10.20.12 "If You Don't Believe it, Tear it Out!"

"If You Don't Believe it, Tear it Out!"

Jeremiah 35:1-36:32
I Timothy 5:1-25
Psalm 89:14-37
Proverbs 25:25-27

When I was a student at North Central Bible College (Now called North Central University), we had daily chapel services. One of the professors was speaking one day, and as he read a few scriptures, he'd tear the page right out of his bible and he crumpled it up and threw it on the floor. His message was very clear. If you don't believe it, you could just as well tear it out. (I should mention that we later found out that the professor had put another book inside his bible and was ripping out those pages, not destroying the bible!)

I was reminded of that sermon as I read Jeremiah 36. "This word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 'Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now. Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, each of them will turn from his wicked way; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin."

Jeremiah then dictates all the words to Baruch who writes them on a scroll. Baruch then reads them before the people and ultimately the scroll is brought before King Jehoiakim. "It was the ninth month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment, with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him. whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe's knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes. Even though Elnathan, Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them." Jer. 36:22-25

The King orders the arrest of Jeremiah and Baruch, but the Lord hides them. Then the Lord says to Jeremiah, "Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim King of Judah burned up. (Jer.36:28) In Verse 32 it says, "So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch... and as Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them."

There are several things to think about from this portion of scripture:

1. Think of God's love. The whole purpose of his commands are that "Perhaps when the people hear... each of them will turn from his wicked way... then I will forgive." (36:3). God's word empowers us for repentance!

2. Think of the obedience of Jeremiah. To write down ALL the words the Lord had spoken to him! He knew this would ultimately get him into trouble, yet he did it. It was a lot of work.

3. Think of his faithfulness in spite of the results. After all his work, the scroll had been burned up. How many of us would say, "Sorry God, your idea didn't work! I'm not going there again!"

4. One of the more convicting thoughts is this: Think of the king. Sitting at the comfort of his fire, hearing the word of God, deciding not to heed it, and throwing it into the fire. How does that apply to us? How many times am I hearing the word of the Lord, and for one reason or another I choose not to follow, apply, or obey what I just heard? Maybe I've heard it so much I've become numb to it. What I am in essence doing is tearing it out and throwing it into the fire of my comfort. How tragic. Now God will have to speak it again. With more words than the time before! 

Let the Word of God reach you today. Don't tear it out. Let it equip you for repentance. Let it transform you!


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ 

10.19.12 "Exercise"

"Exercise"

Jeremiah 33:1-34:22
I Timothy 4:1-16
Psalm 89:1-13
Proverbs 25:23-24

Exercise. How does that word hit you? To me I end up with the feeling of "yeah... I know I should, but..." I do enjoy sports, though. That's probably more because of my competitive nature than it is for the good of exercise. Some people love to exercise. Those endorphines kick in, and there's a rush of energy there. While in the past I have attempted to make steps toward improving exercise, I don't know that I've ever found that endorphin stage yet... Or maybe I'm endorphin-intolerant...

"Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually and practice being a better Christian, because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too." I Timothy 4:7-8

The process of exercise is one of putting your body to work by applying resistance. By nature your body doesn't want to jog, but jogging exercises the muscles and cardio-vascular system. It's not a lot different in keeping spiritually fit. The way our spiritual lives are exercised is in places of resistance. In places where our flesh doesn't necessarily want to be. For example, Spiritual exercise is getting up earlier to insure time in the Word. It is being godly in ungodly surroundings. It's ministering in difficult places, maybe even with difficult individuals. 

It's been a few years since we've done it, but I used to enjoy playing basketball with some guys at the church in the early morning. It was fun even though I'm not good at basketball. I miss most of my shots, and if I'm not careful I foul guys a lot because I'm still learning to understand the game. Everyone is at a different level of experience and skill, but I'm grateful that they had the patience to allow me to play, To try to get better, to exercise. The same principle should apply to the Christian walk. I shouldn't quit because I make a mistake. I need to commit to the process of exercise. Those with perfectionist personalities can really struggle with this, because they want to get it right the first time. If they don't they feel like quitting. 

The struggle with inadequacy can also paralyze Christian growth. My biggest problem in basketball is probably being out of shape. So should I not play because I'm not in shape? No, because if I quit, I wont get in shape. In the Christian walk, I may be working on my anger. If I find myself in a situation where I lose my temper and quit, I've lost my chance to work through this issue.

