Jars of Clay

My wife and I are learning to make pottery. We have dug clay out of our backyard, tried to fashion it into various objects, and then fired it.

After firing our pottery we let it cool, then took it out of fire pit. It looked good, felt solid, it even "rang" as we tapped on it (well sort of). It seemed pretty good until we attempted to clean it up some.

When my wife began to wash the ashes off, the pottery began to crumble. It could not hold up, and in the end was basically worthless. Upon further investigation we discovered that although we had fired it, we had not reached the necessary temperature. If we want to make useful pottery, we need to greatly increase the heat during the firing process.

There is a spiritual application that we can make from this also. You see, we are jars made of clay containing the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:6-7). This is so that God gets the glory and not us. But what good is it if we are unfired and ready to crumble? 

You may say that God uses imperfect people, and I totally agree. However, God takes these imperfect people and makes them who and what He desires them to be. This involves the firing process. He must refine us if He is to use us. Remember Peter? He was ready and willing to die with Jesus, or so he thought. He crumbled in a moment of weakness, all of his zeal was forgotten.

Trials tend to purify us. They refine us. Things deep down inside of us, things we don't realize we are capable of, tend to come up to the surface when under pressure. It is in times of testing that we learn how to lean upon God, to let Him cleanse us to strengthen us, to deliver us. 

 

The testing of our faith produces endurance (James 1:3-4). Like Peter, we might fail, but next time we know ahead of time and find victory. Over time that victory becomes a way of life for us. That is endurance, a maturing process. So often the trial comes and we try to run from it. Trials are not fun. But here we see that we should let it be an opportunity to learn endurance.

Self confidence is a major detriment to the Christian life. Paul the apostle writes of affliction so severe, so beyond his strength, that he despaired of life itself. What was the purpose? To trust in God, instead of himself (2 Cor 1:8-9). I often wonder if some of the problems I go through have this as their purpose. It is hard to let go and leave everything in God's hands. It's easy to say when things are going good, but hard to do in the middle of the storm.

A few chapters later Paul calls these trials "momentary light affliction". The ultimate result of overcoming through our trials is an unimaginable weight of glory. We are being prepared for eternity. All that we face now is temporary. Paul who faced tremendous trials learned to look at the eternal, the unseen future (2 Cor 4:17-18). 

Peter also has this in mind when he exhorts his readers to stand up under trials. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:6-9 NASB).

 God is preparing us for eternity with Him. It is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). 

It is so tempting to desire an easy and carefree life. Who wants trials and troubles? Our flesh desires the easy way. But what happens when a crisis overtakes us and our faith has never been exercised? What happens when we appear before Jesus and discover our faith is a mere intellectual dead faith? 

In Hebrews we read that God disciplines those He loves so that they may share His holiness. On the flip side, those who have never experienced the discipline of the Lord are illegitimate children (Hebrews 12:5-11). 

It is far better now to learn to trust in God through the storm, to let Him shape and mold us for His purpose and glory. Someday it will all be worth it, as we see Jesus face to face.

Victory Over the World.

It is impossible to be a worldly Christian, as the values of this world are in opposition to the values of Christ and His kingdom.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

(James 4:4 KJV)

Jesus tells us that we cannot serve two masters. Our allegiance cannot be divided (Matt 6:24). Likewise, friendship with the world puts us at odds with God. The things that this world esteems make it impossible to serve Christ with the wholehearted devotion that He demands of His followers. We read in 1 John,

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

(1 John 2:15-17 KJV)

Once again, it is impossible to love the things of this world and God at the same time. Those who claim to love God and yet live in the pursuit of worldly pleasures and accomplishments show that they neither love, or even know God.

Love towards God requires obedience. To truly love someone is to desire the highest good of that person, even to the giving of ourselves to meet the needs, and promote the well being of that individual. To truly love God requires that we seek His will and kingdom (Matt 6:33); it is to do all in His name, and for His glory (Col 3:17; 1 Cor 6:20, 10:31). Obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ will flow naturally from the disciple who truly loves Him (John 14:21-24; 1 John 5:2-3). 

We are required to Love God with the entirety of our beings (Deut 6:4-9). This is upheld by the words of our Lord Jesus as well (Matt 22:36-40). Love is something that cannot be legislated; it cannot be coerced, it must come from the heart willingly, and unrestrained. Jesus demands this love, as the Highest good in the universe. How can we measure up? How can we overcome this world with all of its vain trappings; with all of the things that would steal our hearts from the One who truly deserves our highest affections? 

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory thst overcometh the world, even our faith.

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the son of God? 

(1 John 5:4-5 KJV)

If we are not overcoming the world, it is overcoming us! We overcome by faith in the risen Christ, Jesus the son of God. When we trust, we will obey, with a faith that works by love (Gal 5:6).

Ring that bell

     I listened to this powerful message this morning, and it brought tears to my eyes. Listen to it, and let God speak to your heart. It is so easy to get caught up in our lives and lose sight of what God has really called us to. Christianity is so much more than going to church once or twice a week, and having our bible reading plans and such. These things are good and have their purpose, but there is something lacking in so many of our lives. I believe it is a consuming passion for the souls of our fellow man. How much would we endure for Christ? How far are we willing to go to see the world around us reached with the good news of new life in Christ? Listen to this sermon and be blessed!  Ring that bell

Is Christ Enough?

     Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places.
                                  Habakkuk 3:17-19 NASB

     This passage of scripture brings us face to face with a pressing question. If I lost everything, if disaster struck my life, would God be enough?
     It is easy to read these verses, and indeed many of us often do, and think to ourselves that yes, God is enough. We feel that our faith is strong, and that we are satisfied with Him. It is one thing to watch a man push some one in a cart across a tightrope stretched high above a canyon, and believe that he could get us across, but quite another thing to actually get into the cart.
     Are we really content with God alone? Is He enough, is He all? In the hustle and bustle of life, in this age of instant gratification, is Christ enough, or are we clinging tightly to the material things of this earth? Could we say He was enough even if faced with the loss of a loved one? These are hard questions, but Christ must be all, if He is to be enthroned within our hearts.
   

         

Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church.

          The Church triumphant has been under attack since it's inception some 2,000 years ago. Nations and rulers have tried to destroy the Church through persecution, they have tried to legislate it out of existence, and have had a measure of success by merging it with the state.
     The union of church and state has probably done more harm to the cause of Christ than any other device satan has come up with. By this union, governments have controlled what the church believes, and what it practices. By legislating Christianity, nations have been declared "Christian" deceiving their members into thinking they are true Christians when in fact they are not.
     No human government on this earth has the God given ability to determine what constitutes true faith and practice. God alone, through His word has set forth the standard for Christian practice. No one has the right or ability to come between a man's conscience and his God.
     Jesus tells us that He will build His Church upon the rock of our confession of faith, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). The Bible tells us that there is one body, one Spirit, and we were called in one hope of our calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is over all, through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6). Jude tells us to contend earnestly for the faith that was once delivered (Jude 1:3). That is the true faith, the one delivered down through the Apostles and Prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).
     This is the foundation that the true follower of Christ Jesus is built upon. Every one who names the name Of Jesus in a true and living faith is being built up into a spiritual dwelling place for God (Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-5)
     Trials and tribulations will come as we are told in the word of God (1 Peter 4:12-14; Rev 1:9; Matt 5:10-12). We are to rejoice in this, and stand fast, as Jesus tells us, "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt 24:13). We have the precious promise of Christ that He will be with us to the end of the age (Matt 28:18-20).
     The Church has always prospered under adversity. It has triumphed in what seemed it's darkest hour. This is when a line is drawn so to speak, and those who cling to Christ with a ruthless trust are separated from those who are merely nominal. When things get a little tough, they are out of there. This is when the people of God shine the brightest, filled with the glorious presence of the Holy Spirit.
     Do not grow weary or give up as you see things get tough in these last days.

     It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
                              2 Timothy 2:11-13 NASB
    

Lo, I Am With You Always.

     The exiles returning from the Babylonian captivity faced much opposition when they began to rebuild the temple (Ezra 4:1-7). They finally gave up in defeat when ordered to do so by Artaxerxes the King (Ezra 4:23-24).
     We the same thing today as we try to advance the kingdom of God. We face threats from within and without. Lukewarmness and compromise fill many of our congregations. Political correctness has replaced the power of the gospel, and what that has failed to destroy, is being legislated out of existence by governments bent on eliminating true Christianity.
     The Israelites of old needed to be encouraged back into action, as we do today. Through the Prophet Haggai, God rebuked the people for their inactivity, and also encouraged them to get back on task (Ezra 5:1-2; Haggai 1:2-10, 13-14, 2:4-9). They went back to work and rebuilt the temple in obedience to God, trusting in Him to enable them to finish. Notice that God declared that He was with them (Haggai 1:13, 2:4-5). What an encouragement to know that the god of heaven was with them to help them in spite og all the opposition they faced.
     Jesus makes this same statement when He tells us to go into all the world making disciples (Matt 28:18-20). All authority has been given to Him, and all the strength we need will be supplied to us to do His will. He so graciously promises us that He will be with us to the very end of the age. No power in hell or on this earth can stop the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Jesus said that He will build His Church upon the rock, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).
     What an encouragement this should be to us as we advance His kingdom in all of its glory!
    

Is God Unjust?

     There seems to be this idea that a God who would punish evil doers is somehow unjust. This idea has even been accepted by many who profess to be Christians. They believe that somehow God is too kind to send someone to hell, that in fact it would be unjust.
     Now tell me, would it be unjust if a convicted mass murderer stood before a courtroom filled with the friends and relatives of his victims, and was released with no sentence whatsoever, because the judge was kind, and thought it would be unfair to lock this man up?
     We would consider that a gross travesty of justice, yet so many today think that God is like that. They would consider it a gross travesty if He punished someone for their sin.
     Paul writes about God's wrath, patience, and justice.

     For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
                            Romans 1:18 NASB

     And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
                               Romans 2:2 NASB
     This verse refers back to the sins listed in Romans 1:18-32.

     Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Who will render to each person according to his deeds.
                        Romans 2:4-6 NASB

     But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous is He? (I am speaking in human terms). May it never be! For otherwise how will God judge the world?
                            Romans 3:5-6 NASB

     Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God.
                              Romans 3:19 NASB

     Friend, there is coming a day when God will judge this world by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31). God will be perfectly fair, He will be completely just. He will make no mistake. He will not meet out any undeserved punishment, and He will also not leave any deserved punishment unfulfilled.
     As we read in the above verses, all mouths will be shut before Him. We will stand before Him with all secrets exposed. We will be confronted with all the evidence of all our wicked deeds. All will be laid bare for all to see. We will be without excuse. We will have nothing to say in our defense. We will know then without any doubt that God is indeed just and fair in all His dealings with mankind.
     We also read that God is patiently waiting for our repentance. He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). While He is just, He is also merciful, and has made a way for us to receive His grace through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to redeem us from this wicked age (Gal 1:4).
     You see God loves us enough to provide an atonement for our sins. We can stand before His judgment seat with a clean record, totally forgiven. He has upheld the righteousness of the law by the death of Christ on the cross. He can now be just, and the justifier of all who come to Him by faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-26; 1 John 1:9).
     Don't fall for the lie that God has to forgive you because He is too kind to punish you for your sin. Don't believe the heresy that a loving God will not send someone to an eternal hell. This was the same basic lie that the serpent used on Eve (Genesis 3:4). He has used it in various forms through the ages to lead souls to hell.
     What good will it be to have believed a lie on the day we stand before God? Then it will be too late. Run to Christ in repentance and faith, and follow Him in submission to His word.
    
    




         

Determination.

     The account of Elijah and Elisha in 2 Kings 2:1-14 contains a great lesson for us. Look at the determination of Elisha as he follows Elijah from place to place. At each stop Elijah asks him to stay, but Elisha is determined to go on with him.
     We see why when Elijah asks what he could do for him before God took him. Elisha wanted a double portion of the anointing of God that rested upon Elijah. If he was not persistent in his pursuit of God's anointing, he would have never received it!
     This is the same principle that Jesus taught us through the example of the Syrophoenician woman's persistent faith (Matthew 15:21-28).
     If we would prevail with God, if we would receive the blessing, if we would see God pour out His Spirit upon us, upon our churches and communities, we must come with a bold determination that will not let go until the blessing comes (Genesis 32:26).

Active Prayer.

     There are those who spend their lives praying for lost loved ones, revival, their neighbors, etc. but never do anything about it. They don't witness, they won't give a testimony of God's grace in a church service, they never think to confront a sinning brother in a spirit of love. They believe all that they need to do is to pray, and God will take care of it.
     There are also those who plunge into these things, but never pray. They are always busy doing good things, but have no anointing of God on their efforts. They also see little if any results.
    Jesus told the seventy to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send workers. He then sends them! (Luke 10:2-3). James tells us that true faith will produce works. What good is it to bless a needy person with good intentions when we have the ability to help them? (James 2:15-17). Likewise, how can we expect God to answer our prayers for loved ones when we have no intention to go to them ourselves?
     The truth is we must pray and seek God for His presence and power in our lives. We must be willing to go where He sends us, and to do what He calls us to do, bathing it all in prayer. We go in the strength that He provides.
     Who knows, Maybe you are the answer to your prayers for the lost, for the needy, for revival in your church or community?

The Greatest Commandment.

     Like the Church of Ephesus, many of us are faithful to our doctrines, zealous in routing out false teachers, and persevere steadfastly in the truth (Revelation 2:2-3). This is a lot more than we see other Christians, Churches, and Denominations doing, so we feel as though we are getting along fairly well.
     The truth is, without love being the motivating factor in what we do, it means nothing (1 Cor 13:2-3). The Church in Ephesus, for all they stood for, had forsaken it's first love (Rev 2:4). This is what the Lord Jesus Christ rebuked them for.
     An expert in the law of Moses asked Christ what was the greatest commandment in the law (Matt 22:36). Jesus told him to love God with all your heart, soul, mind. (Deut 6:5). This is the greatest commandment, followed by loving your neighbor as yourself (Lev19:18) (Matt 22:37-39).
     Paul states that what matters to God is faith that works by love (Gal 5:6). Love is the fulfilling of the law (Gal 5:14, Romans 13:8-10). When we love God with all that we are, we will find ourselves fulfilling the commandments concerning Him and our worship of Him. When we truly treat others as we want them to treat us (Matt 7:12) we will find ourselves living a life that is free from theft, dishonesty, covetousness, anger, murder, lust, etc. The law concerning our neighbor will be fulfilled by us.
     So what about you? Did you once have a passion for Jesus that led you to serve Him with all your heart? Is that passion still there motivating your actions, or has it dwindled? Are you still doing good deeds, but for the wrong reasons? Can you say you love your neighbor as yourself, and back it up with your actions, or do your actions say otherwise? Maybe you are an honest person, trying to be good all the time, but without love.
     The answer is found in Jesus, at the foot of the Cross. There you will find grace. Look back on your life and see how far you have fallen! Repent and do the deeds you did at first (Rev 2:5). Let Jesus fill you once again with His presence! Be empowered to live a life of love.

Elijah, a man just like us.

     Elijah stood against the idolatry of Israel in the days of Ahab and Jezebel. At his word it did not rain for three and a half years (1Kings 17:1). This was God's judgment against His backslidden people.
     After three and a half years of drought and famine, the word of the Lord came to Elijah once again. He was to show himself to king Ahab, because God was about to send rain (1Kings 18:1).
     Before God could send rain, the people had to repent of the sin that had placed them under the judgment of God. They had to put away their idols, they had to chose whom they would serve (1Kings 18:21). In a remarkable trial by fire, baal was proven to be no god at all, and The Lord God was shown to be the one and only God (1Kings 18:20-40).
    With the sin dealt with, Elijah prays for rain. Seven times he sends his servant to look before he sees a cloud the size of a man's hand (1Kings 18:42-44). This cloud grew until the sky was black resulting in a heavy shower.
     You may look at this biblical event, as well as other miraculous accounts, and feel that God only used special people to do extraordinary things. He used "super apostles" like Paul, and the disciples to do amazing things.
     The bible tells us that Elijah was a man with a nature like ours (James 5:16-18). He was no different than you or I. God has chosen each one of us to do things for Him in advancing His kingdom. Some are pastors, teachers, evangelists. Others are witnesses in the home and in the workplace. The passage in James 5 is talking about prayer. We need men and women with the kind of faith that Elijah had when he prayed down fire, and then prayed down rain.
     God desires to send the fire of His Spirit to cleanse and purify His people. He desires to send the refreshing rain of His presence to a dry and weary land. He is not looking for a great individual to use. He is looking for an individual full of faith, and willing to be used in any way.
     God will send revival. Will it come through you?
    

Faith

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

     The word of God is our source of faith. In it we find faith to lean on Christ in any and all situations. We find the faith to come to Him for forgiveness. We find faith to come to Him with our cares and burdens. We find faith for the healing of the body, soul, and spirit. We find faith for the miraculous. We find faith to receive the Holy Spirit in all His fullness. We receive faith to cry out and hold on for revival in a dry and thirsty land.
     Are  you weak? Are you doubting? Are you dry spiritually? Get out your Bible, get on your knees, and come to the source.

Taking that Step of Faith.

     I find the story of Joshua leading the Israelites across the Jordan (see Joshua 3) very challenging to my faith. In fact it takes me right out of my comfort zone. This is a good thing, as it is not good to get comfortable in our christian walk.
     Joshua is leading the next generation of Israelites into the promised land, after forty years of wandering, and the death of Moses. One obstacle stood in their way. The Jordan river was at flood stage during this time of year. for all practical purposes it was impassible. Perhaps a strong swimmer could get across, but not a multitude including women and children. It would take a miracle.
     Joshua instructs the Priests to take the ark of the covenant, and go before the people, with a distance separating them. As the Priests stepped into the water, God would part the river, and the nation would cross over into the promised land. Sounds great, we read of miracles in the bible and have no problem believing them, right?
     How would you like to be the first Priest to step into the river? remember the river is flooded. If the waters do not part, you will fall in, pulling the other Priests in with you, ark and all. If you do not drown, you will probobly be struck dead trying to grab onto the ark as you are being swept downstream.
      It would be so much easier to stand on the dry ground waiting for God to part the water, but that is not always how it works. Faith demands that we take God at His word whether it makes sense or not. It demands that we take the plunge so to speak, all or nothing. God often brings us to places where we have to live by bare faith. Places where we have to obey regardless of the consequences, places where we have to step out in spite of what the circumstances are, places where we have to go completely against what common sense dictates. Peter could not walk on water sitting in the boat, and we cannot walk into God's calling on our lives while remaining safely in our comfort zones.
     God was true to His word. As the Priests bearing the ark, stepped into the water, it stood in a heap, allowing safe passage across. Easy to believe because it is a bible story, and it happened so long ago, but is it easy to step in all the way when God calls?
     That is what makes faith, faith. It is that bold determined willingness to go all the way with Christ, no matter what. Our actions are the proof of our belief!

    

Coming out of the world.

     By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
     Hebrews 11:8-10 ESV.

     We need to understand that Abraham left a country that was filled with wealth and knowledge. He left the world that he knew, and was comfortable in. He did this at the command of God. He left on a promise. He was to receive the land of Canaan, as an inheritance. In his lifetime he only owned a burial plot in this land, dwelling in it as a stranger. He had his eyes on God, looking forward to what was to come.
     What about us? Do we fix our eyes on Christ and eternal things, or are we absorbed by this world? We must live in this world as strangers, foreigners. There can be no compromise with worldly ways, we must leave it all behind. No conformity, we are called to be pure, children of light in a perverse generation.
    

Just like us.

     The bible tells us that Elijah was a man with a nature just like us. There was nothing extra special about him. God chose to use him, and he yielded in obedience.
     This should encourage us to step out in faith and let God use us as well. Who knows what He may do through you?

Faith that obtains the blessing.

     Jacob wrestled all night with God, and obtained the blessing. He said " I will not let go until you bless me". He found favor with Esau, and God's chosen people, through whom the covenant of grace would come, were preserved.
     Elisha persisted in following Elijah every step of the way. He desired the double portion of Elijah's mantle, and would not leave his side. He knew that to lose sight of Elijah, when he was taken to glory, was to lose all. He persisted and received the double portion.
     Joash the king, was half hearted, and it cost him a full victory over Syria.
     What will time say of us?