By Gobel Brockman
The celebrations are about to commence. 2018 is coming to an end, and we are about to enter 2019.
I know that for some people, the end of 2018 can't come soon enough, For others, it's been a great year. I know that many of you reading this have endured difficulties this year: the loss of a loved one, financial difficulty, job uncertainty, or a host of other situations. I'm also certain that for some reading this, this year has held many blessings - new love in your life, the birth of a child or grandchild, and possibly great and unexpected blessings. Wherever you find yourself at the end of this year, my prayer for you is that 2019 will be a year of joy, contentment, and most of all, spiritual renewal and revival as Jesus Christ reveals Himself to you in a greater way through the power of the Holy Ghost.
As we enter this new year, my thoughts right now are on a ritual that many engage in during this season: "The New Year's Resolution." People make many pledges and promises during this time - resolutions to lose weight, take better care of themselves, spend more time with their families, etc. Sadly, these resolutions are usually short-lived. This can lead to disappointing feelings of failure and cause us to give up hope. But as I think of this I'm reminded of what took place in the book of Exodus. God had performed many miracles for the children of Israel to set them free from Egyptian bondage. As they were about to see the final plague poured out upon Egypt, which would secure their release, God said this to them in Exodus 12:2:
"This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month for you."
God went on to tell them that every year they were to celebrate the Passover to remember this day - the "new beginning of the new year" - throughout their history to remind them of what God had done for them. My point is that their freedom came because of what God had miraculously done for them. They were about to be set free and experience a new beginning not because they freed themselves from Egypt, but because GOD set them free! As we go through this time of "New Year's Resolutions" and the disappointment that usually goes with them, I want to encourage you with this:
Changes we try to make for ourselves are limited at best, but when we allow God to make the changes, He will truly give us a "new beginning."
One of my favorite verses is Philippians 2:13, which says this:
"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure."
What I'm trying to say is simply this: if you want real, lasting change in your life, allow God to move in your life by the power of the Holy Ghost, and the changes will happen not for your glory, but for His. I can tell you both from Scripture and personal experience that the best way to change your life is submit to God through Jesus Christ and let HIM make the changes. He will give you a genuine and eternal "new beginning."
I pray that everyone reading this has a fantastic 2019! You'll find it as you follow Jesus.
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Christmas Will Mess With Your Life
By Gobel Brockman
Another Christmas is upon us. Once again we join with family, friends, and co-workers for food, presents, fellowship - and more food. It's also that time of year for the "Chreasters" - people who go to church twice a year: Christmas and Easter. Every year we hear about a star, a manger, wise men, and a virgin giving birth. But this year I want to look at the Christmas story in a way we don't often think about. It affected a lot of lives in ways that it also affects ours today:
*King Herod
Herod was king. His word was law. One day he hears the news from wise men that a new king has been born. What that meant to him was simple: his kingdom was now in jeopardy. He made the horrible decision to have all the male children two and under killed in an attempt to keep this new king from his kingdom. However, Herod's attempts were futile. Our attempts to keep His rule out of our lives will be futile as well. The Bible says this in Philippians 2:10-11:
"That at the name of Jesus every knee shall, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father."
That includes Herod - and you and me. Jesus is and forever shall be Lord. Every tongue will one day confess this truth.
*Joseph
The Bible describes him as "a just man." He finds out that his fiancé Mary is pregnant, but doesn't want to publicly disgrace her. He was then told in an angelic dream that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. At that moment Joseph's life was turned upside down. He had to take his new family and flee into Egypt, and for the next few years he lived with only the certainty that God was directing his life. The lesson he learned is a lesson we must learn as well: when Jesus comes into your life, your life gets turned upside down, and you must become completely dependent on His guidance and provision.
*Jesus
He was Immanuel, "God in the flesh." He was worthy of praise, admiration, and worship, yet He came in the form of a servant. Time and time again He stated that His desire was to do His Father's will - knowing that His will would ultimately lead to the cross. In spite of that, Jesus embraced the Father's will and fulfilled it. The Christmas lesson we really need to learn is that Jesus came to fulfill God's purpose, and we are called to do likewise. Jesus said this in Luke 9:23:
"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
As much as we enjoy the food, the parties, and the presents, may we never lose sight of the undeniable truth that the message of Christmas is simple: when Jesus shows up, your life will never be the same. He messed up the lives of Herod, the wise men, Mary and Joseph, and He's been doing it ever since. He gave His all to purchase our salvation, and demands our all if we are to become His disciples. This year, may we celebrate Christmas (and the OTHER 364 days) as they were intended - unconditional worship and surrender to the will of God.
The message of Christmas will mess with your life. And what an awesome gift it truly is.
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Don't Let the Fire Die
By Gobel Brockman
May
we not let the fire die.
I’ve been thinking a lot this week about
how quickly things can change in our spiritual lives. It’s interesting to me
that we can go from “on fire-red hot revival” to near apathy in what seems like
a relatively short time. A prime example of that in Scripture is found in the
story of the church at Ephesus. In Acts 19 we read of miracles and deliverance
taking place by the power of God in Ephesus. Their response was instantaneous
and drastic:
“The story of what happened spread quickly
all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the
city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became
believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been
practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public
bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message
about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.” Acts 19:17-20 (NLT)
The power of the Holy Ghost was moving in
Ephesus. People were turning from sin and turning to Jesus. Miracles were
taking place. People were being set free and finding what true life in Christ
was really about. In a relatively short time, however, we hear Jesus saying
these words to those same Ephesian believers:
“I
know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear
with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves
apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know
you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and
you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have
abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where
you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I
will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”
Revelation 2:2-5
The church of Ephesus went from burning
their sinful possessions in the public square to being on the brink of losing
their fire for the Lord altogether. The sad thing was that all the while they
were still “doing church.” They were working, patiently enduring, and standing
for the name of Jesus – and yet Jesus said, “I have something against you.” I
submit to you that it’s no different today. We can still be active in church
while having left our “first love” for Jesus Christ. The harsh reality is that Jesus
wouldn’t accept it from the Ephesians, and He won’t accept it from us either.
I can’t help but wonder just how
widespread this is right now in our churches. How many prayer rooms that once
blazed with the fire and zeal of the Holy Ghost are now little more than a
pre-service formality? How many worship services that once touched the heart of
our Father are now just “good music” that appeals to our ears? How many preachers
that once preached with a palpable anointing are now delivering little more
than motivational speeches that give us full pews but empty hearts? How many
men and women of God who once grieved about their sin are finding themselves
entangled by it again?
How quickly it can happen. I sadly know
from experience.
My prayer for myself is that I will heed
the words that Jesus spoke to them: “Repent, and do the works you did at first.”
May I fan into flames the fire that God has kindled in my heart. May what I do
for the Lord be born out of my love and worship of Him. May our prayer rooms be
filled with power and intercession. May our worship truly touch the Father’s
heart. May preachers boldly proclaim the full counsel of God. May we see true, lasting revival
touch this nation and the world.
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Say Goodbye to Your Comfort Zone
By Gobel Brockman
At the end of last year I preached a message (and also posted it online) called "2018: The Year of the Vanishing Comfort Zone." For myself and many of my family, friends, and church family, that is exactly what 2018 has been. God has stretched us and used us in ways I never could have imagined. It has been an amazing, exciting, and challenging year, and He has been incredibly faithful through it all. In thinking about this, I fully believe what I'm about to say to be true:
2019 WILL TAKE US OUT OF OUR "COMFORT ZONE" IN AN EVEN GREATER MEASURE!
(The remainder of this week's devotional is a portion of the message I preached at the end of 2017.)
OUR NESTS ARE ABOUT TO BE STIRRED!
At the end of last year I preached a message (and also posted it online) called "2018: The Year of the Vanishing Comfort Zone." For myself and many of my family, friends, and church family, that is exactly what 2018 has been. God has stretched us and used us in ways I never could have imagined. It has been an amazing, exciting, and challenging year, and He has been incredibly faithful through it all. In thinking about this, I fully believe what I'm about to say to be true:
2019 WILL TAKE US OUT OF OUR "COMFORT ZONE" IN AN EVEN GREATER MEASURE!
(The remainder of this week's devotional is a portion of the message I preached at the end of 2017.)
OUR NESTS ARE ABOUT TO BE STIRRED!
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8
In this Scripture, Jesus gave His disciples the road map for their mission. They were to stay in Jerusalem until they were filled with the Holy Ghost. They were then to establish the church in Jerusalem, then they were to take the gospel to "Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth." They fulfilled it all - but they stayed in Jerusalem. Eventually God had to stir their nest!
"Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." - Acts 8:1
I don't believe it's incidental that the order of Acts 1:8 is repeated in Acts 8:1. GOD'S PLANS WILL BE FULFILLED! I'm sure it seemed horrible to them to face that persecution, but that persecution led them into the fulfillment of God's purpose. They were to soon discover that in the kingdom of God there is plenty of room for peace, but none for "comfort zones." (The words "God" and "comfort zone" do not belong in the same sentence - unless that sentence is "God doesn't like your comfort zone!") The thing is, they shouldn't have been surprised by this. God rarely does anything the way He's "supposed" to do them!
