As I was sitting in the courtroom this morning, I was listening to a case on trial where a man was called to the witness stand. When the witness arrived to the stand, he was asked some questions by one of the lawyers and one the questions asked was if he had been charged with a felony for driving under the influence (DUI). While the witness did say he got a misdemeanor charge for drinking and driving, he also stated he was charged with obstruction of justice for giving the police officer a false name. After the man provided this information to the attorney, the attorney stated..."So you were pretending to be someone else?" .....
The title of message today is, The pretender.
What is a pretender? In order to answer that question, let's consider the meaning. As defined by the dictionary, a pre·tend·er (pr-tndr) is one who simulates, pretends, or alleges falsely; a hypocrite or dissembler. To be fair, all of us, in one way or another have been a pretender. But for a Christian to be a pretender is to say, then that one is a hypocrite...and the word hypocrite means pretending to be something you are not. In the Bible, Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus twelve disciples was an example of a person who pretended to be someone he was not. Judas followed Jesus for three years, along with the other disciples and pretended to be one of them. While Judas is best known for his betrayal to Jesus, he did more. Judas was a liar, deceiver, a thief who pretended to care for the poor (John 12:6). Not only that, but he was possessed by Satan (John 13:27), he did not address Jesus as Lord, but 'Rabbi '(Matthew 26:25), and he betrayed Jesus with a kiss (Matthew 26:47-50) ... As we see here, although Judas was chosen by Jesus to be one of the twelve disciples, he was not a true believer. He just looked and acted like a one. He was a pretender.
In the religious world, there are many people like Judas that give the appearance of a believer. Like Judas, they have the right association, reputation, and participation...but no salvation! From the example of Judas, we see here that a person can be very close to Jesus, and yet be lost. And this is why the bible tells us "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine." (Corinthians 13:5). But, there are still those who profess and pretend to be a follower and believer, but inwardly they are worldly. While the other disciples thought Judas was good, Jesus knew how he was, because he knew his heart. I Samuel 16:7 says, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." I've learned from life experiences that outward appearance is not the best way to judge how good a person is...but by their fruits, you will know them. In Galatians 5:22-23, the Apostle Paul spoke about what a Christ-follower looks like . "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." The fruit Paul is referring to is the character, attitudes, and actions of a Christ-follower. A person can't be a follower of Jesus while doing their own thing. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in the life of a believer.
Conclusion
If we look at the religious world today, we have to admit that there's many people pretending to be followers and believers, but one can only pretend for so long. You see, a person can be a member of a good church, be respected for their service in the church, and be faithful in attendance...but when reputation becomes more than character, that person becomes a pretender! We need to remember that an audience of one is easier to please. You can only be a Christian if Christ is in you. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you're perfect, but God does command His people to be holy as he is holy! On another note, we need to remember that while we
may fool others, we will never fool God!
Lord, help us all to love and to obey you. Help us to be Holy not only on the outside but also on the inside. Thank you for knowing all about us and for loving us!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Sunday, July 7, 2013
The Attention Getter!
It’s amazing of the things that my dog Lucky does to get my attention. He whines when he wants my attention, he barks, he stares at me, and he also does other things that seem strange like chew on things and misbehave. But whenever he does any of these things to get my attention, I respond. And just as he have his way of getting my attention; God has His ways of getting mines. Here’s a question for you: What does God have to do to get your attention?
Consider the story of Saul, who we know as Paul, and how God got his attention in a dramatic way.
Acts 9:1-9 ---1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.” I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
As we see here, God is a great attention greater. When God wants our attention, he knows how to get it! There are also numerous other examples in the Bible that demonstrates this. For example, God got Moses’ attention by a burning bush, and he used a worm to get the prophet Jonah’s attention. But as for Saul, God got his attention in a way he never expected by shining a bright light from heaven and blinding him while he was on his way to Damascus. Evidently, this light was brighter than the sun shining in full strength. However, even though Saul was just blind for three days, his life was changed forever. Saul began to follow Jesus and told people the Good News about God's love!
In sum, God uses different ways of trying to get our attention throughout time, but whatever way it happens don’t delay in responding! I know what it took for Him to get my attention, but it was not dramatic as Saul’s encounter, lol. However it was a life-changing experience. Prior to being saved, I lived life my way and did what I wanted. But it was not until God got hold of me that I changed! Sometimes, God will bring you down to make you look up! Friends, God is the only one who can help you really change. Look at this way; had God not blinded Saul, he may have never changed… and not only did Saul’s attitude change, but his name changed too! You see, God was in complete control, and He always has a reason. Sometimes He has to get our attention to show us our need to know and receive Jesus. On another note, just as I learned to pay attention to my dog’s signs for attention, it’s important that we pay attention to any signs that God may be sending. So, what will it take for God to get your attention, and how will you respond? Remember, if he can get your attention, God can use you for his purposes.
P.s, Don't wait to late to offer God your attention! He wants you to be saved and He wants you to surrender your life to Him!
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39
Monday, July 1, 2013
Communication is a Two-Way Street!
Today I was watching Deliver Us from Eva, a 2003 movie starring LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union, and while I was watching the movie, there was a part where LL's character, Ray was talking to Eva (Union) and he said “It's hard to get to know someone when they won't talk to you.” Some of you might be wondering where I’m going with this but when I heard this, I felt that was God talking to me. Before I proceed, I will say that I don't usually watch TV, but this day, I just happen to turn on the TV. On another note, while journaling is my way of talking to God daily, pouring out to Him everything that I feel about things that happen, and to thank him for everything...this day I didn’t feel like talking because I was moody, cranky, and tired...but while watching TV, that message was for me to talk to God.
Though God knows everything about us, he still wants us to talk to Him. In the movie, one of the reasons Ray made the statement "It's hard to get know someone when they won't talk to you" is because he was trying to get to know her to have a relationship with her. Surely many of us have heard the saying, without communication, there is no relationship...and so with that being said, in order to have a relationship with someone, you must communicate. And it's the same way with our relationship with God. For most of us, our relationship with God is based on us talking to Him, where we share our true thoughts, questions, experiences, needs, and desires. However, God wants more than just talking. He wants a relationship, a relationship of the kind that can come only by talking and listening. After all, a relationship is a two-way street. Let's look at the two-way conversation between Gideon and God.
In Judges 6:36-40, God listens to Gideon and communicates to him.
36 Then Gideon said to God, "If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, 37 prove it to me in this way. I will put some wool on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised." 38 And it happened just that way. When Gideon got up the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, "Please don't be angry with me, but let me make one more request. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew." 40 So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.
Isn't it amazing how the Lord chooses to communicate?
As you see here, communication with God is a two-way street. It’s a give and take process. We talk and he listens. He talks and we listen. It's important to note that while God communicates to us primarily today through His Word, He communicates with us in other ways as well. Job 33:14 says, 14 For God may speak in one way, or in another... In the Bible, he used talking animals, a burning bush, angels, visions, and a “still small voice” to speak to his people. But for you, God may speak to you through your inner spirit, other people, circumstances, or several other means. For myself, I communicate to God through prayer. But my favorite way of communicating with God is through prayer journaling. However, God communicates to me through His word, the Bible. For example, one time I was praying asking God if the guy I was dating was my husband, and he answered me in John 4:18..."and the man you now have is not your husband". Not only that, but he also talked to me about moving from relationship to relationship just like the Samaritan woman. Then there was another time I was complaining about my pay, and I just opened my bible to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 3 and the verse that jumped out at me was "be content with your wages". It's amazing how God speaks through Scripture! John 8:47 says, "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says."
Though God knows everything about us, he still wants us to talk to Him. In the movie, one of the reasons Ray made the statement "It's hard to get know someone when they won't talk to you" is because he was trying to get to know her to have a relationship with her. Surely many of us have heard the saying, without communication, there is no relationship...and so with that being said, in order to have a relationship with someone, you must communicate. And it's the same way with our relationship with God. For most of us, our relationship with God is based on us talking to Him, where we share our true thoughts, questions, experiences, needs, and desires. However, God wants more than just talking. He wants a relationship, a relationship of the kind that can come only by talking and listening. After all, a relationship is a two-way street. Let's look at the two-way conversation between Gideon and God.
In Judges 6:36-40, God listens to Gideon and communicates to him.
36 Then Gideon said to God, "If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, 37 prove it to me in this way. I will put some wool on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised." 38 And it happened just that way. When Gideon got up the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, "Please don't be angry with me, but let me make one more request. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew." 40 So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.
Isn't it amazing how the Lord chooses to communicate?
As you see here, communication with God is a two-way street. It’s a give and take process. We talk and he listens. He talks and we listen. It's important to note that while God communicates to us primarily today through His Word, He communicates with us in other ways as well. Job 33:14 says, 14 For God may speak in one way, or in another... In the Bible, he used talking animals, a burning bush, angels, visions, and a “still small voice” to speak to his people. But for you, God may speak to you through your inner spirit, other people, circumstances, or several other means. For myself, I communicate to God through prayer. But my favorite way of communicating with God is through prayer journaling. However, God communicates to me through His word, the Bible. For example, one time I was praying asking God if the guy I was dating was my husband, and he answered me in John 4:18..."and the man you now have is not your husband". Not only that, but he also talked to me about moving from relationship to relationship just like the Samaritan woman. Then there was another time I was complaining about my pay, and I just opened my bible to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 3 and the verse that jumped out at me was "be content with your wages". It's amazing how God speaks through Scripture! John 8:47 says, "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says."
In sum, our God is a communicating God, and he desires to communicate with us all the time. He wants us to talk to him, and he wants to talk to us. All you have to do is talk with him as you are having a conversation with a friend. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” The key is that we must draw near first. So let's all make a decision to talk with God, and listen for his voice. Remember, communication is a two-way street!
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