Faithfulness in Little Things

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Colossians 3:17

This morning, I have to admit that I was not looking forward to another work week.  Is it Monday already?  Then I read this week's message from Pastor Zac Poonen on faithfulness in small things. 

And as I was reading Genesis 30, again the same message was reiterated.  Jacob worked hard and faithfully for his uncle Laban, even though Laban was an unrighteous idolator.  Yet, Jacob was confident that his industrious nature would make provision for him in spite of Laban's trickery (Genesis 30:33).  The Laban's of the world will not prevail for God sees all (Genesis 31:6-12).

Everything we do is an opportunity for ministry.  An opportunity to be used by God as a light unto others.  An opportunity to better understand the heart of a servant, the meaning of obedience, and the importance of diligence.

May you start off this week with a Godly attitude of gratitude, determining to do all to the glory of God (including our secular jobs); showing ourselves faithful, even in little things. 

The Fundamentals of Fundamentalism

"These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me." John 16:1-3

The following article is from the Lighthouse Trails Research Group on the recent attacks by Norwegian Anders Berhring Breeivik.

Lighthouse Trails wishes to express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the Norway shootings and bombing.

The man who committed the atrocities on Friday, July 22, 2011 in Norway is being called a “Christian fundamentalist,” and already, stories are hitting the mainstream media telling the world to look out for Christian fundamentalists. Frank Schaeffer, son of theologian Francis Schaeffer, has likened the Norway killer to those who oppose abortion in his article on Saturday titled "Christian Jihad? Why We Should Worry About Right-Wing Terror Attacks Like Norway’s in the US,"  saying “the terror unleashed on Norway” is “the sort of white, Christian, far right terror America can expect more of.”

But is the Norway killer a fundamentalist Christian (someone who follows the fundamental teachings of the Bible)? The answer to this is a resounding no, for there are no teachings in the Bible that would condone these merciless acts of violence. The killer of over 90 people in Norway cannot claim the name of “Christian” regardless of what he or the media say.

The Devolution of Man

The Process of Reprobation and God's Longsuffering

We have a couple of college students staying with us this summer, and I was speaking to one of them last week about how Romans Chapter 1 outlines the devolution of man.

Apart from God, man decays; starting with ingratitude -> leading to a wisdom which is dark & empty -> the worship of created things (idolatry) -> fornication -> homosexuality -> reprobation.  This is the path that every single person on earth is set upon outside of God.

The truth of the matter is that in the fallen state, every single man and woman on the earth is being forged into the image of a sodomite, and then - if not repented of - on to reprobation. 

If You Don't Know The Lord

Then It's Easy...

If you don't know the Lord, then it is easy to say that all religions are equal.  That there are many ways to "God" and none more valid than another.

If you don't know the Lord, then you won't bat an eye at denying His words, perverting them, or just completely disregarding them.

If you don't know the Lord, then you can laugh whole-heartedly when the things of God are mocked, as people in ignorance demean spiritual gifts or spiritual authority.

If you don't know the Lord, then you will find it amusing when men are are depicted as buffoons, are emasculated in the media, or cross-dress for fame & money.

If you don't know the Lord, then you will champion a woman's "right" to be depicted as a whore, to be sexually promiscuous, or to kill her own children.

Biblical, GODLY Authority

Where are the Men (and Women) of God?

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."  Malachi 4:5-6

It is alarming how many professing Christians in these last days have no understanding of Godly authority.  Although such may seem sound in other areas of the faith - they simply fall apart at a biblical understanding of God's authority.  As a result, many are wishy-washy; unable to stand unequivocally for the things of God and following every whim, every false spirit, because they are spiritually blind. 

Some claim that there is no authority in the church and completely reject organized fellowship as they go rogue in a "I am just led by the Spirit" perspective.  Another extreme is to simply submit to anyone who claims to be "called" without regard for Godly standards about church leadership.  Yet, one of the most common expressions - and perhaps the very foundation - of this blindness is what God notes in Malachi Chapter 4: a rejection of patriarchy.

Is Your Life Worth Living?

How to Have a Life That is Not All in Vain

"Let us hear the conclusion of the WHOLE matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13

In my childhood, I used to love a song by the Clark Sisters entitled, "Is My Living in Vain?" The lyrics go as follows:

Is my living in vain

Is my giving in vain

Is my praying in vain

Is my fasting in vain

Am I wasting my time

Can the clock be rewind

Have I let my light shine

Have I made ninety-nine

No, of course not

Its not all in vain

No, no LORD, no

Cause up the road is eternal gain

I would sing this song with vigor, even while my life was truly being "lived in vain" as I was on a path set for Hell.  It is interesting how you can sing Gospel songs with fervor, say Amen to the preacher, and yet still be far, far away from God.  Mere excitement about the Lord can deceive us into believing we are somewhere we are not and blind us to our true condition (Romans 10:2).