Thoughts on Christ and His Word

Pastor Ronnie Floyd wrote a book called Our Last Great Hope concerning the great commission. In it he writes the following: "I want to see the final goal come to pass. I want to see the Great Commission fulfilled in my lifetime. I want to see the triumphant glorious return of Christ. I have to want it deeply, more than anything else. I have to want it more than just today's passing spiritual fad. I have to keep wanting it when the church changes the subject, when the world deflects my attention, when the Devil raises resistance, when I simply grow older and a little more tired. I have to want it more than anything on earth, short of knowing God himself." Perhaps I need to pray that God would make this my heart's desire also. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations... -Jesus

Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson got into a lot of trouble this week because he said homosexuality is a sin. The source of his belief is the Bible, which a lot of people today reject as a source of truth. People have their own ideas what is right and what is wrong.  Many years ago God told the prophet Ezekiel that the Israelites were saying "'the way of the Lord is not just!' Hear O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?" Ezekiel 18:25 People think that they can invent their own morality but God's ways are always true, loving and just because He created all things including human beings for His just and loving purposes. And it will be Him at the end of it all who will judge every man, not based on what that person thought was right or wrong but on God's own holy and eternal standards.

Children want what they want and they want it now because they have no concept of the future. They only know the here and now. But God wants is to look into the future. He told the people of Israel while they were in exile: “Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. Jeremiah 46:27 Even while Israel was in exile God told them to take the long view. Verse 27 says Jacob will again have peace and security. Even though the situation was bad God wanted them to look towards the future at a time when security and peace would return to Israel. We must all have an eternal perspective on life in order to get rid of fear and have peace in our hearts. Paul reminds us of this eternal mindset: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the ...

Capital One had some funny commercials were some Vikings always asked "what's in your wallet?" But God wants to know what's in your heart? According to Jeremiah 17:10 God rewards us for our good conduct. But it is clear that our conduct flows from our heart. The verse says "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what h is deeds deserve." So we should guard our heart from growing cold and sinful, so that  good deeds can flow from us and we can be rewarded by God on Judgment Day.

I have often wondered about 1st John 4:20 - If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? NKJV I have thought, I can love God without loving people. Of course if I think of love as a feeling, that would be true. But John uses love as a verb (action). If I do not serve my brother (whom I can see and touch) out of love, then how can I serve God whom I cannot see nor touch.  God says that in order to really love and serve Him I must love and serve my brothers.

Do you like to hear people tell you how wonderful you are?  How great and awesome you are?  Do you like to hear about nice and positive things?  And you hate to hear hard truth, correction, and much less a rebuke? Then join Israel’s “Illusion Club”.  They were tired of the prophets confronting them with their sin and “thus says the Lord” stuff.  So Isaiah tells us that Israel told their prophets:  They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right!  Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. 11 Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!" Isaiah 30:10-11 Many current modern day “Illusion Club” members go to churches where all that is preached is that God wants us healthy and wealthy.  Positivism Maximus is their motto.  Sin, hell, and repentance, are scary topics for these people.  They want to live in Disney’s Fanta...

Every organization needs good leaders to survive.  The church is no different.  This is why Jesus spent three years mainly training future leaders. In my opinion there are four characteristics that ministry and group leaders need in order to build up God's kingdom effectively. 1. Character - This can be somewhat lacking in the corporate world, but not in God's Kingdom. In the church, right character in leaders is essential 2. Passion - Passion makes the difference between approaching a ministry as a job or as a responsibility.  When you are passionate about Christ and His Kingdom you take your responsibilities (ministries) to higher levels because your fuel is your passion. 3. Skills - You gotta know what your doing.  Without skill in your area of ministry, you can have all the passion and character you want, you wont be able to build that ministry effectively.  You have to read books, go to seminars, watch training videos, etc...to gain the necessary sk...