CHURCH, ARE WE READY? 1/5/20

How many times does Our Lord  Jesus tell us: “Be on guard”, “Watch”, “You know not the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come”, ”These things are just the beginning of sorrows…”, …”earthquakes, floods, etc”…  Nothing should surprise us!  Yet, the news media, the TV,  Facebook, etc . cause us much anxiety, fear, concern:” Where is Jesus in all this?!!”

I recently heard of a dear pastor friend who was shot by a Church member’s son. Life is not guaranteed.  Anytime, we can go!  Are we ready for that moment when we stand before God? How have we lived our lives? Are we filled with fear and anxiety, or are we trusting the Lord? The above incident really got me thinking about readiness—the words Jesus mentioned several times in the Gospels.

Now, in recent ‘news’ reports, earthquakes, floods, fires,

killing of Christians everywhere, sex trafficking-innocent boys and girls snatched from their parents and sold for sex, aborted babies’ parts sold for greed-all God’s laws dismissed as burdensome and not applicable today. What Isaiah the Prophet preached in his day is repeated today with arrogance:

“ What is evil is considered good;  what is good is considered evil”.  May God have mercy on us!  Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

As Christians, we know God is our helper. (Hebrews 13, 6) “What can man do to me?” Psalm 121, 1-2 says,” I lift up my eyes to the hills; from whence comes my help? My help is from the Lord, Maker of Heaven and earth.” Jesus Himself tells us, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28,20)

Are we falling more in love with Jesus? Are we walking in His ways-the ‘straight and narrow path’?  Are we following the word of God, or are we compromising—what is evil is good; what is good is evil?  “Are our hearts ready for what is to come? 

”Let us keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith!” (Hebrews 12,2) Jesus wants us to come to Him, to honor and glorify Him, the only Savior of the world!  His word tells us, “Come to Me”!  “Be not vexed (Do not  fret) It will only harm you!”

Hope in Waiting 8/11/19

“Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, Lord the one You love is sick. When He heard this, Jesus said, This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s Glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard this that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days, and then He said to His disciples, let us go back to Judea.” John 11:1-7 As we saw,  Jesus did not go right away, He waited two days. There was a purpose to His waiting…that the Son may be glorified through it! When Mary and Martha saw Jesus, they said to Him, ,” Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. ” They were confident that Jesus would not just stand by and let anything happen to the one He loves. Then, Jesus said, “Where have you laid him?” …”Roll the stone away!” The stone is removed!  They took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard me. Know that You always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they believe that You sent me. “John 11:41-42 Having said this, He called loudly, ‘Lazarus come out Just as Lazarus came forth from the tomb at the command of Jesus and was set free, we are set free from our bondages, sin, shame, guilt, insecurities, fears—all that hinders us from the freedom we have in the Lord Jesus. Alleluia! Is this freedom in Jesus worth waiting for! All Glory to God! Jesus always sets an example for us.  He took advantage of every situation to glorify His Heavenly Father.  If someone was in need of healing, was in distress, hungry, Jesus fulfilled that need. Even lepers came to Him and Jesus was not afraid to lay His Hand on them.  Mary Magdalene had no need to be ashamed anymore because Jesus cleaned her up with His love and forgiveness!    At times, we doubt God’s love for us. At times, we wonder where God is when we need Him most. Why do we have to wait so long before the answer comes?  What happens when it seems as though God does not answers our prayers? Is He still a good God?  When we don’t see the hand of God, let us trust the heart of God to know that He always has a plan and a purpose. It may not be in our time and according to our plans, but if we are willing to trust Him, believe Him, obey Him in faith, He will show His glory. “For those who love God, all things work together for good.” (Romans 8,28) As Christians  we acknowledge that we have stones in our lives. They may not be as heavy as the one they had to move for Lazarus. Some are lighter, some are heavier. But come Jesus’ Resurrection Day, Jesus walked through the stone! He is there for us, He is our example, and He is worth waiting for! He wants to reveal His glory!! Amen! Alleluia!

