Benefits of the Resurrection

It is Easter Sunday – the day we celebrate the greatest event in human history! I want to give you some truth that will greatly encourage your heart. I have listed here 6 benefits that are ours because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Be sure to read the passages that go with the benefits:


The benefits of Christ’s resurrection are as follows:

1. We have proof that Jesus is who He said He was! We can be certain He is the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

Matt 17:22-23
22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life."


2. We have the forgiveness of all our sins! The penalty for sin has been paid for us by Christ.

1 Cor 15:17-18
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

3. We have victory over the power of sin! This means we do not have to sin. The same power that raised Christ is alive with us.

Rom 6:6-7
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Rom 8:11
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

4. We have authority over Satan and the demonic realm! Because of Christ in us, we can tell Satan to take a hike from our life.

Luke 10:19-20
19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

5. We have eternal life! This means we get to live with Jesus in heaven forever. This truth can keep someone devoted to Christ in the midst of the most difficult situations.

1 Cor 15:20-24
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

6. We have hope for daily living! In addition to hope for the future (i.e. eternal life), we also have hope for every day living.

1 Peter 1:3
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead




Perhaps you can think of other benefits from Christ's resurrection. If so, just write them in the comments section! What a privilege to serve a Risen King!

Hot Hearted For God

This weekend I spoke at a Men-Boy's retreat on "Having a Hot Heart for God." I love to use visual props in my messages, so I gave this message around a campfire. Here are the four ingredients I spoke about in having a hot heart for God:

1. An outside source must light the fire. Without an outside source starting the fire, the wood is simply dead and dry. It has no life in itself. The fire cannot start itself. In the same way, we are dead in our sins and cannot save ourselves (Eph. 2). God, by His mercy, must come to us and save us. He is the One who shows us our sin and gives us the grace to repent and believe unto salvation. When we receive Him, He gives us His Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who works "in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). Ultimately, only God can give us a passion for Him. If you do not have a hot heart for God, ask God to give you a greater desire for Him. I believe this is a prayer God would love to answer.

Does point number one mean we just passively sit back and do nothing? Of course not.

2. We must stoke the fire for it to stay hot. We stoke the fire by spending time with God in the Word and prayer. We must seek the Lord in order to keep the fire of our heart hot. Even Jesus, while on earth, would often slip away to the Wilderness and pray. If the Son of God, who had an eternity of fellowship with God built up, needed to spend time alone with His Father, how much more do we need to spend much time with God in order to keep the fire hot?! When we meditate on the Word and prayer, we stoke the fire and add logs to the flame.

Does seeking the Lord mean it is just a "Jesus and me" deal? Not at all.

3. The logs must stay together to burn brightly. If you remove one log from the fire (which I did when I gave this message), it will soon go out. For a short time it will continue to burn, but it doesn't take long for it to get cold. In the same way, we need the support and encouragement of other "hot hearted" Christians to stay hot for God. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Prov. 27:17). I have been in a men's group of some kind my entire Christian life. I need this. I cannot do it alone. I will drift without other men holding accountable. And so will you? Are you meeting with others who help your heart to stay hot for God?

4. We must be relentless to keep water off of our fire. If you pour water on a fire, it will go out. There are many things in our life and culture that seek to pour water on our fire for God. You and I must identify those things and fight in the Spirit to keep them from our heart. We must "put on the Lord Jesus and make no provision for the flesh" (Rom. 13:14). Water on our fire can come in the form of temptations, sin, or just "good things" that become consuming - like a hobby. Hebrews 12 says to put off all sin and "everything that hinders." We know we must put off sin, but how often do we also put off things that hinder us that might not be outright sin? To keep a hot heart for God involves being relentless to keep the water off of our fire.

What I have just shared is not easy. The world, the flesh, and the Devil will all work to pull us down. It is increasingly difficult to live for Jesus in 2009. This is why we must depend on the outside Source (Holy Spirit), spend time with God, fellowship with others, and relentlessly fight against those things that can hinder our walk with God.

Do what it takes to get and maintain a hot heart for God. God is a consuming fire!

Death To Life

“For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” 2 Cor. 4:11-12

Both the natural and the spiritual worlds operate on the death to life principle.

First, let’s look at the natural world: a seed must die and go into the earth to produce life; cells die while new ones come alive; and even a forest fire produces much death that will eventually result in much new growth within that same forest. Death produces new life!

Now let’s move to the spiritual world: we must die to self in order for the life of Jesus to be manifested through us. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (Jn. 12:24).

This principle starts at salvation and continues throughout our spiritual journey. In order to be saved, we must die to self, repent of our sin, and receive the life of Christ. Only then does God begin to live inside of us through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said whoever wishes to save his life will loose it, but whoever looses his life for Christ’s sake will find it.

In the same way we were saved, we progress in our spiritual life by dying to self and yielding to Christ. Each and every day we are called to die to any and every thing that goes against God’s will. The above passage says we must constantly be given over to death for the life of Jesus to be revealed in our mortal body.

Being constantly delivered over to death is not a cake walk, for sure. Who likes dying to self? Who enjoys giving up what they want? Who would choose on their own to put others before self?

In addition to going against our flesh, this death to life principle is also counter-cultural. We live in a day that bombards us with messages of “take care of yourself” … “love yourself” … “you deserve a break” … “do whatever makes you feel good.”

As difficult as it is on our own (i.e. the flesh) to die to self, it is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who works within us to give us a desire to live for God; it is the Spirit who convicts us when we live for self; it is the Spirit who moves us to repent of sin; it is the Spirit who prompts us to yield to God; and it is the Spirit who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). Without the power of the Holy Spirit we could never die to self and experience the life of Christ.

Despite how difficult it can be to die to self, and despite how much this goes against our culture, let’s consider the benefits. When we die to self we get the life of Jesus. What a great trade: my life for His! I trade my sin and get His forgiveness. I trade my confusion and receive His peace. I exchange my weakness for His power. Who wouldn’t want this?

Notice one more point in this passage: when we die to self, life comes to others (“death is at work in us, but life is at work in you”). This is a powerful principle of leadership – what God works in us through death will benefit others. You can probably think of areas in which God worked in your life, though it was very hard at the time, which resulted in accelerated ministry to others. When you experience the death to life principle, you have a platform by which to speak to others. You can relate to their struggles. When you are being called to die to something, you can be assured that if you fully cooperate with God in that death, He will use it to advance your ministry.

So, is God calling you to die to something in your life? Is He asking you to surrender something to Him? Is it time to sacrifice for the kingdom? Sacrifice is giving up something you love for something you love even more. Do you love Jesus even more than ….? Let’s die that we might live!

God's "Around About" Way

Have you ever felt like God did not know what He was doing in your life? Have you been in a situation where you asked, "What in the world are You up to, Lord?" Do you know what it feels like to follow the Lord, only to find yourself in a desert place? I do, and I bet many of you do as well. Whoever said following Jesus with your wholeheart would be easy?

I am reading in Exodus right now, and today I came across a most interesting passage: "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.' So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea" (Ex. 13:17-18). I call this God's "Around About" Way. What a lesson for us: At times God does not lead us to take the shorter or easier path, but rather He leads us through that which will be difficult, yet best for us.

You mean sometimes what is best is difficult? You bet! How is silver perfected? Through heat, trials, and hardships. But at the end of the day, the silver reflects the image of the one refining it.

As the perfect Parent, God knows what path is best for us. It might not be the one we would choose. It is likely not the path we prefer. However, it is God's path. It is God's will. And it is best for us. But only God knows this, and we must trust His divine wisdom. If we knew ahead of time that His path would take us through a desert, we might not agree to go there. Therefore, sometimes God withholds from our understanding the full knowledge ... until we are ready to possess it.

Every earthly parent can relate to this way of working. Often, especially in the early years, we know better than our children what is best for them. We may direct them toward that which will be more difficult, but that which will benefit them most for the long term. If they will trust our wisdom, they will be better off. But if they buck our will and go their own way, they will suffer.

The same holds true in our relationship with God. Even when His will is not easy, we can trust that it is best. This is why it is so important to have an accurate understanding of who God is. I am convinced nothing is more important in our overall spiritual development than having a deep conviction about God's true nature. No topic is more worthy of our study than the attributes of God! When we are going through difficulty, our understanding of God will either make or break us.

When God led me to leave a most wonderful pastorate of 17 years, little did I know it would involve a seven month season of testing, desert dryness, and waiting. I hate too wait. I do not like uncertainty. I struggle when the bank account gets smaller and smaller. On the other hand, I want God's perfect will. I want to know Him better. I desire to become conformed to the image of Christ. If this involves testing, desert dryness, and waiting, then so be it.

When I surrendered my life and heart to Christ, in essence I was saying, "Lord, I am yours. Do whatever it takes to make me like You want me to be."

God led His people out of Egypt and through a "around about" way to the Promised Land. This path was not what they expected, but it was the best path for them. God knew that if they faced war, they would turn back to Egypt.

In the same way, God knows your heart. He knows which path is best for your development, even if that path is not the one you would chose or prefer. Here is where you must trust Him. You must know that His will for you is good, acceptable and perfect (Ro. 12:1-2). Are you willing to trust Him even when He leads you through an "around about" path?

I would love to hear what your experience has been in regards to the topic of this blog. Feel free to share it in the comments section below.

The Power of the Blood

Medical science confirms that blood is the most important part of our body. Without healthy blood, we will die. It is blood that keeps the body going, fights diseases, and gives us life. In the same way that blood is essential to physical health, the blood of Jesus is essential for spiritual health.

I am reading through Exodus right now. The Passover was such an amazing event. All the Israelites had to do was put blood from the sacrificial Lamb on the doorposts of their home, and the angel of death would "pass over" their home. So simple. Such faith. Simple obedience.

The result? Saved from death, delivered from slavery, and set free!

The same is true for us - if we will follow God's instructions and apply the blood of Christ to our hearts, we will be forgiven, saved from sin, and set free to live as God would have us. So simple. So profound. Such faith.

One more thing about the blood of Jesus: We overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:10). You see, Christ's blood dealt Satan a fatal blow, and we enforce that victory through the word of personal testimony and faith in Christ.

Let's rejoice in the power of the blood of Jesus!

Love Motivates God's Tough Challenges

I love it when God shows you something in His Word you have never noticed before. I have read about the rich young ruler many times, but never seen what God showed me today.

You know the story: a rich man comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus recites some of the 10 commandments, and the man says he has kept them all from his youth. Before Jesus tells him that he has to sell all he owns and give it to the poor, Mark 10:21 opens a window for us to see into Jesus' heart.

Look carefully at this passage: "And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'You lack one thing: go, sell all you have ....'" Before Jesus issues this very strict challenge, it says Jesus loved him. Wow. It is love that motivates God's tough challenges.

When God challenges us or appears to be tough on us, we can be sure that He loves us and has our best interests at heart. Every parent knows what this is like. Becasue we love our children, we are hard on them when we know they need it. Jesus knew that money was the god of this man's life, and as long at money remained his god, he would not be fulfilling his purpose in life. Jesus was offering him a better way, but he would have to sacrifice before he would experirence this better way.

Even when God has to discipline us for disobedience, He does this out of love. Hebrews 12:6 says, "For the Lord disciplines the one He loves." Hebrews 12:10 reminds us further that "He disciplines us for our good." God always wants the best for us. Even when His best might not be easy for us, we can rest assured that He loves us and wants us to experience His "good, acceptable and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2).

What are you going through right now that is difficult? Where do you feel the Lord is being hard on you or putting you through more than you can handle? Regardless of what you are experiencing, know that God has your best at heart and loves you more than you can ever imagine. Because God is love, His actions are always motivated out of love for you!

Learning From Joseph in Genesis 37-50

Joseph is one of my favorite persons in the Bible. He provides an amazing example of someone who trusted God amidst some very difficult circumstances. Most of all, we learn from him how an absolute conviction regarding the sovereignty of God is essential for coming out BETTER instead of BITTER when people mistreat us.

During my times with the Lord of late, I have been in Genesis 37-50. Again, I have been challenged and encouraged by the life of Joseph. I admire the following characteristics in him:


1. He resisted sexual temptation. When Joseph was tempted by Potiphar's wife in Gen. 39, he "fled and got out of the house" (v. 12). Many today will see how close to the edge they can get without sinning. Joseph, on the other hand, stayed as far from the edge as he could so as not to fall. "Put on the Lord Jesus and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lust" (Ro. 13:14). Are you resisting any and all sexual tempatation? Josh McDowell once said the number one reason Christians "tub it spiritually" is sexual sin. Don't forget, if you do sin forgiveness and healing is possible through the blood of Jesus.


2. He served God even when falsely accused. After Joseph is falsely accused by Potiphar's wife and put in prison, he still served God by interpreting another prisoner's dream (Gen. 40). He could have become so upset with the Lord that he refused to be a vessel of God. Instead, Joseph faithfully served despite his unpleasant circumstances. When circumstances don't go your way, do you tend to blame God or remain obedient to Him despite what has happened to you? "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58).

