Learning to Embrace the Love of GodAs we strive to grow our faith, there are two non-negotiable truths we must come to grips with. One, like everything else in life, faith must be tested in order to be trusted and relied upon. And, since the object of our faith is God and His nature, character, and promises, then our faith in Him and His Word must be tested in order to be believed. Unfortunately, this usually comes by trials and tribulation, the stuff nightmares are made of. And two, when tested our faith must win over our fears, doubts, and insecurities, no matter what. We cannot let our damaged emotions or faulty self-image eclipse what God says about us, no matter how much we want to believe otherwise. After all, God is God… and we are… well, not. So let’s take a simple truth about God and ourselves and see if we can truly believe what His Word says (and this one is hard to believe because God claims to feel something about us that sometimes we don’t feel ourselves.) God says He loves you. And He loves you unconditionally, no matter what you have done and no matter if you love Him back. God has an incomprehensible, mind-blowing, love for you that is beyond description. Does this seem like an unrealistic, over-the-top statement? Or, maybe I’m guilty of a bit of exaggerating? Well, let’s see. In this message, we are going to look at five statements about God’s love for you (make it personal) and then try to learn how to live each day as if we really believed them. And by the way, this is how your faith grows. You accept, by faith, a specific truth as true, and then put it to the test in real life. Which is exactly what we are going to do this week. These five truths are: One, there is nothing you can do, or have done, or will do, that will separate you from the love of God. God wants you to know you are secure in His love – Romans 8:35-39. Two, God’s love for you, regardless of your failures, is so great and perfect and wonderful that it is impossible to describe or fully understand – Ephesians 3:18-19. Three, God’s love for you is so personal that He calls you His child— which is exactly what you are! – 1 John 3:1. Four, God loves you so much that He gave you the Holy Spirit as the full manifestation of His love, to live in you and be with you forever. God gave you the Holy Spirit because He wants you to be filled with His love – Romans 5:5. And Five, at your very worst, when you were at the height of your rebellion against Him, and when you were most unlovable, at that time God chose to love you by sacrificing His Son to secure your salvation in Him – Romans 5:8. So join us and we strive to grow our faith by whatever means possible as we learn how to Leave Laodicea behind. To https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/101321-Slides.pdf (download) the https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/101321-Slides.pdf (slides) for this message, click – https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/101321-Slides.pdf (HERE) Our Latest Posts:https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/what-do-i-do-when-fill-in-the-blanks-507/ (507: What Do I Do When _________ ? (fill in the blanks)) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/how-to-grow-your-faith-during-dark-times-506/ (506: How to Grow Your Faith During Dark Times) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/take-my-yoke-upon-you-and-learn-from-me-505/ (505: “Take My Yoke Upon You and Learn From Me”) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/god-uses-ordinary-men-in-extraordinary-ways-504/ (504: God Uses Ordinary Men in Extraordinary Ways) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/how-to-respond-during-dark-times-503/ (503: How to Respond During Dark Times)

Leaving Laodicea

508 - The Wonder of Being a Child of God

How Do We Navigate These Uncharted Waters? Or, to ask the question another way, what are we to do when we see (you fill in the blanks) just over the horizon? What are we to do next? And the answer is quite simple: We are to do the same things we should be doing even if things are smooth sailing without a cloud in the sky. We all have a mandate from the Lord, and we need to concentrate on being faithful to Him, no matter the circumstances. But, as an encouragement, let me share four unchanging truths that should help us navigate these uncharted waters? One, recognize the times in which we live and don’t be surprised by them.  After all, Christ warned us about these times and told us in advance they would happen. The Situation: But know (ginṓskō) this, that (when) in the last days perilous (chalepós – troublesome, grievous, difficult to deal with, violent, fierce, hard to bear) times will come: (described as) For men will be lovers of themselves (narcissistic), lovers of money, boasters (self-exalting), proud (arrogant), blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers (false accuser), without self-control (unrestrained by convention or morality), brutal (savage, wild and menacing, fierce), despisers of good (characterized by hatred or an absence of love for all things good), traitors (one who violates or betrays an allegiance or trust), headstrong (defiant, rash, thoughtless, reckless), haughty (to swell or inflate with pride), lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form (impression, shape, appearance) of godliness but denying (to refuse to recognize or acknowledge) its power (dúnamis). Our Response: And from such people turn away (to deliberately avoid, shun)! – 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Two, make sure you are truly saved. … having a form (impression, shape, appearance) of godliness but denying (to refuse to recognize or acknowledge) its power (dúnamis). Three, focus on the reality of your true citizenship, which is in heaven with God, and not on earth. This world is not our home (Colossians 3:1-4). Four, be ready for the Shout! For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words – 1 Thessalonians 4:14-15. In this message, we are going to review some encouraging truths that should help us prepare for whatever the Lord allows to come our way. So join us as we learn how to leave Laodicea behind. To https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/100721-Slides.pdf (download) the https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/100721-Slides.pdf (slides) for this message, click – https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/100721-Slides.pdf (HERE) Our Latest Posts:https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/how-to-grow-your-faith-during-dark-times-506/ (506: How to Grow Your Faith During Dark Times) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/take-my-yoke-upon-you-and-learn-from-me-505/ (505: “Take My Yoke Upon You and Learn From Me”) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/god-uses-ordinary-men-in-extraordinary-ways-504/ (504: God Uses Ordinary Men in Extraordinary Ways) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/how-to-respond-during-dark-times-503/ (503: How to Respond During Dark Times) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/the-lords-supper-and-the-higher-christian-life-502/ (502: The Lord’s Supper and the Higher Christian Life)

507 - What Do I Do When _______ ? (fill in the blanks)

Faith Must be Tested to GrowFirst, like everything else in life, faith must be tested. And unfortunately, testing usually comes during trials and tribulations. At least that’s what the Scriptures teach. Consider the following: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (why) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let (or don’t quit or give up early in the process) patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing – James 1:2-4. Now, let’s look at this truth just a little bit closer. My brethren, count (reckon, consider, live like it was true) it all joy when you fall (to fall into the midst of something as to be totally surrounded by it) into various trials (temptations, putting to the test), (why) knowing (ginṓskō) that the testing of your faith produces (to finish, accomplish, to bring to the desired end) patience (to persevere, to remain under, to endure). But let (or don’t quit or give up early in the process) patience have its perfect (complete, full, wanting in nothing) work, that you may be perfect (complete, full, wanting in nothing) and complete (whole, having all its parts), lacking nothing – James 1:2-4. One of the best ways to grow your faith in the faithfulness of God and His Word is to put His Word to the test in your life. Exactly how is that done? By finding a promise of God and putting it to the test by living as if the promise is true. This means having God place us in situations where our faith in His Word, and in a single promise, is tested. In this message, we are going to look at five promises from Scripture and live as if we believe them. This week we will grow our faith in Him and His Word by focusing on these five promises: Monday – James 1:5-8 Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 10:31 Wednesday – Matthew 6:33 Thursday – Matthew 6:14-15 Friday – Romans 12:18-19 So join us as we strive to grow our faith, even in these dark, troubling, chaotic times, as we learn to leave Laodicea behind. To https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/100621-Slides.pdf (download) the https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/100621-Slides.pdf (slides) for this message, click – https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/100621-Slides.pdf (HERE) Our Latest Posts:https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/take-my-yoke-upon-you-and-learn-from-me-505/ (505: “Take My Yoke Upon You and Learn From Me”) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/god-uses-ordinary-men-in-extraordinary-ways-504/ (504: God Uses Ordinary Men in Extraordinary Ways) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/how-to-respond-during-dark-times-503/ (503: How to Respond During Dark Times) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/the-lords-supper-and-the-higher-christian-life-502/ (502: The Lord’s Supper and the Higher Christian Life) https://leavinglaodicea.com/to-reckon-or-not-reckon-that-is-the-question-501/ (501: To Reckon or Not Reckon, that is the Question)

506 - How to Grow Your Faith During Dark Times

A Call to Both Salvation and SanctificationWhen we look at the classic invitation by Jesus recorded in Matthew 11, we find both a call to salvation and to a deeper intimacy with the Lord. Or, as we would say, the Higher Christian Life. Let’s take a look at these verses a bit closer. First, the call to salvation. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” – Matthew 11:28. Then, after answering His call to salvation, He offers an invitation to sanctification, to become more like Christ (Rom. 8:29), or to experience the Higher Christian Life. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” – Matthew 11:29-30. In this message, we will look at both calls and how they relate to the Higher Christian Life. And we will dig into the phrase, “learn from Me” as we discover how to leave Laodicea behind. To https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/100321-Slides.pdf (download) the https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/100321-Slides.pdf (slides) for this message, click – https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/100321-Slides.pdf (HERE). Our Latest Posts:https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/god-uses-ordinary-men-in-extraordinary-ways-504/ (504: God Uses Ordinary Men in Extraordinary Ways) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/how-to-respond-during-dark-times-503/ (503: How to Respond During Dark Times) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/the-lords-supper-and-the-higher-christian-life-502/ (502: The Lord’s Supper and the Higher Christian Life) https://leavinglaodicea.com/to-reckon-or-not-reckon-that-is-the-question-501/ (501: To Reckon or Not Reckon, that is the Question) https://leavinglaodicea.com/god-is-able-but-is-he-willing-500/ (500: I know God is Able, But is He Willing?)

505 - “Take My Yoke Upon You and Learn From Me”

Are You an Ordinary Man?We are truly living in troubling times. Not times unknown to believers in the past, but times the church of today is ill-equipped to manage. But there is hope. And this hope is found in our faith in the One who “declares the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10)— the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, extraordinary times call for extraordinary people. Or, more accurately, it requires ordinary people doing extraordinary things by the power of the Holy Spirit living in them. This leads to a few questions we will try to answer. One, what holds us back from being all God created us to be? Two, what does God need for us to be in the waning hours of the American experiment? And finally, what are our children going to remember about us when they look back on these troubling days? Sobering questions. But do we have any answers? In 2nd Timothy, Paul is giving final instructions to the one who will carry on without him. Timothy was a man that struggled with timidity and fear (2 Tim. 1:7) and avoided confrontation to the point of appearing ashamed of his calling and the testimony of Christ (2 Tim. 1:8). In fact, Paul’s first words to Timothy were to urge him not to leave for greener pastures, not to throw in the towel, but stay and see the task to the end (1 Tim. 1:3). And his final words to Timothy were to remain steadfast to his calling and don’t quit. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry – 2 Timothy 4:5. These are the same words we need to hear as the church today. Following Christ, standing for truth, speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves (Prov. 24:11), always comes at a cost. So what are we to do? We should start by remembering where we have fallen and do the things we did at the beginning (Rev. 2:5). But there is more. Stir Up the Gift of God in YouThere comes the point in every Christian’s life when they simply must choose. We must choose to either stand for Christ and all that means or cower under the world’s pressure to be forced into its mold. We must be willing to suffer misunderstanding, cancellation, loss of jobs or family relationships, even overt suffering and persecution in our commitment and faithfulness to Him. After all, all our heroes have done the same when they had to choose. Why should we think we are exempt? And we know that all we lack, He supplies. All we don’t have or can’t do, He can. No matter how broken or ordinary we may be, He is strong, mighty, invincible, and He lives in us. So there is no excuse. The only thing lacking is our commitment. So, like Paul’s words to Timothy, we need to rekindle the spark of His life in us and surrender anew all we are not, to the One who is everything. Therefore I remind you to stir up (or rekindle) the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands – 2 Timothy 1:6. And then watch what the Lord will do through you. To https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/092721-Slides.pdf (download) the https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/092721-Slides.pdf (slides) for this message, click – https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/092721-Slides.pdf (HERE). Our Latest Posts:https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/how-to-respond-during-dark-times-503/ (503: How to Respond During Dark Times) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/the-lords-supper-and-the-higher-christian-life-502/ (502: The Lord’s Supper and the Higher Christian Life) https://leavinglaodicea.com/to-reckon-or-not-reckon-that-is-the-question-501/ (501: To Reckon or Not Reckon, that is the Question) https://leavinglaodicea.com/god-is-able-but-is-he-willing-500/ (500: I know God is Able, But is He Willing?) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/there-is-no-tomorrow-apollo-creed-499/ (499: “There is No Tomorrow!” – Apollo Creed)

504 - God Uses Ordinary Men in Extraordinary Ways

Who Do You Trust?Great question. But the answer is usually less than encouraging. Who do we trust? The government? Not so much. The organized church? Probably not as much as we did in the past. The media? Please. The educational system? Hollywood? Our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram friends? Nope. So who do we trust to tell us the truth? Or where do we go for truth? What source can we truly depend on today? You know the answer to that question. Our source for truth is God and what we need in these dark times is His wisdom. But this raises even more questions, such as how do we find the wisdom of God? I mean, where would I begin to look for His wisdom? And is His wisdom something like the force in Star Wars? Is it an attribute or characteristic or power of God that He lends to us for a season or for a particular purpose? Or is it something else? The best way to answer that question is found in an amazing verse in the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth. In this statement, we are told God placed all His wisdom in His Son. So the more we have of Jesus, the more we have of God’s wisdom, which is, again, the point of the Higher Christian Life. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us (1) wisdom from God and (2) righteousness and (3) sanctification and (4) redemption that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” – 1 Corinthians 1:30-31. Did you get that? We are “in Christ Jesus” by the sovereign act of God. And, Jesus “became” or “began to be” for us the wisdom from God or the wisdom of God. So, Jesus is what we need, all we have ever needed.  But I think we always knew that. Yet, we still struggle with these nagging questions. Do I get the jab or not? What if I can’t see my family unless I get vaccinated? What if my employer requires it? What if I lose friends over this? There are so many opinions out there. Who do I trust? What am I to do? Or better yet, what does God want me to do? Do you see the need for God’s wisdom and the ability to hear His voice as He speaks His will to us? Taking Responsibility for Your Spiritual LifeThe greatest need for us as believers facing dark and uncertain times is the ability to hear from God and understand His wisdom in our lives. And this can only take place when we spend the necessary time pouring over His Word and applying it to our lives. But we won’t know what His Word means unless we first understand what it says. Remember, it is called Bible study… and not Bible reading or skimming. I will make a bold statement. I firmly believe God can and will speak to you about anything He wants using whatever verse you may now be studying, Old or New Testament; it doesn’t matter. Why? Because He is God. To prove this point, we will look at one verse chosen at random, Proverbs 21:1, and look at it in such as way as to determine precisely what it says, and then glean from it the wisdom we need for today. The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes – Proverbs 21:1. Now, let’s begin by simply defining some terms. The king’s (meleḵ – a male, sovereign ruler, one with power and authority over a kingdom) heart (lēḇ – the seat of one’s inner nature, the focus of a person’s thoughts [mind], volition, emotions, and knowledge of right from wrong [conscience]) is (present tense) in the hand (yāḏ – physical hand, strength, power, possession, control, and care) of the LORD (yehōwāh – the proper name of the God of Israel, understood as “I AM THAT I AM”). Like (just as, in the same way, similar to) the rivers (peleg̱ – stream, a channel, canal, a natural body of running water flowing on or under the Earth) of water (same

503 - How to Respond During Dark Times

Jesus First Became a Bondservant…There are many questions Christians have about the Lord’s Supper, and not all of them revolve around the nature of the substance of the bread and wine. There is the question about timing, how often are we to celebrate it? And then questions about meaning, is it symbolic, or does it truly transfer some tangible grace to those who partake? But the biggest question, for me, is in regards to its significance. After all, there is a judgment attached to the Lord’s Supper. The Scriptures teach those who partake of it in an “unworthy manner” will bring judgment upon themselves, even to the point of sickness and death. That’s right. Read it yourself in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30. That seems a bit heavy-handed to me. Does it to you? That is until I began to see a deeper meaning in the Lord’s Supper, something right below the surface. For years, when Jesus broke the bread and gave it to His disciples, we focused on “this is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19), referring almost exclusively to the physical suffering and death of Jesus on the cross for our sins. And that is true. But there may be more we have been missing. And when Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20), again, we usually interpret that to only mean the physical shedding of His blood as His sacrifice for our sins. And that is also true. But there could be more to this than meets the eye. Since we tend to think linearly, we often jump from the Upper Room, with the bread and wine, to the cross, with His broken body and shed blood, and assume we have the point of the Lord’s Supper all wrapped up in a neat package. But what we miss is what happened between these two, the turmoil in the garden, where Jesus had to determine for Himself if He would fulfill His commitment to His Father that He made long before He came as a Babe in Bethlehem. Never forget, between the upper room and the cross, was the garden. And it may be that what happened in the garden is what the Lord wants us to remember every time we partake of the Lord’s Supper. Let’s look at the commitment Jesus made to His Father. And Then He Came in the Likeness of MenIn Philippians 2, we have a scene before us that reveals the Lord Jesus making Himself (His action) a “bondservant” (doúlos) of His Father and then, as a bondservant, a voluntary slave, becoming obedient to His Father “to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). And in this passage, we see the depth of the relationship between the Father and His Son and the reason for the suffering of Jesus in the garden. Consider the following: Let this mind (phronéō – to think, to have the mindset) be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being (to be or exist in a state or condition) in the form (morphḗ – shape, essence, replica, the expression of something that reflects or manifests fully and truly the essence of what something is) of God, did not consider (hēgéomai – view, regard, esteem, count, reckon) it robbery (taking something by force) to be equal (ísos – alike in quantity, quality, dignity) with God, but (His action) made Himself of no reputation (kenóō – to make empty or void, of no value), (to what degree) taking the form (morphḗ – shape, essence, replica, the expression of something that reflects or manifests fully and truly the essence of what something is) of a bondservant (doúlos – a slave, one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, his will being altogether consumed in the will of the other), and coming in the likeness (homoíōma – similitude, resemblance) of men. And being found (or recognized) in appearance (schḗma – form, external appearance, mode) as a man, He (Christ’s actions) humbled Himself (tapeinóō – to bring low, to abase, to render oneself to a...

502 - The Lord’s Supper and the Higher Christian Life

The Cross Not Only Paid For Your Sins…We have been looking at the three key truths that will allow you to experience the surrender that leads to the Higher Christian Life. Let’s take a moment for a quick review. Truth One – You are incapable of pleasing God or producing anything good with your flesh (your sinful nature) no matter how hard you try. It cannot be done, has never been done, will never be done, by anybody, ever. And you can find the foundation of Truth One in Romans 7:15-25, especially verse 18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find – Romans 7:18. So Truth One states you can’t, no matter how hard you try. But Truth Two reveals He can, beyond all you can imagine.  Truth Two reminds us that God has given you the Holy Spirit to live in you. And one of His purposes for His Spirit dwelling in you is to work in you “both to will and to do (why) for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). In other words, the Holy Spirit now living in you is able to do in you “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph. 3:20). And, by the way, the power that works “in us” is none other than the Holy Spirit. (Note: Did you notice how many times the phrase “in you” was used in this paragraph? It is not something to gloss over lightly). This brings us to Truth Three.  But first, a bit of warning.  Truth three is not something to be believed only, but to be experienced, just like the Higher Christian Life. For without experiencing this truth, firsthand, you will not gain the wonderful benefit of it nor the changed life that comes with it. Finally, all the benefits of Truth Three are contingent on faith. And it is in your faith the enemy will attack. Maybe even today. So be forewarned. Let’s look at Truth Three. You Are Also to “Reckon” Yourself Dead to SinTruth Three states that when Christ was crucified, He took with Him to the cross not only your sins, but also your sinful nature (the “old man”). Let that truth sink in for a moment. Remember, your “old man” refers to your unregenerate human spirit consisting of the Adamic life prior to salvation. And the “new man” refers to the regenerate human spirit, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Basically, the “old man” is all that you were before salvation, and the “new man” is all that you have become after salvation. You can find these terms used in Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22 and 24, and Colossians 3:9-10, among other places. It should be a familiar concept to you. But one not usually carried to its logical conclusion. Watch how this plays out so clearly in Romans 6. First, the foundation: For if (since, because) we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be (united together) in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that (what) our old man was crucified with Him, (why) that the body of sin might be done away with, (why) that we should no longer be slaves of sin – Romans 6:5-6. Next, the logical progression based on the foundation: For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if (since, because) we died (how) with Christ, we believe (our choice, see below) that we shall also live (how) with Him, (how) knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. (why) Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died (past tense), He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives (present tense), He lives to God – Romans 6:7-10. And finally, the conclusion about our old man and his death on the cross. But remember, this truth only becomes real to you by experience. Or, as Romans says, when you “reckon yourself” to this truth. Likewise (in

