good will come from our trials and tribulations?

This is a hard lesson. Pete recalls that when his wife was in the delivery room in labor with their second son, the doctors came into the fathers waiting room and said, ” we’re losing the baby’s heartbeat.” Pete prayed, “Lord, please save my wife and baby.” God answered, “How much control do you have over this situation?” Pete replied, “none.” Then God asked, “no matter the outcome of this situation, will you still love, honor, and serve me?” Pete answered, “No matter what, I’ll still love, honor, and serve you.” Then the doctors came back into the waiting room and said, “we lost the baby.” God had prepared Pete’s heart for this news. Pete and Suzan grew closer to God as a result of this trial. They learned Suzan’s life motto: Joy is not the absence of pain. Rather, Joy is the presence of the Lord.

What good is tribulation? According to Romans 5, tribulation worketh patience and patience experience, and experience hope. And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.

The book that led Pete to dedicate his life to Christ, The Bobby Richardson Story, ends with a poem. “Oscars or the Hall of Fame may never come your way. Your name inscribed within God’s book is greater than all praise. I’d rather be unknown down here, and have my name up there.”

The chorus to the song by Casting Crowns says, “I don’t care if they remember me. I don’t want to leave a legacy. Only Jesus!” He alone is our strength and sufficiency in all things. He alone is worthy of praise.

Despite the trials and tribulation of this world, May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

The Quick and The Dead

What is our greatest struggle? Is it our marriage, our work, our finances, our relationships with our family? The bible says, in this world we will have tribulation. But be not dismayed, Jesus said, Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

The battle is not against others or against circumstances. The battle is a spiritual battle, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness form on high. The battle is for our hearts and lives. As men of God, we have been called to be counter-cultural. We’re not of this world. From God’s perspective, we’re already seated in heavenly places with Christ.

According to Romans 8, “who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? Who is he that condemneth? Is it Christ who justified, whom God raised from the dead? What shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

The church in Ephesians battled the guilt and condemnation of this world. According to Ephesians 2, “AND you hath he quickened (made alive,) who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

When we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, we were “quickened,” we were made alive in Christ. We’re no longer dead in our sin nature. We’re no longer tied to a dead body. Paul exclaimed in Romans 7, “O wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver me from this dead body?” This is a picture of one of the worst forms of capital punishment. The executioner would strap a dead body to the condemned man to rot with the decaying body on his back. Paul cried as he struggled to do the right thing, “who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

The answer is in Romans 8. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. For The law of the spirit of life in Christ has made me free from the law of sin and death.” We have a moment by moment choice to walk after the flesh nature we inherited form Adam or the spirit nature of Christ that we inherited from God when we were born again.

Before we were born again of God’s spiritual nature, we walked according to the course of this world, the spirit that works in the children of disobedience. We are no longer children of wrath. Through the price Jesus paid on our behalf, we have been made the righteousness of God in him. Even though we slip and fall out of fellowship with our Lord, 1 John 1:9 says, “if we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Ephesians 2:4 continues, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;). 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

A hard taskmaster has no mercy and no grace. The wages of sin is death. Sin deserves a righteous judgement of death. However, God is rich in mercy and great in love. He has made us alive according to his grace. We’re righteous not because of our own nature of the flesh but because Jesus Christ 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 Jews thought that they were righteous in their own works. They believed that they were righteous because they kept the Old Testament law. They knew that unto them were given the oracles of God. They knew that they were God’s chosen people and that their lineage had been blessed through God’s promise to Abraham. They thought that they were destined for eternal life but everyone else was condemned to death. However Jesus came to set the captives free. According to Galatians 8:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

According to Romans 5:8, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly.
He has made us alive according to his grace and mercy and has seated us in heavenly places in Christ. Salvation is for God’s own glory: That he might show the exceeding riches of his grace and kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

The conclusion is in Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are you 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 great work, his magnum opus, his masterpiece) created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he has foreordained that we should walk in it.

