WHERE SHALL WE LOOK?

I start by saying my heart has been crushed at the tragedy that has fell upon the people in the Gulf area. The Hurricane that has been named, Katrina, has been devastating. The people of God must pray that God will be merciful in this very difficult time, we must also extend our resources, for we are our brothers keeper. Many are looking to our Federal Government for solutions and help, which I think is appropriate to an extent. The word of God says in Psalms 33:10-11 "The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever; The point of these verses is that both men and God take counsel and both plan. But in the end it is not the counsel and plans of men that are established, but of God's. It is all important to realize that God plans the world and he plans churches and what he plans lives—and his plans succeed. His plans take precedence over our plans. Our plans have significance and durability to the degree that God plans for our plans to be significant and durable. God is the all important reality in planning from beginning to end. God's will is for that to be known. God is never caught off guard, He is in complete control. Contrary to the deist view God is active in His creation.Psalms 33:12 says, ""Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance." In view of all that is happening, here are my questions, "Is the Lord the God of America?" "Is the Lord the God of any one nation?" God is the Lord of people from every nation, tongue and kindred. I believe America has been blessed with resources and opportunies above and beyond many nations to expand the name and glory of God, to whom much is given much is required. In many ways we have failed in this regard. The dominant thought of America is Post-modernism which in a simple definition is, THE DENIAL OF ABSOLUTE TRUTH. Which is a denial of the existence of God. If there is no absolute truth then the person I see in the mirror is my God. So if I don't believe in Truth I don't obey Truth. So God is dishonored, and man is honored. So in time of calamity and crissis we look to man or we call on the God of our imagination. God frustrates the plans of people, to show who He is and to make known that He is to be reverenced and His counsel will stand for ever.
As I watched the media's report of the hurricane, people are devastated, where shall they look? Who shall they call, especially when there is no electrical communications. I do not intend to make light of the diaster, for there are many needs (food, water, medical attention, BIBLES, etc.) I believe we are responsible and accountable to our fellow man. It is easy in these situations to point fingers and to criticize the efforts being made, this is not my intention. However, there has been high publicity of the looters, yet our political leaders have been and are still looting. Many people died because they had not the means or money to buy gas to evacuate, yet the prices of gas still soar. The Christian church is guilty of looting, for when we disobey God we steal the Glory due His name. The bible says, "Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. One of the dilemas we have faced in this country and throughout the world is man's lack of concern for his fellow man. This is a sin issue, this is the expected behavior of sinners, to sin. However, for Christian people our expectation is different. The church in Amerca has bought into the patterns and pursuits of the world. Often time there is no distinctions in the behavior of so called Christians and the world. So where shall we look, we can't look the the political leaders they are consumed with politics that serve their own insecurities. We can't look to man for he is faced with His own dilemas steered from his own depravity. We often times can't look to the church for we are chasing the world. Our only hope is to find refuge in God, through the person of Jesus Christ.
The psalmist says, " God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. "
(Ps 46:1) This is the declaration that must be heralded to every nation. Jesus Christ who came in the likeness of sinful flesh says, " in this world you will have trials and tribulations, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world."So he is not one that is influenced by the world. He is not a leader that keeps control of those he leads by producing fear in them, but He says, "Don't be anxious about life and the things in it, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. He is in control whether you fear or not, He desires to lead by relieving you of fears, He has no insecurities. He is the only leader that reserves the right to serve His own interest. I think it is clear, our only hope is to look the Jesus Christ. We must REPENT and bow in submission to the will of the Sovereign Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is the only hope for the people of this nation and any other nation.

O God have mercy on us in this nation and every other nation, our only hope is in thee alone. Let not the passions of our flesh nor lustings of the mind bring our spirit into subjection, but do Thou rule over us in liberty and power. Purge us from every false desire, every base aspiration, everything contrary to Thy rule. That we might see the wonder of Thy Glory and find our satisfaction in thee alone. Lord you said, You giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might you increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Lord in midst of the calamities we face teach us to wait upon You. In the matchless name of Jesus the Christ I pray, Amen.
Where shall we look?

THANK YOU LORD

The love that Christ has for His Bride, the church, is an infinite love. Apostle Paul commands husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. The church is a love gift to Christ from the Father. I just thought I would write today and say, THANK YOU LORD for the privilege of being a love gift to Christ. That is an awesome thought, me a love gift. I don't often think of myself as a love gift. Do you? That is a humbling thought. I am a love gift and to add to it I am infinitely loved by Christ, not because of me but inspite of me. Christ's love for me is not a result of my behavior but His benevolence. THANK YOU LORD. Back to Paul's command, Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. What a command. Notice a command meaning it is not optional and it is expected. How is this possible, it seem that the standard is much to high? In my own strength it is impossible. However, we are also commanded in Ephesians 5:18 to be filled with the Spirit. The Spirit of God is our enabler the fulfill this command. THANK YOU LORD, for giving me the opportunity and the ability to love as you love.
My prayer: THANK YOU LORD for a beautiful loving and submissive wive. I THANK YOU LORD for the support she gives to me and the ministry you have entrusted to me. THANK YOU LORD for the sacrifices she make in serving me and my daughter. THANK YOU LORD for the prayers she prays fervently for me to be kept in the center of your will. Now Lord I pray that you will fill me with your Holy Spirit that I might fulfill your command to love her as you loved the church and gave yourself up for her. O God, that you would give me a daily desire to seek the filling of your Spirit that I might demonstrate the infinite love that you have shown me for my wife and that she might feel that love as I have felt your infinite love for me. THANK YOU LORD.

A MESSAGE FROM A FLY

God is so awesome, he has abilities that are for beyond our understanding. Ps 145:3 says, "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable." God has a way of speaking to us in some strange ways if we sensitive to his voice. Can you believe I recieved a message from a Fly. Please understand I am not saying we should seek to hear God voice apart from His word, for it is the word of God that confirms that which is from God. I don't believe in recieving revelation apart from scripture or continual revelation. I believe the prophets and the apostle recieve direct revelation from God and today we are recieving illumination by the Holy Spirit on the things written in the sixty six books which is the Holy Bible.
Now to explain what I mean by a message from a Fly. Well, you know a fly is that insect that flys around and drives us insane. It is our displeasure with them because we know that they are insects that are drawn to waste, trash and dung. They actually seem to feed off these things. They seem to show up in heated seasons. As if it is not enough to deal with the heat, here is this buzzing and waste eating insect that won't leave you alone.
Well, I had this fly in my office last week that was driving me mad. I was not able to focus on the work at hand because of this fly. So I decided, this was it I was going to get him. So I began by trying to visibly see him land and then I was going to smash him. After about four or five swings at him I missed and hit a very valuable piece on my desk and broke it. I was very disturbed by this, for it was a piece given to me by one I cherish.
Here's the message from the fly, "Don't destroy your office over a fly." I learned this, there are some situations and some people in which we are confronted with in life that seems to be annoying and disruptive, and they bother us because we know what they are feeding off, but you must be careful that you don't allow them to cause you to destroy something precious and valuable that was given to you by someone special.
It is better to be annoyed than to be guilty of destroying that precious gift that was GIVEN to you by someone SPECIAL. You don't see many flys in the winter. Maybe you might need just wait for a season change.

Pursuing Pleasure

It is interesting to watch man's Pursuit's in life. The truth is we are all after something. The something in which we pursue is the longing to fulfill that void that God created in us. However, this void can only be filled by God Himself, for it is reserved for God alone. John Piper in his book, DESIRING GOD, said "the pursuit of pleasure is not optional, but essential. The bible is clear that we created to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. Therefore, we are to find our satisfaction in Him. Many have struggled with the great debate of duty and delight. R.C. Sproul says, "delight is our duty. While Jesus was preaching the Sermon on the Mount, he warned against the fatal failures against religion. First, he dealt with the danger of people of the kingdom thinking and acting like the world, by the way of adopting the same attitude, values and goals. Second, he makes known that legalism should never be viewed as a virtue. The scribes and Pharisees were masters at this. Thirdly, he warns about putting too much emphasis on the external with no concern for the internal, he taught that the external was often the visual manifestation of the internal. What is heard from the mouth is reflective of the heart. Fourthly, and where I would like to focus is on His warning related to materialism. I believe in America, our greatest pursuit seems to be wealth, health, fame, position and power. I guess this is to be expected in a Capitolistic Society. However, Jesus teaches us that those who are subjects of His kingdom are not to pursue pleasure in this things, verse 33 of Matt. 6, He gives the Christians pursuit of pleasure. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. In your pursuit of pleasure think not that it will be found in wealth, for earthly possessions are not heavenly tranferrable. Think not that pleasure will be found in position, for the seat you occupy today is already reserve for tommorrow. Jesus teaches these are temporal and unfulfulling pursuits. But rather, seek first the kingdom of God. There can be no kingdom without a King. The first pursuit I would say is DILIGENT PURSUIT OF PERSON, the same effort that is put into obtaining wealth, fame and status, pursue the person of God. Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness Christ is our righteousness. So if we would find true pleasure we must diligently pursue the person of Christ. Secondly, the passage says and His righteousness, which means for the subjects of the kingdom their must be DISCIPLINE PRACTICE OF PRINCIPLES. Pleasure is found in not only pursuing Christ our King, but we must have a disciplined life to His commands, which are found in His word. In simple term, we are to be obedient to the word of god. Finally, Pleasure is found in a DEFINITE POSSESSION OF PROMISE, all these things shall be added. There is a promise from the King that if we Pursue Him for satisfaction and pleasure instead of the the cares of this world, while Practicing His Kingdom Principles, then He Promises that Pleasure will be found in Him and a proper appreciation of wealth, health, fame and position. May God give us a mind to know true pleasure can only be found in Him.

DEALING WITH CONFLICT

When facing adversity or conflict most people start by examining the situation or the people they are having conflict with. I believe for the true christian believer, the place to start is examining YOURSELF regardless of what the person has done to you, regardless of how wrong they are. One of the tricks of the devil is to make you focus on what has happen to you. Notice the focus on you. Rather than focusing on God and what it is that God requires and desires to teach me through this situation. Child of God, God is Sovereign and nothing happens to you which has not pass by the desk of God for approval. So He is not necessarily the cause but He is sovereignly in control. Quit thinking people are in control. God is in control. Knowing and applying this will root out bitterness and hatred toward people. View even your pain as coming from the Sovereign hand of God who loves you infinitely.
Therefore, Paul is right when he says in Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose.(NAS)

Notice first Paul says "we know" which first says that as christians we have Inside Information "we know", not they know, but we know. We know who is in charge. Think about this the person you are having conflict with might not have Inside Information. Paul says we know that God Is working all things. This means even the conflict you are having, which in and of itself may not be good to you, however we have an awesome God who is working it for the your good. So as christians we have Inside information and Providential Participation.
How do I deal with with my conflicts Examine your Information, what it is that you know, and what is the source of you information.
Secondly, remember the Divine Participation that will always work all things for your good of His people.
So even when others are wrong God still requires me to be right.
May the God of Grace grant us the power and ability to endure conflicts.
The standards and requirements of God upon His people are never lowered because of conflict.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?(KJV)
Micah 6:8

Great Dangers

Romans 10:1-4, Apostle Paul begins by expressing his love for his native people, by expressing his hearts desire and prayer being for their salvation, that is for their deliverance from the chains and shackles of sin and their own depravity. Which indeed is every man's greatest need. What an appropiate thing to do, God is the originator and producer of salvation, so Paul's appeal is to the only one that can fulfill his desire and prayer. Paul's humility is displayed by his willingness to pray on the matter. Prayer is how we demonstrate our dependency in God. Notice the way that depravity displays itself.
1. Ignorance -The problem with Israel was not in a lack of enthusiasm or effort. If sincerity and diligence were the way to heaven, Israel would be in first place, with many of the cults and “ism’s” of our day running a close second. Israel had plenty of zeal but it was misdirected due to a lack of knowledge: “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge” (Romans 10:2). This lack of knowledge was not due to a lack of revelation or innocent ignorance on the part of Israel. It was a willful and obstinate rejection of the truth as taught in the Old Testament and as further disclosed by our Lord Jesus Christ. It was the kind of ignorance which says, “Don’t confuse me with the facts; my mind is already made up.” There is a DANGER in making a final decision based on limited information. Many have concluded the bible is not needed without ever examining it's material.

Their Ignorance took them further. Sin takes you farther than you want to go, keeps you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay. Where did their sin take them?
Out of Ignorance comes,

2. Insubordination - In seeking to earn their own righteousness, they stubbornly refused to submit to the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. Christ is, indeed, the end of the Law (v. 4) to all who believe, but the Jews preferred their interpretation of the Law to its true meaning and fulfillment. Remember God is the owner and creator of salvation, yet their sin and depravity cause them to be to attempt to take over another man's company. They stubbornly refused to submit to the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ, they went about to establish their own righteousness, which is no righteousness at all.

All over the world man is still plagued by the devastation of his own sin and depravity that is first displayed in his Ignorance and demonstrated more clearly in his Insubordination to the will and word of God that can ONLY be seen and known in the person of Jesus Christ.

WORD

I am thankful that God has blessed us to be alive to see this new millenium. I am thankful as a Pastor that God has chosen and entrusted me to shepherd His flock. This is an awesome privilege task and responsibility, however God has given to me, in Christ all I need to fulfill the task.

When I look at the church today I believe we have been divinely preserved and positioned to first, Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever, secondly to fulfill a mandate which is to make disciples for Jesus Christ. What a tremendous privilege and pleasure to work for the Sovereign God of the Universe?

Often times I am saddened at the fact that God who is the supreme potenta of the universe has given so much for His church, in giving His Son, and often receives from the church seemingly so little. I believe that we are not coming anywhere close to the potential of the power of the Word of God in the life of the church. We miss the fact that, “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.” So often we seek pleasure everywhere except the place true and infinite pleasure is to be found, in Him. Pleasure outside of God is not pleasure at all.

The Bible is clear our sufficiency is in Christ. However, we must not allow our deficiencies cause us to lose hope, so we must seek God more fervently and trust His Heart when we can't see his Hand and trust His Ability even when we don't see His Activity and trust His Word we we can't see His Way.