I lay there under the stars and thought of what a great responsibility it is to be human. I am a human because God made me. I experience suffering and temptation because mankind chose to follow Satan. God is reaching out to me to rescue me. I am learning to trust Him, learning to live by His precepts that I might be preserved.
Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him...Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.
Some believe that Christ favors one group of people over another or one country over another. Here in America, people always say God Bless America. I love my country and I want God to bless where I live, but what about the rest of the world? Christ is for the entire world!
During the days of Christ and His early followers, the Jews did not like the Samaritans. The hostility between the Jews and the Samaritans had lasted a thousand years. It began when the 12 tribes of Israel broke up in the 10th Century BC. Ten tribes made Samaria their capital and the remaining 2 tribes made Jerusalem their capital. In the 7th Century BC, Samaria was captured by Assyria, thousands of people were deported and their land was re-populated with foreigners. The Samaritans intermarried with those of other races. They had lost their racial purity and that for the Jews was an unforgiveable crime. In the 6th century BC, the Jews refused the help of the Samaritans in rebuilding their temple. In the 4th century BC, the Samaritans built a rival temple on Mount Gerizim. This really upset the Jews.
But, Christ came into our world and specifically reached out to the Samaritans (John 4). In the paragraph of Scripture found in Acts 8:4-8, we find that the early Christ followers are discovering that Christ is for all the world and we see them reaching out to the Samaritans just as Christ had done.
Note in Acts 8:4-8 what Christ followers brought to these people:
The message of the love of God in Jesus Christ
Health Care
Joy
As we follow Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to use us in continuing the point of need ministry of Jesus, we will discover that Christ is for the entire world. We will put faith before country and develop a worldview that includes all of God’s children no matter where they live. May God bless the world!
Have you ever been in a middle of a trial in your life where you questioned God’s presence? To be very transparent with you, I’ve been there. I have been to the place where God seems thousands of miles away and I’m here all alone dealing with life.
Maybe you have been hurt by someone close to you. Maybe you have suffered violence. Maybe you are fighting a physical ailment. Maybe you have been accused unjustly. Maybe you are going through one of the greatest storms of your life and you feel like God is absent.
Look at all of the suffering happening around the world even as you read this. There are people starving. There are people without fresh water. There are wars. There are natural disasters. There is genocide. Where is God?
I received an email from an individual that caught my attention. In the email they said (and I am quoting):
“Where is god? Sitting in heaven eating grapes when there is rape, murder, wars, starvation, etc., etc.
Kinda reminds one of an absentee father, has a child and then runs off and doesn’t support him.”
As I thought on this email, I prayed and asked God to help me answer it. I can only answer it by going to God’s Word, the Bible. The Bible is the only absolute truth we have to stand on today. Let’s look to what God says in His Word as His Word is our authoritative guide for all of our beliefs and our actions.
God is not far away eating grapes as wickedness abounds in this world. God’s Word says "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us.”” (Matthew 1:23 NIV) Jesus came as Immanuel, God with us. God left heaven to come to this wicked world to be with us.
This present world that we live in is not God’s Kingdom. This world is the devil’s kingdom. God’s heart is to save us from this world and place His kingdom within us. That is why He came into the world.
Jesus said “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV). This world is presently the devil’s kingdom and he is the one that is stealing, killing and destroying. Not God. In the midst of all of the injustice, God is drawing people to Him through the cross of Jesus Christ.
Jesus said “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:14-21 NIV)
At the cross, God Himself experienced the wickedness and the cruelty of this sinful world. God Himself came from heaven to earth and was born of a virgin. He gave of Himself in helping others. He was innocent of any crimes and was totally sinless. Yet, He was tortured beyond imagination. He experienced excruciating pain as He was beaten unjustly, His beard was plucked out, He was spat upon, and He was nailed to a cross. On the cross, He was thirsty and they gave Him vinegar to drink. At the cross, God experienced every thing that Satan and his kingdom could throw at Him. It was at the cross that He died so that we could experience a better life in His Kingdom.
In the model prayer Jesus told us to pray to God that His Kingdom would come. Every time we pray that prayer, we are one second closer to the return of Jesus as King to establish God’s Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. Until He comes, He has placed a deposit of His kingdom in every Christ follower.
After experiencing death, the ultimate blow that Satan and his kingdom could throw, Jesus was filled with resurrection power and came walking out of a cold and damp tomb after three days. The grave could not hold Him. He went in dead, He came out full of life.
