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This past week as I was reading Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Core Christianity by Michael Horton they both were talking about evil and sin.  Below you will find a few quotes to ponder from my reading: We must fight our battle in the certainty that our enemy has been overcome. Yes, sin has been overcome, and because of Christ's victory we can war. we have to get our eyes off our sin and back onto his accomplished work on the cross. There is one sin that is at the root of all sin: unbelief. We cannot remake our hearts, but he can. We cannot change our spirits, but can place his Spirit within us. Apart from his work, we have hearts of stone, and we will walk only n our own ways. God's primary motive in our justification and sanctification is to vindicate his holiness in the sight of every nation.   The royal dignity of the first human beings encompassed both body and soul. the image of God is not something that we have s...

I am continuing to read through The Pastor's Justification by Jared C. Wilson.  It has been a very helpful book and there is much in the book that applies to more than just pastors.  Here are some quotes from chapters on being confident and watchful: But we forget now that Jesus is for losers and for losers only. This is good news for you... So the law cannot empower obedience to itself. It stands over us, accusing. Only the gospel empowers its own implications. God uses sinners so that he will get the glory and so that he will get the glory in vivid, repeating imagery of turning ashes to beauty.  There is someone (Satan) who wants you and your church dead.  Very few things discourage a pastor more than anonymous criticism...The pastor should give no harbor to "about" talk that avoids "to" talk. We divide when we place our preferences above community with people who differ from us. We divide when we are more interested in what we want than...

Today we celebrate Good Friday which is the day we remember that Jesus died on the cross for us.  Think about it.  God in the flesh died for you and me.  Why is it good? Because Jesus defeated sin, death, Satan, and sickness on the cross.  And there is so much more.  I would encourage you to look into God's Word and be reminded what Jesus' death on the cross accomplished for you. "It Is Finished!" Today, at Hesston MB, we are fasting and this gives us time to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for us.  We do this not out of obligation or duty or to earn God's love or make Him do what we want, but instead it flows from a response of love.

I am sitting in Ft. Lauderdale airport waiting to depart.  I wanted to jot down a few thoughts and reflections for Liberate 2015. I was thankful to have 7 others from Hesston MB join me this year.  I look forward to discussions with them moving forward. Here are a few take-aways or reflections: This is a repeat from last year.  I am loved, accepted, righteous, and approved by God therefore I don't need to seek approval, acceptance, and love from others, but because of God's love, approval, acceptance I am free to love others freely. I walk away from this conference refreshed, relaxed and renewed that I don't need "to do" anything.  Yet because of the good news of grace, I want to preach/teach grace to others and love others. Elyse Fitzpatrick talked about Satan's lies.  I need to remember what God's Word says about me not the lies of flesh, world or Satan.  Here is a quote from her message: "When Satan accuses you, look up! We conquer...

Last week, I was reading Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges.  I came across a quote about the goodness of God that jumped off the page.  I hope it will reinforce the importance of not believing Satan's lies about God. "We should not forget that Satan's very first temptation of mankind was based on questioning the goodness and generosity of God (see Genesis 3:1-5). And his vicious attack on the patriarch Job was designed to cause Job to question God's goodness so that he would then curse God (see Job 1:6-11). Satan has not changed his strategy today. This perception of God as the reluctant giver comes right from Satan and must be resisted by us if we are to experience the fullness of God's grace."

In Crash the Chatterbox, Steven Furtick discusses in Section 3 the differences between condemnation and conviction.  Here are a few quotes to help you know whether the voice you hear is Satan or the Holy Spirit: Satan's main job isn't temptation. It's accusation...When the two work in tandem, the one-two punch they deliver can paralyze even the strongest saints. In other words, I needed to acknowledge the substance of my sin. But then I needed to allow the Holy Spirit to take my guilt to a redemptive place. The Enemy may have a word. But he doesn't have the last word. Would have. Could have. Should have. This is the language of condemnation underscored by the passivity of regret. A believer who is equally convinced of these two realities--sin is serious, but Christ is enough--is the Enemy's worst nightmare. Condemnation's greatest talent is imitation. Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit. Condemnation is the Enemy's best impersonation of th...

Steven Furtick has a great chapter in Crash the Chatterbox on facing fear.  Here is some encouragement for you today: But fear is neither linear no logical. Because fear often finds its power, not in our actual situation, but in what we tell ourselves about our situation. The Jezebel Effect robs you of the time and space that is meant to be reserved for restful confidence in God. I'm encouraged that when He finds us in our fears, He speaks to us, not with threats of retribution, but with reminders of His care and concern. It's also true that God's Word cannot adequately sustain you--no matter how prevalent it is around you--until your receive it within you. We can never hope to crash the chatterbox until the signal (God's Word) becomes louder in our lives than the incessant noise around us that clamors for our attention and depletes our courage. The Enemy can't do a thing to diminish God's promises--that ability is decidedly beyond the limits of hi...

Jesus is God.  He is all powerful.  He is greater and stronger than Satan. Be reminded of His power today. 38  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:38 ESV)

What is the difference between these two words?  Does it matter?  I have had several conversations over the last few months about how important it is to distinguish between these two words. Here is a brief explanation of the two words based on my opinion: Condemnation is from Satan. Conviction is from the Holy Spirit. 8  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,  (Romans 8:1) 13  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.   (John 16:13) 4  For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5  because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.  (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5) How to distinguish the two? Does it pr...

Opening Illustration-What is your New Year’s Resolution?   According to Time Magazine the Top 10 Commonly Broken New Year's Resolutions As we begin 2014, I want 2014 to be your best year yet.   One of the ways we do this is by being aware of the world around us.   This begins by recognizing the spiritual battle we are in.   2 Corinthians 2:11 says, “in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” Background- The Christian should not be morbidly occupied with the subject of demonism; neither should he live in fear of demons.(Believer's Bible Commentary pg. 1952) (1) Satan is real.  (2) Satan is defeated (Colossians 2:14-15)  (3) Satan lies (John 8:44) & accuses (Revelation 12:10-11) Read Ephesians 6:10-18 (Vs. 10-13) Posture Vs. 10-Be Strong. How?   In the Lord and in his power. Vs. 11-Put on the armor so that you can stand against devil’s schemes 4 times in NIV in verses 11...

This might not be a typical post during the Christmas season. However, I am preparing to preach from Ephesians 6:10-18 on January 5th and so I was loaned this book.   Prince has a great style of writing and most of his books are easy to read within a few hours.  Here are a few quotes to consider regarding  the Sword of the Spirit during spiritual warfare: First, neither Jesus nor Satan even questioned the authority of Scripture. Second, the basis of every temptation against Jesus was a temptation to doubt. Every time Satan began with the word "if", he called something into doubt. Third, as I have already indicated, Jesus did not vary His method of dealing with Satan, but always used the same weapon of the Word of God against him. It is written. . .It is written. . .It is also written.

Introduction:   Note from Francis Chan at back of Big Red Tractor Book Quotes from Greater by Steven Furtick   “That’s the beauty of the greater way. It’s all about what Jesus has already done and what He desires to do through us. Period.   Nobody does greater things for God because they’ve got it all together. And nobody is disqualified because they don’t.   Including you and me. God doesn’t do greater things exclusively through great people. He does them through anyone who is willing to trust Him in greater ways.” Greater than John the Baptist-Luke 7:27-28 ·          Jesus speaking about John the Baptist says o    Quote Malachi 3:1-OT prophecy about John the Baptist ·          No one greater than John yet least in the kingdom of God is greater than he o    No One-speaking of OT prophets §   because he saw what they prophesied, he proclai...

I was talking about this same concept last week during a meeting.  Are you settling in the Christian life?

Are you feeling unworthy today?  Condemned?  Watch this brief clip from Steven Furtick, pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC.  

I had written in a previous post titled, "Black Friday" about Molly getting the stomach flu. That was about 2 weeks ago. On Tuesday, Bethany had the "privilege" of being the next one to get the flu. As I thought about this, I hoped and prayed that I would not be next. Everyone else has had a form of it already except for Megan and I. But the flu hitting my house got me thinking about something, is sickness only physical or can it be used by Satan? Here is the reason I ask: Almost every time I am scheduled to preach, someone in my house is sick. This is not an exaggeration. I will preach 4 times this year and 3 of those someone was sick. That's 75% of the time! Now, don't get me wrong. I don't think I am this super spiritual wonderful preacher, but when I do preach, I am excited! Since I don't preach 52 weeks a year, I have sermons percolating in my mind throughout the year and then they come out on paper when there is a need for someone to...