Guest Blog

Are You Drifting?
by Jay Jones

Two young men were fishing one day near their hometown. Being so focused on their goal of catching fish, they didn't realize their boat had drifted so close to the dam's rushing water until they were too close to turn back.

Caught by the current, their boat was swept over the dam into the crashing water below where the forceful flow of water pulled the young men under. They never came to the surface. It took days of searching before they found one body, and days later the other was located.

Though the dangers of drifting away physically can be all too serious, drifting is not limited to the physical realm. In Hebrews 2:1, we're given a warning by the author against drifting.

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip."

It's a sad fact that many Christians are presently drifting toward spiritual destruction. Why don't you ask yourself a question right now. Say to yourself, "Self, are you drifting?" Now let me ask you a question. Would you know it if you were?

One thing I've learned about drifting is that it requires no effort on our part. All we have to do is stop rowing the boat, and we begin to silently wash away in the current. With Christians, it's the same, which is why Paul (assuming he wrote the letter to the Hebrew church) stated that we, "must give the more earnest heed..."

Another thing about drifting is that it's an unconscious process. It's possible to drift away and be completely unaware that it's happening. Undercurrents are often undetectable beneath the water's surface. In a plane, the wind or forces of gravity move the plane without you even realizing it. Similarly, many Christians and even whole churches have slowly drifted away unawares only to wake up one day and find themselves so far away from where they intended to be.

Have you ever considered that drifting never happens up stream, or against the tide? When we just "let go", it is physically impossible to move contrary to the natural forces. If we are to be faithful to God, we have to be careful never to stop rowing. 2 Peter 1:5 instructs us to continue "adding to your faith". 3:18 tells us to "grow in grace", implying that we should not get into the "drifting" pattern.

The moment we stop growing, we begin a backwards, or downstream descent. Jet pilots will tell you that the faster the speed, the more dangerous and difficult it is to control. With that in mind, consider that speeds increase as the water moves downstream. When we hear the waterfall's thunderous crashing, it's altogether too late. When we lose sight of land, it's more difficult to discern that we're drifting. And as we move farther and farther away from God, the less we care about what we do and where we're going.

Just as a ship that is out of control on the open waters, a drifting Christian becomes a danger to the other vessels around it. Many are "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine" when Christians begin to drift. And consider this... everything that drifts must eventually come to a stop. Unfortunately, that halting motion is most often crashing upon the rocks, or over the falls.

Hebrews 2:2-3 says that, "every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;" Neglecting our purchased salvation will always end in calamity.

So, how will you know if you're beginning to drift? Here are a few signs to look out for:

• The desire to study God's word begins to fade
• Prayer time is replaced with other pursuits
• You avoid spending time with God's people
• Church attendance is no longer of primary importance
• Church fellowship is replaced with worldly fellowship
• The desire to share the Gospel with other people fades
• You begin finding fault in others

But beside avoiding these telltale signs, there is something more that you can do to safeguard against drifting.

• Keep rowing. Spiritually speaking, this involves being diligent in your walk with God. Actively develop the fruit and gifts of the Spirit.
• Watch out for undercurrents. Be on guard against things that will distract you in your walk, like temptations, bitterness, etc.
• Go against the tide. There are many tides that intend to sweep us away, like popularity, peer pressure, praise of others, skepticism, false doctrines, liberalism, apathy and complacency.
• Get anchored. It's difficult to impossible to move an anchored vessel. We should be rooted and grounded in Christ (Co 2:6-7), anchored in the truth (Eph 4:14-15), with an unshakable hope (Heb 6:18-19).

The danger of drifting is very real, and we should do all we can to avoid it. Many great Christians that we know have fallen away from God... what makes us think it could never happen to us?

Are there signs of drifting in your life?

1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:1-3)

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Joy is a choice!

The American Dream. The pursuit of happiness. We've heard it. We've read about it. And while I thank God that I live in a free country, the pursuit of happiness is futile.

Why?

Because happiness is based on chance and circumstance. If I'm broke, I'm not very happy. If bad things are happening, I'm sad, not happy. On the other hand, if I win Publisher's Clearing House millions, then I'm happy. Now that the sun is finally shining, I'm happy. It's payday, so I'm happy.

You see - happiness is futile because it's based on chance and circumstance.

Joy, on the other hand, is based on Christ and choice. Regardless of the circumstance, I still have the joy of the Lord.

