Bible Word: vigilant

Scripture: I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."

Definition: Greek word: "gregoreuo" which means "to keep awake, be watchful"

The Christian has three basic enemies. The first is the world. The second is the flesh. The last one is the devil. Satan is an enemy of God and therefore is the enemy of God's people. Ever since Satan was kicked out of heaven, he has sought to disrupt the Kingdom of God by corrupting his greatest creation: man. Man was made in the image of God. He was placed in innocence in the Garden but fell from that innocence when he committed sin. Since that time, man has been prey for the devil. The devil has done all he could to destroy man or to corrupt him to the point that man would turn against God.
Satan's first desire is to see man reject God and be condemned to hell. For those he cannot get to reject God, he tries to tempt him so as to cause broken fellowship between man and God. For six thousand years, Satan has accomplished this time and time again.
When a man gets saved, he becomes a target. Satan will do everything he can to keep the new Christian from ever getting to the place of spiritual victory. He will try to lead him into sin. He will try to rob him of his joy. He will try to get him to doubt God. He will try to discourage him through circumstances that go sour. All of this will Satan do in his attack against God and God's people.
What is a Christian to do in light of this warfare? How can a Christian survive the attacks of Satan? Well God has provided many things to assist us in this battle. First he commands us in Galatians 6:10-18 to "put on the whole armor of God." We have to be clothed in God's armor to be able to stand agains the devil in these last days. He is seeking to destroy the people of God. He will not stop until he has accomplished this.
In our text, Peter says that Satan walks about as a "roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." Jesus said in John 10 that he comes to "steal, kill and destory." Satan is even called the destoyer. He has destroyed lives, ministries, hopes, dreams and so much more. He is out to steal our joy. He is out to kill our influence and destroy our dreams. He wants to get us to the place that we are ineffective for the cause of Christ.
Peter tells us in our text that we are to be "vigilant." That word means to be "watchful, or to be awake." The church has to be alert and awake every waking moment. In the town where I first pastored, there was a secular writer that wrote an article each week for the Sunday paper. She was the "religious editor" and did an article each week geared toward religion in our community. She wrote an article many years ago that I have never forgotten. I think about it now and it was so sad but yet so true. She called the article "Decaffinated Christianity." She said that "she had visited many churches in our community of different denominations. What she discovered was that "there was nothing inside the walls of the church that would keep a person awake or would make someone nervous." As I read this, I thought to myself how true it was. Decaffinated Christians. People going thru the motions each week, basically asleep in the devil's lap. Unaware of what is going on around them. Just as Sampson went to sleep in the lap of the enemy, he was robbed of his power and did not realize that when he awoke the power and the spirit had departed.
I am afraid that today's church is just like Sampson. We are not even aware that we have lost our power. WE have been asleep too long. We have allowed the enemy to come in and sow the tares among the wheat. The church has been robbed of her victory and power. All the while it could have been prevented if only the church had been vigilant.
We that are saved and desire to please God and live in victory had better be vigilant. WE cannot afford to sleep while the enemy is lurking in the dark. He is after our children. He is after our family. He is after our preachers. He is after our churches. He is after our nation. He is after our future. He is after you. If you allow yourself to grow weary and fail to remain vigilant and alert, you will lose the battle. Wake up you sleeping saints!!! Wake up you slumbering preachers! Wake up you dead churches! The battle is raging and we need to stand and fight. Our children are worth fighting for. Our homes are worth fighting for. Our churches are worth fighting for. Our nation is worth fighting for. Be vigilant! Wake up! Don't let the devil rock you to sleep. Paul said "it is high time to awake out of sleep" (Romans 13:11) You cannot afford to sleep while all those around us are perishing in sin. God help us to be vigilant. May God help us not to be a "sleeping church" but a church that is alert, armed and ready. Time is short and we need to be vigilant. Jesus is coming. Will he find you sleeping when he comes?

June 5, 2010

Bible Word: "foolishness"

Scripture: I Corinthians 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

Definition: Greek Word "moria" which means "silliness, absurdity"

