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Jul 28

Love or Lust?

Posted on July 28, 2014 by admin

I performed a wedding this past weekend.  I don’t do many of them personally, but when I do I try to think back to the beginning of Diana and I’s relationship.  She and I have always had a special relationship in my mind.  We started dating at the end of 2003 and we were married in the beginning of 2005 (March 19th specifically).  Like most other people, she and I had dated other people before we met each other.  I consider the two of us to be genuinely blessed (at least me) in the fact God has brought us together, and kept us together through some very trying times.  And as I was preparing for the wedding ceremony, I thought back over not only Diana and I’s relationship, but also about the other couples that I had performed the wedding ceremony for them.  Where were they?  How was their marriage doing?  Then a question popped into my mind, why do some relationships last and others end? People who are far smarter than I am, and who have been married longer than I have, have written many books on this subject.  And one theme that I have kept seeing in the books is this, does the couple truly love each other or lust for one another?  I know that sounds odd, and I’m not just talking about lust in a sexual way, but I am coming to believe that the writers are on to something.

A person far smarter than I am once defined the difference between love and lust as this, “it is love when you seek to give yourself to the other person, it is lust when you seek to get something for yourself from the other person.”  Simply put, love gives and lust seeks.  Obviously we can see the sexual intimacy side of this, but I wonder if the vast majority of marriages have a lust problem?  How many married couples got married or remain married based on what they get out of the relationship?  Paul wrote about what true love looks like in 1 Corinthians 13 when he said things such as, “love is patient, kind, it is not rude, isn’t resentful, keeps no records of wrongs. . .” The most popular verse in the Bible also demonstrates true love when it says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son. . .”  Paul wrote in Ephesians 5, “husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it (bold-mine).”  True love sacrifices my needs for my spouse’s wants.  But lust is all about placing your wants above your spouse’s needs.  Hopefully you see how this is not just in the dating world, but also in the married world.  The only answer we have is to follow Christ’s sacrificial model.  The key to a happy, healthy marriage is to truly love your spouse.  I encourage you to sit down this week with your spouse or the person you are dating and ask the question, is our relationship based on love or lust, and then have an open, honest conversation.

By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him

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Jul 23

The Nude Frontier

Posted on July 23, 2014 by admin

We live in a uber-sexualized society.  I know that isn’t a groundbreaking statement, but it is an alarming one.  Either currently airing or soon to be airing are three new “reality” shows that chronicle nudists.  ESPN the magazine has just released its annual “body” issue in which high profile athletes pose in the nude.  This is simply continuing the trend in our country to normalize sexual sin.  I’m not just talking about homosexuality, I’m talking about normalizing gender identity, in which people claim God messed up and made them the wrong sex.  We are talking about cohabitation.  We are talking about heterosexual sexual relationships outside of marriage.  In some ways television is subtle in what it is doing.  One example of this is a television network owned by ABC.  It is called ABC Family.  The slogan of the network is “a new kind of family.”  At first glance that seems to be innocent enough until you begin to look at some of the shows and content of the shows that they put on this station.  The federal government for years has claimed “abstinence only education doesn’t work.”  They are right, but one of the prime reasons it isn’t working is because when children turn on the television they are inundated with sex and the philosophy that “everyone is doing it.”  I can still remember what the peer pressures were like in middle school and high school.  Yet a new report released about a month ago now says that children have their first sexual encounter in fifth grade.  That is elementary school!  My oldest son is just two years away from fifth grade.  Parents wouldn’t dream (most parents I believe) of sitting down and having a family night of watching porn together, but television isn’t that far from it now.  So what do we do about it?  Because clearly screaming and shouting at the top of our lungs as many Christians love to do isn’t working.

