The Power of Words

“The power of words is only as strong as the actions behind them.” “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matt. 5:33–37). If I hear another person say, “I swear to God,” I honestly think I may scream! As soon as someone says that they swear to God, I honestly lose all faith in what they have to say. Why, you ask? The reality is a liar always works harder to lie than a man of truth works to be truthful. You see, when I speak truth, I don’t need to think about it. It is truth simply because it is. There is rarely a need to recall what I have said in the past (except for memory loss) in order to insure the story I have told today matches the story I told the last time, or was it? Wait! I need to work this out, just what did I say? Uh-oh, I’m confused, can’t let on. I might be found out. I know, I’ll raise my voice, I’ll sound more passionate, and I’ll even swear to God. That will convince you I am being honest! Sound familiar? I daresay we all know people who do everything they can to make the truth fit their particular situation, need, or desire. However, who do you know, no matter what they say, you just know they are being as honest and truthful as they can possibly be? These are the ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ people; these are the people we desire to emulate. I can remember back some twenty-five-plus years ago, I had a very successful service company that specialized in mobile homes. Our business became so successful I was constantly overbooked and always juggling to make everyone happy. I fell into a very bad habit. I began to use words like “try,” “maybe,” and phrases like “I will do my best.” In the beginning, the result was simply longer working hours, rarely under twelve, and more like sixteen hours a day. When the hours ran out, the frustration of my clients began to boil over and weighed very heavy on my mind. I could not understand (in my young foolishness) why people were mad at me; after all, I did say, “I would do my best,” or “I would try to get to them,” or “I may be able to make it,” not that “I would.” My frustration was mounting as fast as theirs, and things were quickly overwhelming me to the point of wanting to give up trying. That was when a dear friend pointed out to me the cause of my frustration—my words. You see, I wanted to make everyone happy, and in the process I was making everyone mad. Why? Because my ‘Yes’ was not ‘Yes,’ nor my ‘No, ‘No.’ I realized no was not a dirty word, and yes was a binding one. When I began to walk in the truth of the power of our words, in particular my own, that was when life began to become much less stressful, and my reputation began to change. May I encourage you today to think long and hard about the promises you make and the words you speak, and let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and may you not be afraid to say ‘No.’ Everyone will respect you more. † Father, I pray for the wisdom to speak in honest truth at all times, and may I never have need to convince anyone of the condition of my heart. May it always reflect You. Amen.

"Better to Limp Into Heaven Than Not Get There at All"

“Many lame people will limp into heaven, yet many more people will run to the gate and find it locked.” “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell” (Matt. 5:29–30). If taken in the literal sense, this passage would do a little more than scare the average person. It could also be taken out of context and lead to a weird cult of one-armed blind people. Thankfully, Jesus is not suggesting people begin mutilating their bodies in order to inherit eternal life in heaven. What He is saying is we must do whatever it takes to control our situations and discipline ourselves in order to avoid sin. So much so, even if it meant losing a body part, it would be worth the sacrifice. Shortly after my first wife and I were married, I decided to get serious about the Lord and stop dancing with the devil and then running to Jesus for another drop of blood to ease my conscience. I purposed to leave recovery and become delivered from my addictions. However, every time one of my buddies would drop by, I found myself giving in to the temptation of drugs, alcohol, and more. It wasn’t long before I decided to cut off all contact to change my environment. I chose to take drastic measures in order to save my life and marriage. My wife and I rented a home out of the area of my frequent travels, and we unlisted our phone number and cut off contact with all people associated with my former culture of addiction. Suddenly, the ability to avoid falling into the same old pit became rather easy; without the temptation, I was able to stand strong. The more I stood, the stronger I became, and eventually (years), I was able to stand in the midst of temptation and not be tempted at all. My point is this: we must do whatever it takes to keep ourselves out of situations we are not strong enough to avoid falling into. If you have issues with drinking or drug use, avoid at all cost any situations and the people who place you somewhere you can fail. If you are tempted with food, don’t have the foods you’re tempted with in your home; avoid the drive-through, and admit you have a problem. If your issue is porn, get rid of the Internet, cut off the TV stations, and have someone hold you accountable. Jesus is making it very clear we must do whatever it takes, no matter how drastic it may seem, in order to be ready for His return or our joining Him in heaven. We must make the effort, take the stand, and avoid temptation. Our flesh is weak, and our enemy is far too evil and cunning to defeat on our own, but we must do our part. If we will take a stand, Jesus will stand with us, and there is no power in any universe greater than our God! † Father, I ask You to give me the strength to take drastic measures in order that I might have pure and holy fellowship with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Salvation, Grace, the Law, and More

In Romans 5, Paul speaks of the fact that God sent Jesus to restore man to a right relationship with God and to shed Jesus’ blood for our sins as payment in full; something upon which we should all be able to agree. However, Paul follows his teaching on grace with a warning in Romans 6:1–2 (NKJV): “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” According to Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word for sin is two words: hamartia and hamartano. When translated into English, it means to (morally) err, to offend, trespass, or to miss the mark. In other words, sin is simply either making a choice to or accidentally morally failing; offending, in this case, God. I say this because God made the rules, and to break the rules is an offense to Him. Truly, He is the only one with a right to be offended. Now, let us look at the word grace, or charis in Greek, which means: graciousness, of manner or act, acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, grace, gracious, joy, liberality, pleasure, thank, thankfulness, thankworthy. I can hear it now—those with an agenda saying, “See, I told you so! God doesn’t get mad when we fail. He loves us so much He gives us joy and favor and liberty to fail and feel good.” That’s what it says, and if we stop here, they have made a valid point; one all too accepted in our world today. One that I believe will lead people to a separation from God! Let’s go on. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘you shall not covet’” (Romans 7:7). Yes, folks, the law is still a part of our lives. The law was given to us as a set of guidelines, rules to follow. As Paul said, “How can I know I am doing wrong if I have never been told it was wrong?” The law is the foundation, yet we cannot keep the law; therefore, we have grace. But wait, grace says I should feel good, so now I am confused. Let’s look at one more Scripture. “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshippers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:1–4). The writer here gives one of the best explanations (in the Word) that I have ever found regarding sin and grace. He explains that the payment of Jesus was, in fact, not only for God’s view of man, but more importantly for man to realize his freedom, particularly in his mind. The guilt and shame we feel, as true believers, can only be satisfied because of the grace of God! I, for one, found this to be very exciting and eye opening, for, you see, I struggle with guilt. I struggle with my past, yet this word says I need not do so, for God has chosen not to remind me of it any longer. However, this grace teaching we hear so often today implies that I need not do anything to be forgiven. I did it once and now I’m free, free to live as I choose, knowing that Jesus is taking care of me. Once again, we mix truth and lies, and we come up with something that people feel good about. Yet this mixing of truth and lies is done in order to deceive them and lead them astray—the work of our enemy; his signature. Here is the true bottom line. If I have fellowship with God, then I feel bad when I fail Him; therefore, I come to Him in my shame and seek His forgiveness, and because of Christ Jesus, I am forgiven. Knowing this, I must now forgive myself, accept His grace, and be joyful and thankful for it. I am filled with joy not because I failed God and myself; I am filled with joy because God remembers my sin no more nor does He remind me of it. Now, if this failing hurt others, I will, because of my fellowship with God, seek to make amends to those whom I failed. If we fail and have no remorse and we simply say, “Oh, it’s under the blood, Jesus has it covered,” how then can we say we have fellowship with God? How then can we say we are saved? If we deny the law (the rules God gave us), if we choose to do as we wish or what we feel is okay, then, again, how can we say we are saved? If we attempt to justify our behavior or lifestyle choices, if we choose to blame God for our failings, how then can we call ourselves believers, for just what is it we are believing in? May I say with boldness, it is not God; it is not His Word; it is not the true Jesus; it is a lie, one planned and well executed by the enemy of our souls and far too accepted in the church today. This is not judgment, not from me. If you’re feeling conviction, anger, or a need to justify your feelings, that, my friend, is the Holy Spirit convicting your heart. Turn to Him, trust Him, seek Him, seek the truth, and you will find Him. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL

Do You Know Him?

In my studies today, there was a subtitle over 1 John 2:3–6 in my NKJV New Spirit-Filled Life Bible that caught my eye and my heart: “The Test of Knowing Him.” As I read the passages, the accuracy of the statement rang in my ears. You see, the editor of the New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Pastor Jack Hayford (one of my personal favorite leaders), truly hit the nail on the head, for verse 3 begins with these words: “Now by this we know that we know Him.” Let me stop here for just a moment. The writer of 1 John is implying that the words to follow will challenge us to an answer, and that answer will reveal to us whether or not we “know” Him, Jesus (1 John 2:1–2). The word “know” is rooted in the Greek word “ginosko,” which is translated as: to know absolutely, allow, be aware, feel, to have knowledge, perceive, be resolved, be sure, can speak, to understand. The writer is stating that if you know or understand God, if you perceive that He is who He says He is, the following statements will be true of you. He is also saying that if the following statements are not true, then you truly do not know Him—a profound statement! Let’s read on: “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” He who says, “I know Him” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him; by this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. Yes, these are powerful words, and yes, they apply to us, and yes, I did not say them; they came from the inspired Word of God. And yes, they are true! The writer, more than likely someone who walked with Jesus; someone who knew Him in the flesh and heard His words firsthand; one who saw Him crucified and witnessed His resurrection; one who would dare not taint, in any way, the truth, for he witnessed God’s power, has written these words for us to help us understand. This is not just about keeping commandments (something we all need grace to do); this is about, to the very best of our human ability, walking as Jesus walked. How did Jesus walk? He spoke truth in love. He confronted lies with truth. He loved sinners. He enlightened mankind to the truth. He made sure we understood the path to eternal life. He spoke of perilous times that would come; He warned us to watch, and He warned us that we were not to be lukewarm. He told us to light our world; to be the salt. He warned us to change and be born again. He led us to the truth and warned us of darkness. He came in love, walked in love; He showed us examples of love, and He never complained. He shared His life; He was not a wimp; the world did not sway Him; truth was His banner, and He never compromised. He was pure at heart and resisted evil. He promised a helper, and He kept His word. He walked in the miraculous and promised we would do likewise. He equipped us, empowered us, and enabled us; He challenged us to do likewise; to make disciples; to be His ambassadors in this world. He warned us of the difficulties we would face for doing as He had done. He said it would not be easy, that men would despise us, our children would turn on us, and He promised to reward us. He defends us to our enemy and makes petition for us to our Father. He continues to care for us, and He never turns His back on us. He calls us to be like Him. He is our Savior; He is Jesus. Because He is who He is, asks what He asks, did what He did, and does what He does, I want to know Him. More and more I desire to please Him. He has never failed me, and I desire to never fail Him, and when I do, I run to His rescue. He is my God! Because He is my God, I obey Him. I expect the miraculous, I teach to make disciples, and I study to know His Word. I do not worry about what others may think. I live to please Him, for He is worthy! Do you know Him? Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, www.missiodeinavarre.org

Sometimes the Best Defense is No Offense

Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly (Matt. 27:11-14). The primary accusation against Jesus by the chief priest and elders was His proclamation as “King of the Jews” or Messiah; an issue that truly was of no consequence to the Roman rulers. Their only issue would have been if Jesus were leading a revolt or had political aspirations that would threaten Roman rule. The reality was Pilate marveled at Jesus for His strength, conviction, and lack of hostility in the midst of what was obviously a trumped-up charge with dire consequences. In the face of certain death and obviously innocent of all charges, Jesus offered no defense. He knew this had to be done, and He had willed and purposed to walk with as much dignity and honor as He physically was able to. In recent days, I have been sharing stories of my past in order I might stir within others similar instances in their own lives or in lives of those they have known. In some cases, it may even be what some are going through or will be in the future. Either way, the intent is always to assist and help others but never to complain about past injustices; quite honestly, that is not how I would see them. You see, what we go through and the lessons we learn, they are what make us who we are. If we keep them to ourselves they only benefit us; yet if we are able to share the stories of how we have been blessed, possibly others can weather their storms with more ease and peace. For some of you out there, you have been convicted of crimes, injustices, or actions you have not committed. How did you handle them? Was your approach one that cast doubt on everyone else or was yours one that allowed the will of God and your faith in Him to be the focus? No one wants to be convicted of things they are innocent of; yet how easily we forget about those things we should have been convicted of and that the mercy of God has allowed us grace. None of us could fully pay the price for our mistakes. It is impossible to do so and, thankfully, God does not require that we do. So, maybe the next time you feel like you are being unjustly accused, it would be beneficial to ask God how He would have you react and then take it from there. It may be He just wants a little help to fulfill His will for someone else. † Father, may we not be so quick to defend ourselves when wrongly accused and more apt to seek Your will in every situation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Faith, Love, Fellowship, and Obedience

For quite some time now, the Lord has placed upon my heart the daunting and unpopular task of defining for me (and communicating with others) the communal relationship that exists between faith, love, fellowship, and obedience. My personal belief is that faith, love, fellowship, and obedience are both keys and evidence of a believer learning to truly abide and live in one accord with the God of all creation; the result of which is a true fellowship with God; fellowship that leads to victory in trial, peace in the storm, and joy everlasting. While all of this is truly what many, if not most, people in this world seek, the reality is there is much difficulty and trial accompanying such a disciplined walk. First, let's look at faith. Hebrews 11:1 tells us "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." For a believer, the first step of faith is believing—believing that God created the heavens, the earth, and all that is upon, above, and beyond what we see. Faith is believing God created man and created for man certain guidelines in order that he can maintain fellowship with Him. Faith is believing God sent His Son Jesus to make atonement for man, that Jesus shed His blood, and believing the gospel—these things we must first believe. With that belief comes certain benefits and responsibilities; some benefits being, of course, eternal fellowship with God, the infilling of His Holy Spirit to guide us, and the ability to walk in forgiveness for our failings, just to name a few. Faith requires me to stand upon His Word; to recognize it as His inspired instruction to all mankind. As we look at love through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, we see the love we could never understand before, unconditional love, and the love of God. This love, at first glance, is a love only He would be capable of: forgiving; compassionate; love void of retribution, anger, and pain and without end. It is a love that chastens us when we go astray, a love that shows us the way to fullness and safety and a love that protects us from the influences of the enemy. When I read the laws associated with the Israelites after leaving captivity, I see that love manifested in amazing ways. These people, who had been in captivity over 400 years, having taken on unhealthy and unholy practices because of the influence and control of their captors, were now set free and given laws of protection. They were given instruction on what foods to avoid, how to handle issues of blood and death, the raising of children now free from bondage, and the maintaining of order for millions of people experiencing freedom for the first time, while facing fear and temptation accompanying this freedom. I believe this is another great example of God's love toward a rebellious people by keeping them safe through guidelines and discipline. Yes, this is love in its greatest form. We must truly understand that those the Lord loves, He chastens, for it is by that chastening or discipline we are protected from things we cannot see or understand. As the result of faith in God and the acceptance of the depth of His love, we now begin to have true abiding fellowship with God. We begin to fathom the reality of who He is; our guilt is slowly cast aside by the power of His grace. Rather than feeling unworthy or undeserving of His love and forgiveness, we have realized that the love and forgiveness cannot be earned. We stop striving for it and realize that though we are not worthy on our own, the blood of Jesus has made us so. We enjoy our time with the Lord, we recognize His presence, and we surrender to His will. No, it's not perfect all of the time, yet the fellowship and intimacy seem to mask the obstacles more every day. Our fellowship becomes a treasure we seek to protect and hold on to, at all cost. Finally, we come to a place of obedience; that place where the desire to please and avoid separation from God creates within us repulsiveness toward sin. No longer do we argue our right to disobey or determine what the rules should be; we simply understand that while we may not understand why, we know Him, and we now trust Him completely. We recognize the cost of disobedience, and the momentary pleasure we receive is far outweighed by the pain of failure and separation from the One we love. We realize our flesh, truly, never will be satisfied; therefore, we feed our spirit and allow our flesh to be denied. What was once a screaming for passion and desire has now become a faint whisper drowned by the pleasure and joy of fellowship and abiding with the Spirit of God. If you ask me what it means to be saved, you have just read my answer. This is when we know we have achieved true fellowship with God. Is true fellowship with God attainable for anyone? Achieving true fellowship with God sounds so easy yet seems so difficult to reach at times. The answer is truly yes; in all cases, yes. The journey, while difficult in the beginning, becomes easier day-by-day as the rewards and blessings grow. Just take it one moment at a time, surrender your agenda, take small bites, and enjoy the time. You will find peace; peace for your soul, and the joy of the Lord will be your strength. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL

Victory in the Spirit

“VICTORY IN THE SPIRIT BRINGS GREAT JOY AND FREEDOM–‘WATCH AND PRAY.’” Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand” (Matt. 26:36-46). The day of betrayal has come, Jesus has just warned His disciples of His impending suffering, they have sworn allegiance; yet at the first opportunity, their flesh leads them astray. Jesus is asking His disciples to defeat their flesh for one hour by praying and keeping watch. In essence, He is asking them to be on guard, both in the flesh and in the spirit, by watching with their eyes and praying with their mouths. Yet the eyes soon fail, and by doing so, they shut the mouth. In other words, the flesh takes control and defeats the spirit. In their final hours with Christ before His crucifixion, the final memory the disciples will have is how they failed their Messiah, and yes, the enemy will use that to cause them even greater despair, because that is what he does. I don’t know about anyone else, but there was a time in my life where, once I had sinned, I felt so bad I would run from God, too ashamed to face Him, and in the process, I would sin even more. It was as if I had thrown all care to the wind. At this point, my flesh was in control because of my guilt and shame. I wonder if that is possibly where things went awry for the disciples. Could it be that because of their failure of Christ in the garden, it became somewhat easier to deny Him the next day? The statement “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” was not out of context here, but rather one which we can be aware and cognoscente of for ourselves every day. By allowing their eyes to close and the flesh to rule, the spirit was silenced. Oh, how often have I been guilty of such actions myself? I think about the times when I was in a hurry to arrive at my destination and I would see someone stopped along the road, obviously in need of assistance; yet I didn’t stop. Even though my spirit was leading me to, craving for me to do what was obviously right, I allowed my flesh to convince me its needs were more important, more urgent and pressing. I am confident many of you have felt this shame as well; it is not the kind one can bear much of. You learn rather quickly; yet even then, it often happens again and again. So, what can we do, you ask? We rest when it’s time to rest; we take care of ourselves, both physically and spiritually; and we “watch and pray,” then obey and, as a result, life will be filled with far more joy and freedom than guilt and shame. † Father, may we be people who watch and pray. May we be people who seek Your will for our lives every moment of every day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

It's Not About Us

“Contrary to what many think, it really isn’t all about us.” “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’” (Matt. 25:14–23). The word talent here, taken the Greek tlenai, means “to bear” or “a unit of value.” Knowing this, one can truly understand this passage with the depth Jesus intended. You see, Jesus was, I believe, referring to Himself as the man who left and went off to a far country, and we are those He refers to as the ones left behind with “units of value.” If this is the case, each one of us is left with the responsibility of making use of those “units of value.” In addition, we see the importance the Lord places upon them and how He will respond to each of us upon His return. So, what is your “unit of value?” How much has the Lord left you to steward in His absence? I believe the proper response, or possibly a better question, would be: “What are you doing with what the Lord has left you?” for the amount truly does not matter. What matters is what you are doing with what you have. To each one of us there truly does befall a responsibility to take action, to pull our heads from the sand and take those “units of value” and do something with them, anything other than burying them. Many tend to think once they receive their ticket to eternity they can simply sit on the train of life until it arrives at the predetermined destination, and while, yes, this may be sufficient, is this what we are called to do? The answer, of course, is, absolutely and unequivocally, “No!” It is my opinion those who work hard for the kingdom and every “unit of value” will be honored and blessed for their faithfulness. Oh, by the way, just what is a “unit of value?” Is it a person, one who is lost and seeking the truth, or is it possibly someone in need of instruction in the ways of the Lord? Is it gifts? What do you think? For the answer, I believe we need look to the purpose of Christ. What did He focus His attention on while He was on this earth? Who or what did He place great value upon? I’ll let each one of us decide what we will do or how we will respond to this passage and these thoughts; however, I will leave you with this question, “What is your unit of value, and what are you doing with it?” Oh, by the way, you are more valuable than anything else in this world; after all, He valued you enough to give all for you! † Father, I pray each one of us would do all we can to increase and care for the “units of value” You have entrusted to us until Your return. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Obedience

“When what God asks begins to make human sense, God can become mighty small.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took him to his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS (Matt. 1:24–25). Oh, how many times have I been told by the Lord to do some particular thing in a particular way and not been 100 percent obedient? Far too many, I have no doubt. I tell many stories of miraculous events that have happened in my life simply because I obeyed a command that often made little sense. You see, when we, in our humanness, do something that makes absolutely no sense but sensible things happen as a result, we are greatly moved. One time, the Lord told me to cross a street and walk up a particular sidewalk. Not knowing why or questioning, I did as He commanded. As I approached the sidewalk, a man began yelling at me and hit me full force with his fist. I felt nothing! As I stood there in utter shock, the man cried out, “What are you, some sort of preacher?” I answered, still in shock, and might I add, no pain, “Why, yes sir, I am.” The man immediately went to his knees and professed Jesus as Lord as he confessed to every imaginable sin. Now I ask you, did it make sense for me to cross the street, be struck and feel absolutely nothing? Of course not, while my macho side would like to have said it was because of my superior strength and stamina. However, the reality is God did a miraculous work. I was simply the puppet. The question remains, however, “How many times have we missed out on such miraculous events either out of disobedience, fear, guilt, shame, or some other completely unjustifiable excuse?” I believe Joseph’s obedience was key to why God chose him. He knew Joseph would obey, even when it didn’t make sense. I would like to ask you today to believe Jesus can use you. If you have been saved one hour or a hundred years, He can, and will, use you for His glory. He is looking for willing servants—those who care not what man thinks; those who are adventurous enough to do things others say should not or could not be done. Why, you ask? Because, if man can accomplish something, then man is able to explain it away, but when God moves, you never know what is going to happen, and isn’t that miraculous? † Lord, may we always be more willing to obey and answer than we are to hide and wonder. May we no longer make excuses but rather make memories of the miraculous things You have done. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. 

One Accord

“If we are not in one accord with God, it is truly by our own choosing.” “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:18–20). With assurance, Christ promises us whatever we bind and whatever we loosen shall be done; likewise, both in heaven and upon the earth. If this is the case, why is it we see so little evidence of such great power? Can it be we truly do not believe this promise to be so? Is it possible our understanding of such power is so limited by our flesh and our knowledge that somehow we are the cogs in the wheel? One thing is for certain: the issue is either with God or with man, so which is it? I realize I am a very simplistic man. I believe everything God tells us is to be taken in the literal sense, well at least almost everything, but I know of no reason not to attempt to the best of our ability to test everything God tells us to do. There are far too many people professing to be believers who say things like, “Oh, God would never do that.” Well, I’m glad you know the heart of God, because I sure don’t. You see, God can and will do anything He wants to do, and more often than not (thankfully) it does not make sense in the human realm. Aren’t you glad God’s ways are bigger than your own? His plans are greater than yours. If I sound a little frustrated, it’s because I am. I have grown very weary of hearing people complain about their circumstances when they have built so many walls of unbelief faith has no way of getting through. There can be no revelation because deep in their heart they lack the ability to believe. How many times do we hear Jesus say, “your faith has made you well” or similar statements? Yes, we hear them with great regularity. Why? Because it’s true. Do you have the faith to believe your words carry great power, and the things you bind on earth are also bound in heaven? If not, then why? One of the greatest blessings of spending large amounts of time with God is we make far fewer of those prayers that are completely out of His will. Our prayers suddenly become an extension of God’s will rather than dreams or requests based upon circumstances. Therefore, we experience the joy of seeing prayers answered upon a more consistent basis, and our faith grows with every prayer. Suddenly, we are experiencing exactly what Jesus is speaking of in these passages. We are literally witnessing the hand of God in action! In Acts, when the people came together in one accord, the church was forever changed. The power of God fell and many were saved, all as a result of people who were reading and hearing the Word daily, people who were committed to the call at all costs, and people who were hungry for God’s will. I believe the Spirit of the living God inspired every prayer. Jesus is foretelling that day in this passage; however, it was not intended to be a one-day event; it was intended to be a habit, a lifestyle. Yes, it is intended that every prayer of faith is to have an impact upon heaven and upon earth, and the only thing stopping it is us! † Father, please help us to be people of great faith, people who are in one accord with You, knowing Your will and praying Your will into existence. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Heresy

In my studies today, I came across a subheading over Scripture that said, "Destructive Doctrines"—a short phrase with eternal implication. The reality is the practice of false teaching has been around since the beginning of man and time. Heresy was at the root of the fall of Adam and Eve—the first sin. The word heresy is rooted in the Greek word "hairesis," which in our language means a choice or a disunion. It is also rooted in the Greek word "hairéomai," which means to make a choice or having an option; progressing to having a preference because of an opinion or a sentiment. How tragic is it that the God of all creation makes man with the ability to choose, and when given the opportunity, most men choose to turn away? Yes, I have been spending much time studying and writing about the foundational need for the Word and warning of false teachings and heresy, and until the Lord leads otherwise, I shall continue. This subject is one that nowhere near enough sermons are preached upon and far too little study has been made. By way of testing this theory, let me ask a simple question. "Did you know the proper meaning of heresy?" So what is my point, you ask? The point is this. We, as children of God, are being constantly bombarded with lies, theory, twisted words, subliminal messages, and much more on a constant basis. With our televisions we allow sin and the acceptance of it to be pumped into our homes and thinking, "Oh, it doesn't hurt anyone" or "I don't believe that" or "Well, it doesn't affect me"; all excuses for partaking. We listen to music lyrics where both men and women are glorifying sexual immorality, drug use, rebellion, and more. Almost every form of media implies that drinking and partying are the ways to have fun. Need I say more? On the news all we hear are political debates, the immoral agenda, acceptance of all behaviors, and how wrong it is to hold people accountable. We have made the choosing of any way of satisfying our flesh or heresy completely acceptable, and even encouraged: "It's all good." In the Christian realm we can listen to any number of opposing teachings all day long. One says grace covers all sin—past, present, and future. Another preaches the law, and still others offer even more choices for grace. Some preach Jesus is the only way, and others preach there are other ways. Some preach health, wealth, prosperity, and joy as if God owed them to us, and others preach the need for humility, meekness, and poverty as if Christ never came. If that were not enough to confuse folks, in the midst of many of these messages are condom commercials, commercials with scantily clad men and women running up the beach, and every other form of lewd advertising. You see it yet? Heresy is nothing new. It is going on around us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and in most cases we knowingly or unknowingly support, accept, and even defend it. In Ephesians, chapter 5, Paul begins by calling us to be "imitators of God" and to "walk in love," and then he quickly warns us not to walk in the ways of the world, to not even allow certain behaviors to be named among you. In verses 11 through 14 he goes on to say this: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." Let me end with this. It is not wrong to be set apart from the world. It is not wrong to believe the entire Word of God. It is not wrong to resist evil. It is not wrong to trust God. It is not wrong to stand for truth in love. It is not wrong to love your enemies nor to not have cable or listen to ungodly music, or to discipline your children. It is not wrong to take a stand against evil. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL

Salt in The Shaker is Nothing More Than Table Dressing

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Matt. 5:13). Wow! Do I love this passage! It challenges me to consider so many scenarios of what Jesus was saying, first, to His disciples and secondly, to the rest of us who follow after them. The last time I read this passage, the Holy Spirit revealed a very key part of it that suddenly changed how I view the meaning. He says this: “how shall it be seasoned?” Jesus is speaking of the effect of salt on the earth; therefore, the word “it” refers to the world! Jesus is saying if we, as salt, lose our flavor, how will the earth be seasoned? If we do not season the earth by spreading the truth of the gospel, then the earth will no longer receive the truth. Therefore, we are the principal means of spreading the truth, and if we fail, the earth and all of those who inhabit it are at risk of never hearing the message of the gospel! Spreading the gospel is not an option. Living as Christ’s witnesses upon the earth is not an option. The very reason for our earthly existence is to further the message, otherwise, we are of no use. Am I the only one convicted right now? For what reason does the church body exist but to equip the saints and to train people in the ways of the Lord? Yes to all of the above and more. It does not and cannot end there. It ends with a purpose—to be salt to the world. And yes, I said it again. If our churches are places where people go to be redeemed, restored, and renewed, then praise God; however, if that is where it ends, we are in trouble. In my life I have known a number of people who seemed to thrive on education. There is even a term for them, “professional students.” I cannot think of a more selfish ambition than to be someone who is constantly filling their mind with knowledge and then never using that knowledge to help someone else. It is the height of selfishness disguised as a good thing: much like a church full of people who take in the Word only to keep it to themselves. Let it not be said that I am against education. I am simply stating that education gained for selfish reasons and improperly put to use can cause one to become pharisaical. Education is a powerful tool and should be used properly and in conjunction with the Holy Spirit in order to reach its proper potential. While I realize these statements and my position are not very popular, I’m not the one who wrote this and many other Scriptures with a similar message. I’m simply shedding light and saying what many are afraid to say. Therefore, I would ask this question, “What or who are you afraid of?” If this is you, don’t be trampled underfoot. If not, but it is someone you know, love them enough to encourage them in recognizing their purpose on earth. † Father, all too often we wallow in the selfish pit of need for redemption, confirmation, and education. Please forgive us, Lord, for our all too often failure to allow others to bathe in Your goodness. In Jesus’ name we ask these things. Amen.

The Praise of Man

“THE TREE BEARING PRAISE OF MAN HAS SHALLOW ROOTS.” “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (Matt. 6:1–4). Our hearts can be such wicked instruments, even at times leading to our downfall. Can you imagine the arrogance Jesus is describing here—people such as the Pharisees who, because of their position and self-induced righteousness, would walk around announcing their arrival? We truly must do all we can to prevent ourselves from falling into a similar trap. If we plan our giving and good deeds around the circumstances, we are walking in arrogance and on dangerous ground. True goodness has no plan to be fulfilled, it just is. Good people rarely plan on being good people, they just are. They tend to spend more time than most seeking the reasons for their failures and how to correct them, thus leading to even more good deeds. The joy of being rewarded by God is truly amazing. It’s not like a typical endorphin rush that lasts for the moment but rather a life-changing milestone that remains embedded in your heart and mind. The feeling you get when people pat you on the back for your good deeds is a very temporary rush with no lasting roots. The praise is as fickle as the ones who give it, and no one is more fickle or unpredictable than mankind. Think about how many times you have had people pat you on the back, sing your praises, and be your best friends only to have them ignore you and talk bad about you for no apparent reason. All too often, I would guess? So, why is it we seek so vehemently the praise of our fellow man? Maybe it is to compensate for the lack of parental attention or validation or possibly as a result of some form of abuse, but whatever the reason, there is a cure—the reward of God. You see, as I mentioned earlier, the reward of God is not temporary. When we seek His reward, we receive it, and it never goes away. I used to be caught up in what people thought until I experienced God’s reward. He changed me. He softened my heart, gave me compassion, taught me to cry, and gave me new and everlasting confidence, although I deserved none. Why, you ask? Because now He is the only one I seek to please. By seeking to only please Him, I have found myself and many others blessed as well. Be careful what you plan for or place your focus upon. Challenge your heart: it can either be a wicked and deceptive appendage or an instrument of tremendous blessing. † Lord, help us to search our hearts daily. Reveal to us those areas that need Your touch. Help us, Father, to seek Your reward, and let Your light to shine that the darkness in our hearts might be revealed. In Jesus’ name, amen. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, from the book "Jesus Paid the Price"

Faith to Believe

“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 (Hebrews 11:6).” Rewarder, G3406 misthapodotēs: remunerator, implied wage earner, pa, repay. Diligently seeking, G1567 ekzeteo: to search out, investigate, crave, demand, worship, inquire, require, seek after. Reading in Hebrews 11 about faith has truly caused me to stop and attempt to understand how it is that God can be pleased by man. What have the great men of the Word done to turn the head of God? The answer really is quite simple. They believed fervently to the point of utter and complete sacrifice of themselves and sometimes all they loved. Noah builds a boat in a land where rain has never fallen. He built it exactly how he was told, facing ridicule no doubt every moment of every day. Abraham takes his only son to a mountain, completely willing to offer him as a sacrifice, and if that wasn’t enough, he packs his family up and leaves everything he knows behind to obey God. Moses goes before the most powerful man in the world with a stick and makes demands of him. He, by obedience, brings down what was at that time the greatest power in the world and leads the people of God into a desert and freedom. David, as a 13-year-old ruddy kid, takes on a fierce warring giant with a rock and a sling and becomes a king! Job loses everything he has, suffers tremendous physical affliction, mental torment, and who knows what else, all because he believed, and yet God gave him double what he had ever had. These and countless other faithful men of the Bible diligently sought after the Lord, and the Lord was faithful to reward them. Is there, can there be, any doubt that God is faithful to do what He promises and more? Is there a secret to this kind of faith, a pathway to understanding God? Most assuredly I believe there is: it is to be one who diligently, without fail, searches out, seeks after, inquires of, and worships the God of all creation. When we seek Him, we will find Him, and He who we find is a faithful God. He is not asking everyone to step out of the boat or take on nations, but He is requiring of all to believe—to believe in that which we cannot see and trust beyond what we feel. He is asking all men to have faith, simple faith, faith to believe that He exists; that is the key. If we seek Him, we will find Him, and when we find Him, we find one who is a rewarder of those who “diligently seek Him.” You see, all who believe receive the reward of eternal life in heaven, and that is just for starts. The evidence proves that not only will we receive heavenly rewards, but we will receive earthly rewards as well. Not a bad deal! As a matter of fact, I can think of no better deal in all of time: belief in the God who made you and all you survey. He will give you more than you can imagine! Can someone please explain to me why this is such a difficult sell? Now, before you all begin sending me reasons, I was being facetious. I do understand what the one thing truly is: surrender! You see, many who believe there is a God will not surrender to His lordship. Why? They lack faith. They have the belief that there is a God, but they lack the faith to trust Him and truly believe He exists or they too could surrender. Therefore, no matter how you cook it, how you look at it, how you sell it, it all comes down to one thing—it takes faith to believe and please God. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL

Believing is Seeing

“Believing is seeing and to obey is to receive.” Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour (Matthew 8:5–10 and 13). SO, JUST WHAT WAS IT THAT made Jesus marvel? Was it the fact this man understood the spiritual realm of authority, or could it have been the simplicity of this man’s understanding of Jesus’ power or maybe both? The true answer, I believe, lies in both. We know Jesus was moved by this man’s faith because He says so, but that faith was deeply rooted in the understanding of spiritual authority. You see, the centurion knew Jesus was the Son of God, and additionally, he knew everything was under His rule. Now that is faith. Mind you, it wasn’t just faith: it was the kind of faith that impressed Jesus Himself. Imagine that, being able to impress Jesus with your faith! So, what is it that is stopping you from exercising the kind of faith we see exhibited here? Are you 100 percent convinced God is the Creator, Jesus is our Savior, and the Holy Spirit is the helper sent by God to assist us every day, in every way? If your answer is yes, then walk by faith. However, if you say your answer is ‘yes’ and you have no ability to exercise faith, then I would say your answer is actually ‘no.’ You see, this is all either real or not. There is no in-between. I can’t tell you how many times people have said to me and to many of you, “I wish I had your faith.” My answer is this: “Pray for my belief and you will.” Great faith is the result of total belief in what we cannot see yet believe (Hebrews 11:1), so the latter leads to the first. I know my God is King. I know He has authority. Therefore, I believe His will shall be done, and I, likewise, believe I am commanded to pray for and submit to His will. Here’s the thing, if I am listening to His voice, seeking His will, spending time in the quiet with my Lord, when I pray I am simply asking that which God has placed upon my heart by Him to be done. The result is, of course, answered prayers. However, if I have placed roadblocks up to hearing His voice, I cannot pray His will, for I don’t know it. Oh, I’ll get lucky once in a while if I pray enough, but that isn’t really faith now, is it? The roadblocks are the real issue, things like pride, unconfessed sin, bitterness, anger, fear, rebelliousness, and lack of confidence in redemption. These and issues like them must be dealt with if we want to live lives truly filled with faith. Are there any roadblocks in your life? Father, I come before You today and ask You, “Is there anything in my life preventing me from hearing Your voice, from knowing Your will, and if so, I ask You to reveal it to me now that I might confess it as sin and be in communion with You? In Jesus’ name I ask these things. Amen. “Religion and salvation are two different things, each with their own reward.” Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL

Suffer For Christ

“For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully” (1 Peter 2:19). The writer, more than likely Peter, is writing to encourage believers that are sojourners being persecuted for their faith; brothers and sisters in Christ in need of encouragement. As American believers, we have truly (except on very rare occasion) even the slightest ability to understand the persecution believers in other parts of the world are suffering today. Are we facing death, or are our families facing persecution, possibly unto death, as the result of our beliefs? The answer, of course, by and large, is no. There are those who are, and they truly have a greater understanding of what this passage means. I imagine they would tell us all it is not as easy as it sounds; there is nothing romantic about it. The reality is we American Christians focus far more of our energy attempting to justify behaviors or actions and far too little time defending our faith. We have our priorities messed up. When defending your faith becomes a matter of suffering or life and death, it is my opinion that your focus truly would become narrowed. Imagine someone with a gun to your head or that you are facing horrendous torture, and you know that the wrong answer will put you face-to-face with your maker. How do you answer? Remember that the enemy of your soul, the one who hates Jesus, he is the spirit behind your persecutor. He has no rules; you will suffer painfully. Again, how do you answer? If they ask if you believe in Jesus, do you say yes? If they ask if you are willing to die, will you answer yes? Would you truly be able to overcome your fear of man enough to die for Jesus? No matter your answer, I believe a quick test will bring out truth and cause reflection; therefore, let’s look at a few questions together. 1. Are you willing to die because you believe Jesus is the Son of God? 2. Are you willing to die because you believe your Bible is the Word of God? 3. Are you willing to see your family suffer while you turn the other cheek and stay true to your faith? 4. Are you ready, right now, at this moment, to stand before God and defend your beliefs regarding His Word? 5. Do you know what the Bible says, or are you confident in what man has told you through messages, books, etc.? 6. Are you sure about your answers, and are you being honest with yourself? 7. Final question: Do the people at your place of employment, where you recreate, the gym, know you’re a believer? Would they answer the questions for you in the same way you have? Ask yourself again, are you truly ready, or are you fooling yourself? What if your spouse, child, or grandchild were going to suffer for your sake? Still the same answer? I’ll leave it up to you to decide, but I must tell you, it has caused this man to think. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL

Exposing False Teaching

Not long ago, I had the pleasure of an informal debate with a leader in a very prominent Christian university school of theology regarding a particular sin often mentioned in the Bible—the point being this particular lifestyle is mentioned often in the Word of God as a sinful behavior. The particular nature of this sin really does not matter, for all sin separates man from God until there is redemption and atonement through Jesus Christ. The point is not the sin, but, as you will see, it truly was the danger of allowing such teaching to go unchallenged. Following is the response to my belief that it was sin: This particular sin is “still under debate; whether or not we think it’s sin, it is currently under the microscope in the church.” Now, I must admit, I do not have a degree, there are no letters after my name, and if this is where biblical scholars are headed, I must say I am extremely grateful not to have been influenced and tainted by such education and worldliness! To imply that God has not clearly defined what is or is not sin, what does or does not separate us from God, is absolute foolishness and more! To suggest the church or world leaders, men in any form, have a greater understanding of God’s intentions and that man’s understanding can negate the Word of God is exactly what Paul and many other disciples warned us of in the Epistles, as did Jesus Himself. Virtually every book of the New Testament warns of such thinking and blasphemy, and I for one will not keep quiet regarding such blatant ongoing attacks against the Word of God. (If you need help finding such warnings, you can begin in 2 Timothy 3, and the references will lead you to other writings.) The day of this writing I was reading in 1 Peter, chapter 1, about the value of the blood of Jesus, the great cost of His sacrifice, and how there is nothing on or of this world of greater value than His blood, for nothing else can offer eternal life. It was sought after by the prophets of old and all of mankind since the fall, this life eternal, this key to heaven, and the moment it is found, man attempts to corrupt it. In an effort to thwart the perfection of the blood of the Lamb, satan himself unknowingly was used by God to perfect this sacrifice. The reality is, folks, I believe, without fear of judgment, the Word of God is very clear about those who would defend any sinful behavior as being acceptable. They are simply wrong. There is no biblical foundation for such a stand, and yet there are a plethora of warnings against listening, fellowshipping, endorsing, or following such behavior and beliefs. Mind you, this writing and discussion is not about sin, grace, judgment, or anything along those lines—it is a warning to expose false teaching. Again, in almost every Epistle written to the churches, at one point or another the authors addressed those who were corrupting the Word of God and in one way or another diluting the power of the “blood of the Lamb.” In Corinthians, Paul is addressing doctrinal disputes; in Galatians, the Judaizers; in Philippians, the Gnosticism; and, in the letters to the church in Thessalonica and to Timothy, much effort was placed on staying true to the Word and exposing false teachers. In Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus warns against those who do not expose false teachers and even accept contrary teaching in the church, such as the doctrine of Balaam or the Nicolaitans, who accepted any doctrine. Are you able to see the point yet? We do not have the right to accept any type of teaching, doctrine, or statements that are contrary to the true Word of God, or as 1 Peter 1:22–25 implies: the enduring truth of the Word of God. As a matter of fact, we are warned very clearly in Revelation 2 and 3 about the consequences of such action. There is no debate going on in heaven about what is defined as sin. God identified what separates man from Himself long before we came on the scene, and He does not need our help in fixing mistakes that are impossible for Him to make. The sovereignty of God is not to be questioned; however, the foolishness of man is real, is to be revealed, and should always be encountered in love and truth—the truth of the Word. Without the Word, we have opinion and theory, and neither opinion nor theory has any power against truth! Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL

Sin that Grace May Abound?

This morning, while again reading in James 4, I ran across a short verse I had long ago underlined, and today that verse, once again, lunged from the page and impacted my heart. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). James has been writing instruction on humility, repentance, judgment of brothers and more, and this simple little sentence is used to close a very insightful section of Scripture; very apropos. The debate of grace, and the abuse of it, has been going on since Jesus first introduced it to us. This same debate and discussion is once again the topic of countless books, messages, and discussions. From one side we have those who believe grace covers everything, and we need not worry about sin. From another, we have more of a law approach that says grace must be earned, and yes, there are still other opinions not important to the point for today. The heat seems to be turned up when we begin to limit in any way the free-flowing distribution of grace; suddenly we become judgmental or hateful. I believe the reality and solution really are quite simple. There are two sets of rules, and James truly does explain that very well. You see, I tend to believe that the level of accountability one has with God is directly related to the amount of knowledge one has about sin, transgression, and the blood of the Lamb. Why would I think that, you ask? Because of Scripture like James 4:17: “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” It is crucial to remember that this statement and others like it referring to sin and grace, such as Hebrews, chapter 10, warn of taking too lightly the sacrifice of Jesus, or Romans, chapter 6, where Paul asks, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” If we take into consideration these and similar passages, we truly can arrive at no other solution than the fact that while, yes, there is grace; grace is not to be abused by those who know better. Am I saying that we cannot make mistakes or even transgress and lose grace? Absolutely not, if we are repentant, and absolutely yes, if we arrogantly defile the blood of the Lamb for our own personal gain and defiance. I mean, let’s face it, do we really believe the God of all creation is going to sit idly by and allow us to defile His Son and the sacrifice He made by being liars, thieves, sexually immoral people, and more, simply because we know we have grace? Yet, my friends, this is exactly the very dangerous message being implied, preached, and spoken to many immature and pre-believers in this world today. I am not saying the law is what we live by; again foolishness and contrary to the Word. Again, the simplicity of it truly is summed up quite well with James’ statement: “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” If you know better and choose to disobey anyhow, you are committing sin, and that is the honest and simple truth. The beauty is there is forgiveness for those who truly believe and repent. Let’s try looking at it from a different angle. You are a person who, as a child, was molested by a church leader; someone you respected, looked up to; someone who was, in your mind, a representation of this God of which they spoke. As you begin to realize what has happened to you, a struggle for your very soul has begun, and how do you reconcile it? Do you brush it off because, after all, this person is under the blood, or is your life and your opinion of God completely messed up? The latter is more often the answer, and it leads to rebellion, dissention, and pain without end because, in your mind, God is not just. You cannot understand His grace or mercy because you relate God to the person who violated you. Or here is another scenario. You go to work for a Christian businessperson. You’re excited you finally get to work somewhere that allows prayer, and you get to share your excitement about God with your coworkers and more. But then, shortly after you begin your new employment, you don’t see prayer; you hear profanity, you see people being lied to, cheated, and taken advantage of—all for financial gain. Now you begin to struggle in your mind. You approach the boss and question him; what is the right answer, the answer you expect? Can I just say it will, in most cases, not be a biblical one? Why? Because those seeped in sin will almost always attempt to justify that sin. This type of attitude and behavior has been one of the most effective tools against the church the enemy has working for him, and we could all share true scenarios such as the ones I mentioned all day long, and I, for one, am ashamed that we can. So what do we do, you ask? We stand up for truth. We confront in love the believers we see abusing grace (Matthew 18). We stand upon the Word of God, not the beliefs or words of man, and we pray without ceasing, and more, but most of all, we “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We avoid temptation, repent quickly, walk in humility and grace; we mirror Jesus with all humility. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL