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 (Matt. 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? MY PRAYER 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.

For the Sake of the Sheep

When I was in the third grade, my father decided it was time for me to become a shepherd. I started with an ewe (mother sheep) and a lamb, and before too long, I had a small flock. Little did I know that in the later years of my life, the time I spent as a shepherd would someday play such as significant role in my life. You see, sheep are a very unique animal: very peaceful, loving, needy, and not as stupid as many people accuse them of being. They are, no doubt, the most trusting of animals. Once they bond with you, there is little or nothing you can do to break that trust. Recently, I was being reminded by the Lord what my responsibilities as a shepherd are, and one duty, in particular, came to mind: to "protect the flock." In the mid '80s, I was asked to preach on the 23rd Psalm, and as I did my research, I learned many interesting facts, some of which I personally experienced as a shepherd. For instance, every night when I would bring the sheep in from our mountain pasture into the protection of their corral and pen, they would rub against me as I stood by the gate. It was rather irritating at times. Often they would push very hard, and, on occasion, when I was dressed to go somewhere special, the smell of lanolin from their wool would permeate my clothing. During my studies, I realized shepherds are aware that this practice is the sheep's way of acknowledging their trust for their shepherd—it is both a greeting and a proclamation. As I look back on those days and this twice-daily interaction, I now understand much deeper the great responsibility I bore as the shepherd. As I stood at the gate, I knew every animal that came in. I knew them well: their habits, their tendencies, and their needs. I also knew nothing other than my sheep could enter that sheepfold, as did the sheep. You see, neither coyote nor lion was allowed in, and if one attempted to, I would stop it at all costs. If anything or anyone meant harm to my sheep, they had to go through me. Even at that young age, I would let nothing past me, for more often than not I was armed just for that reason—to protect my flock and myself. As the Lord has led my wife and me to once again shepherd a flock, this action has returned to the forefront of my mind, and the Lord has led me to reflect upon it with inspired intensity. This morning, I was reflecting in John, chapter 10, as Jesus described Himself as the door to the sheepfold and that no one may enter the gate except through Him. He goes on to say the "thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." I was also reminded of 1 Peter 5:8 where we are commanded to shepherd the flock and to be aware "the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." With over 34 years of serving in ministry, I have seen many instances where the enemy has been allowed untethered to enter the flock and lead people astray. Under the guise of grace, mercy, or fear of judgment, we sit by and say nothing of people who have entered the church not to be transformed by the renewing of their mind, but rather to fulfill their own desires and satisfy or justify their worldly passions. Before you get mad at me, let me say that I am not saying we should judge people before they can enter the church. I am, however, saying there are wolves that have entered the church leading people astray. As a shepherd of God's sheep, I am suddenly very serious about the intent of the hearts of those who desire to remain in the church. I desire to know the sheep by name, to have them trust me, and to respect and honor that trust. I desire to protect the flock from the devil, the roaring lion: the wolf that seeks to devour and feed upon God's people. As a young shepherd, if a predator attempted to enter my sheepfold, I stopped it at all costs; again, as a shepherd of God's flock, I shall do likewise. How often do we truly know those who are caring for our babies, teaching our children, singing on our worship teams, ushering us in the isles, sharing with us from a place of authority, the pulpit? Prayerfully, we know them well, but are we able to when the immediate need is met by energized, well-spoken individuals? What are some signs of those who seek to destroy? The first, I believe, would be a rejection of authority; lack of submission to the will and transformation brought about by allowing Jesus to be Lord of your life. If your church were opposed to such things because they oppose the Word of God, why then would you allow those who do not oppose them to infiltrate your church? It is not as if yours is the only church, there are plenty out there that will allow these folks in with open arms. After all, it is not about how many sheep you shepherd; it is, however, about how well you shepherd the sheep God has entrusted to you. Mind you, I am not making any accusations or insinuations; I am, however, raising the point for my own reflection, to remind myself and other leaders that our duty, our responsibility, and our commitment before God is to protect His flock, just as He would. Yes, all are welcome in the church, yet not all are welcome to remain, unless all are willing to be changed. Tough words, I know, but true for the sake of the sheep. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL www.missiodeinavarre.org

Intelligent or Foolish?

“People who are too smart to change are often too foolish to understand.” “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall” (Matt. 7: 24–27). Notice Jesus did not say, ‘he who follows a prophet, pastor, or charismatic leader.’ He said, “these sayings of Mine,” which is referring to His Word. God is saying we must follow the Word, not man. One of the hardest things to witness in ministry is when people begin to follow people rather than God. All too often, charismatic leaders either intentionally or unintentionally will, by their very nature, cause others to become enamored with their personality. This can lead to far too many negative consequences such as affairs and disappointments, and yes, even separation from God as a consequence of worshipping man. Men are human; we too are broken. And yes, even pastors are sinners. While it is completely appropriate to follow godly leaders, to worship man is to worship flesh and very much inappropriate. We all have people whom we enjoy listening to more than others; some are equipped to be intellectually challenged, while others are more stimulated by the visual; still others prefer both, and so on. This is a perfectly natural behavior of mankind. Don’t follow man, follow God. Don’t worship men, worship God, and you will avoid a major pitfall. Remember, what Jesus is saying is, once you have heard what is written in the Word, you must then do it. If you need to check it out, do so, but don’t get so caught up in the intellectual that you never really decide to believe the truth of the Word. You see, when Jesus says to love your neighbor, no matter who teaches the message, Jesus is saying, “love your neighbor,” so start practicing loving your neighbor. Far too many people want to justify their own weaknesses or unwillingness to change by overanalyzing, dissecting, and searching out the root meaning of every word in the Bible, when all they need to do is take the Word at its Word. When Jesus says to love, whether it is in the King James, the Hebrew, or the Greek version, He is still saying to love. If He commands us to forgive or have mercy or to extend grace, or whatever the action, could it possibly be what He says is exactly what He means? For example, should we be more afraid of extending too much grace to people or should we not extend any for fear of overdoing it and causing them to be blessed or take advantage of it? What does the Word say? Maybe a little more time spent doing the things we are commanded to do and a little less time figuring out why would be beneficial. After all, for some, the intellectual meaning of the Scripture has become an excuse for not obeying it. Sound a little like a Pharisee to anyone else? † Father, help us to remember to follow Your Word and to obey Your commands. Teach us to trust You, serve You, and to surrender to You, and if we have become too smart for our good, reveal our foolishness that we might repent. In the name of Jesus our Lord we pray, amen.

His Fame, Our Gain

“His name, His fame, our gain.” “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matt. 7:21–23). The power of the name of Jesus transcends all borders in both the physical and spiritual realms. People who have tapped into this power are not always doing so with the proper motivation. From the time of the fall of man until the birth of Jesus, demons had a free hand to do as they pleased upon this earth. Their only active enemies were those who served the God I Am, our God, all the time doing so without the influence of the Holy Spirit and the covering of the blood of Jesus. The demons were having a heyday and it showed. Just look at Saul! However, once Jesus came on the scene, everything changed. Suddenly, the power of His name alone became enough to cause the demonic realm to tremble at the very mention of it. On one of my many trips to the inner city, I had my first of many experiences seeing this power manifested before my very eyes. As I was preaching at one of the stages in Golden Gate Park, a man who was obviously demonized in one form or another approached the crowd with one thing on his mind—to disrupt the work of God. As he began getting louder and louder, I felt compelled to point my hand at him and command that he be quiet in the name of Jesus. It was as if he had been hit with a bolt of lightning. As soon as I mentioned the name of Jesus, the man hit the ground and was totally unconscious until the very moment our event ended, at which time he calmly rose to his feet and marched off down the street. It was immediately apparent to me the power was in the name, not me, and I have used that name for His glory many more times since. However, there are many out there who have recognized that power and have and, possibly still, are using it for personal gain. Those who do such things are those whom Jesus is speaking of, and they have their own reward, for they will not enter the kingdom of heaven. And even worse, they will hear these words from the very one whose name they used: “I never knew you; depart from Me.” Can you imagine the pain, the hurt, and the hopelessness that will fill their souls? Again, a tree will be known by its fruit. When you see people who espouse to be one thing in public and they are another in private, red flags should be going up everywhere! Flee from their very presence, and pray about what, if anything else, you should do. If the Lord leads you, then go with two witnesses and confront them privately. The works of darkness have been allowed to run rampant for long enough, and anytime we can, we should use the name of Jesus to reveal their deceit and glorify our King. If blasphemy or heresy is taking place, expose the works with the Word and prayer, then allow God to take care of the situation. He is able to defend Himself. † Father, please give us the ability to see and the strength to stand up to those who wrongly use the name of Jesus to lead others astray. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

WIde or Narrow?

“Choosing your own path is not a popular decision; however, this is not a contest.” “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13–14). Having been a believer since the age of seven, I must confess being a follower didn’t happen until my twenties. You see, that’s when I accepted the fact being a believer was a more difficult way. In order to maintain this walk, one truly must purpose to take the hard way—to take the step away from the popular accepted belief and choose to be different. In my younger days, I worked for many cattle ranchers, some very talented, others not so talented. The most experienced man I ever worked for had been ranching all of his life. He was at least a third-generation rancher, if not more. We would push large herds of cattle from private lower lands in the spring up to the higher public lands where better grass was growing. Along the way, we would find lead cows, ones others seemed to follow. Once we had them pinned up, we gathered those lead cows and placed bells on them. The bells would help us find the cows any time we desired, and as well, they served as a way of letting the other cattle know where the herd was headed. In the fall, we simply located the lead cattle (by the sound of the bells), and then we very slowly pushed them to where we wanted all of the cattle to gather. Sure enough, by the time we got to our corral (or gathering place), the majority of the herd had followed the bells and joined up with the others. When I read this passage, I am very much reminded of those lead cows and the sound of those bells ringing in my ears. Far too many people today have chosen to follow the pack, to listen for the latest buzzword or join the latest craze, and never even know what or whom they are supporting or following. Our lives are far too important and cherishable to allow others to determine what is right for us, especially if we haven’t even checked out the facts. The gate to death is wide because far too many will accept what others say without checking it out; they will, unfortunately, believe the media or a friend or accept an unfounded opinion. But those of us who choose to follow God, and are willing to be persecuted for it, will walk a lonely road. We’re not here for the fire insurance. We’re here because we believe, because we’re convicted and committed, because we have no choice, for the truth is engraved upon our hearts. That’s why I’m here. How about you? Anyone hear bells? † Father, give us eyes to see and ears to hear that we may not be deceived, that we might not be pleasers of men but rather pleasers of You Oh, God. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Forgiveness

“THE ROOTS OF BITTERNESS RUN DEEP AND DEADLY; YET TRUE FORGIVENESS WILL KILL THEM ALL.” “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14-15). The word trespasses here refers to transgression or violation, so in essence, Jesus is warning us in order to receive grace freely, we must freely give grace. All too often, we hear from the wronged they deserve the right to be angry; they are, after all, the victims. In the church today, I believe we have far too many who are walking in unforgiveness, which results in a loss of pure fellowship with God. This means, due to their lack of forgiveness, He is unable to forgive them–a vicious and nonproductive circle. Another result of lack of forgiveness is it can lead to bitterness, and bitterness, like a weed, takes root quickly and is very hard to destroy. The crop of bitterness is torment, which grows all too quickly; it multiplies with little help, growing in the slightest of cracks. Beware of bitterness! I personally believe mental institutions all over the world are filled with bitter, tormented people, most of who don’t remember why their anger runs so deep. So here we sit, wondering why God is not speaking to us, getting angry with Him, when all along we are the ones to blame because of our unwillingness to forgive those who have offended us, and, all too often, they don’t even know or remember they have. Then, others bind us up both in the spirit and in the flesh, when freedom is only a prayer away! Recently, a person very close to me shared how, after years of being influenced by the pain inflicted upon her by a former stepmother, she came to terms and decided to openly and directly seek her forgiveness. After a few moments of sharing with her, the former stepmother said, “Pardon me, but do I know you?” All of the pain, the hurt, and the fears suddenly made no sense–this woman didn’t even remember! Don’t let your enemies hold you in bondage; take away their power with the same forgiveness and grace Jesus used to take away your sins. MY PRAYER Father, help us to not hold onto the hurt, pain, and bitterness heaped upon us by others, and if I have a root of bitterness, please show me Lord that it may be uprooted forever. Help me Lord to walk in the freedom of forgiveness. Amen.

The Untamed Tongue

“KNOWLEDGE IS A FRESH WIND WAITING TO BE BLOWN, OFTEN STOPPED BY THE UNTAMED TONGUE.” And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him (Matt. 4:18-22). Here we see an amazing example of communicating to people in a language they can understand as opposed to expecting people to understand our message as we present it. Jesus knows what kind of people are on the shore–fishermen. Therefore, He speaks to them as fishermen, not as future disciples. Imagine this: four guys are standing on the shore, you want them to be your disciples so you stroll up and tell them something like this: “Hey, I’m the Son of God, and I’m going to do great things on earth, so how about leaving your family, your money, your warm bed, and come hang out with me for a while. Then I’ll be beaten and killed, come back in three days, give you instructions, and send you out to spread the gospel and be persecuted and killed as well.” You wouldn’t be very successful at gathering disciples now, would you? Of course we know the Lord influenced their hearts, and it was more than a statement that brought these guys along, but that isn’t really Jesus’ point. His point was, ‘If you like fishing, how about going fishing with Me? We’ll catch men.’ Do we communicate to people in a language they can understand, or do we communicate with people in the language we understand? Maybe this will help: do you know people who talk all of the time, and it appears they just do it to hear themselves talk? Do you listen? If so, when you do, I would suggest it isn’t long before you tune them out. I had a second uncle who was by far the most intelligent human I have ever met. He was off the charts on his IQ score, and he knew something about everything; however, he literally never stopped talking. I used to wonder how and when he breathed; he would move from one subject to another without a break and seemed to be more robotic than human. The little dirty trick was when a new friend was visiting; we would introduce him to Wolford and walk away, leaving him in the grasp of Wolford’s well-exercised vocal cords, sometimes for hours on end. However, as I grew older, I began to understand what a terrible waste his intense knowledge had become. If only he had learned to communicate: his knowledge would have benefited others greatly, his reputation would have been honored rather than joked about, he would have been sought after rather than avoided, and his contribution to this world would have lived on. This was not the case; when he died, much of his knowledge died with him. Will your life be wasted because of your pride, arrogance, low self-esteem and insecurity, or are you able to watch and wait, seeking the right method and words before speaking your piece? MY PRAYER Father, help us to be people who draw others to us rather than people who others avoid. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see that we may affect the world around us for Your glory Lord. Amen.

It is Not Easy

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:34–39). For those who think or have been told and believe that walking with Christ is filled with peace, love, joy, grace, and blissfulness, I apologize. I apologize for my own actions, and I apologize for the actions and statements made by other Christian leaders. We were wrong. This statement and apology of mine will, no doubt, raise eyebrows, cause negative reactions, and more, yet I did not say this—our Savior did. The fact that Jesus says these words and we choose to ignore them is an extremely dangerous and, no doubt, consequence-filled action, and these consequences are negative in nature. For example, if I sell you a vehicle I own, knowing it has a bad transmission, yet I point out to you every benefit of owning it; if I highlight all of the good points, the beautiful paint, the new tires, the clean and fresh interior, the purring engine, and neglect to tell you the transmission is going out, have I done you right? No, of course not. I have simply sold you a vehicle that will soon be going nowhere! I have neglected to tell you everything that I knew about the future consequences of owning this vehicle. I have caused you to lose faith in me. I have given the enemy an opportunity to have you lose faith in man. I have not blessed you; I have burdened you. I have left out some truth that I was aware of. I have lied! When we tell those who are choosing to believe there are no consequences to becoming Christians, when we imply that all will be well and good, when we neglect to instruct them that severe change, rebirth, is required, what have we accomplished? When we manipulate people to make a decision based upon simply the benefits and neglect to point out the responsibilities associated with that decision, truly what good have we accomplished? For those who persevere and are discipled there can be victory. For those who are left on their own, there may be fear, doubt, confusion, anger, bitterness, and even more that the enemy can and will use to draw many away. Christianity is not a club. It is not easy, and we should never falsely make it appear to be so. Jesus was addressing His disciples in this passage, warning them of what lies ahead, and many would say it is not relevant for today. To that, I say you are incorrect. Ask those who have been found guilty of being believers and faced or are facing death if this is easy. Ask their families if this has been difficult. Ask the martyrs of old and of today if their lives are filled with bliss and joy. The countless persecuted believers all over the world, even here in the U.S., ask them. Ask their families of the pain, suffering, torment of not knowing what lies ahead. Ask their children, those left without parents; ask them if it has been easy. It is time for us to stop making this belief a panacea for what ails us. It is time for us to realize the cost, the pain, the change required, and then, and only then, will we understand the responsibility of being a believer, a follower of Christ. No, Christianity is not a club and not always easy, but with perseverance and love for the Lord, victory can be yours. If your love for the Lord is shining in your every being, perhaps those who are left on their own can see that love in you and not be drawn away. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Navarre, www.missiodeinavarre.org

Spirit or Flesh?

“EARTHLY PLEASURES OR KINGDOM TREASURES, YOU DECIDE.” “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21). A few years ago, as I was reading Jeremiah 9:23-24, the Lord spoke a word to me, a phrase which is very relevant to this passage, “Earthly pleasures or kingdom treasures, you decide.” We must make a conscious decision in our lives as to what we are going to pursue–the temporal and material satisfaction or the faith to believe what we do on earth will affect our lives eternally. We can purpose to either focus on creating wealth on earth (which will be destroyed and or stolen) or we can purpose to lay up heavenly treasures that will never be destroyed. Is this to say God will not give us wealth on earth? Of course not. The wealthiest man to ever live was Solomon, and while he asked for wisdom (which God granted), God also blessed him with incredible and incomparable wealth. Yet even he, the wisest man to ever live, when blessed with such wealth, lost his focus and fell to the temptations of this world. The point is this: our focus and our purpose on this earth truly should be upon attaining spiritual wealth. Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” When we get our priorities right, God can truly begin to work in our lives in ways we can only imagine. When I left the corporate world, I was making a lot of money, had a company car, an expense account, and all of the power that comes with it. My relationship with God was largely based on my need for and His blessing of forgiveness. Oh yes, I was serving Him; however, my time and commitment were greatly divided. When I made the choice to obey Him and to go into full-time ministry, my first position was cleaning toilets in the church; our income dropped 50 percent, the expense account and car were gone, and the only power I wielded came in the form of a toilet brush. My relationship with God suddenly became less about repentance and forgiveness and 100 percent about serving Him. By the way, did I mention in this the Lord blessed us with a savings account? We remodeled our home, purchased newer vehicles, and had a much happier life again–all on 50 percent of the income. Where is your focus? Are you wanting more of the things on earth, or are you willing to pursue the things of God? MY PRAYER Lord, I pray my focus would always be on the things of heaven and not of earth, that I might trust You to be my provision, and I might keep my vision. Amen.

Trusting Jesus

“IF I TRUST HIM FOR EVERYTHING, I WILL WORRY ABOUT NOTHING.” “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny” (Matt. 5:25-26). In the midst of instruction to His disciples, Jesus throws in what seems to be a random line about agreeing with your adversary or those who are against you. First, we need to understand that under Mosaic Law, if someone accuses you of something and he has two witnesses, you are found guilty. Now, you can imagine how corruptible such a system could become. If you upset someone, it would be rather easy for him to pay a couple of people to lie about you, and suddenly, you would find yourself in jail, even though you are innocent of all charges. Therefore, it is much easier to arrive at a mutual agreement with someone rather than bow your neck, fight it out, end up in prison, and still pay out even more in the end. Is it possible that, in this scenario, Jesus is actually trying to tell us to place our trust in Him in all things? You see, if someone attacks you in order to take from you something he desires, God is more than able to replace what you have lost. I believe, in most cases, the Lord will give us even more or better than what we have lost. The reality is, trusting God in all things can be one of the most freeing activities one can undertake. When I completely and absolutely trust the Lord with everything I have–all of my possessions, all of my fears, doubts, and wants–I no longer need to protect them. Everything we own we tend to want to protect and care for, yet once we surrender them to God, we become free from that responsibility. Think about it, if God owns the things I care for, then anyone who desires to take them is taking them from Him, not me! While I may be able to inflict momentary pain upon him, the God of the universe is capable of inflicting eternal misery! Now, while it is not about who can inflict the most pain, it can be somewhat comforting to know this truth. The greater lesson here for us is to become able to let go and let God care for everything in our lives. To come to a place where we are able to trust Him for not only our provision but our protection, as well, is an amazing achievement. I would implore you to trust the Lord with all you have and all you aspire to have. He takes great care of things and the utmost care of you. He is worthy of your trust! MY PRAYER Father, I would ask You give me the faith and confidence to trust You with, and in, all things. I pray I would let go and let You take care of every aspect of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

No Need to Beg

“BEGGING NEVER IMPRESSES GOD; TRUSTING HIM ALWAYS WILL.” “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matt. 6:7-8). Prayer should never look like a shopping list. Prayer is the cry of our hearts coming through our mouths and to the ears of God. As our prayers pass through the stages from inception in our hearts to the speaking of our lips, hopefully, there is much thought and feeling accompanying them. I believe the Lord would have us hear and consider our own prayers as much as we would have Him consider them. There have been far too many occasions upon which I have prayed something, and the moment it comes out of my mouth, I question why I would ever ask such a thing. How is it, when the thought was in my heart, it made perfect sense? Yet now, I’m embarrassed to have spoken it. Sometimes, it would do us well to think a little longer before we pray and maybe spend more time just thanking God for what He has done. One of the more annoying things I witness in life is the child who seems to never stop asking for something from their parent. On recent occasion, and far too often, I see children simply asking, without a breath, over and over the same question: “Daddy can I?” or “Mommy can I?” followed by something they desire–more than likely not what is best for them. I often wonder, “When will this child breathe?” as he continues without ceasing until receiving the desired response. The key is, if you ask enough and become rude enough about it, the parent will become annoyed enough with your persistence to simply say yes, often not even knowing what he is saying yes to. The child now sees, by begging and being an annoyance, he can get whatever he wants, and all the while the parent cannot understand what is wrong with his child. Aren’t you glad God is not like these parents, and He doesn’t give in to our begging and complaining? I for one am elated because far too often I have begged and pleaded with God for something I simply could not live without, only to find later it was not what was best for me. God wants us to understand He is sovereign and He knows what is best for us, so, as we will soon see, it is always best to simply surrender to His will and trust He hears us and loves us. MY PRAYER Father, may I be content with all You determine is best for me and avoid the temptation to beg for things that may not be. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Peace Comes at a Cost

“PEACE COMES AT A COST, BUT THE PRICE IS NEVER TOO HIGH; AFTER ALL, IT HAS BEEN PAID.” “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). Oh, to be called a son of God. Who would not choose or desire to be recognized as a child of the One who cast the stars from His fingertips, controls time, created all living things, and has dominion over all of the heavens? We might say, “Who wouldn’t?” Yet when God chose to manifest Himself on this planet in the form of His Son Jesus Christ, many chose not to. Sadly, this pattern continues on today across the world. One key, they are not peacemakers. What does this have to do with salvation, you ask? Nothing at all: it has to do with sacrifice. Wow, now I have you thinking (it’s OK; I’m scratching my head as well)! Peacemaking comes with sacrifice and cannot be found without it. Peacemaker here is defined as “one who makes peace by reconciliation” so in order to make peace, there must be those who are at odds. Could it be Jesus was speaking to us about those who were at odds with God as well as those who were at odds with each other? Think about it, you are a peacemaker if you can show a person lost in sin the pathway to salvation! Have you ever known a sinner who was not in some way at odds with God? Of course not: it is impossible not to be at odds with God unless your sins are covered in the blood of Jesus. Wow! I never really thought about this until today–the ultimate peace–salvation through Christ, allowing me to be called a son of God. But I thought when I got saved I became a son of God. You did. Our lives lived through Christ should cause us to be makers of peace, lights in a dark world, revealers of turmoil–one who provides hope for the lost, friends to the friendless, and sources of joy for the downtrodden. Recently, my family and I spent an evening at our friend’s Country Inn. There was no moon, and we were in the shadow of the mountain. It was pitch black after the sun went down. Yet I noticed as soon as the sun disappeared and darkness took hold, every path became illuminated so brightly you couldn’t help but find your way. As a matter of fact, the only way to experience darkness was to step off the path. I see us very much that way in this world, people who can choose to follow the path or choose to step off. I said earlier peace does not come without sacrifice. Let’s explore that thought for a moment–the most obvious, of course, is peace with God cannot be found without the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Second, in order to lead others to peace, we must sacrifice our pride, and third, in order to maintain peace, we must all sacrifice our flesh. Maybe you attempted one or all, and possibly you have and failed–keep trying. Maybe you are one who has succeeded–stay on guard and never give up–you are a child of God. Be encouraged! MY PRAYER Father, help us to be peacemakers for You in a world filled with turmoil. Teach us to be humble, upright, and joyful, even when we don’t want to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Honor your Parents

Honor your Parents With Mothers Day upon us (and Fathers day quickly approaching), my mind has been focused upon exactly what it is that the Word of God calls me to do as a child in regards to my parents. The immediate answer for me was found in Exodus 20:12 and countless other scriptures; “honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” This word honor means to abound, give glory, to be glorious, to make glorious, to bring honor and to honor, to be abundantly grateful! This scripture and it’s reality has caused me to seek out what I would or could do to honor my Mother and Father. By way of explanation and assistance let me digress for one moment in regards to deceased parents, as my own biological father has long since moved to heaven. Even though your parent(s) may be deceased your obligation to honor them has not ceased, we are to honor our parents for life. Now back to honoring our parents: how do we do this, how do we honor the ones who gave us life? For some this task can seem rather easy and mundane after all if you view your parents with a Godly attitude it is easy to honor them, it’s comes natural. When viewing through the eyes of the Holy Spirit and through the covering of the Blood of the Lamb you see them as Christ sees them. However for most people I have met in life the opposite remains to be far more truthful. I hear far more people complaining about the mistakes their parent(s) have made, statements like you have no idea what they have done, or how mean they were, or in todays society how bad my stepparent is. And while I would not intend to discount or give approval to un-godly actions by parents or stepparents, I do not see anywhere in the word where there is an exception to honoring those who gave us life and instruction. There is nowhere I know of that license is given for anyone to judge their parents. The weight and responsibility of being a parent is something that no one who has not experienced it can truly imagine. The trials that are faced as children progress through various ages, hormonal changes, and so much more cannot be appreciated in the least by one who has not experienced each of these stages. The reality is a child will never understand the challenges parents face every day until they themselves face those same challenges. Therefore the parents will always have greater wisdom and understanding in parenting because the last time I checked no child was ever able to have children prior to their own birth. Yes there is much truth to the saying that “the older I get the smarter my parents become”. The reality is the more you experience the more you truly understand the challenges faced by mom and Dad. While your parent(s) may not be perfect they are the perfect parents for you, after all God chose them to bring you life! Therefore today would be a good day to put away your judgments, your accusations, your failed expectations, your emotional hurts and pains and accept this very truth; “honor your father and your mother”, if for no other reason because God commands you to. Honor them in life and in death, both biological and those by other means, today honor you mother! Don’t text her, call her, don’t just send a card, send some love, be a blessing to the ones who gave you your life! It is high time that each of us stops taking credit for whom we are and who we have become and give credit where credit is do. After all none of us would be here and none of us would be who we are unless God had given them to us, and allowed them to not be perfect, but rather to do the very best they could or can with what they had or have. The blessing truly will be yours! Pastor Gene Burroughs Missio Dei Ministries www.missiodeinavarre.org PS: I apologize for any grammar or spelling errors I felt an urgency to deliver this word today without the help of my wonderful editor Patricia Cole.

Mercy

“ANYONE CAN JUDGE; ONLY THE MERCIFUL CAN FORGIVE.” “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7). One thing I know, I am a man in need of mercy, also known as compassion. I am one who would ask others to consider the circumstances surrounding my situation before judging me for where I am. We are all failed beings in a hard land attempting to reach the other side; yet how quickly we forget. As a child in my grandmother’s home, I remember very clearly a small picture frame on a side table in her living room, and in it were written these words, “Father, let me walk a mile in my brother’s moccasins before I judge him.” The word mercy here means to be compassionate, caring, or to come along side of. One thing I am certain of, we could all use a little more mercy and compassion. Why, you ask? It seems most of us on this journey through life truly are seeking for others to come along side us. People who care enough to listen and not judge, to hold up our arms, to show us mercy; yet for me, it is all too often a struggle to do this for others. The flesh is constantly battling the heart: all too quick to judge, easily offended; yet rarely patient and kind. Therefore, the giving of mercy in my own life must be purposed; I must commit to it and even plan for it. As a child, every time we were in a vehicle, my father was yelling at other drivers. After all, every action others took was directly related to their desire to discomfort him. If you cut him off, it was because you intended to; after all, it seemed as if you had set out that day with a plan to find him and ruin his day. However, life has taught me a few lessons about people. First of all, no one is going to waste his time planning to mess up my day. Now, while the devil may use people to do so, my frustration should be leveled at him, not the people. Secondly, I have learned other people just like me have constant challenges–doctor appointments, ball games, dance lessons, school meetings, jobs, birthday parties, holidays, and loved ones in need–all of which contribute to the confusion in their lives. Oh, you mean it’s really not all about me? One afternoon my daughter and I were heading to town, and in the rear view mirror I watched as a car approached us at a very high speed, erratically weaving in and out of traffic. As the car passed us, the driver promptly cut us off and then reduced her speed so quickly I had to change lanes to keep from hitting her. My mind went rampant: what was wrong with this person, how could she be so stupid? There was no off-ramp, no reason to do that, and of course I vocally expressed my frustration in front of my daughter. As we began to pass the car, it became quickly apparent the woman driving was very distraught and crying profusely, and then the Spirit convicted me. Was she on her way to the hospital, and was her driving a result of some terrible event? Yet in that moment I made it all about me, completely ignoring the needs of my fellow man! My daughter and I began to pray after I openly repented and asked both her and my Lord for forgiveness. Yes, people are selfish, rude, and unruly. Yes, they do foolish things. Yes, Jesus died for all of them. And yes, I, too, am one of them. Wouldn’t you like to receive mercy? “To give is better than to receive,” and Christ might add, ‘and if you do, you will.’ Would you today and every day attempt to give more of the gift of mercy, the gift of not getting what you deserve? MY PRAYER Father, help us to be givers of mercy, to set ourselves aside and allow You to help us see what You see in the people around us. Give us mercy Lord, I pray. Amen.

Walk in Forgiveness

“ANYONE CAN WALK IN GUILT; ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS CAN WALK IN FORGIVENESS.” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6). Once again, we see a two-part promise in the Word: first, divine joy for the believer, if we would only crave or have an urgent need or ardent desire for the gift of righteousness, translated as freedom from guilt and sin; and secondly, we would be filled and fattened, in other words, completely satisfied. Jesus is telling us, His people, if we will crave His righteousness, He will fill us to the point of being fattened with that very righteousness. How cool is that? The God of all creation says, ‘If you will crave freedom from sin, freedom from shame, freedom from guilt, then I will give you so much you will be stuffed.’ So much so every cavity within us will be filled with that very righteousness! Do you know what freedom from guilt and sin can do? If you do, I would daresay you are already craving it; if not, maybe this will help. When I was very young, I saw things I knew only God could do–there was no human explanation or power that could cause the miracles I saw. Therefore, I have always known there is a God who created all living things and that He is alive and well. I have even experienced a number of physical healings in my own life and have been blessed with praying for others and seeing the miraculous. However, even though I had experienced these physical manifestations of God’s holy power, the battle in my head over my past sins and present shortcomings more often than not clouded my ability to walk in the divine joy of a true and complete healing. My mind was often in torment with guilt. Then came the day where Christ showed me how I was allowing guilt to prevent His will from being fulfilled in my life. I was so busy repenting for old and long-forgiven sin I rarely had time to pray for or help others in their walk. I was literally crippled by guilt. Once this was revealed, it became evident I had been stealing from Christ, yes, stealing! I was taking back those very sins He had bought and paid for, and since they were no longer mine, I had become a thief! I would never advocate not asking for forgiveness of sin or facing the consequences of sin, but I would ask you this, “Are you a thief?” If so, repent and move on. Christ died for our guilt as well as our sin–let Him have it and move on. Get hungry for His righteousness, and you will walk in the true fullness of forgiveness; something satan never wants to see in you. MY PRAYER Father, forgive me for wrongly, yet not purposely, taking back the guilt that no longer belongs to me. I ask You would heal me Lord and release the full power of forgiveness in my life. Amen.

In the Boat or On the Water

"Cheerleaders, Spectators, and Sidewalk Coaches." For quite some time, my wife Deborah and I have been encouraging people to get out of the boat to join us; after all, the water truly is fine. However, due to recent conversations with my creator, I have truly realized getting out of the boat is not the greatest of challenges or achievements. No, it is the letting go of the boat that truly is the greatest act of faith. I find that, while we have taken the first step by obeying the Lord and stepping out of the boat, we still hang on to the gunnels. Our security has been to continue my grasp upon the boat, should we begin to sink. Well, I am happy and eager to say that we have let go of the boat we are all in, and yes, the water is rather nice. The only chill in our spine is the fear and doubt in us—not from the water or from the Savior who stands before and beside us. The only fear comes from the fact that we feel alone on the water. We have plenty in the boat cheering us on, but if it looks as if we are having fun, why are so few jumping in? Oh yes, I understand people call us radical, and many say they wish they had our faith, yet where does this faith come from? Faith to let go of the boat to begin to do things that make no worldly sense is birthed from a heart and passion that is so sold out for Jesus nothing else in this world matters. For those of us who step out, there is never a shortage of cheerleaders and sidewalk coaches, and while they may feel they are doing all they can, the reality is most wish they had the ability to join us on our walk. So, what is it that stops man from stepping out, letting go, and completely trusting God? Is it a lack of faith in the belief that God can and will forgive and bless them? Is it a lack of trust or the ability to believe in something they cannot see over the reality of what they do see? In Mark 6:52, the writer states that the disciples were fearful and marveled at Jesus' ability to walk on the water and calm the seas. They had not understood about the loaves because their hearts were hardened. Jesus had just fed 5,000 men plus their wives and children with five loaves of bread and two fishes—nothing short of a miracle. Could it be, even though they had seen, they could not believe? Could it be they, like countless have done since, discounted this miracle and assumed that somehow enough loaves and fishes appeared (possibly from under the tunics of the people) to feed so many and have 12 baskets left over? Could it be that they had seen so many miracles they had become complacent and somewhat numb to them? Had they hung around Jesus so long they just expected such happenings? Or could it simply be that, because they had not yet seen Him defeat death, they simply had only enough faith to be spectators? The answer, according to the Word, was "because their hearts were hardened." How is your heart? I do not write nor challenge to cause a frenzy of people jumping out of the boat because of emotion or guilt. I write these things because remaining in the boat is what most people will do; thus, they miss out on the joy and the fullness of walking in faith. You see, being a cheerleader, a fan, or a sidewalk coach truly requires little effort. I buy my ticket; I choose a seat. I break out my comfy stadium chair, maybe throw on a blanket, and grab some refreshments and watch the happenings. I remain comfortable, satisfied, and refreshed; cheering on or offering advice to those engaged in the battle. I see every mistake they make (and offer advice). I see every pitfall they are not aware of, and I often desire to get down there and show them how it's done. The problem, however, is life is not a game; it is a battle. It is a battle for our very souls and the souls of every person on this planet created by God, and if no one jumps out of the boat, the battle is lost. I do not write to judge; I do not write to point fingers. I write simply to ask you this: "If you are still in the boat, why?" If you are choosing to remain a spectator in Christianity, what are you doing to help those who are in the battle? The battle is not won in the ongoing gatherings of believers in a comfy, quiet country club atmosphere, safe, secure, comfortable, and unchallenging; no, the battle is won deep inside our own hearts and minds. It is won when our flesh is defeated and the Spirit is in control and people of this world are being impacted because of it. The battle is won when those who believe shine so bright in Christ that those who have yet to believe cannot help but be impacted, drawn in, and desire that which we have. The battle is won not in the boat; the battle is won on the water. The battle is won not by cheerleaders and spectators; it is won by those determined to keep their eyes on Jesus and move. I wish, I will, I want, I will when—these are all simple words and phrases without meaning or worth. The true worth and power comes in the doing; the obedience of faith. No, it's not easy, and yes, I do understand, but don't look to me or any other man—look to Jesus. Your eyes must remain on Him, and He will see you through; after all, He did promise to! Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Navarre, www.missiodeinavarre.org

God Can Carry the World

“GOD CAN CARRY THE WORLD–WE CAN ONLY LIVE IN IT.” “Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted" (Matt. 5:4). This short little passage had always puzzled me. I have often asked myself why Jesus would talk about mourning in the beatitudes. Is there more to it than the extreme pain we experience when we lose a loved one, or is that alone enough of a reason? In October 2009, my first wife of thirty-one years was diagnosed with terminal cancer; just seven months later she went to be with the Lord. We mourned. But not everyone has experienced such pain, and Jesus is here for all, so maybe there are other forms of mourning. Maybe He’s also speaking of the intense emotional pain we can’t help but feel when a loved one makes poor choices in life or the feelings of separation when a loved one has gone off to war or a foreign land to serve in missions. It could even be the pain of our children moving on, possibly out of the area and taking our grandchildren with them, the hurt in our hearts when we see the abuse of children, and so on. Yes, the loss of a loved one is painful, yet so is all of life–if we care–and daily we mourn for the loved ones around us and seek comfort in one form or another. Jesus is telling us in this passage we will be comforted. What great hope we have, yet what is this comfort He speaks of? Is it financial, emotional or physical, and is it miraculous or mundane? The word comforted here is best translated as “to call to one’s side, to summon.” This is the promise for us in Christ: when we mourn He will come to our aid, He will stand by our side, and He will comfort us! Can there be a greater peace than to know the God who created the heavens and the earth and the great seas and stars is coming to our aid in time of need? After my wife’s death, I would often awake in the night crying out for comfort, for a touch, and on every occasion He was there. Often we struggle with such a concept: our worthiness, His ability, or questions like, “Why trouble such a great God with my trivial pain?” Yet He is asking today, ‘Why not?’ Jesus is telling us, if you mourn, you will be comforted–just like that. And even though we want to read much more into it and come up with a hundred what ifs, how about just accepting His promise for what it is–a promise? I would ask today, “Are you ready to admit your hurts and receive the comfort of the great King, or maybe you know someone else who is struggling with this promise today?” If so, take action; after all, it is His promise. As a side note, let me add this: the Lord, knowing my pain from the loss of my wife, knowing my need for companionship, love, and support for my children, brought me new love. He comforted me and He will do the same for you. Father God, may we accept Your truths, walk in Your promises, and receive gladly the gifts You have for each of us. Amen.