'[ONE OF] THE WORSE WHIPPINGS I EVER HAD'

One of the worst whippings I ever got happened on Thanksgiving! Yes, that's right. The day that we are supposed to express our thankfulness to God for all that He is and all that He has done. Traditionally, it is a day of turkey and dressing... but not that Thanksgiving. Tenderloin, biscuits and gravy. If you are expecting the rest of the menu, that's it. Tenderloin, biscuits and gravy.

We were coming home from somewhere that I don't remember but I do remember repeatedly asking if we could go out for thanksgiving dinner. Mom said she didn't feel well and Dad kept saying no. No matter how hard I tried to convince them that it wasn't Thanksgiving with turkey and dressing, Dad said no. So at that moment, I had a choice to make. Either stop rebelling against them which would settle things down OR keep mouthing until I got the (one of) the worst whipping(s) I had ever had. Obviously I didn't shut up and it really caused me pain.

I REALLY remember that whipping... with the belt as usual. But more stripes on my backside than usual. I even tried to pull away and convince Dad that he had given me enough but he didn't feel the same way. [I want to emphasize my Dad was very loving. He was a great deal of fun when Brian and I were behaving but when we didn't behave, we were guaranteed to get a serious whipping with the belt. Part of being loving is using discipline when needed. If he didn't love me, he would have let me do whatever I wanted and then deal with how I turned out on my own.]

Here's where you come into the story. I am sure that my dad didn't personally whip you but maybe our Heavenly Father has whipped you and me both. If you are rebelling against God's authority, you can be sure a whipping of some sort is on the way. And you don't get to pick what it is and how long it will last. I am still getting whipped for some things I did decades ago.

So make the right choice. Obey God. Accept the fact that He has all of the authority and He has the final say. As a pastor, one of the biggest thrills in my life is preventing people from getting a whipping. OBEDIENCE EQUALS BLESSINGS. Amen?

VIDEO- 'DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE'

VIDEO- 'WHEN YOU GET TOO BIG FOR YOUR BRITCHES'

VIDEO- 'DO YOU REALIZE HOW SERIOUS SIN IS?'

WHAT LAST NIGHT'S ELECTION CONFIRMED TO ME

I know that you have read and heard many comments dealing with last night’s election but I just want to share some observations with you that I have been talking about for months. Observations that were definitely proven true last night.

Christians need to get serious about their faith. Because of several factors, we have become a minority in what used to be a Christian nation.

The electorate is becoming more secular. Recent studies have indicated that the single greatest predictor of voting patterns is the frequency of church attendance. Far fewer Americans now attend church, and a recent study indicated that fully 20% of all Americans identify with no religious preference at all. The secularizing of the electorate will have monumental consequences. - Al Mohler

Mr. Mohler says that ‘fewer Americans now attend church’. I will take that one step farther and say fewer “Christians” are going to church. Too many church membership rolls are filled with inactive members. We have too many people claiming to be Christians but living lifestyles that scream otherwise and because of that, we are not being the light and the salt that we are supposed to be living (Matthew 5:13-16).

Our nation is falling because the ‘morality’ of this country is failing. The morality of this country is failing because the churches are focused on themselves instead of those outside their four walls.

·         Because of so many inactive church members, the pastors and other church members are spending too much time trying to chase them down and get them back in church when they could be using that time to reach out to a lost and dying world.

·         Too many pastors are told that they are to cater to the church members while doors are being opened by God every day for all of us to share the gospel to those who are not converted yet.

·         Too much of a church’s budget is focused on the people inside the four walls without taking into consideration the people outside the four walls.

·         Too many Christians are shutting up because someone has told that they are being judgmental and even misquoting Matthew 7:1 in the process. Matthew 7:1 deals with condemning and criticizing people, not recognizing and confronting sinful issues in order to bring people to Christ.

So what should we do? Very simple and yet extremely crucial.

·         PRAY- Repent and ask God for forgiveness for each and every sin in your life. Then pray for your family and your church family to do the same. Pray that your church will see the harvest around you and realize that Jesus was right when He said the laborers were few. Pray that those who are living in sin will be convicted and repent of their sinful ways. Pray that those who are living without Jesus would be saved by God’s grace.

·         LIVE IT- Don’t just say that you are a Christian, BE a Christian. A Christian is supposed to be Christ-like but we are seeing too many of our church families live lives that resembled the sinfulness of the world more than the holiness of Jesus.

·         GET MOVING- Get more involved in your church’s worship with your church family. Get more involved in reaching out to people outside your four walls. Find out what areas are open for volunteers to come in and minister God’s love.

·         SPEAK UP- Don’t back down because someone says you are being too judgmental or too exclusive. Speak the truth with love, yes, but SPEAK THE TRUTH. If they don’t like it, they can argue with God about it.  

Will you help me pray for our pastors and our churches to be stronger in our influence of others in our nation? It starts with me and you.

VIDEO- 'HAS HE GOTTEN YOUR ATTENTION YET?'

VIDEO- HOMECOMING 2012 WITH FORMER PASTOR LARRY BROWN

VIDEO- 'ARE YOU FOLLOWING JESUS?'

VIDEO- 'SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN, IT'S DISOBEDIENCE'

VIDEO- 'PROTECT YOURSELF'

VIDEO- 'WHEN YOU COME TO JESUS'

VIDEO- 'MATTERS OF THE HEART'

VIDEO- 'THE RITUALS OF A RELIGIONIST'

VIDEO- 'LESSONS FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA'

"MAN CANNOT LIVE BY CHICKEN ALONE"

Many of you will recognize that the title of this post is referring to a quote from the Bible when Jesus said...

Matthew 4:4 (ESV) 4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Yesterday, we saw national news coverage of people lining up for hours to eat at Chick-fil-A in order to support their stand on Biblical marriage.  For those who support Chick-fil-A's Dan Cathy, it was a very successful day.  But was it?

I agree that it was a powerful show of support of the restaurant but were they all there for the same reason?  How many of them were there to TAKE A STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT and how many of them were there to TAKE A STAND AGAINST SOMEONE ELSE? There is a huge difference between the two.

When Dan Cathy explained Chick-fil-A's view on marriage, he only mentioned what they stood for.  He never said anything about being against anything else. If you say that Dan was speaking against gay people, then you would also have to include divorced people since he said they were still married to their first wives.

“We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that. We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.”

So here is the acid test to see why so many people showed up at Chick-fil-A yesterday...
1) How many of them were in a worship service this past Sunday studying their Bibles and listening to their pastors preach the Word? 

2) How many of them don't go to church at all and just wanted to take a stand against the same-sex marriages?

What about you? If you supported Chick-fil-A yesterday, did you do it for the right reason?

"HATE MORE CHICKEN?"

In case you haven't heard, those who support Dan Cathy's statement defending the Biblical definition of marriage are celebrating today as "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day".  Those who are against Chick-fil-A's stand on marriage are planning to celebrate "same sex kiss-in" on Friday in as many Chick-fil-A restaurants as possible.  And then there are the people in the middle who say they are tired of hearing it from both sides like these people...

R.M.- "People are taking this Chick-Fil-A thing and squeezing every last drop from it. I mean that for both sides of the fence."
J.M.- "And if we started protesting against places that didn't believe like we did we would be sitting at home with no food no entertainment."

Some folks are very mad at Chick-fil-A and at those who are supporting Chick-fil-A for operating their business with such Biblical standards.  And yet some are mad because of these comments that Dan Cathy made...

In an interview with the Baptist Press and later on a Christian radio program, Cathy, whose father, the philanthropist Truett Cathy, founded the company, defended marriage between a man and a woman and when asked about the company’s support of traditional marriage said, “Guilty as charged. We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit.” Cathy believes American society is rotting (and where is evidence to the contrary?) because the country has turned away from God.
That was it. Cathy did not say he would deny someone with a different view the right to eat in or work at any of his fast-food restaurants, which would violate the law. He did not say anything hateful about them. He simply expressed a deeply held conviction rooted in his Christian faith. [Underline added]

And now we are in the middle of accusations and name-calling.  Many folks are now protesting against Chick-fil-A because they think the restaurant is predjudiced or haters of all homosexuals.  Here is another comment that J.M. wrote that got my attention today...

"Ok you support chick fil because they are against gay marriage...then why in the hell do you still support Starbucks when they won't support our troops??"

