What god do you serve?

 What god do you serve?

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14-15.

If you are a Christian which god are you following?

Our world whether we want to admit it or not is filled with gods. They may not be graven images but they are still gods. Here in the west materialism is by far the most widely worshipped god. 

Here in North America and indeed the western democracies we are inundated by materialism. The media daily, hourly, minute by minute spews out its message. You must have the latest greatest gadget. If you can’t afford it charge and pay for it later.

Materialism has also infiltrated the church. Here in North America where I live the media is filled with men and women claiming to be Christians who tell people that if they have enough faith God will make them rich. If they give to their ministry God will bless them ten fold, or even a hundred fold. A message that is nothing more than false hope.

Now there’s nothing wrong with having material wealth or having the latest gadget. The problem arrises when the wealth and gadgets take first place in our lives. When wealth and the material things it can buy take the place of God.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10.

Jesus said,

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money Matthew 16:24.

Thus my question to you; Which God are you serving?

Please think about it.

Love and Faithfulness

 Love and Faithfulness

The writer of proverbs states,

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

 bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favor and a good name

 in the sight of God and man.”

                                             Proverbs 3:3,4.

Here’s a simple question, is love and faithfulness the most important attribute in your life?

When people think of you do they remember you for your love and faithfulness?

Please think about it.

How would you vote?

 How would you vote?

    The Psalmist writes,

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16.

Every now and then I like to poke Christians and others with a pointy stick this is one of those days. Thus I present to you the story of Margaret Elizabeth.

“That morning, Margaret Elizabeth got up extra early, readying herself for the day.  She would get only one chance to make an impression.  To that end, she applied her makeup with extra care.  Chose the black ankle length wraparound skirt, white turtle neck top and black jacket, her children had given her as a gift, while in hospital.  She limited her jewelry to a simple pair of diamond studied earrings, that had been her grandmother’s and small bracelet given to her by her daughter-in-law.

Leaving that office, to walk to the pulpit was the hardest step, she ever had to make.  Her heart pounded and by the time, she stood behind the pulpit she was visibly shaking.

“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Margaret Elizabeth Williamson and just before Christmas, I underwent Sexual Reassignment Surgery.” she said relief surging through her body, as silence engulfed the assembly.  

I know that many of you, maybe uncomfortable with that.  That is why I have asked to speak to you, to give you my testimony and then allow you to ask questions.

I have felt like a woman trapped in a man’s body for my entire life.  I was married for over thirty years to a wonderful and accepting woman, who died several years prior to my coming to this assembly.  I have a wonderful family, all of whom support me and are here today.

Believe me, I did not choose this course of action lightly.  I did so after much personal anguish and a great deal of prayer.

For a little over two years prior to my complete transition, I have lived my life as a woman: I was doing so when I came to this church and I think I did it well enough that no one knew.  If so they did not commented.

I have no apologies to give for what I did, or who I am, because I do not believe I did anything wrong.

I accepted Jesus as my Saviour over thirty-five years ago, and asked Him to remove from me what at times, has been a difficult burden.  He has chosen not to and thus, I have accepted that I am what I am.  A child of God, who knew me according to the Psalms in my mother’s womb.

I have no intentions of preaching a sermon here today, only to ask you to accept me as I am.  In fact, the only reason I stand before you today, is because I was asked to come onto the staff of this church and wish to be completely honest with you.

Now, I will open the door to all questions and endeavor to answer them to the best of my ability.  Nothing is off limits. After the questions, pastor will ask for a vote and abide by your decision.”

There were many questions. Finally however, the question answered, the pastor came to the front.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time to take a vote.”  He said.  “If you wish Margaret Elizabeth to become a part of our pastoral staff, please rise to your feet.”

Thus my question to you the reader. How would you vote?

Please think carefully and prayerfully about it.

The Eleven O clock Prayer

 The Eleven o clock prayer

     Jesus said,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12.

This is one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith. Treating others the way you want to be treated. That being said I leave this story with you to think about. Its called the eleven o clock prayer.

“It's eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation, waits. 

Will the new law be legal? 

Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. 

On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.

On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.

One man among them screams angrily . "HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!"

Approached by the media he says it again, "homosexuals are going to Hell." 

From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?"

Wasn't it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?

Wasn't it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?

Wasn’t it Christ who said, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" 

Wasn't it Christ who said go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation?

Is this man showing love?

Is this man judging another? 

Would this man appreciate being told he’s going to Hell?

Is he going to Hell? 

Can this man be effective in reaching the whole world for Christ, of which a percentage are homosexual?

Is this man even a Christian?

A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, "Can we truly know what is in someone else's head?

Do we really know why a person is like they are?"

For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day?

Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, "Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision, the wise decision, on this law. Let me do to others as I would have others do to me.”

Please think about it.

The work of Christians

 The work of Christian.

Matthews Gospel records,

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

    Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20.

The church has a duty to perform. That is presenting the gospel to all the world and to teach new converts all that Jesus taught them. 

If a church or individuals are not doing so they are dead. Thus the  call of Christ to such churches, is to waken up and serve Him to the fullest.

We must always remember that the job of evangelism will not end until Christ returns to earth. That we must continually work for Christ until His return. We must strive to reach people with the message of salvation. 

We must make disciples of people not only on the outside of the church, but those who are inside the church and not saved.

Please think about it.

Do you believe this?

  Do you believe this?

The apostle Peter writes,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you” 1Peter 1:3-4.

This is what Christians believe. We have a living hope in heaven that can never perish, spoil, or fade.

This is what Christians, believers in Christ Jesus want to tell the world about. It is something everyone who puts their trust in Christ Jesus has. It is a gift from God.

The apostle Paul writes,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.

As Christians we believe you cannot live a life good enough to stand before God. God knowing this sent his one and Only Son, Jesus, to redeem us. To save us.

 This redemption is a gift. Like any gift the individual must accept it for it to mean anything. 

It’s like someone offering you the key to a house and telling you its yours all you have to do is accept the key. If you don’t accept the key the house is not yours.

John’s gospel records this conversation between Martha and Jesus. John states,

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25,26.

Martha believed, what Jesus said. Thus my question to you is do you believe what Jesus said?

Will you accept the saving Grace that comes from God through Jesus Christ?

Please think about it.

Social Christians

 Social Christians

The book of revelations speaks of the Church at Sardis. It states, 

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: 

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  

Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.  

Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.  

He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.  

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3:1-6. 

Here is a church that appears to be alive but is in fact dead. 

It is possible for a church to seem to be doing all the right things yet not be doing what God wants them to do.

There are many churches that hold great orchestrated praise and worship services. That follow a systematic study of the Bible. That have prayer meetings. Help the poor and much more.

    These churches on the outside look fine but all they are doing is following an empty scripted program. They are ministering to their congregation but not doing what God wants them to do.

That’s true for people to. An individual can seem like they have got it all together. They attend church both on Sunday and during the week. They go to prayer meetings even go to other Christian events. The trouble is they are simply doing it because they feel this is what a person should do. They are not doing what God wants them to do. They are as one person put it “social Christians”. 

I think these were the kind of Christians Jesus talked about when he said,

“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23

Please think about it.

Is this you?

  Is this you?

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                               Hebrews 11:1

Having faith in anyone or any thing is hard. Read again the definition of faith as given by the writer of Hebrews.

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” 

Many people say if they can’t see it, feel it, or hear it, it doesn’t exist. Yet scientist operate on faith all the time. Einstein believed in his theories even though many of them were not proven until after his death and many “experts” in his day disagreed with him.

It takes quite a lot of courage to believe in something you cannot see, feel, or hear. Perhaps that’s why the write of Hebrews said,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God,

 because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

                                                                          Hebrews 11:6.

God realizes that people of faith are the most devout. They are people who will put their life on the line for what they believe.

If you claim to be a Christian. A follower of Christ Jesus. Is this the kind of faith you have in God. A faith that you will stay with even if it costs you your life?

Please think about it. 

A sign

 A sign

Matthews gospel records,

“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 

He replied,“When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’  

and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.  

A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.” Matthew 16:1-4.

Here the Pharisees and Sadducees normally enemies had got together against their perceived common enemy Jesus. 

They demanded a sign that he was the Messiah. They had no faith in him which is more than likely why Jesus refused to give them a sign.

He said the only sign they would have was the sign of Jonah. It was something Jesus had spoke of previously. Matthew recording, 

“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40.

The religious leaders of his day were against him. I don’t think it would have mattered how many signs Jesus gave it would not have been enough.

The same is true today. 

There are many things that point to Jesus being who he said he was, Lord and God, both inside and outside the Bible. Yet no matter how many proofs are given many will not believe.

I have found over the years that true seekers. People who are truly seeking meaning to life will see the truth about Jesus and accept him as Lord and Saviour of their life.

Think about it

God Incarnate

  God incarnate.

The writer of Hebrews states,

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  Hebrews 1:1,2.

Here we have a key belief of Christians. Jesus is the Son of God. He is appointed as heir of all things, and through Him the universe was made. Jesus is God incarnate.

C. S. Lewis stated,

    "I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

Thus the question becomes; who do you think Jesus is?

Please think about it.

 Where is your treasure?

Jesus said,

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  Matthew 6:19,20

Jesus told this parable,

Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 

"Then he said, ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 

"But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:15-21.

Now there is nothing wrong with being rich and enjoying your wealth. The problem comes if your wealth and pleasure draws you away from God. 

The apostle Paul wrote,

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10

Many years ago my pastors wife was fond of saying, 

“We have only one life. It will soon be past only what’s done for Christ will last.”

So where is your treasure.

Please think about it.

Rest

 Rest

The Psalmist writes,

“I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”Psalm 16:2.

As I look back on the six plus decades of my life, I can honestly say the best decision I have ever made in my life is to follow Jesus.

I have been through many triumphs, and sadly many tragedies, in my life and through it all God has been there for me. Had He not been there for me, my life may have been much shorter. And I know others who can say the same thing.

It all comes down to what I learned as a new Christian. The pastor I had at the time pointed me to the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter six that reads,

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33,34.

And to the word of Jesus in Matthew chapter eleven that reads,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

I have found over the years that no matter how good or how bad the situation is, God is there for me. As He is for anyone who sincerely calls on Him.

Please think about it.