Just a Little Patience

A favorite song of mine from back in the day when I had long hair (I know, you are trying to imagine it!), and my taste in music was a little more secular was "Patience" by Guns 'N Roses. While I do not endorse the band, the song is really good. It is about a person who is in a relationship and wants to see it evolve and grow, but struggles against their lack of patience and self-control in seeing it happen.

As I was reading 1 Samuel 13 that song came to my mind. Saul has been made king by God through the prophet Samuel. He is early in his reign (two years) when he undertakes an ill-advised attack on the Philistines, along with his son Jonathan. Now keep in mind, God did not command Saul to do this. As a matter of fact, the Bible explicitly states that this was Saul's decision. It does not mention anything about God directing him.  

That was Saul's first mistake-he ventured out on his own in a dangerous and risky proposition that not only affected him, but the entire nation of Israel. Remember this: when you go out on your own apart from the leading of the Holy Spirit, you are setting yourself and those around you up for failure and defeat.

Well, Saul "stirred up a hornet's nest" as we like to say in South Carolina. The Philistines quickly gathered their army together. 1 Samuel 13:3 says that the army was, "thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude." Whoa. Talk about an intimidating sight. When the people of Israel saw that massive army encamped against them, ready to butcher them, they did what just about anyone would do-they ran and hid. Verse 6 of 1 Samuel 13 says, "When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits."

Here is another important spiritual principle: When you venture out on your own apart from the guidance and empowering of the Lord, you will fall victim to fear and confusion.

Now comes the culmination of Saul's impatience and independence from God. Samuel specifically told Saul that he would return in seven days to Gilgal to offer the sacrifices for Israel. Well, on the seventh day at the 11th hour there was still no Samuel. So, Saul called for the sacrifices to be brought and he offered them on behalf of Israel. Sounds like no big deal right? Wrong! Saul offered the sacrifices even though he was neither priest nor prophet.

As it turns out, just as he is finished, Samuel comes and Saul goes out to meet him. Samuel scolds Saul for his foolish behavior, but Saul places the blame on Samuel and those around him! He said in vv.11-12, "When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the appointed time...I felt compelled and offered a burnt offering."

Notice that Saul said he "felt compelled." Here is a final truth I want you to consider: Saul allows the circumstances of the moment to cloud his vision of what God has in store for him.

Saul was anointed as the prince who will deliver Israel from the power of this long-standing enemy (1 Sam. 9:16). It is for just a time as this that Saul has been made king. However, instead of trusting God to make him victorious, he takes matters into his own hands.The results are devasting.

In verse 13-14 of 1 Samuel 13 the prophet Samuel tells Saul that his reign as king will come to an end because of his disobedience. I want to leave you today with a final thought: failure to trust God and be obedient to Him always brings disastrous results.

Do not be like Saul. Wait on God, even when it seems like He has forgotten you and your circumstances are about to overwhelm you. Trust in His provision, love, and soverienty for you life. He will come through for you!

Serving Christ, Loving Others, & Growing Together,
Pastor Bryan

Should a Christian Go See "Heaven is For Real?"

There has been a great deal of speculation and questioning over the movie "Heaven is For Real." Many prominent pastors, including David Platt have weighed in on the issue. You can watch Platt's scathing critique of the book and movie here: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2014/04/16/david-platt-on-why-you-should-not-believe-heaven-is-for-real/.

I respect David Platt's ministry and his scholarship a great deal. I even agree with his argument. His main concern is that Christians not elevate "experiential" episodes like those in "Heaven is for Real" above the authoritative Scriptures. I agree with Platt that this is a legitimate concern. It is natural for many people to be drawn to seemingly supernatural phenomenon. The danger here is that believers fail to rely on the Bible for their understanding of theological issues, such as the theology of heaven. Instead, they get caught up in someone's "experience" which may or may not be a legitimate expression of God's revelation.

However, I feel Platt and others have gone to the extreme in this situation. The Bible indicates that God revealed His will to selected people through dreams or visions in Scriptures such as Genesis 37:5-10; 1 Kings 3:5-15; Daniel, chapters 2 and 7; Matthew 1:20; 2:13,19; and Acts 10:9-16; 16:9.

God may communicate through dreams or visions even today, but we need to carefully check any such guidance we receive with Scripture and godly counsel to be sure it is from the Lord. Anything which contradicts Scripture is not from God. Our minds and even Satan are capable of producing great deception in such subjective areas.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 shows that God has revealed His will to us primarily through His Word. It says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

What does this mean for Christians going to see movies like "Heaven is For Real?" Is it wrong for believers to see such movies? No, as long as they do not elevate it above the authority of Scripture and compare the contents of the movie to what the Bible says about the particular subject, in this case, heaven.

Can God use a movie like "Heaven is For Real" to lead people to a saving faith in Christ? Absolutely. God can use anything He desires to accomplish His purposes. Someone far away from God may not set foot inside a church, but they might be willing to go see a movie like "Heaven is For Real." God may use that movie to begin to bring eternal questions to the mind of the unbeliever, which could lead to them investigating deeper by attending a church service.  The unbeliever, under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God could be brought to a saving knowledge of Christ.

So, while I urge caution in reading these books, and watching these movies, I do not condemn it. Let us rely on the Bible and not our experiences. 

Serving Christ, Loving Other, & Growing Together,
Bryan
 

Why I Don't Want to Be a Celebrity Pastor

Matthew 11:7-9

It seems our culture today, particularly the Christian culture, seems obsessed with celebrity pastors. You can turn on the television and see how The Preachers of LA roll with their $2,000 Armani suits, Mercedes, and Rolex watches. Or, you can go online and see a host of other pastors with designer jeans, embroidered shirts, and cool accessories. I will withhold naming any one particular person, because this is not about a person, but a dangerous phenomenon that is developing.

Now, do not misunderstand me. I am not saying a pastor has to wear a suit and tie, or that they have to dress casually. The issue is not the clothes, but the attitude and perception given. I believe a pastor should dress according to the dynamics of the community that he serves in. If you serve a corporate culture community, it might mean dressing in a suit and tie. If you serve a rural farming community, it could be jeans and a flannel shirt. The point is not what we wear, but the message we proclaim.

In Matthew 7:7-9, Jesus challenges the popular perception of how people viewed John the Baptist. He asked them, "What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces! But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet."

If you read a description of John the Baptist he was not much on fashion. In fact, he wore a camel hair's vest with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and honey. And his message was not centered around how you can be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous. It was centered on how you could develop an eternal relationship with the living God.

What we need today is pastors who are not concerned about their image, or how they can promote their latest book, conference, or podcast. What we need are pastors who will be willing to deliver an uncompromising message to a hostile culture.

I confess that I am not "cool." I am more comfortable in khakis and a button up shirt than I am jeans and flip-flops. I do not have a charismatic personality. God can use the pastor in California wearing jeans and flip and flops. He can use those pastors with magnetic personalities. It takes a wide variety of pastors to reach a wide variety of people.

The point I am trying to make is that I want to be a prophet of God, not the next trendy thing to come along. I want to challenge my fellow pastors to honestly examine themselves. Has the message taken a backseat to the mirror? Has the desire for prominence replaced a passion for people?

My brothers, let us all to strive to be phrophets and not celebrities. 

In Christ Alone,

Bryan

The Radical Gospel

In Luke 4:14-30, you can read of Jesus' rejection in His hometown of Nazareth.  In v.24, Jesus utters the famous phrase, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country."  Maybe you have felt the same sting among your own family and friends.  Perhaps you can relate to allowing God to do a radical work in your life, attempting to be obedient to His calling, and facing rejection, ridicule, and scorn.

If you are experiencing this type of trial, don't worry.  Many of God's choicest instruments have gone through the same fires of dismay, pain, and betrayal.  Often, it is from the people closest to us-our family and friends. They cannot look past who you once were.  All they see are your limitations, your weaknesses, your vulnerabilities.  But God sees your potential, your strengths, and how He can effectively leverage them by His power and might.

Let this thought sink into your heart and mind today:  To soar like an eagle, you must first be willing to leave the nest.  This often means leaving the comforts and confines of your hometown and be willing to go where God leads to your destiny.  If you think I am wrong, check out your Bible.  You will find time and again the people God used the most, He called out of their familiar surroundings.  Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Moses, Jonah, the prophets, the disciples (especially Paul)-they all left the comforts of home to journey with God to fulfill their purpose in life.

Am I saying that the only way you can serve God effectively is by leaving your hometown?  Absolutely not. God does not call everyone to leave their hometown.  However, you will find more often than not, people are living dissatisfied lives, not experiencing the power of the Christian life, and deal with a frustrated spirit. Why?  Because they are attempting to live a radical Christian life in the midst of doubters, deniers, and downers.

Are you ready to soar like an eagle?  Are you tired of living an "ordinary" Christian life devoid of power?  Do you long to break free from the doldrums of frustration trying to become all God desires you to be amid people who cannot see past the old you and your old life?  Try something radical. 

Ask God today, "Am I a phrophet living without honor in my hometown?  Is there something bigger out there You want to use me for?  Is it Your will for me to leave the comforts of my nest, so I can soar like an eagle?"

Then, be willing to wait and listen for God.  Make the commitment today.  God has greater plans for you than you can imagine.

Getting Beyond Disappointment

Let me ask you a question.  When disappointments come into your life, how do you handle them?  It is easy to blame yourself or others-or even both.  Many times, it is difficult to know what to say or do because you cannot quite identify the real cause or purpose of the letdown.

Disappointment is often an emotional response to our failure, or someone else's-to achieve a hope, goal, or dream.  This can lead to losing faith in someone on whom we were depending-perhaps even a person we love.

In John 11, we see two sisters-Mary and Martha become disappointed in Jesus because He did not respond immediately to their brother Lazarus being sick.  As a result, Lazarus died, dashing Mary and Martha's hopes and causing them to question Jesus' love for them.  However, Jesus had a far greater purpose in mind in His delay.   He desired to do something beyond everyone's hopes-raise Lazarus from the dead so that God would be glorified through the miracle and many people come to faith in Christ.

God has reasons for us expierencing disappointemtns.  He could prevent them, but He wants to show us His purpose.  He desire is that we trust and believe, and let our circumstance bring glory to Him (John 11:4, 25).

When disappointments come, will you be stalled and derailed from God's plans for your life?  Or will you find yourself open to what He wants to show you and eager to understand His purpose and lesson in those situations?  The right response is to simply trust Him.

"Soul" vs. "Spirit": Are They One in the Same?

My dear friend Bennie Durham wrapped up preaching revival at the church I pastor last week.  He did a tremendous job, and God definitely used him.  He preached a series of messages out of Hebrews 4.  One night talking about Hebrews 4:12-13, he made the comment about the "soul" and "spirit" being essentially the same thing.  Let me try to clarify this for you.

The words for "soul" and "spirit" are two entirely different words in the Greek language, which is what the New Testament was written in.  The Greek word for "soul" is psuchē, while the Greek for "spirit" is pneúma.  To make the comparison easier, I would reference you to 1 Thessalonians 5:23, where Paul prays for the Thessalonians for God to, "sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Let us try to differentiate between "soul" and "spirit."  The "spirit" is the part that enables us to perceive the divine.  Through this component we can know and communicate with God.This higher element, though damaged through the fall of Adam, is sufficently intact to provide each individual a consciousness of God.

The "soul" is the sphere of our will and emotions, the true center of personality, which gives us a self-consciouness that relates to the physical world through the body and to God through the spirit.

The "body" is the physical side of the human person.  This analysis of humankind had been Paul's training in the Old Testament, though much unresolved mystery remains regarding the interrelationships between the different parts, including the body.  How one affects the other is fully understood only by the Creator. 

I hope this clears the muddying of the waters somewhat.  Please feel free to respond with questions.

Blessings,

Bryan

Worship Wars

Contemporary or Traditional?  That is one of the hot button issues in many of today's churches.  Quite a few have attempted to bridge the gap by having "blended" worship services.  I preached the first part of a two-part message entitled, "Symbols & Cymbals of Worship" based on 2 Samuel 6.  At the risk of being misunderstood and misinterpreted, let me clarify a few things for you:

1. "Contemporary" is a subjective word.  What is contemporary to you might be considered outdated by another and vice-versa.

2. I am not against certain "secular" music.  I like certain songs from a variety of genres of music.  For instance, I have a George Strait greatest hist CD that I enjoy listening to from time to time.

3. What makes a song God-honoring or satanic is the lyrics, not necessarily the music.  Songs that promote alcohol, drugs, promiscuous sex, and other behaviors that are expressly forbidden in the Bible are satanic in origin and a believer has no businesses listening to them.

4. I am not against "praise bands" and "praise teams" in a worship service.  I actually enjoy them.  I think having a variety of things in a worship service adds excitement, energy, and creativity.  

5. I am not against traditional choirs.  In fact, I believe they add a great deal to the worship service.  You can do things with a choir that you cannot do with a praise band or praise team. 

6. I am against playing secular music in a worship service.  Why, you might ask?  The main reason is you cannot hope to achieve spiritual results (salvation of souls, conviction of sin, transformation of the heart) by using worldly methods.  Oil and water do not mix.

2 Cor. 6:14-18 (ESV):
 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? ¹⁵ What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
    and I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.
¹⁷ Therefore go out from their midst,
    and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
    then I will welcome you,
¹⁸ and I will be a father to you,
    and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”

Although Paul is dealing with the marriage of a believer to an unbeliever, the broader scriptural application is clear:  believers should be different from the world.   That includes their talk, attitudes, behaviors, and choices.  God is not honored when we bring secular music into our worship experience.  In fact, we do people a disservice.  

So in closing, let me be clear:  I believe a church should use a variety of methods for worship including a traditional choir, praise band, and praise teams.  I believe the music should be uptempo, energetic, and cause people to lift their voices in praise.  However, no matter what method you use, the music should always exalt Christ, honor the Father, and enable the Holy Spirit to supernaturally work in the hearts and minds of the people.  What that is done, souls will be saved and lives changed for the glory of God.

Blessings,

Bryan