"Heart Of God"

  How you view things and people is determined by your heart. Yes, your heart determines so much about you in approach and  your view! If the heart feeds on the wrong things, your view of individuals and situations will be according to that. Here's a great illustration of that. Jesus was dining with Simon the Pharisee. A woman, a known sinner among them, came in falling at the feet of Jesus washing His feet with her hair, kissing His feet and anointing His them with perfume. (Luke 7) Jesus asked Simon to look at the woman. Two people looking at the same woman. Simon saw a sinner and Jesus saw her forgiven. In fact, Simon saw Jesus as less than a Prophet! It all depended on the heart. The prodigal returns and the father see his son returned and back in fellowship. His son was a source of joy! The older brother saw the heathen that was rewarded for his wickedness!

  We see it in the church all the time. People get upset about someone and they in turn look for ways to justify their conclusion about the individual. They aren't wanting to unify or love, they want to declare their own judgment about that individual and move as far from them as possible. It all comes from a heart tainted, not given to God to see things from God's eyes and perspective. God created us and all He got from man was our rebellion and thrusting Him aside. What did God do? He came looking to reconcile us to Himself through Jesus. Oh yes, there are those who hold to their ungodliness that the Lord will deal with but He still looks and wants all saved. That's the heart of God! The self-righteous chief priests and Pharisees saw a crowd of people accursed. (John 7:49) Jesus saw the multitudes as "sheep without a shepherd." (Matt. 9:36) Our view of people is either seen through the eyes of our  blemished heart or the eyes of God's heart that has affected our heart.

  It is so hard for me to grasp how God can see us humans worth dying for. With all our smugness, filth and self-righteousness, with our lips attacking one another and the sin and shame we try to cover, God sees us as someone worth loving! And His love for us is something glorious. Oh yes, God sees our sin and He sees it clearly. God is against sin and will punish the unrepentant sinful. All of this is fact but behind all this declaration of judgment, there is also a yearning for man to turn away from their sin and to come to His side. There is this place in the middle of the heart of God that desires deeply to help us, the helpless. That's the heart we need to develop. We need our hearts molded by the Lord and not by our own thinking and desires. Maybe it's time to start praying for the Lord to soften our hearts so we can see things as He sees things! And I don't understand one thing that I just spoke about God but I'm grateful for His love toward me!! 

 

"Dress For God"

  There were three young men in their teens standing in a room talking. They didn't know I was there but I heard their conversation. "Did you see what so & so was wearing today?" one teen exclaimed. "It's more what she wasn't wearing! You could see her underwear. She didn't even have to bend over." That was troubling no doubt.

  We have come upon that time of year when the dress of many becomes so revealing that many a Christian goes right along without any thought. The world around us is steeped in sin and dead spiritually. They have no notion of God and His ways and frankly, don't really care. That attitude is revealed in their dress and walks right into the lives of many saints. I'm sometimes shocked at the lack of soberness and awareness of God's people in what they wear.  

  Whether we like it or not, people draw assumptions about us based on our physical attire. The focus of your life can been seen in your outward manifestations both by actions and wear. It's that simple. Jesus said the mouth speaks what fills the heart! (Matt. 12:34) Solomon noted this in Prov. 7:10 where he speaks of a woman coming to meet a man "dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart."  Interesting there is a recognized look in the dress and is associated with the heart. Paul speaking to Timothy speaks of a woman who makes a claim to godliness that there should be proper clothing (I Tim. 2:9-10). "I'm a Christian!" What is proper? What is modest for one claiming godliness? First, their good works should adorn them. Second, their outward clothing should be addressed as clothing that is modest and discreet. It carries the idea of not calling attention to ourselves and well arranged. It is also a quality that must be part of the character of an elder (I Tim. 3:2 - "respectable"/"good behavior" - same idea as modesty).

  What is your goal? If we are citizens of heaven, if Jesus is our sin-bearer and we have been cleansed by His blood from all unrighteousness, where should our focus be? On the Lord Jesus and watching that our hearts aren't carried away! The apostle Peter spoke to the women that they need to concern themselves "with the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." (I Pet. 3:4-5) The heart! That's what the Lord desires. When our hearts are pursuing other things, our lives begin to reflect that. Our attitudes become more like those around us and the result, we will walk and look like the lost!

  I will never put a harness on anyone to what is modest in attire. I will only point that if the men and women are dressing their hearts and their bodies, they will dress for God! They will adorn their heart with proper attitudes and desires which will translate to their bodies offered to God as a living and holy sacrifice that pleases Him. Dress for God! Living and holy! Dress in ways that honors God! Dress in ways that will not call any attention or give any attempt for anyone to lust. Listen, we don't want anyone to draw a wrong conclusion about our focus in our lives. Yes, I know there will be those who will look upon a woman no matter what she wears. Jesus addressed that. They have a serious heart problem before the Lord. But if men and women would dress for God, put emphasis on the saving blood of Jesus, it should lead each of us into holy behavior and godly attire which means a sincere faith and consciousness that we don't call attention for others to desire us for what we wear (or don't wear)! Dress for God! It might be time to rethink our lives and how we go about our lives both in heart and body. DRESS FOR GOD!
 

"Pilgrims and Aliens"

  How many believe they are going to die? Those who read this will think that's rather silly to ask such a question because we readily agree that we will all die at some point or the Lord will return. One of the two options are there. But many who believe they are going to die physically really don't seem to take it too seriously. After all, we have a family to raise and too many things to do. The result, we don't see ourselves as pilgrims on this earth. When we don't view ourselves as aliens (Heb. 11:9) living in this world,  so our lives get bogged down with too much business. We don't travel light! We burden ourselves with "things" and obligations. Our energy gets sapped right out of us and our focus becomes blurred. We plod through this life with the head knowledge but the reality doesn't seem to strike us.

  We look at Abraham, a man of faith. He lived as an alien in the land of promise, a man of great wealth but he never took roots. His sights, his life, his ambitions were placed in looking "for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (Heb. 11:10)

  Jesus approached this tax collector named Levi. Levi had the money! A life secure and also hated by most. This man Levi, also called Matthew, had no clue about becoming an alien among the living and suddenly, following the words of Jesus, he left it all for life! We see the same in Peter, Andrew, James and John, all fishermen. They walked away from their livelihood, their possessions as they found the life in Jesus. As a result, all these didn't live their lives the same as others. Their view of life (and death) changed forever. They didn't speak like others, think like others and weren't interested in what others living were interested in. They weren't shaped by their surroundings but longing for the Lord shaped their thoughts and desires.

  What about us? Too much of what we see shapes our lives and not enough of the reality of the unseen, which is faith. Some can't face the day without complaining about something. Some can't face a situation without thinking the worst is bound to happen. It's all gloom and doom or gripe and fight. But for the alien, the pilgrim that sees the heavenly as reality, the life found in Jesus, they see the opportunity to gain and move forward in such situations. They see God as their Father. They see the reality of His promises and their heart is set. Those who search for the heavenly do not see what happens in this life as the end or the last say. They do not believe they are "home"! They belong to God and they have been liberated as they move toward their eternal city. Their colony is in heaven and they order their lives as such.

  Maybe we need to lighten our loads and rethink about what we are living for, what we get bogged down in. Maybe we need to shape our faith into the reality that we are passing through and not just sing it in a song! Yes, God at our birth, at our marriage, at raising our children and reaching for home knowing we are but pilgrims, NOT wanderers!!

"Message To Encourage"

  This week I find myself in Gideon, Mo. I have never been here or in this area before. It is rather unique with all the rice fields and small towns. But there is something else that I find that seems to change little: the needs of people. There are such wonderful people here wanting to know and hear Jesus. I've met brethren that I have never known before and they are stirred by Jesus Christ. What good news.
  As the Lord gives opportunities we need to take advantage. We need to hear and surround our lives with spiritual food just as we need physical food for our daily living. There is too many droughts in the lives of people. People seem to be less and less interested in food to feed the soul. As the soul is starved, the spiritual health declines. It can finally reach a point of death, separation from the Lord. No desire, no interest, no wanting to know. The soul goes into death and the only thing that is left to draw from is the physical so all our activities and stirrings come from the external to keep us going. The soul lays still being fed only from the physical. The end result will be eternal death. I encourage you, feed your soul! 

"Peace"

  "I wish I could find peace of mind!" Have you ever said that or heard someone say that? People strain for peace but it seems to evade so many. People become worn, frazzled and in search of this state of peace and happiness. Why can't it be found by many? Because peace cannot be built, earned or attained by human efforts. Peace is the result of Christ! Peace is the result of the grace of God! It has nothing to do with circumstances in life. Jesus spoke to His disciples: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Paul taught the Christian's at Ephesus: "For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall." (Eph. 2:14) To the Colossians we find: "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts..." (Col. 3:15) Peace is found some 88 times in the New Testament alone!

  Peace is "totality, wholeness and balance." Peace is from God through Christ and never from man. It is given, not attained by any effort on our part. It can only be received! It is peace that comes from Christ, knowing that one is safe in what the Lord has accomplished for us. People run from one thing to another hoping to find peace of mind. Pills, psychologists, support groups, you name it are where people look and believe they will find peace. The moment the pills wear off, the counseling is over and the support groups break up, its all back to you! One place that is not looked is Jesus. People simply don't believe Him but believe in the other elements. Christ is the only One that introduces us to God's grace and peace is the result of standing in His grace. (Rom. 5:1-2)

 Peace is beyond the thoughts of man. Peace is not in man, in treaties, in the absence of conflicts. Just look all the peace talks that take place in certain areas of our world. While terms of peace are discussed, war is still taking place and the next move is being planned. It is impossible to have peace without the God of peace. "...and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." (Isa. 9:6) 

   Peace is the result of righteousness. God counts one righteous through Christ and peace comes to the inner being. How often do we pray for peace yet little for righteousness? Righteousness is where one is being brought into a right relationship with God. The result: PEACE. Trying to attain to peace by changing your environment or circumstances without coming to Jesus is impossible. Holiness and purity are the result of the cleansing blood of Jesus knowing you have been counted as righteous. Peace enters the heart. A person practicing sin will never find peace! "But the wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up refuse and mud. 'There is no peace,' says my God, 'for the wicked.'" (Isa. 57:20-21)

  The Father loved us so much by sending His Son on our behalf and offers us His peace to dwell within us. The fruit of the Spirit is peace. The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding is what guards the mind and heart of those in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7) We sing about it: "When peace like a river attendeth my way..."Peace, perfect peace, in this dark wold of sin: the blood of Jesus whispers peace within." "There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God. A place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God." Peace! Peace! It's only found in Jesus and looking anywhere else is useless. 

"A Preachers View"

  I must tell you that preaching is one of the most difficult things I have ever done! I haven't always been a so called 'preacher' as I worked in among the world. I have worked in some body-stressing labor but preaching, this has been much different.

  As I travel about getting opportunities to speak for the Lord, preachers amaze me. I have met some very godly men of sincere faith that preach and they do so much good for my heart and faith. They get beat down from cold and calloused brethren but they continue to hold to Jesus for their strength. The congregation benefits from them over-all. I also have met men that have no business preaching. Just listening to them, what drives them, how they don't study and the things they involve themselves in is very alarming. Some of their statements are bold and arrogant. I have had three preachers over the years openly admit they never pray! Dead sermons!! I have often wondered if the local congregation knew what was going on...well, I'll leave it at that. And I too will leave the preachers in the hands of the Lord. The Lord will determine their faithfulness and stewardship!

  I find myself sometimes wondering about the brethren here where I have been honored to preach for almost 21 years. God has blessed His word! I try to be faithful and honest in dealing with His word. Paul knew it would be difficult for the sincere preachers. The inspired apostle spoke about "taking pains" and "being absorbed" in things (I Tim. 4:15). Preachers we called "to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (II Tim. 2:1) We will suffer hardship at times (II Tim. 2:3). Then comes the over-riding thought that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (II Tim. 3:12) It should be of no surprise that the persecution will come from brethren. It was the 'chosen people' of God that killed Jesus! It was the 'chosen people' of God that pursued Paul and many of those preaching the word of the Lord. It was 'brethren' that tried to kick people out of the church. It was 'brethren' that made things rough within the church and stir revolts. Preaching is no picnic! But there is this drive, this want within that keeps me going. I cannot stop speaking about the good news the Lord has brought to me. Being saved when I was such a wretch means everything. Often I am asked when I plan to retire and if I will retire here. My reply: "No plans to retire! As long as the Lord continues to give me good health, I'll preach!" That might not be good news for some but I must stay the course the Lord has called me. I must honor the Father and I thank Him for giving me such good health and His wonderful salvation! As the Lord allows, I will continue to "preach the word"!

"Destruction of Fleshliness"

  Fleshliness destroys the spiritual things of God. That's a fact! It's difficult to get fleshly people to recognize they are fleshly especially when they feel they are spiritual. Their basis of spiritual is based on their knowledge of God's word, discussions on topics in God's word and their personal activity in church related matters.

  What does the word of God mean by "fleshly"? Fleshliness is simply following your desires and feelings with little regard for what God needs you to do. Someone feels like saying something because someone has made a statement (it could be right or wrong). Something drives within to speak and counter the statement! Someone feels like doing something with little regard to how it might affect others and so they act. There is little thought of what God needs to be done at the moment. There is a reaction without thought! That's fleshliness. There are others who feel they are experienced to teach or speak on a matter because they have been through a similar situation. What if their experience was a fleshly reaction? Experiencing something does not necessarily translate into spiritual and how to teach others to overcome. God must be at the center. 

  The Corinthian brethren did many things that were unacceptable to God. Paul spent a great deal of time pointing out their quarrels, siding with certain preachers, arrogance against one another, judging motives, not dealing with immorality, having lawsuits and showing their approach to situations was less than spiritual. Paul pointed he gave them the proper food but years had passed and they were still fleshly, just mere men (I Cor. 3)! No spiritual progress had been made even though they had the teaching of the apostle. The spiritual matters were in place for them to gain spiritually but their fleshiness destroyed it all. 

  Fleshly people jump to fleshly conclusions when reading God's word. Silly sayings, turning God's word into something it wasn't intended is the norm of fleshliness. There's not a lot of sober and spiritual thinking much less a proper mind set. Fleshly people react in quick flashes, speaking in anger or harshness only later to regret it. I'm not talking about the accidental stumbling. I'm speaking of the norm. Something is said they don't like or disagree and flash, they react. It is done over and over.

  How does one overcome their fleshly tendencies? We all have them. You must be willing to submit yourself humbly before the Lord. You must be willing to allow the Lord, when things get agitated within you, to take you into His line of thinking by following Him where He wants you to walk! Keeping silent and thinking in terms of God. Listening and allowing Him to instruct you how to react. Simply put: "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." (Gal. 5:16) That's God's answer for us.