August 25, 2010 at 2:11 pm · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Just as Christ modeled for us, we likewise should follow in HIs steps of maturity as recorded in Luke 2:52: Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.
However, we often get easily distracted from Christ’s example for our life because we get caught up with the distractions and demands of the world. But, God’s Word declares according to The Message by Eugene Peterson these words of encouragement in Henrews 6:1-2: So come on, let’s leave the preschool finger-painting exercises on Chrsit and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on the hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we’ll stay true to that, but there’s so much more. Let’s get on with it!
The world and its ways are an obstacle to our growth in Christ if we lose our focus upon what should be first and foremost in our daily walk. We should not buy into the world’s attack upon doctrinal issues that create controversy and misunderstanding. God has defended His Word long before we were born, and will likely continue long afterwards. Our focus should be upon growing in Christ, as He showed us and instructed us to do so.
However, unless we totally submit or surrender our “self” to the Lord, we will be susceptible to becoming frustrated and distracted by the challenges of this world, and we risk being turned away from following as we should.
What a blessing we will all realize when we remain steadfast in the face of the challenges that are placed before each day, especially when they seem beyond our ability to endure on our own. It is at those moments, our prayers are answered and we receive God’s favorable assistance from His abundant resources that He freely gives as we have need. You see, God will give us the vistory through us, not for our sake, but for His name’s sake!
Sometimes it can be difficult to gain the spiritual m,omentum we need to stay on-track with Christ, however we have His Word to encourage us: (Hebrews 6:9-12) Even though we are speaking this way, dear friends, in your case we are confident of the better things connected with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love showed for His name when you served the saints - and you continue to serve them. Now we want each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the final realization. of your hope, so that you won’t become lazy, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
Like Jesus showed for us, resist the things you still want to do and unlearn those evil habits that cause you to struggle this very day. This is most certainly a continual battle for spiritual discipline, but it offers the hope for our daily walk before and with Christ. Amen.
August 24, 2010 at 12:50 pm · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Lord, You have searched me and knowme. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord. You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. It is lofty; I am unable to [reach] it. God how difficult Your thoughts are for me [to comprehend]; how vast their sum is! …Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:1-6, 17, 23-24 (HCSB)
Pride ensnares us when we needlessly involve ourselves in the worldly rooted affairs and problems. We tend to test our solutions and observations with others, standing on some self-proclaimed authority we do not have. Thus, our engagement in such affairs and problems become a great obstacle to our spiritual life.
So what should be our perspective on such matters? Our Lord proclaimed: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (concerns) will be provided for you. Matt 6:33
It is the Lord who clams the storms of life, not our words or our understanding (Matt 14:32). Thus before we engage in the affairs and problems not in our authority or concern, listen to the Lord’s word of warning: Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure that you use, it will measured to you. Matt 7:1-2 (HCSB)
Likewise, Paul declared in Romans 2:1-2, Therefore, anyone of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. We know that (only) God’s judgment…is based upon truth.
Rather, we should prayerfully choose wisely what to engage in with others, and be watchful and pray that our time and talents would not be wasted on matters that are not in our authority or concern. When there is an opportune and appropriate time to share in a particular affair or problem involving others, say something that will edify and encourage. Resist by prayer any natural instincts that would interfere with spiritual understanding and growth. Such natural instincts will only cause us to speak and act thoughtlessly,and careless words, written or spoken, can be harmful.
When we walk guided by our Lord and Savior, we can truly understand Paul’s praise he shared in 2 Cor… Blessed be the God and Father of mercies and the GOd of all comfort (or, consolation). He comforts us in all our affliction (troubles, trials, and tribulations), so that we may be able to comfort (or, console) those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Who do you rely upon to understand and respond to the issues in your life, and the affairs and problems of others around you? Do you have faith in God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word as you should? Amen.
August 23, 2010 at 1:07 pm · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Following Rightly Overcomes Leading Wrongly
If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself. take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save His life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? What can a man give in exchange for his life? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38
What would cause us to want to be a follower rather than a leader? Doesn’t this world promote the idea that we are to be masters of our own lives? In fact, the media and movie industry promote the power of the individual and the degrading of virtually all authority figures in our society. We hold to the ideal of personal freedoms that are even to be free from any government intervention or authority over personal freedoms and rights. Especially here in America, we have become a “ME” - “have it my way” - focused society.
To put this point into proper perspective, society has tried to rewrite even the Great Commandmentthat our Lord and Savior established for us nearly 2,000 years ago. Rather than “Love God first and foremost with all your heart, soul, and mind, and likewise love others as ourself. (Matt. 22:37-38) - the world is declaring that we should love ourselves with all our heart, soul and mind, and likewise love others as possibly God loves us. By adopting such a philosophy of life, we are usurping all authority so that we can proclaim our individual sovereignty as the supreme authority of our lives.
However, sooner or later we will learn that there can be only one absolute authority in this world. Chaos reigns when everyone is their own sovereign and absolute ruler over their lives. And that one absolute authority and sole sovereign power rests with the Creator, Author, Savior and Master of all things - GOD> Didn’t God start from nothjing to bring order out of chaos in this world? Nothing has changed that reality since that beginning of time itself, and nothing will ever change it either. The only thing that has changed are our attitudes, but even then God still reigns supreme, with or without our recognition of the fact. God remains supreme and offers His grace and love as a testimony to that fact to all who will recognize Him for who He truly is so that we can be drawn back to Him and His eternal care. Whenever our will, our ways, and our wisdom causes us to stumble and often fall, He is there to pick us up again, because He loves us. What an awesome God we serve.
When we get tired of leading our own lives, He declares to us that through Christ’s words there is deliverance and an abundant life waiting for us. That life begins by denying our “SELF” and then bring our troubles, debts, and even burdens to Him, and then follow His lead for our lives. God desires to lead us and protect us. All we need to do is return Him to the supreme, sovereign position in our life, and by faith follow Himby seeking God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s WOrd, once again. Then you will discover the wonderful value of loving God first and foremost with all our heart, soul and mind, and in return you will share that love with others and discover the love you embrace in your heart, which is His gift to you.
Yes Lord I am ashamed when I have forgotten this truth, and I freely confess that shame because I do not want you to be ashamed of me when I stand before You and the glory of my heavenly Father. Amen.
July 26, 2010 at 6:08 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Gods Victorious Church - Vision
Scripture: Revelation 1: 1-20 HCSB
Truth: God is infinitely more concerned about your happiness than you could possibly be.
Isaiah 26:3-4 (HCSB) God will keep in perfect peace the mind [that is] dependent [on Him], for it is trusting in Him. Therefore, we should trust in the Lord forever, because in Yahweh, the Lord, is an everlasting rock!
However, many of us think we are doing God a favor when we tell another about Christ, even though we are clearly commanded to do so.
And on top of that, we believe we are suffering real persecution when someone makes light of our faith.
However, sadly the fact is, most people don’t really care what others believe in, or if they believe in anything at all.
The result of this attitude is that the Christian faith has become a cheap faith. Why would I make such a claim? Well simply put, because too often we live as if our professed faith has no value or any real imperative upon our lives, once we are saved.
Consider the example we set in the church to those who might be visiting among us on any Sunday seeking the Lord in our midst:
1. They hear many members complain when the preaching runs over a few minutes on the Sunday sermon.
2. Or other members reveal how it is such a great inconvenience to return to services once or twice more in the same week.
No wonder so much of the world does not consider the faith we reveal in our churches as relevant, when we are not even willing to give our time, much less our very freedom or lives as the early church founders, for what we say we believe in.
However, Jesus declared long ago in bold red letters: Matt 5:10 …Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
In the Book of Revelation there is certainly much mystery, yet the underlying message is very clear…God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit and God’s Church of Saints in the company of God’s angels are the team that wins in the end!
God has always had in the vision of history: “His Victorious Church.”
However, have we possibly lost that vision?
When a church loses it focus on who they are? What are they to be doing? Where are they to be going? That vision has been lost, or at least is seriously out of our present focus.
Also, whenever any church fellowship loses its vision from God, it begins to flounder and float a drift without any unified purpose of mission. Growth becomes virtually non-existent. The status quo is the focus of what little planning is done.
After a few months or years in this state, usually the valued traits of unity and harmony begin to show signs of faltering.
Individuals or common interest groups, which we call cliques in the church, begin to establish their own separate visions.
These growing number of separate visions most likely are introduced so that the handfuls in these interest groups feel comfortable, thus likely satisfying only their own needs.
The once healthy, thriving church body tries to exist with the various members directing their own individual interests.
However, the result over time is decay, disease and deterioration of the unity and harmony of the church body.
