Don't look for the easy road

First, forgive me. I have not been able to connect to blogger for the past two days. On to what really matters.

After coming to Christ and seeing the work of God we should not expect an easy end. Look at David and look at the church at Galatia. If anything, the final years of our lives will bring greater temptation because the pressure will lessen. Most will retire and no longer feel the strain of performance and production. Most will have an empty nest. The constant work of raising Christ-centered children will change as they age and move out of the home. With the absence of children in the home the temptation will be to back out of ministry at church. The retirement years bring a strong temptation to coast. Sit back, count the troups, and take it easy.

Father, keep us from returning to the law and keep us from wasting our lives. Guard our hearts from desiring fruitless trees and fields without production. Keep our eyes open to the temptation of returning to the law. Increase our understanding of grace and the gospel. May we be so full grace and may we live in gratitude to the gospel of Jesus Christ that legalism would never be an option. Increase Christ in our lives that foolishness and legalism are seen as they truly are, empty and tragic. Increase Christ in our lives so that we may always do faithful work and live truly abundant lives.

In Jesus' Name
Amen

Called by Grace

In the Apostle Paul's testimony he mentions being called by God's grace in Galatians 1:15. Verse 16 tells us then that God revealed Jesus Christ to Paul. These two elements must be involved in everyone's conversion. Without them there is no true conversion. We must be called out of darkness. God must draw us to himself. Here, when confronted with the holiness of God we become convicted of sin. God could have left Paul in his sin and selfrighteousness but because of His grace God did not. And God did not leave Paul in helpless conviction of sin. God revealed to Paul the true work of Christ. Paul knew the story of Jesus. He knew the claims of Jesus. The problem is Paul did not believe they were true. He did not believe Jesus was who He said he was. And Paul didn't believe Jesus did what He said he would do. Until the call of grace and the revelation of Christ there is no Christian.

Father, use me this day and all the days of my life to bring people to faith in Christ. Give me boldness with Your Word. I long to see people saved. I want to be a part of You calling people by Your grace. I want to be a part of You revealing the truth of Christ Jesus to the world. Use me today I pray.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Examine Yourselves

Are you in the faith? Am I in the faith? How can I tell? Let's use our Old Testament reading for some insight. From 2 Samuel 20 we have the test of following the king. Do you want to rule yourself or do you want to be ruled by the king? In 2 Samuel the test of belonging to Israel was following the true king David. For us today the test of being a Christian is following the true King Jesus. Like Amasa do we disobey? Like Sheba do we revolt? Do we do what is right (2 Cor 13:7)? Do we go on sinning against the truth or do we seek to obey the truth (verse 8). Just as in Old Testament days there is a severity at times in the use of authority. We do not spill out entrails or lope off people's heads. Instead there are warnings, removal of members, and both of these only when the evidence is established by two or three witnesses. And in all of these we are seeking restoration. We are seeking the restoration of the individual and the restoration of God's Kingdom.

Are you in the faith? We're not looking for perfection in ourselves. We are looking for a love for Christ that drives us to consistently seek obedience to Him. When we fail, when we sin, we repent. Do not look for sinlessness in yourself. Look for true repentance. Aim for restoration in all spheres of life because of the work of Jesus Christ and His presence in you.

Change my heart O God, make it ever true. Change my heart O God, may I be like You. Gracious and merciful Father, You are the Potter and I am the clay. Mold me and make me so that I reflect to my wife, children, church and world, the image of Christ. Give me honesty as I examine myself to see if I am in the faith. Do not let me run from the duty to search my own heart according to Your commands. Father, stir up Your church. Make us a people who rejoice. Make us a people who aim for restoration, comfort one another, and agree with one another. Give us Your peace and make us a people who live in Your peace. I want you to be with me and with us. I want Christ to be worshiped and exalted in us. Not just in word but in deed, expand the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in us. Expand Your love in us. Teach us to seek and live in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. God please move in Your church.

In Christ's name
Amen

Boast

2 Corinthians 10:17&18 “'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.' 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."

When is the last time you boasted in the Lord? When is the last time you pointed to the glory of your Redeemer? Do we cherish the powerful and life giving work of Christ for us or do we cherish how well we can complete some job?

What we value we talk about. It has amazed me how much God has grown me spiritually since becoming a pastor years ago. My growth in the pastorate has been far greater than my growth during seminary. Those days where days of boasting in myself and boasting in theologians. These have become days of learning to boast in Christ. Those were days of learning to defend truth. These have become days seeking to know Christ who is the Truth. It is not for me to boast in accomplishments. It is not for me to boast in knoweldge. It is my joy to boast in Christ.

Father, I thank You for Christ. I come to You in prayer only because of Christ. I will come to You in death only because of Christ. You are my Father and my Savior only because I belong to Christ. Thank You my King and I pray that You will use me so that others will boast in Christ. I want others to know the joy of forgiveness and hope. I want others to know the strengthening and convicting power of the Spirit. Lord use me I pray so that others will see Your glory.

In Jesus' name
Amen

The Grace Foundation

Last night in our adult bible study we emphasized the foundation of grace for all giving. 2 Corinthians 8 opens with this statement, "We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia." 2 Corinthians 9 verse 8 continues the idea, "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." And then verse 14, "while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you."

If our giving is going to be generous, if your ministry is going to endure, we must be people who love, cling to, and experience God's grace. God's grace is God's favor giving us what we do not deserve. Grace is not limited to the first prayer of faith and repentance. Life is not intended to be lived on left-over grace. Just as Timothy needed grace, mercy, and peace so also do you. To live in grace we have to order our priorities- seek first the kingdom and His righteousness. To live in grace we have to realize that we need grace. Admitting we cannot do what God desires for our life and experiecing God's forgiveness through Christ and the Spirit's power is a large part of living in grace.

Lord, show us grace today. Show us our sin that we may see your grace. Bring us into ministry that is over our heads so that we may experiencing your grace that overflows our cups. I don't want to live a life ignorant of grace. I don't want to live a life that is inconsequential for your kingdom. I want to live in grace. I want to give generously. If I am to be poor so that others may pour out grace then Lord make me humble. Raise up generous givers and humble receivers. Make us a church who sees needs and meets them. Make us a church that lives according to the grace that Christ provides.

In His name
Amen

How to give

Everybody and every church wants us to give. Do you understand that God calls us to give? But how are we to do that without growing bitter or resentful toward others in need or toward others who won't give?

"they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us" (2 Cor 8:5).

Right giving does not start by understanding all that we have been given belongs to God. Right giving starts by understanding all that we are has been give to us by God (1 Cor 4:7). God does not call us to give a portion of our stuff. God does not call us to give all our stuff. God calls us to give ourselves first to Him and then by His will to others. It is a God honoring thing to give out of our abundance to others. It is a work of the Spirit to give ourselves to others.

Father, break my love and attachment to this world. Forgive me for wasting myself and what You have given me on things that will not last. Teach me what I know, may I take it to heart. I am not my own but You bought me with the life and blood of Jesus Christ. I want to honor You with all that I am and all that I have. Help me Father to honor You. Help me to no longer live for myself but for Christ who loves me and gave Himself for me.

For Christ my Redeemer
Amen

Don't Miss This

2 Corinthians 7:9-13 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we are comforted.

Pray for the spiritual wisdom that distinquishes between godly and worldly repentance. Search your heart and discern the motives and means of your repentance. We are easly tricked by the ways of Satan. We are too quick to quiet our consciences with things other than the perfect work of Christ. Spend time searching yourself.

The Gospel in 6 Minutes

Check out the above link; it is well worth your time.

Sin: from desire to hatred

2 Samuel 13 details in a horrific way the progress we all go through when tempted. Amnon saw something beautiful and good but potentially sinful. If he would have asked, if he would have acted appropriately Tamar would have been given to him as his wife. But with all sin we are not concerned with what is lawful but with what will quench our desires. He is influenced by a worthless man (see Psalm 1) and concocts a sinful scheme. Amnon lies to his father, his servants, and his sister. He then rapes his sister. He achieved his goal. Amnon quenched his desire. Then a horribly remarkable thing happens. Tamar, the one who used to make him sick with desire now makes him sick with disgust. Once Amnon took what he thought he could not live without he realized he could not live with it. So it is with every sin. We become consumed with desire and convince ourselves it would be wrong to do with out. We lie, cheat, and steal to attain what we want. When we get it; it's neither what we need nor what we want.

My Father in heaven, give me eyes to see things as they really are. Do not let me deceive myself with lies about sin. I do not want to be an Amnon. I do not want to be full of sin and full of disgust. I want to be like Christ. I want to be full of righteousness and full of joy. Guard me from worthless men and guard me from becoming a worthless man. Make me as disgusted over my sin as I am over Amnon's. Satisfy me with your presence. Feed me with your word. Guide my feet on path's of righteousness.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Prayer Request & Update

Last night, Wednesday, a little girl named Casey had what appears to be a seizure. A helicopter took her to a hospital in Fort Worth and see remains there as of this morning. She is much improved, the breathing tube has been removed and she is talking. Her grandmother said her eyes are read and she's a little groggy. Pray for Casey and her family. The neurologist is coming some time today because the tests last night revealed no cause for the episode. Pray that her body would be healed. Pray that God would open the eyes of her little heart to understand the truth of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray that the hope of the gospel, the promises of Jesus Christ, would comfort her mom and grandmother throughout this day and throughout all eternity. God is able; let's pray.

Thanks
Paul

Prayer

God said to David:

"Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever’” (2 Samuel 7:11-16).

David said in response:
"For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever” (2 Samuel 7:27-29)

Paul wrote:
"Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many" (2 Corinthians 1:9-11).

Then he wrote:
"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory" (2 Corinthians 1:20).

All our prayers must be based on God's promises. David prayed in response to God's promise to establish his offspring. Paul called on the church to pray in response to God's promised deliverance. The climax of prayer and promise comes in the person of Jesus Christ. All the promises of God, on which we base our prayers, find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. Jesus promised, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it" (John 14:13&14). Our prayers should not be grounded on our needs, God knows our needs. Our prayers must be grounded in Jesus Christ the one who fulfills all the promises of God. Jesus is the reason for prayer. Jesus is the reason God answers prayer. Jesus is the reason God hears our prayers. Jesus is king forever. Our prayers will be heard forever and those that are based on Him will find their Yes forever.

In the name of Jesus Christ I pray to You my God and Father. Through Jesus Christ You have given me forgiveness and life. Thank You in Jesus' name. Through Jesus Christ You have given me hope for today and for all eternity. He has experienced Your rod of discipline because of my sin. He has taken my place. You have made Yourself a people and I am a part of that people because of Jesus. Father, I praise You for the marvelous work of grace You accomplished for me in Christ Jesus. When I pray to You, when I seek Your forgiveness, You tell me Yes because of Christ. Keep me near to Christ. I want to pray according to Your will and I want to pray so that I glorify my Savior. Help me Father. Do for me what I cannot do for myself.

In the name of Jesus
Amen

Opportunity & Adversity

1 Corinthians 16:8, "But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."

In Colossians, Paul urged the church to pray God would open doors of opportunity for the gospel to go forward. He saw the open door amoung the Ephesians but he also saw opposition. It is promised, "all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim 3:12). When God's people advance in holiness and faithfulness there will be opposition from the world and the god of this age. When God's people take the gospel to their community their will be opposition. Unfortunately, opposition generally takes the form of persecution.

David saw opposition from Saul and David saw opposition from Michal, his wife. Resentment, bitterness, anger, and misunderstanding creep in quickly and quietly. What the Christian does and thinks is foolishness to the world. Sadly, what the Christians does and thinks can been seen as foolish even by those in their family. This should be our response, "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love" (1 Cor 16:13&14).

In love, watch for what is right and watch for what is wrong. In love, stand firm in the faith for the truth and against error. In love, act like men. In love, be strong.

Father, my love for ease so often keeps me from following You through the doors of opportunity Your provide. Forgive me by the blood of Jesus Christ for not watching and following You. Forgive us, Your Church, for loving comfort more than we love faithfulness. You have such wonderful opportunities for us to bring hope and change to our community and world. You have given us the gospel, the ministry of reconciliation. May we be faithful to proclaim it wherever we go. May I be faithful to proclaim it wherever I go. Teach me what it means, and teach the men of Your church what it means, to be men. Teach us the joys of watching for Your call and watching out for Your truth. Teach us the joys of standing firm in the faith and acting like men. Fill us with the love of Christ.

In Jesus' name
Amen

The Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:32, "If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.'”

If there is no resurrection we should live like the world. If there is no resurrection we should not exercise faith we should live quietly doing nothing of eternal significance. If there is no resurrection we should never attempt the difficult or engage the enemy. Simply put, if there is no resurrection we should live like we are living. But if there is a resurrection:

54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”55 “O death, where is your victory?O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Father, Son, and Spirit give me hope in the resurrection so that I always abound in Your work. Fill my life with You so that my life will sing Your praise and bear fruit for Your kingdom. I don't want to live a wasted life. I don't want to be a part of a church that lives a wasted life. I want to grow. I want Your people to grow. I want Your kingdom to grow. Remove my fear of death by showing me the glory of the resurrection. Remove my fear of adversity by showing me the power of the Spirit and the endurance of Christ. Open my eyes Lord, I want to see Jesus.

