Praise... Darwin?

In 1963, it took only one atheist to take Bible-reading and prayer out of our schools.

Now they want to stop Gideons from giving Bibles to school kids, remove reference to God on our money and in the Pledge of Allegiance, change B.C./A.D., stop public prayer, ban nativity scenes, etc.

The "Freedom From Religion Foundation," is placing billboards around the country trying to offend Christians so that the national media will film their billboard, promote their website, and thus help gain support to fulfill their godless agenda. They want to take from Americans the liberty that we have to freely worship God.




Darwin Day, February 12th, 2009

More than 350 locations around the world are celebrating Darwin Day -- the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin. Atheists will no doubt use it to further their cause. Many universities and even the National Geographic and Discovery Channels are planning to celebrate. This is a big deal.

We want to pull the plug on the rising tide of atheism, so we have created a website called www.PullThePlugOnAtheism.com on which you will find short email-able articles and clips that show evolution and atheism to be both unscientific and, for want of a better word, stupid.

We are also planning our own billboard campaign:



We want to know:

1. Do you have any contacts in billboard companies that could help us make these a quick reality? CONTACT US NOW: newsltr@livingwaters.com - we need to move fast.

2. If you would like to make your own arrangements to have a billboard put up in your area, we can supply you with the artwork above. Just let us know you need it: newsltr@livingwaters.com.

We would value your prayers.

Thank you.
Ray

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The first thing that comes to most of our minds when we think about the phrase "persecuting Jesus", we think about those abroad who are brutally beating and/or killing Christians. It seems our minds often carry us to the extreme when we consider most things. At least, that's the way my mind works. But the Lord our God's mind doesn't work that way. He cares intimately about every minute detail, i.e., God has numbered every hair on our heads (Matthew 10:30), God stores every tear in a bottle (Psalm 56:8), the Lord considers any who angrily slanders or hates another to be a murderer (Matthew 5:21-22 & 1 John 3:15), and our holy God considers lust to be adultery (Matthew 5:27-28).

In the eyes of our holy God, who lives in pure light, every little detail is seen and matters to Him. The Lord told us that He does not look at things like we do. We make sketchy judgments based on our limited vision and finite knowledge. God makes righteous judgments based on His infinite vision and infinite wisdom. For God, it is all a matter of the heart - for this is where sin is conceived and if we allow it, will grow and bear fruit.

By human standards, I haven't persecuted Jesus and don't on a regular basis. I'm not out slandering Christians, mocking them, beating them or even trying to kill them. Why would I, I'm a Christian myself! By human logic, this makes no sense to even consider that I, a follower of Jesus Christ would be persecuting the One I claim to love! The very thought is not only a bit insulting, but almost an impossibility! But it is not. For I have recently discovered that in my Christian life, I have persecuted my Lord and Savior and have (multiple times) grieved my the Holy Spirit with whom I am sealed until the redemption of my body (Ephesians 4:30-32).

By God's standard, persecution isn't the extreme things we think of. It is the subtle things we don't even consider at times. I'll give you an example. How often have you chosen to do something, whether it be something "good" for your family, ministry work, volunteering, feeding the poor, etc., but instead of praying and asking God if this is how He would like it done? Well, the answer for me, is - countless. So many times in my life I've done things for Christ, but in a way I thought seemed best at the time.

I'll let Oswald Chambers speak, since he makes this point very clear:

"Every time we stand on our rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we are persecuting Jesus. Whenever we stand on our dignity we systematically vex and grieve His Spirit; and when the knowledge comes home that it is Jesus Whom we have been persecuting all the time, it is the most crushing revelation there could be.

Is the Word of God tremendously keen to me as I hand it on to you, or does my life give the lie to the things I profess to teach?"

King David did this very same thing with his first attempt to bring the Ark of God back to Jerusalem. The idea David had was great! It was very honorable, very noble and everyone around him agreed! But the only problem is, in his haste, David didn't bring the Ark of God back the way God said it must be done; thereby causing the death of Uzzah who irreverently touched the holy Ark of God.

David had a great idea to do something for God, but he did it in his way.

How often have you done this? How often have you decided that you were going to do something for Jesus, and had all sorts of ideas about how you were going to go about it, yet never once consulted the Lord first?

"The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of one thing only -- a perfect oneness with the Father...All I do ought to be founded on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly."

Merciful and most holy Father God, forgive me. Forgive me for being so immature in thinking that somehow I can do something for you - as if you needed me. But oh, Lord how I am so in awe of the fact that You don't need me, but allow me the honor and privilege to participate in Your glorious work! Lord, help me with my pride! Help me to remember that I must do things for You, Your way, or it truly is no longer for You, but for me. Help me to always see this truth. Thank You most gracious LORD for loving me in spite of myself. Thank You for compassionately calling out to me, "Sunny, Sunny, why are you persecuting Me?" so that I might be stopped in my haste to do something "good", yet am trampling on Your will instead - as I insist on mine. Forgive me Father God. I love you truly, with everything I have and all that I am. May oneness with You be my only hearts desire and motivation for all things. Amen.

