What the World Needs Today

The world appears to be in a mess and getting messier everyday. If I ask the average Christian, “what does the world need today?” The would probably say, “Jesus” to which I would respond, “NO.” Jesus has already done everything He needed to do 2000 years ago when He came, was born of a virgin, crucified on a cruel cross, buried, resurrected and now sits at the right hand of the Father. There is nothing else Jesus needs to do.

What the world needs today is for those who call themselves Christians to rise up and take the “Great Commission” in Matthew 28:18-20 seriously and “go and make disciples of all nations.”

There is a story in Mark 1:40-45 that I believe has the answer to “What the world needs today.”

Mark 1:40-45-NKJV-40 Now a came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

World Condition: What I want to point out is in V.40 here is a Leper that was an outcast, ostracized from society and rejected by the church. The only people he was allowed to socialize with were people that were in the same condition that he was in with no possibility of acceptance by society, his family or the church. There are thousands of individuals that desperately want to be a part of something, for belonging or for a cause to fight for, They just want someone to tell them the truth.

World Solution: Verses 41-44 show what the churches responses should be. Jesus was moved with compassion. The definition of compassion is “to empathize with someone who is suffering and feel compelled to reduce their suffering. When was the last time that we looked at a lost person and were moved with compassion? I often have heard Christians say, “we just want them to look and be more like Jesus,” but the reality is that most of the time we just want them to look more like us. Jesus was moved with compassion and then notice what He does next, He touched the man and then spoke the words of healing to him. The world is looking for someone to “touch them” and show them we care. People are struggling to connect, to be apart of something, to have a cause to live for and if necessary to die for. We as Christians have to be the hands of Jesus that reach out and touch the untouchable, show them the love of Jesus then we will be able to bring Jesus to a lost and dying world.

World Response: In verse 45 we see the response of the leper or of the world. He was told to tell no one, but he couldn’t contain himself. He spread the word and the bible says that “Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction. Jesus said, “If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto Me.” John the Baptist said, “I must decrease and He must increase.” The thing is that His increasing is not dependent on our decreasing, because He is all the God He will ever be, but our decreasing is totally dependent on His increasing in our lives. Notice that the people were drawn to Jesus not the leper that had been healed. They listened to him, but went to Jesus, because Jesus had “touched the untouchable” and healed him from the inside out.

So what the world need today is for the body of Christ, the church, to reach out and touch a lost and dying world with the love of Jesus and allow Him to heal them. Then we will see the change to the world that only Jesus can bring.

Working Until He Comes,

Robert

Rise Up and Walk

Faith is important to Christians, because the Bible says that, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Most Christians can quote Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The problem with most Christians is that we don’t know exactly what that means.

Faith is something we know that we need to please God, but most of us come up short in the faith department. The Bible says that if we have faith the “size of a mustard seed” we can move mountains and who doesn’t want to move mountains. I have found that the problem that most Christians have is their faith is small because of their fear of failure, the lack of experience or their fear of man. We must come to realize that success is not our responsibility, our responsibility is to obey. We cannot do the things we pray for or we wouldn’t need to be praying for them.

First let’s discuss the lack of experience. Whether that is because you are part of a group that doesn’t believe in miracles, you have never had opportunity to see a miracle or that “stuff” just isn’t for you. I will tell you that I was hit by a car when I was 17 years old and broke my back. I was paralyzed from the waist down with a x-ray showing a disc knocked out of my back. My mom got the little ladies of the church praying and 12 hours later I walked out of the hospital and have never had a residual effect from that accident, so you will never convince me that God doesn’t heal.

Second, the fear of man. This is a legitimate fear that most all of us experience at some or most of the time. The problem is that we cannot use this as an excuse to not share our faith or pray for miracles. In Acts chapter 5 there is a story of some of the apostles who are preaching the Word of God and they were arrested and thrown in jail and told to NEVER preach in the name of Jesus again. That night an angel set them free and what did they do? They went right back to the temple and began to preach. When the religious leaders heard about it they had Peter and the disciples brought back before them. Pick this up in Acts 5:27-29, 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”

29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” So we too must settle it in our heart that we are going to obey God rather than man no matter the cost.

Third, the fear of failure. We first must recognize that it is not our responsibility to perform the miracle, it is only our responsibility to ask and have the faith that God will do the miracle so that He will receive the glory. In the West we judge success by results. We want to think it up, plan it out, do the work and see the end results. This is not the way it works in God’s kingdom. We are only responsible to obey! In God’s kingdom obedience is success. Sometimes He does ask us to do something, but he always does the work. The story in Acts chapter 3 Peter and John are going into the temple to pray, a lame beggar begs for money, then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

We all probably would have prayed for this cripple and even had faith that God could heal him. But how many of us would be like Peter and take the man by the hand and help him to his feet? Peter had to utilize his faith to access God’s power. Peter obeyed and acted in faith and God brought the results.

So depend on the Holy Spirit and He will help you overcome your fear of man, fear of failure and the lack of experience. Pray, have faith and obey God and He will use you in the kingdom. So I have to ask “Do you have rise up and walk faith?”

Working Until He Comes,

Robert

“IF You Can’t Say Something Nice”

I want to say that I am thankful for technology, and all the things that it provides for us. But, like everything good that God provides or makes available to us the enemy distorts and perverts it. I am glad that I have a technology platform to speak to you from, but it grieves my heart the things that I see “Christians” and “preachers” say or comment on social media to or about other Christians.

To attach “Christian” to your resume means that you have to have the qualifications to wear that title. Christian means that you have committed to Christ and His teachings without your own interpretation or opinions. Those who choose to modify the Word of God for personal preference, I believe, are in grave danger of Divine Judgement.

As I read through comments, not the post, on social media I am often appalled at the comments I read from those who call themselves “Christians.” I have come up with a name for those who feel the need to correct, demean or straighten out everyone on social media with a negative or insulting comment. I have chosen the name for these individuals as “spiritual terrorist.”

First, I would like to say that no one has been anointed and ordained by God to correct everyone on social media. God does not have a “spiritual police force” that you are a member of or in charge of. As I read the Bible there is only one “spiritual police officer” and His name is Holy Spirit. I also think He does a pretty good job at that position.

Second, you “DO NOT” have to comment on everyone’s post that you don’t agree with. My momma (and many of yours) would say, “if you can’t say something nice about someone don’t say anything at all.” Those are pretty good words to live by.

I believe this is what the Bible is saying to “Christians” in Ephesians 4:29-NKJV-”Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” I remember the passage of scripture in Mark 9:38-40 where John is speaking to Jesus on his and the other disciples behalf. John proceeds to inform Jesus that they observed “someone who does not follow us casting out demons in your name.” Notice that John didn’t say trying to cast out demons, but doing it. Jesus immediately told the disciples “For he who is not against us is on our side.” Jesus didn’t say, “John, I think you should comment something on their post and straighten them out.” No, Jesus told John to hold his comment and let the kingdom be manifest.

I recently tried to watch a video of a pastor tearing apart a local revival where God performed miracles and the miracles even made the local news. Yes, there were a lot of doubters, but most of them were unbelievers and you expect that from them. This pastor stated that he had watched all 60 (or some ridiculous number) hours of the revival and then proceeded to try to dismantle what God had done, because it did not line up with his theology. The speaker at the revival is a well known speaker that I respect and have followed for a number of years. This pastor played a 5 to 8 second clip of something the speaker had said and then proceeded to criticize, and condemn what the speaker said. We are not told what the context of the comment was or if the speaker corrected himself. Is there anyone who has spoken in public and who meant to say one thing and another came out and you correct yourself.

I cannot find anywhere in the Bible where we are told to correct EVERYONE that doesn’t agree 100% with us. I do find that if I don’t have a relationship with someone I am not required to “correct” them. I can find where we are to pray for those we don’t know personally. We need to pray that God would correct them or correct us and be open to that correction if it comes.

Proverbs 6:16-19, is a list of things that God hates and v. 19 states that God hates, “one who sows discord among brethern.” If we can’t fathom how much God loves us or something, we should be fearful of how much God hates these behaviors.

The Bible gives us a plan for when we disagree with other believers. First pray for them and yourself. Then you have to have at least an acquaintance with them or at least “know them” before attempting to correct them. Go to them with your disagreement and if that doesn’t bring resolution return to that person and take two or three others. If that still doesn’t work take it before the church. That is biblical conflict resolution.

Jesus never went looking to confront the religious leaders of His time, they always brought the disagreement to Him trying to condemn Him. Jesus always answered them with love, but also seriousness to point them to Him and the work of salvation He was going to accomplish.

So if you read something on social media that you don’t agree with and you don’t have a relationship with that individual, pray for them. If you do have a relationship with them remember that the devise in your hand is also a phone and you can call them or even better go visit them. It is amazing how brave and scholarly people are when they are not sitting across the table from you.

Here is the Biblical answer to this situation: remember that the Holy Spirit is the only “spiritual police officer” and He does a pretty good job at it. Also God does not have any “spiritual terrorist”, so if you are guilty of doing this repent and turn in your terrorist mask. If you are making negative comments, stop it! Repent and you may have to apologize to the individual, especially if you don’t know the person or ministry. Pray for them that if they really are in the wrong that the Holy Spirit will correct them. If your know the individual then handle it biblically and go to that person and work it out.

If you are the one receiving the comments refuse to respond! It is your page so delete the comment, block the person or ignore them. My brother commented on something I posted once and I deleted his comment. I didn’t block him, but if he would have continued I would have.

In John chapter17 is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus and the main thing that He ask the Father for is unity among believers. So either you are working to answer that prayer of Jesus or you are the reason that he prayed that prayer.

So as my momma would say, “If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.”

Working Until He Comes,

Robert

Who I Am In Christ

We live in a world that is so negative that I often feel that I need to go home and take a shower some days to get the negativity off of me. Just because we are Christians doesn’t mean that we are exempt from the influences of the world. We may be saved, sanctified and heaven bound, but still be influenced by the things around us. In Philippians 4:8 is the solution to these troubling thoughts if we will just apply it. It says:

Philippians 4:8-NKJV-Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.-

None of us is perfect and the enemy, the devil, and people remind us of that everyday and it can become easy to buy into their negative thoughts and forget who we are and what our heavenly Father says about us.

I have heard it said that we have to hear six positive thoughts to cancel one negative one. Remember who your are in Christ and Whom you belong to. It does not matter what education some one has, how much money they have, who they know or don’t know. If what they say about you doesn’t line up with what the Word says about you then they are wrong. Daily remind yourself what God says about you and profess His promises over you.

Remind the devil and people that you are a child of the Living God and He is your Father. Nothing they say is true if it doesn’t line up with what He says, so refuse to accept it. I have included a list of what the Bible and God say about His children and I get up every morning and read this list out loud to myself and the devil. See, when you read it out loud you are reminding the devil about what Jesus says about you and you will build your faith because you will hear yourself proclaiming His thoughts for you.

Remember that “If God be for us WHO can be against us” and “All His promises are yes and amen.” Scientifically there is no such thing as darkness only the absence of light. So when it seems that the darkness is getting darker it only means that your light can be brighter. I would suggest that you print out this list and repeat to yourself, (in front of a mirror) and stand on it against the attacks and words of the enemy.

I Am Accepted

I am God’s child.                                                                                             John 1:12

I am Christ’s friend.                                                                                        John 15:15

I have been justified.                                                                                      Romans 5:1

I am united with the lord, and I am one spirit with Him.                               I Corinthians 6:17

I have been bought with a price.  I belong to God.                                        I Corinthians 6:20

I am a member of Christ’s Body.                                                                    I Corinthians 12:27

I am a saint.                                                                                                    Ephesians 1:1

I have been adopted as God’s child.                                                               Ephesians 1:5

I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.                                      Ephesians 2:18

I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.                                       Colossians 1:14

I am complete in Christ.                                                                                 Colossians 2:10

I Am Secure

I am free from condemnation.                                                                       Romans 8:1, 2

I am assured that all things work together for good.                                                Romans 8:28

I am free from any condemning charges against me.                                   Romans 8:31-34

I cannot be separated from the love of God.                                                 Romans 8:35-39

I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.                      II Corinthians 1:21, 22

I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected. Philippians 1:6

I am a citizen of heaven.                                                                                Philippians 3:20

I am hidden with Christ in God.                                                                      Colossians 3:3

I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7

I can find grace and mercy in time of need.                                                  Hebrews 4:16

I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.                                    I John 5:18

 I Am Significant

I am the salt and light of the earth.                                                               Matthew 5:13, 14

I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life.                                                John 15:1, 5

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.                                           John 15:16

I am a personal witness of Christ.                                                                  Acts 1:8

I am God’s temple.                                                                                         I Corinthians 3:16

I am a minister of reconciliation for God.                                                      II Corinthians 5:17-21

I am God’s coworker (see I Corinthians 3:9).                                                 II Corinthians 6:1

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.                                            Ephesians 2:6

I am God’s workmanship.                                                                               Ephesians 2:10

I may approach God with freedom and confidence.                                      Ephesians 3:12

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.                                Philippians 4:13

Working Until He Comes,

Robert

And You Shall Be My Witnesses

Acts 1:8-NKJV-But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

As you look at the word witnesses you have to ask yourself what exactly does that mean. We know what a witness is in the legal sense and it can be accredited to this verse, but that is a weak interpretation of the true meaning.

In the original the words is “martis” which is also translated martyr in various other verses. Luke uses this word “martis” when talking about Stephen before he was stoned. Before he was stoned he was a witness, “martis” to the revelation of Jesus and after he was a stoned he was a martyr, “martis.”

Three things I think we can take from this word “martis” as it pertains to the above verse and our being witnesses, “martyr”. We as Christians must:

1. Open our eyes and “martus” (see) the workings of God around us.

   God is working around us and through us all the time. We can only witness to the things that we have seen and experienced.

2. Open our mouths and “martus” (attest) the Good News to our neighbor.

   We must be aware that God places opportunities to share what he has done for us and through us every day. One of my favorite quotes says, “the person with an argument is at the mercy of the person with an experience.” You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to share what God means to you.

3. Open our hearts to the possibility of becoming a martus (martyr), socially, financially, or physically.

   We must say as Paul said in Galatians 2:20-NKJV-”I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” We may hope that we never face death for the cause of Christ, but we have to make it a possibility and know that with the power of the Holy Spirit working through you that you can be a “martis” a witness and if it so happens also a “martis” martyr for the cause of Christ.

   Remember that “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.”

   One last thought from Matthew 5:16-NKJV-
   Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

Romans 1:16-NKJV-For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God, to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

In today’s world people are standing up for the strangest things and being completely confident that they are right. There is a church of the spaghetti monster and the members have petitioned and won to have their drivers license picture taken with a spaghetti colander on their head like a hat. To you and I that would seem really strange (and it is), but to these individuals they are so sold out to this idea that they don’t care what people think.

As I go through my day I see people everyday that are trying to be different to fit in. Gayle and I did youth ministry for 11 years and I would ask the young people why they were in such a hurry to be independent so that they could be like everyone else. Everyone is looking for a purpose and wants to belong.

We as Christians have the answer and yet we often do not share the answer when people are asking whether by questions or actions. I want to encourage you that contrary to popular belief, the world as a whole is not as against Christians as much as social media and the news media would lead you to believe.

I AM NOT ASHAMED should be our war cry to the world. But let me say that each of us has our own personality that dictates how we are not ashamed. Some are direct and to the point, others are helpers being the hands and feet of Jesus, some wear Christian clothing and look for people to ask questions. There is no wrong way to share the gospel and each of us must recognize the gifts that God has given to us and appreciate that everyone is not going to share the gospel the way that we do. The Bible says in I Peter3:15-16-NASB-but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

The purpose of our ministry and this blog is to invite you to join our “Fellowship of the Unashamed” and proudly and loudly (or softly) proclaim the gospel that Jesus is our Lord and Savior and He wants to be theirs also. I want to end with this letter that was written by an African pastor who was facing execution the next morning. After he was executed this letter was found in his cell. I read this every morning as a prayer, oh Lord help me to be this UNASHAMED.

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.”

“My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.”

“I now live by faith, lean in his presence, walk by patience, am uplifted in prayer, and I labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear.”

“I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ.”

“I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And, when He comes for His own, He will have not problem recognizing me…my banner will be clear!”

Gayle and I want to challenge you to join us and become a part the “Fellowship of the Unashamed.”

Working Until He Comes,

Robert

And So It Begins

Welcome to my blog. I will use this format to hopefully encourage you, challenge you and most of all stir up your hunger for God and His word. I will tell you that I by no means think I know or understand it all. I do have education and I continuously “study to show myself approved.” Gayle and I have been in ministry for 30 years with 20 of that in “fulltime ministry” whatever that means. Anytime I am privileged to get to teach I always tell those who I am addressing that they can ask any questions they like, but I reserve the right to say “I don’t know, but I will find out.” I welcome comments and questions, but I will warn you upfront that if your comment or comment sent in the form of a question is attacking or demeaning it will be deleted and you will be added to my prayer list. My goal is to not argue doctrine, because there are approximately 230+ Christian denominations in the US. If you lay all of those doctrines out side by side we agree on 85% of everything, but we choose to allow the 15% to divide us. Think of what we could do for the kingdom if we decided to come together on the 85% and not discuss the 15%. I often say that as long as we can agree that the blood and sacrifice of Jesus, His death, burial and resurrection then we can fellowship. I don’t think any of us have a 100% handle on the this thing we call Christianity. But if we can come together on the 85% we will let Him sort out the 15% when we get there. I have often said about denominational tags, “They will either fall off on the way up or burn off on the way down.” There will only be one line in heaven and that is the line of the “Blood bought and redeemed.” Thank you for taking the time to read this and my plan is to post a blog on Mondays. If God is for us WHO can be against us? May God richly bless you as we take this journey together. My wife Gayle will be posting on here from time to time, but she is not as talkative as I am. Like it says on the webpage “We are just two imperfect people in search of other imperfect people pursuing a perfect God.”