Walking on Water
August 25, 2008
Matthew 14:22-33
We all want God to work through our lives and do mighty things. There are two qualities that a man must have before God will do what we as humans call great things. These two qualities are connected like Siamese twins: one is brokenness; the second is an unwavering belief in God’s faithfulness. Jesus often sends His most devoted disciples into a storm in which they get wet. It is there that we learn about the provision of God. It is there that our faith is stretched and tested. If we fall in the water it is alright. The storm’s purpose is to prove God’s faithfulness, not our own.
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If Christ sends us into a storm it is only because He wants to reveal Himself in it (22-24)
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If it seems God id dead it does not mean that He is (25-27)
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Its better to be a wet water walker than a dry boat talker (28-33)
Hurricane Disaster Relief
August 25, 2008
A few weeks ago I preached about how we as believers have a responsibility to help the broken “rise up” so they may walk again. If Free Will Baptists in the state of Florida are to survive, we must work together at a level beyond the local church.
No one in the State of Florida is exempt from the devastating effects of a major hurricane. Ivan and Katrina left a path of devastation 100 miles inland. When a major hurricane hits life does not soon return to normal. When a tropical storm or a category-one hurricane makes landfall, it is not a time of great concern for most unless they reside in a floodplain. People simply gas up their vehicles, buy extra batteries, stock the shelves with a few non-perishable items, wait out the storm, and have a community wide barbeque. Category-two storms create minor concern and minimal damage.
Major hurricanes present a different scenario. We had just moved to Pensacola when Ivan made landfall. We evacuated to Georgia only to get caught in a tornado that was a product of the hurricane’s outer bands. We watched Fox News and saw familiar sights destroyed. Churches from Georgia sent us back with all the supplies we could carry on my truck and trailer. When we returned the damage was worse than we could imagine. Space would not permit me to write about it. One man made a statement, “Things will never be the same.” No statement better sums up the effects of a major hurricane. In time we saw several people come to Christ as a direct result of aid that was brought from churches. After Katrina the devastation was indescribable. Due to a logistical error the people of lower Mississippi had virtually nothing for over weeks. Most of the aid in this devastated region came from Floridians traveling the “I-10 corridor”.
It is only a matter of time before another major storm devastates Florida. Unfortunately, there are not enough contractors to come close to being able to repair the damage. These areas are also plagued with conmen beyond measure. It is our responsibility to work together and do our part to alleviate the suffering. Always remember you may be next!!!
A Time for War
August 17, 2008
If you ask people if there is ever a time for war most would quickly respond without a second thought yes! However, if the same question is asked on the brink of war many of the same people who formerly answered yes would respond with a definite no. Although we honor war veterans, we are not willing to pay the price ourselves to maintain freedom. America has not had to pay a devastating price for war since the Civil War. In no way am I attempting to demean the sacrifice of Americans in subsequent wars, Pearl Harbor, or 9-11-01. I simply want to underscore the point that we have not fought another war on home soil since then. War always cost lives, money and severe risk. Although I have never been in the military, as a historian I am not ignorant of the cost of war.
Many are asking the question: Is this the right war? Solomon said, “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1; 8; 10-11). Not only is thre a time for war, but war is sometimes a beautiful thing in spite of the high cost. In spite of the high cost it is doubtful that many Americans would undo the effects of the Civil War or World War II. War can only be beautiful if it preserves freedom. T accept that war can be beautiful we must believe that some things are worth dying for.
He question remains: Is this war in Georgia the right war for America? First, let me say that as I write it has not yet erupted into a full blown war and I hope that it does not. America can no longer live in the modern world with a policy of isolationism. “Only the dead know the end of war.” No matter how much we seek to avoid it, war will eventually come to us. The only choice we have is will we fight it on our terms or someone else’s. Today let me emphasize, today America is still the greatest superpower the world has ever known. Russia chose to strategically fight a war that forces America to act or lose its credibility in the world. If we lose our credibility it will embolden every thug in the world. It will then be only a matter of time before we fight a greater war on someone else’s terms. Pray for our president, a man appointed by God for such a time as this.
I Can’t Believe this is Happening
August 17, 2008
Selected Scripture
All of my life pastors have heralded the message of Christ’s return. Like the story of the boy who cried wolf, the message has lost its affect on hearers. Te Bible specifically speaks of certain things that will precede the Lord’s return. I do not know when Christ’s return will be but it seems the events in Russia and Iran are corresponding with Ezekiel 38 and 39. Many Scholars believe Ezekiel’s War will precede the tribulation. I do not personally believe this is that war simply that the foundation is being laid for that war in the coming years. There are many views about the end times. The masses embrace pre-tribulationalism, which I believe is wrong. Many foolishly dismiss anyone who does not embrace this view as an ignorant novice of end times study. Scripture is not definitive enough about the rapture to be dogmatic about any view. If the pre-trib View is right then it is pointless for believers to study eschatology. It makes you wonder why Jesus had so much to say about the end time events. Perhaps the answer is that we are going to go through the first half of the tribulation. It has been said that more people are alive today than in all of the ages past combined. Now it all makes sense. I am not asking you to embrace a mid-trib. View, only to consider it so that if the events begin to unfold this way, you won’t feel abandoned by God. You won’t say, “I can’t believe this is happening.”
1. We have to be blind not to see the approaching return of Christ
2. Russia and Iran will invade Israel prior to the rapture
3. Be prepared for a rapture that takes place in the middle of the tribulation.
Taking Every Thought Captive
August 9, 2008
Taking Every Thought Captive to the Obedience of Christ Sunday night when Jamie and I went to pick up Anna Ryan from her grandparents, she met us at the door and uttered a very profound statement. I immediately said, "Hey that will make a great title for a pastor’s corner. All week I have toiled in vain to remember what that statement was, thus depriving myself of the benefits of the thought. Paul understood the importance of taking every thought captive so that our lives may benefit from them. The word captive means to be held as a prisoner. I once thought that we were to lock up the bad thoughts to keep them from doing us harm. The opposite is true. We are to hold on to the good thoughts and the bad thoughts won’t hang around. The Bible says, "I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). Paul is saying that if we hold on to the Godly thoughts it will force the bad thoughts away, but if we let the Godly thoughts escape the battle is lost. Corinth was a wicked city filled with every imaginable evil. Paul explained the proper way to wage spiritual warfare, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled" (2 Corinthians 10:4-6). When you wage war you must understand your position on the battlefield before you can fight. We mistakenly believe that we are basically good and must simply keep evil out of our lives. Evil has a stronghold on every human heart which is exceedingly wicked. As Paul explained these must be pulled down. We do this by obeying every good thought that God sends our way. An obedient thought is always ready to punish a disobedient thought in your own life. Pay careful attention to the verse it says your life not someone else’s. Failure to obey leaves Canaanites in the land and destroys the future for our children. This is why there is so much sin in America today. Be positive; daily take your thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.
The Power to Heal a Broken World
August 9, 2008
All around us we see people that are broken every day. Jesus gave us the command to "Love your neighbor as yourself." Many people have given up hope of ever having a life again. They look to the church today for a mere handout when what they need is a relationship with the Provider. Churches often look at what little they have to offer a broken world and consequently offer nothing. Christians seem amazed when God does something out of the ordinary. The early church had no silver or gold but they were able to say rise up and walk. When we reach to help the broken having faith in God to back us up, He will honor that if our motive is His honor and not our glory.
(Acts 3:1-12)
August 2008 Events
August 9, 2008
Aug 13 – Senior Saints 11 AM Menu: Roast
Aug 20 - WNAC 5:30 PM
The Humility that only Christ Defines
August 4, 2008
Many view feetwashing as an archaic ritual espoused by only the most primitive people who call themselves Christians. It is intended to be a humiliating experience. God can not use us until we realize that He is and that within and of ourselves w can do nothing. Feetwashing reminds us of the voluntary submission of Jesus to te will of the Father, that is the incarnation. It reminds us that we have nothing that we did not receive. As believers we must never argue among ourselves as to who is the greatest. That position is reserved for Jesus Christ alone. (John 13:1-17)I. Feetwashing is Jesus way of reminding us that He is God and not just an inspiring leader (1)II. Jesus washed His greatest enemies feet that we may understand the true meaning of Grace (2-5)III. Obedience often precedes understanding when we follow Christ (6-11)IV. To overtly disobey Jesus is to presume to know more than He does (12-17)
I Can See
August 4, 2008
A couple of weeks ago I accidentally scratched my glasses and thus ordered new lenses. It turned out to be a blessing because I got my prescription updated. I had noticed that my vision was lessening as of late but I simply chalked it up as a fact of life that must be accepted. Thursday as I was getting a hair cut I observed the objects around me with my glasses off. I felt as though I were in a state of suspended animation with no objective point of reference in my life. A few minutes later while sitting in the vision center at Wal-Mart the receptionist brought my glasses with the new lenses. I reached for them, slowly pulled them to my face, and exclaimed with joy as angels sang, “I can see.” I was able to discern distant minute details with clarity that I had not had in years. Few people have the vision of an eagle, able to see the intricate details in live, but most do not. We go around seeing, but through a glass dimly. Jesus was in the business of opening blinded eyes. Jesus explained the purpose of parable to His disciples, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing thy may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them” (Mark 4:11-12). Jesus gave us the key to seeing. There are two kinds of people spiritually: those on the outside and those on the inside of God’s will. We fail to see the intricate blessings of life because we have predetermined what we will do or not do for Christ. We fail to see what we consider small sins such as prayerlessness, legalism, and self-sufficiency because we are afraid to yield certain areas of our lives to Christ. Remember that a small virus can often be more deadly than a large saber-tooth beast. Jesus commanded the Church at Laodicea to “anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see” (Rev. 3:18). God only enhances our spiritual vision if we are willing to act on what we see! How’s your vision?