The Truth Will Set You Free

We are studying John 8:31-47 on Sunday. In this passage Jesus tells us that the truth about him and the salvation he offers will set us free from the bondage of sin. Here is a provoking video about slavery and human trafficking in the world today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EJY_nq7Ujo

What light does this video shed on our own bondage to sin?

What is the role of Christ-followers concerning issues like human trafficking? (Ephesians 2:8-10)

How can the truth of Jesus sent these women and girls free?

What are you / we going to do about it?

These are the probing questions that came to mind when I watched this video.

Let me know what you think.

JasonPS

Is Church Important?

This morning I have a question rattling around in my head and pricking my heart. “Is church membership, attendance, and participation really that important?” Maybe you have asked this question at some point. Perhaps you are secretly asking yourself some variation of this question right now. If so, you are not alone. A quick look at church membership and attendance numbers in America will show that, even if people say they believe in Jesus, they don’t act like church is important to them. The short answer to our question is, “yes…and no.”

First, for the “no.” Belonging to an institution or participating in a religion is not important in the eternal scheme of things. If that is how you see church membership, attendance, and participation, then you are excused. If we approach church purely from a sense of duty, obligation, or religious ritual then we are completely missing the point. Don’t get me wrong, duty and obligation have their place (and one can argue religious ritual does as well). But they are empty and powerless on their own. The husband that kisses his wife each morning out of duty alone does not honor his wife or testify to their love. The same can be said of the wife who each evening asks her husband how his day has gone not because she cares but because she feels a sense of obligation. Who wants to have such a relationship? If that is how you approach church, then no one would fault you for not investing much in it. Thank God that there is so much more!

Now, for the “yes.” There are so many reasons to answer, “Yes, church membership, attendance, and participation is very important!” I can’t cover them all here so I will try to point to some of the most important reasons. First, grace through faith in Jesus alone is what saves a person from sin and transforms a one into a Christ-follower (Ephesians 2:8-9). Clearly, church membership does not save anyone. (Side note: that is why there are plenty of unsaved people at church. Are you trusting in Jesus alone as your savior or do you depend on your good works?) So, why invest in the local church? Three reasons: Treasure, Family, Mission.

Treasure. The Bible describes something amazing happening inside people who follow Jesus. They begin to value God more and more. In fact, Jesus describes it like a man who finds a buried treasure of unparalleled value. So the man sells everything he has so that he can by the land which contains the treasure. When we follow Jesus we begin to value God more than we value anything else. The expression of this is worship. When we highly value God, we want to proclaim His value to others and with others. Church helps us do that. We get to gather with other believers to celebrate the worth of God. Worship is about God, not about us. If worship has little meaning to you, explore how much you value God. If you can think of better ways we can worship God together, share your ideas with us. (Isaiah 26:8-9)

Family. We see over and over in Scripture that God puts followers of Jesus together for important reasons. These local groups of believers are to function as a healthy family or as a body made up of equally valuable but diverse parts. I know that a healthy family is the exception rather than the rule in today’s society. But Jesus brings us together so that we can protect, support, encourage, and grow each other. We celebrate together, we bear each other’s burdens, we meet needs, we serve, and we share our resources. If you are a believer in Jesus, then you have much to benefit from a healthy church family. Likewise, you have much to contribute the family. Even if you are a tough guy who “doesn’t need anybody,” there is a role for you in the body. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Mission. When we are called to follow Jesus, He gives us a mission: “make disciples of all nations, baptize them, and teach them to obey my commands.” This is not a mission that is just for pastors or elders or missionaries or Sunday school teachers or other “special” people. This is a mission for every believer. Furthermore, it is a mission that is so weighty, so risky, so important, that it takes believers working together as a team to accomplish the task. Jesus puts local churches together so that we are stronger together than we are apart. Your strengths cover my weaknesses and her experience offsets his inexperience. One person’s courage emboldens another who is fearful. We are a team and we have a mission. Taking yourself out of the battle not only hurts you, it weakens us all. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

I hope that if you have been struggling with the importance of church membership, attendance, and participation you find these arguments compelling.

Lord, help me to value you more than anything else! Set yourself apart in my heart as my most prized treasure. Likewise, give me love for your people and passion for the mission you have put us on!

He must increase, I must decrease!

JasonPS

Anguish for the Lost...

I have recently been deeply challenged by the words of Romans 9:1-3. In these verses, Paul reveals that he feels pain for those who do not believe in Jesus. He writes, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen.” These words pierce me and expose my own sinfully self-oriented heart. May God open my eyes to see the glory of Jesus on one hand and the great spiritual need of the lost on the other hand. And may I be brought to my knees in anguish and sincere compassion to intercede for the lost and then may I be moved to rise and take to them the good news of Jesus our Savior!

