Tag Archives: Trust

Respect & Authority

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Coming into the church broken has not been easy. But going against the Bible’s warnings can incur judgment and delay our growth. The purpose of this video is to share lessons I have learned the hard way to spare you the pain of making the same mistakes:

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” 1 Peter 4:19

1) Respect your elders.
Tough… popular culture says no. The Word of God says Yes.

“Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”
1 Timothy 5:1

2) Submit to authority.

Don’t touch (rebuke) the Lord’s anointed (1 Chronicles 16:22).

Advice to my younger self: Do not sign on to work within a ministry or organization unless you are aligned with the leadership and willing to follow the rules. If you sign on and later realize it was not what you expected, follow the rules as best you can until you are able to move on. Respectfully asking questions is ok.

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
Hebrews 13:17

3) Don’t judge.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”
Matthew 7:1-3

4) Don’t envy. (compare yourself to others)

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21

5) Trust the sovereignty of God.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28

6) The Lord will avenge.

“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Romans 12:19

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:19-21

7) Forgive. It’s in your best interest.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15

The Lord chastises those He loves. If you have erred similarly, apologize, repent (Matthew 5:24- first make it right with the person, then with the Lord) and move on.

“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.”
Hebrews 12:6

My Story 3a: Envy

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“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

Bible passages referenced in this video:  John 1:6-8, Mark 16:15, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Psalm 24:1, Matthew 28:18, Philippians 4:7, John 10:10, Philippians 4:19, Psalm 37:25, Exodus 14-16, Philippians 3:20, Romans 8:28, 1 Thessalians 4:13-18

Click here for the full song “Farther Along”.

Click here to watch “My Story”.

Click here to watch “My Story 2”.

My Story 2: Lessons

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“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:8-10

Bible passages referenced in this video:  Matthew 7:1-3, Revelation 5:12-13,  1 Corinthians 6:20, John 1:12

Click here to watch “My Story”.

My Story: Ex-Gay

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“If a man is not born again, he will not see the kingdom of God.” – John 3:3

Re-enactment of our founder’s deliverance from the gay lifestyle and related sin.

Bible passages referenced in this video:  Matthew 19:26, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 19:16, Matthew 24:7, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 4:17, Galatians 5:22-23, Nehemiah 8:10, Matthew 7:13-14, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:18, 1 Corinthians 15:31, Hebrews 13:8, John 1:14, Hebrew 12:29, Matthew 28:18, Revelation 5:12-13

Click here to watch “My Story 2”.

What Does God Want from Me?

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“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”   – James 1:2

Sometimes it is hard to believe that hurtful trials where we are beaten up by our closest friends could ultimately work in our favor, but if we are in Christ, they do (Romans 8:28).

I have seen a lot in this life. And I realize that you have endured much also.

Let’s have a cup of tea together and share lessons learned. If you don’t mind, I’ll go first….

First I need to repent and put my faith and trust in Jesus (Matthew 3:2; Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:9). I should place no confidence in myself (Philippians 3:3). After all, I am just a sinner saved by grace. Apart from Jesus, I can do nothing (John 15:5). So I trust Him and place my confidence in His power, not my own. My goal is not prove to others that I am a finished work or to have a righteousness of my own. Instead, I trust in the righteousness of Jesus Christ and strive to follow His orders (1 John 5:2-4). The Lord knows all things (John 4)- past, present and future. He knows my sin even before I commit it and promises to forgive me if I ask (1 John 1:9). So trying to hide my sin from Jesus is useless. Although He knows I will sin again and has already provisioned for it, I should fight against sin with His power. When temptations come, I must remember that I belong to Jesus.

This tea is delightful. Did you put lemon in here, friend?

I grew up in a small village in the 1980s. When neighborhood kids offended one another, parents grouped us together and ensured that apologies were given as appropriate. I need to remember this. Although not easy, what a game changer to teach kids for later life. If I am not able to admit that I am wrong, how did I accept Jesus in the first place? The gospel is not the gospel without:  “For all have sinned…” (Romans 3:23).

So what does He want from me?

He wants me to love Him and to use His love coming through me to genuinely love other people (Romans 12:9; Matthew 22:36-40). He wants me to be obedient to Him (1 Samuel 15:22). He wants me to be “true blue”. He wants me to have a burden for the lost- where His heart is- and to take action (Matthew 28). I was also once lost and should never forget the pit from which I came. Many are still there. He values a genuine relationship with me so much that He died to purchase me with His own blood.

“He has told you, O man, what is good;  and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”   – Micah 6:8

It’s your turn, friend…