I don't know how accurate television commercial statistics are concerning debt relief, but there is one that says 6 out of 10 Americans are in debt. Even if it's off a bit it is a lot. That's over 1/2 of all America.
That's one big fat pile of worry.
Most folks have some kind of debt. Mortgage or rent is pretty much a necessity. Car payments. Medical bills. Oh yeah, credit cards (not a necessity).
As bad as all that can be there is a worse debt.
The indebtedness to worry. Add it's little brothers "Stress" and "Anxiety", and...well...you can figure it out.
Jesus tells us not to worry, as we looked at yesterday. He tells us that it does not add one bit to our lives. In other words, worrying never solved anything or cleared up the issue we were worrying about.
NEVER.
In fact, we know today that worry causes devastating medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, strokes, and mental illness. Not only does it not add to your life, but it will actually end it earlier.
And that's if we are caught up on our worry debt! Yes, that's even if we are only worrying one day at a time and are "worrying as we go"!
How about the chronic borrower? I'm talking worry debt here.
How about when you are not only worrying about what's on your plate today, but are adding exponentially to your worry debt by borrowing on tomorrow's troubles? Or the next day? Or the next week? Suppose you are in debt to worry about the next month in advance?
Yikes!
Did you know it is so bad to do that, that Jesus actually addressed it separately from His previous admonition against worrying?
Matt. 6:34 - "So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.
Notice again, that Jesus is not saying we will not have troubles. In fact, He is saying the opposite. We will indeed have troubles. He is simply saying do not worry about them.
Easy for Him to say.
Yes, it is easy for Him to say, because He is the One who is the best equipped to equip us to deal with them.
Did you catch that? He equips us.
Say it: "Jesus equips me to deal with all of my troubles". Say it until you believe it. You need to be convinced or else you will always revert to trusting yourself, which usually has been an abject failure.
You worry in the first place because you have no solutions. People who have solutions have no need to worry.
I have debts. I have responsibilities. I have issues. I also don't worry.
That's right. I never worry. One, because it is disobedient to God (that's a good enough reason right there). If it's disobedient it's sin once it's revealed not to do it. Two, there is a good chance that I am celebrating my 57th birthday today as a healthy man because I don't worry.
Tomorrow I will give you a practical way to deal with it, and all from the Word of God.
Until then, live a little. Don't worry. Everything is going to be alright.
"Jesus equips me to deal with all of my troubles."
That's...
...Keepin' it Real!
Pastor Kevin <><
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
"Trials And Problems And Cares, Oh No!", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
"Trials, And Problems, And Cares, Oh No!" (repeated over and over to the cadence of "Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh no!).
OH NO! Whatever will I do? How am I going to get out of this one? Why me Lord? Please help me!
Thoughts and cries of desperation.
All neatly snuggled in among the "I's" and "Me's".
This is not to say difficulties don't arise. That's not the issue. All God's chillun' got cares.
Jesus' counsel was not about getting rid of problems. It was centered on how to handle those problems.
Read this passage carefully and determine if His solution sounds anything remotely like the cries of desperation at the beginning of this devotional.
Matt. 6:25 - "Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?"
Let me shrink that up a bit for you.
"Don't worry!"
Period.
That's it as far as the admonition goes.
Just don't do it.
Here it comes...
"Oh, but pastor...you don't know what I am facing! You don't know the problems I have!"
Sure I do. You have the same problems that virtually everyone else who is anxiety ridden does.
You are either worried about your body, about your mind, about your finances, about your stuff, about your relationships, or you're sick in your faith.
The last one is the worst. If you are sick in your faith than all of the other problems will be magnified.
The reason you are sick in your faith is because you are afraid, and fear displaces faith! They cannot exist together. You will either be faith-FILLED or fear-FILLED!
That said, lets get back to what Jesus says.
In essence Jesus is telling you that you are allowing circumstances and issues dictate to you how you are going to live.
It's supposed to be the other way around.
He is asking you a question today.
Aren't you, personally and physically, far more important than what you are designating life to be?
It's you. Life and living. In your present body. You are what it's about, not food and clothing and material possessions.
"Yes, but pastor...we need these things for even basic living!"
Granted. Jesus never said you didn't. Listen to me carefully, but give even more care to the Scripture.
He didn't say they weren't important, or that you don't need them.
Jesus is telling us what is MOST important, and that is YOU!
In fact, you are so important to Him that He has endeavored to be sure that you have all of those necessities of life so that you don't have to detract from what's important by worrying about them!
Look! It's right here...
"(31) Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? (32) For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all."
What does it say? It says the non-believers in Jesus Christ have need to be concerned over these things, BUT NOT YOU!
What a great God!
SO, my question to you today is, IF you are stressed and anxiety ridden...WHY?
Don't you believe what Jesus is saying to you today?
That's really it you know. It's a matter of faith. Back to the fear factor again.
2 Tim. 1:7 - "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
Fear is not from God. If you let fear run your life you will be anxiety ridden and stressed for the rest of your life.
Jesus fought the devil in the desert by telling him that "Man does not live by bread (or the worry of where to get it) alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God".
Friends, if you came into my office for counseling about anxiety and fear and stress, this is EXACTLY what I would refer to you.
This IS the answer for you, for your friends, for your loved ones, for everyone you know who is struggling with fear and anxiety issues.
Get to Jesus! Trust, rely, and adhere to Him. In Him are the answers to living life to the full joy intended.
Let me leave you with this promise:
"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." (John 10:10)
Get this truth deep down into your body, soul and spirit!
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
OH NO! Whatever will I do? How am I going to get out of this one? Why me Lord? Please help me!
Thoughts and cries of desperation.
All neatly snuggled in among the "I's" and "Me's".
This is not to say difficulties don't arise. That's not the issue. All God's chillun' got cares.
Jesus' counsel was not about getting rid of problems. It was centered on how to handle those problems.
Read this passage carefully and determine if His solution sounds anything remotely like the cries of desperation at the beginning of this devotional.
Matt. 6:25 - "Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?"
Let me shrink that up a bit for you.
"Don't worry!"
Period.
That's it as far as the admonition goes.
Just don't do it.
Here it comes...
"Oh, but pastor...you don't know what I am facing! You don't know the problems I have!"
Sure I do. You have the same problems that virtually everyone else who is anxiety ridden does.
You are either worried about your body, about your mind, about your finances, about your stuff, about your relationships, or you're sick in your faith.
The last one is the worst. If you are sick in your faith than all of the other problems will be magnified.
The reason you are sick in your faith is because you are afraid, and fear displaces faith! They cannot exist together. You will either be faith-FILLED or fear-FILLED!
That said, lets get back to what Jesus says.
In essence Jesus is telling you that you are allowing circumstances and issues dictate to you how you are going to live.
It's supposed to be the other way around.
He is asking you a question today.
Aren't you, personally and physically, far more important than what you are designating life to be?
It's you. Life and living. In your present body. You are what it's about, not food and clothing and material possessions.
"Yes, but pastor...we need these things for even basic living!"
Granted. Jesus never said you didn't. Listen to me carefully, but give even more care to the Scripture.
He didn't say they weren't important, or that you don't need them.
Jesus is telling us what is MOST important, and that is YOU!
In fact, you are so important to Him that He has endeavored to be sure that you have all of those necessities of life so that you don't have to detract from what's important by worrying about them!
Look! It's right here...
"(31) Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? (32) For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all."
What does it say? It says the non-believers in Jesus Christ have need to be concerned over these things, BUT NOT YOU!
What a great God!
SO, my question to you today is, IF you are stressed and anxiety ridden...WHY?
Don't you believe what Jesus is saying to you today?
That's really it you know. It's a matter of faith. Back to the fear factor again.
2 Tim. 1:7 - "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
Fear is not from God. If you let fear run your life you will be anxiety ridden and stressed for the rest of your life.
Jesus fought the devil in the desert by telling him that "Man does not live by bread (or the worry of where to get it) alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God".
Friends, if you came into my office for counseling about anxiety and fear and stress, this is EXACTLY what I would refer to you.
This IS the answer for you, for your friends, for your loved ones, for everyone you know who is struggling with fear and anxiety issues.
Get to Jesus! Trust, rely, and adhere to Him. In Him are the answers to living life to the full joy intended.
Let me leave you with this promise:
"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." (John 10:10)
Get this truth deep down into your body, soul and spirit!
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Monday, June 28, 2010
"You Must Be Perfect!", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Matthew 5:48 (KJV) - "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
There it is. Direct from the Word of God. The esteemed King James Version. The "Textus Receptus".
You my friend, MUST be as perfect as God. That means no wiggle room for error. Get it right and get it right the first time. Anything less than perfection will not be tolerated.
I can almost HEAR the shorts getting bunched up over this! lol!
Now that I have your attention.
Relax. Let's look at it another way.
Let's try the Amplified Version.
"(48) You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect."
That's a little better. It goes into the more proper understanding of "Perfect".
Perfect simply means "complete". It's from the Greek word "teleios".
Some won't even like that explanation, but at this point I'll have to ask you to take it up with Jesus.
We are expected to reach a level of completeness in God.
How?
Stay with me to the very end here...
Jesus gives us a series of explanations in His sermon on the mount from Matthew, chapter five.
For instance, He says that we have heard it taught that we should love our neighbors and hate our enemies.
Uh...that's been changed. Jesus revised it. We are not complete when we believe that way.
Instead, now we are to love our enemies, and actually do good for those who actually hate us and even seek to harm us.
He goes on to say that what good is there in loving those who love us and treat us well? Anyone can do that. That's easy!
Easy, but without reward. We are incomplete in God when we believe that way. In other words...imperfect.
Ever see the bumper sticker, "I'm not perfect, just forgiven!"? It's a lie.
If you're forgiven you are expected to no longer live imperfectly as far as obedience to God's plan is concerned. You are expected to be complete.
There is a level of godly integrity and morality you are expected to achieve by God, and if God expects it then that means it can be achieved and if we are refusing to reach it then we are being disobedient!
We can't cop out with "Ho-hum, I'm not perfect, just forgiven".
Where did we adopt this concept of one trip to the altar and then comfortably retire to your pew?
Brother and sister there is a responsibility that comes with your admission into the family of God.
God expects great things from you just as any earthly father would from his own children.
There is a "proper height" we are called to by God. Don't worry, He gives us the tools to get there in the Holy Spirit.
It is not however, a "gimme" or automatic. (Paul says we need to renew our minds in Romans 12)
It is also neither legalistic work and toil in our own strength. It does however, take desire.
It is simply by staying close to Him in fellowship, worship, and prayer. Our completeness is in Him.
Note that it says "...as your heavenly Father is perfect."
It's partaking of His perfection that makes us perfect and complete in His eyes.
It's a very misunderstood verse.
I hope I've made it clearer for you in my attempt at...
...Keepin' it Real!
Pastor Kevin <><
There it is. Direct from the Word of God. The esteemed King James Version. The "Textus Receptus".
You my friend, MUST be as perfect as God. That means no wiggle room for error. Get it right and get it right the first time. Anything less than perfection will not be tolerated.
I can almost HEAR the shorts getting bunched up over this! lol!
Now that I have your attention.
Relax. Let's look at it another way.
Let's try the Amplified Version.
"(48) You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect."
That's a little better. It goes into the more proper understanding of "Perfect".
Perfect simply means "complete". It's from the Greek word "teleios".
Some won't even like that explanation, but at this point I'll have to ask you to take it up with Jesus.
We are expected to reach a level of completeness in God.
How?
Stay with me to the very end here...
Jesus gives us a series of explanations in His sermon on the mount from Matthew, chapter five.
For instance, He says that we have heard it taught that we should love our neighbors and hate our enemies.
Uh...that's been changed. Jesus revised it. We are not complete when we believe that way.
Instead, now we are to love our enemies, and actually do good for those who actually hate us and even seek to harm us.
He goes on to say that what good is there in loving those who love us and treat us well? Anyone can do that. That's easy!
Easy, but without reward. We are incomplete in God when we believe that way. In other words...imperfect.
Ever see the bumper sticker, "I'm not perfect, just forgiven!"? It's a lie.
If you're forgiven you are expected to no longer live imperfectly as far as obedience to God's plan is concerned. You are expected to be complete.
There is a level of godly integrity and morality you are expected to achieve by God, and if God expects it then that means it can be achieved and if we are refusing to reach it then we are being disobedient!
We can't cop out with "Ho-hum, I'm not perfect, just forgiven".
Where did we adopt this concept of one trip to the altar and then comfortably retire to your pew?
Brother and sister there is a responsibility that comes with your admission into the family of God.
God expects great things from you just as any earthly father would from his own children.
There is a "proper height" we are called to by God. Don't worry, He gives us the tools to get there in the Holy Spirit.
It is not however, a "gimme" or automatic. (Paul says we need to renew our minds in Romans 12)
It is also neither legalistic work and toil in our own strength. It does however, take desire.
It is simply by staying close to Him in fellowship, worship, and prayer. Our completeness is in Him.
Note that it says "...as your heavenly Father is perfect."
It's partaking of His perfection that makes us perfect and complete in His eyes.
It's a very misunderstood verse.
I hope I've made it clearer for you in my attempt at...
...Keepin' it Real!
Pastor Kevin <><
Friday, June 25, 2010
"As Real As It Gets", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
There are things in life that we do that leave little margin for error. Finances, health, relationships, career, parenting, to name a few.
We are not always going to nail it perfectly. We will make mistakes. That's not an excuse. That's a fact.
Many of us will get from the cradle to the grave with some relative success in having left a favorable mark upon the society we lived in. Many will simply live their lives in quiet desperation and will quietly come and go. Still many will have lived in utter travail and hardship perhaps leaving a bitter memory in the minds of those who knew them.
That's life (if you want to call any of that, successful or otherwise, as living).
It really is so much more than that.
God will want to know that you were "righteous".
Not self-righteous. Truly righteous.
Isaiah 64:6 - "For we have all become like one who is unclean [ceremonially, like a leper], and all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags or a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away [far from God's favor, hurrying us toward destruction].
That's what happens to a person living in a self-proclaimed righteousness rather than a God recognized righteousness.
God says several times in His Word "The JUST (righteous) shall live by faith". Faith in Christ.
Conversely, the unjust shall live by faith in themselves. This is root selfishness.
The world is a very selfish place and that's the reason why.
John says:
1 John 1:29 "If you know (perceive and are sure) that He [Christ] is [absolutely] righteous [conforming to the Father's will in purpose, thought, and action], you may also know (be sure) that everyone who does righteously [and is therefore in like manner conformed to the divine will] is born (begotten) of Him [[God]."
Righteousness is rooted in Christ. A person cannot achieve it apart from Him.
First we must know that Jesus is righteous. In other words, we must believe, trust, and conform to Him fully. We must accept Him as Lord and Savior, confess Him, and recognize His place as the resurrected Second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God.
That for us is what it means to be born-again. Born again people are righteous in God's eyes.
The greatest proof of your salvation is in the fruit of "doing rightly".
Now, remember this: you are not righteous BECAUSE you DO right things.
You DO right things because you are righteous.
You are righteous because you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did upon the Cross, and have been translated from darkness and wrong doing, to the Light of righteousness.
That my friend is the bottom line.
That my friend is...
...Keepin' it Real.
Pastor Kevin <><
We are not always going to nail it perfectly. We will make mistakes. That's not an excuse. That's a fact.
Many of us will get from the cradle to the grave with some relative success in having left a favorable mark upon the society we lived in. Many will simply live their lives in quiet desperation and will quietly come and go. Still many will have lived in utter travail and hardship perhaps leaving a bitter memory in the minds of those who knew them.
That's life (if you want to call any of that, successful or otherwise, as living).
It really is so much more than that.
God will want to know that you were "righteous".
Not self-righteous. Truly righteous.
Isaiah 64:6 - "For we have all become like one who is unclean [ceremonially, like a leper], and all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags or a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away [far from God's favor, hurrying us toward destruction].
That's what happens to a person living in a self-proclaimed righteousness rather than a God recognized righteousness.
God says several times in His Word "The JUST (righteous) shall live by faith". Faith in Christ.
Conversely, the unjust shall live by faith in themselves. This is root selfishness.
The world is a very selfish place and that's the reason why.
John says:
1 John 1:29 "If you know (perceive and are sure) that He [Christ] is [absolutely] righteous [conforming to the Father's will in purpose, thought, and action], you may also know (be sure) that everyone who does righteously [and is therefore in like manner conformed to the divine will] is born (begotten) of Him [[God]."
Righteousness is rooted in Christ. A person cannot achieve it apart from Him.
First we must know that Jesus is righteous. In other words, we must believe, trust, and conform to Him fully. We must accept Him as Lord and Savior, confess Him, and recognize His place as the resurrected Second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God.
That for us is what it means to be born-again. Born again people are righteous in God's eyes.
The greatest proof of your salvation is in the fruit of "doing rightly".
Now, remember this: you are not righteous BECAUSE you DO right things.
You DO right things because you are righteous.
You are righteous because you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did upon the Cross, and have been translated from darkness and wrong doing, to the Light of righteousness.
That my friend is the bottom line.
That my friend is...
...Keepin' it Real.
Pastor Kevin <><
Thursday, June 24, 2010
"Things That Are Out Of Place For $1,000 Alex", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Ever watch the game Jeopardy on television?
If you answer incorrectly you can "jeopardize" all that you have.
Life can mimic that sometimes.
Check out something that John says in his first epistle.
1 John 2:15-16 - "Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].
Note the buzz words here: craving, lust, gratification, greed, longing...
This is jeopardy for the believer.
John is specific. This is not to say that there are things of the world we cannot have. On the contrary. There is nothing wrong with having a nice home, car, good paying job, nice clothes, etc.
There is a difference between liking or even needing something, and loving it and lusting and craving after it.
The believer never has to any of that. God knows what we need and desire and willfully and graciously provides (Matt. 6).
In fact, all of the things described are "Things That Are Out Of Place" for the believer.
These are the things that will run the believer off the rails and wreck their faith.
Lust of the flesh is coveting. We know God hasn't liked that one since the beginning. It's Number 10 on the Big Ten Sin Parade.
Pride of life? That one sunk Lucifer's (Satan) high hopes. He and 1/3 of the angels of heaven. It precedes a fall. The serpent talked Adam and Eve into that one as well.
I could sit here and rattle off probably fifty different varieties of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
All of them would be out of place in the life of the disciple of Jesus Christ.
John didn't issue this warning for us to have to keep a checklist of what to do or what not to do. He was making a comparison so we could make a an informed assessment of our lives.
If we find ourselves living closer to the world than God wants for us, we should recognize that fact and make the proper adjustment.
The adjustment is not to purposely decide in our own strength and power to make changes. That doesn't work. It didn't work before we knew Jesus and it will not work now.
Thats' a hard concept for some folks to wrap their brain around.
It's never what we can do.
It's always what the power of the Holy Spirit can do in us. When we allow Him to.
It's about yielding to Him, not fixing it ourselves.
Closeness to the world means further from God. Grow closer to God, and the world and its lustful cravings shrink.
Think of Abraham and Lot. When they split up and went their separate ways, Lot chose to pitch his tent in Sodom. Abraham chose the fertile lands of the Jordan area. We see the tragic results of craving what the world offers in the choices Lot made.
When you pitch your tent too close to lustful sinfulness God will be offended.
When things are out of place that means things are in disorder and disarray.
A life in disarray is not a sign of a life consecrated to Christ.
It might come as a rude awakening today...but...
...it's essentially...
...Keepin' it Real.
Pastor Kevin <><
If you answer incorrectly you can "jeopardize" all that you have.
Life can mimic that sometimes.
Check out something that John says in his first epistle.
1 John 2:15-16 - "Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].
Note the buzz words here: craving, lust, gratification, greed, longing...
This is jeopardy for the believer.
John is specific. This is not to say that there are things of the world we cannot have. On the contrary. There is nothing wrong with having a nice home, car, good paying job, nice clothes, etc.
There is a difference between liking or even needing something, and loving it and lusting and craving after it.
The believer never has to any of that. God knows what we need and desire and willfully and graciously provides (Matt. 6).
In fact, all of the things described are "Things That Are Out Of Place" for the believer.
These are the things that will run the believer off the rails and wreck their faith.
Lust of the flesh is coveting. We know God hasn't liked that one since the beginning. It's Number 10 on the Big Ten Sin Parade.
Pride of life? That one sunk Lucifer's (Satan) high hopes. He and 1/3 of the angels of heaven. It precedes a fall. The serpent talked Adam and Eve into that one as well.
I could sit here and rattle off probably fifty different varieties of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
All of them would be out of place in the life of the disciple of Jesus Christ.
John didn't issue this warning for us to have to keep a checklist of what to do or what not to do. He was making a comparison so we could make a an informed assessment of our lives.
If we find ourselves living closer to the world than God wants for us, we should recognize that fact and make the proper adjustment.
The adjustment is not to purposely decide in our own strength and power to make changes. That doesn't work. It didn't work before we knew Jesus and it will not work now.
Thats' a hard concept for some folks to wrap their brain around.
It's never what we can do.
It's always what the power of the Holy Spirit can do in us. When we allow Him to.
It's about yielding to Him, not fixing it ourselves.
Closeness to the world means further from God. Grow closer to God, and the world and its lustful cravings shrink.
Think of Abraham and Lot. When they split up and went their separate ways, Lot chose to pitch his tent in Sodom. Abraham chose the fertile lands of the Jordan area. We see the tragic results of craving what the world offers in the choices Lot made.
When you pitch your tent too close to lustful sinfulness God will be offended.
When things are out of place that means things are in disorder and disarray.
A life in disarray is not a sign of a life consecrated to Christ.
It might come as a rude awakening today...but...
...it's essentially...
...Keepin' it Real.
Pastor Kevin <><
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
"Part-Timers, Half-Steppers, Comer's and Goer's", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
I was going to throw in "Once-In-Awhiler's and "Never Arriver's", but it would have been too long a title. lol!
They come and they go. The people we sometimes call "church goin' folk".
Some are hardly there. Some aren't really there when they are there. Some come in late. Some leave early. Some stay a season, but we never really had them.
All would be first to say "Lord! Lord!" on cue and at the drop of a hat.
Jesus is never fooled.
Matt.7:21 - "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven."
The impact of that verse is not so much that there would be some who will not enter heaven, but rather why they won't.
The failure to do the will of God.
What exactly is that anyway?
Well, there's a few and they're all clearly delineated in His Word.
Love God. Love your neighbor. Love yourself. Walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. Take up your Cross daily, etc.
We tend to get our shorts all bunched up over trying to "do" them all. Well, sure they are activities that require physical motion and mental response, but the motivation is often wrong.
This is why Jesus said what He said above.
Some think merely doing these things will suffice. They think that BY doing them they will have great favor with God.
Wrong.
It's because you have great favor with God that you will do these things. We do because we are. Not to become.
Don't forget. Jesus thought you were "to die for".
Often the "Lord! Lord!" people have gotten it backwards. That's why their entire heart, soul, mind and strength isn't into it.
That's why they are...half-steppers. It's all merely religious to them. They have mistaken schmoozing with grace.
See...this church thing gets a lot of folks riled up. Let's face it though, Paul has indeed told us that we need to do it (Heb. 10:25).
Of course he didn't say we needed to erect cathedrals and multi-million dollar wonderamas.
He just said that we should assemble together as believers and warn and encourage each other as we look toward the Day of Jesus' return.
I choose to do that in a building. It can be done anywhere. Under a tree. In a home. A coffee shop. With music. Without music. Standing. Sitting. Hands raised. Hands lowered.
The Church is not contained by physicality.
One thing has to be however. Truth.
When the people of God open their mouth and say "Lord! Lord!", it had better mean something.
If not it's no different than a Rotary Club meeting.
So...what's "church" to you? A place to express your love and worship to God among your fellow believers?
Or a drop-in (drop-out) social club?
Friends...these are times to draw near to each other as believers and look to the sky together. Things are happening at such a rapid pace these days that many just might get caught unaware if we let what we do slide into a casual gathering.
Wherever your sanctuary is...get there as often as you are not hindered.
Be a sponge. Soak it in. Squeeze it out. Soak up some more.
We...together...must be...
Keepin' it Real.
Pastor Kevin <><
They come and they go. The people we sometimes call "church goin' folk".
Some are hardly there. Some aren't really there when they are there. Some come in late. Some leave early. Some stay a season, but we never really had them.
All would be first to say "Lord! Lord!" on cue and at the drop of a hat.
Jesus is never fooled.
Matt.7:21 - "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven."
The impact of that verse is not so much that there would be some who will not enter heaven, but rather why they won't.
The failure to do the will of God.
What exactly is that anyway?
Well, there's a few and they're all clearly delineated in His Word.
Love God. Love your neighbor. Love yourself. Walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. Take up your Cross daily, etc.
We tend to get our shorts all bunched up over trying to "do" them all. Well, sure they are activities that require physical motion and mental response, but the motivation is often wrong.
This is why Jesus said what He said above.
Some think merely doing these things will suffice. They think that BY doing them they will have great favor with God.
Wrong.
It's because you have great favor with God that you will do these things. We do because we are. Not to become.
Don't forget. Jesus thought you were "to die for".
Often the "Lord! Lord!" people have gotten it backwards. That's why their entire heart, soul, mind and strength isn't into it.
That's why they are...half-steppers. It's all merely religious to them. They have mistaken schmoozing with grace.
See...this church thing gets a lot of folks riled up. Let's face it though, Paul has indeed told us that we need to do it (Heb. 10:25).
Of course he didn't say we needed to erect cathedrals and multi-million dollar wonderamas.
He just said that we should assemble together as believers and warn and encourage each other as we look toward the Day of Jesus' return.
I choose to do that in a building. It can be done anywhere. Under a tree. In a home. A coffee shop. With music. Without music. Standing. Sitting. Hands raised. Hands lowered.
The Church is not contained by physicality.
One thing has to be however. Truth.
When the people of God open their mouth and say "Lord! Lord!", it had better mean something.
If not it's no different than a Rotary Club meeting.
So...what's "church" to you? A place to express your love and worship to God among your fellow believers?
Or a drop-in (drop-out) social club?
Friends...these are times to draw near to each other as believers and look to the sky together. Things are happening at such a rapid pace these days that many just might get caught unaware if we let what we do slide into a casual gathering.
Wherever your sanctuary is...get there as often as you are not hindered.
Be a sponge. Soak it in. Squeeze it out. Soak up some more.
We...together...must be...
Keepin' it Real.
Pastor Kevin <><
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
"Sometimes The Wrong Way Seems Like The Right Way", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Choices. They come up every day. Even moment by moment.
What to do? Where to go? How to do it? When? Why?
Use the blue pen or the black pen? Looking fast ball or slider? Take this route or that one?
Most are insignificant and benign decisions that will bear little if any consequences past a minor annoyance or a fleeting joy.
The wise man of Proverbs however, has struck a key note on one decision that is made at least once in a lifetime by everyone.
Proverbs 14: 12 - "There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death."
Sometimes our decisions are not so clear cut. They require great thought and even some travail.
Even then we might make the wrong choice.
Sometimes it seems like a slam dunk.
It looks so right. So perfect. So clear. It's straight. No curve balls. No obstructions.
Hey, it seems like a no- brainer.
Who'da thunk it would have led to death?
Solomon is speaking of the road to the death after death. The second death. The one that counts. The final disposition of man's soul. The eternal forever.
I'd say that's the Big Kahuna of decisions. It's the one you want to be sure to get right.
Even then man is swayed by what looked good, rather than what was right.
Sometimes the wrong way seems like the right way.
But it isn't. Instead it kills you.
Some even think by making no decision at all keeps them neutral.
Silly rabbit.
God requires a decision. A non-decision is your default decision against God.
Sin often looks like the way to go. The party is over there. Clowns. Rides. Stuff to make you feel good. Dog and pony shows. Magicians. Baubles. Balloons. Shiny objects. Something that appeals to every carnal sense of the body (the natural).
It's generally a very easily accessed path. In other words, straight before us.
Everything is perfect about it. Except for one thing. It's a pathway to death.
Notice that Solomon says that it's "in the end" that we find out we have been on the wrong path all along.
Uh-oh. You went too far. You're in too deep.
It's a long road back if you're fortunate enough to find you were in the wrong place after all.
I was on that road for many years. Man, it's a long stretch. Took me over 20 years to get to the end of it.
Some even take multiple trips back and forth, confused about which path they want to be on.
Fortunately I only made one in and one out.
There's only one right Way. All the other choices are wrong ones.
It's Jesus. He is THE WAY (John 14:6).
Follow Him. All the time. Every day. Look to the Cross. It's easy to spot. It's smack in the middle of the Right Way.
You actually have to miss it on purpose.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
What to do? Where to go? How to do it? When? Why?
Use the blue pen or the black pen? Looking fast ball or slider? Take this route or that one?
Most are insignificant and benign decisions that will bear little if any consequences past a minor annoyance or a fleeting joy.
The wise man of Proverbs however, has struck a key note on one decision that is made at least once in a lifetime by everyone.
Proverbs 14: 12 - "There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death."
Sometimes our decisions are not so clear cut. They require great thought and even some travail.
Even then we might make the wrong choice.
Sometimes it seems like a slam dunk.
It looks so right. So perfect. So clear. It's straight. No curve balls. No obstructions.
Hey, it seems like a no- brainer.
Who'da thunk it would have led to death?
Solomon is speaking of the road to the death after death. The second death. The one that counts. The final disposition of man's soul. The eternal forever.
I'd say that's the Big Kahuna of decisions. It's the one you want to be sure to get right.
Even then man is swayed by what looked good, rather than what was right.
Sometimes the wrong way seems like the right way.
But it isn't. Instead it kills you.
Some even think by making no decision at all keeps them neutral.
Silly rabbit.
God requires a decision. A non-decision is your default decision against God.
Sin often looks like the way to go. The party is over there. Clowns. Rides. Stuff to make you feel good. Dog and pony shows. Magicians. Baubles. Balloons. Shiny objects. Something that appeals to every carnal sense of the body (the natural).
It's generally a very easily accessed path. In other words, straight before us.
Everything is perfect about it. Except for one thing. It's a pathway to death.
Notice that Solomon says that it's "in the end" that we find out we have been on the wrong path all along.
Uh-oh. You went too far. You're in too deep.
It's a long road back if you're fortunate enough to find you were in the wrong place after all.
I was on that road for many years. Man, it's a long stretch. Took me over 20 years to get to the end of it.
Some even take multiple trips back and forth, confused about which path they want to be on.
Fortunately I only made one in and one out.
There's only one right Way. All the other choices are wrong ones.
It's Jesus. He is THE WAY (John 14:6).
Follow Him. All the time. Every day. Look to the Cross. It's easy to spot. It's smack in the middle of the Right Way.
You actually have to miss it on purpose.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Monday, June 21, 2010
"Sin, Sins, Sinning, Sinners (Pt. 2)" by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Sin is the most destructive force in the universe. The greatest tragedy in the Church is Christians believing that God somehow condones the very thing He went to great expense to free them from.
God's grace is grace to win, not grace to sin!
He has saved us from sin NOT saved us in sin! He has saved us out of sin, not saved us to sin!
1 John 1:6-7 - "[So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents]. (7) But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]."
The above passage is very important, and often misquoted and misunderstood.
Essentially it is dealing with the destabilized condition of the double minded person that James describes in his epistle.
What's true in the natural state of things for the natural man is more true and binding for the supernatural Spirit filled disciple of Jesus Christ.
Even the natural man cannot be called honest if he is a thief.
Can the blood washed believer be a sinner and still be called a believer? Well, he may be a believer (but so is the devil), but he is not, nor ever will be, a true disciple.
The TRUE disciple of Christ. True, unbroken fellowship (yes, it can be broken and even severed), by disciples living in the blood washed state of purity and righteousness, sanctified (set apart) not as a work of the Law, but in faith in what they believe Christ does in them through the Holy Spirit.
The disciple of Jesus Christ by nature of their closeness in their relationship with Him, and by faith that Jesus is all that the Word says He is, and that His dealing with sin in the believer is efficacious and unbreakable as far as His end is concerned, will trust the work of the Cross for every moment of their existence and not place in jeopardy the salvation that has been won for them.
The believer as a result of the Cross has the advantage that Lucifer didn't have, that Adam didn't have, that the Sons of God (angels of Genesis 6) didn't have.
We have the advantage of the blood washing power of the Cross and the subsequent Baptism of Holy Ghost Fire!
The task at hand when dealing with sin in the Church is not whether God has provided THE remedy, but getting followers to believe it! There's Paul's haunting words again: "What shall we say then?"
When followers believe it they become disciples. They leave behind the life of habitually sinning and confessing. Continual brokenness and restoration. Unstable, double minded.
Verse 7 has become so misunderstood that many have been duped into believing that the normal Christian life is comprised of breaking fellowship with God and begging to be restored. Not occasionally, but on a daily basis! God forbid!
No, no, no! The proper understanding is that Jesus cleanses us from sin, and then keeps us cleansed! There are so many who do not believe this that it appears to the observer that it is the opposite! This testifies more to Christ being a failure than a Savior.
However, some will not be kept. Some will take side trips to Darkness. Sometimes they make it back to the Light. Often they do not. It's tragic because it never had to be that way, and don't you allow others to convince you that it does.
Walk in the Light. Take up your Cross daily and follow Him. The Blood of Jesus will continually keep and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
What is it about the Church of Jesus Christ being a Church "without spot or wrinkle" that we are not getting?
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
God's grace is grace to win, not grace to sin!
He has saved us from sin NOT saved us in sin! He has saved us out of sin, not saved us to sin!
1 John 1:6-7 - "[So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents]. (7) But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]."
The above passage is very important, and often misquoted and misunderstood.
Essentially it is dealing with the destabilized condition of the double minded person that James describes in his epistle.
What's true in the natural state of things for the natural man is more true and binding for the supernatural Spirit filled disciple of Jesus Christ.
Even the natural man cannot be called honest if he is a thief.
Can the blood washed believer be a sinner and still be called a believer? Well, he may be a believer (but so is the devil), but he is not, nor ever will be, a true disciple.
The TRUE disciple of Christ. True, unbroken fellowship (yes, it can be broken and even severed), by disciples living in the blood washed state of purity and righteousness, sanctified (set apart) not as a work of the Law, but in faith in what they believe Christ does in them through the Holy Spirit.
The disciple of Jesus Christ by nature of their closeness in their relationship with Him, and by faith that Jesus is all that the Word says He is, and that His dealing with sin in the believer is efficacious and unbreakable as far as His end is concerned, will trust the work of the Cross for every moment of their existence and not place in jeopardy the salvation that has been won for them.
The believer as a result of the Cross has the advantage that Lucifer didn't have, that Adam didn't have, that the Sons of God (angels of Genesis 6) didn't have.
We have the advantage of the blood washing power of the Cross and the subsequent Baptism of Holy Ghost Fire!
The task at hand when dealing with sin in the Church is not whether God has provided THE remedy, but getting followers to believe it! There's Paul's haunting words again: "What shall we say then?"
When followers believe it they become disciples. They leave behind the life of habitually sinning and confessing. Continual brokenness and restoration. Unstable, double minded.
Verse 7 has become so misunderstood that many have been duped into believing that the normal Christian life is comprised of breaking fellowship with God and begging to be restored. Not occasionally, but on a daily basis! God forbid!
No, no, no! The proper understanding is that Jesus cleanses us from sin, and then keeps us cleansed! There are so many who do not believe this that it appears to the observer that it is the opposite! This testifies more to Christ being a failure than a Savior.
However, some will not be kept. Some will take side trips to Darkness. Sometimes they make it back to the Light. Often they do not. It's tragic because it never had to be that way, and don't you allow others to convince you that it does.
Walk in the Light. Take up your Cross daily and follow Him. The Blood of Jesus will continually keep and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
What is it about the Church of Jesus Christ being a Church "without spot or wrinkle" that we are not getting?
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Friday, June 18, 2010
"Sin, Sins, Sinning, Sinners (Pt. 1)" by Pastor Kevin Lynch
See the progression in the title this morning.
Most Christians (and I really do mean most) couldn't tell you the differences or similarities between any of it.
The Church today has been dumbed down to accept just about anything without feeling the need to develop their own individual spiritual understanding.
The term "sheep" was not meant by Jesus to mean that we literally turn into sheep. Contrary to some activity which would tend to support the opposite, we are smarter than sheep. Most of the time. Well, sometimes.
Take the issue of sin for instance. Picking up where I left off yesterday with John's first epistle:
1 John 1:8 - "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
"Well pastor, that means if we deny the fact that we are rank sinners we are living a lie."
Only partially true.
The term "sin" here does not mean sins we commit. In the Greek there is a "the" in front of sin (a definite article). Sin in this instance means the "sin nature" which we have all been born with.
However (and hear me out here) we cannot properly be called a "sinner" until we actually commit our first sin. God is not cruel or malicious. He does not hold us culpable for something we didn't have anything to do with. We are born in sin because of what Adam did. We sin because that sin nature will inevitably awaken us too choose to sin. In fact, we are born with the propensity to sin, not to do good.
Are ya' following me? Everybody has indeed sinned, but that is not what this particular verse is referring to.
Sin is the nature we have. Sins are what we commit because of the sin nature.
So, what John is saying above is that we cannot deny that we have a sin nature because we would be denying God and the remedy He has provided in Jesus Christ to deal with it.
It does not mean that we are under a compulsion to sin AFTER we become born again.
You see, if becoming born again does not change us and our nature, what is the point of becoming born-again in the first place? Indeed, the term "born again" would not even be able to live up to its own definition!
Now, before you argue with me (because for some strange reason many people don't like hearing they are not bound to commit sin anymore) read this:
2 Cor. 5:17 - "Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!"
Now that you've read it meditate upon it. Get it deep in your spirit. Now answer the above question in the light of the truth.
Am I bound and enslaved to the sin nature any longer? Or, by receiving Christ as my Lord and Savior have I been freed from the Law of Sin and Death? Am I truly a NEW creation? With a NEW nature?
Well, unless you really enjoy your sins and sinning and being a sinner (yes, sinning means you are a sinner) and don't want to let them go (which we will deal with tomorrow), the above verse is either indisputable or the Bible is a lie.
Think about it.
It's simply about...
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Most Christians (and I really do mean most) couldn't tell you the differences or similarities between any of it.
The Church today has been dumbed down to accept just about anything without feeling the need to develop their own individual spiritual understanding.
The term "sheep" was not meant by Jesus to mean that we literally turn into sheep. Contrary to some activity which would tend to support the opposite, we are smarter than sheep. Most of the time. Well, sometimes.
Take the issue of sin for instance. Picking up where I left off yesterday with John's first epistle:
1 John 1:8 - "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
"Well pastor, that means if we deny the fact that we are rank sinners we are living a lie."
Only partially true.
The term "sin" here does not mean sins we commit. In the Greek there is a "the" in front of sin (a definite article). Sin in this instance means the "sin nature" which we have all been born with.
However (and hear me out here) we cannot properly be called a "sinner" until we actually commit our first sin. God is not cruel or malicious. He does not hold us culpable for something we didn't have anything to do with. We are born in sin because of what Adam did. We sin because that sin nature will inevitably awaken us too choose to sin. In fact, we are born with the propensity to sin, not to do good.
Are ya' following me? Everybody has indeed sinned, but that is not what this particular verse is referring to.
Sin is the nature we have. Sins are what we commit because of the sin nature.
So, what John is saying above is that we cannot deny that we have a sin nature because we would be denying God and the remedy He has provided in Jesus Christ to deal with it.
It does not mean that we are under a compulsion to sin AFTER we become born again.
You see, if becoming born again does not change us and our nature, what is the point of becoming born-again in the first place? Indeed, the term "born again" would not even be able to live up to its own definition!
Now, before you argue with me (because for some strange reason many people don't like hearing they are not bound to commit sin anymore) read this:
2 Cor. 5:17 - "Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!"
Now that you've read it meditate upon it. Get it deep in your spirit. Now answer the above question in the light of the truth.
Am I bound and enslaved to the sin nature any longer? Or, by receiving Christ as my Lord and Savior have I been freed from the Law of Sin and Death? Am I truly a NEW creation? With a NEW nature?
Well, unless you really enjoy your sins and sinning and being a sinner (yes, sinning means you are a sinner) and don't want to let them go (which we will deal with tomorrow), the above verse is either indisputable or the Bible is a lie.
Think about it.
It's simply about...
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Thursday, June 17, 2010
"What Is The Normal Christian Experience?", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Paul asked the question of the ages in his epistle to the Romans.
Romans 6:1 - "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"
He also answered the question for us...
Vs. 2 - "God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Sometimes it is confusing for Christians when it comes to dealing with sin, the sin nature, the new nature in Christ, the cleansing from sin, the admonitions to be free from sin, the establishment of man made doctrines telling you that you can never be free from sin, etc.
What is the "normal" Christian experience? What does God expect from us?
John in his first epistle says:
1 John 1:7 - "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
There it is. This is the expectation of God and the normal day to day experience of the Christian.
Follow Jesus. Stay in close contact with other Christians in fellowship of prayer and study of the Word. Live in the blood washed state of purity and holiness.
Understand that you CANNOT accomplish this daily or even momentarily in your own strength, power, or volition. You cannot will this to happen. You cannot determine this to happen.
Several thousand years of Jewish history says we can't. Remember the Ten Commandments? Remember how the Israelites failed to keep them?
What were the two things they lacked that we have? Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Trying to live for God encompasses one thing and one thing only. That we follow Jesus. Period.
This is what Jesus meant when He instructed us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. It simply means that we keep our attention and faculties focused on what He accomplished for us on the Cross.
That's it. In Him all of the Laws of God have been fulfilled. Keep Jesus and we keep the Law. Keep Jesus and we please God.
This is "walking in the light". No toiling. No works. No self sufficiency. It's all Him. It's all grace. Grace is sufficient and grace is extended toward those who walk after Jesus.
It really is simple. When your attention is upon Jesus, and you have settled your craving of the worldly appetite, the desire to sin grows dim.
Stay with me on this. I am going to open it up wider as we go through the week.
After all... it's all about...
...Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin<><
Romans 6:1 - "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"
He also answered the question for us...
Vs. 2 - "God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Sometimes it is confusing for Christians when it comes to dealing with sin, the sin nature, the new nature in Christ, the cleansing from sin, the admonitions to be free from sin, the establishment of man made doctrines telling you that you can never be free from sin, etc.
What is the "normal" Christian experience? What does God expect from us?
John in his first epistle says:
1 John 1:7 - "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
There it is. This is the expectation of God and the normal day to day experience of the Christian.
Follow Jesus. Stay in close contact with other Christians in fellowship of prayer and study of the Word. Live in the blood washed state of purity and holiness.
Understand that you CANNOT accomplish this daily or even momentarily in your own strength, power, or volition. You cannot will this to happen. You cannot determine this to happen.
Several thousand years of Jewish history says we can't. Remember the Ten Commandments? Remember how the Israelites failed to keep them?
What were the two things they lacked that we have? Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Trying to live for God encompasses one thing and one thing only. That we follow Jesus. Period.
This is what Jesus meant when He instructed us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. It simply means that we keep our attention and faculties focused on what He accomplished for us on the Cross.
That's it. In Him all of the Laws of God have been fulfilled. Keep Jesus and we keep the Law. Keep Jesus and we please God.
This is "walking in the light". No toiling. No works. No self sufficiency. It's all Him. It's all grace. Grace is sufficient and grace is extended toward those who walk after Jesus.
It really is simple. When your attention is upon Jesus, and you have settled your craving of the worldly appetite, the desire to sin grows dim.
Stay with me on this. I am going to open it up wider as we go through the week.
After all... it's all about...
...Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin<><
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
"Which Law Is At Work In Your Life?", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Sin is a powerful force in human nature. It serves to destroy people, family, and as we are seeing even today, the environment we live in. It is not to be taken lightly.
However...neither is it to be given a place of honor in your life.
Place of honor? Who in the world would do that pastor?
Ask yourself that question.
Here are some points to ponder to help you perform a test of your "sin acceptance level" or "SAL".
Do you believe you are compelled to sin every day? Is there a moment, an hour, a day, that you can't go without committing a sin?
Do you believe that a Christian must sin uncontrollably in what you think, what you say, and what you do?
Do you believe that "ALL" sin and fall short of God's glory? (Rom. 3:23, the most misquoted verse in the bible)
If you have agreed with the above statements would you be surprised that it places you in a category of denying the power of the sacrifice of Christ and His breaking the power of sin in the life of the believer?
Read what Peter has said:
1 Peter 2:24 - "He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed."
Do you see that Peter is teaching that the believer in Christ has died, literally ceased to exist as far as sin is concerned? That by His torture and death we have been healed from the Law of sin and death?
Still not convinced? Old traditions and bad theology died hard. Sometimes they don't die. Instead they kill you.
How about Paul? You must not ignore one of the great questions of the ages!
Romans 6:2 - "How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?"
Do you live in sin? Do you energize sin in your life by giving it a place it does not deserve?
How can you? Why do you?
Don't you realize that there are two sets of Laws at work here? Have you never been told?
There is the Law of Sin and Death, and the Law of the Spirit of Life.
Which Law is at work in your life?
I will tell you that if you give one inch to sin and its death force then you are under the control of the Law of Sin and Death!
Sin in the life of the believer does not belong there. It is like a Scarecrow. It will scare you and try to convince you it's more powerful than it is, but in reality it is a straw man. Even the ravens eventually figure out a Scarecrow poses no real threat.
Paul figured it out as the great revelation from Christ came to him.
Romans 8:2 - "For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death."
There's a new Sheriff in town. Why are you still serving the old one? There are new laws now for the new person you have become in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
The Law of the Spirit of Life has freed you. Why still live like a condemned person? Sin is an interloper, an intruder. Jesus died to free you from that bondage. You must believe that He has or sin will continually be revived in your life.
This might rub a few folks the wrong way, but...
...hey...I'm just...
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
However...neither is it to be given a place of honor in your life.
Place of honor? Who in the world would do that pastor?
Ask yourself that question.
Here are some points to ponder to help you perform a test of your "sin acceptance level" or "SAL".
Do you believe you are compelled to sin every day? Is there a moment, an hour, a day, that you can't go without committing a sin?
Do you believe that a Christian must sin uncontrollably in what you think, what you say, and what you do?
Do you believe that "ALL" sin and fall short of God's glory? (Rom. 3:23, the most misquoted verse in the bible)
If you have agreed with the above statements would you be surprised that it places you in a category of denying the power of the sacrifice of Christ and His breaking the power of sin in the life of the believer?
Read what Peter has said:
1 Peter 2:24 - "He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed."
Do you see that Peter is teaching that the believer in Christ has died, literally ceased to exist as far as sin is concerned? That by His torture and death we have been healed from the Law of sin and death?
Still not convinced? Old traditions and bad theology died hard. Sometimes they don't die. Instead they kill you.
How about Paul? You must not ignore one of the great questions of the ages!
Romans 6:2 - "How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?"
Do you live in sin? Do you energize sin in your life by giving it a place it does not deserve?
How can you? Why do you?
Don't you realize that there are two sets of Laws at work here? Have you never been told?
There is the Law of Sin and Death, and the Law of the Spirit of Life.
Which Law is at work in your life?
I will tell you that if you give one inch to sin and its death force then you are under the control of the Law of Sin and Death!
Sin in the life of the believer does not belong there. It is like a Scarecrow. It will scare you and try to convince you it's more powerful than it is, but in reality it is a straw man. Even the ravens eventually figure out a Scarecrow poses no real threat.
Paul figured it out as the great revelation from Christ came to him.
Romans 8:2 - "For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death."
There's a new Sheriff in town. Why are you still serving the old one? There are new laws now for the new person you have become in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
The Law of the Spirit of Life has freed you. Why still live like a condemned person? Sin is an interloper, an intruder. Jesus died to free you from that bondage. You must believe that He has or sin will continually be revived in your life.
This might rub a few folks the wrong way, but...
...hey...I'm just...
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
"The Revealed Plan Of Jesus Christ Pt. 3", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Jesus began His revelation to the world at the Sermon on the Mount, which we looked at yesterday.
Understand that I believe this is different and set apart from anything else Jesus taught or preached. While Jesus taught about salvation throughout the gospels it is explained in its fullest sense here.
It was so important that He gave it to the Apostle Paul so many years later, even perhaps as long as a decade after Paul's Damascus Road experience.
What is the culmination of this revelation? Indeed, what IS the heart of the revelation?
Jesus pointed out the condition and needs of the human heart and the result of the saved soul, but He reserved the one special element that was the most critical. He has to leave it out because it had not yet been concluded when He conducted the Sermon on the Mount teaching.
The critical element is The Cross.
Yes, we need the acknowledgement of the bankrupt spirit, the mourning of our dead sinful state, the meekness of His righteousness, and certainly the hunger and thirsting for more of Him, but...
None of that comes to any conclusive victory without the Cross. Without the Cross it's all just Law.
This is what He gave to Paul.
Paul gave it to the world. Even Paul struggled with trying to live righteously until he received this revelation (Rom. 7).
1 Cor. 1:23 - "We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense."
Gal. 3:13 - "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'"
1 Cor. 2:2 - "For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified."
Gal. 6:12 - "Those who want to make a good impression and a fine show in the flesh would try to compel you to receive circumcision, simply so that they may escape being persecuted for allegiance to the cross of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
And perhaps the greatest testament from Paul of all:
Gal. 6:14 - "But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!"
Clearly this is THE most important thing that Paul felt he could share with the world.
Nothing. Nothing but the Cross of Jesus Christ by which mankind is saved to God and from his sin and worldly ways. Nothing but the Cross of Christ for his freedom from sickness and disease. Nothing but the Cross of Christ to effect even our Holy Ghost baptism.
The Cross is the central event in all of biblical and world history. There has never been anything greater or more effective than what Jesus did on the Cross.
This is THE revelation of God to man. Within it holds the secret and power of successful living for anyone who merely says "YES!" to it!
How about you today? Have you said "Yes!" to it? Have you appropriated all the blessings that are contained in it?
You know if you have or not. Perhaps only you and Jesus know this.
You cannot get anywhere with God until you deal with Calvary. You can't live on the Incarnation, and you can't leapfrog over the Cross to the Tomb.
You have to first deal thoroughly with the Cross.
Personally, I think this is what is weakening the Church today. The Cross is no longer popular. It is systematically being replaced by new emergent theologies and doctrines.
Why don't you have a conversation with Him about it today? Seriously. Why not?
If there is anything that lives up to "Keepin it Real", in my humble opinion, it doesn't get any more "real" than this people.
Be blessed,
Continuing in...
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Understand that I believe this is different and set apart from anything else Jesus taught or preached. While Jesus taught about salvation throughout the gospels it is explained in its fullest sense here.
It was so important that He gave it to the Apostle Paul so many years later, even perhaps as long as a decade after Paul's Damascus Road experience.
What is the culmination of this revelation? Indeed, what IS the heart of the revelation?
Jesus pointed out the condition and needs of the human heart and the result of the saved soul, but He reserved the one special element that was the most critical. He has to leave it out because it had not yet been concluded when He conducted the Sermon on the Mount teaching.
The critical element is The Cross.
Yes, we need the acknowledgement of the bankrupt spirit, the mourning of our dead sinful state, the meekness of His righteousness, and certainly the hunger and thirsting for more of Him, but...
None of that comes to any conclusive victory without the Cross. Without the Cross it's all just Law.
This is what He gave to Paul.
Paul gave it to the world. Even Paul struggled with trying to live righteously until he received this revelation (Rom. 7).
1 Cor. 1:23 - "We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense."
Gal. 3:13 - "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'"
1 Cor. 2:2 - "For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified."
Gal. 6:12 - "Those who want to make a good impression and a fine show in the flesh would try to compel you to receive circumcision, simply so that they may escape being persecuted for allegiance to the cross of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
And perhaps the greatest testament from Paul of all:
Gal. 6:14 - "But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!"
Clearly this is THE most important thing that Paul felt he could share with the world.
Nothing. Nothing but the Cross of Jesus Christ by which mankind is saved to God and from his sin and worldly ways. Nothing but the Cross of Christ for his freedom from sickness and disease. Nothing but the Cross of Christ to effect even our Holy Ghost baptism.
The Cross is the central event in all of biblical and world history. There has never been anything greater or more effective than what Jesus did on the Cross.
This is THE revelation of God to man. Within it holds the secret and power of successful living for anyone who merely says "YES!" to it!
How about you today? Have you said "Yes!" to it? Have you appropriated all the blessings that are contained in it?
You know if you have or not. Perhaps only you and Jesus know this.
You cannot get anywhere with God until you deal with Calvary. You can't live on the Incarnation, and you can't leapfrog over the Cross to the Tomb.
You have to first deal thoroughly with the Cross.
Personally, I think this is what is weakening the Church today. The Cross is no longer popular. It is systematically being replaced by new emergent theologies and doctrines.
Why don't you have a conversation with Him about it today? Seriously. Why not?
If there is anything that lives up to "Keepin it Real", in my humble opinion, it doesn't get any more "real" than this people.
Be blessed,
Continuing in...
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Monday, June 14, 2010
"The Revealed Plan Of Jesus Christ Pt. 2", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
The "Master Plan" of Jesus Christ was begun during what has become known as the Sermon on the Mount.
In my opinion it is the greatest Word that God has ever handed to the human race.
The first four "beatitudes" sets the foundation and an order to the elements needed for salvation.
Matthew 5:3-6 (KJV)
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
The poor in spirit: this is crucial for it means that man must recognize his own moral bankruptcy in order to make way for the control of Jesus in their life.
They that mourn: the mourning is for the individuals lost life in sin. This MUST occur if one is going to repent and be forgiven.
The meek: This occurs when one admits their personal inadequacy, turns to Christ in repentance, and receives His forgiveness. The exchange of self righteousness for His righteousness occurs. "Inherit the earth" means that the believer will reign with Christ when He sets up His rule on earth after His Second Advent. This will never happen properly until one become poor and admits sinfulness.
They which hunger and thirst: this is the proof in the pudding so to speak. Every born-again believer will exhibit this spiritual hunger and thirsting for more of Jesus and His righteousness in the same way the physical body craves food when experiencing hunger pains. If one is not exhibiting this then there is something wrong that needs to be fixed. Something has not been yielded to Christ. Something has broken down elementally in the first two. Generally it is in the full yielding of oneself to Jesus. Folks don't like getting off their throne and allowing Jesus to sit in it.
These are NOT meant to be perceived as "steps" to be followed religiously. They are elements which are incorporated into the what occurs instantly when one gives their life to Jesus and becomes born-again. It's grace through faith, not working a system.
This is the Jesus "side" of His revelation. Tune in tomorrow for the Paul "side" of the Revealed Plan of Jesus Christ. Something still needed to happen to make this revelation complete for us to experience.
Together we are...
...Keepin' it real,
Pastor Kevin <><
In my opinion it is the greatest Word that God has ever handed to the human race.
The first four "beatitudes" sets the foundation and an order to the elements needed for salvation.
Matthew 5:3-6 (KJV)
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
The poor in spirit: this is crucial for it means that man must recognize his own moral bankruptcy in order to make way for the control of Jesus in their life.
They that mourn: the mourning is for the individuals lost life in sin. This MUST occur if one is going to repent and be forgiven.
The meek: This occurs when one admits their personal inadequacy, turns to Christ in repentance, and receives His forgiveness. The exchange of self righteousness for His righteousness occurs. "Inherit the earth" means that the believer will reign with Christ when He sets up His rule on earth after His Second Advent. This will never happen properly until one become poor and admits sinfulness.
They which hunger and thirst: this is the proof in the pudding so to speak. Every born-again believer will exhibit this spiritual hunger and thirsting for more of Jesus and His righteousness in the same way the physical body craves food when experiencing hunger pains. If one is not exhibiting this then there is something wrong that needs to be fixed. Something has not been yielded to Christ. Something has broken down elementally in the first two. Generally it is in the full yielding of oneself to Jesus. Folks don't like getting off their throne and allowing Jesus to sit in it.
These are NOT meant to be perceived as "steps" to be followed religiously. They are elements which are incorporated into the what occurs instantly when one gives their life to Jesus and becomes born-again. It's grace through faith, not working a system.
This is the Jesus "side" of His revelation. Tune in tomorrow for the Paul "side" of the Revealed Plan of Jesus Christ. Something still needed to happen to make this revelation complete for us to experience.
Together we are...
...Keepin' it real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Friday, June 11, 2010
"The Revealed Plan Of Jesus Christ Pt. 1", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
There really is a plan you know. It is an ordered plan of Jesus Christ that was first partly revealed by Jesus Himself in the flesh upon the Mount of Olives during what has become known as "The Sermon on the Mount".
I say "partly revealed" because Jesus was not able to reveal all of it until it was completed. It would only be completed when He went to the Cross.
This is where the Apostle Paul enters into the revelation.
Jesus needed to complete His revealed plan to the human race by providing it to a person of His choosing. That person is Paul.
Look at how Paul explains it:
Galatians 1:11-12 - "For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man's gospel [a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard]. (12) For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
This leaves absolutely no question to the fact that what Paul has revealed to the Church through the Word of God has been directly taught to Paul by Jesus Christ.
It was not given to him by the other apostles, nor by any other man.
Let's be clear here. This is what has made Paul unique. Paul was singled out by Jesus to be converted and to serve Him by direct physical confrontation on the Road to Damascus AFTER Jesus died and was resurrected.
"(16) To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone]. (17) Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special messengers of Christ) before I was, but I went away and retired into Arabia, and afterward I came back again to Damascus."
The four gospel accounts are historical accounts of Jesus rather than revelation, with the exception of John who later in life was given the same type of revelation that Paul was given. Paul was given revelation about how to live in the present, John was given revelation about what would happen in the future.
Stay tuned as to what exactly this combined revealed order of the plan of Jesus Christ and Paul for living successfully for Him is .
You will not be disappointed. In fact, you will be surprised, pleased, and relieved.
Just...
...Keepin it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
I say "partly revealed" because Jesus was not able to reveal all of it until it was completed. It would only be completed when He went to the Cross.
This is where the Apostle Paul enters into the revelation.
Jesus needed to complete His revealed plan to the human race by providing it to a person of His choosing. That person is Paul.
Look at how Paul explains it:
Galatians 1:11-12 - "For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man's gospel [a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard]. (12) For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
This leaves absolutely no question to the fact that what Paul has revealed to the Church through the Word of God has been directly taught to Paul by Jesus Christ.
It was not given to him by the other apostles, nor by any other man.
Let's be clear here. This is what has made Paul unique. Paul was singled out by Jesus to be converted and to serve Him by direct physical confrontation on the Road to Damascus AFTER Jesus died and was resurrected.
"(16) To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone]. (17) Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special messengers of Christ) before I was, but I went away and retired into Arabia, and afterward I came back again to Damascus."
The four gospel accounts are historical accounts of Jesus rather than revelation, with the exception of John who later in life was given the same type of revelation that Paul was given. Paul was given revelation about how to live in the present, John was given revelation about what would happen in the future.
Stay tuned as to what exactly this combined revealed order of the plan of Jesus Christ and Paul for living successfully for Him is .
You will not be disappointed. In fact, you will be surprised, pleased, and relieved.
Just...
...Keepin it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Thursday, June 10, 2010
"There Is Just Simply No Other Way", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
There is only one gospel of Jesus Christ. There are no secondary ones, no alternatives, no backups, no reserves.
Paul took that fact seriously.
Galatians 1:8-9 - "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! (9) As we said before, so I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from or contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)!"
The preaching of the Cross of Christ was the power to save according to Paul (1 Cor. 1:17-18).
Any preaching that is not rooted firmly in what Christ has done upon the Cross is foolishness and reflects the faulty wisdom of man, and according to Paul, is worthy of damnation.
Is it odd that there is not as much preaching of the Cross as there used to be?
Not odd at all considering the state and condition of many corners of the Church today.
In fact, there are efforts to NOT preach the Cross as many have deemed it no longer "user friendly" to today's seeker.
(Go ahead preacher, preach destruction upon yourself, your family and your church).
Any church, Christian organization, and individual PERSON for that matter, is going to be in a weakened or compromised condition if they are not adhering to Jesus and the message of the Cross.
I don't care how many programs you have going, how many books you have written, how popular your radio or TV program is. Inside it is rotten at the core.
Once the devil successfully infiltrated the Church with false teachers and doctrines, he was able to deteriorate, or water down, the strong message of Christ.
If we are not adhering to the Cross, then we are not seeing ourselves as being crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20). If that is the case then we are still operating as individual and separate entities apart from the will of God. In other words, the strongly corrupted message today consists more of what we think we can accomplish, than what Christ can accomplish in and through us by His work on the Cross.
Today it is "God wants to give you more stuff!" More stuff? We think we own our stuff? More often it owns us.
That's because when Christ is not the owner of our soul (which He bought at a great price upon the Cross 1 Cor. 6:20)) something or someone else will step in to claim ownership.
You would be surprised at how many Christians would sell their own soul to the highest bidder for the physical comforts the world has to offer.
Beware my friends. "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (those who acknowledge their own moral and spiritual bankruptcy and abdicate their throne to the Lordship of Jesus) for they shall inherit the Kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3).
You can't do it yourself. You are weak and inept in your own physical, mental, and moral strength. Only Lord Jesus can prosper you in all areas.
He is waiting for you to make that decision today. There is no other gospel. There is no other way.
I'm just...
...Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Paul took that fact seriously.
Galatians 1:8-9 - "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! (9) As we said before, so I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from or contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)!"
The preaching of the Cross of Christ was the power to save according to Paul (1 Cor. 1:17-18).
Any preaching that is not rooted firmly in what Christ has done upon the Cross is foolishness and reflects the faulty wisdom of man, and according to Paul, is worthy of damnation.
Is it odd that there is not as much preaching of the Cross as there used to be?
Not odd at all considering the state and condition of many corners of the Church today.
In fact, there are efforts to NOT preach the Cross as many have deemed it no longer "user friendly" to today's seeker.
(Go ahead preacher, preach destruction upon yourself, your family and your church).
Any church, Christian organization, and individual PERSON for that matter, is going to be in a weakened or compromised condition if they are not adhering to Jesus and the message of the Cross.
I don't care how many programs you have going, how many books you have written, how popular your radio or TV program is. Inside it is rotten at the core.
Once the devil successfully infiltrated the Church with false teachers and doctrines, he was able to deteriorate, or water down, the strong message of Christ.
If we are not adhering to the Cross, then we are not seeing ourselves as being crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20). If that is the case then we are still operating as individual and separate entities apart from the will of God. In other words, the strongly corrupted message today consists more of what we think we can accomplish, than what Christ can accomplish in and through us by His work on the Cross.
Today it is "God wants to give you more stuff!" More stuff? We think we own our stuff? More often it owns us.
That's because when Christ is not the owner of our soul (which He bought at a great price upon the Cross 1 Cor. 6:20)) something or someone else will step in to claim ownership.
You would be surprised at how many Christians would sell their own soul to the highest bidder for the physical comforts the world has to offer.
Beware my friends. "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (those who acknowledge their own moral and spiritual bankruptcy and abdicate their throne to the Lordship of Jesus) for they shall inherit the Kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3).
You can't do it yourself. You are weak and inept in your own physical, mental, and moral strength. Only Lord Jesus can prosper you in all areas.
He is waiting for you to make that decision today. There is no other gospel. There is no other way.
I'm just...
...Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
"Renegade Deserters", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: "Renegade" - 1 : a deserter from one faith, cause, or allegiance to another.
People are branded as renegades all the time. Their accusers generally use less inflammatory labels.
Concerning the gospel, Paul said there is only one, but people who desert it act as if there are others.
In other words, when people desert the one true gospel of Jesus Christ, which is steadfastly rooted in the Cross and what Jesus accomplished at Calvary, they are essentially deserting Jesus Himself.
Galatians 1:6 - "I am surprised and astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade and deserting Him Who invited and called you by the grace (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) [and that you are transferring your allegiance] to a different [even an opposition] gospel."
A "different", and even worse, an "opposing" gospel.
What constitutes an opposing gospel?
Certainly joining a cult like the Jehovah's Witnesses would qualify. They most definitely teach an opposing doctrine because they misrepresent the Person of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes within the confines of the Church there are different gospels taught. Roman Catholics and some Protestant sects are considered "Christian" yet they teach regeneration by works and sacraments such as baptism. That is a different gospel than what the Bible teaches.
An example of an opposing gospel that is subtle, yet no less dangerous, is the message of the get rich quick schemers that have taken over much of Christian television broadcasting. They are mixing the biblical truth of God's prosperity and blessing, and making false formulas on how to achieve it. One can plainly see that since the only ones who are "getting rich quickly" are those who are picking the pockets of good but ignorant believers.
Friends, keep one thing in mind. You NEVER have to pay for grace. Any blessing or prosperity you will ever enjoy flows directly to the believer from the Cross of Jesus Christ. All you ever have to do is steadfastly believe in Christ.
Paul says:
"...but we preach Christ crucified..." 1 Corinthians 1:23
"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" Galatians 6:14
"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" 1 Corinthians 2:2.
Seeking riches or to be rich is the way of the flesh, NOT the way of the gospel. Seeking anything other than to become more conformed to Jesus Christ and His will and way would be to follow a different gospel.
Cherrypicking particular verses from the Word and formulating new doctrines is the earmark of a false teacher and should be condemned, not commended.
Do not become like Ephesus and make Jesus your jilted lover! Even denouncing the false apostles was not enough! They had to return to Jesus!
Examine yourself today. What has captivated you and led you away from the truth?
Paul says in Chapter 5, "Who (what) has hindered you? You were doing so well."
Is it the need to gather material things? Is it dependency on alcohol or drugs? Is it a forbidden relationship? The listed "works of the flesh"? (sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies)
Some obviously evil, but some may creep in innocently. ALL are designed to rip you away from Jesus.
The good news in all of this is it can be turned around before it becomes too late. Don't forget, one of the biggest lies ever perpetrated upon the gospel is the false notion that it can never become too late.
Return to the gospel that saved your soul. Denounce anything that has gotten between you and Jesus and...
...DO IT NOW!
That my friends is...
...Keepin it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
People are branded as renegades all the time. Their accusers generally use less inflammatory labels.
Concerning the gospel, Paul said there is only one, but people who desert it act as if there are others.
In other words, when people desert the one true gospel of Jesus Christ, which is steadfastly rooted in the Cross and what Jesus accomplished at Calvary, they are essentially deserting Jesus Himself.
Galatians 1:6 - "I am surprised and astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade and deserting Him Who invited and called you by the grace (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) [and that you are transferring your allegiance] to a different [even an opposition] gospel."
A "different", and even worse, an "opposing" gospel.
What constitutes an opposing gospel?
Certainly joining a cult like the Jehovah's Witnesses would qualify. They most definitely teach an opposing doctrine because they misrepresent the Person of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes within the confines of the Church there are different gospels taught. Roman Catholics and some Protestant sects are considered "Christian" yet they teach regeneration by works and sacraments such as baptism. That is a different gospel than what the Bible teaches.
An example of an opposing gospel that is subtle, yet no less dangerous, is the message of the get rich quick schemers that have taken over much of Christian television broadcasting. They are mixing the biblical truth of God's prosperity and blessing, and making false formulas on how to achieve it. One can plainly see that since the only ones who are "getting rich quickly" are those who are picking the pockets of good but ignorant believers.
Friends, keep one thing in mind. You NEVER have to pay for grace. Any blessing or prosperity you will ever enjoy flows directly to the believer from the Cross of Jesus Christ. All you ever have to do is steadfastly believe in Christ.
Paul says:
"...but we preach Christ crucified..." 1 Corinthians 1:23
"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" Galatians 6:14
"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" 1 Corinthians 2:2.
Seeking riches or to be rich is the way of the flesh, NOT the way of the gospel. Seeking anything other than to become more conformed to Jesus Christ and His will and way would be to follow a different gospel.
Cherrypicking particular verses from the Word and formulating new doctrines is the earmark of a false teacher and should be condemned, not commended.
Do not become like Ephesus and make Jesus your jilted lover! Even denouncing the false apostles was not enough! They had to return to Jesus!
Examine yourself today. What has captivated you and led you away from the truth?
Paul says in Chapter 5, "Who (what) has hindered you? You were doing so well."
Is it the need to gather material things? Is it dependency on alcohol or drugs? Is it a forbidden relationship? The listed "works of the flesh"? (sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies)
Some obviously evil, but some may creep in innocently. ALL are designed to rip you away from Jesus.
The good news in all of this is it can be turned around before it becomes too late. Don't forget, one of the biggest lies ever perpetrated upon the gospel is the false notion that it can never become too late.
Return to the gospel that saved your soul. Denounce anything that has gotten between you and Jesus and...
...DO IT NOW!
That my friends is...
...Keepin it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
"Freed To Do What?", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
I've Got a River of Life flowing out of me
Opens prison doors and sets the captives free
That's from a neat old chorus we used to sing in church when I first got saved.
Freed from what?
Freed from Satan's bondage of sin and degradation. Freed from destination Hell.
Freed to do what?
Ahh....that is the question.
Something can get very warped between "Freed from" and "Freed to do".
Some people never make the proper transition. The plan and purpose breaks down after a bit and eventually they relapse back into bondage.
I guess we could call that "spiritual recidivism". It's kind of like how so many in the prison population return there after short bursts of freedom.
There has to be a purpose and God always has a purpose.
It's not freedom to continue on the path we were on before we knew Jesus. That in essence was the bondage. Our poor choices, obstinance and disobedience were leading us straight to hell.
Here's an analogy:
Acts 5:19-20 - "But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and, leading them out, said, (20) Go, take your stand in the temple courts and declare to the people the whole doctrine concerning this Life (the eternal life which Christ revealed)."
Physical or spiritual, God leads us out of one thing and into something else.
There is purpose.
Freedom to do what? Continue on the same old path? The same old way? Our failed methods?
No.
Freedom of usefulness and purpose that counts for something more than wasted lives and accumulation of stuff.
Freedom to lead others to Life.
Freedom to "Take Your Stand".
Is it more important to thrill yourself or to thrill God?
This is what thrills God. If it thrills God He will thrill you.
I have been freed and I am thrilled.
Free to be thrilled.
Is it possible that this pastor, this preacher, this husband, this father, this grandfather, this uncle, this brother, this friend, this neighbor, this Facebook buddy...has actually found the secret to a happy life?
No? Not possible? Well, then you have probably "hidden" me (the Facebook way of ignoring a person) long ago. You will continue on your useless pursuits for the joy that escapes you (even if you won't admit it).
You probably have labled me as "religious". I am the polar opposite of religion.
But what if it's true? What if I'm right? What if I am as ecstatically happy as I claim to be and I could lead you to the source AND guarantee you the same?
Well, then I guess you will either miss it or achieve it.
Personally, I hope you achieve it.
Hey...I'm just...
...Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Opens prison doors and sets the captives free
That's from a neat old chorus we used to sing in church when I first got saved.
Freed from what?
Freed from Satan's bondage of sin and degradation. Freed from destination Hell.
Freed to do what?
Ahh....that is the question.
Something can get very warped between "Freed from" and "Freed to do".
Some people never make the proper transition. The plan and purpose breaks down after a bit and eventually they relapse back into bondage.
I guess we could call that "spiritual recidivism". It's kind of like how so many in the prison population return there after short bursts of freedom.
There has to be a purpose and God always has a purpose.
It's not freedom to continue on the path we were on before we knew Jesus. That in essence was the bondage. Our poor choices, obstinance and disobedience were leading us straight to hell.
Here's an analogy:
Acts 5:19-20 - "But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and, leading them out, said, (20) Go, take your stand in the temple courts and declare to the people the whole doctrine concerning this Life (the eternal life which Christ revealed)."
Physical or spiritual, God leads us out of one thing and into something else.
There is purpose.
Freedom to do what? Continue on the same old path? The same old way? Our failed methods?
No.
Freedom of usefulness and purpose that counts for something more than wasted lives and accumulation of stuff.
Freedom to lead others to Life.
Freedom to "Take Your Stand".
Is it more important to thrill yourself or to thrill God?
This is what thrills God. If it thrills God He will thrill you.
I have been freed and I am thrilled.
Free to be thrilled.
Is it possible that this pastor, this preacher, this husband, this father, this grandfather, this uncle, this brother, this friend, this neighbor, this Facebook buddy...has actually found the secret to a happy life?
No? Not possible? Well, then you have probably "hidden" me (the Facebook way of ignoring a person) long ago. You will continue on your useless pursuits for the joy that escapes you (even if you won't admit it).
You probably have labled me as "religious". I am the polar opposite of religion.
But what if it's true? What if I'm right? What if I am as ecstatically happy as I claim to be and I could lead you to the source AND guarantee you the same?
Well, then I guess you will either miss it or achieve it.
Personally, I hope you achieve it.
Hey...I'm just...
...Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Monday, June 7, 2010
"Who Am I?", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
I am often avoided.
I am often neglected.
I am revered by some, yet shunned by many, often by the very same ones who claim to revere me.
I am hated.
I am loved.
I am a source.
I am poor.
I am rich.
I am a jilted lover.
I am last on the social calendar.
I am a last minute replacement.
I am a rainy day choice.
I am often not a priority to those I should be.
I am taken advantage of.
I am often left waiting for those who are late.
I am taken for granted.
I am weak.
I am weakened.
I am a living, breathing organism.
I have a body.
I am wounded.
I am hurt.
I am mourned.
I am lonely.
I am grieved.
I am... THE CHURCH.
I AM everything and all things. I AM your ONLY sanctuary...
I am often forgotten that I AM the literal BODY OF JESUS CHRIST.
I have great joy, I have great victory...however...
... it does not soothe the immense grief over the lost, the late, the dying, the absent, the wayward, the weary, the misled, the lonely, the hurt, the wounded, the casual, the lazy...non-committed...finding someplace better to go on a sunny (or any) Sunday...not willing to alter YOUR social schedule to satisfy GOD'S already etched in stone calendar...thinking God understands my life is complicated...blind...foolish... the soon to be totally surprised, shocked, dismayed...
Let's not forget the "without spot or wrinkle" thing.
Hebrews 10:25 - "Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching."
Yikes.
If I of feet of clay see it plainly in the vision in front of my face...I literally tremble when I envision what it is that God sees!
Hey...it's sometimes not popular to be God's prophet, pastor, preacher and be charged with...
...Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
I am often neglected.
I am revered by some, yet shunned by many, often by the very same ones who claim to revere me.
I am hated.
I am loved.
I am a source.
I am poor.
I am rich.
I am a jilted lover.
I am last on the social calendar.
I am a last minute replacement.
I am a rainy day choice.
I am often not a priority to those I should be.
I am taken advantage of.
I am often left waiting for those who are late.
I am taken for granted.
I am weak.
I am weakened.
I am a living, breathing organism.
I have a body.
I am wounded.
I am hurt.
I am mourned.
I am lonely.
I am grieved.
I am... THE CHURCH.
I AM everything and all things. I AM your ONLY sanctuary...
I am often forgotten that I AM the literal BODY OF JESUS CHRIST.
I have great joy, I have great victory...however...
... it does not soothe the immense grief over the lost, the late, the dying, the absent, the wayward, the weary, the misled, the lonely, the hurt, the wounded, the casual, the lazy...non-committed...finding someplace better to go on a sunny (or any) Sunday...not willing to alter YOUR social schedule to satisfy GOD'S already etched in stone calendar...thinking God understands my life is complicated...blind...foolish... the soon to be totally surprised, shocked, dismayed...
Let's not forget the "without spot or wrinkle" thing.
Hebrews 10:25 - "Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching."
Yikes.
If I of feet of clay see it plainly in the vision in front of my face...I literally tremble when I envision what it is that God sees!
Hey...it's sometimes not popular to be God's prophet, pastor, preacher and be charged with...
...Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Friday, June 4, 2010
"Expectation Is Vital", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Before I went in for my surgery yesterday, I'll admit I was a bit perplexed. I had expected the mass on my upper chest to have disappeared before I actually had to go through the process.
Instead I had to actually go under the knife only to have the doctor tell me he couldn't find anything.
Not that I mind, as I understand God obviously had a purpose, if not only to be a witness to every person in the OR as to His healing power.
Acts 5:12 - "Now by the hands of the apostles (special messengers) numerous and startling signs and wonders were being performed among the people."
I'm still suffering the effects of the anesthesia and pain meds this morning, so I'm afraid I'll be cutting this short.
However, understand this. There was nothing that happened yesterday that I wasn't expecting to happen.
Lack of expectation, a form of unbelief, is in my opinion, the number one reason why people do not experience miracles in their lives.
In the believer, lack of belief ( a literal oxymoron) is unacceptable. It works against faith. It works against God.
Be blessed today.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Instead I had to actually go under the knife only to have the doctor tell me he couldn't find anything.
Not that I mind, as I understand God obviously had a purpose, if not only to be a witness to every person in the OR as to His healing power.
Acts 5:12 - "Now by the hands of the apostles (special messengers) numerous and startling signs and wonders were being performed among the people."
I'm still suffering the effects of the anesthesia and pain meds this morning, so I'm afraid I'll be cutting this short.
However, understand this. There was nothing that happened yesterday that I wasn't expecting to happen.
Lack of expectation, a form of unbelief, is in my opinion, the number one reason why people do not experience miracles in their lives.
In the believer, lack of belief ( a literal oxymoron) is unacceptable. It works against faith. It works against God.
Be blessed today.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Thursday, June 3, 2010
"The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Clint Eastwood movie? No, the inside of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Right from the very beginning of the established Church of Jesus Christ was there great grace and beauty. There was also deception, sin, and ugly behavior.
In fact, two of its earliest participants were literally named after Grace and Beauty.
They were the husband and wife team of Ananias and Sapphira.
Acts 5:1 - "BUT A certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, (2) And with his wife's knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles."
Grace and beauty giving in to greed and avarice. Consecrated Christians of the earliest formation of the apostolic church headed up by the apostles themselves. You had to be saved and sanctified to be a part of that.
Sin and greed can break through all barriers once man's heart turns cold and grieves the Holy Spirit.
(3) But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land?"
Once the heart grew cold with selfish scheming, and the Holy Spirit fled them, A & S were easy pickin's for Satan.
It's basically the Adam and Eve story all over again. Once pure, now sidetracked by the temptation of shiny objects.
Satan knows his prey. He's been picking losers for centuries. Losers, by the way, are good for Satan.
(If you're not living right for Jesus, there's a big ol' "L" on your forehead).
Once Peter confronts the husband (Ananias) about his grievous sin against God ("You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God."), Ananias is overcome and drops dead on the spot.
When Peter confronts Sapphira with the same rebuke, she drops dead too.
Satan + 2. Church -2.
(11) And the whole church and all others who heard of these things were appalled [great awe and strange terror and dread seized them].
I don't think the Church is appalled enough today. Not enough "great awe" or "strange terror".
It's been replaced by laziness, avarice, lying spirits, disinterest, hitmen evangelists doing the dirty work for pimp preachers, greed, false neo-emergent philosophies, watered down gospels, etc., ad nauseum.
You can't lie to God, or lie to people using God.
I'm actually surprised more people are not just flat out dropping dead. Especially at the pulpit.
I guess it's all collecting compound interest and will be P.O.D. (Payable On Death).
It's all certainly something to ponder.
Most of us can't comment on the state of the Church overall.
We can however, see what is really going on around our little corner of the Church.
Open your eyes. Examine your hearts. Clean out your ears.
Don't forget...you are responsible for your actions. When God calls you up you won't be able to cop out with "I was just doing what the preacher said!"
Adam tried that and...well...look at the mess he made.
Wake up O Ye Born-again, Spirit-filled Child of God. If it could happen to Grace and Beauty, it can happen to you.
Don't let your Grace be cheapened and your Beauty turned ugly.
Hey, it might be unpopular, but I am simply...
...Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Right from the very beginning of the established Church of Jesus Christ was there great grace and beauty. There was also deception, sin, and ugly behavior.
In fact, two of its earliest participants were literally named after Grace and Beauty.
They were the husband and wife team of Ananias and Sapphira.
Acts 5:1 - "BUT A certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, (2) And with his wife's knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles."
Grace and beauty giving in to greed and avarice. Consecrated Christians of the earliest formation of the apostolic church headed up by the apostles themselves. You had to be saved and sanctified to be a part of that.
Sin and greed can break through all barriers once man's heart turns cold and grieves the Holy Spirit.
(3) But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land?"
Once the heart grew cold with selfish scheming, and the Holy Spirit fled them, A & S were easy pickin's for Satan.
It's basically the Adam and Eve story all over again. Once pure, now sidetracked by the temptation of shiny objects.
Satan knows his prey. He's been picking losers for centuries. Losers, by the way, are good for Satan.
(If you're not living right for Jesus, there's a big ol' "L" on your forehead).
Once Peter confronts the husband (Ananias) about his grievous sin against God ("You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God."), Ananias is overcome and drops dead on the spot.
When Peter confronts Sapphira with the same rebuke, she drops dead too.
Satan + 2. Church -2.
(11) And the whole church and all others who heard of these things were appalled [great awe and strange terror and dread seized them].
I don't think the Church is appalled enough today. Not enough "great awe" or "strange terror".
It's been replaced by laziness, avarice, lying spirits, disinterest, hitmen evangelists doing the dirty work for pimp preachers, greed, false neo-emergent philosophies, watered down gospels, etc., ad nauseum.
You can't lie to God, or lie to people using God.
I'm actually surprised more people are not just flat out dropping dead. Especially at the pulpit.
I guess it's all collecting compound interest and will be P.O.D. (Payable On Death).
It's all certainly something to ponder.
Most of us can't comment on the state of the Church overall.
We can however, see what is really going on around our little corner of the Church.
Open your eyes. Examine your hearts. Clean out your ears.
Don't forget...you are responsible for your actions. When God calls you up you won't be able to cop out with "I was just doing what the preacher said!"
Adam tried that and...well...look at the mess he made.
Wake up O Ye Born-again, Spirit-filled Child of God. If it could happen to Grace and Beauty, it can happen to you.
Don't let your Grace be cheapened and your Beauty turned ugly.
Hey, it might be unpopular, but I am simply...
...Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
"Read This And Get Yourself Some A Dat!", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
If we fail to learn from our heritage and past, we will grow weaker and weaker. I shudder to think what the Church would be like today if we did not have these records from Acts.
Acts 4:29-31 - "And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants [full freedom] to declare Your message fearlessly, (30) While You stretch out Your hand to cure and to perform signs and wonders through the authority and by the power of the name of Your holy Child and Servant Jesus. (31) And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage."
This is the quintessential prayer meeting. Specific, expectant, and acquiring.
Note the purposeful and unwavering faith in the power of the use of Jesus' Name.
Understand verse 30 and make no mistake. We are talking authoritative power here.
God stretches out His hand at the same time prayer is going up, giving His servants (us) the power and authority through the name of Jesus to heal and perform signs and wonders.
Earthshaking power! The supernatural collision of the earth and heavenly power! Flesh being impacted by Spirit!
Is it too fantastic and amazing for you to believe today? Have your spiritual senses been dulled by too much neo-biblical interpretation? Are you waiting for a new church to emerge when not one jot or tittle of it has changed in 2,000 years?
You're waiting for a bus that is never arriving.
(Preacher...when was the last time you had a good old fashioned healing service? Deliverance meeting?)
No, my friend. Not me. I believe. I see miracles all of the time. I walk into my little church for the last 15 years expecting, and I see how God puts lives back together. I see cancer being routed as believers lay their hands upon oil soaked heads! I've seen deafness cured in children, and disease run out of infants! I've seen a woman roused in an instant from a dead coma just by pronouncing the words, "In The Name of Jesus, be healed!" I've seen countless deliverances from addictions of every nature. Tobacco, alcohol, drugs...nothing stands up to the power of the Name of Jesus! More importantly...I've seen souls revived and consecrated to Jesus Christ!
How? Just start walking in it. Believe it. Wake up your dulled senses and get movin' in it! I've never doubted it, from the healing and deliverance Jesus performed upon me and my wife, until this very moment!
Get yourself some a dat! And start spreading it around!
Now that my friends is what I'm talkin' about...that's...
...Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Acts 4:29-31 - "And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants [full freedom] to declare Your message fearlessly, (30) While You stretch out Your hand to cure and to perform signs and wonders through the authority and by the power of the name of Your holy Child and Servant Jesus. (31) And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage."
This is the quintessential prayer meeting. Specific, expectant, and acquiring.
Note the purposeful and unwavering faith in the power of the use of Jesus' Name.
Understand verse 30 and make no mistake. We are talking authoritative power here.
God stretches out His hand at the same time prayer is going up, giving His servants (us) the power and authority through the name of Jesus to heal and perform signs and wonders.
Earthshaking power! The supernatural collision of the earth and heavenly power! Flesh being impacted by Spirit!
Is it too fantastic and amazing for you to believe today? Have your spiritual senses been dulled by too much neo-biblical interpretation? Are you waiting for a new church to emerge when not one jot or tittle of it has changed in 2,000 years?
You're waiting for a bus that is never arriving.
(Preacher...when was the last time you had a good old fashioned healing service? Deliverance meeting?)
No, my friend. Not me. I believe. I see miracles all of the time. I walk into my little church for the last 15 years expecting, and I see how God puts lives back together. I see cancer being routed as believers lay their hands upon oil soaked heads! I've seen deafness cured in children, and disease run out of infants! I've seen a woman roused in an instant from a dead coma just by pronouncing the words, "In The Name of Jesus, be healed!" I've seen countless deliverances from addictions of every nature. Tobacco, alcohol, drugs...nothing stands up to the power of the Name of Jesus! More importantly...I've seen souls revived and consecrated to Jesus Christ!
How? Just start walking in it. Believe it. Wake up your dulled senses and get movin' in it! I've never doubted it, from the healing and deliverance Jesus performed upon me and my wife, until this very moment!
Get yourself some a dat! And start spreading it around!
Now that my friends is what I'm talkin' about...that's...
...Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
"Holy Boldness Changes Perceptions", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Pharisees (authoritarians, legalists, religionists), then and today, always look to the carnal, fleshly, base, earthly, natural, and sensory oriented attributes of a person when drawing conclusions about them. They will weigh a persons looks, the style of their clothing, the way they speak, the way they act, how many degrees they have, what kind of title they have before and after their name, and maybe even what kind of car they drive.
Now granted, if the person being scrutinized is after a secular job then certainly one has to expect to be put under a microscope.
However, I'm not talking about a job interview here. I'm talking about how the brethren is treated within the confines of the Church.
Take a look this morning at how Peter and John were being perceived, keeping in mind that they were on the spot for DOING SOMETHING RIGHT AND GOOD!
Acts 4:13 - "Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common men with no educational advantages], they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus."
The rich, powerful, and educated Pharisee could not comprehend how common uneducated fishermen could speak as well as they did, could rally a crowd like they did, or could handle themselves in a desperate situation like they did.
It didn't make sense in their carnally controlled natural minds. It is a clear example of the natural being confronted by the supernatural. The supernaturalness of God will always confound the natural state of those living apart from the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Holy boldness which comes from Spirit-filled believers will always change the minds and attitudes of those who are being exposed to it.
I said it would change perceptions, but sometimes it could swing either way. "They" are either going to love you or want to kill you, but one thing's for certain, they won't be able to ignore you!
You will find acceptance or resistance, even within the walls of the Church, the Body of Christ!
You will be loved and appreciated, or you will be reviled even by those you consider the "brethren".
Don't forget, you who are blood washed and Spirit-filled, sin and evil comes in subtle forms. Be wary of strong opinions that charge you openly with false and non-biblical accusations. Your boldness may be changing perceptions. Remember that gate swings both ways.
Again, your Holy Spirit filled boldness will change perceptions both positively and negatively.
Stay the course. The Holy Spirit knows what He is doing. Stand strong in faith that you are right where God wants you and stay the course.
The bottom line is that whatever the situation, whether in or out of the Church, is that you would be known for having been with Jesus.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Now granted, if the person being scrutinized is after a secular job then certainly one has to expect to be put under a microscope.
However, I'm not talking about a job interview here. I'm talking about how the brethren is treated within the confines of the Church.
Take a look this morning at how Peter and John were being perceived, keeping in mind that they were on the spot for DOING SOMETHING RIGHT AND GOOD!
Acts 4:13 - "Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common men with no educational advantages], they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus."
The rich, powerful, and educated Pharisee could not comprehend how common uneducated fishermen could speak as well as they did, could rally a crowd like they did, or could handle themselves in a desperate situation like they did.
It didn't make sense in their carnally controlled natural minds. It is a clear example of the natural being confronted by the supernatural. The supernaturalness of God will always confound the natural state of those living apart from the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Holy boldness which comes from Spirit-filled believers will always change the minds and attitudes of those who are being exposed to it.
I said it would change perceptions, but sometimes it could swing either way. "They" are either going to love you or want to kill you, but one thing's for certain, they won't be able to ignore you!
You will find acceptance or resistance, even within the walls of the Church, the Body of Christ!
You will be loved and appreciated, or you will be reviled even by those you consider the "brethren".
Don't forget, you who are blood washed and Spirit-filled, sin and evil comes in subtle forms. Be wary of strong opinions that charge you openly with false and non-biblical accusations. Your boldness may be changing perceptions. Remember that gate swings both ways.
Again, your Holy Spirit filled boldness will change perceptions both positively and negatively.
Stay the course. The Holy Spirit knows what He is doing. Stand strong in faith that you are right where God wants you and stay the course.
The bottom line is that whatever the situation, whether in or out of the Church, is that you would be known for having been with Jesus.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
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