Every time I read in Scripture "servant of Christ Jesus" or something of the like, I used to only have the concept that it meant I was "in His service". But without really considering it, I had been "in His service" most often than not, in order to receive a reward; whether here on earth (like accolades and praise) or in Heaven - our eternal treasures.

But as time passed, I began to cringe at the thought of doing anything in the name of Jesus, for any kind of "reward", even heavenly rewards. To encourage me through difficult trials, people have often said, "Press on Sunny, press on! You know this is for your eternal reward! You'll have treasure in Heaven, far better than any of this and a crown of glory!" Now, I know that they all meant well, but still, inside - I would cringe. I began asking the Lord why I felt this way. I began to ask God why I couldn't receive this encouragement from my brothers and sisters. Was I being prideful? Was I caught in some sin I wasn't aware of? What was it that caused me to cringe every time I heard this?

What was a servant of the Lord to do? What exactly does a servant of the Lord look like and what is a servant of the Lord's mindset?

Then I noticed something in the Bible. Regardless of translations, there is always a footnote whenever the word "servant" is used and the footnote always says, "Or slave; Greek bondservant". I thought, "What's the difference? Aren't they the same thing? And if so, why make a note of it?" As I asked all these questions, my Lord answered by inspiring me to do something very simple, "look it up." I did, although I wasn't sure why; especially because I thought I already knew what both of these words meant. It turns out, I didn't.

As you can see from the definitions above, there is a huge difference between the two words. Most of us will simply explain that both words describe a person who is in service to another. While this definition is close, it is not accurate and misses a very significant difference. A servant is "paid", or "rewarded" for their service. While a bondservant expects no payment or reward for his service.

It was then the Lord taught me that while He does give us treasure in Heaven, this should not be the motivator for me to serve my Him. Instead, I must take cues from Moses and the Apostle Paul who both stated that if they could, they would give up their own eternal life in Christ Jesus to see others come to salvation.

I know we will all agree that there is no greater reward than our eternal salvation. Yet, these two faithful brothers in the Lord, due to their great love for God, desired to give up their own salvation; their greatest reward, if by any possible means this would bring God more glory, and fill our Father God's heart with joy and gladness. WOW! Now, that's agape love returned to God!

Of course, the Lord clearly answered "No" for only Jesus Christ is qualified to be the propitiation for anyone's eternal life.

This brings me to Romans 1, where the Apostle Paul opens his letter with this salutation:

"Paul, a servant [bondservant] of Christ Jesus..." I'll stop here. I've read this probably hundreds of times, but I recently noticed that when I read Scripture, I have a tendency to just run over the salutations. But this time, as I prayed for God to make known to me, His ways, to teach me His paths and to lead me in His truth (Psalm 25:4-5), the Holy Spirit quickened me to stop at this salutation and meditate on it. I did, and here's He showed me:


Honestly speaking, I know that I could've never (in good conscience) introduced myself this way before, as I haven't always behaved as a bondservant to Christ, but as a bondservant to my dead and disgusting flesh; insisting to have my own way. While I may have not been able to do this before, I should've been able to - and plan to from now on.

For the past few weeks, before I write anything to anyone, or say anything to anyone, I will (maybe not out loud, lest I cause others to stumble) in my heart and mind say, "Hello, my name is Sunny, a bondservant of Jesus Christ." Do you know what I've noticed since I began doing this? It has drastically changed what I do, how I do things, and the attitude in which I do them; whether they be in writing, in daily chores, in speaking--in everything.

I've noticed that in the past few weeks, I speak less. I fight and argue less. I less often insist on my opinion and better that all this, I've found that keeping this in the forethought of my mind has caused me to hear God's Holy Spirt much clearer and better!

Won't you join me? Begin to introduce yourself everywhere you go, in your heart and mind, "Hello my name is [insert your name here], a bondservant of Jesus Christ." Then wait and listen intently to what your Master is speaking to you and you'll know exaclty why I have this huge grin on my face right now! ♥

I thank God for all our faithful brothers and sisters at Living Waters/Way of the Master Ministries.

I'm especially thankful for how God has charged them with the task of exhorting and equipping saints to join the battle for souls for the glory of Jesus Christ.

None of us know when our last day is, so let's live like it's everyone else's - and lovingly, with great passion and without watering down God's truth, share with them, the Way of eternal life; through Christ Jesus alone.

I was so incredibly encouraged by this video. I pray that God will ignite your heart to preach the Gospel to those who are now, where we were once....in a position of enmity with God. May we be so humbled and grateful for our own salvation, that we burn with passion to share this gift of life with others.