FINISHING WELL

                                                          

Watching the Olympics is amazing! We watched the champions strive to give all to win the prize. The same thing in the Christian life. We strive to win the crown of righteousness.  The crown that Jesus will one day give us, when we stand before Him, will be like the gold medal. This is the ultimate reward, the ultimate achievement. The only way we win the race is to live totally for Jesus.  Jesus is running the race with us.  He gives us the strength. God's prize is eternal!  

“I for my part am already being poured out like a libation.  The time of my dissolution is near.  I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith.  From now on, a merited crown awaits me; on that Day the Lord, just Judge that He is, will award it to me – and not only to me, but to all who have looked for His appearance with eager longing.” (2 Timothy 4, 6-8)

Will we be able to say about our lives what Paul said to Timothy about his:  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”?  Paul didn’t write these words to boast in front of Timothy about his spiritual accomplishments or seek after Timothy’s admiration.  Not at all!  Paul was Timothy's spiritual mentor.  He was encouraging Timothy to endure in his commitment to Christ Jesus.  Paul wanted Timothy to finish well.  Paul wanted Timothy to understand that our life in Christ takes energy, discipline, and effort.  There is a fight to be fought, a race to be run.                                                                               


How many of us believers “fight the fight and run the race”? Are we the Christians who ‘flame out’, who have no spiritual endurance, who are overcome with difficulties and discouragement?  Have we forgotten what the Bible tells us in regard to perseverance and spiritual endurance?  Have we forgotten the bloodshed of the Holy Apostles and early Christians who proved their tenacity of Faith?  Above all, have we forgotten the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Who, having endured unimaginable pain, said at the end of His Holy Life, “Father, into Thy Hands I commend My spirit.”  And, finally, “It is finished.”

Ah!  But, our Faith does not stop there!  Jesus rose from the dead!  And, so will we!  Holding on to our Faith in this lifetime means we will be with the ‘cloud of witnesses’’ who will come with Jesus at the appointed time!  “Therefore, since we, for our part, are surrounded by this cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every encumbrance of sin which clings to us and persevere in running the race which lies ahead.  Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith.  For the sake of the joy which lay before Him, He endured the cross, heedless of its shame.  He has taken His seat at the right of the Throne of God.”  (Hebrews 12, 1-2)

Finishing well is not a one-time-act; it is a direction we choose. We are called to live life step by step, day by day, pointed towards pleasing Him who called us. Jesus is our Model in all things.  Jesus calls us to lay down our baggage at His Feet, at His Cross, and to ‘seek Him, our God, unencumbered.’  Jesus is the one Who brings us to the finish line.  Saint Paul explains it beautifully in his letter to the Philippians, “It is not that I have reached it yet or have already finished my course, but I am racing to grasp the prize, if possible, since I have been grasped by Christ Jesus.  Brothers, I don’t think of myself as having reached the finish line.  I give no thought to what lies behind, but push on to what is ahead.  My entire attention is on the finish line as I run toward the prize to which God calls me – life on high in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3, 12-14)

As Christians, we start our lives, our ministries, full of vigor, strength, enthusiasm, vitality, eager to do what is right and good, full of hopes and dreams for the Glory of God, for His Kingdom.  Then, as years go by, do we wane?  Do we mix our convictions with the ways of the world? Do we deviate from our first Love?  Are we influenced by criticism and gossip, endeavors to take our eyes off Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith?  One evangelist put it this way,” I know how I started, but how am I going to end up?”

Do we know how we are going to end up?  Will the King say to us, “Come, ye blessed of My Father!  Receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world!”  Will He say, “Well-done, good and faithful servant!”   Yes!  So, my brothers and sisters, how are we going to end up?

On Human Respect. 5/6/18

Recently, my dear mother went home to the Lord. I boarded my flight to Egypt and spent eleven days there with my family. It was a time of weeping, sharing, disappointments, misunderstandings- all the human emotions that come into play at such a sad time. Upon my return, it was ‘back to the old grind’-=back to normal, as it were, but still an ache in my heart after Mom.

