Tuesday, November 20, 2012

And the Angels Were Silent

The end of the year has come again, all too soon. Yet, around us are the sights and sounds of Christmas. One cannot but be overcome with the awe and joy of this wonderful holiday. For many, this will be a bittersweet experience, remembering loved ones not present to rejoice in the physical realm, but are very much here in heart, mind and memory. In regards to those who have passed on into the heavenly places, we can at least be assured that they will be celebrating Christmas in the very Presence of the Savior, Himself, this year. Can one imagine the beauty and grandeur of hearing the hosts of heaven proclaiming their praises firsthand with their songs echoing throughout all eternity and space? Then, to be able to join one’s voice with all of the voices of those who have believed in Him throughout the ages to adore Him who came as a babe to die for His people that their sins would be forgiven, that they should be called the children of Almighty God? It is almost a thought too great for words.

But alas, words are what we are given in order to share our thoughts and the contemplations of our hearts. So, this Christmas and for the approaching New Year, I give you the following compilation of words for you as a gift. May they be to you as a means of meditation and reflection. May they draw you into a deeper place between you and our Lord. May they result in a greater celebration of His coming to us all in this celebration we call Christmas.


And the Angels Were Silent

by Dr. Chris King

September 14, 2012


Before there was time and creation began,

Before there was a universe or the discussion of man,

God in Three was in fellowship with Himself

And to all three Persons, all was well.



In His glory He created forms of music and light,

Spirit beings who would bring Him great delight.

They would sing and fly about His throne.

Now, though never lonely, He was never alone.



Their song of His greatness continued with no pause from above.

They sang of His holiness, His justice, His love

Unabated, undaunted by even fellow angels who rebelled

Their melodies rang out in the heavenlies, never quelled.



But in time one thing God in Three brought to be.

The Father called the Son to the Throne for all to see.

He sent Him to earth in the form of a man

To be born of a woman and to die at evil hands.



Hearing this, the singing spirits, who sang always, lost voice

Amazed and astounded at the Father’s heartrending choice

To sacrifice His Son for sinners among the human race,

The lesser ones of creation before the Father’s face.



Yet, even as the holy angels in silence before the Father stood,

God shared with them His plan of salvation for sinner’s good.

Once the angels heard the entirety of what God through the Son required

The spirit beings’ song returned more joyously, more hopefully inspired.



The angels now asked the Lord for opportunity to share

In this the great Incarnation taking place on earth down there.

So, God arranged for them to take the good news of His Son

To shepherds in the fields abiding so they might declare to everyone



That the Son of God has come to earth to set the sinner free

From the very sin that keeps us from the life God has for you and me.

When we see all that God has done for us to show to us His love,

We will all be awed in silence like the angels up above.



 

May you and yours be blessed with a most joyous Christmas and the best year ahead of service and praise in His Presence that you have ever experienced.

From our family to yours in all sincerity,

Dr. Chris King

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Exercising Our Rights as Christians

   I am not in the habit of speaking out publicly regarding American politics.  It is not because of any cowardice on my part, I assure you.  I happen to believe that American Christianity has entangled itself too closely with American politics over the past thirty years, in particular, to the point that the “faith once delivered to the saints” has become tainted by the association.  Thus, in the minds of many in our nation, whether you represent the political Right or Left, and once you state that you are a Christian, the unbeliever as the recipient of that information often has a caricature in view that pieces the together, creating a barrier to the actual witness of the Gospel.
    In fact, I have very strong views regarding the political structures of the United States.  Many of you may not realize this, but I was a Social Science major in college.  Indeed, the Social Science major itself included political science, history and psychology.  I took every political science class Shorter College had to offer.  At the time I attended Shorter, though it was a Georgia Baptist institution, it was a liberal school, both theologically and politically.  In 1984, the Reagan/Bush ticket was running against Mondale/Ferraro for President/Vice-president.  The overwhelming majority of the faculty and staff as well as the students in the History/Political Science department supported the Democratic duo.  Less than a handful of us held out for the conservative pair of Ronald Reagan and George Bush, Sr. to continue in their administration.  Needless to say, when Reagan/Bush steamrolled over Mondale/Ferraro on election day in a landslide victory, those who had supported the Democratic ticket were none too pleased that night or the following day on campus.  It was a time to remember.
    I bring this up for this purpose.  American Catholic theologian, George Weigel, once stated, “Ideas have consequences and bad ideas can have lethal consequences.”  The political parties that we now have accepted as part of our cultural landscape have always been based on particular ideas and values.  From the very beginning of our nation, the men who ran for office represented not only themselves but groups of men and beliefs that bound them together.  For instance, in 1796, we typically think that this election was simply between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson for the Presidency of the new United States of America.  However, there were actually thirteen candidates for the office.  One was an independent, George Washington, who received but two electoral votes.  The other twelve candidates were nominees from two political parties, the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.  The Federalists believed in a strong national government, a loose interpretation of the Constitution, and increasing business develop-ment.  The Democratic-Republicans representing small farmers, affirmed a weak central government, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution.  In this particular election, it was John Adams, representing the Federalists, who captured the Presidency, bringing in his group’s view of government to oversee the nation.
    Over time, parties and people have changed.  The Federalists are no longer in existence.  The Democratic-Republicans, contrary to popular belief, are not the same as the present-day Democrat party.  If anything, the Democrat party of today is more akin to the Federalist party of yesteryear with its desire for a strong central government and loose interpretation of the Constitution.  Added to this is the Democrat party’s ongoing mission to expand the definition of civil rights to include not only race, religion, gender and immigration status to increase its own voting rolls, but also sexual orientation.  With the 2012 election looming, the Democrat party has officially included its approval and affirmation of same-sex marriage in its platform to, hopefully, attract the young, open-minded voters to its side for the purpose of re-electing Barack Obama for President.  Just for note, the DNC has also removed all references to “God” in its official platform, including but one paragraph exuding the importance of “faith” in America and its way of life.  A day or so after the DNC began in Charlotte, God was significantly reintroduced to platform language by virtue of an amendment, forced through upon approval by the moderator after a three-fold voice vote over the loud “boo’s” of a resounding opposition!  In other words, God wasn’t welcomed there by the delegates, but only allowed in due to political pressures as feared from the pending voters come November.
    The Republican party that was formed after the fall of the Whigs in the 1850s has evolved from the party of the emancipation of blacks under Abraham Lincoln to the party of business interests in the late 1800s/early 1900s to the party of social and economic conservativism as of the late 20th century.  In many ways, the latter two forces within the Republican party, economic protectionists and social conservatives, are still endeavoring to find a common ground for the best interests of the party as a whole.   In the 2012 election, with the choice of private businessman, self-proclaimed conservative, Mitt Romney, it is hoped within the Republican party that the bridge between the two sides has been built, at least for the time being.  As noting with the DNC above, the RNC platform upon which Romney will be running is decidedly pro-life, defending the sanctity of Biblical marriage, economically conservative with a recognition that our rights and freedoms are “God-given”.
    What has all of this to do with the believers in Christ in America?  As Scripture declares, we are to “...do all to the glory of God” (rf. I Corinthians 10:31), that includes exercising our right as Americans to cast our vote.  We must research the platforms of the individual parties that are represented in each election (national, state and local) to see which ones uphold the values reflected in God’s Word and which ones stand for things that are contrary to Scripture.  Once the positions of the parties are surmised, then we will effectively know which candidates we can and cannot vote for.  From that point, it will be a matter of making sure we are registered to vote and then go do so as obedient to God’s Word (rf. Acts 22:25-29; 23:11).  Of all people who should take every opportunity that our rights as Americans give to us, it should be God’s people.  We are, after all, commanded by God to be examples of good citizens of our nation even as we are to reflect our citizenship in heaven.  Let us then do all within our power to be informed, to vote and to uphold our values as followers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ by selecting the right people to serve this great nation for the years yet to come.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

The Importance of Lineage

    Lineage.  It is a question of one’s own connection with the past.  To the denizens of the culture of the “now”, such an aspect of history has no place in life because one’s life is all about the present and the future.  However, to the wise among us, history has an exalted position of importance in life as does our family heritage.  Indeed, the immortal words of George Santayana still ring true, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  Of course, he was speaking of the mistakes in history, but his premise of neglecting the past to our detriment still bears recalling.
    So imperative is this idea of lineage to me that I have taken up the study of genealogy as a hobby.  I have always been interested in history, so much so that it was one of my majors in college.  Indeed, my focal point of study in seminary was Church history.  It only stands to reason that I should bring to bear that interest in the area of family connections.  When I began this pursuit, I could not believe what discoveries awaited me.
    For instance, I was amazed to find out that I have through each of my parent’s lines direct connections with two different couples of French Huguenots who were the first who settled in Virginia in the 1600s at Manakin (Monocan) Town, just east of Richmond.  I have verified the connection of one of the couples while the other will have to remain unofficial due to a lack of available documentation.  The Huguenots were refugees fleeing persecution in France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in which Protestantism was made illegal, the practice thereof made punishable by seizure of property, bodily torture and death.  These Huguenots made their way to the New World in search of freedom of religion and worship, settling in Virginia.  One couple remained at Manakin Town until the end of their days.  The other eventually moved on to South Carolina, there the husband serving as a minister of another Huguenot settlement as he had in Virginia.
    Along another line on my father’s side comes an example of those who fought for our nation’s freedom from British tyranny in the famous American Revolution.  Like many of our ancestors, he was of European descent, German to be precise, yet considered this land and its future worth fighting for.  He and his brothers were part of the formation of the German Fusiliers, a company of defenders made up of German and Dutch immigrants and their sons who felt the need to take up arms in protection of Charleston, South Carolina after “the shot heard ‘round the world” was fired in Lexington and Concord much further up north. 
    These are but two examples of many others that I could name.  Men and women of various stations of society, from yeomen farmers to knights and aristocrats.  Military warriors who fought and died in every major and minor conflict of our nation since the formation of this great land.  It seems that every time another person is located, yet another story of great interest is told.  This is why the hobby for me is so intensely exciting.
    This pursuit of genealogy is likewise integral to the serious student of Scripture.  One finds quickly as one begins the meritorious task of reading through the Bible in a year or two that, before long, one will run into long chapters of “so-and-so begat so-and-so” (KJV) and so on. These lists of genealogies of family connections seem so arduous that we are very tempted to jump ahead to the more juicy narratives because they are easier to read and understand.  However, we must never forget that these passages have, too, been included in the text under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  God intended them to be there for our edification. 
    To the Jews their family connections were of extreme importance to their heritage.  For instance, their bloodline determined to which tribe they belonged.  It revealed their land grant at the end of the conquering days of the Promised Land under Joshua and the elders.  It even disclosed whether or not there were kings of Israel of old in their past (especially if they were of tribe of Benjamin (e.g. King Saul) or Judah (e.g. kings David and forward)). 
    Most notably, the genealogies of Jesus provide us an outstanding example of the importance of lineages.  The one presented in Matthew (1:1-17) gives the reader the legal basis for Jesus’ status as the Son of David through Joseph, His earthly step-father.  We know this because of vs. 16 where the line is traced through “Jacob...the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.”  The focus of the verse is on Mary, not Joseph, though the lineage is shown to be through Joseph, revealing that Joseph was not the actual father of Jesus, yet he was the husband of Mary.   On the other hand, the lineage disclosed in Luke 3:23-38, is actually through Mary’s family line though it seemingly is shown through Joseph.  (Remember: In the time of Jesus, women were accorded little legal and social standing; therefore, in official documentation, most of the time, lineages were paternal.)  In vs. 23, Luke uses the phrase “(as was supposed)” to show that the above was the case.  Also, Mary’s father was apparently Heli and then the lineage went backward through David all the way to Adam.  Thus, her genealogy proved Jesus both to be the Son of David and the Son of Adam/the Son of Man in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
    So, the next time you read through the Scriptures, be sure to pay close attention to who belonged to whom in terms of family relationships.  It will encourage you spiritually to see how deep the grace of God really is.  It may even prompt you to see how God’s hand has been at work in your own family’s genealogy if you begin such a study into that history as well.  Never forget that, in God’s mind, the past, the present and the future are very much interconnected.  And so should they be with His people.