It is this resurrection power that comes into every person that puts their faith and trust in God and what He has accomplished at Calvary on our behalf. He conquered this present world and all of its wickedness. He conquered the devil. He conquered death, hell and the grave. As we become Christ followers, God fills us full of His presence. He fills us full of resurrection power.
Where is God? No, He is not far away eating grapes as sin and wickedness abounds. I will tell you where God is. God is always present with the believer.
Beloved, God is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you according to His Word. In the midst of all the wickedness in a world that grows increasingly out of step with God’s Word, God Himself is with you. He dwells in you! He is your peace! He is your strength! He is your comfort! He has gone through pain and suffering just like you. He knows what you are going through and He is going to bring you through victoriously!
No matter what comes your way beloved, look to the cross of Jesus Christ. See there a God who cares about you enough to endure all that Satan and this evil world could throw at Him so that you can have abundant and everlasting life.
God is not like an absentee father. God did not run off from His children. No, His children ran off from Him.
In the Bible Jesus tells us about a Father and his sons. Jesus said "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." (Luke 15:11-24 NIV)
Please make some observations with me.
The son left the father. The father did not leave the son.
The father did not run after the son and clean up the mess caused by his son’s sin.
The father patiently waited for his son to return home.
The father’s love for his son never changed.
When the son came home, he was fully accepted.
Beloved, we can relate to this parable. God did not abandon us. We abandoned him when we went our own way and did our own thing. God patiently waited for us to come home. And when we did come home, we were fully accepted by Him. It didn’t matter where we had been and what we had done, His love had not changed and He accepted us just as we were.
Hallelujah! Rejoice that God is with you! He has never abandoned you! He loves you with a perfect Father’s love. He loves you so much, He sent Jesus to take care of your sin problem so that you can spend eternity with Him in His perfect kingdom!
You are in the world to change the world. Don’t believe the lie that you have no purpose or no reason for being. Don't believe that you can not make a difference in our day. You are not here by chance or accident and as long as you have a pulse and are breathing, you can use your life and available resources to change the world.
Always remember that God uses common folk with crazy faith to accomplish great things. Don’t believe me? Check out for your self the team that Jesus put together in the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Notice who He picked and how He trained them. After that, check out the book of Acts and look at what they did to change the world in their day. Jesus desires to use you in our day. You are here to change the world!
Care more about the baby inside of the womb than you do the child outside of the womb
Are homophobic
Have no friends that are not Christian
Only hang out with church folk
Try to change people to look and act like you
Believe the Kingdom of God is for the future
Go to church to stay out of hell and eventually go to heaven when you die
Minister only within the walls of a church building and the confines of a service, program or event
Spend all of your available time in church activity instead of point of need ministry
Give money to a church building program and neglect the poor in your community
Do not stand for faith and justice
Read Christian books and not the Bible
Believe your theology is 100% accurate
Believe your denomination is “The Denomination”
Believe your church is “The Church”
Believe that the “house church” is what God intended for the church
Believe that the “institutional church” is what God intended for the church
Do not love God with everything you have
Do not love ALL people regardless of race, gender, economic status or sexual orientation
Walked an aisle and repeated a prayer after a person instead of denying yourself, taking up your cross and following Jesus
Find this list offensive
Please know that I am guilty of all of these at points in my life prior to becoming a Christ follower. I’m not proud of it and I confess it humbly today before you and God. I stopped playing Christianity when I decided to follow Jesus instead of just believing in Him. Now there is no turning back for me. I'm not perfect, but I have decided to follow Jesus pointing others to Him and no longer play Christianity.
Some people believe that faith is believing that God will do what you want Him to do.If you pray and believe, God will act in the way you want Him to act on behalf of your situation or circumstance.And they have been taught by man that if you mix some fasting with that praying and believing, you can really get God’s attention and He will do more of what you want Him to do.This type of thinking results in glory being given to the individual who can supposedly move God into action.
I believe that faith is believing that God will do what is right because He is in control and He loves His children.It is in prayer that I allow Him to give me more of His grace in time of need and I turn over my cares and anxieties to Him.My nature wants to hold on to them all, but His nature is to bare them all for me if I just turn them over to Him.Fasting changes me and not God as I lay aside the substance of my continued existence to seek Him and utilize the resources I would have consumed to further His kingdom (Isaiah 58:1-9 True and False Fasting).Throughout the process, no matter how uncomfortable it becomes to me, He is molding and shaping me and I find out that His grace is truly sufficient.And in His timing, when He does what is right, it will be in such a way that the glory will be to Him alone. Soli Deo Gloria!
No, O people, the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what He requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. ~ Micah 6:8, NLT
The Kingdom of God is advanced as Christ followers put their faith in action.
In Acts chapter 7, Stephen puts his faith in action. He was being accused of blasphemy against the Temple and the Law. The ones who were making the false accusations were the same ones who made false accusations concerning Jesus. They were the same ones who placed a death sentence on Jesus. This was unjust and it compelled Stephen to stand for what is right.
At the end of Stephen’s address in Acts chapter 7, those who make the false accusations become angry and violently take Stephen’s life. “And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” (Act 8:1-4 ESV)
Acts chapter 8 begins by declaring the result of Stephen putting his faith into action. The result was both powerful and in fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy when He said “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Act 1:8 ESV) Because Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and put his faith in action, the kingdom of God is forced beyond the borders of the city of Jerusalem and extended to other people groups.
Notice with me some truths located in this paragraph of Scripture:
•Putting faith into action is the right thing to do.
•Putting faith into action costs us something.
•Putting faith into action will advance God’s kingdom.
As we follow Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to use us in continuing the point of need ministry of Jesus, we will put our faith in action advancing God’s kingdom beyond any ethnic, racial and gender boundaries and extend it to ALL people in our sphere of influence and beyond. It will cost us something, but Christ followers counted the cost when they denied their self, took up their cross and followed Jesus.
You may have just completed the worse week in your life; be strong and courageous.You may be getting ready to go into the worse week in your life; be strong and courageous.Your health may be failing; be strong and courageous.Your finances may not be enough; be strong and courageous.
In the midst of a world that grows increasingly out of step with the Gospel, be strong and courageous.In the midst of world terrorism, be strong and courageous.In the midst of economic uncertainty, be strong and courageous.In the midst of wars and rumors of wars, be strong and courageous.In the midst of global warming and record setting numbers of natural disasters, be strong and courageous.In the midst of a flu pandemic, be strong and courageous.
In Joshua Chapter 1 of God’s Word, God tells Joshua repeatedly to “be strong and courageous.”God is getting ready to take Joshua and the people of Israel on a journey out of the wilderness in which they had been wondering in for forty years and into the Promised Land.It won’t be easy.They would face a lot of obstacles on their journey that they would have to overcome, but God is telling them to be strong and courageous.
We likewise are on a journey.On our journey, we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.Jesus is taking us out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land.It’s a journey from earth to Glory.We will face a lot of obstacles on our journey that we will have to overcome, but God encourages us to be strong and courageous.
In the midst of known and unknown obstacles in life, how do we stay strong and courageous?
We stay strong and courageous by knowing and obeying God’s written Word.God tells Joshua "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." (Joshua 1:7-8 NIV)
God’s instruction to Joshua was 1) Talk about the Word 2) Meditate on the Word 3) Do the Word.God was telling Joshua to make God’s Word the authoritative guide for all beliefs and actions.
Beloved, we are to make the Bible the authoritative guide for all of our beliefs and our actions.It is so vital, especially in the day that we are living.The Word of God is the only absolute truth that we have to stand on.As we talk about the Word of God, as we meditate on the Word of God and as we do the Word of God, we will obtain strength and courage for the journey ahead of us.Whatever obstacles that we are confronted with, we will be able to overcome!Nothing, absolutely nothing will conquer us on our journey from earth to glory!
Joshua is an Old Testament type of Christ.Joshua points to Jesus.The name Joshua means “the Lord saves” and the Greek form of the name Joshua is Jesus.Jesus came to earth and showed us how to be strong and courageous on our journey.He talked about the Word, He meditated on the Word and He did the Word.He fulfilled everything that was written about Him in the prophetic books of the Bible.From His virgin birth to His death on the cross to His resurrection; He did the Word.He overcame every obstacle including an old rugged cross and a cold damp tomb.
Hallelujah Beloved!Talk about the Word of God.Meditate on the Word of God.Do the Word of God.God will strengthen you.God will give you courage.God will take you out of the wilderness and place you in His Promised Land!Glory Be to God!
We stay strong and courageous because of God’s abiding presence.God tells Joshua "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."(Joshua 1:5 NIV)God also tells Joshua "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 NIV)
God is not telling Joshua that the journey is going to be easy.No, it is going to be everything but easy.Get your Bible out and read the book of Joshua and you will see how uneasy it was.God didn’t say it would be easy, but God did say that no one would be able to stand against him so there is no need to be terrified or discouraged.
In the midst of huge obstacles, Joshua was able to overcome and not be terrified or discouraged because of God’s abiding presence.God told Joshua that He would be with him wherever he went and that God would never leave him or forsake him.Joshua found out in all situations that if God is with you, it doesn’t matter how big the obstacle is, you will prevail.
Beloved, what obstacles are you facing in your journey?What seems to be insurmountable?What’s taking your joy?What’s taking your peace?What do you lie awake thinking about?Know this, that if God is with you, it doesn’t matter how big the obstacle is, you will prevail!You will overcome!When you look at that big obstacle, don’t be terrified and don’t be discouraged.God is with you and you will prevail!
The moment that you decided to follow Jesus and accepted the work He did for you on the cross, the Holy Spirit set up residence in you.He abides in you!You are now a temple of God.You house His Holy Spirit.That is the abiding presence of God in you.
It’s all because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.He took our punishment.He shielded us from the wrath of God.He suffered, bled and died so that we could experience the abiding presence of God for now and for all eternity!And now God has set up residence in us.In earthen vessels that are nothing but jars of clay.Everywhere we go, God goes with us.He will never leave us nor forsake us!He will get us through every obstacle on our journey from earth to Glory!
Praise God Beloved!Don’t be terrified!Don’t be discouraged!God is with you and has given you His Word.Talk about it!Meditate on it!Do it!God will give you the strength and the courage to be successful on your journey from earth to Glory!Nothing, absolutely nothing will prevail against you!No obstacle will hinder you on your Journey!God is taking you out of the wilderness and into His Promised Land.Be strong and courageous!
Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord. -- J. I. Packer
My daughter is a pre-med student in college working to be a pediatrician. She wrote the following on health care and gave me permission to share it with you here.
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Health care: The controversy of the moment in the United States
by Kelsey Johnson
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." -The Declaration of Independence
Health care: The controversy of the moment in the United States. With all the rumors and accusations flying around, it's hard to know what's true and what isn't true. Most Americans would agree that health care reform is needed, but no one seems to be able to agree on how to accomplish it so nothing gets done. Obama's administration has proposed health care reform; however, it has received tremendous opposition from the Republican party. With about one-third of the population living without insurance at some point in 2007 or 2008, Americans cannot afford to continue being petty and uncompromising ("Health Insurance Coverage"). It's time to get down to the facts and put aside political parties so that we can work towards a solution to the growing health care crisis.
Some facts about health care are:
62 percent of all bankruptcies filed in 2007 were linked to medical expenses. Nearly 80 percent had health insurance ("Health Insurance Costs").
The United States spends more money on medical care than any other industrialized country, yet it performs worse on nearly all measures of health care quality and health outcomes ("Health Care Quality").
Out of 19 industrialized countries, the U.S. ranked last on deaths amenable to health care, which are deaths that could have been prevented with timely and effective care ("Health Care Quality").
Overall, seniors pay about 22% of their income for health care costs despite their Medicare coverage ("Overview of the U.S. Health Care System).
80% of the uninsured are hardworking Americans who are employed or come from working families ("The Case for Universal Health Care").
More than half of the uninsured postponed needed medical care due to financial concerns ("The Case for Universal Health Care").
One third of uninsured Americans reported that they were unable to fill a prescription drug in the last year because of the cost ("The Case for Universal Health Care").
As a result of difficulties accessing health care, the non-partisan Institute of Medicine estimates that the uninsured have an excess annual mortality rate of 25%. This increased mortality translates into 18,000 excess deaths for people between age 25-64 per year, which is of comparable magnitude to the number of people in this age group who die each year from diabetes, stroke, HIV, and homicide ("The Case for Universal Health Care").
The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not have some form of universal health care (defined as a basic guarantee of health care to all of its citizens). ("The Case for Universal Health Care")
Creating a universal, public financed plan would save $1.1 trillion over 10 years ("The Case for Universal Health Care").
