Category: Faith Fix

Light, Not Darkness (ATP)

Luke 11:35 (AMP) says “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.” Can you elaborate on this? How can we be careful to avoid this? What do we watch out for?

I love how God makes following His directions very simple. Let’s look at this scripture in context and examine it throughout the gospels to get a clearer understanding. Luke 11:33-36, “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.” God uses this parable of light because it’s something we can all understand. Light illuminates, keeps us knowing the direction, keeps us from stumbling, etc. This is both true naturally and spiritually.

Psalms 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet. And a light to my path.” Many other scriptures relay this truth similarly, helping us understand that it is the truth of God’s Word that brings light. Remember Isaiah the prophet prophesied that the people who sat in darkness would see a great light. That was the light of Jesus bringing salvation, and the Word of that salvation to the world.

Now let’s look at Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Notice first, that we now as believers are called the light of the world. First it was Jesus, but now we are His fellow workers. We understand that a lamp not turned on won’t illuminate anything. Likewise, a Christian refusing to keep their light shining won’t bring light to anything or anyone. See what the light is supposed to be carried through? Good works.

Skip ahead to Matthew 6:22-23, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” The meaning of this word darkness is wicked, diseased, blind, or full of evil. In 2 Corinthians 4:4 we see the truth that the god of this world, the devil, has blinded the minds of those who are perishing. Where does someone experience blindness? The eyes. Notice the mind here is spoken of. Darkness or blindness really has to do with our minds and how we think. When we think wrong, we live wrong. Light and darkness are used to contrast spiritual knowledge vs.  spiritual blindness, morality and righteousness vs. sin.  1 John 1:5-7 says, “…God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

How do we see to it that the light in us isn’t darkness? We continually put to practice Romans 12:1-2, which says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” We renew our minds by the Word of God and then act according to the direction and commandments of God. Then, we take that light to others both in word and deed. This is our primary direction, and this is the calling of every single believer who wonders what it is God has for them to do! Be His people, be His church, and be His light to this lost world.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée

Gifts Of Grace Pt 3 (ATP)

How do I know what my spiritual gifts are?

Romans 12:6-8 (NKJV)

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Ephesians 4:8 (NKJV)

8 Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,

He led captivity captive,

And gave gifts to men.”

For the third and final part of answering this question I want to focus on what is referred to as the ministry gifts or offices and the things that can go along with them.

In Ephesians 4:10-12, the Bible talks about specific offices that humans can stand in and with those offices there are different abilities that reveal themselves as they are carried out. Though this isn’t an exhaustive dissertation on all of these, I am going to stick to what I think is relevant to the original question.

One of the more commonly recognized offices is that of the prophet with the ability to prophesy. Though a requirement to be a prophet is in the God given ability to prophesy, it does not mean that all prophecy will come from prophets. New Testament prophesy is not necessarily the telling of future events. 1 Corinthians 14:3 tells us, “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” I am used in prophecy often as I minister as a pastor. I will be preaching and the Spirit will direct me to say something or talk about something specific and it’s purpose is to help someone in the congregation. So often I have had people come to me and say, “That was speaking right to me! How did you know?” I didn’t, but God did and the purpose was to help them. I had been used to “prophesy” to people even when I wasn’t in ministry. I didn’t get goofy and say “this is from the Lord” or “the Spirit of God is saying” but I knew as I spoke He was speaking through me. Though I am not a prophet, this was certainly prophecy; I had no way of knowing it on my own.

These types of giftings, or others as taught in 1 Corinthians 12, are things that believers learn over being faithful to God. As you grow in His Word and seek Him, it will become easier to hear from Him and follow His leading. These sort of “giftings” are often taught about in error. For example, some people will claim, “I have the gift of discernment!” The trouble with this is 1, the Bible doesn’t talk about a gift of discernment and 2, knowledge of the truth gives everyone discernment. Yes, all Christians SHOULD be able to discern, sadly many do not. There is a gift in 1 Corinthians 12:10 called discerning of spirits but this is a whole other ball of wax.

The gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 are endowments or abilities given by the Holy Spirit to work with people carrying out specific ministries. The idea that all Christians get one or more of these is simply not scriptural. Their purpose is in the carrying out of the duties of a specific office, i.e. pastor, prophet, teacher, evangelist, apostle. Christians don’t just get these to use at will. Even the offices cannot use them at will. Prophesy may operate when the Spirit chooses, however a minister cannot turn it on. Where people get into trouble is when they try and make these things happen. There should be a reverential fear on any person being used in any of these types of giftings. The Bible warns about using them wrong and it is never good for the user.

This is not to say that God would not ever use certain gifts through a non-minister. Didn’t He use a donkey to prophesy?  I’m just saying that it isn’t something we carry in our pouch and pull out at random. Like I’ve been saying all along, the gifts are used where and when God chooses to use them. There are times I wished I could prophesy, but couldn’t. There have been times when I wished I could preach and couldn’t, even as I’ve stood in the pulpit! God has a way of teaching us it isn’t us, only Him!

1 Timothy 3:1 says, “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.” If you sense a desire in you that you are called to a specific ministry office, the Bible says this is good. You may believe things about yourself and what you are called to that no one else sees or knows. Again, this happened with me. What I can say is this, if you know it to be true, no one else has to agree. Keep it to yourself. If it’s real, God will reveal it in ways to others APART from anything you can say and it will come to fruition. The Bible says about Mary when told she would give birth to Jesus that, “she pondered these things in her heart.” She didn’t make a social media post about it and didn’t go get business cards printed. She kept it between her and God and He brought it to pass.

In closing I remind you of what God reminded me of once when I was trying to make some things in ministry happen. 1 Corinthians 3:7 tells us, “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” Follow God! If it’s God it’ll be good. Add your willingness and faithfulness and all that is needed when it is needed will come to pass. You have His Word on it!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff

Gifts Of Grace Pt 2 (ATP)

How do I know what my spiritual gifts are?

Romans 12:6-8 (NKJV)

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

For the second part of this Faith Fix, I want to focus on discovering our giftings. If you truly grasped Pt 1, then you are qualified to move on. If not, go back until you do because none of this will apply to you.

The gifts God gives us are important and I do not want to take away from that. The problem I find sometimes in our reading of scripture is when we filter certain things through our own understanding and not His. For example, I constantly remind my people that the word “hope” in scripture is not what we usually consider the word to mean. Hope in scripture means expectation and not knowing this will throw your understanding of the Word off when you come across it. The word “gifts” is similar. It isn’t a gift for you but for the Kingdom of God. If it is used in anyway to inflate oneself it is being misused. I believe the best way to approach a gift is when one gets to the point where they truly feel, “Lord, if you can use anyone else, please do, but  I will be obedient to You!”

That said, there are two words that go quite well with gift, I’d say are the keys to discovering them, and those words are submission and humility. Our perfect example of this is Jesus Hmself. Philippians 2:5, 7-9 says, “Let this mind be in you… but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” There are some key things I want the readers to focus on in these passages. The words: made Himself of no reputation, became like a bond servant, humbled Himself, was obedient to death, God exalted Him. Out of all the things that transpired exaltation was God’s part ONLY AFTER Jesus did His. Yes, even Jesus was in complete submission and humility.

The first step to discovering our gifts is to get our mind right. In 2021, I have probably used Romans 12:2 in almost every service. We have to think right before we can embrace what God has for us to do. God’s way is to lower ourselves SO THAT, He can do the exalting. When you get to the point where you utilize the gifts God gives, there will be a level of exaltation. The person ministering therefore must have a certain character already established in them before they can be used or they will fall victim of pride.

The next step in the process is to bring what you have before the Lord. How do we do that? We submit in the place that God has placed us. A person who doesn’t serve or rarely serves in the local church will never enter a God ordained ministry of any kind. Jesus did it, the apostles did it, and all effective disciples did and do it. The Lord brings us to a local church and a pastor in order for us to serve. Jesus said in Luke 16:12, “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” Serving faithfully is a requirement of God and also a requirement in our churches. No person will ever be promoted, no matter how “gifted” without proven faithfulness and submission in the local church.

I want to address something here, because I know some will not like the idea of submission to a pastor. Let’s keep our thinking right. Pastors are instructed to lead and feed without being lords (1 Peter 5:3) over people’s lives.  Submission doesn’t mean a pastor tells you how to live your life specifically and you do everything said. A true pastor is doing the Lord’s work but cannot do so alone. They rely on others for the ministry. Jesus likewise, did not work alone but took twelve with Him. A pastor will receive direction for a local body of believers and it is their job to help carry out the work given. You cannot have a bus full of bus drivers and expect to get anywhere!

There were many times over the years that I had to learn new things, sometimes things I never thought I’d be able to do, as I served in the local church. These were things that needed to be done but no one qualified was around to do them. I made myself valuable to both God and my pastor because of my willingness. My calling is to pastor, but I didn’t start off there. I didn’t first hone my speaking skills or even an overly in-depth knowledge of the Word. That is not to say that I was not learning the Word, but I couldn’t necessarily prepare sermons. I did “menial” tasks such as church maintenance, ushering, shoveling snow, cleaning toilets, laying in the mud in the pouring rain to work on things, canceling often our own plans so I could take care of what was needed. I proved to my pastor that I could be trusted and relied upon over and over again. When a person is called out into a greater thing, whatever it is, there should be a tangible absence. The one leaving should learn to love where they serve so greatly, that when they are called on it’s with tears as they go. There are still days where I’d give anything to go back and have one of those days. This is not because I don’t want to be where I’m at but because I have so much love for all that God put into me in that time.

Remember, above everything God wants our heart. It’s not what we say, it’s what we do. Many people say they love God and would do anything for Him but then refuse to do things because they seem beneath them or they flat out. don’t want to. God only desires someone who wants to please Him. This is faith, and this blesses God.

To end this part, I want to encourage you all because I know the things I’ve said seem like a tall order. The best experiences I’ve had with God, and the times I’ve heard His voice the most clear were when I was serving by doing things that at times seemed insignificant. These places were also where I learned the most about myself. God showed me things about me while serving I could have never realized. These things continue to bless me and will so all the more. I am convinced they will with you too. Follow Him, serve God, serve the people of God. When you do, God will take you places you never imagined!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff

Gifts Of Grace Pt 1 (ATP)

How do I know what my spiritual gifts are?

Romans 12:6-8 (NKJV)

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

This is a good question and one that more Christians need to understand the answer to. What is my gifting? Before I answer this, however, we need to ask and answer a different question. For lengths sake, I’m actually going answer this question in three parts. The first question one should ask is, why do I want to know my gifting?

When you tell someone in this world they are gifted, it’s usually a compliment to them. People by nature always desire to be gifted because being gifted seems to give one bragging rights. Hollywood is an industry built on natural gifts and talents and they are exploited for many reasons. If you will pay attention to the gifted in the world, it will be easy to see self-inflation and pride at work. Everyone desires gifts, but often for the wrong reasons. You will hear people say things like, “This is my opportunity.” It is for self they seek to excel or be seen. Sadly, in Christianity, it isn’t much different.

We once knew a young man who felt a strong call to the ministry. He started pursuing this diligently in his teens, studying and reading up on it as much as he could. Later, he would enter ministry training that our churches offered. By the time he left the churches (and under wrong circumstances), he was saying things like, “I’m not given enough opportunity to practice my ministry.” Some may snicker at this but the truth is, most people who believe they are called to something and “gifted” think that gives them the right to use it.  This however, misses the entire purpose to the gifts and callings of God. Before I go further, I want to make sure that the one who asked this question knows that I am not accusing them of this attitude. A good question will give a good opportunity to teach, which is why I love this format of Faith Fix.

Now back to our young minister friend. 1 Timothy 3:6 warns us on the installation of ministers that they are “not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.” Before one is fit for ministry of any kind, or to exercise giftings to others, it is imperative to understand the purpose for them in the first place. The Bible refers to us as stewards. A steward is one who is given something to care for, but it belongs to another. Any true godly calling is a gift that is to be stewarded, carried out as the Giver has desired.

The world looks at gifts as opportunity for personal gain and enrichment. The Bible teaches us that God gives them for others. The world thinks it a shame that a gift goes unused. The Christian should know the only shame is not using it when it’s needed. When God doesn’t have need of the gift, we shouldn’t be looking to use it because though it may be on us, it isn’t for us.

Let’s see two examples of this in scripture. Romans 14:19 says, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” 1 Corinthians 10:24 says, “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.” I have found through experience, that God will at times give us abilities to allow opportunities to teach us. Some of these God given abilities we can possess yet never use. Stewardship of what is given is not using it at will but rather when it’s willed. If it’s not, then it’s stored away. Time and again God has shown us gifted people only to use the ungifted so that we understand the ability is not of us.  He does not need nor desire our ability, He desires our faithfulness. That is not to say God will never use abilities, it is to say He doesn’t rely on them and we shouldn’t either.

There are some who would have a problem with this, especially those who think worldly. “So and so is very talented, they should be used!” Let me ask you this though, why should they? They didn’t make themselves talented nor create their ability. The only thing that makes them special is that the Gift Giver gifted. The gift is nothing. Without being given, you don’t have. If God gives a gift, it is up to Him to decide if it should be used. I have seen and heard too many times of examples of God enabling a person to do things they weren’t ever able to do before. This my friends is exactly what Grace is.

Christians need to understand that our part in being gifted is faithfulness. It is faithfulness which we are rewarded for in this life and the next. God wants us good at following directions. What pleases Him is obedience not talent. God used mostly ungifted people in scripture to accomplish impossible tasks. This way the world understands, it’s not about them, it’s about Him. Human talents bring glory to man, albeit false glory. Godly gifts bring glory to Him, always pointing upward.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff

Choose to Be Effective, Regardless of Others (ATP)

The Bible says the Holy Spirit will show us things to come. How do we know if we know the outcome of something versus lacking faith. Example: I know someone who is not saved. Their life is a mess and they have a hardened heart. I pray for them but there’s a feeling in my spirit that some things will not change but I am not sure if that is the Holy Spirit showing me the outcome or if I’m lacking Faith and if it’s a lack of the Faith needed to help this person how do I change that?

Though this questions is multi-faceted, immediately, upon reading, I’m brought to the truth that Jesus didn’t heal everyone, not everyone He met or taught, listened, and many who He appeared to after He rose again didn’t even show up to the upper room. Let’s look at this in scripture.

Look at John 5:2-3, “Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.” The Bible says there was a great multitude of sick people but if we continue reading we see that Jesus only went to one certain man. Why is this? Well, although scripture isn’t extremely clear on this, I believe we can find the answer when we look at the rest of Jesus’s ministry.  Remember what the Word says in Mark 6:5-6, “Now He (Jesus) could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief.” Many times, because of unbelief, people will go without their help.

Besides this, consider 1 Corinthians 15:6, which tells us that, after His resurrection, “He (Jesus) was seen by over five hundred brethren at once.” If we continue in the book of Acts however, we see that though Jesus commanded all those He appeared to , “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4), only 120 assembled together on that Day of Pentecost. Why is this? Because many will hear but won’t have an ear to hear. The direction will go in one ear and out the other.

In Ephesians 4, we see that the Lord set members in churches to be fed and taught, guided by pastors, in order to be edified and to grow and mature in the knowledge of God. Right after this, in Ephesians 4:17-18, the Word says,  “…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 blindness of their heart.” We know that without being properly connected and fed as God has set up for us, we will walk like the rest of the world walks. That is, in foolishness in mind with darkened understanding, and being alienated from truth because of hardened hearts.

Where does this blindness and hardened heart come from? We see this in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” It is the goal of the enemy to keep the blinders on this world, not allowing the light of the Word to shine on their understanding. Let’s backtrack a couple of verses. 2 Corinthians 4:1-3, “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.”

I love this passage of scripture in The Message Bible. 2 Corinthians 4:1-4, “Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God. If our Message is obscure to anyone, it’s not because we’re holding back in any way. No, it’s because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won’t have to bother believing a Truth they can’t see. They’re stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we’ll ever get.”

Regardless of how hard it sometimes seems to reach people, we keep trying. Sometimes with some people our words, however, may not make the difference as much as our example. Besides this, often times we can sense that our prayers are not changing the outcome of a situation and we may even have a stop sign in prayer. This can be for many reasons, perhaps our prayers are motivated by emotions or personal relationships, perhaps we are praying for something we should be simply trusting God for, or we may even be more effective in this season praying in a different direction. You may be perceiving that those around you aren’t interested or willing to hear you. I myself have seen the same. Romans 10:8 tells us the Word is near the mouth, meaning salvation isn’t very far from anyone. Never lose heart and never lose faith. Every individual’s salvation is between them and God. Whether one chooses Him and another does not, it doesn’t change our direction.

Keep the truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God. Those who want God won’t be left alone on our watch, but those who don’t want God we won’t ever be able to choose Him for them. Even God doesn’t force Himself or His salvation on anyone. Make your focus living for Him, guard against your own heart being hardened, and live by example in the light, mercy, and glory of God, letting your conduct be evident to all.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée

Am I Ready? (ATP)

Matthew 24:44  says, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect”. How do we know if we are ready?! Or how do we get ready?!

The first thing we need to understand is that when Jesus left this earth He left His followers with expectation to not only see Him again, but to go with Him. John 14:3-6, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Christians need to keep this in remembrance, that our ultimate goal is to go with Jesus when He comes back for us. Too often we diminish the hope of this expectation. I believe part of being ready is the realization of how special and amazing that really is!

Besides this, we know the first step of securing that promise is accepting Jesus as Lord of our lives. Romans 10:9-10, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” No one can be ready without being born again.

Immediately, Ephesians 5:27 comes to my heart. It says, “that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” When Jesus comes back for His church, He is looking for what the Word says is a glorious church. In this passage of scripture the Word compares Jesus’ relationship to the church with the relationship, or really covenant relationship of marriage, between a man and a wife. Imagine a bride on her wedding day and how the goal is to have the best appearance she can have as her husband meets her on that altar. Her gown is without wrinkle, her face without blemish, her conduct pure as a gift to her husband. When Jesus comes back to meet His bride, the church, He desires to see her in the best possible condition.  This word glorious means, held in great esteem, honorable, and free from sins.  It is with the washing of the water of the Word of God that we become glorious.

Philippians 2:5 also comes to my remembrance, which says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” If we continue reading we see what that mind was like, taking the form of a bondservant, humbled, and obedient even unto death. Remember Romans 6:11 tells us, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Our life must reflect the fact that we have been born again into a new nature where our sins remain no longer. This is how we stay ready.

Now, the Word is clear, it takes our efforts to stay right before the Lord, to stay in that pure, honorable, sinless, (glorious) state. Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Stay standing on His truth. Don’t grow weary while doing good, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée