"The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, And have not wickedly departed from my God." Ps 18:20-21
In this day and age it can be challenging to be a Christian. Take a look at the assault society is levying against morality and faith. Sex sells everything. Loose behavior is glorified in reality television shows with the greatest amount of mis-behavior receiving the greatest amount of reward. It is not uncommon for couples to co-habitate years before they get married. Prayer has long been banished from schools. The lyrics of songs are filled with debauchery and are directed toward kids more often than not. And increasingly, the righteous are seen as weak and ignorant of reality.
Fortunately, there is good news for members of the household of faith. "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," says the Lord Almighty." 2 Cor 6:17-18. There is a difference between those who endeavor to lead holy lives and those who do not. There are spiritual blessings and everlasting promises that are the exclusive gift to those who call up on the name of Christ. Though at this time we have no other planet to which we can go, we must separate oursleves in word, thought and deed in order to maintain this status.
Recognizing this Beloved, how great will it be to have a clean conscious toward God? To be sure, we have all sinned, but we should know that "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Rom 8:1 This having been said, it is not our own righteousness that gives us a clean conscious, but that which was imputed to us by our Savior. We must, however, do our part to keep our hands clean, to keep the ways of the Lord and to never depart from him.
In Revival,
Lee
Monday, October 11, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Just Say No-DD 10/8/2010
"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7
Sometimes it seems that Satan is on our backs. At every turn, there he is, hanging something in front of us that tempts us to deviate from the path. He has an impeccable sense of timing as well. Whenever we are at our lowest and most vulnerable, he seems to be right there.
Beloved, the answer to how to deal with this problem is closer and simpler than you think. The contemporary way to express it is to "just say no." To be sure, this is at times easier said than done, but if you were to think about it, you would see that it comes down to just that. You either allow yourself to be overtaken in a fault or you do not. You give in to temptation or you do not. You do the wrong thing or you do the right thing.
To help us with this problem, God through the Holy Spirit and the pen of James gives two pieces of advice. First, we must submit to God. Submission means primarily to be obedient. It is to replace your will with His. In so doing, you can become equipped. Second, he says to resist. In this context, resisting is the opposite of submission. When Satan shows up, we are not to be swayed by his allurements, but instead, we are to take God's part and leave Satan to be disappointed at not being able to turn our heads. As with most things that are bad for us, the more we resist, the easier it will become. It takes time. It takes discipline. It takes effort, but it can be done.
In Revival,
Lee
Sometimes it seems that Satan is on our backs. At every turn, there he is, hanging something in front of us that tempts us to deviate from the path. He has an impeccable sense of timing as well. Whenever we are at our lowest and most vulnerable, he seems to be right there.
Beloved, the answer to how to deal with this problem is closer and simpler than you think. The contemporary way to express it is to "just say no." To be sure, this is at times easier said than done, but if you were to think about it, you would see that it comes down to just that. You either allow yourself to be overtaken in a fault or you do not. You give in to temptation or you do not. You do the wrong thing or you do the right thing.
To help us with this problem, God through the Holy Spirit and the pen of James gives two pieces of advice. First, we must submit to God. Submission means primarily to be obedient. It is to replace your will with His. In so doing, you can become equipped. Second, he says to resist. In this context, resisting is the opposite of submission. When Satan shows up, we are not to be swayed by his allurements, but instead, we are to take God's part and leave Satan to be disappointed at not being able to turn our heads. As with most things that are bad for us, the more we resist, the easier it will become. It takes time. It takes discipline. It takes effort, but it can be done.
In Revival,
Lee
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Compassion-DD 10/7/2010
"Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted."
Gal 6:1
As much as we do our best to lead lives that are pleasing to God, there are times when we stumble and sometimes fall. We know the difference between right and wrong but that knowledge does not always dictate our actions. There are times that things happen quite accidentally, times when we just get weak and times when we premeditatedly abandon what we know to be the way we should go.
For times like these God gave us each other. Far too often, the world is willing to pile on to those who are down. It is popular to exacerbate the situation, often from the perspective of a bystander with no stake in what is going on. We, however, are members of one body and what affects one affects all. God made us a body to, among other reasons, see to the needs of the individuals that make up the body. We are to encourage one another to stay on the path and when one deviates, help correct them. None of us should ever take pleasure in the failure of a member of the family.
When we come to the aid of another, it is also important that we treat the one who was "overtaken" as we would want to be treated. Since we all fall short of perfection, surely that day will come and there will be a chance for the spiritual to restore you, hopefully in a manner that is overflowing with the love of Christ. Let us learn from one another.
In Revival,
Lee
Gal 6:1
As much as we do our best to lead lives that are pleasing to God, there are times when we stumble and sometimes fall. We know the difference between right and wrong but that knowledge does not always dictate our actions. There are times that things happen quite accidentally, times when we just get weak and times when we premeditatedly abandon what we know to be the way we should go.
For times like these God gave us each other. Far too often, the world is willing to pile on to those who are down. It is popular to exacerbate the situation, often from the perspective of a bystander with no stake in what is going on. We, however, are members of one body and what affects one affects all. God made us a body to, among other reasons, see to the needs of the individuals that make up the body. We are to encourage one another to stay on the path and when one deviates, help correct them. None of us should ever take pleasure in the failure of a member of the family.
When we come to the aid of another, it is also important that we treat the one who was "overtaken" as we would want to be treated. Since we all fall short of perfection, surely that day will come and there will be a chance for the spiritual to restore you, hopefully in a manner that is overflowing with the love of Christ. Let us learn from one another.
In Revival,
Lee
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The Greatest Gift-DD 10/6/10
"...but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." John 4:14
Think a moment about the greatest gift you have ever received. Consider whether it was something sentimental or functional, beautiful or practical, needful or just nice to have. Often times, the greatest gifts are the simplest and most basic ones. Do you remember the first piece of macaroni art your first child brought home from preschool or kindergarten? Do you still have it? Whatever the case, we are filled with joy, happiness and gratitude when we are the fortunate recipients of the love and kindness of others.
Christ promises us the gift of water, but not just any water. He promises water that has eternal benefits. As with all things in Jesus, there is more to this gift than meets the eye, and we scarcely have the capacity to understand it. It is revealed to us that, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive;" John 7:38-39. We know very well according to Acts 2:38 that when we repent and are baptized, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the gift that keeps on giving. Observe some of His many benefits:
Think a moment about the greatest gift you have ever received. Consider whether it was something sentimental or functional, beautiful or practical, needful or just nice to have. Often times, the greatest gifts are the simplest and most basic ones. Do you remember the first piece of macaroni art your first child brought home from preschool or kindergarten? Do you still have it? Whatever the case, we are filled with joy, happiness and gratitude when we are the fortunate recipients of the love and kindness of others.
Christ promises us the gift of water, but not just any water. He promises water that has eternal benefits. As with all things in Jesus, there is more to this gift than meets the eye, and we scarcely have the capacity to understand it. It is revealed to us that, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive;" John 7:38-39. We know very well according to Acts 2:38 that when we repent and are baptized, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the gift that keeps on giving. Observe some of His many benefits:
- He reveals, Luke 2:26
- He teaches, Luke 12:12
- He facilitates worship, John 4:24
- He comforts, John 14:26
- He guides, John 16:13
- He gives power, Acts 1:8
- He gives ability, Acts 4:31
- He grows the church, Acts 9:31
- He helps our infirmities and makes intercession for us, Rom 8:26
This is not an exhaustive list. The many benefits of the gift of the Holy Spirit are incalculable, permanent and beneficial to all who receive Him. Have you offered someone a drink of water lately?
In Revival,
Lee
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Good News-DD 10/5/2010
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him." 1 Thess 5:9-10
Sometimes we just need good news. Sometimes we need to be reminded of who we are in Christ Jesus. As Christians, we are afforded such great privileges both in this life and the next.
There are so many things that we see going on around us. In this day and age of a depressed economy, people out of work, homes being foreclosed upon and a world whose morality seems to worsen every day, it is understandable that we might become discouraged or despondent.
Beloved we must remember that though this is the world we live in, it is not the world to which we belong. We have already been made to sit with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph 2:6). Surely there will be bad news for those who reject God, but for those who accept Him and are obedient to His will, the benefit will be unimaginable.
So when you are down, when the world closes in on you, remember this is not your world. God has so much more in store for you.
In Revival,
Lee
Sometimes we just need good news. Sometimes we need to be reminded of who we are in Christ Jesus. As Christians, we are afforded such great privileges both in this life and the next.
There are so many things that we see going on around us. In this day and age of a depressed economy, people out of work, homes being foreclosed upon and a world whose morality seems to worsen every day, it is understandable that we might become discouraged or despondent.
Beloved we must remember that though this is the world we live in, it is not the world to which we belong. We have already been made to sit with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph 2:6). Surely there will be bad news for those who reject God, but for those who accept Him and are obedient to His will, the benefit will be unimaginable.
So when you are down, when the world closes in on you, remember this is not your world. God has so much more in store for you.
In Revival,
Lee
Monday, October 4, 2010
Words of Grace-DD 10/4/2010
"Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Col 4:6
It is popularly said that, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." The magnitude of the untruth of this statement is stunning. Words are capable of causing wounds that never heal while sticks and stones cause temporary bruising.
For this reason beloved, we must always choose our words carefully. There is power in the words we use. This power can be used for great good as in evangelism and encouragement or great evil as in blasphemy and any of the great "isms" (racism, sexism, ageism, etc.) that continue to plague us.
As Christians, we should, "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." Eph 4:29. We should be a source of uplifting, not just to each other, but to the world. If you recall the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy, the population flocked to the churches. Imagine the difference between being greeted with "Oh NOW you show up" and "Welcome, come and be healed." The same goes for any of our brothers and sisters in the faith that may have been overtaken in a fault.
There is so much good that can be done with the right words. Remember the ones that brought you to the knowledge of Christ and share them. Surely they are words of grace.
In Revival,
Lee
It is popularly said that, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." The magnitude of the untruth of this statement is stunning. Words are capable of causing wounds that never heal while sticks and stones cause temporary bruising.
For this reason beloved, we must always choose our words carefully. There is power in the words we use. This power can be used for great good as in evangelism and encouragement or great evil as in blasphemy and any of the great "isms" (racism, sexism, ageism, etc.) that continue to plague us.
As Christians, we should, "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." Eph 4:29. We should be a source of uplifting, not just to each other, but to the world. If you recall the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy, the population flocked to the churches. Imagine the difference between being greeted with "Oh NOW you show up" and "Welcome, come and be healed." The same goes for any of our brothers and sisters in the faith that may have been overtaken in a fault.
There is so much good that can be done with the right words. Remember the ones that brought you to the knowledge of Christ and share them. Surely they are words of grace.
In Revival,
Lee
Friday, October 1, 2010
It Is Your Choice-DD 10/1/2010
"This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psa 118:24
Do we ever really stop and think about the gift that every waking day is? I believe that many of us wake up every morning, trudge through our daily preparations and dread having to go to work, school or any number of other activities that require our attention on a daily basis. We drag ourselves to whatever is set for us that day and eventually give in to it, looking forward to the evening when we can experience a little leisure and get back to bed.
I suppose that is one way to look at the day, however, there is an alternative. It starts with experiencing wonder and expressing thanks for waking from the nearest we come to death on a regular basis. It continues by noticing that you are rising from a comfortable bed in a temperature controlled environment with the ability to go into a room where there is hot and cold running water and the ability to clean and refresh yourself. This room is often near another in which you keep enough clothing to where something different every day for a month. You may not be a breakfast person, but thank God that you have the ability to obtain it if you desire.
Whether your activities take you outside of the home or not, what a blessing it is to have the ability to accomplish tasks and to have tasks to accomplish. These things add purpose to our existence. For those who would complain about their jobs or supervisors, imagine what it would be like to have neither yet desire both. And while the majority of the world walks, what number and forms of transportation do we each possess to carry us where we both need and desire to go?
Beloved, gladness is a state of mind that is a result of choice. We can choose to be pessimistic and complain about every little thing, or we can choose to count every little blessing and be thankful. It is the individual that is the sole determiner of perspective and outlook no matter what the challenges of the day, week, month, year or life are. Today is all we have. Let us make the most of it. And if God sees fit to allow us to see another day tomorrow, let us approach it with gratitude for seeing it, breathless wonder at its supply and determination to enjoy it, if for no other reason than the next one is not promised.
In Revival,
Lee
Do we ever really stop and think about the gift that every waking day is? I believe that many of us wake up every morning, trudge through our daily preparations and dread having to go to work, school or any number of other activities that require our attention on a daily basis. We drag ourselves to whatever is set for us that day and eventually give in to it, looking forward to the evening when we can experience a little leisure and get back to bed.
I suppose that is one way to look at the day, however, there is an alternative. It starts with experiencing wonder and expressing thanks for waking from the nearest we come to death on a regular basis. It continues by noticing that you are rising from a comfortable bed in a temperature controlled environment with the ability to go into a room where there is hot and cold running water and the ability to clean and refresh yourself. This room is often near another in which you keep enough clothing to where something different every day for a month. You may not be a breakfast person, but thank God that you have the ability to obtain it if you desire.
Whether your activities take you outside of the home or not, what a blessing it is to have the ability to accomplish tasks and to have tasks to accomplish. These things add purpose to our existence. For those who would complain about their jobs or supervisors, imagine what it would be like to have neither yet desire both. And while the majority of the world walks, what number and forms of transportation do we each possess to carry us where we both need and desire to go?
Beloved, gladness is a state of mind that is a result of choice. We can choose to be pessimistic and complain about every little thing, or we can choose to count every little blessing and be thankful. It is the individual that is the sole determiner of perspective and outlook no matter what the challenges of the day, week, month, year or life are. Today is all we have. Let us make the most of it. And if God sees fit to allow us to see another day tomorrow, let us approach it with gratitude for seeing it, breathless wonder at its supply and determination to enjoy it, if for no other reason than the next one is not promised.
In Revival,
Lee
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