Love > Fear

LOVE IS GREATER THAN FEAR

There are few things as precious to me as my time of prayer with my children each day.  My wife Aracelli and I have two beautiful children whom we are striving to raise in the ways of the Lord.

(Graziella and Renato at the zoo in Lima, Perú)

As I tucked them in to bed the other evening we all said our prayers.  They were still a bit antsy, so I told them that they needed to rest and I did not want to hear any noise or see them walking around. 

Renato, our 3 year old son, answered back “OK daddy!”  Of course, I was fairly certain that it was merely lip service and I would hear him yelling and making a fuss within moments.  

Graziella, our 7 year old daugher, took a different approach.  She was a bit more honest and asked a question which has come out of her mouth on various occasions. 
“Well, what will happen to us if we don’t do what you say?”
My typical reply would be something like “You’ll get a spanking” or “Don’t test mommy and daddy!”,  but tonight I spoke to them about true obedience.

I said “GG” (that’s our nickname for Graziella), “If you are obeying mommy and daddy simply because you don’t want to get punished, then you aren’t practicing true obedience.  If you really love mommy and daddy then obedience should be your natural response to us.  

You obey because you love, not because you’re afraid of punishment.”

WOAH!  

Sometimes the insight we gain from a moment of parenting can surpass years of study and laborious research.

I was telling my children that the reason to obey us and to live appropriately was because they love us, not because they fear us.

Isn’t this exactly what so many do within the church?  

Don’t we often choose to obey God out of fear of hell, sickness, pain, exposure, etc? 

-> How often do we desire to do evil, but avoid it out of fear of consequences, rather than desiring to do good out of love for our Creator??
-> How often, as believers, do we avoid sin or temptation simply because we are fearful that we may be exposed or because we may get punished?  
-> How often do we fall into the trap of attempting to earn our salvation by way of human works?  

This is the great divide between Christianity and all other religions!

We do not do good to avoid punishment.  
We do not do good to earn salvation.  

Our salvation has been earned for us.  
Our punishment was given to Jesus when He went to the cross.  

We do good as a response to our good God.  
We avoid bad because He lived sinless for us.  

Anything of good that flows from a believer is because we are loved by God and in turn have been made to love Him.  We obey because we love and we love because He first loved us. 

This is the essence of the gospel, that we are loved by God and in turn we have come to love Him and obey Him.  Let us contemplate this in our daily walk, we obey out of love, not fear.  Love was Christ's motivating factor when He went to the cross and it is our motivating factor to live holy before Him.

LOVE IS TRULY GREATER THAN FEAR!

The Mission Field

Martin Luther was made famous when he posted his 95 Theses onto the outside of the Castle Church door.  This sign was posted on the inside of a friend's church door...

Though this if far from the 95 theses, it is one thesis that all believers should learn to live by.  When people leave their church the challenge is clear.  This church is declaring that they want their members to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.  The pastors are saying to their members and themselves- 

"YOU ARE GOD'S CHOSEN METHOD 

TO SHARE THE GOSPEL 

WITH THE WORLD!!"

The mission field is not a football field.  This is not a game for the superstars to shine while the rest sit back and watch from the stands.  The mission field is wide open and ready for all to go and get into the game.  There is no such thing as a bench-warmer on God's mission field.  The whole church is called to participate and that is what this single thesis is declaring.

Church:  God could have come down and preached the gospel Himself, He could have sent angels, He could have done anything he wanted...but HE CHOSE TO USE US.  God chose us to share His message here on earth and He chose us to be His hands and His feet to the hurting, the lost and the dying.

Every time you leave church I want you to remember this sign.  Sunday service is simply a strategy session for you.  Once you've received your training and your inspiration it's now your turn to get out into the game and make some plays!  

You do not have to be in Peru with us to do missions work... YOU ARE ON THE MISSION FIELD DAILY.  So let's get out there and make our 'Coach' proud!!

Peace In The Midst of The Storm

My wife is a true worshipper, she worships in spirit and with her whole heart.  Amongst the various worships hymns that she sings there is one in Spanish which speaks depths of truth with but few words, 

"Hay paz en medio de la tormenta."

THERE IS PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM:

As I write this blog from the 'safety' of Lima, Peru I am in prayer for my friends and family in the North Eastern portion of the United States.  I think of my family, friends and acquaintances who are going to be facing what may end up being the largest storm in the recorded history of the United States.

It is not my desire to speak on the question of whether this is divine judgment or happenstance.  I don't care whether it's mostly hype or a governmental ploy.  I am not concerning myself as to whether this is the wrath of God or simply an undirected natural occurrence.  

What I would like to speak on are the storms of life in general- be it a "Sandy" or a sin spree.  Our problems could be a hurricane or a hurting heart, devastating winds or demolished dreams, property damage or the loss of a loved one.  

Jesus promised in John 16 that there would be suffering in this life- it's one of the few promises that I don't hear people 'taking hold' of during their faith declarations...  

Yet in the midst of the sufferings of this life we can have the 'peace of God, which surpasses all understanding'. 

(Philippians 4:7)

Not after the storm passes, not prior to the storm touching down- there is peace in the midst of the storms of this life.  In the very center of the madness and chaos, in the moment when you should feel NOTHING but despair; in that very moment Jesus doesn't promise a guaranteed deliverance or a certain freedom, Jesus promises peace!

Be it hurricane Sandy or hurricane cancer, be it the frankenstorm or the failures of sin.  Storms are small compared to our giant God.  His peace can comfort us even in the presence of stormy moments.

Consider God in the midst of your next storm; be it Hurricane Sandy or a major life change- next time you face a storm don't bother telling God how big your storm is.  STAND FIRM AND REMEMBER THE ONE WHO GAVE ALL FOR YOU.

STAND FIRM AND TELL YOUR STORM HOW BIG YOUR GOD IS!!

When you set aside the fears of the moment and focus on the face of God 

He will give peace in the midst of your sufferings.

The Watchman's Hut In The Cucumber Field

“The Watchman’s Hut In The Cucumber Field”

Isaiah 1:8  “The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a watchman’s hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.”

Cucumber in this context would typically refer to anything from the melon family. Anyone even remotely familiar with farming is aware that cucumbers, melons, and the like are products that grow at ground level.  They do not typically need guarding because their biggest threat is bugs and little scavengers.  Why then would a cucumber field need a watchman’s hut??

I was led to wonder what this verse meant a while back and began to study it.  Interestingly enough I found a very revealing answer.

In the days of old in ancient Jerusalem there were two major threats to melon crops.  The primary threat were jackals which would come and tear up the crops.  If there was no one to watch out for the terrorizing jackals then the crops would be ruined in an incredibly quick amount of time.  The secondary threat was theft.  The sailors would come out from the sea, anchor alongside a farm, and literally just steal the crops which someone had spent their time, money and effort in developing. 

In order to combat those two threats what a land-owner would do was rather simple. They would construct a make-shift and extremely temporary shelter and would appoint someone to stay there during the crop’s gestation period.  The watchman, typically an elderly gentleman, would stay in the little hut in the midst of the cucumber field and would guard the growing crops.  As soon as they were ripened and ready to fulfill their purpose he would leave and the shelter would literally just crumble on it’s own.

When the Bible references the huts and the watchmen God is being clear about two things:

1-The watchman have left the hut and the crops are up for grabs.

2-The huts are in decay and will fall just as any abandoned shelter in those days.

I believe that the description found in Isaiah 1:8 is an absolute indicator of modern-day Christianity across much of the globe.  The crops represent the Christians in each step of the gestation of their newfound faith.  The watchmen who are supposed to guard from jackals such as false teachers, infectious doctrine, ear-scratching phonies, and the likes- 

THOSE WATCHMEN ARE GONE AND THE HARVEST IS UNDER THREAT FROM THE JACKALS. 

In like manner, the enemy now has free reign to dock his ship alongside the farms and begin to pluck up the fruit before it ever reaches it’s potential.  Just as a sailor would pull alongside the coast and begin to steal the fruit, so does Satan come alongside so many churches and begin to pluck up the fruit before it ever reaches it’s maturity and becomes useful.

The watchmen have abandoned their post and the temples are in ruins.  We cannot expect our fruit to grow like this.  They are under open siege by the enemy without while simultaneously under attack by the animals within and we (the so-called watchmen) are on vacation!

If you are a pastor, a layperson, a leader, or anyone who calls themselves a follower of Jesus Christ consider taking the stand today.  Be the watchman who will protect the 'crops' from the attacks of the enemy and the attacks from within!  Stand up against false teachings, against the scavengers without and against the watered down version of the gospel that is being preached across the globe!

Of Men & Devils

"Cowards never won heaven. Say not that thou hast royal blood running in thy veins, and art begotten of God,

except thou canst prove thy pedigree by this heroic spirit,

to dare to be holy despite men and devils."

-William Gurnall

In the American church we have various anti-biblical dares:

We have the prosperity dare- Just give some money and declare with your mouth and you've dared to challenge God, now He must give you riches regardless of His sovereign will.

We have the purpose dare- If you just live for a specific purpose with all that you have (regardless of whether or not it glorifies God or fulfills His will for your life) then you will be happy and blessed.

We have the theology dares- If you believe these 5 points, these 16 statements, these 19 convictions then you will be saved. Oh yeah, you may want to repeat the magical prayer as well just to be sure.

YET, the lofty thinkers of old had a different ideology of what it meant to take a bold dare. That dare was something that only a true follower of Christ could take- a dare to be holy despite men and devils.

