"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Tag: Repentance (Page 4 of 4)

Remembrancers…

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2.

We here at Sonsofthesea are praying for you and with you as we pass through this current storm. May your hearts and minds remain open to all the Lord is saying to you personally, as well as to His Body as a whole. We’re also lifting up those God has entrusted to you to Shephard or minister to; be they a congregation of people or individual family members, or neighbors. Know that we as a ministry, as well as our partner, Highland City Church, are seeking God’s will during this season of imposed social distancing. Yet though we are observing those rules and guidelines given us by our leaders, both civic and spiritual, we are more committed than ever, in these tenuous times, to draw ever closer to God. To staying linked to Him. Too fast and pray. To going deeper, that we might come out the other side of this current storm stronger, with a new fire in our belly. Moving forward then, with a clearer vision of the Lord’s instructions for any new direction in which He might have us to go—to lead, share with, encourage you; those God has entrusted to us.

Perhaps He’s calling us all into a time of renewed simplicity and power? A genuine caring for others and not simply for self, as witnessed in the Acts church?

We, as 20th century Christians, have the privilege, via God’s written Word and the paradigms it contains, to witness both the clarity and power that can happen when God’s people emerge from where God has strategically placed them—their places of refining and preparation. From Moses who emerged on the scene after 40 years in the desert to help lead God’s people out from under Egypt’s oppressive rule. To watching John the Baptist step forth onto the world stage from his place of preparation in the desert into being used to call a people to repentance; preparing the way for the Lord’s arrival. We’re able to witness Elijah too. Used by God to call His people back to Himself and away from their pagan gods and idols—from the Baals. And then there is the Apostle Paul, who, after being in the desert for some 3 ½ years, we witness emerging in power to help spread the Gospel message to the gentiles. And there are countless others that a thorough search of the Scriptures will reveal emerged to intercede for or lead God’s people during times of great testing and trials as well. Were used to help usher in a fresh wind of change, God’s plan for His Church, for the world. Biblically speaking, Esther and Mordecai jump to mind.

And then there are the likes of the more contemporary men and women of God He has, and is using still. The likes of Spurgeon, Moody, Jim Elliot, Christine Gibson, William J. Seymour, C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham, and Reinhard Bonnke. Straight onto those hundreds of thousands of missionaries, apologists, prophets, and evangelists around the world whom God uses to help edify, encourage, and correct both His people and the world.

We as Christ-followers, as His children, are being afforded these same types of gateways today that our biblical forefathers once tasted—perhaps greater still as the time for Christ’s return draws closer by the minute…

I do believe God is supernaturally opening doors that have been kept purposefully closed until now. Their sudden opening creating timely points of access into people’s lives—their very hearts, that we’ve not witnessed, most of us anyway, in our lifetime. Just as He did for Moses and John and Paul and Esther before us. I believe the true question remains: How will we use this time we’re being afforded? Are we seeking God’s face that we might somehow be used by Him to help usher in His next great move? His will? Are we asking Him to reveal to us a clear vision— not only for what our lives and ministries will look like, more, a clearer, bolder vision as to how to help guide His people, our neighbors, in times such as ours?

My brothers and sisters, as a fellow servant of Jesus Christ I urge you, I challenge myself, to intentionally set aside a designated time to come before the Lord wholeheartedly, in surrender, on our faces and knees, as I’m certain most of you have and will continue to do, crying out, seeking to clearly hear from heaven; that we might come away with a renewed boldness, a fixed determination to serve God with our whole heart. Any remnants of our half-stepping are burnt-up, left in a pile of discarded ashes. So that we, like Moses and John, Paul, and Esther, will offer God’s people His Truth, in love. Be it popular, or not. We will not back down. We will instead, boldly, faithfully, do what we have been called to do; our #1 priority. Help ready His people for Jesus Christ’s soon return…

Listen now, to Charles Spurgeon’s words delivered to his congregation on July 13th, 1879. This excerpt is taken from his sermon, a charge, to each Christian man and woman within earshot in a time when both he and they were facing a great war, a depression, and all of those spiritual and societal challenges that were associated with them. I pray we hear his words, more than they permeate us, every fiber of our being, now, today, as our communities, our world, faces these unchartered times. Remembering nevertheless, that though the world may not know what might be coming next—God most certainly does. None of what we are experiencing has caught Him off guard. He is Sovereign. His plan for this world fixed, certain, and will continue to unfold, in His divine timing. So then, my brothers and sisters, being assured of this Truth, let us join our prayers together as One Body seeking the will of God for His Church, our lives and ministries and families, and neighbors. That we might emerge a stronger, purer, more holy people who will wholeheartedly turn back to God; from the greatest to the smallest, in repentance, and with a renewed devotion to God…

You are part and parcel of the nation, for you share in its protection and privileges, and it is yours as Christian men to feel that you are bound in return to do all you can in the midst of it to promote truth and righteousness. What then? What course should we now pursue? Let us make confession of sin on behalf of the people as Moses and Jeremiah and Daniel did aforetime. You may not consider that to be sin which I judge to be so, but, my brother, you see sin enough all around you of one sort or another. Take it to yourself, and as the high priest went in to the holy place to plead for the people, so act you as a priest before God, in your quiet personal devotions. Confess the sin of this nation before God. If it will not repent, repent for it. Stand as a sort of consecrated sponsor before God, and let the sin lie on your heart till you fall on your face before the Most High. Remember, the saints are intercessors with God for the people. Ye are God’s remembrancers, and, as ye are called to make mention of his name, keep not silence day nor night, but in this hour of trouble pour out your hearts before him. Get you up to your Carmels and cry aloud, you that know how to cry unto God, that he may send deliverance, and when you have prayed for this people and asked the Lord to forgive its sin, and also to take away the chastising rod, then all of you promote by your daily lives, your precepts, and your actions, “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report.” Be on the side of temperance and sobriety: be on the side of peace and of justice; be on the side of everything that is according to the mind of God, and according to the law of love. Love God and your fellow men, and seek to promote all interests which look that way. I believe that a country can never have a larger blessing, a truer safeguard for the present, or a firmer security for its future greatness, than a band of praying men and women who make mention of it before the throne of God –Charles Spurgeon.

Beloved, take heart. Be encouraged! You serve a loving, merciful Father. And know, we here at Sonsofthesea, and our partner at Highland City Church, are praying for you, your families, ministries, and, our neighbors. We encourage you in this time as well, to take all that you hear from the swirling masses of “spiritual authorities” before the Lord for confirmation. God will give you wisdom ad discernment if you seek after it. The same with secular authorities and news stories, be wise, check your facts!

And to you, new friend. If you haven’t asked Jesus Christ into your heart as your Lord and Savior, may we encourage you to do it right now! With all that is changing in our world, what better time than today to invite Him in! Remember, no man is promised tomorrow, so please, don’t let this moment pass you by! “Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6.

Transformed. Acts 9:3

“Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.”

Friends, for the remainder of Advent, I will continue to share shorter posts centered around Jesus as the “Light.” It is this aspect of Himself that He has been impressing upon my heart, and, I believe, wants to re-mind us of. In these dark days, these turbulent and uncertain times in which we live, be remind friends: Immanuel is here, still! He is sending His Word out in this season of hope to refocus our hearts and minds on Him. To rekindle our remembrance of His promise to, “never leave us, never forsake us.” My prayer for each of you in this season of hope is that you will look up and be refreshed, reawakened, or, perhaps, awakened for the first time, to His Truth. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5.

Suddenly: unexpectedly; happening, coming, made, or done quickly, without warning.

One moment Saul was intent on killing the leaders of The Way and taking anyone who even remotely smacked of Christianity captive. And in the next, he finds himself blinded by the Light of the glory of God. At that moment, Saul experienced the “suddenly” of God. Scripture states it this way: “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem” –Acts 9:1-2. Armed with letters of authority from the high priest to commit these unspeakable atrocities, Saul had set off for Damascus to address the synagogues there. He was asking for their cooperation in the arrest of anyone they suspected maybe following The Way. He wanted them all, every man, woman, and child in chains that he might have them dragged back to Jerusalem.

Religion will do that to us. It will drive us into believing that even our wrongs are right. It will so blind us to the Truth, that we’ll dress up our sins and earnestly offer them up to God as a sign of our love, our loyalty, just as Saul did. Only the Pure Light of God’s Truth is able to remove these scales, this crust of religious ideology from our eyes, enabling us finally to see this Jesus who is standing right in front of us…

Little did Saul know, however, that he was, and would continue to be, an intricate part of God’s plan of salvation for the gentiles. As a result of his ravaging and persecution, these new followers of The Way fled Jerusalem. And, with them went The Truth. This knowledge of Jesus as their Savior. Of Him being The Way—the only way, back into right relationship with the Father. And this Truth spread with their every step. From one to another it passed, this life-changing Truth could not be contained. It passed from one to another, sating the thirst of each one it filled just as surely as if water had been given to one who is parched. In Saul’s attempt to silence the voice of those that now carried the Word of God within themselves, he had unwittingly become one of its greatest catalysts. But, before Saul could accomplish his insidious plan to bring an end to The Way, however, God would stop him in his tracks—literally. Listen to what God has to say about men’s plans: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps” –Prov. 16:9. It was God’s plan, not Saul’s, that would prevail. It always has been, and it always will be…

The verse following today’s Scripture says this: “He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” –verse 4.

Saul, in the midst of his sinful, awful tirade, hears the voice of the Resurrected Jesus, and its Truth pierces him to his core. At that same moment, he is blinded by the Pure, All-knowing Light of this same Jesus. He has caught a glimpse behind the veil, been made a witness of the blinding Truth of God. All his misguided zealousness, his religion, must now give way to this Truth that exposes men’s darkest deeds. Saul will forever be undone by this one encounter. And so too, must we…

Saul was blinded, yet, in a very real sense, his eyes had never seen so clearly.

In Saul, we’re able to catch a glimpse of ourselves. Our desperate need for transformation, for reconciliation. In Saul we also witness great hope. The fiercest of sinners can be saved! It is not too late for you, for any of us, to turn to this Jesus and ask His forgiveness. Ask Him to come into our hearts, forever changing them. In Saul, we recognize our deepest need: to meet this Resurrected Jesus face to face. To be transformed, as he was, by this God whose Light is no longer swaddled and lying in a manger, a Christmas babe. Like Saul, we must be willing to leave our religion, our idols, and intellect, our traditions, and pride at the feet of Truth—our love offering, our due. We must come and bow before Him, fall to our knees, face to the ground, in humble adoration, in submission, in awe. Then, stand up, bold, and changed, and willing and wanting to tell anyone and everyone about this Light that pierced the deepest recesses of our hearts and minds.

The Light that is coming again, soon, and very soon…

 “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” 1 Corinthians 15:50-52.

Jesus came to Saul just as He comes to each one who has, or ever will be, saved: suddenly and without warning. And, just as suddenly, He will one day call us back to Himself—eternally. No man knows that hour. Not even the Son…

Friend, this Advent, ask yourself this one question: If Jesus suddenly showed up today, are you ready to meet Him face to face? Don’t think it can’t happen to you. Paul’s experience alone ought to dispel that lie. Where are you spending your eternity? If you don’t know the answer to this question, please, I implore you, ask this same Jesus into your heart now, don’t delay…

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