We have just concluded a series of messages at Cleary that have really challenged me. I hope they have challenged all who have listened as well. It is my hope and prayer that these messages have stirred within all of our hearts a holy discontentment for how we are spending our money, our time, and our lives. May God challenge us to keep up with his commission instead of with the Jones.
Now, we transition into the Christmas season and no doubt it will be busy for us all. On Saturday, Dec 6 the children will be going, with their families and church family, to the Christmas festival in Ridgeland at 3:30 p.m. Sunday night, Dec 7, our Sunday school classes will be coming together in different locations for Christmas parties, fellowship meals, and outreach events. On Wednesday, Dec 10, The Children of the World Choir will be at Cleary at 6:30 p.m. On Dec 13 and 14 our choir will be sharing a Christmas musical that they have been working long and hard on. On Sunday mornings, we are going to slow down and walk through the first 2 chapters of Luke to hopefully get us in the Christmas spirit. Throughout the month, we will be challenging everyone to give sacrificially and generously to our Lottie Moon Christmas offering, which goes entirely to support the ministry of our 5400+ international missionaries all over the world. It will be a busy time this year, as it is every Christmas.
As busy as it is, I love Christmas. We had our tree up 2 weeks before Thanksgiving and it will stay up until January. We have a Christmas carousel, a lighted Christmas village, little nativity sets here and there, and more. I usually give my wife a hard time about decorating, but not at Christmas. I like to sit down in the living room, with a fire roaring, Christmas lights lit, and watch Rudolph, The Polar Express, or the Nativity Story with my kids. It is just my favorite time of year and it has nothing to do with the presents. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy getting Christmas gifts. I enjoy giving them. But the best Christmas memories will be the ones you make, not at the mall, not as your husband stares blankly at the 100th tie, not as your wife smells the pungent odor of the bad perfume you picked out for her at the last minute, not as your children rip into gifts that will find themselves replaced in a week with a refrigerator box, but in the time you spend with each other riding through town to see the Christmas lights or just watching The Christmas Story as you enjoy your own lights and decorations. This Christmas the joy will not be in the hustle and bustle of the season, but in the time you can share as a family without the stress of needless rushing. Be willing to say no to that party. Be willing to resist that sale. Refuse to feel obligated to buy, buy, buy from now until Christmas because your family might not get enough. They already have too much! Be willing to say no in order to say yes to your family. I assure you that what they will remember most and with the fondest memories, will not be what you gave them, but the time you spent with them. So…put Christ first, family second, and let everything else fall a distant third this Christmas. After all, there will only be one Christmas this year. Make it a merry one, not just a busy one.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Look out! The Devil's Ticked Off!
Just last week I announced the beginning of a brand new series of sermons: Lift Him High, That all Peoples may Know Him. The goal? To challenge Cleary Baptist Church to change the world for the glory of God and the good of mankind. Such a challenge is sure to draw the fiery darts of the wicked one so get ready. These next six weeks could be the rockiest six weeks we have experienced in a long time IF we let the wicked one have his way. We must be on guard and there is no place better to guard than our own front door!
First Peter 5:8-9 warns us to, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith." Satan is busy! He is the enemy! He is seeking whom he may devour and his primary targets are the ones that threaten his kingdom. Anytime a church starts focusing on the mission and reaching, not just their community, but their country and their world, Satan gets serious. Peter warns us to be sober (clear headed) and vigilant (guarded). We must choose to resist Satan, his temptations, and his deception, even when the flesh cries out to surrender to him. We must be cautious, guarded, and resistant to his tactics. How can we do that in these crucial days?
First, we must be positive! Philippians 4:8 tells us, "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." If you are going to talk, talk positively! If you are going to listen, be sure what you listen to is positive! If you are going to broadcast information, be sure the information is positive. Think about the true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable things. As a man thinks in his heart so is he! (Proverbs 23:7) Slander, negative talk, complaining, and criticizing has NEVER positively impacted the kingdom of God. It has ALWAYS played into the hands of Satan. Be sure that YOU do not become an advocate of the deceiver! That is why the word tells us to "do all things without complaining and disputing (Phil 2:14). We should rejoice in the Lord always and again rejoice. We should give thanks in everything. We should trust in the sovereignty of our God to work all things together for good! Be positive!
Second, we must be willing to set aside our own preferences, feelings, desires, and opinions for the goal of the Gospel. First Corinthians 9:12 tells us that Paul was willing to "endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ." He was willing to bend, give, compromise (anything but scripture) and endure pain, suffering, persecution, and heartache in order to ensure that the Gospel of Christ was not hindered by his actions. If we are to be on guard against the wicked one and watchful against his tactics we must be willing to put up with just about anything in order to accomplish the task that God has called us to: reaching the lost with the Gospel. If that is the goal, reaching out to the lost and un-churched, we must be willing to give and endure all things for the sake of the Gospel. Before we speak, act, or respond, we should ask ourselves, "what impact will this have on the mission of Cleary Baptist Church?" If we will do that, Satan will have a hard time getting past the front door of our lives or our church!
