The New Wine is beginning to flow!

Listen to Pastor Joe as He explains how God is beggining to pour out His Spirit at the Lake Elsinore "Storm Stadium"

 

Surrender to God

Humble pie, have you ever been treated to a nice healthy slice before? The Lord knows He’s treated me to more than my fair share. I can be so blatantly prideful at times it is really quite sickening. Why it’s a miracle I don’t try to part the Pacific Ocean with my staff more often when standing on the sea shore. In my youth I use to enjoy singing and playing guitar while leading worship at a local church. I strived to praise God in this way and quickly found out what a “pride battleground” the worship arena can be. An arena filled with gladiators competing for their spot up on stage under the lights. Part of our sin nature seems to be that we desire to steal God’s glory every chance we get as we perform in our own power and strength.  

In the book of Numbers chapter 12 we watch as Miriam and Aaron both speak out against their brother Moses and challenge his authority. In verse 2 it says “So they said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?’ And the Lord heard it (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)” 

Humility is a great quality to have. I’ve had the opportunity in my life to meet a handful of what the world considers to be famous people. Chuck Norris, Joel Osteen and Fred Benedetti are men who are extremely gifted and at the top of their game. What’s interesting is that they are some of the most humble people I’ve ever met in my life. Chuck Norris, while at a restaurant near a shoot for Walker Texas Ranger was approached by a man who demanded to sit in the booth that Chuck was sitting in. Humbly, Chuck gets up and moves to another booth where the rest of his cast eventually joins him. The man recognizes Chuck and apologizes for his behavior. 

A vast majority of Christians out in the world today act just like the man demanding the booth from Chuck Norris, instead of being servants modeling humility like Jesus Christ, we become too dogmatic about meaningless facts and figures demanding people magically display traits we feel a Christian should personify. However, what we really need to do is humble ourselves and show people they are important to God by loving them just as they are. We need to  rescue  people as they stand in the muck and the mire, throwing them a rope or better yet a life preserver. 

Moses gives us a great example of humility while as God begins to judge Miriam and Aaron he intercedes and cries out to Him to renege on pouring out His wrath on his brother and sister. Acts of random kindness are a great way to show both humility and love for people who don’t yet believe in God. If we take the time and money to help someone or send relief to one in need then we display the love of Christ. It takes practice and we won’t automatically get it right the first time but with a little persistence we will begin to practice humility. 

“Do not be deceived. God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in do season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of God.” Galatians 6:7-10  

God gave the prophets dreams and visions but He spoke to Moses face to face. When God anoints someone for ministry and raises them into a position of authority we need to respect, support and help them in building up the body of Christ. The other side of the coin would be if  a leader is not displaying humility, love and consistently putting others first then  run as fast as you can to another pasture and find another shepherd who is submitting to God! 

Jesus modeled humility for us and it is what we need as we come together united in fellowship with God. Without the love of our Good Shepherd we would all still be out wandering lost in the world’s pastures with no hope of redemption. While on the earth, Jesus humbly walked the Holy Land searching for one little lost lamb He could rescue from the muck and mire that fills the dank pastures of this fallen world.  People, let us love one another!

New Life

Twas the morning of Easter and all through the land, Christians arrived early to remember the Son rise! Hymnals were hung behind each bench or chair in hopes that baby Christians would soon be there. The pastor put on his best face for them all because he knew that Easter was the one day when visitors would call. He sent out the greeters and workers alike to stand at each doorway to smile in delight. In droves they came to hear the good news that Jesus is risen and that God loves them too! Death could not hold Him and the stone rolled away to leave a stark empty tomb on display. So try and try, try as you may but you can’t earn forgiveness because Jesus gives it away. God loves us so much He sent His own Son to pay our debt in full  then sent us  out each and everyone. To tell the whole world the truth and good news that Jesus has risen and we can come too!

When I was young, my parents only wandered into church two days a year on Christmas and Easter. My religious exposure during the turbulent 1960’s was sparse at best until, however through my mother’s prayers, I was invited to Scott Memorial East in El Cajon California. Now, we all have a moment in our lives when we find ourselves face to face with God and for the first time we see how filthy our lives really are. So amidst all the drugs, sex and rock in roll in my life it was clear that my mother’s prayers had been answered as God began drawing me to His Son. It’s interesting to me how such a great God went to such great lengths to save a ruthless sinner like me. He hears our prayers and petitions  then skillfully sets circumstances in motion to get our attention through regular people who just happen to pop into our lives at the right time; divine appointments or as I like to call them or the Choreography of God!

Maybe over this past week many of you found yourself turning into a church parking lot for the first time for a Good Friday service where, while seated at the foot of the cross, you looked up into the eyes of your Savior. Some envision Christ as a weak, dying and defeated 32 year old man who struggled for His last few breaths of life. They look at the death of Christ as a cruel, hopeless defeat but the death of Jesus Christ would turn out to be the greatest victory ever recorded in our universe or any universe for that matter. His death is now history and although He could have called on legions of angels to His defense He submitted to Roman authority and willingly allowed Himself to be slain.

That particular week was a high Sabbath, which means Wednesday was also a Sabbath. He probably was killed on Thursday, put in the grave on Thursday and on Sunday rose from death. Our hope, our joy rests in the fact that Jesus of Nazareth came back to life as He said He would. In His death our sins were taken away, as far as the east is from the west, but in His resurrected life we have hope for a glorious future in eternity.

That is why we sing to Him. That is why we praise Him. That is why we love other people because He first loved us while we were yet sinners. Jesus said that the truth would set us free and if you search after truth and a relationship with Jesus then you will find this to be true.  

A good man will lay down his life for a friend. A great man will lay down his life for a stranger. But Jesus died for us while we were still sinners or enemies of God. Not too many of us would lay down our lives for someone who just murdered a member of our family or for a thief who just stole an elderly woman’s social security check for a quick fix.

 Maybe your ears finally opened and you heard that the grave could not hold Him.  There is no tomb in Israel where you would ever find His bones because Jesus lives on not just in spirit, but in flesh and bone. He was seen by Mary, all the disciples and then by more than 5000 people.  In the end, all but one of His closest disciples went willingly to a martyr’s death and would not recant that Jesus was their Lord and Master.  Out of all the religions of the world, Christianity is the only religion where salvation is a free gift that you don’t have to work for.