What started as persecution turned into a God-ordained revival! Many times we mistake what God is allowing in our lives to be abandonment - when it is actually advancement!
In preparing this message I felt the Holy Ghost impress on my heart that for many of us, 2018 is going to be a year when we are challenged to step into the unknown and trust God. Here is what I'm sensing:
*Some will be challenged to step into responsibilities that they weren't seeking, maybe don't even want, and don't feel qualified for.
*Some will have unexpected ministry opportunities/conversations with people they weren't expecting to ever be able to minister to.
*Some will be faced with life changes that on the surface may seem difficult and stressful. (When you find yourself in these times, just remember that Joseph probably felt the same way. We know how that turned out!)
The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 that "Without faith it is impossible to please God" and we don't need faith if we have the answers ourselves. I firmly believe that God is going to take many of us out of our comfort zones and ask us to do things for the kingdom of God that we don't we're capable of doing. I simply want to remind you of this: MIRACLES DON'T HAPPEN IN COMFORT ZONES!
So with that in mind, I will close this message by asking this question for 2019: Do you desire to please God?
If your answer is yes, then follow Jesus with all of your heart - and say goodbye to your comfort zone. Will it be challenging? YES. Will there be times of complete uncertainty? YES. Will it test you in ways you never imagined? YES. Will it require a faith in Jesus Christ that causes us to abandon our own understanding? YES.
Will it be a wild, exciting ride that causes us to marvel yet again at the power of God? YES!
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Every Tribe, Every Tongue
By Gobel Brockman
“Mewɔ gyedie wɔ Yesu Kristo mu.” (Twi for “I have faith in Jesus Christ.”)
My brother-in-law and I recently returned from a ministry trip to London, England and to the Accra region of Ghana, west Africa. In all honesty I am still processing everything that happened in our time in both places. In some ways the trip went much differently than I had anticipated; in some ways it was much more than I ever imagined. What I will say is that I am grateful beyond words for the opportunity to go.
Our times in London and Ghana were vastly different in many ways:
*The weather was different (we went from 40s and cloudy in England to upper 80s with high humidity in Ghana.)
*The music was different (but the musician in me thoroughly enjoyed both.)
*The accents were different (but both were understandable and interesting for this Midwestern guy to hear!)
*The church services were different (but the presence of God was undeniably felt in both places.)
But for all of the differences, one thing was undoubtedly the same: THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. During our trip I was privileged to catch just a glimpse of what we read in Revelation 7:9-10:
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
My message this week is simple - the power of God is moving throughout the world! The Spirit of God is drawing men, women, and children to the salvation that is only found in Jesus Christ. People from every nation and tribe are warming up now for the time when the redeemed stand before God and proclaim with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God!” The Bible tells us in Joel 2 that in the last days God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh, and we are seeing that take place right before our eyes! These are exciting times indeed!
As I mentioned earlier, I am grateful beyond words for the opportunity to be part of this trip. I pray that God will give me more opportunities to see what He’s doing in the world, but if not, I still know He’s doing things, and it’s amazing to see! The name of Jesus is being proclaimed, and the Holy Ghost is dealing with hearts to draw people to the saving knowledge of Jesus. In the midst of it all, may He minister in your life as well.
“Wowɔ gyedie wɔ Yesu Kristo mu?” (Twi for “Do you have faith in Jesus Christ?”)
“Mewɔ gyedie wɔ Yesu Kristo mu.” (Twi for “I have faith in Jesus Christ.”)
My brother-in-law and I recently returned from a ministry trip to London, England and to the Accra region of Ghana, west Africa. In all honesty I am still processing everything that happened in our time in both places. In some ways the trip went much differently than I had anticipated; in some ways it was much more than I ever imagined. What I will say is that I am grateful beyond words for the opportunity to go.
Our times in London and Ghana were vastly different in many ways:
*The weather was different (we went from 40s and cloudy in England to upper 80s with high humidity in Ghana.)
*The music was different (but the musician in me thoroughly enjoyed both.)
*The accents were different (but both were understandable and interesting for this Midwestern guy to hear!)
*The church services were different (but the presence of God was undeniably felt in both places.)
But for all of the differences, one thing was undoubtedly the same: THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. During our trip I was privileged to catch just a glimpse of what we read in Revelation 7:9-10:
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
My message this week is simple - the power of God is moving throughout the world! The Spirit of God is drawing men, women, and children to the salvation that is only found in Jesus Christ. People from every nation and tribe are warming up now for the time when the redeemed stand before God and proclaim with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God!” The Bible tells us in Joel 2 that in the last days God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh, and we are seeing that take place right before our eyes! These are exciting times indeed!
As I mentioned earlier, I am grateful beyond words for the opportunity to be part of this trip. I pray that God will give me more opportunities to see what He’s doing in the world, but if not, I still know He’s doing things, and it’s amazing to see! The name of Jesus is being proclaimed, and the Holy Ghost is dealing with hearts to draw people to the saving knowledge of Jesus. In the midst of it all, may He minister in your life as well.
“Wowɔ gyedie wɔ Yesu Kristo mu?” (Twi for “Do you have faith in Jesus Christ?”)
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Picking Our Heroes (We're Doing it Wrong)
By Gobel Brockman
A few years ago a long-time player in the National Basketball Association played his final game before retirement. Sports talk shows and evening newscasts were filled with highlights of his career. His stats and accomplishments were reviewed and reverenced. Tickets for his last game were sold for literally thousands of dollars apiece. At the same time, another team in the NBA broke the record for the most wins in a regular season - a record that many thought would never be broken. Talk of this team's accomplishment, while not as widespread, has also dominated the airwaves.
Our society seems to be enamored with celebrities. Athletes, actors and actresses, and singers and musicians seem to be almost idolized in our society. They are lauded with praise and admiration for their accomplishments while seemingly getting a pass for any failures or indiscretions they may be guilty of committing. I don't want what I have to say this week to be seen as a "slam" against these folks; I know that they work hard to hone their talents and be the best they can be at what they do. I simply question who we as a society choose to revere.
Let me explain why I'm saying this.
Our church once hosted a pastor and his wife who minister in the Philippines. During the week they both spoke with a power and anointing that only comes from a life that has been fully surrendered to Christ. During their last service with us, the pastor shared stories of persecution he had both witnessed and experienced first-hand. The following morning I drove the couple to their next destination in Terre Haute, Indiana. During our trip the pastor shared the story with me about how the people in his community once made the long trek to church during a flood, and then stood in waist-deep water while singing and praising God and listening to the preaching of His word. He then went into greater detail about some of the persecution he had seen in some of the areas he had ministered in - stories of beatings, physical dismemberment, families being separated, and horrible, unimaginable deaths. Persecution that would have been avoided if only the people at risk would renounce their faith in Christ. This couple has both seen and endured things that we here in America can't imagine - as much as we may try. And yet their faith in Jesus is not only strong, but the things that they have went through have only made their faith stronger. He also told me of times that his family had absolutely nothing to eat. He would tell his family, "Prepare the table. God will provide." and then he would go into prayer. Time and time again, just as mealtime would come, food would arrive. Their life and their ministry is a continuous, undeniable proof of the power of God and the reward of faithfulness in the face of opposition.
THAT, my friends, is the definition of "hero" to me.
Their names will never be in lights. I dare say that if I even mentioned their names that very few reading this would have even heard of them. Yet these people, and countless, nameless others just like them, are simply living their lives in obedience and sacrifice to Jesus Christ - and changing the world around them in the process. It reminds me of what Jesus said in Matthew 23:11-12:
"The greatest among you shall be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
These "servants" are touching their world for Jesus, and I definitely felt "humbled" to be in their presence. (I also learned that in the future, I need to be prepared with something to wipe the tears from my eyes while driving with them. Driving while having tears run down your face is not a good combination.) It simply occurred to me that standing behind a pulpit, putting out a couple of books on Kindle or typing a Facebook devotional just doesn't measure up to what these faithful servants have experienced. May I learn from their example what it truly means to be a servant of Jesus Christ.
To this couple who I shall leave nameless, and to the countless others just like them, I will simply say this - thanks for being heroes. May God bless you in your work. Well done, good and faithful servants.
And may I learn from your example.
"The greatest among you shall be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
These "servants" are touching their world for Jesus, and I definitely felt "humbled" to be in their presence. (I also learned that in the future, I need to be prepared with something to wipe the tears from my eyes while driving with them. Driving while having tears run down your face is not a good combination.) It simply occurred to me that standing behind a pulpit, putting out a couple of books on Kindle or typing a Facebook devotional just doesn't measure up to what these faithful servants have experienced. May I learn from their example what it truly means to be a servant of Jesus Christ.
To this couple who I shall leave nameless, and to the countless others just like them, I will simply say this - thanks for being heroes. May God bless you in your work. Well done, good and faithful servants.
And may I learn from your example.
Saturday, November 10, 2018
“God is Not a One Cedi God!”
By Gobel Brockman
I am typing this as I prepare for my last night of being part of a ministry team in Ghana, west Africa. To say that this trip has been life-changing would be a massive understatement. I have absolutely fallen in love with the Ghanaian people, and there is no way I can ever be the same again.
Many things have happened on this trip – far too many to mention in one devotional, so I will just focus on one for now. We were in one service in particular where the power of God was moving even as we arrived. People were worshiping the Lord, and the service continually grew more intense as we went. During the altar time, we had prayer for 13 people who said they were having back issues, and after prayer all 13 said that they were totally healed! It was such a powerful, amazing time.
The service concluded with the offering. One of the pastors of the church came forward to announce the offering, and he announced this to his church: “God has moved mightily tonight, and it is time to thank him with our offering. And I will tell you tonight that God is not a one Cedi God!” (Cedi is Ghanaian currency.) When he said that, this thought came to mind: How many times has God blessed us beyond measure, and our offering to him in response has been meager at best? I’m not just talking about money, I am talking about our praise, our thanksgiving, our worship, and our obedience.
In the book of Leviticus God told the nation of Israel not to bring him a blemished sacrifice. The sacrifice was supposed to be pure and spotless, representing the very best that we had to offer to God. And yet how many times do we do just that? We give everything and everyone else the best of our time and resources, and then we try to give God the leftovers. The nation of Israel could not get by with it – and neither will we. God both demands and deserves our utmost praise, worship, and obedience. He deserves the first fruits of our time, our talents, and our energy. Simply put, God has been good to us, and he deserves our best in return. Not out of a sense of obligation, but out of a sense of sonship and worship. The name of Jesus Christ should be honored in our daily lives.
My prayer is that for the rest of my life I never forget what I have experienced this week. The power that is in the name of Jesus has been on full display, and I desire to give him in return my best response for the rest of my life.
Why? Because “God is not a one Cedi God!”
I am typing this as I prepare for my last night of being part of a ministry team in Ghana, west Africa. To say that this trip has been life-changing would be a massive understatement. I have absolutely fallen in love with the Ghanaian people, and there is no way I can ever be the same again.
Many things have happened on this trip – far too many to mention in one devotional, so I will just focus on one for now. We were in one service in particular where the power of God was moving even as we arrived. People were worshiping the Lord, and the service continually grew more intense as we went. During the altar time, we had prayer for 13 people who said they were having back issues, and after prayer all 13 said that they were totally healed! It was such a powerful, amazing time.
The service concluded with the offering. One of the pastors of the church came forward to announce the offering, and he announced this to his church: “God has moved mightily tonight, and it is time to thank him with our offering. And I will tell you tonight that God is not a one Cedi God!” (Cedi is Ghanaian currency.) When he said that, this thought came to mind: How many times has God blessed us beyond measure, and our offering to him in response has been meager at best? I’m not just talking about money, I am talking about our praise, our thanksgiving, our worship, and our obedience.
In the book of Leviticus God told the nation of Israel not to bring him a blemished sacrifice. The sacrifice was supposed to be pure and spotless, representing the very best that we had to offer to God. And yet how many times do we do just that? We give everything and everyone else the best of our time and resources, and then we try to give God the leftovers. The nation of Israel could not get by with it – and neither will we. God both demands and deserves our utmost praise, worship, and obedience. He deserves the first fruits of our time, our talents, and our energy. Simply put, God has been good to us, and he deserves our best in return. Not out of a sense of obligation, but out of a sense of sonship and worship. The name of Jesus Christ should be honored in our daily lives.
My prayer is that for the rest of my life I never forget what I have experienced this week. The power that is in the name of Jesus has been on full display, and I desire to give him in return my best response for the rest of my life.
Why? Because “God is not a one Cedi God!”
Sunday, November 4, 2018
The “Acts 29” Generation
By Gobel Brockman
I once heard of a Pastor who was about to deliver his Sunday morning sermon. He invited the congregation to turn to Acts chapter 29 for his text. The sound of flapping pages started. It continued. People searched in vain for Acts 29. Finally someone spoke loud enough for the Pastor to hear, hoping to help him correct his mistake. "There is no Acts 29!", they said. "Yes, there is!" he insisted. People looked at him, wondering why it had been so long since their Pastor had picked up a Bible. He then pointed his finger and waived it over the congregation and said, "YOU are Acts 29. It's being written right now. What's YOUR section going to say?" He then proceeded to deliver a message about the importance of living out our faith in a way that affects the world around us.
What got me thinking of this was a conversation I recently had with someone about Simon Peter. That guy was a mess. Every time he turned around he was putting his foot in his mouth. He once rebuked Jesus because he was saying something Peter didn't like. He boldly asked Jesus to allow him to walk on water, then promptly lost faith and had to be rescued. As Jesus spoke of his upcoming crucifixion, Peter loudly proclaimed that he would never forsake Jesus. A few hours later, the accusation of a servant girl caused him to deny that he even knew Jesus. Time and time again Jesus had to either correct him or rescue him.
Then, after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, we get to the book of Acts.
In the second chapter, we see the disciples being filled with the promised Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God went from being with them to dwelling in them. They were filled with a boldness they had heretofore not experienced. This same Peter, who had been such a wreck, was now boldly proclaiming to all of Jerusalem, "You killed Jesus, but God has made this same Jesus Lord and Christ. It is His name that brings salvation!" - and 3,000 responded to the message. In the rest of the book of Acts, we see the disciples 'turning the world upside down' for Jesus.
That's where you and I come in. It's our turn now. The book of Acts has 28 chapters. WE are living and writing the 29th chapter. It's our opportunity RIGHT NOW to allow God to accomplish the impossible through us. Maybe your CDs won't end up being prominently displayed in a Bible bookstore. Maybe your mailbox won't be filled with orders for your latest DVD teaching series for $29.99 (plus shipping and handling). But if we will allow God to fill us with the Holy Spirit, be willing to say as Jesus did, "Not my will, but Yours be done", and then be willing to step out in faith, then maybe - just maybe - we would see OUR world 'turned upside down'. It doesn't take much looking around to see that this nation is in trouble. People are hurting. People are searching. There are a few who are looking to Washington to fix the mess, not realizing that Washington helped create some of the mess. We do not need political change; we need a revival. We need God's Spirit to move among us and in us again so that all will see that Jesus is exactly who He proclaimed to be. We need the church to follow the example of the disciples and become of 'one mind and one accord' again so that the Holy Spirit will touch us again. It can begin with you and me.
Acts 29 is being written right now. What's your section going to say?
I once heard of a Pastor who was about to deliver his Sunday morning sermon. He invited the congregation to turn to Acts chapter 29 for his text. The sound of flapping pages started. It continued. People searched in vain for Acts 29. Finally someone spoke loud enough for the Pastor to hear, hoping to help him correct his mistake. "There is no Acts 29!", they said. "Yes, there is!" he insisted. People looked at him, wondering why it had been so long since their Pastor had picked up a Bible. He then pointed his finger and waived it over the congregation and said, "YOU are Acts 29. It's being written right now. What's YOUR section going to say?" He then proceeded to deliver a message about the importance of living out our faith in a way that affects the world around us.
What got me thinking of this was a conversation I recently had with someone about Simon Peter. That guy was a mess. Every time he turned around he was putting his foot in his mouth. He once rebuked Jesus because he was saying something Peter didn't like. He boldly asked Jesus to allow him to walk on water, then promptly lost faith and had to be rescued. As Jesus spoke of his upcoming crucifixion, Peter loudly proclaimed that he would never forsake Jesus. A few hours later, the accusation of a servant girl caused him to deny that he even knew Jesus. Time and time again Jesus had to either correct him or rescue him.
Then, after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, we get to the book of Acts.
In the second chapter, we see the disciples being filled with the promised Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God went from being with them to dwelling in them. They were filled with a boldness they had heretofore not experienced. This same Peter, who had been such a wreck, was now boldly proclaiming to all of Jerusalem, "You killed Jesus, but God has made this same Jesus Lord and Christ. It is His name that brings salvation!" - and 3,000 responded to the message. In the rest of the book of Acts, we see the disciples 'turning the world upside down' for Jesus.
That's where you and I come in. It's our turn now. The book of Acts has 28 chapters. WE are living and writing the 29th chapter. It's our opportunity RIGHT NOW to allow God to accomplish the impossible through us. Maybe your CDs won't end up being prominently displayed in a Bible bookstore. Maybe your mailbox won't be filled with orders for your latest DVD teaching series for $29.99 (plus shipping and handling). But if we will allow God to fill us with the Holy Spirit, be willing to say as Jesus did, "Not my will, but Yours be done", and then be willing to step out in faith, then maybe - just maybe - we would see OUR world 'turned upside down'. It doesn't take much looking around to see that this nation is in trouble. People are hurting. People are searching. There are a few who are looking to Washington to fix the mess, not realizing that Washington helped create some of the mess. We do not need political change; we need a revival. We need God's Spirit to move among us and in us again so that all will see that Jesus is exactly who He proclaimed to be. We need the church to follow the example of the disciples and become of 'one mind and one accord' again so that the Holy Spirit will touch us again. It can begin with you and me.
Acts 29 is being written right now. What's your section going to say?
Saturday, October 27, 2018
One World, One Hope, One Name
By Gobel Brockman
In Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost, the 120 who were gathered in the Upper Room were filled with the Holy Spirit. The crowds outside wanted to know what was happening, and Peter preached what was the first sermon of the New Testament church. In Acts 2:34-36 we see that he ended his message with this:
“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.' Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
The Bible goes on to say that about 3,000 people were added to the church that day. A short while later Simon Peter was summoned to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, where he preached what was the first message about Jesus to the Gentile world. He ended that message with this:
"And God commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is Jesus who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:42-43)
The Bible says that all who were there were filled with the Holy Ghost and were baptized. The church was off to a blazing start!
One of the things I find interesting in these stories is the simplicity of what took place. The apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost, they spoke the simple truth that salvation and hope are found in Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost then drew men and women to that salvation. No gimmicks, no trickery, no keyboards playing softly in the background. Just the Spirit of God doing in people's lives what ONLY the Spirit of God could do. Here's the great news:
He's still doing it today.
Each week I am both pleasantly surprised and humbled not only by the number of people who read this devotional, but also by the number of countries that are usually represented. I am also just a few days away from being part of a ministry team that will be going to two different nations to proclaim the Gospel. I am grateful to God beyond words for these opportunities. I want to be very careful, however, that in my writing and in my preaching that I present the simple truth of the gospel: salvation is found ONLY in the name of Jesus. Regardless of what nation you live in, and what specific situations your nation currently is facing, my prayer is that the Holy Ghost will enable me to clearly proclaim no other hope than the hope found in Jesus Christ - for without Jesus THERE IS NO HOPE. I do not offer you any solutions through politics, self-help, or positive thinking. I proclaim to you Jesus Christ and Him crucified, resurrected, and forever King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No matter where you're reading this, Jesus is what you need.
Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
We all live in one world, we all only have one hope, and it's only found in one name. Whoever you are, and wherever you are, I proclaim to you no other hope of salvation but in Jesus Christ. You will truly find that He is all you need!
In Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost, the 120 who were gathered in the Upper Room were filled with the Holy Spirit. The crowds outside wanted to know what was happening, and Peter preached what was the first sermon of the New Testament church. In Acts 2:34-36 we see that he ended his message with this:
“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.' Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
The Bible goes on to say that about 3,000 people were added to the church that day. A short while later Simon Peter was summoned to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, where he preached what was the first message about Jesus to the Gentile world. He ended that message with this:
"And God commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is Jesus who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:42-43)
The Bible says that all who were there were filled with the Holy Ghost and were baptized. The church was off to a blazing start!
One of the things I find interesting in these stories is the simplicity of what took place. The apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost, they spoke the simple truth that salvation and hope are found in Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost then drew men and women to that salvation. No gimmicks, no trickery, no keyboards playing softly in the background. Just the Spirit of God doing in people's lives what ONLY the Spirit of God could do. Here's the great news:
He's still doing it today.
Each week I am both pleasantly surprised and humbled not only by the number of people who read this devotional, but also by the number of countries that are usually represented. I am also just a few days away from being part of a ministry team that will be going to two different nations to proclaim the Gospel. I am grateful to God beyond words for these opportunities. I want to be very careful, however, that in my writing and in my preaching that I present the simple truth of the gospel: salvation is found ONLY in the name of Jesus. Regardless of what nation you live in, and what specific situations your nation currently is facing, my prayer is that the Holy Ghost will enable me to clearly proclaim no other hope than the hope found in Jesus Christ - for without Jesus THERE IS NO HOPE. I do not offer you any solutions through politics, self-help, or positive thinking. I proclaim to you Jesus Christ and Him crucified, resurrected, and forever King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No matter where you're reading this, Jesus is what you need.
Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
We all live in one world, we all only have one hope, and it's only found in one name. Whoever you are, and wherever you are, I proclaim to you no other hope of salvation but in Jesus Christ. You will truly find that He is all you need!
Saturday, October 20, 2018
My Dirt's Cleaner than Your Dirt
By Gobel Brockman
Several years ago I heard a minister make a point that I'd never thought of before. He said he was at home eating supper, and dropped a potato chip on the floor. Without giving it any thought, he bent down and picked up the chip, blew it off, and popped it in his mouth. He then thought of the times he had been at someone else's house and had the same thing happen. What did he do with the chip? He put it on his plate to be thrown away. He then thought to himself, "Why? Same chips, same carpeting, same type of people walking on it." He went on to make this observation: "I guess I think my dirt's cleaner than yours."
(This proves that you can find life lessons anywhere.)
If we're honest with ourselves, I think we've all been guilty of "Dirty Chip Syndrome." It's interesting that we can always at least defend our motives when we mess up, then castigate everything about the other person when they let us down. We seemingly have two standards: things that we expect from ourselves, and things that we expect from others. Amazingly, the standards we set for others always seem to be much higher than the ones we set for ourselves. I think it's good to remind myself on a regular basis of a simple yet profound truth:
We're ALL messed up.
One of the first Bible verses I remember being asked to memorize as a kid in Sunday School was Romans 3:23, which says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." That "all" includes me - and you. None of us can say we are without sin. We also like to play the comparison game: "Yeah, I've messed up, but at least I'm not as bad as ...." Once there were a group of men who tried that with Jesus. They brought a woman to him who was guilty of adultery, and demanded to know what He thought. I'm paraphrasing, but He basically said to them, "Let the one who's dirt is cleaner than hers throw the first stone." If you're familiar with the story, you know that no stones were thrown. Jesus then proceeded to deal with the sin in her life, but He dealt with it in a way that only He could.
I think what I'm trying to say is simply that deep down, we're all the same. We are flawed, and we are all born with a sin nature. We are ALL in need of a Savior. So rather than thinking too highly of ourselves and too poorly of others, perhaps we could all start realizing that we all need to be thinking about how gracious and compassionate our Savior is - and then try to model that grace and compassion in our own lives. Yes, God demands repentance and obedience. As Christians, we are called to live holy lives. In this politically correct society we're still expected to call sin "sin." What we are NOT called to do is consider the sins of others greater than our own.
To say it another way, it's not to up to determine whether or not it's safe to eat the potato chips off someone else's floor.
Several years ago I heard a minister make a point that I'd never thought of before. He said he was at home eating supper, and dropped a potato chip on the floor. Without giving it any thought, he bent down and picked up the chip, blew it off, and popped it in his mouth. He then thought of the times he had been at someone else's house and had the same thing happen. What did he do with the chip? He put it on his plate to be thrown away. He then thought to himself, "Why? Same chips, same carpeting, same type of people walking on it." He went on to make this observation: "I guess I think my dirt's cleaner than yours."
(This proves that you can find life lessons anywhere.)
If we're honest with ourselves, I think we've all been guilty of "Dirty Chip Syndrome." It's interesting that we can always at least defend our motives when we mess up, then castigate everything about the other person when they let us down. We seemingly have two standards: things that we expect from ourselves, and things that we expect from others. Amazingly, the standards we set for others always seem to be much higher than the ones we set for ourselves. I think it's good to remind myself on a regular basis of a simple yet profound truth:
We're ALL messed up.
One of the first Bible verses I remember being asked to memorize as a kid in Sunday School was Romans 3:23, which says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." That "all" includes me - and you. None of us can say we are without sin. We also like to play the comparison game: "Yeah, I've messed up, but at least I'm not as bad as ...." Once there were a group of men who tried that with Jesus. They brought a woman to him who was guilty of adultery, and demanded to know what He thought. I'm paraphrasing, but He basically said to them, "Let the one who's dirt is cleaner than hers throw the first stone." If you're familiar with the story, you know that no stones were thrown. Jesus then proceeded to deal with the sin in her life, but He dealt with it in a way that only He could.
I think what I'm trying to say is simply that deep down, we're all the same. We are flawed, and we are all born with a sin nature. We are ALL in need of a Savior. So rather than thinking too highly of ourselves and too poorly of others, perhaps we could all start realizing that we all need to be thinking about how gracious and compassionate our Savior is - and then try to model that grace and compassion in our own lives. Yes, God demands repentance and obedience. As Christians, we are called to live holy lives. In this politically correct society we're still expected to call sin "sin." What we are NOT called to do is consider the sins of others greater than our own.
To say it another way, it's not to up to determine whether or not it's safe to eat the potato chips off someone else's floor.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
You Are Not a "Justa"
By Gobel Brockman
It's interesting how often we identify ourselves by what we do. The problem with that is that if we perceive what we do to be minimal or unimportant, it can cause us to view ourselves - and life in general - in ways that we're not intended to. In these times we may get what may be referred to as "Justa" Syndrome:
"I'm "justa" retail employee."
"I'm "justa" janitor."
"I'm "justa" fast-food worker."
