WEDNESDAY'S WORD - SIGNIFICANCE - 09/24/14

Significance is the quality of being worthy of attention; importance.  It is the quality of having notable worth or influence.  It comes from Latin significare - to indicate, or portend. Portend means to be a sign that something is likely to happen.  Sign is also the root word of significance.

We all are on a quest for significance.  We desire to not just be another face in the crowd, but to be singly known, loved, appreciated and deemed worthy inside of ourselves, to others and to God.  There are times when we look at the mundane nature of life, the daily process patterns with which we are engaged and wonder, "Is this it? Is this all that my life will be about? Am I a nobody? Would anyone really miss me if I were gone?"

We look into the eyes of our loved ones to see if they think we're worthy of their attention.  The pain and loneliness of isolation and rejection are too much to bear.  The questions, "Do you love me?" or "Do you think I'm special?" "Do I matter?" though rarely spoken, are pervasive at home, in school, in the workplace and even in church. We want to be of NOTABLE worth to others...and to God.

On Sunday, we taught that the currency of the Kingdom of God is love.  Love is what is of value and worth.  God defines love in this way in 1 John 4:10 "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." We quote John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  It would seem clear by these two passages alone, that God thinks you are pretty significant. We gloss over the magnitude of this demonstration of love and try to bring God down to our terms and conditions.  "God, if You loved me, You would do X....," "If God loved me, He would have allowed Y..." "If I get this promotion, I'm happy because God loves me...."  "If I get married, I know God loves me..."  and conversely if God doesn't do what we want...He doesn't love us.  But God has already delineated the terms of His Great love.  Can you imagine literally giving one of your children to die so another person...no... your enemy could live?  Would that person ever ask you for another thing?  Would they question whether or not they were significant to you? Whether your relationship to them was real? Whether or not you loved them?  Wouldn't they be willing to give you anything?

Paul said it this way, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 8:6-8) We look for significance in many places that are really about our own performance: success in our families or careers, what kind of home we own, how much money we have in the bank, fame, power, and notoriety, etc. God established your importance and value at Calvary. Your existence influenced Him to send His one and only Son to die for you! Until we all see the CROSS as the foundation for, and basis of our significance: we will continue to be on a never-ending search for what we've had all along...

Wednesday's Word - OVERRIDE - 09/17/14

You're invited to tonight's New Life Covenant Mid-Week Study - Crash the Chatterbox - Hearing God's Voice Above All Others. 7 PM at Taft High School 420 Ezzard Charles Drive 4214. Enter through the Rear Parking lot.  TONIGHT's topic is Overcoming FEAR.  You don't want to miss it!

I was teaching on the Vision Statement of New Life Covenant: a church for the hurting...because everybody wants to be F.R.E.E. (Favored, Restored, Equipped & Empowered). We need to be FREE to do God's will in the earth.  Favor (blessings that are undeserved, or overgenerous preferential treatment) should be a part of the expectation of a Kingdom Citizen. God grants His children favor!

But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You.  For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with shield.  Proverbs 5:11-12

At the hotel, check-in time was 4:00 PM, it was about 1:00 PM and I went in to see if early check-in was possible.  The clerk said, yes.  I'd reserved a room on a discount online site.  I desired a King bed, so I asked if one might be available, to which she responded curtly, "No, your reservation only allows for a double. That's why they gave it to you!" I replied, "Ok. That's fine."  So she began to give me the room key 249. I asked, "For this room should I park in the front or in the back?"  "Oh, you've been here before?" "Yes, this is my third time." "You like it here?" "Yes, it's fine.  It would be better with a King bed though, " I joked.  She smiled and I watched her switch the room card to 211.  "Mrs. Bradley, I'm going to use my authority as a manager to OVERRIDE the room type for you."

To override means to use one's authority to interrupt, reject or cancel an action, or decision.  In government, policies are overridden by veto or by winning more votes.  In industry, an override is a device for suspending the automatic function on a machine. In the Christian life, an override means that God will use His authority to interrupt, reject or cancel something in order to do something HE DEEMS more important!

• Abraham and Sarah schemed to have a male heir through a surrogate: their maid Hagar.  God allowed them to have the child, then did a rejection override, "This man will not be your heir. but a son who is your own flesh and blood (Isaac) will be your heir." Genesis 15:4
•  Later, God instructs Abraham to take Isaac and sacrifice him on the altar.  When Abraham reaches out his hand and takes a knife to slay his son, he experiences an interruption ovveride of the greatest proportions. The Angel of the LORD calls out to him from Heaven. "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replies. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him.  Now, I know you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Gen. 22:10-12
• Peter, a devout Jew, ate only Kosher food. In a Vision, the Lord tells him to now eat four-footed animals, crawling creatures and birds. "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" Peter protests, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy or unclean." The voice comes again, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." Acts 10:12-14 This cancelling override signaled the God's intention to include the Gentiles in His family.

Christ followers must be pliable in the hand of the Potter.  (Jeremiah 18:1-6)

Jeremiah sees a pot being molded on the potter's wheel. The potter's pot did not turn out as he'd hoped, so he crushed it back to a lump of clay and re-made another vessel as seemed best to him.  Our immutable God never changes...but He changes situations and people.  I wonder if I would have killed Isaac because, "God told me to do this," and I couldn't or wouldn't let it go. What if God wants something different now? Can He re-direct you? Are you open to His override? 

Wednesday's Word - TERRORISM - 09/10/14

Tomorrow is the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States at New York's Twin Towers.  The US has also suffered the loss by beheading of two journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, to the terrorist Islamic group ISIS.  Ferguson, Missouri is the city that now epitomizes police brutality and excessive force on the predominately African-American residents there - provoking fear. African nations are fighting off the spread of the Ebola virus epidemic. Yesterday, Ray Rice was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violently assaulting his then fiancee in a domestic violence incident uncovered by TMZ.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 women has been severely physically assaulted by an intimate partner.

Terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims; or the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism.  To terrorize is to fill or overcome with terror; to dominate or coerce by intimidation; to produce widespread fear by acts of violence.  Terror is an intense, sharp, overmastering or conquering fear or anxiety. It is paralyzing. Avoiding what you fear brings fatigue. A terrorized person is really prevented from LIVING and LOVING FREELY! and doing God's will.

In Psalm 91, we are admonished to dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty God.  We are to say that the Lord is our refuge and fortress and we trust in Him for deliverance.

"You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday a thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand but it will not come near you...no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways" vs. 5-11 Great reassurances of God's help are in Psalm 27, 34 and 46 as well.
 
At New Life Covenant, we have been teaching on the Kingdom of God and the Lord's purpose to colonize earth with Heaven's principles, morals and values through Kingdom citizens who are ambassadors of the ministry of reconciliation and couriers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 5: 11-21, Matthew 28:16-20) We are not ignorant of the fact that our adversary the devil uses: lies and deception, pride and lust, thievery, terrorism, death and disaster to depress, distract, and dissuade us from this purpose and make us bow to him.  In the same way a religious extremist, a supremacist, or a misogynist (hater of women) uses terror to prevent the power of their perceived enemy (whether in physical presence or by influence of culture); Satan attempts to impede the forward progress of the ever-advancing Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He wants us too afraid to do God's will. He loves procrastination.

Paul told Timothy to 'stir up the gift of God' within him, for God has not given us a spirit of fear (cowardice, timidity), but of power (ability) and of love (agape) and of a sound mind (self-controlled, disciplined). (2 Timothy 1:6-7) Paul knew the stress and dangers involved in promoting and living out The Way of Jesus Christ.  Throughout the Epistles, he speaks of imprisonments, shipwrecks, treacherous circumstances, and deathly enemies.  It would have been easy for young Timothy to be overcome with fear, experience evil forebodings and insecurities in his mind, and allow his love to wax cold - particularly for enemies that sought to persecute or even kill him.

It has been said the Bible makes 365 admonitions not to fear - one for every day!  There are times when the thing we are most afraid of doing, the place we are most afraid of going, the conversation we are most afraid of having, or the decision we are most afraid of making, is the very one that would establish the rule and reign of God in our lives.  Sometimes the thing we fear most is territory that the Lord wants to conquer for His glory! Despite the danger we feel, we should run TOWARD it and not away!  

 Is there an issue or where the enemy is terrorizing you...yet God keeps pushing you to resist him and claim that ground?  Terrorism is used when the enemy is desperate because his defeat is imminent.  He knows if you are no longer afraid and begin to pursue God's will, you will win. He will lose that territory in your life, and there's a great probability many others will be won through your victory! 

Jesus: "A Drunkard and a Friend of Sinners" - Now, Can I Get a Glass?

Last Wednesday, we had New Life Covenant's very first Mid-Week at Taft High glory to God!! If you desire to attend it's: Wednesdays at 7 PM, 420 Ezzard Charles Drive 45214  We meet in the Music Room, you enter from the rear parking lot.  You will see our sign.  Or you can come Sundays at 11:00 AM to Taft's Cafetorium - again enter through the rear lot. Hope to see you soon!!

We discussed extending ourselves to engage people who are not yet followers of Christ.  Jesus' parable in Luke 14 says don't invite your friends, family, and people like you to the feast table of the Lord. Go out and invite the blind, the lame, the poor and the halt so that the Lord's table will be full.

Then we got on the subject of Wine and Drinking the questions people had were:

• How do you feel about a glass of wine at dinner, or champagne at a wedding? 
• Would you feel comfortable inviting church members to that kind of gathering where wine is present?  
• Is casual drinking forbidden? 
• What would you think if your small group leader, worship leader, pastor, children's ministry leader drank casually? 

Here's what I answered. Though I don't drink, this is what I believe:

1. Scriptural Admonition is to NOT be DRUNK. The Bible reminds us that wine, beer and other liquors can be addictive and harmful substances:
1. Do not get drunk on wine which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit...(Ephesians 5:18)
1. The same relief, calm, joy, freedom from inhibition and boldness can be had through being filled with God's Spirit! Reference the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:15) "these are not drunk as you suppose..."
2. Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. (Prov 20:1)
3. Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe one with rags.  (Prov 23:20-21; also vs. 30-35 below)
4. Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints?
   
   Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.31Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! 32In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. 33Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. 34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. 35“They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”
2. I cannot say something is forbidden that is allowed for in Scripture.  However, I am required to make you aware of possible issues that can arise if SELF-CONTROL - a fruit of the Spirit, is not exercised (Gal 5:22)
1. There are hurting people with addictions at churches.  A person with a genetic or disposition toward addiction would not be able to handle a SINGLE drink (the same holds true for other addictions - nicotine, caffeine, drugs, shopping, exercise, gluttony, gambling, even social media) An addictive personality will substitute addictions.
2. The only GUARANTEE that a person who has that propensity will not be drawn into it is to NOT be exposed to it. The way GUARANTEE that a person won't get pregnant, contract an STD, or be addicted to pornography is abstaining from the activity!
3. We are NOT to put an occasion of stumbling in our neighbor's way.  If eating, or drinking, or observing certain days, wearing certain clothes or other behavior causes someone to stumble in their faith, we are not to do it out of LOVE for them and for God. (Romans 14, 1 Cor 8). That is NOT to say that the behavior is wrong if not prohibited in Scripture - but LOVE wins!
4. In the Old Testament, those leaders taking Nazarite Vows (E.g. Samson Judges 13), or Levites (Lev. 10:9) were held to a different standard - NO WINE or STRONG DRINK
1. The Assemblies of God fellowship of churches, for instance, asks all of it's pastors to refrain from alcohol. 
2. Bishops/Elders/Deacons are not to be 'given to wine' meaning addicted to or drunk with wine...among other things (Titus 1, 1 Tim 3) If you don't take it at all, you don't have to be worried about addiction. Nor do you have to worry about causing anyone to stumble seeing you drink it... 
3. The 'elder women' who instruct younger women are not to be addicted to wine. Titus 2:3
5. John the Baptist the prophet and Jesus' Cousin had the restriction NO WINE from birth (Luke 1:15)
6. Jesus apparently did not have the same restriction: 
1. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:18-19)
2. Jesus turned water into wine, the best wine actually, at his first miracle for the wedding celebration at Cana  (John 2) Which seems to decry a strict prohibition for everyone.
   
3. Even if you believe that Jesus didn't drink...(which is not what He just said in red..but that's none of my business.) Jesus was OBVIOUSLY able to to be around people who were drinking and eating and tax collectors and other sinners.  He came to seek and save what was lost. (Luke 19:10) He was COMPELLED to RECONCILE people back to God and has entrusted us with the SAME ministry (2 Cor 5)
7. Irrigation systems for water in this time were few or non-existent.  Water was often polluted in that time and wine could kill harmful bacteria and soothe stomach issues. Of course, that is NOT the case now...
1. Paul's admonition to Timothy (who was an Elder) was "No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. 1 Timothy 5:23
8. It is my philosophy to lay out the Word before you and allow the Word to work and the Holy Spirit to help each individual come to decisions.  It is usually futile to try to tell grown people what to do, as each one really has to be 'fully convinced in his own mind" (Romans 14:5; 22-23) before they will act on a particular principle or belief.  
9. We must LOVE one another. "I might have the right to do anything" - you say, but not everything is beneficial. " (1 Cor 10:23) [all things are lawful but not expedient KJV]. "You my brothers and sisters, were called to be free, But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh, rather serve one another humbly in love.  (Galatians 5:12)
10. We are to be like Jesus! The kind of person who is liked by, able to be around and ministers to those who need to be friends again with God!! Jesus had less problem with sinners than He did with the religious Pharisees...but that's another topic for another day.

Wednesday's Word - RECOMPENSE - 09/03/14

Welcome to my NEW BLOG!! Wednesday's Word has been going strong for a whole year! Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive of the insights that the Lord has given me.  It has been a challenging journey, but I'm excited to take this next creative step!! I hope you will continue with me on this blog. There will be more entries on more days that will cover a larger variety of topics.  Please be patient as I learn the nuances of the blogging system. Now...onto today's Word!

Recompense means to make amends to someone for loss or harm suffered or effort made; to compensate.  In the Old French recompenser-is to 'do a favor to requite (make an appropriate return for) a loss.' As you can see, making amends requires more than an apology. Making amends means to DO SOMETHING in order to make up for the wrong inflicted upon someone; e.g. reparations or compensation.  Sometimes 'sorry' is not enough.

In Luke 19, Jesus encounters Zacchaeus the tax collector, who was so short in stature that he climbed up into a tree just so he could see the Master.  That tactic must have worked, as Jesus spotted him immediately and invited Himself to Zacchaeus' house for the night.  Jewish tax collectors in that day were deemed corrupt traitors and sinners for extorting money for Rome from their kinsmen and
skimming profit off the top for their own personal gain. The Jews didn't want Jesus hanging with Zacchaeus, who defended himself:

Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”  (vs 8)

Zacchaeus knew his guilt and was willing to do more than just apologize. He was prepared to make it right; to divest himself of the wealth he had gotten by unjust means.  He would go above and beyond the price of any offense!  Repentance and restoration sometimes include the the ACTION of recompense. It's a Biblical concept, not just Step #8 of the 12-Step recovery process.  Making amends costs!  It can validate and relieve the offended party. It says you get how much what was done or omitted cost them emotionally, relationally, spiritually, physically, financially, etc. It can be a pathway to reconciliation.

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (vs. 9-10)  Jesus knew all about redemption: He had come all the way from Heaven to reclaim us.  He would soon pay a price for the sin of mankind that He did not owe to regain sons and daughters back to the Father.  Zacchaeus, in his willingness to recompense his wrongs, demonstrated reparation- to actually REPAIR what has been damaged, wounded, or broken.  Jesus did that for Zacchaeus - restoring him to the family of Israel. He will do it for anyone that comes to Him for salvation.  

What about that situation you're in? You might already be a believer in Jesus, but there could be an issue in your life that calls for recompense.  You may need it...or you may need to give it, but it could repair what's been hurting for a long while! Yes, forgiveness should take place whether or not we give or receive recompense, but what great love, humility and understanding making amends shows!