Reticence: A Modern Parable and Poem

 

John bid his wife a quiet goodbye with a kiss on the cheek

And so started his day going about with good deeds

And as all of the neighbors had come to expect

He delivered gifts, food, and even small checks

 

John was a mystery to quite a few who saw him about

In his early 70s full of energy, strong, and stout

No church around could speak of his membership

A man of few words, no telling cause fell from his lips

 

Just a doer of good deeds toward those near and far

He preached with actions, yet his reputation was marred

By those who thought — insisted on a quota of souls and attendance at church

And ah poor John, how deep the wounds of the brethren’s accusations did hurt

 

John was reticent, by design, not by cowardice or chance

Yet doing what he could to advance

The kingdom as a church — two or more — with his wife on bended knee

Until the faithful day he died with a sigh of relief

 

His next conscious thought he was at the Judgment Seat of Christ

To undergo a thorough examination of his works and life

Reticent and reserved was the Lord, no words spoken yet

As Christ gazed toward the Works Station’s fire now in effect

 

The fire burned away consuming the dross

Remaining? Gold and precious metals of great price and cost

And our man John? A smile simply lit up his face

“Thank you my Lord, Your Eminent Grace.”

 

John was puzzled as the Lord looked to his right
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His eyes drifted there as well with expectation, and to his delight

He saw a large throng of people he served on earth while in the flesh

They now, too, had entered God’s eternal, heavenly rest

 

“Well done good and faithful servant.” The words he longed to hear

“Because you have served in your domain and without fear”

For many had supposed John’s calling was a deviation from their righteous set

But instead it was designed by God, and wholly perfect!

 

I wonder how the trappings of our traditions mold saints a certain way

I wonder how many were called to enter particular frays

But our expectations, discouraging words, demands, time, and chance

Herd these precious ones away from their true callings and stance

 

The power of organization, structure, planning, and order have merit, but without life

They will produce little worthwhile only: confusion, enmity, and strife

Remember, structures too, will be tested in the fire and seen for what they are

But deeds done in love and by new life will shine brighter than stars

 

So learn from this parable about a man who never was

And examine the theme of it simply because

We may be judging some who do not fit into our script

While we suppose we are standing strong, we might just slip

 

How I love the spectrum of God’s people — the saints

How I cringe at the thought of how we promote and taint

The real work, extending love and life to all, instead we tend to promote

Well written and spoken saints that are able to … coax

 

James 2:15-16

“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking daily in food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?”

The Self Deception of Demarcation

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (ESV)

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preachb to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Matthew 12:38 — 40 (ESV)

The Sign of Jonah

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

A demarcation is simply a line, boundary, limit, or standard by which we can distinguish between one thing and another. We make judgments about many things based on our demarcations. When we are speaking of geography, we focus on territory. In philosophical terms, it’s definitions, boundaries for discussions, and identifiers between logical and illogical propositions. In spiritual matters and theology, we emphasize the law, morality, and the choices sentient beings make in regards to the will of the Creator. We crave clarity, preciseness, and definitive outcomes. There is nothing wrong with this desire; in fact, it’s a good thing. God gave us minds that don’t operate well in confusion. The problem is not in our desire for clarity; the problem is our self-seeking clouds the ability to accurately discern the demarcations within and outside of us. Samuel was sent to look for the new king God would appoint over Israel. He carried within him a set of qualities that would distinguish between a good king and common folks. The prophet was corrected in the middle of his thoughts:

1 Samuel 16:7-8 (ESV)

6When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.” 7But theLORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

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Deceived by his own standards and expectations of a leader, God guided Samuel to a new standard, a revelation of His nature and flawless judgment. In short, God was saying, “The criteria you are using is flawed, sinful, and filled with error.” Today, He says the same. We have the audacity to define His work for us. Thoughts that follow His instructions in regards to our callings are typical:

  1. “God, it’s too little, too much, too insignificant.”
  2. “I can’t work with that prideful person.”
  3.  “I will if… I will when…”
  4. “First off, this person needs to change for me to do your will God; He’s in the way.”
  5. “This group needs to change.”
  6. “I’m not comfortable anymore. I don’t like where this is going.”

Confusion and ignorance are common themes as well. “I don’t know my calling.” Another will say, “I don’t hear from God like that. I just do what the pastor tells me.” Well if that is true, who is at fault? God said, “My sheep know my voice.” We have to get familiar with that voice. If we are saved, the reason the voice is drowned out is, because we have been listening to too much of the noise and other voices out there. It is as if the Spirit is saying, “Enough of the excuses; get to work.” The truth is we hear — and in ways that God makes real to us; yet; we continue to change the demarcations in regards to how God should speak to us. Rather than focus on obedience, we move the lines of clarity back and forth. Caution regarding God’s instruction abounds: “How do we know this is God? We have to be careful?” Self intetest in the guise of ministry is common as well.  Some say, “Well if I go in that direction, how will I have time to build my ministry?” Such statements reveal a man centered approach in the heart. (Folks we don’t have ministries. We are just called to obey God in the domains and callings He placed us in. They are His ministries, callings, and domains.) We are so occupied with our own stuff that we demand proof from God based on our demarcations before we consider change, so we want Him to speak louder, clearer, and more often — while we ignore Him each time. On it an on it goes. In a predicable manner when the Holy One does speak, we challenge the source and brush it off. Like the folks in the passages above, many of us choose ignorance rather than clear direction, so we can say — “I didn’t know.” Our deep seated self deception, hinders the work, plain and simple. By huddling with the confused masses of religious folks, we feel normal and safe. 

My advice to you today is to get to work at seeking His face. Link up and sync up with people who are moving forward. You will see their fruit — if you want to. You will attribute their fruit to another source if you want to nurse your doubts, and you will stay stuck. Don’t compare your work or contribution to that of another. It’s emulation in a negative sense, and it leads to envy, discouragement, pride, or all of them in some form. Don’t tell God what you will, can, or won’t do. He designed you and knows best. It saddens me to think of the countless believers who have opted for a self centered approach to faith. This will lead to limited rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ, because they simply continued to hedge and counterbalance against simple obedience. They chose a mediocre approach to faith, minimized God, and opted for the grammar of faith without the power of it.

The God of Blindness, His Children, and Their Works

2nd Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” Paul

Matthew 15:14 (NIV)

“Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” Jesus

Romans 1:18 (ESV)

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” Paul

2nd Peter 1:9 (ESV)

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed his from former sins.

Sometime this year I will celebrate my 50th birthday. It’s good to understand your mortality, the journeys you have taken, the battles won and lost, and the investments of time, energy, and effort that have yielded fruit. Even loses in the kingdom of God don’t return void. If we properly pray and examine them, we will glean valuable lessons. God will waste nothing. Even our sins will be used to warn others of the consequences of waywardness. This is a strategic year for me again, as is every year. It’s a year of learning how to respond better to the myriad challenges that arise in life. They come in terms of relationships, health, and resources. God is faithful and has always added light and wisdom in my struggles. Steadfastness is the key requirement. A new year with a new journey before me prompts me to share some lessons from the previous ones. Bear with me as I begin…

Although I have been saved since my mid 20s, I’ve remained blind to things on my journey. I have learned about some of my blind spots, and now I have people that hold me accountable in regards to these. They are direct people that I have invited to be in my inner circle. According to proverbs, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of enemy are deceitful.” (Proverbs 27:6) This is a profound and remarkable truth. If your friends never wound your pride with candidness — you need new ones. They actively help us resist the evil one if they are worth their salt.

The scriptures clearly tell us that our adversary actively blinds unbelievers and believers alike. I shudder at some of the things I have thought and done prior to conversion and even afterwards. Blind to my pride and the opportunities God provided me with, I would seek my own way, persisting in self-justification. I had opportunities given to me, and I rejected them because I judged the vessels and their motives. I’m not talking discernment, I’m talking judgment. Their doctrine, approach, correction, and way of doing things rubbed me the wrong way, and I missed out. They were more advanced than me, and I frankly felt that I should be or was on their level. In my 20s I was a rhino charging ahead at everything I envisioned. Instead of thanking them or showing gratitude, I pushed opportunities away — blinded by pride. I believed God had no reason hook me up with partners and mentors. I was a foolish man in my early years of faith, priding myself in a solo approach to faith. Now, I seldom do anything solo unless I am prompted by the Spirit, and that rarely ever happens.
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I’m not alone in this foolishness, but I own the past and the present. Ownership of transgression without excuse is the beginning of favor. My trifecta included: pride, anxiety, and unbelief. I tried to secure a present and future driven by my own visions of what my life should be like. I was never led by these; they drove me. Finally, I began to master them by the Spirit in my early thirties, but they took a toll. I thank God for the godly men in my life that pointed this out and helped me through. I thank God for the folks I did not listen to till later. I even thank God for my adversaries, who could not wait to point out my faults. Truth is truth, regardless of the sources. Today, I don’t know of anyone bearing fruit alone. Blind spots require us to enlist guides and folks to look out for us.

The glaring truth with the first three passages from the scriptures above is the fact that they point to conspirators of blindness. True I was blinded, but how? I bought into the lie that I could do something if I followed a script. I was not blinded on my own, neither were you folks. I was taught this was the way things were done. I did not receive sight alone, and neither did you. His people reached out to me in my early 20s and at 26 — God made Himself known. God worked to give me light and to keep in the light with the right relationships, resources, information, and ultimately a union with Him. The drawing process involved increasing light. As I responded to it, God gave more.

When I walked in darkness and lawlessness, the enemy increased my favor with worldly people and gave me insights into the ways of the world and the mechanisms of deceit.The most skilled people I have encountered knew how to get people to carryout their evil intentions, without the follower even being aware until it was too late. I shudder to think what I would have become. I was Satan’s child until I met a forthright God. Now he may not always tell me what the outcome is going to be when He leads me to obey, but He does let me know it is His will for me to simply move in a certain direction, and now,  that is enough.

As a believer, you are not immune to blindness. When you came to Christ, you came with blind spots. Some of them were: emotional, doctrinal, cultural, ethnic, experiential, pet sins, cherished relationships, habits, and preferences. Some were even based on your own gifts and talents that you learned to trust over God. Many of you may be blinded by opportunism, always believing you deserve more credit, recognition, or the right to be heard above others. When we carry these attitudes with us, we teach others the same, and in short, make other disciples in our image and likeness — blinding them in the process. All of these things contribute to our blindness, poison our relationship with God and others, and in short, make us less useful to the Creator. In my 40s, I learned a lot more about humility, which is the fastest way to clear vision. I’m still learning. I charge you folks to embrace it. It may be you are stuck and not promoted in His kingdom because of these things. I was, and I thank God to this day, that he showed me why my growth was stunted. Light and truth may hurt, but blindness destroys. It’s the work of the devil to “kill, steal, and destroy.” His kids are active too.

Satan’s Kids

When Paul spoke of guilty folks who “suppress the truth,” we often fail to grasp the significance of his use of the term suppress. It’s the Greek word, katechó, meaning: hold fast, restrain, arrest.The terminology is used to show an active pattern of casting down, wrestling — knee in the back, nose to the ground imagery. In other words it is an application of will and force. You see folks work hard to make sure the truth of their nature and sins are suppressed. If that is not wicked enough, they want to make sure, no one else has the opportunity to figure things out for themselves with the truth. One of the key strategic elements of God’s plan in overcoming evil at the cross was to make publicly known to all men who Christ was. The fog about who God is could no longer be justified after His life on earth and resurrection. The God of Blindness and his children stubbornly persist in their efforts to create fog, but we know the truth, and their efforts will fail. We proclaim this message in spite of the counter narratives about God’s identity and purpose.

