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The idea is shocking...

It is a thought many people have never even entertained. What is it that is so astounding? It is the fact that God hates. Most often we think of God as love (1 John 4:8). Love eliminates hate, right? Wrong. As a matter of fact, appropriate hate is a result of love. For instance, Psalm 119 is a very lengthy expression of love and appreciation for God’s word. It is as a result of that love for God’s instruction that the Psalm expresses hatred for “every false way” (Psalm 119:104, 128).

God is love. He loves us as His creation and above all else desires close fellowship with us. That fellowship is destroyed by sin. Sin taints and tarnishes His people and makes association with a holy God impossible. That is why God hates sin. It destroys those whom God loves. How tragic when people become enamored with the very things that ruin their relationship with God, the very things God hates. So, in Proverbs 6:16-19, seven objects of God’s hatred are listed: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.

Yes, God hates these things. And, if we love God, we’ll hate them too. It is no virtue to love everything. If we love what God hates we are estranged from Him (1 John 2:15). That’s the very problem Jesus died to fix.

So, what do you hate?

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 8.09. Live for God, on purpose, letting the same mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus!

Go Prepare the Table

When I was a young boy, my brother and I had certain chores that we were assigned to do. One of those tasks was to set the table for dinner. Neither my brother nor I particularly enjoyed when it was our turn to set the table, but we did want to eat dinner, and no one could eat until we took care of our duty! You see, in our house, the table was also the place where we tended to set things down throughout the day. It was also where my brother and I would sit to do our homework. There was no way that we could eat at our table until we took the time to clear it off, and then set it for dinner.

In Luke 22, we find Jesus and His disciples as they approached the Passover, and specifically as the day of Unleavened Bread arrived. In the eighth verse, it says that Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” Before Jesus and the disciples could share what we today call the last supper, there were preparations that needed to be made.

This Sunday, we will once again share in the ordinance of Communion. Just as Christ had Peter and John go to make preparations for the Passover, He is calling you and I to make preparations for the communion table. We need to “clear the table,” so to speak.

Be sure to join us here at WFA this week, as we “make ready” the Passover, following the admonition found in 1 Corinthians 11:28 to “examine ourselves” as I share the message “Go Prepare the Table” as we prepare for the Lord’s Supper.

The Prayer Force

by Rick Ezell

Prayer is the indispensable and vital function of a believer. No aspect of our Christian life is more essential and crucial to our personal growth and health, and the church’s growth and health, than spending time with God. We are never taller than when we are on our knees. We are never stronger than when we are confessing our weaknesses. We are never bolder in public than when we are quiet before God in private.

Prayer brings God to us. Prayer reminds us that we need God more than he needs us. The essence of prayer is to join God, not God joining us. We ask what is on God’s heart rather than telling God what is on our hearts. Prayer is the lifeline that saves the drowning soul. Prayer is the umbilical cord that provides nourishment to the starving spirit. Prayer is the channel by which God’s life-giving presence flows to us.

St. Augustine, the early church father and theologian, described prayer as like a man in a hapless boat who throws a rope at a rock. The rock provides the needed security and stability for the helpless man. When the rock is lassoed, it’s not the man pulling the rock to the boat (though it may appear that way); it is the pulling of the boat to the rock. Jesus is the rock, and we throw the rope through prayer.

Prayer changes us. The early disciples were once timid and afraid, hiding and secretive, embarrassed and ashamed. But when they prayed for boldness and power in public ministry, God changed them. He transformed wimps (weak, ineffectual, and insipid persons) into warriors (bold, courageous, and powerful people).

Richard Foster wrote, “To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us. If we are unwilling to change, we will abandon prayer as a noticeable characteristic of our lives. The closer we come to the heartbeat of God the more we see our need and the more we desire to be conformed to Christ.”

Don’t pray unless you want to change. Don’t pray unless you want to be propelled to action. Don’t pray unless you want to move on the offensive. Don’t pray unless you want to go to war. And, when you go to war you need power.

Prayer unleashes the power of God. Prayer is the most powerful weapon in the believer’s arsenal. Is it any wonder that the Evil One seeks valiantly to keep Christ followers from praying? When we don’t pray Satan has won the battle. But, when we pray, the power of God is unleashed.

The power is felt on the human front. Sidlow Baxter wrote, “Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.”

Then, the power is felt on the spiritual front. Samuel Chadwick said, “The one concern of the devil is to keep saints from prayer. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.”

Prayer equips us for battle. The battle is for the hearts of men and women. God needs us on the front lines telling others about him. The war is won in the trenches of men and women’s will. Prayer equips us for that engagement.

How foolish one would be to go to battle without proper preparation, training, and equipment. How foolish are we to go to spiritual battles without prayer. John Henry Jowett claimed, “It is in the field of prayer that life’s critical battles are won or lost.” As believers and as a church we will only be triumphant in storming the lines of evil for the souls of men and women when we pray.

Let us pray. The souls of men and women hang in the balance.

as seen in Rick Ezell’s “One Minute Uplift” weekly email devotional of January 31, 2008. Dr. Ezell is pastor of First Baptist Church in Greer, South Carolina.

Faithful

“Many a man will declare his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?” – Proverbs 20:6

I saw a photo of the excavations of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city that was buried, almost frozen in time, under tons of volcanic ash. The eruption was so sudden, so violent, that many people were doing the basic day to day stuff of life when they were instantly smothered. There was no warning. Death was virtually instantaneous.

One lone Roman soldier stood vigil facing the volcano. He saw the eruption and the deadly ash cloud headed for the city and could have tried to run. He chose to stand. Roman soldiers DID NOT leave their posts unless relieved. They stood faithful to the task before them. They feared their commanding officers more than their enemies; more than death.

This lone soldier stood his ground and was buried alive facing the volcano. His assignment was to guard the city. He stands silent vigil over that doomed city today. He was faithful to the task. God calls us to be faithful witnesses to the world and each other of His goodness. Your testimony of Christ has little power if you are not loving your spouse, honoring your parents, raising godly children, walking out the life of Christ within you in this fallen world.

Jesus promised that when we appear before Him, for those who walked close in obedience to him, will hear these words – “Well done, you good and FAITHFUL servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.” We cannot enter in the Lord’s joy in this life or the next unless we are faithful to His call on our lives.

Joy is an issue of the heart. You have to be close, intimate with someone to hear their heartbeat. The One we desire calls himself “Faithful and True.”

I saw on a sports broadcast once a long distance runner who won a grueling race. His trainer was waiting for him at the finish line. This victorious athlete ran past the trophy right into his coach’s arms. The token reward could wait. I suspect he wanted to hear his coaches’ praise.

I want to finish my life like that – running right into my Saviors’ waiting arms. His words, “Well done, you good and faithful servant” are what I am running to finally hear. His rewards can wait. I want his smile. “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)

Will you stand firm to the call of God? Will you be found faithful?

Think

Alan Redpath once formed a “mutual encouragement” fellowship at a time of stress in one of his pastorates. The members subscribed to a simple formula applied before speaking of any person or subject that was perhaps controversial.

T – Is it true?
H – Is it helpful?
I – Is it inspiring?
N – Is it necessary?
K – Is it kind?

If what we are about to say does not pass these tests, we should keep our mouths shut.

as seen in Rocky Henriques’ “The Timothy Report,” on February 25, 2008. www.timothyreport.com

The Guts to Fail

by Steve Goodier

Someone quipped that a classified newspaper ad read: “For sale. Parachute. Only used once, never opened, small stain.”

I realize that we cannot afford to fail in some endeavors. But I also know that we cannot afford NOT to fail in most of what we do. Unfortunately, too many of us live by the motto: If at first you don’t succeed, don’t admit that you tried. Why? We often feel ashamed or embarrassed when we fall flat.

In his book THE COURAGE TO FAIL (McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1993), Art Mortell tells about a conversation he had with baseball’s Lou Brock. It took place when Brock held the record for stolen bases. He was about 35 years old at the time and his days as a professional player were winding down. Brock was talking about why he successfully stole more bases than younger, faster players.

“When you start out in baseball,” Brock said, “you’re young and you have the speed and reflexes. However, when you try to steal second base and you get thrown out, it’s a long walk back to the dugout, with 40,000 fans watching you. When you reach my age, you come to understand that records are not set by being the quickest, but by the willingness to look bad in the eyes of others.”

There are other ways to avoid failure throughout life:

• Never ask anyone out. There will be no possibility of rejection and embarrassment.

• Never ask for a promotion. That way you will not risk the humiliation of being turned down.

• Never go back to school. You cannot fail a class you do not take.

• Never change careers. You’ll never fail at something you never try.

• Never try anything you’ve never done before.

If success is just avoiding failure, I don’t want it. But if success is about pursuing a passion or finding the guts to risk in order to experience life fully, then I want it. Even if it means a lot of long walks back to the dugout while everyone is watching.

as seen in Steve Goodier’s “Life Support.” To subscribe send an email to LifeSupport-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

In The Beginning...

When Rev. Gary Sapp was with us for our recent Missions Convention, he shared a story that many have requested. Here it is!

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

Then using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan said, “You want chocolate with that?” And Man said, “Yes!” and Woman said, “and as long as you’re at it, add some sprinkles.” And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.

And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.

So God said, “Try my fresh green salad.” And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them.” And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof. God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it “Angel Food Cake,” and said, “It is good.” Satan then created chocolate cake and named it “Devil’s Food.”

God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.

God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald’s and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said, “You want fries with that?” And Man replied, “Yes! And super size them!” And Satan said, “It is good.” And Man went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.

Then Satan created HMOs

The Last Impression

One day God was walking through the Garden of Eden. After a short while, he came across Adam. Adam was in low spirits this particular day, and God asked him what was wrong. Adam told the Lord that he was lonely.

God responded that He would create Adam a companion. She would walk by his side for all eternity. She would listen to his problems. She would wash his clothes. She would keep his house clean. She would cook his meals. She would do anything to keep him happy. Most importantly, she would never complain or nag him.

To this Adam was ecstatic. His spirits lifted immediately.

The Lord hated to tell him that this creature would come at a price. God told Adam that the creature would cost him an arm and a leg.

Adam responded, “What can I get for a rib?”... And the rest is history.

Today is an “extra” day! It’s “leap day” – February 29th. For everyone who says they would get so much more done if they just had a little more time... well, today’s the day for you! And, once you get everything done today, be sure to start the week off right by joining us for worship on the first day of the week, this Sunday, at WFA! You will find that as you give the first portion of your week to God in corporate worship, that the rest of the week will be far better! See you this Lord’s Day here at WFA!