August 7, 2018

Praise Him Boldly

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

– 1 Peter 2:9

God seems to have a thing for the loser and the underdog. That’s something our pastor pointed out to us on Sunday. Unfortunately, we don’t always share God’s passion for the least among us.

We want it to be about us. That’s what the prosperity gospel teaches. It’s all about us and how God will bless us. God does bless us. He shows us mercy and grace we don’t deserve. And He does it because of the blood of Christ. That’s very different than assuming God will always give us everything we want if we will only just believe.

We also give ourselves way more credit than we deserve. “I” chose to follow Jesus. It’s “my” ministry. “I” choose to do this. “I” choose not to do that.

Newsflash: We aren’t in control. God is. Scripture tells us that He chose us first. He leads us where He wants us to go. Do we have freewill? Absolutely. But don’t you think the God who made you already knows the path you’re going to “choose”?

We are chosen to serve God and to bring Him glory. It’s not about us. Really. It’s not. I know you’ve heard that so many times but do you believe it? Do you understand that when you belong to Christ, you give up your independence?

We are a stubborn people. We want to be in charge. We want to tell God what we will and won’t do. I wonder sometimes if He views us as rebellious teenagers who refuse to follow the rules and be blessed. We’d rather wander in the desert for years than to acknowledge that God knows what He is doing.

When you are truly called by God, there is no choice. Just ask Jonah. He didn’t want to go to Ninevah. Guess where he went? Ninevah – with a little detour inside of a giant fish. We will go where God wills us to go.

What has God called you to do? It varies by person and by season but one thing it isn’t is to exalt yourself. We are called to self-sacrifice, to be the least, to serve and live lives that point others toward Jesus.

Have you ever wondered why God has a soft-spot for those who are considered losers and underdogs? Because we know how desperately we need Him. Those who are focused on “I” don’t truly recognize their need for God. Their pride keeps them from opening their hearts to His calling on their lives.

In our society, we place so many gods above the one, true God. We worship money, power, prestige. We look down on those who have less money, less education, less stuff. We think more highly of ourselves based on the exterior of our lives. God looks at the heart. What does He see?

Our lives are meant to be lived as praise for God Almighty. What does your life look like?

June 2, 2018

Don’t Fall For Satan’s Lies

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

-- Luke 19:8-9

Even in the world of prosperity theology, it seems extravagant. Televangelist Jesse Duplantis wants his followers to give him $54 million for a private jet. He already has three private planes but “God wants” him to have a new one.

I wonder how many foolish people will send him money, believing that God will bless them financially for doing so? This man isn’t of God. Do they know that? Do they understand just how far away from the gospel Duplantis’ rhetoric really is?

The man says that Jesus wouldn’t ride a donkey today. He and Kenneth Copeland insist that they can’t pray on commercial airlines that are filled with demons. Copeland’s word, not mine. They just “know” that God wants to bless them with private planes.

And mansions. We can’t forget the luxurious lifestyle Duplantis’ followers provide for him. Jesus didn’t even have a home of his own. Why would these imposters insist than God wants them to have mansions on this earth?

Because we are foolish people. Because desperate people fall for Satan’s lies. Because we want so badly to be rid of the heartache and pain, the struggles and the limits, of our own lives. So we believe what isn’t true in a futile attempt to become wealthy and live an easy life.

I want so desperately for these sad people to read the Bible for themselves. I want them to truly know Jesus, to know that He is enough. I want them to understand that even though life is sometimes hard, He walks with us every step of the way.

Jesus mingled with the poor. He ministered to sinners. He drove out demons. He touched lepers. He wept with friends. Jesus lived among the people who needed Him the most. He could easily have hid Himself in a mansion but Jesus chose to live amongst the downtrodden.

In fact, the only times Jesus was truly angry was when others were taking advantage of the poor. Just like Duplantis is doing right now.

I’ve no doubt that God will handle this imposter in His good time. But how many people will he lead astray before that time comes? How many lies will people believe? Peter tells us to be watchful because the devil prowls about looking for people to devour. Satan is no doubt feasting on the followers of this imposter. It is just so sad.

What, perhaps, is even sadder are those who don’t know Jesus and are turned away from His truth because of people who claim to be of God and yet aren’t. We must be strong. We must continue to shine His light on this dark world. We must expose those who take advantage of unsuspecting people.

Don’t fall for Satan’s lies. Stand strong and trust in the true King, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.