“Is Anyone Worthy?”

Last night, Sunday, February 12, my wife, oldest son, a group from our church, and I traveled to the campus of Asbury College. We drove 70 min from our home to participate in the amazing move of the Spirit that broke out there during a regular chapel service this past Wednesday. No one seemed to know what happened that morning as the students gathered. As they worshipped, something shifted, and now 100+ hours later, this move of God is still going and growing.

We arrived on campus around 4 in the afternoon. It was sunny but chilly as we walked across campus from a parking lot with few spots remaining. Entering the chapel, we realized that sitting was not an option. Our group moved down an aisle, standing out of the way as best we could, letting others in and out. There was an immediate awareness of the gravity of what was occurring. Hughes Chapel seats approximately 1,500, but there were easily 1,800-2,000 people in the sanctuary, foyer, halls, and basement.

I stood in the aisle, wondering what this moment would be like. I saw many familiar faces. People that did not come with us, but I have known throughout my life in Kentucky. As I looked around, I felt the Spirit nudge me with a question, “are you here to see them or Me.” Immediately I turned my attention to Him rather than those around me. At that moment, the worship team sang, “Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole? Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?” Suddenly, I could not see clearly as my eyes filled with tears, and the overwhelming presence of the living God consumed me. For the rest of the two hours we stood in the chapel, I began to weep every time I focused on Christ.

After thirty minutes, a group stood to leave, and we found seats. It was then I began to notice many things about this sovereign move of God. I had a notebook with me. I sat and wrote down these 11 thoughts:

  1. God’s presence is thick in the room. There is no place where God is not.
  2. College students are leading the way. Seamlessly, worship teams transitioned without missing a beat.
  3. There is no overt demonstration of the Spirit, but there is a divine hunger for Jesus in the room. (Matt 5:6)
  4. Order is evident through professors giving instruction, the students leading, and the participants following as the Spirit moves.
  5. The Spirit’s presence seemingly comes in waves of worship and spontaneous adoration. Unexpectedly, the room goes almost still except for the students singing on stage.
  6. There is no central person, evangelist, etc., only Jesus.
  7. Most people participate rather than observe.
  8. There are no stage lights, fog machines, dimmed sanctuary lights, audio-visual equipment, expert musicians, or singers. Yet, the Spirit of God moves. (Perhaps the seeker-sensitive church should take note. All we need is a hunger for Jesus.)
  9. There is no single denomination but the body of Christ.
  10. There is a sense that we are witness to a historical moment that could easily change the course of our nation, more importantly, will change the course of a generation.
  11. There is no sense that this will end anytime soon. It will be like the great Charismatic Renewal sweeping the globe. That move of the Spirit started on a February morning in a normal chapel service at Asbury College in 1970.

Driving the hour and 10 min home, I contemplated what I had just observed and what the Spirit is saying. Now, twenty-four hours later, I still ponder and pray. As I sit on my bed typing these words, my mind drifts, my eyes tear, and my heart hungers. “Is anyone worthy? Is anyone worthy? … He is!”

Thank You, AG

I have not had the opportunity to write for many weeks. The last few months have been a whirlwind of travel and holidays. I’m also working on a Ph.D. which significantly limits my writing time outside of assignments and dissertation preparation.

Today I want to write about my love for our fellowship. Fellowship is a mark of Christ’s church. It moves beyond a mere knowledge of someone to a relationship with that person. Doing life together, if you will. I was born into an Assemblies of God (AG) family. The AG is not a denomination but officially a fellowship. As with any relationship, we may have disagreements, but as with a healthy family, those things fade away for the sake of unity and fellowship.

Growing up AG, attending AG colleges, pastoring an AG church, and now serving in AG leadership affords me a family beyond my physical one. This is a spiritual connection. The AG is now well over 80 million people worldwide. Some estimate that number in the 120-160 million range (we cannot accurately count in closed nations). Through the blood of Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the fellowship of the body of Christ, I am connected to each one of these.

Now please understand that I do not assume there is no connection to other denominations or organizations. Nothing could be further from the truth. But God saw fit to place me in a tribe, a place of connection. As I sat at my desk contemplating a blog topic, I was overwhelmed with a deep sense of belonging. Because of my background and experiences, there is nowhere in the world that I do not know an AG global worker.

I have some good things going on in my life right now. As I read a book authored by one AG friend, I picked up a prayer card from another, and texted one of our national leaders. I was struck yet again by the sense of belonging and family that the AG has provided for me. Do I believe we are the only ship in the ocean? Of course not. Nor do I think we have a lock on salvation, missions, the work of the Spirit, or anything else for that matter. Thank God for that. I also appreciate the deep relationships with non-denom, oneness, independent Christian, and Methodist friends. We are all in the same body. Maybe just a different line in the family. That could be a blog for another day. This blog is meant to be a thank you to the AG.

So, thank you, Assemblies of God, for the summer camps where my life was transformed. For mentors that keep my life grounded and in check. Thank you to the professors who poured into my life at two AG colleges/universities. Thank you to my friends that serve around the world. You challenge my selfishness and my willingness to give it all to Jesus. Thank you to our local AG church, C3AG, Louisville, KY. It is an honor to serve as your pastor. Thank you to my AG parents and grandparents that set into motion finding Jesus at an early age, being filled with the Spirit at the altar of an AG church, and being called into ministry at Camp Crestwood. Thank you to my wife, who I meet at an AG college.

My purpose in this blog is not to be arrogant about the AG but to genuinely thank those who have significantly impacted my life. God chose to use the AG as one conduit of His blessing in my life. In our modern world, denominations are losing their former influence. Many are drawn toward the independent churches that they feel more closely model the early church. I get that, and I do not criticize those with that opinion. I just disagree. I am often asked by young ministers, why do I need credentials with the AG if God has called me? That too is a blog for a future time, but one aspect is belonging.

I have an opportunity to make deep and lasting connections. I love General Council (our national meetings are held every two years) because it is like a family reunion. It is a joy and a privilege to walk around the exhibit hall and see friends and those with a profound effect on my life. Somehow, I come away each time with a few new friends also. No, the AG cannot get you into heaven, and yes, it is just a small portion of the body of Christ worldwide, but it is my place of belonging. It is my tribe. As we often say in the AG, Our Church, Our Family. I am thankful.

The Star

What a joy it is to celebrate the birth of our Savior. His birth was like none other in history. This divine birth was marked by many miracles prophesied of old. One of the most intriguing and questioned miracles is the Star of Bethlehem. It is one of my favorite things to study, and I have done so for more than 10 years.

Matt. 2:1-12 “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time, some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law. He asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you  who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’” Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.” NLT

Though this star is an amazing miracle, we must not forget that Jesus Christ is the true star of Bethlehem.

Balaam prophesied of His coming in the early days of Israel. Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.” A star will come out of Jacob…the light of the World. It should not surprise us that God used a celestial miracle to mark the birth of our Lord. Psalm 19:1 tells us that “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

The coming of the Messiah, God come to earth, the forgiveness of sin, and the ultimate restoration of our sinless world surely affect even the cosmos. The light of the world has come.

First, let’s look at the problem…What was it? Secularists point to the star as an impossibility.

Yes, a new star is possible, but not likely, and it certainly could not point to a house. Of course, this opinion discounts the miraculous power of our God. There are generally four accepted possibilities of what this star was.

Planets moved in retrograde motion.

A comet that’s tale pointed to the house.

The formation of a new divinely appointed star.

Or the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, reminiscent of the pillar of cloud and fire.

In the end, the star was simply a miracle.

Second, we look at the purpose. What was it for? We know, of course, that the star served to point the Wiseman to Christ. The light pointed to the light. In his gospel, John uses this analogy, stating, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.” John 1:9-10 The light of Christ still shines in our dark world. Interestingly, Paul refers to us as stars serving the same purpose. Phil. 2:15 “so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky” We are to be stars shining in the heavens pointing people to Christ just as the Star of Bethlehem did.

Third, let’s look at the precedent. Will it happen again? His first coming was marked by this star. His second coming will also be marked by signs in the heavens. Acts 2:19-20 “I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.” Rev. 1:7 ““Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So, shall it be! Amen.” When God leaves His throne and the splendor of heaven to enter into our fallen world…all of nature is affected.

We wait as we see the signs in the heavens that mark the soon return of our Lord. Each Christmas, the miracle of the star reminds us that Christ is the Light of the World, it should motivate us to be lights pointing to Christ, and it should challenge us as we see the signs of His return. It should also remind us that our God is a God of the miraculous. Those things that man cannot understand or explain are simple for our God. The greatest gift, the greatest miracle you can experience in your life, is salvation. Jesus, the light must come into your life and change you.

Peter says it like this, 2 Peter 1:19 “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

This Christmas season, allow the morning star to rise anew in your heart.

The Greatets Day in All the Year

My favorite version of the Christmas Carol, excluding the Muppets, starred Albert Finny in the 1970 musical version titled Scrooge. In this beautiful and energetic rendition, Mr. and Mrs. Fezzywig sing the song “December the 25th”. This song declares it to be the greatest day in all the year…sung in your best British accent. I love Christmas and have studied its details for the past 20+ years. As I mentioned in my last blog, this year, I am attempting to answer questions surrounding Christmas by way of my opinion.

Today I want to dive into the controversial issue of the date of Christ’s birth. Like many other details, we cannot prove one way or another. Scripture does not tell us. In many cases, we miss the point if we quibble over the date. Still, over the past few years, I have seen an increasing number of believers stop celebrating Christmas as it is rooted in pagan traditions. I find this thought interesting as many Christian traditions are older than the pagan traditions. We are always said to borrow from them rather than them from us.

December the 25th became the date of Christmas because early believers coopted a celebration to the Roman Sun God…or so you have probably heard. Is this really what happened? I studied Roman and Greek mythology in high school, and I don’t recall a sun God of any importance. Author John Seward writes of this possibility in his book Cradle of Redeeming Love (Ignatius, 2002). He states, “The message would be that Christ is the true and eternal sun and Son….” An article on Crosswalk.com states,

“If the dating of Christmas was influenced at all by pagan celebrations, the most likely candidate was a holiday established in 274 AD by the Roman Emperor Aurelian (around 214-275 AD) called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, “The Birth of the Unconquered Sun,” on December 25. However, it is equally possible that Aurelian was attempting to co-opt a date that already had significance for believers. According to history professor William Tighe, “The date had no religious significance in the Roman pagan festal calendar before Aurelian’s time, nor did the sun play a prominent role in Rome before him.”

At least two early Church Fathers believed December the 25th was the correct date and was celebrated in Alexandria, Egypt, around 100 years before establishing the Sun God holiday. Crosswalk.com continues,

“The tradition for December 25th is actually quite ancient. Hippolytus, in the second century A.D., argued that this was Christ’s birthday. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Church, January 6th was the date followed. But in the fourth century, John Chrysostom argued that December 25th was the correct date, and from that day till now, the Church in the East, as well as the West, has observed the 25th of December as the official date of Christ’s birth.”

Many believe Jesus could not be born in December in Bethlehem because shepherds were in the fields.  Many ancient Jewish texts and traditions speak of sheep in the fields throughout the year. They still have to eat after all. From what I understand, sheep are not big fans of dried hay. While it is true that Israel can be cold at times, Bethlehem and Mt Hermon, for instance, likely had a vast range of temperatures. We cannot base the accuracy for or against a date based on our opinion of the weather. Again, even so, the sheep were still hungry.

While many may believe that Christians always co-opted from pagans, I often think pagans co-opted from Christian traditions. Suppose Christmas on December 25th predated the Sun God celebration. In that case, it stands to reason that the Romans, wanting to minimize Christian influence, set a date for the Sun God on the same date. As a side note, this Sun God is not even Roman, but Persian. Again, quoting Corsswalk.com,

“By the time of Aurelian’s reign, it appears that the God Mithras (originally a Persian deity who was said to be either the son of the sun or the companion of the sun) was earning popularity among traveling Roman soldiers. Aurelian decided to seize on an opportunity to bring a monotheistic cult to the Roman Empire, and his motivation likely was to compete with Christianity – a growing monotheistic religion that he saw as a threat to the empire.”

Whatever the actual date, the purpose is to recognize and worship Christ, be thankful for His first coming, and live in expectation of His second coming. Yet, I do not support giving to Satan what the Lord has redeemed. Paul writes, in Rom 14:6, “Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.” However and whenever you celebrate Christ’s birth, may the gravity of Emmanuel, God with us, impact your worship and your life. I agree with Fezzywig, December the 25th is “the greatest day in all the year.” It has been for 2,000 years. Let’s keep it that way.

https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/was-jesus-really-born-on-dec-25.html

Who Were the Wise Men?

I love Christmas and have made it a topic of study for many years. As a result, I have some opinions about common questions. Over the next few weeks, I will do just that, give my opinion. I say that because none of us can definitively prove things where the Scripture is silent. As our science teachers said, we can make an educated guess. Today I begin with the question, who were the wise men?

Before I dive into that topic, let’s look at a few common misconceptions or at least missed by most people. First, there were not necessarily three wise men. The Bible tells us that three gifts which led to the tradition of three wise men. Rightfully so, it would look odd to have fifteen guys crowded into our nativity scenes. I have no issue with the representation of three as long as we realize why that occurred.

Second, the wise men did not show up at the manger scene. Matthew states, “It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.” (Matt 2:9b NLT) The word used for the child means a young child, but not an infant. The next verse states that they came to the house, not the stable. We couple these with the fact that the star appeared two years before their arrival and the subsequent slaughter of male children in Bethlehem, and we get the picture that Jesus was probably more than a few hours old, but less than two.

So, who were these mysterious guys from the east? They are commonly believed to be Jewish converts from Persia, Babylon, Assyria, or perhaps even modern-day India. While each of these is plausible, my opinion is a little different. The books of II Kings, Daniel, Ezekiel, Esther, Ezra, and Nehemiah, describe the captivity of Judah by the Babylonians. We recognize from Daniel that God placed Jewish men in positions of authority during this time. Daniel and others carried the Jewish law and prophets (written at that time) into captivity. All the names I mentioned above lived in captivity; thus, the Babylonians had access to Jewish prophecy.

If we follow this line of thought, Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus would rise and allow His people to retune to Jerusalem. That is precisely what happened in Ezra and Nehemiah. History tells us that when Cyrus allowed the Jews to return, some did, and some did not. Thus we have the book of Esther, who lived after the time of Cyrus. Now, if you remember reading Daniel, you know that the Babylonian Kingdom fell to the Meads and the Persians. This is the story where the hand of God appears and writes on the wall.

All of these point to the traditional religion of the Persians. A monotheistic region called Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrians believe their God spoke to them through the stars. They studied the movement of celestial bodies. They were both early astronomers and astrologers. When we connect this with the fact that they also had access to prophecies such as, “I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth” (Num 24:17 NLT). We understand that a connection could easily be made.

These were not uneducated men but men of excellent knowledge. So, based on Scripture and the movement of the stars, they understood a King was born to the Jewish people. They probably had Jewish friends. And so, these men of wisdom fulfilled the prophecy found in Isaiah 60:3-5, “All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. “Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home. Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy, for merchants from around the world will come to you. They will bring you the wealth of many lands.” Certainly, these verses pertain to the nation of Israel as a whole, but I believe it is also Messianic.

Whoever these men were, the point for us is the same as it was for them. “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matt 2:11 NLT) God desires your worship and your gifts. Not your gold, but you. You are the gift He wants most. The question for you then is, are you willing to give your whole self to the child of the manger, Emmanuel, God with us?

The Weird and Spooky

Because of the season of life I currently find myself in, I have not blogged as often as I would like. It has given me time to think and process these very detailed thoughts. Indeed, in the length of this blog, I will only be able to scratch the surface on this topic. As we approach Halloween, everything is focused on the scare factor; from movies to candy. I must admit there is an aspect of all this I find fun, but this is not the weird and spooky I want to focus on. Instead, I want to focus on four common practices in churches and the lives of believers that are just flat-out wrong according to scripture.

The first weird and spooky idea is animism. Webster’s online dictionary defines animism as “the attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena.” This is a widely held theology among pagan religions. Cue Pocahontas singing Colors of the Wind. According to scripture, only humans reflect God. Only humans have a soul. I know I will make someone mad right now, but your pet does not have a soul, at least not in the spiritual definition. If you use the soul to define its character, loving nature, etc., perhaps. My pet will not attain salvation. Cap’s disobedience certainly illustrates this. This idea is dangerous to Christian theology and leads to the worship of nature rather than nature’s God.

Second, much is said of curses these days. Do I believe curses exist? Certainly. As a believer, am I under a curse, generational or otherwise? Certainly not! Gal 3:13 in the NLT states, “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” I am no longer under the curse of sin, so why would I want to profess generational curses over myself and my kids. NO!!! Instead, I will proclaim and declare freedom from every curse through Jesus Christ. What is the danger here? Constantly stating I’m under a curse does two things, it minimizes the power of God in my life and maximizes the enemy’s stronghold. Nope…get behind me, Satan!

Third, I’m sending good vibes. Keep your vibes. I want your blessing in the name of Christ. Vibes are a new age belief that you can change someone’s mood or outlook by sending your thoughts to them. I suppose telepathy is used? Now I am not stupid. I recognize the importance and power of a positive word in someone’s life and the destruction of a negative comment. Let’s be honest. You don’t need my good vibes. You need the blessing of my God. By the way, He made heaven and the earth, so there is that.

Last, not everything that goes wrong in your life is a demon. Some things that go wrong in your life are demonic. We must be full of the Spirit and His power to know the difference. If I twist my ankle, it could be because I put on the wrong shoes and stepped off the curb while not paying attention. Probably not a demon. If I have sprained my ankle seven times in the last five days, well, I might at a minimum need to pray through that. Why is this important? I, for one, am not going to give the Devil the satisfaction of blaming him for everything. But, I will recognize that he is active and fighting. I will live a life of prayer and devotion to God.

In all of these, solid Christian theology becomes weird and spooky. They put the focus on us rather than on God. Guard your thoughts. Put on the helmet of salvation. That protects our brains. Maybe you need to put that on more often. I know I do!

Do Denominations Divide Us?

This is a comment I hear often; “Denominations prove there is disunity in the body of Christ.” I take issue with this premise. Why are denominations often vilified for what they are not and never celebrated for what they are. In this blog, I want to explain why I believe denominations bring unity to the body of Christ, why they are essential, and why I choose to be a part of one.

First, let’s look at why denominations bring unity to the body of Christ. Denominations take differing theological approaches to things. If we were all in one organization, we would be fighting about it. Instead, God in His infinite wisdom separated us so that unity might abound in His Church. I do not hold to a reformed theological position, but I have great respect for those that do.

Many denominations emerged because of proximity, not division. As an example, the several Pentecostal fellowships formed in different locations. There was no internet to keep us connected in the early days. So, we have the Assemblies of God (AG) in Missouri, the Four Square in California, The Church of God in Tennessee. These three fellowships all hold to the same doctrine. Still, lack of proximity allowed three to develop in different areas of the nation near the same time, following Azusa Street.

Second, why I believe denominations are essential. There are many reasons I could point to here. Credibility and authority in ministry are significant. Denominations allow for a credentialing process so that we know a person is called. If someone calls my office and wants to speak, I can call the AG and ask if they know this person and if they are in good standing. Missions work is of vital importance. We can collectively accomplish what a single independent church cannot. Indeed, they can have an impact, but not at the same level. Without missions, there is no way the AG could have grown from 300+ in 1914 to more than 80 million today. Finally, I believe in the Biblical principle of a spiritual covering. Too often, fly-by-night ministers wreck the local church because they do not have to answer anyone. I am thankful for my district and national pastors. Both of which I am privileged to know.

Third, why did I choose to be a part of a fellowship/denomination? I love being a part of something bigger than myself. I love having spiritual mentors all over the world. I love being able to mentor others across the globe. I love the unity and common purpose among us. I love having authority over me. I love the opportunities that being a part of a denomination afford the church I pastor and me.

Let me close out this blog by sharing one final thought. Denominations can be wrong when they refuse to work with or support other ministers not from their own tribe. I believe in this last day, God is raising up multiple denominations to reach the lost. Let’s face it, no single one of us can accomplish it on our own. We in the AG will reach some that the Lutherans cannot reach. Anglicans will reach some that Southern Baptists cannot reach. It is a collective effort. I am thankful for my Apostolic, Baptist, Lutheran, and Methodist colleagues.  I am also grateful for my independent-minded colleagues. Though you have chosen a different path than I, we are all working to build Christ’s Kingdom together, not our own. So, let unity of mission and purpose abound as we disagree on some aspects of theology. You are still my friend and I need you!

The Land of Could Have Been

“It could have been” are perhaps the four saddest words in the English lexicon. The older I get, the more I see potential wasted and moments not seized. Speaking directly to my fellow Pastors, we live at the crossroads of “may be” and “could have been.” It is a life a death struggle that we live firsthand every day, not just in our own lives but also in those around us.

2020-2021 have been very difficult for, well, the world. Yet, there is a life-giving aspect here. We can’t control it. I try not to worry about what I cannot control. Admittedly that can be difficult at times. In these moments, our enemy, Satan, is there to discourage us and make us feel abandoned. He always likes to point the finger at God. Let’s be honest. We do too.

Statistics say that the seventh year of ministry is usually the most fruitful. Yup, you guessed it. My seventh year was 2020. The year of pandemic. The year of shut-down. The year of little to no growth as opposed to great growth. Now growth is a relative thing. Where I could easily look at what could have been, I can also see what was. Our church is experiencing the most powerful move of the Spirit I’ve ever been a part of. Sometimes, your “could have been” even develops into what is.

As difficult as 2020 was, 2018 was much harder for me. I thought I could control things that went in a direction I did not plan. It was personal. It hurt. It was the most challenging year I ever lived through. Three years later, I occasionally find my mind fixated on what could have been. It is easy to fall into that rabbit hole. If we are not careful, we never find our way back out. We descend into a life of self-pity, anger toward those around us, and perhaps most dangerous of all, anger at God. Which, of course, is what Satan wants. Now, I am just stubborn enough to not give him that satisfaction.

Could 2018 have turned out different, yes? It certainly could have been easier on me, but it wasn’t. I had choices that had to be consciously made coming out of that. Questions I asked myself and sought answers to. Do I trust God? Yes! Is God still in charge? Yes! Will He build His Kingdom? Yes! Am I God? No! Will I live in the “could have been” of the “may be”? The “may be” always brings a sense of hope to us.

Pastor, you may not know exactly what you are going through or why, but you do know that God is on your side. He never said it would be easy. In fact, He warned us of how hard it could be. I challenge you, do not allow yourself to live in the “land of could have been.” Satan wants nothing more than to make your life and ministry ineffective. This path will lead you there. Have faith and remember that God is in control. I do not understand all that He is doing. Let’s be honest. At times I don’t understand anything He is doing. That’s why He is God, and I am not.

Live a life of may be. That brings hope in a hopeless world. Your faithful God will uphold you and guide you. If you let Him, He will also keep you from living in the “land of could have been.”

Three Truths of the Kingdom

What has caught your attention most over the past year? We have lived through a tumultuous election cycle, a worldwide pandemic, earthquakes, a crisis in Afghanistan, wars, and rumors of wars. You see where I am going. Amid these crises, many believers have their focus in the wrong place. I understand the need to defend and uphold our liberty here in the US, but what if a restriction of our freedom brings about a mighty move of God. We would be fighting against the Kingdom if that were the case, though we think we are doing good.

In this blog, I want to cover three truths of the Kingdom. If you are a believer, none of these will surprise you. I think we have lost focus. So stay with me.

NUMBER ONE: Seek First the Kingdom

All too often, we get the cart before the horse. We seek everything but the Kingdom to bring the Kingdom. The Word tells us to seek the Kingdom first, then everything else will be added. I ask you, what are you seeking. Most of you have just answered, “the Kingdom, of course.” Ok, let me challenge that thought. Do you spend as much time in the Word and prayer as you troll the internet? No, Ok, what about your finances? Reaching those who have never heard of Jesus is a priority, even over things we enjoy doing. What about the last time you shared your faith…not wrapped in politics? Can I get a witness? I hear Madea in the back shouting, “Hallelujaher.” It’s really easy to think we have the Kingdom in our focus, but it has become an afterthought.

NUMBER TWO: God is Sovereign, I Am Not

What if all of the political angst and conspiracy theories are harming our witness? What if God wanted Trump and then Biden in the Whitehouse…see, now I’ve offended 100% of you. Well, at least the Americans. What if a tightening of our freedoms is God’s plan? What if God allowed the pandemic? What if all this is happening because the trumpet is rising to the angel’s mouth and Jesus is about to break through the clouds? What if the Church was fighting what God has already said would happen? Church, God is Sovereign! Yes, I believe in man’s free will. Man’s free will does not negate the sovereignty of my God. He is still in control.

NUMBER THREE: Faith in Christ MUST be Active

We live in a time where so many sit on their hands and wait for God to bring the fish. Peter, James, and John had to throw out the net so Jesus could fill them. Your faith and mine must be lived out through actions that will lead others to Jesus. We see our world spiraling out of control. Instead of being filled with fear, let us be filled with the Holy Spirit and Fire. Let us boldly push against the enemy and see the Kingdom of God increase. Be active in your faith.

Whether Jesus’ return is imminent or still hundreds of years in the future, we must remind ourselves, our God will never be defeated. His Church won’t either. I’m pretty sure He told us that in advance.

Who Are You Waiting For?

I was trolling Facebook the other night. Don’t judge me. You do it too. While on there, I saw a meme that dealt with waiting. It really made me think. Waiting is a part of the Christian faith. We can point to many characters in Scripture that waited. Abraham and Sarah waited for the promised child. Joseph waited to be released from prison. The Children of Israel waited to enter the Promised Land. Noah waited for rain. On and on, we could go.

We also wait. We wait for the Lord’s direction in a specific circumstance. We wait for the Spirit to move in our services and in the hearts of those around us. We wait for revival. We wait…we wait…we wait.

Most importantly, we wait for the return of Jesus. Here is where the meme comes in. It simply asked the question, are you waiting for Jesus or the anti-Christ?

That is a profound question that deserves an answer. Unfortunately, we wait for Christ with our words, but for the anti-Christ with our actions.  Please understand that I do not think there is anything wrong with being prepared, but I see a disconnect here. Many Christians have become what the world terms a “prepper.” I realize it is wise for earthquakes and other natural disasters. Yet, many I know talk about the end times and how that motivates them to prep.

Here is the rub with me. Jesus told the 70 to go out with nothing. No food. No money. Not even a clean robe. Why? The answer is simple yet vital to us. Jesus wanted His followers to trust Him for their needs. While it is great to be prepared, our preparedness must not take the place of faith. I have often told our church that God will have to multiply the bread and the fish if there are food shortages. If we can’t get medicines, Jesus will have to heal us or take us to heaven. Either way, we win on that one.

I think my greatest concern is the underlying thought here. We hold our own lives in too high of regard. We strive to live in such a way that we continue in safety and comfort. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Jesus never guaranteed us safety or comfort. In fact, He told us that if the world hated Him, it would hate us more. Jesus told us that days of tribulation would come. He even put an entire book centered on lament in our Bible.

Trials come, yes. It’s ok to be prepared, yes. Let us not value our lives to the point that we are unwilling to give it up for Jesus. I think of missionary friends that have left everything for the sake of reaching someone with the Gospel. In my faith tradition, there is an organization called “Live Dead.” They challenge us to live as though we were already dead. In other words, give it all to Jesus. Nothing else in this life truly matters.

As you ponder what the future might hold, don’t give in to fear. We are waiting on our Savior’s soon return, not the anti-Christ. For those that are in Christ Jesus, the anti-Christ cannot harm us. My personal theological belief (you may disagree, and that’s ok) is that we will be removed (raptured) before the anti-Christ is fully revealed. I do not live in fear of the future, but I rest in the promises of God’s Word.

Phil 4:19 “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

Next time you think about stocking up on TP and canned food, just ask yourself, “Who am I waiting for?”