Political Indigestion

America, like the rest of the world, is in need of true leadership. Political rhetoric flows like a tidal wave during these days of the presidential race. Promises of bigger government, higher taxes, tax rebates, etc. are laughable at best. Mankind drifts farther and farther away from the utopia we believe we can create. We cling to the old 70's song "Imagine" and imagine if we can just elect the right person, the train will get back on the tracks and arrive at the right destination. We live in a broken world, full of injustice, prejudice, hatred and sin. All a result of man's selfishness and refusal to submit to God's Word and authority (God as revealed to us in Jesus Christ). Paul says in Romans 8 that this world is a place of 'groaning' and 'frustration.' We would all agree. The solution to this, is not another politician, but focusing our attention upon Jesus Christ. Christ is the leader whose footprints we must follow. I'm sure this won't happen on a world wide, or national scale; however, it can happen in your daily journey and mine. I have discovered as I seek to follow Christ, I find a peace and joy in the midst of the groaning and frustration. In fact, earlier in Romans 8, Paul speaks of the life lived under the control of the Holy Spirit that brings life and peace. No politician can produce life or peace. The selfishness and sinfulness of mankind will overrule mankind's best effort to produce life and peace. Yes, we must work politically to facilitate life and peace on planet earth; however, without a firm foundation of faith in Christ, our best effort is sinking sand. As a follower of Christ I must model a different lifestyle in the midst of the groaning and frustration. A lifestyle of hope, peace, and joy. A lifestyle that is looking forward to a new heaven and new earth, the home of righteousness.

Sinners or Saints

Listening to "Christian" radio my spirit was accosted again by the adamant exhortation from the preacher that we are all just sinners. How tragic if that is the best the powerful gospel can do! No where in the N.T. does it refer to Christ's followers as sinners. Yes, it does reference that a Christian may sin, but this is not the daily pattern (1 Jn.2:1). Paul says that we are dead to sin (Rom.6). In 1 Cor.10:13 he says that with every temptation there is a way of escape. We don't have to commit the sin. 1 John 2 states that these things are written that we not sin and he goes on to say that everyone who is born of God does not commit sin. Sin is death-flee from it. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the source of power and wisdom to enable us to walk in the light and to say no to ungodliness and worldly pleasures (Titus 2:14). I'm no longer a sinner, I am a saint. Praise the Lord! Even the troubled Corinthians were called saints in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 1:1, Eph.1:1, Col.1:2, Rom. 1:7). Our behavior as followers of Christ must be different from what it was when we followed our carnal, selfish desires. We are new creatures in Christ, the old has gone. We are not sinnners, we are children of God (1 Jn.3:1). When we speak of sin, we speak of willful transgression. Adam and Eve did not make a mistake, they made a choice not to obey God. Don't cheapen grace, and don't cheapen the powerful gospel by embracing the false teaching that we are all just sinners. Praise the Lord that by His grace He has transferred me from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. To live in sin is to live in darkness, rebellion, disobedience and under the judgment of God. That's not who Christians are, nor how they are to live ( 1 Thess. 4-9). Paul's testimony concerning his lifestyle speaks of holiness and righteousness (1Thess.2:10). Let's stop excusing what makes God sick. Let's make the choice to be who we are, saints in the Lord. I am a recipient and participant in the abundant provision of grace so that I can reign in life (Rom.5:17). I don't want to live in sin. I want to walk in holiness with Christ. I know what sin does, I want to be a slave to God and be blessed with holiness and eternal life (Rom.6:22). Dear Christian, do not let sin reign in your mortal body...do not offer the parts of your body to sin...but rather offer yourselves to God (Rom. 6:11-14). When you look in the mirror, don't see a sinner, see a child of God, redeemed, set free, forgiven, cleansed, sanctified, filled with the Spirit, and empowered to walk in the light.

