This is a great devotion that I received from Greg Laurie today. Wanted to pass it on for your pondering. It was a good reminder to me that we will catch the good and the bad, the real believers and the false ones who are "playing" church and Christianity. We are nonetheless called to continue fishing for men.The television series, Deadliest Catch, features fishermen on the tumultuous waters of the Bering Sea who pull in a lot of fish using massive nets. Sometimes they pull in a few other sea creatures as well, such as a shark, an octopus, or a squid. And sometimes they even pull in some junk. It becomes a mystery as to what they are going to pull in.
That is the idea behind a parable Jesus told in Matthew 13 known as the Parable of the Dragnet. The kingdom of God is like a net being pulled through the water. And with that net, all kinds of stuff will be gathered. So our job as the church, if you will, is to pull that net through the water of our communities and grab whomever we can. Will we get some bad with the good? Of course. Will we have false believers next to true believers? No question. But we are going to have the genuine as well.
Jesus said, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). The phrase "fishers of men" could be better translated, "catch men alive." Not only that, but the phrase is used only one other time in the New Testament, in 2 Timothy 2:26, where Paul speaks of those who have been taken captive by the devil to do his will. In other words, they are caught alive by Satan.
We have a choice before us: either God will catch people alive or the devil will catch them alive. Which will it be? So let's go fishing for men. Because these people who don't know Jesus Christ are like people who are in prison. You could even describe them as POWs. And our job is not to search and destroy, but to find and deliver.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
A Live Catch
This is a great devotion that I received from Greg Laurie today. Wanted to pass it on for your pondering. It was a good reminder to me that we will catch the good and the bad, the real believers and the false ones who are "playing" church and Christianity. We are nonetheless called to continue fishing for men.
The television series, Deadliest Catch, features fishermen on the tumultuous waters of the Bering Sea who pull in a lot of fish using massive nets. Sometimes they pull in a few other sea creatures as well, such as a shark, an octopus, or a squid. And sometimes they even pull in some junk. It becomes a mystery as to what they are going to pull in.
That is the idea behind a parable Jesus told in Matthew 13 known as the Parable of the Dragnet. The kingdom of God is like a net being pulled through the water. And with that net, all kinds of stuff will be gathered. So our job as the church, if you will, is to pull that net through the water of our communities and grab whomever we can. Will we get some bad with the good? Of course. Will we have false believers next to true believers? No question. But we are going to have the genuine as well.
Jesus said, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). The phrase "fishers of men" could be better translated, "catch men alive." Not only that, but the phrase is used only one other time in the New Testament, in 2 Timothy 2:26, where Paul speaks of those who have been taken captive by the devil to do his will. In other words, they are caught alive by Satan.
We have a choice before us: either God will catch people alive or the devil will catch them alive. Which will it be? So let's go fishing for men. Because these people who don't know Jesus Christ are like people who are in prison. You could even describe them as POWs. And our job is not to search and destroy, but to find and deliver.
The television series, Deadliest Catch, features fishermen on the tumultuous waters of the Bering Sea who pull in a lot of fish using massive nets. Sometimes they pull in a few other sea creatures as well, such as a shark, an octopus, or a squid. And sometimes they even pull in some junk. It becomes a mystery as to what they are going to pull in.
That is the idea behind a parable Jesus told in Matthew 13 known as the Parable of the Dragnet. The kingdom of God is like a net being pulled through the water. And with that net, all kinds of stuff will be gathered. So our job as the church, if you will, is to pull that net through the water of our communities and grab whomever we can. Will we get some bad with the good? Of course. Will we have false believers next to true believers? No question. But we are going to have the genuine as well.
Jesus said, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). The phrase "fishers of men" could be better translated, "catch men alive." Not only that, but the phrase is used only one other time in the New Testament, in 2 Timothy 2:26, where Paul speaks of those who have been taken captive by the devil to do his will. In other words, they are caught alive by Satan.
We have a choice before us: either God will catch people alive or the devil will catch them alive. Which will it be? So let's go fishing for men. Because these people who don't know Jesus Christ are like people who are in prison. You could even describe them as POWs. And our job is not to search and destroy, but to find and deliver.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
When You Find Yourself Cooling Off
I read this devotion this morning from Charles Stanley. Preach it, brother!
Lighting the Fire Again
Matthew 22:36-38
Let’s continue looking at the Lord’s warning to the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:4). The Ephesians are a model of cooled-down faith. Their fervor is gone, though they’re still going through the motions of serving God and even defending the faith.
Christ’s warning to the Ephesians extends to modern-day believers whose hearts have grown cold. He looks at distracted and complacent Christians who are laboring for every reason but the right one, and He cries out, “What I want is not your empty service; I want you!”
The heart cools gradually as a person gives higher priority to other relationships and activities than to the Lord. Our enemy Satan has subtly shaped how the word “idol” is perceived. He’s limited the definition to false gods. The truth is, anything that distracts from God qualifies as an idol. For example, the god of this age is sports. So many believers know more about stats than Scripture and show more passion in the stands than in a worship service.
Returning to a life of passionate service for God begins with repentance. We must assume responsibility for drifting away from our first love. Then, we’re to put Jesus Christ back on the throne of our heart and reconnect with Him through regular prayer and Bible meditation.
God desires an intimate relationship with every believer. So let me ask you a question: Are you excited about Jesus? Our best and purest devotion will be to whatever or whomever we prioritize above all else. If that is not Jesus, repent and let Him rekindle the flame of your first love.
Lighting the Fire Again
Matthew 22:36-38
Let’s continue looking at the Lord’s warning to the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:4). The Ephesians are a model of cooled-down faith. Their fervor is gone, though they’re still going through the motions of serving God and even defending the faith.
Christ’s warning to the Ephesians extends to modern-day believers whose hearts have grown cold. He looks at distracted and complacent Christians who are laboring for every reason but the right one, and He cries out, “What I want is not your empty service; I want you!”
The heart cools gradually as a person gives higher priority to other relationships and activities than to the Lord. Our enemy Satan has subtly shaped how the word “idol” is perceived. He’s limited the definition to false gods. The truth is, anything that distracts from God qualifies as an idol. For example, the god of this age is sports. So many believers know more about stats than Scripture and show more passion in the stands than in a worship service.
Returning to a life of passionate service for God begins with repentance. We must assume responsibility for drifting away from our first love. Then, we’re to put Jesus Christ back on the throne of our heart and reconnect with Him through regular prayer and Bible meditation.
God desires an intimate relationship with every believer. So let me ask you a question: Are you excited about Jesus? Our best and purest devotion will be to whatever or whomever we prioritize above all else. If that is not Jesus, repent and let Him rekindle the flame of your first love.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Answering Questions about Eternal Punishment
Got this from James Lichtenberger, our new sports/outreach minister working in our activity center. Thanks James!
This is an excellent article about hell, what happens when we die, and all things eternal punishment. Mark Driscoll gives a fair and balanced view on hell by using the truth of God's Word. I love this because it's the TRUTH from the Bible! I hope that you read this and search the scriptures for yourself and get a truly biblical understanding of these issues. This may help you address what I blogged about before in regards to Rob Bell and his question, "Does God send millions of people to hell?!"
Mark Driscoll article Part 1
Mark Driscoll article Part 2
This is an excellent article about hell, what happens when we die, and all things eternal punishment. Mark Driscoll gives a fair and balanced view on hell by using the truth of God's Word. I love this because it's the TRUTH from the Bible! I hope that you read this and search the scriptures for yourself and get a truly biblical understanding of these issues. This may help you address what I blogged about before in regards to Rob Bell and his question, "Does God send millions of people to hell?!"
Mark Driscoll article Part 1
Mark Driscoll article Part 2
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Rob Bell & "Love Wins"
View this video and then you can read my response below.
I had a good friend e-mail me and ask me about all of this and what I thought. So, I typed up the response below. Understand that I could say a lot more about this, but this is the "quick" response.
He makes some good points, but he’s definitely moving toward a man-centered theology where it’s all about us, what we want to believe, what we can understand. What scripture calls “the mysteries of God” are things that are too deep for us to fathom in this life. The Ghandi question is simple. Ghandi is in hell if he did not call on Jesus as Savior. Period. End of story. When Jesus said, “I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life, and NO ONE comes to the Father except through me,” that’s exactly what Jesus meant. He’s the end all! He’s supreme! He’s the righteous judge!
My concerns with Rob Bell lately is that he’s slowly becoming a pluralist and a false teacher as he bends scriptures to make himself feel better about his eternity. And knowing that we all struggle with that concept, he’s gonna sell us a book about it. Rob has had some good stuff in the past. He’s also had some bad stuff. He needs to be perceived with caution, holding up his “truths” to THE truth, scripture.
We must be ever more discerning, especially as the end draws near. I leave you with this scary passage. I wonder how Rob would handle it.
Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Notice that it says “many…on that day”. Not a few, not a handful, but many will not enter the Kingdom. Scary. The ESV (Eric Standard Version) of this scripture would read like this: Many on that day will say, “Lord, Lord, did we not attend Sunday School and even give a little bit in the offering plate and we even served in the nursery?” And Jesus will say to them plainly, “I don’t even know you. Depart from me you who loved the world more!”
Again, Jesus brings it back to the point that it’s about a relationship with Him, not what we do. The actions and deeds show the heart and should follow the heart. But deeds cannot save. The main thing is that we know Him and accept Him as Savior and LORD and participate in the power of His resurrection.
