Sunday – August 19, 2012

Posted on August 19, 2012 by PastorAndy

August 19, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

Parable of the Soils from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Four soils, four seeds…. Simple math right. Nothing is as simple as it seems when it comes to the parables of Jesus. In Mark chapter 4, Jesus begins to change His teaching style to teach in parables. And the most essential of the parables to understand according to Jesus is the parable of the Sower. Join us this Sunday at 8:45AM as we continue in our study of the Gospel of Mark in Mark 4 verses 1 to 20.

Word On Worship – August 19, 2012 Download / Print

Mark 4:11-12
And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.”

The fourth chapter of Mark is often referred to as “the parables by the sea” section of the Gospel of Mark. The key to all the parables of Jesus is the phrase “to hear” which appears 13 times in this chapter alone. The command “to hear” is the heart of the great confession of faith for the Jews, the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” The issue of hearing is the heart of parables and is the key to bearing fruit, the essential mark of the Kingdom of God.

As a pastor, I have to admit: sometimes people respond to the proclamation of the word as airline passengers responding to flight attendants’ instructions before takeoff on what to do in case of an emergency. Before every flight, they invite the passengers to watch and follow along with the card in the seat pocket in front of them. But more often than not, passengers ignore the instructions while being preoccupied with looking out the windows, reading a magazine or even sleeping. No airline will allow the flight attendant to skip the instructions just because no one appears to be listening because the instructions are a matter of life and death.

The power to bring fruit to a plant is not in the hand of the sower. While it is easy for all who sow seeds in the soils of friends, family and co-workers to despair over apparent failure or vicious opposition, the power to bring fruit is in the hands of God alone, no matter which soil we scattered His seed in. If some seed falls on hearts of stone, that is God’s business, not ours. We will never know if the heart does not have ears to hear unless we speak to them. Whether or not it is received does not affect its power to transform lives. Truth is truth, regardless if it is popular in the polls or pursued by the masses.

There is still an important truth for those who believe they are the good soil and have received the seed. For many, the words of Jesus go in one ear and out the other. We can all agree the first soil was bad and the fourth soil was good. But the seed received in the second and third soil never produced fruit. Like the fig tree of Mark 11, churches are filled with people who have leaves, branches and external signs of life. But the fig tree with no fruit is cursed by Jesus. Bearing fruit is the expectation of the Lord. Do not let the Word of the Lord be something your spouse or child fails to hear. The admonition of our passage is for you this morning: “They hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

Sunday – August 12, 2012

Posted on August 13, 2012 by PastorAndy

August 12, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

Are You in the Family? from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

The Smother’s brothers used to have the running gag, “Mom always like you best!” But what do you do when your mother and siblings decide you have lost your mind and need an intervention when you are the Messiah? it become time to think outside biology and realize the family of God is more than who your parents were but who your Heavenly Father is, and are you willing to obey Him. Join us as we continue in our wonderful study in the Gospel of Mark and ask, “Are You in the Family?” from Mark 3 verses 7 to 35. And do forget to stick around for our missionary potluck after the services.

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Mark 3:28-30
“Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” — because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

It has become easy to classify Jesus as teacher who spoke timeless ethical truths, or a failed Jewish revolutionary or just another Jewish prophet who’s message was rejected by the people as many prophets before Him. However, the accusations by enemies of Jesus should tell us the only reasonable explanation for their deep hostility for Jesus was His own claims that what He did was by the manifested power of God’s Spirit through Him. C.S. Lewis was right when he wrote in Mere Christianity, “You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

In his gospel, Mark continually confronts us with the question, “Who is Jesus?” For those who flock to Jesus for healings and signs, He is the performer of the miraculous. The demons acknowledge Him as the Son of God. Jesus is the agent of Satan to those in religious authority. And to His own family, Jesus is someone who is out of His mind. The job of the reader of this gospel is to determine, based on the evidence, which is right. Either Jesus is the Son of God or He truly is unclean and an agent of the evil one sent to mislead and provide false hope.

This is not an argument we will win based on abstract ideas or shouting matches designed more to win the debate over our enemies than to win over our enemies to Christ. The battle for the soul is not won by conventional means but by understanding that the battle is won by Spirit inspired conversations which entice people to think together with Christ, not against Him. The avenue our Lord takes is through the use of parables to provide common ground between the participants so the Spirit can enlighten their heart as they in turn are willing to open their minds to God.

Jesus has thrown the door wide open to all who want to follow Him. Anyone who does the will of God is a welcome member of His family. Jesus redefines the definition of family beyond simple biology or genealogy. Biological family relationships are not based on choice. Becoming a member of the family of God is a choice. The only membership requirement in the messianic family is obeying God, whose commands are defined by what Jesus did and taught. If you are not sure of your relationship to Jesus Christ, I strongly encourage you to speak to one of the Elders or a good Christian friend to see if you are in the family of the loving Savior.

Sunday – August 5, 2012

Posted on August 6, 2012 by PastorAndy

August 5, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

On Any Sunday from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Many Christians do not recognize they same the same attitudes of the 1st century Pharisees. It becomes very easy to sing Amazing Grace and believe that God has in mind only our kind of wretches. Jesus came to tear down the categorizing of sinners by those who valued rites and rituals over mercy. Join us this Sunday as we continue in our series in the Gospel of Mark in Mark 2:13 to 3:6 and see "On Any Given Sunday" is an opportunity to share the truth of the gospel with out placing additional burdens on those we seek to share the love of Christ.

Word On Worship – August 5, 2012 Download / Print

Mark 2:16-17
“When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Religious study is the history of mankind’s search for God. What makes Christianity unique is that it presents itself as God’s search for mankind. But God’s search and rescue is often in the arenas of life where we seldom tread. The homosexual and the prostitute are in needs of healing as much as the paralytic and the leper. Sadly, little has changed since the days of Jesus, where an audible gasp was probably heard by those who witnessed Jesus call Levi to follow Him.

The calling of Levi exposes the tendency for God’s people to exclude and write off others engaged in sin we would never see ourselves committing. I suppose it is human nature to assume those who are chosen by God will be those who are most like us. Yet we forget Jesus went to those who were despised and unclean to redeem them for God’s Kingdom. I have known many who have felt the stone wall of resistance to “those kinds of people” from the same people who sang about how God’s grace “saved a wretch like me.” Is it too amazing for us to see the same grace is extended to save those we are convinced deserve punishment?

How many Christians today would be no less agitated than the Pharisees if they found the people protesting the convictions of certain Christian businesses sitting in the seat next to them because someone had the courage to go to them and tell them God loves them as much as the righteous? We applaud handing out tracts in a fleeting bid to witness to those who gather at the tavern, but to invite the abortion doctor to dinner on Sunday night is another story all together. The thought of associating with those who live on the other side of our barriers scares us because it often blurs the line between the righteous and the unrighteous. However, if we listen to Jesus at the table with the tax collectors, we would see there are no righteous people to call, because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

The assembly of believers is the gathering of those who saw the sign saying there is a party and all are welcome. It makes no difference what we were before we walked in the door. The Church is the gathering where the only thing that matters is what happens to us after we arrived. Jesus is willing to throw such a party to reach those who are lost and despised. It is all about whether we accept or reject Jesus and the effect of that decision on our lives today. If we go looking for Jesus to be fasting with the priests we will be sorely disappointed to find Him eating among the sinners.

Sunday – July 29, 2012

Posted on July 31, 2012 by PastorAndy

July 29, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

When Strange Things Come Through the Roof from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Jesus returns to face the religious leaders when some enterprising friends realize it is easier to go through the roof than it is to get in the front door. And Jesus makes this the opportunity to show the Son of Man has the authority to forgive sins. Join us this week as we continue in our series in the Gospel of Mark and see just what happens “When Strange Things Come Through the Roof” in Mark chapter 2 verses 1 to 12.

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Mark 2:2-4
“And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.”

Life, it can be said, is a series of barriers. There are educational barriers for entrance to many jobs, financial barriers to purchase a home, and status barriers for entering social groups. The issue with barriers in our lives is what will we do about them? Will they become the excuse we use to give up and turn away or will they be the proving ground of our character and perseverance to excel? How we approach the barriers God has placed in our lives will define who we are and who Jesus Christ is to us.

The men in our passage knew about barriers. Certainly the impenetrable thicket of people surrounding the house where Jesus was teaching is a road block which would turn many away with a simple excuse of at least, “we tried.” But the friends of the paralytic were not ones to be daunted by the human forest around the front door. Showing uncommon resourcefulness, his friends find a way to the roof where they dig through to lower their friend to Jesus. But the crowd is only one of the barriers that need to be overcome for the paralytic to be healed.

A barrier not addressed but equally present is the suspicious skepticism of the religious leaders in the room. They are witnesses to the healing act of the Messiah, yet the question in their hearts is “Why does this man speak that way?” A priest could pronounce the forgiveness of sin on the basis of repentance and sacrifice (Leviticus 4, 5, and 16), but Jesus states He can forgive sins as if He were God. Either these words of Jesus are incredibly outrageous or incredibly wonderful. And how intimidating would it be to choose between the words of this Healer or the pressure from your religious leaders and men of authority. How often are we cowed by the stare or word of scoffing we hear from co-workers and family to turn away from the words of the Messiah which offer forgiveness and cleanse us from guilt of sin? The authority of the Messiah exceeds the peer pressure of those around us to think they have no need of the healing touch of the Messiah because the Messiah came to save sinners, not the self righteous who scoff at the grace of God.

And yet another barrier exists for the paralytic and us as well: our own skepticism. Will someone who has to be carried in on a stretcher by others believe the words of Jesus about the forgiveness of sins and then act on Jesus command to get up and carry it outside? Or will we accept the judgment of the world and say to ourselves, this man cannot forgive what I have done. How often do we, paralyzed by the sin in our lives, look at Jesus but think to ourselves, I cannot get up and carry anything because this barrier is too great for me to overcome? You see, there comes a time when each one of us has to make faith our own. The faith of his friends to get him to this point is for naught if this man does not exercise his faith and obey Jesus. You may be here this morning at the urging and prayer of a friend or family members. But for all the faith of your family, it will have no benefit for you unless you respond to the words of Jesus and stand up, tuck your mat under your arm and walk to the glory of God.

Sunday – July 15, 2012

Posted on July 18, 2012 by PastorAndy

July 15, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

John the Baptist vs Rob Bell and Modern Day Church Planters from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Why are there four gospels? Is there more to be gained by telling the story four times and not just once? After all there are not four Books of Acts. This Sunday we begin our study in the wonderful Gospel of Mark. The gospels are like diamonds, each facet lets in new light, allows a new color to emerge, and causes the over all beauty to be enhanced in a way that one stone by itself can not accomplish. We encourage you to take the time and pull up a chair and join us as we begin our series with the question “Why Study the Gospel of Mark?” Our prayer is that you will come to agree it is the story of “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1).

Word On Worship – July 15, 2012 Download / Print

Sunday – July 8, 2012

Posted on July 9, 2012 by PastorAndy

July 8, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

Why Study the Gospel of Mark? from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Word On Worship – July 8, 2012 Download / Print

Mark 1:1
“The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ”

One morning in Jerusalem, Jews from every nation in the Roman Empire pushed in closer to hear twelve men speak about God’s most recent display of power. Many were in Jerusalem seven weeks earlier as eye witnesses to the Roman execution of a rabbi the governor said was the King of the Jews. Then, the one called Peter stepped to the front of the crowd and spoke these words found in Acts 2:22-24, “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

The words of Peter on the Day of Pentecost are the outline for the Gospel of Mark. Mark’s gospel is about the good news, Jesus the Messiah, and the Son of God. The gospel is the fulfillment of prophecies spoken of in the Old Testament, initiated with the baptism by John, manifested by His miraculous works, affirmed by His death on the cross and proven to be true by His resurrection from the dead. Many of the miracles and the healings were to be kept hidden from the masses during the public ministry of Jesus. Many times the instruction of Jesus was to tell no one. Now, through the Gospel of Mark, they are the church’s proclamation of the good news — Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God.

The gospel is all about Jesus Christ, and we can never get too much of Jesus. The word Christ literally means “anointed one.” Any preconceived ideas of those who saw the work of Jesus had to have been thrown out because to understand the message of God’s Christ can only be comprehended from this side of the death, burial and resurrection of Messiah. The Gospel of Mark is about showing Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of Israel’s hope. Even if that hope is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, because He exposes our false hopes and selfish expectations.

I am glad you are coming along in our exploration of this book. Keep your hearts open to connect the dots between the prophecies of the Old Testament and the actions of Jesus Christ. Look for the evidence of Jesus being the Son of God from the introduction to this book, to His baptism, transfiguration and finally to His crucifixion. Demons will publicly acknowledge Him and the blind will see Him before He opens their eyes. Yet the disciples and the high priest will not comprehend just who is this Jesus of Nazareth. May your eyes be opened in this study as you come to see Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God!

Sunday – July 1, 2012

Posted on July 2, 2012 by PastorAndy

July 1, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

Christmas in July from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

This Sunday is your last chance to catch our series in the Book of Malachi. How does the Old Testament end? Look back to the law and forward to the second coming. Join us Sunday morning as we celebrate “Christmas in July”. The great Christmas hymn Hark the Herald Angels Sing is all about our text on Sunday- Malachi 4:2 “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” Don’t miss the end of this great series!

Word On Worship – July 1, 2012 Download / Print

Malachi 4:2-3

“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,” says the LORD Almighty.”

Our study in Malachi has presented to us the contrast between those who biblically fear the Lord and those who claim fidelity to God but show by their hearts and actions their distrust of God’s promises and sovereignty. What makes the difference in whether we choose to be those who fear God or those who do not? It is the question about how our ethics (what we do) is changed by our theology (what we believe). While the decisions we make in the 21^st century are certainly different, the decisions faced by Malachi’s generation and the decision about how our faith will align with our practice have not changed one bit.

Jesus dealt with the disconnection people have between theology and ethics. In Luke 6:46, Jesus asked, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Usually our focus is on correct knowledge, but knowledge without a correct response produces the same result as not even having the knowledge. This highlights the struggle of Malachi speaking to Israel and realizing on a heart level we are no better. Just like Israel, we need to reset our hearts, reboot our worship and renew our relationship with the Father — our theme through this Old Testament book.

Malachi’s view of those who fear the Lord are the people whose character has been shaped by a daily walk with Him and whose very thoughts are of Him. They would not be like the priests of Malachi’s day, who would ask “what’s in it for me, right now?” This is the sickness of the Church today, where our eyes are more focused on the numbers in attendance than we are on the amount of Christ likeness that is in our own heart. Is our priority duty or is it discipleship? When we examine our lives, does the priority of our hearts put us on the wrong side of the anticipated Day of the Lord?

Do not let Malachi be a “one and done” study, relegated to the intellectual storehouse of biblical knowledge accumulated in your Christian experience. The call for continual renewal and sanctification is the lifework of those who pursue Jesus Christ, a call to examine and test ourselves regarding how we see our relationship with God. Do we tremble at the prospect of dishonoring Him by not trusting His promises or by living in disobedience to His commands? May we be a part of the remnant which Malachi tells are, “those who feared the LORD, talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored His name.” (Malachi 3:16)

Sunday – June 24, 2012

Posted on June 25, 2012 by PastorAndy

June 24, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

Esteem the Name Of God from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Which group are you in? Are you standing with those who think it is not profitable to follow God, or do you stand with those who fear the Lord and esteem His Name? It is an important question because no matter how often you go to church, only one group is recorded in the Lord's book of remembrance. Join us Sunday as we continue in Malachi 3:13-18 and see the beautiful people who "Honor Your Heavenly Father." Come for the worship and stay for the fellowship

Word On Worship – June 24, 2012 Download / Print

Malachi 3:16-18
“They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”

Do you sometimes watch people around you deny God, yet they seem to receive greater blessing than believers and especially you? You would never say it, but you cynically think it in your heart: “What profit is there in serving God? It doesn’t pay!” Here’s the message of Malachi: God records everything. The God who does not change not only records our foolish actions, but God keeps record of all that we do and say in His name. Asaph in Psalm 73 was looking at the prosperity of the wicked and was thinking “It’s a waste of time serving God!” Asaph had honest and painful questions, but when he took them before God he saw their action in terms of eternity. You must keep eternity’s values in view, because in the end we will win!

There is a second group of people found in verses 16 through 18. God calls these people jewels; God’s jewels. “My jewels — they shall be mine.” He gives this beautiful name jewels to those who, in an age of compromise, an age of worldly values, apathy and indifference still speak about the Lord and who fear the Lord. I think these are some of the most beautiful verses in all of Scripture. God says they are a remnant people; true to Him throughout all of time.

Now I want you to note both of these groups, those who were the judges and those who are the jewels, claimed to be among God’s people. What makes the difference? The difference is the jewels feared the Lord. The book of Proverbs tells us “To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” These were people who, in the midst of all that was going on around them, reverenced God and submitted to His authority and no one else’s. They began to fear God more and fear others less. They feared the Lord, they thought upon His name, and then they spoke often about Him.

Here’s the question out of Malachi’s message for all of us: what do our lips portray about our heart? Do you talk often, one to another, about Him? Don’t miss the fact even in Malachi’s day the remnant kept company together. They encouraged one another and they promoted love and faith in each others hearts. They did not forsake the assembling of themselves together, as the manner of some, as they saw the Day approaching. They kept company with those who were talking about the Lord, thinking on His name and who feared the Lord. Can I give you a bit of advice? Keep company, not only in the assembly, but in your personal private company, with those who talk about the Lord, not about other Christians!

Sunday – June 17, 2012

Posted on June 19, 2012 by PastorAndy

June 17, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

Honor Your Heavenly Father from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

This Sunday we are continuing in our study in the Book of Malachi, and we will rewind a little and go back Malachi 1 to look at our Heavenly Father, and in particular our response to Him. Our Father is God who is worthy of both our honor and our devotion. Devotion is one we are usually more comfortable with, but honor is a tougher nut for us to get our arms around. Join us with your own dads for worship this Sunday morning at 8:45 as we see how Malachi exhorts us “Honor Your Heavenly Father”

Word On Worship – June 17, 2012 Download / Print

Malachi 1:6-7
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, “How have we despised Your name?’ “You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, “How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, “The table of the LORD is to be despised.‘

Who is your Heavenly Father? We can all agree that being a child of God is the result of His calling. Each one of us has heard the call of God on our lives — but what is our response to the call of God? We may feel remorse for sins past or joy for a future with Him. When God reveals Himself to us as Father, when He adopts us as children into His family, what does He intend for us to feel? What is the appropriate response of children to fatherhood of God?

I think the biblical response is twofold. I think God wants a child-like reverence for His power and strength and wisdom coupled with peace and security in His gracious provision for His children. When we put these two together, reverence and trust, we honor our heavenly Father in the same way God said we were to honor our earthly father in Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” And yet how many of us who say the fatherhood of God should motivate us to honor and hold Him in sacred respect?

I see our passage in Malachi as a proper balancing of our response to God for the honor and worship He deserves for His gracious care. The fatherhood of God is brought before the priests to humble them because they have despised the Lord’s altar. The fatherhood of God in our passage is not for the comfort or the security of the priests. The majestic fatherhood of God requires His children to honor and respect Him in reverence and fear.

In our relationship with our Heavenly Father we should always entwine reverence and awe with security and tenderness. When we respond to God properly we see these attitudes dependent on the presence of the other. The psalmist knew this when he wrote Psalm 103:13 “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.” Who will rest in the mercy of God? The Scriptures teach us it is the person who bows with reverential fear and honors his majestic Father in heaven.

Sunday – June 10, 2012

Posted on June 12, 2012 by PastorAndy

June 10, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

What Ever Happened to the Tither? from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Tithing… how old school, Old Testament, old fashion can you get? But before you agree, can you find one passage where Jesus says, "you heard it said give 10%, but I tell you 2% is fine." Or did Paul ban the practice of tithing when he said we should give cheerfully? Or is it easier to say 10% is Old Testament and I want to justify spending my money on me. Maybe it is time to take a look at tithing in the Old and New Testament as see if this is an area we need to reset our hearts, reboot our worship and refresh our relationship with God. Join us Sunday as we continue our study in the wonderful book of Malachi 3 verses 7 to 12.

Word On Worship – June 10, 2012 Download / Print

Malachi 3:7-8
“Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from My decrees and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’”

The deeper I get into the book of Malachi, the more it seems he is writing a Top Ten list of problems facing God’s people. And even though this was written nearly 2,500 years ago, God’s people still struggle with these same issues today. The simple message of Malachi is God is unchanging and the human condition is also unchanging. The standards God requires from His people revealed in the Old Testament and man’s sinful fallen nature continue. Stephen’s charge against the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:51 is just as true of us today, “You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!”

Our problem today is the same problem Israel faced: we do not see our need of God. As far as many Christians are concerned, they have not left God and God has not left them. The disease affecting the church today is one of spiritual delusion. We think repentance is something a person does when they become a Christian and then it can be placed on the shelf to gather dust. A.W. Tozer wrote the church is in the predicament it is in because “ignoble contentment has taken the place of burning zeal.” Just like the priests in Malachi’s day, the Church has a form of godliness but there is no power. We engage in the rituals and ceremonies, but the power of God is not in our motions.

Sometimes God needs to hit us where it hurts to get us to turn around and come back to Him. And where many of us are the most sensitive is in our wallets. Repentance that costs us nothing is worthless repentance. Repentance in the area of finance and stewardship is costly if it is genuine repentance. You can come to church every Sunday, but your checking account will speak more about your spiritual health than your attendance record because our wallets are closer to our hearts than we care to admit.

In Malachi’s time, God spoiled the crops and shut the rain off because of the Israelites’ selfishness. Their excuse not to give was because they had less even though they knew God had promised to bless and care for those who were faithful in their stewardship. God’s own money was not available because the people were so tight-fisted they would not let it go. Consider this: a poll taken by George Barna in 2002 showed only 6% of evangelicals in the United States gave a tithe (10% of their income). A 2010 survey indicated the average church attendee in America gives 3.1% of their income to charities, religious or secular. As the wealthiest and allegedly most Christian nation, the divine message to God’s people remains unchanged, “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me.”

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Jesus is THE Way, not only a statement of faith; the way of life.

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