cliff_notes

2009-03-11T13:29:00.000-07:00

Inside Out

March 11, 2009

Superficiality occurs when what’s on the outside contradicts what’s on the inside. Another word for this might be hypocrisy.

Hello, I’m Clifton LeJeune, pastor of the Jesus Worship Center in Jennings, and this week we are going to talk about living for God from the ‘Inside Out’.

When someone has a virus, they are not required to take a course labeled ‘throw up 101'. I know it sounds gross but it makes the point quite clearly . . . if it is in there, it’s coming out!
Christians don’t need more bumper stickers, tattoos, or crosses hung around their necks. What Christianity needs is a good old baptism of ‘Inside Out’.

In Psalms, David said, Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts.

Truth contained in the inward parts will be manifest on the outward parts. When our walk matches our talk, true Christianity is on display. You’ve heard it said, “practice what you preach.” What if we were to reverse this . . . what if we were allowed only to ‘preach what we practiced?!’

What would we preach?

What could we preach?

Living ‘inside out’ is exactly what Jesus did.The damage done by Superficial Christianity is deeper and more and does more harm than outright Hinduism and atheism.The Church’s biggest enemy is not satan, is not Hollywood, the media, MTV, or Celebrity worship.

The Church’s biggest enemy is Superficial Christianity . . . which is simply Christianity that is only Skin-Deep!

Is your Christianity bone-deep?

To know something ‘inside out’ is to know it completely, thoroughly.
Do you know God . . . or do you simply know about God?

To truly know Him, you must know what makes Him tick AND what ticks Him off! Nothing offended Christ more than religious people who were one thing on the outside while being another on the inside!

Let’s serve Him in deepest sincerity . . . inside out!

Return To Sender

2008-10-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

October 16, 2008

Elvis Presley has permanently marked his generation as well as many that have followed. Inscribed within the lyrics of that mental tattoo are the words of a spurned lover in the song . . . 'Return To Sender'.

Think about that . . .Return to Sender - the restoration process begins when we return to the One that sent us to this planet. Your life is no accident. Your purpose is not arbitrary. You were made on purpose with a purpose.

To restore something is to return the object back to its former condition. In the book of Luke Chapter 15 Jesus tells the story of three lost items: a lost son, a lost coin, and a lost sheep. In all three stories, each item was recovered. Here’s the point - Jesus never told the story of something lost that could not be found. I don’t care how bad off you think you are . . . there is a God on this earth desperately working to reconcile you back to Himself.

Here’s a verse you ought to have framed and hung in the walls of your mind:
NIV 2 Sam 14:14 Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.

Wow! That verse erupts with vivid imagery of a God extending Himself to restore broken relationships. It’s time to renew your hope and refurbish your faith . . . it’s time to Return to Sender!

You Really Are Sumbody!

2008-08-06T08:41:00.000-07:00

The Guinness Book of World Records has always been extremely interesting to me. I find it very difficult to resist picking up and reading one, regardless of the year the book was printed, if I am near one.
It is truly amazing to see what some people have done to themselves in an attempt to avoid that dreaded condition of the majority of the human race known as anonymity. The lengths to which people will go to avoid anonymity is extraordinary, to say the least.
His name, Radhakant Bajpai (just try to pronounce that), is found in this year’s Record Book for having the longest ear hair . . . that’s right, you read it correctly . . . longest ear hair. I’m choking back the laughter as I write. This individual is from the second most populated country in the world, India. With an estimated 1.13 billion other souls in one’s country, it’s no wonder one would wish to distinguish one’s self from the others . . . but ‘ear hair’? Really?!
Here’s my point: Everybody is sumbody! No, that is not a misspelling - it is deliberate. A sum is the result of an addition problem. Every person on Earth is the sum total of the choices he/she makes.
If you wish to be ‘somebody’ then realize that you are ‘sumbody’ . . . You can change who you are and what you are by simply adding things to your life that truly make you unique. Things like integrity, character, honor, loyalty, faithfulness, honesty . . . and the list could continue.
It seems these traits are old fashioned and no longer chic. Our God has given us His formula for make ‘sumbodies’ . . . maybe we ought to follow it:
2 Pet 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2 Pet 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2 Pet 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2 Pet 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Contained with these four verses are the things we are to add to our lives to truly make us SUMBODY!

