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Fire: Keeping the Flame Ablaze

During this summer, I have spent some time clearing out a worship spot at my house in the back of our woods. I must say, I really enjoyed doing it. I wanted a spot that I could go and spend time with God in solitude. I gathered old down trees to use for seating, found various pieces of old furniture to place back there, and Tiki Torches to help keep away bugs. In the middle I built a good-sized fire pit for bonfires. The other evening I went out to that spot to spend some time with God. My brother was with me and we were trying to light the fire. The pit had quite a bit of wood in it so if we ever got it lit, it would be a very big and nice fire. The problem was we couldn’t get the fire lit.  Granted the top pieces were a little wet, but the rest of the pile was dry, so we didn’t think it would be much of a problem. We had pieces of cardboard to help start the fire, but it didn’t work. We lit some of the dry leaves in the midst of the sticks, but it didn’t work either. We even found some straw to light to help with the process, but all it did was burn. It didn’t stay lit and the fire died quickly. So finally after much frustration, we got the gasoline. Now, I realize this is not the smartest choice nor safest, but I wanted a fire! Luckily nothing bad happened! So we light a few more pieces of cardboard and paper just enough to keep it a flame for a few minutes. Then we doused the places we didn’t have lit with some gasoline so with the fire caught it, it would light up. The finally we applied the gasoline on the flames that were going and instantly, the fire went ablaze. We experienced the thrill of getting our fire lit and the fire was glorious…for about ten minutes. But soon, that gasoline had burnt away, the wood had never really caught a flame, and the fire died out again quickly. Now I realize that there are better ways to light a fire, and if I did some other things I could have probably got that fire going. However, I’m glad I tried to light the fire the way I did because God used it to teach me something.

When the fire began to die out again, I was getting kind of irritated. Then I felt God speak to my heart saying, “I need people who will tend and stir the fire, not just light it.” I immediately knew what God was saying to me. In order to keep a fire going, you have to constantly add fire to the pile, you have to stir the fire to keep the fire going, and you have to watch it. Gasoline is a nice help, but it is only a temporary fix. It only lasts for a moment. It looks glorious and the flames are huge, but they don’t have much life. God doesn’t need followers who will be like the gasoline. Who will become very passionate and devoted to God one day, and have a devotion to Him that dies at the end of the week. He wants followers who will fan the flames. Who will keep the fire going, even if that means taking longer steps in doing so. Followers who will spend the extra time in prayer, reading of His Word, and living out the life He calls His people to.

I think you would be very hard pressed to find a church, if you asked them, would not want to see people come to know Christ. I mean, that’s just a ludicrous thought. The Church may have many different denomination and beliefs of theology, but I don’t really think there are many people in the Church who do not want to see souls saved. In fact if there are any, I really think those people need to evaluate their life and see if the are in step with the Spirit. But all too often the Church tries to witness to the world with gasoline. With big and glorious displays of various ministries, emotional appeals, etc. Those of you who serve the Lord know exactly what I’m talking about. But those things don’t last. People who come to the Lord on those terms won’t last unless that fire is cultivated. Unless their flames are stirred and wood is added to the fire. If the Church and Christians want to set this world on fire, we first have to cultivate the fire in our own hearts, then also be willing to take the time to minister properly and effectively to help keep the fire lit the hearts of others as well. Jesus told His followers that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and they will be His witnesses. The Holy Spirit gives Christians the power to witness to others about Jesus powerfully. God is the source of that fire. I pray that believers everywhere will submit to the Holy Spirit and allow God move in their hearts. I also pray that Christians all over the world will fan into flame the gifts of God and take the steps necessary to keep that flame going. When the fire rises true and proud, the world around us will catch fire too. Don’t use the gasoline. Cultivate that fire.

“Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.” ~2 Timothy 1:6

“Fire must be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not go out.” ~Leviticus 6:13

May God be with you.

