Pastor Bob's Blog

Monday - December 24, 2007

We just came through a large ice storm in Oklahoma. It affected nine states throughout the country. The path was wide and long. The power in our city was lost to over 200,000 people and millions were affected in the bigger picture. The phone system in our home was lost for a couple of days and our internet was only recently restored. Trees were destroyed which had been growing for years. Many strong trees you would assume could not be destroyed by a winter storm were lost to frozen water.
I think of the story of an army in the Bible that came against Israel. They had never lost a battle and the Jewish people were greatly outnumbered and defenseless. As the army came to the base of the mountain, a downpour of rain came. The ground became so muddy, the chariot wheels were stuck and the horses could not move. The Israelites descended the mountain and killed the army. Who would have thought drops of water could destroy one of the earth’s largest armies? Toward the end of World War II, snow and cold weather brought the Nazi army to a halt and kept them from overtaking the Soviet empire.
Ice immobilized a great part of our country and items and systems we thought to be indestructible came to a halt or were completely destroyed. What we have experienced of man’s inability to stop the forces of nature is just a reminder that man is not indestructible. Though some men arrogantly believe themselves completely independent of God, we need the simple wisdom of God to deal with the unexpected things of life.

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Monday - December 17, 2007

Matthew 12:29:
How can one enter into a strong man's house and rob him of his goods, except he first bind the strong man? Then he will spoil his house.

With the recent rise in senseless shootings, we have moved from schools to church and gospel related sights. The incidents in Colorado with the killing of innocent young people attending missions school and Sunday morning church emphasizes what Jesus told us, “all these are the beginnings of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8).
Our times are filled with increasing violence and will only come to a full end when Jesus returns to rule and the curse on the earth is removed. Until then, the Church is the great deterrent to Satan’s cause through our faith and godly living. Yet, we hear of the courageous young woman who put her own life on the line to shoot and kill the murderer who came onto the church campus. Is this scriptural? Are Christians supposed to be armed? We have the name of Jesus, the protection of the scriptures and prayer. Isn’t that enough?
There are many scriptures telling us the disciples carried swords and that Jesus commanded them to carry a sword. Although God fought for Israel at times, He primarily fought with Israel and their armies. He caused them to wax valiant in fight and cause their enemies to be slain or run for their lives. God is not against us being well armed. He just does not want us putting our trust in weapons. Our scripture tells us a well armed man is more difficult to spoil.
I commend this young woman for her police training and putting it to use on the church campus to stop this murderer from taking more lives than he did. Although we know our trust is ultimately in God, we think no more of arming campus guards than we do of putting locks on the doors and alarm systems on our windows. Praise God and pass the ammunition!

Monday - December 10, 2007

Faith Comes From a Heart of Love

Galatians 5:5-6:

For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

An important scripture tells us not to judge others. Judgment belongs to God and not us. It is alright to objectively look at the lives of others and help them. But to judge the intent and heart of others is not to be done. Only God can see inside someone’s life. We look on the outward appearance and God looks on the heart.
God will judge the life of every believer at the Judgment Seat of Christ. He will do a perfect job since He is the perfect Judge. In the meantime, we wait for the rapture of the Church in faith. On that day we will be caught up to be with the Lord in the air and the Judgment Seat will begin. So, until that day arrives, we are to see each other in love and faith. We cannot look at people as being “circumcised or not.” In other words, we cannot look at people by race, color, male or female, educated or uneducated, rich or poor, Baptist or Charismatic or whether they believe the Bible as we do or not. The world needs to see the love walk from our lives and hearts. Division seems to be common among Christians. Paul warned us to not see each other by the natural, but through the eyes of the Holy Spirit seeing the supernatural, the unseen, the heart which is born again. If Jesus loved them enough to die for them, we need to love them enough to live for them.

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Monday - December 3, 2007

Fellowship of the Spirit

Philippians 2:1:

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit….

Paul reminded us of something not often taught. Our fellowship is not only with believers, but with the Holy Spirit. In fact, if we have no one to fellowship with, we always have the Holy Spirit. He is our greatest friend and desires to fellowship with us. I know the Godhead has fellowship. All three members communicate and fellowship with each other. But the Holy Spirit is not in heaven, but on earth. Second Corinthians 13:14 also tells us we have a communion with the Holy Spirit. We not only can pray and speak to the Holy Spirit, He communicates and fellowships back with us.
All our prayers and intercession for others should come from our fellowship and communion with the Holy Spirit. He is concerned with the needs of others and shares His concern with us. Praying in the Spirit is a good way to find the heart of God and especially of our friend, the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is not to be worshipped or prayed to. He would convict us if we tried to. Yet, He wants to fellowship with us. He wants us to talk with Him and share our hearts with Him. In return, He wants to share the heart of God with us and show us things to come. Make this a day of getting to better know your friend the Holy Spirit.

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