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The Honor Code Part 3: The Answer For True Honor Comes From The Lord

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Jared Meredith

So here we are at the conclusion of this series with part three. First off, I will open up with the word here:

Proverbs 16:1-7

[1] The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
[2] All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
[3] Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
[4] The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
[5] Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
[6] By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
[7] When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

When it comes to addressing honor a big question to ask ourselves is what can we commit to God to produce it? As we would make a formal choice for purchasing items or to have a relationship with someone, it is clearly easy to see that every individual will commit to something they find of value, right? When we begin to realize the worth of the power that God we will not only want it but to commit to it!

In reading the above scriptures, I must first come to the long version of the final conclusion: yielding yourself completely to God will produce love, which in turn brings a desire to WANT to honor God by changing your life to do His will. Honoring God by devotion and obedience causes you to not only be aware of the will of God which in turn will come to the main points of honor: praise, selfless acts, and charity.

In closing, I give you the short and sweet version. If you love God, you will honor people which in turn honors God.

Take the time for those around you and honor them while you are still able and capable of doing it. Do it in great big things and in the small things no one will be able to give you credit for. Honor people just because, and most of all honor God! Doing it will not only bring glory to the kingdom but will promote the highest standard of God-like characteristics that you can have here on earth!

Here Am I, Send Me

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Jared Meredith

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Isaiah 6:1-9

[1] In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
[2] Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
[3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
[4] And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
[5] Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
[6] Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
[7] And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
[8] Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
[9] And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

Isaiah begins here with a vision of the Lord. He sees God amidst the praises of Heaven.

2 key terms here are important to remember for the rest:

1) Holy – separate and unapproachable

2) Glory – God’s authority, greatness and abundant presence

Verses 1-4

As we all should do and as Isaiah did there needs to be a time that we take when God is dealing with our hearts to recognize His abundant greatness and glory. When you begin to do this it produces a very important feeling.

Verse 5

Upon realizing the magnitude and meaning of the revelation, Isaiah is immediately moved in his heart as he now feels undone. He acknowledges this feeling by realizing his sinful nature and condition. Through the abundant holiness of how God is in no part of sin the light of the Lord God begins to perform its work.

Verses 6-7

After recognizing God’s power and proceeding to humble himself, God then opens up the cleansing and forgiving power as given by his confession of sin. The confession of our sins will always open up the path to God’s grace and mercy. We often miss this simple bit about repenting at times but I encourage you and remind you of how that are cleansed and forgiven only by the blood of Jesus!

Verse 8, 1^st part

Only after recognizing, humbling, confessing and stepping into holiness (or separation from sin) does God begin to share his need for a messenger to Isaiah. What an amazing revelation! God will only trust those willing in their heart to surrender their life and confess their sins. A person willing to do this is not only humble but is ready to be cleansed and move on from the old nature of our past mistakes.

Verse 8, 2^nd part

Having now received the call by going through this life changing transformation from his vision, Isaiah is now ready (in all aspects of himself) and openly says, “here am I, send me”

This is very important to take away from this: only after the cleansing did he receive the calling.

The Hidden Secret To Effective Ministry

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Jared Meredith

Consider some of these positions in ministry: the CEO of an operating an outreach mission, the first person moving bringing your service to worship, the associate or assistant pastor, youth pastor/worship leader, administrative assistant, teacher, deacon, custodian, choir director, treasurer, clerk, greeter, “food cookers”, events planner, parking lot attendant, lingual interpreter, tithing collector, altar usher, video/effects/sound engineers/editors, the what I’ll call “muscle” behind venues being changed or set up, pastor/bishop, security watchpersons; needless to say that this lists the beginning of endless commitments and responsibilities that we as children of God put our best efforts.

I have a revelation for some of us and a reminder for others. The hidden secret to effective ministry is having a love of God in your heart.

Paul began to reveal this hidden gem in the beginning of 1 Corinthians 13:

[1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
[2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
[3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
[4] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
[5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
[6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
[7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
[8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
[9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
[10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
[11] When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
[12] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
[13] And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

At times I have read this in the past and had only received it from an “on the surface” understanding. At first I thought, “well if I love people than I can help people”. I learned soon enough that through a season of strenuous weeks upon weeks with it beginning to feel more like the daily grind (or work in other words) that I began to clearly see that I was not only growing stale spiritually but slowly began to weaken. And as I’m sure that you have felt this before I began to ask God, “God how can I be weaker when I work so hard in your church and in ministry basically full-time?!?” You see, I had not begun to establish the connection of what the scripture was truly addressing, and this is what I address to all of us today.

Then after some prayer and studying I came to this conclusion: you can go work in ministry to your hearts content and make a difference but you will not continue or last in being able to do so without a love of God to keep you spiritually. You could be the most talented person in your church right now and succeed in your gift but fail in the part that matters most! If you cannot be continual and a vessel that can be used in or out of season (or anytime) than the outreach and work becomes a hot or cold ministry: effective at times while hindering in others.

So take it from Paul as he was one that truly understood the meaning of being a worldwide missionary for Christ: without love the effectiveness of your ministry and church will not continue!

Sow this seed in your spirit and take that next step!

Spiritual Encounters Matter

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Jared Meredith

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Psalm 16:11

[11] Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

This verse is the theme for the entire message and the basis for the word that God had sent unto me, which is simply: more joy comes as you follow the path of life through obedience in God!

Isaiah 6:1-9

Isaiah beheld God, heeded to His voice when the spirit came down and he responded to it. Had love not took action in his heart, Isaiah would have missed his destiny, his calling.

This encounter resulted in a cleansing, commissioning, and a sending forth of a worker of God to do great things!

Matthew 28:16-20

[16] Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
[17] And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
[18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This encounter resulted in the turning point in History for the groundbreaking work of the sending forth of the Gospel, or the great Commission as we know it. Imagine if in their heart that all would have doubted. And I’m sure that at some points in our lives we all doubt that call. But has Jesus calls us up into the mountains and high places we just need to put love into action! We need to demonstrate love in action!

Acts 1:4-11

[4] And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
[5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
[6] When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
[7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
[8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
[9] And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
[10] And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
[11] Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Acts 2:1-4

[1] And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
[2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
[3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The result of this encounter was 3000 people were filled with the Holy Ghost at the obedience of 120! And yet, we think with our regular attendance sometimes that we are far away from a wonderful move of God! To me, I personally think we are just a whisper away.

Acts 13:1-3

[1] Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
[2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
[3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Paul’s (then Saul) first missionary Journey was commissioned when they were putting love into action as they were obedient unto God. So often we are waiting for great things and we are just one more act of obedience away from it!

Acts 16:25-34

[25] And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
[26] And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
[27] And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
[28] But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
[29] Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
[30] And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
[31] And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
[32] And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
[33] And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
[34] And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

The result of this encounter saved the Philippian jailer and his whole household and received Jesus! Other prisoners also got the opportunity to receive God’s power! So what am I saying? God loves us where we are, but He is calling us to move on! You can praise your way out of any prison if you know how to worship! Worship is a verb! It is love in action!

A Time Of Love

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Regina Meredith

There was a time in my life when I was all alone. I was in darkness. I was cast out for dead. No one cared for my soul. I was cold, shivering, dying in my own iniquities. Have you ever had a natural experience like this? Perhaps you got wet in a thunderstorm or in the snow and your clothes become damp and clingy. You are so cold that you are shivering. You only want one thing and that is to be warm and snug. You are like a baby wanting someone to comfort it. Then all of a sudden someone spreads a warm, soft blanket over you. All of a sudden you are warm and dry. You feel comforted and at peace. This is what Christ does for you when he saves your soul. He spreads his skirt of love over you and covers your nakedness. All that misery and wretchedness is gone. It is like going from being naked, cold, wet, and shivering to being covered by the softest, warmest fur blanket that you could wish for. It happens in an instant. The change that salvation brings doesn’t take days or years, it happens the very moment that you accept Jesus as your Savior. “Whoosh”, just like spreading a blanket. Thank you, Jesus, for covering my nakedness, my sin, my iniquity.

Ezekiel 16:4-8

[4] And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.
[5] None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.
[6] And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.
[7] I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare.