Deaf Devotion 7/23/2010

“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV)

At first glance it looks like Paul is talking about becoming a person that really follows Jesus from place to place always looking for something else. Like they are looking for something Jesus to do something better, something more exciting, or even something more meaningful. In this verse, if one were to study the Greek means for us to be imitators of Jesus just as Paul became an imitator of Jesus.

Everything Jesus taught, Paul taught. Every insult Jesus took, Paul took. Every step Jesus took, Paul took. Paul became an imitator of Jesus even to the point of death. Paul faced death several times only to be spared because God had a bigger mission in mind for him. For Jesus, His mission was to die for all sin. Only Jesus could do that. Paul could not and knew it. So he became an imitator of Jesus

What does it mean to “imitate?” To imitate is to copy the characteristics of an example as closely as possible. It means to act like someone or something. It also means to do all one can to equal, excel, or match the example.

Paul had a certain attitude that Christians are wise to imitate, follow, or copy. He reveals some of his heart in 1 Corinthians chapter 11.

There is humility. Pride cannot hide in the heart of a believer who understands God’s mercy. Paul spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ because he believed that God’s grace, which was sufficient to save a sinner like him, and is more than adequate for anyone to become saved and have eternal life.

Paul had a sense of responsibility. He never lost sight of how far God's grace had brought him and he frequently reminded believers of his role in persecuting the church. Paul says, “even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor, yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.” (1 Timothy 1:13 NASB) Paul's gratitude for salvation from that former life never decreased. The book of Acts records the almost constant turmoil and heartache of his travels, and yet he kept praising the Lord for the honor of serving.

Paul also knew dependence. To describe the source of his strength, Paul used these words: "But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace." (1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT) He knew what it was like to depend upon one's own goodness and work to be religious. It took Jesus to show Paul how foolish this is and then Paul wanted no part of it. Paul desired more dependence on Jesus and no dependence on himself. “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8 NLT)

Paul took on a spirit of absolute confidence. At the end of his life, Paul was as certain as ever that God was real, in charge, and worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. He knew no other Savior because there is no other Savior. He knew no other Gospel because there was no other truth. For Paul Christ is everything, God’s grace is sufficient, and he could rest in the knowledge that God is in control.

Do we see these attitudes in ourselves? If not, sneak a peek here at Paul’s heart for God. Do not be just a follower, but a “doer.” Become a person who takes the humility, responsibility, confidence, and dependence taught by Jesus and copies those attitudes in everything we do. Paul did it. We can too.

Deaf Devotion 7/19/2010

“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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17 KJV)

Is there any clearer message that God wants everyone in a relationship with Jesus Christ?

Okay...check this out. This past Sunday was one of those days when God really blessed The Deaf Church at Cornerstone. I had finished preaching on becoming soul winners. How our responsibility becomes to reach out to as many people as possible with the Gospel of Salvation – The Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was finished and the only way I can explain this is to say that the Holy Spirit led me to add to my message.

We had three visitors this past Sunday. I simply said that if there was anyone there that did not know Jesus as Savior or if they were not sure that Jesus really is their Savior, to talk to either myself or another believer. We can share the Gospel to show how to have the assurance they can be with Jesus today if something were to happen.

One person is saved and knows it. Another is not yet saved but is not really a “religious person.” They made the comment that they thought the Bible is a nice story to encourage people to act right. The third person raised their hand and said that they always felt they were saved but has made too many mistakes to really be saved.

I have heard many reasons why people are uncertain about their eternal future. "I sin too much," says one. "I don't feel saved, Pastor," says another. Someone else worries that he or she did not follow the "right procedure" to ask for forgiveness. Still others have erroneously learned from their families or churches that no one can be sure of salvation.

My response to all of these has been and will stay the same: “If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that His death on the cross purchased God's forgiveness for your sins, then you are saved. And you can be sure. From this point forward this is not something that will be lost nor can it be taken away.

Why?

God's promises never change. He said that those who trust in His Son would have eternal life. “I tell you the truth. Those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” (John 5:24 NLT) What's more, a believer cannot be snatched from God's hand “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” (John 10:27-30 NLT)

The Lord loves us completely. Nothing can separate a believer from God's love “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” (Romans 8:38 NLT) Satan's charges against us can never change how precious we are to our Father.

The Savior's work on the cross is finished. Jesus Christ made one perfect sacrifice—His own life. In this single act, He atoned for every sinful deed, word, and thought. When we receive His salvation, it is ours forever.

God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins so we could live eternally in His presence. It really is that simple. Whatever our doubts, ask the Holy Spirit to confront them with biblical truth. He will quietly assure our hearts that we are God's children forever.

The question is not about how we can reach Deaf with the Gospel. Our prayer should always be, “Lord, lead me and show me how to be a soul winner today.” That is the challenge I put before us. Dare to be a soul winner.

I will tell you this. From Sunday one person is sure, the other had seeds of faith planted and the other prayed and accepted Jesus as their Savior once and for all with the assurance that we all make mistakes and that Jesus knows and will be faithful to forgive. God be praised for an awesome opportunity to witness! It’s not about us witnessing, it’s making sure that everyone has the saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

“I am willing, God is able.
God is able. I am willing.”

Deaf Devotion 7/12/2010

“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.” Daniel 6:10-11 NLT

I send you greetings from the twin cities of Minneapolis-St Paul. I am here for a training conference and will be home Tuesday evening.

Do we dare to pray? Or does the world say, “How dare you pray?”Or is prayer something that is just so commonplace that it really does not have a special place in our worship of God or our devotion time with God? Paul says in I Thessalonians that we are to always have an attitude of prayer and be ready to pray at the time God calls us to pray. Paul seems to say pray when it seems right and when it just does not seem right. Paul says to, like Daniel, dare to pray when things are good and when things are not so good.

Daniel had three choices. Each choice carries a price tag with a high cost. Daniel could decide not to pray and that would cost him his fellowship with God. Daniel could also decide to hide and pray in secret. This would cost him the ability to influence people around him. Finally, Daniel could decide to continue to pray and that would cost him his life.

We may not face a real lion’s den or fiery furnace like Daniel did. But we will all face trials where we feel the lions are circling looking to devour and there are times when we feel the flames of trouble burning our toes. But we go on. We go on with business as usual. We serve a Savior who is able to go into the lion’s den. We serve a Savior who stands with us in the flames of temptation and denial. We serve a Christ who is able to see us through. We must keep our eyes on the Lord and not on the lions or on the heat from the flames.

Someone we know may be in a lion’s den. It could be a lion’s den of a broken marriage. It may be a lion’s den of a broken family. It may be furnace fueled by the loss of one’s health. God is calling us to prayer for those people that He will show Himself mighty in their situation. Paul said that God’s grace is more than enough for whatever we face. God will stand with us and He will not leave until we are on the other side of the problem.

And we can learn that the difference between Daniel and most of us is, Daniel served God continually. But most of us serve God when it is comfortable and convenient. We serve Him until we can’t get our way anymore. We serve Him as long as everything is going our way. Am I right about it!? But Daniel answers, my God is able. Daniel also knew that God had sent deliverance from the Lions and from the furnace.

Daniel is an incredible person to look at for a life study. He shows us with living example what it is to live in a society wants nothing to do with God and His Word. Looking to his life we learn how to live in the world around us … to separate ourselves from the grip of the world and at the same time make an impact upon it for the cause of the kingdom. Have you dared to be a Daniel this week?

Be a Daniel … dare to pray!

Deaf Devotion 7/5/2010

Psalm 121:1-2 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth."

It is a holiday weekend here in the United States. Let me ask you this. When you stand for the National Anthem or say the Pledge of Allegiance do you still put your hand on your heart? I was taught to do it and still do it with pride. I was surprised recently at those who do not. It also makes me sad.

I have heard people say that it takes one person to make a change. I would like to respectfully disagree. It takes two. It takes us AND God. Without God nothing is successful. But it must start with us and we must include God.

In preparing for yesterday’s sermon, I came across this:

In his book “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,” completed in 1787, British historian and Member of Parliament Edward Gibbon lists the he thought the Roman Empire failed.

1. The rapid increase of divorce; the weakening of dignity and sacredness of the home, which is the basis of human society.
2. Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the people.
3. The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal.
4. The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within: the corruption of the people.
5. The decay of religion—faith fading into mere form—losing touch with life and becoming impotent to guide the people.

Does that sound like something we are experiencing today? But wait, there’s more.

On a typical day in this country:
- 5,962 couples marry and 2,986 divorce
- drunk drivers do $18 million worth of damage
- 90 million cans of beer are consumed
- 2,740 teenagers get pregnant
- 63,288 cars crash killing 129 people
- 3,231 women have abortions

What’s our hope? Not in government. Not in the military. And not even in the genius of Americans, if they are any! Here is our only hope:

Psalm 121:1-2 (NLT) “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

What do we need to do help turn America around? There is no magic solution to save America. To save America we must share the Gospel. We must share the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.

We must repent. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)
If people cannot see Christ through us in what we do, then we can’t expect anyone else to do what God expects. We have to set the right example for others to follow. Even Paul said “Imitate me in the ways that I imitate Christ.” (1Corinthians 11:1 KJV) Or in other words, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

We must pray and always have an attitude that is ready to pray. “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT)
When we pray and ask of the Lord. He will do things that we cannot do! And we need to ask Him to do something in America! We need to pray for our leaders, if nothing else we must pray for them to come to their senses and seek the Lord!

We must be people that show trust in God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)
We obey God in what He has already planned. Then we trust that He will work out the details. God knows what He s doing and He knows far better what is best than you and me know what is best.

We must tell others about Jesus Christ. The Institute for American Church Growth asked over 10,000 people this question: “What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?” This is how they replied:
(1) I had a special need 2%
(2) I just walked in 3%
(3) I like the Minister 6%
(4) I visited there 1%
(5) I like the Sunday school 5%
(6) I attended a Revival service 1/2 of 1%
(7) I liked the programs 3%
(8) A friend or relative invited me 79%

Acts 8:4 says of the early Christians: “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”

Can we do less than they did? I really think Christians in America have lost this passion for sharing the Gospel. Did they believe more than we do? Was their faith stronger? What’s the difference?

I don’t believe there is any hopeless situation and certainly not, when the Lord is involved.

We are all individuals. There really is only one person who can make things right when things go wrong. Things do go wrong in life. We’ve seen things go terribly wrong in America and the Lord is only hope of changing things and making life better.

Pray and ask Jesus to show us how we can make a difference for His name in America today. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13 KJV)