Give Me Fever

So, there is an global epidemic happening right now, it’s name:

Bieber Fever

Worldwide people have it.

He has over 8 million people following his Twitter account and on Facebook almost 23 million ‘likes!’ The world has truly caught the fever. How do you know if someone around you has “Bieber Fever?” They LOVE him, and the more they stay in “Bieber Fever” the more their love grows! Here are some symptoms of the “Bieber Fever” love:

-Following his twitter
-Listening to his music
-Reading what others are saying about him
-Following and knowing every detail of his life
-Doing anything and everything they can to even catch a glimpse of him

And lastly

-They talk about him, non-stop

Let’s just say their burning love for the Biebs, is known to all.

But what I want to know is…

What ever happen to “Jesus Fever?”

“Here, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”-Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Did you know, that on any given Twitter account relating to God, Jesus or the Bible has less than ½ million followers, some less that 5,000. And on Facebook the groups relating to God, Jesus, or the Bible barely even add up to Beiber’s 23 million. I think its safe to say, that “Jesus Fever” has burned out.

But there is hope and are still people who claim to have this burning love for Jesus, but it isn’t always shown so clearly.

Those who have “Jesus Fever” are:

-Reading His word
-Listening to songs about Him
-Reading what others say about Him
-Listening to sermons about Him
-Wanting to know, and follow after, every detail of His life
-Talking to Him

And most importantly

-They are telling everyone about their “Jesus Fever”

“I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first…” –Revelation 2:2-5

We can be doing all the things listed above, but have not love. Love for others you ask? No, love for Jesus. May we not be trying to do these things on our own but know where our love for Jesus comes from, God. God gives us the ability to love him and gives us the fever we need to carry out his will.

Now you may not have “Bieber Fever,” but your “Jesus Fever” may be overrun by another fever, to which I “appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

We need to be checking our lives for fevers that are conformed to this world and asking what we are holding to that robs us of these affections for Christ and what are we clinging to which heightens our affection for Him?

Beloved, may we remember from where we have fallen and holdfast to the love of Christ because the “superlative beauty of Jesus is all attracting; it is not so much to be admired as to be loved.”-Charles Spurgeon

An Outward Appearance

So as I was cutting up some strawberries today, I noticed there were a lot more “mutant” one than normal. You know, the ones with extra tips, lopsided, or just huge! They never seem to faze me, I just look, chuckle and cut; but I remembered talking with someone once about how they refuse to eat those strawberries, claiming there is no way they could taste the same or be good for you, crazy right?

Just because it doesn’t fit the normal criteria of a strawberry doesn’t make it taste any different….

But is this the way we think about lost people?

Do we ever look at people and think, “they do not look like they could ever love Christ!” I know I’ve thought that before, and it’s so foolish and unloving! In 2 Peter we see that God doesn’t want “any to perish” not just “the clean cut or friendly looking to perish.”

We see an example of this in 1 Samuel 16 when God is going to call a new king from the sons of Jesse. Samuel sees the strapping brothers and though they were it, they looked like king material, but God said, “do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. (v. 7)” By an outward appearance we cannot tell if someone is going to faithfully obey God, or is already obeying God; a persons actions flow from his inward being.

So, my challenge to you is to go tell the gospel to that person you’ve been putting off thinking they would want nothing to do with it, even if that is the outcome, you’ve been obedient to God!

Waging War.

Sin, it began with temptation.

Where did it come from?

God?

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”- James 1:13

No.

Satan?

Why do we have the need to shift blame for our sinful desires and actions? We see this done right after the fall of man, Adam blames God for giving Him woman, and the woman gave him the fruit; and then Eve blames the Devil for deceiving her. They shifted blame.

By saying the serpent deceived her and she ate, gave Satan glory for winning over one of God’s people. We need to stop giving Satan glory by saying he is the one who leads us into sin!

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” -James 1:14

We are lured away by our own desires! It’s time to stop making excuses and blames for sin but to make war against it! Lou Priolo described this luring in his book “Pleasing People” in this way:

“Like a largemouth bass that is lured away from the safety of it’s covering into captivity by a flashy new artificial bait, our inordinate desires can draw us away from the safety of obedience to Christ into many different captivating sins.”

These are our own desires waging war within our flesh against the Spirit! The blame of misconduct must be entirely on us, “neither the devil nor any other person or thing is to be blamed so as to excuse ourselves; for the true original of evil and temptation is in our own hearts.” (Matthew Henry)

It’s time to move from blame and into action.

“Let the goodness of God excite us to a sacred jealousy and to a holy revenge against those iniquities which are hateful in His sight.”-Charles Spurgeon

For God’s glory may we desire to overcome sin, not our own! And there is no reason to not strive after battling sin because:

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”- 1 Corinthians 10:13

We are weak in the flesh, but God is gracious not only to forgive our sins but also help us fight against them! May we never put down our armor and sword, always “dressed for action” in the midst of war!

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over m this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and s having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." Ephesians 6:10-18

For the Love of Books: Feminine Appeal

I don’t need or get as much sleep as a normal person usually would. Lately I’ve been putting that time to better use by reading, it’s amazing what you can finish with an extra two or three hours every night! After reading some really great books these past two months, I thought I start some book reviews and share with you what I’ve learned from them! Now, I know that I’m no book critic but I do love read and writing about God’s truth, so here we go:

Book: Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother

Author: Carolyn Mahaney

Written: 2003

Genre: Christian; Women

Summary:

In this book Carolyn is addressing the virtues of a godly woman seen in Titus 2 and the appeal to follow them. She shares all the blessings and reasons to be following a course f biblical womanhood, being transformed by God’s word not the world. Carolyn is the wife of C.J. Mahaney, has been married for nearly thirty years, and has four children. In this book she focuses on 7 specific virtues, which are:
* The delight of loving my husband
* The blessings of loving my children
* The safety of self-control
* The pleasure of purity
* The honor of working at home
* The rewards of kindness
* The beauty of submission

Personally:

I enjoyed reading this book as a single woman desiring to one day be married, understanding what it is to be prepared for and how to be serving others now and ultimately how to be glorifying God through living out biblical womanhood. Carolyn is straightforward and doesn’t “beat around the bush” with things that God has commanded! This book is focused more on biblical doctrine and less on personal experience, her ultimate view is to keep God first and glorifying Him in how I act.

Key Points:


(Some of the main quotes that stuck out)

“Our emotions are a warning system God graciously gave us to attract attention to the sin in our hearts.”

We need to be using emotions to stir us into action, not as an excuse to sin. Checking our feelings and emotions for sinful motives or being out of order in the least bit. Often what needs to be done isn’t what we “feel” like doing.

“In fact, our husbands’ particular sins, unique weaknesses, and even their idiosyncrasies are tailor-made for us. Likewise, our sins and weaknesses are custom-designed for them. Both husbands and wives will become more Christ like by having to deal with each other’s sin and deficiencies.”

Before reading this book I had a difficult time in confronting or rebuking a friend’s sin, whether not at all or not lovingly, I would come off blunt and harsh. After reading this I was humbled in the fact that one day I’ll have to submissively and lovingly confront my husband one day, so I need to cultivate a gentle and quite spirit in this area now.

“But if we submit to these temptations…”

This is kind of a random snippet from the book, but it made me think through my actions throughout my day more, asking myself in each action what/who I am submitting to.

In conclusion this book is so full of truth and practical application but to ultimately adorn our lives with the gospel, showing others the transforming effects it has and the greatness of our God!

Worth Following...

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”- 1 Corinthians 11:1

I recently had the joy of joining the high school ministry True North; it’s so humbling to think that God has placed me as a leader. To be a tool in reaching out and teaching high school girl’s of Orange County the truth of God. But it has definitely got me thinking as to what it means to be a “leader.”

“But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”—Mark 10:43-44

Leading first begins with submitting, submitting to authority is not optional and all leaders have someone they are under and ultimately we all serve under the Lord. To rebel against leadership is to rebel against God, He has placed them over us as we see in Romans 13:1 that every man is to “be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” We see this in Christ, He is Lord of all and yet came to serve, not to be served, doing the will of the Father, John MacArthur makes a great point that “leadership is ministry, not management.” If we do not first have the attitude of submission and longing to serve one another, being as leader who is a loving servant of all; then leading can become a desire to reign over others for their own benefits and not to the growth and benefit of those they lead.

[Now, it is important to remember who you can lead, by God’s grace I lead a small group if high school girls and if it is the Lord’s will one day my children; I cannot think that I would lead men or a husband, or that (like in the example of children) my desires in which way to lead would come over his.]

“We can lead others only as far along the road as we ourselves have traveled. Merely pointing the way is not enough. If we are not walking, the no one can be following, and we are not leading anyone.”- J. Oswald Sanders

This quote is so humbling; it ties in with the thoughts on being a servant leader, but also caused me to look into my own heart and life to see what is worth following. Where am I standing still, yet telling others to walk? Leadership requires a blameless character and spiritually maturity. Leaders determine the direction of those who follow. In the example of shepherds leading their sheep, the shepherd must first go out and create a path for them to walk on, we must do the same, though we will not be sinless, we will create a path for ourselves and others to be sinning less! For example we see in Hebrews 5:12-14 the exhortation for moving from spiritual milk to solid food, they still could only heard the basis principles of God; as leaders (as Christians!) we need to be string in growing in understanding and knowledge who our God is.


“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”-1 Thessalonians 1:6

My desire and prayer as a leader is to be able to say to my girls that they become imitators and that I would be able to be imitated and through that then example to others able to lead them in the command from God to be “holy as I am holy.”

Readings:
“Spiritual Leadership”- J. Oswald Sanders
“A few Good Shepherds”-John MacArthur (Article)

An Interest in Sin

So it’s been a rainy week here in Orange County and you know what I’ve realized? We are really into accidents. I mean think about…how often are we like “Wow what happened?....Did you see that accident today?....Look at that, what a mess!” People love seeing accidents, the carnage of it all, it is almost obscure to us…some almost mesmerized. Have you ever thought about why that is? I tried and their really isn’t a good answer!

“May we never take a dry-eyed look at sin, lest ere we have a tongue parched in the flames of hell.”- Charles Spurgeon

As I was driving in some heavy traffic last night from an accident, I began thinking about some people are so interested in other people’s sins just as they can be with these car accidents. We may sometimes want to know about other people’s struggles or sins so we can “pray for them.” Just as with the accidents why do we want to know so bad? Do we have a reason for knowing? There really is no good answer it ends up piling into a mush of gossip, because once we are privy to this juicy information we go to others and say “Be praying for so and so, they are really struggling with (whatever it is) right now.” Is that really carrying out what we see in 1 Peter 4:8-

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

Cover means to make hidden, but by telling others and learning about it, this becomes uncovering. Charles Spurgeon also said on this area that, “he who is not angry at transgression become a partaker in it.” In what ways are you partaking in sin? Whether its someone else’s struggles with sin you want to information too, a tv show, a book, or maybe even that Star magazine you read only to “pass the time in line.” We should abhor sin, when we don’t we are saying that we are okay with it! We are warned in 1 John 2: 15 too “not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” May we work daily to not become used to the ways of the world but constantly see sin through God’s eyes.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”- Romans 12:1-2

"There was Silence in Heaven..."

Revelation 8:1

“There was silence in heaven…”

This struck me, caused me to be silent…this silence was over the great wrath and judgement about to be poured out onto the world, it makes me wonder if there was silence in heaven right before all the wrath of God for every saved person was poured out on Christ…His beloved Son.

Does this silence you?

Are we in awe of it each and every day?

Knowing that the silence in heaven being spoken of in Revelation should be over what is about to happen to us? We deserve that wrath and so much more, a kind of wrath that makes all the heavens silenced! This is no purgatory, this is no simple separation from God or outer darkness, but the justice of God, the punishment, gnashing of teeth kind of punishment! And yet, we so often see christian’s throwing around Christ as if He is some kind of medication to help us! Or as if we invite Him into our heart, that He is "standing at the door knocking"....in the words of Paul Washer "Jesus Christ owns the door if He wants to knock it down He will!" God owns us, He created us, we are under His authority either as children of His manifold mercy or as children of wrath!

The point in all of this is that we should not have days where it does by where we do not sit in awe and silent of the grace given to us, this should cause more silence then God wrath because wrath is what we deserve and grace is as almost a scandal.

May this "Jesus is a friend of mine" atitude not be true of us, may we be in constant awe and extreme gratitude and humility towards what amazing grace that has been given to us.

David Clotfelter said in his book “Sinner’s in the Hands of a Good God”,

“It is because we are guilty- because we have no right to express anything from God but punishment-that we may speak of redemption through Christ as a work of mercy and grace” (pg. 34)

We so often hear about God's love that we could almost be desynsatised to what it truly means. If you haven't yet, I encourage you to read Jonathan Edward's "Sinner's in the Hands of an Angry God." Once we understand that we deserve wrath but are under God's love, song's such as these could are penned:

The Love of God
By: Frederick M. Lehman



The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell;

It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.


O love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall for evermore endure

The saints' and angels' song.



When years of time shall pass away, And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,

When men, who here refuse to pray, On rocks and hills and mountains call,

God's love so sure, shall still endure, All measureless and strong;

Redeeming grace to Adam's race-The saints' and angels' song.



Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry.

Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.