A Case For Jesus!

Where do you stand? Is Jesus who He says He is or was he just a good man and a good moral teacher? There are still millions of people today who have no idea who Jesus is and many, who if they have heard of Him, don't subscribe to His claims of being the Son of God.

When you have an hour to investigate the claims of Jesus for yourself I encourage you to watch this movie by Lee Strobel.




Lee was educated at the University of Missouri (Bachelor of Journalism degree, 1974) and Yale Law School (Master of Studies in Law degree, 1979). He was a professional journalist for 14 years at The Chicago Tribune and other newspapers, winning Illinois' top honors for investigative reporting (which he shared with a team he led) and public service journalism from United Press International.

After a nearly two-year investigation of the evidence for Jesus, Lee received Christ as his forgiver and leader in 1981.

Who Built This Thing Anyway?

I had a lengthy conversation a few days back with a co-worker while we were traveling to Eugene regarding the existence of God and whether or not we are created beings or that Darwin was correct in his theories of adaptation, evolution, and the "tree of life."

He asked me how on earth (no pun intended) I could believe that the world came into being by a Creator. So to make a several hour conversation short, I will try to share my thoughts about it here briefly. It began with the word faith... and moved on from there.

I used the example of the locomotive we were riding in. The reason I know that the locomotive was real and created by someone was because there were tangible things I could see and understand that made be believe that the locomotive was built by a creator.

The first tangible item I said was the fact the locomotive had a set of plans. Documentation that explained how it was built... kind of like the Bible in regards to creation. The second reason I knew it was created was the fact that, yes there were many different elements that were involved in the building process, there is no way it could have assembled itself. Even if over time all of the parts were in a warehouse and the winds picked up, I can assure you that it would never put itself together. And thirdly I informed him I can experience the locomotive. I touch its cold hard steel frame, I can see the colors of yellow and red and black and so on, and I hear and smell it. The loud rumble when the huge 4000 horsepower diesel engine turns on and the exhaust fumes spewing from the top.

I explained that creation is exactly the same for me. I have a book that documents the entire creation account from day one to day seven. It tells me how and when all that is created came into existence. I can see creation with my own eyes and hear it with my ears. I see how all the glory of it points to an intelligent designer who must have created it all for a purpose. And lastly, I experience God for myself. I experience Him in my heart and in my mind and in my spirit.

When you look at all the intricacies of the human body and the cells and other parts that make it up, it is impossible to see how we could have ever come from some primordial soup 15 billion years ago. There is absolutely no way that all of the amino acids that form protiens could have ever accumulated in such a way as to even make a protein... let alone the hundreds required to keep one cell going. I am no scientist and I don't play one on tv so I won't try to get into the whole science part, but, just after looking around and understanding the science piece, everything tells me that God created the universe and that I suppose it just takes faith.

So after we went back and forth for a few hours... he responded back, "I guess I am too analytical to have that kind of faith. Faith has always been a problem for me..."

I tried Lord! Now I guess the rest is in your hands.

Faith is a funny thing sometimes. Paul tells us in Galatians that we live by faith in the Son of God.

Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (nasb)

So what exactly is faith? How does it work and can I get more of it? The New Believer's Bible Glossary defines it this way: FAITH; A firm conviction that produces a full acknowledgment of God's truth; a belief and hope in God and his Word in response to the message of salvation (see John 1:12). Having a certainty in what you hope for even though you may not be able to see it (see Hebrews 11:1-40).

Faith is not just a decision we make with our minds to believe something but a conviction in our entire being that something is true. It starts out small and as time goes on our faith grows because we see the consistencies of God being revealed to us over and over again. And as it grows we just acquire more and more faith in the things of God.

If our knowledge of God is simply head knowledge and analysis then we will not be able to sustain our faith when we encounter various trials that may question whether or not God cares for us or whether or not He was even around during this particular difficulty.

Faith can be a challenge sometimes as well. When we spend our lives daily in His Word getting to know God, our faith will be increased and we can live more fully the way He intended for us to live. As far as those around us... it is hard sometimes to explain this faith to them and all we can do is pray that God turns their heart of stone into a heart of clay one day.

Psa 19:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. (nasb)

Psa 8:3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; (nasb)

Col 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. (nasb)

Make Disciples of All The Nations

Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (nasb)

Go and make disciples of all the nations... Jesus makes this command to His disciples at the end of the book of Matthew. He instructs them in many things throughout the entire Gospel of Matthew and He ends on this one note... to make disciples of every nation baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Now I know it is quite impractical for each one of us to go all about like the disciples did to evangelize the nations, but I do believe we all can play a part in reaching the unreached people throughout the world. There are many ways we can be a part of this great commandment from Jesus and not have to become a missionary ourselves.

Here are just a few ideas:

• Prayerfully support the missionaries in your church.
• Send love offerings to them and give them gifts from your resources that they are requesting to build their churches and community.
• Offer to translate portions of text if you have a native language that has no written Scripture.
• Write letters and encourage them during their time away.
• When they get home give them a place to stay and offer to help them get back into the swing of things by working with them through some of the day to day events. Depending on how long a missionary is gone, things may be quite different when they get back.

Let's all make reaching the unreached people of this world a priority for Jesus sake. We all need Him and His love regardless of our culture, economic status, or location of which we were born. And remember one last thing, He is with you always, even to the end of the age!

Lord give me a heart to do more for the unreached people groups around the world. Especially for those in the 10/40 window. You are an amazing God who works His ways through your people. Let us today be those people. In Jesus name!

May Our Words Be Acceptable!

Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

Today I am reminded to keep my mouth and my heart acceptable in the sight of the Lord. James chapter 3 tells us that our tongue is a small member of the body capable of great destruction.

Jas 3:5-6 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. (nasb)

So today, let us keep our heart focused on Him and our mouth will not only be acceptable in His sight, but a blessing to others as well. Remember that James goes on to tell us in verse 8 that "no one can tame the tongue." Well, at least not without the grace of God... no matter how hard we try to keep from it, the tongue can perform such great destruction.

Lord, we ask today for your spirit to fill our hearts so we will speak words of encouragement and blessing to others and give you the praise you so much deserve.

Be Filled With The Spirit, Not Drunk With Wine

Eph 5:15-20 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; (nasb)

I had a really good conversation with my oldest son yesterday. After swimming with the current in the river of worldliness, he was called back to the Lord about 14 months ago. He has really been asking provocative questions regarding his faith lately and yesterday was no exception. As with many of us, he is concerned that his attitudes and feelings towards others and his sinful behavior will negate his Christian faith and keep him from eternal living. I believe it is a problem of equating good works with sanctification.

In our conversation he asked whether or not he was saved if he found himself being critical of some people he encounters and when he sins. He was also not completely clear what we mean when Lori and I tell him that the fruit of the Christian walk comes from being in Christ and not by simply trying to be a good person.

As I listened to Lori discuss this with Him I was compelled to share what it meant to be in Christ in a way he might understand more easily, so she handed me the telephone. Here is how I described it to him... Now keep in mind, he is almost twenty one so I thought this analogy might be of some use...

Think of a time in your life where you were at a party and people were consuming alcohol. There were those who drank a small amount and the effects of the alcohol were minimal to the way they acted. There were those who drank moderately and the effects were even greater, and those who drank so much that it was obvious that they were under the influence and all they did and said was affected by their filling up on the alcohol. He said he got that part... ok, next I told him to visualize the ones who pretended to be drinking. They may act like they have similar characteristics as the ones who are drunk, but everyone knows it is an act and eventually they can't pretend any longer. He got it...

I said to now equate that to being filled with Christ rather than being filled with alcohol. There are those who dabble a little in the Word or moderately read and apply the Bible and their life sort of reflects it. There are those who act like they know God and attempt good deeds because they want to look like a good Christian, and then there are those who are so consumed by the Word of God that everything they do is a reflection of them being bathed in the Word...

"Now," he said, "I think I really get it."

So I said to him, "Spend your energy and effort falling in love with God and your actions and attitudes towards others will come from there, not the other way around."

Often we try so hard to be good that we miss out on spending time filling ourselves with Christ and allowing the goodness of God to just naturally flow out of us. As I encouraged Nick yesterday, I too was encouraged by the Word of God. Fill yourselves with the Spirit of God and do not get drunk with wine...

Lord, please help me to put aside the many distractions in my day and make more time to fill myself with your Spirit. I want to bless others and I know that if I do it out of my own strength it is simply works, but if I do it through your spirit it is the fruit of my salvation. Paul tells us in Romans that we are justified by our faith and not by our works lest we boast and suffer the judgment of God. Help me Lord to focus my attention on my faith and let you do a good work through me.

Fear Him Who Can Sendeth To Hell

Let's play a little game... When I say God, you say ... Love. God is love. We learn this very early on in our Christian walk and it is the glue that bonds us to the Savior. One of the first scriptures a new believer memorizes is John 3:16; "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." The love of God is preeminent in the life of a Christian and should dictate everything we do. So knowing this amazing truth, where does fear fit into the equation?

In the tenth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus is with His twelve disciples giving them many instructions. He tells them to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and make disciples. Jesus says to preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and instructs them to heal the sick and raise the dead. And he also tells them to not fear those who can kill the body but rather fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell. (Mat 10:28)

It is not the schemes and attacks of man we are to fear, but we are to fear God himself. The one who can rightly punish us for our transgressions and cast out the sinner for all of eternity apart from Him. Why would a loving and merciful Savior tell his disciples to fear him? Isn't that like telling your child, "I love you son but remember one thing, I brought you into this world and I can take you out!"

To fear God is to have a deep respect and understanding of His holiness and grace. When we come to terms with our sinful condition and that we are not able to stand in His presence because of it, the fear of the wrath of God should motivate us to cry out to Him to save us. Some people say that fear is the great motivator. Others believe that motivation through fear is abuse and only positive things should motivate us. Regardless of your world view on the subject, one thing remains... Jesus tells us to fear the Lord.

John Bunyan puts it this way. "Christian, let God's distinguishing love to you be a motive to you to fear Him greatly. He has put His fear in your heart, and may not have given that blessing to your neighbor, perhaps not to your husband, your wife, your child, or your parent. Oh, what an obligation should this thought lay upon your heart to greatly fear the Lord! Remember also that this fear of the Lord is His treasure, a choice jewel, given only to favorites, and to those who are greatly beloved."

The fear of God is not something that should cause us to run from Him and hide, but rather, draw us closer to Him for protection. Moses tells the people of Israel that "God came in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin." (Exo 20:20) And second Corinthians tells us (2Co 7:1) Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The fear of the Lord should motivate our lives. It keeps us from sin, it gives us a reverence for His holiness, and the fear of the Lord puts God back where He belongs in our life; into the center of it. God's perfect love is countered with His perfect justice and when He calls us into relationship with Him we avoid the wrath we deserve because of the justification we have in Jesus Christ. Live rightly before Him and fear Him and you will be counted worthy of the promise of Heaven.

Mat 10:28-32 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. "So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. (nasb)

When All Hell Breaks Loose

Hab 3:17-19 Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds' feet, And makes me walk on my high places. (nasb)

A common phrase I remember hearing many times in my life was, "when all hell breaks loose." Does it ever feel like all of hell has broken loose in your life and everything seems to be chaos wherever you turn?

Every time I read the local and world news I see the effects of calamity all around us. Father's killing their children, natural disasters such as the horrendous devastation we have seen in the country of Haiti and to its people, and the seemingly relentless famine throughout the world. It is very easy to get caught up in all the devastation and turmoil as we go through each and every day and become distracted from the joy of the Lord.

These verses in chapter three of the book of Habakkuk offer us a different perspective to the subject of turmoil and difficulty in our life. Rather than allowing our difficult circumstances to cause us to question the existence of a mighty God, we shall exult and rejoice in Him during these times. Exultation during times of suffering is quite foreign in our culture. We have been so programmed to think that God is there to make our life full of joy and happiness by eliminating hardship rather than walking along side of us during it. We often forget that the entire Bible is filled with men and women of God who, during much turmoil in their life, continue to give their exultation to the Lord.

To exult means to find extreme happiness or elation. To be jubilant and full of rejoicing. To exult in something reminds me of the phrase to "leap for joy." All of the great suffering aside, there are so many little things that also seem to steal our joy and cause us to blame God and completely put aside rejoicing. Conflicts at work, difficulties in our marriage or with our children, even a long line of traffic sometimes gets us to be negative and frustrated. I am guilty myself of being frustrated many times throughout the day in little things that mean absolutely nothing but steal my joy of the Lord and cause me to grumble rather than exult in the Lord.

So, how do we exult in the Lord daily even when it seems difficult to find God, let alone rejoice in Him?

Rom 5:1-5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (nasb)

The first step I believe is to have peace with God. Romans 5:1 says having been justified by faith we have peace with God. If we truly understand our sinful condition before a righteous and holy God and know the grace that He shows us by justifying us through Christ, the natural response is to rejoice in Him. Through faith alone God has justified us. He has made us holy and blameless before Him and we now are able to come into his presence forgiven and righteous ourselves because of the cross. Because of this we exult in Him. Now, onto tribulations and difficulties...

When our heart is focused on Him and on our righteousness that has been granted to us through faith, we are able to see tribulation as a way to strengthen our faith in Him rather than detract from it. Tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance proven character, and proven character hope... The thing that most defines a believer in Christ from one who does not believe is hope. There is hope for the followers of Christ. Hope in things present and things to come. Hope that God is good and will prosper us. Hope that He will turn all things to good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Hope that we have an inheritance in Him for a future glory that we haven't seen yet. Hope, hope, hope. Without the hope in God we are almost certain to find the daily frustrations, the natural disasters, and the increased famine and hardships as hopeless.

God doesn't promise us that our cupboards will be full, that our bank account will have money in it, or that we will live to be a ripe old age. But he does promise us that He will always be with us, (Deut 31:6), that he will provide for all that we need, (Phil 4:18-19), and that He will fill us with joy and peace so that we will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)

God is good, period. But in order to bathe in His goodness when we get completely frustrated and all of hell seems to be breaking loose around us, we need to make Him the most important thing in our life. I pray that you ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit today and give you a heart of exultation to Him that results in His glorious praise. Peace doesn't occur because of our efforts, but because He grants us the Holy Spirit in our lives to give us the strength to make it happen.

Rely on His strength to do a good work in your life and turn your heart and praise to Him.