Witnesses

When we think about being eye witnesses to the works of Jesus Christ, many of us think too far back in time. We want to go all the way back to the time when Jesus walked on the earth. We think of the twelve who went everywhere with Jesus and saw all the miraculous things He did.

In Acts 4, Peter and John have been arrested and brought before the Council because they healed, in the name of Jesus, a man who had been lame from birth. This man was begging for money but Peter and John had none of that. They had something much better...the power to speak healing into this man's feeble legs and feet. And that annoyed the religious leaders.

When Peter and John came before them, the leaders saw that these were very ordinary, theologically uneducated men - just like us - but "they recognized that they had been with Jesus." (vs 13 ESV) They commanded Peter and John to stop talking about Jesus and particularly the the resurrection. "But Peter and John replied, 'Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than Him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard'." (vs 19 NLT)

We don't have to go all the way back there because the same should be true of us. If nothing else, we should tell everyone how Jesus raised us from the dead! "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins..." (Ephesians 2:1) Everyone of us - even if you never lived a life of debauchery - was DEAD before meeting Jesus. When we surrendered our lives to Christ, we were resurrected from the dead. "But God, being rich in mercy...made us alive together in Christ..." (Ephesians 2:4-5) That is something amazing that we witnessed and should tell people about.

I have seen the addicted set free from alcohol and drugs, homosexuals set free from same sex attractions, marriages and families restored, teenagers and unmarried adults living lives of sexual purity, and 1000's saying YES to Jesus as Savior and Lord! I MUST be a witness. I cannot stop talking about the amazing things I see Jesus doing in the lives of people I know and people I hear about.

Jesus is very much alive and still performing miracles! Tell everybody!!

"You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He...I am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior." (Isaiah 43:10-11 ESV)

Dead Men Walking

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world...carrying out the desires of the body and the mind..." Ephesians 2:1-3

When I was living my life carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, I thought I was living the good life. Eat, drink and be merry! If it feels good do it! Go for he gusto! You only live once!

Those were the mottos of my life. I had to keep pounding those slogans into my mind because I had to say something to make me feel good about myself.

When I look back on that time, I realize my heart was hard and at the end of the day, I felt like a dead man. I was always looking for something not knowing I already had it. I had met Jesus as a child but had shut out the voice of His Spirit so often I couldn't hear it any more. Or probably it is more accurate to say I didn't want to hear it.

My neighborhood, my community, is filled with dead men (and women) walking through life searching for something and not knowing what it is. But I know. I know God has put a desire in each of us for Himself. A desire that can only be satisfied in a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is up to me to share that Good News with them. So now I ask God to help me see that one walking dead around me that He would have me share my story with.

A Glimpse of Heaven

I have not read the books "90 Minutes in Heaven" or "Heaven Is Real" and have not had any trips to heaven and back myself so I don't know what will be like. There are some descriptions in the Bible but I don't think it really matters what it looks like. What will matter is I will be in the presence of Jesus and will worship Him forever.

My glimpse of heaven occurred a few years ago when I had the opportunity to go to Kenya on the first of many mission trips undertaken by NewSpring Church in partnership with 410 Bridge. We had been told that each of us should be prepared, during Sunday church services, to share our favorite Bible verse and tell a little bit about why it is our favorite.

I was prepared with one of my favorite verses from Romans, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you might overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." But as I sat there watching the Kenyans from different tribes - who used to be enemies - dressed in their colorful native dress singing and dancing and worshiping Jesus along side 12 or 15 very white people; when I heard the translators speaking in 3 or 4 different languages; when I saw the joy and heard the testimonies in spite of the very deep poverty; I was overwhelmed with God's grace and mercy. I thought of how God loves THE WORLD; Jesus died for the entire world!

And I had my glimpse of heaven. My Bible verse changed to Revelation 7:9-10. Every nation, all tribes and people and languages. I am too often isolated and insulated from the world and I forget how great the love of God is. To be halfway around the world with people who don't look like me, don't talk like me, don't eat what I eat, don't dress like I dress but LOVE Jesus just as much as I do caused me to weep tears of gratitude  for the greatness of God.

All this came flooding back as I was reading in Acts 2 about the coming of the Holy Spirit. God gave them that day, I think, a glimpse of heaven. "And at this sound the multitude came together and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language...we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."

Help me, Lord God, to remember Your love, Your salvation is for ALL people including the drug addict and the prostitute; the bank CEO and the PTA chairman; the welfare mom and the soccer mom; the native born and the illegal immigrant. Take away my prejudices, my hardness of heart so that I might reach out to increase Your kingdom and help make heaven a little more crowded.

Be Doers of the Word

One of the first Bible verses I remember learning as a child was James 1:22 "Be doers of the word and not hearers only." James has a lot to say about living out our faith. He even goes so far as to say "faith without works is dead." Paul also addresses this when he says we are "created in Christ Jesus for good works". 

My pastor also preaches this. He often tells us "just read the Bible and do what it says." He encourages us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. If God lays a burden on my heart - say a neighbor who needs groceries - it is my responsibility to get those groceries, not call the church office and tell the church they need to do something. We see this same story in James 2:15-16.

But this is not just a New Testament church thing. This is the very heart of God. Back in the days of Isaiah, God was telling the Israelites that they didn't understand fasting. They were setting aside a day to humble themselves, bowing down like a reed, covering themselves in sackcloth and ashes. But God said this is not what I desire. "Is not this the fast that I chose: to loose the bonds of wickedness...to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your houses; when you see the naked, to cover him..." Isaiah 58:6-7

Too many people in church today are like those Israelites, they are consumers putting on a good show for God. They show up on Sunday to sing the songs and listen to the sermon and then leave with never a thought of doing anything about what they heard, no thought of serving Jesus by serving others. I find that really sad because they are missing so much joy and so much connection with God.

Qualified for Service

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13

I heard a pastor say Jesus does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called. How many times do members of the Church shy away from serving Jesus by saying oh, I couldn't do that. Or I don't have any training for that. In some ways I think the higher education of pastors and other ministers does a disservice to the Church.

I am NOT against higher education or studying church history or learning Greek or Hebrew or any of the things taught at seminaries around the world. I have taken a few seminary courses myself and find those courses can be helpful in understanding the Bible and the Church. But sometimes I think we have created a culture of Church people who use lack of education as an excuse not to do things Jesus asks us to do.

If you look at the disciples, you find men who were "uneducated, common men". Jesus didn't go to the synagogue and call the best students or the most favored rabbis. He went to the seashore and called fishermen. And to the marketplace to get a tax collector. He brought together that tax collector, Matthew, who worked for the Roman rulers and Simon the Zealot who worked for the overthrow of Roman rule; enemies in their former lives. There were the brothers James and John whom Jesus nicknamed Sons of Thunder and Thomas who became known for doubting the resurrection and Judas who would eventually betray Jesus.

This was a rag-tag bunch of men. But they "had been with Jesus" and were willing to be taught by Him and therefore turned Jerusalem and the surrounding territories upside down. Even Paul who was very educated declared I count it all nothing except for knowing Christ.

So why do we, today, have churches that won't hire a pastor who doesn't have a doctorate? Or staff members who have not been to seminary? Why do we put such value on the education of our ministers? EVERYONE who has surrendered to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is a minister of the gospel. None of the education matters when I get down to telling my story; relating how Jesus changed my life. EVERYONE of us has the same teachings available that the original twelve disciples had. If they can change the world so can we! We are qualified for service because Jesus called us and He equips us.

How Majestic

Today I read Psalm 8 and Isaiah 6 and thought what perfect companion readings.

Verse 1 of Psalm 8 always put that praise chorus by Michael W Smith in my head but aside from that it also reminds me man is a very tiny creature in God's vast universe. David even says "what is man that You are mindful of him" (vs.4). He continues, though, with the proper order of things reminding us that man IS special and different from the rest of creation. We are not to worship God's creation but to rule over it.

Ruling requires a certain stewardship over creation, a certain care but it also means the life of an child, even unborn, is more precious than the life of a whale or any other animal. Often those who seem to care the most about the creatures of this earth will also be the loudest promoters of a woman's right to choose abortion to end the life of her child.

How backwards we get things at times. The majesty of God is seen in the works of creation from His hands but man is the creature "crowned with glory and honor."

Isaiah's view of the majesty of God is not in creation but in the Lord Himself. "In the year King Uzziah died I saw the Lord, sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple." (vs.1) He goes on to describe the scene in the throne room of God with the seraphim singing "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory." (vs.3)

From seeing creation, David sang, "O Lord, our Lord how majestic is Your name in all the earth!" From seeing God, Isaiah cried, "Woe is me!" He recognized he was a sinner living among a sinful people and unworthy to be in the presence of God. Both of these responses are proper and should be part of my worship of God.

But what I find so great about Isaiah's case, when he recognized and confessed his sin, God immediately sent one of the seraphim with a hot coal from the altar to touch Isaiah and cleanse him from his sin. Our great and majestic God, Creator of ALL things, does not want to leave us in our state of sin, our state of despair. He pours out His perfect love, through the blood of Jesus, to redeem mankind, not for our sake but for His glory.

After taking away Isaiah's sin, the Lord asks, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Isaiah immediately responds, "Here am I! Send me." When confronted with the true majesty of God, we should be ready to go wherever He wants us to go - even if it's just across the street - to share His message of love, hope and salvation.

End of the Age

I've been hearing a lot of Christians talking about the end of the age because of the earthquakes in New Zealand and Chili and Japan and the tsunami several years ago in Indonesia and the unrest in the Arab and African countries. People read Matthew 24:6-7 and say it's now! But in verse 8, Jesus says it is just the beginning, not the now.

The thing is just about every generation since Jesus ascended into heaven after the resurrection has seen the times as the fulfillment of the Christ's return. But Jesus said no one knows the time except the Father. He said don't worry about the when, use the power of the Holy Spirit to be witness of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

All believers have been looking for Christ's return since He physically left the earth 2000 years ago. I think we all long for the restoration of the world as God first created it. I think we all long for the time when their will be peace on the earth. And we know that will not happen until the forces of darkness are cast out completely and Christ rules over all the earth forever.

But we should never forget the mission - the great commission - given to all believers - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." It doesn't matter when the end comes - whether by death or Christ's return. All this should be a wake up call that we are to be actively involved in the day to day lives of people to help them not only see Jesus by the lives we live but hear about Him by the words we speak so they will be ready to meet Him however and whenever that takes place.

Destruction in Japan

The destruction in Japan from the earthquake last weekend and the resulting tsunami, fires and aftershocks looks like the effects of a huge bomb. Pictures from CNN can be seen here: http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2011/03/world/hires.japan.quake/index.html?hpt=T2

A friend has heard from a missionary associated with WorldVenture living in Kawasaki, Japan who has asked that people pray for the following:

1. for the rescue efforts in the hardest hit areas - there is much loss of life, pray for more survivors
2. for many people in the area that have not yet been heard from by friends of theirs
3. for three churches in their church association in the area that have not been heard from
4. for Japanese to turn their hearts to Him

He concludes by saying 99% of Japanese are without the hope and eternal life Christ gives.

I can not begin to imagine what I would feel like as a survivor of this type of disaster. My prayers go out to the people of Japan and to those who are attempting to help bring order out of chaos.

Roman Road

I love reading Romans. Sometimes I think what did Paul just say and I have to read the passage again. I don't read many authors who use sentences as long as Paul's. Or who are as theologically profound as Paul. But there is so much in this book that begs for my attention and my memorization.

So today I was reminded of the Roman Road to salvation:

3:23 "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
5:8 "...but God shows His great love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
10:9-10 "...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
10:13 "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

When speaking to someone who does not know Jesus, it is good to know these verses. I may not go "down the list" but if the opportunity presents itself, the lost person needs to know what God says - not what Perry says and certainly not what Nancy says. Only God's word has the power to change hearts and lives.

God Grants Repentance

I've been reading Acts for several days now. Acts 11:18 is the end of Peter's story to the Apostles in Jerusalem about his trip to the Gentiles and God's revelation to Peter that salvation is available to all...even the Gentiles.

Today we would say, well, duh! But in those days they really believed salvation was only for the Jews. However, we are just as guilty of sitting in our little cocoons and being content and not reaching out to those around us because God wouldn't want to use ME to reach THEM. "Them" being those we think of as beyond God's reach because their lives are so screwed up or people we assume are okay even though they may be totally un-okay because they have no relationship with Jesus or maybe we just don't like them so we can't be bothered.

Yesterday in a clip from Andy Stanley at the NewSpring Leadership Conference, Andy said the church is not for church people. He asked how many church people were in the church when Jesus launched the church? And the answer is...Zero!

So, how am I going to be available to be used by God this year? What am I willing to do, where am I willing to go, what expense am I willing to bear to see God grant repentance to those I come in contact with?

Open my eyes, my ears, my heart to You, O Lord, that I might see as You see, hear Your direction, love as You love to be Your agent for change in the lives of those around me.

Hurting People

As part of the prayer team, I get to hear about a lot of the hurts people are going through. I talked to Sarah yesterday at NewSpring, Greenville, who is longing for love. She is a 20 something, obese, sexually promiscuous woman who has a 2 year old son but has never been in a relationship with a guy; all her encounters with men are just for sex. She also said she had been abused by her step-father when she was a child.

I prayed with Sarah and got her a Bible and talked to her a little about Jesus and life as a believer but then we parted and I don't know if any of it "took". Sometimes that makes me feel so impotent. I know the answer to all their questions is Jesus and I know He has to draw people to Himself for them to be healed of all that is wrong in their lives. That was true in my own life and I know it will be true in their lives. But sometimes it would be nice to see the lights go on, to know they get it.

At least it is good that those who are hurting are putting themselves in the position to hear of the love of Jesus by actually being in church on Sunday.

Evangelism Seminar - Now What?

I love my church! On Monday of this week Perry came to Greenville to lead an evangelism seminar. I was working production and didn't get to really listen to all he had to say. So tonight I was able to watch the seminar live from the Anderson campus as Perry concluded a week of live teaching at each campus.

The challenge is to put into action all that he talked about. Building relationships. Preparing and sharing my testimony. Praying for opportunities and boldness. Just being available and willing to talk about what Jesus has done for me.

It's not always easy but God's word IS alive and active and able to do what God intends for it to do. Perry challenged us to prepare to lead one person - just one - to Christ in the next 12 months; to disciple them and encourage them to lead one person to Christ and for me to lead one more. As we multiply this out the potential to reach our state, our nation and the world is staggering.

Open my eyes, Lord, to see the fields ripe for harvest. To understand the part I play in Your plans for the salvation of people in my family and community. Give me a heart that cares for those You care about that are far from God. Give me opportunities and the boldness to grab those opportunities when You present them.

In His Steps

I've just finished reading "In His Steps" the original version of "What Would Jesus Do?" I have a 1935 edition of this book that was written in 1896.

This was a time in America of great class distinction. This book takes aim at the "haves" and how they should live their lives in light of the sufferings of Christ. Over and over again the author asks how can the well to do Christian live a life of luxury and ignorance or even abhorrence for the poor, wretched masses.

In my minds eye I can see the fine carriages and top hats of the social elites, along with the women in all their refinement as well as their large houses. (Too many movies perhaps!) I can also see the tenements, the slums, with no heat, no running water, no toilets - death and disease at their door, the people wearing rags and wondering where their next meal is coming from.

A pastor who gave up his position to move into the slums told those in his church who were appalled at his decision they would think differently if he was going overseas to be missionary to India or Africa. They would applauded his sacrifice but to move a short distance away, to give up his luxury, to try to reach people of his own city was baffling.

One character in the book, Rollin, was a rich, lazy young man who spent his time in social clubs. After meeting Christ, he continues to go to the clubs to try to convert whom he may saying that the rich have no one else. Many churches and charitable organization donate to the poor but who considers the rich whose god is his money?

I suppose it is not much different from today except "What Would Jesus Do" became a slogan, a feel good t-shirt or wrist band to wear. But really - how many Christ followers step regularly into situations willingly seeking the mind of Christ to walk in His steps - to actually follow Christ - no matter what it costs us in reputation, money, job, friendships? Romans 8:17, Philippians 3:10

Can't Take It with You

I was looking at pictures of the children in the Segera mission area of Kenya. David Lazaro is the young man I have started to support each month. To think that $39 a month can help David realize his ambition to be a doctor is unbelievable to me.

When I see pictures of the stick and mud huts, the dirty, worn clothes, and the SMILES my heart breaks. Having been there and seen for myself and met the people, I am overwhelmed that God has put me in a position to help. I have sooo much! By American standards I'm on the lower end of the totem pole financially but by the world's standards I am RICH!

By God's standard, too, I am rich...and not just financially! But I am a daughter to THE King, the one who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who says, "the world is mine" so that makes me rich financially too.

Next week I'm sending my grandson to skateboard camp at a cost of $119. He's so excited and I'm glad to give him the opportunity to do something he loves and really wants to do. But that same money would support David, or someone like him, for 3 months with food and school supplies and teachers. I AM rich - to have money to spend on something like learning to ride a skateboard when most of the world would just like something to eat.

I want to make a difference in the lives of people, whether here or in Kenya. God has put me where I am for a reason. He has given me the resources He has for a reason. He has given me the desire "to do" for a reason. I don't want to disappoint Him or me by not being faithful to go where He leads and to spend my money as He directs. Psalm 49:16-17 is another "can't take it with you" message so I will look for opportunities to give as God directs. Nothing is mine anyway!!

Controversy

Yesterday, I read Todd Rhodes blog about an evangelical church plant in Utah that had it's funding taken away because they allow attendees to drink beer (2's the limit) at the Applebee's style restaurant/bar (see the comment section for this information from the church planter.)

Then I read today's devotion from NewSpring. Luke 7:36-47 has the story of a "sinner", a woman, who comes into the Pharisee's house and washes His feet with her tears, dries them with her hair and anoints them with perfume. And the Pharisee complains.

