ON PEACE

Today I listened to the lyrics of a new song, “One (Lord Make Us One) with Lyrics by Chris Sligh”.

It was a good song and touched my heart.  Paraphrasing, it talked about all people coming together, ignoring their differences, and accepting and celebrating diversity.  Who can argue with that premise?  

But then, I recalled...  Luke 12:49-56 and I wondered, how does Chris Sligh reconcile his lyrics with the words of Christ?

I tend to agree with the following comments from Vernon McGee.  

What do you think?

JESUS STATES HE IS A DIVIDER OF MEN

I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? [Luke 12:49].

Even at this hour when the world is experiencing the deepest darkness we’ve had in nineteen hundred years, the Lord Jesus Christ is being blasphemed! The fire has been thrown out on the earth today!

But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! [Luke 12:50].

This verse is speaking of Christ’s death upon the cross.

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on the earth?


I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 
For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother–in–law against her daughter–in–law, and the daughter–in–law against her mother–in–law [Luke 12:51–53].

When a person receives Jesus Christ as his Savior, he is immediately separated from the unbelievers around him. This will be true whether they be his relatives or his friends.

And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.  Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? [Luke 12:54–56].

We need to realize and recognize what kind of world we are living in. Man thinks he is big enough and good enough to bring peace on the earth. This is a fallacy—man is a warmonger. 


The United Nations was formed to bring peace and to keep peace on earth. May I say, the United Nations is one of the best fighting arenas in the world today! 


We need to realize that until Christ comes there can be no real peace.

ON THE AROMA OF CHRIST

What changes when you feel God’s presence?

What is different between then... and now?

Is it a paradigm shift?

Or is it a matter of intensity, or distance, or awareness?

For me, there are times when I sense His touch, His tears, His boundless love... His hope.

What is it?  

What is the impetus that transports us from where we were, to where He is?

Is it truth?

Is it authenticity?

Is it surrender? 

Is it solitude?

Is it the euphoria of worship?

Or is it our need (or His)

Is it our hope, or faith, or love the impetus sensing his presence?

Or is it something He does, or reveals, or sows?

Is He, (or we) playing Hide and Seek?

Someone wrote these words, “This garden universe vibrates complete. Some we get a sound so sweet.   Vibrations reach on up to become light, And then thru gamma, out of sight.  Between the eyes and ears there lay, The sounds of colour and the light of a sigh. And to hear the Son, what a thing to believe.  But it's all around if we could but perceive.  To know ultra-violet, infra-red and X-rays, Beauty to find in so many ways..  Two notes of the chord, that's our fluoroscope.  But to reach the chord is our life’s hope.  And to name the chord is important to some.  So they give a word, and the WORD IS...”

The “instant” we sense his presence, our paradigm changes, He IS with us... 

What is the impetus for the “instant” or put another way, the space between where we are and where He is?

Friday night I experienced authentic worship.  Today, I am asking what was different between a normal Sunday go to church worship service and Friday’s worship?

This may sound corny to many of you, but there were moments where I felt His presence!  Not imagined, Not hoped for, Not as though I was watching a movie... but that I was transported into his presence.

It wasn’t supernatural, or spiritual, or hallucinogenic... it was genuine, it was authentic!

But how did He bring me from where I was a few minutes earlier, into his presence?

And how do I KNOW my experience is genuine?

Truthfully, I do not know... but that’s not true... because I know!


During worship, He touched me, and my perception of reality changed.

Changed from a bystander looking in, to a participant who was joyful.

With spontaneous tears streaming down my face, He touched me, and I began to perceive how great His love IS.

Big enough to forgive ME, not because I deserved it because of what I have done or could ever do, but because of who HE IS.

Who is He?  He is the creator of the Universe.  He is our Father and He loves us even though we don’t deserve His love, He forgives us, even though we don’t deserve forgiveness, He Comforts us, He encourages us, He touches us down deep where our Soul lives and we Know Him because He IS.

It is impossible to Not recognize Him, there is No choice, when He chooses to reveal Himself... who He IS is undeniable.

But... the question still remains... how does this happen?  


What is the difference between the understanding, and the knowing?

The way it happened last night is when a broken man, who at 16 years, had murdered his mother, and spent the last 23 years (of a life sentence) behind bars, shared his testimony.  His story was devastating, much, much worse than most of ours...

But God touched this man, and he will never be the same again... 

This authentic testimony is one of the ways God’s AROMA spreads... 


Each of our personal testimonies reveals the AROMA of Christ and his work in the world today.

That is the difference between where we are, and where He IS... 


it is our authentic testimony to His truth.

***  You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  John 8:43-45

***  Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.  John 3:21

*** If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:7-9

***  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:12-14 

*** And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:12-14 

*** For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  2 Corinthians 2:14-16 

***  Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.  Psalm 25:4-6 

***  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  John 4:22-24 

***  You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.  Nehemiah 9:5-7 

ON DYING

My Friend is suffering under the weight of denial.  When you look at her from the outside, she seems to be healthy.  But from the inside she is clearly empty.  

Don’t misunderstand, she has everything she needs, her theology is sound, her philosophy for life is complete.  

Accept, as she moves through history, she finds herself desperate, desperate for the blood of life, to run warmly, and freely, through her veins, once again.  

I don't even think she realizes that her blood has turned cold, and that her heart doesn’t have the energy to pump oxygen to her veins anymore.  

And that revelation, has brought her to a state of depression, which is suffocating her.

It saddens me, because when I look at her.  She is incapacitated, almost like being paralyzed.  She seems to be lost, and without hope. 

Her members cannot move freely, something is holding them back.   She is locked in what seems to be a suspended animation.  

Even though her theology and philosophy are sound, what she believes, is not real, because there is no evidence of true life in her members.   What we see is more like a a dream, or a fantasy, than something with a living, vivacious spirit.

I think she is dying, because she is not free.  Her members are afraid, and don't trust what God can do if they were to be set free.

So there she sets, frozen, without the courage to empower her members to act on God's call.

So you ask, what can we do?

We should pray for her, 


Her name is... "The Church".

ON SATAN

Where did Satan come from? .... Is he an angel?

Was he the serpent who tempted Eve in the garden, and if so why did he do that?

Why was Satan allowed to enter the presence of God in Job 1:6-12? And furthermore, why did God entertain a conversation with him about Job?

What did God mean in Ezekiel 28:11-19, when he said, Satan was the seal of perfection, full of wisdom, perfect in beauty, and he was blameless?

Satan was a cherub, before His fall from grace, guarding the very throne of God in heaven, protecting the holiness of God. He occupied the highest of all positions. why was Satan anointed as a guardian cherub?

What did He do to get thrown out of the Holy’s presence? Isaiah 14:13-14 indicates that Satan’s heart desired to ascend into heaven, and exalt His throne above the stars of God and sit on the mount of the congregation, ascending above the heights of the clouds, to be like God.

Satan is not interested in going to hell, no, he is interested in taking God’s throne and ruling Heaven. Still, many people think Satan wants to be the devil, he does not... he wants to be God. In Matthew 4:9, he tells Jesus to “fall down and worship me, I’ll give you all the kingdoms of the world”.

Satan’s sin was to set his will against the will of God. You might say this is what you and I do every day. Isaiah 53:6 says, “ all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way”.

So the Great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelations 12:9

But in Job it is revealed that Satan has access to heaven today, not only does he have the right to be there, God may give him the right to test us. In Luke 22:31 Jesus said to Peter, “ Satan has desired to have you that he might test you.” And we know that Peter denied Jesus, something he regretted for the rest of his life.

When addressing the scribes and Pharisees, the Lord said, “ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. John 8:44

It is interesting that Jesus said, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” John 12:31 and in John 14:30 He continued, “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me”. It is clear that Satan is the prince and power of the air and the god of this world.”

When you consider James 4:4, he said “ Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

1 John 4:3-4 says, “And every spirit that doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” That is the reason countries can’t make peace, the United Nations is not effective and there is so much turmoil on the face of the earth right now.

1 John 5:4 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.” and John 14:30, “ I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world (Satan) is coming”.

When you place yourself in this picture, are you as worldly as you can be? Is Satan leading you around by your nose? Is it because of your response, to our world system? In 1 Corinthians 7:30-31, Paul reminds us that “... those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess... and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.”

How do you look upon things of this world? If the economy crashes, if America as we know it dissolves into social chaos, would it break your heart? Are you so wrapped up in this world that if it were taken away, your heart would be broken? I hope not, because, the fact is, that it will be taken away someday... then what will we do?

Satan is in a war with God, the battle is for the hearts and minds of all people, including you and I. That is why Paul say’s to “... put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. STAND firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6 13-17

Notice, we are not to attack (that would be fruitless) we are told to put on the armor and STAND. Our armor is spiritual, because the war is spiritual! Paul said “Above all, take the shield of faith, it is faith that allows us to withstand Satan’s firey darts and the door will be opened! Remember when Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9

It is an awful condition to have sin in our lives while we are trying to carry on the battle, we can never win that way. We must rely on what the Lord says, “ Come now, and let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are read like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18 and in 1 Thessalonians 5:8, it says, “but let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and a helmet of the hope of salvation.

Satan is the ruler of this world, in a sense, he is the God of this world. Everywhere we go, we are living in his world and under his influence, that is, until we find Christ. Consider that Satan really has no worries about most of us, because we can’t escape from his rule, until we realize that our selfish nature is the root of our sinfulness and come to grips with the fact that we are hopeless and in need of a savior. When that begins to happen, Satan’s rule is threatened and he will use every power at his disposal (lust, greed, pride, jealousy, hatred, discord, selfish ambition, envy, drunkenness, orgies, rage, and the like) to lure us back to himself and away from our savior, Jesus.

Isn’t it clear? Satan is setting a trap for you and me, he is attempting to ensnare us. And it is tragic to see so many true believers being taken in by him, in many subtle and unsuspecting ways? We need to be alert, because Satan is loose in the world today. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

By the way, if you think Satan will show mercy to you, you are dead wrong. If he gets you in a corner without your armor, he will destroy you, just as he has, so many good men. He can ruin your testimony in an instant. He can absolutely ruin your life. That is why it is important to always put on the whole armor of God, so that you will be able to STAND.

In the end, we know God has already won the war, but the battle for our lives is still raging and Satan is testing us, and continues to be our greatest enemy. He is running the world we live in today and will do everything he can to keep us away from our savior. The nature of Satan is the power behind most nations today, and the source of the misery and heartbreak we see all around us. Can you believe how smart he is, that many of the people who are being affected, don’t even believe he exists? We should respect him, and frankly, we should be very afraid of him.

But when we feel afraid, we have the confidence that James foretold, “… submit to God, Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

Satan is smart, and may not ask you to go out and get drunk, in fact, it his methods may be very subtle... he might just as easily ask you to become very religious, as long as you are distracted by works or ritual and don’t have time to develop a personal relationship with your savior, Jesus Christ, and begin to trust in your redemption through His death on the cross!

Remember, “... faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. Romans 10:17, The full armor is important, but most important is our shield of faith and the sword of the spirit (the word of god), and authentic relationships, without which, we may fall from grace!

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved, and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:1-7

End Note: Satan is called "the dragon," "the old serpent" (Rev. 12:9; 20:2); "the prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30); "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2); "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4); "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2).

The distinct personality of Satan and his activity among men are thus obviously recognized. He tempted our Lord in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11). He is "Beelzebub, the prince of the devils" (12:24). He is "the constant enemy of God, of Christ, of the divine kingdom, of the followers of Christ, and of all truth; full of falsehood and all malice, and exciting and seducing to evil in every possible way." His power is very great in the world. He is a "roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet. 5:8).

Men are said to be "taken captive by him" (2 Tim. 2:26). Christians are warned against his "devices" (2 Cor. 2:11), and called on to "resist" him (James 4:7). Christ redeems his people from "him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb. 2:14). Satan has the "power of death," not as lord, but simply as executioner.

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ON SALVATION

God's love is holy, and He will never, ever, turn away from us.

He does not judge us and will not punish us, (at least in the way we understand judgment and punishment.)

The properties of sin are very different from the properties of holiness.

The inability of oil and water to mix provides a great example of how different materials, with diverse properties, actually repel each other.

Without the application of a detergent, oil can never combine with water.

The same is true of sin and holiness.

In the case of salvation, the blood of Jesus acts as a detergent, providing a catalyst for our sin to be cleansed and become soluble in Holiness.

** Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

That is why we thank God for providing a way for us to enter into the presence of holiness. Because, without Jesus... our nature would repel holiness, what we might call judgment or punishment but it will be because of our own "free will" to reject Jesus' gift of salvation.

ON RELATIONSHIPS

Something extraordinary is happening in our midst, can you feel it? In a recent discussion, I gained insight into how a simple twist on an old idea could be the catalyst to building a solid foundation for a true renewal and revival from which God will WORK.

God may be calling to you to "build authentic relationships", and the first relationship He wants you to build is your personal relationship with Him…

The twist on this story is, the relationship He desires is from God’s point of view, not ours.

When we “go deep” and ask God to reveal His desires for our lives. This intentional action begins to stimulate growth and will help to strengthen a more “authentic” relationship with Him. When each of us decide to do this, God really begins to WORK. We begin to see that Immanuel is true, God is really with us!

*** "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." John 17:20-26

Can you imagine what will happen when each one of us begins to live that life - fully, and authentically? Knowing not only that God is in you, but He is also in me? Wow!

Can you see the paradigm shift?

When we are open to growing our relationships with each other from God’s point of view... in essence, God will be working, by reflecting His love for you, through me, and vice-versa.

Does that make sense?

Of course, relationships between "like-minded" people are easy - but when we attempt to build authentic relationships with EVERYONE... Most of us fall short.... in fact, most are complete and utter failures.

I am inspired by a vision of what will happen when we begin to act intentionally. Not only will we have a positive affect on each other, but I believe this paradigm may be the building block that is needed in ALL ministries.

In fact, that building block may be the cornerstone that is needed to complete the foundation for His Kingdom on earth.

*** - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

*** “…the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6

*** What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead… You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. James 2:14-24

*** Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:7-21

Can you imagine what God will do when we begin to invite God to take up residence in our hearts and we begin to listen to His longings for our lives? All we have to do is to invite Him in, and then listen for Him to speak into our lives.

As we listen, I believe He wants us to share what He is saying. Share it with friends, family, associates and yes, even strangers we come in contact with…. Just think of the possibilities... especially when we see God moving in a similar way and simultaneously in their lives.

Just think what will happen when you find common ground where God will build the foundation for an authentic relationship!

PS. Here are some personal lessons I am learning -

God opens many doors for many different reasons.

All doors lead to a greater knowledge of Him.

Some people:
- Are stuck in a rut where God is not a vibrant part of their life.
- Have placed God in a box... and limit his expression in their lives.
- See that He is opening doors where He can work in their lives.
- Some are not paying attention and don’t see the open doors.
- Feel a need to be “empowered” before stepping forward.
- Walked through the door but encountered a dead end... or a disappointment and gave up.
- Are only looking for self-aggrandizement
- Begin to realize it is about Him... not about them.
- Learn that agape love is manifested within authentic relationships
- Become aware that when two or more are gathered in His name, He is there with them.

God has given each person gifts and/or talents however, some people:
- Have not discovered their gift
- Are not using their gift
- Are not perfecting their gift
- Have never had the opportunity to bond with others who have the same gift.

Mentors are important and can help jump-start a fruitful life, however, most people:
- Don’t know what a mentor is
- Have never had a personal mentor
- Have never mentored someone else

God works within authentic relationships and when people:
- With similar gifts share their exuberance for that gift,
- With different gifts come together to solve a problem,
- Are engaged in authentic relationship, God’s hand on their life is clearly evident.
- See God’s hand on their lives their knowledge of Him begins to grow.

To build a personal relationship with God and really know Him, should be the primary focus of our life.

ON MISSIONS

The Organized Church and Para-Church Mission Organizations are the two biggest impediments preventing fulfillment of the Great Commission (see Matthew 28).

Although I am a mission neophyte, it is becoming clear to me that, in general, the organized Christian Missionary movement has lost it’s way.

The concept of mission work, saving souls, taking the Gospel to unreached people is very interesting. I attend many mission conferences, and take classes dedicated to teaching about the Biblical basis for missions, history of mission work, and current approaches to effective mission work. And finally, to understand how I fit in to Global Missions and have been given opportunities to get involved.

I have worked on the mission board of my church, have been a Board Member of a local branch of an international mission organization, I have participated on a working vision/mission trip in a third world country, volunteered with a group in my city to connect people in our community with mission opportunities available with para church organizations and/or specific church mission departments within our region.

As you can see, I have been busy, learning and doing. In that context, God is shinning His light on a glaring deficiency in missions work. Where is the LOVE?

The message of the Cross is God Loves Us, each one of us, He will never ever turn away. All He asks of us, is to return the favor and love Him back with all of our strength, heart, mind and soul.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, He also asks us to love our neighbor as ourselves.

I ask you, do you know the love of God? Has it effected your life? Has His love filled you up? Are you overflowing? Do you find yourself judging your neighbors? Or do you love them? In other words, do other people feel God’s love, because of you? If not, you probably don’t know Him and/or understand why He has done what He did for you. Do you call yourself a Christian? What would your neighbor say?

If you are like me, you are a hypocrite. Theoretically, philosophically, and practically we understand the Trinity, we believe we are saved, we have faith and hope that we will go to heaven someday, but we do not reflect His love.

For me, when I love you, there are conditions. Those conditions are rooted in my selfish nature. I do not love you unconditionally, like God loves me. There is no forgiveness in my love, and I certainly do not exhibit Grace for the unlovable.

The problem with Christian Missions then, begins with me (and you). If we are not saved, if we do not accept the love God has for us, then His love will never overflow into our world and we will not, (because we cannot), love our neighbor as ourselves.

I believe God loves us unceasingly, and throughout our lives He provides glimpses of His love, and with perfect timing, reveals our fallen nature, and our separation from Him. He also provides a bridge of Grace, through Jesus, that will allow us to enter into his presence one day. Why? because of His Agape Love.

When we finally realize what this means, and sense this Godly love, only then, will it begin to overflow into the world around us. And this is the precise time His next revival will be set in motion, and “the Great Commission”, will be fulfilled. It doesn’t require an organized mission movement!

It will be accomplished by His aroma, what I call the the osmosis of grace, His agape love will overflow in our lives and ripple out into our circles of influence. Profoundly impacting the lives around us, spreading like wild fire throughout the world.

When leaders, missionaries, staff, volunteers and people like you and me begin to love our neighbors with God’s agape love, maybe then, the aroma of Christ will be set free to work as God intends, and the organized church and mission movements will be successful.

** "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God." 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Caveat: I do believe that we have free will, we can turn away from God - a choice each of us must make. And we must understand, He is God, His nature is holy, pure, just, and jealous but thankfully, He has provided a bridge of grace, through Jesus Christ, over which we can travel back into his presence. And we must also understand, God will never turn away from us, and it will break His heart if we turn from Him. However, if we choose to turn away, we must accept the fact that our eternity will be void of purity, and most important, it will be void of love.

ON SIN

For me, the explaination for PRIMAL SIN rests on man’s selfishness.

It all begins with Adam when he was tempted to chose between knowing everything God knows, by eating from the tree of knowledge, OR continue to bathe within God's never-ending agape love? Back then, Adam seemed to have a very clear choice, but today choices seem to be much more complicated.

Some sins, such as, murder, rape, or lying are easily understood to be sins. However, most sin is much subtler, when we confront envy, drunkenness, selfish ambition, dissension, hatred, discord, jealousy, rage, impurity, etc. we begin to see these subtle sins in our life. And when we consider the root cause for these subtle choices, it is clear most choices are based upon how our actions will benefit us personally. The root cause then, is selfishness.

In fact, most of our choices are selfish. Each selfish choice acts as a veil, obscuring God’s truth. Like an onion-skin, each selfish, sinful layer diminishes our capacity to know God. This is the reason we find ourselves separated from God, veils cripple our ability to grasp the omniscience of His true nature.

An awakening begins when we realize that our perspective of life, is distorted by these subtle, selfish, sinful veils and that they are the root reason why we feel separated from God.

Separation from God then, is Primal Sin.

** And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:22-24

ON THE NATURE OF GOD

God existed before all of creation.

He is described as the Omniscient, Omnipotent God, the Alpha and Omega, Wonderful Councilor, Savior, Good Shepherd, Son of God, Chief Cornerstone, King of Kings, Lamb of God, Holy Spirit, Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords, Teacher, Jesus, Redeemer, Messiah, Christ, Servant, Master, the Great I Am, and He is the Word.

He is truth, all that is good, all that is pure, all that is holy.

He knows what we need before we ask.

His love for us is unconditional.

His greatest commandment is to Love Him back with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength... and His second commandment is to Love our neighbor as ourselves.

Existing before time, He IS Love.

His Nature IS Holiness and Purity, which IS the essence of eternity.

How can we wrap our minds around the complete nature of God?

The simple fact is, we can’t.

However, our Faith in His saving Grace, gives us Hope as we attempt to comprehend His awesome Love.

** "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:16-20

ON WORKS

Aren’t we saved by grace? Why then do we feel compelled to serve?

Before people are born anew (whether or not they recognize God’s omnipresence) His Spirit is always at work, drawing them to Himself. In the case of works, service can be the catalyst for a person’s salvation. Irrespective of their motivation, when people feel called to serve, God is placing them where He can, and will, reveal Himself.

During moments of service, the Holy Spirit is at work. That is why people, who unselfishly serve others, confirm they receive much more than they give. For many, these gifts from giving may be the first tangible experience of God’s ascendancy in their lives. An awakening begins, and for the first time, they begin to see His Holy Spirit manifesting itself in everything. They can feel His presence, it is a divine experience, and it seals their faith!

This is why service can be the catalyst for a new birth in Christ. God reveals Himself; the experience is transformational, and we are born anew.

From the moment we ask Him to forgive our sinful nature and to start using us for His purpose, He fills our hearts with agape love, and we have no choice, His love begins to overflow into everything we do.

Some people see our transformation and think we are doing works, but we are not. God is manifesting Himself through the testimony of our lives, as He continues to build the visible, indubitable, foundation of His universal Church of Jesus Christ. END

Supporting Biblical References:

** But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, Titus 3:4-6

** God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

** I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. John 16:12-15

** Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit… John 3:5-8

** But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

** Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. Philippians 3:12-17

** Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past. Psalms 25:4-6

** But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

** As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. John 15:9-15

** Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. Proverbs 8:34-35

** I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17

** Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

** Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

** Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Corinthians 6:19

** And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13

** 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. Ephesians 3:17-19

** Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:1-4

** Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15

** What good is it, my brothers; if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

** The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40

** "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. John3:16-21