The burden on my heart is the cry of Isaiah of old: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who change darkness into light, and light into darkness, who change bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter.” (Isaiah 5, 20) My Mom is now with the Lord; yet, sin continues on the earth-the same as before. It does not matter if it is Egypt or the USA. I see people serving the Lord - as the expression goes: "Talking the talk and not walking the walk.” There are pastors, leaders, workers in ministry, etc. who support what is wrong, rather than what is right for the sake of appearance.

Jesus knew well what was in man’s heart. The Gospel of John says it clearly in Chapter 2,24-25: “For His part, Jesus would not trust Himself to them because He knew them all. He needed no-one to give Him testimony about human nature. He was well aware of what was I man’s heart." Jesus often took the Pharisees to task when they cared more about what men thought of them than of what God thought of them. Matthew 24, 13 says: “Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, you frauds! You shut the doors of the kingdom of God in men’s faces, neither entering yourselves nor admitting those who are trying to enter.” They thought more about their knowledge of the law than the needs of their people. They were more concerned about what others thought of them -how they appeared before men-forgetting the all-seeing eye of God. 

There are many among us who see wrong and say nothing. Are we, then, in the category of Isaiah who prophesied centuries ago? (Isaiah 5, 20). Are we afraid of losing our ministry, our job, our friendships, our reputation, our sense of human respect? Do we say to ourselves, "What will people think of me if I speak up
and stand for the truth?” Even in our local streets lately, there are billboards that say, “If you see something, say something!” 

Some of us feel abandoned for speaking the truth. Saint Paul was one who always spoke the truth of Jesus, the Gospel of the Lord, the ways of the Lord, no matter how much he was criticized and rejected. His love for Jesus was real; he was truly an apostle of the Lord, Jesus the Christ. From prison, he wrote to Timothy: “You know that all in Asia, including even Phygelus and Hermogenes, have turned their back on me. May the Lord have mercy on the family of Onesiphorus because he has often given me new heart and has not been ashamed of me, even in in my chains." (1 TImothy 1, 15-16) 

So, dear brothers and sisters, let us not be ashamed of speaking the truth of the Gospel. Let us pray for each other and let us reach out to receive the peace of the Holy Spirit Who guides us in our coming and our going and in our speech which is anointed of the Lord, in Jesus’ Name. Amen!

WHERE IS GOD? 3/12/17

Where is God when we need Him?  Is He in the whirlwind of our lives?  Is He in the turmoil of our hearts?  Is He in the love we have for our children, our spouse, our closest friend?  Will we find Him in our jobs, the pub, our Church, our best form of entertainment and distraction, etc? etc?

King David, the beloved of God Who called him, ‘a man after My own heart’, is an example of one who wondered, “Where are You, Elohim?” Psalm 41, depicts his strong yearning for God:  (vs. 1 & 2): “ As the hind longs for the running water, so my soul longs for you, O God.  Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.  When shall I go and behold the face of God.”  Psalm 63, written in the wilderness of Judah, shows David’s yearning for his God:  “O God, You are my God Whom I seek; for You, my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.”  Don’t we feel like that at times?  Where are You, God?

Does it seem that the wicked of the world get ahead, and that we wonder why we, the faithful ones, have to work so hard to  make ends meet?  Isn’t it easier to go the ‘way of the wicked’?

Is it?  “For His sun rises on the bad and the good, He rains on the just and the unjust.” ( Matthew 7, 44-45) 

“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”

“This is what the wicked are like—always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.” “I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.”

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.” Psalm 73:1-3,12,22-23

Jeremiah 12;1B says,  “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?Why do all the faithless live at ease?”