For Jesus,
Amen

Every gift for the common good

And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel (2 Sam 5:12).

If anyone in history could have thought his influence and wealth was for himself it would have been David. Yet David knew his kingdom had come to power for the good of the people. This was not about David sitting on a throne. This leadership was about God's kingdom and God's people. David did not trust himself to ruthless men who murdered people on their beds. David trusted in God who brought him out of every adversity.

In the middle of the storm it is hard to see God. The blowing rain, the flash of lightening, the pain of being tossed about darkens our eyes. But when the storm ceases we see God's hand. When David was running and hiding every day, when David the annoited was eating the priest's bread instead of feasting in the king's hall, and when he was fighting another people's battles there would have been opportunity to doubt. But as it were, the presence of God and the faithfulness of God gave opportunity to believe.

The Church

We need you to be a part of the church and exercise your gifts. We don't need you to act important. We don't need you to make demands for your own benefit. We don't need you to pull rank or put people in their places. We need you to be what God is making you. We need you to use your own gifts to challenge us to do the same. We need you to exercise your gifts in a way that shows us the strength, beauty, mercy, courage, help, endurance, correction, wisdom, holiness, and care of Jesus Christ.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (1 Cor 12:4-7).

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together (1 Cor 12:24-26)

Father, help us get over ourselves. Help us get over our fears and help us get over our little pet ideas that matter very little and cause great damage. Show us how to use our gifts. Open our eyes to the needs that are around us. Help not ask what we can get out of the church but how we can use our gifts for the good of the church. Help us show Christ to others. Help me show Christ to others.

In HIs name
Amen

The Lord's Supper

Over the past two days we have seen the Spirit's emphasis on different characteristics of the Lord's Supper. Yesterday, from 1 Corinthians 10, the meaning of the one loaf was at the forefront. I Cor 10:16&17, "16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread." Lord, show us the glories of Your church when it sees itself as one body. I long for the church to come together around Jesus Christ. May it truly be our desire to know Christ and make Him known.

In 1 Cor 11 the Lord's Supper is again mentioned. This time the emphasis is not one loaf but eating the supper together as a unifed body. A unified body that is concerned about each other and meeting together meeting the needs of the body. Out of selfishness they had begun to despise the church of God and humiliate those who had nothing.

The Lord's Supper is a tangible display of the work of Christ. The blood of Christ was spilt and the body of Christ was broken to redeem men and women. Men and women were redeemed in order to be a part of the body of Christ. The work of salvation transforms the sinner into a saint and the outcast into a beloved son. When we observe the Lord's Supper it must be done with redemption in Christ and unity by Christ in our minds, songs, and prayers.

Great Father full of mercy, unify Your church. Unify Mambrino Baptist Church. Remove our selfishness that keeps us from serving and sacrificing. Remove our pride that keeps us from being honest about our sins and finding the help we need. So many people don't care about the church. Make me a man You can use to build Your church. I want Your Kingdom, the Kingdom of Your beloved Son, to advance in Granbury. I want us to be used to bring the good news of Jesus Christ into every home. Unite us Father. Make us one body. Make us family. Make us the body of Christ. Great Father of mercy, thank You for Your covenant love. Thank You for Your crucified Son. Thank You for my resurrected Savior. Come Lord Jesus. Come Lord Jesus.

Amen

A Sad Day

MSN reports concerning the release of 12 of the 19 remaining South Korean hostages:

"To secure the release of the church workers, South Korea reaffirmed a pledge it made before the hostage crisis began to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year. Seoul also said it would prevent South Korean Christian missionaries from working in the country, something it had already promised to do" (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20473825/).

This is definitely a call on the Christian church in South Korea to disobey the government. We must pray that God would raise up men and women like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abadnego, and the Disciples who respected the government but not obey the government.

Acts 4:19-22, "19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old."

For my daughter, Abigail

Father, I pray this morning for the daughter you have given me. I pray for my Abigail. May you make her discerning and beautiful. Please God, send Your Holy Spirit to adorn her with eternal life and true beauty. I long to see Abigail walk with You and know Your perfect Son. I desire to raise her in Your wisdom so that she may know Your will. I want to be a father who is faithful. I want her to know she is loved by her earthly loving but more importantly I want her to know she is loved by You. When difficulties come, be her strength. When young men come, be her beauty. When hard situations come, give her wisdom. Be to her everything that I cannot be. Be to her a true Father. Give me a love for her and a love for Christ that drive me to show her everyday in everyway who You are. Thank you for my Abigail. She truly makes my heart rejoice.

In Christ's name
Amen