30 Days of Thanks, Day 19: Weathered

None of us are going to make it through life without facing storms.  I'm not thankful for all the storms I've faced, but I AM thankful for a God Who has been with me and has helped me weather those storms.  Way back in 2011 I wrote a post called "Storm Survival."  It's so great how God will use two different men to bring encouragement during the storms of life:

 

Les preached a great message yesterday morning called "Storm Survival." His text was from Matthew chapter 14. It is the story of the disciples in a storm when Jesus comes to them walking on the water.

Les made many great points, but the one that stood out to me was from verse 22: "and straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship..." The disciples were exactly where Jesus wanted them and they still faced a storm!

It's so easy to question when we're in a storm. "Lord, I thought this is what you wanted me to do..." Just because a storm comes doesn't mean you're out of the will of God or that you've done something wrong. God knows exactly where you are. The same story is told in Mark chapter 6, verse 48 says that Jesus "saw them toiling in rowing."

Pastor Julio May from Memphis, Tennessee was in service with us last night. His message was "From Bad to Worse." Amos 5:19 says, "As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him."

Bro. May talked about how sometimes life can go from bad to worse, but then he made this statement: "When you're living for God, a bad day just means a better day is coming!"

As I played the piano for both altar services, I watched people who are going through storms. Unemployment. Sickness. Financial Strain. Things I don't even know about ~ but God was at work yesterday! They're still in their storms this morning, but I believe they woke up with hope instead of despair.

I know that there are people reading this blog who are in storms. Storms are part of life. While the disciples were still in the storm, Jesus said, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." So remember, God knows exactly where you are in your storm today and a better day IS coming!

Creating the Right Atmosphere for Your Marriage to Be Healthy (Marriage Retreat, Session 1)

Bro. Hughes started Friday night's session by reading Ephesians 5:15-25.  His title was "Creating the Right Atmosphere for Your Marriage to Be Healthy."  I took nine pages of notes.  Many are just bullet points, but here we go:

Not everything is a spiritual problem.  You can't solve physical problems spiritually.
My thoughts:  This is one of the key points I took away from this retreat.  We love to quote Matthew 17:21, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." and Mark 9:29, "And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."  Both of these verses are about the same event.  Jesus cast a deaf and dumb spirit out of a boy.  That was a spiritual problem.  When I have 6 loads of laundry to do, prayer and fasting aren't going to solve that problem.  That's a physical (and often smelly) problem.  Not every issue in a marriage or family is a spiritual issue.  Yes, we need to pray for our marriages and families, but praying then giving the silent treatment aren't going to fix anything.

You have to work really hard at messing up marriage.
Marriage works because God designed it to work.  There are no shortcuts to marriage.  There will be hard times, but marriage will always work if you let it.

The Right to Be Happy
In the past 20 years the question has changed from "is divorce a heaven or hell issue?" to "don't I have a right to be happy?"  The Declaration of Independence lists "three unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." We've put a big emphasis on happiness as a "right" but it is the pursuit of happiness. If you want to be happy, you have to chase it because it's running!  No one else can make you happy.

Two thirds of the marriages in the world are arranged.
Arranged marriages last longer than many marriages where couples are allowed that choose their own mate.  Arranged marriages work because marriage works.

Going from an Adult to Six Years Old
We go from an adult to six years old in an instant when we are angry.  Adults can't think more maturely than a 6 year old when angry.

What keeps families together?
We've heard it over and over "the family that prays together, stays together."  Brother Hughes says, "the family that plays together, stays together."  When problems start you stop enjoying life.
Ephesians 4:1 "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called."  The word worthy means balance.  Good times give you resources to endure the hard times.

I was thinking about this early the next morning.  Les and I have a lot of fun together.  The word we use most often is "adventure."  We've hiked the Grand Canyon, kayaked the Napali Coast, mountain biked on Mt. Etna.  We have traveled so many places together.  The key word is together.  We have also had hard times - the death of family members, hospitalizations, job losses, and bike accidents.  We have endured those together.  Our play times have helped us through our difficulties. 

Every Cause
In Matthew 19:3-6, the Pharisees asked Jesus, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"  They were looking for a reason for marriage to fail.  Jesus' response was, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."  God made man and woman for marriage.
Who you marry is up to you, but God made sure the marriage bond would work.  Marriage is the will of God.

Study of men and women going to sleep
3800 participants - 1900 men, 1900 women
When the male brain is going to sleep - the problem solving center is active.
When the female brain is going to sleep - the language center is active.  She's still talking!
Although we are different, even opposites, we can still make marriage work.

You can't parent one another.  
Don't try to fix each other.
Every human typically plays three roles in life:  child, adult, parent.
Relationships can only be on equal levels.  You can only be friends with someone on your same level (you are not your child's friend.)  When you become a parent don't stay in that role with each other.  Parent your children, not each other.  Be careful how you talk to one another. Odds that your marriage will make it to 50 years is 2.5%.  That is such a sad statistic!  This happens when a couple becomes empty nesters but they haven't spent their parenting years relating to one another as equals.

Create an atmosphere of making a healthy marriage. 
Most people marry someone they've known less than 5 years. Our differences make us stronger.  We choose how to have a good life.

Quit reading all the stupid books!  They don't work.  
I loved this point!  Bro. Hughes said don't expect a book to fix your marriage.  You can't read a book and think "if only my husband/wife would do this, our marriage would be perfect."  You have to talk to each other.  Have fun.  Play.  Keep God in the picture. 

Don't blame the devil.  
The devil can't read your mind, but he reads your face and he hears your conversation.  He will use that to send temptations and problems because he sees the weakness of your flesh.
Our problems are caused by our flesh most of the time.
Philippians 4:7 says the peace of God keeps your mind.   Spirituality is defined by how often you fight your flesh.

The only thing you need to be a jerk is an opportunity.
Ephesians 4:11-13
Preaching is to get us to stop acting like a 6 year old kid.

1 Corinthians chapter 13 is the love chapter
Verse 11 says, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."  This is still talking about love.
We have to learn how to get rid of the kid inside.  Most people live on the corner of junior and jerk.  But a healthy marriage is when we put away the selfish kid inside.

I left Friday night's session with so much great information!  And this was just the beginning...

Guest Post: I Have No Words

I'm wrapping up my posts about our trip to the Philippines with a special guest post by Les today.  While I was helping at the Messner House, Les was on an incredible journey...

On our first full day on Mindanao, I was able to participate in one of the most memorable, beautiful, moving and powerfully impacting services I’ve ever experienced. When Pastor White asked me if I wanted to go with him to a “service” in a remote mountainous area of central Mindanao, I eagerly jumped at the chance. I had heard and read about churches in the jungles of the Philippine Islands since I was a young teenager in the 70s, thanks in part to my mother’s first full length book, Born with a Mission, which spurred my juvenile imagination with scenes of apostolic congregants assembling in exotic tropical settings. Little did I know back then that years later I would have a chance to bring these imaginations to life. But in no way did those imaginations include the surprise of Pastor White asking me to preach during the service. What exactly does an English-only speaking urban technology professional from Big Cities, USA, have to offer Cebuano speaking villagers who arrived for service in Sulindawan on foot via dirt roads and footpaths? This question would occupy my thoughts and prayers for several days prior.

A group of about 8 of us ventured out from the Mindanao church campgrounds (here) in the Tambaboan barangay of the Claveria municipality: 4 by van, 2 by jeep and 2 by motorcycle. The trek was only about 11 miles (route here), but took us a full hour due to the condition of the roads.

We went from a two-lane paved road, to a one-lane paved road, to a double-wide dirt road, and finally to a single-wide dirt road, arriving in Sulindawan (here) a bit jostled, but none the worse for wear, and ready for church.

Once we arrived at the church, we left the vehicles and followed a footpath past chickens, pigs and cattle, through a banana tree field and up a small hill to the church. When we stepped out from the banana tree grove, I got my first glimpse of the Sulindawan Apostolic Pentecostal Church. I was introduced to Pastor Playto of Sulindawan, we took a few pictures, and then were ushered to our seats as service began.

I was curious about having a mid-morning church service on a Tuesday, and when I asked Pastor White what the occasion was, he replied that the occasion was us. Since our schedule only permitted us to be there that Tuesday, the congregation had a special impromptu service at a time convenient for us. This was my first real sense of how much the Filipinos value visitations from “American missionaries”.

The Sulindawan church sits in an area that had been recently controlled by various insurrectionist Muslim and communist groups against the Filipino government. Part of the ongoing Moro conflict, the government had strongly warned non-Filipinos from venturing into this area for fear of kidnapping and execution. As a result there was a 15 year period (2001-2016) during which no outside missionaries were able to visit.

Elder Barrero started the service with a favorite song often sung in the churches on Mindanao and Luzon, “I’ll Be Somewhere Working for the Lord”, and with his responsibilities of pastoring three churches on Mindanao, truer words could never be sung by a man. As I took in the scene around me, I noticed the lumpy red clay dirt floor, the 15 by 30 foot size of the building, the hand-hewn wooden benches, the bamboo walls, the corrugated metal roof, the cooling system consisting of a floor fan, and a portable PA system that included in its entirety one guitar, one guitar amp and two mics. But as the interpreter, Brother Balmes, led us singing “How Great Thou Art”, the surroundings quickly faded from view and the powerful presence of the Lord filled the room.

It was truly one of the most overwhelming moments I’ve ever experienced. We had a gathering place and were gathered in the name of Jesus, and He was faithful to His promise of being in our midst. So back to the question, “What would I have to offer?” I selected the first portion of 2 Chronicles 16:9 as my text. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” I tried my best to encourage the listeners to have faith in God for the miraculous. The people so were so hungry for the Word of God and responded with fervent prayer afterwards.

