Good Luck?

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday celebrated by Irish and non-Irish alike. It originally began as a Christian holiday but became more secularized like Valentine's Day, Christmas and Easter. One symbol often associated with St. Patrick’s Day is the shamrock. Saint Patrick was a missionary who reportedly used the three-leaved clover to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish people.

In recent years, someone finding a four-leaved clover represents good luck. Wikipedia defines luck as “a belief in good or bad fortune in life caused by accident or chance.” Many people believe good luck charms such as a rabbit’s foot or horseshoe will attract positive things in their lives.

Then there are things associated with “bad luck” like black cats and Friday the 13th. My birthday is on the 13th day of January. One of my most memorable birthdays that landed on a Friday was my 14th in 1978. While nothing really terrible happened to me, one of my aunts was injured in a car accident that day. Ironically, she was driving on Highway 13 in a thirteen-year-old car.

Christians don’t need “luck” to succeed in life. For one thing, good luck charms are really idols. 1 Samuel 15:23 in the Amplified Bible says, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim (household good luck images)…” Circumstances in your life can be changed for the better if you obey God’s word and believe in His promises. So the next time somebody tells you “good luck”, you can reply, “I don’t need luck…I am blessed.”

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11

Bearing Fruit

One of my first videos posted on YouTube was “A Taste of the Toronto Blessing.” It received many hits as well as emails questioning or criticizing manifestations at the church formally known as Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship. In one email, someone noticed me quoting Matthew 7:20, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” He asked, “What is fruit?” 

That question can be answered by reading Galatians 5:22-23…

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

A true Christian should have those characteristics. For that to happen, one must abide in Jesus as He talked about in John 15…

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Jesus also said in Matthew 7:16, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” While evangelizing I frequently meet professing Christians who don’t go to church. Bad fruit such as gossip and profanity sometimes manifests from these people after I tell them the importance of being connected with the Body of Christ. As Psalm 92:13 says,“Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.” The next verse goes on to say, “They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,”

To continue bearing fruit for the kingdom of God, we must occasionally be pruned. One definition of prune is “removing superfluous or unwanted parts.” As we mature in the Lord, He will show us things we need to let go of. They may include hobbies, entertainment and other activities that waste too much time.

This weekend during an all-night prayer meeting, the Lord directed me to stop listening to old “American Top 40” programs. I used to do that while sorting emails and organizing files on my laptop. That time would be more productive if I listened to anointed sermons instead. God wants us “…being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10)

Ministers should periodically examine the things they are doing for Him. Not everything they consider “the Lord’s work” is bearing good fruit. Sometimes I see open air preachers talk a lot about God’s judgment but little is mentioned about His love. I find this counterproductive especially when done near a Christian event. Why won’t they share the Good News with sinners instead of “preaching to the choir?”

One of the first commandments given to man is to “be fruitful and multiply.” (Genesis 1:22, 28) That commandment is repeated again three times after Noah’s flood. God desires godly offspring (Malachi 2:15) and often links fruitfulness to bearing children. That’s one reason why homosexuality is a sin. Two people of the same sex cannot conceive a baby by natural means.  

One of Leonard Ravenhill’s best known quotes was, “Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?” Maybe you thought of things you’re doing the Lord isn’t pleased with. Rather than being rebellious or feeling condemned, repent and make a decision to prune those unfruitful things. At the end of your life, you will want to hear from Him, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant.”

“The wicked covet the catch of evil men, but the root of the righteous yields fruit.” 

- Proverbs 12:12

The Flesh Profits Nothing

Probably the most common reason people erroneously think they will spend eternity in heaven is for being a good person. Certainly, we are to be doers of God’s word. Yet Jesus did not base His worthiness on the good works He did on earth but simply followed the Father’s instructions. The gospel of John in particular has many Scriptures emphasizing this truth...

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” - John 5:19

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” - John 5:30

“When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” - John 8:28 

“If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.” - John 8:54

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5 

Jesus also said in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.” Many times people do seemingly good things out of their own strength without seeing positive results. One example in the Bible can be found in John 21...

3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 

4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”

They answered Him, “No.”

6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

Peter was called to preach the gospel but briefly went back into fishing after denying the Lord. Jesus still helped him make a miraculous catch of 153 fish. Peter was soon restored and later on the Day of Pentecost preached a sermon that resulted in 3,000 salvations (Acts 2:41).

A few times I’ve been in financial need on the mission field and attempted to do things to bring in money without success. One night I found myself stranded in San Antonio and tried contacting a friend who had recently offered to send a donation towards my next Germany trip. I wanted to use the money instead to get me out of Texas. Despite making several phone calls, I couldn’t reach my friend. To make a long story short, God kept me in San Antonio for a couple of more weeks to do street ministry there until donations came in from other sources that enabled me to leave town.

I’ve met fellow missionaries who were heavily in debt at the time the Lord instructed them to walk away from their jobs but eventually became debt-free. One of them is a former chiropractor who has carried a wooden cross in various cities (à la Arthur Blessitt). At one point this man briefly returned to secular work wanting to make payments towards his debts. None of those jobs he landed worked out. Not long after making a firm decision to resume carrying the cross, a couple approached him offering to pay off all his debts. In an instant, this missionary was cleared of a $167,000 debt load. 

Smith Wigglesworth once said, “You must come to see how wonderful you are in God and how helpless you are in yourself.” Philippians 4:13 tells us we can do “all things through Christ” who strengthens us. Colossians 1:10 says we are to be “fruitful in every good work.” So if your life isn’t progressing like it should, ask the Lord where you may be missing it. A simple act of obedience can bring the sudden breakthrough you’ve been believing for.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” - Psalm 127:1

New Things

As a kid I looked forward to the 21st century figuring we would be living like The Jetsons. I assumed our manned space program would travel throughout our solar system and beyond. Although our society continues to make technological advances, I believe we are not progressing like we should.

One reason for this is some folks love nostalgia too much. This is evident by the numerous oldies stations on the radio and networks like “TV Land” showing reruns of old programs 24/7. While it’s fun to occasionally look back at the “good old days,” people who live in the past usually don’t make an effort to go forward in life.

When I worked as a nightclub disc jockey in the 1980s, I realized that many people stop listening to new music when they reach a certain age and prefer hearing songs they grew up with. The increasing popularity of classic rock and “Big Chill” music was the main reason I stopped deejaying secular events. I would later learn my aversion to playing oldies was Scriptural. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Growing up in a traditional denominational church, most of the music I heard there was old hymns played on an organ. That caused me to think God didn’t approve of modern sounds. But when I read the Bible for myself, I discovered in many places it talks about singing “a new song” (Psalm 33:3, 40:3, 96:1, 98:1; 144:9, 149:1, Revelation 5:9, 14:3).

God didn’t stop creating after seven days. Scientists have determined the universe is expanding. Because man was made in God’s image and likeness, we also have the ability to create and (to quote from “Star Trek”) “boldly go where no man has gone before.” Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth.” The Hebrew word here for “new” is chadash, which means “fresh, new thing.” God wants us to be aware of new things that He’s about to do in the earth and in our personal lives.

When people encounter difficulties, they might reflect back to earlier times that didn’t seem so tough. But Ecclesiastes 7:10 tells us; “Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’” The children of Israel complained while in the wilderness and even longed to be back in Egypt because of the variety of foods they ate there. Yet they seemed to forget the slavery they went through and how they prayed for God to deliver them from bondage.

Sometimes God will give His people new names to help them forget their past. Examples in the Bible include Jacob who became Israel and Saul of Tarsus who as the Apostle Paul wrote, “…but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things were are ahead.” (Philippians 3:13) Over the years I have met a few people who felt led of the Lord to change their names.

Do you want God doing new things in your life? The first step is making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior. Regardless of whatever sins you committed in the past, God will forgive you if you repent. Jesus Christ is coming back soon and you’ll certainly want to live with Him for eternity. Isaiah 65:17 says, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.” Ask Jesus into your life today and He will give you a new heart and will put a new spirit within you (Ezekiel 36:26).

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, old things have become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17

A Grimm Reminder

A pastor’s wife I know who works part-time as a school bus driver recently watched a play put on by first graders. “Groovin’ with the Grimms” featured well-known fairy tale characters created by the Brothers Grimm.  Among the songs performed by the kids were “Please, Wake Up Sleeping Beauty”, “Rapunzel Rap”, “A Dragon Can Be a Princess, Too” and “Three Un-wicked Witches.” The latter song features these lyrics…

We’re three un-wicked witches, what trying times we’ve had.

It really burns our britches when people say we’re “bad.”

We’re three un-wicked witches, we try hard to be good.

Of course, we have our glitches but we’re just misunderstood.

Worldly people will argue it’s harmless to expose children to witches. Most of us probably watched movies like “The Wizard of Oz” when we were little. My kindergarten teacher read books to us about “Dorrie the Little Witch.” I also remember having a comic book that featured “Wendy the Good Little Witch.”

On the other hand, we are commanded not to give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27) and to “abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV) Witchcraft is now more commonplace in modern society than ever before. Yet many Scriptures clearly forbid the practice of it…

“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,” - Deuteronomy 18:10

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.” - 1 Samuel 15:23

“And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.” - 2 Kings 17:17

Witchcraft is not something anyone (especially children) should play around with. Revelation 21:8 warns, “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

I’m not advocating we go on modern-day witch-hunts like what happened in New England and Europe during the 1600’s. Still Christian parents need to take a stand against the hypocrisy practiced in our public schools. These learning institutions won’t allow our kids to pray, bring Bibles, and talk about Jesus. Yet they encourage reading books about fictional characters such as Harry Potter who practice witchcraft. I’m sure it’s frustrating for God-fearing parents who either cannot afford private schools or have the resources (and in some places the freedom) to homeschool their children. 

Nevertheless, all of us can be part of the solution by voting in local elections and speak out against ungodly legislation. We should also pray for revival to happen in our communities. School board members who have an encounter with God could change things faster than Christians simply holding up picket signs.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

- Proverbs 22:6