Jesus Came to Save Everyone

 Matthew 4:25

Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

This is the very beginning of Jesus' ministry when he was living in Capernaum.  Jesus did begin by preaching to the Jews, but the news of the miracles he was performing couldn't be contained.  News about him spread all over the region surrounding Galilee.  This shouldn't surprise us.  From the beginning of Jesus' human life we see Jews and Gentiles worshipping him.

On the night he was born shepherds from Bethlehem came and worshipped him.  Some time later, maybe as much as eighteen months later, a group of noblemen from the east (probably from Persia or Babylon) came to worship him. These men were not Jews.

From Jesus' life and ministry, we see very clearly that he came to redeem all people from all their sins, not just a select few.  He came to fulfill God's promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him.  Through faith in Jesus we are all Abraham's children.  Through faith in Jesus, we are all God's children.

That is the great Christmas present that our Heavenly Father has given all of us: Redemption from our sins.  Receive it gladly and say, "Thank you."  Don't damn yourself by rejecting his gift because it's not exactly what you had in mind.  God wants all to be saved.  He loves you!  Your life matters.

God bless.

Jason Fredrick

Living for the Lord

 Genesis 22:2

God said, "Now take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah.  Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains there, the one to which I direct you."

When is the last time you were asked to make a hard choice for God?  How did you do?

Abraham had waited most of his life to have a son with his wife Sara, and then God told him to sacrifice his one and only son.  Abraham had a hard choice to make.

In the rest of chapter 22 we are told that Abraham made the right choice.  He valued God's commands above the life of his own son.  Abraham truly placed God above everything else.  He was so committed that he was in the process of slaying Isaac when God stopped him.  Isaac was tied up on the altar and Abraham had his knife raised to kill Isaac when the Angel of the Lord (Jesus) stopped him.  Abraham was all in.

Abraham displayed his faith by living the command that Jesus would later give in Luke 14:26-27:

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.  Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."  Jesus is using hyperbole to drive home the point that He is to be the most important thing in our lives.

We will never be tested like Abraham where God asks us to sacrifice our own child, but we are asked to sacrifice for God.  Maybe that means that our kids can't be in every sports league.  That certainly means that there are times when our children need to told, "NO."  No human being, or anything else,  is to be our center of the universe.  That spot belongs to our God, and to him alone.

God bless.

Jason Fredrick

Hagar: Caught in the Middle

 Genesis 16:7-10

The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur.  And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?"

"I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered.

Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her."  The angel added, "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count."

Hagar was the Egyptian servant of Sarai, Abram's wife.  Sarai didn't trust God's promise to give her and Abram a child of their own so she convinced Abram to sleep with her servant, Hagar.  As you can imagine, this led to problems.

When Hagar became pregnant she began to despise Sarai.  When Sarai complained to Abram, he told her, "Your servant is in your hands.  Do with her whatever you think best."

What Sarai thought best was to begin to abuse and mistreat Hagar.  That is why the angel of the LORD found her in the desert in the passage above.

The angel is perfectly aware of everything that Hagar has been through, but look at what he tells her: "Go back to your mistress and submit to her."  This could not have been easy for Hagar to hear, or do; but she did exactly what the angel told her to do.  She returned to Sarai.  

Maybe on her journey back, she reflected on her part in creating the problem.  Genesis 16:4 tells us that once Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to despise Sarai.  Maybe she not-so-subtly reminded Sarai regularly that she had conceived with her husband.  We don't know exactly what form her disrespect took, but we do know that it was happening.  

When the angel told her to return to her mistress and submit to her authority, he wasn't telling Hagar to go back and endure her abuse.  He was telling her to go back and serve Sarai in humility and respect.  He was teaching Hagar to submit to the authority that God had placed over her in her life.

Paul says it this way:  

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...-Colossians 3:22-23

It wasn't fair to Hagar that she was used in this way, but God didn't allow her to disrespect the authority in her life just because she had been treated unfairly.  As I stated earlier, Hagar's attitude and actions didn't help anything.  It was only after she began to despise Sarai that Sarai began to mistreat her.  Hagar played a part in her problems.

The same is true for each of us.  We have contributed to most of the problems and challenges we are faced with in our lives.  Like Hagar and Sarai, I would bet that most of your problems are the symptom of a relationship problem.  Where are you not submitting to the authority in your life?  

How's your relationship with your boss?

...with your spouse?

...with your government leaders?

Maybe you have been caught in the middle of somebody else's agenda like Hagar, but that doesn't give you an excuse to disrespect those who have been placed in authority over you in your life (see Paul's quote from Colossians 3 above).  This is your opportunity to show God's love through your attitude in this situation.  God expects us to glorify him by submitting to the earthly authorities he has placed in our lives.  Thankfully, Jesus did it perfectly to pay for all of the times that we don't.

God bless.

Jason Fredrick

Abram: Servant Leader- Problem Solver

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Genesis 13:8-9

So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers.  Is not the whole land before you?  If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left."

The way Abram addressed this difficult situation is another example of his wisdom and greatness.  He didn't get mad at Lot that their herdsmen were quarreling and fighting each other for pastureland.  Instead he gave Lot the pick of the land, and he moved in the opposite direction that Lot chose.  There are several lessons Abram teaches us here in Genesis 13:

1. Value People Over Stuff

Abram valued and loved his nephew, Lot, more than his herds and his wealth.  He wasn't willing to jeopardize the relationship fighting for what's best for him and his herds.  Abram could have sent Lot away, telling him which direction he could go.  Abram was wealthier and more powerful.  But he didn't.  Instead he gave Lot first choice.  He could choose whichever land he wanted, and Abram would choose from what was left.

This isn't exactly what Stephen Covey would call win-win, but it is definitely a display of humble love.  When you value people more than stuff you're willing to sacrifice what's best for you, when necessary, because you value people more.  Abram is really displaying fatherly love here to Lot.  A good, godly, parent is always willing to sacrifice earthly stuff for the sake of their children.  The relationship is infinitely more valuable.   

2. Be a Creative Problem-Solver

The problem that arose between Abram and Lot's herdsmen was the result of a good thing: They were both becoming wealthier and more prosperous.  This problem is something that could have torn them apart and destroyed their relationship forever, but it didn't.  It didn't because Abram displayed great wisdom in solving the problem.

Notice that Abram doesn't get caught up in arguing with Lot and trying to bully him into submitting to his authority.  He doesn't waste time making a case for his own herdsmen.  Instead, he focuses on solving the problem.  How much energy do we waste in our lives by blaming others and justifying our own actions instead of just solving the problem?

Abram didn't care who was right and who was wrong.  He didn't care about any of the "reasons" the two groups weren't getting along.  He recognized that they both were becoming more prosperous and as their herds continued to grow the tension between the two groups would only increase.  Abram understood the root of the problem and he was willing to make the tough decision that was required to solve it.  He recognized that he and Lot had to separate.  So he discussed the situation with Lot and the problem was solved.  No blame.  No animosity.  Just peaceful and agreeable resolution to the problem.

3. Be a Humble Servant

Abram was a humble servant of the Lord.  He knew where all of his blessings had come from.  Because he knew the love of the Lord, he was compelled to love like the Lord.  He loved Lot as his own son.  His concern was doing what was best for him.  He knew he didn't have to fight for the best land or more animals because he knew God was taking care of him and would continue to bless him wherever he went, he had already been given that promise.

As a "man of God" Abram was most likely teaching his family, and Lot's, about God.  What a great display of integrity Abram displays here: his actions lining up with what he would have been teaching about God, and how they were to live according to God's will.  Abram was actually walking his talk here.  He didn't just pay lip service to how we should love each other because God loves us.  He was actually letting God's love be displayed through his humble and loving actions.  Wouldn't it be great if we could do the same thing everyday?

The good news is: we can.  We just have to have the same attitude and outlook that Abram did:

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going... For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8,10)

Abram had his treasures stored up in heaven so he didn't need to fight for "things" here on earth.  That is how we develop the same attitude and outlook on life that Abram displayed in Genesis 13, and throughout his entire life.

God bless

Jason Fredrick

What's Your Purpose?

 Do you know what your life's purpose is?  Have you thought about it lately?

Going through life without your purpose/mission clearly defined is like taking a trip to a place you have never been to without a GPS or a map.  It's actually worse than that.  It's more like starting a journey without clearly defining where you are going.  You're just traveling every day trying to get...somewhere.  Who knows where, but you're definitely going somewhere.  The problem with not defining your destination is that anywhere is just as good as somewhere else.

Clearly defining your purpose is like the traveler who knows exactly where he is going.

In Genesis 12:2-3 God directly gives Abram his life's purpose:

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;

I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." 

God's purpose for Abram's life is quite clear:

1. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you.

Abram would become wealthy and prosperous, but it would be because of God not because of his own intelligence or skill.  Also, Abram would have children.

2. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

God would make Abram famous among the neighboring people.  But Abram wasn't to use this fame for his own glory.  He was to use his fame and influence to be a blessing to the people around him.  Abram's great name has lasted longer than just his fame among his neighbors.  His name will be great for all eternity.

3. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.

God tells Abram that he is God's chosen one.  Anyone who helps Abram and treats him with respect will be blessed, anyone who does not will be cursed.  This is another promise from God that he would watch over and protect Abram.

4. all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

This is the promise of the Savior.  This is God telling Abram that he has been chosen for Jesus to come from his family line.  In this way, we have all been blessed though Abram.

That was Abram's purpose.  What's yours?  You can read about how Abram lived out this purpose in Genesis 12-23.  He didn't always do it perfectly.  But the Bible tells us that "his faith was credited to him as righteousness."

The best advice I can give you to help you discover your purpose is this: Read God's Word everyday, and think through these 3 questions from Jim Collins (Good to Great):

1. What are you deeply passionate about?
2. What can you be the best in the world at (and, equally important, what you cannot be the best in the world at)?
3. What drives you economic engine?

If you want more help I would suggest getting Orrin Woodward's book Resolved, the first resolution is Purpose.

Whatever you do, don't just ignore this.  Take some time and give it some serious thought.  Like Abram, God created you for a reason.  Your life has a purpose.  Take the time to figure out what it is and then live intentionally everyday.

God bless

Jason Fredrick

God is Just...And Merciful

 Genesis 6:5-6

The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.

This was the condition of the world in Noah's day.  Approximately 1500 years after sin entered the world, the entire world was wicked and depraved.  Just 1500 years.  That's not that long. Just 1500 years and out of millions of people in the world only 8 were still faithful to God. God had given them 120 years to repent and turn back to him, but when the time was up only those original 8 people walked on to the ark.  Despite Noah's best efforts, after 120 years of preaching and the construction of that massive boat in the dessert, no one repented and turned back to God.  How would you like those results after 120 years of ministry?

The reality is that our world today is not much different. Sin and wickedness are celebrated. Rebelling against God is cool.  We are surrounded by wickedness, both in our communities and in the media we purposely stream into our homes. Sins that are celebrated in American society are: Sexual sins (pornography, homosexuality, marital infidelity), Slandering and disrespecting authority, Violence (rioting, looting, and murder), Corruption within the government agencies, Divorce (murdering families), Abortions (murdering children), Human trafficking, etc.  Describe any kind of wickedness and evil, and it is celebrated in America, even if only in certain circles. The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.- Romans 1:18-20

In Noah's day, God judged the world with water and saved his elect in the ark.  In the last days, God will judge the world with fire and will save his elect through his Son, Jesus Christ, our Ark of Salvation. God's great power is displayed in his mercy. Even though we are all born enemies of him, he has forgiven every sin through the blood of Jesus.  Jesus took the punishment for every sin, even for those who hate him and die in their rejection of him. God is just, but he is also merciful.  He loves everyone and doesn't want anyone to perish.

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's Word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and new earth, the home of righteousness.

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.- 2 Peter 3:3-15

God bless

Jason Fredrick

The World Loves the Darkness and Rejects the Light

 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry?  Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?  But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:6-7)

Cain had some problems.  He was the oldest and his younger brother was making him look bad.  Abel's offering was pleasing to God.  Cain's offering was not.  In reality, Abel was not the one making Cain look bad.  Cain was making Cain look bad.  In fact, Cain was bad because he was offering sacrifices to God out of duty, not love.  Hebrews 11:4 tells us that it was Abel's faith that made his sacrifice better; it had nothing to do with what was being sacrificed.  Abel's faithfulness exposed Cain's lack of faith to himself.  

Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother.  And why did he murder him?  Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. (1 John 3:12)

This is the same reason why the world hates Christians.  Because Christians have been made righteous through faith in Christ.  The righteousness of Christians exposes the world's evil rejection of Jesus.  Our light exposes others' darkness to themselves; and like Cain they can't stand it.  It makes them angry.  This is why Jesus told his disciples that the world would hate them.  This is why the world hates you for openly, and freely, confessing your faith in Jesus. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:3-4)

Don't get angry when people insult you or belittle you because of your faith in Jesus.  Instead, have pity on them.  They are on their way to hell!  Love them enough to keep telling them about everything Jesus has done for them.  Some will listen and be saved.  Keep publicly proclaiming Jesus until the day you die.  Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.  I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.  Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)

God bless

Jason Fredrick

Why is Life so Tough?

 "Did God really say...?"

This one little question is the reason life is so tough today.  God created a perfect world for Adam and Eve to live in.  He had created that perfect world for each of us to live in as well.  This question from Satan to Eve undid all of it.

When Eve listened to this question and the lies of Satan, she stopped trusting in God's Word.  She saw her opportunity to be equal to God and to have some really nice stuff (Genesis 3:6).  These temptations were too much for her and she abandoned God's Word and plunged head-long into sin.  And today we still pay the price for her selfishness.  Eve and Adam's sin ruined God's perfect creation.  "For Adam was formed first, then Eve.  And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner." (1 Timothy 2:13-14)

Thankfully, God also gave us the remedy to sin on that same day.  In Genesis 3:15, God promises to send a Savior who would defeat Satan and sin.  That promised was fulfilled when Jesus came into the world: he lived a perfect life, he willingly died on the cross, and he rose from the dead on the third day to defeat sin, death, and the devil.  That is why even though we are all sinners we have the hope of eternal life in heaven.  Jesus has redeemed us!

So even though this life has its challenges and pain, we know it is only temporary.  "Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

God bless

Jason Fredrick

Greatness Comes from Humble Beginnings

 God's people are not strangers to oppression and persecution.  In fact, this reality goes all the way back to Genesis.  First Adam and Eve were persecuted by Satan (~4004 B.C.).  Then after the Fall, Abel was persecuted by his brother, Cain,  because he was faithful and found favor in the sight of the Lord.  Cain was not faithful and his offering was rejected by God.  This made Cain jealous and he hated Abel because of it. So Cain murdered his brother.  You can't get much more persecuted than that.

Today, as we look at the "Birth of Moses" (Exodus 1 &2), this same thing was happening to God's people.  The good old days of Joseph were long gone, and now the Israelites had been forced into harsh slavery in Egypt.  As they cry out to the Lord, he hears them and sends a baby.

This is how God still works today.  When we pray to God for help he doesn't just snap his fingers and fix our problems.  Instead, he puts people in our lives to help us with our problems.  He gives us wise counselors that we can turn to for guidance.  He gives us our spouse and family members to help us through our tough times.  He gives us opportunities to grow in faith, wisdom, and courage.

Moses' beginnings were pretty humble:

He was born to slave parents.  He was supposed to be killed as soon as he was born by order of the king.  When he was too big to hide anymore his mom put him in a basket and placed him in the Nile River hoping someone would find him.  

