Friday, August 31, 2012

Crying for The Lost

Why doesn't it break our hearts?


Jeremiah 4:19-22 My heart, my heart—I writhe in pain! My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still. For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpets and the roar of their battle cries. 20 Waves of destruction roll over the land, until it lies in complete desolation. Suddenly my tents are destroyed; in a moment my shelters are crushed.

21 How long must I see the battle flags and hear the trumpets of war? 22 “My people are foolish and do not know me,” says the Lord. “They are stupid children who have no understanding. They are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no idea how to do right!"

Jeremiah 6:6 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “Cut down the trees for battering rams. Build siege ramps against the walls of Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished, for she is wicked through and through.

Imagine if you knew that God was upset that he was preparing for judgement. Imagine that you received a message from God that your nations idolatry, arrogance and pride were going to be judged very harshly and that many people that you know are going to die.  It shouldn't be that difficult to imagine, after-all, we have received that message from God.

Jeremiah is brokenhearted for the people of Israel, it reminds me of Jesus when he was approaching Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-43), he was very sad because he knew that they would soon see the destruction of Jerusalem. Just like in Jeremiah's time, the people in Jesus time thought that they were safe from anything happening that would be too bad, they thought that surely God wouldn't destroy his temple. (Jeremiah 7:1-15) That's sort of like saying that going to church is going to save you, wrong!

Jesus cried for the people around him

Matthew 9:36-38  When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  He said to His disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few.  So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields."
It is so easy to disconnect to the reality of the spiritual condition of those that are around us and the future that those people have. We have been given a message from God, warning us that our city, our nation and even the entire world is full of people that are not ready for the judgement day that is coming. How much do we really care? Do we have a burden for the lost?

I need to pray for my friends, for the people at work, for the people that I see while I am doing everyday life. I need to have the same burden that Christ had, or how about the burden that Paul had? (Romans 9:1-3) I need to allow God to use my hands to serve, my feet to pursue the lost sheep, my mouth to speak up for him.

My prayer:
Break my heart for what breaks Yours, everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause, as I walk from earth into eternity. -- Hillsong United

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Change My Heart Lord

Heart too hard? It is time to break out the plow.


Jeremiah 4:3-4,14 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. 4 O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power.

Change your hearts before the Lord,or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins. 14 O Jerusalem, cleanse your heart that you may be saved.

How long will you harbor your evil thoughts?

Israel has turned their backs on God for so long,it is hard to imagine how God can be so patient with his wayward children, it is even more difficult to understand how bad they were. This will help you to understand how extremely bad they were, in the message that God gave the prophet Ezekiel, they were told that they are worse than the Samaritans and the people of Sodom. (Eze 16:46-52)

What a wake up call that should have been to Israel, two cities that they didn't like were said to be closer to God than they were. When we think of the most sinful people on earth the people of Sodom come to mind and it would be difficult to hate anybody more than the Jews hated the Samaritans.

God doesn't rush to judgement but rather he gives his people time to get it right but his people are hard headed and now the time is short, it is time to break out the plow. Jeremiah warns them that they need to soften their hearts, their pride, idolatry and all of the rest of their sins are making the soil too hard. Instead of God's people affecting the culture for good they had allowed the culture to affect them.
Hebrews 3:12-13 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
We must keep our guard up so that we do not go back to rebellion, before we were saved we resisted God's authority and we were opposed to his ways, we must be careful that we don't go back to living that way again. God's ways are not the natural tendency of man, without vigilance we will be deceived by Satan and we will go back to our old ways and take up our old lifestyle.
James 4:7-8 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
Humility is so important. We need to be humble and see ourselves the way that God sees us, it is the only right way to approach God, we can't fool him, he already knows how bad we are. It doesn't work too well if we try to be loyal to him and try to hold onto the world, Jesus warned us that we can't serve two masters. (Luke 16:13)

I need to guard my heart at all times, I don't want to bring God's judgment on myself, I must not refuse to hear and obey the word of God and live as a rebel.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Not Sure Where God Is?

Guess who moved away?


Jeremiah 2:4-8 Listen to the word of the Lord, people of Jacob—all you families of Israel! 5 This is what the Lord says: “What did your ancestors find wrong with me that led them to stray so far from me? They worshiped worthless idols, only to become worthless themselves. 6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us safely out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness— a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and death, where no one lives or even travels?’

7 “And when I brought you into a fruitful land to enjoy its bounty and goodness, you defiled my land and corrupted the possession I had promised you. 8 The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who taught my word ignored me, the rulers turned against me, and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, wasting their time on worthless idols.

Have you ever looked around and asked "where is the Lord?" Did you ever think "he used to be so good to us?" It is easy to point your finger at others when things go wrong and we even have the nerve to point our fingers at God.

There is more than one reason why we sometimes feel that God is nowhere around but the most common cause is that we have turned away from him. We don't realize it when it starts unless we are staying vigilant about our relationship with God. It is usually a slow turning away, just a slight angle to the left or the right and over time that little bit of deviation turns into a big difference between where God is and where we are.

God is asking us the same question that he asked Israel, he had to wonder why they left, what had he done that wasn't good? God moved them from slavery in Egypt to a new neighborhood, a land with fertile soil, and then Israel moved away from God. (Jeremiah 2:11-12)

There is a huge temptation to be ungrateful to God for his blessings, we start to feel that we are entitled, or we just fail to notice how well that God has blessed us. The people had forgotten the warning (Joshua 23-24) that Joshua gave them, it wasn't long after he was gone that the nation took off and followed the god's of the nations around them.

God calls his children to come back home

Jeremiah 3:12,19,22 Therefore, go and give this message to Israel. This is what the Lord says: “O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever. 19 “I thought to myself, ‘I would love to treat you as my own children!’ I wanted nothing more than to give you this beautiful land— the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling me ‘Father,’ and I wanted you never to turn from me. 22 “My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” “Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply, “for you are the Lord our God.
Like a parent that is looking for their child to come home for dinner, God is calling for his children to come back to him, he wants them to enjoy his company, he wants to treat them well, like his very own children. Very few parents are going to bless their kids with extras or treat them better than they have to when they are being disobedient and disrespectful. God is the same way.

God will call us back home, he will discipline us and he will give us mercy if we will realize how far we have gone and how ungrateful we have been for his blessings. Will you answer God's call and get back home? 

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Can't Get Over You

Here in the arms of my Father only grace can be found.



Anthem Lights - Can't Get Over You

I love the way You love like no other
It's got nothing to do with anything that I do
Time and time again You forgive me
So this time I choose to stay here with You

Hold me
Pull me just a little bit closer
I don't want to lose this moment
You're love has covered me
And now I can't get over You
I can't get over You
I can't get over You
I just can't get over You

Here in the arms of my Father
Only grace can be found
So I lay my fears down
Nothing is the same anymore
You've changed me from the inside out
Now my heart is beating and it's singing

I can't get over the way
Your love stays the same, oh Lord
I can't get over the way
Your love stays the same, oh Lord

Even through the good and the bad times
You stay the same
So my song will remain

Stirred But Not Changed

Lord, give me a burden that's so strong, that it will last when my tears are gone.


Matthew 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Just wanted to share a song, I have never heard this song, I just heard about it last night at choir practice when my minister of music spoke about his trip to Africa.

This song by Lanny Wolfe says a lot about the way that we live and the attitude that we have toward the work that Jesus gave us to do. We hear about the work that the believer is to be doing and we vow to do more but then life gets in the way.

Our main work is the continuation of Jesus Christ’s mission while he was here on earth. His people are empowered by the Holy Spirit  to give a  witness for him, to preach, teach, baptize and make disciples of all peoples.

Stirred But Not Changed


Often times my heart has been stirred by the things that I have heard,
About so many who have never heard God's word,
And though tears would fill my eyes all to soon
I'd realize though my hearts been stirred my life has not been changed.

Chorus:
I'm so tired of being stirred about the lost who need to hear.
I'm so tired of being stirred that His coming is so near;
I'm so tired of being stirred till I cry bitter tears.
I'm so tired of being stirred but not being changed.

Have I heard it for so long that He's just another song?
Has the story lost its thrill that I once knew?
Lord, give me a burden that's so strong,
That it will last when my tears are gone.
I'm tired of what I've been. Lord, make me over again.

Chorus

But this time Lord change me let the work begin just now,
This time Lord change me please change me some how,
This time Lord change me let my life be rearranged,
For I'm so tired of being stirred but not being changed
Each time that I return from a mission trip I feel very strange going about the normal routines of life, the stuff that seems to get in the way of the really important work that needs to be done, there appears to be no time to follow your heart.

Lord change me so that I live mission minded everyday; keep me from being calloused to the needs around me.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Giving Your Future Over To God

Being so sure of God's will that nothing else matters.


