Last Words to Heed

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." - 1 John 5:21

The last words John writes in his first epistle are for us to keep ourselves from idols.  Why would those words be the last thing on his mind & heart as he closes his letter?

Probably because God knows how easy we fall into idol worship. In our culture it's not little statues we worship, but instead it is activities, programs, events, stuff & our own comforts, to mention a few, that become idols in our lives. We can't make time for prayer (private &/or corporate) but we can make time for our favorite TV show or sports game. We can't make time for extra fellowship activities but we can make time for extracurricular activities. We can't make time for our family because we are too busy working to gain stuff. We can't make time for service because our own comforts of time cry out to us.

What's an idol? Anything that easily takes you away from more important things of the Lord or puts itself in place of God.  If you can't stop something (or don't want to), it perhaps is an idol.

Keep yourselves from idols - be it your kids' events that keep them from church functions, be it your work, or your activities.  This world is not our home!

Questions That Should Be Asked - But We Already Know the Answers So We Don't

In this week's teaching, "Wanting the Truth You Can't Handle" from John 10:22-42, we looked at the Jews who asked Jesus to tell them whether He was the Messiah but they weren't interested in the truth - just a fight.  Plus Jesus said they did not believe because they weren't His sheep.

I posed that we too ask questions we really don't want the answers for or maybe we don't ask questions because we already know the answers:

• Do I really need to forgive that person?
• Do I really need to be one devoted to Scripture reading?
• It's okay if I fudge a little on my taxes right?
• I know I should be devoted more to my walk with Jesus, but it isn't a matter of Heaven or Hell so why bother?

The problem with these, and other like questions, is we already know the answers but we just aren't interested in obeying so we don't honestly ask.  It is like in school - if we don't ask the professor for further clarification, then we won't have to do all the work that would be required if he did answer.  In other words, ignorance is bliss.

Where we fail is when we think that the here and now is the most important thing at stake - that our own comfort, wants and desires are the most important things. 

• "Sure I could for go my time to go to a Sunday night prayer meeting, but it's not a matter of salvation so I'm sure my time is better used being happy in my own home." 
• "Sure I could spend more time with the Lord, but it's football/baseball/hockey/basketball/name-your-sport season and He isn't all that concerned." 
• "Who is that guy to challenge me - that's just legalism or being a Pharisee"

Listen, it isn't necessarily the church, the Lord or the pastor who misses out the most when you pay more heed to the temporary things rather than the eternal ones - it is you!  There is blessing both here in seeking more of the Lord as well as in the eternal when we get to partake of those heavenly things we invested our time or money into.  Not one of us will get to Heaven and wish we had spent a little more time in front of the TV or whatever it is.  That's not to say we can't have free time or anything like that, but I think too often we justify our free time and liberty as a means of not partaking in the eternal opportunities God has set in front of us.  I think we've let "comfortable" become the biggest idol we idolize in our modern society. 

Perhaps the biggest question that should be asked - but one we are afraid to fully examine - is just that: have I made comfort and fun the idol I worship more than anything else?

This blog post comes from further thoughts of the sermon on John 10:22-42 titled “Wanting the Truth You Can't Handle” which can be found by clicking here or simply visiting http://www.refugesanger.com/teachings.  It was originally posted on refugesanger.wordpress.com

No Argument On This

Originally posted on refugesanger.wordpress.com

As we have been studying through the Gospel of John, we continue to find the Jews arguing about who Jesus is.  In their arguments though one thing they never argue about:

Whether He is a good teacher or not!

Why do I point that out? Because in today's society there is a belief out there that says something like this: "I follow some of Jesus' teachings because I think they are good, but I don't really follow Him".  And then they will go on to discuss how they also follow Ghandi, Budha and other teachings.  But there is a major problem along this line of thinking and it revolves around if Jesus could simply be a good teacher and if His teachings could actually be good.

Now before you get up in arms and wonder how I could question His teachings being good or not, I do say they are good but they couldn't be if you don't believe He is who He said He was.

See throughout the Scriptures Jesus states He is God - He doesn't blur the line or sort of hint at it; He is bold in declaring it thus the reasons the Jewish leaders want to kill Him.  Now a man who claims to be divine cannot be a good teacher and His teachings can't be good unless in fact He was divine.

Let's put it in modern day perspective.  You have a good job and a good boss.  You like your boss - in fact your boss is a very friendly person.  But let's say your boss one day comes in and declares that he/she is in fact God.  That he/she will rise from the dead and will also one day judge the earth.  Would you continue to be okay with whatever else comes out of the mouth of your boss?  Would you say he/she is a little crazy but I still choose to follow other stuff my boss says.  What about if one of your kids had a teacher who claimed to be God?  Would you still want your kids sitting under that teacher?  Would he/she still be a good teacher?

See Jesus can't just be a good teacher.  He is either a liar, a lunatic or He is Lord.  We have too much evidence to show He certainly was who He said He was (rose from the dead, performed miracles, etc) so He cannot be a liar or a lunatic and therefore must be Lord.  Since He is Lord, His teachings are good and we should follow them.

That is why the Jews argued whether He was the Messiah or a crazy person but never if He was simply a good teacher whose teachings we should follow.  He didn't leave room for them to have that argument.  Next time someone you know uses that argument, ask them why they would view Him as a good teacher or His teachings good since He claimed to be omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and the Messiah.

This blog post comes from the thoughts of the sermon on John 10:1-21 titled “The Good Shepherd” which can be found by clicking here or simply visiting http://www.refugesanger.com/teachings

Freedom Test

"You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" - Jesus (John 8:32)

We know that Jesus sets us free from our sin, but are we free from those things we call "liberties" (our freedoms we have in Christ)?  You may ask, "how could I not be free from something that is a freedom?"  I'm glad you asked.

A liberty is anything that is not specifically or strictly forbidden by God, but left up to our conscience as whether we can do it or not.  Things such as drinking alcohol (not to the point of drunkeness which is forbidden), watching movies, etc. are liberties we have.

Paul said "all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.  All things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the power of any." (1 Corinthians 6:12).  Again he would say all things are lawful but not all things are helpful or edify. (1 Corinthians 10:23).  Scripture also references laying aside weights (Hebrews 12:1) that weigh us down, being a good soldier and not getting entangled in the affairs of this world (2 Timothy 2:4), and running this "race" of the Christian life in such a way as to receive a prize as runners try to run with as little on as possible (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

All this back to our point on liberties and how not only can they weigh us down, but they can actually enslave us and if they enslave us we cannot call them a liberty.  So how do we know if something is truly a liberty in our lives or not?  It is the Freedom Test and it is only 1 question test:

Can you NOT do something?

Pretty simple.  That TV show you watch - can you not watch it for a week?  Those football games you plan your Sundays around - can you not watch them for a day?  That alcohol that you drink - can you not drink it?  The coffee that you drink - can you not drink it?  The movies that you watch - can you not watch them?

Now a good way to test your answer to the question is to NOT do that particular thing.  If you sweat thinking about that or get mad saying "you've gone too far now Pastor Mike", then that thing is not really a liberty in your life.  It is in fact enslaving you because if you HAVE to do something, you aren't free from it.  You might say, "it's not that I HAVE to do it, but I just don't feel like giving it up."  Well often that's an excuse.  The test isn't to think about giving something up but to do it.  It is actually healthy to try so you can see for yourself.

So instead of watching football this weekend, take your family out for a drive somewhere.  Instead of having that wine or beer, drink water for the week.  Instead of watching your favorite shows, play a board game/cards with your spouse or read a book.  

Being enslaved to something is never a good thing, no matter how pleasurable it may be.  Being free, truly free, is where you will find the most joy and then when you are free, those liberties will be truly that - liberties - and you will be free to enjoy them, but not enslaved to them.

This blog post comes from the thoughts of the sermon on John 8:13-59 titled “Let Freedom Ring” which can be found by clicking here or simply visiting http://www.refugesanger.com/teachings.  This blog was originally posted on refugesanger.wordpress.com

Called ... to Wait

Have you ever had to wait for something? 

I mean besides waiting at red lights, waiting in a drive through, waiting in line, waiting for your kids, etc.  Have you ever had to wait for something that you feel like God has called you to do, but the doors just have not opened yet?  And you begin to wonder if the calling is even there or if God has changed His mind or if it was just an emotional response?

Throughout the Gospel of John, we see Jesus say "my time has not yet come" or John talk about His time not yet coming.  The time referred to is when Jesus will publicly declare Himself as the Messiah by riding on a donkey into the city as well as dieing on the cross for our sins.  Jesus knew His calling and was submitted to His Father's will and so although He was called to do these things, He had to wait.

Now don't lose me on having to wait to die - I think we'd all want to wait longer for that!  But what I am saying is there is a period of waiting after the initial calling. Consider....

• Abraham - was told he would have a son and his seed would be more numerous than the sand.  He had to wait many years before Isaac was ever born which caused this great man of faith to try to preempt God's promise through fleshly ways.
• Joseph - saw that he would one day rule (family bowing down to him) but he had to be sold into slavery for years then thrown into jail for a few years before God would raise him up.
• The nation of Israel - were told they would inherit the land but they would be in Egypt for 400+ years before they would even come back into the land and conquer it through God's power.
• David - anointed (called) to be the next king of Israel after Saul but it would not be fulfilled in his life until many years later after having to run and hide from Saul during that time.
• Paul - after being saved, he would spend 10 years away from the public scene before Barnabus would go and find him

And there are many more as you study Scripture who had a calling from God but then had years of waiting before the calling was fulfilled.

Perhaps you're in that place of waiting.  God has called you to do something and yet nothing is happening.  Maybe it's been years even - keep waiting.  Use that time of waiting (which is ultimately preparation) to serve where He has placed you and wait for Him to raise you up to that next calling (be it in the ministry or in the business world).  He knows what He is doing.

I know the struggle - I received the sure calling from the Lord to be a senior pastor when I was 17.  I thought 4 years of schooling at Liberty University would be my waiting time and then the calling would be sure.  How glad am I that it was 18 years of serving in various other ways before He gave me a church to pastor.  Those years of training have been beyond valuable.  I didn't always think so during those years of waiting (although I always enjoyed the ministries I got to lead during those times), but I look back on them and I see some of His reasoning for having me wait.  And I never doubted the calling even when others around may have due to how long it took which allows me to persevere now as well.

God's timing is perfect.  Don't begrudge the time of "small things" (in your mind).  If He has called you to something, He will complete it - don't try to complete it for Him.

So you find yourself waiting for something from the Lord?  You're in excellent company with those who waited before you!

This blog post comes from the thoughts of the sermon on John 7:1-53 titled “Disbelief & Division” which can be found by clicking here or simply visiting http://www.refugesanger.com/teachings

You Don't Have a Boring Testimony

"Likewise I say to you, the is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." - Luke 15:10

I taught threw John 4:27-54 on Sunday and mentioned how our testimonies can help bring a harvest of souls, I spoke on that no one has a boring testimony and I want to reiterate that point here in this post.

Often times we hear "amazing" testimonies (sometimes brag-a-monies if the sin is highlighted over the salvation from it) where a person was in drugs or killing people or paralyzed and they heard the Gospel, received Christ and were radically changed.  Those that do not have a testimony that wows the crowd can feel as if they should not share their testimony because it is boring because they grew up in a Christian home and knew Christ at a young age, or because "there isn't much too it".  They can feel as if the world does not need to hear how they were lost and now found because they weren't "into the evils of the world" as much.  If that is you (or you have ever felt that way of someone else's testimony) let me say:

YOUR TESTIMONY IS NOT BORING...and for four reasons.

1. Angels rejoiced in heaven when you got saved.  Whether it was at 5 years old or 35 years old, they rejoiced in Heaven for you!  And Scripture only tells us of 4 other things they rejoice about which makes your testimony a big deal to them.

2. You were lost and now are found - it doesn't matter of "how lost" because Heaven and Hell is not based on levels of righteousness (or lack thereof) that we can think in.  By nature we are sinners and the fact that we sin just proves that point.  We sin because we are sinners not the other way around.  A person who stole a penny but doesn't know Christ is as lost as the person killing others who doesn't know Christ.  Jesus died for you and saved you!  That is pretty miraculous.

3. Jesus is still working in you!  That is part of your testimony right there.  The fact He continues to shape you and grow you and conform you more to His image is unbelievably amazing.

4. Those of us who knew the ways of the world and did not grow up in a Christian home wish we had.  We wish we did not need to know the pain of a sinful lifestyle and could have been in that environment.

So don't convince yourself your testimony is boring.  Get out there and share it!  It is the one thing people can't argue about.  There are at least 2 billion people who will die without Christ during your lifetime (and to understand 2 billion, like I taught on Sunday, if I gave you $1 every 2 seconds from the day you were born to the day you died, you would still not reach 2 billion dollars).  These people need to hear about Christ, they need to hear about your testimony.  Share it! (but remember to keep Christ at the center...focus should always be on Him not you).

If you want to hear the full sermon, check out A Place of Refuge , and you can listen to the other messages as we are going through the Gospel of John

Original blog posted on www.refugesanger.wordpress.com

Left Behind Move & the Rapture

The new Left Behind movie with Nicolas Cage just came out (haven't seen it but want to) and along with it came a number of blog posts dealing with the Rapture and why it's not going to happen and how it is wrong, etc.

If you are looking for a blog post agreeing with those that say such things you've come to the wrong place.

If you are looking for a blog post looking to go into great detail on why the Rapture will happen pre-tribulation, you have also come to the wrong place.

I'm not one for great theological debates on blogs simply because they really don't do much good, but I felt compared to write this to point out those attacking Christians who believe in the Rapture are wrong on two points: some of the arguments they use and the lack of love in their attacks.

Faulty Argument #1: Believe in a Rapture is only 200 years old or so.

WRONG: Those Paul wrote to in 2 Thessalonians had felt they had missed the rapture.  That was one of the reasons he wrote the epistle to begin with.

Also many early church fathers taught a pre-tribulation rapture.  Two such examples are:

• Irenaeus (130 - 202 A.D) wrote on it in Against Heresies 5.29
• Cyprian (200 -258 A.D.) wrote on it in Treatises of Cyprian 

There are plenty more but this is not a post to argue for pre-trib rapture but to disprove some of the faulty arguments.

Faulty Argument #2: It is a form of escape-ism because people don't want to go through hard times

This argument is very American in it's sense because Christians all over the world are suffering and dieing for their faith.  Tell the woman whose husband just got beheaded that she doesn't understand suffering.

Also I find it hard to hope in the return of Christ, when one has to look out for 100 pound hailstones falling from the sky and other great catastrophes that will happen during the Tribulation period before He returns.  Last I looked, God does not appoint us to wrath.  

Faulty Argument #3: The word "rapture" appears no where in the Bible

Well neither does the word "Trinity" but both ideas are taught.  The Greek word "harpazo" from 1 Thess 4:17 is "rapturos" in the Latin translation so maybe it just depends on what Bible you read!

Faulty Argument #4: "Our love for the rapture reveals a lack of love for the very world Jesus came to save!"

Recently heard this one.  My response, "really?"  Many who believe in a pre-trib rapture are out spreading the Gospel and have a heart to see people saved (1) to know Jesus (most importantly), but also (2) to help them escape from the "wrath to come" (again, 7 years will be a time of wrath).  It sort of goes with the last faulty argument...

Faulty Argument #5: Believe in a pre-trib rapture makes people lazy Christians

Sorry, but anything can make a lazy Christian, a lazy Christian.  Those who really believe that the rapture of the church is imminent and live that way, take bold steps for the Lord and are doing radical things for His kingdom.  Post-trib people also do radical things for the Kingdom, but the point is the faulty argument, not saying pre-trib people do more or less.

Lack of Love

I honestly don't care what side of the fence you are on when it comes to non-essential debates like this, but when you attack other Christians for their theology and attempt to put them down, there is a real problem.  We read that "knowledge puffs up but love builds up" and yet so many use their theology to attack others (read Theology Test to test how well your theology is) and show how superior their intellect is.  The Bible was never designed so Christians can divide over non-essentials of the faith.

Again, this blog wasn't to create a debate on theology (though I'm sure there will be plenty of posts trying to help me in the error of my ways), but instead to ask those writing lengthy blogs on why a person shouldn't hold to a pre-tribulation view this: WHY DOES IT MATTER?.  As well as to also say, don't use faulty arguments in your arguments against it.

There are plenty of sound, God fearing, Jesus loving Christians who can make great arguments on both sides of the Rapture view - there is no reason to divide over it.

Go watch Left Behind (I'm guessing it isn't heretical like Noah) and don't feel bad for doing it (unless it is heretical like Noah).  Maybe use it as an opportunity to share your faith with someone in that theater.  Also understand it is just a fictional work based on a factual event to take place.  Left Behind is not the Bible, but Revelation has a whole lot to say on the matter (and as Revelation means "revealing", you should spend time in that book as well).