It is That Simple
with Larry Kutzler
The Simple Ideas of Profound Truths
The Holy Spirit and the Church
What do we think about when we think Church? Does the Holy Spirit pop up as important? He should! Think about this … He is the Author of the Scriptures, He distributes the fruits of character, gives leadership gifts, He enables us to have gifts to do ministry, He convicts us of sin, convicts of the righteousness of Christ, and the judgment to come. He guides us in truth, He is our prophetic voice, He interprets Scripture, He draws people to Christ, and He is the Spirit of Community in the Church. So, when we think Church, we should automatically think Holy Spirit. He enables the Church to do what we do. When the Holy Spirit is active among us, the Church is never just the Church, it is the Church alive with God. It is That Simple.
Demons in Society
There was a shooting in Minneapolis at the Annunciation Catholic Church ... 17 shot 2 died. It happened at a Church, and most of the victims were children. The Governor and the Mayor responded with the usual, “There is no place for hate like this in our community.” However, people don’t shoot unsuspecting people unless there is evil driving them. How do you shoot children? Demon possession will shoot children … it happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Ever since the shooting at Columbine we have seen children, high schoolers, mall-shoppers, Church attenders … all killed by people with no motive or explanation. Shooting children is evil, and it must be demon possession. Evil will always go after the vulnerable because evil loves the pain it causes those left behind. Jesus is our only solution against such evil. It is That Simple.
Jesus Judges Two Groups
The Bible says there comes a day when Jesus Judges two groups of people. One group is called the Great White Throne Group. This Group rejected God and the Grace Jesus offers to everyone. This Judgment determines the eternal separation from God. It will be a day of great heartache for God because He wants none to perish. The second Group are those who made Christ their Savior and Lord. This Group’s Judgment is a performance review on what they did with the Grace of God given to them. They are known as the Good and Faithful Servants Group and God is pleased to reward them. Two Groups, two different Judgments. One Group separated for eternity, the other rewarded for eternity … you get to belong to the Group of your choice. Choose wisely. It is That Simple.
The Second Death
The Book of Revelation speaks of a Second Death. In other words, some people will die twice. Once when the physical body dies, and the Second Death is when we die spiritually. The Second Death is the consequence of the judgment pronounced at the Great White Throne. Jesus will be the Judge and His sentence for all those who lived their lives apart from Him, will be eternally separated from God. This will not be, ‘go sit in the corner for a time out.’ It is a punishment the Bible calls the Lake of Fire, or it is commonly known as Hell. A life lived without God has consequences worse than anything known to our world. Death is imminent for all human beings, and the consequences of rejecting Jesus will make death something to fear. It is That Simple.
Death is a Big Deal
Death is a big deal. No matter who you are, death is immanent and many never prepare for it. King Solomon said, “The day of your death is greater than the day of your birth.” Many say, “Nothing in the Bible has any relevance for me.” However, you may want to reconsider what the Bible says, especially about what happens after death. Following your death, God’s Records about your life are reviewed. Two Record Books are opened, one Book is history, what did I do with my life, and the second Book is about the future. This is the Book Jesus uses to verify He is your Savior. If your name appears, you get Heaven. If it doesn’t you get the second death … which is separation forever from God. Death is a big deal. It is That Simple.
Work on Relationships
The admonition to the Ephesian Church by the Apostle Paul, is about truth, the multiplicity of leadership, and how God fits the body together to grow healthy in Him. About 30 years later, Jesus is telling this same Church how good it was to basically follow Paul’s advice, and was impressed that they suffered together without quitting. He was happy about all the things they had accomplished, even the suffering, but wasn’t happy that they stopped loving Him and each other. Great work, but poor performance on relationships all around. This is very common today too. Recently, I watched a pastor promoting the impressive list of ministers he had coming to speak at the Church. However, it would have been better if he added, and most importantly, Jesus will be here too. It is That Simple.
Focus on Jesus
The Apostle Paul talks about the Unity of Christianity in Ephesians 4. One body, one spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, and one Father. I have colleagues who like to argue that the divisions in doctrine, and tensions between denominations, are healthy for the Body of Christ. Differences are the checks and balances that keep us challenged. In my experience, doctrine divides people, and denominations want control. In both cases, we forget Christ is the Head of the Church (singular) and not our beliefs, and not the practices in our denominations. When Jesus prayed for Believers in John 17, He prayed that the Church be one and not divided. So, I ask you, do divisions really make us stronger? A house divided can never be stronger. Keep your faith in Jesus … don’t get side-tracked. It is That Simple.
Without Truth All is Distorted
Someone has said, “Lead with grace, and follow with truth.” That quote is like what the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:15, “To speak the truth in love.” The idea is to never compromise the truth. Grace and love without a connection to the truth will be distorted. Grace becomes a license to sin, and love is an excuse to live immorally. The Bible teaches that in the Last Days people will lose their way. They call good evil, and evil good, and nothing is as it appears. In a day when confusion is everywhere, many Christian voices promote a spirit of righteousness, but deny the power to bring about change. Truth is where we meet God, and our lives are forever different. Grace and love were designed to lead us to the truth of His Word. It is That Simple.
Intense Prayer
I was listening to a motivational speaker, and he said, 80% of success is just showing up. So, I guess showing up is important in the world of success, but it is also important to show up when it comes to prayer. Jesus said that there are certain things that cannot be done except by prayer and fasting. Prayer then cannot be considered only a bedtime activity. The Apostle Paul said we should always pray, being alert and persistent in our prayers. So, let me ask, with what intensity do you pray? That may sound funny at first, but this is what Paul meant when he said, “Always pray, be alert and persistent in praying.” This does not sound like casual prayer. Prayer is participating with God, for all things and at all times. It is That Simple.
Loving the Messy
I have been praying, “Jesus help me to love You more.” Simple prayer, but the answer He gave me was not simple. He said, “If you want to love Me more, start by first loving people.” I found out in a hurry … a simple prayer could have more meaning than I thought. I wanted to by-pass people and just have Jesus as my object of love. I said, “But Lord, people are messy, and I don’t like messy.” Then He said, “Loving messy is what will help you to love Me more, what you do to the least, you do to me. Love messy more, you will love Me more.” Sometimes we want shortcuts with God, give me Jesus, and He says, “I will give you Me, but bring the messy with you.” It is That Simple.
Hidden Issues
Recently, I was in Big Bear, California, helping a friend replace a water damaged floor. The floor didn’t look too bad when we started, but when taking off the first layer, we discovered beneath all the flooring was … mold. So, we spent the day removing the subfloor before we started replacing the flooring. There are things like that in our lives too, where we are clueless about our hidden issues. For example, a while back I wrote about the seven things the Holy Spirit revealed to me about my unawareness. Here are the seven. My quick reactions, the lack of mercy, resistance in letting things go, impatience, no prayer with discernment, unawareness of seduction, and my resistance to surrender. Like the floor, before getting to the finished product, I must take care of the mold. It is That Simple.
Wisdom is Acting in Love
I love definitions. Take wisdom for example. Wisdom is often thought of as a concept of good judgment, but the Apostle James tells us it is about character. “It is pure, peace loving, always gentle, yields to others, it is merciful, has the fruit of good deeds, shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” I suppose this shows good judgment in living, but I love the way it comes across as the practical application of love. James says that if we lack wisdom, we should ask for it. So, look again at the definition. If you ask for wisdom, those attributes defined as wisdom from above, will be refined in your life. So, wisdom is not just wise people pontificating insight … wisdom from God is behavior. Are you ready for a change? Ask for wisdom. It is That Simple.
Marriage is Love and Respect
Someone asked me once, “Why is marriage so hard?” My answer, “It’s because of the two people involved.” Selfish people develop selfish marriages, and selfish marriages are hard. The Apostle Peter tells us that there are two components essential in keeping two people from selfish relationships. Love and respect. Just as it takes a man and a woman to create life, it takes a man and a women living in love and respect to create a marriage. However, maintaining respect and love will come with a price. In both, you prefer the other over yourself. Respect means you give attention to your husband at the expense of demanding it for yourself. Love means you prefer your wife over your selfish demands or expectations. Bottom line … you are responsible to God for how you do marriage. It is That Simple.
Questions
I love questions … it’ s the way that I learn. Jesus asked 307 questions … 183 were direct, 124 He answer with questions making the total of 307. Questions push the limits of what is known, what is said, or what is portrayed. Questions are the quickest way to get to the truth … that is why I believe Jesus used them so effectively. Questions define what people believe about life. There is nothing like the questions, “What do you think is beyond this life? What do you think about God? Who is He to you?” Sometimes, questions can identify what might be wrong and then explore what is right. I have even asked why do I write a daily post? It is because of the simplicity of God’s love and forgiveness. I can’t help myself. It is That Simple.
Knowing God Changes Everything
I am reminded of the Prophet Hosea’s words, “My people are destroyed because they do not know Me.” This is probably the most common reason in Scripture that contributes to being separated from God. Recently, I was told that a well-known preacher was worth 300 million dollars. Knowing God and having a bank account of over 300 million dollars seems odd to me. Receiving contributions from people are to be used to reach people for Christ, not build up a treasure on earth. Rick Warren, on the other hand, donates 90% of his income to charity, including his royalites from his book, The Purpose Drive Life. Knowing God brings a new perspective on what is important in life. The challenge for us today is asking the question, “Do our lives reflect that we know God?” It is That Simple.
The Sin of Lust
Here is a statistic you don’t see every day. “Porn sites get more visitors each month than Netflix, Amazon, and Twitter combined.” Globally, porn is a 97-billion-dollar industry, and it is growing every year. The addiction to pornography is so powerful, that it doesn’t matter how religious a person may be, you can click on the wrong website and become a porn user. Christians viewing porn often don’t feel they are sinning because no real people are involved. However, images are just as powerful as a real experience. Pornographic images can get ingrained in your memory and affect you for years. Pornography is a sin of lust, and once digested, its appetite continues to increase. The Bible teaches to run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Porn is no different than any addictive drug. It is That Simple.
God Has the Last Say
In the Book of Revelation, Babylon is a picture of our world. Our society has become a home for demons and unclean spirits, with all nations drinking the wine of the immorality consumed by wealth. Powerful people flaunt their adultery, and the merchants of the world grow wealthy from their desires for extravagant luxury. The Book of Revelation is a poignant read where the world ends in one day. Yes, one day … and it’s all gone. God is not to be mocked with how wicked this world has become; He deals with it. I realize this is yet in our future, but that future may not be far off. For now, remember the Book of Revelation as we see this world getting away with wicked immoral schemes, human trafficking, and outlandish prosperity. God does respond and He has the last say. It is That Simple.
What is Left Out?
What you leave out is just as important as what you put in. There are those who say, “God is love, and there is no judgment in love.” However, the Psalmist says, “He takes no pleasure in wickedness, and He does not tolerate the sins of the wicked.” To be fair, God wants none to perish and wants all to come to repentance. Yet, love and judgment represent the God of the Bible. So, what part of God is unimportant to mention when we describe Him? Jesus didn’t leave anything out when He described how the Holy Spirit will work among us. He will convict of sin, righteousness and judgment. Yes, all sin, all need the righteousness of God, (Christ) and all will be held accountable, judgment. Nothing is left out. It is That Simple.
The Pursuit of God
Associations matter, according to the Psalmist. Who you minister to and who you hang out with are different associations and shouldn’t be confused. We are to minister to those without Christ, but it’s our personal relationships that matter in our pursuit of God. Here is what I have learned. We get experience, we get educated, we get recognized, we get knowledge, and we get favor … all good things, but do they slow down the pursuit of God? Are we as hungry and thirsty for righteousness as we were before all the achievements? Do we delight in pursuing God as we once did? The Psalmist says the pursuit of God means we meditate on Him day and night. Your associations are critical with people who pursue God … it will help your own pursuit. It is That Simple.
Three Essential Things … Daily
Modern life can be too complex. Yet, there are three things that by doing them daily can help. First, do something for the Lord. Second, do something for others, and third, do something for yourself. So, what do you do for the Lord? Ask Him to teach you how to love Him. Second, what do you do for others? One kind act each day for someone. Be kind, be helpful, be assisting and be in the now with people. Surprise is always fun to do in unmerited favor, doing something not expected. Third, do something for yourself. Okay, this will vary quite a bit, but do something you really enjoy doing just for yourself. Life is so short, don’t waste time always doing things that don’t bring you joy. Simple and yet complete. It is That Simple.
Pulpits Belong to the Holy Spirit
The Bible teaches a time will come, when people will not listen to sound teaching. They will chase after myths and prophetic predictions not revealed in the Word. I have said in the past that a percentage of what is preached does not come from the Lord, but from the doctrinal library of the preacher. Sometimes personal vendettas against other Christians who have a different viewpoint are subjects of sermons. The pulpit is not a place to hammer home personal theological biases like the timing of His return. The ministry of preaching is under the authority of the Holy Spirit; He is the one whose ministry we follow and preach, not our theology. What is His ministry? Conviction of sin, the Righteousness of God (Christ) and the judgment of God. It is That Simple.
The False Church
The late David Wilkerson said that in the Last Days there will be no distinction between good and evil. I remember Pastor Wilkerson preaching about the False Church that will arise as we close out human history. He said it will be a Church that will be inspirational, do kind things, have a popular reputation, but they will not confront sin. The False Church comes into existence because when we remove the tension between good and evil, and without any distinction, there is no need to address sin. You might say, “So what?” Sin is negative, it is judgmental, it is uncomfortable, so good riddance. Yet, it may be all those negative descriptors, but more than anything it separates us from God. Separation from God? That’s a big deal. It is That Simple.
You Become What You Think
Recently, I have been praying that the Holy Spirit would consume my thinking. The Scriptures tell us that we are not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. What you think about is what you desire, meaning you become what you think. If you change your thinking your actions will follow. Recently, I have been changing my thinking about aging. It’s not that we won’t age, but it’s how we age. How we age is about how we think. Faith is like that too. Faith is about how we think. If God is not the center of our thoughts, how can faith be real in our life? Renewing your mind is a process where the Holy Spirit takes every thought captive to think like Christ. It is That Simple.
The Tension
Tension seems to be everywhere today. Tension in families, tension at work … it seems we live in a world of tension. There is one area of tension I have noticed that has intensified, and is found in almost everyone’s life. It is the tension between good and evil. That tension has always been there since Adam and Eve fell, but we are now facing a day that evil is called good, and good is considered evil. This kind of thinking convinces people that there is no difference in people, in morals, in ideas, there is no evil or good, it all comes out the same. However, there is a difference between good and evil, with evil never ever being good. I see this tension disappearing, and that is when we should begin to worry. It is that Simple.
The Power of the Servant
Jesus said that kings and great men will lord over others in this world. Sometimes this is known as ‘leadership.’ Yet, Jesus endorsed a different idea of leadership, where the greatest among you will take the lowest position, and the leadership example will be the example of a servant. Jesus reverses the paradigm of power and influence. We all know and have experienced the corruption of power from the top down … it happens in government, business, and yes, even the Church. When power is corruptible it has the most devastating results. Remember, Satan was corrupted by power. Jesus gave us a new paradigm where a person chooses to serve rather than acquiring the power to be served. Powerful people do not have status in the Kingdom of God … belongs to the servants. It is That Simple.
Grooming
Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be dulled by drunkenness or worries of this life. He went on to say, “Don’t let the day catch you unaware, like a trap.” His solution? Keep alert and pray for strength. The trap is the unawareness of the Biblical conclusion of this world. Grooming is a word that evil uses to slowly prepare us to become less unaware of the Biblical narrative of the End Times. That grooming is the drunkenness and worries of this life. End Times has certain dynamics that anaesthetizes you from the reality of the hour. That is why Jesus said, “Keep alert, don’t be sleeping, and pray for strength.” He is warning us to be aware of how easy it is to be caught up in the worries of life and become unaware. It is That Simple.
Standing Firm
So often, when we talk about the End Times, it seems we frame it as if all will be lost. However, Jesus said, “By standing firm you will save your souls.” So, what does this mean to stand firm? Fear is often what we face that breaks us down and we give up. Fear is the enemy of faith, but as Paul said, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” Standing firm means we will not allow fear to have access to our life. Fear will weaken our trust in God and question our faith. Standing firm means we resist the lust of flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Standing firm never compromises … it will save your soul. It is That Simple.
Clueless
Recently, Missionary/Evangelist Paul Washer circulated a video on You Tube claiming most Christians are not aware of the dangers that lie ahead. He claims much of the Church is not prepared and unaware, not realizing what the future holds. He claims we do not fear God, and we are more conformed to the world than we are to Christ. To some, this may seem like religious paranoia. Yet, the Bible is clear … people in Noah’s day were unaware until it started to rain. Jesus said that when He returns, people will mirror those in Noah’s day. Those in Noah’s day never realized they had become a culture in opposition to God. Then the flood came … there was no clue. This time, it will be His return, and again no clue. It’s time to get a clue. It is That Simple.
Results are Stronger than Words
When Jesus was asked if He was the Messiah, He responded with results. The blind sees, the lame walk, leprosy is cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the Good News is preached to the poor. In other words, results are proof. I believe words are important to communicate a message, but it’s the results that prove the point. So, what is it about my faith in God that has results? I realize that faith is the hope of things unseen, but Jesus didn’t answer by quoting a faith verse … He responded by telling the results of what His faith and trust in His Father had done. James picks up this theme in saying faith without works is dead. Could we interpret that as faith without results is also dead? It is That Simple.
Mercy Over Religion
Jesus prefers mercy over any religious activity. The Pharisees had called sinners scum and wondered why Jesus was with them. However, Jesus made it clear … God is first merciful before judgement. Too often, we are quick to make an assessment about people without knowing their story. There is a time for judgement, and God will bring it when all mercy is rejected. God has two sides … mercy and judgment. He prefers mercy. How do I know this? The Cross is the ultimate definition of mercy … God so loved the world; He gave His only Son. God wants none to perish. Jesus represented mercy as He hung on the Cross for our sins, but that same Jesus will be our Judge if we reject His mercy. As Jesus proclaimed, “Show mercy over religious practice.” It is That Simple.
Never Give In
I was alone, feeling bad about some issues facing our family, and I heard this, “God doesn’t work, you are a fool, God has nothing for you, look at the mess facing you today.” It was the same ploy that Job faced, “Curse God and die.” I don’t know about you, but there has been an increasing pressure to compromise, quit, and forsake the truth as we know it. The Devil used the same tactic on Jesus in the wilderness. “Worship me, and I will give you the kingdoms of the world.” We will always be tempted, but to escape the temptation, you must resist. The Scriptures teach us, “Resist the Devil and he will flee.” Resisting for me is submitting to God, and as Winston Churchill said, “We shall never, never, never, give in.” It is That Simple.
The Second Wind
Recently, a friend and I were talking about a second wind. The second wind is primarily for those who have been around awhile in the Church. It’s the idea of rekindling renewal, reviving a passion, and reengaging in a commitment to serve the Lord. As I wrote previously on aging, it’s not about getting to simply retire, it’s about perfecting what God has developed in our life. As we age, we discover what is important, so focus on that, and rid ourself of the time wastes in our life that keep us stagnant. My friend told me, “If there was a word for the Church today, it’s to seek a second wind.” I’m reminded that God’s power never changes, it’s us who change. Perfect your experience with God … seek that second wind. It is That Simple.
Aged Out Attitudes
We cannot change our aging. When I see a person I know on Facebook, my first reaction is, “Haven’t seen them in a while, and boy are they getting old.” We all age differently, but my attitude about aging has changed. I no longer think that my meaningful life is behind me … no, it’s in front of me. Think about this for a moment. You and I have lived long enough to know what life is about, wisdom has replaced foolishness, and experience has taught us lifelong lessons. Stats say from age 15 to 80 if we go to Church, we have heard 3,400 sermons. So, all of this put together is a life well equipped to change the world. So why don’t we? Simple … our attitude has aged out, time for change. It is That Simple.
Caring by Calling
Jesus told us that when we care for others, we are caring for Him. I must admit, my preoccupation with my career has made me lonely at times. They tell us that one in four of us feel lonely. You can even be married and feel lonely, so it’s not the proximity to people that matters, but it’s the intimacy of knowing that people do care about you. One of the ways I deal with my loneliness is by making phone calls to people I haven’t spoken to in a while. Personally, it makes me feel better, it makes the person I’m calling knows I care, and in the end, I am doing it for Jesus. One new person a day … this helps me to care while keeping connected. It is That Simple.
Grooming with AI
Grooming … this is my new word lately. This is the definition that has my attention. ‘A manipulative process where a relationship of trust is developed with an emotional connection for exploitation.’ Guess what? We are all being groomed. AI is grooming us to accept and trust in its benefits. AI is the greatest shift in human history, and nothing compares to its influence. Nothing in our society will be without AI, and we are being groomed to accept it, and without it we will be lost. You might say, “But look at the benefits.” However, when everything is controlled by a computer, and you will not be able to buy or sell without giving total allegiance to it, there is a problem. I believe AI plays a part of the number 666. Revelation Chapter 13. It is That Simple.
The Decision About Hell
A friend sent me a sobering video about Hell. The video was designed to stir an emotion in me … and it did. I also know that I will forget the message and, in its place, will be my normal life. However, the reality of Hell should never be chased away by the immediate. Jesus said that Hell is a journey made by our choices … accepting everything and denying nothing. Hell is a paved by our choices … it is not a destiny. What happens after death is based upon the decisions we make in life, as well as the one decision that we failed to make. Jesus died so we would never see Hell. He is the one decision that overrides all other decisions and removes Hell from our final destination. It is That Simple.
Ask, Seek, Knock
There are many mysteries about prayer. Prayer can be answered instantly, yet at other times Heaven is silent. When there is silence, does God have a different plan? Silence might be to challenge us to be the kind of people who ask, seek, and knock to find the answers. To quit asking, you will lose the discovery of an answer. If you quit seeking, you will lose the heart of knowledge. If you stop knocking, nothing will be opened to you. The secret to prayer is all three … all three work together with God to get you the answers you are pursuing. So, the next time when Heaven is silent pursue the asking, the seeking, and the knocking … you might be surprised at how it turns out and what is discovered. It is That Simple.
Deeds Reflect Belief
Jesus talked about what you do reflects what you believe. I have a friend who occasionally builds houses for families in South American countries. His good deeds reflect the passion that he has for God, and his desire to demonstrate how practical God is by his labor of love. We tell the story of Jesus and then we demonstrate His story by good deeds. I believe both are necessary to present a case for the reality of an ever-present God. Jesus told us that our good deeds will be a shout out as a praise to our heavenly Father. There are approximately 165,000 Christian non-profits in the United States, all making a difference in people’s lives. All these organizations are doing deeds that point to the reason they exist. All to the glory of God. It is That Simple.
No Religion Required
Jesus was very direct about religious people. He said that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees, the teachers of the Law, you will never see Heaven. So, in other words, you would need to keep the Law perfectly, to go beyond the religious leaders, in order to get into the Kingdom of God. Again, the Kingdom of God is impossible for us to enter on our own merit, no matter what religious people may believe or teach, we are doomed on our own. This is why religion is dangerous, and God hates it. Religion has a tendency set up its own domain with rules and precepts that act righteous and holy but deny the power that makes it real. What makes your relationship with God real is Jesus. Period. No religion required. It is That Simple.
A Nation Designed for the People
I love this country. Yes, we have our issues … anytime there are people, there are issues. I think Independence Day pushes us beyond our issues to the reality we are Americans. We are rich, poor, old and young, and we have every known race on earth among us. They call this diversity the melting pot, and we are one of few countries that is designed for all the people. Isn’t that what makes us so unique? We were designed for people, no matter where you come from, we have a place for you at the table. That is the heart of the Independence Day celebration … the table is set for everyone. The Bible says that heaven was created for people too, and like America, they come from every tongue and nation. It is That Simple.
Superstars and the Church
Recently, Christian news outlets have been buzzing about fallen Christian leaders and musicians. Two things are often forgotten when we discuss fallen Christian leaders. First, we must protect the rights of the victims. Too often the focus is on the perpetrator and the victim is somewhere in the story. Second, we must stop making superstars out of our leaders. It’s contrary to the whole Gospel message to crown the power of celebrity on a leader. In many cases of moral failure, the people closest to the fallen leader usually knew about the indiscretions, but did nothing because of the power of celebrity. As Christians, our job is to promote the Gospel, follow one leader named Jesus, and to push back against evil. Leadership is from the bottom up … not from the top down. It is That Simple.
Worship is Not a Method
God says some outrageous things. I have always thought I should write a book about it and title it, “God is Outrageous.” How so you say? Well, God tells Israel that He hates their festivals and says He detests all their offerings. Yet, it was God who set up the festivals to honor Him, with the offerings of sacrifice to cover their sins. It was God who established all these methods of worship for His People, but now they are meaningless to Him. God has never been in the method … He lives in the praises of His People and not in the mode of worship. His methods were designed to help us live in the spirit of worship, not become the worship. Worship is an outrageous love for God, and not a method. It is That Simple.
Does God Reject Some Prayers?
Sometimes we assume things about God that are not true. For example, we think God always hears our prayers, yet Isaiah records God as saying, “I will not listen to your prayers.” So, what makes God turn away from our prayers? Jeremiah was told not to pray for God’s People because of their idolatry. I don’t think it is sin that God refuses to hear about … it is our resistance to repent and change. Repentance isn’t just about being sorry for sinful behavior … it is a commitment to turn away and never return to old behavior. Prayer honors God because it acknowledges we need Him. It signifies not only our need for Him, but it also makes us aware there is something greater than us and this world. Prayer does changes things … prayer changes us. It is That Simple.
The Cost of Forgiveness
I have spent time with folks who have a hard time forgiving others. Yet, as Christians, they know what Jesus taught about forgiveness and they know we are to forgive, just like God, with no strings attached. Jesus clarifies the qualifications for our personal forgiveness from God, which will only happen if we forgive others. So, when you think about those you can’t or won’t forgive, that is the price you are placing for your own forgiveness from God. Forgiveness was so important to God, that He was willing to spare His Son on a Cross to demonstrate that forgiveness comes with a price. The price for our forgiveness comes as we are forgiving others. The price not to forgive is paid in resentment, bitterness, and even hate. Forgiveness is a better deal. It is That Simple.
No Judgement … Ever
Did you know that the Bible teaches that there is no judgement against anyone who believes in Jesus? None! The only judgment that comes to anyone is because they do not believe in Jesus. There are so many people that feel condemned by what is preached to them about holiness. I know I did. Here is how it goes down. Jesus saves us, that means no judgement ever. Holiness is wanting to get closer to God, getting rid of stuff that smells bad to God. Holiness is not a rating system for anything … it is a desire to be a better human being and be pleasing to God. Holiness is an attribute of being a disciple of Jesus and discipleship is the onboarding into the Kingdom of God. Lastly, the Holy Spirit makes it all work. It is That Simple.
The Seriousness of Compromise
I love what Oswald Chambers says about sin. “If sin rules in me, the life of God in me will be killed.” The characteristics of the Last Days will silence sin and confuse the truth. The late David Wilkerson once said, “In the Last Days, you will not be able to distinguish good from evil, it will all blend together.” David Wilkerson’s ministry focused on exposing compromise, but today we don’t hear too much about the dangers of compromise. I can tell you that once you compromise an area in your life that you know is wrong, it will only be a matter of time until you lose interest in the things of God. Satan doesn’t need you to renounce your faith … just compromise it. Compromise will deteriorate your relationship with God. It is That Simple.
Time is Running Out
Is it ever too late for repentance? Most of us think it is never too late to repent. Yet, the Bible says that Esau sought be reconciled, but the Scripture says, “It’s too late to repent.” So, there is a possibility that repentance may not always be available, as we thought. The Five Foolish Virgins in Jesus’ Parable illustrate it. They thought they had lots of time to get more oil … but time ran out. Even after getting the oil for their lamps, the door the Five Wise Virgins entered was locked … it was too late. Simplify put, people think they have all the time in the world to get right with God. However, timing is unpredictable and time gets away from us. Get right with God today before it’s too late. It is That Simple.
Box People
In society there are two kinds of thinkers. In the box, and outside the box. Most of us use the education we were taught from the box. It is safe, it is known, it is acceptable. But what about those outside the box? There are no rules, no measurements, or predictions. They rely on the language of the gut and intuition. Most of us like the box, because we know what to expect. Those outside box face the unknown, they are the visionaries. The box people love the sound of church bells, but the out of the box people like the challenge of the mission, yards from the gates of Hell. Jesus instructs us to get out of the box and “go into all the world.”
Excuses
There is a story Jesus told about a banquet where people were invited to attend, and all the invitees gave excuses not to attend. Some had business dealings, others were investing, chasing their dream, while others were getting married. However, at the end of the day, all made excuses as to why they could not attend. Jesus used this story to illustrate that many have been invited into His Kingdom, but few choose to come. God is still inviting people and He is still getting excuses from His invites. All of us make excuses for ourselves, but there is one excuse that could cost you eternity. No matter what your life is doing, when the invitation is given, by all means, do not make an excuse.
Saltiness
Jesus said, “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” If we, the church is like salt, what happens when we lose or change our message? Jesus said, “if you lose your saltiness, you get thrown away.” I recently read about some Christians representing a group called “Progressive Christianity.” Here in part is what they believe. “They value compassion, justice, mercy, and tolerance, often through political activism. Often Progressive Christians will refer to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross as horrific or unnecessary.” I believe we face two kinds of churches, one a true salty church, and one worthy to be discarded. The gospel is salty, it was designed to stay that way.
Circumstances
“Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.” (Eccles 7:14) Now that is something that is not in our theology thinking today. This is one of those insightful wisdom verses that tells the prosperity gospel people that God cannot be manipulated to only prosper you. King Solomon goes on to say, “remember that nothing is certain in this life.” So, in short, God teaches us lessons in both prosperity and in the hard times, because God has created them both. Paul says, “I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” It’s not the circumstances, it is the Christ in those circumstances that matters.
Theology
Theology is important, I get that, however, some theology has become so important to people, that it has become an idol. It reminds me of how people treated the Sabbath in Jesus day: “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath” (Mark 2:27) Sabbath was important, but it became so important it became an object of worship. Some theology is critically important, Soteriology, Pneumatology, and Eschatology, all have a place in the believer’s playbook of belief, but there is other theology that I would question. Calvinism, Supercessionism, Cessationism, Prosperity and Dominion theologies are all Biblically questionable and they have become more important than even the Lord Himself. In my latter years, the Bible is all I need, theology can get confusing.
Kindness
Annie Johnson was 101 years old when I first met her. She was physically weak, but her mind was strong. She lived through some of the most astounding events in history. World wars, inventions of the automobile, telephone, radio, tv, internet. So, I asked her what she had concluded about life in living so long. I thought I would get an answer like, “I was amazed at how advanced we had become.” Instead, what she said to me I will never forget. “I am amazed at how unkind and mean we have become to each other.” Wise words that echo’s God’s Word. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) Kindness never goes out of style.
Closets
We have seen a rash of high-profile clergy resign recently over moral failure. It is a good reminder that no one is beyond sin. One of the lessons we learn early in following Jesus is that everything is a temptation. Just because you are a successful pastor does not mean you’re beyond temptation. Given the right circumstances, and the wrong frame of mind, anyone can be seduced into sin. How about the skeletons in your closet? Everyone has a past and I am convinced all closets have skeletons. However, there is mercy for the sinner, repentance for the contrite, and the grace of God for those willing to face their closet. Remember, confession is always forgiven, and it is the best way to clean a closet.