Sermon: Itching Ears

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Boldly GO!

Have you ever noticed how unbelievably simple God has made it for us to come to Him? We make it so hard. We think that we have to do all the right things, or do enough good to make us worthy enough to talk to God. The truth is there is nothing you could ever do to be worthy enough. If you are saved by grace through faith, that is all you need to go into your Fathers Inner Room.
I catch myself doing this all the time. I think that I have to make sure everything is "right" first. That's not what the Word says. It says that we come Boldly to the Throne of grace. NO other prerequisites are needed. If it were up to how "good " I had been, I would never get to God. When we call on Him he is Always there, He always answers. And the more sincere you are in the asking the faster you'll get the answer. Remember, however, that the answer comes when you are Praising!

How Saved are We?

 "And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (1 Pet. 4:18 ).

With the emergence of the false-grace, or what I prefer to call unbiblical grace, teachings, the thought of worshiping, tithing, praying, Bible reading Christians who have great families and seem to be the model of righteousness going to Hell seems ridiculous.

I believe this is one of the most important passages of Scripture in today's false-grace generation:

"For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay.' And again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:26-31).

This means that tongue-talking, hand-lifting pastors, for example, can go to Hell if they struggle with lust. People that refuse to forgive another are at risk of Hell. If we continue in sin the Bible is clear—there remains no sacrifice for those sins. There are supposed minor sins such as gossip, lust, rebellion to authority, lying and others that seem to fly below our radar—but not God's. We can't continue in so-called minor sins and presume all to be well. We will experience judgment in this life and in the next if we do not repent. This brings the sweet little lady who's known as the church gossip into the light—and a terrifying light it is.

Have you ever met someone who has lived with unforgiveness in their heart? What about someone who is into pornography? It's horrifying to think this, but those very people, even if they are amazing in every other way, are very possibly unsaved right now. Barna recently reported that 97 percent of born-again Christian men are into pornography, and 84 percent of Christian women are viewing pornography.

Is it any wonder Leonard Ravenhill famously said that he doubts that 5 percent of professing born-again Christians in America are truly saved?

"Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation..." (Heb. 2:1-3).

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to be renewed once more to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and subject Him to public shame" (Heb. 6:4-6).

This is an article I read in Charisma Magazine. I've been preaching this for a long time. 

Many "Christians" are now suggesting that those who embrace the homosexual lifestyle can live in harmony with biblical Christianity. And more and more evangelicals with gay children are challenging the church to rethink its position. But can we rethink truth? Truth is not flexible when it comes to absolutes—it's solid and unyielding.

When children struggle with sin, parents should point them to the light ... to the truth. Truth liberates. Truth rebuilds. Truth restores. Truth heals. Truth transforms. Truth prevails—you don't change truth—truth changes you.

Are those who defend homosexuality, or who say nothing, truly loving the homosexual, or are they simply seeking to avoid conflict? For instance, if they are more worried about being liked than being truthful, do they really care for homosexuals more than those who are willing to risk their reputation, and quite possibly their safety, in order to speak the truth in love? The answer is obvious: Authentic Christians love the truth and others to the degree that they are willing to risk the consequences of confrontation in order to help others. This is genuine love, not hatred.

Re-frame The Question: Can a person who struggles with same-sex attraction be a Christian?

Yes, in the same way that a person who struggles with alcoholism or lust can be a Christian. Struggling with sin is much different than a lifestyle of sin; even Jesus was tempted with sin but He did not give in (cf. Heb. 4:15). If we are repentant and growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—if He truly is our Savior, we will turn from sin, not embrace it. We will repent rather than excuse our actions.

Once a person believes and repents, wrong desires sometimes vanish. Praise God for that, but that's not always the case. For example, many Christians who have overcome alcoholism or pornography still struggle ... it's still a battle. They are one drink or one click away from bondage. The same holds true for those with same-sex attraction.

Would we say, "I believe that those who embrace pornography can live in harmony with biblical Christianity"? Or, "I believe that those who embrace adultery or fornication can live in harmony with biblical Christianity"? Of course not. Unfortunately, the battle cry is often focused on "individual rights," rather than obedience to God's Word.

Ironically, those who are voicing God's truth are often categorized as irrational, judgmental, bigoted and intolerant. But how can we warn if we won't confront, correct if we won't challenge, and contend if we won't question? We must speak the truth in love ... the Bible is crystal clear on sexual sin, including homosexuality.

Jesus would  speak out against sin, but His love and mercy also reached out to those who regretted and hated their condition. Repentance is the key. We should have compassion for those who struggle with same-sex attraction because we all struggle with sin, but at the same time, we should not condone or excuse this type of sin any more than we condone or excuse any other sin.

In Acts 20:31, the apostle Paul spoke boldly as reflected in his statement, "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears." Was he wrong, judgmental or intolerant? No, he was speaking the truth in love.

Jesus also perfectly balanced grace and mercy with confrontation and correction. He wanted people to know the truth even if it offended. Oswald Chambers said, "The words of the Lord hurt and offend until there is nothing left to hurt and offend."

The Bible was written so that people would know the truth—the truth about God, creation, sin, and redemption. We are not called to make truth tolerable, but to make it clear.

​Here's the Truth:

In addition to many Old and New Testament examples, 1 Corinthians 6:9 offers incredible insight. Paul says, "Don't fool yourselves," and adds that those who "do wrong" will not inherit the kingdom of God. Those who indulge in illicit sexual sin, or alcoholism, or adultery, or homosexuality, and so on will be separated from God forever. This topic should not be reconstructed to fit a particular ideology; it has grave consequences.

The following analogy may help better understand this truth: A pig and a lamb both find their way to the mud. The mud represents the sin (the wrong) that we all fall into. The pig wallows in and enjoys the mud and may even lead others in, whereas the lamb hates its condition and cries out. That's the difference—those who are unrepentant and indulge in sexual sin are outside of God's will ... outside of salvation. This applies to all sexual sin outside of marriage between a man and a woman.

Jesus speaks out against those who continually return and enjoy wallowing in sin, but His love and mercy reaches out to those who regret and hate their condition. A person cannot embrace the homosexual lifestyle and be a follower of Christ. They can attend church, participate in worship, and read the Bible, yet, be outside of God's will. ​

Homosexuals who remain monogamous are also outside of God's will because the entire relationship is wrong ... the union of two men or two women is not God's plan. Its not about being true to one partner; it's about being true to God ... "what God has joined together, let not man separate" (Mark 10:9).

Be encouraged: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9, NIV). Repent and turn to Him today.

Was Paul Married?

Was the Apostle Paul Married?

It is generally agreed that the apostle Paul was an unmarried man for the duration of his ministry. Not only does Acts omit any mention of Paul having a wife, but also Paul’s own letters seem to indicate the same. Nevertheless, there is some disagreement over whether or not Paul had been married at an earlier point in his life. In this post, I will argue that Paul was in fact a widower at the time of his writing. I’ll make the case in seven points:

1. Paul puts himself in the category of being “unmarried” in 

1 Corinthians 7:8 “I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.”

A few things are clear from this verse. First, Paul addresses a group of persons who are unmarried at the time of his writing—the “unmarried” and “widows.” Second, he instructs them to remain in their unmarried state if at all possible. Third, he sets himself forth as the exemplar of remaining unmarried. The phrase “even as I am,” therefore, communicates in no uncertain terms that Paul himself was unmarried at the time of his writing.

1 Corinthians 9:5 “Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?”

In context, Paul is telling the Corinthians about privileges that he has forgone for the greater progress of the gospel. He has a “right” to be paid for his ministry and to take a wife for himself as other apostles have done, but he renounces those rights: “I have used none of these things” (1 Cor 9:15). He indicates again, therefore, that he was unmarried.

2. The word “unmarried” translates the Greek word agamos.

In wider Greek literature, agamos refers specifically to an unmarried male, whether a bachelor or a widower (see LSJ, p. 5). The term agamos only appears four times in all of the New Testament. All four uses are from Paul, and all four appear in the seventh chapter of 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 7:8, 11, 32, 34.

3. Paul uses the term agamos to refer to those who have been married but now are no longer married.

1 Corinthians 7:11 “If she does leave, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband.”

1 Corinthians 7:34 “An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.”

Notice that 7:11 refers to a woman who has been separated from her husband. Notice also that 7:34 contrasts an “unmarried” woman with a “virgin”—thereby contrasting someone who was formerly married with someone who was not. In both cases, the “unmarried” refers to the once-married not the never-been-married.

4. The context of agamos in 1 Corinthians 7:8 is dominated by Paul’s instructions to those who are married or who have been married.

1 Corinthians 7 divides into two sections: 7:1-24 and 7:25-40. In the first section, Paul addresses those who are or have been married.

7:1-7 – Addressed to those who are currently married

7:8-9 – Addressed to “widows”

7:10-16 – Addressed to husbands and wives concerning desertion and divorce

Only in the second section does Paul address the “virgins”—those who have never been married. This strongly suggests that agamos in verse 8 also refers to those who have been married at least once. Since Paul identifies himself as agamos, this suggests that he too was once married.

5. The Greek word for “widower” was used rarely during the Koine period.

There was a word in Greek that specified “widower” (cheros), but it does not appear in biblical literature and only rarely outside of it. It is not surprising, therefore, that Paul might use a term like agamos in its place (TDNT, 9:440; Thiselton, 515, Fee, p. 288).

6. The word for “unmarried” appears to be the masculine word for someone who has lost a spouse.

In 1 Corinthians 7:8, agamos is parallel with “widows,” which strongly suggests that Paul is addressing both the men and the women who have suffered the loss of a spouse. This is in keeping with the rest of this section in which Paul addresses explicitly both husbands and wives concerning conjugal relations (7:1-7) and desertion/divorce (7:10-16). In 1 Corinthians 7:8, therefore, Paul is saying to widows and widowers that it is good for them to stay unmarried just as he does. If they do not have self-control, however, he tells them it would be better for them to marry.

7. As a good Pharisee, it is highly unlikely that Paul would have been single his entire life.

Elsewhere, Paul says that he was a Pharisee, a “Hebrew of Hebrews” (Philippians 3:5), and “extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions” (Galatians 1:14; cf. Acts 22:3). Marriage was the norm for Pharisees, and it was required for rabbis (Paul was likely considered a rabbi). Paul could hardly have set himself forth as an exemplar of Pharisaical piety had he not been married (Fee, 288, n. 7; see also Harvey McArthur on “Celibacy in Judaism at the Time of Christian Beginnings”).

The cumulative case, therefore, strongly suggests that Paul was a widower. He was once married. But in calling him to Christ, God gave Paul the gift of celibacy (“a genuine gift of freedom from sexual need,” Fee, 287). Paul desires for everyone with this gift to use it as he has for the sake of the kingdom.

Dont bring me down

Don't Bring Me Down: The 7 People on Your Team You Need to Lose Now

1) The One Trick Pony -- I once worked with a person in charge of a nonprofit's direct mail fundraising program. One time with the monthly donor letter, he used yellow paper and noticed that he received a 6 percent higher than normal response. Assuming that was the only factor, he made a rule that from then on, all of the organization's communications with donors had to be on yellow paper. The One Trick Pony in your organization has tunnel vision. They only see one solution to everything, and it's usually the wrong one. They're not exploring other opportunities and giving you a broader perspective or multiple solutions.

2) The Empire Builder -- This person doesn't have the nerve to start their own company, so he or she builds one inside yours. He's always trying to acquire more authority, and be in charge of more departments. His thirst for power is remarkable. The other employees see it, but you don't because he's so good at managing up. The Empire Builder is high jacking your organization. He's a problem because his concern isn't making YOUR organization successful. It's growing HIS.

3) The Incompetent -- Incompetents are in far more organizations than you think. Simply put, they're just terrible at what they do, but for a variety of reasons, they've been able to keep their jobs -- some, for decades. In most cases, it's because the leadership doesn't know the difference between "loyalty" and "competence." (This is especially true in nonprofits and religious organizations.) Just because she's been a loyal employee for the last 15 years, doesn't mean she's good at her job. And trust me -- all the other employees know she's failing, and it's creating much more hostility and bitterness that you think. The Incompetent is costing you a fortune.

4) The Hysteric -- When something bad happens -- no matter how big or small -- Hysterics go right to Defcon 5. They panic for a living, and everything is a worst case scenario. The problem with hysterics is that they feed fear into other employees because they react so negatively to every problem. You don't need that kind of negativity around you or your employees.

5) The Absalom -- Like Biblical David's son, Absalom will sell you out in exchange for the favor of other employees. One organization had a leader who would deal with employee mistakes by telling them that HE understood, but if the CEO ever found out, they'd be fired in a second. The employees were terrified of the CEO, who wasn't like that at all. Absalom will sow distrust in your employees in order to strengthen their loyalty to him. If you don't deal with it, you'll have a full scale mutiny on your hands.

6) The Spineless -- Years ago, I teamed up with another producer to go pitch a a television project. Outside the studio we both agreed on the idea and the strategy. But the first time the studio executive disagreed with us, my partner totally caved. "Well to be honest, I've never liked that project either." His fear completely took over and he would dump the rest of the team like a hot potato. Spineless people have no point of view, and no guts. Their opinion is whatever everyone else thinks, which means they're not really as loyal to you as you think.

7) The Denier -- Deniers refuse to confront reality, and will do anything to keep from facing the truth. In spite of a 85 percent drop in fundraising over the last 15 years at a major nonprofit organization, one denier still refuses to change his fundraising strategy. Deniers think that if it worked 10 years ago, it should still work today, and completely dismiss arguments that the culture has changed, people have changed, or the world has changed. You'll never get the truth from a denier, because they can't recognize it themselves.

A key part of great leadership is selecting a great team. Always be vigilant for these seven personality types on yours, because it only takes one to topple even the most brilliant business idea.