Godcaching (Feb 22)

Some of you may be familiar with the hobby of geocaching. According to the official website, “Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.” (www.geocaching.com) Basically, you put a log book (tablet), a pencil (for writing in said log book), and whatever else you want (trinkets, coins, etc.) into a watertight container and then you place it somewhere (out of general sight). You check the coordinates on your GPS and then you can list your “cache” on the website. People may then go through the listings and attempt to find the caches when they are out hiking or exploring. I can be like looking for a hidden treasure – with exact coordinates to help. I have never tried this hobby, although every time I hear about it, I think that it sounds interesting. It can probably be pretty fun if you have partner or small group and combine it with hiking or biking and perhaps a picnic.

Many people are searching for God. But it seems that some just wander around aimlessly, following their own intuition and think that they may eventually happen to stumble across what they're looking for. Have you ever tried to find a place based on someone's vague directions? They sort of knew where it was but couldn't really give a good description. It may have taken you awhile to actually find the place. Imagine if you knew there was a hidden treasure on an island, but that's all the specifics you had. It would almost be hopeless as you randomly searched. Even if you had a map, it wouldn't be exact and you may be off by quite a bit. That's why I mentioned this hobby of geocaching. Not only do you know that there is a hidden treasure in the area—you even have the coordinates. That has to be many times better than a map—let alone just a vague description or directions!

Now, I want to tell you: in your search for God, He doesn't give you vague directions and then go hide Himself as best as He can. No, He gives you the exact coordinates. That's why I called it Godcaching. He wants you to find Him. He tells you exactly where He'll be and exactly how to get there. Now, if any geocachers get to reading this on my blog or listening to the recording online, they'll probably be shaking their heads. “No, Joel,” they'll say, “you may have the coordinates to pinpoint the location, but that doesn't make it easy. A GPS device is only accurate to so many feet and the box may be well hidden or it may have gotten moved.” I'm not saying that you won't encounter any difficulties or run across any obstacles if you go out Godcaching. God gives you the coordinates, but you still may have to do some searching. I'm just saying that it's no use going out and wandering aimlessly, hoping to somehow stumble upon God some day. He gave us the Bible. He answers our prayers when we call out for help or direction. It's all there.

John 14:4-6

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

The Honest Christian (Feb 15)

This past week, there was a special day that many celebrated to some extent. That day, of course, was Lincoln's 200^th birthday. I think that if we were to think of words to describe Lincoln, one thing that may come to mind is honesty. I think that is the first thing that came to my mind, as I remember the nickname “Honest Abe” from back in my school days. Three days ago, the nation honored Honest Abe; today I would like to discuss the honest Christian.

Psalm 15:1-3

1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend.

The question is asked, “Who will abide with God in the holy place?” The answer is given: the one who walks uprightly, works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart—the honest Christian. I'm sure there are literally thousands of examples that I could give where Christians are shown to be honest or dishonest. Possibly the most obvious example would be when people tell lies. If you often lie or are deceptive in other parts of your life, then it's pretty obvious that you lack honesty and would have a hard time reconciling that with what we've already seen about the honest Christian and he who dwells with God. But today, I want to look at a few other examples of things that Christians say that turn out to be lies.

- You say you know God.

But, you don't obey his commands. You do not know Him. You lie and are not an honest Christian.

1 John 2:3-6

3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

- You say you love God.

But, you don't have love for others. You do not love Him. You lie and are not an honest Christian.

1 John 4:20-21

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

- You say you heard a word from the Lord.

But, you have added to the word, twisted its meaning, or taken it out of context to justify your own thinking. You have made the truth a lie and are not an honest Christian.

Proverbs 30:5-6

5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6 Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

- You say that you want to know God and you want to live for Him.

But, you don't really mean it in your heart. You say these things to make yourself feel better or to have a better reputation before other Christians. But you speak of desires that are not really in your heart. You lie before God and are not an honest Christian.

We could look at many, many more examples, but this should suffice for now. Perhaps some of them described lies that you have in your heart. Maybe you didn't lie on purpose. Maybe you think you know God, and say so, but you are not obedient. Maybe you think you love God, and say so, but do not have love for someone else. Maybe you think you want to know God and live for Him, and say so often and with much fervor, but you just really don't mean the words—you're not really willing to let go of all of the other things. Maybe you thought you were telling the truth in all of these things...but you're just being dishonest with yourself, with others, and with God. Don't fool yourself any longer. Allow God to show you the areas of dishonesty in your heart today. It's time to deal with those things and come to God for forgiveness. It's a dangerous place to be lying to God. Do you really think that you can pull one over on Him? Examine your heart. Are you one righteous before God, to dwell in His holy place? Are you really a Christian in your heart? Honestly?

Proverbs 12:22

Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.

By Now You Ought to be Teachers (Feb 8)

How many sermons do we need to hear before we simply take God at His Word? There comes a time that we can become gospel hardened because we don’t allow our heart to respond in faith to the Word of God. We are called to be living epistles read and known to all men. Now is the time to allow our lives to be an example of the faithfulness of God. It is time to let our family and those around us take notice because we have an unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. You may be the only Bible your neighbors will ever read.

Please follow this link to listen to a message delivered by David Wilkerson entitled, "By Now You Ought to be Teachers." This message was delivered to Times Square Church on January 11, 2009.

http://media.tscnyc.org/mp3/20090111S1.mp3

Video is also available if you prefer...
http://media.tscnyc.org/wmv/20090111S1.asx

Do Your Part (Feb 1)

Each one of us has a specific part to play in the kingdom of God. We each have a purpose and a place in the will of God. The part we play may not always be the same, but if we are paying attention to the will of God, we will always know our place and our calling. We should always be ready to do our part, whether it is sharing the Gospel with someone, preaching, teaching, or even praying in secret. All the parts are important in the kingdom of God, and we should not neglect the thing that God has given us to do. This is why we should be open to His will—so we don't miss that opportunity that He has prepared for us.

1 Peter 3:15-16

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

We should always be ready to do our part. God may have an opportunity for us and we should be ready to respond. If someone asks a question, we need to have our heart open to God to know the best response in each situation (see Mark 13:11). If God wants me to teach, then I need to do my part. If God wants someone else to teach, then they need to do their part. Sometimes God calls me to teach, sometimes to be praying. Sometimes God calls me to have something to say to someone, sometimes to be silent and let my life do the talking. Do you see what I mean? We need to be ready to do our part, whatever it may be.

This really jumped out at me a couple of weeks ago, which is when I started putting this together. We have a rotation in the teaching schedule for Youth Bible Study. We all prepare every week, but only one person leads through the lesson each week. A couple of weeks ago, it was not my turn to lead, but since the leader wasn't there, I had to step up and do the part. You see, since it wasn't my turn, I could have approached the evening with the idea that I'd just sit back and let someone else do it. If I had followed that thinking, then what would have happened when I got there and found out that by default I had to lead? Nothing would have been prepared and God's message may not have been delivered to the people in attendance. I could have had the attitude that I'd let someone else handle the lesson since it wasn't my turn. But God said, “Do your part!” My part is not always to teach. But it is always to be ready. Even if I am not to teach, I still prepare (because maybe God will lead me to share a thought or two during the lesson) and to pray (because the leader needs prayer and the hearers need prayer). You may never be called to teach. That may not be your part. But you do have a part. God is calling you to some form of service for Him. It may be something big where you're in the spotlight (like teaching or leading, etc) or it may be something more “behind-the-scenes) like prayer, etc.

And if God calls you to something you didn't expect at the spur of the moment, then you need to be ready with an answer. You need to be ready to do your part. How often have you had the temptation to just sit back and let others do the work? Do you ever get the attitude that your parents or the leaders in the church can be involved in outreach, special services, spreading the gospel, etc., etc., and you can just sit back because you're just a kid, or you're just a regular member of the church, or whatever other reason? When is it time for each one of you to step up and do your part? The time is now!

Mark 13:11

But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.