Many of us feel alone, that God is not answering, He is so far away-Are we doing our part? Are we listening to the Lord? Are we obedient, are we trusting? Do we reflect on God’s love for us, that He will never leave us or forsake us, that He is our faithful God, loving us unconditionally?  Are we like the disciples in the boat when a storm arose and Jesus was fast asleep?  They awakened Jesus Who had to reprimand them for their lack of faith!  (Luke 8:24-25 )   Are we like Martha and Mary who hoped Jesus had come earlier so that Lazarus, their brother, would not have died?  Little did they know the best was yet to come!  “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Yet, I know that whatever You ask of God, He will give You.”  (John 11)

There are several examples in Scripture about people in need, waiting on the Lord.  Joseph, who had been thrown into a pit by his brothers, sold into Egypt, was imprisoned unjustly,  served the Pharaoh faithfully,  did he cry out to the Lord?  If anyone could have said,  “Where are You, God?”, it was Joseph!   (Genesis 37)  What about Hannah, the prophet Samuel’s  mother?  She cried out to the Lord, imploring to have a baby, and God answered her prayer after much travail.  Did she say,

“Where are You, God?”  ( 1 Samuel 1)

Our greatest example is the Lord Jesus Himself.  When Jesus hung on the cross for our salvation, He cried out to His Father, “My God!  My God!  Why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46  This is the most desolate prayer ever spoken !  Jesus’ broken heart was deserted even by His Heavenly Father!  And all this, for US!  There was no one to comfort Him!  And, all for us!  Yet, the greatest miracle of all came!  Jesus rose from the dead!  He lives forever!  We have eternal life!  Yes! The best happened!  Praise God!

When we reflect on these heroes and heroines of Scripture, and particularly, the truth of Jesus’ death and Resurrection, we can also reflect that our question, “”Where is God when I need Him?” is answered!  He is always with us, beside us, inside us, guiding His children, strengthening us, pleased that we have learned what He wanted to teach us and fulfill His plan and purpose for our lives. He is a loving, faithful God, Father of Our Lord Jesus, the Christ!  Alleluia!

Forgive and Bless those who persecute you.

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21-22 

Are we hurting?  Are we angry with those who hurt us?

Romans 12:14 says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."

The Lord has been speaking to me about forgiveness and blessing those who hurt me. I remember what my pastor said to me after I shared with him my situation. Pastor said, “Forgive, bless and release.” It is not easy but it is a choice as well as a command from the Lord Jesus. Thank God I was able to forgive, bless, and release, rather than stay bitter and angry. Praise God!

Matthew 5:23-24 says, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the alter, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

Jesus tells us to forgive anyone who may be hurting us now or has hurt us in the past.  Walking in true forgiveness is vital for our own spiritual walk, a physical health, and restoration/reconciliation. The enemy will try to destroy our walk with our Lord Jesus Christ by our building a wall of unforgiveness in our hearts. Unforgiveness produces in us a root of bitterness that poisons our entire system.

Jesus recognized this problem and often taught this lesson. In Matthew Jesus preached the absolute necessity of our taking responsibility of forgiving others. When we think about it, we come to realize that forgiveness is for our good. Sometimes our own selfishness creates many unnecessary struggles over the years. Even now, selfish resentment creeps in and we have to deal with it. Let us recognized and deal with it before it gets worse! Unforgiveness is based on pride and selfishness. We say, “I have a right to be happy…..”   Jeremiah 17:5 says, “A man is cursed when he takes his trust from the Lord and puts it in flesh.”

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord." Romans 12:17-19

Let us remember all things are under the control of our God, who is the God of the universe. Romans 8:31 say, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

What is the meaning of forgiveness? It is like canceling a debt. It is  releasing the offender from your hook and putting them on God's hook for Him to deal with justly.

