Moral Relativism permeates our society today. It seems that this is the default position for fallen humanity. This philosophy seeks to define its own truth and shies away from absolute truths. In the day of Judges, the Bible states that every man did what was right in his own eyes. Right or wrong is relative to the individual and his or her point of view. It is because of this accelerated trend toward moral relativism that speaks to our need for revival; personal, church, and societal revival and reform. The Bible is the defining word on right and wrong. So if we are to experience revival, then we must meet the criteria established in God’s Word. Repentance and Reform are mandated prerequisites to revival. When the nation of Israel would stray from God, consequences followed. Severe persecution and the plagues of things going wrong would bring the nation back to God. The call of God is clear. He desires for His people to come broken and humbled. Greg Laurie, honorable chairman of the National Day of Prayer states, “… revival is God’s work; it cannot be manufactured by men. But if we want Him to work, then we must pray.” He states, and I agree, that our nation is headed for trouble. I echo his observation concerning our country. “The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. 

VERSE OF THE WEEK: 

 

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? 

Psalm 85:6

Revisiting Our Mission & Vision Statement

As we seek the Lord’s blessing of revival we must revisit our relationship to Him as well as our obedience to His Word.  Many seek a religious experience apart from accountability or real commitment. If we indeed are willing to seek God with all our hearts, then we must look to the heart of God to see where it is He is working and would have us to work. Our church years ago adopted the vision statement Touching Lives and Strengthening Families for Life in Christ.  That means that we are to Love God and man, Instruct them in God’s Word, Fellowship in Ministry and Evangelize our circle of influence. There are many passages of Scripture that we can look to in order to Scripturally validate the mission statement. If we are to honor God we must be willing to place Him first in our lives; that means above ourselves, our families, our work and our play. It isn't about us, but it is about the Lord. It is Christ who purchased us with His shed blood. It is Christ who arose in victory over sin, death and the grave. It is because of that event that we have been redeemed and justified before God and possess eternal life. It is fitting that we put aside whatever it is that comes between us and the real commitment that the cross should call for us to make in living our lives for Him and being active in fulfilling our mandate and vision purpose as a church and as individuals. 

VERSES OF THE WEEK: 

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.

Matthew 22:37-38 

It's All about Perspective

When we face difficulties and setbacks we tend to be plagued by tunnel vision. We see things with a myopic view rather than taking a step back and seeing the big picture. The problem is that we seek to satisfy our desires and fulfill our inclinations without taking a look at the Biblical or Heavenly perspective. Joseph’s trials and setbacks could very well be construed in a negative light. But in the end, the positives outweighed the negatives. God was glorified and his servant Joseph blessed and honored. It is why we are to be thankful for all things; the positive as well as the negatives. I often think of men like Stephen who suffered as the first martyr of the church in Jerusalem. We see it as tragic, but in the end, Stephen left for Heaven and was instrumental in bringing Paul to Christ. The world saw Jesus beaten, rejected and crucified and says, “What a tragic end.” But we see a risen Lord, who suffered for the forgiveness of the sins of the world, and in whom all who believe are redeemed and justified. Because of His suffering we who believe are unblameable and unreprovable in His sight. The tragedy isn't in the cross, but in those who reject God’s provision for sin in Christ. It’s about perspective. Where earth might see a tragedy, Heaven sees a victory and a blessing. What is needed is the understanding to seek God’s wisdom to understand what we deal with on earth from His perspective. 



VERSES OF THE WEEK: 

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet
we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But
he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for
our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5

God can Use Broken People

It seems that things happen that are so out of the ordinary that it brings us to question, “O.K. Lord, what is this a ll about?” The events of Genesis 38 are much like that to this pastor. Here  we are at the transition from Jacob to Joseph and we have the parenthesis of this chapter that is completely out of sync with everything else around it. Yet God saw it that important. Perhaps it was to grab our attention; there could literally be a myriad of reasons for why it is in the order it is. But here we are looking into the life of 
Judah and Tamar. The dysfunction of the family continues into that of Judah’s sons. The reality is that all of us are infected by the contagion of sin. On some the infection seems more advanced, but make no mistake, it is terminal no matter if the symptoms are seen as mild or severe. What I take from this sad story is the marvelous grace of God at work despite the wickedness, sinfulness and depravity of man. Are you a broken vessel, a useless cracked pot that is marred and of no seeming worth or redeeming quality. So are we all. Yet God sees in us great potential for His kingdom work and purpose if we will but look to Him. So we will suspend our look at the life of Joseph to look at Judah and who he is and will become in God’s purposes.

VERSES of the WEEK

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. 

(Luke 12:8-9)

Dreamers, Visionaries; Movers & Shakers of Faith

At some point in time in my life, I had inkling about what it was I wanted to do with my life.  I wanted to pursue a career in medicine.  God gave me a different dream and direction.  I then began to think about the work of a pastor.  I conjured up all kinds of ideas, scenes and scenarios about what I would do and accomplish as a pastor.  Life has a way of challenging our dreams and goals.  Joseph found that out.  We begin to look at one of my heroes.  But like all heroes, he is not without weakness or fault.  As we look at Joseph we see a young man who is disciplined and faithful.  He has a desire to do what is right before God and others, and the integrity to stand for the truth regardless the consequences.  Yet he at times came off as arrogant and too full of himself.  People who are passionate versus flippant about things in life are often that way.  I say that to say this; without condoning the actions of his brothers, God used the circumstances and trials to mold the man and prepare him for the great work in his life.  Joseph may have thought it would be around the bend, but it would be years before the dreams became reality.  There was a great deal of work needed to shape him for his ultimate life work.  The same is true of us.  We grow impatient at times to reach the point we believe God would have us to be.  But understand that in the journey, God is at work preparing us and others for the fulfillment of His will and vision.

Verse of the Week

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 

2 Peter 1:8-9

Learn, Grow, Lead

Times of trial and tragedy unfortunately are a reality of life.  Just because you are saved and faithfully serving the Lord, doesn’t mean that you are immune from the heartaches and tribulations of life.  Job was a righteous man yet suffered greatly.  Suffering and heartache were not God’s perfect will for us.  These come as a result of sin and rebellion against God; both personal and universal.  Jesus stated that in life we will have trials and tribulations.  The key is in our response to them.  Will we cling to faith in God and draw closer to Him?  Will we learn and grow from the situation or draw back in anger to the world’s ways instead of toward God’s ways.  Jacob is at such a crossroads in his life.  He has done as God has commanded him and returned.  He saw reconciliation with Esau even though he still had a distrust of him.  Now his daughter, Dinah has been raped and his sons, Simeon and Levi have taken retribution to such a level that all are now in danger of being killed or taken captive.  At least that is how it appears in Jacobs’s eyes.  But God uses the moment and situation for teaching, growth and an opportunity to lead his family into deeper faith in God.  How we respond makes all the difference both at the moment of crisis, and into the future.   

A Picture of Repentance

What does repentance look like? Israel has wrestled with God concerning his brother and the command to return. He fears for his life and that of all who are with him. Esau is coming to meet him with a band of 400 men, and Israel has no idea of the intent of his brother. Yet God has promised to be with him. He has God’s word to lean on but must still deal with Esau. The passage before us today deals with Jacob’s apology and spirit of repentance and contrition concerning his earlier dealings with Esau. When we come to God in the attitude Jacob displayed, then we too can find forgiveness and restoration. Although Jacob, now Israel, doesn't fully trust Esau; we can fully trust God and take him at his word. Esau also pictures what forgiveness looks like if we can assume his was a genuine forgiveness and not seeking to put Jacob at ease to do him harm. Human relationships can be confusing and complicated. Yet seeking forgiveness and restoration in order to mend them is Biblical.  After the encounter with God and then Esau, Jacob built an altar to the Lord.  How many altars or road posts have you built and established to the Lord in your life?  These milestones serve as reminders of God's faithfulness; His power, presence and protection in our walk of life.

Verse of the Week:

And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel. (God, the God of Israel) 

Genesis 33:20.