Cult Church

cult |kəlt| nouna system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object: the cult of St. Olaf.• a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister: a network of Satan-worshiping cults.• a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing: a cult of personality surrounding the leaders.• [usually as modifier] a person or thing that is popular or fashionable, especially among a particular section of society: a cult film.
Faith Community Church was recently labeled as a cult church by a fellow believer in Jesus. This person has spread gossip about our church incessantly. This person has never attended one of our worship services or Bible studies. Yet they label our church as a cult. 
So I am here to set the record straight. 
First, if part of a cult is religious veneration directed toward the person of Jesus Christ we are guilty as charged. We make no apologies for calling people to love Jesus first and most. We make no apologies for preaching that knowing Him is of surpassing value to every other relationship and all this world has to offer. If loving, worshipping, and serving Jesus makes us a cult church we are guilty. 
Second, if we have an excessive admiration for the person of Jesus and that makes us a cult again we are guilty as charged. He is our Savior, our Lord, our Master, and we follow hIm with excessive admiration. He is the head of Faith Community Church and we follow His leadership. We seek to be His expression of grace, mercy, and love in a fallen and broken world. 
Third, we seek, serve, and submit ourselves to Jesus even though He is not fashionable to this world.  Jesus is often considered out of vogue with the times we live in. His morality is considered outdated. His political views are incorrect and often intolerant in todays society. We like Jesus just the way He is. We embrace His person and His teachings wholeheartedly. In our desire to know Him we press on for the power of His resurrection and we understand that being falsely accused is a small part of the fellowship of His sufferings. We endure ill treatment by fellow brothers and sisters for the sake of Him who endured the cross on our behalf. 
We preach and teach the holy scriptures verse by verse. We worship in spirit and truth. We remember the Lord through communion. We celebrate baptism when God saves. We love one another. If that makes us a cult church it is a label we proudly wear. 

History Hangs On The Hinges Of The Obscure

Rayburn was a long time member of a church I pastored. He often dropped in to visit with me at the office. Many times I visited him and his wife in their home. On a few occasions I had the privilege of ministering to Rayburn in the hospital. Rayburn loved the Lord. He loved to study the word of God. He also loved his church.

When he called to come see me in the early spring of 2010 I did not have any idea what a fateful day that would be and the divine encounter I would have. Rayburn was older. In the time I served that church I never saw him in attendance at any service. He watched our services faithfully on television. He was a key player in getting the services televised.

He walked into my office with the aid of a cane. We exchanged a few pleasantries and then he got to the point of why he came to see me. He told me he thought the lord was leading our church to have a revival. My initial response was not positive as he kept talking. I went through a list of people in my mind I could invite to a revival meeting and the list was very narrow. Rayburn continued. He said bluntly, "Pastor, I think you are supposed to preach that revival and furthermore, I think you should schedule it to last ten days."

I had not expected that. I could not think of a single instance where the pastor of a local congregation preached a revival meeting for the church he served. I assured Rayburn I would pray over it. We then prayed together and he left.

I did pray on the matter diligently. I can't tell you what God used to convince me this was His prompting but in time I did feel God was leading in the matter. We scheduled the revival meeting for late July of 2010.

I took a little three day retreat to write a devotional book to be used in preparation for the revival. Only God could have inspired such a book. I completed the rough draft of 40 Days To Shake The City in those three days and brought it back to have people help me edit it. We printed it on copy machines and spiral bound copies for our members. 40 days from the start of the revival I encouraged people to fast, pray, and go through the devotion to prepare for what God wanted to do.

God honored Rayburn's visit that day, the people's prayers, and that little devotion book. That ten day revival lasted 23 straight days with 36 people getting saved. Only God could do that.

Few who read this knew Rayburn. He and his wife are now gone on to heaven. Yet this obscure man was used of the Lord in a mighty fashion to deliver a message to this pastor that still humbles me. When I think about Rayburn praying for me and the church I wonder how he received the burden to come visit me that day. I wonder how he received the inspiration to ask me to preach a revival and to schedule it for ten days. That is not an ordinary request. He could have easily dismissed the matter. He did not though. He received God's message for me and acted on it promptly.

How many obscure people has God used to accomplish His purposes. We never know their name. We may never hear their prayers. I think of an invalid lady praying for D.L. Moody to come to her town to preach. Moody did come. Many souls were saved. I think of a praying lady who asked God to send Duncan Campbell to her island to preach bringing revival. Duncan did come and God did usher in revival.

Only God, Rayburn and I were witness to that conversation in my office that day. Yet history was made in those few moments. Eternity will tell the full story. 36 people were gloriously saved. That is part of that story. Thank you Rayburn.

I also think of a single mother named Joan. Several years ago, after I had left the community she lives in, she called to ask me if I would pray with her over a burden she had for a little west Texas town named Kermit. I told her I would pray. I did pray for Kermit for sometime but eventually the burden lifted and I forgot all about that town. That is until out of nowhere I had a dream about Kermit. Subsequent dreams followed over the course of months all with a similar message. I was to go to Kermit to hold revival meetings in that town.

I don't know what God will do in Kermit but I do know He used Joan to draw my attention there. The first thing I did after my first Kermit dream was to remember Joan and the burden she carried for that town. I called her soon afterward. I knew this was not coincidence. That revival meeting is scheduled for July 23-29 of 2017.

How many countless followers of Jesus has He used to change the course of history but we will never their know their names. I do believe that history hangs on the hinges of the obscure people. There will always be the leaders, the out front people, and the people on the stage. Charles Finney was such a leader. Fewer people know about Father Nash who went before Finney to towns to pray for breakthrough before Finney arrived to preach. Finney got the recognition but Father Nash prepared the way for revival through his fervent intercessions.

I thank God for the obscure people who seek God and His kingdom first. I thank Him for the people who work behind the scenes, do the mundane tasks, and never get noticed. Heaven notices. God sees their every deed. I praise His name for such people.

Let me conclude with one other example. Many have heard me preach. I have preached in several states and in two foreign countries. Yet few people know the invaluable service my wife Brenda is to me praying for God to inspire fresh messages. I do not come up with sermons on my own. They are inspired and I know it is because she prays for me so fervently and especially on the weeks when I cannot get a clear or fresh word from the Lord. She is behind the scenes doing the herculean work of interceding for her husband and pastor. I owe a debt of gratitude to her I can never repay. So does every person who ever heard me preach.

I salute the obscure people whom God uses to change history. I humbly bow to the intercessors who should be credited for the work they do but they do it in obscurity. May God raise many more to keep the intercessory work flowing. Through this history will be changed.

Thank you Rayburn. Thank you Joan. Thank you Brenda. History hangs on the hinges of your ministry.

Lakeside Chat

It was an unusual request. My friend wanted to meet me. What made the request so unusual is that he wanted me to meet me at a picnic area right off shore of Lake Brideport. That location is barely a mile from my front door so I opted to walk to our meeting.

It was a blustery day with a cool front blowing in. The wind against my face felt good. The ever so slight chill in the air hinted to the changing of seasons and the coming on of wintry weather around the corner. I walked and prayed. I had many things to pray about. The praying made the walk go by quicker.

When I arrived at the lake the water was choppy with whitecaps. This happens each year when the winds turn from the north. The lake gets rough with the whitecaps waves. Where we sat the wind blew right into my face. I sat facing the lake. My friend sat opposite me. We talked for the better part of an hour. My friend is a great listener. He also has a great deal of wisdom. Even though he requested the meeting I would say he did more listening than talking. In hindsight I think maybe he just wanted us to spend some time together. I thought he had something on his mind. I asked. I waited for Him to tell me why he requested the meting. He never gave his reason.

While the clouds were a little overcast it was still a great day. The little nip in the air made the weather refreshing from the unseasonably warm temperatures we have endured during the month of October. Like so often happens when you spend time with people you love and enjoy the time passed too quickly. Though our time together was enjoyable it did not last near long enough.

If you had driven up and seen me at my meeting I wonder what you would have thought. You see my friend though present was invisible. My lakeside chat happened with Jesus. A scene that has repeated itself several times over the past couple of weeks. Just Jesus and me sitting at a picnic table overlooking the lake. Me praying, seeking, and asking Him to speak to me. Me listening and craving His counsel. It reminds me of the words to an old hymn. "He walks with me and talks with me and tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known."

Kermit Confirmation

Today while preaching I talked about how Jesus has directed me to go to Kermit to hold a revival. While there have been several dreams pointing in that direction none of those gave me confirmation two other things did.

There is a man in our church named Dale who walks at the Bridgeport High School track daily. While walking there he met a man. As they conversed over their meetings at the track somehow my name came cup. The second man had heard of me. He heard of me while I was in Seminole about five hours away from Bridgeport. What is the likelihood? He also knew about the three week revival we enjoyed while in Seminole. During that conversation Dale mentioned the dreams I had about Kermit. Would you believe it, the second guy grew up in Kermit. He still has family there.

What are the chances that a man from our small church would meet a man at the track who had  heard of me, knew of the revival in Seminole, and grew up in Kermit? You will not convince me that was not God confirming His call of me to head to Kermit.

Today I shared that story as a sermon illustration. Brenda told me something shocking on our way to lunch. A lady who has visited our church the past two Sundays went up to Brenda at the conclusion of the service to tell her she has a sister who lives in the Kermit area. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

So plans for the Kermit revival are underway. The dates are set for July 23-29. We have located a tent to rent. We are trusting God for close to $4,000 to rent the large canvas tent that will seat about 400 people. If we rent chairs there will be additional expenses. We will begin some advertising after the first of the year requiring more miraculous provision. Each step of this is a step of faith. We do not have money to pull this off and yet God has invited us to join Him and the work He wants to do in Kermit. Where He guides He also provides.

So we pray. We pray for God to prepare the hearts of the people in Kermit. We pray for provision for each step of this revival. We pray for favor in the community. We also plan. We are currently looking for a location to pitch the tent.  I am headed to Kermit on Nov 8 to investigate a location. (I early voted.) There is much work to be done in preparation.

I also have to rewrite the Shake The City Revival Devotion book with expanded material to be ready to distribute 40 days prior to the start of the revival. This will require more miraculous provision.

God has confirmed His call on my life to do this. I am stepping out on faith. I thank Him for His clear confirmation. May He be glorified through this pursuit of Him for revival in Kermit, TX.

House Of Prayer

The house of God has become many things to many people. Some love the fellowship. Others relish in the programs. Another group really benefit from the small groups. A whole other segment enjoy the music. There are still others who love the expositional teaching of scripture.

It is interesting that Jesus never said His house would be a house of fellowship. We love to fellowship though. We even build fellowship halls. We schedule monthly or quarterly church wide fellowships usually over food. We fellowship in one another's home as well as at local restaurants.

Nor did Jesus say His house was to be a house of programs. Yet programs fill the house of God. There are Bible study programs, discipleship programs, exercise and fitness programs, men and women programs, and the list goes on and on. I always say programs do not change people's lives. God does. He may choose to use programs but He transforms people not programs.

Nor did Jesus say His house was a house of small groups. We put a lot of emphasis on small groups. Some churches still do Sunday School. They may call it be a different name but it is still Sunday School. Some do home groups. Others have small discipleship study groups that meet at various times studying various topics. These are all beneficial but it is interesting Jesus did not emphasize that.

Neither did He emphasize music. Music is such an integral part of local congregations. Some have choirs for every age group. These choirs will perform holiday seasonal music as well as other special performances. There are also praise bands and praise teams, The genres of music vary but music and worship are most important to many members. The house of God is not primarily a house of worship.

Though preachers do not want to admit it Jesus did not say His house was to be a house of peaching. Yet we preach. We preach, preach, and then preach some more. If pastors are not preaching they are teaching. I taught twice just last night. God's house is not a house of preaching.

No. Jesus said His house was to be a house of prayer . Mark 11:17 (NASB) 
¹⁷  And He began to teach and say to them, "Is it not written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS'? But you have made it a ROBBERS' DEN."

I have served many churches. Two of them had designated prayer rooms. Yet as collective bodies very little praying took place in many of those congregations. What little that did happen typically happened on a Wednesday night over a prayer list usually of sick church members. I have seen other planned prayer meetings normally not well attended. 

We can give lip service all we want about how important prayer is in local churches or individual lives. The facts speak for themselves. One survey found that average Christians spend less than ten minutes a day in prayer. As far as corporate prayer meetings, take a look at your local church. Does your church have a corporate prayer meeting? How well is it attended? Do you attend such meetings? 

There are churches that are known to be houses of prayer. The Brooklyn Tabernacle. David's Cho congregation in South Korea. Both churches are known for prayer. Both churches are powerfully evangelistic. 

Will we ever learn? A house of prayer will do more good than houses of fellowship, small groups, music, preaching and teaching. 

The Worst Year Of Your Life

Hudson Taylor, missionary to China, had a profound experience with Jesus. So profound it would impact and fuel the rest of his life as a missionary. Taylor found Jesus all satisfying. He would be tested in 1870.

 Many of us can look back to what we consider the worst year of our lives. 1976 was that year for my mother. Her grandmother, my great grandmother, died that year. She and Momma were very close. Later that year my four year old sister died in a drowning accident in a pond while my mother slept. Momma worked the night shift as a nurse and cat napped during the day while watching my sister also. She worked hard trying to make ends meet as a single mother of three. She never got over my sister's death. I think she carried immense guilt. Momma was not a Christian at that time. She did not know how to cope with the painful events of that year.  She would not be saved for many years.

Hudson Taylor had a very difficult 1870. It was the worst year of his life. First, the year started out horribly as his young son Samuel died in January. That in and of itself would be a devastatingly crushing blow for most. In July his wife gave birth to another boy. The baby boy they named Joel died two weeks later. Later that same month his wife Maria died of Cholera. Three deaths in his immediate family in seven months. To make matters worse Taylor, a still relatively young man, had four other children to try and raise alone.

How did he cope with such sorrow? How did he survive the worst year of his life? He found Jesus all satisfying. All satisfying in life as well as in death. All satisfying in triumph as well as in sorrow. All satisfying in marriage as well as a widower. Jesus not only sustained Taylor, but He also exchanged His divine life for Taylor's mortal life to live, love, and serve through. The exchanged life between Jesus and Taylor became the source of Taylor's strength in overwhelming grief.

Each of us will have a worst day and a worst year of living. If we have learned what Taylor did, that Jesus is all satisfying in every season of life, we too will endure. We too will press on to see better days and better years.

Taylor remarried later on. His second marriage survived for over three decades. He had two more children. God blessed his missionary work in China. The point is that good years and God's blessings can follow the hardest years of life. And if that does not happen down here on earth, it most assuredly will for the saved in heaven. The same Jesus who proved all satisfying in life will be abundantly more so in eternity. In hardest years of life as well as through all of eternity.

Miracle From The Pew To The Pulpit

Many people go attend worship services when they do not feel like it. They may sing or choose to meditate on the words when their world is falling apart. Many opt to stay at home. Many have shattered dreams and broken hearts. They are barely able to cling to faith. Many come to worship and sing and seek God through their pain. Each song sung is an offering to the Lord.

Many such hurting and broken people come to worship hoping for a fresh word from God. They long for a touch from the Lord to remove the burden or to move the mountain. Some sit stoically through the service though their inner world and resolve are crumbling. They know what it is like to attend a service when their hearts are not in it.

It is different for the preacher. When the preacher's private world is coming undone he does not have the option to stay at home. Nor does he get to sit in his seat to only receive. When the preacher is dry facing his own wilderness experiences there are still sermons to prepare and to preach. When preachers are emotionally depleted from funerals, counseling sessions, leadership issues, and personality problems with people in the pews they may not feel like preaching.

Of course such preachers pray through their pain and their personal issues. Of course they show up Sunday after Sunday. Yet there is another side few in the congregation ever know.

Church members receive great and glorious truth through men with clay feet. I mean God chooses to work through flawed individuals. How many in the crowd are really aware of the miracle that takes place from the pew to the pulpit.

Many pastors have sat in their pews empty, bankrupt and feeling they had nothing to give and could not possibly preach that day. They are tired from over scheduling. They weary of always having another sermon to prepare. The average person in the pew would find it surprising how quickly Sundays come around for pastors. Pastors get discouraged from criticism, low attendance, and low budgets. Pastors have to deal with their personal sin, failures, and family issues.

All of that to say there are Sundays when pastors do not feel like preaching. That is when God intervenes. He moves in the hearts of His  pastors in the few steps from the pew to the pulpit. It is supernatural. In those few moments a transformation often takes place. A revival is sparked. An awakening happens. In those few moments God infuses His servants with life, energy, passion, and supernatural power to do the great glorious work of preaching. He splashes anointing over the depleted hearts of His warrior preachers. This is nothing short of miraculous.

Few people in the pews know this miracle happens. They come to get their cups filled by servants of the Lord who often preach when their cups are empty. God is their supply and through the miracle from the pew to the pulpit many cups run over. Praise the Lord.

Surpassing Value

Think about your life. All the people who mean something to you. Family. Friends. Co-workers. Neighbors. Teachers, coaches, and others who deeply influenced you. Now think about all you possess. Vehicles, clothes, guns, atvs, campers, jewelry, homes, computers and phones. All of it.

Now think about what you value most of all of those. I immediately think of my wife and boys. You probably think about your family as well. As far as earthly possessions I guess what I value most is my library of books. It has taken two and half decades to collect them. I cold not put a monetary value of them because some of them cannot be replaced.  They are no longer in print.

Now add all of it together. Relationships. Possessions. Even past or current accomplishments. Do those things hold more value and weight than Jesus does in your life?

Philippians 3:7-8 (NASB)
⁷  But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
⁸  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,


When Paul wrote the things he had gained he counted as loss, the word loss means "damaging." How could this be? Anything that can allure  us away from a love relationship with Jesus or distract us from knowing Jesus is damaging. Families can do this. So can jobs. Sports has lured millions away from Jesus.

Paul presses the point when he writes, "I count all things as loss in view of the SURPASSING VALUE OF KNOWING CHRIST JESUS my Lord." The words surpassing value means superior and more important. Knowing Jesus is superior to every other relationship. Between Spouses. Parents and children. Grandparents and grandchildren. ALL RELATIONSHIPS are inferior to a personal relationship with Jesus. Knowing Jesus is of greater worth than any possession.

In eternity a house, the latest fashions nor the most updated cell phone will do absolutely nothing for you when facing eternity. No person can help you when you stand before God in judgment except JESUS! He alone has earned the right to forgive sin and declare people righteous who have trusted Him for salvation.

Jesus is of surpassing value even if most Americans and other people around the world do not recognize it. Eternity will prove it. Today we are easily distracted and far too easily amused with lesser things. Jesus is of more worth and more weighty  than anyone or anything else in this world.
He is the most supremely valuable person, most superior reality, and the greatest blessing any person can have through salvation.

That is true whether we believe it, receive it, and live it or not. JESUS IS OF SURPASSING VALUE  COMPARED TO EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING.

Kermit Shake The City Revival

Kermit Shake The City Revival

July 23-29

Kermit, TX

Faith Walking

I never set out intentionally to live a life of faith walking. As a teenager I admittedly had very weak faith and an even weaker prayer life.

I did not learn about prayer and faith until I enrolled in college. Another student turned me on to an author named Leonard Ravenhill. Ravenhill introduced me to E.M. Bounds, David Brainerd, and John Hyde all mighty in prayer. A true love of prayer began though I knew so little about it and was so ineffective practicing it.

Later I read the biography on George Muller. His life of prayer and faith had a profound impact on me. His commitment to never ask anyone for financial support, to make his needs as well as the needs of thousands of orphans known only to God in prayer stirred me.  The missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, was also deeply impacted by Muller's life and lived similarly in his China Inland endeavors.

I knew God was calling me to a life of faith walking. Brenda and I committed to this same philosophy of ministry over the years. We have communicated our needs to God and sought to glorify Him when He answers. Over and over again God answered prayers.Over the years He has tested us.

Many years ago Brenda and I were facing a financial crisis.  I sat in my office in an old prayer room, and asked God, "Can I really trust You to meet my needs. Can I really only tell You what I need or do I need to drop hints to people or share my need with others trusting You to prompt them to help. Do I need to communicate my needs to You alone or do I share them with others." 

I barely finished that prayer when my phone rang. It was a guy I met briefly on a preaching trip. He had been assigned to pick me up at the airport and drive me to the church where I would be preaching. We enjoyed our visit but I had never spoken to that man since that day. He was the one on the line. He told me God had prompted him to send me some money and wanted to get my address.

I leaned back in my chair astounded. Totally blown away at God's dramatic answer to my prayer. With that answer we do not tell people what we need. We ask God to share our needs with His children. He does and has for nearly two decades. I have taken ministry trips with nothing but a full tank of gas and three quarters to my name in my pocket. God supplied each leg of that trip.

Just a couple of years ago God prompted me to get involved in a little west Texas town named Kermit. How is a long involved story I have written about at great lengths in other posts. I made trips out there for prayer meetings and Bible studies with no provision for the trips but a clear call from God to go. Each time God got me there and back. Once a former church member from a church I served two decades ago sent me a prepaid Shell gas card for those trips. Another individual gave me $500 for such trips. One man in Kermit once gave me $100 and all I did was share the stories of faith of God's provision. I  love to testify of His faithfulness. I did not communicate my needs. I prayed. God heard. God supplied. I testified afterwards. That has been our pattern in ministry and life for most of our marriage.

God will not let me alone about Kermit. I have not been there since December of 2014 physically but, I have visited there numerous times in my spirit through prayer. I keep feeling this urge to hold a Shake The City Revival meeting there. Another faith step. Attempts to contact pastors in the town have been unfruitful thus far. Yet God beckons me to take this faith step. I am mandated to minister in Kermit. So I prepare for more faith walking.

So here I go. The dates for the Kermit Shake The City Revival are July 23-29.  We have so much to trust God for. We are tentatively planning on a tent meeting. I don't even have a place to pitch that tent yet. Yet God beckons me to trust Him. I have no budgeted money for the expenses of such an event but God calls me to take another faith step. So here I go again.

Logic tells me this will be a huge failure. Few people in Kermit know me. I don't know a dozen people in Kermit. I really only have one contact. Yet, the clear calling of God persists. He wants to do something in that town and He is inviting me to join Him in that work. So I faith walk and set the dates. Every phase of this will be faith walking. That is only about nine months away. There is much praying to be done. There is much ground work to be done. Each another faith step.

I need to make trips back to Kermit but currently an obstacle stands in the way. Those trips will begin shortly. For now, I pray. I seek the Lord for His plan. I cannot manufacture revival. I am no expert. I am just a man trying to follow Jesus. While I have preached numerous revival meetings I can only say I have honestly been a part of three true revivals. I ask in prayer that Kermit will be the fourth.

I make those dates public as a step of faith and to be held accountable to follow through. Does this frighten me? Yes. I cannot shake the call to do this. My reputation is not important. If I fall on my face I will fall on my face faith walking. I will obey what I believe is the leading of God. The results are up to Him.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NASB)
⁷  for we walk by faith, not by sight—

NO, Probably Not

I had just spent over thirty minutes pouring my heart out in teaching God's truth. I was nearing the end of the message. Rather than close out the time with a prayer I did something a little different. I wanted to know if those in attendance clearly understood God's word and if they were willing to adjust their lives to that truth.

I went around the room asking people if they would follow through on what Jesus commanded. The first person I asked paused for a moment and then shockingly said, "No, probably not." That person was not alone. Others said they would not heed Jesus' commands either. The majority said they would. Those who denied were faithful members and leaders.  I could not believe what I heard.

We had just sat under the clear authoritative teaching of Jesus and people openly rejected, Christian people, openly rejected the truth. What Jesus commanded was neither easy nor comfortable. And in the end of our time together what Jesus commanded made no difference to many people in the room.

I do not think that is an isolated incident. I think all over America there are scores of people who reject adjusting their lives to Biblical truth. They hear, hear some more, forever hear but do not do what Jesus says. They prefer to live according to their own rules, their own values, and their own wisdom. People actually think they know how to live their lives better than to live out Biblical principles.

Perhaps this is why there can be a great divide in some churches between pastors and the congregations. If a pastor comes in holding to the inerrancy of scripture and its authority, and  preaches expecting everyone in the church to live up to those standards, but find congregants live by a different set of rules trouble will soon follow.

How can true followers of Jesus in response to Biblical truth ever say, "No,  probably not." In other words, how can true disciples ever say anything but, "Yes, Lord."

It does not matter what Jesus commands. Our response should ever be, "Yes, Lord."

Let me illustrate. Last Sunday morning while driving into my office before the worship service I saw an elderly woman using a walker slowly shuffling down a busy thoroughfare in Bridgeport. We were going in opposite directions. I passed by when I felt the first nudging from the Lord that I needed to turn around to offer the lady assistance.  Two scriptures came to mind as I passed by.

Luke 10:30-37 (NASB)
³⁰  Jesus replied and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.
³¹  "And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
³²  "Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
³³  "But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion,
³⁴  and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
³⁵  "On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.'
³⁶  "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?"
³⁷  And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same."

Matthew 25:31-46 (NASB)
³¹  "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
³²  "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
³³  and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
³⁴  "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
³⁵  'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
³⁶  naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
³⁷  "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
³⁸  'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
³⁹  'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
⁴⁰  "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
⁴¹  "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
⁴²  for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
⁴³  I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'
⁴⁴  "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'
⁴⁵  "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
⁴⁶  "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

I had two choices. Rebel against God and His teachings. Reject His prompting and nudging to help. Or obey. In my mind I had no choice. I did a u-turn to help the lady. When I got there another lady and her husband had stopped and gotten out of their vehicle to help this elderly lady. I made the block and saw they had the situation taken care of. 

Didn't God know that couple would stop when He prompted me to turn around. I am convinced God tested me that day. He wanted my obedience. 

I cannot conclude that story with some great moment of ministry. I can tell you in that moment when confronted with God's truth I did not respond, "No, I will probably not obey You in this now or in the future." I said, "Yes, Lord." 

How can we ever go into a devotion, attend a worship service, or sit in a Bible study and not upfront say, "Yes, Lord." I clearly understand to make such a commitment is unsettling. 

I recall in one worship service where we were demonstrating humility by washing people's feet the Lord  prompted me to go wash one person's feet. I did not want to. This person did not live a Christ honoring life, had hurt many people in that church, and we had our disagreements. I sat in the pew wrestling with God. I always know when it is truly God leading in an area when I try to rationalize disobedience and argue my way out of it but the prompting continues. I surrendered. I got up and went to that individual and brought them to the altar. I knelt down and took off their socks and shoes and washed their feet. In hindsight I am glad I obeyed. That moment proved be a turning point in my relationship with that individual. 

May we never respond to God's call for us to do something or to adjust our lives to His truth by saying, "No, probably not. " May He forever hear these sweet words roll off our tongues, "Yes, Lord."

Sheep Without A Shepherd

 I once preached a youth event for a church without a pastor. Sitting in the back one evening watching all the strangers pile into the room without knowing anyone a scripture came to mind.

Matthew 9:36 (NASB) 
³⁶  Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus sees the distressed and dispirited people. They wander through life lost and confused. They have no direction and trusted leaders, such as politicians, have betrayed them and let them down. Such troubled and cast down people fake it through life. They learn to survive. They comfort themselves with the temporary pleasures of sin. They wander further from the fold. 

Jesus sees. He also has pity on such people. He is a good shepherd. He loves. He protects. He nourishes. He mends wounds. He guides. He keeps vigilant watch. 

I sat in the back of that room watching adults walk in. I saw happy couples. I saw friendly faces. I saw people busy with responsibilities for the weekend. They had every appearance of happiness and success. They greeted one another, laughed, and hugged. Yet beneath all of that God showed me they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. 

As only God could orchestrate, one day I became those people's pastor. Over my tenure I got to know them. I saw beneath the outward appearances. Some were distressed by life. Some were dispirited by heavy burdens. For some God brought deep healing. Others never dropped their masks. They continue in their pain. 

O that every wandering sheep would run to the refuge of the flock of Jesus. O that people would sleep soundly and securely under His watch care. How I long that these people would truly experience what it means to be loved, known by name, and cared for by the Good Shepherd Jesus Himself. There is no better place to be than in His fold. They need not be sheep without a shepherd ever again. 

The Push Of A Heavenly Hand

Sometimes I picture life like walking a high wire suspended between two skyscrapers. The going is slow and often difficult. Finding faith to balance is crucial. If we lose our faith and balance we can fall off on fear on one side and despair on the other side.

Maintaining faith and hope are not easy. The winds of assault are contrary to us. One misstep and we fall into our fears. Fall the other way and we give way to despair and a fog like mist that clouds out the sun rays of hope. How do you maintain your balance.

While reading something today on the famous pastor Charles Spurgeon, a quote from him really grabbed my attention. As I sit thinking about faith, fear, and despair his quote hits home.

Let me give another analogy first. The door of life swings on a large hinge. If it swings one way we get bolted into depression. If the door swings the other way to freedom and  to hope. Which way the door swings is important.

On any give day the door can swing the wrong way and  we can become imprisoned to despair. No amount of pushing and shoving can unbolt the door setting us free. Here is Spurgeon's quote. "The iron bolt which so mysteriously fastens the door of hope and holds our spirits in gloomy prison needs a heavenly hand to push it back."

Many reading this today know what Spurgeon is talking about. There are times when the gloomy prison of despair cannot be unbolted by therapy, reading, talking with family and friends, or trying to gain a positive attitude. Sometimes the bolt on that locked door is so heavy it can only be moved open by the heavenly hand of God.

He alone can push that bolt open with the slightest effort restoring our faith and our hope. While locked in that prison all you may see in every direction is hopelessness, anxiety, fear, and despair. From your perspective it may seem like you will never be free again nor ever see the bright light of hope as on a cloudless day. Just when it appears all is lost God steps in and with His pinky pushes the bolt opening the door and setting us free.

The sad truth is that though His heavenly hand pushes the bolt away and opens the door many choose to dwell in the dungeon shadows of depression rather than to walk and bask in marvelous light. God offers us freedom from fear and despair. He has already opened the door. All we have to do is embrace that freedom by faith and cling to it.

Yet many prefer the familiarity of the shadows of sorrow and the dungeon of despair than to walk out with those heavy chains broken. Why would any person choose to live that way for moment, a day, or a lifetime? There is twisted comfort in depression. Though tattered and dirty, depression is like an old coat that needs to be replaced but we find comfort in it. We still find a small measure of security in the familiar confines of despair. Jesus is offering a seat by the fire in the refuge of His presence if we will receive it.

O that God would push the bolt open on despair and take us by the hand leading us out. He will not force us out. He could. He lets us choose. We must choose, once free,  to remain balanced on top of that high wire. We choose the path of faith or we choose fear and despair.

He pushes the bolt open with His heavenly hand. May we spring to our feet and run for freedom. Once outside living on the high wire may we stay balanced in faith and hope.

Romans 12:12 (NASB)
¹²  rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

From Murky Water To Crystal Clear

Preaching expository messages is not always easy. Sometimes when preaching through a book of the Bible verse by verse a set of verses that are murky arise in the schedule. The meaning or relevant application may not be clearly identified. This is what happened to me studying for the Sunday morning message this week.

I read the passage and immediately wondered how to preach a passage ghat did not inspire me. I sat down to do the word study work. No inspiration came. The passage seemed like a stagnant pond with scum and moss growing on the surface leaving the waters murky and unfit to drink. I still believed it was God's word but no message came.

It weighed and weighed on me. Come Saturday night I still did not have anything but a murky view still. The truth is the scripture was not murky as much as my mind was dull. I could not see clearly. The longer the message did not come the more discouraged I grew. . Prayer did not work. Pondering did not work. Reading did not work.

I began thinking of taking an easy way out by preaching an easier passage from another book. I went to bed Saturday night with that as my intention. When I awoke early on Sunday morning I went to my home office. There on my desk sat the word study from previous labors. It still looked murky and I could not see a message.

I prayed. Then, like a key that fits a locked door God dropped one word into my mind that proved the key to unlocking, not only the passage, but inspiring a message. Those scriptures went from looking murky to becoming crystal clear in a matter of seconds.

God gives the revelation. God gives the inspiration. God provides the insight. God provides the illumination to see what at first looks murky making it crystal clear. That seemingly murky passage became a life giving stream to feed the flock.

All the education, all the commentaries, all the study helps, and all the past exegesis did not help to see clearly. God made the murky clear. God opened a dull mind and gave him the key to unlock a treasure trove of truth to nourish the people of God.

When that message all came together I sat back in my chair looking at the notes on my desk. I reclined in amazement that God worked miraculously in my mind to bring it all together. Those in attendance today who heard the message may not have given it high regards. They were not there when God gave the key to unlock the door turning the murky into crystal clear life giving truth for this preacher. I do not take that for granted. It felt pretty supernatural to me and I hope and pray God will continue to give those kind of messages to my last breath.

Empty

Are you empty? Has your tank run dry? Are you coasting through life on fumes rather than fuel. There are mothers who are tired from the daily chores of managing a home as well multiple schedules. Fathers run on empty from the pressures of work and financial stress. A person can get to the point when they have nothing left to give. Yet there are still demands and duties to meet.

Empty people are like people running on a treadmill. They may exert a great deal of energy and effort but not go anywhere.

Empty people have nothing left to give until they are refilled.

A picture of water can hold a definite amount, let's say 60 ounces of water. Throughout the day if you pour water from that picture eventually it will empty. No matter how many times you pick it up and turn it upside down, if it empty, nothing will come out. It has nothing left to give. Cups will go unfilled. That is unless you stop and refill the picture.

So it is with people. That is what people need to do. They need to be refilled with joy.
People who give and give constantly. They get emptied physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They need replenishing. They need to receive. Empty people have nothing to give. They may still go through the motions but they have nothing left to offer anyone.

In the middle of pouring his life out as a drink offering, [Phil 2:17] Paul says two things He exhorts his readers to have joy ad to share joy. How do you have joy internally when externally there is so much pain, sorrow, wickedness, and trials externally.  Is it possible to be replenished and maintain joy in joyless situations?

Evidently Paul thought so. When he poured his life out and emptied himself where did he find replenishment? Where did he find joy?

First, let's tackle the source of joy for Paul. The answer is found in chapter three. Philippians 3:1 (NASB) 
¹  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. 

Jesus is our source of joy. We can rejoice  in His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, help, deliverance, comfort, counsel, peace, and faithfulness. When we are empty Jesus fills us. We have to find the surpassing value of knowing Him wile counting other things as loss. [Phil 3:7-8]He strengthens us to go through another mundane Monday, a terrible Tuesday, and all the way through a sorrowful Saturday. When we are empty He refuels us with  His gladness. 

Another way he does that is by sending people along side us to help and to encourage us. Paul had Timothy and Epaphroditus. They shared in Paul's joy. I am certain they also shared their joy. Don't we all need people to share their joy with us from time to time. When you are having a bad day but someone shoulders next to you sharing their gladness they found in Jesus it can help you find hope. 

Empty people do not have much hope. Just as people can share their joy with you, there are also others that rob joy. Paul identified these people as dogs, evil workers, and false circumcision. Unfortunately, some of the people who drain the most and hurt others the most are so called religious people. They may appear to be religious on the outside but inside they are wicked. Even so, such people cannot rob your joy if you remain focused on Jesus and surround yourself with people who share their joy with you through encouragement. 

We are surrounded by empty people. Yo might sit  next to many of them in the stands. You may have been on the same row with them in worship today. You will pass them on the way to work tomorrow. There are empty people who have poured their lives out giving and giving to their families, to their employers, and to extended family and friends. They have nothing left to offer anyone. 

Jesus replenishes. Ask Him to refill you. He might do it through another person as they share their joy with you. He did so with me recently through an eighth grade boy named Trey. Trey is a blond haired good looking kid always happy, always smiling, and always positive except when competing. I never see him around town that he does not greet me with a smile, a handshake, and sometimes even a hug. He is one of the most joyously contagious people I've ever known. It is hard to be around Trey without that joy and gladness rubbing off onto you. God has used Trey to fill my cup and brighten my day many times. 

I am thankful that when we are empty we can be refilled with joy from Jesus and His people. We don't have to stay empty. We can live life full. 

Knocking

Matthew 7:7-8 (NASB)
⁷  "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
⁸  "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  

There is an old song I used to listen to over and over again. Te title is "Knocking On The Doors Of Heaven." We knock in prayer. We knock looking for opportunities. We knock and knock until the knuckles of our soul are bloodied and bruised from knocking on the doors of Heaven. 

Many times the doors remain shut. In extreme cases one door after another remains shut for extended periods of time. People in that situation may feel trapped, blocked in, and abandoned. They may even be tempted to quit knocking. 

Could it be that God intentionally shuts many doors protecting us from pain and sorrow. Could it be that God shuts a thousand doors reserving His best door of opportunity for those that keep knocking in prayer. Don't give up. Don't quit knocking. The open door could be just around the corner. And even if it does not open then keep knocking on the next one and the next one until eventually God opens a door, His door, the right door. 

Even old door to door salesmen knew this. They might have been denied a sale at 99 doors they locked on and then found payday on the hundredth one. God desires to open doors for His children, the right doors. Each shut door is God in a loving way waiting to give us His best. We will never know how close we are to God's best door being opened unless we keep knocking.   Keep knocking. Don't give up you are closer than ever before.

Sek

My maternal grandmother was the best hide and seeker I ever knew. Let me clarify.  She was the best seeker. One day I bet her I could hide somewhere she could not find me. I still remember what she said, "If I put a notion to it I can find you anywhere." Over and over again I hid that afternoon and she found me every time. I did not know what a "notion" was but I thought it might be a super human power.

As a full fledged middle aged adult I no longer play hide and seek. I guess I will save that for the grandkids down the road. I do  find myself constantly seeking. Seeking God to know Him. Seeking His will and purposes. Seeking answers to difficult problems. Seeking peace in world filled with anxiety. There is not lack of seeking.

Just like with the asking sometimes the answers do not come right away when seeking. Sometimes the long sought direction is not revealed right away. Sometimes no matter how much seeking His face God remains hidden. His silence at times meets our seeking.

So what do we do? Do we quit seeking. By no means. We seek all the more with perseverance. We will find if we press on in seeking. Isn't that what He assured us. Matthew 7:7-8 (NASB) 
⁷  "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
⁸  "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  

Keep seeking. We will find the truth, the direction, and Him if we keep seeking. Never give up seeking. In fact, put a notion to seeking for the rest of your life. 

Ask

The memory is vivid in my mind. One so horrific it has left emotional scars to this day. We were at the park enjoying a picnic. My mother was trying to created a family memory. I was no more than nine or ten and my brother a year younger. What would happen later is not what she had in mind.

For some reason she struck out on her own as a single mother and moved my brother and I to Houston. She met a construction worker; a very savory character. I guess they dated for awhile. The next thing I knew we moved to a new apartment and I was told I had a new "father." I do not even remember a wedding ceremony. I had a step father nonetheless.

On that picnic I asked my stepfather for a drink of water. He took a cup filled it with water and then without explanation or warning he threw the cup of water in my face. I never asked him for anything ever again and I rejoiced when my mother ended that relationship with that terrible man.

To this day I don't like asking for help. I am continually put in situations where I need help. I have never been mechanically minded. I am more at home in a library than a lumber yard. So there are times when projects arise that are beyond my ability and I have to ask for help.

Truth be told life requires that I ask for help. Ask God. There are times when I ask and ask and ask God for help. There are other times when I give up the asking and accept things the way they are. In such times I am reluctant to ask God for help.

Any person who has ever asked God for anything knows what it is like to not receive what you asked for. There are reasons God does not answer. Maybe the time is not right. Maybe God denies our request is because He has something else, something better, in mind. Maybe the answer is no because He knows what is best and He knows the outcome of everything. He tells us to ask Him.


Matthew 7:7-8 (NASB)
⁷  "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
⁸  "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  

We ask, ask, and ask. When it pleases God He gives and we receive. It will be in His perfect timing. We ask but we must learn to ask patiently and perisistenlty waiting on the answer. We ask and must learn to submit to His authority when He denies what we ask. We ask and ask. It is a glorious day when God chooses to answer. On that day God should get the glory. So keep asking. One day we will receive. 

Are You Seeking God Or An Experience

Most Christians know the exhilaration of leaving a worship service energized, euphoric, and on fire. Many people have had meaningful encounters with God that are still bearing fruit to this day.

It appears to me many people are hunting for experiences instead of seeking the God of the experience. Let me explain. Several years ago I attended a conference where Louie Giglio was preaching. God moved that night in a powerful fashion. On the drive home I contemplated how many more conferences I would have to attend before I could truly sell out. I had attendened many conferences and heard many preachers looking for whatever experience would help me turn the corner for good in my struggle against sin, desire to be faithful, and to be more anointed by God to preach, shepherd, nd write. I am still seeking all of that decades later. Instead of an experience what I needed then and need today is true encounters with God daily to shape me into the servant I need to be.

I walked out of that conference that night with my passion reignited, with my faith strengthened, and my resolve to serve God in my generation deeply entrenched. You know what happened. The emotionalism of that experience wore off in time. The feelings fled. The passion passed.

There are many experience junkies in the Christian ranks. They are always going from conference to conference, program to program, and church to church bustling about looking for the next spiritual high. They crave emotional experiences to keep them afloat spiritually.

How many of these same people spend equal time and effort in their private devotions of prayer and Bible meditation. I have walked with God long enough to know that I cannot be governed spiritually by my emotions. Neither can you. Nor can we judge the move of God in a worship service by how many people respond to the music or message emotionally.

We need churches filled with God seekers. Those who cannot be satisfied with the lesser blessings of emotionalism but want the true meat of encounters with God. We need people who are satisfied to linger long in secret place with the Father to learn from Him and to learn of Him. We need people who hunger and thirst for God more than they do an emotional experience.

Sure, meeting with God can produce emotions. I have wept my eyes out in altar calls. I have sung at the top of my lungs in moving worship services. I have prayed with passion in response to the move of God in my life. I can think of dozens and dozens of such encounters over the years.

The times that have come to mean the most to me over the years have nearly always come in my private times of seeking Him. I recall such a time in New Mexico. I recall another sitting at a picnic table on the shores of Lake Palestine. There have been others sitting in quiet corners of cafes. Some took place in a prayer cabin in deep east Texas and others walking dusty country roads. There have been too many encounters with God to cont in my living room or home office. The sweetness of each of those was meeting with God. He was and still is my ultimate pursuit not an experience.

How much are people missing out because they spend all their time and energy seeking an experience. Leadership in local churches are guilty of trying to manufacture such experiences through music, multimedia presentations, and messages. Few notice these can never substitute from a true encounter with our Creator. One true encounter with the living God is worth more than thousands of emotional experiences that will wear off in time.

Seeking God is a lifelong pursuit, the most glorious quest, and is not always done when surrounded by throngs of people. Truly seeking God and knowing Him require solitude and prayer. It requires the slow meditational reading of the scriptures. He longs to be found by the true seekers. He waits to be wanted. Let me ask again. Are you seeking God or an experience?

The Good And The Bad

People like to label others. Popular, athletic, beautiful, smart, and outgoing. People also like to judge and can be quick to label someone as good or someone else as bad depending on choices they make. Last time I read my Bible we are all identified as sinners. We all have failed, sinned, and come up short. We all have blown it.

Does that mean we are bad? If we do it right for a season does that mean we are good? No person is faultless except through the blood of Jesus and His grace. Apart from that we are all bad.

So why do people go around judging others when they are guilty of sin as well. I have experienced and drunk of the grace of God deeply. I am not the person to pick up the stone and throw it. I have deserved to receive the stoning more times than I can count but God has dealt with me in amazing grace. How can I not extend that grace to others when they mess up.

The church is supposed to be a hospital for sinners but too often we make it a sanctuary only for the saints. Yet, nobody is a saint. There are only forgiven sinners in the church and we should always make rom for others to find what we have found.

Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in the act of adultery. He exhorted her to sin no more but dealt with her in grace. Why can't His people deal with the sin of others graciously as well. Why can't we quit labeling people as good and bad. Instead let us identify people as lost and saved. The lost need to hear about the love of Jesus and taste His grace and forgiveness. The saved never need to forget that wonderful liberating truth. Jesus is the only good thing in any of us.