Do you suffer from Spiritual blindness?

Are we Spiritual Blind?

I want to share a familiar story for most of you, it is found in Mark 10:46-52, “⁴⁶ Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. ⁴⁷ When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁸ “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁹ When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” ⁵⁰ Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”⁵² And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.”(NLT) Now I want you to understand last night during the Equip class a question was asked, and Pastor Tray explained something about being obedient to the Holy Spirit. I got up think about this story and I love the way God is always at work around us. There are three people involved in this story; Jesus the Individual with the answer, Bartimaeus the individual with the problem and the crowd who was preventing this man from getting his problem solved. Instead of lending a hand to the man in need we see a group of people telling him to be quiet. Instead of trying to help him get closer to Jesus so his need will be meet we see them rebuking him. We say Bartimaeus was blind but he could see his answer to his problem in Jesus. The crowd was the ones who were truly blind they did not move to help this man. They were blind to his needs which in turn made them blind to the answer.

I have to ask you to reflect on something are we today like those in the crowd. Do we allow are spiritual blindness to keep us from seeing those appointments God has established for us? One issue with spiritual blindness that is going to hit close to home is what prejudices are you holding on too. Do you have a problem of color, sexual orientation or any of the other 1000 reasons why we may not associate with someone. When God breathed life into your body he made you eternal he did the same for every other human being on this planet. Each person has worth in His eyes, maybe it’s time we stop allowing our personal issues to place blinders over our eyes. Because Jesus did not come for just those that looked a certain way or acted a certain way He came to save the lost. Folks many times people never know there lost until its to late. I told you I do not save people and nothing I do can sanctify people. All of that is a work of the Holy Spirit. My job is to be a witness to what He has done in me and the power that I have seen Him unleash in situations. But if I am spiritual blind I cannot go where He leads. Let’s ask Him to remove those blinders today and see about sharing the love of God with those who3 need him. Love you and am Praying that everyone that reads this will be blessed.

How does pride effect your witness?

How does pride affect your witness?

I know this is a hard pill to swallow but Pride prevents us from really reaching our full potential with God. I suffer from this and if you say you don’t I will call you a liar. It is the easiest of sins to slip into and the most destructive. There are two stories from scripture I want to share. The first is a continuation from yesterday’s devotional, it is found in Mark 10:42-45, “⁴² Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The disciples were just arguing over who was to be the greatest and Jesus rebukes them in this passage. I have to ask what does it mean to you to be a slave; I have spent a lot of time as a slave to money, trying to fit in, wanting the best of everything. In the end I have learned that spending time with those you love is the greatest gift you can ever receive or give. It will also lead more people to Jesus than you can ever imagine if they see His love reflected from you.  When you get together with friends and the talk is about what you have or what you are going to get people become envious and pride will creep in. It can and will cause hurt feelings that interrupt the relationship and undermine a person’s walk with God.

The other story I want to share is found in Luke 18:9-14, “⁹ To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ ¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Many times we may find ourselves when dealing with non-Christians coming off as arrogant or prideful. I have seen with my own eyes the trouble that this causes. Especially given the fact we are still human and make mistakes daily. I want to remind you the only difference between myself and a non-Christian is I have entered into a relationship with Jesus and he has forgiven me of my sins. When we start to beat people over the head with the Bible they can see if we are sincere or not.

Don’t allow Pride to keep you from being an effective witness for Jesus. In Proverbs 16:18, “Pride comes before destruction and an arrogant spirit before a fall” God designed us to live in relationship to him and one another. He has told us to pray for one another and carry each other’s burdens not to spread them as gossip. Yes I said it. God has a plan to use each of us and you never know who maybe holding the answer to your prayer. But if you are not willing to share your needs no one else can help you carry it. Praying the Lord bless were ever your shadow falls today.

Blessings may not be what you expect.

I hope today is full of God’s blessings for you. If you have not heard the song by Laura Story Blessings I recommend it. It brings to light that even the trials we face are part of God’s plan for our lives. I remember as a kid having growing pains. You might remember that, you woke up one morning a few inches taller and your whole body hurt as it adjust to the changes. But it allowed you to become who you are today. The blessings that come are so very important to our growth in Jesus.

I want to share about the next hindrance to are walking with God. The issue is entitlement, this is the idea that because of whom I am or how long I have been attending this church I am deserving of preferential treatment. We all have heard the story of the visitor being asked to move by sister so-n-so. Or even about a parking space, I once new a lady who stopped attending a church because they cut down the shade tree she had parked under for the last 40 years. It was not even a parking space she was parking in the grass in front of the church. Entitlement causes us to think of ourselves first and the sinner last.

Mark 10:35-39, “35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”   ³⁶ “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. ³⁷ They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”  ³⁸ “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” ³⁹ “We can,” they answered.    Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,

These two brother s are a great example of entitlement they believed because they had walked with Jesus that they were fit to sit to his right and left. But Jesus explains to them that it is not his to give but that they will be treated in like manner as he will be. They both die as martyrs. What I don’t understand is that Jesus has just told them in Mark 10:33-34, “³³ “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, ³⁴ who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” Now what kills me is there response was not for Jesus’ well being but how they would benefit from what he was about to go through. But I have to ask myself a question do I ever put my wants ahead of what I am called to do? I know a fail at this more than I want to realize. I must ask God to forgive me of my desire for entitlement and ask him to help me see others the way he does. I have included a link to the Laura Story song I mentioned at the beginning. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ

What keeps us from sharing our faith?

What prevents us from sharing the Gospel?

Mark 10:45, (NIV)⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Well I am looking at a list of five things that definitely are a hindrance to the spread of the Good News. My intention this week is to share those and help us to grow in understanding about why we have a hard time being the witnesses we are called to be. Materialism, entitlement, pride, spiritual blindness and unconfessed sin I am sure some of these are going to be painful subjects but try to stick with me and we will all be better equipped to serve God.

Mark 10:21,  “Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

The story of the rich young ruler hits close to home for many of us today. One of the things we take from it is Jesus tells him to sell everything and follow me. If you read on you will see he chooses not to. I don’t believe God requires you to give up everything he has blessed you with but there may come a time in your life that you have to make that very same decision. In the mean time is what you have or what you want keeping you from serving God the way you should?  Let’s look at materialism. What does it mean? Well it is a love of things. Not that this is all bad but when your desire to posses stuff consumes all your time and energy you will never have time for what God has called you too. I can tell you that is a truth. I have been the guy who worked 80 hours a week to have nothing in the end to show for it. Life was not fun then, it was just about what next toy I could get.  I have wasted so many hours that I can’t get back that I honestly have to ask forgiveness for it.  One other issue I want to tell you about if you are living off credit cards to provide for your toys one day like me you have to pay the piper. It is one thing to use them in an emergency or in a very controlled fashion (charge then payoff) but when you have allowed them to take control of how you spend money you are now at their slave. I worked a lot of those hours to pay off debt.

Matthew 6:19-24, “Treasures in Heaven

    ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  ²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[a] your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!    ²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.  I want to leave you with this thought It is not always money that prevents us from sharing God’s love but things can also block our ability to be the witness God has called you too. Pray today about what things in your life are keeping you from being a better witness of the Love of Jesus. Have a blessed day.

Do you fear rejection?

Do you fear rejection?

For most people the answer to that is YES. This one simple question leads us to the understanding of why you and I do not share our faith those who need to hear it. Looking at the types of Christians I have shared about we now need to understand what gets in the way of being actively involved in sharing God’s plan with others. Fear of rejection is #1 in 1 Corinthians 12:3 I want to show you something that changed my thought process, “³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” I always thought I was the one winning souls for the Kingdom. I am not I am just using the opportunities God brings my way to share a Message of Hope. When someone rejects that message they are not rejecting me personally but the Holy Spirit is not moving on them. He is the one that saves.

My part is to share the Story of God’s plan for salvation. I have found 3 verses that I need to share with you. Psalm 27:13, “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 116:8-9, “For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” and 2 Corinthians 4:13,” It is written: I believed; therefore I have spoken. With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.” Today if God has ever done anything for you He has given you a testimony.   Your duty to God is not to count the souls you win but to share what he has done for you. They Holy Spirit will take your faith and testimony and work it for God’s will in the lives of those who here it. But we must be willing to share it.  I will close with my favorite verse of Scripture, 1 Peter 3:15, “¹⁵but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” all we are called to do is be obedient vessels and share the Joy each one of us has experienced in our relationship with Jesus.

Are you a Personal Trainer?

