And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
- Joshua 24:15

Serving God was not Joshua's only option. He could have adopted the religious beliefs and practices of his family heritage in the pagan land of Egypt. He could have accepted the idolatrous religion of his neighbors in the region where he now lived. These options probably looked like easier choices than worshiping God. I would think that he had to have been tempted to do this. But Joshua had witnessed God's faithfulness throughout his life. Look at Joshua 23 for one excerpt. He was convinced that his Lord was the only true God and that serving Him would bring victory and blessing.
Joshua decided to serve God alone. He was determined to teach his entire household to honor his Lord as well. He had trusted God for victory on the battlefield, and he knew that God could also give him spiritual victory in his home.
You, too, must decide whom you will serve. An assortment of popular religions clamors for your allegiance. If you come from a Christian heritage, you may choose to embrace the faith of your parents and grandparents. You could even fall in the category of believing and attending church once a week and figure you have done your ‘duty’ but never have a real relationship with Jesus. If you did not grow up in a Christian home, you can decide, as Joshua did, to reject your heritage of unbelief and begin a generation that serves the Lord.
If you set your mind wholeheartedly on serving God, your example will bring a tremendous blessing to your family. If you place your confidence in God, those around you will witness your faith, and they may decide to trust Him too. Choose, as Joshua did, to serve God unashamedly with all your heart, and then watch to see how God blesses your family. Go ahead-give the Lord a try and see what happens!

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
-Matthew 22:36-40

In His response to the question, Jesus supplies another summary of the message of the law of God: be loving. "Love the Lord your God...love your neighbor." Jesus then revealed that "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Every command in the law of God is related to one of these two commandments.
"Love the Lord your God." The primary demand of the law is an all-out love relationship with the Lord God Almighty. God is to be loved "all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." From the depths of our being, love is to be flowing out toward the Lord. In every expression of our personality, love is to be poured out toward God. In every thought that occurs in our minds, love for God is to be the motivation and the content. Any aspect of life that does not indicate a comprehensive, unrestricted love toward God is in violation of His law.
"Love your neighbor." The secondary demand of God's law is an unselfish love toward every other person. We are to love others as ourselves. Some have wrongly used this phrase to urge people to obey an imaginary third commandment: "We need to learn to love ourselves"?! No, Jesus said there are only two commandments here. This second one is a call to give others the consideration and care that we all have given to ourselves all of our lives. Jesus later intensified this second command by saying, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you" (John 13:34).
So with all that said: just how loving are you? Something to ponder this Lord’s Day.

Now go out and encourage your servants. I swear by the LORD that if you don’t go out, no man will be left with you by tonight! That will be worse than all the troubles you have had from your youth until today.”
- 2 Samuel 19:7 NCV

“Snap out of it,” Joab said to David as David continued to mourn for his son, Absalom. “Don’t you understand that your people placed their lives on the line for you - yet all they see is that you’re moaning and groaning. If you don’t wipe the tears from your eyes and wash your face, they will desert you by nightfall.”

Our outlook affects others. Therefore, if you are a servant of Jesus Christ, if you are committed to the King, you must not allow yourself the pampered privilege of being discouraged.

When Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu were killed, the Lord said to him, “Others may mourn, but you cannot, for you are anointed. You have a job to do” (Leviticus 10:6-7). And Aaron continued on in ministry.

If the anointing is on your life, you don’t have the “right” to pout and whimper. Discouragement, depression, and defeat are instruments the enemy will seek to use to affect your family, friends, and community. It is the mature saint who says, “It’s time for me to grow up and to cast my care not upon those around me, but upon the Lord solely” (see 1 Peter 5:7).

“I have learned in whatever state I am to be content,” Paul said (Philippians 4:11). Contentment is the result of a decision you make with your mind rather than a feeling you have in your heart. God intervened on David’s behalf. The rebels were defeated. The kingdom was spared. Yet all David could see was that his son was dead.

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." -Matthew 22:36-40

In His response to the question, Jesus supplies another summary of the message of the law of God: be loving. "Love the Lord your God...love your neighbor." Jesus then revealed that "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Every command in the law of God is related to one of these two commandments.
"Love the Lord your God." The primary demand of the law is an all-out love relationship with the Lord God Almighty. God is to be loved "with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." From the depths of our being, love is to be flowing out toward the Lord. In every expression of our personality, love is to be poured out toward God. In every thought that occurs in our minds, love for God is to be the motivation and the content. Any aspect of life that does not indicate a comprehensive, unrestricted love toward God is in violation of His law.
"Love your neighbor." The secondary demand of God's law is an unselfish love toward every other person. We are to love others as ourselves. Some have wrongly used this phrase to urge people to obey an imaginary third commandment: "We need to learn to love ourselves"?! No, Jesus said there are only two commandments here. This second one is a call to give others the consideration and care that we all have given to ourselves all of our lives. Jesus later intensified this second command by saying, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you" John 13:34
So with all that said:  just how loving are you?  Something to ponder this Lord’s Day.

The One on the throne said to me, “It is finished. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give free water from the spring of the water of life to anyone who is thirsty. Those who win the victory will receive this, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. Revelation 21:6-7NCV

What an awesome passage: this is our inheritance and it is not at all based on what we do but rather on what we believe.  That is first and foremost – our belief in Jesus makes us His sons and daughters and we gain the victory He earned for us on the cross. 

Secondly, once we gain our belief and our position of being in His family; we see responsibility. The inheritance here is that of a father who’s sharing the family business with his son. Thus, the inheritance spoken of incorporates not only acquisition, but administration. That is, in eternity, there will not only be stuff to acquire, but things to do. In Luke 19, Jesus says if we’re faithful in our responsibilities here on earth, we’ll be given cities to rule over in the ages to come eternally.

‘I’m not really into ruling,’ you might be thinking.

Listen, the things you really wish you could do here but can’t will, I believe, be your area of rule, your responsibility in heaven. Some of you are master mechanics and find total satisfaction in tearing down and rebuilding an engine. Others are authors, artists, or athletes who never seem to have enough time to do what you love because of your responsibilities here on earth. I believe those are the very areas with which you will be involved eternally — or else why would God have given you those desires and gifts in the first place?

… And in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.     -Revelation 14:14-16

According to this passage, it would seem that there comes a point in the Tribulation when salvation is no longer possible. The 144,000 have been called to heaven; the angels have made their proclamation; and now there will be a separation between those who become Christians in the Tribulation and those who don’t.

So too, in your own tribulation you need to understand there comes a time when your own heart — even as a believer — can become hardened.

The Bible speaks of a root of bitterness which can take hold in the soil of a man’s soul (Hebrews 12:15). I’ve seen believers go through tribulation and, rather than allow the Lord’s work of grace to take place in their hearts, choose instead to be bitter and unforgiving.

Don’t let that happen. Don’t be unforgiving. Don’t be cynical. Don’t be bitter. Don’t play that game because if you let bitterness and unforgiveness continue, there will come a point in your own tribulation when it will become an irreversible part of who you are.

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.                   -Revelation 14:2-3    

Why could no one else sing the song of the 144,000? Because they alone went through testing and Tribulation — yet maintained their integrity. Thus, they alone could sing of what they were able to observe the Father do on their behalf in the time of Tribulation. Every one of us goes through times of tribulation. God’s intention is that they might produce in us ‘as it were, a new song’ — a symphony ...

There they were — in a damp, dark dungeon — without even a crust of bread to eat or the ACLU to plead their case. Yet what were they doing? They were singing. At midnight — in the darkest hour — Paul and Silas sang. They weren’t singing to try and get God to do something. They sang simply because the Lord was with them, and they were happy (Acts 16:25).

‘Well, that hasn’t been my experience,’ you might be saying. ‘My marriage’, or ‘my job’, or ‘my health is a dungeon to me, and I’m not happy.’

Precious brother, dear sister — God’s intent is to give you a new song. But there’s one thing which will stand in the way: sympathy.

You see, I can either go through challenges and hard times with a symphony in my heart because the Lord has promised not only to strengthen me in them (Isaiah 41:10), but to walk with me through them (Matthew 28:20) — or I can choose to get sympathy from people. If I choose to tap into sympathy, it will always be at God’s expense because the underlying though unspoken implication is that what is happening in my life is out of God’s control.

God is totally, absolutely, completely faithful to meet us in every trial, in every difficulty. Don’t let His plan get short-circuited by those who say, ‘I feel sorry for you.’ Instead say, ‘God is good. Sure, what I’m dealing with right now is a challenge — but I am discovering the Father is exactly Who He claimed to be — a God Who comforts me completely.’

It’s tempting to let people feel sorry for us, but we mustn’t, because it puts God in a bad light. Don’t settle for sympathy, gang. Go for the symphony.

And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.                   -Revelation 9:7-10       

Even this description of bizarre and horrific demons would remind John’s congregation of God's promise. You see, in Joel 2, we find a parallel passage to Revelation 9: Historically, the prophecy of Joel 2 was fulfilled in Joel’s day when Israel was besieged with locusts.

Symbolically, the prophecy was fulfilled in 722 B.C. when the Assyrians marched south and carried the ten northern tribes into captivity.

Prophetically, the locusts speak of the demons which will be released from the abuso (the Greek word for hell) in Revelation 9.

But nestled among the dire warnings of this terrible invasion is a wonderful promise:  check this passage of Scripture out from Joel chapter 2:

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that has dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. Joel 2:25-26

Precious people, whenever we obey Scripture — when we listen to the trumpet, repent, and seek the Lord with sincerity — the Lord not only forgives us, but makes up to us what was lost. Amazing! I would have thought it would be enough for God to forgive us. But He says, ‘No, I’m going to do more than that. I will restore to you what the locusts ate.’

You might be fifty years old — or 60, 70, or 80 — and you might be saying, ‘There’s a big chunk of my life eaten away by grasshoppers.’ Good news for you: Whenever you choose to humble yourself and call out to the Lord, He’ll make up for lost time.  Now that is something to ponder this Lord’s day!

Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.  - Revelation 1:2      

Revelation was entrusted to John because he bore record of the testimony of Jesus and of all the things he saw. People, who say, ‘I just don’t seem to be getting any revelation from the Lord; I don’t seem to be growing,’ must understand that when it comes to revelation, information, or inspiration, the Lord has a very definite prerequisite: Are we going to personally receive it in our heart and freely release it to others?

After visiting with Abraham, the Lord said to His angels, ‘I’m going to tell Abraham what is going to come down in Sodom because I know he will receive and share it’ (Genesis 18:17-19).

Jesus put it this way: take heed how you hear, for the one who has shall be given more (Mark 4:24-25).

In other words, if you come to Bible study or your morning devotions saying, ‘Entertain me,’ or, ‘I’m just kind of curious about prophecy,’ you won’t receive. But if you are hearing, studying, learning, praying, and reading for the purpose of embracing it personally and sharing it with others, then the Lord will give you continual revelation, continual inspiration.

And every spirit who refuses to say this about Jesus is not from God. It is the spirit of the enemy of Christ, which you have heard is coming, and now he is already in the world. My dear children, you belong to God and have defeated them; because God’s Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world.

1 John 4:3-4NCV      

The walls of the submarines which descend two miles in the Mariana Trench of the Pacific Ocean are constructed of thick steel plates to withstand the tremendous pressure placed upon them. But guess what the pictures taken from such heavily-protected submarines reveal: fish swimming two miles below the surface of the water with scales no thicker than that of any other fish. How can this be? The answer is simple: the pressure on the inside of those fish is equal to the pressure of the water around them.

That’s the beauty of Christianity. Some people erect massive walls to insulate themselves from the attacks of the enemy — only to find themselves filled with the frustration of isolation. The key is not to put up massive walls to protect you from the enemy — but to realize the One inside you is greater than whatever pressure threatens to attack you.

When we understand that He that is in us is greater than any temptation, problem, trauma, or difficulty which could come against us, we can move through life freely.

Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. -1 Peter 5:7        

‘Epirrhipto’, the Greek word translated ‘cast’, is interesting because it means to roll something which will most likely roll back upon you. Have you found that after casting your care on the Lord, you feel OK for a day or two, but then the burden rolls right back on you once again? If so, know that’s the way of the Lord. Why? Because He wants us to stay in close touch with Him, and if we cast our care upon Him never to feel the pressure, the anxiety, the tension, or the worry again, we would not be people who pray.

You see, the Father wants to do something bigger than merely taking our burdens from us so we can go on our merry way down the road of life without thinking about things of eternity. He wants to develop a relationship with us.

Thus, the burdens and struggles which repeatedly roll upon us cause us to become linked to Him in continual prayer. And that’s infinitely more important than the solution to the burden for which we were praying in the first place.

So cast your care upon Him — and keep doing it over and over and over again knowing how deeply He cares for you.

This Sunday’s sermon is about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and oh what inexplicable joy we will share that day! Problem is: we have to get there. Now being ready is simple: simply embrace the grace Jesus offers to each of us; but are you and I willing to trust Him on a daily basis and not just for our eternal souls? Consider this verse:

…Through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. -1 Peter 1:5       

A young man who was being hazed by a college fraternity was taken to a secluded spot where he was told to hold on to a knot at the end of a greased rope as his fraternity brothers lowered him into a dark well. Thinking they would pull him up after a few minutes, he was terrified to see them tie their end of the rope to the bar across the top of the well, leaving him suspended in mid-air.
‘This can’t be!’ he thought as he called for help. But none came.
As he approached the 15-minute mark, his arms aching unbelievably and his shoulders feeling as though they were on fire, he started to cry. Finally, after about 25 tortuous minutes, able to hang on no longer, he let go — and fell 2 inches — just as his fraternity brothers had calculated.
Isn’t that just like us? ‘Where are You, God? I don’t know if I’m going to make it, we cry. We fret and blubber and scream until finally we let go. And guess what we find? We discover that our Solid Rock, Jesus Christ, was there all along. I had this experience happen to me this Tuesday past: getting all worked up when ultimately I found out that the Lord really does have our lives in His hands—question is: are we really willing to live in a fashion of faith or of trying to hold on to our ropes so hard we walk around with rope burns all the time?!
A bunch of us have burning shoulders and aching arms for absolutely no reason. We’re trying to hang on through our own efforts, by our own spirituality. We get disgusted with ourselves and worried we’re not going to make it. But if we would just let go of the rope and rest in what Jesus did on the Cross of Calvary, we would realize it’s not our puny efforts which will see us through, but the power of God.
This is what Peter is telling the believers who no doubt were wondering whether, when the temperature rose and persecution came down, they would be able to hang in there.
‘I want you to know something,’ Peter said. ‘You have an inheritance waiting for you which can’t be taken from you. You are kept by the power of God who is committed to see you through. And all that remains for you to do is believe.’
Something to ponder this Lord’s day, isn’t it?

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:15        

‘I don’t feel like praising the Lord,’ some say. ‘The traffic bugs me,’ or, ‘The dishes are getting to me.’ Gang, those are the best times to praise Him —because then it’s a sacrifice of praise as you worship the Lord in spite of your own fleshly inclinations.
       You see, here’s the deal: In my Christian walk, I find myself going through seasons…
       There’s springtime — when, with new understandings and fresh growth, I sense the Lord’s presence in my heart. Springtime leads to summertime — those warm, wonderful days when the new growth bears fruit from which people glean. Summertime leads to fall — when the winds blow and shake the leaves off my tree. Fall leads to winter — when the fall winds give way to a cold, wintry silence. And I used to freak out in wintertime. Then I learned that if I am going to be a man who walks by faith and not by sight, I must not constantly monitor my feelings because feelings are fickle. The Lord allows you and me to go through regular seasons of wintertime, asking us, ‘Are you going to walk by the state of your emotions — or by the promises of My Word?’
       This has afforded me the privilege of being a minister of the Gospel regardless of any tragedy or heartache in my own life. Truly, if I hadn’t learned the lessons of the winter season, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. But the good news is this: winter doesn’t last forever. It gives way to spring.
       Today during worship, some of you were elated, caught up in an overwhelming sense of the Lord’s presence. And that’s good. Others of you said, ‘I’m here today. But I don’t feel anything. However, I’m still going to lift my hands and my voice in a sacrifice of praise to the One who has done so much for me in the past, to the One whose touch I know I will feel again in the future.’

None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord.’ For all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.  Hebrews 8:11        

Our brothers and sisters in the 1st century Church were the most radical Christians in all of history. They sold all of their possessions; they spread throughout the world; they lived for the Kingdom. But you know what? They didn’t get together like this and study Hebrews, because Hebrews wasn’t yet written. They didn’t study the theological implications of Romans because Romans wasn’t written. They didn’t scrutinize the teachings of Jesus as recorded in John’s Gospel because John’s Gospel wasn’t written.
       They didn’t have the written New Testament — but they did understand the reality of the New Covenant. They obeyed what the Lord was writing in their hearts — and they turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Then, when the New Testament was written and began to circulate through the Church, it was a confirmation of what they were already doing because it was the same Lord who had been writing His will for them upon their hearts.
       Today, sad to say, many don’t understand the New Covenant. Our Trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Bible. We’ve lost touch with how the Holy Spirit speaks to us moment by moment because we’ve replaced His voice with the written word. Many churches, and organizations study the Bible and are right in their theology — but they’re dead right because theirs is knowledge for knowledge’s sake.
       The New Testament was never intended to be an esoteric, intellectual, theological trip for people who like to fill notebooks, answer questions, and work on workbooks. That was never the intent of the New Testament writer. What was the intent? To provide a way believers could be confirmed or corrected in what they were already living out as a result of obeying the still, small voice of the Spirit.
       The person who’s really used by the Lord is one who simply says, ‘You’re going to tell me moment by moment what I should do, and, Lord, I will just say Yes to whatever You say.’ A whole lot of people have made the New Testament writings the new Law. Like Pharisees searching for jots, tittles, and interesting insights, they fail to see that the Word was written to nudge them along in their walk and to confirm the voice of the Lord in their heart.

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:19        

       When I hear, “All you have to do to have a victorious Christian life is pray more.  All you have to do to have a victorious Christian life is…” I cringe a bit and take issue with that principle.  Now don’t get me wrong:  I am all for prayer and feel it is essential in our personal relationship with Jesus.  However every area of spirituality is found in John 10 …

       Of John the Baptist, Jesus said, ‘This is the greatest man who ever lived.’ Yet Scripture also records John did no mighty miracles (John 10:41). So what made John the greatest man who ever lived? One thing: He wasn’t talking about power in prayer; he wasn’t teaching victory through discipline; he simply said, ‘Behold the Lamb. Check Him out. Follow Him.’

Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds towards each other, 2 Thessalonians 1: 1-3      

In the first verse of his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul had commended their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. Here, in his second letter, he commends only their faith and love. Why?

No longer living for the Second Coming of Christ, they had lost their hope. Of faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love (I Corinthians 13:13) — however, all three elements are essential because it is faith and hope which allow us to love. How?

Hung up by my past sins, I’d be too ashamed to love. But faith tells me my past sins and failures were totally cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Worried about the future, I’d be too afraid to love. But hope tells me He’s coming again, so there’s no need to fear the future. Now that is something to ponder isn’t it?!

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10       

We do not have to pray a certain number of hours or weep a certain quantity of tears in order to be saved.  Once you ask His to be your Lord and Savior and you continue to abide in Him – the Bible tells us He will never leave us or forsake us.  There are no exceptions.  Faith is not a strenuous attitude of mind, a tense effort to believe. Faith is not merely refusing to doubt. The essence of saving faith is trust, stretching out relaxed on what God has said. We get out minds on ourselves, how well we stretch out, how much we relax, instead of on our support, the Word of God.  That is what real faith is-believing God will do what He tells us in His Word He will do. 

The insomniac cannot sleep, because he tries to hold up the bed. He cannot let go and let the bed hold him up. He may not be lying in a perfect position, but the bed holds him up just the same. Your faith may not be perfect, but God’s promises are. You can never trust yourself, but you can always trust Christ. It is a heart-and-mouth experience. Trust Him and tell it!

Luke, the beloved physician and Demas, greet you.Colossians 4:14        

In the book of Philemon, which preceded the book of Colossians by a couple of years, Demas is called a fellow servant (verse 24). Approximately six years after this, there’s a third mention of Demas, where right before Paul dies, he says, ‘Demas has forsaken us, having loved this present world (II Timothy 4:10). So Demas went from being a fellow servant to one who turned his back on the Lord because he loved the world.'

How did this happen? Here’s how: the Christian life is like a steam locomotive. When you’re first saved and on fire, you stoke the boiler with the Word. You come to church, you’re involved in ministry, and you’re moving along in your faith. But there can come a time when you start to think, ‘Hey, I’m cruising along fine. I don’t need to feed the fire so fervently. I don’t need to study Scripture so consistently. I don’t need to have devotions daily. I don’t need to go to church regularly because, look, I’m really moving!’

But here’s the deal:  Once the fire stops being fed, the engine starts slowing down, although imperceptibly at first. Yes, the train keeps moving down the tracks for a time, and everything appears to be going fine, but little by little the engine goes slower and slower until finally it stops dead in its tracks.

You might be able to go weeks, months, even years on the momentum you gained in the early days — but if you don’t continue to feed the fire, eventually you’ll stop altogether. And, like Demas, you’ll say, ‘What happened? How did I end up here?’

Fellowship is key in not letting this happen:  take advantage of our Bible studies or Care Groups on a regular basis to keep stoking that broiler each week!

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.”  Colossians 3:1

The only people who are truly happy on earth are those whose hearts are in heaven.  Have you ever been around a teenager who is about to graduate from high school?” 
       ‘Sixteen more days, Dad,’ he said. Sixteen more days until graduation, and he’s through with high school. He sees the finish line. Consequently, it causes him to go through the last couple weeks of school whistling.
       I am thoroughly convinced from watching people and studying the Word that the people who are truly content are those who constantly realize that this world is not where it’s at. On the other hand, those who try to find happiness here are perpetually frustrated. The possessions they purchase are never quite what they were supposed to be. The relationships they form are never as satisfying as they thought they would be. The dreams they pursue are never as fulfilling as they hoped they would be. Nothing is ever quite right until we realize, ‘Hey, it’s not here!’
       I believe this is why the Lord constantly tells us in the Word to set our hearts on things above. People are bogged down, with stomachs churning, brows furrowing, and hearts breaking because they are taking life on earth far too seriously. When a person finally understands heaven is where it’s at, he is free to enjoy life. It doesn’t matter where he lives, what he does vocationally, what kind of car he drives, bike he rides, or skates he gets around on. All of that is irrelevant because he sees the finish line — he realizes that graduation is only sixteen days away. Set your heart on things above. It’s a central message not only of Paul’s but also throughout all of Scripture. Live for heaven, and you’ll enjoy life.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God ... Colossians 1:14-15

People have lots of ideas about what God is like ...

The Hindu says, ‘God must be loving, benevolent, and gentle. Therefore, He must be a cow.’

The American Indian, watching an eagle soar effortlessly and majestically upon the wind currents says, ‘God is an eagle.’

The ancient Egyptian sees the awesome power of the sun and says, ‘God is Ra. God is the sun.’

Each culture speaks a partial truth, but all miss the total picture because all of humanity is blind. So what did God do? He came and dwelt among us in the Person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, when I want to know what God is like, I don’t have to try and figure out His nature. I can study the life of Jesus, for He alone reveals God in totality. He alone is the ‘image of the invisible God.’

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35)

Nothing you could ever experience, no matter how terrible or frightening, could ever separate you from the love of God. No tribulation and distress you might ever suffer could be so intense that God’s love for you is not even more fervent. No persecution could be so painful that God’s love cannot bring comfort. Famine might starve you of food, but you will never hunger for the Father’s love. Poverty cannot strip you of God’s compassion, just as even death itself is incapable of robbing you of your heavenly Father’s infinite love.

If you base your view of God’s love on your circumstances, you will become confused. There may be times when you will ask, “How could a loving God allow this to happen to me?” You may begin to question what you find clearly stated in the Word of God. God promised that you would never be separated from His love; He did not say that you would never face hardship, persecution, poverty, or danger. If you doubt that God could love you and still allow you to experience difficult experiences, consider the life of Jesus.

If you allow the death of Jesus on the cross to forever settle any questions you might have about God’s love, you will approach difficult circumstances with confidence. Knowing that there will never be anything that could separate you from God’s perfect love, you will watch to see how God expresses His love in each circumstance. Don’t ever judge God’s love based on your circumstances. Instead, evaluate your circumstances from the perspective of God’s love. Now that is something to ponder this Lord’s Day.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is
the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

"The Bible presents many paradoxes that challenge our human way of thinking. We think of the poor as possessing very little, yet Jesus said the riches of heaven belong to the poor in spirit. Self-reliance robs us of God's good gifts.

