If God has a book of rememberance....what is He going to write in His book today about us?
"You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.'" Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.
Mal 3:14-16 NIV
Rev 21:12 says that one day the books will be opened. One of those books will be John Oscar's book of rememberance when I stand before HIM to give an account of my life.
Will I be ashamed, or will I rejoice with HIM because of the way I lived my life. If we believe that what we believe is really real, then we should live in holy fear thinking ahead toward that day with every decision we have to make.
"Lord, stamp eternity on my mind, heart, and soul. May every thought, word, and decision I make today reflect my total belief that I will stand before you one day to give an account."
Love and blessings,
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Thought for the Week- August 24th, 2009
Luke 1:54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy
This weekend was my 20th High School Reunion. I wasn’t planning on going so I didn’t sign up for it at all. I really didn’t have many friends in high school that would attend the reunion, so I didn’t feel a need to go.
This last Friday I was asked by the YAH (Young at Heart growth group) to be their projectionist for their movie night at church. I gladly accepted as I needed alone time to work on my sermon for Saturday anyway. I set up the movie for them, and went to my office and spent some quality time with God in prayer and study of His word.
After the event was over, the thought came to me that the “ice-breaker” was being held at a restaurant on the way home, so I called Tammie and told her that I might stop by. Besides, I knew David and Amy Maack would be there, so I’d at least have them to talk to.
I walked into the noisy and very crowded restaurant and found the Maacks standing by themselves. I got over to them and had a good time talking to David for along time about various issues as Amy caught up with several of her choir/music friends. As I sat there talking, I watch as my former classmates caught up with each other about what was going on in their lives. It being an adult gathering, there was a lot of alcohol being consumed, and its effects were becoming apparent on several people. After about an hour, I excused myself at went home.
I felt strange the next few days thinking about that night. It was a confusing array of nostalgia, regret, pain, and remembrance- emotions I rarely allow myself to indulge in. I really didn’t talk to anyone except David, and mostly just watched the people that were there. I couldn’t put a finger on exactly how I felt about it until Sunday morning. As my church family worshipped God together, the Holy Spirit moved two people in the service to give “words” from God. One of them dealt with God’s birthing process, and the pressure that brings new life into the world.
Then it hit me- throughout all the conflicting emotions and noise of that night, I finally figured out what God was trying to say to me. He was calling to remembrance the person I was the last time I was with these people. I, like Paul, “was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (1 Tim 1:13)”
God was reminding me the great works HE has done in my life. Although I might not have the earthly position, status, or possessions many in my class had or now have, I was exceedingly rich in the most important and lasting ways- ways that will echo into eternity. Although the last 20 years have been ones of great trial and pain (particularly before I knew God), the reward has been a development of Godly character, substance, wisdom, and humility. Although I don’t claim to have fully obtained this (Phil 3:12-14), the person I was last time I was with those people is completely different from the person I am today. If fact, that person is dead, and the person you see before you today is alive in Christ and Christ alone!
Take a moment and have a time of remembrance this week. Allow God to take you back and rejoice with HIM in what HE has done in your life.
It will blow your mind, lift your heart, and propel your spirit into praising HIM for the exceedingly abundant blessings HE has poured out in your life!
Love and blessings!
This weekend was my 20th High School Reunion. I wasn’t planning on going so I didn’t sign up for it at all. I really didn’t have many friends in high school that would attend the reunion, so I didn’t feel a need to go.
This last Friday I was asked by the YAH (Young at Heart growth group) to be their projectionist for their movie night at church. I gladly accepted as I needed alone time to work on my sermon for Saturday anyway. I set up the movie for them, and went to my office and spent some quality time with God in prayer and study of His word.
After the event was over, the thought came to me that the “ice-breaker” was being held at a restaurant on the way home, so I called Tammie and told her that I might stop by. Besides, I knew David and Amy Maack would be there, so I’d at least have them to talk to.
I walked into the noisy and very crowded restaurant and found the Maacks standing by themselves. I got over to them and had a good time talking to David for along time about various issues as Amy caught up with several of her choir/music friends. As I sat there talking, I watch as my former classmates caught up with each other about what was going on in their lives. It being an adult gathering, there was a lot of alcohol being consumed, and its effects were becoming apparent on several people. After about an hour, I excused myself at went home.
I felt strange the next few days thinking about that night. It was a confusing array of nostalgia, regret, pain, and remembrance- emotions I rarely allow myself to indulge in. I really didn’t talk to anyone except David, and mostly just watched the people that were there. I couldn’t put a finger on exactly how I felt about it until Sunday morning. As my church family worshipped God together, the Holy Spirit moved two people in the service to give “words” from God. One of them dealt with God’s birthing process, and the pressure that brings new life into the world.
Then it hit me- throughout all the conflicting emotions and noise of that night, I finally figured out what God was trying to say to me. He was calling to remembrance the person I was the last time I was with these people. I, like Paul, “was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (1 Tim 1:13)”
God was reminding me the great works HE has done in my life. Although I might not have the earthly position, status, or possessions many in my class had or now have, I was exceedingly rich in the most important and lasting ways- ways that will echo into eternity. Although the last 20 years have been ones of great trial and pain (particularly before I knew God), the reward has been a development of Godly character, substance, wisdom, and humility. Although I don’t claim to have fully obtained this (Phil 3:12-14), the person I was last time I was with those people is completely different from the person I am today. If fact, that person is dead, and the person you see before you today is alive in Christ and Christ alone!
Take a moment and have a time of remembrance this week. Allow God to take you back and rejoice with HIM in what HE has done in your life.
It will blow your mind, lift your heart, and propel your spirit into praising HIM for the exceedingly abundant blessings HE has poured out in your life!
Love and blessings!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Part 2- The Emergent Church’s “Missional” focus
Greetings everyone!
Part 2- The Emergent Church’s “Missional” focus
To most Christians, a church or movement that is defined as “missional” would be a good thing. We equate the word with those who give their lives to spreading the Gospel and helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Our Christian faith has a rich history of helping the poor, building hospitals, tending to the sick, and being a force for social good as a testimony to the Savior we serve.
However, in the Emergent philosophy, missional has an entirely different meaning. Today we will look at both how they define their mission, and how they put it into practice.
The Emergent Church’s beliefs- Defining the Mission-
Last week we mentioned the eschatological (end-times) belief of the emergent church- they do not believe in a final judgment. Their belief, in varying forms, is that the church through social action and influencing the culture will change the world into heaven on earth. That is the mission of the emergent church. On the surface, it may seem like an admirable thing- bringing “Christian” principles to the forefront of society. However, even a brief look beneath the surface reveals the truth of how they go about being missional.
Emergent Church leader Brian McLaren in his book “The Secret Message of Jesus” defines this mission. McLaren writes, “What if Jesus’ secret message reveals a secret plan? What if he didn’t come to start a new religion, but rather came to start a Political, Social, Religious, Artistic, Economic, Intellectual, and Spiritual Revolution that would give birth to a whole new world?” [The Secret Message of Jesus, McLaren, Brian, pg 4]
Anyone with just a basic understanding of Christian Doctrine can see a huge problem with that. One of the key beliefs revealed to us in the bible is that God is both knowable and wants to be known. The primary way we learn about Him is through the scriptures as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. To suggest that the “secret message of Jesus” has been hidden for 2000 years until the Emergent Church leaders discovered it exposes them for what they are, neo-gnostics. Gnostism (meaning knowledge) was a heresy confronted and defeated by the early church, and has lately been gaining prominence in both books and (later) movies like “The Da-Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons”. In its most basic form, Gnostism is the belief that only through “secret knowledge” you may discover the true will of god (little “g” intentional) and experience him and/or salvation.
On a personal note, I have to say it is an incredibly egotistical belief to think that you have discovered something in the bible that centuries of brilliant theologians have not seen. This is especially true when what you think you have discovered goes against centuries of accepted Christian doctrine.
The Emergent Church in practice-
We looked at the emergent church’s beliefs first because on both a personal and corporate level, your core beliefs will always govern your actions, and this is clearly seen in the way the emergent church practices their mission.
To accomplish this mission in reaching and influencing as many people as they can, they have a “big tent” philosophy. Last week, I used the example of an emergent church in Haiti incorporating various aspects of voodoo into their service to relate with their community. Admittedly, that may be an extreme example, but it was chosen to clearly illustrate their philosophy of ministry. It all would fit under their “big tent” way of doing ministry- everyone and every belief is included, as they believe that God can be experienced in all things and in all ways. That is the belief of a Unitarian Universalist, not a biblical Christian.
The emergent church places a high value on the subjective religious experiences of its members. If a person who was previously a Buddhist came to their meeting, they would have no problem bringing those teachings into their fellowship, as they would believe “that is how God is revealing himself to that person”. As previously seen, they interpret scripture (and other religious teaching) in ways that make sense to them at the time. They reject any sort of systematic theology or objective truth. They believe god (little “g” intentional) is still in the process of creation and is continually revealing himself to them in new and different ways. Since “god” is doing that, this movement in general accepts every belief in him that is helpful to humanity.
These beliefs and practices are flawed at many levels. For the sake of brevity, I will list just three primary ones here-
1. They violate the 1st and 2nd commandment- you are creating a god that makes sense to you- essentially elevating your understanding above God’s revealed truth found in the bible
2. In incorporating other belief systems into their “church”, they are denying the wider biblical and direct Gospel message of humankind’s sin, God’s love for the sinner and His providing a way through the Lord Jesus Christ to be forgiven of that sin. In doing that, they deny Jesus’ own teaching- “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”(John 14:6)
3. In raising and supporting whatever belief is “helpful to humanity”, no matter what the source of that “help” may be, they shift the object of worship from God to humanity. Again, a violation of the first two commandments.
I will close with one last warning from scripture. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes-, “There is nothing new under the sun.” The apostle Paul fought against this heresy his entire life in ministry and placed this warning in the bible for us even today-
Gal 1:6-9 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. NKJV
I hope this brief expose’ of the emergent church has been helpful to your understanding of this movement. If you would like more information, I recommend Pastor Ron’s Auch's book “The Jesus Sensitive Church” (purchase by clicking here) to see how the church is supposed to be, and then Pastor Bob DeWaay’s book “The Emergent Church, Undefining Christianity” which can be purchased by clicking here. As always, I invite any questions you may have.
Many blessings,
Pastor John
pastorjohn@prayerhouseag.org
www.prayerhouseag.org
http://pastorjohnsview.blogspot.com/
Part 2- The Emergent Church’s “Missional” focus
To most Christians, a church or movement that is defined as “missional” would be a good thing. We equate the word with those who give their lives to spreading the Gospel and helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Our Christian faith has a rich history of helping the poor, building hospitals, tending to the sick, and being a force for social good as a testimony to the Savior we serve.
However, in the Emergent philosophy, missional has an entirely different meaning. Today we will look at both how they define their mission, and how they put it into practice.
The Emergent Church’s beliefs- Defining the Mission-
Last week we mentioned the eschatological (end-times) belief of the emergent church- they do not believe in a final judgment. Their belief, in varying forms, is that the church through social action and influencing the culture will change the world into heaven on earth. That is the mission of the emergent church. On the surface, it may seem like an admirable thing- bringing “Christian” principles to the forefront of society. However, even a brief look beneath the surface reveals the truth of how they go about being missional.
Emergent Church leader Brian McLaren in his book “The Secret Message of Jesus” defines this mission. McLaren writes, “What if Jesus’ secret message reveals a secret plan? What if he didn’t come to start a new religion, but rather came to start a Political, Social, Religious, Artistic, Economic, Intellectual, and Spiritual Revolution that would give birth to a whole new world?” [The Secret Message of Jesus, McLaren, Brian, pg 4]
Anyone with just a basic understanding of Christian Doctrine can see a huge problem with that. One of the key beliefs revealed to us in the bible is that God is both knowable and wants to be known. The primary way we learn about Him is through the scriptures as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. To suggest that the “secret message of Jesus” has been hidden for 2000 years until the Emergent Church leaders discovered it exposes them for what they are, neo-gnostics. Gnostism (meaning knowledge) was a heresy confronted and defeated by the early church, and has lately been gaining prominence in both books and (later) movies like “The Da-Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons”. In its most basic form, Gnostism is the belief that only through “secret knowledge” you may discover the true will of god (little “g” intentional) and experience him and/or salvation.
On a personal note, I have to say it is an incredibly egotistical belief to think that you have discovered something in the bible that centuries of brilliant theologians have not seen. This is especially true when what you think you have discovered goes against centuries of accepted Christian doctrine.
The Emergent Church in practice-
We looked at the emergent church’s beliefs first because on both a personal and corporate level, your core beliefs will always govern your actions, and this is clearly seen in the way the emergent church practices their mission.
To accomplish this mission in reaching and influencing as many people as they can, they have a “big tent” philosophy. Last week, I used the example of an emergent church in Haiti incorporating various aspects of voodoo into their service to relate with their community. Admittedly, that may be an extreme example, but it was chosen to clearly illustrate their philosophy of ministry. It all would fit under their “big tent” way of doing ministry- everyone and every belief is included, as they believe that God can be experienced in all things and in all ways. That is the belief of a Unitarian Universalist, not a biblical Christian.
The emergent church places a high value on the subjective religious experiences of its members. If a person who was previously a Buddhist came to their meeting, they would have no problem bringing those teachings into their fellowship, as they would believe “that is how God is revealing himself to that person”. As previously seen, they interpret scripture (and other religious teaching) in ways that make sense to them at the time. They reject any sort of systematic theology or objective truth. They believe god (little “g” intentional) is still in the process of creation and is continually revealing himself to them in new and different ways. Since “god” is doing that, this movement in general accepts every belief in him that is helpful to humanity.
These beliefs and practices are flawed at many levels. For the sake of brevity, I will list just three primary ones here-
1. They violate the 1st and 2nd commandment- you are creating a god that makes sense to you- essentially elevating your understanding above God’s revealed truth found in the bible
2. In incorporating other belief systems into their “church”, they are denying the wider biblical and direct Gospel message of humankind’s sin, God’s love for the sinner and His providing a way through the Lord Jesus Christ to be forgiven of that sin. In doing that, they deny Jesus’ own teaching- “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”(John 14:6)
3. In raising and supporting whatever belief is “helpful to humanity”, no matter what the source of that “help” may be, they shift the object of worship from God to humanity. Again, a violation of the first two commandments.
I will close with one last warning from scripture. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes-, “There is nothing new under the sun.” The apostle Paul fought against this heresy his entire life in ministry and placed this warning in the bible for us even today-
Gal 1:6-9 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. NKJV
I hope this brief expose’ of the emergent church has been helpful to your understanding of this movement. If you would like more information, I recommend Pastor Ron’s Auch's book “The Jesus Sensitive Church” (purchase by clicking here) to see how the church is supposed to be, and then Pastor Bob DeWaay’s book “The Emergent Church, Undefining Christianity” which can be purchased by clicking here. As always, I invite any questions you may have.
Many blessings,
Pastor John
pastorjohn@prayerhouseag.org
www.prayerhouseag.org
http://pastorjohnsview.blogspot.com/
Monday, May 25, 2009
An Emerging Deception, Part 1
Greetings everyone,
There is a growing movement among many evangelical churches called the Emerging (or Emergent) Church. It is of critical importance that we understand the dangers of this movement.
I am going to come right out and give my opinion right off the bat, and then work to defend it in this and further editions in this blog- this is an extremely dangerous movement. It meets every definition of a cult. To anyone who holds to the traditional interpretation of scripture, it is a damnable error.
On the surface, it looks like a wonderful extension of Christianity- churches that are very active in their communities, very concerned about social issues, and very interested in reaching everyone with their message. However, when one takes an even slightly deeper look into their beliefs and “theology”, one finds a message and theology (or lack thereof) that is very much opposed to the classical/traditional understanding of God, theology, and even Christian Doctrine that is revealed to us in the scriptures.
I’ve been studying this in depth for the last month to try to get an understanding of the complicated issues and philosophies surrounding this movement’s belief structure. This is very difficult as one of their core beliefs is putting practice before theology/beliefs, leading to a wide array of beliefs that are dependant upon local practices. As an example, if an Emergent Church was formed in Haiti, they would incorporate voodoo into their worship practice since that is “how god is revealing himself to these people”1. This is one of the main issues I have with them, but more on that later.
My research is taken from several books, internet articles, and audio messages I’ve listened to pro and con toward this movement. The books include “A Generous Orthodoxy” by Brian McLaren, “The Secret Message of Jesus…” by the same author, miscellaneous writings and speeches/debates of Doug Pagitt, and the primary text I’m using which is “The Emergent Church, Undefining Christianity” by Bob Dewaay, which extensively quotes from the previous texts as well as several other Emerging Church leaders.
To truly understand anything, you have to examine the history and origin of it. As this series will be long, I’ll try to be concise here to save time.
The history of the Emergent Movement can be traced to the philosophy of a German theologian named Jurgen Moltmann, who was heavily influenced by two German philosophers named Friedrich Hegel (an atheist) and Ernst Bloch (an atheist/neo-Marxist). Moltmann wrote a book called “The Theology of Hope” in which he put forward several primary theses-
1. The classical teaching of the bible that the world will end in judgment is wrong (see bullet 5)
2. god (small “g” on purpose) is bringing all people and his whole creation to himself
3. The fullness of the kingdom of God is not a future event, but something we can experience now through working toward establishing that kingdom now on earth.
4. The bible is not our absolute rule of faith and conduct. god is found in experiencing him in the context of the society we are in.
5. Although not implicitly stated by Moltmann, the inference is drawn in his writings and is believed by the Emergent church that only through understanding the scriptures in the context of Moltmann’s (and other Emerging Church authors) ideas, can the true meaning of the “red-letter words” or any other scripture be found. (This heresy is called gnosticism)
Understanding this background is key to understanding where the Emergent church is coming from, particularly the faulty eschatology of no final judgment and the working out of the kingdom on earth. This “theology” (I hesitate to use that word, as they don’t really study God at all) really took root among open theists, and although initially somewhat cloaked, is what fueled Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven movement, which paved the way for the Emergent Church. In fact, the Emergent Church is simply the next logical step of Warren’s model of church.
Next Part Two- What the term “missional” means to the Emergent Church
1. McLaren, Brian, a Generous Orthodoxy, Zondervon (although the example is not directly stated, the idea of the example is exactly what he is stating)
Many blessings,
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Thought for the week- May 13th, 2009
Deut 6:4-5 "Hear, O Israel: 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.
I’ve been on the edge of some type of revelation for a while now. It has been fleeting, like reaching for a steam cloud and having it disappear when you close your hand around it.
The Spirit of God has been speaking to my spirit, but I haven’t been able to comprehend or hear clearly what He has been saying or trying to teach me. Yesterday during staff, the heavens opened with a bang and I had the epiphany.
The discussion was on the proper priorities that pastors should have. The widely accepted and taught priority list is this-
1. God
2. family (spouse then children)
3. church
4. everything else
Most of us pastors get into trouble assuming #3 directly relates to #1, and in some ways it does. However, it suddenly occurred to me that I’ve had it all wrong. There is no list. I have spent the last day meditating on this, and I believe our priorities should look like this-
I’ve been on the edge of some type of revelation for a while now. It has been fleeting, like reaching for a steam cloud and having it disappear when you close your hand around it.
The Spirit of God has been speaking to my spirit, but I haven’t been able to comprehend or hear clearly what He has been saying or trying to teach me. Yesterday during staff, the heavens opened with a bang and I had the epiphany.
The discussion was on the proper priorities that pastors should have. The widely accepted and taught priority list is this-
1. God
2. family (spouse then children)
3. church
4. everything else
Most of us pastors get into trouble assuming #3 directly relates to #1, and in some ways it does. However, it suddenly occurred to me that I’ve had it all wrong. There is no list. I have spent the last day meditating on this, and I believe our priorities should look like this-
All of the problems in life can be traced back to this diagram. Preachers are great for telling people how to live, but often times in an effort to help people live a life pleasing to God, we reduce our relationship with Him to a set of rules and/ethical norms that have to be followed.
Those are important, but we should instead focus on teaching people to have a proper relationship with God. The law is a schoolmaster to point out our sin, but often times we (and I definitely count myself in this) come short and only point out the disease without offering the cure.
The verse from Deuteronomy that I used at the top of this devotional is called the Shema (meaning “Hear O’ Israel) among the Jews. It is their simple declaration of faith. Looking at the Hebrew in these verses, another way to translate it would be “Listen Israel, Yahweh our God is everything/altogether/our complete focus/our number 1 on a list of 1”.
Our relationship with God is not to be number 1 on a list of other things. There is no list with God. Anything else on a list with God is an idol.
All of our problems with sin, all of our problems with temptation, and all of our problems with relationships can all be traced back to this truth. If everything in our lives emanates from God, everything else in life takes care of itself.
Get alone with God and ask Him what is lacking in your relationship with Him. Let Him show you His wondrous riches and the incredible depths that He wants to take you in intimacy with Him.
It’s all about HIM! Let us covenant together to make Him our everything.
Many blessings,
The verse from Deuteronomy that I used at the top of this devotional is called the Shema (meaning “Hear O’ Israel) among the Jews. It is their simple declaration of faith. Looking at the Hebrew in these verses, another way to translate it would be “Listen Israel, Yahweh our God is everything/altogether/our complete focus/our number 1 on a list of 1”.
Our relationship with God is not to be number 1 on a list of other things. There is no list with God. Anything else on a list with God is an idol.
All of our problems with sin, all of our problems with temptation, and all of our problems with relationships can all be traced back to this truth. If everything in our lives emanates from God, everything else in life takes care of itself.
Get alone with God and ask Him what is lacking in your relationship with Him. Let Him show you His wondrous riches and the incredible depths that He wants to take you in intimacy with Him.
It’s all about HIM! Let us covenant together to make Him our everything.
Many blessings,
Sunday, April 5, 2009
True Citizenship
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Phil 3:20-21 (NKJV)
“…so help me God.”
It was July 17th, 1988 at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in Milwaukee that I uttered the words that would direct the next several years of my life.
Patriotism and love of country had been something that had been drilled into me all my life. All the men on either side of my family had served during times of war to defend America. I was joining because a part of me wanted to be “Rambo” and another part because I knew the Army would teach me several things that were seriously lacking in my life- discipline, honor, courage, and submission to authority.
My years in the military strengthened my love for my country. You can’t be an effective soldier unless you are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for your country. That kind of patriotism has a price though- unwavering belief that what you are willing to die for is worth it.
I still love my country, but I’m seriously concerned for her as the direction we seem to be heading at a breakneck pace is going to lead to her destruction. No nation in history can be as blessed of God and suddenly turn it’s back on Him and not have serious repercussions. It seems we are there- God has removed all restraint and we are heading down a slippery dark hole and there is nothing we can grab onto to stop this slide.
As concerned as I am for America, my heart is still hopeful, as another thing has happened in my life.
July of 1993, sitting on the back steps of my apartment, I again enlisted. From that point on, my citizenship changed. I am now not just an American. I am a citizen of the Eternal Kingdom, Ambassador of the Most High, and adopted yet blood relative of the King of Kings.
Recently this realization came to me again as I was praying for our country and getting really distressed about everything going on. God gently reminded me that America, as with every human government, will eventually pass into the annals of history, but His Kingdom, that of the Most High will never cease. Not only that, but my citizenship in that country is irrevocable.
Remember that next time you read or watch the news and your heart grows fearful. Remember the promise of Jesus-
Rev 21:6-7 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
If you have made Jesus your Lord, you are now a citizen of heaven. To be effective citizens and soldiers of the cross, a few things are required of us-
Be a true patriot of Heaven- one who is willing to lay down their life to defend it, expand it, and to uphold its honor. Jesus is more than worth it!
Learn to lay down our lives every moment of every day for the Gospel- being living martyrs.
Being Jesus to others. Showing His love and compassion to everyone we meet.
Taking seriously the title of “Ambassador of the Kingdom of Christ Jesus”. We carry the very presence of God everywhere we go, and that is the thing that will draw people to the Savior.
Living in our true citizenship is the only hope for America. Jesus is coming back very soon, and as a student of scripture, my head is spinning at how fast the world is heading toward that blessed day.
Live for Him with everything you have now, as soon it will be night, where no one can work (John 9:4).
Love and blessings,
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Living in the Rhema Word
I was reading Prov 29:18 this morning-
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. NKJV
Sometimes you read a verse that you’re read dozens of times and for whatever reason; the Holy Spirit uses it to speak to your life right at that moment. That happened to me this morning.
As a rule, I would rather not create a blog entry that is devotional in nature unless it is something that God is speaking directly to me as I don’t want to waste your time or mine just to send something out. Today, God spoke, and so I’ve written it down for my benefit and yours.
Several thoughts came to my head as the Holy Spirit poured HIMself into me this morning. The first thought I have correlates this verse with Matt 4:4- “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word (Greek word- rhema) that comes from the mouth of God”. Jesus quoted Deut 8:3 to ward off the attack of the enemy. Jesus stresses the need for a rhema word of God- not just the logos, but hearing from God in an intimate relationship with HIM. The Greek word rhema is defined as a spoken word, where the Greek word“logos” is defined as a written word. The “word” God wants us to live in is the spoken word, and that only comes through a deep and abiding relationship with HIM. You don’t hear a person’s voice unless you purpose to spend time with them, and the same is true of God.
Second, is the “people cast off all restraint”. Where there is no relationship with God, there is no restraining influence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings life giving words (Rhema) that illuminate the written Word of God (logos). We can memorize the whole bible (satan has, and it didn't change him one iota), but unless it is tied in with a relationship with God and continued revelation of who HE is, it has no affect on the way we live. That is why the ethical standards in the Evangelical churches are so low- we traded a “head knowledge” of God (which has its roots in pride) for the intimacy with God, which is based on a loving relationship with HIM.
Third, the believers influence in the world is absolutely hindered if not completely eradicated if they are not living in that fresh word from God. We can’t speak to the hurting and dying world unless we are completely HIS and dead to the things of this world. We’ve (and I’m the worse at times) traded in an abiding, deep relationship with the Almighty for secular entertainment. Leonard Ravenhill spoke to this when he said that “entertainment is the devils substitute for joy”, because true joy only comes through that intimate relationship with God.
Jesus is our example- sure he went to parties and hung out with people, but over and over again the Gospels portray a man who no matter how tired He was or no matter how stressed He might have been in His earthly self, He continually sought His Father in times of solitude. Jesus knew that the key to a victorious life on earth was to continually seek heaven and the throne of God.
We can’t expect to move this world or advance the Kingdom of God so long as we refuse to allow God HIS rightful place in our lives. I’m going to be open and honest here and share a few things from my life that God has shown me lately that steal time from seeking him in my life. I share it because I think it might help others-
1. Turn off the news- I confess that I’m a huge news junkie, especially Fox News and their prime time talk shows like O’Reilly and Hannity. While I respect what these men are trying to do in the realm of conservative politics, endlessly focusing on what is happening in the world will depress even the cheeriest of people. What is going on in the world has already been told to us, and should come as no surprise (see Matt 24/ 2 Tim 3). If I/we spend half the time we spend taking in news in prayer, we’d see a revival that would dwarf all previous ones.
2. Watch how much time we spend in leisure- Humans, especially this one, don’t do well with time off. Humans were made to take in stimulation, and boredom is the devils playground. Make an effort to fill days off with things that further your relationship with your God and your family.
3. Music- Humans were created for worship. When we take the medium (music) that God has blessed us with to worship HIM and substitute it for songs that sing of worldly things, we shouldn’t be surprised when our thought lives are not pure and we struggle with temptations on all sides.
That’s a lot God showed me from one verse….but it comes from an abiding relationship with HIM. Although I often struggle to maintain it (more than you know), He has been drawing me harder now then ever in my life, and I praise HIM and thank HIM for continuing to woo me as the Lover of My Soul…
It is my prayer and more importantly, the desire of heaven, that everyone who reads this will experience God in even greater ways then I have. We are moments from eternity, let’s toss this world’s distractions aside and purpose to really seek God instead of just paying lip service to it.
Love and blessings,
John A. Oscar
Evangelism Pastor
Prayer House Assembly of God
pastorjohn@prayerhouseag.org
www.prayerhouseag.org
http://pastorjohnsview.blogspot.com
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. NKJV
Sometimes you read a verse that you’re read dozens of times and for whatever reason; the Holy Spirit uses it to speak to your life right at that moment. That happened to me this morning.
As a rule, I would rather not create a blog entry that is devotional in nature unless it is something that God is speaking directly to me as I don’t want to waste your time or mine just to send something out. Today, God spoke, and so I’ve written it down for my benefit and yours.
Several thoughts came to my head as the Holy Spirit poured HIMself into me this morning. The first thought I have correlates this verse with Matt 4:4- “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word (Greek word- rhema) that comes from the mouth of God”. Jesus quoted Deut 8:3 to ward off the attack of the enemy. Jesus stresses the need for a rhema word of God- not just the logos, but hearing from God in an intimate relationship with HIM. The Greek word rhema is defined as a spoken word, where the Greek word“logos” is defined as a written word. The “word” God wants us to live in is the spoken word, and that only comes through a deep and abiding relationship with HIM. You don’t hear a person’s voice unless you purpose to spend time with them, and the same is true of God.
Second, is the “people cast off all restraint”. Where there is no relationship with God, there is no restraining influence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings life giving words (Rhema) that illuminate the written Word of God (logos). We can memorize the whole bible (satan has, and it didn't change him one iota), but unless it is tied in with a relationship with God and continued revelation of who HE is, it has no affect on the way we live. That is why the ethical standards in the Evangelical churches are so low- we traded a “head knowledge” of God (which has its roots in pride) for the intimacy with God, which is based on a loving relationship with HIM.
Third, the believers influence in the world is absolutely hindered if not completely eradicated if they are not living in that fresh word from God. We can’t speak to the hurting and dying world unless we are completely HIS and dead to the things of this world. We’ve (and I’m the worse at times) traded in an abiding, deep relationship with the Almighty for secular entertainment. Leonard Ravenhill spoke to this when he said that “entertainment is the devils substitute for joy”, because true joy only comes through that intimate relationship with God.
Jesus is our example- sure he went to parties and hung out with people, but over and over again the Gospels portray a man who no matter how tired He was or no matter how stressed He might have been in His earthly self, He continually sought His Father in times of solitude. Jesus knew that the key to a victorious life on earth was to continually seek heaven and the throne of God.
We can’t expect to move this world or advance the Kingdom of God so long as we refuse to allow God HIS rightful place in our lives. I’m going to be open and honest here and share a few things from my life that God has shown me lately that steal time from seeking him in my life. I share it because I think it might help others-
1. Turn off the news- I confess that I’m a huge news junkie, especially Fox News and their prime time talk shows like O’Reilly and Hannity. While I respect what these men are trying to do in the realm of conservative politics, endlessly focusing on what is happening in the world will depress even the cheeriest of people. What is going on in the world has already been told to us, and should come as no surprise (see Matt 24/ 2 Tim 3). If I/we spend half the time we spend taking in news in prayer, we’d see a revival that would dwarf all previous ones.
2. Watch how much time we spend in leisure- Humans, especially this one, don’t do well with time off. Humans were made to take in stimulation, and boredom is the devils playground. Make an effort to fill days off with things that further your relationship with your God and your family.
3. Music- Humans were created for worship. When we take the medium (music) that God has blessed us with to worship HIM and substitute it for songs that sing of worldly things, we shouldn’t be surprised when our thought lives are not pure and we struggle with temptations on all sides.
That’s a lot God showed me from one verse….but it comes from an abiding relationship with HIM. Although I often struggle to maintain it (more than you know), He has been drawing me harder now then ever in my life, and I praise HIM and thank HIM for continuing to woo me as the Lover of My Soul…
It is my prayer and more importantly, the desire of heaven, that everyone who reads this will experience God in even greater ways then I have. We are moments from eternity, let’s toss this world’s distractions aside and purpose to really seek God instead of just paying lip service to it.
Love and blessings,
John A. Oscar
Evangelism Pastor
Prayer House Assembly of God
pastorjohn@prayerhouseag.org
www.prayerhouseag.org
http://pastorjohnsview.blogspot.com
Friday, January 23, 2009
What do we do now???
Prov 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. NIV
A lot of attention has been paid to our new president this week and rightfully so. There has also been a lot of angst from conservative Christians about his social programs that promote blatent immorality.
After President Bush (II) was elected, there was a huge push to pray for him as he claimed to being a confessed Christian. That was good and proper, but how much more now should we being praying for President Obama? Admittedly, his claims of being a Christian in the midst of him promoting things like homosexual marriage and abortion leave a bad taste in a biblical Christian's mouth. However, instead of directing words of hatred or sarcasm towards him, we should be lifting him up to God in prayer.
First, we need to pray for him to come to Jesus in repentance. It seems like he "accepted Christ" in a church that preached only a gospel of social action but did not deal with the subjects of good vs evil, or the problem of sin. His foundation is faulty, so everything that comes from that is tainted by him having the wrong view of man, the bible, and God. Social Gospel or "Black Liberation Theology" that was largly taught at his last church deals with the concept that the biblical record records the struggle of the oppressed against the larger and more powerful elite, and that Jesus' mission was to bring freedom to those captives. It ignores the inherant evil found in every human from the fall of man, and limits the incredible love of God to only those who may feel oppressed by someone else, thus leading President Obama to be sympathetic toward social minorities like homosexuals or toward an "oppressed women" whose irresponsiblity lead her to become pregnant (which causes most abortions). He needs God to reveal to him the true gospel- one that exposes the sin in his own life, makes him grieve over it and reach out to Jesus as the only one who can save him from it and it's penalty- eternal seperation from God.
Second, we need to pray that God directs his heart. Irregardless of President Obama's eternal destiny, God can move his heart in whatever way HE chooses if, and only if, the people of God pray and ask Him to do it. 2 Chron 7:13-14 gives us a reciepe so to speak for God to move-
2 Chron 7:13-14
When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (NKJV)
See the if/then statement- if my people (not the world, the church!) humble themselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from wickeness, then God will forgive their sin and heal their land.
You could put Stalin, Hitler, or any other despot in the White House, and if the people of God are living for God and seeking Him will all of their heart, souls, and minds, he will follow God's will because God always responds to the concentrated prayer of His people.
We need to be focused on God, and not a man. It's so easy to stand and shout down a man instead of kneel before God in prayer and supplication. One is born of the flesh and produces fleshly results- strife, anger, hatred, and division. The other produces Godliness, contentment, and peace. Only one glorifies God, and that is the latter...
Which one will you choose?
A lot of attention has been paid to our new president this week and rightfully so. There has also been a lot of angst from conservative Christians about his social programs that promote blatent immorality.
After President Bush (II) was elected, there was a huge push to pray for him as he claimed to being a confessed Christian. That was good and proper, but how much more now should we being praying for President Obama? Admittedly, his claims of being a Christian in the midst of him promoting things like homosexual marriage and abortion leave a bad taste in a biblical Christian's mouth. However, instead of directing words of hatred or sarcasm towards him, we should be lifting him up to God in prayer.
First, we need to pray for him to come to Jesus in repentance. It seems like he "accepted Christ" in a church that preached only a gospel of social action but did not deal with the subjects of good vs evil, or the problem of sin. His foundation is faulty, so everything that comes from that is tainted by him having the wrong view of man, the bible, and God. Social Gospel or "Black Liberation Theology" that was largly taught at his last church deals with the concept that the biblical record records the struggle of the oppressed against the larger and more powerful elite, and that Jesus' mission was to bring freedom to those captives. It ignores the inherant evil found in every human from the fall of man, and limits the incredible love of God to only those who may feel oppressed by someone else, thus leading President Obama to be sympathetic toward social minorities like homosexuals or toward an "oppressed women" whose irresponsiblity lead her to become pregnant (which causes most abortions). He needs God to reveal to him the true gospel- one that exposes the sin in his own life, makes him grieve over it and reach out to Jesus as the only one who can save him from it and it's penalty- eternal seperation from God.
Second, we need to pray that God directs his heart. Irregardless of President Obama's eternal destiny, God can move his heart in whatever way HE chooses if, and only if, the people of God pray and ask Him to do it. 2 Chron 7:13-14 gives us a reciepe so to speak for God to move-
2 Chron 7:13-14
When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (NKJV)
See the if/then statement- if my people (not the world, the church!) humble themselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from wickeness, then God will forgive their sin and heal their land.
You could put Stalin, Hitler, or any other despot in the White House, and if the people of God are living for God and seeking Him will all of their heart, souls, and minds, he will follow God's will because God always responds to the concentrated prayer of His people.
We need to be focused on God, and not a man. It's so easy to stand and shout down a man instead of kneel before God in prayer and supplication. One is born of the flesh and produces fleshly results- strife, anger, hatred, and division. The other produces Godliness, contentment, and peace. Only one glorifies God, and that is the latter...
Which one will you choose?
The Crushed Life
Isa 53:10- Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer
The old man started awake as a rat scurried over him. The soldier next to him stirred in his sleep, opening his eyes slightly to see if all was okay before drifting back to sleep. It took a moment for the old man to get his bearings, and sighed remembering where we was. He quietly rolled over and planted his face in his hands and began to pray, giving thanks for another day to witness to the hardened young man that was chained to him in this dark, damp, always cold cell. For months he had worked on him, peeling back the layers. For a Roman soldier, prison duty was generally the worse duty that could be pulled, and kept as a punishment for soldiers who were sub-standard in some way. Yet, being with the old man for these months had softened his heart as he kept hearing of a man who did the incredible, raising the dead, making blind men see, and then did the inscrutable- dying for all men.
As the old man poured his heart and spirit into his prayer, the young soldier woke up and saw the old man again praying. It seemed to be all he did besides talking to him and other prisoners about a man named Jesus who he claimed was God. The soldier watched as the man moaned into his hands begging his God to move in the hearts of the other prisoners so that they would believe his words and be saved. Then the old man began praying for him, and the soldier’s heart was moved at the love being expressed by the old man as he begged Jesus to save him. The young mans eyes moistened as he watched the man sway, almost as if he was a women in labor straining with everything that was in him as he prayed. Something in the man’s heart stirred and broke as he watched the love of the old man pour out for him before his God.
“Paul,” he whispered, drawing the old man out of his prayer. “Tell me again about this Jesus…”. The Apostle Paul rose from his prostrate position and smiled at the young soldier, and began to speak the words that would lead him to salvation…
I was struck this week reading this verse from Isaiah- it was the Lord’s will to crush Jesus. Jesus who did not sin, but lived a life of perfect obedience to God, was crushed by a Father who love Him…
God’s ways seem so inscrutable. It’s hard for us to see the how’s and whys we go through difficult times. Paul, like Jesus, suffered for doing God’s will. It’s the exact opposite of what we or the world for that matter would expect God to do. We expect an immediate reward when we obey, but perhaps God has you on a higher road. See, if Jesus hadn’t been crushed by God, we would still be dead in our sins. If Paul hadn’t been crushed by God, we would not have a New Testament and the Gospel would have been a Jewish thing only.
In order to get wine, a grape has to be crushed. Our reaction to adversity shows the condition of our hearts and what truly dwells there. What comes out of you when God even squeezes you a little? (and lets be honest, not many of us have been squeezed as hard as Jesus or Paul!)
Make an effort in the coming year to allow God to squeeze you a little. Decide right now as you read this that you will spend more time with HIM in separated prayer- going away and being just with God. Go to your church, or for a walk in the woods and just commune with HIM. If you do that, when God decides it’s time to squeeze you, only the oil of the Holy Spirit will come forth, and that the true and loving nature of God will be shown to this lost and dying world.
It’s a higher road, but one that is worthy of Jesus if we say we are truly following HIM!
Love and blessings,
John A. Oscar
Evangelism Pastor
Prayer House Assembly of God
The old man started awake as a rat scurried over him. The soldier next to him stirred in his sleep, opening his eyes slightly to see if all was okay before drifting back to sleep. It took a moment for the old man to get his bearings, and sighed remembering where we was. He quietly rolled over and planted his face in his hands and began to pray, giving thanks for another day to witness to the hardened young man that was chained to him in this dark, damp, always cold cell. For months he had worked on him, peeling back the layers. For a Roman soldier, prison duty was generally the worse duty that could be pulled, and kept as a punishment for soldiers who were sub-standard in some way. Yet, being with the old man for these months had softened his heart as he kept hearing of a man who did the incredible, raising the dead, making blind men see, and then did the inscrutable- dying for all men.
As the old man poured his heart and spirit into his prayer, the young soldier woke up and saw the old man again praying. It seemed to be all he did besides talking to him and other prisoners about a man named Jesus who he claimed was God. The soldier watched as the man moaned into his hands begging his God to move in the hearts of the other prisoners so that they would believe his words and be saved. Then the old man began praying for him, and the soldier’s heart was moved at the love being expressed by the old man as he begged Jesus to save him. The young mans eyes moistened as he watched the man sway, almost as if he was a women in labor straining with everything that was in him as he prayed. Something in the man’s heart stirred and broke as he watched the love of the old man pour out for him before his God.
“Paul,” he whispered, drawing the old man out of his prayer. “Tell me again about this Jesus…”. The Apostle Paul rose from his prostrate position and smiled at the young soldier, and began to speak the words that would lead him to salvation…
I was struck this week reading this verse from Isaiah- it was the Lord’s will to crush Jesus. Jesus who did not sin, but lived a life of perfect obedience to God, was crushed by a Father who love Him…
God’s ways seem so inscrutable. It’s hard for us to see the how’s and whys we go through difficult times. Paul, like Jesus, suffered for doing God’s will. It’s the exact opposite of what we or the world for that matter would expect God to do. We expect an immediate reward when we obey, but perhaps God has you on a higher road. See, if Jesus hadn’t been crushed by God, we would still be dead in our sins. If Paul hadn’t been crushed by God, we would not have a New Testament and the Gospel would have been a Jewish thing only.
In order to get wine, a grape has to be crushed. Our reaction to adversity shows the condition of our hearts and what truly dwells there. What comes out of you when God even squeezes you a little? (and lets be honest, not many of us have been squeezed as hard as Jesus or Paul!)
Make an effort in the coming year to allow God to squeeze you a little. Decide right now as you read this that you will spend more time with HIM in separated prayer- going away and being just with God. Go to your church, or for a walk in the woods and just commune with HIM. If you do that, when God decides it’s time to squeeze you, only the oil of the Holy Spirit will come forth, and that the true and loving nature of God will be shown to this lost and dying world.
It’s a higher road, but one that is worthy of Jesus if we say we are truly following HIM!
Love and blessings,
John A. Oscar
Evangelism Pastor
Prayer House Assembly of God
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