Finally, to summarize the best way to resist the wicked one in our lives and in our church, we must simply die to ourselves. Anytime someone gets bent out of shape, it is due to the fact that they have not died to themselves. Oh yes, it is hard to do. When that certain someone gets under your skin or when things don’t go your way, it is so easy to get focused on me (Tommy Malley calls it an I infection). When that certain someone says that certain thing in that certain tone, isn’t it easy to resort to the flesh? And once you resort to the flesh it is much, much easier to remain in the flesh than to die to the flesh. Yes, it is sometimes difficult to die to yourself, especially when you have a personal interest in the matter at hand or your personal feelings have been impacted. Speaking for myself, it is the hardest thing to do: to say it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. It was even hard for Paul. That is why he said in First Corinthians 15:31, "I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily." But, if you want to resist Satan in your life and in your church, you must die to yourself and realize that it is really not about you. I remind myself of that every morning, every evening, and just before I go to bed. Kevin, this is not about you!
Satan perks his filthy, wretched ears up when he hears things like, "We are beginning a six part sermon series Sunday entitled, Lift Him High: That all Peoples may Know Him." He perks up his ears and begins working immediately in the hearts, minds, and lives of unsuspecting people to take the focus off of the goal: reaching the world for Christ. I want to warn you to be sober, be vigilant, and be resistant to his tactics. Be careful to stay positive, endure all necessary for the good of the Gospel, and die daily to yourself. Those steps will be sure to help close the door of your life on the devil, and protect the fellowship of Cleary from his wary tactics to steal, kill, and destroy. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith." "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith." 1 Peter 5:8-9
First Peter 5:8-9 warns us to, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith." Satan is busy! He is the enemy! He is seeking whom he may devour and his primary targets are the ones that threaten his kingdom. Anytime a church starts focusing on the mission and reaching, not just their community, but their country and their world, Satan gets serious. Peter warns us to be sober (clear headed) and vigilant (guarded). We must choose to resist Satan, his temptations, and his deception, even when the flesh cries out to surrender to him. We must be cautious, guarded, and resistant to his tactics. How can we do that in these crucial days?
First, we must be positive! Philippians 4:8 tells us, "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." If you are going to talk, talk positively! If you are going to listen, be sure what you listen to is positive! If you are going to broadcast information, be sure the information is positive. Think about the true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable things. As a man thinks in his heart so is he! (Proverbs 23:7) Slander, negative talk, complaining, and criticizing has NEVER positively impacted the kingdom of God. It has ALWAYS played into the hands of Satan. Be sure that YOU do not become an advocate of the deceiver! That is why the word tells us to "do all things without complaining and disputing (Phil 2:14). We should rejoice in the Lord always and again rejoice. We should give thanks in everything. We should trust in the sovereignty of our God to work all things together for good! Be positive!
Second, we must be willing to set aside our own preferences, feelings, desires, and opinions for the goal of the Gospel. First Corinthians 9:12 tells us that Paul was willing to "endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ." He was willing to bend, give, compromise (anything but scripture) and endure pain, suffering, persecution, and heartache in order to ensure that the Gospel of Christ was not hindered by his actions. If we are to be on guard against the wicked one and watchful against his tactics we must be willing to put up with just about anything in order to accomplish the task that God has called us to: reaching the lost with the Gospel. If that is the goal, reaching out to the lost and un-churched, we must be willing to give and endure all things for the sake of the Gospel. Before we speak, act, or respond, we should ask ourselves, "what impact will this have on the mission of Cleary Baptist Church?" If we will do that, Satan will have a hard time getting past the front door of our lives or our church!
Finally, to summarize the best way to resist the wicked one in our lives and in our church, we must simply die to ourselves. Anytime someone gets bent out of shape, it is due to the fact that they have not died to themselves. Oh yes, it is hard to do. When that certain someone gets under your skin or when things don’t go your way, it is so easy to get focused on me (Tommy Malley calls it an I infection). When that certain someone says that certain thing in that certain tone, isn’t it easy to resort to the flesh? And once you resort to the flesh it is much, much easier to remain in the flesh than to die to the flesh. Yes, it is sometimes difficult to die to yourself, especially when you have a personal interest in the matter at hand or your personal feelings have been impacted. Speaking for myself, it is the hardest thing to do: to say it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. It was even hard for Paul. That is why he said in First Corinthians 15:31, "I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily." But, if you want to resist Satan in your life and in your church, you must die to yourself and realize that it is really not about you. I remind myself of that every morning, every evening, and just before I go to bed. Kevin, this is not about you!
Satan perks his filthy, wretched ears up when he hears things like, "We are beginning a six part sermon series Sunday entitled, Lift Him High: That all Peoples may Know Him." He perks up his ears and begins working immediately in the hearts, minds, and lives of unsuspecting people to take the focus off of the goal: reaching the world for Christ. I want to warn you to be sober, be vigilant, and be resistant to his tactics. Be careful to stay positive, endure all necessary for the good of the Gospel, and die daily to yourself. Those steps will be sure to help close the door of your life on the devil, and protect the fellowship of Cleary from his wary tactics to steal, kill, and destroy. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith." "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith." 1 Peter 5:8-9
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Lift Him High! That all peoples may know Him!
It is clear, from Scripture, that God calls His people to be about His mission. He has given us all His Great commission. To ensure that we get the message loud and clear, He issues His commission in all four Gospels and in the book of Acts. In Matthew 28:19 He commands us to go therefore and make disciples of all nations. In Mark 16:15 He tells us to go into the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. In Luke 24:47 He demands that repentance and forgiveness of sins be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. In John's Gospel He sends his followers just as the Father had sent Him. And in Acts 1:8 He says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
It is crystal clear that Christ's disciples are to be about His mission! If you do not know it, the Great Commission is a great passion of mine. I can envision the day when Cleary Baptist Church is dramatically impacting the Kingdom of God in Rankin County and in every major region of the world (Asia, Africa, the Pacific Rim, Europe, and the Americas). That is definitely a possibility and it is our responsibility. We must pray, give, and go with urgency, for night is coming when no one can work. To put it in a sentence, "Embracing Acts 1:8 excites me!"
I have been about to bust because I have been planning and preparing a six part sermon series entitled "Lift Him High! That All Peoples may Know Him." This is a 6 part sermon series that will begin October 26 and conclude on November 30 with a church wide "International Meal" in the ARC following the morning service (more info on that later). We have been called to go tell the story of Jesus in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth. In other words, we have been called to "Lift Him High!" Why? So that all peoples may know Him. Why do we want all peoples to know Him? Yes, because we don't want them to go to hell….but ultimately, we want all peoples to know Him so that they will "Lift Him High!" Missions is all about lifting Christ high whether at home or on the other side of the world. We lift Him high by proclaiming His worth and His Word to the nations, who as a result come to know Him, and then lift Him high as well. The Psalmist said it best in Psalm 67:3, "Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!" All the peoples (people groups around the world) are not praising Him yet! There are over 600 people groups who have 0, none, no access to the Gospel and have never heard the story of Jesus! Someone must go tell them the story of Jesus. Will you be the one?
I invite you to begin praying for and planning to attend the upcoming sermon series, "Lift Him High! That all Peoples may Know Him" at Cleary Baptist Church beginning October 26 and concluding on November 30! Come lift Him high with us. Come get a burden for the nations. Come catch the vision to CHANGE THE WORLD for Jesus!!! Come willing to "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" (Ps 96:3) Stop right now and say a prayer for this upcoming time in the Word together and please share this blog with everyone you will so that they will make it a point to come and join us for a six week journey to the ends of the earth!
It is crystal clear that Christ's disciples are to be about His mission! If you do not know it, the Great Commission is a great passion of mine. I can envision the day when Cleary Baptist Church is dramatically impacting the Kingdom of God in Rankin County and in every major region of the world (Asia, Africa, the Pacific Rim, Europe, and the Americas). That is definitely a possibility and it is our responsibility. We must pray, give, and go with urgency, for night is coming when no one can work. To put it in a sentence, "Embracing Acts 1:8 excites me!"
I have been about to bust because I have been planning and preparing a six part sermon series entitled "Lift Him High! That All Peoples may Know Him." This is a 6 part sermon series that will begin October 26 and conclude on November 30 with a church wide "International Meal" in the ARC following the morning service (more info on that later). We have been called to go tell the story of Jesus in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth. In other words, we have been called to "Lift Him High!" Why? So that all peoples may know Him. Why do we want all peoples to know Him? Yes, because we don't want them to go to hell….but ultimately, we want all peoples to know Him so that they will "Lift Him High!" Missions is all about lifting Christ high whether at home or on the other side of the world. We lift Him high by proclaiming His worth and His Word to the nations, who as a result come to know Him, and then lift Him high as well. The Psalmist said it best in Psalm 67:3, "Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!" All the peoples (people groups around the world) are not praising Him yet! There are over 600 people groups who have 0, none, no access to the Gospel and have never heard the story of Jesus! Someone must go tell them the story of Jesus. Will you be the one?
I invite you to begin praying for and planning to attend the upcoming sermon series, "Lift Him High! That all Peoples may Know Him" at Cleary Baptist Church beginning October 26 and concluding on November 30! Come lift Him high with us. Come get a burden for the nations. Come catch the vision to CHANGE THE WORLD for Jesus!!! Come willing to "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" (Ps 96:3) Stop right now and say a prayer for this upcoming time in the Word together and please share this blog with everyone you will so that they will make it a point to come and join us for a six week journey to the ends of the earth!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Praying Past the Ceiling
Have you ever felt as though your prayers were bouncing off of the ceiling and back into your lap? I know that I have! And if you haven’t you probably haven’t prayed too much. It just seems sometimes that no matter how much you cry out and pray, God is not answering.
I don’t know about you, but that aggravates me. Sometimes it downright angers me. You start wondering… “Why pray at all?” “Is God even real? Does He even exist or is this all just a game to help us cope with life?” But probably the most popular question we ask at a time like this is, “Am I doing something wrong that would hinder God from hearing?” “Am I not praying right?” Simply put, we often ask, “Is it me that is the problem here?” Obviously sometimes that is the case.
Often, however, the problem is not us. Our prayers bounce off the ceiling and we do not know why. We are tempted to get down in the dumps. We are tempted to take matters into our own hands. We are tempted to make decisions independent of God. We are tempted to believe that our case is hopeless.
Let me just say to you, do not give up and do not feel alone. David, a man after God’s own heart, had the same problems that we have today in his prayer life. In Psalm 69: 1-3 he wrote, “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.” ESV I cannot tell you why your prayers sometimes seem to bounce off of the ceiling, but I can tell you that, you are not alone. I can also assure you that if you know Christ your prayers are getting through. They don’t get past the ceiling because you have been a good boy or girl today. They don’t get past the ceiling because you say the right words. They get past the ceiling ONLY because of Jesus. So, don’t give up. Keep praying. That is what God would have you to do.
Jesus told a parable in Luke 18 to the effect that his people should always pray and not lose heart. He described a judge who did not fear God or care for man. In the same city with the judge there lived a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not wear me down by her continual coming and pleading. Then Jesus said, in verses 6-8 “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. (And listen to the last phrase) Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" ESV What in heaven is going on, while I am suffering with my hurts, my pains, my burdens, and my concerns on earth!? God is listening in his compassion, but waiting in his wisdom in order to grow our faith and trust in Him. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. Your prayers are not bouncing off of the ceiling. They are just accomplishing exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ever ask or imagine.
I don’t know about you, but that aggravates me. Sometimes it downright angers me. You start wondering… “Why pray at all?” “Is God even real? Does He even exist or is this all just a game to help us cope with life?” But probably the most popular question we ask at a time like this is, “Am I doing something wrong that would hinder God from hearing?” “Am I not praying right?” Simply put, we often ask, “Is it me that is the problem here?” Obviously sometimes that is the case.
Often, however, the problem is not us. Our prayers bounce off the ceiling and we do not know why. We are tempted to get down in the dumps. We are tempted to take matters into our own hands. We are tempted to make decisions independent of God. We are tempted to believe that our case is hopeless.
Let me just say to you, do not give up and do not feel alone. David, a man after God’s own heart, had the same problems that we have today in his prayer life. In Psalm 69: 1-3 he wrote, “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.” ESV I cannot tell you why your prayers sometimes seem to bounce off of the ceiling, but I can tell you that, you are not alone. I can also assure you that if you know Christ your prayers are getting through. They don’t get past the ceiling because you have been a good boy or girl today. They don’t get past the ceiling because you say the right words. They get past the ceiling ONLY because of Jesus. So, don’t give up. Keep praying. That is what God would have you to do.
Jesus told a parable in Luke 18 to the effect that his people should always pray and not lose heart. He described a judge who did not fear God or care for man. In the same city with the judge there lived a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not wear me down by her continual coming and pleading. Then Jesus said, in verses 6-8 “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. (And listen to the last phrase) Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" ESV What in heaven is going on, while I am suffering with my hurts, my pains, my burdens, and my concerns on earth!? God is listening in his compassion, but waiting in his wisdom in order to grow our faith and trust in Him. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. Your prayers are not bouncing off of the ceiling. They are just accomplishing exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ever ask or imagine.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Are you sleeping or praying?
One passage of scripture repeatedly stands out to me, especially around Easter. It is the detailed description of what Jesus' closest friends were doing during the most critical time in his life and theirs. Jesus is moments away from being betrayed, arrested, tried, and executed. He is moments away from taking the sins of Peter, James, John, you, me, and the world upon himself. He is moments away from having his Father turn his back on him. He is moments away from the most critical moment in his ministry: when he went to the cross to shed his blood as the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. What would you be doing just prior to such a critical turning point in the Kingdom of God and the plan of God? What would you be doing?
It is not only about to be the most critical time in the life of Christ, but it is about to be an extremely critical moment in the life of Simon Peter. Satan is about to sift him like wheat according to Jesus. He has been warned that he will be made to stumble. He has been warned that he will deny his Lord and Master. He has been warned that he is about to face an extremely critical moment in his life. What would you be doing just prior to such a critical moment in your spiritual walk and personal life? What would you be doing?
I would think that you would answer, “Praying like crazy!” If I were living in such a critical moment as Simon Peter I would be praying. If I were there when Christ was just about to be betrayed, arrested, tried, tortured, crucified, and buried, I would be praying! If I were about to have a head on collision with Satan and were in danger of denying my Lord, I would be praying! That is what I would be doing! But look at what Peter was doing in Matthew 26:36-46. “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand" (Matt 26:36-46 ESV).
Peter wasn't praying. Peter was sleeping! During the most critical time of Christ's life and during the most critical time of his own life up until this point, Peter is sleeping instead of praying. Peter, if there has ever been a time to pray, it is now! If there has ever been a need to pray, it is here! If there has ever been a cause to pray, you have it! Pray Peter, Pray! Peter takes a bad rap quite often, but when you think about it, we are a lot like him. Sunday's are the most critical day of the week when you think about it. On Sunday the Word of God is proclaimed to a host of people. There are lost people who may hear the Gospel for the last time in the worship center. There are hurting people who may be on the very edge of giving up altogether in the worship center. There are people who are physically ill who have no hope of healing outside of the Great Physician. The hope of a host of individuals and really the hope of the world rests on Sundays. Think about it. The hope of the world (and it is in bad shape) is the West. Europe, Asia, Africa, India, China, and beyond all depend upon the West for their spiritual hope, and their physical hope in many ways. The hope of the world is the west, but the hope of the west is the U.S. Think about it. Canada, Mexico, and South America depend largely upon the U.S. The hope of the west is the U.S., so what is the hope of the U.S.? The only hope America has, is found in evangelical Christianity. America is not going to find what she needs outside of a great awakening and a mighty revival. The only hope for America is Christianity. The only hope for Christianity is the evangelical church. And the only hope for the evangelical church is the preaching of the Word of God. The church isn't going to be revolutionized by musicals, dramas, or movies. It will be revolutionized by the preaching of God's Word in the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost. Do you see the trend! The preaching of God's Word is the only hope of the church. The church is the only hope for Christianity. Christianity is the only hope for America. America is the only hope for the West and the West is the only hope for the world! The hope of the word rests upon what happens in the house of God on Sunday. NOW THAT IS CRITICAL. So let me ask you…are you sleeping or are you praying? Let me ask you…are you cramming your mind with music on the way to work, or are you praying? Let me ask you…are you wasting your life in front of a television screen or surfing the net or are you praying? Are you rushing right into work independent of God… or are you praying? I want to plead with you to pray for your staff. I want to plead with you to pray for the Sunday school classes. I want to plead with you to pray for the services. I want to plead with you to pray for the sermons. I want to plead with you to pray for souls to be saved and lives to be changed and for revival to break out in the church and to spill over into Christianity and to spill over into America and to spill over into the West, and to spill over into the world, for the hope of the world rests upon what happens in the house of God on Sunday!! Are you praying or are you sleeping?
It is not only about to be the most critical time in the life of Christ, but it is about to be an extremely critical moment in the life of Simon Peter. Satan is about to sift him like wheat according to Jesus. He has been warned that he will be made to stumble. He has been warned that he will deny his Lord and Master. He has been warned that he is about to face an extremely critical moment in his life. What would you be doing just prior to such a critical moment in your spiritual walk and personal life? What would you be doing?
I would think that you would answer, “Praying like crazy!” If I were living in such a critical moment as Simon Peter I would be praying. If I were there when Christ was just about to be betrayed, arrested, tried, tortured, crucified, and buried, I would be praying! If I were about to have a head on collision with Satan and were in danger of denying my Lord, I would be praying! That is what I would be doing! But look at what Peter was doing in Matthew 26:36-46. “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand" (Matt 26:36-46 ESV).