3. He kept a God-focus while in prison. In Gen. 40 Joseph interpret's the prisoner's dream, which gets this prisoner out of jail. Joseph asks the prisoner to assist his release, but the prisoner forgets about Joseph. The next thing we are told in Gen. 41 occurs two years later. In other words, two years go by before we hear any more from Joseph. In this incident, Pharaoh has a dream and calls upon Joseph. How do we know that Joseph maintained a God-focus during these two years in jail? Because when asked to interpret the dream, Joseph says, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer" (v. 16). This answer reveals a total dependence on the Lord to give Joseph the interpretation, and God did give Joseph the interpretation. Wow. I am so impressed that Joseph would have this humble attitude in the midst of all he had been through. When you go through difficult times, do you cling tightly to God?

4. He trusted in the sovereignty of God. Here lies the key to Joseph's success. He was totally convinced of God's sovereign control, even over the most unpleasant of situations. Gen. 50:20 reveals this when it says, "as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive." Joseph could have become angry at God, bitter toward his brothers, and resentful at life. Instead, he trusted in the sovereignty of God. God's sovereignty can be easily remembered by breaking down the word: sovereignty = God so very reigns. God is in control even when the worst of situations enter our lives. Bad circumstances do not indicate that God has taken a nap. We simply must wait and trust to see the full plan of God unveiled, even if this takes a long time. "All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Ro. 8:28). Joseph had to wait almost 20 years before he saw the full plan of God come to fruition. He was 17 when sold into slavery; 30 when elevated in Pharaoh's court, and around 36 when he had a son and said, "God has made me forget all my hardship, and all my father's house ... God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction (Gen. 41:51-52). After Joseph spoke these words, it was probably another year before he was reconnected with his family and saw firsthand how his position was able to save their lives. This whole situation amazes me. How would we respond if we had to go throgh 20 years of ups and downs before seeing the full blessing of God? The only way we would do well is if we are convinced that God is totally sovereign over all the affairs of our life - the good as well as the bad ones.

5. He was honest with his emotions. In the latter chapters, there are so many references to Joseph weeping over his family. I cannot imagine what this must have been like for him: hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and then finally being reunited with his family. This was a very emotional ordeal, and the Bible does not hide his pain. Over and over the Bible says "Joseph wept" (42:24; 43:30; 45:1, 14-15; 50:17). Often he would remove himself from public settings in order to privately weep. When we experience difficulty, we need to give ourselves permission to grieve. Feeling sad and distressed is part of walking with God. It is in such times that we need to pour out our heart to God, have trusted friends to talk to, and at the end of the day hold fast to God. Express your pain to God and allow Him to be your comforter!

6. He forgave those who hurt him. As the book of Genesis comes to an end, Joseph's brothers are fearful that he will retaliate for all the wrong they did to him. However, Joseph forgives them because he was a godly man and trusted in the sovereign will of God. Because he forgave his brothers, God blessed Joseph even more. This is similar to the ending of Job's life. Because Job forgave his "friends" for falsely accusing him, God restored to Job all that he had lost. I believe this principle applies to us: if we forgive those who hurt us, we will live under the freedom and blessing of God. But if we withhold forgiveness and choose bitterness toward those who sin against us, we are playing God and will forfeit His blessing. Are you forgiving those who sin against you? Rememember, forgive "as Christ has forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32) It is only as we realize how much Christ has forgiven us that can we forgive others!

Because of Joseph's faithfulness to God, we benefit from his life today. May we live in such a way that others will benefit from our example!

When God Tests Us

Many people don’t think about God testing us, but He does. Many passages in God’s Word speak of God testing us. Consider the following passages:

“The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the LORD your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey him; serve Him and hold fast to Him.” Dt. 13:3-4

“Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Jas 1:3-4

“Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.” Lu. 8:13

“We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” 1 Thess 2:4-5

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” Jas 1:12

“Before the Word of the Lord came to pass, God tested Joseph” (Ps. 105:19)

When God tests us, He is putting us through an event to see if we will pass or fail. Just like tests in school, if we pass, we show we know the material. If we fail, we show we do not know the material and need to take the test again … after a further period of preparation.

In God’s Word, Joseph is an example of someone who passed a test, and David is an example of someone who failed a test. Joseph passed what I call the test of sovereignty: would he trust in God’s sovereignty despite many unpleasant circumstances? Joseph did pass his many severe tests that took place over a 13-year span. Because he passed the tests, he not only experienced closeness with God, but he also was used to save the lives of many. On the contrary, King David failed the test of purity when he committed adultery with Bathsheba. Though he was personally forgiven and restored to fellowship with God (see Ps. 51), a seed (no pun intended) of sexual immorality spread throughout his entire family. Failing a test resulted in forfeited fruit.

Are YOU being tested by the Lord right now? Perhaps your character is being tested by a difficult situation? Maybe you are being tempted in a moral area. A “hard to love” person may be testing whether or not you will love in a 1 Cor. 13 manner. Whatever test you may be going through, remember how much is at stake, namely your walk with God and your fruit for the kingdom.

In order to pass the tests that God gives you, I suggest the following:

1, Be in the Word.
2. Be vulnerable with at least one godly person for support,counsel, and prayer.
3. Pray for God to help you.
4. Don’t give in to your flesh, but abide in Christ.
5. Depend totally on the power of the Holy Spirit in all of the above suggestions.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this blog.

We Have Everything We Need

2 Peter 1:3 tells us that we have everything we need for life and godliness. Really? Yes, we already have everything we need. It doesn't say we will get everything we need if we try harder or obey perfectly. No. We have it now in Christ. At the moment of salvation we immediately received everything we need to live an abundant and godly life.

This being the case, what are some of the things we have that are essential for life and godliness?

1. The indwelling presence of Jesus Christ through the person of the Holy Spirit. You see, the Holy Spirit is the One who empowers us to live the Christian life. We cannot live this life in our own strength, and God doesn't even want us to try to do it on our own. He wants us to live in daily dependence on Him. And don't forget, Romans 8:18 tells us we have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. Powerful stuff, indeed!

2. The many promises of God in His Word. 2 Peter 1 mentions how we have His "precious and magnificant promises." It is as we know and claim scripture that we can live an abundant and godly life. Here is how it works: we have a struggle or a need. Rather than get frustrated or try to overcome it on our own, we go to God's Word, find a promise related to our situation, pray it, and hold fast to that promise until it comes to play in our life. God loves for us to claim scripture for specific situations in our life. What need or struggle do you have that you need to go to God's Word and find some promises about?

3. The Body of Christ - the church. The minute we receive Christ, we become a part of the body of Christ. His body is filled with people that can help and support us in our walk. God does not want us to be "lone ranger" Christians. He made us to need others, and the wise Christian is the one who intentionally seeks to develop deep relationships with other Believers. The church is one of the most under-utilized resources in the believer's life.

4. A new identity in Christ. I am convinced that one of the things that keep so many from experiencing the abundant life is an unbiblical self-image. Satan is the accuser of the brethren, and he constantly feeds us lies about who we are. He tells us we are no good, ugly, unloved, and worthless. On the other hand, God says we are loved, valued and accepted unconditionally. Our identity is not based on what we do but who we are in Christ. Rev. 12 tells us we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. For more truth on this, read Neil Anderson's Victory Over the Darkness.

To conclude, be encouraged today that as a follower of Jesus you already have everything you need for life and godliness. I am sure you can think of more aspects of what we have in Christ that make up 2 Peter 1:3. If so, just add them to the comment section!

Don't Let Your Love Grow Cold

I really enjoy drinking coffee in the morning. There is something soothing about sipping on a hot cup of coffee as I spend time with the Lord. I must confess that I have a pet peeve when it comes to my coffee – I like it hot and I like it to stay hot. However, this seldom occurs. I am amazed how quickly my cup of coffee can get cold. Often I have to put it back into the microwave to reheat it … several times throughout the morning.

Unfortunately, our hearts can be like a cup of coffee – quickly digressing from hot to lukewarm to cold.

The ease of which our hearts can grow cold concerns me, especially when I read Mathew 24. Of all the signs of the end times, the one that challenges me the most is when Jesus said, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Mt. 24:12-13).

I am bothered that Jesus said “the love of most will grow cold.” This means a higher percentage of people will experience a decline in their spiritual temperature than will experience an increase in their spiritual temperature. Ouch. I don’t know about you, but I sure do not want to be one that Jesus finds with a cold heart when He returns.

On top of this, remember what the book of Revelation says will happen to those who are neither hot nor cold: He will spew them out of His mouth (Rev. 3:16)!

What kind of love is Jesus speaking of here? Since He said the most important commandments are to love the Lord with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves, it is safe to assume He is addressing our love for God and others.

So, if “the love of most will grow cold”, what are some contributing factors to this eternally tragic spiritual condition? I can think of at least six. You may come up with more. Here are my six:

1. Neglecting certain vital spiritual disciplines, such as time with God, meditating on the Word, prayer, fellowship with others, service, etc. If the liquid in a cup is not externally stimulated in some manner, it will get cold. Spiritual disciplines are one way of externally stimulating our heart.
2. Allowing a situational difficulty set our heart against the Lord. When we go through something challenging (i.e. health issue, divorce, loss of job, mistreatment by others, death of a loved one, etc.), we can either allow that difficulty to drive us to greater dependence on God or we can take up an offense toward God. The former will lead to growth, the latter will lead to stagnation.
3. Busyness in life. Here is the one most Americans are vulnerable to – getting so busy with life and demands that we simply neglect our relationship with God. Like any relationship, it takes effort for it to continue growing and deepening.
4. Materialism. Jesus said “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful” (Mt. 4:19). The question to ask with possessions is, “Do I own it or does it own me?” Perhaps the current recession in America is God’s way of weaning us from the grip of materialism?
5. The sins of the flesh and desire for pleasure. We are a pleasure-crazy culture. So much of what people focus on is pleasure, whether sexual, physical, emotional or relational. We spend a great deal of time, effort and money or what gives us pleasure. This can lead to a very self oriented life which will cause one’s heart to grow cold toward the Lord. Josh McDowell once said that sexual sin is the number one cause of people digressing spiritually.
6. Insulating ourselves from the pain of others. Many of us purposefully isolate ourselves from the hurt and pain of others. We don’t want to know what is really going on in other’s lives so that we can keep a safe distance – not having to show real care. However, Jesus wants our heart of compassion to stay hot by seeing real needs and responding to those needs where we are able.

Since these are some of the reasons people’s love will grow cold, what can we do to prevent this from occurring? Like my cup of coffee, I need to repeatedly put my heart in the microwave of the Spirit. How do I do this? I have six suggestions:

1. Hang around others with a hot heart. Fellowship with godly people is so important in our walk with God. Just like a campfire stays burning when the logs are together, so do we burn brighter when we are around other committed Christians.
2. Spend quality time with God. This goes without saying, but I must still say it. No other practice is more important than spending quality time with God every day in the Word and prayer.
3. Read biblically-accurate and Spirit-anointed books and articles. One reason I get David Wilkerson’s monthly mailings is because of how he always stirs my heart.
4. Intentionally expose yourself to needs. One must have balance here. You can become overwhelmed with needs and burn-out trying to meet all needs. Jesus did not respond to every need, but He spent enough time with hurting people to keep a compassionate heart and respond as the Father directed Him. I just learned of a ministry in my area to the homeless, and I am planning to check it out.
5. Deal with sins as they occur. Do not let sins build up. Dr. Bill Bright used to call this “keeping short accounts with God.” In other words, confess and repent of any and all sins as they occur in your life. This keeps your heart honest and tender.
6. Get surgery if you need it. When someone has a heart attack, they need surgery. Some Christians have grown so cold in their relationship with God that they need spiritual surgery from a trusted friend, counselor, or pastor.

We must do whatever it takes to insure that our love does not grow cold. This is more important than our retirement account, job, golf score, weekend source of entertainment, getting the best deal on something at the store, or next vacation. Just as we have to be intentional about staying in good physical condition, so do we have to be intentional about maintaining a vibrant relationship with God.

One final thing I must add that applies to all of the above: We cannot make our heart hot for God. This is not a matter of striving in our own flesh to be hot for God. Instead, it is relying on the supernatural power of the Spirit to keep our heart hot for God (see my blog on the “Exchanged Life” for more on this). God must do a divine work in our heart through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So, with all that I have said, perhaps the most important thing you can do for your heart is to honestly admit the condition you are in – whatever that is – and sincerely ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His presence. The Spirit “works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:1).

Let me know what you think!

Walking With God

“And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Gen. 5:22-24).

“Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God” (Gen. 6:9).

What a simple but profound statement about two men: Enoch and Noah “walked with God.” As I read this in my quiet time this week, I began to meditate on what it means to walk with God. Here are my thoughts.

Walking with God means:
1. You have a relationship with God.
You don’t walk with someone unless you have some kind of relationship with that person. Walking with God involves, first of all, receiving Christ as the Forgiver and Leader of our life. Jesus said we must open the door of our life and welcome Him in, and then He will come in to dine with us (Rev. 3:20). Have you received Christ? If so, you have the amazing privilege of walking with God.

2. You converse with God along the way.
Walking with someone involves conversation. Seldom would you walk with another person and never say a word to each other. Walking with God involves spending time with Him, talking to Him in prayer, and listening to His voice through the Word and prayer. Are you spending time with God in the Word and prayer? Do you converse with God throughout the day?

3. You make progress.
When you go on a walk, you do not remain stagnant. You go somewhere. You make progress. Walking with God means we don’t remain complacent and stagnant in our relationship with Him. We are always seeking, growing, and becoming more mature. Like walks we take around a track, we may feel at times that we are going in circles, but even then we are making progress because we are still burning spiritual calories! Are you maturing in your walk with God? Are the fruits of the Spirit (see Gal. 5) more evident in your life this year than last year?

4. You go at His pace.
Walking with God involves what Gal. 5:25 says: “keep in step with the Spirit.” We are not to get ahead of the Lord out of impatience. Nor are we to get behind the Lord out of laziness and disobedience. Rather, we are to walk alongside of God allowing Him to set the pace and direct the course. Are you seeking to stay in step with the Spirit in your life? Are you allowing Him to call the shots?

5. You obey when He says it is time to go in a different direction.
Sometimes God tells us it is time for a change in direction. This may involve a career change, a relationship adjustment, or an area of sin we must deal with. I experienced a change of direction when God told me I was to leave a very fruitful and comfortable ministry in Wisconsin and move to Georgia. This has not been easy in the least, but I have no doubt it is what God told me to do. When Jesus is our Lord, He calls the shots. We are responsible to obey and follow Him. Are you following Him?

6. You stop and rest along the journey.
We all need rest at times – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. God knew this when He gave us the Sabbath. I believe the main reason God gave us the Sabbath principle is to remind us that He is in control and we are not ultimately necessary for the world to continue functioning. God understands pace. He is not a driver that requires His children to go 90 miles an hour. I love the phrase, “walk with God.” It does not say “run with God.” His will is “good, acceptable, and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). Right now I am in a season of rest from formal ministry, and it has been good for me. We all need to take time to rest, lest we burn out. Are you doing life at a sustainable pace? Is it your pace or God’s pace?

Walking with God – what a powerful phrase. What a privilege to walk with God. Are you walking with God? If so, how close are you walking with God? Do you allow Him to be part of every area of your life, or do you go off on your own at times? Are there some adjustments you need to make in your walk with God? Most of all, seek to enjoy walking with God! Let me know in the comments section what you have learned about walking with God.

What To Do When Discouraged

Discouragement is a common experience in our journey with God. We will all get discouraged from time to time. It may come and we aren’t even sure why (“why are you downcast oh my soul?” – Ps. 42:5); it may be due to very difficult circumstances (“I am greatly afflicted” – Ps. 116:10); sometimes other people attack us (“my enemies have increased” – Ps. 25:19); we may feel mistreated by others; fear and anxiety may hit us (“when I am afraid...” – Ps. 56:3); or other physical and emotional issues can cause us discouragement. We begin to loose heart and can even fall into depression. More than you know, I write this blog from my own experience.

I so admire the Apostle Paul. If anyone had it difficult, it was Paul. Just read 2 Cor. 11 to appreciate all the trials he faced. He writes, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” (2 Cor. 4:8-10).

Do you feel hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, or struck down? I want to suggest 8 biblical principles that may help. When you are discouraged be sure to:

1. Allow God to search your heart.
There may be sin or other issues in your life that God wants you to get in touch with. Your emotions just might be the vehicle He is using to get your attention. Therefore, beware of medicating your pain away, giving in to your fleshly desires, or wallowing in self pity. Instead, pray this passage and open your heart to God: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24).

2. Stand on the attributes of God.
Affirm to yourself some of God’s wonderful attributes such as: goodness, mercy (new every morning!), faithfulness, love, grace, forbearance, immutability, and omnipotence. When discouraged, we easily loose perspective, especially on God. It takes faith to believe in His goodness even when we don’t feel like it. Be sure to stay in the Word of God so as to be reminded of who He is.
“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Ps. 27:13; NASB).

3. By faith, praise and worship God.
Once you have done #2, the proper response is to praise and worship God for who He is. Many of the Psalms begin with pain and discouragement, but they almost always end in praise. I don’t think this is because the psalmist always felt like praising God. Instead, he chose to worship God for who He is in the midst of discouraging situations and emotions.
“Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter… I will praise You” (Ps. 71:20, 22).

4. Give thanks for everything you can think of.
When we are emotionally discouraged, everything can feel dark. We start seeing the cup as ½ empty even if it is ¾ full. Make a list of everything you can think of to give thanks for (i.e. your 5 senses, food on the table, transportation, free country, your Bible, friends, etc.). This may seem trivial, but it is very important and biblical to give thanks in all situations: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18). “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil. 4:6).

5. Cover the spiritual warfare base.
We have an ultimate enemy, Satan. He is seeking whom he may devour. Sometimes discouragement is a demonic attack. Be sure to do James 4:7: submit to God and resist the Devil. Bind him in prayer and command him to flee from your presence. Praise and worship will also help to cleanse the spiritual atmosphere.

6. Share your burden with a godly friend (of the same gender) and ask for prayer.
“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). We need each other, especially during times of despair. Even Moses needed someone to hold his arms up when he was tired. By the way, if you are on the receiving end of this call, be sure to listen, offer little advice (unless you have clear leading from the Lord), and pray for the person over the phone or in their presence.

7. Be on guard against your flesh and other temptations.
When discouraged, we are particularly vulnerable to our fleshly appetites. Temptation will likely increase when we are discouraged. Our flesh will whisper such things to us as: “You deserve to have your needs met, so go here to get what you need. God is not meeting your needs, so you are justified in sinning.” Remember how Jesus overcame temptation: by quoting Scripture!
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Rom. 13:14; NASB).

8. Hold fast to Romans 8:28.
God promises us that “all things work together for good.” All things mean all things. However, all things work together for good only to those who “love God and are called according to His purpose.” This means we must hold fast to God, remain in His will, and trust Him … or else all things will not work together for good.

This promise is not for those who do not love God or for those who get out of His will by sinning or resorting to the flesh. One more thing: what does it mean for all things to work together for good? Romans 8:29 tells us: being conformed to the image of Christ. God’s ultimate goal is to make us like Jesus. Often the process of becoming Christ-like is trusting God in the midst of hardship.

If you are discouraged, go through each of these steps. Hold fast to God. Don’t let go. Don’t resort to the flesh. Stay on the Word. Resist the Devil. Guard your heart with all diligence because from it flow the issues of life. Wait on God’s provision. He will bring you through! “Though weeping may last for a night, joy comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5).

If you do all of the above and the discouragement continues for a prolonged period, then consider seeing a professional counselor and/or medical doctor.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD” (Ps. 27:13-14; NASB).

Blind Spots

When driving a car, you know what a blind spot is, right? A blind spot is that area of the road where another car is right next to you, but you cannot see it from your rearview mirror. You have to turn your head and look carefully before you change lanes, or else you could have a serious accident. The only other way you can see that car in your blind spot is if another person in the car looks for you and warns you of impending danger.

Blind spots in our lives are very similar to blind spots on the road. They are there, but we don’t see them unless we take a second look or someone else shows us. Blind spots can be character flaws, hidden sins, the way we come across to others, or anything we are oblivious to that we actually need to see.

Becoming more like Jesus involves being willing to see and address our blind spots. Everyone has blind spots, but not everyone is willing to see and deal with them.

God’s Word addresses blind spots in a number of different ways:

"Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults." Ps. 19:12

We all have hidden faults. Hidden faults are blind spots.

"You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence." Ps. 90:8
Secret sins can be sins we try to hide or sins we are not aware of.

So, what does God use in our lives to reveal our blind spots, and what should our response be to these instruments of sanctification?

1. Prayer and the supernatural revelation of God; therefore, spend time with God and ask Him to reveal to you your blind spots. Ultimately we are dependant upon God showing us our blind spots. However, we have a responsibility to be humble, teachable and receptive to the work of His Spirit in us.

2. The Word of God; therefore, be in the Word and allow it to show you when you are operating out of your own flesh instead of by the Spirit of God.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebr. 4:12

3. People speaking into our life; therefore, develop deep relationships where you invite people to show you your blind spots. I have said to my iron man group, “Feel free to share with me anything you see in my life that you think I need to see.” It has taken time for our group to get to this point, but it is a wonderful blessing to have people in your life who will speak the truth to you in love.

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ." Eph. 4:15

Today I met with a group of men who are involved in men’s ministry in this area of Georgia. I told one of the men afterwards, “Please feel free to come to me at any time if you see something in my life that concerns you.” I believe in being intentional about developing deep relationships.

4. Our negative emotions; therefore, when you experience anger, depression, anxiety or fear, allow God to reveal to you what is behind these feelings. For example, unrighteous anger is often due to an ungodly goal. You want something and are not getting it, and this is causing your anger. You need to yield that ungodly goal to God.

"In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. " Ps. 4:4

5. Dreams, visions, and prophecies; therefore, be open to this form of revelation. Sometimes God shows us something we were blinded to through a dream, vision or prophetic word.

"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." Acts 2:17

6. Our marriage partner; therefore, listen to him or her. I purposefully separated this point from the other one dealing with relationships, because the marriage relationship is the closest human relationship we have on earth. At least it should be. We should be so humble and teachable in our marriage that we would welcome our spouse speaking into our life. I know this is not easy to receive. It is quite humbling to have your spouse point out a blind spot to you. You naturally want to respond in defensiveness. But if you will listen, consider, and pray about what he/she says to you, you will likely find a pearl of truth that can help you become more like Jesus.

Once you become aware of a blind spot, then what? Here are some suggestions in dealing with your blind spot:
1. Confess it to God.
2. Yield it to God.
3. Ask God’s Spirit to supernaturally help you in this area.
4. Find a passage of Scripture that relates to your blind spot and pray it into your life.
5. Ask a trusted friend to help you.
6. Get professional help if you need it.

When driving, a blind spot can be fatal. In life, a blind spot can be fatal as well. Don’t let your blind spot(s) ruin your life or the lives of those around you. Allow God’s Spirit the freedom to search your heart and life. And when He shows you a blind spot, surrender it to Him!

God's Longing Heart

Have you ever longed for something that you did not receive? I am not talking about something ungodly or something you knew God did not want you to have. Instead, I am talking about longing for something pure and holy but not being able to have it, such as a loved one coming to Christ, a godly spouse, a more intimate marriage, a child fully following Jesus, a physical healing, a job to provide for your family, etc. It is very hard to want something that you know would please God but for some reason not be able to have it, or to have to wait for a long time for the desire to be fulfilled. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Prov. 13:12).

Have you ever stopped to consider how often God experiences unfulfilled longings? For example, His longing heart desires for people to walk close with Him, yet they refuse. He reaches out with His loving arms, only to have many turn Him away. He deeply desires to bless His people with good things, but they refuse to give Him the time of day. He longs to bring inner healing to many, but few allow Him into those painful areas of their heart.

Recently in my quiet time with God, I read Psalms 81 and noticed the longing heart of God. Read this passage and take special note of the words I have highlighted:

"Hear, O my people, and I will warn you--if you would but listen to me, O Israel!
9 You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god.
10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. "But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me…13 "If my people would but listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways, 14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! 15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before Him, and their punishment would last forever. 16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." Psalms 81:8-10, 13-16

Consider also the words of Jesus in Mt. 23:36-38:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."

Do you sense the heart of God in these passages? Do you feel His intense longing for His people? Do you see how much He wants to give good things? Remember, He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebr. 11:6). Yet, time and time again His people refuse to listen to Him, submit to Him, and allow Him to feed them with the finest of wheat. How tragic! God has such good things for us, but we think our way is better.

This is the heart of God for YOU, my friend. God wants you to come to Him – fully come to Him – that He might bestow upon you the finest of wheat. Why would you hold back? Why would you not give Him your all? Why would you not seek Him with all your heart? Why would you not give Him your pain and abuse, so that He might heal you at the deepest level possible?

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28)!

The Exchanged Life

Are you tired of trying to be a good Christian? Have you found yourself saying, “Christianity is not working for me?” Are you striving and getting nowhere? Does your spiritual life feel like you take two steps forward only to go three steps backwards? Is the joy of following Jesus distant from your weekly experience?

If so, there is hope, so keep reading.

Two truths are sure in God’s Word:
1. Following Jesus is not easy. “In this world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33a).
2. Despite the difficulties, Jesus offers hope and joy. “But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).

So, how do we experience this joy in the midst of the hardships we will face? The answer is learning to live the “Exchanged Life.” The Exchanged Life is when we exchange our human attempts to live for Christ for His power and ability to live the abundant life. It is not a matter of us trying hard to be a good Christian. Instead, it is about Jesus living His life in and through us. It is about allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to work in us from the inside out.

Many Scriptures support the Exchanged Life. Consider these and make special note of the sections highlighted:

“For it is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him.” Hebr. 13:20-21

“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant.” 2 Cor. 3:5-6

“To this John replied, 'A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.'” Jn. 3:27

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Cor. 3:18

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col. 1:27

If you think about it, the entire Christian life is an exchange: We exchange our sin for God’s forgiveness, our old self for a new nature, our weakness for His power, our slavery for His freedom, our flesh for His Spirit, our anxiety for His peace, etc., etc.

To summarize: The Christian life is not about trying hard to be a faithful and obedient Christ-follower, but rather exchanging our life for Christ’s – allowing Jesus to live His life in and through us. The exchanged life is what Paul spoke of in Gal.2:20: “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God.”

The following are some practical suggestions for living the Exchanged Life:
1. Begin each day by admitting to God that “apart from Jesus you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5), and God to fill you with His Holy Spirit.

2. When you find yourself frustrated during the day, allow that emotion to remind you to pray something like this, “Lord, I am doing it on my own and I am sorry. Take control and live Your life through me right now.”

3. When you feel weak or inadequate in a situation, pray this: “Lord, I embrace this feeling of weakness and transfer it to dependence on You. May Your power be made perfect in my weakness in this situation.”

4. Invite the Spirit who indwells you to have His way in your life throughout the day.

The Gospel in a Plane Crash

This week we all witnessed the remarkable safe landing of a US Airways jet into the Hudson River. What a blessing that no one was seriously hurt. God’s protection was indeed on each of these persons.

As I reflect on this situation, I find the following parallels to life and the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

1. We are all on an uncertain journey each day.
As these passengers boarded this flight from New York to North Carolina, they had no idea what was about to occur. They expected a smooth and uneventful flight to their destination, where they would go about the other activities planned for that day. Obviously their day did not go as originally planned.

Many times our days, not to mention our lives, do not go as planned. We have to expect the unexpected. God’s Word encourages us to not be presumptuous about tomorrow: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow” (Jas. 4:13-14).

2. We never know when the end will come.
This could have been the last day on earth for every one of those passengers. Like them, we never know when our last day will come. We must be ready at all times to die. We should live each day as if it were our last. God wants us to be ready at all times to meet our Maker.
“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him” (Mt. 24:44).

3. Sin is serious; it will cause a crash landing.
The engine difficulties on this plane made it impossible to fly. Therefore, a crash landing was imminent.

Sin will cause crash landings in our lives, be it the sin of sexual immorality, greed, or gossip. More serious still is the separation from God that sin causes. This separation from God will last for all eternity if it is not forgiven and removed. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).

4. We need the help of Another to be rescued.
Those on this plane could do nothing to save themselves. The plane was going down, and it was going down fast. When they realized this, they had to place themselves at the mercy of the pilot and flight attendants.

When we realize the seriousness of our sin, we must place ourselves at the mercy of Jesus Christ, the only One who can rescue us by His death and resurrection.
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Gal. 1:3-5).

5. Jesus is able to bring us to a safe landing.
Thankfully, the expert pilot of this plane was able to land the plane safely in the river, and all the passengers were saved. To a greater degree, Jesus Christ is able to save us from sin. His shed blood can save us from the penalty and the power of sin. It is only through Jesus that we can be reconciled to God and given eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him” (Jn. 3:16-17).

6. We must receive the help offered to us.
Even after the plane was safely landed into the river, those aboard still had to receive the help offered to them. Here they were in the river, but they were not yet fully “saved.” In order to get to land, they had to receive the help offered to them. They had to get up, get off the plane, and receive the gift of the boat ride to land. If they stayed on that sinking plane, they would die.

In the same way, Jesus has done everything necessary for us to be saved from our sins, but we still have to receive the gift before it is fully ours. We do this by repenting of our sins and receiving Jesus into our life as our Forgiver and Leader. At this moment we become a follower of Jesus and begin a relationship with God that will last forever.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it’” (Mt. 16:24-25).

7. Give praise to the One who rescues you.
Much praise has gone out to the pilot of this plane, and he deserves all that is given to him. More so does Jesus deserve our praise and eternal adoration for what He has done for us. As followers of Jesus, we are to live a life of praise and gratitude.
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever” (Rev. 5:13).

What an amazing event that took place this week on that US Airways jet. But what a more amazing truth that we can be eternally saved from our sins through Jesus Christ! Have you received the free gift of eternal life in Christ? Are you prepared to face Him today, should this be the day your plane goes down?

Way to go Tebow: A Bulldog Fan Praising a Gator

You will not find this on many blogs today: a Georgia Bulldog fan praising a Florida Gator. But this Gator deserves praise, not because he is a Gator (I had to get that in) but because he is a faithful follower of Jesus Christ … and a bold witness for Christ.

Throughout the season Tim Tebow, the 21-year old quarterback for Florida, has put “Phil. 4:13” under his darkened eye. He does this to witness of his faith in Christ as he plays football. Often the television camera reveals the “Phil. 4:13” as it shows a close up view of his face. In the national championship game against Oklahoma a few weeks ago, Tebow chose to put “John 3:16” under his eye. What was the result? Not only did he play an excellent game and win the national championship, but more importantly he had a powerful witness for Christ. How so? Well, an article in USA Today said, “for a time that evening, it was the most popularly searched item on Google.” To think that across this great nation, more people were googling “John 3:16” that anything else during part of that game, is an amazing reality.

This shows me two things. First of all, it surprisingly reveals how few people know what John 3:16 is. You would think everyone would know this is a Bible verse and what it says. This might have been true 20 years ago, but not any more. We live in an increasingly biblically illiterate culture.

Second, it shows how Tebow is having an impact through something as simple as this reference under this eye black. I would not be at all surprised to learn one day that some people became Christians through looking up John 3:16 that night. Remember, the Word of God will never return void! In the same way Tebow witnessed through such a simple act, we can have an impact through the simple things we do as followers of Christ. Let us endeavor to be intentional in our witness for Christ, each and every day.

And all of this from a Georgia fan. Take note!

The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce

About two years ago I read a book called “The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce.” The subtitle is “The 25 Year Landmark Study.” This book shares the results of the most comprehensive study on divorce ever conducted. They have been able to track the effects of divorce over a 25-year period, which allows us to see how the children of divorce are affected as adults. This is a not a Christian book, but the findings would support much of what the Bible says about divorce.

Before I share with you the results of this book, let me say very clearly that my intention is not to shame anyone who has been through or is going through a divorce. Life can be very painful. Marriage can become so difficult that one feels the only way out is a divorce. Forgiveness and healing is available to anyone who cries out to the Lord. I am so glad we serve a God who is willing to forgive sin and heal the human heart. “He heals the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps. 34:18).

At the same time, God says He hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) and one of the main reasons is because He is “seeking Godly offspring” (Malachi 2:15). When we see how divorce affects the children, we can understand why His seeking Godly offspring is one of the main reasons God hates divorce.

My reason for sharing these findings is to enlighten us all concerning the many negative effects of divorce. It is so important that we count the cost before ever considering divorce. Perhaps this blog will help to save a marriage headed for divorce. Perhaps this blog is for you – to cause you to reconsider divorce. Perhaps this blog will help you in ministering to someone you know who is considering a divorce.

The bottom line is this: divorce brings many hardships on all involved, especially the children. Marriage is worth fighting for. Marriage is worth whatever it takes to stay together. Marriage is for the glory of God. Marriage is designed to be an earthly picture of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:21-33).

I also hope that teenagers and singles will read this blog. Let this study of divorce cause you to be so prayerful and careful about marriage. Be sure you know it is God’s will for you to marry. Be sure you marry the person God wants you to marry. Take it slowly and carefully. I alwayts tell my kids, "You can never go wrong waiting, but you can go wrong rushing." Get the counsel of many Godly people before you even think about marrying someone.

Here are some of the major findings from this book. This 25 year study revealed that divorce often brings about:
1. Decline in the health of the couple.
2. Decrease in the financial stability of all involved.
3. Emotional pain and scars that may never go away.
4. Loss of respect from community, children, and family.
5. Children suffering in the following ways:
a. Tendency toward unhealthy relationships.
b. More prone to pre-marital sex, drug and alcohol use.
c. Tendency to run from conflict in their own life.
d. An unhealthy and excessive fear of marriage.
e. Anger at life, God, and their parents.
f. Faith in God shaken.
f. Increase in loneliness, fear, anxiety, and depression.
i. Loosing significant parts of their childhood because they are forced to grow up too quickly due to the increase in emotional stress and responsibility. One woman named Karen said, “The day my parents divorced is the day my childhood ended” (p. 296).

The authors of the book said their most surprising discover was this: the greatest manifestation of negative impact on the children of divorce does not come until those children are in their adulthood. We often think the greatest negative effect will come when they are children, and that it will get better when they become adults. However, the studies are showing that this is not the case. Here is a quote from the book: “The major contribution of this book has been to recognize, for the first time, that when children of divorce become adults, they are badly frightened that their relationships will fail, just like the most important relationship in their parents’ lives failed. They mature with a keen sense that their growing-up experiences did not prepare them for love, commitment, trust, marriage, or even for the nitty-gritty of handling and resolving conflict” (p. xiii).

So many people often say, “The kids will be better off if we divorce, because at least they don’t have to be in the middle of our fighting/unhappy marriage.” This book says this is not true. This study revealed that children in homes where the marriage is not very good, but where the parents stay together, are better off than those whose parents divorce, because by their parents staying together the kids learn that marriage can be hard but you stick it out.

Finally, the book shows that second marriages are even more likely to fail than first. “First marriages stand a 45% chance of breaking up and second marriages have a 60% chance of ending in divorce” (p. 295). I guess we are not learning from our mistakes.

Of course there are exceptions to all of the above. May we be the exceptions.

May God do such a work in our lives that our marriages would be a clear picture of Jesus and His bride, the church (see Ephesians 5:21-33).

Let me conclude by reminding us of some very important truths: God is able and willing to work a miracle in the most difficult of situations ... if we will yield to His will and cry out to Him; seeking the help of others is not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of wisdom; and the blood of Jesus can forgive and cleanse of all unrighteousness. Call upon the Lord while He may be found!

Like a Weaned Child

“A song of ascents - Of David. My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.” Psalm 131

Recently I have been greatly ministered to by the Lord in Psalm 131. The central message of this Psalm is that we can rest in God’s care and love and sovereignty, even when we don’t have the answers to the complex issues of life. Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), considered by many the “Prince of Preachers,” said that if the Psalms were a gem Psalm 131 would be a pearl.

In my ministry I constantly find people struggling with the “why” questions of life: “Why did my relative die in the car accident? Why did I get cancer? Why was my friend not healed? Why did this tragedy occur? Why do bad things happen to good people?” Perhaps you have some “why” questions. I know I do, especially at this period of my life. Perhaps your “why” questions are creating distance between you and God. If so, this is not what God would want. Psalm 131 provides some help!

This is a “song of ascents,” meaning that it was one of 15 psalms (Psalms 120-134) used as the people of God would go up to Jerusalem and “ascend” to the Temple. There is some historical data indicating the people of God would actually chant these psalms as they made their way to the Temple for worship. I think it is safe to say that for us this psalm gives us insight in how we might “ascend” to greater heights with God.

Ascending to greater heights is not easy. It will involve some barriers and hardships. Climbing a mountain is not easy. I have hiked with my father on the Appalachian Trail and know from experience that the climb is hard, but the view from the top is worth it. This is true in our relationship with God.

In climbing with God, we have to get past the questions that we may never have answers to. God tells us that we will encounter difficulty (John 16:33). God tells us that our lives will be filled with all kinds of trials (1 Peter 1). Jesus said that good things happen to good and bad people, and that bad things happen to good and bad people (Matthew 5:44). God’s Word assures us that all things can work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). However, this still does not fully answer the “why” questions that we ask.

We need to get to the point where we stop asking “why” and simply trust God’s character and goodness. When I have wrestled with God over unanswered questions, sometimes God has said to me, “David, you need to file that question in the 29:29 file.” The 29:29 file is based on Deuteronomy 29:29. It says, “The secret things belong to the Lord but the things revealed belong to man.” Some things God keeps secret from us, while other things He reveals to us. We must learn to be content with those things that He chooses not to reveal to us. In Psalm 131 David says, “I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me” (v. 1). He is choosing here to be OK with not knowing all the answers. He is letting God carry the answers to the questions. He realizes that he is not God and therefore has limitations. This is called humility.

The next step in the journey is the key. In v. 2 David puts his total trust in the Lord. He says, “But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me” (v. 2). Two times he mentions a weaned child. Why this reference to a weaned child? Because a weaned child does not come to its mom for milk. It has been weaned. Instead, it comes simply for strength, love, and comfort. The child is totally content to simply be in the presence of the mother.

Our soul will be quieted and still when we learn to come to God, not so much to get answers, but rather to just be in His presence and transformed into His image. This is what it means to “seek His face” and not His hands. We must seek Him for who He is and not so much to get something from Him. Someone once said that the highest level of faith is when we trust God when there is no apparent reason to do so, except that He is God. In other words, we trust Him just because of who He is, even if things do not go like we want them to. This seems to be why this short psalm ends with: “Put your hope in the Lord” (Psalm 131:3)!

Are you putting your hope in the Lord? Are you content to simply be in the presence of the Lord? What is that you need to bring to the foot of the cross? What do you need to file in the 29:29 file?

It is OK to ask questions and wrestle with God over things, as long as at the end of the day you crawl up in God’s lap and just be still and quiet in His presence. I encourage you to meditate on these 3 verses and see what additional insights God gives you. Let us be as a weaned child with God!

Wondering if God is Real? Take the 30 Day Challenge!

If you are struggling with believing in God or want to know Him better, I encourage you to take the 30 Day Challenge. Here is how it works: For the next 30 days, do 2 things each day:

1. Pray this prayer: “God, if You are real and if Jesus is the answer, I ask You to show Yourself to me in a way that I would recognize.”

2. Read one chapter out of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Bible. Day one you would read John 1. Day two you would read John 2. You get the idea.

Do this for 30 days and see what happens. You have to do this with a truly open and sincere heart. If you do, I believe God will show Himself to you in some exciting ways. Here are some passages in the Bible to consider as you do this:

Acts 17:26-28
"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' "

Jer 29:11-14
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the LORD."

As you do the 30 Day Challenge, please know me know how God reveals Himself to you. You can email Pastor David at davidholt08@gmail.com