Colossians 1:9-14

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ⁹ So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

 ¹¹ We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy ¹² always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, ¹⁴ who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

                I awoke a little early today thinking about this devotional. And I wanted to Share what God has put on my heart. There is a gentleman that works at His Radio by the name of Rob Dempsey. I personally do not know him but I have listened to his story over the past 10 years. One of the reason I mention him is because a few years back he decided he was going to get healthy and got involved at one of the Greenville YMCAs and has since lost well over 100 lbs. I have heard him state that the personal trainers he worked with were an inspiration to him and he could not have gotten this far without them. He now runs marathons and does what I will call extreme bicycling, 100 plus mile rides, plus every year they do a biggest loser challenge with the YMCA and His Radio. But this is not the only reason I admire Rob. His personal story is just as amazing. He was a homeless teenager at 15. Got involved in a church and the youth pastor and other Christians came along side and helped him to grow in his faith that he shares everyday from the radio and in his regular day to day activities. I have heard him say had it not been for caring Christians he might not be here today.

                I used Rob as an example because some of you may have heard his story, but also because he is a wonderful example of the healing power both spiritually and physically that a Personal Trainer can provide. As a Christian disciple we should strive to be personal trainers sharing what God has done for us and in us.

With those who are suffering or in need in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7,

 “³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶ If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”

 A personal trainer is not only in our times of sorrow but also in our times of spiritual growth in Proverbs 27:17,

 “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

 Our spiritual and personal walk affects all of those we come in contact with when we fail to show Jesus in everything we do what are we teaching those who are watching. And people are watching.  

Are you an Encourager?

Are You an Encourager?

This morning I really want to remind you of the men who are traveling to Panama. I feel like our prayers here will make a great difference in what God works with them and in them while they are there. There are many other needs within our church and community. One I want to mention is another church in our area is having a few growing pains just as we are and have had. Let us lift them up as they are trying to follow God’s leading. I would hope other churches are praying for Calvary. We are only fighting one creature and he wants us all to fail. Folks we are all God’s servants and just trying to share the Gospel.

            “I was a stranger and you took me in.” Matthew 25:35. How do we treat others? Do we represent Jesus well or do we treat those who are different from us in ways that Jesus will one day say when I came to you, you turned your back on me. I surely do not wish to hear those words. As an encourager we should always be willing to except and love those God has placed in our path. We may not like the sin they are living in but as Perry Stone said last night, “you get enough of the Holy Spirit in you nobody has to tell you when you are doing something that is a sin.” But in the meantime Jesus has called us to be hospitable. This is not a new concept.

            1 Peter 4:9, “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” It is not always easy to love everyone. Some people will rub you the wrong way no matter how hard you try to love them. If you find yourself in one of those situations I recommend you step back and examine yourself first. The only person we can change is ourselves I know it is hard to do but Scripture tells us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengths me” (Philippians 4:13). Ask Jesus to help you examine your own heart. I love the song, Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath. I have to pray that sometimes when I find myself doubting that Jesus could love someone and even some days I have look in the mirror and pray that same prayer about myself. I am undeserving of the Love that was shown on the Cross at Calvary.

As a Christ disciple we should want to show the love of Jesus in everything that we do and to all those who He puts before us. In Hebrews 13:1-2 I love these verses, “1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. ² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” I will close with that love you all and may God grant you opportunity to show Jesus love for us today with someone who needs to meet him.

Are You an Intercessor

One of the best examples of an intercessor I can find is found in the book of Nehemiah 1:1-9. 

 ¹ The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

   In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, ² Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

 ³ They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

 ⁴ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. ⁵ Then I said:

   “LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, ⁶ let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. ⁷ We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

 ⁸ “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, ⁹ but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

Have you ever requested prayer from someone or shared a problem and heard I'll be praying for you and wondered if the person actually would pray or if the statement was made for comfort. Nehemiah was so overwhelmed with the news from Jerusalem that it broke his heart and he began to plead before God night and day for the need. That is the desire I pray for in my own life. I have had to learn to stop saying I'll be praying for you and just start doing it. I know it is hard to do with all are own issues going on but if we are to obey Christ then we are to share one another burdens. Besides if we help one another care the load it will not be as heavy.

You may not agree with me but there is a part of this passage that I believe we all need to understand when it comes to prayer. Nehemiah asked the Lord to forgive Him and all of Israel for there sins against Him. Before we go and ask the Lord to work in a situation we need to realize that we are sinners and unworthy of His grace. As we make petitions for ourselves and others even as Christians we need to ask for forgiveness for were we have failed. He understands that we will make mistakes and through Jesus he forgives us and hears our prayers.

Let me leave you with this God's word is full of promises. When you pray for someone or something look for one of those and pray it just as Nehemiah did in verse 9. There is power for prayer in God's word. How's the song go, He Said it and I believe It. May the Lord Bless you today He has called His children to be intercessor for those who are weary and heavy burdened.