Tag: change

CHANGE

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

Have you ever noticed that almost everything in our world changes?  Change is sometimes very difficult to embrace and often, even more difficult to accomplish.  Clergyman Henry Ward Beecher put it this way:

Our days are a kaleidoscope. Every instant a change takes place. … New harmonies, new contrasts, new combinations of every sort. … The most familiar people stand each moment in some new relation to each other, to their work, to surrounding objects.

How many changes have you experienced in the last ten years, last year, last week, today?  Certainly there are many realms of change . . . physical and spiritual, ideological and philosophical, likes and dislikes, mental and emotional, even family, relationships, careers, etc.  Needless to say, change is an inevitable component of human existence, even if one doesn’t like it, works against it, or in denial, refuses to accept it. 

Even though change is certain and unavoidable, that doesn’t make it all good or right, nor does it deem change all bad or evil.  Some changes work in excellence (even though it may be extremely troublesome or painful), causing great improvements in one’s life, family, nation, business, organization, and/or ministry, while others seem to reap havoc, damage, and/or even destruction. 

However, in a world and life of much and constant, inexorable change, only one thing escapes modification, alteration or transformation . . . the nature/character of our Lord.  Scripture clearly declares God’s immutability in Malachi 3:6, as He clearly announces His own incomputable, invariable, inalterable, and unchangeable character:

For I, the Lord, do not change.  (also I Samuel 15:29, James 1:17, Hebrews 6:18; 13:8)

In this Hebrew text, God chooses to call Himself, Yahweh . . . the covenant-name of God to the Hebrews (See Exodus 6:3), and a name which fully implies His immutable character and inalterable faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.  In this case, because He is a God Who does not, and will not change, His people are not, and will not be destroyed (even though they without a doubt, absolutely  deserved it).  Thanks be to God for His invariable nature of grace and mercy towards His people, who are not without discipline, but certainly don’t get what’s fully deserved.     

Now, consider this spin.  God, Who is unchanging and unchangeable, created a world that is constantly being modified, and filled it with His most exalted and valued creation — humanity — who is constantly in a process of alteration and transformation. Those changes being wrought in Christ are excellent, but those produced by adaptation to our world’s thinking, philosophies, and self-proclaimed wisdom continuously harvest mayhem, injury, harm, devastation, and ruin. 

As an example, I’m constantly amazed by all the “Christian” parents who completely ignore God’s instructions concerning appropriate discipline and sound (proven) principles for correcting their children.  Then they wonder why their children are out-of-control, spoiled, disobedient, and disrespectful.  They may pray 24/7 for their family and offspring, but if they discount and ignore His immutable truth, those prayers are simply a waste of words and breath. 

How about “believers” who are gainfully employed and refuse to provide significant, consistent, sacrificial financial support for their church?  The New Testament clearly teaches the God-ordained concept of giving (Did He not give His Son, did His Son not give His life?) as a significant part of Christian living. They may pray 24/7 for His financial blessing and help, but if His immutable truth is denied and ignored, or even discounted, those prayers are simply another waste of words and breath!  

Ultimately, one’s unchangeable Lord is the active and effective change agent in a believer’s life Who designs, directs, and empowers significant spiritual modifications within His people . . . even complete emotional, as well as  mental, alterations and healing.  The definitive and obvious goal is the complete transformation of Christ’s followers, molding and shaping them into functional vessels of honor and glory for His purposes!  What a calling — what a blessing!  It’s almost incomprehensible to consider or grasp the fact that Christ changes us for the fulfillment of His immutable everlasting purposes. 

As a result of God’s purpose in each and every one of His follower’s lives, believers are, without a doubt, challenged, as well as spiritually encouraged, and convicted to change.  Consider these essential questions: Are you affirmatively willing to change? Are you passive about change? Are you persistently resistant to change? No matter what the answer, be confidently assured that your unchanging Lord is immutably committed to your spiritual, mental and emotional transformation! So one chooses, almost on a daily basis, to enthusiastically comply and embrace His move/work in one’s life, act nonchalantly about His purpose in you, or defiantly ignore/revolt.  

Since I was 17 years old, my senior year in high school, I’ve been fully committed to Christ and serving Him.  During these years, I’ve embraced His change. However, at times, I’ve also acted indifferently about His call, and even openly resisted spiritual, emotional, mental healing and transformation. I’ve been privileged to organize numerous ministries, serve in several others, and with the exception of just a few years in the construction business, been actively engaged in ministry for 40 years.  

