Fishrapper

Valuable Times

    The past month has been one of the most stressful, yet joyful times of my life.

    We had company -- Jack Taylor (wife, Frede) and Peter Lord (wife, Johnnie). They were in our home for 16 days, here to teach our people at First Southern Baptist Church, and the pastors/leaders of the Trinity Southern Baptist Association.

    I was stressed because of the responsibility I felt, plus I did not know Jack well. I was very nervous about having him in our home for five days. Shouldn't have been! He was a delight, as was his wife. We were blessed abundantly by their presence. And, of course, the time with Peter and Johnnie was as always -- refreshing and challenging.

    God really used them to introduce us in a fresh way to the Holy Spirit. The neat thing is that, though they are gone, God continues his work in us -- and me.

    I am excited about what God is teaching us, especially the principle of yielding as a model for walking in the Spirit.

Specific Prayer

    We prayed tonight for Peter Lord, an author and former pastor who is coming to minister next week at our church in the Southern California desert.

    I had read the story of blind Bartimaeus where Jesus asked, "What do you want Me to do for you?" He answered, "I want to regain my sight." (Mark 10:51)

    Then I asked the people to pray just as specifically, like Andrew Murray suggested, "...the distinct expression of definite need." They did! It was great. Every request was to the point. No wholesale praying! I was blessed by their intercession for the man who next week would minister to them.

    But I also hurt. I thought, "I wish they prayed like that for me."

   

The Kingdom: Act Now

    (This is the third of five posts relating to Jack Taylor's conference on the kingdom at First Southern Baptist Church, April 15-18.)

    Knowing what God knows about us -- everything we need -- Jesus suggested we focus our prayers on Him. His Kingdom! His will!

    "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9-10)

    Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom. Our praying should be for "kingdom come." That is a command for right now.

    What should we expect? His rule!

    There is an order to the things of God:

    It is Kingdom -- It precedes, supercedes, transcends, and necessitates the Church and the Gospel.

    It is Church -- It is His. He builds it. Even hell will not prevail against it.

    It is the Gospel -- The message of the Kingdom. It is not just Good News of God concerning His Son, Jesus Christ. It opens the door for the church and cooperates with God's Kingdom.

    The Kingdom is the umbrella over all God's work. It is the government of God.

    We need to change our thinking about what God is up to. That is why Jesus said, "Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand." We need a mind change.

    Jesus did not initiate any of His actions, so why should we. "If God didn't start what you are doing, shut it down."

The Kingdom: Why Me?

    (This is the fourth of five posts relating to Jack Taylor's conference on the kingdom at First Southern Baptist Church, April 15-18.)

    Our thinking is "we need revival." From God's viewpoint what does it mean when we sing "Revive Us Again?" Jack Taylor says "revival is salvation working like it ought."

    We think of salvation as a or the way to heaven, a hospital for the hurting, creation's purpose being restored, or the recovery of all that was lost in the Garden. But it is more.

    "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over..." (Genesis 1:26a)

    In God's image we are to "extend His presence" to this world.

    In God's likeness we are to "express His purpose" to this world.

    Ruling over creation we are to "exhibit His power" to the world.

    "Wilt Thou not Thyself revive us again, that Thy people may rejoice in Thee? Show us Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, and grant us Thy salvation." (Psalm 85:6-7)

   

   

The Kingdom: It's Here

     (This is the second of five posts relating to Jack Taylor's conference on the kingdom at First Southern Baptist Church, April 15-18.)

    Our thinking in the church is that the Kingdom of God is way off in the future. Not true! The Kingdom is here! Now!

    John the Baptist came preaching, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2)

    Jesus came right behind. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” He said.

    These words did not originate with Jesus. They were what His Father in Heaven was speaking. He just repeated what He heard His Father say.

    Jesus did not come saying, "I'm here to build My church." Yet He was. Nor did He come saying, "I'm here to save you from your sins." Yet He did. Jesus announced that the government of God is here. The work of the cross and the building of the church, along with all the rest of God's activity, came under the umbrella of His Kingdom. They were all Kingdom business. And that is why the command to "repent." We needed a change of mind about the activity of God.

    Jesus never initiated any of His actions, so why should I. He spoke on cue.

    The only thing that is steady and sure is doing what God is doing.

    “If God didn’t start what you are doing, shut it down.”

    When Jesus says the kingdom is here He is saying it is at hand – “within reach.”

    Why should we repent? Because the King is here, now!

    Repentance requires a change of mind. It ends rejection of the King. And it is for everyone.

The Kingdom: Where Am I?

    (This is the first of five posts relating to Jack Taylor's conference on the kingdom at First Southern Baptist Church, April 15-18.)

    Life is all about a King and His Kingdom.

    From the beginning of Scripture to the end the Kingdom is the theme. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..." (Genesis 1:1) "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." (Revelation 11:15)

    When considering God's kingdom we first need to know where we are before we can relate to where we want to go. "If you don't know where you are you can't get where you are going."

    Are you where you ought to be?

    Consider the exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land. They began in Egypt, the place of bondage, a picture of man in his lost condition. The destination was the "land of milk and honey." But when they arrived at Kadesh-barnea and sent spies into the land they returned with a 10-2 vote against going in because of fear, despite God's command to go. So they wandered for 40 more years in the wilderness. God wanted His people to be in Canaan, not a picture of heaven, but rather a place of joy here. Canaan is where God is trying to get you.

    Where are you?

• Living in bondage!
• Wandering in the wilderness!
• Living in the kingdom! Here! Now!

    When you got saved God gave you a guidance system much greater than the Israelites had when they left Egypt under a cloud by day and fire by night. That guidance system is the presence of the Holy Spirit to show you how to get where you need to be, and what to do when you get there.

    Find out where you are. If you're not where you ought to be, get there.

    Where are you on the map of God? Find God's purpose. Don't miss it. He can't give you want He wants until He has you where He wants you.

A Seventh Question

    The standard journalistic questions I asked Easter Sunday are important to our lives. We need to know the who, what, when, where, how, and why of Easter.

    Who is Easter about? (Jesus, the Messiah) Or as Peter put it, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." (Matthew 16:13)

    What has He done for you? (Redeemed you) The action of Jesus was to buy us back.

    When did it happen? (While you were His enemy) Aren't you glad He didn't shoot you for trespassing?

    Where (geographically)? (On a cross on Mt. Calvary) Jesus was vulnerable and fully exposed.

    How did it occur? (An intentional sacrificial death by crucifixion) We owed but He paid.

    Why? (To restore us to mankind's original condition) Derailed by sin we needed to get back on track. Author DeVern Fromke stated in The Ultimate Intention that one of our problems is that we confuse the part with the whole; His grace with His purpose.

     God created us to relate to Him and glorify Him. He had a purpose for our lives. It was not sin, but sin forced God's hand and because of His love and mercy He chose to redeem us through the sacrificial death of His Son. Our job is to allow Christ to save us and be our Lord. But is that all God had in mind? No! Salvation is not the end. Kingdom living is.

    So I have one more question for you. As Jesus hung on the cross, dying for you and me, He forgave His killers, noting "they don't know what they are doing."

    As you walk with God today, do you know what you are doing?

Questioning Easter

    Being a journalist I raised six questions Sunday. I called them the who, what, when, where, how, and why of Easter. A seventh came to mind today -- do.

    Do you know what you are doing?

Thanks, I Needed That

    As a youth pastor 25 years ago I met weekly for breakfast and Bible study with six college guys. We grew together. Three of those men are pastors today, in North Carolina, Louisiana and California.

    One of them, Tony Hand, blessed me recently .  "You have had such an impact on my life," he said, recalling our past times together. "And I've tried to carry that on with others."

    His comments brought to mind one of my favorite verses, 2 Timothy 2:2, "And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."

    And I was reminded of those men who impacted my life spiritually. Ken Lyle, now retired in West Texas, was the pastor in New York who awakened me to the idea that there was something more in the Christian life than just being saved. Robbie Goss, Danny Daniels and Peter Lord impacted my life greatly during the '70s. Robbie was my youth team leader. He trained me for ministry. Danny discipled me and I am forever grateful. Peter gave me a vision for ministry, preaching and pastoring. He has remained my friend and encourager to this day.

    Where would we be without men (or women) who have poured themselves out for us.

    As I write this I'm reminded of the woman who similarly impacted my life -- Lila Frances Foote, age 95, my high school English teacher, senior class sponsor, who I've come to realize was like a mother to me in my high school days. She believed in me.

    Thank you all!

Church With Passion

    The pastor of NewSpring Church, Anderson, SC, Perry Noble, recently visited Las Vegas and observed its success at attracting people. The church, he suggested, should do better -- much better. How? By being first class in all that it does.

    A restaurant, he said, will go bankrupt if people don't eat there.

    "It’s the same with a church…if people are not going then something about the church needs to change.  AND I personally think it is the attitude of those inside the church–realizing that what the church does should be done with passion, excellence…and with a desire to bring those who are outside inside."