Are you there?

"Are we there?" is an often asked question on trips. "There" can be Grandpa and Grandma's house, an amusement park, or other anticipated destination-a place of rest, enjoyment, and fulfillment. "There" is a place worth leaving where one is at to get to as quickly as possible, in order to get the most out of being "there". The same is true in our walk with God. Each of us has a "there" that  God has prepared. "There" is a place of contentment where every need is met in full, consistent with our continued obedience to what God is saying to us through His Word, and by His Spirit.

Elijah's "there" was by a particular brook. That's where God told him to go. By that brook Elijah's every need was met.

Where is your "there"? Where is that place of contentment God has for you? Not where the crowd is, but where God says. Not where someone prophesied you're to be, but where God says (I believe in prophecies, as long as they line up with the written Word of God and confirm what's already in my heart (spirit).

Sometimes getting "there" involves inconvenience, adjustment, and, yes, opposition (even from friends and family members). The "there" God has for you is a place of God working through your life to bring blessing to someone else, whether that be many or a few.

I heard a missionary's wife state that, at first, she didn't want to go (overseas). After willingly being there for awhile, she grew to love where she was, because she was in the place God had for her.

The same is true for you. Are you "there"? Are you in the place God wants you to be? If so, then you know the peace and contentment that being in the perfect will of God produces. If not, are you willing to go to the "there" God has for you? Ask God to show you where your "there" is, then be willing to do whatever it takes to be "there". God will always do His part, which includes helping you to do yours.

How the Truth will make you free

John 8:31,32 "...If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." What is the Truth? The Truth is God's Word, the Holy Bible. Not a truth-The Truth; however just having the truth (the Word) won't automatically make you free. If that were true every person with a Bible-even an atheist-would be free. It's the Truth you know for yourself-not the Truth itself-that makes you free.

One has to know the Truth (the Word) concerning salvation for himself/herself before being saved.The same is true concerning the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, healing, prosperity, or any other provision of God. Knowing what God has done for someone else, such as for salvation, may inspire your faith ; however what God has done in another person's life won't do you a bit of good until you hear and act upon that truth for yourself.

Hearing means hearing the Word of God for yourself. Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The faith that comes by hearing God's Word then becomes real in your life by acting upon the Word (Truth) that you've been hearing. The Truth you hear, receive, and act upon will make you free in the area (s) you have been bound in.  As a teenager I began to hear the Truth concerning salvation. On the night of August 17, 1969, I acted upon that Truth and received salvation in my life, becoming what the Bible calls a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The Truth making you free is a process, requiring time and patience. Most problems don't occur overnight. Likewise, you need to allow the Truth whatever time is needed to cleanse, heal, deliver, and make you free. Quick fixes are short-term. The Word is eternal. Fill your heart and mouth with the Truth. Take steps. Act on the Word. The Truth will make you free.

Anything worth doing well is worth taking time. Your greatest challenge is choosing to do things God's way-according to His Word. Allow God 's Word to change your thinking. Learn to think, talk, and act in line with God's Word.

You'll be made free. In thought, word, and action.

Is your life built on wisdom or foolishness?

Matthew 7:24-27 is the conclusion of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, illustrating the importance of being a doer of the Word, not just a hearer. Many teach that the rock mentioned in these verses  is Christ. This, however, cannot be true. Although Christ is referred to as a Rock in I Corinthians 10:4, the  (lower case) rock Jesus states in Matthew 7:24,25  is the foundation of being both a hearer and a doer of the sayings of Jesus. To say it another way the person who builds his/her life on the rock of obeying (being a doer of) God's Word has a solid foundation, one that is ready for the rain and winds of adversity which come to all of us.

Jesus told us that the storms of life come to all of us, the wise and foolish. No one is immune from adversity. If Jesus faced tests and trials-and He did-then all those who follow Him today will as well.

Believing otherwise is foolishness.

How can you tell if your life is built on a rock or sand? By what comes out of your mouth when you're faced with sickness, an unexpected bill, loss of job, or other "storm". Will words of fear, anger, doubt, or denial come out of your mouth, or will God's Word?

Words are the building blocks of life. God's Words are words of faith, peace, and assurance. You can have His Word come out of your mouth, as Jesus did in Matthew 4, verses 4, 7, and 10. How? By putting God's Word into your heart on a daily basis. This includes hearing and hearing (and hearing) the Word, especially the epistles (letters) written to believers, the Church. What God says about his Church is for you, individually. What's Truth for all the Church  is Truth for each person, each follower of Jesus Christ.

Discover who and what you are, what you have, and what you can do through Christ, as God's child. Hearing, believing, speaking, and acting on God's Word is building your life on wisdom-actions which will enable you to stand when rain, winds, and floods test your life.

Framed, by whom?

Paintings come in many sizes. Some are large, others quite small, with most of just average length and width. While most people focus on the painting, how many take time to notice the frame? What does a frame do? It defines the boundaries of the object inside the frame. The painting, which holds our attention, can never exceed the limitations of its frame, without changing frames. How does the relationship of frame to painting relate to our lives? Hebrews 11:3 tells us that the worlds were framed by the Word of God. The word framed, as used here, means to complete thoroughly; to repair or adjust. The physical worlds were completed thoroughly, repaired, or adjusted by God's own Word. In our personal lives our world-how we see ourselves, others, and even God-is framed by our words. Whose words are you being framed by? What kind of words are framing you? Are they words of faith-what God says about you- or are they words of doubt, fear, sickness, and yes, even suicide? Who are you allowing to frame your life-the picture people see when they think, see, or talk to you? Is it friends, co-workers, relatives, neighbors, or someone at church, including the Pastor? Why not  you be the main person who frames your life with the words you say, from God's Word, about yourself? Remember, it's not what others-even Christians-say about you that determines the painting you present to the world. It's what you say that ultimately frames your life, your world if you will. By whom are you being framed?

Clapping in church: Right or Wrong, Why and When? Pt 2.

Often what occurs in church services is done out of tradition, custom, or preference. For instance, having a song leader is fine-as long as that person is anointed, and qualified. Thank God for those who lead others into the Presence of God. Then there's clapping. In light of what we shared yesterday, why do people clap in church, other than in time to music or to express appreciation for, say, a guest speaker being introduced? To reiterate yesterday's page, clapping is neither praise nor worship; it's simply applause. The Bible gives no scriptural basis for anointed applause, clap offerings, or such like. Scriptural praise and worship includes our voluntary surrender to God, often accompanied by the lifting of our hands to our Heavenly Father in the Name of Jesus. It involves telling God how much we love Him, how grateful we are for His blessings (which are many). A quick side-thought here: we thank God for what He has done, what He is doing, what He will do in, through, and for us. We worship God for who He is.

In the natural we applaud at ball games, concerts, plays, and other settings for a job or performance well done. Appreciation, not praise or worship, is our purpose. With God we're talking about Someone far greater than all Mankind put together; the Creator of the universe, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Savior of the whole world. I believe God deserves something far greater than our applause; He deserves our very lives. Again, the lifting of our hands (I Timothy 2:8) is a biblically correct outward expression of our love for and towards God. It's an outward showing of one's inward reverence for the Presence of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

If clapping is praise or worship then we are praising or worshiping people when we clap. I don't know about you, but I don't ever want to bring God down to man's level. No, I always want to exalt, magnify, and glorify God, whether in church or in private. Over the years I've learned to lift up my hands in worshiping God. Like many, it was a process for me as I never saw this in the churches I attended, until I was nearly 18.

The next time you or those around you start to clap (applaud) as a form of praise or worship try an experiment:instead of clapping lift your hands and begin telling God how much you love and appreciate Him (don't be loud-unless everyone else is too). During or after this time before God, check down in your heart (spirit) to see if there's a difference on the inside. I believe you'll find a greater freedom worshiping in line with the Word of God. There'll be a greater anointing both individually and in times of corporate worship. Greater moves of the Spirit of God will follow.

If this has been a help to you, write and let me know in what way. To God be the Glory!

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2011-2024

Clapping in church: right or wrong, why and when?

There is much controversy surrounding clapping in our church services. While some seem to allow clapping as a part of music, worship, and applause, others limit clapping to keeping in time to music. There are, perhaps, those who oppose clapping of any type in church-regardless of the occasion. Who's right? Who's wrong? More importantly, what does the Bible, God's Word, say about the matter? A study of God's Word gives us the Truth. My Bible concordance lists the words clap, clapped, or clappeth a total of nine times. All nine verses appear in the Old Testament; none in the New Testament (Covenant), under which Christians are to live. Of the nine only one, Psalm 47:1, even mentions God; the context is people shouting to Him with a (unified) voice of triumph. Neither music nor worship are mentioned. So why, then, do people clap in church? What’s the purpose?

Clapping in time to uplifting, upbeat music is certainly appropriate. God created us with a desire to respond to good, wholesome music. Clapping along with the music (some do better than others!) is an outward expression of inward convictions-to a point. Taken to the extreme, clapping could then occur during quiet times of worship, every offering-even the announcements. As in all we do, Biblical purposes should underline our actions.

Generally speaking, clapping is nether praise nor worship; it's applause. Other than clapping in time to some (but not all) music, clapping is an expression of appreciation, as in applauding a special song, instrumental or vocal. The world does that quite often. With God, however, the Spirit of God, Who is the Author of the Bible, gives us clear instructions on how to express our love, gratitude, and thanksgiving to God.

I Timothy 2:8 tells us to lift up holy hands-not applause-to God. Again, there's not one single scripture in the New Testament telling us to clap our hands to worship God. Applause expresses appreciation for a performance well done. God is not in the performance business. Our services are not for God to perform for us; rather they should be a time of getting into His Presence to worship Him, magnify Him, lift up the Name of Jesus, reverence the Spirit of God, and attend to God's Word. They should also be times of responding to whatever the Spirit of God chooses (and is allowed) to do in our midst.

The lifting of hands is an act of surrender. Worshiping God with upraised hands is our act of surrender to God-His plans, His ways. This surrender is a part of true worship.

May these words help to bring you higher and deeper in your walk with our Father God.

More on this subject tomorrow.

© Hubert Gardner Ministries 2011-2024

Evidence of Salvation

What happens when someone becomes a Christian? Is it something that you (or others) can see or feel? Does what happens take place right away or over a period of time? Is there evidence of salvation? If so, what is it? If you're a student of history you know that, to be considered reliable, quotes attributed to historical figures must be based on source (original) documents. The same is true concerning salvation. What Aunt So and So, Grandpa, parents, or even the preacher said is not to be accepted as truth unless it's based on the Word of God-particularly the New Testament, where Christians are to be living today.

The Bible says, in 2 Corinthians 5:17, that if any man (person) is in Christ, that person is a new creature. One translation says a person in Christ is a "new self". The literal Greek refers to the new creature as a species of being having never before existed. When you were born again-when you became a Christian, the very Life of God was imparted to your spirit, your heart. No, not a physical organ, but the part of you that contacts God. The moment you confessed Jesus as Lord, out of a believing heart, God recreated your spirit with the same Life that He has. Your old nature was taken out.

Where did God take it? I don't know. That's not my business, that's God's. My business was-and is-to accept this Gift of salvation, learn about this new nature that I have in me, and walk in the light of that knowledge.

Knowledge of my salvation, the evidence of my salvation-all of that comes from finding out what God says about it in His Word. From that Word I found out that the evidence of my salvation was a new heart of love for and towards other people. Did I get a new body when I experience salvation? No, I had the same eyes, hair color, and weight after I was saved, as before. The thing that changed was going from having a heart of fear to a heart of love-God's Love. 

What about you? Has your heart-your nature-changed since becoming a Christian? I'm not talking about some goose bump feeling that comes and goes. No, I'm talking about a heart change that only God, through Jesus Christ-can give. A heart of Love that can now love with the Love God had for us when He sent Jesus to restore us back to Him.

Having evidence of salvation-and letting it be seen-is a key to growth in Christ.

Is evidence of your salvation showing? If so, how? If not, why not?  Is salvation worth showing? Is yours?

Flannel Graph Music

No one invented music. God, who created music for His purposes, has enabled many to write vast numbers of compositions, varying in style, sound, and, arguably, substance. There is, it appears, something for everyone. But is there? Years ago, many a Sunday School teacher used flannel graphs as a means of illustration. Bible stories came to life using characters and scenes made from felt. Children's attention (admittedly many years ago) was kept by the teacher through both words and flannel graphs placed on the easel. Those days are pretty much gone.

The same is true for Christian music. The days of God's amazing grace never end; it is as much needed now (or more) than ever before. Songs of amazing grace-and other life topics-are in danger of a lesser audience. Not because grace isn't needed (by grace you are saved-Ephesians 2:8), but because the ones we're trying to reach are not going to, for the most part, respond to a style of music foreign to them.

I like (some) classical music. I appreciate the discipline required to perform with excellence. Having played the piano since being in kindergarten, I admire those who have a passion for this style of musical expression. Not all would share my view. Some were raised on jazz, blues, country, bluegrass, folk, and even contemporary Christian music. The 70's and 80's brought names like the Gaithers, Andrae Crouch, the Imperials, 2nd Chapter of Acts, and Janie Grein, to name a few, into our lives. Their songs-and styles-gave rise to contemporary Christian music.

As much as I loved the music of many a yesterday, we have a new audience. They're hungry for God and long to know Him, in part, through hearing the Truth in the music they listen to. Not every musical style causes me to want to worship God (I don't need music to get into God's Presence to worship Him). But if this present generation of children, teenagers, and early twenties is going to be reached, the songs of old need a makeover-extreme in some cases. We see this with Amazing Grace and many of our Christmas songs. Same words; a more relevant style.

It's time to replace our "flannel graph" music with styles which relate to today's audience. Change need not be synonymous with compromise. The message of God's amazing grace (and the rest of the Bible) is timeless. So, too, is change, if the Church is going to stay relevant in reaching this generation for Christ.