Jesus insisted that in order to follow Him we must deny self. As long as we rely on our own resources, we will never place our trust in Him. As we acknowledge the poverty of our souls, we realize how desperately we need a Savior. Jesus declared: ""Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is near you"" (Matt. 4:17). God has so much to give the one who recognizes his need and will call upon Jesus!

Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. He had just encountered the rich ruler, who valued his possessions so much that he could not give them up to follow Jesus (Luke 18:18-24). Jesus later encountered Zaccheus, a wealthy, notorious sinner (Luke 19:1-10). Despite Zaccheus' material wealth, he recognized his spiritual poverty and found salvation. Jesus taught the disciples that true wealth is found in a relationship with God. Those who realize their inherent spiritual poverty apart from God will trust in Him, and He will enrich their lives immeasurably. Do not allow your resources, wisdom, talent, or abilities to prevent you from trusting the Person who can bring you abundant life."

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord: Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 5:18-20

When I feel things aren't going very well, I'm tempted to lose heart. And when this happens, I know there's only one thing to do: speak to myself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

No wonder David was discouraged. He and his men returned from fighting the Amalekites only to discover that their town had been burned by their enemies, their wives and kids taken hostage.

'This is your fault, David,' said his men. 'You took us away from here.' And so angry were they that they wanted to kill him.

So what did David do? He encouraged himself in the Lord (I Samuel 30:6). He sang songs. He wrote psalms. He began to praise and worship. As a result, he rallied his men once again and they recovered all that was lost.

Had David remained in his depressed state, not only would he have been rendered ineffective, but the women and children would have remained captive. And so will you until you begin to worship. God's will is that you be free — and nothing will free you from the tyranny of your own situation like worship. You will be profoundly blessed and amazingly productive whenever you give thanks to God for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That is something to ponder this Lord's Day!

For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles ...
Ephesians 3:1

Paul penned this Epistle seemingly as a prisoner of Rome. Yet he gives us a different perspective of his situation when he writes, ‘Indeed I’m a prisoner. But I’m a prisoner for a cause.’ What cause? The incredible revelation as seen in Chapter 2, that Jews and Gentiles are brought together in Jesus Christ into a new entity. ‘We’re in this thing together,’ said Paul.

Not only was Paul a prisoner for a cause, He was a prisoner of Christ. ‘I’m not a prisoner of Nero,’ he declared. ‘I’m not a prisoner of the Roman Empire. I’m a prisoner of Jesus Christ. And He has brought me to this place.’

I hate to say it, but I’m glad Paul was in prison — because our Bible is a whole lot richer and the Body much more complete as a result. You see, while he was in prison, Paul wrote the letters we value so greatly.

In addition, the guards to whom he was chained as a prisoner began getting saved one by one and were returning to Caesar’s palace as born-again believers. That is why in his letter to the Philippians, Paul says, ‘The saints in Caesar’s palace, your new brothers in Christ, greet you,’ (Philippians 4:22).

Why do I point this out? Because I think happy will be the one who realizes that wherever he is has been ordained by the Lord to bring about good things if he will have eyes to see and patience to wait. This is a tough but necessary lesson to learn if you really desire to be used by the Lord in every circumstance of life. Whenever I complain about my circumstances or situation, I am really complaining about my Father, for it is He who sets our course and determines our days.

Paul never lost this perspective. That is why He could say, ‘I’m a prisoner of Jesus Christ, for it is He Who has captivated my heart and brought me to this place.’ May each of us at CCD have that same perspective!

For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles ...
Ephesians 3:1

Paul penned this Epistle seemingly as a prisoner of Rome. Yet he gives us a different perspective of his situation when he writes, ‘Indeed I’m a prisoner. But I’m a prisoner for a cause.’ What cause? The incredible revelation as seen in Chapter 2, that Jews and Gentiles are brought together in Jesus Christ into a new entity. ‘We’re in this thing together,’ said Paul.

Not only was Paul a prisoner for a cause, He was a prisoner of Christ. ‘I’m not a prisoner of Nero,’ he declared. ‘I’m not a prisoner of the Roman Empire. I’m a prisoner of Jesus Christ. And He has brought me to this place.’

I hate to say it, but I’m glad Paul was in prison — because our Bible is a whole lot richer and the Body much more complete as a result. You see, while he was in prison, Paul wrote the letters we value so greatly.

In addition, the guards to whom he was chained as a prisoner began getting saved one by one and were returning to Caesar’s palace as born-again believers. That is why in his letter to the Philippians, Paul says, ‘The saints in Caesar’s palace, your new brothers in Christ, greet you,’ (Philippians 4:22).

Why do I point this out? Because I think happy will be the one who realizes that wherever he is has been ordained by the Lord to bring about good things if he will have eyes to see and patience to wait. This is a tough but necessary lesson to learn if you really desire to be used by the Lord in every circumstance of life. Whenever I complain about my circumstances or situation, I am really complaining about my Father, for it is He who sets our course and determines our days.

Paul never lost this perspective. That is why He could say, ‘I’m a prisoner of Jesus Christ, for it is He Who has captivated my heart and brought me to this place.’ May each of us at CCD have that same perspective!

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (Ephesians 1:11)

Who has counseled the Lord?’ asked Isaiah (40:13). The answer? Most of us.

‘Now, Lord,’ we say, ‘I don’t know if You’re seeing this right. I don’t know if You understand the severity of the situation I’m in. Lord, did You see what he just did? Did You hear what she just said?’ — as if we expect the Lord to say, ‘No. Thanks for filling Me in! What should I do about it?’

God works everything after the counsel of His own will. And although we might be tempted to ask what right the Lord has to do this, Paul asks the much more logical question when he says, ‘Who are you — a lump of clay — to question the plan of the Father?’ (Romans 9:20).

I’m sure Jeremiah was confused when, after preaching 40 long years to the people of Judah, no one responded. So it was that at a certain point in his ministry, the Lord said to him, ‘Jeremiah, take a break. Go to the house of the potter and there you will learn a lesson.’

When Jeremiah did indeed go to the house of the potter, he watched him place a lump of clay upon the wheel and position his foot upon the pedal. As the wheel began to spin round and round, the potter began to put pressure on the clay, skillfully shaping and molding it into something of beauty.

There are times when I feel as though I’m spinning my wheels, going in circles, or feeling pressured. ‘Where are You, Father?’ I cry. ‘Don’t You care about me? How could You allow this to happen in my life?’ But then the Lord brings me back to the very simple realization that the Hands which put pressure on my life and the Foot which spins the wheel have holes in them where nails pierced them as the Master Potter hung on the Cross to die in my place.

That’s why Communion is so very important in the life of the believer. Somehow all of the questions and confusion I so often feel as I analyze my situation and question my circumstances are solved immediately when I remember Jesus’ unbelievable, undeniable love for me.

But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 4:4-5

The Greek word for 'adoption' is huiothesia. 'Huios' meaning son, 'thesis’ meaning position. ‘Huiothesia’ means taking the position of a son. The Son of God took our position on the Cross of Calvary, paying for our sins, in order that we might, in turn, take the position as sons of God.

Understand this—adoption is not the method of entry into God’s family. As Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3, we enter into God’s family only by being born again. Rather, adoption speaks of our privilege and standing within God’s family. The moment we were born again, we were placed in an adopted state as heirs, as sons of God.

We think of adoption in terms of adopting a little baby. But that’s not the biblical concept of adoption. Biblical adoption refers to a full-grown adult. It would be like—before retiring from Ford Motor Company and having no sons, but wanting his name to continue, Henry Ford approached a 24-year-old Harvard student and said, ‘Would you let me adopt you? If you will, you’ll have a place on the Board of Directors, a salary of 2.5 million a year, a summer house in Hawaii, a winter house in Tahiti, a private jet, and your own yacht.’

So too, the moment you were born again, you assumed the position of an adopted son — heir to the riches of the Father. Too often people say, ‘I really can’t be used by the Lord because I’ve only walked with Him for five years,’ or, ‘I can’t get involved in intercessory prayer because I’m just a new Christian.’ Wrong. As far as the privileges and responsibilities of the Kingdom go, you were adopted as a mature son with as much right to be blessed and used by the Lord as Billy Graham.

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Galatians 3:2

This verse speaks not only of being born again, but also of receiving the fullness, baptism, or ‘coming upon’ of the Spirit to empower your life. After Jesus was crucified and raised again, He appeared to the disciples in the upper room, and said, ‘Receive ye the Holy Ghost’— and as He breathed on them, they indeed received the Spirit (John 20:22).

At that point, the disciples were saved. But then Jesus said, ‘Go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4). You shall receive power when the Holy Ghost comes upon you and you shall then be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth,’ (Acts 1:8). So they went to Jerusalem and waited. On the tenth day, as they were in the upper room, they heard the sound of a mighty rushing wind and saw cloven tongues of fire hovering over their heads. The Spirit came upon them, they began to praise the Lord in other tongues, they were energized to boldly proclaim the Gospel — and the world has never been the same.

Such is what the Lord wants for you and me. When you became a Christian, the Holy Spirit came into your heart. But has the Holy Spirit come upon you? I know you have the Holy Spirit, but does the Holy Spirit have you? ‘Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?’ Paul asked the people of Ephesus (Acts 19:2). So too, I ask you: ‘Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?’ In years past, many of us were part of churches or traditions which said, ‘Here’s the way to receive the power of the Spirit: Get rid of all of the sin in your life. Get it together. Then the Holy Spirit will come upon you to empower you and use you.’ Consequently, many people spent months, years, even decades trying to clean up their acts in order to earn the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul would say, ‘No way.’ How do you receive the Holy Spirit? Whether you’re talking about the indwelling of the Spirit through salvation or the empowering of the Spirit through baptism, it’s the same way: not by works of the Law, but by faith — just by hearing the Word.

‘That’s it?’ you ask. ‘You mean I don't have to clean up my act, get it together, stand on my head, or fast 30 days?’ No. We receive the Spirit not by works, but by the hearing of faith. ’‘Too simple,’ you say. Talk to Paul. He said, ‘Don’t let anyone complicate this thing. You receive the Spirit simply by the hearing of faith.’

“But Thomas was not with them when Jesus came.”
John 20:24

Thomas missed one meeting of believers and was an unbeliever for a whole week. It pays to be present when Jesus appears. He guarantees His presence where two or three gather in His Name. Therefore it pays to be at church.

There are other places where Jesus reveals Himself : specifically in His Word and in prayer. He also has promised to reveal Himself to those who have His commandments and keep them. The place of obedience: the temple of the willing heart - there you may be sure He appears.

Don’t miss Jesus. When you do you: you put yourself in a position where you can begin doubting Him. If we were on hand at these meeting places we would not be demanding extra evidences before we believe. Sometimes our Lord does grant a special manifestation, but “blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed.”

Be there when Jesus comes. I don’t know what other business Thomas had that evening, but if your other business makes you miss Jesus you have too much business!

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.1 Corinthians 15:13-18 

Houdini claimed that on the 50th anniversary of his death, he would come back from the dead. So on that date, a group of his followers gathered around his grave in San Francisco, waiting for him to return. They waited and waited and waited. Then they went home. Jesus uniquely, singularly rose again from the dead. Lots of people make all sorts of claims, but our Hero, our Leader, our Lord Jesus Christ delivered. He came through. And had His offering not been acceptable, our Great High Priest would never have emerged from the tomb on Easter Sunday...

As the high priest, dressed in linen, went into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat, the people would wonder and wait — for if the high priest was himself defiled, if the high priest was himself polluted by sin, he would be smitten dead in the Holy of Holies. But if he emerged, his linen garments sprinkled with blood, the people would know the offering took. They would know their sins were forgiven. What about our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ? Wrapped in linen, He was placed in the tomb. All of heaven wondered. All of history waited. Did the Offering take? Was His blood accepted? Because He emerged from the tomb on that glorious Easter Sunday, we know the Offering took; we know His blood was accepted; we know that we are forgiven.

Whether you’re talking to the skeptic on the campus, at work, or in your neighborhood, the issue is singular: Did Jesus rise from the dead? If He did, that makes Him unique in history. It validates His claim. And it means our sins are forgiven. The entire argument hinges on the single issue of the Resurrection.

… And his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10 

When we were new in faith, many of us looked at works — Bible study, prayer, service, tithing — as ways to get God to respond to us. But as we grow in faith, we come to understand that works are not meant to get God to respond to us. Rather, works are the inevitable response to the goodness and grace He has already lavished upon us. When I consider that I’m going to heaven, that my sins are forgiven, that God has given me His Word, that the Holy Spirit lives within me — I have no other choice but to serve Him wholeheartedly.

An understanding of the grace of God results in works. But the works are a response to God — not a means of getting God to respond to them.

The fallacy of ‘seed faith theology’ — in which people are told to give money, offer prayers, or engage in service in order to get something back from God — is that all of those things are the inevitable response of one who understands what God has already done on his or her behalf.

‘I labor more abundantly than everyone,’ Paul says. ‘Because God has been so good to me, I can’t help it.’ So too, if you are one who truly embraces and enjoys the grace of God, you will be more engaged in His service than you were a year ago. You just won’t be able to do otherwise!

But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
1 Corinthians 8:3

What was the one tree of which Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat? The tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Yet once they disobeyed God and ate of this tree, they immediately thought they knew good from evil, right from wrong without having to depend on the Father as they had done before. Suddenly, knowing they were naked, they hid from God. The result? Intimacy with the Father was broken.

So too, if I’m not oh, so careful, even Biblical knowledge and theological understanding will make me less of a pray-er, less of a lover, less inclined to depend wholly on the Father because I will mistakenly think I can handle any given situation on the basis of my own knowledge or understanding. Look at what Jeremiah writes in the King James Version:

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23

The word, ‘know’ speaks of intimacy, as a man knows his wife. There are many people who know about the Lord — but they don’t know Him intimately. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they will say, ‘didn’t we prophesy in Your name and do signs and wonders for Your Kingdom?’

Yet He will say ‘Depart from Me. I never knew you. Yes, you worked for Me. Yes, you knew about Me. But we had no relationship intimately,’ (Matthew 7:21-23).

Be students of the Word, saints. Grow in the knowledge of the Lord. Become solid in theology — but as you do, make sure that love has the priority. Make sure your love for God is pre-eminent. The Word will confirm His leading and correct your misunderstanding. But it must not be a substitute for walking with Him day by day, talking with Him about every situation. The Word must never take the place of your walking with Him in intimacy and dependency lest it become as the fruit of the tree of knowledge.