Ezekiel, Part 4

We have been looking at Ezekiel, and in the last blog regarding this subject, we began to explore the significance of the four faces of the living creatures. Today I’d like to delve into this topic even further.

We observe characteristics in the four faces that we should see exemplified in our own lives.

The first one we’ll look at is the ox. The ox is a hard-working animal and never complains! Oxen do not run free and go wherever they want to go. They always are seen with a yoke around their neck. Now, most folks don’t like the yoke! And, if that’s you, well, then you’re not going to like serving Jesus! He said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

A yoke is worn around the neck, and it keeps you walking in unison with the one beside you and in a straight direction. We need the yoke! Oftentimes we rebel against it, and we act like a bunch of wild stallions that still need to be broken.

Jesus told us that His yoke is easy and the load is light, but we don’t believe Him; therefore, we don’t want the yoke placed upon us. True to the nature of an ox, we, too, need to have a yoke.

The symbolism of an ox also signifies that there is a time for plowing and a time for planting. Additionally, whatever it is that we are called to do, we should do it cheerfully as unto the Lord without complaining because the ox never complains as he seems to enjoy hard work!

Something else about oxen is that they were routinely used as a sacrifice. They were laid on the altar and burned as a pleasing offering to God.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

Okay, now we’ll look at the face of the lion. When you consider the lion, what do you think about? If you’re like most people, “king of the jungle” probably comes to mind. He’s the most feared and revered in the animal kingdom! Lions are bold and courageous; they don’t back down! God says that the unrighteous run when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. To “be bold," means to be courageous. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the ability to overcome your fear. Don’t ever let the enemy see you sweat!

Throughout the Epistles, we read the prayer requests of Paul, and I think he prayed for boldness more than anything else. “Pray for us that we might be bold. Pray for us that we might have boldness of speech. Pray for us that when we’re facing death we’ll be bold.” The Church has been neutered in many respects!

It’s time for us to be bold once again: to rise up, not in arrogance, but in confidence. Not in ourselves, but in the greater One who is in us. God has called us to be like the lion.

Then we see the eagle. Psalm 103 speaks of being renewed in strength like that of the eagle. I’ve preached many sermons on eagles; they fly higher than any other bird. They are the most honored and respected of all flying animals. They’ve been spotted over 10,000 feet in the air, and they can spy a field mouse over a mile away! They descend from the sky to the earth upwards of a hundred miles an hour. Eagles are our national symbol!

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

God says that we are to soar higher. He’s calling us to go higher than we’ve ever soared before! Yes, even to “boldly go where no man has gone before.” I love that! Come on, you are not too old to do something new, so stop it!!! If you don’t do it now, when are you going to do it?  You’d better do it while you can, because perhaps the day will come when you can’t, and then you will have wished that you had!

Do it! Just do it! Take a bold step of faith! Dare to fly high! What are you afraid of? One thing about eagles, they don’t flap their wings. The little tweety birds, that’s what they do, but not the eagle. Eagles soar. They get up there where those thermal currents are, and they just ride the wind.

Eagles, they are such graceful, powerful, and magnificent birds! They’re so awesome to watch as they soar. They don’t stress nor strain, and when the storm blows, they just lift up their heads and say, “Come on wind, come on rain, I’m the mighty eagle, and I’ll just fly high above it, straight through it, or right around it. I was born to fly!”

You were born to fly! You were born to be bold like the lion. You were born to work like the ox.

Finally, there’s the man. We must never forget that we are men (when I state “men” in this context, I’m referring to mankind which includes women). Man is the highest of all of God’s creation. Only man was created in His image and likeness.

You were created to fly higher than the eagle, have the courage of the lion, and the strength of an ox! Lest we forget, we are the crown of creation! When God created man, He said, “It is finished; that’s it!” We are God’s masterpiece . . . the cherry on the sundae! Do you understand that?

At the same time, we are men and have limitations. We are not God; we are simply:

*   Made in His image and His likeness
*   Filled with His glory
*   Carriers of His power
*   Walk in His authority and power
*   Represent Him as stewards over the earth

Let me close with one final Scripture, Psalm 8. This is a very familiar Psalm; however, people only read half of it and stop there. So take a moment and read the whole thing.

“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens! 2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?”

Now, that’s a question, right? Is it? Is that followed by a question mark in your Bible? The Psalmist David is asking, “What is man that you are mindful of him and the son of man that you visit him?” Then it goes on to say, “You’ve made him a little lower than the angels,” which really should be translated as “Elohim,” “and you have crowned him (man) with glory and honor!”

You, my friend, have been crowned with glory and honor! I know you don’t always feel like it. I know you don’t always think like it. I know you don’t always act like it or even talk like it! But the Word of God says that you have been crowned with glory and honor.  The Scripture states, “You have made him,” ‘him’ who? Is that you and me? “You have made him (you and me) to have dominion over the works of Your hands. You have put all things (is that past tense? Yes!) “all sheep and oxen—even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the sea. Oh Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth.”

You have been made to exercise dominion. Another way to phrase that would be, “You have been placed here to manage God’s affairs on earth.” He doesn’t place you here empty-handed. He gives you what you need in order to fulfill the calling. He crowns you with glory and honor; He fills you with His power and Spirit and says, “Go in My authority.” Even the wind and the sea will obey you if you will speak to them and act with faith!

Jesus is in the boat! Wake Him up! After He has calmed the storm, don’t think it strange if He turns to you and says, “Where is your faith? Oh ye of little faith, how long do I have to be with you? Do you really think My heavenly Father is going to let this boat go down with Me in it?” Come on, somebody! What were they thinking? Did they really believe that they were all going to die?

I have a lesson for you. Keep Jesus in the boat, and then you don’t have to worry about the boat sinking! Keep Him in the boat! You don’t want to go fishing without Jesus. I’ve been out there and believe me . . . you want Him with you!

God has called you and I to represent Him on the earth. We are to work like the ox, to be bold and courageous like the lion, and to soar as the eagle soars. We need to understand that we are men. We are not God, but He has crowned us with glory and honor, and it is time to walk in it.

Grace and peace,
PG

First Love

Oftentimes I feel that we in the Church fall short in this great essential truth that the Word of God sets before us: loving God and loving one another. You might think, “Well, what could make you say that?” I would answer, "By the things that we say, the things that we do, and by our attitudes towards one another." We are not called to function as the world functions. We are not recreated in Christ Jesus to think as the world thinks, to behave as the world behaves, or to treat one another as though we live in a corporate world. If you live and work in the corporate world, you’re still called, commanded, ordained, and anointed to live and act differently. You can’t separate secular from spiritual. Your work is spiritual.

Jesus says, “Love Me like you did when you were first saved. You were full of passion and excitement! You desired to spend time with Me, and you loved me with all of your heart, and it showed!" So He says, “Have a change of heart: repent. Change the direction of your life; do the first works  . . . or else (uh oh, that sounds threatening) . . . I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place." In other words, I’ll remove the light from your midst; I’ll remove the anointing from your life.

How can a man or woman in ministry who has walked in such a great anointing for a lengthy time stumble and fall into sin? It is the result, I’m convinced, of leaving their first love. How is it that those in the Body can be so competitive? I’m telling you that sometimes I get around Christians in ministry, and I might as well be around a bunch of lawyers, bankers, etc. They are competitive and territorial, and this is mine and those are mine, etc. I am so glad that I’m just an undershepherd. Ain’t none of you “mine.” You don’t belong to me. You’re not, “my sheep.” It doesn’t mean that I don’t love you, but it does mean that I don’t own you.

Christians become control freaks! What is that the result of? Leaving their first love. Having commended and acknowledged so many good things about the believers in the Ephesian church, Jesus said, “I have this one thing against you.”

⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”

“Unless you repent,” means, “have a change of heart, mind, and attitude.” What He’s really saying is, “Come back to Me. Love Me like you did in the very beginning.” It’s much like a marriage relationship. As the years go by, a couple either falls more in love or less in love. It rarely remains neutral.

Even as Christians, we can have the appearance that we’re doing something great, but things can be vastly different than how it looks. Sometimes we’re more concerned about how things appear to be than how they actually are. That’s why it’s possible to get up and preach or minister in any capacity and have all kinds of mess in one’s heart or life, and people for the most part wouldn’t even know! There are some in public places that would say, “What business is it for anyone to know? What difference does it make?”

Many times we’re more concerned how we appear to other people than how things really are in the eyes of God (who can look upon our hearts and read our thoughts). Then the Scripture says, “How is it that you can say you love God but hate your brother?” Okay, let’s change the word, “hate.” It may not necessarily mean, “hate and want to kill,” but it can also mean, “despise, have contempt for, be jealous of, or be envious of.” How can you say you love God and be in that state? Yet, we could ask any Christian, “Do you love God?” and we’d hear, “Oh yes, hallelujah, brother, I love God,” and  still be the biggest gossiper in the church or the community.

I like one of the things that I read recently: “If people are going to gossip to you, then they’re gonna gossip about you to somebody else.” When people come and start dumping on you, just look at them, point to your ear, and say, “What is this? This is an ear, not a garbage can, so take your trash somewhere else.”

We deceive ourselves oftentimes! How do you show your love for God? I believe first and foremost it’s by showing love towards other people, because if I’m not showing love towards other people, then I deceive myself by thinking that I love God. That also means that I have probably fallen from my first love. Scripture doesn’t say, “Love people first,” it says to, “Love God first.” Why is that important? Because we are called to love one another with the love of God. We’re told to love each other even as God loves us! How can we love other people as God loves us if we don’t truly love God?