It takes discipline to commit to the Christian walk. It takes exercise to grow. The process we struggle through is actually one that encourages others. "Be their ideal; let them follow the way you teach and live; be a pattern for them in your love, your faith, and your clean thoughts... Be sure to use the abilities God has given you through his prophets when the elders of the church laid their hands upon your head. Put these abilities to work; throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone may notice your improvement and progress. Keep a close watch on all you do and think. Stay true to what is right and God will bless you and use you to help others." I Tim. 4:12, 14-16

Get your spiritual workout in today. Use every situation as an opportunity to grow in Christ. Those around you desperately need you to be who God created you to be. That can only happen through your exercise.


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ 

10.18.12 "Be There"

"Be There"

Jeremiah 31:27-32;44
1 Timothy 3:1-16
Psalm 88:1-18
Proverbs 25:20-22

"Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone's coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound." (Proverbs 25:20)

Have you ever been discouraged and had someone come and say, "Aw, come on... where's that smile??" or "Get over it!" Or, maybe like me you're on the other end, and there are times when I've encountered someone who's down, and I've kind of blown it off with frivolity or humor. I've been well-intentioned, but it sure didn't meet the need.

To be a friend can sometimes seem to be a daunting task, especially if you're not really sure what to do to help. It's in our nature to "fix things". We see a problem, so there must be a solution. The friend must be the hero and come to the rescue, right? In reality, however, to be a friend just means to "be there". 

There's nothing greater than having someone meet you where you're at. There's nothing greater than not being alone. As much as we may think the "cheery tune" is just what is needed when someone has a heavy heart, the important thing is just to be there. The demonstration of Relationships Devoted to Unity is the devotion of pausing and coming along side a hurting friend. Just to "be there".

Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ 

10.17.12 "The DREAM Job"

"The DREAM Job"

Jeremiah 30:1-31:26
I Timothy 2:1-15
Psalm 87:1-7
Proverbs 25:18-19

As we put focused attention on living the DREAM, much of our scriptural application has been about what God is doing in our lives. It is very important that we do our part to grow in maturity, but it's not just an internal thing. It should be making a difference in every area of our life. Maturity is measured in how we treat other people.

I Timothy 2:1-3 says, "Here are my directions: Pray much for others; plead for God's mercy upon them; give thanks for all he is going to do for them. Pray in this way for kings and all others who are in authority over us, or are in places of high responsibility, so that we can live in peace and quietness, spending our time in godly living and thinking much about the Lord. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he longs for all to be saved and to understand this truth".

We really need to be praying for those around us. Especially for those in authority over us. The "norm" in our society is that we complain about our boss, our working conditions, and others we work with. We tend to dwell on things that cause us to be irritated with personalities or practices that are different than the way WE think they should be.

Think about what prayer does. The obvious thing is that God answers prayer. As you pray for someone in authority over you or in a place of high responsibility, God moves. There are times when the answer is immediate and obvious, but there are other times it's more subtle, but in God's will and timing, it's answered.

But also think about what prayer does IN you. When you have those people who "fertilize" your "Fruit of the Spirit", and you begin to pray for them, you begin to see them as God does. Praying for one another puts us in a posture of humility. Like Paul says, we must "give thanks for all he is going to do for them." This helps us get our minds off our selfishness and off our opinions, and onto what God is trying to complete in those around us.

If you are Living the DREAM, you should be different than those around you. You should not be around the water cooler complaining and talking about others, you should be setting the temperature of encouragement. Today's proverbs puts it pretty clear: "Telling lies about someone is as harmful as hitting him with an axe, or wounding him with a sword, or shooting him with a sharp arrow." Prov. 25:18. It is WAY too often that Christians justify doing this type of behavior. We cannot take part in this activity. Sometimes I fear we think we can get away with it if we phrase it in a form of a prayer request. "Please pray with me for a co-worker who is an idiot." The arrow is shot.

We must understand that if we act improperly toward those we work for and those in authority over us, it undermines our integrity. WE become the weak link. That is NOT living the DREAM. Prov. 25:19 says, "Putting confidence in an unreliable man is like chewing with a sore tooth, or trying to run on a broken foot."