Peter wasn't praying. Peter was sleeping! During the most critical time of Christ's life and during the most critical time of his own life up until this point, Peter is sleeping instead of praying. Peter, if there has ever been a time to pray, it is now! If there has ever been a need to pray, it is here! If there has ever been a cause to pray, you have it! Pray Peter, Pray! Peter takes a bad rap quite often, but when you think about it, we are a lot like him. Sunday's are the most critical day of the week when you think about it. On Sunday the Word of God is proclaimed to a host of people. There are lost people who may hear the Gospel for the last time in the worship center. There are hurting people who may be on the very edge of giving up altogether in the worship center. There are people who are physically ill who have no hope of healing outside of the Great Physician. The hope of a host of individuals and really the hope of the world rests on Sundays. Think about it. The hope of the world (and it is in bad shape) is the West. Europe, Asia, Africa, India, China, and beyond all depend upon the West for their spiritual hope, and their physical hope in many ways. The hope of the world is the west, but the hope of the west is the U.S. Think about it. Canada, Mexico, and South America depend largely upon the U.S. The hope of the west is the U.S., so what is the hope of the U.S.? The only hope America has, is found in evangelical Christianity. America is not going to find what she needs outside of a great awakening and a mighty revival. The only hope for America is Christianity. The only hope for Christianity is the evangelical church. And the only hope for the evangelical church is the preaching of the Word of God. The church isn't going to be revolutionized by musicals, dramas, or movies. It will be revolutionized by the preaching of God's Word in the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost. Do you see the trend! The preaching of God's Word is the only hope of the church. The church is the only hope for Christianity. Christianity is the only hope for America. America is the only hope for the West and the West is the only hope for the world! The hope of the word rests upon what happens in the house of God on Sunday. NOW THAT IS CRITICAL. So let me ask you…are you sleeping or are you praying? Let me ask you…are you cramming your mind with music on the way to work, or are you praying? Let me ask you…are you wasting your life in front of a television screen or surfing the net or are you praying? Are you rushing right into work independent of God… or are you praying? I want to plead with you to pray for your staff. I want to plead with you to pray for the Sunday school classes. I want to plead with you to pray for the services. I want to plead with you to pray for the sermons. I want to plead with you to pray for souls to be saved and lives to be changed and for revival to break out in the church and to spill over into Christianity and to spill over into America and to spill over into the West, and to spill over into the world, for the hope of the world rests upon what happens in the house of God on Sunday!! Are you praying or are you sleeping?
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Must Read
Today I want to inform you of a book that every born again Christian should have on their shelf. This book should be read carefully and often. It is probably one of the most convicting books that I have ever read that was not primarily written to pastors. This book will change the way that you view God, yourself, and your relationship with God. There are some big words in it so prepare yourself to break out a dictionary if necessary. There are some extremely deep truths dug up and exposed within it, so prepare to read and re-read certain chapters. There are 369 pages, so go ahead and complain. This is not an easy read that you are going to breeze through in a few days (at least not for most people). This is a book that will drive you to the Word, to your knees, and to your thinking chair. Don’t let all that scare you. This book is very readable and I can’t think of anyone who couldn’t handle it. It just will not be as easy to read as Max Lucado.
The book is based upon the premise that our chief duty in life, as believers, is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The way that we can best do that is by obeying Psalm 37:4 which calls us to delight ourselves in the Lord. It is a serious book about being happy in God. This book was written over 20 years ago and has been edited several times through the years. I read an earlier edition that a friend loaned me about 6 years ago. I returned his copy after being unable to complete the book because I was so convicted. I talked to another friend in Pascagoula and asked him if he had ever heard of this book. He stated that he had and had tried to read it, but had gotten so convicted he couldn’t finish it either. A few years ago I mustered up the courage to go and buy the 2003 edition. It is a powerful book and I challenge you to buy it, read it, re-read it, and study it. If you can make it through it without being convicted you are either in much better spiritual condition than I am or you missed something somewhere!
In this book you will read about conversion, worship, love, the scripture, prayer, money, marriage, missions, and suffering all from a perspective that you have probably never heard. You will be challenged to make God the chief object of your affection. I believe this book will change your life. Are you ready for the title? It is…Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper. John MacArthur calls Desiring God “A soul stirring celebration of the pleasures of knowing God…A must read for every Christian and a feast for the spiritually hungry.” If you are spiritually hungry, get this book. Of course, there are some things in it that may be hard to swallow. There are some things in it that you might not need to swallow. Bring along your Bible, test what Piper has to say by the Word of God, and try not to let your ingrained traditions root out the unchanging truth of God’s Word. Open your mind, open your Bible, and open Desiring God, and get ready to have your world turned upside down.
The book is based upon the premise that our chief duty in life, as believers, is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The way that we can best do that is by obeying Psalm 37:4 which calls us to delight ourselves in the Lord. It is a serious book about being happy in God. This book was written over 20 years ago and has been edited several times through the years. I read an earlier edition that a friend loaned me about 6 years ago. I returned his copy after being unable to complete the book because I was so convicted. I talked to another friend in Pascagoula and asked him if he had ever heard of this book. He stated that he had and had tried to read it, but had gotten so convicted he couldn’t finish it either. A few years ago I mustered up the courage to go and buy the 2003 edition. It is a powerful book and I challenge you to buy it, read it, re-read it, and study it. If you can make it through it without being convicted you are either in much better spiritual condition than I am or you missed something somewhere!
