Modern Day Andrew

On the plane tonight I was reading about Andrew. In John 1:41 it says: He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).

Andrew could be the patron saint of the relatively unknown but faithful followers of Jesus. Andrew was the first of the disciples to be called. In fact, he was called even before his brother Peter. It was Andrew who brought Peter to Jesus. Andrew obviously knew Peter. He knew that Peter was a force of nature, the kind of a guy who, when he walked into a room, would light it up. He would dominate the conversation. He was a natural leader, the guy that others looked to.

Andrew, on the other hand, flew under the radar. Andrew was more soft spoken, more quiet. He even may have been tempted to think, You know, I am tired of always living in Peter’s shadow. I don’t want to introduce him to Jesus. He will get all of the attention, and I will be overlooked. But the first thing Andrew did was bring his brother Peter to Jesus.

In fact, that is always what Andrew was doing. There is also a story in the Gospels about when some men from Greece wanted to talk to Jesus. They went to Philip, and then Philip took them over to Andrew, who was the go-to guy to get to Christ. And it was Andrew who brought them to Jesus. That was Andrew: always bringing others to the Lord. There is no end to what can be accomplished if we are willing to get the job done and not worry about the accolades of others, but simply work for the glory of God. Andrew is the model for all Christians who labor quietly where God has called them. We don’t know their names as well as we may know the names of those who are on the stage but they are known and greatly loved by God. Thank God for the modern day Andrews they make fulfilling my calling a whole lot easier.

Rev Ran 🙂

Promises Of Hope

Tonight a doctor on the tv show “Hoarders Buried ALive” said ” A man and women can live 40 days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only one second without hope. No matter what we are facing, we all need hope.”

The age old question then becomes, But where are we going to find this hope that we so desperately need?
We are not going to find it in people or things. We are not going to find it in a politician or a political cause. Nor are we going to find it in technology or science or in a relationship or in an accomplishment.

Sometimes people will put their hope in their investments or their bank accounts or their home. But listen to what the Bible says in Job 8:13–15: “The hopes of the godless evaporate. Their confidence hangs by a thread. They are leaning on a spider’s web. They cling to their home for security, but it won’t last. They try to hold it tight, but it will not endure.”

I believe this scripture gets to the heart of the matter in light of our nation’s present economic situation. We should not put our hope in people. We should not put our hope in things. We need to put our hope in God. That is what the Bible teaches.

Psalm 42:5–6 says, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!”

This will give us the strength to go on in life, because we know there is an afterlife where things will be made right. Friends – There may be times when you feel helpless, but you never should feel hopeless. The Bible brims with promises of hope for every follower of Jesus Christ.

Rev Ran 🙂

Can You Stand Up For Jesus?

Fox’s Book of Martyrs tells the story of an aged man named Polycarp who was arrested and brought before the Roman proconsul in the Amphitheater. He was told to have respect for his old age and swear by the genius of Caesar, the implication being that all he had to do was say that Caesar was Lord, and he could go home for dinner. But Polycarp responded by saying, “For eighty and six years have I been His servant, and he has done me no wrong, and how can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” Polycarp was then taken to the stake to be burned alive. Polycarp died that day as a martyr, as a hero of the faith. Thousands, even millions, of Christians were put to death by the Roman Empire—some for sport there in the Coliseum. Caesar Nero was one of the worst of the persecutors and was responsible for the deaths of many Christians. But ultimately, Rome collapsed and the church emerged victorious.

It has been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Stephen was the first of many heroic men and women who would follow him, not denying the Lord Jesus Christ. Even when he was on his knees, Stephen stood tall. He lived like Christ. He had spoken like Christ. And he would die like Christ. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).

Some of us will run away at the first sign of mockery. Stephen and Polycarp died for their faith, as did many others. Can you live for yours? Can you stand up for Jesus? Can you risk embarrassment in front of people who don’t agree with your point of view?

Rev Ran 🙂

Jesus Knew

As Jesus road toward Jerusalem he wept. There were many reasons for His emotion, in fact too many to discuss here. But let me touch on one. Jesus knew many would reject Him. The Pharisees did not doubt Jesus because they merely disagreed with Him. They doubted Jesus because they were hardened against him.
Doubt is a matter of the mind. Every Christian has moments of doubt. We don’t always understand what God is doing or why He is doing it, yet we trust Him. Unbelief, in contrast, is a matter of the will. It is a choice we make.

The Pharisees were full of unbelief. They did not reject Jesus for lack of evidence or because He was not consistent with what He said. The fact is Jesus was the perfect example and the fulfillment of every prophesy given by Isaiah and Daniel.

Even Pontius Pilate, who had examined countless people, said, “I find no fault in this Man” (Luke 23:4), and “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person” (Matthew 27:24). And Judas said, “I have betrayed innocent blood.” So Jesus clearly was a model of everything He said.

The Pharisees rejected Jesus because it interfered with the way they wanted to live. And that is why people reject Him today. Jesus said, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:19-20).

Please understand, People don’t reject Jesus because they have carefully examined the evidence and have determined that it is not convincing enough. They don’t reject Him because they have read through the Scriptures and have found some apparent contradiction. They don’t reject Him because of the so-called hypocrisy of some in the church. They reject Him because He interferes with the way they want to live there lives. Not much has changed in 2000 years.

Rev Ran 🙂

Jesus Gives Second Chances

The resurrection of Jesus reminds us that God provides second chances. When Jesus was crucified it came as a shock to His followers. They just did not seem to understand that He would be crucified and rise again on the third day. Even though he told them on several different occasions. When the Crucifixion actually took place, it shattered their faith. But after His resurrection we see the risen Lord seeking out these discouraged, disheartened disciples to revive them, to reignite them.

How easily Jesus could have written them all off and said, “You didn’t stand by Me in My greatest hour of need; now I am not going to stand by you in yours.” I have to admit, I would really struggle to not give that response. But no—the Lord sought to restore them.

When Mary Magdalene went to the tomb of Jesus early in the morning, the angel told her that the Lord had risen. As she and the other Mary “went to tell His disciples, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ ”(Matthew 28:9). She found the living Lord to restore her hope and purpose in life.

Thomas missed the meeting when Jesus had appeared to the other disciples, but He reappeared when Thomas was back with the group. What an amazing example of grace for Jesus to give into the skepticism of one single man. It almost seems that He came to that meeting simply to restore Thomas.

Remember the two discouraged disciples on the Emmaus Road? As He spoke to them, their deadened hearts began to reignite. Jesus went out of His way to restore their hope.

Maybe you have doubts or fears today. The same Jesus who restored Mary, the disciples on the Emmaus Road, and the skeptical Thomas, will restore your faith. You too can find that Jesus gives second chances. This Easter ask God to give you faith and resurrection anointing to extend grace to someone who needs a second chance.

Rev Ran 🙂

April 1

The Readers Digest tells a story about an atheist who was a little bit upset because of all the holidays that people of faith celebrated.

He said to a friend, “You Christians have Christmas and Easter. And Jews celebrate their holidays like Passover and Yom Kippur. But we atheists don’t have recognized holidays. It’s unfair discrimination.”

His friend thought about it for a moment and said, “Well, you atheists could celebrate April 1. That could be your holiday. You know, April Fool’s Day. It fits, because ‘the fool has said in his heart there is no God.’ ”

And that is, in fact, what the Bible tells us in Psalm 14:1 and 53:1. Easter, on the other hand, is for everyone. But it is not about bunnies or brightly colored eggs. It is about Jesus, and specifically, it is about Jesus crucified and risen again from the dead. He is Alive and He is willing to extend Eternal Life to all who will believe.

Rev Ran 🙂

A Strategy For Evangelism

Some people want to go to other countries and be missionaries for Jesus and that is good. But how about starting with crossing the street and showing Gods love to your neighbor?

Jesus said, “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This is how it worked for the disciples, and that is how it works for us. It is a strategy for evangelism. They were to start in Jerusalem, where they were. Next came nearby Judea and Samaria, and then the rest of the world.
Here is what God is saying, in effect: If you want to reach the world, then start with your world.

Rev Ran 🙂

You Will Live Again

Easter reminds us that Christ’s resurrection precipitates and guarantees that all of His followers who have died will be resurrected as well. Because Jesus rose, we too will rise. He promised us” Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:18–19 NIV).

God gave us a preview of coming attractions on the day that Jesus died. In Matthew 27, we have a description of a very unusual event: At that moment [when Christ was crucified] the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. (vv. 51–53 NIV)

We often overlook that passage, but here were people out of their graves! Didn’t we just bury Uncle Harry? What is he doing in town? Scripture doesn’t say that everyone rose, but God selected certain godly men and women to be alive again so people could be reminded that death is not the end.

If you have put your faith in the risen Lord, then you will live again. You no longer need to fear death. Because He came back in a resurrected body, He has given us the assurance that God will give each of us a glorified body one day. It means that we will live for all eternity in the presence of God. That is a wonderful hope. It’s the hope of life beyond the grave.

Rev Ran 🙂

Open Doors

Jesus says to the church of the end times, “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength . . .” (Revelation 3:8).

In scripture the door is a symbol of opportunity. Jesus has not only opened the door of opportunity, but He also has the key. He describes himself as “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” (Revelation 3:7). There is no door so tightly closed that God cannot open. There is nothing that is impossible to Him. Or to put it another way, there is no person beyond the reach of God.

There are open doors for believers. Are you taking advantage of the open doors God has given you to share the gospel?

Rev Ran 🙂

Family

MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry lit a fuse among critics and conservatives alike when she recorded a commercial saying children should belong to their communities, not their families.

Rush Limbaugh said. “This thinking is Marx-Engels, ‘Communist Manifesto.’ The nuclear family has always been under attack by communists, by leftists. The nuclear family — just like religion — must be destroyed, and in its place, ‘the community,’ the collective.”

Friends, our very existence as a society depends on the success of the family. It has been said that a family can survive without a nation, but a nation cannot survive without the family. Yet there is such an attack on the family today. In fact, the Bible tells us that one of the signs of the last days will be a breakdown in the family and a disrespect for parents in particular. There is no doubt that as you watch Hollywood and the Disney Channel this is exactly where America is heading right now!

Scripture says, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy . . . ” (2 Timothy 3:1-2).

We…Need… To… Fast and Pray

Rev Ran 🙂

Don't Isolate, Infiltrate

I think we could all agree that the United States needs a spiritual awakening. We can’t bring a revival about, but God calls us to pray for one in 2Chronicles 7:14.

When Jonah went to Nineveh, he delivered Gods message of judgment: However, there was no promise of forgiveness, no mention of God’s love. Jonah basically was saying, “You are all going to die.” And as far as he was concerned, he could have cared less.

But the people listened to Jonah and repented. And the Bible tells us, “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it” (verse 10).

This was probably the greatest revival in human history. And it started with a flawed message from a flawed messenger.

We are all flawed messengers. But we have a perfect message: It is the good news of Jesus Christ. We can tell people that God loves them, that God will forgive them, but they are separated from Him by their sin. And if they will turn from their sin and put their faith in Christ, they can be forgiven.

So here is my challenge to you: Don’t isolate. Infiltrate. As I have often said, Jesus did not say that the whole world should go to church; He said that the church should go to the whole world.

Rev Ran 🙂

The Privilege

The gospel (or story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus) was not designed to be hoarded; it was designed to be shared. You were blessed to be a blessing. Therefore as you take in, you need to give out that message again so others can come into a relationship with God.

One of the greatest joys you will ever experience, next to knowing the Lord himself, is when you have the privilege of praying with someone to accept Christ. You start seeing the radical, even visible, changes that will take place in your life. We are told in Proverbs 11:25, “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” It is refreshing as you give back and help other people.

Rev Ran 🙂

Evangelize of Fossilize

I believe the hardest part of evangelism is getting started. But once you get started, and once God starts speaking through you, it can be one of the most joyful things you have ever done. To think that God almighty would speak through someone like you or me is indeed a great privilege. It is an honor to go and tell others about Jesus. I have been privileged to have this honor for 25 years.

Friends, We have a choice either to evangelize or fossilize, and a lot of people have chosen the latter. While it may be true that we are not all called to be evangelists, we are all called to evangelize. And the place to start is at the beginning. We reach the world with the gospel one person at a time.

You can personalize Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19) by going to your world. Go to your workplace. . . . Go to your family. . . . You have a sphere of influence. You have a group of people who will listen to what you have to say. Go to that world—the world to which God has called you.

Rev Ran 🙂

God Doesn't Want Our Leftovers

In his Book “Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World” David Jeremiah tells a story about farmer who was known for his frugality. He owned a cow that gave birth to two calves. He said to his wife, “I am going to dedicate one of these calves to the Lord.” Knowing his miserly ways, she was very surprised and asked which one he was planning to give to the Lord. “I haven’t decided yet, but I’ll let you know,” he said. A few days went by, and again she asked which calf he was giving to the Lord. “I’m still thinking about it,” he told her. Then one day, one of the calves got sick. It grew worse and worse, until one night the farmer walked up on the porch with the calf draped over his arms. He said to his wife, “Honey, I have bad news. The Lord’s calf just died.”

Many times we tend to give God what we don’t really want ourselves. Think about a typical day. What place do we give to the things of God? Maybe we utter a quick prayer as we roll out of bed or offer some hurried words of thanks over breakfast? Then we rush off to our responsibilities. At the end of the day, we say, “Oh, right. I’ll give God these last four minutes as I’m dozing off.”

If God is important, then why do we give Him our leftovers? God doesn’t want our leftovers. In Malachi 1:7, God said to Israel, “‘You have despised my name by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. Then you ask, “How have we defiled the sacrifices?” You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect.'” (verses 7-8).

Friends – God gave us His best. This week let’s give Him ours.

Rev Ran 🙂

God Can Give Songs

Have you ever been awakened in the middle of the night and had a Christian song or a worship chorus going through your mind? If so, then that tells me you are laying up the things of God in your heart. Instead of waking up with the latest pop music in your head, you are thinking of a Christian song or maybe a Scripture verse. That is a song in the night God has given to you.

When Paul and Silas were thrown into prison in Philippi, Acts 16 tells us that “at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (verse 25).

I doubt they had ever heard anyone sing in that dungeon before. You see, you can talk about trusting God in adversity, but when someone sees it in action in your life, there is an undeniable authenticity. It is a powerful witness. Worship can be a powerful tool for a nonbeliever to be exposed to.

When you are in pain, the midnight hour is not the easiest time for a worship service. But God can give songs in the night.

Rev Ran 🙂

He Is Alive!

A person who wrote the following to a local newspaper advice columnist: Dear Uticus, Our preacher said on Easter that Jesus just swooned on the cross and that His disciples nursed Him back to health. What do you think? Sincerely, Bewildered. The columnist replied, Dear Bewildered, Beat your preacher with a cat of nine tails with 39 heavy strokes, nail him to a cross, hang him in the sun for six hours, run a spear through his heart, embalm him, put him in an airless tomb for 36 hours, and see what happens. Sincerely, Uticus.

I love that response! I have been asked many times. “What sets the Christian faith apart from all other beliefs and religious systems in this world?” It come down to this: If you go to the tombs of any of the prophets on which world religions have been founded, you will find them occupied. But if you go to the tomb of Jesus Christ, you will find it empty, because He is alive. We serve a living Savior!

Rev Ran 🙂

You Will Have His Peace

I have learned that God speaks to us through His peace. Colossians says, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (verse 15). Another way to translate that verse is, “Let God’s peace act as an umpire in your lives, settling with finality all matters that arise.”

God’s peace can act as an umpire in your life. And he never makes a bad call. He can settle with finality what you should do. Here’s how it works. Maybe you think that something is the will of God. Circumstantially, things have fallen into place. You begin to proceed, but then you have a complete lack of peace. Something inside of you is saying, “Don’t do it.”

The Old Testament tells the story of a clever group of individuals known as Gibeonites, who lived in Canaan. God had instructed Joshua not to make any deals with the inhabitants of the land. So the Gibeonites put on old shoes and clothes and pretended as though they had come from a distant country. They told Joshua they had come to enter into an agreement with him. But Joshua unknowingly struck a deal with his enemies because he failed to consult the Lord.

Things can look good outwardly. Everything can seem right. Be careful. Learn to listen to that still small, voice. Learn to pay attention to that peace, or lack of it, in your life because that is one of the ways God will lead you. When you’re in the will of God, you will have His peace. Even in the middle of a storm.

Rev Ran 🙂

Be Careful! Don't Grieve The Holy Spirit

When I was growing up my grandma would say, ”Randy, be careful, don’t grieve The Holy Spirit.” We don’t hear that preached much anymore.

One of the places in Scripture where we read about grieving the Holy Spirit is in Ephesians 4:29–32. The apostle Paul writes:
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not grieve God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live…Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

To grieve means to make sad or sorrowful. It means to cause sorrow, pain, or distress.

But what makes the Holy Spirit sad or sorrowful?

1. Foul and abusive language makes the Holy Spirit sad.

Verse 29 says, “Don’t use foul or abusive language.” The word used here speaks of something that has gone “rotten.” This includes obscene language, profanity, dirty stories, vulgarity, double entendres, etc.

At what point did it become “cool” for preachers to speak this way from a pulpit? Some people would say this is being “real” or “authentic.” Guess what? You are not to speak this way—privately or publicly. How about being authentically godly instead?

Rev Ran 🙂

Forgiven People Should Be Forgiving People

I think it is really important for us to better understand the person of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes people think of the Holy Spirit as more of an “It” than a “Him.” But according to Scripture, the Holy Spirit is not only God, but He has a will, a personality, and can even be offended!

Yesterday, I shared about my grandma telling me, “Randy, don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.”

One of the places in Scripture where we read about grieving the Holy Spirit is in Ephesians 4:29–32. The apostle Paul writes:

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not grieve God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live…Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

To grieve means to make sad or sorrowful. It means to cause sorrow, pain, or distress.

Yesterday, I touched briefly on foul or abusive language. Today I want to deal with Bitterness and Rage.

2. Bitterness makes the Holy Spirit sad and sorrowful.

The definition of bitterness is “an embittered and resentful spirit that refuses to be reconciled.”

Some people just like to be mad. They live for conflict, arguing, and fighting. This, as with all sin, only gets worse if left unchecked and unrepented of.

The sad thing is that bitter people rarely want to keep it to themselves. Instead, they spread it around. The Bible speaks of “a root of bitterness defiling many” (see Hebrews 12:15).

I have a better idea: forgive!

3. Fits of rage and uncontrolled anger make the Holy Spirit sad and sorrowful.

“Rage” speaks of the person who is easily angered and who raises his voice—shouting and screaming. “Slander” is speaking evil of others behind their backs. “Malicious behavior” speaks of ill will and plotting evil against someone.

Look, all of us have been hurt in life, but we have a choice as to how we react. We can say, “They did this to me; therefore I will have my vengeance!” I won’t forgive!

Or we can believe God when He says “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.”

Try the acronym T.H.I.N.K. the next time you are not sure whether or not you should say something.

T – Is it Truthful?
H – Is it Helpful?
I – Is it Inspiring?
N – Is it Necessary?
K – Is it Kind?

The Bible tells us Instead of speaking evil of someone, we are to “be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.”

But if you are human, at times you struggle with forgiving. I have to admit sometimes the first thought that comes to my mind is;

“But they don’t deserve that!”

Thats when the Lord reminds me, Yes Randy, thats true, but you didn’t deserve forgiveness yet I (God) still forgave you.

Paul concludes Ephesians 4:32 by saying, “…just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Forgiven people should be forgiving people. Otherwise, we are grieving the Spirit.

Like my Grandma used to say,
“Be Careful Don’t Grieve The Holy Spirit.”

Rev Ran 🙂

Choices

Have you ever asked yourself; Why is it that some Christians succeed, while others who make a profession of faith miserably fail?

Why is it that some seem to run the race of life and cross the finish line with flying colors, while others just collapse in a heap?

It is because of choices—choices that we make each and every day. We make our choices, and our choices make us. And life is filled with choices.

From the moment you get up in the morning until the moment you lay your head on your pillow, you will have made hundreds—maybe even thousands—of choices. Some are simple choices that don’t mean a lot, and others are choices that mean a great deal. It comes down to this: If you want to grow spiritually, you will. And if you don’t want to grow spiritually, you won’t. It is not the luck of the draw or something that only happens randomly; it is making the right choice to do the right thing. The Apostle Paul writing to a young Timothy puts it all into perspective.

“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”
2 Timothy 2:22

Rev Ran 🙂