I LOVE JESUS!

I can, and do say, unequivocally, I love Jesus!  I love Him because He first loved me.  I love Him because He laid down His life for me. I love Him because He shed His blood at Calvary to save me.  I love Him because He blesses me more than I deserve.  I love Him because He demonstrates and shows His love, grace and mercy toward me. Yes, there's no doubt about it, I love Jesus!

I love God's church, as well.  I love God's people. God's people are a very diverse group of people.  They come in all shapes and sizes - literally!  His church is alive and well!  Of that there's no question.

I do take issue with this thing we have today called "church".  I'm speaking of the organization recognized by the government called "church".  You see, God's church is not a corporation or an organization.  It's a living, breathing organism.  We are more than a legal entity on a piece of paper.  We are God's people made in His likeness!  We are God's people who have been blood washed and blood bought with the precious blood of Jesus! We are God's people who have been set free from the bondage of sin.

Being set free from the bondage of sin does not mean we should come under the bondage of religion.  That's like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, as the old adage goes.  God didn't save us to put us in to a another type of bondage.  We are free in Jesus!

I do believe we should gather with our brothers and sisters to encourage and exhort one another in our spiritual journey (Hebrews 10:23-25).  The Scriptures don't say how often we should gather or what, specifically, should go on in our gatherings besides encouraging and exhorting one another.  Nor do the Scriptures tell us how long our gatherings should go.  That would be too structured, in my opinion.  We could gather several times a day, once a week, every other week, once a month or whatever the case may be.  The important thing is that we gather for this general purpose of encouraging and exhorting one another. 

Another thing that is important in the meetings is that there not be a one way, front to back ministry.  In the New Testament church each member had opportunity to minister and interact.  These days, everything comes from the front back. We have professional and paid clergy to tell us what to do and how to do it.  What ever happened to everyone ministering as  the Holy Spirit moves upon them?

Don't you think its time to get back to Bible basics?  I believe if we want to be a biblical New Testament church we will need to do so.  If we want the Lord to have free reign in our gatherings we will need to do so.

Yes, I love Jesus!  However, I can certainly do without all the baggage that comes along with what passes for "church" these days.  Who's with me?  Tired of "church as usual "  Then let's do something about it.

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

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I'VE GOT THE JOY, JOY, JOY, JOY...

Nehimiah 8:10 "...for the joy of the Lord is your strength"

I remember singing a little chorus; I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Watching many Christians today, though, makes me wonder why there seems to be so little joy among God’s people? We seem to have everything figured out except how to be joyful. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. It’s something that should be developing in each of us, as believers.

You know you haven't got the joy when you are constantly complaining. You know you haven't go the joy when you often withdraw from spiritual life or even life in general. You know you haven't got the joy when you are angry a good portion of the time. You know you haven't got the joy when you sense a constant frustration in your life. You know you haven't got the joy when you are seldom grateful.

If the joy is missing from your life it could be due to a number of reasons. For example, perhaps you haven't got the joy because you lost it to your own self-centeredness. Self-centeredness is incredibly common – even among Christians. Self-centeredness is the enemy of joy.

Maybe you lack joy because you are focused on circumstances. Biblical joy is unrelated to circumstances. Paul, the apostle, is proof of that. You see, a focus on circumstances limits your joy to when times are good. The reality is, even when times are bad, when you are going through a trial or a valley you can still have the joy of the Lord.

Christians are some of the most negative people I know. This negativity can zap the joy in your life. I'm not sure why so many Christians are so negative. After all, the child of God always has reason to be positive. Think about it, we've been forgiven! Our sins are gone! Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. He sits at the right hand of God ever making intercession for us. I could go on and on.

Sometimes its a spirit of rebellion that takes our joy away. A rebellious Christian is never a happy Christian. To the Christian, rebellion is the rejection of God's rule.

Disobedience to God will certainly impact the joy of the Lord in our lives. Obedience is the pathway to joy. A disobedient spirit is always joyless.

Perhaps you are substituting other things for the genuine joy you are looking for. Things such as happiness, mindlessness, activity, acquiring things, even relationships. While these things, in and of themselves, are not bad, they are no substitute for the joy of the Lord.

Jesus tells us how to obtain this joy in John 15. He said in John 15:11, These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. So if you really want joy, it comes from God’s pruning (Vs 2), living a godly life (Vs 3), abiding in Jesus (Vs 4, 6, 7), exposure to Scripture (Vs 3), answers to prayer (Vs 7), a sense of God’s love (Vs 9), basic obedience (Vs 10), real fruit bearing (Vs 8). Joy is developed as we grasp the things recorded in John 15. As His joy remains in us, our joy will be full.

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

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IF YOU WANT TO WALK ON WATER, YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT!

I shared the following with a Bible study group I was asked to come and share with a couple of weeks ago.  I pray it will be a blessing to you.

Matthew 14:22-33 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

To be effective in our spiritual lives, we will sometimes have to take a risk (or what appears to be a risk). The turtle wouldn't get anywhere if he didn't stick his neck out. You won't do anything in life nor for God without risk.  Don't be scared to take a risk.  Remember, it's not really a risk when you are serving Jesus!

In our text, Peter wasn't testing Jesus, something we are told not to do (Matthew 4:7). Instead, he was the only one in the boat to react in faith. His impulsive request led him to experience a rather unusual demonstration of God's power.  We sometimes are critical of Peter for taking his eyes off of Jesus and sinking.  But keep in mind Peter was the only one of the disciples to take this step of faith and walk on the water,  He did something and experienced something none of the others did.  He took a risk.

When Peter was in the boat and asked Jesus to help him step out, he was a lot safer on the water than in the boat. When he was in the boat he was depending on something man made, but when he was in the water he was depending on the One who made man.  It's time we step out of our comfort zones and take a leap of faith.

Peter started to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the high waves around him. His faith wavered when he realized what he was doing.  But he knew who to turn to - Jesus!  Peter cried out to Jesus and He came through.  Sound familiar?

We may not walk on water, but we do walk through tough situations. If we focus on the waves of difficult circumstances around us without looking to Jesus for help, we, too, may despair and sink. To maintain your faith when situations are difficult, keep your eyes on Jesus and His power rather than on your inadequacies.

When Peter stepped out of the boat, he stepped out of his “comfort zone”. When we step out of our “comfort zone”, that is when God is able to do something. We are no longer depending on us, but rather on Him. Anything that is accomplished is accomplished by faith anyway, so let's step out of our comfort zone and see what God will do.

How many of you can identify with Peter?  He was always outspoken and doing things he shouldn't.  But he also was someone who was willing to take risks, sometimes crazy risks. Where do you feel God is leading you to get out of the boat now?

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

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THE TIME FOR CHANGE HAS ARRIVED

This past Sunday morning at the conclusion of our church service, I announced my retirement from pastoral ministry.  My wife, Cindy, and I have served at this local country church for five years.  For the most part, our time here has been enjoyable.  We know God put us here and we know He's leading us out.  We sincerely love the people in this local assembly.  They are precious to us.  However, when God says it's time to go, it's time to go.

With a little thought I could come up with some logical reasons as to why we are leaving.  But really the bottom line is God is leading us out.  Nothing more needs to be added to that.  We know God has a plan for us and we are following His plan and purpose for our lives.  Doors have been opening rapidly for our country/southern gospel music group, New Jerusalem Singers.  Recently we have sang in unusual places.  For example a rib shack one day and a coffee shop the next.  Of course, we do sing in organized churches, as well.  We will go and lift up Jesus and encourage God's people anywhere He opens a door for us to do so.  This looks to be a great year for singing.

I have written in this blog over the past year some of my thoughts about church and what it means - or should mean - based on God's Word.  Church is not something you go to, but rather something you are.  It's is certainly important to for us to gather with God's people, but it need not be at a church building like we think of it today.  We can gather with a group or with just two or three.  We know Jesus will be there either way as long as we give Him place in our gathering.  It can be outside in a park, a church building, on someone's front porch, on a deck, in a boat, in a pavilion, in a living room or anywhere else.  

You see, God is not limited!  It is man who limits God with our narrow thinking.  Too often, we have preconceived notions of what God wants, how God moves or how He meets with us. We need to throw those preconceived notions out and  step outside the box of organized religion and just see what God will really do. 

We plan on doing just that as we have opportunity.  Some will, no doubt, think we've "lost it".  Some may even thing we are drifting away from God.  Let me assure you, nothing could be further from the truth. Cindy and I are both excited to see what God has in store for us as we pursue Him with a passion!

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray


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WHO'S APPROVAL - MAN'S OR GOD'S?

Galatians 1:10  For do I now persuade men or God?  Or do I seek to please men?  For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (KJV)

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?  Or am I trying to please men?  If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (NIV)

Wednesday evening as my wife was teaching a Bible study, she used this Scripture in the course of her teaching.  This particular verse jumped out at me and yelled "Blog this!".  So here we are.  

How many times have we, as Christians, by our actions showed we wanted to please men?  Oh, we will deny it and even try to convince ourselves and others otherwise.  But the reality is we do want to please men. We want to be accepted by others.  We want to fit in.

This need for man's acceptance is something we must get over!  You see, if we are going to be used of God we are going to rattle some cages along the way.  We are going to make waves.  Some are even going to consider us radical!  

One cannot be a genuine minister of the gospel (and all Christians are ministers) and attempt to please people by compromising the truths of the gospel.  It just can't happen.  Paul regarded it as his responsibility to speak plainly and straightforward the message of the gospel not as pleasing men, but as pleasing God!  As believers we are to make it our goal to please God, not men.  

Think about it, do you spend you life trying to please everybody else?  That's a recipe for insanity or depression at the very least.  The reality is you will never please everyone.  Man in fickle.  Our aim should be to please the One who gave Himself for us!

I don't see where Paul apologized for speaking straightforward to the people he ministered to.  Paul knew he couldn't serve God faithfully if he compromised the message of the gospel.  The message that meant so much to him and literally changed his life inside out.

Having said that, love should be the motivating factor in our message.  We share the pure unadulterated Word of God because of the love God had for us, the love we have for Him and the love we have for others.  There's no room for compromise.  It is, however, imperative that our message be presented in love.  Love is the motivating factor in all we do.

I ask you today, whose approval are you seeking?  The approval of other people, or God's?  I challenge you to pray for the courage and spiritual fortitude to put God's approval first!

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

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ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD!

Every one of us, in our Christian walk, have and will face times of discouragement. How do you stay “up” - how do you stay on top? When we face discouraging times it's important to rebound quickly. We're all human. We face discouragement and even depression at times. It's important that we know how to get back up. It's not a sin or a sign of weakness for a you to be discouraged. It is, however, a sign of weakness for you not to know how to get out it. I'm going to give you a Formula to Rebound

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the 1 Samuel 30:6Lord his God.”

There are two important statements in this Scripture: David was greatly distressed and

David encouraged himself in the Lord.

When you get discouraged about he future, look and see how good God has been in the past! Moses knew this secret. Nearing the end of his life Moses reviewed with Israel the things God had done for them (Deuteronomy 8:1-6).

For example, let's look at Deut 8:2, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years...” Moses reminded them of God's faithfulness. Remember how he fed you with manna? – cannot God feed you now? Remember how your clothes never wore out? – cannot God clothe you now? Remember how your shoes never wore out? - cannot God provide for you now? Cannot the God that used Moses when he was in his 80's still use you? Cannot the God of the past take care of the future?

What Moses was saying was “Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come, 'Tis grace hath brought me safe this far, And grace will lead me home” We must realize that God hasn't aged a bit! He doesn't have Alzheimers – He hasn't forgotten about you! He's getting along real well. And that same God is still alive! The great God who spoke the world into existence is still on the throne today. Can not that God take care of you in the future? We serve a living God today! Cannot the God who provided for and fed you back when times were tough take care of you now? Is God limited? Can He bless older men and women as well as He blesses younger ones? The God of the Bible is your God!

Cannot the God who led you through battle after battle lead you now? Cannot the God who sustained you through heartache sustain you now? Has His glory dimmed? Is He not the same yesterday, today and forever? Can He not do today what He did 40, 50 or even 60 years ago?

As a child of God you have no right to be discouraged! God is your Father. Your sins have been forgiven. The Holy Spirit lives inside you. Your name is in the Book of Life – and there is nothing recorded! Your name is written in heaven. God will not hold confessed sins against you. I'm not saying you will never get discouraged but you don't have to stay discouraged. With the Creator of the universe as your Best Friend how can you stay discouraged? God still rules from heaven. He still owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He's still the Healer. Cheer up! The God that raised Lazarus from the dead is your God! The eye opening and ear unstopping God is your God! The God of Mt Carmel – that sent fire for Elijah – is your God! The God who's preparing a place for you in heaven is your God! Moses' God is your God! Joshua's God is your God! Gideon's God is your God! Elijah's God is your God! HE'S YOUR GOD!!!!!!

Every promise in the Book is mine and every promise in the Book is yours! He's MY God! The God who fed the 5000 is my God! The God of Pentecost is my God! God hasn't gotten old and tired – He's the same! Remember the prophet Joel? He prophesied that in the last days God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh and old men would dream dreams and young men will see visions. There's still some dreams to dream. There's still some mountains to climb. There's still some rivers to cross. There's still some battles to win. There's still some victories to obtain. There's still some people to be saved. There's still some things to do!

The God of yesterday is today's God. The God of today is tomorrow's God. The God of the past is the God of the present. The God of the present is the God of tomorrow. He's the same yesterday, today forever. That God who led you yesterday can lead you tomorrow. That same God will lead you home. Determine, “I'm going to push on – I'm going to go on anyway!”

You can't keep discouragement from coming – but you ought to have a way to get out of it. Learn to encourage yourself. Look back and see what God has done – not just for you, but for everybody.

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

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HOW TO ESCAPE FROM YOUR PRESENT RUT

It is a wonderful thing to see a new Christian grow. When one is born again they are like a baby. Babies are unstable. Babies really can't do a lot of work. However, they do bring a lot of excitement into a church family. As they grow, it is also exciting to watch them learn to do things for God. If they continue to study and practice the basics of the Christian life, they will eventually get mature and settled in their walk with the Lord.


However, a Christian who has been saved for a long time is not necessarily a GOOD Christian, because a GOOD Christian is a GROWING Christian. A Christian who has been saved for a long while can feel that he has "arrived". That is, he has a routine of serving the Lord, and he sticks to it. He knows basically where he stands doctrinally. He's a giver – he gives offerings and even gives of his time and abilities. However, it is possible for an older Christian to become stagnate. He can get into a RUT. When he does, oftentimes he will eventually backslide, even if it's in ways that no one notices.  You see, many people backslide while sitting on a church pew.


Being in a rut is so close to someone who is established in the truth that it forms the center of the word! If you add a “t” on the front, and an “h” on the end of rut, you get TRUTH! The older Christian must by all means avoid and escape being in a RUT.  Now on a rainy day, a rut may seem like a safe place to drive on a dirt road, because it has been packed down. However, a rut in a Christian's life must be AVOIDED. A rut may seem like a safe way to travel, but a rut can actually be a line of erosion that ends up in a DITCH or a PIT. If you get down too deep in a rut, it's hard to get back out of it again!

The answer to the problem of being in a rut is...

...NOT to Change Churches

...NOT change To More Contemporary Music

...NOT to Move From One Location To The Other

The answer to getting out of a rut is to get STIRRED up about things you already know, and to REMEMBER them! (2 Peter 1:12-13).  And I'm talking about getting stirred up the right way!  Stir yourself up!


Great coaches constantly review the fundamentals or the basics with their teams. We must not neglect the basics of our faith when we go on to study deeper truths. Just as an athlete needs constant practice on the basics of their sport, we need constant reminders of the basics of the Christian life. Peter thought it right to stir them up by helping them to REMEMBER. One of the main purposes of this epistle was to STIR UP the people of God. Two chapters later, the Bible says in 2 Peter 3:1 “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance”. I want to STIR YOU UP today to avoid and escape being in a rut. I'm asking God to make me a spoon for HIM as you read this blog. A spoon: *Stirs *Serves *Shines


If you are in a rut you need to remember salvation (2 Peter 1:9). Remember the Body that was broken for you. Remember the blood that was shed for you. Remember the burial that did not last. Remember The blessings that resulted. What God starts He completes (Philippians 1:6). Let's not forget about the coming of the Holy Ghost (He leads, guides, comforts and empowers us). Then there's the convicting power of the the Holy Spirit. Something happened. You experienced something new, something exciting something real – a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17)!


If you are in a rut you need to remember seducers (2 Peter 2:1). There is a seducing spirit in the world today. Scripture tells us in 1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits...” They deny the Lord and His Word. They deceive multitudes. They damn gullible souls to hell thereby making them twofold more the child of hell themselves.


If you are in a rut you need to remember scoffers (2 Peter 3:1-4). While they laugh, let's keep on living for Jesus . While they laugh, let's keep on leading people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. While they laugh, let's keep on looking for the Lord to return. While they laugh, let's lay up treasures in heaven.


If you are in a rut you need to remember the rapture (2 Peter 3:9-10). Think about what lies ahead for the believer. The rapture, the glad reunion, the rewards. The future is bright for the Christian.


Are you in a rut? If so, get out of it! Change your thinking. Change the things you meditate on. If your spiritual flames are waning remember these things and STIR YOURSELF UP!


Until next time...enjoy the journey!



Ray

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