I’m Shocked!

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse...” Malachi 3:10

The United States is supposedly the most generous nation on the planet, but only 5 percent of American adults donated 10 percent or more of their income to churches and charitable groups last year, according to a study by George Barna’s research organization.

Within the randomly selected group of 1,006 adults surveyed, Christians tended to give more than others, The Barna Group said in a news release in April.

“Among the most generous segments were evangelicals (24 percent of whom tithed); conservatives (12 percent); people who had prayed, read the Bible, and attended a church service during the past week (12 percent); charismatic or Pentecostal Christians (11 percent); and registered Republicans (10 percent),” Barna said.

The segments of society that were highly unlikely to tithe included people under the age of 25, atheists and agnostics, single adults who have never been married, liberals, and adults who make less that $20,000 per year, the research indicated.

Does it not strike you as funny, that everyone wants to receive, but few want to give!?
You can never out-give God!

Be Diligent

“...being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Eph 4:3

Unity among Christians is their natural state. Sure it is. Natural in the sense that is indeed God’s purpose for believers.

It is a permanent unity established by the Spirit of God. What you see and what you get... may not match that reality. But nonetheless, believers are bound together in the Person of Jesus Christ. Inseparably.

Where does that leave us?
Joined together - with many who in so many ways are different from us. Those who think differently, who respond differently, set different standards.

But we are joined together. That unity exists and if we give expression to the clear teaching of the Word of God, we will be humble gentle, patient and show forbearance to one another in love.

Read Ephesians 4:2-6. Easy? Not always. Maybe even not often. But God has both set unity in our union in Christ and given us the Spirit of God to enable us to live that reality.

It is the Holy Spirit Who produces fruit in our lives (Gal 5:22-23) and makes it possible for us to be peace keepers among all who know Jesus Christ as Savior.

In the light of your union with other believers in Christ, examine your heart to discover this truth again, in whatever way the Spirit of God indicates.

Unity

“A gentle answer turns away wrath.” Proverbs 15:1

In many groups of believers there is at least one person who manages to rain on every parade.

You may or may not have to deal with this individual personally, but is there another Christian from whom you frequently receive sharp comments? And it is a challenge to respond kindly and honestly?

Reread Ephesians 4:2-6.

God wants you to be a peace keeper. Unity among those who corporately represent Him to the world is more important than personal vindication.

We must learn how to respond with a forgiving spirit.

It is the Holy Spirit Who helps us to respond gently.
“A gentile answer turns away wrath.” Proverbs 15:1
A gentile response keeps peace in the body of Christ and pleases Him.

This does not mean you cannot pray for a change in the one who offends - or go to them privately to share your concern and express genuine love.

Since right attitudes are born and nurtured in continual fellowship with Jesus Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit, your resources are unlimited.

Face this challenge today. Forthrightly. Honestly.
Is this one of the hidden, even festering, experiences in your life?

Resolve this with God today. And as required by the Scriptures, make whatever reconciliations possible.

Discover the joy that is in this kind of freeing walk with God - and your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Our Walk

“And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Genesis 5:24

What kind of review did Enoch’s lifestyle get him?
“... he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.” Hebrews 11:5

Are you looking for that kind of accolade?
How is it that we please God?
By obedience. By holy living.
In a sense, your desire to please God is evidence you will spend eternity with Him.

“And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” I John 2:3

Paul’s prayer recorded in Colossians was that this would be the experience of his brethren. Paul prayed that theirs would be a lifestyle worthy of the Lord, and that they would please Him. Colossians 1:10

A worthy walk is a walk in fellowship with Him. This is your calling.

“God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” I Cor. 1:9

Fellowship, by it’s very nature, is a two-way communication and caring. You know that God cares about the most intimate details that concern you.

Do you reciprocate? How about God’s honor. Does your walk, your lifestyle, bring Him honor?

Wonderfully indebted to Him, we have no other alternative but to love Him and live for Him.

Share It !