Do these words of Paul resonate with you? Or do they reveal a lacking in your heart as well? Either way, let us take up with more fervency the task of interceding for the lost. Are you willing to join me in this battle? It is a fact that we invest in the things that we care about. Are there people that you love dearly yet who do not know Jesus as Savior? Fight for them on your knees! Do you have a heart to see your community reached with the Gospel of Jesus? Do battle for them! Is your desire to see Jesus glorified among all peoples and nations around the globe? Do the hard work of intercession! I look forward to standing with you on the front lines!

Lord, I sincerely confess my selfish heart. Break my heart with my own desperation for your grace through Jesus and move me to see the same need of those around me. Lead me to fight for your glory on my knees and to do the work of intercession for the souls of the lost. So let it be.

He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS

Does My Mood Matter?

This morning I woke up in a bad mood. Do you ever do that? I definitely have my share of those mornings. I am not much of a morning person and that has never been in doubt. Usually, I prefer to not talk for the first forty-five minutes of the day. I don’t like being this way and God has done a lot of work on me over the years to smooth some of my rough edges. But today started with one of those moody mornings…and it has been bothering me. Even in the middle of my bad mood, I knew that there were spiritual implications for the attitude I have each moment. That’s when I felt a rebuke coming. Do you ever get those gentle corrections that hit you like a punch and cause you to stagger back for a moment? In my heart I felt God reminding me that my life is not about me. Each moment I live is to be lived for the glory of God. Even the mundane moments of daily routine or drudgery or even suffering can be lived for God’s glory. It’s not easy and it does not come naturally and I am not very good at it… But God is working on me. To finish up this bit of self-revelation with a point, I just came across this quote that I wrote down while listening to a sermon a while back: “It is important that Christ-followers live abundant lives, joyful lives. And it is important that we be seen living joyful lives in Jesus.” I am thankful that God reminded me that the joy I have rests with Jesus and the attitude I choose to adopt in each moment has the potential to exalt Jesus in sight of those around me.

He Must Increase, I Must Decrease.

JasonPS

A Long Time Coming!

I can't believe that it has been so long since I posted. To say the least, we have had a few things going on. Excuses, excuses....

To cut to the chase, our move to the Seattle area has gone incredibly well. How about I just give a quick rundown of some of the wonderful ways that God has been so good to us and has answered prayers in perfect timing and provision.

-Wonderful host family (Mike and Nicole Leck) for our first three weeks.

-Transportation needs met (loaned van, rental car, purchased minivan and Honda CR-V)

-Apartment secured

-Belongings delivered

-Furniture purchased

-Wonderful support from the church

-God working through an inexperienced pastor

-Home in Brownsville, TN about to sell (to good friends of ours)

-The boys are adjusting very well

-We are meeting people and beginning to make friends and build relationships

I could go on and on. God has been so good to us and has blessed us tremendously. I am humbled that He has chosen to use us and is working through me despite my inexperience and many weaknesses. Any good that is being done is only God doing it!

He must increase, I must decrease.

(I get to preach on this passage [John 3:30] this Sunday, August 7!)

JasonPS

Wise Words From A Young Heart

We are just days from our big move to Seattle. We got to celebrate with Brownsville Baptist Church this past weekend and enjoyed a truly encouraging time of sharing with the congregation.

One tremendously encouraging conversation that I had was with Luke's Sunday school teacher, Jan McAdams. She told me that just that morning their class had been discussing how Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world to tell people about Him. She said that Luke immediately looked up and said, "That's just like me!" Sometimes it is ha

rd to tell whether our boys understand why we are moving and what is behind all of this big transition. But clearly, Luke gets it and this makes the task much easier.

"Thank you, Lord for helping our family follow you. Increase our understanding of your purpose for our lives and give us a greater desire to walk with you."

He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS

I Can't Wait!

Yesterday was Easter Sunday. We had a wonderful morning worship service at Brownsville Baptist Church followed by an afternoon of celebrating and visiting with people that we care deeply about. But what stands out for me yesterday was an experience that I think we don't have often enough.

Our church hosted an Easter musical called "Forgiveness at the Cross." The choir and the drama team did a fantastic job...but that is not the point. The final scene from the drama featured the risen and glorified Christ seated on His heavenly throne being exalted and worshiped by multitudes of people clothed in white, gathered around the throne and singing His praises.

While I know that we cannot even begin to imagine Jesus' glory to be revealed at that time, the scene gave us a hint of what we can expect. In that moment, one thought kept ringing in my mind: "I can't wait!"

I want to increasingly long for that day when Jesus will be glorified before all people. I want to be motivated by anticipation for that moment. And, I want to be God's instrument to bring more and more people to worship around that throne on that day!

"Lord, move in my heart that I would long to see Jesus high and exalted on His throne! Use me for your purposes, to bring more people to that wondrous day!"

He must increase, I must decrease!

JasonPS

Are you desperate?

Sin is as close to us as our own skin and we can easily become comfortable with this ever present enemy. After all, how do we consistently wage war against our very own flesh? We have to always be in a state of desperation! Not desperation in the sense of not knowing where to look for the answer or to whom to turn for relief. Instead, we know that our only hope for overcoming sin is in Jesus and the power of His Holy Spirit dwelling in us. But here is the rub: When we feel strong in ourselves or become confident in our own mastery over sin or comfortable with this sin or that hint of immorality, we have already begun to loose the battle.

I have been there... If you are a believer, then you have been there, too. We have to be desperate! We have to desperately depend on the grace of God to give to us the righteousness that we cannot achieve for ourselves. We have to desperately plead for Jesus to overcome sin in our hearts. We have to desperately walk in the Spirit each day, knowing that the moment we stop leaning on His strength, we will fall.

I have a couple of friends that are caught in this battle right now. They know that they are being beaten by sin and the consequences of their choosing sin are looming. But they are not desperate yet. They like the sin just enough that they don't want to take the drastic measures that will protect them. I am praying for desperation for them and for me. I don't ever want to forget that I am powerless without Jesus and that when I go into battle poorly equipped or in my own strength, I am doomed.

Hebrews 12:4 says, "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood."

What about you? Are you desperate in your struggle against sin? Are you desperately clinging to Jesus for victory over the sin that is never far from you?

"Lord, I have no power on my own. I have no righteousness on my own. I am desperate for you, for your presence in my life, for your power to bring victory to my struggle, and for your glory to be displayed through me."

He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS

My Wife is Awesome!

God has blessed me beyond measure with an amazing wife!

I can't even begin to tell you all of the ways that she is better than me or scratch the surface on how wonderful she is. This business of selling our home and most of our possessions, leaving behind our friends and family, and moving across the country to take on the role of a pastor is a big deal and Melissa is feeling the weight of it all. Still, she plows right along doing a fabulous job of being a mother and a wife and a friend.

Have you read Melissa's blog about the move? serving-in-seattle.blogspot.com

I have really enjoyed reading her thoughts and hearing her ideas. I have a new appreciation for who she is a woman and as a child of God. She stretches me to be better than I am!

"Lord, thank you for blessing me with such a wonderful wife! She truly does make me stronger and fills my gaps. Your wisdom and providence are beyond compare!"

He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS

Don't be a Ban!

Come on guys! It's time for us to step up to the plate!

I recently heard Darrin Patrick talking about Biblical manhood and he called us out! He was talking to young guys in the late teens to early thirties and he said that we are trying hard not to grow up. He said we would rather be a "ban" than a man. What is a "ban"? It is a guy who wants to look like a man and have the respect of a man and make the money of a man but have the freedom, responsibility, leisure, and entertainment of a boy.

God has given us real responsibilities and we must step up and act like real men.

In our personal relationships with Jesus, we must take responsibility and invest ourselves like we mean it.

In our relationships with our wives (or future wives), we have to live selflessly and purely so that we value and treasure them as gifts from God.

With our children, we must be heroes who show them the power of the love of God through the way we love them, train them, sacrifice for them, and pour out mercy on them.

In our jobs, we must work diligently as if working for God.

In our communities, we need to be known for our kindness and gospel witness.

In our churches, we need to be humble and faithful servants who lead with firm gentleness.

In our recreation and entertainment, we need to have the heart of God in mind as we refresh ourselves for His glory and not our own mindless enjoyment.

How can we live up to all of these responsibilities?!

It is not easy, but then, being a man was never supposed to be easy. Through Christ, we have access to the Spirit of God who empowers and guides us to success.

Let's banish the temptation to become a "ban" and settle for nothing less than godly manhood!

"Lord, give me the strength to live for you and not for myself. You know that this is a daily struggle. Empower me to fight for manhood in my own life. For your glory in my life and in my death!"

He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS

Living Pure in a Perverted World

Purity is vital!

This world in which we live and the very flesh in which we are clothed are both corrupted by sin. The perversion of God's good gifts is all around us and threatens to overtake us. We must fight for purity! And it is a hard, lifelong battle.

"How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word." Psalm 119:9

Here are two blog entries that discuss the practical ways we fight this battle to win:

http://www.equest4truth.com/pure.html

http://tomelliff.com/?p=870


"Lord, teach me to have a pure heart and live it out with pure actions and pure words. I know that on my own I lean toward impurity and my flesh draws me toward the perversion of your good gifts. Give me strength for the fight and put in me a heart that longs for you and the things that honor you! Make me a warrior for purity!"


He must increase, I must decrease!

JasonPS

Music That Inspires

Do you ever think about how important is the music we listen to? I try to have high standards for the music I listen to. While the musicality is important, I love to listen to music that has deep lyrics that push me to think. I want music that stretches me to think more deeply about God, about the wonder of redemption through Jesus, about powerfully living through faith, and about the tremendous mission to which we are called.

Sometimes this kind of music comes in unlikely forms. Recently I was sharing with a group of believers about the kind of music I listen to and why. When I shared that I am drawn to certain Christian rap artists, I could see amusement, shock, and disappointment on some of their faces. The point is not so much what the music sounds like. The point is what the music produces in me. I am stretched and prompted to grow by the music I listen to.

If you don't have that kind of music in your life, I encourage you to seek it out!

Here are some of the songs and artists I listen to. Check them out and then find your own music that moves you in the right direction!

Worship:

How Deep the Father's Love For Us- Joy Williams

Draw Me Nearer- Meridith Andrews

All the Way My Savior Leads Me- Chris Tomlin

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) - Chris Tomlin


The Mission:

Don't Waste Your Life- Lecrae

Every Man - Casting Crowns

Set the World on Fire- Brit Nicole

God of this City- Chris Tomlin

Go Hard- Lecrae

Send Me- Lecrae


Christian Living:

God is Enough -Lecrae

Bury Me- Tedashii

I Will Follow- Chris Tomlin

Slow Fade - Casting Crowns


"Lord, help me to do a better job of filling my mind and heart with music that praises you, lifts my thoughts toward you, pushes me to live more passionately and purposely for you, and opens my eyes to those around me who need you!"


He must increase, I must decrease!

JasonPS

Look at me!

I recently attended a ministry conference which had an emphasis on preaching and corporate worship. There was a wide variety of people who were given the responsibility for leading the worship and delivering the messages. As I sat through those meetings, I could not help but notice that some of the leaders were oblivious of themselves and were completely focused on giving glory to God. Unfortunately, a few of the other leaders gave the opposite impression. It seemed that they were saying, "Look at me!"

I recognize that I cannot truly know what is in the hearts of other men and women. However, the spirit or attitude in which one leads is a very important part of communicating the truth of God. Every believer, leaders and followers alike, must fight the temptation to think and act as if everything is about them. Here are a few thoughts on what attitude a godly leader should project:

Humility: a serious grasp of his/her desperate, sinful situation before a holy, righteous, and all-powerful God. This humility should also be a recognition that, apart from God's grace, they lack any ability to lead, to influence people for good, to know God, or to do anything worthwhile.

Confidence: not a confidence in his/her own abilities or qualities, but a solid confidence in Jesus and the truth of God. Where we are weak and insufficient, Christ is more than sufficient. Even in our strengths we must rely on Christ to fully achieve God's purposes.

Discernment: a serious desire to follow God's leading. When everyone is looking to a person for leadership, it is a hard thing to separate one's own opinions and feelings from God's prompting.

Direction: an understanding that there is a purpose and a mission behind what they are called to do. Furthermore, that purpose and mission is ultimately no different than the overall purpose for which God calls any person to faith. Namely, to glorify God by enjoying him in a deep and personal relationship through faith in Jesus and to guide others into that same relationship with God.


I pray that I will not just exhibit these qualities, but have a heart that has these attitudes firmly and permanently established as foundations.

"Great God, teach me to walk humbly before you and before those you call me to lead. Give me unwavering confidence in Jesus who is sufficient for all things. Give me discernment to sense where you are leading me and the direction to follow you passionately and purposefully. Lead me so that I may lead others. Let it be so in my life!"

He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS

God takes pleasure in me?!

Do you ever wonder what pleases God? It's not what we might think...not necessarily the good works we do or the money we give or the prayers we pray or the services we attend...Those are the outward things that on their own can't please God. Psalm 147 reads, "His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." It is sometimes easier to think that God is just OK with me and holds back his wrath out of mercy...which he does. But it is almost too incredible to think that the Creator of all the universe takes delight in me... and not because of the good I do, but only because I put all my hope in him alone. Powerful...

I am humbled by this truth.

"Lord, increase my faith. Give me such hope and joy in you that I am motivated to labor tirelessly and sacrificially for you! I desire to please you. Show me that it is my faith that pleases you and please make that faith strong and true. Let it be so."