I had a good friend e-mail me and ask me about all of this and what I thought. So, I typed up the response below. Understand that I could say a lot more about this, but this is the "quick" response.
He makes some good points, but he’s definitely moving toward a man-centered theology where it’s all about us, what we want to believe, what we can understand. What scripture calls “the mysteries of God” are things that are too deep for us to fathom in this life. The Ghandi question is simple. Ghandi is in hell if he did not call on Jesus as Savior. Period. End of story. When Jesus said, “I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life, and NO ONE comes to the Father except through me,” that’s exactly what Jesus meant. He’s the end all! He’s supreme! He’s the righteous judge!
My concerns with Rob Bell lately is that he’s slowly becoming a pluralist and a false teacher as he bends scriptures to make himself feel better about his eternity. And knowing that we all struggle with that concept, he’s gonna sell us a book about it. Rob has had some good stuff in the past. He’s also had some bad stuff. He needs to be perceived with caution, holding up his “truths” to THE truth, scripture.
We must be ever more discerning, especially as the end draws near. I leave you with this scary passage. I wonder how Rob would handle it.
Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Notice that it says “many…on that day”. Not a few, not a handful, but many will not enter the Kingdom. Scary. The ESV (Eric Standard Version) of this scripture would read like this: Many on that day will say, “Lord, Lord, did we not attend Sunday School and even give a little bit in the offering plate and we even served in the nursery?” And Jesus will say to them plainly, “I don’t even know you. Depart from me you who loved the world more!”
Again, Jesus brings it back to the point that it’s about a relationship with Him, not what we do. The actions and deeds show the heart and should follow the heart. But deeds cannot save. The main thing is that we know Him and accept Him as Savior and LORD and participate in the power of His resurrection.
Monday, March 14, 2011
The Story of Demas
Imagine being mentioned by name in one of the epistles written by Paul. Exciting right?! Not only was Demas mentioned, but he was mentioned twice. First Paul wrote in Philemon, "Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers" (1:23–24). Then Paul mentioned him a second time: "Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica" (2 Timothy 4:10).
So why would Demas leave Paul? From the text we gather that it was because he loved this present world. He loved the things of this life the scripture states. What does that mean? He made a choice. He basically chose this world over God's love. The Bible says, "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world." (1 John 2:15–16).
When the Bible speaks of the world, it is speaking of a culture, a mentality that is hostile to God. Sometimes it is quite subtle in its hostility, but the world is always trying to lure us away. Thus goes the story of Demas. And thus goes the story of many Christians today who fall more in the love with what this world has to offer.
So why would Demas leave Paul? From the text we gather that it was because he loved this present world. He loved the things of this life the scripture states. What does that mean? He made a choice. He basically chose this world over God's love. The Bible says, "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world." (1 John 2:15–16).
When the Bible speaks of the world, it is speaking of a culture, a mentality that is hostile to God. Sometimes it is quite subtle in its hostility, but the world is always trying to lure us away. Thus goes the story of Demas. And thus goes the story of many Christians today who fall more in the love with what this world has to offer.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Truth about Wealth
Had to share this thought from Greg Laurie. Good insights. I think he hits the nail on the head about Jesus and the rich young ruler. Also, pay close attention to the last paragraph. The problem is the love of money. Hope this enhances your walk with Jesus as we sojourn through this world.
When Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth" (Matthew 6:19), the term "lay up" did not simply speak of having possessions, but of your possessions having you. "Lay up" could be better translated "hoard" or "stockpile."
Jesus was not saying that it is wrong to have things. He was warning against becoming materialistic—letting things become more important than God.
God created us to love people and use things, but a materialist loves things and uses people. There is nothing wrong with having possessions and a successful career. The apostle Paul wrote, "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17). God can bless a person. In fact, we read in the Bible of those who had wealth, such as Abraham, Job, David, Joseph of Arimathea, Mary, and Barnabas.
Jesus did not extol poverty as some great virtue. In fact, only one time did He tell someone—the rich young ruler—to sell his possessions and give to the poor. I think it was because that man was possessed by his possessions. Because when Jesus said, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me" (Matthew 19:21), the Bible says that he went away sorrowful. It was a test to see whether God was more important to him than his things.
Money is not the root of all evil; the love of it is. The problem with wealth is not in having it. It is how we get it. It is how we guard it. And it is how we give it.
When Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth" (Matthew 6:19), the term "lay up" did not simply speak of having possessions, but of your possessions having you. "Lay up" could be better translated "hoard" or "stockpile."
Jesus was not saying that it is wrong to have things. He was warning against becoming materialistic—letting things become more important than God.
