Private Time With The LORD

Reminiscing about my summer camp days as a youth; there was one experience that topped all other camp activities; it was my fellowship, in prayer, with our Heavenly Father.  Because my physical father had pointed me to my Heavenly Father; because Dad did all that he could to walk with the LORD and to set an example of devotion years before my birth; my life was blessed with a solid spiritual foundation.  My Heavenly Father has always been as real as my physical father.  Such a connection to God is hard to describe.  Mere words are not sufficient to convey experiences and emotions with the LORD.  In 1973 at the Pelican Lake summer camp in Orr Minnesota, my daily communion; my fellowship with LORD, took on a heightened awareness and reality.

My parents had conditioned me to be a morning person and Dad always arose by 5:00 am every morning.  Sleeping in was not in his vocabulary.  He started every day with prayer and Bible study.  At summer camp, we had to be up by 7:00 am; and at the dinning hall by 8:00 am for breakfast.  My internal clock had always been used to 5:00 am; so during camp, those extra two hours were spent every day in fellowship with God.  A path behind our cabin led down to the lake, about a hundred yards through the woods, where there was a massive rock at the water’s edge.  That became my private place to meet with the LORD as night would yield to the first rays of the morning dawn.  It was somewhat surreal to feel the chill in the air and to listen to the woods awake and break the silence.  Animals would come to the shoreline for a drink; beavers, woodchucks, raccoons and deer were a common sight.  They usually just ignored me as they went on with their morning mission. 

The presence of the LORD was vividly experienced at that spot every morning.  My prayers and meditations were alive and wrapped in the arms of Jesus Christ.  That rock became my altar of sacrifice where my heart felt thoughts were beaten fine as incense and offered up to the LORD as a sweet savor.

Revelation 8:3-4 ESV  And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne,  (4)  and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.

This was my daily worship; in the privacy of the early morning hours, with the woods behind me to buffer my shouts of praise, thanksgiving; and worship with singing.  It was intensely emotional and many tears of joy flowed.  There could be no more perfect place to commune with the LORD than in His cathedral of lake, woods and sky; all spoken into existence on the breath of His mouth.  As David said in Psalm 51; the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.  My prayers carried my heart to the LORD; a heart; beaten like fine incense; refined by the Holy Ghost and offered up as a sacrifice of sweet savor to God.

Numbers 28:4-6 KJV  The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;  (5)  And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.  (6)  It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.

In the morning, my fellowship with the LORD was from that rock, my altar before Him; in the evening, my communion with the LORD was on the placid waters in a canoe; an equally profound and private experience.

We need corporate worship and the Apostle Paul warned against forsaking the assembling of ourselves in worship; but equally important is our personal private time with the LORD – building a relationship with Jesus Christ through personal worship and prayer.  We are to become one with Christ and put His mind in our heart and mind.

Hebrews 10:25 KJV Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Philippians 2:5 KJV Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

We have but one God who is Christ Jesus our LORD.  We are to be in a relationship with Him now as He is the Everlasting Father.  Through the Holy Ghost He lives inside of us and transforms us as His body the Church; purifying and washing us by the water of the WORD; that He might present us to Himself, the LAMB of God and enter into an eternal partnership with us as His bride.

Ephesians 5:25-27 KJV Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  (26)  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Revelation 19:7-8 KJV Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  (8)  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

We are called to the marriage supper of the LAMB of God, Christ Jesus our LORD.  If we are not willing to fellowship with God now, how can He have confidence in us to be the Bride of Christ and become His eternal partner?  We were created for Jesus Christ.  This human life is all about preparing for eternal life with Jesus Christ.  We are to inherit all things; and to sit with Jesus on His throne; and to rule the nations.  We must read and study our Bibles and internalize the promises of God and begin to fully understand the purpose for our lives!  Only out of the abundance of our heart and mind that are immersed in the WORD, can we pray and worship in a meaningful fellowship with Jesus.  God is calling us all to awake out of the stupor of human life and materialism and raise our sights on the spiritual.  Take responsibility today for revival in your life.  Get on fire for the LORD!

Like Minded Fellowship

It was 1973 and my parents sent me to a church summer camp for the month of July.  It was an awesome experience.  Nestled among thousands of acres of woods, was a Christian camp.  Being a city boy from the Chicago area, this was a unique experience to commune on a daily basis with both the campers and staff who were all of like mind; who were all taking their relationship with Jesus as priority number one. 

The dormitories were eight individual cabins that housed twenty four campers and a ninth cabin that that housed twenty four workers of college age.  Each cabin was built around a common room with the counselor’s room in the middle and two wings on either side.  There were six prayer closets in each cabin.  Prayer and Bible Study were to be the center of each camper’s daily life.  There was a balance of fun, education in ecology and first aid, campus improvement work and Bible Study. 

Swimming and canoeing were a daily part of evening free time.  Horseback riding, archery, swimming lessons, water skiing, fishing and coed social activities filled the month with many memories and life experiences that enhanced my spiritual foundation. 

To be immersed in a totally Christian community, without any outside influences of television, radio, newspapers and magazines; for an entire month, was one of the greatest and most profitable experiences of my life.

2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

As a teenager, there were a number of very elderly and successful men who influenced my life.  Two of these men worked until the day they died in their nineties.  A third man, Irv Mandley, who entered my life five years ago is currently 97.  These three 90+ year old men have taught me a lot about success.  They set an example for others to follow and have served the LORD as leaders of great distinction.  Irv Mandley is a veteran of World War II and a decorated war hero.  He received five metals for his bravery; one of which was for storming the beaches of five of the ten amphibious landings in the pacific theater of operations.  Throughout his life he has been a visionary for the community and for the church.  It is a blessing to know him. 

One of the most important lessons that all three of these men impressed upon me was the impact of the company that we keep.  Our friends and acquaintances will either bring us closer to or further from our goals in life; closer to or further away from our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Another lesson was to spend time with older folks and glean from their wealth of experience and wisdom.

If we want to be like Jesus Christ then we must spend time with others who share that goal.  Friendship binds us together with other people.  Our friends can have a powerfully profound impact upon our lives.  Choose your friends with wisdom.  Do not be bound to people who have a negative influence over you.  Fellowship with like-minded people.

Are You A Gambler?

Gambling is big business in Illinois with the state lottery and it just got bigger yesterday as casino gambling came to Chicago with the opening of the River Casino.  Blistering hot temperatures did not deter the massive crowds who had to stand in long lines out in the hot sun, just to get in side.  Traffic was paralyzed and the casino management had to advertise for people to delay their visit to the casino to another day.

This fascination of risking hard earned money on a slight chance of winning;  completely eludes me.  Casinos are in the business of making money.  This is a fact that seems to escape the minds of the gambler.  A friend of mine received a million dollar inheritance and gambled it all away at the Ho Chunk Casino in Wisconsin Dells.  We can look at people who have gambling problems and ask ourselves, “How can they not see their destruction?”  But gambling takes on a lot of different forms. 

Many people gamble with their health with addictions to drugs, alcohol and smoking.  When AIDS awareness campaigns ran out of money to make public service announcements; people returned to their high risk activities.  A whole generation of teenagers; have no comprehension of how devastating this disease can be.  Promiscuity is on the rise; high schools and colleges are breeding grounds for sexually transmitted diseases.

Gambling with money and with immoral behavior tends to be visible social dilemmas; but there is a greater risk that people are taking and that is with their salvation.  There are over 1.5 billion Christians in the world of which the vast majority of them take little to no responsibility for their high calling in the LORD.

Sitting on the proverbial fence; neither abandoning the world for Jesus Christ nor abandoning Jesus Christ for the world, produces a church of mediocrity and indecision.  The LORD speaks very harshly about Christians that are lukewarm fence sitters.  He says; “because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.”

Many people are playing around with their eternal salvation; there are gambling with their eternal future.  There is nothing more important that our calling into the body of Jesus Christ.  It is time to take a stand for the LORD and commit to Him.  If you profess to be a Christian, then Jesus Christ Himself urges you to become on fire for HIM and the Gospel.  There will be no room in the Kingdom of God for half hearted Christians who are Christians in name only.  Tribulation will come upon those who remain lukewarm and they will be tried in the fire.  They will be too late to save themselves from the pain and suffering that is to come.  Now is the time to grow in righteousness by committing to Christ; He is knocking at the door.  Will you let Him into ALL of your life; will you surrender ALL?

Salvation is no gamble if you take the steps to commit to it.  The equation is simple and a sure thing; not a gamble at all.  Repent; that is turn to God; be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues; then continue to walk in the LORD.

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Temperance Or Self-Control

There have always been individuals who have lacked self-control; who exhibit weak character.  It is personal discipline that builds character.  The word disciple in the Gospels; comes from the Greek word that means student or pupil.  Disciplines are areas of study.  The basic disciplines are reading, writing and arithmetic.  Universities refer to specific areas of study as disciplines.  The modern approach to education over the past twenty years has been interdisciplinary; that is to cover not just in depth, but in breadth and how specific studies intertwine and relate.  Employers today are requiring a college education for most jobs because completing college demonstrates discipline of character.  Constructive extra curricular involvements also show temperance and self-control.  Did a student spend their free time in sports, debate and drama, or in drinking, parties and drugs?

It takes discipline to learn temperance or self-control; this is the quality that is personified by Jesus Christ.  He conquered His flesh.  Being fully God and fully man; it is perfect self-control that makes it impossible for God to sin.  Self-control is at the foundation of God’s righteousness and is what we need to build God’s own character in our lives.  Character is what it is all about; Holy Righteous Godly character; moral excellence and firmness. 

In a world of lax values and standards, it is difficult to fight the flesh; our human weaknesses.  The late renowned conductor, Herbert Von Karajan stated in an interview that he never wasted a single minute of his life.  It is hard not to give in to the flesh. 

Many times it is our lack of preparation that leads to our failure.  Staying up too late; eating too much of the wrong food and consuming alcohol; will bring on sleepiness when we need to be alert.  Jesus’ disciplines could not stay awake for just one hour; they fell asleep in the garden as Jesus prayed.

Matthew 26:40-41 KJV And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?  (41)  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Our own flesh is our number one enemy.  Carnal mindedness; living by our flesh; puts us against God.  It fights against us and weakens us.  Once weakened, we can fall prey to the devil.  He is like a roaring lion, seeking to devour.

Romans 8:7 KJV Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

1 Peter 5:8 KJV  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Learning self-control and discipline is a valuable character trait to develop.  Employers want workers who come to the job fresh and alert; who show up early and who prepare themselves for productivity.  They are at their post early so that they are doing their work when it is starting time.  A department secretary, who worked in our offices many years ago, would come to work 45 minutes late every day and the first thing she did upon arriving, was to get lost in the ladies room for 15 to 30 minutes. 

Famed coach and legend of the Green Bay Packers, Vince Lombardi insisted on his players being to practice 15 minutes early or they were marked as being late.

Self-control, discipline; requires us to not only be on time, but to be ready as well.  It never ceases to amaze me how people will camp out all night long at a ticket office in order to buy seats to the performance of a human celebrity, or to be the first to get a Harry Potter Book.  Most people would give great consideration to their wardrobe if they were meeting with the president of the United States; but to come into the presence of the LORD to worship, they are late and their dress looks like they slept in their clothes.  If we want to be a part of God’s eternal kingdom, then we need to learn now how to conquer our flesh in temperance and self control.

Relationship With Jesus

Christians are called to a lifetime of transformation.  Jesus gave us very broad precepts in the two great commandments and in the new commandment given at the Last Supper; but He also gave us specific applications so that we could apply them to our lives.  It is all a matter of perspective.  Though a Christian may start out trying to avoid hell; it should become more about building on grace; which is the application of the love and mercy of the LORD.  Sin separates us from the LORD.  If we go against our faith; that is against what we believe is true in Christ, we separate ourselves from Jesus.  Our spiritual goal is to walk more closely with the LORD and actually become one with the LORD and to share His character which is Holy and Righteous.

Romans 14:23 KJV … for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

James 4:17 ESV So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Romans 6:16 ESV )  Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Our PERSONALITY identifies who we are, our likes and dislikes as well as how we are distinguished from one another; it is our own blueprint and it defines our individual uniqueness.  Our CHARACTER identifies our moral excellence and firmness or lack thereof; we can strive for a moral excellence that is righteousness in Jesus Christ.  We can share His character and emulate His values and standards and still remain the same personality.  This was and is God’s plan.  The Lord of Creation loves variety and so we see among people, as many different personalities as there are different types of flowers among plants.  We are to be striving to build the character of Jesus and to live in oneness and unity with the LORD.  Our personality differences should define us and never divide us.  The unity we share in the LORD is eternal; it is His character. 

There are two things that we will take into eternity:  our PERSONALITY and our CHARACTER.  Both are developed through the experiences of life; both we have control over and both will last for eternity.  Everything else we will leave behind; but who we are and the character that we have developed, we will take with us at death.

Yesterday, we discussed the Ten Commandments of the Church.  It is through the Church that we are nurtured in the Character of Christ and have the opportunity to develop our personality through fellowship.  Time spent in Church and the activities and mission of the Church builds equity in the Kingdom of God.  

Through embracing and living a life surrendered to Jesus, we are tapped into all of the resources of the universe.  If we seek Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God first and above all; we will ultimately have all things given to us.  We will inherit all things.

Matthew 6:33 KJV But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If we are obedient to sin, we become a slave unto death; but if we are obedient to Christ, we will be led in righteousness and eternal life with Him.

When we invest our time in Jesus Christ building a personal one on one relationship, we are building for the Kingdom of God and for all eternity.  We are securing a crown of life, a crown of leadership and we ensure an inheritance of ALL things in a kingdom with no end!

No Greater Burden Than These Requirements

It is fashionable among Christian churches to either say that there is no law for Christians, just grace; or for them to add more laws and obliterate grace. 

We have to remember that our Christian walk is a calling; the church being “called out of the world.”  God calls us and accepts us in our sinful state.  In fact, He had already redeemed us and reconciled us to Himself, before we were born; from the foundations of the world.  We are saved by the LORD’s grace, a free gift that we can not earn.  Once called, we have to make a commitment to God if we want to be a part of the body of Christ, the church which is a spiritual organism and not a manmade organization.  Jesus Christ is the head of the Church.  Jesus Christ is the WAY!  We are to embrace the WAY; a Christian is a follower of the WAY, a follower of JESUS, the LORD. 

During His ministry, Jesus identified the two commandments upon which all of the law and the prophets are founded; 1) Love God above all and 2) Love Fellowman as oneself.  At the Last Supper, He gave a new and third command; 3) Love one another

During His ministry, Jesus identified the two commandments upon which all of the law and the prophets are founded; 1) Love God above all and 2) Love Fellowman as oneself.  At the Last Supper, He gave a new and third command; 3) Love one another.

When the Gospel began to go to the Gentiles, the Holy Spirit led the apostles to not require circumcision and the ceremonial laws of worship; but brought forth four commands for the Church.  They are to; 4) abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and 5) from blood, and 6) from what has been strangled, and 7) from sexual immorality.

As the Church began to become more and more established in the first century, three other requirements became obvious, in order to avoid confusion.  The Church needed to embrace 8) Order; 9) Peace and Unity and 10) Regular worship meetings.  These statutes along with the Apostles Commands and the Great Commands of Jesus total ten.  We as Christians today, should strive to incorporate these laws in our daily lives.

Matthew 22:36-40 ESV "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"  (37)  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  (38)  This is the great and first commandment.  (39)  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  (40) On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

John 13:34-35 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  (35) By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Acts 15:28-29 ESV For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:  (29) that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."

1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV (33) For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Psalms 133:1 KJV A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Hebrews 10:25 KJV Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

THREE GREAT COMMANDS GIVEN BY JESUS CHRIST (LAW & PROPHETS).

1.   Love God first and foremost; with all of your heart, soul and mind (outward).

2.   Love your neighbor (fellow man, including strangers) as yourself (outward).

3.   Love those of the household of faith as family & friends (reciprocal).

FOUR COMMANDS OF THE HOLY GHOST (THE APOSTLES)

 4.   Abstain from (meat) what has been sacrificed to idols (pagan practices).

 5.   Abstain from blood

 6.   Abstain from that which has been strangled

 7.   Abstain from sexual immorality (adultery & fornication)

STATUTES OF THE CHURCH
  8.   Order is to be established in the local church.

  9.   Peace and Unity is to be pursued among the leadership and members.

 10.  Worship is to be held together on a regular basis.

Today we have discussed, in essence, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH.  We have been called by God to prepare for an eternal life to work with Him; to be the leaders in His glorious Kingdom.  We obey the LORD because we love Him.  Our calling is about so much more than just salvation.  It is about an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Mighty God.  

Seventy Times Seven

It never ceases to amaze how many Christians who recite the “LORD’s Prayer,” on a regular basis and never think about the curse that they are praying against themselves. 

The part that is the curse is when they pray to the LORD, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  They are asking God to forgive them as they forgive others.  Then they continue to hold on to grudges and hold hatred against someone for a trespass.

The disciples asked Jesus, “Do we have to forgive seven times?”  Actually it was Peter, but he was the spokesman for the rest.  The question was really, “When can I start holding a grudge against my brother, friend, neighbor or fellow man?”  They were looking for a way out of forgiving.  They were missing the point of Jesus’ teachings.

Matthew 18:21-22 KJV Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  (22)  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

When Jesus said seventy times seven or 490 times, it was a number that implied an unlimited number of times.  NEVER STOP FORGIVING!

It is our human nature to always want to know how much and for how long.  But what Jesus was teaching, was not things we should or should not do; the law addressed those.  Jesus was describing a whole new way of thinking; he was talking about becoming a new person; not bound by carnality; but bound by the Holy Ghost; His Spirit living with in us. 

We don’t just forgive, we become forgiveness.  We don’t just stop murdering; we replace hateful thoughts with loving thoughts.  We don’t just worship the LORD, we embody oneness with Him.  We put on the mind of Jesus Christ!  Christian faith is not something that we practice, it becomes who we are and it defines us!

Philippians 2:1-8 KJV If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,  (2)  Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  (3)  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  (4)  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  (5)  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  (6)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  (7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  (8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

When we repent of sin and bury the ways of this world and our past under the watery grave of baptism in Jesus’ name and arise out of that pool; God sends the gift of the Holy Ghost to reside not only with us and around us; but God actually lives within us.  We become a new creature and all things are new!

Philippians 4:7 KJV And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

FORGIVENESS ACCOMPLISHES THE FOLLOWING IN OUR LIVES:

1.    Allows us to perform a divine act

2.    Aligns us more perfectly with Jesus Christ

3.    Is proven to relieve stress and promote physical health

4.    Gives us a Peace that passes all understanding

We are called to a lifetime of becoming transformed in Jesus Christ.  The only way that we will accomplish this is through following the example of the Apostle Paul who died daily to sin in repentance and being immersed in prayer and Bible Study.  The WORD of God must live within us!