Battle of the Flesh ~ Who Will Be God?

GET UP!

GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH YOU!

Chapter 6

Battle of the Flesh

Who Will Be God?

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus,” (Philippines 1:6)

Battle of the Flesh

The struggle of the flesh is an awesome and tremendous battle. From cradle to grave it is a never ending battle. There are none who are free from it. Before we are saved it is a battle for our souls. It will determine where we will spend eternity. After we are saved the battle continues. It determines the quality and the effectiveness of our lives here on earth and our rewards in eternity. Even the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans describes himself as a partaker in this battle. “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not” (Romans 7:18). “I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good” (Romans 7:21). Paul then concludes his frustration. “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death” (Romans 7:24)?

            The battle of the flesh is who will be the God of our souls. For mankind this battle started in the Garden of Eden. The liar said “you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). This is the battle of all mankind and of each person. Who will be God? Will Satan be the god of my life or will my Creator be the God of my life?

In the Old Testament we see Israel has always struggled with this battle. Israel’s backslide from God came time after time. They would consistently seek after other gods to rule them. God calls these gods idols. “Then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken over their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that go whoring after their idols. And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations,” (Ezekiel 6:9). God said Israel had “Whoring hearts” that were “whoring after their idols.”

The Idols of Man

At the heart of our struggle is will our idols of selves or the idols of the things of this world rule us, or will our Creator, our Lord and God rule our hearts, our souls? The Apostle John put the struggle of the world and us together like this. “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever,” (1 John 2:15-17).  The idols are "lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life”. These are the idols of the world. The master of the world is Satan. “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, 'All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me,'” (Matthew 4:8, 9). The devil said the price for the kingdoms of the world was to “fall down and worship me.”

Who will be Your God?

Satan is the god of all those who are not ruled by the Lord God Almighty. When we choose to rule ourselves and follow our lust, we really choose to be ruled by Satan Himself. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest,” (Ephesians 2:1-3).

Don’t be deceived, if the Lord Jesus is not the God of your life then Satan is. Here is what Moses said to Israel about God or gods. "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity,” (Deuteronomy 30:15). Moses made it clear to Israel that they must make a choice. That choice was life and prosperity or death and adversity. Their obedient choice was to “walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments.” By obedience to God their reward was “that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.”  To Love God is to obey God. By obeying God, He became their God. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments," (John 14:15).

However, by disobeying God, or “…if your heart turns away and you will not obey,” they “worship other gods and serve them” (Satan). "But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them,” Deuteronomy 30:17). Our choice is clear; obey and worship God, or disobey and “worship other gods and serve them.” Satan is the chief of the “other gods”. We serve the Lord God or Satan and his demons.

            So the question remains, who will be the god of our lives? The choice is ours. You can choose humbly to obey God, or by prideful rebellion you choose the devil. If you are in rebellion then Satan is your God. If you are slipping into rebellion, you are in the process of removing God and replacing Him with Satan. I hope that is a sobering thought. It certainly is for me as I continue my own battle.

“I Will”

Here is the boast of Satan. He refused God and wanted to be his own God. He wanted to overthrow God and become God. "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High," (Isaiah 14:13, 14). The five “I wills” of Satan are the five “I wills” of rebellion. “I” is the center of rebellion. To obey God is to remove the “I” of my life. It is God’s will or “I” will. The last “I will” of Satan is “I will make myself like the Most High”. That was the lie to Eve. The deceiver said “you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). The TRUTH is we will not be like God but like Satan.

In your rebellion do you raise yourself above God? Do you raise your own “throne above the stars of God”? Do you, in your rebellious actions, become the “Most High” of your own life? I did. Sometimes I still do.

            The liar said “you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). In rebellion we want to be the god of our life. Do you rule over your own decisions? Do you make your own decisions on what sins you will continue with? Have you been the god of your own life for so long now that God is no longer your God? Have you ruled your own life for so long that you can only acknowledge that Jesus is God, but in reality He is no longer God of you or your life?

Expectation of Judgment

Do you now shudder at the idea of judgment? “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder,” (James 2:19). 

When I was at the peak of my rebellion I could remember this verse. “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES,” (Hebrews 10:26, 27). 
I can remember driving home many times so drunk and drug high that I was not sure I would make it home alive. I would pray to the Lord not to take my life now. I did not want to die while in my rebellion to Him. I prayed that He would give me time to repent before the end of my life. Of course, the next day I would go on living as if I never prayed that prayer. I knew God, but He was no longer my God. In fact, I shuddered at His name. Inside me was the fear of the Lord. This fear was not awesome respect for the God who created me, loves me and forgives me, but fearful expectation that He could judge me, because I had gone so far astray that my life was a testimony of open rebellion. My life declared that I was now my own god worshiping the idols of Satan. The appetites of my flesh were now my idols, and I worshiped them openly and without regard for God. Like Satan, I had set my throne above His Throne. In rebellion we fear death! The one who knows God and then leaves God has a “terrifying expectation of judgment”. It’s part of the Holy Spirit driving us back to God. The Apostle John records Jesus this way about the Holy Spirit "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged,” (John 16:8-10). The fear of judgment comes from the Holy Spirit to lead us back to repentance “concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged”. Because we knew the truth, we know what’s coming; judgment!

The Dark Side

This is not the dark side of the force, Luke. It’s the darkness of evil. There is darkness in rebellion. Those who experience darkness know it well. That darkness is depravity. This word depravity, in Greek, was used of coin that was so far deficient of sliver weight that it was no longer good as a coin. People would shave a little silver off and pass the coin back into circulation. A little shave here and a little shave there and eventually it was no longer good as a coin. It was no longer the coin it was meant to be. It was considered inadequate or depraved. It was depraved of what was needed to be a coin. In our journey down the roads of lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and lust of pride, the goodness or light of life we once had becomes lost. We lose a little here and a little there and over time it is all gone. Only darkness or evil remains. Now depraved of light, these souls are rejected by God as no longer good for what they were created for. In this state we find the very worst of men. We find these men at the top of every heap of eye’s lust for possessions or heap of prideful accomplishments or perverted lust of flesh.

Jesus said, "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness,” (Matthew 6:23)! Truly, those in rebellion are in great darkness and fear the coming of the Lord. I had numerous dreams of the coming judgment day and I would wake in terrible fear. After the fear wore off, I went right on with my rebellious life. Satan had become the complete ruler of my life. BUT, thank God the Holy Spirit did not let go. He kept prodding what little was left of my soul.

Realize I’m Not God

This is the first step of victory in the battle of the flesh. We have to come to the conclusion that our flesh is evil. We must realize that our lives cannot be lived controlled by our own desires. In Celebrate Recovery’s 8 principles and 12 steps program, it says that we first have to admit that we are powerless to control our lives because of our sinful nature. The first principle is to “Realize I’m not God.”

“Principle 1: Realize I’m not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.

“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.” (Matthew 5:3)

Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable." [i]

            Paul’s conclusion was “Who will set me free from the body of this death”. Paul concluded this after, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, his own examination of himself. Paul said “I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good,” (Romans 7:21).

            Genuine repentance can only come from a broken heart before the Lord. Our heart must be broken by the consequences of our rebellion; sin. These consequences from sin that break our heart, lead us to a contrite and repentant heart before our Savior. They lead us to ask God to return our lives. After having experienced darkness, the fear of death, and the consequences of our sin, we reach out to God once more. Now in hope we cry out to God for forgiveness and life. We pray that He will receive us back and restore Himself as our Lord and Savior.

The one who has openly rebelled and become his own god must be humbled. We must come to a point in our life that we realize we are not God. We must come to realize that the false god, “I", can only bring death and destruction to our lives. To realize that I am not god is the beginning of humility. Therefore, humility causes us to seek God again. Humility is to take the “I” out of “I will” and replace "I" with "God", God’s will.

“Spiritually Poor”

            “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor,” (Matthew 5:3 Good news Translation). The poor in spirit are the ones who have little of their own spirit left. The poor in spirit are those who have hit the end of the way of being their own god. They are the ones who have realized that the lie of being their own god is death. They have by the reality of the disaster of their own lives, come to realize the truth of the lie. The truth of the lie is they cannot be their own god. They have reaped the lie’s consequences. I came to this conclusion and cried out to God for help. I could no longer bare the consequence of my life. I NO LONGER WANTED TO BE MY OWN GOD! My spirit had been nearly wasted completely away. I was nearly completely dead. I was deficient in spirit; poor in spirit.

            I had food poisoning a couple of times. I can no longer eat the food that poisoned me. Even its smell is still repulsive to me. The first step in the battle of the flesh is to come to know the bitter reality of the poison of the lie and the destruction it has caused to our lives and our souls. The lie of the serpent was "You surely will not die” (Genesis 3:4). We cannot be “Like God” (Genesis 3:5). God alone created us and only He can be our God. When He is our God we have life. Life only comes from God. We can only live through Him and by Him.

“We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols, (1 John 5:19-21).

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[i] Celebrate Recovery Leaders Resource – Lesson 1 

The Shepherd's Shepherd

GET UP!

GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH YOU!

Chapter 5

The Shepherd’s Shepherd

"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28)

Somewhere in my second and third year of recovery, I was looking for a church I could attend. I only wanted to sit in the back and worship. I was still embarrassed about my state as a fallen pastor. I was equally ashamed of how far I had fallen. I was too humiliated to go back to the Church that trained me. There, I definitely would meet curious questions. I should add here that the Lord has restored me with that church and the college that trained me. But this came later.

I was still unsure of my salvation at this point. I knew biblically I was saved. But the reassurance in my heart of my salvation was not yet fully realized. God was still in the process of confirming His love for me. I was still in the process of trying to love Him back. My guilt was forefront in my emotions. I was still struggling with some bad habits and addictions. God calls these sins. My desire was to be restored back to God, and maybe He could help me start over.

It was at this time the Lord brought me to one of His shepherds. I praise God for His providence in connecting me with Pastor Kelly Backstrom. As I wrote in Chapter 1, Kelly had fallen from the ministry. God had restored him. Kelly is the Lead Pastor of River Rock Church.

