Obedient Faith

Saving faith is carefully defined in Scripture and needs to be understood because there is a dead, nonsaving faith that provides false security (James 2:14-26). True saving faith contains repentance and obedience as its elements. Repentance is an initial element of saving faith, and it involves three elements: a turning to God, a turning from evil, and intent to serve God. No change of mind can be called true repentance without all three. Repentance is not merely being ashamed or sorry over sin, although genuine repentance always involves an element of remorse. It is a redirection of the human will, a purposeful decision to forsake all unrighteousness and pursue goodness instead. The faith that saves involves more than mere intellectual assent and emotional conviction. It also includes the resolution of the will to obey God's commands and laws. Obedience is the hallmark of the true believer.

Reflecting on the text: Why is obedience a mark of true faith?

The above statement comes from my study guide of Colossians 1:1-8. The statement comes from the thought of the Greek word pistis for "faith," which means to be persuaded that something is true and to trust in it. But far more than mere intellectual assent, it also involves obedience. As we read in James 2:14-26 we understand that to just believe without works is a dead faith. So since we know that a dead faith is really in an end of its self no faith, this should cause us to examine our faith, our salvation as talked about in Philippians 2:12.

I think before we can dig into the word “Obedience” we need to define the word believes. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. This has to be one of the most misunderstood verses in the whole Bible. People say I believe and point to this verse. I think when we jump to James 2:19 we see that the demons themselves believe in one God and they shudder. Let me ask you; are demons going to heaven? The answer is no, never! So if demons believe and are not going to heaven would that be the same case for us as humans that just believe? We find the answer in John 3:36, which says: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. We find in John 3:36 that the way we believe in God is communicated by the way we live our lives before a fallen world. I love how Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines the word obedience:

“Faith is of the heart, invisible to men; obedience is of the conduct and may be observed. When a man obeys God he gives the only possible evidence that in his heart he believes God. Of course it is persuasion of the truth that results in faith (we believe because we are persuaded that the thing is true, a thing does not become true because it is believed), but peitho, in N.T. suggests as actual and outward result of the inward persuasion and consequent faith.” –Vine’s Expository Dictionary Pg.796

I always love how Scripture is the best way to define what a word means. I believe for obedience we see it clearly in Luke 9:23-24 and Jesus said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Jesus Himself said in John 13:15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 1 John 2:6 says whoever says he abides in Him (Jesus Christ) ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

My friend Jimmy recently preached a message titled: Jesus died to save the world. In the message he gave 5 observations of the growing Christian. They were: believe – look – change – live – tell. First we believe in our hearts of what Jesus has done (dying on the cross) for the sinner to bring him into a right relationship with God (John 3:16-18). Second we look to the cross of Christ, and understand that is how God saves the world, is through the death of Christ and not of anything that we have done. God’s gift of salvation is a free gift, nothing we can earn, but just receive (Ephesians 2:8-9). Third, we start to see the change that God is doing within. If God saves you, He will also give you a new heart, a heart that longs for God’s holiness, righteousness and not our old nature (2 Cor. 5:17). Titus 3:5 says He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Are you seeing the Holy Spirit’s work within you? Forth we live it out in our lives, in the way we handle our duties as husband/wife, father/mother, child, work, communities, church..etc. As well as forgiving, loving and serving each other, weather Christian or non-Christian (Col. 3:1-17). Fifth, we will tell others of the good news that is only found in Jesus Christ alone. We will find ways to make disciples that make disciples (Matt. 28:16-20). In Jesus’ day when He healed people He would tell them to not tell anyone and they would go tell everyone, but when He was ascended into heaven He told us to go tell everyone the good news and we tell no one.

My friend Susan said it best about the word obedience. In the middle of the word obedience is the word "die". I have found that in order to be obdienant to Christ we MUST "die" to ourself and our wills!

Keep pressing, keep praying and keep being obedient to God and His Word! Let’s be a church that reps the king of Kings well, not just believe, but live it in our daily lives.

Father's Build Your House on the Rock!!

Build Your House on the Rock

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." Matthew 7:24-27

Being Father's Day, I have so much thankfulness and gratitude for the family that God has blessed me with! God is good, Always! When I ponder my life I can't help but be thankful for the influence that Christ has on my life. I find my hope in things not of this world, but in things above!

