Leading From The Bottom -- October 27, 2009

30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.
Acts 27:30-32

Paul was leading form the bottom of the authority chain. He was a prisoner yet his life and the way that he had spoken during his imprisonment had given him enough credibility to be heard among those who were in power over him. It is important for us to realize that our leadership is not based on our position but rather on our character. Prisoners do not usually direct the soldiers who have them captive, but Paul was able to because of the character he had displayed. Paul was also willing to forego man’s plan for escape in favor of God’s way of escape. The sailors would have saved some but God had a plan to save them all. God wants to save us all – we just have to go his way.

As believers we need to see ourselves as leaders whether we are in the front or in the rear. Our ability to influence comes from our character not our position. As Christ works His character into us we have the potential to become more and more influential for the kingdom of God so we should lead. Others need us to see them succeed too. We have to believe that God loves unbelievers just as much as He loves the believers. He saved the whole ship’s compliment not just the believers. God only save us His way though. We have to be willing to cut our own life boats so that He can save us.

Well, Jesus I need You to save me daily. I refuse to fall back on my own plan to save myself. Help me influence others so that they can be saved too. Pour Your Spirit of Love into my person. Stretch me and make me like You. I desire to be a bigger person than I am today. I trust You to shape me after Your image.

Counting On Him,

Pastor Jason

Simple Truth, Plainly Seen -- October 26, 2009

26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.
Acts 26:26

Here Paul openly discusses his faith in the Roman court system. He has appealed to Caesar because he has been stuck in the legal system for years with Jewish leaders trying to convict him or assassinate him, whichever is most expedient. Paul defends his position before Festus and Agrippa by declaring that he is not the member of a secret sect that plots in the corner. Rather he is joined to the Christian faith which has no secrets and is based on public happenings. He is sure that King Agrippa has heard all about Christianity since it is not secret and since King Agrippa is intelligent and pays attention to the region he rules. Paul answers Festus’ accusation of madness with the idiom “done in a corner” to turn away the derision against philosophers who had such esoteric knowledge it didn’t apply to real life. Not only does Paul claim Christianity isn’t hard to find he tells them it isn’t hard to understand. The result is that Agrippa is impressed enough to consider Christianity and declares that if Paul hadn’t appealed to Caesar he would have released him that day.

Our faith is not tricky, nor does it require any special knowledge to follow. We don’t need to make sharing it so difficult. We are on trial for believing in the prophets just like Paul was. Our convictions are based on the facts of Christ’s birth, life, death, and His resurrection. Our faith is anchored in historical events not fables. Jesus really came. He lived a perfect life and lay in down for our sakes. He rose from the dead so that all would know that His sacrifice was acceptable to the Father. He did it all according to the prophets who foretold His coming to suffer for our sakes. Now we who believe share with others the simple, open truth of His life.

Lord, give me the strength to stand like Paul and plainly state what I am being judged for. I want others to know the truth about who You are. Since You started in the light out in the open teach me how to chare Your life and the power of the Faith with everyone.

Out In The Open,

Pastor Jason

Words Of Comfort -- October 25, 2009

1 Then Job answered and said: 2 “I have heard many such things; Miserable comforters are you all! 3 Shall words of wind have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer? 4 I also could speak as you do, If your soul were in my soul’s place. I could heap up words against you, And shake my head at you; 5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.
Job 16:1-5

I all his distress Job found the “comfort” of his friends to be a miserable wind blowing against his wounds. It is easy to criticize others when they are down. It is too easy to find faults and blame them for their trouble. Yet Job says that if their places were reversed his lips would have comforted them to relieve their grief. His words would have strengthened them and lifted them up instead of taking shots at them while they were down.

If you see one who is struggling today don’t put a greater burden on them. Instead lift them up with your words. Strengthen them by sharing encouragement. If they are down offer a hand up not a foot to the face.

Jesus, it is easy to criticize when others are down. Keep this picture of Job suffering double because his friends rubbed it in. Let my heart have compassion on those who are suffering. Help me not assume it is because they deserve it. Move my heart to lift not lord it over them.

Trusting In Him,

Pastor Jason

October 24, 2009 -- The Prevailing Word

So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
Acts 19:20

Paul stayed in Ephesus for three years preaching the word. The word (logos) in the Greek language is the concepts or understanding of God. Paul taught these revealed concepts, clarifying God’s character to the Ephesians who had believed. They were able to share this clarification with their friends and family. For two years Paul taught daily in a rented hall. The concepts grew mightily. Everyone began to understand who God was. And many became believers.

The word (logos) also prevailed. It actually changed lifestyles. People began to stop buying idols. Some tried to incorporate the power of God without a relationship with Him and found out that God was not the next occult fad to come around and seven of them were chased wounded and naked by one demonic man. This caused the believers to burn their occult books and devices. The whole region was permeated with the understanding of who God was and what He expected as the church moved out into their community changing it permanently.

We have the same opportunity today. As God’s army we can move into our community with the mighty LOGOS as it prevails in our life we can share it with them and see our region changed. All we have to do is identify the idols we worship and the false religions we practice and dispose of them. Then others will listen to what we say and find out who God really is and His Word can prevail in their lives first.

Mightily Prevailing,

Jason

Groping In The Dark -- October 23, 2009

26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
Acts 17:26-28

Paul was at the Areopagus waiting for Silas and Timothy to join him in Athens. When he noticed all the idols it galled his Judeo-Christian heart. He knew there was only one God from his Jewish raising. He knew from the revelation of the prophets that “…The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) He knew that Jesus was that God from his new encounter with Christ. It troubled Paul to see this very spiritually orientated people were being led astray by the enemy’s phony substitutes. Paul believed therefore he spoke out to them so that he could clarify their inclination towards God and spirituality.

He enlightens us is a few issues in this teaching. His first point is that God is the Director of human history. The Deity has separated us into nations, appointed our beginning times, and geography so that we would have the best chance to find Him even if we were only groping in the dark to look for Him. Then Paul teaches that God has not set Himself far away so that it is difficult to come to Him due to any barriers He has placed between us. No, He is the very substance of our existence. Then it is revealed that God’s relationship with us as Father is so clear that their own poets have come close to the mark by saying that we are His offspring. It is the enemy who divides us from our Creator. It is our own poor understanding that separates us from His eminent presence. It is the flow of the broken world system that carries us away from Him. For His part he has put us in the optimum time and place for each of us to find Him!

Thank You, Lord, for giving me the best situation for me to find you! When I question my circumstance bring me back to this place of knowing that You are orchestrating my environment to give me the ultimate relationship with You. Help me remember that You are never far away. All I need to do is grope in the darkness I am caught in and I will find You there! I am grateful for the way You made me and my place fit together for Your glory and my benefit.

Groping To Find Him,

Pastor Jason

The Prisoners Are Listening -- October 22, 2009

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
Acts 16:25-26

As I meditated on this passage I was struck with the way scripture connected prayer and worship with destroying the prison, opening doors and loosing the captives. These men had been imprisoned for setting a demonized woman free from her spiritual bondage that was being used to profit her masters’ wallet. They had been seized by the crowd and drug before the magistrates only to be beaten by the crowd, beaten with rods by the magistrates’ order and then locked in stocks by the jailer without any of their rights being observed.

As Paul and Silas lay in the prison on their wounded backs, they prayed and sang and their fellow prisoners were listening to them. When we worship in Spirit and in truth others are opened to the presence of the Lord. The prisoners wanted to know about a God who inspired singing and praying after being unfairly treated.

Then the foundation of the prison was shaken. As we praise and worship God we too are shaking the prison we and those around us are trapped in. We are God’s ambassadors to the captives around us. They ministered to God and the other prisoners were effected too. Worship is foundational. It changes things at root level.

Immediately the doors were opened because God is interested in getting us out of bondage and not just improving our jail. He intends to set us free not make our prison comfortable. He wants us to move beyond even the comfort zones that limit who we are in Him.

And everyone’s chains were loosed! Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Jesus desires our complete freedom. His plan isn’t just to make our lives tolerable or better than they were. Jesus told us His plan was for abundant life now.

Freed By Worship,

Pastor Jason

Only Jesus -- October 21, 2009

38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Acts 13:38-39

Here is the bottom line of the gospel. Only Jesus can provide complete justification to those who believe in Him. Only He could declare, “It is finished!” Faith in Jesus cleanses us from all the inner guilt and condemnation that the Law of Moses couldn’t touch. Moses’ legal revelation kept humanity from slipping totally away from God while He brought His final cure for us in His Son. Legalism can only touch the surface of our sin issues. Living a disciplined life can help us be healthier in the natural, but it can never heal our hearts.

I surrender my heart to You again. Forgive me for trying to resolve my problems on my terms without consulting You. I am totally dependent on You for the holiness in my person. Guide me in understanding that I need to let the holiness You have provided work out in my life and not try to earn my own righteousness. Let it be known in my heart that You alone justify me by faith.

Believing In Him,

Pastor Jason

Right On Time -- October 20, 2009

5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.

Acts 12:5-7

James had been martyred and the political/religious Jewish leaders had been happy to see it. This gave Herod a way to keep the off his back with Rome. He took advantage of the situation and had Peter arrested. Meanwhile back at the church God’s people were praying. Their prayers were continuous and earnest. I imagine Peter in the prison wondering what was going on. Jesus had been killed, Stephen had been killed and now James, his lifelong friend, had been executed too. He was waiting for his turn when the Lord sent an angel to rescue him – the night before his “trial” was scheduled.

I have noticed that God often waits until the last minute to rescue us. It seems He is never early. That is probably because I don’t notice when He saves me before the crisis. I also noticed that the angel had to strike Peter to wake him up. Peter was sleeping soundly the night before his execution. He seemed to be at peace with whatever God had in mind for him. I hope I can remember these two points when I am under pressure. God is coming and things will be OK whichever way works out.

Keep my steady Lord. Don’t let me fall apart when the heat is on. I desire for my heart to be fully resting in You.

Waiting on His deliverance,

Pastor Jason

He Died For All -- October 19, 2009

...But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Acts 10:28

Imagine Peter's surprise. All those unclean animals before him and the voice of the Lord saying, "Go ahead Peter, you're hungry, eat something." Peter keeps insisting he's not hungry enough to break the rules. God tells Peter the rules are changing. The time of the Gentiles is opening up. God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.

Jesus died for all people. That means every person is worthy of our respect. Even those people we find the least acceptable. Everyone ever born has significance built into their person by the death of Jesus. The very God of heaven stepped out of eternity to take their place at death's door. The value of each individual is measured in the spread arms of Jesus hanging between heaven and earth. We must honor and respect people because Jesus did and He is our example. Don't forget to apply this to those at home. Sometimes we are the most careless with those we love the most.

As we infiltrate our community this week let us shock them with genuine honor as we address them. Let's build our family members up by giving them the respect due them. Finally, let's especially honor those in God's house who we will spend eternity with.

You are GREAT in Him,

Pastor Jason

The Desert Road? -- October 18, 2009

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.
Acts 8:26

Philip was in the middle of a successful evangelic effort. Many people were being saved. The Apostles had come down to help because so much was happening. Now an angel tells him to leave and go out into the desert!? To Philip’s credit he obeys. As he heads south he sees a man in a chariot who, is of all things reading the book of Isaiah. The Spirit tells him this is the man I sent you to talk to catch up to him. Philip joins the man and explains the prophecy to him in the light of Christ’s life. The man receives Christ and is baptized. Oh yeah, he just happened to be a very powerful official from another country on his way home. Not only did God bring salvation to the man He sent it to the man’s country with him.

God’s directions in our lives aren’t always so easily understood. He doesn’t always give us a neat explanation that clears things up for us. So we need our faith to help us follow His instructions when we don’t have all the details. We have enough narratives like this as well as life experience to allow us to trust Him for the times we don’t know how events will work out.

Jesus, You are my Master. Help me obey You with a pure, unswerving heart!

On The Road He Sent Me To Travel,

Pastor Jason

Cut To The Heart -- October 17, 2009

54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. Acts 7:54-58

The truth shared with those who do not want to hear it often turns them against us. It often unites them to do something about us. Stephen had shared his faith with the council because they were examining his teachings. He had been falsely accused of blasphemy against the Pharisaical system. When the members of synagogue from outside of the Jewish community couldn’t refute his wisdom they involve the Jewish council and the high priest. They brought in the first string to take on this upstart. Stephen wasn’t intimidated; as a matter of fact his face looked like the face of an angel. (Acts 6:10-15) Stephen used their well-known history to prove what He was saying about Christ. Starting with Abraham (their genetic boast), moving on to Joseph, then Moses (their religious authority boast), and ending with David and Solomon he explained how God had Christ in mind all along. With his face aglow with glory, he accused them of joining with the rebels of their history and described the vision of Christ standing at the right of God. That was the final indignity they could stand. Since they couldn’t refute his message because of its truth and his obvious anointing they killed him.

The phrase that catches me in all of this is that he saw, “the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” It was amazing to him as well as extremely offensive to the Pharisees. For them it was blasphemy that anyone would be next to God. Especially the man they had crucified. For Stephen and us it is a sign that Jesus still moves on our behalf. Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, 1:13, 8:1, 10:12, & 12:2 all tell us that when Jesus raised from the dead He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. Yet Stephen sees Him standing. Jesus has risen to support Stephen in his witness. He is standing to receive Stephen into His kingdom. I am so thankful that Jesus is still active in our lives, even though He has finished the mission the Father gave Him.

Jesus thank You for standing with me when I tell Your story! Help me stand for You wherever people need to hear about what You have done for them.

Focused On Him,

Pastor Jason

Sun Of Righteousness -- October 16, 2009

But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.

Malachi 4:2

God’s miracles always deal with more than the immediate need. We are short-sighted and want the answer we are desperate for but He is dealing with more than that. He is dealing with our character and our eternal destiny. When we get the healing, provision or miracle in our life it has the potential to go deep into our being and connect us to God in a new and powerful way. We don’t just get the healing; we also get the Healer! We don’t just get the provision; we get the Provider!

If we don’t receive Him then we reject the miracle along with Him. It isn’t right for us to think that we can have God’s blessing without His way in our lives. That is a very childish view. We want Grandma’s cookies but we don’t want to hang out with her. People in general love to believe they are God’s blessed one. Many times they want the church blessing on their wedding but they don’t want church life to interfere with their marriage. This promise of the Healer rising in our lives is based on our reverence for “His Name”. That means they respect His character and participate in His call to having a healthy, holy lifestyle.

We NEED this miracle power rising in our lives to not only be healthy but to help others. Desperate, irrational people don’t respond to reason, but they do respond to God’s provision in our lives. When they see us “fattening” up they want to find out how we did it. That is our big chance to share our testimony with them. Then they can believe and fear Him so that He can rise up in their lives with healing in His wings.

Blessed in His Ways,

Pastor Jason

Telling His Story -- October 15, 2009

But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge."

Acts 4:19

This is a tough verse for those of us who have difficulty with confrontation. It can be difficult to stand in the midst of pressure from those around us. Peter had difficulty with confrontation. He often overreacted. He rebuked Jesus, he promised not to fail even if the others did, he cut off an ear, and he denied Christ when things didn't go the way he thought they should. We can be tempted to cave in on our convictions even when we are in miraculous situations. Peter and John had seen and worked miracles before yet Peter had denied Jesus. Peter and John had just seen a great miracle happen through them. This is the first miracle recorded after Jesus ascended. The disciples had worked miracles while Jesus was physically present with them but this was their first attempt on their own. They were excited--the man was excited--the crowd was excited and then Peter sees them all gathered there and says, "What's the big deal? You don't think this man is healed by our power do you? Why are you surprised that God still does miracles? He did them for our ancestors didn't He? No it is by the power of Jesus Name, the One you killed, that this man is healed as a witness that Jesus is the One God promised. Now I know you didn't understand what you were doing so repent and God will send salvation and refreshing to you. He will send Jesus who I preach like the prophets did." Scripture says that many who heard believed. It was amazing! Peter was on his second sermon and there were around five thousand men in the church!

On the heels of this great event they were arrested and put in jail for the night to wait for court the next day. When court came Peter was not inspired by the miracle he had been part of. Scripture says when he was questioned he was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave and eloquent response. This same man who denied Christ before a servant girl now stands bravely confronting the leaders of his nation. He tells them it is Jesus' Name alone that saves. They warn the disciples not to use Jesus' Name anymore but Peter and John won't even give a safe answer. "What is your advice to us, should we obey you or God?" is the question they asked.

Without God's Spirit filling us even a little servant girl can intimidate us. With His Spirit we can face whatever we have to. Jesus taught His disciples not to plan what they would do in crisis but to look to His Holy Spirit for direction. When things come suddenly we don't have to rely on our planning or our own courage. We can be filled with His Spirit and give the right answer under pressure.

Trusting Him,

Pastor Jason

The Blessed Man -- October 14, 2009

1Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
4The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 1

Beautiful poetry and beautiful theology. The psalmist zeros in on the Godly. They are happy because they do not participate in the progression of sin. People get caught up in sin. They don’t usually sit right down and make themselves comfortable. First they just walk by and say “hi”. Then they stop for a visit. Finally they have seated themselves and are comfortable. With the scornful they see themselves as too good for the rest of us. The godly man avoids all of this by staying away from ungodliness. He focuses on God’s word. He loves it! It is all he thinks about. That word is like a river of water. He draws on it to maintain his prosperity. When his time comes he is ready to act. He doesn’t miss opportunities to produce.

The writer also differentiates between those who pursue God and those who pursue their own agenda. Those who meditate on and live out God’s word have weight and substance like a tree that is well watered. Those who are ungodly have no weight in their lives like the chaff that is blown away in the breeze. They can’t stand up to the pressures of normal life much less God’s final judgment. They aren’t even comfortable around God’s people because of the substance issue. God knows where the righteous are but the ungodly are on a path to nowhere.

Thanks for Your word Lord. We need it to stay fresh is a dry world. We need it to be fruitful so that we have produce to give others to demonstrate Your love.

Thinking About His Word,

Pastor Jason