I’ve been on high functioning teams since my teenage years. In some cases I have worked with folks who have done unprecedented things; that only happens when there is focus, contrary to blindness. Currently, I cut my teeth in security and law enforcement consulting and the spectrum of the work is wide and a good watchman needs keen sight and depends on the sight of others. The one thing you learn is the value of team and relationships because lives are on the line. Adversaries love to create and exploit blind spots. Treachery is real; relationships are difficult to maintain and everyone who works in the field is carefully screened and undergoes numerous background checks before they are approved. Our God has done all of that with us and more when He selected us for this wonderful salvation. We have passed the background check and have been given the key to everything Christ has for us in our callings. The right relationships, allotment of resources, and measure of health have been provided. So what are you looking for? Could it be that you don’t see you have all you need, because of your excuse making and blind spots? Now it is up to us to heed Peter’s words and not become “nearsighted and blind” to the works of the evil one and our proclivities to value our blind spots over His light. Our battles against darkness are real, so too are the wins and losses. There is never a bad time for a candid talk with God and those you trust to uncover your blind spots.

There is too much at stake to ignore this instruction. I fear that in the church we have followed the winds of deception rather that the simple instruction of the Spirit to embrace what He has provided us in terms of clear instruction. We need to put the self-seeking wrapped up in godliness… aside. I think this is the greatest blind spot we all have, intermingling God’s will with our own. May God save us even more from our self-deception and the blindness that follows.

.

 

A Defiant Humility: The Paradox of Meekness

Matthew 5:5 (ESV)

Blessed are the Meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Romans 12:18 (ESV)

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all

Numbers 12:3 NIV

(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

Matthew 11:29 NIV

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Luke 13:31-32 ESV
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31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.”

Acts 5:17-32 ESV

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

17But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

As believers we have a kingdom; yet, we belong to earthly kingdoms and nations. We crave peace with all and for the most part quiet, content lives. We have been given a mission in this world, and in every age it’s the same; make Him known. Peace and compromise are not the same, and we have crossed this Rubicon in the west where Christians will not have peace without compromising their beliefs. Corporations will close their doors. Promising political careers will die. Aspiring artists will never make it on screen or on stage if they don’t compromise. In fact, voicing your belief about traditional marriage in public can open you to fines and civil penalties. Granted, we have to use wisdom on how we address a host of issues, and we still need to understand, at the end of the day, it’s the offense of the Cross that creates enemies for us. Jesus stated in Matthew 11:6, “Blessed is anyone who is not offended by me.” Well it seems that the majority of the world is now offended, and that brings us to the paradox of submission and some of the thorny issues surrounding it. I’ll seek to clarify.

God’s Authority and Man’s

God has clearly laid out in Romans 13 that we are suppose to follow the authorities he sets over us. Further, in 1st Timothy 2:2, he states that we should pray for those in authority.  Here’s the rub, man has set up his own kingdoms, structures and religious practices, most of them in defiance of God. The scriptures are letting us know, not to cause waves and be disruptive because of our own selfishness. The scriptures teach us if we are following God, we will cause waves because of the work he calls us to do. Should a believer in North Korea, China, or Iran not preach the Gospel? As the west becomes more secular, should believers cease to speak about the things society or the civil leaders no longer want to talk about because of the consequences? God has instituted the authority structures of all nations, no matter how vile. His people will be subjected to the leaders who are in fact under the control of Satan. 1 John 5:19 tells us, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”

Throughout the ages, God’s people have clashed with those people and their structures. They did not cower beneath them. In fact, God has never stopped speaking to the authorities of the day through his people. It’s his express desire to do so during periods of divine intervention in history. All of the great manifestations of God were collisions between his authorities and the authorities previously set in place. I believe we are at the beginning of another age, where collisions will occur as nascent ministries emerge that will shake the world and church once again. Right now we are in an age of lethargy, because of the complacency of believers. We are nearsighted and unable to see the corridors of eternity and capture the joy that will propel us forward.

In eternity’s place, we seek the temporal approval of the authorities of the day and the things they can offer us. Historically, God’s people did not care about the praise or support they received from influential people. They laid their lives down, and did so humbly. The agents of their demise were cowardly, religious, and political tyrants. While alive — they lovingly and defiantly, spoke truth to power, realizing it would bring about their end, and a new beginning. They had true humility.