For over two thousand years the message of the Church has been the cross. The Old Testament prophets did not understand all of the details of Calvary and the death of Christ. They were looking for a Messiah. They were totally focused on the Kingdom concept. Of course we know all of that is part of the plan of God for Israel. But before the Kingdom could come there must be a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
When Jesus entered into this world, he did not begin his earthly ministry until he was thirty. When he did began his work, he performed miracle after miracle. His disciples watched and they were thrilled at the thought that Messiah was here and soon they would see the Kingdom ushered in. But Christ all through his teachings tried to prepare the disciples for what would happen to him in Jerusalem. He explained over and over that his "temple would be destroyed and in three days he would raise it up." They could not comprehend that he was going to die. They hoped the kingdom would come soon.
When Jesus finally was condemned to die, all of his disciples but one fled in fear. They all looked on in sorrow and fear for they thought their dreams and hoped died with Christ. Even after his resurrection, Jesus called to them from the seashore for some of the disciples had gone back to their old life of fishing.
When they saw him, they worshipped him and believed. But at the first they could not comprehend the cross.
The Old Testament prophet did not see the Messiah as a sacrifice. They saw Messiah as a deliverer and ruler, moreover a man who would bring peace at last. But Christ came and instead of peace, he created great division. The world of religioin was contrary to the truth that Christ presented. Now those that followed Christ would face persecution from the religious crowd. That certainly was not peace.
As for the world, they looked on at this plan of God and saw nothing but foolishness. The world cannot comprehend that the death of a man would buy salvation for all. It did not appear that the church could even exist when their leader was put on a cross to die. Surely his death would leave his followers in chaos. But the opposite happened. The death of Christ and his resurrection started a fire that has never been put out.
From that point on a hillside outside the walls of Jerusalem to every village, town, city and place on God's earth, the message of Calvary and the cross has been proclaimed. The cross of Calvary has become the symbol of hope and faith for all ages. What the world thought would be the end to a mad man's proclamation of hope would instead multiply over and over again century after century to every corner of the earth.
The world has always looked on the cross as utter foolishness. They understood a man dying for a good cause but they could not comprehend all the multitudes of followers that still look to that hillside two thousand years later and rejoice in that day. What the world would describe as failure, Christ defined as victory. What the world would classify as crazy, the church would reply peace. What the world would describe as the end, Christ proclaimed as the beginning. The cross that day became the end of the Old Testament watchful waiting and the beginning of the Church's march to victory.
What we preach week after week concerning the cross provides comfort and consolation to the child of God.WE hear a message about the cross and our hearts are warmed. We sing about the cross and tears fill our eyes. We hear people talk about what the cross means to them and we are all motivated to tell the old story to young and old where ever we go. The cross becomes our momument, our memorial, our symbol of victory and hope.
But the world looks on and sadly they see nothing but a man dying for a cause. They do not see the joy that Christ saw when he died on the cross. They do not see the hope that the Church sees as they observe the blood running from his face, hands, feet and side. They do not see what makes us sing about the cross. They do not understand what makes us rejoice in the cross. It is all foolishness and utter silliness to the world.
But to us that are saved, it is the power of God. The cross is powerful in what it portrays. It portrays the love of God and the love of the Savior. It portrays the awfulness of sin. It portrays the depravity of man in crucifying God's Son. The Cross is powerful in what it provides. It provides salvation. It provides access to the Father for when he died, the veil of the temple was rent in twain. It provides forgiveness for all of our sins. It provides hope for the future. It provides peace that the world cannot imagine.
The cross is powerful in every aspect. The cross is the center focal point for all time. The Old Testament looked forward in faith to a time when God's plan for salvation and hope for man would be fulfilled. Even though they did not understand the specifics, they looked forward to the Cross. The New Testament believers look back to the cross as it happened and walk in the truth of the finished work of Calvary. When he cried "It is finished," it was! The plan of God was being fulfilled. And on that third day when he came out of the gave victorious, Satan was defeated, God was satisfied and man could not be justified through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So yes the cross and our preaching it is all foolishness to those who are lost. But to us that are saved, it is everything we believe and hope for. It is our faith and it is our salvation. We can rest assured that what Christ did that day was enough to satify God for ever. Our sins are gone! We rejoice in the cross. We sing about it, we preach about it, we talk about it. It is the cross! It is our hope! It is the symbol of everything we believe and hold dear to our faith. It is the cross. Let the world make fun, but we will keep lifting up the cross. Let others speak of its worthlessness, but we will cling to the cross. "To the old rugged cross, I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear." That is my testimony. I will keep clinging to the cross! Thank God for the cross!!

June 6, 2010

Bible Word: "condemned"

Scripture: John 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Definition: Greek word: "Krino" which means: to condemn, punish, avenge, to judge, to sentence"

Most of you at one time or another has either been in a court room setting or at the least has seen a court room session on TV. The two sides argue for their case and it is presented before the judge. In many cases in the United States, these cases are heard before a jury. The jury is charged by the judge and given instructions on what they are to do in determining the outcome and verdict of this case. In a very rare case the judge alone hears the evidence presented and he alone has to make a decision based on what he has seen and heard. This has to be a terrible job especially if it involves possibly the life of the one on trial.
This passage of Scripture before us today talks about being condemned. This word of course implies guilt. It assumes that the person is already guilt and by his own decisions, he has brought condemnation upon himself. It is not that some judge is out to get him. It is not that the twelve man jury didn't like him and just wanted to give him a harsh sentence. This implies that this person is more than guilty, he is already condemned.
When you and I are born into this world, we are conceived in iniquity and are born sinners. Because of Adam's sin, the entire gene pool is corrupted. His sinful disobedience brought corruption to the entire human race. It is not that man has to be bad and do bad things before he will be judged and condemned. It is the fact that by our very nature we are not only sinners, but we come into this world guilty and condemned to die.
Now the difference in our situation and that of a man in a court room is that we have been given provision whereby we do not have to be sentenced to eternal judgment. WE are given the opportunity instead of being condemned to a lost eternity, we can accept the pardon that has been provided and the judge will dismiss the case against us and we are set free. Christ paid our sin debt. He absolutely stands between us and the flames of hell. He took on himself what was rightfully ours as it relates to judgment. All we have to do is receive the pardon. It is free for all. All you have to do and receive this free gift. It is called salvation.
But there is another side to the story and that is what is presented in this verse. This verse says that some did not believe. Some chose not to receive this pardon and gift of salvation. Because of that they are already condemned to a lost eternity. It is not because they are bad. It is not because they did lots of sinful things and God rejects them. It is simply that they did not believe.
It is hard for us to comprehend a person who has committed such awful crimes and yet he is offered a full pardon only to reject it. WE would think that would be absurd! Yet day after day, men and women who are lost and undone and on their way to hell, not because they did awful things but simply because they refused to receive the gift of eternal life provided by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And God says about them that "they are condemned already."
If you are living your life today without Christ, and you do not know Him personally, no matter how good you are or how bad you are, you are already abiding in the condemnation that God is talking about. You have been sentenced to an eternity in hell. You one day will stand before the judge of all the universe and He will say to you "depart, I never knew you." It will not be because you have been such a bad sinner, for many good people are going to hell. It will not be because someone is out to get you. But it will be simply because you did not believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
And because of that, you are walking around today as a condemned man. You have been sentenced to an eternity in hell.
Now there is a flip side to this story. For those who by faith have received the Lord Jesus Christ into their lives, they are not condemned and never will be. It is not because they have been good. It is not because their fathers know God really well and He shows mercy on you for your Fathers and Mothers sake. Instead it is simply because somewhere you have bowed your head and heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and recieved the full pardon that He provides. And here is the good part. Once you have been pardoned, and you are in the family, you will never be condemned. Romans 8:1 says" There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." We are promised that we will never face God and here him sentence us to an eternity in hell. Instead we have been reconciled unto God and now we are in a right relationship with God.
How did all this happen? Our verse says it well. In verse 18: "He that believeth on him is not condemned." Wow! Isn't that great? We believe on him ,put our faith in him, and therefore we are not and never will be condemned. I have to say I know I have failed God in many ways. I am sure I will lose some of the rewards that God had for me. I am sure I am going to be ashamsed at some of the things that I have done. But I know without a doubt I have trusted him to be my Savior and because of that , I will never be condemned! I will never hear him say to me"depart from me". Thank God I am his child, a part of the family, and I have Jesus Christ as my advocate before the Father and he said that "he ever liveth to make intercession for me." Jesus Christ is constantly interceding for me before the Father. When I mess up, I have access to Him and forgiveness is available. Thank God for saving grace! Thank God for keeping grace! Thank God I will never be condemned!!!
Now if you do not know him, you are in eternal danger for you are already in condemnation. By your refusal to accept him as Savior, you have placed yourself in the place of judgement. You can change your outcome. You don't have to be sentenced to an eternity in hell. All you need to do is plead guilty. Accept responsibility for your sins. Beg for mercy and ask for forgiveness. Put your faith in the mediator between you and God, Jesus Christ. He will take your sins and wash you in his blood and present you to the Father spotless and clean. All you need to do and believe and receive. That is saving faith. He will take away your sin and remove your condemnation.
Thank God for His saving Grace!!

June 7, 2010

Bible Word: "Convicted"

Scripture: John 8:9 "And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst."

Definition: Greek word: "elegcho" means "to tell a fault, rebuke and reprove"

One of the aspects of salvation and the entire event of being born again involves conviction. Before you were saved, you would probably testify to the presence of conviction in your own heart. It might have been while you were sitting in a church service and the preaching was preaching a message that made you aware of your lost condition. It might have been a gospel tract that you picked up and read and it too convicted your heart. It could have been a praying spouse, or a praying mom and dad that every time you heard them praying, your heart was convicted.
Conviction is a precious gift of God. It is not only a gift for lost man in bringing him to repentance. It is also a gift to a believer in keeping him pure and in tune with God. For when a believer sins, that same conviction causes you to be miserable in your present state of disobedience and sinfulness. When that conviction takes hold,you are brought to a place of repentance.
In this story of John 8, a woman is brought to Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. She has been caught in the very act of adultery. They bring her not so much for her sin, but for to tempt Jesus in seeing how he would respond in this situation. Of course Jesus did not fall for their trap, but instead turned the tables on them. He stooped down and wrote something in the ground. No one is sure what he wrote, but whatever it was, it was enough to cause everyone to walk away, leaving the woman standing alone in the presence of Jesus.
The phrase that I want to focus on is the part that says: "And when they heard it, being convicted by their own conscience". Conviction is the work of God in the heart of the individual that brings him to the awareness of his sinfulness. It causes a man to see him as God does and brings him under the judgment of God . Anyone who has ever experienced conviction, agrees that it absolutely terrifies you, overwhelms you, and exposes what you are to the point that you cannot continue lying to yourself but you humble yourself before God agreeing with him that you are guilty.
The one thing that has to happen to every one before they can be saved is they have to see themselves as God does and they have to admit that they are a sinner and they are lost. No man can be saved or helped until he recognizes that he has a problem. The religious man says he is alright and in need of nothing. The man full of pride says he is as good as anyone else it. But all of these attitudes will send a person to hell. It takes the awareness of one's sinfullness before he can be saved. This is accomplished by conviction.
I praise God for conviction. It keeps me in the love of Christ. It keeps me from going too far in the wrong direction. It keeps me from getting too worldly. It keeps me from become lax and slack in the things of God. Thank God for conviction.
Even as a Christian, conviction continues to produce repentance in the heart of the believer. Every service as you sit under old time spirit filled preaching, the convicting power of God points out areas in your life that are not pleasing to God. It is a tool of God to keep us in the love of God. The real sad truth is that many churches have gone so far in he wrong direction, and the pulpit is not hot with old time preaching and therefore men and women sit every week and hear a sweet sermon with no power and thus no conviction. Men and women walk out of church back to the same sinful ways, and never feel convicted because the Holy Spirit has been grieved and quenched.
Think for a moment and ask yourself, how long has it been since you have felt that old time conviction? Do you ever feel that overwhelming guilt of sin when sin is present in your life? Do you feel empty and so cold in your heart when sin enters into your life? When you go to church and hear the word and you know that what you hear you are not doing, does that conviction show up in your heart? Or have you grown so cold and drifted so far, that you no longer feel that convictjon?
If you are saved and you get away from God, the one thing you need to thank God for is that conviction. You will not come back and repent apart from that convicting work of the Holy Spirit. A lost man will never be saved apart from that conviction.
I have felt that conviction so strong in services that you literally were afraid to move. I have seen it grip sinners and saints and the power of that conviction move on a congregatioin and weeping could be heard all over the church. Oh that God one more time would send that strong conviction to the Church! We are so cold,so far from God, so much a stranger to his presence and power, that we need yea are desperate for the convicting power of God to turn us and change us and bring us back to the old paths. I am a candidate for what ever God wants to do. I praise Him for His convicting power in my life. I don't ever want to do anything that would grieve or quench his working in my life or the life of the church.
Examine yourself and see if you are right with God. Have you yielded to that conviction? Or have you turned away from his moving in your heart? Are you holding on to your sin? Are you willing to take a chance and let your sin remain and lose that fellowship with God?
Oh God send the power just now. Oh Lord send the power just now. Oh Lord send the power just now and baptize every one. WE need a touch from God. WE need that conviction back on the church. May God once again bring the church to the place of repentance. Let the work of revival start in me.
If you are lost and reading this article, don't turn God away if he is convicting you of your lost condition. If he is dealing with you, be thankful. That just means he has not given up on you. Give in and let go of your pride and let Christ come into your heart. Old things will pass away. All things will be new. The sins of your past will all be wiped away. You can be saved today. Just let him in!
Thank God for conviction.

June 8, 2010

Bible Word: "revive"

Scripture: Psalms 85:5 "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?"