Fatboy

Today I was blessed by a dear brother who allowed me to ride his 2003 HD Fatboy through the curves and hills of Kentucky for four hours. My nose got sun burned, but I was constantly reminded that Almighty God knows what He is doing. Creation declares His glory the Psalmist says and I say Amen! Accident, chance, big bang??? Let's admit that it's too fantastic for random chance. As I travel and speak in churches I am often blessed by someone's generosity to allow me to straddle their bike for an afternoon. It's one of the serendipities of the traveling preacher. Upstate NY, Tennessee, southern Ohio, Pacific NW, Florida coast, mountains of Colorado, the list goes on. This creation is awesome and God's people need to take notice. I live in the flat lands of West Texas. No trees, no mountains and streams and not many curves in the road; however, everyday God paints a fresh picture in the morning and evening with the radiant sun of the wide horizon and open sky. "The fool says in his heart there is no God (Ps. 14). The heavens declare God's glory and the earth if full of His unfailing love. He is our help and shield, let us rejoice and be glad (Psalm 33, 8)

Holiness

Holiness is not an option. Because God is holy, those who chose to follow Christ must walk on the highway of holiness. Holiness is not a set of rules, it is Christlikeness. It is everything beautiful and pleasing to the Father. Oswald Chambers in Still Higher for His Highest (12/1) states it so well. "A born again soul is condemned to holiness; he is not at liberty to do what he likes but only what God likes, a bondslave to Jesus, my relationship to God first, second, and third all the time.

Is this the impossible dream? No! This is the way of life and peace, let's walk in it. Let's embrace God's clear mandate and call to holiness. Let's humble ourselves under His mighty hand and allow Him to lift us up to His standard. The church of Jesus Christ in America is in desperate need of a fresh enthusiasm about God's call to holiness and a vital commitment to see this picture come into focus in our daily discipleship. Come Holy Spirit we need You to cleanse, empower, control and lead us.

Gratitude

I was reading the Exodus story and the whole picture of complaining against God struck a fresh note with me. How easy to be negative and worried. How easy to allow one's spirit to gravitate toward complaining. The Israelites seemed to specialize in complaining while on the journey to the promised land. What they failed to see was that where they were, was not where God was planning on them to be. God was leading them into the promised land, but there was a journey to make through some treacherous territory before arriving in the land flowing with milk and honey. Where they were was not the final destination. It was not to be their dwelling place. It was a place of passage that demanded trust in the Lord and faith in His leadership. It was a part of the picture that demanded vision beyond the moment and the hardships that were being encountered. Too often in life complaining is prompted when we forget this is not the place Christ has prepared. We are on the journey and must continue to move forward to take hold of the promised land of the Lord. Paul and Silas in jail were able to sing praises because they realized it wasn't their final destination, it was a place of passage. As we are 'passing through' let us guard against complaining and develop a dispostion of gratitude. In everything give thanks for this is God's will ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Rest-Again

Psalm 116:7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you (NIV). The once more part jumped out at me. How often I allow the rest to disappear. I give place to fear, doubt, negative thinking, etc. Those things that steal the rest away from me. The choice to rejoice in the goodness of God. The choice to 'rest in His almighty power.' The choice to rest in the finished work of Christ and the promised future for the people of Christ. Lord, forgive me for not enjoying the rest. The opportunity for the rest is always there, I must embrace it. I must fix my eyes on Jesus and set my mind on the things that are excellent. May the Holy Spirit help me to be discerning concerning those things that disturb the peace of God. Thank you Lord, you are good to me.

Pentecost

Jesus promised the presence of 'another counselor'. One who would be in us and would be forever with us. The blessed Holy Spirit is that person and presence. Jesus was God with us, but the Holy Spirit is God in us. What an incredible provision of the New Covenant! The Holy Spirit is to fill the believer. Be filled with the Spirit is more than a command, this is the key to vitality and victory. We should seek to be filled with the Spirit and discover this Divine provision. This Divine possession of the human heart results in purity and power. To be filled with the Spirit is to allow God to cleanse our hearts from all else. From carnal selfishness, from selfish arguments and excusses our heart is to be cleansed. The goal of the new covenant in the blood of Christ is that we would be wholly God's. There must be a complete consecration of all we are to the Lord before we will begin to taste this blessed fullness. The great hindrance is carnal selfishness. Let us pray with the apostle, "God of peace sanctify us completely (1 Thess. 5:23). This is God's provision for His people. Let's not sell ourselves short. Be filled with the Spirit!