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Traditionally Bound

Mark 7:9 (NKJV)

He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.”

Tradition isn’t a bad thing. I quite enjoy tradition actually. I love Christmas and our Christmas traditions that have become a yearly staple. Yes, traditions can be very nice, however when they become bondage that’s where their benefits end.

Religion is full of traditions, and always has been. If you’ve grown up in a church you are probably quite accustomed to those traditions. Traditions generally grow out of something that has been good or has worked in the past and people grab onto them in the hopes that they will continue to work in the future. It’s not a bad thought on the surface, but does it help us to be more spiritual? The answer is no. Often times, we do things that seem good because we always have, yet there is not much power in them. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:5 warning Timothy, “having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” Tradition in of itself may not be wrong but when it becomes something we do without understanding, it then turns into bondage.

Many denominations do things more out of fear than they do out of godly reasoning or direction. I have seen this clearly in one particular sect of Christianity we have in our area. The people belonging to this sect are wonderful people, hard workers, thrifty, and very innovative. There is a lot of their culture that is to be emulated. However, one that is dangerous is their tradition of bondage. There are many things that they do simply based out of tradition, many of which they have no understanding of why they do them. They do them based in a fear that if they don’t continue God will reject them. 

This Jesus spoke about in Matthew 15:9 where He said, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” The ironic thing is, all these traditional practices bring absolutely no one closer to God. God sent Jesus to make us free, not bind us by fear. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that, “without faith it is impossible to please God”. Faith by definition is surety. You cannot be sure of anything that you cannot understand. If you can’t be sure, then you can’t have faith, and if you can’t have faith you are living in sin. This is the very reason why scripture is written. Knowledge of His Word is what leads us to God, not traditions based on the whims or fears of man. 

I don’t write this to bash or look down upon anybody. The Bible tells us that when we know the Truth that very Truth will set us free (John 8:32). I’m so glad that Jesus didn’t come to give more rules but to free us from the bondage of trying to follow them. God desires a relationship with us. A good relationship is never one where someone is forced into obligation. God so loved the world that He sent His Son to set us free. If His Son sets us free we are free indeed, from every whim and tradition of man. Have tradition at Christmas with your family or any other time that blesses you. When it comes to your faith, have the freedom of a relationship with the most amazing Father to ever exist!

John 8:36 (NKJV)

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff 

What’s Your Reason?

It seems so often that people go about life just sort of spinning wheels, not really going anywhere, but wearing themselves out. It’s almost this purposeless existence and sadly, it’s a human epidemic even found in the church, in Christians. God created us with a purpose! We were made to do good things. Look at Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

The enemy would love to keep us from that plan God has for us, but often times he doesn’t even have to try.  Look at Proverbs 1:32, “For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.” This word complacency is actually the same problem that Jeremiah dealt with in Jeremiah 22:21, “I spoke to you in your prosperity (complacency),

But you said, ‘I will not hear.’” Complacency can be defined as self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. Too often people are self-satisfied, thinking they don’t need God. This is complacency, and notice what the above definition says, those who are complacent are unaware of the actual dangers of it. See, often times, we’re our own worst enemy. 

Have you ever watched one of those blooper moments on television, when an athlete is running towards the goal, scores and then celebrates only to find out he just won the game for the other team? So many times Christians are scoring goals toward the enemy’s scorecard. We need to take guard lest we become complacent Christians. 

Revelation chapter 3 addresses this issue of complacency in the Laodicean church.  Revelation 3:16, “…because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” It’s so awful to the Lord that His people become complacent that He’d rather vomit! The Word says this! Look at vs. 17, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” These Christians were self-satisfied, unaware of their own deficiencies, inconsiderate of their need for God. They had lost their fervor. They had lost their first love. This life may not feel that bad for a while, but ultimately it’s a path to misery. 

Now look at Revelation 2:3-4, “…you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Notice here that it’s good-hearted, willing and obedient Christians that have walked into complacency. We must not be the Christians who run for God but forget why we’re running! Are we at a place in our walk with the Lord that we’ve stopped coming to Him just to spend time with Him? Are we paying more attention to what we can accomplish for our lives instead of what He has for us to do? We need Him. We actually need Him, if we’re going to have the blessed life we were created to have. 

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée 

God’s Point Of You

1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV)

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Maybe the worst thing a Christian can ever say is “can’t”. It’s a dirty four letter word that has no place in a believer’s mouth. The words we speak determine the future we seek! The problem with the word is that it is the absolute opposite of faith. Jesus said in Mark 9:23, that ALL things are possible to him who believes. That’s a bold statement, and one a lot of “believers” struggle with. To repeatedly say you “can’t” is a confession in a belief that is opposite of God’s Truth. It is the same as calling Him a liar! 

We are in dire need of God’s perspective. This is one of the big reasons he put His Holy Spirit on the inside of each of us. So how do we see things from God’s point of view? Faith. Faith is the ability to see things the way that God sees them. Faith however is not natural to us, it is something that must be built. 

The only way to build faith is through the word of God (Romans 10:17). This is also why people who only ever learn to live according to their flesh and their feelings will never realize the fullness of what God has for them. The mistake many believers make is assuming that God’s will is automatic. If there is anything that scripture shows us, from Genesis to Revelation, it’s exactly the opposite. God needs man’s participation. 

Some would say that this statement is prideful but they don’t understand the place from which it’s said. God doesn’t need our involvement because of our greatness or ability,  He needs it because of His. See, God designed everything. In His design He determined that man would have dominion over everything (Genesis 1:28). God made imperfect man to rule and to reign! Man lost dominion, Jesus restored it. Not to Himself but to mankind. Though God technically doesn’t need us, He designed us to be used for His purpose. He ordained the works, therefore His way is the only way.

We must learn God’s way and God’s way is not bound by the easy cop-out of “can’t”. God’s way is to believe what He says, speak what you believe, and then receive the answer as fact even before you see it. We have to know God and His ways if we are to realize what He has for us. Don’t bind yourself with your words, free yourself with His!

Isaiah 55:8-9  (NKJV)

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth. So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff 

 

And The Two Become One

For those of you living in Western NY you’ll know we had quite the bout of winter weather to start this week. I found myself awakened by the extreme winds in the wee hours, talking to my husband around 4 a.m. which got me thinking about this husband/wife relationship we have. It’s funny how I can wake him up just to tell him to listen to the wind. When I’m cold I can invade his space. His side of the bed becomes my side of the bed and his body heat becomes my personal heater. We can work together, laugh together, rest together, and just exist daily knowing we are in this life together. You may be thinking, where are you going with this? Ephesians 5:31 says, “…a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” When I consider my marriage it’s an example of this through and through. 

I’m so thankful for this because it’s easy for me to understand the way my relationship with God is supposed to be. Look at the next verse, Ephesians 5:32, “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Jesus came and died and rose again, sending the Holy Spirit to live on the inside of us and become one with us. We can work together, laugh together, rest together, and exist daily knowing we are in this life together with Him! Look at Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Our life should be of the same purpose as Jesus. Our life should be one with Him. We should be able to go to the Lord without hesitation, just expecting Him to listen. We should be able to go to Him for comfort, just expecting Him to comfort us. 

Read Colossians 1:26, “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Christ in you, and Christ in me, us becoming one with Christ, is the hope of glory! That word glory is His magnificence! It’s His excellence and His grace! We need power in our life? We need His glory operating in us! Look now at John 17:22, “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.” God’s intention for us was that just as Jesus and God the Father are one, we would be likewise one with Him. This is the true freedom in Christ, oneness with Him! I get excited about that!!

Oh and it gets better… look at John 16:14-15, “He (the Holy Ghost) will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” When I entered into covenant with my husband, all he had became mine and all I had became his. (No husband and wife should live separately, as this covenant relationship is meant to show us things about our relationship with the Lord.) When we accept and proclaim Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, all He has becomes ours and all we have becomes His. There’s meant to be no separation. Let God invade your space, like I invade my husband’s space. Let Him in and give Him free reign in every area of your life. All His glory and all His power comes along with Him! Amen?!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée 

There’s A Plan For Your Life

Ephesians 2:10 AMP

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship),recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Jeremiah 29:11 is a familiar scripture if you’ve attended our church, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” From the beginning of the creation of man, God had a plan for mankind, and for each individual He created. After the fall of man, that plan didn’t go away, but God had to send Jesus to make it possible for us to get back to that hope and future He had for us. God prearranged a GOOD LIFE for us! He prepared the way that we SHOULD walk in it. But the choice is up to us. Philippians 2:12, tells us we should, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Fear and trembling refers to reverence and honor. Our hearts should want to honor God and our actions should align with that honor. 

Look at Psalms 23:1-3, “…He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” Notice, the Lord leads, but doesn’t drag. The Lord leads, but doesn’t force. That word lead means to guide or to conduct. I think of a museum guide who takes you on a tour. The only ones who get the knowledge are the ones who listen and follow along. Some people stop to look at something else. Some go a different direction entirely, but if you want to be led, you must follow. I also visualize an orchestra conductor. The musicians could all play a different song. They could refuse to play a song at all. It’s the whole group coming together, led and conducted that makes the sweet sound of music. We must CHOOSE to let Him lead us. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He is the way! But we must choose the path. 

Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” I can’t help but to think of the closing verse of a famous Robert Frost poem, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” Folks, it makes all the difference whether we choose to follow Him or follow another path. Many are called and few have chosen. Let’s be the ones who choose His way, His path, His plan, His truth, and His life. Amen!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée 

Easy Receiving

Matthew 11:29 (NKJV)

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Our God is a good God. His greatest desire is us. Imagine then, how frustrating it must be to have your greatest desire always distracted by lesser things. God has a wonderful plan in place for humanity. Eye has not seen nor ear heard the (marvelously amazing) things which He has for us the scriptures says. He desire is to reveal it, though.

In the above scripture He calls Himself gentle. I did a little research on this word and was blessed by what I found. Perhaps the best definition, at least in my opinion, is easily imposed on. I find it amazing that the creator of everything, you, me, and all that we see, is easily imposed upon. So many people go to God afraid, never really knowing whether He will help or not. That’s how people feel but that’s not the God of the Bible. He says, “Come to Me, I’m ready to answer you.”

The key to coming to God is found plainly in Hebrews 11:6. You must believe that He is a good God and all that that entails AND that He is a rewarder of those who know their place. My daughter comes to me any time she needs or even desires anything. She knows, at least as far as she is concerned, that I am easily imposed upon. She knows it isn’t hard to get her way. Now she knows also that I will never do anything that would harm her so when I do say no, it’s in her best interest. But I don’t make a habit of saying no if it will bless her. Maybe one of the greatest reasons I love to bless her is because it makes me think of my Heavenly Father. He loves to bless me!

We as Christians need to live as God intended us to. He paid for such a glorious covenant so that we could! The key however, to any covenant is knowing what belongs to you in it. When two people marry, they recite vows. These vows lay out the covenant plainly for both people involved. God has laid out our covenant plainly too. The very nature of what we call ourselves, Christians, tells us about this covenant. He has written us the most thorough manual to remind us constantly what we can expect. He gave us the Holy Ghost to declare and remind us continually of His promise. Still, many live without ever experiencing even remotely what He has set aside for us. Eye has not seen nor ear heard the wonderful things God has for us scripture says. His Spirit continually reveals them to us, but do we even listen?

Mark 9:23 (NKJV)

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff