God is so good. Yesterday on Facebook there were alot of comments on the Supreme Courts Ruling Tuesday. Ironically people who claim to know Christ were doing the usual thing posting that anyone opposed to homosexuality are haters and judgers. They claim to know God and claim to have faith, but yet they are willingly allowing people who are in the alternative world, drown in the sin they are in in the name of 'Love.' I believe that sin is sin and according to the scripture "God shows 'no' favoritism." The devil has made professing Christian to believe that sin is okay as long as they have said a prayer, belong to a certain denomination, tithe, or are baptized. What happened to God showing 'No' favoritism. I choose to believe the Word rather than man's hollow teaching.
Yesterday at the food pantry a grandmother and her four grandchildren came in and I had to interview them. As I looked at the oldest child (I found out she was 18 years old) I was grieved. This was a innocent young lady adorning a mohawk, bagging shorts, shirt wide open with a tee shirt under it, hi-top tennis shoes, and chains hanging from her pockets. All of the kids were pretty unruly as I took down the information I needed to provide this family food. Throughout this interview I kept getting that old familiar nudge to share the truth with the grandmother and the granddaughter. I quickly thought of the Bible Studies I teach and felt the compassion Christ had for all of us when we were perishing in our sin. I finally received all of the information needed and assured them that they were going to get their food. I then asked the grandmother and the young lady to step into the kitchen and shut the door. As we sat down I immediately felt the tension rising as they waited patiently to hear what I had to share with them. What they did not know is that I was praying for them while I was interviewing them and also right up to the moment I began to share the gospel with them.
I let them both know that I am a Pastor and volunteer because I love to serve the Lord. I then peered into the young girls eyes and asked her if she believed that the Bible is the truth and if she believed in Jesus. She said "Yes', and then proceeded to tell me where she had attended church. I asked he a huge question that I ask everyone before I begin to share with them "If Jesus was sitting right where I am, do you think He would love you enough to tell the truth?" Like all of the others, she said "Yes." I began by sharong a part of Psalm 139 with her. I spoke God's truth into her life by saying "God has fearfully and wonderfully created you. You are His masterpiece and you are His one of a kind. You, as we all are, were created to bring Him glory. Is your choice of lifestyle bringing Him glory?" She bowed her head and said "No." I reiterated that God has a huge plan for her life, but as long as she was making choices that opposed Him why would He reveal His plan for her life? She said he wouldn't. As I walked through the scriptures about sexual immorality and shared the truth that God's word said the person choosing this lifestyle would not inherit the kingdom of God, she began to tear up. I was brutally honest with her and said "Look, the Bible even says that 'All' liars will be thrown into the lake of sulpher (Rev. 21:8), so sin is sin, not just sexual immorality, and we all need to get any known sin out of our lives." She quickly asked me if I prayed with people, and I said "It would be my privilege." She asked me then if I would pray for her mother because she has ovarian cancer, and I again said "It would be a privilege." We bowed our heads and prayed. When we raised our heads tears were pouring from her eyes and she thanked me.
Here is the question for all of us who claim to know Jesus, believe His Word, and claim to have Him living within us "What would you have done?" Would you have been obedient to the Spirit within you, or justified why you would not take the time to share the truth with this young woman or anyone else. Not being obedient is disobedient and the same Bible in which we all believe in states that the disobedient aren't turly His. These are the tests we all will face from time to time and even on a daily basis. We live in a world where everything is acceptable, and that its okay to live as anyone desires, and still go to heaven. The world needs obedient Christians who turly have the compassion of Christ to share His truths with. He came to save the lost, but if we are not telling them the truth, then they are still lost. Handing out food, showing love, and meeting the needs of people in an effort for them to turn and change without the truth is merely a lie. Unfortunately many meet every weekend, or monthly and share what they think is the love of Christ. Christ never allowed the lost to go away with a feel good message, but He spoke truth and repentance to all. We need to quit telling people Jesus loves them without the truth of the consequence of sin. Love them as Jesus did, and tell them the truth that will set them free~
Friday, June 28, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Pastor's or Pharisee's
This blog has been on my heart for months now. Today I feel the need to obedient to what the Spirit is saying to me instead of procrastinating and not being obedient. Today there are many out there claiming to be Pastor's, but are only preachers, teachers or evangelists. Hear me out please because Jesus addressed this very thing.
In Matthew 23, Jesus lays the hammer down on the Pharisees and religious leaders. In verses 2-4 the scripture says that Jesus said to the Pharisees, teachers, and religious leaders "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." He goes on in verse 15 and says "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a son of hell as you are."
These are some pretty strong words from a man full of love and compassion aren't they? Let us look at what Jesus is saying then and today to the leaders of His church today. Unfortunately, the 'Call' of God on ones life gets substituted for a profession or ones desire to live out their desire instead of God's desire for their lives. What is a Pastor? Its pretty simple "One who leads the flock." What is a teacher? "One who teaches the Word." What is an evangelist?" One who goes from one place to another preaching the Word to the mas multitudes." The dilemma is simple "People claim to be Pastors, but they are truly teachers, or evangelists. Teachers and Evangelists are not exempt from what they teach, but I want to focus on the 'Pastor.' If you are attending a church where the pastor is preaching outreach in the community, sharing the gospel with the lost, having prayer meetings, and doing prison ministry etc, and does not himself 'Do' what he preaches form the pulpit on a weekly basis, then he is, as Jesus said, "A hypocrite." You might find this offensive, but it is truth. I know pastors that encourage their flock to do certain things, but hey only do one or two things a month, or nothing at all. How is the flock to know how to follow Christ and do as He says if the pastor isn't leading by example? If he is not actively living out what he preaches then do what he says, but do not do what he does. A true pastor understands that he is to lay his life down for his sheep. Jesus made it pretty clear to Peter in John 21 that If we really love Him, that we would "Feed His Lambs, take care of His sheep, and feed His sheep." Is this the example your Pastor is showing you? If not then let him know that he is out of his calling and needs to be called, teacher, evangelist, or preacher. He has no business calling himself 'Pastor.'
I am truly convinced that the church is not vibrant today and lives in a comfortable, complacent, and apathetic state because they are not be lead by the example of their Pastor (Shepherd). We can speak pretty, come up with programs or deeds that make people feel good, and think we are Christians surrendered to Christ, but be no more than hypocrites. The USA is in a complete downslide because the church wants a pretty Pastor, saying pretty things and are content whether he is a Pastor or not. We are reaping what we have sown.
This world needs to see Jesus manifesting Himself through Christians doing His will and not hearing the gospel without action. Pastor, who are you really? A hypocrite that is to busy verbally telling others what to do, studying scripture to sound good and not being examples of Christ in action on a daily basis? Christian, are you satisfied hearing and not seeing Christ in action in your leadership? Jesus was against the religious leaders of yesterday and I believe He would be against the majority of Religious leaders today calling themselves Christians. Re-read the scriptures of what Jesus said to His men and others. He said it then, and He is saying it now, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." How can the people take up their crosses when the leaders aren't doing the same~
In Matthew 23, Jesus lays the hammer down on the Pharisees and religious leaders. In verses 2-4 the scripture says that Jesus said to the Pharisees, teachers, and religious leaders "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." He goes on in verse 15 and says "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a son of hell as you are."
These are some pretty strong words from a man full of love and compassion aren't they? Let us look at what Jesus is saying then and today to the leaders of His church today. Unfortunately, the 'Call' of God on ones life gets substituted for a profession or ones desire to live out their desire instead of God's desire for their lives. What is a Pastor? Its pretty simple "One who leads the flock." What is a teacher? "One who teaches the Word." What is an evangelist?" One who goes from one place to another preaching the Word to the mas multitudes." The dilemma is simple "People claim to be Pastors, but they are truly teachers, or evangelists. Teachers and Evangelists are not exempt from what they teach, but I want to focus on the 'Pastor.' If you are attending a church where the pastor is preaching outreach in the community, sharing the gospel with the lost, having prayer meetings, and doing prison ministry etc, and does not himself 'Do' what he preaches form the pulpit on a weekly basis, then he is, as Jesus said, "A hypocrite." You might find this offensive, but it is truth. I know pastors that encourage their flock to do certain things, but hey only do one or two things a month, or nothing at all. How is the flock to know how to follow Christ and do as He says if the pastor isn't leading by example? If he is not actively living out what he preaches then do what he says, but do not do what he does. A true pastor understands that he is to lay his life down for his sheep. Jesus made it pretty clear to Peter in John 21 that If we really love Him, that we would "Feed His Lambs, take care of His sheep, and feed His sheep." Is this the example your Pastor is showing you? If not then let him know that he is out of his calling and needs to be called, teacher, evangelist, or preacher. He has no business calling himself 'Pastor.'
I am truly convinced that the church is not vibrant today and lives in a comfortable, complacent, and apathetic state because they are not be lead by the example of their Pastor (Shepherd). We can speak pretty, come up with programs or deeds that make people feel good, and think we are Christians surrendered to Christ, but be no more than hypocrites. The USA is in a complete downslide because the church wants a pretty Pastor, saying pretty things and are content whether he is a Pastor or not. We are reaping what we have sown.
This world needs to see Jesus manifesting Himself through Christians doing His will and not hearing the gospel without action. Pastor, who are you really? A hypocrite that is to busy verbally telling others what to do, studying scripture to sound good and not being examples of Christ in action on a daily basis? Christian, are you satisfied hearing and not seeing Christ in action in your leadership? Jesus was against the religious leaders of yesterday and I believe He would be against the majority of Religious leaders today calling themselves Christians. Re-read the scriptures of what Jesus said to His men and others. He said it then, and He is saying it now, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." How can the people take up their crosses when the leaders aren't doing the same~
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Ecuador
How would one even begin to describe, or even have the time to write down, all that we saw, and all that we experienced on our mission trip to Ecuador. Ecuador is truly one of God's greatest creations. The country, it slandscapes, and its people are all beautiful. I would move there in a heart beat if the Lord would open that door.
We first served in the Jungle. We were allowed the privlege of starting a 3,000 sq. ft. slab for a new building at the orphanage/shool in the jungle. We litterly loaded and unloaded concrete one wheel barrow at a time from one spot to another. Roberto and Charmae are a wonderful blessing. Their love and enthusiasm is contagious and their hearts are huge. They started bringing kids into their home first and then started a school where the people would know it was a safe enviroment to send their kids. If I am not mistaken they have 52 kids right now and within a couple of years they should be teaching several hundred. The blessing is that they will not only be taught reading, writing and arithmetic, but that they will also come to know Christ through Roberto, Charmae and the staff.
If you have ever watched 'National Geographic' seeing 25' canoes that are only wide enough to seat two, sliding down rivers in the jungle and stopping on a bank amongst the vegitation, you have seen just what we did. We would go down the river and come to rest next to a path that led up to a village full of kids ready to meet us, and se what we had to offer. Other time we would be on the bus driving through the vast jungle and coming to rest at a location where village people would gather to meet us. We shared many crafts and games. We provided lentils and rice along with bread and drinks. When the fun was dying down Jake Bickham would share the message of Jesus and salvation to those who gathered around us.
Colorado in all of its splendor does not hold a candle to the mountains of Ecuador. As we drove through the mountains one could only marvel and the splendor of God's masterpiece. I found myself daily thanking God for the opportunity to witness such majesty.
