A Model for Us

Friday, September 28, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – the Lord woke me with the song “Love Never Fails” playing through my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read 1 Thessalonians 1 (NIV 1984):

Paul, Silas and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Words of Encouragement

This is a fairly short passage of scripture, yet Paul had the ability to pack a great deal of truth into just a few sentences or paragraphs. At a quick glance, it may not seem like a whole lot to digest, but with careful study, we can dig into to the passage and learn much about who God is, and about our relationship with him and with his body, the church.

Paul pretty much began all his letters with a greeting, followed by a note of thankfulness to God for the saints of God to whom he was specifically writing. Since he knew (of) them, and most likely had received periodic reports concerning their progress, or maybe even had recently made a personal visit to them, he was able to give thankfulness to God and appreciation for specific praiseworthy actions on their part, as well as to address any particular concerns he might have concerning their walks of faith with the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this first section of 1 Thessalonians, Paul offered many words of encouragement to the believers there, which should encourage and inspire us, as well, to follow their model.

The Fruit

Paul said that he (and Silas and Timothy) continually remembered before our God and Father the believer’s: 1) work produced by faith, 2) labor prompted by love, and 3) endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, our faith should be lived out through our daily lives in the things that we do, our thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, and actions, etc. We are not saved by works, and God is not interested in what we think we can do for him, but works are the outgrowth (the fruit) of our relationship with Jesus Christ. These kinds of works are of the Spirit of God, not of the flesh of man. In other words, just because we are in Christian ministry of some kind does not mean our work for the Lord is produced by faith, prompted by love or inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus, though it may be.

What Jesus wants is not what we can do for him, out of our own will and desire, but what he desires is our heart-felt obedience and surrender to what he wants for our lives. When our labor for the Lord is rooted in what Christ wants and in obedience to his calling upon our lives, and we are following the lead of the Holy Spirit and not our flesh, then we can begin to experience what Paul is describing here about work, labor and endurance produced, prompted and inspired by faith, hope and love (see 1 Co. 13). And, there is no greater place to be than right in the center of God’s will, following his lead, doing what he desires.

With Power and Conviction

When we come to genuine faith in Jesus Christ, there should be evidence that the Holy Spirit of God has truly transformed our hearts and minds. Paul described this evidence in terms of the gospel coming to them, not simply with words, but with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. In other words, the believers in Thessalonica had heard and received the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power and working of the Holy Spirit in their lives in taking them from death to life. Their faith in Jesus Christ was accompanied by deep conviction, in putting their faith into practice in their lives. In other words, they showed they truly believed by how they lived out their faith. If we say, for instance, that we believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to free us from sin, and yet we continue to live sinful lifestyles free of conviction, then where is our faith? James and John both state it is null and void.

This also means the gospel was presented, not just received, in the power of the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. The true gospel is not to be gospel-lite in order to appeal to the flesh of men or to gain more “converts.” If we are truly presenting the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction, then we should be telling people the whole gospel message. The reality of the gospel as lived out in our lives is that just as Jesus Christ died to take away the sins of the world, so we, in response to what he did for us, willingly lay down our lives for him, we forsake our lives of sin, and we choose to walk humbly before God in faithful obedience to God, following Jesus wherever he leads us. Conviction entails showing we mean what we say we believe, as evidenced by how we live. And, it means believing God, and that he will do what he said he would do. We can’t take a casual approach to our faith. That doesn’t mix with conviction and the power of the Spirit.

Imitators of the Lord

To imitate means to copy, reproduce, emulate, duplicate, etc. An imitator can be genuine or can be a fake. Some people fake their Christianity in order to gain acceptance or to give off an image that all is well, for the purpose of deception, while they hold on to sin in their lives. Yet, this is not what Paul meant by imitating the Lord. This kind of copying is not surface-only in order to present a false image, but it is genuine, from the heart, and of the Spirit of God, in becoming more and more like Jesus. When we reproduce the things of the Spirit in our lives, first of all it is a work of the Spirit who does this within us. We can’t generate this ourselves. Second of all, this imitating of Christ involves our willingness to work with the Spirit of God in cooperation with his work of changing us, molding us and making us into Christ’ likeness. This is often a painful process and involves suffering.

The Lord’s Message

Not only did the Thessalonian believers receive the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and with conviction, and not only was this evident in their work, labor, and endurance produced, prompted and inspired by their faith, hope and love (1 Co. 13) in Jesus Christ, and not only did they become imitators of Christ in how they lived out their lives on a daily basis, but they also diligently and with much perseverance, in spite of severe suffering, gave out the gospel message all over the place. Yet, it wasn’t just the gospel message that was spread everywhere through them, but their faith became known everywhere. In other words, it wasn’t just their words that went out, but their reputations as those who believed what they said they believed, and who acted accordingly, spread everywhere.

It became known everywhere that these followers of Christ forsook their idols and turned to the one and only living God, in faith, to serve him and him alone. They had a reputation of having much faith, hope and love, believing God for who he says he is, as evidenced in how they conducted their lives, and in their hope of eternal life in heaven with God, free from not only slavery to sin but free from the wrath of God at the final judgment of mankind.

How are we doing?

This is not a contest to one-up each other, nor is this a demand for absolute perfection, because if it was, none of us would ever measure up. We are not going to be perfect in this life, though we should strive toward perfection in Christ, and should never use our lack of perfection as an excuse for willful sin. Yet, we can look at this model presented for us for how we should live our own lives, and of what our response should be to the wonderful salvation God has so lovingly provided for us. If we do not identify with these believers, then we should spend time with the Lord in prayer, asking God to show us why we are not living like this, or perhaps we already know the answer to that question. We should confess any known sin in our lives, and we should determine, in the power and working of the Holy Spirit within us, to walk in obedience to God and to follow the leading of the Spirit and to allow the Holy Spirit of God to transform us in heart and mind and to mold us into Christ’s image.

If you were to be honest with yourself at this point in your life, what kind of reputation (true) do you think you would have everywhere? I realize people can get false reputations, so I am not speaking here of that. But, if the truth were to be known about you everywhere, what would your reputation be? What evidence would there be to convict you of being a follower of Jesus Christ? If Paul were alive today, could he honestly write this about you? These are honest questions I believe we need to ask ourselves in practical application to what is being taught here in this passage of scripture. Our lives should speak volumes for our faith in Jesus Christ. Do they?

Love Never Fails / An Original Work / August 20, 2012

Based off 1 Corinthians 13 NIV

If I speak

With tongues of men and angels,

But do not have love,

My speech is but noise;

It sounds like thunder from above.

