The parable of the herd

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There are many different theories on how to successfully live for God. And there are many aspects to living for God in different areas of our lives. 

However, we, like the Pharisees of old have a tendency to add rules in an effort to keep people from crossing the line from holiness to sin. Man excels at coming up with fences (Christian standards) to place inside the fences that God has already built within his word. 

But we don't realize what we are doing when we do that. 

Do we, for instance, treat cows the way we do each other?

Do we build fences to keep them safely within a pasture (and to keep predators safely outside the same pasture)? Do we then, after building the fence, then turn around and build another fence yet a few more feet within the fence we've already built just to keep the cows from going outside the original fence? 

No! 

What sense would that make?

First of all, we'd be keeping the cows away from perfectly usable grazing land that could help to nourish our valuable livestock. This makes us have to work that much harder to feed them because we aren't allowing them to eat from that section of the field. 

Secondly, by not allowing the livestock to graze in the perfectly acceptable land, the grass and weeds that would otherwise be eaten or trampled down are allowed to grow wild. And what happens when grass and weeds grow tall? Snakes and preditors come in, hidden by the brush that has been allowed to grow. 

And what do we do? 

Rather than tear down the inside fence and cut down the wild brush, when we see the dangers that now exist there, we build yet another internal fence to protect the flock from these dangers. 

And the process happens over and over. More wild brush leads to more dangers- and more fences put up to protect them from the outside of that fence dangers.

Before long, the pasture area that is meant to be a place of provision and safety is neither. It's become too small to be able to nourish the flock. And the areas on the other sides of the fences that used to be good pasture are now full of snakes, wild predators, and poisonous vegetation. 

Soon the herds that we are trying to protect begin to feel malnourished because they're running out of food. They begin to fight each other for the scraps of food that can be found in an effort to stay alive. And finally, some will decide to crash the fencing in a desperate attempt to find the sustenance that their body craves. 

I pray that as Christian leaders we will learn the lesson presented here. 

Yes, there are dangers in the world that we want people (including ourselves) to stay away from. There are many, many things out there that will absolutely destroy us and our walk with God. And these we should stay away from and publically denounce! These fences should be built and heartily maintained- because they are established by the word of God. (The ten commandments come to mind as an example)

But, we must also remember that Jesus, and not us, is the great shepherd. It is his spirit that will "lead and guide into all truth." If we begin to build fences within the fences already established by God's word, we are headed down an ultimately destructive path. 

Want to know why so many are leaving the fold? Because in many cases (not all) we've built so many interior fences that they are forced to break out in an effort to survive!

Our job is to speak the truths that the Lord leads us to speak and to live a Godly example. Our job is to be the hands and feet of God. We are to allow God to love them through us to help to lead them (and us) to where he wants us all to be- with him. 

It is not our job to run anyone else's home and life. That's between them and Jesus. We're just a tool that he uses to help to do this. 

When God calls us out of darkness and into his marvelous light, he gives us a command: Follow thou me. 

Our whole life is to be devoted to being in hot pursuit of one thing- a closer walk with God almighty. 

True Christianity is a personal walk with God. Our relationship with God does not depend on other people. Our relationship with God is dependant upon our own praying, our own worshiping, and our own bible study. The more we do these things, the more his light shines into our lives. This light then shows us what things to repent and walk away from, and what things we should do more of. 

Yes, God gave us the five-fold ministry to help to guide that process, but what is the real goal of the five-fold ministry?

Ephesians 4:11-12

King James Version

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

So, the five-fold ministry is to help to perfect the saints through our teaching and example. Why? So that they (the flock) will perform the work of the ministry. And this edify's (builds up) the whole body of Christ. 

In other words, through seeing the example of our walk with God and hearing the truths that God has taught us being taught, they learn to follow God (not us) for themselves. Then, God can use them to blaze the trail for other hungry souls! Then we have a real revival! 

But, if we keep adding layer upon layer of extra rules that the Bible doesn't actually teach, then we start to hem them in, and soon they are literally dying to get out.

God's way leads to a hunger for him and holiness will grow. The Pharisee's way leads to danger and starvation. And many that get out won't come back because they'll remember the prison they were in. 

When God calls us out it is an individual call to leave the world and follow him. Just as Abram of old, we are personally called and told to leave our old lifestyles, to follow a God we don't know to a promised end. 

If we leave God's biblical fencing up, many can find the way to God. If we put up extra fencing, many will leave his way and die outside the fold.

It's our choice whether to follow God's way- to let God be God and stop trying to control others- or to try and control everything and wind up making them two-fold the child of hell (and we become the first fold child of hell).

What's your choice? 

I pray we make the right one.

"12 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran."

Another lesson from my dogs

 

ANOTHER LESSON FROM MY DOGS

James 4:8

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

The older I get, the more I am learning that attitude is everything. Two people can be in the same meeting and hear the same words being said, but the meaning they get from the words they have heard will be determined by their attitude.

Today, I learned a valuable lesson from my dogs about that very thing. 

Della and I own 3 mixed breed large dogs: Dakota, Cole, and Cowboy. 

Dakota is the mother of the other two. She's a mixed breed lab, huskey, and Weimaraner. Cole and Cowboy have those breeds in them , plus Chow and Staffordshire Terrier. We love all three of them, but they all have vasty different personalities. And with those personalities come attitudes. And those attitudes affect how they see things and how they react to certain situations. 

Dakota is a little bit full of herself. The rest of us live in her world in her opinion. She's got a big heart. But she holds it in reserve. She wants attention when she wants it and how she wants it. It's her way or no way at all. So consequently, she suffers and so do we. She gets in trouble for scratching our arms trying to get our attention when we're busy trying to do something else- like sleep. She sulks in the position she's in (chair, corner, carpet, etc) rather than respond to a call to come to us so we can pet her, etc, when we have the opportunity to do so. But, she's ours and we love her dearly.

Cowboy is a bighearted little boy with a bit of attitude. He's the smallest of the boys in his litter and therefore he has the small dog attitude. He wants to prove (mostly out of fear) that he's just as big and bad as his brothers. This has caused him to be hurt by his brothers. Consequently, he walks around with both a chip on his shoulder and a heart that screams "somebody love me, please!" So when it comes to Della and I, Cowboy tends to hang back from fear, but when he sees a clear opening, he charges in happily to gain our attention. He is most at peace when he's laying on one of us in some way with us stroking his head and neck. 

Cole is the big ball of sunshine. He's not perfect. He can sometimes be a little full of himself. But, mostly, he's happy go lucky. He charges in for our attention like he hasn't seen us in years- even if we just stepped out the door and came right back in. He's quick to climb up in my lap or jump up on the bed and begin to kiss Della or I just to say: "I love you! I love you!" And Cole is so sensitive to the moods of his masters that he lovingly responds when we are upset. He can't fix whatever is bugging us, but his loving response helps to ease our aggravation. 

That having been said, due to their attitudes, I am closer to Cole, who I call my 120 pound lapdog, than I am the other two. 

I love them all the same, but it appears to the other two that Cole is my favorite. 

But the truth is that Cole from day one has actively worked at showing us his love and building a relationship with Della and I. He doesn't expect us to meet him on his terms. He just takes full advantage of every opportunity he has to tell us he loves us and to show it in every way he can. He deliberately spends as much quality time as he possibly can with us.  

The difference between the three is their attitude. The difference between our relationships with them is their attitude. 

It's the same with us and God. Jesus loves us all the same. Jesus died on the cross for us all. Jesus gives the same offer of salvation to all. "And few there be that find it. Matthew 7:14"

Even to those of us who are born again, there can be a difference between our individual relationships with God. 

Some of us are like Dakota. We love God, but we expect him to do what we want, when we want, and how how we want. And when he doesn't, we try to punish him by holding ourselves back and giving him our cold shoulder. All the while, we long to be close to him and held in his arms. Sometimes, we'll take jabs at God to try and scratch him to get him to move in the way we want him to. But God is God and we ain't. He moves and does things when he knows it's right for us and the right time for it to happen. All the while, he beckons for us to come close and let him give us the love he wants to share. 

Some of us are like Cowboy. We have low self esteem- even though the cross proves just how valuable to God we truly are. We spend our time fighting with our brothers in an effort to show that we're just as good as they are. We try and get the attention of those that we don't feel threatened by to gain their approval and feel validated. And when an opportunity comes where we feel totally safe, then we drop all our walls and run to Jesus screaming, "I love you, daddy, I love you!" And for a short time, we feel the love and acceptance we truly long for. A love that we truly had all along, if we had just not held ourselves back. And sometimes, we even get to lay our head in the lap of our master to soak in as much love as we possibly can- in perfect peace. 

And some of us are like Cole. It doesn't matter to us what others think, we're going to charge in to be as close to Jesus as we can at every opportunity. Sometimes, we do dumb things and get into trouble because we get our attention diverted by things other than our master. But, always we run back to him looking to lavish him with our love and build our relationship with him. And like Cole, we are sensitive to the moods of our Lord. We become instantly attuned and are moved by what moves Jesus.

The truth is that we probably all have moments where we are all 3. Sometimes we act like Dakota. Sometimes we act like Cowboy. And sometimes we act like Cole. 

But always, God is totally in love with us and has our best interest and care in mind. 

So the question, every day, truly is what is our attitude with God? Because what our attitude is will determine our relationship with God and what we are able to get from God.

 

Out of the ashes.

 The following post was given to me by God on Sunday June 28, 2015. 

SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015

"A sad message from the Lord for America.

Thus saith the Lord God of heaven and earth:

When you were young and new, you delighted in my word and I protected you.
When you had trouble, you sought me with your whole heart and I delivered you.
But you prided yourself in the blessings I gave you. You took credit for the prosperity I gave you.
You turned from my ways and followed after other gods, which are no gods at all.
I sent messagers to you, time and time again, but you vilified and ignored what they said to you.
I lowered my hand of protection and allowed your enemies to attack you and for a short season you sought me.
But, in short order, you turned your back on me again and swore to rebuild yourselves better and greater than you were before: as if it were you, and not I, that prospered and protected you.
I sent more messengers to you and still you did not hear.
Therefore, BECAUSE YOU HAVE REJECTED ME AND HAVE EMBRACED AND CELEBRATED THAT WHICH I CALL AN ABOMINATION, THE PROTECTION OF MY HAND IS LIFTED AND YOUR ENEMIES WILL SPOIL YOU.

I WILL DIVIDE YOUR LAND AS A SYMBOL TO THE WORLD THAT I AM INDEED GOD OF ALL. I WILL SAVE A REMNANT FOR MYSELF AND WILL RAISE THEM UP FOR THE WORLD TO SEE. BUT, WHEN THIS DESTRUCTION COMES, REMEMBER THAT IT IS FROM I, THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND REPENT."

The only thing he has impressed upon me to add is this:

"Out of the ashes of the old nation, I will raise up a better one- a people who will follow my ways and stand against the ways of the enemy. 

Two nations will emerge from the current United States. 

One will stand with me and follow my ways. It will expel the apostasy that afflicts the current united states and the world. I will bless and protect them.

The other will reject me and my ways and join with the evils of this world. These I will spew out of my mouth and reject. These will be judged on the day of judgment.

May those that have an ear listen and obey."

Even so, come Lord Jesus!   

Rehashing old truths in the new year, Part 1: the truth about who's truly good and bad.

 John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

This world is a very harsh place. Everybody is trying to make their dreams come true. Everybody is trying to create their own version of paradise for themselves and their families. 

The common belief is that people are good or bad based on their actions. And not just their actions in general, but their actions towards me. If they treated my loved ones and me well, then they're good people. If they treated my loved ones and me badly, then they're bad people. 

And truthfully, I understand the sentiment to a point. A truly good person tries to treat others well. A truly bad person does tend to mistreat people. But, there's another side to that coin:

Sometimes bad people will do good things in order to manipulate people into doing what they want them to do- some politicians for example. And sometimes good people can be pushed over the edge in anger or desperation and do some pretty bad things. But, truly this makes sense. For scripture clearly says that "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23

And herein lies the true difference between good and bad. 

If we judge ourselves against other humans, it's possible to believe that we are inherently good. After all, If we've told a few lies and wronged a few people, but we compare ourselves to a mass murderer or a child molester, we look at it that we're not so bad. After all, look at all that they have done. "I'm not so bad," we say.

But scripture says," 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2 Corinthians 10:12

People in the world compare themselves among themselves in this same way. But, scripture clearly tells us not to do this. We are neither to judge ourselves in comparison to other people. Neither are we to judge other people in comparison to ourselves or other people we consider to be good. 

The truth of the matter is that there is coming a day when we all will be judged by God. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" Hebrews 9:27

And God almighty will not judge us like we do. He doesn't grade on a curve. He doesn't have a grading scale like schools used to have (A-90%, B-80%, C-70%, D-60%, F- 59% and below. Anything 60% or better is passing). We either pass or fail. Period. He judges us against one thing and one thing only: 

"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:48

On that day, we will be judged by how we lined up to and obeyed HIS word. He won't look around and tell us, "Well, you were better than these people so I'll let you in." Neither will he say, "you were worse than these folks, so I'm sending you to Hell."

Many times, when we were raising our daughters and one of them had done something wrong, they would respond with, "but what about her?" In their childish minds, they knew that their sister had done some "really bad stuff" and therefore in comparison, they should get off the hook and we should deal with their sister. 

This is the mentality of the world today. 

The liar says, "look at the thief." The thief says, "but look at the molester." The molester says, "Look at the murderer." All believe they should get off the hook for whatever they've done because it wasn't "that bad."

We had to redirect our daughters by telling them that, "we're not discussing your sister. We're discussing what you did wrong." 

God's word says, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelations 21:8

Furthermore, it says, "9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

And these are just the tip of the iceberg.

If we take an honest look at ourselves in comparison to the ways that scripture says we need to live we will come to realize that scripture is true: "... all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23

But, God loves us all, right? Yes, he does. But, just because he loves us does not mean that we will make heaven. Most people, if they're honest, believe that some people they've known have been too bad to make heaven- even though God loves them. Just ask the families of murder victims if the murderer made heaven after they were executed. 

With that being said, how in the world do any of us have a chance to make heaven?

...to be continued

What this world needs is a fresh dose of the fear of the Lord.

 Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

We live in a crazy world. The news seems to be full of chaos. The whole world seems consumed with voices screaming about "their rights." 

Just because they have been wronged (or perceive that they have been wronged), they feel that they have the right to riot, rape, destroy property, disrespect and threaten law enforcement, and even murder people. People who, most of the time, had nothing to do with the wrongs these people are protesting about. But, I guess it's okay to do wrong to other people simply because you have been wronged. 

The educated and enlightened among us pipe in and say these people should not be prosecuted. After all, they've been wronged. They have a right to protest in the Constitution. Never mind that while the Constitution allows free speech and "peaceful" protests, it does not allow for violent protests. 

The liberal elite among us basically tell us that abortion is moral, LGBTQ is normal, people are not born men or women but have the right to change their gender, all workers should be paid the same regardless of their workload or effort, it is not our responsibility to work and care for our families- rather it's the Government's job to take care of all of us, and on and on it goes.

We have a whole political movement that basically says that every religion is okay- except Christians and Jews. Everything should be allowed, except the voices of those that point out God and his ways. 

Basically, the world has flipped its collective lids. Right is wrong, wrong is right, and whatever is gray, have a happy day! 

The reason all this goes on now is that we, as a society, have thrust God out of our lives and ceased to fear him. 

Now brother, you say, God doesn't want us to fear him. After all, he's all about love. 

Really, let's look at what Jesus said about this:

Luke 12:4-5

King James Version

4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

So, Jesus says we should fear God. 

Now, brother, you say, that doesn't mean fear. That really means respect. 

The word for fear in verse 5 in the Greek means, "to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away)

1. to put to flight, to flee

2. to fear, be afraid

   1. to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm

      1. of those startled by strange sights or occurrences

      2. of those struck with amazement

   2. to fear, be afraid of one

   3. to fear (i.e. hesitate) to do something (for fear of harm)

3. to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience                                                                                                                                                                          Does this sound like simply respecting God? It basically means we are to cower in fear before his awesome might and power.  We are to understand that HE makes the rules and HE is the judge of all of us. It is HE that will send us to heaven or hell for eternity. And that fear should cause us to willingly defer our will to his and be willing to obey HIS will for our lives as found in his word.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Our country was founded on the Bible. Our Constitution was based upon the Bible. Our laws were based upon the word of God. But, we have turned from this and we are reaping what we've sewn.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                If our nation is to stand, it is because we, as a people, repent and turn back to God. This will only happen when we realize that we are not the arbiters of our own fate, We are not the ultimate authority for our own lives. There is someone that we will all have to answer to one day- he is our creator and savior (if we allow him to save us). If not, then he is our creator and judge.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             He will decide our fates based upon our obedience, or our disobedience.                                                                                                                                                                       If we will kneel in complete repentance and submission to him, then we will be able to stand in the face of the evil that is overcoming our land and push it back.                                                                                                                                                                        If we do not repent, then our country will cease to be and worse: we ourselves will go to hell.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. True wisdom doesn't come from college degrees and education. True wisdom comes from the Lord God almighty and his word.                                                                                                                                                 Truly, the only hope that we, as individuals and we, as a country, have is Jesus. But, for this to happen, we all need to repent and obey him and his word- before it's too late. And for that to happen, we need a fresh dose of the fear of the Lord!                                                                                                                                                                                      Lord, please do whatever you need to do to wake us all up, restore our fear of you, and help us to repent. Before it's too late.

4.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XemQwDQ7mY&ab_channel=JohnnyPowell

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None of these things move me...

 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. (Acts 20:22-25)

Paul was a true man of God. He stood in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds on many occasions. He loved God. He loved God's people. 

Any way that he could find that did not break scripture to reach out to people, he was willing to give it a try. 

18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. (1 Corinthians 9: 18-22)

What an attitude! 

In our opening passage in Acts, if you follow the story over several chapters, Paul had been told by God that he was being sent on a mission to the gentiles to bring them into the fold. As such, the Jews (who were already angry at his conversion) were ready to kill him for trying to convert the Gentiles to worshipping the one true God. This did not sit well with "God's chosen people." 

But Paul had heard from God. In fact, early on, he was told "how great things he must suffer for my names sake." (Acts 9:16).

Paul knew that Jesus had given his all for us. He also knew that, in following Jesus, we must give our all to him. No matter the sacrifice. No matter the cost. If we go broke, that's okay. If we are beaten and imprisoned, that's fine. If we die, thy will be done, Lord. 

Whatever level of our lives we are dealing with, ALL levels must be submitted to God. 

We cannot serve Jesus on Sundays and Wednesdays, but the rest of the time is ours. It doesn't work that way. 

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

We don't get to choose ANYTHING! Our job as Christians is to do 3 things:

1) Listen (Pray and seek his will) 2) Hear (Find his will) 3) Obey (DO what his will is for all situations.) 

We don't belong to ourselves. We are his. 

As Christian leaders, we are to seek out a fresh word for those we minister to. We cannot just regurgitate a sermon from years ago. Those we are helping to feed deserve (and God requires) fresh manna from heaven. 

As husbands and fathers, we are to seek God in all situations and be willing to sacrifice ourselves (lay down our lives) for them in every way. It doesn't matter how hard I have to work to care for my family. It doesn't matter how many hours I have to work, how many jobs I have to do, to care for my family. They are my family and my responsibility. It is all a labor of love. And this doesn't negate my responsibility as spiritual leader of the home. 

God spoke to Paul about much of what he would have to suffer. In fact, on several occasions, he was told by different people that if he went to Jerusalem, he'd wind up in chains. But, Paul was trying to be used of God to win the bride of Jesus. "None of these things move me," he said. 

Jesus paid his all for his bride. Paul was willing to join him on his quest. We should be willing to die in caring for our bride and in trying to win the bride of Christ. 

When Jesus gives us a mission, we will be tested. Many times, things will come up that point out the possible negative effects of staying the course. When we come to those crossroads, we have a choice. 

Do we stay the course and suffer the affliction that may come, knowing that we are in the will of God. Or, do we leave the course and choose "the easy way." The easy way won't take us to heaven, but we can choose it. The easy way means to cater to our flesh and disavow our mission from God. The easy way may make it easier to live here, but it means hell for eternity. 

May we all take Paul's attitude when we are looking at the possible consequences of launching out in faith for Jesus. May we look at them, shrug our shoulders, and say, "None of these things move me." 

None of these things will sway me from the course that Jesus has set for me.