From Here to Eternity

Pastor Pete reports from the town of Magdala in Israel as he and the missions team from “Ambassadors and Embassies” minister to churches in the Holy Land. This is the region where Jesus taught his followers how to do ministry by serving them the bread of life. In John 6:36 Jesus said, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

This is where Jesus called Peter to tend his flock…the church of God. Jesus delivered God’s message of deliverance when he taught the multitudes the beatitudes at the sermon on the mount. He taught them by example what it means to be his disciplined followers. We know that Jesus walked the streets of Magdala. In Luke 7 Mary of Magdala anointed Jesus’ feet with costly ointment mixed with her tears and wiped his feet with her hair. This is where Jesus taught the Pharisees that the one who is forgiven the biggest debt will love more than the one who was forgiven little. Mary knew she was a sinner and wept in repentance as she washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. Jesus said to her, “your sins are forgiven.” Jesus set her free and delivered her from the bondage of sin and iniquity.

God has offered us life more abundantly because of the price Jesus Christ paid on our behalf. God conquered death at the garden tomb when He raised his son Jesus Christ from the dead. The believers who made the trip to Israel with Pete and Phil Hanlen are blessed to witness the land and the descendants of the people to whom Jesus came to minister. The greatest blessing is to see how God is working within his believing believers in Israel to show the power of God. The Israeli soldiers know what it means to be vigilant and on guard, ready for the attacks of the enemy. Pete and his missions team are blessed to witness first-hand God’s promise that God will bless those who bless Israel.

Today’s message is from Matthew 16. This passage of scripture reminds us how the church fulfills God’s eternal plan to reconcile God’s people back to God.

According to Matthew 16:15-16: “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17. “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

In verse 18, the word Peter in Greek is “Petros” meaning a small stone or rock. Jesus said, “upon this rock, Greek word “Petra” meaning a cliff, I will build my church.” Jesus Christ himself is the rock of ages, the firm foundation and the chief cornerstone of the Church of the living God.

Jesus called Peter as the first pastor or shepherd of the flock of God. He was ordained as an under shepherd following the chief shepherd, Jesus Christ. Jesus said of the church that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Gates prevail by keeping people in or out. However, the church will prevail against the gates of hell.

God’s people have been called as ambassadors of Christ. An ambassador is the highest ranking government official sent by his Sovereign Lord to represent his homeland in a foreign land. 2 Corinthians 5 says that we are God’s ambassadors representing the kingdom of heaven here on earth. As ambassadors for Christ, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation and have been committed the Word of reconciliation.

According to Matthew 16:19, “whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Grammatically, the verbs “bound” and “loosed” are the perfect passive participle in the Greek text. The perfect tense means that binding and loosing are completed actions in the past. The passive voice means that these actions have been received. Participles are verbs acting as nouns. Jesus said that whatever the church will be binding and loosing now on earth will have already been bound and loosed in heaven. What we as the church, the called of God, do by setting people free from the bondage of sin and iniquity through our Lord Jesus Christ, will already have been done by God in eternity in heaven.

When we act according to the Word of God by reconciling God’s people back to God we are bringing into the present tense what God has already accomplished in eternity. Our job is to reconcile the present tense with the eternal. In God’s eternal perspective, time does not exist. For that which is seen (of this physical world) is temporal (time-bound) but that which is unseen (of God’s holy spirit) is eternal. When we preach Jesus Christ and him crucified, buried, resurrected, and seated at God’s right hand, we bring to bear the power of God to intersect the present tense with God’s eternity.

Ephesians says that the church makes known to the powers of darkness the manifold wisdom of God. He has called us as his living epistles, God’s love letters known and read of all men. According to Romans 1, the just shall live by faith and herein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. When we act according to the faith of the spirit of God in Christ in us we activate the power of God’s active believing faith to will and to do of His good pleasure.

In eternity, from God’s perspective, his word and his will has already come to pass. We bring into the present tense loosing from the binding of sin and death when we become a witness of his saving grace to set the captives free. This is our mission and our co-mission: to give ’em Heaven!

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

Not Ashamed

What really matters in this life? We all have a date with destiny…for it is appointed for all men once to die, and then comes the judgement. The question is, “will we be judged righteous?” Those of us who have accepted Jesus as Lord will be judged righteous, for Jesus Christ who knew no sin, became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Unless we are heavenly minded, we are no earthly good. 1 John 2:15-17 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Everything that is of this earth will come to naught. That which is seen is temporal but that which is unseen, the things of the spirit of God, are eternal. As Jesus said, therefore lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Two things will last into eternity in heaven: those of us who have been born again and the Word of God.

According to Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

We who seek treasures in heaven are not ashamed of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ashamed in the Greek literally means to “change our expression,” or to “disfigure our face.” Ashamed means “to dishonor.” The gospel of Christ belongs to Christ. Therefore we honor the Lord when we share his good news of salvation, repentance, and redemption. The power of the gospel is manifest in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. When we share the gospel of Christ we honor God as a witness of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What endures? What really matters is what we have invested into eternity. Therefore, set your affection on things above, not on the things of this earth. The gospel of Christ is our witness. We are the only bibles some people will ever read. He has made us living epistles… His love letters of the love of God known and read of all men.

Jesus said, “the works that I do shall they do also. And greater works shall they do because I go unto my Father.” The greater works is salvation because of Jesus Christ’s finished work of redemption through his crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Therefore, let your light so shine among men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. The light of the gospel of Christ breaks through the darkness of a fallen world.

The doctrine of this world says, “follow your heart.” This is a version of the devil’s original lie to Eve in the garden of Eden: “if you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will be like God.” The gospel of Christ counters the devil’s lie that we should worship ourselves by following our own fleshly heart instead of worshiping God by following His Word.

The gospel of Christ is the power of God. The word translated “power” is from the Greek word, “dynamis.” This is the potential power of the Holy Spirit. This is God’s ability, his potential to work within us to will and to do of his good pleasure. This is not the “explosive” power of God which is like a flash in the pan. Instead, it is the sustaining “power from on high” that we received when we were born again of God’s Holy Spirit. It is the power of God that brings us to salvation.

The gospel of the good news of salvation reveals the righteousness of God from faith (the faith of Jesus Christ we received upon salvation) to faith (believing faith to activate the power of the Holy Spirit.)

We received the gospel of Christ when we confessed that Jesus is Lord and believed that God raised him from the dead. We are not ashamed of Christ’s gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation when we were born again of God’s spirit. The gift of God’s Holy Spirit is the faith of Jesus Christ that completes us at the moment of salvation. Therefore the just (we who have been justified through Jesus Christ) shall live by faith…believing action according to the gift of the Holy Spirit of Christ in us.

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

Watchmen on the Wall

America is under attack by the Adversary. However, whether God brings our nation to her knees through trials and tribulations or whether America voluntary returns to her knees in prayer, God is still Sovereign over all. Our true character will be revealed through trials and tribulations. Judgement always begins in the house of God. When the purge comes, how do you know whether you’ll be among they wheat or the tares at the time of harvest?

Are we good enough to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven? When Jesus told his apostles about his death and resurrection, Peter said, “Lord, I won’t let that happen.” Jesus reproved him and said, “Get thee behind me Satan.” Jesus knew that when Peter said that he’d die for his Lord, he actually would deny him. Jesus said “before the cock crows twice you shall deny me thrice.” Peter thought that he could stand in his own power. In moments of weakness we make declarations and commitments that we cannot fulfill by relying on our own power.

When the forces of evil array and overtake Government, Entertainment, Universities, Marketplaces, and especially Churches, the nation is bound to fall. This is the theme of the books, “Christless Christianity,” and “When a Nation Forsakes God.” There is a passage in Ezekiel 33 about the watchmen the on the wall. The duty of the watchman is to blow the horn when he sees danger approaching. If the people hear the horn and don’t heed it, the blood will be on their own hands. However if the watchman is not vigilant and fails to sound the alarm, then the blood of the people will be on the watchman’s hands. Men of God are called to warn God’s people about the need for repentance.

The decline of a nation is indicated by the rapid decline of godly virtues. What used to be shunned as unacceptable behavior is now celebrated openly. American Christianity is the only religion in the nation that is under the Adversary’s concentrated onslaught. However the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God is the offensive weapon against spiritual wickedness from on high. As Joshua said, “Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve. As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.”

Men of God have a choice from moment to moment whom to serve. Ye are slaves to whom ye obey. Luke 12 is Jesus’ warning to the people about worrying and treasuring earthly treasures. His calling is to be watchful and to feed the flock of God. He calls us to be faithful to his calling until his return. According to 1 Peter 3:15, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear…

Luke 12:35-36 says, “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36. And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.”

We’re called to be on the alert and quick to perceive danger, eagerly anticipating the Lord’s second coming. This is an illustration of a wedding ceremony. The groomsmen are called to be ready for the groom’s arrival. He may arrive at any time. Our lamps need to be lit when the groom arrives. The groomsman’s job is to be prepared for the coming of the bridegroom.

We need to be on our guard to stand fast in the faith of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing.” Therefore, be clothed in His power… Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” We’re called to God’s mission: to minister to those whom God has committed to our keeping. We are workmen together with Christ. Sometimes we’re called to plant and water. Sometimes we’re called to bring in the harvest for the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.

Jesus said, “blessed are the servants when the master comes and finds them at work.” They are on their guard, prepared and ready with their lamps lit, their wicks trimmed and their vessels filled with oil. Even if he comes in the third watch of the night they will be ready when the bridegroom arrives.

Sin doesn’t keep us from eternal life. Rather it is the Rejection of the Saviour from sin that keeps sinners from heaven. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” When we delight ourselves in the Lord… When we make His delight our delight, then he will give us the desires of our heart. Our job is to stand as watchmen on the wall. We’re called to stand in the gap to protect the flock of God with the shield of Faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one.

We’re called to pray for our enemies. Jesus said, bless them that persecute you. Bless and curse not. Blessed are ye 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.

In the midst of a crisis, what would Jesus do? As Jesus said to Mary and Joseph in the temple, “know ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Our calling is to exhort our brothers in Christ to be about our Father’s business. For we are his workmanship, his masterpiece, his magnum opus created Christ Jesus unto good works wherein he has before-ordained that we should walk.

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

My Father’s Business

We’ve been called to be ready and prepared when the master comes. How do you know how to be prepared? How do I go about my Father’s business? Doing the Father’s will is not an event. It’s a process. When many enter the door of the church, they stop following him when when they leave each Sunday. Walking with our Lord requires a desperate hunger and a committed love.
Luke 12:40 says the son of man is coming at an hour that you do not expect. We need to live life as if he’s coming any moment. He can come right now….but he didn’t. Living in the hope and anticipation of the coming of our Lord will keep us living in the present.

At Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, the people that share are brutally honest. They are diligent to confess their sins. To overcome the problem, first we must acknowledge the problem. For if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The disciples asked about Jesus’ message of readiness. They asked, “is this message for everyone or just the twelve of us?” The Lord said this message is for, “he who is the faithful, steadfast, wise, sensible and prepared steward.” He’s the one who has his hand on the plow or his hand on the tiller when the Lord and Master arrives. Being prepared means that he’s doing what he’s called to do when the master comes. Jesus said, when you are faithful in your calling, I’ll call you to recline at my table and then I’ll serve you. Jesus’ example of leadership was to serve and not to be served.

Jesus called his pastors to shepherd the sheep, the flock of God, and to sound the alarm when danger approaches. When the flood came in Noah’s day, the mockers were taken away suddenly. They didn’t even know what hit them. Cataclysmic events mark God’s timetable. We set our collective clocks by catastrophic events. Unprecedented natural disasters will precede the coming of our Lord. Jesus said, these warnings would be the signs of his return.

Who is the faithful, steadfast, and wise steward? A faithful steward is true to the standard of truth. He is devout and loyal, dedicated according to his actions to do his Master’s will. The apostle Paul said, “I buffet my body to make it my slave so that I in turn may be a slave to my master’s will.”

When we’re born again into the kingdom of the Lord, we’re born to a super-natural heavenly realm. The kingdom of heaven is diametrically opposed to the world’s natural kingdom. For the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God because they’re foolishness unto him. To see and perceive from a spiritual perspective, we must see from the eyes of the spirit…Christ’s eyes behind our eyes, his heart behind our heart.

