Sheep Food

  “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18) The New Life Version reads this way: “Preaching about the cross sounds foolish to those who are dying in sin. But it is the power of God to those of us who are being saved from the punishment of sin.” Let me first begin by stating that this ‘message of the cross’ that Paul refers to… entails so much more than just exhorting folks to profess a faith in Christ in order to escape an eternal hell when they die. It can be a delicate matter when you think about messages and ‘messaging’. Untold amounts of money are spent daily in this world trying to communicate and convey all kinds of information to the masses. And it’s not only the information that one is trying to get out there that matters, but it’s the way in which that message is being transmitted that carries so much weight. Think about the amount of detail that goes in to making sure the...

  I have come to learn that Denmark has a ‘state sponsored church’, supported by its citizens, the taxpayers. The Evangelical-Lutheran church is the ‘National Church’ here in this country we are currently visiting. In all honesty, it’s been fascinating for me to learn more about this beautiful country and the culture and mindset of the people here. Say what you will about a church that is joined at the hip with the government, but you do have to admit that it is intriguing that they recognize their citizens as having ‘spiritual’ needs as well as physical, emotional, and mental needs. No one is compelled nor expected to be a part of the state church, but it does cover marriage and burial costs for those who are ‘members’. I am not sharing this to endorse nor condemn the national policies here which include a universal health care system, but it does explain the high tax rates here which go to helping meet all the needs of its citizens. I heard a statement made by someone in passin...

  I just wanted to leave a quick note for those who read here regularly, or maybe even from time to time and have been encouraged or blessed by these ‘short’ Bible studies. As you might know, I’ve been pretty consistent in posting almost daily these past 4.5 years. Even when traveling or on vacation, I would always find myself up early, reading and studying... for myself, if for no one else. And still...even when on the road I would find myself pulling out my laptop and typing away. I’ve often described what I find every morning as ‘manna’ from heaven, which I would gather up and feed on and then gladly share with whoever cared to partake for themselves. And trust me...I know myself well enough that there was no way I could continue to generate this much ‘material’ on a daily basis...on my own. I know where it’s been coming from. Having said this, it seems in the past month or so, I’ve had some ‘pauses’ in my daily posting; not in my study time...just sharing/posting these less...

  Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (Phil. 4:5) The Amplified Bible spells it out this way: “Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people.” Please note who should see this evident ‘fruit’ in our lives: ‘ALL people’, not just those we want to make a good impression on. I’ll give you a moment with that one. You do realize, I hope...that we just don’t get up from reading a verse like that one day and just purpose in our heart that we are going to simply ‘go out and manifest gentleness’ in our daily living to ‘all’ people all the time. It just doesn’t work like that, no matter how badly we want to ‘bear fruit for God’ that is pleasing to Him. (Luke 13:6-9) What was the one distinguishing mark of identification that ‘all would know we are His (Jesus) disciples’? It would be the love we demonstrate towards one another, a God-kind-of-love (agape) that was very similar to the way in which Chr...

  We don’t get ‘do overs’ when it comes to living out this one life we’ve been given. Listen to these words spoken by Jesus to a crowd of folks, as recorded in Mark 8:34-36: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” I’m not sure what ‘gaining the whole world’ looks like to you, but the fact one can possibly accomplish that and yet ‘lose out in the end’...should be both sobering and alarming to us. I would imagine that probably one of the most debated, thought out, and often asked questions throughout the course of human history has had something to do with finding the meaning and purpose of our existence here on earth. ‘Who am I and why am I here?’ We have a collection of writings from arguably the wisest and wealthiest man to ...

  Back in a ‘previous lifetime’ of mine, when I lived in San Antonio, I spent a few years working with two different friends learning how to build cabinets and houses. It truly was a character developing season in my life that was much needed at that time. One of those friends, Tim, asked me a profound question one time, passing on some words of wisdom to me. Sensing I was getting in a bit of a rush on a project, he asked: “If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, how are you going to find time to go back and fix it?” It's one thing to hang on to and remember... ‘pearls of wisdom’ like that for a long period of time; but it’s another thing altogether to put those words of wisdom into practice; and I have not always been good about doing that in multiple areas of my life. How many have learned the hard way... how easy it can be to ‘get ahead of God’? His ‘timetables’ differ greatly from our timetables...as I have come to learn. His ways and methods are not like ours...

  You’ve probably heard that sage advice that discourages one from attempting to ‘argue with a drunk person’. It is, at best, and exercise in futility to do so. Paul, in his writings to Timothy does not mention those in particular who are ‘under the influence’, or are inebriated, but he does point out a particular mindset of people that Timothy would do well to avoid wasting time arguing with, and it’s those who teach Bible doctrine that does not lead to godliness (1 Tim. 6:3). Reading on in the next verse, one gets the idea that pride tends to rise up in such people unwilling to hear God’s word when it doesn’t agree with their ‘take’ on various matters. It can quickly escalate to disputes and arguments leading to envy, strife, reviling, etc. (4). Paul’s advice? – “from such withdraw yourself”. He would warn Timothy in his second letter that a time will come where people are no longer interested in, nor desire to hear truth and sound doctrine, and instead will flock to those wil...

