Yes We Can!

I was asked to publish my notes from yesterday's sermon. So here they are:

Today, as we celebrate our Veterans who have defended our country valiantly, I want you to know that a battle still rages in America. I am not talking about a battle at some other place in the world, but right here in this church.

There is a battle going on in the life of the person sitting next to you. Turn to your neighbor and say “You better wake up!”

In fact there is a battle going on in your life as well. Neighbor, turn back to the person that spoke to you and tell him, “You better wake up!”

Friends if you are here today and you are a believer in Jesus Christ you are in ENEMY OCCUPIED TERRITORY, do you understand me? I come to tell you this morning that America is in a Spiritual War this morning and we are losing the fight! As one very prominent American leader said recently, “America is no longer a Christian nation.”

I agree with that statement and I submit to you that it is time that this changes! Being an old English teacher, I love listening to political speeches. If you will indulge me for a moment, I want to borrow a theme from a great speech from the last Presidential Campaign. I think you might recognize it.

Friends, our struggle today is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces in heavenly realms.
We are told that we, as Christians cannot overcome these forces.
But I tell you Romans 8:37calls us more than conquerors through the power of Jesus Christ therefore…YES WE CAN!

People say that this book I hold in my hand is just an old outdated document and that we Christians cannot claim it to be the absolute truth.
But I tell you by the authority of Jesus’ Words in John 17:17, YES WE CAN!

Many will tell us that we cannot really believe that Jesus was born to a virgin.
But I tell you, based on Luke 1:26-38…YES WE CAN!

Some will say that though Jesus was a good man and even a prophet, you Christians cannot possibly claim He lived a sinless life.
I tell you based on 2 Corinthians 5:21…YES WE CAN!

Still others will say, “Ok he may have died on the tree. But you Christians cannot believe that Jesus rose from the grave."
Oh dear friends by the authority of God’s Word…YES WE CAN!

Satan will tell you, "Jesus may have done all of those things, but you cannot possibly think God would want to save YOU after all you've done."

But my Bible tells me that "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Therefore can we claim that Jesus wants to save us as sorry as we may be?...YES WE CAN!

Some will say that we Christians cannot possibly think that there is only one way to Heaven.
But Jesus said "I am THE way, THE truth and THE life, no man can come to the Father exept by me" John 3:16 says that, "God loved the world so much that He gave his only begotten son that WHOSOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Can we claim that God, Jesus is the only way to Heaven?…YES WE CAN!

Goliath told the people of God “You cannot defeat me” David said “I come in the name of the Lord” and together with Him…YES WE CAN!

The prophets of Baal told Elijah you cannot possibly bring fire from Heaven. Elijah said, Boys step back I have God on my side and together with HIM…YES WE CAN!

My dear friends, Satan’s going to try to tell you that you can’t defeat him. The battle cannot be won. He’ll say that we as Christians in America cannot bring Jesus into our homes again, into our schools again, into our nation again. He’ll say, “Sinners, liars, thieves, such were you” you cannot possibly be effective for Christ.

Folks when Satan tries to remind you of your past, you remind Him of His future and tell him that though we can do nothing on our own, we serve a risen Savior who is in the world TODAY, and through the power of Jesus name (say it with me) YES WE CAN!

Oh dear friends, I heard an old, old story…of how a Savior came from glory. How he gave his life on Calvary to save a wretch like me. I heard about His groaning, Of His precious blood’s atoning. Then I repented of my sins and won the victory.

O victory in Jesus,My Savior, forever.He sought me and bought meWith His redeeming blood;He loved me ere I knew HimAnd all my love is due Him,He plunged me to victory,Beneath the cleansing flood.

Thank God for Christian Kids in Public Schools

It has been too long since I have had the opportunity to post. I will try to do better. I just got back from See You At The Pole in Rains and I am very thankful that we still have Christian kids in public schools. This is very close to my heart being a former school teacher, my wife currently teaching, and both of my kids in school. I pray that this generation of young people will rise up and take a stand for Christ and that it would make a difference in everything they do. My parent's generation didn't, my generation hasn't and there is no sign that those in their 20's and 30's are going to be any different. But there is hope.

Today I saw a chosen few...not many kids but a hope. I see in my daughter a hope! My son is too young yet to understand but one day I know he too will come to know Jesus and be part of this hope.

I am so thankful for the kids and youth that I saw today. It gave me a glimmer of hope seing a small spark knowing that God can take a small spark and turn it into a fire. I hope to prepare my children to understand that school is their mission field and that it is their responsibility to go into all of the world and make disciples.

And then I hope they will see that their work and their community is a mission field and that it is their responsibility to go into all of the world and make disciples.

And I hope the generations, including mine, that have gone before them will see them being an example and do the same thing.

Friends it is time that we break out of our "holy huddles" and get into the game. It only takes a spark to get a fire going. Thank God for the spark I saw this morning as Christian kids in public schools took a stand for Christ. May God fan the flame!

Mary, Martha, and Basketball

I love sports! Ok, there's an understatement. I really, really love sports! I love the thrill of competition. I love the nervous anxiety before the game. I love the constant ebb and flow of the game. In the past, I loved playing the game, now I love coaching the game.

God reminded me this weekend of something that he taught me through sports...how to concentrate when someone is trying to distract you. I remember playing football in a stadium that held 20,000 people or so. I remember Mesquite vs. North Mesquite games when the stadium would be full with screaming fans. I noticed the crowd when I was on the sidelines. But a remarkable thing happened when I entered the game. I became so focused that I didn't hear the crowd noise. That is why it makes me laugh when I watch basketball games with crowds of people waving things behind the basket to distract the freethrow shooter. NEWSFLASH: They don't see it! Never have I heard a player interviewed after the game and say, "I would've made those freethrows if it weren't for all of those people waving those pool noodles and noise makers behind the basket." The reason it has no effect is because of FOCUS.

Luke 10:38-42 and the story of Mary and Martha is a great example of focus, or lack of it. Mary and Martha have Jesus, yes that Jesus, at their home. Mary was "focused" on Jesus. Verse 39 says that she "was listening to the Lord's word, seated at His feet." Notice what verse 40 says about Mary's sister Martha. It says, "...Martha was distracted with all her preparations." Mary was focused. Martha was distracted.

Recently, I attended a youth basketball tournament. You learn a lot about people by watching youth sports. When one of the games was over, I realized that Martha was parenting some of the players. Some of the parents were distracted by the fact that the team did not win the game. They were distacted by the referees that didn't call a fair game (although I thought they called a fair game). They were distracted by how stupid the coach was(although I didn't think he was that bad). NEWSFLASH: Sometimes, Goliath wins!

My point is that they were so distracted by the coach's terrible coaching and the referees bad calls that they missed the joy of seeing their daughter's face light up as her name was called out by the announcer during pregame introductions. They missed seeing the smile on the girls' faces and the cheers from the sidelines when one of the smallest girls on the team rebounded the ball in the midst of girls more than twice her size. They should have left the tournament with joy, being FOCUSED on the gift God gave them of being able to watch their daughter compete in a game that she loves playing. Instead, they were distracted...and they missed God's blessing. Other parents saw the same games and yet focused on the positive things that happened.

Friends, please understand the fact that there are always things out there to distact us. The past few weeks, Satan has tried to attack me with things like Doctor bills we thought insurance had paid, taxes that had to be paid, school payments that are coming due, and other things. But in the midst of all of this God reminded me to focus. Focus on the fact that I had a hand in 9 kids being led to Jesus recently. Focus on the fact that God has given me a wonderful son who loves his daddy, a beautiful daughter who is excited about going to the Baptism Service at the church because her friend, that she at the age of 8 recently led to the Lord, was being baptized...and a wonderful wife who got to sing and preach (teach) during two services at another church yesterday.

And oh by the way...the young girl that my daughter led to Christ, I got to baptize her last night. And she is the sister of one of the basketball players on the team that I coached last year, who I also got to baptize. Did I mention how much I love coaching?

Friends, may we not be distracted! May we stay focused on Jesus!

And if you ever go to a sporting event, be a Mary and not a Martha.

A MESSAGE FOR CHRISTIANS

Chris Horton is wondering when Christians are going to take a stand that the Bible is God's Word, the truth in it is truth, and that Jesus is THE way. If that makes us intolerant so be it! While it may be true that we are NOT a Christian Nation, we should be.

This was my post on Facebook yesterday. I was out of the office but will use this blog to clarify my point. Feel free to comment.

First let me begin by giving you two presuppositions that guide my viewpoint: #1 The Bible is God's Word and #2 Jesus is THE ONLY way to heaven, and therefore anyone who accepts Him as Lord and Savior is what I consider a "Christian".

First, while it is of concern to me that false religions run other countries, it is irrelevant to this discussion. Second, for the purpose of this discussion, I am not concerned with politicians who have not accepted Christ. I expect lost people to act, think, and even govern in a way that is different from Christians. To put it another way, and thus make my point, I expect Christian leaders to govern and make decisions differently than non-Christian ones, and sadly many are not doing so.

We need politicians, including President Obama, who is a Christian, to make decisions based on what the Bible says... not his opinion, not focus groups, not political advisers...but the Holy Writ of God!

For the lost to make decisions and govern contrary to the Word of God is expected. For Christian leaders to do the same is inexcusable.

But there is hope. "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). Verse 19-20 continues, "However, if you turn away and abandon My statutes and My commands that I have set before you and if you go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from the soil that I gave them, and this temple that I have sanctified for My name I will banish from My presence; I will make it and object of scorn and ridicule among all the peoples."

Friends, we have put our trust in horses and chariots (military might) and been attacked with our own planes. We have trusted in our wealth and are currently reaping the consequences of that.

It is time that the people of God speak and live as the people of God are called to live, making no apology for our belief in Jesus Christ and in the Word of God, allowing the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and our actions. It is time that we return to Him so that He will return to us as a nation. I pray that that starts with you and I, and includes our President and government leaders. Then we will truly be "ONE NATION UNDER GOD."

God is our Daddy and Coach

Recently, I was faced with a decision that reminded me of God. You see, my daughter is a good 2nd grade basketball player. The season is ending and she has been invited to play on a 3rd and 4th grade girls All-Star team that will go and play tournaments. As I weighed the decision of letting her play on the team, I had to decide what would be in her best interest. You see she is one of the better girls (I may be biased) in the 2nd grade co-ed league, and I know she can compete well with the 3rd grade girls. But I don't want her to be discouraged when facing the 4th grade All-Star teams from other places. After thinking about it, I am going to let her play on this team, and in fact I have been asked to coach it. My point is that there is a fine line between what helps us grow and what could hinder our growth.

God does the same thing with us every single day. He knows what you and I can and cannot handle, though sometimes we think he overestimates our ability don't we? Yet, He always helps us through.

If you are going through a tough time today, think of yourself as a 2nd grade All-Star being invited to play with the 4th graders. Only realize this...God is your coach. He knows what we can handle even more than you and I do. "And be sure of this: I (JESUS) am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20b). Go get 'em!

How many miracles have we missed?

The more I study God's Word, the more I realize that I don't know much. Our instructor in my Hermeneutics Class discussed Luke 16:19-31. I have heard this preached on in many evangelistic settings but never to teach discipleship.

As the story goes, a rich man is in Hell and calls out for help from Abraham in Heaven. This rich man tells Abraham to send Lazarus, who was dead, back to warn this man's brothers to repent. He says that if his brothers see someone come back from the dead they would repent.

It sounds logical doesn't it? But Abraham says in v.31, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead."

What is this saying? They miss the miracle because they don't know God's Word. You see Moses and the prohets were long dead by the time of this story. the "Moses and the prophets" being referred to here is the scripture, specifically the Old Testament. The Bible is telling us that if we don't "hear Moses and the prophets" we will not understand the miracle (one coming back from the dead).

So, how can we "hear Moses and the prophets" if we don't spend time in God's Word? We can't.

How many miracles have we missed seeing because we haven't spent time in God's Word?

Challenge for this week. Spend time in God's Word and see if He doesn't show you His miracles happening around you. Feel free to respond back.

Our Dad Loves Us

Last night I got another glimpse of God. You see I almost always put my daughter to bed and kiss her goodnight. But last night was different. She has the flu and mom is the only one who got her flu shot. (I am a big baby and hate needles...but that's a different story). Anyway, my daughter woke up in the middle of the night hurting. I wanted so desperately to go in and just hold her tightly until she went to sleep. But I had to watch as my wife took care of her. She did such a great job with her, but I was longing to comfort my daughter and couldn't step in.

I think that is how God must feel with us sometimes. How He must hurt when we hurt. Afterall we are His children. We matter to Him. As much as I love my daughter, He loves her more. I know that many of my hurts, I bring upon myself as a consequence of my sin, but I believe God is still there wanting to come in. Wanting to take care of us. Waiting for us to ask.

If you are going through a tough time because of sin...turn back to God. Ask Him to help you through it. The consequences of sin will still be there but He will help you through. If you are going through a tough time and it is not because of sin...call on Jesus. Let Him hold you through it all.