Here’s what I’ve (sometimes painfully) learned:

  1. all change, personal or in a church/ministry, is good, as well as beneficial if initiated by the Lord. 
  2. if I will move beyond the past, what was, and fully grip the opportunity that lies ahead through change, it’s always proven to be forever better!  

At West Oaks Fellowship, we are on the precipice of change, both as individual believers and our entire ministry. New vision is being birthed and the Lord is challenging us to step towards Him, fully embracing His improvements. Therefore, please always remember, change is inevitable, and our immutable Lord demands it of His followers. Will you join me in responding affirmatively and enthusiastically to all the transforming work He is bringing to our lives and our church?

— His & Yours, Pastor Frank

TURN

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

The word “turn” appears well over 250 times in modern translations of the Bible, and that doesn’t even include the words “turned” or “turning.” Why would a seemingly small, somewhat insignificant word find such a prominent place in Scripture? 

In Acts 26, one finds the Apostle Paul giving his testimony (and defense) to King Agrippa.  In the midst of a hearing, Paul is persuaded (no doubt, by God’s Holy Spirit) to give the details of his personal conversion experience.  In verse 14, Christ speaks directly to Paul (then called Saul) asking Him, “Why are you persecuting Me?” At that point, Paul learns God’s perspective concerning his life’s activity … “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”  Then the Lord reveals His plan and purpose for Paul’s life (Acts 26:16-18):

I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.

Here we see God’s will – that the Jew and Gentile (any non Jew) would have their (spiritual) eyes opened and turn from the darkness (they were trapped in due to sin, even Satan’s dominion) to the light of Christ, His Gospel and Truth.  In this passage the word “TURN” is the compound word “epistrepho,” in the Greek text meaning “to revert” or “convert” either in a literal, moral or spiritual sense. Therefore, Paul’s new mission in life became reverting Jews, as well as Gentiles from their current path onto/into a new route or course.  

 It’s interesting to note that in describing the ministry of John the Baptist, Christ’s designated predecessor, the same word “epistrepho” is employed in Luke 1:17 to describe the purpose of JB’s ministry:

TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Fathers’ hearts needed to “turn” (revert/convert) back to their children; the hearts of the disobedient needed to “turn” (revert/convert) to an attitude of righteousness, all in preparation of meeting and believing the Christ (the anointed One sent from God above). 

James also uses “epistrepho” in 5:19 concerning ministry to people in the church that “stray from the truth.”  Those individuals who help someone “turn” or revert/convert back to the truth, save souls from death and assist in stopping sin’s destructive rampage in a life and Christ’s church.            

Christ uses “epistrepho” (translated return) when He quotes the Prophet Isaiah in Matthew 13:10-17 while explaining the true spiritual need of the Hebrew people:

FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.

The whole concept of the word “turn” or “turning” speaks of a significant, life- changing transformation that God desires to occur in one’s life … thus its scriptural and spiritual importance!  Consider the record given in Acts 11:22, “A large number who believed turned to the Lord.” Those who truly “believed” the message of Christ, also “turned!”  This presents an interesting question: “Does believing in Christ actually automatically bring about a compelling, life-transforming, significant change?”  While I know we all think it should, in reality, we all know people who claim to be believers, but there is no evidence of any moral, spiritual, and/or ethical alteration or transformation! 

Truly believing in Christ requires an acknowledgement of one’s own sinful nature and condition – owning up to the fact that you are desperately wicked, removed from relationship with God because of your own actions and reprobate (defined as the following):

  1. morally unprincipled.  
  2. One who is destined to damnation due to behavior/actions. 
  3. One rejected by God’s heart.

Then one must fully trust and rely upon Christ’s suffering and atoning sacrificial death as complete, 100% propitiation/payment for all your sin. In conjunction with this faith in Christ, one must also rely upon His promise of new life in/with Him now and into/throughout eternity. This requires a complete abandonment of one’s own resources and ability to obtain salvation, and demands an unrelenting need and dependence upon Jesus Christ. 

The real question of true, life transforming belief and genuine salvation is, “Does one really need Jesus and what He has to offer humanity?” Don’t forget, “The demons also believe, and shudder” (James 2:19), but they aren’t looking into Christ’s salvation, they don’t “turn” to the things of the Lord, and/or have their thoughts, actions, deeds/behavior transformed by knowing Christ, and their minds/hearts certainly aren’t being renewed.  Therefore the idea of someone making a “turn” to Christ has a much broader implication and application than an individual simply praying what we call the “prayer of salvation.” Instead it is a true conversion and redirection of one’s life.   

In Acts 14:11 Barnabas and Paul tell the crowd (Gentiles), which is engaged in pagan worship under the leadership of a priest of Zeus, that “they preach the gospel” in order for them to have an opportunity to “turn from these vain things to a living God!”

According to Acts 15:19, many Gentiles were “turning to God” as a result of hearing the liberating message of Christ’s gospel, and how about those Thessalonians who “Turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, . . . , that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”

So, how much do we actually need the Lord in 2011?  Does one individually really need the Lord – one’s family, our church, our nation, this world? Whose resources (abilities and powers) will we actually place our trust in?  Yes, every individual, every family, and our church/ministry will have to decide upon whom we rely? Will we “Turn To Heaven In Twenty Eleven” or continue status quo?  

As your pastor and friend, I request the honor of helping you make the right decision/choice and experiencing a God-blessed New Year, beginning Sunday morning 01/02/2011.  

Pastor Frank

WHY ADVENT? PART 1

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

The word Advent means ‘Coming’ in Latin. In reference to our This is the coming of Jesus into the world. Christians use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas. … Some people fast (don’t eat anything) during advent to help them concentrate on preparing to celebrate Jesus’s coming.

  • Embrace Change – just as the leaves change colors, reflecting the beauty of our Lord’s creation and design, so does life.  Almost every aspect of a genuine believer’s life is in a state of transformation as one’s grows spiritually, becoming more and more like Christ. (See II Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:29, 12:1-2) We, as Christ’s followers, fully understand and comprehend that not all change is good.  Today, there is an awful lot of unwelcome and unwholesome change in our world. Moral and societal changes really bother us …  we see it everywhere, with almost no exceptions. On top of that, we are painfully aware that the children and youth of this era are growing up in a world far different from the one we experienced as children, youth and young adults.

Then there are those changes that impact us as individuals — children leaving home, the passing of dear friends/family members/loved ones, and even perhaps the slow, steady decline in our vitality and health. Sometimes we may even feel “outdated” at work.  But amidst all the changes, one thing, one Person, stays constant in His existence, purpose, and character … our eternal Lord! To fully embrace God’s purpose(s) in our lives genuinely requires significant, on-going modifications in one’s thinking, understanding, and actions/behavior. Therefore, as one looks upon the ever-present physical changes revealed in our world through Autumn/Fall, consider the marvelous, omnipresent work/molding Christ desires to accomplish in you.  Yield to His touch in the same way the leaves of the tree submit to His ultimate design and persistent resolve.

  • Let Go – just as the trees and grass are unable to hang on to their radiance from Spring and Summer (if rained upon and/or watered), maturing Christians must release the bonds of the past in order to fully participate in the adventures that Christ has prepared for His people to pursue and walk/live in.  (See Luke 9:62; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 1:8-12; Philippians 3:13-14; I Corinthians 9:24; II Timothy 1:8-11) As one observes the variations in nature brought about by Autumn/Fall, perhaps one should ask the Lord what needs to break loose, be raked up, and intentionally/purposefully and permanently discarded from one’s life!  The past only comes back to haunt us if we make provision for it, and allow it impact our spiritual lives and progress!  As a new creature in Christ, are you allowing old things, particularly those things of one’s fleshly/worldly nature, to continually fall off, pass away, die? (See II Corinthians 5:16-17) Sadly, and yes, destructively, many genuine believers are having difficulty distinguishing the difference.
  • Be Grateful – you’ll never have everything you want and/or absolutely perfect unless the desires of your heart are completely modified by the Lord, and that your definition of good and/or perfect somehow comes into alignment with God’s definition of those things in your own life. Simply put, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” — I Timothy 6:6-9.  I’ve continually found that individuals who are content, which doesn’t mean they are lazy or lack drive to be successful, are generally grateful for whatever they have. That’s proven to be true in my experience, with those who have an abundance, as well as those that may have little, or are lacking, as defined in the eyes of our western culture. In addition, I’ve also found many who have more than they could ever use or want to be ungrateful, as well as those that have little to sulk in their want and greed. Too often the formula of greed or covetousness resulting in poverty is forgotten.  Psalm 10:3 declares, “For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire (rather than the desires being birthed and shaped by the Lord), and the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord.”  Proverbs 28:22 makes it pretty clear, “A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth and does not know that want (poverty) will come upon him.”  While our God is certainly able to give us the desires of our heart (See Psalm 37:4-5). I suspect He is willing to do exactly that when and if our desires glorify Him and are conferring His purposes!