To follow the master’s will, we need to find brothers who are in pursuit of their lord Jesus Christ. We desire to chase after men of God and “choke in the dust” of those chasing after Christ. As we pursue the Lord, we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds. As we seek after him, the fruit of the spirit will grow to maturity. As Jesus said, I am the vine… if you abide in me you shall bear much fruit.

Jesus confronted the hypocrites in Matthew 23. They were actors and poseurs who put on an outward show of righteousness. Jesus said, “In vain do they worship me. They draw nigh unto me with their lips but their heart is far from me.”

A politician approached Mother Teresa looking for a photo-op after she had received the Nobel peace prize. When the cameras were rolling, he said to her, “I’d like to present this gift of one million dollars to your cause, Missionaries of Charity.” Mother Teresa said to him, “please give your money to someone who needs it more than we do. God has always provided and he will continue to provide. God works best with nothing.”

Being ready is not an event…it is a process. Faithfulness is known and understood over time. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not thy compassions they fail not. Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me… according to thy word. God is always faithful to his word. Even though we were unworthy in the flesh, he made us worthy in the spirit and now by his grace his mercy has made us his own.

When Jesus was twelve years old Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem with their extended family to celebrate the Passover. In the caravan, the women went before the men to set up camp. They did all that the law required of them for the Passover. As Mary and Joseph were returning in their caravan, Jesus stayed behind. Mary and Joseph were unaware that Jesus had been left behind. After a day’s journey they realized that Jesus wasn’t with them. In a panic, they returned to Jerusalem to look for their son. According to Luke 2:37, they found him in the temple and everyone there was astonished at the words and answers that Jesus gave the doctors and scholars of the Old Testament law. His parents asked him, “why have you done this to us?” Jesus answered Mary and Joseph, “Know ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” He wasn’t talking about the carpentry business.

In every Christian’s life there is a moment of reckoning. Jesus’ revelation when he was in the temple at the age of twelve was, “I must be about my Father’s business.” What was Jesus’ Father’s business? In verse 50, Mary and Joseph didn’t understand what Jesus had said. They didn’t get it… Maybe God kept them from understanding so that they wouldn’t be lifted up with pride about their son, Jesus Christ the redeemer of mankind. Even though Jesus realized that his Father’s business was “that the world through him might be saved,” Jesus continued to be submissive to his earthly parents. Humility is learned in obedience to those whom God has called as our earthly parents. We’re better men in meekness and humility.

Jesus said, “abide with me.” Abiding means to “live with me.” Abiding is spending time in his presence and waking in his footsteps. A disciple is a disciplined follower who learns his father’s business by walking in his footsteps. Following in the Lord’s footsteps is the solution to “the insidious preoccupation with self.”

According to Philippians 2, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ. This is the attitude of humility and meekness. Jesus Christ took upon himself the form of a servant and humbled himself even to the point of death upon the cross. To live for him we must die to self. In the midst of the trials of life, the age old question is, “What would Jesus do?” Jesus answer to this question was, “Know ye not that I must be about my Father’s business.” This is also our answer. Every moment in life is a divine appointment. For we are his workmanship, his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus unto good works in which he has foreordained that we should walk. To keep our divine appointment, “Know ye not that we must be about our Father’s business?”

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

About My Father’s Business

According to Luke 12:36, Jesus exhorts his men to be prepared, like groomsmen waiting for their master the bridegroom. What does it mean to await the master’s arrival? How would you live if you knew Jesus were coming today? What would you do to be prepared for this most special day? What would be your priority? He can come any moment…even right now, but he didn’t. Living in anticipation of our Lord’s return will keep our priorities in line. God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Therefore Hebrews 10 says stimulate each other to love and good deeds.

The return of the Lord Jesus Christ will be preceded by unprecedented natural disasters. These will be the signs of the times just like when you see thunder clouds on the horizon signaling the approaching storm. Christ’s return will be like in the days of Noah when the floods came and the people didn’t know what hit them. To be dressed in readiness, we need to be found faithful, like servants with their lamps burning, their wicks trimmed and their vessels filled with oil. His servants will be prepared so that when the bridegroom returns for the wedding feast, they will be ready to receive him.

Jesus said to the churches in Revelation 3, “I stand at the door and knock. If you open the door to me I will enter in.” It’s not sin that keeps a man from salvation but rather the rejection of the Saviour from sin.