Nehemiah declared that the "joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)

Peter called it "joy unspeakable and full of glory." (1 Peter 1:8)

Jesus said that this joy that he gives, "no man will take away from you!" (John 16:22)

Now that's a pretty powerful and absolute statement. And of course, it's true! God cannot lie. His Word is truth. The joy that He gives, no man will take from you!

Is it any wonder then that the second fruit of the Spirit is joy, followed only by love. You see, we experience God's love and then because of that great love, we get a joy that becomes our strength, is unspeakable and full of glory, and then we realize that NO ONE CAN TAKE IT AWAY!

Therefore, I submit to you that the only way to lose your joy is if you give it away.

Make the choice to be full of joy. You know that when your down to nothing, God is up to something, so smile, sing a joyful song and encourage yourself in the Lord.

Now, I must also be fair and tell you that bad things happen and sad times come; but I'm in the "BOOK"

"...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalms 30:5b KJV).

Guess what else happens in "the morning?"

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion's fail not. [23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV)

Mark Condon wrote the following words in a song titled, "The Joy of the Lord:"

• I feel the joy of the Lord falling fresh on me. I feel the joy of the Lord delivering me. I feel the joy of the Holy Ghost. It's all over me!
• I HAVE BEEN LOOSED, I've been set free, so pardon me a moment while I have a jubilee, for the joy of the Holy Ghost is all over me!

Experience His joy today... it's yours!

The Building of the Lord

Presently we are remodeling our church building. In so doing, the old things are being replaced by the new. In the process of redoing the ceiling, there was well over 200 feet of speaker wire, and many other feet of loose wires and cords. As well, there was a number of electrical wires that needed to be properly put in junction boxes to be safe and up to code. Heat exchanges had to be moved. Valves needed to be added. The new ceiling needed to be leveled. And the list could continue on and on...

Of course, during all this, I began to think of the spiritual application. Go figure - a preacher finding a "preaching point" out of this...

Consider that this building is very old. The builders did the best they knew how for the cheapest price they could. But change is inevitable. We need more space for our children's ministry. And therefore, we need to do this work.

Here's the spiritual connection - while the message NEVER changes, the methods MUST. In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, the principle of building upon the foundation already laid for us is presented. We shouldn't have to keep re-building the foundation, it already exists. Therefore, we must build upon (remodel) and make necessary changes.

If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.

Make your Christian life fresh. Try praying outdoors. Kneel instead of stand. Ask God for wisdom to know your specific purpose, and then practice it.

Discover God in fresh ways.

Be creative in the way you study His Word.

We are "building upon the foundation already laid" here at 133 Fort Fairfield Road. You too already have a foundation - Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone and the apostles and prophets are the foundation. This is implying His Word. Now build upon that. Be a better parent. Be a better spouse. Be a better child. Live by faith, be known by love, and be a voice of hope.

Like Home Depot, God says, "You can do it, I can help."

Like Lowe's, God says, "Let's build something together."

What are you building? Read through 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Some will build with wood, hay and stubble which are all surface elements. Other's build with gold, silver and precious stones, these are elements that must be "dug out" and discovered. Fire will be applied to our "works." If it's wood, hay and stubble, it will be consumed by the fire. If it's gold, silver and precious stones, the fire will make it more valuable by taking away the impurities.

Let God help you build something of value.

I've lost my "faith in God"

Sabrina was attending Sunday school and every child that day was receiving a plaque with the words, "Have Faith In God" as the motto. Sabrina boarded the Sunday school bus that would take her home and realized that she did not have her plaque. She frantically jumped from her seat, and ran screaming to the driver, "Stop the bus! I've lost my 'Faith in God.'"

Some say that faith is the gift of God. So is the air, but you have to breathe it. So is bread, but you have to eat it. Some are wanting a miraculous feeling - goose-bumps - but that is not faith!

Roman's 10:17 declares, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." We cannot sit and wait for faith to come over us like an emotional sensation. Faith is taking God at His Word!

George Muller said, "Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends."

Andrew Murray observed, "We have a God who delights in impossibilities."

F. B. Meyer proclaimed, "You do not test the resources of God until you try the impossible."

We must possess "NOW Faith." Hebrews 11:1 says, "NOW faith is..." We cannot live in yesterday's. I thank God for the victories of the yesterday. I praise Him for His grace to face the hard times. But I cannot have a "good-old-days" mentality. Neither can I have the "when and then" mentality. I do look forward to what God has in store for tomorrow, but I cannot live there. True faith is NOW faith! The reason Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus was NOT because His friend had died. He wept because no one expressed NOW faith. Everyone was either saying "If you HAD been here" or "On that day" referring to the resurrection of the dead when Christ appears the second time. Jesus said plainly to them all, "I AM the resurrection and the life." He made it clear that it was present tense!