In this book you will read about conversion, worship, love, the scripture, prayer, money, marriage, missions, and suffering all from a perspective that you have probably never heard. You will be challenged to make God the chief object of your affection. I believe this book will change your life. Are you ready for the title? It is…Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper. John MacArthur calls Desiring God “A soul stirring celebration of the pleasures of knowing God…A must read for every Christian and a feast for the spiritually hungry.” If you are spiritually hungry, get this book. Of course, there are some things in it that may be hard to swallow. There are some things in it that you might not need to swallow. Bring along your Bible, test what Piper has to say by the Word of God, and try not to let your ingrained traditions root out the unchanging truth of God’s Word. Open your mind, open your Bible, and open Desiring God, and get ready to have your world turned upside down.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Reformed Pastor
Have you ever blown it? Have you ever failed God and just plain blown it? If not, then you should be writing this instead of me because I blow it all the time. I get so disgusted with myself! Here I am, pastor of Cleary Baptist Church, proclaiming the Word of God week after week and I can’t get through a week without blowing it! It never fails that after I fall flat of my face, I despise myself. It is almost as though I hate myself (or at least my flesh). I think to myself, "If God is as disgusted with me as I am disgusted with me, he doesn’t want to hear from me." Let’s get real! How many times do we go to God confessing the same old sin that we confessed yesterday, or last week, or last month? Don’t you think he gets tired of hearing the same thing over and over again? How long will his patience last? At least those are some of the questions I ask myself. I don’t know about you, but there are times when I contemplate just throwing in the towel. There are times when I consider giving up altogether. I am tempted to say, "God there is no way that I will EVER be able to live the Christian life." In fact, I felt that way today. In fact, I prayed those words today and do you know what I sensed God said in reply? You are right Kevin. You will never be able to live the Christian life. Adam couldn’t do it. Noah couldn’t do it. Moses couldn’t do it. David, a man after my own heart, couldn’t do it. No one in all of history has been able to live the Christian life except one, and his name is Jesus. If there is any hope, it is found in the life of Christ alone! Maybe what we need to do is to just give up! Maybe what we need to do is just let Jesus live in and through us. Maybe that is the only way we will ever live the victorious Christian life.
Here is my predicament. I love the thought of Jesus living in and through me, because I know that I cannot do it. I am willing to give up trying to work my way to the top, so to speak. My problem is that I am still in the flesh. I identify with the Apostle Paul’s word in Romans 7:14-25, "For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin" (ESV).I don’t know about you, but that is me in a nutshell! The flesh is wrestling with the Spirit almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And when I blow it, like I so often do, I wonder, "How long is God going to put up with this?" I know His mercy endures forever (Ps 136), but come on! There has to come a point in time where God just says, "10,000,000,000,000 strike! Your out!" That is where I was this morning. Then God spoke to me through His word. Hebrews 4:14-16 says, "let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (ESV). God says to all of those who seem to blow it so often, "Hold on to your faith. We don’t have a Savior who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses." Thank God! "Draw near to the throne of grace WITH CONFIDENCE, because it is there AND ONLY THERE that we will find the mercy and grace that we so desperately need. In other words, hang in there, keep the faith, and know that God is a God of holiness and purity, but also sympathy and mercy and grace and love and understanding and on and on the list could go. The time to worry is not when you feel miserable for your sin! The time to worry is when you no longer worry. Until next time….Stay pure.
Here is my predicament. I love the thought of Jesus living in and through me, because I know that I cannot do it. I am willing to give up trying to work my way to the top, so to speak. My problem is that I am still in the flesh. I identify with the Apostle Paul’s word in Romans 7:14-25, "For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin" (ESV).I don’t know about you, but that is me in a nutshell! The flesh is wrestling with the Spirit almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And when I blow it, like I so often do, I wonder, "How long is God going to put up with this?" I know His mercy endures forever (Ps 136), but come on! There has to come a point in time where God just says, "10,000,000,000,000 strike! Your out!" That is where I was this morning. Then God spoke to me through His word. Hebrews 4:14-16 says, "let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (ESV). God says to all of those who seem to blow it so often, "Hold on to your faith. We don’t have a Savior who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses." Thank God! "Draw near to the throne of grace WITH CONFIDENCE, because it is there AND ONLY THERE that we will find the mercy and grace that we so desperately need. In other words, hang in there, keep the faith, and know that God is a God of holiness and purity, but also sympathy and mercy and grace and love and understanding and on and on the list could go. The time to worry is not when you feel miserable for your sin! The time to worry is when you no longer worry. Until next time….Stay pure.
Monday, February 18, 2008
The Reformed Pastor
Why did I choose to call my blog "the reformed pastor?" It all began with a love of the Puritans. When most people think of the Puritans they immediately think of the Salem witch trials and solemn looking men in all black. That is a very unfortunate misconception, to say the least. The Puritans were theological giants, and reading the works of Puritan pastors will take you deeper in your faith, will challenge you more, and will stretch you farther than virtually any of the best sellers of the 21st century. The Purpose Driven Life, the Left Behind series, and the latest Max Lucado contribution cannot compare to the great Puritan works like "The Mortification of Sin" by John Owen, "The Doctrine of Repentance" by Thomas Watson, and "A Call to the Unconverted” by Richard Baxter. Reading the works of the Puritans will not only change your opinion of them, but will change the depth of your spirituality as well.
One of the Puritans that I have been introduced to over the years is a man by the name of Richard Baxter. Sadly, I never heard of him until I had already been in ministry for 10 years. Sadly, I have asked every single one of my pastor friends if they have heard of him and none had. I would venture to say that you have probably never heard of him either. Richard Baxter was pastor of the church at Kidderminster in England for two years before the civil war between the Parliament and Royalists broke out (1641-1642) and another fourteen years after the war (1647-60). Baxter spent two years in the army as a chaplain but in February 1647, his health (which he had suffered with for virtually his entire life) collapsed, and he was no longer able to remain in the army. Upon his return to Kidderminster, revival broke out. The church at Kidderminster grew dramatically under his leadership. Baxter wrote in his autobiography, "We were fain to build five galleries after my coming thither. When I came thither first there was about one family in a street that worshipped God and called on his name, and when I came away there were some streets where there was not passed one family in the side of a street that did not so." God used Baxter’s pastoral ministry in a mighty way. He used and is using his writing ministry in even greater ways.
Baxter was scheduled to preach to his fellow pastors in Worcestershire, but due to his ill health was unable to deliver his message. He therefore wrote the manuscript which became The Reformed Pastor (Today we would call it The Revived Pastor). In this work he presented a stirring appeal to be reformed, or revived, in life and practice. He was concerned to see a spiritually renewed, revived ministry that would be used of God to bring greater spiritual vigor to the churches.
I read a copy of Baxter’s The Reformed Pastor and without a doubt placed it on my top-ten list of books. It challenged me personally and pastorally. J.I. Packer, in his book A Quest for Godliness, wrote "The words of Baxter's Reformed Pastor have hands and feet. They climb all over you; they work their way into your heart and conscience, and will not be dislodged." That is what happened to me when I read the book. I went out and bought myself a personal copy of the book and have made it a goal to read it each year and to take our staff through its pages as well in the near future (they will be so excited). Anyway, there you have it. That is why my blog is called, The Reformed Pastor. You can be sure you will hear more out of the Puritans, and maybe even Richard Baxter in the future. Until then…stay pure.
One of the Puritans that I have been introduced to over the years is a man by the name of Richard Baxter. Sadly, I never heard of him until I had already been in ministry for 10 years. Sadly, I have asked every single one of my pastor friends if they have heard of him and none had. I would venture to say that you have probably never heard of him either. Richard Baxter was pastor of the church at Kidderminster in England for two years before the civil war between the Parliament and Royalists broke out (1641-1642) and another fourteen years after the war (1647-60). Baxter spent two years in the army as a chaplain but in February 1647, his health (which he had suffered with for virtually his entire life) collapsed, and he was no longer able to remain in the army. Upon his return to Kidderminster, revival broke out. The church at Kidderminster grew dramatically under his leadership. Baxter wrote in his autobiography, "We were fain to build five galleries after my coming thither. When I came thither first there was about one family in a street that worshipped God and called on his name, and when I came away there were some streets where there was not passed one family in the side of a street that did not so." God used Baxter’s pastoral ministry in a mighty way. He used and is using his writing ministry in even greater ways.
Baxter was scheduled to preach to his fellow pastors in Worcestershire, but due to his ill health was unable to deliver his message. He therefore wrote the manuscript which became The Reformed Pastor (Today we would call it The Revived Pastor). In this work he presented a stirring appeal to be reformed, or revived, in life and practice. He was concerned to see a spiritually renewed, revived ministry that would be used of God to bring greater spiritual vigor to the churches.
I read a copy of Baxter’s The Reformed Pastor and without a doubt placed it on my top-ten list of books. It challenged me personally and pastorally. J.I. Packer, in his book A Quest for Godliness, wrote "The words of Baxter's Reformed Pastor have hands and feet. They climb all over you; they work their way into your heart and conscience, and will not be dislodged." That is what happened to me when I read the book. I went out and bought myself a personal copy of the book and have made it a goal to read it each year and to take our staff through its pages as well in the near future (they will be so excited). Anyway, there you have it. That is why my blog is called, The Reformed Pastor. You can be sure you will hear more out of the Puritans, and maybe even Richard Baxter in the future. Until then…stay pure.
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