My Colors Will Be Clear

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of My mouth." Revelation 3:15-16

A long time ago, I heard "My Colors Will Be Clear" on a Christian radio program. It hit me hard at the time, as its message was very challenging and timely in my life. I have strived to live up to its challenge for quite some time. Too often I have failed in my noble endeavor. To be honest, I come woefully short. I came across it again today in my office, and I thought I would post it on this blog. Perhaps it will challenge you too. I am uncertain as to the identity of the author, but whomever it was, they were truly committed to Him. We should all be this committed. Amen. Read on and be challenged beloved.

"My Colors Will Be Clear"

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, "chincy" giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by His presence, lean by faith, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me --- you see, MY COLORS WILL BE CLEAR.

How Do We Live?

"Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, 'Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal... Persia, Ethiopia and Libya are with them... Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops..." Ezekiel 38:2-3,5-6

"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake." Matthew 24:9

Today I learned of some news on two different but somewhat related fronts. On one front, though it was not a complete surprise, it was reported that Iran finally had the uranium enrichment they had desired. Though Iran's leaders deny it, nuclear capabilities are a logical pursuit for them as a result. Mahmoud Ahmadenijad even told his nation that Iran was now a nuclear state. On the second front, and about 2 weeks later than it should have, it was revealed that 2 street preachers in Florida were gunned down by an 18 year old young man. They were both shot in the head, and one of them in an execution style fashion.(Go to www.mnnonline.org for the story)

So what do these 2 seemingly unrelated news events have in common? Each of these news items remind us of this --- It is getting late, and it is getting serious.

Why so you may ask? Let's look at the first news item -- Iran's potential nuclear buildup. The prophecy in Ezekiel involves a confederacy of nations that one day will seek to come against the nation of Israel in order to virtually wipe it off of the map. Instead, this confederacy itself will be violently destroyed due to the wrath of God, as the Holy One of Israel defends His promised land. In fact, in the aftermath, Gog's confederation of dead troops will become food for the birds of prey and carnivorous beasts as these animals feast on the troops' dead flesh(see Ezekiel chapter 38 through chapter 39:16 for the rest of the story).

This blog has not been written to debate the timing of this event. But we do know a few things about this prophecy. It has not yet taken place, and it was prophesied as sometime in the distant future from Ezekiel's day. We know that Gog's confederation of troops consist of several nations. Real quick now and without going into depth and also knowing that the Bible uses some different names, these nations represent Russia, several former USSR republics, Libya, Turkey, Ethiopia, Persia and perhaps Egypt. The Bible names Persia as a member of the confederation, but at present that nation is known as Iran. Under their present leadership, Iran has made their hatred for Israel and the Jews (and the USA) well known as perhaps the most militant Muslim nation in the world. Though the date cannot be predicted of this confederation of Gog's demise, it will take place in the latter days. Some feel it is prior to Jesus' return, and some believe it is during the Millenium. But here is the point: That time is drawing nearer day by day. And with Iran's intentional proliferation of weapons and its venomous hatred of Jews, the type of scenario as played out in Ezekiel is coming on the world scene.

The second news item stated above was a cold blooded murder. There is no other way to explain it. It actually sounds more like a scene played out in a Middle Eastern Muslim nation where Christians are routinely mistreated and sometimes killed. But this happened on American soil! Why were these street preachers murdered as they were? They were guilty of sharing the gospel with a teenager when this 18 year old abruptly turned on them and started shooting. They were killed for "His Name's sake." When Jesus spoke the above words in Matthew 24:9, He was pointing to a time prior to His return, as He responded to His disciples' questions: "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). Many Christians have been lulled into thinking this kind of persecution cannot happen in America. They wrongly believe that it only takes place abroad in pagan, militant and Christian hating nations. Well, we have just been given a news flash. It can happen in America, and it just did!

The title of this blog is: "How Do We Live?" In other words, in light of these contemporary truths, how should we live? Here are a few tips for all of us to pursue with diligence as believers in Christ.

1. Pursue holiness and godliness --- II Peter 3:11 makes it clear that in light of the prophesied "end time" events, holiness and godliness should be our target. It is what we should strive for. Prayer, God's word and the Holy Spirit's work are essential keys for us.

2. Walk by faith and not by sight --- II Corinthians 5:7 exhorts and challenges us to do so. As the day begins to look darker and darker and evil doers succeed in doing worse and worse, we will likely see many more wicked and horrible things before Jesus' approaching day. Our eyesight will cause us to waver and falter if we let it, but faith sees beyond the present into a hopeful future that is guaranteed on God's promises. Amen.

