Hope for Fear

We live at a unique time in Christian history, a time that demands our vigilance. The signs are clear, and every believer who is paying attention will realize that Christ’s return is very near. It’s a truth that has resonated with every generation of believers, and it’s a truth that we must not forget. The spirit of antichrist has always been present in the world, and it’s a reality that we must be constantly aware of.

1 John 4:3 “But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

How is it that the spirit of the antichrist has always been in the world? Quite simply, Satan is not all-knowing. Therefore, he has always had a person, or persons prepared if there is an opportunity. After all, his goal is the destruction of Israel and the Church of Jesus Christ. This is even more clearly understood when we connect Messiah’s birth with the house of David and His connection to Israel.

In 2 Kings 11:1-3, we see the story of Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Her husband dies, and then her son is killed. She walks into a sudden power vacuum. Her goal is to destroy every descendent of the line of David, many of which are her grandchildren. One of her daughters hides her infant nephew, Joash. In so doing, she protects the line of David and Jesus Christ.

Years later, the book of Esther (Esther 3) introduces us to Haman the Agagite, a descendent of King Agag of the Amalekites. Saul was instructed to wipe out this tribe, but he refused. Now, Saul’s people, the Jews, are facing destruction from Haman. Once again, killing the Jews will cut off the line of the future Savior. But, again, God had a person ready to step in. Esther’s cousin makes this prophetic declaration…emphasis mine.

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13b-14

God always has a plan to protect His children. Protection does not mean that we will not experience trials and tribulation. We only have to look to believers around the world to see the difficult tribulation that is occurring now.

Yet, as followers of Jesus, we must preach hope, not fear. I am not afraid of the upcoming election. My hope is not in government. I am not scared of the future. My hope is not in the things of this world. I am not afraid of the coming antichrist. My hope is now and will always remain firmly rooted in Christ Jesus.

Dr. Craig Keener writes in his book Not Afraid, “We in the West have too easily bought into the lie that because God loves Christians, we will be spared tribulation.” He goes on to emphasize that we must be ready. “Being ready does not mean stockpiling food and weapons in the mountains. Being ready means that we are completely sold out to Jesus and ready to testify for Him no matter what our situation.”

The world is selling fear. Too many in the Church are selling fear. Followers of Jesus are to be filled with hope. As the modern chorus states:

Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free

Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me

You have broken every chain

There’s salvation in Your name

Jesus Christ, my living hope

Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free

Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me

You have broken every chain

There’s salvation in Your name

Jesus Christ, my living hope

MY LIVING HOPE – Phil Wickham

Sins of Fathers and Sons

My sermon this past Sunday was titled “Learning to Surrender.” Submission to God is a very difficult thing. We want what we want and often do not care or think of the consequences. There are also moments when we are called to surrender circumstances that are not our own. A good friend often says, “I didn’t break it, and I can’t fix it.”

What if we are called to surrender our worry about someone close to us? In my message, I brought up our kids as one example.

I Samuel gives us two examples. First is Eli and his sons. Eli was one of the last judges of Israel and was a priest. I Samuel 2 tells us this story. Eli’s sons were evil. They seduced women in the Tabernacle and stole from the sacred sacrifices. While Eli is righteous, his sons are not. So, God raises Samuel to be the final judge of Israel.

In 1 Samuel 8, we see that Samuel is now old, and the situation is repeating itself. Samuel’s sons were also wicked men. They accepted bribes and perverted justice. It does seem that Samuel kept his boys from serving as priests. I suppose that is something. Perhaps he remembered the sins of Eli’s family and how God wiped them out.

Whatever the reasons, the children of Israel came to Samuel and asked for a king to rule them. They wanted to look like the nations around them. Samuel took this request to the Lord, who instructed him to do as they had asked.

I want to focus on these two connected accounts and show that there was a righteous father and wicked sons in both places. Parents, you are not responsible for the sinful choices your children make. Be released from the guilt. It only serves as a way for the enemy to keep you discouraged.

Where does this idea originate?

The Law of God stated that the Father’s sins would be placed on the sons to the third and fourth generations. In the same way, a father is guilty of his son’s sin. He should raise his kids to know better. This Scripture gives us the often-cited idea of generational curses. Oh, how the Christian world has latched onto this idea and run with it…even using it as an excuse for sinful behavior.

The problem is Ezekiel 18 undoes what was written in the Law. Here, the prophecy states that you will no longer say this. Instead, the father is guilty of his sin, and the son is guilty of his. Ezekiel is teaching personal responsibility and destroying the poor theology of generational curses. As a point of clarification, the Law and Ezekiel are both Old Testament. Yet, many bring that idea into the New Testament context.

That, too, will not hold up. Galatians 3:13 reminds us that Jesus became the curse for us and broke the curse of the law and sin in our lives. I find it counterproductive for believers to pronounce that they are under a curse. How foolish. Why would I profess to have what Christ Himself bore and broke for me, especially since most believers understand the power of our words?

Some might say yes, but what about generations of cancer or alcoholism? These things certainly affect the fallen world we live in. I would also agree that there is a place and a need for deliverance in our world. Maybe more than ever before. My mom died of cancer at the age of 60. If, God forbid, He allows me to also die of cancer, do I believe the Lord has cursed me or has allowed the enemy to curse me? Do I think the sin of my great-great-grandfather causes this cancer? ADAMENTLY NO!

Perhaps it is somewhat semantic. Maybe it is our reality colliding with our beliefs.

According to Scripture, this must then connect with the idea of sons, fathers, and guilt. Parent, you are not responsible for your adult child’s choices. Their relationship with God is theirs. You cannot save them. You can intercede for them and give the situation over to the Lord, trusting that He will faithfully pursue your prodigal.

I realize many Christians will disagree with me, and that’s okay. We learn by studying diverging thoughts and beliefs. I have studied this for many years. Mainly because I see the result of the guilt parents walk in and the tendency to blame our bad behavior on generational sins.

Therefore, I have included the following article for those who want to study my opinion more deeply. Whether you choose to do so or not, do not allow your children’s actions to condemn you. Pray for them. Believe in their salvation but surrender them to God. Only He can save them.

Article: Generational Curses by Dr. Opal Reddin

https://dividingword.net/Original Sin/Generational curses.html

Dr. Reddin taught at the Bible College I attended. Though I never sat under her. She retired the semester before I arrived.

Imitate

The word “imitate” means to take on the characteristics of someone or something.

The imitation never fully rises to the original’s authenticity but makes that its goal.

In 1 Cor 11:1, Paul writes this encouragement, “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.”

Imitation comes through both words and action.

This could be difficult in Bible times as the written Word of God was partial and not always accessible to the everyday person.

The Jews began the tradition of memorization.

Psalm 119 is the most unique chapter in our Scripture.

It is unique in its format, approach, subject matter, and purpose.

Ezra likely wrote Psalm 119 in the post-exilic era.

Though some do believe that David wrote it.

More likely, it is influenced by David’s writings and his life, but not written by him.

W S Plumer cites Clarke in his commentary, “Several of the ancients, particularly the Greek fathers, have considered it as an abridgment of David’s life…”

I see and hear David throughout this Psalm but recognize that it was written later.

Bishop Cowper calls it “A holy alphabet, so plain that children may understand it – so rich and instructive that the wisest and most experienced may learn something from it.”

The purpose of this Psalm is to learn the Word in an easily memorized format.

Its uniqueness stems from its format, following the Hebrew Alphabet letter by letter, each with eight lines, and each stanza begins with the corresponding letter.

Its focus is unique because it highlights the Word of God in some way in all but 3 or 4 verses.

Matthew Henry states, “This Psalm is a chest of gold rings, not a chain of gold links.”

In other words, there is continuity and uniqueness in every stanza.

They do not necessarily fit together as links in a chain.

They are beautiful nuggets meant to inspire and help us fall in love with God’s Word.

Internalizing the Word of God is one of the greatest keys to our imitation of Christ.

Let’s read a few of the 176 verses in this Psalm.

Much of the imagery used in this Psalm connects the Word of God to food.

Just as we need food to sustain our physical bodies, so we need God’s Word to sustain our spiritual bodies.

The Word of God Sustains Us.

Psalm 119:103 “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.”

Jesus echoes this idea in His response to Satan’s temptation.

Matt 4:4 “But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

The Word of God Matures Us!

Psalm 119:1 “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.”

The book of Hebrews reminds us, “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” Heb 5:12-14

The Word of God Protects Us.

Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Peter, writing to Christ’s followers in modern-day Turkey, reminds us that the Word is a foundation for those who follow Christ but is a point of stumbling for those who are disobedient.

2 Peter 2:8 “And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.”

When we are obedient to the Word, we will not stumble but walk confidently in our faith.

The Word Directs Us.

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

Heb 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

It helps us see clearly.

As I mentioned earlier, only a handful of verses do not mention some aspect of the Word of God.

The Pulpit Commentary gives us nine topical themes from this Psalm.

V1-24 – The Blessing of Obedience

V25-48 – Spiritual Enlargement

V49-72 – Comfort in Affliction

V73-96 – Human Need and the Divine Sufficiency

V97-120 – Knowledge and Action

V121-136 – Looking to God

V137-160 – Earnestness

V161-168 – True Things

V169-176 – God’s Salvation

We desperately need to fall in love with the Word.

Here, the Psalmist expresses a deep love for God’s Word by reading, meditating, and praying through it.

Too often, followers of Jesus want to be more like Him; they want a Word of encouragement from Him, and they want to be used by Him but are unwilling to live in His Word.

The Word of God is where your discipleship begins and continues until you are with the Lord.

We can only imitate Paul as he imitates Christ if we live in the Word as they both did.

This morning, many in this room are desperate for peace, joy, answers, or direction.

Your path to finding those things begins when you sit at Jesus’s feet, with His Word in hand and your heart open to hear the voice of the Spirit.

Psalm 119:12 encourages us with this simple declaration and prayer, “I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees.”

Let us strive to imitate Christ.

All Scriptures are NLT.

This blog is an adaption of the sermon I preached at C3AG, Louisville, August 8, 2024.

A Happy Little Ditty from Hell

Fear is real! Fear is rational. Fear is irrational. Fear causes pain. Fear causes anxiety. Fear is a part of life. It can raise its head without warning…one phone call…one conversation…one moment can shift us from a place of peace to a place of fear. God does not want us to be controlled by fear, as it is the opposite of trust. Still, it is a normal emotion that we all deal with.

Let me say from the beginning that if you deal with uncontrollable fear, seek help. It is OK to have a Pastor and a counselor. Just as our bodies can be broken and need medication, so can our minds.

When I was little, 4 or 5, I had an irrational fear of storms, likely from growing up in Tornado Alley, the plains of Missouri. I was also petrified of the tornado scene from The Wizard of Oz. Whoever decided this was a kid’s show needs to be flogged. In that scene, Dorothy tries to find shelter from an impending tornado. Eventually, she is knocked on the head by something.  When she opens her eyes, her home is in the twister, and she sees the people from her life pass before her. That includes the evil neighbor, Ms. Gulch, riding on her bike. She becomes the Wicked Witch.

As if this scene were not scary enough for kids, they added a song that intensified the moment’s emotion. Once my older brother realized this scared me, he would run around twisting and humming that happy little ditty from hell every time there was a storm. This frightened me even more. Today, I love storms, but I can still remember what that fear felt like.

King Jehoshaphat encountered a situation that brought great fear to him and the nation.

2 Chronicles 20:1-4 reads, “After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.) Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help. NLT

The word used here is “terrified,” which means extreme fear. Considering this, you might think Israel would turn and run. They did turn but did not run. They turned to their God. The King called the nation to a time of prayer and fasting. It’s always a great place to start. Israel followed the spiritual leader of their king. They were often running to the gods of other nations. Jehoshaphat was a righteous king who led a great spiritual revival in Israel. So, it is unsurprising that he was willing to turn to God immediately.

Verse 29 of this chapter turns the situation on its head. “When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them.” Israel’s trust in God causes fear to fall on the enemy nations. That’s how God works. When we trust him, He helps us, even at times, placing that fear on our enemies.

The key is our willingness to submit to God through prayer and fasting, asking for His will rather than our own. That is easier said than done, but you must never forget that you are not alone. God is always with you in every situation and place of fear. Turn to him and trust.

So, the next time you are overwhelmed with fear, turn to God, pray, fast, and see what God will do for you!

Cover image created using AI.

In AD 341

I believe is more than two words. It is a statement that defines who we are as a people or who we are as an individual. I believe cats are cute but snobbish creatures that seek to kill us in our sleep. I believe celery is among the most disgusting tastes. I believe Ronald Reagan was the best president in American history. I believe that 80s music is the greatest.

Each of my “I believe” statements will immediately invoke a reaction from you based on your held beliefs. You may love cats, celery, Jimmy Carter, and 90s music. Neither person is wrong when we discuss these things because these issues are based on our opinions.

How, then, do we approach our absolute beliefs in God? These things are not negotiable for us, but certainly, others do not hold to our faith beliefs. Many beliefs were circulating in the early Christian Church, most of which claimed to be revelations of Christ or from the writings of one of the Apostles. Many were true, but many others were not.

The early church fathers developed creeds, essentially statements of belief, to create continuity in the Christian faith. One of the earliest creeds was called the “Old Roman Creed.” It first appeared in a letter written to Julius, bishop of Rome, in 341 AD. Ambrose first uses the title “Apostles Creed” in a writing dating from 390 AD.

Almost 2,000 years later, the Apostles’ Creed is still held as the fundamental belief for followers of Christ. We may quibble over distinctive doctrines, such as Calvin vs. Arminius, Cessation vs. Continuation, Women in Ministry, etc., but we all hold to these doctrines. Even many who may be qualified as liberal in their scriptural interpretation still hold to these statements. There are, of course, exceptions, such as those who deny the virgin birth. Let’s be honest; those have existed since the time of Christ.

In much of the Christian world, adhering to a set of doctrines is undervalued. As a result, many doctrines are based on experience rather than the Word of God, which must always be the starting and ending point. King Solomon wavered in his doctrinal opinions and the practice thereof. Read 1 Kings 11. Here, Scripture shows us that Solomon lost faith in YHWH because of the many foreign women he married. This was against God’s will from the beginning. See Deuteronomy 7:3-4.

Sound theology, doctrine, or creed is essential to remaining faithful to the truths of the Gospel. They cannot be an afterthought. They must be a central focus in our growth and discipleship. Beyond just knowing these truths, we must learn to apply them to our lives. Solomon allowed the culture of his day to dictate his practice. We must keep ourselves from following his example. Culture is never our guide; God’s Word always is, even when the two conflict.

Satan will do everything he can to get you to water down or reject sound doctrine. To do so is to deny the Savior we follow. After all, His own life and Words form our doctrines. Likely, Satan will not come through your front door but through the cracks in your foundation. When you begin to doubt the authenticity of the Gospel or a tenant of our faith, or maybe falter in your moral standards, Satan is there to drive a greater wedge between you and God.

We may quibble over nuances of meaning and interpretation, but these things remain true now 2,000 years later.

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

On the third day, He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

From there, He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

The Holy Universal Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and life everlasting. Amen.

I profess to you, this, I believe!

But I’m Innocent

Over the past few weeks, we have examined several relationship issues, including navigating conflict, preserving unity, and spiritual attacks.

There is a part of us that recognizes that we may deserve something that directly results from our actions or attitudes. But what if you are innocent? False accusations can take many forms, from minor attitudes to significant character issues.

Living through these moments is painful and strains our faith as we grapple with Jesus’ words to walk another mile, give our coats, and turn the other cheek. Our current culture teaches us to do anything we can to get away from relationships that hurt, but the whole of Scripture seems to point us toward patient endurance.

James 1:2-4 “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

This verse teaches us that if we do not experience trials, we will not grow in our faith.

Here are a few people in Scripture who were falsely accused: Joseph by his brothers, Job by his friends, Jesus by the religious leaders, Judas, and the witnesses brought to his trial. David was also falsely accused by his father-in-law, King Saul. Read that account with me in 2 Sam 24:1-9, 17.

Now, the area around Egadi is full of caves. Some large enough to hold thousands of people. Suddenly, David’s enemy, the King, steps into the exact cave where he and his men are. Saul likely removes his robe so that he can relieve himself. David’s men immediately see the will of God in this and believe Saul is delivered into their hands.

There was one major problem.

God never directed David to kill Saul or seek to remove him from the throne.

David knew that.

So, he took his knife and cut the corner of Saul’s robe. Even this brought guilt to David’s heart because he reached out his knife toward the Lord’s anointed one. Cutting the robe showed great disrespect to King Saul.

We see in our text that many of Saul’s advisors falsely accused David of trying to usurp his throne. This was a false accusation. Yes, it is true God anointed David as the next King, but there is never a place where David tries to force the timing. Instead, he bears the burden of false accusation while respecting God’s “anointed one.”

There is another moment in David’s life that mirrors this account. Many years later, David’s son Absalom seeks to take his father’s throne. With Saul, David will not raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed one. David was aware of God’s choosing Saul, his anointing as king, and the fact that the Spirit came upon Saul, and he prophesied. With his son, he says, what if he is the Lord’s anointed one? So, again, David would not raise a hand against Absalom. In this account, David is falsely accused by his son.

One accuser is in authority over him, and another is family. In our culture, we would cut ties with these people and never interact with them again. We would do everything we could to remove ourselves from the painful situation, crying out, “But I’m Innocent.”

What we may fail to recognize amid trials such as these is the sovereign hand of God, shaping us into His very image. He is refining us, remaking us, and cutting away the things that are not of Him. It’s hard, it hurts, and we do not like it. But what if it is God’s way? What if God seeks a heart of brokenness and humility, and what if God has placed that person over us to bring about that end?

David knew that God had not told him to kill Saul. If he had assassinated Saul, David’s throne would always be overshadowed by insecurity and his reign by illegitimacy. David submitted to the position that Saul held as King, not to the man who, at this point, was going mad.

How, then, do we handle accusations when we are innocent?

First, begin with prayer.

Douglas McKelvey writes this prayer in the second volume of his series, Every Moment Holy, “O Spirit of God, when I feel the urge to express my pain in anger directed at another, restrain my tongue, reframe my frustration, stay my hands, reign in my heart, fill me afresh with your grace. Let me see and name my own emotion rightly. For at the root of this mess is the good, deep, and heartbreaking desire for reunion. And my anger cannot achieve that end.”

Second, seek to reconcile.

Third, ask for counsel from a spiritual leader.

Fourth, be obedient to the Word of God.

Fifth, wait on God.

Walking through seasons of false accusation is excruciatingly hard, but Jesus may be working in you and through you amid your pain.

Authors Note: Adapted from my sermon by the same name, preached July 14, 2024, at C3AG Louisville.

Life is a Fight!


Bump……bump, bump, bump…..bump, bump, bump…..bump, bump, baaaaaaa!


Bump……bump, bump, bump…..bump, bump, bump…..bump, bump, baaaaaaa!


And now you have the theme song from Rocky III, Eye of the Tiger, stuck in your head. You can thank me later. Life is a fight. We are fighting from the moment we take our first breath until the moment we take our last. We fight for position, advancement, and education. We fight with siblings, parents, children, and strangers. Life is a fight!


King David faced many battles in his life—so many that God did not allow him to build the Temple. Instead, Solomon, who reigned at a time of peace, received that honor. Scripture records that at the moment of his anointing as king, the enemies of Israel came out against them (2 Samuel 5:17-29). Israel is a physical nation that has had physical battles. Their uniqueness is that they are also a spiritual nation. So, every physical battle is also spiritual. Often, the opposite is true. The spiritual and the physical affect the emotional. They are all interconnected.


Life is a fight. We often miss that most of our battles as humans are spiritual, not physical. Paul writes we wrestle not against flesh, but against powers and principalities of the air…spiritual.


From David’s life, we learn three principles that pertain to spiritual battles.


First, the reality of spiritual battles.
2 Samuel tells us that the enemy mobilized at the moment of David’s anointing. In this case, the enemy was the Philistines. A few chapters before, David is fighting with the Philistines. Now, he is the king of Israel and their enemy. When God anoints you for a task, the enemy will fight. In general terms, every follower of Christ is anointed to be His representative; as such, you have a target on your back. Life is a fight.


Second, the timing of spiritual battles.
Attacks from the enemy will often follow a spiritual victory. Say that out loud so you can hear it. As followers of Christ, spiritual battles can come at any moment. Remember, the enemy of your soul is relentless. He will attack again and again. Sometimes, in the same places in your life. Our text outlines the following sequence.
The enemy came to fight at the valley of Rephaim.
David prays and wins a great victory.
He gives glory to God.
The energy mobilizes again in the same place.
David prays again and follows God’s precise instructions.
Again, David wins a victory.
Be prepared for the enemy to attack you repeatedly. Life is a fight.


Third, the overcoming of spiritual battles.
Let us be overwhelmed by the fact that we will battle the enemy; let us remember that both times David prayed, both times he followed the Lord’s instructions, both times he won the battle, and both times he gave God all of the credit.


Yes, life is a fight, but you are not alone. Say that out loud. Repeat it like you mean it.


Paul wrote these beautiful words for the church in Rome.
Romans 8:35-39 NLT


Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.


And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.


You are not alone. Yes, life is a fight, but your God is victorious. Though we may be attacked, you will ultimately be victorious if you do not give up on the fight. Follow David’s example. Seek the Lord, obey His direction, and give our God all the credit and glory. Stand and fight. You’ve got this!



Sacred Accountability

After several weeks of travel, I am happy to be back in the grove—almost. Today’s blog is an adaptation of this past Sunday’s sermon.

It is not uncommon for us to hear the word accountability. We recognize the importance of people around us who help us remain accountable. That might be accountability in our work, our finances, or our marriage. While it is true that we need people to hold us to a higher standard, ultimately, we are accountable to God first and then to others.

King David was a man after God’s own heart because he remained accountable to God. Yes, a human often called him to deal with his sin. Following those conversations, David immediately made things right with God.

In Gen 6, we find the account of Noah building the ark. We do not often stop and think of the human cost God asked of Noah. He was ridiculed; it took 40-50 years to build and was built by faith, as it had never rained. Though people around him mocked and decried him as a silly old fool, Noah knew what was necessary. Despite these challenges, Noah remained faithful to the Lord his God. Gen 6:22 states, “So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.”

As we follow the lives of the kings of Israel, we come to a place where Kings Saul, David, and Solomon are all dead. The throne is now in the hands of Solomon’s son Rehoboam. He stands at a choice that will determine the future destiny of Israel. In this moment, his willingness to be accountable comes to the forefront. You can find this account in 1 Kings 12:1-13.

In his book Simple Accountability, my friend Dana Coverstone lays out these four steps of accountability. First, Search your heart. Second, Find the right person to be your accountability partner. Third, Establish patterns. Fourth, Grow as a person.

Some of these may seem obvious, but our text shows that Rehoboam took none of these steps. There was a lack of accountability. He did not approach this question with the correct attitude…his heart was not in the right place.  He did not take advice from the wise men of Israel; instead, he went to his friends. We do not see a pattern of seeking the Lord’s advice or wisdom.

Author Warren Wiersbe writes, “There’s no evidence that the king sought the Lord in prayer or that he consulted the high priest or with a prophet.” I have always imagined this scene as a bunch of college frat boys trying to direct a nation politically and spiritually.

Finally, he showed no signs of trying to do the right thing. His intention was not to cement the love of his people but to cement his power. His selfish thoughts and actions cost him more than half of his kingdom. We must all be accountable to someone.

