Bringing it Back

So, I just wanted to share with ya’ll something I am so excited and thankful for….

All pastor’s know that we are required to preach/teach the whole council of God. (Not just our favorite bents) With that in mind, I’d like to follow up from our last blog, “Deliberate Intentions”. In a nut shell, my main emphasis was 2-pronged. One, understanding your enemy will attack and does push his way in violently into our lives sometimes. BUT second, and most importantly, understanding that WE, BEING SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE KING, have victory BECAUSE IT IS OUR FATHER THAT DEFENDS US!! It is HIS GRACE and NOT MY EFFORT that brings the enemy to his knees!

I was so elated to hear Pastor Jamey’s message this last weekend about keeping your eyes and focus on JESUS….and ONLY JESUS!! He purposefully in every message brings the focus back to the cross ….where it should be!! I join with him in his righteous indignation in the piling on of religion (the law) and adding it to our free gift of GRACE!! Do not make the mistake of combining the law and His Grace….. there is no such thing. It cheapens the work at the cross… and truthfully is a slight to our Savior!! It is so refreshing to have pulpit teaching putting the FOCUS and ATTENTION….AND SHINING THE LIGHT ON THE REAL MESSAGE…JESUS! And keeping it there!! To be totally honest…. since my family began our outreach ministry 18 years ago, our heart/focus was to always SPOTLIGHT JESUS!! ONLY JESUS!! Bringing the focus BACK TO THE CROSS! Somewhere along the way the church had gotten a little too ….let’s just say “wordy”. Now, again, understand I am fully aware that as a pastor I am to teach the full council of God, which I do purpose to do. But in doing that, EVERY MESSAGE, EVERY TEACHING, EVERY IMPARTATION I give (we give as ambassadors for Christ) should be a reflection FROM THE CROSS, Christ crucified…. if it isn’t …. well, then it’s just a “nice teaching”.

Isaiah 59:19, keeps things in perspective for us…..”When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” Notice there is NO PART YOU PLAY IN THIS…..oh wait, other than just TRUSTING your Heavenly Father that He’s got things under control and there ain’t nothing you, or your striving can do about it. (Yes you hear a little sarcasm in my words). I am so thankful He’s got things under control….I always tell my girls…..”God’s got this” thats all we need to know and trust.

Listen guys, we are most definitely suppose to read God’s word, and do our best to understand the full council of God. And yes, we also need to be aware that we do have an enemy, but DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF LEAVING JESUS AND HIS GRACE AS A SIDE DISH OF THE MESSAGE!!!

HE IS THE MESSAGE…NOTHING ELSE….NOTHING MORE!!!