Titus Email - Volume 1, Number 2 – February, 2007

HOLY LIVES

How do we handle sin? I am safe to say that we are against sin and should not commit sin. Yet how do we do deal with the little, secret sin in our lives. If we desire to be spiritual leaders, we need continuously search our hearts and deal with sin immediately.

Remember Moses. In Numbers 20:1-13, the Israelites were again grumbling; this time needing water. Once before they complained about not having water and God had Moses strike the rock. Water came flowing out. This time God told Moses to speak to the rock and water would come. Moses was pretty frustrated and angry with the people. Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck it and water flowed. The people were happy and blessed but God was not pleased. “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them’” (Numbers 20:12).

For one little sin, Moses was not given the privilege of taking the Israelites into the Promised Land. Come on!! One stinking little sin compared to so many years of faithful service and God is not going to let Moses finish the job. James 2:10 states, “for whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” Our view and God’s view and standard of holiness often is radically different. Spiritual leaders need to have God’s holiness standard. The Bible has to be what we compare our lives to, not anyone on this earth.

In Joshua 6, Israel had just won a great victory over Jericho because God had given them the victory using His methods. Joshua 7 tells us that the next enemy to be defeated was Ai. This battle was to be no match for Israel. There was no doubt Israel would win. What happened was Ai won. That was not to happen.

Yet one person of all the vast number of Israelites disobeyed at Jericho. Achan took some silver and cloth God said not to. He buried it under his tent. None of the Israelites knew about this. Only God did and it affected a whole nation. What is buried deep that only God knows and it is holding you back from the blessings of God? Am I holding back God’s blessings for others because of me? As spiritual leaders we need to ask ourselves these questions for we have a great responsibility to both God and the people for whom we are responsible. Being a spiritual leader is a huge accountability before God. We in the Body of Christ do not teach this well at all. Once Joshua dealt with this one little sin, Ai was routed and Israel was victorious.

God is holy and we are commanded to be holy also (1 Peter 1:16). If we desire to be spiritual leaders, we need to have the Bible examining our lives, applying the Word whenever our lives do not measure up to what is written. We need to have people to whom we are deeply accountable, people whom we have given permission to ask the tough questions in our lives to help us to stay on the right path. Our spiritual ears need to be cleaned out to be able to hear the Holy Spirit leading us.

Six seminary presidents recently discussed the biggest problems on their campuses. These seminaries are among the best in America. The number one problem is pornography. Men and women who are preparing for full time paid ministry, to lead many people, are dealing with a destructive sin. We want God to bless our countries. How can He until the Church deals with ourselves? What small, secret sin do you need to deal with? God is holy, do we want to be holy?

PROBLEMS – QUESTIONS - ILLUSTRATIONS

One illustration that can be used with Holy Lives is using two sources of light. They can be flashlights or candles or a torch. One source has to be much, much brighter than the other, We compare ourselves with other Christians and feel we are doing okay (using the very small source of light to shine on ourselves or others. But when we compare ourselves to the standards of Scripture, to Jesus’ live (using the brighter light), we see much more clearly where we fall short. The brighter light exposes more.

OUR TIMES TOGETHER

A couple of you have asked for the Doctrinal Statement of WILD, which is the official statement for Headwaters Christian Youth (the organization I am the Executive Director of and what legal entity WILD is under). Enclosed at the end of the email is the Statement.

DOCTRINAL STATEMENTS OF

HEADWATERS CHRISTIAN YOUTH

The ministry of Headwaters Christian Youth reflects the following beliefs:

1. We believe the bible to be the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God.

2. We believe that there is one god, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ: in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right had of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential and that this regeneration come only through faith in Christ Jesus.

5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved into the resurrection of life, and they that are lost into the resurrection of the damned.

7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ.

8. We believe that God has given us the responsibility to share our faith with others, both by word and by deed.