WHAT EVERYONE WORSHIPS

I read Romans 1 yesterday, and meditated through it again today. Here's what I conclude:

1. Everyone knows about God. Even aboriginal tribes and atheists, agnostics and New Age practitioners, Communists and children who attend public schools and have only secular input into their lives here in Price Hill. If a person will stop and look, or pause and listen, the existence and character of God can be seen in nature.

2. What's more, morality is clear to all people. All people have a conscience, which will tell them right and wrong. No matter what kind of teaching they grow up with, no matter what kind of cultural system they live under, no matter what kind of media input they have, all people are able to sense what is basically good, and they are able to choose to follow a moral code.

3. Even more, everyone worships. Some people worship themselves; others worship graven idols. Some people are pantheists; others claim there is no God. But they cannot help but worship. To worship means to serve and obey something. So, ultimately, everyone submits to some god.

Most people would agree with these conclusions so far. But the conclusions that people come to from there vary greatly. Some will claim that there is no "right" system, as long as you are true to the one you choose. Some will claim that only "their" system is the right one. Some will deny that any system really works, while others will say that all of them work.

Here's what the Bible says: We know about God, about His qualities and His character, and are without excuse if we do not shape our lives accordingly. We choose to either hear from the true God, or we follow Satan and his demonic lies. The only "system" that works is Jesus Christ, who is God, showed us God, taught us morality, and provided a means of forgiveness and eternal life. No other "system" provides that package of benefits, if you will, and is therefore a counterfeit invented by the devil to deceive the world and keep them in bondage to him.

What is the end result of every system, other than pure discipleship under Jesus? Perhaps legalism, as found in Judaism and in Romans 2 and in many religions of the world. Perhaps licensiousness, as described in Romans 1: homosexuality tops the list, but in the list are greed and pride and lying, and many other manifestations of when we become the measure of our own behavior. When I measure my own behavior, I cut myself slack in the area of my temptations, and I turn wrong into right.

"LORD, thank You for truth, exhibited in Christ Jesus, and brought to us through Scripture and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
-ker

SEEKING FIRST THE KINGDOM

Jesus said it, and I believe it. But this morning the Holy Spirit used Paul's example to illustrate it for me in a way that challenges me to try something new.

Jesus said that we are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all the things we need in life will be added as well.

Paul's example of living out the principle: he was shipwrecked onto the island of Malta. In the wreck, he and the rest of the crew lost everything but what they had on their backs. In Acts 28:7-10, Paul meets the chief of the island, named Pulius. He learns that the father of Publius is ill, and he goes to lay hands on him and heal him. Soon, all of the other sick people on the island comes to him, and were cured. "As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people put on board all sorts of things we would need for the trip."

The Spirit's challenge to me is to follow Paul's example, and to focus only on the needs of people around me, rather than on my physical needs. I have for years tried to follow that practice, and have done so in some areas of my life. But I have also been aware of potential donors, and have tried to let financial needs be known in some subtle way, hoping that they will take a hint and hear from God and give. I haven't felt good about that practice, because I know that I have coveted.

George Mueller, Francis Schaeffer and others through history have decided to live with a higher standard, and at least for a season I feel the call to follow their example. They have done their ministry completely by faith, and have purposed to never tell a human about their financial needs. Rather, they make their requests privately to God, and let the Holy Spirit prompt others to meet genuine needs, to the sole glory of God.

In my prayer updates, I have tried to be transparent in my prayer requests, especially the personal requests. But starting this week, and until the Lord releases me from this standard, I feel led to stop mentioning physical and financial needs. I will make my requests known to God, to my wife, and to the elders of my church, but I will not mention financial needs beyond that.

"LORD, You are calling me to a more fervent prayer life, and to greater dependence on You alone to meet my needs and those of my ministry. To Your glory, I will trust You to supply all of my needs in Christ Jesus, by the leading of Your Holy Spirit. Amen."
-ker

ADDENDUM: I wrote this Blog on Monday morning. On Monday afternoon, I received a check for over $500. Monday evening, our church received an unexpected check for over $6400. Praise the Lord for confirming His ways through this very significant timing!

GOD IS WITH US

Emmanuel.
God is with us.
God is with us.

With us in our weakness.
With us in our pain.
With us when we lose out.
With us when we gain.

Burns with our temptations.
Trembles with our fears.
Broken by our sorrow.
Rains with every tear.

He stumbles when we stumble.
He bruises when we fall.
He travels where we walk.
And when we run he calls.

God with us, always.

Before us in our victories.
Above us in our prayers.
For us in thanksgiving.
Through our acts of grace.

Within us by his Spirit.
Through us to forgive.
Around us by his Presence.
Among us all to live.

In our hands he is example.
In our heads he is wise.
In our hearts he hides his word.
In our feet he is our guide.

Risking with our danger.
Hungry with our need.
Lonely in our longings.
Aching in our grief.

God was with us.
He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
He is with us.
A very present help in trouble.
He will be with us.
He will never leave us nor forsake us.
And underneath are the everlasting arms.
For God is with us.
God is with us.
Emmanuel.

A LOSING FORMULA

RS =/ GW
SW =/ GW
(RS)(SW) = 1/GW

In other words:
A Religious Spirit does not accomplish God's Will.
Self-Will does not accomplish God's Will.
But a Religious Spirit combined with Self-Will will always result in the inverse of God's Will.

Can I prove my theorem? Let me illustrate it.

The Pharisees were, so they thought, thoroughly committed to God's will. But they did so with a religious spirit. Sometimes we call it legalism. Trying to do enough Good to get God's approval, they spent most of their time focused on what they would not, even could not do. As such, they missed the boat of what God was looking for: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with their God. As Jesus told them, they practiced the things of lesser importance and missed the weightier matters of the Law: justice and mercy.

However, once these men, outwardly dedicated to pleasing God, came into respect and power, their motives became confused. They stopped loving God when they loved the Law first, and then started loving their respect, their power, their position of influence over even the Law.

How do I know that? Acts 23, for one. Paul is brought before the high council and he speaks harshly to the high priest. Ananias the high priest orders Paul slapped for saying that he has a clear conscience, and Paul speaks out against him for his hypocrisy. Those standing near are shocked that Paul should disrespect the high priest, and Paul immediately apologizes. Paul admits it is wrong for him to have insulted the high priest because in Exodus it says "Do not speak evil of anyone who rules over you."

So far, so good, right? Paul respects the Law, so do the Pharisees. Wait a minute. Maybe they are only respecting themselves here, and actually their hearts are 180 degrees against the will of God himself.

The very next morning, a group of men come to these same Law-respecting leading priests. They have pledged themselves to a hunger strike until they kill Paul. They ask the priests to "pretend" (lie) they want to examine his case more fully, and pledge themselves to kill Paul on his way to the meeting. Unbelievably, these so-called holy men, who so much love the Law, are willing to break two of the ten commandments in order to get done what they want to do. They are in collusion to lie and to commit murder, all so that they can protect their religion.

A Religious Spirit will sap a person of spiritual vitality, and will block the will of God. Self-will, which is really Satan's will, will circumvent the will of God. But a Religious Spirit combined with Self-Will will always lead a person to the opposite of the will of God. To accomplish what seems to be a holy agenda, the (RS)(SW) will go the exact opposite direction and oppose the very work of God.

"LORD, protect me from the evil one, and lead me not into the temptation of thinking I am serving you even as I directly oppose what you are doing on earth. Let me recognize when the enemy has gotten a foothold of a religious spirit in me, and let me recognize when I am pursuing my own will rather than yours. To you be the glory both now and forever, Lord God Almighty, Father, Son and Spirit. Amen."
-ker

THE BODY OF CHRIST

I saw a picture of the body of Christ this morning, and it was beautiful.

I saw his body: Guatemalans and Americans worshiping together as they joined with a Brazilian leader and a team made up mostly of teens and college students.

I saw his feet: People using banners, sing, play, raise hands and dance in worship.

I saw his mouth: Prophetic words delivered by Rick, Tom, Ken, and Rob, and translation from Spanish to English and back.

I saw his knees: Elders who had fasted and prayed laid hands on and send out a godly couple who have influenced many for Christ. I saw an entire community of believers in earnest prayer, gathered around the Bullocks, and praying one-on-one in various parts of the building.

I saw his hands: The body of Christ was doing the work of Christ, and it was beautiful. What's more, I saw a group of young people whom Corey has influenced, sitting through a 90-minute service and asking how they can be saved.

Yes, Lord, and MORE!
-ker