Like no other time in history, Biblical truth is under attack! The worst part is that many Christians are like the boxer who, after being badly battered and bruised, leaned over the ropes and said to his trainer, “Throw in the towel! This guy is killing me!” The trainer said, “Oh, no, he’s not. He’s not even hitting you. He hasn’t laid a glove on you!” At that point the boxer wiped the blood away from his eye and said, “Well, then, I wish you’d watch that referee. Somebody is sure hitting me!” Many believers, like the boxer feel battered, bruised, and tired from the battle so they just simply throw in the towel because their opponent is too much for them to handle. The reason why so many Christians are losing the battle is because they have failed to identify their enemy. 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit” the spirit that John is warning against is the power that energizes this world and is controlled by Satan. Knowing that the spirit of Satan is constantly at war against God, as a believer, you have to be careful to weigh and examine what spirit you are listening to because the world is full of deception. Perhaps you’re thinking, “It sounds a little strange to me that people who know God could be deceived. It may sound strange, but it is not unusual. Sadly, it happens all the time and it always has. If the danger was not so very real, why would the New Testament Epistles warn God’s people about the possibility of being deceived no fewer than eleven times? 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” Three times Paul uses the word transform to describe the works of Satan and his emissaries. Paul’s warning is this, since the Prince of Darkness transforms himself into an angel of light, you should not be surprised when evil teachers come claiming to have a message from God. The real danger is that through their deceitful teachings, Christians believe these satanic lies and have their minds corrupted. The tragic result is that they leave their love for Christ in favour of the teachings of Satan. But the child of God should not be surprised when this happens, because before this world comes to a conclusion, Paul warned that satanic deception would intensify. It is not simply that we have more people in the world, or better news coverage, but the Scriptures say that the whole world falls into the lap of the “god of this age” who is living in rebellion to God. Now, put the Word of God on one side and then put on the other side what you are exposed to every day through some of the ungodly media, the so called “Christian” television, and the places that you work. And then realize that as you get up in the morning you are going to have to make some tough decisions on what voice you are going to allow into your home. Daily, many Christians watch as these false teachers parade around under the bright lights of television cameras on religious networks worldwide teaching lies from the very pit of Hell. They promise miracles in return for money, conning viewers out of more than a billion dollars annually. And, instead of defending the truth of the Scriptures, many believers pretend to be humble to stand against them, while others try to bury their heads in the sand in an attempt to keep peace. They claim “they don’t want to judge” but that is neither charity nor grace-but a complete failure to exercise Biblical discernment and righteous judgment. Jesus said in John 7:24, “Do not judge according to appearance but judge with righteous judgment.” You don’t judge with a self righteous attitude but you must exercise moral and Biblical discernment. Now, the question that arises is that with all of this deception that is taking place, how does a person recognize if the spirit is from God or Satan? The questions that you need to ask yourself are; are they living a godly lifestyle, are they teaching the Scriptures as the final authority, and do they openly confess that Jesus Christ has come as God in the flesh? If they refuse to accept that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh than they do not belong to God and are being energized by the spirit of the Antichrist and speaking the lies of Satan. The deception that is in this world is much stronger than we are but God is greater than all the evil of this world and it is through His power that we can overcome the lies of Satan. John says in light of all this deception and rebellion that is being orchestrated by Satan, do not panic because if you are a child of God then you have already won a big victory over the spirit of deception because the Spirit of God who is working in you is greater than the spirit of the Antichrist who is working in this world. But, apart from walking in the power of the Holy Spirit there is no victory in the Christian life. John 16:12-13, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
May God bless you as you remain faithful to Him!
Pastor Paul
4/12/10
4/6/10
Why Celebrate Easter?