Grace and Peace,

PG

How To Stay Sane In An Insane World, Part 4

As promised in my last blog, I am going to begin covering the four-part prescription that I mentioned previously. This four-part “medicinal remedy” should be administered three times daily until your thinking comes into alignment with God’s Word. When all of the elements begin working together, you can experience a level of healing that you may have never previously attained.

NUMBER 1

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ 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.”

We’re fairly familiar with these verses, but when it comes to the portion of Scripture that talks about the pulling down of strongholds, we may not be completely sure of what the Word is talking about there. We always want to spiritualize this passage and twist it to say, “tearing down the devil’s strongholds.” That is conjecture! Paul may or may not be talking about spiritual strongholds because there is no indication that he is referring to the devil or demons. He is talking about warfare, a battle, and a battlefield. He makes it very clear in the next verse when he says, “Casting down imaginations (KJV)."

Christians have some of the most vivid imaginations of any of the human beings on the earth. We imagine all sorts of things. We need to learn to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Where do we find the knowledge of God? It’s in the Word of God! So if anything is elevating itself above His Word, Paul tells us that we are to cast it down. Cast down whatever is setting itself higher than the Word of God in our lives.

Now, are there ever times in your life when there are things that seem to be more important than the Word of God? The Bible says to cast down arguments and every high thing and bring nearly every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Isn’t that what it says? No! Or does it say, “Bringing a lot of thoughts into captivity”? No! It says to bring every thought! How many would that be? Every thought is just that: every thought! Just think, this is only step #1.   

It’s not as difficult as it sounds, although it is challenging. You might ask, “Well, how do I know that it is contrary to the Word of God?” Well, you need to find out what the Word says! What’s more important to you? What the world says, what you say, or what the Word of God says? Hello??!! How are my thoughts stacking up in light of the Word of God? Am I thinking in opposition to God’s Word? To the degree that you think contrary to the Word, you’re going to live a contradictory life. As a man thinketh, so is he; you become the fruit of your thoughts.

Now, for some of us, if we cast down every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, there isn’t going to be much left up there! We just might create a big vacuum, but God has not called us to be empty-headed or airheads.

So, just to recap, the first thing we need to do is take every imagination and every high thing that is taking place in our thought life, and we need to cast it down. You can do this deliberately, and I know that you can because I can. Don’t think this is impossible; it is very practical. When you are thinking contrary to the Word of God, take authority over those thoughts and stop making excuses. Excuses are not going to gain you the victory. “Well, God knows that we’re just weak.” Yes, that’s why He’s made you strong! We need to stop with our Christian excuses. They’re not valid, Scriptural, nor pleasing to God. He has given us everything we need to live an overcomer’s life. It is up to us to implement the plan and utilize the tools. The tools are of no effect in our lives if we refuse to use them. At the same time, to the degree that we do use them, we will bear much fruit!

We will cover the other parts throughout the next couple of weeks. For now, begin to apply 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Every time you catch yourself thinking a thought that you know is contrary to the Word of God, dispel it immediately from your mind and replace it with something that is Christ-centered and lines up according to His Word.

Grace and Peace,

pg

How To Stay Sane In An Insane World, Part 3

Greetings!

It’s been obvious that this topic of “Staying Sane in an Insane World” has struck a chord with so many, as it’s certainly pertinent to all of our lives. So without further ado, we will continue . . .

The question is: What are we going to do to maintain a level of sanity in an insane environment? What will we do to make sure we don’t become schizophrenic Christians? You know what that means, don’t you? It means to have a mental disorder. Have you ever met any Christians whom you felt had a mental disorder? Well, you’re probably thinking of one right now!

We who love God are so capable of ungodly thoughts and behavior. Isn’t that the truth? Am I the only one? Somebody email me and say, “No, you’re not the only one, Pastor.”

We need not revert to a former mentality or fall back into a deranged mindset. We’re not to be schizophrenic, but we are to be of one heart and one mind just like the disciples were on the Day of Pentecost. Developing “one heart and one mind” will lead us to a place of being in one accord with the will of God.

I’m going to share something with you that I’ve doled out for over twenty-five years to people. Maybe I’ve even shared it with you before. You may say, “Oh man, why is he saying this again?” It’s because you need it! Trust me. Even if you’ve heard this portion before, you need to hear it again, or you wouldn’t be reading this! I’m going to share with you what I call a “spiritual prescription.”  I’m not a doctor, nor do I have a doctorate degree, okay? But this will help you more than Dr. Phil; I guarantee ya. The prescription I’m about to give you has the potential to change your life. Over the years, I’ve issued this prescription to hundreds of people, and I’m always amazed at how few will take the medicine.

I can look at folks and say, “You know, if I were Doc Parker back home at Cliffdale, and you came to see me, I might write you a prescription that you couldn’t even read. I may even sign it in a way that you couldn’t read it, but you’d still go to that drugstore. You’d pay good money for those drugs. I bet you’d set your clock in order to take those pills at the designated time. Even if you had to get up at 2:00 AM because the script said, “take every four hours,” you would get yourself up to take that pill; that’s how much you believe in the prescribed medicine.

How much do you believe in the Word of God? Are you willing to take this pill? It won’t cost a dime; it won’t taste bitter, and it will not have any negative side effects. “Caution must be taken; this medicine may cause lung disease, tuberculosis, and in some cases death.” None of that!!! No ill side effects!

I am convinced that this is the number one issue in most believers’ lives: WE NEED TO GET OUR MINDS RENEWED!!! The number one problem facing Christians today is the unrenewed, unregenerate mind! We are still thinking, in many cases, the way we used to think, which causes us to act the way we used to act and live the way we used to live.

Obviously, we need the Holy Spirit, and we also need the Word of God to come alive in us. The writer of Hebrews said that the Word of God is alive, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even to the dividing asunder of bone from marrow, spirit from soul, and a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart. Only the Word of God is sharp enough, alive enough, and powerful enough to cause our minds to be renewed and regenerated.

In the next blog, I will be giving you a basic four-step plan/prescription that I’ve been using and issuing for twenty-five years. It’s a step-by-step program, and anybody can do it!

I pray you have a great week and that God’s blessings overtake you!  Be on the look-out for your prescription!

Grace and Peace,
pg

Sitting At The Master's Feet

What is the most important position we can hold in life?

I know many people might have various responses to what appears to be a “loaded” question. But the question really is a valid one. As followers of Christ, the most important position is also the most privileged.

Most of us are very familiar with the Bible’s account of Martha and Mary. However, in our quest for “deeper revelation,” we may often miss some essential truths. The story is found in Luke 10:38-41. I will not quote the entire passage here, but simply cite a few powerful points.

Martha and Mary were sisters of Lazarus and apparently Jesus’ good friends as well. This is the same Lazarus whom Christ called from the tomb. As Jesus came to visit their home in Bethany, Martha welcomed and invited Him to come inside (v. 38). It is very evident that this woman had a strong gift of serving and hospitality. This is an important truth to keep in mind.

Mary was found sitting at the feet of Jesus where she “heard His word.” Let me also point out the following: this is the same Mary who anointed His feet and wiped them with her hair (John 11:2). Additionally, when Christ came to raise Lazarus from the dead, this same Mary fell at His feet as He was approaching. It appears that being at the Master’s feet was a posture Mary found to be natural and essential. In Luke’s account, Mary seemed to hang onto every word that Jesus spoke. She heard with understanding because she paid close attention.

On the other hand, Martha is distracted with the many cares and burdens of her work. She even grows resentful because her sister is not helping! She went so far as to request that the Lord speak to Mary and tell her to do something.

How does Jesus respond? He corrects Martha for allowing herself to get so caught up in her gift, so troubled with burdens, and so worried about things over which she had no control. How often do we become distracted? Burdened? Worried?

Jesus said this, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part . . .”

When we fail to spend time at the Master’s feet, listen to His words, and give attention to His directions, we can become resentful. In reality, when we refuse to come to the Lord, we are saying, “Lord I’ve got this. I don’t really need You right now, but it’s good to know that You will still be there if and when I do.”

Let’s keep in mind, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” If we will draw near to God, He will draw near to us.

We can often open the door to confusion and every evil work by giving place to the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things. This includes “ministry” and things that appear good.

Jesus said “ONE THING” is needed and that “one thing” is spending time at the Master’s feet.

Grace & Peace,
pg

A Message From The Heart

This may seem like a difficult or hard message to receive. In fact, it may be one of those that is intended only for those who have “ears to hear,” as I am quite sure many will not want to receive it. 

Over the past thirty years, the Lord has allowed me to witness and be involved in a variety of spiritual “movements” that included everything from tent revivals to the prophetic and on to the apostolic waves of more recent times. With that being stated, it is time to voice some challenges and concerns. This is not intended to be negative, as I am a man of faith.

One of the great concerns involves the American church’s need, or hunger, for sensationalism. By this, I mean that it seems many spiritual leaders are seeking the next big thing. All the while there is a desperate lack of unction or anointing. People have a difficult time discerning the difference between drama and dynamics. It seems a bit appalling to see churches using spectacular light shows and smoke machines in an attempt to reproduce the presence of God’s glory. Some people have a hard time telling the difference between a counterfeit and the real thing. Many preachers have quite simply become motivational speakers. A good number of worship leaders are mere stage entertainers, and prophets are too moved by profits!

I miss the likes of David Wilkerson. I can certainly state that I did not always agree with him, but I have always respected him for passionately proclaiming the message that burned in his bones. Where are the true prophets of today? We need the voice of one “crying in the wilderness.” I fear that if we heard such a voice as that of John the Baptist, the church may well want his head on a platter! We need modern-day prophets like Isaiah and Elijah. Today, we have many that call themselves prophets, and they really seem to be “life coaches” that are skilled in psychology and motivating folks through positive mind control. I would categorize some of these as “pop-culture prophets.” I use this term because of the influence they have on a society that follows the latest fads.

Here is a recent quote that was published by a very popular pop-culture prophet:

“Don’t listen to negative prophetic words and reports. God is still in charge and releasing something new for you.”   

Now, speaking as a “word of faith” preacher/teacher, I understand the power of confession. Additionally, it is quite clear that “God is in charge.” However, one has to wonder about the first statement. What if God were commanding repentance and turning from sin? There are many instances in Scripture where God’s prophet spoke some very negative words. What was the result? They were usually put to death.

The Body of Christ has a sin problem! Yet, all we want to hear are pleasant sayings.

I am reminded of an Old Testament account found in 1 Kings 22. Here we see the king of Israel detesting the prophet of God. Verse 8 sums up how the king felt:  

1 Kings 22:18  “… I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.”

1 Kings 22:13   Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.”

1 Kings 22:14   And Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak.”

I understand that, according to 1 Corinthians 14:3, he that prophesies “speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” 

This does not mean that the purpose of a true prophet is to make folks feel comfortable with sin or other forms of spiritual neglect. I recall a time when believers felt a bit “uncomfortable” when in the company of a true prophet of God. It was as though that individual could see into the hidden part of our lives; we may have feared what they saw! Today, we have a very different disposition. Many can’t wait to hear something that tickles the ear but rarely changes the life. We see no reason to fear a holy God; it seems as there is no cause for repentance. After all, “God is love.” He is love and that is exactly why He calls us to turn and follow Him, His ways, His will, and His Word.

Without true repentance and humility before a holy God, man will move down a path of confusion and despair. The Lord calls us to repent. This is not from a posture of mere judgment. Rather, He loves us so much that He provides the avenue of mercy that can only be experienced through true repentance. 

America continues to stand on the edge of a very steep cliff. I refuse to believe and accept that God has turned His back on a nation that He founded for an incredible purpose. However, if His people (the church) refuse to heed His Word and do what He commands, there will be very serious repercussions. 

It is incumbent upon those who are called by His name to turn from idolatry and the lusts of the flesh. It is time to return to the God of Salvation. May we stop being conformed to the world and truly be transformed through the process of renewing our minds which Apostle Paul wrote about. 

May we cease seeking to be entertained and endeavor to be enlightened; may we deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Grace & Peace,

pg

The Triumphant Church, Part 7

Romans 8:31, 32: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” How many things are “all things”? ALL! I’ve studied this word for nearly thirty years, and I’ve used various lexicons, dictionaries, and concordances. As nearly as I can tell, the word “all” still means all!

 

Do we understand that God makes everything He has available to us? Do you believe that? All things! Paul repeats that phrase: “God has given to you all things.” He’s given you His kingdom. He’s given you the mind of Christ. Paul said, “For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”

 

What does that mean to have the mind of Christ? Well, do you believe that Christ is God? Then don’t tell me that you can’t get God’s thoughts. If you have the mind of Christ, you are capable of doing it if you will seek Him. This can only be found in His Word and in His presence. You’re not going to get God’s thoughts by being bent on doing things your own way.

 

Look at Romans 8:33: “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?” Who are God's elect? We are! It is God who justifies. It is Christ who died, rose, and is seated at the right hand of God. It is He who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? Distress? Persecution? Famine? Nakedness? Peril? Sword? Paul says, "It is written that for your sake we are killed all day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter," and then he goes on to say "that in all of these things we are more than conquerors."

 

We’re not just conquerors, we are more than conquerors. The Greek word is “upernikaw” (pronounced hoop-er-nik-ah'-o), which means to utterly vanquish, to go beyond conquering. It’s slam-dunk, then rub it in your opponent’s face. It’s beyond conquering. God has called you and I to utterly vanquish the works of darkness on the earth, and it begins in our own lives!

Peace and grace,

Pastor Emory

The Triumphant Church, Part 5

Let’s look at Romans 8 beginning with verse 31. Paul says, “What then shall we say to these things, if God is for us, who can be against us?” This is the first thing you need to determine. Is God for you or against you? Here are a couple more things to consider. Are you for or against God? Are you working with or against Him and His will for your life? Every decision you make is in agreement with either your adversary or your friend.

Your enemy, the devil, roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. You’re either aligning yourself with your adversary, or you’re lining yourself up with your very best friend, Jesus Christ. In order to be in right alignment with Him, you have to be in agreement with God’s Word. In order to be in agreement with His Word, it is necessary to know what it says! Therefore, you must study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). 

If you don’t know whether you’re walking in agreement with God, find out. How? Discover what His Word says! Come into agreement and align your life with what He has spoken.  

The Psalmist said that God showed His works to Israel but revealed His ways to Moses. What are we most focused on? What are we most interested in? Simply seeing the works of God (which are great and glorious and thank God for them), or are we intent on learning His ways? Will we allow His ways to become our ways? Many in the Church have this mindset, “Well, you know, God’s ways are higher than my ways. I can’t think like God thinks.”

Once you get your mind renewed and understand that you have the mind of Christ, you can think the way He thinks! I’m not saying that God’s thoughts still aren’t higher than ours or that His ways are not beyond our comprehension at times. What I am saying is that in any given situation, you can know the mind of God for your life. It is necessary to have knowledge of God and His Word!

Too many Christians are spending too little time in the Word of God, and then they can’t understand what’s going on in their lives; therefore, they become weak. This causes them to be defeated, live to a great extent “purposeless lives,” walk and run in circles, and never really accomplish that which God has created them to do. God has called you to be victorious! It is imperative that we get this truth established in our hearts and minds so we can live a triumphant life.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Emory

Encourage Yourself!

"David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God" (1 Samuel 30:6, Amplified).

I felt prompted to give a word of encouragement to our friends and family. In the Scripture above, we read one of the keys to continued success in business and ministry.  It is evident that many are feeling the pressures that come with an active life. Family, work, relationships, finances, and a myriad of other challenges can bring us to a place of distress and heaviness at times. David was considered a great leader. In fact, to this day many regard him as one of the most outstanding leaders of all time. Yet, even David, the great man of God, was acquainted with feelings of distress and despondency.

David knew how to deal with the feeling of defeat. He knew where to turn in moments of confusion and despair.

It is interesting that David finds himself in this state of mind soon after experiencing success. It was declared that Saul had slain thousands, but David had slain tens of thousands. He was riding high on emotion. However, upon returning from the battle, David was informed that the enemy had come in and taken his wives captive. In fact, though none were slain, the wives and children of all his warriors had been taken! His followers threatened to stone the great leader. No wonder David was “greatly distressed.”

The example of David's story holds an important life-lesson to which each of us must give attention. The Scripture states, “But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

As ministers, missionaries, managers, and leaders of varying degrees, we would do well to learn where to turn when we seem to be overwhelmed. David turned to God. He encouraged himself and found strength in the presence of the Lord. He most likely reminded himself of all that God had brought him through in times past. He may have spoken the promises of Jehovah. He lifted his voice in worship to his Creator.

We must follow this example as we continue in the fight. Life is full of challenges, and at times we may feel like giving up, giving in, throwing in the towel and shouting, “No mas!” God is calling us forward, never backward. If things need to be set in order, then we must do what needs to be done. However, we must remind ourselves that God’s goodness, grace, and glory are everlasting.

So never, never give up! Give no place to the enemy! Get into God’s presence and allow the anointing to bring strength and healing; then get up and go again, for God has called you to recover what the enemy has stolen. You can do ALL things through Christ who gives you strength!

Grace & Peace
Pastor Emory

The Triumphant Church, Part 3

I’d like to talk about growing in grace. It makes me think of a group of women who recently went on an Encounter Retreat with my wife, Vickie, leading the way. That Encounter Retreat was simply an opportunity for the participants to grow in grace. Peter said that we should grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. How do we go about doing that?

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” The preceding verses tell us how we can do that. It speaks of Jesus Christ as being our Mediator and our High Priest, the One who was tempted in every way such as common to us, but He was found without sin. He becomes our qualification. Through faith, we are made ready to go before Him, and nothing that we do in and of ourselves qualifies us to do so. In fact, as we all know, if we go before the throne of God unworthily, that makes us eligible for death. You have to meet the requirements to go before the throne of a king.

You’ve seen movies where some crackpot goes before the king unworthily, and what happens to him? His head is cut off! He’s either thrown into a dungeon, set on fire, or some other equally terrible outcome. Nobody just walks in boldly before a king, no less the King of the Universe! I mean we’re talking about God, the Creator of everything that we see, right? He’s the ultimate King! We dare not approach His throne in an unworthy manner. So the writer of Hebrews gives us the qualification: only through Christ. Can you imagine? We have the privilege and honor of coming before God’s throne! He says not only can we enter boldly, but once we get there . . . BOOM . . . what happens? Two key things take place.

• We obtain mercy. That’s automatic! Mercy is waiting for you at the throne. Why? Because without it, you’d be zapped! In and of yourself you don’t qualify. So without mercy, the moment you step before the throne, you would turn into a pile of ash! Praise God, mercy is there just waiting to be obtained. 
• The Scripture says that we find grace. We don’t just obtain it; it’s not automatic. We find it! There is a biblical principle connected to “finding.” Jesus teaches the following lesson. Knock and the door will be opened; ask and you shall receive; seek and you will find! What is it that we seek? We are seeking grace. What is grace? Grace is the divine influence on the heart and the reflection seen in the life.

What have you been seeking? When you ask God for grace, what are you asking for? Many Christians don’t even know. They simply ask, “Oh God, give us grace, give us grace, give us grace.” What is grace? I’ve become a bit more calculated in this. Do I really want to ask for grace? Because when I ask for grace, I’m asking for God to divinely influence my heart. “God, I need grace in this relationship; I’ve been offended by a brother. Give me grace.” Do I know what I’m asking for? Literally, what I’m saying is, “God, I need Your divine influence on my heart and the reflection of that influence to be seen in this relationship.” “Oh, oh, oh, I thought maybe I was asking God to change the other person, God would dump some mercy on them, or that God would just move and do something!” What I’m asking is that God would change my heart and the evidence of that transformation to be seen in my life. That’s what grace is! Do we understand that? We might be a bit more careful asking for grace after we’ve grasped this. No, we need to ask for more grace. We need a greater grace. Why? Because many times our hearts are not right.

The good news, no, the really great news is that we can come boldly before the throne of grace, obtain mercy (which is right there waiting for us), and we find divine influence for our heart. We know that the reflection of that influence can be seen in our lives.

Now what does this have to do with the triumphant Church? Next week we’ll pick up with the topic of being an overcomer. God is trying to show us that this is the way for us to live a victorious life! This is how we succeed! We’re going to read how Paul goes through so much in his life, yet he says, “Thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph!” He says things like, “In all these things we are more than conquerors.”

God hasn’t called us to simply conquer; He’s called us to do more than that. We’re going to do it by the grace that God provides every time we go to Him and ask for divine influence. It’s through the work He does in our hearts, my friends. It’s not through our own strength, ability, good looks, or just because we think we’re all that. Without Christ we are nothing, but through Christ we can do all things, which means we are more than conquerors through the grace of God that is working through us! 

~ pg

The Triumphant Church, Part 2

As I’ve said before, a lot of people want to be a testimony without going through the test! There is no shortcut with God; He’s going to take you through the process so that your life becomes the sweet-smelling fragrance of Christ. Frankly, Christians who haven’t gone through anything are the ones who lack the fragrance. You’ll see it in the fruit. Those who have been tried, tested, and put through the fiery challenges of life tend to keep their eyes on Christ. If you keep your eyes on Christ, in the end, not even a hair on your head will be singed. You won’t even have the smell of smoke on you so long as you’re walking with the Fourth Man.

If we don’t run the race, how can we hope to attain the prize? If we don’t endure the test, how can we hope to be the trophy of which Apostle Paul speaks? Paul had received and understood the revelation of Christ from God. If you turn to the first several verses of 2 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul speaks of receiving revelation from God. Because of that revelation, Paul was strengthened, able to endure, and subsequently triumphed! In fact, he consulted with the Lord about three times regarding the situation he was in and the challenges he was facing. Every time the Lord responded to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

A lot of people say that Paul had sickness in his body and that’s what he was inquiring about. There’s absolutely no indication that he was speaking of sickness. In fact, the Scripture could not be clearer about the opposition to which Paul was referring. He was very specific and stated that it was a messenger sent from Satan to buffet his body. A demonic power was trying to hinder him in the work of God, trying to get him off track, trying to distract him, and trying to get his eyes off of Christ and onto his own problems and situations. It had nothing to do with sickness or disease. It was a demonic spirit! So the Apostle consulted the Lord and said, “Lord, what’s up with this?” Well, that would be modern-day lingo. The Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Now a major point needs to be made today regarding “grace.” Many people believe that grace simply means, “the undeserved, unmerited favor of God.” In researching this word “grace” as the Apostle Paul used it, we discover that the definition goes beyond unmerited favor. It means, “divine influence upon the heart, the reflection seen in the life.” That’s what grace is.

Over and over in the New Testament, we see this as the definition in reference to God’s grace. It’s not simply, “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense,” and it’s not only unmerited favor! It goes deeper than that. It is God’s divine influence on my heart and the reflection of that being seen in my life! So Paul has consulted the Lord, and He said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” What He’s saying is, “My divine influence upon your heart and the reflection of it being seen in your life is sufficient, for in your weakness, I’ll make you strong. I am strong in man’s weakness.” How? By grace, not just by unmerited favor! “I am made strong in you through My divine influence upon your heart!” We need to allow God to influence our hearts! This is how we receive grace.

 A lot of people say, “Well, grace is just this ‘free’ thing; it’s ‘intrinsic.’” No, it’s not just intrinsic! The more we open our heart to God’s grace, the more we experience it! What are we experiencing and receiving? Divine influence upon our hearts! This is how the grace of God changes a man’s heart. This is how the grace of God changed my heart! My heart was so hard; I was a Christ-rejecter, my friends! I literally used to tell Christians where to go in no uncertain terms. I told them where to go, how to get there, and to leave me alone! I had become so hard-hearted and closed until one day, in a moment, divine influence hit me and changed my stony heart into a heart of flesh and love. The divine influence of God changes a man’s heart.

Yes, it’s undeserved. Yes, it’s unmerited, but oh, how deeply it can penetrate even the deepest and darkest of hearts! I think that one of the greatest compliments a Christian can receive is, “Man, you’re not the same person. What’s happened to you?” I know in my case there were family and friends who said, “Oh, Emory got religion.” And I’d tell them, “I got a whole lot more than religion; I got Jesus. I have a relationship with God! I grew up in religion, and it didn’t bring life.

So keep in mind the accurate definition of grace. Let it be indelibly inscribed in your hearts and in your mind. It is divine influence in your heart and the reflection seen in your life. 

~ pg

The Triumphant Church

It used to be that I couldn’t understand how you could have your “Post-tribber,” your “Mid-tribber,” your “Pre-tribber,” and your “No-tribbers.” I have since become a “Pan-tribber.” I used to make fun of people like me, but I have adopted the “Pan-tribber” philosophy of: No matter how it turns out, it’s all going to pan out. It’s all going to be okay according to the plan of God, and I don’t have time to weary myself on trying to figure out exactly when Christ will return. This much we probably can agree on: Christ will return and when He does, He will return for a glorious Church.

A glorious Church is a triumphant Church; it is not defeated, diseased, confused, perplexed, or weak. A glorious Church is without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing. This is the Bride for which the Groom, Christ, is returning. The really good news, and the crux of what I want to share today, is that the Church described above is a triumphant Church! It is not because we are triumphant in and of ourselves. It’s because God causes us to be triumphant. Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 2:14, wherein the Apostle Paul wrote this: 

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 

If we are in Christ, we have a promise from God that we will always triumph. I really like this part where Paul says, “Through us, God diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” We’re the perfume of God . . . His diffuser! Through us, He releases the fragrance of His life because we are in Christ. Our lives are mirroring His life. Now to some it can smell like death, Paul said. In other words, to some people, Christians stink. They carry with them the stench of death, and that is because in our representing Christ, it is a reminder to the world that there is a God, and in the end all of us will be judged by the one who has given us life. To build on that succession, because there is a God, it reminds people that Jesus is real, and as a result, those who are following Jesus can become a stench to those who are rejecting Christ.

To those who believe in Him, we smell good . . . at least to each other. There’s a difference between the “Lazarus Syndrome” and the fragrance of Christ. The “Lazarus Syndrome” is “he stinketh by now.” But we carry the fragrance of God; He diffuses that through us. I love the way the Amplified Bible states it: 

“But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.” 

Do you know that you are a trophy of Christ’s victory? The Word says that, “through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.” We are diffusing the knowledge of God as we go. Now keep in mind that this is being written by Apostle Paul, a man who is acquainted with tremendous challenges and conflict in his life. He had been betrayed and ended up being confined in prison and put to death. In fact, we will look at the criteria that qualified him for the title, “Apostle.” Through all of these things that he endured, he said, “Yet none of these things move me.”

If you look at 2 Corinthians 11:24, you’ll see a list of qualifications that Paul gives us: 

²⁴ From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— ²⁸ besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 

I wanted us to read that so we’d be reminded that Paul was a man who was familiar with tremendous challenges, obstacles, and conflicts in his life. He was also a man who was full of faith. Sometimes I think that when people hear a faith message, they think that it might be coming from someone who has no knowledge of pain or loss in their life.

Apostle Paul was well-acquainted with the challenges of life and ministry. Yet, he says of his life, that through all of these things, none of them moved him. He said that in Acts 20:24. Why? Because he was a man who was motivated by the love, knowledge, and the Spirit of God. So none of the challenges that surrounded him had the ability to knock him off course, or to get him to move in some other direction. Christ was his compass, and he had set his heart on following Christ. I want to remind us that without trials there can be no triumph! How are you going to be a winner if you’ve never won anything? How are you going to be triumphant if you’ve never been tried?

~pg