When I met Kelly I had no idea that God was going to use me in ministry again. I also had no idea Kelly would play a key role in my restoration to God and back into ministry. Seeing Kelly restored to ministry made me wonder if God could do the same with me. Many times while talking with Kelly, the thought that God can restore would enter my mind. Kelly was wonderment to me. I watched him carefully. I watched to see if he genuinely was God’s man. I was looking for evidence that Kelly’s restoration was from God. I’m happy to report that Kelly is the real deal. God restored Kelly and there is ample evidence of it in Kelly’s personal life and ministry.

A big part of this evidence is Kelly’s ministry of shepherding me. Kelly was tough enough to tell me when I was off track. He was insightful enough to encourage me to do something at the right time. Convinced that Kelly was one of God’s shepherds, I made a covenant with God. I was not sure God could restore a sinner like me. My covenant was I will never ask to do a ministry. If God wanted me to do something, He was going to have Kelly ask me. I told God, respectfully, that if Kelly asked me to do something, I would consider it coming from Him. I did not want to place myself back into to ministry if it was not God’s will. I don’t know if I ever told Kelly about this covenant until now.

My friends, I never again want anything in my life that does not come from God. I truly mean anything, including the clothes on my back. I really hurt myself and those I love in my rebellion. When I’m in charge, my life is bad and full of disaster. When God is in charge, even the pain and trails have divine purpose. God’s divine purpose is always the best for me. God loves me and I rest my life in His love and care. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

What if I had not met the Shepherd’s Shepherd?

"Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!" declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:1).

I sometimes shudder at the thought of what if I had not met Kelly. What if I met a shepherd that said I was damaged goods? What if he said you can worship here, but never again can you be in a leadership role? In that tender time of my return to God; in my guilt and shame, I would have agreed. The sentence of “never again” would have been deserved. I would have accepted it.

By man’s standard of forgiveness and justice this would be right. What would my life be now? Thank You Lord that Your mercy and grace are greater than any penalty deserved. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:1, 2). As each sin I committed comes to mind; as I come to understanding each level of depravity I had reached, also comes the realization that God forgives that too. With forgiveness comes restoration.

      What if Jesus had reached an end point of sin? What if there had been a line we crossed where Jesus said that’s it, you are just too bad. I will forgive no more. You have reached the end of My mercy. You are just too sinful for Me to tolerate anymore. Now you die. Here is all the punishment you deserve! Before salvation and in salvation we are sinners. Is one sin greater than the other? The Pharisees set up a system of sins and appropriate punishments. They took the Law to a whole new level. Do God’s forgiveness, mercy, and grace have levels of appropriateness? “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Shall we qualify “no condemnation?”

      What if when the people cried “Crucify Him” Jesus declared that’s enough I will not tolerate them anymore. What if the end point was when the soldiers beat Him and put the crown of thorns on His head? What if He said no more as the first lash of the whip torn into His body? What if the end point was when the first nail broke through His hand? What if the end point of forgiveness came as He hung dying of the cross and the people mocked Him? What if Jesus did not forgive and restore Peter after Peter had denied Him 3 times. What If Jesus did not forgive Paul after he had violently persecuted the church and approved the stoning of Stephen? What if God had not forgiven Abraham for committing adultery with Sarah’s handmaid? What if God had not forgiven Jacob for stealing the birth right? What if there were no forgiveness and restoration for King David after adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband?

What if there had been no forgiveness for me? What if my forgiveness was only in part and not complete? What if there was a certain sin that says I’ve crossed the line and forgiveness stops here. Because of that sin there might be forgiveness, but not restoration.  

What if God’s shepherd said I’m sorry Steve, but that sin benched you for the rest of your life?  Steve, you crossed the line, you can be forgiven, but never restored. “No condemnation” Paul said! Paul had murdered the saints. He threw Christians into jail. He violently persecuted Jesus Christ’s Church. Here is Paul’s own description his salvation. “I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' "And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 22:7, 8). Did Jesus bench Paul here? Did Jesus enact retribution for the persecutions and saints murdered? No, here is what Jesus did with Paul. His sent Paul into to service and forgave him in one act. Here is the account. "A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing near said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very time I looked up at him. "And he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. 'For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:12-16). There was no qualified forgiveness or restoration here. Paul’s forgiveness was complete, along with one of the greatest commissions that anyone has ever received.

The Heart of The Shepherd, Jesus Christ

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:10b, 11).

      Our Shepherd, The Good Shepherd, came to give us abundant life. Our abundant life comes from our Shepherd laying His life down for us that we might be forgiving and restored back to God. We receive full son-ship in our forgiveness and restoration back to God our Father, Abba. Our restoration back to God is unqualified and absolute.

      I think Kelly saw past my hurt and embarrassment and doubts. He saw that my heart was broken. Kelly had felt the same pain, and 7 years later God had restored Kelly to be the pastor of River Rock Church. Kelly told me in our first meeting, that God loves me. Oh how my soul had long to hear that. It was like fresh water to an extremely thirsty man, me. Many times in my journey with Kelly he would remind me, God loves you Steve. The great message to a sinful world is God loves you! The Gospel is telling of how great God’s love is to a thirsty and dying world.

