Heaven's Currency

Faith is the currency of Heaven!
I am talking about the kind of faith that knows its need, sees its supply, and confidently steps forward to receive.
The invitation of the Holy Spirit is clearly communicated through the Prophet Isaiah, “Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water! Are you penniless? Come anyway, buy and eat!" (Isaiah 55:1 THE MESSAGE)
True faith does more than believe. It acts! It steps out and comes to the Source of supply. It has absolute confidence that what is needed is available and will be given.
Jesus taught about the progress of faith that acts. He said, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9)
He was explaining that faith moves beyond believing. Faith asks, and then seeks, and then knocks, and then enters the open door.
Jesus continued, “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Luke 11:10)
He is telling us that, “everyone who asks receives” direction to his supply. And “he who seeks finds” the door to his supply. And “to him who knocks” the door swings open and his supply is ready and waiting!
Don’t just sit there! Get your faith moving! Heaven’s door is waiting for your knock!

Headed Up! ( ... north)

It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. (Psalm 18:32)

A few days ago, the wonderful people of Evangel Temple in Toronto welcomed Jan and me to be part of their Church family. I was elected to serve as their Senior Pastor!

This event culminated a process that involved us, the Pulpit Search Committee, and a whole congregation in several months of praying, investigating, praying, waiting, praying, talking, praying, thinking, praying, observing, praying, … well, you can see the picture. The conclusion was marked by a joyous time of celebration with singing and dancing on Sunday, August 23.

Evangel Temple has a great and glorious history and an even greater and glorious future! The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)

Jan and I will immediately begin the process of moving to Toronto, Canada. And I will be officially inducted into my office of ministry Sunday, September 20 at 11am.

What a God we serve!

I Can Do It!

I guess there are times that I am a lot like water. I want to follow the path of least resistance.
But, then I am reminded that resistance produces strength. My massive, intimidating, rock-hard muscles are an imaginary testimony to that fact.

God created our bodies in such a way that they become stronger when called upon to push or pull against an opposing force. From the moment a baby lifts it’s head or sits up, it begins a lifelong challenge of dealing with the pull of gravity. The determination to rise above the downward pull helps develop and strengthen muscles needed for present and future action.

Without resistance muscles eventually shrink and even die. NASA must provide resistance equipment for astronauts who spend extended time in the zero gravity environment of the International Space Station.

God allows, and even introduces, resistance in my life, not to discourage or frustrate me, but to strengthen me! If everything was easy, I would be weak and useless.
I have always found encouragement in the verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). I have usually used that verse as grounds to ask and expect Divine strength in a time of challenge. And He has come through many times. But there have been times when God seemed content to just watch me rather than assist me. Perhaps in those times He, like a strength coach, is keeping His promise to strengthen me by supervising rather than removing the resistance.

As I “wait on the Lord”, I hear His encouraging Words. “You can do it”. “Don’t quit.” And as I keep going, I find my strength being renewed! I discover that I can “run” longer “and not be weary” and “walk” faster “and not faint”.

So, I will not resist resistance. Because one of these days … I’m gonna take off and fly!

Amazing Grace!

Sin destroys peace. The oneness, trust, harmony, and transparency that characterize true peace are lost where sin is found.

God says that everyone is a sinner. We were all born with a nature that is bent toward sinning. We all have a propensity to do the very thing that shatters the possibility of enjoying true peace with others, with ourselves, and especially with God.

God’s Word to us includes this exciting statement; “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1)

Being justified means that the guilt of past sin has been dealt with. And this happens because of an act of faith. When I, by faith, embrace the work of the cross of Jesus, I can experience the peace that was lost.

I have a picture in my mind of how this occurs. Theologians might not say it quite this way, but the picture accurately reflects the effect of grace. And it works for me!

When I allow the Holy Spirit to reveal my sin, He scans through all my thoughts and actions. Like a super powerful computer looking for viruses, He checks all the “files” and “folders” of my life. In a few moments a list appears. Things obvious and evident, things denied and covered, things that were out-of-sight and out-of-mind, they are all there.

The Holy Spirit then gives me the opportunity to highlight each one by covering them with the blood of Jesus. And then, the Lord Himself touches the “delete” button and they disappear forever! I am clean. My sins are gone! I need no longer feel any guilt because there is no longer anything for which to be guilty!

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound! Like the delete button on my Mac!