Why does there need to be health care reform? Quite simply, everyone in America should have access to affordable health care because our country was founded on the basis that everyone is equal and should have equal opportunities; however, the health care industry does not treat everyone like equals. The facts are clear: No matter if you're insured, uninsured, young, elderly, working, jobless, whatever, most people feel the strain of health care. Americans are choosing to go without needed health care because they simply cannot afford it, which leads to unnecessary deaths. Just as we do everything possible to prevent unnecessary deaths caused by homicides, suicides, drunk driving, etc., we need to work with the same fervor to stop unnecessary deaths caused by inequalities in health care. Without proper affordable health care, the majority of Americans?both insured and uninsured?will not be able to obtain their constitutional rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Now that it has been established that health care reform is needed, why isn't health care reform happening? The number one reason why change isn't happening is due to the arguments between political parties. Recently I read two articles in Time magazine that discussed this problem. Accurately stated by Joe Klein, a lot of Republican politicians ".make precious few substantive arguments but oppose health-care reform mostly because passage would help Barack Obama's political prospects" (par. 6). In the case of health care, Republicans would rather turn a blind eye to inequality and allow the majority of Americans to suffer than support democratic legislation that would help a democratic president. The republicans have resorted to lies and deception to discredit the democratic health care plan. An example of this would be when ".Sarah Palin raised the remarkable idea that the Obama Administration's attempt to include [end-of-life] issues in its health-care-reform proposal would lead to ?death panels'" (Klein, par. 1). The connotation of the word ?death panels' is that a group of people will get to decide who lives and dies; however the purpose of so called ?death panels' is ".making end-of-life counseling free and available through Medicare" (Klein, par. 3). All this means is that ".an independent, professional authority figure." will help counsel the elderly about making plans and act as power of attorney if no one is predetermined to be one (Klein, par. 3). Joel Stein brings up a very interesting point when he admitted that ".we already have death panels; they just prefer to go by the name insurance companies. Some people get rejected by the death panels because of pre-existing conditions, lifetime-spending caps or drug co-payments they can't afford. Others die because they are freelancers and don't have insurance, so they don't go to doctors" (par. 2). Of course, not all Republicans agree with opposing the democratic legislation just because of political loyalties; however, instead of standing up for change, they choose to remain silent. Klein acknowledges that "until recently, the Republican Party contained a strong moderate wing. It was a Republican, the lawyer Joseph Welch, who delivered the coup de grace to Senator McCarthy when he said, ?Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?'" but Klein then poses the question: "Where is the Republican who would dare say that to Rush Limbaugh, who has compared the President of the United States to Adolf Hitler?" (par. 8). Instead of refusing to support legislation proposed by opposing political parties, Republicans and Democrats need to be willing to compromise and to work together to come up with a solution for the health care problem.
Kao-Ping Chua brings up a compelling point when he declared that ".the United States treats health care as a privilege, only available to those who can afford it. In this sense, health care in America is treated as an economic good like a TV or VCR, not as a social or public good" ("The Case for Universal Health Care"). Should a person be punished with sickness and suffering just because he or she cannot afford health care? I think not. It's time that America stops arguing about health care and starts reforming it. Does it really matter if it was a Republican or Democrat who wrote the health care reform legislation? Just as long as the change brings about equality in the health care system, it shouldn't really matter who suggested the change in the first place.
Religionists live and die for religion and tradition hanging on to the status quo with a white knuckled intensity.Christ followers live and die for Christ and for Christ alone.
All through Acts chapter 7, Stephen is giving a defense in response to the religionist of His day trying desperately to hang on to the status quo.They feel threatened that Jesus and His followers were going to bring change to their religious structures including the Temple and the Law.Instead of embracing the change that Christ brings, they resort to lies and the spreading of fear in order to hang on to what they are accustomed (Acts 6:8-15). They believe that they are doing God a favor. Stephen takes a stand for faith and justice.He lives and dies for Christ and Christ alone.
In the paragraph of Scripture as given to us in Acts 7:54-60, the religionists break the Roman law which prohibits them from executing a death sentence. As a mob, they react to Stephen's stand for faith and justice.They kill the messenger and God's instrument of grace.Instead of making the right choice, repenting of their religious ways and following Christ, they make the wrong choice and choose religion over Christ.Their actions show how religion is full of anger and leads to death and not life.
As I read this paragraph of Scripture, it is Stephen's reaction that catches my eye and speaks volumes into my life.Notice with me:
Stephen the Christ follower, even in death, kept his eyes fixed on Jesus who is the author and perfecter of faith (Acts 7:55).
Stephen the Christ follower left this world praying to Jesus and releasing himself to Jesus' care (Acts 7:59).
Stephen the Christ follower prayed for his enemies as they violently attacked and killed him (Acts 7:60).
What a picture of Christ portrayed by a follower!
