In case you’re still unsure what your personal baseline is for identifying truth … tonight, would you please consider looking up into the stars and take what I call, “The Prophet Isaiah Challenge?”

One of the strongest arguments in favor of the existence of God is the “Argument From Design,” which claims that observations of design in nature are best explained by a deliberate, intelligent act of creation rather than by randomness, or perhaps by chance.

Psalm 103:11-12 says, “For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”

The reality is that the more we learn about the universe, the more clearly we can see with our own eyes as we look up into the stars that God created them all! Psalm 119:1-5 says, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.”

Paul says in Romans 1:19-21, “They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.”

When asking an atheist what their baseline is for identifying truth, they often reply by stating they believe in science. However, Bible is on the side of science! We shouldn’t for a moment shy away from engaging with atheists with logical and scientific responses such as the “Argument From Design.” Who in their right mind would look at a beautiful painting and come to the conclusion that it’s just the product of a mindless, unguided process? Compared to anyone who has not had their minds become dark and confused, and would obviously recognize that there was in fact someone who created that beautiful painting, known as the painter.

Just in case you’re doubting that there is a designer responsible for creating the universe and everything in it … I would humbly encourage you to answer Isaiah’s question from Isaiah 40:26 tonight while gazing at the stars, when he said, “Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.”

Is there any possible way you could still believe that those beautiful stars that you just personally observed were created by random chance?

God will never force anyone to go to heaven against their will

With regard to putting our faith in Christ, it’s important to recognize from a Biblical frame-of-reference the difference between ‘belief that’ and ‘belief in.’

James 2:18-20 says, “Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”

Belief ‘that’ God exists is merely an intellectual inclination, which is not the same as putting our trust ‘in’ Jesus! It’s a major distinction surrounding whether we believe that Jesus is who the Scripture says He is, compared to whether we willfully believe in Him by surrendering our lives unto Him wholly & completely.

The Bible says that even the demons believe that God exists, however they choose not to trust ‘in’ Him. Similarly, I could have believed 33 1/2 years ago that I thought the beautiful young woman that I was dating at the time would be a good life-partner … but that couldn’t become a reality unless I decided to trust ‘in’ her by agreeing to enter into holy matrimony together. I have not had a moment of regret as the Lord truly knit our hearts together before we got married while we were both doing volunteer outreach for a Christ-centered ministry at the time. I am so blessed as our mutual trust we have between each other only continues to grow, increase, and flourish.

Providing evidence that Christianity is true and that heaven is a real place, from an intellectual perspective (or reason) is necessary and tremendously important. However, belief ‘in’ is a step of faith or trust in Jesus that we must all make in order to experience salvation! True Christians have both … belief THAT and belief IN.

What would you say if you were told beyond any reasonable doubt, that you’re going to live forever?

Perhaps you would respond with, ‘Says who?’ Or, ‘How is that even possible as last time I checked, everyone is going to die at some point?’ Or, ‘That’s a bunch of baloney, and must be a marketing slogan trying to sell some phony fountain of youth supplement!’

Jesus said in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”

1 John 5:11-13 says, “And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.”

Depending upon who & what we put our trust into for identifying truth, will ultimately determine where we land surrounding the question of the afterlife.

Here is just one of the many reasons I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist: My atheist friends don’t believe they have a mind that is separate from their physical brain matter. And they believe their brain is just the end product of a mindless, unguided process. They say they put all their trust in science, and yet from my perspective, it sure seems as though they have to have a ton more faith in a mindless, unguided process, than any Bible believing Christian does!

Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:10, “Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.”

My encouragement to everyone, is to search the Scripture, let it be your guide! It’s not wishful thinking for a ‘happy ever after’ ending, it’s truth you can count on! Since according to the Bible, the moment we take our final breath here on this earth, it’s truly just the beginning of an eternity spent with Jesus!

C.S. Lewis once said, There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘They will be done.’

It’s literally up to each one of us to choose where we’ll live forever, please choose wisely, as eternity is a very long time!

Let’s see if I can bring a little clarity about what Christian Apologetics is

One way of identifying what Apologetics means, is saying it’s a branch of theology devoted to the defense of the divine origin and authority of Christianity.

1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set Christ apart as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance that is within you, yet with gentleness and respect.”

It’s important to recognize that all follower’s of Christ were at some point lost and dying in their sins. Paul says in Titus 3:3-8, “For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His grace, and that we would be made heirs of eternal life according to our hope (His guarantee). This is a faithful and trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I want you to speak with great confidence, so that those who have believed God will be careful to participate in doing good and honorable things. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.”

I think what Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:1-5 is very relevant to each one of us and the cultural time we’re currently living through; “I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”

1 John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” We in fact have the only cure for the eternally terminal disease that we’re all born with. The question is, do we have the courage to share it (Jesus’ saving grace) with those around us, even though we risk rejection and ridicule?

Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:7-9, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.”

Jesus says in Matthew 10:30-33, “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”

Why is the Bible such a big deal to Christians?

The simplest reason is because it reveals God to us! Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:14-17, “But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

Follower’s of Christ believe in what’s known as Sola scriptura. We believe that God’s Word is infallible … and that it is authoritative, complete, true, and available for anyone and everyone to understand and live by.

Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”

Psalm 119:7-9 says, “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,  making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.”

These are truly Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth! I am so grateful to the Lord for providing us with a guide book that has the power to literally transform our lives on this side of eternity!

The more we know His Word, the more familiar His voice will become to us. Proverbs 3:5-6 puts it beautifully, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

It’s one thing for God’s Word to reveal Himself to us through studying it, but it’s imperative that we do our part by putting our trust in Him with ALL our heart … and not leaning on our own understanding … and always submitting to His guidance and direction.

My sincere question to anyone who may be reading this post and has yet to put their faith and trust in Jesus … is, “Why not?” Do you need more evidence before believing? Are the professing Christians you know not very inspiring examples, and even seem like hypocrites? Do you think you’re too far gone, and if there is a God, there’s no way He could ever accept me into His family? Whatever may be holding you back from saying “Yes” to Jesus, please reach out as I would love the opportunity to hear your objections, and why you’ve chosen to seek truth from some other source.

What is the “Book of Life,” mentioned in the Bible?

Revelation 20:12-16 says, “I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

There’s a lot of talk about making our mark in this world and leaving a lasting legacy that we could be proud of. If the Bible is true (which I believe 100% it is!), I think our #1 priority, along with our #1 objective in our lifetime should be to ensure that our names are written in the Book Of Life! And the great news is, that God has made this all important decision of where we will live throughout all eternity available to everyone to decide!! My strong recommendation is to choose wisely, and not to take lightly this extremely consequential choice that you need to make while there’s still time.

The Book Of Life, mentioned many times in the Scriptures, is the set of names of those who will live with God forever in heaven. It is the roll of those who have done what Romans 10:9-10 identifies as being necessary to be saved … as Paul proclaims, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”

Luke 10:17-20 says, “When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

Can you think of anything more important, more pressing, or of more value than having your name registered (in the Book Of Life) in heaven? I can’t, and it would be a great blessing for me if you’re ever interested in learning more about what the Bible says about both heaven and hell. Please don’t hesitate to contact me as I would love to hear from you!

Should our faith inform our political views?

We as followers of Jesus should live in such a way that gives evidence of the gospel’s transforming power, in every area of our lives … including our political views!

It’s abundantly clear that our great nation was established nearly 250 years ago upon Biblical principles. However, our primary mission as believer’s isn’t trying to change our nation through political reform, but in helping to change the hearts and minds of its people through the Word of God.

We’re to do what Jesus commissioned His disciples to do in Matthew 28:16-20 when He said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

We’re absolutely called to stand against the sins of our time, and advocate for Godly & righteous policies. From a Biblical frame-of-reference, it’s not difficult to parse through the all too common political ‘slight of hand,’ and land on the truth surrounding policies that many politicians try to push on the society at large.

Ultimately, we need to pray that individual hearts will be changed by Christ, so that individuals are transformed by His saving grace. Then, we should see the culture around us better reflect godliness.

Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority and become great, the people rejoice; But when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh.” Most of us have lived through both scenarios in our great country, which should be a motivating factor to participate in our elections process, by supporting candidates who stand for the same Godly principles our nation was founded on.

Does the Bible have anything to say about how we spend our time?

I think the bottom line in identifying the Biblical answer to this question, is found by understanding how to live our lives wisely!

Here’s what Paul says in Ephesians 5:15-18, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Paul also says this in Colossians 4:5-6, “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”

None of us knows how much time we’ll have on this earth, and we would be wise to pay attention to what James 4:13-16 encourages us to do, “ Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.”

It’s imperative that we recognize that the Bible teaches we are saved by grace and not by working our way to heaven by ‘being a good’ or a moral person. At the same time, it’s equally important to realize that what we do with the time the Lord allows us to live here and now, matters for all eternity!

Unlike unbeliever’s who reject Christ’s free offer of salvation by choosing to pay the price for their own sins once they die … those who said “Yes” to Jesus in their lifetime will be judged at what’s known as ‘The judgment seat of Christ’ after they die to determine the rewards they’ll receive once they enter the eternal heaven. Here’s what Paul specifically says about that in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, “But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will be clearly shown; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person’s work. If any person’s work which he has built remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward. But if any person’s work is burned up, he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

I think Titus 3:4-8 sums up very nicely what the Bible has to say about what we do with our time and ultimately our lives: “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.”

What does the Bible mean when it says, “The light shines in the darkness?”

On the larger scale, I think it means that Jesus ultimately came to bring the light of God’s life into a spiritually dark and dying world, and that He is in all things, and nothing happens independent of Him.

Here’s the way John 1:1-5 puts it, “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it.

According to scripture, light and darkness are commonly symbolic of good and evil. Darkness represents the absence of light, meaning God is not there. It represents the power of evil, sin, and unbelief in this world that continues to reject Christ. For those who don’t accept Jesus as the light who came to pay the price for their sins, it means their future will be eternal separation from Him in darkness and torment.

In John 3:18-21 Jesus says, “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

The common theme throughout the Bible is found here in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

The decision is ours to either stay in the darkness and face an eternity apart from Him, or to repent of our sins, and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. By doing the later, we will experience what He says here in John 8:12, “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

The main focus of Mighty Wind Ministries is to encourage everyone to consider making the Bible their baseline for identifying truth. It truly changes everything once we put our faith in Jesus and recognize He has provided us with a trustworthy and reliable guidebook to help make sense of the world we all live in.

Finally, please take to heart the sense of urgency from our Lord here in John 12:35-36, “Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

Why did Jesus say, “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it,” in Matthew 7:14 when He was referring to heaven?

That statement doesn’t appear to be very inviting, or appealing, or even attainable, does it?

Just a few verses prior though, Jesus says this in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

We were all born with a human nature that is drawn towards comfort, and selfishness, and pleasure. I think the ‘narrow & difficult’ path Jesus describes is because surrendering ownership of our lives unto Him requires dying to our flesh.

Paul says in Galatians 2:20-21, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.”

Paul also said in Galatians 5:24-25, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

James 1:10-15 says, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

It’s vitally important to recognize the difference between being tempted, compared to being tested! We should expect to be tested throughout our entire lifetime. The reality when Jesus said our lives as His followers would be very difficult and narrow, should help us to persevere through all the trials and tests that come our way.

Wherever you may be on your personal faith journey, I think it’s helpful to realize that choosing to say “Yes” to Jesus doesn’t mean life is always going to be easy. Yet, consider His promise here in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you!” So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

Scripture is abundantly clear that God offers salvation to everyone who accepts it! John 1:9-12 says, “The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.  He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

It’s a very sad reality that most people turn away from Jesus, rather than denying themselves whatever they think they deserve in this lifetime. We don’t do anyone any favors by sugar-coating the message of the gospel. Even though the vast majority of people are not willing to pay the price to follow Him, we should continue to share the truth in love, praying that people will ultimately choose the narrow & difficult road that leads to eternal life.

What’s your response if someone asks if you think a person you both knew is now in heaven?

I love the way Jesus taught truth through His parables! The following passage is an example for our consideration surrounding this awkward question when asked where people who have died may be now … from Matthew 21:28-32 when Jesus was sharing with the religious leaders of His time:

“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.”

Perhaps a better question to ask surrounding where a loved one, or a friend, or an acquaintance is after their death, might be something like, ‘As far as you know, was their life consistent with the saving faith of Christ?’

From a Biblical frame-of-reference, there are only two options for where people will go after their life here is over. Jesus says in Matthew 7:13-14, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”

Unfortunately, the enemy has the vast majority of our culture convinced that all anyone has to do to get into heaven is to be a good moral person. Here’s a reminder from Luke 23:39-43 about the simplicity of God’s truth from a real-life conversation that took place while Jesus was on the cross being crucified. “One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”  But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Just to clarify from a Biblical perspective surrounding the question of how anyone can know that they will in fact go to heaven after they die, consider what Acts 4:8-12 says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, part 2

I’ve participated on a variety of teams throughout my lifetime, but none more important or consequential than being a life-partner with my beautiful bride Kimberly throughout the last 33-years! I’m so grateful that the Lord created all of us to be on His team, and that He went the extra mile by filling us with His Holy Spirit to ensure our success.

Paul says in Romans 12:4-8, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit grants spiritual gifts according to His will, according to how He has chosen to use each individual believer to minister to others. We don’t actually get to treat these gifts like a ‘buffet’ of choices and preferences to pick and choose from. We all possess spiritual gifts based upon God’s Word to be sure! However, it’s the Holy Spirit who knows what gift(s) to bestow upon each one of us so that we will function in the body (on His team), in such a way that brings the maximum glory and honor to our Lord and Savior.

I’m so very grateful to the Lord for instilling in me the gift of encouraging others! And please take to heart what Paul says here in Romans 12:1-2 as you personally seek to faithfully live out your calling and your gift(s) that He’s placed within you … “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

We are not alone - the Holy Spirit, part 1

Jesus told his disciples He was going away, but they were confused by what He meant. We have the advantage of seeing what took place soon after He shared this prophecy with them, along with His explanation for why He had to leave (be crucified).

Here is what Jesus said in John 16:5-14, “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.”

How absolutely incredible and amazing is it that we can 100% know what our baseline for identifying truth is, as follower’s of Christ?! When Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth, He literally means in every area of our lives! It’s unnecessary to be ambiguous, or doubtful, or uncertain, or indecisive, or conflicted, or reluctant, or vacillating, or unsure, or inconclusive, or undefined, or skeptical, or cynical, or unconvinced surrounding how we process the world around us, and how we go about making daily moment-by-moment decisions.

Jesus told His disciples in John 14:16-17, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

Paul says in Ephesians 1:13-14, “In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit as owned and protected [by God]. The Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.”

Our responsibility as believers is to follow the dynamic leading of the Holy Spirit! He’ll never force us to receive and act upon His guidance, or counsel, or accept His comfort … as it’s entirely up to us to trust that He knows what’s best, and then to act upon His promptings.

We’ll look at some of the Holy Spirit’s more specific ways in which He’s eager to help us in part 2 … but for now, let’s celebrate that we literally are never ever left alone to figure out how to live this life in such a way that will glorify our Lord and Savior!

So much noise!

I’m not sure about everyone else, but I’m probably not alone when I acknowledge my daily challenge of facing the multitude of voices, distractions, opinions, and just flat out noise. I call it, “Managed chaos!”

I told a friend recently that if I neglect to start my day with a quiet time in devotion to the Lord, then the rest of the day is pretty much a wreck. It’s not impossible to salvage, but it’s super difficult to get passed all the ‘noise’ that zaps my time and energy at that point moving forward.

Unforced errors lead to unnecessary negative outcomes. By simply paying attention to what’s within my control, I can mitigate the temptations that I may otherwise succumb to by starting every morning talking with Jesus, and spending time in His Word, before anything else!

Jesus is our perfect example here in Mark 1:35, “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” He too, knew His day could be ‘ambushed’ by busyness if He neglected to go to the Father first thing in the morning.

My time in God’s Word this morning mirrors Paul’s prayer for spiritual growth in Ephesians 3:14-21 for anyone who happens to read this post, “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”

I love how Jesus responded when Satan tempted Him! Matthew 4:5 says, “But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.”

In order to be prepared for the daily attacks of the devil, we need to know how to respond like Jesus did by knowing His Word. Joshua 1:8 is a terrific reminder for all of us when he said, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

The Bible is truly God’s love letter to a lost and dying world. At the same time, He’s not going to force anyone into His kingdom. It’s entirely up to each one of us to either reject or receive the truth that is clearly communicated throughout the Scriptures.

To judge or not to judge, that is the question?

Here’s what Jesus says in Luke 6:41-49, “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thorn bushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Jesus makes it clear that we’re not to be hypocrites as we consider the lives of those around us. We’re never to be critical, condemning, or come from a holier-than-thou perspective whenever we’re tempted to point fingers at the shortcomings of others. After dealing with ‘the log in our own eye,’ then ‘we’ll see well enough to deal with the speck in our friend’s eye.’ Which won’t come from a critical, condemning, or holier-than-thou, mean spirited attitude.

Also, Jesus doesn’t mince words as it relates to identifying who truly are His followers. And I think it’s a good reminder for all of us who claim the name of Christ to be our Lord and Savior to first look inward. We would be wise to pay attention to the things we say and do, for “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

Jesus’ words bring a strong sense of conviction to me (even right now as I’m reading it!), to avoid thinking out loud. Rather than saying the first thought that may come to my mind, like a negative opinion I may have about someone else.

James 1:19-20 says, “You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.”

Based on my personal life-experiences thus far, almost every time I think out loud … I regret it, and wish I would have simply taken it to the Lord and trusted Him with what to do with my thoughts.

Our battle is not against flesh and blood

From a Biblical perspective, we need to start with who has authority over everything, including spiritual warfare.

The following passage takes place after Jesus was resurrected here in Matthew 18:16-18, “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”

James 4:4-6 says, “But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but gives grace to the humble .” So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Resisting the influence of the devil is certainly easier said than done.

We would be wise to have a rock solid plan for responding to the daily temptations that our spiritual adversary throws at us! Here’s what Jude 9 says, “But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

I’m grateful that our life-long enemy is not all-knowing, all-powerful, and always present like our Heavenly Father is! Even though he can’t read our minds, he does have the capability of reading our actions, as we give away many of our weaknesses. He knows how to strategically ‘bait the hook’ for each and every one of us, and he doesn’t play by any kind of fair rules when he relentlessly attacks us and tries to bring us down.

Our responsibility in the realm of spiritual warfare and how to overcome the evil one, is to walk so closely with the Lord that we too can do what Jude did whenever we recognize the severity of the battle, and ask Jesus to rebuke devil! It’s not some kind of magical prayer or a silver bullet, as much as it is the life-saving power of truth on our side … and personally knowing the One Who is ultimately in control.

Why is reconciliation such an important Biblical concept?

At some point in our lives, most of us have unfortunately experienced estranged relationships. Regardless of the negative circumstances that lead to such broken relationships, there’s true Biblical hope to be found through Biblical reconciliation.

It literally all started when Adam and Eve broke their close fellowship with God in Genesis chapter 3. A good definition of what being reconciled means could be, “Restoring a relationship, the act of making amends with someone or a group after a disagreement or conflict. It can involve forgiveness, understanding, and a willingness to move forward.”

God’s call for reconciliation is the major theme of the Bible, as we see here in 2 Corinthians 5:16-20 when Paul says, “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So, we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

Paul says in Romans 5:9-11, “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

Jesus says in Matthew 6:14-15, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Remembering that the Lord has forgiven us of our sins whenever we’re offended to the point of estrangement by someone and refusing to forgive them, should be motivation enough to immediately forgive them and to seek reconciliation.

It’s incredibly freeing to choose to no longer count people’s sins against them when they’ve wronged us, as well as to truly forgive like Jesus does! I once heard it said, and it bears repeating in the context of this conversation … “Situations like these don’t build character, they reveal it.”

If we’re honest, we all have aspects of our lives in which we would prefer were different, as well as some things we hope will get better

No doubt you’re running through a list of things in your mind right now that you wished would change. But rather than wishful thinking, wouldn’t it be more helpful to grasp a Biblical frame-of-reference surrounding what real hope for a better future could look like?

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen.” Faith in Jesus is a prerequisite of Biblical hope as facts that can’t be experienced by our physical senses.

Salvation precedes a confident reality of hope. 1 Peter 1:3-4 says, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”

Paul says in Galatians 5:4-5, “For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.”

Paul also says in Romans 8:24-25, “We were given this hope when we were saved. If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.”

Titus 3:4-7 says, “But When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

1 Timothy 4:8-10 says, “ For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come. This is a faithful and trustworthy saying worthy of full acceptance and approval. It is for this that we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

The God of the bible is not like a genie in a bottle who grants our every wish at our every whim. When we choose to put our faith, and trust, and hope entirely into Jesus, then and only then will we experience what Paul says here in Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

I personally can’t imagine anything better than that! Can you?

The joy of the Lord is our strength!

What if it’s difficult to muster up any joy at all due to the horrible circumstances you may be facing?

Joy is both a gift of God as well as a response to the gifts of God. We all can become easily distracted and ungrateful for the gift of the Lord’s presence in our lives. However, it’s a choice! The reality is it’s impossible to be both grateful and ungrateful at the same time. If we choose to be ungrateful, and a complainer, and negative all the time, then it’s impossible for the joy of the Lord to shine through us. Regardless of circumstances that we’d prefer were different, we can and should be over-the-top grateful that the Creator of the universe is living within us to both comfort and guide us through every storm that comes our way.

Paul wrote the following from prison in Philippians 4:4-8, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

It’s up to us to discipline our thought life! The consequences of paying attention to what & how we think are played out in what we say, and how we act, and ultimately what our character is.

Try choosing joy next time you’re tempted to fall into the ‘woe is me’ trap as you challenge the Lord to come through for you by experiencing His strength, and ultimately His joy.

What does God have to say about pride?

Identifying the truth about what words mean really matters! Here’s a definition of ‘good’ pride as the Apostle Paul was addressing a group of people who he had some difficulties with in 2 Corinthians 7:4, “Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride and boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in spite of all our trouble.”

However, here in Proverbs 16:18 we’ll see a far different meaning, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” Context is always king, as we need to use great discernment when studying what the Bible teaches us.

Satan was cast out of heaven due to the ‘bad’ kind of pride here in Isaiah 14:12-15, “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High. Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths.”

We can learn a good lesson from our adversaries’ actions and the consequences that followed his pridefulness, as there is guaranteed to be nothing but disaster ahead for us as well if/when we selfishly try to pridefully replace God.

Another word for pride is arrogance, and the frame-of-reference when used in the Bible is always one in which God detests it as a behavior or attitude, like here in Proverbs 16:5, “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.”

Jesus said in Mark 7:20-23, ““It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

Proverbs 4:20-22 says, “My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; Keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, And healing and health to all their flesh.”

I was blessed to have been taught by a world-class golf instructor, PGA Member Rudy Duran, who hammered into me to always, “Pay attention to those things that were within my control.” It not only works well in learning how to play your best golf, but it’s absolutely imperative to identifying truth from God’s word as well.

My favorite acronym for BIBLE is; Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Seems like we could all benefit from paying more attention to God’s love letter to us, eh?!