Joy

I was reading my devotions this week early one morning and this verse stuck me. 

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52

Now that sounds like a good day to me. . . being filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. We might assume that followed a great day of ministry, miracles and healing, with thousands believing in Jesus. But what struck me was where this verse came in the biblical narrative. You can read it for yourself in Acts 13, but here's the summary. 

Paul and Barnabas had gone to Pisidian Antioch. Their first sermon in the synagogue was well received, and so they were invited back next week to speak again...to continue the revival. And the whole city showed up! 

Then it went south. 

The Jews began contradicting what Paul was saying and 'heaping abuse' on him. Paul then said, "Okay, since you reject our message, we'll go to the Gentiles." And many Gentiles believed. Then we come to the last few verses.

The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:49-52

The good news = the word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 

The bad news = people stirred up important 'God-fearing' women and leading men. They persecuted Paul and Barnabas and kicked them out of town. 

The result = And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit! 

There always have been, and there always will be people stirring up trouble for God's servants. Sometimes its even the good 'God-fearing' people that get stirred up. What amazes me about this passage is that in spite of having their message challenged and rejected, in spite of the abuse, persecution and getting thrown out of town, Paul and Barnabas were still full of joy and the Holy Spirit.

I don't know about you, but I need to work on that a little. 

I'd say they knew what it meant to enjoy the journey.

David

Barriers

As the saying goes, do you ever feel 'so close, but yet so far'? 

There are times when we dream the dream, . . . times when the goal is almost in our grasp, but there is something in the way, or holding us back. We just can’t quite get there.

It’s like looking at a beautiful scene out a window, but you’re not really outside. You’re trapped in a bathroom, surrounded by . . . well, you know what’s in your bathroom. You can see the palm trees, the ocean, the beautiful flowers, but you’re not feeling the wind, you don’t hear the ocean or smell the fragrance of the flowers.

What has kept you from realizing the dream or vision you once had?

Sometimes there are man-made roadblocks. That's life.

Find a detour, or another way to get around them. Maybe there are people who can help you navigate your way through the obstacle course to reach your destination. If that doesn’t work, remove the roadblock. If lack of education is your barrier, go back to school. Team up with someone who can give you needed experience and ask them to mentor you.

Sometimes, you may just need to get a bulldozer. That may not be the best first response every time. In fact, I'm sure of it. But if you’ve tried everything else, . . . persistence, aggressiveness, and a ‘never give up’ attitude can go a long way. Some dreams are unrealized because we get discouraged, give up, and take ‘no’ for an answer. How many great stories have you heard where someone was told they couldn’t do something and that was their motivation to push through to success?

If we’re walking in fellowship with God, He places dreams and visions in our hearts. But,  disobedience, unforgiveness, bitterness, and pride are major hindrances to what God desires for us in our spiritual life. Filling our minds and hearts with the wrong things can keep us from reaching that new level of worship or fulfilling God's calling on our lives.

Don’t let anything get in the way of the dream or vision God has spoken to you. Remove the hindrances that are in your control, and pull down spiritual strongholds that hold you back from God’s best.

Enjoying the Journey,

David

Arrested

Jesus is presumed innocent on all charges until proven guilty in a court of law. A news article caught my attention a couple weeks ago. Someone named Jesus was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, grand theft auto, and numerous weapons charges.

Talk about not living up to your namesake. Can you imagine the hopes and dreams that parents must have had for their child to name him after the Son of God? Surely there were expectations of a leader or teacher, perhaps a healer or at least one who would act in ways that were good and moral to all he encountered…a man of God.

Whatever your given name, if you are a believer in Jesus, your family name is ‘Christian.’

Let’s live up to it.

Power

The landscape of any city is filled with power poles. Large structures carry high voltage wires from power plants to substations where the power is dispersed to businesses and our homes. In fact, there are power poles in the country, too. Lines carry needed electricity to farms and farmhouses.

At night, when the sun goes down, what do we do? We turn on the lights. It’s a little after 1:00 AM now, and I have the lights on. That little switch causes a demand or a draw on the power and applies it to the light bulb in the socket.

“And there was light.”

The power has actually been there all day, waiting… every amp and volt anxious to do the work it was created for. In fact, the power is there all the time. We can turn the switch on at any moment, but until we do, we will live in the quiet darkness of our homes. Turn on the power, and there is music, … light, … life, … communication on all of our ‘i’ things. You know, ipads, iphones, ipods, . . .

Jesus ministered in power.

Jesus returned from the wilderness ‘in the power of the Spirit…’ Luke 4:14

“Power was coming from Him and healing them all.” Luke 6:14

“And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.” Luke 5:17

And then, before He ascended to heaven, Jesus told the disciples,

 “… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;… Acts 1:8

The power of God's Spirit is resident in believers. We are supernaturally wired for power! Paul says in Rom. 8:9-11 that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in those who are in Christ. Now, that is power!

So why do we walk in the dark? Why do struggle in our own weakness, living in defeat and caught in the trap of sin? We simply do not draw on the power available to us.

There is another way.

Flip the switch and walk in the light. Engage the power of the Holy Spirit and you will be able to walk in the Spirit, bear the fruit of the Spirit, receive the gifts of the Spirit and minister in the power of the Spirit.

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Tim. 1:6-7

Holy Spirit, move in me…in power.

Enjoying the Journey,

David

If Only

Some people think I’m a little outspoken.

Maybe somewhat. But, as with everything else, there’s a story behind it.

Many years ago I had the opportunity to speak up and didn’t. A friend had made some comments that concerned me. “…Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks,” Jesus said. (Matthew 12:34) What came out of this friend’s mouth probably would have been dismissed by most people as harmless ‘boys will be boys’ talk. But it was inappropriate talk for a Christian.

I never said anything.

I never challenged my friend on his comment, or what could result if this is what was really in his heart. Years later, I look back and wonder, “What if I had spoken up then? Would my loving accountability have been the wake-up call to bring repentance and perhaps have spared the damage that occurs when the seeds of sin reap the inevitable harvest?”

Since then, I try to speak up. I'm not one of those sign-carrying demonstrators who declare that everyone is going to hell. I don't think that's an effective evangelism method. Sinners sin. That's their nature. But Christians are supposed to be holy, and the Scriptures clearly differentiate between the deeds of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.

As a pastor:

I’ve spoken up in leadership situations, because the Bible gives leadership principles.

I’ve spoken up when counseling couples preparing for marriage.

I’ve pointed out those ‘nothing good can come from this’ relationships.

I’ve spoken up to other friends who even appear to be wandering from the truth or making bad decisions.

We all must follow biblical guidelines and the direction of the Holy Spirit on everything from purity, to relationships, integrity and church leadership. When we do, we position ourselves for God’s blessing. When we don’t, we’re headed for destruction, . . . or at least way less than God has intended.

When we don’t throw the penalty flag for 'behavior unbecoming to a Christian' or allow toxic attitudes that don’t reflect Jesus, we contribute to the unhealthy state of the church, allowing those attitudes and sinful behavior to spread through the body of Christ. That's bad enough, . . . but we also reinforce the opinion of the world that Christians are no different. When professing believers talk like the world, act like the world and have the priority system of the world, . . . we are of the world.

Unfortunately, since I’ve started speaking up, it seems that too often, my biblical counsel, sometimes accompanied by desperate pleading is ignored. I'm starting to get a complex! When we don't listen to God's instructions in any area of life or ministry, there will be the inevitable downfall. It grieves me to see lives destroyed, relationships shattered and churches go through difficulty. But, at least I don't have to wonder if things would have been different . . . if only I had spoken up. At least I did what I could to try to spare the relationship meltdown, church crisis, moral failure, family tragedy, etc. How the counsel is received or acted on is, unfortunately, out of my hands.

I feel just a tiny bit better knowing the Apostle Paul and I have at least one thing in common. His counsel was ignored, too in the practical matter of 'to set sail, or not to set sail'. . . that was the question. Against his advice, they set sail. . . and disaster struck. And Paul said in Acts 27:21b. “Men, you should have listened to me…”

So, let's heed the counsel of loving brothers and sisters who may point out something in our lives that run counter to God's Word. It also may be that they've walked this road before, and in their experience have gained wisdom we do not have. We all are susceptible to blind spots. On the other side, consider joining me in speaking out. Not to criticize (there are already plenty with the 'gift of criticism') but to say what God's Word says, to hold up the biblical standard against unethical behavior, gossip, immorality, pride, bitterness, etc. . . even with our friends.

My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20

If we don’t, who will? 

Enjoying the Journey,

David

Drought

We’re facing a severe drought in California. Hills and fields that are usually green this time of year are dead, brown and barren. Even the mountains that should be packed with snow are dry. 

Water is one of the necessities of life. Without water the fields produce no food, the lakes and rivers run dry, and there is no life. 

It’s possible to become spiritually dehydrated, too. Without the constant inflow of the living water into our life, we also become dry, barren, and fruitless.

There are a few things that can cause spiritual dryness:
·      Avoiding the presence of the Lord.
·      Allowing sin to get a grip on our lives.
·      Walking in the flesh, and neglecting the Spirit.

The remedy:
·      Jesus is the source of living water. Spend time in His presence.
·      In the words of Peter, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” (Acts 3:19)
·      Jesus, speaking of the Holy Spirit, said that for those who believe in Him, out of our inmost being would flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38)

Feeling dry or spiritually parched? Drink up! Allow the refreshing presence of the Holy Spirit to flow into you, and out of you as you commune with Him, singing and praying in the Spirit. 

Enjoying the Journey

David

Unique

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God must love variety.

We were walking on the beach near Cayucos, CA recently and Dad saw an unusual plant. He asked what kind that was. I have no idea. On that same trip we saw elephant seals, birds with strange beaks and a variety of human individuals . . . just to name a few.

Of course, there are more species of plants and animals in the world than any of us will ever have the opportunity to see with our own eyes. (And if I never see a mosquito again, it will be too soon.)

In Genesis 1 we read, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good…” (Gen. 1:31) So, when you see that weird animal or sit next to that person that is different than you in church or in school, remember, God made them and He thinks highly of them. (And they just might think you’re different, too.)

Imagine how boring this world would be if there were only one plant type, one animal, and all the humans were alike. I’m grateful for those people who can repair cars. I can’t. I appreciate teachers who have patience with kindergarteners. That’s not how I’m wired.

The strength of relationships, a society and a church can be in our differences, where the sum of the whole is greater than all the individual parts. Such is the case with a choir, or orchestra. If you were to hear just the alto part, or the second clarinet alone, you may not be impressed. But add those unique sounds to a multitude of unique instruments and voices, and you have beautiful music.

Celebrate the uniqueness of those around you today. They are part of the symphony of God's design. We’re all a little different, . . . thank God.

Enjoying the Journey,

David

Impressions

At a recent trip to the beach, my grandson Jude left his 24 pound impressions on the beach. The wet and soft sand was changed by the impact of his little tennis shoes as he walked on the beach. He influenced the landscape and left his own mark. Jude wasn't aware of the footprints he was leaving, he just went about his adventure of exploring the beach.

We may not be aware of it, but each of us also leaves an impression on those we touch everyday. We either lift people, infusing them with life and hope,...or we drain life out of them, leaving them discouraged and less optimistic about life.

Which are you?

Do your words and attitudes elevate and encourage, or tear down and belittle?

In a few hours the tide will wash away the imprints of our steps in the sands, but our influence on the lives of people can last a lifetime...or an eternity.

 Step carefully.

Enjoying the Journey,

David