Beach Bum or Battle Ready?

This passage paints a vivid picture in my mind of a soldier who is doing his own thing. While others have their uniforms starched and pressed, ready for the day, I see another soldier who is wearing his bermuda shorts and aloha shirt – totally not ready for service, battle, or even the daily line-up before the commander.

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.” [Acts 24:5 NIV]

Could it be he has a lamp that’s been neglected and snuffed-out from sin, and thus his sloppiness doesn’t really seem to matter? Jesus isn’t offering a mere suggestion in verse 35, it’s a command! I can just see the commander’s veins popping out from his neck as he shouts to his troops… “BE dressed! Keep your lamps BURNING!”

I wonder what most of us look like in the spiritual-realm? Are we beach bums or battle ready soldiers? The New King James version says, “Let your waist be girded…”. Could it be that we’re so self-absorbed, self-conscious, self-centered, all because we’re walking around with our spiritual pants around our ankles? Our lives must be girded with truth like a soldier’s belt. Can you imagine worshipping Jesus – Sunday morning at your Church – and having your pants down around your ankles? We wouldn’t be worshipping, we’d be worrying! It time to get clothed in Christ [Gal. 3:27] first thing in the morning. It’s time to get into the Word of God [Ps. 119:105], and allow it to get our hearts burning once again for the things of God! Don’t settle for a mediocre life when God has so much more! Christ is coming, and we must be battle ready.

You Can’t Tie a Man Who’s Already Bound

Who is this “Paul” anyway? Sound a little strange?

DBR – Daily Bible reading: Acts 19-21

S. SCRIPTURE
The Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” [Acts 21:13 13 NKJV]

O. OBSERVATION
Paul had been beaten, jailed, and ran out of town by those who didn’t want any part of his message. The Christians at Caesarea tried to keep him from going to Jerusalem. In verse 4 it says, “They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.” So who’s right? I believe that was a test to see just how committed Paul really was. How could Paul be so ready to be bound and to die (vs. 13)? A nugget is hidden away here.

1.Paul Purposed in the Spirit. [Acts 19:21]

2.Paul Goes Bound in the Spirit. [Acts 20:22]

First Paul “purposes”, (or makes a decision); then he experiences the momentum of that decision. This is what catapulted him into a whole new way of thinking and living. He was literally consumed, and driven by the Holy Spirit. Paul wasn’t the kind of Christian that needed to be prodded. He had been prodded once before, and that was enough for him.

A. APPLICATION
As strange as it seems – the Holy Spirit can direct another Christian to be a roadblock on your path in the race you’re running. Am I going to “stick to my guns”, or am I going to go the way of the coward and say, “Yeah, well it did kinda seem like a crazy idea…” I need to ask myself this morning… “What decision is the Holy Spirit calling me to make?” Do I realize that this morning could be the turning point in my life which catapults me into such a radical commitment to Christ ? Because I’m a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus Christ – bound by His Spirit – I won’tl be affected by anyone that tries to bind me in the flesh.

P. PRAYER
“Father, it’s my prayer this morning that You would open my eyes to the decision, to the commitment, that You are calling me to make today. I long to be in that place of total surrender where nothing ruffles my feathers, and where all I see is souls, and the finsihed line of my faith. I’ll gladly be bound in the Spirit today! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Why is the “Passion-Level” so low?

I was a little shocked to see a new application in the iTunes store for iPhone called, “My Time”. It’s an application that is specially designed for Jehovah’s Witnesses. To me, it’s amazing, that while most Christians are wondering how to do just the “bare minimum” – to just (some how) slide into Heaven, here’ comes the Mormons & JW’s! These people are passionate for what they believe in. While Christians are wasting time, goofing around with downloads like iFart, the JW’s are utilizing technology to evangelize their Watchtower paraphernalia. While you’re drooling on your pillow, just remember this: The Devil never sleeps.

The late (and Great) Dr. Walter Martin used to say,

“Are you willing to do for the truth what the cults do for a lie?”

When I first heard that I thought, “God, am I supposed to be going door-to-door for You?” But the real question needs to be, “God, am I just as passionate for You as the Mormons, JW’s, and the…… Marathon Runners, the new Business Owner, the XBOX 360 Enthusiast?” If not, there really is a problem.

Why is the “Passion-Level” so low these days in most Christians?

God is Moving in the Youth!

On Wed. Nite at United Youth we had a powerful move of God. My message was called, “The Right Kind of Heartburn”, as I preached on, “The Fire of God”. And I shared how John the Baptist said,

“I baptize you with water, but He… will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” [Luke 3:16].

After the Word I opened the Altar to those who wanted that Fire, and… [as the old-timers would say...] “The Fire fell!” Every person I prayed for ⎯ I could literally feel God’s Love for. Tears were streaming down my eyes, and you could see the effects of the Holy Spirit on them as well. There was no manipulation. The Holy Spirit was moving. Many were crying, bowing-down, collapsing under the power of God, and 11 received the gift of the Holy Spirit and spoke in Tongues for the very first time. There was no striving. It was as if God stepped into the room.

Even parents of the youth came in and wanted to receive prayer. One 19 yr old in particular just sat in his chair. I walked up to him and said, “I want to pray for you.” As I did I could smell the Marijuana all over him. I just hugged him ⎯ like a father of a wayward son, and just broke-down crying. After about 5 seconds this young man’s tears were all over me. His Mother then came in. He did something that I’ve never seen before. He grabbed his Mom’s hand and bowed his head in reverend submission to her. It was beautiful as they were re-united. That Mom came up to me today at Church and said, “Thank you, Pastor Robb. My son hasn’t smoked weed ever since that nite”. Tears were streaming down her face.

I’m telling you – seeing young people change so suddenly because of the reality of the Holy Spirit’s Love and Fire will do something to you!

“They’re Coming!!”

♨

We used to play a game as little kids, and we’d shout out, “The Redcoats are coming! The Redcoats are coming!!” And then we’d all run around frantically like we were coming under attack.

“…And they came to Him from every direction.” [Mark 1:45]

No matter who you are, or where you came from, you too can come to Jesus! You might think you’re not good enough, but others just like you are coming to Jesus! They’re coming! They’re coming!! Will you be one of them? If you think He won’t accept you – you’re wrong. If you think He won’t forgive you – you’re mistaken. If you think that Jesus won’t help you – you’re dead-wrong! Your mindset might make YOU not come to Jesus, but others all over the world are pushing aside their inhibitions, excuses, old, ugly sins and they’re doing whatever they can to get to Jesus. How about you? Are you “up”, “down”, “sideways”, or “upside-down”? No matter where you’re at – Jesus will receive you unto Himself. For even Jesus Himself makes you this incredible, “money-back-guarantee”…. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” [John 6:37]. Do it today. Let Jesus say of you: “Look! Look! He’s coming to Me! She’s coming to Me!! I can’t wait to pour My Love out!!” Don’t put it off one more moment. You’ll never be the same again!

“Yin or Yang?”

♨ Bruce Lee, fuzzy fluorescent glow in the dark posters, and China Town are some of the things that come to my mind when I here the term “Yin & Yang” – the balance of life. Although it’s a symbol in Chinese philosophy it sure isn’t an original concept exclusively set-apart for them. I’m not suggesting we all get “Yin & Yang” tattoos on our arm with the scripture reference, “John 3:16” under it, but I am suggesting that we need to find balance in life.

“You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting.” [Dan. 5:27]

Some of us are wound-up so tight that we’re like a nuclear reactor in our homes & jobs – just waiting to explode. It may be time to take a chill-pill.

But this where I want to set up camp for a minute. I was challenged by a question I heard recently. “Are you Efficient or Effective?” We’d all like to think that we’re being effective, but the truth of the matter is that many of us are hardly even “efficient” in our personal lives or job. We can’t sleep, we’re late, scatter-brained, and don’t have time for a lot of extra stuff. You might say, “Yeah, I know people like that, so disorganized. How do they even manage?” [Chuckle, chuckle]. But what about your life? Are you really “effective”? Sure you’re “efficient”. You get to work on time, you fulfill your job responsibilities, and people rarely complain about your hard work, but what’s really going on inside you? Is there balance?

If we had your funeral today would there be anything significant that you achieved in your time on planet earth? Or did you just maintain status quo? It’s not, “Yin or Yang” – “Overachiever “or “Laid-back-peaceful-kind-of-guy” – it’s having balance in life. Here’s my challenge: In what ways are you make a significant impact for the better upon the world around you?

“Buyer’s Remorse?”

This Devotional takes about half-hour to do. It works individually or in a small group setting. What are we waiting for? Let’s get it started in here!!

Open-up your Bible to: Luke 10:38-42

“But Martha was distracted…” — Luke 10:40a

One of the most incredible privileges that we’ve all received from God is the ability to choose. Have you ever walked into a department store looking for just the perfect outfit? [Us, guys might just pick out a shirt, but definitely not an “outfit”.] But have you ever experienced something that’s called, “Buyers Remorse”? Buyers Remorse is when you spend so much time deciding what to buy, but once you brought it home you realized that it’s not really what you wanted, and you feel miserable. Believe it or not – it’s the same way in the spiritual realm. Many times we find ourselves going through this same exact experience when we choose the wrong thing. Ever been there? I know I have.

:: Pastor Robb’s Thought-Provoking Questions ::

1. Have you ever experienced “Buyers Remorse”? If so, what did you buy?

2. Pastor Ray Berryhill said, “Busy is not better, choosing better is better.” Why is being busy sometimes not such a good thing?

3. What are some of the patterns of busyness that sometimes we find ourselves in?

4.Practically speaking – What are some of the things you do to refuel, relax, and get re-energized?

CHAOS IS TAKING OVER!!

At times it can seem like chaos is reigning.

- Parents are getting out of control
- Local drug dealers are busy polluting Society
- Your best friend just talked behind your back
- Brothers & sisters are driving you crazy
- “There’s no food in the fridge!”
- …and “Why doesn’t anybody CARE!!!???”

Always remember that when it’s super crazy all around you – it doesn’t have to GET IN you. The storm might be raging all around you, but it doesn’t need to get all up ON you! Jesus is your Strong Tower – Run to Him and you’ll be safe. It’s the smartest move you’ll ever make.