A different tongue

I read today in Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." I'm amazed at the things I hear come from the mouths of those who proclaim to be Christian. The word Paul used for 'corrupt' is taken from the Greek word 'Sapros' which means 'worthless, poor quality, bad, putrid, unfit for use'. Our speech and our conversations should not mimic or compare to those of unbelievers. Yet it's hard to tell a difference anymore when standing among a group of people. I don't advocate that as Christians we mention the Lord's name every other word, or say "Thank you Jesus" every few minutes. I'm talking about our conversation in general and the words and phrases we use. I'm guilty of being edgy when I talk, sometimes using course words to describe things or to get my point across. Though I'm convinced it is the result of not growing up in a Christian family, I'm now a believer and therefore my words should reflect the influence of the Holy Spirit within my life and my thoughts. I also realize that I must be careful that I don't become legalistic in this pursuit. But though Paul in one place said that to a Christian, all things are lawful, he also finished it by saying, but not all things are convenient, or good. The above scripture ends by saying rather than speaking corrupt, bad, worthless things, we should speak things that edify and ministers grace to those within hearing distance. Whether in private or in public, my words should edify and minister grace. I'm not concerned about people feeling good about themselves when they are done talking to me, but I should be concerned about the effect of what I've said has had on them. Isn't it amazing that as Christians we have selective obedience when it comes to God's word? Like a great buffet set before us, we pick and choose the things that are easy for us to handle, and push aside the things that call for sacrifice and commitment. If I understand Ephesians correctly, people should not only know we are Christians by our lifestyle, but also by our conversation. Unfortunately most people only know we're Christian because we tell them, not because they have seen evidence of it in our lives. I say this pointing a finger at myself, for I'm as guilty as anyone, if not more so. James said "Faith without works is dead" and what he meant was that our faith in Christ is lived out daily in our walk and lifestyle, that includes our tongues too! And that my friends is the reality of it!

Living In His Shadow

When God directed Moses on how to divide the promised land among the tribes of Israel, one tribe was to get more than all the others. You would think that tribe would be the largest, but it wasn't the largest tribe. The tribe that received more than the others was the tribe of Levi. God told Moses that they were not to receive any land, He would be their portion. He wanted Levi to have Himself, and with that, they in essence received more than the other tribes combined. So many of us when we go to church go with the intention that we're going to get something from God. For some its a need of healing, or deliverance, or maybe a financial breakthrough. For some they hope to get some much needed encouragement or strength for something they are going through. Yet when we look at what happened during that time God instructed Moses on dividing up the land, we see what the church today so desperately needs. We have need of Him. Think for a moment Paul's request in the book of Philippians chapter three, verse ten, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." When you consider the fact that Paul knew Christ in a way that many have only imagined to know Him, and seen things that most of us won't see until we get to Heaven, his request is amazing. He so much wanted only God. When you study his life you see that Paul didn't desire a new home, more money, better health, a larger ministry, or a host of other things, he wanted only God for himself. He wanted to live in His shadow. I'm challenged more than ever to desire Him more than even my needs. When we allow our needs, no matter how important they may be, to dictate our walk with Him, then we have missed it altogether. It's not to say that healing, or encouragement, or a host of other needs aren't important, they just aren't the things we should desire first, Christ is who we should desire first. If my seeking of Him is only for what I can get or what I need, then I'm not really seeking Him. There is a minister in Russia who has a church of 25000 members. He drives a car that's ten years old, rents a three bedroom apartment, and lives on a very modest salary. He could have more, could have anything he wanted actually, but he desires something more than the comforts offered by this world, he desires rather to live in His shadow. There's nothing wrong with new homes, nice cars, money in the bank, or even plastic surgery, yet how many of us can say we're living in His shadow? Perhaps the reason our shadow doesn't heal anybody as Peters did 2000 years ago is because we enjoy living in the shadow of the world and all its comforts rather than His shadow and the sacrifice that comes for such privilege! And that my friends is the reality of it!

Who in Hell are you?

Does that question sound familiar? It should of course as that is the same question that some demons asked a certain group of men trying to copy the Apostle Paul. The story is found in the book of Acts, chapter 19, of which a group of them, seven to be exact, decided they were going to cast some devils out of a person. It must of been a big devil because the man in whom it resided jumped on all seven of them and they ended up streaking back to town! This story tells me some things, first of all, it tells me that in order to apply what one hears from the pulpit requires more than getting the formula right, you've got to know the Author of the message. And secondly, you can't depend upon another person's position with the Author, you better be positioned rightly with Him yourself. And lastly, your position with Him is apparently well known in the Kingdom of darkness, as witnessed by the response of the demon who said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, But who are you?" What the brothers did in their attempt to cast out the evil spirit added up to them basically telling the devil to shoo. And the demon in response said, "We know who Jesus is and who Paul is, But who in hell are you?" You see in Washington, friends of the President are known by everybody, you know who gets face time with him. Its the same in God's Kingdom, friends with the King of Kings are well known not only in Heaven, but also in Hell! That is why when these men attempted to cast the demon out, the demon called their bluff. There is a separation coming to the church in the last days, between the haves and have nots. I'm not talking about those who preach prosperity as something obtained by the super faithful, leave that garbage to the prosperity windbags who choose to base their entire ministry on taking Scriptures out of context for selfish gain. I'm talking about those who will either have the goods, or not have the goods when it comes to Spiritual authority. Its exciting to see world events happening at an accelerated rate, showing that we are entering or have entered the last days. At the same time there is a shifting taking place in the body of Christ as a renewed hunger for Him takes hold of His church, and as foretold in the Scriptures, there will be a falling away, and a chasing after teachers who only teach a soothing, ear tickling message. So I have to ask you and it begs an answer... Who in Hell are you? And that my friends is the reality of it!

Where is God?

I was listening to my favorite sports talk show yesterday and the topic turned from Football to the shooter at the Amish school. What caught my attention was when one of the hosts asked the other, "Does it seem like things are getting worse?" To which the reply was, "Yes, it seems the world is getting worse, more whacked out". I thought about that for a moment, realizing that those two men, non-Christians without any knowledge of Bible prophecy, was actually right on target! No doubt many are asking themselves today, "Where is God?" and to that I'd have to answer, the same place He has always been! I don't doubt He looks over the portal of Heaven with a heaviness within His heart at the condition of mankind. We have Senators who solicit young kids for sex, drugged crazed lunitics who kill and murder for a few more dollars, sick minded people who walk into our schools and shoot innocent children. We have religious fanatics who think its ok to burn churches and kill without thinking, but God forbid if you say one negative word about Islam. We have misinformed mothers who willingly abort their babies, ministers who sleep around, and priests who abuse children. Where is God? He is where He always has been, yet I know it breaks His heart. I wonder if He has walked among us observing all this. In the Old Testament He showed up at Abrahams door one day, ate lunch, and said He had come down to observe Sodom for Himself, just to see if what He had heard was true. Now dont' get all religous on me, I know God is everywhere, but His manifest presence isn't everywhere, just His omnipresence, which is why He chose for His manifest presence to show up and have lunch with Abraham. He had done that many years earlier too when He decided to check out the tower of Babel. What I understand is that those two times He showed up personally, well it didn't go well for those He was watching! So to answer your question, Where is God? You can be sure He is watching us, I just hope when He comes personally to check up on us, I'm sitting with Him! And that my friends is the reality of it!