I believe the church must step up and get front and center in this war.  Pastors need to teach on why sexual purity is so important before marriage.  Churches need to teach not only the biblical definition of marriage, but how to have a God-honoring marriage and dating life.  We need to give our people the tools they need to talk to their children about how to honor God in their thought life and dating life.  I realize that the issue of sex in many churches, especially in the South, is a taboo issue.  But in the absence of true, godly advice, parents and children are left to either ignore the issue and bury their heads in the sand, or allow someone else to teach their children.  And just a warning, those people who teach your children may not have the same values that you do.  We are in a cultural war and an all out tug-of-war for our children.  The hyper-sexuality of our society has slowly and methodically eroded away the family.  If you want proof, go look at the cohabitation numbers.  Fewer and fewer people are getting married.  We need to ask the question, why?  These certainly are not the only reasons, but let me give you a couple.  First, most men are physical creatures and with that comes a high sex drive.  But many of those same men don’t want to commit to marriage.  Therefore, if there is a woman who will live with them and they can feed that sex drive they are willing.  Many women desire to feel loved.  But like men they are skeptical of marriage, because they know that many men struggle with commitment.  So if they can feel loved by someone, and that someone is willing to commit to live with them, then sex is not that high of a price to pay.  Essentially both sides are getting what they crave without the strings of commitment that are part of marriage.  In other words, the relationship is about meeting their personal needs.  Whereas, marriage is truly about meeting your spouses’ needs.

In essence the more “normal” sexual depravity becomes the weaker the family becomes.  This is a moral issue, and it demands that the church stand up and speak the truth.  Yes we will be criticized and ostracized for it, just go ask Tony Dungy, a committed Christ-follower who spoke the truth and is getting publicly berated over it.  But we cannot shrink back from this fight nor can we retreat from it.  We must put on the whole armor of God and dig in.  I don’t know if we can ever win this fight, but it is a fight worth fighting.  Parents, talk to your children about sex when it is appropriate.  Monitor what they watch on television.  Teach them the Word of God and what it says about sex (God created sex, so it is good within the biblical confines).  Set up a contract between your children and yourself on how they will conduct themselves when they begin to date.  Help your children discern right from wrong not based on society’s views, but rather based on the timeless truth of the Word of God.

By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him

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Jul 22

1 Corinthians 10:1-5

Posted on July 22, 2014 by admin

We are blessed!  You hear many people say that statement, but I wonder how often we as Christians take the time to realize just how blessed we are.  It is something the nation of Israel forgot from time to time, and it was something the Corinthian church had forgotten as well.  As Paul opens this chapter, he gives us an Old Testament lesson.  Paul opens with a familiar phrase, “I would not that ye should be ignorant.”  This is Paul saying, “I don’t want you to forget this.”  He says “all our fathers.”  The word “all” is important.  In this instance it is a reference to the entire nation of Israel.  Paul is reminding them of their blessings.

The first blessing Paul mentions is that they were under the cloud.  This is a reference to the shekinah glory cloud mentioned in Exodus 13.  As Pharaoh let Israel leave Egypt, God symbolized His presence with them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night according to Exodus 13:21.  In Exodus 14 we learn that the cloud was in front of them as well as behind them.  This demonstrates that the children of Israel were surrounded by God, which meant they were divinely protected.  As long as the cloud remained in front of them it also symbolized that God was leading the nation of Israel.  The nation of Israel had a special relationship with God, they are still God’s people although they have been temporarily set aside because of their rejection of Jesus.

The second blessing Paul mentions is that they all pass through the sea.  This is a reference to the Red Sea crossing.  Among other things, the Red Sea crossing reminds us that as long as we are following God, He will provide the way even when there doesn’t seem to be a way.  What a valuable lesson for Christians and churches to learn.  Follow God and He will provide.  Trust in the sovereignty of God that He will not lead us somewhere that He has not already provided for us what we need.

The next blessing is that of godly leadership in verse 2.  Israel was led by God through Moses.  If there is one thing that is invaluable in churches it is godly leadership.  The other place it is so vital is in the home.  The man must rise up and fulfill his God-given task of leading his family to the cross and to become more like Christ.

The final blessing given is in verses 3 and 4.  It is the blessing of physical and spiritual provision.  God supplies everything we need (see Mt. 6:24-33 and Phil. 4:19).  A blessing that we enjoy is not having to worry about our needs or the needs of our family, because God has promised to provide for them.

After giving a listing of some blessings Israel enjoyed, Paul makes a stunning statement in verse 5, “But with many of them God was not well pleased.” Despite their many blessings, the nation of Israel constantly complained and willfully disobeyed God.  The story Paul is alluding to here is found in Numbers 14.  It is when 12 spies were sent into Canaan. 10 of them came back and told all the reasons they couldn’t inhabit the land God promised them.  Only two of them (Joshua and Caleb) told the reason they could have the land, God promised it to them.  Like many of us today, the nation of Israel despite seeing God’s hand of blessing and provision, they chose to listen and give in to their fears rather than have faith in God.  As the end of verse 5 says, because of this disobedience they fell in the wilderness.

When was the last time you took stock of your blessings?  It is so easy to get so busy that we forget to take time to thank God for His many blessings.  It is one reason that at Westlake Baptist, we take a moment each worship service to sing “praise God from whom all blessings flow.”  Let Israel and the church at Corinth serve as a lesson for us all.  Don’t forfeit your blessings because of fear and unbelief.  Trust in the God who has delivered you out of slavery to sin, who is leading you to the Promised Land of heaven, and who continuously and graciously provides for you.

By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him

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Jul 16

1 Corinthians 9.1-18

Posted on July 16, 2014 by admin

Some people are going to look for dirt in a snow storm!  In America today, there is a growing number of people who are hostile towards Christianity.  I can’t say that we haven’t somewhat brought it on ourselves in some ways.  However, I would also want to share with the unbelievers that as Christians we are not perfect, we are simply forgiven, and God desires to forgive you as well.  This situation isn’t unique to America however, Paul was dealing with antagonistic people during his ministry as well.  Just as we see even today, Paul’s greatest critics were from inside the church rather than outside of it.  What a sad commentary that we seem to enjoy shooting our own.  It breaks my heart to see Christians attacking each other.  As chapter 9 of 1 Corinthians opens Paul finds himself defending himself. I wish this wasn’t the case, but the truth is, there are always going to be doubters, critics, and antagonizers.  They did it to Jesus and so we should expect them to be there against us as well.  In fact Jesus told us they would be in John 15:20.  So how can we deal with our critics?

The first way is to make sure that we are living a life that isn’t giving them ammunition.  There is never a justification for attacking a brother or sister in Christ, but we need to be honest, sometimes we bring it on ourselves. Verses 1 and 2 of the chapter are what Paul calls his defense in verse 3 against those that say things against him.  If you are going to talk the talk, you better walk the walk.  We spend so much time trying to protect our reputation, that we forget to work on our character, and yes there is a difference.  Our reputation is what people think about us.  Our character is what God knows about us.  Our character is really who we are.  And frankly sometimes our reputation is much better than our character. It is ok for people to examine our lives.  In fact the Bible encourages it.  None of us are perfect and therefore we need to be held accountable for our actions in a loving way.

The second way to deal with a critic is to love them.  One of the greatest ways we can love them is by sharing the Gospel with them.  1 John 4:20 has some startling words for us when it says, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”  If we can freely and willfully attack a brother or sister in Christ or be attacked by one, we need to really question, are we (or they) really in a believer.  Many will say, well we are not to judge anyone.  I agree that we should never cast judgment on whether or not a person is genuinely saved, but the Bible says in Matthew 7 that we will know them by their fruits.  So while we are not to judge their salvation, we do need to be a fruit inspector.  While Diana and I were on our honeymoon nearly 10 years ago, I was astonished at the number of “PKs)” (Preacher’s Kids) we ran in to.  It wasn’t until then that I really started to believe, just because someone says they are a Christian, doesn’t mean they really are one.  When I first came to Westlake, I asked the congregation not to be offended that when I came to visit them, I asked them to share their testimony.  I wasn’t doubting any of their salvations, I just wanted to make sure as much as possible that they were saved (one of the fruits of salvation is that we will share the Gospel).  And so we need to demonstrate love to them, and not respond in kind, even when that is what we want to do.

Finally, one way to deal with a critic is to take it to the Lord in prayer.  I heard Dr Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church-Woodstock, Georgia teach one time on this.  He shared that he used to get anonymous letters or hateful e-mails.  He said at first they really hurt him, but then he learned how to handle them.  He would print them off and take them to his next prayer time.  During that prayer time, he would ask God, “is there anything in this letter that you want to talk to me about?”  This is kind of a combination of the first two points. But sometimes even though it is done in a wrong fashion, sometimes the criticism is correct.  Again we must make sure that we don’t set ourselves above correction.  If we live a life that glorifies God, critics will line up around the block to shout things at us, but in the end they won’t have anything to hit us with.

By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him

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Jul 14

Don’t Press Send or Post

Posted on July 14, 2014 by admin

We live in a very fast paced world.  We live in a very connected world.  These are two things that can be good, but they can also be very, very bad.  We have all heard the saying, “it is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”  I think we should add something to that phrase, “it is better to keep your mouth closed or not hit send on an e-mail or post on Facebook or Twitter and let people think you are a fool.”  Let’s be honest, our first reaction to a difficultly is usually not our best reaction.  As an avid sports fan I have seen this play out way too many times on social media.  Something in the world of news or politics will come out, and some athlete or owner will react to it on social media only to have to delete the post or apologize for it later.  In the news last week was one such instance.  Four years ago Lebron James announced he was taking his talents to South Beach.  Understandably the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, then penned a scathing letter about Lebron.  Now we have all written things or thought things in our mind about someone when they hurt us.  The problem is Mr. Gilbert then sent the letter out to all Cavalier season ticket holders.  If that isn’t bad enough, he then posted it on their official website for all to see.  That was four years ago.  So now let’s come back to the present.  Lebron James decided he wasn’t sure if he wanted to play in Miami anymore, and so he opted out of his contract.  That means he was a free agent and could choose where he wanted to play next season.  Lebron is from Akron, Ohio and still has a home in Ohio.  Here is the best basketball player currently in a position to return to where it all began for him.  He could instantly make the team better, and maybe even bring a long overdue championship to the city of Cleveland.  Yet Mr. Gilbert’s letter remained on the website.  Finally someone decided to get smart really quickly, and they removed the letter, but it is out there and everyone including the player you want to come play for you knows about it.  Ultimately, of course it was announced that Lebron was coming back to Cleveland.  But one indiscretion, one lapse of judgment almost cost someone very dearly.  There are many people on Facebook who have done similar things.  They get upset, write a passive aggressive rant, then they make the mistake of hitting the “post” button.

Once you hit that button the train of consequences begins rolling down the track, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.  You can hit the delete button all you want, but it is out there.  A word of caution to all those on social media who are looking for a job, your potential employers are looking!  There have been people fired or not hired because of the information they share.  This upsets a lot of people, but you must know that while you have the freedom of speech, employers also have the right to not hire you or to let you go because most contracts have one of two clauses in them.  They either have a morals clause in which you agree not to do anything that is immoral and brag about it.  Or the other clause is one in which you agree to not do anything that reflects negatively on the company.  Simply put, you can’t unring the bell.  So how do we make sure we don’t fall into this trap?  The Bible says in James 1:19, “let every many be swift to hear, slow to speak (or post), and slow to wrath.”  God gave you two ears and one mouth, therefore do twice as much listening as you do talking and that will be a good place to start.  Secondly, put a mandatory wait time on yourself before responding to a situation that upsets you.  For myself, I try to wait at least 24 hours before responding to something controversial.  This wait time allows me to first pray about it. Secondly, it allows me to attempt to look at the other person’s perspective.  We often judge something or someone based on how we see things.  How many times has someone said something to you that hurt or offended you, but they genuinely meant it in a different way?  Perspective is key.  Finally, a mandatory wait time allows me to decide is this something I really need to respond to.  I saw a marquee a couple of weeks ago that is very applicable here.  It said, “you don’t have to enter every fight you are invited to.”  Another tactic that might help you not respond inappropriately is to ask yourself this question, is my post, e-mail, or response going to convey genuine love to the person or people who are going to read it?  Finally, I would ask yourself is what I’m about to say going to glorify God?  If we step back and apply these tactics and James 1:19, I truly believe we will not find ourselves having to apologize nearly as often as we do now.  Not only can words hurt us now, but the hurt can linger and cause even more problems down the road.

By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him

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Jul 10

1 Corinthians 8

Posted on July 10, 2014 by admin

1 Corinthians 8

This will be a shorter devotion than chapter seven, because I am preaching on the entire 8th chapter of 1 Corinthians this coming Sunday (you can view it at www.westlakebaptist.org, click multimedia).  At issue in chapter eight is Christian liberty.  Since as Christians we don’t live by the Mosaic Law and the dietary restrictions this is a little harder of a chapter for us to relate to.  However, when we understand that what Paul is talking about is not using our freedom in Christ to hurt others, we can begin to relate to it.  What about those things that the Bible doesn’t specifically say are ok or specifically say are bad for us?  These are areas that I refer to as gray areas in Scripture.  Since I don’t want to use my sermon outline here, I will use three words to summarize how we deal with these areas.

The first word is excess.  Before I do something that is in the gray area of Scripture, I need to ask myself the question, is this really necessary?  Is doing this absolutely necessary for me to grow closer to Christ?  If it’s not, then it is excess and we probably would be better off not doing it.

The second word is expedient.  Is doing this going to be beneficial for me in my walk with Christ or beneficial to someone else learning about Jesus?  Again, if it isn’t going to help me grow in my walk with Jesus or it’s not going to be beneficial in displaying the love of Jesus to others than I probably don’t need to do it.

The final word is emulate.  They say the sincerest form of flattery is imitation.  So I need to ask myself before I do something, if Jesus was in my exact position, is what I’m going to do what He would do?  Remember we are called Christians, that is “little Christs” and so we are to represent Him to the world.

Here is the key verse in the chapter is verse 9, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.”  The Bible may not specifically condemn something, but if it affects a weaker brother or sister in Christ then we are to refrain from doing it.  We could also say the issue in the chapter deals with keeping unity.  As a pastor for nearly 10 years, having served in two different churches I can tell you that the issues that cause the deepest problems and hurts in churches are not doctrinal issues.  They are personal preference issues that cause hurt feelings, division, and dissension.  Therefore, though we are free in Christ let us use our freedom to promote love and unity within the body of Christ.

By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him

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Jul 10

1 Corinthians 7.1-16

Posted on July 10, 2014 by admin

1 Corinthians 7 Devotion

1 Corinthians chapter seven is Paul’s marriage chapter.  There is a shift that takes place in the beginning of chapter seven.  In the first six chapters of the book, Paul has been addressing specific sins that have been reported to him most likely from the household of Chloe (1:11).  With the beginning of chapter seven, Paul now begins to address the concerns of the Corinthians believers.  We see that in verse 1, “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me.”  It is no wonder that Paul begins with marriage, because it was under attack in his day and it certainly is under attack today.  The devil knows that if you want to take down and entire nation and society, attack it at its most basic element which is the family.  And so it is no surprise that he would attack marriages and families.  This chapter can be broken down into a few sections.

The first section Paul writes about deals with one reason for getting married.  The reason Paul begins to talk about here is sexual intimacy.  We must realize that the gift of sexual intimacy is a gift from God.  Since it is from God we know that it is good (Gen. 1:31; James 1:17).  However, we must understand that it is to be enjoyed within the confines of how God originally designed it.  This was something that was a struggle in Corinth and certainly a struggle here in America as well.  We can see from Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, and Ephesians 5:31 that sexual intimacy should only take place within the context of a marriage between a man and a woman.  God gave mankind sexual intimacy for two primary reasons.  According to Genesis 2, one of the reasons is for procreation.  However, we can see another reason as well in Genesis 2, Song of Solomon, and here in 1 Corinthians 7 that sexual intimacy is also for enjoyment between a man and his wife.  In the first five verses of the chapter we learn that sexual intimacy between a man and his wife is an act of voluntary submission to each other.  The gift of intimacy is to keep us from falling victim to sexual sin, which is any form of sex outside of marriage.  But it is also so that the wife can meet the needs of her husband, and the husband can meet the needs of his wife.  Submitting ourselves to God’s plan for marriage is submitting ourselves to God which is what we are to do.  In verse 5 there is the permission for a time of abstention from sexual intimacy, but it must be mutually agreed up, there must be a time frame set, and it must be for the purpose of prayer together as husband and wife.  Paul urges it not to be a long time, because in verse five he says we lack self control.  Without being too blunt or crude I must say this to both husbands and wives, we must meet our spouses needs or they will find someone who will.  I am not excusing or giving an excuse for adultery, but we were created as relational creatures that need intimacy (physical and emotional).  We crave it and will find it one way or another.  So my marriage advice to have a successful marriage would be this, spend your life fulfilling your spouse’s needs instead of trying to fulfill yours and you will have a happy marriage.

The second section of the chapter is found in verses six and seven.  This is an often misunderstood couple of Scriptures.  Some have used it to say that Paul was against marriage.  That isn’t true for two reasons.  First of all, Paul was obedient to the Bible and the Bible clearly tells us that God created and blessed marriage between a man and a woman.  Secondly we know that Paul was a member of the religious establishment in Israel.  We learn from Jewish history that a Pharisee was someone who was married.  Therefore, we can say with some confidence that Paul at one point would have been married.  One of the greatest mysteries in the Bible is what happened to Paul’s wife.  The answer, we don’t know and it really doesn’t matter.  Verses six and seven really introduce Paul’s thoughts beginning in verse 17 about being faithful to God in whatever state you are in, whether you are married, divorced, widowed, etc.

The third section is covered in verses eight and nine.  This is advice to the unmarried and the widows.  Again Paul is not dogging marriage, but rather saying if you can remain single or a widow and not fall into sexual sin, then you would be better off remaining as you are so you can be fully devoted to the Lord.  However, if sexual temptation is going to be a problem, then you are better off to be married.

The next section is to those who are already married.  Paul here deals with the issue of divorce.  Another prominent issue in our culture today.  Paul plainly says, if you are married stay the way.  If you get divorced, stay divorced or go be reconciled to your spouse.  One man, one woman for one lifetime is God’s design for marriage.  We see that clearly in Genesis and beyond.  Many people will say, but in the book of Deuteronomy that God permitted divorce.  To that we must say, God permitting something and God sanctioning it are two different things.  God granted it because Israel whined that they wanted to be like other nations.  This is clearly an example of where man’s free will has created a lot of trouble for us.  There is a biblical reason for divorce, for space sake I will not deal with it here, but if you would like to talk about it please feel free to contact me and I am more than willing to discuss it.

The final section of the chapter that I will deal with is from verses 12-16.  This is instruction to all people.  This section talks about a believer being married to an unbeliever.  Paul is talking specifically about when two people get married and they are both unbelievers at the time of the marriage, but then one of them becomes a Christian.  In that case, they should remain married.  Paul is not saying it is ok for a believer to marry an unbeliever. In fact Paul argues against that in 2 Corinthians 6:14.  The goal of this section is to remind the new believer, that we are to be winsome in our attitude and affections toward our spouse, because God may use us to reach our still unbelieving spouse with the Gospel.

I want to close this long post by saying this, marriage is not easy. In fact it is hard work.  But I am blessed to be happily married, not because Diana or I are perfect, but because before we got married we gave our marriage over to God.  There are many people in our church that have been married for many years and they serve as a testimony to the faithfulness of God.  That if we build our lives around the principles taught in the Bible, we will be blessed and live a happy life.  Marriage isn’t easy, but it is worth fighting for.  Remember this, at the end of the day, you are on the same team.  Work together to grow closer to God and to each other!

By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him

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Jul 07

Carpe Diem

Posted on July 7, 2014 by admin

The Latin phrase “carpe diem” means seize the day.  Psalm 118:24 tells us “this is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  I was driving earlier this morning listening to the radio.  There was a man teaching convocation at Liberty University earlier this semester, and they were replaying his message to the students.  He said something that struck me and stuck with me.  I didn’t even hear who the man was, but he said “don’t crucify your today between two thieves.  The thief of yesterday and the thief of tomorrow.”  That is all I got to hear of the message, but it struck me at how often we crucify our today between yesterday and tomorrow.  So many times we are robbed of our joy today, because of our past.  So many people walk around in bitterness and unforgiveness not towards others, but rather towards themselves.  They feel as though God couldn’t possibly love them, because of what they have done in the past.  Or they feel like they are worthless, because of past mistakes.  To those people, I want to remind you of a scriptural truth dealing with forgiveness.  Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”  If you have been forgiven by God, it is over and done with.  If God has forgiven you, then you need to move past it and let it go.  Here is the truth about yesterday, no amount of shame, pain, regret, or desiring to change it will actually change it.  Yesterday is gone.  All you can do is be forgiven by God for it, learn from it, grow from it, and move on.

However, there is also the thief of tomorrow.  We often put off decisions until “tomorrow.”  Much like that elusive diet or life change we need to make, we say we will start it “tomorrow.”  The problem is often tomorrow never comes.  We are often consumed about the future and what will happen.  Yet James tells us in James 4:13-14, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”  Jesus told us in Matthew 6 not to worry about tomorrow.  The reason we shouldn’t worry about tomorrow is because it may never come.  I don’t say that to be morbid, but rather to alleviate your worry about something that may not even happen.

There is only one July 7, 2014.  Once it is gone there will never be another one, so don’t waste it!  Seize today for all its worth.  You can do that by thanking God for giving you today.  Every day is a gift from God.  You can seize today by telling those close to you how you feel about them.  Don’t wait until tomorrow to tell someone that you love them.  You can seize today by seeing every opportunity that comes your way today as an invitation from God to get to know Him better and to grow as a person.  Yes some opportunities are going to be disguised as pain, suffering, or difficulty.  But they are opportunities to learn about God’s love and for you to grow as a person.  Make the most of today, because it will be gone sooner than you think!

By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him

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Jun 25

1 Corinthians 6-Lawsuits Among Christians

Posted on June 25, 2014 by admin

The first 11 verses of 1 Corinthians 6 deal with Christians suing each other.  In verse one Paul asks the question, would the just (saints) dare to go to the unjust for judgment?  He asks it very emphatically as though he can’t believe they would do such a thing.  In verse 2 Paul basically says, you are going to sit on the bench of the Supreme Court and you can’t even handle a small matter amongst yourselves?  Certainly in America this is the case today.  It seems as though if you can think it, there is a lawyer ready to sue about it.  Paul says that problem is that the Corinthians are worried about themselves rather than others and the Gospel.  They didn’t care how it looked to the lost world around them, they just wanted to get what was theirs.  We see it in verses 7 and 8, “Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another: Why do ye not rather take wrong?  Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?  Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.”  Paul says you don’t want to suffer wrong or be defrauded, but you go and wrong and defraud your brother in Christ.

We as Christians must always be aware of how our actions are perceived by a watching world.  If we identify ourselves as Christians, then we must certainly have the actions to back it up.  Therefore, whether you are a church or a Christian running a business, you must always conduct yourself and your business above reproach.  In verses 9-10 Paul lists several different types of sin.  It is obviously not an exhaustive list, but it demonstrates and represents all sinners.  Then Paul says in the beginning of verse 11, “and such were some of you.”  Why would Paul lump lawsuits and sins together in speaking to the Corinthian Christians?  He was telling them that these lawsuits amongst themselves is displaying their old way of life.  He is not saying they are not genuinely saved, rather he is pointing out that they are not living like it.  Christians are not to be a doormat, but neither are they to be vindictive, hateful, or harmful.  Again the main point here is that a lost world is watching and we are giving them the wrong idea about God and how Christians should live with some of our behavior.  Be on guard and careful, because someone is always watching!

By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him

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Jun 25

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Posted on June 25, 2014 by admin

I preached on the entire 5th chapter and so I am going to offer some basic information regarding it in case you weren’t here or haven’t had a chance to listen to the message online at www.westlakebaptist.org.

The fifth chapter of 1 Corinthians deals with sin within the church.  Paul is very specific in verses 9-13 that we have authority over non-believers.  However, God did give the church the authority and the call to discipline those within the faith.  The main goal of discipline should be restoration of the brother or sister.  Our motivation should be love, just as when God disciplines us it is out of love (see Prov. 3:11-12).  There are two reasons for church discipline.  The first reason is for the sake of the believer who is caught up in sin.  The second reason is for the testimony of the church.  People are watching how Christians behave, and it has a direct affect on their view of God and the church.  Therefore, we must live holy and blameless lives so that we may glorify God and draw others to Him.  One of the more memorable lines from the sermon was the question, how much do you have to hate someone to see them going the wrong way, knowing that there are going to be consequences, but still say nothing?  If we truly love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will love them enough to tell them the truth.  I will not tell you that it is fun or that it is easy, because it is neither.  But it is necessary if we are going to be the men and women God has called us and created us to be.  Always remember, discipline is not about punishment, it is about restoration of your relationship with God and with the church.

By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him

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