Thoughts Regarding Our "Adversary" and His Celebration

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
I Peter 5:8-11

    This passage was written originally by the Apostle Peter to those “who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood...” (rf. I Peter 1:2)  Suffice it to say that Peter was writing to the Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire.  He wanted them to be aware of the dangers that surrounded the believers in Christ, dangers, specifically, that were not as obvious as others.  The Apostle Peter had learned as he had matured in the faith that the devil, the ancient “adversary” of Christ, was not as open in his opposition to His followers as they would have liked to have believed.  Therefore, Peter provides the Christian body a dire warning for them to be on the constant alert that this “adversary” was waiting for just the right opportunity to catch the believer unawares with a subtle attack for which they will not be prepared with an adequate defense. 
    Things have not changed any since the first century.  The same “lion” that awaited the early Christian body for weak believers to attack is still very present today seeking “someone to devour”.   This “lion”, “the devil”, is a very clever being.  He knows that His best offense is, indeed, invisibility or better yet, non-existence.  Thus, he has convinced first the culture and then the Church that supernatural beings such as Devil, Satan, Beelzebub, demons, angels, etc. are all mythical creatures, nice to adorn plots for horror flicks, television shows, computer games or books, but not worthy of true intellectual affirmation.  Indeed, such beings are the things to be used as an outlet for the base impulses of our human natures, the outward expressions we show forth through costumes on All Hallow’s Eve, Halloween.  They are the culturally approved vehicles by which we are allowed to celebrate that which is evil about ourselves without the pangs of guilt since all of us “have a little evil in us” after all.   It is true after all, as Flip Wilson, the comedian of old, in his character, Geraldine, used to say, “The Devil made me do it.”
    Our “adversary” is a sly character without question.  He knows he has the unbelieving world at his beckon call.  His goal is to get the Christian community as well to dance to his tune.  This is the warning to which the Apostle Paul is referring.  When we are blind to the devil’s ways, we easily fall prey to his traps.  When we do not see as evil that which is inherently evil, he has us exactly where he wants us.  Like a lion that creeps silently and stealthily in the bushes upon the unwitting antelope, so we can be completely caught off guard by the actions of the devil, not realizing that he has laid a trap for us until it is too late.
    How do we then prevent being caught?  Peter says, be “firm in your faith”.  One cannot distinguish good from evil if one is not well-versed in the truth of God’s Word.  One cannot turn away from the temptations of the “adversary” if the only time one is exposed to God’s truth is on Sundays.  It will not happen.  “Firm(ness) in the faith” comes with a commitment to be with God and in His Word on a daily basis.  This was Jesus’ example.  It must be ours’ also.
    Secondly, on the basis of that truth that is our foundation, we are to “resist him”.  This is not just a matter of telling the devil, “No”.  It is also a matter of telling why it is “No”.  Again, Jesus provides us the example.  When tempted by the devil in the wilderness, over and over again, Jesus answered each temptation with a reason from God’s Word.  The same holds true with us.  We can only do this if we are bathed in our understanding with the study of the Scriptures.
    Why do I bring this passage and discussion now?  October is the celebration of one of the holy days of Satanism.  All Hallow’s Eve is and always has been a celebration of the dead, based on the belief that the spirits of those departed must be appeased in order for them to remain in the grave.  Many say that this is not what is being celebrated today.  I concur and so does the one who gains the most glory from the celebration.  Just food for thought: if we as believers in Christ are to do all for the glory of God (rf. Colossians 3:17), how does this particular holiday and its origins qualify for us to participate?  Could it be that the “adversary” has used its trappings for “fun” as a snare to make so many of us totally unaware of what we were actually helping to promote? 
    My words are not meant to condemn or to judge, but to encourage.  Like so many of us, I was an example of Jesus’ words of being led blindly eventually toward a pit.  It wasn’t until I had my eyes opened by the reality of what was real, true and Biblical.  Then, both my actions and my perceptions changed.  I was able to do what the Apostle Peter exhorted us all to do.  Indeed, the Lord is able to “perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.” May He do the same for us all as we seek to follow Him and His Word more closely.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Godly Grandparenting



    Grandparents’ Day is being celebrated this month.  Lori and I are not yet at that season of life.  Yet, we are looking forward to the opportunity to spoil, love and invest time, resources and energy into the lives of the little ones we hope the Lord will send our way through our children and their mates in the years to come.  (Of course, we have to get all of our children married first.  We want to make sure our priorities are in Biblical order.)

    Speaking of being a grandparent, I have been around a lot of them in my years of ministry.  I can truly testify that there is a defined art to becoming a great one.  There are a number of characteristics that are essential to good grandparenting: wisdom, patience, unconditional love, etc.  These should be like wine; they mature with age.  However, there is one factor that may not be so evident, yet it is necessary if one wants to be a wonderful grandparent to his or her grandkids.  That factor is adaptation.

    The capacity to respond positively to change is one that we normally do not associate with grandparenting.  For those who are well on up in years, you may remember your grandparents as the ones who sat on the front porch of the “old home place” expecting all of the family to come to them on Sundays, special occasions, holidays, or just when they, the grandparents wanted a visit.  This may have been the usual reality when the vast majority of the family lived within a five-ten-twenty mile radius of the grandparents and could drive/ride in a short time to get there.  In those days, the “old home place” was, indeed, the social gathering spot for the family and often the largest of the places for such events.  It simply worked for that time.

    However, times have changed.  For most families, locations of the children and grand-children are extremely varied.  Some may be close at hand to the grandparents.  However, because of the transient nature of our culture and the tenuous situation of our economy, many live far away from the places were they initially grew up as a child.  The “old home place” worked well for the Waltons, but is not well suited for the 21st century family.  It is the wise grandparent who realizes this and adjusts his/her perspective to the change.

    Barring debilitating illnesses and health problems, grandparents who see themselves as the agents of travel to their children rather than visa versa are the ones who will gain the greatest blessing of this new arrangement.  It is they who will be able to bless their children and grand-children with the wealth of their experience and life lessons as they share with them the quality of their time and resources.  This is a heart and mind shift from a selfish “I want them to come to me” perspective to a “I will go to them because I am freer to go” mentality, taking so much pressure off of the children who are, in many cases, just able to make ends meet financially and otherwise. 

    In the end, all parties involved will reap tremendous dividends by the investment made in these new arrangements.   The grandkids will have a better understanding and appreciation of their grandparents because of more time spent with them.  The children will be blessed by the interaction with their parents as their grandparents give them a little time off from parenting.  The grandparents get to do what God intended for grandparents to do best, enjoy the benefits and joys of grandparenting by focusing on the grandchildren and their needs, putting off the reality of their own circumstances for awhile.

    So, as you celebrate Grandparents’ Day this year, reflect on your own perspective of grandparenting.  Are you constantly expecting your children and grandchildren to come to you or are you willing to be the one who goes to them to enjoy their company to alleviate their stress?  Change is good if it is to the end of blessing another’s life.  What greater joy is there than in bringing such joy to your children’s children, to be there for them as they celebrate life?  Make whatever changes in your own life to be there in theirs.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Report on the 2012 SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA

      Lori and I always consider it a most high honor and blessing to represent Evergreen Baptist at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.  It is one thing to call oneself a Southern Baptist simply by affiliation.  It is quite another thing to participate personally in the actual yearly decision-making process of the denomination and to be able to report back firsthand what went on at the proceedings.  It is also necessary to convey a sense of where the Convention is headed overall so that the “grassroots” constituency is well-informed and prepared for the future. 

    In that respect, I would say, there is a growing concern that the current leadership of the Convention has amassed too much power and control within the denomination.  I believe this concern has been brewing over many years, but has lately stemmed from the developments surrounding the passage of the Great Commission Resurgence Report last year which totally revamped the funding and structural dynamic of the SBC.  North American frontier mission work is suffering greatly while virtually all of NAMB resources are being diverted to church planting efforts in the major US cities.  This initiative is also including diminishing funding of mutual state missions in areas that have been heavily dependent upon NAMB support, all the while NAMB is asking for more missions giving.  This has all taken place as a result of the push by the SBC leadership to get this GCR Report passed and implemented without any prior impact study on what its effects might be before being considered. 

    At this year’s meeting, there were significant parliamentary challenges to the SBC leadership as well as other remarks and recommendations from the floor, all reflecting deep-seated cares over the power and control the SBC leadership has over proceedings and decisions.  Just in the last twelve months, we saw last year’s decision at the SBC annual meeting in Phoenix not to sell the new 2011 NIV translation of the Bible in Lifeway stores because of its gender-neutral status overridden by the trustees of Lifeway, a violation of the expressed desire of the membership of the SBC by virtue of the SBC Constitution.  This flagrant dismissal of the will of the SBC constituency is, indeed, a troubling trend that could prove devastating to the Convention in years to come.

    Overall this year’s meeting was an interesting experience.  Held in New Orleans, Louisiana for the first time in many years, the meeting was an historic one with the messengers present electing by acclamation the first black president of the largest Protestant denomination in the United States.  The action confirms a movement that has been at work within the SBC for some time now to make our body the most multi-cultural representation of the Church within evangelical Christianity.  For this feat to also reflect the conservative wing of the faith makes the action all the more potent.  It was a tremendous blessing, honor and privilege to count myself among the group who raised their ballots as a sign of agreement in electing Dr. Fred Luter, the next president of the SBC.

    Other items of business as on the agenda were not so exhilarating.  One issue in particular is needful to be shared so that all who read this will be apprised of what is actually going on with regards to denominational matters.  First of all, much was written ahead of time as to the presentation of the recommendation by a special committee in reference to the additional name “designator”, “Great Commission Baptists” that could be used, if approved at this year’s meeting, in addition to the legal name, “Southern Baptists”.  Those who serve outside the scope of the South believe that the term, “Southern” has both regional limitations and racial overtones that severely hamper the ability to minister and share the Gospel in those locations.  Thus, they were asking for the Convention to consider renaming itself, especially as the denomination pursues new courses for the 21st century.  However, after reviewing all of the legal ramifications, it was determined that a legal name change was a virtual impossibility, considering all of the problems and possible lawsuits that could arise if such action were taken.  Therefore, it was put forth by this committee that the messengers consider adding this designator, “Great Commission Baptists” that churches as well as present SBC entities could use in their literature for promotion and evangelistic purposes. 

    Rightfully, it was brought up in discussion that churches now have the ability to name themselves whatever they will, using their own designations, without the expressed permission of the Convention because churches are autonomous.  Also, many outside the faith have no idea what the term, “Great Commission” means since many are Biblically-illiterate.  In addition, though a person may use the term, “Great Commission Baptists” or any other term in their literature, an intelligent receiver of the literature can but “Google” the term itself and find out behind the term stands “Southern Baptists” and the Southern Baptist Convention.  In other words, as the saying goes from Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, “What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”.  One cannot run away from the fact that the denomination will still be the Southern Baptist Convention and its members, Southern Baptists.  Nonetheless, the measure to add the designator, “Great Commission Baptists”, passed.

    It is hopeful that the future of the SBC will see greater unity and mutual respect, a lesser desire for power and control in the humble spirit of Jesus along with an increased emphasis on the Biblical ideal and mandate for true discipleship.  As we return to the foundation of the Scriptures, sound doctrine and practices, not falling to the distractions that so easily lead away from His path, may we find His blessings upon us once again.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Lord's Prayer

    For many of us, when we think of the Lord’s Prayer, we remember the words of rote memorization of a specific passage of Scripture.  This may be by virtue of a Sunday School class or a catechism lesson or a recitation that was included in the weekly worship service.  In any case, the words of the prayer are indelibly imprinted on our minds as well as our hearts.
    However, what we may know so well may not be understood so well at all, let alone applied as it was originally intended.  The prayer itself is found in two places in the Gospels, Matthew 6 and Luke 11.  In Luke 11, Jesus furnishes the prayer to His disciples, giving some context to its origination.  In this passage, the entirety of the text as found in Matthew 6 is not shared concurrently.  However, Luke does tell the reader that Jesus, responding to His disciples’ requests to teach them how to pray, provides the words of the prayer.
    We can conclude from Luke then that the Lord’s Prayer was intended to be a template of how to pray to the Father, not simply a prayer of repetition uttered without meaning or purpose (rf. Matthew 6:7).  Thus, we are to look at the content of the prayer and then structure our prayers accordingly.  For this exercise, we are directed to the complete prayer as found in Matthew 6:9-13.
    When Jesus set forth His model prayer, recognition of God the Father and the supremacy of His will came first and foremost.  He made this clear by His initial declarative statements, “Our Father which art in heaven.  Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (KJV)   In our humanness we tend to go immediately to God with what matters most to us—our needs, problems, circumstances, stresses, etc.   Jesus declares to us that God, His glory and ultimate will carry far more weight in terms of importance than do our concerns.  Thus, the primary focus of our prayer life should be the Lord and what He wants to do in this world.  If we maintain this perspective in prayer, eventually the rest of our life, mind and action will catch up to the real game at hand.
    Once we have correctly aligned our prayers with the Lord and His will above our own, we will begin to ask Him for the things that we need, but only on a daily basis.  Notice Jesus’ template once again: “Give us this day our daily bread.”  He has promised to provide for all of our needs “according to His riches in glory” (rf. Philippians 4:19).  He has also stated that worrying about tomorrow will not add anything to your life today, not even height to your stature (rf. Matthew 6:25-34).  He wants His followers to know that His provision is daily in perspective and delivery.  After all, no one is guaranteed tomorrow.  So, tomorrow is not worth being worried over.
    If there is any action upon which our prayers are contingent, it is in the forgiveness of others.  “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” So important is this provision of forgiveness,  He makes it clear by the use of a small two-letter term, “as”.   In other words, God will forgive me “as” I forgive those who have something against me or those for whom I have aught against.  Therefore, my prayers to Him and their acceptance by Him totally rely upon my willingness and follow-through to forgive others.  Otherwise, my prayers are but empty ritual, accomplishing absolutely nothing with God.
    “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” There is the imperative recognition of two distinctives about God the Father.  He is all-righteous in His character and action.  Everything that He has done, does and will do, both by direct volition and by allowance will be good in His sight and righteous by His standards.  Nor will He ever lead one of His sheep down a path into temptation and harm.  God is not the author or the originator of evil.  He will use evil and its effects to accomplish His righteous ends as well as allowing His followers to endure temptation, testing and trials to build their faith and trust in Him.  The Lord will ultimately, however, deliver His people from all of their difficulties (rf. Psalm 34:19).  This aspect of the prayer is but an understanding of this dynamic of the character of God.
    The last part of Jesus’ template, surely a very important part, is our submissive attitude.  When Jesus states, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”, He is declaring an unreserved recognition of God’s complete sovereignty over all things, that His power, dominion and glory are more important than anything in this world.  We, therefore, are called by Christ to lay down the things that we deem as essential at the feet of the Father in favor of God and what He wants to accomplish, especially in view of how He wants to use us and our lives.  The “Amen” is but the punctuation, which means all of the above “is true” to us, not just in concept, but in reality.
    With the previous now presented, are you willing to follow Jesus’ template and conform your prayer life to His?  The reason the disciples wanted to learn how to pray according to Jesus was because they had seen the power of God operational in His life and desired the same in their own lives.  Jesus’ response to them stated that this way of praying makes this happen by bringing our prayers in line with His will.  What will it take for God’s people to move from self-centered prayers to mountain-moving, world-changing praying once again? It’s all a matter of the template that we use.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Marriage Truths

One of the key issues of our day is marriage. The concept of marriage is being attacked from many different directions. As believers in Christ we have typically focused our attention on those who have lobbied governmental officials and the judicial branches to redefine marriage so that “same-sex” unions could fall within its rubric. Yet, this is but one battle in the overall war that has been perpetuated by the Enemy of our faith. Indeed, it may be the most visible on purpose because it has been intended to be a distraction to the more insidious plan of attack that he has already put into motion.

 Let me state, first of all, that none of his weapons are novel. Satan has used these same tactics over and over throughout history and with great success, I might add. This is the reason he continues to bring them forth and implement them. He knows that, under the right circumstances, they will most likely achieve the desired outcome—the destruction of God’s covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.

 Let me also add that, in pointing out the tactics of the Enemy and the sins they involve because they represent a twisting of God’s original design for marriage, I am not condemning those who have been deceived by Satan’s wiles. Are these victims of deception responsible for their own actions? Absolutely. Yet, even as Eve was held accountable for falling prey to the temptations of the serpent in the Garden (rf. Genesis 3:16), God saw her as one who needed grace in the midst of her sin. Such is the case here.

 Our culture and societal norm not too many years ago used to be one in which marriage between a man and a woman was not only the foregone and accepted definition, but also an exalted goal to be attained, a worthy institution to be upheld and protected. Adultery, premarital sex and other forms of sexual immorality, though present, were thoroughly disdained and rebuked when brought to the light of day to the extent that the possibility of shame and dishonor was a strong deterrent to these actions. My, how far we have fallen.

The culture in the interim years has been convinced through various legislative, judicial and media means that marriage is but a contractual agreement between two parties, not a covenant between three, and thus should be as easy to break through the use of a lawyer as making a will. With the advent of “no blame divorce”, fault lines of perspectives regarding marriage began to develop. Now with a recognized easy “out”, couples no longer viewed marriage as a lifetime commitment to each other. Rather, for many, they chose the “as long as we agree that we have feelings of love for each other” or “until I find someone I love better than you” understanding of marriage even as they took their “vows” to each other, only to see the vows broken along with their hearts. The Enemy had used this weapon well...but he had yet more potent ones in his arsenal.

As the culture and society’s view of marriage weakened, Satan unleashed his next dire bit of artillery. To those children devastated by the effects of divorce, the prospects of getting married and then have their marriage end as their parents’ did was not a future they necessarily desired. Yet, they did want the companionship, love and blessings that marriage itself afforded. So, as the Enemy promised, why not have the blessings without the responsibility? Thus, the instituting of “domestic partnerships” or “trial marriages” or, simply put, living together became vogue. In this way, couples could have all the “benefits” of being married and still be independent as well as be friends. Hey, they could even have children together and not be officially bound legally. The Enemy knew how compelling an argument he could make to such a crowd. So, this has become a popular means of social bonding, today.

However, the most destructive part of this equation is the last. The one institution that should have been a bulwark against all of the above was the Church. She was the one who was given God’s Word to keep and protect at all costs. She was the one to uphold the things that Christ Himself had deemed sacred, which included the marriage covenant as shown by being the setting of His first miracle (rf. John 2:1-12) and the lengthy subject of His teaching (rf. Matthew 19:1-12). Yet, because of the great divisions in her midst, she has largely failed in her mission. Her people show no difference between themselves and the world around them in terms of the divorce rate. Her young people are “shacking up” with each other and we turn a blind eye to their sin. Their parents who profess their faith in Christ are encouraging the practice. The Church has grown silent in telling our youth and young adults that premarital sex is a sin, “fornication” according to Scripture (rf. Matthew 15:18-19). Indeed, hear the convicting words of Hebrews 13:4:

 “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

 By our sins of omission and commission, we, the Church, have allowed the Enemy to have great victories in our time and within our society.

...But it does not have to continue in this manner. We can snatch true victory from the jaws of apparent defeat by returning to the place of truth and humble confession. If we have failed in our marriages at present or past, we need to confess those failures honestly to the Lord as well as to each other as couples and repent, declaring to Him our intent not to repeat our mistakes. If we are living in a state that is contrary to His will, we need to remove ourselves from that situation altogether without fail as a visible sign of our sincerity. We need to repent of our sins against the Lord and rectify them by dissolving wrong relationships or making them right in His sight by marriage and to do so quickly. God is only pleased by obedience to Him because it shows the reality of our love for Him (rf. John 14:15, 21; 15:10). To continue doing what we know is wrong only makes our situation in sin worse (rf. James 4:17).

 I have said this before and, because of its importance, I will repeat it. It is past time for the Church to rise again and be Christ’s Church. We need to speak and live the truth as Jesus did...in love for others, not giving place to sin. Only when we follow His Word and example, showing by our distinction from the world that we belong to Him will we be the authentic disciples that He has called us to be. Doing so is not easy...but, then again, doing what is right never is.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Church Structure and Accountability

I’ve been reading the book of Job lately in my devotions. Remember the Lord’s question to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job?” For the purposes of this month’s article, let me change that question. “Have you considered the issue of accountability?” Our present culture rebels against the very concept of it because it reeks of higher authority and submission to it. We relish in our own independence and the ability to make our own decisions without regard to anyone or anything else taking issue with them. Indeed, if someone or something does, we take offence and state that it is a violation of the precepts of a “politically correct” society. No one has the authority to counterman what each of us has determined to do with our life.

Sound familiar? It should, because the very same attitude has infiltrated Christ’s Church. At every turn, we eschew the idea of accountability. Like the outside world, we want to be the ones who control our own destinies, answering to no one for our actions. Yet, at the same time, we want all of the benefits that God has to offer those who sincerely are called by His Name. We desire the best of both worlds, independence to do what we want, connection to get the best of what God has to offer. We are guilty as charged.

Yet, God’s economy does not work that way at all. His Word does not teach such a cavalier independent spirit for His people. It is a rather different picture that God paints in reference to His kingdom and His Church.

First of all, His people are accountable to Him in reality and ultimately. If we are “in Christ”, if we truly have a personal relationship with Jesus of Nazareth, we lost our identity as independent entities the moment we entered into that relationship. As Paul clearly states in I Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23, “you were (have been) bought with a price...”; therefore, we became His slaves, His servants, no longer belonging to ourselves, but to Him, for His use and disposal as He desires. Jesus also stated that this relationship is a dependent one. He is the sustainer upon whom we must rely on for support. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (rf. John 15:5). He makes it clear that without Him, we are unable to do anything spiritually worthwhile, anything pleasing to God, anything having eternal value. Thus, our connection to Him and our dependence upon Him precludes any independence from Him.

Secondly, His people are accountable to Him through each other by means of ordained church structure. The Lord went to great lengths to establish the organization of His Church as a way to keep us accountable to each other and to prevent false doctrine and practices from corrupting the Bride of Christ. Jesus Himself is the Chief cornerstone with His teachings and Gospel as the basis of all that should be taught and believed (rf. Ephesians 2:20). Next is the work and ministry of the Apostles who have given us the text of the New Testament and, thus, the completion of the written revelation of God’s Word . Following them are the prophets who were instrumental in conveying God’s Word during the first few centuries before the canon of Scripture was completed. Then, there were the evangelists who shared the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John from memory to the early church to remind them of what authentic Christianity in the example of Christ was all about (rf. Ephesians 4:11). Finally, there were the pastors and teachers whose responsibility was to “feed the flock” , providing the spiritual nourishment to the disciples of Christ while protecting them from dangers without (attacks from their society) and from within (doctrinal error and heresies). This spiritual leadership was augmented by the service of the diaconate, the deacon body, whose sole purpose would be to serve the needs of the individual church fellowship (rf. Acts 6:1-7), thus leaving the spiritual needs to be addressed by the elders/bishops/pastors.

I share this with you, the reader, because at every juncture in His organization of the Church, God established accountability. He did so to protect the integrity of the structure as well as the content of belief. He knew us well enough that, without accountability, we would quickly fall away from Him. We need strong ties to bind us to each other and to our Lord.