God created us to love people and use things, but a materialist loves things and uses people. There is nothing wrong with having possessions and a successful career. The apostle Paul wrote, "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17). God can bless a person. In fact, we read in the Bible of those who had wealth, such as Abraham, Job, David, Joseph of Arimathea, Mary, and Barnabas.
Jesus did not extol poverty as some great virtue. In fact, only one time did He tell someone—the rich young ruler—to sell his possessions and give to the poor. I think it was because that man was possessed by his possessions. Because when Jesus said, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me" (Matthew 19:21), the Bible says that he went away sorrowful. It was a test to see whether God was more important to him than his things.
Money is not the root of all evil; the love of it is. The problem with wealth is not in having it. It is how we get it. It is how we guard it. And it is how we give it.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Belong, Believe, Behave
I was at the Preaching/Teaching convention last week in Joplin, MO. There were over 600 lead ministers there and over 1,100 attending the convention. When you get that many ministers together, you are bound to see and hear some good teaching. I was so blessed to go and was so thankful that Oakwood believes in continuing education for its ministry staff. These conferences are such a blessing to all of us. They help sharpen the skills and keep the vision fresh.
The theme of the convention this year was "Go". How exciting. I was like, come on! Can we not come up with anything better than go? Though the theme was weak, it was focused on evangelism which isn't a weak topic at all. There were some really good workshops and speakers on all angles and facets of evangelism.
Phil Claycomb of Nexus Church Planting out of Dallas, TX gave an excellent workshop on Evangelistic DNA in Churches. One of the things that he highlighted in his class dealt with how people come to Christ today. We also dealt with church methodology but more in theory and principle than practical.
In the past, the stages went like this:
1. Receive information
2. Come to faith
3. Commitment to growth & church
4. Community & fellowship
But today it's more like this::
1. Community & fellowship
2. Come to faith
3. Commitment to growth & church
4. Receive information
In the past, the church's evangelistic message has been that you behave, then you believe, then you belong. But today's unchurched need to belong, then believe, and then behave.
So many times when people seek God by visiting His church, the church says to them, "Clean yourself up and behave." Then we invite them to believe and then they can belong to our fellowship. But what we really need to be doing is loving them and beginning a relationship with them and giving them a sense of belonging, that we have time and space and want them here. Then hopefully through our love and example we can introduce them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Then we can teach them to behave in the pattern of scripture.
Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20 The command here is "make disciples" . How? "Go" is the call to go to them and make them feel welcome and loved. "Baptizing them" happens after their belief and faith in Jesus Christ. It's the conversion part of evangelism. "Teaching them to obey" is the behave part that we often ignore or fail to put into good practice in the church.
I hope that if you are reading this you understand the implications for evangelism. We must love people and meet them where they are at first. In scripture it's recorded that Jesus had compassion on the crowds. That they were like sheep without a shepherd. There are many in our world today that are exactly the same. Sheep without the good shepherd, Jesus. What are we doing to show them love and compassion?
The theme of the convention this year was "Go". How exciting. I was like, come on! Can we not come up with anything better than go? Though the theme was weak, it was focused on evangelism which isn't a weak topic at all. There were some really good workshops and speakers on all angles and facets of evangelism.
Phil Claycomb of Nexus Church Planting out of Dallas, TX gave an excellent workshop on Evangelistic DNA in Churches. One of the things that he highlighted in his class dealt with how people come to Christ today. We also dealt with church methodology but more in theory and principle than practical.
In the past, the stages went like this:
1. Receive information
2. Come to faith
3. Commitment to growth & church
4. Community & fellowship
But today it's more like this::
1. Community & fellowship
2. Come to faith
3. Commitment to growth & church
4. Receive information
In the past, the church's evangelistic message has been that you behave, then you believe, then you belong. But today's unchurched need to belong, then believe, and then behave.
So many times when people seek God by visiting His church, the church says to them, "Clean yourself up and behave." Then we invite them to believe and then they can belong to our fellowship. But what we really need to be doing is loving them and beginning a relationship with them and giving them a sense of belonging, that we have time and space and want them here. Then hopefully through our love and example we can introduce them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Then we can teach them to behave in the pattern of scripture.
Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20 The command here is "make disciples" . How? "Go" is the call to go to them and make them feel welcome and loved. "Baptizing them" happens after their belief and faith in Jesus Christ. It's the conversion part of evangelism. "Teaching them to obey" is the behave part that we often ignore or fail to put into good practice in the church.
I hope that if you are reading this you understand the implications for evangelism. We must love people and meet them where they are at first. In scripture it's recorded that Jesus had compassion on the crowds. That they were like sheep without a shepherd. There are many in our world today that are exactly the same. Sheep without the good shepherd, Jesus. What are we doing to show them love and compassion?
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