Definition: Hebrew word: "chayah" which means: "to nourish up, to quicken , to restore, revive, save alive, quicken, be made whole, put breath back into"

All across the country, in church after church, you hear much discussion about revival. Some preachers preach sermons about the "how to's" of revival. Some preach about revivals of the past. Some preach that revival is not possible today. There are so many different messages about revival and in most cases it is no more than personal opinion and not based on Bible truth.
Revival as we know it is an Old Testament concept. The New Testament does not speak of revival and there is a reason for that. The history of the church in the New Testament only covers about 60 years of history. From Pentecost when the church was born, til the book of Revelation when the Bible closes out, there is only about 60 years of time that has passed. The Church in the first century is still enjoying the miracle of Pentecost and is still walking in the power of that day. The nearest thing to revival in the N.T. is the message in Revelation to the Church of Ephesus when God challenges them to "repent and do the first works" for he had told them they had "left their first love." This reveals to us that the Church was drifting away from God and needed to be "revived" and restored to their original condition.
When we talk about revival from a Bible standpoint then we have to refer to the O.T. Israel was God's people and we are told how God dealt with them when they drifted away. They would worship God one day and be serving other "gods" the next. They would be chastened and judged by God and they would repent and God would restore them and revive them. God used many servants as instruments of revival. I have counted 14 revivals in the O.T. with 7 of them being "Major" revivals. All of them reveal different aspects of revival. There are things that are evident like "repentance, sacrificing, giving, restoration, restitution, tearing down of idols, sanctification, worship, preaching, and most of all praying." All of these are just some of the attributes of revival.
When we talk about revival in the church, we are saying that the church is in need of "life" again. It is true that the Church is experiencing a time of "deadness and dryness" at this point in time. The pulpits are filled with compromisers and men pleasers. The pews are filled with half hearted, carnal, prayerless Christians who think that coming to church makes them spiritual. WE are the only generatioin in the last 200 years that has not experienced a real nation wide revival.
Why does the church need revival? It is because the church looks a lot like the vision that Ezekiel saw in the valley of dry bones. He saw the bones and they "were very many and they were very dry." That is a picture of today's church. The bones that he saw began to make noise and we have a lot of noise coming from churches across the country but noise does not constitute life. Then he saw the bones start to come together. There is a lot of "organization" and coming together in today's church but organization does not constitute life. The bones started to be covered by flesh and today's church certainly has a lot of flesh but flesh alone does not constitute life. But the conclusion of the matter was that in spite of the noise, the movement, the organization and the flesh covering the bones, Ezekiel declared that " there was no breath in them."
I declare to you today that there is "no breath" in the church! We have had the wind taken out of the church. We are going thru the motions. We are depending on our covering of flesh. WE are making a lot of noise. WE appear to be alive. We have nice buildings. We have lots of programs. We have all kinds of activities and we are appealing to lots of people. WE are now catering to the world and giving them a music that the sound is similar to what the world listens to. WE are dressing in such a way that the world is comfortable when they come in our church services dressed like they are going to Wal-Mart. WE have so watered down our messages that nothing is offensive or convicting and anyone can sit and enjoy our sermons, sing our songs and shake our hands on their way out and say "We enjoyed the service" while all the time they are on their way to hell.
The church is out of breath! The church has lost its power! The church must be revived! Only God can put breath back into the church. When Ezekiel declared the bones were "breathless" he then changed his message and he preached to the wind and declared "come o breath and breathe on these slain." WE need to lift up our voices and our hearts to God and cry for the "Breath of heaven" to breathe on us. WE cannot do anything without his breath! We need to be revived.
The song says it best: "Breathe on me, breathe on me. Holy Spirit breathe on me. Take thou my heart , cleanse every part, Holy Spirit , breathe on me."
That is what we need. It is a must. WE cannot go on another generation without a real move of God. Oh that God would invade our nation and revive his people. God have mercy and send a revival.
Let It Start in me!!!!

Bible Word: "conversation"

Scripture: Philippians 3:20 "For our conversation is in heaven: from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:"

Definition: Greek word: "politeuma" which means "citizenship, community."


