The Born Again Club

Given August 9, 2006
First of all, I want to apologize for so much time between posts lately. With vacations and the beginning of school, I have been swamped. I hope to do better for those of you who are regular readers.

I heard a comment in church recently that made me think about how things have been done in churches over the years. Our preachers preach rousing sermons about the need for salvation and people will come to the alter in the passion of the moment, say a "magic" prayer, maybe cry, then bask in the love of God and the applause of the congregation. These people have become "born again". But is that all there is to it?

The Bible says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21". Saying a prayer at the alter is only the first step of being a Christian just as being born the first time was only the first step in earthly life. There's a whole lot more to it than that. Now, many people do get the "real thing" at the alter and go away changed forever. I'm afraid, however, many go away unchanged thinking that saying that "magic prayer" did it for them eternally. Will that hold up when they stand before the Judgement Throne of God? "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27. And.."Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:20". They will follow Jesus and you'll be able to tell it by the way they live. They are changed forever.

I'm afraid there will be many who will be shocked at the judgement who thought being in the "Born Again Club" would get them in. "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:23". We all need to examine our lives, with prayer and maybe fasting, to see if we're where we need to be. If we see, through the Holy Spirit, that we're lacking, we can repent and make amends. Standing before the Judgement Throne of God will not be the time to do this. That will be too late!

Sin Stinks?

Given August 17, 2006
I was reading the other morning about hidden sin. Most of us have some of this; sins comitted, mistakes made that no one sees or knows about. But we know that God sees them and we know about them. How embarassed or bad we'd feel if everyone knew about those "unseen" sins.

I thought, "What if our unseen sins stunk?" Wouldn't that make a difference in our behavior? What if we were talking with friends and began to gossip about someone when a terrible stink arose from us? Those around us would know and we'd have to repent to "clear the air". And what if you were involved in some kind of sinful addictive behavior? You'd stink all the time! And people would know it!

Israel had turned away from God and He did this very thing to them in the book of Amos: "..and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. Amos 4:10". We want to be pure and unblemished as we stand before God and we should want the same thing as we stand before men. Im glad our sin doesn't really give off an odor that others can smell but it makes you think, doesn't it? Remember, God sees what we do in private and He can smell it too.

What's On Your Billboard?

Given August 12, 2006
I spoke this morning at a men's prayer breakfast at a local church and one of the men made a comment that is worthy of repeating. I was speaking on the road of life and how there are distractions on either side trying to draw us away off the road and into sin. I mentioned that you might say there are billboards along the road with tempting ads that are designed to get our eyes off Jesus. The Bible says, " But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." James 1:14.

The devil knows what our weaknesses are and he attacks us in those areas. The point made by the guy at the breakfast was that everyone's billboard will be different. And that's right; my billboard will display "ads" related to my weakness but your's will display something to do with your waekness. And it's not always the "big" things like lust, it could be an advertisment for NASCAR, gardening or TV. Whatever takes you away from focusing your eyes on Jesus. Now these things are not evil, (well, lust is of course), but the others I mentioned are not unless you are "drawn away" from Jesus by them.

Think about it. On your road toward Heaven, what are you seeing on the billboards? Whatever it is, you have the power to resist it, say "NO!", and continue in the way.

Will You Help Me?

Given August 3, 2006

I receive an email quote of the day from Heartlight each morning and on this day the quote made me say, “Wow, that’s right!”, a revelation of something I already knew but made more real to me by what I read.

God is all powerful. We know that and even God himself said it, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27”. God can do anything He wants yet He will not force us into anything. We, as His creation, have a free will to accept Him or to reject Him. He’ll let us go to hell if we choose to. What kind of allegiance is given to one who forces his followers to follow? Not much!

God says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20”. He knocks and stands there but we have to open the door. Then He’ll move.

God summons us to cooperation and we should be honored that He does it that way. Numerous times Jesus asked for help in performing His miracles; Fill the water pots, (John 2:7), Stretch out your hand, (Matthew 12:13), Distribute the loaves, (Luke 9:16). Had these people not participated, the miracle may not have been performed.

Jesus wants to do great and mighty things in our lives. What is He asking you to help Him with today?