Now, some of you are thinking, OK Pastor, that's all great. You've got it together. You've been to Bible College. You have the red telephone in your office that's a direct hotline to God. You're a preacher. And what about the bad stuff that happens. What if someone has faith but it still don't work out?

Well, some of that is true - not about the red phone though - so to answer the question, we must also have "But if not faith." See Daniel 3:18. Here's the scoop on the story - The 3 Hebrew boys will not bow down to the idol that Nebuchadnezzar has built. He's infuriated and demands to know why. He even says that he'll give them another chance. They answer him saying that they don't need a second chance, and that their God - Jehovah - will deliver from the fiery furnace and from the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. Then they say something that seems strange and contradictory. In verse 18, they say, "But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image you have set up." What these 3 Hebrew boys were saying was that EVEN IF God didn't deliver them, they still weren't going to bow down before an idol. They realized that if they bowed they would burn in eternity, and if they didn't bow they would burn temporarily. They made their choice and declared their allegiance to the One True God!

"But if not faith" means that I serve God regardless of the outcome! If you read Hebrews 11, you will find that a lot of the heroes of the Bible could testify of great victories, but as you read through Hebrews, you will also notice that a lot of other heroes were "sawn asunder, burned, etc." However the key is found in the words, "These ALL obtained a good report through faith."

Here's my encouragement to you today - live by faith. Expect great things from God. Remember that He's Sovereign. Notice the word "Reign" in the word sovereign. God reigns supreme. Jesus was telling Peter that he would be a martyr for him. Peter pointed to John and wanted to know about John's demise. Jesus responded, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow me." WOW! Jesus said it pretty plain. In our lingo today, it might have come out like this, "It's really none of your business Peter how I decide who dies naturally and who dies as a martyr. Just follow me."

If the bus is pulling away, and you don't have your plaque, stand up and scream, "Stop the bus; I've lost my faith in God." Just like Visa's old ad said, "Don't leave home without it."

Looking in the Mirror

Have you ever looked in the mirror and didn't like what you see? Remember going to the "House of Mirrors?" Remember laughing hysterically?

The Bible has been called many things:

• Guidebook
• Road-map
• Treasure-chest

The Bible include's metaphors of itself too:

• The Bread of Life
• Two-Edged Sword
• Mirror

That last one is not as popular or well known; however, it's a very important part of what the Bible is to us. We are to look into it's pages and see if our lives mirror Christ. We call it being "Christ-like" or "Christian."

Now, let me ask you again, "Have you ever looked in the "Mirror" (God's Word) and didn't like what you see?"

I have.

Many times.

And to think, I'm a pastor... AAAAAHHHHHH... I know, I know; the bubble just busted for some of you who thought that I was perfect and sinless. I'm sorry to disappoint you. Now, I can honestly say to you that I don't "willfully sin;" however, I've certainly made my share of mistakes in life and some of them just hours ago.

My point is this -- if things are to change, then the first "thing" to change is me! I must look into God's Mirror and realize what I'm doing that needs change, and then take appropriate action. Now, I can also be encouraged because of things that I'm doing well and right, and this can build my faith to change my weaknesses to strengths. All too often we think everyone or everything else should change, when in reality, it's us that need the change.

Now, think about this for a moment. Every 5,000 miles -- I use synthetic -- I get the oil changed in my Honda Accord. They also change the oil filter. They check other fluids and filters and make appropriate changes as is needed. The result is that my car runs smoother and cleaner. Now, imagine with me for a moment another scenario...

I'm driving along in my Accord and it's sputtering and spitting, chugging and choking. Black smoke blowing out my exhaust pipe... Snap, crackle and pop under hood (and it's not Rice Krispies)... and you see me driving down Bennett Drive, and I'm yelling at everyone else in front of me and around me, blaming them for MY problem... would that make any sense? Of course not!

I know I exaggerated the story a little bit there, but I think you all get the point. If we will just observe ourselves in the Mirror, and make appropriate changes, it's a win/win/win/win = God wins, you win, the church wins, and the lost win! God wins because you please Him by being honest. You win because you become a better person. The church wins because since you're better, you can offer more to the Kingdom of God. And the lost win, because they see genuine Christianity, not hypocrisy!

Go ahead. Take a long look in the "mirror" today. What do you see that needs to be changed?

Take a Stand

1985. The Nelons (Southern-Gospel Singers). The song:

"It's time we the people, stand up for what is right! It's time we squared our shoulders back and raised our swords to fight. For the Bible is our weapon and the Spirit is our shield. The Church needs more of it's members to be workers in the field."

While the song is old and "faith" is actually our shield, the point is this - the USA continues to lose ground. Why do we allow retailers in this country to exploit the Christmas Holiday and make billions of dollars, but have to be careful when, where and to whom we say, "Merry Christmas?" What has happened?

The tragic truth is that the world is predicting the fall of our country. Their prediction is based upon the fact that we do not stand for moral principle. (See the Drudge Report, and the Bible).

I've never been a doomsday prophet, and refuse to become one now. Neither am I an alarmist. I do however realize that the more we allow judges, politicians and atheists to chip away at the moral fabric of our country, the closer we get to extinction!

Divorces outnumber marriages and more couples are choosing to live together rather than marry. Homosexual marriages are becoming the hot topic of elections, and even infiltrating the church.

More and more people are joining churches that require little or nothing of them, claiming that the rules of righteousness are just too restricting. The Bible told us this would happen - they would have itching ears, wanting teachers that would tell them what they want to hear, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof."

What can we do? How can we make a difference? I'm glad you asked! We must be the salt of the earth. Salt effects and influences what it comes in contact with. Salt is an agent of change. Salt preserves. And salt that stays in the salt-shaker is not worth anything. Get out of the salt-shaker and starting making a difference in your world. Take a stand for righteousness in your home, on your job, around your neighborhood, and at your school.

We need God in America again! We need God in our churches again! I'm all for technology, new songs, fresh vision and forward progress. I'm also all for the outpouring of God's Spirit. I'm for "the sound from heaven." All too often churches are having a sound, but it's an uncertain sound and it's not from heaven.

It's all about God! He's the Main Attraction! It's His Church; and His blood purchased it! Laodicea had wealth, clout and other "things." And study of the 7 churches of revelation, reveal that Laodicea was possibly the largest of the churches. But the thing that Laodicea was missing was God Himself. He was on the outside knocking to get in.

Take a stand today. Let God arise upon you and shine His glory through you. Remember, you are the light of the world. A city that is set upon a hill cannot be hid. Discern the spirits of this world. Be wise as serpents, yet harmless as doves. Raise the banners of truth and love and take a stand for righteousness.

It's been wisely said, "If you don't stand for something; you will fall for anything."

Lord, send the rain

Persecution.

It's a word that conjures up thoughts of brutality. Lions racing into an arena... burned at the stake... publicly flogged... These are all things that we would just as soon avoid if at all possible.

We all love the goosebumps. We enjoy the victories. We rejoice when things are going well. But what about persecution? Is it really beneficial? Why does it happen?

Consider the children of Israel. Under the leadership of Joseph, his brothers moved to Goshen during a time of famine in their homeland. A few years after the death of Joseph, a Pharoah is born that remembers not Joseph and enslaves the Hebrews... for over 400 years!

Many have asked why.

I beleive God revealed the answer to me the other day when I asked that same question.

The reason that persecution came was that God never intended for them to remain in Goshen. The blessings of Joseph's foresight were only to be a temporal fix. They were not to remain there. God had better things in store for them. But they grew comfortable and complacent.

Notice that this persecution brought about a desire to be delivered!

The early Church was persecuted for the name of Jesus, yet the Gospel spread throughout the entire known world at that time.

Recently, Brother Tuttle was with us. We were talking about growth and I remarked, "We need a new thing." Brother Tuttle said, "No Brother Powell, we need persecution." Now, as you can imagine I was perplexed by this, but he went on to explain his statment using the testimony of Scripture. Everytime persecution arose in the church, it just spread it further and farther. Renewal is already here. It exists within His church already. The kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU!

What we need is some persecution to shake us out of our complacency. One elder preacher proclaimed, "My job is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable!" The lethargic Laodiceans were told to be zealous and repent of their lukewarmness.

Lord, send the rain...

United

Uniqueness. Differences. Varying gifts and abilities.

We are not clones! God does not take His "cookie cutter" and mold us all the same. Besides our physical and racial differences, there are spiritual differences too. Yes, all of us have the same Holy Ghost. All of us receive the same justification. All of us are saved unto works (santification) and strive for holiness within and without. However, we are not all the same.