Men represent society as a whole. Our perverse cultures throughout the generations and the most perverse of all in this day and age. To be bold enough to stand against the flow of the stream and stand out as an outcast, to push forward against the ebb and flow and to be hated because of your bull-headed determination.

Devils represent the internal and external forces of hell which cause us to fall. This can be the flesh which battles daily against the Spirit of God within true believers, or it can be the actual demonic forces which tempt, attack and devour us on a regular basis.

The call here by Gurnall is simple- dare to be a light in the darkness, a contrast to all that surrounds you. He says that "it requires another spirit than the world can give or receive to follow Christ fully." In other words, without the help of our God we CANNOT fulfill this dare to be holy. Even with His help we must wake up each day determined to do battle and lay our head down on our pillow only after violently grabbing hold of the kingdom of God (SEE: Matthew 11:12)

I would be a fool to say that a man or woman of God will never fall, even the best warriors will lose a battle or two- but they will stay resolute in their fighting until the greater war has been won! Anyone can fall into the mud, the question is how we react to our fall. Do we stay and wallow in the mud or jump back to our feet so that the Lord may cleanse us once again? Anyone can fall into the mud, but ONLY A PIG WILL STAY THERE TO PLAY.

William Gurnall also said "How uncomely a sight is it to see, a bold sinner and a fearful saint, one resolved to be wicked and a Christian wavering in his holy course." We are to have a BOLD HOLINESS about us in our actions, our beliefs, and our lifestyle. I've said this on various occasions and I'll say it again now...As Christians we should be the best neighbors, the best family, the best tippers, the best employees and it needs to be done for GOD'S GLORY not our own!

The call from Jesus is simple- be ye holy, for I am holy! Without holiness no man shall see the kingdom of God. In the midst of our sin-filled world, the sinful forces of hell, and our sinful inner-man we can still take a stand and boldly and PUBLICLY decree that though we stumble or fall we will keep our eyes fixed on the prize. Yesterday no longer matters and a fall ceases to be a fall once you've stood back up. It doesn't mean that the cuts, bruises and scars cease to exist- it simply means that EACH NEW DAY is filled with NEW MERCIES and NEW OPPORTUNITIES to live for Jesus Christ!

We will battle both men and devils and march on each day as we strive towards the finish line of this life and the beginning of eternity!

Darkness Often Yields The Brightest Light

In the midst of the darkness we can fit in with the shadows
or stand as a point of stark contrast by shining as a bright light.

The Good News Isn't Good News Until You've Heard The Bad News:

Imagine a man who is rotting from within. Yet, the man is fully unaware of his condition. He may see some signs on the exterior. Perhaps he notices a skin blemish or a low grade fever. He imagines that something small may be wrong, but assumes that he can fix it himself or take a tylenol in order to eradicate his condition. The man needs a trained eye who has studied the medical texts in order to point out the acute interior condition for him.

Without that assistance he will continue on with life as usual, fully unaware of what is truly wrong with him.

One day the man sees a small blotch on his skin and decides to go to a doctor. Once he arrives at the office, the doctor tells him all about this amazing medicine and the wonderful benefits that it will provide to the man. This medicine is incredible. The doctor even goes on to tell the man that the medicine is FREE of charge! He then asks the man if he would like the medicine and the man thinks to himself, "Well who wouldn't?" "It gives me a million benefits and costs nothing, why wouldn't I want it?"

The man takes the medicine home and sets it on the shelf in case he should some day feel the need for medicine. Perhaps the man even tries to apply the medicine, but his life stays the same. The blotches don't go away. In fact, though it may have been covered for a period, his condition is now even worse than before.

WHY?

THREE REASONS:

1- The man stood in front of a trained eye which saw that he was sick, but the doctor never told the man about his interior condition. The doctor only spoke to the man about the exterior signs which the man already knew about. He did not inform the man of the interior rotting which was taking place. Therefore, the man left knowing that a medicine existed, but he never knew his deep and urgent need for that medicine.

2- The man wasn't ever told how the medicine works. He heard about it and it's wonderful benefits, but he never heard what it actually did or how it worked. He was told about the miracle drug but never found out why he needed it or how to apply it in his life. He may have tried applying it as a cream, but never really knew that his issue wasn't a skin condition- it was an interior condition; and if he wasn't changed from the inside out then he would have remained sick forever.

3- The man wasn't told about the side-effects that the medicine would give him. He assumed he'd go home and live happily ever after- he didn't hear the FDA disclaimer which is so prevalent in today's pharmaceutical commercials. He only knew the benefits, but never heard about the cost. He couldn't make an educated decision because he was never actually educated about the medicine. He heard about the benefits but left fully unaware of the personal risks.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA TODAY!!

We have heard about the cross, but no one told us about the immense personal cost. We heard about the joy, but no one mentioned the tribulations. We've been told about grace, bit no one mentioned God's wrath. We've been told that we're saved, but no one had told us what we've been saved from or saved into. We have heard that Jesus will free us but no one told us He wants to change us. We've been told that God wants to hear our prayers, but we haven't been told that God demands to see our holiness.

Someone once said that half of the gospel only produces half of a Christian. And the Lord said that if we're lukewarm He will vomit us from His mouth. Therefore half of the gospel only produces luke warm vomit.

How can the Good News ever be considered as good news

if we don't start out with the bad news?

We live in a lost society surrounded by darkness. The darkness is both external and internal. In the midst of this dark world a light appeared just over 2,000 years ago. That light yielded immense brightness and to this day it is emitting infinite lumination to all whom would be willing to see it. BUT, if we don't draw attention to the darkness within and without, we cannot properly appreciate the light that comes from above. How can I know that I live in darkness unless I see that light exists, and how can I understand what light is unless the darkness has been properly explained to me?

How can I know the mercies of God if I have never experienced difficulty, sorrow, pain and suffering? In the midst of our highest conviction, in the midst of our deepest sorrow, in the midst of our greatest suffering, in the midst of our most trying hardships- that is when the light of Christ shines the brightest.

Rev. Stephen Hill (of the Brownsville revival) is just coming out of a long battle with cancer that nearly cost him his life. In the midst of he and his family's hardest hour is when God shined the brightest. In the center of darkness is when God showed Himself to be most faithful. So it is with the gospel- if we do not know the bad news, we cannot understand the Good News!

"Before I preach love, mercy and grace, I must preach sin, Law and judgment."

- John Wesley

"Evermore the Law must prepare the way for the Gospel; to overlook this in instructing souls is almost certain to result in false hope, the introduction of a false standard of Christian experience, and to fill the church with false converts."

- Charles Finney

"They will never accept grace until they tremble before a just and holy Law." "

-Charles Spurgeon

Feed The Good Wolf

There's an old native story that goes something like this:

One day an elderly grandfather was sharing a story with his grandson. He began to tell the young man about the two wolves that are within every person. He said that there is a good wolf and a bad wolf within each of us and they are constantly fighting with each other. The good wolf wants us to do things that would glorify God, to have patience, to show love to one another, and to follow the commandments God has given to us. The bad wolf wants us to follow another path, to be disrespectful, to follow the lusts of our flesh, to have no self-control, etc...
These two wolves are constantly in a battle with one another and the wolf that wins will eventually control the person that it inhabits. That person will either become a good person or a bad person.

As the grandfather went on his grandson asked the obvious question,

"Grandpa, which wolf will win the fight within me?"

The grandfather replied, "Whichever one you feed."

The moral of the story is that we should feed the good wolf so that it may win the battle.

The Bible doesn't quite put it the same exact way, but that story does point us toward very Biblical premises. We know that our flesh nature is corrupt and desperately wicked. (Jeremiah 17:9) If we feed the sin nature we can expect to reap a sinful lifestyle and eventually an eternity in Hell. (Romans 6:21) If we feed the righteous nature that has been planted in us by Jesus Christ's shed blood, then we will ultimately reap holiness and an eternity with Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:22)

We are called to submit ourselves to God and to 'resist the devil and he will flee' (James 4:7). Satan is like a bully with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). If you do not keep him entertained his attention will start to wander off elsewhere and he will move on to another target. He is like 'a roaring lion.. seeking whom he may devour', (1 Peter 5:8) but even a hungry lion will give up on it's target and find food elsewhere if the target proves difficult to obtain.

We are faced with a decision every time that we wake up, every time temptation comes our way, every time difficulty raises it's head, every time our flesh wants us to become lethargic and slack off in our spiritual endeavors or live for materialistic goals. Every day we have to wake up ready to go to battle. Every moment we must remember that we are in a war. The more we feed the sin nature, the materialistic nature, the self-serving nature, we are setting ourselves up for a lifestyle of rebellion and selfishness that bears no eternal fruit. The more we feed the righteous nature, the sacrificial nature, the life-giving nature, we are setting ourselves up to become more like Jesus Christ and to bear an abundance of eternal fruit.

John Piper once said that he hears "so many Christians murmuring about their imperfections and their failures and their addictions and their shortcomings", and he sees "so little war. Murmur, murmur, murmur. Why am I this way? MAKE WAR!!" We are in the midst of a cosmic struggle. This is not a game, THIS IS A WAR! If you lose a battle you get up and fight on to ensure that you win the war overall. Don't stay down when you fall, get up and get cleaned off before you lose the war! No matter what yesterday brought us, WE MUST MAKE WAR DAILY!!!

Sin nature vs. the Imparted Righteous Nature of Jesus Christ.

The good wolf vs. the bad wolf.

WHICH WOLF DO YOU CHOOSE TO FEED?