Shepastor: “God Sees All and Will Answer…”

Do not move an ancient boundary stone
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11for their Defender is strong;
he will take up their case against you.
Proverbs 23: 10-11, NIV

Something unjust, ugly and painful is happening in the pharmaceutical industry. Somewhere along the way, medicine manufacturers made a decision to place revenue above human life. Medicines designed to control life threatening allergic reactions, epileptic seizures, diabetes, cancer, post-partem depression, post-surgical pain etc., have become proverbial lottery tickets…the winnings going to the pharmaceutical industry. This is a social justice issue. God is not pleased.

Recently a journalist whose son suffers from a rare disease was a victim of this vicious tactic, raising the price of a vile of medicine 97,000%, literally. Today, Shepastor highlights this treachery and encourages readers to prayerfully consider ways that we can address this unethical practice.

Voting season is just around the corner. May we do all that we can to raise our voices at the ballot box, become an informed electorate and prayerfully stem the tide of greed driven “health care” practices.

Read more at https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/30/health/mallinckrodt-whistleblower-lawsuit-acthar/index.html

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: “The Unfolding of God’s Plans”

Genesis 50: 15-20 (Bible in Basic English)

15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all of the evil which we did to him." 16 They sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father commanded before he died, saying, 17 'You shall tell Joseph, "Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you."' Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, "Behold, we are your servants." 19 Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.

The sons of Jacob, 12 in all, born to different mothers but the same father, had sad, difficult and deadly attitudes toward one another. Some of these attitudes were prompted by dysfunctional structures set in place before they were born. But in the midst of the mess, God still unfolded His plans. Two mothers, Rachel and Leah were placed in a dysfunctional situation. Jacob, desiring to marry Rachel, made a deal with her father Laban to work 7 years at the end of which, he’d be given the privilege of marrying his daughter. That was the plan. However, Laban, had another plan – a trick. Long story short, Laban would get Jacob to “eat, drink and be merry” so much so that he married Leah that night, thinking it was Rachel.

Therefore, Leah was an unloved bride. Her children were born out of trickery. She was in a house filled with resentment. Rachel was devastated because her father took away her beloved husband. Jacob eventually did marry Rachel, but she was unable to bear children, so she “gave” her servant girl to him to have children for her. Rachel’s plan was to have children through her slave girl. The slave girl had no choice, she had no say. She was simply given to Jacob to “breed” some sons. Same father, a different mother. Leah also ended up giving her slave girl as well to bear children – another mother, same father – another plan. Summary, 12 children, 4 mothers, one father – great dysfunction. Fast forward – Rachel finally had a son – Joseph. He became Jacob’s favorite son. Differences made between the children, jealousy, hatred and resentment set in – great dysfunction.

Jacob gives his son Joseph a gift – a coat of many colors. He evidently didn’t give his other sons anything – just Joseph, causing greater jealousy, resentment and anger against Joseph – great dysfunction. Joseph has a dream one night that the sun, moon and stars bow down to him – he shares the dream with his brothers and they say, “come, let us kill this dreamer…” Cain and Able being repeated all over again. – Great dysfunction.

Long story short they threw him down into a deep well and sold him into slavery and told their father he was dead. But God had another plan. Go back and read this story in total. You’ll see God moving in miraculous ways, taking Joseph from the lowest point of prison, false accusation and sure death to becoming the highest official in the land, next to the Pharaoh. God gave Joseph the grace to give this response to his brothers, (verses 18-20 from the Bible in Basic English)

18 His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, "Behold, we are your servants."
19 Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.

The poet William Cowper declared,

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

William Cowper

Even in the midst of great dysfunction, God has another plan. Even when it looks like all the odds are against you, God has another plan. Even when it looks like boobie traps have been laid all around you, doors seeming to close before you, enemies seem to be gathering together against you and it looks like you’ve played your last best card – God has another plan. While all of these unfortunate things were happening, God was making Joseph. God was molding Joseph. God was preparing Joseph to be a great and mighty Leader who would not only end up saving his brothers that hated him and sold him into slavery, but God would use Joseph to save the nation of Israel.

When you are faithful, when you are committed to do things God’s way even in the face of hatred and resentment from others, even in the face of pain and disappointment, even in the face of lies and false accusations – God is looking, God is watching, God is moving on your behalf. Joseph provides for us a great example. He didn’t try to fix things on his own. He didn’t try to repay evil for evil. Joseph just kept trusting, obeying and believing. Therefore, God exalted him to a place of honor and great responsibility.

In an article in the Cleveland news paper The Plain Dealer a few years ago, a minister shared this story…
“Blooming in the Mud”

“I saw some beautiful flowers at Euclid Creek. They were growing in mud and bird droppings and broken branches.. What most of us notice are the flowers. We tend to see what we like and ignore what makes things happen. We may see the things that support us as disgusting or unpleasant, but the things you dislike are basically what wake you up to the truth…Mud and bird droppings make the flower bloom and you are the flower.”

Proverbial mud and bird droppings produce the flowers in our lives…There are times in our lives, seasons in our lives when it looks like everything is going wrong and everything is going against you. But God is working and moving in ways that you are not able to see, in ways that you are not aware of, in ways that seem impossible. In each situation where Joseph was treated unfairly, treated harshly, denied a chance to “tell his side of the story,” God was working on his deliverance.

Even when people forget the good you’ve done to help them, God is not going to forget your labor of love. Even when those you’ve done the most for turn their face in a different direction when you need help, God will help you. Even when it looks like there is no one to walk with you as you go through the difficulties and struggles of your life, God will stand by you.

Here’s a great lesson from Joseph. When God delivers you, don’t try to repay your enemies. Don’t try to rub their misfortune in their faces, but if he or she is hungry, feed them. If they are in need of clothing, give them something to wear, if they are in trouble and call upon you, help them any way you can and God will continue to exalt you and He will cause them to repent and turn from their wicked ways.

I heard a story the other day about two women who lived in the country. For the purposes of this story I’ll call them Mary and Sue. Mary had a nice little home. It wasn’t fabulous, but it was her home and she had raised her family along with her husband there for many years. But Sue, her neighbor hated Mary for some unknown reason. Sue had a chicken coup near the edge of Mary’s property. And every time Sue would clean her chicken coup, she would dump the mess from her coup into Sue’s back yard.

But Mary never retaliated. She just kept tending to her garden on her property. She kept speaking to Sue whenever she came out of her house. She kept teaching her children to be respectful of Miss Sue, even though she was mean and disrespectful to their mother. Well, in the process of time, Sue became ill. She could no longer tend to her yard. She became bed ridden. But something wonderful began to happen in Mary’s yard.

The mess that Sue had flung into Mary’s yard, fell on the garden and caused the flowers in her garden to blossom and bloom. The flowers were so beautiful that Mary decided to pluck some and prepare a bouquet to take to Sue. When Mary went into see Sue, she gave her the beautiful flowers. Ashamed of how she’d treated Mary all these years, she asked for forgiveness and asked her, where in the world did she get such beautiful flowers, and Mary replied, “all that mess you flung over into my garden from your chicken coup helped to fertilize my garden and now I have these beautiful flowers.”

Take the mess that is flung into your life and fertilize your garden. Learn all you can from the mess and let God fertilize your life. Take the bitter and give it to God and let Him make it sweet. Remember, in the midst of it all, God is unfolding His plans in your life. Beauty is unfolding for you in due season! Won’t you trust him today?

Post a comment or send me an email at Revcsmith1@gmail.com
Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: “Are We Missing It?”

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” Luke 19: 41-44, NIV

This week we solemnly remember Jesus’ prayer of surrender given in the garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal with a kiss, the denial of affiliation, the horrible beating, cruel mocking and scourging, whipping and taunting, humiliation and degradation and ultimately crucifixion all of which Jesus endured on “Good Friday.” It is Holy Week.

As Jesus looked over the city of Jerusalem, He, it would appear, tuned out the cheering crowd, tuned out the loud Hosannas, tuned out the apparent voices of favor and proclaimed

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, ‘If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.'

In the work entitled, In Search of Heroes: Tragedy to Triumph, the story is told of how famed deaf, blind and mute Helen Keller was born a bright and lively infant, but at the age of 19 months tragically developed a fever which left her blind and deaf and for a time, mute. Her parents, obviously devastated sought out the best help possible for their daughter. They heard of Perkins School for the Blind in Boston and there found a brilliant, compassionate young teacher named Anne Sullivan. Upon graduation from the school, Anne came to live with the Kellers. Working tirelessly with Helen, Anne frequently met with failure and frustration, but undaunted, continued to work with her until one day she had a break through. Helen would go from learning how to say “water” to gaining a command of the English language, as well as other languages. She ultimately went on to become a great writer.