If I have the gift of preaching,

Knowledge, faith and prophecy,

But I do not love my brothers,

Oh, what vanity!

If I give all I possess

To help a neighbor who’s in need,

But I do not love my sisters,

I gain not a thing.

Love is patient; love is kind;

It does not envy; is not proud.

It is not rude; not self-seeking;

Selflessly gives out.

Love does not delight in evil,

But rejoices with the truth;

Protects always; hopes and trusts,

And always perseveres.

Love is not easily angered;

Keeps no record of the wrongs.

It forgives when wrong’s intended;

Returns hate with love.

Love will never fail when it is

God’s love reaching out through us,

Selfless in its care for others;

Yielding to the cross.

Prophecies and tongues

And knowledge,

Wisdom, teaching, miracles,

Gifts of healing, helping others –

These will all be stilled.

When perfection comes

The imperfect will surely disappear.

Faith and hope and love remain;

The greatest of these, love.

http://youtu.be/wNi1-ZSy2Q0

Out with the Old, In with the New

Wednesday, September 26, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – the Lord woke me this morning with the song “Broken and Contrite” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV 1984):

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Since you… Then…

Because of what Jesus Christ did for us, in dying on the cross for our sins, and in being resurrected from the grave back to life in conquering death, hell, Satan and sin, and because of what he did in our lives in transforming us from death to life in Christ Jesus, our Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit within us, we have an obligation and a responsibility before God to live holy and godly lives, pleasing unto God.

We are to set our hearts and minds on heavenly things, not on earthly things. To “set” something means: “to focus your mind on a goal or task; to become permanent or fast; or to establish or impose something,” such as a standard (Encarta Dictionary). It means we are determined and steadfast in keeping our thoughts, will and emotions focused on Jesus Christ, on what he has called us to do, on his word, on obeying his word, on following him wherever he leads us, and on what is of eternal value. We are not to be steadfast and determined in keeping our thoughts, will and emotions on the things of this earth, which will pass away. So many believers in Christ have this all backwards. They are very worldly focused and God/Jesus gets what is leftover or at least second place.

Why is this so important? – Because we died to our old way of living according to the flesh and the ways of this world, and our lives are now hidden with Christ in God. I get this picture here of my life in Christ as being wrapped up in Christ like a gift is wrapped in wrapping paper, or like a person completely wrapped in a warm blanket. It is no longer my life to live the way I want, but it is Christ’s life to be lived the way he wants and desires.

Put To Death

One day I was out witnessing for Jesus Christ and I was telling people they needed to repent of (turn away from) their sins and turn to faith in Jesus Christ. A man approached me and asked me to repeat what I had just said, so I told him what I had said. He then responded, “I don’t have to repent. I just have to believe!” Wow! We must know that many, many people are getting this message, which is not Biblical. What it means when someone truly thinks he can “believe” in Christ apart from repentance is that he is still left in his sins, because to believe in Jesus Christ means to turn from our lives of sin and to turn to walk humbly before God in faithful obedience and surrender of our wills to his will for our lives (see Eph. 4:17-24). To think that we can just acknowledge who Jesus Christ is or what he did for us in dying for our sins, and think we have no responsibility whatsoever, makes a mockery of what Jesus Christ did in dying for our sins so we could be free of slavery to sin. There is a good reason James told us that even the demons believe, and they shudder.

Therefore, we are to put to death the things that belong to our earthly nature. We don’t do this in our own strength, or even according to our own timetable, nor is it impossible to do, as some have come to believe. Jesus died so we could be free. He made the way possible for us. All we have to do is to yield to his will for our lives, and allow the Holy Spirit to do his work of transforming us in heart and mind, as we cooperate with that work. There is not a question as to who is going to win. Jesus already won! We just have to learn to appropriate to our lives what he already did for us. So, when Satan tempts us to sin, we claim what is ours in Christ Jesus, we resist Satan strongly, in the strength of the Lord within us, we put on the armor of God, and we draw near to God in full assurance of faith. We don’t have to sin any longer. This does not mean we will never sin, but what it does mean is that the battle is already won, and we are free! We just have to live like we are free.

Clothe Yourselves

The Scriptures teach us in various verses, primarily in Paul’s writings, that we are to take off the old man and put on the new, like we would take off old or dirty clothes and, after taking a shower (being cleansed), we would put on new or clean clothes. I love Ephesians 4-5, because it gives us such practical help in doing this. If you are struggling with a particular sinful habit in your life, please read and put into practice what is written in these verses in Ephesians. We can’t put the new man (our life in Christ) over top our old life. That would be like putting on new or clean clothes over top our dirty bodies and our dirty clothes. What good would that be? We might appear clean on the outside, but we wouldn’t be clean. And, we’d probably start smelling pretty quickly, and it would be obvious we were just trying to appear clean when we are not. Becoming a Christian does not mean cleaning up your old life. It means eradicating your old nature from your life. And, this can only be done in the power and the working of the Holy Spirit within you, as you cooperate with that work.

So, coming to faith in Christ Jesus, as well as growing in Christ on a daily basis, means putting to death our old sinful practices and being clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, love, forgiveness, etc. Where a lot of people get tripped up is that they put off the old life of sin but they don’t put on (clothe themselves) with heavenly things or with Holy Spirit spiritual things, and eventually they end up going right back to where they were before. That is why Ephesians 4-5 is so great, because it teaches us that we need to not only put off our old way of living in sin, but we need to walk in the Spirit and put on the deeds of the Spirit. In other words, we have to become someone else, which is what it means to be born again.

Word of Christ

If we want to be successful in putting off daily the sinful practices we indulged in before coming to faith in Christ, it is essential that we let the word of Christ dwell in us. The way we do this is not just by going to church and listening to sermons, attending Bible studies or small groups or reading daily devotionals. We must be daily feeding on God’s word in our personal times of prayer, fellowship and study of God’s word, letting Jesus speak his words to our hearts, and then obeying what he teaches us. The more we study, and the more we listen, and the more we obey what we hear, the more the word of God begins to live in us and to become part of our lives, i.e. to be what we eat and drink and breathe in and breathe out to others.

When we are doing that, out of the overflow of our hearts of love for God will come the things of the Spirit of God, and our hearts’ desires will be to do what is pleasing to God and to serve him and to share his gifts with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Then we will want to teach and encourage others to know Christ, too, in all his fullness and glory, and we will share whatever gifts God has given to us to share for the building up of the body of Christ, his church. Our gifts may or may not be in sharing songs, yet we should all sing for the glory of God with whatever voices God has given us, and we should receive from one another songs given in love and obedience to God, even if they are not sung with the best voice ever, because truly music comes from our hearts, and the voice does not matter if the singing is heart-felt and Spirit led.

And, whatever we do, we should do it all for the glory of God, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen!

Broken and Contrite / An Original Work / May 13, 2012

I come before You, Lord, my Savior,

With humble heart and crushed in spirit.

I bow before You, I implore You,

Heal my broken heart, I pray.

Love You, Jesus, Lord, my master,

You are the King of my heart.

Lord, purify my heart within me;

Sanctify me, whole within.

I come before You, Lord, my Savior,

With humble heart and crushed in spirit.

I bow before You, I implore You,

Heal my broken heart, I pray.

Oh, Lord, I long to obey fully

The words You’ve spoken through Your Spirit.

I pray You give me grace and mercy,

Strength and wisdom to obey.

Father God, my heart’s desire,

Won’t You set my heart on fire?

Lord, cleanse my heart of all that hinders

My walk with You, now I pray.

Oh, Lord, I long to obey fully

The words You’ve spoken through Your Spirit.

I pray You give me grace and mercy,

Strength and wisdom to obey.

Oh, Jesus, Savior, full of mercy,

My heart cries out for understanding.

I want to follow You in all ways,

Never straying from Your truth.

Holy Spirit, come in power,

Fill me with Your love today.

Lord, mold and make me;

Your hands formed me;

Live Your life through me, I pray.

Oh, Jesus, Savior, full of mercy,

My heart cries out for understanding.

I want to follow You in all ways,

Never straying from Your truth.

http://youtu.be/3pskAZtELrk

Struggling For You

Tuesday, September 25, 2012, 7:56 a.m. – The Lord put the song “In Harmony” in my mind just as I got ready to sit down to have my quiet time with him in prayer and in his word. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Colossians 2:1-8 (NIV 1984):

I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Struggling

Paul said he was struggling for the believers in Colosse and in Laodicea. Struggling involves making a great effort to achieve something and/or to overcome a difficulty, challenge or problem (see Encarta Dictionary). Paul exerted his physical, mental, emotional and spiritual being for the encouragement and spiritual growth of the believers in these two cities, and truly everywhere the gospel had been preached by him, and where he was privileged to see people come to faith in Jesus Christ.

I wonder how many of us truly struggle for our brothers and sisters in Christ. In other words, do we exert this kind of effort and time to see other believers in Christ mature and grow in their faith? This is called discipleship. As disciples of Christ, we have all been commanded to make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey all of Christ’s commands. We are not just to help people come to faith in Christ, but we are to help them to grow in their faith, too. In the body of Christ we are to help strengthen and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ in their faith. This is not just the job of the preacher, the deacons and elders, the Sunday School teachers and small group leaders of our local fellowships, but we should all be struggling for the spiritual lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Purpose

Paul then explained the purpose of this struggling, which was that the believers may:

Be Encouraged in Heart

The word “encourage” is often a misunderstood word, or it is frequently interpreted only one-sided. When we think of the word “encourage” we often have this picture of someone making us feel good, at peace and at rest with who we are, where we are, and what is going on in our lives. That is one aspect of encouragement, which can be distorted through lies. In other words, we should never lie to people just to make them feel good. We should be truth tellers always, but not in a blunt, uncaring way, or in saying things that are not necessary or beneficial to the listener. Yet, we should always make sure our encouragement is truthful. And, we should offer words of hope, courage, cheer and inspiration, too.

The other aspect of this word “encourage,” which Jesus, Paul, the apostles and the prophets before them used regularly - as well as they utilized the other aspect of encouragement - means to motivate someone towards a particular course of action, or to urge them to continue doing something. Paul exemplified this for us here when he encouraged the believers to continue to live in Christ, rooted in Christ, built up and strengthened in their faith, and so much more that we read in this passage. To encourage, thus, means to inspire, reassure, cheer, urge, assist, nurture, persuade and even push others, sometimes, in a particular direction or on a certain course in their lives. In this case we are talking about encouraging (urging and inspiring) other believers to grow in their faith and to continue to maturity.

Be United in Love

“Unity” is another often misunderstood or misinterpreted word. And, it is essential that we understand the meaning, so that we don’t fall into error. “Unity” means: harmony, agreement, and accord. It can mean to form many into one or harmony of opinion, interest or feeling (see Encarta Dictionary). In music, harmony involves two instruments or voices singing or playing together, yet they are singing or playing different notes from each other, yet notes that blend well and fit together. So “unity” or “harmony” does not mean we lose our individuality or that we must all think exactly alike without any differences of opinion. We will still maintain our uniqueness (our part in the body, like our part in the song), yet we will work together with the other parts harmoniously in blending our various parts together to work as one unit (one body; one song).

We are to be united in love. God is love and he is the source of true love. If we are not first of all united with Christ, and in harmony with him and his will, purposes and direction for our lives, then it is impossible for us to be united with one another in love. Also, we are to love others with the love of God that he has for us, and if we are not doing that, we will not be in unity or in harmony with other believers who are doing that. There is no fellowship between light and darkness. We have to be walking in the light of Christ if we want to be in unity with others who are doing the same. So, first of all we must be united with Christ in relationship, thought, purposes and will, then we can be united with other believers who are of like mind.

Yet, we must be so careful here that we recognize the difference between unity with man and his purposes and goals and unity with Christ. Many preachers of the gospel are stressing “unity,” but it is not unity with Christ, but with man, and with man’s goals. This calls for much discernment. Under this kind of unity, those who are truly following Christ will often be ostracized because they are not in “unity” with man’s goals and objectives.

Have full riches of understanding

We cannot have the full riches of understanding of God, his word and all that he has in mind for us if we are not sitting daily at his feet, listening to him, and then obeying what he teaches us. We can have all the head knowledge in the world, but this kind of understanding is spiritual wisdom, discernment and knowledge of God, and of his will and purposes for our lives. And, it only comes through the daily exercise of spending time in God’s word, in hearing his voice and in obeying what he says. We must continue (keep going; persevere) to live (walk of faith; how we live out our Christian life daily) in Christ, pursuing him daily. We get rooted in Christ through being with him, listening to what he says and then obeying what he teaches us day-by-day (see John 10; Luke 9:23-24). This is also how we are built up in Christ and are strengthened in the faith.

Not be Deceived

Sermons, Bible studies with other believers, commentaries, books by Christian authors, etc. are all also helpful to us in our walk with Christ, yet they should never be our primary source of our Christian growth and development, because man is human, and man may get things wrong, or may even willfully set out to deceive us by adding or taking away from the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, we must check out everything we hear or read against God’s word, prayerfully, asking God to lead us into all truth.