"I'm "justa" housewife."
"I'm "justa" pastor of a small church."
When we begin suffering from "Justa Syndrome", it can cause us to go through our days feeling as though our lives and our contributions to the world are insignificant. Many times we may be tempted to feel as though we can easily be replaced. The problem with all of this is that it flies in the face with what is probably the most well-known Scripture in the entire Bible:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
I'm sure most of you reading this can quote that Scripture from memory, but when we're very familiar with something we can sometimes forget the power and significance behind it. In the case of this verse, we can't let the message escape us: the Creator of Heaven and Earth; the eternal, powerful God, loved you and me enough to come to this world in human form and lay down His life for us. Let me say it in simpler terms:
God doesn't consider you a "justa."
So how does God view those who believe in Him and surrender their lives to Him? We are:
"A child of God." John 1:12
"Justified by faith." Romans 5:1
"A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation." I Peter 2:9
"More than conquerors." Romans 8:37
"Never left or forsaken." Hebrews 13:5
I could go on (and on) but you get the idea. In the eyes of God, you are not a "justa". You matter to Him and you are loved by Him. But we must also remind ourselves that all of the promises available to us have one thing in common: they are all free gifts from the Father that we could never earn or deserve on our own. God does not consider us a "justa" only because God has chosen to freely share His love and goodness with us. In Exodus 33:18 Moses asked God, "Show me Your glory." God's response in verse 19 is interesting: "I will cause My goodness to pass before you..." Moses asked to see God's glory, and God showed Moses His goodness. It is that goodness that gives us hope and helps us realizes that regardless of how we view our position in life, He desires to show His glory to us as well. However, we must also remember that to receive this glory and goodness, we must respond in faith and obedience to the God who extends them to us.
The point in all of this is simple: we may make our livings scrubbing floors and toilets, typing away on computers, making sandwiches, stocking shelves, working with our hands, or doing our best to serve in our roles in our churches, but if Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life, those things are simply what we do - they're not who we are. We are sons and daughters of the Most High God. We're recipients of the grace and goodness of a loving Heavenly Father. We have an inheritance from God that the Bible calls incorruptible and that can never be stolen from us.
That's "justa" lot of great news.
Saturday, October 6, 2018
A Call to Worship
By Gobel Brockman
"The worship service." In some churches it may be nothing more than acapella singing. For others it may involve a piano and an organ. In some churches it may involve a full band with lights, top-of-the-line PA equipment, and fog machines. Regardless of the format, most churches refer to the music portion of the church service as "praise and worship." As a musician, I cannot put into words how much I enjoy singing and playing music in worship to the Lord. Whether it's at church or just in my little "man cave" at home, I love grabbing a guitar or standing behind a keyboard and "making melody unto the Lord." (Ephesians 5:19) Music is a great way to express thanks to God, pour out your heart to Him, lift a prayer, or express worship to God. May that grow and increase in our lives as individuals and when we meet together as the church. May we raise our song and our voices to God in worship.
But there's another aspect of worship I want to look at. In the book of Genesis, God promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son, even though they were well beyond the years of having children. The Bible says in Genesis 15:6 that "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." After many years God fulfilled his promise and Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Then, a seemingly strange thing happened. In Genesis 22 God spoke to Abraham and told him to take Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice. The Bible says that early the next morning Abraham arose with Isaac and his servants and set out at once to the mountains of Moriah. As he arrived he said an interesting thing to his servants in Genesis 22:5:
"And Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."
There are two things that stand out to me in that verse:
1) Abraham, knowing that he was on his way to offer his son as a sacrifice, said that he was going to "worship." He wasn't going there with a guitar strapped to his shoulder, he was going with a knife and a fire - and yet he said he was going to worship. What does that mean? It means he considered obedience to God as worship. It's one thing to sing "How Great Thou Art" when God gives us things, but how willing are we to worship when He asks us to give something up to Him?
2) Did you notice Abraham's words in verse 5? "The lad and I will go yonder and worship, and WE will come back to you." (Emphasis mine) Abraham was committed to obey God's command because He believed God's promise. God told Abraham that through Isaac his seed would be known. In Hebrews 11:19 the Bible says that Abraham went to that mountain believing that if necessary, God would raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham was able to "worship" God with Isaac because he was able to "trust" that God was faithful to His word about Isaac.
I encourage us all to sing and make melody to the Lord - even if it's just a "joyful noise." I also encourage us all to walk in obedience to the Father's will, knowing that God always - ALWAYS - knows what He's doing - even when we don't.
We need to always remember that worship and obedience go hand in hand - even up the mountain of sacrifice. May we truly worship the Lord today.
"The worship service." In some churches it may be nothing more than acapella singing. For others it may involve a piano and an organ. In some churches it may involve a full band with lights, top-of-the-line PA equipment, and fog machines. Regardless of the format, most churches refer to the music portion of the church service as "praise and worship." As a musician, I cannot put into words how much I enjoy singing and playing music in worship to the Lord. Whether it's at church or just in my little "man cave" at home, I love grabbing a guitar or standing behind a keyboard and "making melody unto the Lord." (Ephesians 5:19) Music is a great way to express thanks to God, pour out your heart to Him, lift a prayer, or express worship to God. May that grow and increase in our lives as individuals and when we meet together as the church. May we raise our song and our voices to God in worship.
But there's another aspect of worship I want to look at. In the book of Genesis, God promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son, even though they were well beyond the years of having children. The Bible says in Genesis 15:6 that "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." After many years God fulfilled his promise and Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Then, a seemingly strange thing happened. In Genesis 22 God spoke to Abraham and told him to take Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice. The Bible says that early the next morning Abraham arose with Isaac and his servants and set out at once to the mountains of Moriah. As he arrived he said an interesting thing to his servants in Genesis 22:5:
"And Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."
There are two things that stand out to me in that verse:
1) Abraham, knowing that he was on his way to offer his son as a sacrifice, said that he was going to "worship." He wasn't going there with a guitar strapped to his shoulder, he was going with a knife and a fire - and yet he said he was going to worship. What does that mean? It means he considered obedience to God as worship. It's one thing to sing "How Great Thou Art" when God gives us things, but how willing are we to worship when He asks us to give something up to Him?
2) Did you notice Abraham's words in verse 5? "The lad and I will go yonder and worship, and WE will come back to you." (Emphasis mine) Abraham was committed to obey God's command because He believed God's promise. God told Abraham that through Isaac his seed would be known. In Hebrews 11:19 the Bible says that Abraham went to that mountain believing that if necessary, God would raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham was able to "worship" God with Isaac because he was able to "trust" that God was faithful to His word about Isaac.
I encourage us all to sing and make melody to the Lord - even if it's just a "joyful noise." I also encourage us all to walk in obedience to the Father's will, knowing that God always - ALWAYS - knows what He's doing - even when we don't.
We need to always remember that worship and obedience go hand in hand - even up the mountain of sacrifice. May we truly worship the Lord today.
Saturday, September 29, 2018
When There's a Hole in Your Safety Net
By Gobel Brockman
I’ve spent the last few months preparing for an upcoming ministry trip to another country. There have been many things to do in the preparation for this trip. There has been paperwork to fill out and submit, finances to arrange, and schedules to be planned. This has been a well-planned journey indeed. One thing I have taken away from this experience is a new respect for what the disciples faced in Matthew 10. Jesus was about to send them out two by two, and we read this in Matthew 10:5-10:
“These
twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles
and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go,
saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal
the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received
without paying; give without pay. Take no gold or silver or copper for
your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a
staff, for the laborer deserves his food.”
I’ve spent the last few months preparing for an upcoming ministry trip to another country. There have been many things to do in the preparation for this trip. There has been paperwork to fill out and submit, finances to arrange, and schedules to be planned. This has been a well-planned journey indeed. One thing I have taken away from this experience is a new respect for what the disciples faced in Matthew 10. Jesus was about to send them out two by two, and we read this in Matthew 10:5-10:
I simply find it interesting that Jesus
sent them out on a mission, a mission that would have them doing things they
had never done before, and then sent them out with the instructions, “Take
nothing for your journey.” He didn’t tell them, “Pack light” - He told them
“Don’t pack at all!” No backup plan, no “Emergency Fund”, no $20 hidden in the
wallet “just in case.” He simply told them, “Go.” That seems strange to people (especially here in America) who like having our “safety nets” to rely on. But here’s the
interesting thing: Later on, Jesus reminded the disciples of their experience and
we read this in Luke 22:35:
“And (Jesus)
said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or
sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”
They TOOK nothing for their journey, but
it’s interesting to note that they LACKED nothing either. There is a lesson in
that for us. One Scripture that I often mention is Hebrews 11:6 which says
this:
“But without
faith it is impossible
to please Him, for he
who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
The disciples learned a valuable lesson in
their experience that the Lord wants us to learn as well today: we must have
faith that HE is the “safety net” for His children! This Scripture in Hebrews
reminds us that it is impossible to please God without faith, and as I have
said many times before, faith doesn’t seem necessary when we think we
have everything we need. Jesus sent those disciples out with nothing, and yet
they carried out His work lacking nothing. Please understand that I am NOT at
all saying that it is wrong to plan, to save, and to be prepared for the future. If you
are a follower of Jesus Christ, however, I am asking you to be honest with
yourself as to where your faith lies. Our “safety nets” can develop holes - or vanish completely - in an
instant. If that happens, are we secure in our faith that just as those
disciples lacked nothing, neither will we? I close by reminding you that the one and only thing they took on their journey was the promise of their Savior that He
would provide as they went in faith. He makes that same promise to His children today.
That safety net will NEVER develop a hole.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Put a Little Light on the Subject
By Gobel Brockman
It's a warm, sunny day. The urge to clean the house has hit. (At least I hear it does for some.) Furniture is moved, floors are vacuumed, windows are washed. With a can of polish and a rag in hand, the task of dusting begins. Soon the tables and counters are clean and shiny, and the dusting is complete. Then you open the blinds to let the sunlight in, and what do you see floating in the air? DUST. That feeling of accomplishment vanishes as quickly as the dust appears. But here's what to keep in mind:
The light didn't CAUSE the dust - it simply EXPOSED it.
In John chapter 8:12 Jesus said this: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
I have always found it interesting that the very first word Jesus said in Matthew when He began His ministry was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 4:17) REPENT. Pointing out to people that they're going the wrong way. Exposing the fact of their sins. If you will, He pulls back the curtains, let the Light in, and lets us see what was really going on. He didn't cause the sin in our lives, He just brought it to our attention. Which is something most folks don't like.
Have you ever had someone confront you about something you were doing wrong? Have you ever been in a church service where the preacher seems to have been watching your life, because he's talking about the way you've been living? Just think of it as God turning the lights on - letting you see what's really going on. Not to make us feel horrible about ourselves and cause us to give up hope, but simply to let us see that He has a bit more "cleaning" to do. You see, this side of heaven, there's always going to be some dirt flying around because we live in a dirty world. What I mean is we're still human, and we still have a sin nature. God's Spirit is continually working in us to bring us to a place of being like Christ, but part of that process is allowing Him to "pull back the curtains" and confront what's really going on. The problem with keeping the curtains closed is that it may keep you from seeing the dust flying around, but it doesn't keep the dust from building up. If we refuse to allow God to help us deal with the things in our lives that need dealing with, our lives will just continually get more cluttered and unappealing. Allow me to say it directly: sin, if we do not repent of it and allow the power of the Holy Ghost to work in our lives, will only lead to sorrow, death, and destruction.
So, we have two choices: Keep the curtains closed, or allow the Holy Ghost to shine the light of Christ into our lives and deal with the things that need to be changed. A dusty house is one thing - a dusty soul is quite another. Open the blinds, see what's there, and allow God to begin His work. He's pretty patient and efficient to get the job done.
It's a warm, sunny day. The urge to clean the house has hit. (At least I hear it does for some.) Furniture is moved, floors are vacuumed, windows are washed. With a can of polish and a rag in hand, the task of dusting begins. Soon the tables and counters are clean and shiny, and the dusting is complete. Then you open the blinds to let the sunlight in, and what do you see floating in the air? DUST. That feeling of accomplishment vanishes as quickly as the dust appears. But here's what to keep in mind:
The light didn't CAUSE the dust - it simply EXPOSED it.
In John chapter 8:12 Jesus said this: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
I have always found it interesting that the very first word Jesus said in Matthew when He began His ministry was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 4:17) REPENT. Pointing out to people that they're going the wrong way. Exposing the fact of their sins. If you will, He pulls back the curtains, let the Light in, and lets us see what was really going on. He didn't cause the sin in our lives, He just brought it to our attention. Which is something most folks don't like.
Have you ever had someone confront you about something you were doing wrong? Have you ever been in a church service where the preacher seems to have been watching your life, because he's talking about the way you've been living? Just think of it as God turning the lights on - letting you see what's really going on. Not to make us feel horrible about ourselves and cause us to give up hope, but simply to let us see that He has a bit more "cleaning" to do. You see, this side of heaven, there's always going to be some dirt flying around because we live in a dirty world. What I mean is we're still human, and we still have a sin nature. God's Spirit is continually working in us to bring us to a place of being like Christ, but part of that process is allowing Him to "pull back the curtains" and confront what's really going on. The problem with keeping the curtains closed is that it may keep you from seeing the dust flying around, but it doesn't keep the dust from building up. If we refuse to allow God to help us deal with the things in our lives that need dealing with, our lives will just continually get more cluttered and unappealing. Allow me to say it directly: sin, if we do not repent of it and allow the power of the Holy Ghost to work in our lives, will only lead to sorrow, death, and destruction.
So, we have two choices: Keep the curtains closed, or allow the Holy Ghost to shine the light of Christ into our lives and deal with the things that need to be changed. A dusty house is one thing - a dusty soul is quite another. Open the blinds, see what's there, and allow God to begin His work. He's pretty patient and efficient to get the job done.
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Don't Go Through Life on "E"
By Gobel Brockman
Several years ago I was working night shift in Indianapolis. On one night in particular, I was flat broke; I had no money at all. Not even enough for a Snickers for lunch. I was OK with that, but the problem came when it was time for the drive home. The gas gauge was just above "E" and it was a 33 mile drive from the parking lot to my driveway. I spent those 33 miles with one eye on the road, one eye on the gas gauge, and one eye looking to Heaven praying for help. My prayer was simple: "God, if you can turn water to wine, surely you can turn air into gasoline!" As I passed each exit - Raymond St, Keystone Ave, Southport Rd. - I was thankful that I had at least made it that far. I was steadily getting closer to home, but the gas gauge was refusing to cooperate, creeping closer and closer to the danger zone. As I passed the last exit before the one I needed I thought to myself, "Well, at least now I'm close enough to walk." I sang my praise to the Lord as I finally took my exit, almost incredulous that I had made it home.
I went straight to bed. When I woke up that afternoon, a startling thought occurred to me. I checked my wallet, and I could do nothing but laugh at myself. I don't do this anymore, but I used to cash my paycheck, then take a $20 bill, fold it up, and hide it behind my driver's license in case of "emergencies" - like, say, needing gas money to get home from work. Sure enough, I looked and the $20 was there. Not only did I have gas money, I could have gotten that Snickers that I so desperately needed. The lesson that day was simple - I'm an idiot.
But that got me to thinking - how often do we as Christians go through our lives like that? We sometimes struggle just to get through the day, thinking we'll make it only by the skin of our teeth, when the whole time we have access to the abundant blessings that our Father has for us. We pray, "God, give me strength for the day!" while His Word says in Romans 8:37, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." We struggle with temptation, feeling like we will never be victorious, when Hebrews 4:15-16 tells us, "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need." There are many reasons for this, but I believe one of them is the simple fact that we fail to realize that God has already given us many of the things we think we have to beg Him for. God doesn't want us going through life praying in fear that we make it; He has given us great and precious promises that we can live a life that's filled with joy, peace, and victory - even in those times when we feel like we're "running out of gas."
Child of God, He is for you. The Bible says in Romans 8:31, "What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" You don't have to go through life on "E" hoping you make it home. Stop and "look in your wallet" - if you are a child of God, you have more than what you need to make it. Victory, peace and joy can be yours. Now enjoy the trip home.
You can even have a Snickers while you're at it.
Several years ago I was working night shift in Indianapolis. On one night in particular, I was flat broke; I had no money at all. Not even enough for a Snickers for lunch. I was OK with that, but the problem came when it was time for the drive home. The gas gauge was just above "E" and it was a 33 mile drive from the parking lot to my driveway. I spent those 33 miles with one eye on the road, one eye on the gas gauge, and one eye looking to Heaven praying for help. My prayer was simple: "God, if you can turn water to wine, surely you can turn air into gasoline!" As I passed each exit - Raymond St, Keystone Ave, Southport Rd. - I was thankful that I had at least made it that far. I was steadily getting closer to home, but the gas gauge was refusing to cooperate, creeping closer and closer to the danger zone. As I passed the last exit before the one I needed I thought to myself, "Well, at least now I'm close enough to walk." I sang my praise to the Lord as I finally took my exit, almost incredulous that I had made it home.
I went straight to bed. When I woke up that afternoon, a startling thought occurred to me. I checked my wallet, and I could do nothing but laugh at myself. I don't do this anymore, but I used to cash my paycheck, then take a $20 bill, fold it up, and hide it behind my driver's license in case of "emergencies" - like, say, needing gas money to get home from work. Sure enough, I looked and the $20 was there. Not only did I have gas money, I could have gotten that Snickers that I so desperately needed. The lesson that day was simple - I'm an idiot.
But that got me to thinking - how often do we as Christians go through our lives like that? We sometimes struggle just to get through the day, thinking we'll make it only by the skin of our teeth, when the whole time we have access to the abundant blessings that our Father has for us. We pray, "God, give me strength for the day!" while His Word says in Romans 8:37, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." We struggle with temptation, feeling like we will never be victorious, when Hebrews 4:15-16 tells us, "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need." There are many reasons for this, but I believe one of them is the simple fact that we fail to realize that God has already given us many of the things we think we have to beg Him for. God doesn't want us going through life praying in fear that we make it; He has given us great and precious promises that we can live a life that's filled with joy, peace, and victory - even in those times when we feel like we're "running out of gas."
Child of God, He is for you. The Bible says in Romans 8:31, "What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" You don't have to go through life on "E" hoping you make it home. Stop and "look in your wallet" - if you are a child of God, you have more than what you need to make it. Victory, peace and joy can be yours. Now enjoy the trip home.
You can even have a Snickers while you're at it.
Saturday, September 8, 2018
We're Losing Our Heads When Goliath Should Be Losing His
By Gobel Brockman
I post this week's devotional knowing that some may possibly misunderstand my point. I hope to clearly articulate what I'm feeling in my heart. In 2 Timothy 1:7, the Apostle Paul made this statement:
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind."
I listen to people speak about current events in our country and in the world, and I notice a lot of fear, doubt, and worry. The sad part for me is many times this fear and worry is found in the hearts (and words) of born-again Christians who have the promise from God that "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) I see people chasing down every conspiracy theory they read on Facebook, and in the process they convince themselves that there's an antichrist under every rock. I see near panic in some people as it relates to current events, and particularly when it comes to the current political climate in this country. Before I continue, I want to be clear that I DO believe that we should be paying attention to what is going on around us. I do realize that we are indeed living in perilous times. However, I also believe in some simple yet profound truths:
NOTHING happens without God's foreknowledge.
NOTHING has ever caught God off-guard.
NOTHING - absolutely NOTHING - will ever cause God to lose control of this world or His plans for it.
There's a story that most of you reading this will be familiar with. (If you're not, it's found in I Samuel 17.) The Philistine army was prepared for war against the Israelites. Their greatest warrior was a giant named Goliath. He told the army of Israel to choose a man to fight against him, and the winner of that fight would determine who would reign. The Bible says that this went on for many days, and the Israelites were terrified at the thought of facing Goliath. But David - a young, ruddy shepherd boy - came to visit his brothers who were part of the army, and he was infuriated that this giant would dare defy the God of Israel. As I said earlier, most of you are already familiar with the story. With a sling, a stone, and a solid faith that God was with him, David killed Goliath and took off his head - all while the army of Israel was "losing their heads" with fear.
There's a lot of that going on today.
As I mentioned, I know that these are difficult times. I know the Bible tells us to "not be ignorant of the devil's devices." (2 Corinthians 2:11) We are also told to "be sober, be vigilant, because our adversary the devil roams about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) My point is simply that there is a substantial difference between being aware and being fearful. I want to be aware, but I refuse to be fearful. How can I say that? Because God has given me the Holy Ghost, who is NOT a spirit of fear, but IS a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Simply put, regardless of what's going on the natural and political world, I refuse to be afraid. Despite what may be going on in your life right now, rest in the knowledge that God's got this because He's got YOU. You are in the palm of His hand and you're safe there. No Facebook conspiracy can change that. No election will ever cause God to abdicate His throne. The news wants to keep us in a constant state of worry and fear, but I refuse to give them that much influence in my life. I am born again, I am filled with the Holy Ghost, and I am "more than a conqueror through Christ" (Romans 8:37) so I refuse to play along with the constant game of "here's what to be afraid of this week" that the enemy wants to engage in. The power of God is available to those who put their faith in Him, and we should refuse to be afraid of an enemy that He has already defeated.
So don't lose your head. Live in the power and peace of God and watch Him deliver "the head of the Goliath" in your life to you instead.
I post this week's devotional knowing that some may possibly misunderstand my point. I hope to clearly articulate what I'm feeling in my heart. In 2 Timothy 1:7, the Apostle Paul made this statement:
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind."
I listen to people speak about current events in our country and in the world, and I notice a lot of fear, doubt, and worry. The sad part for me is many times this fear and worry is found in the hearts (and words) of born-again Christians who have the promise from God that "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) I see people chasing down every conspiracy theory they read on Facebook, and in the process they convince themselves that there's an antichrist under every rock. I see near panic in some people as it relates to current events, and particularly when it comes to the current political climate in this country. Before I continue, I want to be clear that I DO believe that we should be paying attention to what is going on around us. I do realize that we are indeed living in perilous times. However, I also believe in some simple yet profound truths:
NOTHING happens without God's foreknowledge.
NOTHING has ever caught God off-guard.
NOTHING - absolutely NOTHING - will ever cause God to lose control of this world or His plans for it.
There's a story that most of you reading this will be familiar with. (If you're not, it's found in I Samuel 17.) The Philistine army was prepared for war against the Israelites. Their greatest warrior was a giant named Goliath. He told the army of Israel to choose a man to fight against him, and the winner of that fight would determine who would reign. The Bible says that this went on for many days, and the Israelites were terrified at the thought of facing Goliath. But David - a young, ruddy shepherd boy - came to visit his brothers who were part of the army, and he was infuriated that this giant would dare defy the God of Israel. As I said earlier, most of you are already familiar with the story. With a sling, a stone, and a solid faith that God was with him, David killed Goliath and took off his head - all while the army of Israel was "losing their heads" with fear.
There's a lot of that going on today.
As I mentioned, I know that these are difficult times. I know the Bible tells us to "not be ignorant of the devil's devices." (2 Corinthians 2:11) We are also told to "be sober, be vigilant, because our adversary the devil roams about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) My point is simply that there is a substantial difference between being aware and being fearful. I want to be aware, but I refuse to be fearful. How can I say that? Because God has given me the Holy Ghost, who is NOT a spirit of fear, but IS a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Simply put, regardless of what's going on the natural and political world, I refuse to be afraid. Despite what may be going on in your life right now, rest in the knowledge that God's got this because He's got YOU. You are in the palm of His hand and you're safe there. No Facebook conspiracy can change that. No election will ever cause God to abdicate His throne. The news wants to keep us in a constant state of worry and fear, but I refuse to give them that much influence in my life. I am born again, I am filled with the Holy Ghost, and I am "more than a conqueror through Christ" (Romans 8:37) so I refuse to play along with the constant game of "here's what to be afraid of this week" that the enemy wants to engage in. The power of God is available to those who put their faith in Him, and we should refuse to be afraid of an enemy that He has already defeated.
So don't lose your head. Live in the power and peace of God and watch Him deliver "the head of the Goliath" in your life to you instead.
Saturday, September 1, 2018
It's Not Too Late
By Gobel Brockman
This past Friday (as I write this) I went to my bank to cash a check. One of the one dollar bills I received caught my attention. It was printed in 1988. On both sides of it, people who’ve had this dollar bill in their possession over the years have written their location on it:
Portland, Maine – 1992
Edgewater, Maryland – 1992
Mount Vernon, Ohio - 1993
Lexington Kentucky, Winchester Kentucky – 1993
There are more locations written on it, and I’m sure it’s been in many other places as well.
My mind began to imagine all of the things this dollar bill has been used for over the years. I pictured a mother in Maine giving this dollar bill to her child so they could buy a candy bar. A college student in Maryland using it to help pay for a Venti Cappuccino to get them through an “all nighter” preparing for a test. A basketball fan in Lexington using it to help buy a Coke at Rupp Arena. What a journey this dollar bill has been on. I can’t imagine all of the things it has been used for. What I do know is that it is showing signs of its age. It is worn and tattered. It wouldn’t take much to tear it, and it has obviously been folded up more times than I could imagine. The Federal Reserve definitely got its dollar’s worth out of this piece of paper.
That got me to thinking about my Christian life. I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ in 1981, and it has been an incredible journey! I know many of you reading this can say the same thing in your Christian life as well. We have seen a lot, and we have done a lot. The journey has taken us places we couldn’t have imagined. God has used us in ways we never dreamed possible. But just like that dollar bill, perhaps we’re beginning to feel our age. There are some days I look in the mirror and feel that I could pack my entire wardrobe in the bags under my eyes. In the past, I could rarely take a nap. Now I can take them without even planning on it (which is especially unhandy while driving!) But here’s my point: this dollar bill, for all of its signs of age, is worth just as much as the newest one dollar bill that just rolled off the printing press. It has lost some luster, but it hasn’t lost any value.
NEITHER HAVE WE.
I have said all of this to simply speak a word of encouragement to those who may need it today: it’s not too late for you. You are not too old. You still have value, and God can still use you mightily in His kingdom. If I feel tattered and torn, it is just a sign that I have lived a well-lived life. And even if I do feel tattered and torn, it doesn’t mean that I have lost my value - and neither have you. We are still in circulation, and there is still “Kingdom of God business” that we get to be a part of. There is still much work to be done, and we still get to be part of it. Jesus said this in John 4:35:
"Do you not say, 'There are four months, and then comes the harvest?' Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest."
As long as I have breath in my body, I want my life to bring honor to Jesus Christ. I want to be used for His glory in any way He deems best. Like that dollar bill, I may be showing my age, but I still want to be "spent" as God desires for as long as possible. I know many of you reading this feel the same way. So stay in circulation, stay in the hand of Jesus, and be ready for the next time He wants to "spend" you for His glory. He always makes wise investments.
This past Friday (as I write this) I went to my bank to cash a check. One of the one dollar bills I received caught my attention. It was printed in 1988. On both sides of it, people who’ve had this dollar bill in their possession over the years have written their location on it:
Portland, Maine – 1992
Edgewater, Maryland – 1992
Mount Vernon, Ohio - 1993
Lexington Kentucky, Winchester Kentucky – 1993
There are more locations written on it, and I’m sure it’s been in many other places as well.
My mind began to imagine all of the things this dollar bill has been used for over the years. I pictured a mother in Maine giving this dollar bill to her child so they could buy a candy bar. A college student in Maryland using it to help pay for a Venti Cappuccino to get them through an “all nighter” preparing for a test. A basketball fan in Lexington using it to help buy a Coke at Rupp Arena. What a journey this dollar bill has been on. I can’t imagine all of the things it has been used for. What I do know is that it is showing signs of its age. It is worn and tattered. It wouldn’t take much to tear it, and it has obviously been folded up more times than I could imagine. The Federal Reserve definitely got its dollar’s worth out of this piece of paper.
That got me to thinking about my Christian life. I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ in 1981, and it has been an incredible journey! I know many of you reading this can say the same thing in your Christian life as well. We have seen a lot, and we have done a lot. The journey has taken us places we couldn’t have imagined. God has used us in ways we never dreamed possible. But just like that dollar bill, perhaps we’re beginning to feel our age. There are some days I look in the mirror and feel that I could pack my entire wardrobe in the bags under my eyes. In the past, I could rarely take a nap. Now I can take them without even planning on it (which is especially unhandy while driving!) But here’s my point: this dollar bill, for all of its signs of age, is worth just as much as the newest one dollar bill that just rolled off the printing press. It has lost some luster, but it hasn’t lost any value.
NEITHER HAVE WE.
I have said all of this to simply speak a word of encouragement to those who may need it today: it’s not too late for you. You are not too old. You still have value, and God can still use you mightily in His kingdom. If I feel tattered and torn, it is just a sign that I have lived a well-lived life. And even if I do feel tattered and torn, it doesn’t mean that I have lost my value - and neither have you. We are still in circulation, and there is still “Kingdom of God business” that we get to be a part of. There is still much work to be done, and we still get to be part of it. Jesus said this in John 4:35:
"Do you not say, 'There are four months, and then comes the harvest?' Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest."
As long as I have breath in my body, I want my life to bring honor to Jesus Christ. I want to be used for His glory in any way He deems best. Like that dollar bill, I may be showing my age, but I still want to be "spent" as God desires for as long as possible. I know many of you reading this feel the same way. So stay in circulation, stay in the hand of Jesus, and be ready for the next time He wants to "spend" you for His glory. He always makes wise investments.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Don't Believe Every Bumper Sticker
By Gobel Brockman
Several years ago I heard a minister tell the following story:
"I once pulled up to a stop light that was red. The car in front of me had a bumper sticker that read, "HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS" so I gave a couple of quick, friendly taps on my horn. Suddenly the front door of the car opened, and a rather large man with an even larger temper got out and began walking toward me. He started yelling, "Why are you honking at me? Do you expect me to run a red light for you or something?" (There were other words intertwined with these.) Too startled for a moment to speak, I pointed to the back of his car and finally blurted out, "I was just responding to your bumper sticker!" The man looked at the sticker, and then with an disgusted wave of his hand said, "Oh, I just bought this car last week. That was on there when I bought it!"
I don't remember what point the minister made from that story. However, a lot of thoughts come to mind. (Don't put bumper stickers on your car is towards the top of that list.) But in this story, the man simply saw a "profession of faith" on the back of a car, responded to it, and soon found out that it was a lie. The man's bumper sticker proclaimed a message that the man wasn't living up to. That leads me to ask us all this question:
What kind of "bumper stickers" are on our lives?
What I'm asking is this: is what you profess on the outside telling the world a story about your life that the inside knows isn't true? To be honest, I think we all do it sometimes. Some people say "I'm OK" while they feel like they're dying inside. Sometimes we say "I don't need help" when we don't have a clue what we're doing. (Me with power tools in my hands would be a prime example!) Even worse, some say "I'm all right with the 'Big Guy Upstairs" when the truth is quite different. We put on our disguises - and fail to realize that the only person we're fooling is ourselves. That bumper sticker couldn't hide what kind of man was inside that car. Likewise, our best attempts to hide who we really are on the inside are usually short-lived at best. I've always said that if you're around someone very long, you'll eventually find out what's important to them and what's on their mind and heart. Yes, there are some who are quite successful in putting up a good front - for a while. To those people I will simply say that God has never been fooled. Not once. If you're hurting, He knows it. He also knows if you're angry, confused, jealous, or whatever else it is you're trying to hide. The sin that you try to hide is in plain sight to Him. He also knows where you stand with Him. He knows it all.
There's a story in Genesis of a man named Jacob. Jacob was the younger of twin boys, and he grabbed his brother's heel as he came out of the womb. The name Jacob means "Heel-grabber" and that described his entire life - one scheme and trick after another. Many years later he fought with an angel all night long. As the sunrise approached, the angel asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "Jacob." The angel was seeking more than the man's name, as I'm sure he already knew it. He was wanting Jacob to confess what kind of man he really was. When Jacob stated his name, he was confessing, "I'm a schemer. A deceiver. A trickster. I've been that way my entire life." At that moment, when Jacob finally confessed to himself - and to God - what he really was, the angel told him, "Your name is no longer Jacob, but Israel." When Jacob came clean with God, God changed his destiny.
The amazing part of that story is that God can do the same for you and me. Our lives can begin to reflect God's glory right here, right now. Simply take off the "bumper stickers" if you will, and be real about who you really are. God changed Jacob, and He can change us as well.
Several years ago I heard a minister tell the following story:
"I once pulled up to a stop light that was red. The car in front of me had a bumper sticker that read, "HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS" so I gave a couple of quick, friendly taps on my horn. Suddenly the front door of the car opened, and a rather large man with an even larger temper got out and began walking toward me. He started yelling, "Why are you honking at me? Do you expect me to run a red light for you or something?" (There were other words intertwined with these.) Too startled for a moment to speak, I pointed to the back of his car and finally blurted out, "I was just responding to your bumper sticker!" The man looked at the sticker, and then with an disgusted wave of his hand said, "Oh, I just bought this car last week. That was on there when I bought it!"
I don't remember what point the minister made from that story. However, a lot of thoughts come to mind. (Don't put bumper stickers on your car is towards the top of that list.) But in this story, the man simply saw a "profession of faith" on the back of a car, responded to it, and soon found out that it was a lie. The man's bumper sticker proclaimed a message that the man wasn't living up to. That leads me to ask us all this question:
What kind of "bumper stickers" are on our lives?
What I'm asking is this: is what you profess on the outside telling the world a story about your life that the inside knows isn't true? To be honest, I think we all do it sometimes. Some people say "I'm OK" while they feel like they're dying inside. Sometimes we say "I don't need help" when we don't have a clue what we're doing. (Me with power tools in my hands would be a prime example!) Even worse, some say "I'm all right with the 'Big Guy Upstairs" when the truth is quite different. We put on our disguises - and fail to realize that the only person we're fooling is ourselves. That bumper sticker couldn't hide what kind of man was inside that car. Likewise, our best attempts to hide who we really are on the inside are usually short-lived at best. I've always said that if you're around someone very long, you'll eventually find out what's important to them and what's on their mind and heart. Yes, there are some who are quite successful in putting up a good front - for a while. To those people I will simply say that God has never been fooled. Not once. If you're hurting, He knows it. He also knows if you're angry, confused, jealous, or whatever else it is you're trying to hide. The sin that you try to hide is in plain sight to Him. He also knows where you stand with Him. He knows it all.
There's a story in Genesis of a man named Jacob. Jacob was the younger of twin boys, and he grabbed his brother's heel as he came out of the womb. The name Jacob means "Heel-grabber" and that described his entire life - one scheme and trick after another. Many years later he fought with an angel all night long. As the sunrise approached, the angel asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "Jacob." The angel was seeking more than the man's name, as I'm sure he already knew it. He was wanting Jacob to confess what kind of man he really was. When Jacob stated his name, he was confessing, "I'm a schemer. A deceiver. A trickster. I've been that way my entire life." At that moment, when Jacob finally confessed to himself - and to God - what he really was, the angel told him, "Your name is no longer Jacob, but Israel." When Jacob came clean with God, God changed his destiny.
The amazing part of that story is that God can do the same for you and me. Our lives can begin to reflect God's glory right here, right now. Simply take off the "bumper stickers" if you will, and be real about who you really are. God changed Jacob, and He can change us as well.
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