“We love, because He first loved us.” I John 4:19
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” I John 4:11

There is an element of true love that requires the lover to identify himself with the welfare of the one he loves. This done, it is impossible to be happy when all is not well with the one who is loved.

God has, by the exercise of His goodness, declared His love for each of us.
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love.” Eph. 1:4

The measure of God’s love is demonstrated by how much He gave.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...” John 3:16

The wonderful, marvelous truth is that God has chosen to commit Himself to your ultimate salvation. "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10

And for the future - “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy...” Jude 1:24

Why does God love you?
Because that is His very nature.
What does this mean? All of God’s perfections are exercised on your behalf.

Bottom line: You can’t make God love you any more than He does right now! Rejoice and thank God for His love, and go out share it with someone else.

God is Love

"The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love." I John 4:8

God created mankind with the need to be loved. He planned to meet that need, but sin broke the fellowship, the channel through which you could comprehend His great love.

There are countless records of self-giving in love on behalf of another person. If human love has such power to transform lives, how much more does the love of God transform those who believe!

"The love of God has been poured out within our heart through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us." Romans 5:5

Poured out. The same word used in Acts for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Your heart was flooded with love at salvation, and today it remains full.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit in each Christian is to make known the love which God has for him. It is His ministry to help you say, I have come to know and believe the love which God has for me. I John 4:16

Is God's love transforming you day by day into the image of His Son?

By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. I John 4:9,11-13

Wisdom

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

There are some people who, because of their status, manner, speech, etc., are assumed to be well educated. That assumption is not always accurate.

Some people walk around most of their lives in awe of the well educated. Finally, they meet enough doctors and lawyers, and college professors, to decide that college degrees are given for knowledge - not always wisdom.

It is not unusual for a derelict on skid row to hold at least one degree. Without wisdom, knowledge is lost.

Paul's prayer for the believers at Colosse was that they would be filled with the knowledge of God's will.

Knowing it takes more than knowledge to succeed in doing God's will, Paul adds, "...in all spiritual wisdom and understanding..." Colossians 1:9

It is the will of God that you admonish a Christian brother or sister who is walking in disobedience.

"And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another." Romans 15:14

More harm than good is done if you do not use wisdom and understanding in this ministry of urgent encouragement.

Ask God to help you do His will today by giving you greater wisdom and understanding.

"Give me understanding, that I may observe Thy law, And keep it with all my heart." Psalm 119:34

Pray! Give! Go!

"And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Luke 10:2

Three things they had to do:
And we who serve Him here below
And long to see His kingdom come
May pray or give or go.

He needs them all - the open hand,
The willing foot, the praying heart,
To work together and to weave
A threefold cord that shall not part.

Nor will the giver count his gift
As greater than the worker's deed,
Nor he in turn his service boast
Above the prayers that voice the need.

Not all can go, not all can give
To speed the message on its way,
But, young or old or rich or poor,
Or strong or weak - we all can pray;

Pray that the gold-filled hands may give
To arm the others for the fray,
That those who hear the call may go,
And pray - that other hearts may pray.

Making the Effort!

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Here is the bottom line truth - We need to study, meditate, pray, and apply the Word of God to our hearts.

There is no substitute for truth. Nothing can replace personal time in the Word of God.

We have too many who want to read books about the Bible instead of reading the Bible!!! There are no short cuts to being a disciple of Jesus, it takes time, effort, and obedience. Don’t be a sloppy student, and don’t let others do all the work for you! Get into the Book, better yet, get the Book into you.

While I believe, with all my heart, that God can use pastors, teachers, and nurtures to help you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, I also believe God wants to spend time with you in His word, seeking truth and insights for yourself.

We all have to come to the place where we believe - not because someone has told me to - but because I know that it’s true. And I know that it is true, because I have discovered truth in my personal time with the Lord.

What We Need

“...like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.” I Peter 2:2

As we come back today, what is it that Willow Creek has learned? If you simply want a crowd, the “seeker-sensitive” model produces results. If you want solid, sincere, mature followers of Christ, it’s a bust.

In a shocking confession, Hybels states: “We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith, and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become ‘self feeders.’ We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their Bible between services, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.”

Incredibly, the guru of church growth now tells us that people need to be reading their Bibles and taking responsibility for their spiritual growth.

Just as Spock’s “mistake” was no minor error, so the error of the seeker-sensitive movement is monumental in its scope. The foundation of thousands of American churches is now discovered to be mere sand. The one individual who has had perhaps the greatest influence on the American church in our generation has now admitted his philosophy of ministry, in the large part, was a “mistake.” The extent of this error defies measurement.

Perhaps the most shocking thing of all in this revelation coming out of Willow Creek is in a summary statement by Greg Hawkins: “Our dream is that we fundamentally change the way we do church. That we take out a clean sheet of paper and we rethink all of our old assumptions. Replace it with new insights. Insights that are informed by research and rooted in Scripture. Our dream is really to discover what God is doing, and how He’s asking us to transform this planet.”

Isn’t that what we were told when this whole seeker-sensitive thing started?

The church growth gurus again want to throw away their old assumptions and “take out a clean sheet of paper,” and presumably, come up with a new paradigm for ministry.

Should this be encouraging?

Please note that “rooted in Scripture” still follows “rethink,” “new insights” and “informed research.” Someone, it appears, still might not get it. Unless there is a return to simple biblical - and relevant- principles, a new faulty scheme will replace the existing one and another generation will follow along as the latest piper plays.

What we should find encouraging, at least, in this “confession” coming from the highest ranks of the Willow Creek Association, is that they are coming to realize that their existing “model” does not help people grow into mature followers of Jesus Christ.

Are you Ready for This?

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you...” Col. 3:16

Yesterday, we talked about Dr. Spock and the major faux-pas he made during his life to turn an entire generation away from the truth.

We now live in a generation where children have more rights than parents! If you spank your child, you can be arrested for child abuse. The result - many children are absolutely out of control.

However, something just as momentous, in my opinion, has just happened in the evangelical community, for most of a generation, evangelicals have been romanced by the “seeker-sensitive” movement spawned by Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. The guru of this movement is Bill Hybels. He and others have been telling us for decades to throw out everything we have previously thought and been taught about church growth and replace it with a new paradigm, a new way to do ministry.

Perhaps inadvertently, with this “new wave” of ministry came a de-emphasis on taking personal responsibility for Bible study combined with an emphasis on felt-needs based “programs” and slick marketing.

The size of the crowd rather than the depth of the heart determined success. If the crowd was large then surely God was blessing the ministry.

Churches were built by demographic studies, professional strategists, marketing research, meeting “felt needs” and sermons consistent with these techniques. We were told that preaching was out, relevance was in. Doctrine didn’t matter nearly as much as innovation. If it wasn’t “cutting edge” and consumer friendly it was doomed. The mention of sin, salvation, and sanctification were taboo and replaced by Starbucks, strategy, and sensitivity.

Thousands of pastors hung on every word that emanated from the lips of the church growth experts. Satellite seminars were packed with hungry church leaders learning the latest way to “do church.” The promise was clear: thousands of people and millions of dollars couldn’t be wrong. Forget what people need, give them what they want. How can you argue with the numbers? If you dared to challenge the “experts” you were immediately labeled as a “traditionalist,” a throwback to the ‘50's,’ a stubborn dinosaur unwilling to change with the times.

All that changed recently.

Willow Creek has released the results of a multi-year study on the effectiveness of their programs and philosophy of ministry. The study’s findings are in a new book titled “Reveal: Where Are You?,” co-authored by Cally Parkinson and Greg Hawkins, executive pastor of Willow Creek Community Church. Hybels himself called the findings “ground breaking,” “earth shaking,” and
“mind blowing.” And no wonder...It seems that the “experts” were wrong.