-Joey


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A Problem in the Church

I was thinking recently. Yeah, I know…amazing right? :)

No, but seriously. I was thinking about how people in the Church today will separate themselves completely from another Christian who commits or is trapped by sin. Or maybe they try to help, but instead just try to find the easy fix. I started thinking, “Well, that can’t be Biblical, can it? Jesus commands us to love one another and be unified in the Body of Christ. And that is true. I started reading Francis Chan’s book, Multiply. In that he said something that I already knew, but it was still just as profound. He said:

“Or when we learn that a friend is struggling with sin, we are quick to explain why that sin is harmful and tell her we will pray for her (whether we follow through or not). But how many of us would take her struggle with sin so seriously that we would walk with her as she works through the issues involved?”

Yes, the Bible is clear that sin needs to be corrected. But it doesn’t end there. We can’t “correct them” and then condemn them. You see, there’s a difference between judgement and correction. Judgment brings condemnation down on the person being judged. Correction is done out of love with the hope of redemption. It’s like a parent. They may spank their son or daughter for hitting someone. A good parent doesn’t spank out of anger. A loving parent will spank (or use other forms of discipline) out of love for the child and to correct a wrong behavior. But the parent continues with loving that child.

It’s the same way with Christians. Yes, we are to correct each other’s sinful behavior. But you had better do it purely out of love and you had better be willing to walk through the issue with them in order to bring them to redemption. I think part of the problem is that many believers don’t want to get “dirty.” They don’t want to be associated with someone who has a sin exposed to the public. It’s the same attitude some have towards non-believers. They don’t want to be seen with the “undesirables.” It might ruin their reputation. Then tell me, how are you supposed to evangelize and disciple them if you don’t associate with them? If they won’t come in to the church, you bring it to them. How can your Christian brother or sister be brought back to the cross if you want to find a quick fix or just blow them off completely? Galatians 6:1-2 says:

“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Carry each other’s burdens. That will likely require you to be seen with the “undesirable.” But the attitude I mentioned above is exactly the attitude the Pharisees had. Did you know Jesus had more of problem with the “religious” people than he did with the sinners?

It’s time we get over ourselves and be willing to walk through thick and thin with our fellow believers.

-Austin


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Who is to Blame for this Mess?

blame-finger-point“He said unto them, an enemy hath done this…”—Matthew 13:28 (KJV)

Below is my response to a comment made to my post on “Being an Agent of Change”. As I began to make a simple reply, it just kept coming and I believe the Lord would have me to share it as a post with minor changes. So here goes…

I would like to comment on the “school prayer” issue. I believe that prayer being removed from the schools is the effect of spiritual decline and not the cause. Surely it has contributed to further the decline. What caused the removal of prayer from the schools? It is the spiritual force of the enemy that is behind every wicked thing that is in the world today (the devil). We cannot blame it on a person or an entity (government). It is the devil–plain and simple! Now the question is: What are we (Believers) going to do about it?

We have to stop ‘blaming’ everyone and everything but the one who is truly responsible. He (the devil) uses everyone and everything at his disposal—including you and me. It is our responsibility to resist and bind him…to render him powerless in our lives. However, we cannot do that if we are looking to blame people. In the parable of the ‘tares’, it is said that “an enemy has done this.” So, let’s go after the enemy…starting with every ‘ungodly’ thing in us.

Father, please forgive us for everything that displeases you and remove all ungodliness from within us. Help to be the light of the world, the salt of the earth, and the living example of a loving God Who doesn’t want anyone to perish! In Jesus’ Name, thank you! Amen!


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Tenderly

English: Jesus healing the sick by Gustave Dor...

“I led them with cords of human kindness, with the ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.” (Hosea 11:4 NIV)

 

I just completed the first draft of this post when the phone rang. It was the nurse from the elementary school calling to tell me my son was sick. He stayed in the clinic for a half hour but still wasn’t feeling better. So, she thought she should call and have me pick him up. I did but with reluctance. I have to admit, I like my quiet days when all of the kids are gone. I went to get him giving up my plans for the day.

 

I read this scripture a couple of days ago and I can’t get it out of my head. These words talk about a God who loves. It talks about a God who cares. It talks about a God who is tender.

