Decision 2020

Well, we all survived the two weeks of political party conventions. As we read the history books, never has there been such a more contested election as we have this year. It is typical for there to be conflict and drama leading up to an election, but this year has certainly been over the top. It is obvious that the enemy of this world is causing division and pulling people away from biblical values.

As a follower of Christ, God calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus. This means that whatever we would rather do, it is imperative that we are willing to sacrifice our personal desires for the sake of what God wants. In many areas of life, what God wants does not make sense, in many cases it is difficult to do. Peer pressure creates challenges. Ultimately, the enemy of our souls comes against us.

As we consider our God-given right to vote, we must do so with the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and vote according to Biblical principles and moral values. In Joshua 5, we read that Joshua was preparing to go to war, and a representative of God's army, an angel, approached Joshua. With some concern, Joshua asked a very practical and strategic question. He basically asked the angel, "Who's side are you on?" As we face this election, we might ask, "Who's side are you on, democrat, republican or independent?" The angel gave one of the most politically insightful principles in all of Scripture when he replied, "Neither, I'm not on your side and I'm not on their side, I'm on God's side." He made it clear that the Lord had not come to take sides. He came to take over.

As we approach the 2020 election, the question is not, "Is God on my side?" The right question is, "Am I on God's side?" Because God does not side with anyone but His own. He promotes His own agenda, the kingdom agenda. God does not look at who is going to win and then join the winning side. The winning side is always the side that chooses to align themselves with God. God does not come to take sides, He comes to take over. So, are you on God's side?

Let's consider what it means to be on God's side this election. Knowing that God's agenda is most important. It is not a specific political party, it is kingdom. Jesus is our ultimate authority. He is our only hope to solve all of our countries problems. There are three practical ways to prepare ourselves for this election.

First of all, as followers of Christ, we must pray. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 says, "I urge you, that prayers be made for all people - for kings and all those in authority". We must get past our dislike of those in authority and humble ourselves and pray for them. We should not just pray for those who we agree with, God calls us to pray for all. In the context this Scripture was written, the leader in authority was Nero, who hated Christians and persecuted them severely. God calls us to pray.

Second of all, we must vote. Our vote has the potential to be aligned with Jesus' agenda for our world as we consider biblical principles. We are kingdom voters. We vote on kingdom issues. There are a lot of other issues, but they are secondary. But when it comes to voting, we must vote like followers of Christ. The Bible makes it very clear in regards to several key political platforms:
    1) The right to life of unborn children.
    2) The sanctity of marriage.
    3) The freedom of the church.
    4) Racial reconciliation.

I will unpack each of these platforms in subsequent blog posts over the next four weeks. There are obviously other platforms, but these four are clear in Scripture and leave no area for compromise.

Thirdly, as followers of Jesus Christ, we must ultimately put our hope in the King of Kings, Jesus. We cannot put our hope in the current administration or other party's ticket. We put our hope in the administration of our sovereign King Jesus and His Kingdom. Ultimately, no government will stop the kingdom's agenda. The kingdom agenda does not hang in the balance of the democrats, republicans or a third party. The ultimate seat of authority is not in the Oval Office of the White House. The seat of ultimate authority is found at the right hand of the Father and that seat is not up for an election. Jesus has no term limits and He doesn't need to run for re-election. He is seated in the seat of authority now and will be there for all eternity.

God calls us to vote His agenda. We must stand for biblical values or we will suffer the consequences with the unraveling of our country as we know it. As you face this decision, what will you do? When we walk into the polling station on November 3, let us cast our vote for Jesus. When Joshua recognized that God did not show up to take sides, he responded with the only appropriate response, submission. Joshua got on his face before God and submitted to Him. We must do the same. We must humble ourselves, lay aside our personal preferences, our presuppositions, our traditions and ask one question, what side lines up best with God's side?

Your ballot is Jesus' ballot and you are casting it on His behalf. Psalm 33:12 says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord". Are you ready? I'm going to tell you right now who to vote for. (Insert drum roll) Vote for Jesus and His Kingdom!

The Peace of God

In a day when it seems all of our surroundings are unraveling, we all long for stability and assurance that everything will be okay. This year will go down as the most unusual with circumstances that have been beyond our control. This was the year of 2020 vision for many. We were all excited to see what this year would hold and to lean into all that was before us. Then March introduced us to Covid.

Three months into this year, we found ourselves quarantined and dealing with an international pandemic caused by a virus that had the capability to leave a person asymptomatic and eventually in the hospital on a ventilator. Then, we as a nation, dealt with protesting and rioting. People were in uproar because of social injustice and racial tension. Now, there are far left wing radicals who are trying to establish a city and government independent of what is already established to rule our country. All of this has caused much panic and fear.

Jesus said as recorded in John 16:36, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

These are powerful words of peace! Jesus says that in Him we have perfect peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He brings the peace that passes all understanding.

The peace of God, which is the word shalom in Hebrew, and eirenen in the Greek, refers to the peace that only comes from Jesus Christ. This peace provides inner satisfaction, contentment and fulfillment. It is a state of being as well as an attitude or mindset. When we receive the peace of Christ, there is no circumstance that will shake us. We realize that no matter how stiff the winds of life may be, Jesus is able to calm the storm.

The house that I live in is located next to a forest of trees. During a windstorm, I often look out my windows to watch the trees. There are trees, that because of the wind, will look like they are about to collapse. The wind will blow them back and forth as if they are pool noodles, on the verge of falling down. Then, I see others, who even despite a powerful wind, are not affected at all. The difference in trees is the root system. The trees with strong roots are able to withstand the onslaught of harsh winds that come against them.

This is a picture of what Jesus does, imparting His peace to His children, in the midst of difficult circumstances. His peace is an anchor for our souls. It solidifies us even when our world seems to be crashing down. He calms the storm.

Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."

Receive His peace today.

2 of the Enemy's Biggest Lies

For those who are in Christ Jesus, we have an adversary, the devil. There are many descriptions of him through out the Bible. One of those is that he is a liar. John 8:44 says, "There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." From the early days of time he has been telling lies. You will recall how he appeared as a serpent in the Garden of Eden to officially launch his activity that would impact all of humanity from that point forward. He is the liar of all liars.

Sin separates us from our holy God. Sin starts with temptation, which is when the enemy will try to lie and persuade you to do something that is blatantly contrary to the Word of God. Therefore, the enemy will tempt us with lies that twist the truth in order to cause us to fall away from God. 

In this post I want to expose two of our enemy's biggest lies. Now, I realize that any lie is big, but these certainly have enormous ramifications if believed. If the enemy can cause you to doubt and lose faith, he wins. In my years as a youth pastor, these are two lies that I saw break the legs of many teens and would lead them to a crippled walk with God.

The first is that the Bible is too hard to understand. This has been the biggest excuse I have heard over the years for why young people don't read the Bible or have a personal quiet time with Jesus.  To this I typically respond, "Where are you reading, Leviticus?" Yes, some parts of the Bible can be hard to understand with no background explanation or teaching. However, there are plenty of books within the Bible that provide a buffet of easy-to-understand truth for the novice follower of Christ. 

The reality is, even though parts of the Bible were written 3,500 years ago, they are as understandable and life-transforming as the moment they were written. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." The Bible can be understood by the newest of Christians and enjoyed by the veterans who have been reading the Bible for 50 years. If you find yourself struggling to understand the Bible, let me encourage you to start in the Psalms or the Gospels. The Psalms have truth for every emotion we will ever face, and the Gospels are filled with the action that took place in the life of Jesus.

The second lie that the enemy wants you to believe is that God does not hear your prayer. It is so easy to pray for something and then give up. It is so easy to pray and not see God work immediately or in the way that we have prayed, and then think that God must not hear me because it didn't happen the way I prayed. When God doesn't respond the way we have prayed, it is a natural response to lose faith and come to the conclusion that God doesn't hear. When this happens, we are falling right into the plans of the enemy. He wants to do all he can to discourage us. 

I have come to the place in my walk with Jesus where prayer is the umbilical cord that allows my food source, Jesus, to feed my soul. Prayer is my lifeline because it connects me with the source of life, Jesus. It is the gateway that unleashes the power of Jesus in my life. Without the power of Jesus, the Christian walk becomes too religious and pious. If your prayer life has become stagnant, it's time to seek the filling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will ignite your prayer life. If there is something keeping your prayer life from taking off, the Holy Spirit will reveal that to you so that you can overcome it. God not only hears your prayers, He is constantly at work even when it is not exactly how we ask.

The enemy tries to drag us down. The enemy wants to guide us away from Jesus. Follower of Christ, drive a stake in the ground today, YOU BELONG TO JESUS. Don't allow the enemy a foothold in your life that begins with a lie. Declare the truth of God over your life. James 4:7-8 says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." Amen!