PeACE of God

2008-06-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, what you are about to hear is a sermon preached by the one who needs it most. Bear with me as I expose and attack my greatest weakness in my walk with God. It can be defined by one single word, a word I struggle with since I know when it was prophetically given to me that it was a direct word for me - that word is ‘PACE’.

"‘Clifton, the thing the Spirit is whispering to me to say to you is ‘God’s pace’". When the young man of God spoke this to me a few weeks ago I knew God was affirming what I’d been feeling for weeks. Hmmm . . . . God’s pace. Could it be that my inability to discern the ‘face of God’ is due to my unwillingness to live at the ‘pace of God’?

Let’s play with this word, pace. ‘Pace’ is the majority of the word ‘peace’. Bro. Tenney has often remarked, ‘the peace of God is rooted in the pace of God.’ Pace may be defined as the rate of speed at which an activity or a movement proceeds. It’s simply the stride. It’s my pride that affecting my stride. It’s my unwillingness to ‘be still and know’ that causes me to ‘be busy and hope.’ I do know this . . . that He loves me enough to convict me, to send little hints to correct me. I know that I love Him and that I desire His correction as well as His affection.

Another word comes to mind as I’m writing this . . . ‘plod’. To plod is to move or walk heavily or laboriously, to work or act perseveringly or monotonously. So, let’s see if we can put this all together.

Since man is made from the dust of the earth we might say that God is longing for sod that will not think it odd to plod with God! C’mon, Clifton . . . slow down to the pace of God and find the face of God.

Who Matters To You?

2008-04-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

Who Matters To You?

"You don’t matter to me." I know that sounds cruel and uncaring but for the most part it’s true. I’m not trying to be crass or crude but I do believe I’ve discovered something that has brought me continued freedom and liberty.

The truth is very few people should matter to you. Of course, everyone matters to someone but not everybody should matter to you . . . at least not in the context I am framing this simple concept.

You see the people that matter to me are the people whose opinions about me cause me to change my behavior. In that context, very few people matter. The word ‘matter’ is derived from an Old French word ‘mater’ which is where we get the word ‘mother’. To mother something is to nourish it . . . therefore, the people who matter to me are the ones who ‘nourish’ me. This list is quite small.

This simple understanding frees an individual from being the slave of other people’s opinions and liberates them into becoming the unique individual God created them to be . . . not simply some product of another person’s opinion.

So, who matters to you?

‘Really, Who Are The Chosen?’

2008-02-07T08:04:00.000-08:00

"Many are called, but few are chosen." (Matt 22:14) This verse has created a sense of forboding . . . a sense of despair, unfairly, I might add, in the hearts of many who’ve misunderstood its simple yet revelatory meaning.

Jesus is not making an attempt at disqualifying the self-deprecating but rather He is raising the bar, challenging all humanity to rise to the occasion and discover their innate purpose on Earth . . . their calling!

Who are the chosen? Are they God’s favorites? You wouldn’t be too far from the truth with that interpretation. It appears that the Greek word for ‘chosen’ is ‘eklektos’ which can be interpreted ‘favorite.’ However, I can assure that those who have chosen to discover and pursue and their calling are more than God’s favorites - they truly are the ‘chosen.’ Let me say that again. The chosen are simply those who have chosen to discover and pursue their calling. Your calling is so important. It is your purpose, your destiny, your reason, your fate.

To live a life that counts one need only do what God is counting on you to do. Whatever it is God is counting on you to do, He has prepared no substitute or replacement for you - if you don’t do it, it won’t get done.

Fulfillment is a direct result of living a life that is true to one’s calling. To be fulfilled is to be ‘filled full’ of Him . . . and you can’t be ‘filled full’ until you’ve been emptied of yourself. To empty yourself is to pour yourself into another’s life.

‘Pour’ is spelled ‘p’ plus the word ‘our’. Placing a ‘p’ in front of ‘our’ you now have a word that sounds like ‘POWER’. Here’s a life principle: There is power in the pouring! Discover and pursue your calling then pour your life into it . . . you’ll be amazed at the power you will find to truly succeed in life.

Die Trying

2008-01-08T06:56:00.000-08:00

January 4, 2008
Vacation. Cabo San Lucas. ‘Die Trying’. Tingling spider-senses!
No, I haven’t gone completely mad . . . just partially. We were on vacation recently when I saw a sign advertising a local business. The sign immediately gripped me and I knew a creative thought was birthed.
The reason so many people never live up to their potential or destiny is not due to lack of opportunity but primarily to a lack of trying. It appears that one of the most difficult things for people to do is simply to try something new.
Try - it’s a small word - just three letters. Try - to make an effort to do something; to attempt. Fear of the unknown has been the prison guard of the incarcerated who are guilty of having possession of unrealized potential. Why is this? It’s simple.
It’s in the ‘trying’ that you do the ‘dying’ and it’s the ‘dieing’ that keeps us from trying. To try something new is to die to something old.
One of my favorite authors is John Mason and he makes some excellent observations about trying:
"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."
"We all make mistakes-especially those who do things.
"Failure is often the first necessary step toward success. if we don't take the risk of failing, we won't get the chance to succeed.
"To fail is the natural consequence of trying.
"When we are trying, we are winning."
The most difficult thing in the world to drive is the tricycle (try-cycle)
It’s a three-willed vehicle. The will(wheel) in front is the steering will (wheel)! It provides forward motion, speed, traction, and direction.
The two in the back provide stability.
One must know the will (wheel) of God, the will of the devil, the will of man. When the will of God is out front directing your life, you will always grow in the right direction and make proper turns when necessary.
Knowing the wheel of satan is important because your will must be the exact opposite of his - this provides you with a sense of stability.
God doesn’t want you to be righteous - He just wants you to die trying!
God doesn’t want you to be holy - He just wants you to die trying!
God doesn’t want you to be pure - He just wants you to die trying!
This concept is the premise for all victory in your life, for you see, without ‘try’ in the word ‘triumph’ all you have is ‘umph’!
Now get out there and TRY!!

The Power of Forgiveness: Part 3: "Why I Won't Forgive "

2007-10-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Introduction

In Part One of this series, we referred to a survey by Barna Research Group, which was conducted the summer of ‘99.

The majority (96%) of those surveyed (and most of those who were here for Part One!) agreed with one or more of the survey statements, which are wrong from a Biblical perspective.

This clearly illustrates the depth of misunderstanding that surrounds the subject of forgiveness! Today, we want to revisit each of these statements and clarify the Bible’s teaching on these four subjects ……

1. FORGIVENESS AND REPENTANCE: You cannot honestly forgive someone unless that person shows some remorse for what they did. (62% agreed)

2. FORGIVENESS AND CONSEQUENCES: If you really forgive someone, you would want that person to be released from the consequences of their actions. (60% agreed)

3. FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION: If you genuinely forgive someone, you should rebuild your relationship with that person. (73% agreed)

4. FORGIVENESS AND FORGETTING: If you have really forgiven someone, you should be able to forget what they have done to you. (66% agreed)

FORGIVENESS AND REPENTANCE

"You cannot honestly forgive someone unless that person shows some remorse for what they did."

What about those who never ASK for our forgiveness? What about those who won’t even acknowledge their wrongs? Should they expect to receive forgiveness from us? And, more importantly, should we be required to give it?

In other words, IS REPENTANCE a requirement for granting forgiveness to others? Can you
honestly forgive someone who is ……

• UNAWARE that he’s hurt you?
• UNMOVED by the fact that he’s offended you?
• UNWILLING to admit his mistake?
• UNABLE to ask forgiveness because of illness or death?