It struck me that what would constitute a miracle in their lives might be quite different than what I might consider a miracle. Although the metropolitan and resort areas of the Philippines are modern by most standards, there was no trace of their modernity in this area of Mindanao. Miracles of provision and circumstance which are seldomly sought among first world societies are most precious among those of so little means. I’ll never know the impact of my words, but Pastor Playto was quite expressive of his thankfulness on multiple occasions the days following the service.

After the service, we enjoyed some fellowship and fresh fruit behind the church in the outdoor fellowship hall, but I left the freshly roasted pig for the congregants.

The children gave me a handmade card of multi-colored paper that read, “Thank you for visiting our church.” I can’t image where they were able to get colored paper, or the expense of it among so many other more pressing needs. The people were so generous and appreciative of our visit, it was humbling to receive this kind of reception and attention.

I was a bit subdued on the way back to the campgrounds, just trying to process what had transpired. When I walked into our room, Kathy asked me how it went. I looked at her, just shook my head, replied, “I have no words,” went into the bathroom to look into the mirror, and cried tears of compassion, hope and thanksgiving.

Mindanao Leadership Training Seminar

The main focus of our trip to the Philippines was the Mindanao Leadership Training Seminar.  This was for all pastors, ministers, and leaders, along with their wives.  We had a very busy schedule, but we also had a tremendous time in the Holy Ghost.

Confession time:  I did not take notes during the preaching.  We were in back to back to back services and as I write this, many of the messages blur together.  I don't remember everything I ate last week either, but I was definitely fed both spiritually and physically!

Bishop White on the first night with our amazing translator Pastor Balmas

We also heard good singing by the young men who are attending A.C.T.S. Bible School.

Our schedule went like this:

Wednesday 6:00 p.m. - Pastor John Collins

Pastor Collins

Thursday
5:30 a.m. - Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. - Missionary Nathan Weidner
9:50 a.m. - Split sessions:  Men - Pastor Johnny Burgess/Women - Sis. Kathy McElhaney
10:30 a.m. - Break
11:00 a.m. - Split sessions:  Men - Bro. Les McElhaney/Women - Sis. Annette Carrier
11:50 a.m. - Missionary Nathan Carrier
6:00 p.m. - Bro. Everett Messner (Dedication of the Messner Building)

Sis. Carrier with her translator, Sis. Michelle

During my session on Thursday, I taught a modified version of Lessons from the Peloton (you can read both parts here and here.)  None of the ladies had ever ridden a bicycle before and only one brave soul was willing to give it a try!

Friday
5:30 a.m. - Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. - Missionary Nathan Carrier
9:50 a.m. - Split sessions:  Men - Pastor John Collins/Women - Sis. Lindsy Weidner
10:30 a.m. - Break
11:00 a.m. - Split sessions:  Men - Bro. Les McElhaney/ Women - Ma'am White
11:50 a.m. - Missionary Nathan Weidner
6:00 p.m.- Pastor Johnny Burgess

Some of the sessions went longer than planned.  Even when the speaker finished in his allotted time, we had a time of prayer between sessions.  On Friday, our ladies sessions finished before the men had their break so we got to hear Les.  He did an outstanding job preaching, "One Link in the Chain of the Good Fight of Faith."  Many have gone before us, paving the way for revival, and we want to keep that chain strong and see revival continue!

Ma'am White told us before we went on the trip, that it is a tradition for ministers to give their tie to their translator after the service.  Pastor Balmas translated for Les three different times, so he scored!  This picture was on Friday as Les presented Pastor Balmas with a tie he bought when we were in Italy in 2011.  Pastor Balmas makes a note on each tie he receives - who the minister was and what he preached.
 

It was a wonderful time and I pray that the result will be even greater growth and revival in the months and years ahead!

P.S.  This link will take you to the entire photo album, there are just too many pictures to put in a few posts!  Go right HERE!

Under the Fig Tree

Pastor McGriffin preached a message on Sunday night called "Come and See."  His text was John 1:45-46 "Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see."

Nathanael is so shocked when Jesus says to him, "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee," that he immediately called Jesus the Son of God and King of Israel.  Les leaned over to me and said, "When was he under the fig tree?"  I turned to e-Sword for some answers.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible said, "It is not improbable that Nathanael was accustomed to retire to the shade of a certain tree, perhaps in his garden or in a grove, for the purpose of meditation and prayer. The Jews were much in the habit of selecting such places for private devotion, and in such scenes of stillness and retirement there is something especially favorable for meditation and prayer.  It is clear, from the narrative, that Jesus did not mean to say that he was bodily present with Nathanael and saw him; but he knew his thoughts, his desires, his secret feelings and wishes."

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible said, "There are many proofs that the Jewish rabbins chose the shade of trees, and particularly the fig tree, to sit and study under. See many examples in Schoettgen. How true is the saying, The eyes of the Lord are through all the earth, beholding the evil and the good! Wheresoever we are, whatsoever we are about, may a deep conviction of this truth rest upon our hearts, Thou God seest Me!"

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible had similar, but then he had this little tidbit, "It is said of Nathanael, in the Syriac dictionary; that his mother laid him under a fig tree, when the infants were slain, i.e. at Bethlehem; which, if it could be depended upon, must be to Nathanael a surprising and undeniable proof of the deity of Christ, and of his being the true Messiah; since, at that time, he was an infant of days himself, and was the person Herod was seeking to destroy, as the Messiah, and king of the Jews."

We don't know where Nathanael was born but Matthew 1:16 says, "Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men."  If Nathanael was the same age as Jesus this is quite possible.

My point isn't really about the age of Nathanael, but the fact that God always sees us.  From our very first breath to our last, in the cradle or the school yard or the office, He sees.  Your faithful works behind the scenes?  He sees.  Your tears at night when everyone is asleep?  He sees.  Your hopes and dreams, your failures and victories.  He sees them all.  He doesn't miss a thing.  He never has and never will.

The Exciting Work of Gathering the Harvest!

These notes are from last Tuesday night's service at New Life Pentecostal with Bro. Henson.  I'm hoping I can make sense of them since it's been more than a week.  We flew home Wednesday and have been going nonstop since our feet hit the ground.  But this was another fabulous service and I don't want to forget!

Before Bro. Henson started his lesson, he had Pastor McGriffin give a testimony about a lady who had been in service the previous week.  I cannot remember her name, I think it was Dena or something similar.  That's what I'm going to call her to make this a little simpler to read.  She is from South Africa and is now living in Florida.  God really touched her in service...

When Pastor McGriffin was a new convert he began the practice of taking his Bible to work and reading it during lunch. Just reading his Bible in public opened many doors to witness. Bro. Frank is a member of NLP. He is also a tour bus driver. He takes his Bible with him to read on breaks and leaves it where people can see it. Dena saw Bro. Frank's Bible and asked him a little about it. She has read about the Holy Ghost and wanted to know more. Bro. Frank was able to tell her what God has done in his life.

The next day Bro. Frank went back to Waikiki hoping to find Dena. Of all the tourists that are there, it seemed an impossibility, but he found her walking! He was able to witness a little more and invited her to church that night. Dena said she might try to come. She took Uber and the driver had a hard time finding the church. Dena did not come in until 8:00, after the worship part of the service. This was the night Bro. Henson taught on Becoming a Life Champion. God touched her in a mighty way during the altar service.

Pastor McGriffin said he has never seen anyone more sincere and hungry for God. Dena is now back in Florida and is in touch with an Apostolic church there. All because someone wasn't afraid to step out into the harvest!

Now back to the lesson...

Purpose of the lesson
Obtain a better understanding of the process of gathering the harvest.
That God would touch our minds with the immensity of the harvest He wants to give us.

There are three venues for gathering the harvest:

• Individuals that Only Jesus Can Win
• Intercessory Prayer and the Ministry of Angels
• Soul Winners Working the Harvest Cycle

Individuals that Only Jesus Can Win
There are some people who through our best efforts cannot be reached. But the supernatural power of Jesus can reach them.  Saul of Tarsus was not won by an Apostle or any other believer.  He would not have received them.  It took Jesus Himself to win Saul.

We need to pray for revelation to come upon people.  Paul said of the gospel in Galatians 1:12, "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." There are many who are sincere and dedicated in their religious beliefs.  There are others - the wealthy and those of elite status - who will not listen to a preacher, but the Holy Ghost can speak and draw them.

Intercessory Prayer and the Ministry of Angels
Angels are always on the move.  They are sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation.  God dispatches angels when we intercede.  Angels establish connections with the heirs of salvation and such as should be saved.  Angels bring hungry souls to believers.

Cornelius was a hungry man who prayed everyday.  An angel appeared to him but did not tell him how to be saved or teach him a Home Bible Study.  The angel made the connection.  An angel will not direct a soul to a preacher of false doctrine.  We are cheating the world when we don't commit ourselves to intercessory prayer.

Angels can work in strange environments.  The Hensons were on a cruise ship and Bro. Henson simply prayed "if there's a hungry soul connect me with them."  Not long after, they needed someone from maintenance to come to their room to fix a problem.  The maintenance worker was from the Philippines.  Bro. Henson could sense a hunger in this man.  They talked briefly and Bro. Henson asked if the man could come back when he was off work.  The man came back and received the Holy Ghost in the Henson's room on a cruise ship!  Could it be an angel caused the problem in their room so that hungry soul from maintenance would find his way to a man of God?

Soul Winners Working the Harvest Cycle
The harvest = WORK!  We are privileged that the Lord allows us to work in His harvest.  There is no joy like a soul winner's joy!

Jesus is going to do His job, angels will do their job, we need to do our job!!  There are hungry people.  Matthew 9:36-38 teaches us that there is no problem with the harvest, the problem is the workers are few.  It usually takes much prayer, wisdom, effort and patience to win a soul.

The Harvest Cycle involves the following steps or actions:
Preparing the soil = friendship and kindness
Planting the seed = witnessing, sharing your personal testimony, teaching a Home Bible Study, and the preaching of God's Word.
Watering the soil = prayer, accompanied by tears
Cultivating the soil = one-on-one fellowship with a prospect or new convert and/or participation in a Home Friendship Group.
Harvesting the crop = soul winning
Mentoring the harvest = teaching and disciplining, as well as leadership and ministry training.
Investing in the harvest = sending of new workers into the harvest.

Will YOU answer the call?  It's exciting work gathering the harvest!

Becoming a Life Champion

Tuesday night was another fantastic message by Bro. Robert Henson.  His title was "Becoming a Life Champion!"  Focus:  Successfully Living the Christ Life.

Life Champions are:
1) Victors 
2) Overcomers

God wants you to be saved!  Satan designs his attacks where we are weakest, but God provides divine assistance.

Victor
Victor = a conqueror; a person who defeats an adversary; one who vanquishes an enemy.
This speaks of a victory so overwhelming that the adversary never again arises from the dust of defeat to offer any challenge to the believer.

Romans 8:35-39 speaks of the victor:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Overcomer
Overcomer = one who prevails in a struggle or conflict; a person who overcomes difficulties; one who surmounts (comes over) opposition, debilities, weaknesses and/or temptations.
Overcomers, with great resolve, continue to fight on.

There are some enemies that I have been able to annihilate, but there are some enemies that I am still fighting.  I still face opposition, but by God's grace I'm an overcomer, still fighting. One of the favorite tactics of the devil is to say, "You must not really be saved if you're still struggling."  This is not true!  As long as you keep fighting, overcoming, you are a Life Champion. 

I took a "few" notes

Children of Israel

At the Red Sea, the Lord made the children of Israel victors.  Not one Egyptian survived.  They never fought Egypt again!

It was in the Land of Promise that the children of Israel became overcomers!

The Red Sea experience lasted 36-48 hours.  Completely overcoming the Promise Land lasted for years.  Most of us spend more time in the promise land than at the Red Sea! Deuteronomy 7:22 says, "And the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little."  Little by little the children of Israel overcame their enemies.

In Judges 3:1-4, the Lord gave three reasons why Israel was not given immediate victory and occupancy of the entire Land of Promise:
So that the Israelites would learn and know how to fight the enemy.
So that their children would learn and know how to fight the enemy.
So that it could be discovered whether or not the Children of Israel would be obedient unto the Lord and His Word and to the leadership He had appointed over His people. 

You and I

Key understanding:  You and I experience both types of spiritual warfare.

Some adversaries Jesus helps us crush once - drug addiction, alcohol, cigarettes.  The other level is conflicts that we face everyday such as lust, pride, anger, poor attitudes, jealousy.

As born again children of God we have three main enemies with whom we contend: the devil, our flesh, and the world.  Our biggest enemy is our own flesh but "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Phil 4:13)  2 Corinthians 2:11 says, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."  Christ will keep us from being outsmarted by the devil.

Key understanding:  FORGIVENESS plays a key role in our overcoming!

We have a much more difficult time overcoming when we don't forgive.  Unforgiveness is the most employed strategy of Satan.  We must forgive others and ourselves.  Those who don't forgive themselves live under constant condemnation.  Don't live with unrelenting regrets.  God doesn't expect you to continue grieving over what you cannot change.

Key understanding:  If you are currently fighting the good fight of faith, you are participating, even now, in championship living!

The book of Revelation addresses numerous promises to the overcomers!  Not one time are the promises made to victors.

Revelation 2:7 "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life."
Revelation 2:11 "He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."
Revelation 2:17 "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.."
Revelation 2:26 and 28 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations...and I will give him the morning star."
Revelation 3:5 "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."
Revelation 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
Revelation 3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne."
Revelation 21:7  "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." - Overcomers inherit ALL THINGS!! 

This was such an outstanding message!  Just re-reading my notes this morning was inspiring.  God loves overcomers!  And right on time, there was this simple quote in my email box:

Today you can choose to live the rest of your life as a Life Champion! 

We Have An Altar

Our stay on Oahu has been extended until February 17th.  That means a few more services at New Life Pentecostal Church.  We were pleased to see that Bro. and Sis. Robert Henson from Michigan are here again this year.  Last year he taught a series on "Intensifying the Fires of Revival."  This year the series is called "And So Much the More."

Tuesday night was the first of the series and the title was "We Have An Altar."  I'm very thankful that Bro. Henson had handouts prepared!  There were so many great points, here are some of them: 

The Tabernacle teaches us the importance, positioning and permanence of the altar.  The altar was the focal point of the Tabernacle.

The Brazen Altar = the Altar of Burnt Offering
The first item you came to in the Tabernacle was the brazen altar.  This was the place of repentance.  Everyone has to start at the altar.  All true revivals began at the altar of repentance.  We need to visit the altar of repentance everyday, before we can move on to the altar of incense. 

The Golden Altar = the Altar of Incense
The Hebrew name for the Golden Altar literally means altar of incensing of the incense.

Incense symbolized communication with God in the form of prayers, intercessions, thanksgiving, praise, adoration and worship.  Summed up, incense = worship.

Incense offered was the only sacrifice that was not tied to atonement for sin.  It was offered totally for God's pleasure, it was not a place for requests.

Too many people get stuck at the first altar.  Condemnation will bind us to the altar of repentance if we permit it to do so.  "The joy of the Lord is your strength."  Repentance is not your strength!  It is very important to move past the altar of repentance so we can worship!

According to the book of Revelation, there is only one altar found in heaven - the altar of incense.  There will be no need for an altar of repentance in heaven.

The altar of incense was the last item before the priest entered into the Holy of Holies.  True worship ushers us into the Holy of Holies where were are one step from the miraculous.

We had quite a time around the altar at the end of the service!  I don't know everything God did, but He was moving in a great way.

Prophecy for the Next Generation

Pastor White's message on Sunday night was outstanding.  He read from Proverbs chapter 31, and as he put it, it was not a Mother's day message!  Proverbs 31:1-2 says, "The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?" The word prophecy in that verse means, "a burden; specifically tribute, an utterance, especially singing, tribute."  Verses three through nine of the prophecy are a warning, but the remaining verses are guidance.

I had never taken the time to study who King Lemuel is, but Pastor White pointed out that most scholars agree that this was Solomon.  That being the case (and the commentaries I read agreed) then the mother who taught him was none other than Bathsheba!

Bathsheba, the woman who was a known adulteress, prophesying, uttering, singing of the Virtuous Woman?  John Gill's commentary said she uttered this prophecy to Solomon, "either in his youth, or when he was come to the throne; particularly when she saw he was inclined unto, or going into, the vices she cautions him against."

In my study last year, I did not study the Virtuous Woman.  I had planned to, but never got to her.  The one thing I was going to study was the difference between what she did (bought a field, sought wool and flax, etc.) and who she was (the heart of her husband trusted her, her children call her blessed.)

It's almost impossible to reconcile Bathsheba with these great verses, but Pastor White pointed out that she was teaching Solomon in spite of her past.  David was much older than Bathsheba, and she was known to be a beautiful woman.  But after their sin, she was true to David and the purpose of this prophecy was to teach Solomon to walk in the path of righteousness.

The prophecy we must teach the next generation is this:  You CAN get up from your failures.  You CAN walk in newness of life. You CAN be a godly person.  You CAN sing a victorious song!

Unbroken Promises

I know I disappeared for a few days, we are home from Missouri and I have lots to catch up on!  Before I do, I have to write about our Sunday morning service.  Pastor Justin Prather preached a message about unbroken promises.  He gave a simple, yet powerful example.  He asked for volunteers to crack an egg over their head and smear it on their face.  There were no volunteers until he offered $20 - then he had ONE taker!  A second volunteer joined and the first volunteer was joined by a friend who said he would do it for free.  My pictures aren't the clearest but here they are:

Rubbing egg on their faces...

Really rubbing it on their faces!

When it was all rubbed in, Pastor Prather said, "I'm not giving you the money."  The young men sat with egg on their faces in stunned silence...

Pastor Prather went on to preach about how often we break our promises to God and when we do it's like rubbing egg on God's face.  The young man in the middle was the first volunteer and he was NOT happy about not getting the money.  I hadn't seen him or his friend before and after asking several others, as far as we know this is the first time he'd ever been in our church.

At one point during the message, Pastor Prather went back to the young man and said, "Have you ever made a promise to someone and not kept it?"  The young man nodded his head.  Pastor Prather said, "Now you know how they felt."  I was sitting across the aisle and had a perfect view of his face, I could tell this really hit home.

Right at the end of his message, Pastor Prather gave the young man the $20, "I keep my promises," he said.  I don't know where he's been or what experiences he's had at any other churches, but I don't think he'll ever forget this message!

I'm so glad God always keeps His promises!

I Am a Revival!

We have enjoyed our time here in Oahu.  It was made especially rich by services at New Life Pentecostal and three special couples.   Pastor and Sis. McGriffin are such wonderful people.  I got to spend part of Saturday with Sis. Mac and the Sunday school department at the Honolulu Zoo.  Pastor Mac preached an outstanding message on Sunday night before they headed to the airport and General Board Meetings in St. Louis.

Retired missionaries, Robert and Dot Arthur, celebrated their 75th birthdays last year.  Their son generously gifted them with an extended stay here.  We met them on our first Sunday service and found out that Sis. Arthur's cousin was Bro. Orville Crabtree.  Bro. Crabtree was married to Les' aunt, Bobby.  We claimed them as family after that!  What a wonderful couple who has ministered all over the world, giving their lives for the cause of Christ.  Humble, kind and funny, we are just so glad to have met them.

The other guests were Pastor Robert and Shirley Henson from Flint, Michigan.  Bro. Henson had a burden for the islands and spent four weeks teaching "Intensifying the Fire of Apostolic Revival."  These services took place on Tuesday night and all of the churches on the island were invited.  We missed the first two but it was great to see the church full on the two nights that we were there.

The title for the final two lessons was "I Am a Revival!"  We have already been given everything we need for Apostolic Revival.  Satan uses numerous tactics in his efforts to hinder revival, they include:

• Distractions
• Disruptions
• Discouragements
• (The False doctrine of) Delay

The devil's Doctrine of Delay is intended to keep God's people always looking ahead to a future day and a future time for the release of revival.  He doesn't worry about us believing that revival is coming, as long as we don't grasp that revival is now!   We can counteract the devil's attempts to hinder revival by saying, "I Am a Revival!"  Say it as many times as you need to until you believe it!

Revival is released through prayer, fasting, faith and ministry.  John 15:7 says, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."  This verse is not about our personal needs, but is directly tied to bearing fruit (John 15:2), bearing more fruit (John 15:2) and bearing much fruit (John 15:8)!!!

We Apostolic believers must become more spontaneous in ministry.  We are so concerned about being sensible, we have lost our sensitivity.  We need bold faith to be led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14.)

God wants to use YOU!  When God called Moses, He had already equipped him with everything he needed.  He asked, "What is in your hand?"  He's asking us, "What is in your hand?"  Everything you need is already available.

These services were so good!  And they reinforced what we've been seeing in Burbank.  We are in the midst of a greater revival than we've ever seen.  I believe Victory Tabernacle has embraced "lifestyle evangelism" like never before.  We haven't used the same phrase, but we are living proof that "I Am a Revival!"

God promised to pour out His Spirit in the last days.  Are you ready for it?  What is in Your hand?  What gifting and talent do you already have?  What could you do for the Lord if you would quit making excuses?  What could you do for the kingdom of God if you would place your all into God's hands?

I want to be part of this great outpouring.  I Am a Revival!

Freedom of Speech

This post might be a bit controversial ~ Please read all the way to the end!  I want to state for the record that I am not a racist.  I do my best to love everyone, no matter the color of their skin.  Each of us are created in the image of God and that makes us equal.  Jesus died for every one of us.

You may or may not be aware of the scandal swirling around the National Basketball Association and LA Clippers owner, Donald Sterling.  Recordings of Mr. Sterling making racist remarks were released and the entire NBA was outraged.  NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, responded with this:

"Accordingly, effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA. Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices. He may not be present at any Clippers facility, and he may not participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team.
He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors meetings or participating in any other league activity.
I am also fining Mr. Sterling $2.5 million, the maximum amount allowed under the NBA constitution. These funds will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti discrimination and tolerance efforts that will be jointly selected by the NBA and its Players Association.
As for Mr. Sterling's ownership interest in the Clippers, I will urge the Board of Governors to exercise its authority to force a sale of the team and will do everything in my power to ensure that that happens."  (Full transcript here.)

As I listened to the press conference on Tuesday, I was disturbed by the severity of this punishment.  I have not heard the recordings and don't know the complete history of Mr. Sterling, but banning a person from a public place such as an NBA game for something he said seems too harsh to me.  Are racist remarks okay?  Absolutely not. Does that mean there will be no racists attending NBA games in the future?  Highly unlikely!

I do find it interesting that the comments were recorded by a woman many are calling Mr. Sterling's girlfriend and no one blinked an eye about that.  Many professional athletes are fornicators, they get arrested for DUI, and the list goes on.  Because they can shoot a basket or throw a football or hit home runs, they get a free pass many times.

This is a country that believes and supports freedom of speech until you say something they don't like.

So why am I bothered by this?  I don't even like basketball!  But when will our pastors be banned from our churches for preaching that sin is sin?  When the man of God preaches from God's Word and tells it like it is, many call it hate speech.  Who will ban my pastor from his pulpit when he points his finger at sin?

As far back as the prophets in the old testament, men of God have been persecuted for speaking the truth.  Jesus said in Matthew 24:9, "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake."  The disciples rejoiced "that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."  And while we know Jesus came to give His life for us, the religious leaders of His day had Him arrested and crucified because of what He said.

Again, I want to say that racism has no place in this world.  But when preaching the truth of God's Word is considered hate speech, we need to be on our knees in prayer for our pastors.

So tell me what you think...
Have you been following this story?  Agree or disagree with the lifetime ban?
Have you noticed a trend toward intolerance of preaching truth?

Can You Survive the Takeaway?

We were blessed to have the Gleasons stay over for our Sunday night service.  Bro. Gleason preached a fabulous message called, "Can You Survive the Takeaway?"  I take better notes during Bible study, but here are a few of the thoughts I wrote down:

Job 1:20-22 says, "Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

Everybody is going through something.  Everybody has a problem, just came out of a problem, or is getting ready to go into a problem!

Life's song has three verses:

1. The Lord gives
2. The Lord takes away
3. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

We are all happy to sing verse one.  We will all sing verse two.  But we've got to learn to sing verse three.

You are going to be hurt in life, but will you be offended?  When you sing "blessed be the name of the Lord," you are learning to survive the takeaways in life.

Hebrews 10:9 says, "He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second."  When God takes something away, He is doing it to make room from something better.

Thankful Thursday

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

I am so thankful for the men of God in my life. I have heard the world's finest preaching in my home church, at camps and conference.  Preaching that has changed my life.  Preaching that convicted and encouraged.  Preaching that made me want to do more and live better.

Our time here in Hawaii has been no exception.  God blessed us so much when Pastor White directed us to New Life Pentecostal and Pastor McGriffin!  We have been blessed and fed spiritually. 

"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."  Jeremiah 3:15

Connecting to the Church - Part 2

Pastor McGriffin picked up where he left off last week talking about Connecting to the Church.  Over and over he said, "I love the church!"  I feel the same way!  I have been so blessed to be part of three great churches in my life - Truth Tabernacle in Fresno, Victory Tabernacle in Burbank, and New Life Pentecostal in Honolulu!

Key verse:  Matthew 16:13-19:

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The church is so much more than a place to worship two or three times a week.

We are ambassadors for Christ, an extension of His hands and what He did on the earth.  2 Corinthians 5:20, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ..."

The gospel, in its entirety, must be preached from the local church.  Luke 24:47 says, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."  There had to be a beginning point for the preaching of the gospel.  We cannot touch the foreign mission field if we don't have a "home" launching point.

We need to be connected to the church.  Many living in Hawaii are only here temporarily - Les and I are an example of that and of course the many military families that come through.  But we must connect to the local church wherever we are.  We need corporate worship.  The local church is a base for prayer that grows into a burden.  It is a place to grow. 

New Life Pentecostal is the Jerusalem to Honolulu.  We are a starting point for the gospel to go forth.  We're a local church trying to be the best we can be.  This is our purpose.  God does incredible things when people connect to the church.  In the past 25 years, 800 people have been baptized in Jesus name and 600 have received the gift of the Holy Ghost at NLP!

We are not a mega church - we are the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We're not changing with the culture, we want to change our culture.

Colossians 1:18 says, "And he is the head of the body, the church."   Jesus is the head of this church.  It's His church.  If we succeed it's because we follow His plan.  Some have lost reverence for the word of God because they attach it to the man who is preaching it.  When you're connected to the burden of the pulpit, that won't happen.

Our number one mission is to evangelize the lost, then disciple those who are added.  We cannot afford to become a social gathering place.  We are commanded to be involved in evangelism - not to live your life on the edge of walking away.  You don't need someone always pulling on you to stay in the church when you're connected!  The church is the best thing that ever happened to you, but it's also the best kept secret.  Everybody needs to know about the church!

When folks begin to cry out for the true church, that preaches a life changing message, that stands for truth, NLP is going to be there.  We must not forget that we are the church of the living God.  We don't operate like a corporation or a club.  We are called out of the world, into His marvelous light, purchased by the blood.  We see things more clearly.

In Psalm 73, the psalmist got into a slippery place, he saw the bad guys getting rich, and started questioning some things.  Until he went to church!  When we get connected to the body of Christ, then we can see clearly!  This is about eternity.  You can go home with a new mindset.  This is the good life!  My vision improves when I come to church.  I see things as they really are, not how my flesh sees them.

Your answers are going to be found in the church.  You need to be connected to the church.  Don't quit coming to church!  The church is a place of true perspective and power.  In Acts chapter 2, the Holy Ghost fell when they gathered together in one mind and one accord in prayer - they were in church!

Salvation, deliverance, healing, help, hope, is in the church.  It's a powerful place!  I'm not going anywhere!  There is nothing better than going to church on Sunday - the day Jesus rose from the grave.

The church is a place of participation.  Get involved in the church.  The ministries of the church are not to occupy your time, but to help you be connected.  Just showing up is not connecting.

You matter!  Some people feel no one would miss them if they didn't come to church.  You really do matter.  God doesn't save people because they have nothing to offer - you have something to offer the church.  Everyone has value.  You may not be on the platform, but you can be prayerful, be an encourager, be faithful.

Connect by being a part or you'll become apart!