The depth of God’s love is what the Jews heard in the first declaration the Gospel. Peter explains they had crucified their Messiah. They were “Pierced to the Heart” Luke records in Acts 2:37. These were the Jews that had forced Pilot to crucify Jesus. God still loved them and they were forgiven. This was indeed Good News. God’s first application of love’s salvation came to the very people that brutally murdered Him! Were they only forgiven and not able to serve? Was service in the Christ’s Church only reserved for those who had not participated in the murdering of Jesus? Quite the opposite, some of these people that were saved by God’s great love that day went and started churches in the countries they had come from. The Church at Rome was started most likely by some of these.

Even in salvation we stumble and fall, sin! “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:8, 9). Shall we qualify “cleanse us from all unrighteousness?” Does “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” extend to backslidden church leaders? Shall we qualify “all”? What would the Good Shepherd say to the repentant church leader who falls to his knees, broken hearted from sin and asks forgiveness? “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Psalms 51:17b).

Hear King David’s prayer after Nathan had confronted him with the sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband.

Psalms 51

"For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.

Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.

For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

By Your favor do good to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.

Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.”

Our Lord’s answer to King David’s contrite heart was a restored life as King over Israel. The Lord restored King David. He died as God’s restored and anointed King over Israel.

Then he died in a ripe old age, full of days, riches and honor; and his son Solomon reigned in his place (1 Chronicles 29:28).

Solomon said to God, "You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place (2 Chronicles 1:8).

The Heart of the Shepherd’s Shepherd

“the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28b).

The Holy Spirit’s appointed shepherds must accomplish the ministry of the Good Shepherd. The Lord’s shepherd must know intimately the heart of the Good Shepherd. They bear the awesome responsibility to shepherd God’s Church that He purchased with His own precious blood.  

Peter’s Appointment

Peter came to know the Lord’s heart intimately and became one of the Good Shepherd’s shepherds. The Lord appointed Peter. Jesus asked Peter who do you say that I am? Peter blurts out "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16b). I’ll bet it was to Peter’s surprise when Jesus said that His Father had revealed this to him. I’m sure Peter was even more astonished at his subsequent commissioning. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19)

Peter’s intimate Relationship with Jesus

Peter is kept close in the inner circle with Jesus. Their relationship became strong and intimate. The last night together, Jesus tells the disciples that he will be arrested and put to death. It was no surprise that after 3 years with our Lord, Peter would declare "Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:23b)! Jesus told Peter that he would fail and prayed for Peter’s restoral.

Peter’s Fall

When Peter came face to face with the reality of his commitment to die for our Lord, he failed; he fell; he stumbled; he sinned! The completion of Peter’s sin came when the rooster crowed, and then he looks into the eyes of his friend and Lord, Jesus. If you have fallen from your commitment from the Lord, and come to its terrible reality, you can recognize and empathize with the bitter tears of Peter.  “The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61, 62).

Peter’s shame and guilt must have reached a depth that we can only imagine as he faces not only his failure to His Lord, but watches his Lord die a brutal death of the cross. Only one other person could have felt that pain. That person was Judas. Judas tried to rid himself of guilt by throwing the coins back into the Temple. Judas’ pain and guilt drove him to hang himself (Matthew 27:3-5).

Peter’s Hope

At the news of the empty tomb, it was no wonder that Peter out ran John to see if the Lord had truly risen from the grave. I believe Peter wondered as he raced to the tomb, is He really the Savior? He said He would save the world from sin. Could my sin be forgiven, as well? Of course I’m speculating here. However, I too am one who was appointed into service of our Lord. I too failed in my commitment to Him. I too have wept bitter tears at the stark reality of my sin. I too have wondered if the Lord could actually save me as He promised. I too have walked in the shadow of hope that forgiveness could reach even to the immensity of my sin. I too like Peter have been forgiven and restored. Its result is I now can empathize with you. I now shepherd you to the Good Shepherd; The Good shepherd who purchased you and me with His blood. His purchase is complete and not lacking, or qualified. It reaches Peter’s sins, my sins, and your sins! There is no one Christ's blood cannot forgive. There is no soul that cannot be saved. There is no life that cannot be restored.

      Understand the Good Shepherd’s heart as He forgives and restores Peter. Jesus calls to Peter and reminds him that He is Lord. Jesus said cast your nets on the other side. This is how Jesus called Peter the first time to ministry. Then and now Peter cast his net to the other side and the catch is miraculous. Then Jesus prepares the disciples a meal.

Peter, like the adulterous woman, now comes face to face with his Savior. Peter now meets the Shepherd Who laid down His life not only for the world, but for Peter too. The Shepherd now speaks forgiveness and restoration together.  

Peter’s Forgiveness and Restoration

Hear the Lord speak to Peter and to me and to you. “So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Tend My lambs." He *said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." He *said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus *said to him, "Tend My sheep” (John 21:15-17).

