Speak the Truth Anyway

2 Chronicles 18:13

And Micaiah said, “As the Lord Lives, whatever my God says that I will speak.”

It is so tempting to be seduced into popular opinion, especially when the mainstream seems to be trending towards the majority. Today many prophets only seem to be concerned with a profit and being popular. To go against popular opinion seems to bring about scrutiny and ostratization. You should never think that being called by God will lead you to a place of popularity often times it is the exact opposite but if you are called you must speak the truth anyway.

Micaiah was a true prophet that could not be bought out, punked out, or sold out. When King Ahab decided he would go to war against Ramath Gilead, he asked King Jehosophat to go with him. 4400 prophets came to tell them they would succeed and to go forth. But King Jehoshaphat was leery of everyone prophesying prosperity and not one word of challenge. So he asked is there not a prophet of the Lord left?
Ahab said, “Yeah but I hate him! He never tells me anything good.” Isn’t it amazing that people can hate you just for telling the truth? Truth tellers have never really been popular. Dr. King was hated by his own people and denomination. Malcolm X was assassinated by his own people. Jesus was crucified for telling the truth. The truth sometimes is telling people what they are not ready to hear but it’s factual. Ahab said, “I hate him because he never prophecies anything good toward me.” Because he wanted Jehosophat to fight on his side against Ramath Gilead, he summoned Micaiah.

When they summoned Micaiah they told him to agree with the 400 after all they were the majority. He said, “Whatever God says that’s what I got to say.” He told the two Kings the truth; that they would be defeated and Israel scattered because they were deceived by 400 prophets who had a lying spirit on them. There is nothing more difficult than speaking truth in a culture that’s used to being lied to. We‘d rather be lied to than to face ourselves. If you are truly sent by God, you can’t lie no matter how profitable it is or how uncomfortable or unpopular you may become.

How do you speak truth in a culture that loves to be lied to?

1. You must know the truth for yourself. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” You must know Jesus for yourself in order to stay pure in a corrupt culture. You cannot be in relationship with Jesus and still let lies come out of your mouth.

2. Don’t use the media for your source of truth. They are all diluted with Spin. Whether it’s Fox News or CNN they have a little bit of Spin. There is always truth behind the truth and you must be wise and discerning as to what is the truth. Be intelligent enough to see beyond what men and women report as truth and seek the truth for yourself. Be an informed truth teller. Don’t tell pieces of the truth, tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

3. Test the Sprit by the Spirit. More than ever you have to be discerning of what is from God and what is not. Once you hear for yourself, you will know the truth by the Holy Spirit if you know Jesus. Jesus said my sheep know my voice, they will not hearken to the voice of a stranger. I love the discourse that Jesus has with Pilate about the truth. John 18:37-39 (New International Version)
37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.

Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

38"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.

4. Do not fear man but fear God. Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Dear God, put truth in my mouth and never let a lying spirit get near me. Give me the boldness and truthfulness of Micaiah. I don’t want to be a part of the 400 lying prophets. If I have to walk alone so be it. But please let me stand for you. Let me be your vessel for truth and help me to know the truth and let the truth set me and those I speak to free.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

Be Bold With It!

Ephesians 6:19

{Pray} for me, that utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.

One of my pet peeves is when people are talking and they mumble as if they are not confident about what they are saying. If you want to be heard you must speak with confidence and strength. I don’t know if it’s my influence from being a Broadcasting Major with a minor in Communications or the fact that my mama would say to me, “Quit all that mumbling and speak up.” Mama hated mumbling and looking down at the ground because black men during her time were taught through oppression to hide their voices; she taught me how to raise my voice and to have something to say. I told a young man the other day at Power Lunch that came up to me shaking my hand and looking at the floor, “Son always look someone in the eye when you are talking because to look down means you having something to hide.”

We must speak the truth boldly. God has given me a spirit of boldness. I can’t shut up even if I wanted to. I’ve discovered that the more I pray and the more my intercessors pray for me, the bolder I get.

