"Where, O Death, is Your Victory?"

Through the past few weeks, death has been on my mind, on my heart, and in my walk with Jesus. Honestly, it's been all around me. It's hard for it not to be, seeing how I was in a hospital full of death's decay and I've attended two funerals in the past week. The LORD has taught me and stretched me during this time of loss - in ways only this time of loss could. It's not my lose that He's taught me through, but the lose that friends have experienced and how He's lead them during this time.

First, the LORD has taught me through these funerals that life is short, life is sweet, and I should glorify Him through every breath.

"Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath."
Psalm 39:4&5

The LORD has blessed me in life. He has surrounded me with a loving family, both legitimate kin of mine & the family I serve with at NewSpring . Through this time of death, the LORD has shown me how a church should love and care for one another - celebrate, cry, grieve, and hurt - together. He has shown me how much I truly love my parents, my sister, and close friends. I, like most of you, have taken for granted the simple and constants of my daily life. The passage from Psalm is my prayer. Through it I feel the LORD will protect me from laziness, apathy, and pride.

Second, the LORD has taught me that I serve beside true disciples of Jesus. A couple I serve with, recently lost their child while only a few months pregnant. What a loss. I cannot fathom the amount of pain a mother and father would experience at such a time. My mind cannot comprehend the feelings I would harbor toward God, toward the doctors, and honestly, any person wanting to communicate with me during this time. However, though in pain, hurt, and sorrow, my friends worshiped God, giving Him every ounce of glory they could muster. They don't understand why their daughter was taken from them, but they don't need to. I went to the funeral to show them that I loved them, but God used their daughter to express His love, His power, His faithfulness, and His strength. I know that God will send them His peace and express (through time) His reasoning for taking their daughter. God has shown me through this situation that we can only rely on Him for true love and strength. All the things of this world are temporary - its time to start living like I know that truth and help build His Kingdom, the only everlasting Truth. It's time to step up, live giving Him praise through every breath I breathe, and live in awe of His glory.

Fast forward a week.

The second funeral where God rocked my small world. This funeral was for a man, Mike Hunt, whom the LORD took home after cancer overwhelmed his body; but not his spirit. Mr. Hunt's funeral was a celebration of his life. A life that he lived completely glorifying God. This disciple of Jesus, found out that he had brain cancer on a Wednesday, and the next Sunday, he was at NewSpring Church serving God. The God who most people would have been upset with because of the circumstance, but not Mike. He praised Him, served Him, and told everyone he could about how good God is. Mike was bold in his faith. Actually, he was straight up bold in life. The LORD used this man and his funeral to nail home to me that I need to be bold. I need to live as Mike did - giving all the glory to the LORD - no matter what the circumstance, hurt or joy. Again, that this world is temporary and the only Truth is Jesus. That this life can easily change, be taken away, but that I should live each day for Him.

This sums up what the LORD taught me through Mike: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

The LORD has blessed me. He has placed His disciples strategically in my life so that He may further sanctify me. With the sanctification, I have grown to know Him and love Him more. God has taught me that He always gives in time of lose. He gives us life so that we can join the rest of creation in praising Him. He sustains our life because He wants to know us and work through us so others may know Him. He concludes life so that we, His sons and daughters, may go home to Him, becoming truly alive. Also, for us to realize that we are small and He is infinite - that He will always be able to strengthen and soothe us.

Third, the LORD has taught me this:

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the Church of God -- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

I feel the LORD will receive the most glory when we can say verse eleven with every word and action.

"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15: 55-57

And that is why all glory and honor and praise go to Him, Christ Jesus.

Thursday Night Bible Study (2): Acts 12

Acts 12

Acts 12: 1-4 - starts out the same way that chapter 11:1-3 began. Peter and the Church face persecution. There will be times in our lives that the LORD asks us to stand up, be bold, and do something that causes, both Christian brothers/sisters and the world to think critically of us. In my mind, I would think that the criticism from the church would have hurt Peter on a deeper level, then that of Herod arresting him. Why? Because Peter expects the persecution from Herod, the rest of the world, since they don't accept Jesus Christ as their King. They beat to a different drum. Herod beats to the drum of society, to the likes and dislikes of the Jews. Along the same thought process, the Holy Spirit explained to me that James died for Christ and Peter was arrested for preaching Jesus. That's bold and very uncomfortable. That's also how it could end for some of us. When we accept Jesus and begin to live like examples for Him, we aren't given an all access pass to beach front property in Malibu. We are called to go where He calls us because "Where He guides, He provides."

12:4 - Peter is arrested and placed in prison where he is watched over by 16 men. Don't miss the seriousness and the impossibility of this scenario. Check it: 16 incredibly trained soldiers guarding Peter in a prison made of stone and iron. If that wasn't bad enough, I'm sure there was a door on the prison cell and that door was locked. Now, Peter couldn't escape that prison even if he had someone deliver a cake with TNT and a saw placed in the center. What also struck me about this verse is that Peter was held over night because of the Passover, so he had time to dwell on the fact that he could be put to death the next day.

12:5 - Once the Church heard about Peter's arrest, which I bet was pretty soon after it happened, they began to pray to the LORD. This isn't one of those wimpy prayers where the Church doesn't believe that God will act, but they sat "earnestly praying!" The word earnestly is defined as showing sincere and intense conviction. This should define our prayer lives. The early Church sought after Jesus with earnest. Keep that thought on the forefront of your mind - we'll visit it again.

12:6 - Here is Peter in an extremely impossible situation where he could lose his life the next day and the playa falls asleep. He doesn't fall asleep because there is nothing else to do or because he's narcoleptic. Peter falls asleep because he trusts that the LORD will provide, whether it be freeing him or saving him in Heaven. Peter's faith in the LORD gives him the peace of the LORD so that he can sleep in a very troubling situation. Do we have that faith? Could we find His peace in that troubling of a circumstance? We could learn from Peter's faith in the LORD.

12:7-10 - Peter is miraculously rescued by an angel and the prayers of the Church are answered. This situation is incredible - God is in the business of doing the impossible. Matthew 19:26 sums up the event. God does the impossible for Peter. Again, if the LORD calls us to do something, He will provide the way. He shows that once more to Peter (and us.)

12:11 - Here is a man, Peter, who has seen truly breath taking events occur at the hands of Jesus Christ and His Father, but Peter still found it difficult (at first) to believe his own eyes. Peter truly thought that he was experiencing a vision of what, in all actuality, was his reality. The lesson I learned from this: God is beyond all I can comprehend and can do absolutely anything He wishes for those He finds favor upon. Blows my mind.

12:12 - Remember the thought you left on the forefront of your mind? Open the trunk and grab said thought. It's important to notice that the Church began praying for Peter when Herod arrested him and they did not stop until they saw an action take place from the LORD. They wouldn't stop until the LORD provided - let it be Peter's demise or his freedom. We need that prayer life. We need to stay faithful with who or what the LORD has called for us to pray. We don't always know why He commands for us to act but He knows, and more often then not, He will make it evident in His perfect timing.

12:13-15 - Peter comes to the house of Mary, the mother of John, and Rhoda (awesome name) comes to answer the door. When Rhoda hears that it's Peter at the door, she runs back to the others in such an excitement that she forgets to let Peter in. I want that excitement. The others who are praying respond with, "You're out of you mind." I want people to think that we are crazy, out of our minds with what Jesus asks us to do. I want us to be considered crazy for serving Jesus - doing what others and the world find ridiculous. It's then that the LORD has us in His palms, that we find comfort only in Him, and then that we are dangerous. We as Christians today care too much about what society thinks of us and not what Jesus thinks of us. When in reality, its only Jesus' thoughts that count and matter. I guarantee you, He will never find you crazy, but He will ask you to do the world's idea of ridiculous. But, then its a question of who we serve - the world or the Almighty God. (This passage has helped me when ppl call me crazy when it comes to what Jesus has called me to do - not with the craziness that actually is me.)

12:16 & 17 - The Church who had been praying for God's deliverance for Peter, were astonished. They had no idea how God would act. Verse 17 expresses that Peter didn't need the LORD to tell him to get out of Dodge, he just got out of Dodge. Sometimes we don't need the LORD to tell us His will for us. Sometimes it's obvious.

12:18 & 19 - Herod cross examines the guards that were holding Peter. I'm sure their interviews went like this: "Dude, I have no idea what happened. There was a light and then he was gone. The door unlocked on its own and Peter was gone..." Sound crazy, huh? Acts of God often cannot be explained and thus, sound crazy. But Herod wanted none of it, so he executed the soldiers. Herod was lost. He had miracles of God's Son all around him and never accepted Him. The story of Herod is sad, but what's even more depressing is that there are people just like him today. They're our roommates, our neighbors, our friends, and our family members. Reach them.

12:19-23 - Herod is struck dead for allowing the people to call him a god. The LORD killed not only the men holding Peter in prison, but the man who had the power to send Peter there. The LORD guided and provided for Peter; also for anyone else Herod planned on persecuting. God is a jealous God. He will not accept anyone proclaiming falsities about Him or anyone persecuting His people. If we are His, He will shepherd us. A struggle I have dealt with before and some of you may go through, is that of being a false prophet. It's a tool of Satan to use against us. Know this, the LORD doesn't take false teachings lightly. Meaning, He would deal with us if we were falsely teaching about His word and His Son, Christ Jesus.

12:24 & 25 - Herod died. All through history the people, or groups who oppose Jesus Christ have all died, or been destroyed. BUT the Truth and the Way and the Life has continued to grow and get stronger, even today! The Church, Christ's Bride, hasn't ended, hasn't died, hasn't gone anywhere, and by the Grace of God it will never cease. That's the power of Christ and the Truth He is. Enough said.

Next week will be Acts 13 & 14! Great stuff.

Thursday Night Bible Study (1): Acts 11

Here’s the deal, about a month ago on a Thursday morning the Holy Spirit commanded me to read the first two chapters of Acts. I listened to the Spirit. Straight up, Jesus rocked my world through the beginning of Acts – rocked me steady. Late that same Thursday night the Lord told me to start a Bible Study. In the past, I immediately said no, but this time I finally let Him lead me, so that I could lead others. So I began a Bible Study in Clemson, SC (where I live) at my home and we dived head first into the Book of Acts. I’m writing all of this because school let out and everyone went home, thus those who went home can receive what the Holy Spirit has laid upon me to speak (& now write).

(Last week we hit Acts 9&10 where Saul is converted on the road to Damascus and immediately begins to boldly preach about Jesus Christ. Peter heals the crippled Aeneas and brings Dorcas back to life. Peter later receives a vision from the Lord and then travels to Cornelius’, who is a Gentile, to spread the life change – the miracle – that is Jesus Christ. These chapters show that miracles are done only to bring Glory to God and to draw people closer to Jesus. Jesus is made famous in anyway God wishes.)

Acts 11

11:1-3 – Here Peter has come home, back to Jerusalem, and the news traveled quickly that he spent time with Gentiles. These brothers in Christ criticize Peter, one of their leaders, for doing something different and bold. Doing something the LORD commanded him. We will sometimes have fellow Christ followers, ones we trust and respect, criticize us for doing what the LORD has called us to do.

Yet, Peter explains the truth: 11:4-17. Peter explains his vision and his travels to Caesarea. Some thoughts that grabbed my attention during Peter’s retelling was that Peter was praying, talking with God, seeking His guidance and then God spoke to him through a vision. Simultaneously the Lord spoke to Cornelius in Caesarea to send men for Peter, to bring him back with them, and that Peter would preach news that would save them. Cornelius immediately sent the men. When the men arrive, the Spirit tells Peter to go with them - without hesitation. What is impressive, and what I seek for my life, is how quickly Peter goes – he immediately obeys even though these men were Gentiles. Both Cornelius and Peter hear the word of God, His commands, and they immediately do what He demands. They simply say "yes" to God. That's all we have to do - obey!

11:17 – Peter's argument in his defense of his actions is simple. God told him to do go, so he went. God sent His Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles, the same gift He gave the circumcised believers, and the Gentiles received and believed. Peter’s response “who was I to think that I could oppose God,” is huge. Peter learned this the hard way through his time walking with Jesus, but the lesson stuck. Peter is humble and understands that God is bigger then himself, that God knows what is better, that God is God. Peter trusts the Lord. I love this about Peter and pray that for myself and for you; that we’ll always keep in mind how great God is, that He is Lord, and that He is All Knowing.

11:18 – The disciples received Peter’s words with grace and excitement because the same Holy Spirit that told Peter to act, lives inside them, and the Spirit in them celebrated. They stop rejecting and start rejoicing! God gives them a slight view of His mercy and grace. He does not judge, He does not care about race, skin color, or their past. He explains that all are equal and all can receive His gift – Jesus. God reveals that anyone has the chance to receive a forgiven life through Jesus Christ - the only action needed is surrender.

11:19-21 – Now the disciples that had fled Jerusalem after Stephen’s death had began to speak only to Jews, but there were some who were in Antioch whom began to preach to the Gentiles. This passage doesn’t say that Peter instructed the disciples that the LORD said to preach to the Gentiles. I think that the Lord came, or spoke to these disciples and told them to preach the news of Jesus to the Gentiles – just as He did to Peter. That is strictly my opinion. But the Lord was with them in Antioch and many people came to know Jesus. That leads me to believe that the LORD had nudged His disciples to speak to the Greeks as well as the Jews; to speak to all people.

11:22-24 – Once Barnabas arrived in Antioch, it was obvious to him that the LORD’s grace was on the place. I want that for every church in the world. Why shouldn’t every church be that way? Why shouldn’t God’s hand be evident over all churches? But when Barnabas experienced the LORD’s presence there, he encouraged the people to remain true to the LORD. Barnabas understood that the new believers had just begun their journey with Jesus. He knew there would be many battles, trials, and tribulations along their way, but he also knew that trust in Jesus would get them through the tough times. The church of Antioch grew even more in numbers after Barnabas arrived and the LORD did great work through him, for more people received Jesus.

11:25&26 – After some time, Barnabas went to Tarsus for Saul. The same Saul who Barnabas befriended when Saul came to Jerusalem and preached boldly for Jesus. Barnabas brings Saul back to Antioch where they bring the message of Jesus and build disciples through the church. That is how disciples are made – through Christ, through the church, through more knowledgeable teachers with individuals seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus. All out of love for and from Jesus. Its interesting that v26 calls them disciples and not just believers. That simple distinction expresses the vast transformation and growth taking place after the people of Antioch received Jesus.

11:27-30 – Other disciples came to Antioch and one of them, Agabus, had the Spirit speak through him predicting famine to come on the land. Prophesy is an amazing spiritual gift that still occurs to this day, but people become uncomfortable hearing. However, famine did come over Judea and the disciples at Antioch helped in everyway the LORD gifted them. The church took care of the people – all people. We need that today. We need the church to take care of believers and non-believers alike. We need to be Jesus and serve everyone.

Acts 12 will be posted tomorrow morning! I pray that the Holy Spirit has used Acts 11 to speak to us and that we allow Christ to be bold in us as we act - as we live this out today.

The Vintage of Jesus (3rd time around)

Let’s do this.

“These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.”
Matthew 10: 5-10

The Twelve Disciples were sent out by Jesus with instructions. Don't miss that. Jesus instructed His disciples on how to carry themselves and what to say. Jesus told his disciples to go out through Israel serving Him and making His name famous.

Why Israel? Let's be real... this is definitely a Sunday school answer, but it holds truth: Israel is God's chosen people. The Old Testament expresses this many times through God's many covenants with the Israelites. It is no coincidence, well nothing is, but in this situation I mean that Jesus has come to fulfill the prophecy spoken in the Old Testament. Basically, the entire OT was written in preparation for Him. And it bothered Jesus that God's Chosen People had lost souls - wayward sons and daughters. Thus it makes sense for Jesus to send His disciples first through Israel, and later all nations (check it).

Instructing the disciples to go along preaching that Heaven is near while performing miracles is intense. I mean, who wouldn't believe I guy when he heals you of some horrible STD or the Whooping Cough, and then proclaimed Heaven was near. Never been there, but I've heard they suck, which I'm (accurately) guessing this would be an incredibly powerful experience. In all seriousness, I can't get over how awesome it is that the disciples were able to drive out demons, heal sickness, and raise people from the flippin' dead by the power of Jesus' name. However, don't get lost in the miraculous, get lost in the Man, Christ Jesus who provides power and where the miracles point. It fires me up because I believe that can happen today. I believe Jesus would do anything to make His name famous. That God would move mountains to save one soul. I also believe that a lot of us are too small minded for such awe-inspiring miracles to take place in our lives. Jesus is clear in verse 8, He will do anything to reach the lost. That's bold, but that's Jesus.

"Freely you have received, freely give!"

These 6 words blow me away. We should serve Jesus and others, especially non-Christians, with this attitude. Freely do whatever it takes to make Jesus real and famous to everyone, and anyone. For we have done nothing to deserve the gift of Jesus being tortured and dying on a cross for our sins - He did it freely. We are to speak of Him and His gift as we received it - freely.

Which leads me to verses 9 & 10.

Jesus commanding the disciples to go out to preach His Name with nothing but themselves and His name, is perfect; hence, why its from Jesus. By taking nothing, the disciples had to rely completely on God for whatever they were given. The Twelve had to rely on Jesus and the Father for the simplicities of life. The disciples grew closer to God while preaching about His Son. That, by leading, they grew closer to the Father. There is no doubt that their faith in Christ and the Father grew tenfold, for they were taken care of while they traveled speaking truth and working His miracles!

However, I feel Jesus had something completely different in mind - you know, a 1 2 punch.

Jesus commands the disciples to travel Israel preaching, healing, and performing miracles in His name without any possessions. The Israelites whom the Twelve would heal, cast out demons, or simply speak to, would have to notice that these men had no belongings. They had to notice that these men were relying completely on God and His son, Jesus, to supply their needs. You know the saying, "Actions speak louder then words?" I have no doubt that some of the Israelites would have missed the Truth of Jesus preached by the Twelve, some would even miss the Truth in the miracles done by the simple uttering of Jesus' name, but to look at the actions, lives of the Twelve, to see the work of God through them, and to see how God provided for their needs, would be a greater testimony. There is no doubt that those three characteristics of the Twelve's journey through Israel brought the Truth that is Jesus to many Israelites. No doubt that Jesus knew the Twelve would not only speak and do His will, but also be a living testimony for the people of Israel. That's rockin'. I mean, that is perfection. What knocks my socks off is that's only a glimpse of Jesus' perfection.

The Lord has challenged me with this and I want to make the same challenge to you: Be that. Be the living example. Be the living light of Jesus to the world - no matter how hard, difficult, & impossible it may be. There's no doubt He will work through you! That work may be miracles, healings, or speaking to someone about His Son Christ Jesus. Nevertheless, it's all work for Christ Jesus, no matter how big or small we think the task may be.

Jesus says in verse 10 "for the worker is worth his keep." Be worth the keep.

As Rob & Big say, "Do work," but make it the work of the Lord.

Guess Who's Back...

"So its been a long time... since I left you, without a dope beat to step to, step to...." ok, I'm not thug, so I'll stop 'rapping.'

I've been slack. I stopped posting just as I started the blog series, Matthew 10: The Vintage of Jesus. (which I will be starting again soon)

I will dive into the reason causing my absence within the next week or so. Along with being busy with school and my internship, God called me to do something incredible - in awe of Him and in great difficulty. Like I said, more detail are to follow shortly.

But, I'm back. I'm back with more stories on how Jesus has rocked me. I'll be more frequent, so stop by, dibble or dabble, leave your story, express your thoughts, tell your tale. More importantly, its my prayer that you experience Jesus and be Him to other people.

Peace out, A town down.