Humility is a mindset and a disposition of the heart. It’s a  factual reference point that a person returns to again and again while engaging in life’s pursuits and holy calling. To make matters simple, a humble person knows their place in the scheme of things, and more importantly, they know God’s place in the scheme of things. Humility is the beginning of all spiritual journeys and it is only when a person maintains this state of heart and mind that God entrust them with true spiritual things. The Bible affirms that the meek and humble will inherit the earth and that God’s dwelling place remains among them. Satan and his followers have all rejected humility, pursuing their imaginations and puffed up pursuits. Steeped in self importance, they become worthless spiritually.

Isaiah 57:15 WEB

“For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

The most troubling aspect I have witnessed over the years among Christians is the way biblical humility has been taught. It has manifested itself into a docile, deferring disposition that seeks to please anyone considered to be in a position of authority. It teaches us that to please the One who is over all creation, we must please someone else first. Subject to the fickle dispositions of the human heart and cultural, doctrinal, and geographical trappings, we never outgrow those we have subjected ourselves to. Many folks raised in western church culture have adopted this view of humility. The scriptures that I cited at the beginning of this article clearly show us what humility looks like. The fact is, throughout the ages, humble folks clashed with the authority structures of their day regularly, not because they sought not to overthrow them, they wanted to simply make known the one true God. The authorities of the day held political, religious, scientific, educational, economic, and legal centers of power, and they sought to maintain preeminence in the minds of men. They actively persecuted anyone or group that threatened their position. The church, in its true form, always received persecution.

Jesus promised that people serious about him would be persecuted. He also pointed to the last days when nations, collaboratively, would once again turn on believers and attack them. This would cause a great falling away within the church. (Read Matthew 24) True believers will stand with a defiant humility that will provoke the nations. The make-believers and spiritually immature, driven by fear, will run for the false protection of a world system designed by the evil one to ensnare and enslave. This is where we are headed as the world continues to destabilize. My friend you can look for safety in a crumbling, decaying system, or you can reject it and embrace an eternal kingdom. You cannot look to please both or pledge your devotion to both. You will ultimately humble yourself to one and defy the other. Do you have a defiant humility? If not, you will need it.

Your Calling and the Competency Testimony

Proverbs 22:29 (ESV biblegateway.com)

29 Do you see a man skillful in his work?
    He will stand before kings;
    he will not stand before obscure men.

Nehemiah 4:1-3 (ESV bibleateway.com)

Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves?[b] Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”

Galatians 6:1-5 (ESV biblegateway.com)

Brothers,[a] if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

The reason being more and more people are now ordering the medication due to various viagra on line cheap http://icks.org/n/data/ijks/1482456863_add_file_8.pdf. So this is your chance to see which product you would cialis sale like the best without having to buy large quantities of each one! The sample packs cost the same or about the same for one product and you will get about 10 pills of each product in the sample pack. Though your mind may think a perfect lovemaking life with your partner icks.org cialis in canada pharmacy then don’t live with ED, get the proper solution of the problem of intimation by own. People with poor endocrine functions and buy viagra in uk adrenal dysfunctions suffer from over sensitivity to certain smells and may suffer from allergies. I have often wondered why competence matters so much when we set expectations for others; yet, we create endless excuses when it comes to ourselves. Self deception fuels this hypocrisy, and it obscures our ability to effectively, authoritatively communicate to others. Church culture is no different. It seems forgiveness and grace these days have become the shields and armor we hide behind when people ask honest, probing questions.  Locked in cycles of perpetual failure and incompetence, many saints give up on the idea that they can excel in anything.

