Tested Faith

The only real faith is tested faith.  President Teddy Roosevelt struggled with whether or not he would be able to fight when the battle came.  Would he stand and be courageous or would he cower and run?  Once he found himself in the middle of the fray in Cuba he performed admirably.  He felt great assurance but only after his swelling words of courage was actually confirmed by heroic actions.  Courage isn’t courage in the talking; it is only courage in the doing.  The great “ace of aces” Eddie Rickenbacker, Word War I aviator, lived in turmoil within until finally, during his first “dogfight”, he found himself performing well and with great distinction.  How do we know if we have the right stuff?  Only time can tell.  Time is the great test of all things.  The prophet Habakkuk struggled with several things.  First he struggled with the sin of Judah and God not dealing with it.  Then as the Lord tells him that he would deal with it through the wicked Babylonians, he struggled with God’s plan.  How could such a righteous God use a group more wicked than Judah, to discipline Judah?  To his credit, after challenging God strongly he ends with joy and faith in God and His works.  Habakkuk struggled with what is often  our greatest struggle; “what do we do when God acts outside our understanding of who He is?”  There is only one correct answer to this question.  We WAIT!  We wait, and in the waiting our faith is purified and proven.  Faith is not faith until it is tested faith.  Faith not tested is only conjecture.  It can be talked, preached and testified to but until it is tested it is only talk.  Tested faith can be trusted and walked upon.  Preached faith is a hypothesis that awaits proving by being challenged and standing the test of time.  Maybe today the Hand of God confronts you with circumstances that need intervention.  Wishing, hoping and confessing won’t bring the victorious end to your dilemma.  Only waiting on God in faith and acting on His direction will bring about the answer. 

Wannabe

Wannabe is a real word! It is defined on Wikipedia as, "a person who wishes to be or do something, but lacks the qualifications or talent."  We have rock star wannabes, athlete wannabes, and even cool wannabes!  A wannabe is different from a real person of ambition or drive.  Those people are on a track to accomplishment because they have chosen a field for which they are qualified to achieve.  I have written before about the limitations which we have. The gifting of God and His grace creates a sphere in which we are pretty much contained. I know we don't like it but there are limitations for all of us.  There are giftings or talents as the Scripture says.  For one to live their life struggling to accomplish outside of their "talents" is wasted effort and can actually rob them of the energy to be successful within their own God given sphere.  A person who is gifted to be an assistant manager but not a manager is programmed to want to be a manager.  They might be a tremendous assistant manager but would be a failure at the senior position.  Please understand that I am not saying it is better to "settle".  We should all seek to live to our full potential within our sphere of ability.  

For a Christian, the desire to "wannabe" something other than their God given measure is really a self image problem.  It is unrealistic!  It is in fact an anger and energy directed to God, not willing to embrace His creation in us.  We want to be something different than God intended.  Certainly, most people live far below the plan of God but some waste their lives dissatisfied with their spiritual DNA.  As I write this I am thinking of many wannabe preachers I have known. A lot of Bible School towns are filled with preacher wannabes delivering pizzas awaiting the Church world to recognize their anointing.  Some waste their lives and their families suffer from this identity problem.  If they could have embraced their sphere earlier in life they could have avoided a lot of struggle and heartache.  

There are also doctrinal wannabes. These are the folks that think the grass is greener at a different church.  There are Jewish wannabes who really want to be Messianic Jews.  I talked to one Messianic Rabbi who said confidentially, "why do Gentiles want to be Jews? Why can't they just be Gentle believers."  I remember one denominational pastor who struggled to be accepted by the contemporary spiritual movement of his day.  He was so much of the movement that he was rejected by his denomination and so much denominational that he was rejected by the movement.  The end result was his entire career he was greatly limited in his effectiveness.  He suffered and his family suffered as well.  Find out who you are in Christ and live in that role as successfully as you can. You may not be waiting on God so much as you may be fighting your identity wherein lies your station of success.

Praying For Your Pastor

Just before Christmas I wrote a blog about praying for your congregation.  Today we will deal with the topic, "Praying for your Pastor."  I guess I had to retire from serving as a pastor to write this blog.  Otherwise it might have been said that I was self-serving! :)  I have served as a church member who worked in the church while working a secular job.  I have served as  part time staff member who was working a secular job.  I have served as an Associate Pastor and most of my ministry years I served as a Senior Pastor.  Then there was the times I served a small or medium sized congregation alone without a staff and finally a larger congregation with a staff.  What was the most difficult of all?  Without a doubt it was being the only staff pastor.  Even if the church is mobilized and people are serving in ministry roles it is still a very hard job.  I can tell you from experience that no one can ever understand the load of responsibility and just plain hard work involved as serving as a pastor.  I know you may be thinking of some pastor that makes you think, "I wish I had that job!"  Maybe.  Maybe not.  Certainly, like all professions and jobs there are lazy people in all walks of life.  However if a pastor is doing his job he almost never stops.  It is a 24/7 commitment.  Remember, when you are enjoying your weekend, pastors usually aren't.  Even if they are not doing their normal weekend of funerals and weddings, they are still carrying the God-entrusted weight of the Sunday service just before them.  It is also an unseen weight on the marriage and the family as a whole. It is vital to the welfare of the Church that the Pastor and his family are healthy in spirit, mind and body.  You can play a big part in keeping your church healthy by praying and caring for the Pastor and his family. They are truly a gift to your Church.

