Judgement Or Consequence?

Judgement Or Consequence?

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NASB)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).

Answering questions of people who are hurting can tend to be a challenging thing for any pastor. Often times people come to their pastor, only after something bad has happened. Or, they only ask for spiritual guidance after an event has occurred or a decision has been made. There is always more work in cleaning up a mess than preventing it in the first place. Even as I write these words, fully understanding the direction I am going, I fall into this trap at times myself. It is pride in human nature that makes us do things that wisdom might tell us not to. The counsel of trusted and proven people is always worth it’s weight in gold!

Recently, I was pondering the idea of people dealing with issues that have occurred because of something they had done. There seems at times to be inconsistencies in the “judgement” people face from the wrongs they have perpetrated. Have you ever seen it? Two people caught in the same sin, yet with varying outcomes? What about two people, both equally faithful, and one gets blessed greatly and one not so much or even not at all? These are times when we go to God and ask the age old question, “but why?” It just doesn’t seem fair!

The reason people get mad at God in these times is because they simply don’t understand how God works, though His word makes it clear. God is not looking to judge us, He is not looking to pour out His wrath, or to punish us for every little mistake. The truth is most of the effects we deal with regarding sin have nothing to do with God or His judgement at all. It is the result of consequence, and God does not control consequence. I am not saying judgement never comes, but it seems to me that whenever God’s judgement finally does come, it comes swiftly and with finality.

We have plenty of scripture that tells us God is not looking to destroy us but to bless us. He withholds judgement, far longer than any of us would. Think about it, He was patient with the Canaanites though they were evil for like 400 years! Look how long and how many times He waited for and still blessed Israel, though they constantly went astray. Or how He purposed to send warning to the Ninevites, and then waited for the disobedient one (Jonah) whom He sent, to get right and warn them. Then look at Jesus, long-suffering with His disciples as they failed in faith and action time and again. To the point that He even forgave Peter and consequently restored him though Peter denied Him with a curse. Yes, the Lord is patient, looking to bless and not to harm.

What God did warn us about are the things sin produces. Sin causes bad things to happen, not because God makes them happen, but because that’s what happens when you sin. Natural consequences to things done wrong are so often overlooked. God doesn’t cause lung cancer but smoking can. If someone gets cancer because they smoked, that has nothing to do with God. Some people, because of their genetics may not get it, while some get it quickly. The fact remains, both are at risk. This is one little example, but I think it shows my point. Of course there are cancers not caused by smoking, but rest assured there is an answer and that answer is never because of God.

We must realize, God is not bringing judgement upon us for every failure we happen to trespass. Quite the opposite, He has made a way out. 1 John 2:1 (NASB) says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Our advocate does not erase all the consequences of our sin, but He does cleanse us from it so we can have access back to the Father. This is actually completely the opposite of what people think! They think He has brought judgement, when in reality He has made a way to bypass that judgement. I believe this with my whole heart, that if we find ourselves in a heap of self caused trouble, yet truly repent and turn back to Him, His wonderful Holy Spirit will guide us out of the mess we’ve created. Instead people blame God or others for their trouble, refuse to yield to His Spirit, and spend too much time wandering in the wilderness! What most people blame on judgement is nothing more than consequence of sin!

Now we could argue about consequence all day long but honestly, that’s dumb. Why argue about what we’ve received when we’ve been wrong? If you were wrong, you deserve consequence regardless of whether it’s fair or not. Think about it this way. We’ve been way more blessed than we deserve. Should we fight that too? Certainly not!

The truth is Christians, consequence should bring us to one place and that place is repentance. Repentance means to change direction and go in another. If there is no consequence than there is no change and if we don’t change we are the same lost creature unable to get in His presence. His presence is the fullness of joy,  and that my friends is where God desires us to be. Stop blaming God, but look to Him for help. After all, He’s never far from any of us!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff

Not My Circus! (ATP)

Not My Circus! (ATP)

My understanding is that the term camp, is a group of ministries that are connected by a doctrinal foundation that is the same, or at best very similar. However the manner, method or flow of each ministry or the various parts of one ministry seems quite often to create separation in that connection. Is there truth to this? If so could it be a difference in leading on same doctrine or motivational error? I hope this question makes sense.

1 Corinthians 12:18 (NKJV)

But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

2 Timothy 4:3 (NKJV)

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

This question makes sense to me! Really, the concept of camp is simply about being called together to similar things or direction and/or having similar beliefs. It’s kind of like if you go to a campground. Everyone there is so for a similar reason, but you have different households, cooking different meals. You may even get together occasionally, but each one still has their own camper.

There is so much good about coming together. For one thing, we can really learn a lot. We may see something from one angle but when you’re at someone else’s camper, you may get a little different view, making something more clear to you. Sometimes that different view helps correct something you just couldn’t see before. As I have traveled to different ministry meetings, I have always come into contact with different view points. I try to stay open to these differences. However, sometimes I see error or error becomes more exposed. This helps me as I seek to understand God’s word more clearly.

There can also be safety in numbers. A campground is much safer than say a solo camping trip in the middle of nowhere. You get the outdoors, you get the campfire, you get the s’mores, but you also get some security. If the wolf (or bear) knocks on your door, you can run to another. When you’re alone, you become dinner. Of course I’m speaking metaphorically, but I think the symbolism is clear enough. The devil being the wolf, and the campground being various congregations.

I want to draw your attention back to the two scriptures I started with. These are two things the Lord gave almost immediately upon reading this question that I believe give us the understanding we need here. These two things are areas that cause a lot of Christians to struggle because the don’t submit to their direction. One, God places us where He sees fit, meaning He knows where we should be best. This area many Christians struggle with. They come in however they did, some even for a time. Then, their camper isn’t exciting enough or they start looking too much at someone else’s. Or they just sit and complain about theirs! If you’ve sat in many of my services you will hear me often say, “I didn’t make you come here!” Or, “You must know in yourself where God put you, then be planted there!” These are important truths many fail to heed.

The second scripture deals with itching ears. What is that? It’s people who want you to tell them what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear. They will go or move about based on their desires not God’s leading. I like the conversation better two campers down so I’m going to listen there, not mine. They don’t get the instruction or won’t receive the instruction that really pertained to them and so they get confused. Or, they listen so much to different instruction that they get confused. Either way, they get confused which makes them unstable.

My job really isn’t to keep tabs on what others do or don’t do. My job is to know and embrace what I am called to do. When I look at other camps, I often see things I don’t agree with. If I crusade against that, then that becomes my work instead of the work I am called to. For a little teaching, no Godly ministry is called to tear others apart! Sometimes I look in my own camp and see things I don’t like but lack the authority or ability to change. In these times, again I can’t focus on that but trust God and seek Him.

Ultimately, though we are all placed in a camp, we are called to follow God. Sometimes following Him means nothing more than to keep my eyes on Him and nowhere else. It is a spirit of the world that says, I have to make everyone else do right. God’s Spirit says follow Him and He will keep you safe. People are interesting and so are our camps, but if we keep our focus on God, He will bring it all together. I don’t know how, but that’s not my job!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff

In Self We Trust? (ATP)

In Self We Trust? (ATP)

It’s not that I don’t believe or trust God and His word but I don’t believe or trust myself to do the things right that I need to to make the word work for me. When I don’t see things come to pass I wonder where I missed it.

Hebrews 6:11-12 (NKJV)

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

One thing in my experience that I have noticed is that rarely what I have “believed” for has come to pass instantly. I’m not saying that God never brings things fast, it just isn’t my usual experience. I believe this is because God desires us to find contentment in Him and not in getting what we desired.

Standing on the Word produces in us a certain wherewithal that makes us better at dealing with adversity. We see this truth reflected in John 20:29. It reads, Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” There is something real precious to God when we trust Him simply because He said it. The Bible never promises us instant gratification. In fact, the only instant truth I’m aware of is that of salvation. However here is an interesting point: at the reception of salvation, all the saving we will ever get has already happened. Therein lies the faith! 1 John 5:15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

We don’t earn salvation or anything that comes with it. Remember, Ephesians 2:8 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” You obtain it through faith, yet your goodness or ability has absolutely nothing to do with it. Just your believing does! Do you believe God’s word? Many will say yes kind of as a blanket but don’t really dig into it to truly see. People will say I believe this but not that. You cannot pick and choose! It is either truth or it is not, it cannot be both!

Now I say these things not to knock you down and prove you have no faith. I say them to get you to refocus your faith. You don’t have to trust yourself, you shouldn’t trust yourself, you absolutely cannot trust yourself! So stop trying. God never said have faith in you, He said have faith in God! Remember what Jesus said in Mark 11:22? So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.”

Another thing I want to say is that you do not have to make the Word work for you. That would put the ball (the works) back in your court. The Word works despite you, despite me, or despite anyone… even Jesus. Wait! What? That’s right, that was not a typo. The Word works even aside from Jesus! Now, let me explain. John 5:19 says, “Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.’” Do you think it was an accident that things worked this way? Jesus did things like this to show us, we are not the key factor, trust in God is! How perfect is that?

One of the greatest hindrances to our faith is learning to let go of us. This is precisely why we are directed to crucify the flesh. The flesh has been corrupted and therefore no longer desires to do God’s will. It only seeks to please itself. When we recognize that, then we can start letting go of it and truly live for Him. God saved us when we were at our worst. Don’t try and bring the Word down to you, let the Word bring you up to Him! The Word works, every time, we just need to believe it!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff

The Spirit Says What? (ATP)

The Spirit Says What? (ATP)

Does the Holy Spirit communicate with us differently than God? How so? Sometimes I think I hear directly from God, or feel the Holy Spirit nudging me to do something.

Sometimes people get really confused with the whole Spirit part of God. We often way over complicate this experience. People are also often deceived into thinking that their thoughts or desires, because they come from the inside and feel good, are God speaking to them. I’ve heard so many times, God said this or God said that. Often the claim is made and I know it was never God. How can I know? It is because I understand the Word. So let’s bring some balance to this.

Let’s first address the question of Who is speaking to us. The primary way I believe God will speak to us is His word. 2 Peter 1:19 in the Wuest An Expanded Translation says, “And we have the prophetic word as a surer foundation…” The prophetic word is the written word of God. An incredibly important verse for people that are being led by the Spirit is found in 1 John 4:1. It says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” How do we test the spirits? Simple, the surer foundation that is the Word or our Bible.

This is what we must understand about God. He is not a god of confusion. Jesus only did and said what He received from the Father. Likewise we are told in John 16:13, “…the Spirit of truth… will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak…”. This is the Holy Spirit. He relays only that which comes from the Father. In 2 Timothy 3:16 we are told all scripture is God breathed. The conclusion we can then draw is, if it’s God it comes from one source but through various methods. The Father is always the source, the method can vary.

Now, what about understanding the method? The Word is easy, that is already written. Whether by the Words of Jesus or by the prophets we have God’s word and we can be sure of it. But then there’s this spirit thing, what do we do with that. John 16:13 tells us that the Spirit is the spirit of truth. We know God’s word is truth, so we can then understand anything the Spirit says to us WILL ALWAYS line up with the Word. Notice I did not say our interpretation of the Word, but the truth of the Word! You can manipulate the truth and make it say what you want and many people do. That does not make it truth and there is no justification in that. The Word is meant to change us, not the other way around.

Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” and this is how the leading of God works. Sometimes, and it’s extremely rare, we can hear God’s voice. I say it’s extremely rare because God’s chosen method is “an inward witness.” People who talk about how much God speaks to them are generally in error. Often these people have extreme areas of life that are messed up. I know this, if God is speaking to you verbally so much, He’s first going to be dealing with the sin you embrace!

I try to never say, “God said” though sometimes I slip and do. I try to use words such as “I heard in my spirit,” or “I sensed” as these would be more accurate. The nudging you sense is not so much God speaking as it is Him bearing witness and that is exactly how God most often leads. We can interpret this as words but it’s really not. When this nudging is in line with the Word, not our interpretation of it, then God has spoken.

In closing I want to stress the importance of learning how God “speaks” to you. Learn how God deals with you by listening on the inside and comparing it to His word. As you do, you will become increasingly accurate and effective in following His leading. He will guide you into all truth and you will be blessed!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (ATP)

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (ATP)

My sleep has always been plagued my entire life – not able to fall asleep, can’t stay asleep, wake up frequently, and even when I do sleep I am haunted in my dreams by scenarios of doing wrong. I’ve tried “man’s medicine” and it has helped some, but I need to overcome this. How can I fortify myself against these attacks each night before I lay down?

This is a good question and one I’m sure has multiple people wondering the answer to. Sleep is an interesting animal. We need sleep, but more importantly we need restful sleep. Let’s look at Proverbs 3:21-24, “…Keep sound wisdom and discretion; So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.” Notice the beginning and the end of this set of scriptures. Keep sound wisdom, God’s wisdom and discretion, meaning purpose and intent. When you lie down you will not be afraid, but rather you’ll have sweet sleep. The number one way we will sleep sweetly is if we’ve laid down worry and picked up His wisdom.

The world gives us a whole lot to think about, worry about, and take cares over. It’s important that we do our part to cast these cares. 1 Peter 5:7, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” That word cast means to throw them onto the Lord without taking them back. We can say we’re doing this, but let’s imagine what this looks like in our daily life. What kind of home are we living in? Is it a place of chaos or a place of order. This matters. What kinds of things are we watching or listening to before we go to bed? We’ve known children tormented and haunted in the night by nightmares only to find out the dark and demonic movies and video games they are filling their time with. How have you been living and following Jesus? Anxiety will often accompany things we know to do and don’t, or things we know not to do and do. The Lord calls us to examine ourselves. This goes hand in hand with casting our cares.

We’re also probably familiar with Philippians 4:6-7, which reminds us to, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” That word anxious is key. We may not think there’s anything wrong. We may think we’re in faith and at peace but there’s something that has us anxious on the inside or stirring in us to the point of affecting our sleep. The Bible here says that the Lord will guard our hearts and minds. He does that through His Word. Look at verse 8, Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” It’s our part to fill up on His truths and with His truths He’ll show us the path to peace.

John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

His peace is for us. His peaceful sleep is included in that but it’s our job to position ourselves in that place. Examine our life. Is it conducive to peace? Examine how we go to bed. Is it in a place of being filled up on the right thoughts? Correcting these two things will help us all have more restful night sleep.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée

Stable Ground (ATP)

 Stable Ground (ATP)

1 Corinthians 10:13 in the Amplified Bible talks about temptation. It says God will not let you be tempted more than your ability to resist and he will give you a way out. When I read this I thought it meant God is letting me be tempted by the world, by people, by whatever is tempting. So does this mean that I’m not going to be tempted by anything that I easily can’t resist?

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Now with this question I purposely referred back to a standard translation and not the Amplified version. The reason for this is because though the Amplified is a great study tool to help assist us in understanding the Word, it is very wordy and can also be distracting at times.

The word temptation here literally means an experiment, an attempt, a proving, an enticement to sin. I think it’s important to understand this as we get into this because knowing what it means helps us know what it does not. This is an important translation tool for scripture. We understand through study of the Word and a relationship with God that there are different reasons people sin. There of course is temptation that comes at us that we cannot avoid. There are temptation and trials of the flesh, the strength of which can vary depending on the individual and what they are easily tempted by. There are also different reasons for the temptation and trial. Sometimes it is because you are just being tried by the devil, to see what your faith really is, and God may allow it. This is the category that I believe this scripture is referring to. The question comes up then, but why would God allow this?

We have to remember an important truth, although the world operates according to certain parameters which God set up, He is not manipulating and controlling every event. In fact, God’s influence only really happens when people ask Him. Now there is a lot of teaching in that, which would make another great Faith Fix, but we have to stay on subject today.

I want you to look at it this way, if you were hiking and came to a rickety looking bridge which spanned a creek, would you just run out on it? Not if you were smart! You would perhaps step out lightly with one foot, slowly applying pressure. Why? Because the bridge has not yet been proven. Your faith is the same, until it’s proven, it’s shaky at best. God desires that we have the “assurance” of faith. The only way that can be proven is to test it, not for Him but for us. He already has all the faith, so we are the ones in need.

God allows us to be tested, not because He needs to know but because we do. Now the devil is the reason we need to know this faith, because he is the one constantly trying to rob from us. The thing we can have peace in is the fact that God has placed limitations on these trials, that though they can push us to the edge, they cannot push us over! Glory to God!

Now, this leaves the other side of this question that was not asked but I believe we need to know. I said earlier, there are different reasons for trial, and now I’ll present another. The other side of this is self-inflicted trial. This is a different category and one I do not believe is covered under this section. Take for example a person who is addicted to drugs. The idea that, “God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able”, I do not believe still applies. This is not a trial or temptation from an external force trying to test your faith. This is trial that is self-inflicted, brought on by your choice. In these circumstances, the same limitations do not apply because this is an individual decision. This is the person running full speed at the rickety bridge, not even considering whether or not it will hold. People often do this, and only consider God when they are in the midst of falling because the bridge wasn’t tested.

Faith can overcome all things, but faith isn’t for erasing some stupid action, it is preparation and protection ahead of the situation. There are certainly instances in life, where man has transgressed, and it has brought them to the place of no return. Faith, in these times, will not always save them.

There is a lot to how things work and the devil always tries to manipulate us in areas where our knowledge is weak. This is why we need the local church. Christians who are separated in this manner are Christians on unstable ground by themselves, and they wonder where God is when they fall. The truth is God was trying to keep them from falling ahead of time.

To sum up this Faith Fix, yes there are times you will be tempted but the temptation will not be bigger than your faith. God will teach you strength in these times. However, it is up to the individual to study to know right and wrong, and to follow God’s Spirit so that you do not find yourself on uneven ground. Be stable in faith and trust your God! He will always see you through!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff