Rev. Bsette's E-Devotion

Then he said to me, "Son of man, look toward the north." So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy.

And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing — the utterly detestable things the house of Israel is doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable."  

Ezekiel 8:5-6 NIV

Those on my facebook page may know that I am currently reading and studying the book of Ezekiel.  Today, as I was listening to this book on my bible cd in the car, this verse screamed at me to meditate on this week, so I thought I'd share with this devotion.  Unfortunately, I don't have much insight (so don't know how much of a devotion this will be for you) but only thoughts and reflection.

Basically, this text is expressing a type of apostate worship.  This means that the people of God have turned away from God and rebelled against God.  Maybe not so much in their profession, but in their actions. Actions really say everything.  Israel's actions indicated they were guilty of idolatry.  Putting something or someone before God.  Even though people show up to worship, God see's their hearts.  As a result, in this text, the actions drove God away from His sanctuary.  I offer no suggestions on this today, but only questions where we can reflect.  Do we feel as if the acts of God's people have driven the fullness of God's presence from the church?  Have the people of God, replaced worship for some form of idolatry?  As we look at our local churches as well as our denominational churches, do we see the truth of this scripture in our culture?  Do we see the truth of this scripture in our own personal lives?

God brought this to Ezekiel in a vision and showed him the sort of idolatry that was within the house of Israel that He detested.  The specifics of what He saw or detested is not in the text.  In our places of worship, does God see anything He detests?  As our bodies are temples where the Holy Spirit dwells (thus the sanctuary of God as well), is there anything in us that God detests?  This is a wake up call for us as we examine our lives to see if there are any things or anyone that causes us to be guilty of idolatry.  We ought to want God's presence in our churches and in our lives.  As I heard and read this text, I had to reflect because I know that something is missing in today's church.  Church doesn't seem to have the same impact on people.  Don’t' get me wrong, I know people are still being saved, called, delivered, set free, etc., but even with all that, something is missing. The text ends by saying that there will be more detestable things that will be seen.  Perhaps we are living in that day……

Today, we ought to commit ourselves to letting it start with us.  Perhaps God has saved us for this purpose, to be used in restoring His church.  Lord, I'm available!  We're available!  Use us for your glory!

(I know this is not my usual writing style, so it may not make any sense or help at all.  I'm just jotting down some thoughts I had reflected upon and wanted to share.  Maybe we can turn this into a group discussion and take this further)

God our Father, we bless your name!  We ask for you to forgive us and to forgive your people for turning away from you.  We make ourselves available today for you to use us to do with us as you desire to restore your church!  Bless us with endurance, long-suffering, patience and love.  Use us to turn this around for your glory!  In Jesus name, Amen.

Shepherding or CEO Model of Leadership?

There is a power model of leadership that exists in our churches today.  But what should leadership really look like if we truly believe that Jesus is the head of the church? I heard a preacher recently that asked the question: “where did we get the idea that a CEO was an appropriate Biblical expression leadership”?  He went on to ask: “have we become a commercial enterprise where the strong survive and the weak perish?”  “Was Jesus the CEO of His followers?  Was Paul the CEO of the early church?”  All very poignant questions that deserve some discussion and examination.  I truly believe that when a business model replaces the shepherding model - the sheep are overlooked.  It is the most common complaint of those whom I’ve come in contact with who have separated from the church. The 99 stay and oftentimes work mindlessly within the programs established in the church, while the 1 sheep perishes apart from the pursuit of a loving shepherd. 

I read a blog entry published by “Backyard Missionary” that broke down this power model of leadership.  It went into great detail but here is a basic synopsis:  The pastor as the CEO, leads to the church leadership as politics, which then leads to an abuse of communication.  The Pastor as the CEO, by it’s very definition, puts the pastor in a position of boss, as opposed to that of servant leader.  Church leadership as politics leads to doing anything to push their agenda and to stay in their positions. Then the abuse of communication ensues.  This model suggests that a corporation is being run and in my opinion, that is not a legitimate way to lead a body of Christ.  The author of the blog post went on to break down the four levels of communication.  The top level was revelation from God and the lowest level was verbal communication (which most of us  heavily rely on).  I believe that verbal communication, however, is the most untrustworthy.  It is here that people are told things by the world or even those in the church that may or may not be true.  it is here where leaders manipulate information and as a result character assassination takes place.  It is here where relationship with one another is broken.  The bible tells us not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly.  This is where we have to be so careful in whom we are listening to. If we are not careful we will listen and even act on the information given.  I believe that we should ask ourselves of those who have our ear -  does scripture ever come out of their mouthes or is it all deconstructive criticism and negative talk about someone or something?  All communication should be judged by Biblical principles.  If it is not we run the risk of taking action on a lie. 

One pastor I was reading broke politics in the church down like this:

Politics is appearance. Christianity is a matter of the heart.

Politics is spin and the twisting of information. Christianity is bound to truth.

Politics is whitewashing the outside and not dealing with the heart. 

Politics makes people into liars. ("Yeah. I heard Jesus say He would destroy the temple!") Christianity does not parse words to twist meanings in order to trap other Christians. 

Politics twists Scriptures to say what the political/religious leaders wish it to say. Christianity exegetes Scripture honestly.

Politics seeks to "kill" people in any way possible for the leader’s political advantage. Christianity casts aside politics and power and enhances the other person’s ministry.

Politics is deadly to the soul. Christianity brings people alive in Christ.

My prayer is that we begin to embrace and follow the example of Jesus’ ministry.  HE alone is the model.   This is not to suggest that business is not relevant in church. We have to manage money, pay bills, maintain property, etc., however when the business model is deployed over the shepherding model - the “program” is exalted and people get lost.  Imagine if CEO Jesus had met the woman at the well, or the man at the pool at Bethesda.  Imagine Jesus had listened to the disciples (or church leadership if you will) before he fed the multitudes - when they suggested that He send the people home for them to fend for themselves:  

That evening the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves. "But Jesus said, "That isn't necessary—you feed them."  Matthew 14:15-16.

Follow Jesus - the good shepherd - the ultimate model.  Do not loose heart.  Know that Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you.  He cares and will provide for you, just like He cared for the multitudes. If Jesus had listened to His disciples, those people’s need would not have been met.  Instead, Jesus, being the supreme shepherd, saw their need and instructed His disciples to meet that need.  The disciples could only accomplish that by full sufficiency in Christ as there was not enough food.  But God provided and all were fed.  What an impact from a loving and merciful savior.  Not only towards the multitude but toward His disciples as well.  We can have the same impact in our churches if we follow the Shepard’s model and not that of anything else.

Be blessed.......

No Gimmicks, Just Gospel.........

Acts 8:9-24

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.”  They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.  But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.  When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.  When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said,  “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

What is truly in our heart translates into thoughts and words, and ultimately to deeds.  Simon had been practicing sorcery (the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world)  and the people believed that because of the great tricks that he performed, that he was the "great power of God". On the other hand the people came in contact with Phillip, who was preaching the good news of the kingdom, and they believed and were baptized.  Even Simon himself believed.  He joined Phillip in his preaching and followed him everywhere he went and was astonished by the great signs and miracles he witnessed. It is amazing how the authentic always exposes the fraudulent.  The people initially believed that Simon had the power of God but realized after coming in contact with the authentic Gospel of Christ through Phillip, that they had been in error - that the sorcery Simon was performing was merely an illusion and was not real.

While Simon was following Phillip and the disciples, he witnessed others being baptized in the name of the Lord, however the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon them. It was only when Peter and John laid hands on them that they received the Holy Spirit. Simon wanted the power to do the same, but did not have it.  The Bible says that Simon offered them money in exchange for the power to give the Holy Spirit to the people.  Peter then says, "may your money perish with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money".  I believe that because Simon had practiced sorcery for so long, even though he had outwardly accepted the Gospel message, he had not inwardly accepted it in his heart.  He did not believe that the Holy Spirit was a gift only from God and that the power did not lie in the hands of the disciples - that is why he thought he could buy it.  His heart had not changed.  

This is why there are preachers, pastors and teachers of the word who have accepted Christ and are preaching, teaching and pastoring but they still rely on their old nature.  They rely on what they used to do.  They address situations and meet needs in the flesh and not in the spirit because their hearts have not truly changed.  Peter and John were able to lay on of hands and the people receive the Holy Spirit, solely because of the power of God - it had nothing to do with them. Once the people had truly received the Holy Spirit, they knew that God was truly real because His spirit now lived within them.  

This scripture is a reminder that we cannot use gimmicks, tricks and marketing strategies to bring people to Christ.  It may be successful to bringing people to church - but not truly to Christ.  That is why our churches are populated primarily with church members and not members of the kingdom of God.  It is a tragedy that can be remedied by teaching and preaching the full sufficiency of Jesus Christ and Christ crucified.  Do not revert back to and rely on your old nature.  You cannot meet the needs of people with anything but the word of God.  Deploying worldly tactics, techniques and systems will fail in bringing people to Christ and in building up the Kingdom.  Peter went on to tell Simon when he asked to purchase the gift of God: “... You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin”.  We should stand in agreement with Simon’s request: “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

If we have truly accepted Christ and the word of God then we cannot lean on our own power in our old nature.  We can only lead people to Christ by unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ - that is the power unto salvation.

Be blessed........

Pastor BSETT's E-devotion

The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."   (John 6:18-20 NRSV)
 
 
We just made it though a time of severe weather here in Kansas City.  I have been out here for almost 5 years and this is probably the closest we have been to an actual tornado touching down in the city.  In light of the unfortunate tragedy in Joplin last week, today's tornado warning was looked upon with a different level of concern.  We took all the precautions while the storm approached, but after we take those precautions, it's really out of our hands because it's in God's hands.  Now I'm not trying to make light of severe weather, or act like I have not had any concerns regarding severe weather.  But I guess I'm using this analogy to reflect on life.  In life for the believer, we should take all the precautions and prepare ourselves spiritually for the storms of life.  These precautions begin with a relationship with Christ, and a life that strives to please Him.  We worship; we pray; we study; we live obedient lives; we fast; we do all these things.  But the precautions never prevent the storms from arriving - storms still come.  And when the storms are upon us, there's really nothing we can do because we've done everything we can.  So there's nothing left to do but ride it out, because it's in God's hand. 
 
Every day, we should take precautions in life, but when the storms of life rage, remember what Jesus says to the disciples when going through a storm - "It is I; do not be afraid."  My wife tells the story of her nanny, when they experienced the storms when they lived in New Mexico.  She said her nanny use to say, "Be still (or be quiet) - God is riding."
 
As I sit here now, looking out the window as I'm writing this, the storm has passed; the clouds are parted somewhat, the warm breeze is lightly blowing the trees and the birds are singing.  For those of us, going through a storm, or getting ready to go through one - have you done what you should be doing with your relationship with Christ?  If so, "be still - God is riding" - this storm will pass as well!
 
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the storms of life because they help us to realize that you are in control of not only our lives, but also the storms that affect our lives.  We thank you for not allowing this actual storm to cause any damage, but we also thank you for not allowing the spiritual storms we face in life to cause any damage as well.  We give you the praise, because you are worthy.  You are Alpha and Omega, we worship you our God, you are worthy to be praised!  We ask for nothing today, but we just thank you!  In Jesus name, Amen.

More Thoughts on the Heart........

“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." 

Jeremiah 17:10

About a week ago I blogged about the Issues of the heart.  As I continue to seek God about the condition of my own heart, He continues to reveal just how deceitful it truly is.  The good news, however, is that I prayed for Him to remove those things in my heart that were defiling my entire being and He has been faithful to deliver.  The issues are not removed completely - it is a process - but know that when I fall, He is right there to restore me. I am standing on God’s promise in Ezekiel.... And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.  The process of improvement has been humbling and has caused me to really examine the definition, concept and practice of Love.   

Love is the ultimate ethic.  Ethics being the moral philosophy that address questions such as good and evil, right and wrong.  We have to choose to Love.  It is  a choice.  One of the greatest gifts of God, in my opinion, is the freedom of will - freedom to choose.  Freedom to choose good over evil or evil over good.  Freedom to choose right over wrong or wrong over right.  It begs the question then what is considered good or right and what is considered wrong or evil.  God gives us a moral law.  He tells us what is right and what is wrong and then allows us to choose.  The greatest illustration of the freedom to choose is the life of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  God gave them total dominion over everything on the earth - that they could be fruitful and multiply.  God gives them that there is one thing they cannot do.  They can eat of every tree that is in the garden with the exception of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.  Adam and Eve disobey God.  They choose to listen to the devil, eat of the tree that was forbidden and ultimately fall into sin.  God wants us to choose what is right because we love Him and want to keep His commands, but He does not force us to do so.  The decision is made in the heart.  Free will is essential to love.  When we violate that love in our heart it leads to evil.  The heart must recognize the difference between good and evil and choose what is good.  When we choose evil there are consequences as a result - and oftentimes those consequences are cataclysmic.  We must choose love.  Love cannot truly be in our hearts absent of God because God is love. Whether it is the conniving, lying parishioner;  the adulterous husband or wife; the person that bears false witness against their neighbor; government officials on all levels stealing - causing financial devastation of large numbers of people. Everything from the actions of  Bernie Madoff  and Enron executives that left thousands in financial ruin and despair - to global mass murderers like Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin - and the list goes on.  All of these evil acts started and were cultivated in the heart of man.  

It is important to run a perpetual heart check so that we might always choose good over evil.  We will not be able to make these decisions on our own.  We have to ask God to help us do what He has deemed as right.  You will find his precepts and His will poured out in His word.  We must be mindful, for the Lord has said that He will search our hearts, examine our minds and reward us according to our conduct.

Be blessed......

Good and Regular Standing.....

From the time I was a teenager I have heard the term “good and regular standing” in church, but have yet to find a concrete definition of this term.  In fact, the definition and interpretation of the phrase seems to change from person to person - preacher to preacher - church to church.  The definition varies from someone who attends regularly and participates in the ministries of the church to someone who consistently gives financially and is “living right”.  In all honesty, I believe that the definition changes as needed to serve a particular purpose.  In any case, it got me to thinking about who is considered to be in “good and regular standing” in the Church of Jesus Christ - body of all believers in Him, and what must one do to stay in that position.  

Romans 10:8-10 gives us the requirements for membership into the body of Christ which is salvation:  “The message is very close at hand;  it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.  This is the scripture that helps lead us to salvation.  We pray a prayer that includes this instruction, and ask God to forgive us of our sin.  I heard a great theologian whom I respect put it like this: God if you are who you say you are, reveal yourself to me - I want to know truth.

I believe that Galatians 6 gives us great instruction on how to stay in “good and regular standing” Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.  Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.  If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.  Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.  For we are each responsible for our own conduct.  Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

If you have not accepted Christ into your heart, and have not acknowledged Him as your personal Savior by his death on the cross and resurrection from the grave - then I invite you to do so today.  Even if you feel like you have no faith, ask God to reveal Himself to you and He is faithful to do it.  It only takes faith the size of a mustard seed (which is minuscule) in order to believe.  It will be the single most important thing you will ever do in your life.  He offers hope, joy, unconditional love, mercy and grace.  Accept Him today and find your rest.....

We must stay on the narrow road - doing what God instructs us to do through His word.  We have to stop being slaves to the law of a particular church and become free in keeping with the law of God’s command.  You cannot stay in “good and regular standing” in the body of Christ without the help of the Lord.  Ask God to help you, to keep from falling.  Ask Him to point you toward Him and away form sin which separates us from Him.  And when you do fall into sin, repent - turn from that which is evil to that which is good.  Only God himself, through His son Jesus Christ, in fellowship with the Holy Spirit can keep us in “good and regular standing”.

Be blessed......

The issues of my heart......

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?  Jeremiah 17:9

Those of you who know me, know that I am an open book.  I am more transparent than most, and consequently find myself in a position of great vulnerability.  My heart has been quite heavy as of late, as I have come to the realization that relationship, one to another, is not a priority for many of us.  It has been replaced with an incessant need for notoriety, position and advancement. Sometimes, as much as I pray to not get caught up, find myself participating and buying into pointless discussions with people whose motivation is not to seek God’s will.  That is when I have to be still.  It is amazing what you see when you are still.  When you stop talking, stop participating and are just still.  It is in the quiet times that God reveals not only the hearts of others, through their actions -but He reveals to us the deceitful nature of our own heart as well.  It is so easy to get caught up in what others are doing, even when it warrants scrutiny and correction, that you can get lost in the noise of it all and loose sight of what God is saying to you.  What is your motivation for your actions?  That is the question.  The action starts in the heart. Hurt, anger, low self-esteem, insecurity are all conditions of the heart.  If you act on any of these feelings you will ultimately fall into sin.  People who are insecure in their ability to perform tend overcompensate by being aggressive.  People who are hurt tend to lash out first before someone hurts them.  People who are insecure about their ability to perform tend to make a lot of noise in an attempt to avert people’s attention from the fact that they are inadequate.  People who act in anger tend to act quickly and with retaliatory intent.   I have spent the past month or so really asking God to reveal what is truly in my heart.  God has been faithful to do so, and to be quite honest - I really don’t like what I see. My heart needs a constant Godly intervention.   I have been praying for God to wash and cleanse my heart so that I may, at all times,  act from a place of love and purity.

 On the job, people assert their authority and in some cases the result is an abuse of power.  There is little or no regard for people’s feelings.  Discipline is oftentimes imparted with no dignity. I have been present in many disciplinary action interviews during my tenure at my place of employment. Termination ensues, warranted as it may be, with no sense of caring for the individual who now faces unemployment. Some time ago I accompanied an employee to their termination interview. The person conducting the interview is a Christian and that fact shined through.  The employee was treated with respect and left with their dignity in tact.  The offense was pointed out and a stern admonishment accompanied the decision to terminate, however it was done with an abundance of care and concern. This is the light of the Christian.  Justice was served in the form of termination, yet the person serving the justice exemplified the love of Christ.  That employee will never forget the mercy shown to them by God, thorough that supervisor.  Relationship was more important that the assertion of authority.  How we treat one an other is key.  Our relationship with Christ should cause us to uphold and maintain our relationship with each other at all cost.  At the cost of our pride, financial cost - relationship and being reconciled one to another must be our priority.  It is not just on the job, but in the church as well.  It is amazing to me how Jesus has a way of humbling us with out humiliating us.  We should follow that example.

The Lord has been dealing with the issues of my heart.  Allow God to deal with the issues of your heart as well.  I believe that you will be amazed at what He shows you.

 I can't seem to leave this subject, so a Bible study on the context of this scripture in Jeremiah will be forthcoming in the next few days.  It is an important lesson that we must all learn.  How can we share the love, joy, peace and comfort that is found in Jesus if it does not first dwell in our hearts.  

Be blessed......