Seems to me to be very similar to the controversy with the guy in Utah. Just a few verses earlier, Jesus seems to be saying there was a "damned if you do/damned if you don't" mentality among the religious leaders. Seems to me some things NEVER change!

Set Apart

In Galatians 1:15-16, Paul is speaking of being set apart before his birth to be called by the grace of God and to have His Son revealed to him.

Although I have not been called to be a preacher of the gospel in the sense as Paul or Perry or Christine Caine or Anne Graham Lotz, I have been called to speak words of truth into the lives of my family and friends who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus.

Too many times I have thought of those "set apart" as being some special breed of Christian, and yes, they do have very strong gifts of evangelism and preaching that make them uniquely able to stand before people week after week proclaiming God's word.

BUT...I too have been set apart. Jesus said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him,..." John 6:44. In Psalm 139:15-16, David says every day of my life was written in God's book before I was ever born.

I need to constantly remind myself that I am a special messenger of God's love and grace. Maybe not on the scale of others but certainly within my sphere of influence.

The Next Generation

Whose responsibility is it to share the Gospel with the next generation? Davey mentioned Sunday that it is the responsibility of all of us - not just those who work with kids or youth.

In Judges 2:10 we see that the Israelites did not teach their children about God and His faithfulness. This led to years and years and years of trouble in the land. I'm sure the Israelites of that day would say they were too busy. After all they had a land to conquer.

That would probably be our same excuse today. We're too busy. Maybe even busy with the kids - running them to soccer or dance or music lessons - but don't carve out time to talk to them about Jesus. And then we wonder why they become rebellious teenagers or wayward adults. And maybe we even say the church didn't do a good enough job.

But ultimately the responsibility is ours - the moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles and cousins. Those to whom God has entrusted the children in the first place.

The Word Spread

Sometimes I forget that if it were not for courageous men and women 2000 years ago who told the story of Jesus every where they went, I might not be a believer today.

Oh, I know God's plan goes along no matter what but I am thankful for the disciples in the early church who ran from persecution but did not keep silent. They were instrumental in the spread of the Gospel...taking it out of Jerusalem and getting it to the rest of the world.

I pray for that kind of courage for me...to always speak about the love of Jesus when I have the opportunity. It seems every time I ask God to give me an opportunity to share Jesus or to pray for someone, He does it. I just wonder why I don't pray that prayer EVERY day.

Acts 4

Our NewSpring daily devotion today included Acts 4. This chapter of the Bible always amazes me...the religious elite are more concerned with their position than the acts of God. They recognize the healing the disciples performed can not be denied so what to do!? People might believe what the disciples say!

Has this happened in modern history? Has a move of God been denied or questioned because it wasn't through the correct denomination or didn't follow the correct protocol? Could it be denied because it makes the religious elite, the religious conformists uncomfortable?

The disciples are recognized as unschooled men yet they speak boldly what they know to be true. When commanded not to speak anymore by the ruling religious, they say they must obey God. When praying later, they do not ask for protection but for boldness to keep speaking in the face of danger and threats.

Am I willing to speak boldly or have I ever used the excuse that I don't know enough or don't have the proper training. If opposition comes do I quit and slink away or do I ask God to continue to give me opportunities to speak about Jesus?

And the believers live in unity of spirit and purpose...no one is in need because all their possessions are to aid those who need it. No hoarding or selfishness here.

Do I give generously to help those who need help?

I thank God that His word is ever fresh, ever new and that it causes me to ask questions. But my greatest prayer is that it will lead to action. This Sunday Christine Caine said real compassion causes us to cross the road and actually do something. Help me, Lord, to know what You would have me DO!

Equal Sacrifice

I've been thinking about the $16k NewSpring raised on Sunday for Samaritan's Purse to use to help Haiti and thought about Perry's message on giving. That is a huge amount for a one day offering on a holiday weekend. But when I think about the 11,000 in attendance it really isn't much...especially since Perry told us only 10% of the MEMBERSHIP (not attenders) tithe.

I do understand that we just took a Christmas offering of $600,000 a few weeks ago. For many to give anything may be tough in this economy. Many are without jobs or are stretched to the breaking point. It's time to pay property taxes and Christmas bills are coming in. And I do think that $16,000 is a great offering!

But I have a friend who pastors a small church in White Castle, LA (pop about 1900), He had 30 people at church on Sunday and their offering for Haiti was $1300. I don't really know anything about the congregation. They may all be millionaires living in the "suburbs" of Baton Rouge. And my intention is not to play a comparison game.

It just made me think about giving God's way. Sometimes that is until it hurts. It made me reflect on my own giving. What do I spend unnecessary money on that could be given to God's work? And then I read Pete Wilson's blog for today. God speaks and I really want to listen