Once when asked to give her thoughts on growing old, this is what Helen had to say:

All my life I have tried to avoid ruts, such as doing things my ancestors did before me, or leaning on the crutches of other people's opinion, or losing my childhood sense of wonderment. I am glad to say I still have a vivid curiosity about the world I live in...it is as natural for me to believe that the richest harvest of happiness comes with age as to believe that true sight and hearing are within, not without.... --Helen Keller, on being asked about growing older (In, In Search of Heroes: Tragedy to Triumph – Helen Keller)

“True sight and hearing are within, not without…”

What a tragedy to have physical eyes to see, yet remain blind. How sad to have the physical ability to hear, but lack the keen awareness of God’s Holy Spirit to be able to hear what God is speaking.

Are we missing the things that make for peace? Is Jesus weeping over our lives because we are missing it? Are we blind and deaf to the moving of God’s Holy Spirit? This week we mourn the tragedy of denial, betrayal and crucifixion. Next week we celebrate the triumph of victory over death, hell and the grave. But in between this week and next week, we again have an opportunity to prayerfully conduct a deep introspection into our own hearts, our own, souls, our own lives and ask the question, “Is Jesus weeping over my life because I am missing the things that make for peace…” We need to ask ourselves are we missing opportunities to reach out and help somebody, heal somebody, tell somebody about the good news that Jesus died for our sins and that we can be saved by grace through faith.

Are we missing the things that make for peace? Are we arguing about things that don’t really matter in the larger scheme of life? Are we carrying around grudges that we should have given over to the throne a long time ago… are we doggedly holding to our own opinions and perceptions about things without hearing another person out? Are we so wrapped up in our own lives that we cannot see someone who needs a word of encouragement, a lift up out of despair… Are we missing the things that make for peace?

Our triumph is wrapped up in our willingness to see Jesus for who He is and to let him rule and reign in our lives.

Our triumph is wrapped up in our willingness to let the Lord have his way in our hearts, in our homes, in our families, in our church, in our communities. Our triumph is wrapped up in our willingness to move as the Spirit says move to work while it is day, to move in prayer, to seek the Lord while He may be found.

Our answers to life’s dilemmas are wrapped up in our willingness to surrender our will to the Master…to let go of some things that we have guarded like gold. We must surrender our hearts, our souls, our minds to Jesus, allowing him to purge us, to redirect our thinking, to reshape and remold us like the potter does the clay.

Jesus invites us to open our eyes, our ears, our minds, our hearts to “see” all that He has for us…the blessings of hope, healing, forgiveness, redemption, deliverance, love and peace.

During this season, may you see the things that the Lord has given for your peace...

Post a comment or send me an email at Revcsmith1@gmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: "Too Much is in the Way..."

12 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. 13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely. 14 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.” 15 “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.” 16 The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” 17 But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment 18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.” Joshua 17: 12-18, NIV

Have you ever met someone who just can’t seem to get it together? No matter how much you give them, how much you help them, how much you stand in the gap for them it just never seems to be enough? Then there are other people who will take just a little something, pat it together, roll it around, throw some kind of grease on it, toss it up in the air and before you know it, it’s a masterpiece!

Others knew how to take scraps from the field and scraps from the barn yard and make a delectable meal. They took the pig’s intestines and made chitterlings. They took chicken feet and wings and fried them. They took the tail of the ox and combined it with some potatoes onions and seasonings along with some corn meal for cornbread and made a meat dish so tender, so delicious, so flavorful you might want to start shouting! They knew how to take scraps, leftovers, what other folks thru away and prepare a meal fit for a king! Despite all of the battles they fought, all of the obstacles they had to overcome, comparatively speaking, they have out distanced some in today's times who have more than they could have ever imagined, yet still can’t make it work.

This was the problem of the tribe in our text for today. Although Joseph was one of Jacob’s 12 sons, he did not have a tribe named after him. Joseph, as the oldest son of Jacob’s wife Rachel received a double portion of the inheritance. Joseph’s double portion was divided between his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Although these were actually Jacob’s grandsons, Jacob counted them as his sons. In other words, Manasseh and Ephraim had GREAT favor. These two sons were given the largest territory and the greatest influence in the northern half of Israel. Yet with all of that, they still complained that they did not have enough.

These men were not like Caleb, who went to Joshua and said in so many words, “Give me this mountain that the Lord said was mine. I know that there are giants in the land but with the help of the Lord, I will drive them out!” Caleb knew that there were yet battles to fight and giants to slay in the promised land, but he stood up on his most holy faith and said, “give it to me anyway and with God’s help, I will drive them out!”

Neither were they like the daughters of Zelophehad who had to climb the steep mountain of thousands of years of discrimination and sexism against women, stood together and demanded their inheritance…standing on the promise of God wherein the Lord directed Moses to change the unjust law that denied daughters an inheritance if their fathers had no sons. Both Caleb and these daughters had to fight for what was rightfully theirs, but they fought anyway and came out victorious.

But look at these brothers – the tribe of Manasseh. Not only were they given land – they were given the BEST land and a double portion. Yet they went complaining to Joshua that they still did not have enough. The text starts out with the following…

12 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. 13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.

The Manassites were not able to take advantage of what was theirs because enemies were determined to live on their territory AND they did not drive them out. At some point they got some strength and got the enemy under control, (or so they thought) but they did not completely drive the enemy out. They should have learned a lesson from looking at Caleb. When he got his land, he didn’t fool around with the enemy. He didn’t decide to keep them around and use them when he wanted. He drove them out!

If you want complete victory over the enemy in your life, you can’t play around with the enemy. Sin is like a cancer. If you don’t cut it out eventually it will take you over. You can’t keep a little bit hidden so that you can take it out and play with it every now and then, you’ve got to DRIVE IT OUT! That addiction, that secret sin, that lustful behavior, that incessant greed, that lying tongue, that unholy behavior that you think nobody knows about…playing footsy with the devil. You can’t control evil! It will not leave easily.

The enemy wants to set up deep root systems in your heart, in your mind, in your family, in your situation and circumstances, wrapping its roots around you so that you cannot move, so that you cannot grow, so that you cannot thrive, so that you cannot breath. The enemy will not leave easily, but through the power of prayer, faith, fasting and godly accountability you can and you must drive the enemy out if you want to enter your promised land! The Manassites had a double portion – twice as much as what every other tribe had, yet they were living in a small corner of what belonged to them.

They complained to Joshua and said,

14 … “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”

Think about that for just a moment. They had TWICE AS MUCH as others yet they were not able to take advantage of what was theirs. Can you imagine what Joshua must have been thinking? I imagine that Joshua in that moment began to think about all that he had been thru to get where he was. I imagine he thought about when he and Caleb were almost stoned to death as they came back with a good report regarding the promised land and the other 8 spies were too afraid to move forward. I imagine that he thought about how he led the Israelites to march around Jericho for seven days and at God’s command blew their trumpets and the walls came tumbling down…I imagine that he thought about all that he had been through, all the enemies he had defeated and all of the lands with God’s help he had conquered, as he looked upon folks who had everything they needed to thrive…yet remained stuck in a corner, begging for more.

Listen to Joshua’s response…

15 “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.”…
17 But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment 18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

The reason why they thought that they did not have enough was because too much was in the way. They had land as far as the eyes could see, but they needed to go and chop down the trees and clear the land. And if that still was not enough, they needed to chase out the enemies that were occupying their territory. Sometimes we already have what we need but we can’t see all that we have because too much is in the way…to much mess, too much dysfunction, too much drama, too much anger, too much unforgiveness, too much hatred, too much unholy behavior TOO MUCH IS IN THE WAY!!!

This is between you and God. Do you know what God has already given you? God has given each and everyone of us something. No matter what your situation or circumstance, the Lord can show what you need to do, how you need to do, where you need to go, what you need to seek, what you need to release, what you need to take hold of. Are you busy asking the Lord for more when you have not done what is possible with what you already have? What has taken root all around you that you need to uproot, dig up, chop down and clear away?

Stop comparing yourself to other people. God has given you blessings that you have not yet tapped into because too much is in the way. Asking God for peace, but continuing to put yourselves in dysfunctional relationships and situations. Asking God for health, but continuing to indulge in unhealthy practices…asking God for wisdom, but refusing to study God’s Word, listen to wise counsel or obey when God speaks…Asking God for deliverance from evil but at every turn opening the door for evil to persist in your life - what do you need to clear away?

I wish that I could tell you that Manasseh and Ephraim did as Joshua told them – to remove that which was in the way and to drive out the enemy. But sadly, they did not. Judges 1:27 and following explains that because they did not move when God said move, because they chose to dance with sin for a season, because they allowed fear to paralyze them, they never were able to take advantage of all that God had intended for them to have.

Don’t miss your season. If you are hearing this word today, God is sending you the message that there is still time…time to clear away the clutter, time to uproot and chop down the mess that is in the way… time, by faith to drive the enemy out of your life. In the name of Jesus, stop allowing fear to paralyze you. Yes, the enemy is strong but GREATER is He that is within you than he that is within the world. What has the Lord told you to get rid of, uproot, change, clear away that you are still dancing with? Stop doing business with the enemy!

God has territory for you that is much larger than where you currently abide. Stop allowing the enemy to paint you into a corner when the Lord has given you an open field. There is work for you to do. It will not be easy. The enemy will not just walk away without a fight – but with the help of the Lord you can and you must DRIVE THE ENEMY OUT!

Post a comment or send me an email at Revcsmith1@gmail.com
Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: "Dear Prophet..."

"What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law--justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.” Matthew 23:23, NLT

Recently I heard someone for whom I have great respect say that they did not want to attend a great majority of churches because they basically offered “fire and brimstone preaching.” They are not alone in having this sentiment. Many have stopped attending church because they felt that the messages were heavy on judgement and light on mercy, love and justice. Indeed, this is problematic.

On the other hand, one should not want to attend a church that only preaches on social reform/social justice, but has no word on immoral behaviors and patterns of living. Either extreme is dangerous. In our text for today, Jesus confronts the Pharisees for straining to adhere to the “letter of the law,” while ignoring the “spirit of the law.”

In other words, the Lord does not want hollow worship, empty religion or religiosity, hypocrisy manifested with “loud hosannas” from individuals with hardened and untransformed hearts. While chiding false religion, at the same time Jesus upheld the legitimacy of the law… “this ye ought to have done and not left the other undone.” Balance in preaching is necessary. We are called upon to preach the “whole scroll.” In other words, God calls his mouth pieces to preach the “unadulterated Gospel.” Yes, we are called to speak truth to power, to stand in the gap for the widow, the orphan, the poor, the defenseless. Yes we are called to confront the bastions of racist and oppressive structures. Yes we are called to tell modern day pharaohs, “Let my people go!!!”

But we are also called to tell a dying world that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. We are also called to tell the lost that the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. We are also called to tell the wayward, there is a way that seems right unto a man but the end thereof is death.

While the Civil Rights Movement forced America to look at and legislatively change its ugly, oppressive and violent ways, it neglected to take moral arguments beyond civil actions to holy living. Unfortunately, some of the same leaders that marched and fought for civil rights became what they claimed to despise. Some of our same revered prophets, preachers and teachers became oppressive. Some became womanizers. Some fathered children outside of marriages, having women in every city on every stop. Some oppressed women in other ways, refusing to acknowledge their call to preach or to stand out front with the rest. Some became elitists, gathering the “spoils” from the war, moving up to higher heights, not lifting as they climbed, building dynasties for their families while others looked on eating crumbs. Families were broken, children were abandoned, marriages were ruined, communities were stagnated. Satan laughed…

“This ye ought to have done…” Stand for what is right. Fight for righteous causes. Practice what you preach. Speak truth to power. Lift as you climb. “…and not left the other undone…” Tell the world about Jesus! Let the lost know that it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgement…If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

Remember, we will give an account for the things done in our bodies and every word that we have uttered. Remember, that to whom much is given much is required.

Remember, our aim is to please our “enlisting officer!” Sometimes, even people for whom you have the greatest respect will disappoint you, look down upon you, think less of you, turn away from you. Don’t worry about that. Continue to love, continue to serve, continue to preach and teach the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ – the Lord will be pleased, many lost souls will be saved, many strongholds will be broken and justice will roll down like a mighty stream.

Be thou faithful unto death and God will give you a crown of glory! Dear prophet, keep standing on the wall!

Post a comment or send me an email at Revcsmith1@gmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: "Cycles..."

Acts 3: 1-6, NIV
Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

John 5: 14-15, KJV
14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Have you ever seen someone sitting just outside of that which is beautiful, begging, not to get in, but for just to get enough to get by? Has that ever been you? Have you ever sat out begging, if not literally, in your spirit, just outside of that which seems so beautiful…thinking that you can’t have what you really want, so you may as well get what you can get and just remain in a “crippled state?”

This was the case of both men in these two passages of scripture. Both passages feature men who were crippled. We don’t know what happened to them. We don’t know how they lost the use of their legs or even if they ever had the use of their legs. What we do know, based upon the text is that people carried one man to the gate of the Temple every day so that he could beg. The other man laid by a pool for 38 years waiting for someone to put him in.

Let’s look first at the man at the gate called “Beautiful.” Why didn’t someone take him home and help him? Why did the people just pass him by and maybe throw him a coin or two as they went into the temple to pray? We don’t know, but we can only imagine…I imagine the people, much like the priest and the Levite in the story of the “Good Samaritan,” did not want to miss their daily prayer time. Maybe they were concerned that if they stopped to take time with him they might miss their special prayer spot near the front of the Temple!

Maybe they thought he was lazy. Maybe they thought he was a fake. Maybe they just didn’t really care. But what about the man? What happened to his spirit that he just resigned himself to sitting at the “Beautiful Gate” to beg? Culturally, because he was diseased and infirmed, he may have been forbidden to enter the Temple gates. So, he just sat outside of that which was called, “beautiful” and begged.

Some remain in the debilitating state of dysfunction – family dysfunction…cycles of drama…cycles of poverty…cycles of panic…cycles of debt…cycles of low self-esteem…begging for just enough to make it from day to day…sitting just outside of what appears to be beautiful. Some sit watching as other people seem happy…watching as other people seem fulfilled…watching as other people get their praise on…watching as others appear to connect with their God, passing them by as others throw crumbs and coins their way. So, they resign themselves to begging for crumbs and coins, caught up in a cycle. There is a way, however, to break the cycle. It may not be what you want, but it will be what you need!

At times we need a Peter and a John. At times we need someone who will say, “I don’t have crumbs or coins…I don’t have a space for a pity party…I don’t have what you are looking for…something to enable you in your dysfunctional state. But here’s what I do have…in the name of Jesus GET UP AND WALK! I’m not only going to tell you to get up, I’m going to take you by the hand, help you to get up and then help you to walk! I know it’s been a long time since you’ve gotten up. But in the name of Jesus you can get up and I will help you!” Indeed, God is calling for more “Peters and Johns!”

When you’ve been down for so long, out for so long, on the outskirts for so long, it can be a challenge to believe you can walk into the beautiful. When all you’ve done is watch others walk through the “beautiful gate,” brokenness can become an acceptable existence. The Lord, however, has a new script for you. It will be different than what you’ve come to expect. The Lord is sending what you need to get up. Your legs might be wobbly. You may be afraid that people are waiting for you to fall…laughing as you struggle. It will be tough, but it will be alright. You will not be by yourself. The man was begging for money so that he could get some scraps to eat. But the Lord wanted to give him healing so that he could do more than survive. He wanted him thrive.

Cycles of dysfunction vary. Not everyone is like the man encountered by Peter and John. Some are like the man by the pool. Some have been caught up in cycles of dysfunction for so long that they have not taken advantage of what is available to them. They have settled it in their mind that they can’t get up unless somebody drags them over to the pool. They have lost the mind to make it over to the place of healing, the place of deliverance, the place of blessing. For those like the man by the pool of Bethesda, Jesus has another message – GET UP!!!

Jesus takes a hard line with this man. People have been trying to help for a long time, but others can’t want healing for you more than you want it for yourself! You have to want to made whole. When your desire and your efforts meet the mercy and power of God, miracles happen. When Jesus told the man to get up, something stirred within him and he regained strength in his legs and rose.

Jesus told the man something else – He said,
“See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

Once you have been healed, once you have been delivered, once you have been made free, it is a dangerous thing to go backwards and dabble in the cycles of the past. Cycles are like a whirlpool. If you stick even you toe down into the swirling waters, you could rapidly be pulled back in. When the Lord makes you whole, you must continue the process of healing. It is important to surround yourself with persons who are also moving in the healing direction. Feed your spirit with God’s healing Word. Speak to yourself wholistic and healing words. Keep moving forward! With the help of the Lord, don’t turn back or else something worse will come upon you. The enemy will work over time to drag you back down. Don’t aide his efforts by opening the door back up to dysfunction.

Are you begging for scraps when the Lord wants to empower you to walk and live? Have you resigned yourself to sit just outside of that which is beautiful when the Lord wants you to come running, leaping, jumping and praising into the beauty God has for you? It may not be what you want…but it is what you need. With the help of the Lord YOU CAN BREAK the cycles of dysfunction in your life. Through Christ, you can take the first step TODAY towards the beautiful. What cycles do you need to break? What is blocking you from your beautiful?

Post a comment or send me an email at Revcsmith1@gmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: “As We begin Lent...The Power of Our Heavenly Father’s Words”

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Luke 4:1-4, KJV

Today begins the Lenten season – the 40 days leading up to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This passage of scripture found in the Gospel of Matthew introduces us to Jesus’ period of preparation before earthly ministry. He is challenged by a variety of temptations coming from the devil. Throughout this experience, Jesus teaches us how to be victorious over Satan’s “if’s…”

The story of Jesus’ temptation vividly depicts the treachery of the devil, seeking to derail Jesus from his mission and life’s purpose by trying to persuade him to get off track, give in to his weaknesses and to satisfy his cravings for a season. But Jesus was equipped with something far more superior than tempting tactics and words of the devil. Jesus had the words of his Father hidden deep down in his heart.

Jesus’ responses tell us something about our Heavenly Father’s words.

Jesus’1st response to the devil.
Verses 3 and 4 of our text declares,

3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Jesus knew that His Father’s words were trustworthy. Jesus let the devil know that physical food, while necessary will not satisfy you. Only God’s Word gives life. In other words, his Father’s words were life giving. His father’s words enabled him to “live” life. Even though he was hungry, he trusted His father’s words over the temptations of Satan.

In order to defeat the devil's "if" about who you are, about what you need, about what will satisfy, you've got to know God's Word. God's Word is the light and life and breath of our souls. When you know God's Holy Word, when you stand upon His promises, when you quote His wisdom to yourself, you beat back the lies and temptation that the devil sends your way. God’s Word teaches us how to “live” verses “exist.” So many are not living life, but rather are moving throughout the corridors of long dark seasons, pondering their purpose, their worth, their reason… Those thoughts open the gateway for the devil’s if’s…

Jesus knew the power of His Father’s words. When we embrace that power, we will unlock the doors that carry us from existing to living abundantly. When you speak God's Word over and into your spirit, God breathes life into you. When you trust God's word, you are less vulnerable to the lies that Satan tells you about yourself. You trust when God's word says, "You are fearfully and wonderfully made." You trust God's word when it says, "I know the plans that I have for you…plans never to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future…" You trust God's word when it declares that you are the righteousness of God. You trust God's word when it declares that if you confess your sins God is faithful and just to forgive you and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Trusting God's Word will help you defeat the devil's "if’s" and transition you from existing to living.

The consistent love of Jesus’ Father made him secure in himself. In each of the devil’s attempts, he began by questioning who Jesus was, “If you be the son of God….” “If…..” Inherent in the “if” is the question, are you really who you say you are?

Every day, the devil is bombarding God’s children with the question – “If you be so and so then do thus and so….” We must learn that we don’t have to prove anything to the world. We must open our hearts to hear God’s voice, calling and purpose for our lives. We must seek, by God’s grace to live out our purpose.
God is our heavenly Father. He is the supreme example of a Father. God is saying, “I’m here for you – I believe in you, I know all about you, I have a plan for your life. You are beautiful and you are mine.”

During this Lenten season, ask the Lord to increase your thirst for God’s Word. Embrace the promises found therein. Find the answers God has for your life. Move beyond the If’s and run into the arms of a loving God that reveals your true identity!

Post a comment or send me an email at Revcsmith1@gmail.com
Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org