The lies that Satan tells

Recently I have discovered a passion for the Lord like I have never known.  I desire to know him, study him, and live like him.  He has sparked in me a desire and love to read everything I can get my hands on.  One of the books that I have been reading is a book by D.L. Moody about bible study.  I was blown away with the love and conviction he gave me about my personal quiet time with God.  One thing in particular has touched my heart.  Since getting my new ESV study bible I have reread the New Testament with the exception of Revelation.  Revelation was a book of the bible that has always confused me and I always felt like I couldn't understand it and that it wasn't necessary to study.  That was until Moody told me that it is the only book of the bible that mentions Satan in chains.  That was something I never knew in all my years as a believer.  So why do so many have the same view about Revelation?  Satan lies.  He deceives us and fills our heart with lies.  He would do anything to keep us from knowing the victory in the end and how Satan will be chained and God will crush him.  I am only about 6 chapters into Revelation and I am so blown away with how awesome it is.  The book is full of John's vision about the Glory and Majesty of our Lord and Savior.  There are numerous accounts of angels and elders falling to their knees to worship God. They fell down and cast off their crowns to the king of the universe.

Revelation 4:10-11 The twenty four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever.  They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:  "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created."

Revelation 5:8 the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Then comes my favorite part.  I can only imagine this and I know my imagination doesn't do it justice.  I long to see this and be a part of this worship of our Lord.

Revelation 5:11-14 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands and thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"  And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Now I had to look up what myriad meant.

Myriad - Countless or extremely great number

Now read the passage again.  Can you picture a sea of angels more than anyone could count along with every creature in heaven and earth and the sea singing praise to Jesus with everything they had?  What a glorious picture.  I can't wait.  Someone once told me that heaven is going to be a 24/7 worship of our Lord and it almost brings me to tears thinking of the joy that it will be to praise him for eternity!  Oh the day that he calls me home could not come soon enough.

Back to the beginning.  I know that I am only 6 chapters into the 22 chapters that make up Revelation, but I have learned a valuable thing from this experience.  God's word breathes life into you.  No matter the book or the time.  So many times we believe Satan's lies about the bible not being relevant today and not to read certain things.  Satan is a liar.  Oh the joy and depth that reading the first couple chapters of Revelation has done in my life.   God's word is complete.  God's word is fulfilling.  God's word is life changing.  Don't let Satan's lies keep your from growing in knowledge and love of our heavenly father.  I close with this.

2 Peter 1:2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Peters says that grace and peace will increase with our knowledge of God.  Don't you want that? Multiple your knowledge of him and watch your desire for him grow.

Courage

A week "in the mission field" has taught me many things about myself and my Father in Heaven.  I guess everyone thinks working with teenagers is crazy because I am told that all the time. There were times that my feelings toward them were not so Christlike, however I thoroughly enjoy working with teenagers.  I was amazed at their boldness to share the gospel with complete strangers on a day to day basis.  This was my first encounter with doing door to door evangelism.  I grew up in the Methodist church and our mission trips consisted of helping people with working on their house and sometimes sharing the gospel with them.  I know that we were sharing God's love in what we were doing, but looking back on it I feel like we missed the mark.  This mission was all about God and sharing the love of Jesus Christ.  Weeks before the trip I was very nervous about what to expect on the trip.  You see I had never just shared my faith with other people who I did not know let alone even know their name.   I grew up getting to know people and building relationships with those who I shared the Gospel with.   Door to Door evangelism is very challenging because you don't know what is going to show up at the door.  We encountered people drinking, using drugs, and even one couple enjoying the pleasures of the flesh.  Its a scary thing.  Who knows who you might upset or insult and who might even consider hurting us.  Even with all the uncertainties God gave me and unshakable courage to share my faith.  I loved it.  We were rejected numerous times and heard every excuse in the book, but we were faithful.  Even though God didn't have me lead anyone to Christ I feel like He used me to plant seeds that will hopefully one day flourish.  On the way back as I was pondering the trip I felt ashamed.  Ashamed that I do not live my life like the great commission.  I was reminded that God commanded us "As you go" to share the Gospel.  Why did I only view mission trips or church functions as a time to share the Gospel.  I know that the people at work know that I am a Christian by my actions and what I talk about, but like before I missed the mark.  What does it look like to them for me to have something that is so amazing and life changing and keep it to myself.  I know I have many strong relationships with those that I work with and know now what I need to do.  But how will they receive it.  If it is so great why are they just hearing about it now.  I feel that I have not been faithful to God, however I am thankful day by day for his grace.  I know that he will give me opportunities and I pray for courage that no matter what the consequences for my I actions that I will be faithful.   My prayer for everyone is for courage as they go out into the mission field that is called life to share the Gospel to the world.   

The Soverienty of God

Why do we make decisions sometimes that are not in sync with our personality?  Why do we go through different trials and hardships in our lives?   Why do we have people come in and out of our lives at certain times?   I have always been amazed with life and what happens to you from the time you are brought into this world till the time you are taken out.  Looking back on my life of 29 years I am amazed at what life has thrown my way.  You might look back on your life and wonder what you would have done differently in some situation or what you might have said differently to someone.  The world has a famous phrase for this way of thinking "hind sight is 20/20,"  but is that true or is their a greater force at play?  As I grow deeper in my faith in the Lord I look back at my life and wonder would I have done things differently?  Would I have said or changed something to my past?   With a confident NO I answer those questions.   I don't know if it was the life that God has led me down or his determination to do his will even when I deviate from his plan.   When you sit back and look at all the pieces that seem to "magically" fall into place at exact moments of your life you have to stand in awe of The One who holds all the cards.   For example,  my beautiful wife Cathy.   I truly believe without a shadow of a doubt that she is the one God chose for me.  If you really think about that and think about how we met it might not seem that amazing on the surface, but when you trace the steps that took place before we met its remarkable.  The way that God guided Cathy's grandparents where to live after they had traveled all over the world.  How Kay met Dick and the fact that Dick flew on a plane (which scares him and I to death) to see the love of his life.  When you look at all the pieces that had to fall into place or that God had to rearrange to have Cathy and I met it leaves you speechless.   The sovereignty of God is something that intrigues me more and more as I grow older.  How His beautiful plan works things out even to the smallest details to Glorify Himself.  I was devastated when I found out I had a basal cell skin cancer spot on my eyelid when I was 25.  How could this happen to me?  My fear of needles was only compounded when they were forced to be so close to my eye.  I had so many dreams and thoughts about loosing my eye sight.  However I went through with both surgeries.  During my last surgery I woke up from my anesthesia mid way during the surgery.   I startled the surgeon so badly that he pricked himself with one of the surgical tools.  I knew that he was worried because of all the things that can be transmitted through blood like HIV.   Half way under I made the comment "Don't worry I am clean. Both my wife and I were virgins when we got married."  Then they put me back under and that was all that I could remember.  Weeks later I went back to see the surgeon for a check up.  He was so startled by my comment he asked me more about my life.  I went on to share my faith in the Lord with him.   He broke down in tears in the room and told me of the mistakes hes made in life and how he longs for a deeper relationship with his son.   I don't know to this day if the Doctor has trusted Jesus to be his savior,  but I know now why I went through that in my life.  I fully believe that that experience was so the I could witness to that doctor and given the chance Id do it all over again.  When you step back and look at your life and look for the things that have happened to you I bet you will see the hand of God over every circumstance.   How comforting Romans 8:28 is. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Next time you are going through something that you don't understand, trust in God and his beautiful plan.   Hind sight isn't 20/20.   God's sovereignty is perfect.  

The Walk

I can't say enough of how my life has changed since I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior when I was 16 years old.  Since that life change I have become very emotional to watching other people make the same decision I did to accept Christ.  The most profound way of accepting Jesus Christ in my opinion is what I refer to as "the walk".  The walk is the part of the service when you can come forward and have the Pastor or worship leader pray with you about your decision.  For me the walk is a tremendous sign of faith because you set aside your pride, fear, and every lie that Satan is whispering in your ear and walk to the front.  I can remember numerous times when at UM Army and different church functions I watched friends and loved ones take that walk to the front of the church and give their life to Christ.  Every time I always have to hold back tears because I know the impact that walk of faith and their decision will have on their life.  As I got older and grew deeper and deeper in love with my heavenly father that walk has become more and more special to me.  I now tear up when complete strangers take the walk.  Today at church I watched a father take that walk with his son to the front of the church.  I know the decision that kid made because our wonderful Pastor knelt down and gave the kid the biggest hug.  What a beautiful picture of how Jesus likes the kids father walks along side us to lead us home to God.  Today made me realize the true passion of my heart as a father.  I feel that my only measure of success as a father is to do everything in my power to guide and lead my two boys to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  My heart yearns for the day that Parker and Beckham take the walk.  Cathy and I pray daily for the boys salvation. I know that God knows the desires of my heart, but I must be faithful in my leadership and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts.  I can only imagine that day and how the tears of joy will flow down my face.  Oh how silly I will look to a watching world, but to those who know the impact the walk has on lives might join in my joy.