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This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness. ~Ephesians 4:17-24 (NKJV)

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you also once walked when you lived in them. But now you must also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. ~Colossians 3:1-11 (NKJV) 

For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. ~Romans 6:4-11 (NLT)

Played: 76 | Download | Duration: 00:41:33

It seems that Christians have a tendency to identify themselves with everything and everyone BUT Christ—race, gender, doctrines, rituals, traditions, personalities, causes, organizations and denominations. But, until we see ourselves as God sees us—as new creatures in Christ—we will struggle to be the people He has called, chosen, and created us to be. Really, there are only two races of people in the world—those who are identified with Adam and those who are identified with Christ. Those who have received Christ have become a new breed of people, born in the image and likeness of God. I pray that God will help you embrace these life-changing truths as you listen to this message, "A Case of Mistaken Identity."

think on these things...
So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did.  ~2 Corinthians 5:16-18 (NLT)

For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift. And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins. The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God's wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. ~Romans 5:15-17 (NLT)

It doesn't make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. May God's mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God. ~Galatians 6:15,16 (NLT)

Played: 31 | Download | Duration: 00:45:04

"I have had times in my life and ministry when the burdens and the pressures seemed to be too much. Sometimes physical weariness adds to our problems and our temptation to give in to discouragement and doubt. At these times it seems that even in prayer it is impossible to rise above the load. More than once, by faith that seemed to have been imparted directly from heaven, the Lord has enabled me to claim all that I needed for body, soul and spirit.

On my knees I have been given freedom and strength to pray, 'Now, Lord, I have had enough of this—I refuse to take any more of this heaviness and oppression! This does not come from God-this comes from my enemy, the devil! Lord, in Jesus' name, I will not take it any longer—through Jesus Christ I am victor!' At these times, great burdens have just melted and rolled away—all at once." ~A.W. Tozer, "I Talk Back to the Devil"

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"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." ~James 4:7 (NKJV)

"So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper." ~James 4:7 (The Message)

What a different world this would be if we saw ourselves as God does. Sadly, few have had a revelation of who they are in Christ. The enemy of our faith works to keep the sons and daughters of God in the dark, knowing that, if we were to discover our true identity, the very foundation of his kingdom would be shaken. Get ready to see yourself in a whole new light! (This message was recorded LIVE! at The Sanctuary of Dublin, Dublin, Georgia, November 29, 2009.)

Played: 84 | Download | Duration: 00:49:20

"The Bible is the locus of God’s self-revelation and self-disclosure. The Scripture is God’s self-expression, his authoritative speech, and describes how we can have a saving relationship with him through Jesus Christ.

"By Scripture we know who we are, who God is. We know how to think and act in the world.  We know where we are going, that we are free, and that God loves us.  We know that God desires all men to be saved, that we can do nothing to save ourselves.  We know that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, and that Christ paid the penalty for us, and that he is coming back." ~Patrick Schreiner

think on these things...
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." ~2 Timothy 3:16,17 (NLT)

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." ~Romans 15:4 (NKJV)

When it seems that it's all over—when there's nothing left to say;
Remember "BUT GOD..." in those times—He always makes a way.

Played: 97 | Download | Duration: 00:41:40

Okay, I know my sin's forgiven, but, sometimes those things I did way back then still make me feel guilty. What's up with that? Learn how to deal with the memories of your past so you can move into the future God has for you. (This video is from a message I ministered at Life of Faith Fellowship in Port Huron, Michigan, January 11, 2000.)


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"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." ~Colossians 1:13,14 (NKJV)

"As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." ~Psalm 103:12 (NKJV)

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  ~Phillipians 3:13,14 (NKJV)

"There is no point dwelling on all the foolish mistakes we have made in our lives. For one thing, it can be very time-consuming." ~Thomas Sowell

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say: 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'” ~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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"Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn't cover up bad work." ~Colossians 3:23-25 (The Message)

"According to the teachings of the Bible, life on earth will have eternal consequences. Our earthly belief determines our eternal destination. Our earthly behavior determines our eternal compensation." ~Ralph Doudera, "Wealth Conundrum"

These days, the newspapers, television, and Internet are filled with bad news. But, don't despair, I've got some good news for you! Regardless of the state of the world, we have reason to hope in God's Word. So, do you want the good news, or the bad news first?

Played: 186 | Download | Duration: 00:35:06

Is your life headed in the right direction? Maybe it's time to pull over and stop for a reality check, and, if necessary, make a course correction to get yourself back on the right track.

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"In our time we have all kinds of status symbols in the Christian church—membership, attendance, pastoral staff, missionary offerings. But there is only one status symbol that should make a Christian congregation genuinely glad. That is to know that our Lord is present, walking in our midst! No matter the size of the assembly or its other attributes, our Lord wants it to be known by His presence in the midst. I would rather have His presence in the church than anything else in all the wide world." ~ A.W. Tozer, "Jesus is Victor"

For the past few weeks at The Sanctuary of Dublin, I've been teaching a series of lessons titled, "You Can Get There From Here." I'll be uploading all the messages in the future, but, I wanted to share this most recent message, "Be Led by the Spirit," with you now.

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Here are a few thoughts about the integrity of God's Word and the importance of knowing, believing, speaking, and living by the Word.

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All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. —2 Timothy 3:16,17 (NLT)

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'' —John 8:31,32 (NKJV)

These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. —1 John 2:26,27 (NKJV)

Classic oldies "remakes" were commonly heard at Life of Faith Fellowship in Port Huron, Michigan. This is "Born Again Woman," sung by Laura Burrell—a remake of "Natural Woman," originally sung by Aretha Franklin. It was Mother's Day when Laura first sang this song—and it brought the house down! I dedicate it to all you "Moms" for all you give and for all you do. A heartfelt "thanks" to you!

Played: 931 | Download | Duration: 00:03:46

Here's my Resurrection Sunday 2009 message from The Sanctuary of Dublin, in Dublin, Georgia. As you listen, I pray that God will give you greater understanding of what Jesus Christ suffered on your behalf when He became the sacrifice for your sin.

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"Who has believed our message? To whom will the LORD reveal his saving power? My servant grew up in the LORD's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all." —Isaiah 53:1-6 (NLT)

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." —2 Corinthians 5:20,21 (NKJV)

Played: 820 | Download | Duration: 00:31:50

For the past few months, we've been having wonderful times in God's presence at The Sanctuary of Dublin, where I serve as Senior Minister. At a recent Wednesday night "Believer's Meeting,", the worship was heavenly and the ministry was powerful. In that supercharged atmosphere, I felt led to share some thoughts about the grace of God. I didn't really preach or teach—I just shared from the Word of God and from my heart. There are a lot of lessons to be learned in life, but I believe one of the most important lessons one can learn is to "trust in the grace of God."

Here's part of my message from that service. I pray that you will hear God speak to your heart as you listen.

Played: 836 | Download | Duration: 00:29:50

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I have plenty to boast about and would be no fool in doing it, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it. I don't want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message, even though I have received wonderful revelations from God. But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. —2 Corinthians 12:6-10 (NLT)

This article by Christopher Merola brings an extra helping of historical background and common sense to the "separation of church and state" debate. Well-written and well-documented, his piece is well-worth the time to read and to pass along to others.

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"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”  —The First Amendment, The Constitution of the United States

In light of the many challenges facing this nation, we would be wise to turn our hearts to the Lord—before it's too late.

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Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls out to the crowds along the main street, and to those in front of city hall. "You simpletons!" she cries. "How long will you go on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools fight the facts? Come here and listen to me! I'll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise. I called you so often, but you didn't come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—when calamity overcomes you like a storm, when you are engulfed by trouble, and when anguish and distress overwhelm you."

"I will not answer when they cry for help. Even though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. That is why they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way. They must experience the full terror of the path they have chosen. For they are simpletons who turn away from me—to death. They are fools, and their own complacency will destroy them. But all who listen to me will live in peace and safety, unafraid of harm." —Proverbs 1:20-33 (NLT)

Through Christ, the believer not only receives God's forgiveness, but His righteousness, too. The one who receives Jesus becomes a new person—a new creation in Christ!

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"But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." —Romans 3:21-26

"Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." —2 Corinthians 5:16-21

  

The following appeared in the Lakeland Ledger, September 13, 2008:

“The giant white tents are gone now, and so are the crowds of thousands. The evangelist, disgraced, is in hiding. The revival carries on as a bare remnant of its former glory. …Now followers and observers are left to wonder what the legacy of the Florida Outpouring will be. Will it be remembered for its rapid growth and for its claims of spectacular miracles? Will it be regarded as a spiritual circus, filled with outrageous sights but little substance and even dangerously misleading teachings? Or will it be an event in which there was good despite the flaws of its leader?” —Cary McMullen, religion editor, Lakeland Ledger

So, what are your thoughts about what happened in Lakeland? I'd really like to know.

UPDATE: There are some really interesting and insightful comments on the Lakeland phenomenon that have been posted by our readers. I encourage you to check them out. Good food for thought.

Although I've passed by the place many times, I've never actually stayed at the Elmcourt Motel. The Elmcourt is one of a smattering of aging, small motor hotels—along with the Flamingo and the El Rancho—that dot a short stretch of Lapeer Road, just west of the city of Port Huron, Michigan.

The motel advertises itself as being "located close to downtown Port Huron and the bridge to Canada in a quiet environment." Quiet sounds nice. Close to stuff sounds nice, too. The owners of the Elmcourt would also have us to know that their establishment "features 15 clean motel rooms with color cable TV, HBO, air condition [sic], and refrigerators." Cozy, clean, cool, and comfortable. The Elmcourt sounds like an excellent choice for a quiet, relaxing evening when one is traveling far from home.

Ah, but things aren't always as they appear, are they?
Such would seem to be the case at the Elmcourt Motel.

The "Motel from Hell"?
I happened upon an interesting blog the other day, written by a fellow named Daniel. In one particular entry, Daniel recalled a recent stay at the "clean and quiet" Elmcourt. Daniel had ridden his motorcycle from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to visit friends in Ferndale, Michigan. While in Ferndale, he got a call from another friend named Joe, who was stuck near the Canadian border and needed help with his broken-down bike.

Daniel to the rescue!

What follows is Daniel's account of his exciting trip to Port Huron and his unforgettable night at the Elmcourt Motel:

"I got a call from Joe to come up almost to the border of Canada and help him... I finally arrived to help him with his cycle. I actually found the Kawasaki dealer before Joe, so I added two more locks to his bike to help protect it from the crazy people in the area.

"Then I met Joe at the Motel from Hell—the Elmcourt Motel.

"You have no idea what an experience that was. There was a puddle of blood on the floor with drips into the shower and into the bedroom. There were bullet holes in the sheets and bedclothes. Yes, I said bullet holes. Fun, huh? The rest of the room was even worse. Holes patched with pieces of plywood. The carpet was probably 60 years old with big chunks missing. Bugs that I don't really want to get into, as it will make your skin crawl.

"There were three gunshots in the middle of the night. I was thinking that any minute Freddy Krueger was going to break in. I even slept with every stitch of clothes on—and on top of the covers. We lived through the night and made it until morning. That was my report on my first day and night. What joy."

Hey, wait a minute, Daniel. Are we talking about the same Elmcourt Motel here?

After reading Daniel's tale of terror, I felt compelled to investigate this matter a bit further to see if I could find anyone else who'd ever stayed at the Elmcourt—anyone who could corroborate or refute his testimony.

Can I get another witness, please?

Well, I guess I could, because I did.

I did a Google search and found someone named Tina who had spent a night at the Elmcourt in July, 2007. Tina was thoughtful enough to post a "review" (more like a warning) of her stay. She described her experience with a single word: "nasty." Tina went on to write:

"this place is very nasty. stuff didn't work. sheets were tore [sic]. just very nasty. they need to replace everything in there. it needs a lot of work..."

Oh, my! "Nasty" doesn't sound very inviting, does it? Thanks, Tina. I think we got the picture!

Reservations Recommended
So, where am I going with this little story, you ask?

Well, words paint pictures, and words can create illusions that lead us far from reality. To read management's description, you'd think the Elmcourt to be a lovely little place to spend a peaceful night or two—maybe more. But, as I said, things are not always as they appear. It's wise to take time and check things out.

Sadly, many of us don't take the time—or just don't care enough—to check out much of anything for ourselves. We're prone to take most anybody's word for everything—especially if "anybody" calls themselves an "expert," or a "Christian," or has a TV or radio show, an impressive resume', or sports a fancy title or two. (We do love our titles, don't we?)

My friends, "gullibility" is not a gift of the Spirit. (No, it's not a fruit, either.)

WordNet defines gullibility as, "a tendency to believe too readily and therefore to be easily deceived." This is a widespread problem in the body of Christ. Let's call it the "Gullibility Factor." Gullibility is a big liability. The more gullible you are, the more vulnerable you are. And the more vulnerable you are, the more apt you are to believe something other than the truth.

The apostle Paul warned us that, in the last days, "some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1). That's scary stuff—even scarier than a night at the Elmcourt, I imagine.

I'm not suggesting that we should be overly suspicious of folks. But, we really do need to be more cautious and discerning. There are many false apostles and prophets and teachers running around out there, you know. And, according to scripture, even Satan can make himself look pretty fine when it suits his purposes. (See 2 Corinthians 7:14)

Jesus said, "Take heed what you hear." It's always a good idea to check things out with the Word of God, otherwise you might be shocked where you end up spending the night—or, a thought that's even more frightening—the rest of eternity. Now, that's scary!

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: "Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). In other words, don't buy the lie!

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There are many flaky, weird and foolish concepts being circulated in our movement today that must be corrected. If we don't hold tightly to Scripture, we might unknowingly give birth to a cult that could bring great damage and division to churches worldwide. It’s time to get back to the Bible! —J. Lee Grady, editor, Charisma Magazine

That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did some of the prominent Greek women and many men. —Acts 17:10-12 (NLT)

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. —2 TImothy 3:14-17

Only simpletons believe everything they are told! The prudent carefully consider their steps. —Proverbs 14:15 (NLT)

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. —John 8:31,32


(Travel tip...If you're planning a stay in the Port Huron area, you might want to check out Holiday Inn Express.)

There are many keys to freedom and victory revealed in the Word of God. But, I believe there may be a master key—a key which allows those who possess it to enter spiritual realms and experience God in ways that others—at least this side of heaven—may never know. I believe that key is: the knowledge of Christ's indwelling presence in the believer.

This God-given revelation—the revelation of Christ in you—opens up a whole new world of understanding and authority to the child of God. I pray that God will speak to you through these messages and reveal this life-changing truth to your heart and mind.

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God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his message in all its fullness to you Gentiles. This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to his own holy people. For it has pleased God to tell his people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory. So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ. We warn them and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. I work very hard at this, as I depend on Christ's mighty power that works within me. —Colossians 1:25-29 (NLT)

Christ in You: Part One
"We Have This Treasure"

Played: 917 | Download | Duration: 00:34:24

Have you looked in the mirror, lately? No, not that mirror. I'm talking about the mirror of God's Word. The mirror in your bathroom reflects what you look like on the outside, but the Word of God reveals who you are the inside. If you've received Christ Jesus into your heart, let me be the first to tell you, you're looking good!

Christ in You: Part Two
"There's More to You Than Meets the Eye"

Played: 803 | Download | Duration: 00:24:12

The fullness of God—everything that God is—is resident in Jesus Christ. But, here's the wild thing—if you've received Jesus, you've received God's fullness, too! You have been made a partaker of His divine nature through the power and promises of God. The righteousness, the wisdom, the love, the peace, and the joy of the Lord are in you right now! I pray that God will help you get hold of this life-changing truth.

Christ in You: Part Three
"Of His Fullness We Have All Received"

Played: 737 | Download | Duration: 00:43:11

I am amazed at how many new covenant Christians live as if they were still under the old covenant. If you haven't heard, the new covenant is a better covenant, based on better promises! It's time to put off the old and put on the new—and you can do just that when you begin to realize everything God has promised you!

Christ in You: Part Four
"Better Promises Make a Better Covenant"

Played: 732 | Download | Duration: 00:41:09

The key to releasing the life of God that's on the inside of you is to see yourself as God sees you, and to say about yourself the things God says about you. When you start speaking, you'll start believing, and when you start believing, the world will start seeing Christ in you—and that's a good thing!

Christ in You: Part Five
"I Am Who God Says I Am"

Played: 9308 | Download | Duration: 00:38:08

The successful Christian life is not based on promises we make to God. It is based on us believing and acting on the promises that He has made to us. When God says, "I will," you can be sure that He will!

Christ in You: Part Six
"God Said, 'I Will...'"

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Undertanding the distinction and relationship between spirit, soul, and body is extremely helpful to living a victorious Christian life.

Christ in You: Part Seven
"Spirit, Soul, and Body"

Played: 740 | Download | Duration: 00:35:58

Back in the 60s, I had a "black-leathered" friend who attended Longfellow Junior High School with me. His name was John.

In those days, I was of small stature (I still am, I suppose, compared to regulation-size adult human beings). Being one of the "vertically challenged" kids at Longfellow, I was frequently the target of bigger kids, who evidently needed to affirm their bigness.

While I was standing at my hall locker one day, one of the aforementioned bullies approached and began tormenting me. After they had completed their mission of terror, they proceeded down the hall—most likely in search of their next victim.

For now, they were gone. I could breathe again. But, even though I watched them go, I felt I wasn't alone. I sensed someone was standing behind me.

I turned and looked up to find "him" towering over me. Who was him? Him was John—big, bad, John!

John was one of a couple of guys at Longfellow that you just didn't want to mess with. And here he was. I wasn't looking forward to Round Two. No, I wasn't.

But, thankfully, John wasn't there to shake me down. Quite the opposite. John leaned over and said to me,

"If anyone ever bothers you again, just let me know."
Wow! I knew John wasn't just saying that—I could tell he really meant it!

Well, from that moment on, I knew that if anybody were to mess with me, they would have to answer to my friend, John. I think I grew about a half-a-foot that day. I knew that regardless of whatever (or whomever) may come my way, I could call on the name of "John" and he would be there to protect and defend me. That was a comforting thought.

It's been many years since I've seen John. But, I've found there are still times that I could use someone bigger than I, someone to help me fight off some of the things I face from time to time. Thankfully, I have found someone—someone even bigger than John—someone who cares for me, watches over me, and will defend me against all my enemies! Someone who has never lost a fight—and never will! His name is Jesus!

Hey, we all face big challenges in this life. There really are giants in the land. But, it's comforting to know, that Jesus is there, and that He really cares, and that He's as close as the mention of His name!

think on these things...
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. —Psalm 124:8

The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. —Proverbs 18:10 (NLT)

"When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you safely out of Egypt, is with you! Before you go into battle, the priest will come forward to speak with the troops. He will say, 'Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight today! Do not lose heart or panic. For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!' —Deuteronomy 20:1-4 (NLT)

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the congregation; and he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: `Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. `Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. `You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.'' —2 Chronicles 20:14-17 (NKJV)

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? —Romans 8:31 (NKJV)

Then he said, "Beware! Don't be greedy for what you don't have. Real life is not measured by how much we own." And he gave an illustration: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing. So he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store everything. And I'll sit back and say to myself, My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!' "But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?' "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." —Jesus, Luke 12:15-21 (NLT)

Nobel laureate and Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn died of apparent heart failure, Sunday, August 3, 2008. He was 89. Solzhenitsyn was a prolific writer, selling over 30 million books, which have been translated into over 40 different languages. Chuck Colson compares Solzhenitsyn's messages to those of Jeremiah, the prophet. He courageously exposed injustice and decried man's inhumanity against man, as did the prophet of old.

In 1974, Solzhenitsyn was arrested and forced to leave the Soviet Union because of his criticism of the oppressive Communist government and their torturous labor camps. Upon expulsion, he traveled to Germany, lived for a short time in Switzerland, and then moved to the United States. For 18 years, he lived in Vermont, where he continued his studies and writing. While here in the States, he sounded warnings to the Western world as well.

He offered a critique of American life and culture in a commencement address at Harvard University, titled, “A World Split Apart,” which he delivered June 8, 1978. At the conclusion of his message, he asked a number of questions that we would do well to consider today. He said:

"Even if we are spared destruction by war, life will have to change in order not to perish on its own. We cannot avoid reassessing the fundamental definitions of human life and society. Is it true that man is above everything? Is there no Superior Spirit above him? Is it right that man’s life and society’s activities should be ruled by material expansion above all? Is it permissible to promote such expansion to the detriment of our integral spiritual life?"

Solzhenitsyn was concerned (and rightly so), that the prevailing American culture celebrated and promoted material gain as man's primary reason for being and the amassing of wealth as life's overarching goal. In such a world—a material world without regard or use for God—one exists merely to get as much stuff as he can get, consume as much as humanly possible, and store away the rest.

Jesus warned against this very thing in the story of the "Big Barn Builder Guy." The moral of that story: "A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."

We would be wise to examine our own lives in this regard—lest one day we, also, be found to have much and possess nothing.

think on these things...
"Twenty years before it dawned on many others that freedom cannot have much meaning in a cultural and spiritual vacuum, Solzhenitsyn was being irritatingly candid about the society that had given him refuge—its empty materialism, its mundane obscenity, its substitution of cheap sentimentality for abiding faith, and its worship instead of 'imperfect man, who is never free of pride, self-interest, envy, vanity and dozens of other defects.'" —Paul Greenberg, "The Return of a Prophet"

"Beware! Don't always be wishing for what you don't have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.'' —Luke 12:15 (LVB)

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." —Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. —1 Timothy 6:6-11 (NKJV)

Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen-the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation: "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy gold from me-gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference. Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches." —Revelation 3:14-22 (NLT)

 

Steeples and pews and stained glass and fountains do not a church make. The church of Jesus Christ is not made of concrete, wood, and stone. In fact, the church has nothing to do with physical structures at all. The true church of our Lord is being constructed with people—people who have placed their faith in Jesus, been born again by the Holy Spirit, and baptized into the body of Christ. The Church is a fellowship of believers who worship together, pray together, work together, and encourage one another to faithfulness and service.

Being an active member of a local church is essential to becoming all God has created and called you to be, and to fulfilling your destiny and purpose in life. But there are so many churches—so many choices. How can one find the "perfect church?"

People choose to attend different churches for various reasons. Some are drawn to a particular ministry because they ascribe to a certain doctrine or observe certain traditions. Others base their decision on a preferred style of worship or preaching, the children’s or youth ministry, or a particular form of church government. Whatever the reason, most folks are usually looking for a place where they can be encouraged in their faith, connect with other believers, and serve and grow in the Lord.

I’m sure you realize that, this side of Heaven, you'll never find "the perfect church"—that is, a place where all the members always agree with one another, never offend one another, and never have any problems. If that's the place you're looking for, you might as well give up the search. There are no perfect churches because every church is made up of imperfect people. That said, I really do believe there is a perfect church for you—a place where God wants you to be planted, grow, and serve.

In a day and time when many believers have given up on church, I see the need now, more than ever, for God's people to be part of a local church body. I have much more to say about this, but for the moment, let me simply pray that you find the "perfect church" for you. Membership really does have its benefits!

think on these things...
"The church is not a society of the successful. It is a fellowship of the forgiven." —Robert Munger

"Churchgoers are like coals in a fire. When they cling together they keep the flame aglow; when they separate they die out." —Billy Graham

"At a deep level I sense that church contains something I desperately need. Whenever I abandon church for a time, I find that I am the one who suffers. My faith fades, and the crusty shell of lovelessness grows over me again. I grow colder rather than hotter. And so my journeys away from church have always circled back inside." —Philip Yancey

"And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." —Ephesians 1:22,23

"The perfect church is not on this earth. The most spiritual church is sure to have in it some who are still bothered by the flesh. An old Italian proverb says, 'He that will have none but a perfect brother must resign himself to remain brotherless.' However earnestly we may desire that our Christian brother go on toward perfection, we must accept him as he is and learn to get along with him. —A.W. Tozer

"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near." —Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)

"In many churches Christianity has been watered down until the solution is so weak that if it were poison it would not hurt anyone, and if it were medicine it would not cure anyone!" ~A.W. Tozer, "I Talk Back to the Devil"

"The same one who came down is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that his rule might fill the entire universe. He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." —Ephesians 4:10-16 (NLT)

I've heard it said that one should never say, "never." And I suppose that there's some wisdom to that counsel. I have thought some things would never be, but God proved me wrong (more than once, by the way). Having said that, there are some things that one can say never about. Such as:

God will NEVER lie to you, because it is impossible for God to lie (See Hebrews 6:18). And, you will NEVER get to Heaven if you don't turn from your sin (repent), believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and receive Him as Savior, because there is only one way to the Father, and that's through faith in Jesus, His Son (See John 14:6). Or, you can NEVER please God if you don't live by faith, because "without faith it's impossible to please God" (See Hebrews 11:6). Or, you will NEVER enjoy the forgiveness of God if you don't forgive others because if you don't forgive others their trespasses, God will not forgive you (See Matthew 18:21-35).

I could go on, but, here's the point I want to make—the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ will NEVER be what God has called her to be and she will NEVER do what God has called her to do until the five ministry gifts that Christ has given to the Church—the apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, the pastor, and the teacher—are all recognized, received, and functioning in their God-given gifts and callings.

The problem is, many church bodies only recognize the gift of pastor. That's whose name you will usually see on the sign out front of most churches. But where is the apostle and the prophet? And what about the evangelist and the teacher?

Many church bodies lack vision, purpose, and direction for lack of an apostle. Others struggle with division and sin because the voice of the prophet is seldom heard. And some lack a heart for the lost in this world because the gift of the evangelist is not received. Let me say again—the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ will NEVER be what she is created and called to be until these gifts are given their place in the body of Christ.

Let's pray that God will help us see our need for these gifts, and that we will receive them to the glory of God.

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Last year, my daughter, Tiffany, posted the following question on her blog...

"Anyone else out there who is sick of 'church,' its traditions, and its religion?"
I thought you might find the responses interesting. I sure did. But, I'm really not too surprised. I've heard a lot of comments like these, lately.

"Definitely . . . all we can do is pray, pray, pray . . ."

"We humans have a tendency toward making things that are supposed to simple extremely complicated. If you read about the history of 'the church,' man has always implemented rules and regulations that were not God's intention. I agree...sometimes it does get tiring!"
 
"The simple answer is 'Yes.' The complex answer is, 'Yes, so what do we do about it?' Do we just ignore it and do what we want? Do we continue to complain and go for those times when God does meet us there? Do we change it from within? Do we go out 'into the wilderness' and buck the system? Do we make our own set of rules? Do we wait on God to teach us how to worship in spirit and in truth? (I don't expect you to have answers—just things that came to mind when I read this.)"
 
"Yes...Yes...Yes..."

Any thoughts?

What say you?

I wrote the following a few years ago, and, as I did, I imagined Mr. Rogers (of "neighborhood" fame) reading it aloud. I want to share it with you who've never read it. I pray that as you read, you might not just hear Mr. Rogers' voice however, but the voice of the God's Holy Spirit speaking to your heart.


This is a story about God's church. Even though this story has a happy ending, it's still quite a sad story. It's sad because God's church is broken. It doesn't work like it's supposed to work. It doesn't do what it's supposed to do. It doesn't even look like it's supposed to look. To tell you the truth, it's in pretty rough shape. I don't like God's church to be broken. It makes me sad. It makes me sad because it makes God sad. Doesn't it make you sad, too?

I've been talking to God a lot about His broken church. I wanted to know if it could be fixed. I also wanted to know if there was anything I could do to help. God said, "Yes, it can be fixed," and He told me I could help. Wow, that makes me happy! But God also said He'll need lots more help to fix His church. Hey, maybe you'd like to help God fix His broken church! If you ask Him, maybe He would let you help, too. That would be great! Then we could work together to fix God's church. That's an awesome idea!

It's good to know God's broken church can be fixed, but it's not going to be easy. Nope, it won't. It won't be easy because not many people really know what's wrong with it. They mostly just know something's not right. There are others who don't even know it's broken. Now, that's sad. Even worse, there are some who do know it's broken, but don't want to have to change anything to fix it. Instead, they just pretend everything's okay. That's really sad!

God said some things will have to change for His church to be what He wants it to be and do what He wants it to do. Yup, that's what He said. If God's broken church is ever going to get fixed and work right, some things have got to change. But who knows what to do and who knows where to start?

This reminds me of Humpty Dumpty. You remember Humpty Dumpty, don't you? That too is a sad story. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men, Couldn't put Humpty together again. What a mess! The king's men didn't know where to start. Even the king's horses couldn't lick the problem. All those pieces. What goes where? Who knows? If only the king's men could have remembered what Humpty looked like before his fall, then maybe they could have put the pieces back where they belonged. Like Humpty Dumpty, God's church is in kind of a mess, too. It's fallen and it can't get up. God's broken church needs help—a lot of help! It needs God's help. Only God knows how to fix His broken church. Only God knows what it's supposed to look like. After all, it's His church.

If we knew what God's church was supposed to look like, then we could help Him fix it. There's an idea! Then God's church could be what He wants it to be, and do what He wants it to do. That would be simply wonderful! Don't you think so? Come to think of it, God has shown us what His church is supposed to look like. He's shown us in the Bible. Trouble is, we've been busy doing so many other things, that we haven't taken time to see what God's church is supposed to look like. If we had taken the time, we would have discovered that the church we know today is really very different from the New Testament church.

I wonder why God's church is so different today? I wonder what happened? Do you ever wonder what happened to God's church? Only God really knows. By the way, I wonder what really happened to Humpty Dumpty. I wonder if he just lost his balance—or maybe he was pushed—or maybe he was trying to take his life. I don't know, do you? All I know is he needed somebody to help him get it together again. Likewise, it really doesn't matter how the church got broken—we just need to do what we can do to help fix it!

think on these things...
"...I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." —Matthew 16:10 (NKJV)

"And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple." —1 Peter 2:5

This story and other inspirational writings are included in my book,"One Step at a Time," which is available at Amazon.com.