 

I read these words and it reminded me of the many times I have taken care of my children when they were sick. My boys especially like to be taken care of when they are feeling under the weather. They like to curl up on the couch with their blankets and pillows. They turn the television on for hours of uninterrupted Sponge Bob and I take care of them. If they need a drink, I get it for them. If they are willing to eat, I make them whatever they ask for. I enjoy taking care of them for a day or two. After that, I’m ready for them to fend for themselves again. But for that short time, as they heal, I do whatever I can to make them feel better. It’s part of being a parent.

 

I thought about this with this verse today. The words that jumped out at me were “bent down to feed them”. God is talking about Himself here. He is the Almighty One, The Creator of all things. He is God and yet, He bends down to feed those He loves. He meets them where they are. He doesn’t require them to rise in order to be fed, He comes to them. I love this picture. He sees our pathetic state. We are slaves to our sin. We are without any hope of curing ourselves. We have even chosen to stay yoked together with the things that hold us captive. But He comes to us anyway. He lifts the very thing that is making us sick. He removes it. He takes it out of our lives. And He doesn’t leave it at that. He remains while we heal. As we gain our strength, He gives us what we need. He is tender in His care for us.

 

I don’t know, this just really spoke to me today. In our journey with Him, there will be times we choose to wander away from Him. We may even find ourselves in some grievous sin. But God always comes to us. He always leads us with “cords of human kindness, with the ties of love”. He removes our sin and remains with us, affectionately loving us while we regain our strength. He doesn’t walk away in disgust. He stays with us gently caressing our heads reminding us that we will feel better soon.

 

Thank You Lord for this beautiful picture of your love.

 

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How Can We Escape if We Ignore Such a Great Salvation?

Hebrews 2:2-4: “For since the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. This salvations, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”

You know, today people are looking for an escape. I have no doubt that many are seeking God out of the deepest and darkest pits of their life. And others are looking for something else. They’re turning to idols and those idols will never satisfy them. They’ll never comfort them. 

I have friends of mine that are in this boat that the verses above mention. They want to serve Jesus. I have no doubt about that. The problem is that they are missing, or rather ignoring the escape or the salvation that Jesus is extending to them. It’s frustrating because they want to do what is right. They want to get rid of their idols and follow Jesus with everything they are, but they just can’t seem to. As soon as something comes along they decided to put God on the back burner. It’s grievous to me. How can they escape if they ignore such a great salvation? They can’t. Jesus is the only Way out. God isn’t something we run to when our boyfriend or girlfriend other cheats on us. He isn’t something we run to when things don’t go our way. And He’s not something we run to when tragedy strikes. He should be our life. We shouldn’t be able to function properly without first seeking the Lord. Yeah, you’ll have to dump some things you might enjoy. But it’s so worth it. 

If you find yourself in this situation, I urge you to come to your senses. God is extending his beautiful grace to you. All you have to do is take it. Surrender your life to Christ completely because he bought you with his life. You will either be a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness. You pick. 

If you will please join me in praying for those friends I mentioned. I pray that anyone who reads this is just solidified in the faith. I pray that if you are going back and forth with God, you stop and surrender to Him. You’re fighting a losing battle if you don’t 

God bless!

-Austin

P.S. Sorry for not being able to post much lately. School is in the process of rapping up (just six days left!) for the summer and I have been busy with other obligations. I’m so grateful God has given you to me as an audience so that I may bring His Word to you. 

 


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Bride Of Christ

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“ I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”                                   Revelations 21:2 (ESV) 
http://www.openbible.info

“Now to the unmarried and the widows I say:  It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.”   1 Corinthians 7:8 (NIV)

I have been single all of my life.  I never married and did not adopt my son until I was in my forties.  I lived alone for many years.  Learning to accept my life as a single person, and then as a single parent was difficult.  Most little girls dream of their Prince Charming and their wedding day, I was no different.  However, I had high standards and would not consider a match that was not built on a foundation rooted in faith. 

My personal relationship with God, and my Savior Jesus, meant more to me than any human relationship that did not nurture and encourage my spiritual growth. I would often come home from work longing for a husband’s covering and protection.  I wanted someone close to discuss problems, share joys, and speak of biblical revelations. 

The single life I led brought me into a deeper understanding of God and the many dimensions of His character. He wants all of us to interact with Him and learn of His many roles.  For me, I learned to see Jesus as my Savior, brother, friend, and HUSBAND.  I am a Bride of Christ. 

If you are a single male or female, do not settle for a relationship that is any less than what God has prepared for you.  He wants to give you the very best.  The gift might not come for a very long time, but you would be wise to wait for His offering.  I am.  If I do marry some day, I know it will be hard work (any relationship is after all), but a blessing given from the hands of one who loves me dearly.  He gives only good gifts. 

While you wait for your heart’s desire, don’t stop living.  Follow the path God has placed you on…. work the job, buy a house, get a pet, adopt a child in need (if so led).  Live your life and don’t put things on hold.  Use your time to read the Word of God and memorize scriptures.  As a single person, you have fewer commitments and distractions.  Take time to have conversations with God.  Work on seeing Him from different angels and deepen your intimacy with Him.  He is all you need.  If you align your will to His, the desires of your heart will be granted.  Seek His face and ask, “What do you want from me and how would you like me to serve You?”

I am a Bride of Christ.  I will wear white on my wedding day and eat wonderful things at the wedding supper of the Lamb! 

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!
 For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and His bride has made herself ready.  Fine linen, bright and clean, 
 was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)  Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”  Revelations 19:7-9 (NIV)

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.”   Mark 1:35 (NIV)

 


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Seek Scripture And Pray When You Are Confused

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“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints.”      1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV)

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.”    John 16:13 (NIV)

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”                 Acts 17:11 (NIV)

Confusion has the ability to rob us of the peace freely given by God.  It can rob us of sleep and distract our thoughts.  It causes mental stress and health issues, if a resolution is not established.  Confusion is a tool used by the enemy.  He is a talented deceiver who continuously invents lies, often leading to our bewilderment and disobedience.  The enemy knows the Word of God but misuses it to confound and trip us in our walk. 

God is NOT a God of confusion but of peace.  We have the Holy Spirit living inside us.  He provides understanding and will always guide us to the truth.  However, it takes diligence and effort on our part to seek out God’s truth.  We are responsible for our own walk and need to be like the Berean Jews. They heard what Paul preached, but then daily examined the scriptures to see if what he was speaking was true.  We too must search scripture when trials or events cause confusion.  We should also search the Bible if a Christian leader says something we question to be doctrinal.  We can’t rely solely on others to feed us.  We must go directly to scripture ourselves and study.

We live in difficult times and it will only get more challenging.  The Bible has warned us that false prophets existed in Paul’s time, and do so even now.  They come to tickle our ears and tell us what we want to hear, often mixing truth with lies.  Christians cannot pick and choose parts of the Word to believe, and then create their own truth.  God is love but love also involves truth and discipline. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that, “ALL Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  We cannot believe every spirit, but must test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 Jn. 4:1).  They are from the world and speak for the viewpoint of the world, and sadly the world listens to them, thus deceiving themselves (1 Jn. 4:5).  This includes believers living in the world! 

The lies of the enemy are often so subtle and misleading.  It takes maturity in Christ to muddle through the lies he mixes in with the truth.  This includes the lies he whispers in our ears regarding our worth and value to God.  He will try to convince you that you are worthless and unworthy of serving the Father.  He loves to impart guilt, since he wants to cripple your service for God.  The devil wants to beat us down and convince us that God has left us in the desert forever. This is a lie!  The Father brings his children out of their wilderness in His time.  Sorrows are for but a season.

Confusion will discourage the best of us, but the best way to attack it is with scripture and prayer.  Ask God for direction and wisdom.  Request that the Holy Spirit directs you to the truth, and then be prepared to face the facts and reality.  It may cause you to make choices or personal changes.  2 Timothy 2:7 advises us to reflect on scripture and then promises that the Lord will give us insight.

If you are facing trials, struggles, or you simply have questions and concerns, diligently seek the truth.  Like a buried treasure, you will find the answers and cherished prize.  Be a Berean today!  Don’t let confusion rob you of the peace of Christ.  “Seek and you will find.” (Matt. 7:7)

“Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”                 2 Timothy 2:7 (NIV) 

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”    2 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV)

“ They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.”  1 John 4:5 (NIV)


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Let Us Major on Loving

Love One Another (Hands)My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. —1 John 4:7-8 (Message)

The Christian world needs an attitude adjustment. I believe we are seriously heading in the wrong direction. It seems we are more reflective of the attitude of the world than we are of the Word of God.

I am constantly surprised when I hear hate expressed from a Christian—either in word or deed. I am not surprised by anything a non-Christian does because they do not propose to live by the dictates of the Bible—which is God’s written Word. But a professing Christian expressing hate toward another person, saved or not, is beyond belief!

As Believers, we must get rid of the ‘parrot’ mentality—to repeat or imitate without thought or understanding. This has become almost an epidemic for Christians because far too many of us depend on others (parent, pastor, priest, etc.), to tell us what God is saying; instead of reading the Bible, praying, and trusting God to lead us…believe me, He actually knows how to do it.

This is important because many of us do a better job of representing our job, school, family, or favorite sports team, than we do our God! Too often, the extent of our knowledge of God is limited to what we have heard from others. This is not an indictment against anyone you may trust where the Word of God is concerned, but it is to call attention to the responsibility we have to know God for ourselves.

Many have rendered themselves submitted to someone else’s opinion of God more than they have submitted to God Himself. This positions us to rely on feelings and theory—rather than truth! It is the belief in and submission to the Truth of God’s Word that gives us the power to be the light of God that this world needs to see! You know how you have to grope around in a dark room to find your way? This is how it is in this world when no light is shown.

In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.—Matthew 5:16 (GNT)

People think it is okay to be rebellious, revengeful, and hateful; what they don’t know is, it is against God’s Word to be so. My friends, if we behave like the world, what’s the difference between us and them? Any person on this earth should be able to look at a Believer and see a difference in their life and living. We have a responsibility to show the love and hope of God in our daily lives; this is the light that the world needs to see. There is plenty of preaching but are we being the living Word?

Far too many people can tell you about God’s judgment and not enough can tell you about His love. It is His love that allowed Jesus to die on the cross!

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.—1 John 4:9-11 (NLT)

Since our very existence is predicated upon God’s love for us, it would be appropriate for us to replicate that love towards others because the alternative is not so pretty. Love your neighbors, love your friends, love your enemies, show love to strangers. It has nothing to do with how we are treated or how we may feel because we are commanded to love.

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”—John 13:34-35 (Message)

We have the obligation to live the scriptures more than what we have heard someone (anyone) say. Everything we do is a seed planted and we need to take heed of the type of seeds we are planting…whether they are the seeds of love or of discord and hate. The scripture declares: “Do not be fooled. You cannot fool God. A man will get back whatever he plants!”—Galatians 6:7 (NLV).

Our relationship with God is personal, not private, and should be reflective of His love for us. Therefore, allow the love of God coming from within us be what distinguishes us from the world-at-large.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

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No Turning Back- Full Length Sermon

This is the sermon I preached on Sunday night! Hope you enjoy :)

-Austin


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Can I Trust You?

Trust (Dogs at Sink)

But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.—Psalm 13:5 (KJV)

She says, he says, or we say…does it really matter at all? Although all commentary within a relationship has credence, what is also important is the trust that is between those involved.

What is trust but an: Assured resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship, or other sound principle, of another person; confidence; or reliance.

One simply cannot discount the importance of trust or take it for granted. In a marriage or personal relationship, if love is the foundation upon which the building of a relationship is built upon…then trust is the cement that holds it together.

Far too many are trying to hold a relationship together when they do not really trust their mate. This is unfortunate because this lends to missing out on the beauty of a true God-Centered relationship. Here’s three points to ponder:

  • Real trust has to be developed over time…it is earned but also given;
  • You must trust if you want to be trusted;
  • Let your trust of others start with your trust of God.

Personally, it is important to me to be able to trust my wife; but more important to me is whether she can trust me! It is my earnest desire to be found trustworthy of both my wife and my Lord.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.—Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)

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