Be Still and??

Many Christians know the first part, but not the second part of Psalm 46:10. It says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Notice, THE PLEA: "Be still" (quiet down, quit striving, rest).

THE PROPOSITION: "and know that I am God" (God is God, not you, nor anyone else. Quit acting like everything depends on you, because it doesn't. God is sovereign. He is in charge and He's got everything under control).

THE PROMISE: "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Victory is coming, worldwide acknowledgment of Christ is inevitable, hallelujah the battle will be won. The end result is here announced)!

Beneath this banner of certain conquest Christians labor and proclaim the name of Jesus, but we do it not stressing, but resting in the promise of God. 

If Christ is Not Risen

Sometimes debaters argue the opposite point of view to show absurdity. Paul uses this techninque in 1 Corinthians 15 to show the catastophic consequences of denying the resurrection.  

1. If Christ is not risen our preaching is in vain, verse 14
2. If Christ is not risen your faith is empty, verse 14
3. If Christ is not risen we are false witnesses of God, verse 15
4. If Christ is not risen your faith is futile, verse 17
5. If Christ is not risen you are still in your sins, verse 17
6. If Christ is not risen those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished, verse 18
7. If Christ is not risen we are of all men the most pitiable, verse 19.

Thank God each of these absurdities are absolutely false. In fact, the opposite is true.

1. Our preaching has substance
2. Our faith is based on reality
3. Our testimony is true
4. Our faith is profitable
5. Our sins are forgiven
6. Our departed loved ones who trusted Christ are still alive
7. Our hope transcends time and eternity.

The Second Greatest Fish in the Bible

Matthew 17:27 tells about Peter catching a fish with a coin in its mouth. As Christians we can identify with that fish. 

The fish felt uncomfortable. He did not know that his pain was actually a treasure. God was using the fish for a higher purpose. Keep the faith dear one. Someday it will all make sense.

The Best Investment Strategy

In Matthew 24:35, Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."

According to Jesus three things will pass away.

• Earth, v. 7, 35
• Heavens v. 29, 35
• Religion v. 2, 5, 15, 23-26

But three things will never pass away.

• Jesus, v. 30
• Bible, v. 35
• Christians, v. 22, 31, 34

Where are you investing?

A Theology for Suffering

Christians have established teachings on many topics including God, salvation, church, and the end times. But we also need a doctrine on the subject of suffering, because if our belief system is unsettled pain can potentially derail our Christian life.

Here is a simple set of beliefs based on Psalm 34:19, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."

I. CHRISTIANS SUFFER

II. CHRISTIANS OFTEN SUFFER

III. JESUS DELIVERS

IV. JESUS ALWAYS DELIVERS.

These four simple statements provide comfort and reassurance. I encourage you to adopt, memorize, and use these truths the next time your experience heartache.

What is your theology of suffering? Please share it with me.

The Difference between Salvation and Discipleship

• In salvation we come to the cross, but in discipleship we carry the cross.
• For salvation we believe in Jesus, but for discipleship we follow Jesus.
• At salvation we sip the milk of God's word, but for discipleship we chew the meat of God's word.
• At salvation we are indwelt by the Spirit, but in discipleship we become intimate with the Spirit.
• Salvation is instanteous, discipleship is ongoing.
• At salvation we leave Egypt, but in discipleship we enter the Promised Land.

"Therefore leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection" Hebrews 6:1

The Powerful Love of God

I recently heard a fantastic sermon from Dr. James Noble. He spoke at the National African American Fellowship. His text was John 3:16.

• The love of God is unconditional - agape love
• The love of God is universal - "for God so loved the world"
• The love of God is unique - "that He gave His only begotten Son"
• The love of God is unending - "have everlasting life."

Staying Salty

I asked my dad, a retired scientist, about how salt loses its flavor (Luke 14:34) He explained that salt is sodium chloride, and moisture is what breaks the bond between these two elements. Water causes salt to lose its effectiveness.

In Luke 14:25-35 Jesus wasn't giving a chemistry lesson, rather He was teaching about discipleship. Jesus explained that just as moisture can seep in and ruin salt, so certain things can creep into the life of a believer and render them useless as a disciple.

According to Jesus three things can break the bond between us and Him.

• People, verse 26
• Pleasures, verse 27
• Possessions, verse 33

To avoid being watered down by these invaders. We must hate, die, and relinquish. 

1. Jesus said in comparison to our love for Him we must hate other people.
2. Jesus said we must take up our cross and die to our selfish pleasures.
3. Jesus said we must be willing to relinquish every possession and follow Him.

Jesus said we cannot be His disciple unless we keep the bond between us and Him strong. We must avoid anything that weakens our relationship with Christ. This is how we stay salty, and remain effective in the Lord's service.

Going Deep with God

Luke 5:1-11 contains the account of Simon Peter launching out into the deep water with the Lord and catching a net full of fish. 

To be fully blessed with God we must go further deep with God.

1. Going deep with God requires obedience. In verse 3 Jesus told Simon "Put out a little." We must be obedient in the small things before we can experience big things with God..
2. Going deep with God requires solitude. We cannot be with the crowd and be alone with the Lord. Simon was willing to leave the others on the beach in order to have private time with the Lord out in the boat.
3. Going deep with God requires repentance. Jesus asked Simon, a professional fisherman, to do things in a new way. We cannot go deep with the Lord and stubbornly insist on our old familiar ways. 
4. Going deep with God requires faith. In verse 5 Simon said, "Nevertheless at Your word I will." Like Simon, if we want to go deep with God, we must trust God and obey His word.
5. Going deep with God requires confession. Verse 8 says Simon realized his sinfulness and acknowedged it to the Lord. If we are going to go deep with God we must deal with personal sin. 
6. Going deep with God requires missions. Simon learned that going deep with God was not about catching fish, but about catching men, verse 10.
7. Going deep with God requires discipleship. Verse 11 says, Simon "forsook all and followed [Jesus]." Going deep with the Lord is not a one time event, but a lifelong journey with Jesus.

Are you ready to quit splashing around in "the shallow end of the pool" and go deep with God? 

The Fellowship of the Criticized

In Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, he defended himself against bogus accusations. These false teachers complained about Paul:

• "He's not a real apostle."
• "He is fickle."
• "He appearance is deplorable."
• "His speech is contemptible." 
• "He can't get churches to financially support him."
• "He doesn't carry letters of recommendation."
• "It is obvious God is not blessing him because of all the suffering he endures."
• "He is holding you back."
• "He's bossy."
• "He's crazy."
• "God doesn't speak through him."
• "He doesn't love you."
• "He is cheating you."
• "He doesn't have the authority to tell you what to do."

These enemies of Paul were probably the Judaizers who stalked him throughout his travels. They tried to inject law into the gospel and that's always a bad combination. 

Since Paul, the greatest missionary of all time, had critics, we should not be surprised when people complain about us also.