Some of you reading this blog are divinely gifted to teach children. The rest of us (me included) have a hard enough time with our own children.

Some of you reading this blog have been given the gift of musical ability. Others receiving this email do make a joyful noise unto the Lord, but wouldn't want to be asked to sing or play an instrument.

Others of us reading this blog (me included) are gifted as part of the five-fold ministry to equip the saints. The rest are happy they don't have to worry about preaching/teaching every week.

The point is this: all of us are One-God-Apostolic-Jesus Name-Born Again Believers! All of us share the common goal of pleasing God. These and other things we all do. We don't all have to be same to please God. So what of our differences?

Differences are not dividing points. Of the 9 gifts of the Spirit, they are categorized into three groups of three each, and then each of those are even singular in purpose. However, they all accomplish one goal = edifying the Body of Christ. There are many members, but each member serves to create ONE body! Instead of having a right foot, left foot, right hand and left hand that you had four right hands. Oh, we might as well imagine that your two ears are also two right hands. If any of you have a vivid imagination, you are wondering if I had too much pizza last night (LOL). You see, we understand the importance of having the different members to make up one physical body; the same is true with the spiritual.

The US Army is currently using the slogan, "An Army of One." This does not mean that there is literally one person doing all the fighting/protecting. Nor does it mean that there is only one grouping of fighters. There are helicopter pilots, tank drivers, plattoon sergeants, company commanders, snipers, infantry, etc. and so forth. However, each of them performing their duties faithfully and consistently create an Army of One!

Rather than point out our differences, let's celebrate the fact, and unite as an army of one. The prayer that starts our "Our Father, who art in heaven" is commonly called "The Lord's Prayer." And while it is a beautiful model of how to pray, the real Lord's Prayer is found in John 17. Here Jesus prayed that we would all be ONE! Jesus understood differences. He called fishermen, tax collectors and scholars to be His disciples. The Bible is full of people with vast differences, yet they are men or women of faith (read Hebrews 11).

Unity is not union nor is it uniformity! A marriage is a union, but we all know that many times there is not unity in that marriage. Uniformity CAN be at times good; however, we are not "clones." Unity realizes the differences of all, yet brings us together in the common goal of fulfilling the Great Commision = Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature!

Spend time praying today and thank God for the gifts He has given you. Thank God for those you worship with and the gifts God has given them. Let's unite together, using our God-given talents for the kingdom of God. Remember, we are not to compare for that is unwise. We are to be thankful for what we have and celebrate the gifts of others.

A New Thing!

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. [19] Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Don't get too comfortable in your present situation -- change is coming! God is doing a new thing! It is happening NOW; today; right here! Contrary to the lies of the devil, YOU ARE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AND AT THE RIGHT TIME!

If the enemy has you confused, stand your ground and look up, God is making a way in your wilderness.

If you're thirsty in the dry desert, be prepared for a cool, thirst-quenching gulp from a brand new river.

If you think parting the Red Sea was something; just wait until you see what God is going to do today!

If you think a young boy with faith in a great God defeating a giant is remarkable, just wait until God gives you the victory today!

Be encouraged by the treasure of His Word. Be empowered by the life principles that are embedded therein. Experience what God wants to do through you, and envision that THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Throwing Stones

We are approaching that day when we get to cast our vote, and all too often for the lesser of two evils. The signs litter our roadways. The ads sling mud at each other. The tighter the race, the dirtier the mud. One wise person said, "He who slings dirt, loses ground."

I'm glad Jesus chose not to sling dirt.

Or throw stones.

When the crowd gathered around Him, throwing the woman caught in the act of adultery at His feet, they demanded that something be done.

In a way that only Jesus could, he ignored them and started writing in the sand. What He wrote, we may never know. Messages have been preached about it. Books have been written about it. But no one will ever truly know.

We do know what happened next though. After the crowd became more beligerant and demanding, Jesus didn't sling dirt or throw stones, instead, He said, "He that has not sinned, let him cast the first stone." One by one, stones feel from hands to the dirt, leaving the woman at his feet with no accusers. Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

What we sometimes overlook is that Jesus had every right to throw the first stone. He was without sin. But instead of throwing stones (or slinging dirt), Jesus chose to write in the sand.

Maybe He wrote, "I forgive you."

Maybe He wrote, "I love you."

Whatever He wrote, the fact is that Mary Magdalene walked away that day a changed woman.

Let's pause a moment today to thank God that He doesn't throw stones or sling dirt. Let's be thankful He writes in the sand.

Blessings.