When we hear the word "conversation" we think about our speech or talking. In the old English, conversation refered to more than just our speech but our citizenship. The connection between citizenship and speech is easy to make for many folks are identified by how they talk. So we that are saved should stand out in this world as different for we are not citizens here. We are only make a temporal journey in this world. Our citizenship is in heaven.
Here in this passage the Apostle Paul is comforting the Philippians with the hope of that heavenly city and our new glorified bodies in the resurrection. That is the hope of the believer. The entire event of the coming of the Lord in the Rapture where the church is taken up, and then to inhabit that place that Jesus has gone to prepare is such a comfort to the church.
The Bible reminds us often of our citizenship. We are here for a short while, and we have lots of connections with family, the old homeplace, etc., but none of this will last forever. We only enjoy these earthly pleasures for a season. But when all of this is burned up in the fire, our heavenly home will be our safe dwelling place forever. WE are citizens of two worlds. One temporal, and one is eternal.
While we are on this earth, we are to be witnesses of the grace of God. We are to share the gospel to a lost world. This is sometimes difficult because as a Christian, we do not fit in nor do we speak the same language as those that are lost. They look at us like we are foreigners and we are. We speak of heavenly things and their minds and hearts are fixed on the earthly.
Someone said that "man can become too worldy to be any heavenly good." That same man said that man could become so "heavenly minded that he was no earthly good." I think the first may be true, but I don't think any of us are too heavenly minded. Most of us battle with this old flesh for it is in love with the world. WE have the Spirit of God within us that points us toward that heavenly city, but the flesh always has its eye fixed on the world. Like Lot when given the choice of which way he would take his cattle and herdsman to avoid fighting with Uncle Abraham, he lifted up his eyes toward Sodom, "for they looked like Egypt."
Our conversation should ever remind us of how temporal we are. We are only promised a set number of years. Though born of this world, we do not belong here anymore since Jesus came into our hearts. WE have a tug for another country. Though we may enjoy our earthly walk for a while, the closing we get to leaving here, our hearts grow warm when thoughts of heaven arise in our heart.
I have traveled for more than thirty years. I have been blessed to travel around the world. I enjoy seeing the sights of places you read about and sights that cannot be captured by pen or painting. But with all the beauty of far away places, just a few days there and my longing heart begins to focus on home. With every phone call to my family and every memory that passes through my mind, I began to long for home. I get more weary each day, wanting to head toward home. I often even become anxious because of being homesick. Thoughts of arriving home and grandkids running to greet me and my wife standing at the door with her arms stretched out for me, are as real as if it were happening.
When I finally arrive, there is such a satisfaction and peace that enters my heart. My favorite chair, my bed, my things, my family all call out to me and pull me toward hom.
The older I get and the longer I serve God, the same thing is happening spiritually. I daily find myself longing for heaven. I begin to imagine the day that I arrive at that wonderful place. I have family there and I miss them and long to see them. I am tired and weary of traveling this sinful world and long to be at home where there is peace and rest and contentment. The thoughts of seeing family and friends is constantly before me. The thoughts of no more pain and no more sickness and suffering is so wonderful. But most of all, the thought of seeing Jesus face to face makes me want to go home. Heaven, my home, my resting place is calling to me. The sights and sounds of heaven can almost be heard. I belong there. I am out of place here. I don't fit in. I am unhappy with this place. I long to be in my new home where there is no sin and no sickness. That is where I belong.
The song says: "Heaven, happy home above. Heaven, sweet peace and love. Oh it makes me feel like traveling on. Heaven, eternal. Heaven supernal, I 'm so glad that it's real."
Heaven is real and it is the home of the believer. There is a day coming soon when all of God's children will be home. We will enjoy the beauty of heaven and celebrate for ever the salvation that make it all possible.
That is why you are feeling that pull from another world. You cannot deny it. You cannot remove it. If you are saved and washed in his blood, you cannot be comfortable in this sin cursed world. Every day you are here, you will grow more hungry for that place called heaven. God has created within a longing for heaven and a dissatisfaction in this world. If any man "love this world, the love of the Father is not in him." I have no reason to stay here. "I've got a longing, I'm homesick to go. To a place without heartache, no sorrow or woe. There 's nothing but trouble in this world below. I'm homesick for heaven, I've got a longing to go." That is where I am now. I am homesick for him. My conversation is there. I am a citizen of that eternal world. Heaven is my home. I can't wait to go. How about you?

Bible Word: "wiles"

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

Definition: Greek word: "methodeia" which means "travesty, to lie in wait, wile"


I knew of a man who one time while reading this passage in Ephesians 6, pronouced the word "wiles" as the "willies" of the devil. I have to confess that sometimes the devil can give you the "willies." Of course, that is not how that word is pronounced. What is the "wiles" of the devil?" That word implies "travesty" or to "lie in wait." The devil acts as a "roaring lion" in the bushes, who lies in wait for his victim who unawares wanders into his path.
God commands us to put on the "whole armour of God" so we may be able to stand against Satan and his cunning devices. We are to be alert and aware at all times, lest he get advantage of us. He knows man and he understands our weaknesses. He knows the things that give us the most problems. As a lion on the prowl, he looks for that one who is helpless and alone and will claim them as his victim.
We should not be caught unprepared for his constant presence. We should always be alert and on the look out for he can show up at the most unlikely time. He is ready and waiting to catch you offguard. He desires to "sift you as wheat" Jesus says.
With all of that being true, the believer needs to heed the warnings and do as God commands. We must put on the whole armour. There are some things that we can do to prevent ever becoming a victim of the devil. Here are a few things to consider.
In the animal kingdom, the enemy usually attacks the one who is weak and frail, even possibly wounded. The same is true for the believers. When we get wounded by circumstances or someone lets us down, or a thousand other things, that is when the devil is lurking close by. He will absolutely take advantage of the situation and try to devour the weak and wounded Christian. If you fail to stay in the Book, or on your knees, Satan will recognize your weakness and move in on his target.
Also in the animal kingdom, the enemy most always looks for the one who is alone. Maybe it is just for a moment, the animal gets away from the herd, but sure enough the enemy takes advantage and before he even realizes what has happened, he becomes a casualty. The same applies to the Christian. You get isolated, alone , and maybe get out of church. You had best be on the lookout. Satan is somewhere close by waiting for his opportunity. It is so dangerous to get out of church. It is even more dangerous to become isolated. We cannot make it by ourselves. We need each other. We are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. The poet said "no man is an island." That is so true. You put yourself in danger when you become isolated.
In the animal kingdom, the enemy sometimes moves in on a sleeping animal. Asleep and relaxed, unaware of the circumstances around him , the enemy moves in and attacks the sleeping animal. The same is true for the believer. When we go to sleep spiritually. and drop our guard, we are unaware and unable to defend ourselves. The church has put itself in a dangerous situation. The church has fallen asleep in Zion. We are week by week watching those around come under the attack of Satan all because they have gone to sleep. The church needs to awake out of her slumber. While we slept, the enemy came in and sowed tares among the wheat. The enemy came in and devoured our little ones, and our weak ones. God help us to wake up.
Sometimes in the animal kingdom, the enemy goes head to head with the strong ones. He decides to take this territory and claim it for his own. He will attack that one who may be the strongest and even the "leader" in the pack or herd, so he can mark his territory and claim control. The same is true in the Church. Sometimes Satan just decides to go head to head with the most spiritual among us. Usually it is the Pastor.He knows if he can overcome the Pastor,he can destory or divide the flock. He can create fear among the congregation for if he would attack the strongest, surely he would come after those who are not as strong. God help us to be aware of our enemy. We need to stick together.We need to be faithful to the house of God. There is strength in numbers. There is safety when folk work and stick together. Also we need to be aware of those around us who are going through a difficult time and help to bear them up lest they become a casualty.
Satan will not stop until time is up. He will keep on seeking someone to destroy and devour until God casts him into outer darkness. He is mad and angry and he is taking out his hatred for God on God's church. We must not let our guard down. We must be vigilant and sober, never sleeping or slumbering for he is on the prowl.
Just putting on the armour is not enough. We must work together. We must not allow ourselves to sleep. We must keep ourselves in the Word and keep the Word in us. We must stay on our knees. We must pray and watch. Now is not the time to be slack in these areas. Most of all, we must be filled with the Spirit and controlled by his power. We cannot do this by ourselves. We must have God's power. WE cannot walk through this world in the power of our intellect or in the multitudes of our talents. WE must depend upon God. He is the only one who can give us victory over our enemies. We must exercise our faith. Like little David of old, we must stand in the promises of God and claim victory over our enemies. The secret to that is we cannot allow our enemies to plant fear in our hearts. We must not be intimidated by their boastings. We must stand in the power of His might and without pride or arrogance, just operate in God's strength and by faith claim the victory over our enemies.!
The devil may give you the "willies" but through the power of God, by the blood of Jesus, we have the victory!

 June 11, 2010

Bible Word: "faint"

Scripture: Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Definition: Greek word: "ekluo" which means "to relax or to faint"

Shortly after I took my first church as Pastor, I got involved with an Evangelist and helped in my first tent meeting. For about ten to twelve years, I particapted in tents meetings all across the Eastern Unitied States. I was responsible for doing the front work and setting up the tent and getting everything ready for the meeting. We usually did tent meetings during the warm part of the year. Sometimes it was in the hottest times, in the dead heat of summer. I have worked so hard setting up those old "canvas cathedrals", that I would come close to fainting. Some of those that helped did faint in the extreme heat.
I guess all of us have at one time or another either fainted or have been around someone that fainted. Being a Pastor for many years, I have conducted funerals where family members were so overwhelmed at the death of their loved ones, that they would faint during the service. People would gather around and fan them, give them "smelling salts" or do other things to awaken them from their fainting. We all have seen similar events.
For the one that faints, they really cannot prevent it from happening. They are somewhat helpless. For the ones around watching and trying to help, it can become a little frightening. Those that faint may at times appear to be dead. It happens so quickly and causes the victim to lie totally stiil and are unable to respond.
In this passage of Scripture, God gives us somewhat of a warning mixed with a promise. The promise is clear. If we do not grow weary, then we will reap the good reward for our labors. But if we do faint, then of course we endanger ourselves of losing all our rewards.
The key in this passage is the challenge for us not to faint. The believer is encouraged to stay true, keep running the race and do not faint. Of course for the person who faints at a funeral, he cannot avoid what happens. For those of us who were under the tent, we could not prevent the fainting that took place. Maybe we could have paced ourselves and avoided getting too hot, but when it began, we could not stop the fainting.
Now in the life of the believer, we are to run the race and avoid fainting. This word in the Greek means "to relax , or to faint." To make a spiritual illustration, the Church of today is filled with many "fainting" Christians. All around us, those who claim Christ are falling all around us. They are falling out of the race. They are dropping out of Church. They are no longer going soul-winning. They do not participate in the activities and functions of the Church. They are absent in most of the weekly services. What is the problem? They have fainted.
They have fainted because they have suffered in the heat of the battle. The believer is in a battle. He is fighting a spiritual warfare. Satan is conducting an all out attack on God's people. Because of that, there are many who are fainting and falling by the wayside.
Some have fainted because of sin that is present in their lives. Sometimes when someone faints, it is due to an illness or something that has invaded their bodies to make them ill and they faint. Sin has invaded the church. Many Christians are trying to enjoy sin and still walk with God in fellowship. Instead of walking with God in victory, they are fainting due to the presence of sin. Sin is taking the very life out of the church. Sin is robbing the church of victory. Sin is causing many to faint.
Some are fainting because of others who have fainted and have fallen by the wayside. Just like a person fainting at a funeral of a loved one who has died, some Christians are fainting at the sight of others who are out of the race and overcome by the enemy. In other words, when someone falls into sin or is totally overcome by the enemy, it will cause others to faint when they see or hear the sad news. I know of many who are out of Church because of someone else that failed and caused the heart of others to faint. Ifyou get your eyes on others who have fallen, and began to dwell on their failure, you too could be filled with fear and ultimately cause you to fall or faint.
What can you do to prevent yourself from fainting? First of all, you need to exercise yourself and build up your spiritual man so he can run the race and not faint. Just as a runner has to exercise to build up his body, so is the Christian. We must build up ourselves through daily Bible reading, prayer, and witnessing. If we fail to build up the inner man, then we endanger ourselves of fainting.
You can also make sure that there is no sin present in your life that could cause you to faint. The presence of sin hinders the believer. No one can run this race for Christ until he first deals with his sin. We are to "lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us." (Hebrews 12:1-2) Sin is a great weight and if we try to run with it in our lives, it will cause us to faint.
One of the meanings of this word "faint" is "to relax." It is evident as you look around that the Church is filled with people that are spiritually "relaxed." They are just sitting around, doing nothing to build up their spiritual man nor reach the next generation and that is dangerous. It is dangerous not only to the one that is relaxing, but to others that are watching. When we drop our guard and let Satan get a stronghold in our lives, we endanger ourselves and others. No one can fall without effecting others.
The Old Testament prophet Amos warned us with this challenge: "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion." It is dangerous for the Church to relax or faint. When we do, the enemy comes in and sows the tares. In the Gospels, the disciples were told the parable of the tares and the wheat. There was a field of wheat. While the workers slept, the enemies came in and sowed tares. They asked the owner did he want them to pull up the tares. Of course the answer was no. Wait until the harvest and the tares and wheat will be separted them. The church is full of tares due to the "relaxing and fainting" that has taken place in recent years. There is such division in the Church because of this "mixed multitude." Sometimes preachers try to separate the two themselves. Instead of getting the tares out, sometimes they destroy the wheat. One has to just wait for the Coming of Christ. When he shows up on the scene, he will do the separating.
So you see it is really important that the believer not faint or get relaxed. There is too much at stake. If you find yourself getting relaxed, stir up yourself. Get busy exercising. Don't allow yourselves to faint. Stay under "hot" preaching. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. Hide the Word in your heart. Stay busy witnessing to the lost. Do everything within your power to avoid fainting or getting relaxed. We are too close to the end to faint. The gates of that city are almost in site. The Lord will soon return. Do whatever it takes. Just don't allow yourself to faint. Don't get weary. In due time, we will reap! The battles will soon be over. Just trust God and stay true. On that day, you will be glad you did.