Know who is talking to you.

Sometimes we think people are speaking to us, and they are, but it's really God using them to deliver His mail. Sometimes we think God is speaking to us, but it's just people running their mouths, OR Satan using THEM to deliver HIS mail.

How can you tell the difference? How can you settle these things in your heart and mind?

#1 KNOW where you stand with God (check out 1 Corinthians 13:5-6). IF you know you're in the faith, and you know you're standing and hidden in Christ, you answer the accuser (Satan) and the fool (folks).

#2 KNOW God's voice. What He IS saying to you personally will be of the nature and content of what He has said through His word, the Bible. Get in that book! Find out what God says about this, that and the other. When you know what He talks about, and what He says to whom about what, you'll start to recognize when it's God talking, someone flapping their lips or the devil being a punk.

Now, let's keep it real; many times we don't want to believe God IS saying some of the things He regularly says. For example, someone might say "Gossip is wrong" and your heart will say "They are judging me!" Well, that person could be a bad mailman, but if you were gossipping, even bad mailmen still carry good mail; gossip IS a sin. Or, someone might say, "Do what makes you happy" and you receive that as a word from God; news flash, God has never said "Do what makes you happy." Get what I mean? OR, someone could say, "you are worthless" and that might FEEL like it came from God, but, if God made you -- and HE DID -- you have worth! IF God sent His Son to die for you -- and HE DID -- you have worth!

We gotta know who is speaking, no matter what speaker is being used.

We gotta know the message, no matter how rough the mail deliverer is.

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17 ESV) 

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV) 

[Jesus said] “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28 ESV) 

“For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.” (Job 33:14 ESV)

Are you working for Her, or just complaining about her?

"The problem with the church is..."

Have you ever noticed the people who seem to know all the problems with the church are never in it working for growth and reconciliation? Yep. Usually, they are not in church, but they can tell you all the problems of the church, and do. IF you think you know the issues that plague the church, go among the church and LIVE the right way, LOVE God's way and LAUD the Savior everyday. Be right and do right. Do love as a verb -- you can't love the Body of Christ if you avoid them! Exalt Christ; spend more time lifting up His name than you do dragging down people's names.

Now, I tell you this on Wednesday. Most local churches meet on Sunday morning. IF you are one of those people who I described above, repent. In the next 96 hours, make a plan, humble yourself before the Lord and go give a local church a try.

IF you know someone like I described above, love them. Invite them. Speak highly of Jesus and lovingly of other, fellow believers. Don't fall for the trap of joining in the Church (or church) bashing.

Anyone who really knows the Lord Jesus, AND is walking in vibrant fellowship with Him, will recognize that He died for the Body, and they won't trash what Jesus loves.

There ARE tares among the wheat. I'm not pretending anything less is true. I'll tell you what I love; I love it when I see the miracle working power of the Holy Spirit change tares into wheat! Jesus said not to tear the tares up for fear wheat would be uprooted with them (see Matthew 13:24-30). Come Judgement Day, God's reapers will take in the wheat and burn up the tares; that's not our job and it's not that time.

Let's think on these things today...

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV)

Most likely, all of us need to switch it up.

Proverbs 16:28 says, “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” (ESV) It seems these days people are more interested in their personal agendas and sensationalism than we are interested in actual truth being known.

We barely read, don’t try to understand, and share too quickly.

It takes a while to weed through real information, misinformation, rumor, gossip, and hearsay.

It takes even longer to gain real, dependable knowledge.

It takes God to get wisdom...

It only takes moments to say / think / pass on a cliche.

It often takes weeks to convey helpful, life-giving truth in human communication.

The pace of coming into truth is like growing a garden, but we treat it like getting a fast food "value" meal. Do we ask God to cultivate the soil of hearers' hearts, or do we just pave people over with our words / emotions? Do we ask God to plow our own hearts? Are we looking to receive from God?

My commitment has been and remains:

-- really listen

---- to people

------ more importantly, to God

-- think / ponder / consider what is being said

-- respond after much reflection

-- talk with God

-- run what I heard and what I plan to say through the filter of Scripture

-- check my attitude

-- check my motive(s)

-- follow wisdom's counsel on speaking

-- remember! honoring God is my goal

-- remember! loving people, not winning an argument is my objective

-- remember! truth being received is more important than Tim being heard

-- remember! it doesn't matter if people forget me; my truest goal is for them to know Jesus.

That being said, I am looking for fresh change from fresh remembrance of old commitment IN ME.

What do we want for others?

We say "get 'em" when we ought to plead "save 'em!"

We look upon the evil of the world, and often our own aggravates, and we make pleas to God. We want God to stop them. That's a valid request!

Often, when we plead with God to "stop them" we make that plea from our mouths in that fashion, but from our hearts we are asking God to destroy them.

However, is that the best request? Is it the right request? Is it the holy request?

Could we begin to ask God to "stop them" or "get 'em" and mean from our hearts "save 'em!"?

The great change we want to see doesn't have to mean the obliteration of a person; it can happen through the redemption of a soul.

The great thing about God is that He listens to all our pleas --He hears and loves, like a good Father-- but He also desires to give us His heart, His vision and His merciful kindness towards d others. He allows us to speak to Him as we are, but desires is to grow and become as Christ is.

Thank God that He listens to us, but does as He pleases!

"Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them! Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth." (Psalm 74:11-12 ESV)

Is giving freely natural or supernatural for you?

A few weeks ago, I preached Ecclesiastes 5:10-17, and it has yielded a few conversations about the pitfalls and proper uses of money…

The other morning, I was talking with a friend of mine about money and what we'd do if, in some strange circumstance, we suddenly had "riches."

I walked away from the brief conversation thinking about money, and how the idea of getting rich quick seems to come up often. People say, "I'd do this" and "I'd do that," and, typically, as if to dutifully add it in, they say "I'd give some to _______________" (whatever their favorite thing is --- church, other ministry, other charity).

Here's what I know, whatever has our hearts at whatever level of income we have now will have our hearts at whatever income level we drop to or rise to. IF we tithe (which means giving 10%) when we make $100 a week, we'll most likely tithe when we make $100,000 a year, but if we don't tithe as poor people, it's doubtful we'll ever tithe as rich people.

The same could be said of giving in lump sums, too.

I've always loved a several giving principles found in Scripture and two that cross my mind in light of today's discussion and lingering thoughts are: Proverbs 11:24-25, "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." And, also, Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

If we have dreams of giving when we become rich, they will only be realized if we are giving of what we have now. Our giving, not just of treasure, but of time and talent too, flows out of the condition of our hearts, not out of the condition of our bank account.

For what, God?

For what God is doing, seek discernment.
For what God is saying, live agreement.
For what God is bringing to pass, share it.
For how God is bringing glory to Himself, praise Him.

 

Let’s walk through a passage.

 

Phase one: be totally terrified...

When an angel appeared to Mary, she was afraid. It was a message from God and a messenger from God and the message, simply put, was that God was going to do something wildly amazing and completely life altering in Mary. Hear that? Life altering. Mary should have been terrified. She was.

But, though Mary was "greatly troubled," she didn't run from the situation. She did not ask God to change HIS plan. She did not ask God to pick someone else. Mary, instead, tried to discern what God was saying and doing. The Bible says, "But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be." (Luke 1:29 ESV)

 

Phase two: agree with God...

Though Mary was working to understand what God was saying and doing, she was not refusing it. As a matter of fact, she was receiving it. She said, "And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38a ESV)

God will do as God will do, but we don't always receive it. Mary did. She gives us a POWERFUL example to follow.

 

Phase three: tell others...

Mary went to visit her kin. She shared what God was doing. Her cousin, Elizabeth, gave a wonderful affirmation, saying, "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." (Luke 1:45 ESV)

Did you see that, dear friends? Elizabeth understood what a blessing it is to believe what God says.

 

Phase four: sing praise unto the Lord...

 "And Mary said,

 'My soul magnifies the Lord,

  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

  For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

  and holy is his name.

 And his mercy is for those who fear him

  from generation to generation.

 He has shown strength with his arm;

  he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

  and exalted those of humble estate;

 he has filled the hungry with good things,

  and the rich he has sent away empty.

 He has helped his servant Israel,

  in remembrance of his mercy,

 as he spoke to our fathers,

  to Abraham and to his offspring forever.'" (Luke 1:46-55 ESV)

 

For what God is doing, seek discernment.
For what God is saying, live agreement.
For what God is bringing to pass, share it.
For how God is bringing glory to Himself, praise Him.

I am thankful for pastors.

You see great care-taking pastors...

You see great discipling pastors...

You see great administrative pastors...

You see great evangelist pastors...

You see great preaching pastors...

You see great missions pastors...

You see great worship pastors...

You see great counseling pastors...

You see great praying pastors...

Other things, of course...

You see some pastors who are great at two or three, maybe five of these things; you rarely see a pastor good at it all. However, we expect every pastor to be great at everything (yet we most often only pick them because of education level and / or by their preaching).

It’s almost like several small churches should band together, have a multiplicity of humble pastors who each serve in their primary gifting, and give greater instruction, service, undershepherding, etc., and have less times of transitional turmoil, and greater times of fully equipping the Body for the work of the ministry.

Forget almost. It’s just biblical and wise. I wonder if we will ever be humble and courageous enough to do things God’s way?

For the record, I was reading this: “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” (1 Timothy 5:17 ESV)

See it? By pointing out “especially” they clearly indicate there is a field of elders with varying gifts working together. Good stuff.

I am thankful for the excellent core leaders / elders I serve with in our local church, for sure!

When praise replaces pride...

Is pride leading to madness? Let's ask Nebuchadnezzar... 

We know the Bible says God resists the proud, and we know He gives grace to the humble (see 1 Peter 5:5, James 4:6, Psalm 138:6, Proverbs 29:23, Matthew 23:12, and others). 

Let's look at one man's story...

In Daniel 4, God gives Daniel grace to interpret a dream for Nebuchadnezzar. The dream reveals how Nebuchadnezzar will become greater than any other ruler. It also reveals what will happen to Nebuchadnezzar in his wrong response to God's favor. 

Later, the interpretation comes to pass just as Daniel said it would, and Nebuchadnezzar's life unfolds in pride: "At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, 'Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?'" (Daniel 4:29-30 ESV)

Pride led Nebby to love credit, and glorify self.

The story continues: "While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.' Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws." (Daniel 4:31-33 ESV)

Nebuchadnezzar is humbled. He realizes exactly Who deserves / deserved the credit for the great things that had happened in his life (see Daniel 4:34-36). In humility, Nebby worshipped God. Neb's conclusion to the matter was this: "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble." (Daniel 4:37 ESV)

I wonder if we are walking in pride that credits and exalts self or are we walking in humility that recognizes and worships God? Let us look to ourselves and see. Pride led to madness in Nebuchadnezzar's life.

It may be leading to madness in our lives. It's certainly leading to madness in this world...

family & Family

Familial reflections...

Let me say this, I LOVE all my family...and both my families...

There is a family for which experience, law, and genetics determines a common past. There is also a family for which the blood of Jesus and unifying work of the Holy Spirit determines a common future. It's a huge blessing to know and walk with people who are in both.

I identify with my genetic family; and, I love them. More so, I identify with my spiritual family. Jesus said, "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:50 ESV)

When it comes to my spiritual family, we're on mission together. It's not about where genealogy connects us, but where the Spirit is sending us. Like I said, I love it when those two families are one and the same. I have NOTHING but love for both families. Get that, and don't miss it: I have nothing but love for BOTH families.

In Matthew 12, Jesus lays down a confrontational view of family. Read verses. 46-50; Jesus's mom and brothers are wanting to talk to him, but Jesus makes the radical statement above: "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (v. 50)

He basically says there is family, but there is also FAMILY. In other words, there is the family that comes through genetics, and there is spiritual family. Jesus asserts that His spiritual family has his attention first.

Wow! that's putting it right in our face!

Is Jesus telling us to put our physical family in the backseat? Well... wrestle with that. Read Matthew 15:3-9; God would have us love our family and honor our mothers and fathers. What He IS saying is that believers must count their family tie to Him as more important than family ties to anyone else. Luke 14:26 reveals the entirety of the tension we believers are to live in. Honor our mom and dad, yes. Love our family, yes. Take care of our families, yes. But, Jesus first. Jesus first. JESUS FIRST!

That creates tension! Do you hear me? Tension! Tension pulls both ways!

I love both my families, but I must hold Jesus as the highest thing in my heart. I must DEEPLY value the people of God.

As I studied the Scriptures this morning, one thing I need to be reminded of is to remember that God picks my spiritual family, not me. HE is adding to the family, not me. He brings them in, not me. He saves them, not me. He loves them more than me. Then, God expects ME to love who He saves! God expects those whom He saves to do as He commands. AND, THAT is how I'll know who my spiritual family is!

Blood tests work both ways, right? We get a blood sample, and take it to a doctor; it gets analyzed and we find out if genetics truly do connect us. The Church gets a blood sample, too. Whoever is under the blood does the Father's will!

There are some words of challenge, instruction or exhortation for someone here...

#1 Someone needed to be reminded to treasure Christ above everyone and everything.

#2 Someone needed to be reminded to treasure those Jesus also cherishes, the Church (and the church). Those who do the will of God are your future and forever family! Think on that!

#3 Someone needed to be reminded to honor their mom and dad and walk in love with their family.

#4 Someone needed to be reminded to make the mission of the King the prime goal of their lives.

#5 Someone, like me, needed to be reminded to love those God adds to the family, not just the ones we'd add if it were up to us.

#6 Someone needed to be reminded what Jesus says about being in His spiritual family. Yes, His shed blood is the only way to come into His family, and the only proper response is to let Him do with our life as He pleases.

Honestly, I needed to be reminded of all of it. Like all things in the Scriptures, it rattles me, but like He always does, Jesus delights me. Which, again, reminds me to put Him first.

Do you read your Bible?

Fellow Christian, do you read your Bible?

We, here in the United States, take for granted how readily available copies of the Scriptures are. We take for granted that many faithful translations exist in our language. We take for granted the opportunity to open that sacred book for ourselves.

I think we don't understand the great privilege we have in having such access to God's word! There were times in our history that men were killed for translating the Bible into more commonly used tongues, such as Greek, and, especially into tongues of the common people --the vernacular-- such as English or German.

There was a time when certain people thought only clergy and the educated elite should read the Bible. What phooey!

In the first edition preface of Erasmus's Greek New Testament, he said, "I vehemently dissent from those who would not have private persons read the Holy Scriptures nor have them translated into the vulgar tongues, as though either Christ taught such difficult doctrines that they can only be understood by a few theologians, or the safety of the Christian religion lay in ignorance of it. I should like all women to read the Gospel and the Epistles of Paul. Would that they were translated into all languages so that not only Scotch and Irish, but Turks and Saracens might be able to read and know them."

In the preface of Erasmus's third edition, he said, "Some think it offensive to have the sacred books turned into English or French, but the evangelists turned into Greek what Christ spoke in Syriac, nor did the Latins fear to turn the words of Christ into the Roman tongue - that is, to offer them to the promiscuous multitude...Like St. Jerome I think it a great triumph and glory to the cross if it is celebrated by the tongues of all men; if the farmer at the plow sings some of the mystic Psalms, and the weaver sitting at the shuttle often refreshes himself with something from the Gospel. Let the pilot at the rudder hum over a sacred tune, and the matron sitting with gossip or friend at the colander recite something from it."

You can argue all day as to whether you think Erasmus's Greek NT was expertly translated from Latin or not, but I think his intent was noble, right and helpful. Secondly, you'd have to take the time to become a scholar in Latin and Greek, and even some Aramaic and Hebrew, to even put up a decent argument.

My point is this: Erasmus wanted the word of God in regular folks' hands!

In a homily, Erasmus said, "Do we desire to learn, is there then any authority better than Christ? We read and reread the works of a friend, but there are thousands of Christians who have never read the gospels and the epistles in all their lives. The Mohammadans study the Koran, and Jews peruse Moses. Why do we not the same for Christ? He is our only doctor. On him the Spirit descended and a voice said, “Hear ye him!” What will you find in Thomas, what in Scotus to compare with his teaching? But as there are school masters who by their severity make boys hate learning, so there are Christians so morose as to instill distaste for the philosophy of Christ, which could not be more agreeable. Happy is he whom death overtakes meditating thereon. Let us then thirst for it, embrace it, steep ourselves in it, die in it, be transformed thereby. If any one shows us the footprints of Christ we Christians fall down and adore. If his robe is placed on exhibition do we not traverse the earth to kiss it? A wooden or a stone image of Christ is bedecked with jewels and should we not place gold gems and whatever may be more precious on the gospels which bring Christ closer to us than any paltry image? In them we have Christ speaking, healing, dying, and rising and more genuinely present than were we to view him with the eyes of the flesh."

O that we'd look upon God's word for ourselves! O that we'd meditate! O that we'd soak in His thoughts until they become ours!

O that we'd see the grand privilege of having the Bible...freely...in our own language...without interference from governments! My Lord and my God, give us a burning zeal to know You through Your word!

Be encouraged by this reading today: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. … All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. … Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. … For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. … For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. … But [Jesus] answered, 'It is written, ''Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.''' … Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. … With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. … Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.” (Joshua 1:8, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 119:105, Romans 15:4, Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 4:4, Psalm 119:18, Psalm 119:10-11, Psalm 1:2, 1 Timothy 4:13 – English Standard Version)