Of course I know how the song goes...but I am convinced we sing many songs we don't mean. "O How I Love Jesus" is one of many. This is another one of those areas in church life where I know we mean well, we have good motives, we really want to love Jesus - But when the dust has settled on Sunday evenings and we've sang, preached, prayed, fellowshipped, given offerings, shook hands, hugged, and said things like, "Love you brother..." and "Praying for you"...do we really love Jesus or do we just like Him a lot?
I think we like Him a lot. I think we appreciate what He did for us and does for us. But LOVE Him? I don't think so. Here's what I observe in my own life - and in the churches where I preach each week: We love our church. We love our music. We love our preacher. We love the way we feel when we're at church. We love one another (most of the time). Some of us love the old hymns while some of us love the "new stuff." We love our Sunday School class and our Sunday School teacher. We love all that our church does for the elderly, and the ministries we offer for the children. We love the choir, the ensemble, the soloists. We love church trips, and church fellowships, and church Christmas parties. We love the men's church campouts and the women's retreats. We love to wear t-shirts that say we love Jesus. We love to wear crosses. We love to promote Jesus on our bumpers and our bodies. We love to sing, "O How I love Jesus" we just don't love Jesus.
It's OK if you disagree. You're not enjoying reading this article? Well, you're in good company. I'm not really enjoying writing it. I know I need to take a class on how to be tactful...but till then I'll make an awkward effort to speak the truth in love. Or, in like.
Much of what we do at church we could do without Jesus. And too often we do. Take me for instance... I've been preaching so long that I could probably give a few good speeches on Sunday about politics, sports, the economy, etc... sprinkling in a little scripture here and there for good measure and never mention the name of Jesus. It's possible no one would be offended. What if we removed the name Jesus from the songs we sing? Would anybody notice? What if we stopped praying in Jesus' name? If we just closed our prayers with "amen" would anybody really notice?
The sad truth is Jesus is not a real priority in church today. We can say "It's all about Jesus" but it's not. It's all about us. That's why we need a revival. That's what we need a surprising outpouring of the Holy Spirit. That's why we need an awakening...a stirring...a mighty move of God.
Because we've become predictable, programmed, and void of Jesus. We've gotten so used to having weekly worship services where we seldom if ever worship Jesus - Many of us wouldn't know how to worship any other way. Maybe the problem is as I have said before...It's not that we love Jesus too little. We simply love ourselves too much.
Whatta you say we make a promise? Me and you? Let's promise ourselves that we will put our attention back on Jesus...we will turn our hearts back toward Him. I don't know what that will look like...but what if we did? I really want to love Jesus - and if, by chance, I already do...I want to love Him more.
The first and greatest command is that we love the Lord... God help us work on that. MM
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
Baptists Don't Believe In The Holy Spirit
That's what she said... "I've heard that Baptists don't believe in the Holy Spirit." Her statement kinda caught me off guard. How dare her say such a thing. Obviously she didn't know what she was talking about.
It was a couple of weeks ago when I was talking to her. I had never met her before, and she had never met me. We were a part of a mission team in Guatemala. She attends a church/denomination that I really know nothing about. So, we were talking about what we believed... I asked her if she knew any Baptists. She admitted she knew very few maybe one or two. I then asked her what she had heard about Baptists. That's when she said it... "I've heard Baptists don't believe in the Holy Spirit."
Well, being the good Baptist that I am, I quickly corrected her. I quoted a little scripture, defended all Baptists everywhere, and preached a quick sermonette about our strong belief in the work of the Holy Spirit. I felt really good about myself and my beliefs and the fact that I had set her straight about what Baptists believe.
And then I got to thinking. I wonder how many of us "Baptists" really do believe in the Holy Spirit. I wonder how many of us follow the leading and the inspiration and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. I wonder how many of us are really Spirit-led. What I said to her was the truth...or maybe what I hoped to be the truth...maybe what I wanted to be the truth.
We sing the old hymn, "All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down..." But I wonder how many of us worship each Sunday with never a hint of the Holy One coming down. I wonder how many of us routinely say prayers yet never allow the Spirit to lead us as we pray. I wonder how many of us who are preachers, actually preach sermons where the Spirit has guided our preparation.
I'm afraid we are about the Holy Spirit like Ron Dunn says we are about the Bible. He said, "Most of us believe the Bible from cover to cover, we've just never read it from cover to cover." Ouch.
Maybe we do believe in the Holy Spirit, we've just never followed his guiding. From the Gospel of John we learn these things about the Holy Spirit... "He will guide you into all truth..." "He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment..." Jesus said, "He will testify of me..." I believe all that, but am I really following Him as he guides me into all truth? And I really following His convictions about sin, righteousness, and judgment? And, am I so filled with his presence that I am keeping my focus on Jesus?
I haven't been able to forget what she said. I have been bothered about what others think about us... Bothered about the possibility of what she said being the truth. Maybe her perception is reality. Maybe we don't really believe in the Holy Spirit. Maybe we are guilty of taking matters into our own hands without the help of the Spirit. Maybe we're too selfish and judgmental. Maybe we're too involved in church politics...too busy manipulating and maneuvering to force our will...too busy that we've forgotten Who saved us and why.
I remember reading in Judges 16 about Samson after he had lost his hair...and lost his strength. Delilah warned him of the coming Philistines. He went out to fight, just as he had before not knowing his strength was gone. The Bible says it like this... He awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free, " but he did not know the Lord had departed from him. We're just as guilty of going out and doing our best to shake ourselves free from the shackles of sin and selfishness - never realizing the Lord is not with us as He once was. But we go on anyway...we go through the motions of worshiping, preaching, teaching, and doing all we call "church"...without the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks, Olivia, for making me think. I sure hope what you heard about Baptists is wrong. But I am afraid, for many of us, what you heard was right. Thank you for making me examine my own heart and life. Thank you for making me a little uncomfortable...and for reminding me just how much I believe in the Holy Spirit and how much I need Him.
After a week's worth of thought and self examination I can honestly say, "I believe in the Holy Spirit." God help us all. MM
It was a couple of weeks ago when I was talking to her. I had never met her before, and she had never met me. We were a part of a mission team in Guatemala. She attends a church/denomination that I really know nothing about. So, we were talking about what we believed... I asked her if she knew any Baptists. She admitted she knew very few maybe one or two. I then asked her what she had heard about Baptists. That's when she said it... "I've heard Baptists don't believe in the Holy Spirit."
Well, being the good Baptist that I am, I quickly corrected her. I quoted a little scripture, defended all Baptists everywhere, and preached a quick sermonette about our strong belief in the work of the Holy Spirit. I felt really good about myself and my beliefs and the fact that I had set her straight about what Baptists believe.
And then I got to thinking. I wonder how many of us "Baptists" really do believe in the Holy Spirit. I wonder how many of us follow the leading and the inspiration and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. I wonder how many of us are really Spirit-led. What I said to her was the truth...or maybe what I hoped to be the truth...maybe what I wanted to be the truth.
We sing the old hymn, "All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down..." But I wonder how many of us worship each Sunday with never a hint of the Holy One coming down. I wonder how many of us routinely say prayers yet never allow the Spirit to lead us as we pray. I wonder how many of us who are preachers, actually preach sermons where the Spirit has guided our preparation.
I'm afraid we are about the Holy Spirit like Ron Dunn says we are about the Bible. He said, "Most of us believe the Bible from cover to cover, we've just never read it from cover to cover." Ouch.
Maybe we do believe in the Holy Spirit, we've just never followed his guiding. From the Gospel of John we learn these things about the Holy Spirit... "He will guide you into all truth..." "He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment..." Jesus said, "He will testify of me..." I believe all that, but am I really following Him as he guides me into all truth? And I really following His convictions about sin, righteousness, and judgment? And, am I so filled with his presence that I am keeping my focus on Jesus?
I haven't been able to forget what she said. I have been bothered about what others think about us... Bothered about the possibility of what she said being the truth. Maybe her perception is reality. Maybe we don't really believe in the Holy Spirit. Maybe we are guilty of taking matters into our own hands without the help of the Spirit. Maybe we're too selfish and judgmental. Maybe we're too involved in church politics...too busy manipulating and maneuvering to force our will...too busy that we've forgotten Who saved us and why.
I remember reading in Judges 16 about Samson after he had lost his hair...and lost his strength. Delilah warned him of the coming Philistines. He went out to fight, just as he had before not knowing his strength was gone. The Bible says it like this... He awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free, " but he did not know the Lord had departed from him. We're just as guilty of going out and doing our best to shake ourselves free from the shackles of sin and selfishness - never realizing the Lord is not with us as He once was. But we go on anyway...we go through the motions of worshiping, preaching, teaching, and doing all we call "church"...without the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks, Olivia, for making me think. I sure hope what you heard about Baptists is wrong. But I am afraid, for many of us, what you heard was right. Thank you for making me examine my own heart and life. Thank you for making me a little uncomfortable...and for reminding me just how much I believe in the Holy Spirit and how much I need Him.
After a week's worth of thought and self examination I can honestly say, "I believe in the Holy Spirit." God help us all. MM
Monday, February 17, 2014
Everyone Welcome
"Everyone Welcome..." This may be the biggest lie ever told in churches. Yes I know that's a blunt statement - not much tact and kindness in those words. But I believe it's true. So, swallow hard and think about it. Is your church ready to welcome everyone? I doubt it.
I know we mean well. I know our motives are right. We really want everyone to come...until they come. "Everyone" means everybody. Everybody with all their problems, addictions, issues, struggles, and beliefs. "Everyone" means every color of skin, every type of background, every kind of person you can imagine. Most churches aren't ready for that.
We aren't ready because we're too perfect. Well, at least we appear that way to "everyone." What if we became honest about who we are behind the walls of our perfect churches? We'd realize we are only what we are by the grace of God. And it's a miracle we aren't divorced, addicted, broke, homeless, unloved, unwanted, and unnecessary.
"Everyone" could be your son or daughter...mom or dad... "Everyone" could one day refer to you.
I preached about the Samaritan woman this past week. I have preached that story from John 4 so many times...but each time, it seems, God shows me something new. We've all heard of the Good Samaritan...well this story could well be called the Bad Samaritan. She was a sinner no doubt. She was a Samaritan for sure - an outcast, ridiculed and rejected. But what I see anew is that she was searching. Searching, not for another husband, but for peace, for answers, for hope, for a Savior.
"Everyone Welcome" includes people like this woman in John chapter 4. People with messed up lives. People, so far from perfect it's not even funny. Imagine that - the next time someone visits your church, that doesn't quite measure up. They may be searching for hope. Searching for answers and love and peace and all that can be found in Jesus.
Jesus didn't condone her sin - but neither did he condemn her sin. He had a way of causing people to confess their sin. He said to this woman who had been married five times and was now with another man... "Go get your husband." He didn't make that request to embarrass or humiliate her. He did it so she would see her sin. And she did. Not many verses later she's running through the streets telling people to come see a man who "could be the Messiah." And, later we read, "Many Samaritans believed on Him because of the testimony of the woman..."
Wow. She is one of the "everyone welcome" that we're probably not ready for. But if we will receive her, love her, and point her to Jesus we would realize in God's church, "everyone" really is welcome.
Sin is sin. Grace is grace. God's grace is sufficient for your sin. "Everyone welcome!" MM
I know we mean well. I know our motives are right. We really want everyone to come...until they come. "Everyone" means everybody. Everybody with all their problems, addictions, issues, struggles, and beliefs. "Everyone" means every color of skin, every type of background, every kind of person you can imagine. Most churches aren't ready for that.
We aren't ready because we're too perfect. Well, at least we appear that way to "everyone." What if we became honest about who we are behind the walls of our perfect churches? We'd realize we are only what we are by the grace of God. And it's a miracle we aren't divorced, addicted, broke, homeless, unloved, unwanted, and unnecessary.
"Everyone" could be your son or daughter...mom or dad... "Everyone" could one day refer to you.
I preached about the Samaritan woman this past week. I have preached that story from John 4 so many times...but each time, it seems, God shows me something new. We've all heard of the Good Samaritan...well this story could well be called the Bad Samaritan. She was a sinner no doubt. She was a Samaritan for sure - an outcast, ridiculed and rejected. But what I see anew is that she was searching. Searching, not for another husband, but for peace, for answers, for hope, for a Savior.
"Everyone Welcome" includes people like this woman in John chapter 4. People with messed up lives. People, so far from perfect it's not even funny. Imagine that - the next time someone visits your church, that doesn't quite measure up. They may be searching for hope. Searching for answers and love and peace and all that can be found in Jesus.
Jesus didn't condone her sin - but neither did he condemn her sin. He had a way of causing people to confess their sin. He said to this woman who had been married five times and was now with another man... "Go get your husband." He didn't make that request to embarrass or humiliate her. He did it so she would see her sin. And she did. Not many verses later she's running through the streets telling people to come see a man who "could be the Messiah." And, later we read, "Many Samaritans believed on Him because of the testimony of the woman..."
Wow. She is one of the "everyone welcome" that we're probably not ready for. But if we will receive her, love her, and point her to Jesus we would realize in God's church, "everyone" really is welcome.
Sin is sin. Grace is grace. God's grace is sufficient for your sin. "Everyone welcome!" MM
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Michael Mason Preaching Schedule Spring 2014
January 18 Walker Baptist Assoc. Men's Conference
January 27 Morgan Baptist Assoc. VBS Rally
February 2 Austinville First Baptist Day, Decatur, Al.
February 6-13 Guatemala Mission w/ Friendship Baptist, Grand Bay, Al.
February 16 19th Ave. Baptist Revival Day, Hattiesburg, Miss.
February 23 Danville Baptist Revival Day, Danville, Al.
February 24-27 Lonesome Dove Cowboy Church, Cullman, Al.
March 1 Belmore Baptst Men's Conference, Belmore, Al
March 2-5 Southside Baptist Revival, Albertville, Al.
March 9-11 Solitude Baptist Revival, Albertville, Al.
March 16-19, Harmony Baptist Revival, Moulton, Al.
March 30-April 2 Family Baptist Revival, Moulton, Al.
April 3-5 Trinity Baptist Adult Retreat, Pigeon Forge, Tn.
April 6 Parkview Baptist, Decatur, Al.
April 7 Bethel Baptist Revival Night, Dora, Al.
April 9 Redan Baptist Revival Night, Holly Pond, Al.
April 10 and 12 Morgan Baptist Assoc VBS
April 13-16 New Center Baptist, Somerville, Al
April 20 Friendship Baptist Revival Day, Grand Bay, Al.
April 26 Grace Pointe Baptist, Florette, Al.
April 27-30 Sardis Springs Baptist Revival, Athens, Al.
May 2-3 Couples Retreat Wilsonville Baptist, Al.
May 4 Revival Day Wilsonville Baptist, Wilsonville, Al
May 5th and 7th Revival Nights at Blue Springs Baptist, Somerville, Al.
May 6 Sweet Home Baptist Revival Night, Guntersville, Al.
May 18-21 Union Hill Missionary Baptist, Moulton, Al.
June 1 Mt. Pleasant Baptist, Cullman, Al.
June 8 New Canaan Baptist, Union Hill, Al.
June 15 Harvest Day at FBC Milan, Tennessee
June 22 Revival Day Bethlehem Baptist, Hartselle, Al.
July 6 Lindsay Lane Baptist, Athens, Al.
July 7-11 Revival Old Brashiers Chapel, Arab, Al.
July 13-16 New Life Church, Falkville, Al.
July 20-13 Grace Community Church, Cullman, Al.
July 27-30 Gum Springs Baptist, Hartselle, Al.
August 3-6 Tunstill Rd Baptist, Hartselle, Al.
August 10-13 Lebanon Baptist, Hartselle, Al.
August 17 Revival Day East Highland Baptist, Hartselle, Al.
August 23-24 Creek Path Baptist, Guntersville, Al.
August 25 FBC Meridianville, Al.
(If you or your pastor would be interested in having me speak at an event you are planning feel free to call or text me at 256-306-6645. Or email me at michael-mason@charter.net.)
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Guatemala 2014
I'll be in Guatemala soon. I am looking forward to going back...I've been a number of times but each trip is a new adventure. I know God will work on my heart while I am there. I pray He will do things to me and through me that will help me grow in grace.
I will be the Mission Team Pastor which means I'll be preaching to the team each morning in a time of worship before we head out for the day. I will also be preaching five other times in and around Chimaltenango while I am there. Each time I preach there will an interpreter to deliver the message in a language the people can understand.
I have found the people in this particular region of Guatemala to be unusually friendly and kind. The pastors there are men of God who are faithfully preaching Jesus. I ask you to pray for these believers and their pastors...and for the places where I preach that someone might hear, believe, and be saved. Pray for our safety while we travel. Pray for God to be glorified.
I am thankful for this opportunity made possible through the good people of Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, Al. Their pastor is my friend Teddie Turrentine.
Pray for us. Thank you. M
I will be the Mission Team Pastor which means I'll be preaching to the team each morning in a time of worship before we head out for the day. I will also be preaching five other times in and around Chimaltenango while I am there. Each time I preach there will an interpreter to deliver the message in a language the people can understand.
I have found the people in this particular region of Guatemala to be unusually friendly and kind. The pastors there are men of God who are faithfully preaching Jesus. I ask you to pray for these believers and their pastors...and for the places where I preach that someone might hear, believe, and be saved. Pray for our safety while we travel. Pray for God to be glorified.
I am thankful for this opportunity made possible through the good people of Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay, Al. Their pastor is my friend Teddie Turrentine.
Pray for us. Thank you. M
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)