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
The Scriptures tell us that we are sinners by choice and by nature and that is why the prophet Isaiah compares us to sheep that are prone to wonder away from the Shepherd. It is because of this sin nature that the Messiah had to go to the cross bearing the consequences of all the sins of men. “The Greek word for "cross" is stauros, and the Latin word is crux. It primarily means "an upright stake or beam or a stake used as an instrument for punishment and execution.” Crucifixion was reserved for slaves, the lower classes and the worst types of criminals. Dying on a cross was the worst possible to die and that is why, in the Garden, even before the crucifixion began His disciples reported seeing Jesus sweating so profusely - that tiny blood vessels were rupturing in His sweat glands and emitting as great red drops that fell to the ground. Knowing that in just a few short hours He would be going to the cross, He cried out in Matthew 26:39, which says this: “He went a little further and fell on His face, and prayed saying, O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as You will.” But, there was no other way possible to pay for the sins of the world so He went to the cross and in doing so not only did He feel the beatings of sinful men but the fullness of divine wrath. The beatings administered by Roman soldiers are well known to be very bloody, leaving open wounds all over the body. In addition a crown of thorns was not placed but forced into his scalp which was capable of severely irritating major nerves in his head, causing increasing and excruciating pain. In Christ's severely stressed condition, these beatings were easily enough to kill him. His body was horribly bruised, cut, and bleeding to the point that He was beyond description. Having had no nourishment for many hours, and having lost fluids through profuse sweating and much bleeding, Jesus would have been severely dehydrated. Imagine being in that condition and being forced to carry a heavy object like a cross. The Roman soldiers drove those nails into the median nerve of his hands causing pain so incredible that even morphine wouldn’t have helped. The pain so incredible that it was like lightning bolts traversing from the arm into the spinal cord. Some believe that Jesus did not die from exhaustion or the 3 hours of the crucifixion, but that he died from agony of mind which in affect ruptured His heart. But, we must never minimize His sufferings. He felt every rip of the whip and ever sting of the reed. His bruised and torn muscles strained to carry the cross, He felt every nail being driven into His hands and feet. His entire weight rested on them when the cross was upright. But, as they drove those nails into His hands He was thinking about you, as they kicked and spat at Him you were on His mind, as they cursed Him and mocked Him He was thinking about you, and if you were the only one that would ever believe in Him He still would have died on the cross. Now, with that image fresh in your mind, we need to understand that the Sacrificial Servant did not suffer for His own sins, He was sinless. He died for you griefs, your sorrows, your transgressions, and your iniquities. And the manner in which God laid your sins on Him was that God treated Him as if He had committed every sin by every person who would ever believe in Him. It was for your sins and for my sins that the Prince of Peace gave His life as a ransom.
Father, forgive us! Father forgive me for it was my sins that took You to the cross!
Pastor Paul,
May God bless you as you remain faithful to Him!
Have a good Easter but never forget that Jesus Christ is the reason for the season!!!
The Scriptures tell us that we are sinners by choice and by nature and that is why the prophet Isaiah compares us to sheep that are prone to wonder away from the Shepherd. It is because of this sin nature that the Messiah had to go to the cross bearing the consequences of all the sins of men. “The Greek word for "cross" is stauros, and the Latin word is crux. It primarily means "an upright stake or beam or a stake used as an instrument for punishment and execution.” Crucifixion was reserved for slaves, the lower classes and the worst types of criminals. Dying on a cross was the worst possible to die and that is why, in the Garden, even before the crucifixion began His disciples reported seeing Jesus sweating so profusely - that tiny blood vessels were rupturing in His sweat glands and emitting as great red drops that fell to the ground. Knowing that in just a few short hours He would be going to the cross, He cried out in Matthew 26:39, which says this: “He went a little further and fell on His face, and prayed saying, O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as You will.” But, there was no other way possible to pay for the sins of the world so He went to the cross and in doing so not only did He feel the beatings of sinful men but the fullness of divine wrath. The beatings administered by Roman soldiers are well known to be very bloody, leaving open wounds all over the body. In addition a crown of thorns was not placed but forced into his scalp which was capable of severely irritating major nerves in his head, causing increasing and excruciating pain. In Christ's severely stressed condition, these beatings were easily enough to kill him. His body was horribly bruised, cut, and bleeding to the point that He was beyond description. Having had no nourishment for many hours, and having lost fluids through profuse sweating and much bleeding, Jesus would have been severely dehydrated. Imagine being in that condition and being forced to carry a heavy object like a cross. The Roman soldiers drove those nails into the median nerve of his hands causing pain so incredible that even morphine wouldn’t have helped. The pain so incredible that it was like lightning bolts traversing from the arm into the spinal cord. Some believe that Jesus did not die from exhaustion or the 3 hours of the crucifixion, but that he died from agony of mind which in affect ruptured His heart. But, we must never minimize His sufferings. He felt every rip of the whip and ever sting of the reed. His bruised and torn muscles strained to carry the cross, He felt every nail being driven into His hands and feet. His entire weight rested on them when the cross was upright. But, as they drove those nails into His hands He was thinking about you, as they kicked and spat at Him you were on His mind, as they cursed Him and mocked Him He was thinking about you, and if you were the only one that would ever believe in Him He still would have died on the cross. Now, with that image fresh in your mind, we need to understand that the Sacrificial Servant did not suffer for His own sins, He was sinless. He died for you griefs, your sorrows, your transgressions, and your iniquities. And the manner in which God laid your sins on Him was that God treated Him as if He had committed every sin by every person who would ever believe in Him. It was for your sins and for my sins that the Prince of Peace gave His life as a ransom.
Father, forgive us! Father forgive me for it was my sins that took You to the cross!
Pastor Paul,
May God bless you as you remain faithful to Him!
Have a good Easter but never forget that Jesus Christ is the reason for the season!!!
3/23/10
Dream!
Psalm 37:4“Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
Do you still dream about being used by God in a mighty way? As young children, the dream of sweeping the princess of her feet, conquering cities, or slaying that fire breathing dragon? There was a reason those stories of old stirred your heart - they were daring you to come alive! But like that illusionist who with the sleight of hand make that rabbit disappear, so go our dreams. Too many Christians have settled for the mundane of life that is filled with schedules, demands, and religious activities. Perhaps the worst part of allowing your dreams to vanish like a puff of smoke is that you have bought into the lie that as we grow older, we need to escape fantasy land and enter into reality. For years churches have taught that a part of sanctification progress is stripping away all of our desires, hopes, and dreams and living under a set of man- made principles. Frightened that your associates would label you as “charismatic," you may have tried to keep God in a box but something in your heart is telling you that there is more to life! As you read the stories in the Bible, you begin to wonder what is it is that they had that I don’t have. You have heard but never you let your heart believe that old saying, “God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things” but then you read about a shepherd boy who killed a giant, a hated tax collector who was transformed into a disciple, and an uneducated fisherman that God used to turn the world upside down! God wants to use you, God wants to accomplish great and mighty things through you, but you have to be a willing instrument for God to use. William Carey once said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” The reason that God uses us to accomplish great things is so that God gets the glory! So start dreaming again!
Pastor Paul,
May God bless you as you remain faithful to Him!
Do you still dream about being used by God in a mighty way? As young children, the dream of sweeping the princess of her feet, conquering cities, or slaying that fire breathing dragon? There was a reason those stories of old stirred your heart - they were daring you to come alive! But like that illusionist who with the sleight of hand make that rabbit disappear, so go our dreams. Too many Christians have settled for the mundane of life that is filled with schedules, demands, and religious activities. Perhaps the worst part of allowing your dreams to vanish like a puff of smoke is that you have bought into the lie that as we grow older, we need to escape fantasy land and enter into reality. For years churches have taught that a part of sanctification progress is stripping away all of our desires, hopes, and dreams and living under a set of man- made principles. Frightened that your associates would label you as “charismatic," you may have tried to keep God in a box but something in your heart is telling you that there is more to life! As you read the stories in the Bible, you begin to wonder what is it is that they had that I don’t have. You have heard but never you let your heart believe that old saying, “God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things” but then you read about a shepherd boy who killed a giant, a hated tax collector who was transformed into a disciple, and an uneducated fisherman that God used to turn the world upside down! God wants to use you, God wants to accomplish great and mighty things through you, but you have to be a willing instrument for God to use. William Carey once said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” The reason that God uses us to accomplish great things is so that God gets the glory! So start dreaming again!
Pastor Paul,
May God bless you as you remain faithful to Him!
3/18/10
It's Coming!
Revelation 22:20-21 “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Undoubtedly you have heard the song, “He’s got the whole world in His hands” at some point in your life, but have you ever thought about the conclusion of this world? As I began the study of 1 John, it was my intent and desire to get to the love of God, but with every verse I cannot escape the spiritual darkness that covers this world. No, I am not a witch hunter, but it is my responsibility before Almighty God to preach the “whole council of the Word of God.” We are living on a battle ground where the enemy is not “flesh and blood” but “principalities, powers, the rulers of darkness of this age, and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12) We are living in times that point to the exit of this world! For years, the church has been attacked by preaching the second coming of Christ but with every possible passing second, the triumphant exit of believers from this world is drawing closer. I think Jack Kinsella said it best, “Like pieces in a cosmic jigsaw puzzle, the ancient prophecies are at last coming together to reveal a Divine Big Picture.” We are living in the last days! Before we begin, we need a Biblical definition of the Latin word “millennium” which simply means a “thousand years.” It is used for the thousand year reign of Christ spoken about in Revelation 20:1-6, Isaiah 2:2-4, and Isaiah 11:6-9. Over the years, many “beliefs” have been formed as to when the conclusion of the world will come. The Historical view or the Postmillennialism theory teaches that Christ will return at the end of the millennial age. This diverse collection of interpretations of metaphors and symbols quickly make it an intolerably slanted view. There is also the Idealist or the Amillennialism theory which teaches that there is no literal millennial reign of Christ on earth. This stands in sharp contrast to what the Scriptures clearly teach. This theory shows that pagan philosophy and Christian theology do not mix. Then there is the Pre-Millennialism theory which teaches that Christ will return to usher in the millennial age. The Pre-Millennialism perspective is in perfect harmony with the message of the entire Bible. Since the dawn of human history, and more specifically after the fall of man, the Scriptures clearly point to the futuristic teaching of a coming Messiah that will crush the enemy Satan. But, when you compare that with the Book of Revelation you understand that will not fully happen until Christ returns, all believers have been raptured and God pours out His final judgment on a world that rejected Him. Finally, Satan will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. This view has widespread among evangelicals around this world; furthermore if you study the books of Daniel and Revelation you come to the conclusion that this is the only view that is in accordance with what true Biblical prophecy teaches. Beginning with Revelation chapter 4, after the church age has come to its final conclusion, the events described belong to the future prophecy of God’s program for the consummation of the age.
For further information concerning this great prophecy I strongly suggest you read, the Holy Word of God- (Genesis, Isaiah, Daniel, and Revelation for starters) Dr. David Jeremiah’s “Living With Confidence In A Chaotic World”, Dr. David Jeremiah’s “Jesus’ Final Warning” Jimmy DeYoung’s “Prophecy Today” and Jack Kinsella’s “The Last Generation" and omegaletter.com.
Pastor Paul
May God richly bless you as you remain faithful to Him!
Undoubtedly you have heard the song, “He’s got the whole world in His hands” at some point in your life, but have you ever thought about the conclusion of this world? As I began the study of 1 John, it was my intent and desire to get to the love of God, but with every verse I cannot escape the spiritual darkness that covers this world. No, I am not a witch hunter, but it is my responsibility before Almighty God to preach the “whole council of the Word of God.” We are living on a battle ground where the enemy is not “flesh and blood” but “principalities, powers, the rulers of darkness of this age, and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12) We are living in times that point to the exit of this world! For years, the church has been attacked by preaching the second coming of Christ but with every possible passing second, the triumphant exit of believers from this world is drawing closer. I think Jack Kinsella said it best, “Like pieces in a cosmic jigsaw puzzle, the ancient prophecies are at last coming together to reveal a Divine Big Picture.” We are living in the last days! Before we begin, we need a Biblical definition of the Latin word “millennium” which simply means a “thousand years.” It is used for the thousand year reign of Christ spoken about in Revelation 20:1-6, Isaiah 2:2-4, and Isaiah 11:6-9. Over the years, many “beliefs” have been formed as to when the conclusion of the world will come. The Historical view or the Postmillennialism theory teaches that Christ will return at the end of the millennial age. This diverse collection of interpretations of metaphors and symbols quickly make it an intolerably slanted view. There is also the Idealist or the Amillennialism theory which teaches that there is no literal millennial reign of Christ on earth. This stands in sharp contrast to what the Scriptures clearly teach. This theory shows that pagan philosophy and Christian theology do not mix. Then there is the Pre-Millennialism theory which teaches that Christ will return to usher in the millennial age. The Pre-Millennialism perspective is in perfect harmony with the message of the entire Bible. Since the dawn of human history, and more specifically after the fall of man, the Scriptures clearly point to the futuristic teaching of a coming Messiah that will crush the enemy Satan. But, when you compare that with the Book of Revelation you understand that will not fully happen until Christ returns, all believers have been raptured and God pours out His final judgment on a world that rejected Him. Finally, Satan will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. This view has widespread among evangelicals around this world; furthermore if you study the books of Daniel and Revelation you come to the conclusion that this is the only view that is in accordance with what true Biblical prophecy teaches. Beginning with Revelation chapter 4, after the church age has come to its final conclusion, the events described belong to the future prophecy of God’s program for the consummation of the age.
For further information concerning this great prophecy I strongly suggest you read, the Holy Word of God- (Genesis, Isaiah, Daniel, and Revelation for starters) Dr. David Jeremiah’s “Living With Confidence In A Chaotic World”, Dr. David Jeremiah’s “Jesus’ Final Warning” Jimmy DeYoung’s “Prophecy Today” and Jack Kinsella’s “The Last Generation" and omegaletter.com.
Pastor Paul
May God richly bless you as you remain faithful to Him!
3/11/10
This Is The Last Hour
Do you ever just shake your head and wonder what in the world is going on? How did things get so bad? Is there any hope? We know that we are living in scary times when even our families, friends, and are churches can no longer provide a safe haven. What does this suggest about the future of humanity? The well informed Christian should not be caught off guard when living in these times. Jesus Christ warned us that in times of tribulation, violence and hatred would intensify as sin increased, He even warned about the false prophets who, through deception, would lead many people away from God as their love for God would grow cold. So when all of this is governing our world, why do so many Christians act surprised? John warns us, this is “the last hour.” The first century Christians lived in these times and so do we. The last hour is referring to a time between Christ’s first and second coming. It’s as if God has put His hand on the door knob and is just getting ready to turn it and welcome His family home. Just before that Heavenly door opens, He looks down from Heaven and see this, 2 Timothy 3:1-7 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
There is no question that we are living in extreme days and that is why with great urgency John writes, “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.” It is important to know that the word “anti” has two meanings, it can mean “against” or it can mean “instead of.” The Scriptures are very clear that at the end of the world there will be those who rise up against and those who come claiming to be Christ. The Bible tells us that us that a time is coming when the entire world through deception, will be united under an intimidating figure that possesses an advanced military and economic expertise. Wouldn’t the world just love someone who could step up from behind the scenes and promise peace to a world that is at war and find a solution for the financial crisis? The antichrist will be so convincing as an ally and deliverer that Israel will sign a pact with him to be their protector. Then he will turn against the nation and will occupy the throne in the rebuilt temple, which for Israel, will still symbolize the presence of God. He then will present himself to the world as God. I am not here to convince you that the Antichrist is coming, but to draw your attention to “even now many antichrists have appeared.”Because we live in a world that is filled with false teachers, idol worship, and where a fierce battle rages against the hearts and souls of man, do we have any hope? One of the answers is found in 1 John 2:27, “As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” The word “anointing” reminds us of the Old Testament practice of pouring oil on the head of a person being set apart for special service. a priest was anointed, a king was anointed, and a prophet was anointed. A New Testament believer is anointed not with literal, but by the Spirit of God. It’s a picture of oil being poured over the child of God at the moment of salvation. We have an anointing of the Holy Spirit; not from man, but from the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to guide you into all truth.
Pastor Paul
May God bless you as you remain faithful to Him!!!
There is no question that we are living in extreme days and that is why with great urgency John writes, “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.” It is important to know that the word “anti” has two meanings, it can mean “against” or it can mean “instead of.” The Scriptures are very clear that at the end of the world there will be those who rise up against and those who come claiming to be Christ. The Bible tells us that us that a time is coming when the entire world through deception, will be united under an intimidating figure that possesses an advanced military and economic expertise. Wouldn’t the world just love someone who could step up from behind the scenes and promise peace to a world that is at war and find a solution for the financial crisis? The antichrist will be so convincing as an ally and deliverer that Israel will sign a pact with him to be their protector. Then he will turn against the nation and will occupy the throne in the rebuilt temple, which for Israel, will still symbolize the presence of God. He then will present himself to the world as God. I am not here to convince you that the Antichrist is coming, but to draw your attention to “even now many antichrists have appeared.”Because we live in a world that is filled with false teachers, idol worship, and where a fierce battle rages against the hearts and souls of man, do we have any hope? One of the answers is found in 1 John 2:27, “As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” The word “anointing” reminds us of the Old Testament practice of pouring oil on the head of a person being set apart for special service. a priest was anointed, a king was anointed, and a prophet was anointed. A New Testament believer is anointed not with literal, but by the Spirit of God. It’s a picture of oil being poured over the child of God at the moment of salvation. We have an anointing of the Holy Spirit; not from man, but from the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to guide you into all truth.
Pastor Paul
May God bless you as you remain faithful to Him!!!
3/1/10
Do You Still Wonder?
How long has it been since you have watched a magnificent thunderstorm, pondered the myriad colors in a sunset or marveled at white capped ocean waves? When you read the opening chapter of Genesis, do you still stand in awe? A century ago, G.K. Chesterton wrote “The world is not lacking in wonder but in a sense of wonder.” Remember when you used to see life through the eyes of a child and what it was like to take in something that was far greater and more wonderful than any sight you had ever seen before? It is no accident that Genesis begins with the creation of the Universe - we weren’t there but we are given the flow of how, out of nothing, God created the Universe. In fact, the writer of Genesis makes it very clear when he writes, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Now, don’t miss it, that very small but meaningful word “created” comes from the word “bara” which means “out of nothing.” We must realize that God does not exist because eternity exists, but eternity exists because God exists. How about the rest of the Bible? The Bible is not only a wonderful book, but a book of wonder…The Book opens with the wonder of Creation, the Book ends with the wonder of His glorious return, and then right in the middle of the Bible are the psalms of praise and wonder. I can just imagine as David watched over his father’s sheep and got a sense of wonder over WHO was watching Him. But the challenge is this; we are flawed creatures who, instead of living life in wonder, too often chose to ignore the wonder of God and spend too much time going through life looking at the forbidden fruits. We need to rediscover the wonder that God has placed within our hearts. How long has it been since you were last left in a state of wonder? Don’t let another day pass by, give yourself permission to see life through the eyes of a child again! King David said it best when e wrote, “O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained. What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, that pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord. How excellent is Your name in all the earth!”
2/24/10
The Difference Makers
If you have been watching the Olympics, you’ve seen that CTV has done a wonderful job on a segment called “Difference Makers.” It gives the viewer an opportunity to see into the lives of people who have inspired are athletes. We watched that magical moment as Alexandre Bilodeau captured a gold medal in the men’s mogul’s event at Cypress Mountain on Sunday, marking him forever as the first Canadian athlete to win Olympic gold on Canadian soil. The 22-year-old Bilodeau wasn’t the favourite coming in, but on a gloriously sunny day in West Vancouver he brought home a first-place finish — and forever cemented his name in the Canadian sports hall of fame. Bilodeau’s older brother, Frederic, who has cerebral palsy, was at the finish line and cheering wildly for his younger sibling. Bilodeau was close to tears when he spoke to CTV about his brother and his family. “A lot,” he said when asked how much of his historic medal belongs to Frederic. “It’s really getting me right now. My brother is my inspiration. Growing up with handicapped people puts everything back in perspective and he taught me so many things in life. My parents did, too! On Sunday night, I found myself cheering for our Canadian Ice Dancers, as our great country watched them win that gold medal. With the pressure mounting from the cheering fans, with every eye in Canada glued to the television screen, and with every finger crossed, we watched as Tessa Virtue of London, Ont., and Scott Moir of Ilderton, Ont., dazzled the judges and carved out a little history for themselves by becoming the first Canadians - and the first North Americans - to win an Olympic gold medal in ice dancing. When being interviewed Virtue said, "It's been such a journey, and so many people have helped us along the way.” As God’s children our “Difference Makers” can be found in Hebrews 12:1-2…“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” I like how Eugene Petterson paraphrased this verse when he wrote, “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” The “cloud of witness” the writers are referring to are found in the previous chapter, (Hebrews 11) there was Noah who built a ship in the middle of a dry land because God warned him about something that he never experienced before, there was Abraham who despite having no ideas of where his travels would take him left behind everything familiar to him and followed God’s voice. After giving countless examples the writer admits he could go on but he would run out of time, writing about the lives of those who were protected from lions, fires, and swords, those who under torture, refused to give in and go free, those who were abused with whips, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood and those who were homeless because the world would not receive them, and after thinking about such powerful examples, the writer says, “of whom the world was not worthy.” Faith is simply-“Forsaking All I Trust Him”, when your back is up against the wall, when everything seems lost, when you feel as if you have no hope to continue, do you trust God? We all go through those times in our lives when we are faced with the choice to trust or fear, but right now, you find yourself in a rough spot, perhaps your children have left home, you were just diagnosed with a sickness, or your savings account is drying up, are you going to trust God? Then allow those who have gone on before us to shoot adrenaline into your souls!
Pastor Paul,
May God continue to bless you as you remain faithful to Him!
Pastor Paul,
May God continue to bless you as you remain faithful to Him!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