I don’t say this lightly, but the truth is many saints are: confused, overwhelmed, overweight, unstable, insecure and downright miserable. I believe it’s because they simply have not found their calling, and God will not honor the work they are engaged in. This may seem harsh, but it does not mean my statement is without merit or love. These are the same traits that mirror what we see in the world. Should we not be different:  clear, unencumbered, healthy, secure, and joyful. Such adjectives draw people to the testimony of Christ. When people ask us about our faith, do we have a compelling narrative or do we say with slumped shoulders, “Well God is still working on me. He helps me sometimes, and he’ll help you too if you ask. It’s hard sometimes and I miss some of the things in the world, but that’s just part of the deal.” If that’s your testimony, you just might hear an unbeliever say —  “Ain’t nobody got time for that!”

Leaders have competence and we are the “light of the world … the salt of the earth.” When folks see us in action, our credibility should no longer be in question. So why then is Christian leadership so maligned today? Many will say, “because the world is evil and dark.” They will point to the church as an institutional failure. They will look at government and the fledgling family structure. All of these reasons will satisfy most people, but the spiritually inquisitive will feel something tugging at their heart. They will realize they are the church. This tug will instruct them to follow God’s calling for their lives, because that’s the only thing they are ultimately accountable for.

I use to fixate on what ministry meant. I thought I could not be impactful if I was not licensed or ordained. I believed I needed to find the right denomination, bide my time and then become a pastor. This is what I was told repeatedly. Thank God such delusions were finally shattered as I persisted in prayer. In my late twenties I finally embraced the call of God on my life and simply moved forward in it.  Everything clicked.  Sure there were trials, tribulations, setbacks, doubts, and sins along the way. But the course God set me on was paved from eternity’s past. A more certain road did not exist. If it was the same for me — and you are a believer — it’s the same for you.

There are seasons in our journey, and we may have different vocations along the way. (Jesus was a carpenter, before he was annointed Savior of the world.) Rest assured, all that you do, including your mistakes and rebellions, will serve a higher purpose if you are truly sincere about building his kingdom rather than your own. That’s a question only you can answer.  Once you do, press into your calling and become competent in it, trusting his training. When God leads you to follow him in an endeavor, just go! You’ll make mistakes, you’ll misread providence, but it’s not about you not making mistakes, it’s about advancing his kingdom in spite of your imperfection. The world is not expecting perfection; it does expect competence. All of your statements will fall on deaf ears if all people see is someone hiding behind pious words.

 

The Fullness of Time: Be Mindful of Your Visitation

Galatians 4:4-5 ESV

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

Reading a passage of scripture is like nothing else we experience as believers. Our hearts are often full of eagerness at what truths we may discover and what instruction lies within the Holy Bible. This passage puts to rest any argument that tells someone they may boast in their salvation. God’s plan moved on independent of our efforts. In fact, his plan moved on in spite of us. He saved us because he simply chose to love and redeem a people from the grip of disentegration.

What that means for us is this, the great invitation to the gospel continues. It has been sent out to the whole world, throughout the ages, in diverse forms: whether through preaching, smuggled Bibles, angelic herald, dreams, visions or an enlightened conscience, it does not matter. This plan of salvation continues with our efforts, and in spite of our efforts. God is cleaning up most of the stuff that we have added and insisted on.

The fullnes of time simply means God’s flawless timing. When he is ready to do something he does it. For us, it means a transition point that is significant, and ohh how clueless many people are to God’s timing or hour of visitation in their lives. God will visit every person in some way, shape or manner. They will have no excuse when they stand before him. Even our flawed presentations of the Gospel will not provide them with that. No institution, individual, condition, law of man, or consensus driven movement can stop God’s reach into the human heart. Jesus reminded us that he was coming again soon nearly two thousand years ago. We are so much closer today to his return. In the fullness of time you will see Him and rejoice.
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1 John 2:17

“And the world is passing away along with it’s desires, but whoever does the will of God abide’s forever.”

 

 

Dead Works: The Trinity of Power, Deception and Compliance

John 5:39-47 ESV (Biblehub.com)

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,40yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.41I do not receive glory from people.42But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.43I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.44How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.46For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.47But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

There it is plainly stated by our Savior. God wanted people to simply believe and see Him for everything He is. Next step, we enter into a relationship of trust and develop a mature love. He wanted us to have hearts that are frequently yielded to His touch not hearts that seek a rigid pattern or combination code that will wrest favor from Him.His people have always preferred this approach, a controlled approach to the Holy One. Sadly that remains our preference today.

The Jews of His day had everything worked out. They knew the way to God and did not need His input anymore. Their teachers and ancestors were enough. And so it is with us today. We place our faith in the words of men and their interpretations of what God did or is doing more than the witness of the Spirit, whom Jesus spoke by. We believe that God raises people into positions of power and influence to lead us, but this is contrary to the clear teaching of scripture. God, was left alone, abandoned by man and left a solitary figure of suffering on the cross. He did not crave influence or power, nor did He seek to comply with the ways of men to win a place in this world. Those who knew Him, followed His approach and they changed the world.

The prince of this age is completely different. In John 8:44 Jesus tells us:

“He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Hence Kamagra was approved by FDD and it gripped the market as a drug for erectile dysfunction cialis tadalafil 100mg sniper. Since chiropractic care is based on natural potent herbs and so these supplements do not provide the viagra pill price immediate-effect. For details of more ideas of how predator companies can be penalised and producer companies can be rewarded contact india viagra visit content the author. The upper nine ribs begin at the spinal column, brain and the penis, and the response in the muscles and cipla levitra arteries. Satan ultimately deceives us about the three things Paul says remain: faith, hope and love. He convinces us that if we actively put our faith in something it will work for us. Remember the defintion of faith in Hebrews 11:2 “being sure of what you hope for.” If he get’s your faith, he get’s your hope. Next he tells us what to love — the very things God has forbidden to us in 1st John 2:16: “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life.” We may say as believers these things have no power over us and that is true, but it is equally true we sin in these areas often because we want to. In fact, there is not much difference between most nominal or lukewarm believers and what they strive for and what people in the world seek for themselves. Many believe if they have power or favor from the powerful, this life will be good to them. The deception leads to a compliance — often temporary or insincere — to the dictates of anyone a person sees as helping them in some way. The logic chain works this way:

1. They are important and can help me if I find favor or harm me if I don’t.

2. They are wise; I’m not sure of myself.

3. If I comply, I’ll benefit in some way.

When these thoughts are fully embedded in the mind, and the lust of the eyes, flesh and pride of life are operating and yielded to in the heart, it’s only a matter of time before a person falls prey to con artists and manipulators, Satan’s leaders. Satan is the master of dupers. Anyone can create a thought system or manipulate truth to benefit themselves. If Satan is a master duper, mankind is a master of self-deception and we love to comply with our own delusions.

This is overwhelmingly the state of the church in free societies and that’s why it’s easy for people to criticize believers. Often they see in us the same motivations they have. There is a simple remedy. Be different with your life. Let God direct your efforts and let Him reward them. I fail daily at the very things I’m writing about, but I’m getting better, believing more, seeking more — transforming more. Turn from your dead works. You will be different, peculiar, life-infusing,  blessed, and most importantly more like Him. May God continue to shower His mercy and grace upon us. I speak to you in love and truth as one simply observing the hand of God in His long journey with mankind. May we become trusted vessels in this age.

Christian Marriage: A Constancy in a World of Relational Instability

Ephesians 5:22-33

22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,27so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.a28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,30because we are members of his body.31“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.33However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ok I get it. We want everyone to have happy Biblical marriages and we want the world to be scriptural. Well that ship sailed long ago. I believe we have spent so much time trying to make the world a hospitable place for relational bliss and from the scriptural passage above, the world was never the place for it. This blessing is reserved for Christians. I will say I don’t think marriage has ever been more difficult for people to wrap their minds around than in today’s world. Marriage in the modern world has come to mean anything but the original definition — One man, one woman for life is the standard. God is gracious so even those who don’t get it right can try again if there is repentance.

It is a drug that is prescribed by the doctors and get alternatives medication to treat impotence if he is allergic to you then do not even start up with the treatment make sure that any components of Penegra are not allergic to you or to your skin. http://raindogscine.com/?attachment_id=354 order cialis Many males are incapable of prolong lovemaking performance for low level of energy and poor reproductive health due to deficiencies in the body which requires cure because the process of lovemaking is believed to be significant and affective. cialis generico canada Nonetheless, the world of social media is ever-changing levitra pill with a number of possible risks. With a little bit of Flash coding knowledge you can compile a very small (.swf) Flash video that will force cheap tadalafil india the browser to redirect instantly or at a particular time. Now it is true that we have a range of definitions that define marriage depending on where you live. Some countries have maintained polygamy; some consider common law marriage valid and in many European countries and the US same sex marriage is codified into law. Man has made his own laws about marriage, but we should not feel dejected because of that. We should celebrate ours. There is a distinctiveness to God’s way and what he originally intended for men and women. It is a covenant based approach to the sexes, with defined roles and responsibilities that when followed, produce blessings.

According to the original design, still in effect, the man is the head of the union and as such the scriptures above spend the majority of the time speaking to the man and his responsibility. These scriptures are for Christians. We have spent a great deal of time trying to convince unbelievers what types of marriages they should have, but God’s original focus was always on what kind of marriage we should have. Our example is a ministry to them.

My wife and I recently celebrated 10 years together in the Bahamas. This was my first marriage and her second one. In the early days we dated and it was a distance relationship. We moved to the engagement stage and on our wedding day we could stand before God and man and say we had refrained from intercourse until the wedding day. And so we have been one and blessed. We are a far from a perfect couple. From time to time we have our struggles with communication, selfishness, lack of cooperation and sometimes just plain hardness of hearts, because we put the interests of work, friends, family, entertainment or leisure activities before God or each other.

In spite of this we have asked each other what is the constant seal that we both have that God continues to make evident to us an others? Well the distinctive trait we have always felt is one of peace. It’s a security that does not emanate from us or our actions alone. We have a rest that comes from God Himself. It has carried us when frankly our love has fallen short. I love Robin, my wife. Would it surprise you if I said she is not always submissive? Well the truth is, I’m not always submissive or obedient to God. I know he loves me in spite of this and I have an abiding rest. What we have is a constant in a world of instability. God’s gift to believers is a not just ordinary marriage. It’s a Christian marriage, a covenant that must be adhered to and treated with care. Love covers a multitude of sins. I must remember this as I continue to lead my wife. She must remember as she follows. Together we look forward to what God has in store.

It’s Never Too Late to Start

Matthew 20:1-16  ESV  Biblehub

Laborers in the Vineyard

1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.2After agreeing with the laborers for a denariusa a day, he sent them into his vineyard.3And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,4and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’5So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.6And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’7They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’8And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’9And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.10Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.11And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,12saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’13But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?14Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.15Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’b16So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Friends the message behind this post is a simple one. It’s a message of God generously offering His creatures an opportunity to come and participate in being co-workers with Him. The initiator of  the contract is God. He is also the one going out amongst the people and inviting them to work. He is seeking those that will decide by the 11th hour. Get this, He pays everyone the same and the response reveals the heart attitude of saints today. You see the ultimate payment was an inheritance left by the shed blood of our savior Christ Jesus. The saints that were upset missed the whole point. We are suppose to rejoice when anyone new enters the vineyard to share in the work!

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction This ailment is known to affect men on the wrong side of 40s. cialis tablets online People who took propecia have complained viagra usa price about physical problems and many of them suffered from impotency. Erectile dysfunction is a common problem which can strike any man viagra price devensec.com at any age group. On the other hand, there are viagra fast delivery males who experience erectile dysfunction, whether due to physiological or physical reasons but to an older person it could actually skyrocket, putting you at risk for heart attack or stroke-like condition. And so I ask those of you who know the Lord, but have sat on the sidelines for a while now, will you come? I ask those of you who continue to remain hostile to Christians because we seem out of step with modernity, will you listen to our message with an open heart? Lastly I ask the those of you who have labored long and hard under the intense heat of persecution and rejection, will you rejoice when God sends fresh workers your way? Let us continue in the steps laid out for us and let us remain fixed in our determination to serve him and one another.