Pastor Bob’s Blog

On January 1, we received a word from the Lord that 2012 would be a year of shaking, with an assurance that believers who stay “fastened to the Word” would not be shaken.

What came to mind for me was a passage in which Jesus talked about times of shaking, and what to do to keep from being shaken. In Luke 6:46-49 (ESV), Jesus said this:

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Two houses could be sitting next to each other. The same storm hits them both. One gets shaken off its foundation and swept away. The other stands sturdy. What did Jesus say was the difference? Hearing and doing His words. Today, two people could be sitting in the same church. One is making grocery lists in his mind while the other is listening intently. One leaves the church and does things his own way while the other determines to do things the Bible way.

In times of turmoil, we need to double down on our Word consumption – reading and hearing. But not only do we have to read it and hear it; we also have to DO it.

Hebrews 12:28 tells us that we have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken. What kingdom? The kingdom of God. It’s not a place. It’s a system, a dominion, that is both on the earth and in heaven. Just as laws of physics rule the earth, laws of the Spirit rule the kingdom of God.

If we’ll stay fastened to the Word of God, and purpose to do what it says instead of what we think is so smart, we won’t be shaken when everything else is shaking around us. We’ll know what to do, will be able to stay calm, will be steadfast in the middle of turmoil, and can be a help to people around us. That, my friends, is a great testimony to Jesus.

Barry Tubbs ministered in our church today. He’s an associate minister with Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Fort Worth, Texas, responsible for “ministerial relations.” What that really means is that he has relationships with pastors around the world.

At lunch, he was telling us about his experience with Brother Copeland visiting leaders of the underground church in China. His report was consistent with other things I’ve read.

Each element of the underground church can’t get too big. Big gatherings attract government attention, and that usually means jail. Once a gathering reaches about thirty people, another group is formed to avoid detection. People hunger for the Word and fellowship so much that they endure hardship and persecution for the opportunity to get together with other believers in house churches.

The pastors are particularly vulnerable to persecution. Brother Barry told about one pastor named John. John was jailed for three years, and while he was in jail, he simply turned the jail into his mission field, getting other inmates born again. When he was released, John wasn’t deterred; he went right back into ministry.

Pastor John explained to Brother Barry that jail was just part of the bargain. Accepting Jesus included the risk of serious persecution and the loss of freedom. But the persecution wasn’t going to stop him from fulfilling the ministry the Lord had given him.

That story reminded me of the Apostle Paul – beaten, shipwrecked, jailed – but who wrote in Acts 20:24 (NKJV):

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Contrast that with much of the American church. Many whine and complain because of a little criticism. Many are lukewarm, and won’t endure any hardship for the sake of the gospel. Many won’t go to church because they want to sleep in on Sunday, or watch TV, or read the papers, or play sports. Can you imagine the Apostle Paul doing that – or putting up with it? Can you imagine how odd that would seem to our Chinese brethren?

Wake up, American Church! God needs us to do the work He’s called us to do, and to endure our “light affliction” joyfully. He needs us to be the Body of Christ in this most blessed of all nations. Go to church. Pray. Read your Bible. That’s just the minimum to get prepared for what you’re really supposed to do. Get out there and minister. Stand out. Be different. And if someone criticizes you, smile and pray for them, but keep ministering the love of God and the good news of Jesus.

Don’t let fear or indifference keep you from fulfilling the great purpose God has for your life. Go! And when you go, God will use you in ways that will surprise you.

As we read about Abraham, we’re sometimes inspired and always instructed. He was a guy just like us, a simple fellow made great by encountering God. Read Genesis 15-23 to get the full picture.

Let’s roll the clock back. Abraham started as Abram. The Lord promised to bless and multiply him. But Abram didn’t see anything happening. He got old. His wife, Sarai, got old. And they figured they would never have a child, let alone a multitude of descendants.

Abram and Sarai pursued Plan B. Ever been there? You know God promised you something but you haven’t seen it yet. So, you decide to help Him out a bit with your own plan. That’s what Sarai and Abram did. Sarai sent Abram into the tent with her maid, Hagar, to produce a child. It worked, and Ishmael was born.

Ishmaels always result from our Plan B’s. When we don’t endure waiting for God, we end up with a distant second best.

Ishmael wasn’t God’s best. He still hadn’t moved off His promise to Abram. To get Abram back on the program, God went back through the promise with Abram. He showed him the stars of the sky, and told him he would have descendants more numerous than all the stars he could see. Every time Abram saw stars, he remembered the promise God made to him and believed. It was counted to him as righteousness.

The Lord even changed Abram’s name to Abraham: “Father of Nations.” Every time Abraham introduced himself, he was confessing increase and multiplication. His name tag at the convention said, “Hello, My Name is Father of Nations.” When he met someone new at the market, he introduced himself as Father of Nations. Every time he said his name, Abraham remembered the promise God had made to him and he believed. It was counted to him as righteousness.

So what has the Lord promised you? He’s promised many things. Here’s one for instance. He promised that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you’ll be saved. He’s promised that Jesus, who knew no sin, actually became sin for you, that you could be made the righteousness of God in him. Why doubt it? Why still call yourself an old sinner? Of course you may miss it, but the blood of Jesus has removed your sin from you. Old things have passed away and all things have become new. Use the new name the Lord has given you: Righteous in Jesus. Believe God’s promise. It will be counted as righteousness to you.

The Bible is full of promises to we who are born again. Believe them as Abraham did. Call yourself what God calls you in the Bible. Believe everything He has promised you. Persevere and don’t make your own Plan B. And before you know it, you’ll be living all He promised you like you’re in a dream dream, resting in His Blessing!

Through centuries, God has used various media to proclaim His Word. Early on, it was written on animal skins. Then it was parchment. Gutenberg’s printing press and its progeny made the Bible widely available.

The dawning of the digital age spread the Word throughout the Earth, even into places not easily penetrated. In fact, I’ve been amazed that our web site has reached people not just in Athens and Southeastern Ohio, but all around the world. Our statistics show that people on all continents, and even in predominately non-Christian nations, are listening to the Abundant Life Today podcast and reading content on the web site. That’s supernatural multiplication!

The clear digital trend is toward mobile computing. Increasingly, people are reading and computing on their mobile devices – iPhones, Android-based devices, and iPads being the main ones now. Any effort to spread the Gospel has to recognize that trend.

Accordingly, we’re pleased to launch the Abundant Life Church mobile app in the iTunes App Store and the Android Market. Thanks to Christy Robe, we have a crisp updated logo, and will populate the app with more interesting graphics over time. We’ll be adding new content regularly. People everywhere will be able to read the Bible, listen to preaching, keep up with our events, and engage with the Church, all from a device they carry with them.

This is our time, and we need to use all the tools the Lord is giving us to advance His Kingdom. Soli Deo Gloria!!