WHOLENESS OF HEART REALIZED

Wholeness means nothing broken

1 Thessalonians 5:23   “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

The world is often a noisy place. So many homes have a TV or radio blaring most of the time. Many restaurants have multiple TVs, sometimes so loud it’s hard to carry on a conversation. Many people just can’t function without some background noise. The image of teens doing their homework with loud music in their room or headphones has been common for a long time. For most it’s just habit, something they are used to; for many I suspect such an atmosphere is an escape from whatever is going on in their hearts and minds. I wonder if this need for noise is for some to drown out loneliness, fear of something or even guilt. Sometimes it’s the enemy’s tactic to try to drown out the still small voice of God.

I’m not saying there is anything wrong with watching wholesome things on TV, listening to music, talk radio or things like that. I’ve always been a musician and love to listen to great music in many genres. Any noise distracts me from the task at hand. It’s so much easier to experience His Presence when our environment, or brains and our hearts get quiet. Shutting out the noise of the world helps us to quiet down our hearts and increase our sensitivity to Holy Spirit speaking, or just being there, in the depths of our hearts. Just His Presence is so wonderful and stress relieving .We receive an inner strength, a greater capability to reflect His love even in the midst of turmoil and strife. As we Practice the Presence we progress in the process described in these verses:

2 Corinthians 5:17   Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

John 15: 4   Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5   “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Many of you spend time alone with God every day and understand the necessity of that time. Be encouraged to continue and not allow the things of the world, or the distractions the enemy or even other people, to deter you of that habit. Some years ago I read something about prayer that stuck in my heart. The greatest flaw in church leadership is prayerlessness. It’s so easy to get too busy, even when you are doing what you do in service to the King, to do the most important thing you can do in life, which is to spend time with our Father. How long do marriages last without times of intimacy? My wife and I have always had a house rule that one we don’t leave the house without a good kiss. Now that I’m retired we’ve added a good morning kiss once mouths are rinsed.

Psalm 2:12   Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

http://www.relatably.com/m/touchy-memes

How often to I say something with a bark?

The effectiveness of our times alone with God should be reflected in how we act in various situations. Life and people close to us test us without even trying. People get so offended these days, touchy, have too many buttons for people to push that cause us to act in a way that doesn’t reflect Jesus. I struggle with tone of voice. How often, when someone, especially a spouse, says something to us in what we perceive to be a harsh tone of voice do we respond likewise? How often to I say something with a bark? It’s human nature to do so but never the best thing to do. Even when they were about to stone Him, or when they arrested Him and were to crucify Him, Jesus never lost His cool. There was only 1 time when Jesus seemed to lose his cool and it is repeated in Matthew, Mark and John.

John 2: 14   And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.

15   When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.

16   And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”

17   Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

Psalm 69:9   because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.

 Just this week something came up that got my blood boiling. My wife said my face was dark red and my ears purple. I was hot about something personal and confidential that could happen that I am opposed to, that demanded my action the next day. There was no way I could just go to sleep that night without praying through, calming down. It took a while but I pressed through into God’s Presence. A wonderful peace overwhelmed all the agitation and stress in my soul and I had a great night’s sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, I had to pray through again. I spoke to people I look up to and trust then took appropriate action, leaving it all in God’s hands. The freedom that comes from surrendering our situations to Jesus is just beyond words. This wasn’t the first time in life I’ve gone through drama like this; sure it won’t be the last. I am so thankful the Lord is our burden bearer. My wife is sure that had I not been able to exchange the burden for God’s peace I would have had a stroke. I’m a husband, a Dad, A Grandpa, a Pastor, and when I see something broken I want to fix it.

All this explains the process we can go through to be made whole, to get our brokenness fixed. People often have areas of their lives that are broken. There’s a choice when you first realize something in your life is broken. Unfortunately too many choose the Humpty Dumpty approach. That can become a horrible downward spiral to the gates of hell. Over the past couple of weeks I heard of 4 suicides and met a young man who had flat lined in a suicide attempt before the EMTs brought him back. Pity parties lead to depression, hopelessness and a despair that can get so bad that drug abuse and suicide all too often seem like the only way out. The opiod crisis isn’t new, just on a bigger scale. When I grew up in Brooklyn, gang violence was minimized because heroin use among the gangs took the fight out of them. I knew of junkies that OD’ed, Acid freaks (LSD) that flipped out so bad they landed in mental hospitals, speed freaks (now referred to a meth) that got so emaciated they couldn’t eat and suffered horribly from malnutrition and other things that come along with drug abuse. I would say that, except in some rare circumstances, suicide is an instant trip to the fires of hell; there was no opportunity for repentance from that sin. It is eternal separation from God.

