Persecution

Can we possibly pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in Orissa state India? They have been under attack for a while now by Hindu extremists. They have had their homes and churches burned. From what I have heard the police are nothing more than by-standers. The Christians under attack have lost everything. I have heard reports that they are now naked and hiding in the woods. This violence threatens to spread through the rest of India.We should also pray for missionaries in that field. Here is a link to an article with more details on this persecution.http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080916/anti-christian-violence-in-orissa-threatens-to-spread.htm
May the grace, peace, and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all those suffering.

Dichotomy

Dichotomy - division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs.
I thought I would just revisit a subject I had touched on in the past. One event in time was at the time the single greatest event and the single greatest tragedy. The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The greatest event because it is our only hope for salvation. Yet at the same time it was the torture, mockery, and slaying of the most perfect innocent life ever. The spotless lamb bearing a punishment we now days wouldn't dream of wishing on our worst enemy. But who was Jesus the enemy of? Darkness. Darkness by it's very nature hates the light. I know this is nothing you haven't heard before, but I feel it is very important that we never loose sight of this dichotomy. As John Piper has preached, " you never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, out grow your need for the gospel". We shouldn't seek God only to flee from Hell, but instead because He poured out His love for us while we were yet sinners by taking the wrath that we deserved!
One other dichotomy I thought I would mention is a fork in the road. There comes a time in every one's life when they reach this fork and must decide. Most decide with out ever knowing they have made a choice. This fork is the choice of taking the narrow path, or the broad way. So many just follow the masses along the broad way. Unfortunately this leads to destruction. But make no mistake, is you take the narrow path life will not be skipping through a field of daisies with a herd of puppies dancing on a rainbow. I think I heard it best described by Adrian Rogers when he said " If you have never met the devil it's because you have been walking the same way, and if you turn around to go the other way you are going to run head long into the devil".

• Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
• Isaiah 53:4-64 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
• Matthew 7:13-14 13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
• 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Providence

Providence is one of those tricky things to accept in a Christian life. The thing we must remember is that God is sovereign over everything. Let's back up and look at providence first. Dictionary.com defines providence as 1. the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth. Sounds nice enough, but what about when something painful happens to us?
This past week the Tampa Bucs kicker Matt Bryant whose 3-month-old son, Matthew Tryson, died Wednesday. This is a seemingly devastating event, and might cause one to doubt God's existence. That is the tricky part of Providence. The hard part is looking past what we know on this earth. Everything, good or bad, works towards God's perfect plan for every human on this planet.
Does this mean God causes bad things, or even evil actions? No. He allows certain things to happen to lead to His greater good. God is perfect, and completely holy. He can do no evil, even more He can have no evil in His presence. But we are imperfect created beings with a very narrow view of the universe. Everything works toward the greater good, and God see's this as He is infinitely higher than we are.
We can even look all the way back to creation. Some might ask why God created the world and man when He knew they would sin and fall from grace. He indeed knew we would sin and fall. At creation He knew every breath of my life. So why did He go on and create us knowing we would grieve Him? The answer as far as I understand is, to show His mercy and glorify Himself. We fell, He still loved us enough to provide a way out of sin, showing His infinite mercy and grace. Thus all the Glory goes to God.

• Isaiah 55:8-9 8 “ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
• Luke 22:41-46 41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

A Day to Remember

As Americans, September 11th is a day we can never forget. Although it seems many have forgotten in just 7 years. Sure as Christians we are to forgive, but that does not mean forget what happened. We were attacked by radicals that despise our way of life. It is my belief that they want to eliminate every Christian world wide. Let me get to my point in this post.

I saw a sign the other day that said "Pray for Peace". Most people would say YES!, but not me. I say that is praying for a side effect, not the underlying cause and need. I say we should pray for the hearts of those against The Truth, to be softened. For their eyes, ears, minds, and hearts be opened to the truth. Pray for laborers in the harvest field so that when hearts are softened there is someone to deliver the seed.

Here is a website set up to help. You should check this out.

http://www.atfp.org/

That is Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer. This based on scripture.

• Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you

Even if you personally have not been persecuted, you can rest assured that it is only because they have not got to you yet. They believe if you oppose their view, they are commanded by their religion to kill you if you will not convert.

So it is clearly commanded, by our Lord, we need to be praying for these people. Not for peace. Not for prosperity. But pray for those that are condemned to Hell, that they might see the light, soften their hearts and humble themselves before the one true God. That is the only hope for our nation, and this entire world.

• 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

I Walk the Line

Much like Johnny Cash sang, I too walk the line. A different line however. I often feel I am perched on the line between being critical and just discerning.
Yesterday we had a member of the congregation get up and preach. His sermon was titled "Religious but Lost". Amen, that is a problem. But I soon found myself disagreeing with this man. The first point was when he was talking about Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul and gave us most of the New Testament. He was talking about how Saul was too focused on religion to have a relationship. However Saul was a Jew, and a Pharisee. The Pharisee's were legalists. They were consumed with the law, not religion. Even to the point that they said Jesus was breaking the law of the Sabbath by spitting when He healed the blind beggar. But this was a minor disagreement that I can over look. Well there is also the point that Jesus intercedes for us, allowing us to have that relationship with God. But even still, I see his point. My main complaint with the entire sermon was that he devoted a lot of his time to talking about the love of God. Which is fine, but to truly understand the love, you must understand the wrath. For God's love to be real, his wrath must also be real. What are we saved from? God's wrath. God so loved us that he poured out His wrath on His own Son that we might be washed clean. The single greatest act of love, grace, and mercy all in one. With out the wrath, the cross is a pointless act. If God was just going to overlook our trespasses why did Christ have to suffer and die on the cross? It makes no sense. God's wrath is very real. Hell is very real, and it goes on forever. So in my opinion if you are going to preach God's love, you must first preach God's wrath. Jesus Christ was the spotless Lamb of God, yet we know He was punished. Why? Because we are far from spotless. I would venture to say most of us have broken all ten commandments when you look at how Jesus explained them more in depth.

• Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

There are ways to evaluate if you are truly saved, or just living the religious life.

1. Are you growing in Holiness?
2. Do you hate the sins you use to love?
3. Do you hate the things God hates, and love the things He loves?

Those are just a few points I have learned from Todd Friel on Way of the Master Radio and Wretched TV. If you are not sure of your salvation, look to the law. Examine yourself under the law. And know the God can only be righteous if He punishes law breakers. Know you are wretched in His sight. The knowledge that you are a sinner damned to an eternity of suffering in Hell should bring you to your knees. Humble yourself before Him, repent, and know that your only hope is in Jesus Christ. Pray in His name, beg forgiveness for all your sins. Devote your life to Him. Know that He died for you, and rose again on the third day and you will be saved. (Note: no mention of "accept". I'm saving that for another post.)

• Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
• Matthew 7:21-25 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

U.S.A Reclaims Gold in Basketball

This morning I got home from church just in time to see the fourth quarter of the gold medal game between U.S. men and Spain. It wasn't a blowout like the last time they met, it was close up until the last couple minutes. The U.S. team was loaded with NBA stars. Almost every big name from the NBA was on this team, but I want to point out one in particular. One that isn't a house hold name to most, at least not in this area. Michael Redd. Why him out of all the stars on this team? Well let me share a quote from Michael Redd.

• “Since I’ve had the Lord Jesus Christ in my life, miraculous things have happened to me. I just thank God every day for Him blessing me and showing me favor when I’m not worthy of any of that. I keep Him first and I’m diligent in keeping Him first.”

I can not find the quote in print, but I heard it on the radio. After one of the teams victories Michael Redd gave all the credit to God. It is quite refreshing to hear this from some one on a team that could easily get swept up in arrogance. All the talent surrounding him, but he still recognizes that it is all only possible by the grace of God.

So mission accomplished. God was glorified, even though the media tries to hide it, and the gold is coming back to the U.S.A. So I say congratulations to Michael Redd, and keep giving the glory where it belongs even when it doesn't get the wide spread attention that it should. And boo's to the media for not putting this quote out there!

http://news.sport.org/2008/08/16/michael-redd-usa-mens-basketball/

• 1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

America's Biggest Problem

If you watch any TV or listen to any radio you are bound to hear a lot of talk about problems in America. So many problems are discussed. Crime of all sorts, political issues, abortion, all sorts of things are out there. Then there is usually some "expert" that comes on to give a solution. We need to reach out, or we need to fund programs to help. Well I am offering up another solution. The one that is always overlooked, or at the very least not mentioned. Addressing all these problems is like a broken arm and just taking aspirin for it. It might dull the pain, but it is not going to fix your arm. The biggest problem we are faced with is the fact that over many years people have waged a war to remove God from any and everything in the public eye. We are now seeing the results of this plastered across the news every day. There is no moral standard with out God. People truly do not know how much they are violating God's law. Man's standard of conduct is far inferior to the perfect standard that is the very nature of God, lived out in the flesh by Jesus Christ. The solution should be quite simple, the great commission. Christians must spread the word. We simply must hold up the mirror that is the Ten Commandments to show people their sinful ways. We must also stand up to defend public displays of our Lord and His Laws. God's chosen land, Israel, went through things like this too. The people were distracted from God and slowly fell into heresy and God allowed them to be overrun by other nations. I'm not going to quote a verse to back that up, it's pretty much the entire book of Judges.
On a related side note. I heard a shocking fact on the radio this week. Since Roe vs. Wade, abortions are closing in on 50 million, this is 38 times more deaths than all America's wars, revolutionary through Iraq. Yet people still have the nerve to protest the war and defend abortion. Shocking.

• Mark 16:15-16 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
• Acts 5:4-11 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

They were struck down for one lie. Sin is exceedingly sinful, no matter how man views it. The fault in our thinking is we view sin as against man, what makes it so terrible is that we actually sin against the perfectly Holy Lord, our God.

• Acts 28:26-27 26 saying, ‘ Go to this people and say: “ Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; 27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”’