Belief, Unbelief

“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:24

All to often today we hear people who speak of how sold out they are for Jesus. The initial response for many of us may be an envy like state where we desire to be as sold out as this other person. We then begin to wander down this winding road of doubt and unbelief.

For centuries we have been taught that doubt is improper and that anyone who truly loves the Lord should never experience a hint of this devil called doubt. However, it seems that no matter how hard we attempt to oppress it, most of us still experience it.

I desire to set you free today and tell you that sometimes I have doubt. I doubt that I truly believe in God. I doubt that my faith is strong enough to carry on. I doubt my calling. I doubt my vision. I doubt just about everything, but I don’t doubt God. Did you catch that? I don’t doubt God.

That is the tricky thing with doubt. Many of us have not taken the time to differentiate between the things we doubt. It is one thing to doubt our faith and it is another thing to doubt God’s ability. When I pray I believe, it is in the time after that I may doubt. However, my doubt is always inward and never upward.

That is pretty powerful in and of itself. If we only doubt inward, then we are only truly doubting ourselves. When we doubt upward then we doubt God. There is a difference.

In the story depicted above in the scripture we see that, even in the days of Jesus, there was a difference between the beliefs. This scripture indicates that you can believe and disbelieve all at the same time! We learn that it is perfectly all right to love and have faith in God, but doubt your own ability to do so.

I know that much of this seems odd. You are probably wondering how you can both believe and disbelieve at the same time. But think about it. When you struggle with doubt do you ever doubt what God can do? Most likely not.

My focus is not trying to have more faith of God’s ability, but to increase my faith in believing He can do so. It is a weird thing I know, and words are escaping me on how to completely sum it up. Maybe you need to find the words for your self. I find that I understand this thing of differentiating doubt, but am unable to speak it. Much in the way as I am able to understand the presence of the Holy Spirit, but am unable to explain it. Sometimes God is just unexplainable.

In conclusion, I will say that I pray none of you loses faith. It is okay to struggle with doubt time and again, we all pretty much do. Just remember to never doubt God’s ability, after all he doesn’t, and even more importantly God has never doubted you.

Remembering Nora

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart^[1]”

In many ways this past week was quite difficult for me. I had been struggling with flu like symptoms where I was just completely drained of all energy. To go along with this illness there was plenty of work to be done. With multiple papers to write and hectic days at work I was not certain that I could accomplish everything that was on my plate. Then something happened fully unexpected.

I had received a phone call that a woman I had met a few months back had just passed away. Her name was Nora. In having only met with her once I was not certain I knew much about her. From what she had told me she helped build this very church along with her children by selling fried pies to the workmen as they went to lunch. This was quite an intriguing story.

After visiting with her for a short while I had learned that she was a fiery woman of that old time faith that we rarely see anymore. She told me of what an abomination it was to see women going to church in pants and men should always wear their suits (I was quite thankful that I was in a suit that day). She fully believed in the power of the blood and just knew God would heal her through and through. Some would say that never did come to fruition, others (as would I) would disagree.

In meeting with her children in preparation for services I learned yet another level of Nora. They described a loving, caring, and devoted woman. They told me of a mom, not a mother. To some there may be no difference in these titles, but to those who have experienced it know better.

The difference is that anyone can be a mother, but it takes love, care, and devotion to be a mom. Nora cared not for this world and the possessions around her, but she cared greatly for her people, and we were all her people.

The Word teaches us to love one another greatly, for love covers a multitude of sin. Well, I believe that Nora covered a couple multitudes herself, and now as she sits with Jesus attempts to cover some more.

As a pastor I meet many people day to day and deal with marriage and death and birth at any given moment. At times it can seem to run together, but not Nora. In one meeting with her I fell in love, not because of who she was, but because of whom she served. Therefore in memory of an old time Kentucky saint can we should all try to love a little more not because of who we are, but because of whom we serve.

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^[1] The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (1 Pe 1:22). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

One God, One Master

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24

The other day I was reading in the Old Testament where Hilkiah, a priest during the reign of Josiah, was assisting in the cleaning out of the temple and discovered a tome of great wealth. What he found buried under the material wealth of the king was the Book of the Law as given to the Israelite nation by Moses. This sacred book had been lost many years, just as Israel had been lost during that same time.

Stop and think about this scenario for one moment. The king Josiah had commissioned the workmen and the priests to clean out the temple. The wealth of the nation had become so great that it was literally stored in the house of God. As time had passed the people began to forget who it was that blessed them in the first place. As time had passed people began to stop looking to the Lord and began to look toward the riches. As a result the Book of the Law became buried and lost.

In our own lives we often find ourselves in a similar situation. When we are down on our luck and have hardly anything to offer the world, or at least that is what we tell ourselves, we begin to turn to God with a renewed fervency. As we pray, fast, and study harder we begin to see God move. Favor is poured onto us and there begins windfalls of blessings.

As this favor grows and our lives improve we begin this state of contentment. Our prayers become less frequent, our fasting turns into gluttony, and our study becomes short recollections of what we once read. In short we lose our sacred devotion to the riches we gained in the world.

Now honestly look at yourself. Are you currently or have you in the past ever-allowed God to be buried and hidden by the wealth of this world? I am certain that nearly everyone will honestly answer yes. It is just who we are. Admit it! Don’t deny yourself the healing of admitting your weakness.

If we continue on this path of honest reflection we see that it really makes sense. We need to fail at successfully serving God through our own doing, so that we may better understand what it means to serve God throughGod's doing. After all, if we could serve God and not need His intercession to keep us upright then what was the point of Jesus? Jesus is what allows us to continue to find our sacred devotion, our Book of the Law, under the wealth of this world. Without Him we would be eternally lost and buried by the world.

Jesus taught in the Book of Matthew that we couldn’t serve two masters. Many have taught that this was in reference to only money, but it can be for all things. Anything that gets in the way of the service of God can in some ways be your master, whether this is a mound of gold in the temple or an activity that takes time away from devotion.

We must do everything we can to serve God with our entire mind, all of our body, and all of our soul. It cannot be allowed for something to get in the way. Therefore I challenge you today to find that mound of gold in your heart that has buried the God in your life and set Him free. Watch what happens when the windows of Heaven open upon you. Just never lose focus, never lose God.

Burning, not Consummed

“And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.”

Exodus 3:2

Are you on fire for God? I mean really burning. So much Spirit and power coursing through your veins that you are literally bursting with the light of the Lord.

Or have you ever been to a worship service and left just completely drained?

Often when we are filled with God’s love and Spirit we find that we become quite exhausted afterward. We put so much of ourselves into that moment that our physical body is fully sapped of energy. Essentially we have drained ourselves of everything. Sounds a lot like giving it all to God, doesn’t it?

True worship and celebration of God’s power and love is exactly that; giving it all. It is tiring. It is exhausting. It is draining. But it is not consuming. In the end we are still here and we still have a mission to fulfill.

Notice the bush in the story of Moses. Did you catch how the angel of the Lord was a flame of fire and that it was in the midst of a bush? The bush was not the angel, but instead the bush was merely the vessel in which the angel resided. Also take notice that the bush was not consumed. After the angel left and the experience of that moment with Moses had passed, the bush went back to being a bush. An anointed bush, but a bush nonetheless.

As we worship and celebrate God we experience a very similar occurrence. We too are filled up as a vessel of the Lord. The Holy Spirit resides in us and moves in the ways that the Lord desires. It is like a fire in our bellies that drives us to accomplish unthinkable tasks. We are able to love better, understand more, perform acts of amazement, and simply worship God continuously. However, when the Spirit departs you are still just you.

Sounds a bit depressing I know, but that is the point. Everyday we must strive to have more of God poured into us. Maybe not the level we receive at the altar that can leave us drained afterwards, but enough of His Spirit to keep us energized and fulfilled. I desire enough of His Spirit so that we do not forget whom we serve and so that others will see His presence upon us.

I know some people say they want to be consumed by God, but I have to wonder if that is what they really mean, and if that is what God desires. Think about it for a moment. To be consumed means to no longer be you. How could God want that?

God loves you for you! He created you and has a plan for you. If He consumes you continuously then of what use can you be? Instead lets invite God to inhabit us; to reside in us. To trickle drops of Himself into us when we need it most, but still let us move forward and accomplish His mission. Let us be consumed in the altar, but burning in the streets.

Little by Little

²² The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you.”

Deut 7:22

Have you ever had a day that was so troublesome, so difficult, that it literally felt like the whole world was coming against you? It didn’t matter where you were or what you accomplished, it just felt as if there was far too much to handle. You are not alone. We all have had a moment where we thought we would break. (Otherwise this essay is pointless and I am completely alone in this worry)

You know the best part about all that stress is that you didn’t break. You are still here. You made it! God is so good! In the scripture above it is written that God will clear the nations before you. What a great promise that is. To know that even if the whole world is against you God is still for you. Not only is He for you, but also He is willing to fight off the nations “little by little”. So why do we even bother doing anything at all? I mean if God is going to clear the nations, the pressure and the stress, then why do I have to do anything?

That is an interesting point; however, pay close attention to the very next sentence where it says “you may not make an end at once”. Did you catch that? It says “you”. This implies that we will have to do something. I know; I just took all the ease out of it and put the stress right back on your shoulders. The world is collapsing again and there is no answer in sight. But is that what I really just said? Or is there another answer?

Our walk with God is at times slow and tedious. We do not always see where we are heading, instead we just trod along, and that is just fine. God is still God.

Stop! Think about what you just read. God is still God.

It does not matter how slow and tedious our walk is, He is still God and we will be just fine. While He will not fight all the fights for us, He does clear the way.

The passage above that we have referenced leads to that end. God is willing to clear away the nations, but we have to be willing to walk along and “make an end of them.” Whatever your stressors in life are God is willing to ease the burden, but you still must be willing to face them yourself and defeat it in your own way. The greatest power of God is to empower you. To not just prove how mighty He is, but to show how strong you can be.

That is right, you are strong. “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” (Eph. 4:13) Memorize this verse. Absorb this verse. Live this verse. It may only happen “little by little” otherwise the “wild beasts grow to numerous”, but it will happen. Take courage. You are not alone, God is walking right there with you. He has seen the path you take and is ready to strengthen you. All you have to do is call out His name and have faith that God is still God.

Preparing to Bloom

^“30 And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.”

2 Kings 19:30

What does it mean to take root downward? How do we bear fruit upward? And why is it that Judah is said to do this? To answer these questions completely would take a book in and of itself, however, for today’s purposes I will try to sum it up in a couple paragraphs.

Judah was the southern kingdom of Israel after the great division of the nation. I suppose you could call this the first church split. Funny thing isn’t it. That after thousands of years human kind has not changed one bit. Judah was in possession of the holy city Jerusalem and their kings were of the line of David, yet they still did not understand God. Nonetheless, it was their remnant that was to “take root downward” and “bear fruit upward” for whatever that is worth.

To understand this whole downward upward thing it will be helpful to look at the structure of a plant, after all it does seem to be what the author is describing. When examining plants, lets say a flower, most people understand that they first have to be well planted and firmly in place before the flower will bloom. After the plant has established itself then it will receive the nutrients it needs (water and light) and will able to begin to bloom. So there you have it. The whole downward upward problem is solved. Did you miss it?

As Christians we are just like that flower. We are desperate for a place to bloom; a place where we can humble our egos and seek God through prayer; a place to dig deeper. As this humbling digging transition occurs in us we eventually tap into that stream of God, that living water that He promised the Samaritan woman at the well. And once we are tapped in we begin to soak up the light of the world, we begin to soak up Jesus. It is in this process that we are saved. In plants it is known as photosynthesis, but in man it is known as salvation. When we are saved we “bear fruit upward” as we praise God for all the blessings He has given us.

Remember Judah? That place I wrote about at first. Would you believe that in some ways we are just like Judah? Sure there is no capital holy city anymore, but the line of David still exists. It exists in us. We have that same spirit flowing through us to this very day. With that in mind I have to wonder are we properly taking root and bearing fruit, or do we believe it to be someone else’s duty.

Spoiler Alert: Judah was overtaken. I guess their root was not quite strong enough. Is ours? Will we be overtaken as well? I pray not. Today as we sit and meditate on the things of God take a minute to think of how you can dig deeper and praise more in an attempt to “take root downward” and “bear fruit upward”.

Love Better, Love Harder

^“13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:13

How great is our love? Do we even understand what it means to love? Can we truly love as God loves us? These are questions that have plagued me in the past, and I have a feeling I am not alone. In our pilgrimage from the cross to Kingdom gates we experience life. In life we must not only love, but be loved. Right there is the key.

In understanding how to love we must first understand what it means to be loved. We, as Christians and non-Christians alike, must learn to abandon the notion that we must love harder and better than all others. Instead we must learn to receive love the best we can. In return we will find that we are able to love harder and better than we ever thought possible. Now stop. Think. Digest.

In the game of love you can only provide what you know. If you have never known what it means to be loved how can you possibly ever love someone else? It could be said that there is a correlational relationship between how you experience love and how you provide it. One can love only to the extent to which they have been loved.

Look around you. Think of the people you know who have horrible relationships. Now think of their life past and what level of love they have received. I would theorize that in most cases these people come from broken homes, or homes that failed to adequately provide a loving base. But there is hope. All it takes is a little love and all can change.

In a wedding that I recently officiated there was a bride who only knew the love of abandonment and a groom that only knew the firm hand of a drunken father. Neither had a strong base for love, which would seemly blow my theory out of the water, especially since their love is greater than many others I have seen. That is until you investigate and find that the groom had a woman that interrupted his life and gave him the greatest gift; unconditional and fully vested love. She was his support. She was his example. Through this love the groom learned to love and passed it on to his bride to be. Now they are a happily married couple with a future.

But what if a person does not have that loving saint coming from left field to teach them love? Does that mean they are incapable of love? No. Christ says, “Greater love has no one than this.” He then indirectly states that in laying down His life He does it for His friends. We are friends of God! As such He gave His greatest love; a love that we now can model. He gave His life, and now we can give ours.

God is love! If you are ready to learn how to love better and harder than ever before then all you must do is turn to the heavens. In receiving Christ we receive the greatest love. With that reception we then can learn to love better and harder.