https://www.wattpad.com/user/Whimsicaland

There’s a much better way to deal with our brokenness – LET JESUS MAKE YOU WHOLE. One of those suicides was a good friend’s brother who was addicted to meth for many years and intentionally overdosed. Another was this same friend’s ex-wife who rejected the Lord and fell down the pit of loneliness and despair. She had an extraordinary experience with the Lord at a Church, experienced joy like she had never had in life during a service, joyfully dancing and singing as the Lord moved in many hearts. Then we never saw her again. It wasn’t long after she rejected the Lord that she rejected her husband and just went down and down.

At this point I have to ask, “What does Oneness with God look like? The Word gives a picture of it right in the beginning of the creation story,

Throughout the Scriptures we see marriage as a type for man’s relationship to God. Leave and cleave, separate and join to. We separate ourselves from the sinful life we had before coming to Christ and become part of the Church, the Bride of Christ. OK, these are nice sounding analogies but let’s talk about what they mean relative to life in the here and now, where the rubber meets the road.

Isaiah 54:5   For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth.

How different would have been the outcome of this lonely woman I just mentioned who killed herself, if she had this kind of relationship with Jesus? So how does that relationship happen? - Leave and cleave, separate and join to. As we take steps of repentance, steps away from a lifestyle that is a death trip, and take steps towards God who gives us life, we grow in this oneness. Your mind can’t grasp how close God can be to you. Relationship with Him is one of faith, acceptance of what the Bible says in our hearts.

Deuteronomy 30:14   But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

Romans 10:8   But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

Let me challenge you to act on this message repeating Paul’s prayer:

1 Thessalonians 5:23   “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

The move of Holy Spirit in our hearts becomes a motivation for something. The Grace of God is the enabling power to follow through with that motivation. That motivation in our hearts often starts with the realization in our heart of that brokenness I spoke of. The grace of God then becomes amazing to us and we know what to do and know we can do it. Are you ready to leave your brokenness behind and cleave to Jesus?

v Perhaps it’s to come to a church altar and kneel as a public act, with no fear of what anyone might think or say. You just want to get right with God, regretful of the things you did to break that relationship with Him and ready for a new start.

v Do you need to intensify your commitment to God, to this love affair with Jesus? How long has it been since you experienced Him ever so close because you took down all your barriers to where He can go in your life?

v Maybe He’s speaking to your heart about somebody you need to go to and apologize, ask them to forgive you for something stupid you did.

Come now, stop fighting with God, find a place of prayer and make that surrender you know you need to make.

        WHOLENESS MEANS NOTHING BROKEN

WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS?

Who are your role models?

1 Cor 14:3   But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

Prophecies are important, we need to pay close attention, listen and receive the edification, exhortation and comfort. We frequently make the mistake of saying, “wow, what a great word, the Lord knew what I needed,” then we walk away & forget all about it. We should take the prophetic words, sermons or other inputs from the Father to heart, write them down if necessary, meditate and apply what the Lord spoke to your heart. Discuss it with others who were there and find the application. Words of hope and comfort remind us that God is in control. This is one of the reasons I publish my sermons every week, they are definitely too long to remember everything so reading them again later will help it sink into your mind and more importantly, your hearts. You can consider them like a devotional, read some of it each day during the week.

We were in a small house church in Maryland. One Sunday morning the Pastor had a prophetic word for the body, something for that church at that time. I sensed a special significance of that prophecy as it came through our Pastor. The Lord has put gifts in the body of Christ, not just the Gifts of the Spirit listed in 1Cor. 12.

Rev 22:17   And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Anyone here feel excluded from this promise? Anyone wanting to can be on the receiving end of God’s gifts.

Eph 4:11-   The 5 Fold Ministry, God’s gifts to us.

11   And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

12   for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

13   till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

I don’t know of any church that has arrived at verse 13 so I guess we still need these gifts among us. Who’s eligible? – Whoever desires. Don’t you want His gifts fully functioning?

https://www.ltw.org/read/my-devotional/2016/09/the-good-shepherd

Today we’re just focusing on the gift of the Pastor. I said a few words about this last week. The longer I fill-in in as your Pastor the more I am coming to understand the work of a shepherd and I see my heart growing in His love and with compassion. The more I realize a shepherd’s 1^st obligation is to be an intercessor for his flock. Christians have a God given responsibility to properly relate to such a leader, that we might be not just called but chosen, that we might receive all God has for us and be a blessing, that we would be edified and equipped for the work God has for us to do.

Just a great side note from a friend, when Christians spend time in intercessory prayer we are like artillery in God’s army. We send prayers up and they come down with a devastating effect on the evil that tries to destroy the people of God.

 Heb. 13:7   Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

Evaluate that conduct, are they Godly people pointing people to Jesus and caring for the flock?

17   Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Without the Godly shepherds watching out for us, we are prey to the enemy of our soul who would lead us away from the path of choosing. Godly leaders must give account to the Great Shepherd for how they take care of the portion of His flock He has given them responsibility for. No matter what your calling God has those with this responsibility for you. It is sad that egotistical people have blown this teaching out of Biblical proportions. Leader’s should never be ogres, but, filled with the love of God, they watch out for things that will harm or pollute you. The way to learn to lead is to serve because that’s what true leaders do. True leaders are servants 1^st.

If you give them grief in this process, than “that would be unprofitable for you.” “Lone sheep” get attacked by the wolves of their own ego and the enemy of their souls. I am so thankful for the sheep of this flock, none of y’all give me grief.

https://www.allprodad.com/10-ways-to-get-your-kids-to-stop-whining/

Now there are some who say, “why do I have to have anyone rule over me? I can hear from God too? I can read and understand the Bible.” When you get to know the benefits it’s a no brainer to check your attitude. Let’s go back to 

Eph. 4

 Ephesians 4:14   Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

15   Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

16   He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Some of those things that will harm or pollute, things leaders, and especially Pastors, watch out for.

·         Distractions, vandalized road signs – situations when the shepherd has to use that big hook & pull us back on the path.   Eph 4:14 stuff.

·        The enemy seeks to get you get us off course. He is s liar and has no problem with vandalizing a road sign.

·        Signs of being distracted are Manifestations of the flesh. 

Gal 5:19-21   Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

20   idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

21   envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

·        Predatory people

o   Women looking to lure men into fornication and adultery. We know guys do this but the cases we’ve seen over the years were mostly women. The enemy sends them in with a lustful spirit and men, weak in the faith, stuck in the porn pit, maybe lonely or recently divorced get caught in a web they can’t get out of. Ladies, if you see a woman come in, not a 1^st time guest, with a very low cut blouse it’s OK to politely ask her not to cause the men to stumble.

o   Charlatans, sent by the enemy to steal whatever resources they can from the church and it’s people.

·    Example: Back in the 1970’s a friend of ours was pastoring another small country church in a nearby town. They had an evangelist doing “Revival Meetings.” We visited on a Saturday night and realized quickly that most of what he was preaching was not Scriptural. My wife wrote a list of many such statements. At the end he took an offering, having worked the crowd well. The people who never gave enough for the church to be able to adequately support the pastor and his family emptied their wallets, their bank accounts, their jewelry boxes. Some sold everything to travel with the thief. I was so concerned I drove to the church on Sunday morning before church, bringing the notes my wife took, to share with the pastor of the travesty we saw recommending he kick the guy out quickly. That charlatan left that church in much worse shape than before he came.

Always remember, “Wherever there is super-spirituality there is always immorality.”

People who love you know how to lovingly let you know when you get in the flesh. Pastors have the shepherds tools, they keep us sheep on track if we let them.

Practical / Customary Courtesies about our relationships with Pastors. 

This isn’t taught much probably because pastors feel as awkward about teaching it as I do today.

First of all, I would never miss a service without letting the Pastor know ahead of time. Especially in a small church like ours, even if it’s a last minute thing, a phone call, a text or email with some brief explanation is appropriate. We’re watching over you and concerned for you, especially when you’re going through some adversity. The 1^st indication of a problem is that you’re not in church, so please give us a heads up. Pastors react like parents do when their kid is late getting home from school or it’s past their curfew.

If anyone starts bad mouthing a pastor or church leader, stop them quickly. Do not listen to gossip. Always track things down to the source. If anyone has an issue with the pastor, or anyone else for that matter, they should go to that person in a loving way, eager live in peace with one another. If you ever hear of negative stuff going on behind the scenes, please be sure to bring it to your pastor’s attention.

Romans 12:18   If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Some people get a bug up their nose about something that rubbed them the wrong way, or they listened to a juicy, gossipy rumor, and determined to leave a church they have been committed to. Rarely is this the right thing to do without meeting with the pastor. If the pastor is in error there are ways to deal with it in the Assemblies of God and most other denominations.

In this context, I need caution you about social media. This is a great tool to point people to Jesus. Use less public ways to let folks know you need prayer. Wait to publicize what you went thru until you have the testimony of how the Lord got you thru it. FB is a bad place for dirty laundry. A prospective employer will go beyond your resume to your FB page. Is there something there that questions your character or ability to handle the job and fit in with the culture of the company? Before you put something out there, ask yourself if it fits Biblical criteria.

Philippians 4:8   Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

1 Corinthians 14:3   But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

SOME  Personal pastoral role models

 Ivan & Pearl Mullen – Mom and Dad to many people. I was only saved for a few months when the Lord directed me to their church. They were very typical middle Americans in Central NY. I was a hippie from Brooklyn, NY - very different culture.

This Mom and Dad Taught me God’s love by example and grounded me in the Word

They have hearts that hear from God and the theme of the ministry was “A Pastor’s heart.”

I received stern correction when needed, caused them some grief, but the repentance brought us to a much higher level of honor & respect for each other.

 Had the right balance of teaching the Word and encouraging us in using the gifts of the Spirit

Dad Mullen also became the pastor of the church where I was doing missions work in the swamps in Fl. after graduating from college. I was over the 3 room school house and when some of my old bad leftist attitudes were offending people. The Lord used “Dad’s” tough love to change those attitudes quickly.

Not long after our 1^st baby was born, she was sick. We followed the Biblical pattern and called for the elders of the church. Our Pastor and Assistant Pastor came out to our house out in the country. After praying for Sarah one of them was compelled by the Lord to tell us that we should sell that house and move into town. We were pretty far out and when the snow was flying it was sometimes dangerous to get to work or church from our house on the snow covered hill. The other guy couldn’t believe what he was hearing because the Lord had told him to tell us the same. They loved us and stayed in close relationship even when we didn’t receive that right away.

Later, when I was out of work I did handy man work with Pastor Hunter’s. Our talks with me while we worked together, and those car rides, were his opportunities to speak God’s ways into my life and I am so thankful he loved me enough to do so.

We had a pastor in Charlotte whose daughter got pregnant out of wedlock. They were so concerned as to how the flock would perceive the situation, and to avoid undo criticism or rumors flying, they visited every cell group in 1 night to share their hearts with everyone in the small group settings. Humility, wisdom and love flowed that night.

When that pastor heard about the Brownsville Revival he took our worship leader and went to Pensacola to see it for himself. Those guys and that church were never the same. The pastor jumped in with both feet when he got a taste of real revival. He established relationships with the leadership at Brownsville who brought that move of God to our church. We came to Charlotte from a church on Long Island that was in revival and prayed for 10 years before came to this church in Charlotte. That river of God flowed for about 2 years and the residuals of that anointing can still be felt 20 years later.

Bob and Gail Barth were our Pastors in MD. They’re love for their people is extreme They’ve been graced with some high maintenance people who take unfair advantage of their love and generosity. Even years after Bob & Gail moved away they get calls for council from some of those people, who don’t follow the advice when it;’s not what they want to hear – very dangerous attitude. Johanna and Gail still talk for hours as Gail pours out her frustrations.

Recognizing God’s call on my life before I saw it, they took me to the monthly district meetings, what a tremendous blessing. There were church leaders from around the state sharing their hearts, the issues and the glorious things God was doing in their churches. Bob also worked for the Air Force and traveled a lot on business. They trusted me to fill in anytime Bob had to be out of town.

For the 10 years before the Lord opened up my current service at Glad Tidings, I served, and still do, the Lord under Mark White at Christian Assembly Upstate (CAU) in Greenville SC. Pastor White is the most loving guy you will ever meet. A people magnet, everybody wants a hug from this big guy, especially during the Christmas season when he transforms into Santa Clause. He’s extremely generous, always with an eye to demonstrate God’s love. I learned so much while meeting with him during the several months of required mentoring for Bible School. He is very sensitive to the moving of the Holy Ghost in services and protective of the Presence. He’s been thru a lot during about 38 years as pastor at CAU.

 

To wrap this up, ask yourself, as not so young anymore adults’ anymore,

Ø Who are your role models?

Ø Who did you see Jesus in and gave you some understanding of how you should be?

Ø What kind of a role model are you?

Ø What kind of an example you are to the next generations?

Ø Are we leaving legacies that others might aspire to?

Ø Do you treat Pastors with the Practical / Customary Courtesies?