admin – Page 8 – Jackie Calhoun

A Lapse of True Reason Part 2

Jesus either rightfully laid out the truth for the whole world to see and follow, or he was a lunatic. From what he taught and the claims he made, it is one way or the other, there is no gray area. If he is all he claims to be, it is just good reason to pay close attention to what he said and follow the way he laid it all out before us. We must each choose which way we will believe. His Word tells us that his perfect sacrifice before God on our behalf is the full, final, and all-sufficient payment for our sin to make us right with God. Our good works cannot obtain eternal life. Good works are the evidence of God working in our life in a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a lapse of true reason to think that we in ourselves can satisfy God’s holy justice on sin. Jesus is the only one who has done that for us. When we believe on and embrace him as Lord of our lives, we receive the power to become sons of God through cleansing from sin and infilling of the Holy Spirit. What we cannot do for ourselves before God, God did it for us. That is God’s reasoning. It is a lapse of true reason to think we can take God’s place. Some people think because they were baptized, they will go to heaven. This is a lapse of true reason. Baptism in itself only gets you wet. With faith in your heart that what Jesus did for you makes you right with God, baptism serves as an act of obedience to Jesus as your Lord, showing the world that you are now a follower of him. Another lapse of true reason is the idea a person has that because they are not afraid to die, they are okay with God. The mind can be conditioned in all sorts of ways. Just not being afraid to die does not make you right with God. Embracing the sacrifice of Jesus as Lord of your life makes you right with God. The frog that slowly had the temperature of the pan of water increased until he was boiled thought everything was okay, too. “I have peace and a very good life”, is another lapse of true reason. This classic bait and switch reasoning will keep you happy – until the last moment. “I believe when we die we are just gone”, is a common line of reason. The fact is every human spirit lives forever, whether you believe or not. A human spirit joined to God’s Spirit lives with God forever. A human spirit not joined to God’s Spirit, will live in eternal torment apart from God’s presence. Jesus taught this. Jesus came to provide the way for all people to be one with God. It is a lapse of true reason to not embrace him as the Lord of our life.

It Was There All the Time

With a copper theme in the kitchen, we were looking for just the right light fixture over the sink. The red ceramic one just did not fit. The search went on for weeks and months, just keeping it in mind as shopping took place, looking for just the right one. Of course, we wanted it to be unique, and I personally like metal work, so I preferred metal in some way. Over time, pictures were taken of fixtures and sent to the wife for approval or disapproval, but just the right fixture was never found. Before Christmas I made a special effort, as it would be a perfect gift, but none was found. Barb and I was standing in the kitchen discussing the fixture, and there was a copper tea pot sitting on top of the cabinet along with other copper pots and pans around the top for décor. We looked at it and I said, “I can make a fixture out of that.” “You can,” she replied, “why that would be perfect!” So within an hour, after taking the jig saw to the bottom of it with a metal cutting blade and drilling a hole through the handle and another slight modification, and cleaning the inside a little, it was ready to hang. The old came down and the wire was run through the new fixture and the perfect, unique light fixture over the sink now graces our kitchen. It was there all the time.

The good news of Jesus Christ is that through Christ, God’s provisions to meet every need of mankind are already provided through the perfect righteousness and sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. Religion works so hard to make it with God. You gotta do this and you gotta do that, and there is a scripture to back up every move. We can look for peace here and we can look for peace there, this way and that. We can look high and we can look low. All the time, the perfect, unique answer for our personal needs is sitting right there on the cabinet in the person of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, waiting for us to take possession of him by faith and apply him to our lives. When we get wired up to him, the light of his power and ability shines brightly in our life. It took me an hour to go from a realization of the possibility to the living reality of the perfect light fixture. Sometimes it takes a moment to get us from the realization of the possibility that we can be cleansed from sin, healed in our body, or whatever we need, to experiencing the living reality. If we will hang with the Word, embracing it, confessing it, and taking action on it, the possibility can become the reality in our life. We cannot lose by submitting our life to God and believing the good news of Jesus Christ. He indeed is the Light of the world.

The Rock, the Prophet, and the Praying Man

God chose a despised-by-his-brothers boy with a rock to take out a threatening giant who was oppressing the nation of God’s people. Jesus is the Rock. The praying church of true believers is the modern day David. The sling is faith-inspired Spirit-propelled prayer according to the Word of God. A body of praying people, believers in Jesus Christ allegiant to the ways and principles of God’s Word, is the David who will deliver this nation from Goliath (1 Samuel 17).

A lone prophet stood up against an Ahab/Jezebel political system and 450 violent prophets who were against the ways of God. A famine was in the land and God’s people were being corrupted with false gods and false worship. When the prophet built an altar of true worship to God, and called upon the name of God Almighty, the fire fell and consumed the water soaked alter. The people saw what God did and they fell on their faces and declared “The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God”. The false prophets were slain (1 Kings 18). The Elijah prophet today is the believing, praying church who can move under God’s direction in the power of the Word and Spirit of God to deal with the spiritual wickedness in high places. Prayer might have been taken out of schools, but true prayer cannot be taken out of the hearts and mouths of true believers.

Daniel was told to shut up from praying to his God. Laws were conspired and passed making it illegal to pray to God. He just opened the window and kept praying as always. He ended up in the lion’s den, but the same lion’s den designed to take him out, instead, consumed his crooked enemies (Daniel 6).

With the forces that are in place today, it is not a time for business as usual. True believers and followers of Jesus Christ must take their place in the calling of God as salt of the earth and light of the world in Christ. We must take the overall perspective, stand tall in our position with God, and believe and pray big on the Word of God. If God says it, it is so. We must pray and act on that basis with all boldness without apology. No believer is insignificant or to be despised in God’s kingdom. Your power with God is the righteousness and faith of Jesus Christ. You are just the voice in the wilderness of this world, to proclaim God’s Word and God’s Way into the world. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life – period. It is not about political parties or personalities or empty promises. It is about the Lord himself changing minds, hearts, and lives to line up to his agenda and his way of doing things. These are radical days requiring radical action. Pray big. Live justly and truly in following Jesus. Be the vessel to reflect God into our society today.

Let God Orchestrate Your Life

A new year is upon us. There is one tidbit left over from last year that I want us to munch on. We should all be in the process of setting goals and making plans and affirmations for the coming year. It is this little tidbit that I think would be well for us all to insert into our future.

I have always considered that Jesus was wrapped in a blanket when he was born. In my mind I translated “swaddling clothes” into a “blanket”. I learned in this past Christmas season that the sign of him being laid in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes carries special significance. There were ceremonially clean shepherds in Jesus’ day who watched over flocks that were raised for the express purpose of being a lamb to be sacrificed in the temple. One of the qualifications for a lamb to be a sacrificial lamb in the temple was that it be without blemish. These temple flock shepherds would wrap newly born lambs in strips of clean cloth called swaddling clothes to protect them and keep them free of blemishes. With no room found in a Bethlehem inn during the busy tax season, Mary and Joseph ended up in what we would call the barn for the flocks of temple sheep, which was also the birthing area for the sheep. Swaddling clothes were definitely in this place, so the clear sign and direction given by the angels to the shepherds was that they would find the babe in a manger wrapped in these clean swaddling clothes used for the sacrificial lambs.What a divinely orchestrated series of events – tax season, crowded inns, Mary and Joseph ending up at the place where sacrificial lambs were born, and the angelic word given to the shepherds about the sign of swaddling clothes with the babe lying in a manger. They knew right where to go to find the Savior Babe.

Wow! This awesome God is the one who we want to have our destiny! What a clear sign that shows the redemption that has been birthed into the world for all people’s deliverance! Jesus, the Lamb of God, wrapped in the same swaddling clothes as the sacrificial lambs for the temple. Even in his birth, every detail is pointing to him being the Savior of mankind from sin, disease, death, and hell. If you have not truly called upon his name and yielded your life to him for cleansing from sin and eternal life, then I urge you to start your new year taking Jesus as your Lord and King. Through him, in all the details of life, you can realize the peace, joy, and power that is now available to you through his Word and Spirit. The babe has grown up to be the King. We can bow our knee to him now and realize his goodness and blessings. Let’s start the New Year with the King of all kings orchestrating our life as never before.

The Greatest Gift – Part Two

“For God so loved the world that he gave is only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The all-sufficient gift embodied in the person of Jesus is more than forgiveness. Included in this gift is a principle in life called cleansing and renewal. In our bodies wastes and toxins are being washed out on a cellular level and fresh nutrients and fluids moved in to rebuild, restore, heal, and strengthen. In business inefficient workers are let go and new eager workers brought in. In a city garbage is moved out making room for new food and stuff to be brought in. A healthy mental lifestyle is a lifestyle of laying aside negative attitudes and emotions and embracing and maintaining positive ways of thinking and expression. Forgiveness in the kingdom of God is cleansing from sin. When Jesus died for us, that sacrifice before God secured our cleansing from sin. He was laid in a tomb of death, but on the third day he came out of that tomb, having conquered sin and death. He rose up in the power of the Spirit of God with all authority in the spirit realm. Now, he is alive forevermore to impart that same Spirit to those who embrace and believe on him committing their lives to him. Renewal is experienced as we yield our lives to the Spirit of God who makes the Word of God real to us with spiritual understanding. Having everlasting life is having his Spirit which is a life-giving Spirit that enlightens and leads us in the truth that sets us free. The Spirit of God “quickens” or “makes alive” our mortal bodies with this everlasting life here and now. Healing comes from a touch of everlasting life, just like a touch of electricity gives us a jolt, or lights up a string of Christmas lights (Romans 8:11). In the gift of everlasting life in Christ Jesus, there is the cleansing of forgiveness and the renewing operation of the Spirit of God in our life for healing, strengthening, and empowering in a supernatural way. Jesus taught that out of our innermost being, by the Spirit of God, as we believe on him, we would have “rivers” of living water to flow out to quench the thirst of whatever we need in our life or the lives of others (John 7:37-39). In this gift of Jesus there are rivers of forgiveness, empowerment, healing, miracles, wisdom, understanding, direction, sound judgment, common sense, boldness, and so much more. All this is embodied in Jesus and in everlasting life, alive and operating now, ready to go into effect in our lives and in the lives of others through the exercise of faith in him. Faith is embracing, believing, speaking, and acting on his Word above all we see, think, feel, taste, or hear. It is not a religious thing. It is receiving the gift and utilizing it with praise and thanksgiving to God.

The Greatest Gift – Part One

“For God so loved the world that he gave is only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Embodied in the person of Jesus is God’s gift to the world, which is provision to help mankind meet every possible need with all sufficiency and abundance. God’s provisions are conceived in his love, and birthed by the operation of his faith imparted into and through mankind. The supernatural virgin born Son came in the flesh for total identification with us in the flesh, yet without sin. He broke the power of sin and death, thus qualifying him to break every bondage known to man. All bondage has its root in sin somewhere down the line. Jesus, in love for the world of mankind, stayed the course to defeat sin, flesh, death, and hell for us. When we embrace what he did for us with a committal of our life to him, we receive his victory into our life, our sins are forgiven. With this same faith, we can apply that victory in our everyday life for every day directions and situations. It is not a religious thing. It is a Spirit directed business transaction. It is a fact of what he did for us. It is a fact that God’s love, like a dynamo generating electricity, is continually operating on our behalf. It is a fact that faith connects our life to the life of God and his operation in every day events. It is a fact that as we give ourselves to his direction the wires are connected and as we keep the switch of faith turned on, we receive his operation and power. When you see the beautiful Christmas lights in this season, remember that as we are plugged in to Him, understanding and embracing the promises of his Word for ourselves, then the beauty of his Light of forgiveness shines through each vessel no matter what the shape or color. The diversity of color is grouped each to its own color, or, it is blended with all colors. Either way, it all shines with beauty to the glory of God through Jesus, and his gift of forgiveness. Without this gift, mankind is left in the eternal darkness of sin, separated from the life of God. Though a person perhaps is good, moral, having integrity, and having good and proper motives, still, God’s provision of everlasting life is only through Jesus given for man and man believing in him. As the gift is offered, if we just take the gift, then the gift is ours. Sin is a fact. It is a fact that forgiveness through Jesus is offered. It is a fact that when we take his provision, it becomes ours. He said in his word, “Come now, let us reason together…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). It is the reasonable thing to do. What a wonderful gift!

APPS To Live By

In today’s electronic, digital world, “applications”, or “apps” typically refers to small, specialized programs downloaded onto a phone or some other type mobile device that enables that device to do things that it could not do before. You can download all kinds of apps to enhance your phone. You can put games on your phone so you have a diversion for idle moments. There are Covid management apps, dog training apps, apps to watch movies, apps to help you shop, and apps to help you get organized. The list is endless because they are always coming out with new apps. One time I downloaded a pool game app and was able to play pool on my phone. That got old after a while and when I got a new phone, I never bothered to get that app again. My wife and I enjoy a little word game that you have to unscramble the given letters to make words that fit in a crossword puzzle format. It is fun and challenging to do that together. We have both downloaded a Bible with Strong’s Concordance so that we always have a Word reference source on the go. It comes in handy quite often. The GPS apps are great to give you turn-by-turn traveling directions. It sure beats the old map study method, although there are times when it is good to look at a physical map laid out before you.

An acronym occurred to me the other day using the letters APPS – Active Passionate Pursuit of Souls. In the kingdom of God, Jesus led in being the example of reaching out to others to administer healing, forgiveness, supernatural empowerment, comfort, guidance, building self-worth and many more helps in life. He lived a life of Active Passionate Pursuit of Souls. This is a group of APPS that every believer today needs to download into their lives to fulfill a life of following Jesus. In a hurting, violent world, by downloading the APPS, by applying commitment, self denial, believing the Word, and choosing to reach out and share that Word with others, change is brought about. All our lives need to be changed in some way. God has the power to change us for the good, whether for healing, strengthening, forgiveness, empowerment, or whatever we need. If who God is and what he has in place for us is never applied, it does us no good, nor does it any good for those around us. If there is Active Passionate Pursuit of Souls, the world can be changed – one soul at a time. We might be a device in ourselves who is alive and functioning, but by downloading APPS, so much more can be accomplished. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We come to the Father through him to receive and to give out all that God has for us. Through Jesus our life can be more abundant if we will download the APPS.

Words to Live By

With your words you can make a person mad, sad, or glad. Intelligent conversation is a careful choice of words to accomplish a desired end. We are not a stranger to the power of words. We use them every day to obtain what we want to know and they are steps in the accomplishment of that desired end. Sales people use words to distribute merchandise and services. Religion, politics, education, business – on we could go and relate how in every realm of life we use words to bring about change. With this in mind, we should not think it strange that Jesus gave example and teaching on how we can use words to effect change in our lives and in others lives. First we need to consider that God spoke and the stages of creation were manifested (Genesis 1). The people of the earth were of one language and speech and became corrupt. God knew that because they were of one language “nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do” (Genesis 11). He confounded their language and scattered them to slow their evil accomplishment. David affirmed his trust in God to keep him from deadly disease and destruction –-“I will say of the Lord…surely he shall deliver…from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence” (Psalms 91:1-3). Wise Solomon stated the power of life and death is in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Jesus comes along and sees a woman bowed together with a spirit of infirmity 18 years, and she could not straighten up. When he saw her he called her over to himself and spoke to her saying to her that she was loosed from her infirmity. He laid his hands on her and immediately she was made straight and glorified God (Luke 13:11). Jesus taught that if we will have faith in God, doubting not, and speak to the mountain of adversity and impossibility that looms before us, and believe that when we pray we receive our request, then we shall have what we request. For this, he said to make sure we have no unforgiveness in our heart (Mark 11:22-26). The Word of the gospel can be spoken and heard and lives be eternally changed for the good.

Knowing the power of words, and seeing how we use them every day, it is good news to know that we can line our words up to the Word of God, and speak to our minds, our bodies, and our situations and circumstances and bring about change. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain. Follow the precedent set forth in God’s Word, If you are sick, speak God’s word of healing to your body. Jesus spoke to a fruitless fig tree and it dried up at the roots (Matthew 21:19). With thanksgiving, speak to your body, to that disease, to that situation, the abundant life that Jesus came to give, and live (John 10:10). That is God’s way!

Light the Bonfire

With government permits in hand and with signed agreements with the adjoining neighbors, we are scheduled to have our creek on the west side of our property widened. With each large rain, due to a concrete wall that fell in years ago, our lawn area has been being eaten away by erosion. In the process of preparing for the renovation along the creek bank, I cut an area of very large cane along the creek about 10 feet wide by about 80 feet long, which produced a lot of cane to deal with in some way. Some of it I stripped and stacked for whatever, some is cut and just laying there in a pile at this time, and some was old and dead and I piled it up for a bonfire. When cane burns, since it is made up of hollow enclosed cylinders all joined together, pressure builds with the heat and it explodes. It makes for a noisy fire, even sounding like a 22 rifle or the larger cane sounding like a handgun going off. We have joked saying the best time to burn cane in town is July 4 and nobody will think a thing about it.

The Bible says Jesus came to take away the sin of the world and baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (John 1:29,33; Luke 3:16). In the operation of fire, things that burn are done away with, and things that won’t burn remain and are sterilized. Some things burn with a little crackling sound and some things, like cane, burns with a loud report. In cane (some of this we have is 4 inches across at the base), the larger the chamber, the bigger the bang. On the day of Pentecost, all were filled with the Holy Spirit, all spoke with new tongues, but Peter was the “big bang” who was the spokesman for the group. He sounded out loud and clear and 3,000 people were converted to believe on Jesus Christ (Acts 3). Later he boomed the message out again by the power of the Spirit that was within and upon him, and 5,000 people became believers in Jesus. As the fire continued to burn in him “multitudes” came to where they were gathered bringing “a multitude” of sick folks, so many they had to lay them in the streets, and as Peter’s shadow passed over them they were all healed (Acts 5:12-16). This was a spiritual bonfire of magnificent proportions, burning for all to see and hear, booming out the word and demonstration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us pray that God raise up some bamboo cane believers on fire for Jesus that as fires of evil and ungodly ways sweep across the land, we will fight fire with fire, the fire of God in all love, truth, and holiness, proclaiming and demonstrating the all powerful gospel of Jesus Christ. The time has come to light the bonfire and keep it stoked up to burn.