Independence is and will be our downfall as the modern-day Church. Lacking structure and accountability, we are easy pickings for the Enemy. Our contemporary music is already sadly lost the theological moorings it possessed in its beginnings, now attributing Jesus’ death more to our self-esteem than to our sin. Presently we have some megachurch ministers who brazenly ignore the Great Commission commands to “make disciples of all the nations”, choosing to befriend some groups (Muslim, in particular) rather than to share with them the truth of Christ for fear of offending. On and on the list of transgressions go and yet, because of our independence from one another, there is no accountability, no recognition of higher authority, thus no ability to stem the tide. Where does it stop?

In order for the Church to be His Church, we need, desperately need, to return to our moorings as prescribed by Scripture. Our lifeline is both our accountability to the Lord and to each other within the guidelines as He has provided in His Word. This accountability gives us authenticity and provides us the protection mechanisms against the workings of the Enemy as he desires to destroy Christ’s Church from without and within. We need to get back to the place of dependency upon the Lord and each other, seeing it not as weakness but as our greatest strength. Only when we fulfill God’s mandate of a unified, consecrated devoted body of servants submitted to His will and purpose will we be in the position of accomplishing His fullest use and greatest impact in the present world and society.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Being God's "Peculiar People"

Probably the hardest challenge in all of Scripture comes from the mouth of God to His people, Israel, (rf. Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 20:7), echoed and applied to all believers in Christ (rf. I Peter 1:15-16): “‘Be holy for/as I am holy’ says the Lord.” In this grammatical format, God intended for this statement to be taken as a command with obedience as its explicit, expected result. There was not so much an outlook for sinless perfection as there was the prospect of separation or uniqueness from the rest of the world or world system in this idea of being “holy”. This concept is reflected in the Apostle John’s admonition of I John 2:15: “Do not love the world nor the things of the world...” It is also found in the Apostle Paul’s statement of encouragement in Romans 12:2: “...and do not be conformed to this world...” God’s intent in telling His people to “be holy” is to be purposefully different by following His Word, His precepts, His commands. When we obey these teachings, we truly exhibit the qualities of being His “peculiar people” (rf. I Peter 2:9 KJV).

But, that’s the “rub”, isn’t it? Do we really want to be “peculiar”, unique, different? Or is there a driving force within us to “fit in” with the culture that surrounds us? We really want to be liked and loved by the unbelieving world. The pressures to conform to the culture are astounding. The media, video and audio, bombards us with messages that we should “follow the pack”. As adults, at work or in classes, the mentality presented is one that uniqueness is only valuable if it meshes with the acceptable perspective of the prevailing culture. God forbid (so to speak) that one should introduce Christian morals into an adult setting and expect them to be willingly integrated. How much less is such a prospect for those less in age and maturity where the introduction of Christianity is perceived as a threat to self-expression and creativity and, thus, by political decisions the young are systematically being separated from its positive influences. To the outside world, taking such stands of difference as commanded by God are seen as eccentric, crazy, even dangerous because serious believers do not conform to societal “norms”. However, in God’s economy, to be “salt...and light” (rf. Matthew 5) requires greater bravery than most Christians are ready and willing to practice today. There is an amazing amount of sacrifice that comes with fulfilling God’s command to “be holy”.

Does it mean a complete break with the outside world as some groups, like the Amish, have taken? It is hard to fulfill the part of being the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” concept of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount if we virtually withdraw ourselves from the surrounding humanity. Nor does God give us liberty to surrender ourselves and our children to the pagans and their unbelieving culture for the ungodly to oversee, influence and educate the generations of believers in the cultural perspective and worldview. The responsibility of generational instruction is to stay solely and securely within the context of our own faith (rf. Deuteronomy 6:1-15). What He does command is that we keep ourselves “unstained from the world” (rf. James 1:27), meaning that we must stay engaged within the culture without becoming part of it, remaining distinct from it by the way that we live and the things that we believe and affirm.

The Jewish people for centuries practiced their faith in this very way, living differently from the peoples that surrounded them, educating their children in their own schools, and, yet, engaging the outside culture as needed. In this way they were endeavoring to uphold God’s commandment as stated in Leviticus. As a result, they endured much persecution because they were misunderstood for their distinctions.

The same will hold true for us if we choose to obey God’s Word as well. Our unbelieving friends will not grasp our actions and decisions. But, remember, to “be holy” is to seek to please God not men. It is to possess a heart that desires to obey God above all else. We leave the ramifications of our following after Him...to Him.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Worth Dying For?

Someone Worth Dying For
by Mikeschair

You might be the wife, waiting up at night
You might be the man, struggling to provide
feeling like it's hopeless
Maybe you’re the son who chose a broken road
Maybe you’re the girl thinking you'll end up alone
Praying God can you hear me?
Oh, God are you listening?

Am I more than flesh and bone?
Am I really something beautiful?
Yeah, I want to believe, I want to believe that
I'm not just some wandering soul
That you don't see and you don't know
Yeah, I want to believe, Jesus help me believe
That I am someone worth dying for

I know you've heard the truth that God has set you free
But you think you're the one that grace could never reach
So you just keep asking, Oh, what everybody's asking

Your worth it, you can't earn it
Yeah, the cross has proven,
That you're sacred and blameless.
Your life has purpose!


I heard this song for the first time several months ago. On the initial run, it sounded good and had a positive feel to it. But as I listened closer to the words, I was struck by two powerful thoughts. Primarily, this is a very accurate, concise statement of the theology of 21st century evangelical Christianity—very self-focused and “me-centered”. Note that in just the verses and chorus that I have quoted above, the personal pronouns “I”, “me” and “you” speaking of the singer and listener are used 27 times as opposed to “God” or “Jesus” who are spoken of only 4 times. Are we a bit out of balance here or what? Like I said, this song is a synopsis of our theological viewpoint today. Jesus came to die to restore our self-esteem and make us feel better about ourselves and to give us happier lives. It’s all about us, right?

Secondly, what a contrast this song is from one of the most popular hymns in Christian history. You’ll know it as soon as you see the title. But don’t just let the tune reverberate in your mind. Read the words again anew and let their meaning sink deep in your soul to see the difference between what has been believed for centuries and what is being believed today.


Rock of Ages
by Augustus Toplady

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.


Rev. Toplady had it correct. We are sinners, having no worth and hope in ourselves, to ever gain anything beneficial from the Lord. But He by His grace reaches down to “save us from wrath and make (us) pure.” The third verse is the one that speaks most powerfully to the issue at hand. We are the ones who are “naked...helpless...(and) foul”. We are far from “beautiful... sacred and blameless...worth dying for” as the previous song proclaims. To believe the latter removes the very essence and meaning of God’s grace. It also undermines the Biblical truth of our salvation. Jesus came to save sinners (rf. I Timothy 1:15), rotten in their hearts, rebellious toward God (rf. Romans 3:9-18), a people destined to eternity in Hell, not a group of individuals who needed a boost to their self-esteem. If restoration to the human emotional condition is what salvation is to some, then they haven’t yet experienced the wondrous gift that Christ died to impart. If the message of present-day Christian music is that Jesus’ work on the cross was for our self-edification rather than atoning for our sins and delivering us from our inherent wicked natures, it is grossly misleading as to what salvation is truly about according to the Bible. Christian music, like our theology, will need a complete overhaul if that is the case.

Authenticity and Intimacy: Are We Willing to Pursue These?

A decade is a long time and, yet, a period of years that appears to have passed in the blink of an eye. It just seems like yesterday my family and I arrived on the scene here in Evergreen to begin a new chapter in our lives as well as to open a new era of ministry at EBC. Now ten years later, it is quite apparent that a lot of water has, indeed, “flowed under the bridge”, so to speak.

I have always understood that the life of a church is much like the ways of the ocean tides at the beach. It has its ebb and flow, high and low points, as the church moves throughout its lifespan. However, it is not enough just to accept that fact. I have also sought the Lord as to the “why” behind it. Are there “triggers”, if you will, at the peaks of the high points that, when tripped, set off in the hearts and minds of the people an inevitable movement toward the low points? Could it be possible to not only identify the “triggers” but also replace them with “gates” that would usher in continued movement upward rather than being consigned toward a potential downward trend? I believe that the answer to both of the previous questions is a resounding “yes”.

For most churches that existed in the 20th century and were less than 500 in membership, the greatest overall barrier to church growth (Note: I hate using the term “church growth” because it has been so overused and the connotations now have been overtaken by business models.) is one of mindset. The older the member, the more ingrained the 20th century mindset. By the use of the term “20th century mindset”, I am referring to the belief in the ways and means that “worked” to grow churches in the 20th century (e.g. door-to-door evangelism, weekly visitation, programs held at the church most nights of the week, church as the social center of the community, etc.). Please do not misread me nor misunderstand what I am stating. This is not a slam against the older members of the church for their way of thinking per se. This mindset is not limited to those on up in age. It has no age limit, in fact. It is affirmed by entire church bodies as well as denominational leaders. And we wonder why we are having such a hard time actually connecting with those in our present day!

The reality is this: for many of us we are mentally living, practicing and desiring to engage others with a 20th century Christianity, yet we live in the second decade of the 21st century which has changed radically and fundamentally from the earlier time period. The Church overall no longer enjoys the place of respect and endearment that it did in the 20th century. In fact, our culture has successfully moved her from the center of American life to off-center, at present, in the hopes of actually pushing her completely off the map into irrelevancy. We have not helped this process any by holding on to methods and means of the past while the world has changed without a corresponding change in our own methodology to reach it.

How then does all this apply to “triggers” and “gates”? Our “trigger” at EBC in 2005 was the realization that with the amount of growth we were experiencing would come fundamental change in who we were as a church and what the future might be as a result. New people were coming in and becoming part of the church who were not “homegrown Evergreen” bringing new ideas and potential variance to the dynamic of the body. What resulted was a passive-aggressive response to any further growth for fear of such change to what has always been a community-based church. Implicitly, the message was clear that Evergreen desired to be the small rural church it has always been.

But the question remains: Is that what God wants Evergreen to be? Our desires are often not His desires for us. The fact that He provided the growth initially signaled His intentions for the church to be more than we may have ever dreamed possible. To that end, He wants us to replace our “triggers” (based on fears) with “gates” (based on faith). These “gates” are the ways and means to build the existing body of believers while ministering effectively to those outside the body with the Gospel of Christ. The churches who are doing that by the power of His Holy Spirit are operating by two principle concepts: authenticity and intimacy.

The 21st century folks are longing for both of these truths in their own lives. More importantly to us, they are wanting to see these truths operational in the lives of those who claim to follow Jesus Christ. It is not enough for them to just visit a worship service and listen to a sermon, being welcomed warmly by a few folks as they enter and exit the building. It is still not enough to receive a visit after filling out a visitor’s card (if they even do that—most don’t nowadays). What does mean a great deal to them is to be invited into a home for a small group Bible study. This communicates volumes because it shares with them the concept of intimacy, just as it did in Jesus’ time when being invited for a meal was the means of showing someone you really viewed them as part of the family. If the small group is rightly handled, the individuals within the group are able to be open about their faith, their struggles, their doubts and their need for each other as well as for the Lord and His Word. This shows authenticity as we are not only vulnerable but transparent, showing that this faith process is one that is growing within us. In this atmosphere, a person who has been invited to participate and with whom we are sharing the Gospel through word and example will experience the love of Christ over time, being nurtured unto that place of putting their faith and trust in Him unto salvation. This is the way that speaks to the hearts of the 21st century culture. It takes more vulnerability, time and energy on our part, but it actually is more reminiscent of the early Church methodology than what we were used to in the 20th century.

The question for us is a matter of willingness. Are we willing to exchange “triggers” for “gates”? Are we willing to do as the Apostle Paul states in Philippians 3:13, “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead”, leaving the 20th century and its methods behind and embracing the 21st century with new and different ways of reaching out to touch lives for Christ? It is simply a matter of surrendering ourselves to the use and direction of His Holy Spirit? When we do, we will see Him move and accomplish great and mighty works in our midst?