There are at least three faulty arguments people use for demanding repentance BEFORE granting forgiveness:

#1 Forgiveness needs to be earned.
Those who demand that their offender "earn"" forgiveness by demonstrating sorrow are operating under the illusion that somehow their offender’s repentance will be sufficient to cover the offense. The words "I’m sorry" may bring momentary relief to a wound, but they are insufficient in themselves to effect permanent healing.

Salvation is like that. We are not saved just because we told God "I’m sorry" –– we are saved because He chose to forgive!

Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

#2 Forgiving an unrepentant person invites further abuse.
Aren’t those who forgive their offender before he expresses any remorse in effect wearing a "Kick Me"" sign? Aren’t we doing a fundamental disservice to both the offender and ourselves by absolving his sin without at least waiting for a sincere apology?

What is being overlooked with this kind of thinking is the very nature of grace itself. Because it is "a deliberate decision to give something good to someone who doesn’t deserve it,"" GRACE INVITES ABUSE! But God still chose to take the risk with us!

It’s up to us whether we abuse His gift of forgiveness or not. And it’s also up to our offender whether he abuses our forgiveness toward him!

The downside of forgiveness is that it invites further abuse; the upside is that it exposes us to a higher way of living!

Romans 5:20b, 6:1-2 But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound …… 1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

#3 Forgiving an unrepentant person is unscriptural.

The strongest argument people offer for demanding repentance (an apology) before offering forgiveness is that the Bible seems to require it!

After all, if God requires us to acknowledge our sin before He forgives us, and we are to forgive others in the same way God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32), then shouldn’t we require our offender to repent before we forgive him? Seems logical, right?

This kind of thinking fails to note an important distinction –– there is a crucial difference between receiving forgiveness and granting forgiveness. The issue of repentance is vitally important to receiving forgiveness, but totally irrelevant to granting forgiveness. In other words, REPENTANCE IS REQUIRED FOR THE OFFENDER, BUT SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED BY THE OFFENDED.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God offered us forgiveness before we asked for it (because He was the OFFENDED party). But we must REPENT before we can receive forgiveness (because we are the OFFENDING party). From God’s viewpoint, BIBLICAL FORGIVENESS IS UNCONDITIONAL!

The best reason to forgive unconditionally is the emotional and spiritual healing it brings into our lives.

So often when people think about forgiveness, they think about what it’s going to do for someone else. What they don’t realize is that forgiveness is really an act of self-interest –– we’re doing ourselves a favor when we cut ourselves loose from being an emotional victim of someone else’s wrong. (i.e. 3-legged race)

Whether our offender repents or not is between them and God. Don’t let their wrong become an issue between you and God!

FORGIVENESS AND CONSEQUENCES

"If you really forgive someone, you would want that person to be released from the consequences of their actions."

One of the greatest barriers to forgiveness is the myth that forgiving someone automatically frees them from any consequences of their actions. Such a misunderstanding makes many people hesitant to forgive or condemns them to a lifetime of unnecessary bitterness.

• What about the church treasurer who is caught embezzling funds from the weekly offerings? If he publicly confesses and pays the money back, then shouldn’t the church restore him to his position if they have really forgiven him?

• What about the husband who had an affair and broke up his marriage? If his wife has really forgiven him, shouldn’t she quit making him pay for his mistake over and over again by demanding child support each month?

• What about the convicted child molester who has paid his debt to society and now wants to work in the Sunday School department? Is the church really demonstrating forgiveness if they restrict him from working with children for the rest of his life?

• What about the murderer who gets saved on death row? If the victim’s family has truly forgiven him for his crime, shouldn’t they be petitioning the courts for his release from jail? Have they really forgiven him if they want his sentence to still be carried out?

• What about the Christian who became involved in an immoral relationship, but has now repented? If the church leadership demands that she prove herself before being involved in ministry, isn’t that demonstrating an unforgiving spirit?

The same dilemma lies behind each of these scenarios: Does forgiveness automatically erase the consequences of sin? Have I truly forgiven someone if, at the same time, I insist that they be held accountable for their actions?