The report reveals that most of what they have been doing for these many years - and what they have taught millions of others to do - is not producing solid disciples of Jesus Christ. Numbers, yes, but not disciples. It gets worse. Hybels laments: “Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into, thinking it would really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back it wasn’t helping people that much. Other things that we didn’t put that much money into and didn’t put much staff against is stuff our people are crying out for.”

...And what do you think it is, that people are crying out for?

Oops

“The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.” Prov 29:15

“Discipline your son while there is hope, and do not desire his death .” Prov 19:18

This is what the Word of God teaches, who should know the heart of a child better than God? ...And, yet, there are those who think they are smarter.

If you are older than 40, the name Benjamin Spock is more than familiar. It was Spock that told an entire generation of parents to take it easy, don’t discipline your children, and allow them to express themselves. Discipline, he told us, would warp a child’s fragile ego. Millions followed this guru of child development and he remained unchallenged among child rearing professionals.

However, before his death, Dr. Spock made an amazing discovery: He was wrong!

In fact, he said, “We have reared a generation of brats. Parents aren’t firm enough with their children for fear of losing their love or incurring their resentment. This is a cruel deprivation that we professionals have imposed on mothers and fathers. Of course, we did it with the best of intentions. We didn’t realize until it was too late, how our know-it-all attitude was undermining the self assurance of parents.”

Oops!

Stick to the Word

"The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded." Proverbs 13:13

I have stood on the Word of God all my ministry. I am convinced that it is the infallible, inerrant, inspired Word of God.

It does not merely contain God's word - it IS God's Word. It is not an old book that needs to be updated, or a book that is not relevant to our time. It is a Book that needs to be read, believed, obeyed and trusted.

There are always those who seem to know more about life than God. There are those who openly challenge Biblical authority or try to modernize Biblical truth and in reality change truth to fit the culture. I've never thought I was that smart, now don't get me wrong, I'm not against change, you have to change in order to reach people where they are, but you don't change: The man, The message, or The mission that God has given us.

But we must be willing to change the mindset, the methods and the ministries to reach people for Christ.

Again, not the principles, but the methodology. Remember, methods are many, principles are few, methods we change, principles we never do!

Trust the Word, it is up to date, relevant and speaks today like it always has to every generation. It is a timeless Book, never gets outdated and you can stand on its truth.

A Psalm for Thanksgiving

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him; bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:1-5

We Need to Pray!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:12-13

Are you beginning to sense the deep need in this country for a tremendous work of the Holy Spirit? Is God increasing this prayer burden in your life?

If this is a burden in your heart, it has been placed there by the Spirit of God. Every spiritual awakening of which there is record began with prayer. Often it was the prayer of a few. But it was the kind of prayer that knew nothing of wristwatches and prior commitments.

How can you pray for revival?

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment.” John 16:7-8

Ask for an increased work of the Holy Sprit in the lives of both Christian and non-Christian, that one-by-one this country will turn from unrighteousness to God. Today, be a priestly intercessor for the members of your family. Ask God for their salvation, renewal, or growth, whichever is appropriate.

Exercise your faith today and see your family and this country fulfilling God’s expectations.

Giving Preference

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.” Philip 2:3

Your position in the Christian community is that of a peace keeper, not a peace maker. Why the distinction?

The Holy Spirit of God indwells each believer, producing a corporate unity.

Paul exhorted the Ephesians to “...walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” Eph 4:1-6

Is there any question left concerning how we are to be seen by a watching world? What a challenge.

But is that our only or strongest motivation? Or is it really a by-product of what God wants in our lives anyway.

God’s plan for the Christian community calls for preferring others before yourself (a real blow to pride and self-interest).

As you share His presence with others, you share your lives on a spiritual level. This is koinonia, true Christian fellowship that legitimately meets your needs.

Ask the Spirit of God to remind you of those fellow believers who have contributed to your life though fellowship, through love.

Rejoice in this great provision of God for you.

Walk in Unity

“In whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Eph 2:21-22

The Spirit of God indwells you as a believer.

As the temple and the nation of Israel were to be a Godly testimony before an unbelieving world, so too is you life to shine with His radiance.