Last night I preached a message entitled, “The Dangers of an Empty House.” I told the congregation that a vacant house brings down the value of the property around it. I told them boldly that some of them were empty houses that are bringing down the spiritual value on “the House” because they will not fill their house with anything of spiritual substance. God is not going to allow prosperity to move into your area if you house is vacant. No ministry. No obedience. No devotion. Faith without works is dead. Dead neighborhoods bring down the value of homes around them. Don’t be an empty house. My wife told me after the message, “baby I appreciate you breaking down the mystery of the gospel. We got the word because of your boldness.”

People sometimes don’t get what you are trying to say when you are mumbling or withholding the truth because you are afraid how they will receive it. Be bold with it. Don’t hold back out of insecurity be bold with it. The thing about last night is that what I said wasn’t even on paper. The Holy Spirit through Prayer gave me that to give to the congregation. Before you open your mouth make sure you pray. Jesus told his disciples when you go before authorities don’t worry about what you are going to say for I will give you the Holy Sprit and he will give you what to say. When you study, when you pray, when you open your mouth God will give you what to say. Be bold with it.

Sometimes when you are a vessel for truth, it can become disconcerting when you are antagonized for being bold. It can become burdensome and you just want to keep your thoughts to yourself. But I am like Jeremiah after he had been persecuted by the people he told God:

Jeremiah 20:7-8

7 O LORD, you deceived [a] me, and I was deceived [b] ;
you overpowered me and prevailed.
I am ridiculed all day long;
everyone mocks me.
8 Whenever I speak, I cry out
proclaiming violence and destruction.
So the word of the LORD has brought me
insult and reproach all day long.
But then he comes back to say:
9 But if I say, "I will not mention him
or speak any more in his name,"
his word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
indeed, I cannot.
Be Bold with it!

Dear God, help me to be bold with the truth. Give me the confidence to speak truth to power, to give sight to the blind; to set the captives free, to raise the dead. And proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. I want to be your vessel, help me to lift my eyes from the floor to the hills from where all my help comes from. Fill me with the substance of things hoped for and give me the evidence of things not seen. Use me as your mouthpiece; just give me the courage to be bold with it!

In Jesus Name.
Amen.

The Good Life

Ecclesiastes 7:15-18

In this meaningless life, I have seen everything, including the fact that some good people die young and some wicked people live on and on. So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either—don’t be a fool! Why should you die before your time? So try to walk a middle course—but those who fear God will succeed either way.

Ephesians 4:30

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Kanye West makes mention of the Good Life complete with stories of women shaped like models, clothes, and money. It would appear that we are all in search of the “Good life.” One illusion to the “Good Life” is that if we are good, we can all experience the good life. But the reality is that Life is sometimes unpredictable but God is always good.

The writer of Eccliastes is somewhat cynical about life. He concludes that the fate of the Righteous and the wicked is the same so you should not wear yourself out trying to be “too good” but then you shouldn’t be “too wicked” and end your life short. His advice is to be somewhere in the middle, but to keep a healthy fear of God. Is advice to enjoy life, laugh and love, eat, drink with a healthy respect and reverence of God is good? WE are either too Self-Righteous or Too Wicked, rarely are we in the middle. Jesus said he came to give us life and Life more abundantly…the “good life”

Outside of Jesus, life has not meaning. Without Jesus we do suffer the same fate as the wicked but death is not the final answer. The wicked and the Righteous must stand judgment.

That is why Paul warns us to live Good as we pursue a good life. He tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. When you love God, you know what makes him sad. Anything that grieves the Holy Spirit is not a good life no matter how good it feels for the moment. The Holy Sprit is the one who will identify you after this life is over.

We just came back from a wonderful cruise. Good food, dancing, sunbathing, shopping, Love and laughter, the “good life.” On the third day it was over and it was time to leave, I was somewhat sad because the fun was over. Before we could disembark and make our connection, we had to identify our bags in customs. My wife and I both had bags but I identified them both. I was the only one who knew our bags out of all the hundreds of bags down there. I identified our bags so we could disembark and make our connection.

The Holy Spirit will identify us when we stand before the God in Judgment as belonging to God because of our relationship with Jesus and how we lived a Good life. When we trust God and live in our new nature we will experience the Good Life eternally.

Dear God, I trust you with my life. Everyday you give me I’m going to work hard and play hard. I will be conscious not to grieve the Holy Spirit by following the leadership of the Spirit you have placed in me. Forgive me when I go too far to the left or to the right, keep me on the right path to enjoy this good life.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.

It's Time to Wake Up!

Romans 13:11

Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up; our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Whenever we travel by airplane, my wife has a ritual. She carries her blanket and pillow and immediately goes to sleep before we get airborne. She says, “Me and God have a deal, he lets me sleep so I cannot think about flying.” She doesn’t like to wake up until we get to where we are going. Because I know how fast we have to scramble to make our connection, it is my responsibility as the alert one to wake her up once we near our arrival.

Many of us try to sleep through what we are most afraid of. We would rather go to sleep than to face our fears. It's time for us to wake up because our salvation is nearer than we first believed.

Sometimes we think if we just go to sleep then the wars and rumors of wars will go away, or that the recession will magically disappear. Now I am not saying that staying up, worrying about things, will make them any better but neither will ignoring them. As we get near God’s fulfillment of all things, it’s time to wake up and get our house in order.

It’s time for right living.

1. Wake up. WE have to be sober and alert to see the signs of Jesus' eminent return. All around us there are wars and rumors of wars. Young people are in danger of peril, Marriages are under attack, and this is no time for Christians to put their heads in the sands. We don’t want Jesus to come back and catch us with our work undone. It’s time to wake up and go into the marketplaces and streets and tell those who are lost that the banquet table is open and ready for them.

2. Get Rid of your evil deeds. There are some habits and hang ups that are holding us back from our destiny. It’s time to get rid of whatever is holding us back. The only way we can is to realize that we are new creations in Christ. We simply have to walk in what God has already made us. We can’t make the changes on our own but with the help of Jesus, he makes all things new.

3. Shed them like dirty clothes. We don’t throw away dirty clothes but we do wash them. Jesus’ blood is the only thing that can wash away our sins and make you whole. There is still power, wonder working power in the blood of the Lamb!

4. Clothe yourself with Right living as those who live in the light. We have to make sure we are covered. We need to put on the full armor of God. We need to live in such a way that it brings Glory to God and credibility to our faith.

5. We should be decent and true in everything we do. Everything we do as Christ follwers should be done in decency and in order. We should carry ourselves in a respectable way so no one can cast dispersion on our faith.

6. Don’t participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. We are a chosen generation and a royal priesthood. We are the King’s kids, we can’t do what everybody else does.

7. But let the lord Jesus Christ take control of you. There can only be one captain of the ship and his name is Jesus. Let him have full control.

This is your “Captain Speaking” We are approaching our descent into your destination. Return your seats to their “upright” positions, cut off all devices claiming your attention, push your tray tables up for fasting and praying, store away any loose items. If you are not sure about your final destination, please consult your nearest servant and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Dear God, thank you for waking me up and reminding me that we are near the time of salvation. This world is groaning in anticipation of the end. Help us to be sober and awake so this does not catch us by surprise. I want to be ready when you arrive.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.

Don't Eat Too Much Honey

Proverbs 25:27

It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one’s own glory is not Glory.

I just finished a series on “The Secret Life of Bees” and I likened the bees to the buzzing of your enemies who seem dangerous to you but in the end all their talk is responsible for making you honey. Honey is whatever you get as a result of your enemies working for your good out of what they meant for your bad.

Even with all the good that can be gotten from God advancing your cause there is a danger of eating too much Honey and having the wrong motive. As Christians we should always make sure we do two things in our pursuit of Honey and Glory:

1. Give God the Glory! John the Baptist when he was preaching and baptizing before Jesus began his public ministry realized he was just a fore-runner. He was not the main attraction; he was paving the way for Jesus. John said, “I must decrease so that he may increase.” When God allows you a platform to have the attention of many people, do not seek your own Glory and do not forget God’s words.

Proverbs 27:2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

Proverbs 25:26 A righteous man who falters before the wicked, is like a murky spring and a polluted well.

Don’t forget what and who you stand for when God puts you in the spotlight. That’s why God has not promoted some of us because we have to get our hearts right. God will never promote you if you cannot fully and honestly represent him. When God gives you the stage make sure you say it right and for the right reasons.

Don’t eat too much Honey. God doesn’t mind you getting honey or money but keep it all in proper perspective. Proverbs 24:13 My son, eat honey because it is good, And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste. But be warned too much honey can make you sick. Even Grandmamma said, “too much of anything ain’t good for you.

Proverbs 25:16 Have you found Honey? eat only as much as you need, lest you be filled with it and Vomit.

When God blesses you with Honey you must have the discipline not to eat too much but to learn how to store some up for later. Learn how to give some away to others who need it. You are blessed to be a blessing. What you do with your Honey determines whether or not God will give you any more.

Dear God, thank you for my bees. They have only produced more honey for me. Keep me humble and may you always get the Glory for all that I say and do. It’s my desire to see more and more people come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Keep me centered in your word and hidden in Christ. I give you praise for all the wonderful things you’ve done for me and for bringing me into a land flowing with Milk and Honey. Help me to go with the flow but not be swept away.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.

If You Don't Like It Don't Eat It

Romans 14:3

Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

We all believe different things as it pertains to God. Within the protestant camp alone there are so many denominations and tribes who split off because of differing views about what is accepted. One believed in Music in worship and another did not. One believed in women in the pulpit another one did not. One believed in being baptized in the spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues another one just believed that water baptism was sufficient. We all believe different things but one thing is central, we all believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that God raised him from the dead. Much of the time what we disagree about God could care less about. We spend too much time majoring in the minor.

The Apostle Paul recognized this with early believers who were having an issue with people eating meat sacrificed to idols. New Christians were going to meat markets purchasing meat that could have been sacrificed to idol gods. It would be like us going in buying groceries from a store owned by an Atheist. His beliefs don’t have anything to do with the food I’m going to take home and bless before I eat but some weaker in the faith may not be able to get past the fact that the owner is an atheist.

Food and sex are oftentimes closely related. What is appetizing to one person may not be appeasing to the next. When you are married the marriage bed is undefiled but many Christians still debate as to what is pagan and what is Christian. I don’t think God really cares what we do so long as it does not blatantly go against his Holy Standards.

We as Christians make a big deal out of the freedom of those who embrace their sexuality in the marriage bed. Everything God made on a man and a woman ought to be enjoyed by their spouse. The problem comes when the prudish judges the freedom of those who are comfortable in their sexuality, those who are naked and unashamed. But there is also a problem when the sexually enlightened judge those who are prudish. Whatever you do you must work out in your spirit whether God is pleased or not. Once you have confirmed in scripture and in prayer that you are not in open violation to God’s word then that is between you and God. If there is something on the menu that you don’t like, then don’t eat it. But just because someone else likes it don’t condemn them. You don’t have to beat people up for not believing as you do.

Whenever you go to the grocery store you don’t pick up every item in the store but only what fits your taste. You don’t avoid the whole store simply because they sell one item you don’t like. We spend too much time judging people for what they have in their cart instead of what they have in their heart.

Romans 14:13 therefore let us not judge one another anymore but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brothers way.

John Maxwell gives twelve steps from this chapter in Romans from his leadership bible on how to handle brothers/sisters who have differing values:

1. Be open, not condescending (vv. 1-3)
2. Remember that everyone answers to the Lord not to you (v4)
3. Cling to your own convictions (v.5).
4. Whatever your values, your motive should be to please God (vv.609).
5. You are ultimately accountable to the Lord (vv. 10-12)
6. Do not cause anyone to stumble (v13).
7. Don’t let others impose their values on you, and vice versa (v.14)
8. Make love your highest aim (v.15).
9. Major on the majors and minor on the minors (vv. 16-18)
10. Pursue peace and adding value to people (v. 19).
11. Don’t destroy anyone by imposing your values on them (vv. 20-22).
12. Anything is wrong that is not done out of personal faith (v. 23).

Dear God, help me to enlighten not to offend my brothers/sisters. I only want people to experience the abundance of life available to them not cause them to stumble. You know my heart. Help me to always represent you and not myself, not my will but your will be done in my life.

In Jesus Name.
Amen.

House of Pain

Proverbs 7:26-27

Do not stray into her paths; for she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men, her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death.

In thinking about my series for TNT in June, I thought about Tyler Perry’s hit sitcom, “The House of Payne.” Tyler has a way of blending comic relief with the Pain of family dysfunction. There is always some episode we can identify with because we all have some Pain in our house. The great thing about looking at somebody else’s house is that you can learn from other people’s pain or at least that would be the wise thing to do.

The writer of proverbs was looking through the window of his house at a young man who lacked understanding, he observed him going by the house of an adulteress at night. A lot of us head toward this house of pain by making the fatal mistake of going by there at night. Maybe Whodini was right, “The Freaks come out at night.” Many of the bad decisions we made were made at night and we chose the wrong path at the wrong time. Maybe we would do better staying on our street in our own house at night. Then maybe we would not have brought pain back to our house.

This woman was so smooth with her words. The writer says her lips dripped of Honey. This young man was slowly slipping into a trap. Who is it that has been talking to you and their words are sweet but you know that it is only going to lead to bitterness in the end? This young man was slowly slipping into a trap. She was dragging him to Hell. I saw the crazy preview for that movie, “Drag me to Hell.” There is no way I’m going to see that movie or let anybody drag me to hell. But the reality is that many of us are letting people drag us to hell. The problem is that they don’t look like demons or monsters. They look good, they have nice shapes, they have six packs, they have banging bodies but they are dragging us to hell with their smooth talk. Proverbs 8:18 says, but he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell.

How can we avoid this house of pain? Where did this young man mess up?

1. He went to her house at night. Jesus said in John 11:9 - Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.

2. He knew she was married but kept talking. This is what messed David up with Bathsheba. He knew she was married but kept entertaining the thought of being with her. When you know who someone is and you know where it is leading cut it off before you talk yourself into something you can’t get out of.

3. She seduced him with how good it would be but hid how bad it could hurt. The word seduce means to lead astray usually by persuasion or false promises. That’s powerful. How many times have you fallen for false promises? Don’t let them lure you away to hell with promises that they can’t deliver on.

4. He didn’t count the cost. Verse 23 - He did not know it would cost his life. We could avoid a lot of pain if we could just ask ourselves what happens if I get caught? What happens if this gets exposed? It’s not worth it no matter how good it sounds.

5. He thought he was stronger than most men. This is the trick of the enemy; the devil always makes you think that you will be the only man/woman in history to ever get away with it. If we look at the annuls of history, we will discover that every great man has been brought down by three things Power, Money or Sex. What makes you any different?

There are three ways to avoid the house of Pain?

1. Pay attention to God’s wisdom. Proverbs 8:1 - Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice? Make sure you are listening to the right voice.

2. Do not turn aside to her ways. Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

3. Do not stray into her paths. Matthew 7:13 - Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.

Dear God, grant me wisdom to stay away from this house of pain. Order my steps in your word, dear Lord, do not let me deceive myself into thinking I’m stronger than all those who have fallen before me. Help me to walk by the light of day and not stumble into the house of pain. Thank you for being the ruler of my house.

In Jesus Name.
Amen.