  We read in Genesis 1 that God created man in His image and likeness (26). In the following chapter, we are told that as God sat back to take in all that He created, He expressed this observation: “It is not good that man should be alone...” (2:18), and so He created Eve to be Adam’s companion, encouraging them both to ‘go forth and multiply’ (1:28). Please make note that it was God’s assessment that we needed people in our lives, for a host of reasons. Even Jesus, when He first started sending out His disciples to preach the gospel...He sent them out in two’s (Luke 10:1). When Jesus fed the 5000+ on that day He multiplied the fishes and loaves of bread, He instructed for the people to sit in groups of 50 (Luke 9:14). I’ve often wondered if that was a template for the ideal size for a ‘church fellowship’, but that’s a discussion for another day. So now having made that case that God did not intend for us to be ‘lone rangers’, that is not to say that when it comes to your persona...

  I don’t know who needs to hear this, but for all those who are committed to following Jesus and ‘walking in the Spirit and no longer fulfilling the lusts/desires of the flesh nature’ (Gal. 5:16)...this does not mean you won’t ever be tempted to sin again. On the contrary... Nor should one who is ‘walking in the Spirit’ think they will never experience frustration or discouragement. We read where Paul grew ‘greatly annoyed’ with a spirit that was harassing him through a woman, in Acts 16:16-18. You may encounter some strong disagreements with a brother/sister in Christ that can hopefully be resolved in an appropriate manner. You might go through seasons feeling isolated and even abandoned, as Paul often did. In fact, it’s okay to be ‘angry’ at times...provided you don’t ‘sin’ by acting out in that anger (Eph. 4:26). Have you ever wondered why you seem to run into the same ‘tests’ repeatedly when it comes to certain people or situations? How’s that temper doing when you get in h...

  So...do you want to be ‘saved’ and escape the ‘wrath of God’ that is on the world today? (John 3:36; Rom. 5:9) You might give careful consideration to the words of instruction that Jesus came to give us – ‘Repent’ (turn from the way we have been walking- Eph. 2:1-3) and start following Him. (Matt. 4:17,19). If you don’t repent, things don’t bode well for you, and I don’t say that to threaten anyone; I’m just telling you what Jesus said in Luke 13:3,5. And honestly friends, I don’t know any better way to express what God’s word teaches other than to remind you that this loving and gracious God is ‘long-suffering towards us, not willing that any perish but that all would come to repentance’ (2 Pet. 3:9). Jesus did not come to condemn anyone, given we were already under the penalty of sin (which is death), and condemned. He came to save us from it (John 3:17-18). But there’s just a tad more to this ‘getting saved’ and ‘being conformed to the image of Christ’ than just saying a sim...

  I’ve always thought it was a bit presumptuous on our part to think we could understand, let alone explain in simplistic terms...the ‘godhead’. If you’ve been around ‘church speak’ for any length of time, you probably have heard terms like ‘Trinitarians’ - those who believe in the ‘Trinity’ which explains God as being ‘3 in 1’ (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Then there is the ‘Oneness’ folks who teach that there is only the ‘One’, and Jesus IS Him- God almighty ...come in the flesh’. Trust me...the divide is so strong that separate denominations have evolved as a result of the differing views. The truth of the matter, if I may be so bold to say...is both sides are right; but leave it to a spiritual enemy to bring more division to the body of Christ. I only bring this up because of a reference I left you with in yesterday’s message citing the writings found in Hebrews 5. It’s a passage that always gives me pause when I read it, as we are told that Jesus the ‘Son...learned obedience...

  To state the obvious: It’s one thing to have God’s Spirit dwelling within you; it’s another thing altogether to be led by Him.(Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:16; John 10:27) As I have grown older (and hopefully wiser)...I find myself being a tad more reluctant to jump the gun and just start telling people what they ‘have’ or don’t have when it comes to spiritual matters in God’s kingdom. Who am I to suggest I know that a person is ‘saved’ or not, or if they have God’s Spirit dwelling in them? All I know to do is point to Jesus and His word and encourage people to ‘examine their own hearts’ (2 Cor. 13:5)... and to make sure they are truly ‘abiding’ in Him (John 15:1-8; 1 John 2:6; 3:6). This I do know, based on what I read in God’s word and have personally experienced myself...that when a person is truly humbled and brought to repentance...that God’s Spirit is most assuredly at work in that person’s heart/life. And such a place brings ‘times of refreshing from God’s presence (Acts 3:19; Jam...

  “Be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph. 5:18) That’s pretty good advice from Paul, especially if you have any sincere intentions of following Jesus and being conformed to His image and likeness; not to mention overcoming the devil, sin, and the flesh as you bear fruit showing yourself to be a child of God. (Rom. 8:14; 29) We do tend to hear though, more talk and teaching about being ‘filled’ with God’s Spirit than we do being ‘led’ by it. Go figure. What’s the point in receiving’ something that special and important if we don’t know how to make use of it? Going around claiming to ‘have’ something without bearing the proper fruit or evidence of it seems to border on spiritual pride, if not downright deception. Years ago, I heard a preacher say half-jokingly and half seriously that he had challenges trying to get people to volunteer around his church. It is hard to grow a thriving church without plenty of support which usually comes in the form of members stepping up to volunteer to...