The Joy of Agreement

Several years ago when I worked at Love Field in Dallas I worked second shift. The shift started at 2:00pm and I as well as most people arrived 10 – 15 minutes early. However, there was one man who came in at 12:30. Finally I asked someone why he came in so early and they said, “He liked walking throughout all the hangers talking to people until he found someone who would agree with him.”

We all love to be around people who agree with our thoughts, beliefs and opinions. These are the people we are drawn to and develop friendships. For those who don’t agree with us will cause friction and most of us don’t like friction. It has nothing to do with who is right or wrong, we are just drawn to others with like opinions. This is the joy of agreement.

Imagine if you will a sports team that couldn’t agree on anything. You are going to see a lot of friction and chaos. There have been churches split over the color of carpet for the auditorium. When there is no agreement chaos is sure to thrive. Some of the most controversial topics is concerning God’s Word. I will discuss the Bible, but I will never argue with anyone concerning interpretations. Most people already have their minds made up on certain topics before they ever get into a discussion and they are not planning to change their mind. The only mind you can change is yours.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

What God is saying here is that He wants us to be in perfect agreement with Him. Stop justifying ourselves by changing what His Word says so we will feel better. We can’t let our own morality dictate our philosophy. He knows we will never be perfect, but our heart can be perfect towards Him when we are in total agreement with God.

Gifts, Talents and Abilities

God has given all of us special talents, gifts and abilities. Some of these were given to us at birth and others have been given to us at our birth in Jesus Christ. These gifts and abilities were given to us for one reason and that was for worshipping God, edifying the church and each other, not for personal profit, gain or fame.

Imagine if you will a house that was to be built. The contractor started assigning jobs based on his relationship to a person, their looks, their wealth and personality, but not according to their abilities and skills. He had the carpenters doing the electrical work, the plumbers doing the carpet and electricians doing the painting and so on. There is no telling what this house would look like when and if they got finished.

It’s sad to say this very thing occurs often in businesses and churches. You have people who can’t teach teaching, people who can’t sing singing, people that can teach attempting to play and instrument and those who are musicians teaching. It’s usually based on the circumstances listed above. Naturally all this leads to chaos.

This is not God’s plan. He gave each of us talents, skills and abilities for His purpose. Many people have taken these God given gifts and sold them to Satan by using them to glorify themselves, self indulgence and fame.

All of us have been given special gifts and abilities and you may not be using them or you’re not being allowed to use them. This verse depicts the very thing I’m talking about.

And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— ³² to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ³³ to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. ³⁴ And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers. Exodus 35:31-35

Each of these people was given certain abilities and skills to do what they were designed to do. I know I have had desires to do things that I wasn’t skilled or talented to do. I had to learn to accept my limitations. However, God has given us all special gifts and abilities, but it is our responsibility to hone them, learn and attempt to perfect them.

Some of these gifts are spiritual gifts that God gives us at the moment of our salvation.

1 Corinthians 12

Encouragement – Exhortation

Mercy

Giving

Shepherding – Leadership

Prophesy – not telling future, speaking truth

Discernment

There are several more, but the purpose of these gifts were for edifying the church not ourselves. It’s sad when these gifts are neglected or restrained by those in leadership. Many are more concerned with control or popularity than truth. My encouragement to you is to allow God to continue to grow you and learn how and where to use these gifts.

The Boogey Man

I know that all of you around my age remember being told the stories about the boogey man. “Watch out for the boogey man” or “You had better do this or the boogey man will get you.” Adults or parents used the boogey man as an attempt to create obedient behavior with their children. Every generation and culture has one.

Another word for boogey man is manipulation. Governments, religious organizations, churches, businesses and other entities have their own type of boogey man. The main one our government has been using for the last 30 years or so is called “Global Warming.” The one they have been using for the last 10 years is called “Terrorist.” These 2 scares have given our government a blank check to do just about anything they desire. Before this it was “Communist” and it there is one for every generation. It’s amazing how many freedoms we have lost concerning these boogey men.

We are never going to stop all these boogey men that are used against us, but we can have the advantage of knowing. Such as, global warming theory is ridiculous. The earth is not ever going to be destroyed by water such as it did in the movie “2012.” “I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” Genesis 9:11

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot more faith in God’s promises than scientist predictions. Many people have been lead down the path of psychopathic cult leaders due to the fact of their ignorance of God. Many people have believed so many lies simply because they didn’t know the Truth. I’ve heard many say, “I have to admit I don’t know too much about the Bible.” In this country the only one to blame for that is ourselves.

We have to be on our guard because a person that doesn’t believe in anything will fall for everything. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 16:25 I have much more to say on this matter, but not enough time.

Gift Frustration

I know there is someone in your life that is almost impossible to buy a gift for. For me it has been my wife. What do you get a woman who has no similar interest, a perfect husband, everything she needs and a wonderful life? I guess a box to put it in. Seriously, I’ve learned that when all else fails, “jewelry.” Now all I need is money.

Definitely the most difficult one to buy for is God. The entire universe is His. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Psalm 50:9-12

Some of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever done or seen others do is bargain with God. “Lord, I put a little extra in the offering plate this week so I pray you would let me win the lottery.” How absurd! This is a poor example, but it’s somewhat like offering Bill Gates a nickel for Microsoft. Everything we have is the Lord’s. All the money, possessions, job, health, family and friends we have are The Lord’s and are just on loan to us.

There are many religions that teach that we are to sacrifice and do many religious practices to get God’s favor and attention. It’s really sad. Why do they do it? So they can claim they had something to do with their salvation. Pride!

The Truth…

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise. Psalm 51:16-17

God just wants us!

On Who's Terms?

You have been running from the enemy for days now. On many occasions you were almost caught, but somehow you manage to escape. You will twist and fight and you are determined to never give up. You’re thirsty, you’re wounded, tired, and haven’t eaten for days, However, you’ve ran into a canyon to make your escape, but now you’ve come to a dead end. You’re trapped and there is no where to go. The enemy is all around you with weapons pointed at you and they tell you to surrender. You shout out you will surrender, but only on your terms. They tell you that you can only surrender on their terms or you will die.

This is an analogy of our life. We as humans with a sinful nature are stubborn and determined to do it our way. The only problem is that our way just leads to more and more pain and hurt. The hurts and pains in our life are to motivate us and help us quit running and surrender to God. These problems in our life are meant to break us down so the only thing to do is surrender to God.

However, the pride in us refuses to give up and keep on fighting God. We are determined to make it work our way and on our terms. The only terms there are God’s and we have to accept them. This is where we will finally have peace. On the other side of surrender is peace. I’m not saying you’ll never have any problems again. I’m just saying its easier going through life with God on your side than fighting with Him.

I want you to understand something that I had as a misconception for most of my life. I felt that surrendering to God meant to agree to never commit a sin again. This is not what it means and it is impossible for us to do so. It means to change my heart from having to do what God says to wanting to do what God says.

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield (surrender) yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16