Here are some things you can do and pray to assist your Pastor:

1.  Pray for him regularly.  As you pray be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and pray specifically for anything that comes to your mind while in prayer.
2.  Let him know that you are praying for him on a regular basis.  I have people who pray for me every day.  What a joy it is for me to know that.  What a strength it brings to me.
3.  Pray for his family individually and by name.  Don't tell the children that you are praying for them,necessarily, as that could intimidate them.  They need to live in as much of a normal environment as possible. One of my children told me that they couldn't even attend a children's birthday party in a normal way because they were "the preachers kid."  One time someone told them, "you should know better, you are the pastor's child!"  Oh great!  My child told me that story after they were grown!  Still carrying the marks from the words of an immature and unenlightened church member many years before.
4.  Pray for abundant provision for the pastor and his family.  They struggle with financial matters like everyone else.
5.  Try to help the Pastor and his family to get away from the church and ministry on a regular basis.
It will create a healthier atmosphere for everyone as well and release a new creativity and freshness in the Pastor.
6.  Practice spiritual warfare for the Pastor and family.  Ephesians 6:10-18
The enemy would like nothing better than to take him out.  If you "smite the shepherd the sheep will scatter."
7.  Find a need in the Church and fill it.  One of the heaviest loads of leadership is trying to find people to help carry the load.  The more menial tasks you can take off the Pastor's list the more he can give himself to his primary calling of ministry in the word and prayer.
8.  Seek to be a peacemaker in the Church family.  Too much time is spent by the pastor trying to put out fires that should never have been started.  Be a supporter of the Pastor among the people.

These are just a few suggestions but I believe will help you in your desire to see your church grow and thrive in the Lord.  Certainly there are many more things you will learn as you go.

Blessings to you today!

L. A.

Environment of Empowerment

Ephesians 4: 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, 3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is designed and destined to be the most powerful army in the earth.  It is equipped and empowered to wage war in the Spirit against all enemies of heaven and earth.  It has been given the power to overthrow demonic powers and evil schemes of all kinds.  Yet, this powerful army is a very delicate assembly.  In the natural world an army can operate with a motivation of hate, conquest or revenge.  History has proven this to be true.  The Church however, the Army of God, will come to ruin operating in the same motivations.  We are called to carry on the mission and motivation of our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.  That mission is redemption and that motivation is selfless love. 

Living in the Body of Christ, the Church, requires daily and sometimes moment-by-moment adjustment to maintain the environment of empowerment.  In 1 Corinthians 5 we read of the Apostle Paul’s instructions to the Church regarding a sinful member of the church who is living among them in terrible sin without repentance.  It is shocking to us to read, maybe for the first time, that Paul tells the church to put this member out of the local congregation until repentance and restoration takes place.  Being a part of the church is a privilege.  There is a proper lifestyle and attitude that leads to an environment to empowerment.  There is also an environment that reduces or even stops the flow of power to the church.  That is what Paul was trying to avoid.  In Acts chapter 6, in the middle of the greatest revival in history following Pentecost, the church came to a standstill when complaining and division occurred.  Once church authorities dealt it with in a proper way, restoration of the situation as well as resurgence of spiritual power resulted.  May we remember that the church atmosphere of unity and love is our responsibility.

Merry Christmas!

Isaiah 9:6-7New King James Version (NKJV)

6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Luke 1:30The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;…

Praying for Your Congregation

Psalm 122: 7Peace be within your walls,

Prosperity within your palaces.”

8For the sake of my brethren and companions,

I will now say, “Peace be within you.”

9Because of the house of the Lord our God

I will seek your good. (NKJV)

7O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls

and prosperity in your palaces.

8For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,

“May you have peace.”

9For the sake of the house of the lord our God,

I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.(NLT)

I must begin with a disclaimer.  I am NOT advocating replacement theology in this blog when I speak of the Church and Jerusalem in the same breath.  However, there are often, not always, double implications in Scripture that can apply to both.  My point in this writing is intended to make us more aware of our need to have the correct attitude and prayer posture when we are caring for the Church.  Our personal local congregation is a representation and in fact a living part of the Body of Christ.  Like any body it must be cared for properly and not neglected.  The Psalmist here is deeply concerned about his city and congregation.  He prays for peace and declares peace over his community.  Then he said, “I will seek your good.”  A congregation is a delicate mix of many different opinions, tastes and spiritual gifts.  How in the world can such a group walk in unity and accomplish anything of a redemptive nature?  Only in the supernatural arena when the blessing of the Lord is declared, unity is that location.  Unity is an attitude and a commitment that results in an atmosphere. The writer makes is very personal and very practical when he says, “for the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “may you have peace.”  He goes on to say, “For the sake of the house of the lord our God, I will seek what is best for you.”

It is critical that we all, every single member of the local congregation, pray and speak peace, unity and good to our congregation.  This is especially true when enemies are outside the gate and possibly even within our walls. 

Peace and good to our congregations this day! May we all be instruments of that atmosphere.  

Can You Do Anything?

Is it true that you can do anything you put your mind to?  We have all heard it and maybe all our lives.  Our parents told us so.  Our grandparents and teachers at school did too.  Then the Church told us the same exciting thing and raised our potential for possibilities.  Let's see now...what would I like to do with my life?  Maybe I'll be a brain surgeon or an astronaut?  I might even become President of the United States.  Hmmmm.... maybe an astronaut.  Who would want to be President? :)
Some of the teaching I have heard in the Church under the supposed validation of the Bible was based on Phil. 4:13 which tells us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  That is quite different than, "I can do all things."  The word "through" in this verse is the all important word.  It implies a position of rest.  That would mean that the action of "doing" is not actually me but Christ.  In truth He strengthens me to accomplish.  He accomplishes through me as His channel.  This is much more than semantics.  This means that Christ Jesus is not looking for greatly talented people so much as available submissive people who are resting in Him.  I have heard people who began in this humble and submissive place end up believing, "I can do all things!"  There is a big difference here on many fronts.  

An important thing about the Lord using us is that most often He uses us within our God given interests, talents or abilities.  For example the Lord doesn't take people with a "C" average in high school and make brain surgeons out of them.  Could He?  Certainly!  Does He?  I don't think so.  At least I've never met one.  Even in the ministry there are pastors of churches of scores and pastors of churches of thousands.  Did one just get the breaks?  No, certainly not. Our gifts make way for us.  They create paths that we may follow.  Now, here we must introduce Lordship into the equation.  The Lordship of Jesus trumps all gifts, anointing, talents and tastes.  He is looking for willing and obedient sons and daughters who will follow Him wherever and whenever He leads.  Obedience is the most important attribute of all.  When we tie all this together we see that the ways of the Lord, working within our "God given talents" calls for obedience within our spiritual sphere.  We need to stop telling people that they can do all they set their mind to.  That is not true and they cannot!  We can do all that the Lord has called and gifted us to do within His will and Grace.  Even then, cooperation and obedience is required to rise to our full potential in the Jesus Life.  Truth be told, very few meet the full potential to which Jesus has called them.  Let's expand our horizons and increase our obedience.   

Thankfulness

Thankfulness is such a powerful force.  It can change our attitude, associations and even our personal atmosphere. Thankfulness can also open the door of faith to release miracles.  An amazing story is told by Jesus in Luke 17.  

"11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner(Samaritan)?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”  Ingratitude was of such a significance that Jesus brought attention to it.  "Where are the other nine?"  Jesus also highlighted that this thankful one was also a Samaritan.  The other nine were evidently Jews, the chosen ones.  This one was "outside the commonwealth of Israel."  At first they were all ten amazed at their healing and ran to the priest to receive the blessing only he could give, the release back into family and society in general. Yet, as they ran toward the location of the Priest, one paused.  What caused him to pause?  May I suggest that what made him pause in such a positive overpowering moment of anticipation of seeing his family again, was not the outer evidence of divinity upon his body, but the inner sign of divinity working in his heart.  I'm reminded of people at Christmas when receiving gifts.  Some go through them like animals casting each one aside as insignificant, looking for the one that really lights up their eyes.  Then when they find it they rush off absorbed in the gift and forgetting to thank the giver.  

Here is our question today.  Did the leper return to give thanks because he was the only one who thought of it or did he return to give thanks because kindness, consideration and thankfulness was instilled in his character?  I personally believe the latter.  As I am writing this I am reminded of one Christmas morning in particular after my family had a difficult financial year.   As a child I had made all my desires known.  That Christmas morning my gifts were lacking in my eyes.  I displayed my disappointment and I still remember the pain in my Father's eyes over 50 years later.  Yet, that powerful experience served in a different kind of way to teach me the practice of thankfulness.  Of all practices that are refined in our lives thanksgiving from the heart may be the most powerful of all.  Certainly in the story of the 10 lepers Jesus seemed more captivated by it than the miracles themselves.  

Today I am thankful for you.