We have no greater example of love and forgiveness than our Lord Jesus Himself. Jesus went through pain and suffering, more than anyone can endure. He was rejected by Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests and leaders of the people. Even Jesus disciple/ fled when He was arrested! (Matt 26:56b). Later on, after Jesus was crucified, His blood poured out in love, Jesus said, “Father forgives them, for they do not know what they do.”(Luke23:34)

Stephen, the first martyr. Followed our Lord example. Acts 7:60 says, “Lord do not holed charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Matthew 6:12, 14-15 says, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

For if we forgive men when they sin against us, our heavenly Father will also forgive us. But if we do not forgive men their sins, our Father will not forgive our sins."  Our Heavenly Father created us and loves us very much; He gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins. Today, let us seek our Lord for His love and compassion as only He can give.  If someone should hurt, ridicule, reject or abandon us, we know Our Heavenly Father will never leave us or forsake us. Hebrews 13:5 says, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Let us forgive, bless. Release in Jesus Name! Amen!                                                                                      

ARE WE OVERCOMERS? 2/1/17

Can we live the overcoming life? YES!

“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.” Rev. 12:11

Our authority to be children of God always comes from the blood of Jesus. Our testimony always is created in us by the Holy Spirit.

We overcome by loving our Lord Jesus to the point of death. What death?  Our own!  Jesus said, “If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.”    Each day of our discipleship, do we choose to do God's will?  Each time we choose to do God’s Will, do we die to ourselves? Am I ready to give up my self-love and my self- will?   Am I ready to go to the point of death, if necessary? 

Let us put aside our hopes and dreams as we seek God’s will for our lives.  Have I dreamt about a new home, new car, the best for my family?  This is a legitimate desire for our loved ones, but have I sought God’s Will in the matter?  Am I putting the heart of God above all else in my life?  God , our Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob said it so beautifully  in Jeremiah 29, 11, “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans for your welfare and not for woe, plans to give you a future full of hope.” 

When we go through hardships in life, no matter what is required of us, no matter how it hurts us, are we determined to do the will of God? Many times we are directed to let go of some relationship, circumstance or thing exceedingly dear to us. The overcomer chooses death to his own will when he is obedient to the will of God in his life.

Until we learn to die to self, we will live our Christian life in defeat. Until we learn to die to sin, we will live in bondage. Until we learn to die to pride, we will live in slavery and servitude.  As a child of God, we do not need to be in bondage, slavery and servitude. James 4:7 commands, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” When we are one with Jesus, He gives us authority to break out of bondage. We can give up a sinful habit, we can be freed from an addiction by the power of Jesus the Christ. 

The overcoming life is a life that conquers sin and unbelief as we defeat the enemy. It is a life lived in the joy of salvation. It is a life of victory in God. It is a life of assurance, a life of certainty that it is ‘well with our souls’. It is a life that fulfills the purpose for which God created us, a life saved as we walk with God.  It is not a life free of temptation.  Temptations come to all God's people, especially to the saved. Heb. 4:15 says, “ For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but One Who was tempted in every way that we are, yet, never sinned.” Yes, there is victory over sin, victory in Jesus!  Romans 8:37 says, "We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”

The Christian life is a life of victory, not a life of defeat.  Some people call it the deeper life, some call it the victorious life, some call it the exchanged life, some call it the overcoming life. Call it whatever you will!  The truth is, “Thanks be unto God Who causes us always to triumph in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Victory should be the normal Christian life. If we are not living in victory, we are living beneath our privileges. God wants us to be normal.

The overcomer bears witness that God is worthy of our complete trust and confidence. The overcomer studies the Scriptures and speaks and acts according to what is written.  He brings his life into line with the Word of God.  His testimony, which he gives in speech and action, is that God is true, good, and reliable. When all his security and hopes have crumbled before his eyes, he maintains consistently that God will provide for him. God will give him the desires of his heart.  He trusts God to temper those desires until that which finally is given to him is the best of all. The overcomer, through prayer and obedience, conquers the accuser. The overcomer testifies in the sight of Heaven and earth that God is true; God is to be trusted. “Those who wait on the Lord will not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:9)

As we overcome, we soar like the eagle!  Isaiah 40, 31 says so beautifully, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will SOAR as with wings of eagles.  They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and will not faint.”