How does your authority view you? Can you be trusted? Do they know that you have their back? That you are guarding them? Or do they feel like they are running on a broken foot? We do a disservice to the Kingdom when a Christian is "high maintenance" in the work place. We need to be people of honor, integrity, and faithfulness. Whining is not a fruit of the Spirit, nor is it a principle of DREAM. Do you have trouble with someone? Stop whining and start praying. God will show you the path to reconciliation.

In 1 Timothy 2:5 the "truth" that God wants every one to understand is this: "That God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, himself man, is between them to bring them together, by giving his life for all mankind." Each one of us are part of this. We need to be pointing to Christ not creating an obstacle by being unreliable. This is our Mission. Reaching our World for Christ. You can't just turn it off. That's why you're doing what you're doing.

That's why you've got your DREAM job!


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ 

10.16.12 "With All your Heart"

"With All your Heart"

Jeremiah 28:1-29:32
I Timothy 1:1-20
Psalm 86:1-17
Proverbs 25:17

"I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jer. 29:11) This is one of my favorite scriptures because it's such an encouraging scripture. It's awesome to know that the God of the universe knows my name. He is concerned with my path. He's concerned with where I am.

It is extremely important to always remember the context of this verse, however. In Jeremiah 28 there is a "battle" of two prophetic messages. In Jer. 27, God instructed Jeremiah to wear a yoke on his neck as a symbol, and bring the message that God's people are headed into captivity. Things are going to be hard. This is a result of disobedience, and there will be consequence. In chapter 28, Hananiah, the son of the prophet Gibeon speaks to Jeremiah in front of everyone and says, in essence, "No THIS is the word of the Lord..." and breaks Jeremiah's yoke, and declares God's people free, and basically tells the people what they want to hear. Even Jeremiah responded, "Amen! May your prophecies come true! I hope the Lord does everything you say." (Jer. 28:6)

But, as great as Hananiah's message was, it wasn't the word of the Lord. God's plan was that Israel would be in captivity for 70 years. He told them Babylon would rule the world. He told them to submit to the process. He told them to build homes and plant trees. They're going to be in captivity for a while.

My personality is the type that wants to please people. It's in my nature to want to tell people what they want to hear. I want to be an encouragement. Because of that tendency, when someone comes with a trial, I WANT to say, "this will be over before you know it! Victory will come today!" While there may be times where that IS the word of the Lord, there are many times that is NOT the word of the Lord. It may be that the Lord is using this trial for a purpose that is far greater than we could understand.

So the question is: Is it worth it?

The Israelites would much more love to align themselves with Hananiah's message, but what good would that do them? Would their hearts change? No. The Lord commanded them to submit to their captivity, and to prosper where he had placed them.

The fact that they're in captivity doesn't change the fact that God has a plan for their life. In fact, the captivity serves to GIVE a future and a hope, not to be in the way of it. I think that's an important message to always remember, but the purpose of the captivity is found in verse 13: "You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest." The NIV says, "... when you seek me with all of your heart."

In the midst of the trial, God is found IF we seek him with all our heart. Sometimes we fall short because, "my boss isn't fair!... My spouse wont change... This hurts too bad..." We want the circumstance to show change before we're willing to allow our heart to change. What the Lord is saying is, the circumstance isn't changing anytime soon, so allow me to change your heart. Produce fruit where you are.

The objective is not rosy circumstances, it's a pure heart.

In I Timothy 1:5, Paul says, "What I am eager for is that all the Christians there will be filled with love that comes from pure hearts, and that their minds will be clean and their faith strong." in verse 19 he says, "cling tightly to your faith in Christ and always keep your conscience clear, doing what you know is right."

What's tying these all together? "... seek me with all your heart." "... love that comes from pure hearts... Minds clean..." "... conscience clear..."

We need to be giving God our all, all the time. What is the highest form of worship? Obedience. Ps. 86:11 says, "Tell me where you want me to go and I will go there. May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your name."

"May every fiber of my being..." That is the intensity in which we will truly experience the "Dynamics" of the Lifestyle of Worship. Too often worship is an event. It's a sunday morning service. What a tragedy when our obedience is an "event". Just a moment where we were aligned to God's direction.

Give your all to him today. Serve Him with all of your heart. Give Him a pure mind. Choose to do right. Worship Him with every fiber of your being so that wherever He says to go, you will go there.



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ 

10.13.12 "Faith Rewarded with Power"

"Faith Rewarded with Power"

Jeremiah 22:1-23:20
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
Psalm 83:1-18
Proverbs 25:110-14

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 "And so we keep on praying for you that our God will make you the kind of children he wants to have - will make you as good as you wish you could be! - rewarding your faith with his power. Then everyone will be praising the name of the Lord Jesus Christ because of the results they see in you; and your greatest glory will be that you belong to him. The tender mercy of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ has made all this possible for you."

These verses are a great reminder of some very important things.

1. God is trying to make us into the children he wants to have. There is intentionality to God's purposes for our life. He is working in us and through us for our good!

2. His work in us is to make us as good as we wish we could be. If you're like me, there are a lot of times you can get frustrated with yourself. I know I'm not who I should be. But the great thing is that as I let him do his work, I will become what I need to be!

3. This whole process takes the power of God! What this portion of scripture shows is that our faith is rewarded with power. Notice the sequence. As we move in faith, we experience His power! Too often I think I wait around for his power and I never exercise faith. This doesn't have to be huge leaps of faith. It is just in these little steps of faith where we begin to experience the power which increases our faith.

4. There should be observable results! What God is doing in your life should result in developing character and conduct that others see. Can others see growth in you? Can they see it in me? I'm not talking about piety or "holier-than-thou" type of growth, I'm talking about genuine steps of Christian maturity. I really have to think about it. When was the last time someone praised the name of the Lord Jesus Christ because of the results they saw in me?

5. It's only by the mercy of God that any of this is possible. We don't deserve this attention for growth that God gives us. We deserve far less. Yet in the price Jesus paid for us, all of this is possible for you.

If there's a tidbit I want to take today, it's that I must take steps of faith. His power will follow. This power will equip me to accomplish what he has for me. It will give me strength to become who He wants me to be. As I experience this, I know my faith will grow.



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ 

10.15.12 "Get to Work!"

"Get to Work!"

Jeremiah 26:1-27:22
2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
Psalm 85:1-13
Proverbs 25:16

"Now here is a command, dear brothers, given in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ by his authority:..."

Got your ears perked up? This must be big. Paul has been talking about the coming of Christ in 2 Thes, and now he makes this statement in 2 Thes. 3:6. It must be important. What could it be?

Here it is: "Stay away from any Christian who spends his days in laziness and does not follow the ideal of hard work we set up for you." What do you think of that? Sounds harsh doesn't it?

As we spend time studying scripture, we begin to discover in a new light, the things that are really important to God. When you look at this verse, what DREAM principle applies? Is it a lesson on "Relationships devoted to Unity"? Not this verse. A few verses later that comes in.

This scripture shows the importance God places on Active Ministry Involvement. As we've discussed before, the principle of AMI is Responsibility. As with the other principles, this is not just a good idea. It's a necessary element in the way God created us. It's something we must activate in our lives to grow in our Christian walk... To Live the DREAM.

It may be easy for some to think, "Well, I'm in the choir. I'm living the 'A' of DREAM." or "I got that covered, I'm an usher..." We have to come to terms with the fact that it's not just about being a part of a group. It's about applying the principle of Responsibility to every area of life.

An individual who is not properly Empowered Through Biblical Training can read this verse and take it upon themselves to go around and judge how hard each one is working, and then form division in the church based on those judgments, destroying unity. This isn't the point. In verse 15 it says, "Don't think of him as an enemy, but speak to him as you would to a brother who needs to be warned." This is where "Relationships Devoted to Unity" kicks in: You show you care about me enough to talk to me when you feel I am not being responsible with the resources God has given me.

What Paul is showing by saying "stay away" from the lazy ones is that it is really easy to get lured into their mindset. Verse 11 says, "Yet we hear that some of you are living in laziness, refusing to work, and wasting your time in gossiping." A gossip needs someone to talk to. It's very easy to get drawn into that trap. There's a lure to it that is dangerous. The same is true with laziness. Individuals who are not being good stewards of their resources often will say, "Why work so hard? Come on over Sunday night. Let's watch TV..." It has the appearance of a comfortable lifestyle, but comfort is not a scriptural principle. Responsibility is.

Let's encourage one another to "quiet down, get to work" (I Thess. 3:12) and also to "never be tired of doing right." (3:13) Make sure you are being Responsible with what God has given you.




Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