Lack of accountability leads to arrogance, self-righteous behavior, and separation from those we love. Sacred Accountability encourages us to listen to the wisdom of a mentor or accountability partner. God wants us to be accountable to Him first. That demands that we respond to the voice and conviction of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit says we are out of line, we immediately repent. Subsequently, we are honest and open with those who keep us accountable, not only so that we admit our mistakes but also so that our relationship with that person helps prevent the action or attitude from occurring again.

In The Weight of Glory, C S Lewis writes, “To please God… to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness… to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son—it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is.”  (pg 10, 1966 edition)

The commentary where I ran across this quote explains, “This quote beautifully captures the idea that our accountability to God is not a mere obligation but a glorious privilege—a weight of responsibility that leads to eternal joy and fulfillment.”

Scripture teaches us that four years after becoming King of Judah, Rehoboam led Israel into idol worship. Accountability and wisdom go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other. Accountability to God first and man second.

King Rehoboam’s dad wrote these words in Prov 15:1 “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” Rehoboam’s mistake was so egregious that all the following evil kings of Judah are compared to him. In addition, the prophet Isaiah speaks of the nations’ coming destruction, harkening back to this pivotal moment.

Isaiah 7:17 says, “Then the Lord will bring things on you, your nation, and your family unlike anything since Israel broke away from Judah. He will bring the king of Assyria upon you!”

Ironically, Rehoboam means “he enlarges the people.” Instead, he loses 9 of the 12 tribes. As Alexander Maclaren writes, this is “a miserable story of imbecility and arrogance.”

Accountability requires honesty, humility, vulnerability, and teachability. Rehoboam possessed none of these traits. He did not, but we must. As followers of Jesus, these four must be evident in our lives as we approach our God. Sacred Accountability speaks to the spiritual nature of our accountability. Therefore, all four must also be evident as we interact with those who hold us accountable.

We must strive to be accountable to God first and then to a trusted person God has placed in our lives. Sacred Accountability is a serious matter, one many take too lightly.

When Dreams Die

About a year ago, I went through a season of extreme discouragement. It is a time I hope I never have to repeat. There were moments when I thought I might not survive spiritually or mentally. I suppose, at some level, I was in a season of depression. One might wonder what brought on such a season of darkness. It all began when I believed the lie that my dreams were dead and, in so doing, that my dreams were the most important thing to me.

For many years, the Spirit has led us and spoken to our church about many incredible things that He desires for us and will accomplish among us. For context, our family has been in leadership here for 36 years. I was 10 years old when we moved in 1988. That’s 36 years of prayers, waiting, and believing. Over those years, people have come and gone, but the dream has remained.

I began my ministry here on Memorial weekend of 2000, now 24 years ago. I became lead pastor on the first Sunday of June in 2013, now 11 years ago. It is wonderful that our family has been here in Louisville and has not moved from place to place, as so often happens in ministry. The downside of being in one place for a long time is that you may see your dreams die.

King David (2 Sam 12) commits a series of grievous sins, adultery, and murder. When the Prophet Nathan confronts the king about his sins, David recognizes that he deserves death under God’s law. Would his dreams die? God chooses to spare David, but He does allow the son born in sin to pass. Again, is this a sign that David’s dynasty and his dreams will die?

In Genesis 39-50, we see the story of Joseph, who quite literally had dreams. After sharing those dreams with his brothers, Joseph finds himself a slave in the land of Egypt. One thing leads to another, and eventually, this dreamer is in prison following a false accusation of sexual misconduct. Here, too, Joseph came face to face with the death of his dreams.

The disciples walked this path as they watched their Savior die on the cross and be buried in a borrowed tomb. They did not yet understand all that was happening. What they did know was that the master they followed was now dead, and they were in hiding. Can you imagine the desperate thoughts they endured over the course of the next three days? Everything they thought they understood about the future came crashing down with their dreams.

We serve a God that resurrects dreams!

King David and the woman he sinned with had another child, Solomon, who became the King of Israel.

Joseph was released from prison and became the second most powerful person in Egypt because of a dream Pharoah had.

Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day. In so doing, He accomplished what He came to earth to do. He conquered death and became the first fruit of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15).

It is easy to believe your dreams are dead when everything is falling apart around you. But what if your brokenness is the avenue by which your dreams come back to life? What if God takes you through difficult times so that you will give Him glory when His promises come to pass? What if your dream is not dead?

Last summer, our family traveled to Colorado for my nephew’s wedding. Sitting in a hotel room near Denver, the Lord asked me a simple question, “Do you trust me?” At that moment, my fear of dead dreams came crashing into the hope of my Savior. At that moment, my dreams did not matter. They were secondary to the trust I placed in Jesus. I recognized that even if my dreams never come true, Jesus is and must always remain my single greatest pursuit.

I walked away with a renewed sense of hope and a new approach to my dreams. None of them matter if I am close to Jesus. If they come to pass, it is because of Him. If they do not, it is because of Him. Either way, I will serve Him.

Dreams are not my greatest pursuit; Jesus is.

Since that time last year, at any moment, I begin to drift to questions of why or why not. I hear the Spirit quietly ask, “Do you trust me?” The answer remains the same.

Yes, I trust you!

I Need the Holy Spirit

Adapted from my sermon on Pentecost Sunday, 2024.

Before we come to Christ, our greatest need is salvation. Once we have made that decision and surrendered our lives to Jesus, Our Greatest Need becomes the Holy Spirit’s daily activity. We need the Holy Spirit to become even more active in us as we grow in Christ and learn to live according to God’s will rather than our own.

The day of Pentecost is one of three celebrations where the children of Israel were required to go to Jerusalem. It was a celebration of the harvest; thus, it is also called First Fruits…think of it as Jewish Thanksgiving. It was also a celebration of the giving of the law. Both point to the Jewish name for Pentecost, Shavuot, which means weeks, as it was celebrated seven weeks and a day (50 days) after Passover.

In Jewish tradition, the First Fruits of the Jewish faith was the giving of the Law. In Christianity, the First Fruit of the Church was the giving of the Holy Spirit.

As a young man, I saw everything in my school and culture that countered God’s desire for my life.  So, could I, as a middle schooler, high schooler, or college student, hold to the faith I had while facing such antagonism and crushing immorality in the world around me? The answer is the Holy Spirit’s active participation in my life.

Many of you are facing challenges from culture and your sinful nature, and you are wondering, how can I overcome them? Your greatest need, my greatest need after salvation, is the Holy Spirit’s Presence in our lives.

In the time that we have, I cannot dive deep into every aspect of our theology of the Spirit. For that reason, let’s turn to the Word and recognize that God fulfills His promise.

Acts 1:4-5 “Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus’ last words to His disciples were giving them a promise that they would be filled with the Holy Spirit. So, in obedience, 120 believers waited and prayed.

In Acts 2:4, we see the fulfillment of that promise; “And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” When the Holy Spirit filled them, they understood that the promise was fulfilled as they began speaking in tongues, languages they did not know. I still believe and teach that those baptized in the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues.

Dr Stanley Horton writes, “It should always be kept in mind that the baptism in the Spirit is not a climactic experience…the baptism in the Holy Spirit is only a door into a growing relationship with the Spirit.”

I want to remind you that we do not seek a language; we seek Jesus and the depth of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We do not believe someone must speak in tongues to be saved, and we do not believe that we are better Christians once we have received this gift; that would be pride, not humility.

I want to focus on why we need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

First, Greater Witness

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Second, Greater Worship

Read 1 Cor 14:25 “As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”

Third, Greater Prayer

Rom 8:26-27 “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”

Fourth, Greater Holiness

Gal 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Fifth, Greater Unity

Eph 4:3-6 “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.”

We do not have the power to accomplish these things outside of the Holy Spirit’s activity. Our greatest need is for the Spirit to be active in our daily lives. This must come after our salvation…which is always the most important thing.

Be open to how the Spirit wants to move in your life. Welcome Him in and ask for His participation. As for me, I need the Holy Spirit.