There’s nothing that we can do in our own power that can lead to salvation. As Paul said, in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. However, where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more. For in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.

In 2 Timothy 2, Paul exhorts men of God to refuse foolish and unlearned questions. Although Jesus knew that Peter would deny him, he also knew that Peter needed to be broken in order to commit his life as a bond-servant for his Lord. A broken and a contrite heart is the beginning of true repentance. For if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In Luke 2 Mary and Joseph journeyed to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover when Jesus was twelve years old. They followed all the rituals according to the Old Testament law. After the Passover feast Mary and Joseph headed home to Nazareth. They had already traveled a day’s journey when they discovered that Jesus was not in their caravan. In a panic, they returned to Jerusalem to look for their son. After three days, they finally found him in the temple. All of the people in the Temple were amazed and marveled at the questions and the answers that he gave the scholars and doctors of the Old Testament law. Mary and Joseph said to their son, “why have you done this to us?” Jesus’ answer was, “Know ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” He wasn’t talking about the carpentry business.

Mary and Joseph didn’t understand what Jesus meant. Maybe God allowed their misunderstanding so that they wouldn’t be lifted up with pride about their son who was the promised Messiah who came to redeem mankind. What was Jesus’ Father’s business? His Father’s business was your redemption and mine. His purpose was to shed his innocent blood in exchange for our guilty blood. For he who knew no sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. 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.

What is our Father’s business? Our Father’s business is that we would be a witness of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been given the great commission… He has given us the word of reconcilliation and committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. To reconcile is to bring back together that which has been separated. 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 salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Our business is to become the word of God for salvation…for we are his epistles, his love letters, written not with ink or in tables of stone, but in the tables of the heart. Therefore, preach Jesus Christ and him crucified, resurrected and seated at God’s right hand… For the power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power of God unto salvation.

James said, “be ye doers of the word and not hearers only.” The answer to the age-old question, “what would Jesus do” is found in another question: “Know ye not that I must be about my father’s business?”

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

Jesus of Orange County or Jesus of Nazareth

David Platt wrote a book called “Radical” about a radical faith for such a time as this. Erwin Lutzer wrote a book called “When a Nation Forgets God.” The theme of Lutzer’s book is that the political and spiritual doctrines that led to the atrocities of Nazi Germany are similar to philosophies embraced in America today. According to Lutzer, If you read this book with the intention of finding grist for your political mill then I’ve missed the point. God doesn’t expect us to become filled with vindictiveness. We must bear the undeniable witness of the saving grace of God. Our culture is in a spiritual free fall and the solution is only in the Word of God. The scriptural promises give hope for our nation and hope will rise in this dark time when the nation returns to God. There are parallels between the church today and the church in Nazi Germany. Naziism didn’t arise in a vacuum. It was precipitated by myths and widely accepted ideas that culminated in the horrors of the gas chambers at Auchwitz. The godless Nazi doctrine of nihilism says that life and the earth that sustains life are worthless. Life is nothing except the accidental convergence of blood and soil. Naziism indoctrinated the masses that Christian beliefs have no worth or value and that political institutions are worthy to be destroyed. When man proclaims that God is dead, then man becomes an untamed beast. Similarly, when godless doctrines of Devils and philosophies of men are taught in American universities today, our freedoms are bound to erode and crumble.

God allows judgement to fall on a nation that turns its back on God. When a nation’s people disrespect law and authority… when they allow the churches that dot the landscape to disappear one by one, then they won’t be able to hire enough policemen. The law must be in the hearts of the people. The solution is the Gospel of the good news…for we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and him crucified.

When Pete was called to be a minister, God said, Preach a crucified Christ, not a feel-good sanitized Jesus of Orange County.

When Christians become casual, then they will become casualties in the spiritual warfare. Therefore, be alert…watch and pray, standing as watchmen on the wall. As servants having their lamps lit in anticipation of the return of their lord.

When Christ returns in glory, He will subject all things to himself. As Christians our citizenship is in heaven. The question is are we Christian Americans or are we American Christians. Our political persuasion must be an allegiance to our Sovreign Lord. Our charge as bond servants of our Lord Jesus Christ is to trust and obey the word of God. It is required of a servant that he be found faithful to do his master’s will.

There is a stark contrast between the Jesus of Orange County and Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus of Nazareth is a crucified Saviour whereas Jesus of the OC is uncrucified.
Jesus of Nazareth says there is a narrow way through a narrow gate. Jesus of the OC says there is a broad way.
Jesus of the OC preaches material prosperity, social inclusiveness, and equality of outcomes. Jesus of Nazareth preaches, “blessed are the poor in spirit.” Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth but treasures in heaven.
Jesus of Nazareth calls Christians to be holy…separated according to the purpose that God intended.

We as men of God must decide which side we’re on. The question is not whether God is on our side, but whether we’re on God’s side. Not my will but thy will be done. Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve…as for me and my house we shall serve the lord.

Jesus said, bless them that persecute you. Pray for those who are held captive by the devil at his will.

Jesus of the OC says that there is no cost for following him. Jesus of Nazareth says, unless you forsake mother, father, sister and brother and give up everything for my sake, you cannot be my disciple.

What if God takes his hand of blessing from our country? The only reason that the devil has not had his way with America is because of those men of God, filled with the spirt of God, who stand in the gap to withstand the onslaught of the wicked one.

The Jesus of Nazareth is biblically correct. The Jesus of the OC is politically correct. The devil and his minions stand against the truth of the word of God. For he that doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved. In some circles, if you carry a bible and quote scripture, you’re guilty of hate speech.

Jesus of the OC says that pain is the enemy. Jesus of Nazareth says that 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.

Jesus of the OC says, you’re in control of your own life. Jesus of Nazareth says, Jesus is Lord. He who loses his life for my sake shall find it.
Jesus of the OC uses others and serves himself. Jesus of Nazareth serves others and when we do likewise we serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “in that you have done it unto the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me.”

Jesus of the OC says there is no such thing as sin. Jesus of Nazareth says, the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ.

As followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we’ve been called as lights in a world of darkness. The spiritual battle is fought with prayer and the sword of the spirit, the word of God. Our job is to shine the light…to wield the sword of the spirit and to pray for them that persecute you and despitefully use you. Our power is in his strength alone. Therefore watch and pray.

If we’re committed to the gospel, then we as men of God will stand in the gap on the wall against the onslaught of the wicked one. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high.

We’re not defined by what we’re against. Rather we’re defined by what we stand for. Therefore stand up for Jesus, stand in his strength alone. The arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own. The way to defeat the darkness is to live in the light as he is in the light. He who has the son has life. He has written these things so that we know that we have salvation.

We’ve been called to finish strong…we press toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. When we’re weak then we’re strong. Our heart may be broken so that He can weave it back together according to his will. As the Apostle Paul said, Thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me.

We’ve been called to fellowship with other godly men as individual fittings within the body of Christ… From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Our calling as men of God is to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the schemes of the devil in the evil day, and having done all to stand. “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…”

Therefore, beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ.
According to 1 Corinthians 1:23-25, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks (non-Jews) foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

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

Which Jesus?

Jesus said, “If you continue in my word you shall be my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” The question is “Which Jesus are you following?” Is he the Jesus of Orange County or Jesus of Nazareth?

Erwin Lutzer wrote a book, “When a Nation Forgets God,” comparing what happened in the church in Nazi Germany and what’s happening in the church today. If we have witnessed God’s truth, then we must bear witness of our Lord Jesus Christ. As our nation turns is back on God, we’re learning that the consequences are much deeper than previously thought. However, hope springs eternal. We’re encouraged not to focus on the trajectory that the nation has chosen, but that the God of hope will fill you with all joy and faith in believing. Nazi Germany teaches us lessons from the dark days when the church suffered from the false doctrines it embraced. Nazi Germany was fed by streams of myths and heresies accepted by the masses. The holocaust was precipitated by evil that pervaded the political and religious trends that made the holocaust possible. This evil was rooted in the belief that man is the end result of godless “evolution”… of the accidental convergence of blood and soil. This “doctrine of the devil” led to the ultimate atrocities of nihilism philosophy. The rulers of Nazi Germany concluded that life and the earth that sustained life was worth nothing and therefore worthy to be destroyed. The same godless values that destroyed Germany are being taught in secular universities today.