My prayer is that God’s Autumn/Fall 2018 will speak loudly to each of us!  –PF  

RESOLUTIONS

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

As 2019 approaches, many individuals will make “New Year’s Resolutions.”  This practice originated with the Babylonians and was connected to the planting of crops in mid-March.  Promises were made to their pagan deities and in return, as the Babylonians stayed true to  their promises, the gods would bestow favor on them throughout the coming year. 

Similar practices occurred in ancient Rome, where Julius Caesar modified the calendar, establishing January 1 as the beginning of a new year. They believed their two-faced god, Janus, whose spirit inhabited doorways and arches, was able to look backwards into the previous year and forward into the future.  In hopes of a good future, the Romans offered sacrifices coupled with promises of good behavior in hopes of having a blessing in the coming year.

Early on, the first day of a new year became an occasion for Christians to think about one’s past mistakes and resolve to do and be better in the future. In 1740, John Wesley, founder of Methodism, created the Covenant Renewal Service which was commonly held on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, affording worshippers the opportunity to seek the Lord’s help and favor in the coming new year. This type of service became known as watch night services throughout Protestantism in western culture.

Resolutions are a funny thing because they are usually a set of somewhat lofty goals, perhaps far-fetched ideas, things on a bucket list, or possibly a “better version of the you” that one’s hoping and praying to be in coming New Year.

Did you know that, on average, approximately 92 percent of Americans are doomed to fail at keeping their New Year’s Resolutions? One might ask, why? It’s mostly because the goals aren’t specific, measurable and/or realistic (too far-fetched to be obtainable).

As a result, some people simply don’t attempt to make New Year’s Resolutions, which is a personal choice, while others struggle to make the next year different.  While I’m in a different camp, that from a perspective of continuous modification and transformation, even on a daily basis, I’d like to share some steps I use to affect substantive modifications in my life.  

Now before you jump in, realize two things:

  1.  Effective change requires a serious, steadfast commitment!
  2. Generally, affirmative or positive change requires a step by step approach, both spiritual and practical!   

STEP 1: Where does your help come from?  Perhaps, “I can’t, but with God, nothing is impossible!” (see Zachariah 4:6, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 4:13, II Corinthians 3:4-5, Luke 1:37)

STEP 2:  Be humble and surrender your desire/will to the Lord’s purpose for your life! (see James 4:3, I Corinthians 10:31, Psalm 37:11, I Peter 5:6, I Chronicles 4:9-10)

STEP 3: Own your past, openly acknowledge sin — without excuses or attempts at human justifications! (See Psalm 32, Proverbs 28:13, I Corinthians 11:3, James 5:16)   

STEP 4: Walk in forgiveness (seeking forgiveness and forgiving others)!  (See Ephesians 4:32)   

STEP 5: Lay all your plans out before the Lord!  (See Proverbs 16:1-9, 19:20-24, 20:18, 21:5, 29:18, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Isaiah 55:8-9)  

STEP 6:  Stay connected and listen closely!  (See James 1:19, Jeremiah 33:3, I John 5:14, Proverbs 16:20, Matthew 7:24-27, Psalm 5:3)

STEP 7:  Don’t shrink back, remain steadfast! (See II Timothy 1:7, Psalm 27:14, 31:24, Joshua 1:1-9, Deuteronomy 31:6)

Faithful followers of Jesus Christ live daily in anticipation of hearing and responding to the Lord’s direction.  If He has placed in your heart a need and desire to change, and you’re committed to that end, then launch the resolution.  At that point, share your objective(s) with others, become accountable, and seek wise counsel (See Proverbs 11:4) from the godly, not the worldly (See Psalm 1:1, Romans 8:8)! Satan will use the seemingly good ideas of the world to trap you in the grips of his destructive system.  He may help you change, but it won’t be anything that honors or glorifies the Lord (See Hebrews 11:6)!   

I pray you enjoy a blessed new year of godly transformation!          — PF