The Commandment Of Confrontation

But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord." (Jeremiah 1:7-8)
If you are in the role of leadership in your local church, do you have a fear, that you are not strong enough to lead?  Maybe it is the fear of dealing with difficult people. The fear of confrontation. I feel that fear. You know what the people need to hear concerning God's Word, and yet you worry about what the response will be. Jeremiah felt that fear. He felt that the people of Israel would not listen to him. But God commanded him to go to the people, and tell them what He wanted them to hear. He assured Jeremiah; "Don't be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord." (v.8) Are we trying to play it safe? Or are we being obedient to the Lord, and standing up for what we know to be the will of God, for the people we are leading. Yes, it is a matter of faith. Trusting that God will take care of you, even though what may happen after you share the truth, will not be good. But we have to believe the promise of the words of the Apostle Paul when he said: "And we know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) I have heard that leaders are like the ships of old. They were made from the lumber of trees that stood the test of severe storms, and the environment. As leaders in our local churches, we are going to have to be made of tough material, because we will be called to take on some tough challenges, that lie ahead. GP

Starting Over

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)
Is starting over a totally bad thing? The Apostle Paul didn't think so. In Philippians chapter three, he gives us a glimpse of his past life, and says that "what things were gain to me, these things I counted loss for Christ." (v.7) When Paul became a Christian, starting over, and beginning a new life with Jesus Christ, was the best thing that happened to him. When it comes down to things not working out in our lives. The loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, the loss of a friendship, the loss of security. Whatever the negative circumstance might be, If you have Jesus Christ in your life, you will never be a loser. Even if your world crashes all around you, you will still have the best friend you could ever have, right by your side. No matter what, (Paul knew) and we can know, that the worst things can happen to us, and we will still be standing firm, because we have embraced the one who holds our future in His hands. Jesus will help us to start over, and accomplish those things that are under the umbrella of His will. I have seen this happen, over and over, that in His time, the Lord sends the right people, and opens the right doors, for things to begin again. Yes, starting over, is not as bad as we think! GP

God's Treasure, & Our Obedience

"Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people, for all the earth is Mine." (Exodus 19:5) When the children of Israel came to the foot of Mount Sinai, they were reminded of what God had done for them in Egypt. How He had delivered them. "He bore them on eagle wings, and brought them to Himself."And now they are to enter a covenant agreement with Him. And the terms of this covenant agreement calls for the same response that is necessary for us in regards to the new covenant  in Christ Jesus. Two responses are required: Faith and Obedience. As the hymn we sing: "Trust And Obey" for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." If we will obey the voice of God. (that is our obedience to His Word) and trust in His promises, we will maintain that special relationship with Him, as being a special treasure. It is evident as we read our text, that God loves us, and wants us to belong to Him, to be that special treasure, that He chose before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4) But the question comes: How much do we love God? How much do we desire to submit to His love, and authority? To belong to someone, and to be their special treasure, is such a wonderful gift. Let's not break God's heart, by breaking our covenant with Him, and failing to have an everlasting relationship with Him. GP

Wherever We Go, There We Are, For Jesus!

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16) I have heard these words a lot lately: "Wherever you go, there you are." And as Christians, wherever we go, do we take Jesus with us? Does it show that Jesus is Lord of our lives? Letting the light of Christ show in us, and through us, is the goal of the Christian endeavor. How are people to know the Savior, if they don't see Him in us. This involves, what we say, what we do, how we treat people, how we go about life, especially in the times of trial. As it has been said, many times; "We are the only Bible some people will read!" And what they are reading concerning us, is it accurate and sincere? So many are walking in the darkness of sin and despair. Life has left them severely disappointed and devastated. They need to see the light of Jesus shining upon their path.
If we are the ones who come upon their path, may we shine brightly for Jesus. May the saving arms that He extends to these people without hope, be extended through us.
We are the only Bible
The careless world will need,
We are the sinner's gospel,
We are the scoffer's creed,
We are the Lord's last message,
Given in deed and word.
What if the type is crooked?
What if the print is blurred?
(Annie Johnson Flint) GP

Dealing With Our Differences!

"Therefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." (James 1:19) We are all of different personalities. How we relate to each other in our agreements is unique, as well as how we respond to each other in our differences. Some are more emotional than others. The attitude that just because someone disagrees with you, doesn't mean they dislike you, or hate you, and want nothing more to do with you. That is very extreme. And yet, that's the feeling, so much of the time. James has some very good advice in our text. We are to be swift to hear. We need to make sure that we understand what the other person is saying. We need to make sure that there are no mis-understandings. We must be slow to speak. So many times, people have put there foot in their mouths, and said things they really didn't mean. And thirdly, we need to be slow to anger. When emotions are stirred, it is easy to come to a boiling point quickly. Anger is an emotion, and one that needs to be controlled. Disagreements will come. But we must meet those disagreements with love. When we have the other person/or party's, best interest at heart, it will make a big difference in reconciling our differences, and maintaining that unity our Lord Jesus wants us to have. GP

A Second Chance Concerning Sin

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) A new year always presents opportunities to improve our lives. To lose weight, to be more organized, to quit a bad habit, to treat others better, to get more rest, to try and relieve the stress that has been weighing heavily upon us. The list goes on and on, of improvements we could make in the new year. A new year is a time of the second chance. But what about the challenge of our sins. All of us have said, and done things that were contrary to the Word of God. We have repeated sinful thoughts and actions, and vowed that we would never do them again, but we failed. I believe the key to breaking the chains of a sinful activity, is to do what John tells us to do in this verse. We must "Confess our sins" to the Lord. We need to openly, and constantly communicate with the Lord Jesus, what we are dealing with in regards to our sin. He promises "to forgive us from (not just some) but all of our unrighteousness." Constantly bringing our sin behavior to Jesus, will help to squash it, and will help us to be delivered from it. Remember, He is our Savior. Not just from past sins, but the sins we are dealing with today. Let's surrender our lives completely to Him, and be made completely whole, not just for 2015, but forever. GP

Passion Or Principle?

"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16) Lately this has been a problem for me. I have let my emotions rule my actions. I have had the Holy Spirit really speak to my heart through the Word of God, and reveal to me, that what I was doing was wrong. No one should act upon their feelings, that is not backed by the principles of God's Word. In the midst of stress, and frustration, it is easy to be compulsive, and say and do things that lead to a path of negative results. Why do we have God's Word, if we are not going follow it's direction in our lives? After I realized what I was doing, I felt very ashamed as a Christian, and as a pastor, who each week shares how important it is to follow the principles of God's Word.
"Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2) How do we renew our minds? By applying God's Word to every situation in our lives. By following our own thoughts and passions, we fail to walk according to the Holy Spirit. Instead we choose to walk according to the flesh! GP

FACING OUR FEARS IN 2015

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) How many of us are dreading 2015? Instead of facing the new year head on, we feel like sticking our head in the sand. I am one that fear has had a crippling affect on. I am a constant worrier. And why should I worry, when I am constantly in God's hands? The Apostle Paul told (his son in the faith) Timothy, that God did not give us a spirit of fear? There is no reason to feel it, or to embrace it, because of all that God is to us, and all that He promises to do for us. By placing our whole lives in God's hands, we can have power to face each challenge that comes our way. To be loved by God, and to love like God, is a path to security and fulfilment. And to have His wisdom, will help us to have a good head on our shoulders. To be able to make right decisions that will affect our future. Apart from God, we have every right to fear. But with Him, we have every right to feel confident in every situation. The choice is ours. As we face 2015, let's place our hand in God's hand, and walk faithfully and confidently through each day. As the Apostle Paul said: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)  

Being Thankful For The Grace Of God

"Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2)
When we come to realize the depth of our sin debt, we come to realize how wonderful the grace of God is. Because of His grace, we can be justifified through our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior.
To be justified is to have our sin debt canceled in full. God does not hold us responsible for it any longer. Oh what peace comes when we realize what God has done for us. He could punish us for our sins, but instead He forgives our debt. What a precious gift this is. But along with this, we (by our faith), can stand in God's grace everyday of our lives. We can stand in His favor upon our lives, when we trust Him for victory in every battle we fight, in this life. His love, His strength, His insight is ours everyday we live, if we trust Him for it.  Does it get any better than this? It causes us to rejoice and give thanks, for this hope that we have. We have the hope of the glory of God. Because of His grace we can look forward to that day when the temptations and trials of this life are long gone, and we will live in peace for eternity. Of all the things that we have to be thankful for, I believe that God's grace is the most important. Becuase, not only for everyday, but for eternity, what would we do without it?

Holding Fast To The Confession Of Our Hope!

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:23-25) 
I truly believe that Satan is counting on us as leaders in the church to be in disagreement, and become apathetic, in regard to what we believe and practice. When we become divisive concerning Christian doctrine, it isn't long and we are on the path to death, concerning our Christian fellowship. Our fellowship (or) as the Greek word "koinonos" brings out, means "partnership" We are to be on the same page concerning our Christian doctrine. If we are not, the enemy will definitely get a foothold, and create division in our Christian community. It is so important that we as leaders partner together on what Ephesians 4:1-4 says:
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body (The Church) and one Spirit (The Holy Spirit) just as you were called in one hope (The Resurrection of Jesus Christ) of your calling (To share the good news concerning Jesus Christ) one Lord (Jesus Christ) one faith (Trusting in Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord) one baptism (Water baptism by immersion, for salvation and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Spirit) one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
I know as I write this, you may not interpret this the same way as I do. To you I say, please partner with those who do agree with you. There needs to be mutual love and respect, not division, as our enemy Satan desires of us. For us as leaders in (The Christian Churches and churches of Christ) we must "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering" (Hebrews 10:23) How can we expect the members of our churches to "hold fast the confession of our hope",
if we don't? GP

Establishing Our Abiding

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me." (John 15:4) This verse speaks as much to our salvation, as it does to our Christian walk. How do we connect with the true vine, Jesus Christ? It is through our faith, and obedience. Our salvation depends upon us establishing a relationship with Jesus Christ, God's Son. Believing Jesus to be the Son of God, and our Savior, and being baptized into Him (Mark 16:16). This is the beginning step in our abiding in the true vine. If we don't establish this relationship, and maintain this relationship, Jesus goes on to say in v.5 that "without Me, you can do nothing."
I would be bold to say, that without Jesus, we have nothing, and we will do nothing. The result of being apart of the true vine, is bearing fruit. The fruit of the Spirit that Paul speaks about in Galatians 5:22-23 will be clearly seen by others. Its more than just establishing a religious tradition, or becoming a member of a church, it is establishing a relationship with the one who loves us, and wants us to be with Him for eternity. The one who wants us to be spiritually healthy, and productive in the Kingdom of God. Yes we are called to do kingdom work. We are called to reach people for Christ, to be apart of His kingdom as well. We can not lead people to a place we have never been. If we are not abiding in Christ, how can we help others to do so? Let's establish that relationship with Jesus. Let's get into the True Vine, and receive the blessings from God, that we can bless others with!  GP
Photo By: www.truevinefoodco-op.com Thank you!

Terror Or Triumph?

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) The word "terror" and "terrorism" is used a lot these days. If there is one thing Satan likes to implement, it is fear. When we are afraid, the next step is doubt. And he truly loves it when we doubt the security we have in the Lord. Since the terrorist attacks on 9/11 2001, we as a nation have been looking over our shoulder. We have been cautions, and very careful not to let our guard down. When we go shopping, or attend social events, we are looking for that which is precarious or suspicious. With one eye open on where we are going, and the other eye on the behavior of everyone around us. The fear of what could happen, has robbed us of the peace and security the Lord wants us to have.
As Christians, we have been given three wonderful gifts, that the Apostle Paul shares with young Timothy, and with us.
In our relationship with God, we have 1) Power. We are to never walk in our own strength, but in the strength the Lord provides. No matter what happens (even if it means death) He will give us the strength to endure whatever comes our way. 2) Love. We are told in Scripture to not just look out for our enemies, but love them, and pray for them (Matthew 5:44) 3) A Sound Mind. Fear finds a way to make us crack. But God's Word, helps us to keep our head, when trouble comes. His promises and His presence helps us to have thoughts of confidence. And in following through with those thoughts, our actions become solid and sure. Will you allow Satan to terrorize you today? Or will you accept these three wonderful gifts, and stand strong in your faith today! GP

Motives For Ministry

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) I want to shed some light on a passage of Scripture that addresses the various motives for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This does not just involve preachers in located ministries, but Christians who share the Gospel when the opportunities present themselves. (Please read Philippians 1:12-18) The main objective of the Apostle Paul's life, was to preach the Gospel. And where Paul wanted to take the Gospel one day, was to the city of Rome, the key city of the Roman empire. He ended up not going to Rome as a preacher, but as a prisoner. But even though he was in chains, the Gospel was not; and Paul had opportunity to share the Gospel, with people he never thought he would. So this is was Paul's motive for preaching the Gospel: To win as many as he could to Jesus Christ. I have found in the almost 40 years of the preaching ministry, that there are those in the Christian fellowship who understand the purpose of the ministry of the Gospel; and are inspired to be involved with strong confidence. But believe it or not, there are also those, who hold to a spirit of competition, where jealousy and selfishness, show their ugly heads. Even though the Gospel is being shared, it is done with an attitude of competition. I want people to see how good I can teach a class, I want others to know, how many people, I talk to about Christ. I want to be better at soul winning than anyone else in the church, and so on...The wrong and insincere motives, cause discouragement among the members of the family of God. When will we realize, that we are all on the same team; and our objective and goal in preaching the Gospel is the same: To have a compassion for lost souls, and to share with them a message that will lead them to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Paul ended this passage, by saying even though, there are different motives involved, "Christ is preached"(v.18) But it is so nice, when everyone is on the same page. GP
Picture By Gary Patterson TCJ 2014 All Rights Reserved.

Pleasing God With Our Faith

Hebrews 11:6
The trials of life can test every fiber of our being. Worry can eat us from the inside out, if we let it. Stomach ulcers, heart problems, painful headaches, a nervous breakdown, are all results of severe stress and anxiety. The question comes; How can we be at peace when it seems as if our world is crashing down around us? How can we make things right, when we face such limitations. The Hebrew writer tells us that the greatest way to please God, is to place our complete faith in Him.
To trust Him, no matter how severe a storm we are going through. We must "believe that God exists, and that He is the rewarder of all those who seek Him" (v.6) I remember my father-in-law being asked what he would do if the airplane he was on went down. He confidently responded: "Go with it!" He knew who had his life, and his soul, no matter what happened. I hope that I can have that much faith. All through the Bible, God has expected His people to exercise faith. In fact with Abraham, it was His faith that brought about His righteousness" (Galatians 3:6) And it is the same with us, as we trust in Jesus Christ, as our Savior, to provide the sacrifice needed to atone for our sins. We are to have complete faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross of Calvary. God is pleased with us, when we place our whole lives in His hands. He wants to provide the very best for us, and he wants us to have faith that He can, and will. No matter if you are dealing with a serious illness, or a financial situation, or a problem in a relationship. Believe, that God has your best interest at heart, and that He will provide the means for you to deal with these challenges. Let us say with the Apostle Paul: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) GP

What About The Return of Christ?

"But of that day and hour no one knows, no not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." (Matthew 24:36) I am one that does not like to get caught up in the controversy over this subject. While we study the different millennial views, we lose sight of the fact that "no one knows" when Jesus is going to return for His church. And whether you believe in the Pre-Millennial view, the A-Millennial view, or the Post-Millennial view, etc., it is not as important as the Pro-Millennial view, and that is the view, that we are all for Jesus returning, and we are ready to go home with Him, when He comes. The Apostle Paul told the Christians at Thessalonica in his first letter to them: "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:2) We will not know when Jesus is coming, but perfectly we will know that His coming will come unexpectedly. The question that should be of serious consideration is; "Are you ready, right now, if Jesus should return for you?" Have you accepted Him as your Savior? When He returns, will you be one of the saints who will be meeting Him in the air? (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) While time is spent debating the various end-time views, let us not lose sight of the opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with many who have not even placed their lives, in the saving arms of Jesus. As a Christian teacher, I would rather have us as Christians, be more prepared to share the Gospel, over being knowledgeable of end time events. Some may think that this is being narrow, but I believe it is being imperative! GP