The major message of Lutzer’s book is a warning to be ready to confront the evil that is sweeping over our culture. God always calls a remnant of men of God to stand in the gap for such a time as this. Some will bear up under suffering, called of God to uphold the truth of the Word of God.

When God called Pete to be a pastor, He said, “Preach Jesus Christ and him crucified and let the chips fall where they may.” He also said, “You’ll need to spend a lot of time with me.” Pete was called to preach a “crucified” Christ, not a “feel-good” sanitized Jesus of Orange County. According to the Apostle Paul, we preach Jesus Christ and him crucified: To the Greeks foolishness and to the Jews a stumbling block, but to them who are called the power of God and the wisdom of God.

According to Philippians 2, “Jesus Christ, who being in the form of God….made himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of a servant. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even unto death on the cross.” The mind of Christ gave up his rights and humbled himself even unto death.

Jesus of Nazareth said, “there is a narrow way and few there be that find it.” The Jesus of Orange County says, “everyone will go to heaven and there is no such thing as sin.” Jesus of Nazareth said, “Broad is the way that leads to destruction.”

The Jesus of Orange County stresses egalitarianism and especially material prosperity. The emphasis is in equality of outcome and all-inclusiveness for material riches, the so-called blessings of this world. Jesus of Nazareth says, “Take heed and beware of covetousness for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things that he posesseth.”

Holiness starts with exclusivity. Sanctification starts with separation. Jesus’ narrow way is exclusive…holiness means “separated according to the purpose for which God intended.” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh to the father except by me.” The greatest sin is the sin of omission…failure to accept the Saviour from sin. Holiness is according to His terms, not the world’s. Jesus said after he had washed the disciples’ feet, “keep each other clean from the contamination of an unclean world.”

Luke 14 is about the cost of following Jesus. The example is a man who started to build a house but in the middle of construction ran out of funds and didn’t finish the work. The key is to finish strong. Jesus’ strength was not in being crucified, but in praying for those that drove the nails into his hands and feet, “father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The strength is to bear up under suffering…to bless them that persecute you.

The politically correct call evil good and good evil. As Joshua said when he entered into the promised land, “choose ye this day whom ye shall serve. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”

The world’s Jesus says, “come on your own terms.” Jesus of Nazareth said, “whoever follows me must forsake his own will, forsake his mother, father, sister, and brother, take up his cross and follow me.” The Jesus of the OC preaches people-centered messages. Jesus of Nazareth preaches God-centered messages. Jesus of the OC says “God owes you an explanation for violating your rights.” Jesus of Nazareth says, “God requires extreme obedience with no complaining on your part and no explanation on his.”

In Germany they never dreamed that the holocaust could ever happen. However, when the Word of God is compromised by social, scientific, and political doctrines of this world, the Devil will have his way. He takes captive the children of disobedience against their wills.

The apostle Paul said, Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men… After the rudiments of the world and not after Christ. According to Ephesians 4, God gifted men with ministries and gave them to the church: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. Their purpose is for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, that we henceforth be no longer children, tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

Jesus of the OC says, “you can have what you want and you can have it now.” Jesus of Nazareth says “by your patience, you possess your soul.” As Isaiah said, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”

Jesus of the OC says, “truth is relative.” Jesus of Nazareth says, “sanctify with them with thy word. Thy word is truth.” Jesus of the OC says, “I’m my own Lord.” Jesus of Nazareth says, “Jesus is Lord.” For we preach not ourselves but Jesus Christ and him crucified. For he has made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

The world will demand allegiance. However, Jesus of Nazareth said, “thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him alone shalt thou serve.” Jesus said, “apart from me ye can do nothing.” There is nothing that will last into eternity except for that which is done according to the will of God. He has called us to be lights in the darkness of a fallen world. The prayers of the believing saints will last forever. Prayers are a sweet smelling fragrance unto God into eternity.

Our hope is in the resurrection and in the blessed return of our Lord Jesus Christ. This wold is not our home, we’re just a-passing through. Our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The witness we have is the witness of the resurrection of our Lord. To live in the resurrection we must die to self. Then we can testify like the Apostle Paul, “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 of the one who loved me and gave himself for me.”

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