Tag Archives: Promise

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

THE PROMISE OF INNER CHANGE (Hebrews 8:10)

For the past five months I have been growing a beard and while I have always kept a “close shave” this is the first time I have allowed my beard to grow out. (For the record I am not trying to compete with Duck Dynasty)

As I looked back at the progress I noticed subtle changes along the way but after five months I have reached my goal of a healthy full length beard. Of course, I look little like the person of five months prior (for obvious reasons); but one thing my beard never did was change the inner being of Joshua Johnian. 

For better, or for worse, who I am on the inside still remains with or without a beard. If I am dealing a particular issue, struggling through a place of doubt, harboring anger or fear or even possessing great faith and allowing the HS to transform me daily my exterior image cannot change the inner man.

Too often we try to clean up or hide behind the exterior and with enough effort we can even trick ourselves into believing it is making some lasting and significant change. (Again, a good shave, trim, haircut and set of clothes go a long way in making you feel good) But any exterior change wears off, gets boring and given enough time also needs to be freshened up.

So, what’s the point?

The Promise of God brings with it the Promise of Lasting Inner Change. Certainly the outer image is important to God but we are all guilty of trying to trick God and fool ourselves with an outer “coat of paint” without allowing the HS to change what is in need of desperate repair and remodeling on the inside.

One more example: My wife loves the show “Fixer Upper” and we will watch the amazing rehab projects Chip and JoJo perform week after week. You know what I have noticed? While they will spend time fixing the outside the bulk of their energy, expertise and resources are spent totally remodeling every detail of the inside. With a careful attention every house is redone to perfection and with great joy to the future homeowner.

Often we hear mantra’s that tell us, “look within…” and I can’t help but wonder if I, or you, need to allow a “fixer upper” project on ourselves?

God created us with “great bones” and our bodies, like a natural home, are created to house God’s beautiful, and original intention, from the inside-out. The Promise of Inner Change, for me, is an enduring reminder I can’t get around what is needed most in my journey: Inner Change.

If we will allow God’s promise to actually be manifest in our lives then we will experience change both in and out. And, best of all, we will be living with an active Promise of God operating in our lives and positioning us for further blessing!

Today, ask the HS to start the remodeling process and trust God that He has the master design for you while Jesus reassures us the project of the inner you is much better than what you are working on today. – PASTOR JOSHUA

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“Read Jer. 31:31 for the promise of the New Covenant, and note that it involves an inner change of the heart. Read 2 Cor. 3 for additional light on this wonderful topic. The Old Covenant was written with the finger of God on tablets of stone, but the New Covenant is written by the Spirit on the human heart and mind. An external law can never change a person; it must become a part of the inner life if it is to change our behavior. See Deut. 6:6–9. This is the meaning of Rom. 8:4—“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.” This is accomplished, of course, by the Holy Spirit, who enables us to obey God’s Word.”

Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 698). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

Seize the Moment! Don’t Let Go! You Have a Promise!

Proverbs 4:13 [widescreen]We have all experienced the adventurous, fun, foolish and even rebellious pre-teen/ teen years where often the best thought of the day was created in our own mind and greatly influenced by whatever made us feel good at the moment. I know this to be true because I am often trying to instruct my sixteen-year-old son through some of his random life choices, and whenever I try to walk him through his odd thought process his reply often sounds something like, “Every time you talk to me it is like a life lesson.” It is as if my son believes I am incapable of seeing far beyond the snapshot of life, he is passing through, when I am try to share my insights.

Just when I want to get frustrated with my teenage son I remember I also ignored more wise instruction, and warning, than I took in. At the time I honestly believed the counselors in my life had never been a youth, made mistakes, learned from their past and, from a heart of genuine love, were trying to save me from my own immaturity.

Despite best efforts the fool-heartiness of youth pressed on and throughout the journey I, like many of you, collected my own tales of setback, disappointment, failure and loss; adventures I could have avoided if I had just listened to wise instruction. Unfortunately we are all guilty in allowing seasons of personal failure to dominate our journey when Jesus offers an alternative path.

What is Jesus’ alternative path? Cling to instruction and don’t let go! In all of Solomon’s wisdom, also learned through failures, he encourages us to, “Cling to discipline (instruction). Do not relax your grip on it. Keep it because it is your life.”[1] Said another way Solomon, like a wise and loving parent, tells the reader to be strong, hard and even harsh when seizing instruction and wisdom; and once you have a firm grip on that counsel don’t relax your grasp because the words will keep (preserve) your life and promise!

Our best journey is the one when we allow Jesus to set our life to listening, learning and retention mode. We have all been guilty of hearing but not listening, given answers but not learning and having the best solutions but never applying them. Jesus is not some killjoy grump that wants to ruin your years of purpose and enjoyment. In fact, it is just the opposite…Jesus wants to impart into all the years of your life and fill them with growth, maturity, blessing, joy and purpose. How does He do this? By speaking into our life daily and providing us with loving instruction so we learn how to navigate the foolish and dangerous challenges of life. The end result? If we will cling to instruction and not let go then His guarantee is our life will be preserved with great promise. After all are not Jesus’ promises, “Yes and Amen” to those who believe?
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Therefore, “Seize the Moment! Don’t Let Go! You Have a Promise, from Jesus, on the line and His love desires for you experience all of it!

Blessings – Pastor JOSHUA

#SeizetheMoment#DontLetGo#YouHaveaPromise

[1] GOD’S WORD Translation. (1995). (Pr 4:13). Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group.

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

GOD IS GOOD, A HIDING PLACE IN A TIME OF TROUBLE (He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help)

call-on-godThis past weekend I was part of an amazing group discussion, with my faith community, on the power of prayer and how God can change our lives once we fully submit to Him. What sparked our conversation was a testimony, we viewed as part of series of teachings by Pastor Jim Cymbala (Brooklyn Tabernacle), that helped us see the real power in and behind prayer. This particular testimony was of a man, who lived at the very height of his craft. His talent brought him overnight fame, fortune and instant access to everything the world has to offer. Through a series of circumstances this young many quickly lost his way and ended up broke, homeless, lost, and spiritually unreachable to any hope of the Gospel message transforming his life. As his state of affairs worsened he found himself at death’s door and somewhere in the deep recess of his memory he recalled a woman who once told him, Call on the Lord in your time of trouble and He will hear you. (Psalm 50:15 / Nahum 1:7)  In an instant the barrage of insanity, regret, anger, fear and hurt, that plagued him, lifted and though he was still very sick the clarity of God’s Word came alive within his soul. His journey and recovery would still be an ongoing process but today this man lives as a remarkable miracle of God’s restorative power despite the circumstances, trials or tribulations.

Personally I find it counter-productive and, worse yet, Biblically unsupportable when Christians encourage the belief that the character of God’s goodness, grace, mercy and love can also, in some way, share equal place with His being the author of suffering, pain and preordained sin.

Suffering, pain and the problem of evil is a reality every generation has lived with from the fall of Adam. Yet, despite this reality one can not logically conclude God is the author of such vices. St. Peter tells us, “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.” (1 Peter 4:13 MSG)

If we are going to live in Him (Jesus) and willfully serve His purposes than the evils of this fallen world will, by default, take us through a multitude of experiences that are meant to pull us away from Kingdom living. In spite of this difficult journey God is still able, and more than willing, to make us useful in His hands. But in the struggle too many people attribute the problem of evil to God’s failure in one of two ways. The first way we blame God sounds something like, I can’t deal with this problem, Why would God allow this to happen? The second way we assign blame God sounds like, Well, this is very unfortunate but after all it’s God’s will.  

STOP LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM OF EVIL THROUGH ORDINARY EYES. Though Jesus was made like man, knew temptation as we do and experienced the struggle we may experience He was not an ordinary man. Jesus always saw, lived and ministered life with Kingdom power and perspective. Therefore, in the suffering, lack, hurt and evil He too saw pain through Kingdom eyes. The circumstances surrounding a fallen world bring with it suffering. But the circumstances of suffering can also be a place where God exhibits the supernatural in the lives of those who call on Him in their time of trouble. It is in the supernatural the Kingdom bursts into our fallen reality and we begin to experience the tastes a of glorious future, a renewed Earth and restored lives.

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THERE IS GREAT NEWS! In any time of trouble call on Him! When we set aside and stamp out our personal ambitions we are preparing and positioning ourselves for transformation and transfiguration. In sharing with Christ’s sufferings we learn how any circumstance is going to be used for God’s glory. Therefore, when we call on Him, we can all have the confidence of knowing He has girded us through the trial and in our time of need He will hear our prayer.

“Spread for me a banquet of praise, serve High God a feast of kept promises, And call for help when you’re in trouble — I’ll help you, and you’ll honor me.” (Psalm 50:15 MSG)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

MASTER AND COMMANDER

master-and-commander-dvd-coverMASTER AND COMMANDER

“Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” (John 13:13)

Sometimes I wonder if I was born in another life?  Don’t panic! I’m not saying I believe in reincarnation but what I really mean to say is I have a special affinity for any and all things related to the British Navy. In my office I have a replica of Lord Horatio Nelson’s HMS Victory and can almost recite, from memory, all of the major naval battles and important figures throughout England’s rich naval tradition. It should probably come as no surprise that I also have read, and own, Horatio Hornblower and Patrick O’Brian’s series Master and Commander. I can’t really place my finger on what appeals to me about this epoch in history? Maybe it’s the formality of the times? The appeal to wild adventure? Or the romance of the sea? Whatever the allure, I have always marveled at the role of the captain and his ability to serve as leader, judge, friend and at times spiritual mentor. In a natural setting the captain is the master and commander of his crew and vessel; and while the ocean can be a fickle mistress the captain must know how to read and navigate great danger in order to complete his journey and fulfill the given mission. Do you remember the story of Mutiny on the Bounty? Without getting into the history of the “why’s” the crews mutiny came down to a conflict of who was the master and commander. Said another way to have a master and to be mastered is not the same thing.

“To have a master, within the Christian experience, means that there is One (God) who knows me better than I know myself, One (Jesus) who is closer than a friend, One who searches the deepest areas of my heart and satisfies it, One (the Holy Spirit) who has brought me into the secure sense that He has met and solved every problem of my mind. To have a master is this and nothing less — One is your Master, even Christ.” (Chambers)

When you carefully look at the work of Jesus, in the lives of people, you discover He never enforces obedience and never overrides our will to make us do what He wants. I know, at certain times, I wish God would master me and make me do what He wants, but He will not. In other instances I have wished He would leave me alone, and let me continue my own way, but He does not. When Jesus makes you aware of Himself, as master and commander, you begin to discover the balance of not my will  but Thy will be done.

“Ye call me Master and Lord”— BUT IS HE? In today’s established dialogue Master and Lord have little tolerance or acceptance. When we teach or share, Jesus with others, we prefer words such as Savior, Helper and Healer. While He firmly holds the aforementioned titles, He is also Master and Lord; and today’s Christian should never be ashamed or resistant to His firm but loving direction. To live “In Him” is the Christian’s natural behavior when we accept Jesus, as master and commander (Lord), because we have come to experience His love through our willful obedience to His will. According to an accurate reading of the Bible obedience is based on the relationship of equals, that of a son with his father. Jesus was not just God’s servant…He was His son! While the relationship between God and Jesus is divinely unique we also read, from the parable of the prodigal son to the teachings of St. Paul, God is looking for potential sons and daughters (adoption), grafted into His covenant promise, and heirs of salvation.

If our belief is that we are in fear of being mastered, it is proof we have no master except ourselves. When this has become our attitude, toward Jesus, we have moved far from the relationship He desires. Jesus, as master and commander, isn’t lording over us like the heavy-handed Captain Bligh; but as loving father He patiently waits, desirous, for faithful sons and daughters to live with Him in sacred relationship and holy communion. “The Father can be well pleased in that the Son only who adheres to the Father when apparently forsaken. The fullest grace can be received by those only who continue to obey during the dryness in which all grace seems to be withheld.” [1]

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA


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