What makes a family successful? If you said a big house, great paying jobs, a boat, yellow hummer, $20,000+ in saving, I might think you just watched an episode of "cribs". But the truth is none of these things make a family successful! Success is not found in the abundance of your possessions (Luke 12:15).

The success of a family is only found upon the foundation of Christ! As we read the Passage in Matthew 7:24-27 we find that when the storms of life come our way we are able to withstand them with the help of God himself! When we dig into the Bible we find God's will for our lives. We are not to just be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word! When we place our hope in anything other than Christ and that hope is swept away in the storms of life, we will drown ourselves in the worries of this world.

I would encourage all dad's to lead your family in away that honors God. Build your family on the foundation of God's Word, let that be your standard for living. God wants our lives and our families to be focused on His kingdom and His righteousness and not to be anxious about the things of this world. Remember God cares about us, so why be like the world and chase after empty dreams? Christ saves from the American Dream!

Don't waste your life! A life without Christ has no hope!!

As for me and my house we will serve the Lord! Joshua 24:15

God bless & Keep pressing

Big Summer Plans...

This summer is gearing up to be a great one indeed, with weekend getaways, camping and even California how could you think otherwise. But when you overlook all the summer plans I have you might think that the road trip is the biggest plans this summer season. Disneyland, SeaWorld, In & Out, family and friends will indeed be a blast.

The funny thing is these are not even my big summer plans. I’m sure you would have a hard time convincing my 3 year old of that; he is very determined to get that photo with Mickey. For me, being the spiritual leader of my family flock, my big summer plans are the spiritual plans that I have for my family. My wife and I are kicking off a study through the book of John and I am also leading a men’s study through the book of Colossians. My son Peyton and I are still working on Psalm 1 and plan to have it completely memorized come September. I also have a big stack of books that I plan to read through, including The Practices of Godliness, Desiring God, Trusting God, Knowing God, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, The Lost Commandment – Have we missed what Jesus really wants?, and Improving your serve.

I desire to lead my family in the spiritual things in a way that pleases God. I want to be that example to my family of what it looks like for someone to follow Christ and live the narrow path, instead of believe in Christ and live life on the broad road. Believing in Christ makes you no more a Christian then standing in a garage and believing that you will become a car. God doesn’t save us and leave us unchanged (2 Cor. 5:17). The truth is that if my only desire is to do my best to help my family be successful in everything other than God, then I not only waste my life as a father/husband, but I help them get a jumpstart to waste their lives as well. I believe this is something the world needs more of; good godly men who desire to lead their families in the spiritual things. To have your family just focused on earthly things is to miss the whole point of God’s design for your family.

So when making your summer plans don’t just focus on the worldly things, but make God the first priority. Put Him first above everything else. You won’t regret it, and some day your children will thank you for teaching them the truth about what this life is really about. Below are some of my favorite Scriptures that speak about making plans and who is the center of my life as well as my family. Keep pressing, keep praying, and keep seeking God’s help when leading your family!! God’s wisdom and discernment are an endless supply to those who ask. God bless!!!

But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD Joshua 24:15b

But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands. Isaiah 32:8

Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Proverbs 4:26

Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 21:5

Nets of Life

And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." And IMMEDIATELY they left their nets and followed Him. Mark 1:17-18

As I reflect back on 2009 I see where I grew in trusting God more completely. I have a new measurement of faith like never before. It's not that I have never trusted Him before. Last year was just a year of learning to keep my eyes on Him. My life has a new focus.

I have always allowed distractions of my life to keep me from moving forward. As we read in 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline", I've always followed my fears rather then Christ. As you will see, last year was a year I would drop my nets and completely follow Christ.

God has taught me that it's more important to trust Him, instead of trusting my circumstances that are around me. I will always have difficult circumstances in my life. That is never going to change. So last year I decided to pursue higher education. I enrolled last October and started classes at Liberty University Online just this month.

So I understand that school will be a hard, but short road. Raising a family, working full-time as well as school seems like a lot. I will be successful for only one reason. I will lean on God for His strength, and pray for His wisdom as I learn. I'm thankful for a wife that supports me and has encouraged me so far. She gave me a plaque that sits next to my desk that reads:

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward THE GOAL to win the prize for which GOD has called me heavenward in CHRIST JESUS. Philippians 3:13-14

Keep pressing, keep praying, keep moving forward!