Stay in the Ship!

This will be my last blog for 2017.  As we enter a new year, I find myself a bit melancholy, asking the Lord to help me discern His thoughts and to communicate them to those I lead and love. 

While reading Acts 27, the Lord gave me three thoughts to share with you regarding the New Year.  I’m not a prophet, but like you, I experience the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit and know the Lord is speaking definitively into my spirit.  As a pastor, it brings me joy to pass these insights along to you.

I believe the Lord is asking us to simplify our lives.  “Busy-ness” tends to produce unnecessary stress.  Acts 27 records the story of a shipwreck.  The Apostle Paul is aboard a tattered and sinking vessel.  Two hundred and seventy-six (276) men fear for their lives, but Paul assures them that all will be spared.  Then he does something very significant. 

He tells the fear-filled men to throw aboard anything that’s not necessary for their survival – to lighten the load.  “And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed…they lightened the ship” (verse 18).  I believe we live in storm-tossed situations and days, and need to rethink our “load.”  Let’s rid our lives of those things that may even be good, but they’re not the best for us in the scheme of everyday life.

Throw overboard anything that may be causing you to “sink.”  Pre-occupations that steal precious time and unnecessary activities that drain you of needed energies are two culprits that need to be tossed.

Church attendance is lower today than ever before in America.  Seventeen percent of Americans regularly go to church.  The Apostle Paul makes another statement to the men in peril:  “Unless you stay in the ship, you cannot be saved” (verse 31).  I will liken the ship to the local church.  Many have allowed already full schedules to view church attendance as optional.  However, we were made to live in community and the people of God need each other more than ever.  We need the spiritual and relationship dynamics that only the local church can offer.  I understand that church attendance never saved anyone, but it sure helps us as Christ followers to hang out with those who encourage us along our faith journey.

While growing up in Ashtabula County, we observed “blue laws.”  Most business establishments were closed on Sunday to allow their employees and the general public to rest.  I feel strongly that the pendulum of daily activity has swung too far the other way.  Generally speaking, people tend to be too busy, and church attendance has been compromised for lesser matters. 

My heart goes out to the many who have to work on Sundays and who are unable to participate in their preferred community of faith.  What am I saying?  If work schedules or health allow you to attend a local church, then do so!  Your family needs the benefits that come with belonging to a church family.

The third major point is found in verse 24: “I urge you to take nourishment, for this is your survival.”  Paul encouraged the men to eat, as they needed to stay strong.  We too need to “eat” in order to face uncertain days and life situations.  The source of our strength is the Bible, the Word of God.  In the midst of storm-tossed days Job said, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food”  (23:12). 

In other words, find time each day to read and meditate on God’s Word.  Let its life-sustaining nourishment feed your soul.  Many good daily devotionals are available, but let me recommend “Our Daily Bread,” one that has been in circulation for over 50 years.  Thousands have used this source, which provides daily “meals” from God’s Word.  It also provides a program that will allow you to read the Bible through in 2018.  Hope Community Church makes this devotion available.  In addition, stay under balanced teaching and preaching in a local Christ-honoring church.  Make Bible reading and church attendance a priority in the New Year.

Finally, allow me to put a plug in for Hope Study Center.  Beginning in January, we are offering higher-level Bible courses for those in our community who wish to become more grounded in their faith.  To begin, we will offer:

The Life of Christ

How to Study the Bible

Freedom Ministry I and II

Please consult our website at www.hopejefferson.com for dates and times.  As already stated, I’m not a prophet, but a pastor who loves people.  I desire God’s best for you during the coming year.  Remember, toss out time stealers and energy wasters, make church attendance a priority, and get into the habit of daily reading God’s Word.  Yes, you will still experience difficult days, but you will have a heavenly resource to draw on that will keep you safe in “storm-tossed” times.

Magnify Him!

Often my thoughts return to Psalm 34:3, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together.” The word, “magnify” captures my interest each time I recall this verse. 

I memorized Psalm 34:1-4 while a freshman at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri in 1974.  Let me give some background.  I grew up in Jefferson and for the most part never journeyed far from home during my first 18 years.  So to attend college in another state presented quite a challenge.  I was terribly homesick, feeling lonely and not sure I could remain in Missouri.

One evening I went to the college chapel and in a dark corner of the room cried out to the Lord for comfort and direction.  Inadvertently, I began reading Psalm 34 and experienced one of those life-changing encounters that so often accompany times of deep spiritual contemplation.

The Lord met me in a powerful way and the rest is history.  I, of course, remained at the college, met my future wife and earned a bachelor’s degree.  Psalm 34:3 literally altered the course of my life.  That’s the power of God’s Word!

“Oh, magnify the Lord with me…” This verse still sustains me during difficult days.  Here’s why:  What we “magnify” gets not only our attention, but controls our thoughts and actions.  What we magnify determines the outcome of our circumstances and can literally determine our destiny.

To “magnify” means to “enlarge or make larger.”  For example, failing eyesight and small print often make magnifying glasses necessary.  When placed on top of the print, the words are enlarged and reading is made easier. 

Whatever we enlarge gets our attention and determines outcome.  Focusing on the problem – enlarging the issue at hand – brings crippling fear into our lives and defeat.  But when we magnify the Lord, He puts our issues into a godly perspective, one where fear is not allowed to drive us.

Verse 4 says, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”  Jesus is our magnifying glass!  When we consider our circumstances through Him, He dispels fear and puts our current dilemma into a faith-filled perspective.  We’re then able to move forward in His strength.

Jesus is hope magnified!  He invites us to “magnify him,” thus experiencing His overcoming power in our lives to move on from fear to faith.  Are you facing a difficult challenge?  Stop where you are and “magnify the Lord.”  Praise Him!  He will minimize the devil’s strategy and maximize (enlarge) your faith

Grace is a Teacher

It goes without saying that the entire Bible is wonderful.  Not all 66 letters are easy to understand but it remains on the “best-selling list” and when faith is applied in the heart of the reader, it still transforms lives. Other books inform, but only God’s book, the Bible, transforms!

In recent years, I have been intrigued by one verse that God is using to rearrange my thinking. This pivotal verse has helped me glean a broader understanding of God’s grace.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say, ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope –the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:11-13).    

You have to understand, I spent many years of my Christian life trying to weave law-based information into grace teaching; and let me tell you, it doesn’t work.  It’s like mixing oil and water.  Both are important, but they have to be understood in the context of their unique chemistry. 

The Apostle John segregates the two by writing, “The Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 2:17).  The Apostle Paul adds to this truth by reminding us, ”Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.  So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.  Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian” (Galatians 3:23-25). 

The King James Version uses the word “schoolmaster” in place of “guardian.” The Law served as the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.   In other words, both law and grace carry significance and both were necessary to our full understanding of the gospel.  But we can’t walk under law in some areas of life and then under grace in others areas and expect to experience the “abundant life!”

We were taught in Bible school:  “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed; and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed!”  In other words, to have a complete understanding of the Cross of Jesus, we have to understand unique teachings of the Old Testament, as they reveal types and shadows of what was to come in Christ.

Law-based lifestyles run contrary to healthy relationships.  Let me give you an example from personal experience.  I was taught as a boy to take my hat off in public buildings or when I walked into a room occupied by adults.  This, in essence, was a “law.”  To not take off one’s hat in a public building was considered disrespectful.

Many builders (those born between 1924-44) and baby boomers (those born between 1944-64) had this rule pounded in their heads.  Some years ago, when pastoring another church, I saw this “law” literally cause a newcomer to leave the building in anger.  The understood rule (not mine) was “no hats on men while in church.”  A teenage guy came into the church lobby and did not remove his hat. 

A crotchety older gentleman approached him and asked him to remove it.  When the young man refused, the older gentleman became irate, took the boy by the arm and escorted him out of the building.  I could not believe what I saw and heard.

“You will not disrespect this church,” the man yelled.  Naturally, the boy left, never to return.  I can only hope and pray that this law-based offense did not drive him away from the Lord. 

I angrily said to the old man, “I hope you understand the terrible offense you just caused, and I hope you’re ready to stand before the Lord with a ready answer for your stupid attitude.”  I have no patience for confessing Christians who use their personal preferences and opinions (skewed, law-based mindsets) to hurt others.

Do you understand what happened?  A man-made rule overrode grace.  Who cares if someone does not remove his hat in church (or wherever)?  That boy should have felt love, honor and respect, not retribution.  Instead, he was made to feel guilt and shame.  I’m still bothered by the events of that morning.  And this remains a perfect example of how the “law kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

May we never hurt others and subsequently justify our words and actions by using the Bible or our personal convictions to inflict pain and cause separation from the grace of God.  May we allow His grace to teach us how to live godly.  Legislated righteousness produces anger and offends people.  Grace is a teacher and takes us from where we are to where Jesus wants us to be.  It’s God’s grace that has appeared through Jesus Christ and brought us salvation.  Have you placed your faith in His saving grace!

  

Specifically to Men

The late David Wilkerson wrote a book in 1973 entitled, “The Vision.”  I believe Wilkerson was a prophetic voice to our nation, as many of the things he wrote about in his bestseller have come to pass.  Rev. Wilkerson covered many subjects, but perhaps none more poignant than a “spirit of perversion” that would be loosed upon America in the years ahead.  Since the writing of his book, national morals have plummeted to an all-time low.

The recent dismissal of NBC’s Today co-host, Matt Lauer, has shaken our collective conscience.  Other sexual improprieties have also come to light, as politicians, Hollywood actors and other media gurus have been exposed on television newscasts.  Surely we are living in a day where “those things done in the dark (secret) are being brought out into the light.”

I would like to address especially men in this blog. 

Gentlemen, the enemy of our soul has targeted us to fail morally.  An onslaught of sexually charged stimuli has filled our lives.  Everywhere we turn we are bombarded with sexually explicit material – the Internet, Netflix, magazines, Facebook, regular television, Pay-for-View television, movies, highway billboards, etc.  Pornography, a multi-billion dollar industry continues to captivate the eyes and minds of men by the millions.  Marriages are shipwrecked by its devastating consequences.   And both husbands and wives are falling prey to its destructive hold. 

Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise.  Teenage pregnancy rates have escalated.  The “F-Bomb” is now an acceptable adjective used in daily communication by both those inside and outside the church.  Sexual harassment has increased in the American workplace.  Sexual intercourse outside the bonds of a committed marital relationship is now the “new norm.” 

The recent death of “Playboy’s” founder Hugh Hefner created a media frenzy that again highlighted America’s preoccupation with sex. His media empire portrayed women as objects of pleasure, instead of elevating them to a level of dignity and respect.   In short, we are sinking in a cesspool of moral filth.

Men, never think for a minute that you cannot fall to the temptations that fill our lives.  Matt Lauer, and countless others who have yielded to sexual impropriety need our prayers, not our judgment.  We need to weep over the fall-out. 

Recent public exposures take my mind to the Old Testament book of Judges.  In chapters 16-18 we read the story of Samson, Israel’s strongman – the Arnold Schwarzenegger of his day.  Lust reduced him to a buffoon!  The prophet-playboy, who, under the enablement of the Holy Spirit tied 300 foxtails together and burned the fields of his enemies; and later slaughtered 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey, was brought down by a lust-driven lifestyle.  Samson, who toyed with women and sex, believing himself to be invincible, died before his time.  Unbridled lust was the culprit.

Samson, who evidently placed a strong emphasis upon physical fitness, never mastered his passions.  His out-of-control thought life led to his ultimate destruction.  Yes, men who have experienced saving grace still fall to lust.  It’s a fact.  Satan’s diabolical schemes constantly try to move us from love to lust. 

We are sexual creatures who have sex drives.  In the right context, sexual pleasure is both holy and wonderful.  Nothing is more satisfying than a husband and his wife expressing their love through mutual sexual gratification.  But sex turned selfish leaves us empty and unfulfilled.  Such conduct produces guilt, which often leads to shame.

Godly man, may I pray for you?

“Lord Jesus, we live in a sex-saturated culture, and the enemy of our soul incessantly tempts men to forfeit their righteous lifestyle.  Your Word tells us to “take captive any thoughts that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.”  Would you impress upon us the absolute necessity to “flee from fornication,” and to only think upon those things that are pure?   And Lord, lead us to find honest accountability partners to whom we can turn in our hour of temptation.  Finally, help us to rid our lives of any stimuli that might open the door to lust in our lives.  We do not want to become another shamed statistic Lord; we want to remain morally pure.  In Jesus Name, Amen.”