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Dealing With Difficult Enemies

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Proverbs 16:7 – “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

I try to always remember when reading this that my world may not always be one where some people would not be against me but that God can help my enemies to slow down or cease in the raging and warring over every single thing.

Strive to live your life for Christ first and know that God will move for you in ways that you could not move for yourself.

It reminds me of another verse as well,

Proverbs 25:21 – “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:”

It is not God’s will that we would perish trying to solve seemingly unsolvable things on our own against our foes. It is God’s will that we live our lives in peace with them by not making things worse and loving/respecting them as we would want to be.

You may not get your kindness back in return, but know that your efforts are acknowledged by the one who can calm the storms as Jesus did upon the waters!

The Difference

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Matthew 12:10-13

10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

I write this as a constant reminder of the fine life, the difference, between those who are reaching for those in the pit versus those lying in the pit: our choice to do the right thing. Jesus made the choice in that moment to do what was right in spite of tradition and those who would resist the miracle in the midst of them.

I am so glad for those who take the time to do the right thing! When I was first establishing my life in Christ there were a couple men that were kind enough to take the time to hang out with me, invite me to go play music at places and to take me to church when they did not have to. Though I may not have saw what was happening then I realize now they were keeping me out of the same pit that I had been in.

Sometimes doing the right thing will not be easy, fun or popular but is absolutely necessary for the blessings of the Lord to help others! The real question is, are we willing to do what is right in the midst of adversity for someone else’s benefit? If we are to have the mind of Christ, the distinction of showing that we are truly walking the walk and not just talking the talk, then we’ll do what’s right in spite of the things we face!

Finally, to Danny and Daniel, I thank you. I will never forget the impact you had on my life as friends and spiritual brothers in its most vulnerable time.

We Cannot Be Conquered

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Revelation 2:8-11 

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

  1. I know thy works and tribulation
  • Jesus knows of our every act of obedience and sacrifice
    • by the one who was dead and alive we have our advocate through the beginnings and ends of every situation
    • as we strive in obedience we win the hearts of those who do not know Christ
    • by seeking the kingdom of Heaven and its ministry we receive from that
  • Jesus knows all out troubles
    • most go through things they didn’t think they should
    • most go through things they didn’t think they could

– John 16: 33 told us we would have it

  • physical (the early persecutions)
  • emotional (suffering of bad relationships and death of loved ones)
  • mental (attacks of the imagination)
  • spiritual (temptations and ensnarement by satan)

2. I know thy poverty

  • This was a poor church: no temples, plush carpets or tall steeples
    • yet, in the eyes of God they were rich
  • There are many ways we can be rich in Christ
    • Rich in our position with Christ (2 Cor. 8:9)
    • Rich in works for Christ (1 Tim. 6:18)
    • Rich when sharing the reproach of Christ (Heb. 11:26)
    • Rich in faith (James 2:5)

3. In knowledge of the good and bad Christ offers instruction for our future until His return

– there have been many that have suffered much

– Polycarp burned at the stake

– Ignatius cast to the lions

– Some tortured to death by dogs

– some crucified, waxed, stoned or burned

Ultimately we must learn that if Christ was resurrected then we should not fear vexation, persecution nor death. As we remain faithful to God’s promises we will learn no matter the persecution we shall endure.

How To Deal With And Overcome Church Cliques

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I am so thankful for the learning experiences that God gives us for certain phases of our lives. I truly believe with all my heart that it is out of what we learn when we do not possess answer upfront that causes us to have true growth as Christians. One of the more recent learning experiences I have had has been the concept of “church cliques” and the harm that it brings into the body of Christ.

First off, let us define it. A clique (pronounced like click) is considered a small group of people with shared interests or other features in common who spend time together and do not readily allow others to join them. You may have heard this term also be used as the inner circle, the in-crowd, the cool kids, the popular table, etc. I grew up all through elementary and middle school being considered “different” and was not leading to the conducive outcome of me fitting in. I’m not exactly sure what made me be so different from others…was it how I looked? Was it how I talked? Was it because of my name or my family? Was I too studious? Did I live on the wrong side of town? I now realize looking back that being different was far better than being another one of the in-crowd because at least I was defined for who I was (instead of what people stereotyped me to be based on the group). However, when I dealt with it as a young man it felt like the worst feeling in the world. This feeling was like a hovering cloud over my head that seemingly never left for what seemed like forever.

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Looking back around my middle school to high school years I now realize that one of the contributing factors to what led me so easily into drug and alcohol abuse so early was needing a greater acceptance from facing an even greater rejection. Unfortunately where I found acceptance came at a great cost; and before I knew it what was once my enemy had become my greatest ally. I went from running from the cliques to becoming one in hanging around others that brought out the worst in me. As I look back now I realize that I was not only a hypocrite to others but was one to myself as well. The more and more I look back into the things that made me suffer as a young man help me to better address what pushed me into bad choices when I was not in strong control of my actions. Now that I have been saved by Jesus Christ the things that would have once destroyed me no longer have power.

I am so thankful I am free from the influence of sin by substance abuse! Unfortunately there is one thing that has continued to try and haunt me beyond my youth and immaturity: the battle of the cliques. I still see it all around me in families, homes, organizations, workplaces, ministries, and even churches. The sizes and personalities of the groups vary that drive them but they are nonetheless there and stronger than they have ever been. It’s everywhere. In short, church cliques are bad and will destroy your environments if they are not addressed. As I feel led to write this I hope that wherever this applies that you receive it with an open mind.

Here are 10 lessons learned about dealing with and overcoming church cliques:

1) Cliques are quick and easy to form and will help you feel good in the short term. However the long term effects will stunt your growth as an individual and leave you and your church limited to those whom you consider “in”.

2) Cliques are destructive for the growth of members your church. Loving people when they do what you want and then pushing them away when they disagree sends mixed signals to others whom should only receive love.

3) If you look for the support of certain individuals only then you have likely formed a clique without even realizing it.

4) If people deliberately exclude people intentionally then it is a clique. If you believe people do not have a right to contribute because of something that led you to cut them out then a division has formed and a clique is upon you.

5) Cliques drive away people more frequently than any other kind of problem. More issues come about in the imagination of others whom are feeling the pressure from cliques more than actual pressure from any one individual.

6) God did not form cliques. God formed churches with no respect of person and equality for the body. God essentially modeled the church as an anti-clique!

7) If jealousy and emotions drive the motives of an individual to work against others and not for them then whom you are recruiting to accomplish your will is a clique.

8) The best way to eliminate a clique forming in church business is to have transparency in all tasks and invite everyone to participate.

9) A good method of promoting fellowship in your church is to allow a time for people to interact with one another.

10) The ultimate clique-killer is loving everyone as you love yourself and making sure everyone around you feels just as accepted as the people you like the most.

I leave you with three powerful scriptures you can use as teaching points:

Romans 12:16

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

1 Corinthians 1:10

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

James 2:1

2 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

Pray, Worship and Surrender

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2 Chronicles 20:5-9,12-15

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,

6 And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

13 And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation;

15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

1) Jehoshaphat praises, confesses and declares that God is omnipotent over all and no one can stand against his power or in the way of his will.

2) He praises God for his faithfulness (his track record) to his people in the past and in the present.

3) He confessed that there was nothing they could do in and of themselves to change the situation. And by this they were totally surrendered to God for his help, mercy and deliverance.

The next thing that happened is when God spoke back.

  • If you go to God in prayer with a sincere heart he WILL respond
  • God has a word for you and your situation
  • Many times the Holy Spirit shows up after God’s people come before him to worship and confess their dependency on him.

Always remember when we confess our faults and ask for forgiveness then we get to a place where we can worship. When we can worship we produce humbleness in our heart and open up our spirit man/woman. And when we are humble in our heart we can then surrender to God and listen for his response in our lives!

Video: “The Power of Persistence”

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As we serve God we often times cannot see where He is due to being so crowded with life. But if we can learn to be persistent and desperate enough to be moved by our faith we too can see miracles come into our lives!

Sermon Notes: https://www.heartofgraceministries.com/blog/after-the-fact/power-persistence/

The Power of Persistence

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Luke 8:36-37, 43-48

36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Matthew 9:19-22

19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

36-37 – It was crowded and difficult to maneuver around to see Jesus. Unless you were going to be strong enough to get to Jesus you were pushed out of the way

43-44 – We find a point of desperation; how desperate was this woman after she had suffered for 12 years with something she could not explain? How desperate was to find a solution after she has spent everything she had? This desperation was finally enough to use faith to push through when she could not see Jesus…to get where He was.

45-48 – Now the woman knew she had touched Jesus. Jesus wanted the woman to know that He knew she had touched him. As she testifies the witness of her miracle stirred all whom heard her speak.

As we serve God we often times cannot see where He is due to being so crowded with life. But if we can learn to be persistent and desperate enough to be moved by our faith we too can see miracles come into our lives

Compassion: The Catalyst for Change

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Luke 10:25-37

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

We all are longing for change, for better, for the good in the world to come. But what will bring that change? Some say God and some say Jesus. Some say being born again and others say being filled more with the Holy Spirit. Some say praying more, studying more, attending church daily. Some would say to have more passion in worship and others would say the bible. Others say more teaching, more preaching, more singing, bigger churches, bigger budgets, more programs and more structure.

In this continual search and discovery for the meaning of our purpose there are a few in life that stumble into the revelation that God meant for us to hear. Some have their eyes opened to see what God wanted us to envision (even without our natural sight).

I have been searching in my own life to find where it all changed for me. I am only but beginning to open my eyes to understand what God wanted me to see and understand about my Heavenly purpose on earth. The turning point in my life was between my destruction and my brand new life; the point between having no hope and living by faith. This point was between me being a hopeless, busted up lifeless drug addict with no solution and now knowing that I can do all things through Christ.

The change that brought my life to new meaning was inspired by a love that was shown to me that I did not ask for, was not looking for nor knew could deliver me from the life I was in. The turning point of this parable is when we find what begins to make things better. This certain man had no neighbors before yet he found one when he could not look for himself.

Compassion is the catalyst for the good that can be done in someones life. Although we in our judgments, opinions and ideals can fall short of this Jesus reminds us by our very salvation that without compassion we could not be new creatures.

Without compassion the world would be lost. Without making the conscious decision to show compassion and make a difference the world will suffer.

Compassion defies logic, normal thinking and looks only at the need in front of it. I would not be standing here today unless someone had shown compassion on me.

While we all cannot be the catalyst in every situation around us we can easily identify the good that we could do by the blessings God has given us to use. It is easy for me to see that by being blessed to play music and sing that I should encourage others by giving of my own time and effort. I am standing here to day to give you encouragement to continue in the good that you can give for others. The sad truth of it all is that people are being overlooked, walked away from, ignored, bullied and made to feel worthless.

Jesus Christ came into our lives so that we would never feel that way again. And as we live our lives we must learn to be the catalyst for change. We are the compassion that this broken world needs. We are the arms to hold the hurting. We are the thoughts to inspire new hope and greatness in others. We are the love to lead people from suicide and despair. We are the patience to help people like the person I used to be continue to strive for the best with purpose. So as we conclude in this moment, be reminded that you are wonderfully created with the compassion that Christ showed to you so that you can be the catalyst for change in others!

We Are Barabbas, But Now We’re Free

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Mark 15:6-15

6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.

14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

The convicted and condemned murderer, also notorious for sedition and robbery, sits dejectedly in his filthy cell, watched closely by Roman guards. He cannot help but ponder how excruciatingly painful his encounter with crucifixion will be. He has seen many of these hellish nightmares of Roman justice as he walked the roads of Judea and Galilee, conspiring with other rebels willing to resist—and even kill—the hated Roman occupiers. But this time, the Romans had caught their man and justly sentenced him to be executed on the stake.

The Romans were infamous for how they cruelly lined their roadways with crucifixes—their manner of warning would-be enemies of the State to mend their ways. This slow death was designed to torture the condemned for up to three agonizing days! Criminals punished in this way usually died of asphyxiation, no longer able to lift their chests one more time for another searing breath. The pain of crucifixion was so intense that it gave its name to extreme agony: excruciating, which derives from Latin words meaning “the pain one experiences while being crucified.”

This convicted murderer dreads the next few days. Sleep is impossible. He fidgets as his mind races, imagining the worst.

So what about Barabbas? Where does he come into this story? It is a moving reminder at Passover time each year that God leaves nothing to chance. Even the man who receives unmerited pardon is in the story for a reason: to remind us what we were and who we are now.

Many look at the name “Barabbas” and think it is just a name. Perhaps they realize that it is an Aramaic word. But what does it mean?Bar means “son of” and abba means “father,” with the connotation of closeness and intimacy similar to our “dad,” “daddy,” or “papa.” Therefore, Barabbas is “the son of the father” or “the son of his dear father.” That Passover day in AD 31, there was a guilty “son of the father”—Barabbas—and a totally innocent “Son of the Father”—Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

We are Barabbas. We have truly become “the sons of the Father” because of what Jesus did in our behalf. We have been released from the penalty of eternal death because our Savior and affianced Husband, Jesus the Christ, died in our stead.

All of this came about when the true Son of the Father took the place of Barabbas, who represents us all. As the despised Roman guards marched up to him, he was expecting the worse was about to begin. But instead, they broke off his heavy chains, dropping them to the stone floor with a clang that echoed through the corridors of the prison. Slowly, reality began to sink in: They were letting him go! Before long, Barabbas learned that the innocent Jesus of Nazareth, whom some considered a prophet, had given him a new lease on life—a fresh start, a new life. He was free! No crucifixion awaited this murderous, thieving rebel after all! He undoubtedly could not believe his “luck.”

Because of the gracious act of Jesus, the true Son of His dear Father, the iron shackles have been broken from us, and we walk about as truly free men and women. His sacrifice and resurrection make it possible for God to give us of His Spirit, to bring us into His household, the Family of God. We are regenerated to a new life, and made part of the very Family in which Jesus is the Firstborn. The Father invites us to be His Son’s Bride, whom Jesus is preparing for the Great Marriage Supper, giving of Himself totally for us, so that we can be totally free of sin as He is.