Religionists hang on to the status quo, they lie, spread fear, grow angry and even kill, but not Christ followers.Christ teaches His followers how to live and how to die, not how to kill.He teaches His followers how to stand for faith and justice.He teaches His followers how to pray, even for those who mistreat and abuse them due to their Christ exalting stand.
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and allow Him to perfect your faith on your journey from earth to glory (Hebrews 12:2).It is an exciting and rewarding journey.
The book of Revelation in the Bible is given by God to “show his servants what must soon take place.” (Revelation 1:1 NIV)In Revelation, the Holy Spirit reveals the glorified Christ, that which is and that which is to come.As I was reading this revelatory book again this past week, Chapter 7 and verses nine through seventeen jumped out at me and God began to put things in my heart that I desire to share with you.
In this passage of scripture we are given a picture of the throne of God.The Holy Spirit describes to us who is present and the activity that is taking place."After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands."(Revelation 7:9 NIV)You can see the picture.It’s a sea of people so grand in number that they can not be counted.Every nationality and every language is represented.
THE POSITION OF THOSE AROUND THE THRONE IS SIGNIFICANT. God and Jesus are in the center and this sea of people is surrounding them.Angels are surrounding the sea of people.The sea of people, all in white robes are in the inner circle and the angels are in the outer circle.The angels were created to serve God, but they were never redeemed.There was no need to redeem them because they have never sinned.The inner circle is saved for the redeemed. The ones in white robes are in the inner circle because they have been redeemed.They have been bought back from a life of sin.The purchase price was costly.It was through the blood of God’s own Son.
LISTEN TO THE TESTIMONY OF THOSE AROUND THE THRONE. "And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."(Revelation 7:10 NIV)They are specifically proclaiming that salvation is only by God and Jesus.They understand that their salvation from the world and the wrath of God was through God’s grace and their faith in Jesus, the Lamb of God that takes away sin.They are full of joy!
beloved, salvation is only by God and Jesus.God desires to save us from sin, guilt, death and wrath.As a person places their faith in Jesus, God saves them by His grace.They are placed among the beloved and will be around the throne shouting God’s salvation!They are full of joy because they know without God’s grace, they would not be there.
The angels fall prostrate before God and begin to worship Him "saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!""(Revelation 7:12 NIV)These angels are not able to sing redemption’s song, but in all humility they praise and honor God.They give their creator all glory!They also are full of joy in bearing witness to the multitude of the redeemed shouting praise to God.
Here we see glorious angels who have never sinned praising God in all humility.How much more should we who have sinned and been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ humble ourselves and worship Him?
WHERE DID THIS SEA OF PEOPLE COME FROM AND HOW DID THEY GET THERE? "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."(Revelation 7:14 NIV)They have overcome the world.While they were on earth, they washed their robes.They accepted Jesus as their Savior.They placed their faith in Jesus and accepted everything He did for them at the cross of Calvary.They made Jesus their Lord; they fixed their eyes on Jesus and they followed Jesus.In doing so, they overcame the world.
Beloved, we live in an evil and perverse world that increasingly grows out of step with God’s Word.Only now on earth can we wash our robes in the blood of Jesus Christ.Without the blood there is no cleansing.Without cleansing, there is no redemption.There is no salvation.Wash your robes.Daily go to the foot of the cross and wash your robes in the blood of Jesus Christ.Daily go to the cross and crucify self. Crucify your fleshly nature at the foot of the cross.As we decrease at the cross, Jesus increases in our life.We make Jesus Lord; we deny ourselves and we take up our cross and follow Him.And one day beloved, we will find ourselves around the throne full of joy and wearing spotless white robes!
THE SPECIAL CARE GIVEN TO THOSE AROUND THE THRONE OF GOD MAGNETIZES ME TO IT.
Notice the loving care they receive.They continually stay in God’s presence."Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them."(Revelation 7:15 NIV)They will never again
experience separation from the presence of God.
God protects them from pain and suffering."Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat."(Revelation 7:16 NIV)This life is full of pain and suffering.People around the world are in pain and suffering today.The beloved will spend eternity in God’s presence where there will be no pain and suffering.
God wipes away their tears."For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."(Revelation 7:17 NIV)There will be no crying around the throne; just joy unspeakable and full of glory!
There is so much about God’s presence and spending time with Him for all eternity that I don’t understand or comprehend, but I know one thing – I want to be a part of the great multitude wearing white robes.I want to be found in this beautiful picture painted for us in God’s Word.Only now on this earth are we given opportunity to wash our robes.
Beloved, it is only at the cross of Jesus Christ that we can wash our robes in His atoning blood!We can only do that while on earth!Overcome the world through faith in Jesus!Be saved from the wrath of God that is to come! Be found among the great multitude wearing white robes around the throne!You will be under God’s special care for all eternity!Hallelujah!
I think Jesus feels strongly about communicating the idea of our brokenness, and I think it is worth reflection. Nothing is going to change in the Congo until you and I figure out what is wrong with the person in the mirror. ~ Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
Before we can help others, we have to realize that we are not better than anyone else and it is our human nature to take better care of the person in the mirror than anyone else. Until we understand and believe that Jesus came, died, was resurrected and ascended back to glory for ALL people, we will never love ALL people as Christ does and has commisioned us to show. Until that day, we will take better care of the person in the mirror than we will of anyone else no matter where they are in this world.
What kind of peace do we seek? ... Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children -- not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women, not merely peace in our time but peace for all time.
The genius of the American system is not freedom; the genius of the American system is checks and balances. Nobody gets all the power. Everybody is watching everybody else. It is as the founding fathers knew, intrinsically, that the soul of man, unwatched, is perverse. ~ Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
Checks and balances are not only valuable to a nation, they are also valuable to individuals.
What are some checks and balances that we can incorporate into our lives?
God is neither contained nor confined to an individual country or religious structures including finite theological boxes, multi-million dollar mega church facilities and small local church buildings.God is with His children and His activity is never inhibited.
In Acts chapter 7, Stephen is giving a defense in response to the religionist of His day trying desperately to hang on to the status quo.They feel threatened that Jesus and His followers were going to bring change to their religious institution.Instead of embracing the change that God is bringing, they resort to lies and the spreading of fear.Stephen takes a stand for faith and justice.
In the first paragraph of chapter 7, Stephen refers to Abraham.In the second paragraph, he paints them a picture of Joseph.Next Stephen talks about Moses. After this, Stephen addresses religious structure in Acts 7:44-53. The religionists had just accused Stephen of speaking against the Temple, what they consider the holy place, and the Law (Acts 6:13).
In these paragraphs of Scripture, Stephen is showing the religionists of his day two main points:
God is with His children and His activity is never inhibited.God was with Abraham in Mesopotamia.God was with Joseph when He was sold into slavery by his own family, when he was falsely accused and put in prison, and when he was raised into power in the land of Egypt and used to save two entire nations.God was with Moses floating down the Nile as a baby, when he was raised in the Egyptian palace, when he was tending sheep in Median, when he delivered his people out of slavery and led them into the wilderness for 40 years on the way to the Promised Land.
The religionists could not even keep the law that they were accusing him of speaking against.They had rejected and killed God’s prophetic messengers who always stood for faith and justice and pointed people to the Righteous One to come.And when the Righteous One did come and stand for faith and justice, they also rejected and killed Him.
This speaks to us today as we still have religionist trying to contain and confine God to a specific place or a set of rules and regulations.God is the Creator; how can the maker of everything be confined within man-made structures?Jesus came and replaced the Temple and fulfilled the Law.He has made God’s children the dwelling place of God and everywhere they go, God is there.
There are lessons here that we can learn and not be like the religionists:
God is everywhere; the creator is with His creation.
God’s activity is never inhibited.
Today’s prophetic messengers are those who will always stand for faith and justice while pointing people to Jesus Christ.
God is not found in a set of man-made, denominational rules and regulations - Jesus came and set us free from all of that bondage.
We are to always resist fear and not the Holy Spirit and the changes that He brings for the good of all people.
Stiff-necked religious people who resist the Holy Spirit will never be used of God to bring about change for all people.Those who follow Christ will stand for faith and justice and be used of God to bring much needed change for all people.Scriptures declare this truth through and through.
Psalm 2 is both a prophetic and messianic psalm that points to Jesus and that which is to come. The present condition of our world is described prophetically in the first three verses. It describes our day. "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." (Psalms 2:1-3 NIV)
Jesus said "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30 NIV)
In our day, nations and rulers have decided that God’s yoke declared through Jesus, the Word that became flesh is “chains” and “fetters” and keeps them from fulfilling their fleshly desires birthed through selfish ambition. Jesus being the messiah, the anointed One, the Son of God has been denied by entire nations, their rulers and their religions.
Nations fight against God because they have rejected His Anointed One, Jesus Christ His only begotten. Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7 NIV) If Jesus is rejected, God Himself is rejected.
Psalm 2 records God’s response to the condition of the world in our day. "The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." (Psalms 2:4-6 NIV)
God is not threatened by what the world has become. He has lifted Jesus up to be King of Kings and has exalted Him to the Holy Hill of Zion! God has done this because of Jesus’ obedience to Him. Jesus came to earth as the sacrificial Lamb to be offered for the sins of this world so that whoever believes in Him can be saved from the wrath of God and be given eternal life.
Notice Jesus’ response. "I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son ; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter ; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." (Psalms 2:7-9 NIV) Jesus inherits the nations and the earth will be His possession. That is the Son’s reward for His obedience to the Father.
When Jesus was tempted by Satan on this earth (Matthew 4:1-11), Satan promised Jesus the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would just worship him. "Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"" (Matthew 4:10 NIV) Now, offering Jesus the kingdoms of this world was not an idle offer made by Satan. The world that we live in is truly Satan’s kingdom. But for the Christ follower, God’s kingdom is currently in them and will be consummated upon Jesus’ return as He rules in total justice and righteousness. God has made the nations Jesus’ inheritance and the ends of the earth His possession! Satan’s offer to Jesus was temporary. God’s offer was eternal. Jesus declined the temporal for the eternal.
What will you do? Satan constantly offers us temporary gratification. God offers us eternal life. Follow Jesus and chose the eternal over the temporal!
Psalm 2 concludes with a response of the Holy Spirit through the writing of the Psalmist. "Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." (Psalms 2:10-12 NIV)
The Holy Spirit gives us three imperatives in these verses. First of all, the Holy Spirit compels those of our day to be “wise” and to be “warned.” Wisdom and warning both come from God’s Word and His Holy Spirit. Christ followers must constantly be people of the Word and the Spirit to life for Jesus in the day in which we live. The Word and the Spirit come together to do a powerful work in our lives. When either the Word or the Spirit is rejected, wisdom and warning is cast away and the result is destruction.
The second imperative given by the Holy Spirit in these verses is to “serve the Lord.” Salvation from the wrath of God that is to come is not complete by only accepting Jesus as your Saviour. You must also make Him Lord of your life. You must follow Him and commit your life to His Lordship.
The third imperative the Holy Spirit gives us is to “Kiss the Son” which implies intimacy in relationship. Jesus came to earth rejecting religion and religionist. Instead Jesus proclaimed and portrayed relationship with God. You see, it’s not about religion. It’s not about manmade denominations. It’s not about church membership. It’s not about devoting all of your extra time to church activity. It’s all about relationship with Jesus…kissing the Son…an intimate relationship with Jesus.
Why does the Holy Spirit give us these three imperatives? Because the wrath of God is coming on all those that do not love Him and have rejected His Son, Jesus Christ. Those that obey these imperatives are found in Jesus and there is wonderful news for them in the face of world destruction like has never been seen before. That wonderful news is found in the last part of Psalm 2:13 – “Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. (Romans 12:16 NIV)
Please always remember that as you associate and minister to people of low position, you are following Christ and ministering as unto Him. Christ taught us that through His words and actions. Afterall, look at who He hung with.
So how and in what ways do you associate with people of low position?
I look forward to hearing about some positive Christ-like ways.
I believe that the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time. This is why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If he can sink a man's mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging God.
Jazz music is smooth and from the heart and so is the book Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller. The book is very honest, very relevant, nonreligious and refreshing. It covers so many areas of God, life, love and faith in a real way that will intrigue all who read it regardless of their beliefs or past experiences with church and/or religion.
Donald Miller is truly a gifted writer that has a grip on truth and can present it in a gripping and non threatening way. I look forward to reading more of his work in the years ahead.
I'm adding this book to my recommended book list and if you have not already read it, I encourage you to get a copy today.
(Romans 12:11 NIV) Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
There are some days that I feel more zealous and seem to have more fervor than other days, but I’m finding ways in my spiritual walk to keep the zeal and fervor as I follow Jesus. Let me list some of them:
Encouraging others
Talking to God about every thing
Recognizing God’s presence in all of His creation
Reading the Bible
Befriending non followers of Christ in a non threatening way and loving them just as they are
Fellowshipping with followers of Christ who have zeal and fervor for Jesus
Standing for faith and justice no matter what it costs me
What kind of peace do we seek? ... Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children -- not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women, not merely peace in our time but peace for all time.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:1-2 ESV)
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