A Special Offer For You

The print version of my book, “Born to Win: A Study Guide for New Believers," is now available anywhere in the United States, for the special price of only $5.00, shipping included. This is a savings of 50% off the regular price of $ 9.99. Payment in U.S. funds, by check or money order only. Again, this offer is valid for U.S. orders only. Please mail payment to Hubert Gardner Ministries; 6089 E. 56th Street; Tulsa, Ok 74135.

This 90-page book, covering basic, foundational truths, is helping new believers of all ages in their relationship with God. In addition to helping new believers, it also serves as an easy-to-read refresher guide for those more "seasoned", in Christ.

Once you've read the book, write and let us know how this book is helping you in your walk with God.

Write us at: Hubert Gardner Ministries; 6089 E. 56th Street; Tulsa, OK 74135

You can also contact us by email, at: info@hubertgardner.org

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2015-2024

Things to Know (Part 2)

Today's post expands on Things to Know (Part 1) where I list 3 things for Christians to know, for success in this life. Here are a few other things to know: 4. God's ability is in you. This ability enables you to fulfill the Great Commission of reaching those God is directing you to-your part in reaching the world. By having God in you you have His life, nature, and ability working on your behalf. That's a strength, a meekness. Meekness can be defined as "controlled strength". God's your ability and strength. Meekness over weakness.

5. You can do whatever God tells you to do in His Word. Philippians 4:13 reads, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth (strengthens) me."  Not in your own strength, ability, or wisdom, but through Christ.

6. God will supply everything you need to be a success in this life. He supplies the tools you need to get the job done, then helps you do the "digging." Where God guides He provides.

These things to know are simple, basic, foundational truths thoroughly established on God's written Word. Together with my last post they'll help you to succeed in this life.

How many of these 6 things to know are you already practicing? How many are new? Which one)s) would you like further explanation, simplification, or clarification?

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2014-2024

Will the Real Church Please Stand Up?

The Church needs fixing. As a whole we're too comfortable, being either unaware of the need to change or unwilling to do so. Like it or not the times they are a changing, just as they were a generation ago. I see the Church desperately needing to do two things-and do them quickly-to regain the influence it once had (and should have) in our homes, schools, communities, and nations. The first is a return to who we really are. A return to what and who God created us, the Church, to be, nearly 2000 years ago.

The book of Acts is the pattern for the Church today. Read the book of Acts. With no internet, printing presses, or mechanized transportation, the early Church turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). This included signs, wonders, and miracles, resulting from the preaching of the Word of God. That same power belongs to us today. Signs, wonders, and miracles haven't passed away anymore than faith, hope, or love have. It's a matter of taking God at His Word, doing our part in proclaiming the truth, and expecting God to accompany His Word with signs following.

It worked for those in the early days of the Church; it'll work for us in these days, as well. Let's be the Church the world despises, yet so desperately needs.

The second thing the Church, as a whole, needs to do is change. Without changing core beliefs, change our methods to reach an ever-changing world, replete with tech-savvy young people who shun the very methods whereby those of the 60s, 70s, and 80s came to Christ. Folks, let's have as much sense as an experienced fisherman: if the fish ain't biting, don't blame the fish.

Change the bait.

Let's embrace the power, determination, and persistence of the early believers. At the same time, let's also embrace new ways-particularly technologically creative ones-to reach our world for Christ.

What are some ways you can think of to reach those around you-particularly young people between 13-25? What have you done or are planning to do to accomplish your ways?

Are You a Thermometer or a Thermostat?

As a young boy living in Iowa our house did not have air conditioning, not even a window unit. As a result some summer nights could be warm, to put it mildly. Living in a two-bedroom house, I shared a small bedroom with my brother. In addition to any breeze from the open bedroom window my parents placed a small fan at the foot of our beds, to help circulate the night air where we slept. Although the fan didn't change the room temperature, it did help move the air some. Without an air conditioner, every little bit helps.

An outside thermometer would show the actual temperature in that location. In the absence of home air conditioning there was, of course, no inside thermostat available to initiate any changes in temperature. I hope whoever invented air conditioning did well.

A thermometer reflects actual temperature whereas a thermostat initiates changes in air temperature of a room or house, depending on what change in temperature is selected. A thermometer tells you what is.  A thermostat offers change, usually one that makes rooms cooler in summer, warmer in the winter.

As people of God, we choose to be a reflection of society as a whole (thermometer) or a reflection of what God is doing in the earth at any given point in time, including now (thermostat). It takes no real effort to be a thermometer, to be a part of what is. Being a thermostat, on the other hard, requires being changed to make a noticeable difference  to your world, starting with those around you.

Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? Are you a part of the status quo, flowing with those around you, or are you allowing God to bring change to your surroundings, to those within your sphere of influence? If a thermostat, how is God using your gifts and talents to bring help, healing, and life to a lost and dying world where you live, work, and play? If, at this moment, a thermometer, what event(s) would need to happen to influence you to want to become a thermostat?

Is tolerance acceptance?

Some things remain the same: the sun rises in the east, setting in the west. Roosters crow, babies cry, and too many potholes remain to be fixed. On the other hand, some things have changed in meaning. For instance, the word awful. Upon gazing at the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, the king of France reportedly exclaimed, "My God, it's awful." When the Cathedral was completed in the 13th century the word awful meant full-of-awe, just as the word beautiful means full-of-beauty. Over the years the word awful has come to mean something bad; terrible-a far cry from full-of-awe. Unfortunately, the same is true concerning tolerance and acceptance. Once upon a time tolerance meant putting up with, without agreement, without acceptance of what's being tolerated. Not so now. Society, as a whole,  has shifted to holding tolerance and acceptance as synonymous terms. In other words, to tolerate means to accept; to be intolerant is to not accept. But, is this really true? Is tolerance acceptance?

According to the Bible we are to love the sinner, while hating the sin. Jesus did. He told the woman caught in the very act of adultery to go and sin no more (John 8:3-11). Jesus wasn't accepting what the woman did as alright-He called it sin. What Jesus did was not condemn the woman (verse 11)-and neither should we-when confronting sin. Like Jesus we tolerate the person, not the sin. We shouldn't tolerate sin in our own lives, either.

The world's view of tolerance is accept everything which they think is OK. If you don't, you're being intolerant. At the same time, those "preaching" tolerance are the most  intolerant of them all, for they are intolerant of Christians, those standing for Biblical principles of absolute truth. More and more, the world is growing increasingly intolerant and unaccepting of anyone who opposes what they believe.

Is tolerance acceptance? Not according to the Bible no, in reality, according to what the world shows towards those with differing views. Without agreeing,  I practice tolerance towards those with viewpoints contrary to the Bible. I don't agree with them, but I don't force my viewpoint on them. My manner of life speaks louder than my words. Does yours?

How about you? Is tolerance acceptance, in your life? How do you practice tolerance, without acceptance of that with which you disagree?

Where's your identification?

I flew on a few business trips last year. Each time I checked in I was required to present valid identification.  As I went through security I also had to show my ticket-proof that I was a passenger that day. Had I not already had my proof of identification out, ready to be shown, a valid question to me would have been, "Where's your identification?". Without it I wouldn't have flown. Identification. It's proof of who we are. Whether it's a driver's license, passport, student ID card, or other valid form, we live in a time where much emphasis is put on who we are. Things like opening up a bank account, obtaining a passport, or buying a house-in each case proof of identification is required. Renting a car? You'll be asked to show proof of identification.

Identification is even more important where spiritual things are concerned. As Christians we've been placed into Christ-into the family of God. We've been given new identification papers, so to speak. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 the Bible says that if any (person) be in Christ he is a new creature. Literally, this means that a new species of being has been created in you. If you're a Christan, there's a new "you" in you that wasn't there before. Your identification is now with Christ, not the devil and his crowd. You're under God's dominion, not Satan's.

Spiritually speaking we've been given new identities. We have new identification papers, so to speak, within the pages of the New Testament-specifically the Epistles, letters written to Christians. Examples are the books of Ephesians and Colossians. Each book paints a vivid picture of the believer's new identification with Christ, focusing on that person's  rights and privileges, in Christ.

It was some years after I became a Christan before I learned of my real identity, as a follower of Jesus Christ. I struggles to know who I was in life, my purpose, and my destiny. Having found my true identity I know who I really am. I move about in total security, without fear of detection. When the devil tries to bring up something from my life before Christ I show him my identification papers-God's Word-proving my identity in Christ. That's my true position-in Christ. Knowing my true identity affects my thinking, believing, words, and actions, on a daily basis.

Where's your identification? Is it in the natural things of this world, or in Christ? How important is it to be secure in who you really are, where your true identity lies?

Dry Water

Over the years I've been to a lot of swimming pools, spending many summer hours enjoying doing laps, or simply cooling off.  All of those pools had something in common: in each case the water was wet. In today's post I want to use the relationship between water and wet to make a point about our relationship with Jesus Christ.

When a person receives salvation through Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9,10) that person becomes a part of God's Church, which the Bible refers to as the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22,23; Colossians 1:18, 24). Another way to say this is we become in Christ. To be in Christ simply means that we now have in our spirits (hearts) God's very life, nature, and ability. This is good news!

Due to religious brainwashing rather than New Testament teaching, many believers have a hard time seeing themselves as being in Christ. They want Jesus without being in Christ; however you can't have one without the other. Conversely, you can't be a Christian without also being in Christ. To have one without the other is like wanting to go swimming without being in water.

There's no such thing as dry water. If something's dry, it's not water; if it's water, it's wet. Imagine someone going to a pool and asking the lifeguard, "Where's the dry end? I want to go swimming in the dry end." Silly as that may sound that's how some Christians are with the things of God-give me Jesus, without everything He is or has done for me.

In other words, give me dry water.

I know Christians who are extreme, like some swimming pools-either shallow or off in the deep-end. At the same time, too many Christians are trying to swim in proverbial wet suits. They're sincere about swimming (knowing Christ) but just aren't sure about all that wet stuff (being in Christ).

I've been there, having Christ without knowing that I'm also in Christ, in Him. It wasn't fulfilling swimming in dry water, so I started finding out about the water of who I am, in Christ, what I have, in Christ,  and what I can do through Him. What I've learned has revolutionized my life, family, and ministry. I'm enjoying swimming in life more than ever.

No more dry water.

How's your "pool"? Is your water wet or dry? Do you see yourself in Christ, as God does? If not, why not? If so, what steps are you taking-or will you take-to enjoy your "pool" even more today?

Error or Heir?

How do you see yourself? Not in the mirror, but before God. Are you constantly seeing your mistakes, faults, and shortcomings that you've come to see yourself as a mistake of God? On the other hand, have you taken the time to read the Bible for yourself, to find that you're one of God's children, precious in His sight? In your eyes, are you an error or heir of God?

An error is a mistake, failing, shortcoming-something that falls short of what's correct. An heir, on the other hand, is one who is legally entitled to the property of another, according to the terms of a will. There are many instances where someone was treated as an error, only to find out that that individual was, in reality, an heir to property and means beyond imagination. More often than not, simple ignorance of the truth prevented that dear person from partaking of what rightfully belonged to him/her.

So it is with our lives. We choose to see ourselves in light of our mistakes or in light of what God says about us. Will we live according to our experiences or dare to act like who we are in God's sight?

Error or heir? The Bible, in Romans 8:17, tells us that Christians are heirs of God. Not errors, but heirs. God said that about everyone who believes on Jesus Christ as Lord. Being an heir of God has nothing to do with gender, skin color, ethnic background, education, or social status. No, being an heir has everything to do with what Jesus did for us: paying the penalty for our sins with His Blood, then defeating Satan in Hell to liberate our lives from poverty, sickness, and sin forever.

We're now free to enjoy God's abundant goodness in our lives-spiritually, physically, financially, and materially. As heirs of God what He's provided for us is ours because Jesus isn't dead-He's alive!

How about you? Do you see yourself as an error or an heir? What are you doing with your inheritance? Have you dared to believe that you are, indeed, an heir of God?

Keep coming back to this site for more truths on who you are and what you have as a Christan. Let us know how these posts are being a blessing to you. We're here for you.