May 31 Thought for the day...darkness scattered by light, always

Every Christian experiences times where they seem to be defeated. The truth is because we have faith we will never really be defeated. John makes that very clear.

"And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:5

John is writing to a church under persecution. He is also writing to you and me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to encourage us. The word "comprehend" means to seize, to suppress to dominate, to subjugate under power. The Holy Spirit is telling us that darkness is always trying to overpower the light but never will be able to, no matter how hard it may try, it does not have enough power to do so!

It doesn't mean that the darkness won't try, but according to God's word, it does not have the power to do so unless we surrender the power given to us in Christ. Ephesians 5:8 shows us that we are children of light and therefore the enemy doesn't have the power to overcome us without our permission.

1 John 5:4 further encourages our understanding here. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world." The word "overcome" means to conquer. It is the idea of an athlete who has become superior at their skill and takes on every competition to win. This says to us that we are going to enter into a fight but that we are also in it to win. Many believe when they came to Christ it would be peaceful, but the light overcomes the darkness. By our choosing to walk in the light we stand in the face of the darkness all over the earth, and that is why the Lord brought you to Him to be His light that will arise over all darkness.

Paul said he was "persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed," an accurate translation of this for our purpose today is "knocked down but not out!" We are the light shining in the darkness. There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of a single candle. The enemy will come against you, he will stand against you, but he has neither the strength, authority nor the power, to overcome the light in you. Every time we stand against the darkness, it will shatter! Begin to believe it, apply it, and live it. You will see the enemy defeated every time!

May 30 Thought for the day...strongholds

Maybe it is the way we are raised. Sometimes it is life events. Sometimes it is our choices. Regardless of the root cause, we must always be aware of strongholds in our lives.

2 Corinthians 10:4,5 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,"

Growing to be who Christ has called us to be, requires us to be introspective, examining closely, our own lives to find the strongholds and tear them down. There are two basic types of strongholds those that make sense and those that are nonsensical. 

Those that make sense are the most dangerous. The word "arguments" here comes from the root word meaning logic. It is the things that we can process and figure out how not to follow the Lord. God asks us to share the Gospel, and we think of 4 or 5 reasons not to. God challenges us to take a leap of faith, and we talk ourselves out of it. God calls us to trust Him through giving, and we come up with all kinds of reasons that we can't. God challenges us to choose Him for our kids over all the other extracurricular activities, we chose the stuff fearing our children will miss out. These are the most dangerous strongholds because we can cause them to make sense and present good logical reasoning to either disobey or not trust God!

The non-sensical strongholds are the irrational fears we have of developing a terminal illness, early, losing our job, crashing in an airplane, fear of rejection, most of us will never see any of this happen. Normally, these types of strongholds will run their course and then dissipate. If they stay because we are dwelling on them too long, we have to bring them captive. 

Notice Paul doesn't mention the devil at all in this discourse. The devil has no power unless we don't bring these thoughts captive. If we do not, then he has the right to attack and try to take control in those areas where we have allowed the strongholds to remain. 

We don't have to allow the enemy to have any control. Pray and ask the Lord to show you the strongholds you are facing then take those thoughts captive, apply peace, love, trust, obedience. Believe God at His Word. Read His Word so you will know it then defeat every thought that would try to take you captive by taking it captive!

May 29 Thought for the day...being a parent can make things apparent

I am a people watcher by nature. Those of you that know me may find it interesting to know that I am at heart an introvert and shy. I enjoy watching people's reactions but watching someone's children often reveals far more than most people want you to know.

"one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence" 1 Timothy 3:4

Paul is talking about the qualities of a leader. The best way to interpret this passage, and the reflective one in Titus is that every man of God should do these things. Then from that group, choose quality leaders. Paul takes special note to the reflection the children have on their parents.

I once asked one of my teachers, in the public school for over 30 years “What can you tell about a family by the way a child behaves in school?” She answered, “Everything! I can usually tell by the way a child acts if his or her home is peaceful or tormented; if the parents pay attention to their kids or ignore them; and if the father and mother have a good relationship. Almost everything can be determined by watching a child’s behavior. It’s usually a mirror of what’s happening at home.”

The word used here to describe "children" is referencing to children that are under the guidance and tutelage of their parents. Once a child has grown to become an adult, the parents are no longer responsible, but until that time, the parents are responsible for the child's actions and speech.

I want to especially challenge men here because Paul is that we must accept the responsibility for our children. Our actions as leaders in the household set the tone. Men tend to pass off the nurturing and care of the children to their wives but especially in this day and age of Fatherlessness. I want to encourage men to be Jesus in their homes so the children will reflect Him too!

The word translated "reverence" refers to a person who carries themselves with dignity and treats others with honor and respect. What I am about to say is not 100% accurate, but it is at least 95% there are always exceptions. If I see children always bickering, disrespecting one another, treating each other with little value or care constantly. I know that the home is the same. Children mimic the life of the home, and by watching children, I can better understand the home life and the life of the parents. Children will fight and bicker it is in their nature, but it is not natural to be in a constant state.

Likewise, if children are disrespectful of leadership and lack a servants heart, I can guarantee that this is the revelation of the household. I have been disappointed at some who have worn the mask of servant leadership in the church building, yet their children revealed the truth of what home was really like.

Thank the Lord, the opposite is true as well. Respectful children, kind children, children full of love, and hope tend to come from homes filled with the same. I know some parents are feeling guilty but listen, any child can turn south after they leave home. Some children are simply problem children. Today's blog is not to make people feel guilty but to notice the signs of your household. You may not even notice your arguing, fighting, gossiping, disrespectful behavior but your children are reflecting it. Take it to the Lord. Thank Him for the acknowledgment of the problem. Ask Him how to fix it and begin to enjoy a life with your children where they truly love you and the Lord.

God never points out a problem to hurt us only to help. Your parenting may be more apparent than you know! If your kids reflect Jesus, they are reflecting Him because they are reflecting you!

May 28 Thought for the day....say what you mean

Communication is one of our major failures in our culture. You would think with all the various means of communicating that we would be excelling at it. The truth is people don't know how we feel because we don't communicate. We allow things in our lives that shouldn't be there because we don't communicate. This latter statement is specifically what Jesus is talking about in this verse.

The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you! Luke 17:6

We talked about this verse over the last two weeks, but there is a key element that we need to discuss today. Most of the problems in our lives are things that we allow. Things we choose to ignore or feel are not that important. If they really aren't that important then don't complain about them but if they are worth complaining about they are worth doing something about.

We talked about how Jesus reference here is dealing with bitterness, unforgiveness, and offense. Jesus is telling us it takes just the smallest amount of faith, on our part, to eliminate these things. We need to take notice of how we eliminate them. We must "say" to the mulberry tree!

The word Jesus uses for "say" means to speak with force, authoritatively, with strength. Our voice represents part of our authority. When we are able to speak something with authority, it is because we actually believe it. Jesus said in Luke 6:45, "out of the abundance of the heart one speaks." Jesus is telling us that if we really want to have bitterness, unforgiveness, and offenses removed from our lives, we have to mean it. We prove we mean it but speaking it out loud, using our voices as an act of authority to declare that these things will no longer have victory or control over us.

If you don't speak to your emotions and take authority over them, they will speak to you and take authority over you! If you don't rise up and conquer your flesh, it will rise up and conquer you!

Don't allow anything but especially bitterness unforgiveness or offense to control you. If you want the victory the Lord has planned for you, say what you mean, do it with authority and expectation.

May 25 Thought for the day...a need for desire

A large portion of the call of God on my life is to enable people to become who God wants them to be. If they don't now Jesus, to make sure they are a child of God. If they do know Jesus, to help them fulfill their destiny and purpose. That is why I do this "thought for the day," my preaching, counseling, and mentoring. Paul speaks about the need to desire to be all of this in 1 Timothy 3:1

"This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work."

Paul begins his outline of leadership in the church by using the phrase "desires the position." The word "desire" here means to long for, have a burning desire, great ambition, to achieve something, or become something. Paul begins by saying that someone who is called to be a leader must possess a burning desire to be a leader.

One of the saddest and most frustrating things for me is to see is someone with great gifts, talent, ability, intellect, wisdom, love, or whatever exceptional trait they may have, sitting on it rather than using it. Having lots of gifts but being desireless is one of the saddest things I can imagine.

Not only does a desireless person rob themselves of the intimacy and promotion from the Lord, they could have by fulfilling their call, but they also can drag others down with them. Laziness is contagious but so is industry. We are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, yet the desireless person does none of this. They may, for a season, think about getting involved but thinking about getting involved and fulfilling God's passion for your life are two different things.

Without passion, burning desire in your heart, you will never rise above the mediocrity of life. If we only do what we see others doing, then we will never achieve greatness in our jobs, church, relationships, or lives. People will always want to pull down a rising star, but God has called all of us to shine, and I believe to outshine the crowd of mediocrity. We need the ambition to do better, seek more, to not settle for anything less than God's best for our lives that affect everything from our jobs to our global impact.

It can feel exhausting to go for God's best. It can be frustrating to want to break out of the pack and be better than mediocre. However, desire is the key to fulfilling our destiny in every avenue of our lives. Jesus challenged us with "to whom much is given much required." Every person of faith has been given so much. The same Spirit that raised Christ lives in us. He can give us drive and passion, but we must want to want it first. If you are missing this "desire," don't wait any longer. Ask the Lord, and He will stir it within you. There are many holes in the church because people refuse to rise above mediocrity, but you can start today on the worship team, children's church, coaching, giving, helping, mentoring, using your construction, cooking, teaching and so many other skills that will also help others rise above it!

May 24 Thought for the day...helping or hurting?

In the churches, I have pastored, and when I worked for Christian Television, I have always worked to meet people's needs, both spiritually and physically. It is one of the joys of ministry to see a burden lightened. I learned very early that there are those that would want to take advantage and Paul addresses that in Galatians 6:5

"For each one shall bear his own load (burden)."

Yesterday we talked about bearing the burden of others, but today just a few verses later, Paul is saying that we must bear our own load (burden). This seems a bit confusing. In the Greek, the word used for "load or burden" is completely different that in Galatians 6:2. This word means to carry a backpack, the expected amount of weight every soldier should carry.  It is the normal responsibilities every person is expected to carry in life.

In Acts 2, we see that the early church had everything in common. They sold their land and other possessions to make sure that everyone had enough. This failed! People became lazy and rather than helping the community they would sit and wait to be cared for rather than caring for the needs of the community. Paul had to tell the church (2 Thessalonians 3:10) if someone does not work, they will not eat.  It is in the nature of some, not all, to become lazy and not carry their own responsibilities.

The Holy Spirit is making clear here that we each have our own responsibilities for our daily life that we must bear. Paying our bills is our responsibility to hold down a job and live within a budget. Caring for and disciplining our children is our responsibility as a parent. Mowing our own lawn, keeping our homes clean and in good repair, taking care of our health, these are all things that are the normal responsibilities that the Holy Spirit is saying are our burden (load) to bear. There are always times where a person may need help in these areas, and we do, but they must realize it is their responsibility, not anyone else's because God has blessed you with all of these things He expects you to bear your burden and be wise.

In situations where someone is not bearing their own load, it is our job to help them, but our help must be to help them grow up and become adults. Our actions of "help" may actually hinder their growth as both a Christian and an adult. God wants to bless us all, and if we shirk our responsibilities we can not be blessed and if in the process of feeling sorry for someone we enable them, we are not really helping but instead hindering their growth and ultimately their blessing from the Lord.

Be wise when you are about to help someone that you are really helping and not hurting them, hindering a blessing in their lives.

May 23 Thought for the day...bearing burdens

Every time someone comes into my office or into our church, it is my hope and desire that whatever burdens they bring with them will be lightened or eliminated altogether. What are we supposed to do when we see someone burdened.

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

It breaks my heart to see so many people overburdened. Whether the burden is of their own choosing or some other reason, we are to bear one another's burdens. The word used for burdens here means to be crushed under a heavyweight. This weight could be spiritual or physical. It could be the result of the person's sin, a bad habit, poor judgment, failure of a family member, a broken relationship, job situation, or health crisis. The reason for the burden does not matter. The burden is not to ever steal God's destiny away from them. It is our job, as their brother or sister who sees the burden, to come alongside them, and to lift it with them.

It may be that to help them lift; we solve their problem, we give them guidance to get them to where they need to go, or perhaps we simply listen to them and pray for them. Whatever it is, we are called to lift one another's burdens.

On the other side, if we are under a crushing weight, don't just assume others know you are carrying a burden. Humble yourself, ask for prayer, reach out for help, don't allow the burden to crush you.

Lifting each other up shows our real love for one another. Thus we do fulfill the law of Christ!