501 - To Reckon or Not Reckon, that is the Question

There is an account in Matthew 9 where two blind beggars followed Jesus and continued to cry out to Him hoping to get His attention and receive their sight. After all, He had healed others, maybe He would heal them also. Jesus, ignoring their cries, entered into a house when the two men barged in refusing to be deterred from their search for Jesus. When Jesus saw them He asked a simple question, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matt. 9:28). In essence, He asked them if they believed He had the power, the authority, sufficient to give them back their sight. And they answered, in faith, “Yes, Lord.” Jesus then touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be to you.” (Matt. 9:29). And the Scripture says “their eyes were opened.” But what was the object of their faith? Was it in Jesus’ ability to heal them? Probably. After all, that’s what Jesus was questioning them about. He was saying, “Do you believe I am able to do this for you?” And, by faith, they said, yes. But they also had to believe Jesus was willing to heal them. Otherwise, they would have never followed Him as they did and cry out to get His attention. And if you look at the sequence of faith in this healing account, you will find belief in His willingness came before faith in His ability. There is much to learn in this regarding the Higher Christian Life. Just think, what keeps us from having the faith of Abraham or Noah or Moses or the Apostles or those listed in Hebrews 11? Or what hinders us from having the faith we once had when we were young in the Lord and followed Him with reckless abandon? It is usually summed up in this one statement: “I know God can, and I know that He is able. I just don’t think He will.” And this sentiment about God plays out in our lives like this: “I would surrender my life to God if I could trust Him to truly take care of me. And since I can’t trust Him to do that, I’ll just have to keep looking out for myself.” “I want to surrender my life to the Lord because I know He is God and He is sovereign and He can do anything He wants anytime He wants. But I just don’t think He will take care of me. Maybe others, but just not me. So, I’ll have to keep looking out for myself.” And then we wonder why we languish in the land of Laodicea, neither hot nor cold, longing for more in our life with Christ yet afraid to trust Him completely. I Believe God is Able. But I’m Not So Sure He is Willing.As you read the following five statements about God’s ability, ask yourself this one question: Do you believe, knowing God is able, that He is willing to fulfill His promise to you? If so, you are on your way to the Higher Christian Life. But if not, you must pray and ask our Lord to forgive you for your faulty, hurtful, view of Him and His love for you. For to think God selfish or miserly with you and not others, does not show your piety or humility. It impugns His character and grieves His Spirit who lives in you. Consider the following: Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy – Jude 1:24. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work – 2 Corinthians 9:8. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen – Ephesians 3:20-21 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day – 2 Timothy 1:12. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him,...

500 - God is Able, But is He Willing?

Often, when it comes to the things that scare us or assault our faith, we tend to go into a brain freeze, to zone out, to habitually rationalize and procrastinate away the issue like Rocky Balboa in Rocky III when he faced fighting Clubber Lang. He was afraid and ashamed of his fear. He’d lost all confidence in himself. He no longer believed he still had what he once possessed that made him Heavyweight Champion of the World. And he was ready to give up. When Appolo Creed kept pressuring him to work harder, Rocky’s only response was, “Tomorrow. We’ll train tomorrow.” To which Appolo said over and over again, “There is no tomorrow!” We face a time in our nation when it appears God’s judgment has finally fallen. After allowing the murder of over 65,000,000 unborn children on our watch as the church, God seems to have allowed us to experience the consequences of our sin. Since we, as the church and as a nation, “did not like to retain God in their (our) knowledge, God gave them (us) over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting” (Rom. 1:28). And what are those things which are not fitting? Abortion, sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, idolatry, greed, violence, rebellion, arrogance, transgenderism— you name it, we as a culture are embracing it with open arms. So what are we to do? How bad is it really going to get? And what can we do to have the faith necessary to persevere during the coming dark times? These are vital questions for the church today. So keep listening and we’ll discover how to become a Faith Prepper together. This study is on the importance of preparing your faith today. Why? Because “there is no tomorrow!” To https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/072621-Slides.pdf (download) the https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/072621-Slides.pdf (slides) to this message, click – https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/072621-Slides.pdf (HERE) For the https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/072621-German-Timeline-for-1933-and-1934.pdf (referenced list) of events in Germany in https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/072621-German-Timeline-for-1933-and-1934.pdf (1933 and 1934), click – https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/072621-German-Timeline-for-1933-and-1934.pdf (HERE) Our Latest Posts:https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/do-you-believe-the-promises-of-god-498/ (498: Do You Believe the Promises of God?) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/the-unlimited-possibilities-of-faith/ (The Unlimited Possibilities of Faith) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/why-did-you-doubt/ (“Why Did You Doubt?”) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/now-to-him-who-is-able/ (“Now to Him Who is Able”) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/its-his-job-to-make-and-keep-you-holy/ (It’s His Job to Make and Keep You Holy)

499 - “There is No Tomorrow!” – Apollo Creed

Quite honestly, this question is what separates those who live their Christian life on the bottom rung from those who experience the Higher Christian Life. And it is all based on faith. Your faith. Do you believe the promises of God? Not just specific doctrines about God. Not what God has done for others. But do you, emphasis on you, believe the promises of God? Do you believe what He says He will do? Do you believe what He says about you? Do you believe the consequences of disobeying Him? And do you believe in the blessings promised by being “in Christ”?  In short, do you believe? Now your answer will be either yes or no. Or maybe, “Sometimes. It all depends on the promise.” But that view of God impugns His character. After all, He is either trustworthy or not. He either tells the truth or He spins it to fit His own narrative. He is either perfect and pure or shady like the rest of our friends. There is no middle ground. We either believe, or we don’t. And the consequences of our choice are profound. Consider Abraham. He was given a promise from God that defied understanding, not to mention biology. When it was physically impossible for Abraham and Sarah to have children due to their advanced age, God promised Abraham he would have a son and his descendants would be as many as the stars in the sky (Gen. 15:5). Pretty steep order. Yet this was a promise from God. Initially, Sarah laughed in unbelief when she heard God’s words (Gen. 18:10-13). And Abraham tried to find a loophole to work around his unbelief using Eliezar his servant (Gen. 15:4), and later Hagar, Sarah’s handmaiden (Gen. 16:1-3). Nevertheless, the promise was clear and precise. It was a promise to be believed, or not believed. And the choice was Abraham’s. So what did he do? Consider the following: He (Abraham) did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, (1) giving glory to God, and (2) being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it (Abraham’s faith) was accounted (imputed, reckoned) to him (Abraham) for righteousness.” Now it (Genesis 15) was not written for his sake alone that it (righteousness) was imputed to him (Abraham), but also for us. It (righteousness) shall be (future) imputed (reckoned, accounted) to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, (crucifixion) who was delivered up (why) because of our offenses, and was (resurrection) raised (why) because of our justification – Romans 4:20-25. Note, Jesus died because of our offenses or sins. And He was raised up or resurrected because of our justification (when we are declared righteous). We are not declared righteous based on our own merit, but the righteousness of Christ is now imputed (reckoned, accounted) to us by faith in the Lord Jesus. Just like it was with Abraham. But there is so much more. Ask Yourself, “Do You Believe the Promises of God?”Jesus also became for us our sanctification (or holiness). But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – 1 Corinthians 1:30. He became for us the ability to live the Higher Christian Life. He literally became for us, since we are “in Christ Jesus”, the ability to live the kind of life that pleases Him right here, right now, today. And this thought should make you giddy in wonder. This is who Jesus is and what he has “become for us.” It is more than justification, eternal life, and a place in heaven with Him, as wonderous as all that sounds. He also became for us our sanctification. He is our freedom, the victory, and the power given us to live an “overcomer” life in this world, in satan’s domain, today. But there is one last thing we need to...

498 - Do You Believe the Promises of God?

In Acts 19 we have a controversial encounter between Paul, the Holy Spirit, and some believers in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7). One side claims it proves the Holy Spirit can, and will, come upon believers after salvation thus justifying much of the fringe charismatic movement. The other side, just as dogmatic, claims this encounter proves nothing more than the fact these “disciples” (Acts 19:1) were lost until Paul preached Christ to them even though the Scriptures state they “believed” (Acts 19:2). The question at the heart of this controversy is this: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2). And your answer, or on what side of this great theological chasm you choose to land, will have a critical effect on whether you experience the Higher Christian Life. Let me explain. The account in Acts shows Paul coming to a group of “disciples” (a key word) in Ephesus and obviously noticing something different, something missing in their Christian life. We are not told what he saw or what prompted his question, but nevertheless, the first words recorded out of Paul’s mouth were “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Strange. Why would he begin this conversation with them this way? Note, the book of Acts calls them “disciples” and Paul asked about something they did, or didn’t, receive after they “believed.” Paul never shared the Gospel with them or made any indication they were less than fellow believers. So the inference is they were believers, Christians, but were obviously missing something, some power or intimacy, something expected and assumed for believers back then. Not so much expected today, but then we sadly live in different, more apathetic, lukewarm times. So let’s answer the question, Do believers receive the Holy Spirit when they believe? And do they receive the Spirit Immediately? Instantaneously? Did You Receive the Holy Spirit When You Believed?In a word, absolutely. On this, there is no debate. Consider the following statements from Scripture. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, (when) having believed, (what) you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory – Ephesians 1:13-14. The Holy Spirit is our security, proof, pledge, the guarantee of our redemption. And we are sealed in Him “having believed.” But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His (or is lost) – Romans 8:9. This is more direct. No Holy Spirit, no salvation. Therefore, a believer must receive the Holy Spirit as soon as they are saved, or they are not truly saved. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free— and have all been made to drink into one Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12:13. The Holy Spirit is the common bond that brings all people groups together in Christ and makes us one. And this obviously only happens after salvation. This brings us back to the reason Paul asked the question of these believers in Ephesus, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2). As we will discover in this message, it is not how much of the Holy Spirit we received when we believed. But how much of ourselves are we giving to the Holy Spirit? How much of us is He receiving on a daily basis? This is what makes the Higher Christian Life so appealing. It is more of Him possessing more of us, to be used to bear the Father’s fruit and bring glory to Jesus. Join us as we unpack this amazing truth. The following message is about answering the question: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”...

497 - Did You Receive the Holy Spirit When You Believed?

Acts 19 begins with Paul stumbling upon a group of disciples in Ephesus that seemed different from those he had encountered elsewhere. So different he asked them point-blank, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2). This, on the surface, seems like a strange question. After all, how could they be “disciples” and not have the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9)? Didn’t Paul write to the church at Ephesus that all believers are “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession” (Eph. 1:13-14)? And if so, is there a difference between “knowing” the Holy Spirit and “receiving” the Holy Spirit? Plus, when Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit to His disciples in John 14, He made this statement: “And I will pray (ask) the Father, and He will give you another (állos – of the same kind, an exact replica) Helper (paráklētos – to comfort, encourage or exhort), that He may abide (live, rest, dwell, make His home) with you forever— (described as) the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows (ginōskō) Him; but you know (ginōskō) Him, (how) for He dwells with you (present) and will be in you (future). I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you (future)” – John 14:16-18. In this statement about the Holy Spirit, Jesus makes a distinction between the lost world and those whom He will redeem, the chosen (Eph. 1:4), the children of God (Rom. 8:16-17). And this distinction is the ability to “see” and “know” (ginōskō) the Holy Spirit. The word translated know (ginōskō), does not mean to know in a cognitive sense, such as, “I know that George Washington was the first president of the United States.” It is not mental, factual, academic knowledge only. To know (ginōskō), as Jesus said we would “know” the Holy Spirit, is an intimate knowledge (as Adam “knew” his wife Eve and as Joseph did not “know” his wife Mary “until she had brought forth her firstborn Son”). The word ginōskō also means to know by experience, to know completely, to know and place one’s favor and acceptance upon. It is a powerful word that reveals more about parents knowing their child than a student knowing the answers to Friday’s pop quiz. And this is how Jesus said we are to know (ginōskō) and do know (ginōskō), the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). Do you know the Holy Spirit that way? But How Can I Know the Holy Spirit?This is the question that is asked by many today as we see the possibility of the Higher Christian Life and compare it to the lukewarm relationship we have with the Lord— and even a less than lukewarm relationship with the Holy Spirit. Plus, when you consider the familiar verses found at the beginning of Romans 12, and realize the Person of the Godhead we are to “present your bodies (to as) a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1) is none other than the Holy Spirit, it begins to make our lack of intimacy with the One who lives in us almost unbearable. Think, God the Father is in heaven seated on His throne. Jesus is right now at the right hand of the Father (Rom. 8:34, Eph. 1:20, Col. 3:1) continually interceding for us (Heb. 7:25). And where is the Holy Spirit? Exactly. He is here on earth, living in you and me. God the Father has never been revealed to us in a body nor does He have a need for one since He is sitting on His throne in heaven. Jesus already has a body and may reveal Himself to us throughout all eternity in His broken body bearing the marks of His atonement for our sin. This may be the meaning of John’s description of Jesus in the Revelation as, “a Lamb as though it had been slain” (Rev. 5:6). And the Holy Spirit? He inhabits your body. He empowers us with His gifts of ministry to bring the Lord glory while we live out our life on this earth. He makes our bodies a temple, a dwelling place of the...

496 - Do You Know the Holy Spirit?

One of the great longings of those the Lord used mightily in the last church age is the fullness, or baptism, of the Holy Spirit. No, we’re not talking about loopy believers today who claim something their life doesn’t exhibit. We are talking about the heroes of old, those like D.L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, Andrew Murray, Oswald Chambers, Charles Finney, Amy Charmichael, and so many others. Each of these great servants of God testifies to their deep longing and ultimate baptism of the Holy Spirit that they claim was the source and power for all that God did through them and led to what they called the Higher Christian Life. But what about us? And what about the church? How does our view and participation in church impact the Higher Christian Life? Does it help? Or does it hurt? Take a moment and think about how we “do” church today. See if any of these ring true to you. •  The “church” is primarily defined as a building, institution, or tax-exempt entity. •  The members of a church meet in a neutral building. •  Almost all ministry and fellowship takes place in the neutral building. •  Almost all relationships are forged by shared activities in the neutral building. •  There is usually a corporate model of top-down leadership within the church. •  The Sunday morning worship service is primarily designed as a time of musical performance (concert), corporate singing, and teaching and is designed to make the congregation feel comfortable. •  The structure of the facility seating models an educational institution and not a family. •  Primarily, the pace of the teaching is on a “C” level. •  Participation is the goal, not measurable growth. •  Much of the focus is not on the individual believer but on the entity of the “church” (lesser serves the greater). •  Paid professionals perform those required tasks often neglected by the fathers in their own families. •  Self-promotion and marketing are usually designed to point people to the church and not to Christ. •  Most preaching is about personal “felt” needs. •  Church usually meets once a week on Sunday for less than two hours. •  Sometimes, a mid-week Bible study or small group meets with an attendance of less than 5% of those who come on Sunday. •  Women are far more likely to attend and participate in church functions than men. And if you compare this picture of the church today to what we see in the New Testament, especially in the Book of Acts, you may come to the troubling conclusion that the modern, Western, contemporary idea of the church may be the greatest hindrance to experiencing the Higher Christian Life. But first, let’s address the elephant in the room by answering the most pressing question. What is the Higher Christian Life? What is the Higher Christian Life?To answer, I’ll borrow from an https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/the-higher-christian-life/ (earlier post). If you are like me and most believers that I know, our spiritual life has been a series of ups and downs, peaks and valleys, two steps forward followed by two steps back, and is less than what we would call abundant. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about our salvation or the grace of God so lavished upon us by the sacrifice of His Son. I’m talking about living a life of holiness, a life of sanctification, living as someone “set apart” for God’s holy purpose, a life surrendered to Him only to be selfishly reclaimed whenever things get tough, or painful, or boring. And for me, this is less than what Jesus promised and less than I am willing to live with. And this life so described, a life of holiness, devotion, sanctification, and surrender is the Higher Christian Life. It is, in actuality, the life we were created to live. Or, as Watchman Nee...

495 - Church and the Higher Christian Life

There is uncertainty all around. And we, as the church, are in the beginning of a life of persecution that was promised by our Lord. Often uncertainty leads to fear, and fear crushes faith. But we are instructed in Psalm 56 to not fear but turn our fear into faith. David says, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You” (Psalm 56:3). And then twice, in the same Psalm, he affirms, “What can flesh do to me” (Psalm 56:4) and “What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:11). Great questions. And the answer is, “Not much, other than kill us.” But if we have a proper view of eternity, even death becomes an anticipation and not something to fear. Think about it. Life is more than what we see and feel, much more than what we can experience with our senses. There is, on the one hand, the true reality that lasts forever with God, when this temporal, transitory, substitute reality ceases to be. And there is, on the other hand, the pre-game reality we exist in today. Jesus said we are living in this kingdom, this reality, but are actually citizens of His kingdom, of His reality, that has not yet physically manifested itself in this world. And the true, “abundant life” Jesus promised is reserved for those who physically exist in this temporal reality that is passing away, yet live and abide in the reality that lasts forever. This is called living by faith. And it takes concrete action on our part to do. When fear is brought into (or subject to) the presence of God, it dissolves right before our eyes, just like it did with David in Psalm 56 and elsewhere. And when for some reason it doesn’t vanish yet remains like a lingering cough after a bad cold, it is not because our fear is so large, or intimidating, or frightening. It is simply because our God is too small. But What Can Man Do To Me?Jesus said we are not to fear those who have only limited power, who can do nothing more than take our lives. He said the one to fear is God, the One with unlimited power, who can not only do what man can do and take our lives, but also have the power and authority to cast us into hell. “Yes,” Jesus said, “I say to you, fear Him!” “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and (limited power) after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, (unlimited power) has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5). So are we to have that kind of relationship with the Father, one of fear and dread, like a young child living in an abusive home? Of course not. Because right after this Jesus lets us know how much we are loved and known by the Father and how much He truly cares for us. Jesus said: “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered (not counted). Do not fear therefore; (why) you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7). So no matter how much unrest, anger, and distrust there is all around us, do not fear. For the only One worthy of our praise and our fear, is God and God alone. And remember to confidently smile when things go from dusk to dark or from bad to worse. It is only another confirmation that Jesus is soon to return. So rejoice and look up, for “our redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). The following message is about How to Fear God and Not Man. To https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/031021-Slides.pdf (download) the https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/031021-Slides.pdf (slides) to this message, click – https://leavinglaodicea.com/pdf/031021-Slides.pdf (HERE) Our Latest Posts:https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/the-bema-seat-judgment-of-christ-492/ (492: The Bema Seat Judgment of Christ) https://www.leavinglaodicea.com/the-king-and-his-kingdom-491/ (491: The King and...

494 - What Can Man Do To Me?

Leaving Laodicea is a podcast by Steve McCranie dealing with the apathy and hurt of the church today. It is for those who love Jesus... uh, but find themselves not too sure about church.

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