The answer to this dilemma is found in the important distinction between two words:

• VENGEANCE is my desire to see another person suffer for the pain he has caused me. The Bible consistently warns against harboring this kind of feeling in my heart.

Romans 12:19 (CEV) Dear friends, don’t try to get even. Let God take revenge. In the Scriptures the Lord says, "I am the one to take revenge and pay them back.""

• JUSTICE is the payment God or society might demand from someone because of a wrong they have committed against us, or against society as a whole. While we are to avoid vengeance, the Bible teaches us to seek justice for those who have been wronged.

Isaiah 1:17 (NLT) Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows.

VENGEANCE
1.Our personal desire for retribution against our offender
2.Striving to settle the debt ourselves
3.Leads to bitterness

JUSTICE
1.The repayment another person demands from our offender
2.Allowing someone else to settle the score
3.Leads to bitterness Leads to healing

God says that I am to surrender my desire for vengeance, but I can never surrender society’s responsibility to seek justice. The Bible teaches us that, in addition to God, the government and the church are to be administrators of justice in our society.

God deals with us in the same way. When God forgives us, He removes the ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES of our sin, but not necessarily the TEMPORAL CONSEQUENCES of our actions. Why would a forgiving God (or a forgiving person) still allow someone to suffer such consequences?

#1 Consequences promote order in society. What would our world be like if there were no laws, no penalties, no red lights? Chaos!

Genesis 9:6 (NKJV) Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God he made man.

#2 Consequences serve as a deterrent to others. Fear of consequences is perhaps the most powerful incentive for obedience.

1 Timothy 5:20 (NLT) Anyone who sins should be rebuked in front of the whole church so that others will have a proper fear of God.

#3Consequences prevent us from further disobedience. God regularly uses the consequences of sin to bring us back into a right relationship with Him –– and keep us there!

Psalm 119:67 (NLT) I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.

Chuck Swindoll observes, "If I sin and in the process of sinning break my arm, when I find forgiveness from sin, I still have to deal with a broken bone."" (i.e. nail removed from board still leaves a hole)

If you’re struggling with hurts inflicted by someone else, release your desire for vengeance and let God (or others) pursue justice.

On the other hand, if you desire forgiveness, don’t be discouraged over the lingering consequences of your sin; instead, view them as a gift designed to keep you close to a God who loves you!

FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION

"If you genuinely forgive someone, you should rebuild your relationship with that person.""

What if someone is hesitant to offer forgiveness to their offender because they have no desire to reestablish a relationship with a spouse who has been unfaithful to them, a friend who has cheated them, a coworker who has slandered them, or a relative who has abused them?

The Bible teaches that reconciliation is important for at least two reasons:
First, unity among believers testifies to the world of God’s power.

Second, unity among believers empowers us to resist the attacks of Satan, who wants to divide, isolate and conquer us individually. There is spiritual strength in numbers!

Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT) 23 "So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

The Bible teaches that reconciliation is important, but with one major condition: While I can unilaterally forgive another person, I cannot unilaterally be reconciled to my offender. FORGIVENESS DEPENDS UPON ME; RECONCILIATION DEPENDS UPON US.
We need to understand that, while reconciliation between Christians is always PREFERABLE, it isn’t always POSSIBLE.

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

While I can express my desire for reconciliation in a relationship, I cannot demand it.

Only if both parties agree can it be achieved. Even if someone has truly forgiven me for hurting them, it still may take a great deal of time and effort to rebuild the fractured relationship. In some cases reconciliation may never happen, even though real forgiveness has taken place, because one of the parties involved does not agree.

Amos 3:3 (NKJV) Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

Reconciliation usually involves three ingredients:

#1 REPENTANCE –– admitting that we are responsible for the wrong that has been done to another person

#2 RESTITUTION –– offering some type of compensation to the person we have wronged for the loss they suffered

#3 REHABILITATION –– demonstrating a change in our behavior over a period of time toward the person we have wronged

Reconciliation doesn’t happen instantaneously. That is why offenders are wrong to demand immediate restoration, and why the offended are unwise to offer it. Proper healing in a relationship takes time. (i.e. a marriage that is fractured through a few moments of adulterous pleasure may take years –– and agonizing effort –– to rebuild)

FORGIVENESS
1.It takes one person to forgive
2.Forgiving happens inside the wounded person
3.We can forgive a person who never says he is sorry
4.We can forgive even if we do not trust the person who wronged us once not to wrong us again
5.Forgiving has no strings attached

RECONCILIATION
1.It takes two to be reunited
2.Reunion happens in a relationship between people
3.We cannot be truly reunited unless he is honestly sorry
4.Reunion can happen only if we can trust the person who wronged us once not to wrong us again
5.Reunion has several strings attached

FORGIVENESS AND FORGETTING

"If you have really forgiven someone, you should be able to forget what they have done to you.""

Contrary to what many people believe, FORGETTING IS NOT A TEST OF GENUINE FORGIVENESS!

Attempting to force oneself to forget a hurt simply results in bitterness or guilt, because we continue to remember in spite of ourselves!

Someone may struggle on either side of the "forgetting issue"" ……

• If God has really forgiven me, why do I keep remembering my sin? Maybe I haven’t genuinely repented!

• If I’ve really forgiven my offender, why can’t I forget what they did to me? Maybe I haven’t genuinely forgiven him!

BUT DOESN’T GOD FORGET OUR SINS? AND ISN’T HIS FORGIVENESS OF US A MODEL FOR OUR FORGIVENESS OF OTHERS?

Jeremiah 31:34c …… for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

The Hebrew word "zakar"" (remember) in this verse has the significance of "causing to remember, mentioning, recalling, reminding, recording.""

In other words, it’s not that God CANNOT remember, it’s that He CHOOSES NOT TO remember.

2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us that Christians will have their deeds, both good and bad, evaluated at the Judgment Seat of Christ. That means that God will obviously remember our bad deeds in a LITERAL sense, but He will not remember them in a JUDICIAL sense. He has chosen to eternally erase the consequences of actions that we have repented of!

Romans 4:7-8 (NLT) 7 "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. 8 Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord.""

BUT YOU ARE NOT GOD! Your memory fails you often, sometimes by forgetting things you want to remember, and sometimes by remembering things you want to forget!

Forgetting is a function of the brain; forgiving is a function of the spirit.

Our brain is capable of storing at least 600 memories a second (1.5 trillion bits of information in a 75-year lifespan). Although we may not be able to recall certain events in our life, those experiences are nevertheless permanently recorded in our memory and could resurface at any time. Thus, any time we encourage someone to "forget"" an event, we’re asking them to do the impossible! In fact, struggling to forget a past event can have just the opposite effect, searing the thought more deeply in our memory.

FORGETTING OFFENSES IS NOT HUMANLY POSSIBLE …… AND NEITHER IS IT PROFITABLE!

In fact, remembering our past failures causes us to ……
• express gratitude to God
• extinguish pride in ourselves
• exhibit grace to others

HOW CAN I HANDLE MEMORIES OF A PAST HURT?
1. Do not cultivate the memories.
2. Recall your own failures.
3. Remember your decision to forgive.
4. Realize that healing memories takes time.

Illustration: Corrie Ten Boom (author of "The Hiding Place") had been unable to forget an atrocity committed against her while she had been a prisoner of the Nazis in a concentration camp during World War II. For years she was even robbed of sleep, just thinking about the event. She finally sought counsel from a pastor who said, "Up in that church tower is a bell which is rung by pulling on a rope. But do you know what? After the sexton lets go of the rope, the bell keeps on swinging. First ding, then dong. Slower and slower until there’s a final dong and it stops. The same thing is true of forgiveness. When we forgive, we take our hand off the rope. But if we’ve been tugging at our grievances for a long time, we mustn’t be surprised if the old angry thoughts keep coming for a while. They’re just the ding-dongs of the old bell slowing down. But once the force –– your will –– has gone out of them, the thoughts will diminish in frequency and intensity."" LET GO OF THE ROPE THROUGH FORGIVENESS!

2007-10-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

Spiritual Genetics
by Clifton J. LeJeune

Genetics is the study of heredity and hereditary transmission. Simply put, the study of genetics is the study of births and the characteristics of the parents that are transmitted to the child born. With that understanding, let me put forth this simple proposition: What a person is at conception, he or she will be at birth.

At conception, a person’s genetic makeup is prescribed and permanent. The metabolic rate, hair color, eye color, skin tone, etc. are all determined at conception. A person will grow from birth and mature. They can be educated and change the way they dress, think, and behave but their basic genetic makeup will be unchanged.

Cloning has been discussed quite often in scientific trade magazines. This process is based on the permanence of genetics and DNA. Each cell of an individual contains a blueprint of the individual. This blueprint is found within the DNA.

If a person would like the find the Church in the earth today, it is important to know about its birth. The reason for this is evident ~ what the Church was at birth, she will be today. Though some things have changed (transportation of the day, technology, etc.) the basic DNA or genetics of the Church have not changed nor can they be changed.
Cancer is the result of cell division. The DNA contained within each cell dictates the pattern of growth and health within the body.

All theologians agree that the Church’s Birthday occurred on the Day of Pentecost. Willmington’s Guide to the Bible states that the Holy Ghost formed the church. This event occurred in the second chapter of Acts. Remember, what the Church was at birth, she’ll be the same today. If you simply glance through the second chapter of Acts, you’ll find the basic DNA of the church. Now, I know that DNA is an acronym for deoxyribonucleic acid. But I think it could also stand for another phrase: Do Not Alter!

When Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost the people that heard his preaching and Acts 2:37 describes their condition and question: Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? It is imperative to note Peter’s response for it is the DNA of the New Testament Church. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
This was Peter’s response. If you’re looking for the Church in the earth today, don’t look for a particular denomination or organization. Simply visit the church and ask for their DNA. If they don’t preach repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost as the plan of salvation, know that you have not found the church in the earth. Someone has messed with that church’s spiritual genetics.

Inverted Icebergs

2007-09-20T12:25:00.000-07:00

An iceberg is a large piece of freshwater ice that has broken off from a snow-formed glacier or ice shelf and is floating in open water. Most icebergs have 10-20% of their mass exposed above water while the remaining majority of it mass is concealed ‘beneath the surface’ of the water.

An inverted iceberg Christian is one in which 90% of their Christianity is what others may see . . . 90% of their worship occurs in the church service, 90% of their Bible reading is done in the church service, 90% of their prayer life occurs during normal church service times.

Joel prophesied, ‘let the priest weep between the porch and the altar.’ For years, I have referred to the porch as that which is public and the altar as that which is private. Too often our altars (private Christianity) are dwarfed by our porches (public Christianity). It’s far to easy to be over-fruited and under-rooted.

Many failures in public ministry were due to a highly charismatic leader not having the character to support his gifting. Reverting the iceberg places the Christian in his/her right orientation.

The Titanic never touched ‘the tip of the iceberg’ . . . which, by the way, was the portion of the iceberg that was seen. No, it was what’s beneath the surface that caused it to sink. When a Christian is rightly oriented, focusing on internal spiritual growth as opposed to external emphasis, they possess the ability to ‘sink Titanic-sized’ problems while appearing to be completely un-moved, unscathed.

Let’s keep what’s ‘behind the seen’ deep and wide . . . let’s keep what’s beneath the surface attractive to Christ so that we will live lives that are pleasing to the Father and productive on earth.

Pastor Clifton LeJeune

Thinking Like A Snake

2007-07-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

" . . . Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." This is a commandment. Jesus requires us to know the thought process of snakes . . . and to learn from them. This is interesting because we know that the serpent has been used as a symbol for satan and now Jesus is asking us to think like him?! Maybe we can learn something from ‘snake thought’.
1. Serpents know where to hide.
They are keenly aware of their environment and always have an escape route. (story of 4wheeler ride and finding snake that slithered into a tree trunk where a tunnel was located)
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
cir·cum·spect (sûr"k…m-spµkt") adj. Heedful of circumstances and potential consequences; prudent.
2. Serpents rarely attack unprovoked.
Don’t go out looking for a fight; at the same time, don’t back down when confronted about issues worth fighting for!
3. Serpents are cold-blooded - they know their weaknesses.
Serpents are extremely vulnerable to their environment. You’ll never find a snake swimming a river in the dead of winter. It is amazing how many Christians fall into moral sin completely aware of their surroundings and consequences. We must learn to be honest about our weaknesses and be proactive about protecting ourselves against them.
Here’s the text again, Mat 10:16 . . . be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
There are two ideas presented here that are linked by the conjunction ‘and’ - wise as serpents AND harmless as doves. Very few, if any, have ever been attacked by a dove. Doves spend most of their time in flight; therefore, doves look over, literally, most things. To be harmless as a dove could refer to one’s ability to overlook offenses.
Here’s the premise: NIV Prov 19:11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
So there it is . . . one of the great keys to true spirituality lies in the ability to think like a snake so that you can soar like a bird. ;)

DNA

2007-07-11T09:55:00.000-07:00

DNA - it's the blueprint of human anatomy as well as maternal and paternal drive and propensities. We are our parents. We may not like that statement but it is scientifically provable.

Science can extrapolate facts from observations made in a laboratory but science cannot explain, completely, human behavior. As a parent, I can pass down to my children my values, the color of my eyes, my language . . . but there is one thing I cannot pass down to them . . . and that is my experience with God. Each person must have their own God-encounter.

This past week of Camp Meeting in Tioga, LA was another 'out-of-this-world' experience which deeply affected me and my desire to impact this world. I pray that each of us would have a true God-encounter of the 'Word' kind.

Blind Obedience

2007-05-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

It's called 'blind obedience' . . . to simply do what you're being told without consideration of the consequences or the cost. Isn't this what true Christianity is all about? When Saul learned to obey God 90%, he soon found out that his version of obedience was satan's version. It's called disobedience.

Analysis, questions, inquiry . . . these are all good and healthy. When it comes to the Word, we are truly seeing, we truly have vision when we practice 'blind obedience.'

Let's open our ears so we can see what God is telling us to do!

Pastor LeJeune

Summer is upon us!

2007-05-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

Summer is upon us! Sum - the result of an addition problem. Summer is one of four seasons we experience in South Louisiana. Summer is arguably the most extreme of our seasons. The most extreme season can also produce the most extreme results.

The Father seeks to add things to us. His addition is often the result of a process of subtraction. We know that God does not bless sin. Before He can add the blessing to our finances, we must first ‘take away’ sinful activities that deplete our finances.

It’s simple, before He ‘invests’ we must first ‘divest’. Freeing ourselves of weights that lead to sin has always been the responsibility of the Believer!

‘Oh no . . . it’s God’s job to deliver us’ some would argue. To that end Paul speaks: “2 Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Notice - we are to cleanse ourselves . . . and we are to do it in two specific areas . . . externally (flesh) and internally (spirit).

Let’s have a great Sum-mer - and allow the Father to add to us all He has destined for us to receive.

He’s Never Gonna Stop Doin’ Good To You!!

2007-01-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

Jeremiah 32:40 is the basis for the credo - it’s been the refrain sung at JWC over the past several months. As 2007 quickly approaches, I can’t help but anticipate the good things this good God has in store for His church, His people.
Can you say, “New Church”!!! Wow! I can’t wait to occupy our new facility. I believe construction will begin sometime in the first half of next year. This new facility is only the first step in a series of ‘good things’ God has placed in our hearts to do for His Kingdom.
Get plugged in . . . don’t be a periphery Christian . . . get in the middle of what God is doing!!