He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS

Worth the risk?

It's hard to believe the amount of snow we have gotten this winter. Here I sit, watching another southern blizzard raging outside, knowing that when this one is gone, there is an even more severe storm on the way in just a few days. It has been kind of a popular joke that half an inch of snow will bring the south to a standstill causing schools, businesses, and churches to close and prompting a run on the grocery essentials like bread and milk. The number of snow days has begun to climb this winter. I can't imagine that many people mind the occasional snow day to cozy up at home and relax. For that matter, I wouldn't mind that right now.

However, here is the point I am trying to make. Thinking about church life, when is it worth the risk to not cancel our church meetings and worship services? Of course, we don't want any of our church family exposing themselves to unnecessary danger. But when is the danger a risk worth taking? When can we say, "What we are doing as the Body of Christ is worth risking our physical safety."? Or maybe we should evaluate what we do by asking, "Is this ______ worth risking our safety, our health, our comfort?".

Is worshiping the One, True, Living God of the Bible worth dying for? Is teaching the powerful truth of God's Word to hungry souls longing to grow and follow Jesus worth physical injury? Is sharing the Good News of Jesus' salvation with the lost and desperate world worth pain and illness? I hope you can join me in crying out, "Yes!"

Now, I know that it is one thing to talk this way and another to feel the weight of the responsibility for the safety of a church family. But this I do know: We are fooling ourselves when we think that our safety is really up to us anyway. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and die to ourselves. Let's make sure that what we are doing is worth dying for, and then we won't have to worry about whether to cancel services or not.

I am sure that I am in need of other insights on this issue, so I welcome your ideas and comments.

Still, here is my prayer:

"Lord, kill me! Help me die to myself, to my safety, to my comfort, to my health. Instead, make me alive to you, to your desires, to your purposes, and to your glory! Then, move me to follow you with passion and intensity, holding nothing back."


He must increase, I must decrease!

JasonPS

What does a church need to do to grow?

I was recently asked, "What does a local church need to do to grow and become all that God designs that church to be?" Here are my beginning thoughts on the matter.

I must say that this is one question that is easier to answer than to accomplish. When the local church is made up of followers of Jesus who deeply love God more than they love anything else, that sets the stage for powerful growth. Such a group of people will not let anything stop them from making much of Jesus in their daily lives, in the way they care for people, in the way they worship, and in the way they intentionally share the gospel. Creating such a consuming adoration for God in the hearts and lives of the church members should be a priority of the church. Powerful Bible teaching and fervent prayer are essential to leading the body as a whole and as individuals to follow Jesus with abandon.

"Lord, create in my heart such a love for you that I desire nothing more than I desire you and that will motivate me to pour out everything I am and have to bring you glory by making much of you in my life and in the lives of those around me!"

He must increase, I must decrease,

JasonPS

The Goals of My Ministry

As a minister of the Gospel I often think about why I do what I do. Here is a brief outline of my current thoughts on the purpose and goal of the ministry to which God has called me.


I do not desire to make a name for myself. Instead, I desire to make much of the name of Jesus both in my life and in the lives of others.


I do not desire to build a ministry. Instead, I desire to build the Kingdom of God by meeting needs and touching lives with the powerful truth of the Gospel.


I do not desire to grow a church. Instead, I desire to grow genuine disciples of Jesus Christ who will join together as the local church to cooperate together and encourage one another for accomplishing God's purposes.

I would love to flesh these out and add more but this is where I am in a nutshell.

I have so much room for improvement to live up to these goals!

"Lord, mold me, shape me, conform me, chisel me, prune me. I am yours and I exist for your glory. Make it so in my life!"

He must increase, I must decrease!

JasonPS

Contentedly Dependent...

About a week ago, I heard a sermon that caused me to start thinking about the need for me to recognize my daily dependence on God. My sinful self wants to believe that I can be self-sufficient and that I can meet my own needs or take care of myself. However, God wants me to live each day in complete dependence on Him. God's goal is not to restrict my life but to free it. He has my best in mind and living close to Him is the only way that I can experience the joy and ultimate satisfaction that He alone can provide.

This prayer seems to be a powerfully dependent prayer:

Proverbs 30:7-9
⁷ “Two things I ask of you, LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
⁸ Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
⁹ Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.

It must take an immense amount of faith to pray this way. I am tempted not only to ask for more, but to actively pursue more and more.

"God, give me the faith to walk with you each day and be contentedly dependent on you for my needs. Crush my desires for anything more than you give. May I find my satisfaction in you and may this bring you glory."


He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS