Sojourner: A Pastor's Blog

Treasures in Heaven

1/14/2021

Undoubtedly, the heart follows where our treasure is (Matt. 6:21). The word “heart” is used for the whole inner man, the source of all we do. So, when Jesus speaks of “where your treasure is,” He meant that our entire being is wrapped up in our treasures.

What we value occupies our minds and controls our emotions. It consumes our time with planning, fantasizing, and achievements. Therefore, we must choose our treasures wisely. It is a choice each one of us must make; a choice we will be held accountable for (Josh. 24:15).

The way to lay up treasures in heaven is to develop Christ-like character. A character which is improved by actively spending time in personal devotions, prayer, bible study and evangelism - so that we can increase in faith, hope and love - all of which Paul said “abide” (1 Cor. 13:13).

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Why Spread the Good News?

1/17/2019

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Christians should be speaking of Christ and life in Him to others. People are in desperate need of life and unless they hear the message, as Paul says plainly in Romans 10, they cannot believe it and be saved.

Undoubtedly, we were made with an essential connection between Christ and those who need His salvation. Jesus told His disciples before His ascension to heaven that they would be His witnesses to the ends of the earth, and so they became witnesses and so did multitudes of others after them.

The world had to hear what had happened in Galilee and Judea in those thirty-some fateful years and so they spread out to tell the good news. And the church has been doing so ever since. The church of Jesus Christ is - and has always been - a missionary church.

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A New Outlook

6/21/2016

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The climate of the world is constantly changing. To me, it feels like we are in an era where we are making up the rules as we go. This is much like in Judges 17:6 where “everyone is doing what seems right in their own eyes.” This can be said of the church as well.

Now, I’m not one to hold on too tightly to the past. I don’t always agree with the concept that the good ol' days were really all that good. Some things from the past begged change - and in some cases - correction. For example, there are presently far too many churches on life support simply because they have adapted not one iota in order to engage the lost in today's world. This is 2016, and the world is a vastly different place. The Gospel has not changed, but the way we communicate and interact with one another has.

I’m not saying that every church needs to sing only praise and worship songs to be effective. God made each church uniquely different for a reason. My point is this, I believe the church has become far too comfortable casting their Gospel seeds on rocky soil. It is time for believers in Christ to rise up and seek fertile soil - effectively. We need to stop waiting for those who meet "our criteria" (it's not about us) or our perception of what a person should look like, to be accepted among God's people. If we would just set aside those hidden prejudices so deeply ingrained in our being and love others like Christ loves us, we would all be in a healthy, thriving church. They may not look anything like us, in fact, we may have nothing at all in common with them other than the fact that we both need Jesus. But that's a big one, wouldn't you say?

Our best effort as a Christian is not always right, and we may have been grounded in a church with a viewpoint that reflects that. God views things differently and He expects us to walk with His eyes and not our own.

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A Heart's Desire

9/5/2014

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The world will tell you the road to happiness is found by following your heart. Depending on where your heart IS determines whether that is a permanent condition, or a fleeting moment. Our lifestyles today are geared toward self-fulfillment, self-gratification, and self-indulgences and usually to extremes in each of those.

I call this “the revolving door approach to happiness.” This is where you are constantly trying to fill the emptiness in your heart with new things, while simultaneously expunging the old that never satisfied your insatiable heart to begin with. It is a never-ending cycle. You are not growing spiritually; you are stagnant, with a constant yearning to fill the emptiness that still remains. The reason for this is simple; the filling and refilling of our hearts with the things the Bible tells us are temporary never satisfies the emptiness. In fact, they leave us hungering and thirsting for more. We were made to worship God, not ourselves. So if we are thinking temporary, we will make a temporary choice, but if our minds are set on the eternal, we will make a much different one. We have to pray and follow the Holy Spirit's leading, or we will choose our own desires every time because that is our natural state.

A true sense of fulfillment can ONLY be found in Jesus Christ. Where the world only makes the cravings worse; the righteousness of Christ satisfies the emptiness of our hearts. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Blessed is how Christ defines happiness. How do you?

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Psalm 139

2/25/2014

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“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7) The psalmist knew something that many today have forgotten - the Lord of all creation, Jehovah God, is omnipresent. This does not mean that God is in everything, where some worship the ground or the sun as Pantheists believe. Nor does it mean that God created the universe and simply walked away from it as Deism would suggest.

The psalmist understands, as we should, that God is not in everything, but that He created everything. More importantly, God not only created everything, He is also in sovereign control of everything. There is not a single event, action, or thought that escapes His gaze. There are no surprises to God. Yet, it is the faithful who are most often surprised when God makes His presence known.

Our heavenly Father made us a promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5) He didn’t just create us, and leave us to fend for ourselves. Our Creator wants us to live the Christian life with the bold confidence of knowing that He is ever present. This is at the core of the Apostle Paul’s statement, “The righteous shall live by faith." (Rom. 1:17)

Faith means you can marvel at the earth in all its God-given splendor and know God’s almighty hand created it. Likewise, faith also means that no matter how desperate your situation, the God who created you is firmly in control of your circumstances. His Spirit lives inside the believer; guiding and directing their path through every hardship and loving with a love that is unmatched by man.

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A Spirit-led Leader

1/31/2014

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To be a Christian leader means one is called to teach, correct, and protect those whom God has put under His care. One must be an encourager, by living his life as an example for others to follow. This means living in a manner that mirrors the examples set forth by Christ Jesus, such as suffering well, enduring with patience, and showing love to the unlovable. The Gospel of the crucified Christ must restore not only beliefs, but also conduct.

Leadership is a spiritual gift. Apart from a calling from God, the working of the Holy Spirit, and the example of Christ, the changes needed in one’s character that draw others to follow Him, would be impossible to achieve. “I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, mybeloved and faithful child in the lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every
church” (1 Cor. 4:14-17 ESV).

The reality is Christian leaders are to live in truth. Truth is not passive; it is passionate. Truth not only expects a response - it demands one, and such that it always includes a specific, and perhaps drastic, change or renewal of mind through humble submission to the truth. A leader’s life should be an open book for all to read and emulate. This is not to say that those called to leadership or ministry roles are perfect. However, when one is faithful to his calling and faithful to Christ and His gospel message, faults and imperfections dissipate in the shadow of the cross of Christ.

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Living in the Spirit

9/5/2013

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Let’s be honest, sin is fun. If we did not enjoy it, we would have no problem removing it from our lives. If Satan wore a red cape, had horns, and carried a pitchfork, we would have no trouble running the other direction when we saw him. Unfortunately, life does not work that way. Sin is like the cheese on a mouse trap. It smells, taste, and looks good; but tasting it always ends in pain, suffering, and ultimately death. As for Satan, anyone who has ever read the Bible knows that Satan is a fallen angel. What most Christians have forgotten, or were never taught, is Satan’s appearance has not changed; he still blends in with the crowd. Our flesh desires to sin, Satan tempts us to sin, and then uses that sin against us to inflict guilt, shame, and suffering to make us feel unworthy of God’s grace, mercy, and love.

In this week’s text, 1 Peter 4:1-6, we see Christians who are suffering because of their faith in Christ. For many of them the temptation of returning to their old way of life is looking pretty good. It is a historical fact that many professing Christians abandon their faith in the face of persecution. Furthermore, many Christians today are surrendering small bits of their faith to keep from being persecuted like these first-century Christians. We have resolved to believe that our personal sin is not as bad as the next person’s. We've bought into the lie that sin is not that big of a deal, and we can stop anytime we want. That would be Satan whispering in our ear and daring us. Now, here is the problem with comparing our sins to the sins of others. We will not give an account for their sins, or made holy by their lack of holiness. Jesus is the benchmark by which all of us will be judged. Only Jesus Christ makes us holy and saves us from the heavenly wrath that sin brings. This means
following Christ is done in a forward motion, not reverse. This is Peter’s point in verses 1-2, “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so
as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”

The good old days were never as good as our flesh, or Satan, would have us to believe. In fact, they are exactly what drove us to our knees and caused us to cry out to Jesus to save us in the first place. Peter is pleading with us to keep our eyes on Jesus, and remember that we have already wasted enough of our lives on things that only lead to destruction, “For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do…” (v3). Remember, the goal here is not temporary happiness, but the eternal joy that is only found in Christ. So when we suffer because of our faith, remember Christ suffered far more for us - to be looking back at the past. So what if the world judges us for not joining in the fun and choosing to follow a different path. One day God’s judgment will be final, “But they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.” (Vv. 5-6) Peter wants us to remember who we were in the past and to rejoice in the fact that Christ saved us from the person we used to be. The joy of living in the Spirit means never longing for the illusions of the past.

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No Fear!

8/29/2013

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Being Christian does not exempt you from suffering. Many would have you believe that living a “good” life will lead to “good” things. This is simply not the case. The Apostle Peter wrote this week’s text, 1 Peter 3:12-17, to Christians who were under extreme persecution sanctioned by the Roman emperor, Nero. However, it is important to understand that although the Roman government was behind the suffering, the primary sources of persecution were those closest to those who had become followers of Christ. These Christians were suffering on a personal, sometimes intimate level. Mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, family members and friends, were all inflicting emotional and physical pain on those they had once claimed to have loved. Although most Christians today have not experienced a man like Nero, many have suffered at the hands of those closest to them.

The whole point of 1 Peter 3 is not about how to avoid suffering, but how Christians should conduct themselves in the midst of suffering. In other words, the question Christians should be asking is not “will I suffer,” but “how will I suffer?” “And who will harm you if you are deeply committed to what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed." (1Pet. 3:13 -14 HCSB) Peter’s question, “who will harm you,” is not designed to minimize the pain and suffering that accompanies the agony of such a personal persecution; on the contrary, Peter’s purpose is to encourage the faithful to remember that they are not alone in times of difficulty. Peter knows firsthand what the Lord Jesus overcame on our behalf. He endured what we should have endured and suffered what we should have suffered. But most importantly, for our discussion, He set the example of how to suffer well and how to love our enemies at the same time. Because of this, Peter tells us, “Do not not fear what they fear or be disturbed.” (v. 14) Instead, when we suffer because of our faith, we should, “Do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear.” (v. 16) Do this so that those causing you to suffer will bear witness to the saving power of Jesus in your life.

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A Tender Heart and a Humble Mind

8/24/2013

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Recently, I have had the privilege of teaching an early morning Bible study at a sister church in my area. The class is a melting pot of godly men from various backgrounds/traditions who do not see eye-to eye on some of the minor evangelical schools of thought. We will call these the open-handed beliefs of the Christian faith. These beliefs are the things that the Bible does not clearly address as right or wrong, and do not change or affect the Gospel or how it is presented. Things such as, which Bible translation should a Christian use? What kind of music or musical instruments(if any) should be allowed in a worship service, or how should I dress for church? Fortunately, the men of this early morning Bible study have resolved themselves to leave their varying opinions on these “open-handed beliefs” at the front door and come together in unity of mind and spirit to focus on a “closed-handed doctrine,” the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In this week’s text, 1 Peter 3:8, the Apostle Peter teaches us that unity in the body of Christ is vitally important for the well-being of the church, as well as the individual Christian. “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”(ESV) Pay close attention to the phrase “unity of mind.” Peter does not expect that Christians will see eye- to-eye on everything. That would be uniformity, not unity. God did not call us to become robots or act like spiritual zombies. Healthy discussion, done in "brotherly love,” is a good thing and serves as a catalyst for spiritual growth. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Prov. 27:17)

Unfortunately, many times these open-handed beliefs are treated as though they were close-handed doctrine, causing division in churches and can become stumbling blocks for less mature Christians. For example, proclaiming that the King James Bible is the only acceptable translation in the sight of God, or that you can only get close to God by singing a particular style of music, ultimately those beliefs can become idols. The truth is there are many good translations out there that God uses to speak to His people, and there are a thousand different songs, as well as genres of music, that sing the praises of our Holy Creator. "Unity of mind” means agreeing on the big issues of our faith – the Bible is truth. There’s one God in three persons, the Trinitarian community of Father, Son, and Spirit. We are all sinners. Jesus is God. His death on the cross paid for our sin. And if you do not surrender your life to Him, you will go to hell. When these close-handed doctrines become the focus of our devotion, the open-handed beliefs that can divide us are put in their proper place and our
hearts and mind become focused on serving Jesus.

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A Quiet Spirit

8/12/2013

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In 1 Pet. 3:1-7, Peter tells husbands to show honor to their wives "as the weaker vessel," but this does not mean that wives are inferior in any way to their husbands. There have been many false teachers, religious groups, and individuals who have used passages like 1 Peter 3:1-7 to abuse and beat women into submission and this is an abomination in the sight of God.

1 Peter 3:1-7 clearly teaches that the promises and privileges of salvation are equal. There is no hint of inferiority in this passage! In fact, it’s downright denied. Peter says to the husbands, "your wives are heirs with you of the grace of life." The promises and privileges of salvation are equal. It is the responsibility of leading in a godly manner that falls squarely on the shoulders of the husband. This means there is no room for oppression and abuse. The godly husband values the opinion of his wife, and after God, she is the next place he goes for advice. Christian men can glean two points of instruction from verse 7. First, men should never lead their families independently of their wife. Next, Christian husbands are to use their position of authority in the home to serve their wife, not themselves!

Let me end this way: Being a submissive wife does not in any shape, form, or fashion relegate the Christian woman to the role of second class citizen. The Bible is clear about this. You are co-heirs with Christ to the Kingdom of God. You are just as much a part of God’s royal priesthood as your husbands. The responsibility to lead is the husbands; but the quiet spirit of a Christian wife is equally important in the eyes of God.

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