Year: 2019

“God said to me.”

Pastor Glen Church , , , ,

Say what?  She showed me her grocery list.  Written in pencil I could see peanut butter, oil, cheerios etc.  A typical list of about 20 items.  You could see the gray streaks of erase marks where items were deleted completely and others were substituted items.  With timbre of doubt, “So you pray over your grocery list, and God tells you what to purchase and what not to?” I asked.  Her response was, “Absolutely!”

God does speak to believers, but what do we mean by that?

I never intend to judge what a believer may receive from God, but sometimes I wonder if what they are saying is what I am hearing.   We have heard it from our pastors, friends, and so many others, “Well God told me or God said to me.”  Would it not be fun, for us to create a small group and pose the question, “Can you give me a play by play, maybe an actual breakdown of what exactly happened when you heard God speak?” Because I know when God said, “Let there be light, and there was light,” a gaseous giant a 1,000,000 earths could fit inside, was formed in a void of nothing that is currently systematically using nuclear fusion to convert hydrogen to helium at light speed producing heat up to 15,000,000 degrees Celsius.  So, I have got to know what this same God said to you! 

I have no doubt I am guilty at some time or another that I have said something along those lines, “I asked God and he said…”  And some may get the impression that a beam of light from heaven came to earth, lightning struck, the angel Gabriel puts his hand on my back, and a loud audible Morgan Freeman sounding voice says to me, “Yes, my son, choose the Chalupa Box, it’s a better deal than the #2.”  And one may ask, “Why can’t I hear God like that?” 

Sometimes I am like Kevin Malone.

I have never heard an audible voice of God, but I will at times default to my Christian cliché collection and play the “God spoke to me,” card.  No doubt my “well you know what I mean” sound byte could very likely not be known to the listener.  This listener might assume that a loud voice connected via spiritual blue tooth gave me clear and concise instructions about my situation. No doubt God does communicate to us, move us, clarify to us, counsel us, drive us, push us, persuade us…SPEAKS to us, but what does that look like, sound like, feel like?  I had a similar question posed to me this week.  “Should a believer be scared when he or she spends time with the Lord and does not hear from Him?”

Simple answer: NOPE.

The best way to know what God is saying is to go back to what He said. What I mean by that is God will never ever move you, tell you, instruct you to do, say, be anything that contradicts the truth of scripture.  The number one way to know what God is saying is to know the Word.  The Word of God is Jesus come to earth.  So we could not only hear from God but to see him, touch him, smell him, and listen to him.   This is how you get to know Him.  You will begin hearing more from God when you speak about him from the context of a lifelong friend in contrast to a third person description or story about Him. 

The best way to know what God is saying is to go back to what He said.

START HERE:  A suggestion: 

1. Go to place where you most likely will not be disturbed.   That can be a public place, as long as you put both earbuds in. 

2.  Listen to one of your favorite worship songs.  Then answer these two questions.

          a.  Why is that one of my favorites

          b.  Who is God in this song. 

          c. BibleGateway a scripture that has to do with the “Who God is” in the song.  Does the song mention that that God is sufficient to meet your needs? The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot. (Psalm 16:5, NASB)

Is God giving his strength to the believer in this song? The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.(Psalm 28:7, NASB)

Sincerity does not equate to Maturity

To be clear, I am just suggesting the above as one way out of many to spend some time getting to know God.   Get to know HIM!  God’s “communique” with us is rarely a crazy out of left field surprise.  Most of the time we already kinda, sorta, know what he is saying, and it’s our time with him in the word and worship that what we thought is now confirmed.  You cannot expect an intimate conversation from a surface relationship with God.  Therefore always be leery of the that guy who tells you all the things God tells them, yet their passion for Bible study and preaching of the word is almost nil.  They may be emotional…but that does not equate to spiritual.   As you get to know God, he can be that kind friend that you can ride 45 minutes with and neither has to say a thing.  You can find the joy of being with God, you don’t always have to be taking short hand on his new directives that will guide you through your next 10 years of life experiences.  God’s interest in you is much more in the NOW than the LATER anyway.  You don’t have to worry about taking a wrong turn, because if Google maps can reroute you, certainly God can too. 

Don’t pressure yourself to try to find the right sequence or string of alone time events for God to react like when Aladdin rubbed the magic lamp.  There is no pressure on you to perform, but rather conform (Rom 12:1-2)  to the truth of who he is and then and only then will you “hear him.” 

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Surrender

Pastor Glen Family

pastor Glen Moore

Fill in the blank:

1.  When with my main circle of friends I am the ________________.  (Examples: shot caller, comedian, laid back one, quiet one, center of attention, most difficult, spender, most reserved, most vocal, one invited last, one invited first, peace maker etc.)

2.  In my family I am the __________. (problem person, peace maker, follower, leader, bossy one, ignored one, star or bright spot, black sheep, irresponsible one, responsible one, dependable one, authority, sensitive one, angry one etc.)

3.  Overall I think of myself as _____________. (loyal, haunted, fearful, dangerous, friendly, smart, funny, sarcastic, responsible, generous, angry, hungry, suspicious, dependable, a go getter, a follower, misunderstood, the fixer, a nobody, a somebody, a somebody but currently unrecognized, burdened, sad, a diamond in the rough etc.)

My Identity

If you took time to choose an adjective to describe yourself in each blank, then maybe you see that your role or identity is different depending on the situation.  Did you have any that were opposites?  I wonder do you like what you put in the blanks or did you sense a “spurt” of discomfort or dread with each answer you gave.  You play a role in each situation and that roll often becomes our identity. Your identity then can become a perpetual expectation.  And that expectation can be internal, external or both.  Do you sometimes feel like you “multi-identity disorder?” (I made that word up, not a part of the DSM) 

What would you say if I told you that the Bible has some truth about your roles and expectations?  What would you say if I told you, YOU CAN BE FREE FROM THE IDENTITY CRISIS?

Go with me on this little journey.  Don’t judge, but this is about Judas.  You are not Judas in that  you would betray God for money, then again maybe you would and that would suck for you.  Moving on, don’t just “identify” Judas as the great betrayer, but rather seek to understand why he did what he did.  It is clear that Judas betrayed Jesus, and it is important to believe the Bible when it portrays that as SIN.  It was sin, sinful, hurtful, disobedient, wrong, bad, ugly and a lot more.  In no way am I justifying Judas’ betrayal nor am I tolerating his actions, but I do want to try to understand.  For even Judas himself has an identity all through the scriptures.

From the get go, Mark chapter 3 or the first mention of Judas in book of John tags he guy as the “one who would betray Jesus.”  If this were a movie the first time you see Judas he would be the one all in black with an evil look on his face, a smurky grin and an all around sinister look. The BAD guy!  Talk about your identity crisis, Judas had one.  I believe Judas knew what he was doing was evil.  I believe that Judas knew he was betraying Jesus because Judas wanted money.  He wanted money because of how it made him feel, the security if gave him, and he valued it more than he valued loyalty.  But I want to understand, why? We all know the “What” he did?  It’s the why that perplexes us, and yet it’s in the why that we can find the truth about Surrendering Our Identity to Christ and being FREE for our own identity crisis. 

To reiterate, this is not about you betraying Jesus or not betraying him, it’s a close look at roll, expectations, and finding your identity in Christ by surrendering to him. 

Quick Time Line from Scripture: (A little Context)

Mark Chapter 3 NIV

13” Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve…and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”(always the tag line)

John 12:5-6 ESV

Judas asked, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

(same story in Matthew 26… the Bible says)

And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.

You know the rest of the story. 

Judas’ first label was given to him at birth.  Judas means “TO PRAISE!” A name derived from the tribe of Judah.  Jesus is the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” since we are talking about identity’s.  In Judas’ circle of friends he was the responsible trustworthy guy who handled the books.  He had a specific roll to play and an expectation.  Like YOU and ME he also knew how he was expected to act,   what he was expected to do, and what he was expected to say.  He also knew that there were expectations of motive.  Notice what the Bible says about “the one who is to praise.”

Identity

1. His circle of friends Identity: “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 

Does this response resonate with you? Judas knew what was expected for him to say.   Not that you are evil or ill willed, but rather…DO YOU SAY AND DO THINGS BECAUSE IT IS YOUR IDENTITY?  Are your words and actions governed by a label or by the roll you play?  Think about it.  It does not have to be that way.  You can be free from your multi-faceted freaky freeway of canned response and action due to your TAG.  Would you consider surrendering your tag line to Jesus?  Would you entertain the thought of surrendering your roll in your circle of friends to Jesus?  Can you sense the freedom of surrendering your identity to Jesus and only be one person in him instead of trying to measure up in rolls to others.  Those rolls will ALWAYS lead to defeat, because you can’t fulfill them.

2.   Self-Identify of Judas:  He was the one most deserving.  “he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”  Judas would NOT say “I am a thief.”  Judas would say, “I deserve more, because I do more.” Judas would say, “I am entitled to extra because I am extra.”  Judas would see himself as a little smarter, a little better, and more deserving.  The one named “to praise” identifies himself as a great person because he 1. Testifies that Jesus is Lord 2. Reclassifies himself above others 3. Justifies his selfish motives and actions.  4. Disqualifies his own sin. 5. Diversifies his opportunities and portfolio. 5  Gratifies himself in two ways, pleasing others and pleasing himself. 

With that said, you may be saying oh no!..He, Judas (to praise), exemplifies me!  That’s me.  I am that kind of person.  A person who is a different person given the situation.  I say what I am expected to say, because if I don’t I won’t be heard.   I do what I am expected to do because if I don’t I will disappoint.  I justify my sinful actions and attitudes because I surmise I will never live up to my own or others expectations.  “MY IDENTITY IS IN WHO I FEEL I HAVE TO BE RATHER THAN WHO I WANT BE?”  Surrender!  Surrender!   

Judas came to a cross roads.  Are you there?  It’s often over looked in the scriptures.  Maybe it’s always been over looked or maybe I am just crazy.  (I won’t be cringe by saying cra-cra )  Take a look at Matthew.  Jesus is sending out the 12 as a test run for after his departure.   Chapter 10: 9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra clothes.”  JUDAS JUST LOST HIS IDENITY.  Judas lost his job. He no longer had his main responsibility.   His roll not only changed but was dissolved.  Gone, no need for a treasurer.  No need for someone to keep up with the money because there is not and won’t be any.  His Identity is stripped away and all he has left is the real Judas.  The vulnerable Judas.  The broken, selfish, pitiful man that leaned into his identity way too much and now he is revealed.  And then Jesus calls him out…”the one.” 

Surrender your life to Jesus.  Lay down the identities.  Let Jesus change you from the inside out to become complete and whole in him instead of the multifaceted multi-faced personality on demand.  Why?  Because that’s not real.  So yeah, if you lay it down you may have to face some of your demons, and yes others may not get it.  So what?  You may just want out!  Out of the ways of the world.  To be true to God and to yourself.  To mature and grow as a believer.  To have the relationship with God that actually works.  Freedom comes through surrender in the context of the believer.  You will be whole therefore you will feel whole.  You will be content and you will feel content.  You will be one person and feel satisfied.  Yes this can be you.  Surrendered to the one who gave his life for you. 

One

Pastor Glen Family

You all know someone who just doesn’t seem quite right. Some say may “they have a screw loose,” “elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top,” or “not the sharpest tool in the shed.” It’s funny how we communicate such things to try to say this person seems to be missing something that the majority has. These labels do not necessarily mean lack of intelligence. Many times we can’t quite put our finger on it, but we know something is lacking.Now to turn that around a bit; do you every think of yourself in this way? Do you ever think that you seem to have a lot but something is still missing, something is not quite right? Do you find yourself comparing yourself to others in the worship service your hands are up and their hands are up and you think “Am I doing this right?” Do you open an eye during prayer and see some other person doing the same and you half nod one another in a silent agreement that neither of you have arrived at the point the majority seems to be.

You are not alone. That doesn’t solve your mystery but it is a fact. What is it that you lack that causes you to worry instead of worship, to be preoccupied during preaching or instagramming at the invitation? What is the one thing you lack?

Jesus ran across a young hipster just like that. He had disposable income, he had high position in the family business, and was young man of scruples and morality. But he, like many of us, knew there had to be more. From the outside he seemed to be lacking in nothing, but he felt he was missing something. So he found Jesus who seemed to be one of those that had a lot of followers with a screw loose or disciples who were not the sharpest tool in the shed. He asked Jesus, ” What do I need to do to have a life that lasts forever?” His confidence and position aloud him the boast of being a person who is good and moral. He was likable dude who treated people right and was respected and admired by friends and family.

Jesus said you only lack ONE thing. Wow! Only one? The last thing on the list to have it all! How much does it cost? How much time will it take? Just one thing Jesus? Do tell?

Give up everything and you will have the ONE thing you lack. Well that’s not gonna work. What? That’s crazy! Addition by subtraction? Sell off the the things I own then give that money to the poor? Nope. Have a nice day.

What’s the point? Do you see it? Do you see the irony? Do you see the hypocrisy? Rich Young Ruler means he had money he did not make and position he did not earn. Yet this young man felt it was his right to keep all these things as his instead of giving it away to someone who “did not make it or earn it.” In this story I would love to say that I identify with Jesus or that I take the perspective of the disciples, yet I must confess I am the entitled selfish spoiled brat.What’s mine is mine Jesus! My money, my family, my time, my emotions, my thoughts, my friends, my career-I earned it !

I wonder if God has ever said, “Did ya now?” Not in so many words, but I do have to be reminded by my Father that nothing I have is mine and every breath I have is borrowed. I am a manager not an owner. He is the owner! He is the creator! And daily I have to surrender what I believe to be my rights to his will. I have no rights God reminds me. That the day I accepted his broken and spilled out Son as my savior that I relinquished my rights that I never had in the first place.

It’s not yours! You didn’t earn it! Your rights can not be violated if you don’t have any in the first place. Eternal life came with the highest price that you nor I had to pay. Jesus loves us and wants everything for us. But we have to surrender everything to him, the irony is that nothing we think we have is ours in the first place.

Do you identify with this guy? What will your response be? Will you walk away and lack or surrender everything to Jesus and have it all? One thing you lack.

Anchor of Hope

Image Pastor Glen Church, Family

The hope that I have is a left alone tether. Below the surface I am a witness to the dropping of the anchor. Beneath the waters I view the disturbance of the giant stones plunge, I hear the indigenous sound of underwater mayhem as the ancient anchor makes its way to the bottom, and the oceans must give room for this space and weight. Striking the bottom a billow of water dust giving up its place for the salvation of what is up above. Clearly now the remnants of the ocean bottom have settled into their new location while the anchor presupposes what was their bed. The tether to the anchor stretches to straight and the anchor settles in…the long rope moves but stays straight because the anchor holds and unaltered by my witness.
The hull of the boat above me, the anchor below me and I take account of the relationship between the two. The boat moves the anchor does not. The boat sways and turns and the anchor is steady. The boat is being tossed by waves and wind that I cannot see from here, the evidence is clear that something is going on up there. The anchor, it seems, doesn’t change with the wind in waves. The anchor I notice is the same regardless of the surface. The anchor is steadfast in the calm and the storm.
Only beneath the surface can I see the anchor clearly. Beholding to the murk and rock. It doesn’t strain, it doesn’t move, it seems to be indifferent to conditions above either calm or calamity. So beneath the water I trust the anchor. I hear the sounds of same. Same is the water at these depths regardless of the waves above. Now that I have seen and heard the anchor in action and it can only be describes as…..STILL. Still still.
The sailor in that boat, is he scared of the storm? Is he crying out for help? Is he flashing through his journeys history denoting what brought him to this place and denouncing his own will to live? Oh If he could see what I see, Stillness…If he could hear what I hear….Still. My voice cannot carry from the depths regardless of my screams of “The Anchor is Steady!! The Anchor is secure!” “You are not holding to the Anchor…The Anchor is holding you!” He can’t hear me, he can’t see me. My witness is mine, his witness is his. I appreciate him weathering the storm and I do not discount the fear and trembling cracks of thunder and bright whites of flashing streaks. But the anchor will save him, the anchor will secure him. The anchor is his unrealized hope.
waterYOU HAVE HOPE! Your storm is no match for Jesus. This hope is not a maybe or could be hope. It is a sure thing because Jesus does not change. The storm will probably continue then eventually fade. You may change, but the anchor will not. The tether will not snap in two though you be broken. Cry to God in the storm, behold his strength. Confess your lack of faith in the rain, and be warmed. Close your eyes to the blinding lighting strikes around you and see hope in the dark. The storm does what a storm does but you are not alone. That ominous sound of crashing white capped waves may knock you to your knees but the tether is tight and the anchor does not have to flex nor recoil to handle the strain. You are Ok Be still. Be comforted.
Hebrews 6:19 WE HAVE this HOPE as an ANCHOR for our Soul-Firm and Secure.
~Pastor Glen
Way Church.