Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, September 29, 2022.
The problem is a lot of what we believe are lies. (1 John 4:1)
EDIT: And, why do we believe lies? Because we want to. (James 1:14) So, we must beware our own lusts!
Never forget that the heart is desperately wicked and can rationalize and convince you of anything. It is not to be trusted. (Jeremiah 17:9)
God has revealed Himself and His will through His Word, His Son and His Spirit. They're all One, they agree and the Spirit that's been given to us is not going to say a single thing that the Word did not. (Hebrews 1:1-2, John 16:13-14)
Just because something feels right or sounds true doesn't mean that it is. Let God be true!
Originally posted on Facebook on Wednesday, September 14, 2022.
Destroying the religious establishment was the not the spirit of Christ,
"And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day" -Luke 4:16
Jesus didn't hate the place or even the institution of their assembly.
He focused on loving the people in it, calling His sheep to Himself and leading them into the lush pasture of the Father.
"The Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them." -Luke 9:56
So, rather than seek to destroy "church", I will seek to glorify Christ. To be clear, I will never "go to church" again. I am the church. But, I will go everywhere He leads me in love, seeking to direct His people to their one and only Shepherd.
Originally posted on Facebook on Friday, August 26, 2022.
My wife and I were having a conversation about this very thing on our walk yesterday. We were discussing this statement, "Our greatest challenge is believing the Gospel."
I can't do that on my own and be sane. If I say I believe the claims of the Gospel, either I'm a Cultural Christian and I'm just saying it (lying) to fit in, I'm crazy or I'm convicted because I've experienced a divine intervention.
From beginning to end, our faith is the work of God, so no one has any reason to boast. He is the "AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith"! -Hebrews 12:2
"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified." 2 Corinthians 13:5
Originally posted on Facebook on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.
"Make everything you're a part of better" is something I frequently pray over my family and try to encourage them to do.
These guys are setting goals and putting in work to do just that.
I admire and am so thankful to have every person pictured here in my life.
As a family, we've just moved Roman into the The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science and Devin into Coahoma Community College. Chris starts his junior year at Mississippi State University next week.
Please pray with us that God shows Himself strong to and through this generation.
(P.S. Thanks to Megan Bean and Ben Harvey for taking the picture of us with Roman and for raising an awesome son in Sebastian Harvey for him to share this journey with!)
Originally posted on Facebook on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.
In light of recent events, it's hard but stand firm believer.
The Bible can be trusted.
We, as believers, should not reason or orient ourselves based on anything apart from God's Word, no matter how badly Christians around us get it wrong or how compelling worldly arguments may be. (Romans 1:16-17, Ephesians 6:15, Hebrews 10:38)
The Word is the authoritative guide to Life, but without the revelation of the Holy Spirit, its meaning is closed to us. Reading, quoting, teaching and preaching scripture without the illumination of the Holy Spirit is how we, with such confidence that we're right, assert things that are so tragically wrong. (Deuteronomy 29:29, Matthew 11:25, I Corinthians 2:14)
The Word and the Spirit are complete, sufficient for all areas of life and need no extra-biblical supplement. (II Peter 1:3)
They also perfectly agree. The Spirit will never give anything that contradicts the Word. Evaluating statements against scripture is how we test things. (John 16:12-15, 1 Corinthians 14:32, 1 John 4:1-6)
To understand what the Word for any situation or season is, we must be careful not to proudly presume but to humble ourselves and ask God for understanding of the scripture and for wisdom. He gives it generously without risk of rejection. (James 1:5-8, 4:6)
Don't be distracted by the raging waves, those to your left and your right or even the "church". Look to Jesus, the Word in flesh and trust Him, alone.
Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, June 27, 2022.
The problem is that men make God out to be like themselves and think that He would regard authority the way a man would, "to lord it over others." (Mark 10:42)
But, what did Jesus do with His bride? "He called His disciples together and gave them power and authority" (Luke 9:1, Mark 6:7, Matthew 10:1) and in the regeneration, "We shall rule with Him" (2 Timothy 2:12)
Everything God gives us, whether resources, revelation or authority is for the reconciliation of creation and the protection and provision for ALL that are in His house. (Matthew 24:45)
Do we even know why man was given authority in the first place? The fall. (Genesis 3:1) In God's lovingkindness, even in cursing as He was administering His righteous judgement, He had redemption in view and provided "covering" –making the family a military unit to effectively fight against an Enemy that our sin gave power to, to cover (preserve) us until the Chief Shepherd appears (Isaiah 11, John 10, Revelations 21).
Until then, we war. And, I don't know about you, but I want my wife, the woman who's in the foxhole with me, to be empowered, equipped and fully capable of fighting alongside me.
Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, June 5, 2022.
You don't have to be prominent to be important.
There are impurities in my thinking that disrupt my peace and destroy my productivity.
Jesus referred to these as leaven.
Among which is the idea that I have to be prominent to be important.
Jesus warned us about this. “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts"
-Luke 20:46
This sort of thinking breeds self-seeking, making me a slave to what is momentary and does not satisfy (disturbing my peace). It also places undue emphasis on me as an individual rather than as a member of a larger whole, dividing me from those to whom and from whom edification should flow (destroying my productivity).
But this is the mind of Christ,
"And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another."
-I Corinthians 12:23-25
So, my prayer today is:
"Father, give me a heart like Christ's, that thinks of prominence as nothing to be sought or held on to, not being preoccupied with oneself (even how they or their work is perceived), but is humble, simply living in service to the Whole, trusting You with their obedience. (Philippians 2:3-11)
Therefore, give me a heart
that does not need to be seen,
that does not need to be applauded,
that does not need likes on social media,
that does not need to signal my importance through titles such as president of this, founder of that or through possessions such as houses, cars or clothes,
that does not need "important" work but a heart that is content peeling potatoes in Your name.
Give me a heart that is glad, yes rejoices, just to be at Your table, regardless of where I sit.
Give me a heart that is satisfied with You alone.
I confess that I do not have this heart. I still desire worldly acceptance and approval. I repent and ask for Your heart believing this is Your will, therefore having full confidence that You can and You will grant my petition, believing that I will receive it without doubting, I ask these things for Your Son Jesus' sake and in His name I pray.
Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, May 23, 2022.
Some days, like today, I find myself feeling bad about where I am in worldly terms: what I look like, what I want and don't have, etc..
The temptation is to do something to make myself feel better in that worldly context (to eat something I enjoy, buy something I want, to do something for recognition, etc.) when the key is to completely change contexts –from worldly to godly.
To change these contexts is to abandon earthly considerations; don't worry about it and to shift focus from myself to God, to what He's doing, to how I can be a part of it, to confidence in its beauty and its goodness –to trust God.
Discontent and worry are the opposite of trust.
Very often, the remedy for a sad countenance, discouragement and a downcast heart is a new heart –one secure in God.
So, my prayer in this hour is Psalms 51:10-13,
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit."
Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, May 15, 2022.
If you are saved, you are part of Christ's body and your function in the body is not just going to church and listening to the mouth. Nor is it recruiting others to come and just listen to the mouth.
God, through Christ, has given you a ministry: "good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Eph 2:10
What has God given you a heart or burden for? How is the Holy Spirit leading you? How are you providing for Christ our Lord's House? How are you seeking His interests in the world?