3. Trust God --- Psalm 47:7 & 8 declare that God is King of the earth, reigns over the nations and is seated on His holy throne. His word promises that one day the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9). In His Kingdom, Jesus will reign forever and righteousness and justice will be upheld by Him (Isaiah 9:6-7). Hallelujah! We must trust Him!

4. Be about discipleship --- Matthew 28:18-20 tells us to go and make disciples -- and that includes all nations. The tense of the verbs in these verses suggests that we should be all about making disciples as we are going -- wherever we go. How many of us are doing that? How many of us are either being discipled or spending time discipling someone else? This truly is our "great" commission. Commitment to this command should be one of our greatest pursuits. We should pray for harvesters to be sent into God's harvest in lands all over the world, but particularly those in Gog's future confederacy. Few in those nations mentioned know the Lord.

In reality, we don't need dramatic news stories like the ones I have mentioned to prompt us all to be doing what we are supposed to be doing as believers anyway. The 4"How Do We Live" items listed above are how we are to live and breathe for Christ no matter the kind of days in which we find ourselves living. Amen.

But it is getting late, and it is getting serious!

Enjoy the song below and listen to the words. May His Kingdom come!

To Pray or Not To Pray

And as He taught them, He said, "Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers.'" Mark 11:17

In its context, this is a pretty eye opening passage of scripture. Jesus taught these words in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem amidst an atmosphere of righteous anger -- His righteous anger! Just the day before He entered the temple area, He had pronounced a curse upon a fig tree. It quickly withered from the roots and died. That fig tree represented the nation of Israel and its outright rejection of its long awaited Messiah - Yeshua -- the incarnation of God's own Word. So when Jesus reached the temple the day afterward (which was when He made the statement above in Mark's gospel), His mood was certainly not pleasant as He had discovered how the Lord's house was being used. Irate at what He witnessed, He flipped over the tables of the money changers, the benches of those selling doves and would not let the merchants pass thru as they made a shortcut through the temple to get more quickly to their appointed destinations.

This is amazing, because these are the actions of the Son of God -- the most humble, loving, compassionate, meek and merciful man to ever walk the earth! What the scriptures reveal is Jesus giving us a brief a glimpse of the Almighty's wrath -- a Holy God in righteous anger making His judgment upon sin. So what was the sin of the people? The temple -- the symbolic place of God's manifest presence -- was being used in a way contrary to His will. And God's will was to have His people use it as a house of prayer -- for all nations.

As we break down our passage in Mark 11:17, we see that it is broken down in to two distinct parts. The first part of the verse is actually a quote from Isaiah 56:7 and in the second part Jesus references Jeremiah 7:11. These are significant passages that Jesus quotes from the O.T.

First, let's look at Isaiah 56:7. God's word in this passage (including verses 4-8) indicates that not only the Israelites themselves, but faithful eunuchs and foreigners as well as additional people to the Jewish exiles mentioned in the surrounding verses will come and find joy in the Lord's "house of prayer." That house of prayer, God's temple, was meant for all nations. It was a place of prayer - on God's holy mountain - where all nations could come to pray and find the joy of the Lord. In a sense, it was revealing to us what Jesus said we should pray about in the Lord's prayer -- "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." It is God's will for people from all nations to pray and discover God's joy!So, in a sense, Jesus is saying: "Pray and see the people come!"

Secondly, in order to get the context, Jeremiah 7:11 requires us to include verses 9-10 also. In these verses, we see the Israelites violating God's law in at least 5 different ways. To top it off and in this condition, the Israelites are coming to the place bearing God's holy name and falsely believe they have found safety, comfort and solace. There is no recognition of sin on the part of God's people. There is no blushing or confrontation of their sinfulness. The Jews of this day have reached a point where they believed that YHWH, the Holy One of Israel, just winked at their sin. And they had the audacity to try to stand before their holy God in this condition -- in His house -- the temple. If only they had experienced the kind of encounter with a holy God that Isaiah did in Isaiah chapter 6 --- they would have been undone and cried in agony and woe over their sinfulness.

But God was watching it all! And His judgment was that the Jews had made God's house a den of robbers and thieves. So what exactly had been stolen by these thieves and robbers?

1. God's glory was robbed of its holy and righteous image!
2. God's Kingdom was robbed of new converts -- from all over the earth!
3. His people, even His choicest servants, were robbed of answered prayer! In fact, the Lord told Jeremiah in verse 16 of Chapter 7: "So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you."
4. God's people were robbed of God's protection and loving presence. Instead they received the Lord's disciplinary judgment, as they would be overrun by their enemies and taken into captivity.

So let's look at today's church. Honestly, how much prayer is going on in many churches. Praise God there are some great praying churches, but they are beginning to be hard to find. There have been numerous times that as a pastor I found it extremely difficult to find people who were willing to take the time and make the sacrifice necessary for prayer in behalf of God's Kingdom. Unfortunately, there were too many prayer meetings called where no one would show up. And God's people and the Kingdom were robbed!

How many churches have you been to today that you know spend time praying for other countries -- particularly oppressed nations with little gospel witness? Countries where the few believers found place their lives on the line daily. Countries where torture, imprisonment and separation from family and yes perhaps even death can come at any time -- while we live in the extravagant Laodicean comforts of America.

How many churches blush at sin and seek to lovingly confront it as Jesus and Paul did -- to keep from making His house a den of robbers?

I am saddened that many today refer to prayer as one of the ministries of the Lord's church. In reality, it is the ministry of the church. All other ministries should come into existence through prayer and continue to operate and exist through prayer. To do otherwise, is to invite ministering "in the flesh" and the inept power of the soul.

But there is another element to consider -- the "house" that Jesus is talking about -- God's temple, the place of God's dwelling -- is within every true believer of His today. We have looked at the church on a corporate level, but what about on the personal level. How many times, like the merchandisers in the temple of Jesus' day, do we take shortcuts as individuals -- either in our daily living or perhaps in church settings -- that allow us to become as big a robbers as the money changers that Jesus saw. How are we robbing God and His kingdom as outlined above? Do we really take the time and make the sacrifice to pray? We must remember that He sees us all, and nothing is hidden from His sight.

Maybe it is time for us to allow the Lord to flip over the tables in our lives in order to make us -- as churches and individuals -- houses of prayer for all nations. If we don't, we may not see the revival and advance of God's kingdom that we would prefer. If we do though, how fast might God's word spread? I can only imagine. How many people from around the world would come to know Him? Lord, start with me. Make me a house of prayer. That should be our cry. Amen.

A Blessed Reminder From Haiti

"... having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the beloved." Ephesians 1:5-6

The recent earthquake in Haiti has certaintly exacted a great toll upon the people there. Among those who have suffered greatly are the large number of orphans found on this island nation. In addition to the ever present pain they feel in having no parents and now from the injuries some sustained from the earthquake, they also have been subject to human trafficking and child slavery. Unfortunately, this situation has aptly illustrated their desperate plight.

The Apostle Paul had this kind of thing in mind when he penned, under the Spirit's guidance, the words in our text found in Ephesians 1:5-6. In those days of Roman dominion, it was not unusual for children to be discarded. More often than not this action was taken by the father of the child since the society in which they lived was patriarchal. The father did not have to have a good reason for his heinous action. This would obviously leave the abandoned child in a very vulnerable position! Unless someone determined to take the child in to care for either him or her, that child would very much be in danger of dying. Such was their plight!

Fortunately, there were some people who were filled with mercy and compassion who would seek to adopt a discarded child. In love, they could go to court to adopt. In those days, the law stated that if someone were to legally adopt the child they entered into a permanent relationship with the child as his or her parent. The agreement was an irrevocable binding agreement which bound the child and the new parents. This agreement guaranteed a new father as part of the deal for the child!

Nowadays, I have heard, children in some parts of Africa are discarded for many reasons too. The most prevalent reasons are related to deformities or the child being born with diseases like A.I.D.S. Many African parents often regard these children as "cursed" as declared by the local witch doctor, so the children are abandoned and given up to die.

The point is this, the recipients of Paul's epistle to the Ephesian church would definitely grasp the picture that the Lord through Paul was painting for them.

Imagine the scene in heaven. The Almighty and righteous judge of the universe holds court within the triune Godhead. In love, mercy, compassion and grace, He determines to adopt the "orphan like" children who repent and come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ's works upon the cross and subsequent resurrection. He then makes a covenant through Jesus' blood and seals it with the Holy Spirit to place Himself in a permanent, binding and irrevocable agreement to be the new Father of the adopted child. Up to this point, the adopted child was guaranteed death, was cursed, diseased and deformed by sin as well as being subject to slavery. Before this agreement was made, the child was hopeless and helpless just as orphans were in Paul's day and as many are even today.

And to top it off, this newly adopted child of God can climb up into His lap at anytime and cry: "Abba or Daddy" to his loving Father who is most eager to hold this child and wipe away every tear as the child's comforting defender! And all of this is according to the good pleasure of God's will and glorious grace!

Knowing these things makes verses like the following take new meaning and further endears me to Him because in a sense all of us were orphans before we meet Him:

"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18

"For in You the fatherless finds mercy." Hosea 14:3

"You are the helper of the fatherless." Psalm 10:14

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Romans 8:15-16

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God!" I John 3:1

Oh how joyous to be accepted in the Beloved! What a Savior! Does anyone feel like dancing? I do! How 'bout you?

Demonstration of Faith

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Off and on for months now, the Lord has been dealing with me about faith. During these times He has shown me how pitiful and pathetic my faith has sometimes been. There have been many times when my faith has been quite strong, but unfortunately there have been too many times that my faith has fallen woefully short. I hate thinking about those times. I am reminded about those times though when I hear of some of the contemporary stories of faith -- particularly in foreign countries where to be a Christian is to hated and even hunted by those who oppose Christ and His cross.

The faith defined in Hebrews 11:1 is the faith that pleases God in Hebrews 11:6. Now, as we look at the Hebrews 11:1 verse, it is helpful to break it down into various important components. In order to do so, we must look at "substance", "hoped" and "evidence." The Greek text is most helpful. First, let's look at "substance." Our Greek word is hupostasis which combines 2 words: "hupo" meaning under and "stasis" meaning to stand. When we put it together, it is a "standing or remaining under." It carries with it the idea of perseverance and endurance in the face of hardship. This Greek word is also used in Hebrews 3:14 to illustrate the point.

But this word "hupostasis" carried with it another important meaning. The Greeks used it in conjunction with having the title deed to a piece of property. There was a woman long ago that archaeologists learned of who had a piece of property that she lost in a court case. The judge wrongfully gave the property to someone else. However, the lady discovered later that she had the title deed to the property. She then took the case to a higher court. In the higher court, she won, because she produced the title deed or "hupostasis." In other words, her victory came by faith, because it was connected to the title deed she had in her possession. The title deed guaranteed that she indeed had ownership to the property!

Our next word is "hoped." The Greek word for "hoped" is much different than our corresponding word in the English language. In the English, "hope" carries the idea of a question mark with it. We hope something may happen, but we don't necessarily have the guarantee that it will happen. Not so in the Greek! "Hope" in the Greek is a guarantee, it is total assurance! There is no question mark attached to it! For instance, Hebrews 6:17-20a illustrates it well:

"Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where, Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf."

Our next word in Hebrews 11:1 is "evidence." The Greek word here is "elegkos." It was a legal term used in the courtroom for the kind of irrefutable evidence that promised to bring a trial to a just conclusion -- like gaining a conviction in a criminal trial. The evidence was so overwhelming that it was referred to as "elegkos." It could not be refuted!

So when we give an expanded translation of Hebrews 11:1, this is what we get:

"Faith is the confident assurance (the kind of confidence that allows one to stand under and endure hardships) of things expected with absolute certainty, the irrefutable proof as evidence of things not seen."

A couple of months ago, one of my sons enlightened me to a contemporary worship song called "The Desert Song." It was written by a young woman at the height of despair after she experienced the death of her son who had been born prematurely. Though she did not "feel" like praising the Lord, she did anyway. Why? Because the scriptures told her to do so. By faith, she did it. And in the song she did what we all should do -- that is, she claimed the title deed by faith and took it to the higher court in heaven through praise!

And you may ask, what is the title deed? The title deed is found in the promises of God!

I have taken the liberty to take this song verse by verse with applicable scriptures beside the lines of the song. You will quickly see how the young woman demonstrated her faith by clinging to God's word.

Desert Song

This is my prayer in the desert when all that's within me feels dry (Psalm 42:1-2)
This is my prayer in my hunger and need (Psalm 42:5-6 & Psalm 107:8-9)
My God is the God Who provides (Genesis 22:14 & Philippians 4:19)

This is my prayer in the fire in weakness or trial or pain (Daniel 3:16-29)
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold (I Peter 1:6-7)
So refine me, Lord, through the flame. (Malachi 3:3-4)

This is my prayer in the battle (II Corinthians 4:8-9)
When triumph is still on its way (Ephesians 6:18 & Nehemiah 6:9)
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17 & 37)
So firm on His promise I'll stand (Hebrews 11:1 & II Corinthians 1:20)

This is my prayer in the harvest when favor and providence flow (Luke 10:2)
I know I'm filled to be emptied again (II Timothy 4:6)
The seed I've received I will sow (I Peter 1:23-25 & Romans 10:14-15)

Chorus: I will bring praise I will bring praise (Psalm 42:5)
No weapon formed against me shall remain (Isaiah 54:17)
I will rejoice (Philippians 4:4)
I will declare God is my victory and He is here (I Corinthians 15:57; Hebrews 13:5 & Matthew 28:20)

Refrain: All of my life in every season You are still God (Deuteronomy 33:27 & Romans 8:28)
I have a reason to sing. I have a reason to worship (Psalm 13:5-6)

So let us all ask of the Lord: "Help us in our unbelief and teach us to take up our title deed in faith through prayer!" Amen.