If you have watched the presidential nominees’ debate recently, you know that providing their income tax information has become important.  With that information, it also provides how much they give to charitable organizations.  The Bible has made it very clear what God expects of His children: Abel brought a sacrifice to God that was acceptable but his brother Cain did not.  Apparently God had told them what he expected of each.  One obeyed and one did not.  The illustration of Abel’s giving teaches us the importance of worshiping God and as Christ teaches us, giving Him our very best.  Tithing and sacrificing has been a part of worshiping God from the very beginning.

Does giving to charities necessarily make a person better able to govern?  Not really, but does it not give us an idea of one’s character and where their heart toward others might be?  However, would we not prefer a politician who is more acceptable to God in this one area?  Providing you believe giving is important.

Having been on a number of church boards and a church treasurer, I have been told that about 25% of church members tithe and that could be correct but, I believe it is more of an estimate than an exact figure.  Those who have studied their Bible consistently realize the importance of tithing and God’s promises of blessings to those who do.

When you look at the charitable giving of the income tax of those reporting, last year Mitt Romney gave more than 16% to charity.  The Obama’s, under Rev. Wright, gave an average1%.  Later, they boosted it to 5%.  In 2010 they gave 14.2%.  Over the past ten years Vice-president Biden has averaged $369 per year.  In 2010, the Biden’s gave 1.4%.  Newt Gingrich donated 2.6% of his 2010 income.  The Clinton’s gave in 2002, 1.2% and in 2004, 12.57% according to the Tax Foundation.  For four years they averaged 8.26%.  Rick Santorum and Ron Paul’s 2010 tax reports were not available that I could locate.  Many Christians believe giving to Planned Parenthood is different from giving to a religious organization, but it still counts.

Many times we are told in the Bible that if we keep His commandments we will be blessed and prosperous.  The Jews were told if they disobeyed God they would be cursed.  Deuteronomy 28:15 – 19 – “However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.”

God does not list the things we are not to do as threats.  However, He was giving the Jews warnings that if they did not obey they would not receive His blessings.  The Israelites disobeyed God repeatedly and He withdrew His blessings which had brought them success and prosperity.  God allowed bad things to happen.

Wouldn’t it be great to have committed Christian politicians to lead our country; ones that are true leaders, plus putting Christ and others first?  For a couple hundred years America had been one of the most blessed and prosperous nation.  Approximately 60 years ago we became a self-centered nation and our prosperity has been gradually decreasing.  The Jewish nation has been an example of God’s blessings and curses but apparently, we have not learned from history.  We are following the same path they took and they have suffered for more than two thousand years.  They failed, as we, to obey God’s commandments.  One of those commandments has been to lovingly be willing to give to others on an individual basis through tithes and offerings and not become the welfare nation we are now, relying on government to meet our needs.

Have you ever been in a position waiting on a customer and you could not help them and they placed a curse on you?  Did you buy something at a yard sale and from then on have nightmares?  There are Satanists who place curses on people who fail to meet their demands.  For some unknown reason you may have had bad things happening to you and were unaware of the cause.  We may not be cognizant that we are going through a battle with evil spirits.   Scripture tells us it is a possibility.

Ephesians 6:10 – 17 – “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Most ignore the fact that there are millions of evil spirits that are emissaries of Satan who are forever tempting and cursing people.  They are constantly seeking to interfere with our relationship with God and are repeatedly tempting us. There may be times that they cause all sorts of problems.  Their trick is to cause deception or disobedience.  We cannot adequately stand against them in our own power.

It has been proven that we could have enemies who use evil spirits to persecute us, lie to us, cheat us, hurt us or even kill us.  That enemy exits in the unseen world.  There are wicked people who will do evil things that may affect us in many ways physically, mentally and materially.  The battles that we go through may not be against flesh and blood and it may not be about people, but evil spirits.

Our struggles could be with the rulers of the darkness.  Satan’s master plan is to deceive humans and get them to reject and rebel against God and His people.  Their goal is to enslave people into various forms of idolatry, deceptive philosophies, evolution, humanism or even climate change.  We are told we may even have to fight against wicked spirits in the heavens above.  The immorality of our age has been inspired by demons.

How do we fight against evil spirits with power to exploit our human nature, to fan human passions and inflame human lusts and encourage us to make human errors?  You don’t believe any of this?  Then why would it be in the Bible to warn us?  Scripture then goes on to tell us how to defend against these powers.

We are told to put on the belt to protect the lower portion of our body.  Truth is the first piece of armor.  We must know the truth about God and have a protective relationship.  We then place the breastplate to protect our upper body.  We are to protect the heart.  All issues of life come from the heart and they can defile a person.  Satan tries to corrupt the heart so that it will display ugly passions instead of the love of Christ.  Our feet must be ready to move for the gospel.  Everywhere we go we must be willing to witness for Christ.  We must put on the helmet as a blow to the head could be fatal.  God gives us a helmet to protect our thoughts from satanic influences and interference.  Satan normally goes after a person’s mind.  Scripture says if Satan can control the mind he can control the person.  Without God’s protection, our thinking is open to the influence of Satan’s rulers of the darkness.

Ephesians 2:1 – 3 – “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.”

For defense and offense we are to carry a sword.  Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

There are two things that caused me to write this blog.  We need to realize that there are evil spirits that we must deal with whether we see them, hear them or not.  They are not around to make life easy for us.  It is possible to pick up an item at a yard sale and odd things could happen.  Second, God has given us the power of the Holy Spirit to help us deal with spirits of darkness.  It takes faith and belief that God can overcome.  If unusual things are happening in your life the best advice I can give is to pray and ask God to intervene.

Lastly, evil spirits are not always attached to inanimate objects.  They are everywhere and most Christians do not realize when they are being tempted or tested.  But if we are allowing our self-centered natures rather than our spiritual natures to influence our actions, temptations may be difficult to overcome.  May I suggest we take Ephesian 6:12 seriously?

Heard recently of a person being cursed and it stayed with him for years.  May I recommend if you ever hear someone place a curse on you, pray out loud immediately: “I pray in the name of Jesus that the curse is returned to the sender, in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen!”

Do you know anyone who has not been discouraged?  It is a response to life’s challenges and there could be many.  Read Scripture!  Was there anyone who did not have times when they were discouraged?  You could be faced with financial pressures, health issues, feelings that you don’t measure up, unable to please others, being abused, unanswered prayer, a lack of recognition or a loss of confidence.  Even King David faced discouragement.

Psalms 42:11 – “Why am I discouraged?  Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God!  I will praise him again—my Savior and my God.

There are Christians who do not have a meaningful relationship with God.  They do not truly know Him, trust Him or believe in His promises.  When they become discouraged they may have no one to turn to.  They believe they know Christ and have a relationship, but they probably don’t.  It isn’t unusual to lack faith.  The Apostles were with Jesus three years and had a problem with faith.  They saw Jesus feed 4,000 and 5,000, raise the dead, heal the sick and when He calmed the storm, He stated, you of little faith.  Even after He was resurrected the Apostle Thomas said He would not believe until He could see Jesus and touch Him.  Are we any different?  How would you rate your faith?

The greater our faith the less discouraged we become and the more encouraged we are.  You may say that you believe in God.  Yet, even the demons believe in God.  James 2:18 – 19 – “But someone will say, ‘you have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”

Faith does not come just by what we believe.  It comes by having a relationship with Christ.  Show me someone who has a close relationship with Christ who rarely reads their Bible and isn’t a consistent prayer.  Show me someone who has a relationship and yet continues to live as the world lives.  Are you ashamed of your Christianity?  Are you afraid to witness?  The answer can determine one’s degree of faith.

We must understand that a Christian’s love comes from our faith.  Faith and love go together and obedience follows.  Faith promotes love and love motivates obedience.  When they are functioning adequately they overcome discouragement.  When we become discouraged, it may start with a weakening faith, possibly a lack of love or just being disobedient.  Keep in mind the number of times Jesus said: Your faith has made you whole.  Had the sick not had faith would they have been healed?  Then shouldn’t a Christian overcome discouragement using faith?

If life doesn’t challenge us, God will.  We cannot live without facing problems.  We live in a world full of sin and ruled by Satan.  However, we do not have to live being discouraged.  Every problem that is solved and that we overcome is an encouragement that we can beat the next crises.  If you have the right relationship with Christ you know there will be nothing that you have to face on your own. You must understand that faith knows that whatever God promises He will do.  If you have the conviction and the faith to trust, you will never need to face anything by yourself.

If we are facing a serious situation what is the first thing we often do?  We try to solve it or get someone to help us.  What is usually the last thing we do?  If we can’t solve it we pray!  With the right relationship and faith the first thing we should do is pray.  What one thing do you learn when you read the entire Bible.  The ones written about are there because of their relationship to God or Christ.  How many of the religious Jewish leaders can you name mentioned in the Bible with the exception of the Chief Priests?  Only those who had a relationship with God are emphasized.

Matthew 17:16 – 20 – “I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”  ‘You unbelieving and perverse generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.’ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.  Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’”

Lacking faith, as we noted, happens to most Christians.  Increasing faith is a process that comes with spiritual maturity.  If we are struggling with discouragement the Bible is the greatest encourager I know.  God loves us and His Spirit can be with us every second.  He is there to make sure that whatever we encounter He will get us through it.  If you lack faith and trust, you now realize it improves through a relationship with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.

SALVATION—is it intellectual or heartfelt?  It was a Sunday evening in July, 1953; I was attending an evening worship service.  The sermon was on: “What is it like going to hell?”  By the time the service was over I was scared to death.  The minister asked if anyone wanted to stay out of hell they needed to come to the altar and pray.  I went straight to the altar fell on my knees and a number of Christians started praying for me.  I wasn’t as concerned about salvation as I did not want to end up in hell.

It was an intellectual thing, I did not want to burn throughout eternity.  Most sinners feel to some degree guilty.  If all they have to do is ask for forgiveness, accept Christ as their Lord and accept Him into their heart, they can be and are saved.  Once saved, they no longer are guilty and their life will be changed and better from then on.  It doesn’t always work that way.

I do not believe we place enough emphasis on repentance and what is required.  This is a changing of one’s mind about sin and a change in a person’s heart toward sin.  It is accepting the Holy Spirit into our hearts and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and check our behavior and belief system.  It is then pursuing a worshipful relationship with God and Christ through prayer and Bible study.  From that day on we live to please God in all that we say and do.  The more committed we become the more challenges we may face.  It is through problems and seeing God meeting our needs that we develop more faith, trust and belief.  Under the above relationship, I believe once you are saved you will always be saved.

I believe many people accept Christ as their Savior intellectually as I at first had.  They believe there is a God and that Christ can save them.  However, they do not take repentance seriously.  They do all that they are told to be saved but they make little, if any, changes in how they live.  They continue to live as the world lives and fail to seek a true relationship with God.  They may say a few prayers and occasionally read their Bible.  They may go to church each week and become involved.  But they never really become totally committed to serving God and living to please Him.

We are born self-centered.  Many are unwilling to become more God-centered and centered on others, a requirement.  So little change takes place in their lives.  I believe these people can backslide and lose their salvation and many do.  Satan can then deceive them into believing that no matter what they do, they are assured of going to heaven believing once saved always saved.

What happens after a person accepts Christ and becomes saved will probably determine whether they have accepted intellectually or heartfelt.  It is possible that many of us initially accept intellectually. But have we actually repented as described by Scripture?  Who is first in our lives and who do we focus on;    is it ourselves or Christ?  Are we living to please self or God?   It isn’t difficult to determine whether you have truly repented, changed your ways and are totally committed to living to please God.  It may be easier for others to recognize whether we have an intellectual relationship or a heartfelt one than ourselves.   But God knows and He is the important one!  What do we need to know to make sure our salvation is heartfelt?

The message of the Gospel was love.  A sinner’s love is normally selfish and perverted.  Whereas, God’s love is unconditional.  The Bible emphasizes a personal relationship with God and being able to have the same love for God and others as He has for us—unconditional.  Love permits freedom.  We cannot be coerced to love.  God will test our relationship with Him by our love and our love of others.  Love promotes ethical behavior.  It directs our motives, attitudes and relationships.  Love reaches out, having respect for the thoughts of others who may disagree.  It does not withdraw from society or civil concerns.  Love is caring.  Love is in joy, sorrow, frustration and every complexity of life.  A Christian’s love is generous.  Love must not be used to gain an advantage.  Our faith can come from love and our morals are a result of love.

We believe God created each of us to have a master.  He then gives us the responsibility to choose our master.  It was God’s desire that we chose Him.  Many may select money, fame, power or some other purpose.  Most cut themselves off from God and Christ.  They are more concerned about their own thoughts and loyalties.  Since we were created also to serve, many are more willing to serve self than God.  Does it make sense to choose one’s weak and imperfect self over the power of a limitless God?  Are we willing to giving up being fulfilled for the fantasy of freedom?  We must ask ourselves: is our heart right with God?  Are we willing to serve Him with reverence?  Is our heart right toward our neighbor?  Is our love shown by our deeds?

May we ask ourselves, is our salvation once saved always saved or do we have a salvation that can be lost?  Have you repented and has your love changed?

I wrote a blog: “Does your position or job determine who you are?”   A person having a prestigious position is treated differently than an individual who sells, for example, insurance or is involved in a pyramid organization.  The same is true, to some extent, if people know you have wealth.  I have known a number of individuals who were power hungry and their position or their wealth meant everything to them.  They used their wealth or position to impress others in order to get what they wanted.  There were times when people would ask where I worked and what did I do.  I would reply by saying I was a store manager.  It just happened to be one of the largest department stores in Las Vegas.  You could tell some would be impressed.  When I started my own business and became a consultant, people asked what I did for a living, I would tell them.   I quickly learned some will treat you differently.  It is actually very sad that we place a person’s importance by the position they hold.  It is just as wrong to measure a person by the amount of wealth they have accumulated, whether it is earned or inherited.

Philippians 2:3 – 4 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of us should look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

True humility is having the proper perspective of ourselves.  It does not mean we are to put ourselves down.  A humble person is always seeking the good of other people.  Christ was not only equal to God; He existed in the form of God.  He deliberately abandoned the glory and became a servant.  He did not give up His divine attributes.  He did not cease to be God.  He assumed being human without giving up His divine nature.  He came as a servant of God with a desire to do those things that He knew would please and give joy to God, His father.  We too were created and put on this earth that we may please and bring joy to God.  Unless that is our goal we may never sense fulfillment or satisfaction.  In giving pleasure to God, we fulfill the deepest and most basic needs of our own lives.

Luke 12:15 – “Then he said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’” NLT – Luke 12:21 – “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

If we don’t have the right relationship with God and our heart is filled with greed, wealth can become an obstacle between us and God.  From the very beginning God required the giving of a tenth of what they had accumulated.

Genesis 4:2 – 5 – “Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.  And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.” NIV

We do not know why God rejected Cain’s sacrifice.  It could have been Cain’s attitude was not right. He could have resented having to sacrifice or the sacrifice was not up to God’s standard.  However, the Bible is very clear; God expected His people to tithe the first tenth of what they had.  When they don’t it seems God is not pleased.  It affects our relationship with Him.

My wife and I have tithed for over fifty years.  There was a time when in 1987 I left a well paying job to start my own business.  The first couple of months my income was zero.  By the end of two years the only thing we had left was a very small amount in an IRA.  Throughout those two years we continued to tithe on what little I made.  Then my income became sufficient to meet our needs.  As the business grew and the income increased we feel it was what God allowed and provided us to have.  There is absolutely no doubt in our minds, God helped build our business.  Today it is supporting four families.

As we went through the two years of living from pay day to pay day we trusted the promises God gives in the Bible.  There was never a day or night worrying about how or whether we would make it.  We knew it would be just a matter of time until God would allow us to prosper.  I believe that trust came from the many years of tithing and studying to know that God would meet our needs. He did just what He promised He would do.  I didn’t want my relationship with God to be like He had with Cain.  If God requires the first tenth, I am grateful to live on the rest and it has been adequate.  If you do not tithe I hope our experience will encourage you to begin.   Otherwise, pray that God will give you the faith to trust Him.  Trusting faith gives hope and assurance that changes everything no matter what we must face.  It is also the knowledge of knowing the Holy Spirit is within us to assist, by guiding and checking our decisions.

Who is it who does not want to know and control their future?  A fortune teller who can predict with more than 80% accuracy of what happens in the future could have millions of followers–Jean Dixon comes to mind.  If I knew what the stock market would do this next year or what land would be worth two years from now, it would help in making investment decisions.  I may have a fifty percent chance of predicting for one year but what if I could predict it every year for at least the next twenty.  How many people would take someone’s advice with that kind of forecasting ability? Once their neighbors told them how much they were receiving each year from their investments and there was absolutely no risk, they would be lining up by the hundreds to invest.

Bernie Madoff who scammed billions from investors did so by returning excellent returns, in a Ponzi scheme, when others were losing.  Everyone wants a no risk investment that returns big yields and that is precisely what they thought they were getting.  Bernie’s investment forecasting plan got him 150 years in jail.  He gets out in 2137 on good behavior, provided he lives to over 200.

The Bible has made at least 40 Prophecies concerning Christ and they were all fulfilled.  Yet the majority of the world rejects Scripture.  However, one man predicts the end of the world and millions become concerned.  Why do so many people believe fortune tellers but refuse to believe the fulfilled prophecies of the Bible?

Isaiah 40:3 & 5 – “A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God’..…And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” This was predicted in 740 B.C.  Isaiah told people to prepare to see God prepare the way for a coming Messiah.  This was part of the prediction that John the Baptist would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah.

Matthew 3:1 & 2 – “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”

Matthew 11:10 – 11 – “This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’  Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Note that Scripture not only told that there would be a messenger but that he would preach in the wilderness.  He did not go to the people, the people came to him to be preached to and baptized.  They knew the Old Testament Scripture and came to learn about the coming Messiah.

Approximately 400 B.C., Malachi made the same prophecy.  Malachi 3:1 – “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.”  This verse tells of two messengers.  We understand it to be John the Baptist and Jesus, the Messiah.

In about 1450 B. C. Moses made a prophecy.  Deuteronomy 18:15 – 18 – “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.  For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, ‘Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.’  The LORD said to me: ‘What they say is good.  I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.’”

Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”  Immanuel means “God with us.”  What do you think the chances of these men making this entirely up and being right? There is no other recorded account of any virgin of any species, having ever become pregnant as Mary, who conceived by the Holy Spirit and not by a male.

Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.” They also wrote the place where Immanuel, the Messiah would be born.  A small insignificant city!

In 538 B.C. Daniel 9:25 – “Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times.” After Jerusalem is rebuilt, in 483 years the Messiah will enter the city.  The actual figure was 173,880 days from records uncovered.  Jesus entered riding a donkey as prophesized.

The Bible is filled with prophecies and then fulfilled.  I don’t see how anyone could ever study the Bible and not be convinced by the fulfilling of prophecies that there is a God and He sent His Son Christ, to die for the sins of man so that man could be forgiven and receive eternal life with God.  But Scripture tells us a person’s heart can be so hard that they are blinded and will never be able to see the truth.  Satan is very deceiving and has convinced most to accept the beliefs of the world and deny Christ. Would anyone think men could have dreamed these things to happen hundreds of years earlier? What are the odds?

You can find over a hundred books on developing self-confidence.  There are a number of people, Christians and non-Christians, who could read every one of them and still lack confidence.  I hope my personal experiences will help build one’s confidence.

The thirteenth chapter of Numbers tells about the 12 spies Moses sent to scout out the land that God had promised them as they wandered in the desert.  They came back with glowing reports of the land.  However, ten said they could not take the land.  They said the men were bigger, stronger and the cities were too well-fortified.  Two said, with God’s help, they could defeat them and the land would be theirs.  I believe my faith and trust in God would have been sufficient to be one of the two because of what I have personally witnessed.

Having been in management for over 30 years I have assumed that out of every twelve employees, two would be positive and ten would not believe in themselves because of their lack of self-confidence.  I understand confidence can be learned.  Having been involved in sports from the third grade through college and then coaching in high school, confidence is as important as ability.  You will never watch a professional athlete who lacks confidence in their athletic ability.  Confidence can be had without one being arrogant or egotistical.  Tim Tebow comes to mind.

I don’t understand why many Christians are not more confident and they seem to have the faith of the ten spies.  When I am asked to sign our book: “God and the Bottom Line” I address it and write Phil. 4:13 and then sign it.  This is one of my favorite verses.  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” KJV   That doesn’t mean that Christ will make us another superman or woman.  It means whatever Christ asks us to do He will give us the strength and ability to do it.

This was proved to me when I was chairman of the Relocation Task Force.  We were asked to purchase 80 acres for a new church when we didn’t have the money to buy it.  Once we found the land money came in to pay for it.  We were then asked to build a $22 million, 150,000 sq. ft. building when we did have the money to build half that size.  That was in 1991.  We have been in our present church since 1999 and have never missed a payment.  What if the Task Force had the faith of the ten spies?  Would our church be able to minister to 40,000 at Christmas time?

It is very important to realize God’s promises.  II Corinthians 3:5 – “It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.” (NLT)

Here are a few more Scriptures that tell us what the power of the Holy Spirit will do if we will allow Him.  I Corinthians 6:17 – Says we are not on our own we are with Christ in spirit.  I Corinthians 12:8-10 tell us the Holy Spirit gives to different Christians: wisdom, knowledge, gifts of healing and other miraculous powers. Romans – 8:15 – 27 – The Holy Spirit helps us to overcome fear and assures us we are God’s children and heirs.  Act 20:23 – Says the Holy Spirit will warn us.  Galatians 5:22 – 23 The Holy Spirit helps us obtain love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There are many more Scriptures that describe the power of the Holy Spirit that is available to each believer.  Is there any reason not to be confident and succesful?

I wonder if some Christian’s problems are a lack of trust or self-confidence because they never study or accept how Scripture applies to them.   A Christian’s self-confidence comes from our relationship with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.  If you lack confidence do you need to become more spiritually mature?  Do you need to spend more time in Bible study and prayer?  Pray that God challenges you to do something for Him that you feel incapable of doing.  Then do it and see if He doesn’t give you the ability and willingness to accomplish His task.  Do this a few times and you will realize that confidence can come from God.   Then apply that confidence to other projects.  Think positively, tell yourself positive thoughts and you will become positive!  Allow the Holy Spirit to make you into a new confident and successful person as God intended and the Bible assures.

Many evangelicals believe that God chooses who our president will be. If we get a president that is not good for the country, then God is punishing us.  If He wants America to prosper He will give us presidents that will make the economy grow.

Based on Romans 13:1 – “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

Some interpret this Scripture to mean that if God establishes the authorities then we get who He wants.  Years ago most every insurance policy insured for everything, except “Acts of God”.  They defined those acts as any unusual weather change, earthquake or a hurricane.  That was an “Act of God” which man had no control over. In fact, most anything bad that happened was believed to be caused by God.  As a child I was told that if I didn’t behave God would punish me.

The more we have studied Scripture, the more capable we have become in understanding that there are times when we believe the Bible was incorrectly interpreted from the Greek to English.  Many no longer believe that every bad act of nature or bad president is caused by God.  We realize that God allows Satan to do evil things but God does not cause them.  In fact, is it possible that Satan now picks our presidents?  He entered Judas!  Could he not enter an evil president?

I Samuel 8:6 – 7 – “But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,’ this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.  And the LORD told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.’”

The Israelites rejected having judges who received guidance from God.  They wanted to be like all other nations and have a king. They wanted laws, an army and a human leader.  They no longer wanted to rely on God and His appointed judges.  They thought a new system of government would improve their nation.  It was their disobedience to God that a king was allowed. Had the Israelites submitted to God’s leadership, they would have prospered beyond their greatest expectations.

Does this story sound anything like what we have seen happening in America the past few years?  Would you say that America has rejected God as our supreme leader?  Have we refused to let God lead us, our family and our government?   Are we living as the pagan world lives? Do we want to be more like European nations?  What difference, if any, do you see between the Israelites during Samuel’s time and Americans today?

I am one who believes that God allows us to choose any president we want.  If we chose a president that is as rebellious as King Saul, then we will get the same or similar results that the Israelites received.  So weigh all of the positives and all of the negatives.  Consider the consequences to all Americans when you make your choice.  Be careful that the values of others do not develop your attitude and your behavior.  When God’s people want to be like unbelievers, we are headed in the wrong spiritual direction.  Do you believe our nation is being led by God-fearing people or by leaders typical to what the I Samuel Israelites chose?

Acts 5:29 – “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings.”

“A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.”  George Bernard Shaw

Our constitution promotes equal right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  It meant every person would have an equal opportunity to be successful and so rewarded.  Should the government help each person have the opportunity to become successful or should they make it possible for equal outcomes.  If you are one who believes the government is to equalize wealth outcomes and the redistribution of wealth, we could end up with the same governmental system as Europe.  Let’s keep our constitution as it is and what it was meant to do and not change it.  Then let’s get this nation back to being focused on Christ and dependent on God.  Can’t we learn from history?

Do you know of anyone who is not looking for happiness and joy in their lives?  If they are normal they are.  Then ask: “How many do you know who have found a lasting happiness?”  Happiness, joy and pleasures are usually a temporary state that we receive from favorable external situations.  Anytime these external situations become unfavorable we often become unhappy.

In sports we found that when we won we were happy but when losing we were unhappy.  We may become pleased when we receive recognition or a financial reward.  How long does that happiness last?  Ask those who have won the lottery or a large jackpot two or three years later?  We all know people who appear to have everything but always seem to be unhappy.

External situations change so often that many, wanting to remain happy will seek drugs, alcohol or overeating looking for ways to change their external surroundings.  The entire world is looking for happiness and joy in their lives.  Webster’s dictionary defines it as an emotional feeling of having good things, living a delightful life and generally having a feeling of gladness.  It may be a state of bliss or gaiety.  Many come to Las Vegas looking for that kind of happiness and pleasure.  How many find it and if they do how long will it last?

Most do not realize that there are two kinds of joy: worldly joy and spiritual joy.  It is unreasonable to think we will always be confronted with pleasant situations.  It isn’t unreasonable to expect and to always have joy.  There is a joy given by the Holy Spirit.  This joy is described as a “fruit” of the Spirit.  It is an inner spiritual joy that comes only from God.

James 1:2 – 4 – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Acts 13:52 – The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 14:17 – God fills your heart with joy.

John 16:22 – Jesus says, “No one will take away your joy.”

1 Peter 1:8 – (Commentary)  This spiritual joy possesses the radiance of God’s glory.  It is a joy that comes from heaven.  It is a joy that can only come from being in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The “fruit of joy” is always dependent upon living a vital relationship with Christ.  It cannot be fabricated for it is spiritual and comes from the heart.  Having this spiritual joy can keep you from seeking the world’s lusts and pleasures, which so many do.  Daily we must die out to this self-centered nature we all have.  Focus on Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to help each of us to totally surrender so that we can be filled with joy.

Do you know people who never seem to find the right career, who struggle meeting monthly expenses, who continually struggle wanting to find their purpose in life? Most people do not enjoy trials.  In fact, we may do almost anything to avoid the trials of life.  Yet, the Bible says we are to face trials with joy—pure joy.  We are then told that God wants to make us patient.  The more we wait on the Lord, God can do great things in our lives.  The only way the Lord can develop patience and character in our lives is through trials.  It is essential that we go through the difficulties of life, trust God and obey Him.  As we go through life’s external situations and face trials do we recognize that the Holy Spirit is guiding us through these circumstances?  Once we realize that God is allowing certain things to happen, to make us better or more spiritual, we sense the joy that the Bible illustrates.  Joy brings happiness and provides the pleasures that we are seeking.  This is the process to spiritual maturity.

The Apostle Paul says it was this inner joy that encouraged him during his times of imprisonment and his many trials.  It is this spiritual joy that encouraged Paul to press on and be enthusiastic toward the goal of living for Christ as he encountered difficult external circumstances. We can have the same joy that Paul had, a spiritual joy that keeps us positive through unhappy times.

A small farmer was asked by his wife if he would be going to church with them for the Christmas service.  As usual he said he had some farm chores that needed to be done.  The wife bundles up the children and off they drove to church.  The farmer sits in his chair by the fireplace and picks up a book.  He just starts when he hears a lot of thumping in the yard.  It was very cold and snowing outside so he gets his hat and coat and proceeds to see what is causing the disturbance.   Surprisingly, a flock of geese had landed in his yard and they were in serious trouble.  They were flapping their wings but could not fly.  It was so cold and the farmer believed that he had to get them into the barn if they were going to be saved.  He opened the barn door but they wouldn’t budge, they just kept flapping.  He went to the house and got some bread.  He started placing the bread in front of them and it led to the barn door.  They still refused to move.  He got a broom and tried chasing them into safety but they wouldn’t budge.  He finally gave up believing they did not want to be saved.  Then he thought: “I guess the only way I can save them is to become one of them and lead then into the barn for their survival.”  It then hit him; he probably should have gone to church.  

He goes into the house sits down and starts reading his book.  It begins centuries ago and tells of a small kingdom.  The king and his men left to attack another kingdom to obtain food, materials and slaves.  They are gone for about a month.  They came back with wagon loads of food and equipment plus a number of women and children ten years of age and younger.  All of the men and older male children were killed.  The only one they lost was their king who was killed. 

The next in line, for being king, was the king’s 17 year old son.  He called his father’s council together and asked for advice as to what to do with the loot that had been obtained.  They gave him advice and he followed it.  Anytime a serious problem had to be solved he gathered the council together to get their recommendations. 

In front of his castle he could stand on a balcony and look to his left and see a large orchard that supplied all of his fruit.  To the right were huge gardens that supplied the king and his staff with vegetables.  Far in the distance were farms that supplied all his meat and horses for his warriors.  There were small homes surrounding the countryside.  

Behind the castle was a balcony that overlooked a street that had peddlers.  People would come and buy their food, clothes and others items.  He could see and hear some of the people and their conversations.  There was one young lady that was very attractive and caught his eye.  She was helping her family by selling bread.  Day after day he watched and listened to her and became very infatuated.   As weeks went by, he felt himself falling in love with her.  He called his council together and asked them how he should go about making her his queen?  They told him that he was the ultimate ruler and anything he wanted all he had to do was ask and it would happen.  One advisor told him she then would be his slave for life.  He didn’t want a slave.  He wanted someone that would love him in return.  They then suggested that he bring her into the castle and give her every gift she could ever want.  What young lady wouldn’t be thrilled with that?  The one advisor said she may be happy but you will never know if she really loves you. 

It was then suggested that he take off his crown, lay down his scepter and take off his robe.  Dress as a commoner and ride your horse to where she is.  She will think you are just one of them.  So this is what he did.   After days together they fell in love and she agreed to marry him. 

Philippians 2:5 – 11 – “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

To lead us to safety and save our spiritual lives God’s plan was to become one of us.  All others methods had failed.  His people were given everything they needed and were extremely prosperous.  It did not work.  He tried using the broom to shoo them into safety by punishment but they would not be driven.  No matter what God did they were disobedient and rejected Him.  He then came to earth as a baby in order to become one of them.  He explained Who He was and provided information in order for us to know Him and to develop a relationship with Him.  He wanted people He could love and who would love Him in return.  He promised that if people would accept Him as their Lord and Savior He would change their hearts and place His Spirit within them.  Some accepted Him as the young lady accepted the king and gave their love and lived for Him.  God’s promise was that they would be protected by Him throughout eternity. The plan worked for many and some day they will live with Him in a new world with a new heaven.  They will live with a greater love, fellowship and prosperity than the queen would ever have had.     

It’s still time to accept Him if you haven’t!  (The above material was from a sermon by Todd Clark—12/17-18/2011.)