This week, my wife and I are attending the Spiritual Leadership Conference in Lancaster, CA. The theme is “Renewed,” and we are preparing to come home refreshed. The music, the preaching, the testimonies, and fellowship have been a bit of heaven on earth! Here’s a taste of what we have heard this week. The music has been truly awesome!!!
Author: Dale
Raised in the south, I have a passionate love for the Lord, my wife, my daughters, my son-in-laws, my grandsons, preaching the Word of God, pastoring people, discipleship, the University of Kentucky Wildcats, Clemson Tigers football, running the Tweetsie Trail, and hiking through the awesome TN/NC/VA mountains!!
Praiseworthy Signs
As we entered the building, we were anticipating a glorious meeting with the Lord. Several happy people of various nationalities greeted us as we arrived and walked through the main entrance and foyer. As we found our seats in the auditorium, I realized we were seated behind the deaf ministry. The dear lady who interpreted the music portion of the service was a jewel to behold as her facial and hand expressions were like watching an artist in the park create life on a canvas. Then came a moment during the baptismal service that stirs my heart every time I think about it. As folks came up out of the water, the congregation applauded with praise and thanksgiving. The deaf folks raised their hands and gave the sign for clapping! Wow! All these hands were raised in the air making the back-and-forth motion sign. The thought occurred to me, “Without speaking a word, even deaf people can show their rejoicing!” How sad that I often have reason to praise the Lord, and have the ability to utter audible words, yet I act as though I am deaf!
Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord must . . .
1. Show expressive praise
O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph (Psalm 47:1).
2. Speak exalted praise
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart (Psalm 32:11).
3. Sing eternal praise
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him (Psalm 68:4).
So, today, based up the great goodness of our God and His mighty acts, what will you do with your hands . . . and your voice?
The Destination of Your Conversation
Airports are intriguing places, especially international, larger airports. People are everywhere, strolling along, in a hurry, eating, talking, captivated by their smartphones or ipads, trying to get through security and various other ingredients of airport life ultimately with a ticketed destination. I love watching people and talking to total strangers. How interesting it is to find out where they are from, where they are headed, and why they are travelling to their declared destination. My wife and daughters chuckle at me because I ask questions and get to know folks in such a way that the next step would be an invitation to come home with us. If their life has taken them to any destination near where I have lived or have relatives, these complete strangers and I have just about become kinfolk! J
Without sounding off here, the truth is, I have a destination. I am trying to break down barriers to get an opportunity to share with them the Theme of themes, the Journey of all journeys, the King of all kings, and the Lord of all lords . . . the Savior of lost souls, the Lord Jesus Christ. As I said to someone recently, “I will probably never see you again, but I sure want to know that I’ll see you in heaven.” Often this opens the door for the gospel, and at least, a gospel tract.
Today, you may not be in an airport, but you will probably be around a lot of people. What will be the destination of your conversations?
Who Sat Near You Last Night?
When you came to Wednesday Evening Prayer Meeting, who was seated around you? Was it a visitor from out of the country steeped in Orthodox religion that had never been in a Baptist church before? Was it one of the missionaries that your church supports? Was it a new family looking for a home church? Was it a family that was worshipping with you for the final time before they move out of town? Was it a heavy-burdened individual with extreme home issues? Was it a man who is continuing to move forward in spite of a recent divorce? Was it a dear one who is being challenged at their workplace for their faith? Was it a mother who had a rough day parenting?
How did you minister to that person? I know it is so easy, after a hard day, to want to just come in and be ministered to. May I encourage you to look to the One Who came to minister, not to be ministered unto (Mark 10:45), to enable you to really see the folks around you? Christ will help you be able to have discernment, courage and strength to come alongside them and pray with them, minister to their needs, and bear the image of the gospel in their lives. Christ will help you show them that He is the Anchor of Hope they really need (Hebrews 4:14-16; 6:18-20). What a privilege; what a delight!!
Upon entering into the ministry of someone else’s need, you soon forget how tired you were. You will leave church refreshed and grateful. So, who sat near you last night?
Shepherding Smartphones
Psalm 78:72 speaks of God’s continual involvement in the life of Israel, So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. Every day is an adventure for the believer. Our lives take us through the valleys and over the mountains of life. None of us know what a day will bring. How much we need our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-6). How much we need His multiple tugs and spoken words. How much we need His leadership as we grow and change into the likeness of Christ.
There is an app for your smartphone or to be used online that will help you join up with your Shepherd for encouragement, edification, growth and accountability throughout your day. You can find it at goTandem. Check out the website and on the Menu scroll down, click on About. After reading the page, be sure to watch the video at the bottom.
One of the descriptive lines says, “With goTandem, you’ll receive customized biblical content based on your unique spiritual needs, designed specifically to move you closer to Jesus on a daily basis.” I have been using this app for about month and am grateful for someone sharing it with me. Today, I’m doing the same with you. So, join up with your Shepherd and goTandem.
A Musical Marriage
Music has been a mainstay in our relationship since our dating days. We can walk through a store and hear a love song from the 80’s, and we are immediately transported to a walk on the beach, a ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway, or just an evening at home in our cozy trailer.
Music has travelled with us through all these years even to today. Recently while walking through Hobby Lobby on a mission for my wife, I spied a perpetual flip calendar on sale. Now, if you are like us, we needed another flip calendar like we needed another game request on Facebook. But this one sparked a musical interest as it has a portion of an old hymn for each day.
