Judegment Begins

Judgment Begins

Let me begin today by saying two things.

1.  I want to recognize our veterans today.

2.  I want to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is important.  It is a holiday with Biblical values and traditions that are wholesome.

But, today I am compelled to preach on something other than thanksgiving.

On November 6^th our nation voted for our president.  Several things in this election were historic.

Most importantly, we had no candidate to choose who had a Biblical View of Jesus Christ.  We have in the past had Presidents who had wrong views of God, but not to this degree in the past.  Both men are Biblically wrong.

-President Obama is a part of a denomination that believes the Bible to be filled with errors that need to be fixed by scholars, science and psychology.  In that denomination, there is no requirement to believe in Jesus Deity, his Virgin birth, or even his bodily resurrection.  This denomination also allows its ministers to teach that Muslims, Buddhist, and Hindus and even good people of no religion can have eternal life.  Thus, what he personally believes about Jesus and salvation is likely very unbiblical.  Furthermore, this denomination in one that presses its members to forcefully advance the homosexual rights agenda and Ordains, all types of gay, lesbian and bi-sexual individuals.

-Our other option was Mitt Romney.  As a Republican, he stands with the party platform that holds to some Biblical values such as being pro-life, pro-Israel, and pro-traditional marriage.  However, as a Mormon, Governor Romney does not believe in the Jesus, or God, of the Bible either.  Mormons believe that our heavenly Father was once a man like us, who ascended to God status along with his wife.  They together have produced the human race.  A good Mormon has hopes of being married in a Mormon Temple to secure an eternal marriage, make it to Heaven, Ascend to God status and create a universe or creation of their own that they will populate as our God did.  Mitt Romney, if he is a solid Mormon, does not believe in an eternal God, and hope that he will become God one day in the Heaven he may be granted.

Now I know that many evangelical Christians may have voted for Mitt Romney.  I also know that many liberal Methodists, liberal Presbyterians, members of the United Church of Christ and liberal Baptists such at the Carnahans, Clintons and Gores who no longer believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, along with Biblically illetarat Catholics voted for our President.  So, those who claim Christ in the United Sates were DIVIDED.

Might I suggest to you, that in the eyes of God two things happened in this election.

1.  God is more concerned with what Bible believing Evangelicals do with the doctrines of Mormonism and its once human god than we had assumed.

1 Chronicles 16:36
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! And all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD.
Psalm 41:13
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.
Psalm 90:2
Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
Psalm 103:17
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,
Psalm 106:48
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD!

2.  God has released our nation to its own lusts and desires, which is the greatest from of judgment upon a nation.
Romans 1:18-32
¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

²⁴ Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ²⁷ Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,^[c] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹ undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,^[d] unmerciful; ³² who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

If we as a nation continue in the path that we are upon, it is clear that we will fall under God’s judgment.  I do not know when that judgment will begin.  But, here are some signs of judgment that God sent to Israel in the Bible that we might watch for.

1.  Lack of rain.  In the days of Elijah.

2.  Great natural disasters......one after the other.
3.  Economic selfishness.....and depression.  In the days of Ahab and Jeremiah.
4.  A lack of safety at our borders.  The entire book of Judges.
5.  A lack of security against small marauding and attacking bands.  Book of Judges.
6.  Internal political difficulties......that paralyze good decision making.  For instance in the days of King Rehoboam, when the nation was split in two, and Amon assassinated among others.

And again, I do not know when that judgment will begin.  As we see things Biblically, there are times when a nation will have judgment from God delayed for as much as four generations.

So, we may not see the full extent of God’s judgment upon us in our lives, but then again, we might.  God’s judgment upon Jerusalem in the New Testament times which was foretold by Jesus was finished in AD 70, just 40 years into the life of the new born Church.

So, if judgment is on the way, how will we know and where will it begin?  The answer is in the Word of God!

1 Peter 4:12-19
¹² Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.^[d] On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.^[e]

Essentially, Peter is addressing persecution.  If you suffer for Christ stand up under it.  If you suffor for doing good you will be rewarded.  But don’t complain if your are suffering for your dumb and foolish errors you brough t upon yourself.

¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ Now
“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”^[f]
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Did you catch that!  Where will judgment begin?

“At the house of God.”

The NIV says, “it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God”

How have we seen this principal in action?

1.  In the OT, judgment came to Egypt, Moab, Tyre, Sidon, and many other nations that Isaiah and Ezekiel prophesied against.  But it started with Israel.
2.  In the NT, judgment begins with the Church!

Revelation depicts seven churches in Asia that may fall under the judgment of God for veering from the Lord.  Before the tribulation of the Jews and the wicked world, the seven churches are judged and some are found wanting or lacking!

In the Scriptures, the judgment of God begins with the people of God.

Why?

1.  Because we might be the first to listen to God and repent.
2.  Because we know the Word the best and should be able to respond the fastest.
3.  Because God is faithful to his word and will show his love to a thousand generations of those that love him and is not willing to put his own people to shame.

So, how do we know if we are falling under judgment?

1.  God gives us over to do what we want.  Remember Romans 1.
2.  God removes his Holy Spirit’s presence.
                -We no longer feel his convicting pressure and pain.
                -We no longer have passion to do his work in his power.
                -We go through the motions of church and avoid the spiritual parts as much as possible.
3.  We develop the inability to self regulate.
                -Christians begin to struggle with lust.
                -Addictions appear and re-appear.
                -Stress begins to overwhelm God’s people.
4.  Finally, in our state of sin, our lack of the Holy Sprit’s presence to guide, and our inability to self regulate, we re-interpret the Scriptures to fit our new lifestyle.

So, what shall we, the Church of America do?

John the Baptist said to the believing Jews,

 “Repent...
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance...
“The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same....
“Don’t extort money and
don’t accuse people falsely—
be content with your pay.”
And then John preached a promise! “The one coming after me...will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

And the Old Testament foretold the results!!!!!

“A voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
⁵ Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
⁶ And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”^[a]

Paul says about judgement, “If we judge ourselves, we will not fall under judgement.”

Jesus said to, “Seek first His Kingdom and his righteousness...”

He did not say seek his kingdom and his promises, or his kingdom and his peace, or his kingdom and his prosperity, or his kingdom and his joy, or his kingdom and his power, or his kingdom and his glory.

It is time once again for us to rise up in faith and seek the righteousness of God in our lives!

Jesus said, seek his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”

Let’s Pray.

 

The Taunt of the Enemy

Deuteronomy 32:27 says, "...but I dreaded the taunt of the enemy, lest the adversary misunderstand and say, 'Our hand has triumphed; the Lord has not done all this.'"

The taunt of your enemy, the Devil, is to say, "...the Lord has not done all this."  You may have experienced a miracle or a great gift from God recently.  The Devil is trying to impress upon your mind the idea that the Lord did not really do what you have been excited about.  The Devil will tempt you to doubt God's work in your life.  He may try to explain away a miracle.  He will try to convince you that your salvation experience was just a psychological thing in your head.

Keep trusting the Lord and his Word.  Later in chapter 32 God says about his Word, "They are not just idle words for you - they are your life.  By them you will live long in the land..."  Don't give in to the enemy's taunts.

Birthday Dinner

Steph and I just set our fall birthday dinner for 2012.  Our kids love this annual event that is near all our kids birthdays because it is when we set our life goals for the year.  The boys will be 10 and they already have some goals ready for the list.  It is really exciting to see our kids learn to organize themselves to accomplish great things.

New Building Update

September 27th we closed on our new building property.  It is a 25,000 square foot building on 1.5 acres.  We had Sunday service in it on October 21st.  It was absolutely wonderful!  Monday and Tuesday, October 29 and 30, we demolished the partition walls and took three and one half dump trailer loads of sheet rock to the dump.

We are working on engineering plans at this time and look forward to their completion.  Our goal is to get a set of plans before Thanksgiving and have permits for work to start on December 1st.

Huge thanks go to Tim Willard, Louis and Pat Todd, Pastor John, Stephanie Scheperle, Mike Holden and Jeff Kohler who worked an entire day on the demolition and clean up Tuesday.  Several others worked in the late afternoon and really helped some tired people with the cleaning.

Keep praying.  We are moving forward.

YouVerson

If you use YouVersion as the free Bible App on your phone or ipad, go to Live Events and type in our Washington zip code (63090).  Slect the Sunday July 28 event and bring it to church for your digital notes.

Core Value #8

YOUTH: We believe that God is doing miracles in and through the next generation.  We are committed to ministry to grade school, middle school, high school and college students.  We have witnessed God doing miracles in you children and youth, but we have also seen God work through them in miraculous ways!  We will always push to have a full nursery, full kids ministries, a full youth group and a passionate group of college students.  If we are ever missing any of these, we are headed for future trouble.

We believe that the church budget should support these ministries.  We do not make our youth group or our kids ministry raise their operating budget!  We serve those who are younger, who do not support themselves financially, by providing for their basic ministry needs out of the tithes of the church.  We believe that tithing is a Biblical requirement, and will provide for ministry to those we are raising up to serve the Lord.

We believe that youth and college students should be given ministry roles and leadership opportunities in the church.  These opportunities will build the individual believer who is learning to do ministry.  Beyond that, these opportunities are real ministry to our church and the world!  We believe that God is using young people to change their world.

Core Value #7 Relationships

Our seventh core value is RELATIONSHIPS.  We believe that ministry happens in relationships.  If I want to minister to someone, there needs to be a relationship.  The closer the relationship, the deeper and more life impacting the ministry.  If I want to minister along side someone, that ministry will be more powerful and more meaningful based on the the relationship I have with that person.  There are some exceptions when an aquaintance ministers to another, but in the Church and in most situations, greater ministry happens in greater relationships.

If you want to grow in the Lord, then make friends at church.  Women can mentor other women to be great women of God.  Men can mentor and coach other men to be great men of God.  More is caught than taught.  You will grow more in the Lord by making Christian friends, than by attending lectures and teaching sessions.

Lastly, it is important to remember that we are created in God's image, and God is one, in three persons.  His nature is relational.  When God made man, he said it was not good for the man to be alone.  God made us for a life filled with relationships.

I realize that in a Church, you can not be really tight with every person.  You have to find friends, and choose friends.  I read a few years ago, that the average person attending church in America knows 76 people at church.  In churches of 1,000  and in churches of 100, the average still rang true.  So, you may not be besties with everyone, but you need to be developing good friends in God's family.

If you are looking for friends at chruch here are a few ideas.
1.  Be involved in a Small Group.  Groups may change and evolve through growth, but friendships are found in Small Groups.
2.  Attend church regularly.  You can't win, if you don't enter!
3.  Remember the friend vitamin, B-1.  If you want good friends, be a good friend.  You will only make friends that are as good as you are at being a friend.
4.  Don't get frustrated if you can't know everyone.  You don't have to, nor do you need to.
5.  Even at chruch, be careful making friends.  We are not perfect people and wisdom is always needed in making friends.  Choose carefully.
6.  Men make friends with men, ladies make friends with ladies.  Remember that the spouse is the gatekeeper for friendship with a member of the opposite sex.  If you are single, be careful in Church making friends so that the community is not destoryed by bad dating relationships and hurt feelings.  You should treat members of the opposite sex like you would treat your brother or sister in your family or your mother or father, according to Paul in 1 Timothy 5:1-3.

One of the greatest things that a relationship with Jesus offers is the chance to make good friends, wh oare good people with shared values.  Those relationships are forged in life and enjoyed in eternity.  Let's keep the faith together!

Core Value #6

SERVICE: We believe in giving more to the community than we take.  In 2 Corinthians 8:2-3, the Bible indicates that a group of believers from the church in Corinth gave beyond their natural ability.  In a time of extreme poverty, these believers showed great generosity.  They did not give like a wealthy philanthropist, but they gave beyond their ability out of their extreme poverty.

A church does not have to be rich to give more than it takes.  We can give our time as well as our treasure.  When we provide events to the community, we will always loose money!  Why?  Because we are not providing an Easter Egg hunt, a Kids Crusade, a steak dinner, a house clean-up, or a schoolyard landscaping, we want to really give it to our community our of our means.  Our church has a part to play in making our school districts successful.  Our church has a role to play in making our nursing homes the best that they can be by offering a protestant service and our volunteer time.  In all these ways and many more, we are striving to give, give, give to our community.

This core value has shown itself meaningful in our youth ministry, kids ministry, 50+ ministry and in many of our small groups who have taken on community projects.  As a core value, it is at the core of every level of ministry.

Not only is it true for our local community, but we are also giving to the larger community of believers through missionary work.  In fact, we are preparing for a team to leave this week to work on a church building in western Missouri.  If you think of a way to give God's love through service, then don't let me hold you back!  Let me push you forward!  Let me promote your cause and gather helpers to give more than we take.

Core Value #5

HUMILITY: We believe that no one is too big to do little things.  Our example is Jesus who is described in Philippians 2:3-4 as being a humble servant.  Jesus set aside the prerogatives of being God in heaven to take on humanity, which is very limited.  The work that Jesus did on the cross was the biggest thing that ever happened in the history of the planet!  But, it was also the most servant hearted and most ignominious job in the history of the planet.

Following Jesus' example, we are never too big to do the little things or the things that no one else wants to do.  Here is an example, many people long to be the one up front, but loath helping with building cleaning.  Often, we are so busy that we simply don't realize that we are not taking time to do the little things.  A few weeks ago I visited a church that runs tens of thousands.  I walked into the bathroom as the Pastor of the church was walking out.  When I arrived at the sink and counter top, I noticed that someone had just completely wiped down everything so that the next person would have a perfectly clean place to wash up.  He knows the value of not being too big to do the little things that make for excellence.

If you are not serving your church in some ministry area, you are missing out.  I want to help you live out these core values!  They are worth living.  Humility is not just an attitude that you keep on the inside.  Humility moves us to serve others and consider their worth.  Humility moves us to be a giver in our church, not a receiver of ministry only.  Humility says, it may not be the greatest job at church, or my number one pick, but someone needs to meet this need and I am willing!

Back in Blog Land

I am back in blog land, but for only a brief time.  Since my last post I took a week of vacation, we had a worship seminar and concert, a missions weekend, a week of youth camp at the Lake of the Ozarks, and a week of MEGA Sports camp, and in the middle of that I got really sick for five days.  There has been little to no time to blog.

Summer is great and extremely busy for our church.  It is like I have my school year routine and then the anti-routine of summer when no two weeks is the same for three months.

Core Values #4

EXCELLENCE: We strive for excellence in all we do.  Philippians 4:8 lists things that we should think about. If anything is "excellent or praiseworthy," think on these things. Ecclesiastes 10:10 is one of my favorite passages of the Bible. "If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success." In Psalm 78:72 David is commended for leading the people with "skillful hands."

When we work for God, the work must be done with excellence. But, what is the definition of excellence? In our culture, excellence is often promoted in a prideful and competitive way that honors money, building, and position rather than the things that God is more concerned with. Here is how we define excellence:

1. We must be excellent in relationships. First with God, then with others. If our steps toward excellence put relationships second then we are out of balance.

2. We must be excellent in purity. If our culture defines the terms excellent, modern, contemporary or beautiful in any way that is opposed to the holy nature and decrees of God in his word, then we will not conform to that standard of excellence. We desire a Biblical holy excellence.

3. We must be excellent at what we do. Nobody is perfect, but if we follow the direction of the Bible to, "strive for perfection," then we will get to excellence. In the church, we too often resort to "good enough." We fall into the small-minded trap of being a non-profit organization rather than the family of the almighty, ever-living, providing Heavenly Father.

4. If we cannot do something with excellence, then we are stepping into it prematurely. It is better to do small things extremely well, before we do a big thing poorly and sloppily. If we can't do something well, then we won't do it. We will only begin doing what we know we can do well. There is no need to embarrass the name of Jesus with sloppy and disorganized service.

I encourage you to be excellent in your service as a greeter, usher, worship team member, nursery worker. Show up early for your time of service. Clean up extra when you are done. Bring a smile and kindness to your work. Take the extra steps to be beyond good and be excellent.

I urge you to be excellent in your ministry as a Small Group Leader, Elder, Teller or ministry leader. Schedule events properly on the church calender so we can promote it. Don't schedule and then create a failure that we have to cancel. Don't make excuses for why we failed, start winning. Be so excellent at your ministry task that you are naturally creating another minister to take your place and be fully capable of leading in your absence. Excellence draws appropriate attention. Excellence multiplies. Excellence inspires.

Core Values #3

Our third core value is MISSIONS: We are passionate about telling people about Jesus all over the planet.  Mark 16:15 says, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."  We believe that every church, regardless of size, can have a global reach.  For believers to be healthy, they have to have a love for the world (John 3:16) like the Father has a love for the world.  Our love for the world is put into practical action in four ways.

1.  Pray: We pray for people to find salvation in Jesus and we pray for missionaries who we help to send out.

2.  Give: We encourage every Christian to give to missions and missionary work.  This must be responsible, accountable and as personal as possible.  We host 12 to 13 missionary guests through the year so that our church can meet personally the missionaries we are helping to send out.

3.  Go: We encourage every believer to go on at least one mission trip in their life.  It can be a trip that is relatively local or it can be international.  We send disaster relief teams to regional disasters.  We also send youth and adults on overseas missionary jobs.

4.  Serve: We encourage every believer to serve the lost in love.  We are continually striving to improve ways to serve our community.  Our goal in loving acts of service is to simply show the love of Jesus.  The love of Jesus is powerful and makes people think about their creator, their life, and the state of their relationship with God.

Core Values: Innovation

Our second core value that drives how we do what we do, is INNOVATION.  If we are full of the Holy Spirit of God, then the Church should be the most creative people on the planet.  If we are full of the Holy Spirit, empowered to be witnesses (Acts 1:8), then we must be creative in reaching the lost.  If we value the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, then we will be creative in our worship.  If we are full of the Holy Spirit, then we will be walking innovatively toward new thoughts and ideas from God in our discipleship, not just rehearsing the same truths with the same terms, but growing in understanding, beauty and definition.

I have felt this core value for a long time, but feel very poor at accomplishing it!  Being innovative and creative means that we should have the best looking materials, the most inspiring music of all kinds, and the most appealing outreach methods in our region.  How are we doing with that?  Not so good.  But this value still burns in my heart!

If you ever wonder why I am frustrated, it is not because we are failing to do something, but because we are failing to do it with the innovation and creativity with which I want to do it.  I know that I drive some of you crazy, but I really think that some of our worship should have some other styles thrown in, like techno, hip-hop, jazz, classical and folk.  Yes, I am eager to be far more creative than most people are likely to be comfortable with.  Perhaps we may create our own new genre!  I get frustrated when I don't have the resources to be as creative as my mind is dreaming.  I get frustrated with, "Good enough."  Honestly, I wish I was the pastor of a church with a research university churning out the greatest ideas on the planet!

I so long for creativity.  I want to create this value in every person in our church.  We are Spirit filled, Spirit led people.  That means that we are crazy spontaneous in a perfect and holy way that makes our spontaneity, not immature and foolish, but beautiful, amazing, alluring and inspiring to the entire world.

Core Values: Love

It is essential that we continually restate our mission and core values.  I will continue to do so until we all can recite them by heart.  Our core values drive the quality and the nature of the work that we do to complete our mission as a church.  Our mission is to reach those without a church, build believers, and worship together in the Washington region.

The first core value that drives how we complete our mission is the value of LOVE, we share God's love with all people.  We desire to love people who feel left out in the community.  We desire to love every age of person that God sends our way.  We desire to show the greatest love when it is least deserved.

Because this is our first core value, our church is VERY friendly.  As I look forward to our future there are three things that absolutely can never be lost.  One, our faithfulness to the Word of God and Spirit of God, being Scriptural and spontaneous at the same time.  Two, our friendliness and kindness in our worship and large group gatherings.  Three, our deep love for one another that is built in small group gatherings.

Biblically, our love is an outflow of God's love for us.  It is commanded that we as individuals in the family of God love each other like family members.  Biblically, our love for each other is the mark of real love for Jesus.  And finally, our love and care is the relational component that makes any opportunity to share Jesus with others meaningful.

As I walk with you through our core values, take time to pray about them.  Make them a part of anything that God is directing you to do.  Keep them in mind at all times.  Today I encourage you to take some time to pray about your love for others.  Are you lacking grace for difficult people?  Ask God to give you love for them.  Ask God to give you love for those who don't agree with you about God.  Ask God to give you more love for your church and your small group.  Pray about love and God will answer.

Royal Ranger Camping

Tonight is the Royal Ranger camping trip.  Going with Gabe and Ben and the rest of the boys.  Should be fun!  It is always great to hang with the dads who go along.  The girls in our family have their plans for the night too.