Church

“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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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.

Fair?

Pastor Glen Church

If we could get passed the issue of “fairness” our understanding of the character of God would be revealed with cleaner lines, and a clearer understanding of his ways. Ambiguity is not part of the divine direction equation from God’s end, but our accusatory nature lends itself to excusing our lack of induction by alleging the God of Truth for whatever reason has camouflaged his intentions and desires. Like the first time a patient with dilated eyes squinting out from the optometrists office with a virgin prescription that has diagnostically proven that everything 150 feet ahead is not blurry! It’s hard to accept the 20/50 diagnosis the first time, but after a while we appreciate the clarity of distance more than the humbling fact that we are somehow inept.

God’s will and ways are crystal clear, its our lenses that make it blurry. Like the warping of the cornea, over a period of time God’s clear instructions can become more blurred without our noticing. The reason? ITS NOT FAIR! Yes, the same exclamation given from the arm crossed pouty lipped 10 year old’s dashed hopes of a candy bar before dinner, is the exact same rationale we use when God does not see it OUR way. And if God can not see it our way, then we certainly cant see it his ways. The 10 year old does not ask for a meeting to discuss nutrition or parental authority, but rather contends that he wants a candy bar and the parent is abating and abetting the chocolate snack from its appropriate place, “Me,” the child assumes. The chocolate bar is there, it wood taste good, the parent can reach it, but mom refuses to hand it over. The child assumes he wants the bar, deserves the bar, and needs the bar. He understands that the parent doesn’t want them to have it, he may even to logically understand why, BUT refuses to accept it. The notion of merit far outweighs the rationale of denial. A ten year old does not need to be taught pride, its an all inclusive part of the heart beat and firing of synapse package. Untitled 4
Pride states emphatically that I should be able to have what I want when I want it and I will be happier when I have it because I deserve it. Juxtaposed is the opposite, OBEDIENCE. Obedience to God is doing what God says to do, when he says to do it, with a humble good attitude. Our flesh (pride) by nature is apposed to the holiness of God, therefore our inclination is to accuse the creator of abuse of authority and playing hide and seek with anything that we tend to disagree with or are not comfortable with. This cross examination is not audible but rather based on the prosecutorial subconscious evidence that states emphatically that I deserve happiness, comfort, and non-disruption.
Coming full circle, “Its not fair!” I would like to state that after years of study, a well rounded post education, and life experience, GOD IS NOT FAIR! He never considered it, he never intended it, and it has no place in our relationship to the Master. God is holy which means he is separate from us. Isaiah 6 says He is Holy, Holy, Holy. Translated loosely God is Holy, Holier, and the Holiest. He is separate from us in every way. He is all good and there is nothing good in us, there is no where we can agree. There is no compromise available. Jesus is the one who has turned the tables on God’s behalf. Not yours nor mine. I know that sounds like “Crazy Talk,” but its not.
words
God has allowed relationship simply because it is his desire and that desire has nothing to do with your value to the world, your abilities to help others or your intentions to do right. You and I are flawed. We are broken. What we were originally intended for was lost 1000’s of years ago as sweet savory juices dripped from the chin of naked naive hopelessly devoted one of a kind beauty as she made the hand off to her consenting partner and he experienced the same. Our citizenship is that to the borough of sin. We were born into it, we had no control over it and we cant change it. Our sinful nature can not be fixed, repaired, denied nor vindicated no more than you can choose what city you were born in.

Jesus said I am THE WAY THE TRUTH and THE LIFE…No one comes to the Father but by me. And its that simple. Only in faith and obedience can one have a relationship with God. There is only one truth for eternity and it is Jesus. There can only be one truth by definition. If there is no conviction there is no Jesus. If you do not have a relationship with Jesus you will be in torment for eternity. If you can look out mainly for #1 and only dabble in doing good for others, you don’t have it. Jesus in your life changes you. The Holy Spirit is a relentless counselor that will eventually yell louder and louder to force you to hear, but you have to choose to understand. He will pursue, persuade and poke. If you are not growing and maturing, more than likely you simply have no relationship. The majority of the human race through the ages will not experience heaven. Narrow is the gate and broad is the path to destruction.
“That’s not fair?” Fairness is irrelevant. Its like trying to play monopoly with UNO Cards. We have to come to the understanding we do not deserve anything and everyone isn’t promised everything. God is large and in charge and you are not.

truth and evil

Pastor Glen Church, Church Leadership, Family, sermon

i would like to encourage you, if you walk in obedience, you will face evil.  evil is not like most think as the faceless dark hooded and mysterious.  the fruit of the spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  one might think that evil then would be the opposite, but it is not.  Its an imitation of the above.  its a non organic substitute that masks itself.  Its a facade.  Those of a discerning spirit who walk with the lord see it.  the carnal mind simply does not, but over time intelligence alone will eventually reveal truth.  evil hates the truth, becausethe truth exposes evil.  evil does not want you to know the truth, because if you know the truth then you see evil for the ugly that it is.  therefore, evil must be flexible and ever changing because the truth stands alone and can not change.  evil will skirt, evil will lie,   evil is cunning and sneaky, but when exposed will become hostile with malice.  After that all of the sudden a calm.  behind the calm is a strecorderorm…the calm is the facade of the fruit, and the storm is that which rages closely behind the mask.

the trials that the book of james speaks of are just that.  evil is nothing more than man being man.  the godless being normal.  selfish arrogant money power- being liked -where every smile is self serving, every handshake a simple act of self indulgence and every act of giving has the expectation of a receiving.

agape love is impossible, therefore evil can not forgive. it can not forgive because evil is so bloated that the smallest offense is also the greatest offense for evil declares self all above all, therefore any offense can only be an accolade or trophy displayed as a reward for not forgiving.  for evil, forgiveness = humility and humility to evil is weakness.  so to hang on to even the most minor of an offense, is a show of strenth like the free climber using three fingers to pull himself to safety.

evil will have joy in the trial but only because they are the trial to someone else.  its a loathsome self defeating act, yet the need for power and the win supersede even the notion of common sense and basic dignity.  joy comes in a grimmise of pinning the aponent down for the count.  its the epitome of narcisim for less of anyone else means more of self.  its the flesh in a vaccum.

the peace evil portrays is that of the sin of man, its not a peace like that of the holy spirit that illuminates the truth of God’s sovereignty, but rather the peace the flesh has in complete apathy.  indifference to pain and suffering caused to others or the potential there of.  evil thinks about the now, and is spiritually obtuse.  evil makes the mind secondary to the heart.  for evil can not accept its own fate.  for evil sees nothing wrong with itself, other than the truth seems to cause some serious hurdles.

kindness is out of the story that can be told later, or the expectation of a return. its a word that  expects a word, its giving for the purpose of owing, its masked even to self as an investment, of self preservation, simply its the pride of life.  the life that that believes its deserving of good and what is fair.  when really its the self concern like a child crying over not getting candy.

 patience is hard for evil pretend, because evil gets in a hurry.  if evil does not expedite the truth will win.  and losing for evil is personal and represents lack of power.  therefore evil will always advance past patience. for evil only trusts self and due to evils preoccupation with “me” is so bold that evil can’t realize that evil can not even trust itself.

like the psychopath or sociopath, goodness and kindness  observed and mimiced traits that evil will demonstrate as a defense and a place to hide.  evil will use these external behaviors like a soldier uses camouflage in hopes that the truth will pass by and evil be noticed.   evil is a coward to the truth.  thats why it rants, hates, is angry, is lieing, and desires for others the same.  the serpant was the most cunning of all creatures convincing man to have he deserved.  the heart is the most  deceptive thing, and evil relies on the heart.  goodness and kindness make a temporary shadow for evil, until the truth shines like the sun.

evil wants what it wants.  evil can not be faithful to God, a spouse, a friend, even a foe.  evil justifies the opposite of each relatioship in a selve serving pattern that is never black and white but a constant gray, smoke screen, and an inflated ego that justifies all acts of infidelity on self and more often than not displace the same shortcoming towords the truth.  lack of faithfulness is that which most turn a head or keep opinions to self.  the reason being the descent man, not necesarily even godly man, relaizes the potential damage unfaithfulness exposed to the truth has a sequential devestating effect.  evil will wish, insinuate, lie, and accuse its enemy of the most repulsed of sins, because evil is guily even more but feels no guilt nor remorse.  evil is so unfaithful that it does not even for a second consider the irreputable damage to the innoncent, for they know not innocence.  evil will blame what it knows it is guilty of.  yet with out feelings of guilt.  evil is unfaithful on purpose, because being unfaithful is the pinnacle of power.  evil can not even be faithful to a foe, for if the foe can be of benefit to evil for a time, evil will carefully slide the mask of companionship for the time it takes to receive and have a need met.

like the hunter that has killed thousands , the mortician who has painted a thousand faces, evil can sing a sweet lullaby  like a munchausen syndrome by proxy mother  rocks her poisened baby to eternal sleep.  gentleness is evil’s calm in the comfort in the place its most comfortable, the power over a life.  its a satisfaction over the conquered which needed no conquering.  where the innocent perish evil will thrive.  that which would cause the Godly to fall prostrate before a holy God is the same that gives evil a quiet calm, because evil is the winner.

evil wants to isolate.  evil must be in the dark.  evil can only have self control in its victims isolation.  for only in isolation can evil form what seems to be special friendship when in reality its yet another human shield when the bullets of truth fire across the battlefield   as the light of truth exposes evil, evil will cast blame beyond itself to those it has pre-isolated in order to cast the blame to another or others.  evil is a coward.  evil will demand itself as the only voice.  evil demands allegience to no other.  evil has the expecation of complete loyalty to the grave, and if not ….evil will turn on that person like a fastball coming in contact with the  precision swing of a professional batter.

have you stared evil in the face?  have you sat across the table?  if you have and have flet intimidated or scared….ask yourself….are you on the side of truth?  not if truth is on your side, for truth takes no side nor is it a side.  evil will attack the truth from every angle…and refer to different sides, when in reality evil is the only side, the truth does not have a side, it simply exists and can not be moved.  evil is loud, the truth is quiet, evil will find strength in numbers, the truth only needs its self, evil will change the story from this  to that, truth needs no extra words, evil will pound its fists, quiver its chin, redden its  face and hurl sharpened daggers of insult and lies……………and the truth….well …….the truth…..just laughs and laughs and laughs…..what else is there at that point?  EVIL? WHATEVER.

 

Does Church Size Matter?

Pastor Glen Church

Does the size (number of people attending) of a church mean anything?  Sure it does, but what?  Well for the mega church it means that what they are doing is relevant to the people in their area.  It means that people feel welcome and are quickly and conveniently acclimated to the body.  There is probably one to two things that church is known for.  They probably have a direction and most people in the congregation know what that direction is.  On the other hand some seek out a large congregation because they like the anonymity.  They want to be just a face in the crowd.  Some like to be a part in order to “name drop” their church.  These are people who love to talk about how big their church is and all the great things they do but they are not involved in anyway other than attending worship and or Bible study.

The small struggling church (50-150) may have been the same size for decades because for some reason they are not very appealing to new comers.  They might have plenty of visitors but most seem to go somewhere else.  Here are some reasons why some churches do not grow.

1.  Church is friendly to each other but not to visitors

2. Music in Worship

3.  Kids do not like it

4.  Mediocre preaching

5.  Hard to find parking or a seat

Does this mean small churches are not effective? NOT AT ALL!!  Some people genuinely desire to be a part of a small body of believers.  They like being able to know everyone and those personal relationships are important to them.  They like feeling at home.

A church is a body of believers.  Just because a church is small does not mean something is wrong and other the hand, just because a church has thousands does not mean everything is right.