What's in a Name?

 Last night in my church, we began teaching in Judges 14 and the beginning of Samson' life of disobedience.  I don't want to focus here on his disobedience, but on his name.  The name Samson means "Sunny" or "Brightness."   This name given by the Lord to Manoah and his wife was while the unborn child was still in the womb of his mother, and was given to be a "hope" and "light" in a dark and hopeless time.  You see, the Isrealites had been in captivity by the Philistines, and their captivity was to be the longest for them of 40 years!   Be that as it may...let's get back to the "name" given by the Lord to Samson. 

I look at his name and the characteristic he was to fulfill by and in that name..."Brightness....Sunny"....one that brings light to darkness...one that brings hope to hopelessness.  We all know what "light" is...the absence of dark...so in that; Samson was separated for a purpose to be that "light" and that "Brightness" to a very dark place.  So what's in a name?  Alot!  

What about your name?  Not the name your parents gave you..but the Name you have in Jesus.  The name you/we consider ourselves to be...a Christian.  In that name is assembled the most of accountability and responsibility for anyone who says they are a Christian.  In this name is the characteristic of being "Christ-like" in all we do and who we are!  Here's some of the words (characteristics) of the name Christian: Holy, Righteous, Good, Faithful, True, Just, Peaceable, Spotless, innocent, Harmless, Resisting Temptation, Obedient to the Father, Zealous, Meek, Lowly in Heart, Merciful, Patient, Long-Suffering, Compassionate, Giving, Loving, Self-Denying, Humble, Submitted, Forgiving, Conformed, Transformed...and there's more!

The issue is that when you and I receive the "Name" of Christian and place it upon ourselves as an "ID" to the World, then we are to also take on the characteristics associated with it.  This is why I say it's a "way of life" that is to be demonstrated in you and thru you...and pouring out of you and into the lives of those around you!

It's important to know that if you have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah, and you have accepted the name Christian to be your identification "from" the World (like Samson), then you/we/I must begin to demonstrate the characteristics of that name!  We are not to say we are Christians and then "act" and "do" as the World does!  It's an offense to the One who saved you!  

What's in a name??  Ask yourself this question about your own life. 
If you call yourself a Christian...are you living it out in your life?  Are you showing others you are a Christ-Follower not just in name only?  Are you willing to "deny self" and "pick up your cross" and "follow Jesus" not just in name...but in life? 

What's in a name?  Alot!

Choices, Choices, Choices

We (as a church) are currently studying through the Book of Judges.  And since beginning this book, it really speaks to me about the issue of "choice."   The choice to follow God and the choice not to follow God.  I don't mean as in believing in God or Salvation...but in that Sanctification process.  It's during this time where we as Children of God are tested by the Lord in various ways.  It really struck me as the Lord, due to the willful disobedient choices of the Children of Israel, actually left the Canaanites in the land (Judges 2:20-3:1) to "test" them.  This is a very scary thing to think about I think.  Because this means that when the Lord has given us all ample opportunity to repent, and we don't, well; He'll leave those "Canaanites" in our land!

The testing comes by the Lord due to our hardened hearts and lack of desire to be obedient to His will for our lives.  So, He'll leave them in our land.  In a way I believe to "prove" our obedience thru the testing.  To prove our love for Him thru the testing. 

I believe that when choices come our way, we need to choose the "narrow and difficult" path.  It may the the narrow and difficult path, but it's the "better" path to be on!

It's the path that leads us and takes us along His will for our lives. 

So, as choices come your way...choose the better path...His path,...His road

Good Friday - A Time of Remembrance

Good Friday (22 April 2011)

In the early hours before sunup, Jesus is betrayed by the “Judas Kiss” and arrested. At sunrise, he is disowned by Peter. When brought before Caiaphas, the Jewish High Priest, and his Council, he is condemned. He says that he will rise from death after three days.

They hand him over to the Roman authority, Pontius Pilate, who sends him to Herod (Antipas, the son of Herod the Great). Then Pilate asks the crowd who he is to pardon: a murderer, or Jesus? The crowd betrays Jesus and he is sentenced to death.

Jesus is brought to Calvary, where on the “third hour” (9 am) he is crucified. He is mocked as he hangs between the Bad Thief and the Good Thief, whom he blesses. On the “sixth hour” (noon), darkness covers the land. Jesus cries out “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

After drinking sour wine, he commits his spirit to his Father and dies. Matthew (27:51-52) reports an earthquake that destroys the Temple. Many understand now that Jesus was the Son of God. His body is taken down and anointed. He is buried in a cave. This is the first day of death.

"Finishing the Race"

Last Wednesday night, as we are in the Book of Joshua, I was so amazed and blessed to teach of the zeal and faithfulness of Caleb. We hear a lot about Joshua...and the book holds his namesake even, but in Chapter 14:6-15 there's a very encouraging account for all of us who walk with the Lord now...and in the future.

I see as Caleb is now 85 years old and has been walking with the Lord for over 40 years and is still going strong! Although in "age" (he himself says "...here I am this day, eighty-five years old.") Caleb goes on in saying "As yet I am as strong this day as on the day the Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so no is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in." All I can say is "Awesome!"

But what set Caleb apart? Well, if you go to verse 8, it says "...but I wholly followed the Lord my God." And it tells us the same in verse 14 as well.

That's the Key! He "wholly" followed the Lord! He had a very close intimate relationship with God. And his relationship was "all" of him!

Too many leaders will "decide to follow Jesus" but they really don't count the cost, especially as it pertains to serving the Lord in ministry. Too many people think from what they see from the "outside" is that it's easy. It's not!

There are leaders who will not "wholly" follow the Lord. Instead they will follow Jesus partly or "on their terms." That is the complete opposite of what Caleb did!
Instead, he faithfully assisted Joshua in the ministry. He faithfully was a soldier of God, following the lead of his "pastor"...Joshua. It's because of his "wholly" given over life to God, that enabled Caleb to say at 85 years old..."...I have wholly followed the Lord my God."

If you are in the ministry or are seeking to be in the ministry...whether paid staff or voluntary, your desire and commitment to God is to be foremost in your life. Then as the Lord leads you into a ministry, He will use you.

Living a "wholly" given over life is the key in Christian leadership! Not a "lukewarm" life!

Be encouraged, whether in leadership, desire to be in leadership...or just walking a life sanctified by the Blood of Jesus; we all must live a life "wholly" given over...and "surrendered"to Jesus!   It's my belief and understanding from the Word...there's no other way!

Want to "finish the race?"....then surrender it all over to Jesus!

"Pleasing" God vs "Worshiping" God

This last weekend I had the opportunity to attend a Men's Retreat with our guys and a few other Calvary's here in Southeastern Virginia.  What a sweet time in the Word and fellowship we all had!  One of the Pastor's who spoke really prompted a question within me to ask myself and meditate on.  Actually his statement prompted me to ask myself this question:     "Do I seek to please God...or worship God?" 

This may be an easy question for some of you, but for me it was a real examination of my heart!  I know those of us who love the Lord seek to "please" Him in every way!  But I know myself only too well...I love to please God in every way!  But I also know that in my "pleasing" Him...I can become really "religious" or "legal" about it; not toward others, but myself!  You know, making sure I get into the Word at "appointed" times weekly, making sure I don't miss every opportunity to "see" Him or "receive" from Him. Those are in and of themselves fine, but the problem is that in the mode of "pleasing"...I forget (or forgot), that it's not in the "pleasing" but in the worshiping. 

That's right!  It's not about pleasing Him daily...but worshiping Him daily!   We tend to forget that God calls us to worship Him...from Matthew 2:2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.".... all the way to  
Revelation 22:9 that says  "Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

You see, if we just set our hearts on these two things daily...we will please Him!  The first is to Thank Him for our Salvation...that without Jesus Christ we would have no way possible to God; the second is to Worship Him for who He is!  If we seek to just worship Him, then because of our worship to Him...we will (as a by-product) please Him!   But the big difference is that our Worship of Him makes us love Him more and more so that we have no choice but to please Him!   

It's in the Worship of God that He will "abound in us more".....1Thessalonians 4:1 tells us "Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;"

 

Can We See the Forest from the Trees?

     Today I had the opportunity to drive to the Fredericksburg area specifically; Stafford County just North.  The drive took me 2 hours each way and gave me lots to think about in the many miles of driving Interstate 95 towards Washington D.C..  It brought to my mind the times I value when I head to California for our Annual Sr. Pastor's Conferences.  It's at those times, like today as well, that the Lord gives me time to think...and think...and more thinking! But most of all I see the value and benefit of the Lord taking me out of the "forest" of Williamsburg and the ministry there to think and hear from Him.  I don't play the Christian music stations nor try to make phone calls. 
     I say all of that to say this; I believe it's times like these when the Lord takes us out of the "forest" to see the "trees," His trees.  You see, in the Ministry we can get all single-focused and become single-minded in our efforts of ministry.  We get so into "the Ministry" that we forget about "His Ministry."  So, for me, the Lord takes me out of the "doings" to get me to "think."  Mostly to think upon Him and what He wants me to do.

     Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

     Allow me to encourage you in this; when the Lord gives you the time to sit and "think"...draw your thoughts towards Him!  He wants you alone with Him for a reason!  So savor your time alone with the Lord, take this as your "one-on-one" time with Him.  You will find, as I often do, He is wanting you to "see" not the "forest" but the "trees."  It's the little things, the individual things, the details that He wants to have you see through His perception (His eyes).  As far as I'm concerned, the Lord has a captive audience to speak and show me anything He wants!  I love it!  It shows me just how much He loves me!

So, in your quiet times, either planned or not, 'taste and see that the Lord is good', and you will be blessed because of it!