Last night as I was cleaning up the supper dishes, Denise began to sing the song for the day. “And He walks with me, and He talks with me . . . .” I took the lead and she harmonized. I struggled to complete it as tears came to my eyes. What a special moment it was. How wonderful to be walking together and talking together with the One Who makes marriage so grand. How blessed that we can sing the same stanzas together. How precious to sing and make music together on this journey of life toward Home.
That Special Room
What room in your house is your favorite? The kitchen? The bedroom? The family room? The den? The media room? The exercise room? The workroom? If guests come to your home, what part of the house do you want to show off?
Recently, I made a visit to an individual’s home that is always a place of refreshment for any guest. This visit was especially so. As I entered the home, I was taken to a special room. As I entered the office/den, I saw a desk by the window with an open journal, Bibles, study materials, pens, etc. Within moments I heard, “I wanted to show you the room where I pray and meet with my Lord.” Wow! I felt like I was standing on sacred ground! This is a room that is used at all hours of the day and night, but is especially occupied in the early morning hours.
You may have a sports-themed den or a Pinterest-inspired kitchen, but where do you meet with the Lord? Do you have a special place? Is there a room dedicated to the Delight of all delights (Psalm 37:4), the Theme of all themes (Colossians 1:18), the Guest of all guests (Revelation 3:20), and the Teacher of all teachers (Matthew 11:28-30)?
How To Be a Godly Church Member
As I said last week, I have literally grown up in church. Let me be quick to say that the blessings of being a born-again member of Christ’s church far outweigh the negatives. Having said that, I have seen, not only my own sinful, selfish heart, but have seen deceptive hearts on display in the lives of others that in some cases would make a sailor blush! Personally, I believe too often a carnal Christian is worse to deal with than an unbeliever (Galatians 5:15-21). To recount what I have seen in my lifetime is not necessary here, so let’s turn our focus to how can we can be godly church members.
Quite frankly, the answer is simple and found in Colossians 1:18, And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. When you view everything that happens in the local church through the lens of Christ, it puts everything in the right perspective. He is to always have first place. The Christ in us (Colossians 1:27) sings; the Christ in us worships; the Christ in us shakes hands; the Christ is us responds to that offense; the Christ in us prays; the Christ in us teaches that Sunday School class; the Christ in us looks for the lost and shares the gospel; the Christ in us allows others to exercise their liberty as believer priests; the Christ in us does not leave the church over preferences; the Christ in us is patient and kind to others; the Christ in us speaks to one another; the Christ in us is firm when necessary; the Christ in us serves one another.
If it were not for the Lord Jesus Christ, the local church would not exist. We would be lost in our sinful condition and estranged from God forever. So, may Christ be first in your local church by you submitting to His Lordship, coming to know Christ each day through His Word, and making sure that the world and the person next to you in the pew sees Christ and not you. Paul wraps it up in his words to the church at Corinth, But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3). Looking forward to seeing Christ this Sunday in the pew, nursery, sound room, foyer, Sunday School class, auditorium, choir, parking lot, office, gym, etc. May the following chorus ring true in the Church today!
Show us Christ, show us Christ,
O God, reveal Your glory
Through the preaching of Your Word
Until every heart confesses Christ is Lord.
One Another’s That Should Not Be in the Local Church
As you read Ephesians 4 yesterday, you were reminded of how the gospel changes us as we are joined together in Christ. Our position in Christ has many practical out-workings in our lives, one of which is the fact that we are members one of another (Ephesians 4:25). Please read the following link and take your time to absorb all the writer is saying about what should not found in the local church.
Christ On Display
It is maligned, misunderstood, taken for granted, scorned, abused, laughed at, numbed down, gossiped and lied about, considered old-fashioned and not necessary, and under constant attack. Of course, I am speaking of the Church. All born-again, regenerated believers from the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) to the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) make up the universal church. Jesus Christ promised . . . upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). When a sinner receives Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit places him into the “Body of Christ” which is this universal church (1 Corinthians 12:12-14,27). This function of the Holy Spirit began at the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 11:15-18).
A local church is a group of believers in this church age that meets on a regular basis and is biblically organized to continue the work of Christ here on earth (Acts 1:1-14). The central purpose of a local church is discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20) and to bear the image of the gospel for God’s glory. The church is not an organization but an organism. It is alive, infused by the Spirit of God, to accomplish the work of God to make a difference for Christ. The church is the vehicle God is using today to fulfill His redemptive purposes in the world. The church is Christ on display to the world.
Therefore, as believers, we must not take lightly the ministry of the local church nor our participation in the church. We are a part of the most glorious movement in the world, and we have a grand responsibility that accompanies this privilege. What is your attitude toward the church? Are you an active participant in the church? Do you pray much for your local church? Do you faithfully serve in your local church? Can your local church count on you? Can Christ count on you? Do you see the local church through your eyes or the lens of Scripture? Have you found a perfect local church? Do you grumble about your church? Since Christ has saved your soul, restored your relationship with God the Father, baptized you with the Holy Spirit, and placed you in His Church, are you a reflection of Christ in your local church through the good times and the hard times?
My friend, this week, I want to challenge our hearts about how we view the church; what we say about the church; how to be a godly church member, etc.
May I encourage you today to read Ephesians 4:1-32, and ask yourself, “Am I an Ephesians 4 church member? Can the world see Christ on display by how I function in His church?”