We have been made a new creation in Christ. And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

He has quickened us together in Christ so that we would be to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

The Message of the Cross

One of the themes at Sam Parson’s memorial service was that he was a Man of God…Absolutely. It’s one thing to intellectually assent to the doctrines of Christ but it’s another thing altogether to live the life to which he called us. As a living epistle for Christ, Sam understood that he was God’s workmanship, God’s magnum opus, created in Christ Jesus unto the good works which God had foreordained for him to walk. In fulfilling God’s call, Sam taught us how to “tune our hearts to sing thy praise.”

Pete talked to a man who served on his church’s elder board. When Pete called him “man of God,” he looked away. Pete asked him why and the man said, “because I feel unworthy.” A man of God is a true Christian. To confess Jesus is Lord, means that Jesus is his lord or owner. A man of God is God’s man. Grammatically speaking, the phrase “man of God” is the “genitive of possession.” Christianity is not who we are but whose we are.

According to Ephesians 2, “AND you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

The gospel message is both good news and bad news. The bad news is that All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death. However, where sin abounded grace did much more abound. According to Romans 5:8, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. Without the gospel of grace, false religions attempt to perfect the flesh. The Pharisees thought that they would get into heaven by their own good works. However, to come to repentance we must first acknowledge that “in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.” Repentance is to turn from self and unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

Continuing in Ephesians 2:4: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;). 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Our salvation is to the glory of God. It’s not about us, it’s about Him. God chose us before the foundations of the world according to Ephesians 1 for one purpose: that we might be to the praise of the glory of His grace.

Similarly God called his prophet Jeremiah. According to Jeremiah 1:4-8, “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5. Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.”

The Lord is our strength and our salvation. In whom shall we be afraid? The arm of flesh shall fail you…ye dare not trust your own. He is our sufficiency unto all things..he is our all in all. Therefore, be not afraid of their faces. When we don’t know how to answer, God will put the words in our mouths.

When God looks at his children, he see’s what he’s made us in Christ. We were formerly dead in trespasses and sins. However, 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.

We have been made a new creation in Christ Jesus. The devil weaves a web to trap those who have come to Christ. However, the scripture says, casting all your cares upon him for he careth for you.

There’s a book called “Classic Sermons on the Cross of Christ.” George H Morrison who was pastor of Wellington Church in Glasgow wrote a message on Galatians 5:11. Paul prayed that the Galatians might be brought into the fold even though they had fallen into the bondage and rituals of the Old Testament law. The cross of Christ was offensive to the Jews because they thought that their messiah would come as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They didn’t expect a suffering servant: Jesus Christ and him crucified. Written across the cross is the word “sacrifice.”

The cross swept away much that the Jews took pride in. They were centered on their own rituals and on their own self righteousness. The cross of Christ says, “in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.” The law of sin and death says I can never give enough, serve enough, love enough or do enough. As Jesus said, “there is none good, no not one.”

Pete recalls that Arthur Blessitt came to speak at a revival at his conservative Southern Baptist church in Birmingham. In the late 60’s Arthur Blessitt was known as the minister of the Sunset Strip. He attracted hippies and other people whom the proper Southern Baptists of Birmingham considered “undesirables.” Arthur had the audacity to lead the Birmingham hippies in a cheer to Jesus inside the sanctuary at Pete’s conservative church. The regular congregation and the deacons were appalled. They reprimanded him for “desecrating the sanctuary” and commanded him not to lead another cheer for Jesus in their church. At the next service, Blessitt said, “I apologize for offending some of you.” Then he led the hippies outside to the steps of the church and led them in another cheer for Jesus. Pete says that this incident was the last time he ever experienced the movement of the Holy Spirit in his church.

The Jews had inherited the promises of God. They were not awed by the pagan cultures of their day. They knew that they were God’s chosen people and that they were given the oracles of God. They knew that they were holy and set apart from the Gentiles. However when Christ came, he came to set the captives free… For after the day of Pentecost there is neither Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, barbarian, Schythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all and in all.

The apostle Paul said, We preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and him crucified. The crossroads of history leads to the cross of Christ. At the cross, Jesus Christ who knew no sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. At the cross of Christ we die to self in order to live for him. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live I live by faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me. Therefore, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation unto the Jew first and also to the gentile.

We who have been saved by grace have been bought with the price Jesus paid on our behalf. We are his purchased possession. A man of God is God’s man, absolutely. It’s not who we are but rather whose we are. We are a new creation in Christ and the dwelling place, the temple of God’s Holy Spirit.

As his holy of Holies, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Calling Evil Good and Good Evil

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. God never honors fear. He always honors faith. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual to the pulling down of spiritual strongholds. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exaults itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience to Christ. Ephesians 3:12 says, “In whom (our Lord Jesus Christ) we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” Boldness is the free and fearless confidence to speak the truth of the Word of God openly, frankly, with cheerful courage and full assurance.

Pete remembers that he was humbled when he was asked to lead the Dodgers’ chapel service. He was in awe of the Dodgers who were like gods to many Angelenos. Pete prayed, “Lord, what am I going to say? These are the Dodgers whom men revere and hold in awe and respect.” God said, “Who? I’m not in awe of them.” Pete was led to the scripture in Jeremiah Chapter 1, “be not afraid of their faces….I will put the words in your mouth.”

John McArthur wrote a commentary about an unbiblical decision that the Supreme Court had made five years ago. His message was about God’s word versus man’s word. As the apostle Peter said in Acts 4, “whether it be right to obey you rather than God, judge ye…but we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

America has enjoyed the blessings of liberty, having been founded on “the laws of nature and of nature’s God.” Even though the times have changed, John McArthur said, “we Christians are not timid, we’re not afraid of the prevailing secular humanism religion of this world.”

The movie “The Sign of the Cross” was set In Rome during the time of Cesar Nero. This is the story of a Roman soldier who was in love with a Jewish girl who had accepted Christ. The Romans were lighting Christians on fire as scapegoats for Nero’s burning of Rome. The soldier went to her house and her family had been imprisoned to be thrown to the lions in the coliseum in Rome. The soldier found her and said, “I can save you from death.” She answered, “I’d rather die for my Lord and take a stand for my faith.” The soldier who had become a Christian said, “I’ll lay down my armor and go with you to stand for the faith of my Lord Jesus Christ.”

In America, we haven’t had to die for our faith in our Lord. America has been blessed and sanctified and set apart by God’s grace and mercy. However According to 2 Timothy, in the last days perilous times will come…..

Our life is a test and a trial to prove that God’s strength is made perfect in my weakness…thy grace is sufficient for me.

Proverbs says that there is no true wisdom and no correct understanding of the truth that is contrary to the Word of God. Even though man calls evil good and good evil, God always has the last word for the Word of God liveth and abideth forever. The word of man shall count as nothing. The nation’s are but a drop in the bucket compared to the everlasting power of God. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”

God will judge those who twist the Word of God and call good evil and bitter sweet. When Jesus Christ returns as king of kings and Lord of lords he will set everything right. Until then, in this world ye will suffer tribulation. However, be not dismayed for Jesus said, I have overcome the world.

The rulings of the court reveal that Christian values are in the minority, and God’s people are set apart from the darkness of the world. As Christians our challenge is to “choose ye this day whom ye shall serve.” As Joshua said, “as for me and my house we shall server the Lord.”

Oswald Chambers said, “all God asks from me is extreme obedience with no questioning or complaining on my part and no explanation on His.” According to 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Every moment in life is a moment of decision. The flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary so that you cannot do the things that you would. The choice is truth or consequences. When faced with a choice, the age old question is “what would Jesus do?” The answer to this question is Jesus’ response to his parents in the temple at the age of twelve, “know ye not that I must be about my (Heavenly) Father’s business.” He said, “I always do my Father’s will.”

Ephesians 6 is about the spiritual warfare and the weapons of our spiritual warfare. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high. The devil holds the world captive at his will. The enemy is not other people…it’s the devil and his powers of darkness. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 says “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

The battle belongs to the Lord. The offensive weapons are the sword of the spirit which is the Word of truth and prayer. The battle is fought on our knees. Then God will say as he did to Jehoshaphat who prayed, Lord we’re surrounded by the enemy and we’re outnumbered have not battle plan. The Lord said, “I will fight the battle for you.”

The scripture says in Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

As we guard our heart with all diligence for out of the heart are the issues of life, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Not Ashamed

The apostle Paul said in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” In Acts 3 there is the story of a lame man who was asking for alms. Peter and John said, “silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I give unto you. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” A huge crowd gathered around since they knew the lame man who had been healed. Peter delivered a message of salvation. The crowd was in awe of Peter’s message. Then they took note that he had been with Jesus.

Our culture says that it’s foolishness to proclaim the name of Jesus… that to identify as a born again Christian is considered foolishness. This is the theme of 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Where is the wise, and where is the scholar? We preach Jesus Christ and him crucified, to the Greeks foolishness, and to the Jews a stumbling block.

According to 1 Corinthians 1:24-31, “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29. That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31. That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

Only a few weeks before Peter healed the lame man in Acts 3, Peter had denied Jesus. He said when he was confronted by a maiden, “I am not one of his…I never knew the man.” How did Peter get to the point that he was convinced that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation? Peter had to be delivered from himself. As one military commander said, “I have found the enemy and he is me.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “when Jesus bids a man, “come,” he bids him, “come and die.” In order to live for him we must die to self.

The point of repentance unto salvation is when we come to realize that we can’t make it on our own…that apart from Christ, I’m not wise enough, strong enough, rich enough…that I’m just not good enough to approach a holy God. What changed Peter? Peter received a new nature when he was born again of God’s Holy Spirit at the day of Pentecost. Having received Christ’s righteousness in the spirit, when we sin in the flesh by breaking fellowship, 1 John 1:9 says, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and forgive us from all unrighteousness.”

Our challenge is to grow into maturity in Christ…to grow up into Him who gave his live on our behalf. 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.

We were all born with a sin nature that we inherited from Adam. Brother Lawrence said, “I’m not surprised when I sin, I’m surprised when I don’t.” Paul said, you who have been born again of God’s spirit need to wean yourself from the milk of salvation and feed yourself on the deeper things of the spirit of truth.

Other religions say that there are many roads that lead to God. However Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father except by me. He said that there is a broad way that leads to destruction but I am the narrow way through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life.

The greatest disappointment in life is not to succeed in something, but to discover that you’ve succeeded in something that is not worthwhile….that after having climbed the ladder of success and arrive at the top, you realize that the ladder was leaning against the wrong wall.

Our challenge is to join the ranks of the unashamed. We don’t identify with what we’re against. Rather we identify with what we stand for: Stand up, stand up for Jesus. Stand in his strength alone. The arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own. Oswald Chambers said, God expects extreme obedience with no questioning or complaining on my part and no explanation on his.

Most men fear the sneer. However, Jesus said, blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.

The devil uses our sin nature to accuse us of hypocrisy, of being unworthy of claiming our righteousness. In Galatians 5:17 Paul said, “the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that you cannot do the things that ye would.”

How do we stand up for our faith? How do you respond when someone puts you on trial for being a Christian? Will there be enough evidence that they will be able to convict you of being a follower of Christ? As one man’s t-shirt said, “Live your life in such a way that your pastor won’t need to lie at your funeral.”

The devil’s job is to rob you of your testimony…to relegate men of God to a place of irrevelance and insignificance. If the devil shuts your mouth then he will prevent you from your calling. For Jesus said, the works that I do shall they do and greater works shall they do because I go unto my Father. The greater works is to let your “conversation,” your behavior, your manner of living be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. The greater works is to lead others to salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

God has made us able ministers of the New Testament. He has given us each a testimony of his salvation. 2 Corinthians 5 says that he has given us the ministry of reconciliation and committed unto us the word of reconciliation. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. We have been called to introduce them to our Lord Jesus Christ.

We’re challenged to “study to show thyself approved unto God as a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” We grow up into him according to Romans 12:1-2: I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present yourselves a living sacrifice, holy (and wholly) acceptable unto him who is your reasonable act of worship. 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. For If we walk in the light as he is in the light, the love of God will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Therefore, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…for it is the power of God unto salvation. 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 masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he hath foreordained that we should walk in it.

The scripture says that whosoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed. Therefore, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael