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This website has been developed to help you understand the Word of God, the Holy Bible. We believe that the Word of God holds the keys to a peaceful, fruitful, joyful life. Jesus said that the "truth shall make you free." As you walk with Jesus and learn what the Word of God teaches you will find a new found freedom in your life.

Some of the teachings on this website may be unlike any you have ever heard. Let me encourage you to keep an open mind and also to search out what is being taught here to see if it lines up with the Bible or not. If you have problems with any of the lessons and don't agree. Send me scriptures and we can discuss your differences. Many of the lessons contained in this website will step on the toes of traditional Christianity. Jesus said that the "tradition of man makes the commandment of God of no effect." It is time to get rid of tradition and believe what the Word of God really says!

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Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16

 

Loving the Unlovable

A friend of mine posted the following scripture on his Facebook status this morning:

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Some people have used this scripture to say that “tongues” are not in use in the church any longer but they don’t say that “faith” is not in use any longer. The point Paul was making, in this scripture, is that no matter what we do, we must do it with love.

A few days ago, I found myself getting “burned out” from being in the ministry. Well, it wasn’t the ministry itself, it is the opposition I get from other people when trying to do what God has called me to do. The funny thing is, it usually is not the unbeliever that causes us so much grief in the ministry. It is usually the believers that cause us to get frustrated! When you feel like you are giving the ministry everything you’ve got and you’ve sacrificed to do what God has called you to do, then you find out that a fellow Christian has been talking behind your back. It hurts! It would be better if it wasn’t a fellow believer. Even the psalmist went through the same thing.

Psalm 55:12-14
If it were an enemy insulting me, I could bear it. If it were my enemies attacking me, I could hide. But it is you, the one so close to me, my companion, my good friend, who does this. We used to share our secrets with one another, as we walked through the crowds together in God’s Temple.

I lead a praise and worship ministry at a 15,000 member megachurch in Orlando, Florida. When I started playing guitar for this ministry, I joined a couple of young brothers who were doing leading the praise and worship. Not long after I began to play with them, one of the brothers got the opportunity to go full time, on the road, with his Christian band. My first thought was that I would no longer have a place to play guitar and worship the Lord. I was a little sad about that and my wife said I should just trust the Lord and see what He had in store. The very next day, the ministry leader called and asked if I would take over the praise and worship ministry. I agreed but it had been many years since I had led praise and worship. Needless to say, I was VERY nervous.

I have to admit, when I first started out, it was rough. I was trying to lead the singing and play my guitar and it had been a long time since I had done that. I would worry myself sick before each service but they would seem to work out. I started trying to build a worship team. I found a list of piano players in our church and I contacted no less than twelve of them asking if they would be willing to help with the praise and worship. All of them seemed interested until they found out that there was no pay involved. I just couldn’t believe it! They would be willing to serve the Lord IF there was money involved. The problem with this is that they are serving “mammon” instead of serving the Lord. At the same time, I got in contact with a young man in his twenties that played guitar and he agreed to come and join me. But, he wanted to be paid too, even though he spent about twenty minutes playing and singing. Finally one night, he just didn’t show up. When I contacted him later, he said he had to be paid or he wouldn’t play.

I wrote our senior pastor an email asking if our church had raised a bunch of “hirelings” and not “sons”. A couple weeks later, he said in his sermon, “We have taken the music ministry away from the people and given it to professionals.” I have to tell you, I was very upset. And to be very honest, it still REALLY bothers me but God will deal with them.

I finally held some auditions and I put some people on the worship team to sing even though I was the only musician. One day, at practice, one of the team members was not there but his wife was. She proceeded to tear me up with criticism. She was part of the leadership in that ministry and it hurt. It hurt to hear her criticism when I was doing the best I knew how to do. She didn’t know how sick I would get every week and she didn’t know the time that I put into the praise and worship trying to make it better. When I left practice that day, I wanted to throw in the towel. But the more I thought about it, it didn’t matter what she said. God had called me to the ministry and I would not quit until God said it was time for me to move on.

Why is it that some people can be so cruel and hateful? The Bible tells us that we are to love the unlovable and those that are spiteful and those that hurt us.

Luke 6:20
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Matthew 5:4
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

That is one of the hardest commands given by Jesus in the Bible! It is easy to love those who love us and agree with us. How do we love those that purposely try to hurt us? How do we love those who talk behind our backs? How do we love those who oppose everything we do?

The Bible is very clear that God hates people who sow discord among the church.

Proverbs 6:16-19
These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among the brethren.

Romans 16:17-20
I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

It is hard to love people like this. That is just a fact. But there are times that we are unlovable too! Everyone has a bad day and we all tend to take things out on people when they don’t deserve it.

The greatest thing is, Jesus loved us while we were unlovable, before we loved Him, while we were still His enemies! He died for us while we were still sinners!

Romans 5:8
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

When we are attacked by another believer or we hear that they have talked behind our back, the Bible gives us the way to handle the situation. First we pray for that individual and secondly, we go to them and talk about it.

Matthew 5:23-25
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way,,,"

I have found that, many times, it is just a misunderstanding. Even when it is not, by confronting the person that is causing you problems, will usually stop what is going on. The biggest thing is that we have to learn to love like Jesus does and that is a process which we continue to learn if we are willing to let the Lord change us and work through us!

All articles, graphics, images, photographs and other material are © copyright 2000 to present by Jay S. McMullan and/or his assignees. Do not copy without written, expressed permission.