This does bring up an interesting point.  Other companies have voiced their support for either side of this conversation but how many of them got the attention that Chick-fil-A is getting.  How many people have actually searched to see what companies are supporting with their profits?  How many businesses are selling out instead of maintaining true integrity?

This reminds me of a company (whose products I used to sell) that always emphasized 'Made In America'.  The president of that company said that his products will always be made in America... but they aren't anymore. So instead of hating chicken restaurants, let's get down to the real issue.  Who has integrity and who doesn't?  Then when you see somebody do the right thing, support them, don't hate them.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/07/29/3410853/chicken-little-response-to-chick.html#storylink=cpy

"FOLLOW THE LEADER"

Here is a verse that we used in Sunday's message that some folks don't understand the intention of this verse...

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV) Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

To help break this verse down and get a better understanding, we first need to go back to verse 7 of the same chapter...

Hebrews 13:7 (ESV) Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

It is important to recognize which leaders we are to submit to and why we should submit to our leaders.  Verse 7 says we are to imitate their faith after remembering how they lead and considering the outcome of their lifestyle.

So as we look at verse 17, why are we supposed to obey our leaders and submit to them?  Here is an answer from one of the commentaries that I read...

1.  God called leaders to watch over our souls. They are concerned about our welfare, growth, holiness, purity, knowledge, faith, love—about our trials and temptations—about our sicknesses and diseases and suffering. Therefore, we should listen to them and obey their counsel and exhortation.

2.  God called leaders to know their accountability. This keeps the leader from abusing us. The leader knows that he is accountable to God and will stand before God to give an account as to how he led. Therefore, we can rest assured that if a leader is God-called, he will not mislead us. He is accountable to God and he knows it.

3.  God-called leaders can be grieved and hurt. If we follow them, they are filled with joy because the work of Christ goes forth. The world is reached for Christ and people are ministered to. But if we fail to follow our leaders, they are hurt and grieved, for the work of Christ is hampered and we are not growing in Christ like we should. When we oppose our leaders, we stymie our growth. We stop growing and begin to cause hurt and pain and division in the body of Christ. We become tools of destruction instead of instruments of love and care and nourishment.

And note: our disobedience and rebellion affects us. It does not profit us. We lose out on the contribution and growth the leader could have contributed to our lives.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Hebrew, James.

So follow your leaders so that all might grow in unity and in faith as illustrated in this passage from Ephesians...
Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

"DO YOUR BEST"

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
This verse says to 'do your best'.  Are you doing your best to be diligent as you seek the approval of God?  When it comes to God's Word, that should be your biggest concern.  Have you studied His Word enough to approved by Him?

This verse also uses the word 'worker' which shows the effort needed to present yourself to God.  We are to study the truth and handle it properly.  We are not to teach our own ideas or man-made philisophies.  We are to teach truth.

We are to handle His Word correctly... not adding to it or taking away from it.  Not twisting it or taking it out of context to make it fit our agenda.  We are work hard at becoming approved by God in our studies.

You will also see the phrase 'who has no need to be ashamed'.  If we study His Word properly and intentionally, we will handle His truth correctly in our personal lives and in our churches.

Are you doing your best when it comes to your Bible study?  Would God give you an A on your report card?  Can you apply God's Word to your life correctly without changing it or taking it out of context?  Are you doing your best?

 

 

VIDEO- JACOB'S BAPTISM AND 'DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES'

"CELL PHONES IN THE CHURCH?" Part One

I had a friend from our church ask me several weeks ago the following question: Would it be wrong to use the Bible only on kindle or nook?  I have also had many discussions about when to use a Bible app on your cell phone and when to use an actual Bible.  

I love technology as much as the next guy and I also have the English Standard Bible on my phone as well as the Faithlife Study Bible (http://faithlifebible.com/).  I am very thankful for the ability to read my Bible and the study notes provided at any time during the day no matter where I am.

But what about using that Bible app in a church service or Bible study?  I read this question this morning...

I was sitting in church a few weeks ago and I didn’t have my Bible with me, so I looked it up the relevant morning passage on my IPhone (instead of using the pew Bible I might add.) I have several great Bible IPhone apps that I use (all the time) when I don’t have a Bible on me or when I need to look up a passage by keyword or topic. Anyway, while I was quietly reading the Scripture one of my friends, who was in the balcony and could see me on my phone, texted me, in fun, to “get off my phone in Church.” I tried to explain to her later that I was using my Bible App, but I don’t think she bought that as an excuse.

As a pastor, I have several concerns about the use of Bible apps being used in church services.  To copy the writing style of the book of Ecclesiastes...
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to use your Bible app, and a time to use your actual Bible...

First I will express my concerns about this subject, then I will give you some comments from other pastors.  I think it is great to have access to your Bible on your phone wherever you go, being able to read a few verses here and there throughout the day.  But I am totally convinced that the church is not a place to use your cell phone and here's why...

1.  Too many people in our churches are not familiar with the Bible which means they can't find the various passages of scripture which is why so many churches give the page number that corresponds with the pew Bibles provided each week.  So instead of trying to learn more about where the books of the Bible are, many folks would rather search their electronic Bible and find it.

2.  People who are familiar with the books of the Bible are can locate various passages faster than those who are typing it in their electronic Bibles.  We are told to study God's Word as illustrated in 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

3.  We already have too many distractions during the service because someone forgot to silence their phone so why add more possible problems?  If your phone is on and someone texts you or calls you, then your phone is either going to buzz or sound off like a smoke alarm in the middle of the night.  Then everyone around you is looking at you instead of paying attention to what is going on in the service.  And if your phone is silenced but you notice that you got a call or text, you will be tempted to reply to it.

4.  Even if your phone is silenced, it would appear that you are playing with your phone and not paying attention to what is happening in the church service.  You might say something like 'That's none of their business.' but that is not what Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV) Abstain from all appearance of evil. or 1 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV) But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.  So even if your phone doesn't make a sound, you are still being a distraction regardless if you reading scripture or texting your friends.

    5.  If you are using the Bible app on your phone, you will easily be tempted to check your texts, facebook, or emails.  You might reply 'No, I wouldn't.' but the temptation is there just waiting for you to get distracted enough to take a peek.  And then once you stray from the right path, each step comes that much easier.

Here is the reply I received from Dr. Gregory Cochran, one of my fellow pastors in the Nelson Baptist Association...
I had them searching through the book of 1 Thessalonians, and the Bible users (as opposed to the phone/iPad users) were able to scan through more material, more quickly. There are advantages to digital devices, but there are also disadvantages. Paper bibles are easier when multiple references are used in quick succession. I think there may also be better retention with the written word over the digital word. But, clearly, there is no evil in using digital. (But there may be serious distractions--such as tweets, email notices, and facebook updates). I know of one instance in which a man in our church received a spam message from a friend of his which was pornographic while he was using his phone for its Bible app. There are definitely dangers associated with digital.

I hope to have more follow-up from other pastors for you to consider but for now, here is the bottom line.  Read your Bible, study your Bible, soak up as much as scripture as possible.  If you are at home, at work, at a restauarant, or anywhere else outside of the church, use your Bible apps if you wish.  However when you gather with other believers in a worship service, Sunday School or Bible study, put your phones away and use your Bibles as a sign of unity and respect to others.

"DOES YOUR SIGN MATCH WHAT'S INSIDE?"

Where would you expect to find this sign?  Maybe somewhere along the east coast of Amercia?  There may be a sign like this in that coastal region but this sign is actually in the Philippines near a fishing town called Tibanban.

And if you ate at a restaurant called New England Restaurant, what kind of food would you expect to eat?  Maybe lobster, shrimp and other seafood dishes?  Not this time.  The New England Restaurant sells Chinese food.

So, since this was a Chinese restaurant, what kind of music you expect to hear in the New England Restaurant?  Oriental instrumental?  Wrong again.  How about old rock songs like 'Smoke On The Water' and other songs that we knew from the 70's and 80's?

So this is a New England restaurant that serves Chinese food to the great folks of the Philippines while playing American rock music.  Not exactly what you expected, was it?

What about your life?  Does your 'sign' match what is really happening on the inside?  Some folks carry the sign that says 'I am a Christian' but live a life that says otherwise.  Look at what we find in the book of Titus...

Titus 1:16 (ESV) They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Does that sound like you?  Are you telling everyone one thing and living the other?  Please be honest with yourself and honest with God on this one.  If you are not living a life of true integrity, then you won't have a solid foundation to stand on.  Pretty soon, your life is going to fall in and you are going to wonder what happened.

Here is another passage that describes what is going on in America today...
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Pretty strong words, don't you think?  Do you want these words to describe how you are living your life?  I sure don't.  If you see some similarities in your life that match these verses, then would you please pray today that God would forgive you and turn your life around?  This is so important and I hope you understand this.  Don't be rebellious towards God.  It will totally destroy you.

"IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CHICKEN"

By now, you have heard about the controversial remarks from Chick-fil-A's president, Dan Cathy who said "We are very much supportive of the family - the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that".

So now the big discussion is who is going to eat more chicken and who is not going to eat more chicken?  No matter which side of the debate you are on, have you considered what companies are supporting the same belief system that you are?  What other companies are known for showing Christian values and what companies are known for supporting organizations such as the LGBT?  Are you aware of where your money is going?  Why only focus on Chick-fil-A?

As a Christian and a Southern Baptist pastor, I do not hesitate at all to say that I agree with Dan Cathy's statement that marriage is between one man and one woman.  And I will be supporting Chick-fil-A this week and I am very thankful for men like Dan Cathy who will stand for what is right even it means that Chick-fil-A sells less chicken because when it is all said and done, it's not about the chicken at all.  It's about biblical integrity and that's one area that has really suffered in America in the last several decades (and longer).

The real question is "Do you really know God?".  If you don't believe in Him, that doesn't change the fact that He is the Creator of all things.  Trying to deny His existence is like trying to deny gravity.  Even if you don't believe in the law of gravity, I promise you that if you step off balcony, you are going to hit the ground hard.

If you really know God, then you know what is right and what is wrong.  Those who support what is wrong will call you a hater and accuse you of being judgmental.  But Ezekiel says that we are to give the warning or else their blood will be on our hands...

Ezekiel 3:17-19 (ESV) 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.
18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

"A VALUABLE LESSON FROM CASH"

This man probably doesn't know it yet but he was used by God to teach me a lesson that I have already heard many times before but like so many of us, I needed to hear it again.  His name is Greg Cash and he specializes in video/photography in the way that he serves God.  'Cash' was part of our mission team to the Philippines and since I also love working with cameras, we had plenty to talk about.  Because we were shooting for different reasons, we were using different approaches.  I was just using the basic settings to get the quick shots but he was much more deliberate in taking each shot.  I had mine set to just point and shoot but Cash had a system that he used very well... one finger moved the dial, one finger on the shutter release, his thumb on the other dial, etc.

I asked him to use my camera for a few shots of me teaching or having fun with the people we were visiting and he would start changing my settings to take a better photo than he would have gotten if he just used the settings that I had it on.

So what is the valuable lesson that God used Cash to show me?  There were areas in my spiritual life that I had gotten lazy in as well... just point and shoot.  I had been praying but was I praying enough or the right things?  I had been reading scripture but was I being deliberate enough in my study?  Have I stopped desiring spiritual growth because I had gotten comfortable? 

Cash didn't take the easy way out.  He worked at it and it showed.  His films and his photos were very, very good and that was before he had begun to edit them.  I was 'scrapbooking' and he was creating art.  Big difference.

What about you?  Are you taking the easy way out or are you really giving God your best?

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

"IT'S GREAT TO BE HOME"

For the last two weeks, I have been in the Philippines and China for a mission trip with three other men from our association.  I am very grateful for the time of laughs and fellowship with 'Doc', 'Cash' and 'Dr. Stan'.  The trip was very tiring in many ways but the laughter always created energy.  We had the privilege of teaching in three different areas of the Philippines and two of them were for the first time for our team (Cebu and Tibanban).

We had fifteen flights in fourteen days and got to meet with some wonderful people who wanted to learn about God and His Word.  In Cebu, we had a three-hour session with close to 30 pastors and church leaders.  In Mt. Carmel, we spent two days teaching thirty-five lessons to 53 pastors and church leaders.  On Sunday, July 15, I had the opportunity to preach at Seaside Southern Baptist Church which of course was right beside the sea.

We spent the next two days teaching 35 lessons to 26 pastors and church leaders in Tibanban on the patio of a building overlooking the sea.  God truly blessed us in many ways including showing us His glory through one of His sunsets.

We are very thankful to our partners who have helped us so much in this ministry and we continue to pray that the Philippines will be used mightily in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the surrounding countries who are dominated by Budism and Muslim faiths.





VIDEO- 'ONE KISS AWAY FROM DANGER'

'HOW GOOD IT IS TO LIVE IN UNITY'

Psalm 133:1 (ESV) Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Unity is hard to acheive and even harder to maintain.  Unity can be present one minute and totally destroyed the next.  And even if you try your absolute best to maintain unity, you can only do your part.  Someone else can help you protect the unity in your group or destroy it based upon their attitudes and actions.

I have taught for years that the three key words to being a blessed follower of Jesus are FOCUS, BALANCE and MOTIVE.  These three words can help you understand so many Biblical principles just by asking questions like:
1)  Am I focusing on God or on myself?
2)  Do I have the right balance in my life in this area?
3)  Are my motives pure or self-gratifying?

So when it comes to unity, you can use these three key words like this:
1)  Am I focusing on protecting the unity in our group or am I only focusing on what I want to do?
2)  Do I have the right balance in my life as far as when to go along with the group and when to act as an individual?
3)  What is my motive right now concerning the unity in our group?  Am I trying to protect it so I look good?  Am I going against the grain so that I will get some attention?

It is not hard to spot someone who is not protecting the unity of their group.  It's the person who has started focusing on themselves, the person whose life is totally out of balance and the person whose motives are definitely self-gratifying.

John 17:20-21 (ESV) “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 17 shows us a prayer that Jesus prayed in which He asked God to make us one just like He and God are One.  And notice in verse 21 the reason for this request... so that the world may believe that God has sent Jesus!

Every time that you promote unity in Christ, you are proving to the world that God sent Jesus but every time you try to destroy the unity in your group, you are denying that God sent Jesus.

Titus 3:10-11 (ESV) As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Attacking the unity of your group is a serious sin in the eyes of God.  Titus 3 says that we are to warn them once, warn them again, and then if that doesn't work, take them out of the group.  Why?  Because that person is 'warped and sinful; he is self-condemned'.

So please be very careful how you live.  Make all efforts to keep the unity in your group and watch out for those who try to destroy it.  Pray for them but also confront them.  Titus 3:10 says to 'warn them'.

VIDEO- 'ATTITUDES NEEDED FOR PRAYER'

'WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO 'ABIDE' IN JESUS?'

John 15:4-6 (ESV) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Abide... what does 'abide' mean and why should we 'abide' in Jesus?  To abide means to remain in Jesus.  Jesus is not looking for people who want to visit every now and then, He is looking for people who will stay or remain with Him, no matter what else is going on around you.  He is looking for a life-long commitment, not just an afternoon conversation.

So why should we abide in Jesus?  So that we will stay connected to Jesus and bear 'much fruit'.  The 'fruit' that we bear proves that we know Jesus... fruit such as attitudes like love, patience, humility, peace, and so forth.  If we are not connected to Jesus, then we are not sharing this kind of fruit with those we see everyday.  And if we are not sharing this kind of fruit, then we will face what is described in verse 6...

Everyone who is not committed to Jesus will be taken away and face eternity with God in a place of extreme torment.  The Bible teaches about hell in many locations.  It's not good.  It's not temporary.  It is forever and it will never ease up.

So please make sure that you know where you stand before the one true God who is holy and righteous.  If you have not been saved by His grace, then ask Him to save you.  Find someone to help you understand what it means to be converted.  So let's abide in Jesus, amen?

VIDEO- 'DO YOU WANT JESUS TO GO AWAY?'

NOTES FROM MAY 30 ABOUT PRAYER

Chapter 18: Prayer

Why does God want us to pray? How can we pray effectively?

Definition: Prayer is personal communication with God.

A. Why Does God Want Us to Pray?

1. Prayer expresses our trust in God  

Matthew 6:8 (ESV) ^[8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

2. Prayer expresses our acknowledgment of dependence upon God as a loving and wise Father

Matthew 6:9 (ESV) ^[9] Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Luke 11:9-13 (ESV) ^[9] And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ^[10] For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ^[11] What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; ^[12] or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ^[13] If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

3. Prayer brings us into deeper fellowship with God

4. Prayer allows us to be involved in activities that are eternally important

B. The Effectiveness of Prayer

1. Prayer changes the way things happen in our lives

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV) ^[14] if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

1 John 1:9 (ESV) ^[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

What kind of prayer is most effective? (What kind of prayer is God most pleased with?)

a. Prayer that interacts personally with God

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV) ^[16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

b. Prayer that asks for what is pleasing to God

1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) ^[14] And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. ^[15] And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

2. Effective prayer is made possible by our mediator, Jesus Christ

1 Timothy 2:5 (ESV) ^[5] For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 10:19-23 (ESV) ^[19] Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ^[20] by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ^[21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ^[22] let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ^[23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

3. What is praying "in Jesus' name"?

John 14:13-14 (ESV) ^[13] Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ^[14] If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

a. It does not simply mean adding the phrase “in Jesus’ name” after every prayer

b. Praying in Jesus’ name is prayer made on his authorization

c. It is also praying in a way that is consistent with his character and reflects his manner of life

d. It is not wrong to add “in Jesus’ name” to the end of our prayers, as long as we understand what is meant by it and that it is not necessary to do so.

e. To help our understanding, we could even express the same thought in other words: “Father, we do not come on our own merits but on the merits of Jesus Christ, who has invited us to come before you….”

4. Should we pray to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit?

Acts 7:59 (ESV) ^[59] And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (ESV) ^[8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ^[9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

[Based upon last week’s lesson, how should we answer this question?]

5. The role of the Holy Spirit in our praying

Jude 1:20 (ESV) ^[20] But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

Romans 8:26-27 (ESV) ^[26] Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ^[27] And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Ephesians 6:18 (ESV) ^[18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

C. Some Important Considerations in Effective Prayer (382)

1. Praying according to God's will

Matthew 6:10 (ESV) ^[10] Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 26:39 (ESV) ^[39] And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) ^[14] And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. ^[15] And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

James 1:5-8 (ESV) ^[5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ^[6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ^[7] For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ^[8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

John 15:7 (ESV) ^[7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

2. Praying with faith

Matthew 21:22 (ESV) ^[22] And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) ^[1] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) ^[6] And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

James 1:6 (ESV) ^[6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Mark 11:24 (ESV) ^[24] Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

3. Obedience

Psalm 66:18 (ESV) ^[18] If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

Proverbs 15:8 (ESV) ^[8] The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

1 Peter 3:12 (ESV) ^[12] For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

1 John 3:21 (ESV) ^[21] Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

4. Confession of sins

Matthew 6:12 (ESV) ^[12] and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

1 John 1:9 (ESV) ^[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:15-16 (ESV) ^[15] And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ^[16] Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

5. Forgiving others

Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV) ^[14] For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ^[15] but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV) ^[1] Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; ^[2] but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

6. Humility

James 4:6 (ESV) ^[6] But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 (ESV) ^[5] Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Matthew 6:5 (ESV) ^[5] “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

7. Continuing in prayer over time

Luke 6:12 (ESV) ^[12] In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.

Luke 5:16 (ESV) ^[16] But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV) ^[17] pray without ceasing,

Colossians 4:2 (ESV) ^[2] Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Acts 6:4 (ESV) ^[4] But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

8. Praying earnestly

Hebrews 5:7 (ESV) ^[7] In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

Daniel 9:19 (ESV) ^[19] O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

9. Waiting on the Lord

Psalm 27:14 (ESV) ^[14] Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

Psalm 38:15 (ESV) ^[15] But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

Psalm 130:5-6 (ESV) ^[5] I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; ^[6] my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

10. Praying in private

Daniel 6:10 (ESV) ^[10] When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Luke 5:16 (ESV) ^[16] But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Matthew 6:6 (ESV) ^[6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

11. Praying with others

Matthew 18:19-20 (ESV) ^[19] Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ^[20] For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Acts 4:24 (ESV) ^[24] And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,

12. What about unanswered prayer? (391)

a. We do not always know how to pray as we ought

Romans 8:26 (ESV) ^[26] Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

b. We do not pray according to God’s will

James 4:3 (ESV) ^[3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

c. We do not always ask in faith

James 1:6-8 (ESV) ^[6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ^[7] For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ^[8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

d. We think that one solution is best, but God has a better plan

Genesis 50:20 (ESV) ^[20] As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

e. We must continue to pray

Romans 8:28 (ESV) ^[28] And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV) ^[6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ^[7] casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (ESV) ^[8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ^[9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

D. Praise and Thanksgiving

Philippians 4:6 (ESV) ^[6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.