Jesus Lite, Part 2

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The call of Christ to repent (turn away from sin)
is radical.

Many Christians have asked Jesus for forgiveness
(confession) . . .
but still haven’t repented.
In other words, they’ve never walked away from
some of the sin they’ve sought forgiveness for.

Many hold onto some “favorite sins,”
attend church,
join in the praise and worship . . .

But many are wrong.

Jesus told us to count the cost before we follow Him.
That’s because following Him costs a LOT.
The price is everything.
It’s radical.
It’s tough to swallow.
It’s hard to embrace.
But it’s right.

We can want God’s love, grace, forgiveness, blessing
and an amazing eternity with Him—
but never get it.

Why?
Because many of us have been misinformed about
how to get it.

Billy Graham believes that only 50 percent of all people
who attend church will actually go to heaven.

Jesus confirmed this when He told the parable
of the 10 bridesmaids in Matthew 25 and compared it to
who’s getting inside the Kingdom of heaven.
HALF of the bridesmaids made it.

Does that seem hard to believe?

Many of us have given Jesus “Gumby-like” qualities.
We bend Him and shape Him to fit our needs.

We believe that He is all-patient.
All merciful.
And ever-affirming.

We’ve overlooked the fact that He came to proclaim
the Kingdom of heaven—
not to upgrade my self-esteem
or
make me happy
or
meet all my needs.

Does this seem harsh?
It’s truth.
You see, the true gospel is a call to self-denial.
It’s not a call to self-fulfillment.

God’s Son is not “Jesus Lite.”
And unless we accept the totality of Christ,
we’re not accepting Him at all.

Yes, He is love.
But He is also holy.
And He cannot tolerate sin in His Kingdom.

So instead of telling ourselves we’re getting into heaven
simply because we prayed a little prayer years ago
during Vacation Bible School—
maybe we need to start looking at our lives.

Have we really given ALL to follow Him?
Are we truly living in radical obedience
to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

 

[More next week.]

 

Thoughts?

 

I’m speaking in Sharpsburg, GA Sept. 11-14.
I’d sure appreciate your prayers!

Jesus Lite

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I have fond memories of being able to purchase $3 worth of chocolate-covered peanuts from the candy counter at Sears Department store when I was a little girl.

The candy counter has been gone for a long time,
and the peanuts, popcorn and chocolates have been
replaced with flat-screen TVs, tablets and remotes.

The more I travel and speak (43 weeks/weekends each year),
I’m seeing churches filled with folks who believe they can order a specific amount of Jesus.
A “diet form” of the real thing.
A “Jesus Lite” if you will.

They don’t want all of Jesus—
Just enough to make them feel good on Sunday mornings.
But guess what—
God isn’t giving away only a little bit of Jesus.
God isn’t into “Jesus Lite.”

It’s an all-or-nothing deal.
Jesus Himself told us to count the cost before we say we’re going to follow Him (see Luke 14:25-34).

So how much does it actually cost to follow Him?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Yes, this big space is intentional. I want to give you time to let the answer soak in.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

It will cost you absolutely
Everything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Again, intentional space. Think about it before you continue reading.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely everything means . . .
Everything.

And everything isn’t $3 worth of Jesus.
Everything will never be “Jesus Lite.”

I’ll share more next week.

Thoughts?

 

 

[I’m speaking at the Fall revival at Ohio Christian University next week. Please pray for God’s presence to be all over the place.)

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme

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Maybe you’ve been taught that it’s impolite to ask for more.

But I’ve discovered a place where it’s expected and desired for you to ask for more!

Where?

At the feet of Jesus.

He desires us to want more of Him!

So each day I’m asking, “Give me more of You, Jesus!”

And just what does Jesus have?

Well . . . everything!

Peace, kindness, power to overcome, joy, wisdom, authority over satan, gentleness, confidence, discernment . . . the list never ends.

 

In his book Sparkling Gems, author Rick Renner says this:

“The day you chose to make Jesus your Lord and Savior is the day He delegated to you the power and authority to become a child of God. Think of it—at that moment of decision, all the power, authority, and divine influence that is resident within the mighty name of Jesus Christ came to live on the inside of you!”

 

Wow.

How much of Jesus and His gifts are you living with?

Too many Christians are living with about 75 percent of all Jesus has to give. I want more. I want it all.

 

That’s why I’m at His feet today saying, “Gimme, gimme, gimme!”

Let’s make our prayer, “Empty myself of me, Jesus, and give me ALL of YOU.”

 

This weekend I’m speaking in Roswell, NM. Please pray for God to be in complete charge of our services.

 

Thoughts about “Gimme”?

Second Chance

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“ ‘Give it one more chance,’ the gardener answered. ‘Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine; if not, I’ll cut it down’ ” (Luke 13:8-9 TLB).

 

There were no figs on this tree—only leaves.

This parable is about us individually, but it’s also about the church.

Can you hear this conversation between God—the owner of the fig tree—and Jesus, the Gardner?

 

God: No figs?

Jesus: No, Father. Just leaves.

God: It’s not producing what I intended it to produce.

Jesus: Not yet. But the potential is still there.

God: There’s not even one piece of fruit.

Jesus: No, but I’ll work with it. I’ll nourish it. I’ll pour Myself into the task of preparing it to produce fruit. Let’s give it one more year. If it’s not producing fruit in a year, we’ll cut it down.

 

There have been times in my life I should have been cut down.

But instead, God has been patient and has consistently exercised the ministry of pruning me. And in that process of pruning, Jesus works within me to produce fruit once again.

 

Where are you in this process?

Producing fruit?

Being pruned?

Fruitless?

We all want to bear fruit for our heavenly Father.

If you’re not producing fruit, ask Christ to help you.

He is faithful to continue to nurture us,

fertilize us

and bring us to full bloom through His Spirit.

 

Thoughts?

Enjoy the Lord

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King David had just witnessed the successful delivery of the Ark of the Covenant. (2 Samuel 6:12-15). This was certainly cause for celebration, because earlier in this same chapter, Uzzah had been unsuccessful in his delivery of the Ark.

Have you ever been so full of joy that you couldn’t contain it?
If so, you can identify with David. He was excited that he began to dance with abandon in gratitude of God’s goodness. “Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets” (2 Samuel 6:14-15 NIV).

He was happy!
He was celebrating.
His dancing reflected the praise within his heart.

 

One commentary defines David’s dancing in this way:
“He danced with all his might—violent efforts of leaping—but it was unquestionably done as an act of religious homage, thankfulness and devotion.”

 

David’s wife Michael (daughter of the former King Saul) watched her husband dance from the window of their home. She was not only embarrassed; she was also angry with him.

 

“As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart” (2 Samuel 6:16 NIV).

 

Did you catch the last part? She despised him.
Ooooh.
We need to be careful not to criticize other people’s style of worship.
If worship is genuine, God loves it!

 

Michal berated David when he returned home, and he turned away from her for good. The last verse of this chapter says, “And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.” God didn’t bless her. But He did bless David.

 

When was the last time you truly ENJOYED God . . . and showed it?

 

Thoughts?

 

I’m speaking in Lubbock, TX this weekend—and as always—I appreciate your prayers!

You’re the One!

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Last week we chatted about King David’s sin with Bathsheba. It all began with being in the wrong place at the wrong time. His defenses were down. He wasn’t guarding his heart.

 

After Bathsheba became pregnant, David had her husband (Uriah) killed. We can’t be certain how much time passed, but eventually Nathan the prophet confronted King David. He told him a parable that outlined his sin.

 

David was angry at the guilty man in the parable and didn’t realize it was him until Nathan pointed at him and said, “You’re the one!”

(See 2 Samuel 12:7).

 

David repented, God forgave him and used him in a mighty way.

David was a man of virtue and vice . . . and this tells us something about the complexity of God’s work. God has the ability to transform the sinner into someone special.

 

He makes beauty out of ashes.

He sees the potential in each one of us to fully become who He created us to be!

 

God could constantly point His finger at us and say, “You’re the one!” But instead, He vividly shows us His Cross. He reminds us of His sacrifice for our sins.

 

Instead of accusing, He offers grace, forgiveness and mercy—if we’ll seek His forgiveness and turn away from our sin.

 

What a God!

 

 

Thoughts?

I’m speaking in New Mexico this week. Thanks so much for your prayers. God is so faithful!

A Wrong Place, Wrong Time

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King David, though, a mighty warrior, sinned when he lusted after Bathsheba. That sin led to another sin—sleeping with her—and when she became pregnant, David simply continued to dig himself deeper into a pit of sin.

 

You may recall that he brought her husband in from war to sleep with her, so he could deceive Uriah and make him think that Bathsheba became pregnant from her husband.

 

But when Uriah refused the comfort of being with his wife while his men were risking their lives in battle, David had him killed.

 

One sin led to another and another and another.

And it all began with being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Let’s look at Scripture:

 

“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war . . . David remained in Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 11:1 NIV).

 

Why wasn’t David where he should have been?

Why wasn’t he at war with the rest of his men?

Failing to be where he should have been, got him in trouble.

This is where his downward spiral begins.

 

“One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her” (2 Samuel 11:2-3 NIV).

 

Wrong move, David!

Sometimes we can’t help what we see.

We live in a fallen world.

But we can determine how long we continue to view it.

David lingered too long.

 

“The man said, ‘She is Bathsheba . . . then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her”

(2 Samuel 11:3-4 NIV).

 

Right now would be a great time for David to seek forgiveness and repent. (Repent means to walk away from sin; to turn completely away from it.)

 

He knew what he did was wrong. But when he received the news that she was pregnant, he continued to sin by ordering her husband be placed on the front line of battle where he knew Uriah would be killed.

 

And it all began with being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Holy Spirit is faithful to guide us on the right path.

 

“Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk. Lead me; teach me; for you are the God who gives me salvation” (Psalm 25:4-5 LB).

 

Being on the right path—and staying on the right path—begins with asking God to SHOW us and LEAD us.

 

Let’s commit to asking God each morning to show us the right path and empower us to remain on it.

 

 

Thoughts?

I’ll be speaking in New Mexico August 1-6. Please pray for me.