There are all kinds of hollow and deceptive philosophies existing within the church today, at least that I know of in America. And, they do present themselves with “fine-sounding arguments,” too. And, they can trap us and trip us up if we are not wise and discerning, and if we are not in God’s word daily. Legalism (adding to the gospel works of men) is one that Paul often addressed in the church in his time, since the Jewish believers in Christ had just come out of the Old Covenant relationship with God and they were trying to grasp and understand the New Covenant and how this worked in all practicality. Legalism was pretty strong in my growing up years, but it has waned much in recent years as the “Distorted Grace” movement has swept across evangelical Christianity in America.

Yet, it is not just the legalists who depend upon human tradition, fine-sounding arguments, and the basic principles of this world. The “Distorted Grace” movement does, too, i.e. speaking of those who take away some of the necessary and required components of the gospel message, i.e. they cut it in half. They teach Christ crucified for our sins, risen from the dead, ascended to heaven and coming again, but they don’t teach the true meaning of the cross of Christ in our lives. They water down the gospel to suggest that all one has to do is to pray a prayer, oftentimes consisting merely of an acknowledgment of being a sinner and of inviting Jesus Christ into one’s heart. Yet, this inviting of Christ into one’s heart must be accompanied by true repentance and a turning of one’s heart and mind away from following after the flesh (sin), to following after Jesus Christ (see John 10: Luke 9:23-24; Ephesians 4:17-24). This is not adding works to faith. This is the meaning of true faith.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. ~ Rom. 6:11-14

In Harmony / An Original Work / September 2, 2012

Based off Ro. 12:9-21; 1 Pet. 3:8-15

Love each other truly.

Cling to what is good.

Hate all that is evil.

Never lack in zeal.

Serve the Lord with fervor.

Joyful in hope be;

Patient in affliction;

Praying faithfully.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people

Who are found in need.

Do not be conceited.

Sympathetic be.

Love, and show compassion

In humility.

Keep your tongue from evil.

Peaceful you must be.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;

Listens to their prayers.

But He’s against evil –

Is His to avenge.

Do not fear what they fear.

Suffer patiently.

In your hearts, make Christ Lord.

Serve Him faithfully.

Honor one another.

Live in harmony.

http://youtu.be/inttFEHW_Eg

To the Glory of God

Sunday, September 23, 2012, 6:12 a.m. – the Lord woke me this morning with the song “Pray, Pray, Pray,” followed by the song “For Our Nation.”

Pray, Pray, Pray / An Original Work / September 6, 2012

Based off Various Scriptures

Pray that eyes may enlightened be,

So they may know Christ.

Pray that they may Him better know,

Strengthened by His pow’r.

Pray that they may grasp

How wide and long

And high and deep

Is Christ’s love.

Pray that they may be filled

To the fullness of God’s love.

Pray with thanksgiving.

Pray for an open door for me,

So I may share Christ.

Pray when the gospel is proclaimed –

Shared with clarity.

Pray words are given me so

I declare the gospel fearlessly.

I pray for you to be active

Sharing your faith, too.

Pray continually.

We oft not know for what to pray,

So we ask for help.

The Spirit intercedes for us –

Words cannot express.

Just keep on praying for the saints

With all kinds of requests to God.

Pray they may have faith to

Please their God in ev’ry way.

Pray with joyfulness.

http://youtu.be/38LefoyUQSk

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Philippians 4:4-19 (NIV 1984):

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

… And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Clear Direction

As many of you know by now, a little over a week ago a music producer in Nashville, TN, approached me about professionally recording some of my songs. At first I declined, and then he wrote back and encouraged me to pray about, so I did. The Lord immediately put the hymn “The Regions Beyond,” by A.B. Simpson, in my mind. So, I knew the Lord was saying to go to the regions beyond with the gospel. Next the Lord put the song “God Will Make a Way” (where there seems to be no way) in my mind, so I knew the Lord was saying “Go to the regions beyond” and that he would make a way for me to go. He followed this with the scripture, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,” and the scripture that says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord.” So, I knew the Lord was saying “Go,” “I will make a way,” “With God all things are possible (that are not possible with man)”, and “Not in your own strength or power or wisdom, but in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit within you will this be accomplished.

I have been praying for clear direction in this matter for over a week now. This morning I prayed: “Lord, I pray you would give me clear direction concerning going to Nashville and recording the song ‘For Our Nation’” (for at this point we had determined that we will begin with just one song). I continued, “It keeps appearing to me to be an open door. I pray if this is your will that you will work out all the details and provide all we need (finances; voice; etc.) for this venture ‘to go to the regions beyond.’ In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Then, I read the lyrics to the song “Pray, Pray, Pray.” The Lord had led me to research various scriptures in the New Testament on the topic of prayer, so the lyrics came straight from scripture (with minor variations). The second verse, thus, was based off a request of Paul’s for the church to pray for him for an “open door” to share the gospel clearly and fearlessly. Now, the Lord has given me 110 songs to write, so I don’t know all the lyrics to all the songs, though I know enough to identify what songs he puts in my mind when I awake in the morning. So, when I came to the second verse and it read, “Pray for an open door for me, so I may share Christ,” I cried, for I knew the Lord had answered my prayer for clear direction. The Lord had given me this song, then the song “For Our Nation,” and then this producer contacted me within a few days following that, so I sense very much God’s hand in all of this and that he has provided this open door for me.

I don’t write for profit, or for fame, but for the glory of God and the encouragement of the church. I have not copyrighted any of the songs on purpose, but have marked them all as “public domain.” So, the question arose as to the potential necessity of copyrighting the song once it is professionally recorded, so I prayed for direction for that, as well, and the Lord replied: “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.” Well, the songs originated with God (The Original), and they are his works, which is why each one of them is subtitled “An Original Work,” and why the recording artist is “Original Works,” so the songs are clearly God’s, from beginning to end, and are not Caesar’s, nor will they ever belong to Caesar if I have any say over it, so they need to remain in the public domain.

“Lord, I keep seeing green lights all the way with this project, so I will move forward, trusting you to make a way where there seems to be no way. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Not Anxious

When Gerry first approached me about recording some of my songs professionally, using my voice, I admit that I was anxious about that possibility. I know my own voice. I know it is a 62 year old voice and it does not have the strength that it had in my younger years, and that often it gives out on me without notice, so I told him that the songs are in the public domain and that anyone is free to record them. Then, he encouraged me to use my own voice for the recordings, so I wrote back and explained to him that I have an old voice that is not what it was in my younger years and that I have not kept up with vocal exercises, etc., to keep it in shape and strong. Yet, he encouraged me that he could work with that, and the Lord encouraged me that it is “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord,” and “God will make a way where there seems to be no way,” and “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” So, the Lord turned my anxiety into trust and faith for God to work the impossible (financially and with voice).