The point is this: When God's people needed a hero, God sent a baby.  God still does this today.  A number of years ago he sent you, and me.  God sent each of us for a specific purpose.  What's yours?  Have you figured it out yet?  Have you even thought about it yet?

If you're not quite sure what your purpose is, what you're supposed to be doing, I will give you some ways to help figure that out.

First, get a notebook and start journaling with these questions in mind:

• What are some ways you have already impacted the lives of others?
• What are you passionate about?  What gets your heart rate up when you talk about it, or think about it?
• What are your strengths?  What are your gifts?
• What do you see as the biggest problem in your life?  ...in your community?  ...in your country?  ...in the world?
• What injustice do you see that you just can't stand?
• What do you have that you would love to share with the world?

Second, pick out one thing from your brainstorm and act on it.  Do something about it.  Right now.  Does that thought scare you?  You need to start acting on what matters most to you if you are going to figure out your purpose in life.  You will not do anything meaningful if you let fear and comfort run your life.  Imagine if Moses' mom would have selfishly held on to her son.  He would have been killed.  By trusting God and letting go of him, Moses' mom, and Moses, were blessed.  

His mom got to nurse him and raise him without fear.  Moses got to grow up and fulfill God's purpose for his life.  This all started when Moses' mother took some action, some difficult and scary action.  This is what you will need to do as well.  Stop hanging on to the life that you don't want.  Put it in the hands of the Lord and take one difficult and scary action today!

Finally, once you start to figure some things out and get some momentum, start assembling your team.  Who's going to help you accomplish your purpose?  Who do you know that is like-minded and passionate about the same things as you?  Who do you know who's strengths compensate for your weaknesses?  Some of these people already exist in your life.  Some you will have to find.  Keep your eyes open.  Moses didn't lead the Israelites out of Egypt on his own, he had help from his brother, Aaron.  Ask God to help you assemble your team with the right people as you go.  He will bring you the right people and opportunities when the time is right- in his time.

Are you sick of playing the victim and ready to take control of your own life?  It has to start today.  It starts by making the decision to do the exercises outlined above.  It starts by taking responsibility for your life and killing the victim mentality.  It starts when you stop complaining about the problems in the world and start doing something productive towards fixing them.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared in advance so that we would walk in them.

God bless

Jason Fredrick

An Eye for An Eye? Maybe Not.

 1 Peter 3:9

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  Instead, speak a blessing, because you were called for the purpose of inheriting a blessing.

People like to misuse the Bible verse that says, "...an eye for an eye," but look at what Peter says here.  He says don't repay evil for evil.  This is a more impactful way of saying, "two wrongs don't make a right."

In fact, "an eye for an eye" is the authority  given to the governing authority to punish crime, not to individuals to seek out selfish revenge.  If you read further in that section of the Old Testament, God also says, "It is mine to avenge."  So Peter's point here is consistent with God's commands throughout all of history.

Peter's point is that we are never justified to sin.  Just because someone breaks one of the Commandments and hurts us, we don't then have license to break one of the Commandments and hurt them.  We are each held accountable by the Lord for our own actions, not the actions of others.  Retaliation and revenge are tools of Satan.  We see him implementing those tools very effectively all across our country right now.  

It is pride and arrogance that fuels hatred and destructive behaviors.  Rioting isn't about justice, it's about advancing personal political agendas.  It's about advancing Satan's agendas: his tighter control over his foolish slaves, and his war against Jesus and His children.

That's why Peter tells us how to live for Jesus: don't retaliate and bless even those are attacking you.  This is how Jesus expects his children to act in the face of oppression.  Jesus is not some detached deity who issues these decrees from an ivory tower, he experienced greater persecution and injustice than any human will ever know.  Jesus is the Son of God and people rejected him for telling the truth.  They killed him for telling the truth.  People still reject him and hate him for revealing his true identity to mankind.  This is why Jesus can, and does, tell us not to avenge ourselves.  Instead, we are to model him.  We are to live for him.  Our lives are to be living sacrifices to him.

If you truly are a follower of Christ it is time to stop living for this world, and start living for him.

Jesus loves you!  He died for you!  He rose from the grave so you can be with him for all eternity in heaven.  It's time to stop living for your selfish desires and store up your treasures in heaven.

Your life matters to Jesus, and his opinion is the only one that matters.

God bless

Jason Fredrick

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

You're Either for God, or You're Against Him

 John 8:39-47

"Our father is Abraham!" they answered.

"If you were Abraham's children," Jesus told them, "you would do the works of Abraham.  But now you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard at the side of God.  Abraham did not do this.  You are doing the works of your fathers."

"We were not born of sexual immorality!" they said.  "We have one Father: God."

Jesus replied, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and I am here.  Indeed, I have not come on my own, but he sent me.  

Why do you not understand my message?  It is because you are not able to listen to my word.  You belong to your father, the Devil, and you want to do your father's desires.  He was a murderer from the beginning and did not remain standing in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  Whenever he lies, he speaks from what is his, because he is a liar and the father of lying.  But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me.  Who of you can convict me of sin?  If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?  Whoever belongs to God listens to what God says.  The reason you do not listen is that you do not belong to God."

Jesus is very clear with the Pharisees here.  If you are fighting against his Son and everything he is teaching, you don't belong to God.  The Pharisees try to justify themselves by claiming their blood relationship to Abraham.  They were biological children of Abraham.  Their problem was that they thought this was enough to save them and make them right with God.  They had missed the point.

Abraham was saved by faith.  He trusted God's promise to send the Savior through his son Isaac. "Abram believed in the LORD, and the LORD credited it to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:6)  Abraham's obedience to God's commands was a result of his faith.  His obedience is not what saved him.  This is what the Pharisees were missing.  They thought Abraham was saved because of his obedience to God's commands.  That is how they were trying to be saved.  By their own actions.  By their obedience to the law of Moses (and some they had added themselves).

Sadly, this is still going on today.  There are groups who claim to be Christian, but everything they do and stand for is violently opposed to what God's Word teaches.  Some claim to be Christian, but they embrace and promote homosexuality.  Some try to look Christian, but they militantly threaten violence and lawlessness.  These are acts of rebellion against God, not faithful obedience to him.

Jesus gives us the way to measure whether or not a group of people are following God and doing his will: "If you were Abraham's children," Jesus told them, "you would do the works of Abraham."

If a group or organization is truly Christian they will submit to God's commands.  Even when it means submitting to oppressive authorities.  No where in the Bible does God command us to fight for our own rights.  He doesn't even give us permission to do this.  Instead he says, "It is mine to avenge, I will repay." (Deuteronomy 32:35)  And also, "Everyone must submit to the governing authorities.  For no authority exists except by God, and the authorities that do exist have been established by God.  Therefore the one who rebels against the authority is opposing God's institution, and those who oppose will bring judgment on themselves." (Romans 13:1-2)

If you are going to ally yourself with a group or organization, you had better understand exactly what they stand for.  You are either with God, or you are against him.  If you support a group that is against God by their words, beliefs, and actions, then you have set yourself against God.  By siding with God's enemies you are rebelling against God.  God does not command us to fight for social issues, or social "justice", or even to make sure everyone is happy.  He has given us just two commands:

1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

If you are not doing both of these to the best of your ability, you are fighting against God.  If any group you support is willfully attacking these commands, you have yoked yourself to children of the Devil.  You have set yourself against God by your association with those who hate him.  Don't get caught up in Satan's lies.  Don't get caught up in fighting for what you think is your right, or what you think is owed to you.   Instead submit to the Lord, and trust that he will work everything out for the good of those who love him.  Nowhere in God's Word does he promise us an easy, peaceful life.

The only true peace comes from Jesus.  It is faith in Jesus that brings peace, knowing that one day we will be with him in heaven.  It is because Jesus perfectly submitted to the governing authorities that we are saved.  If he would have fought for his rights, he would not have gone to the cross to pay for all of our sins.  Thankfully, Jesus has paid for our sins of selfish rebellion by his perfect obedience to the Father's plan.

Jesus has shown us all how to honor and obey all the authorities God has established in our lives.

God bless

Jason Fredrick

Live Beyond Reproach

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Genesis 14:22-24

Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted up my hand to swear to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or sandal strap or anything that is yours, so that you cannot say, 'I have made Abram rich.'  I will take nothing except that which the young men have eaten and the share belonging to the men who went with me, namely, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.  Let them take their share."

Abram is demonstrating a key leadership principle here.  "Live beyond reproach," or "Avoid even the illusion of sin."  What Abram is doing here is making sure that no one can make any claims against him at some future date.  He isn't going to take any of the spoils of his military victory so that the king of Sodom can't make any claims against him in the future.  There won't be a time later when the king of Sodom can take credit for making Abram rich.  Abram is very intentional about making sure that the only one who can lay claim to his blessings is God.

There are several lessons here for leaders today.  As a powerful leader in this region, Abram knew that anything that he took from this battle could be leveraged against him at some future date.  The kings of Sodom could have used this to try to create the illusion of alliance between Abram and themselves.  Abram wanted to make it clear there that there was no alliance between them.  They were not in fellowship.  Abram was simply fighting for his nephew, Lot, and his family.  What we know of the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abram did not want to create the perception that he agreed with what was going on in those cities.

Here's another application for today's leaders.  Don't put yourself in a position where someone can make an accusation about you.  It should go without saying to stay clear of situations where you could be tempted to sin, but don't even put yourself in a position where someone can make an accusation against you.  One of the biggest areas to guard yourself against is sexual misconduct, both real and perceived.

Here are a few general rules to keep yourself from these temptations and accusations:

• Never ride alone in an elevator with a person of the opposite sex who is not your spouse.
• Never have a closed door, 1-on-1 meeting with a child or a person of the opposite sex.
• Do not attend events where you know sinful activity will be happening.
• Guard your close associations.  Be mindful of who you allow into your inner circle.
• When traveling, never allow yourself to be alone in a hotel room with a person of the opposite sex.
• Avoid swimming pools and hot tubs when children or a person of the opposite sex are utilizing them.

These guidelines must be applied with some common sense, but it is important to be thinking of these things as you go through your life.  If you are a leader, people are watching.  If you are a leader, you are responsible for other people.  You will face enough temptations in life; don't willingly or thoughtlessly put yourself in a position to be tempted to sin or be accused of sin.  You have a responsibility to the people you are leading.

A leader must sacrifice his personal ease and desires for the sake of the community that he has been trusted with.  Sometimes it is really inconvenient to do the right thing.  The leader does the right thing anyways.  Sometimes you have to give up something that you really like to avoid temptation.  A leader gives it up anyways.  As leaders, we are responsible for other people.  We must not give them permission to sin by our thoughtless or sinful actions.

Godly leaders store up their treasures in heaven and live beyond reproach.

God bless

Jason Fredrick

God Loves Us, Even When We Sin

Genesis 28:15

Now, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back again into this land.  Indeed, I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised to you."

God loved Jacob.  Even though he had just deceived his father and brother to steal Isaac's blessing and Esau's birthright, God still promised to bless him.  God's plan was to fulfill his promise to Abraham through Jacob.  Jacob was blessed because he was chosen by God.

Like Jacob, we have all failed to trust God's plan at different times in our lives.  Our times of selfishness may not have resulted in such animosity as Jacob's, his brother plotted to kill him, but they certainly have damaged relationships.  Especially our relationship with God.

Thankfully, like Jacob God has forgiven us all of our sins.  Even the sin of selfishness.  Jesus perfectly obeyed God's plan in our place, because he knew that we can't.  We are forgiven because of Jesus.  God has chosen us to be his own redeemed children.  We can let go of all of our sins and stop running from him.  He loves us.  He has sent his Son to die for us.

All of your sins have been forgiven!

God bless

Jason Fredrick

What Will Your Legacy Be?

What's your family's legacy?  Have you ever thought about it?

Most people don't.  Most people don't give it a second thought.

If you died today, what would your legacy be?  How would you be remembered?  Would you be remembered?

The Scripture text that we are looking at today is Genesis 25:19-34 and Genesis 27:1-40.  

This is the account of the birth of Jacob and Esau, and then Jacob stealing the birthright and blessing from his brother Esau.

If Esau had been able to carry out his plan to kill his brother, this would be Jacob's legacy.  He would only be remembered as a deceiver and a cheat.  This is what happens when we don't trust God's plan for our life, and we try to take matters into our own hands.  We end up hurting people with our self-serving attitudes and actions.

In this account God had already told Rebekah, Jacob's mother, that He favored Jacob.  He had told her that "the older will serve the younger". (Gen. 25:23)  God already had it worked out that the Savior would come from Jacob's line.  Jacob would be blessed.  Yet even with that promise, Jacob stole Esau's birthright; and then Rebekah plotted to have Jacob steal Isaac's blessing.  The blessing that he was going to give to Esau.

This is quite the family mess.  Esau gets so angry that he actually plots to kill his brother.  Do you have any messy situations like that in your family?  Interestingly, if you do it probably centers around the same type of situation: Family inheritance.  

Sadly many families are torn apart when the parents die and it comes time to settle the estate.  Even when there is a will that spells out clearly who gets what, there is still hurt feelings and animosity between family members.  It's sad how many families fall apart after mom and dad die.

Thankfully, this doesn't have to be your legacy, or your family's legacy.  You can choose instead to love and serve your family.  Jacob could have made much better decisions when it came to how he treated his brother.  Jacob could have trusted God's plan and patiently waited for it to be revealed.

Don't take this too far.  It is not our job to try to guess God's plan for every detail of our life.  It is our job to use the intelligence and logic that he's given us to figure out how best to serve him.  As long as what we want for our life isn't sinful, and we don't have to sin to get it- then go for it.  Ultimately, the best question to ask when trying to figure out your path in life is:  How can I best serve Jesus?

That question will guide you in every decision you have to make.  If you make the mission of your life to serve Jesus to the very best of your ability you won't go wrong.  You may have to course correct from time to time, but you won't fall into the same trap as Jacob.  This question will help keep you from hurting other people for the sake of your own gain.  Staying focused on Jesus will help you from being too focused on yourself.

That is how you build a meaningful legacy.

God bless

Jason Fredrick

God Calls Imperfect People to Leadership

Genesis 15:5-7

The LORD then brought him outside and said, "Now look toward the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them."  He said to Abram, "This is what your descendants will be like."  Abram believed in the LORD, and the LORD credited it to him as righteousness.  He said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession."

Abram believed God.  God gave him an unbelievable promise.  Abram was about 85 years old when God made this promise to him.  His wife, Sarai, was about 75 years old.  So when God told Abram that his descendants were going to be as numerous as the stars it wasn't easy to believe, but "Abram believed in the LORD".

Faith is a crucial trait for a leader.  A leader is always out front, going places he's never been before; doing things he's never done before, things he doesn't even know how to do.  Sometimes, as in Abram's case, God gives us a vision that we can't even understand- it just doesn't make sense based on our current reality.  Without faith, the journey never begins.

The reality is that doubt will creep in from time to time.  In this account of Abram, in the very next chapter he allowed the doubts of his wife to influence him.  Sarai doubted God's promise.  She knew that she was way too old to ever have a child.  She didn't just let her doubt affect her though, she worked hard to spread it to Abram.  Not only did she doubt God's promise, but to make it tougher for Abram she came up with what she felt was a better solution:  She offered up here beautiful young servant girl for Abram to have a child with to fulfill this promise.  Unfortunately, Abram gave into this temptation.  He took the servant girl to be his wife and she became pregnant.

This is the reality for leaders living in a sinful world:  There will always be an opportunity to doubt God's plan and promise, and do things our own way.  A way that is not in line with God's plan.

Another lesson here form Abram is that temptations to sin will come at us from every direction.

Abram believed God, but just like Adam he listened to his wife instead of trusting God.  Nothing good happens when we follow any ideas that contradict God's Word, but a wife's influence with her husband is significant.  This is why it is so important for a leader to be on the same page with his wife.  Many a would-be leader has had his journey cut short because his wife would not support him in his endeavor.  When this happens most give up.  

Usually the few who do persist end up sacrificing their marriage.  

Occasionally, a couple actually gets it together together: 

The wife submits to her husband's leadership and chooses to become a Godly wife.

The husband commits to the vision and pursues it in a way that convinces everyone that this isn't just another passing fancy.  

The bottom line is that no matter where you're leading, you have to lead at home first.  If you can't lead your family, you won't be able to lead others for very long either.

This is something that even Christian leaders often miss:  If you are married, your first call is to be a husband.  Your second call is to be a father.  Everything else comes after your primary and secondary calls are taken care of.

Abram/Abraham is the ultimate man of faith.  In the book of Hebrews he is held up as the greatest hero of faith.  Like all the leaders in the Bible, there are many great lessons to learn from studying the life of Abraham.  He was a real man.  He had many successes.  He had some failures...some big failures, but God forgave those failures and fulfilled his covenant with Abraham- that the whole world would be blessed through him.  Jesus came from Abraham's line.  That is how the whole world has been blessed through him.

Just like Abraham, God has forgiven us all of our failures.  No matter how hard we try, we still sin every day.  Thankfully, God forgives us all of our sins for Jesus' sake, and still uses us, imperfect sinners, to do His will and carry out His plans.

God bless

Jason Fredrick 

Financial Wealth: A Blessing from God

What is the most misquoted verse in the Bible?

I'm sure three or four just ran through your head.

The passage that I have heard misquoted and misused most throughout my life is 1 Timothy 6:10:

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Even if this isn't the first verse that you thought of, it probably made your list.  Carefully read this verse and then think about how it is so often misquoted, "Money is the root of all evil."  

Look at how drastically different the misquote is from what Paul actually says.

The reality is that financial wealth is a blessing from God.  If you read Genesis 13 and 14 you will find that the problems that surfaced between Abram and Lot's men were a result of their vast, and growing wealth.  "But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together." (Genesis 13:6)  God blessed Abram with abundant financial wealth.

We see a similar situation with King Solomon.  When God told Solomon that he could ask for anything and God would give it to him.  Solomon asked for wisdom.  Because Solomon asked for this, God gave him all the things he didn't ask for: wealth, power, etc.

Wealth is a blessing from God.  The real money question that needs to be  answered is:  Will you be a faithful steward of the blessings God has showered upon you?

The reality is that evil people do evil things with the blessings God has given them.

It is the responsibility of Christians to use every blessing God has given them to bless the world with those blessings; making every effort to honor and glorify God by leveraging the blessings He has entrusted to our stewardship.

Don't insult the Lord by slapping His hand away when He tries to bless you with the gift of money and wealth.  Realize that He is entrusting to your care a powerful tool that you can use to bless and influence the world you are living in.  God knows what He's doing.  He has given you your gifts and blessings for a specific reason.  Figure out what that reason is and commit to using all of your blessings for His glory.  

That means even the money He has entrusted to your care.

God bless

Jason Fredrick

A Message from the Lord to the World's Rulers

Psalm 82

A psalm of Asaph.

1 God presides in the great assembly;
    he renders judgment among the “gods”:

2 “How long will you[a] defend the unjust
    and show partiality to the wicked?[b]
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;
    uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

5 “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
    They walk about in darkness;
    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”;
    you are all sons of the Most High.’
7 But you will die like mere mortals;
    you will fall like every other ruler.”

8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
    for all the nations are your inheritance.

What You Believe About the Bible Matters

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Does the Biblical account of Noah really matter?

Does it matter if we believe it to be true history?

It's so hard to even imagine a flood that covers the entire world, so doesn't it make more sense to just explain Noah's flood away in some way that makes sense to human "wisdom"?

These are all questions that haunt the Christian church today.  Too many so-called Christians will tell you that it doesn't really matter what you believe about the Flood.  The Bible says differently.

Many so-called Christians will tell you that the book of Genesis isn't true, literal history.  The Bible doesn't give us that option

It is hard to imagine a flood that covers the entire world.  Human wisdom and imagination are minuscule compared to the infinite power of the Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

If this is the case, if the historical Biblical account of Noah and the Flood are true, then what is its significance?  Is it only important for proving the idiocy of molecules-to-man evolution? 

The account of Noah and the Flood is significant for a number of reasons:

1. It shows us God's patience.  He wants all people to repent and be saved.

Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.

The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.  The LORD was grieved that He had made man on the earth, and His heart was filled with pain.- Genesis 6:3,5-6

When God decided to judge the earth with the Flood, He gave the people 120 years to repent of their wickedness and turn back to Him.  All of the people who perished in the Flood (the whole word -8) had no excuse.  Over the course of these 120 years Noah was building the ark.  Noah was a righteous man who walked with God, so it is reasonable to believe that he was preaching and warning the people about the coming judgment the entire time that he was building the ark.

God gave those people a "time of grace" of 120 years, and he gave them a preacher who warned them of the coming judgement.  That is infinite patience and love.  Even though these people were totally wicked, God was still willing, and desiring, to forgive them.  God also displayed His final act of patience with these people by keeping the door to the ark open for seven days after Noah and his family had  entered it.  God wanted all of the people to be saved.

God is still that patient with us.  The reason He doesn't bring the Final Judgment on our world is because He wants more people to hear about Jesus, to repent, and be saved.  But just like in Noah's day, His patience will come to an end one day.  And when His judgment begins it will be too late for last minute conversions and repentance.  It will be just like in Noah's day when the rain began to fall.  The ark was closed up and it was too late for people to change their mind.

2.  The Flood symbolizes baptism which saves us.

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.  In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.  It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to Him.- 1 Peter 3:18-22

An important thing to note here is that the water of the Flood is symbolic.  Baptism is not.  Baptism is real.  It works every time.  It saves by the Holy Spirit working through the water and God's Word to create saving faith in the person being baptized.  EVERY TIME!  Baptism saves!

3.  God's covenant with Noah, and us, after the Flood was over.

The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in His heart, "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.  And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.

"As long as the earth endures,

seedtime and harvest, 

cold and heat,

summer and winter,

day and night

will never cease"

-Genesis 8:21-22

Then God gave the rainbow as a sign of this covenant.  It is a reminder to us and Him of this promise to never destroy the world again with water (Genesis 9:12-16).  Because of this promise from God we don't have to be scared when natural disasters strike.  We don't have to be scared of Satan's lies of Global Warming, or Global Cooling, or Global anything else.  God is in control of His creation.  We are not in danger of our world being destroyed at the hands of people, because people are not powerful enough to override God's covenant.  He will sustain our world until the Final Day.  The day of Final Judgment.  On that day the world will not be judged with water, like in Noah's day, but with fire.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.  The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?  You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.  That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 

-2 Peter 3:10-13

There are more lessons than this that you can pull out of the account of Noah and the Flood in Genesis 6-9.  There is a lot in those four chapters of Scripture.  I have focused here on what I believe to be the three most important lessons.  All three of these points show how the Flood points to, and connects His people to Jesus.

So, after all of this, does it matter what you believe about Noah and the Flood?

Absolutely!  If you reject the account of Noah as being true, literal history, you reject the entire Word of God.  If God's Word isn't trustworthy in these four chapters of Genesis, then it isn't trustworthy anywhere else.  To reject the authority of any of the Bible is to reject all of it.  To reject the Bible is to reject the One who has given it to us- Jesus (John 1:1-5).  To reject Jesus is to reject our Savior from sin.

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.  Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."  It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. -Hebrews 10:26-31

Jesus died for every sin of every single person.  We are forgiven because of His death.  We have eternal life through His resurrection.  We know all of this because God has told us through His Word, the Bible.  All of God's Word is important.  All of God's Word is true.  What you believe about the Bible matters.  It matters a lot.

God bless

Jason Fredrick

Sibling Rivalry

Genesis 4:2b-5

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.  But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.  The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favor.  So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

We all know how this story ends:  Cain kills his brother out of jealousy and envy.  Sadly, this attitude is not foreign to us today.  Whether it's in our actual family or in our church family, sibling rivalries are real.  In the family, siblings are constantly competing for mom and dad's attention and favor.  In the church, brothers and sisters compete for honor and recognition.  

In the family, mom and dad need to recognize when this is going on and address it so that it doesn't get out of control.  Unfortunately, in some families, parents actually feed this destructive attitude, playing siblings against each other.  Sometimes, even playing their children against their spouse.

The same is true in the church.  The pastor and elders need to recognize when this is happening and address it.  Unfortunately, sometimes in the church the one jealously competing for recognition is the pastor.  This is just as destructive in the church as it is in the family.

The reason Cain's offering was not acceptable to God had nothing to do with his brother.  It had everything to do with his own heart.  Instead of hearing God's rebuke and repenting, Cain decided it would be easier to get rid of his brother who was making him look bad.  Cain's bad response only made things worse.  Cain's bad response seems to have established his family's legacy:

Lamech [Cain's great-great-great grandson] said to his wives,

"Adah and Zillah, listen to me; 

wives of Lamech, hear my words.

I have killed a man for wounding me,

a young man for injuring me.

If Cain is avenged seven times, 

then Lamech seventy-seven times."

-Genesis 4:23

It is amazing how sins of fathers get passed along from generation to generation.  We aren't told much about Cain's family history, but it seems like his rejecting God was a curse on his family for generations...possibly forever.  Certainly we see that Cain's grandchildren had their selfish attitudes reinforced.  They were willing to resort to violence and murder when their own egos were bruised.  Much like Cain, Lamech does not repent for committing murder, but instead he tries to justify himself.  This is the generational legacy that rebellion against God establishes.  This is why God later says to Moses that He will punish the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Him.  

If you are caught in a sibling rivalry anywhere in your life, today is the day to humble yourself and start working to resolve it.  Turn to the Lord.  Repent for your selfish contributions.  Apologize to all you have hurt.  Ask God to give you a humble and loving heart.  He loves you.  He sent His Son to die for you!  You don't have to compete with anyone for His attention.  He is able to pay attention to each and every one of us.  After all, His attention and approval is the only one that matters.

God bless

Jason Fredrick