Our Forgiveness and Restoration

Now Peter not only understands the depth of the Shepherd’s forgiveness, but he understands the heart of his Shepherd. In your fallen state would you go to Peter to seek help? My shepherd is Pastor Kelly Backstrom. Kelly had fallen and knew the pain of brokenness. Kelly also had experienced the heart of his Savior and Shepherd and His forgiveness and restoration to his life.

As I began to tell Kelly how badly I had fallen, Kelly stopped me and said he had fallen also. God had restored him. Kelly then poured his heart, like the Savior's heart onto my heart and said Steve, God loves you! My dear friend, who read this, God loves you!

"I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:4

Praise the Lord! - Two New Churches

Praise the Lord! 

Jabez House of Prayer - Esparar

We are starting construction of 2 new churches. The 2 new churches are Barangay Magarang and Barangay Magdalena.

This makes a total of 10 new churches for River Rock Church Philippines.

Please Pray

1. For the construction of the 2 new churches.

2. The 3 churches still under construction and almost finished.

3. We are in the process of purchasing land for the permanent church home of Tabernacle of Praise in Barangay Igbarawan.

Thank you Lord for allowing all of us to be a part of such an awesome ministry. You are a great God full of compassion, mercy and grace. Amen

Your partner in this ministry to the Filipinos,

Pastor Steve Bragg

4 New Church Buildings

My Dear Grace Chapel Partners of RRCP 

Please be in prayer for two possible church building land sites. Also, we will start construction in two more Barangays.

The first site is for Tabernacle of Praise. We have two sites that are possible to build the permanent church building in Barangay Igbarawan. The first site requires a lot of excavation and is considered by the local people as possessed by fairies and giant ghost that inhabit a large tree on the land. The second prospective land site is more expensive. Top will purchase one of the sites.

Yesterday we looked at a second new church building site for a Bible study meeting Barangay Magdalena, Anini-y, Antique. They have been meeting for 3 years. One of the families is donating a nice piece of land in a great location to build a church there.

Pastor Alagos and I are estimating cost and will make our final decision soon.

The Magdalena church will be planted in a area known as a center for witchcraft.

The third new church building is for Barangay Magarang. The Magarang congregation the started meeting outside in the summer and now in the rainy season meets and worships in the Catholic Church building on Saturdays. In a few weeks,  we will start construction of our church building. Since Barangay Magarang is at the top of a mountain, the new church his called Mt Horeb Christian Center.

Our fourth blessing is yesterday we dedicated the land and started construction for our new church building in Barangay Tagumpay. Thank you Lord!

Please be in prayer for us to hear God in these decisions.

Your partner in this ministry,

Pastor Steve Bragg

SECOND YEAR ANNIVERSARY - COUNTING BLESSINGS

August 8^, 2013 was our 2^nd year Anniversary to live and minister here in the Philippines. All praise goes to our God. He has taken very good care of us. Our health is good. We have food enough to eat. We have a good home. Our Lord’s provisions are awesome!

In the past 2 years with our Lord’s blessings.

• In two years, we have planted 5 new churches with church and parsonage buildings.
• We have started 2 new house churches
• We have a total of 11 churches, including 2 house churches.
• We have many Life Groups.
• One church has joined us, and three more are “in fellowship” to join us.
• We organized to be recognized, by the Philippines government, to become River Rock Church Philippines (RRCP) Inc.
• I, Steven Ray Bragg and Alejo F. Alagos were ordained as Pastors of River Rock Church.
• Gary Docallos was ordained as Pastor of River Rock Church Philippines.
• Alexander Dongon became our first appointed Elder of River Rock Church Philippines.
• We provide salaries for 7 pastors.
• We have children’s feeding programs in 5 of our churches.
• We sponsor with school scholarships 22 children.
• Local governments have recognized us for our efforts to help the Filipinos.
• We have implemented Operation Kindness. Through operation Kindness, we have repaired many homes, feed hungry people, provided clothes, and medical assistance.
• We have encouraged many pastors and congregations of all denominations.
• Pastor Alagos and I are heard on the radio 5 hours per week. We reach almost 1/3 of the Philippines sharing the Good News and encouraging people in their faith.
• We have received grants to build three more churches.

Thank you Lord Jesus for Your kindness us that you allow us to serve you.

Thank you Lord, for Your kindness to the Philippines people.

Thank you Grace Chapel Partners and River Rock Church for your prayers and finances to make these ministries of love powerful and awesome in our Lord’s name Jesus Christ!

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse.

Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre.

Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.

Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! (Psalms 150:1-6)

Life of a Missionary - Prayers Needed

THANK YOU LORD!

Often when we travel to our churches in the remote areas Pastor Alagos will say “Life of a missionary, if they could see us now.”

These next two missionary trips will be “Life of a Missionary” with blessings, fun, and adventure. We will need your prayers.

August 8^th

·       We will travel to Sugnod for the Victory Christian Church dedication and Pastor Billy Alco’s birthday celebration.

·       It will be a 3-4 hour trip on motorcycle during the rainy season. We will be wearing rain gear for the trip. Last year we went during rainy season (with no rain gear) a typhoon came in, and it took us almost 7 hours by motorcycle. It was an adventure for sure!

