The Key to Your Success in 2016

There are a lot of great books that have been written on success and how to achieve it. Andy Andrews recently came to town and he does offer a fresh perspective on how to be successful. But out of all the books that I have read the number one principle for success is this: Seek God’s kingdom first for your life. Jesus taught his disciples this: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) This principle can be seen at work even in the Old Testament. King David was a man after God’s own heart and he sought the Lord in everything and when he didn’t we know of his sin it is written out for us in the Scripture. King Solomon who followed his father King David, walked with the Lord but then strayed from the Lord and the Lord disciplined him. Now after these two kings there are two phrases that will catch a person’s eye when reading 2 Chronicles. Those kings who did not seek the Lord and did not experience success will have this phrase in common: ‘And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.’ (2 Chronicles 12:14) So those kings who did not seek the Lord did not experience God’s blessings or his presence, instead they experienced his discipline and in most cases and untimely death. But there are other kings in King David’s line who sought the Lord and they experienced God’s success. King Abijah called on the Lord as did his son, King Asa in time. This is written about King Asa, ‘And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.’ (2 Chronicles 14:2) The key to having success in your life is seeking the Lord. Let me explain, when you are seeking the Lord, remember you are seeking a relationship with a person, his name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Second, to experience success, you will want to bring your heart in line with what’s on his heart. In another word’s you will want to do His agenda and not yours each day. Third, we must take responsibility for what the Lord has entrusted to us. This encompasses your whole life not just a portion of it. So how do we bring our heart in line with what’s on God’s heart, how do we seek this relationship with the Lord and take responsibility with what he has entrusted to us? Spend time with him daily in his Word. If you have never read the Bible before, start in John’s Gospel. If you would like to learn more about having a relationship with Jesus Christ this year I invite you to attend a local Church this Sunday. If you have a question just send me an email pastorrobert@wecareatfblc.com

God's Love for you

Today I want to share my heart with you concerning God's love for us. This one verse of Scripture really captures it all, 'He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? What type of love is this that God just pours out on us. The type of love that God pours out on us from heaven is better than any parent's that we could receive. It is in his nature to give you and me the best. Everything he wants for you is the best that you can have. It is in his nature and character to do so. The best part of his love for you is that he is always present to give you and me help. Some people struggle this time of year when God is present to help them. So if you are struggling with life this holiday season you are not alone millions of people struggle along with you. Ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden mankind has struggled with life because of the separation that has taken place between God and man. Life was not intended to be this way. God gave Adam and Eve freedom of choice. Choices have consequences. Adam and Eve’s choice led to humanity being born separated from God. The good news is that the Lord gave a promise in Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” God was able through this promise to restore the relationship between himself and his creation. This promise was fulfilled when Jesus Christ was born, laid down his life for the sin of mankind and rose again on the third day. This gift of salvation is available for all to receive. This gift of salvation is a gift that not only saves us from sin but also the presence of the Lord through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. The Lord is present in your daily life’s struggles. Even the Apostle Paul knew what it was to struggle in life. He explains his struggle here, “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9 ESV) When the Lord says to you, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” how does that make you feel? Understanding the meaning of this passage will help you in your struggle. In the New Testament, the word grace comes from the same Hebrew word hesed, which means tender mercies, steadfast love, loving kindness that are new every morning. So this gift of grace is sufficient. This is enough to see you through. His presence and power in your life will see you through the struggles of life. Israel had to learn to depend on the Lord after the exodus from Egypt. So in Exodus 16 we read about the manna. The people had to learn to depend on the Lord, that his presence and provision was enough for the day. Just imagine if you will that each day in your life God has provided himself, his presence and power to see you through the struggles of the day.

Unresolved Anger

There have been times in my life if you had said someone’s name anger would have flared up like gasoline being thrown on a fire. How about you, if someone brought up a certain person’s name right now would anger just flare up inside. Many a relationship has been strained or destroyed by unresolved anger. Some of life’s sicknesses maybe a result of unresolved anger. Is unresolved anger tearing apart relationships in your life? Jesus teaches us the truth about unresolved anger and the consequences it has on our lives. Let’s read:
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.” (Matthew 5:21-26 ESV)
We learn from Jesus that to be angry with someone is just as bad as murdering them. Being angry with someone brings a liability of judgment from God in some form. We learn that anger toward someone can take many forms with serious repercussions. Jesus teaches us that unresolved anger toward someone leads to our worship being unacceptable to God. Unresolved anger could be the reason you feel that God is so distant. In Genesis four Cain gets angry and his face fell because his brother’s offering was accepted and his wasn’t. The Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.’ (Genesis 4:6-7) Instead he killed his brother. If you are angry with someone please tell them why. If you know that someone is angry with you be obedient to Jesus’ instructions and go be reconciled to them. Then you r relationship with God is close again and the ministry of reconciliation is taking place in your life with others around you. I invite you to come to one of our local Churches here in Lake City to learn more about Jesus.

Being set right

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (Romans 4:1-12)
In this passage we have the perfect examples of justification “being set right with God” through faith from the Old Testament, Abraham and David. Abraham represents before the Law was given while David represents after the law was given. Both of these men believed God’s promise and God justified them. Both are saved by grace through faith. Paul ask a critical question about Abraham’s circumcision was it before or after he believed the Lord’s promise? Abraham’s circumcision didn’t save him just as water baptism doesn’t save anybody today. Abraham’s circumcision was a sign and a seal of his right standing with God. The same with King David. The people in Jesus’ day asked him this question: Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6:28-29) That is it! Believe in Jesus Christ. The Philippian Jailer asked Paul, What must I do to be saved? Paul and Silas response, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household. The Philippian Jailer believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and got saved. Look it up it is in Acts 16. It is my prayer that this article today has helped you in your relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Praying it Through!

Have you ever read this passage and thought about prayer? Let’s read this passage and keep prayer in mind.
For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. (Romans 4:13-25)
We often pray selfish prayers asking Jesus to do something or claiming something in Jesus’ name and we often recite some familiar passages to justify our prayer request. After praying such prayers we may try to manufacture the miracle. I’m guilty of this myself. After reading passages like this and the one in Genesis we need to gain a proper perspective on prayer. Like Abraham we need to enjoy the Lord’s presence, his friendship taking delight in him. Secondly let the Lord give you a promise of what he wants to do in and through your life. Then after the Lord gives you a promise, pray through what the Lord has promised, and obey his instructions that he has given you. Sometimes his instructions are wait! This is when the Lord prepares us to be ready to receive the promise. Remember, God is able to call into existence what he has promised you. I invite you to read the Bible and have a conversation with the Lord.

Why questions are asked?

When I was growing up and going to school I didn’t pay attention. Then the teacher would ask a question I would get it wrong. So I had to learn to pay attention in class or I would miss the answer to the questions being asked. Today we will come to the end of Romans Chapter 3 where Paul is going to ask six questions that will cause us to stop and reflect on what the Lord has done for us and what he has taught us.
“Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” (Romans 3:27-31)
These questions cause us to stop and think about the two principles that are taught in this chapter. The two principles are: that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law and that God is the God of both Jews and Gentiles. The first three questions that Paul asks are concerning a person being justified by faith apart from the works of the law. None of us can boast about our salvation in Jesus. We didn’t do the work to pay the penalty for our sin debt. Jesus did that work on the cross to make salvation possible for all people.
The next two questions Paul teaches us that God is the God of both Jew and Gentile, all other people who are not of Jewish blood. After Jesus’ death burial and resurrection he deals equally with everybody. So it doesn’t matter what family you are born into, or what religion you were raised with, God’s way of salvation is the same for all humanity. For any person desiring to go to heaven when they die, or have a new life that is different now on earth they must by faith, repent of their sins and call on Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior. When they do this God fulfills his promise in their lives. The last question is what happens to the Law. Jesus taught us saying that the Law would not pass away but that He came to fulfill the law. Let’s reread the first three chapters of Romans again and ask the Lord where we need to examine ourselves in relation to these questions. I invite you come and worship with us or another church in the local area.

Rough flight coming to an end

A few weeks back I wrote that this would be a very rough flight as we discussed sin and God’s righteousness. Today I want you to experience the love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
If we are not careful we will overlook a very important sentence in this paragraph. We have already learned about the righteousness of God, about responding in faith to God’s promptings, and our sin. The love of God is such that he justifies us, that is, he sets us in a right relationship with himself as a free gift. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Are you a person that prefers to give gifts or receive gifts? If you are the one that enjoys the buying, surprising and giving then you are able in a simple and small sense to understand the way the Father feels in offering you His gift of grace. He sent Jesus to purchase this gift for you. If you are the person who enjoys receiving the gift, opening the package and finally seeing the surprise waiting inside, you have a package awaiting you, full of peace, joy and love, the gift of Jesus.
With any gift there comes a time of decision, you have to decide whether to receive or to reject. If you receive this gift you are not promised an easy life or a life of luxury while on this earth. However, you are promised an eternal life spent with the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in Heaven, perfection for eternity. Rejecting this gift, will result in Jesus, who could have been your advocate, instead denying He ever knew you and you living eternally in hell. Are you truly certain that Jesus knows your name or will he deny YOU?