But, you do not stand alone.

Believers together comprise the church. We, together, are responsible to reflect of demonstrate supernatural unity.

This was Jesus’ prayer:
“And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me.” John 17:22-23

Does anything obscure God’s glory so much as disunity among those who are His holy dwelling. You can keep unity if you walk in the Spirit and place his honor above personal preference and pride.

“I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” II Cor 6:16

Peace maker? Peace keeper? Unity among believers?

The Scriptures clearly define your role as one believer - among many believers.
Discover the reality of that today - for the glory of your God.

You Are His Temple

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” I Cor 6:19

The temple Solomon built for the Lord spoke of Jehovah’s magnificence. In the words of his father, King David, the temple would be exceedingly magnificent, famous, and glorious throughout all the lands. And so it was.

With this as background, consider what the New Testament says about God’s temple today.

Under the New Covenant, ushered in by Messiah Jesus, God has established a new intimacy with believers. The Holy Spirit now lives in you. To understand this, it helps to know something of the temple.

It was a building of great beauty and worth. Cyprus wood, fine gold, and precious stones were basic building materials.

When the temple was finished the ark of the covenant was brought into the holy of holies. While the priests were singing and playing instruments, the glory of the Lord in the form of a cloud so filled the house they could no longer stand to minister, neither could they enter. I Kings 8:1-8

In this same way it is the presence of the Spirit of God in you, that makes you to shine on others with something of the glory and victory available in Jesus Christ.

You are His temple, His light in a dark world. Let Him shine through you.

Anti-Stress Therapy

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who
loves is born of God and knows God. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” I John 4:7, 10

Don’t you look forward to Mondays? Celebrating who God is refreshes your whole being.

Rejoice in a perfect and personal God. It is the best anti-stress therapy a Christian can find.
Has business been demanding?
- You have too little or too much.
The children sick?
- They have this week what you had last week,
which was a variation on what they had the week before.
Does the world look like a third world war is upon us?

“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” I John 4:9

How wonderful to be able to say with John, “And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us...” I John 4:16

Is this your confession today? Do you know and believe God’s love for you? A love not based on merit? “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

What a marvelous love God has for you.
Revel in it. Rejoice in it. Return it to Him - today!

Repentance

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” Romans 2:4

What does it mean to repent? Repent is an unpopular word in this ‘I-did-it-my-way’ world. Nevertheless, it is a biblical concept.

Repentance is the translation of at least two Hebrew words and as many Greek words. The underlying idea includes a constructive sorrow for behavior out of God’s will, and a turning to a new direction.

Just as it is His kindness that drew you to God, you now stand totally accepted in His righteousness.

“... and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.” Philip 3:9

Though totally accepted by God, unconfessed sin will bring God’s discipline, will make you unhappy, decrease your effectiveness, hurt others, bring loss of reward in heaven, and conviction from the Spirit of God.

What a miserable way to live!

God’s way out: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Who will you pray for today?
Yourself? Someone who needs the relief of God’s forgiveness?

Walk Worthy

“...so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord...” Col 1:10

The Bible likens the Christian experience to walking. It is a voluntary, progressive action with a goal - very different from what many Christians experience.

This verse continues: in manner worthy of the Lord. Since you know from Scripture that you are not worthy by your own righteous deeds, then Paul the petitioner has something else in mind.

See how Paul exhorted the Philippians: "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ...” Philip 1:27

Act like who you are! Resemble the One whose name you bear. Be spiritually fit.

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.” I Peter 1:14-15

How can you walk worthy of Lord? Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. His attitude was one of humility.

Ask God today to help you walk in a manner worthy of Him. Walk in holiness and humility by the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit, who is in you.

Make your walk a progressive action toward this goal.

True Fellowship

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Col 1:9-10

When do you fellowship with God?

Sometimes as you read His Word, it as though the Holy Spirit takes a verse, a phrase, a word, and lifts your spirit. You are refreshed.

