God is Gracious

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Psalm 6:2  Be gracious to me, O Lord…

Somewhere back in the 18^th century a man named John Newton wrote one of the most beloved songs of the Christian church. It is simply entitled Amazing Grace. Three centuries later Chris Tomlin took that song and added a chorus to it. When sung together it is one of the most powerful expressions of worship based on God’s grace that I get to sing. Take a moment and listen to it.

https://youtu.be/Jbe7OruLk8I

Sometimes in the midst of trials we forget or ignore the grace of God. We do not recognize that even the trials of life are expression of God’s grace. John Newton recognized that truth when he wrote, Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise physician prescribes because we need them; and he proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires. Let us trust in his skill and thank him for his prescription.

When we are caught up in the emotions and pain of life’s trials, we can cry out to God, Be gracious to me, O Lord. But we will only do that if we first recognize some key principles of truth:

1. That we are not deserving of God’s response. God’s graciousness is available only to those who confess their helplessness. (vs. 2a)
2. That God is fully capable of bringing about a glorious outcome. (vs. 2b)
3. That God is Sovereign and determines the conditions and terms of the outcome.
4. That God determines the timing of the outcome. In Psalm 6:3 David asks, But you, O Lord – how long?
5. That God’s steadfast love never ceases and is always working for our salvation. (vs. 4)

One of the great blessings of being a part of a church that understands the graciousness of God is that the members of Christ’s body minister to one another in times of need. Last night when I arrived at the church for our Wednesday night activities, there was a note shoved under my office door. Now I must confess that notes shoved under doors generally produce anxiety.

When I opened the note from one of my dear sisters in the Lord, it blessed my heart. It encouraged me to sing songs to chase the clouds away, and then quoted the words to a Psalm-Song.

• I will call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised. So shall I be saved from my enemies. I will call upon the Lord.

My mind immediately kept singing – The Lord liveth, and blessed be the Rock and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

I was so encouraged. The Lord had shown His amazing grace to me through a fellow member of His body. How blessed I am to be a part of a real church that understands the grace of God.

So call out to the Lord. But be prepared. The expression of His grace may come from an unexpected place.

Pastor John

The Whole Trip was Meaningful

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Psalm 5:11 (ESV)   But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

In case you’ve missed the pattern of the last week, we are taking little day trips through the Psalms, stopping at spiritual scenic overlooks along the way.

Today, the whole trip was a scenic overlook. The fifth Psalm is a panorama of the current circumstances of my life. I’m not going to share the details with you, but I am going to let you in on what God said to me.

First, when life makes us groan, it is to the Lord alone that we turn and to Him alone do we pray. (verse 2)

But prayer is so much more than just speaking words into the air. Prayer is motivated by the confidence we have that there is a God and that He cares to hear what we have to say. (“you hear my voice” – verse 3a)

And prayer is more than simply what we have to say; it is the relinquishing of our rights to control the outcome as we present the circumstances to God as a sacrifice, and then wait for Him to reveal His purpose. (“I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch” – verse 3b)

When I pray, I am put in touch with the character of God. I am made keenly aware of the purity and holiness of His nature, and the contrast between those who know Him and those who don’t. Those who don’t know Him will not dwell in His presence.

• For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. (vs. 4)
• The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. (vs. 5)
• You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. (vs. 6)

But those who know Him and have been transformed by His marvelous grace will enter His presence with joy.

• But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. (vs. 7)

Those who know Christ will be led according to the righteousness of God when we are willing to walk in His ways even when we are opposed for doing it.

• Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. (vs. 8)

I can trust God with the justice that is coming because of the sinful behavior of others.

• For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you. (vs. 9-10)

Right now, in the middle of it all, because I take refuge in my God and not in the strength of my own life, I can rejoice and sing for joy, because God has me covered and He also has the outcomes covered. Not just covered – but covered with His favor!

• But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield. (vs. 11-12)

I lift up my head to the Lord so the light of His face will shine on me.

Pastor John

He’s Shining On Me

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Psalms 4:6 (NIV) Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

One day many years ago – I mean MANY years ago – when I was in high school, I remember trying to encourage a friend who was going through a very difficult time. I only remember one part of the conversation, but it went like this: “Jim, keep your chin up,” to which he responded, “Why? Doesn’t that just make it easier for someone to hit?”

Yesterday in Psalm 3 we discovered the great truth that God is the shield around us and the lifter of our head. But many times we don’t want our head lifted because we are afraid it makes us a bigger target. Sometimes, in the midst of looking up and taking a public stand for God’s righteousness, we set ourselves up as targets for those who have a downward look at circumstances. But we must not be tempted to remove our focus from the face of God.

Look at what David says in Psalm 4.

• God has given us relief in the past when we have been in distress, so we can call on Him again. (verse 1)
• People with a downward look will always be around to turn what is honorable about looking at God into something shameful, and will find some form of satisfaction in vain words and lies. (verse 2)
• But our confidence and security does not come from the way others look at us, but rather from God’s look at us. (verse 3)
• Based on our confidence in God, when the false accusations of others cause us to be angry, we don’t have to respond in kind, but can instead be silent, fully trusting the faithfulness and righteousness of God. (verses 4-5)
• When we maintain our upward look, we discover an incredible truth – God is looking at us and shining His light upon us, producing joy and peace! (verses 6-8)

In 1632, Alexander Grosse wrote a booklet entitled Enjoying Christ, and in it he says, “where Christ reveals himself there is satisfaction in the slenderest portion, and without Christ there is emptiness in the greatest fullness.”

No matter how much the world offers and provides, it never satisfies. But no matter how small the blessing of God, there is total satisfaction. “Look up, and let the light of the face of God shine upon you.”

When the many ask for good, they are asking in terms of human good. They want riches and pleasure, power and fame, protecting and personal gain. But of what value are any of those things unless there is peace and security in the soul? It has been said that it is better to be a wooden vessel filled with choice wine than to be a golden goblet that is empty.

“Look up, and let the light of the face of God shine upon you.”

When we look up and are overcome by the light of the face of God, we are filled with a glory that cannot be found in anything this world offers.

When the discouragement and despair of life’s circumstances have forced your focus downward and inward, “Look up, and let the light of the face of God shine upon you.” 

When hope has been dampened and destroyed by unfulfilled dreams and goals, “Look up, and let the light of the face of God shine upon you.”

When you reach the point of believing that nothing good will ever again show up in your life, “Look up, and let the light of the face of God shine upon you.”

When you feel as though you have no more strength to fight the battles of life, then listen to what David says in Psalm 44 – It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. 

So “Look up, and let the light of the face of God shine upon you.” If you have no peace in your soul, then receive the blessing God gave Aaron the High Priest for all the people – “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” 

“Look up, and let the light of the face of God shine upon you.” 

Pastor John

Keep Your Head Up

Monday, March 16, 2015

Psalm 3:3 (ESV)  But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

How do you react when you see something coming at your head? I instinctively duck. Even when I see a slight movement out of the corner of my eye, like my wife reaching for something, I duck. No, she has never hit me and I have no reason to fear her, but my first reaction is for self-protection. When I see a bird fly in front of the windshield of my car, I duck, even though there is no danger that it can hit me. My natural response to impending danger is to put my head down and get out of the way. Life is primarily lived on the defensive.

The same may be true of our spiritual lives – we tend to live on the defensive. We are consistently afraid of the evil that surrounds us in the world. When things are going great, we are anticipating their collapse. When things are fine, we wonder when reality will return and things will get worse. And when things are terrible, we cower in fear of what more might happen. We believe that when one bad thing happens, two more are on the way because bad things always happen in threes. We have a permanent downward bend in our spiritual spine from keeping our heads down.

I’m learning to keep my head up in my physical training throughout the week. My trainer is a stickler for maintaining a solid core by keeping my head up when I am exercising. Keep the back straight and the core muscles engaged by keeping your head up and looking forward. That’s good advice for all of life.

God intended us to live with our heads up, but it’s only possible if the core is strong. A strong core gives us the balance we need to look up without falling over. (Personal experience)

In Psalm 3, King David was in a terrible spot in his life. He has been evicted from Jerusalem by the rebellion of his son Absalom who wants to be king. He has fled to a cave. He cries out to God, O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! He has heard the gossip about him as people say, “God will not deliver him.” He is tempted to believe them. But, he proclaims his faith in God with this incredible statement of hope – you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. Notice the three things David proclaims as truths that show the strength of his core:

1. God is a shield around us– the shield of faith is not one-dimensional protecting only one direction of attack – God’s shield is all around us. Charles Spurgeon, the great British preacher, explains it this way – God’s shield is a protection which shall surround a man entirely, a shield above, beneath, around, without and within. Oh what a shield is God for his people! He wards off the fiery darts of Satan from beneath, and the storms of trials from above, while, at the same instant, he speaks peace to the tempest within the breast. God protects us from every direction.
2. God bestows glory on us– it is glorious to find joy in the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. It is glorious to see the future glory God will bestow upon us in His presence one day. It is most glorious to realize that we are experiencing the glory of His presence in our lives today, and nothing can separate us from His love. No matter what the world is saying about us, God is with us!
3. God lifts up our heads – When we have been shamed, God lifts our head in honor. When we have been sick, God lifts our head in health, with the ultimate healing coming in His heavenly presence. When there has been sorrow, gladness comes in the morning. When we have fallen, there is restoration and reconciliation. When we appear defeated, there is victory, for we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. In all these respects the Lord is the lifter up of our head.

So when life throws things at your head, stop ducking. I know it’s hard to conquer the natural reactions of the flesh. Even though I know the windshield will protect me, I still instinctively duck when I see something hurling towards it. But I immediately lift my head because the shield has done its job. We may still instinctively duck from spiritual attack, but with the shield of God around us, and His glory in us, He lifts our head to face any danger, because greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Lift up your head and face the day with confidence. God has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor John

I Need To Laugh More

Thursday, March 12, 2014

Psalm 2:4 (ESV)  He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.

On my trip through the second Psalm today I pulled over and spent some time in verse four, focusing on the laughter of God. We don’t often think about God in terms of the joy and laughter he experiences. I know I have more of a “let’s get down to business” attitude about God. I know I need to lighten up a little bit. I miss some great moments of joy because I tend to stay too focused on getting things done. How about you?

God laughs for two very different reasons. First, He laughs and rejoices over our lives when He sees the wonder of His Son in us. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song.” 

Isn’t that incredible? Our lives, when filled with His Son, cause God to break out into song. Our lives bring rejoicing to heaven. All of the praise that is being expressed to God in heaven is stopped so that God can laugh and sing for joy over the lives of people who have been redeemed. One of my favorite songs from several years ago expresses this thought so beautifully. It is called His Favorite Song of All, and was sung by the group Phillips, Craig, and Dean. Take an extra moment at this scenic overlook to carefully read the words to this song.

He loves to hear the wind sing as it whistles through the pines on mountain hills
And He loves to hear the raindrops as they splash to the ground in a magic melody
He smiles in sweet approval as the waves crash to the rocks in harmony
Creation joins in unity to sing to Him majestic symphonies, but
His favorite song of all is the song of the redeemed
When lost sinners now made clean lift their voices loud and strong
When those purchased by His blood lift to Him a song of love
There’s nothing more He’d rather hear or so pleasing to His ear
As His favorite song of all

And He loves to hear the angels as they sing” Holy, Holy is the Lamb”
Heaven’s choirs in harmony lift up praises to the Great I Am
But He lifts His hands for silence when the wicked, saved by grace, begin to sing
And a million angels listen as the newborn soul sings, “I’ve been redeemed!”

‘cause His favorite song of all is the song of the redeemed
When lost sinners now made clean lift their voices loud and strong
When those purchased by His blood lift to Him a song of love
There’s nothing more He’d rather hear or so pleasing to His ear
As His favorite song of all.

God not only loves to hear us sing the song of redemption, but He joins us in singing it and laughing with joy that our lives have been redeemed from the hands of the enemy.

The second reason God laughs is when He considers the futility of man’s plans to overthrow Him. This is the reason He is laughing in Psalm 2. He can’t help but laugh at the feeble attempts of people to enthrone themselves as rulers of their own lives and the lives of others. No matter how powerful they think they are, and no matter how much temporary success they may have, the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. (Psalm 37:13)

Now for some personal application. Since the Lord who laughs has taken up residence in our lives, should we not also laugh for the same reasons God does? Of course the obvious answer is “YES!” We laugh and rejoice and sing when we hear of another person who has received Jesus Christ as their Savior. That’s easy. But what about laughing in the face of suffering, hardship, pain, and persecution? How do we respond when people turn against us and seek to overthrow us? I bet most of the time it’s not with laughter.

I’m not advocating laughing in the face of our enemies, but I certainly will not succumb to their outcomes when I know that when God is for us, who can stand against us (Romans 8:31).

I want to learn to laugh in the face of adversity, because I know that God is still on the throne, and all things will work out for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

I want to respond to the realities of life with the eternal reality that nothing can separate me from the love of God because I am in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39) Like Job, I want to laugh at destruction and famine (Job 5:22)

So let’s hear your best laugh…Come on, you can do better than that. Laugh it up. God is on the throne!

Pastor John

I’m a Tree

Tuesday, March 11, 2015

Psalm 1:3 (ESV)  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Well, my first sightseeing trip in Psalm one was a short one. I only made it to the first part of verse three before I found a scenic overlook to enjoy. (Please see yesterday’s blog for an explanation if you wonder what I am talking about.)  As I paused at verse three, I was fascinated with a couple of spiritual lessons God started to show me.

First, I’m like a tree. If the description of a blessed man in verses one and two is true of me, and I am taking consistent delight in the law of God and meditating on it, then I am a tree. I’m not a reed that bends in the winds of circumstance. I am not a bush that holds close to the ground for stability and security. I am a tree that reaches to the heavens with a structure that withstands the storms and branches out to provide shelter for those who live around me.

Second, I am a chosen tree, for I was planted. I am not here by accident. I am hand-picked and hand-planted by the hand of God. The Master Gardener chose me when I was only a sprout, and placed me in His chosen location where He knew I would flourish.  He placed me in the perfect place where I would be constantly watered by streams flowing directly from His heart. I am nourished by the stream of grace, and the stream of mercy, and the stream of love, and the stream of identity, and the stream of security.

Third, I bear fruit. It may be seasonal, but I will bear fruit. There will be times of refreshment and revitalization needed, but even those times are a part of the fruit-bearing process. Even when it appears that I am placid, I am planning and preparing to produce. Everything about me is to be focused on bearing fruit. Every activity, whether it be watering my soul in His Word, or expanding my influence through the growth of new branches of relationships, I am designed to bear fruit. The Master has provided me with everything I need to bear fruit for Him.

Fourth, I am never dormant. The nature of Christ in me provides daily life that never requires the loss of leaves. I am not deciduous, but dedicated to daily life. In Christ I am ever-green, showing signs of life even when fruit is not visible. I have no need to take a break from following Christ and serving Him for I do not do it in my strength, but in His. I do not depend on the nourishment falsely advertised by the world as sufficient and sustaining. I depend wholly on the streams of living water coming from an eternal Source. I constantly represent eternal life.

Fifth, and finally, a tree like I just described has no other option but to prosper. A tree that is chosen by God, planted with a purpose, and nourished by living water, will always produce prosperously. My problem is that I choose to define prosperity in human terms and according to human circumstances. But when I see the tree of my life from God’s perspective, it is always prosperous.

Wow! That was an amazing scenic overlook. And we are just getting started. Tomorrow we will take a trip into Psalm 2.

So what did you learn from Psalm 1? Leave a comment and let all of us be blessed by how God blessed you.

Pastor John

Sightseeing Trips are Best

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Psalms 1:1 – 2 (NIV) Blessed is the man… [whose] delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Eight years ago, following a one year devotional study of the Psalms with the staff of the church, I wrote a series of devotionals on the Psalms. I think I want to do that again. The challenge is to keep them short and relevant. Volumes of books have been written on the Psalms. Charles Spurgeon’s classic commentary on the Psalms entitled The Treasury of David is seven volumes long. But the plan I came up with back then will work again. Here’s why.

Years ago I discovered a secret to reading God’s Word so it actually had an impact on my life. I learned this system from observing the way I got the most enjoyment out of traveling in the car with my family. Most of the time I am pretty detailed about time schedules and trip planning. When we are going on a vacation or a trip anywhere I plan out everything, from the starting time to destinations to arrival times, focusing mainly on the route we will take to get there. My enjoyment of the trip depends on sticking to the itinerary. But one summer I remember a particular trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where I thought I was on the road I had planned to take. It turned out I was wrong, and we had gotten off onto a backwoods gravel road that took us through some wilderness territory that was a little bit scary but provided some wonderful memories. From that moment on, I developed a more adventurous spirit toward traveling. In fact, whenever we would get in the car to go anywhere, I would always plan alternate routes. Whenever I would take a road other than the main ones, my kids would say, “Dad’s on another adventure.”   They still make fun of me to this day. But I love taking the back roads and just driving without a timetable or a specific destination. I love the signs along the way that say “scenic overlook.” I love to pull over and spend some time there and see what I can see. Then, when I get home, I have something on which to meditate. I have created memories that are meaningful.

That’s how I want to read God’s Word. Most people read the Bible according to the trip itinerary method. They have a predetermined number of chapters they have to read each day so they can arrive at their destination by the end of the year. Unfortunately for most of us who have used that method we discover that when we arrive at the end of the trip we don’t remember much of what we saw along the way. When we focus on the destination the trip becomes irrelevant. But when I read God’s Word according to the “sightseeing” method, I not only learn a lot more but I enjoy the time a lot more. All of a sudden I start seeing lots of “scenic overlook” signs – verses that are just inviting me to stop and take in the full vision of what God intended for me at that moment. Sometimes my sightseeing trips through God’s word are very short, and other times I get quite a distance from my starting point – but every trip creates memories that are meaningful. I have learned to meditate on what God has revealed at each stop.

Leisurely trips are a lot more fun for me than destination based trips. I know that most of us are so busy that we don’t take very many leisure trips any more, but don’t let that philosophy enter into your devotional time. Take delight in the Word of God. You don’t have to be reading it to be meditating on it day and night. It only takes one verse to challenge your mind for the rest of the day, and sometimes longer. The key is to let God take you to His scenic overlooks. That’s what I’m going to do for the next 170 devotionals. I’m going to take a daily leisure trip through one Psalm, with multiple stops in Psalm 119, and find one scenic overlook to enjoy on the trip. As you join me in this trip, your scenic overlooks may be different than mine, and when they are, write to me and tell me what God has shown you. I love having alternate routes to take and hearing stories of new sights to see along the way.

So for tomorrow, grab your water bottles and your cameras, buckle up, and open your hearts as we start out on an adventure through the Psalms. I’m already excited about what we will discover.

Pastor John

Love Motivates Perseverance

Monday, March 9, 2015

 2 Thessalonians 3:3 – 5 (NIV) But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

In 1972, NASA launched the exploratory space probe Pioneer 10. According to Time magazine, the satellite’s primary mission was to reach Jupiter, photograph the planet and its moons, and beam data to earth about Jupiter’s magnetic field, radiation belts, and atmosphere. Scientists regarded this as a bold plan, for at that time no earth satellite had ever gone beyond Mars, and they feared the asteroid belt would destroy the satellite before it could reach its target.

But Pioneer 10 accomplished its mission and much, much more. Swinging past the giant planet in November 1973, Jupiter’s immense gravity hurled Pioneer 10 at a higher rate of speed toward the edge of the solar system. At one billion miles from the sun, Pioneer 10 passed Saturn. At some two billion miles, it hurtled past Uranus; Neptune at nearly three billion miles; Pluto at almost four billion miles. By 1997, twenty-five years after its launch, Pioneer 10 was more than six billion miles from the sun. And despite that immense distance, Pioneer 10 continued to beam back radio signals to scientists on Earth. Perhaps most remarkable is that those signals emanate from an 8-watt transmitter, which radiates about as much power as a bedroom night light. The signals take more than nine hours to reach Earth. The final, very weak signal from Pioneer 10 was received on January 23, 2003 when it was 12 billion kilometers from Earth.

The Little Satellite That Could was not qualified to do what it did. Engineers designed Pioneer 10 with a useful life of just three years. But it kept going and going. (How many of you just saw a bunny with a drum?) Pioneer 10 has accomplished more than anyone thought possible. It just keeps doing what it was designed to do.

When we consider the reasons we tend to give up and quit in various areas of our lives, we must dig deep enough to reach the primary cause. When we do we will discover that there is one thing lacking that has caused us to not persevere, and that thing is love. Follow along closely here. We have been designed by God to love. But let’s make sure we are defining love correctly. Love, according to the Designer, is a choice to sacrifice one’s own well-being, preferences, and pleasure for the sake of what’s best for another. God demonstrated that kind of love to all of us when He sent Jesus to die for us while we were still in our sin (Romans 5:8). Since we have been created in the image of God, and God is love, then the compelling force behind everything we accomplish is to be love. If we quit before we reach the conclusion, then we really didn’t love what we were doing. We don’t quit on what we really love.

This may sound like an oversimplification to some of you, but in reality it is as deep and complex as it needs to be. We have not persevered because we have not truly loved. We have given up on marriages, friendships, careers, and goals because we chose to pursue our own well-being, preferences, and pleasure rather than those of the person or plan we claimed to have loved. When times got tough we chose to move into self-protection mode. In other words, we chose to love self more than anything.

If Pioneer 10 had been given the right to choose, it would have had limitless options when it was launched. “Space – the final frontier.” But the designer programmed in only one course. Our Designer has programmed in one true course for us as well. When the choice was made to follow Jesus, the Designers course was to become our only course. But we have wrongly reserved the right to continue to choose between God’s course and all the optional courses offered by the world. That’s why we can’t persevere. That’s why Jesus warned us that we are not worthy to be His disciples if we put our hands to the plow and then look back at other options. We have chosen self-love as the best course for life, and we change our course as often as we change our minds. “Keep your options open” has become the buzzword of Satan that grabs our attention. The bottom line is that we are in love with us, and not truly living in the love of God.

But God has designed us for something much greater, and He has given us an earthly example to follow. Jesus Christ, because of His sincere and undying love for the Father, persevered to the point of shedding His blood to accomplish God’s purpose. In today’s Scripture passage Paul says, May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. It is love for God, and the complete trust in God’s love for us that compels us to persevere as Christ did. So the next time you’re considering giving up and quitting on a person, a goal, or on God, check your heart. You’ll probably find that you have lost your first love, and your love for self has become the compelling force that drives your decisions. Fall to your knees and repent, and come back to the Designer’s love. He knows how far you will be able to go.

Pastor John

Forgiving Self?

Thursday, March 05, 2015

Psalm 32:1-2 (ESV) Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Matthew 26:27-28 (ESV) And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

With age comes wisdom. With wisdom comes discernment. With discernment comes self-reflection. With self-reflection comes two possibilities: regret and shame, OR praise and progress.

Now, let’s put what I just said into context.

There is a lot of discussion today within the Body of Christ of the need to live in a constant state of brokenness. Scripture passages are quoted that seem to indicate that unless we are constantly reflecting on what we once were in our sin we will never know the splendor of God’s grace. This can cause a serious spiritual problem when it becomes so much the focus of our life that we forget to live in the victory over sin that Jesus has provided. It is very dangerous to fixate on why we are unqualified for eternal life and not live in the reality that the Father has qualified us! (Col. 1:12)

Just like anything in life, the problem becomes one of balance. The backward look at what we once were is necessary, but it must not become the standard by which we measure our spiritual sensitivities. The backward look is only necessary for one primary thing in our lives – to make us appreciate the current status of our relationship with Jesus Christ and live in the joy of our salvation.

The backward look at our past sin, when combined with the satanic influence of shame for that sin, can cause serious spiritual problems.  Yes, I said satanic influence of shame. You see, once God has forgiven our sin in Jesus Christ, ALL condemnation is removed. Shame is Satan’s weapon to condemn us. Shame is not the same as godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Shame is the chain with which Satan binds us to our past.

I hear a phrase coming from the lips of Christians far too often. It is usually used in a sentence that goes like this – “I know God has forgiven me, but I just can’t seem to forgive myself.” Nowhere in the Bible are we told to forgive ourselves. In fact, it is a deception of Satan to think that we must. It is how he holds us in spiritual bondage.

As long as we continue to look backward in a self-gratifying brokenness and believe we are still guilty and unworthy we have not truly accepted God’s forgiveness. We are choosing to look at our lives from our perspective rather than from God’s.

The person who believes they have not forgiven themselves is really guilty of not accepting God’s forgiveness. They are still trying to justify their own life and actions, when from God’s perspective they were justified in Christ and made to be His child forever. For some reason in their mind they believe their opinion of themselves is more important than God’s opinion of who they are. Their insecurities, guilt, and shame become the chains with which Satan holds them captive, and the only key he claims to have for deliverance is self-forgiveness and self-justification.

Unfortunately Satan never reveals the truth that he has no keys, and we will never be set free on those terms. Jesus said, I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. When God forgives there is no need for any additional forgiveness. The only way any of us could ever hope to forgive ourselves is for us to have sufficient resources to pay for our sin. We would have to be able to come before God and declare that we suffered the total consequences of sin and conquered it. The fact that we know we have a sin that needs to be forgiven makes us ineligible to pay God’s required price for that sin, which is a sinless sacrifice. We who try to forgive ourselves are in a hopeless state.

But the blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect spotless Lamb of God, was poured out for the forgiveness of sin. None of us is required to or capable of forgiving ourselves. We can only – and wondrously – accept the forgiveness already provided by the Father.

My friend, if you are suffering today because you are trapped in the chains of believing you must forgive yourself for what you have done, you are in a futile pursuit. You will never be free. You must realize that what you are really doing is rejecting the forgiveness God offers you. When God says you are forgiven – accept it. When God says you are justified – accept it. When God says you are worthy – accept it. When God says you are qualified – accept it. There is no need and there is no way for you to improve upon what God offers. You do not make yourself worthy of God, so stop trying to make yourself worthy of people, including yourself. When you repent of your sin, God forgives. To believe anything else denies the very nature and character of God.

REJOICE! Your sins are forgiven, and God declares you righteous. Stop arguing with Him.

Pastor John

God’s Offer of Forgiveness

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

 2 Chronicles 7:11 – 14 ¹¹When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, ¹²theLORD appeared to him at night and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. ¹³“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, ¹⁴if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 

 The story is told of a rich Christian who had a large company of employees, many of whom owed him money. He was constantly trying to teach them something about Christianity, and one day he hit upon a plan. He posted a notice for his employees to see that said, “All those who will come to my office between eleven and twelve o’clock on Thursday morning to present an honest statement of their debts will have them canceled at once.” The debtors read the notice with a great deal of skepticism, and on Thursday morning, although they gathered in the street in front of his office, not one of them went to the door. Instead they gossiped and complained about their employer, and ridiculed the notice he had posted. They said it didn’t make sense.

But finally, at 11:45, one man jumped forward, dashed up the steps into the office, and presented his statement. “Why are you here?” the rich man asked him. “Because you promised to cancel the debts of all those who would come as you instructed,” the other replied. “And do you believe the promise?” “Yes, I do.” “Why do you believe it?” persisted the employer. “Because, although it was too much for me to understand, I know that you are a good man who would not deceive anyone.” The rich man took the bill and marked it “Paid in full,” at which time the poor man, overcome, cried out, “I knew it! I told them so! They said it couldn’t be true, and now I’m going out to show them.” “Wait,” said his benefactor, “it’s not quite twelve o’clock. The others are not entitled to any special proof of my sincerity.” When the clock struck twelve, the forgiven debtor ran out waving his receipt in the face of his fellows. With a mad rush they made for the door, but it was too late. The door was locked.

God made a similar offer to the nation of Israel through King Solomon. While the primary application of this well-known and often quoted passage is for the nation of Israel, the fundamental principles of forgiveness that that are expressed apply to each of us today on an individual basis. We all have sinned, and fall short of His glory. We are unable to pay the debt for that sin. But God has posted a notice on the company bulletin board that has a striking resemblance to a cross. It says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will forgive their debt of sin.” It’s an incredible offer, but the conditions attached are difficult.

Humility – To stand guilty before the One who said he would forgive but who could also demand payment. Humility demands agreement with God about our condition and offers no self-defense. Humility relinquishes all rights and surrenders completely to God’s rulings. Humility trusts God’s grace and mercy. Praise God that the payment has already been made in full by Jesus Christ so that God’s justice guarantees forgiveness. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Prayer – To knock on the throne room door knowing that God will open it, we must renounce all human resources by turning in total dependence upon God, believing that He will do what He promised to do. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy. (Titus 3:4 – 5)

Seeking God’s face – To submit to God’s purpose for our lives and become a witness of God’s grace. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  (Hebrews 10:19 – 24)

Turn from wicked ways – To repent of the sin, turning from it with a sincere heart and desire to not do it again. Continuing in the Hebrews passage from above we read, If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.  (Hebrews 10:26 – 27)

When our hearts truly and sincerely reflect these four conditions, God completely forgives our sin. When we approach the throne of God with humble and broken hearts that cry out to Him in repentance of sin and submission to His will, He will forgive us completely and eternally. Hallelujah!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalms 139:23 – 24)

Pastor John