The U.S. Marines Corp has always prided itself on being the most elite military group of the country also on being the smallest. Their motto is “The few, the proud, the Marines”. They believe that a few well trained men can make a huge difference in the course of a war. This however is not a concept original to the Marines, actually God had taught Gideon this lesson over 3000 years ago (Judges 7:2-8). The military depend on their training to save their lives and the lives of others in a war time situation. In the same way that the Marines are the pride of the U.S. Armed Forces you are the few the chosen, the pride of the church. You are the men of God who have been called to lead His people. I am convinced that if we commit to being trained in righteousness we can save our souls and the souls of many who today are entrenched in the front lines of a war much more tenacious than the world can imagine the war to determine the final destiny of our souls.

Revelation 12:7-12

And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.  But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.  The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.  Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.  They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.  Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”

We’re at war…

Many people deny that we are at war… they reduce it to something of little importance or mask it with kinder gentler labels, but the effects go much deeper than the facade that we try to protect with such vigor. Changing the name of war does not change the reality of war. In 1965 the U.S. government tried to lessen their level of participation in the successes between North Korea, South Korea and Cambodia, tagging the situation as a “conflict”. After ten years of combat and more than 58,000 U.S. casualties it was obvious that this was no simple conflict, but rather a war, a war that was being lost miserably. A glance at the statistics is more than enough to realize that we too are at war today in America: 1) One of every two marriages ends in divorce. 2) In 1960 1 of every 10 homes was maintained by a woman. In 1986 the stat had rose to 1 in 6. 3) We could fill several sports stadiums with the children who will prostitute themselves tonight to finance their drug addiction. 4) This year a million unwed teenagers will result pregnant, half of them will abort their babies. 5) Of all the 14 year old girls that exist today 40% will become pregnant before they reach 19. 6) 60% of children have tried drugs before graduating from High School. 7) Every 78 seconds a teenager tries to commit suicide in the U.S. Yes, the war is real… the casualties are real… and today more than ever before me need MEN who are willing to dress the full armor of God and fight alongside God’s people until we all celebrate the victory of the Lamb before the throne of our God. If we are to see this victory it will cost no less than our Blood, Sweat and Tears.

1. Blood

Hebrews 9:11-14

When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.  He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.  The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.  How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Here the Hebrews writer does a magnificent job of contrasting the old system with Christ. As High Priest, Jesus:

- ENTERED           not the earthly sanctuary          but Heaven

- OFFERED           not the blood of animals             but His own blood

- OBTAINED        not temporary covering             but eternal redemption for us

It is the blood of Christ that has cleansed us, transformed us and readied us for the battle. In order for the Lord’s church to be victorious we must be deeply motivated by God’s grace.

v.14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Brothers let us cleanse our consciences and turn wholeheartedly to the task of serving the Lord. We will not be successful if we are halfhearted or only superficially committed (Share the example of a missionary on the San Salvador mission team… He was talented and a hard worker, but his double life halted his own productivity and stunted the church’s growth until it was dealt with).

2. Sweat

Luke 22:44-46

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.  “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Many times as we read this scripture we look at Jesus’ struggle with aligning his will with that of his father, but if we look at John 17 it seems that he spent more time praying for his disciples and for us that for himself. These were not prayers of self pity but rather prayers of self sacrifice. He prayed for our unity and the impact that we would have on this dark world. We must become faithful prayer warriors. If we are going to build the church prayer must cease to be an afterthought in our ministry. It is not simply something we do to fill up time in our worship services. It must be the very center of everything that we do as Christians. So many disciples go into the world daily without putting their lives into God’s hands. It would be like a soldier who goes to battle with his gun but never puts bullets in it. It has the appearance of being a useful weapon, but lacks any true power.

3. Tears

Psalm 126:1-6

 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,

     we were like men who dreamed.

Our mouths were filled with laughter,

     our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

     “The LORD has done great things for them.”

The LORD has done great things for us,

     and we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,

     like streams in the Negev.

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow,

     will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

This is my all time favorite scripture. I can remember finding encouragement in its words at so many times in my life. It is so easy to forget what God has done in our lives and become negative and crippled spiritually.

At many points in my life I’ve wanted to come back singing songs of joy, but I’ve avoided the sowing in tears.

My grandfather was a farmer and I can remember him praying for the crops on many occasions, but not once did he pray for a crop that he didn’t plant. Could you imagine… “God, I know that I should have sown, but it was nice spending the past few months relaxing… I don’t deserve it but would you bless me with a bountiful harvest.” It just doesn’t make sense.

But how many times do we pray for spiritual fruit without having sown the Word in the hearts of others. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard good hearted Christians say I just want to be a light so that others will ask to follow me. In my 18 years as a Christian not once has anyone been converted on the strength of my example alone. We need to get out and sew some seed!

4. Victory

Three days after assuming the position of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill addressed the House of Commons to look for support as Britain was in the troughs of WWII…

“I would say to the House as I said to those who have joined this government: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory. Victory at all costs — Victory in spite of all terror — Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.”

-Winston Churchill May 13, 1940-

Truly without victory there is no survival…

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”  “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

So tonight let us stand firm, determined, purposeful.

Let us be grateful and devoted.

Let us put on the full armor of God as we thrust ourselves into battle confident in our victory though our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

In the church we need to ask ourselves if our attitude is any better? The constant rush as we multitask ourselves to death has deafened us to the real need of raising up the next generation of men and women who will stand powerfully to advance the Lord’s church. If the church is to advance we need to break out of our comfort zones and dynamically train disciples…

“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” (Hebrews 5:12, NIV84)

The production of leaders should be a legitimate ministry goal, but many times we overlook or excuse those in our ministries that should be doing more than they presently are. The Hebrew writer was not satisfied with the congregation’s lack of maturity and encouraged them to go beyond the elementary teachings. In the same way should we not urge ourselves and the christians thar surround us grow up in the Lord and teach others? The only way to reach our world for Christ is by training and sending others. Let’s take a look at the “Great Commission”:

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18–20, NIV84)

This scripture is not so much a call to preach (although it is implied) as it is a call to train. In reality Jesus sent his disciples to develop and train disciples. Paul said it well in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” There is nothing more frustrating than working just to maintain a ministry. Many in church leadership today are tired after years of stabilizing the believers without finding anyone else who really takes an interest in the ministry in favor of others.

The first step in discipleship training is the selection of those you wish to invest time in. This step is not to be taken lightly, Jesus himself spent a night in prayer before he chose the men he wanted to train (Luke 6:12). It is not easy to find faithful men (Proverbs 20:6), but when you do there will be joy (Proverbs 25:13). Jesus demanded that men count the cost before the could follow him and many left saddened (See Luke 18:18-30), Paul also was deserted by the brothers in Asia (2 Timothy 1:15) , but found great joy in his relationship with Timothy (1 Corinthians 4:17, 16:10; Philippians 2:22; 1 Timothy 1:2). The search for faithful men is not an easy one, but it is fulfilling:

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. ” (3 John 4, NIV84)

Today as we go about our christianity EACH ONE of us should commit to TEACH ONE the ways of Christ!

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Definition: 1. somebody who does not belong: somebody who does not fit comfortably into a situation or environment.

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world…”  John 17:15-18

Jesus’ prayer to God in Gethsemane’s garden rings hauntingly true today as we have witnessed how the lines between the church and the world have become ever increasingly fuzzy. These days it is common to see true Christians mask their faith in order to “fit in” under the false precept of “becoming all things to all men”. Many evangelical preachers have traded the consuming fire of God’s word for a message that rings closer a children’s song by a purple dinosaur (not that I have anything against purple dinosaurs – especially if you’re in preschool), while others have gone to the other extreme, completely cutting themselves off from all things secular, thus rendering God’s message powerless to change others.

So what should we as disciples of Christ think of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples the night before his crucifixion? Jesus prayed that his disciples be Sanctified (set apart) to him yet did not take them out of the world, but in fact sent them into the world set apart by the truth of the word to save the world!

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.” 1 Peter 1:1-2

Strangers In The World

Peter addresses his readers as strangers in the world.  As a missionary I can definitely relate to being a stranger in a strange place.  It is not comfortable, The food is different, you get lost easily, people think and do things differently than you do and you feel out of place.  Although the recipients of this letter had been dispersed throughout Asia Minor by persecution Peter’s implications were much deeper addressing them as strangers in the world.

A few years ago I was in a round table discussion on missionology and we were comparing the effectiveness of cross cultural-mission teams and mission teams who came from the same or similar culture as the target group.  To the surprise to many, statistically cross-cultural mission teams tended to fare better than teams for whom language and culture were not a barrier.  Many of the participants stated that resources were the number one factor, being that most of the cross-cultural teams came from developed nations whereas the other teams usually came from developing nations.  Although I believe that economics can have a great impact on the efectiveness of a mission team, my experience is that the fact of being a place that does thing differently (many times backwards) than what is natural to you is a powerful and constant reminder that you are there for a purpose.

I truly believe that that is why Jesus teaches us that we belong to the Kingdom of Heaven and not to this world.  We are commanded not to love this world (1John 2:15), we should not even be friends with this world (James 4:4).  We are an alien people called to live by a higher standard and though we must live in this world we will not, cannot be of this world.

Scattered

“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria…. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” Acts 8:1,4

So often godly men and women can get so wrapped up in the worries of this world that we can forget our mission.  Just a few chapters earlier the church was arguing almost to the point of distraction over who was going to distribute food to the congregation’s widows.  God shook the church up by way of persecution and all the sudden the Gospel message had returned to the center of the Church’s activity.  Many times God shakes our lives up so that the Gospel can resettle in the middle of our life’s activity.  As a missionary one of my favorite scriptures has been John 3:8, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”  This scripture has rang true so many times in my life, from moving on two days notice to another country, learning a new language, trusting that somehow we would find funding many times the same day that payments were due.  All of these experiences molded me and stretched my faith and devotion to God.  It is that constant feeling of, “I don’t belong here, but I’m here for a reason”, that motivates us towards Jesus’ vision for his church.  Let us all embrace the times of scattering in our own lives and when the pieces fall back into place let them fall around the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Chosen

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

As Christians we have been set apart or chosen for a special purpose; to declare the wonders of God.  So many Christians feel empty and frustrated in their walk with God because they have misunderstood the concept of sanctification.  Instead of feeling the call to attack the gates of Hades (Mt 16:18) we often feel the call to the monastery.  Although we were called out from the futile life style that we lived before our calling, we were not called to separate ourselves from the world but rather declare God’s mercies to those who are still enslaved by sin.

My prayer is that we will all be Mission Minded Misfits and spend less time fitting in and more time standing out. (Mt. 5:16)

God bless;

Bill

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”” (Matthew 4:17, NIV)

Repent
It is interesting that the first word that Jesus chose to pronounce in his public ministry was “repent”.  I would have thought that he would have started off with “love” or “peace” or “grace” but he chose “repent” (μετανοέω greek) which literally means “to perceive afterwards or to reconsider.”  In other words Jesus began his ministry preaching that people should reconsider their way of life  and begin to think differently because the Kingdom of God is near.

“Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” (Romans 12:2, CEV)

When we change the way we think about our lives we will also change the way we live our lives.   This is true in almost any aspect of our lives.  On Dec 30th I weighed 235 lbs and my doctor and I had a conversation about blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disease.  That conversation made me reconsider my attitude toward food and exercise.  Once the way I saw these things changed my way of life also changed.  I now exercise most days, look at the fat content of foods and chose vegetables over candies.

Produce fruit of repentance

 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.” (Luke 3:8, NIV)

True repentance produces change.  My main motivation for making lifestyle changes was love for my family.  I want to be around to be with them as long as I can and to do that I need to have a healthy heart.  It has now 40 days since I began my new way of life and I have already seen progress.  As I am writing this I just came back from the YMCA where I weighed in at 213.5 lbs, not where I want to be but some real progress.   Those secondary effects of my decisions although not as important they are nearly as encouraging as the primary ones.  I now feel better and have more energy and in turn enjoy the time I have with my family more.  In the same way deciding to change our lives and live in such a way that pleases God produces primarily a relationship with Him, but also produces secondary effects like better marriages and personal relationships, better stewardship and finances and an improved outlook on life.

Keep with repentance

The scripture says that we must “keep with repentance”.  It is a continual state.  Not a one time prayer thrown to the sky in an emotional moment of despair, but a deliberate choice made each and every day of our lives.  We cannot lean on our family lineage or religious affiliation to give us security in our salvation, we must strive towards a daily dynamic relationship with our Lord.

Jesus teches us in Luke 9:23 that we must, “take up [our] cross daily and follow [Him].“  Being a Christian is a question of “being” and not a question of “doing”.

” Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (Colossians 3:1-10, NIV)

As we go out into the world this week let us keep reconsider our way of life, let us lift our hearts and minds towards the heavenly realms.  Let us put off our sinful nature and devote ourselves to the daily renewal that comes from keeping with repentance.

Teaching fire prevention on Chicago's West Side

Volunteers for Hope worldwide Illinois and the American Red Cross in Chicago partnered to spread the word on fire prevention to some of the highest risk communities in the Chicago land area.  Hundreds of volunteers spent this year’s National Service Day canvassing Chicago neighborhoods to promote fire safety.  As the winter temperatures drop many people resort to space heaters or even stoves and ovens to heat there homes presenting grave danger to families.  Already this winter the Red Cross has responded to nearly 250 home fires assisting 1400 displaced residents, with the coldest days still to come it is important that people check their fire alarms, use special care when using space heaters and have AND PRACTICE an escape plan with each member of your household.  As Christians it is a great honor to be called to serve others, as we see the circumstances that others live in we are grateful for our blessings.

In a very similar way God has called us to be spiritual fire stoppers as  well.  As we see the spiritual plight of our community we should get the WORD out on fire prevention.  As devastating as a home fire is, nothing can compare with the eternal flames of the lake of sulfur.  As Christians we have been equipped with the necessary tools to save our fellow man, but we must canvas our communities for the sake of Christ and teach God’s plan of escape from the most devastating fire there is… Hell.

Thanks to all of you who gave up your day off in order to do something to serve others.  It is in these random selfless acts where we see Jesus our Lord… God bless!  -Bill