Day #259: Luke 16:16-18

Luke 16:16-18 (NIV)
16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
18 "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

The Good News of the Kingdom of God was not a new system but the culmination of the old. Jesus had just made the point that his coming fulfilled the law and the prophets. That did not mean, however, that the law was no longer valid. In fact, in many cases, Jesus took the law and required even higher standards for those who would follow him (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 33-35, 38-39, 43-44).

Divorce was a hot topic of debate. Stricter than any of the then-current schools of thought, Jesus’ teachings shocked his hearers (see Matthew 19:10), just as they shake today’s readers. Jesus stated in no uncertain terms that marriage is a lifetime commitment, and he explained that divorce dissolves a divinely formed union. He also explained that marriage after divorce is adultery. (Matthew 19:9 gives one exception: marital unfaithfulness.)

While the application of Jesus’ words requires interpretation to specific situations, one truth is inescapable: God created marriage to be a sacred, permanent union and partnership between husband and wife. Anyone who takes this lightly forgets God’s law and his plan for marriage from the very beginning.

Through this statement about divorce, Jesus was showing the unbelieving religious leaders that his words do not violate the law. He also wanted to point out to them their hypocrisy in attempting to keep the letter of the law while failing to fulfill its moral obligations.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Matthew 6:20-21 says, "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

How do you lay up treasure in heaven? By investing it in people who are going there. The purpose of giving, he says, is to reach other people -- as many as you can --

Folks that is what we are all about here at Church of the Valley. We are not trying to see how much money we can save and put into interest bearing accounts. We are not about building great cathedrals or monasteries. We are not about trying to be cool or clever or chick’. We are about changed lives. I promise you that everything we do here related to finances will be about trying to win people to Christ. To build and train them and send them for Christ! The Nehemiah project – were we just trying to beautify the campus? NO WAY! We are getting it ready for unbelievers! Your investment into the work here at COV will result in huge dividends in heaven.

Depending upon the outcome of the stewardship commitment cards from this coming Sunday and the faith of our leadership, it will determine what we get to do this next year to build the kingdom. I want you to dream a bit with me.

Another pastor here at COV to help meet the needs of our growing congregation. 2-3 more interns to meet the needs of our children and students and maybe start investing in our first missionary that we will one day send out to take the gospel to people you will never meet.

Imagine a soccer field in the back of COV. Some say why a soccer field. The city does not have enough fields, so truly, if we build it they will come guys. Imagine a building expansion on our campus to meet the classroom requirements we desperately need now. Imagine a day care and a pre-school here at COV. Imagine community evangelism events here at COV. Imagine day camps for kids, summer camps, short term missions trips, expanded VBS and music programs.

I asked the staff what they could imagine if money were not a barrier. He said a redesigned sanctuary to meet the needs of the community. A new sound system. Baffling for the walls, expand the lighting system for plays and musicals. DO YOU GET THE IDEA?

Step out in faith. I love you guys.

Day #258: Luke 16:13-15

Luke 16:13-15 (NIV)
13 "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.
15 He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.

Money often takes the place of God in people’s lives. How a person handles money indicates how much mastery money has attained in that person’s life. Jesus explained that no one can serve two masters. From a spiritual standpoint, all people will serve someone or something; here Jesus spoke of two choices, God and money. People can choose to serve money—in essence, this means serving themselves and all the pleasure and power money can buy—or they can choose to serve God. But no one can do both, for the two choices are diametrically opposed. No one can seek selfish pleasure and be able to give money away. When money is one’s master, there can be no room for God who requires single-hearted obedience and devotion.


Avoid mistaken judgments here. Many rich people are genuine, mature Christians. Wealth is not the issue. Many mature Christians work hard and expect to be paid. That’s not the issue either. Money for these people is only a means to an end. Yet some people tragically have made wealth an end in itself—the thing to serve, their god. For Christians, money is always a means of service, never an ultimate goal. Money is God’s loan to you for smart stewardship, never a measure of your real worth.

Because the Pharisees loved their money, they scoffed at Jesus’ teaching. They may not have thought that they were serving money, but their laughing at Jesus’ words shows that Jesus had touched a sensitive area. The Pharisees acted piously to get praise from others, but God knew their evil hearts. They considered their wealth to be a sign of God’s approval. God detested their wealth, however, because it caused them to abandon true spirituality. What this world honors is an abomination in the sight of God. People who focus their lives on outward appearance and impressing others serve the wrong master and therefore cannot serve God.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Have you ever tried to work for two bosses? That's a fiasco -- trying to please two different guys at the same time. You're guaranteed an ulcer. Jesus lays it out in black and white. He is definitely not vague in this verse. He says, When it comes to money management, the heart of the problem is really a problem of the heart. It's inside. Here is what Jesus is saying:

I must choose what I will love most in life. It's a choice. You can't love two masters. Jesus says, really when you get down to it the choice is very simple because it comes down to two things. (I didn't say this; Jesus said it.) The choice really comes down to two things about what I'm going to love most -- God or money. I've got to choose what I'm going to love most in life.

The very first commandment in the Ten Commandments is "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." God wants first place. Anything that takes most of my time and most of my thought and most of my energy has a tendency to become a god. Money is a great servant; it is a lousy god. Is there any scripture in the Bible that teaches us how you can know that God has first place in your life?

Deuteronomy 14:23 (LB) says, "The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives." Tithing means ten in Hebrew -- ten percent. The principle of tithing says I give the first ten percent of everything I make back to God. Some people get hung up on that number 10%. They say it’s an old testament law and believers today are not under the law. Really? Theological that is just not accurate, but let’s pretend it is.

What’s the New Testament principle for tithing? Remember the Widow in Mark 12:41-44? What percentage did she give? Do you remember? Let’s read it. “And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the multitude were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

What’s “all she had” mean? Folks, that’s 100%. So you choose. Old Testament = 10%. New Testament = 100%.What it really comes down to say is, if I'm not tithing, how can I say God's first place in my life?

I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course. Endure.

Day #257: Luke 16:10-12

Luke 16:10-12 (NIV)
10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?

How people handle their worldly wealth shows their trustworthiness. If a person can be trusted with a little bit, if he or she maintains integrity even in small matters, then that person has proven trustworthiness for large matters. The reverse is also true—the one who would willingly steal a dollar may also be willing to steal thousands. Trustworthiness goes to a person’s very core.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

God expects us to be responsible with the way we manage our money, the way we save it, the way we spend it, the way we give it.

God says if I am faithful with what I have then God can trust me with more of it. If I am faithful with what I have right now, then God can trust me with more of it. He says if you're faithful in little things, you'll be faithful in more. That applies to every area of life. If you've got a little talent and you develop it, it will get bigger. If you've got a little responsibility, you be determined and dependable at work, you'll probably get a promotion. You got a little money, you manage it wisely, it will get bigger.

I'm not a believer in the health and wealth gospel. But the issue is, whatever you manage carefully, success comes from faithfulness in the little things. When you manage and are faithful in little things, you get big results. Faithfulness in the little things is what counts. Ask any athlete, ask any musician, ask any salesman, ask any craftsman. God says, you take care of the dimes and He'll take care of the dollars. Faithful in little things.

Would faithfulness describe your life right now?

I love you guys. Stay the course. ENDURE!

Day #256: Luke 16:3-9

Luke 16:3-9 (NIV)
3 "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg--
4 I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'
5 "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'
6 "'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.'
7 "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' "'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'
8 "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

The manager just lost his livelihood, but he had a window of time before being fired. So he thought about how best to handle his coming unemployment. Having been a manager, he did not want to dig ditches, he had too much pride to beg, and his mismanagement of his master’s funds would cause no one else to hire him for such a position. So he came up with a plan whereby others would take care of him. By plying upon the code of reciprocity, the manager could find food and housing and possibly a job from those whose debts were reduced.

Much discussion has arisen around exactly what this money manager was doing in this situation. Some commentators suggest that what the manager was doing was removing the interest and his own earnings from each of the debts. Most likely, this manager was acting very shrewdly in figuring out a way to put his master’s debtors in his own debt. The debts here involved are very high, thus these probably would have been commercial transactions—perhaps involving lease arrangements on pieces of land. The manager summoned all his master’s debtors and reduced their debts by a substantial amount. In this fraudulent way, the manager earned their good will. Once the debts had been dishonestly reduced, the master could do nothing, but social custom would require these debtors to reciprocate such kindness to the manager.

The commendation for the dishonest rascal raises questions. Why would dishonesty be commended? The manager had cut down the debts, legally made them binding with a third party, and indebted others to him. Thus, there was nothing left for the master to do than to commend the manager for his shrewdness. He had solved his problem—albeit at expense to his master. The commendation seems odd, unless the master was simply appreciating the farsightedness of the plan.

The citizens of this world are more shrewd than the godly are. Citizens of this world refers to unbelievers, who are neither committed to God nor his eternal standards. The godly refers to the disciples and followers of Jesus. The shrewd manager sized up his situation, made some decisions, came up with a strategy, and did what was needed. Jesus was not commending dishonesty, but rather the manager’s foresight and diligence to follow through and make friends. The manager did not profit directly in reducing the debts, but he used the principle of reciprocity to gain favor with the debtors. By doing a favor for them, the manager could require a favor from them.

Then Jesus added, “I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven.” Believers are to make wise use of their financial opportunities, not to earn heaven, but to use their resources to make friends by helping the poor. If believers use their money to help those in need or to help others find Christ, their earthly investment will bring eternal benefit. Those who obey God will find that the unselfish use of their possessions will follow. Soon Jesus would spell out some of the applications for gaining friends.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Luke 16:8 is key: "The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly." He doesn't commend him for his dishonesty but he does say he was shrewd. Some of us may bristle at that word. Remember though, this is Jesus who is talking. Get mad at him. What does it mean to be shrewd? It’s the Greek word - which means wise and discerning. This guy was wise and discerning. He did some things right. What did this guy do that was right? Two things.

#1. He looked ahead and planned. v.3 & 4 "The manager said to himself, `What shall I do now? My master has taken away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig and I'm ashamed to beg.'" He said, `I know what I'll do when I lose my job here so people will welcome me into their house.'"

He has a plan. Many Christians only live in the here and now. They never look ahead. They never plan. Many Christians are doing absolutely no financial, no future planning. They don't look ahead. They don't plan ahead. That is not wise.

#2. He acted quickly. He called in each one of his master's debtors and says "How much do you owe? Eight hundred gallons?" He says, "Take your bill, sit down quickly." Circle "quickly". He did it while he had the time. He acted quickly. He looked ahead and he planned ahead.

Jesus says to us as believers, "In light of everything that's going to happen in eternity, you ought to do the same thing with your money. You ought to look ahead, you ought to plan ahead and you better do it while you've got the opportunity." That's God's investment strategy.

Ponder these things today. Is there anything that God is saying to you about the way you handle the resources -His resources - that you have been entrusted with? I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course. ENDURE!

Day #255: Luke 16:1-2

Luke 16:1-2 (NIV)
1 Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
2 So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.'

This passage of Luke begins a section dealing with the wise use of one’s possessions. This parable is one of the most difficult to interpret, but it explains how Jesus’ followers ought to use worldly wealth. Jesus was pointing out that everyone, fully warned of the coming divine judgment, should follow this manager’s example.

All people are in a worse predicament than this manager because their eternal destinies hang in the balance. Instead of frantically holding on to possessions which soon will disappear, possessions should be given away, especially to those in need. Money will not last, but people, God’s word, and his Kingdom will. Will your investments reap eternal dividends?

This manager handled financial matters for the rich man. He had extensive authority over the rich man’s financial affairs, even the ability to make contracts in the master’s name. A person in such a position should have complete integrity. Unfortunately, this manager did not. He was thoroughly dishonest. Having been informed of the problems, the rich man called him in and demanded a financial report. As a consequence, the rich man would strip the manager of his authority, but first he required that the steward prepare the documents. This would take some time, and the manager used this time to his advantage.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

If your mailbox is similar to Sharon and mine, at least once or twice a week, we get an opportunity to invest in something. The truth is, there are more opportunities for investment than there is money to invest. This week I want us to look at what the Bible says about God's Investment Strategy.

A Reminder: "Stewardship is the responsibility of managing some assets or affairs or property of someone else's." What are you to manage? Everything that God has given you. What has God given you? Everything!

I have shared with you that Jesus spoke more about money than He did about heaven. Jesus spoke more about money than He did about hell. One of every six verses in the gospels deals with money. So, the natural question is WHY? I think it's because God knows the tremendous influence and power money has over our lives. We spend so much of our time earning it, making it, and spending it, that He needs to tell us how to use it wisely.

It is my belief that the way we spend the money and resources that God has blessed us with is the acid otest of our faith. Luke 16:11 says, "If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"

Why is this verse so key? Because in God’s economy, money and possessions are not what is most important – people are. People are the true riches that Jesus is talking about here. The truth is, if you don’t get anything else this morning, get this. God entrusts us with worldly wealth, so we can use it to impact people. You’ll hear me say this several times, but the greatest impact we can make on people, the greatest use of our money is to get people into heaven.

Now, the key to understanding this parable, a parable is a story which uses symbolism to underscore a eternal truth, is v. 18 where Jesus says, "The people of this world are more shrewd than the people of the Light." He's talking about believers.

What is Jesus saying? Jesus is not commending this man for being dishonest but He does say there are some things He did that we ought to learn from. v. 1-2 "Jesus told his disciples `There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, "What's this I hear about you? Give an account of your management because you cannot be a manager any longer." Notice the word manager.

Remember what we said a steward was? A manager of someone else’s possessions! The guy in this story is a steward. He is us! The Bible is saying that God is the owner of everything. You don't really own anything. You get to use it for 60, 70, 80, 90 years but then it will pass on to somebody else

The Bible says that this man had to give an account to his master! Folks, One day God will ask me to give an account of what I did with the money I had on earth. That's the final test, the big final. Romans 14:12 (NIV) confirms this - "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God."

In this particular situation the man was a crook. The manager knew he'd lose his job because of his dishonesty, so he plans this clever scheme. Stay tuned - we'll see more tomorrow. I love you guys. Stay faithful.

Day #254: Psalm 16:9-11

Psalms 16:9-11 (NIV)
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

David was assured that the Lord would preserve his life in the face of death. He rejoiced because God enabled his body to rest securely even when confronted with death. The reason he could rest is that God would not abandon him to the grave, nor... let His holy one see decay. This verse refers to David, who describes himself as God’s “holy one,” that is, one of God’s saints. He took comfort in the fact that God would not, at that time, allow his body to die and decay in the grave. In fact God had caused him to know the path of life so he anticipated experiencing further joy in God’s presence.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I think about that phrase David uses in Psalm 16:10 - "God will not abandon me..". I love that about God. Look at some of the verse below that speak about this aspect of God's character.

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
5 ... God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

John 10:27-30 (NIV)
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and the Father are one."

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here is why this so important. The Bible is clear on this - because this is God's character - He will never abandon us - we have eternal security. Once we receive Jesus Christ into our lives, He will never leave us. We may leave Him, but He will never leave us. I pray that brings comfort to your heart and soul today.

I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course, ENDURE!

Day #253: Psalm 16:7-8

Psalms 16:7-8 (LB)
7 I will bless the Lord who counsels me; he gives me wisdom in the night. He tells me what to do.
8 I am always thinking of the Lord; and because he is so near, I never need to stumble or fall.


As a result of the blessing and goodness of God, David praised the Lord because He counseled him at night (as well as in the daytime) and because He guided him safely. Because of this David knew that he would not be shaken from his walk of integrity and enjoyment of the blessings he had in the Lord.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

How does one "always think about the Lord?", as David tells us he did in Psalm 16:8?
Here a few ways.

1. Memorize scripture. Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

The truth is memorizing scripture is the fastest way to grow spiritually. That's why it's probably so hard to do many times.

2. Set your mind on heaven. Colossians 3:2 (NIV)
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Discipline yourself to worship and not worry. Train yourself to see How big God is. See/look the hand of God working in your life.

3. Think about noble things. Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

It's so easy to get sidetracked with hurt and thoughts of revenge or remorse or regret or whatever. Think about things that build and encourage and uplift others. Think about God's plan and purpose for your life. Think about how you have been blessed so you can bless others.

I love you guys. Stay the course, Stay faithful. ENDURE!

Day #252: Psalm 16:5-6

Psalms 16:5-6 (NIV)
5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

In a direct address to the Lord, the psalmist extolled His blessings. David compared the Lord to a portion allotted to him by inheritance. The Lord was all he needed to satisfy his heart in life. Besides his portion and his cup, the Lord had assigned him a delightful inheritance. The boundary lines... in pleasant places speak of portions of land measured by line and distributed by lot. In other words he compared God’s blessings to the best inheritance a person could receive. The Lord had given him a wonderfully full life.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I read this passage today and the following verses came to my mind and heart;

2 Corinthians 5:6-7 (TLB)
6 Now we look forward with confidence to our heavenly bodies, realizing that every moment we spend in these earthly bodies is time spent away from our eternal home in heaven with Jesus.
7 We know these things are true by believing, not by seeing.

Hebrews 13:13-14 (TLB)
13 So let us go out to him beyond the city walls (that is, outside the interests of this world, being willing to be despised ) to suffer with him there, bearing his shame.
14 For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:1 (TEV)
1 For we know that when this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.

I pray these verses bring you some measure of comfort today. I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course. ENDURE!

Day #251: Psalm 16:3-4

Psalms 16:3-4 (NIV)
3 As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.

Based on his commitment to the Lord, the psalmist described the society of friends with whom he was identified. He delighted in godly people (saints) in the land, whom he considered to be the noble (glorious) ones. God had called His people to be a holy nation (Exodus 19:6), and God’s servant recognized that such were his company. They were the faithful who served the Lord. The others, those... who run after other gods, will face sorrows and difficulties. David would not endorse their actions, or help them with their vain worship, or even mention the names of their gods. His loyalty was with righteous believers, to His Holy God.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Loyalty is not a word that is used much in our culture today. We live in a disposable world. Jobs are disposable. Relationships are disposable. Marriage is disposable. Yet, just because the culture has gone that way, followers of Christ must not.

While the rest of the world seems to walk away so easily from people they once professed a love for, the people of God must learn to stay the course. The people of God must learn to endure. The people of God must be faithful. Faithful to each other. Faithful to the church. But most of all, faithful to our God.

I like what 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)says;
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Let nothing move you. Stand firm. Stay loyal to the end. May that be true of each one of us. I love you guys.

Day #250: Psalm 16:1-2

Psalms 16:1-2 (NIV)
1 Keep of me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."

This psalm is a celebration of the joy of fellowship that David realized comes from faith in the Lord. The psalm may have been written when he faced great danger in the wilderness or opposition in his reign. Whatever its occasion, David was convinced that because he had come to know and trust the Lord as his Portion in life, he could trust Him in the face of death.

David reviewed how he had come to know and trust in the Lord. Verse 1 seems to summarize the entire psalm: Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge. Then David developed the idea of his having taken refuge in the Lord. David announced his exclusive trust in the Lord. His statement of faith was, You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing (Psalm 34:10; 84:11).

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

When I was training as an intern for the ministry at First Baptist Church in Modesto, we had an intern that was struggling. Set back after set back. Forgotten assignments, poor follow through, not much of a work ethic. The Pastor in charge of training the interns had a "come meet with Jesus" talk with the intern and asked him to leave the program.

The intern left the building, walked around the block and came back to the church and his statement was - "I have no where else to go -this is my home" These verses this morning make me think of that interns lament. The Lord is my rock. My refuge. My fortress. My all. Where will I go if I don't have Him? Where would I be if it weren't for Him?

This morning, make sure you tell God how grateful you are for His protection and provision. Make sure you open up your heart to the Lord this morning and tell Him that He is your God and that you will serve Him and Him alone.

I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course. ENDURE!

Day #249: Psalm 15:4-5

The next six characteristic of the righteous is that they speaks... (3) do no harm or (4) discredit his neighbor. A neighbor (or friend) is anyone with whom he comes in contact. A blameless individual’s remarks do not harm or destroy any neighbor.
(5) Also a righteous person despises... vile people and honors believers who fear the Lord. A person who is “vile” is a reprobate, one who is worthless. But one who fears the Lord is living a life of faith and obedience.

(6) A righteous person also keeps his oath even when it hurts. Even if he took an oath rashly, he would conscientiously keep his word.(7) He does not lend his money for usury (literally this means “he does not put the bite on them”). He does not take advantage of one who must borrow. Taking interest from fellow Israelites was forbidden as unbrotherly (Ex. 22:25; Lev. 25:36).

(8) A righteous person does not take bribes against the innocent. The Law of course forbade this (Deut. 27:25). Instead a righteous person champions the cause of the innocent and the needy.

David concluded that one who follows this pattern of life will never be shaken. Not only will he enjoy fellowship in the Lord’s presence, but also he will experience divine blessing and security.

The fact that there are 10 descriptions of one who qualifies to abide with the Lord (sincere, righteous, honest, without slander, without doing wrong, without reproaching, distinguishes between good and evil, keeps his oath, does not take interest, does not accept bribes) suggests a comparison with the Ten Commandments (though the two lists do not correspond in every item). Obedience to God’s revealed will is the requirement for full participation in the sanctuary.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I must put these things into practice - in my life - daily.

THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE IS life change! Specifically to change our character and our conduct. To change our character, meaning that the man of God may be perfect, mature, complete. And to change our conduct, meaning that we replace bad works with good works.

Look at this in the good news translation of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “…so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped TO DO every kind of good deed.”

Notice the phrase TO DO. It’s always action oriented, it is not content oriented, it is not history oriented, it is not grammar or theology oriented, its action oriented.

Now look at this. It’s not a verse, it’s John Calvin. Of course, for some of you, that is scripture. “The Word of God is not to teach us to prattle or be eloquent and subtle…it is to reform our lives, so that we desire to serve God, to give ourselves entirely to him, and to conform ourselves to his good will.”

I like it the way D.L. Moody says it even better “The bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.” That is it.

THE BIBLE IS NOT a history book. IT IS a manual for life. It has history in it but that is not the purpose – to teach what happened in history. It is a manual for life. Now notice what Jesus said in John 6:63 (NIV) “The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are Life.”

Paul says in Philippians 2:16 (NIV) “…we hold out the word of Life.”

John says in 1 John 1:1 (NIV) “…this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life.”

Luke tells us in Acts 5:20 KJV) “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.”

Jesus said in John 10:10 (NIV) “I have come that you might have Life…”
Jesus did not say “I have come that you might have information”. Jesus did not say “I have come that you might have doctrine”. Jesus said “I have come that you might have life”.

The bible reveals how to live. How to live in relationship with God. Love him with all your heart. How to live in relationship with everybody else. Love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said…you can summarize the whole bible in those two statements.

One day a guy comes to Jesus and said “What’s the most important?” Jesus said, I’m going to give you cliff notes on the bible. Here it is to summarize the whole bible. Love God and love other people. That’s it. It’s about life!

How many sermons have you heard preached that are lifeless? They’re lifeless. They’re about something that happened a long time ago rather than using something that happened a long time ago to make life change right now. Now here’s the implication. Any other use of the bible is secondary. The primary purpose of the bible is to change lives. That’s what we preach for here at COV, that’s what we do ministry for. That’s what discipleship is all about.

Lord, change lives here at COV. Protect us from being pompous or religious. I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course. ENDURE!

Day #248: Psalm 15:1-3

This psalm explains who is worthy to be a “guest” of the Lord. The psalmist delineated the flawless character of one who is fit to worship in the Lord’s sanctuary. David pondered the matter of who may dwell in the Lord’s sanctuary located on the holy hill, that is, Zion, the City of David. The question is concerned with who was eligible to be a “guest” of the Lord and live in the place where His presence rested. It was a spiritual question: who can draw near to God and worship in His dwelling place?

The question in verse 1 is answered in summary fashion first with two descriptions, and then delineated with an additional eight. The acceptable person is one whose walk is (a) blameless. Also his actions are (b) righteous. The metaphor of the “walk” is used throughout the Bible for one’s pattern of life and conduct. “Blameless” means complete, sincere, or perfect. A blameless person lives in obedience to God and maintains a life of integrity.

His activities are in harmony with God’s standards, that is, they are righteous. David thus declared that if someone were to go into the presence of the Lord in Zion, he must be an obedient and righteous servant. The wicked and the hypocritical did not belong in the sanctuary.

After the general statement in the first two lines of verse 2, David spelled out what such a flawless person’s character is like.(1) The first characteristic of the righteous is that he speaks... truth sincerely. He is not like double-minded flatterers. (2) A righteous person does not slander maliciously.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

It's early Sunday morning and I am praying that God will draw people to COV this morning to be in worship - to be under the teaching/preaching of the Word of God. I am praying that God will draw people to be in fellowship. I am praying that spiritual discipline will win over the desire to sleep in or watch football or go to Starbucks.
I am praying that hearts will be changed.

I read this passage today, and I am praying that God will be gracious to each of our people and inspire them to live lives that are worthy.

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

I am praying that each of us at COV would live out our faith in real and practical ways. That our speech and conduct would verify we are His. That we would/could win people to Christ because they see a difference in us.

Philippians 1:27 (NIV)
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

I am praying I will could/would set the example. Lord, purify my heart - purify my speech - purify my actions today.

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Day #247: Romans 15:17-22

Paul did not glory in what he had done, but in what God had done through him. He was not proud, but he was enthusiastic. This caused him to glory in his service because of what Christ was accomplishing through him. We should reevaluate our attitudes in service and ministry. How often do we view our efforts as giving glory to God?

Being proud of God’s work is not a sin—it is worship. Paul knew that all the glory for his ministry went to Christ alone, for it was Christ who was accomplishing the work of bringing the Gentiles to God. But Paul well understood that he was the vessel through whom God was working because the mission to the Gentiles was being accomplished by what Paul had said and done. Paul had, by the power of God’s Spirit, done miracles and signs to verify the authority of his words. Because of the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, Paul had taken the Good News from Jerusalem to Illyricum. Also known as Dalmatia.

The reason for the extent of Paul’s ministry was the driving ambition to share Christ in territories where the name of Christ has never been heard. Paul saw his mission as moving into the centers of population, starting a church, being sure it had a good foundation, then allowing it to continue the work of evangelization in its area while Paul moved on to areas uncharted by the gospel.

Other preachers would have brought the gospel to some areas that Paul had not gone to; they would be involved in the follow-up and spiritual growth of the believers there. Paul did not want to move into those areas when it was more important for him to preach where people had not yet heard the Good News.

Paul quoted from part of Isaiah 52:15 to show that those who had been ignorant of God’s word would respond positively to the Messiah. Isaiah predicted how surprised the Gentile nations would be when they saw the humiliation and exaltation of God’s Servant, the Messiah. Paul uses this prophetic word to affirm the need for his missionary efforts to the Gentiles.

Because of his driving force to bring the gospel to people who had not yet heard, Paul had been delayed from going to Rome. He had much territory to cover in Asia Minor and around Greece, so it seems likely that he postponed his trip to Rome because there was already a strong church


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I read these verses today and I am humbled by Paul's drive and desire to share the Good News with those who had not heard it. I think to myself - do I treat the Good News as it shoul? Do I really see it as Good News? Or do I sometimes see it as bad news? Am I sometimes unwilling to share it?

Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Lord, give me, give our people an unabashed desire and hunger to share the Good News with others. Some ask -"Pastor - what exactly is the Good News?" Read below.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (NIV)
1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.
6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

The Good News is that Jesus was born for us. He died for our sins. He was raised on the third day. I love you guys. Who do you need to share the Good News with today?
Stay faithful. Stay the course. ENDURE!

Day #246: Romans 15:14-16

Although Paul had never met most of the believers in Rome, he was convinced (most likely from reports he had heard of them) that they were spiritually mature. Paul knew they were doing good and living to please God, that they had a full understanding of the truth of the gospel, and were able to counsel and help guide one another. Paul was practicing the kind of encouragement that he had just asked them to use with each other.

Paul knew these believers were mature, but he wrote this lengthy letter on the basics of Christianity to remind them. It may have seemed bold of him to write in this manner to a church he had not founded, but he was the apostle to the Gentiles, and it was in that capacity that he wrote to them. (2 Peter 1:12; 3:1-2.)

He is qualified to write to them because God had allowed him the special privilege of being a special messenger from Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. Paul viewed his ministry to the Gentiles as a priestly duty. He faithfully proclaimed the gospel to the Gentiles so that they would receive the Good News, and become acceptable to God, pure and pleasing to him by the Holy Spirit. Paul’s missionary work was an act of worship. He viewed the Gentile church as a fragrant sacrifice which he presented to God for his acceptance.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I read a study a while ago that Dallas Theological Seminary did. They asked hundreds of senior aged, rock solid mature believers and followers of Christ what the most important thing they could share with others about their relationship with Christ would be. Over and over the same story was repeated by these seasoned citizens - do the basics. Read the Bible daily. Pray often. Keep short accounts of your sin with God. Forgive others constantly. Serve someone, somewhere in the church. Tithe.

I love what Paul said in 1 Timothy 4:9-16 (NIV)
9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance
10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
11 Command and teach these things.
12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Set the example. Be diligent. Give yourself wholly. Watch your life. Persevere.
Are you doing the basics - daily? Are you being faithful? I pray so.

I love you guys. ENDURE!!

Day #245: Romans 15:13

Paul prays for the believers - this time praying that God who gives hope will also keep them happy and full of peace as they anticipate what God has in store for them. Then, the believers can overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that God accomplishes his care for his people—giving them endurance, encouragement, unity (15:5), hope, joy, and peace. Hope comes as a by-product of the Holy Spirit’s work. It does not come from our own senses or experiences.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Where does POWER come from to live life as God designed?

"So the angel explained that it was the following message of the Lord to Zerubbabel: I am the Lord All-Powerful. So don't depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit." Zechariah 4:6 (CEV)

The POWER to live the Christian life does not come from self-help books or seminars. It doesn't come from Tony Robbins or Oprah. It doesn't come from inside of you. The POWER comes from the Lord.

How do we obtain this POWER?

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV)

You get this POWER when you receive Jesus Christ into your heart. This POWER flows as you submit your life to God's will and way. When we thumb our nose at God and choose to do our own thing, we put out the Spirit's POWER.

"Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.
Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NIV)

Where in your life do you need to power of God to show up? In your marriage? In your diet? At your workplace? In the life of your kids? Start praying right now. Ask God to pour out His Spirit.

Ponder these things today. I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course. ENDURE!!

Day #244: Romans 15:7-12

If our goal is to glorify God, we cannot be caught up in dissension, disagreements, or arguments, especially about trivial matters. Instead, we should accept each other just as Christ has accepted us—there is to be no one-sided acceptance. All are to accept one another and live in harmony. At one time, we all were weak. And many strong believers are still weak in some areas. Christ is our model of what acceptance means. When we realize that Christ accepted us, as unlovely and sinful and immature as we were when we came to him, then we will accept our brothers and sisters.

The world sits up and takes notice when believers of widely differing backgrounds practice Christlike acceptance. In this, God will be glorified. Paul felt compelled to remind his readers that the greatest example of harmony brings both Jews and Gentiles under the lordship of Christ. Jesus came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. .


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)


Read the verses below. Combided with the passae from today, what do they say to your heart?

“He who guards his mouth controls himself, but he who opens his lips comes to ruin” Proverbs 13:3 (GN)

“Intelligent people think before they speak. What they say then is more persuasive.” Proverbs 16:23 (GN)


“You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say.”
Proverbs 18:20 (GN)

”An honest answer is the sign of a true friendship.”
Proverbs 24:26 (GN)


“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the head,that is Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)
.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)


“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)


Jesus: ”The things that come out of your mouth come from your heart.”Matthew 15:18 (NCV)

“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews.12:15 (NIV)

Day #243: Romans 15:5-6

The patience and encouragement received from the Scriptures have their ultimate source in God, for the Scriptures are his. Paul asks God to give the believers an attitude of harmony—Jews and Gentiles, weak and strong—as they seek to follow Christ. This prayer is strikingly similar to the one Jesus prayed with his disciples at the end of his final meal with them (John 17:22-23). Harmony is not an optional behavior for believers. They must have the attitude of Christ Jesus toward one another. Doing so would allow all believers to join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God. This should be the ultimate purpose of each believer and of the entire church.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

God blesses a unified church. Many church have tremendous potential but they never achieve what God wants them to achieve because the members spend all their time fighting each other. All of the energy is focused inward with one group fighting another group.

The Bible teaches that the church is a family. Many people who come into our church come out of really poor family relationships so they don’t know what a family should act like. We should not be surprised that, as the world gets sicker, there are more sick people coming into the church. So we have to teach them how to relate as a family. They don’t know how to relate as a family.

I want us to look at How to Protect Your Church and we’re going to talk about unity. You men are part the ministry core. If you join COV, you take a vow to protect the unity of the church. As a leader, as a minister, as a key lay minister of the church it’s your job to protect the church.

Unity is a key theme. The Bible talks more about unity of the church than it does about either heaven or hell. It’s that important. Churches are made up of people. And there are no perfect people. So people get into conflict with each other. We need to learn how to deal with it.

THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY IN THE CHURCH

#1. Jesus prayed for it. Jesus prayed for the unity of the church. John 17 He said, ”I pray that they will be one.” The world will be won when the church is one. When you find a church, where the people in the church really love each other, you’ll have to lock the doors to keep people out. They are looking for a place where there can be love, and warmth and acceptance and healing. Jesus prayed for the unity of the church.

Since the church is a fellowship, if you destroy the unity and harmony of the church, you destroy the church. The church is a fellowship. If you destroy the fellowship there is no church.

#2. We are commanded to make unity the top priority. Ephesians 4:3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bonds of peace.” That means, as a key leader in our church, one of your primary jobs in addition to the ministry that you have is to promote unity in the church. We are to make every effort to keep that. “Let us concentrate on the things that make for harmony and the growth of our fellowship together.”

There are a number of verses that talk about unity in the church. It’s a major theme of the scriptures.

#3. Any attitude that causes disunity is sin. Any attitude that causes disunity in the church is wrong. It’s flat out wrong! It doesn’t matter whether the issue is right or not. If it’s causing disunity it’s wrong.

#4. Unity is a witness to the world. John 13:34-35 “Jesus said, `By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, that you love one another.’” When a church loves each other there is unity and there is harmony. Visitors walk into the service and say, “There’s something going on here.” There’s an electricity in the air and they don’t know what it is, but it’s the same kind of thing you felt a few minutes ago when we were harmonizing accapela on those songs. There is power in unity. Harmony is an expression of unity.

People come into a church and say, “Something is happening and I don’t know what it is, but I know something’s different.” It is an intimacy that comes when people from absolutely different backgrounds have something in common and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. We’re all from different backgrounds. We’re as different as night and day. You don’t have to have uniformity to have unity. God does not insist that we all become cookie cutters like we’re all stamped out of the same mold. What draws us together is not our common background or our common intelligence or common economic status, race, or whatever. What draws us together is we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts. That’s what produces unity and is a witness to the world.

#5. God blesses the unified church. In Acts 2:46-47 “They had all things in common… they were all of one heart… one accord… And so the Lord added daily to the church.” When God wants to put a bunch of new Christians in a church, a bunch of new baby Christians, He looks around for the warmest incubator He can find. Ten times in the first five chapters of Acts it says, “They were of one accord... one heart… they ate together… one purpose… one mind… one soul… one spirit…” Ten times it talks about unity in the first five chapters of Acts.

When a church develops the unity of the book of Acts along with it comes the power of the church of Acts, the growth of the church of Acts. You cannot stop a unified church. Snowflakes are frail but if enough of them stick together they can stop traffic. Individually, I can’t do a lot for the Lord. Individually you can’t do a lot for the Lord. But together we can make an impact on this valley.

I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course. ENDURE!

Day #242: Romans 15:3-4

Christ was the “strongest” human who ever lived—he didn’t please himself, but did God’s will. Certainly death on a cruel cross was not the path he would have chosen to please himself, but his mission was to please God (John 4:34; 5:30; 8:29).

Strength is not independence from God, but total dependence on God. Strength in the church doesn’t come from each believer being completely independent, but from mutual interdependence. Truly strong believers are those who are willing to limit their freedoms in order to care for and love their weaker brothers and sisters. Paul quotes from Psalm 69:9. This messianic psalm prophesied the Messiah’s coming into the world and what would happen to him. Christ faced reproach and insults because he did not choose to please himself; instead, he chose to do what God had called him to do. How much more should we, who are called by his name, also choose to please God rather than ourselves.

The Scriptures were written and preserved for future generations. Our scriptural knowledge affects our attitude toward the present and the future. The more we know about what God has done in years past, the greater will be our confidence in what he will do in the days ahead. We should read our Bible diligently to increase our trust that God’s will is best for us.

How does the Bible give us hope and encouragement? (1) God’s attributes and character constantly remind us in whom our hope is based (Psalm 46:1-2). (2) The biographies of saints who overcame great obstacles give us examples of what can be done with God’s help (Hebrews 11). (3) The direct exhortation of Scripture calls for endurance and speaks encouragement (James 1:2-4; Hebrews 12:1-2). (4) The prophetic statements support our hope for a wonderful future planned for us in eternity (Romans 5:1-5).

Paul admonishes strong believers not to please themselves but to please God and others. Scripture records stories of those who pleased God, those who didn’t, and those who failed but learned from their mistakes. We are to endure as Christ endured and be encouraged by the examples of other believers. This gives us hope as we wait patiently for God’s promises.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

After reading the passage today, I had to ask myself - What motivates you for ministry? Ministry is too unpredictable to be motivated by security. It is too unprofitable to be motivated by money. It is too demanding to be motivated by pleasure. And it is too criticized to be motivated by fame. So what is it that motivates you in ministry? Why did you do what you do?

The only lasting motivation for ministry is because we want to please Jesus Christ. Out of a deep heart of gratitude, I don’t deserve to be saved much less in the ministry. All that God does in us and for us and through us is by grace through faith. So out of a deep abiding heartfelt gratitude for the fact that I’m saved, I want to give my life to Jesus Christ and I want to serve Him in any way possible. I know that your heart is like my heart and my life goal is to one day stand before Jesus Christ and have Him say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” At that point, when He says that, it will be worth it all. You won’t be in heaven five seconds and you’ll say, “Why didn’t I serve more? Why didn’t I give more? Why didn’t I love more? Why didn’t I obey more?”

To stand before Jesus and have Him say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant,” it really doesn’t matter what other people think of your ministry. Because you only have one master to please and that’s the Lord Jesus Christ. So my motivation (and I know your motivation) is I want to please Jesus with my life. But the catch is not all ministry is pleasing to God. Just because we are serving the Lord does not automatically mean that what we’re doing is pleasing to God.

Hebrews 11. The classic chapter on faith. V. 6 “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Does that apply to ministry? Yes. It doesn’t matter if I’m in ministry or not, if I’m not ministering in faith, I’m not pleasing God. The Bible is even more specific than that. It says, “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” If I’m not ministering in faith, I’m ministering in sin. That’s strong stuff.

If that’s true, and obviously it is because it’s in God’s word, then the very most important question I can ask myself as a pastor, and that you can ask yourself as a pastor, is what does it mean to minister in faith? If I don’t minister in faith, I’m not pleasing God. And if I don’t minister in faith, I’m sinning.

What does it mean to minister in faith? Fortunately we have Hebrews 11, that classic example of one example after another of men who ministered in faith.

I want us to look at six definitions of how to minister in faith. Because this is the kind of ministry that pleases God.Ministering in faith means…

#1. BELIEVING WHEN I DON’T SEE IT

v. 1 “Faith is being sure of what we hope for, being certain of what we do not see.” Faith is visualizing the future in advance. It is seeing the future in the present. Every great achievement began when somebody saw it in advance. Nothing happens in life till somebody believes it’s possible. We didn’t put a man on the moon until one day JFK stood up and said, “Let’s put a man on the moon.” When he said that, the technology had not even been invented.

Faith is believing when I don’t see it. Some things have to be believed before they can be seen. The world says, “Seeing is believing.” God says, “Believing is seeing.” You have to see it in advance. Faith is believing when I don’t see it.

I challenge you to dream great dreams for God. Make your dreams big enough for God to fit into. The size of your dream determines the size of your God. I would challenge you to set some goals because goals are statements of faith. The ministry that pleases God is first and foremost a ministry that believes when you don’t see it. Ministering in faith means believing your church can grow when it looks hopeless. It means that those leaders and those members can change when it looks like they’re never going to change. In our particular situation, it means believing that someday we’re going to get a building when eleven years later you’re still waiting. It means believing when you don’t see it.


#2. OBEYING WHEN I DON’T UNDERSTAND IT

Has God ever told you to throw out a sermon after hours of preparation? Has God ever told you to witness to somebody when you didn’t have the time? Has God ever told you to leave a comfortable church ministry and go to an unknown quantity? That’s ministering in faith. It’s obeying when you don’t understand it.

Hebrews 11:8 (Good News) “It was faith that made Abraham obey God when God called him to go out to a country that God had promised him. He left his own country not knowing where he was going.” Abraham is a classic example of obeying when I don’t understand it. He was 75 years old and God asked him to give up all his security – when he’s ready for social security, God says You’re going for social insecurity – and He says at 85 years of age I want you to leave, pick up everything and get ready for the greatest adventure of your life.

The scary part of it is God gave him no details. Abraham says, Where are we going? God says, You’ve never heard of it. How long is it going to take? You’ll find out. How will I know when I get there? I’ll let you know.

Would you go? Would you go at age 75? I want to challenge you to make the rest of your ministry the best of your ministry. You cannot minister in faith without taking risks. If there are no risks in your ministry then you’re not living by faith. And if you’re not living by faith you’re not pleasing God.

Constantly I have to ask myself, “Lord, what can I do that will force me to live by faith? That will force me to minister outside of my comfort zone in ways that I don’t feel comfortable doing?” Faith is doing what God says even when it seems absurd. How many stories in the Bible are an example like Gideon: Three hundred men against 135,000 men. The odds are 450 to one. God says, "Here are the weapons you’re going to use, Gideon. Everybody take a torch, a trumpet and a clay pot.” Not exactly your typical warfare weapons. It didn’t make sense.

Right! That’s God’s plan. Because faith is obeying when you don’t understand it. Sometimes God will tell you to do something in your church and in your ministry and you’ll think, “There’s no way this is going to work!” God says, Do it. And guess what? It works! We have done more things at Saddleback that didn’t work than did. Someday I want to write a book on the thousand ways not to grow a church. It’s wise to learn from experience but it’s wiser to learn from the experience of others. I don’t have time to make all the mistakes myself. We need to share not just our successes but we need to share our failures.

Proverbs 3:5 says “Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding.” One of the tests of ministering by faith is how quickly do I obey God? I’m trying to teach my kids that delayed obedience is disobedience. If I tell them to do something and they don’t do it immediately, that’s not obedience. Delayed obedience is disobedience. “Lord, one of these days I’m going to get around to doing this.” God says, That’s not obedience. That’s disobedience. The ministry of faith, the ministry that pleases God believes when you don’t see it and obeys when you don’t understand it.


#3. GIVING WHEN I DON’T HAVE IT.

Hebrews 11:4b “In faith Abel was commended as a righteous man and God spoke well of his offering.” Isn’t that interesting? Giving and faith go together. God uses finances to test us. I think probably one of the verses we pastors overlook most often is Luke 16:11 “If you have not been faithful with unrighteous mammon, who will commit to you true spiritual riches.”

God uses money to test our faithfulness. God watches the giving of a pastor. The Bible says if you have not been faithful with unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you true spiritual riches. There is a direct relationship between how I use my money and the power of God in my life. We don’t talk about that much. The Bible says real quickly there is a direct relationship between how I use my money, how I manage the unrighteous mammon, and god’s blessing upon my life and ministry. It influences how much God can bless my life. I think God expects pastors to take the lead in giving. By God's grace, Sharon and I have done that here at COV. (you have the freedom at anytime to call Lauren up and ask her to tell you what our giving is)

I don't say that to boast - but to say, sacrificial giving in this church starts with me. I will be obedient to the Lord in this area. Period.

Ponder these things today. I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course. ENDURE!

Day #241: Romans 15:1-2

Paul uses “strong” and “weak” to describe the believers. “Strong” believers are those who understand their freedom in Christ and who are sensitive to the concerns of others. They realize that true obedience comes from the heart and conscience of each individual. “Weak” believers are those whose faith has not yet matured so as to be free of some of the rituals and traditions. “Strong” believers can function in a variety of situations and be influences for good; “weak” believers find that they need to stay away from some situations in order to maintain a clear conscience. But both are still believers, and both are still seeking to obey God.

Paul identifies himself as one of the “strong” who knows that these things (issues of food and drink) make no difference when it comes to salvation. But yet these strong believers are not to live just to please themselves. They have an obligation to be considerate of the doubts and fears of those who think these things are wrong. They may find themselves frustrated by the failings of the weak—their concerns and worries over what, to the strong, seems trivial.

But the responsibility lies with the strong to maintain harmony in the church by bearing with these brothers and sisters (Galatians 6:1-2). The stronger believers demonstrate their spiritual strength precisely at those moments when they are practicing compassion for those who are weaker. The kind of strength modeled by Christ allowed him to put up with our failings. We ought to do the same for one another.

The strong believer must never be self-centered, but must be concerned for the spiritual welfare of his neighbor—the weaker person beside him or her in the congregation. To please others is done with a goal in mind—to encourage and build up that other believer in the faith. There is a fine line to walk—the stronger person should not push the weaker one to change his or her ways before he or she is ready; neither should the stronger person pander to the scruples of that weaker one by allowing such scruples to become rules for the church. Instead, the stronger believers should bear with (15:1) and work to help the weaker believers in their faith; this will benefit the church as a whole.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

In Romans chapters 14 and 15, Paul specifically goes into six ways of how we are to build each other up rather than tear each other down.

#1. By committing ourselves to building each other.

Make it a commitment. Decide. Choose. From this day I'm going to make it as one of the goals of my ministry, regardless of what ministry I'm involved in specifically, to build up everybody around me. Can you imagine what could happen in your world if believers would commit themselves to "I'm going to build up everybody that I come in contact with" what that would do to the morale of our church? If just 300 people would begin to write letters -- one note a week - just saying "I appreciate you" to somebody in the church, what kind of impact would that have on the morale of our church?

Make it your goal. I think what I would love to be known as is a Barnabus. Barnabus' name meant "son of encouragement". How would you like to die and have written on your tombstone, "She was an encourager." I can't think of any finer thing to be said. Life's tough and there's enough discouraging people in the world that what we need is a whole band and army of encouragers. Instead of criticizing people you don't agree with or you don't like their lifestyle or you don't like the way they handle things, pray for them and encourage them.

#2. By recognizing the value of every person.

v. 15b "Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died." They may be obnoxious, immature, and you may disagree with them but Christ died for them and don't forget it! When you start to get upset with somebody in your area of ministry or somebody in the church or me or anybody else just remember that Christ died for that person. That shows how valuable they are. That shows how important they are. What right do I have to hurt people that Christ died for? I don't have that right.

#3. By keeping our focus on what's really important.

v. 16 "Don't allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and is approved of men."

Food, drink, -- these things are not the real burning issues of life. The essence of Christianity is not external but internal. We can put up with a lot of external quirks and faults when we focus on the things that are internal.

In 1917 when the Bolshevik Revolution occurred the Russian Orthodox priests were in a heated debate that nearly split the church. They were totally ignoring the Bolshevik Revolution. They were arguing about how long the tassels should be on their robes. That was the burning issue while their country was going to hell. They were arguing over trivia.


In our church we have people who are charismatic and they speak in tongues. We have people who are non charismatic and they don't speak in tongues. We have people who are anti-charismatic and somehow we manage to all get along together. Why? Because that is not the key issue. Jesus said love is more important than any gift. We have people in our church who have different beliefs about prophecy -- premillennial, poastmillennial, ammillennial, pretrib postmillennial.... I'm a pan millennialist -- I believe it will all pan out in the end.

Jesus said in Matthew 25 "No man knows the day or the hour, neither the angels, neither the Son, but only the Father which is in heaven." Jesus didn't even know the time. If Jesus Christ didn't know I'm not going to set myself up as the next expert. Some of you wonder why I don't start predicting times and dates. Jesus said no man knows the day or the hour. He just said be ready. Three times He says in Matthew 25 "Be ready". I'm not on the date and place committee. I'm on the welcoming committee. We don't argue over that kind of stuff. We love you and you're welcome here. Jesus is coming back and it's up to Him when He wants to do it.

What's the point? We keep our focus on what's really important. The Bible makes very clear that it is a sin to disrupt fellowship of a church. No matter how important the issue is if you disrupt the church because of it, you're sinning. It's real clear. Over and over. "preserve the unity at all costs". When the world looks at a Christian, what they ought to see is not every jot and tittle crossed, but they ought to be able to see righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. That's what a believer is. You can be straight as a gun barrel doctrinally but be just as empty spiritually. Focus on what's really important.


#4. Limiting our liberty out of love for each other.

v. 20 "Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean. But it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It's better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that will cause your brother to fall."

Refuse to do anything that will cause your brother to stumble. When my liberty hinders the work of God, then we have a problem. He says, I limit my liberty out of love for each other.

When is it wrong for us to do something that is OK? There are four ways you know if something's wrong to do.

1) I John 3:4 "Everyone who sins breaks the Law in fact sin is lawlessness." This is the first way when you know some thing's wrong. It is wrong -- sin -- when it violates a clear standard of the Bible. That's obvious. Sin is lawlessness, breaking God's laws. Adultery is wrong, getting drunk is wrong (Eph. 5:18 "Be not drunk with wine.") -- there are lots of things that are real clear in Scripture -- do this or don't do this. If it violates Scripture you don't do it.

2) James 4:17 "Anyone then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it sins." The second way is when I know to do good but I don't. When I don't speak up when I should. When I don't help a person when I should like the good Samaritan. I see a piece of liter and don't pick it up that's wrong. I know to do good.

3) Romans 14:23 "But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats because his eating is not from faith and everything that does not come from faith is sin." When I'm not sure it's right but I do it anyway, that's sin -- it's wrong for you. If I can't do it in faith then I better not do it. When in doubt, don't! If you have a doubt about a certain activity, watching a certain movie, it's telling you then -- don't! If you can't do it in faith because whatever is not of faith is sin. It is wrong to violate your conscious even when it's morally permissible.

4) 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 "Be careful, however, in the exercise of your freedom. Be careful that it does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For anyone with a weak conscious sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother for whom Christ died is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brother in this way and wound their weak conscious you sin against Christ."

When I cause a believer to stumble even if my action is OK in itself, it's wrong. When you sin against your brother in this way you wound their conscious, you sin against Christ. When I cause a believer to stumble, even if my actions are valid, then that's wrong.

I Corinthians 10:23-24 "Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. Everything is beneficial but not everything is constructive." Remember the goal is to build people up. Some things are not necessarily wrong, they're just not necessary.

Too often we're only concerned with enjoying our own freedom. A selfish insistence on my freedom is an act of immaturity. It is an indication that I really have not grown in the Lord. But a wise expression of your liberty limited on certain occasions for the benefit of other people is an act of maturity. When on occasion you limit your freedom in the way you say or dress or act or do for the benefit of others it is an act of maturity.


#5. Not forcing my opinion on others.

We will not make disputable issues a test of fellowship. "Eat as I eat, drink as I drink, do as I do, Only then can I fellowship with you." "Be like me!" Don't force your opinion on others. Romans 14:22 "So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves." On these disputable matters, keep it between you and the Lord. Enjoy your freedom but don't flaunt it. Enjoy your freedom but enjoy it in privacy. Don't flaunt it. And don't force it on others. And be considerate. I can practice my freedom without parading it.

Romans 12:18 is a good balance to all of this. Some legalists are going to be upset no matter what you do. I'm not talking about people who are offended by a legitimate issue that might be a stumbling block and you limit it. But some people you just can't get along with. You just can't please them. "As far as it depends on you, if it is possible, live at peace with all men." God even admits that there are some people you just can't get along with. That's not so much your problem as their's. It says more about them than you. Jesus frequently did things that the Pharisees disapproved of. They were hard core legalists. He went ahead and did it anyway. It wasn't a stumbling block, they were unpleasable.

#6. By living by faith.

"The man who has doubts is condemned if he eats because your eating is not from faith and everything that doesn't come from faith is sin." You need to be convinced in your own mind. What you need to do if you're going to mature as a believer is develop some Biblical convictions. When it doubt, don't. But if you can do it in faith then forget it! Don't worry about it! Maintain a clear conscious. Happy is the man who can make his decision with a clear conscious.

In the first part of the next chapter Romans 15, he talks about why we are to build each other up. He gives us the Responsibility, the Reason, and the Result.

Let's live this kind of life. I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course. ENDURE!

Day #240: Hebrews 4:16

Can you believe its been nine years since the terrorists attacks on the world trade center, the pentagon and the downed plane in Somerset, PA? It’s my sense that those events were a test for all of us – a test to see how our faith would grow – a test to see what would become most important to us – a test to see what would change. Hers the question: How did you do on that test? Today we're going to look at Abraham and the test that he went through, so you can get a better grip on how to pass the future test you will face.

Understand this: Life is a series of tests. James says that the problems that we have that come to us are actually tests. In the life of Abraham we're going to see four tests. Even though your circumstances will vary, God will test you in the exact same four areas that He tested Abraham.

After 20 years of formal education, I have learned that it is helpful to prepare for tests. In fact the tests I like the best are the tests where the teacher gives you the questions in advance. Like an open book test. I learn more.

But the fact of life is, some teachers are downright mean. They like to trick you. They like to keep the test questions hidden. They want to get you into the room, throw up the screen and the questions are on the blackboard and you're in utter panic.

That's not the way God is. God wants you to pass His test. In fact He wants that so much He tells you in advance the way you're going to be tested. You can count on it. You will be tested these four ways in life. He wants you to pass so He tells you in advance. There's only one thing about God's tests. You don't know the timing. God specializes in pop quizzes. Some of you are going through a test right now. You don't even know it but you are. We're going to look at Abraham and the tests he went through and how do you find out if you're a real believer.

#1. MAJOR CHANGE. Hebrews 11:8 says, "By faith Abraham when he was called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going."

The first test of life is a major change. God asked Abraham to pick up every thing he had and move to another place. Abraham asked "Where?" That's the question.

The first test is the “Where” question. God, where am I going? I'll tell you later. I'll let you know. How long is it going to take? I'll let you know. How do I know when I get there? I'll let you know. Would you follow God like that?

A major change. That was difficult for Abraham. In the first place he was 75 years old, an older man. When he was ready to retire, God said, “You're ready to aspire”. When he's ready for social security, God says, “You're ready for social insecurity”. When he's ready to hang it up. God says, “Get it down and dust it off”. When he's ready to sit back and take it easy, God says, “You're ready for the biggest adventure of your life”.

Not only that but he was wealthy. He had a lot to move and they didn't have Beacon's in those days. He had camels, cattle, sheep, servants. He was a fat cat in the Mesopotamian city of Ur. God said "You're going to leave Ur and go to a place you don't know. But follow Me." And he picked up everything and immediately, without excuse, he took off.

Here is the first test of a real believer. A real believer will follow God's leading without knowing where.

Some of you are asking the “Where?” question right now. Lord, where do You want me to work? ... Where do You want me to live? ... Where do You want me to go to school? It's the “Where?” question. It's a major change and this is a test.
God says, “Start moving and I will direct you”. If your faith hasn't led you to take any risks it's not faith. First test -- major change.


#2. DELAYED PROMISE.

This test causes us to ask "When?" "By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents as did Isaac and Jacob who were heirs of him of the same promise." There's a word that's used twice in that sentence -- promise. Circle it. Promise is a very important word in the vocabulary of faith. The question is “When?”

God said, “I'm going to give you the Promised Land”. And Abraham wanted to know, “When?” God wants us to base our lives on promises not explanations. God promised him the Promised Land but after he got there, there was a delay. In fact Abraham not only waited his life, he waited Isaac's life and Jacob's life -- three generations and they still were living in tents. There’s not a much more temporary way to live. They couldn't even settle down. How would you like to live in a tent for three generations? Can you imagine Sarah. "Abraham, when are we going to get a real house?" said Sarah intently.

I can handle a test in life if I know there's going to be an end to it, if I can see out there at the end. But the hardest kinds of tests to handle are the tests in life when you don't know if they're ever going to end. That's difficult. The delayed promise.

Abraham never gave up. He never went back to Ur.
Here's the lesson: A real believer will wait for God's timing without knowing when.

Some of you are going through the “When?” test right now. When are things going to get better in my family, Lord? When am I going to get a boyfriend or girlfriend? When am I going to get well? When are You going to solve my problem? When are You going to answer my prayers? The second greatest test of life is a Delayed Promise. When?

What have you been expecting God to do in your life that hasn't happened yet? Abraham had to wait three generations. What are you waiting for? I think of this applying to our land. We've been waiting and waiting, and everybody's saying, "When, God? When are You going to give us the land?" I think God wants to put up a sign: This is a test! It is a test and when we pass the test the land will come. But there is always a delay. All God's saints had a delay. Moses waited eighty years. Noah waited 120 years. Abraham waited his lifetime. God always gives His believers the Waiting Test.


#3. AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM.

"By faith Abraham even though he was past age and Sarah herself was barren was enabled to become a father because he considered God faithful who had made the promise."

Abraham is 99 years old and he still doesn't have a kid. And God says he's going to be the father of a great nation. He had already changed his name to "Father of many nations." How embarrassing!

What's your name - Father of many nations. How many kids you got? - Zip! How old are you? - 99…..Right!

An impossible problem. It was physically impossible. Sarah had already gone through menopause. The Bible says when God said you're going to have a child, they laughed. They named their kid Isaac which means "laughter". They said, "This kid's a joke!" The Bible said Abraham looked at himself and said, "No way!" And Sarah looked at her body and said, "Double no way!" Abraham laughed and Sarah laughed, but God had the last laugh!

An impossible problem is when you wonder “How?” Not when, not where, but how? How are you going to do it, Lord? Abraham is 99. It's comical, a major problem, an impossible situation.

An impossible problem -- the “How's” of life. Some of you are worried and discouraged and down and you're saying "I just don't know how God's going to do it." And you don't know how God's going to help you. "God! How am I going to make ends meet this month? ... How am I going to pay for college? God, how are You going to heal me? ... God! How am I going to find time for a ministry. I'm too busy already." It's a test in life just like Abraham. You're thinking "How in the world are You going to change my parents? ... How in the world are You going to change my friends? How in the world are You going to get through to unbelieving friends" The “How” questions of life.

The test of a real believer? A real believer will expect a miracle without knowing “How” God intends to do it. There is one more test, and we see it in Abraham's life and it is the greatest test, the ultimate test. I'm so thankful that God tells us in advance it's going to come because it will come in your life. You can count on it.


#4. A SENSELESS TRAGEDY.

It's not the “When?” It's not the “Where?” It's not the “How?” It's the Why? question of life. Why is this happening, God? It's the ultimate test. Abraham faced it. It will be yours too. And this is the test that causes us to ask “Why?” Why did the 911 terrorists attack happen? Why did you let my grandma die? Why did my mom and dad get divorced?

The fact is a lot in the world does not make sense. People say "It's not fair!" Who said the world is ever going to be fair? God never said it would be fair. That's why there's going to be a heaven and hell. One day God's going to settle the score. The things that are unfair now will be settled then. It would be unfair for people like Hitler to get away with what they did. I believe in a hell because of the fairness of God, just as much as there's a heaven.

Senseless tragedy. Why? There's an issue here that more people question in the Bible than any other thing in the Bible. It's when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his own son, Isaac. Isaac, the miracle boy, the miracle baby, the promised child, the one in whom all of Abraham's hopes and dreams are going to be fulfilled. God says, “That's the guy I want you to sacrifice!” He represented everything Abraham held dear.

Our response to that is typical. It's unfair. We're in shock. Is this cannibalism? It doesn't even sound like Christianity. Why would God even require something like that? Let me encourage you to eliminate “it’s not fair” from your vocabulary! My bout with cancer – “why not?”

"By faith, Abraham when God tested him..." It is a test. "... offered Isaac as a sacrifice. And even though God had said to him, `It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.'" Abraham was having a test and it was a test of his commitment. It didn't make sense, it was ridiculous, it was tragic. There was no precedent for this. Abraham didn't know about God like we know. He didn't know the nature of God. He had never seen Jesus. He didn't know God was loving and compassionate. All he knew was God was saying, "Kill your son!" It didn't make sense. There's a lot in the world that doesn't make sense. It's a test. It's a test of his commitment.

Abraham had no assurance that God would save Isaac or spare him. He didn't have any assurance of that. But look what he did have.

v. 19 "Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead and figuratively speaking he did raise Isaac back from the dead." What was Abraham's confidence? If God can give me a son at age 99 when my wife and I are already physically incapable of bearing children, if God can do that kind of miracle, He can raise him from the dead after he's been sacrificed. That was his confidence.

But here's the point of Abraham's life. This is why he was such a great believer. Abraham decided that God has a right to make any demand on my life He so chooses.

That's true for you and me too. Because God is God He has a right to make any demands on your life just because He says so. You wouldn't even be alive without God. You wouldn't have anything without God, and He has a right to do as He pleases. It's a test.God did raise Isaac from the dead, as you know. Here's the point: A real believer will trust God's purpose without knowing “Why?” even in the contradictions of life.

Some of you right now are going through the “Why?” test in life. And you're asking God, "Why?" God, why did I get fired? Why did you let my spouse have an affair? Why did my kid run off and get on dope? Why am I going bankrupt? Why? Why did I have a miscarriage? Why did my parents die? Senseless tragedy.

There's nothing wrong with asking questions. I think Abraham did just like we do. There's nothing wrong with asking "When, God?" There's nothing wrong with asking "How, God?" There's nothing wrong with asking "Where?" or "Why?"

A real believer will follow God's direction when he doesn't know where. A real believer will wait on God's timing when he doesn't know when. A real believer will expect a miracle when he doesn't know how. A real believer will trust God's purpose and love and character when he doesn't know why. That's the test.

God never gave Abraham any explanation for these tests. Do you know why we have so many spiritually immature people, spiritual midgets? Because we always demand an explanation for everything. We think God owes it to us. We want an explanation for everything. If you have got all the “Why’s”, and the “How’s”, and the “When's”, and the “Where's” figured out in your life, you are not living by faith. It's that simple. If you've got it all in a nice little tight box and all figured out you're not living by faith.

Are you a real believer? The thing about human tests is when you take a human test the key to acing a human test is knowing all the answers. But in God's tests -- the way you ace God's tests is you keep on believing when you don't have the answers, and you don't know where you're going, and you don't know how God's going to accomplish it, and you don't know why it's happening. But you keep believing and trusting. That's the test. The test is you hang in there when you don't have the answers.

SO WHAT?

Which of these tests are you dealing with right now? Some of you are dealing with a major change and you're asking the “Where?” question in life. “God, where? Where do you want me to live? Where do you want me to retire? Where do you want me to work? Where do you want me to go to school? Where do you want me to put my kids in school? Where, Lord? Where should I serve You in the church? Where?" God's asking you to make a major change and you know that you cannot stay where you are but you have no idea where you're going. It's a test.

One of the hardest things in life is knowing when to hold on and when to let go. Only God can tell you that.

Some of you are facing the second test in life, and you're dealing with this Delayed Promise, and you're saying, "God, when? When are You going to meet my need? When are You going to help me to get out of debt? When are You going to help me with my problem? When are You going to heal me? When are You going to save my parents? When are You going to reconcile me with that person I'm at odds with? When? When is it going to happen? When are things going to turn around? When are You going to answer my prayer?" It's a test.

Maybe you're dealing with the Impossible Problem, and in your own viewpoint you think there is no way. Just like Abraham looked and said, "There's no way I can father a kid at 99." How? "How are You going to do it, Lord? How are You going to help me? How are You going to change me? How are You going to get me out of this mess? It's a bad one."

Some of you are grieving, because you've had a tragedy. In the deepest part of your heart you're saying, "Why? Why is this happening? I don't understand it. Why did my wife/husband get sick? Why did they run out on me? Why did I get fired? Why did I raise my kids the best I know how and their lives are a mess? I'm embarrassed. Why?" God says it's a test.

How do you rate as a believer this morning? How do you rate as a real believer? Some of you are saying, "I flunk! I don't pass the test at all." One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Mark 9:24. "A man comes to Jesus and says, `I want you to heal my son.' Jesus said, `If you have faith to believe, I'll heal your son.' God acts in our lives according to faith. He says, `Lord, I believe. Help me with my unbelief.'" I love it because Jesus healed the boy on the basis of that. It was enough. "God I want to believe. I do believe. Help me with all my doubts." God said, "That's enough! He's healed." It doesn't take a lot of faith. It's just a little faith in a big God that gets big results. I don't have a lot of faith. I'm filled with fears most of the time. But it's a little faith in a big God that gets big results.

In what area does you faith need to grow this morning? How have you been fairing with Gods tests? How have you been changing? I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course. ENDURE!