Ephesians 2:8-10 talks about the reality of the gift of salvation, how it is just the grace of God extended to us which can only be accepted through our faith (belief that it is true, even in the face of evidence to the contrary). There is no consideration of our specialness, and especially not our worthiness in the offering, or even our acceptance, of this gift.

There is no reason for any Christian to have an attitude of superiority or judgment toward anyone. Nothing we have done, or will ever do, will be enough to merit or warrant our salvation. There is NO amount of good works that obtain us the honor of salvation.

This balances the books for all. No Christian can boast, because their salvation is all equal. All are unworthy, deserving only death, but all can be saved if they will just call on the name of Jesus in faith. There is no one whose crimes are too heinous to forgive, nor any who, without redemption in the gift of Jesus blood, can obtain Heaven on their merits alone. We are ALL sinners. Even salvation does nothing to change that. We are still sinners, striving to overcome our vile nature and emulate Jesus.

Our lack of worth is not something over which we should hang our heads. We have no choice but to be who we are. However, we cannot allow our base nature to be used as a justification for our failings. We will all fail on occasion. We must use those failings to drive us closer to Jesus, as we seek forgiveness and to strengthen our relationship with Him. We must also strive to do better, calling upon the Holy Spirit to shore up our meager defenses and to teach us how to become overcomers.

Look again at Galations 5:22. Self-Control. Tough concept, but a central one. It is something very few of us adequately demonstrate. We cling to our RIGHT to do things and defend ourselves, our possessions, and our rights. God is less concerned about our rights and a lot more concerned about our behavior.

We are placed in a special situation. We are called upon to interact with the world, but not be part of it. We don't need to compromise our beliefs and say something God says is sin is not. We need to be firm in our obedience to the Lord. However, it seems each time I try to share the message of Jesus with others, I find people who have been offended by believers who were callous in their view of the person to whom they are speaking. I am forever apologizing for Christians who, while right to say something was sinful, forgot the LOVE of God. When speaking to others, we must continue to focus on the fact that we are only trying to reach them because of the love of God He already displayed to us. Love needs to be the central part of our message, not judgment. Time to focus on loving the sinner, and seperating that from our distaste for their sin. Love is what people should remember after we've shared Jesus with them.

Going Beyond the Sharing

So, clearly the onus is on the believers to get off their seats and get their mouths to talking about Jesus. But if we are looking to develop new Christians with any hope of long-term success, we need to have more on hand than the message of salvation. We are told to go and make disciples. This is much more than simply speaking the gospel at people. We need to get involved in their lives and see them changed.

The end of true evangelism doesn't begin until the baby Christian is delivered safely into a system of discipleship that will move them quickly toward maturity. What are the basics a person needs to know? It could be everything from how to pray or worship, to an entire reconsideration of their life. What actions that are part of their daily life are actually sin? Much of a new believer's life is going to be disrupted if they are going to be brought into genuine submission to the will of God.

This is also a time of great danger. Looking back at Luke 8, we see either the thorns or rocks or the birds are all eager to see the believer's journey end here. Satan will put every conceivable obstacle in the path of this vulnerable baby. Without someone to guide them into the world of their new faith, the new believer is in danger of losing what they have so recently accepted. Before the roots of faith can even take hold, Satan will throw every enticement and torment he can conceive in their path with the hope he can dislodge their grip on the one thing that can put the new Christian firmly in God's hands, and far beyond his reach.

Left to their own devices, baby Christians will no more be ready to resist the wiles of the devil than an infant thrown into a swimming pool could be expected to swim. We must begin to look beyond the momentary obedience of sharing the gospel and instead listen to what Jesus actually said. Go and MAKE DISCIPLES. How can we possibly imagine our responsibility ends once someone has given their life to Jesus? It doesn't. It's just beginning. Jesus spent three years with His disciples getting them ready. Can we really expect to have new Christians ready to fend for themselves in less time?

Jesus was criticized by the Pharisees for spending his time among sinners. From there we can draw our example. True evangelism requires actually getting involved in the lives of the people we want to see saved. It is more than just preaching a message a people and hoping it sticks. We are to be examples to people. How are we to be an example to anyone if we don't involve ourselves with them? It is time for Christians to look beyond the concept of word evangelism. While we are to speak the truth of the gospel message, we must live it. The unbelievers around us must not only see who we are and hear it from our lips, but must know us as we are already among them, showing His love.

What kind of tree you gonna be?

Mark 11:12-26 deals with an important lesson of the power of God when applied in faith. But is that all we find here? Certainly the lesson of what Jesus accomplishes is essential, but what of the tree itself? Is there a lesson to learn in the fate of the unfruitful tree. Luke 8:18 seems to indicate so. Revelation 3:16 says something similar. (please feel free to read any and all of these as we go along) If we are neither hot or cold for God, He will reject us. He wants nothing to do with those whose faith and resulting actions are luke warm.

When we embrace the lifestyle of the thorny ground, we run the risk of allowing our tepid response to God end up costing us. What exactly it will cost us is perhaps in question, but it would not be unreasonable to consider any possible punishment.

It seems clear when Jesus curses the unfruitful tree, He is making a point. He answers the disciples question about HOW the withering of the tree is possible, but I wonder if maybe they weren't asking the wrong question. Isn't the important thing here WHY Jesus did what He did?

Jesus is not prone to meaningless fits of temper. When He takes an action, even when angry, He does it with a specific purpose. Anger, when held in God's control is not wrong or misdirected. This is a display with meaning. This tree Jesus cursed failed to fulfill it's purpose. It was therefore useless and not worth keeping. When Jesus cursed it, He was rendering judgment against it. If we, as Christians, are also not fruitful, do we not run the risk of being judged, and fairly so, as useless by God? I don't know what form that judgment might take, but I am not eager to find out. If the spiritual ennui of the church can indeed be likened to the failed fig tree, how can we expect to continue to scoff God's commandments and NOT be judged eventually?

This is not generally the direction in which I want to focus my attention, but it is an unavoidable avenue of consideration when looking at the parable of the sower and connecting it to Jesus' actions with the unfruitful tree, especially in light of Revelation 3:16. Don't we need to consider the two-edged sword of being God's servant? Jonah knew how much obedience God expected from His people. While we are told to obey God out of our love for Him, we must also consider the alternative. God expects us to be diligently working on His behalf, and it is reasonable to assume He is willing to force our hand if we choose not to comply willingly.

It is the same concept we are forced to embrace when sharing the message of Jesus with unbelievers. While we wish to convey the depth of Jesus' love and compassion for us, it is the threat of Hell from which He saves us. There is a real, true, final judgment that comes, and it is for that reason we are urgently called to make disciples of all. There is only one answer to an eternity without God. Jesus saves.

This brings us back to our consideration of our obedient service to God. If we, who are blessed to know Him and enjoy the riches of His grace are not willing to share that bounty with the desperate and dying around us, we are craven cowards who have allowed the thorny soil of our hearts to choke off the true message of Jesus to the point where we cannot really call ourselves His servants.

Concerns for our own comfort, pleasure and interests have forced Jesus out of the throne of our hearts, and we have laid claim to the place that was rightfully given over to Him when we offered Him rulership of our lives in exchange for blessed salvation. Is there any way we can be surrendered to Jesus, without being willing to take up His calling and carry forth His message to a lost and broken world?

Jesus' parting shot; His final words while on Earth was to GO forth and spread the message of the Gospel. (see Mark 16:15-18) Clearly it was a priority. The only thing that makes the sacrifice Jesus made at Calvary work, is if the believers, His servants, GO and proclaim the truth. The grace of Jesus cannot be extended to a person who is not given an opportunity to know Him.

Roman's Road - A Path to Light?

Let's talk about the concept of light, which we came across at the end of Luke 8. John 3:19 picks up on this idea. Jesus (the light) came into the world. Evil men chose darkness over the light because the light showed their evil deeds for all to see. Those of us who do good (true) deeds seek out the light so our deeds can be demonstrated to be of God.

Perhaps this is an answer to why people who do not follow after Jesus experience such a reluctance to come before God. Opening ourselves up to Jesus forces us to confront our own inadequacy and evil. No one likes to be told they are unworthy, but it is true, no matter what angle you look at the problem from.

Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Now follow the inevitible line of Bible logic

Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
So we are lost, without hope except through Jesus. Good news for us actually.

Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 10:13 - "For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

These four verses together comprise the old "Roman's Road" approach to evangelism. They clearly lay out a direct path from the weight of our sin, it's direct consequence (death) and show why and how one can find salvation. Still, these verses seem more relevant than ever in light (no pun intended) of John 3. If sinners are ashamed to have their deeds seen in the light, the only answer is to understand that all are filled with sinful deeds, and it is for these exact sinners Jesus died. There are NONE worthy, and EVERYONE needs forgiveness and redemption.

I love Romans. It's a deep look into the mind of Paul. His attention was always on what was beyond this world. It is a unique and powerful view. He was so little concerned with the things of this world that he could even be said to have held them in disdain. This freed him from the fear and concern of the persecution and discomfort he suffered as a result of his service to Jesus. In fact, he carried his affliction (both imposed and personal) as badges of honor earned in service.

This is the key to overcoming the thorns. This is how we need to be. Unafraid of what happens when we speak out on behalf of our Lord. Though we may be ridiculed, mocked or even attacked for our beliefs or words, we are only experiencing a small part of what Jesus suffered, and should have joy that our faithful service is true and following in His perfect footsteps. (See Phil 1:27-30)

The "Roman's Road" is a traditional and perfectly valid way of sharing our faith. Feel free to use it if you like. The most important thing to remember here is that what we are truly there to offer is the third step. God demonstrates His love for us by offering us Christ to die for our sins. We are loved beyond all hope of comprehension. We share because we share in that love and would see none lost. I encourage you see the world through the eyes of Paul. He lived fearlessly and acted aggressively. Call on the Holy Spirit to give you boldness to act. Our time is not without end. Be a light in the world while we have the time.

A Thorny Question

Ok, now we come to the single most motivating section of scripture for me. Luke Chapter 8. (Go read it right now if you don't know it) This section of scripture is the motivation for the address of my page here. Overcoming the thorns. It's perhaps the single most important concept in the life of a Christian who wants to truly and obediently serve Jesus.

In this chapter Jesus tells the parable of the sower and the seeds. I'm sure you're familiar with it. The seeds fall on the path and are eaten by the birds and so on and so forth. We find our way to the section where the seeds fall upon the thorny ground. According to verse 14, "Now the ones that fell among the thorns are those who, when they heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity." Sound like anyone you know?

I believe most people miss the primary message in the parable of the sower and the seeds. The seeds that fall on the good soil reproduce 100 fold. Most Christians these days are lucky if they ever reproduce the spiritual state that exists in them even ONE time. We live our lives without concern for the impact of our inaction on thse around us. We deny them an opportunity to know Christ if we fail to disseminate our seed to them. In this sense, most Christians actually display the characteristics of the thorny ground from the parable.

This is what I see when I consider most Christians I know, myself included. That must mean we have allowed ourselves to be thorny ground for God's message, while we still consider ourselves to the the good soil. We have perverted the message of the Lord to put the onus on the unbeliever, judging them for not being the good soil they "should" be if they wish to be saved. They are currently barren earth, taking no seed and bearing no fruit. Yet WE have taken in the seed of God's message, and what fruit to we have to show for it? Are we actually good soil? Or are we allowing the thorns of life (both pleasures and pains) to deter us from sharing our message out to others and proving we are not capable of bringing fruit to maturity and reproducing as we should?

Hearts that are prepared to receive the message of God will become overwhelmingly fruitful (100 fold v8). There is a measure of patience required to see such fruit, but the message burns in the heart of the prepared like a lamp, glowing for all to see. We are called to place such a lamp upon a pedestal where it will shine and bring illumination to all around it. Luke implies that hiding such light could result in it's loss, and maybe even more besides according to v18.

Most Christians today live life in a fog of concerns and pleasures having everything to do with the world around us, and little to do with how God would rather have us spending our time. Luke 8 is a warning of how, in time, this practice can eventually bring us harm. The power of the Holy Spirit was given to the people of God to ensure the success and boldness of the efforts we put forth on His behalf. When was the last time you called upon His help? When was the last time you took the time to share about Him with anyone? When was the last time you even gave it a second thought? Ask yourself...are you really good soil? Or are you struggling to overcome the thorns yourself?

Living Water

In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well, a well Jacob himself had drawn from. He asks her for a drink, an astonishing request since Samaritans were not people with whom Jews associated.

He ends up telling her if she had only known to ask for it, He could have given her living water that would make her free from thirst forever. This says something important to me. People thirst to know God. There is an innate need to interact with out creator. Some have buried that need so deep within, under so much sin, we cannot perceive the need for God to free us. Yet we thirst.

Jesus proves his identity prophetically by telling the woman all about her life. She believes Him and runs to tell the rest of the city about her discovery. Just as water flows downhill, the message of Jesus arrival flowed directly to the others of her city and quickly came to see Jesus and what He was about. From that meeting, He was invited to stay, which He did for two more days. Many were saved.

What makes water such a spiritually telling substance? The need for baptism is more than a suggestion. Water is cleansing, essential to our bodies for our ongoing survival, and Jesus offered it as spiritual sustenance.

If the need to know and worship God can be called a thirst, then America, and indeed the world is suffering in the midst of a drought of epic proportions. The only cure is a rain God must provide.

In John 4:48 Jesus rebukes a nobleman. "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe." How can it be any different with people today? The ability of Jesus to distribute His living water is dependant on the preparation of the heart to believe. People want proof of God's existence and intention. We need to see His POWER. We'll touch in this next time when I talk about Luke 8.

Isaiah continues the concept of living water, talking about wells of salvation(12:3). Water is the prescence and power of the Holy Spirit, given to revive and replenish us when we allow Him into our life to do His holy work.

Famously, Joel 2:28 & 29 tells us how it will be when God "Pours out My Spirit on all flesh." It is a time of power and divine vision and intervention. We shall all hear from God in a special and unique way. Surely, salvations must follow. This time is now.

Starting in Acts 2, the Spirit was made available to the people of God. When God pours out water (blessing of the presence of the Holy Spirit) things start to happen. Pentecost was only the natural result of His presence. He waits to be called upon to empower His church in the same way today. Jesus told us the secret. We have merely to ask, and willingly receive.

We have come to the point in America where we are thirsty beyond all hope of quenching. We need a total immersion in Living Water. Only the powerful move of the Holy Spirit can bring us back. We cannot save this nation either economically or politically. Only a new infusion of Holy Spirit power can possibly revive us. Holy Spirit come!