Pastor Marlow's Blog

Sharing through forgiveness… October 3, 2011

What is the model our Heavenly Father used to share the Gospel with the world?  We write books, we pen pamplets, we memorize 3,5,7 point presentations, carry our pocket Bibles, use our ipads, smart phone technology, text encouraging words…, but what is God’s eternal plan in sharing His love with a lost humanity?

Ephesians 2:8-10 teach us the relationship God the Son has given us through grace by faith, yet there is more to learn in these verses as we study.   He teaches us that Jesus has paid for all of humanity’s sin and hanging on the cross he cried, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  Luke 23:34  What did he mean in that final cry?  Was there more for us to see than just a plea for forgiveness?  Was there a model He desired us to see and live out? 

I believe so.  God’s eternal plan is best delivered when a true born again believer agrees with God about forgiveness.  If when we confess our sin and He forgives us unconditionally, isn’t that a model for how we should forgive?  And if so, what will the world think about a person who forgives, in identical fashion to a God who forgives.  What would a lost person think of a true believer who simply forgives?  Would there be any interest from that lost person as to why the believer forgives – doesn’t hold a grudge, isn’t bitter, just completely forgives.  

It seems to me God is teaching that if we are to be effective in sharing the Gospel of Jesus, His love for humanity – we must understand the world isn’t going to hear anything we say if, what we say isn’t modeled by how we live.  And, it’s high time for the church to begin with forgiveness – forgive one another no matter the costs, no matter the pain, no matter the horrible conditions of the offense – forgive.

Then the world will know we are Christians by our love for one another — and if I love someone (the lost humanity), I must forgive them.  Something to think about…

Feel like a failure…? September 29, 2011

Feel like a failure…?  Join the crowd and get in line.  Many I know today face this daily, often moment by moment emotion that seem to linger longer and longer into our living.   I for one am facing it today…

It seems that as men age, especially in their late 40′s – of which I am – we begin to look back on our lives and ask the question, “Did I make a difference in this world and did I make it financially for my family?”.   Well, you’re reading a preacher’s post that didn’t make it financially – but thank God, I’ve got all I need.  He is faithful to supply every need that I have – and I have to give Him the glory.

But on a grandeur scale, a vantange point from a higher place, the question could be answered another way.  If what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 1:1 is his heart, he didn’t make it either.  He writes, “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God…”, implying that his life was interrupted by a higher source, God Himself and commissioned to eternal work, while on earth.   The scales of Paul’s life measured one weighty in the spiritual kingdom.

Think about which set of scales your life is measured by and then, answer that question…

The lowered bar of appeasement… June 13, 2011

What would you say to a body of folks who continue to be concerned about making everyone in the group satisfied, happy, content, appeased..?  You might say, along with me, that is an impossible task!  Making everyone get along, making everyone satisfied together, contentment, appeasement…?  Sounds idealistic doesn’t it?  Sounds more impossible…

In light of that opening statement, may I suggest we think down  a similiar path…

Why is the Church a place where the entire body is focused, especially most of the leadership, on that very same idea….keeping everyone satisfied, happy, content, appeased?  You might say, “Well my church isn’t like that!”.  I would ask you to examine several areas inside the walls of your church for identification:

1. Your church government system (polity) — congregational in nature (everyone has a vote), or an appointed Leadership Team?
2. Committees or Ministry Teams?
3. Internal or External Focused?
4. How the church functions or the function of the church?
5. Topical or Expository Preaching?

The above are only a few snapshots of where we are as America’s church — but, where is your church?

It could be that your church has lowered the bar of holiness, the standard of Christ-life leadership, the expository preaching, Elder Leadership that models standards of holiness outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 — and allowed an anything goes mentality to keep peace.  Join the crowd — many are doing the same and it has caused a weak church – a powerless body – a laughable situation.

Will you speak Truth in love — pray for an outpouring of God’s Spirit among us — live His life through you — exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit — help your church be a Biblical NT church?  It’s your choice….and your choice will be the choice for many others.

Think about it ~

Do we really know Him? June 1, 2011

Been thinking lately about whether or not the supposed Body of Christ actually is…

You see, just because people claim to be Christian, wear that name proudly, go to a Christian church, hang with Christian people, talk Christian talk, listen to Christian music, model a Christian life…doesn’t mean a hill of beans.  All of that can be done by people who don’t have a personal relationship with God, kind of mechanically living as programmed.

In this technological world we live, faith has become just another thing we ‘do’.  If we do all things right, according to the program, please everyone involved, check off the ‘faith to do list’ and mark them complete, then we must be Christian.  If we go to church, participate in extra faith activities, involve ourselves missionally, even live a decent ethical/moral life, then we must be Christian and everything is OK with God.

Sadly, many in the faith community actually believe that heresy.  Another alarming thought is that ministers actually teach that wayward thinking as truth – sinking sand – so that when, and they will, when the winds of adversity blow, howl, rise to a level of danger, those professing Christians run for cover – rather than dance in the rain, storm, tornado, hurricanes, tsunami, earthquake, flood…  Yet, God has promised to genuine believers that He will supply every need, give angelic protection against life’s storms, revive a dead heart, broken spirit, breath fresh wind into empty lungs and cover a multitude of sins with His blood.  We are designed, destined, delivered unto a Holy God for His work in/through us, no matter the circumstances.

Will you be that one who, against all odds, lifts holy hands to Him in praise and says, THANK YOU JESUS!

Ever wondered why…? May 25, 2011

Ever wondered why…?  Why do these things happen in my life, or the lives of those I love — you know, those things that noone expects, noone deserves, noone plans for — why?

Good question…and, I don’t think it dishonors God for us to ask why.  But, on the other hand, the other side of life’s coin reflects for us the reason.  Many times in life we live one-sided, meaning we rarely, if ever, flip the life coin over to see what it offers/reflects.  Trouble and trials, tribulations tend for us to do what we aren’t willing to do…look on the other side.  Encrypted on that side of the coin is this verse, “Christ in you, the HOPE of glory!”.  WOW!  Finally I see the reason for living — it is God in me, living out God’s life in me, to bring glory to God in me.

Now my circumstances aren’t viewed necessarily as trials, tribulations, trouble — but as opportunities to see God at work.  He may not change the circumstances around me, but He certainly can change the atmosphere that surrounds those circumstances.  And, my circumstances reflect His love for me through amazing grace.  Only He can deliver me, only He can sustain me, only He can help me endure…it’s His life in me, for His glory!

Whatever you may be facing, praise Him!  Whatever state you find yourself, praise Him!  Whatever need you have, praise Him!

Help is on the way…don’t give up…HE is faithful and HE is sufficient – even for you!

Blessings!

Biblical living… May 12, 2010

Are you seeing visions, or dreaming dreams…? May 11, 2010

By the time I hit 40 years of age…and very soon will reach 46 years of age, I began to have serious conversations with myself regarding my life’s journey to the present, with it’s successes and it’s (my) failures.  It seemed as I looked back, the failures outweighed for me the successes.  All I could visualize was the pain and sorrow in lives of people I had either pastored or befriended in these 40+ years.  It was suffocating to my spiritual life, my emotional well-being and even drove me into a self-examination process whereby I began to dislike many things about… ‘me’.   And, although many of those thoughts were actual events in my past, with the Holy Spirit’s help, I began to focus on the successes (those all were His) in my life’s journey, the many people who had trusted Christ as Savior, the many families who I had counseled and were now living for God, the many church members who were living the Christ life – the many pastors who our Lord has allowed me to touch in mentoring and to my surprise, His work in me outweighed all the negative failures I had caused in my life.  Amazing…

Yet, when a man (or woman) reaches those magical years between 45-55 and they begin to examine (look back) as much as they look forward.  Acts 2:17 informs us of this Truth:  “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;  your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.” NKJV    Old men and young men…those older in age and those younger in age – this doesn’t apply to spiritual maturity. 

What is the application?  How can I know if I am seeing visions or dreaming dreams?  I’m not sure there is a ‘master key’ to that lock, but I do know this;  IF (and that’s a big IF), IF I am willing to ask Almighty God to help me surrender/die/throw in the white flag of my life and willingly be crucified with Christ (daily – and sometimes moment by moment), He will live His life through me.  And, when I get to that place, that place of Calvary, His life is all that matters – and if He wants to dream dreams or see visions…it’s all up to my Savior!

Don’t look back, don’t look forward….rather, look up for your redemption draweth nigh.  Praise Him, Praise Him!

“When God Seems So Far Away” John 20:11-18 April 25, 2010

I would like you to listen to this message and comment as led by the Holy Spirit:

http://sermonsoffaith.com/westmoreland/sermons/home/listen/34

Many blessings,

Todd Marlow

America’s Church… January 25, 2010

“Til I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine;  continue in them:  for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”  1 Timothy 4:13-16

The man Paul, who God used to write this letter to the younger preacher Timothy, likely a convert of Paul, was sharing his heart about the depravity of life, the frailness of living and the journey that will end one day at the foot of God’s throne.  He is urging Timothy to surrender all of his earthly life to Jesus, to Jesus’ Word (the Bible), to prayer and meditation on the things he reads in God’s Word.  Paul is well aware that if Timothy will do these things, God can use him to his fullest potential.  He will be useful in the Father’s hands as an instrument to disciple (explain) and preach (proclaim) God’s Word to the masses, whereby many will place their trust in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  Yet, there is an ingredient necessary for Timothy’s usefulness – commitment, surrender, abandonment of his life’s desires, being replaced with the life desires of Jesus Christ.

Ironically, America’s church needs Paul today.  Someone to come alongside that younger pastor and remind him that comfortable, convenient, casual, contemporary, calendar conscious, sight living isn’t going to glorify the Lord of Glory.  America’s church needs a Paul today to reinforce the old ways when the Holy Ghost moved in the church body, the church house and the church community.  Now I realize that post-modernity church slogans promote, “This isn’t your grandmother’s/grandfather’s church”, but let me pose a question for thinking…  “IF the old ways worked then to bring your grandmother/grandfather to Christ, will they still work today?” 

I just believe the world is looking for some old-fashioned, Holy Ghost preachers who will stand toe to toe with the Devil and in the power of Almighty God demand that Devil get out of the church!  We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ and its high time we began living in that power!  Well, hallelujah!

It’s Monday… January 11, 2010

Just got off the phone with four different preachers/pastors who love their people and love the Lord.  Monday morning is the time when pastors get together and share what happened in their church services on the prior Sunday…and encourage one another, help support one another, sometimes rebuke one another, all in the Spirit of brotherly love. 

What amazes me today is this…we live in the land of the Free – America…and we’ve been blessed by our troops who are defending our freedoms, our economy is still strong enough for us to live and eat, raise our children, the government hasn’t stepped in yet and taken away our freedoms (although it looks as if that is happening), most of us have good health care, good church fellowships to attend, freedom to worship and express our religious convictions…and, many take it for granted.  Why?

I think it relates specifically to our selfishness.  We are a self pleasing, self gratifying, pleasure seeking humanity who wants more, and more, and more.  It is PRIDE that rules many professing Christians, attending only churches that can serve their needs, rather than seeking to serve in a church where needed.  We should recognize the middle letter in PRIDE…and the problems it causes.  Unfortunately, that same letter has moved it’s way into the church house and it seems we no longer appreciate the things we have.  We just want more.

Let me encourage you today – look through your life experience(s) and ask Almighty God to help you be thankful for His blessings in your life.  Are you guilty of being PRIDEFUL?  Are you guilty of being SELFISH?  Are you desiring to be served or, are you seeking areas to serve others?  Don’t allow the enemy (the devil) to entrap you into believing you deserve more…be thankful for what you have in Jesus Christ.

Many blessings dear friends!