Is God's Word relevant today?

Is the power of the resurrection relevant today? Is the Bible relevant today? Is the Christianity that the pagans saw in the first century relevant today?
NO; absolutely not.
The only message you could preach from the Bible today from the Word of God and be somewhat relevant is ‘God is love’, and ‘Love your neighbor’.
God is love is understood by society that God accepts and tolerates us.
‘Love your neighbor’ is understood to mean toleration of the acts of your fellow human being. This is why abortion is legal, gay marriage is legal, children rights in the home are on the court docket to undermine the authority of the parent, pedophilia organizations are working to lower the age of consent, drunkenness is now an ‘ism’, God’s law is restricting to our very self being, and the biggest proof of the irrelevance of the Bible today is that it does not promote me, it does not make ME feel good for who I am.
The definition of relevance is ‘appropriate or to the purpose’. With this meaning of the word relevance, God’s word is not, should not, and never has been relevant for us. The real question should be, ‘are WE relevant to the Word of God?’
The normal procedure for most people is to remove and get rid of items that are not relevant to one’s life, or lifestyle. Example being the microwave replaced the toaster oven, the mp3 player replaced the walkman, the VHS replaced the BETA, email has mostly replaced paper mail, cell phone has replace the home phone, each decade or less we improve something to replace something. This has created a dangerous habit of thought that we see today: we must reprint or replace the Bible.
‘I will put no wicked thing before my eyes’ has been replaced with movie ratings from the world that make it relevant for us to go see things according to society’s standard. The ‘abstain from all appearance of evil’ has been replaced with the cushy word of ‘balance’, and a misinterpretation of the word of God.
The fact is WE are not relevant to God. But he has given his Spirit for us to walk in, not as a tool to get close to him, not as the method to live according to his Word, but the only way to be relevant to himself. Walk in the Spirit and ye won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. Flesh is not relevant to God, but the Spirit is. God has to make us relevant to his purpose; he must make us appropriate for his use. Man has this thing turned around which has caused the diminishing of the Word of God in our society today.
Pilate asked Jesus, ‘what is truth?’, and today we ask, ‘what is relevant?’ William James, the father of psychology, said ‘truth is relevant to situation, circumstance, and time’. This philosophy has found its way into the church today, as a plague. WE need to be relevant to God.
America in her arrogance may think God owes her revival because of the missionaries she has sent worldwide; The declaration of ‘who we trust’ on our currency; the godly monuments displayed across this great country; the fundamental truths of God’s Word buried deep in the fabric of this land. BUT, Revival doesn’t come to America because it’s America, just as produce doesn’t come to a grocery store because it’s a grocery store. But because a need was seen, a deficiency was found, and a call was put in to the supplier. God is our supplier, and though we have served him well with our land: AT ONE TIME. We need to see the need, the deficiency, and make the call!
The call to our supplier: God.
The urgent call to fill the empty pews of our churches.
The urgent call to fill our empty hearts.
The urgent call for a cleanup in aisle one, two, and three., with the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The urgent call to bring people to the altar and get filled up.
God has not changed, WE have. WE have changed, NOT God.
Let's begin now.

I have not forgotten

A very influential person early in my life died last year. She gave me my first Bible when I was 8 years old (1971). What a Christmas gift.

She was my neighbor, invited me to church and became my Sunday School teacher, she was also my sitter when my parents were working. Then when I was 12 years old she led me to the Lord in salvation.

Ann was influential in a lot of childrens lives. She had a calling that way. I also know she prayed for me often. I don't know how many years she kept this up but one verse comes to mind as I ponder my life.

Psalms 119:61 says, "The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law."

My full joy in Christ has been robbed as I allowed sin to rule a good portion of my life. And I am sure it was the early teaching, and prayers of an obedient servant that kept me from falling off the page of God's will. The many scriptures I have memorized were often tugged at by the Holy Spirit, and I always knew that I should be serving God.

I tell you this for two reasons: To honor Ann, as a great lady of God. Teaching, praying, and being an example for all the children she led during her life here on earth.

And to encourage YOU. Christian sitter, Bible teacher, Sunday School teacher, prayer warrior, christian neighbor. YOU are building a foundation for some kid today that may have a way out of sin later in life when they say, "The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law." It is God's pressing word that brought me back into service. Who will I influence? Who will you influence?

Ann also helped me memorize my first Bible verse. John 3:16

This Bible sits in my office as a memorial.

In memory of Ann Pritchard. My first Sunday School teacher. The giver of my first Bible. And the one who showed me how to have life more abundantly through Jesus Christ.

The Pirates and the Devil

As I watch the story of the 4 pirates capturing a huge supply boat and taking the captain hostage, I had to wonder how this could be. They were better prepared. It reminded me of I Peter 5:8 " Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
The pirates were armed, and hunting for opportunity to complete their goal. The supply ship was floating along, unarmed, and obviously not ready to fight. God tells us to be serious minded, and alert to danger (sober and vigilant). The devil is subtle, wise, and very resourceful. We must be well read in God's Word, prayed up, and guarding ourselves with faith. As the devil will tempt, intice, and use peer pressure to accomplish his goals: tarnishing our testimony, and life.
Let this example of a small group of men controlling three (3) navy battle ships, confusing a government into indecisiveness, and ultimately getting their way, be a lesson for us to be sober and vigilant in our faith and walk. Don't let satan hold you hostage!