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

Environmentalists

As brothers in Christ, we meet to remind each other of who we are and whose we are. God has called men of God as “environmentalists”… to work with Him to create an environment where the Holy Spirit can come help himself to our lives. Many problems of our culture today are because of things not preached in church. The failure of churches today is the theme of a book called “Radical Church for Radical Times.” Another book is called, “When a Nation Forgets God.” When churches fail to support a godly environment of spiritual development and growth then the church fails to influence it’s surroundings.

If we do the work without allowing God to work in us and through us, Christianity will become like any other worldly cause and will deteriorate into an institution. In Jesus’ day, the church had deteriorated into Phariseeism influenced by the traditions of men. The Pharisees created an environment of legalism, condemnation, guilt and fear. They were self righteous and looked down on the congregation in their synagogues. Their’s was a works based religion of do’s and don’ts. Jesus said, “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisee’s, you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” True righteousness is not because of our what we did but because of what Jesus Christ did. For he who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

Our responsibility in church is to influence our environment. Our environment is our surroundings that sustain life… where Jesus Christ himself is the way, the truth and the life. Jesus Christ is the solution to the problems of this world. Our assignment is to preach Jesus Christ and him crucified and then let the chips fall where they may. We’re called to cast the seed of the word of God. God will give the increase when the seed falls on good ground. According to Isaiah 55:11, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in that thing whereunto I sent it.” Our responsibility is our response to God’s ability. He has made us able ministers of the New Testament. For the letter of the law of the Old Testament results in death but the New Testament law of the spirit results in life through Christ.

Dictators lead by creating an environment of fear. In contrast the Gospel’s kingdom is based on God’s loving kindness and tender mercy. That’s why Jesus said, blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you for my sake. For great is your reward in heaven.

An environment of God’s love, mercy, grace and goodness brings men to repentance. However, sometimes the devil comes in the guise of an angel of light. His method is to deceive and accuse. When he approached Eve in the garden of Eden, he appealed to her pride… He said, if you disobey God and eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will be like God. He will offer the lure but hide the hook. When people fall into his snare, the devil takes them captive at his will. Ye are slaves to whom you obey.

All we like sheep have gone astray. We inherited the sin nature of the flesh from Adam. However, Repentance is to turn from sin and our insidious preoccupation with self….To turn from the darkness of this world and to the light of the Lord Jesus Christ. According to 1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all unrighteousness.

The devil is the deceiver and the accuser. His minions create an environment where they call good evil and evil good. In some circles if you carry a bible, you are guilty of a “hate crime.” For he that doeth evil hates the the light, neither comes to the light lest his deeds should be reproved.

This was also true in Jesus’ time. In Matthew 23 the Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus in his words so that they could accuse him of breaking the law. However, Jesus did not come to abolish the Old Testament law, but to fulfill it. Jesus chose to suffer on our behalf because this was the will of his Heavenly Father. Jesus said of the Pharisees, “They’re hypocrites. They tell you what to do but they themselves don’t do it.” The Pharisees made up laws that were heavy burdens. They insisted that the people follow the laws but they self righteously declared themselves above the law. The Pharisees show off their “credentials” like the length of the tassels on their robes and the size of their prayer boxes or phylacteries. They live for the praise of men and for their own power by keeping others under subjection through intimidation, fear, guilt and shame.

Matthew 23:5-12 says, “But all their works they do to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6. And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7. And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

In Matthew 21, Jesus had said to the Scribes and Pharisee’s, “even prostitutes and tax gatherers will enter into the kingdom of God, before you will.” These religious leaders are the people that Jesus was talking about when he said, “not everyone who calls me Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

God works all things for (his and our) good to those who love him…to those who are called according to his purpose. When we surrender our lives to him he will bless us exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think. The greatest blessing is that we should be to the praise of the glory of his grace.. The question is “who’s blessing Whom? The abundant life is seeking the Blessor and not the blessing.

Whenever we’re confused by the doctrines of this world, we must approach the throne of grace with a broken and a contrite heart. When we turn from the world and unto the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will show us the truth of His love, mercy and grace. When we turn our eyes upon Jesus and look full in his wonderful face, the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.

When we abide in Christ, we will bear much fruit. Jesus said I am the vine and you are the branches. In his presence and in his strength, he will infuse his power into us according to the truth of His word. When we’re in his presence, the holy spirt will teach us the all truth. When we walk according to the spirit of life in Christ, this will produce the fruit of the spirt…love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self control…against such there is now law.

When we abide in him, 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that He will not allow us to be tempted above that we are able. But he will with the temptation make a way of escape that we may be able to bear it. The trials he gives us are to see if we’ll pass the “smell test.” He’s showing us where our heart is. For where our treasure is there will our heart be also. We are what God made us in Christ… For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works that he’s foreordained that we should walk therein.