Sometimes a minister will preach a sermon so appropriate to your needs that you wonder who has been telling him all your secrets. Of course you realize it is God who has spoken to you through another believer.

Sometimes as you drive along listening to a Christian station, a song will so touch you that you find yourself audibly praising God.

These are times when God has penetrated your mind clutter and your cares - to show you His love.

Paul’s prayer for believers in Colossians 1:9-10 is essentially a prayer for a walk of fellowship with God. It is only in His fellowship that you can please Him and be fruitful.

You will find it stimulating when you fellowship with Him in your daily, even mundane experiences. How do you fellowship with God? In ways of obedience.

“He may teach us concerning His ways...that we may walk in His paths.” Isaiah 2:3

Reread Colossians 1:9-10. Is this petition something you want for yourself?

Confess your sin and turn from it. Ask God to make you especially aware of His presence with you throughout the day.

Present Tense

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3

I want to look at this verse one more time and remind of a tremendous truth that is here. Note that Jesus says that “where I am,” that is present tense. It means right now and at this very moment - and yet, the text was written 2,000 years ago.

Jesus had not yet been crucified or ascended to the Father, so He is speaking of that which was to be.

Today we live in a world that says to us, There is no God, There is no eternity - it’s eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you die. And that’s it!

However, this text says something all together different, so who are you going to believe?

I have met a lot of skeptics in my lifetime, unbelievers and people who scoff at the Bible, but in all my conversations with people about Jesus, I have never met one yet that ever said that Jesus was a liar.

Jesus said, "I am going to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, you may be also.”

I don’t know about you, but I’m going with Jesus on this one!
Anyone can come up with a theory, but I choose to believe the eye-witness!

Take it to the Bank

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3

March 11, 1942, on Corregidor, a sixty-two-year-old Army officer, with his family, secretly slipped away from the Philippines and in a minor miracle made their way down to Australia. Before General MacArthur left the islands, he said, “I will return.” Two-and-a-half years later, October 20, 1944, he stood again on the soil of the Philippines and said, “This is the voice of freedom. People of the Philippines, I have returned.”

Now if you think a man can have that kind of credibility, and if you can appreciate that quality in a man, I’ll tell you that Jesus Christ, the God-Man, has made the same promise far more credible than any human being will ever be. If you wrestle with the truth of Jesus’ return, wrestle no longer. If you accept the historic fact of His ascension, then you have no room to doubt His historic, yet future, return. It will occur.

You can take it to the bank, if He came the first time and went through all he did to save us, He will come again to rejoice with us. You, believer, are a King’s kid. Remember who you are, and live for His soon return.

Pleasing the Lord

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” Col 3:23

An Italian duke came upon a workman one day who seemed to be taking infinite care and pains in his work. He asked the laborer, “For what will the box that you are making be used?”
“Flowers will be planted in it, sir.”

Amused, the Duke continued, “It will be filled with dirt.
Why take such pains to make each joint and surface perfect?”

“I love perfect things,” the man replied.

“Ah, wasted effort! No one will observe its perfection. A mere flower box does not require such perfection.”

“But my spirit does;” insisted the man, “do you suppose that the Carpenter of Nazareth ever made anything less perfect than He could?”

Angrily, the Duke replied, “Sacrilege! Your impudence deserves a flogging. What is your name?”

The reply came - “Michelangelo.”

The Hiding Place

“Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings.” Psalm 17:8

“In a time of trouble, in a time forlorn,
There is a hiding place where hope is born.
There is a hiding place, a strong protective space,
where God provides the grace to persevere;
For nothing can remove us from the Father’s love,
Tho’ all may change, yet nothing chances here.
In a time of sorrow, in a time of grief,
There is a hiding place to give relief.

In a time of danger, when our faith is proved,
There is a hiding place where we are loved.
There is a hiding place, a strong protective space,
where God provides the grace to persevere;
For nothing can remove us from the Father’s love
Tho’ all may change, yet nothing changes here.
In a time of weakness, in a time of fear,
There is a hiding place where God is near.”
- Bryan Jeffery Leech