Category: Bible

He Never Ceases To Amaze Me

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Bishop Tudor Bismark was preaching at Pastor Dick Bernal’s church, Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose. I wanted to go to hear him as he is an intelligent orator who understand the word of God. He always brings about some powerful thought processes. That brings about, for me at least, further knowledge and wisdom of the word of God. He is a kingdom teacher and that excites me as I am a kingdom citizen.

Last night was no exception. He preached on prophesy and the difference between prayer and prophesy, something I strongly believe in. I bought a copy of the DVD because I will chew it up and eat every last drop until I understand it completely. If that was all that happened last night it was an excellent powerful night of divine appointment.

Only it wasn’t. It never is with God is it? When you raise your level of expectancy, God always rises to blow your mind further than you dreamed possible. He does this, I believe, to make sure you continue to raise your level of expectancy even more so.

I have a prayer that I have lifted to the Lord. It’s such a deeply personal thing that I have not shared it with a living soul. Yet, it has consumed my prayer life in the last several weeks. I prayed this prayer every which way I could, rewording, re-petitioning and thinking that if I came at it with a different angle God would bring me peace and an answer. Yet both alluded me. Peace and an answer were far from me. Instead of giving up, I got more resolved. I got to where even the thought of the prayer would bring me to tears. I was desperate for an answer. Have you ever been so desperate for an answer that you feel yourself anxiously awaiting some sort of sign or word? Nothing happened.

I was excited to go see Bishop Tudor. I was going as a student to learn about more bible truths. I wasn’t not even thinking about my prayer or an answer. Not a single thought. So as God always does, He took this night to blow my mind again. Bishop Tudor came down off the platform and touched several people bringing them a word. He touched my hand and gave me the answer to my prayer. In a crowd of 1000’s God chose this moment to show me that He loves me and cares about what I care about. I closed my eyes and thanked him. I didn’t dare breathe deeply until we got to the car when I lost it and began to cry.

Who am I Lord that you are mindful of me? God never ceases to amaze me. No matter how long I follow Him, I am always amazed when he gives me an answer. I expect it, I anticipate it and then when it comes, I am completely awestruck. God you are so good to me. Better than I deserve and I love you with all of my heart!

What are you expecting? What are you praying for? Don’t give up. Your answer may be delayed but it’s coming!

Fighting The Pharisees

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A couple came to visit our church recently. They volunteer in other ministries around town that we are also involved in, so they weren’t strangers. We welcomed them, as you do with any guests. After service, they asked for a meeting where they asked us if we would film their music video for them. Naturally, we said yes and were happy to help them.

We have a new group of early 20 somethings in the church and I’ve fallen in love with this group. They are hungry, they are alive and they are fun to teach. There have been times when they are asking so many questions about the bible that we’ll spend a few hours with them, bibles in hand, teaching not even conscience of the time. I remember those days so well, it was nothing to study the bible until 2-3 a.m. I came to Lord at 28 so maybe this is why I feel such an affinity to them. Most of them are younger than that. About a dozen of them from 20-30.

Matthew 28:19. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20. and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

A couple of them come from working in the music industry and so they know how to video and how run sound. They quickly volunteered in the audio/visual department and we quickly accepted. So the day the couple was to film their video, these guys volunteered and all was well. Until we got these two groups together.

The couple, decided that it was inappropriate for one of the guys to wear a baseball cap in the sanctuary as he filmed them. They decided to tell him that he was a poor representation of Christ because he has tattoos. They decided to cut him to pieces one by one never recognizing the favor he was doing them. They never asked the guy how long he’d known Christ because if they had they would have realized that he was extremely new. They never asked why he wore the cap because there is a specific reason for it. They never asked anything about him. They judged him and condemned him. They simply took it upon themselves to correct him without love, without compassion and without any sense whatsoever. These “godly” people damaged a little one with no concern other than their own opinion and feeling of self-righteousness. You can’t make doctrine for a baseball cap or tattoos in the sanctuary, there is no scripture for it.

Romans 8:32 If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? 33 And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? 34 Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us – who was raised to life for us! – is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. 35 Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: 

The cameraman went home, threw his cap away and tossed and turned all night. Feelings of inadequacy, feelings of not belonging, feelings of failure, frustration and anger tormented him and sleep alluded him. I’m sure the Pharisees would call this the conviction of the Holy Spirit but since I know that God did not come to condemn, I know that this was simply Satan himself. The difference between me and the cameraman is that I’ve read the word and have enough time under my belt to get it. He doesn’t YET but I know that he will. That’s the greatest part of being under a great teacher like my husband is.

Romans 8:36 They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. 37 None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. 38 I’m absolutely convinced that nothing – nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, 39 high or low, thinkable or unthinkable – absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

By the grace and mercy of the Lord we were able to love on this new Christian and talk to him about Pharisees. By the grace and mercy of the Lord he listened and because he is on a search, he will soon have scripture in his mouth and these types of people will not be allowed to torment him anymore.

Jesus fought so hard against this mentality and said everyone is welcome in the kingdom. He made no other condition but love and no sacrifice was too great. Yet, here we are back to square one and all I can say sometimes when I am so deeply disappointed in those who call themselves believers of the way is “Jesus save me from your people.”

Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?” 37 Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ 38 This is the most important, the first on any list. 39 But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ 40 These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

When The Rubber Meets The Road

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Dear Pastor Susan, 

I just read your blog about not awakening love before its time. I’m a college student and I believe I have met the man I will marry. We’ve talked about it and have a plan. As soon as school is over and we find jobs we will be getting married. We are both Christians and were raised in Christian homes. We knew better but things went a little too far once and I just found out that I am pregnant. I didn’t know what to do and I was scared so I told my mom. She was really mad but now she thinks I need to have an abortion and not tell anyone even my boyfriend. She says she hopes I’ve learned my lesson and can go back and finish school and put this all behind me. This does sound like a good way to go but why do I feel so bad?

I’ve edited your question a little to keep everything anonymous because you aren’t the first girl to find yourself in this situation and you won’t be the last either. 

I want to say this as carefully as possible but I can’t find the words exactly to be as tactful as I want to be. So, let me just get this out there. Your mom is wrong. I know it sounds good, to just get this situation behind you and move on but the fact is you won’t ever be able to put this behind you. You’ll always think about the “what-ifs” and because you know Jesus, you’ll find that it will be hard for you to find forgiveness for yourself. You have three decisions to make and they are all forever decisions. 

The first decision is to have an abortion. Trust me, when I tell you that I understand your mom’s perspective. She is trying to save you and the family the shame and heartache. Only you can’t undo decisions. See, God can and will forgive the indiscretion of a night of fornication but the consequence stands as is. A child is on its way. If you decide to abort, you’ll live with the decision forever and it will have lasting effects on your life. There is no way of getting around this. 

The second decision, and my choice if I were you, would be to put the baby up for adoption to a two parent established home. This will be the most gut-wrenching decision you will ever have to make but the most profound act of love as well. Rather than drag this child through the mess of single parenting, daycare, finishing school and all the drama that will ensue, you will lovingly place this child in the arms of a family who is prepared to love and care for a child. You will satisfy a baby hunger in a couple’s lives and yes, this too will have forever effects on your life. 

The third option is to keep the baby, hope your boyfriend does the right thing and try to make a loving home. Your chances of divorce are high, given your age, but nothing is impossible with God. Without jobs, life will be difficult, but not impossible, and if you are both committed you’ll walk it through. Keeping God as the third strand in the cord that binds your marriage together, will be critical. Either way, this is a lasting effect on your life as well. Dreams will have to be altered and a new path made.

These moments of decisions are what I call, Where the Rubber Meets the Road moments. These moments tell us whether we believe the word of the Lord, and walk in faith, or we throw out what we know about God to feed our flesh. While your mother’s suggestion sounds good, the feelings you have are the prompting of the Holy Spirit. God will never force His will on you and yet, He awaits your decision. Do you and your family believe that God will never leave you or forsake you or is it a nice thought? Submission is only submission until we disagree.

Finally, as a woman who found herself in your shoes, in her youth, I understand your heartache. I wasn’t intimately acquainted with the Lord back then and I dragged my son through a series of youthful ignorant mishaps. I love this child more than breath itself and would lay my life down for him, if it is ever required, but he inappropriately bears the scars of my mistakes. There is no easy answer. Each decision will leave lasting impressions that you will have to live with. My hope is that you allow God to guide you through this process and that you are open to His will. My heart goes out to you and I will be praying for you.

Blaspheming The Holy Spirit

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Linda writes:
I am concerned that I may have committed the unforgivable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Twice when I was younger, I looked up at Heaven when I was unhappy and put up my middle finger and said F—You to the Holy Spirit and cursed him! I have since repented of this and asked for forgiveness. Is this the type of speaking against the Holy Spirit that is unforgiveable?

Please reply soon, I am very concerned about this!

Thank you

So for those of you reading this, the writer of the question asks this because the bible says:

Matthew 12:31 31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

My answer is, no, I don’t think so. First off, did you know Christ? Were you filled with the Holy Spirit and a believer? Did you deny him? See, this is a heart condition and since no man can know another’s heart, you are better prepared to answer this question than I am.

My understanding of this scripture is that we must know Christ, have knowledge of the Holy Spirit personally, and still denied and purposefully rejected the Holy Spirit in a concrete and conscience effort. Thus, a person who blasphemes the Holy Spirit, would foolishly reject his reconciliation back to God, knowingly. When that happens, there is no going back, you’re right, but I don’t think that this happens and then suddenly the person wants to be reconciled. At that point, the die is cast, the relationship is severed forever. Whatever light was on in the core of that person’s being, is extinguished. So, just the fact that you have repented, and want restoration, to me, means you didn’t blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says:

Whosoever shall blaspheme. As for those who blasphemed Christ when he was here upon earth, and called him a Winebibber, a Deceiver, a Blasphemer, and the like, they had some colour of excuse, because of the meanness of his appearance, and the prejudices of the nation against him; and the proof of his divine mission was not perfected till after his ascension; and therefore, upon their repentance, they shall be pardoned: and it is hoped that they may be convinced by the pouring out of the Spirit, as many of them were, who had been his betrayers and murderers. But if, when the Holy Ghost is given, in his inward gifts of revelation, speaking with tongues, and the like, such as were the distributions of the Spirit among the apostles, if they continue to blaspheme the Spirit likewise, as an evil spirit, there is no hope of them that they will ever be brought to believe in Christ; for First, Those gifts of the Holy Ghost in the apostles were the last proof that God designed to make use of for the confirming of the gospel, and were still kept in reserve, when other methods preceded. Secondly, This was the most powerful evidence, and more apt to convince than miracles themselves. Thirdly, Those therefore who blaspheme this dispensation of the Spirit, cannot possibly be brought to believe in Christ; those who shall impute them to a collusion with Satan, as the Pharisees did the miracles, what can convince them? This is such a strong hold of infidelity as a man can never be beaten out of, and is therefore unpardonable, because hereby repentance is hid from the sinner’s eyes.

The last sentence in Matthew Henry’s commentary should bring you peace. A person who has blasphemed the Holy Spirit has no repentance because it is hid from the sinner’s eyes. In other words, the person who blasphemed never has a thought about coming back to Christ. I think you sinned. Since sin is sin and it’s all judged the same, mine and yours are different but equal so the only thing to do is to fall on the mercy and grace of God. It’s really all any of us can do. This is why we plead for mercy and grace over our lives daily. I believe that this torment that you feel in your soul is not of God. He doesn’t condemn, it’s the enemy of your soul who is consuming you, trying to get you to give up on God. You’ve proven much stronger than that though. Let the peace of the Lord wash over you, as you restore your relationship with Him.

These Are The Threads Of Our Lives

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Have you ever realized how many people you touch each and every day? I don’t mean physically touch but I mean touch by a word, or a smile or a not so friendly hand gesture in traffic? Part of being a human being on the planet is that we are interconnected and those little things we do matter.

Saying thank you, holding a door open, stopping to actually listen when you ask someone how they are doing are all ways in which we touch each other’s lives. Here is what God asks for us to do,

Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

I know it’s hard to like those people who drive you up the wall but we have to try. We never know the impact we make on a person. Someone, whom I’ve known for years said to me recently, “You know what I like about you? You are always the same. At church, at the gym, at the grocery store. You never change, you’re just you and you stop to talk to people even when we know you are busy.” I thought it about it afterward and had to say a little prayer to God as a thanks that he has given me a place  in my heart for caring about others. 

Doesn’t it just make you feel better when you are out running errands and out of the blue someone “honors” you by saying something sweet or holding a door open? Doesn’t it give you a boost when you are behind someone in line at the grocery store and their basket is overflowing with groceries and you have three things to pay for, they look over at you and NOTICE YOU! Then they further make your day great by saying, “Please go ahead of me in line, you only have a few things.” Wow! That doesn’t happen often does it? Or the person who randomly says, “You look great today.”

As transformed people, let’s make sure we are cognizant of those around us and take time out to notice people and to find a positive thing to say or do, if nothing else, a smile goes a long way!


Where Did I Leave Him?

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He was here yesterday. I know he has to be around here somewhere. Where can he be? I mean, honestly he was here and then he was gone!

 

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Hmmm, maybe I accidently left him in the kitchen. Maybe in a drawer somewhere? 

 

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Maybe I left him in my closet. I really need to find him. Can you help me? 

 

This seems to be our average thought process when it comes to God. We keep looking for him externally as if he is under a rock somewhere. We turn our lives upside down  trying to find him. We read every book, follow every person who says they know where he is at.

All the while, there is a spot at your core where he can dwell. You only need invite him in. Then you will never have to look for him again because he will be with you always.

  • Matthew 28:20 ………I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

The biggest misunderstanding is that we think God is external. God is internal once we are saved. Once we are dedicated to him, we become one with him, our bodies become living, breathing temples of the Holy Spirit. 

Ah! There he is! 

 

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Coming In Second……..Or Third

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Lisa, 28, asks:

Is it ever okay to get divorced? 

Hi Lisa, 

First off, God hates divorce. I like the way the Message version of the bible describes it as, the violent dismembering of one flesh, because no one gets out of a divorce whole. 

Malachi 2:16“I hate divorce,” says the God of Israel. God-of-the-Angel-Armies says, “I hate the violent dismembering of the ‘one flesh’ of marriage.” So watch yourselves. Don’t let your guard down. Don’t cheat.  

Yet even God acknowledges that infidelity throws forever out the window and allows for divorce. God even allows for remarriage in this case as the couple’s vows have been severed just as in death. 
For me, the question is a bit more complicated. I don’t believe that people have to stay miserably together. I believe that they may choose to live apart. I don’t believe that they can remarry in these cases because my faith and belief in the bible makes this pretty clear. However,  I like Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s rule of  thumb for reasons for divorce. She calls them the 3 A’s. Abuse, Addiction and Adultery. 
For a woman, her number one need is security. We can overlook a lot of flaws if we feel secure in our marriage. Abuse, Adultery and Addictions bring that security to a halt. When a godly woman comes second to God she loves this, she understands this and for her, it’s the completely acceptable. When that same woman comes second or even third to another vice or person she becomes jealous and outraged. At this point, there is no need to waste precious years of her life competing with something that she can’t win. It will only serve to frustrate her. She can’t compete with anger, another woman or an addiction necessarily. 
For a man, his number one need is respect. If he can’t get respect at home from his woman then it leaves doors open for him to find that respect in other areas. Even then, when the 3 A’s enter his relationship, they don’t leave any room for respect. 
Okay, that being said, go the distance at trying to make your marriage work. Get counseling, read, look for help first. Don’t just a quit. A marathon runner didn’t get up one morning and decide to run a race. He trained, he trained, and then he trained some more. He built endurance he ran up hills and down hills, he prepared his body and his mind for the task set before him. So it is with marriage. You can’t just quit because you have to remember that the violent dismembering of one flesh means you will never be the same again. You have exhaust every effort and when you can honestly look at yourself in the mirror and say truthfully that you have done all that you can do, then I believe you can separate. 
Anything other than the 3 A’s is no reason for divorce. You can find a common ground and with help you can restore a marriage. Hope that helps! 

The Cost Of Infidelity

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I’ve read with interest a blog recently about women and infidelity. This blog coming on the heels of an article in Latina Magazine which said that 68% of college aged women cheat on their mate versus 75% of college aged men who cheat, it made for some interesting observations.

The article in Latina quoted Gary Lewandowski Jr. Ph.D who has done extensive research on infidelity. He says women tend to cheat due to dissatisfaction in their relationship. They also tend to cheat early in their marriage, the longer they’ve been married the less likely they are to cheat. When Latina did their own study on 500 readers 69% of them have cheated. Infidelity is not just a male issue anymore, if it ever was, and it seems that the numbers are staggeringly increasing.

My own personal thought on this is to look at the age we are discussing. Women in the college age group who are still finding their own identity. It makes sense to me that they would be the ones most likely to cheat as they would have more personal dissatisfaction in their relationship because they have more dissatisfaction with their life in general. These are not the women of 30 years ago who were prepared for marriage at 18. These women have been brought up with a vastly different perspective to their life. They were not brought up to go to college to find their husband as in generations past. Instead, they were brought up to find themselves. This is not a bad thing, don’t misunderstand, I like this, but mix this prematurely in a marriage and we can see where there can be issues.

What is interesting about infidelity is that once it happens the first time, it becomes easier to do it again. Lines get crossed and whether we like to admit it or not, we become desensitized to the idea. Statistically we find women who cheat live to cheat again. It becomes a vicious cycle of looking for that thrill that you can’t find in a long-term relationship. Mix this with the fact that one in five people have genital herpes and the fastest growing number of HIV/AIDS patients are Hispanics and African American women and we have a lot more issues than a broken heart. The idea that it won’t happen to me, keeps these diseases spreading.

So what is the remedy? We can’t say it’s church because even those in church cheat. We can’t say it’s God because those in church should know God and still it happens. Pastor Doug has told me over and over that those who cheat or find themselves on the brink of cheating are open to the possibility of it. I believe the real answers lie in the questions that are never asked.

What exactly are you looking for in a relationship?

How do you react when the going gets rough?

Are you run by your emotions?

Can you set clear boundaries for yourself?

Are you ready for a committed relationship?

I do the pre-marital counseling in our church. When I ask these questions, often I get the blank stares and the ‘I don’t know’ answers and only because they have never really thought of why they want to get married or if they are ready for marriage. They tend to look at the questions through the rose colored glasses of love rather than the honesty of reality that will smack them in the face quite quickly.

Then, there needs to be a clear understanding of the vows taken. What is a covenant and who did I make that covenant with? You see, that covenant although primarily with your spouse and God affects many others. Children, parents and other family members are affected by these decisions as well. When a covenant is broken those people are also indirectly affected by your decision. Sin may be personal but it is never private it affects many, even the people on the sidelines watching this all go down.

The cost of infidelity is not just the demise of a relationship, it’s the cost of a piece of a soul, the cost of those who look at the damage, the cost to your health and the opening of doors that don’t easily get closed once they are opened. Even when the relationship is saved, there is something that has been chipped away from it. We must learn to consider the cost of our actions.

Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it– 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 



Authenticity

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What do you think of when you think of “The Church Lady”? Do you think of Dana Carvey doing his SNL skits? Do you think of your grandma? Do you think of your fanatic friend at work? Whenever I think of her, I think of a person who is real but not authentic. A cubic zircona is real but it’s still a fake diamond. I had very little good examples set before me in the church of authentic women. Most of the ones I met were trying to conform to their ideal of what a church lady looked like.  I think that’s where people get off track and leave church because they are looking for authentic and they don’t see it.

We find plenty of authentic women in the bible. Not perfect women, but authentic women. I read about one recently, whose husband had died before they could have children. In that culture, and at that time, for a woman to not have a child was humiliating. Her father-in-law sent his son to “lay” with her in his brother’s place. The brother being wicked spilled his semen rather than risk her getting pregnant because he knew if she bore a child it would be as though it was his brother’s child and he didn’t want to comply. <em>To some it’s more important to appear obedient than to be obedient. </em> That doesn’t sound like it’s very authentic. So there she sat childless. Her father-in-law promises her that when his youngest son grows up, he will send him to her but time passes and it looks as though he isn’t going to do it. Have you ever gotten to the point where it doesn’t look like things are going to happen so you get a little desperate, okay, a lot desperate? She dresses up as a prostitute and sets herself up on the road and has sex with her father-in-law! He doesn’t know its her! She gets proof of this encounter by asking her father-in-law for some personal items and she gets pregnant. When her father-in-law finds his daughter-in-law pregnant, well you can imagine the hell that breaks loose because now she’s humiliated him. Go figure!  She was pretty thought out though and has proof of who she slept with! Okay, it all sounds creepy but we all know desperate women do desperate things. Let’s not judge but understand that in her world she had little choice. Who was she? Her name was Tamar and she was one of the great-great grandmothers of Jesus. She was authentic. She captured the attention of God because he saw her actions through her heart. We don’t see her nagging, yelling, pouting. There is so much to this story, the story of a deal not fulfilled and the consequence of procrastination, disobedience and the fulfillment of an end result, that I urge you to read it. It shows an aspect of the heart of a woman better than any country song could. You can find the story in Genesis 38. Being authentic requires that we be actually what we claim to be. So often I see us trying to conform to our peer group.

Have you ever noticed the new girl at the office? She comes in looking like herself and slowly but surely she begins to dress like everyone else. You aren’t called to conform. You are called to transform. You are called to leave your mark on your little piece of life. I love talking with the youth group at church. They really have a funny sense of “being themselves”. They say things like, “I don’t want to be like everybody else, I want to be myself.” Problem is, the Goths look like all the other Goths, the Preps look like all the other Preps and the Skaters look like all the other Skaters, seen one Emo, you’ve seen them all, no one is really not like everyone else. So take a deep breath and take a look at your life today. Are you authentic? Are you the Ruby or the lab created Ruby? Both are real. One is authentic.