"Little Pigs"

Luke 6:47-49

We all know the story of the three little pigs, it's a timeless tale. But if you don't know it, here it is. Three pigs all decide to build three separate houses. So the first pig makes a house out of straw, the second pig makes a house out of sticks, and the third makes a house out of bricks. Along comes the big bad wolf and tells the pig with the house of straw "Little Pig, little pig, let me in!" and the pig responds "Not by the hair of chinny chin chin!" So the wolf takes a deep breath and blows the house down with ease.  The first pig runs to the second pig's house made of sticks but the wolf was in hot pursuit. Again the big bad wolf shots "Little Pigs, little pigs, let me in!" and the pigs respond "Not by the hair of our chinny chin chins!" So the wolf takes a deep breath and blows the house built of sticks down. The pigs scatter like roaches when there is light! They race to the third pig's house made of bricks, he graciously lets them in. The wolf arrives and demands "Little Pigs, little pigs, let me in!" and the pigs respond "Not by the hair of our chinny chin chins!" So the wolf takes a mighty breath and with everything he has tries to blow the house down, but this time it is to no avail because the house is stronger than his mightiest effort. The pigs are finally safe and secure.

I look at this story and I see parallels with the Gospel. The Word tells us in Luke 6:47-49 that when we are disobedient to the Words of Christ we risk losing our firm foundation when trouble comes because trouble will come. The Gospel makes it very clear that we will face trouble but if we stand in obedience to God's Word we will survive no matter the storm that comes. Just like the wolf, Satan prowls at our door and desires not only to blow our house down but destroy us in any way that he can (1 Peter 5:8). If we are continually disobedient and intentionally ignore God's instruction for our life, our houses built of our plans, our thoughts, and our ways (sticks and straws) will always fall (Proverbs 19:20-21). But if we are trusting and relying on Jesus, seeking his direction for our life, actively being obedient to His Word and Will for our life we will have a firm foundation (Psalm 119:9, 89, 105). Trouble will come but through His Word, Prayer, and His Spirit we will withstand the storm and defy the wolf (Satan).

I am asking for you to commit not forsake being an ordinary person but become an extraordinary Christian. I am petitioning you to step up your faith by studying the Bible and make an eternal promise to yourself to follow Christ. I am requesting that you let Jesus guide you and direct you in every aspect of your life. Become the pig with the house made of bricks and not the house of sticks and straw.

Stay focused, you can do this.

"In His JOY!"

"The Need for Sound Doctrine"

2 Peter 2:1-3, 10-13, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

It is essential that we surround ourselves with sound doctrine.  The Church has become a melting pot for delusions of grandeur, heresy, and poor biblical teaching.   We can become easily mislead by the latest and greatest idea.  We can become complacent with watered down Christianity that does not urge us to live a righteous life but compels us to sin as often we want.

2 Peter 2 tells us that false teachers will come and use the Word of God for their advantage.  Those that follow them will give in to sin and malign God's Word (2 Peter 2:1-3).  These people will meet their end and have to answer for their actions ( 2 Peter 2:10:-13).  These teachers look to cause others to stumble and sin,  they are inspired by wickedness and evil.  But we as Christians have to learn how to rightly handle and teach God's Word so we may distinguish God's Truth from the devil's lie.

We can only know what heresy is and what it is not by studying the Word ourselves.    We must stop being "spoon feed" in church and start to open the Bible for ourselves.  The Word does not tell us to rely on someone else to rightly handle God's Word, it clearly says that responsibility is totally dependant upon us (2 Timothy 2:15).  We are to study His Word and be ready to explain it at any given minute ( 2 Timothy 4:1-2).  Because we live in a time when Christians do not want sound doctrine instead they want someone to confirm their feelings, approve of their sin, and tell them that Hell is a myth (2 Timothy 4:3). This cannot and should not be.

I urge you all to grab a ESV Study Bible and read it.  I do not normally endorse things but the ESV Study Bible is biblically sound and offers great insight to God's Word.  But I wholeheartedly urge you to pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes as you read His Word and that He will you give understanding  (Psalm 119:18, Proverbs 4:5).  But this takes commitment, I encourage you to read God's Word to read God's Word everyday and not just on the big screen at your church on Sunday.  Read it for yourself and grow in the Lord.  Be the voice that speaks up when heresy is running rapid.  Be the one who shows others truth when they presented with lies.   Be a student of God's Word and watch the impact it has on you and those around you.


Stay focused, you can do this!


"In His JOY!"

"The Biggest Loser"

Romans 7:7-8:11

I have lost count of how often I have failed in life. I can't tell you how many times I have succumb to sin instead of of submitting to God. I have truly lost track of all my failures, defeat, and mistakes. The weight of it all at times seems daunting to me. Sometimes our sins are so prevalent from our past and present that we begin to doubt who we are in Christ and we feel condemned. 

The Apostle Paul went through this same inward conflict. The more he dived into God's Word the more he was made aware of the sin in his life ( Romans 7:7). God's Word clearly showed Paul his sinfulness, and despite Paul's best efforts and ability he was powerless against the fight with sin. He did not lack the desire to stop sinning, he lacked the ability to do it (Romans 7:18). Paul longed to please the Lord but every attempt was meet with defeat and failure ( Romans 7:19-20). Paul was stuck in a place he felt he could not get out of, he called himself a "wretched man" because he felt trapped by his own sinful ways (Romans 7:21-24). I can relate to what Paul was going through. Feeling like you cannot get over the hump of a sinful life. You feel like no matter what you do, you will always fail at being a righteous and Godly person. What is the solution, what is the answer?

Paul found The Answer in Jesus (Romans 7:25). Jesus is the answer to our struggle with sin, He alone is our victory! We do not have to feel condemned or carry guilt because through the death of Jesus we are set free (Romans 8:1). He rose our Lord and now we just must set our minds on Him and submit to His Word and not our sinful ways (Romans 8:5-8). So when the temptation to sin comes upon me I turn to God's Word instead of my desire to sin for relief and victory. To stop a fire you don't use gasoline, instead you get a fire extinguisher. In the same way, put out the fire of sin with God's Word and submit to it and watch the grave for sinful satisfaction be extinguished. 

Get an accountability partner who will restore you when you are caught up in sin (Galatians 6:1). Fill your heart with God's Word and let His Holy Spirit use it to guide you in the direction you need to go. If you hide God's Word in your heart and are lead by His Spirit it will strengthen you in your fight against sin (Psalm 199:11, Galatians 5:16).

But if you fall into sin, get back up! You are not condemned, you are forgiven. Never forget that. Don't stop fighting the good fight of faith. Don't let a momentary setback become permanent thing. Don't wallow in defeat but celebrate the victory that Christ has given us. Read the Bible daily, pray without ceasing, and accept correction. Stay focused, you can do this!

"In His JOY!"

"Who needs magic when you got Jesus"

Acts 19:8-20

Paul went to Ephesus to proclaim the Message of Jesus Christ. God was doing some awesome things through Paul, so much that even the handkerchiefs that Paul touched where healing people (Acts 19:11-12). (Now it is important to note here that God can use whatever He wants and whoever He wants to carry out His Will. If He wants to use a handkerchief to heal someone He can but that is not to say that He always will. So be careful not buy into the gimmicks of people selling you holy water or anointed cloths. And notice Paul's cloths were free!) Now some Jewish Exorcist saw what Paul was doing and stood in awe. So much in fact they decided to do what Paul was doing and cast out demons in the name of Jesus. Now theses exorcist however routinely practiced magic and believed in the occult. They City of Ephesus was known for the dark arts and witchcraft. And some of the Jews who lived there compromised their beliefs and indulged in the dark arts as well.

So when these exorcist went to cast out demons in the name of Jesus they meet an unexpected outcome. The demon responded to them by saying, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you (Acts 19:15) ?" And then the demon possessed man began to beat the Jewish Exorcist to a bloody pulp (Acts 19:16). When all the people saw this, Jewish and Greek alike, they began to revere and extol Jesus (Acts 19:17).

This not only inspired people to come and know Jesus it also caused those who were Christians to admit their sins. It turns out that some Christians were practicing magic as well. The Christians of Ephesus brought all their books of the occult out to the city streets and burned them, they burned so much it had a value of 50,000 pieces of silver (Acts 19:18-19). And God's Word continued to prevail and increase mightily (Acts 19:20).

Why is this important to us? It is important because there are Christians who proclaim to know Jesus and actively practice magic. There are Christians who read the horoscopes and let it direct their lives. There are Christians who call psychic hotlines to get direction And there are Christians who consult mediums to try to talk with the deceased.

Listen all the above mentioned is sinful. Those who practice magic will burn in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8) so as Christians we do not practice it. We do not put our faith Horoscopes but we trust Jesus and please Him with our faith (Hebrews 11:6, 12:2). Our horoscopes do not decide our outcome but we put our trust in God because has a plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). Next time somebody asks you what your sign is tell them "It's The Cross!" We do not call the psychic hot line to get direction, we instead our led by the Spirit and God's Word (Psalm 119:105, Romans 8:14). And we do not consult mediums to contact the dead (Leviticus 19:31, Isaiah 8:19).

So if you are doing this stuff or having materials in your house that promote these things I have simple advice for you BURN IT!!! No matter how much it cost BURN IT!!!! Because you don't need it and it does not honor God. Live your life to please Lord and watch as His Word will increase and prevail mightily in your life. Stay focused, you can do this!

In His JOY!

Changing me softly with His Words

‎2 Corinthians 7:8-11

Paul wrote two letters to the Christians in Corinth (1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians). . His first letter was an accountability letter. Paul had concern about the division in the church, sexual immorality, love, etc. (1 Corinthians 1:10, 5:18, 13). It was no the most pleasant letter but Paul was doing his best and trying to hold the church accountable for their actions. 

By the time Paul wrote his second letter to the church of Corinth, the church had received his first letter and found no joy in it. And Paul addressed this temporary sadness. He told them it was not his intention to make his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ bothered by the letter but he did not regret sending it (2 Corinth 7:8). Instead he found joy in the letter he sent because momentary pain they felt lead them to repent and turn back to the Lord (2 Corinthians 7:9). Paul was joyful because when the Corinthians saw their sins they did not rebel against God and continue to sin. No instead they were sorrowful for their actions but inspired to turn back to the Lord and do God's Will (2 Corinthians 7:10-11).

This makes me think about the church today. When you your sin becomes visible or known to you, what do you do? If someone were to call you out for your sins how would respond now? Would repent and seek to do the Lord's Will or would you brush it off and continue to live your life the way you want? To be honest sometimes I have become prideful and rejected someone when they have held me accountable. And have even sought out the bible and people to agree with me so I can feel justified. But that was not a godly response.

We should always consider our ways when the Word of God becomes clear to us and we are being held accountable for our actions. Something in us should respond to the hearing of God's Word. His Word and accountability should never become just background noise to us. They should abide in the forefront of our lives and they should cause to change and live for Christ. Much like it did in the Church of Corinth.

So I implore you to read God's Word and be inspired to turn back to the Lord. I urge you find good Christian friends who do not seek to agree with you but are willing to challenge you to live a Godly lifestyle. Stay focused you can do this!

In His JOY!