Worry is the opposite of faith. If God leads us in a direction, we need to trust him to work out all the details. Instead of worrying and fretting, we need to pray with thanksgiving, thanking God in advance for what he is going to do, expecting him to work miracles! That is where I am right now. I know my God is able to do exceedingly above all that I could ask or imagine. He is God! And, I definitely did not ask for this one nor did I imagine it in my wildest dreams. I already had an open door to share the gospel, I thought, and that I was not in need for an open door, and yet the Lord gave me that song that asked people to pray for an open door for me, and it appears to me that God has answered that prayer. With prayer and faith (trust) in place of worry comes inner peace and assurance that God will work everything out according to his plans and purposes. Trust, as opposed to worry, involves believing in God’s sovereignty over all things and his power to act on our behalf.

When we worry, our minds often race forward with all kinds of fearful thoughts and imaginations. I know my mind began to go there, contemplating what we would do if my voice did not cooperate. I had to shake off those fearful thoughts and trust the Lord that if he was leading in this, which I believe he is, that he will give me what I need. Paul said, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” We must believe that, and “take it to the bank,” essentially. We have to believe what God says and we have to stop worrying, because he is God and he is quite capable of handling the circumstances of our lives. And, we have to let go and let God lead!

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” This does not mean I can jump off a tall building and not die, but it means that I can do everything for which God has called me and has equipped me and is of his perfect will for my life, because it will be God doing it through me, and not me doing it myself. So, I commit this project of professionally recording the song “For Our Nation” to God and to his purposes, and I will follow him wherever he leads me, trusting him to work it all out for good and for his glory and honor and praise.

For Our Nation / An Original Work / September 11, 2012

( ) Indicates descant (Soprano)

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.

(My Lord Jesus,)

Jesus Christ is gently calling

(Gently calling)

You to follow Him in all ways.

(You to follow)

Trust Him with your life today.

(Him in all ways.)

Make Him your Lord and your Savior.

(Make Him your Lord)

Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.

(And your Savior.)

He will forgive you of your sin;

(Turn from your sin.)

Cleanse your heart, made new within.

(Follow Jesus.)

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.

(On our knees to)

On our knees to God we’re praying,

(God we’re praying,)

Seeking God to give us answers

(Seeking God to)

That are only found in Him.

(Give us answers.)

God is sovereign over all things.

(God is sovereign)

Nothing from His mind escaping.

(Over all things.)

He has all things under His command,

(He will work all things)

And will work all for good.

(Out for good.)

Men deceiving: we’re believing

(We’re believing)

In our Lord, and interceding

(In our Lord , and)

For our nation and its people

(Interceding)

To obey their God today.

(For our nation.)

He is our hope for our future.

(God is our hope)

For our wounds He offers suture.

(For our future.)

He is all we need for this life.

(He is all we)

Trust Him with your life today.

(Need for this life.)

http://youtu.be/66Ezi71DeOk

Lies and Betrayal

Saturday, September 22, 2012, 7:47 a.m. – the Lord woke me with the song “For Our Nation” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Philippians 3:1-4:1 (NIV 1984):

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

Watch out For Dogs!

The term “dog” was used in the Old Testament (Bible) to describe people or groups of people who were considered despicable or unclean, such as Gentiles (those outside of faith in the one true God), who were spiritually unclean. More often in the New Testament the term was used to describe false teachers who tried to promote “another gospel,” which was no gospel at all, in order to lead followers of Christ away from the true gospel, and away from their pure devotion to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. And, that is the case here. The “dogs” Paul referred to here were the Judaizers who tried to get the Gentile believers to be circumcised and to follow the old Jewish ceremonial laws and requirements.

Though, certainly, legalists still exist today, I believe they are of much smaller numbers than they were 50 years ago. In the place of legalism, another false gospel has risen to fame, which has swept across evangelical Christianity here in America, and is far more dangerous and deceptive than the requirements of externals, though that is bad enough. This false gospel removes the cross and the purpose of what Jesus did in dying on the cross for our sins. It makes a mockery of all that he did as it requires no death to sin (no repentance) and no walk of obedience to Christ and his commands for salvation. It obliterates the very reason for which Christ died which was to free us from slavery to sin. Jesus did not die just so we could go to heaven one day. He died that we might be free of captivity to sin while we are still on this earth, and so we could walk in the Spirit of God and follow our Lord Jesus Christ in full surrender and obedience to his will for our lives, and so we could have sweet fellowship with our Lord daily, hourly and moment-by-moment.

Yet, there is another level of “dogs” that exist within our nations, and those are people in public office or governmental authority who lie and deceive the people of their nations into believing and trusting in them, convincing us they have our good in mind, and that we can believe their words and promises to us. Many of them claim to be Christians or claim to believe in Jesus Christ, yet their words and actions do not support that notion, as their words and actions often speak the opposite. Not one of us is perfect, mind you, so I am not suggesting that they must live in sinless perfection, but that there are many political figures who are hypocrites in that they claim one thing yet live another, and that their goal is to deceive the people and to take advantage of them and of their trust. Jesus talked about such men in John 10, who enter the sheep pen by another way and their goal is to destroy the flock. Ezekiel (chapter 34) also spoke of such men who only take care of themselves.

So, this calls for much discernment. We must, must spend time each day in the study of God’s word so we know the truth, so we are not easily deceived by these “dogs” who do evil but who claim to do good. And, we must check out everything we hear and stop believing everything we read or hear in the news or in sermons or in books written by men. Not everyone is who he claims to be. We need to stop trusting in men, and put our trust in God alone, and we need to be so discerning and test everything against the word of God. We need to stop being so gullible, and we need to pray through everything we hear to see if God shares the same assessment of people and situations as are presented to us daily.

For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

I Now Consider Loss

Paul had reason to boast in his flesh for he had been a staunch Pharisee and faultless in his zeal for legalistic righteousness, even to the point of persecuting the church. Yet, all those things that he once claimed as important he now considered loss for the sake of Christ and his gospel. Yet, his statement here says so much more to us than just being a testimony of having forsaken a life of legalistic righteousness (trying to earn his salvation).

What Paul described here, and in many other places in his writings, describes the true meaning of the cross of Christ in our lives, i.e. what our salvation is truly all about. When we come to Christ in faith, we die to our old lives of sin and of pleasing ourselves and of following after other gods or false religions, etc. Everything we once considered important or essential for our lives we now lay at Jesus’ feet and surrender our wills to his will for our lives. Whatever we once boasted about in our flesh is now rubbish. The things of this world, the sinful pleasures of this life, the pride of life and the boasting of what one has or does in the flesh is gone! We trade in our old lives of sin for our new lives in Christ, created to be like Christ is true righteousness and holiness (see Ephesians 4:17-24). We no longer walk after our fleshly desires, but we walk after the Spirit to do what is pleasing to God.

Paul said he wanted to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead. He was not speaking of works-based salvation. He was speaking of the true faith response to the gospel and to the cross of Christ. To know Christ and the power of his resurrection means to die to our old lives of sin and self and to take up our cross daily and follow Christ, for the power of the resurrection was that it freed us from slavery and the ultimate punishment of sin. So, to know Christ means to die to sin and to be alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. When we have this kind of experience and relationship with Jesus Christ we will be persecuted and hated for our faith in Christ and thus will share in Christ’s sufferings, because we will be treated like he was treated, and even by our own.

Yet, Paul’s comments that follow give us much hope, because he explains that the Christian life is a process of growth and maturity in Christ. We are not perfect, yet we should never use our humanness or imperfection as an excuse for willful and continued sin. When we sin, which we will, we should get on our knees before God in all humility and repentance and pray the Lord will help us not to go that direction again, by his strength and the power and working of the Holy Spirit within us. And, we should press on “to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” For what did Christ Jesus take hold of us? He took hold of us so that we might be free from slavery to sin, from the ultimate penalty of sin (eternal damnation), and so we might be free to walk in holiness with God as Lord of our lives.

Paul was not perfect and neither will be until we reach heaven one day, but we should aim for perfection in Christ, not having a perfectionist attitude about our lives to the point of kicking ourselves all the time for not measuring up, but we should have the attitude of humility and repentance when we sin, of thankfulness for God’s grace, with a desire in our hearts to live lives pleasing to God, and with the goal to overcome our flesh in the power of the Spirit within us. We have to let go of our pasts and press on for what God has for us in our future. We can’t change our pasts, but we can change what we do in the present, one day at a time. So, instead of having a “Woe is me” attitude or wallowing in self-pity when we fail, we should confess our sin, turn, and keep moving forward in God’s grace.

Our World Around Us

We are going to face a lot of stuff in this life – some good, and some bad. We will face sickness, trials, tribulations, things that test our faith, hardships, persecutions, mistreatment, betrayal of friends and trusted relationships, etc. These should not shake our faith, but should drive us to our knees in prayer, and in seeking God’s face for answers. These times that test us should drive us even more to follow Jesus Christ with wholehearted devotion and commitment to obey him and to live lives pleasing unto him. They should drive us to self-examination of heart and mind so that we know, without a shadow of a doubt, that we are following Jesus Christ to the best of our knowledge, so that we are pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.

For Our Nation / An Original Work / September 11, 2012

( ) Indicates descant (Soprano)

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.

(Jesus Christ is)

Jesus Christ is gently calling

(Gently calling)

You to follow Him in all ways.

(You to follow)

Trust Him with your life today.

(Him in all ways.)

Make Him your Lord and your Savior.

(Make Him your Lord)

Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.

(And your Savior.)

He will forgive you of your sin;

(Turn from your sin.)

Cleanse your heart, made new within.

(Follow Jesus.)

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.

(On our knees to)

On our knees to God we’re praying,

(God we’re praying,)

Seeking God to give us answers

(Seeking God to)

That are only found in Him.

(Give us answers.)

God is sovereign over all things.

(God is sovereign)

Nothing from His mind escaping.

(Over all things.)

He has all things under His command,

(He will work all things)

And will work all for good.

(Out for good.)

Men deceiving: we’re believing

(We’re believing)

In our Lord, and interceding

(In our Lord , and)

For our nation and its people

(Interceding)

To obey their God today.

(For our nation.)

He is our hope for our future.

(God is our hope)

For our wounds He offers suture.

(For our future.)

He is all we need for this life.

(He is all we)

Trust Him with your life today.

(Need for this life.)

http://youtu.be/66Ezi71DeOk

With God

Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 10:10 a.m. – the Lord woke me this morning with the song “Blessed Are You” playing through my mind. I read Philippians 1:12-30 (NIV 1984):

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

An Opportunity

A couple of days ago a music producer approached me about making a professional CD of some of my (the Lord’s) songs. I declined, because I assumed making a CD would be for the purpose of profiting financially from the CD, and that is not what I am looking to do. I said, in response to him: “Gerry, I appreciate your kind and encouraging words. The Biblical premise behind what I do is this: "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:19-20 NIV). I don't write for profit, but for the glory of God and the encouragement of the saints of God. So, all the songs are in the public domain. That is the way I believe God wants me to use this gift he has given to me. The songs are available free of charge to anyone who wants to record them. And, I give all the praise, honor and glory to God for how he chooses to use them in people's lives. Again, thanks so much! Your words have ministered to my heart.”

He replied: “From my experience the best way to get your songs out there is to record a professionally done CD with you as the vocalist. It's something you should pray about and let God guide you. You can always stay in touch by email or even call me. There's never any obligation, I'm happy to share free advice and guidance and then let the Lord use you in the way He feels works best. May you and others be continually blessed with this gift He's given you.”

So, I committed this opportunity as a matter for prayer. In my thinking out loud to the Lord, I mentioned to him how it appears that the songs are not yet reaching a broad audience, yet I know that God could be taking them places of which I am not aware. Just then the Lord put the old A.B. Simpson hymn, “The Regions Beyond” in my mind - http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/r/e/regionsb.htm.  I knew God put that hymn in my mind in response to my prayer to him, but I was not sure if he was saying that he is already taking the songs to the regions beyond, i.e. to places of which I am unaware, or if he wants me to take them to the regions beyond in response to this music producer’s request that I pray about making a CD of the songs.

Just as I wrote this, the Lord brought this scripture to my mind: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26). And, as I just recorded that verse, the Lord brought another verse to mind, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Zech. 4:6b).

A Needed Miracle

I told my husband last night that if this were to really happen, it would take a miracle of God to see it to completion, i.e. from the finances necessary, to the voice to sing, to the transportation and housing in Nashville, and to getting the CDs in hands that would get them out to people “in the regions beyond,” etc. Yet, I still don’t know if the answer to my prayer is that God is already doing this supernaturally in a way that man could not possibly do it, or if God is wanting me to trust him with this venture because he can work miracles where man cannot.

After the Lord put the song “The Regions Beyond” in my mind, he put the song “God will Make a Way” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQQrYrtD2Zs. This song fits well with the scripture from Matthew 19 about all things being possible with God. The song also appears to suggest that this is something new that God is going to do that he is not already doing.

Clearly the Lord is telling me that he will make a way for these songs to go to the regions beyond. Yet, I may never see how he is accomplishing this. Still he may have a plan for me to be personally involved in the process of taking the songs to the regions beyond, where it is impossible with man, but fully possible with God.

Lord, I trust you to show me what you have in mind here. Am I to keep doing what I have been doing and just trust that you are taking the songs where you want them, or is there something additional that you have for me to do? I know that you are the one who is orchestrating the whole process, beginning to end, so I will wait on you to show me what you have for me to do. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.

Served to Advance the Gospel

It is so fitting that this should be my passage for today, since the Lord had spoken to me through the hymn “The Regions Beyond” concerning taking the gospel in song to places where the message of the true gospel has not yet been told. Paul said here that what had happened to him, i.e. his persecutions, trials, beatings and imprisonments helped serve to advance the gospel. Because of Paul’s chains, other followers of Christ were encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly, which then advanced the gospel, so it was kind of like a domino effect.

So, I considered before the Lord how this might fit with this proposal made to me to make a professional CD of some of the songs the Lord has given to me to write, and also how it might fit with taking the gospel in song to the regions beyond.

Truly it is because of previous persecution and rejection in today’s institutional church that I am where I am, doing what I am doing, i.e. if I had been accepted in a church I would probably still be there confined to those areas of ministry within that local congregation. But, God had other plans for me. He allowed me to be persecuted and rejected more than once so that I would call on him in prayer and anguish of heart and seek his face for what he had for my life, and in that time of anguish in prayer he began to open my heart to a new ministry of writing what he gives me each day and posting it on the internet, so, in a way, I have been going to the regions beyond for the past six + years. Yet, I get a sense that there is more that God has for me, which is why the messages have been “Go,” “God will make a way,” and “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

So, I ask for your prayers for me that God will make a way where there seems to be no way for these messages in song to reach to the regions beyond, whether or not I am physically involved in that process in any way other than just to do what I have already been doing.

Paul said that he believed that through the prayers of the saints of God what had happened to him would turn out for his deliverance. I believe God is saying the same thing to me, that the persecution that sent me to seek God’s face and ultimately led to this present ministry will and already is serving to advance the gospel, and that this ministry of writing and song is already being blessed of God in so many ways, and will continue to be, whether in my life or in my death, for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain, for either way I am with Christ.

Whatever Happens

Whatever happens to me or to you, or whatever God leads me to do or not do, the important thing is that we continue (or begin) to conduct our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ Jesus, our Lord. It is invaluable that we stand firm in one spirit in Christ, contending as one person for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose us, because God can make a way where there seems to be no way, because he works in ways we cannot see, and I know he is making a way for you and me and for his gospel to go to the regions beyond.

I would not be where I am today if I gave way to the fear of man, yet it was the opposition of man that sent me to my knees and that led me to hear God’s voice speaking clearly to my heart in leading me to do what I am doing today. So, I thank the Lord for those times of persecution and rejection and opposition for they helped serve to advance the gospel.

Blessed Are You / An Original Work / August 29, 2012

Based off Luke 6:20-49 NIV 1984

“Blessed are you;

Blessed are you who are poor

For God’s kingdom is yours.

(Kingdom is yours)

Blessed are you;

Blessed are you who are hungry,

You’ll be satisfied.

(Be satisfied)

Blessed are you;

Blessed are you who weep now,

For you will laugh with joy.

(Will laugh with joy)

Blessed are you;

Blessed are you when men hate

And reject you because of Christ.”

(Because of Christ)

“Rejoice in that;

Rejoice in that day and

Leap for joy; great your reward.

(Great your reward)

But I tell you;

But I tell you to love those

Who hate you; do them good.

(Do good to them)

Pray for those who;

Pray for those who treat you wrong

And say kind things of them.

(Kind things of them)

Do to others;

Do to others as you would have

Them do; have them do to you.”

(Them do to you)

“If you love those;

If you love those who love you,

What praise is there for you?

(What praise for you?)

Because Christ is;

Because Christ is kind,

Be merciful, just like He is.

(Just like He is)

Forgive others;

Forgive others their offense

Against you; be ye kind.

(Be kind to them)

Hear My words and;

Hear My words and put them

Into practice, then you’ll be fulfilled.”

(You’ll be fulfilled)

http://youtu.be/y31ouWaLdSU

United with Christ

Thursday, September 20, 2012, 5:38 a.m. – the Lord woke me this morning with the song “Living Sacrifices” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Philippians 2:1-18 (NIV 1984):

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

    did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

    taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    and became obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

    and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Our Benefits

If you have been truly united with Christ through faith, then you have his love, encouragement, comfort, fellowship with the Spirit, etc., for these are just some of the many benefits you reap from that union with Christ. So, why does Paul phrase this in such a way seemingly to suggest the possibility that one might not possess these benefits, i.e. he says “If you have any…”? Perhaps it is to get the reader to think about his relationship with Jesus Christ and to examine what he has in Christ that he would not have otherwise. Sometimes we take our blessings for granted, or over time they become so second nature that we don’t really give them thought or express appreciation for them as we should. Or, perhaps we are not taking full advantage of the benefits we receive from our relationship with Jesus Christ due to neglect, apathy, or the busyness of our lives, etc., and so we have forgotten the benefits we reap from our union with Christ, and thus need to be reminded.

Whatever the reason for Paul’s usage of “If” phrases in this context, what is clear is that encouragement, comfort, love, fellowship with the Spirit, and tenderness and compassion are all benefits we reap from our union with Christ, whether we take full advantage of them or not. And, Paul is reminding us of these benefits, I believe, lest we take them for granted or not take full advantage of them, or they become so common place to us that we lack the appropriate appreciation for all that Christ Jesus has done for us. The reason I believe this is because of what Paul said next. If truly we acknowledge that we have these benefits from God, that we did nothing to earn or deserve them, but they are his gifts to us, and we, in all humility, have the full appreciation of the extent of God’s love and mercy toward us, then it should be evident in how we treat others, in particular our fellow believers in Christ.

I think that sometimes we don’t treat others the way we should because we forget from where we came and where God brought us, and we forget his benefits to us, and we do take them for granted. That brings to mind what the psalmist said in Psalm 103 (NIV 1984):

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the Lord, O my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits—

3 who forgives all your sins

    and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit

    and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

So, sometimes we need to be reminded of all that we have in Christ so that we are not conceited or self-righteous or proud or pompous and think we have God’s blessings because of how wonderful we are, but so we are reminded that what we have we have because of God’s mercy and grace, and because he has chosen to give us these blessings.

“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” ~ 1 Co. 4:7

Our Responsibility

Because of all that Jesus Christ did for us we have a God-given responsibility to forsake our lives of sin, to not live for our own selfish desires, to live and walk in the Spirit of God, to obey Christ Jesus in all things, to love our brothers and sisters, and to be led of the Spirit of God in how we conduct our lives each and every day (see Ro. 8:12-14). If we are doing this, then it will be evident in how we treat others. And, Jesus Christ set the prime example for how we are to treat others. We are to love others as he loved us and gave himself up for us.

Jesus Christ is God, the second person of our triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He was with God in heaven, yet he willingly left his throne in heaven, came to earth, took on human flesh, suffered as we suffer, was tempted as we are tempted, yet without sin, was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows (see Is. 53), was betrayed, denied, beaten, falsely accused, mocked, criticized, and was hung on a cross to die for our sins, although he had done no wrong. He humbled himself and became obedient to death on the cross so that you and I could go free from slavery to sin and be free from the ultimate penalty of sin – eternal damnation. When he died, our sins died with him, and when he arose from the grave, he came back to life victorious over death, hell, Satan and sin. And, one day he will come again and everyone will acknowledge that he is the Lord Christ, the Son of the Living God, and every knee will bow before him.

How Should We Live?

So, what kind of lives should we live because of what Jesus Christ did for us? And, because of all the benefits we reap from that union with Christ? First of all Paul stated that we should be like-minded, having the same love (as that of Christ), being one in spirit and purpose. In order for us to be like-minded, etc., we have to have a common goal, purpose, attitude, etc. Our example or model is Christ and his word. We must be very discerning about this, for there is much talk in the church of today about “unity” that is of man and with man and that is not of God or with God. So, we must be diligent about our times with God in his word, and in following what his word teaches us, so that we know the mind (thoughts, attitudes, goals, purposes and desires) of Christ, for that is the only way we can be like-minded with each other. We must first of all share with Christ in his goals, purposes and desires if we are to be united with one another in the same manner.

The next thing Paul said we should do because of the benefits we reap from our union with Christ is that we should not do anything out of selfish ambition or vain (empty) conceit, but in humility we should consider others better than ourselves. Our society, even within the church, contradicts this on many levels as we are continually fed this me-me attitude about life – What’s in it for me? What can I gain from this? How can this bring me pleasure and fulfill all my dreams? Even in the church so much is being done to please men, especially those of the world, so that they will want to come to our churches. Obviously we should consider the needs of others in all humility of spirit, but I think sometimes the church helps feed this “entitlement” mindset and thus people get the idea that church is just a place to get cleaned-up entertainment or socialization without cost or obligation.

So, perhaps to best understand what is meant here by not doing anything out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility to consider others better than ourselves, we must look to Christ as our example. He exemplified and modeled humility and servanthood, yet he also taught us to follow suit by his example. He gave willingly of his time, talents, heart and service to meet the legitimate needs of others. He did not do this to please people or to tickle their ears or to make them feel good about themselves or to entertain them so they would like him. He always told them the truth, even when it hurt. And, he told them the cost of following him – death to their old lives of sin and following him in full obedience and surrender to his will for their lives. Yet, he lovingly cared for their true needs, he showed much compassion and sympathy, he took time with them even when he was tired and he needed to rest, and he ministered to their whole being – heart, mind, body and soul.

Paul then said something that often causes confusion for some people, yet if understood in its context, it should alleviate that confusion. He said to the Philippian Christians that just as they had always obeyed Christ, they were to continue to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. This is not works-based salvation! A true Biblical understanding of salvation will teach you that you are saved, you are being saved, and you will be saved. Our salvation will not be complete until Jesus Christ returns for his bride. This “working out” of our salvation, thus, first of all involves continual obedience to Christ and to his word. It involves our spiritual growth and development, i.e. the process of our discipleship in Christ. And, it involves perseverance, continuing in our faith, standing on what we believe, daily dying to self and sin, and daily choosing to obey Christ and to follow him wherever he leads us, etc. Yet, this is the work of Christ in us, doing his will and good purpose for our lives as we cooperate fully with that work in full reverence for God and with singleness of purpose.

Lastly, Paul said we should do everything without complaining and arguing, so that we may become blameless and pure. In other words, we should be content with where God has us and with his will for our lives so that we can live lives pleasing to him with wholehearted, pure and undivided loyalty and devotion to him and to doing his will. We should shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the word of life in a crooked and depraved generation. In other words, our lives should stand out as different in a good way. We shouldn’t be like the world nor should we follow after the ways of the world or even be entertained by them. We should live holy lives pleasing to God, which is our reasonable service of worship. And, we should actively be involved in sharing the gospel, the word of truth, the word of life with all those to whom God leads us to share the gospel of our salvation. And, we should give of our very lives for the gospel, for our testimony for Christ, for his service, and for service and love to others, following the example Christ Jesus set before us.

Living Sacrifices / An Original Work / September 14, 2012

Based off Romans 12:1-2; 6:11-14 NIV

Oh, holy ones, I counsel you,

In view of God’s mercy,

To give yourselves to God in love

As living offerings,

Pleasing to God, holy in love.

This is your true worship.

Do not conform to worldly lives.

Let God transform you today.

Then you’ll be able to

Test and approve of what

God’s will is – His pleasing

And perfect will.

Oh, holy ones, I counsel you –

Offer yourselves unto God.

Oh, holy ones, I counsel you –

Do not be conceited.

Humble yourselves before your God.

Do not be self-righteous.

The strength you have to live in love

Comes from your Lord God, so

Live your new lives in pow’r of God.

Be changed in heart, mind and will.

Do this because of what

Christ did for you when

He died on the cross to save

The world from sin.

Oh, holy ones, I counsel you –

Humble yourselves before God.

Oh, holy ones, I counsel you –

Count yourselves dead to sin,

But be alive to God in Christ.

Do not let sin reign in

Your earthly lives so you

Obey its evil desires.

Offer yourselves unto your God

As those who’ve been born again.

For sin shall no longer be

Your lord and master.

Give of yourselves to God

For righteousness.

Oh, holy ones, I counsel you –

Be alive to God in Christ.

http://youtu.be/FmosWzVnAVk