The question is, Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? The holy spirt is the gift of Christ in you the hope of glory. Walking according to the spirit of life in Christ produces the fruit of the spirt. For there is therefore now no condemnation for those who walk not after the flesh but after the spirt… For the law of the spirit of life in Christ has made me free from the law of sin and death.

The doctrines of the world teach the law of sin and death. For the letter of the legalism of the law of sin and death kills but the law of the spirit gives us life through Christ. The only thing that changes the culture is the gospel of Christ. God has called us as ambassadors form our “foreign nation” in heaven to deliver the gospel message. Our mission is to influence those to whom he’s called us to minister by creating an environment where the Holy Spirit can come help himself to our lives. We are His living epistles, his “declaration of dependence”… For He alone is our sufficiency, our all in all!

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

What Does Repentance Look Like?

There is a popular style of teaching in today’s church that is “seeker-sensitive.” This is the theme of two books, Christless Christianity by Michael Horton, and Pagan Christianity by George Barna. Seeker-sensitive preaching is careful not to offend. However, when the true gospel is preached, it’s both bad news and good news. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Before we can turn our hearts around we must first acknowledge the problem of sin. The gospel is meant to disturb and intrigue…to convict our hearts of sin so that we can approach God’s throne of grace with a broken and a contrite heart. This is what true repentance looks like. Repentance means to turn our hearts from sin and to the Saviour from sin, the Lord Jesus Christ. Not everyone in church has repented. Jesus knew that all who said, “Lord , Lord” will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The emphasis on “seeker sensitivity” in churches is beginning to change. Bill Hybels said, “It used to be that we preached seeker sensitive messages to fill up the pews. Today, people want you to look them in the eye and tell them the truth. Jesus said, “he who is forgiven much loves much.”

All Christians have been entrusted with the testimony of Jesus Christ. We are living epistles known and read of all men. We all have a story of deliverance. Jesus expects us to take advantage of every opportunity to witness the gospel of truth and when necessary, to use words.

In Luke 5, A publican (tax collector) named Levi forsook his job to become a follower of Jesus. He gave a party to celebrate with his fellow tax collectors. He had made a living getting rich by overtaxing his own people under the authority of the Roman government. Even though he was hated by the people for unjustly taking their money, he was comfortable with his old friends from his old profession. When Jesus went to the publican’s house, the scribes and Pharisee’s grumbled among themselves that Jesus associated with tax collectors and sinners. These religious leaders assumed that Jesus was guilty by association.

Oswald Chambers said that the purpose of church is to create an environment where the Holy Spirit is welcome to come help himself to our lives. The question is, “what is the environment of your church, your home and your work place.” Environments in homes, marketplaces, and churches are created by the leaders. The environment that the scribes and Parisees created was an environment of condemnation… of exclusion, judgement, manipulation, guilt, and shame. They believed that they were self-righteous and that everyone else was inferior. It was a works-based environment to keep their own power and subjugate the people based on fear, guilt, and condemnation.

Seeker sensitive churches are afraid that if they speak the truth in love, people will be offended and never come back. The scribes and Pharisee’s were on the other extreme. When law, performance, and works is the basis for church, then the law of sin and death will dominate. A healthy Christ-centered church environment encourages relationships and dialog from a spirit filled heart that manifests the love of God. There are always differences of opinions between people even in a healthy church. However, to reconcile our hearts together as the body of Christ, we must lovingly meet each other at the foot of the cross. Jesus Christ is the one who reconciles. There is no peace without the Holy Spirit of the Prince of Peace.

The Pharisees created over four hundred laws to keep the people guilty and shameful. Jesus said, “I have not come to heal the healthy but to heal the sick.” Godly sorrow is a prerequisite to repentance. An environment of grace allows us to approach God’s throne of grace with a broken and a contrite heart. Jesus came to minister to those who are broken and repentant.

The Holy Spirit will teach us all things. We’ll be convicted of sin so that when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The first commandment is to love God above all. With a heart of love we’re convicted to turn our hearts away from sin and toward the Saviour from sin, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Like the Pharisees, many who have grown up in the church find it easy to look down on people who are held captive by their sin nature. If we’re not driven by God’s love and grace, we’ll call men to performance and not repentance. The key to forgiveness is to confess our sins to our Heavenly Father. Then we can lovingly reconcile with others within the body of Christ.

Luke 7:36-48 answers the question “what does true repentance look like?” Beginning in verse 36: “And one of the Pharisees desired him (Jesus) that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.
37. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment…”

Like many of those in her community, this “woman of ill-repute” came to the Pharisee’s house to listen to the rabbi speak. She knew she was a sinner. Her heart was broken. She was convicted of her sin and sat at Jesus’ feet and wept:
38. And (she) stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”
39. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

Jesus knew the woman’s heart of true repentance. He also knew Simon the Pharisee’s heart of judgement, condemnation, and guilt by association.

40. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?”

Jesus asked the Pharisee a question to see if he could teach him a lesson about the value of forgiveness. The Pharisee answered correctly: 43. “Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.”

Jesus, Simon the Pharisee, and the “woman of ill-repute” all knew what was required in their culture to show respect, honor, and humility to a teacher whom they highly regarded. He said to the Pharisee beginning in verse 44: “Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.”

The antidote to a hard heart is to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. The woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive ointment and washed his feet with her tears offered her most precious possession as a sacrifice at the feet of her Lord. In Old Testament times, many believed that the tears they shed in service to God would be weighed to see if they would enter into life after death. According to Psalm 56:8 they saved their priceless “tears in a bottle” as a record in God’s book of life. As the song says, “All my trophies at last I lay down.” She gave to Jesus an offering of her most precious possession when she washed Jesus’ feet with her tears.

She knew that she was a sinner and that only by God’s grace had He allowed her to enter into the presence of her Saviour and Lord. This is what true repentance looks like. As Peter said in Acts 2:38, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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

True Repentance

Jesus said, “Not everyone who calls me Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven.” This is a bothersome verse for many Christians. Are they really followers of the Lord Jesus Christ? We all have a sinful nature to contend with. This is why John the Baptist preached a message of repentance. Repentance means to turn our hearts around. In order to approach God’s throne of grace, we must come to him with a broken and a contrite heart.

In Matthew 7 Jesus said, “you’ll know them by their fruit.” A bad tree cannot produce good fruit and a good tree cannot produce bad fruit. There are many things that people do that appear to be Christian-like. But God did not call us to be judges. He called us to be fruit inspectors… By their fruit shall ye know them.

According to Luke 7:36 and following, “And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.
37. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment…”

Like many of those in her community, this “woman of ill-repute” came to the Pharisee’s house to listen to the rabbi speak. She knew she was a sinner. She was convicted of her sin and sat at Jesus’ feet and wept:
38. And (she) stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”

Jesus understood her heart of love and repentance. He also knew the heart of the Pharisee that had invited him to speak at his house. Jesus knew that Pharisees didn’t associate with people they deemed sinners and “undesirables.” Why did the Pharisee invite Jesus into his house? It may have been that he was a sympathizer of Jesus and a believer in his message. Most likely he was like many of his other self-righteous Pharisee friends who wanted to trap Jesus in his words so he could accuse him of breaking the law.

39. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?”

Jesus asked the Pharisee a question to see if he could teach him a lesson about the value of forgiveness. The Pharisee answered correctly: 43. “Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.”

Jesus and Simon the Pharisee both knew what was required in that culture to approach an honored guest whom they highly regarded. He said to the Pharisee beginning in verse 44: “Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.”

The question is, “how do you know your sins are forgiven?” Pete recalls that his wife Suzan had noticed a change in Pete’s heart when she came to visit him after college. She didn’t know what had happened to Pete but when she saw the change in his life, she liked what she saw. Suzan was a “good” girl, but she had not yet accepted Christ.

Pete shared the four spiritual laws with her and asked, “Is there anything that would keep you from accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” She accepted Christ that day. She prayed a prayer of repentance and realized that she needed a savior and forgiveness for her sins.

Many people walk down the aisle at the invitation after a sermon. However, the question is, “have you repented.” Repentance means to change direction. It means to change Lords. I’m no longer lord of my own life… He is. Salvation is not a matter of do’s and dont’s… It’s not just forsaking sin, rather It’s committing to the Saviour from sin. According to Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Lord means owner. Christianity is not who we are but rather whose we are.

Unrepentant Sinners become hardened to the sin in their lives. However, when they’re ready to repent God breaks their hardened heart. Those who turn from their sin approach the throne of grace with a broken and a contrite heart. When Isaiah was confronted with God’s holiness, his response was “woe is me. I’m a man of unclean lips.” When he confessed, an angel touched a coal of fire to his lips and cleansed him by God’s power and grace.

Prior to salvation, sin is a problem that no man can fix. For all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our lord.

The antidote to a hard heart is to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. The woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive ointment and washed his feet with her tears offered her most precious possession as a sacrifice at the feet of her Lord. In Old Testament times, many believed that the tears they shed in service to God would be weighed to see if they would enter into heaven. According to Psalm 56:8 they saved their “tears in a bottle” as a record in God’s book of life. As the song says, “All my trophies at last I lay down.” She gave to Jesus an offering of her most precious possession when she washed Jesus’ feet with her tears.

She knew that she was a sinner and that only by God’s grace had He allowed her to enter into the presence of her Saviour and Lord. This is true repentance. As Peter said in Acts 2:38, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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