Before you think I am talking about any specific church, this is a gruesome reality that has existed for hundreds, even thousands of churches over the many centuries since the first church in Jerusalem.
In reality, there exists a cycle in the life of every church. No matter how successful the church, the life cycle in every church includes its birth, development, maturity, decline and redevelopment or ultimately death.
Characteristics of the changing community of believers in a declining church include the following:
1. Business as usual agenda resulting in stagnation and decline.
2. Growing frustration among the members because there is an increasing loss of the sense of mission, vision or purpose.
3. Nostalgic remembrance of the “good old days.”
4. Large percentage of members over the age of 55, and they are wondering why they are not attracting younger adults and their families.
5. There usually has been a gradual almost unnoticeable evolutionary transition in the surrounding community.
This kind of church finds itself one day dwelling amidst a community of change. The basic, traditional characteristics of their community have already or are currently experiencing a significant transition.
In this church, you can hear both the men and women saying among themselves, “This is no longer the church I grew up in. What happened to my church?”
These are the questions asked by churches all across America, from our area of the Bible belt all the way across this country. Some are in small towns, some are in bigger cities, and some are out in the country.
Many of these churches consider relocation, merging or even disbanding. And, some will stay where God planted them and re-look at their community in an effort to try to reach the changing community.
Many – if not most – will succeed, while many others will simply continue to decline, struggle or even close their doors.
The good news in this: every local church fellowship can prayerfully choose its own course of action.
Any church can establish or revitalize various ministries that can impact the community around it and begin to effectively serve the people within the reach of its ministry influence. But, it will necessitate a refocus on the vision God has for that particular church that will ignite the fires behind the transition.
Which vision best serves any church? Our individual visions or the unifying vision that the Lord has for His Church in any community.
As we share over the next 8 weeks the Traits of God’s Victorious Church that are found in the Book of Revelation, determine if we, as a faithful body of believers, truly are committed to evaluating where we are.
The seven churches God wanted to receive the vital message contained in His Revelation contain the secret to becoming God’s Victorious Church once again.
Consider their shortcomings:
Ephesus, the loveless church•
Smyrna,• the persecuted church
Pergamum, the overly tolerant church•
Thyatira,• the compromising church
Sardis, the sleeping church•
Philadelphia, the• church with opportunity
Laodecia, the complacent church•
We will examine each of these churches in the messages that will follow, as well as, climax on the final message with the heavenly picture of God’s Perfect and Victorious Church that is found in the final two chapters of Revelation.
Since the number 7 speaks of “completeness” or “perfection” – the cumulative traits and imperatives the 7 churches received from Jesus Christ can be seen as traits God has in mind for His Victorious Church.
And, any church can be God’s Victorious Church if they will obediently seek after the vision God has for the fellowship in His church.
But first: What is a vision from God? According to George Barna, leading author of books for growing churches in this present world we live in:
It is clear and understandable to the church.
It is preferable to the current state the church is in.
It concentrates on the future of the church.
It is divinely inspired and empowered.
It is a gift given to the leaders in the church, which is tailored to the present conditions and circumstances of the church.
It reflects a realistic perspective on the present conditions of the church.
It establishes the most POSSIBLE dream for the church.
It is built upon reality for the church.
It is reliant upon visionary leadership to communicate the vision into action.
With this in mind, lets begin by asking: What was the vision that John the Apostle received from God in Revelation that will help us today?
What we will see is this…How we worship is the foundation behind gaining the divine revelation of a vision from God.
In other words, Worship is the inspired means to receiving the revelation of God’s vision for His victorious church.
Lets share in these passages: the traits of worship worthy for receiving God’s vision in God’s Victorious Church.
1. There is a sense of urgency. The time is at hand. Vv. 1-3
The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John, who testified to God’s word and to the testimony about Jesus Christ, in all he saw. Blessed is the one who reads and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near!
2. The Triune God is the source of the vision. Vv. 4-6
John: To the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who was, and who is coming; from the seven spirits before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
3. There is unquestioned faith in and surrender to Jesus as Savior and Lord, and Head of the Church. Vv. 5-7
From Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth
will mourn over Him. This is certain. Amen.
4. God’s eternal authority is realized. Vv. 8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.”
5. The divine Spirit of God is felt in our midst. Vv. 9-11
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation, kingdom, and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God’s word and the testimony about Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
6. Jesus is felt in our midst. Vv. 12-13a
I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. When I turned I saw seven gold lampstands, and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man…
7. A clear vision of Jesus standing before God on our behalf exists. Vv. 13b-16
One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest. His head and hair were white like wool—white as snow, His eyes like a fiery flame, His feet like fine bronze fired in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of cascading waters. In His right hand He had seven stars; from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was shining like the sun at midday.
8. There exists a genuine sense of fear that we are worshiping in the Lord’s presence. Vv. 17-18
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me, and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
9. No doubt exists that God is speaking to us. Vv. 19-20
Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this. The secret of the seven stars you saw in My right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands, is this: the seven stars are the angels (messengers) of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
As verse 3 states clearly, Blessed is the one who reads and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near!
Does your present worship experience cause you to tremble in fear and offer a genuine sense of the very presence of God touching your heart?
When was the last time you fully surrendered yourself to God’s desire for your life? Have you come to realize that worship is not about you?
Have you realized what has been missing in worship is your focus upon the God we seek to worship through Christ Jesus?
Do you desire to experience genuine worship by returning to Him as your purpose and vision for worship? When we all make worship all about and for God, each of us will see His vision for our lives and this church revealed by Jesus, through the Spirit, and from the Father!
I believe that God has a clear vision just for any church. Just as He has a specific vision for every church everywhere. It is God’s Victorious Churches who have come together in that vision and are moving forward in that vision growing and prospering God’s Kingdom.
It may be similar to the N.E.T. Vision I shared a couple of weeks ago, which the Lord gave to me as one of His servant leaders. “Networking Everyone Together,” leave nobody behind or out; reach beyond the walls of the church, building bridges and tearing down walls, sharing with everyone called by God that God places before us by reaching with, and teaching and preaching the Gospel.
Will you now close your eyes and sense Christ speaking to your church?
What about you, can you sense Christ placing a vision from God the Father upon this church? If so, will you come forward in a moment and gather at the altar and pray that vision will be revealed to the church?
If you truly believe the vision you sense is the preferable future of your Church, and you are willing to participate in that vision, will you come join us up front as we pray together?
It is okay if you have not sensed the vision yet. Pray to Lord Jesus that He will clarify His will, His vision for this church to you.
For those coming forward, I pray your step of faith toward this vision for the church will be strengthened by God’s Holy Spirit each and every day.
Also, if this vision is from God, it will be affirmed throughout the church and there will a growing sense of unity and harmony within the church.
Let’s pray together, and also invite any non-members of the church who feel led today to join in this vision to come seeking to join us as at Hartford Baptist Church.
If there is someone who for the first time truly has sensed Jesus calling to him or her, come lets pray. May we all pray together for God’s vision…
July 19, 2010 at 5:36 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom # 377: The Lord Reveals the Rest of the Story
For this is what the LORD says: I will make peace flow to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flood; you will nurse and be carried on [her] hip and bounced on [her] lap. As a mother comforts her son, so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem. You will see, you will rejoice, and you will flourish like grass; then the LORD’s power will be revealed to His servants, but He will show His wrath against His enemies. Look, the LORD will come with fire — His chariots are like the whirlwind — to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire. For the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh with His fiery sword, and many will be slain by the LORD. “Those who dedicate and purify themselves to [enter] the groves following their leader, eating meat from pigs, vermin, and rats, will perish together.” [This is] the LORD’s declaration. “Knowing their works and their thoughts, I have come to gather all nations and languages; they will come and see My glory. I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, Lud (who are archers), Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away—who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. And they will proclaim My glory among the nations. They will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the LORD on horses and chariots, in litters, and on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD. I will also take some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD. “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me”— [this is] the LORD’s declaration— “so your offspring and your name will endure. All mankind will come to worship Me from one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another,” says the LORD. “As they leave, they will see the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never go out, and they will be a horror to all mankind.” Isaiah 66:12-24 (HCSB)
The Lord promises that there is an eternal conclusion to His covenant with all who walk by faith as one of His chosen people. That conclusion is what everyone calls paradise. Peace will reside there, and peace means there will absolutely no fear, no frustration, nor no need for fussing with others. No enemies will be a threat to that peace. In peace, the people will flourish.
For anyone who attempts to threaten the peace, the Lord will personally demonstrate His wrath upon them and they will be slain by the Lord. And, do not try to deceive the Lord. If you are not fully surrendered to worship and revere God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word, then you will be revealed by the One who knows the hearts of men.
Yet, the Lord will make sure all that have not heard about Him will have the witness of His people in every corner of the world, so that none will have an excuse when judgment comes upon them. As those people respond to the Lord, their eyes will be opened to see all those who rebelled against the Lord and how they were separated by the Lord’s hand. A clear choice will be visible. Which will you choose knowing that the Lord knows your heart?
Will you enjoy the sight of the new heavens and new earth that the Lord will make for His people? The choice is yours…this was the message of Isaiah to the people of Israel and Jerusalem, and it is echoed today to the hearts of men and women. How will you respond?
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life. The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Rev 21:1-8 (HCSB)
July 16, 2010 at 7:36 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #376: The Humble, Broken, and Reverent Please the Lord!
This is what the LORD says: Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house could you possibly build for Me? And what place could be My home? My hand made all these things, and so they all came into being. [This is] the LORD’s declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at My word. One slaughters an ox, one kills a man; one sacrifices a lamb, one breaks a dog’s neck; one offers a grain offering, one offers pig’s blood; one offers incense, one praises an idol— all these have chosen their ways and delight in their detestable practices. So I will choose their punishment, and I will bring on them what they dread because I called and no one answered; I spoke and they didn’t hear; they did what was evil in My sight and chose what I didn’t delight in. You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate and exclude you because of Me have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified so that we can see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.” Isaiah 66:1-5 (HCSB)
How would you describe your attitude about life? What would your resume’ look like if the Lord asked you to write one? What about those letters of recommendation that the Lord would also seek to read to verify would you believe about your attributes described in your resume’? Would the Lord smile, scratch His head, or frown by what your life would reveal? (By the way, does the Lord need your resume’ and letters of recommendation to examine your life?)
Clearly, Isaiah was sharing to the people who were facing certain judgment by the Lord that the Lord will be examining the lives of those people who claim to be His chosen people. He clearly states what would please Him, and then also what actions would be subject to His discipline. After simply stating the attributes that would please Him, He states: if there is evidence in your life that you have murdered man or beast wrongly or have worshiped anything other than Him, these are detestable practices that will be punished. If the Lord says He called your name many times but you did not listen or heed His words, then you have pursued evil rather than His ways, and He is definitely not pleased.
However, for all who are afraid that they may miss out on hearing and heeding to the Word of the Lord, listen to this passage of warning and apply it to your life. Do not be like those who have cluttered their lives with other interests so that they could not hear nor heed the Lord’s Word to them. These are the ones who claim they are still waiting on the Lord to reveal Himself to them in such a way that they will change their ways. However, the Lord will put them to shame when He reveals to them they missed out on His joy because they were too busy to listen and respond to Him while they had the chance…and now it is too late!
Which group will you be a part of in your life?
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news. And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.” Matt 11:4-6 (HCSB)
July 14, 2010 at 6:10 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #375: The Picture of Paradise Painted by Its Creator
“For I will create a new heaven and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind. Then be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people. The sound of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her. In her, a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days, or an old man not live out his days. Indeed, the youth will die at a hundred years, and the one who misses a hundred years will be cursed. People will build houses and live [in them]; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build and others live [in them]; they will not plant and others eat. For My people’s lives will be like the lifetime of a tree. My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor without success or bear children [destined] for disaster, for they will be a people blessed by the LORD along with their descendants. Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the serpent’s food will be dust! They will not do what is evil or destroy on My entire holy mountain,” says the LORD. Isaiah 65:17-25 (HCSB)
What does God want for His people? What does God desire we share with Him? What will “paradise” look like on earth? Read this passage carefully and then look at Revelation 20-21 of the new Heaven and Earth that is echoed there. Why is it necessary for God to paint the same picture nearly a millennium later of this picture? Could it be “we” have not bought into His vision completely? Is it that we want it for our lives, but like the shows on HGTV and TLC, we want to remodel not only the mansions He has prepared for us, but also the landscape it is on? We also may be upset over who God has given us as our neighbors versus who we wanted to share “paradise” with?
Every time God lays a blessing before His people, we are grateful and praise His name, but quickly seek to add to it and make it suit our vision, not accept God’s creation for what He intended. Think for a moment what it would be like to have designed and constructed an awesome gift for someone you love, and then after the happy moment of presenting the gift and the sharing of hugs and kisses and kind words, that person sets about modifying your gift to suit their own needs their way! How would you feel? If God is all-knowing, all-wise, and all-powerful, and we truly worship Him for being our perfect Lord and Savior, on what basis do we have the right to challenge the “paradise” that He has created for us. Who knows what we need better?
When you think about these thoughts, you can realize why Jerusalem, which was rebuilt by God’s people after God returned His people from exile during the Persian Empire era in history, never lived up to their approval and thus it became a disappointment rather than a place of genuine worship. Jerusalem today, after 2000+ years since is now the hotbed of man’s religions, yet no relationship with God is in view! Doctrine and interpretation differences divide and separate the people in the city, and the world suffers because of it. Jews, Christians, and Muslims are in conflict daily over what group is right! Yet, God is saying clearly all of you are dead wrong! All of you are too caught up trying to be right in the eyes of men, rather than in the eyes of God. We all are too busy fighting and fussing in the fight to be right, rather than listening and learning the source of righteousness!
Consider history of God’s people and see how synagogues, churches, cathedrals, and mosques all are man-made walls that divide people, rather than invite people into the beautiful picture of “paradise” that God has painted for all of His people. When we lay down religion and seek right relationships in His world then and only then will we see the picture of “paradise” on earth.
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. Rev 21:1-4 (HCSB)
July 13, 2010 at 5:50 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom # 374: Your Choice: Called Out or Culled Out
The LORD says this: As the new wine is found in a bunch of grapes, and one says, ‘Don’t destroy it, for there’s some good in it,’ so I will act because of My servants and not destroy them all. I will produce descendants from Jacob, and heirs to My mountains from Judah; My chosen ones will possess it, and My servants will dwell there. Sharon will be a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for cattle to lie down, for My people who have sought Me. But you who abandon the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who prepare a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not hear; you did what was evil in My sight and chose what I did not delight in. Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: My servants will eat, but you will be hungry; My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. My servants will shout for joy from a glad heart, but you will cry out from an anguished heart, and you will lament out of a broken spirit. You will leave your name behind as a curse for My chosen ones, and the Lord GOD will kill you; but He will give His servants another name. Whoever is blessed in the land will be blessed by the God of truth, and whoever swears in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the former troubles will be forgotten and hidden from My sight. Isaiah 65:8-16 (HCSB)
In all the reading and studying of God’s Word what is clear about our life before God, our Creator is clear: God offers all of us a choice. We can respond to His covenant care and surrender our lives to “God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s Wisdom according to God’s Word,” or choose our own will, ways and wisdom in life. If we choose our own path in life and reject His covenant care, we will be subject to total separation. We will be culled out and not allowed to enjoy His presence. You cannot have it both ways: you cannot try to worship God when your heart is focused upon your own desires and passions.
However, if you surrender your life totally to the Lord’s care and you seek Him in all decisions and in all steps you take, and you have absolute faith in His care then you are called out from all the others and placed in the high places.
God wants you on His terms, but His grace is subject to your choice made by faith in Him. He will never coerce you or force you into the worship of Him. Genuine worship comes from our response by faith that He blesses in so many ways.
As Joshua proclaimed centuries ago as God’s people were about to settle in the “Promised Land” that the Lord helped them to conquer: “Therefore, fear the LORD and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship Yahweh. But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh.” Josh 24:14-15 (HCSB)
How will you choose today? Will you be one of the called or one of the culled? The choice is in your hands…
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [He], and that I do nothing on My own. But just as the Father taught Me, I say these things. The One who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.” As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:28-32 (HCSB)
July 9, 2010 at 7:18 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #373: God is Available to All, Except for the Self-Righteous
“I was sought by those who did not ask; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said: Here I am, here I am, to a nation that was not called by My name. I spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people who walk in the wrong path, following their own thoughts. These people continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in gardens, burning incense on bricks, sitting among the graves, spending nights in secret places, eating the meat of pigs, and putting polluted broth in their bowls. They say, ‘Keep to yourself, don’t come near me, for I am too holy for you!’ These practices are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. It is written before Me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will repay them fully [for] your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together,” says the LORD. “Because they burned incense on the mountains and reproached Me on the hills, I will reward them fully for their former deeds.” The LORD says this: As the new wine is found in a bunch of grapes, and one says, ‘Don’t destroy it, for there’s some good in it,’ so I will act because of My servants and not destroy them all. Isaiah 65:1-8 (HCSB)
Clearly, the Creator of the heavens and earth loves all His creation, and man is His special creation to whom He desires a special relationship. However, God clearly established some choices that must be realized to benefit from having a loving relationship with Him. His covenant clearly provides us with conditions and choices that will offer everyone to have the same access to the blessings versus the curses of His covenant. Sadly, as it still remains today – those who have had to travel the furthest in their life to realize God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word have the most to lose if they lose what they fought so hard to gain. In direct contrast, those who were raised in the church, those who have a godly tradition in their family background have the most to risk by their behavior choices.
For those who have been reared in the church they begin to feel they have some special right to be a child of God. They begin to feel they are chosen because of who they are, and not what they may do or not do. These people, like the ancient Israelites, began to feel they could exalt God and walk in the world and there would not be any consequences. They felt they were special merely because they were of the tribes of Israel – God’s chosen people. In that belief, they felt all others in the world were lost and God would never seek to include them into His family.
Do you know those kinds of church members? Are there those that you see who criticize others in the church because they do not do things like they do? Are there those who have a self-righteous attitude that is one that excludes rather than includes when it comes to receiving and embracing new members. Are these same people the ones who embrace some new members but snub others?
Here is the news that the chosen people of God found out during the days of Isaiah – God loves all His creation, and His children express their love for Him through their love for others as well. They worship God by their day-to-day life choices, not by their outward displays of righteousness, but by their inward motives of love. God never measures our outward displays of worship (whether in the church or in the community). God clearly measures our ability to be His channel of blessings of love to others. Have we been His ambassadors as He intended, or have we decided for ourselves what our outward appearance should look like?
If you look into a mirror, what do you see? Do you approve of what you see because the image appeals to your eyes, or do you see what God desires to see? Think about it…We may be surprised to find out who God smiles upon in that mirror and who He is disappointed with.
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things! But all did not obey the gospel. For Isaiah says: Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. But I ask, “Did they not hear?” Yes, they did: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world. But I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” First, Moses said: I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that lacks understanding. And Isaiah says boldly: I was found by those who were not looking for Me; I revealed Myself to those who were not asking for Me. But to Israel he says: All day long I have spread out My hands to a disobedient and defiant people. Romans 10:14-21 (HCSB)
July 8, 2010 at 6:01 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #372: Actions Define Faith
From ancient times no one has heard, no one has listened, no eye has seen any God except You, who acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him. You welcome the one who joyfully does what is right; they remember You in Your ways. But we have sinned, and You were angry. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins? All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. No one calls on Your name, striving to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us and made us melt because of our iniquity. Yet LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands. LORD, do not be terribly angry or remember [our] iniquity forever. Please look—all of us are Your people! Isaiah 64:4-9 (HCSB)
This passage can be misunderstood for those who want to believe that God has made a mistake in turning His back upon even the righteous who are now pleading their case. When we look at the passage with not only an open mind, but also open heart, we find it is someone who confesses that they have sinned and have become separated from God because of their sinful ways. How they are pleading their case says that they are who they are because of the Lord’s doing. Thus, they are seeking the Lord to not stay angry at them. Like many people, we just do not like to confess our shortcomings – it is always someone or something else that caused them to be the way they are. They are claiming to be good enough for salvation by their own standards and beliefs.
Do we have a tendency to blame God for what we do? Then seek Him to save us from the condition and situation are facing? We want to have “free will” until that “free will” gets us in trouble, then we want God to be totally sovereign and responsible for our life. However, God has plainly stated that all who seek God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word are making a “free will” choice in life to allow God to be the Lord of their life. The decision is an act of faith, and that faith is rewarded. However, we can demand no reward nor expect any reward by anything we have done in our life – God’s grace is free, meaning without cost to us, except for “faith”. No money, no deeds, no words can earn His grace!
The ancient Israelites and residents of Jerusalem felt they had earned God’s favor because of their previous deeds and their ancestors…yet, they were missing the key to their own salvation: faith! In these pleadings before God, they were not expressing faith in God. They were arguing over their “right” to salvation because of their lineage and ceremonies of the past. Self-righteousness will never earn the righteousness of God!
Do you have to explain your relationship with the Lord to others? Do you blame others for the difficult things in your life? What evidence do you have of the faith you claim to have? Do you have to wear Christian t-shirts to let people know you believe you are a child of God? If you are a Christian, do you have to advertise the fact? Your life witness should be more than sufficient.
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action. This is how we will know we belong to the truth and will convince our conscience in His presence, even if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience, and He knows all things. 1 John 3:18-20 (HCSB)
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