We arrived in Manta to serve at a church. Sunday morning service was great and the people welcomed us with love and warmth. We built a wall for the church and we labored each day mixing our concrete with sand and rocks. We were privileged to have church members cook lunch for us daily. After two days of working the members of the church came and began helping us as we worked. Judy, Shereen and the girls painted rooms, painted murals, and met other needs that the church needed. Manta is ont he coast and once again we witnessed even more of God's majesty in His creation.
I was fortunate to preach on Sunday night in the jungle, and also in Manta. I was told that it was amazing that the Pastor in Manta asked me to preach the wednesday night service. The people in this church were sincere, and in the end I asked if they would like to see revival and they al raised their hands. The Solis family blessed us by letting us stay in their house for the week. They are truly a family seeking out God's will and living it out also. Leavinf was extremely difficult. It was bittersweet. One part was that we wanted to stay, and the other was that we were needed at home.
There were many God times, many miracles, and many blessings that we witnessed. I have shortened this all up and probably am not doing any justice to what we experienced and witnessed. We are already planning to go back next year, and we are looking forward to serving and loving the people of Ecuador the same as Christ. Our team was amazing and made everlasting friendships. God is good :)
If any of you ever have the opportunity to serve in Ecuador, please do not hesitate. It will be a God thing~
We first served in the Jungle. We were allowed the privlege of starting a 3,000 sq. ft. slab for a new building at the orphanage/shool in the jungle. We litterly loaded and unloaded concrete one wheel barrow at a time from one spot to another. Roberto and Charmae are a wonderful blessing. Their love and enthusiasm is contagious and their hearts are huge. They started bringing kids into their home first and then started a school where the people would know it was a safe enviroment to send their kids. If I am not mistaken they have 52 kids right now and within a couple of years they should be teaching several hundred. The blessing is that they will not only be taught reading, writing and arithmetic, but that they will also come to know Christ through Roberto, Charmae and the staff.
If you have ever watched 'National Geographic' seeing 25' canoes that are only wide enough to seat two, sliding down rivers in the jungle and stopping on a bank amongst the vegitation, you have seen just what we did. We would go down the river and come to rest next to a path that led up to a village full of kids ready to meet us, and se what we had to offer. Other time we would be on the bus driving through the vast jungle and coming to rest at a location where village people would gather to meet us. We shared many crafts and games. We provided lentils and rice along with bread and drinks. When the fun was dying down Jake Bickham would share the message of Jesus and salvation to those who gathered around us.
Colorado in all of its splendor does not hold a candle to the mountains of Ecuador. As we drove through the mountains one could only marvel and the splendor of God's masterpiece. I found myself daily thanking God for the opportunity to witness such majesty.
We arrived in Manta to serve at a church. Sunday morning service was great and the people welcomed us with love and warmth. We built a wall for the church and we labored each day mixing our concrete with sand and rocks. We were privileged to have church members cook lunch for us daily. After two days of working the members of the church came and began helping us as we worked. Judy, Shereen and the girls painted rooms, painted murals, and met other needs that the church needed. Manta is ont he coast and once again we witnessed even more of God's majesty in His creation.
I was fortunate to preach on Sunday night in the jungle, and also in Manta. I was told that it was amazing that the Pastor in Manta asked me to preach the wednesday night service. The people in this church were sincere, and in the end I asked if they would like to see revival and they al raised their hands. The Solis family blessed us by letting us stay in their house for the week. They are truly a family seeking out God's will and living it out also. Leavinf was extremely difficult. It was bittersweet. One part was that we wanted to stay, and the other was that we were needed at home.
There were many God times, many miracles, and many blessings that we witnessed. I have shortened this all up and probably am not doing any justice to what we experienced and witnessed. We are already planning to go back next year, and we are looking forward to serving and loving the people of Ecuador the same as Christ. Our team was amazing and made everlasting friendships. God is good :)
If any of you ever have the opportunity to serve in Ecuador, please do not hesitate. It will be a God thing~
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