The God of our Mistakes

For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.

(1 Sam 12:22-23)

The children of Israel had sinned greatly in asking for an earthly king and rejecting the Heavenly King. They looked away from God and looked to the world, and if we are not careful, we are sure to do the same. Yet the Lord did not use Israel’s disobedience against them, but He lovingly rebuked them and set Himself to bless them still. As such, He is not only our God when we make right choices, but also when our choices are poor. He is our God, even of our mistakes.

God chose us as members of His body and church, and He knew what He was doing. He did not choose us because we were righteous and able (we were not), but out of His love and His sovereign right as God, He made us who we are by His grace. Our goodness did not qualify us, nor will our shortcomings disqualify us, because His mind is already made up about you and me;

Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33)

Therefore, the children God chooses must operate with a deeply–rooted confidence in the God who knows all, and we follow Him with boldness and assurance even in precarious times. Good decisions, good programs, good teaching, and skillful leadership are never the point – they are simply the overflow of the life hidden with God in Christ. Stay hidden, and go forward with the God Who see you in the secret place and rewards you openly. He will never leave nor forsake you – even when you blow it!

 

Love and perfect peace,

Pastor Eric

My Father's Voice

My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart. (Proverbs 4:20, 21)

There are an endless number of teachers and leaders who seek to influence your thinking and command your attention, yet the true disciple learns to hear the still, small voice of his Heavenly Father and to follow Him only. Teachers are many, but fathers are rare, and his words are to be treasured above all others and followed with purity and passion.

{Jesus said}, And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." (John 10:4-5)

Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." (John 18:37)

Every voice leads somewhere and every tongue betrays the heart of the speaker, so we must take all the more care. We are completely responsible for the voices we entertain, and we will inevitably follow the lead of those we find ourselves listening to. When we hearken to the voice of our spiritual fathers, we can be sure we are being led in paths of wisdom and righteousness – for it is God’s sovereign will that the hearts of the children be turned back to their fathers (Malachi 4:6). A father’s words are a shield to the heart of his child, just as the Word of God is our refuge and peace. Be sure, that with all you hear, you are sure to heed godly instruction spoken from the heart of those care for you with the heart of God - father’s heart. Amen.

Pursuits and Possessions

²¹ And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth." ²² So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." ²³ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

 (Luke 18:21-23)

Success in the Christian life is never measured by what we possess, but rather what we give away. And this “giving away” involves much more than material possessions – it reaches all the way down to how we see ourselves, and the value we place on everything and everyone around us. It’s not until we are willing to be empty of our own will and beliefs that we are ready to be filled, and we must be willing to know nothing before we can know anything at all.

"You still lack one thing.”

It is a strange thing to tell a rich man that he is still lacking. That is because Jesus does not count what a man has, but what He can give him. Yet, our Lord will never seek to fill someone who is already full, nor will He pry open a closed fist and force Himself upon him. But He will patiently wait until he realizes how desperately poor he really is before revealing Himself. “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . .” (Matthew 5:3)

. . . he became very sorrowful.

 God will challenge us by placing someone in our path that possesses a greater measure of the Spirit than us to provoke us to a holy jealousy. How we respond to that person says everything about our willingness to grow in the Lord. We are never the same after we’ve seen this man, and we will either shrink back into the comfort of the familiar or pursue the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You."

(Mark 10:28)

Love and perfect peace,

Pastor Eric

The Power of Paying Attention

Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend 

to your herds . . .  (Proverbs 27:23)

One of the greatest weapons a disciple will ever employ is his attention to detail. We tend to believe that loving Jesus is the end all, but it is truly just the beginning. Nothing is more frustrating to a teacher than a student who is smart but inattentive – and we frustrate the Lord when we declare our love for Him and remain emotionally immature and undependable. There is no spiritual maturity without dragging our daily attitudes before the Lord for His painful and honest inspection, and be sure that He will inspect every millimeter of our character because He loves us.

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee 

from Your presence?  (Psalms 139:7)

Most of us turn inward and get surly with God when He first corrects us, and that tells us we are walking in the flesh. Yet, the Lord does not relent, for He knows He will have to judge us wherever we do not humble ourselves and repent. His mercy dictates His patience and His fierce determination to present us to Himself without spot or wrinkle. Our duty is to respond immediately when we are rebuked or corrected by His Holy Spirit, and in doing so we prove we are sons and servants of the Most High God. All this demands an open heart and a steely-eyed focus on our relationship with Him and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Be sure that we will give an account for every word, every deed, and every gift we receive from above. So, let the Lord find us fully engaged in dialogue with Him, abiding in Him, and attentive to Him. It is a matter of life and death!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; ²⁴ and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalms 139:23-24)

Love and Peace beyond understanding,

Pastor Eric

"I will Build my Church..."

Matthew 16:18

For a pastor (at least this pastor), these words of Jesus are among the most comforting and reassuring words in the Bible.  They are also the most sobering and convicting, because they oppose so many beliefs I have about my job.  I always feel the self-imposed pressure to “grow up” the Father’s House both in membership and maturity, and God must remind me every day that it’s His job to build the church, and He instructed me to, “. . .  feed My sheep.”

Please refocus with me.  The question is not, “How can I get the church to grow or get others to come?”  But, “How can I share the love God has shed on me with others?”  We can trust that if the Lord is pleased with the Son of God in our lives, He will use us and our church to bring many sons and daughters to glory, and that excites me much more than simply larger numbers of bodies in chairs!

Here’s my point.  It’s my one desire to see Jesus Christ fully realized in my life.  It doesn’t matter what occurs or does not occur, what happens to me and the things I love, or if I get anything in life I so deeply desire – as long as the Heavenly Father receives glory and honor through me. Efforts to make the Father’s House in our image are simply vain and futile, because we can’t build the church.  But we can be built up in Christ and function as a member of a church where Christ builds up others in His image.  

Now, I do believe that God will multiply and mature us mightily in this coming season.  My main task, though, is to see that this flock I pastor reflects the person, power, and love Jesus Christ with anyone and everyone who comes among us. Examine yourself, as I’m examining myself.  Are we loving, honoring, praying, and giving in the way that Jesus commands?  If we are, God will delight in increasing us, because He’ll be multiplying Christ through us. That’s all the Father wants . . . more, much more of Jesus!

Love and peace beyond understanding,

Pastor Eric

Honesty and Revelation

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” ⁴⁸Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” ⁴⁹Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” John 1:47-49

How is it that Nathanael received the truth about Jesus so readily, when all Israel failed to recognize their Messiah?  It was because Nathanael possessed the grace of integrity, which Jesus immediately recognized and acknowledged – “...an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”  This was a man who was honest with himself and others, a straight-shooter, one who meant what he said and said what he meant.  Jesus commended him for his truthfulness, because it made the way for him to see the Son of God.

Total honesty is an essential trait of God’s children.  When we embrace any deception or dishonesty, we may see Jesus, but not as Lord and King.  The longer we refuse to accept the truth about ourselves, the longer it takes for us to recognize Christ as the Master of our lives.  We will never find our true identity in what others say about us, or even what we say about ourselves.  But immediately when the Lord speaks the truth about us and we receive it, we are set free to see Him for who He is.  God can only reveal Himself to those of us who speak the truth about ourselves in our hearts (Psalm 15:2). 

The Lord shows us what is wrong in us, because He loves us as our Father; and He wants us to repent and be cleansed, so we can enjoy unbroken fellowship with Him.  He shows us what’s right in us, because it confirms His hand upon us, and assures us He’s shaping us in the image of Jesus.  God becomes real to us when we are real with Him.  May we all be “real” like Nathanael – so God can truly reveal Himself to us!   

Dear Family:

A few years ago, I heard Foursquare Evangelist Jean Darnell share a dream she had.  To the best of my recollection, it went like this:

Jean had been taken up to heaven and was given a tour.  While she marveled at the immaculate beauty and awesome wonder of the place, her attention was drawn to an angel sitting alongside the gold-paved street with his back to her.  When she walked up to him, he had a deeply pensive, perplexed expression, and she wondered what this glorious, amazing angel could possibly be so troubled about.  Just then, he turned around and looked at her and asked,

                "What time is it?"

Jean immediately woke up. Every bit as perplexed as the angel, she said in her heart,

                "Lord that was a rather dumb question the angel asked me!"

The Lord quickly answered back,

"Looking at the way most of you Christians are living, the angel is rightly wondering do you all really know what time it is!!"

It's almost cliché to say, "Jesus is coming back soon."   And it's all too rare to find a believer or church living as if they're actually expecting Him.  Do the lives we live individually and collectively reflect the earnest conviction that Jesus could appear today?  Take a moment to bring to mind the issues that have occupied your thoughts this past week.  Can you truly say you've been concerned with God's agenda?  I hope so.

It is my deepest desire to see souls saved, but I also long to see those who name Christ as Savior living for Him with reckless abandon. When people meet or fellowship with us, let them find the sweet fragrance of God's active presence in all we say and do.  When they tell others about us, let them be able to say we are  people who speak the truth, feed the poor, visit the sick and imprisoned, pray fervently and continuously, and love all men in Jesus Christ.  Let us live and work like a church that has much to do and only a little while to do it.  After all, we do know what time it is . . . it’s time to we live completely for Jesus!

Love,

Pastor Eric

WE ARE CHILDREN OF LIGHT

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of incredulity, and it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct the other way...”

From “A Tale of Two Cities”, by Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens’ words refer to the volatile days of 1775, but they also could be spoken of the present day.  Perhaps you feel it the “best of times and the worst of times” in your life.  Things may be going very well, but there are some stiff challenges - great spiritual victories but perplexing difficulties - feelings of being closer to a God than ever before, yet days of feeling like a spiritual failure.  Can you identify?  I believe you can.

            You are the light of the world.  (Matt 5:14)   

Being close to Jesus means living in the light - and being the light in the world is not all that easy, because he light of His perfection reveals all our imperfections – even our innermost thoughts!  Also, His light will bring out all manner of things about those around you – the good, the bad, and the ugly!  Now that can be uncomfortable. It’s hard living in the Light! 

Whatever you do, be determined to walk in the light by walking closely with Jesus Christ, even when it is uncomfortable.  Jesus taught His disciples that apart from total dependence on Him, they could do nothing productive!  Staying close to the Him keeps us encouraged, focused, and fruitful in spite of life’s discomforts and contradictions.

So, now you understand why so many perplexing issues are at hand.  You’ve begun to “walk in the Light” and to be a light.  Sometimes that light reveals unpleasant things in and around you. But Jesus will never bring anything to light without giving you the grace to deal with it.  Be encouraged, and face life on God’s terms.  Whatever you do, don’t go back into darkness and sin.  Ask God to give you His supernatural power to bear the hard times, and let the light that resonates from you reveal Jesus to everyone around you.  Remember, you are the light of the world, and He is the light in you!

Love,

Your pastor and God’s servant,

Eric

The Call to Integrity

Integrity is a wonderful thing, though it’s all too rare even among Christians today. We need to understand and heed God’s high calling to the perfect and blameless life. When the Word of God is given the prominent place in our lives it deserves, the standard set in the scripture becomes our measuring rod for personal integrity. You and I can’t live a life of integrity in our own strength, and we’ll admit that if we’re honest with ourselves. But, the Good News is the Holy Spirit dwells in us to make us people of the highest biblical character. Integrity is a wonderful thing, though it’s all too rare even among Christians today. We need to understand and heed God’s high calling to the perfect and blameless life. When the Word of God is given the prominent place in our lives it deserves, the standard set in the scripture becomes our measuring rod for personal integrity. You and I can’t live a life of integrity in our own strength, and we’ll admit that if we’re honest with ourselves. But, the Good News is the Holy Spirit dwells in us to make us people of the highest biblical character.


Righteousness, uprightness, and trustworthiness are the attributes the Bible ascribes to a person of integrity. Examine these excerpts from Psalm 15:
v. 1,2 “Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell on your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart…”
v. 3b “…does [no] evil to his neighbor…”
v. 4b “…he who swears to his own hurt and does not change.” (or, one who
keeps his word even when it hurts).
v. 5b “…nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things
shall never be moved.”


Wow! This man or woman God describes “shall never be moved.” That speaks of the solid, unshakable faith and character the Holy Spirit develops in those who are determined to live open and transparent lives before God and His people. This chapter also speaks of abiding in God’s tabernacle and dwelling on His holy hill. What a beautiful picture of intimacy with God, and this picture is one He is painting for all who strive to live and love honestly.


The Lord calls you and me to be people of spotless integrity. We may not find many examples of integrity in the media or even in our personal relationships and travels. But the less regard for truth we witness in the world, the greater the witness of Jesus Christ in us becomes. What IS important is that we find integrity when we look in the mirror! The mirror I’m speaking of is the Word of God. You see, when we read God’s Word, Christ is revealed, and so are we. All that the Word exposes leads to us beg Christ to help us, then he imparts His Spirit and integrity to us.


So let’s be true to the One who leads us into all truth. He IS the truth, and that truth lives in us, truly making us men and women of integrity.


Love and peace,
Pastor Eric

Pride

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  Psalm 139:23, 24

Satan is not our most dangerous enemy, because he can only operate where we allow.  When we walk in intimacy and obedience to Christ, the demons have little or nothing in us to work with.  Not even the world, with all its temptations and pleasures can touch us, because we have overcome the world in Christ!  No, our greatest enemy is not in hell or the world system of things  . . . our greatest enemy is pride!

Pride is the most dangerous of sins, because it is completely blind to itself.  Pride plans, acts, and thinks without considering the Lord.  It is a bold affront to Him, and we're all guilty of it -- yet it is so subtle that we rarely detect it or confess it. Pride distorts our self-concept, props us up, puffs us up, and makes us believe things of ourselves and others that are not true. It makes us think of ourselves first and last, it takes and demands more credit than it deserves, and it talks about itself more than it should.  Pride doesn't respond to correction very well.  I'm sure each of us can immediately point to at least one person who fits this description.  The proof that we are blind to our own pride is we didn't point to ourselves.

Remember, children of God are called to be as wise as serpents, and that wisdom begins with knowing God and understanding ourselves. Nothing but the searchlight of the Holy Spirit and the mirror of the word of God can reveal these things to us, and we suffer with pride to the degree that we ignore what they show us.

    

Perhaps you know all this already, and it's not for you.  Then again, maybe that might be your . . .

Love and perfect peace,

Pastor Eric

When the Spirit Speaks


Matthew 10:18-20

¹⁸ "You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; ²⁰ for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."

 Luke 12:11, 12

¹¹ "Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. ¹² For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

 The Holy Spirit does not simply prepare us for the trials and difficulties in our lives – He is that preparation. The Bible consistently teaches us the necessity of preparedness, and we do not always have time to get ourselves ready, but we must already (and always) be prepared. In other words, preparedness is a state of being for the Christian. It is a mistake to think God is using today just to prepare us for tomorrow, for Jesus says in Matthew 6:25-33,

²⁵ "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁸ So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

 Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised to any of us, so today is of paramount importance, and we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit right now! God is most pleased when we are ready to hear and speak God’s Word today, and the Holy Spirit will speak through in the moment of trial and glorify the Lord no matter the circumstance. As God’s children, we can rightly judge our maturity by the immediacy of our witness and how seamlessly the Lord is glorified by our words when we are under duress. Therefore, we do not worry about tomorrow and its troubles, nor do we wonder if we will stand or falter. Our walk is a moment by moment adventure, and we can be sure the God who is with us today will be with tomorrow! Remember Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Blessings and peace,

Pastor Eric