·       We will cross a river, during rainy season, with our motorcycles.

August 25^th

·       We travel by air to the island of Palawan. There we will have the dedication of the Santa Lourdes church that is one year old. Thank you Lord!

·       Also, we will launch the Tagumpay church building construction.

·       Please pray for our travels there as there are many mosquito diseases including typhoid and malaria. This time I have a supply of malaria pills for myself, but Pastor Alagos has none. We are in mosquito season now.

Thank you for your prayers.

Your partner in this ministry to the Filipinos,

Pastor Steve Bragg

Where Are Your Accusers?

Each month I’m sharing a new chapter of my book.This is for your review. Please let me know what you think, and if you see any errors in grammar or spelling.

GET UP!

GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH YOU!

Chapter 4

Where Are Your Accusers?

  Recently in a message to Grace Chapel, I use the text of the adulterous woman to illustrate that God has come to save us not condemn us.

We all can quote, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Indeed God did send His Son so that those who believe will not perish but have eternal life. Often missed is the next verse. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17 ESV).

One of the best illustrations that condemnation is not God’s agenda, at this time, is the story of the adulterous woman. I preached this message at Grace Chapel in Dacutan, Antique, Philippines.  Sometimes in delivering a message the Holy Spirit intervenes. This particular message was to have a greater message for me personally. This intervention by the Holy Spirit also enhanced the message for those who heard. I pray this message will encourage you, as well.

God was speaking to my heart as I delivered this message. He brought to my remembrance a prayer. As I suddenly remembered the prayer, it was made clear that still to this day He is answering my prayer. I shared this prayer with you in the Chapter 1. It was at the end of my rebellion when the pain and grief of my life were unbearable. This pain and grief drove me to my knees and I cried to the Lord, “Lord, my sorrow, guilt and pain are too much to suffer. Can you help me, please? Lord, if only I can find a little happiness and joy in this life I would be so thankful.” God brought to my remembrance this part of the prayer, “…if only I can find a little happiness and joy in this life I would be so thankful.”

Just a week earlier I was talking to a friend. She was sharing that she had been singing in an angelic tongue. She said sometimes this happens to her. She continued to tell me that when this happens she feels close to God and has enormous joy. I don’t speak in tongues and I have never experienced this kind of Holy Spirit gift. What struck me was when she said she felt close to God she experienced enormous joy. I have heard people speak in tongues. When I hear tongues, it causes me to ponder. My theology on the subject is neutral. My friend talking about singing in tongues is not the point I want to make. What struck me was she said she felt incredibly close to God. As I have said earlier that my goal, like Enoch, is to walk with God. I want to be as close to God as I can become.

Since I’ve been in the Philippines, I have been exceptionally happy. I am experiencing God almost daily. We arrived one year ago. I’m retired from secular work. I devote all my time in God’s service and Kingdom. He is blessing this ministry in marvelous ways, and God’s hand is truly in this ministry. Daily I thank Him for the remarkable privilege of serving Him. I walk each day through this ministry with Him. In one year we have started 5 new churches. Our goal is to start 5 new churches each year. The Lord’s providence and moving of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds people are obvious and evident. In the past year I have been the guest speaker at 11 churches. When I came here I had only hopes, dreams, ideas and prayers. God is putting power and substance and multiplication to my dreams in fantastic ways. Many churches here are coming to our assistance. We serve and awesome and powerful God. His providence is not just in the Bible. It is active and potent today. We are in the harvest. “Thank you Lord” is continuously on my lips.

Overwhelming Joy

I could stop here and happily say God has answered my prayer, “If only I can find a little happiness and joy in this life I would be so thankful.” I can’t stop here. God has answered my prayer in a bigger way. God’s gifts of love and mercy and grace are beyond our comprehension.

As I write this, the following words ring in my hear, “They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over,” (Luke 6:38). This is a partial quote of that verse. Jesus was talking about giving, and how He measures it back. For me, Jesus is explaining the goodness of God. When He answers a prayer, it is “pressed down, shaken together, and running over.” Maybe this is the giving of my heart, my soul, and my life to God to use in a way that pleases Him.

My message to Grace Chapel was that no matter what sin we have committed or how badly we fall, God does not condemn us.

John 8:1-11 tells the story of a woman caught in adultery.  She was not only caught, but publicly humiliated. If the Pharisees had their way she would have been stoned to death for her sexual misbehavior. It does not say she was a prostitute paid for sexual favors. It says she was an adulterer. She was having an affair. We are not told who was married. One of them or both of them were married, but not to each other. Their sexual relationship was adultery. The penalty is to be stoned to death.

In my thirteen years of rebellion, I was involved in almost every kind of sin you can imagine, including adultery. I’m sorry to admit that adultery was only one of my many categories of sin. So there I stood before the people of Grace Chapel ready to give this message. The Lord had fully restored me to the ministry in spite of my sinful past.  I was ready to talk about “Where Are Your Accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" (John 8:10), and Jesus’ response, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more," (John 8:11). It’s a powerful message! But God was going to make his point hit home in a more intimate way.

I need to add more background before I tie it together for you. Since my prayer and subsequent turn to repentance, I cry easily. I’ve always been macho in attitude, so crying is unusual for me. I mentioned it before when I talked about my communion experience when I went back to church for the first time. Again, I told about it in the Chapter 1. To give you better background, let me quote it. “To my surprise, at the end of the message the pastor started talking about communion. I wanted to run out the door, but as he talked of the cross and shedding of the Lord’s blood for me, all I could do was weep. While glued to my chair and weeping, the emblems came to me. I shared in the Lord’s sacrifice of dying on the cross for me and for my rebellion. Never did it mean so much to me as it did in that moment. Since that day, I cry easily. I went from tough guy to humble guy. To this day I’m still broken, but I am restored and I walk by His grace only through his mercy. I went home humbled and grateful. My prayer that night was ‘Lord, You arranged that for me, thank You. You are an awesome God!’”

That experience broke my heart. Because my heart is still broken I cry easily. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise,” (Psalm 51:17). At the beginning, my crying would embarrass me. It still does a little, but I’m getting better about being embarrassed. It’s been going on now for more than ten years. I’ve noticed there is a pattern to it. It always happens when I give my testimony. It also happens when I praise God.  It happens when I praise Him through song, preaching, and prayer. I don’t always cry at these times, but when I connect with God during these times, I cry. Since I’ve been in the Philippines, sometimes I cry while preparing for a message or just before I give a message. I have come to think of these times as the presence of God, or confirmation that He is with me in the task set before me. This was even more confirmed when my friend talked about singing in tongues and feeling close to the Lord. I did not entirely understand this until just before I was to give the message of “Where Are Your Accusers!”

As I was about to go to the pulpit, it hit me. These tears are tears of joy. My mind raced as I said yes! This feels just like when you are so happy that you become overwhelmed with a lump in your throat and hold tears back. Not only was God confirming He was with me, but He was doing it by filling me with overwhelming joy!

I feel it just now. The presence of God through the Holy Spirit fills me with inexplicable joy. There have been occasions when my tears pour out, and I can’t stop them. Fortunately this only occurs in my alone time with God. One time I could not stop crying. I asked God to please stop, I can’t take it anymore. A long time passed with no crying episodes. I felt terribly lonely. I’ve never asked Him to stop again. I just go with it. If it kills me, I’ll go to heaven happily crying, overwhelmed with joy. What a way to go! I have been known to ask God out loud and from the pulpit, “please God let me continue to speak.” Sometimes I think God has fun with me.

Well, there is even more to tell. This goes even deeper. In my PowerPoint of this message, I have a picture of the adulterous woman at Jesus feet reaching upward. As I’m delivering the message, I identify in my mind with the woman. I thought, this is me in the picture. I deserved death. I was even a greater sinner than she was. It is only through Jesus that my accusers have fallen away. Jesus reached down and pulled me up. He said to me neither do I accuse you, go and sin no more.

At this point in my message, the tears came again. The tears where shooting out of my eyes. The lump in my throat was chocking my words. I finally gained composure and continued. Later in the message I used the example of the woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears. Luke says she was an “immoral woman,” (Luke 7:37 NLT), “Then she knelt behind Him at His feet, weeping. Her tears fell on His feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing His feet and putting perfume on them,” (Luke 7:38 NLT). Jesus continues to explain her action of washing His feet with her tears. "I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown Me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love," (Luke 7:47 NLT). As I told of the woman kneeing down with tears, my tears began again. I imagined myself, kneeing at the feet of my Lord. My tears were of thankfulness because He had forgiven me for so much.

This was the deeper realization of what my tears of joy where about. Like the woman, my sins were many. I have been forgiven a great deal, more than most people I would estimate. Not only has God forgiven me, He has restored me. Not only has He restored me, He has blessed my restoration. My tears are tears of the joy because of forgiveness and restoration. These are the tears of gratefulness. They are the tears of praise.

When I feel the undeserved presence of God in my life, these are tears of a broken heart realizing that God could forgive and restore someone like me. God’s amazing grace of forgiveness and restoration overwhelm me, and I express them with tears of immense joy! Lord Jesus may my tears touch your feet!

Where Are Your Accusers?

Also, significant in this story of the adulterous woman are the Scribes and Pharisees. The story begins with Jesus coming into the Temple. The Temple was to be God’s house of prayer. That’s what Jesus called it when He became angry with the Scribes and Pharisees. They had turned the Temple into a den of thieves. The Temple was to be where His people could come to worship. The Temple was to be a place they could offer sacrifices and prayers in the presence of God. Isn’t this a picture of our God’s Church today?

The Church today is to be a place where God’s people can worship with the sacrifices of a contrite heart, and offer up prayers in the presence of our Lord and Savior. “For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise,” (Psalms 51:16-17).

These Scribes and Pharisees were the keepers of the Law and the Prophets. This is our Old Testament today. Its purpose was to prepare God’s people for the coming Messiah that would save the world. This salvation was to come by way of His personal sacrifice of Himself. The Messiah was not coming to condemn the world but save it through mercy. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him,” (John 3:17). John the Baptist was Jesus’ appropriate herald. John’s message was to prepare the hearts God’s people with the baptism of repentance. Their hearts were to be made ready for salvation not judgment. Salvation comes from forgiveness not condemnation.

Ironically, the Scribes and Pharisees met weekly on the Sabbath. In this weekly meeting they read from the scriptures. They read the scriptures that described their Messiah and His coming with salvation not judgment. John records in the story of the adulterous woman, that Jesus came to the Temple. The Temple was to be a house of prayers and sacrifices and contrite hearts. He came to the Temple as their Savior and not their Judge. Here they threw the adulterous woman to Him not to be saved, but to be judged. But, she fell condemned at the feet of her Savior, not her Judge.

The religious leaders were God’s appointed shepherds. God’s shepherds were to lead His people to their Messiah. Their Messiah who was coming to sacrifices Himself, so His people could be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with their Creator.  But the religious leaders, the shepherds, had become self important. God’s ordained Temple and house of prayer and sacrifice had become a man ordained Temple. The law had become a system of controlling people in order to benefit its leaders. The shepherds had become wolves feeding the appetites of their own bellies. The shepherds were leading the flock to a man-made man sustaining religion. Jesus said they had become “blind guides” (Matthew 15:14). With prideful hearts and evil judgmental control, they missed not only their opportunity to shepherd God’s people, but they also missed their own Messiah. They burned with a desire to kill Jesus even though they could find no fault with Him. They were afraid he would take their control from them. Paul describes them well. "Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us! The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the One the prophets had spoken about. Instead, they condemned Him, and in doing this they fulfilled the prophets' words that are read every Sabbath. They found no legal reason to execute Him, but they asked Pilate to have Him killed anyway,” (Acts 13:26-28 NLT).

We need to guard that our churches and denominations do not become like the Scribes and Pharisees. Our churches need to be houses of forgiveness offered by our Lord and Savior, not our Judge.

Those who have fallen, even church leaders, need be able to fall at the feet of their Savior, not the feet of judgmental Pharisees and shepherds. These Pharisees, shepherds, cared nothing for the woman they threw at Jesus feet. They had no interest in her well being. They cared not to lead her to repentance and salvation. They had but one purpose. They wanted to kill Jesus. They wanted people to continue following them, not Jesus. If sacrificing the woman would accomplish their goal then so be it.

So they caught this woman in the act of adultery. They sought to condemn her to death so they might trip up the Messiah and condemn Him to death as well. They grabbed the woman and filled their hands with stones. They threw her at His feet and declared, “The law of Moses says to stone her. What do You say?” (John 8:5 NLT). But the mercies of God are greater than the evils of men. The Savior, her Savior was about to act. He would disarm the accusers and forgive and restore her.

Curiously, he bends down and writes on the ground. “They were trying to trap Him into saying something they could use against Him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with His finger,” (John 8:6 NLT). No one knows why He bent down or what He wrote. None the less, the Scribes and Pharisees pressed Him. “They kept demanding an answer,” (John 8:7a NLT). They were pressing God Himself in the flesh. Accusing and condemning the woman they were accusing and condemning themselves. If Jesus had come to judge the world, He would have thrown not only the woman but the Scribes and Pharisees into hell. The Savior and now the woman’s Advocate responds, “So He stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” (John 8:7b NLT). They had set out to trap and condemn Him, but now they stood trapped and condemned by their own action. If they threw a stone, their own false judgment would have condemned them to stoning, as well. “When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman,” (John 8:9 NLT).

The Savior and Advocate had defeated the accusers. Now the true Shepherd acts with care to the adulterous woman. In His freeing her from the accusers and condemners, He would now saves her and restores her. Jesus asked her. "Where are your accusers?” Didn't even one of them condemn you?” (John 8:10b NLT). She was guilty of adultery and the appropriate penalty was death by stoning. But there she stood in front of God, Himself, freed and about to be restored. “And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more,” (John 8:11b). There was no jail in place of the stoning. There was no lesser sentencing. There was no probation. Jesus just simply says “go and sin no more.”

I am sure of this, that not only was the woman astonished, but the crowd was astonished. The religious leaders were astonished. The angels were astonished. Heaven rejoiced at the mercy of God, and the woman rejoiced at the mercy of her Savior and God, the Lord Jesus.

Who could refuse to love a God like this? Whose heart could not be melted at such fantastic mercy? Who could not rejoice and be glad at seeing this woman live and her life restored? Who could not drop to their knees with worship at the kindness of God to their own life? Who could not repent and serve such an awesome God? Who could keep silent at such awe-inspiring Good News?

The Bible does not tie this woman, the adulterous woman, and the woman who washed the feet of Jesus, with her tears because she had been forgiven so much together. If they are not the same woman, I’m sure the adulterous woman, if given the opportunity, would have indeed worship and cried at the feet of her Redeemer. I certainly worship and cry my tears at the feet of my Redeemer.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalms 19:14 NLT).