Jeremiah 1:17-19 “Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them.

18 For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land— the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.

19 They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

How sure are you that God told you to do something?

There was little room for doubt when God called Jeremiah, he heard directly from God, most of us will never have a call from God that is so crystal clear. This was a conversation between God and Jeremiah.

It was a call that Jeremiah didn't really want to receive, just like so many other people in the Bible, he tried to get excused from the assignment by telling God that he wasn't qualified but like God always does, he let him know that his qualifications didn't matter. (Jeremiah 1:6-10)

We always look at our qualifications before we do something, it is a good idea in most situations but when God is telling you to "go and do this," looking at our qualifications is the last thing we should do. Inexperience, shyness, too young, poor health, none of that matters, God is looking for availability, Christ-likeness and faithfulness.

Are you sure enough to keep on doing it when the going gets tough?

When God tells us to do something we may assume that he is going to give us a nice straight path without any obstacles. It is the American way of life, we think that if we are doing the right thing that we will meet little to no resistance, but God didn't ever provide a smooth ride to anybody that he ever used in the Bible.
Jeremiah 26:10-14 When the officials of Judah heard what was happening, they rushed over from the palace and sat down at the New Gate of the Temple to hold court. 11 The priests and prophets presented their accusations to the officials and the people. “This man should die!” they said. “You have heard with your own ears what a traitor he is, for he has prophesied against this city.”

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to the officials and the people in his own defense. “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this Temple and this city,” he said. “The Lord gave me every word that I have spoken. 13 But if you stop your sinning and begin to obey the Lord your God, he will change his mind about this disaster that he has announced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands—do with me as you think best.
The men and women that God used in the Bible were met with a lot of opposition and we can expect to get the same treatment. The concepts and views held by the majority of the population are not going to line up with God's point of view. (Jeremiah 2:35)

Jeremiah told the crowds that he was sent by God and this is the job that God told me to do, it wasn't looking good for Jeremiah but he still had the strength to tell the crowd "do with me as you think best."

We need to stand firm when the opposition comes, the devil isn't going to be happy when you start doing the things that God asks you to do and he will use anybody and anything to beat you down and get you discouraged, we need to keep up the enthusiasm and keep moving forward. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Saturday, August 11, 2012

We Have Overcome

Overcome, overcome, mercy radiates beyond the pain. Hallelujah!



Something is changing in the air
Something is rising all around us
She steps out to face the world
A bride who knows how much she is worth

And all around the words are heard

Overcome overcome, mercy radiates beyond the pain
The One overcomes, Crucified He overtook the grave
Hallelujah

Every debt thrown into the sea
Every fear crushed beneath His holy feet
Guilt can't penetrate these walls
We've been ransomed by the One traded all

And all around the words are heard

Overcome overcome, mercy radiates beyond the pain
The One overcomes, Crucified He overtook the grave
Hallelujah

I am blameless in His eyes

Do you know how much you are worth? Do you feel like you don't have much value? If you are a child of God then you are extremely valuable! Your worth doesn't come from what the world says about you or what you tell yourself in your negative thoughts.
John 16:33  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 
The trials and sorrows of this world will get you down and you may feel worthless but your value as a child of God comes from the high price tag that Jesus paid to adopt you into the family of God.

Our pain in this world may get us to thinking that we are worthless or that God is against us but our value and God's love or us was proved by the pain that Christ endured on the cross.

Friday, August 03, 2012

Jesus Teaches Us How To Love

It isn't easy to love like Jesus taught us to do.


Luke 6:27-38  "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.

28  Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.

29  If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.

30  Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back.

31  Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

32  "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!

33  And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!  34  And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35  "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.  36  You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

37  "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

38  Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. "

The most attractive thing about Jesus is that he did not exclude anybody, it didn't matter what everybody else thought about a person, Jesus love for people looked beyond what they did and how they behaved.

That is so difficult for us to do, our decision is based on the ability of the other person to measure up to our standards. God told us to love with no strings attached, was that person nice to me? Do they behave and look a certain way? No, well love them anyway.

The only way that we can accomplish loving all of those people that we can't stand to love is to love God first. The more that Jesus disciples love God the more they will love people without exception.

Love is the bait that attracts unbelievers, I need to love others like Jesus did until someone starts to wondering why they got love when they didn't do anything to deserve it, then I can tell them about the love that I received that I did not deserve.